Heaven Saga 3: Sojourn Into Despair

by Marcus Johnson

  “Where are they?” Seles asked.

  “In the middle of my people’s territory,” Myden said. He pushed his hood off to reveal his almond black eyes and grey skin. “Fortunately for them they have joined the second.”

  “How do you know this for sure?” Celestia asked.

  “I forget sometimes your kind perceives reality in such a manner, forgive me,” Myden said. “The power of the mind my people mastered doesn’t rely on measurement like ketres or light years. Although contact over such distances is impossible, it’s possible to sense things like a being’s life force. As long as Brian’s alive I can pinpoint a relative location of where the Avoni is. At their current rate of travel the Avoni should reach the border region in approximately four months. That’s barring any interference or slowdowns of course.”

  “You said the second, what did you mean by that?” Seles asked.

  “The prophecy of the Teacher spoke of the Warrior, the Five Maidens, and the Three Wisemen. I am the first of the three, they have met the second. His name is Grigon, a Malcovin of amazing talent and ability.”

  “Are you talking about Grigon the Thunder?” Seles asked. “Is he actually alive?”

  “Yes, he has been so for the last twenty years,” Myden said. “I’ve said nothing so as to protect him. But now that he’s reappeared there’s no need to hide it any longer.” Myden paused for a moment. “Although that’s the good news, I do have bad to relay.”

  “What is it?” Celestia asked.

  “Brian’s life energy is fading rapidly,” Myden explained. “In the last two months I have seen a loss of nearly forty percent of his energy. Whatever it is he’s losing the battle. At the current rate I doubt he’ll live to see Confederation space once more.”

  “What’s happening to him?” Seles asked. Her joyous smiled shifted rapidly.

  Myden closed his eyes. “I believe it’s a variant of the plague responsible for killing the males of this world. I’m not sure that’s the whole story, but a disease shouldn’t be able to kill a being like Brian on its own. Something else is driving it, something much more powerful.”

  Chapter 21 - Gaelic’s Blades

  Mira spent the evening walking around the Kalaidian district on Dega Jul. She was deep in thought as she listlessly went from place to place. Often she looked to the stars as if searching for the place where Brian may be. She walked until she found herself standing outside Brian’s apartment. She also noticed the captain’s and Kivi’s apartments were dark. She took the key card from her belt and swiped the door before walking inside. The lights were on. Mira heard voices speaking in another room. As she went inside she heard Dreka and Daes in the middle of a discussion.

  “I’m sure they’re still alive,” Dreka said. “And if Jesela’s with them I’m sure they’ll make it back.”

  “I wish we could have stayed behind and done a few more scans of the area,” Daes said. “Maybe the main gravity drive overloaded?”

  “That’s plausible,” Dreka said. “One good thing about that is the Mjolnir’s drive can offset the main drive in such a situation. The Avoni would be stranded somewhere far away from us but at least they’d still be on one piece.”

  “True.” Daes paused for a moment. “How’s the Raulno coming along?”

  “Better than expected,” Dreka said. “We should be ready to roll out in a month’s time, maybe a little less.”

  “I’m glad,” Daes said. “I’m sure everyone is looking forward to searching for the Avoni.”

  “Here it is!” Dreka shouted with excitement. “Brian sure buried this on his computer.”

  “Is that the complete file?” Daes asked.

  “Everything’s here,” Dreka said while making a copy to his wrist computer. “Alright, let’s go.”

  Mira waited in the main room and gazed at the raknas of Gaelic Brian kept displayed on the wall. Dreka and Daes emerged from Brian’s bedroom. They stopped when they saw Mira. Dreka placed his clawed hand on her shoulder.

  “They’ll come back,” Dreka said. He cawed afterwards. “He’s too stubborn to die.” The birdman left with something in his other hand.

  “Are you alright?” Daes asked. “I can tell this is bothering you.”

  “It is,” Mira said. “But Dreka’s right. He wouldn’t disappoint a girl like me.”

  “I feel the same.”

  “So what were the two of you doing here?” Mira asked.

  “Brian had a few things he’d been working on before the last mission. He left them behind because of his change in rank and all the studying that came with it.” Daes paused to look at Gaelic’s blades with Mira. “Valis gave us permission to come and get them.”

  “What kind of plans are they?” Mira asked. “Is it more on mobile suits or something?”

  “No, something quite different,” Daes said. “Brian’s original goal when he came to us was to earn his freedom from Valis. He’s half way through the contract and has begun planning his next move. Maybe it’s what he saw when he was taken to the ruins on Shandi Prime, or something else, but he’s been writing a lot of political and philosophical works lately. Valis and Kivi have been pouring it over. I’m sure they’ve been sending copies over to Shiken Ka as well. I haven’t had a chance to look over much of it myself, but I do know that what he’s working on is something capable of changing the policies of the Confederation in the near future.”

  “Can you clue me in on what it may be about?” Mira asked. “He hasn’t told me anything about it.”

  “The goal of the organization is to act as an armed force to preserve the peace and liberty in the Alden galaxy,” Daes said. “That’s about all I know Mira.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I’ll be leaving now, see you later,” Daes said before closing the door behind her.

  * * *

  Mira awoke the next morning with the sun shining near her eyes. She sat up and looked around the room before clutching herself tightly. I wish I was with him right now. The uncertainty is what bothers me the most. She yawned, stood up, and danced a step towards the main room. She stopped to look at her father’s blades once more. Mira took the two blades and held one in each hand. Taking a deep breath she clanged the swords three times. The raknas began glowing bright blue before enveloping Mira.

  “So the time has finally come for me to pass on what I know to you Mira,” her father’s voice echoed in her mind.

  “I need to know how to find him father,” she said.

  “Focus your mind Mira; focus on the image of him in your heart. Clear your mind of all doubts and fears and see the image clearly.”

  She closed her eyes but strained to concentrate like the voice told her. “I’m trying father, but it’s not working,” she said.

  “Try once more, but do it as if yours and his life depended on it.”

  “Yes father,” Mira said. She blinked her eyes. When she opened them once more they were glowing bright blue. She closed them once more. Focus; focus as if my life depended on it. Focus as if his life depended on it. She felt like her body was losing its form. It was as if she was becoming ether itself. When her vision cleared she found herself in Brian’s room on the Avoni. The lights were on with him asleep in bed. She walked next to the bed and noticed the condition he was. She turned and saw Celi working at the computer on something. Mira looked closely and found she was trying to figure out how to combat some type of disease. As Mira looked at the symptoms and readings she recognized it as similar to the Grey plague.

  “Celi, what’s going on?!” Mira shouted. Celi didn’t blink or acknowledge Mira’s presence and continued focusing on the task at hand. Mira shouted again with no response. She tried grabbing Celi’s hand and found it went straight through her body. Mira looked at her body and it appeared solid to her eyes. “What’s happening father?”

  “You’re seeing the present or near past right now,” the voice answered. “It’s obvious my original programmed you well. He gave you the ability to enter the A
wakened state. In this state, you can see and hear what’s happening far away but can’t interact with it at all. Use this power to find him Mira.”

  She found herself back on Dega Jul standing in the main room with a sword in each hand. She glanced around and saw nothing was different. What happened? She thought while placing the raknas back on the wall. She shook her head, unsure of what had happened the moment before. Mira decided to take a long morning bath in the bathroom off the side of the kitchen. After relaxing in the hot water for a while she left the room and put on a different set of clothes. As she walked towards the door of the apartment her eyes widened. So that’s what father meant. She touched her earring. I need to do this while I have the chance.

  * * *

  Valis and Kivi stood on a platform above the construction dock. They were currently in orbit of Dega Jul in the main dock of a Kalaidian space colony. Below them a ship was being built, one that looked similar to the Avoni but much larger in cargo space. Dreka scrambled from person to person while shouting orders in a frantic manner.

  “So what’s the total capacity of the Raulno?” Valis asked.

  “A hundred mobile suits,” Kivi said. “I wanted a light carrier class style of ship. Nothing like a Mylor carrier, but this will suffice.”

  “You see the future has little to do with who has the biggest battle ship,” Valis said. “The day of lining up in space and blasting until one side or the other is defeated are coming to an end. Before, the small fighter types didn’t have enough firepower to fulfill the requirement. But with the mobile weapons things are changing.”

  “The Raulno will also be integrating the upgrades Daes wanted for the Avoni,” Kivi said. “The shields and weapons on this vessel will far surpass that of any of the younger races vessels.”

  “I have to admit I’m a bit jealous,” Valis said.

  “What do plan to do if they don’t return?” Kivi asked. “I know I’m taking this ship out and searching at least a few spots before giving up.”

  “I’m not sure,” Valis answered. “Although I have enough money to build another ship I don’t want to until I’m sure the Avoni’s been destroyed.”

  “You skillfully didn’t answer my question.”

  “As I always do,” Valis said before laughing. “I’m not sure to be honest.”

  “You can always join me on the Raulno,” Kivi offered. “I’m not asking you to serve as one of my officers but as a friend and consultant until we find out what happened to them.”

  “I’ll take you up on the offer,” Valis said. “I’m not going to sit and wait for you to bring everyone back to us.”

  “I didn’t think you would,” Kivi said. “It’s strange though. For the first time in my life I’m the one in charge. That’s my ship down there.”

  “You’ve waited longer than I thought,” Valis said.

  “Remember, I came from a common family, not nobility,” Kivi said. “I saved credits for years to build this ship.”

  “I won’t dispute what you say,” Valis said. “There are advantages in being born to the noble caste but there was a price to pay. I didn’t have much say in my youth. After my mother died, Veda ran me ragged as the child prodigy of the Kein family. The Avoni is my home now. I miss it Kivi.”

  “We’ll find them Valis, that’s a promise,” Kivi said.

  Chapter 22 - Dancing in the Dark

  Zae stood in the dressing room behind the stage of the Avoni’s auditorium. She looked over her outfit one last time before adjusting the small silver and emerald barrette in her hair. She wore a loose, short skirted green dress with silver flecks in the fabric. On her feet she wore a pair of black high heeled shoes.

  “You look pretty,” Brian said. He stood at the door.

  She turned to see his approving smile. “It’s been awhile since I dressed in a costume like this,” Zae said.

  “Your look is quite different from Mira’s,” he remarked.

  “You prefer the lighter colors?”

  “Not really, it just looks different,” he said. “Don’t read into it too much.”

  “My musical style’s different as well,” Zae said. “You’ll see in just a few minutes.”

  “I wish I could join you Zae,” Brian said. “If it wasn’t for this illness I’d be out there as your back up.”

  Zae went to him. “You’re doing enough just standing right now. Both of us know that. I can see the pain in your eyes every moment as well as the fear behind them as well.” She put a hand on his chin and pushed back up. “If I could give my voice to Kali to heal you I would in a heartbeat.”

  “Thanks,” Brian said as he took her hand. “But don’t you think you should save that for Baed?”

  Zae smiled. “My feelings for her and you are different. The dance of love is a delicate thing. You’ve found that balance.”

  “In a way, I guess.”

  “That’s why I’m not worried about you,” Zae said. “Celi will find a way to save you, I know that for sure.”

  “Your confidence is refreshing,” he said. Brian turned to look outside. “It looks to be about time.”

  “Then let me give them a good show.”

  “I know you will,” he said. Brian left and went to the back of the auditorium. He noticed the others sat near the stage. Celi came back and stood next to him.

  “It’s good to see you’re having a decent day,” Celi said.

  “Better than last week,” he said. “Whatever you added to the cocktail is making things a bit easier.”

  “I’m glad,” Celi said.

  The lights dimmed to black with a single ray shining down on Zae. A song began playing when Zae moved her gloved hands. The beat was slow and deliberate, with winding scales setting the tone. Zae began dancing in a slow arcing manner, matching the music. After a few minutes of silence she began singing a low tone. The crew reacted positively to the show. Zae kept going through several songs before taking a break after forty five minutes. The crew sat back and relaxed to talk amongst themselves during the intermission. Brian headed back to the dressing room and found Zae relaxing.

  “I see what you mean,” he said.

  She turned to meet his gaze. “Mira prefers a lighter style, I like the dark myself,” Zae said. “Slow and seductive, that’s my way.”

  “I like it,” Brian said. “If Mira’s a shining diamond than you must be a glittering emerald.”

  “You really know how to make a lady feel good,” she said.

  “The truth is I wasn’t much of a ladies man back on Earth.”

  “I would never have thought it true,” she said before standing up to stretch. “I believe it’s time I finish this off with something special.”

  “I’m looking forward to it.”

  * * *

  “Your people’s culture is quite refreshing after the long silence I’ve been through,” Grigon commented as he and Jesela watched Zae’s performance from the launching bay. “Malcovin don’t sing and dance like that at all.”

  “She’s gotten a lot better,” Jesela said. She turned to the old Malcovin and saw he was transfixed on Zae’s image. “You must really like this.”

  “Like I said, it’s been far too long since I enjoyed something artistic in nature,” he said. “For twenty years it’s been all numbers, calculations, applied theory, etc. But to see something as simple as music I know I was deprived all this time.”

  Jesela looked down on the schematics for the new mobile suit. “Are you sure this system will work?”

  “We won’t know until the thing is completed,” Grigon cawed. “I crafted and tore down a number of units until I got the Talon right. I know it’s a bit risky but I have faith it’s going to work.”

  “If you’re correct the shielding systems on this mobile suit will surpass anything ever created. What I’m wondering is why there are no weapons.”

  “None are needed,” Grigon answered. “The Aegis is meant to act as the defensive support unit for the Maidens.”
/>   “So four more are going to be built?” she asked.

  “Yes. But we must finish this one as quickly as possible. The defensive systems will keep us alive.”

  “Okay,” Jesela said. “It’s going to look strange using parts from Talons and the Mardok space colony to build the mobile suit.”

  “We have to use what’s on hand. Anyway, we need every functioning mobile suit flying at the moment.” Grigon watched Zae some more. “I’m glad I was able to run into this ship when I did. The thought of six more months of isolation is terrifying.”

  “But you survived for twenty years on your own. How could that little time bother you at all?” Jesela asked.

  “It was taking its toll on me,” he said. “But that’s changed. We have to finish building the Aegis as quickly as we can.”

  “Do you have a spare drive?”

  “Yes. I have one left on the Vomada. I’ll bring it over once the frame of the Aegis is completed.”

  “The reason I’m wondering about this is because of the A.I. system. I know it sounds odd, but Kalaidians have historically been hesitant to allow for any amount of A.I. presence in their society. The Keinien Androids were retired for that very reason.”

  “Foolish really,” Grigon cawed. “Those androids were an amazing piece of technology. Not to mention their capabilities in combat. Their abilities as Novaguard pilots surpassed that of any living Kalaidian. Heck, any living being short of an Original Five species.”

  “Were they really that impressive?” Jesela asked.

  “You’ve seen how quickly my Talons installed with the auto system can move. The Keinien Androids were of similar ability, save for the fact they were built to the size of a Kalaidian male. Well, maybe a little bigger to impress the other races. When they were decommissioned and scrapped I thought the Kalaidian nobles were fools. Sure you chanced an A.I. rebellion, but the military applications outweighed the risk. The only thing greater was berserk Maigar. Now that was something to see.”