Heretic

by Philip C. Quaintrell

  “It would be a major contribution to the Conclave on behalf of the humans,” Lordina replied, seductively. “It would go a long way to building trust among our people…”

  “Are the Starforges not enough?” Kalian couldn’t help himself. “You’ve just been handed over a piece of technology that will reshape the Conclave.” His anger was quick to rise these days.

  Nu-marn raised his pale elongated head and fixed his robotic eyes on Kalian. “After all the chaos your people have brought to our homes... the Starforge technology is the only thing that has stopped us from exiling your race into the cold of space.”

  Brokk’s gravelly voice spoke out, “Nu-marn…” It was all that was needed to calm the Shay councillor.

  “It cannot be done,” ALF announced, silencing any further argument. “The nanocelium you possess came from the Gommarian and was manufactured in the Terran Empire, specifically, inside the Criterion, where my hardware was housed. The nanocelium was programmed from there to respond to Terran DNA only. I cannot change the base programming without a nanocelium factory, and the only one in the galaxy is inside the Criterion. Before Savrick died, he told of how he destroyed my original housing.”

  Brokk responded, “But we have seen it work on humans. After Professor Garrett Jones attacked Captain Fey’s crew, the nanocelium was used to heal them.”

  “Human DNA is so close to their predecessors that the nanocelium cannot tell the difference anymore. They are certainly more limited in terms of its manipulation, but simple constructs and medicinal techniques are compatible.” ALF’s expression was impossible to read.

  Kalian just didn’t trust him anymore. The connection between Malekk, the cubes and the Terran is nanocelium, and as ALF just pointed out, only he can alter its design.

  “Perhaps you will learn more during your time there.” Elondrasa’s calming voice cut through the rising tension. “But your priority is to learn more of this external threat, we can discuss everything else upon your return.” The Novaarian councillor looked beyond Kalian. “Are you ready Naydaalan?”

  Kalian whipped his head around to look at Telarrek and his son, with no lack of confusion displayed across his face.

  “I am, Councillor,” Naydaalan replied with a bow.

  “What are you talking about?” Kalian asked, frantically.

  Ch’lac appeared to adjust the holographic dial around his chest plate, altering the shield and the methane gas that surround his head. “Your mission is too important to be left to you alone. A representative from the Conclave will go with you to ensure… transparency.”

  “You mean you don’t trust me.” Kalian balled his right fist but managed to stop his personal electromagnetic aura from disrupting the Sentinel’s systems.

  “Not just you…” Lordina glanced at ALF.

  Kalian clamped his jaw shut, aware that he had nothing helpful to say.

  ALF placed his hands inside his gaping sleeves. “I trust that while we search for answers beyond your territory, you will continue to search for answers a little closer to home.”

  As Brokk shifted his considerable bulk, the holographic emitters transmitted the sound of grinding stone. “We have already located and arrested three members of the Protocorps board members. Though to date, they have been quite uncooperative. Gor-van Tanar and Kel-var Tionis remain at large. They each held considerable holdings and an unknown amount of wealth. Finding them will be harder, but we have tasked multiple organisations with the job.”

  Nu-marn, a fellow Shay, appeared agitated throughout Brokk’s speech. It hadn’t escaped Kalian that the Councillor’s previous campaigns for office had been funded in part by Protocorps.

  As one, all five Highclave members looked to their right, clearly seeing something on their end.

  “We have other matters to attend,” Elondrasa commented. “We wish you both luck in your endeavours and a speedy return.”

  “With answers…” Ch’lac added.

  The spherical emitters shut down and floated back to the Shay crewman, like pets returning to their master.

  Kalian turned on Naydaalan. “I don’t know what’s on the other side of that forge, but I can bet it isn’t going to be anything good, and it certainly won’t be anything the Conclave have seen before. It’s too dangerous.”

  Naydaalan puffed out his narrow chest and looked down on Kalian. “Though considerably younger than my father, I have been training for missions like this since before you were born.”

  Kalian didn’t have a response. He often forgot how old the Novaarians were and in truth, he had no idea how old Naydaalan was. Instead, Kalian looked to Telarrek for support. Surely he wouldn’t want his son to go on this mission?

  “The Highclave has spoken,” the Ambassador replied. “Naydaalan is more than capable.”

  Kalian studied Telarrek’s expression and doubted the Novaarian’s convictions. It was clear to see that he feared for his son’s life.

  Another life on his shoulders. More responsibility. Kalian had wanted to go through the Starforge to avoid scenarios like this one.

  “Fine. But I’m in charge.” Kalian locked eyes with Naydaalan.

  The Novaarian warrior nodded his agreement.

  “Mr. Gaines.” Charge Ilo walked over. “The Advent is ready. As requested…” Ilo hesitated. “Esabelle’s body has been stored in the ship’s cargo bay.”

  The mention of her name deflated him. He had watched Malekk take her life as if it were nothing. Esabelle had lived for two-hundred thousand years inside the Gommarian’s virtual reality. Her wisdom and experience couldn’t be found anywhere else in the galaxy.

  “What is the purpose of this?” Naydaalan asked, genuinely curious.

  “It’s an ancient Terran tradition,” Kalian explained. “Death was rare before the civil war, but if anyone died they were given back to the star that birthed them. Esabelle was born on Albadar, the Terran capital. I’m going to give her back to the sun…”

  After a brief farewell to Telarrek and Charge Ilo, Kalian and Naydaalan entered the Advent’s bridge and familiarised themselves with the controls. It was a spacious vessel, able to accommodate a crew of twelve at least. The Conclave engineers had retrofitted the interior to be comfortable for human and Novaarian, along with a considerable amount of food supplies. Due to its size, the Advent couldn’t house a shield generator or stealthware technology, so when they arrived in Terran space it wouldn’t be a quiet entry.

  ALF looked over the controls with a critical eye. “If you connect me to the ship’s mainframe I can take command.”

  “You already know the answer to that,” Kalian replied dryly, as his hand rested against the bulkhead. He didn’t need to run through the various controls as Naydaalan did, but instead expand his awareness to feel every inch of the Advent. Now the ship held no secrets.

  Naydaalan expanded on Kalian’s comment, “Charge Ilo was quite specific regarding your freedom, ALF. Until we enter the Starforge, you are to remain inside Kalian’s exo-suit.”

  “Hmph…” ALF turned away.

  Kalian had been given the same orders three months ago when he first arrived aboard the Sentinel. The Highclave didn’t want ALF in any way connected to the ship’s systems, ensuring his isolation and the safety of their own network, especially after the chaos caused by the destruction of their core AI, even if it had been a cube.

  Naydaalan settled into his seat, to the right of the viewport. An array of holograms, predominantly orange, came to life around him, presenting the Novaarian with multiple readouts. All four of his toned arms moved in different directions as if he possessed tentacles.

  “The drive is coming online now,” Naydaalan reported. “The Sentinel’s starrillium has been used to charge the intrinium, so when we reach Terran space, should we need to, the Advent can make a sub-space jump. After that, we will have to find a local star and recharge the cells.”

  “Sounds great,” Kalian said with little sentiment. “Take us out.”

 
; Relaxing into his human chair, to the left of the viewport, Kalian watched as the Advent lifted silently from the hangar bay floor and pivot towards the rectangular port, where a fine force-field separated them from space. Telarrek remained fixed in place, observing their departure with a stony expression. Kalian nodded at the Novaarian, understanding his trepidation. The ship slipped through the shields and pivoted once more to glide over the shining green hull of the Sentinel.

  Kalian could feel the constant flow of anger, bubbling just under the surface. ALF had reminded him time and again that most of that anger stemmed from the part of Savrick that was forever trapped inside his mind. After Savrick had invaded his thoughts on Naveen, Kalian had failed to remove the echo that stained so many of his emotions. He had often looked at Esabelle and had paternal feelings towards her, as Savrick once had. Of course, Savrick wasn’t the only echo inside his head. Kalian could still feel Li’ara’s imprint firmly inside his psyche. After saving her from a certain death, when the Helion had been plummeting towards Naveen, Kalian had ignored ALF’s warnings and entered Li’ara’s mind to trigger and enhance her own immune system.

  With a long, hard blink, Kalian shut down his chain of thought and collated everything he could find inside his mind, concerning Li’ara, and locked it away. His mind was more akin to a computer after Esabelle’s teachings, allowing Kalian to sift through his brain’s maze-like network and make adjustments.

  When he opened his eyes again, the Advent was breaking free of the Sentinel’s green bulk and heading towards the distant moon. Naydaalan dragged his long finger down the hologram to his left, increasing the thrust from the engines. The Starforge began to take shape in front of the viewport almost immediately. The structure’s crescent moon-shape quickly changed from the size of Kalian’s hand to that of a modest starship.

  “I input the coordinates myself.” ALF was standing between Kalian and Naydaalan. “We will arrive three-hundred thousand kilometres from Albadar’s surface.”

  In the silence of space, the Starforge became visibly active. Previously unseen lights flickered across the two arching limbs until they reached the pointed ends that didn’t quite meet. The two points exploded with electrical energy, firing purple lightning at each other. In the blink of an eye, the lightning erupted along the inside of the crescent limbs, building with more and more energy. Within a few seconds, the lightning grew in size and converged on the empty centre. The massing energy expanded with a flash of light when the event horizon was created and the universe’s natural laws broken. The lightning continued to race around the circumference, jumping between the two points, however, the centre of the Starforge was simply black, a dark spot against the starry backdrop.

  “Is it going to hurt?” Naydaalan became very still in his seat.

  ALF didn’t take his holographic eyes off the Starforge, admiring his work. “No. My designs were specific, not just to the Starforge but also the Advent. The hull has been polarized. It wouldn’t have been my first choice but your shield technology is too primitive to be fitted into a ship this small. Another enhancement I shall have to tackle upon our return…”

  “Naydaalan.” Kalian waited for the Novaarian’s attention before looking to the flashing comm panel.

  The Sentinel was giving them permission to enter the Starforge. The Advent’s thrusters were engaged to maximum yield, pushing it through the centre of the crescent station. The stars disappeared, followed by the surrounding limbs until only darkness lay ahead.

  ALF smiled as the abyss engulfed them. “Time to go home…”

  Chapter 2

  The light of two suns beat down on the arid surface of Vosk, heating up the desert planet to a temperature that couldn’t support plant life. The world was barren from pole to pole, with nothing except mountains to bottomless gorges to offset the flat terrain.

  The cube-mind opened its eyes, having closed them before the suns rose. He sat with his legs crossed on the hard, sand-coloured ground. Meditation was new to him, a practice of his host’s, the Terran. The realisation forced the cube-mind to its feet in a rage, an emotion that manifested itself in the form of an explosive wave of telekinesis. The ground cracked open and a cloud of sand was thrown into the air. The cube-mind balled its fists and screamed.

  As Professor Garrett Jones had slowly infected his parasitic master, so too was Malekk infecting the cube-mind. The host was strong, being a Terran, but the cube that had taken control of Professor Jones had been broken since even before it poisoned Savrick’s mind. The cube-mind that now possessed Malekk had been whole and perfect when it took control. But still, the Terran fought back. Their consciousnesses were beginning to merge like two storms colliding together to form a new and different storm. An abomination.

  This is why their kind must be destroyed...

  With that bubbling anger, the cube-mind descended into the darkest depths of Malekk’s head and confronted the caged Terran. Naked and alone, the Terran stood in ankle deep water that appeared to go on forever. The cube-mind had placed Malekk in a prison inside his own brain, but somehow the bipedal disease continued to infect the body.

  “What are you?” Malekk asked, looking into the shadows for the cube’s skulking, hidden form.

  The cube-mind could feel the Terran puncturing the cage and searching through its memories of eons past. The cube made attempts to shut the intrusion out but found Malekk’s probing reach to be out of its control. Over the last three months, the Terran’s awareness had become brighter, until he was as the cube saw him now, fully conscious and aware of his imprisoned existence.

  The first two months had been spent aboard the small craft that the cube had used to escape the fiery inferno of the Starforge. The small vessel had nothing but thruster capability, extending the journey to Vosk by two months. It was a fraction of time for the cube-mind however, who had lived underground on Trantax IV for thousands of years, waiting. For the last month, the cube had taken the time to try and master the Terran abilities that Malekk possessed. Despite being a disease that required eradicating, the Terran were deeply powerful beings. It was a shame they were toxic, otherwise, they would have made an invaluable addition.

  “WHAT ARE YOU?” Malekk screamed into the ether.

  The Terran whipped his head around in an attempt to lay eyes on the ever-moving consciousness of the cube-mind. Malekk dropped to one knee and pressed his fists into the water. The cube could feel him trying to relinquish control of his motor functions again, as he had tried to do for several days now.

  That will not work…

  Malekk stood up and frantically searched the abyss-like surroundings. The cube’s mind had come from every direction, tormenting the Terran.

  “What are you?”

  You have seen what we are.

  The cube-mind knew everything Malekk had scoured through in its memories. Perhaps that was what frightened him so much.

  “You are a plague!” Malekk spat.

  Ironic, coming from one of your kind. In all the universe there is no greater disease than you.

  “I will take back control! If a human can do it then I can.” Malekk appeared ready for a fight.

  Foolish biped… the fight had already been won.

  You have seen and heard all that I have, yes? Then you know that your entire civilization was brought to its knees by a fraction of our being. With mere suggestions, one such as I created a war that tore the Terran apart from the inside. You are wholly mine.

  The cube-mind relished the scorned expression upon the Terran’s face. As Malekk had looked into its memories, so too had the cube looked into his. Malekk of Crychek had been a Gomar sympathiser, turning on his own people to help Savrick, a hero in Malekk’s eyes. It must sting to know that every action of his hero had been guided by a fellow cube-mind.

  “You will pay for what you have done to my people!”

  Your people are already forgotten. We look to the Conclave now. Their civilisation will sustain us, and those few who remain
of your kind will perish with them, ending the threat.

  Malekk smiled arrogantly. “You know what? You’re right, we are a disease. But do you know what diseases are good at? Adapting. You keep pushing back and we keep on surviving. Kalian Gaines keeps on surviving.”

  The cube had heard enough. The fact that it had descended to this level to merely converse was just more proof that the Terran was indeed infecting the nanocelium. Time was running out.

  Adapt to this…

  The shadows behind Malekk exploded with sound, as something massive awoke in the dark. The Terran stumbled back in the shallow water, away from the crashing sound. The noise grew and grew until it was louder than Malekk’s voice. The cube-mind ascended through the layers of the Terran brain, leaving Malekk to be swept away in a tsunami of water. Perhaps it would slow down the rate of infection for a while. The cube wasn’t hopeful.

  Back on the surface of Vosk, the cube-mind examined its new and unusual body, as it so regularly did. The Terran’s pale skin was interlaced with strands of dark nanocelium that ripped through the flesh like worms. The armour it wore was the same Malekk had been buried in when the crew of the Tempest abandoned him, two-hundred thousand years ago. The white armour was now covered in dirt and ash with a few streaks of red blood. The cube knew it belonged to Esabelle and Kalian, as its host no longer possessed blood after the nanocelium infected him.

  A familiar presence tugged at its attention. Another part of the Vanguard, a part of itself, was close by. Looking up at the pale blue sky, the Starforge was easy to see, resting just above the planet’s thin atmosphere. It was one of four that Protocorps had been tasked with constructing by the ‘AI’ centuries ago, though Kalian had seen to the destruction of one already.

  But it wasn’t the Starforge that the cube-mind had detected since the super-structure had been above Vosk for centuries under construction. The cube-mind used its host’s Terran abilities to sharpen the body’s eyes and focus on the faint dot that streaked across the sky. Spinning end-over-end was a cube identical to the one which had housed its own mind.