Chapter 17
Lonely at the Top
Mendari System, unnamed moon over fifth planet, Intrepid
"You seem to have loosened his tongue," Ada observed. She and Tabby sat in the open cell across from Jonathan and their Mendari prisoner. For them, the armor glass of the cell appeared transparent, but on the prisoner side, it was fully opaque. "The whole lick-the-blade-like-a-crazy-person thing was very convincing. That was an act, right?"
Tabby waggled her eyebrows. "Are you asking if I'm actually a demon?"
The women's exchange was cut short as Jonathan pulled out a chair and sat across from the legless man-spider.
"Think the Mendari would feel better if they knew Jonathan was a thousand sentients and that chair was just an illusion?" Tabby asked as Jonathan started to speak.
"I apologize for the poor treatment you have received," Jonathan started. "May I offer nutrition or refreshment?"
"Or a bucket of grease?" Tabby snickered.
"You have removed my legs," the Mendari answered. "I would have them returned."
"That is possible," Jonathan answered. "The technology to do so is well within our capacity. There are several questions to which we require answers before such a procedure may be accomplished."
"I will not betray my brethren," he answered, stiffening.
"That is acceptable," Jonathan answered. "What precipitated your sleep on this moon?"
"After the war, our planet was no longer capable of sustaining life," he answered.
"The war with Kroerak or with the other people of your planet?"
"We waged war with the Iskstar that had taken over our neighbors. Believe me, killing friends because they have been possessed is difficult, but it is the only way. You have Iskstar amongst you, brother. You must destroy the vessel that holds it, or you will lose your souls. I beg of you. Act before it is too late," the Mendari said.
"You speak as if you were part of this war," Jonathan answered. "How long have you been asleep?"
"For me, the war was yesterday," he answered.
"Ask why they attacked us," Tabby urged.
"We will later confirm that this was because they detected the Iskstar within you," Jonathan answered, via message.
"During this war, did you also fight with Kroerak?" Jonathan asked.
"At first the Kroerak invaded our lands," he answered. "The demons quickly thwarted the Kroerak vessels and troops. Our own Kethacho made armistice with Kroerak and we joined forces to destroy Iskstar."
"And that’s why Kroerak did not destroy you?" Jonathan asked.
"To destroy Iskstar, we attacked our very own planet," he answered. "Few of us remained. The Kroerak could have easily finished us, but instead they honored the treaty with Kethacho. We were allowed to flee to the moon and put ourselves to sleep. You speak of time. Tell me, how much has passed since we were put to our rest?"
"It is common for species to measure time in the cycle of their own planet as it orbits the central star of a system," Jonathan said. "Your system has two stars, which is relatively unique, but the same principal applies. With this as measurement, you have slept for four-hundred-thirty-two of these cycles."
"That long." The Mendari looked down, dejected.
"You are upset?" Jonathan asked.
"Some were required to stay awake. They were to watch over us. They must no longer live," he answered. "Did you discover any people when you entered our rest chambers?"
"We will get to that," Jonathan answered.
"Do you intend to give me my legs and allow me to rejoin my people?"
"We will assess the truthfulness of your answers," Jonathan said. "How did you destroy Iskstar?"
"That was a neatly-deceptive non-answer," Tabby chortled. "Seriously, though, find out if they know where the Kroerak came from."
"In time, Tabitha," Jonathan responded.
"The inhabited are weak," he answered. "It is as if Iskstar wants them dead."
"Then why would you attack them? If your people were weakened, why would you not help them?" Jonathan asked.
"They were not our people. To provide aid to demons is to act against our gods," the Mendari said, puffing out his chest. "Destruction is the only justice."
"Why is that?"
"Look at your companion," he answered. "The seed already works to transform her. It will turn her body to crystal over time and then the devil will possess you all."
"From where did the Kroerak come?" Jonathan asked.
"It is unknown," the Mendari answered. "As we waged war, the Kroerak appeared. Our great leader, Kethacho, met with great leaders of Kroerak and exposed our final plans to destroy Iskstar. It was then armistice with Kroerak was reached."
"What part were Kroerak to play in this armistice?" Jonathan asked.
"We simply needed them to stop attacking our people so that we could finish Iskstar. The Kroerak were displeased that so many would need to die. But Kethacho and the Kroerak agreed that destruction of the planet was a small price to rid us of Iskstar. Our people would sleep for a thousand cycles, then our planet would be restored and we could start once again."
"You used a weapon to destroy your planet?"
The Mendari smiled. "God was delivered to Fashaka, our home. A mighty bomb was dropped upon the Iskstar devil itself and the wave of its power was felt in all corners. Our people were delivered to the heavens. The devil was brought low. It is indeed unhappy news that Iskstar yet lives and has come back to our home. We will once again prepare for war."
"Oh, that's just great," Tabby spat. "At least they don't have spaceships."
"This is not the case," Jonathan answered. "There is evidence of a fleet of vessels in the records we have accessed."
"Fleet?" Tabby asked. "Talk about burying the lead. We should find those ships."
"We have no justification for seizing their vessels," Jonathan messaged.
"Might beg to differ with you there," Tabby answered.
"We believe that inspection of the planet is critical," Jonathan answered. "If Iskstar is as dangerous as Mendari believe, we must discover what happened on the planet."
"Seriously?" Tabby asked, annoyed. "We're here to stop Kroerak, not Iskstar. The only reason we're alive is Iskstar. We have to take down Kroerak, no matter the cost."
"And if Iskstar is hurting you?" Ada asked.
"What is one person for all Kroerak has done?" Tabby asked.
"Understanding Iskstar is key to defeating Kroerak, Tabitha," Jonathan answered. "Do you not believe Iskstar brought us here? The battle is four hundred years past. The Mendari are zealots against Iskstar. We see no logic in exposing us to this truth. If Iskstar is an intelligent species, they must have a deeper objective than sending us to their most outspoken enemies."
Tabby harrumphed, no longer certain why she was annoyed. She'd been keyed up for a fight. Discovering that Kroerak hadn't been in the system for centuries seemed outrageous. "Fine. Let's dump this guy and check out the planet. I still say we should find their fleet and commandeer it."
"We would continue our conversation with the prisoner," Jonathan messaged. "It is reasonable to ask Roby to join us so the Mendari's legs can be reattached."
"I'm not letting that thing loose in our ship!" Tabby said, jumping up from her seat.
"Roby, we're going to release the Mendari. I will not allow its legs to be functional until the alien is no longer aboard." Ada added Roby to their comm channel. "Can you accomplish this safely?"
"Easy as potato pie," he answered. "We'll interrupt the primary pathways from the biological host to the machine’s electrical systems. It's a pretty sophisticated setup, but it looks like the designers put in a shut-off switch. Probably for maintenance."
"That'd be great," Ada said. "I want three guards, fully armed, while Roby is working on him."
"Just let me do it," Tabby said, irritation in her voice.
"You can stand outside as backup. We don't need to make this any harder than it already is,"
Ada answered.
Tabby shook her head and stalked from the room, heading forward toward the gymnasium, which thankfully hadn't been ruined by the Kroerak attack. Lying on a bench, she grabbed barbells and pushed them up. Her arms ached as the gravity plates within the bars engaged and pulled downward.
"Too much," she complained, tears of frustration squeezing from closed eyes. The load lightened, and she pushed through the pain. After ten minutes, however, she was completely spent and moved to the heavy bag.
"I thought I'd find you here," Ada said. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Tabby ignored her friend for a moment, striking at the bag. Never before had her hands hurt so badly when she boxed. She continued jabbing, trying to work through the pain.
"Tabby, stop! You're hurting yourself," Ada finally said after watching for a few minutes.
Tabby pulled back in surprise when Ada slid in front of the bag.
Ada grabbed Tabby's wrists, absorbing a blow in the process, and was knocked to the ground.
"Ada, no. Why would you step in like that?" she asked, suddenly brought back to reality.
"It's okay. I'm fine," Ada said, fighting back tears.
"I didn't mean to … why?"
"Your hands, Tabby," Ada said, pushing up the wrist she still held so Tabby was forced to look at it. A trickle of blood dripped from beneath the wrap on Tabby’s hand. "You're bleeding."
Tabby pulled her hand from Ada's grasp. "I'm fine."
"You're not fine, Tabby," she said, eyes locking onto the blue crystal that sat in the band of Tabby's workout clothing. "What if Mendari are right? What if Iskstar is hurting you?"
"You think I'm a demon?" Tabby scoffed.
"You know better than that." Ada took a more conciliatory tone. "I'm your friend, Tabby. I'm worried for you."
"We need to see this through, Ada," Tabby said, stiffly. "I meant what I said. I'll do anything to stop Kroerak."
"I will too," Ada answered with hushed tones. "But I need to know our sacrifice is worth it."
Tabby nodded tersely.
Ada continued. "Roby is starting the procedure to reattach the Mendari's legs. Once we drop him on the moon's surface, not far from where we grabbed him, we'll be on our way to the planet."
"Don't give up on me," Tabby finally managed through gritted teeth.
Ada held Tabby's gaze and nodded, finally pulling the woman into a hug. "Why would you ever think that was possible? I'm with you to the end, Tabitha Masters."
"Sorry to wake you, Captain, but we've established high orbit," Nikulinsky announced, pulling Ada from a fitful sleep. Ordinarily, she preferred to be on the bridge for major events, but with Tabby's degradation she'd taken more shifts and was fighting for sleep.
"Thank you, Andrei. What are you seeing, Jonathan?" Ada asked groggily, sitting up and trying to clear her head.
"The conditions on the planet's surface are consistent with what was reported by our prisoner," he answered.
One of the benefits of a stable, high orbit was the capacity for detailed scans that weren’t possible while the ship was underway. Ada sighed. They'd learned as much when on the moon and she feared they were simply wasting time, as Tabby suggested. "No life at all?" she asked.
"Oh, no, Captain Chen," Jonathan answered. "There is much life on the planet, including small vertebrate animals that learned to adapt. It is however, quite inhospitable. We believe the Mendari's estimate of a thousand solar cycles to be inadequate for renewed habitation."
"Not our problem," Tabby growled into the comms.
Ada sighed. Tabby's mood had not improved substantially in the last few days, even after they'd heard from Liam. Apparently, Fleet Afoot had been located and he had sent a ship out to retrieve it. She stopped in the galley and poured hot water over her tea, waiting for a moment while the leaves gave up their flavor.
"Captain, there is a feature on the surface of the planet we believe to be of critical importance," Jonathan reported as she pushed open the bridge hatch, balancing her teacup atop a meal bar with one hand.
"On primary view screen," Ada ordered, setting breakfast onto a platform next to the captain's chair. Glancing at Tabby, she saw exhaustion in the darkening circles below Tabby's eyes.
"Looks like a crater." Tabby was first to speak.
"A reasonable observation," Jonathan said. "There is sufficient evidence to support a conclusion that this was the main target of the Mendari weapon that brought destruction to this planet."
"Just a single weapon?" Ada asked. "Why not hundreds or thousands?"
"They were attacking the Iskstar," Tabby answered. "I can feel it. We need to go down there."
"You heard Jonathan," Ada answered patiently. "It's not safe."
"I need to get down there," Tabby answered. "I saw it."
"Saw what?"
"It's why we’re here," Tabby said. "Look, I can't explain what I saw because that's not how the dreams work. It's like we've had this conversation before, and I just know we need to go down there."
"Because Iskstar wants us to," Ada added.
"No!" Tabby exclaimed. "Because I want us to. Is that so hard? For frak's sake! We've sailed a million kilometers to get here. Why wouldn't we at least go take a look?"
"Because I'm concerned for you," Ada answered. "You're not exactly acting rationally."
Tabby pursed her lips and blew out a breath. "The other day in the gym, you wanted to know if I was okay. I didn't want to answer, because I'm not. I'm whatever not okay looks like when it's having a really bad day."
Tabby lifted her arm and held her hand so it hung in the space between them. With her other hand, she painfully removed her grav-suit's glove. Ada's breath froze as she saw the changes. The tips of Tabby's fingers had turned a bright blue, transforming from tissue to glowing blue Iskstar crystal.
"Oh Tabby," Ada gasped, tears suffusing her eyes.
"Don't, Ada," Tabby said, her blue eyes locking onto Ada’s. "This is important. We have to go to the planet's surface. It's dying."
"The planet?" Ada asked.
"No. The Iskstar," Tabby answered. "We have to help it."
"What Iskstar? We need to get you to the medical bay. Andrei, plot a course for immediate return to Abasi Prime." Ada's voice quavered as she spat out orders.
"Stop. The medical scanners can't see anything. We have nothing to fear from Iskstar," Tabby said, placing her gloved hand on Ada's arm. "They just want the same thing everyone wants. They want to live free without being hunted or attacked."
"Course is set," Nikulinsky answered.
"You've been talking with them? Are they controlling your thoughts too?" Ada asked. "Go, Andrei, maximum possible speed."
"Please. Ada. Don't do this. It's not like that," Tabby said. "It's more like feelings. It's still me."
"But they're hurting you," Ada protested. "What species hurts another to help itself? I'll tell you what. A predatory parasite, that's what. You can't even see what they're doing to you. Tabby, you're dying!"
"This is more important than me, Ada," Tabby said. "The Iskstar are ancient. They live in harmony with other species."
"Chicken crap!" Ada exclaimed. "They're killing you."
"Ada, I gave my permission," Tabby said. "And before you say anything else, I'm stronger than you think. I can take it. I've allowed them to prepare my body."
"Prepare for what? I thought you weren't talking to them!" Ada shot back.
"I'm not," she answered. "This hand, this arm, my legs, they're not even mine. They're synthetic replicas of what I once had. Ada, there are over a million sentients on the planet and they won't survive much longer. Especially now that the Mendari are awake."
Ada found herself panting with frustration. "How long have you known?"
"I didn't really know until right now," Tabby answered. "Iskstar doesn't really talk. It's all just feelings and dreams. They've been showing me their history. The Kroerak have all but obliterated them. The Iskstar are peaceful. They
feel joy and sadness. In my dreams, I've seen entire civilizations grow from small villages using primitive tools to space explorers centuries later. Do you know the overwhelming feeling I get from the Iskstar when they show me these things?"
"I don't even know what to say," Ada answered.
"They feel pride, Ada," Tabby said. "It's like they're grandparents watching their favorite grandchildren learn to fly a transport for the first time or graduate after citizenship exams. This is a noble species. They're worth saving."
"What about Kroerak? If they're so peaceful, why do they attack Kroerak with such ferocity?" Ada asked.
"Why does Jonathan help us in our fight against Kroerak?" Tabby asked. "Do you know a more noble species than Jonathan? Would you not give your life to save them?"
"Of course, but we know Jonathan. They're one of us," Ada answered. "Sendrei, Jonathan, do you have anything to add to this? Am I wrong?"
"We find it difficult to speak," Jonathan answered. "The conversation has taken an unusual turn and we find a certain incapacity to process."
"Why? Because I said you're one of us?" Ada asked.
"We should turn back to the planet and let this play out," Sendrei answered before Jonathan could. "Either Tabby is right or she is not. She has committed to this course and I believe, with the threat of Kroerak and Greg Munay's return to Mhina system, we will come to regret not exploring every avenue."
"Am I the only one who sees that she's dying?" Ada asked, exasperated.
"It is precisely because she understands the risk that I believe this," Sendrei answered. "Tabby has survived the fire of combat. She understands the price of her actions."
"Jonathan? The Mendari were so terrified of Iskstar that they burned their own planet. Tell me Sendrei and Tabby are wrong."
"A true measure of a people is not their enemies, but their actions," Jonathan answered. "The danger to Tabitha is a compelling argument against aiding Iskstar. Her knowledge and acceptance of this suggests permission having been requested and is therefore positive. If this were all we had observed, a response would be difficult. But that is not all that we understand. The Iskstar have positively coexisted with the Piscivoru. Further they allowed portions of their crystal to be used to defeat Kroerak. We are in agreement with Sendrei Buhari."
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