The Veil Rising

by Brandon Ellis

  The cat person returned Nyx's nod, and without moving his lips Eden heard his voice in her mind. The scavenger's captain is on the screen.

  Eden looked up at the screen to see a human with narrow eyes unhappily frowning at her. He was wearing a ragged silver robe with a tight fitting collar, and below that was a round chest insignia, white with three blue spots in the middle that would create the shape of a triangle if one were to connect the dots. The scruffy man had long, blond hair, and steely blue eyes. He said, “I... Y'taul an.. do.. du...here. Who mi... ..u be?” Then he closed his eyes and bowed his head. If his speech hadn't been as slow as it was, Eden wouldn't have understood a word he'd said. Then a man behind Y'taul whispered something into his ear and walked away. Abruptly, Y'taul opened his eyes with suspicion welling in them as he spoke more intently. “Your ship not detected radar. Invisible? What technology this?” He scratched his chin. “Ship... new design. Where you dwell?”

  Thomas replied, “We are from a planet we call Aurora. We are Templar Knights of the Eighth Order of the Melchizedek, and this ship is not new. It is ancient well beyond your years, and beyond mine.”

  Y'taul stepped back, unable to conceal his shock as he placed both his hands over his chest insignia and bowed, his speech patterns significantly improved. “Yes, I have heard of your Melchizedek Order, Thomas. I know of Knights Templar. Jus' baffled by your ship.” He leaned in toward the screen while raising a brow. “Can see it can't take heavy damage.”

  “Our ship's name is Swift and yes, it is a fighting vessel, but not designed to take heavy damage, as you have observed. It's fast and capable of maneuvering away from any who would fire upon her,” replied Thomas.

  Y'taul scratched his chin a second time. “Interesting. Can trade of some sort?” He gestured behind himself, although no one on the bridge could see exactly what he was gesturing at, but understood perfectly when Y'taul said, “Perhaps...we could trade mono-atomic gold for information about your ship, such as its propulsion capabilities and how it works?”

  “That knowledge is beyond your understanding, Y'taul.” Thomas walked closer to the screen, stopping next to Eden. “You are in a dangerous zone, Captain Y'taul. Why are you here?”

  Y'taul innocently waved his arms in the air. “You see why I am here, don't you? We collect junk. Turn into treasure, then we trade.”

  “I understand,” said Thomas. “I suggest that you move on until we've deemed this area safe. This is a war zone.”

  Y'taul looked a bit taken aback, as if unused to being ordered around. “I take what I find, as it is my duty. I know when I am safe and when I am not.” His image bleeped out and when his ship reappeared it was moving toward more debris to suck.

  Thomas smiled. “I've heard of Y'taul. I was told that he was difficult to deal with.” Then after a moment, he laughed, “He's just a character like all the rest of us!”

  Hoping she wasn't perceived as an odd-ball character like Y'taul, Eden looked down at her feet, but then noticed that she still wasn't wearing any shoes. Then she glanced at Thomas' feet, also shoe-less, so she decided that it didn't matter. The flooring was warm and she was comfortable, so she shrugged it off and looked up to ask, “Who is Y'taul?”

  “He's a Plaerian, but a scavenger of his race. The Plearians are quite advanced, evolved in thought and spirit, but Captain Y'taul is part of a vast group that I call offshoots who aren't very advanced, except in technology. He and his offshoots collect what they can in hot space territories, then trade for money and other items of materialism. There is an entire industry created by scavenging. It isn't well thought of and considered an illegal activity.”

  Surprised, Eden asked, “Illegal? There are space laws?” She hadn't realized there were laws in the universe.

  Thomas stood in thought for a moment, wondering how best to respond to her question. “Yes, there are laws in the universe. The laws that Y'taul's offshoot is governed by are lower level laws, but effective in their own ways. A vast consortium of races came together long ago, agreeing upon laws that limit beings from doing this or that, such as murder, theft, hoarding resources, et cetera.

  “Then, there is a higher law governing all beings in the Universe by the Divine Spark, known as God, the Great Spirit, or All that Is. I could go on providing the names each culture has invented to describe the divine intelligence that created us all. Nonetheless, the law governing all beings is Universal Law, and through that you understand that everything is connected. What we think, say, and do will have a corresponding effect on others and the entire universe, and we of Melchizedek Order abide by those laws.

  “One such Universal Law is the 'Law of Non-Interference'. One cannot interfere in the life of another being or another race, unless asked to do so. To do otherwise can impede any given lesson that one individual, group of individuals, or entire race or races may need to learn. It's very simple, yet if followed, very powerful.” He bowed his head to Eden. “There are more Universal Laws, and some day I would be honored to share them with you.”

  Eden gave a blank look. “Well, you helped us—my people. But, who on Matrona asked for your help?”

  Nyx crossed her arms, providing a supple grin as she provided the answer. “Your fleet admiral, James Byrd.”

  Eden placed her hands on her hips as she stared at the ground, thinking, yet not remembering him ever mentioning anything about the Knights Templar. But then it struck her. “Oh my Guild! It was on the ship just before I went to help the starfighters, when he ordered me to send out that plea for help! I thought he was just being crazy, babbling about fairy tales!”

  Nyx gently pressed her hand into the middle of Eden's chest. “We received the SOS from your ship, but responded to the request from your admiral's heart. We Templar Knights have waited for your people's plea for many centuries. With our abilities, we were able to receive his prayer. All thought forms have energy and we were more than eager to oblige.”

  Thomas raised his hand into the air, politely interrupting Nyx. “There have been other pleas from those who have trusted the Knights Templar legends, beckoning us for small acts of assistance. Because of their calls, we've had many of our Knights inside of your starbase doing their best to raise the consciousness of your people, feeding them increments of truth from time to time. They're there to assist in many other ways, as well. However, none have invited us on such a grand scale as did Admiral Byrd.”

  Many questions filled Eden's mind as Nyx and Thomas were explaining—like why didn't the Knights Templar wipe out the entire fleet that had attacked her people? But, her thoughts were interrupted when she heard another voice in her mind.

  Eden, we've found a nuclear weapon on Y'taul's scavenger ship. My advice would be to cripple the ship and board her.

  Turning, she saw that the voice had come from another cat Sirian. This one was a beige colored female emanating such a glow of beauty and peace about her that it almost moved Eden to tears. But, before Eden could reply, Thomas moved quickly up the stairs, returning to his position on the landing.

  “We have to know where Y'taul is going and why.” He pointed at the vid screen. “Hail Y'taul, please.”

  Up on the vid screen appeared an angry Y'taul shouting, “I will not stop collecting the space debris!”

  Thomas closed his eyes and bowed his head. “I see.” After a moment, he lifted his head with eyes narrowed. “There is something of interest to us on your ship, Y'taul.”

  Y'taul responded with a pleased smirk. “So, you have changed your mind. Send us the blueprint of your ship and you can have—” he looked behind him, speaking in his native tongue consisting of many vowels, but that was all Eden could make of it. He faced the vid screen again and continued, “Forgive me for my pause. You can have five barrels of mono-atomic gold.”

  “That is not what we would like to exchange, Y'taul,” replied Thomas.

  “Oh?” Y'taul frowned. “Then, what would you like?”

  “We will discuss our blueprints once you ha
nd over the nuclear weapon on your ship that violates the Plearian Treaty. Does that sound reasonable to you?”

  Y'taul's face turned to stone, then dryly, he said, “We don't have such a device on our ship. You are mistaken, Thomas.”

  “Swift is never mistaken. Please hand over the nuclear weapon or we will be forced to take it from you.”

  “You have my permission to board, if you'd like...but only you.”

  “Understood. Prepare for boarding,” responded Thomas.

  Y'taul bleeped off the screen and his ship reappeared. Then Eden walked over to Thomas and said, “I don't think it's a good idea for you to go alone.”

  “You don't think I can handle myself?” asked Thomas as he gave her a wink.

  She pointed at the vid screen without looking at it, placed her hand on his forearm as she said, “They seem very hostile. Let me go with you.”

  He simply shook his head and turned to exit the bridge, but Eden grabbed his arm, stopping him. “I don't trust them, Thomas.”

  Amused, Thomas smiled. “Neither do I. And I would appreciate your company, but you need to man the bridge—Swift is your ship.”

  Retracting her hand from his arm, she glanced toward the crew. “They all know how to fly this—I don't!”

  “Then you'll learn. But for now, please excuse me, I need to get over to the launching bay and I'll see you soon enough.” He made a quick gesture to the crew who nodded in return, with no explanation as to what they were nodding about. The bridge door opened with a hiss and Thomas walked through it, leaving Eden to stare blankly at the door as it closed behind him. Not knowing what to do next, she wondered if she should follow him or remain on the bridge. Then she heard Nyx say, “Eden” as she placed a hand on her shoulder. “We trust you. You've passed the many tests in order to pilot Swift, and even though you don't understand what I'm referring to, you will in time. You're the right woman for the job.” Then she took Eden by the hand. “Now, come with me. There isn't much to do right now but watch.” Nyx pulled Eden along until they got to their seats and sat, side by side, in front of the screen. Eden asked, “What am I watching?”

  On the vid was Y'taul's ship, but it wasn't vacuuming anything into it's belly. It was stationary.

  “Right now, Thomas is getting into one of our Oberums, our small orb craft that we use instead of starfighters and transports. He'll be boarding Y'taul's ship shortly.”

  Staring at the screen, Eden noticed something peculiar. Y'taul's ship was tilting and resetting itself, as if one afterburner was either warming up or ready to fully activate. Why just one? Since they couldn't see the back of Y'taul's ship, there wasn't any way to be sure, unless...

  Swift's voice spoke to her. I see it too, Eden.

  Eden did a quick 180 degree swivel in her chair, almost going too far, but caught herself with a bare foot firmly gripping the floor. She looked at all of the busy individuals on the bridge monitoring at their stations, busying themselves with Thomas' boarding preparations, then they all looked at her.

  Nyx leaned over. “We all heard Swift. Be calm, but be prepared for anything.”

  Eden gave her a sideways glance, then looked around the room. “Is there a way to tell if there's heat coming from Y'taul's afterburners?”

  “Yes,” responded a golden haired Fae. “Swift, we need to examine all heat signatures being emitted by Y'taul's craft.”

  Eden heard a yes in her mind from Swift followed by a schematic of the craft on the vid screen. It was black and white, but with blues and reds surrounding Y'taul's ship. The brightest red was at the tail of the ship, with blue spots surrounding it. As another afterburner warmed up, it flamed a bright red and Eden knew that wasn't good. Y'taul was going to take off as soon as Thomas boarded.

  Nyx stood. “Get Thomas back here before he boards. They're going to take him hostage.”

  A Sirian, quick and athletic, ran from one end of the bridge to the door so fast that Eden did a double take to make sure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her.

  “I've never seen anyone move that fast!” exclaimed Eden.

  As Nyx eyed the ship on the vid in front of them, she commented, “You should see them in a fight. There aren't many in the universes that can compete with their speed and agility. We contacted Thomas and, upon his return, that Sirian will quickly retrieve him from the Oberum. As soon as Thomas changes course back to our ship, Y'taul will realize that we anticipated his plan. I'm afraid we may be in for a chase.” Nyx's jaw set in determination. “We have to get that nuclear device.”

  Suddenly, Y'taul's face reappeared on the screen. “We see something odd from your location. Thomas left your ship in a transport, then turned around and landed back on your ship. We demand an answer. We want to prove that we have nothing to hide from you.”

  Nyx sat down and nodded for Eden to do the same. When Eden leaned into the back rest, Nyx's sweet, enchanting voice lit up the room. “Y'taul, we understand your concern. but Eden, a keen observer, had noticed your ship tipping a bit. We completed a heat scan and found that two afterburners were warming up, so we kindly made the suggestion to Thomas that he turn his transport around. We don't want to place our friend in harms way, so my question to you, Y'taul, is why are your afterburners heating up? We're familiar with your ship's type and model, and know that afterburners are used to quickly accelerate at high speeds. Otherwise, it uses Plaerian thrusters. So, I ask again, why are your afterburners activated?”

  Y'taul turned to look at his crew, uttering vowels. He faced back around and pursed his lips as if about to say something just as beeps sounded on Swift's bridge. The vid screen blinked off and Y'taul's ship came back into view, both afterburners blaring and quickly speeding Y'taul's ship toward Lumus' atmosphere.

  “Is Thomas safely onboard?” asked Nyx. When she heard a yes, Nyx pointed to the vid screen. “Give chase and put a dent in their engines.”

  Like a bat out of hell, Swift sped forward so fast that Eden didn't think it even possible. It was on top of Y'taul's smaller ship within seconds, both ships descending and about to enter Lumus' exosphere. Then Swift jerked to the right as a bright red light shot past, barely missing them. Swift dodged right again, avoiding another red light shooting past. The light, however, wasn't coming from Y'taul's ship, it was coming from the surface of Lumus.

  “We're being fired upon from the surface!” yelled Nyx. “Brace for evasive maneuvers!”

  Swift pulled up, dodging another red light. Eden held onto her arm rest, feeling the jolts of Swift's quick movements that made her squeeze even tighter and hope that she wouldn't be thrown from her seat during the process.

  “Restraints, Eden!” ordered Nyx.

  Eden glanced at her shoulder rests and reached back, expecting to grab them, but was surprised when they wrapped around her chest and hips, then buckled together on their own.

  “What the—”

  An explosion jostled the ship, but Swift kept moving, escaping one laser impulse shot after another, until she hit the first portion of Lumus' exosphere that created a heat wave through the bridge.

  “Coolants on, Swift,” demanded Nyx. When nothing changed, she repeated herself. “Coolants, please.”

  A rush of cool air blasted the bridge, almost too cool for comfort, but quickly decreasing the heat.

  I'm sorry, said Swift. The coolant systems weren't cooperating. I will recalibrate after descent.

  “Y'taul's ship is not on the vid screen radar,” noticed Nyx. “Swift, where are they?”

  Scanning, replied Swift. They've jumped out of the system.

  Nyx exclaimed, “What?! How?!”

  Clouds suddenly filled the vid screen, white and puffy like normal, but with more and more trace fire coming through. To Eden, it seemed as though Swift was handling herself quite well, moving left and right and twirling acrobatically in the air. Eden wasn't used to a starship operating on its own like this, plus one this size shouldn't be able to maneuver this well, according to her old standards. Ede
n wanted to look behind her to see if Thomas was somewhere on the bridge and to see what the rest of the crew was doing, but dared not remove her eyes from the vid screen. She didn't want to miss anything important and was being utterly impressed by Swift's abilities and precision.

  You just let Swift pilot herself. That's easy. Like riding on a massive bird's ba—

  Her thoughts were interrupted when another explosion rocked the ship. Careening to the left, Swift came barreling out of the clouds. Lumus' red rocky landscape was coming at them fast. Eden furrowed her brow. There was something peculiar about the scene below. It was dotted with hundreds of bulky objects. When Swift fired a laser impulse at them, twenty more shot back in unison so she knew exactly what they were—cannons.

  “We've been set up!” said Nyx. “Pull out of here, Swift!”

  Swift steadied herself, then veered to the right, again missing more lasers.

  Enemy ships approaching fast. ETA, 4 seconds, said Swift.

  A giant blast hit the belly of Swift, shifting her course downward.

  “Brace yourselves—engine failure!” shouted Nyx.

  Eden looked at Nyx, seeing a calm iridescence about her, even though her voice was loud and strong. Eden brought her eyes back to the screen and saw a quick, triangular craft fly by—the same type of craft she had fought during the first attack.

  Eden clenched her fists as she saw another craft heading straight toward them, firing and hitting Swift's main hull, but doing little damage. A culmination of rage from the first attacks on her people, in addition to being ambushed, now poured through Eden. This enemy has no honor!

  “Swift, fire laser impulses, 12 o'clock!” Eden growled.

  A blast from somewhere that Eden couldn't see came from Swift, striking the craft bearing down on them and disintegrating it into sparks. Then Swift shuddered, hit once again.