X-Calibur: The Trial

by Jackson-Lawrence, R.

  “We've been able to decipher a little more of the message,” Caran Doc began. “The signal's incredibly weak, I think this is the best we can do.”

  They sat in silence as the message played, the static in between the broken words hiding the answers they desperately needed. “Arthur. Camelot. . . fallen. . . taken control. . . forces are unstoppable. . . please. . . our only hope.”

  “And you're sure it's from the hive?” Arthur asked.

  “As sure as we can be,” Caran Doc replied. “As I said, the signal's incredibly weak, but tracing it back takes us close to this system here.” As he spoke, an image appeared above the table in front of them. It showed a small cluster of stars before zooming in on a particular system.

  “That's where we left the hive,” Gar-Wan said. “Without working gravity engines, they couldn't have travelled far.”

  “And last we heard,” Merlin added, “the gravity engines were still off-line.”

  “So what does it mean?” Arthur asked. “It's clearly meant for me, for us. Is it a threat? A warning?”

  “A trap?” Lance suggested.

  “Oh, it's almost certainly a trap,” Arthur continued. “I just don't understand who for? Are they threatening Camelot? Whose forces have taken control? And of what?”

  “How would the hive know our settlement as Camelot?” Gar-Wan asked. “It's not a word native to the Mori.”

  “Someone here, in the city?” Lance suggested. “They could have been sending information back to the hive.”

  “A spy?” Gwen remarked. “Do you really think someone would?”

  They were quiet for a moment before Arthur said, “It's something we have to consider.”

  “They'd need equipment to be able to contact the hive,” Gar-Wan explained. “I'd start with the functioning ships, the ones we dismantled had their communication systems dismantled for parts.”

  “Unless someone put one back together,” Lance suggested. He continued to tell them about Gin and his home-made receiver. He'd examined it and found that it was definitely one way, with no way to communicate directly with the hive. But if one person had built such a device, so could others.

  “Wouldn't we have picked up the transmissions?” Gwen asked. “From what you've said, it'd need to be pretty strong to reach the hive? And this is intended for us, not some spy?”

  They were just as confused as when they'd started, no closer to an answer or explanation. Arthur was convinced it was a trap, but he had no idea how the trap would be sprung. “Okay, let's go over what we know,” he said, trying to organise his thoughts. “The message came from the hive, we're sure about that, and it seems to threaten someone or something with an unstoppable force. They also seem to be asking for help? The only hope part? And they mention me by name, and Camelot.

  “Do you think they're threatening us and the city? If so, why warn us about it? Why not just jump in and attack?”

  “Could they have been trying to contact another hive ship?” Merlin asked. “Is it a call for allies to attack us?”

  “Unlikely,” Caran Doc said. “Our probes haven't detected any other Mori ships in centuries. Besides, the signal was narrow-beam, directed at Earth and only one other system.” The image floating above the table changed, zooming out before zooming in on another system further away.

  “Ma'Han?” Lance said with surprise.

  “They only sent the message to Earth and Ma'Han?” Gwen asked. “That doesn't make sense.”

  “Not if there was a spy in Camelot,” Arthur agreed. “The hive would know we're on Earth.”

  “Earth and Ma'Han,” Merlin repeated, thinking aloud. “That's where the hive sent the ships from the Mori-Gran-Ra. The human and Dorgan home worlds.”

  “It's as though the hive doesn't know which planet we're on,” Lance said.

  “This is getting us nowhere,” Arthur said. “We need to get closer to the hive ship, hear the full message.”

  “I can have the Ardent Dawn ready as soon as you are,” Caran Doc suggested.

  “No,” Arthur replied. “That could be their plan, to draw the Teleri ships away and leave Camelot open to attack. The city and its people have to be our priority.”

  “Then what would you suggest?” Caran Doc asked.

  “We'll take the Vanguard,” Arthur replied. “Jump closer to the hive and receive the rest of the message. Once we know what it means, we'll be better prepared.”

  “No,” Merlin interrupted. “The message was directed at you personally, Arthur. Whatever else we know, you're the target.”

  “What about a probe?” Triltan suggested, the people at the table turning around to look at her. “We can send it towards the hive to amplify the signal?”

  “Caran Doc?” Arthur asked.

  “That could work,” Caran Doc replied, looking appreciatively towards his daughter. “Two, maybe three jumps nearer should be enough. I'll get started immediately.”

  “See?” Lance said with a smile. “I told you she'd be able to help.”

  *****

  Caran Doc stood on the bridge of the Ardent Dawn, looking at the enormous display screen in front of him. It depicted a map of the local star systems, reaching as far as the hive ship and the numerous stars in between. The probe, no bigger than one of the small fighter ships, blinked a short distance from the Ardent Dawn. It had completed its first jump and was counting down the eight hours until its engines recharged to perform the second.

  “I'll be in my chambers,” Caran Doc said to the officer to his right. “Inform me as soon as a clear signal comes through.”

  Caran Doc left the bridge and returned to his quarters where Silan Daltas was waiting for him. She and her research team, recently released from the brig, were currently without a project and she was finding it difficult to take her mind off of her failure. She still saw the destruction of Teela as her fault, no matter what Caran Doc said to try to comfort her. She had found the solution, the super-heavy element, deep beneath the surface of a frozen ice world, but had been too late in returning to Teela to use it.

  As Caran Doc entered, the aroma of food struck him, igniting his senses. “That smells wonderful,” he said aloud, unbuttoning his uniform as he approached the kitchen.

  The Principal's quarters were much larger than any others to be found aboard the Ardent Dawn, with a separate kitchen area, sitting room and walled off sleeping area. Just like the rest of the ship, the walls were white and the rooms brightly lit with furniture merged in a perfect union of form and function. Unlike the corridors on the Ardent Dawn, however, there were none of the multicoloured symbols moving across the walls, only discreetly placed view screens and hologram projectors.

  “Doc,” Silan Daltas said as she stepped from the kitchen area. “What kept you?”

  “Human problems,” Caran Doc replied. “A cryptic message from the Mori hive.”

  “Are you sure this alliance is a good idea?” Silan Daltas asked.

  “They're good people,” Caran Doc said. “And they've proven themselves, more than once. We might find their ways a little strange, but yes, I think it's for the best, for all of us.”

  “Then if we're going to stay,” Silan Daltas continued, “I'd like to discuss my next project with you.”

  “Over dinner?” Caran Doc replied, smiling. “I can never say no to you when you offer me your home cooking.”

  Silan Daltas smiled back at him, though it looked a little forced, more mournful than happy. Home cooking had ceased to have the same meaning, her home gone and the crops and produce she was so used to using now only grown in a laboratory. She had never understood the Followers of Ajoch and their rejection of technology, but part of her had always enjoyed her time on the surface of Teela, walking amongst the fields and watching the birds in the sky.

  “Miltren's began examining some of the Earth creatures,” she said. “It's not my usual field but his enthusiasm is infectious. He believes he can modify the genetic codes of Teela's plants and animals to allow
them to thrive on Earth.”

  “Really?” Caran Doc asked. “That's remarkable.”

  “With time,” Silan Daltas continued, “we could even terraform a region of Earth to look and feel exactly like home.”

  Caran Doc was taken aback, her comments not what he was expecting. Though he had spent much of his adult life in space, aboard the Ardent Dawn or one of the other enormous vessels, Teela was and always would be his home. He had mourned the loss of his planet, and the countless lives that had been lost along with it, but now Silan Daltas was saying they could bring some of that back? It wouldn't be the same, but it was more than he had ever thought possible.

  “Perhaps the North American continent,” Caran Doc replied, thinking aloud. “I'm sure I could convince the Followers to allow technology amongst them for such an important project. I'm assuming it wouldn't need to be there permanently?”

  “Not once the plants have taken hold and begin to grow,” Silan Daltas explained. “The animals will take longer, but even so, can you imagine it Doc?”

  “I can now,” Caran Doc replied, smiling over at her. “That would be, perfect.”

  “But what about Arthur and the Round Table?” Silan Daltas asked. “Will they be so agreeable?”

  “I don't see why not,” Caran Doc told her. “Leave it to me, I'll speak to them once this current crisis is over.”

  “Thank you,” Silan Daltas replied, placing the hot meal in front of him. “To bring a piece of Teela to our new home, it really would help everyone.”

  “It would,” Caran Doc agreed. “Tell Miltren to request whatever he needs. Let me worry about the Round Table.”

  *****

  It took three jumps for the probe to get close enough to the hive ship to decipher the entire message. The sky was dark over Camelot, but Arthur and the others were eager to hear it as soon as it was available. As they hurried into the hangar atop the Tor, Gar-Wan was already there, waiting for them.

  “What does it say?” Lance asked as he slowed his pace.

  “We've been waiting for you to arrive,” Gar-Wan replied.

  “Well, we're here,” Arthur said. “Play it.”

  Merlin's image shimmered as he contacted the Ardent Dawn and requested they transmit the amplified signal. A hologram of Caran Doc appeared beside him just as the message began to play.

  “Arthur,” it said, the voice clear and terrified. “Camelot has fallen. Mordred has taken control. His forces are unstoppable. Save us, please. You're our only hope.” As soon as it was finished it began again, a never ending loop of fear and desperation, tinged with a need for hope.

  “That's all of it?” Arthur asked, just as confused as before, if not more so. “It still doesn't make any sense.”

  “That's the entire message,” Caran Doc replied. “The probe is charging for another jump to take it closer to the hive ship, but my technicians are confident there's nothing else hidden in the signal.”

  “But what does it mean?” Gwen asked. “Camelot is fine, and Mordred? The name sounds familiar.”

  “You may recall, I told you of my half brother?” Merlin said.

  “That's right!” Lance exclaimed. “Mordred. He was the one who Arthur killed at the Battle of Camelot?”

  “The Battle of Camlann,” Merlin corrected. “But yes, that was where Mordred and Arthur had their final confrontation, with Arthur paying a mortal price for his victory.”

  “I still don't understand,” Arthur said. “Why would the hive ship be sending a message about something that happened thousands of years ago? Arthur fought to free Camelot from Mordred's reign, and succeeded.”

  “You did, my King,” Merlin said. Merlin's unwavering belief in the stories he'd told them was beginning to frustrate Arthur, knowing as he did that Merlin wasn't really the Merlin from the tales, but he couldn't say anything without shattering his entire identity.

  “Yes,” Arthur said quietly, meeting Caran Doc's questioning gaze. “But still, why now?”

  “The voice sounds Mori, not human,” Gar-Wan added. “If someone were trying to convince you this related to ancient Camelot, wouldn't they have used a human voice?”

  “Play it again,” Arthur ordered, listening intently to every word and inflection. The Mori who was speaking sounded scared, terrified even, pleading with Arthur to save them. They played it three times, four, but each time was just as confusing as the last.

  “I don't think we'll find any more answers this way,” Lance said as the message began to play for a fifth time.

  “No, you're right,” Arthur agreed, pointing to Merlin to turn it off. “There's only one way we're going to find out what it means. We need to return to the hive.”

  Chapter 2

  The Hive

  Earth Year 6239

  “My King?” Merlin asked. “You can't be serious.”

  “Hear him out,” Gar-Wan said. “We left a lot of good people behind on the hive ship; humans, Dorgans and Mori. If they're in danger, we owe it to them to consider it.”

  “Exactly,” Arthur continued. “Whatever this message means, the only way we're going to get answers is to go and look for ourselves. If the people there need us, we should do what we can to help them.”

  “I hate to say it,” Lance added, “but I agree with him. The code says we protect the weak and help the helpless. We filled the ships to capacity when we escaped, but we left so many people behind. If something's happened, we need to help if we can.”

  “Gwen?” Arthur asked.

  Gwen mulled it over, biting her lower lip as she thought. “I'm not so sure,” she said at last. “It's almost certainly a trap, and this could be just what they want.”

  “Then let me go,” Caran Doc interrupted. “The Ardent Dawn will be able to offer assistance or defend itself against an attack by the hive ship.”

  “No,” Arthur said. “We can't leave Earth vulnerable, and the Ardent Dawn is still our best defence against the Mori-Gran-Ra.”

  “Then another from the fleet,” Caran Doc continued. “The Lambent Twilight perhaps?”

  “Every Teleri vessel we take away from Earth leaves it vulnerable,” Arthur said. “Thank you, Caran Doc, I know you mean well, but Earth and the people here have to be our first priority.”

  “Then what would you suggest?” Caran Doc asked.

  “When we boarded the Lambent Twilight,” Arthur began, “we were able to fool the scanners into thinking we were someone else. Merlin, do you think we could do the same with the Vanguard?”

  “I could make the hive ship believe it's one of the Mori-Gran-Ra's scout ships,” Merlin suggested. “It should be possible, but you'll still need to jump in close enough to the hive ship to investigate.”

  “Maybe not,” Arthur replied. “Caran Doc, can the probe you sent make it all the way to the hive?”

  “Yes,” Caran Doc said. “Do you intend to remain here until it arrives and completes a more detailed scan?”

  “It's twenty-seven jumps to the hive,” Arthur said, “with eight hours in between. We can't afford to wait that long.”

  “Then we'll need someone to interpret the readings from the probe,” Gwen said.

  “I'll arrange for one of my officers to accompany-” Caran Doc began.

  “We could ask Triltan?” Lance interrupted.

  “No,” Caran Doc said forcefully. “I allowed her into harm's way before. Not again.” Lance deflated slightly but did his best to hide it.

  “Thank you,” Arthur replied. “Whoever you send, we'll protect them.”

  “I don't like this, Arthur,” Merlin said. “Why would they use that scoundrel Mordred's name? It gives me a bad feeling.”

  “I don't know, ” Arthur agreed. “None of this makes any sense.”

  “Then remain here, in Camelot until the probe completes its journey,” Merlin persisted.

  “I can't,” Arthur said defiantly. “If they need us, we can't abandon them.”

  “Wait, we agreed,” Gwen reminded them. “No more
unilateral decisions. We should put it to a vote.”

  “You're right,” Arthur said with a resigned smile. “Lance?”

  “Yes,” Lance said. “I think we should go.”

  “And I vote no,” Gwen said. “We should wait for the probe to scan the hive and decide then.”

  “No,” Caran Doc said sternly.

  “I have to vote yes,” Gar-Wan said. “If there's a chance we can help those we left behind, we have to try.”

  “And you, Merlin?” Arthur asked when he remained silent.

  “I'm but an advisor at this table,” Merlin said. “I don't believe I get a vote.”

  “I say you do,” Arthur replied. “What do you think? Yes or no?”

  Merlin appeared to think it over, looking at each of them in turn. Upon hearing Mordred's name he had been reminded of his time within the hive mainframe and the Mori security system who had pursued him. He recalled the fight they'd had, when the system almost had devoured him, but most of all he remembered the piercing blue eyes, so familiar, staring back at him from across the void.

  If the security system had taken the name Mordred, what else had it taken? He wanted to say no, demand they stay on Earth where it was safe, but what if Mordred came anyway? Surely it was better to strike early than to allow him time to rebuild his forces?

  “I fear for your safety,” Merlin said at last, “but I agree that someone must investigate this message. I can think of no one better qualified than you, my King.”

  “Thank you, Merlin,” Arthur replied. “And I vote yes, so that's four to two in favour.”

  “Wait,” Caran Doc interrupted. “What of Elders Minsc and Yamon? They should have their say?”

  “This decision doesn't impact Camelot or the Followers,” Arthur remarked.

  “It does if you don't return,” Caran Doc objected. “Please, Arthur, be reasonable.”

  “The decision's been made,” Arthur said defiantly. “Lance, Gwen, I'll meet you on the Vanguard. Merlin, Gar-Wan, if I might have a minute alone with Caran Doc?”