Starship Magic 4: Extraction

by Mark Brandon Powell

  Tia pushes away nicely, “I am sorry sir, but I think you have me confused with someone else. I do have that affect on people.”

  Graven shakes his head, “Nope, don’t have you confused at all big sister Tiamat. It’s me Jinxie.” He clears his throat and sets Tia down. “Well my name is Graven actually, now, me and Graven here weren’t able to complete the resurrection ceremony on Etchten because we had to leave in a hurry. So we are kind of the same being now.”

  Tia has a look of disbelief on her face for a moment. Kat could tell it's a genuine expression and Tia had been faking everything up until then.

  Tia’s mask comes back on and asks, “When did you go back to Etchten?”

  Graven smiles, “About a year ago now. The Foremid have control of it right now. The Etchten trees were in bloom and it was just as beautiful as ever. The temple is still in one piece but I don’t know about the castle. Didn’t have a chance to –”

  Tia interrupts, “That is more than enough. Thank you sister. Or should I call you brother now. You did always want to be the first of something big for our race and now you’re the first male.”

  As Graven turns around to the group with a smile on his face, Kat already knew what he is going to say.

  “Everyone, I’d like you to meet my sister Tiamat. Queen of the Eydulans.”

  Tia walks up to to Terra first, “You are one of us, correct?”

  Terra nods and bows, “I am your majesty. I held twenty five cores before returning and we are now one.”

  “This is the work of the Guild I take it?”

  Terra nods

  “Damn that bastard.”

  Kat glances to her right and sees Mark taking a few steps back. Not leaving but keeping his distance. She turns back and watches everyones expression as they exchange a few kind words Tia. Her presence is uplifting and Kat doesn’t like it. Kat has been trying to do that for everyone over the last few weeks and she got nothing. How is it that this person, who really isn’t a person, is succeeding where she couldn’t with people she’s known longer.

  Then there is Tia’s looks, she's beautiful, but so is Kat. Why are all them men giving Tia googly eyes. Kat stops herself right there because she doesn’t want that kind of attention and doesn’t need to compare herself to Tia. She knows she’s beautiful in her own way and doesn’t flaunt it. Old Graven loved that about her. She can be secure about herself around Tia, who is now about to shake her hand.

  Graven says, “I know she already introduced herself but this is my mate Katrice. We both loved her before we became one and I still do.”

  Tia reaches out an open hand, “I guess I’m going to repeat myself. I don’t do that too often but it is good to meet you Katrice Wylde. I hope you’ve been taking care of my younger sister turned brother.”

  Katrice accepts Tia’s hand feeling her unusually soft and silky skin. Like an invitation she doesn’t want to miss out on. Before Kat can say anything Tia quickly retracts her hand. Kat is confused and doesn’t know if she should be angry or hurt.

  Tia turns to Graven and asks firmly, “You gave the halfling a core?”

  That stood out. Kat is sure she didn’t miss or incorrectly hear that.

  Kat raises her hand, “Yes, I received King’s core and he taught me how to use his magic.”

  Tia’s eyes are as sharp as razors when she glares back at Kat. “Thank you for answering but I was not talking to you.”

  Graven says, “Yes I gave Katrice a core, we were up against I don’t know how many Foremid and we needed all the advantages we could. I found three cracked cores on the verge of evaporating. I gave them to Kat, Hanna, and Jack. Isn’t it better to pass on their knowledge than to let them die permanently?”

  “Yes but you don’t get it.” Tia points at Kat while still talking to Graven, “She is the halfling. You can’t give cores to her.”

  Kat has had enough of this talking about her in front of her face nonsense and says, “You know what I am right here and I had a father and a mother both of which were very human.”

  Tia turns and gives Kat that look one would give a child when they don’t know what they are talking about.

  She shakes her head, “You poor unfortunate child. Do you know nothing of your birth?”

  Kat stands up tall towering nearly a foot over Tia. “I know who my parents were before they died. They loved me. Both my mother and father were amazing parents and gave their life to save me from crazed cyborgs during the rampage. What the hell do you think you know about my parents?”

  “I know that you had two mothers because all eydulan’s are female. One an eydulan by the name of Jasper, and the other a human by the name of Janice.”

  5

  Jasper is Kat’s father’s name and Janice her mother’s. She had never even told them to Knox or Gale. She wanted to hold on to them herself, alone. How did she know their names.

  Kat can feel herself shrinking as Tia continues, “Jasper and Janice went to an Earth Empire clinic without my approval and had their eggs spliced together to make them into one fertilized egg. By the time I had learned of your existence, you were already born. Half eydulan, half human. Without a core you were more human than eydulan and we didn’t know what to expect. Your mother Jasper said she was leaving with you and Janice to live on Earth. With Janice’s connections as a stewardess and the amazing powers Jasper held they believed they would be able to live a peaceful life. I am sorry to hear of their deaths and sorry for your loss. But you were never meant to be allowed to have a core.”

  Kat stands there, unsure of what to do or say. Her memories of her happy life with her parents flash in and out. Not once did she ever see her father as a woman. Tia had to be making a mistake. Just because she knew the names of her parents doesn’t mean that she knew them. Jasper and Janice are common enough names to where she could see more than one pair of them in the known universe.

  There is one part of her memories that are aching. Telling Kat that Tia might be right. Living with Graven and comparing that to her memory of her father. The memories of her flying through the air. When she thought she was dying, her father being by her side with wings and a halo.

  Tia turns from Graven, points at Mark, and asks, “What is this thing doing on this ship?”

  Graven answers, “That is Mark Holt, he is a Foremid, but I take it you figured that out.”

  “What is it doing here?”

  “He helped us rescue Terra on Etchten.”

  “It did. Strange. Foremid are usually more brawn than brain.”

  Mark bows at the waist and says, “Your majesty, it is a pleasure to meet you and I assure you I will bring no harm to you or this crew. Katrice has possession of my coin and I would never betray my coin bearer.”

  Tia turns to look up at Graven who is standing near motionless. Kat can tell he’s avoiding eye contact because that would be the end. They had played this game before when he knew he was wrong.

  Tia voice is stern, “Graven, how could you?”

  “It was a split decision. We needed him, Kat was about to die from using a divinity spell and we promised him passage as long as someone had his coin. I told him to give it to her before her surgery. He had to save her at that point and I needed him to.”

  “How did you not know she is the halfling. Just touching her would have given off the clue. Her energy is not like ours and now she not only has a core but a foremid’s coin as well.”

  Graven hangs his head and says softly, “I couldn’t lose her and by the time I could tell the difference it was already done. Then I’ve been trying to deal with myself and merging. Kat and I have –”

  Tia stops him by placing a hand on his shoulder. “It’s ok. This is a happy day. I have been reunited with my sister. Something I did not think I would do in this body’s lifetime.” Tia turns to the crew. “As you all have found out, I am the queen of the eydulan’s but what you don’t know is that I have hired you under false circumstances. I am bringing basic supplies to a Frontie
r world but it is going to the last of my kind. This ship brought them supplies once before, on planet Starz, and they recommend me to hire you because of Graven and the ship both have eydulan cores.

  With my disguise as a stewardess I can travel the known universe and find my lost people and rescue them. This is another one of those missions. My people have heard of a large cache of eydulan cores. Since everything a stewardess communicates is public I have to go myself in person for the information and need a convincing reason to go. My people are always in need of supplies and now that I know who you are I am asking for your help in not only the delivery but the retrieval of the cores.”

  Everyone looks at Kat. Kat looks around the room at everyone’s face. Hanna’s is shaking her head up and down but everyone else is just waiting for Kat’s order. She knows this is the right thing to do. She has wanted to help the eydulan’s ever since she heard about them and what happened to them. King told her that she was special and could do whatever she wanted. That no one could push her around and she will have the power to go down whatever path she chooses. It’s hard for her to believe that King was really a woman. She didn’t have any facial hair but her voice and mannerisms were that of a man. One more reason to believe Tia about her father being an eydulan.

  Kat isn't sure what to say. The knowledge of her father being an eydulan and the possibility of her being half is about to make her head explode.

  She shakes her head, “We’ll help with the delivery, because that is what we were hired to do. Beyond that, maybe. I need to get my head wrapped around everything first.”

  Tia tilts her head slightly and says, “I’m sorry about my earlier outburst and thank you for considering my request. With this ship you should be able to get the cache of cores no matter where it is. I hope you chose to help.”

  Graven slaps his hands together, “Great, now that is done, let me show you to your room sis and we can catch up.”

  Tia nods, “Yes that would be acceptable.”

  Kat watches as Graven leads Tia out of the cargo bay and down the left hallway to the one empty room. There went her last hiding spot on the ship. Then Graven and Tia spending time together didn’t seem like a good idea. Kat felt like Graven was just starting to become more like his old self. Starting to anyway. The comment this morning about him becoming better was definitely old Graven getting through. With Jinx’s sister here he might lose all of that progress.

  6

  Mark lingers out of the corner of Kat’s eye for a moment before heading back toward the engines. As he leaves Kat feels a tap on her shoulder.

  Hanna asks, “You ok?”

  Kat shrugs, “I’m fine.”

  “Fine is not in your vocabulary. If there is anything I know about Katrice Wylde is that fine is not good. You should make the right decision and help the Eydulans by collecting the cores.”

  “Thanks Hanna but I’m not sure what I'm going to do yet.”

  “Graven then?”

  “Yea.”

  “No need to worry about that guy. You heard him. Both Jinx and Graven love you. So if they both do then the combination of them does too. Don’t make it more complicated than it needs to be.”

  “If it was only that simple.”

  “It is. You’re just over thinking it.”

  Kat laughs, “You sound like Whisper.”

  Hanna shifts her stance, “Well maybe it’s because she has a good point.”

  “Maybe. How’s Terra doing?”

  “Great. We just try and help if there is ever a place to and give her love.”

  Kat looks away and asks, “Have you been experiencing emotional outbursts of magic?”

  Hanna tilts her head, “No. I don’t get what you mean.”

  “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”

  “Whatever you say. I’m here if you need me.” Hanna turns away and waves leaving Kat all alone.

  With everything already loaded and the passenger onboard there wasn’t anything stoping them from leaving and making this delivery. Kat has a bad feeling about Tia and isn’t sure what they should do just yet. She is, however, on the hook for the delivery.

  Kat stops in the medical bay on the way to the bridge and tells Whisper to take a blood sample and compare it what they think Eydulan blood looks like and what human blood looks like. She wanted to be certain that Tia isn’t trying to pull on her heart strings. Graven seems convinced but Kat still isn’t so sure.

  The trip should take them about three days. Which is hopefully enough time to talk to Graven about Tia before they get to the drop and make a promise to help steal or liberate the Eydulan cores. Kat doesn’t want to become a rogue, thief, or some other word for a person who breaks the law. This is her new life that she is starting over. To risk it on some alien race she doesn’t have any connection to, well she thinks she doesn’t have any connect to, just isn’t her idea of a great new start.

  With the things she’s done in the past she already wants to just curl up in a ball and just do nothing. The more time she has spent reflecting on her past the more her missing memories come into place. With Ryker using her as a weapon she was a deterrent and executioner, forced to do things she never would. She only wants to find a way to make herself feel whole again and helping people has always been the best way for her to do that.

  Which is why she didn’t hesitate to save Hanna or Terra. She might have questioned it at first because she needed to say it out loud but there was never any doubt she was about to go in and rescue either of them.

  A few hours into the trip, Whisper confirms with Kat her blood isn’t human and is surprised she didn’t catch it sooner. The crazy thing, it isn’t Eydulan either. Kat’s blood is similar to both, enough to have it pass as either unless you’re looking for differences. Whisper is fascinated on how it happened and wants to run more tests. Kat knew that was going to be the outcome. She can only imagine what Whisper is going to do.

  Hearing she's different makes Kat remember seeing Hanna and Jack holding theirs cores as they turn to dust. Slipping through their fingers. Hers absorbing into her skin. Tia seems to have an idea about what that might mean but Tia is the one person Kat doesn’t want to talk to. The need for answers isn't that great, yet.

  The rest of the day she waits for Graven to come check in on her but he never shows. As Kat wakes up the next day she turns to his side but his sheets never moved. Right now she needs him, and of all things Jinx’s memories, to avoid Tia. Kat’s on the fence about trusting her, even if everything she's said so far is true.

  Looking around the ship leaves Kat empty handed. She asks Jack, Knox, Mark and Terra, all confirming they haven’t seen either Graven or Tia since she came onboard. Kat could ask Whisper or Fury to locate him but doesn’t need to. If no one has seen them, there is only one place to look.

  Kat stands in front of the door that Tia and Graven should be behind. Her hand hangs in the air next to the panel to open the door. She’s nervous about what might be on the other end of the door. Not knowing eydulan customs anything could be happening in there. Her mind races through all of the worst most depraved things. Most of which she dismisses. Graven knows how she feels and if he really does love her he wouldn’t do anything like that without explaining first. She just hopes there isn’t anything like that in Eydulan society.

  Whisper asks softly, “What are you waiting for? Did you forget how to open a door?”

  “Shut it Whisper, you know what I'm dealing with right now. I don't need you adding to it.”

  “Touchy-touchy, sounds like you need to relax a bit. I wonder if that temper comes from your human half or your eydulan one.”

  “Definitely my human one, smart-ass.”

  “Well it wouldn't be as fun if you weren't so easy to tease.”

  “I'll put that on the list of improvements I need to accomplish. Now just leave me alone.”

  Whisper doesn't respond and Kat thanks God for the small miracles in life. Taking in a breath, she presses on the pa
nel. The door slides open and Kat is shocked at what she sees. Tia sitting on a chair with Graven behind her on the bed. He’s braiding and bruising her hair, as they both are giggling like little girls. Tia slowly turns her head and gives Kat a sharp look. Which Kat returns with a sarcastic smile.

  Graven shakes his head, “How long have we been in here?”

  Kat crosses her arms and raises an eyebrow, “For about a day.”

  “Wow, things can really get away from you when you have a few hundred years to catch up on. Sorry about that Kat.”

  Tia interjects, “There is no need to apologize Graven. You’ve done nothing wrong. The halfling on the other hand has interrupted us.”

  Graven huffs, “Come now sister, this is my mate you’re talking about.”

  “I thought your mate was Tinker.”

  “It was. Tinker left, a long time ago, and you know that.”

  “I do, I also remember that Eydulans only choose one mate.”

  “As the Eydulan Graven, my mate is Katrice.”

  “You can’t have a halfling as a mate.”

  “Sister, you aren’t getting it, its already done.”

  “You affirmed yourself under an Etchten tree while in bloom.”

  “At the resurrection site.”

  Tia's eyes dart to Kat and then back to Graven. “You did what? How did you? When? You know that is only for true bondings and you need witnesses.”

  “I know sister. We didn’t have much time but it was enough for an affirmation to each other and a kiss.”

  Tia starts to pace in a small path. Kat wants to say something but isn’t sure just what is going on right at that moment.

  Tia talks, while still pacing, “I always saw you as my successor. Our sisters were never the type to be leaders. You always did know how to forge your own path and find people to follow you. But the halfling. We don’t even know what she can do. Did she take King into herself or was King lost like Chandra and Lumiere?”