The Excisionists: Book 1

by Rebecca Jensen

  Dr. Sonnet’s eyes were shiny with tears. “But we’ll need more time–”

  “You don’t have time. Give me the instructions for the suit and I’ll prep it for her.”

  She turned to the computer interface and pulled up the relevant files. “Here’s everything you need.”

  I didn’t trust her one bit. “If these files contain some kind of virus that will corrupt her sheath or mine, I will end not only your life, but Owen’s.”

  Her tone was indignant despite her anxiety. “How dare you speak of your father that way.”

  I watched her face for any signs of deception. “After Owen I’ll go after Alchemy and Genesis.” I stopped for a second as I realized the potential effects of a trap. “Wait. I wouldn’t be able to do anything depending on the type of virus you may have attached to the file. Now that I think of it, I’ll have the computer analyze the files and if anything suspicious comes up I’ll end your life right now. Do you want to make any changes before you hand it over?”

  She seemed to be shocked. “I can’t believe you’d think I’d do such a thing.”

  My arm reconfigured into a menacing blade and I held it near her throat. “Computer, analyze selected file for suspicious attachments, malware, viruses, or anything that would–”

  “Stop.”

  I pushed the blade against her skin. “Changing your answer?”

  She nodded. “Just give me a moment to–”

  I shook my head. “I don’t need you to do this.”

  “Wait! You need me to keep her alive.”

  I eyed the trembling doctor. “Why’s that?”

  A sly expression crossed her face. “While you were gone, I made a few adjustments to her medical equipment. Willow’s heart is tied to mine. She dies if I die.”

  “Clever. Fix the file so I can prep the suit.”

  She sucked in a sharp breath. “Just use the prototype file in your memory chip and replicate it from there. There’s no other safe way for you to access the files on this system until Saltigue Atlas reverses the changes.”

  I pressed the blade in hard enough to leave a panful slit but not deep enough for her to be in any real danger. “Remember who you’re talking to. You have one hour to prep her, remove your alterations to her heart, and be sure her brain is untouched.”

  I left the room in a flash and kept myself busy in the fabrication wing to ready her new form. As a final touch, I emblazoned a small white snowflake on the chest of her charcoal suit. The transfer process took much longer than I’d anticipated. First, they had to open the top of her skull and remove the protective membrane. Her beautiful sandy hair was now out of place and seemed more like a wig when they peeled back her scalp. Next, the suit had to be connected to her brain before it could be moved inside the sheath. Thousands of tiny glowing wires embedded themselves as the mapping process occurred. Finally, the transfer was made, and the reflexes of the new body were tested. Neural scans were performed one after another with the addition of new hardware and software. When the process was complete, the dark connections inside the suit lit up with a crimson glow. The monitors attached to her human body flatlined as the brainwaves on the sheath increased.

  I pushed the scientists back and touched her cheek. “Willow. Wake up for me.”

  The glassy orbs turned on and focused on me. “Elio.”

  I stood and turned to Dr. Sonnet. “Give me one reason to keep you alive.”

  A strong grip pulled at my elbow. “Elio we may need her for the others. Keep her alive for me if that’s the only reason you need.”

  The doctor’s face relaxed a little when she knew someone was on her side. “I’ll do anything you ask, and I’ll never betray you again. I promise. I could even act as a spy with Saltigue Atlas–”

  I leaned in close. “One wrong step, and that will be then end of you.”

  Chapter 15 – Sky Outpost

  I’d never seen anything like the Sky Outpost, even in movies. It was a massive charcoal metallic structure with thousands of tiny sparkling amethyst lights that spanned the exterior. The spiral arrow of a transport that got us there had an exterior that spun independently of the interior that was hollow and dimly lit. I could see the gigantic space station on the display as we neared it and watched the exterior liquify around the arrow shaped ship to allow it inside without losing the interior atmospheric integrity. I was flabbergasted by the sheer size and functionality of the outpost. I could barely contain my elation as the interior became visible. Sparkly shifting ripples formed on surfaces that appeared solid and slate colored surfaces were dotted with amethyst crackles of electricity. Large honeycomb crystals lit the rooms with a brilliant glow.

  We exited the ship and moved to an interior transport system that resembled a floating modular train. We snaked around hundreds of hive like rooms and unrecognizable segmented locations with alien controls on wall panels. Our final destination was a large open space with pods stacked inside the walls on either side of a large screen that blinked to life when we entered. A strange looking creature appeared on the screen and chairs pushed up from the floor that cradled us in comfort.

  I gasped and then chuckled at the unexpected rising of the chairs that swept me off my feet. It nearly took my breath away when I saw the creature who introduced himself as Saltigue Vidar. Shiny olive skin splotched with variegated shades of yellow, gray, and black stretched across the elongated skull that hooked into the diamond shaped torso. The eyes were hidden behind a covering making them appear as darker spots running up the sides of a nearly featureless face. A small opening was surrounded by piercing, sucking mouthparts near what looked like the chin. The spidery body and four spindly segmented legs were frightening. The two other arms with three long fingers higher up on the torso appeared slightly more human as did the face shape. Clicking and gurgling noises emitted from the quickly moving vampiric mouth as the translation displayed on the screen.

  “I am Saltigue Vidar. This is Sky Outpost where you will learn and live. This base is connected to many ships which hold our people. At this time, it is not safe for us to meet. We will communicate with you through your visors. Your representative will bring you to the truth and fit you for your sheath. Delphian Sect will choose three members for a secondary mission while the rest learn to integrate with your drudge. All will submit to testing and decontamination protocols. Cygnet will assist with your integration.”

  I had no idea what all of this meant. It was shocking to find that we had built a fully functioning dwelling in such a large area hovering above Earth. What was even more insane was the introduction to an alien species and being told we would be working with them. Suddenly, a door opened, and Cygnet walked in. She looked exactly as she had in the game with long dark hair and vivid jade green eyes.

  “Do not be alarmed. You all know me as Cygnet and were introduced to my form during the game. As Saltigue Vidar said, I am here to assist with your integration here at Sky Outpost. What questions can I answer for you?”

  Mica was incredulous. “Are you real?”

  “I am assuming by real you mean human. I am not human. I am what you refer to as artificial intelligence, an extension and embodiment of the system if you will.”

  I glanced over at Mica. “My brother is obviously new to all of this. I think we need more information on what we’re doing here and what Saltigue Vidar actually wants.”

  Mica’s eyes narrowed, and he stomped his foot on the floor. “Stop treating me like a baby. I played the game better than you did.”

  Cygnet intervened. “I understand this is new for all of you. My purpose is to guide you. You are correct in indicating that some background on the Gentorix is in order.”

  The screen behind her displayed visuals of planets and shifted to other objects as she told her story. “The Gentorix once lived on Zerkola. Despite their best efforts, their sun was dying which was disrupting life on their planet. A very wise member of the Gentorix devised a plan to shield their planet from the ever-grow
ing rays of radiation by enriching their atmosphere with elements which would refract the harmful light and give them enough time to find another planet to colonize.”

  The screen continued to morph into fantastical views of ships and Gentorix as they roamed the galaxy. “In their search for the necessary elements, they came upon another race called the Eydis wo lived and worked symbiotically with the Oroans. A convoy of diplomats were sent to Taska to supplicate for the assistance of the Eydis and request a reasonable amount of the necessary elements in exchange for a variety of valuable items found only on Zerkola.”

  A flash of new alien faces popped up. They were tall and slender with mottled gray skin. Instead of the usual alien shape for a head, they looked just like humans but with white hair and black eyes. Each had a short tail and their fingernails were sharpened claws. Their clothing was constructed of rope-like material coiled around their forms. I recognized them from the alien ship where we’d found Dr. Sothy as they Eydis.

  Cygnet’s story continued. “Originally, the Eydis decided to help the Gentorix and requested the diplomats stay until the necessary preparations had been made to mine and transfer the materials. After several days of waiting for their compatriots to return, the Gentorix were sent a small ship they were told held the items they needed, and they allowed the small transport ship to dock. When they opened the doors, they found their diplomats’ decaying bodies inside with a chunk of poudretteite. Before the group of explorers returned to Zerkola, they had all died from some unknown disease shortly after sending their final transmission of their illness. Scientists were sent to study the bodies on the ship that had been preprogrammed to return to Zerkola but only orbit the planet.”

  A ghastly view of the interior of the ship was put up on the screen. I could see the once shiny variegated skin shifted to a sallow yellow with black splotches and gaping holes as if insects had burrowed into them. They were shriveled, and their skin powdered into dusty plumes when touched. I was surprised that I was experiencing extreme sympathy for the odd spiderlike aliens despite their creepy appearance.

  “Studies revealed they had been infected with a virus and weeks later, all of the scientists died from exposure to some new form of radiation. It was later determined that the poudretteite was the source and within days of this discovery, thousands of Eydis and Oroans stormed Zerkola to forcefully take the items that had been offered as a trade. The Gentorix fought with all their weapons and abilities but were still overcome by the Eydis. As a result, the few who were left fled on ships and sought assistance to get their world back from any who would help them. That’s where you come in and this is why you have been trained. Those who were not suitable for combat were removed from the game and the Delphian Sect has proven to be elite fighters.”

  Phineas was skeptical. “You want us to fight for some aliens that lost their home? Don’t you think we’ll be killed easier than they are with all their technology and ships?”

  “The Gentorix have worked with your kind for some time and have collected enough data to determine that your composition and resistance to the virus and radiation make you ideal candidates for fighting the Eydis. Your lack of technology has made it so the Eydis can’t detect many of your artifacts with their scanners which again, makes you the perfect soldiers. The sheath is designed to protect those who enter the atmosphere on Zerkola, and the others will pilot drudges to prevent loss of human life.”

  Mica couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. “I finally get to be an enforcer, this is going to be so cool.”

  “Hold on. Why would we put our lives on the line for the Gentorix?” I pointed to Mica. “He’s not even old enough to drive and you want him to fight?”

  “Your assistance is imperative to the survival of both the Gentorix and the human race. The Gentorix have no desire to put you in danger and much of your fighting will be through controlling a fighter drudges by playing a game similar to the one you were in. You will use the same type of pods to control these fighters.”

  I shook my head. “Why can’t they play the game themselves and pilot their own drudges?”

  “Their numbers are few and there’s a risk to them if the Eydis insert a virus into the fighter drones. It will spread to the Gentorix through the biological portions of the fighters and by entry of the ships into their clean space. This is why humans are not allowed to physically meet the Gentorix unless you follow a strict decontamination procedure and wear a sheath with security features that allow them to control your movements to prevent accidental release of the virus into their environment.”

  Zuri had been quiet during the entire exchange but now voiced her concerns. “What did you mean by our compliance is required for humans to survive?”

  “I used the word assistance not compliance–”

  She cut Cygnet off. “I know what you said but you meant compliance. What would happen if we don’t help.”

  “The Gentorix are prepared to protect humans if they offer their assistance however, if you decide not to, they are prepared to recruit others. Due to your knowledge, you will be implanted with an Omega Wave Interceptor Device and become part of the service core who will mine resources for the Gentorix to be used as they rebuild their home base. They will not leave here until the Eydis have been eradicated, the subterranean deposits of poudrette dissolved and removed, and their home world has been restored so they may return.”

  Mica stepped forward. “I’ll help them.”

  “Your willingness is appreciated. I need your answers at this time.”

  Zuri, Wes, and Phineas all nodded to indicate their answers.

  Wes put his arm around my waist. “Iolite, don’t leave me. Mica needs you too.”

  I looked into his cobalt blue eyes and tried to resolve the conflict inside. “I’m…hhhh. I guess I have no choice. I’m in.” I turned to Cygnet. “You better keep us safe.”

  “We will do all in our power to ensure no human life is lost.”

  I gazed around at our small group. “Where’s everyone else?”

  “You will see the remainder of the Delphian Sect members in a few hours. For now, everyone must enter the training arena. It will simulate both fighter drudge control as well as hand to hand combat.”

  “Wait, I thought you said we wouldn’t be fighting them directly.”

  “That is true for most however, Delphian Sect members will be competing with other players to be a part of the terrain missions.”

  I rolled my eyes. “How many times do we have to fight other players and how long is this going to take? Don’t you think our parents are wondering where we are?”

  Cygnet’s manners were not quite human. No matter what she said, she was pleasant and upbeat. “Players are not required to fight against other players. Instead, the basis for your entry into elite silver status is based on your progress through the training arena. If members of Delphian Sect are not able to pass this test level, they will be moved to another wing and become part of another team and may be part of the patrol unit.”

  “And our parents?”

  “Your parents and loved ones have been told you are part of a group that has transitioned to Sky Outpost for additional training that will allow you to pilot the first human transports in outer space. In addition, all of you have signed up to explore regions that will increase the capacity of humans to colonize the skies and travel among the stars. As a result, they are not expecting you to return for several years.”

  “Several years? This is insane. What if I tell them the truth? What will you do?”

  Wes pulled me closer to him. “Don’t. They won’t believe any of us if we told them the truth, and if they believed us, their lives would be put in jeopardy. Just don’t.”

  “Well said. Follow me.”

  She turned and lead us out of the room into the training arena. One portion held simulation tanks while another was a forested replication of Zerkola inside a transparent glassy box. The sheaths were similar to what we’d seen in the game. Fle
xible helmets and pairs of spiky boots were all we could see. I knew once I put it on it would generate some kind of protective shield but hoped it would be stronger than the ones in the game. After being fitted with a headset connected to the neural connectors in our skulls, we were instructed to place the helmet on our heads and engage the device.

  It was strange seeing everyone in their human form instead of interacting with their avatars. Zuri was the most shocking one to see since she was so much older than the rest of us, but Phineas didn’t seem to care about that. Wes reminded me of a chiseled statue. He was tall with chestnut curls tucked behind his ears with a strong jaw and clefted chin. It was frustrating to be pulled back into a game once again instead of spending time with him which was what I really wanted. As a young girl I’d imagined growing up, going to college, marrying a man who loved me more than life itself, and living in a nice neighborhood with our children. So far, all that had come true from that dream was that I was growing up.