“She’s on board. Doctor Nee has her under observation.”
“And you won’t let them take her?”
“Them?”
“The Concord. She can’t go with them. She stays with us, right?” Tarlen asked.
Captain Baldwin nodded. “You have my word.”
“And the ore? Will you claim it and leave my people to be forgotten?” Tarlen asked.
“It will be our responsibility, but only to ensure you aren’t attacked by someone hungry for an easy prize from weakened prey. Tarlen, I’m going to make sure the Bacal are compensated,” Captain Baldwin told him.
He believed the man and smiled finally. “Of course I’ll join your crew!”
“Good. I’m glad. Now, how about we go help for the time being?”
Tarlen followed his new captain, and peered to the sky. Things would never be the same, but he’d make the best of it.
____________
“Sir, we’ll arrive in Nolix in two hours,” Ven said.
“Thank you, Ven.” Tom sat in his chair, happy to see most of his crew on the bridge.
Brax Daak was at the edge, searching for signs of any incoming attacks. His sister Reeve was nearby in Zare’s position, typing away at her console. The commander’s seat next to Tom was noticeably empty, but he was going to fix that as quickly as possible. Treena Starling would return.
They were in a tough spot, heading for the capital of the Concord with the Prime in their custody. All they’d have was their word at the Concord’s deception, and Tom had no idea how deep the corruption ran. He only hoped things would work out, and that his crew would be safe. He’d made a lot of promises he intended to keep.
News of Admiral Hudson’s death had been kept secret, meaning few on his ship had been told that the old man had died in his cell. Brax had gone over the scene multiple times but hadn’t determined if it was murder or not. The guard on duty had gone missing, and the power block running the cameras had been disarmed around the same time. Tom guessed he’d never learn the truth, but without the admiral to admit anything to the Concord, he’d struggle to relay the facts to the Founders.
Unless the Prime played along. He still couldn’t get a read on her.
They approached the Concord capital, Ven sending communications for them not to worry about the massive Statu warship alongside Constantine. Soon they had a full envoy guiding or escorting them, leading them toward the Tekol home world.
Thomas glanced at Constantine’s AI, the young version of his grandfather, and smiled to himself. Within the projection’s programming were so many memories, ones he wasn’t supposed to have. Tom wouldn’t let the Concord know the AI had found the backdoor and retrieved them. If he did, Tom was confident they’d cut the flow, making the AI only half of the man he was. Tom preferred him the way he was.
Thomas Baldwin rose, walking to the center of the bridge, watching as they moved into orbit around Nolix. He’d gone into this role without expectations, and the following weeks had been a hectic rush of adventure.
There is no measurement for success; it’s only derived from the level of effort. It was one of his grandfather’s favorite sayings from the Code.
One thing was for sure: he wasn’t going to give up Constantine without a fight. He had his own path to forge, and he’d only just begun his own legacy.
The End
Copyright © 2020 Nathan Hystad
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Cover art: Tom Edwards Design
Edited by: Scarlett R Algee
Proofed and Formatted by: BZ Hercules
Prologue
Relizi Tovep observed the stars. Some flickered dimly; others shone bright and powerful, beacons to those curious and stuck on a planet’s surface. Relizi was both of those things at this time, but she wasn’t overly concerned. Help would come; of that she was confident.
She scooped up the remains of her dinner, wishing she had something a little more flavorful than the prepackaged survival meals that were stored away in the bins of her vessel. She sat up, her back protesting after sitting on the hard rock for the last while, and moved to the edge of her ship. She stacked the empty containers, counting them as she did so. Forty-three. She’d been here too long.
The hatch swung open as she tugged it, and Relizi climbed into the compact vessel. Her Parentage had warned her about traveling so far from home on a solo mission. They’d asked her to reconsider, but she’d rebuked them, claiming there was nothing serious that could go wrong.
She needed to be the first Votal to set foot on Metron VII. Reports had come through the scientific research field boards about the newly discovered Class Zero Nine world, and when she’d heard about the luminous creatures that lived underwater, she had to see for herself.
“Are you settling for the night?” her robotic assistant asked, startling her. One moment he was powered down, resting in the corner of what she was utilizing as a bedroom; the next his eyes were glowing a dim blue, his arms whirring as he lifted them.
“No, I’m heading to the lake,” she told him.
“It’s dark out, Relizi. Perhaps you should refrain from leaving the sanctuary of camp.” SR91 walked toward her, his head almost touching the ceiling.
She wished she had some way of deactivating his protection functions, because he did this to her every single time she attempted to do any research. According to SR91, the gusting wind was cause for concern.
“I’ll be fine.” She grabbed her pack and slipped into her boots before heading outside. Suddenly, it did feel darker, and she glanced to the sky to see thick clouds covering the pinpricks of light she’d been staring at minutes ago. She zipped her jacket up tighter and started for the lakeside.
As always, SR91 trailed along behind her, occasionally offering her advice. Don’t step there. This planet has unidentified lifeforms. Don’t touch the local flora and fauna.
The path was rocky; loose bits of worn-away cliffsides had fallen to the ground. She peered above the giant stone wall, unable to see the top this dark night. She’d found evidence of lifeforms here, likely from long ago. In the caves, there were carvings along the walls, and she’d documented accordingly as she’d found them. Each time, a thrill coursed through her at the thought of returning home to share with everyone what remarkable things she’d discovered on Metron VII. It didn’t even matter to her that her ship was unable to leave, the drive damaged in her crash landing. The solar panels still worked, giving her enough power to survive, and she had enough food. For now.
Someone would arrive sooner or later; they had to. She’d told her Parentage where she was going, and others were sure to be interested in the world, as she’d been. They would come, and she would be saved.
“Or I might well stay here and live,” she whispered to herself, walking faster.
“Did you ask for my assistance, Relizi?” SR91 asked. He moved noisily behind her, kicking rocks as he stomped along.
“No! I’m fine,” Relizi told the robot, and returned her gaze to the lake at the end of the pathway. It was the most beautiful sight she’d ever encountered. During the day, the water sat motionless, the sunlight reflecting off the lake, but at night, it was as if she’d been transported to another dimension.
Even from here, she could see the dancing forms beneath the surface, each a slightly different color. The rest of the walk took ten minutes, each step directing her closer to the water’s edge. The creatures were long, skinny, and bright.
They danced around in a seemingly random pattern, but she knew better. She’d been watching the Screl each night, studying their movements, confident they were on a loop, repeating the same positions over the course of three standard hours. During the day, there was no sign of the underwater animals, and now she was going to learn where they went.
Relizi stopped at the gravel beach, her boots sinking into the pebbles. SR91 stayed behind, recognizing that he’d sink even further down under his weight. She moved for the liquid, crouching before it. She pressed a finger into the tepid water and smiled as a glowing pink creature approached. She began removing her jacket, then boots, the rocks cold to the touch.
“What are you doing?” SR91 asked.
“I’m going to find out where they go each morning,” Relizi said calmly and quietly. When she was in her undergarments, she opened her pack, pulling out the tracking device gun. All she needed to do was press it against one of the Screl and wait. She’d learn where their nest was, and then she could study them further. A researcher was never happy only seeing one aspect of their subject. She’d been working on finding their pattern all week and was confident she could do this without too much risk.
She placed the goggles over her eyes, tweaking the settings to brighten her surroundings. The Screl didn’t appear dangerous, but she’d never attempted to touch one of them before. Relizi slowly walked into the lake, watching as the blue one, then the red, followed by the pink again, moved in sizable looping paths underwater, never quite breaching the surface. She liked the pink the best; it matched her eye color.
It was cold, and she cringed as the water hit the bare skin of her abdomen. She stood there waiting, letting her body acclimate to the temperature before moving any further. This was it. Time to catch one of the Screl.
She dove under, using the goggles to find her way, and she stopped, staying as calm as she could as the pink Screl swam closer. It had two eyes, one on either side of its elongated head, and she held her breath as it grew nearer and nearer. It didn’t appear to notice her, and she reached out with the gun after half its length was past her. She didn’t want to startle it, and she succeeded. The tracking device shot into its tail; not even a drop of blood trailed after it.
Relizi swam away, not wanting the next incoming Screl to spot her and become suspicious. Slowly and quietly, she emerged from the water, dripping on the pebbled beach, SR91 full of innocuous queries that she ignored.
She’d done it. Now she could learn where the Screl went during the day. Relizi was grateful she’d been trapped on Metron VII. She was finding so many interesting things to study. If help didn’t come soon, she’d need to discover a food source, but she was confident she’d be able to ignore SR91’s constant warnings about the plant life and find something sustainable to eat.
Dressed once again, Relizi headed towards camp, exhausted after another long day. When she returned to her refuge, she quickly found her cot, checking the tablet before closing her eyes. The pink subject was still swimming in the long, swooping pattern.
She set it beside her, saw that SR91 was powered down in his charging corner, and she fell asleep with a smile.
____________
The pack was heavy, and Relizi passed it to SR91, letting the robot carry her burden as they trudged along the lake’s edge. They were ten kilometers from the main beach, and Relizi was surprised that the Screl came this far each night to do their photoluminescent dance.
She held the tablet, seeing the destination ahead. The landscape was full of mountains and cliffsides around the lake, and the looming flat crag was intimidating. She glanced up the rock wall to see thick vegetation, at least a kilometer above. The screen showed the Screl were under the cliff.
“SR91, do you locate an entrance?” she asked the robot.
His mechanics whirred fluidly as he searched, and seconds later, she had her answer. “There is an opening two meters wide, two-thirds of the distance across the cliff, directly at the waterline.”
“Then that’s where I go,” Relizi said softly.
“May I object…”
“SR91, enough. Stay here with our things. We’ve come this far. I only want to see where they sleep, where they call home.” She said the last word with a bit of heartache. She’d never left home for this long. As she watched the lake water slowly lap against the rocky edge, she thought of her Parentage and the friends she’d left behind. They had to be growing worried for her. She was glad she’d sent out the distress call this morning. It was time.
Relizi stripped, walking the last quarter-kilometer to find the end of the lake. She’d never ventured this far, and she stopped at the cliff wall, setting a hand against the ancient rock. How many centuries had this cliff stood guard over the treasured lake? How many years had the Screl swum from beneath this spot to dance in the waters each night? Perhaps she’d find some answers inside.
The water was warmer under the hot morning sun, and she found herself relaxing as she swam toward the opening. She imagined herself being one of the Screl, glowing brightly in the moonlight, and she paused, ceasing the kicking of her feet as she neared the fissure in the rocky surface.
Relizi wiped her brow, treading in the water before ducking underneath and swimming the short distance inside the cavern. She lifted her head out and attempted to get her bearings. Her goggles provided light, and she was amazed at how deep the cave was. The ceiling stood a couple hundred feet above, the width even longer.
What astounded her was the smoothness of it all. She climbed from the water, which ended quickly, stopping at a dirt-packed ledge. Relizi dripped all over, and confirmed her goggles were indeed recording this. The water must go on underneath the cavern, because the Screl she’d tagged was still farther under the mountain. She’d possibly be able to modify a drone to paddle beneath. Perhaps SR91 could finally be of some real assistance.
She continued forward, moving for the closest wall. Something was etched in a pattern, and she scanned over it, wiping her hand dry before touching the surface. Dust flew away, landing on her nose, some touching her tongue; she coughed it out and spat on the ground.
Relizi sneezed, blood emerging from her nose. She wiped at it, confused for a moment at the dark patch of liquid on her hand. She sniffled and kept walking around the cavern, wiping some of the dust and stepping away as it settled to the ground. The etchings were more intricate than she’d originally thought, fancier than the crude carvings along the cliff faces on the way to the lake: lines intersected with circles, four-sided shapes of all sizes, as well as symbols she’d never seen before. As she moved around the cave, they were everywhere, even on the ceiling.
The air was thick here, hard to breathe, and she coughed. More blood. She should never have entered without a respirator. SR91 had been right. Relizi activated a handheld light, removing the goggles as her eyes itched. Seeing the cave under the bright beam gave her a new sensation: fear.
Suddenly, the edges of the room were dark, shadowy things, and she sensed something moving along the dim sides, hiding from her beam; but when she moved the light, there was nothing but dust and walls.
It was time to go. Relizi held the goggles up, recording the entire exploration, and finally settled them under her arm. Whatever this cavern was for, she didn’t think it was related to the Screl.
She stood near the exit, turning one last time to scan the room, the hair on the back of her neck rising as she caught movement along the shadows. She turned her beam quickly and screamed as the figure rushed toward her. Its wet fingers clamped over her mouth, silencing her.
____________
Relizi watched the stars, smiling widely. Her distress call would be picked up eventually. For now, all she had to do was wait; then she’d head off-planet. She peered toward her ship, seeing countless pieces of a dissected bot: SR91, fully dismantled. His questions had grown tedious.
Why are your eyes a different color? What was inside the cavern? You didn’t touch anything, did you? He w
as a foolish metal creature who’d never make another annoying query.
Relizi stretched, feeling comfortable in her body. It had been so long since she’d been outside, and it was wonderful.
She glanced to the crackling fire and spun the rotisserie, the meat sizzling over the licking flames. The Screl, as the girl’s memories thought of it, was going to be delicious. The flesh glowed a pale pink in the moonlight as it cooked, and Relizi watched with dark black irises.
Someone would come for her. Until then, at least she had a food source.
One
Thomas Baldwin remained without a title or position within the Concord. The room’s lights were far too bright, and he cast his gaze to the ground as the Prime-in-Waiting spoke his ruling.
He glanced behind him, where Commander Lieutenant Brax Daak, Brax’s sister Reeve, and Executive Lieutenant Ven the Ugna sat stoically. There were three admirals surrounding the Prime-in-Waiting Harris; the others had been removed, with accusations of corruption. Tom felt as though the entire Concord had been flipped upside down, and he had no idea where they were about to land.
Beside Tom was an empty seat, saved for his commander, Treena Starling. She wouldn’t be attending the meetings any time soon. He sighed, hoping she was doing okay.
The Prime-in-Waiting tapped the desk with a long finger, drawing Tom’s attention. “We understand your predicament, and we know you did what you deemed the proper course of action. It’s clear that many things have occurred over the last five decades and beyond that others weren’t privy to, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that Admiral Hudson was killed aboard your vessel.”
“There’s no evidence he was killed,” Brax said, his anger evident.
“That’s enough, Daak,” Admiral Jalin Benitor said, a frown over her ridged forehead. She was older than the others, but she had a youthful glint to her dark brown eyes. Her head was bald, her nose pinched as she broke her stare with Tom’s chief of security.
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