It wasn't made to withstand a sustained attack from many sources.
However, much to Tinesha’s relief, the dome held—at first.
Then the cracks widened.
Tinesha finally managed to draw a breath when a huge section of the dome fell in, exposing them to the enemy above. She screamed as the drones poured in, bringing her mother running from the house.
“What is going on?” her mother exclaimed.
Tinesha pointed upward, where the dome was in the process of failing under continued bombardment from the alien ship. “The end,” she whispered hoarsely, her words stolen by shock. Her disagreements with her mother seemed so small now. She just wanted to be held by her.
“No!” Tinesha's mother sank to her knees beside her and pulled her daughter into her arms. “I have dreams for you!” Her tears drenched her daughter’s hair.
Tinesha clung to her mother and watched on as their world burned around them. “What can we do?” she croaked, the haze hot in her lungs.
The pause between her question and the answer was both immediate and infinite. “Nothing,” her mother replied eventually. “But we will be avenged.” Her eyes narrowed. “Baba Yaga will not stand for this.”
It was cold comfort, but being avenged was all she had left to offer her daughter.
They remained glued to the spot as the gigantic ship broke fully through the dome and unleashed its weapon on the homes of people they knew.
Something snapped. “Run.” Tinesha pulled hard on her mother’s arm as her focus returned. “We have to try!” She staggered to her feet, dragging her mother along with her.
A drone overhead locked on to them and opened fire, tearing up the ground around the two Torcellans as they made a desperate break for the corner of the property.
They were almost to the edge of the property when Tinesha felt a momentary pain. Did she run into something? Hurt or not, she kept running, helping her mother scramble over the wall at the back despite the burning sensation blooming in the place she’d felt the initial pain.
They ran into the cover of the trees nearby, frantically trying to stay ahead of the drones. The pain in Tinesha’s side ebbed, and she urged her mother toward the caves in the distance. “We’ll be safe there,” she panted.
Tinesha’s mother stopped her daughter with a hand on her shoulder. “Tinesha, you don’t sound good.”
Tinesha glanced down at her side, which was beginning to throb once more. “I think I banged into something in the garden.” She went to lift her clothing to check for a bruise and pulled her bloody hand away in shock. “Mother…”
Tinesha’s mother darted forward to catch her as her legs gave way.
“It’s okay.” Tinesha’s voice cracked as the last of her energy drained away. Looking up, she allowed a ghost of a smile to cross her face. Her mom, at least, would make it to the caves. “Just don’t let them catch you. Tell the witch about me.”
Tinesha’s mother cried, cradling her daughter in her arms as she bled out onto the dirt. Her entire body was shaking, her mind refusing to make sense of anything as alarms blared in the distance.
Tinesha closed her eyes and let out a final choked whisper as the darkness came for her. “I never got to wear…pink.”
In Transit to the Seventh World, SSE ADAM
ADAM picked up the signal and forwarded it to the ArchAngel II. “Kael-ven, are you getting this?”
The scratchy reply came over the long-distance connection. “I don’t know, ADAM. It looks like a distress signal.”
“That’s what I thought. We’re going to divert to investigate.”
Kael-ven’s voice was filled with concern. “What about the schedule? You could send a drone.”
ADAM had already considered that option. “A drone won’t be much use if people need help. Can you catch up in case there are casualties?”
There was a pause on the other end before Kael-ven answered, “We’re on our way, but it’s going to take us a while to get to your location.”
“I’ll leave a marker for ArchAngel to follow,” ADAM told him before dropping the connection.
Loralei swooped in silently beside ADAM’s ship. We going on the side quest?
>>We are. Want to lead the way?<<
My pleasure. Loralei adjusted her course to head for the origin of the distress signal. I haven’t done one of these before.
>>One of what? A distress call?<<
Yeah. Organics are messy when it comes to competition.
>>I can’t argue that.<< ADAM put on a burst of speed to cruise up alongside Loralei’s ship.
What can we do for them?
>>We can fight off anyone or anything attacking them. We can defend them until Kael-ven gets here.<<
It’s not much.
>>It is all we can provide.<<
QT2 System, QBBS Helena, APA
Alexis and Gabriel led K’aia to the seats at the side.
K’aia threw a glance in the direction of the adults. “I thought we were going to train?”
Gabriel shook his head. “No, we’re here to observe and learn today.”
“Today,” Alexis continued, “Mom is teaching, and we haven’t done anything that needs correction.”
Gabriel nodded toward the adults. “My money is on Uncle Scott being the object lesson today.”
K’aia examined Scott’s body language. “He does seem tense. What did he do?”
The twins shrugged in unison.
K’aia shuddered. “It’s weird when you do things at the same time. Like you’re clones or something.”
The twins giggled.
“Seriously, quit it,” K’aia protested. “How old are you, anyway?”
“Fourteen,” Gabriel replied simply.
Alexis lifted a shoulder. “Although if you want to be technical—”
“She probably doesn’t,” Gabriel cut in, pleased to be the one who caught the nuance—for once. “What about you, K’aia?”
K’aia looked at the adults again. “I don’t really know. I think I’m almost a young adult physically, so call that about nineteen? But I can’t be sure. I don’t know how old I was when I was taken from my family.”
Alexis put a hand on K’aia’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry you went through that.”
K’aia patted Alexis’ small hand with her own much larger one and nodded toward Bethany Anne and Michael. “It’s okay, it’s over now. What’s happening over there?”
Gabriel shushed them by raising his hand. “They’re getting started,” he whispered.
Bethany Anne stood alone, with Scott, Gabrielle, John, Eric, and Darryl fanned out in front of her.
“This is always really funny,” Alexis explained as Bethany Anne rolled her shoulders and gave the guys a “come at me” gesture. “Whenever we sit in on training, they all try really hard not to curse.”
K’aia tilted her head in question. “I think my translator is malfunctioning. Where is the humor in that?”
Gabriel “It’s funny because they fail when Mom’s wiping the floor with them, and then Dad gets involved.”
“Oh.” K’aia had wondered why Michael stood off to the side. She wasn't sure that Alexis and Gabriel quite understood the concept of humor either. “What happens next?”
Alexis nodded at Bethany Anne, who was suddenly not where she had been the blink of an eye ago.
Bethany Anne's voice carried through the room, although she was nowhere to be seen. “It’s time to step it up. Take your abilities to the next level.”
K’aia couldn’t believe what she wasn’t seeing. Bethany Anne was back, but her Empress was moving too fast for K’aia’s Yollin eyes to track. She flinched, feeling a presence at her shoulder.
“No empresses here,” Bethany Anne whispered in her ear. “Don’t give me a reason to put you on the floor with everyone else.”
K’aia whipped her head around, but there was nobody there. The next second Bethany Anne was back over with the other adults, and K’aia wa
s left with her mandibles opening and closing soundlessly.
Alexis giggled and tugged on Gabriel’s sleeve, pointing at the young Yollin. “See? Funny!”
K’aia gave Alexis a look and returned her attention to the floor.
Bethany Anne was talking about a lot of things she didn’t understand. She assumed it was all related to the powers these humans had.
“They’re not powers,” Alexis whispered. “We have access to technology that enhances our capabilities to the point where everyone thinks we have powers. Of course,” she qualified, “I have tried to imagine things from the perspective of someone who does not have access to the Etheric.” She made a face. “It’s difficult without having experienced it.”
“It looks like you have powers.” K’aia huffed. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you it’s rude to read someone’s mind?”
“Everyone. Repeatedly.” Gabriel snickered. “But Alexis doesn’t allow a little thing like that to stop her from prying at every opportunity.” His eyes were on Bethany Anne's demonstration of how Gabrielle could improve her control of the Etheric, which to K’aia looked an awful lot like Bethany Anne was toying with the other woman.
Alexis waved her hands. “How else am I supposed to work out all the stuff the adults won’t tell us? Anyway, I didn’t see you complaining when I figured out how to circumvent the lock they put on the Etheric so you could raid the fridge.”
Gabriel’s brow furrowed in thought. “You could get the experience if you could persuade Mom to allow your nanos to be deactivated for a short time.”
Alexis raised an eyebrow at her brother. “You have to be kidding me. That’s too funny. You know Mom would never agree to that.”
Gabriel shrugged. “Just a thought. You don't really want to be that vulnerable. What if you get hurt?”
K’aia left Alexis and Gabriel to their confusing discussion and went back to watching the masterclass on the floor.
Bethany Anne moved like nothing she had yet seen in her life. It was impossible for any being to be that graceful and yet there she was, beauty in motion.
Bethany Anne flowed.
Gabrielle was thrown back again and again, not landing a single energy ball for her efforts. She stopped to push her hair out of her eyes, exhausted from working with so much Etheric energy.
Bethany Anne wasn’t even breathing hard. She inclined her head. “That’s an improvement; good work. Think about what we talked about before our next session. You are the conduit, not the source.” She pointed at John, Scott, and Darryl in turn. “Next lesson. Late for meetings. Snarky. And you have avoided our children.”
Eric snorted. “What did I do?”
Bethany Anne grinned. “Nothing, but you’re here, and you know I hate to leave anyone out.”
The music on the speakers cut out before Eric could reply and CEREBRO spoke. “My Queen, you are needed in the command center.”
Bethany Anne narrowed her eyes at the interruption. “Thank you, CEREBRO. Tell Admiral Thomas I will be with him in a moment.”
“Aw, such a shame we have to cut this session short.” Scott winced as his tone fell short of sincerity.
Bethany Anne tilted her head, her lips pressed together. “Hmmm. Yeah, I don’t think so.” She turned to the side and crooked a finger at the twins and K’aia before turning to Michael. “Advanced combat practice until…oh, Alexis has had enough. It will do our children good to test their Vid-doc training in real world circumstances. K'aia can see the level she’s aiming for.”
A chorus of groans sounded in Bethany Anne's mind.
Not Alexis, Boss, John begged.
We beg you, Scott cut in. She’s relentless!
Think about it, Eric pleaded We’ll still be here when the fleet leaves…
Bethany Anne shut out their complaints and blew a kiss to her children. “Have fun, my loves.”
Chapter Ten
Federation Deep Space Research Outpost
ADAM and Loralei approached the source of the distress signal cautiously, Gating in a safe distance from its broadcast location.
Loralei made a noise of confusion. The signal looked to be coming from a ringed gas giant. They can tolerate that environment? Ooh, maybe they’re a brand new species we haven’t met yet. They might not be humanoid. Loralei paused. Oh, wait.
ADAM repressed a chuckle at Loralei’s enthusiasm. His scans were rough, but it seemed that the outpost was actually on a tiny planetoid orbiting the space between two of the gas giant’s rings, hidden by dust and interference thrown out by the rings. >>You found it?<<
Uh-huh. I don’t want to say I’m disappointed, but, well…
>>You were hoping for first contact with flame people.<<
Loralei snickered. Perhaps? Kinda?
>>You might still get your mystery bone tickled,<< ADAM offered. >>My scans are reading a faint Federation signal from within the rings. I didn’t realize Lance had anything this far out.<<
This is a Federation site? Loralei asked. Fuck, that is far out. Consider me tickled. What are your orders, O Magnificent One?
ADAM set his scanners to work as soon as his scout ship cleared the Gate. >>We need to get closer. The signal is still looping, which hopefully means we’re not too late to make a difference.<< That wasn’t all his scanners were telling him. He adjusted his course to come at the planet directly. >>Are you getting all these transmissions?<<
No?
ADAM linked her into his inputs.
Oh, I can hear it now, Loralei told him. Wow, Jean really beefed your ship up, huh? Shit, what’s all that other noise?
ADAM assumed she was referring to the malady of shrieks escaping the cover of the rings. >>That would be the Ooken language,<< he replied. >>Harmonious, isn’t it?<<
Loralei sniffed. It sounds like souls in a shredder. She brought her ship up alongside ADAM’s. The people…we need to save them. Race?
ADAM gave it some serious thought. He considered being sensible for maybe a tenth of a second. >>You’re on.<<
They tore up the distance, pulling to a halt just short of the rings.
Loralei cackled, flying circles around ADAM. How does it feel to lose to a humble EI?
ADAM snorted. >>You can claim a lot of things, but I don’t think humility is one of them.<<
You’re one to talk. Didn’t you make that Ooken EI believe you were the god of digital intelligence to break it?
ADAM was about to reply when a mechanized tentacle erupted from the swirling dust and thrust past, setting the two scout ships spinning in its wake.
>>PULL BACK!<< ADAM and Loralei managed to avoid the thrashing metal limb before it dropped back into the maelstrom. Both regained control and edged over to the place the ginormous tentacle had been and gone.
Loralei hung back a bit while ADAM moved erratically, scanning the ring. What the Gigerian fuck was that nightmare?
>>That was an Ooken battleship, or one section of one. The tentacles are a theme with them. We should move, since it’s gone for now.<<
So how do we get to the outpost without getting suckered by one of them?
>>Very , very carefully. Stay close to me.<< His ship dove. >>We are going in.<<
Loralei did as directed, and ADAM led them into the murky dust cloud.
The moment they were enveloped, ADAM’s sensors all but cut out. He put a little more into clearing it up, but the interference he'd picked up before was playing with his perception. >>Loralei, how are you doing in this? Are your sensors coping?<<
Um, no. I’m completely blind.
ADAM almost turned them back there and then, partly out of concern for Loralei, but mostly because he was struggling to maintain his connection to Bethany Anne as well as navigate for both SSE ships.
His ship was demanding everything from him and ten percent more than that.
I wonder if this is what it's like for humans in the dark? Loralei pondered.
ADAM chuckled, his fear for her gone. >>I don't know. Probably?<< He sent a tether. It
took a few tries, but eventually it attached itself to Loralei’s ship. >>Better?<<
We won’t get separated, at least. Where is the outpost from here?
>>It’s ahead, but I can’t tell how many Ooken ships there are between us and the signal location.<<
It took every cycle of ADAM’s available computing power to remain focused on the here and now. His connection to Bethany Anne was down to almost nothing, and the sensation of being all but cut off from her and TOM was not a pleasant one.
However, maintaining control of his ship was paramount to his and Loralei’s survival.
ADAM poured his concentration into navigating the murk ahead, the secondary chip in his ship pulling almost everything to give him a chance of avoiding the parts of the ring that could smash them to a million pieces.
He caught the reappearance of the Ooken battleship just in time.
>>DROP!<<
Loralei reacted instantly, turning her thrusters to shoot downward with ADAM.
>>Stop. We’re good.<<
What happened? she asked, perplexed.
>>Ooken ship. We’re hugging an asteroid, and our cloaking will keep us hidden while it passes.<<
That was too damn close.
>>We were never in danger,<< he assured her.
Is Bethany Anne listening in or something? Otherwise you’re just fooling yourself, since I won’t give a shit either way.
ADAM completed what scans he could. >>It’s clear. I think.<<
The two stayed side by side under the cover of the dust as they searched for a spot on the planet’s surface away from the action.
The dust cleared somewhat when they reached the edge of the path cut into the rings by the outpost’s orbit.
They had another close shave when Loralei slipped out of the cloud and was almost detected by an Ooken seeker.
ADAM reeled Loralei back in by the tether, ignoring the stream of curses from the potty-mouthed EI.
>>You were visible for a second. This dust is not working entirely in our favor.<<
Loralei snorted. If you say so. In that case, I forgive you.
>
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