by G. P. Hudson
“Admiral, I do not think you should proceed alone,” said Lieutenant Jarvi, the Chaanisar security team leader. Jon could see the concern in the eyes of most of his team.
“It’s okay,” said Jon. “I’ll be fine. Just wait here.” He looked up at the blue woman, something he wasn’t yet used to. “After you.” Her head tilted again for a moment, but she said nothing, and stepped into the adjoining room.
Inside Jon found another Dvorkan woman seated behind a large desk. His escort directed Jon to stand in front of the desk. Oddly there was nowhere to sit. Apparently, you were expected to stand in the presence of the Dvorkan Consul.
“This is Admiral Jon Pike, leader of the strange ships that have arrived in our system.”
The Consul nodded, and the first woman left Jon to stand alone. “What planet are you from?” the Consul said flatly.
“My race is from a planet known as Earth. My companions are from the planet Diakus.”
“I do not know either of these planets. Why is that?”
“Your race has not traveled to our region of the galaxy.”
“The Empire spans thousands of light years. It is possible I have not learned of your races. When did your people ascend?”
Empire? thought Jon. Thousands of light years? What did we stumble into?
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” said Jon.
“My staff mentioned that you were odd. Now I understand what they meant.”
“My translator may be having some difficulty. What did you mean when you said ‘ascend’?”
“When did your race rise up and enter the Empire?”
“I understand now. The thing is, we are not part of the Empire. In fact, this is the first encounter we’ve had with your people, and your Empire.”
“That is impossible,” said the Consul. “How were you permitted to travel between our systems?”
“Yours is the first populated system we’ve encountered since we left our own.”
“The first? Impossible. You cannot travel through the transit points without encountering the many Empire worlds.”
“I apologize for my confusion, but what is a transit point?”
The Consul’s cold eyes narrowed. “You dare ridicule me?”
“No! I’m not ridiculing you. I’m being sincere. I don’t know what a transit point is. I’m sure it’s just my translator having problems again. Believe me, I mean no offense.”
Jon waited quietly as the Consul studied him with those ghoulish black eyes. “I believe you.” She said finally. “Transit points are the basis of interstellar travel. Without them traveling between the stars would take years, if not centuries. By using the transit points, you can travel hundreds of light years instantly.”
“You have jump gates,” Jon said in astonishment.
“What is a jump gate?”
“It’s what you call a transit point. We refer to them as jump gates.”
“Clearly the problem is with your translator. Still, the question remains, how could you travel between the transit points without being part of the Empire? Non-citizens are not permitted to use the transit network.”
Jon became uncomfortable, even concerned. He knew little about this race, less about its Empire. How much should he reveal to them? At this point he had to mention their jump gate network, or he might face some sort of trespassing charge.
“There are transit points that you are not aware of,” he said finally. “Our races have used them to travel the galaxy. It seems that your transit point network, and ours, are not connected. That is why we each have no knowledge of the other.”
The Consul looked stunned. She leaned back in her chair, quiet, as if trying to grasp the immensity of what she just learned. “If what you’re saying is true,” she said finally. “How did you get here?”
“We have been traveling for a very long time,” Jon lied. He wasn’t about to reveal that they had a jump system. “None of our kind have ever been this far. In fact, I’m hoping you can help us. We are looking for a race known as the Antikitheri. The Builders. The ancient ones who built the transit points.”
The Consul burst into laughter. “You can’t be serious. You are chasing ghosts.”
“Then you have heard of them?”
“There are many legends about the Builders. Every Dvorkan has heard them. But they are legends. If the Builders did ever exist, they don’t anymore.”
The Consul seemed to notice Jon’s disappointment. “You are serious?” she said. “Truly, you are an odd race. Why do you seek these beings?”
Again, Jon struggled with how much he should reveal. “We have some problems, and we have reason to believe that the Builders can help us.”
“What type of problems are you facing that you seek the help of ghosts?”
“I’m sorry. I’m not authorized to share that information.”
The Consul’s eyes narrowed once more. “You must face a major calamity to be this desperate.”
“Yes, you could say that.”
The Consul seemed to soften. “I understand. We Dvorkans have faced many calamities throughout our history. Each has made us stronger, but only after great struggle and hardship. My advice to you and your race is to persevere, whether you find these Builders or not. Our history has taught us the virtue of tenacity.”
“I would love to learn of your history one day.”
The Consul smiled, surprising him. “Perhaps I have misjudged your race. You may not have our stature, or our royal blue skin, but there is something about you….” The Consul became quiet in her contemplation and Jon felt as if he was under a microscope. “I will help you,” she said finally. “I do not know much of the Builders, just the same stories as everyone else. But I do know someone who does. She is a great scholar. The Builders are something of an obsession for her. Nobody knows more about them. If anybody can help you find them, she can.”
“That’s great. When can we meet her?”
“That is the tricky part. She lives on another world. The only way to reach her is through the transit network.”
“And we’re not allowed to travel through your transit network. I guess that settles that.”
“No, not necessarily. I can issue you a transit permit. For a fee, of course.” The Consul smiled again.
“Of course,” said Jon, returning her smile. “Can we pay with hard goods?”
“Indeed you can.”
Jon thought for a moment. If they were going to go to the trouble of speaking to this scholar, they would need some actual currency. “Can we exchange more hard goods for Empire credits?”
“Yes. That would be wise. The permit will allow travel through the transit points, but it does not exempt you from paying the Empire’s tolls. You must pay more fees when you reach the scholar’s planet.”
“I get the impression that your Empire charges a fee for most things.”
“Of course it does. It is the price we pay for the honor of citizenship.”
“I see.” Jon had a feeling that they were going to be fabricating a hell of a lot of ammunition in the coming days. “I will make arrangements to bring more hard goods to the surface.”
“Excellent. I will have the permit issued, and will create an Empire account for your credits. Your account will be valid throughout the Empire. How long will you be staying in our system?”
“Not very long. We really need to keep moving.”
“You will be sent a transit point map, so that you can find the path to the scholar’s world. While you are here, I suggest you explore our fine city. We are known throughout the Empire for our varied pleasures, and activities.”
“Thank you for everything you are doing for us.”
“I have done nothing. The difficult work is yours alone.”
Chapter 15
“We shouldn’t waste time, Admiral,” said Tallos over Jon’s comm. “What can this scholar tell us that we don’t already know?”
“And what is it that we know, exactly?
” said Jon. “Nothing. All we have is a vision that the Great See’er shared with me. A large region of space where the Builders might be. If the Consul is correct, and this scholar is the Empire’s foremost expert on the Builders. I’m sure she knows much more than we do.”
“But Admiral, we will have to go deeper into this Empire to find her. That alone puts us at risk. We don’t know anything about this Empire.”
“We’ve been at risk since day one. If this Empire is as big as the Consul says, then we should learn as much as possible about them now, because I get the feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of them in the future.”
“More intelligence on this race and their capabilities would be valuable,” said Tallos.
“I knew you’d see things my way. I’ve arranged for more shipments of ammunition to pay for a jump gate permit, and so we can have credits to spend on anything else that pops up. In the meantime, we’re going stay on the surface a while longer and have a look around.”
“Understood. Tallos out.”
Jon and his team spent some time exploring the busy city streets. Everywhere they went, the giant blue Dvorkans stared at them. Sometimes it was with curiosity, other times with contempt. Strangely, the culture was completely homogenous. Only blue men, women, and children.
It was odd, as the Dvorkans seemed to be used to seeing other races. Jon had originally assumed that they interacted with other races often. But if that was true, it wasn’t on this planet.
They turned down one of the busy streets just off the main corridor, and came across a bustling establishment. The doors were in near constant swing with Dvorkans coming and going. Many laughed. Some were singing. All looked like they were enjoying themselves.
“This looks like a popular place,” said Jon. “Let’s go inside and see what the Dvorkans do for fun.”
“It will be difficult to provide security in such a crowded space, Admiral,” said Lieutenant Jarvi.
“We’ve been walking around for a couple of hours without incident and there is no reason to expect otherwise. The Dvorkans may have an attitude, but they haven’t shown themselves to be hostile. I’m sure we’ll be fine.”
“As you wish, Admiral.”
They entered the building and waded through the crowds of loud, jovial Dvorkans. It wasn’t long before Jon realized that many of them were drunk. Further inside, he noticed groups taking part in the various table games on offer. They were clearly gambling.
They found themselves a relatively quiet corner, and stopped.
“What is this place?” said Lieutenant Jarvi.
Jon laughed. “I guess the Chaanisar have never spent any time in a pleasure house.”
“No we have not. What is its purpose?”
“They’re the same anywhere in the galaxy. As their name states, people come for pleasure. Whether that pleasure comes from drinking, or gambling, or other things, depends on the individual.”
“Chaanisar have no need of such activities,” said Jarvi.
“Are you sure?”
“I don’t understand.”
“Well, you may have all that technology inside you, but you’re still human first. Most humans like to blow off some steam, and have some fun every now and then.”
“My brain chip regulates such impulses.”
“Yes, I suppose it does.”
“For a Chaanisar, discipline is life. Our implants may provide enhanced abilities, but through training, and discipline, we enhance our augmentation, taking it to the highest level.” Jarvi scanned the room. “There is no discipline in this place. Only gluttony, and lust.”
“You Chaanisar really know how to liven up a party, don’t you?” said Jon.
“What is that smell?!” said a Dvorkan male walking past. He stopped, staring right at Jon. His black eyes were speckled red. Perhaps a physiological sign of intoxication? Jon would have to assume as much.
“There it is!” said the Dvorkan, extending his long blue finger towards Jon’s group. “That’s what smells right there. Who allowed these stinking aliens inside?” The Dvorkan had two friends with him, both laughing and rooting him on. “I didn’t spend my hard earned credits to have to share oxygen with these filthy creatures.”
Jon sighed. Bad drunks were the same everywhere it seemed. “Look, we’re just minding our own business. We’re not bothering you-”
“The alien speaks! Did I give you permission to speak, alien?”
The Dvorkan took a step closer, and Lieutenant Jarvi stepped in front of Jon, quickly joined by the rest of the team.
The Dvorkan broke out into a fit of laughter. “Look, these puny aliens are trying to frighten me.”
Jon put a hand on Jarvi’s shoulder. “It’s okay, we were just leaving.”
“I didn’t give you permission to leave either,” said the Dvorkan.
Now the Dvorkan was starting to annoy him. “I don’t need your permission,” he hissed.
The laughter stopped and the Dvorkan lunged for Jon. Despite his size, and apparent drunkenness, his speed was surprising. Lieutenant Jarvi was faster, though. Sidestepping the lunge, Jarvi kicked the Dvorkan’s legs out from under him, and the blue giant dropped to the floor with a mighty thud.
Surprised, the Dvorkan’s friends quickly turned angry. They moved to attack in unison, and were instantly swarmed by the allied security team. Jon watched with amusement as the arrogant Dvorkans were quickly, and efficiently disposed of. His amusement was short lived as he began to spot the angry looks coming at them from many Dvorkans in the room.
“That’s enough,” said Jon. “Let them go.”
His team stopped, released the assailants, and the belligerent blue men slowly got to their feet.
“You dare assault a Dvorkan?” said the loud-mouthed instigator.
“I think it’s time to go,” said Jon, deciding to make an escape before they ended up fighting the whole bar. He turned abruptly and made his way toward the exit, as his men fell into step around him. He heard the Dvorkan yelling at them from behind. He hoped it wasn’t stupid enough to follow them outside. They finally made their way through the crowds, onto the street, when Jon got his answer.
The Dvorkan walked through the door, a few paces behind them. His two friends followed, accompanied by many others. They were drunk and angry. It was clear to Jon and everyone else, they weren’t leaving without a fight.
“This is a Dvorkan planet,” shouted the drunk. “You aliens are not welcome here.”
More Dvorkans came out to see what was going on, each one staring at Jon and his men with contempt.
“Whatever happens, do not resort to weapons, unless they do first,” Jon said to his men. “I don’t want any of them fatally injured.” He couldn’t speak to the backgrounds of these Dvorkans, but his men were elite soldiers, capable of killing quickly, and efficiently. His meeting with the Consul had gone well. He wouldn’t ruin the good will he had already cultivated. He was pretty sure that killing a bunch of drunken Dvorkans might do just that.
“Understood,” said Jarvi. “We will not strike to kill, but they will require medical attention.”
“That’s fine,” said Jon. “Maybe they’ll learn some manners too?”
As the crowd grew in number, the Dvorkan drunks got braver. Jon’s team had begun moving backward in an attempt to put as much distance as they could between themselves and the angry crowd. It was wishful thinking. Encouraged by their growing size, the crowd surged forward, the long Dvorkan strides quickly bridging the gap.
This time, it was Jon who struck first. He had been watching the loud mouthed one, making sure to position himself directly in front of the obnoxious giant. When the drunk got close enough, Jon acted. Jumping forward, he drove his heel into the Dvorkan’s solar plexus. A very effective strike against a human. He only hoped the Dvorkan anatomy was similar. If he’d hit a human with the same force, it would likely result in internal injuries, perhaps with a grim outcome. That wasn’t his intention with the Dvorkan, but he h
ad to compensate for the blue man’s increased size and strength.
To Jon’s relief, the Dvorkan dropped to the ground, winded. As the incapacitated giant sucked for air, the two opposing sides slammed into each other. The Dvorkans relying on their size and strength, Jon’s men on speed, skill, and perfect timing.
The Diakans fought as a team, synchronizing their tactics to amplify their assault. An effective compensation for their difference in size.
The Reivers expertly evaded the heavy Dvorkan strikes, relying on their unorthodox fighting method to hit back in unexpected ways.
The Chaanisar, with their augmented abilities, took the Dvorkans head on. This caught the blue giants most by surprise. They could not have expected such power and speed from men almost half their size.
Jon fought his natural instincts, and the urges brought on by his symbiont. He avoided the use of killing blows. When it came to defense though, he didn’t hold back. Each Dvorkan strike was blocked with bone breaking force. While the giants had a thicker, stronger bone structure, he still heard the familiar sounds of snapping forearms and shins. Usually followed by intense cries of pain.
In the end, they had beaten enough of the Dvorkan mob, that the blue men grew tired of the fight. Their attempts to teach an easy lesson to a bunch of puny aliens, were largely a failure, their bravado now squashed, they skulked off to seek medical attention, or disappeared back inside the pleasure house for another drink.
“I think we’ve all had enough fun for one night,” said Jon. “Let’s get back to our ships.”
There was no argument there, and as they made their way back to the spaceport, Jon was pleased to sense a new camaraderie between the Diakans and the Chaanisar. He only hoped that feeling would grow in the days and months to come.
Chapter 16
“I understand you ran into some trouble while on the surface,” said the Consul through Jon’s comm display. Her black eyes accented her near perfect poker face. Jon could only guess as to how she felt about the encounter.
“Yes, I’m sorry about that. Some of your citizens were not happy about our presence in their pleasure house,” said Jon.