by T. R. Harris
“I now see your concern.”
“Is there anything you can do, with all your powers, to protect us?”
“I’m afraid not,” she answered with only a slight concern in her voice. “I can only communicate with devices that are within a half a mile or so from my being. With the distances involved in space, there is nothing I can do.”
“How about with the ship’s systems, can you enhance any of them, make our shields stronger or increase the range of our detectors?”
“I cannot influence the operation of devices beyond the capacity for which they were constructed. To apply more influence would cause bodily harm to these devices.”
“You said back on Uniss-3 that your own bodily functions were being enhanced. What did that mean?”
“For sentient beings I can supplement the electrical impulses within their muscles and brain activity by drawing in the free spirits from the air. This can have the effect of added strength, durability and endurance … on a temporary basis. To influence such enhancements over time would cause even biological units to heat up to the point of failure. It is the same with non-biological devices. Too much influence and the increased heat within the device will cause catastrophic failure.”
Adam was silent for a moment as he worked through his options. “How about the monitoring devices on the Phoenix, can you help me keep track of them? I only have two eyes and it would be helpful to have another set helping to keep track of things.”
Arieel smiled. “I can do that. I can communicate with all of them if you wish and let you know when they are speaking to me.”
“That’s great; take a seat. We have around twelve systems to pass through on the way to Formil. But since we had such a head-start, we may get lucky….”
Just then the proximity sensor began to flash and chime. Only moments before he had set it to respond audibly, as well as visually, just in case he was distracted by something else. Now he checked the screen and his stomach tightened with what he saw.
It was nine ships coming out of his two-o’clock. Even though they had no organized formation, it was obvious they were all heading in his general direction. Damn, McCarthy must have calculated his departure speed from Uniss-3 and projected a current location.
Adam shifted course slightly away from the approaching ships. Their vector would allow for an intercept if he remained on course, even though the Phoenix was nearly twice as fast as the fastest ship that was closing on them. On this course he would be able to clear the range of their weapons with ease.
And then the alarm sounded again. This time there were three more ships, only these were coming in from his ten-o’clock, nearly the opposite direction as the other nine ships.
He angled the nose of the Phoenix down some. He was already at maximum-well, so increasing speed was not an option. Only his direction could be used to avoid his pursuers.
And then all hell broke loose. Across nearly his entire forward screen, ranging from nine-o’clock all the way around to three-o’clock, a literal haze of contacts appeared. There had to be hundreds of them!
He chanced a quick glance at Arieel, who now wore a lot of concern on her pretty face. “I have nothing to report,” she said. “The instruments have communicated with you as they have with me.”
Adam continued his dive, forming a large loop in order to double back in the direction they had just come. Even as he did so, he was met with seven new contacts, stragglers who had been following him, yet with no chance of catching him – until now. The seven ships opened fire, the velocity of their flash bolts increased by Adam own closing vector.
He spun the Phoenix to the right, spiraling in a wild corkscrew and heading for the star at the center of the system they were traversing.
His radical ninety-degree maneuver had the effect of drawing all his pursuers into a single, wide swatch of contacts, twisting the space in this part of the star system into a roiling cauldron of overlapping gravity-wells. With many of his followers already well beyond maximum safe well-intensity for travel within a system, their wells managed to draw in nearby ships, causing massive explosions, whose concussions only served to force other ships into the paths of others. More explosions resulted and soon the space behind the Phoenix was one massive burst of radiation, like that of a mini-supernova.
Adam and Arieel both sat stunned looking at the brilliance of the explosion behind them. Adam had no idea how many ships were destroyed, but even then, it wasn’t enough to stop them all. Along the outer limits of the great ball of nuclear fire, dozens of ships emerged. Many were temporarily blinded by the explosion, but soon their sensors came back online and they lined up once again on Adam’s position.
Adam changed course again, this time heading straight for the system’s central star, a great ball of yellow fire that grew larger as the seconds passed.
“What are you doing?” Arieel asked the worry now thick in her voice.
“I’ve got an idea. Strap in.”
He didn’t need to give the instruction, she had already done so, and when the blinding mass of swirling yellow fire filled the entire forward screen, Adam suddenly banked right and spun around to the backside of the star.
As he rounded the stellar disk, he momentarily lost sight of his pursuers. It was the moment he was waiting for. Adam cranked the control stick all the way to the right, causing the Phoenix to change course by an impossible ninety-degrees. The internal compensators were the fastest in the galaxy, but even then, at the velocity they were traveling, the inertia pressed both he and Arieel into their seats and twisted their faces into grotesque versions of reality. And then Adam cut all the power on the ship.
Emergency battery lights flickered on and the strange warping of the space outside the ship returned to normal. Having just dumped out of a gravity-well, the ship still carried an incredible amount of momentum, but even then it barely registered as one-third light speed.
The passive monitors were left on, and in the dim red glow of the emergency lights, the screens stood out like beacons. Adam and Arieel leaned in close to watch as the contact signatures indicating the positions of the pursuers suddenly reappeared around the edge of the star. They all continued along their original trajectories, until many began to slow, realizing the Phoenix had dropped off their scopes.
There were easily fifty or more ships now crowding the space off to Adam’s six. In dark mode, the Phoenix continued to put space between them and the bounty hunters, some of which had now spread out in a wide fan-like formation, yet still headed away from Adam’s position.
Even as this was happening, newer contacts were appearing, some heading roughly in Adam’s direction, yet none apparently aware of this. Adam held his breath as five huge cargo ships passed within extreme visual range of the Phoenix, heading in the opposite direction. As they passed, Adam wondered what cargo ships expected to accomplish against the Phoenix, if they had been the ones to detect him. They carried no real armament to speak of, nor shields against flash bolts. This just showed how effective was McCarthy’s bounty. Even ships that had no chance of stopping him had taken flight, and it was only going to get worse.
“We cannot keep the power off for long, Adam Cain,” Arieel said softly, not wanting to interrupt his thoughts too abruptly. “It will soon grow very cold and the atmosphere scrubbers will cause even more damage.”
“I know. We just need to get to some open space so we can bring some of our systems back online. It looks like the bulk of the other ships are heading away from us now, so just a few more minutes.”
“I’ve been thinking,” Arieel began, “why don’t we just hide somewhere until the deadline for this reward has passed? Once the seven days have passed, then the bounty – as you call it – will no longer be valid and we can resume our journey.”
Adam pulled his attention away from the proximity screen and stared dumbfounded at the pretty Formilian. “What about the Rite Ceremony? You have to be there.”
“Even though I have never m
issed one in my tenure, I’m sure the Order will understand my delay, based on our current circumstances.”
“But what about … what about the device, the thing inside you?”
“You mean the Gift? What of it? I still live.”
“No, the other one, the bomb.”
“What are you speaking of, Adam Cain? What bomb?”
Adam couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Either the story of the bomb was a lie – which in a way was the whole basis of the Formilian religion – or Arieel didn’t know. Was that even possible, given her background, training and awareness of all electronic devices around her? Adam had to be careful – and then he corrected himself. Why did he need to be careful with Arieel? It was a very good chance that neither one of them would live beyond the day….
“Arieel, don’t get upset, but is there not a self-destruct explosive in your body, a device to keep the secret of the Gift from falling into the wrong hands?”
Arieel stared at him for what seemed like a full minute, before she suddenly burst out into laughter. “Of course not, Adam Cain, where did you read that information?”
“I didn’t read it, Convor told me.”
The remark caused Arieel’s smile to suddenly vanish and her dark eyes cloud over. “Explain!” she cried out.
Adam took a deep breath. He didn’t know the truth. All he could go by was what he had been told. “Convor said there is a device in your body that needs to be reset every twenty-eight days at the Rites Ceremony. If it is not reset, then it will explode. Is this not true?”
Arieel was quite once again, staring unblinking into Adam’s eyes, seeking any deception. “Why are you saying this? If I had such a device within my body I would be aware. Yes, the Ceremony is a ritual all Speakers endure; we have for thousands of years. I have never missed one, nor have any of the Speakers I’m aware of. But it is simply a ritual for our people. It has no hidden purpose.”
Adam could tell from her voice that Arieel was growing scared and uncertain. He could see her eyes trying to work through the significance of Adam’s revelation. Finally she squared her jaw and narrowed her. “I do not know the reason why you wish to scare me like this; our current predicament is scary enough as it is. But I can assure you I do not have within my being a device set to explode in seven days….” Her voice trailed off when she spoke the words seven days. The timing of the bounty and of Adams words was too much of coincidence to be pure chance.
“Is this the reason the reward expires in seven days?” she asked. “If I return within that time, I will live. Yet if I do not return for the Ceremony, then I will … die?”
“That’s what I’ve been told, Arieel. I’m not making this up. I’m sorry you didn’t know – I thought you did.”
“I must speak with Convor immediately!” Arieel suddenly proclaimed. CW communications were beyond tracing, so a link with the High Celebrant certainly was possible. But with the revelation that Convor was her father, the conversation could get very emotional.
“Are you sure? You may not like what you hear.”
“I must verify this information independently. The High Celebrant will not deceive me.” Adam watched her mouth tighten up and he could almost read her thoughts. Like he apparently already has!
“If you insist,” Adam said, turning back to his console. He tapped in the information that the CW computer would need to establish the continuous wormhole link and then waited the thirty seconds or so for the holes to form. A separate screen on his console lit up and a young, extremely handsome – as they all were – Formilian appeared.
His expression exploded when he saw Arieel on his screen. “My Speaker, I was not expecting your link! I am ill-prepared for the dialog.”
“Just get the High Celebrant. I must speak with him now.”
“My Speaker, I believe he is in council.”
“Then get him out! I must speak with him – now!”
The young Formilian blanched, having never come under the overwhelming scrutiny of the Speaker before. “Yes, immediately. Forgive me.”
Leaving the screen live, the terrified Formilian disappeared from view. Adam and Arieel said not a word to each other as they waited at least two full minutes before the image of Convor slipped onto the screen.
“My Speaker, I am so glad to see you still well. I am sure you have been made aware of the reward that has been offered for you and Mr. Cain. I have just been in council discussing what options and assistance we might be able to offer, yet my relief is beyond words that you are still well.”
“Father, what is this story I have just heard regarding an explosive device within my body? Is it true?”
The shock on Convor’s face was evident from forty light years away. First his mouth fell open, but then it snapped shut as he focused his attention on Adam. “What have you been told, Arieel?”
Adam noticed how both father and daughter had suddenly dropped the official protocol of their respective positions. This had to be significant.
“I have been told that this device will explode unless I return to the Temple by Rites seven days from now. The significance of the timing of the reward and the Rites Ceremony has me very concerned that this story might be true.”
“It is nothing to worry about, Arieel. You will be back with time to spare before the Sacrament. You will be fine.”
“Then it is true!”
“Yes, my daughter, but it is something that all the other Speakers have also had to endure.”
“But why was I not told?” Arieel had begun to cry, the tears streaming down her tan face.
“It was not necessary,” Convor said. “In all our time, no Speaker has missed the Ceremony. It is our most-constant affair, the one thing that all our people can count on.”
“Of course it is a constant, because if not, then the Speaker would die! I would die.”
“Arieel, you must realize that the Gift is our most guarded secret. If others were to learn of it, then our entire way of life would be in jeopardy. You are much too valuable to be allowed capture and investigation. The precautions you speak of are a necessary evil in order to protect you and our beliefs.”
“How am I protected if I am dead?”
Convor did not respond. Instead he watched as Arieel wiped the tears from her eyes and cheeks and regained some of her composure. Finally she looked back at the image of her father, his own face a study in pain and anguish. “I understand the necessity of this action, father, I just do not understand why I was not informed? It is obvious that the presence of this device has been shielded from me – even a betrayal by the Gift itself. What else are you not telling me?”
“Nothing Arieel, the reason you were not told was so that you would not worry. The Order has protected you and will continue to do so.”
“Until now – just look at what has transpired over the past several weeks. If I had not been rescued by Adam Cain, I would have simply exploded at the appropriate time, and then your troubles would be over. A new Morlic-Speaker would be born and the Order would carry on until she is old enough to assume her position. But I would be gone.”
“It is not like that, Arieel. Your abduction was unexpected; something that has never before taken place in our entire history. We were ill-prepared for its occurrence.”
“And yet – you must admit – if the credits for my return had not been requested, you would have tried little to save me from the evil Human who took me. In time, the situation would have resolved itself.”
“Arieel, stop being like this!” her father commanded. “We were trying all we could to get you back. You are much more important to our society and our religion than just as a vessel for the Gift. Even now, your survival will prevent the Omphly savages from attacking us. If you should perish, then there will be war.”
“And we cannot have that,” Arieel said sardonically, the tears still escaping from her dark eyes.
Convor seemed to know what she was intimating, because he leaned in closer to the scre
en, even as a solitary tear escaped his own glassy eyes. “You are my daughter, Arieel; above all I want you back. It has always been difficult for me to separate the responsibilities of my office from those of a parent. And now I have the dual weight of saving my daughter and of saving our religion resting upon my shoulders. Both are intertwined and both are just as important.” He looked over and Adam and made eye contact. “I know I may be asking the impossible; you have already exceeded your charter, Mr. Cain, but please return my daughter to me. I know you are a Human, and probably incapable of understanding the emotions of Formilians, but I beseech you. If you can do this, then you will never want of anything from me or the Formilian race.”
Oh great, Adam thought, nothing like putting even more pressure on me!
“I understand, Convor. Unfortunately, what happens over the next seven days may be out of my control. Is there anything you can do to help us get back, and all in one piece?”
“The council was just been discussing this. We are at a loss. The offer was broadcast in the open to every world within the sector and beyond. Even the newscasts are speaking of it. It has taken on a life of its own. Within the Coalition, the subject is appalling, even though an inordinate number of spaceships have departed from the various worlds of our union. It is especially disturbing to see this happen.”
“How were they able to find us so fast?” Adam asked.
“Your approximate coordinates were revealed, as was the description of your ship and it’s very distinct gravity signature. You may possess one of the fastest ships in the galaxy, but it does leave a unique trail as it passes.”
“That it does –” Adam sat up suddenly. “Convor, I have to go. A plan just popped into my head and it’s going to get very busy around here.”
“What is it, Mr. Cain?”
“I’m not going to tell you. Even though I believe you are loyal to Arieel, I can’t say that about the others around you. The less you know, the safer we’ll be.”
“I understand fully, Mr. Cain,” Convor said. “Please use the God-given talents of your race to do all you can. I will be praying for the safe return of you and my daughter by the time of the Rites Ceremony.”