by Reiter
“Establish Time-Space anchor.”
“Should we not allow for at least a few minutes to pass, Master?” Satithe asked, confused by the order she had received.
“The followers of any Captain must love, respect, and fear their commander, Satithe,” Dungias stated. “Let us provide them a sense of mystery!”
“I understand,” she replied. “And for what it is worth, I concur.”
“It is worth more than you know, my friend. Let me know when the anchor has been secured.”
“Stand by, Master.” Dungias sat back in his chair and closed his eyes.
It had been a very interesting two hours for Dungias while his captain busied herself introducing Silnee to the simulator. As he had guessed, Smitty’s puzzle was not necessarily something only Dungias could solve, but only a Malgovi with a gravity-attuned Osamu and a flourishing Crystal Lily even stood a chance of getting the organism to enter into an evolutionary growth. The creature was without true form and Dungias knew it would take more time for it to mature into whatever it was going to be, so he had placed it in the arboretum and gave Satithe specific instructions to look after it. However, it had shed much of its matter during the change, and reading the genetic code of the dead skin gave Dungias the message Smitty had left for his Malgovi student and friend. Suddenly, Dungias did not need to review the files CK and Satithe had compiled, but he had done so just to be thorough. Without the Alpha files he had only been able to hypothesize what Borsidia had been up to in the InterVoid. With them fully digested, it was difficult for him to keep his anger at bay. Nearly forty minutes of his given two hours had been spent in the arboretum, caring for the plants. He had been able to contact each member of the crew and give them their assignments as he watered the plants and massaged the leaves of many of them, especially the Crystal Lily.
“With the exception of Smitty and the Athun, there are not many people I have met in the InterVoid with whom I care to maintain a relationship. But then again, perhaps I am overlooking someone. We shall have to see.”
“All stations are ready,” Satithe reported. “Primary launcher is ready to fire the Key-Pod and all fields stand ready to initiate. I calculate the transit will leave us with ninety-three percent power once alternate space has been achieved.”
“Then we are agreed,” Dungias replied. “Fire Key-Pod!”
“Key-Pod is away.”
Always pressing himself to be more and know more, Dungias had improved on the process of making apertures to enter the Realm Astral. There was no longer a need to charge weapons and alter their energy output. It was an amazing waste of energy and a terrific strain, due to its formation, not only on the weapon systems, but also on the craft entering into the aperture. The process of making an aperture had been redesigned and placed in a package which they called Key-Pods for ships and Key-Packs for smaller forms.
The small rocket sped away from the scout ship and burst into a soft white light. The aperture opened and the Kulri-Kraythe flew through, the rear launcher firing a second pod to close the door, but maintain the matrix so that it could be reactivated with less applied energy.
With stealth fields fully engaged, Dungias could see what was left of the facility that had served as Smitty’s base of operations. He altered his approach vector and made a sharp left turn, flying through the coordinates he had found in Smitty’s parting gift and passed through an aperture that had gone undetected into a pocket dimension.
“Welcome, Master Traveler,” Smitty’s voice called out to him over the radio. “… ‘twould appear you figured out my little riddle and between you and me… ‘twern’t much of a riddle! But I’m glad you’re here. You’re not the first to arrive, and I can tell you now my systems have already detected three ships in close range and they are scanning the old fort heavily! Don’t worry, the systems here have already sealed the door you came through. Another door will be made when it is time for you to leave. How fun is it to be back to this sort of crapping?!” Smitty laughed after posing the question, and Dungias smiled knowing his friend had enjoyed himself while programming the computer that must be running the facility he could now see. It was the exact size and shape of the one Dungias had come to know.
“Sending you coordinates where you can land and meet with our much unexpected visitor.” Dungias received the coordinates and was somewhat perplexed.
“This place is an exact replica of his other facility,” Dungias thought as he put his hand to Alpha. “Why would he not simply say, ‘land at the northeast tower’ or something to that effect? Most interesting.” He then received a suggested flight path to achieve the coordinates. With his memory of the facility, Dungias knew he was being directed to one of the three places that could be considered an interior landing pad in the entire construct. Smitty used it for receiving his shipments from Borsidia, Nes and the like. The pathway would be very tight for the scout ship, almost too tight.
“Steady lads,” he said after catching himself beginning to fidget. “He took his sweet time getting here, but now that he is here, we’ll wait for him to come to us. Relax and breathe… and remember your training; we’re only going to get one shot at this.”
“Helm, this is Reader! I’ve got a signal dead ahead and closing slowly. I’m only getting it by its wake.”
“That Malgovi’s being cagy as always,” he remarked, rubbing his chin. “This one’s never been an easy target. Stay sharp!”
“Helm, this is Gunner, I can confirm the signal. Subject is already in effective weapons range, but I do not yet have a clean shot.”
“He’ll be clear of the tunnels in just a moment,” he declared, taking a tight hold of the controls. It was a perfect plan; they had him bottlenecked. He had very little room to maneuver and the spread format of the guns was going to make quick work of what little room he did have. But something did not feel right. “Everyone go to first stage ejection and stand ready. Go ghost if the eject command is given.”
“What about you?” the one manning the Helm station asked.
“You never mind about me and do as you’re told!” he replied harshly.
“He’s almost clear of the obstruction,” the Gunner reported. “I can see his running lights!”
“Running lights?” he questioned. “When has he ever used–” the lighting of the small Bridge changed from their normal mode to emergency blue as alarms sounded off all over the ship.
“Contact!” the Reader yelled. “A ship just appeared to our rear! Weapons charged… and it’s firing!”
“Eject!”
Three energy bursts struck the small black craft as Dungias’ ship dropped its stealth fields. The act of firing had disrupted field harmony, and now his ship could be seen. The craft his scout ship had fired on lost shields with the first burst, weapons with the second, and primary power with the third. It tumbled as it fell towards the landing platform. A gravity field kept the craft from crashing as Dungias landed his scout ship.
“Standard security, if you please, Satithe,” Dungias requested, looking at the ship that had been ready to attack him. “Tell the drone to discontinue the holographic projection and bring it back aboard ship. I will–” a blade swung up through Dungias’ body, striking nothing as the blade and its wielder went intangible just after the missed attack. Dungias remained intangible and dropped through the bottom of the scout ship and down to the platform.
“It would seem there was more than a ship waiting,” Dungias concluded as three small spheres rolled out onto the platform. One came from inside the construct, one from the ship he had rendered powerless, and one from the rear of his scout ship.
“Electro-static pulse generators,” Satithe reported just before the devices activated. Dungias had lowered his intangibility field, though there were still a few sparks around his body. None of them were harmful.
“It would appear I have been studied,” Dungias whispered. “Someone wants me to remain visible and tangible for the outcome of this encounter.”
&n
bsp; “Traveler!” a voice called out to him and Dungias squinted his eyes. He received nothing from the voice other than sound. “Surrender while it is still an option!”
“To whom would I be surrendering?” Dungias asked, coming away from his ship. He could see a tall figure coming from the downed ship wearing a hooded cloak. The figure had brought along three others; one was larger than the speaker though of smoother stride. Dungias believed that person to be the one who had attacked him on the Bridge of the Kulri-Kraythe. The two that came from inside the construct were slightly smaller and their steps were metered… purposefully metered. All four held swords of a style Dungias had never seen before, but they appeared to be very clean and very sure weapons.
“You are a wanted man in the Astral Realm, Traveler! Surrender now, come along quietly, and–” Dungias snarled as he lunged at the two smaller forms. One screamed, jerking up his sword so quickly that he smacked his partner in the head with the flat of the blade. Dungias allowed his stride to carry him over the two bodies. He heard a collision as he passed over them. Apparently the one to his rear had moved too quickly and ran into the smaller two. They were stunned as they were driven to the ground. Dungias landed and turned to see the largest one already up and engaging stride to press the Malgovi Traveler. Dungias stepped forward and to his right. He avoided the blade while clotheslining his attacker who landed hard on his back.
Dungias’ bracer intercepted the swing meant for his head and he was slightly surprised when his hand thrust for the chest was avoided. His attacker gasped and spun away from Dungias, twirling his blade, which made it difficult for the Traveler to follow him… directly. When the hooded man came to a stop and readied his blade, he looked around to see his three assistants still getting up slowly... but no target. His shoulders dropped and he sighed in realization. He had been undone, and if Dungias had wanted to, any attack would have landed by now.
“Gravity makes for strong leaps and soft falls, doesn’t it?” the hooded figure said calmly.
“As you should know better than any other,” Dungias said, dropping to his right knee. “My Master… my Kwinsoah.”
“Blast!” Nugar yelled, pulling back the hood. “How did you know?!”
“The Exemplar Guyn taught me that chest strike,” Dungias explained as he stood up. “I landed it on you once; you swore by your Osamu that I would never do so again. Your gasp was not that of a surprised opponent; but one who had experienced the strike before and dreaded a repeat performance.”
“At least you know I am a Vinthur of his word!” Nugar said as he turned and walked toward Dungias with his arms out from his sides. The two embraced and Dungias closed his eyes as he grasped onto his mentor and friend. Nugar was indeed elated to see his former pupil, but was still a Traveler, and there was more than elation coming from Dungias. He put his hand to the back of Dungias’ head and held him as a nur would hold his vazi. “Easy, Dungi,” he whispered. “Whatever it is, boy, I am here now. The Stars have deemed that we meet, and now I believe I know why. Let’s unload these shoulders of yours and get you back upon your trek, eh?”
Nugar looked at the pods as they were brought from Dungias’ scout ship. He was amazed, not only by how much like twins the human females appeared, but the impressions he received from the sleeping Terrans, the similarities of mind and spirit. “You two know where to take them,” the Osur directed. “Be on your way and be quick about it!
“Well, it is some place I have come to find my Master Traveler,” Nugar sighed as Dungias took a seat on the edge of the landing platform. “… both figuratively and literally, I might add. I have come to expect many things from you, which is frightening.”
“How so?” Dungias asked.
“Because I always expect you to surprise me!” Nugar declared. “After the trek we’ve shared and all that I have come to see you be and do… well, to still be surprising… it is most frightening. I fully expect that one star-term you will come to my doorstep, weeping, claiming that you’ve broken the universe… and you want me to fix it!” Dungias closed his eyes and released a hearty laugh. The imagery was simply too humorous, and conversation was postponed for a moment.
“How did you find this place?” Dungias asked.
“You forget that I am also a Traveler… and I have another with me,” Nugar said, gesturing over to Uras who nodded with respect to the Star Chaser. “Tracking you is not so hard for either of us.”
“But I’ve never been here,” Dungias pointed out.
“No, but one who thought fondly of you has,” Nugar advised. “Uras was able to track that.”
“You are a credit to the ranks, my young friend,” Dungias stated, taking a moment to see how the young Tohgrunn had grown into maturity. He was nearly as tall as Dungias, though the Malgovi Traveler believed the young protégé was much stronger.
“And you are still the Master Traveler,” Uras quickly replied. “But if I may inquire…”
“Of course,” Dungias said, turning to face the young student.
“How did you avoid my blade attack on the scout ship? I should add, it was the Osur’s insistence that I attack you then and there. But I am curious.”
“Because we were both intangible,” Dungias nodded. “… and should we not then touch as two solid forms touch? To put it simply, Uras, there are varying degrees of intangibility. You were intangible enough to move through solid material, but your matrix was fixed. I now set my normal field modulation to where my pattern is fluid, and only someone with a matching field harmonic can touch me.
“And what if I had not altered my settings?!” Dungias asked, looking at Nugar.
“Then you should have been a damn sight faster getting out of that chair!” Nugar quickly replied, shrugging his shoulders. Dungias thought for a moment, debating if he should be angry, but he found he could not commit to the emotion. He shook his head and chuckled. Uras took the initiative to withdraw, his mind pondering what sort of circumstances could have lead the Star Chaser to even think of making such changes.
“So, what are you going to do with all of this?” Nugar asked, looking out over the installation.
“That’s not the important thing here, Kwinsoah,” Dungias said softly.
“Oh?” Nugar huffed as he crossed his arms. “Then what is… the important thing, Dungi?”
“The Stars of my homeworld do not question my approach to the Star Quest,” Dungias shared as he stood up. It was clear to Nugar that his brother Traveler had made another one of his conclusions. “They question my dedication to my own resolve. I cannot say that I have not given them reason to be concerned. Excuse me, Kwinsoah.”
Nugar knew better than to make any effort to hinder or even slow the Star Chaser. He simply had no place to begin such a campaign. By the law of the Vinthur, Dungias was his gemvazi, a grandson, as he had been the mate of Saru, his gemopadiah, but that was the only place where Nugar would claim authority over his friend. The Star Chaser definitely outranked any station of the Osur, and with the accolades the Council had awarded to the name Z’Gunok Tel Dungias, even the teacher of the noted Malgovi Traveler would be held in question should he stand or speak against Dungias.
“It does not help me in the least,” Nugar thought as he followed Dungias. “… that he is accurate as to why I am here. The Stars did bid me to test him, though they did not say why. Still, it excites my soul to put eyes to him once more! And perhaps this is not the time to tell him of his Vu-Prin or his aims.
“But what will you do, Dungi?” he asked, taking up the trek to deliver what was asked of him. “What you have made of these human clones borders on slavery.”
“Then it falls to me to emancipate them,” Dungias replied without breaking stride. “You can go now, Kwinsoah. Tell the Stars that when next they have question of me, they should pose it directly to me.”
“Difficult to do when you will not commune with them!” Nugar shot back. Dungias stopped walking and looked over his right shoulder.
“And now I know how long you have been here,” Dungias realized. “Our home Stars should have advised you… that particular matter has been resolved. I have resumed my perspective to the Stars and my Quest within the Stars of the Founders.”
“And have you communed with the Stars of the Founders?” Nugar asked.
“I have ascended, but we have yet to speak,” Dungias replied. “I have found that I am in a foreign land, be it the one I trek or in the company of the Stars. There is something of note, however, something very special about the Rims, but I have yet to solve that riddle.”
“And regardless of that, I am here,” Nugar added. “Beckoned by old Stars or new, my presence must serve some purpose.”
“Agreed, and unlike others, we do not question the Stars do we?” Dungias stated. “So there was no need for them to tell you that which I already have. Still, it feels slightly inconsiderate.”
“I will not argue that, my vazi,” Nugar replied. “But until we are Stars, we cannot know all of what they do. As you have already said, it was a needless notification. But we were already here and the likelihood that I would have departed before seeing you was slim at best.”
“I am glad to see you too, Kwinsoah,” Dungias spoke softly once more, but the passion in him could also be heard. “I am further elated that my decision to come here made your trek to find me a simpler one.
“I lost my way for a time,” Dungias admitted. “But 'lost’ is a human-safe word. In truth, I turned from my path, thinking I could avoid life. You taught me well, Kwinsoah, but that lesson was never given to me.”
“I cannot teach you what I do not know,” Nugar replied.
“Wrong again, my Master,” Dungias smiled. “You taught this Star Chaser rather well. I have returned to my trek; I have promises to keep, starting with the ones I made to myself. Trust in that.”
“Those promises are the best place to start,” Nugar agreed. “And trusting you has never been an issue with me,” Nugar assured. “But for all of your perception, I believe you sometimes miss what I see before me… and much of that is to be expected. You’re not an arrogant man.