~*~
An hour later, Rei swept into her office. It had taken an emergency in the engine room to finally peel the engineers of her.
“About time!” Foniac cried.
“Blame Chia’s engineers,” Rei retorted. “Next time they want to suggest projects, they’re going to be vetted through you first, so I don’t have to listen to an advanced course in calculus and physics.”
The Ornian’s face paled. “You’re joking.”
“What, Chia? You don’t want to spend all day listening to proposals?” Aede asked.
Rei changed the subject. “So, besides frayed nerves, were there any issues with our guests this morning?”
“I thought I was screwed when they cornered me in my workshop,” Chia said. “The things I needed for that side project of ours are highly regulated because of the amount of power they pump out. Thankfully, they were only focused on finding any signs of you.”
“Good,” Rei said.
“So, Bruatin.” Foniac whistled. “Hopefully they can get you what you need before we run into more of those soldiers, Boss.”
“They will,” Chia insisted. “I wish I could help but unfortunately my expertise lies more in mechanical applications of Essence than biological.”
“And it can be kept quiet?” Rei asked. “I don’t want to do this under the cover of night or using some ridiculous plan.”
“There is one checkpoint we will have to deal with to get into the scientific campus. The Federation can’t ignore the work in there completely, but they know better than to invade too much.”
“What happens then?” Foniac asked.
“They become worse than Federation commissioned scientists. Slow, unable to solve a simple equation, let alone investigate some new cure or develop a new engine design,” Chia replied as though it were obvious.
“Any promising targets between here and there? We might as well cash in as much as we can before we take even more of a detour,” Rei said.
“What detour are you talking about?” Yeke asked.
Rei produced the chip Gen had given her. “I was sent this last night after our party broke up. It gives us the location of two massive caches of ancient tech and artifacts. Apparently, they’re priceless.”
“And you believe the source of this information?” Kuv leaned forward, mild interest filling his dark gaze.
“Yes,” Rei managed with only slight hesitation.
Yeke slid the chip over to him and turned it over in his fingers. “It might be easier than searching through ship after ship for a while. But this screams Federation. What if it’s a trap?”
“It’s worth checking out at the very least?” Foniac suggested. “Like you said, this seems like it pays a lot and it’d be nice to not have to worry when ships aren’t plentiful to steal from.”
“Use the table’s mapping system,” Chia demanded. “Then we’ll make the call.”
A holographic map appeared above the table. Ietaeta and Seletta were indicated in their respective positions on the edge of Federation controlled space.
“That’s... that can’t be right,” Yeke muttered.
“What is it?” Aede asked.
“I remember those planets from the advanced history courses that I took when I thought I’d become a teacher They were part of the Riaten Empire, but they were abandoned for some reason.”
“Riaten?” Rei repeated.
“It predates the Federation, but they don’t acknowledge them. Even the little bit we covered in the class wasn’t much.”
“If they don’t acknowledge them, is it safe to say the Federation isn’t involved?” Foniac ran a hand over her Mohawk.
“What’s the catch? Why give us the info?” Kuv wondered aloud.
“That’s a good point. The person who gave you this wanted nothing, Rei?” Yeke asked.
Rei silently cursed Gen’s condition that she keep things quiet. “A few odds and ends. Precious metals, gems, you get the idea. They left it up to us to determine what cut they get. Honestly, I imagine after I tell them that we’re done getting what we want, they’ll come in with a clean-up crew.”
“Now that makes sense.” Kuv nodded his approval. “Let the pirates deal with the dirty work of anything nasty left behind and they come in after it’s safe.”
“Why don’t they just use a merc band?” Chia asked.
“Mercs wouldn’t touch this job with a ten-foot pole,” Yeke replied. “They face armies, not ancient ruins."
“So, we’re on board to check it out?” Rei eyed everyone around the table.
Aede shrugged. “Who knows a trip out there might be just what we need right now. After Bruatin, of course.”
The others nodded their approval. Rei fought to keep her relief from showing. “Good. Now, I still want this other target you have, Aede. Just in case this thing turns out to be nothing more than a dead end.”
“Despite our interruptions, I spent the morning researching some fresh possibilities for us,” Aede said. “The most that will interest us, sadly, is a large shipment of weapons that the Federation is bringing in from their outer factories.” She used her Essence to manipulate the map
Vantani orbiting around its twin suns was clearly marked by a replica of their vessel hovering in orbit above the planet. Bruatin shone a vibrant silver in its location about seven systems away. A lone ship hovered at the edge of the image; its cargo itinerary highlighted in a scrolling list. Suddenly the entire thing sprang into motion. The Kathya embarked on its voyage while the other ship moved in. At first, it appeared as though the vessels would simply pass at a distance, but the other ship altered course, meeting the Kathya halfway between Bruatin and Vantani. A wide smile appeared on Kuv’s lips.
“What are you smiling about?” Chia demanded.
“I love this thing. Do you know how much the Federation and their opponents, what few there are, would kill to have this at their fingertips? It tells the exact details of each ship—weapons, crew, and their cargo.”
“What’s the shipment look like?” Rei asked.
“Stun grenades, rifles, blasters—they do have something new, but I don’t know how effective they’ll be.” Aede expanded the information panel. “It’s described as an experimental sword-blaster.”
“They always are trying to put something new out on their battlefield. Even though part of it is a bit outdated,” Yeke said.
“Even antiquated tactics have their use at times,” Kuv countered.
“They don’t go into details on their manifesto on how they work,” Aede pointed out with an irritated tone. “But it has to be decent if they’re noting on the paperwork.”
“Some of the crew might be outfitted with them then,” Kuv guessed. “If they’re strong enough, they might get past any Essence-based defenses we have.”
“Do we board directly or use a bit more subtly?” Rei asked.
“Direct,” Kuv and Yeke voted in unison.
“If they have new toys on board, we hit hard and fast,” Yeke continued. “We can’t give them any chance to grab them.”
“I have a few ideas on how to make boarding a breeze,” Chia said, “and it will still give you the element of surprise.”
“What’s faster than beaming over?” Foniac asked. “Never mind,” she amended at Chia’s look.
“How long until that is in place?” Rei asked.
“I’ll have it done by the time it’s needed. The exact time depends on other demands. Speaking of which, when do you want to do that side project? I assume you want to be there, that is.”
“Is that project going to put us at risk if we’re out of the atmosphere?”
“No!” Chia looked insulted.
“Good. How about late this afternoon according to Vantani time?”
“I would have thought you’d do it right away,” Yeke said.
“So, did I,” Chia agreed.
“I want us off this planet as soon as possible so the Federation doesn’t have a chance to spring
another surprise inspection on us.”
“Getting underway only takes a second,” Foniac pointed out.
“I also have other obligations,” Rei explained
“Like what?” Yeke asked. “All the decisions have been made. Isn’t this where you hide out in the Drunken Inventor while your intrepid crew carries out your orders?”
“Yeke.” She gave him a pointed look.
“Now you’ve done it. I say give him extra chores,” Foniac suggested.
“My side of the cargo bay could use a clearing,” Chia added.
“Please, don’t,” Yeke protested. “I want to have a life this century.”
“I think he’s learned his lesson,” Rei said with a smirk. “But is there anything else that’s pressing?” The others shook their heads. “Then we’re done!”
CHAPTER FOUR
Rei, clad in clothing more fit for physical activity, strolled into the space Kuv and his security forces had converted into a training area. It saw frequent use by all the inhabitants of the Kathya, especially during long stints in space. Thankfully, today it was deserted.
“Seal the doors. Senior level authorized to override,” Rei ordered the computer. The system beeped in response.
Bit by bit she released the stranglehold she kept on her Essence. The blue energy ripped down her limbs until she had the appearance of a fire elemental. The room’s built-in shielding hummed into life. Once she was sure it was safe, she manipulated the energy, shifting it into various elements. Rocks spread across the ground, then turned into a stream that soaked her pant legs. The water twisted around her form before it came crashing down. Rei breathed deep. The pressure she had been feeling was lessened, but not enough for her to feel comfortable with.
“What next?” she whispered. The old drills the Federation scientists had her run instinctively came to mind. The shiver that came over her at the memory quickly morphed into blind rage. Gen.
She strode forward, each step emitting a bit of power. How dare that man manipulate her like this? And the worst part was that he knew he was doing it! Rei’s fists drove into the tough material of the punching bag.
What does it say about you that you’re falling for it? How many years has he pulled you along for now? How many years has he reminded you that he just has to say the word and the Federation will storm your ship to put you back in those sterile halls?
“Watch it!” Yeke’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
Rei felt her feet lift off the ground for just a second before she hit it again. Yeke’s rushed footsteps barely registered in her painful daze.
“Rei!” He pulled her to her feet.
“What the hell hit me?”
“Your victim decided that it was time to get even.” He motioned toward the mangled punching bag across the room. “Are you okay?”
“Fine, though my face and back feel like they’re on fire from the hits they took. I know my muscles will barely let me move tomorrow, and I’m pretty sure I’ll have more than a few bruises.”
“You got lucky. Given how much Essence I can see coming off you, it should have backfired.”
Rei’s heart leapt in her chest. She yanked on her Essence with all her might, drawing it in until it was tightly wound coil again. “Wait, I locked the room. Did you need something, or did Chia blow up the ship?”
“Nope, I came in because Kuv and I were going to be working in here and I thought he beat me to it.”
“You two command code the doors? I thought you liked when everyone joined in because it lets you do an unofficial inspection of how good they are.”
“We do,” he admitted. “But we also like to go all out like someone else I know,” he tweaked her nose. “Do you want me to head out? I’ll tell Kuv we’ll have to call it for today or do it later tonight.”
“No, have your fun. If I do anything else, I’m going to regret it.” She stood, doing her best to ignore the soreness that had already settled in. “If you need me, I’ll be trying not to die before I meet with Chia."
She slowly hobbled across the floor. “Unlock the doors,” she ordered.
“Hey,” Yeke called.
She slowly turned.
“Why didn’t you shield?”
She felt her face heat up. “It... it wasn’t supposed to get that far. All I wanted to do was bleed some Essence off.”
“So, what made you go twelve rounds with a punching bag?”
Rei sighed, the temptation to spill the beans rising. “Trust me, Yeke, it’s better off that you don’t know.” She hobbled toward the door. “Hi, Kuv.”
“Cap...” Her head of security’s head whipped back and forth between them. “Captain.”
She gave his arm a half-pat. “Have fun and kick his ass for me. That’s an order.”
“Why?” Yeke called.
Rei ignored him, her thoughts centering around a nice refreshing shower and a nap before she hopefully got some answers.
~*~
Rei’s refreshed feeling quickly faded at the amount of noise that came out of Chia’s room. A silver disk rolled into the hall followed by a string of Ornian curses. She bent and picked it up, taking a deep breath before entering Chia’s domain.
“Missing something?” she asked, stopping just inside the doorway.
Chia’s head shot up from what she was working on, glaring at her. “I don’t need the commentary. Just put it over there on the bench.” She bent back down and resumed her work.
Rei did what she asked, then looked around. “Are you ready for this?”
“I’ve been ready since last night, come on.”
Chia set the tool she was using on the tray at her side, then led Rei past the chaos to the left side of the workroom. Several coils of wire wound around the jewelry box, each connected to a large generator. Chia placed Rei near a set of controls and gestured for her to stay put.
“Lock the door under voice protocol.” Chia walked around and checked each connection.
“What are the chances of this exploding our home?”
“Almost none. If you want a number, I’d give it a solid less than five percent.”
“That’s comforting,” Rei mumbled. “But at least we’ll be right there when it does.” Chia glared at her from the other side of the box. Rei cleared her throat. “What’ll happen once you flip the switch?”
“The generators will start to build up power. I’m using four of them so the power levels are consistent and the lock won’t be affected by any spells being cast in the ship. After the proper levels are maintained, the lock will pop right open.”
“Fingers crossed,” Rei said as Chia hopped up on her stool at her side. “Let’s get this over with.”
The engineer entered a command and the generators came to life in mechanized song. Her eyes remained fixed on the readout while her fingers flew across the keyboard. Rei clenched her hands and tried not to tap her foot as she waited. It was hard to believe an old jewelry box was causing them so many issues.
“Power levels are holding,” Chia reported.
Rei nodded, lips pulled in so tightly they made a thin line. She bounced from one leg to another in an effort to calm her nerves. Minutes ticked by, though they felt like an eternity.
“Finally!” Chia’s shout made her jump.
Rei whipped around. “Well?”
“One second...” Chia fiddled with the controls. The generators gave out one final pulse of energy, then went quiet. “Let’s see, shall we?”
Rei followed behind, more than content to let Chia take the lead despite the potential things they were about to uncover. The lock had popped off the box and laid smoking on the table.
“Is it safe to get near?”
“Yes.” Chia picked it up. “It wasn’t a radiation pulse that I hit it with.”
Rei tentatively took the box from the engineer. Her skin prickled with the residual Essence that covered its surface. Rei took a deep breath and lifted the lid.
“Well?” Chia hopped up and
down beside her impatiently.
At first glance, the jewels and other valuables inside appeared ordinary. Frowning, she held each item in her hand for just a second. Essence, a ton of Essence was contained within each item. She tossed the last jewel inside and backed away as fast as her feet would carry her. The power just felt... wrong.
“How?” she said aloud. “We were Essence-less... this shouldn’t have been possible.”
“What?” Chia demanded.
“Here.” Rei pushed Chia in front of her. “What do you sense?”
“This isn’t entirely uncommon,” she reminded Rei. “Essence bleeds out over time. These objects could’ve absorbed it and that’s why it feels different to us.”
“But how, Chia? It makes no sense.”
The engineer shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine. I... You know what? Just wait until we can talk to my friends. Perhaps the papers shed light on this.”
“It can never be easy, can it? Thanks for the help.”
Chia nodded while she gathered the box up in her arms. “What answers were you hoping for, anyway?”
“I’m not sure.” Rei looked at the box. “Anything but another mystery to solve would have been nice.” A wry smile crossed her face. “Wishful thinking, huh?”
“I’ve heard worse.”
“Thanks again, Chia.” Rei started to the door. “Have fun working on your new project Just try not to destroy the ship.”
“Don’t I always?” Chia smiled sweetly.
Rei waved a hand and made a quick getaway and tried her best to ignore the fact she was no closer to finding out her answers.
~*~
“Captain.” Kuv’s crisp voice sounded in her ear.
She pushed away from her desk and activated her headset. “Yes?”
“Our boarding party is assembling in the transporter room.”
“I’ll be right there,” she said. “How long do I have until we’re in transport range?”
“About ten minutes.”
Rei leapt from her seat and rushed from the room to get a few supplies. While she was a good shot with her blaster, she wanted something in case the gun failed. One of the many habits she had picked up from Yeke over the years.
Forgotten Relics Page 5