Jamie had heard of these creatures since childhood. Like the Gods of Nyroletotep and the tiny Gritters who were the source of all mishap and bad luck, the Sire-Koval were considered by most to be a legend, a fable, a fiction of old twentieth-century science scribes.
Few had seen a Sire-Koval at all, let alone in human form, yet here before them stood a cloud being who professed to be one of the Hidden Ones. Ben Zurek had been the fiction; an assumed human observing other races as they stumbled into the future.
The Sire-Koval were said to be amorphous and made contact with other races only in a limited way. They were formless creatures, perhaps of pure energy, who could travel the empty spaceways on errands not more comprehensible than their own baffling shape.
There had been reports during the last two years that Turner Werch and PANIC, Inc. had purchased one from the Ort pirates. Jamie recalled hearing that that Sire had disappeared when one of Werch's people had begun to analyze the being. Could that creature have been related to Ben Zurek?
Clamber stared at the vibrating pendant. Maybe I should just pinch myself and I'll wake up. "Ouch!" Maybe not.
The blueish haze of the Sire-Koval spoke again. "You are on the right course, and my race cannot travel into the Great Unknown of itself. I only wish to journey with you."
Admiral Long swore, insisting, "There isn't much chance of us journeying anywhere, now that the Edorrians are about to attack."
But the Messiah seemed strangely comfortable with the Sire-Koval's revelation. "No wonder I felt a kinship with you like none other."
But before the argument could advance any further, the Edorrians interrupted, transmitting a new declaration. "It has been decided," Commander TTakak's grating voice rang out through Zori's commsystem, "that the only way our homeworld will be safe is for us to proceed as planned and destroy Zori. We will give you one cycle to make peace with your maker."
The Messiah responded abruptly, but not the way Jamie expected. "We must return at once to the service," she declared. "Recall the congregation."
The group began to file out of the chamber. At first, Jamie and Aura were hesitant to follow, but once back at the 'holy place' of the station's Mess/Lounge, packed with Zori's Izar followers, they saw that prayers were being made for the recovery of their partner Kleg Karr and word soon came through the commscreen that their teammate, Kleg, had regained consciousness.
"Now do you understand?" Aura asked Jamie.
Jamie briefly considered, and then it came to him. "You've formed some sort of a bond with the Messiah," he answered. "And she is linked with the Sire-Koval."
"Yes, and for the first time, I believe I can do more than just receive thoughts; I think I can send them."
"Hmmm. In that case," Clamber admitted, "I might even let you send them my way."
"What do you mean?"
"I heard Dr. Bauer say you should be a leader, instead of a follower. I happen to agree with that."
She pretended not to understand. "Are you trying to rescue me now?"
"Nooo, that's the point. You don't need rescuing. You're perfectly capable of handling your situation… without help. That's what leaders do."
"Yeah? Well, maybe you're right," she considered. "But some leaders lead from behind. Like you."
"Me?"
"Certainly. You got the Edorrians to hold off their attack. And you got that damned collar off my neck. You were the one to notice that Zurek was a Sire-Koval."
Jamie felt his face redden. What was that perfume he smelled? "I'm uncomfortable talking about…."
"I'm not. You don't have to save people, Jamie; just help them be what they are. If I've learned anything from the Messiah, it's to let things be; let them take care of themselves. Don't worry or fret so much. Just accept."
"Sounds like advice worth considering…" Jamie answered, "…from a born leader."
They moved to embrace.
* * *
Minutes later, Cast approached, bringing along the diplobot, Zaxt.
"I thought you were supposed to stay with Kleg," Jamie said when he saw the bot.
"He's getting better," Zaxt answered, turning to face Jamie's old partner. "Your prayers had something to do with that. What? How? I need all the data."
Aura asked Cast, "Is it true? Will Kleg be all right?"
Cast spread his hands. "Who can tell? But the congregation is now directing new prayers out to the Edorrians, asking for understanding and promising to move the outstation away from their homeworld."
"How is that possible?" Jamie asked. "Why don't I just use the cloak suit again and go over there and mess them up?"
"Their ship is too far away for such a commando gambit, Clamber," Aura huffed. "You'd run out of breathable air."
"And they could probably detect your life signs." Cast looked sheepishly at the two of them for a second. "Have you two been…?"
Jamie quickly suggested: "We could send the diplobot to spy."
Zaxt shook his head. "I never spy."
Cast caught Aura's eye. "We could use your telepathic ability to assist in directing our prayers to the Edorrian ship."
"Let's go," the woman said, linking arms with Cast and rushing away.
Jamie looked at Zaxt and spoke with a high-pitched voice while wobbling his head. "I never spy. I never spy."
The golden bot ignored the mockery. "So, that cloud is a Serrantic Harbinger. You are kidding?"
"Actually, that was my first reaction, too," Jamie said. "It appears to be the truth, but aren't they just a myth?" He began walking down the passageway.
Zaxt followed. "My understanding is that a myth is an eternal form behind a local reality, shared by almost everyone. Something so basic and fundamental that it resonates within most humans."
Jamie stopped. "Now you're kidding, right?"
"The Harbingers are called that for a reason," the bot advised. "They were here first and they seem to be able to travel freely in known space. A full step up the evolutionary ladder; maybe two steps."
Jamie took that as a not-so-subtle insult and began walking away again. "Demi-gods?"
"No! They are as real as you or I. They rescue people, sometimes, like lifeguards, or mermaids."
As they started down a stairway, Jamie tossed out: "What's a mermaid?"
"Never mind," Zaxt said, hurrying forward. "I need to go analyze this creature. Where can I find it?"
They came out into the congregation gathered in the recreation center next to the kitchens.
"What's that smell?" the bot asked. "And why is that little bell sounding?"
"Never mind," Jamie answered, wandering away and into the crowd.
* * *
Now the prayers were directed at the Edorrians. Grand supplications made to hold off the attack. No one on Zori knew if this would actually work, but all had faith. At last the Edorrian warship moved away, but Commander Ttakak promised to make good on their threat of destruction unless the outstation left for the Great Unknown in the specified time period.
CHAPTER 16
The Messiah and her followers, including Cast, scrambled to complete the installation of the Esper Shadows to the exterior of Zori Station. It was difficult to think and even to hear over the din of equipment groaning and the clatter and slam of materials being rapidly and efficiently handled. A slight wisp of acrid smoke throughout the landing bay made Jamie's eyes water.
Admiral Long commanded the work teams. "Legend has it that the Messiah is a technical healer; she can repair complex circuitry by praying over it. I've seen it happen, which is what originally convinced me to follow her."
Jamie still had his doubts and he kept a clear distance from the sapphire cloud of the Sire-Koval while the work progressed.
He and Aura briefly visited Kleg, who was recovering from his mental blast in the infirmary, but that didn't keep them from pitching in and helping with the construction wherever they could. Even Zaxt lent a robotic hand with the equipment conversion.
The Messiah's pl
an to head out for the Great Unknown was coming to pass. Accompanied by her worshipers, the Sire-Koval, and a few of Aura's followers, she was now able to mentally track the rest of the long-lost Serrantic Harbingers. And, due to this change in her pilgrimage, there would be no third coming of the Messiah of Izar to the Core. All members of Zori station were now dedicated to this new mission and the desperate move to avoid impending destruction.
The Edorrians took notice of the refab operation. Once the Espers were attached and fired up, the entire station would begin to move. "This is an elegant and acceptable response," Ttakak transmitted. "However, remaining persons must also exit the sector, now."
A scramble of activity and after retrieving a lime-skinned child who had gotten caught beneath an intake vent while reaching for a toy, Jamie made one last attempt to "save" his old partner, Cast.
Finding the Paethor in the ship's lounge where several Zori crewmen celebrated the reprieve, Jamie experienced his first taste of synthohol in weeks.
"Your buddy, Kleg, is a hero," Cast said. "Fought off that Imperium battlecruiser single handed."
Clamber slide into a seat next to the man. "Actually, he was out cold most of the time and a diplobot helmed the Dagger."
"You're serious?"
Jamie raised his right palm. "Hand to god. I never lie."
Cast snored and finished his drink.
Jamie placed the palm on his friend's shoulder. "So, are you going with them or coming with us?"
Cast blew out a breath. "I'm fulfilled here and don't need to be brought back. Your insistence on sacrificing your needs for others is sort of an excuse to make up for your feelings of failure."
Jamie felt words stuck in his throat. There was something to what Cast said, but he couldn't bring himself to admit it out loud.
"Okay, partner. I forgive you," the Paethor smiled and got up to leave. "You're absolved of failure now. I've found my place in the universe; now go find yours."
"Wait," Jamie mumbled, holding out the crystal pendant.
Cast scowled. "You keep it. It might bring you luck finding what you're truly after. Take care of yourself… and don't forget to have fun."
Jamie watched Cast blend into the crowded lounge, thinking of his brother who had gone away just like that years ago and never returned.
* * *
Midway through the construction activity, a sudden meteor shower began to bombard the station. Aura heard Admiral Long's stern voice rattle through the commsystem; "Raise all remaining defensive blocks immediately!" She witnessed half the crew rush to repair the deflector shields, and breathed a sigh when the swarm of tiny particles passed without harm.
Her intent had been to join the Messiah of Izar's new quest. The search appealed to her instincts. But Dr. Bauer reminded her that her true place was not to follow; it is to lead. Even though some of her followers planned to join the journey, she came to feel it might be wrong to abandon her remaining faithful Qestans.
Aura stood alone gazing out at the stars, trying to come to terms with this decision, when Jamie found her.
He cocked his head in that funny way he had while he listened to her last doubts. "You know," he said quietly, feeling his throat thicken, "I have to remind you that your actions these last few days have proven to me that you're an impressive, dedicated leader."
She tilted her head to match his and that was when she realized she didn't want to leave him either.
* * *
The team returned to the repaired Dagger hours later with one of the Esper Shadow vessels in tow.
Jamie inspected an equipment board and gestured a thumb out at the accompanying Esper. "We'll bring that back to Werch and claim that the Outstation and the other ships were destroyed by the Edorrians."
"Works for me," Kleg responded, rubbing the back of his neck. "And look what I got from the Messiah's gang." He held up a datachip. "It's a copy of the Outstation's defense systems, valuable information in the hands of anyone who wishes to over-throw the Imperium." He chuckled with pride and anticipation.
"Can I see that?" Zaxt asked and abruptly accessed and absorbed the information.
"Hey, you slagheap!" Kleg cursed. "Put it back!"
Aura tried to use her mental abilities to retrieve the data, but they had no effect on the bot.
"I will keep it safe," Zaxt told them, refusing to give up the information. "Security issues, you know."
That was when Kleg literally threw himself at the diplobot, raising his arms to pound Zaxt's shining amber surface. But suddenly he stopped without landing a blow. "What fresh hell is this?" he protested and again swung a fist, but caught himself before it could land.
Jamie reached out to help by shoving at Zaxt's chest. But he too found that he couldn't bring himself to harm the bot.
None of them could.
Aura strained her increased telepathic ability and discovered that they all had a mental implant against harming the bot. "Turner must have implanted a subtle suggestion into our brains during the mini training mission."
"No wonder I couldn't hurt the damn thing," Kleg howled. "Turner has messed with our minds!" challenged Zaxt. "You lied! You said, and I repeat, 'I never spy'."
The golden diplobot eased into the co-pilot's seat and crossed his legs. "Well, there's no robotic law against spying, you know. And spying is not lying, so I figured… what the hell."
Jamie shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose.
* * *
As the Izarian outstation moved further away, the team observed the last congregation service via the Dagger's vidscreen.
Jamie and Aura argued at first and then agreed to keep the Messiah's secret as a way of getting revenge on Turner. They would report that the Outstation was destroyed during the battle with the cruiser, before all but a single Esper Shadow could be recovered. That much of Zaxt's programming Aura could access and control with her new strength.
In order to satisfy Kleg and maintain his confidence, Aura and Jamie agreed that the pirate could have the reward for retrieving the single Esper Shadow ship.
As the Silver Dagger headed back toward the Core, Jamie couldn't help feeling angry about Turner's surreptitious mind implant. "And on top of everything else, I come away gaining nothing," he complained to Aura as they once again gazed out at the stars.
"You could always try your hand at becoming a member of my rebel band, The Dark."
He recognized her exotic perfume. Rocky Road. "The Messiah and her followers," he mused, just to change the subject. "Such a strange bunch."
"Strange," Aura agreed. "And heroic…."
Out in the Great Unknown, they could almost still see the pin point that was Outstation Zori.
Almost.
Also by John Hegenberger
TRIPL3 CROSS: An Eliot Cross Adventure
It's 1988, and small-town P.I. Eliot Cross is searching for his long-lost father. Then, a CIA informant says that Dad has been in deep cover for over twenty years. Now, the informant's been murdered and Eliot is on the run.
Scrambling to clear his name, Eliot journeys from Washington D.C. to Havana, Cuba, struggling against deadly drug-runners, syndicate hit-men and his own violent nature. But the worst is yet to come, as Eliot discovers his father is at the center of an international conspiracy, a nuclear threat and a double cross...or is that a triple cross?
Veteran author John Hegenberger spins a yarn that is both an exciting thriller and a compelling piece of "noirstalgia", expertly recreating a sense of late-Eighties paranoia and double-dealing and painting a vivid picture of Washington and Cuba during that era, as well as saving a shocking twist for the very end. TRIPL3 CROSS is pure reading entertainment.
“In TRIPL3 CROSS, John Hegenberger skillfully blends elements of the traditional PI genre with those of an espionage thriller and comes up with an exciting, entertaining tale sure to please a wide spectrum of readers. Eliot Cross is a tough Columbus, Ohio PI with depth and complexities beyond the norm. At the core of his hard e
xterior and too-quick temper is the emptiness he feels over a father long thought dead. What ensues after he learns that his father may actually still be alive, makes for a fast-paced thrill ride that propels Eliot relentlessly in search of the truth, all the while dodging the Syndicate, the CIA, and ultimately Castro’s thugs in the heart of 1988 Cuba. A great debut for a protagonist readers are sure to want to see more of!” – Wayne D. Dundee
"It’s 1988, and when p.i. Eliot Cross finds out that his father didn’t die the way Cross had been told long ago, Cross decides to find out the truth. He winds up in Cuba where nobody wants him to be, and he discovers not only the truth about his father but about secrets that others would rather have hidden. It’s a fast-moving tale of mystery and espionage that will engage you right from the start. Check it out." – Bill Crider
"John Hegenberger seems to have effortlessly crafted a novel that whizzes around the globe yet retains its small town Columbus roots. It is 1988, the Wall has yet to fall and the world is a very different place. Mr. Hegenberger makes it his own in TRIPL3 CROSS, which will take you back to the excitement of the Cold War days." – Patricia Abbott
"TRIPL3 CROSS is a small book that packs an awfully big punch. Hegenberger brilliantly captures Cross’ voice and pulls us intimately into his adventure until the very end where he pulls off a dandy O’Henry style twist that had this reviewer crying, “Bravo!” This is a damn good read by a pro. Spy buffs will not be disappointed." – Ron Fortier
Mutiny on Outstation Zori Page 13