by Randal Sloan
Daghol’s evil core was too much even for the combined attacks. He bent but he did not give way. That evil burned even now and it pressed back against the group’s efforts. For Sara and the other humans, the image of the demon that had frozen them all was gone. Instead, they saw an evil, oily, dark flood that was about to overwhelm them all.
For that instant in time, everything hung on the edge of a precipice. Sara and the other humans were still unable to press their attack. If nothing else had changed, they would have failed in that moment, but this fight was now bigger than the humans and even Enigma.
Kaeden had not joined their link. Technically it was possible, as he had the internal components of an implant in his head and had even used it to communicate with the Katarina AI. But he still feared the technology and had not wholly accepted it, not using it to communicate with the others or any other purpose the humans routinely did. For the humans, the whole galaxy basically revolved around their implants, from doors that automatically responded to them, to equipment in the galley that operated on an implant command, to the very consoles they worked on.
He was ashamed of his weakness, but he just hadn’t been able to do it. Not until he realized that he had no choice. Until this moment, Kaeden had let his fear and prejudice hold him back even as he formed friendships with the human crew. But as the truth of the situation was revealed to him, he knew it was time for him to go all in, as the humans said in their card games. That had been at a time where nothing big was at stake, but it certainly applied here. His body was shaking with fear and his mind terrified, but nevertheless, he accepted his fate.
He joined their link! Everyone, including Daghol, was caught by surprise. Still, would it be enough?
Supreme Leader AersTwo had ordered his squadron split. He and a group of chosen ships left orbit around the planet and followed after Katarina. The intent had been to make it appear as if they were chasing the fleeing ship and his crew worked furiously to understand the ship before them. What little he did know of the humans, AersTwo didn’t share.
But when Jarra sent that emergency notice out to Enigma, she’d also included him. Although unable to catch the Katarina due to her speed, he was able to pull his ship within range of Enigma.
AersTwo had always feared the First Sentinel and had always known that even if most of their plans did come to fruition, he would have to deal with the leader of the Dark cause. So without a second thought, he linked himself into Enigma and used the pathways through the AI to join the attack.
His presence arrived just as everyone was recovering from Kaeden’s entry into the fray. It was only one more weight against the balance, but would that weight be enough?
Once more the linked minds teetered on the brink as they momentarily slowed Daghol’s evil from its intended goal. The group once again clutched hope to their being. So many against the one, surely they could prevail.
But it still wasn’t enough. Daghol smiled his evil smile and pressed his attack even more vigorously. Once more Sara and those linked with her felt a horrendous fear, for they knew this was the end. They had no more allies to join in with them and this was it. They would fall to his evil and with their technologies, what remained of the galactic defenses would fall soon thereafter.
As she clung by the finest thread to herself, Sara felt total despair. Within their link, she felt her Princess’ sorrow as she too realized that this time they were not going to find a way to do the impossible and all life in the galaxy was going to pay for that loss. All those sentient beings with all their hopes and dreams and nothing but the emotionless, evil First Sentinel would rule.
Sara’s mind had been practically screaming across their link — If she only had that command code. If Daghol had not been so arrogant, he would have suppressed that thought. But he was busy establishing his complete control over her and in a few brief moments it would not have mattered. He was the First Sentinel and nothing would ever defeat him.
At the other end of their tenuous link, Supreme Leader AersTwo smiled. As Supreme Leader of the Aerstone, he alone knew that command code. With all his strength he shouted the command code into the link.
With her last conscious thought, Sara sent that command code into the self-destruct command circuits of Daghol. Then she was swept away, not even able to see if the command code was accepted.
The fate of the galaxy hung on that brief moment of time even as those in the link were already being pulled in along with Sara.
The moment finally passed. The First Sentinel exploded!
Chapter 18
Safe, But At What Cost
High Master Barsyan of the Octarian Order of the Absolute Truth, knew the moment in time he anticipated both with intense fear and excitement was drawing nigh. A pivotal moment in the future of the galaxy, the One, as they called the Golden-Haired human Jarra, was faced with the possibility of certain death of her and her team if they could not defeat the evil First Sentinel of the Aerstone.
This single point in time would affect all futures for the galaxy. If they were successful, more battles would still have to be fought and all might well still be lost, but at least life had the chance. If they were unsuccessful, the whole galaxy would die in the centuries to follow, even the powerful people of Octaria, for no one would be able to oppose the might of the First Sentinel, corrupted as he was by Forerunner technology and intent on his evil bent. The Prophecies were quite clear on that part.
As head of the Order, it was his responsibility to study the Prophecies and use his second sight to make sure they did everything possible to support them. Despite the fact the Prophecies had never been wrong, their interpretation during the time a particular quatrain was in effect was another matter. Just like the second sight — it was a double-edged sword. What one saw was never clear until after the fact. He just knew the critical moment approached.
That was why he was deep in meditation when he felt the psychic wave pass over him. As the oldest living Octarian and the most versed in the Prophecies, the Master knew what that meant.
They did it! The First Sentinel is destroyed! That was the second sign, the one he was waiting for. That meant that now it was finally time for him to do his part ordained in the Prophecies.
Of course, that didn’t mean the future was assured. It was yet to see if that would be enough. There was much to do and yet the Prophecies were clear. The Master must meet the One and talk with her. He could give her limited information, but still not tell her all. At least for now, the galaxy had a chance, but even so, it would all depend on her future decisions and that of her daughter yet to be.
Barsyan sent a telepathic message to his assistant, Monk Candidate Lucaris. It is time, my friend. Prepare the ship. We must journey to the High King with our message. Then we will complete our mission.
He smiled at the reaction of his young assistant who was only a scant handful of centuries old. Oh, to have the energy of the youth. Yes, my friend. We go to meet the One!
Jarra stood in the tiny sick bay on board Katarina as they once more crossed the near nothingness of the void between the galactic arms. As she had been warned by her strong premonitions, the stronger links across the gap had collapsed before the Katarina could begin her crossing. That left the weak connection linking the arms and without their void drive, they would have been trapped for who knows how long.
Time was not something she had as a luxury.
Jarra stared at her friend and crew member Sara as she lay unmoving on the hospital bed. Sara had been like this ever since the struggle with the First Sentinel, totally unresponsive to every attempt to awaken her. Even with the highly advanced medical systems on board Katarina, nothing had worked. Not even implant calls could reach her. Not even Katarina’s powerful AI had any idea what to do.
“Oh, Sara,” Jarra exclaimed, the tears she’d been fighting finding their way out in her agony for her loss. “I miss you so much. Are you in there at all? My heart says yes, but in my head, I’m not so sure.”<
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Jarra knew that she had something special, a limited psychic ability, that should be able to touch her friend’s mind, at least enough to know she was still there. “I can’t feel you at all,” she whispered.
She grasped her friend’s hand. “You did it, you know. You won! The First Sentinel is destroyed.”
Those tears were flowing now and for once Jarra let them go. She hadn’t cried like this since she’d lost her mother, but like then, she only did it when she was alone. A princess was not allowed to cry.
“You’re part of my family now and I love you. Please, please, come back to us!”
No response came from the comatose Sara. For a moment, Jarra just let the tears flow. Finally, she brushed them away. Not ready to give up, she talked to her friend in the hopes that she could hear her.
“After the First Sentinel exploded, the link connecting all of us and the others almost collapsed. Somehow, we all managed to keep it together. That’s when we figured out you weren’t with us anymore. You’ve been in this coma ever since.”
“Just so you know, I refuse to give up. We’re on our way back to Borjon space, and as soon as I get there, I’m going to call Master Hadassah for help. If anyone can save you, he can, so you’d better get ready. We’re coming for you.
“It’s funny, you know, after our epic internal battle with Daghol, the rest of our escape from Aerstone space was quite anti-climatic. After the explosion of the First Sentinel, the Supreme Leader immediately had his ships abandon the chase, telling them that with the loss of the First Sentinel they needed to fall back to protect the Sentinel shipyard. It was the perfect excuse to let us get away. That meant our escape was inevitable, since the First Sentinel had been the only ship in a position to be able to intercept us.”
Jarra smiled at her friend. “I wonder if the Aerstone can feel any curiosity at all. You would think that the fact that we’re a complete unknown, they’d wonder about us, and at least have tried to have one ship follow us.
“It’s too bad. We put all that work into using subterfuge to be able to escape when it turned out it was completely unnecessary. Of course, we did use the new drives to give us a chance at all, so I guess it wasn’t wasted. But no fake explosion needed. Instead, all we had to do was transition into normal hyperspace and race away until we knew no one was following. Then we were able to make the further transition to fast hyperspace and make our way here.
“You do know you’ve given us all a chance in this horrible war, right? Just before we left the system I reminded AersTwo to do his best to delay the Aerstone war effort. That gives us time. Plus, I told Enigma to bring the Sentinel shipyard up to full production, making copies of himself in all the new Sentinels. If we can build enough of them, perhaps they can make a difference. We still have to deal with the other Sentinels, all copies of that evil First Sentinel, but at least we have time before we have to do that. We know that they aren’t as powerful as him, because he was afraid to allow them to reach his strength.
“It’s still not going to be easy. AersTwo won’t be able to hold them off forever and war will come back to us eventually. It will, you can be sure of it. That’s why we need you. We still have a lot to do to protect ourselves.
“I’m hoping all our new allies will make a difference if we can hold on long enough. Perhaps the galaxy can yet be saved. All because of you.”
Jarra stood quietly looking at her friend. Was there really a chance for them? For the Galactic Empire and the others out there? For their new friends in Borjon? Even Enigma would fall without the others.
“Are you okay?” Jason asked, interrupting her deep thoughts. He must have picked up on her mood through the connection that kept growing between them. He had come in to stand next to her, her thoughts so preoccupied she hadn’t even noticed.
“No,” she replied. “I’m worried about Sara and I’m worried about the war. I think we’ve managed to slow them, but it’s not going to be enough.”
“Well, there’s nothing we can do about the second for now, but for the first one, surely Master Hadassah can do something. We can’t give up hope.”
“I know, but it’s hard to see her like this. It’s like she’s not there anymore.”
“I really believe she’s still there, just buried deep within herself. We all were in the link and we know just how close it was. She saved us all.”
“We all did it. Us, Kaeden, Enigma and even the Supreme Leader. She was just on the tip of the spear, which is why she suffered the consequences.” Jarra shook her head. “It was my decision to put her there.”
“You’re right, you did, because she would have insisted, and because she was the best for the job,” Jason told her. He reached across their connection as he stood looking into her eyes, trying to give her at least a little comfort. “We have to believe she’s still here.”
“I know, but it’s just so hard.” The last Jarra said so softly, he was barely able to hear her. Once more those tears tried to come and for the first time, she didn’t try to hold them back until she could be alone. This time she shared them with her love.
Jason pulled her close, letting her bury her head against his chest. No longer fighting those tears, she let them come. For a moment, she wasn’t that princess that couldn’t cry. Here alone in the sick bay with Jason, she gave in to it. For his part, Jason just held her, his arms surrounding her with comfort.
Finally, wiping her eyes, she turned back to look at Sara. This time she tried to think good thoughts.
“You should have seen her when I first met her,” she told Jason. “It was so funny. She had no idea who I was, but she tried so hard to hack the system to find out. It frustrated her to no end that she couldn’t get past the Imperial security.”
“You did have the best in the Empire helping. Although, I suspect if she had it to do again, she’d get through now.”
“Yes, I may have to give in and let her have her own AI in her head. She’s been so jealous ever since she learned about Jynks.”
Jason smiled. He’d noticed Sara’s preoccupation with that very subject more than once. “She’s certainly earned it,” he said, glad that for a moment his love had a little happiness. Perhaps now was the time to broach another subject.
“I think when we get back, we should announce our engagement. Despite all the political nonsense I’ll have to put up with, it’s time to let everyone know.”
Jarra matched his smile. “It’s only fair; I’ve had to deal with it all my life. Just wait until you have to tell Aunt Margarette. Until we’re actually married, she’s still technically your boss.”
Jason groaned. “I may have to have a little help on that one. You wouldn’t want her to send me off to some posting in the middle of nowhere.”
Jarra smiled. “That depends. You’d better work hard to keep me happy.”
Jason laughed. “I think that can be arranged. There’s nothing I want more.”
The two spent some time in silence watching over Sara, the companionship offering some comfort. Eventually, it was time to break for the evening meal. Jarra’s mood remained melancholy, but at least now she wasn’t so deeply grief-stricken that she felt total hopelessness.
She could only cling to the hope that the Master would be able to help.
Jarra had not felt like she could sleep that evening, but they still had hours to go to make it back to the Borjon galactic arm, so she knew she needed rest. She tossed and turned but eventually she dozed off. But she had only been asleep a few minutes when she could have sworn she heard someone calling her.
That brought her back awake, but whoever it was calling her, it seemed even more distant with her awake. Knowing that there was just no way she was going back to sleep, she sat up in the lotus position and began a series of meditations. Gradually she relaxed. I should have done this to start with, she thought.
That feeling that someone was calling her had only increased as she relaxed her mind and body. She still had no idea what it meant, even
as she went deeper into her meditation.
“I can hear you,” she tried to reply, not really expecting that to work.
“Very good,” came the reply that totally surprised her. “Your abilities are growing stronger.”
Jarra almost lost her meditative state the shock was so high. Only her intensive training kept her there.
“Let me introduce myself,” came through the connection. Jarra could sense amusement in the link. “I am Master Barsyan of the Octarian Order of the Absolute Truth. I will be sending messages through my King to your Emperor to request a meeting, but I wanted to speak with you beforehand.”
Jarra listened to the one who spoke in her head incredulously, but something told her he was telling her the absolute truth. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance, she replied. So I guess you know who I am, Crown Princess Jarraosa Christinee Von Hasson?”
“Yes, although you are known as the Golden One in our Prophecies,” came as the reply. “We will speak much more in person, but I couldn’t resist talking to you beforehand.”
“How are you doing this?” Jarra had to ask. As far as she knew, the Octarians were almost on the opposite side of the galaxy from where they were at the moment.
“My race possesses the ability to speak mind to mind. Distance is not important. This is something you are not that far from being able to do, especially with your beloved, but you will be growing stronger in your ability as time goes by. We’ll talk more when we meet and I will try to explain better.”
“I have a few things to finish up before we can come to see you,” Jarra told him, “but I do look forward to meeting you.”