by Frank Carey
"You sound like you have experience with this teaching technique."
"Oh yeah. I'm still pulling pieces of his shoe out of my ass."
"What do the parents say about all this?"
"Nothing. They are out of your life as of this morning."
"What happened this morning?" he asked as the fear returned.
"I adopted you. You are my son, now. Though I may seem like the kindly aunt, in reality, I can put my shoe a lot further up your ass than Sensei ever can. I am the dictionary definition of tough love. Remember that."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Yes, Auntie."
"Yes, Auntie."
"Good. Let's get you some lunch, then we can go meet Sensei."
"You mean I'm free?"
"Yep. Come on, life's a wasting."
CHAPTER TWENTY
At the edge of a clearing outside town, Alex, Felicity, and Vasily waited for the Nordican ship to arrive. Meanwhile, the rest of the town went about the business of establishing itself in its new home. As a precaution, Alex had given orders that all colonists be issued sidearms just in case there was trouble.
"There they are," Vasily said while pointing to the west. "Six miles out on a heading of zero-nine-zero and descending." He saw the two staring at him. "What? I'm a mountain Storen. We're known for both acute eyesight and hearing."
"One learns something new every day," Alex said quietly.
In moments, the Nordican ship was setting down in the center of the field. "A design similar to our shuttles from about ten years ago. Interesting, it uses strictly conventional drives unless their FTL engines are well hidden."
"Noted. Vasily, try to curb your curiosity. No picking unless I specifically order it."
"Yes, Boss," he said, then muttered, "spoil sport."
"We heard that," Alex and Felicity said.
The ship settled on its landing gear as its engines spun down. After a short wait, the hatch opened and a group of six Nordicans exited the ship. While four of them walked over to where Alex and his group waited, two walked about the shuttle, checking it over.
"Fleet Commander Trent, welcome to Alyson." Alex extended his hand. After a slight hesitation, Trent took it and shook it. "This is my second in command, Lieutenant Felicity Zarn," and my head of acquisitions, Vasily Crumb."
"A pleasure to meet all of you," Trent replied. "This is my second in command, Falan."
Vasily reached over, taking Falan's hand and kissing the back of it. "Enchanté madame."
Falan smiled, completely unsure how to respond to a six-foot-tall, sapient, French-speaking otter.
Trent raised his eyes, then swept his hands toward the other two members of his party. "And these are my aides. Your town is lovely. How long did you say you've been here?"
"I didn't, but it's been almost two weeks since we arrived. Please, follow me to the residence. I have refreshments laid out so we can talk in comfort. Will your ground crew need help or utility hookup?"
"Actually, if you have fuel. We use refined petrochemicals..."
"Not a problem. Felicity?"
"On it, sir." She tapped an ear piece, then spoke to someone in Katalese. When she finished, she nodded to Alex.
"One of our people will be out shortly to discuss your requirements."
"But, you don't know what we need. How can you..."
"We have our ways, mysterious though they may seem."
They continued walking as the Nordicans took in the town and its buildings. "Tell me, Fleet Commander, are your people related to Earth humans, Raul's race? The resemblance is incredible."
"Gods no. We just share similar physiology. We're as related to them as your people are."
"Actually, we are related. The elves lived with them on Earth a few thousand years ago. In fact, both Felicity's race and Vasily's share a common ancestor with elves and humans. All the races represented in this colony share this common ancestor."
"Really?" Trent choked out.
"Um-huh. Ever meet humans before?"
"No."
"Your loss. Great bunch of people. Make fantastic pizza."
Felicity nearly choked, knowing, as she did, how Alex's group of assassins tried to destroy the Earth and all her people.
Alex led them into the residence through the front door, then down the hall to the conference room where a number of League foodstuffs were laid out around the conference table. On the wall behind the head of the table, feeds from various cameras throughout the colony played in a random sequence. While the aides stood by the door, Falan and Trent joined Alex and the others at the table.
"Let's get started, shall we?" Alex said. "What do you need from our humble planet?"
"A material known as nisium. We use it to fuel our ships. Nisium occurs naturally in this quadrant and Saguenay--this planet--has rich veins of it." He nodded to Falan who passed over a folder. "These are the specifications."
"Jenna, could you join us?"
The door opened as one of Jenna's mobile units walked in and took the folder from Alex while the Nordicans just stared.
"Ah, this stuff. How much do you need?"
Trent reeled off a number. "For ten ships? Unless your engines are running at one-percent efficiency, that's enough fuel for twenty times that many."
"Now wait a minute..."
Jenna rattled off something unintelligible. Trent stopped talking.
Jacob, Tayla, and Bryntana took that moment to join them. Just then, Felicity got a call on her headset. Quickly finishing, she leaned over and whispered something in Alex's ear. When she finished, Alex leaned forward and said, "Fleet Commander, for the sake of helping out a people in need, we will allow you to mine what you need. We only ask two things."
Trent continued to stare at Jenna, so Falan took over the talks. "Your generosity knows no bounds. What are these two requests?"
"First, we request you show us how to mine and refine the ore. We may find such skills useful in the future."
"And the second request?"
"Who the hell followed you here? Our satellites have detected five stealth-field-protected ships entering orbit, and before you ask, we're not picking up engines; we're picking up weapons signatures, big ones."
"My fleet!" Trent said. "I've got to warn them."
"We've done that. Your fleet is bugging out for the asteroid belt while we sent decoy probesats out in the opposite direction," Alex said. "But the thousand colonists on this planet don't have that luxury, so I ask you again, who the hell is out there?"
"My fleet is safe?"
"Yes," Jenna said. "I've got a probesat shadowing it, and it's not detecting any pursuers. The five tangos are more interested in this planet than your fleet."
"What the hell are you?" Falan demanded.
"Just your normal, everyday, non-corporeal, extremely long-lived, and ornery artificial intelligence, though I'm not artificial by any stretch of the imagination. Think of me as an over-protective spirit inhabiting the colony's computer system."
Trent and Falan exchanged glances. "Is she for sale? I can give you a good price..."
"Trent!" Falan yelled, disgusted by her partner's lack of decorum.
"Sorry. They're called the Zexx, a race that has been around a while," Trent said. "They co-inhabit this part of space with a race called the Jarrions. One of the Jarrion planets was home to a thriving weapons market, but it died out, and the weapons disappeared. A number of the races placed survey satellites in orbit around deserted planets in the hope of finding this mythical weapons stash. We borrowed..."
"Stole," Falan corrected.
"We stole the control system for one of these satellites from the Zexx. It’s possible the Zexx tagged us when we left..."
"Bugged out of," Falan corrected once more. Alex suppressed a smile.
"We made a hasty departure with their property aboard."
"The tag probably keyed off the receiver being activated," Felicity said. "It was perfect. They could monitor the satellite without
anyone trying to take it away from them. Your ship became a mark in a way. How ironic."
Trent gave her a sideways glance. "It went off a week ago, indicating a city suddenly appearing on Saguenay. Since we were coming here anyway to refuel... Well the rest is history. We saw the city while on approach. I assume you found the depot."
"Yes, we found an entrance, but there were problems."
Trent looked over at Alex. "You don't believe me, do you?"
"Oh, I believe you. We already knew about the city and the Jarrion. It seems Jenna here is good friends with the city's computer system. No, I believe you, I just don't trust you." He tapped his teeth with a tooth pick while his tail performed the dance of the drunken flamenco. He leaned over and whispered something in Felicity's ear. She nodded and tapped her datapad. A picture appeared on the viewer showing Trent, Falan, and a couple other Nordicans standing next to Joshua. "This image is part of the Area 51 archives. Explain."
Falan stared at the picture, eyes wide. "Dr. Joshua Gray, Head of Bioengineering Division of Area 51..." she started to explain.
"Falan!" Trent whispered.
"No, I've had enough of this bullshit. It's obvious they already know. Governor, Trent and I worked at Area 51 under Dr. Gray on a project called BORIS. We were building a telepresence suit based on some tech we stole from another race, only the humans didn't know where we got it. We let them think we developed the tech on our own. This image was taken when we had finished phase one. Dr. Gray died a week later."
"How'd he die?" Tayla asked as she clamped down on the myriad of emotions she was feeling.
"A tragic accident..." Trent started to say, but Falan stopped him.
"We killed him. Our people used an untested device in phase two and it malfunctioned, killing him and a room filled with technicians and engineers."
"Falan, we didn't..."
"We killed him. He ran into the lab to shut down an overload. Instead, he found death. You and I both knew that transference system was flawed, but we still used it along with that power supply."
Trent sighed. "She's right. We were young and stupid, traits which led to his death and the death of a dozen other researchers."
Alex looked at Trent and saw actual remorse in his eyes. It must be the water, he thought while examining his glass. "Now I trust you, which is saying a great deal. I suggest you don't betray that trust. I, and several other colonists, are ex-assassins. We're a little twitchy when it comes to trust issues."
"Understood. What now?"
"Fleet Commander Trent, Commander Falan, I would like you to meet Captain Jacob Townsend, Commander Tayla Hardy, and Lieutenant Governor Bryntana. Jacob, have our new friends noticed our scans yet?"
"No, Governor, nor have they scanned the outpost yet. Their interest is in the city."
"Are they getting through the dampening field?"
"The sensors left behind say no, but it’s only a matter of time before they figure a way to breach it."
"And our... Probe?"
"It's still cataloging the contents of the depot and should finish within the next two hours."
"Good. Keep an eye on them. Let's let them think they still have the upper hand. Trent, Falan, I suggest you signal your fleet and instruct them to lie low. Meanwhile, Jacob, have the probes start making noises like they're setting up mining operations in the asteroid field. Let's keep our friends guessing."
Jacob nodded.
"Trent, why don't you explain to Bryntana and Tayla what you're looking for so that we can expedite mining operations."
"What about the depot?"
"We detected a bioweapon release inside, which is why we sent in a hardened probe. Once Jenna has sufficient data, she will formulate a counter agent. Until then, we have to designate it off-limits. I'd hate to have all of us dissolve or worse if it got out."
"I see your point," Trent said. "Perhaps we could discuss access of less lethal stock once the facility is cleared."
"Perhaps. It may be useful to have an agent working for our best interests. Now, please excuse me while I attend to other business. Let us reconvene in two hours. Felicity, Jenna, with me."
They walked out, leaving the Nordicans in the hands of the others. "Felicity, contact the maintenance crew and have them keep an eye on the ground crew. Jenna, contact Josh and update him. He needs to finish rigging those explosives and get out of there within the next two hours."
"So you plan to blow the depot?" Jenna asked.
"Straight to hell if I can. Did you see the gleam in Trent's eyes? Agent my little black tail. He wants it all. You two are better judges of humanity than I am, what's your read on Falan?"
"That woman is carrying a ship load of guilt over Josh's death." Felicity replied.
"I agree," Jenna added. "She's suffering."
Alex stopped in front of a window. Outside, his colonists went about their business. He tapped his ear-piece. "Tayla, could you bring Falan to the big picture window? Thanks."
Felicity raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to do what I think you're going to do?"
"This place is all about redemption, isn't it? Jenna, can you connect Josh's datapad to Felicity's?"
"Yes, sir."
"Hey, Boss. What's up?" Josh said as the link was completed.
Alex quickly explained the purpose of the call.
"Cool," Josh said as the background of his feed changed to the view from the truck while he was being dropped off.
"Sir?" Tayla asked as she and Falan walked up.
"Commander Falan, I am taking a chance doing this, but I feel it's necessary," he said as he handed her the datapad.
"Hey, Falan," Josh said. "How is it you haven't aged in over two centuries?"
Falan's eyes went huge as her hands shook so hard she almost dropped the pad. "Joshua?"
"Yep, it's me, the old slave driver."
"How is this possible?"
"BORIS. That device I was standing under grabbed my soul and shoved it into that kludged-together brain those guys had slapped into the unit's body before it went into standby. The rest is, well, a really long story."
"But you're alive. This isn't a trick."
"No," Tayla said. "It's no trick."
"Falan, it's really me."
Falan looked at the image on the pad and laughed. "By all the gods, you're truly alive. Where are you?"
"In the city, checking out how the population died. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the bioweapon release. It's only by chance that I was stuck out here while you're there. Listen, can you keep this on the QT? I want to surprise Trent."
"Sure, no problem."
"It has been a strange few days. I'll see you all soon. Joshua out."
Falan wiped a tear from her cheek as she handed the datapad back to Felicity. "I will do everything in my power to help you, but please, help what's left of my people. We're dying out there."
"You have my word. We will do everything we can to help your people. Our first concern, though, is the Zexx. Tayla, take the commander back to the lounge while we see to other matters."
"Yes, sir. This way, Commander."
Falan leaned down and kissed the top of Alex's head. "Thank you."
He bowed as she and Tayla walked back to the lounge.
"We have work to do," Alex said. They split up and continued on to their assigned tasks.
None of them noticed the figure listening to them from a dark alcove. Once the corridor was clear, the figure emerged and looked around. It was ex-Councilperson Mars Pereara, once head of Adrestia and Alex's boss. The smile on his face could strike fear in the heart of a Goranthi warrior.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Prince Lucien stared at the latest report from Alyson in disbelief. Finally, doubting his sanity, he made a call. "Computer, is Dr. Aymar-Taggart still on the premises?"
"Yes, Ambassador. She is visiting with the Queen and her brother."
"Text message Dr. Aymar-Taggart. 'Gloria, join me in my office ASAP. Urgent.'
Sign it 'Lucien.'"
"Message sent and acknowledged."
Lucien returned to staring at the report.
Twenty minutes later, a knock at the door interrupted his staring. "Come."
The door opened and Gloria walked in. "What's up, Cuz?"
Lucien smiled. Gloria was the only person he knew who still called him Cuz. He found it delightful. He handed her the report.
She took it and read it, then stopped as her eyes went wide. "He's alive? Dr. Gray is alive?"
Lucien nodded. "Alive and kicking. As you probably missed reading, his adopted mother, Kylie, seems to have grown him a new body."
"How... Wait, she would have to be over two centuries old. But, she looks human and a damn good one at that," she said as she examined the images from the Area 51 archives
"We think she used the same technology to create Josh's body that she used to create her own. A lot of this doesn't make sense. How is it she was united with her son across light-years of distance and centuries of time? By the way, did we figure out how he got into the BORIS in the first place?"
"An alien soul transfer device similar to the one John created decades ago."
"What? That's impossible."
"Yep, the John Taggart Soul Mover Express, as we call it in the trade, was invented over two hundred years ago by an unknown alien race, stolen by the Nordicans, and inadvertently used at Area 51 to tear Josh's soul from his body and place it into the BORIS prototype."
"Which means other races have access to that technology," Lucien said as the ramifications hit home. "Yes. We've always assumed the tech was only created by you, John, and the Martok. No other race ever showed any sign they had the tech. Now we know there are others, including the Alue and the AIs, which means we have to rethink our idea of network security."
"It's one thing to stop a cyber-threat, but how do you stop a sapient non-corporeal being?"
"By using a sapient non-corporeal being. How long were you prowling the cyber-corridors of Lab Omega Six out in the Mojave Desert? Then there was your time prowling the Cube, the League’s premier research lab. During all that time, did you ever see or meet anyone?"