by Blake Vanier
“How could you just burn her up like that? I thought you were the best in the field.”
“If it was so important, you should have told me she wasn’t Human. Variables can make all the difference in an experiment. I’ll tell you what, if you find me someone younger, I’ll unravel the details of their mind so thoroughly you’ll be able to see the reactions in their brain when they first started to comprehend language. They might not survive the process, but I’ll have their mapped consciousness stored for your viewing pleasure.”
“Hold up. What do you mean, not Human?”
“Her Aether profile didn’t match a Human.”
“And so what did the DNA results say?”
The Doctor shrugs. “Not my purview. Look, I must get back to my current experiment. We’re just passing the delicate transition to the fourth layer of a subject’s consciousness with a new technology. It’s a very exciting time. Good day.” He ends the call.
Isis closes her eyes. Damn him. She wasn’t supposed to die…
She taps several commands into her wrist computer.
DNA request denied. Fae Underwood has been cremated.
What? How is that possible? She types in several more commands.
Request for cremation expediated. Unknown otherization.
Why? Is this General Belshiv cleaning up his mess once and for all?
*****
Shortly into the trip, while the levitraft gains elevation, the computer on Isis's wrist beeps with a message. The holographic screen shows the message has several attachments. She reviews the flier, then makes a call.
An image of an Erohsian Colonel sitting at his desk pops up. “What can I do for you, Isis?”
“Hello, Colin,” she says with an air of fondness. “I'm sure you've heard that I'm pursuing some Human children?”
“I did. It seems a little below you.”
Isis smiles. “I'll take that as a compliment. Would you keep that opinion if I found active ancient technology in their possession?”
“Assuming I believe you… But then, I’d wonder how you lost them in the first place.”
“We never had them in our possession to begin with. They’re proving to be more difficult than I expected.”
“What do you need with me, then?”
“You're still in charge of the Blue Horin region, correct?” Isis asks.
The man nods.
“There is a chance the children are heading in your direction. Would you be able to commit some forces and do a search?”
“Under whose authority?”
“Look, I'm not asking you to cause any trouble. Just a simple search. Our General would hardly be upset with you if you found them. And with the discovery of a trove of ancient tech, it would surely lead to a promotion. Plus, I’d owe you one.”
“A trove?” Colin’s left eyebrow rises.
“It’s likely, considering the condition of the first piece we found. We need to learn where it came from.”
“Just a sweep, then?” Colin asks.
“Yes, and I have a flier to post around the city for them.”
“It's interesting timing for your request. There was an explosion on one of the Trafficker boats last night. We got reports that a jagupine and adolescent toroc escaped.”
“The jagupine shouldn’t cause too much trouble, other than eating small pets… or children, if they’re alone. They like to pounce from the trees and are quite stealthy. You could get some goats and put a class three tranquilizer mixed with oil around their necks then release them into the wooded areas of Blue Horin. Monitor their vitals. If one goes down, your jagupine should be close. The toroc is going to be a big problem if you can’t catch it quickly. It could grow to thirty meters. If the local sea life doesn’t keep it fed, then the next best thing will be the populace of Blue Horin Bay. They like to bathe in Illi’s light after meals. They’re creatures of habit, but they’re smart. Make sure you catch it the first go-around.”
“Thank you for that encyclopedic recital. I’m sure I can handle a couple of zoo animals.”
“I’m sure you can… Do you know what caused the explosion?”
“They’re saying a gas leak. I’m confident that’s a lie. We’re still investigating. There are rumors that sailors were brawling shortly after the explosion in the Market.”
Is this all a coincidence? A flush of excitement runs through Isis. Could they have made it through the forest? “Do you think you could manage a quick search of the traffickers’ boat? Maybe the children were involved.”
“You can’t expect me to search a trafficker’s boat. That’d be a bigger nightmare than I’m willing to deal with. But, since we'll be patrolling the city today, anyway, I'll have my soldiers post the flier and keep a look out. I'll inform you if we find anything.”
“Anything you can do is much appreciated, Colin. Just be aware: if you find them in Blue Horin, they passed through the forest. Their Aether levels could be formidable, so caution should be exercised.”
The man shakes his head. “I see how you wait till I agree to help before you give me all the details. Coming from you, though, I’m not surprised. If that’s the case, maybe they were involved with the traffickers last night… I’ll inform my men. I’m not going to have a battle erupt in the middle of Blue Horin so I’ll order them to keep their distance if they find anything.”
“That’s understandable, Colin. Thank you. And also, be wary of any large Aether signals if you’re scanning. They were somehow interfering with our scans when we were tracking them before.”
“It doesn’t sound like you were tracking them, then. Don’t worry I can handle these children,” Colin says. He ends the call.
Isis smiles. Excellent. Just a touch of luck, and everything could end up working out.
She opens the next attachment from the message, which is a report on the terrorist member Kabel Reikyn. It has race as Human, his birthdate, and a few citations and comments from the past. Useless. Finally, she opens the last attachment, which is information on the children.
Orphan 345 567 091:
Name: Unregistered
Acquired: (22-10-2705) Found in the streets of Sunta alone.
DNA Results: (24-10-2705) Male Human
Birth Date: (??) Appears to be two years old.
Transferred to: (04-11-2705) Fae Underwood
Orphan 345 567 921:
Name: Korbin Keramar
Acquired: (12-07-2708) Parents killed in a vehicle accident. No other surviving family.
DNA Results: (13-07-2708) Male Human
Birth Date: (21-01-2704)
Transferred to: (17-07-2708) Fae Underwood
Orphan 345 570 158:
Name: Unregistered
Acquired: (04-08-2709) Dropped off by a group of spirit hunters passing through Sunta.
DNA Results: (09-08-2709) Male Human
Birth Date: (??) Appears to be three years old.
Transferred to: (14-08-2709) Fae Underwood
Notes: Dropped off with two other orphans, relation is doubtful.
Orphan 345 570 159:
Name: Unregistered
Acquired: (04-08-2709) Dropped off by a group of spirit hunters passing through Sunta.
DNA Results: (09-08-2709) Female Human
Birth Date: (??) Appears to be four years old.
Transferred to: (14-08-2709) Fae Underwood
Notes: Dropped off with two other orphans, relation is doubtful. Blood sample is contaminated. Recommend a retake.
Orphan 345 570 160:
Name: Unregistered
Acquired: (04-8-2709) Dropped off by a group of spirit hunters passing through Sunta.
DNA Results: (09-08-2709) Corrupted
Birth Date: (??) Appears to be three years old.
Transferred to: (14-08-2709) Fae Underwood
Notes: Dropped off with two other orphans, relation is doubtful. Blood sample is corrupted. Necessary retake as soon as possible.
She looks for the r
etake of the blood samples, finding nothing. She shakes her head. Worthless Humans. They truly are cattle. She closes the holographic display on her wrist computer and turns to the displays. The shear mountains are quickly approaching while the small shadow of the levitraft moves rapidly over the ground hundreds of meters below. Her mind continually rolls over all the items on her task list.
They enter a canyon carved by the river below. The levitraft threads its way through the natural curves until the driver turns it above a rising off-shoot. They gradually meet up with the road, which takes them to a grouping of large Erohsian military vehicles. Pairs of Erohsian light infantry are patrolling the heavily wooded area with their weapons drawn.
Pine needles crunch under her foot as Isis exits the vehicle. The light infantry from her levitraft take up positions around her. Patrolling pairs is standard procedure―in military hot zones. What's going on?
Lieutenant Colonel Phillips approaches her, tips up his visor, and salutes. “Ma'am. Thanks for coming.”
“You better get to the point quick, Phillips. Why does this look like a combat zone?”
“I’m sorry, Ma’am, but I’m still trying to process the situation. Let me take you to the contact point with squadron three and I can go over the details.”
“Fine, then get on with it already,” Isis says.
Phillips nods and starts through the forest in silence. After several minutes, they reach a gully cutting between large grey boulders. The boulders and the trees are covered in Aether burns. Soldiers monitor equipment scanning the surroundings.
“As I said earlier, we’re not sure what we’re dealing with,” Phillips says. “You can see from the random markings of weapons fire that whatever they engaged was either numerous or fast.”
“And your guess?”
“Fast, Ma’am. The engagement reconstruction was able to link only one set of tracks.”
“What did the survivors have to say?” Isis asks.
“We believe two soldiers were taken as hostages. We’re unable to question the other survivors due to medical issues, so―unfortunately―nothing. I’ve had the area almost fully scanned. I believe we have an accurate rendering of the conflict. May I go over the results?”
“Yes, and be specific,” Isis says. “I want to know everything.”
“We were having a hard time tracking our target on foot due to its speed, so I took a guess on its path and sent squads ahead hoping to cut it off. The first member of squadron three was poisoned with something organically-based. It has reduced him to a catatonic state. The next soldier was killed over there.” Phillips points to a group of Erohsians huddled around a body fifty meters away.
“How was he killed?”
“All that is left is his suit, bones, and ash. It’s as if he was consumed by fire, but there’s no sign of flame, just one scorched hand print on the sleeve of the suit.”
“There’s a lot of energy stored in the chemical bonds in a body. If there wasn’t a fire, where did the energy go?”
“We’re doing the best we can, Ma’am, but we currently don’t have an answer. We are confident that this is a new weapon.”
“Weapon? The scorched hand print would indicate to me that this was done by hand.”
Phillips nods. “Yes, but there’s no Aether ability capable of doing this to a person. It’s got to be something else. I’m thinking the Humans have created an abomination.”
“Don’t be dramatic, Phillips. We can handle anything the Humans throw at us. They’re just cattle, after all. What happened next?”
“The team regrouped and began to fire. Two more soldiers were poisoned. They’re both in a deep coma. The next two soldiers were killed with blunt trauma from blows that left nothing of their helmets intact. The seventh soldier was burnt the same as the other. The last two soldiers were incapacitated briefly then forced to follow as our target left the area.”
“Do you have people tracking the enemy?”
“Yes, Ma’am, but I ordered them not to engage.”
“Good. Keep me posted if anything comes up. Otherwise, be prepared for a new set of orders, and send me all the data you’ve gathered.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Isis walks off from the surveying soldiers, pulling up the holographic screen on her wrist computer. She selects her commanding officer, General Lark, and calls. The General appears on her screen.
“Sir, we have a situation.”
“Go on.”
She takes a breath. “The terrorist Kabel Reikyn is a larger threat than we had originally anticipated. He has incapacitated a squadron of light infantry and has taken two hostages.”
“One class two Human did this?”
“It’s possible Reikyn isn’t actually a Human. Two of the soldiers that were killed were reduced to ash.”
“Pahzan Aether?”
Isis shakes her head. “There was no fire.” Fire is the release of energy… but if there was no fire what happened to the energy?
“How could he be burnt to ash without a fire?”
“Not burnt. Consumed,” Isis says slowly, letting the word roll off her tongue as its significance finds roots.
“What?”
“If I had to guess, instead of a fire releasing the energy in the chemical bonds, the chemical bonds were broken down and the energy was harvested or consumed. We’ve never seen anything like it before.”
“This sounds like something right up your alley. I want you to handle this personally.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll coordinate the soldiers appropriately. I’ll need permission to deploy mid-infantry though, and a couple jumpers wouldn’t hurt.”
“Yes, of course. And you can have two fully-loaded vultures, as well as the appropriate ground support. Take your whole damn battalion if you need it. Just handle the situation, and do it discretely. Play it off as a training exercise.”
“A good idea, sir. I’ll arrange that.”
“No, Isis, you’re not getting it. I want you there. I want you using that big brain of yours in the thick of it―not second hand where there’s less flexibility. We cannot afford to have this leaked, especially when we’re so close to finalizing an agreement with the Borukins.”
“How would this affect our fledgling alliance?”
“They already think we’re weak enough. We don’t need to give them more of a reason to lean toward the Humans.”
“How much of a threat do you perceive the Humans to be?” They’re nothing. The Borukins are fools to respect them.
“You’ve only ever known them as a crushed and hopeless race. We oppressed them for a reason: they’re a threat if we don’t take them seriously. The Borukins remember the Humans as they were, not how they are. We need to prove to them we’re useful allies. We can’t let them think the Humans still have strength, no matter how little. With Catalyst growing, it’s becoming more difficult. The terrorists are gaining momentum, and the Borukin King could be instrumental in crushing them and keeping them down. So much so, that for the Axiom of Delue, I’m going to be forced to as act as a diplomat in Kiats during their games.”
“And what will going to the Games accomplish?”
“It’s the political dance, Isis. We need to soften the King up to an idea of an alliance with us. That involves pretending to be entertained by their crude demonstrations of Aether. The last thing I want to worry about right now is an unknown weapon on the loose, threatening our control. I need you on this, Isis. Entirely.”
“Sir, I can’t be tied to this area. I’m currently tracking the Human orphans and I’m close. I can feel it.”
“So, what progress have you made?”
“I have a hunch they’re making their way to Blue Horin. Colonel Colin is going to keep his eyes open and post a flier I've made to trick the children to returning home―if we don’t catch them first.”
“That's it? A hunch? Let me see this flier.”
“Just a moment, sir.” She pulls up the file, sending it to him.
<
br /> General Lark's eyes walk over the screen as he studies the flier. “Isis, you don’t have a choice in this matter. I’m not asking you. I’m removing you from the tracking of the children. Send the artifact to the research and development section in the Demeeurj Tower immediately.”
“Sir, I assure you. I can do both.”
“Being your father’s daughter only buys you so much leeway, and you’re burning through it quickly. Handle the threat. Fast. I want this terrorist hunted down. I want to know everything about this new weapon. I want you to do it with a low profile. Do you understand, Isis?”
Isis hesitates for a moment. “I do, sir.” This is absurd.
“Good. I want an update at 18:00, and three times a day following.”
“Yes, sir.” I have better things to do!
“Good hunting, Isis, and don’t worry about the orphans. I’ll set up patrols over the entire country in case they make a run for it. They won’t escape.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
The General ends the call.
And another step back. Damnit!
12
Gracie
Iona
The rumbling of wheels continues to slow.
“Are they coming again?” Nero whispers. He is packed in tight next to the other children, surrounded in darkness.
“Shhh.” Iona closes her eyes. We'll be alright…
The rumbling finally stops with one last jerk. The heavy breathing of the children turns the air of the container thick. Heavy footsteps vibrate through the floor, slowly coming closer. When the footsteps stop just outside the container, so does the children’s breathing.
There is a muffled knock on the top of the container from outside. “It’s safe.” The lid of the container cracks open. A blinding light floods in from behind Sosimo, who is wearing a beige long-sleeved shirt and pants. “Sorry if I scared you,” he says with little emotion. The scars on his face stretch oddly as he moves the toothpick about his mouth.
Korbin jumps out first. “Heck no!”
The rest of the children clamber from the container, scrambling out the back of the large trailer to Illi’s glorious light and fresh air.