Intrinsic: Book One of the Terran Cycle

by Philip C. Quaintrell

  Licking his lips, he tasted the blood dripping from his nose. His vision faltered after that, causing him to retreat back into his own mind. He had done all he could. That was his last thought before he himself fell into the abyss.

  Epilogue

  He woke to voices in the dark. He knew the voices but it took him a minute to collect his thoughts. There were images and memories that were not his own. He went from cradling a baby on a barren world to walking through a museum on Earth with a father that wasn’t his. Kalian pushed his awareness into the room before opening his eyes.

  The feedback was disturbing.

  He immediately shot up ready for a fight, building the power in his central nervous system. From the sheer size of his surroundings and the masses of nanocelium, he knew he was on the Gommarian. He had felt all twenty miles of it, with him somewhere in the belly.

  “Easy!” Li’ara put a soothing hand on his chest. He looked at her long and hard, just taking her in- he had saved her. He could see the tear in her undersuit and armour where a patch of perfectly healed skin was exposed. She felt like an extension of him now. He would have to work at telling their memories and experiences apart now. Everything about her told him he wasn’t in immediate danger. He reached out and held her tight, probably too tight with his armoured suit.

  “I thought...” He couldn’t finish the words.

  “I know. But there have been a few developments since you’ve been out.” Li’ara stepped to the side revealing a small crowd of humans and Novaarians. Kalian made a quick sweep of his mind checking for damage or a concussion. He couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing.

  “You look like shit, kid.” Roland was standing off to the side, like always. He had his usual undersuit with armoured plates covered by the large animal-hide coat. From the look of his face he had taken a beating though. Kalian had no doubt the drink in his hand was alcoholic.

  “Greetings of peace, Kalian.” Telarrek and Ilyseal were close by. He did a double-take at the sight of the female Novaarian. He had been sure she would have died with the crew of the Valoran. He flicked between her and Roland as he realised that the agent should be dead as well. Kalian felt a weight lift from his shoulders at seeing them alive.

  The apparent med bay was half-filled, with a group of humans on the other side. Four of them broke off and approached the unlikely group of friends.

  “Hello, Mr Gaines, I am Captain Fey of the...” She stopped before the usual UDC speech. Kalian was just shocked to see another human, a group of humans in fact. How many had survived? He quickly surmised that they must be the prisoners from the Laronian warship. Whatever she said next, he didn’t hear. His eyes were fixed on the dark haired woman standing next to her.

  “Esabelle...” He said her name without thinking. He had never met her but he knew it was Savrick’s daughter. His memories of her were distorted, as if he had dreamed about her.

  “We have a lot to talk about,” was her only reply.

  The next few hours had been a lot to take in, for everyone. They were shown to the bridge which had a very human feel to it and not at all what Kalian had seen in Savrick’s memory. Esabelle remained silent, allowing the different people to be caught up on various events. Kalian and Li’ara had been impressed with Roland’s plan to board the Gommarian while he and the other humans found it hard to accept the revelations concerning Earth. Esabelle had confirmed for them that they had indeed been engineered to ensure the survival of the Terran race. The captain and some of the scientists appeared shell shocked for some time after that, Roland was unfazed but that could be the drink. Kalian was sad to hear the fate of Namek but was grateful for his attempts to keep Li’ara and himself alive. If it hadn’t been for him, they would have certainly died back at Clave Tower.

  Telarrek told of a brave story in which he had fought the Gomar that Esabelle identified as, Sef. His multiple injuries and cuts were testament to the fight he had put up, as well as the limp he now walked with. But what troubled them more was the ending to his encounter. When the Helion had fallen from the sky, Sef fled the Outpost as it crumbled under the ship’s weight.

  Kalian felt a pit open in his stomach at the thought of a Gomar on the loose. ALF had led Telarrek to safety, before asking him to omit the existence of the AI in his report to the Conclave. It sounded like more manipulation from the AI to Kalian. He hadn’t forgiven him for the way he tricked Li’ara onto the Helion. ALF had calculated that Li’ara’s fate would be the only thing that could give him the strength to overcome Savrick and find a way to survive the Helion, while at the same time he calculated that Savrick wouldn’t be able to stop a Nexus-class star ship landing on his head. The AI was genius, but ruthless. Still, if the Conclave knew an AI existed with his level of sophistication, they would harvest him for parts.

  “Has there been any word from, ALF?” Kalian asked.

  “No, but I wouldn’t expect there to be.” It was Esabelle who answered him. “He wouldn’t risk so much as laser-com with the Gommarian for fear of infection.” Kalian could accept that but the presence of Savrick’s daughter didn’t add up.

  “Everything I know of this ship and you doesn’t add up to what I’m seeing.” Kalian aimed his words at Esabelle who had been monitoring the readout from a holographic console.

  “That’s because everything you know has come from ALF and Savrick, and they didn’t know much.” Kalian was surprised Esabelle called him Savrick instead of father, but didn’t ask. “You should be aware by the way, that a Conclave fleet has just emerged from sub space and is currently surrounding us.”

  “They don’t know the situation,” Telarrek explained. “They are simply creating a perimeter. We should make contact as soon as possible.” Kalian noticed the confused looks from the UDC personnel. Until they received translators they would be useless.

  “Wait a minute.” There was one thing Kalian couldn’t figure out from what he had gleaned from Savrick. “How did the Gommarian even get here if you’re not plugged into it?” He knew the ship was controlled by over-stimulating Esabelle’s brain to actually move the dense vessel. But there were no engines inside it.

  “I reconfigured the ship before disconnection. We now have everything a conventional vessel has; a bridge, a Starrillium, brig, sleeping quarters-”

  “A bar!” Was Roland’s only contribution.

  “And six fully functioning factories, capable of making almost anything.” That last part was definitely not conventional.

  “Where did you get a Starrillium from?” He asked.

  “Compliments of ALF.” Her reply being so vague Li’ara elaborated.

  “He ejected it from the Helion before he cut the antigravity thrusters.” Being so focused on Li’ara at the time, he hadn’t realised that if there had been a Starrillium onboard, the whole moon would have shattered.

  “So... what? You’re saying the Gommarian is ours? Just like that? Why are you helping us?” Kalian couldn’t put the pieces together.

  “I have been trying to help you for centuries. It was I who hid the information regarding The Wall. It was I who kept the ports open for you.” Esabelle shot Roland and the Novaarians a look. “I reconfigured the ship so you could find the others. I withheld the sensor feedback that would have warned the Gomar about the Valoran’s Starrillium. I built the slowest craft I could to give you more time on Naveen. And I have been trying to break free of this monster for an eternity...” Kalian resisted the urge to comfort her. He couldn’t deny the feelings he had, but he also understood that they weren’t entirely his feelings.

  “I am not one of them.” Esabelle looked in the general direction of the Rem-stores. Kalian wasn’t sure how he felt yet about a dozen Gomar snoozing so close by. “While they spent millennia sleeping, I grew. I learned everything I could about our potential and endeavoured to teach myself control. I couldn’t disconnect until I knew I could control my abilities. I tricked Elandar into thinking I was inside the virtuality he created. But when we fir
st discovered the Conclave centuries ago, everything changed. When I learned of The Wall, so did it...” Kalian noticed everyone look at each other in confusion. Li’ara stared at Esabelle intently.

  “What do you mean, it?” She asked.

  “I wasn’t the only one controlling this ship. It took me centuries but I finally contained it before disconnecting. I could feel it like an itch at the back of my mind. It observed everything I did but it had different motives. I had to fight it all the way. When you boarded, it sent those hunter-mechs to kill you.” She aimed it at Roland who was pinching his broken nose. “I never gained full access but its thoughts leaked over. Savrick wanted to wipe out all Terran life, even human life, but I think he was poisoned by its own desires to destroy us. When I found evidence of Terran technology on Naveen, it woke up with a need. I don’t know where it came from but it only has one purpose, remove any and all Terran life from this galaxy. All the while there was a background feeling that something worse was coming.”

  “Well whatever it is, it’s either really patient or it lives forever.” Kalian said. “It clearly thinks in terms of millennia if it’s happy to just roam the galaxy looking for Earth all that time.”

  “Why human life?” Captain Fey asked with no lack of dread.

  “Because it see’s us as a threat.” Surprisingly it was Li’ara who replied. Kalian gave her a questioning look and she explained ALF’s findings on the outer reaches of the Norma Arm. It was news to Esabelle who admitted to having no knowledge about the ancient probes.

  “I have trapped it inside its own processing unit and severed its connection to the ship. The cube itself is being housed below the Starrillium.” One of Esabelle’s words caught Kalian’s attention.

  The cube...

  Was this the same cube Savrick had found buried inside the cavern? He kept the thought to himself for now.

  “Why would they see humanity as a threat?” Ilyseal asked the obvious question.

  “Because of what we’re capable of, our potential,” Li’ara looked to Kalian. He had to agree with her assessment; the Gomar had proved how much damage they could cause with less than a thousand of them. But who was it they were threatening? And where did they come from? They certainly had the time to play the long game.

  “In that regard we will have to deal with the Conclave.” Telarrek said. “After the attack on the capital they will be highly suspicious of humans, especially if you are to remain in this vessel.” It did seem highly unlikely that the council would grant them membership or even a planet to call home.

  “I think in this instance it would be better if you spoke on our behalf.” Esabelle was looking at Telarrek. “Especially since every ship has just armed their full complement of planet breakers.”

  They waited two days before the council finally arrived via the Marillion, a spherical ship the size of a small moon. Telarrek informed them it was the only Galactic Class star ship and the pride of the Conclave fleet, at half the size of the Gommarian. Due to the mass of both great ships they were forced to keep their distance from Nova Prime and Naveen.

  It had felt like a lifetime to Kalian as they waited. He remained in his fitted suit of Terran armour, it felt like a second skin to him now. Captain Fey had given several speeches already to the remainder of their race. After the first, he didn’t stop to hear the rest but he was glad someone was trying to instil the hope they would need to survive. The population hadn’t taken the news about Earth’s and Century’s destruction very well. There had been several threats of suicide from the people who had lost entire families. In that regard Kalian was thankful he had been an only child with no other connections.

  Only a handful of people had taken to exploring the ship. Esabelle had supplied hand held Datapads to help with navigating the massive vessel, but most preferred the safety of numbers inside the hold. Captain Fey had separated the UDC personnel from the scientists, so Esabelle could instruct them in the use of the ship’s controls. Not that they could go anywhere with the barricade of Conclave security ships outside. The Gommarian’s ability to produce food and drink had subdued the population somewhat, Kalian decided not to ask how it was made. In truth it could take years to fully explore the epic vessel.

  Telarrek had shown the Laronian survivors to a separate living area since relations had become somewhat frayed. Roland stalked the corridors like a caged animal. Kalian knew the agent wanted to leave it all behind and find his own way in this new world. But that’s why they had to wait for the council.

  After initial communications the bridge crew were informed that the Marillion would be sending a smaller ship with the council onboard. They were instructed to meet the ship at the halfway point between them and the Gommarian. Esabelle showed the crew how to activate the factories and build another craft for transport. Everyone was amazed with the nanocelium and their ability to construct almost anything.

  To Captain Fey’s annoyance she was not invited to the rendezvous since her authority was not recognised by the council. Li’ara had informed her that, as a UDC representative, she would speak on the captain’s behalf. Along with the Novaarians, Kalian and Li’ara entered the cathedral-size hangar where a ship waited for them.

  “What are you doing here?” Li’ara asked.

  “I thought you deserved one last look at my pretty face, Red.” Roland was leaning against their ship. “This is where we part ways.”

  “And how’s that exactly?”

  With her question, the space next to Roland erupted with activity as another ship became visible. The vessel was somewhere between impressive and a hunk of junk. The hull was tinted bronze around its circular shape, with a large cylindrical extension on one side that was clearly the engine. The starboard side was concave, as if a bite had been taken out of the hull. It was three or four times the size of the Fathom and twice as big as the unassuming vessel next to it.

  “You cannot leave with the barricade in place.” Ilyseal sounded more concerned for his safety than angering the Conclave.

  “The Rackham can, stealthware babe!” He thumbed the ship behind him. “A parting gift from Esabelle, I guess.”

  “Or maybe she figured it was more dangerous keeping you onboard.” Li’ara retorted.

  “Why would you leave, Roland? You saved the entire human race.” Kalian was sad that he was only referring to seven thousand people. “You’re a hero!” Roland laughed at the word.

  “That ain’t me, kid. Besides, they’ve got you now.” He looked at Li’ara with a coy smile. “I’m afraid we’ll have to wait until next time, Red. Try not to be too disappointed.” With that he turned and left for his new ship as Li’ara gave him the finger. Kalian had no doubt that the Rackham was filled with stashes of alcohol and weapons. The Conclave just became a little less safe in Kalian’s opinion.

  Within minutes they had left the Gommarian with the automated ship flying them towards the council. The Conclave vessel was more of a giant platform with a dome in the centre. The same Nix that escorted them in the council chamber was waiting for them inside the landing platform. They were soon taken to the semicircle chamber that housed the five councillors of the ruling races. Kalian had a feeling this meeting would not be so public.

  Elondrasa appeared to be in full health with no evidence that she had been attacked by Savrick, a testament to the Conclave’s medical advancements.

  “Greetings of peace, to you all,” said the old Novaarian.

  “Peace?” Snorted Lordina. “They are war mongers! It was a human who decimated the Conclave, who destroyed the Helion and took possession of a Laronian warship.”

  “A warship that abducted thousands of our people!” Kalian winced at Li’ara’s outburst. This line of arguing continued for several minutes, in which the council explained that the Laronians had every intention of presenting them to the council. Li’ara wasn’t convinced. Eventually Telarrek stepped forward and told the council everything that had transpired since they fled the Conclave capital. Kalian no
ted the absence of ALF in his recounting.

  Kalian still felt partly responsible for the state of humanity, if only for surviving the catastrophe that befell it, “Now you know our history, as hard as it is to believe. But we need to look to our future. Our home is gone and our origins lie on the other side of the galaxy. We are few in number, the closest to extinction we have ever come. Will you help us?” The councillors looked to one another but said nothing; their decision had already been made before the meeting.

  “No.” It was the Raalak councillor, Brokk who answered. Telarrek and Ilyseal nearly spoke out before Elondrasa held up a hand to silence them. “It may not have been you or your people that attacked us, but that distinction will be hard to make. All the races saw Savrick attack the council chamber. It is as much for your protection as it is ours that we remain apart. In time, a middle-ground may be found.” Li’ara gripped his hand and he could feel the anger building inside her.

  “There is good news.” Nu-marn, the Shay councillor interjected. “Our long-range scans have detected multiple vessels of human design. They are responding to our signal, in binary for now, but they are coming. From the telemetry it appears they are coming from different regions across the Orion Arm. We will see to it that they find their way to you.” Kalian looked to Li’ara and knew she felt the same elation that he did. It was a silver lining of hope against the Conclave’s rejection.

  “That is not the end of it, I am afraid.” Ch’lac interjected. The small Ch’kara was examining Kalian with a scrupulous eye. “You must hand over that ship and yourself, Kalian Gaines.” Kalian instinctively held out his arm, keeping Li’ara from throttling the little alien. “We have reviewed the data from the Novaarian fleet and seen your... capabilities. The council has deemed you and that ship too dangerous to go around unchecked.” Kalian took a breath and looked at Li’ara. He felt the energy in his spine give him the feeling of invincibility against such beings. It made him bold again.