by Charles Nall
A station security guard stood by a large open hatch. Inside the room were many cells with iron bars. Many cells were empty.
“We're here to see Rattlesnake.”
The guard laughed. “Okay, good luck with that. Go ahead. He's in cell three.”
The smell of human waste welcomed the group as they entered the dirty brig. Each cell was small with a bucket in the corner. A dirty man in rags was kneeling and rambling in cell three. His rags were stained with blood. Dried blood still clung to his face. A large tattoo of a snake curled around his left arm.
Sharon greeted the man, “Hi? We're here to talk to you.”
The man just mumbled to himself.
“Rattlesnake?”
“That's n–not my name,” stammered the man.
“What is your name?” Arnold asked.
“I–don't... don't have one. I am a number,” the prisoner said as he pulled on some of his messy hair. “One of many.”
“Well, we just have some questions about you and Jun Souran, do you know him?” Sharon asked.
“More than most people do. I watched him die. His–his body torn apart by – by sheer force. I was supposed– supposed–to be there.”
“What do you mean?”
The prisoner continue to babble, “I am him and he is I. I am. One of many, enslaved to the will of the black. Slavery forever. It crawls in my mind. I am enslaved.”
Sharon was quite confused. “You are a... slave?”
“No. Yes. I am. I. Get it out. Get it out of me. I–can't.”
Arnold sighed. “It's like talking to you, Elijah. I can't make any sense of this.”
Elijah nodded. “He's mad.”
“You can't figure out anything?” Sharon asked as the man continued to babble.
“I wish I could,” Elijah said. “I have no idea what is wrong with this guy. It's nothing like what happened to me. Of course, it could be related. Uh, sir? Do you remember a crystal ship? Do you remember getting experimented on?”
Rattlesnake let out a hearty laugh. “You are... different. Oh. Break it. I–I am an experiment but not of them. I am created to fee–to feed. I–I am... I am a number, one of many... we are the darkness... We are legion.”
Sharon shook her head. “This is getting nowhere. I'm sorry, guys. There's nothing here.”
The prisoner jumped up to his feet and started to bleed profusely from his nose and mouth. “Please help me. It's in my head. It's in my head. Please just–just kill me. You can't get it out of there. Kill me. End this.”
Arnold was disgusted.“Well there goes the bleeding. It's pretty bad. That is similar to Jerry but I have no idea how it is connected.”
“Ugh. Why are you bleeding? Are you being controlled somehow?” Sharon asked.
“Not controlled, I am–one of many. Kill me... I bleed. It makes us bleed. I will be removed from existence if they find me. They will find me. It is time for deactivation. I disobeyed. I am dead. I was to die as well. I was to die as well! I wish–wish to just die now. I understand. I was disobeying. GET IT OUT!”
Elijah called out to the guard, “Has a doctor looked at him? There may be something seriously wrong.”
The guard chuckled. “Just a minor checkup, nothing extensive. No sense wasting medical care on a crazy guy. You guys had enough of the freak show? I swear I should sell tickets.”
Sharon stared into the troubled face of the bleeding prisoner. “I'm sorry, I don't understand. I just want to understand what you are going through.”
The prisoner locked eyes with Sharon and did not say a word.
“Tell me.”
The prisoner stared at Sharon.
“Please,” Sharon said.
Rattlesnake continued to stare.
“Please tell me what’s wrong with you.”
“Kill... me...”
“Why?”
Rattlesnake pulled on his hair and titled his head to the side.
Sharon sighed. “I'm ready to go. Let's go guys.”
“WAIT,” yelled out the prisoner, “JUST KILL ME. I–I will be hunted. You will be hunted. Do not worry. Do not worry. Death is quickly approaching. The Umbral Brotherhood. They are cloaked in darkness. They follow us. I am just one of many. I'm sorry. I enjoy the human vices, I didn’t want it to end. I am a defect. The infection has spread. Everything will wither and die. I am–I am sorry. Please kill me. End this torture. It hurts. Don't worry, it will be over soon. I feel... their presence. They will find me soon. I disobeyed orders. Be prepared. Beware the oncoming storm.”
“Poor guy,” Arnold said as the group left the brig. The hatch closed behind them. The prisoner let out a cry in pain and collapsed onto the floor of his cell.
10
February 17, 0270 AC – 13:25 Local Time
Rapture
Outside Silver Cove, Neutral Space
Rapture floated near the jumpgate outside Silver Cove. Rapture's sails were unfurled soaking up solar energy for the hyper-drive. Rapture was going to assist a small transport vessel through hyperspace. Rapture would not need to open its own jump point, the crew had access to the Silver Cove jumpgate for an easier journey.
Energy erupted around the jumpgate between the three points of the jumpgate. Space twisted and warped. A flash of blue light welcomed a small transport ship and a frigate into this sector. The transport hovered near Rapture as the frigate continued toward Silver Cove.
“There she is,” Trevor said. “Requesting a link with the transport.”
“Greetings Rapture, this is Rune Rainwater of the transport Intrepid. We'd love to stop and rest a bit at the station, but we're on a tight schedule. We're ready to continue coreward if you are.”
Trevor looked over to Jacob.
Jacob nodded. “We’re good to go.”
“Roger that, Intrepid,” Trevor said. “We have a hyperspace course completely plotted to your destination. It should be smooth sailing. Are you ready for the journey?”
“Absolutely.”
Sharon glanced at her display. “All systems are fine. Furling the sails.”
Arnold checked his console. “We have the route in the computer. Looking through the hyperNEP for any gravitational changes. Seems like it's a relatively nice day out there in hyperspace.”
“Sails are furled,” Elijah said.
“Let's go,” Jacob said.
“Requesting a jump point from the jumpgate... Accepted. Uploading our route to its computers. Data is verified. Spinning up. Space warping,” Trevor said.
“Hyper-beam away,” Elijah called out.
“Saturation levels are nominal. All systems go,” Sharon said. “Shields are up. Awaiting final verification.”
“Jump!” Jacob commanded.
“Hyper-beam fully saturated, stopping the beam. The portal is opened,” Sharon said.
Trevor continued talking to Rainwater on the link, “Intrepid, this is Rapture. Follow our lead into hyperspace. We're good to go, the hyper-drive has calibrated your signature. We've uploaded the course and speed data to your systems. Here we go.”
Rapture flew into the jumpgate with Intrepid following close by. Both ships entered hyperspace. The jumpgate slowly collapsed to its smaller form and the space around the jumpgate stopped shimmering and warping.
“We're going to be traveling for six days total. It's the longest we've been in hyperspace or even standard space. I have got to make sure that hyper-drive is running well. I'll probably stay down there most of the time. Although I have the sensors here, I'm of better use down there just in case something goes wrong. Just use the internal comms to yell at me down there if you need me, I'll stay near a station with access to that,” Sharon said.
“Well, I'm guessing you’re glad that Captain Hawk let us install that anti-gravity system in the ship. I don't think we're used to floating around for six days,” Jacob said.
“He really has been quite hospitable, it's very nice,” Sharon said.
“Sharon, you should thank T
eresa, she's the reason we're getting such good deals and that upcoming contract,” Jacob said.
Sharon groaned, “Of course, thank Teresa... I'm going down to the engine room.”
Arnold looked over his console. “We're on auto-pilot and hyperspace is rather calm today. I'll hang out in the engine room, too. Trevor, make sure to keep updating the forecasts to make sure we don't run into something we don't want to. Give me a call if you need an actual pilot up here.”
“Will do.”
Arnold and Sharon both went down the ladder to the lower levels of the ship.
Elijah laughed. “She really doesn't like Teresa.”
“No, not really, I have no idea why,” Jacob said.
“I think she's jealous,” Trevor replied.
“Of what?”
“Sharon likes you. She thinks you like Teresa. She's a threat. I don't know, though. She doesn't seem to like the pirating life style, and therefore she doesn't like Teresa.”
Jacob looked out at the streaming colors of hyperspace. “I guess. We're not accepting any contracts that go against our morals. And really, for the most part, everyone on the Cove are nice and not really what you would consider to be pirates. They just are trying to survive.”
Elijah laughed. “For the most part. Knave Gunner's crew is not nice.”
Trevor looked over the sensors for any upcoming turbulence. “Do not get me started on them, I don't know what their deal is. From the start they have been nothing but a nuisance.”
“Yeah, Trevor, but like Jacob said, most of the crew of the Cove are nice enough. This contract pays well, maybe that will shut Knave up.”
“Probably not,” Jacob said. “He believes we don't belong. He's sort of right. I mean, we got new weapons and an anti-gravity system installed for basically free just because we know Teresa.”
Trevor joked, “She must really like you.”
Jacob shook his head. “Well, it's not like that. We're just friends. I'm interested in Sharon, not anybody else.”
Trevor motioned toward the ladder. “Well, Arnold is too. I think there's a reason he's following her around like a puppy.”
“She told me she's not looking for a relationship right now. She's been through a lot,” Elijah said.
“Yeah, she told me the same. Oh well, one day,” Jacob said with a sigh.
They all heard the sound of someone coming up the ladder. Arnold emerged back into the bridge and sat back down on his console. He seemed distressed.
“You okay?”
Arnold sighed. “I'm fine. Just talking to Sharon. She needs some space. She said certain things were a mistake. I don't know. I screwed up. She just needs some time alone.”
Jacob nodded. “Yes, she does.”
February 19, 0270 AC - 12:35
CFS Iriguchi
Edge of Confederate Space
The sails of the hypership Iriguchi glistened in the starlight. All four large panels were unfurled. The sails dominated the design of the ship. The ship itself was the size of a destroyer, but the panels were a lot larger than any sails that a typical destroyer used. The vessel was painted blue and red with large white stripes going down the starboard and port sides. A small hangar went through the middle of the ship right in front of the large sails. Ion engines pulsed blue light on the rear of the ship.
Lieutenant Riko Maeda placed her hand on her small light-weight headset. “Captain Oshiro, we're getting a transmission from... well, I'm not sure. It's been bounced off a lot of relays and it’s encrypted. It's for your eyes only.”
Riko Maeda, along with other command staff and other workers were on the bridge of the hypership Iriguchi. The bridge was well-lit and sharply designed. The bridge was aesthetically pleasing, unlike the neglected insides of most ships in the fleets of the galaxy. The Confederation put pride in creating beautiful starships. In a way, the Confederation did put form before function, but their fleet was still more than capable of handling itself. And they were ready to handle themselves; the Confederation was ready for any hostile action from the factions along their borders.
Captain Tanari Oshiro nodded. “I was expecting a transmission. Route it to my quarters. I will go handle that. Commander Tsukino, you have the bridge.”
The captain left the bridge. Tsukino walked over to Riko Maeda's console. “How are things, Lieutenant?”
“I'm fine, sir.”
“Are you sure? You look a little sick. Here, let me see something on your console.”
“Uh, okay. I do have a transmission to route.”
“Yes, you do.”
Tsukino glanced around the bridge. He input some commands into the console and added his personal pass codes. He looked over to Riko and said in a hushed voice, “Route the transmission somewhere safe.”
Tsukino walked back into the middle of the bridge. “Lieutenant Koizumi, anything of note on our sensors?”
“No, sir. All is quiet,” Yamato Koizumi said.
Riko glanced at her display. Commander Tsukino had input his access codes into the console. He appeared to have disabled security measures. She routed the transmission to the captain's quarters, but also linked the transmission to her own quarters. She then deleted the records of the past few minutes on her console. Riko was feeling fine, but she looked over to the commander. “Sir, actually, I’m feeling a little under the weather. Could I take my leave?”
“Of course. Nothing is happening out there.” Commander Tsukino called out across the bridge, “Ensign Sato, I'm setting your console for comms.” He looked back toward Riko. “Feel better, Lieutenant. Let me know if you need anything.”
She nodded and put her headset into a slot near the console display.
Lieutenant Riko Maeda made her way down the polished steel corridors of the starship. She actually started feeling sick. She was about to spy on her commanding officer. She tried to smile at crew members she passed by and not let on the fact she was about to commit a crime. Was it a punishable crime, though? Commander Tsukino helped her with it. They both were worried about the captain. Could this transmission shine light on the situation?
She walked into a lift and pressed a button on the keypad. The doors were sliding closed when someone ran up to the lift and placed their hand between the doors, causing the doors to slide open again. A man with slicked hair and a suit entered the lift.
The man panted. “Almost didn't make it.” He pressed a button on the keypad. “Hello...” the man looked at Riko's blue uniform. “Lieutenant! How are you?”
“Uh.”
The man reached out his hand. “Mr. Slade.”
“I apologize, I'm a little under the weather.” She refused to shake his hand. She was too worried about the transmission to follow normal etiquette.
Slade shrugged. “Oh. That's too bad.”
The lift doors closed and shortly thereafter started its journey.
“What sort of work are you doing here?” Riko asked.
Slade smiled. “Human resources, mostly.”
The lift doors opened. “Ah, here's my stop. Nice to meet you... Lieutenant...”
“Riko Maeda.”
Slade smiled. “Of course.”
He exited the lift and the doors closed again.
A few seconds later, the doors opened to show a familiar corridor. This deck was where the quarters for the command staff were located, except for the commander and captain who had larger quarters near the bridge. Riko Maeda turned right and walked down the corridor to her quarters. She placed her hand on a scanner on the wall and the door slid open to her small quarters. She quickly moved to her station in the room and typed some commands into the console. The full transmission that was routed and intended for the captain was played from the beginning. She nearly vomited as it started to play.
An older man with a flowing white beard in a Galactic Union uniform appeared on the screen. Riko tapped some buttons on her console to be able to hear Captain Oshiro's responses to this man. Riko double-checked encryption pro
tocols and history records to cover her tracks.
“Captain Oshiro.”
“Admiral Akeldamas.”
Admiral Akeldamas? Isn't he part of the Galactic Union? Why is he talking to the captain?
“Oshiro, you do realize I hate the fact I am doing this? We used to be friends. I know you are in pain, but this will all be over soon. You will bring warships to Galactic Union space to kill President Eridanys and end the peace talks. Violently,” Akeldamas said.
Riko nearly vomited again.
“Can you guarantee the safety of my crew?”
“No, but your forces should be able to absolutely crush their forces.”
“And then what? Won't the new Alliance rally and attack us?” Oshiro asked.
“Look, I'll try to get your crew and yourself to safety. I honestly want to. The master has grandiose plans that make absolutely no sense. It all seems convoluted. It's crazy, but we must trust the master.”
“He is not putting himself in danger, though, of course.”
“Well, yes,” Akeldamas said.
“I wish I could stop this,” Oshiro said.
“I know, my friend. It's almost over, though.”
“Guide me through this terrible plan again.”
Riko could barely keep watching the transmission. She shivered.
“The President is arriving on the heavy cruiser Agamemnon over Artemis. Defense ships will be stationed over the moon, but they will not be prepared for your force. Iriguchi and accompanying warships will jump into standard space without any warning due to the stealth system. The Regent's cruiser will most likely jump away at the first sign of trouble. Your force will absolutely decimate every other single ship over Artemis and then jump away. With President Eridanys killed the Galactic Union will want the Confederation's blood. They will get drunk on vengeance. The Alliance will form and then they will crush Orion and anything else that stands in their way. The Alliance will become the new galactic order.”
“Why?”
“For power. To control everything to make way for the benefactors,” Akeldamas said.