…
Rena and her team were standing in the large open meadow filled with pirate ships. All fifty of them. She was very discouraged at this point, having called off the search for the teleportation device. It was not at the ranch house or anywhere near it. Every cave, bush, hole, and square foot surrounding the ranch house was searched. She paid the workers and they left, one by one. She was alone with Aderian, Jak, and Nell.
“My hopes are on Janek, now. He left a few hours ago. Adere, did you put the tracker on? Did you get his ships’ designation and heading?”
“Yes,” he muttered. “Who’s going to follow him?”
She looked at Jak and Nell, “You think you could tail him and not be noticed?”
Jak said, “Yes, but if he goes to O'bipherion it means we’re cooped up in these space gunners for five days, minimum! I hate trying to ‘you know what’ in those.”
Nell added, “Go to the bathroom, Jak. It’s not a bathroom, it’s a...”
“Stop bickering!” she ordered. “You do what you have to! And you’ve done it many times before,” she said as she stared them down. “You go in your ships. We can’t be stealing anything right now. I don’t want to draw any more attention to us than what we have already done. I’m leaving.” She turned toward her ship then stopped. “Look, go to Kopiter! Now!” she blared. “I’ll contact them and see what we have but he’s already hours ahead of you. Get a ship, go to…” She looked at Aderian.
“Xeraxes,” he answered.
“Go there, park in orbit, and wait for him to leave the planet. Don’t get too close. Try to mingle in with a few other ships. Got it?”
Jak exclaimed, “Got it!” He and Nell ran to their ships and blasted off toward Kopiter. They would find a more suitable ship for the trip. Rena and Aderian watched as they bolted toward the sky.
“We’re going to the Ambulas?” Aderian asked.
“Yes!”
“I’m sorry we didn’t find it, Rena. You know I will make it my mission to find it. If that’s what you want.”
Once again, she noticed how he served her. Her anger subsided as she studied him. She knew she had hurt him and rejected him time after time even though he continually tried to explain Kwelling’s true motives to her. Still, he kept trying to please her. The branch he was using for a crutch needed to be replaced. His wounds were still healing and she could see his pain at times. His hair was fluttering in the breeze and his manly physique was diminished by his injuries. His cuts and bruises were healing, yet he continued to flinch and wince often from simple movements. It was just over two days ago he suffered the brutal attack by the kukupas and through it all, he served her faithfully, enduring the pain. She was moved with compassion by his care and concern.
She walked up to him, “You’re still hurting?”
“Only on those deep breaths,” he giggled.
She smiled. “And yet you somehow want to run off and find the device for me?”
“For us, Rena. And yes, for you.”
She stepped closer and gently placed her left hand on his chest. She saw him take a deep breath then wince. He was captivated by her young and kind face, lips that allured him, her long ash brown hair, and tender dark green eyes, more tender at that moment than he had ever noticed. She gently placed her right hand on his strong neck.
“Rena,” he gasped. “Please don’t play games with me… I…”
“I’m sorry, Adere. Games are all I know. And I can’t stop thinking about how much you really care for me.” She pulled him closer, his good arm wrapped around her thin waist as she held on to him. “This game… I am trying my best to stop. I don’t ever want to hurt you yet you are hurting right now. Right?”
“Yes,” he whispered. “Both my body and my heart.”
“I’m sorry,” she said.
She pulled his head closer to hers; he resisted at first. When she kissed him, he fully embraced her. It was the most affectionate and compassionate kiss he had ever received. Also, for her, it was the most enjoyable kiss she had ever given as she gave it because she knew she was loved by him. The kiss lasted moments for her but much longer for him. She softly backed away and looked at him.
“Thank you, Adere. For helping me.”
He nodded and realized it meant nothing more to her than a thank you. It was just a simple gesture she happened to be in the mood for. In a few minutes, she could, perhaps, forget it ever happened. It caused him great pain to consider that. He hid his emotions as best he could.
“Do you think you can fly?” she asked.
“I don’t have a choice. Do I? Let’s get going. We’ve got work to do.”
“Yes,” she answered. “I’ve got a lot of work to do. O'bipherion is going to pay and I’m going to make them hand over Boone Nova and Jurias.”
She helped Aderian climb into his space gunner then quickly got into hers. Together they launched up and over the wide meadow and into the bright sun. Their next stop, the Ambulas.
…
Lincoln asked again, “Boone, we never really discussed what this device can do. I think it’s a great time to do so. Don’t you?”
“Yeah,” he replied. Lincoln and Phia became glued to his words, anticipating hearing about the amazing discovery. It was an invention that would impact the constellation with lasting effects.
“I was in the Gorledeon system. Lila computed a fixed point ahead of me, in the Axeon system.”
“Lila?” Lincoln asked. “Who is Lila?”
Phia laughed, “His ship. The Night Star is fully automated. Right?”
“Yeah, big deal. So are the High Guard intergalactic runners. Right, Terra? Isn’t your ship automated?”
“Uh, I haven’t had much time to check it out but it did verbally find a handful of coordinates for me. So, yes.”
“Did you name it or just call it COM? It will be a ‘he’, right? Hey! Name it Pryce!” Terra gazed at him without an answer. Boone smirked and continued. “Anyway, I initiated the device and the Night Star traveled from the outer edge of the Gorledeon system to the outer edge of the Axeon system – in three seconds! That is about all I know. Oh, you need three passwords and the gamma thing will never work.”
Lincoln asked again, “They wanted to add a gamma radiation pulse to the device. Right? Cumi?”
“Wrong,” Terra said. “The pirate queen was behind it. Cumi was her hired hand. But, yes, they wanted to teleport gamma radiation. And, Sir…”
“Uh, ah, Terra,” Boone said.
“Oh, right. Use first names. Sorry, Lincoln, as I was saying, we know the queen set off a gamma bomb on a moon in the Capseon system. So, they were close.”
Phia explained, “They completely blew the moon to pieces!”
“That’s scary,” Jona added. “We need to find this queen.”
“I know where she is,” Boone added. “On that Ambulas. But, our mission is to get the device to the Sim-Sa Gale and Commander J'Dar. Even though he hates me.”
Phia became extremely concerned at the mention of Commander J'Dar’s name. She still had not talked to the commander about Boone and what she discovered on Kova. She wondered greatly about the matter and decided it was a conversation for just the two of them. Her and Boone, soon.
Lincoln said, “Boone, I’m so glad you said that because I had my doubts about your intentions.”
Boone turned to him because Lincoln sat behind him and said, “Lincoln, you don’t understand! I can keep my word! I can tell the truth!”
Phia thought, “The truth! Boone, I ‘need’ the truth. From you! When?”
“I’m learning that, I guess. Sorry,” Lincoln replied.
Boone added, “I wish I could get the truth from all of you. I’m not sure who I can trust anymore.” Boone glanced at everyone.
Jona knew he was trusted as did Terra. Phia and Lincoln felt the accusation of it, though.
Phia exclaimed, “I can be trusted. I’m proving it, Boone. Right?”
Bonne nodded, “Yeah,
not bad for a few days or hours, though. How about a lifetime?”
She gazed at him. Lincoln said, “I can be trusted! Why do you think I’m the constellation’s chief investigator?”
Boone answered, “Because they all must like you. That’s what I think.”
“Not true, Boone!” he blared in disgust. “I earned my rank and position by doing my best to get to the truth, investigate people when looking for the truth, and hunt down those that break the laws. Ask Terra!”
Boone glanced at Terra behind him. She nodded. She said, “I completely trust him. Investigating is all about getting to the truth about something or someone. He does that very well.”
Boone nodded, not yet fully believing. He stood up and turned around and faced Terra, Phia, and Lincoln. Jona leaned back in his chair and watched. They became curious as he was about to tell them something. Boone glanced at Jona’s gun which was securely holstered then he shot a very quick glance at Jona. Jona understood the quick glance, slipped the strap off which secured it, and carefully placed his hand on his gun. Boone smiled at him and nodded.
He said, “Fine, here is some truth. And, I don’t really want to say this but I’m trying to trust you all. So… the device… it’s in dead space.”
They all squirmed in their seats and gazed at him about the revelation. Jona was very glad to be trusted.
“I trust Jona,” he said as he quickly glanced at him. “You will ‘take care’ of anyone that tries to stop me.”
Jona jumped to his feet, “Yes, Boone! Thank you!” Jona gleamed as Terra was smirking and motioning to him with her finger to sit back down. He smiled at her and sat down.
“Also, I have another teleportation device.”
Phia thought, “Uh, he told them! He told them the truth. Thank you!” Terra, Lincoln, and Jona gasped.
“What?” Terra asked. “Here? There’s two of them?”
Phia, filled with excitement, explained by rudely interrupting Boone, “It is from Zay'Geis and it is very small.” Terra and Lincoln gazed at her. “It can only go very short distances. We kept it a secret because…”
“Enough, Phia. Please?” Boone carefully asked. “That device they stole, the prototype, the original, is very large. It was designed for our battlecruisers. It’s obvious you have to start off with a model. That’s what this is, the one I have on board. It’s a model, made for a single small ship. In fact, I’m not sure the Night Star can even use it.”
Terra blared, upset with Boone’s secrecy, “We have to test it! We…”
“I know, Terra. I…”
She interrupted, “I wish you would start trusting me! You make me feel like I don’t belong in your team or maybe you don’t want…”
“Terra!” he blared. “I know! That’s why I’m telling you.” He turned his chair around, sat down in front of her, and got her full attention. “Terra, understand, I’m telling you about this device. No one else knows. Just us. OK? I’m trusting you! Get it?”
She smiled and nodded her head. “OK. I understand. Thank you. Really! That is a relief because I need your trust. So, what now?”
Boone answered, “We have to keep this a secret. Understood!” he blared. Everyone nodded. “If this device gets stolen, I can’t imagine the trouble it would cause. And if word gets out that we have one, everyone will be after us. Do you all get that?” They all agreed. “Now, we have to test it but not around here. Too many scans. I’ve been trying to figure out whether we can let Pryce and Mace get a big lead and test it in the corridor. But, I can’t let anyone detect us. And I mean, anyone.”
Lincoln said, “The Gale and Surge are headed for the planet. They both have to land soon. You say we’re headed for... where? How about then?”
Phia looked at her scanner, “They will land in three or four hours.”
“That’s too long,” Boone replied. “Phia, check out the solar system. What’s happening beyond the last moon – Fema-Pherion? Anything going on out beyond the O'bipherion system?”
There were three planets between O'bipherion and its sun – Telifon, Ukanis, and Karnal. She checked and answered, “No ships near Karnal or the other two. Not even Fema-Pherion. I don’t see a single mining ship. There’s nothing out there right now.”
Terra said, “The mining facility will be watching, Boone.”
“I know!” he blared. “But, there is nowhere we can go where we won’t be seen!” Terra glared at him because of his continual yelling. “I’m sorry,” he softly said. “But, I’m frustrated.”
Terra chuckled, “And we’ve barely started the mission.”
Boone chuckled. “OK, Terra. I’m sorry. Now, I think if we go beyond Fema-Pherion and keep the moon directly behind us… know what I’m getting at?”
Lincoln said, “Use the moon to shield us from all of the scans from O'bipherion. What will the facility do? Report it?”
Phia added, “And they want to know what the Night Star is doing out there. I mean the Kenos.”
“Right,” Boone said. “We are a cargo ship, the Kenos Verisian, and we’re checking out our ship – it has a malfunction in the NAV system.”
They all laughed. Lincoln said, “Boone, you’re very good at coming up with these schemes and plans. That will work.”
Boone took the Kenos Verisian past the last moon in the O'bipherion system and continued toward the planet Karnal. The moon, Fema-Pherion, was well behind them as Boone showed everyone how to use the miniature teleportation device.
“OK, here we go… passwords are from what my mom has tried to drill into my head all these years. Zay'Geis reset them for me. Lila?” he asked.
“Ready,” Lila answered.
“Program the following procedure for automation recall. I’ll use this procedure again and you will activate attached device in hull hatch R-7. This procedure will override previous ‘jump’ maneuver.”
Lila: “I have done it, Boone.”
“Set coordinates for O75-A11. That’s a hundred million miles from us. This device has a default proximity alert. We won’t run into anything.”
“What about the sun?” Jona asked.
“We’re going next to it, not directly at it. OK?”
Jona nodded and smiled as he was worried about the jump. Boone smiled at him for reassurance.
Lila: “I have set coordinates.”
“OK, everyone, here goes. Because now, I will manually initiate.”
Lila: “I have entered the data and set passwords in order to proceed.”
“Thanks.” Boone set his finger on the button and paused. “Everyone ready? Any famous words? Because we’re all about to make history here.”
Phia blared, “I wish you would just push it! I can’t stand the anticipation!”
“Me, either,” Terra said.
Lincoln nodded and Jona watched the position of the sun on his NAV panel. Boone pushed the button and the ship disappeared from the moon, Fema-Pherion. Seconds later it reappeared a hundred million miles away.
Lincoln jumped to his feet, “What? It worked? I don’t believe it!”
They all stood and gaped, astonished by the capability of the device. Boone then sat down, turned his cockpit chair toward them, and motioned for them to sit.
“It’s great? Huh?” They nodded with excitement. Then Boone added some reality to the discovery. “It’s fun. Huh?” They nodded again. “Yeah,” he then grumbled and scowled, piquing their curiosity and showing his resentment. “It’s also what killed all of those people on Isoter. Burgeis, Metri, that family of six, who knows who else?” They suddenly became sullen. Smiles became scowls. “This is life and death, everyone. I hope you all understand that.” They could not say a word as trepidation took over. “Now, I’m going to tell you ‘the plan.’ OK? Is everyone mad, yet?”
Terra glared at him, Lincoln gaped and seemed agitated and Phia scowled at him.
Terra, peeved, gestured by raising her good arm. She said, “You didn’t give the others the ‘entire’ plan.” She huf
fed, “Right?” Then she smirked. “And it’s because they need to believe they’re going to Isoter? How am I doing?” she said as she plopped her arm on the armrest of the chair in contempt.
“Yes. Exactly right. Now,” he said as he looked at Jona, Lincoln, and Phia. “Tell me why? Why ‘must’ they believe they are going to Isoter?”
Phia sunk into her chair, disgusted. She had no idea and wasn’t able to think of a reason. Jona smiled and shook his head. He knew why. Everyone looked at Lincoln and waited for him to think.
Lincoln said, “Hmm. They have to believe that because… I’m guessing that… well, the Ambulas is in that system. I know that’s part of it. Oh!” he said. “Maybe they will think the Kori Dane has something to do with the device and that will keep the Ambulas from traveling the corridor? Boone? The device is in the dead space near the corridor?”
Bonne nodded. “Yes. We need a somewhat empty corridor to retrieve the device.”
Phia said, “Why can’t we just jump there? We have the device now!”
“Phia, I have to keep ‘this’ device a secret! No one can ever know two devices exist! Do you have any idea what would happen if this device were discovered?”
Lincoln answered, “Zay’Geis would be the most sought after scientist in the universe, and not just by noble manufacturers – but by pirates.”
Terra added, “It’s too far right now, also. Right, Boone?” He shook his head, yes. She added, “We need to do one more jump and stop using it until we get to the real device. If we jump in the corridor, someone will see it and a lot of attention will be drawn to us.”
Boone nodded again, “We need to be covert right now.”
Jona huffed, “We need to be very sneaky! We can do it!”
Boone turned his chair around and faced the instrument panel. He said, “Lila.”
Lila: “Ready.”
“Set coordinates.” He checked his NAV and entered coordinates to jump behind a dead moon close to the corridor. “Jump on my command.”
BOONE NOVA AND THEPIRATE QUEEN Page 19