Equilibrium of Terror: Part 2

by Eddie R. Hicks

  Her security detail performed several checks to ensure that that the temple was safe and that there were no signs of Celestial Order activity inside or outside. The last thing Earth needed was an indoctrinated President supporting the order, it was bad enough she signed off several executive orders that suppressed news about the imperial fleet, the wormhole next to Uranus and the recent battles out in the far end of the system, she needed people to stay calm and productive, and most of Radiance to take their time to flee Earth.

  Crimei and the rest of the recalled Radiance personnel were still huddled up in their embassies as they awaited their lift out of Sol. Crimei knew of the attack at Uranus and not much else after that. If things were to get dire she would rather admittance in Radiance to be as quick as possible. Joining the union to save Earth would be pointless if Crimei and the rest of his people were already on ships fleeing the system because of the Hashmedai. Thankfully ESP was much more effective if one were aboard a ship, than on a planet. The psionics in the embassy wouldn’t detect the Hashmedai fleet until they reached Mars, and that was assuming they were looking in the first place.

  Her holo phone rang, she thumbed the display and a small holographic projection of UNE Fleet Admiral Mohammed Singh image appeared as she picked up the call.

  “Please tell me you have some good news,” Salamanca said.

  “Nothing new, since the Winston Churchill and Wilfrid Laurier vanished,” Singh said. “I think it’s safe to assume both ships were lost with all hands.”

  “I want visual conformation before we come to that conclusion.”

  “It’s going to be hard, with the Hashmedai presence in that sector. Never mind the fact we have forced all non-combatant personnel to evacuate the gas giants. Nobody except the fleet can monitor that region of space, even then they are still regrouping their rendezvous point.”

  “Keep me posted, if anything new happens.”

  “Of course, madam President.”

  The call ended and she exited her limo to partake in the sermon, and offer a prayer to the gods for victory in the face of the Empire and the Celestial Order.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Abyssal Pelican, Rasi orbit, Barnard’s Star system

  There were two things that bothered Jainuzei more than anything–Interruptions in his meditation, and being told news that didn’t make sense at all to him. Such as the disappearance of the Silver Raven beneath the frozen surface of Rasi. Impossible . . . he moaned internally as he stood next to the intercom in his room.

  “How does a ship simply vanish like that?” he said.

  “Unknown sir,” a bridge officer said.

  “Keep searching for it, it must be somewhere,” he said. “Also search Courelia city, I want to know exactly where they went and why.”

  He ended the transmission, by slamming the side of his fist onto the intercom control terminal. The Silver Raven could not have left the planet let alone the system, he knew this based on the data that was shown to him. They had to have been hiding somewhere on the surface along with the humans that escaped the mountain research complex. Two valuable targets, hiding below them and none of their psionics or rangers had any idea where to start their search.

  Unless perhaps they have been infected. If that was the case they probably joined the hordes of wraith wandering around in Courelia and the arcology that it rests inside. In any case, it’s a mess he needed to deal with, and one that might have been less of an issue had he been on the bridge during the last encounter with the Silver Raven.

  He groaned and released a bit of the streets that had built up inside him. Life as a ship’s officer, he wasn’t cut out for it, his place was on the field of battle, not on the bridge sitting in a comfortable chair telling people what to do. The temptation to find Dalhakei’s body grew stronger. With his death confirmed, Jainuzei would not be obligated to be in command, the captain can take his soft chair back, and Jainuzei can return to pledging his life toward pleasing the three gods and follow the one true path.

  “That part of your technique?” Alisha asked as she leaned on the side of the wall, staring at him.

  Jainuzei smiled at her, impressed how she could move in closer without him noticing. His thoughts must have gripped him harder than he thought, and it was her lovely voice that pulled him back into the real world. “Complications with our mission,” Jainuzei said to her. “It does not require my direct guidance right now however.”

  “What’s for dinner?”

  “Dinner?”

  “I’m hungry, feed me.”

  Humor, this is good, she’s feeling a bit better. Jainuzei exited his room and joined Alisha in the main central area of his quarters. He glanced at the small table next to the couch she was resting on earlier, and became contemplative in regard to what he should do to lift her morale and make her become the happy person he knew, even during a dire situation like this.

  “I could arrange to have something special made and brought here from the galley,” he said.

  She crossed her arms and asked. “Is it going to be some bland military stuff?”

  “Perhaps, however there are skilled chefs aboard who prepare higher quality meals for the higher-ranking personnel, such as myself.”

  “And me?”

  “Yes, and you,” he said. Alisha smiled at his response. “I shall see what I can do.”

  Torval tossed a damp towel in the corner of his quarters. The sweat that covered his face was a reminder of the toll his body was taking due to being aboard a ship built for Radiance races in mind. He adjusted the temperature control to his quarters the instant he gained access to it, but the lingering heat was still around, the air vents up top were taking their time blowing in frigid air for his Hashmedai body.

  That was the least of his concerns however, for his stay on the ship was looking like a more permanent one rather than temporary. The portable aether space communicator he brought with him failed to establish a connection with Kasidey, his ride back to the empire. After eighteen repeated attempts at trying to contact her and her Lyonria made transport, he attempted to connect with Fahia.

  A link was made, a sign that the communicator wasn’t broken as he was starting to suspect. A small screen appeared showing Fahia’s face, she was as usual surrounded by prayer candles within the ancient temple on Paryo. “Torval, how is life aboard the Pelican?”

  “Not good,” he said to her. “We failed. I brought Hannah the incorrect gem from the palace.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Kroshka has the gem linked with Emelia.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” she said with a disappointed look.

  “Have you been able to contact Kasidey?”

  “I haven’t tried recently.”

  “She is the only one of our associates that can freely open wormholes. She brought me here and was supposed to come back to get me.”

  “There is Noylarlie.”

  “She may be helping us, but still refuses to join our cause, nor has her mind seen the truth path.”

  “If Kasidey has been compromised,” Fahia said. “Then Noylarlie will be the only person that can deliverer the correct gem to you once we acquire it. We’ll have to trust her like, much like how Yominv trusts her now.”

  “Keep me posted,” were his parting words to her as he shut off the device and stood to walk around his quarters, lost in thought. The thought of what would become of his life should Hannah not get the results she wants.

  She made him turn Dalhakei’s head into a bloody mess, the imagery of that event had not left his mind nor the fear of him possibility suffering the same fate as that old man. Hannah entrusted him with two tasks, find the correct gem and bring Alisha to her. Both tasks terrified him, what if Alisha rejects what became of Hannah? Would she take her rage out on him?

  Jainuzei placed his elegantly polished cutlery onto the surface of his dinner plate. A dinner plate that had nothing left on it with the exception of the remains of his roasted vegetables m
eal. Alisha too followed suit seconds later with the expression of satisfaction on her face and it was her satisfied looks that helped put his mind at ease, she was happy, and therefore he was as well. All what remained was to finish their drink, Neviz red wine from Aervounis. Alisha took several sips of the sweet and crisp beverage, taking in the scent of its aroma as she swirled the glass in her hands, gazing into Jainuzei’s eyes.

  “That was quite the meal you managed to strong-arm,” she said.

  “You are a noncombatant and not a member of the crew. As long as you are aboard I want you to have a sense of normalcy. Meals, a place to stay, entertainment, let me know and I will make it happen for you.”

  “Thank you, that’s very sweet of you,” Alisha said before finishing her drink. “So if I may ask, what is the game plan?”

  Jainuzei’s face flinched slightly. “Game plan?” he asked.

  “Are we going to be stuck here forever on this ship? Do you see an end for the problems in the system?”

  “Everything is under control,” Jainuzei said, hoping she’d accept his explanation. “I have people on the surface containing the situation. In the next two weeks, this will all be over.”

  “And?”

  “And after that I want to take time off and help you find a new home.”

  “Are you saying my home on Rasi will be gone?”

  “Your home on Rasi existed because of the work you did. If you enjoy living there we can always push to having it restored should it be damaged. But, I feel you would rather live elsewhere.”

  “Perhaps,” she said. “Any suggests other than Earth?”

  “What is wrong with Earth?”

  “Nothing, just want to consider my options. I miss it don’t get me wrong, but if there are better opportunities, I’d like to take them. Besides, how many people on Earth follow the one true path of the gods?”

  Jainuzei reclined backward on his chair and smiled. Alisha’s mind was still attuned to the teachings of the order, for now, the two of them were slowly becoming more like minded day by day. “Several humans on Earth to my research have converted to Radiance beliefs, but.”

  “None of them believe the word of the order like us.”

  “That will change.”

  “Until then.” She folded her hands together and leaned closer toward him. “Give me suggestions.”

  Jainuzei’s gaze shifted toward his room, more specially the window above his bed, where the star filled void of space was seen. He looked at it for several seconds, thinking where amongst the stars were Alisha could find happiness, be free from the endless wars and corruption while the Celestial Order forces the galaxy to accept their way.

  “Aervounis, my home world,” he said finally.

  “Go on.”

  “It is a warm world by the standards of your people,” he said, looking back at her, enjoying watching her warm smile. “Vast oceans, cities that float in the skies, some of them as high as the clouds.”

  “Like the Caribbean, just larger and not on the surface,” she said. “Sounds fun, when do we leave?”

  Jainuzei was surprised how quickly she accepted that. “We?”

  “I’m going need someone to keep me company and show me around.”

  “My home on Aervounis . . .” He paused and remembered what happened the last time he was there. “I am no doubt not welcomed there. I will need to find a new home.”

  “As would I, we can do it together.”

  Jainuzei got up from his chair and walked into his room, asking Alisha to join him. They stood next to the window above his bed as he pointed toward a bright star in the distance. She leaned in closer toward his large muscular arm to get a better fix on the star in particular he was pointing at. “There, that star,” he said. “That is the star Aervounis orbits.”

  Several minutes passed as the two continued to gaze out into space. Jainuzei pointed out several other stars where Radiance had colonies set up, even pointed out Sol. He paused briefly during his explanation while he felt Alisha’s hand stroke his lower back as she rested her head on top of his broad shoulders.

  He felt the need to do more, than just talk. Hold her, embrace her.

  The door chime to his quarters rang, interrupting their moment.

  “One moment,” he said to her as he left to open the door and see who was it that had to speak with him in person. And couldn’t be bothered to ask if it was okay to swing by.

  The doors slid open, Torval stood behind them, the Hashmedai Assassins’ Guild master.

  “What is it?” Jainuzei asked him sternly.

  “I must speak with Alisha,” Torval said in the Radiance language.

  “We are a bit busy—”

  “It’s okay Jai,” Alisha said.

  Jainuzei spun around; Alisha had followed behind him and subsequently over heard.

  “Jai?” he asked her with a raised eyebrow.

  “It’s a cute shortened version of your name,” Alisha said. “I used to call Jason ‘Jay’ all the time. Jai . . . Jay it’s almost the same.”

  Jainuzei allowed Torval cross into his quarters, and speak directly to Alisha. “I’ll get right to the point,” Torval said. “Your daughter Hannah.”

  Alisha’s face light up. “What do you know of her?”

  “I know you are new to the order, but you might have by now came across a vision with her, a vision the gods—” Torval stopped abruptly at the word gods. His aged Hashmedai skin grew pale before he continued. “Er, the gods wished you too, see.”

  “I have. We have,” Alisha said, staring at Jainuzei.

  “Hannah is here in the system, on Oyuri and she requested to see you in person.”

  Alisha crossed her arms and asked Torval. “How is this possible, how did she get here?”

  Torval explained. “It’s a long story, one I’m sure Jainuzei can explain better than me.” Jainuzei saw Alisha glare at him in a negative way as Torval said. “But the shortened version is she is a gift given to us. We knew there was going to be a day when she was going to be born on Earth. The gods . . .” Torval once again stopped at the mention of the word gods. Jainuzei’s face twisted, as he pondered why could get him to become so worked up over that.

  Torval’s mind has been tempered for several years much like all Hashmedai within the order. He shouldn’t have any doubts about the existence of the true will of the gods.

  Torval continued. “Err they wanted her to exist and help lead the order into bringing in a new galaxy where these petty conflicts can be put behind us.”

  “I wish to finish our search here on Rasi,” Jainuzei said. “However, if Hannah made this request we must honor it. Furthermore . . . Alisha this is your daughter, I would imagine you’d like to reconnect with her.”

  “Do what you need to do,” Torval said, “I’m just the messenger.”

  “Thank you, Torval,” Alisha said to him, and he took his leave. Jainuzei and Alisha were alone once again.

  “As you can see, this is why the order’s work is important,” Jainuzei said to her. “Only by following the truth path could we see Hashmedai and Radiance races working together.”

  “And humans?”

  “Of course! Humanity role is important in the grand scheme of things.”

  “So take it from the top,” Alisha said with crossed arms and mildly irritated frown on her face.

  “Top?”

  “By explaining everything you and the order know about my daughter. Something you probably should have explained once we both realized who she was to me.”

  “Ah yes.” She’s upset again, gods help me!

  “Communication Jai. It’s the key to a health relationship, and you just dropped the ball. Time to redeem yourself now.”

  Jainuzei kept his body language under wraps as he walked toward the wall mounted intercom. He gave an order to the bridge crew to break orbit and enter sub light speed on a course toward Oyuri. A small team of rangers and psionics were left behind on Rasi to continue the search
of the missing human subjects and to investigate how widespread the wraith outbreak is.

  As the stars began to shift position from his bedroom window, he sat with Alisha, and began to explain everything Dalhakei taught him about the order. The visions order members received that led them and Radiance toward the discovery of Earth, where they waited for Hannah to be born so that they could receive further guidance through her clairvoyance. And be led on a path to rid the galaxy of the evil ones who are enemies to the gods.

  Jainuzei left his quarters, after speaking with Alisha and receiving a mild grilling from her in regard to him not telling her sooner about Hannah. The official explanation he gave Alisha was he needed to check on the bridge crew. In reality, his destination was nowhere near the bridge it was in the corridors that led toward Torval’s quarters. Jainuzei spotted the old Hashmedai man, sweating profusely amongst the thirty-two-degree Celsius temperature of the ship, standard Radiance room temp.

  “You!” Jainuzei said as he reached out and yanked him by the collar toward him.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Next time, please reframe from making look like a fool in front of her.”

  Torval began to laugh. “So she is important to you, how delightful. Then in that case I presume you haven’t told her about converting humans into wraith and the importance of that project.”

  “No,” Jainuzei said, releasing Torval from his furious grip. “And we will keep it that way, understood?”

  Jainuzei was well aware of the importance and forced sacrifice of the humans the order gathered from Earth during the invasion. The wraiths were weapons the gods created and the only means for the order to help the gods defeat their enemies in a dimensional realm beyond theirs. But Alisha, Jainuzei feared that Alisha wouldn’t understand that as she still new to the order and her tempered mind had not fully developed. Her mood earlier could attest to that, she needed more time for her faith in the order to fully solidify.