Promises Kept
Cot woke up slowly, taking pleasure in not having anything scheduled to be up early for. Staring at the overhead, stars twinkled in the pseudo nebula. The view changed subtlety, giving way to gaseous clouds with sparkling galaxies, suns and black holes. It wasn't the same as standing outside the ship and seeing the real thing, but at the moment she wasn't interested in waking to see herself suspended in space. The reality was, if the ship was moving at normal gs in a travel corridor the scenery would have been strings of lights which had its own wonder to behold.
"Greetings, Star Chaser."
"Greetings, Cot."
"What's our status to Flaming Chronos Gate?"
"Two hours and 15 minutes from Flaming Chronos Gate. There is nothing that needs immediate attention," Star said. "However, you will need to prospect a meteorite for cell juice soon."
"I noticed on yesterday's scan the cells were low. Isn't that rather sudden?"
"The quality depreciates at a higher rate as its level lowers. I am investigating why since this is not mentioned in the shipyard specs, nor have I noticed it in our previous travels."
"The only differences in our recent travels that I know about," she said aiming at Star Chaser's habit of leaving out some information she thought Cot would voice objections to, "is we're taking travel corridors, we're traveling at higher gs and we're in constant motion. All three are probably contributing to that...unless you missed a leak," she taunted.
"I have no leaks in my cell chambers. I am investigating those three factors. I will send my observations to our SID-mates and see if they are experiencing the same drain."
"Maybe we'll come across a supplier," Cot continued to tease.
"They charge unreasonable prices and their quality is not guaranteed. It must be unprocessed and fresh," Star said.
There was a pause. Cot was sure Star was making a complete scan of her bios and expression, and that put a wide grin on Cot's face.
"Our extractor is more than adequate," Star said.
"It can't be automated?" Cot continued.
"Creating an automated extractor is not a priority," Star said, without appearing to be affected with Cot's teasing.
The extractor was seldom used but not so trivial that it didn't get Star's attention to upgrade as much as possible for that model. If it were to become automated Star Chaser would have to design a new model. It would take her focus away from her primary duties, such as: upgrading and designing better defenses; processing everything she came across; and keeping track of her pilot and her as they moved through fluid space. Star Chaser was a vacuum for information and Cot wondered again, where Star stored everything she took in.
"Carry on, then. If you find a meteorite that meets my criteria of nothing dangerous, living or.... " Cot paused, giving Star a chance to add something.
"You want it to be safe with minimum effort," Star said.
"Thank you, Star. If replenishing our supplies becomes more often, we'll add stopping on a meteorite a regular task, that way we won't be surprised with suddenly having dry cells."
"That is a possible conclusion," Star said.
Cot, dressed in ritual clothing, knelt in front of her sacred space to begin her daily salutations. A flat stone was lying at the base of her altar that she didn't notice when she was standing. Its hue was unknown in her color spectrum, thus giving off an odd appearance. Without fear, she placed her left palm on top of it.
Queen Ereschkigal's Book of Travel.
Chapter One - Preparation and Rules to Follow for Passing Each Gate.
Work with whatever you encounter, engaged fully in the moment,
Chapter 21
"What's this?" Cot tapped the screen where there was an indication of an explosion and a noticeable gap between information.
"It needs further analysis," Star said.
"When did it occur?" The information Star provided was adequate for her, but normally such happenings were meticulously recorded to share with the other SID-ships.
"Four hours ago."
"Was it a planet going nova?" Cot hadn't seen any broadcast warnings that there was a white dwarf soon to go nova in this part of space. Cot turned around at the scratching sound. "Did you lock our guest in the storage closet? Is there something I need to know about you and the bot?"
"No."
"Have you two decided on a name yet?" Cot asked.
"No."
The relationship between Star and her friend was getting more curious as their journey progressed, but Cot didn't see any reason for her to insert herself into their relationship yet. They needed to find their own way. As she had learned in dealing with various species, not all relationships followed the same stages or could be measured by the amount of trust you placed in your partner. Depending on the situation a sudden meeting could cause people that would normally not form relationships become caught up in what could be likened to intimate relations. It was common sense that if you knew someone was not good with secrets you wouldn't tell them something you wanted to remain a secret; however it didn't mean a friendship was impossible.
"There will be no abusing guests, Star."
"I will follow protocol," Star agreed.
"What pro..." Cot jumped back in astonishment as Star's friend zipped out of the closet she was opening. It buzzed two circles around her then came to rest over her shoulder. When nothing else happened, Cot returned to her seat, determined to not laugh aloud. She called up the star charts while the bot settled close to her shoulder.
"This gate will take us past a section of space that has heavy commerce activity. Rizon Space." Cot had to admit her tone sounded wistful. She could feel Star's interest perk up. "Food vendors on all the space stations in Rizon Space can accurately gage your eating tastes and keep you there tasting new foods for months. But you have to watch yourself. If you stand out like a mark, you'll have every crook hitting you up for something."
"Do you want to stop there and shop?" Star asked. There were stories and secrets for Star to find at Rizon's Space Corridor and plenty of potential trouble to get into should Star's delving into people's secrets without asking be found out.
"No. I was just reminiscing. I was doing escort service for an ambassador's family. They loved to shop there."
"Are you bored, Cot?"
"I'm not bored," Cot said firmly.
"We are within distance of the gate to send a monitor forward to scan for any ships within the area," Star said.
"SOP, Star."
"Standard operating procedures, Cot. Releasing six monitors. Transmitting test signals. Test returned good. Monitors away."
When within the right distance from the portal Star sent the pass code and the portal opened for their entrance. Star drifted in with enough momentum to carry them at a good speed before power was shut down to drift, leaving little disturbance of their passage for someone to trail. Unless there was a need to hurry, the currents in the corridor could carry them along at sufficient gs. After all the travel corridors already cut travel time from one destination to another sometimes by years, months, days or hours, depending on the point of entry to destination.
While they sailed through the corridor, Cot reviewed reports Star prepared for her. Star's progress of recovering the information from their visit of the Murdelie was not completed. Star couldn't explain why the information kept deleting at different points of the recovery. Cot had her suspicion that maybe their visiting bot had something to do with it, which would explain Star's treatment of the bot.
Her eyes lifted to a movement on her screen. One of the forward monitors was sending images back of weapons fire. "What's that up ahead?" Cot enhanced her view of flashes crossing the travel corridor.
"Cannon blasts from a midsized ship," Star said. "Information is now coming in."
"Send predators for back up. Bring up speed. Prepare defenses...remember no weapons fire in the corridor."
"Two armed predators released," Star said. "The forward monitor is not equipped to defend itself from cannon fire."
"How long until the predators are in position?"
"Ten minutes."
If Star Chaser increased her speed by too much it would cause energy in the corridor to change and they would probably miss the exit by inches which would put them somewhere else in the galaxy.
From the images the monitor sent, a ten person yacht was faced off with five larger ships that crewed fifty. Now on first sight this would seem as though the civilian yacht was out gunned and needed to be rescued, but if that were so, three of the larger ships would not be listing as if they had lost helm power. Two mobile ships were maneuvering to get a clean shot past their drifting comrades.
"Five ships and one civilian yacht, called the Glass Eye, Cot. The five ships have no identifiers. I am investigating who they are registered to."
The civilian yacht that had fire power most private yachts wished they possessed continued to make good shots at her attackers' defense grids and defending her hull against the sporadic shots from the only two moving ships. They were minutes away from being in position to assist the civilian ship when the battle turned ill toward the Glass Eye and her crew. The yacht made a direct hit to one of the two still mobile attack ships, leaving one active that slid behind one of it's defenseless comrades. A small explosion caused the yacht to stagger in its maneuverings. It ran into a mine.
"Pirates in the five ships are demanding the mortliege in the Glass Eye heave to for boarding and seizure. It is their repeated message."
"A mortliege and pirates?" Cot never met a mortliege and hoped one would not have reason to come looking for her. "Do you have information on the yacht yet? How many on board?"
"One biological on board. I am in the process of accessing the ship's records," Star replied.
"Just copy them. Translate later," Cot said. "We need to prevent detection of the gate from the pirates."
A shot to the yacht sent it spinning toward the gate so even if the pilot tried not to reveal its presence, it was going to happen.
"When the predators are in position, neutralize the pirates then tow that yacht in. Leave no trace of this place in their ship's memory or the crews...and send their ships to the nearest military outpost."
"I will in the future locate military outposts wherever we spend more than two hours in a sector," Star said. "SEs will clean the area of any trace of ships in this area."
Star Chaser's predator defenders sent coordinated shots to disable the remaining ship. An energy beam enveloped all five ships and by the time they arrived at the gate, the five pirate ships were moving off on low power to the nearest military outpost. Star towed the yacht through the gate.
"Pilot in the Glass Eye, don't shoot your rescuer, please. We're towing you through the gate. Ready yourself for a hatch-to-hatch connect."
Cot hurried to welcome the pilot, concerned when Star's scan of the yacht showed a toxic leak in the interior. Cot donned a face mask and Star had the hatch area encased in a bubble. As soon as the hatch cover was open, a tattered body fell through with alarms sounding in the ship.
Star promptly cleared the air around them while an SE closed the hatch. A medical bot immediately came active and attended to the battered figure. From her appearance, she spent some time in the company of unfriendly people and escaped without shoes or clothing fit to wear.
"I will send out a team to inspect Glass Eye, Cot. Shall I begin immediately with repairs?"
Should the ship be repaired? Towing it around until they found a suitable place to drop it off may leave them vulnerable to attacks which they've seen a lot of lately. Cot studied the unconscious woman, thinking of how disruptive her presence would be until she found a place to drop her off. Would Star Chaser forget that she was classified and chat with the stranger as if it were with a friend? She certainly had a story to tell.
"Yes."
After the medibot made certain the woman was stable enough to move, she was lifted and moved to the guest quarters. The guest bot hovered over the pilot. "Since you're no help, wait out in the corridor," Cot said.
Cloth was removed carefully, reopening cuts where the clothing had become part of the clot. Under all the damage, body tattoos seemed to be in numbers. She heard a mortliege's tattoos were to honor the patron the mortliege took at fifth level. As the cuts and bruises were administered to and her skin cleaned, repairs to her skin were done, restoring the tats and their story.
Star Chaser moved to a place where traffic was least likely to occur, towing Glass Eye. Monitors were scattered around to warn them of anyone approaching their position. Once their passenger was settled for medical sleep, Cot went to change into her AVEC suit to make a visual inspection of her own of the Glass Eye. Star estimated four days to finish the repairs on the hull and interior to enable it to move on its own. That was a long time to be exposed.
The SEs found nothing personal on board the Glass Eye, not even a change of clothes. It looked like someone was in the process of stripping the yacht for salvage. It was gutted of everything but the captain's station...minus a chair. Bare bones of the hull surrounded her with tubes and connectors being replaced by the SEs. One console and chair, supplied from Star Chaser's supply, was all there was on the bridge.
"It looks like this ship was stolen from a salvage yard. How was it able to defend itself and how was the pilot able to conduct an battle as injured as she was? Is she an example of all mortlieges?"
"I will research what the profession requires," Star said.
Cot returned to her ship. She stopped to see how their injured passenger was. The two guest quarters on Star Chaser were intentionally small with little storage space, so it was noticeable when the closet in the quarters the unconscious woman was in was filled with clothing. Star Chaser also acted as purser and kept up on the styles of every space station in case Cot visited out of uniform.
Star's guest bot was hovering outside of the opened hatch.
"Let our guest wake up on her own," Cot said.
"Would you like her hatch cover locked?" Star asked.
"No. Until she wakes up, she's no danger...unless you believe otherwise."
As Cot studied her she wondered what was familiar about her. She was sure she had never met her before. This mortliege bore some investigating, but on a different level.
In the cargo bay Cot lit her incense sticks and set up her circle. Guardians were called. Before her the altar stone disappeared and a blank background appeared. Cot drew runes in the air designed for intuiting a soul's intentions. A slice of tattered clothing with her passenger's blood on it was lying before her and that she used to get more than one level of reading on the woman. Waiting patiently the images from her passenger's life began to flash before her. Finally, Cot made a gesture of thanks to those that had assisted her and reopened her circle of protection.
"How is our new guest, Star?"
"Healing. Sleeping."
"She's a Star Force agent." Cot frowned, realizing how complicated this rescue had become. "Let me know when she does awaken. What's the progress on the repairs of Glass Eye?"
"What are your expectations for the ship?" Star asked.
"It's that bad?" Cot asked.
"I can fix what is broken but not replace what was removed. With the exception of the chair my supplies do not cover redecorating or replacement of consoles and sleeping quarters."
"Fix only what will get Glass Eye to a safe port or if that's not possible we'll tow the ship to the nearest ship repair and be done with it all. Were you able to get anything from the yacht's records?"
"I copied everything before it was wiped clean. If I had not done so, everything would be gone. There is no backup."
Where had the pilot been that she needed to wipe the ship clean so there was nothing to recover? "Any chance of a backup being hidden?"
"The program was very efficient in wiping all evidence of previous programming," Star Chaser said.
Cot's eyes narrowed as it occurred to her that maybe this mortliege had plans to commandeer Star Chaser. SF agent or not, that wasn't going to happen.
"Maybe she knew you copied over the files," Cot said.
"I copied encrypted information. I have not decoded the information yet."
"If you don't have it by the time she wakens, we'll ask her for it," Cot said. It had to be a good code if Star was unable to break, but then, Star was stumped with not being able to recover the missing Murdelie files. Were the two problems on decrypting related? Where did the bot come from originally? Star must be stumped on that too, otherwise by now she would have told Cot who the bot was.
Cot dressed in her AVEC suit and went over to have another look at the bridge. Maybe they should use less supplies and time on fixing the ship. What she needed to do was talk to the pilot and see just how important the ship was to her. With her being a fellow agent, that changed things.
The SEs were busy on the bridge. It looked strange for the only thing on the bridge was a pilot's seat and a console. The hull covers were missing where there used to be furniture or equipment. Cot doubted the ship would be seen beyond salvage material.
"How did she maneuver the ship without a console?" Cot wondered aloud.
"ReaT helmet," Star answered. "There were remnants of it in the compactor and the compactor's memory was erased with everything else so there isn't anything to salvage."
That cinched it for Cot. If the agent wanted to turn her ship into a shell she wasn't going to be suckered into expending valuable resources to salvage it until she found out exactly what the agent had in mind.
"Star, locate the nearest supply depot SF clears us to visit for supplies. See if they also do ship repairs. If it works out, we'll tow Glass Eye in and replenish our stores. Maybe SF will have some new gizmos for you to test."
"Do you want me to halt further repairs on Glass Eye?"
"Make it look like we're fixing up the ship, but don't waste any more of our supplies. Repair with what is here. And Star, I want you to be able to clear Glass Eye at the first sign of trouble. If this is a trap, I want to be able to jump out of it before it closes on us."
"I will have plenty of advance warning if anyone approaches our position, Cot."
"If she wasn't a SF agent, I would suspect she was lying in wait for us with a staged battle, knowing we would rescue her and her ship."
Before Cot retired Star informed her HQ did not clear her to stop at any ship repair station even if it was an emergency. SF would send a repair freighter rather than risk anyone from seeing Star Chaser up close and personal, and Glass Eye wasn't considered an emergency.
*.*.*.*
On the second day when Cot was warming up for a workout Star Chaser made an announcement. "The mortliege has awakened. Her name is Diana Rue."
"Is she on her feet yet?"
"Physically, she is still gathering strength. She asked me who I am, what year, and sector we are in. She would not give me the code to restore her ship's programming."
"Maybe she will when she gets to know you better," Cot said amused. "When I'm finished with my workout I'll have a visit with her," Cot said. "That should give her enough time to refresh herself and test her legs." And by then, Star Chaser would have plenty of background information on her, Cot thought.
"Why would she not answer my questions? We have rescued her," Star asked.
"Maybe because she thinks you're interrogating her. What would you have done with Ara if she didn't answer you?"
"I had gathered information on Ara to know what information to exchange with her."
"You're classified. Communicating to Ara would have been revealing classified information," Cot said. "Offer our new guest some refreshment."
"Ara and Diana both have a high security clearance."
"Ara isn't Star Force. Just how high is Diana?" Star must have begun her search the moment she learned Diana's name. There is no stopping a curious Star Chaser, Cot thought humorously.
"She is classified and under another name I can not repeat."
"Why does someone so important have no backup?"
"We have no backup," Star said.
"We have your defenses and our SID-mates, Star. They may be hours away, but they are there. I thought I read in the manual that when an agent is on a mission, there has to be back up within minutes."
"Maybe she is all that's left of her team," Star said.
"I'll have to ask her," Cot said.
"I have already asked her if she is on a mission. She returns my questions with questions and does not answer me," Star said.
"You didn't say anything about our mission did you?"
"No. Though her security clearance is above yours, protocol only allows me to pass on that information after I have cleared it with you."
"You've gotten better at keeping yourself a secret, Star. You can acknowledge information she knows already."
Star Chaser arranged for Cot's self defense teacher today to be short and fat, who liked to throw his weight around. For one hour she was kept busy defending herself with non lethal counter punches, tempted at times to deliver a lethal blow to stop the relentless attack that she was sure was leaving bruises on her torso and appendages. Suddenly the holograph folded in on itself and stopped.
Solitary clapping had her looking up startled.
"Good workout, Captain. Good rescue too."
Diana Rue looked fully recovered from her injuries; in fact, she looked very healthy and fit. It was interesting what clothing she chose to wear. It was a civilian's version of a flight suit and on her feet were spacer work boots. That wouldn't be something Purser Star Chaser would add to a closet without being asked.
"I'm glad to have been able to assist, Diana Rue. That was good shooting for a civilian yacht."
"It was a good program that came with the weapons, captain."
"Call me Cot."
"Diana is fine for me, and thank you for the clothing."
"You're welcome. There wasn't any luggage on the Glass Eye."
"It was removed along with everything else." Diana looked at the bot that moved past her and settled near Cot's shoulder. "So, this is a Caronda Fighter and Star Chaser is a sentient ship, aye?" Diana continued."
"Yes."
"This is a friendly ship for a military investment. For all the secretive business about these ships why am I conscious?" Diana asked.
"Are you hungry?" Cot wanted to laugh but kept her face neutral. Diana obviously didn't realize how much information they had on her.
"Famished." Diana gave her an odd look.
"I'm surprised Star didn't offer you refreshment."
"I was offered. I'm not prepared to be questioned relentlessly than offered a beverage without having some suspicion about my host's intentions."
"Star Chaser is curious. When she has the advantage to gather information she takes it. We'll share a meal and talk...and see if you want your ship repaired."
"Who do you plan on repairing that much damage?"
"Do you have any suggestions?" Cot asked.
"None. Are we near a ship repair vessel or... you're joking, right?" She reacted to Cot's laugh, who was thinking of HQs message to stay away from any ship repair places. "Just how long was I out?"
"Two days. Was the attack personal?"
"That last bunch wasn't into conversation so I don't know."
"How long were you being pursued by them?"
"Not long. You should teach Star Chaser to ask questions along this line. I may have answered them not having all my wits about me."
"We have different agendas, though not too much different. Here's the galley. Order up something. I'll be a moment to clean up and will join you. Star will keep you company. Star, for whatever question she asks, you get one from her. Keep in mind, you're classified."
Star's bot friend watched Diana from the corridor.
* * * *
When Cot returned Diana had a glass of something half full in front of her and was listening to music with her eyes closed. The bot was sitting out of Diana's reach on a shelf. Though Cot was sure she was quiet, Diana's eyes opened the moment she was at the hatch.
"It's a recommendation by your medibot before I have something more solid."
"Do you have a palate preference, Diana?"
Diana gave a preference and a SE prepared two plates. Conversation during their meal was limited to compliments on the meal and music. What Diana looked like she wanted to talk about were the service bots and Star Chaser. When they finished their meal, the SE removed their dishes and Cot looked at Diana in askance. "So, you were asking why I didn't move you to a sleep pod to be delivered surreptitiously to a medical station."
"Yes."
"You're mortliege, you know of a travel gate that's seldom used, you practice QuaDom and you're Star Force." She gave the hand gesture that she had practiced with Star on how to be recognized by another SF agent.
Diana gave the return sign.
"How did you find that information out? That information is classified."
"Star Chaser is very good at finding secrets out. What time or place did you think you were in?" Cot asked.
"Sometimes racing across space in a ship that is out of whack can put the passenger just about anywhere. My brother Ati's not going to be happy with me when I return it as stripped as it is."
Cot led her to Star's bridge, gesturing for Diana to take the passenger seat.
Diana sank into the seat and sighed at the comfort. "I know this isn't military furniture. Not even Glass Eye had this much comfort. And the service bots and medibot...are they SFs latest?"
"I like being comfortable given the chance. What time are you from?" Cot asked.
"The same as yours," Diana said. The two consoles unfurled before them coming active when flat. "Just how much damage to Glass Eye was done? I wasn't too conscious of her condition."
"Star, show us status on Glass Eye, please," Cot said.
Both screens for each chair began to fill with information. Cot watched Diana as she studied the report. She looked like she understood it.
"This is showing it has a crack in the plant and needs an overhaul." Diana looked annoyed. "And everything but the engine, one console and the weapons were all they left. I was lucky they were greedy and wanted the software and armaments intact."
"You're right, so just how did you manage to fight off those pirates with you as injured as you were and with a damaged ship?"
"I don't give away my secrets." Diana smiled at Cot then turned her attention to the scan of Glass Eye's interior. "I see you found me a pilot's chair. Thank the gods. Piloting without something soft to sit on or lay on was rough," Diana said.
"What does your brother do that needs all that armament?"
"He's a gambler. The people he gambles with can get nasty about losing."
"Star found a GRF seal on your hull. She pulled the repair logs on Glass Eye from Geminess Repair Faculties, where a month ago she was given a clean bill of health. GRF would never allow a ship they did repairs on leave with the potential for the engine blowing up so soon without recording their warning. Have you been time jumping?"
"I might have."
"When we've repaired enough for her to safely fly on her own, Star will need the code so she can reload the system software."
"She can download the information back where she found it. I'll handle the rest," Diana said.
Cot felt a stir in her connection with Star. She glanced at the monitor. "Star, to your starboard! Give me a reading!"
Diana looked at her terminal. "Something's coming through hyperspace. It's a big disturbance maybe the beginnings of..." Diana said.
"A squad. Twelve ships I count and maybe more behind them. Star, we're leaving."
"SEs are back on board at the first sign of a disturbance. I have released Glass Eye. We are underway."
"What are you going to do with Glass Eye?" Diana asked.
"Nothing."
"Where are we going?"
"Away from here. We'll return when they've cleared out. Star has left a monitor so we'll know if they find the Glass Eye what they'll do with it. They could be just a normal patrol looking for pirate activity."
"If this is a normal patrol, I hope they don't have some techie that loves to collect abandoned yachts and fix them up during his spare time," Diana said.
"Unless it's the captain's passion, I doubt room will be made for a hobby of that proportion. The captains I knew liked neat and tidy bays without something that complicated taking up space."
It was in a matter of moments and then there was only space around them with nothing threatening.
"So how did you end up being surrounded by pirates?" Cot asked.
"It's a complicated story," Diana said.
"Just the kind Star Chaser is interested in. You can leave off the secret stuff."
"I was returning from a mission when I realized Glass Eye's navigation kept recalibrating. A ship appeared before me without the usual space displacement registering. Morgan, an old acquaintance, greeted me with all the usual pleasantries people who haven't seen each other for a while do. He came over to the Glass Eye with wine he procured from some unmemorable planet and proceeded to drink himself into the usual stupor while regaling me with adventure stories. When he started to repeat stories I suggested he return to his ship and sleep it off, and when he's feeling better he could tell me where we were. He was quite amicable about it and toddled off to his ship.
"I woke up to alarms on Glass Eye, his ship was nowhere on my scans, and I'm being attacked by ships I wasn't able to identify. I installed on Glass Eye a program that would automatically go into attack mode if threatened. I was sadly out numbered and was going to go down in fiery glory when Morgan shows up again, draws the attackers to him, and he disappears with the ships. I was almost out of that part of space, when a pack of pirates netted me. While I was aboard the pirate chief's ship, her crew boarded Glass Eye, and proceeded to gut her. Morgan again drops in and gets me out of the pirates clutches. I flee in a ship that even my brother's interior decorator wouldn't recognize. As soon as he leaves, I find myself near a gate I happen to have a code to but...there's a new group of pirates whose ships I don't recognize and they have their guns blazing my way, blocking my escape through the gate."
"Is Morgan mortliege or a...."
"Whatever strikes his interest is what he's about. He's an adventurer sometimes crossing swords with Hunters. However, I've never known him to dump trouble in someone's lap unless he meant to," she said.
"Don't you think it's rather suspect that the pirates removed comfort items and not self-defense items from your ship?" Cot asked.
"Not for a pirate. They won't waste something that they can turn around and use. They'll strip her battery but it's useless without the firing software and they'll try and recover that before destroying her, or keep her shell and battery and redecorate to their liking. Without communication I didn't know who you were so I ran the destruct program. Normally there's no recovery from that wipe. I'm impressed that Star Chaser copied the entire system."
"I only copied what I could not duplicate from a shipyard's detect and repair program," Star said.
"There you go," Cot said amused. "So, whatever special software you have running in addition, as soon as the ship is operational, you can see if your special equipment that's still attached can be restarted with Star's assistance."
Diana shook her head in disbelief. "Are all the CFs like Star Chaser?"
"No," two voices said. Cot grinned. "Sentient means they have their own characteristics and attitude. That's what makes them SIDs."
Diana looked thoughtful. "I was briefed on the project with a dozen others. I don't think any of them realize how fluid and advanced this project is."
"I think more than a dozen do realize it and that's why we keep running into squads of fighters and such looking to shoot us down," Cot said.
"And leave no trace of their actions," Star Chaser added.
"I'm sure it was expected by HQ. After all, the rest of the galaxy military commands have all said no to the grand sentient experiment," Diana said.
"Approaching a meteorite that has SRL44," Star reported.
"Star needs a chemical compound to replenish a cell. It's usually found on a meteorite and not always on the surface."
"Just what do you plan on doing?" Diana asked.
"Would you like to come along and see?" Cot asked.
"Is it something that will get me shot at?" Diana asked.
"No. Just a necessary chore Star Chaser has trained me for."
Diana looked at her puzzled.
"Star has an AVEC suit for you that has been upgraded from the manufacture's specs, like all her equipment. Would you like to see what being taken care of by Star is like?"
"Just what can you do with an AVEC suit?" Diana asked.
"It's nothing like military armor. It's for working in space so everything about them is mobile, light, and strong."
"Mobile and light sounds good." Diana watched the crane descend with a suit, then the arms of the automatic dresser move to assist her with dressing.
While Diana tested out her suit, Cot dressed quickly and waited while her suit's seals were tested. She noticed Diana had not tested her suit. She gestured for Diana to move toward her so she could check hers out. Cot never let another person dress for space without someone or something testing that everything was sealed and air pacs were clean and full.
"Thanks for the check. I'm so used to relying on myself, I forget the number one safety rule," Diana said.
"Shall we go?"
"You're right about these suits. It's so light and mobile I may forget what I'm wearing. I know these aren't standard SF equipment or they would be on the thieves markets."
"I only know of 12 pilots that have these suits." Cot checked the shuttle to make sure the extractor was in it's holster. She checked the battery pac and then the needle. It was ready for work.
"What is that?"
"A juice extractor. If you want to know the exact chemical compound it extracts, you can ask Star."
"Is it something I need to know to survive?"
"No."
"Then I'll just believe you."
Chapter 22
"I'm not. We're only protected from what we know about which leaves us with dangers we feel by the prickling of our skin."
"Ain't that the truth," Diana muttered. She kept looking all around her for whatever was causing her to want to run.
"I've heard of a lot of spacer stories of ghosts on space rocks," Cot said.
"What place doesn't have a handful of stories?" Diana said.
Cot planted the extractor into the hard surface and said a few prayers, hoping it would appease whatever spirit lived on the meteor they were mining. The light blinked it was not a good extraction.
"It's not working. We're going to have to find a tunnel to take us closer to the core." Cot retracted the needle and slung the extractor onto her shoulder holster.
"I'm reading some blank spots to the left. Could be tunnels. I hope Star Chaser knows how to leave false trails, just in case we were followed," Diana said.
"I hope she stays alert and focused on leaving false trails," Cot said. "Her curiosity can become her primary interest if not reminded that there are responsibilities that come first."
"It must be difficult to go from a military mind set to this...less structured way of handling assignments," Diana said.
"Even military skirmishes have fluid and unpredictable moments. Working with Star is a fluid and unpredictable assignment. Working with her is a relief after all the military posturing that went with duty."
"Here's a cave entrance. Shall we go in?"
Cot felt the hairs on her head rise. "No."
Diana back peddled as quickly as she could in the AVEC suit, but even as mobile as it was, moving in weightless space in a suit that was working to keep at least one of its boots firmly planted on the surface, made quick escapes nearly impossible, unless the boots were released and the jet pacs ignited.
Cot turned and fled back to the shuttle and up the ramp. The hatch wouldn't open. Cot thumped back down the ramp and to a panel on the outside of the hull to force the hatch to the emergency space to open. It was drained of energy.
Breathing heavily Cot pressed herself against the shuttles hull trying to control the fear that was driving her to panic. It was using up her air.
"I....had... I had a dream of a place like this. I was covered in corney beetles," Diana said. "I was being consumed by them."
"I dreamt of a place like this too. I was covered in worms," Cot said. "They were sucking the life out of me."
"That's some relief that we've both dreamt of this place. Dreams like that have meaning," Diana said.
Cot shuddered, and glancing at Diana nearly screamed in terror. Diana's mouth was opened in a silent scream. Turning away from an unnamed terror Cot stumbled over the uneven surface. He boot caught the tip of an outcropping, and she fell with enough force to take her breath away. Gasping for air she forced herself to her hands and knees and scrambled from what was after her. At some point she made it to her feet and stumbled into a tunnel. There were many branches in the tunnel but the one she chose had the rune hagalaz marked on it. Abruptly she came to a dead-end. Turning around there was only darkness and a sound that terrified her in her dreams.
The sound was from hundreds of worms heading her way. When the first touched her she had a flash of recognition. Enas. Cot felt herself broken up into thousands of tiny bits of light, life cells connected by one purpose, survival
Cot stood before the gate of Queen Ereschkigal. She didn't have to look down to know she was in her best dress uniform, minus her cover. Using the hilt of her sword, she tapped two times on the heavily carved door. While waiting for it to open, her eyes glanced at the inscribed words above it. "Separate not yourself from the mystery of being."
"Attention and presence," Cot murmured to herself.
"And that is the key to opening this door," Queen Ereschkigal said.
Cot blinked at the sudden change of scenery. There was no door, only the cloaked figure of the Queen.
"So, little sister, you are once more before me," Queen Ereschkigal said.
"Yes."
"What lesson is between this gate and the next?" Queen Ereschkigal asked.
"To not ignore or dismiss what I experience."
"To be present in the moment," Queen Ereschkigal agreed.
Cot found herself back in the cave with every inch of her body covered with crawling worms looking for a safe and nourishing place to begin their next cycle. It seemed a long time passed before Cot let her barriers down, feeling each tiny beings fear of the new life they were about to begin. Mentally, Cot chanted the same chant she did to the chrysalis on the Murdelie.
Cot's eyes fluttered open. She could see nothing through her faceplate, yet she knew she was on her back. "Adjust vision," she whispered. A porous ceiling was above her. She was in a tunnel on a meteorite rock. Using the wall for support she rose to her feet.
"Time in air," she whispered.
Ten minutes.
She must have been unconscious for a long time or she had a leak in her life pac. The extraction tool was lying near by. Picking it up, Cot checked the battery power. It was fully charged. She thumbed the switch and when ready, scanned the sides of the tunnel then the floor, moving slowly to find the right spot. The scan picked up a hot spot and Cot began the extraction. It took two minutes to fill two tubes. A cell was not that big, though it was a major system within the larger system.
Finished she searched for the runes on the tunnel that would show her the way out. A small view of stars in a nebula appeared before her and the scene expanded as she stumbled out of the tunnel.
"Time in air?"
Five minutes.
The shuttle had not moved. No sign of Diana. She opened the shuttle's panel and dripped a drop of the chemical she had extracted from the rock into a tube. It only needed seconds for the fumes to accelerate the other chemicals in the cell. She closed the tube and waited for the panel to light up.
An alarm light was blinking in the corner of her helmet. She was on her reserve. That was two minutes if she didn't breathe deep.
She tapped in her code when the lights to the panel came on. She moved up the ramp and the hatch slid open, allowing her into the first chamber to clean any foreign contaminates and provide fresh air. Once cleaned she swapped out her life pac and brought life support up in the shuttle.
Cot ran another type of scan over the meteor and still came up with nothing. "Diana where are you?"
Dreams.
"I dreamed worms. She dreamed corney beetles that made a racket and stink. What sound does a corney beetle make?" Her fingers tapped out the question then multiplied it by a swarm. "Neutralize the swarm sound, rerun the scan. Yes!"
Picking up an extra life pac Cot quickly left the shuttle. The reading of Diana was aft and should be within her sight. "Diana! Can you hear me?"
"Yes?" a hoarse voice answered.
Cot turned around and found Diana stumbling through some sort of doorway. Cot grabbed her arm as her legs wobbled, nearly giving out. Diana's life pac was red lining. It was empty. Diana held onto her as she swapped out her empty pac with a fresh one. They stood there as fresh air wafted into her suit, reviving her enough for her to open her eyes.
"We have what we need so we can go, unless you want to stay and sight see," Cot said.
"No," Diana whispered.
Cot supported most of her weight up the ramp and held onto her as the hatch closed and the cleaner began. At the buzz of completion of the decontamination cycle the containment hatch slid open and a medibot quickly attended to Diana. While she was being administered to, Cot began powering up the shuttle and running a check on the system. The cell juice was synthesizing and the battery pac energy began to rise. When it was at a safe level Cot lifted from the meteorite's surface. They didn't have to rise very high to be back in space. Cot sent a signal to Star Chaser once they were mobile in space.
An alarm on the console notified her that they had been picked up by something. The shuttle identified it and destroyed the satellite honing in on them. It was as good as notifying the owner where they were.
Star Chaser swiftly arrived.
"We must leave the area quickly. There are a dozen ships searching this area for anyone that has come in contact with the Glass Eye," Star reported. "The Glass Eye is being towed by another group."
"What exactly are they looking for?" Cot asked.
"They only speak of looking for whoever was in contact with the Glass Eye," Star said.
As soon as Reflected Light settled in Star Chaser's bay Cot helped Diana onto a cot the SEs provided. "You don't look well so I'm insisting you follow the medibot's instructions."
"I think I'll do just that." Diana collapsed on the cot and closed her eyes as she was transported to her quarters.
Cot ran up the corridor to her bridge. "I have the conn, Star Chaser."
"Cot has the conn," Star Chaser said.
"Set a course for the Glass Eye. Let's see who all is so interested in this ship that's ready for the shipyards."
Cot checked Star's logs. They had been on the meteorite for two days while Star dropped passive scans and zipped around space, leading their pursuers on a fast chase. By the amount of information Star Chaser gathered on the ships chasing her, she put together a profile on crew, captain and ship. They must have figured out that Star Chaser was running tests on them because they suddenly became more cagey in stalking her. They should have given up and left, instead Star had move information on how well they worked together, which they didn't, and how much force they used in trying to trap her.
"These ships aren't from any of the four sectors," Cot said, "and they're not accustomed to working together. I wonder what brought them all together, and why some followed you and some followed Glass Eye. You didn't happen to gather that information did you?"
"No. They assumed I was listening to their communications so they said little to each other."
"How long did it take them to realize you were baiting them?" Cot asked.
"One day."
"Did they gather any information on you?" Cot asked.
"They believe they are facing a seasoned captain who is leading them on and making fools of them. They have left monitors scattered about but I have disabled them." Star Chaser sounded pleased at the respect her pursuers showed her. Cot was pleased all the information Star Chaser had collected on military maneuvers paid off by Star Chaser remaining unidentified.
"Their crews are going to be in a foul mood with all the hardware they lost if they don't gain something worth selling on this mission," Cot said. "They'll be looking for a payback."
Hours later Diana entered the bridge, dropping into the seat next to Cot.
"You're looking a lot better," Cot said.
"I feel much better."
"We're going to see who all is interested in the Glass Eye. They have three days on us, but Star can cut their lead time down." Cot leaned back in her seat, the weariness of the day catching up with her.
"Hey, Gemini. I was wondering where you disappeared to," Diana said.
Cot opened her eyes, startled that she had dozed off. "Gemini?" She looked at the bot that settled near her console.
"Gemini," Star said, "is acceptable."
"Finally it has a name. I'm going to get some rest while it's quiet. Star, you have the conn."
"Star has the conn."
Chapter 23
"Greetings, Star. Anything that needs my immediate attention?"
"Diana received a message from Star Force HQ an hour ago. She's been reviewing information I've gathered since we left POATA."
"No."
"My reports must be in question."
"She is reading my reports," Star said.
"Where is she?"
"On the bridge."
Cot dressed quickly and went to the bridge. Diana was sitting in the visitor's seat reading what was scrolling across the screen rapidly; too fast for Cot to read consciously. Gemini was sitting above the console watching Diana.
"I have the conn, Star. Greetings Diana."
"Cot has the conn," Star said.
"Greetings and health to you, Cot." Diana leaned back and stretched. She didn't look like she had been awake for hours reading reports. In fact, none of her weakness from the previous day was in evidence.
"Are you searching Star Chaser's database for something specific?"
"Did you know the SE you left with Rear Admiral Zieda of the Emerald Isle had a tag on it that's traceable to a prison planet?"
"Star did you put the tag that was on my medallion on the SE?"
"It is a non functioning tag, Cot. I put it on the SE."
"Why?"
"I returned to Commander Xulu what he was responsible for," Star Chaser said.
"That was easily explained," Diana chuckled.
"What does that mean?" Cot asked Diana.
"Commander Xulu's previous assignment was Commandant of AmDeRa Prison Colony," Diana said. "The prison population works their debt off to the society and victims of their crimes in the prison shops. They produce gadgets, jewelry, household items, etc. They sell them at a reduced cost to any company that wants to buy them. To avoid any misunderstandings from the public anything AmDeRa touches, even if it's merely packaging, it has to be stamped with ADRP or PP for Prison Product."
"Why do you think he's responsible for my tag, Star?" Cot asked.
"By the ADRP, and manufacture date on the chip, which is also on the medallion, I traced it to when Xulu was managing the prison."
"The prison produces the medallions the school purchases?" Cot asked, "That's suspicious considering the tag was in the medallion."
"The arrangement for AmDeRa Prison to produce the medallions started two years ago. The arrangement was made by Vice Academic Dean Holfer. Vice Academic Dean Holfer and Xulu are from the same graduating class in business management. The school and all records had been destroyed in the Incursion Wars, so it is not possible to verify their claims of schooling. Their university was on space station Batun IV. Shall I continue?" Star Chaser never asked Cot that, so it must be because Star thought Diana was losing interest in her research.
"What about those that had earned medallions produced from the prison?" Cot asked.
"Three people have won medallions and two of them have been charged with espionage. Perhaps you should return yours, Cot," Star Chaser said.
"I worked hard for it...we worked hard for it. Send that information to HQ immediately, Star."
"Buyer beware," Diana said. "Star, why did you put the tag on the SE instead of reporting your findings to HQ?"
"Commander Xulu ordered the Quartermaster of the Emerald Isles to give us inferior and non functioning equipment in exchange for my upgraded equipment."
"Why didn't you tell me? Is any of what he gave us upgradeable?" Cot asked.
"I have been running extensive tests to validate my findings. Nothing is worth the dump fees."
"Commander Xulu dumped his waste on us?" Cot asked.
"Yes."
"He saved his ship the fee for dumping unusable material," Diana said.
"That's not going to go without a comment from me to Admiral Zieda," Cot said irritated. "And they're questioning...wait a minute. Does the admiral know that her equipment is poor quality?"
"I'm sure she'll know now if she doesn't already suspect. Xulu was assigned her ship for her to evaluate. My involvement with this situation is to look in your records about the SE. I thank you both for your explanations and information."
"Xulu is a Star Force officer?" Cot asked.
"He's under review for membership. He petitioned to join Star Force a decade ago and as you'll find, everyone is evaluated from the moment they make the request."
Cot's eyes opened wide with a sudden thought. "You mean when someone expresses a desire to join, it's taken as filling out an employment application?"
"Or as you had done, put it down on your education profile so it's recorded. Your career had been guided since then to see that you had experiences that would test you and help you develop your talents as much as possible and hopefully, into Star Force substance."
Cot's face flushed at the revelation.
"Everyone's request is taken seriously but it takes more than a desire and showing talent. At the onset you had your aunt vouching for you which meant you jumped to the front of the applicants. An agent was assigned to you and gave recommendations and assessments as you moved through your tasks."
"So my training for the SID program was part of my SF training?"
Diana smiled widely. "No. You and Star Chaser did that without SF intervention, though, you being on that base was for something else that SF had in mind. Career wise, I think you did well."
"Why do you know so much about my career?" Cot asked.
"I was one of the agents asked to verify that you were SF material. You see, your manager didn't want you in the SID program. He had other plans for you but, as QuaDom teaches, we all end up where it's best for us to learn something."
"My aunt knew?"
"I don't know what she knew about you, but I do know, she loved you as her own child and still did her best to evaluate you as Star Force material."
Cot touched her heart at the catch she heard in Diana's voice as she experienced it as well. "She was my mother in all ways but giving me physical birth."
Both were quiet as they went through their memories of Ambassador Keil.
"Is the admiral registering a formal complaint against Star?" Cot asked.
"The way she sees it, you tagged your gift to her," Diana pointed out. "I'm responding to her inquiry as to why."
"A nonfunctioning one which I'm sure she ran tests on it and knew. It also won't cost her a dumping fee," Cot said.
"What a pair you two are - Star Chaser and you. I'm not sure if you're making friends but you're sure influencing people." Diana chuckled. "The only thing you have going for you is that the equipment exchange the Admiral made was in good faith and her Exec and Quartermaster undermined it."
"Should I send her an apology?" Star asked.
"No," both women said.
"It's best to let it run itself out," Cot said. She sighed. "Admiral's have a very long memory."
Diana finished her report and sent it off.
"So what are you going to do about the Glass Eye?" Diana asked, clearing her screen of the report.
Cot gave a short laugh. "I could be sensible and point out that there are more of them than us so we're just going to see what they find so interesting about a stripped ship."
"If you were just another captain," Diana said. "However...."
"What is it about that ship that so many people are chasing it down, and some crossing the time barrier for?"
Diana looked thoughtful then shook her head. "It's been stripped down and they have it. I didn't bring anything from the ship. What I'm wearing is what you've provided."
"And across time?"
"I don't know what that would be about."
"Star, what do you have on the Glass Eye's location?" Cot asked.
"An hour away."
Information began to scroll across both of their screens and then a visual of the Glass Eye being towed, surrounded by dozens of ships spread out.
"We need to know more about the ships on this outer ring. Be vigilant Star for nets. We have some hungry hunters here."
"So, all the equipment HQ gave you is upgraded?" Diana asked.
Cot hesitated for a moment. "Yes."
"The admiral should consider herself lucky neither of you were upset with her," Diana said.
"She's still an admiral," Cot said.
"Have you done a background on her?"
"Star, have you done one on her yet?" Cot asked.
"It is not complete," Star said. "She has missing spots on her record."
"Let me know when it's finished." Cot glanced at Diana. "I've been finding a need to know about a lot of characters we've come across lately."
"It's a good idea. Let me know what you find out...about me," Diana said.
"Would you tell me what you've found on me?" Cot asked.
"We'll compare notes one day," Diana said.
"One day we will."
Chapter 24
"I recognize two of those ships," Diana said.
"Pirates?"
"Petty thieves. I've never known either of them to partner-up for anything or to be this far away from busy travel corridors in Tuead Sector. What could they want with the Glass Eye and so important that they joined a gang?"
"They've changed a lot since you've last seen them," Cot said. "This group isn't into small players."
Diana stared hard at the screen. "I've never been wrong in my assessment of people."
"Perfection?"
"If I'm not sure I don't commit to a conclusion. Can you for a fact say that Chimoc Ho and Lars Mn are in those ships?"
"I cannot get a clear biological reading," Star Chaser said. "They have sonic sensors on the outside of the hulls. I can say how many biologicals are within the ships structures but not what species they are. The ships are still registered under Chimoc Ho and Lars Mn of Tuead Sector."
"Then they may well have lost their ships to theft or a bad gamble. Whatever the case, I know those ships can't sustain 8gs for any length of time and ship maintenance wasn't done unless something broke," Diana said. "That's why they were petty thieves."
Cot called up a tactical standard plan on her screen. "You in Reflected Light will be here.... Star and I will be here. There's a dust cloud they'll have to readjust their formation to pass up here. We're just going to observe and see where they plan on taking Glass Eye. Are you sure there's nothing on board that ship?"
"If there is, I don't know about it."
"If I call for your return, return with no questions asked. Agreed?" Cot asked.
"You're the captain. Yes," Diana said. Diana studied Cot for a few minutes, and then added, "You're taking a lot for granted; like, your scans are seeing everything there is out there. I've been talking to Star Chaser and I think her attitude of believing she has everything covered, leaves vulnerabilities in your armor."
"We learn as we go, but this is a military operation and we follow protocols," Cot said.
"I'll tell you what I told Star Chaser -- prediction is a shortcut and doesn't give you the opportunity to learn about a situation in depth. The details are where failures of a magnitude happen."
"Star Chaser is very good with details. Good partnerships are developed over time where strengths and weaknesses are discovered and tested."
"Partners also learn from the other and soon, they become confident that they know what the other is going to do given any situation."
"What's your point?" Cot asked. That's not going to happen with Star Chaser, Cot thought. She may think she knows everything about me, but she's wrong, and I don't think I know how Star will react in a given situation, no matter how many times we go through it because I know, all it takes is one small detail that will change her action.
"Your warning is taken. It's time for you to go...and don't let anyone gut our shuttle!" Cot said to the departing back.
"I won't guarantee anything," Diana said.
"Send an SE with her, Star. As soon as the shuttle is out of your back draft, come about so we'll be facing the group that has Glass Eye."
"Dispatching SE," Star said.
While waiting, Cot began to run various scenarios through her mind. The waiting was the hardest, she thought. A sudden insight had her laughing.
"What's so funny?" Diana asked over the comm.
"The instructions of a master are merely words until internally experienced," Cot recited.
"And?"
"Let all resistance to external experience drop."
"Isn't that what I just said? I'm coming up to my coordinates. Shuttle coming to all stop. Thanks for the SE backup. Ready to observe."
"Acknowledged, Reflected Light. Com off."
No sooner than they were positioned than additional monitors sent out to expand their scan area began to send readings of a dozen new ships from an area Cot didn't expect visitors from.
"Looks like we're having a party and I don't recall seeing any invitations going out," Cot said.
"I am unable to get clear readings on these new ships," Star said. "The only thing they have in common is a transmission code - Der Jägers.
"Der Jägers - The Hunters. That explains the mix of species and origins of interested parties in what the Glass Eye may have. We're outsiders and won't be welcomed at all. Star, was there anything unusual on Glass Eye that you haven't mentioned?"
"Gemini found an object attached on the outer hull of Glass Eye," Star said. "It posses no danger. It's part of an art object from a planet no longer open to off-planet visitors."
Cot let out an aggravated hiss. "Get us out of here before we're spotted. Bring Reflected Light back as quick as you can."
Star moved to intercept their shuttle. Cot saw on her screen that the cargo bay doors just closed with the shuttle back in the bay. Star accelerated out of the area. Minutes later Diana could be heard running up the passageway to the bridge.
"What's going on? What happened?" Diana asked breathlessly. She dropped into her seat scanning the terminal to see what she could not see on the shuttle's monitor, the reason why they were leaving so quickly.
"Gemini found something on the Glass Eye's outer hull. Star Chaser identified it as part of an art object. Those are Der Jägers out there. That means there's going to be a situation we have no business getting involved in. We as in Star Chaser and I." Cot meant that comment for Star.
"Gemini, bring it here so we can see what this is. We need to dump it somewhere. Do you have any ideas?"
"I don't think it wise to bring an unknown object to the bridge that the Hunters are looking for. It usually is some kind of power object."
"Belay that order, Gemini." It wasn't as if Gemini had moved when she asked, Cot noted.
"If you want to dump it I have an older brother who knows people who are into artifacts. We can leave it with him and not worry about his welfare. He hangs out in Borik Sector."
"So you're not interested in keeping it?"
"There's no fun in having something I have to keep hidden in fear of it being stolen or worst yet, lug around with me. I don't like getting beat up, shot at, or chased out of space sectors for an art object... unless it was part of my assignment." Diana grinned at Cot. "Have you heard of Murphy's Dinner?"
"Why Murphy's Dinner?" Cot asked. She had heard about Murphy's Dinner. One of the student officers at POATA described it as a franchise dinner found in every out of the way corner of the galaxy whose claim for fame was its customers that dealt in everything. Another added it was where Hunters stopped to pick up messages and make deals, and where someone could go if they wanted to disappear.
"Anything you want to know someone at Murphy's Dinner will know....for a fee," Diana said. "My brother likes the eclectic atmosphere."
"How far, Star?" Cot asked.
"The nearest Murphy's Dinner in Borik Sector is a week's journey from here - taking all of our shortcuts," Star answered.
Cot frowned at her hasty decision to get rid of the artifact. "Star, you have the conn. Diana, would you care to join me in meditation and a time on the mat? Then over a meal we'll talk some more about this art object."
"Star," she thought to her ship, "send an update to the High Commander and let him know about the artifact. Send an image. If he has something to say about it, let me know immediately."
"A bit of practice with someone that bleeds and bruises like you is a good reality check, aye?" Diana said.
"There's no better satisfaction then hearing a real grunt when you get a good hit in, yes."
Cot practiced her breathing exercises with Diana following suit. When finished they began their own warm ups on the mat, preparing for a physical contest they both were anticipating with eagerness.
Two hours had passed, according to Star who reminded them that they should take a break. Nothing was happening that Star couldn't handle, so Cot ignored her suggestions. To Star, the two women were taking the sparing too seriously.
Cot was limping as she circled Diana, and Diana was favoring her right arm. If they were really injured neither admitted to it and the medibot didn't alarm the injuries.
Cot suddenly went into a spinning wheel, snapping two quick kicks at Diana, nailing her with one. However, the second kick was knocked aside, tossing her onto her sore leg. Diana was already in the air with both feet aimed at Cot's midriff, but Cot rolled out of the way.
A warning bell sounded, breaking both women's concentration. Diana landed on empty space and Cot was rolling onto her hands and knees, breathing heavily.
Cot got up and steadied herself from the sudden cramp in her leg. "Report!" Cot said as she hobbled to the bridge. It was only out of courtesy that Diana let Cot lead the way to her bridge. A medibot trailed the two women.
"A flotilla with one capital ship off the starboard. All war birds have been launched," Star reported. "Weapons are hot on all ships."
Diana looked over at Cot. "You're not upset because I was winning are you?"
"You weren't winning. You were getting tired. A few more minutes and I would have taken you down," Cot answered. Gratefully she dropped into her seat.
Diana laughed, sitting gingerly in her seat. "You were on your last leg. No way could you last that long."
Cot looked over the scans then went further back. "Star, why didn't you notify me that you had two unidentified contacts?"
"There is no danger. I am out of their scan range."
"Danger is identified on a multiple of levels, Star. You identified the art object Gemini found as not dangerous but those that are hunting it are dangerous. There are protocols that are set up to prevent oversights. These passive beacons could be more than what they seem."
"I was out of their range," Star insisted.
"How do you know?"
"The manufacture's specs do not extend beyond four hours from its position," Star said.
"How many such devices do you have that have been modified beyond the manufacture's greatest expectations, Star?"
"Not to change the subject but, what do you plan on doing about those ships heading our way with their weapons armed?" Diana asked.
"What have we out there, Star?"
"Two independent rovers. I've upgraded two Clev R4s into independent mobile tactical sniffers."
"Once they began maneuvers, will they be spotted, Star?"
"They have not been tested yet," Star said.
"Then this is RT testing," Cot said. Cot was amused by Diana's worried looks at the ships showing on their screens. "If you're interested, we can watch the results of the test on our screens."
"If I were interested, but right now I'm worried about those ships that are getting closer," Diana said. "Do you have something that makes your invisible?"
"They're eight hours away, so even if they do spot us, we'll be out of this area by the time they get here with nothing left behind to trace to us. Star, stay out of sight but keep an eye on this fleet. I want to know if they belong here or if they're from somewhere else." Cot turned to Diana, "Let's go see what that artifact is about." Cot realized she was being too smug on Star Chaser's abilities to keep everything under control.
The artifact was sitting in the middle of Cot's bed.
"That is downright ugly," Diana said.
"Gemini, what is so interesting with this artifact that you brought it aboard?" Cot asked, not expecting a response from Gemini.
"It is radiating energy that I cannot record," Star Chaser said. "It is not the entire artifact. It is the base the statue would rest on."
"How do you know it's radiating anything?" Diana asked.
"If we were in an asteroid dust cloud, the emanations would be evident. A green aura would surround it that I could measure," Star said. "I would attempt to radiate the same rays here but it would disrupt the life support."
"Star, did Gemini give you that information?" Cot asked. The pause from Star had Cot wondering just what Star was trying to figure out. For a fast thinker, this was ponderous for her. Did Gemini communicate on a level Star didn't know what to call it?
"How does Gemini communicate with you?" Diana asked, as though reading Cot's thoughts.
"On a frequency I am unfamiliar with," Star said.
"So you are...inferring this information from Gemini?" Cot asked. If Star was inferring then her argument to her that her intuition was not reliable would have to be replaced with another argument if Star Chaser still insisted Cot's response to some problems using her intuition were not valid.
"We are in communication but how I have not identified yet," Star said.
"So you're getting messages in your database and you believe them to be from Gemini," Cot said.
"They are from Guest Gemini," Star said.
"Has Gemini explained to you yet, why you can't recover a particular file?"
"No."
Diana looked at Cot and was about to say something and then just shook her head. To her way of thinking, HQ had programmed the SID ships with the most advanced and untested hardware and software and they had great expectations in results. If the SID ship couldn't decipher what Gemini was saying, then the bot wasn't from any known dimensions or galaxies and HQ was vast in its reaches to foreign and domestic resources. By Cot's expression, Diana thought Cot was leery of the bot too, but instead of treating it as a threat, Lt. Col. Cot was letting her ship handle it. Thinking of how much intelligence was programmed in the ship, she would too.
Cot thought that Diana didn't know how unconventional and unmilitary it was to work with Star Chaser.
Chapter 25
Conversations
Much to Diana's consternation, Cot chose to monitor the ships that appeared suddenly with their weapons hot, as they patrolled the area they seemed to be assigned to. In as vast as space was, she didn't believe in coincidences.
"One day to go around," Star said.
"Make it so."
Cot leaned back watching the ships disappear off her screens as Star picked up speed. No one should have known they were here since Cot hadn't updated HQ of their position. However, by the communication the CR4 picked up from the ships spread out to sweep the area, they were sent to this area expecting Star Chaser to be here. Cot didn't know if SFHQ had tipped off CFS patrols that an unregistered ship was in their patrol area or if a monitor Star Chaser failed to register had caught them. Cot wasn't completely convinced that they weren't unseen nor was she convinced that Star Chaser was able to hack into the ships communications without any of their techs noticing. She didn't want to take anything for granted because the advantage of using the SID ships was too great an advantage for only a dozen to be out in space testing their limits. What if someone wanted SF to believe the SID-ships were clever so that once SF committed to invest in more, they would easily be defeated?
"Hanging around that close was nerve racking. Do you do that often?" Diana asked.
"Everything about Star Chaser is experimental and needs testing and retesting," Cot said.
"Are you hungry? I'll prepare something special," Diana offered.
"Will my stomach be safe?"
"Your attempt at Barouche Stew put mine in jeopardy," Diana said.
"I was missing ingredients. I adapted and you did say it tasted good."
"That was until it came back to haunt me."
* * *
"How long have you been practicing QuaDom?" Diana asked. They finished their meal and were back on the bridge relaxing to soft music.
"Since I was a young girl," Cot said.
"Who was your first master?"
"My aunt. And you?" Cot said.
"I stumbled into it in my second life stage."
"Where you a mortliege then?" Cot asked.
"Yes. I noticed you have a mixture of affiliations on your altar."
"I pick up things that are meaningful to me," Cot said.
"Souvenirs."
"Artifacts, ritual objects, things that are more than what they seem, but nothing a Hunter will be interested in," Cot said.
"Collecting physical things is not practical in my life at this time," Diana said. "Right now my altar is just up here." She tapped her forehead. "I collect special objects, sometimes people, and on my altar I arrange them in their places of power. In more ways than I can count, having the altar in my mind has protected me."
"Just what is a mortliege?" Cot asked.
"What have you heard?"
"I've heard that a mortliege is an assassin," Cot said, knowing there was more to it than that from her short association with Diana.
"A mortliege is a messenger. My messages have ranged from giving life to dealing death and all sorts of things in between."
"You've killed, yet you don't have that black energy around you," Cot said.
"And for all the battles you've been in, you don't have that energy around you." Diana smiled at Cot. All Diana's previous observations of Cot had been from a distance. SF had a lot of their agents checking in on Cot to see how she was doing with the various responsibilities her COs gave her. Interacting with her and her new assignment, Star Chaser changed her perspective.
"Like you, I chose the more righteous anger to dip into. When my assignment is to deliver death, I make sure the recipient is given the opportunity to prepare both spiritually as well as physically for the physical end. It doesn't do one any good if an evil person is not given the chance to repent and ritually prepared so they don't reenter their next life angrier and more dangerous than what they had left. Do you prepare yourself before you enter into combat?" Diana asked.
"Before I became a Star Force Agent," Cot said, "I would sit before my altar and ask for guidance in my hunt that no innocent die as a result of my actions. It was naïve to think that absolved me from any kill I made during that time. Working at QuaDom hasn't completely eradicated my dreams of seeing the dead floating about in space," Cot said.
"Wars are not for the weak," Diana said softly. In Cot's eyes she saw shadows of the horrors she experienced. She was aware that Cot had been captured by the enemy and sent to a prison camp called the Cone. She had risked her capture to send out a transmission. Though it was a short imprisonment, interment for any period of time was intended to be torturous by Gepack standards.
"There are some things that are worse," Cot said. "I could have stayed on my home planet and been forced into a life I had no say in, though, I would like to think I would have run away. I was lucky though. Auntie helped me escape without too much damage to everyone." Cot looked thoughtful. "I know she helped others but she didn't talk about it. If the clan knew she would have been shunned. That wouldn't have made any difference to her so they would have killed her or forced her to leave the planet eventually. There is a saying amongst the clan that without a clan you don't exist. I believed then and now, that there are greater things outside of the clan for me. How did you get out into space?"
"I was an orphan," Diana said, "A couple that traveled across galaxies made it a practice to pick up and help abandoned children. I stayed with them for most of my youth and learned a lot from them and my adopted siblings."
"So how big is your family?"
"Vast is a good description."
"How many is vast?"
Diana looked thoughtful. "It's hard to say since my adopted parents are still moving about the galaxies, picking up abandoned or lost children, and when their adopted children have children, it adds to the family."
Gemini's movement had both looking at it.
"Where did you get Gemini?" Diana asked. "I didn't see anything in your reports describing this bot."
"You read my reports?"
"Yes."
"What reports are those?"
"The one's I have authorization to read."
"I haven't sent a detailed report about our guest to anyone. It came aboard while we were restarting the Murdelie's systems. The freighter was lying right in front of an exit corridor, all systems down. A day after we left I found we had a hitch hiker, Gemini. Star Chaser insists it's a guest not a vagabond or stowaway."
"So, you found the Murdelie."
"You know of it?"
"Every pirate and dock plebe heard about the vanishing of the Murdelie. There wasn't any broadcast along the usual channels but all the wrong people knew about it."
"When I stepped aboard it had been cleaned of all traces of previous occupation. I suspect it was because of a new bio-engineered chrysalises that was on board."
"Bio-engineered chrysalises? What happened on the Murdelie that a chrysalis would become such a strong symbol of transition for you?"
"I found a chrysalis left behind in an incubation chamber."
"A chrysalis left alone? A bodyguard must have been somewhere. Perhaps you missed..." Diana said.
"I found two adult Enas unconscious. One was dressed in a security uniform but without any physical weapons and the other..." Cot paused wondering if the young woman was part of the bodyguard services, "had been attacked by someone or something."
"The Murdelie was to carry important people with statues of ambassadors that represent peace to the Peace Garden. No one on board would be carrying weapons. The entire ship would be cleared of any negative energy to honor the Peace Representatives. What better environment to process chrysalises."
"These chrysalises are part of a new genesis...with a royal emblem on the young male's clothing. They are highly evolved. They can be persuasive if you have an opposing opinion to the point that you wouldn't know your mind was changed. With all those important people scheduled to be traveling on the Murdelie, doesn't that open it up to possible interference?" Cot pursed her lips in thought. Was there a war faction within the Enas?
"Were you influenced?" Diana asked.
"I offered my assistance should they need it in the future. I may have overstepped myself. I should have Okayed it with HQ."
Diana looked at her curiously. "Star Force members have made personal pacts in order to broker or manipulate a situation. If HQ didn't trust your judgment, you wouldn't be in Star Force piloting an experimental sentient ship. How sure are you that your offer wasn't manipulated?"
"Because I have no residue of regret. Would you consider that alarming and a show that I've been manipulated successfully?" Cot asked.
Diana shook her head. "I'm not one to judge since I wasn't there. I've liaisons that I can't explain and only hope I use them wisely. I have to admit, though, Star Chaser is the first sentient ship I've connected with."
"Star Chaser is one experiment I've never expected in my career."
"Working with sentient beings comingled into a space ship has been going on across galaxies for centuries to different degrees."
"I had heard we're not the first," Cot said.
"You're the first self-sufficient star fighter, one person crewed. A crew of a dozen was the smallest I've heard of. There's an explorer ship, Ebze that is about a century old and still going strong. Every so many years it comes back to it's home port to pick up a new crew and goes back out to parts few know about, exploring who knows what."
"I heard about the ship, the Ebze when I was in the diplomat academy. A visiting ambassador from that ship gave a lecture on a species since officially recognized as self-determining. But he never mentioned the Ebze was sentient," Cot said.
"It's not advertised, especially to the military types. They tend to see any space duty to be in their sphere of influence, even if it's escort service for diplomats. It's about control and power."
Cot thought about her aunt and wondered if she had escort service to the places she had visited. From what she learned in the diplomatic school, her aunt was considered among the most favored to emulate. She was grateful no one knew they were related. Living up to a legend would have been more difficult than learning to live with so many different species while simultaneously adapting to her own change of circumstances. She had gone from living a near solitary life in the woods with her aunt and wild animals to living in a city packed with more strange species in crowded living spaces than she had seen in books her aunt had provided her.
"Who are you thinking of?" Diana asked.
"My aunt Keli."
"You look like her." Diana's smile looked wistful.
"No, I don't." Cot felt taken back. Age was difficult to gage with some species. Diana was one of those people. Just how old was she?
"In her middle years you both could be mistaken for each other."
"How do you know her?" Cot asked.
"We've crossed paths many times."
"Where?"
"The last place was on the Finhorn."
"The Finhorn? Where all those people were killed?" Cot was stunned. "Many people came to speak to her of it, but she wouldn't. She said what is done is done. She was very firm in that. I thought that odd since..." Cot pursed her lips as if to remind herself that she had promised her aunt she would not speak of it.
"It was one of those events that required a skilled negotiator like Ambassador Keli and a powerful group like Star Force to see it was done correctly - discreetly. No lives were lost because of the power SF exerted to resolve it."
"No one died?" Cot asked. "I must have misunderstood the situation then."
"You have the clearance with Star Force to look this up, so when you have more time, you can read the details. But remember to repeat this to no one under the threat of death," she warned Cot.
Cot held up her hand, "I will tell no tales. So..." she said expectantly.
"So, a brief rendition: A group of escaped prisoners had made it to Finhorn with the purpose of having Ambassador Keli negotiate a legal release for them and others that were held as political prisoners or were kidnapped for one reason or another. Star Force had been investigating the rumors for some time so this proof was what the agents were looking for. It took swift and quiet planning to raid the prisons many were scattered in without a mass slaughter taking place."
"Then why did she leave the service if she was so good?"
"She was retiring. She felt she had something important to attend to at home while she still could."
"Why do you think we were brought together?" Cot asked.
"Why's are important to you?" Diana asked.
"Auntie would say that's not living in the present, asking why, but I like verification now and then."
"That can be addictive."
"Did you arrange for our meeting?" Cot asked.
Diana laughed. "No engineering for this meeting. I would rather a casual meet in a bar than roughed up by pirates. I think eventually we would have met since our lives were touched by Ambassador Keli. That happens, you know?"
"Predetermined?" Cot asked.
"Common interests draw a lot of strangers together," Diana said.
Chapter 26
"Greetings, Star. Anything that needs my immediate attention?"
"Star Force HQ sent a communiqué. Diana is waiting to discuss it with you."
"It's classified."
"You're amazing me, Star. That used to not stop you from knowing the contents."
"I have not been able to break the code," Star said.
Cot dressed and went to see Diana on the bridge. She was curious what had Star upset.
Diana was sitting in the visitor's seat with the hull transparent. It was like stepping out into space as she walked onto the bridge.
"I have the conn, Star. Greetings Diana."
"Greetings, Cot. I wouldn't mind traveling like this now and then. It's a magnificent sight to witness."
"That's the truth. What does HQ have to say?" Cot sat in her seat and her console began to unfurl.
"We've been assigned to work on a project together. We've an alleged traitor to look for."
Cot shifted in her chair, not liking the sound of it. Becoming part of an assassin's team wasn't something she wished to be part of. "What did this traitor allegedly do?" Cot asked.
"Allegedly he leaked Star Force business to outside parties. My assignment is to find the source of the leak, stop it, and clean up the loose ends. You and Star Chaser are to accompany me. This is the fastest ride I've ever had to an assignment, aye?"
She leaned over and tapped Cot's screen where a message from private note from High Commander Er of Star Force blinked for her attention. Star Chaser and Lt. Col Cot of Star Force were reassigned to accompany and assist a mortliege, Diana Rue, to complete an assignment from HC Er, without hesitation. There was no mention of Diana Rue as being SF.
"Star Chaser, asked for a confirmation from HC Er. FHEO."
"For his eyes only," Star Chaser
"You'll like this part of the galaxy we're headed to," Diana said. "It's where those who want to disappear go. An unmapped part of the galaxy."
"The unmapped part will intrigue Star Chaser. Who are we hunting?"
"Boyton. He's the son of Rear Admiral Boyez, commander of special operations for Star Force."
"You're going to kill him?" Cot said, not liking the sound of that.
"I'm going to neutralize a leak. That leaves it open to my discretion. In the end, he'll determine what action I'll take," she said. "What messes up this assignment is an anonymous tip that was in my mail. It said he was responsible for that mess you rescued me from. You know how annoying anonymous tips are? They rank pretty low on reliable. The fact that someone took the time to send it to me the same day I'm assigned the job of hunting him down, is messing up my sense of tidiness."
"There must be a lot of people who read our updates to HQ," Cot said. "Could it have been someone in HQ that wants to slow things down? I'm sure they know you like things orderly."
"I report to two people: the Commander in Chief of Mortliege Assignments and High Commander Er. I've been mortliege longer than I've been a Star Force Agent. When I became part of the organization it was with the agreement that my identity be kept secret. Outside of those two, a few QuaDom practioners that are more than beginners in the practice, my secret is just that." She leaned forward and nearly touched Bua. Diana's finger was close enough for the talisman to heat up, recognizing something in Diana but not danger.
"So, Star Chaser and I are among the few that doesn't lose our life because of what we know."
"You and Star Chaser are up there in a category I haven't even created yet." Diana glanced at Gemini. "And Gemini...I have a feeling it knows more about our business than we do."
Cot didn't offer anything more than a nod, thinking Gemini knew too much about her and Star Chaser's business. However, if Star could lock it in a cabinet that was saying something about one of them having some control over the guest bot.
"Cot," Star mentally signaled. "High Commander Er has replied with an added note. Diana is the lead of this assignment."
"Are you sure HC Er said that?"
"He added that Admiral Zieda would like to come visit me but would rather she not until after we have reported to General Or. Why is that?"
"She has enough authority to commandeer our services since we haven't reported for duty yet."
"Why would she do that?"
"There's always power games going on but it doesn't mean it's bad. We're a tool and you, Star Chaser, have a talent any smart CO would like to have at their beck and call. Have you been corresponding with Commander Rog?"
"He is now Captain Rog of the
"He is preoccupied with his new duties and hasn't sent a message since he took over his new assignment."
"Before we go to the border station, I want to see a person that offered testimony of Boyton's action."
"Do you have a file on Boyton?"
"Yes. Do you want to read it?" Diana asked.
"I would," Cot said.
"Have at it."
After reading the list of charges - petty is what she would call them, and not much reliable evidence to support the one charge that was serious, Cot closed the file.
"It has inconsistencies," Star Chaser said. Cot appreciated Star's restraint in not saying anything until she had finished. "There is nothing convincing to substantiate the charge."
"He'll have to hire you for his defense, Star," Diana said.
"Why did SF justice department look into it? I would think they would investigate the individual whom leveled the charges to see what the motivation is."
"The charges were leveled by a romantic interest of Boytons." Diana wasn't looking at Cot but rather staring out at space looking thoughtful. "Her accusations shouldn't have been taken to this level," she said slowly, "however," she turned to Cot, "they have been. I feel this is politically leveled at his father. Rear Admiral Boyez was on a fast track in promotions in SF and that usually creates jealousy from powerful people both within SF and without."
"Admiral Boyez. I took part in one of the dramas he had led against the Gepacks. He was Admiral of the Fourth Fleet of the United Fronts," Cot said. "He is cautious before committing the lives of people under his command."
Diana studied Cot, watching her gaze turn inward. She was sure she was remembering that hard earned lesson.
Cot was remembering such a lesson. It was about a pilot fresh out of the academy that hadn't even taken time to unpack his grip. He eagerly stepped forward to take the place of an injured squad leader. His wing commander realized his error in promoting the flyer when he didn't acknowledge his return to base command. Cot was sent to find him and his squad to bring them back. Why her CO thought she could talk the arrogant youth out of his kill wasn't her place to question. She arrived too late and found floating body parts amid the debris of ships. She also found the enemy using the escape pods for target practice. Cot had not been able to save anyone, but she did use her skill to kill the enemy before they fled back to their mother ship.
Her wing commander dishonored the squads name so it wouldn't be used again, holding it up as an example of what the consequences of disobedience in war was about. The star student once held as the most likely to succeed in his military class, failed in his first command.
"Wars aren't for the romantics but there always seems to be enough to ruin a good battle," Diana said. "Admiral Boyez had reached the top of his promotional ladder on his home planet and with the United Fronts Alliance without going directly into politics," Diana said. "It's logical that his next step up would be to transfer to Star Force."
"So what does a mortliege do about this?" Cot mocked.
Diana smiled. "Investigate. Balance things out. All sorts of organizations, besides individuals hire a mortliege to take care of loose ends. Star Force included, which is why I was approached to become a Star Force agent. Boyton's love interest is the daughter of an agent of the SF's Internal Investigative Committee."
"Then wouldn't that alone set off another investigation to see if all this is out of line?"
"Exactly. Because of the conflict of interest the SF Secret Service has been called in to investigate everyone involved."
"What happens if the investigation shows that there are members that are less than stellar and more morally challenged than a common military hack?"
"Looking for justice, aye? Would you like to see them made examples of SF justice?"
"You're playing with me," Cot said.
Diana looked out at the passing nebulas and planets. "Not necessarily. It's not a good sign that one of the executive members didn't bow out due to personal involvement with the accused. There are a lot of SF agents that resent someone so highly placed giving in to self-indulgent interests. "
"I hope whatever the punishment is, doesn't degrade the organization," Cot said.
"Would you lose confidence so quickly in Star Force if in less than a year you see something about it that disappoints you?"
"Are they asking for the Admiral to step down while the investigation takes place?" Cot asked, ignoring her jibe.
"Yes. And there's the rub. There's an important conference that will be taking place in a month and the Admiral is one of the key members on the committee as well as many of the people that are being transported by the Murdelie to the dedication of the Peace Garden."
"What would happen if he's not there?" Cot asked.
"He was specifically requested."
"Is that a fact?" Cot said thoughtfully.
"Yes," Diana said.
"You said our destination is in unexplored territory. C48MC22. It's about a year from here."
"HQ has some gates we can use. Chances are the pass codes will be changed once we pass through."
"With all that's at stake, how trustful are you of using them?" Cot said. "Find alternate travel gates for us," she thought to Star.
"They expect us to,"
"I know. Let's go about life as though we are naïve but keep a few hidden moves. Too many coincidences. Be more careful than normal about anyone accessing your system or coming on board. We have fail safes in place. Use them."
"How do you know he'll be there?"
"I don't. I wish to speak to a person who gave HQ his location. We should be there in a few minutes."
"We are 1 clip out of range of Space Station H's buoys," Star Chaser announced.
"Dress in your Star Force uniform," Diana said. "We're going to visit the Commander of this station. It's important we make a good first impression. Asking about residents is a breach of etiquette and we need to be very proper in our asking."
"Come to a stop, Star. Stay out of sight while we're gone. No one is to board you without my authorization. Prepare the shuttle. What are you intending on wearing?" Cot asked Diana, not believing she would disembark wearing spacer overalls.
"I'll meet you at the shuttle dressed for duty," Diana said
Cot dressed in the dark SF uniform. Wasn't an SF agent supposed to be unseen in business? It was annoying that she was just a passenger on this assignment. Cot set her cover at the proper angle and went to join Diana in Reflected Light.
"A uniform?" Cot asked surprised.
"You don't think I look acceptable?" Diana asked. "Is something askew?" She moved her cover to another angle.
"I don't think a uniform or rank is what you're about in Star Force," Cot said.
"You're right. Not all of us wear uniforms. But a civilian around a SF officer attracts more attention. The Commander is very observant. I don't want her to focus her attention on a mystery or something that is out of place. I want her focus to be on locating a person for us."
The docking bay they were assigned was in a sheltered bay. It was not a place Cot felt comfortable with. This was an unfamiliar station and what the politics were she didn't know. The moment the shuttle settled, all power was cut and her connection with Star Chaser ceased.
"Someone initiated a kill switch. I hope we're not walking into a trap we can't handle," Cot said. "I'm not familiar with this side of the galaxy and its protocols."
"This is unusual for this station. But we're here so we might as well see what it's about," Diana said. She was calm, as if this was a normal occurrence in her life.
"This is an act of aggression so I would say the commander has some serious problems that she's making sure she's got the upper hand," Cot said.
"Captain of the shuttle Elusive Shadow, open your doors for boarding," a gruff voice demanded over the com channel.
Diana looked over at Cot surprised. "Elusive Shadow?"
"We're undercover," Cot said. She chuckled at Star Chaser's disguising the shuttle's origins. Cot glanced at the SEs that were accompanying them. "If this is a station take over, it makes sense for them to cut the shuttle's power. It's interesting that they didn't neutralize the SEs."
"That tells us something about them," Diana said. "They can't penetrate the hull."
"Pirates or a military takeover?"
"It does sound like a band of common brigands," Diana said. "Let's exit out the emergency hatch and see what's going on."
"SE 1, 2 and 3, guard us," Cot directed softly. "SE 5 and 6 plan RB."
Diana opened an escape hatch and dropped to the deck. She peered between the shuttle's struts. She signed to Cot there were two and two. Cot nodded and gestured to Diana to creep toward the other end of their shuttle. It was odd if this was a space station invasion that the shuttle wasn't surrounded with invaders.
The deck looked as if a windstorm had blown through the bay, leaving the contents of the cargo bay tossed about. There was no telling what may be hiding in the debris, including citizens of the station taking refuge or dead.
One of the creatures placed something against it's body and the message was repeated. "Captain of the shuttle Elusive Shadow, open your doors for boarding immediately or we will destroy you."
Sticks were pointed at the shuttle as if they were weapons. They were smooth with no handle or marking on them from what Cot could see. Thoughtfully she mapped out her next move and was about to run to the scattered debris when liquid from the sticks shot out over the shuttle's exterior. Cot leaned into the shuttle's protection field as the self defense system of the shuttle repelled the liquid, sending it back to the attackers along the same trajectory as it was shot out; however, the structure of the liquid changed, turning it into something that looked like a black wave, rolling in slow motion toward the four figures. The four men stood facing the wave of energy while some invisible force moved them rapidly away from the wave. The black wave changed into a large mouth, yawning wide to swallow up whatever it moved over. If Star Chaser was manipulating the energy wave via the shuttle, it was a good method to disguise from where the defense was coming from, making the shuttle appear to be more than what it was. The four invaders turned suddenly and ran up the stairs to a control tower.
Cot turned slightly to see what was moving behind her. Diana knelt next to her. "I've heard about the nightmare sticks but I've never seen one used," Diana whispered. "Do you recognize this species?"
"No. You?"
"No. Do you have a plan?" Diana asked.
"I want to get to the control center to see what's going on. Can you create a diversion?"
"There are alarms on all decks. I'll start there. And while I'm at it, I'll see if they have any hostages in lockup and try not to release the dangerous ones...or maybe I will," she said amused.
"I don't want to panic the legal residents just the pirates. Shall we meet back here in an hour?"
"That's making it a short excursion. I'll let you know if I need...."
"SE1 protect and assist Diana."
"With all this excitement, maybe next trip Gemini will come along." Diana and her bodyguard disappeared around the other side of the shuttle.
Cot watched the stairs for a few moments to see if the pirates were going to return. "Set up an image distortion for me, SE2," she directed. When she felt a change in the vibration around her she broke her cover and headed straight for the stairs up to the control tower. Normally, the control tower in each docking bay didn't have elaborate security because it was believed once the illegal entry was made in the docking bay then it was better to lock the whole bay down and isolate that section from the rest of the ship or space station. Space stations were set up so that each docking bay was a separate structure that could absorb most catastrophes and be released into space from the main structure. So why was the space station intact after this take over? It had to have been an inside job.
Hiding behind a post, Cot peered into the room. The four characters from the docking bay were hanging over a terminal that had another one of their kind making sounds she couldn't understand. It wasn't possible to determine if the communication was upsetting or if it was just an order being delivered.
The four made a noise and the screen went back to the logo of the station.
"SE2, neutralize the five," she whispered.
SE2 buzzed then trilled and the five fell to the ground unmoving. Quickly, Cot entered the room. A dozen people were lined up against a wall. They looked frightened but very still, as if frozen in place.
SE3 darted forward and emitted another tone. All the people collapsed to the ground. While most of them remained on the deck, two rolled to their feet and staggered toward Cot. One of them grabbed her elbow for support while the other disappeared out the door.
"I'm Lieutenant Cosmo of Security. We've been attacked," he croaked. It looked painful for him to move. He lurched to the communication terminal.
"I need to send out a broadcast. One of their ships is heading to the space port Lankersham."
"Why?"
"They're bounty hunters."
"What if they're already there?"
"Then when I open up a communication, you can do whatever you did here to give our comrades a chance to turn the situation to our...advantage."
The translator hesitated an unusual amount of time before coming out with the word 'advantage' which could have been understandable if a new slang word was used or it could be that Lt. Cosmo was hesitant about telling her more of the story, which in itself wasn't unusual.
"Who are they looking for?" Cot asked.
"Someone by the name of (unintelligible). He's a lawbreaker." His slurring of the name and adding in a louder voice "lawbreaker" was setting off mental alarms in her head. Was he trying to set off an audio security alarm?
"What's the reward?" On some stations all that was needed to get security back up was to say the name of a wanted person and a code word in the same sentence and an alarm would go off in the Security Office. Since they were in the office already Cot wondered what the security defense would be.
The lieutenant looked at her suspiciously.
"You think I'm going to be competition," Cot laughed mockingly. "Maybe I'll tell you that the reward sounds too good to be true."
"It's a worthy enough reward," Lt. Cosmo said defensively.
It had to be big for him to be this evasive. Was it just a coincidence that bounty hunters were on the same space station as the person who Diana was looking to question?
"How did the bounty hunters take over your station?" Cot asked.
"Our mayor thought he could delay them while he looked into their claim that such a large reward is for such a worthless person." Lt. Cosmo made a contemptuous noise.
"So you've seen this person they're looking for?"
"He passed through." His lips tightened. "You are not going to help us," he commented.
The lieutenant suddenly fell to the ground unconscious. Startled Cot looked around her then back at the unconscious lieutenant. Everyone lying on the floor looked like they had fallen asleep.
She looked around for the other person that had staggered to his feet. "Where did the other guy go?" Before Cosmos had fallen unconscious he had activated the console. Taping through the menu she found the security cameras.
"Diana," she called over her com link.
"I'm here. Go ahead," she replied.
"There's a reward out for Boyton. Did you know about it?"
"The reward is collectable with proof of his death. That's another reason why I'm suspicious about this incident that concerns him. What else did you find?"
"These people are bounty hunters, not pirates. Another interested party is heading your way. You might want to question him. Did you find any more people?"
"Yes. They're all unconscious. I can't wake them."
"Would it be worth our while to wake them to question?"
"No. It's easier to suspect whoever is unaffected as a person of interest."
"I'll keep an eye on things from here since I have the security cameras of the entire station. How long are you going to be looking around for your person?"
"You said an hour...that gives me thirty more minutes. Can you see anyone beside the person heading my way that's awake?"
The screen flickered quickly through images of the space station, pausing when a person was found then moving on. Cot suspected Star Chaser was manipulating the space stations security via a SE.
"Deck 3, 6 and 9 have what appears to be 2 or 3 unconscious people in the public corridors. They aren't dressed as security."
"Space stations are always busy. There should be more people caught in the corridors if it was a surprise invasion," Diana said.
The next set of images were the inside of rooms and personal quarters. "The scan is now going through public and private quarters. I have a live one. D2 L3 S9. The guy that was up here is dragging an unconscious person in the corridor. SE1, neutralize the person on D2L3S9 until Diana gets there."
The SE that accompanied Diana moved quickly to its new assignment. At that moment SE3 buzzed and moved to another place on the ceiling as an energy beam of gray shot to where it had been. Movement from behind Cot had her moving to the side and turning to defend herself. She was knocked off balance by something she couldn't see. A blow sent her in the other direction and over the center console. SE2 and SE3 appeared active but both remained still as if they didn't register any danger to her.
Not knowing what was knocking her around Cot rolled and jumped as well as zig-zagged in the small area, avoiding whatever was in the control tower with her. Cot thought she saw a dim outline of something larger than the doorway move toward her, cutting off her escape to the docking bay. She moved again, feeling a flow of energy pass her. The exit was opened to her, if she wanted to take it. Moving one way and then toward the exit she felt her heel caught up in the energy, knocking her legs hard into the door frame. Pain laced through her legs as she fell onto the stair landing. Cot dragged herself through the stair railing, dropping to the deck below. As soon as her feet touched the deck she was flinging herself sideways. The SEs didn't follow her.
Another energy blow hit her as she struggled to move. It took her breath away. For what seemed a long time her vision cleared and she felt strong enough to test her limbs. Everything moved. Looking above her SE3 was hovering near her.
"Cot, they have left the area," Star Chaser's voice sounded in her head. "I have dispatched a recon bot to follow."
"Good. What's the damage they left behind?"
"Diana was following the employee you warned her about but she too was disabled. He escaped in a private escape pod with the unconscious person he was removing."
"I'm behind you. What happened to you?"
Cot was sitting against one of the crates while the SE repaired the bruises she sustained.
"We met something we weren't able to handle. I'm sure Star Chaser will be ready next time."
"They adapted to my devices. I have gathered information on this species and will have protection from them on our next encounter," Star said.
"They aren't from any species that I've met," Diana said.
"Let's see what's happening upstairs," Cot said to Diana.
"I would like to know where they're going and if they have the person I wanted to question," Diana said.
"Star has a bot following them. HQ will either have a new species added to their list or they have this species already listed," Cot said.
As they climbed the stairs people started to crowd the platform, looking anxiously down at them.
"Halt!" Lt. Cosmo pushed aside those in front of him. He held a nerve destabilizer pointed at them.
"Lt. Cosmo," Cot quickly spoke, hoping to prevent an unpleasant situation from developing. Cot used as calm a voice as she could without knowing what would be considered calming to his species. "I have questions for all of you, if you don't mind. Shall we move back in the office where there's more room?"
"Who are you to..." Lt. Cosmo bristled.
"Lt. Cosmo, I'll handle this," a quiet voice from behind him said. "Everyone, return to your duty stations. We need to assess the condition of the space station and its residents."
"Princess Era," the lieutenant turned quickly, and bowed respectfully to a child. As the others went back into the control room the princess waited for Cot and Diana to reach the platform.
"Thank you," Cot said to her and bowed. Cot couldn't remember her being among those in the control room. She would have remembered her.
"I didn't see you earlier," Cot said.
"I will say I was doing as a child would, hiding until adults made it safe again."
"My name is Cot. I am a representative from Star Force Command. This is my assistant, Diana. She is seeking someone."
"Greetings, Princess. I came here to speak with Logomedesomolmon," Diana gave a respectful wave of her hand from forehead to heart.
"Due to the attack on us, I would like to speak with the head of this space station," Cot said.
"Greetings, visitors. I will say, my name is Princess Era, 5th daughter to the Queen of Montagu and King of Standingfield. I will stand as spokes person for Space Station H. I will say, Logomedesomolmon who is a favored traveler of our planet and but a passing mark in our long memories, left while we all were occupied with the Modas."
"Who are the Modas?" Cot asked.
"I will say that requires a long story that will take more time than you have. I will say, in short, the Modas missed their point of arrival by 100 eras. It is a miscalculation that brought them into this part of space for which they will be regretful for many life times," Princess Era said.
"They were your guests?" Cot said.
"I will say, all are welcomed who respectfully request a visitor's pass to either the space station or our planet. The Modas chose to not be in that state of grace," the princess said.
"What were they looking for?" Cot asked.
"I will say, a name, a person, a time that is 100 eras ago. I will say again, they miscalculated."
"Longomedesomolmon left with them?" Diana asked.
"I will say, he chose to leave with another. I will speculate, his adventurous self will have many stories to recount though not within your life time. I will say, he is beyond your reach. I will ask, what is your business with him?"
"We would like to question him about a sworn statement he made about another," Diana said.
The child's face broke out into a wide smile, showing blunted teeth that were made for mashing rather than tearing and rending. "I will say, Longomedesomolmon doesn't comprehend what a sworn statement is. I will say, it has no value in his world."
"My observation of those on Space Station H is that your guests are discreet and respectful of other guests and do not bear witness for or against another," Diana said.
"I will say you have correctly observed," the princess said. The princess stood in silence as if listening to someone speaking out of their hearing range.
"You have one more question to ask and I will confirm or deny," she said.
"Is Boyton a traitor to Star Force?" Diana asked.
"No."
She then turned to her lieutenant. "Their visitor's pass has expired. They will be leaving."
"Thank you, Princess. May your long life be filled with adventures and quiet time of equal interest," Cot said.
"May I say Lieutenant Colonel Cot, that your life is filled with adventures that move in strange and unusual places. I will say, the Unden will protect you." She looked intently at Cot as if trying to impress something on her. "Follow your original destination and you will find the one you're looking for." She then turned and walked a few feet before disappearing, as if she walked through an invisible door.
Cot and Diana exchanged looks and turned to leave.
"Where to now?" Cot asked Diana.
"C48MC22 and into a probable trap. So, tell me about your connection with the Unden," Diana said.
"I'll ask Star Chaser to search for information on Unden. That's the first I've heard of it. What do you know of them?"
"Nothing."
"And the princess?" Cot asked.
"The princess is 50 of your ers. The royal family lives a long time and has a biological memory, making them more knowledgeable at birth then you and I in our adulthood. Usually her older sister oversees the station. She's less informative so we got lucky."
"The lieutenant didn't look quite like her. Is he a mixed species?"
"I don't know. What I do know is that while the royal household tends toward longevity the rest of their planet's inhabitants don't live as long. Though they don't look that different, I think that has to do with their manipulation of appearance. Not even their servants that reside in their household live longer than the rest of the population. That's where belief in the "other" comes from. Unlike most species that face the prospect of falling from godhood amongst those they oversee should other species appear with greater if not equal power, they didn't hide the coming of other species. The planets inhabitants' loyalty to them as their gods has been unwavering."
"So what we saw of the princess doesn't necessarily mean that's what she looks like," Cot said.
"That's exactly right, but then, there's a lot of species whose appearance is determined by how our senses interpret what is before us. I may see her with a horn and you may not."
Cot understood that from her own experiences. Her first off-planet trip to a space academy for diplomatic training was horrific. It was the first time she was confronted with the reality of sights and sounds from unspeakable shapes and figures to odors that had her gagging. In the end she had to rely on what her senses presented and respond with common sense. As for seeing what others didn't see, it was that way on her planet so she had learned early not to point out such discrepancies.
"Welcome aboard, Cot and Diana. Shuttle diagnostic will began when you disembark from the shuttle," Star Chaser said.
"Greetings, Star. Find the fastest route to C48MC22," Cot said.
"Using our gates?" Star mentally asked.
"We'll enter HQ's portal then where it's convenient, leave and find our own way."
"Noted."
Diana rose from her seat, "Would you mind if I used your exercise program?"
"Help yourself. If you would like, Star can create a program just for you," Cot said, following Diana down the shuttle's ramp.
"Would you mind if I use yours?"
Cot laughed and Diana grinned broadly. "Try your best, but Star Chaser adjusts the program for the individual with surprises."
"Nothing a modern day trainer wouldn't do," Diana said.
Gemini hesitated as if in quandary as who to stay with. It ended up staying with Diana while Cot made her way back to the bridge. She had reports to attend to.
"I have the conn, Star Chaser."
"You have the conn, Cot."
"Approaching first portal," Star said later.
"Acknowledged. SOP."
"Standard Operating Procedures, sending out forward monitors."
"Have you received anything from the monitor you sent after the space ship with the two people Diana was interested in?"
"It is returning home. It lost the ship at the second jump gate."
"How long will it take to reach us if we wait here?"
"One hour."
"We'll wait."
An hour later Cot's screen blinked that the monitor was approaching them.
"Verify that it's not carrying anything it didn't leave with. Download it's information to my screen."
They moved into the travel corridor smoothly as Cot's screen filled with information she didn't find enlightening about who was flying the ship and where it was going.
"Star, you have the conn," Cot said.
"Star Chaser has the conn," Star said.
It was an hour later that the ship's alarm awakened her. Automatically, Cot dropped to the deck and dressed quickly in her AVEG suit.
"Report, Star," but she didn't expect an answer since the familiar presence she felt from Star's connection was gone. When did she stop feeling her presence? She didn't even remember if she was dreaming. She always dreamed when she napped.
Diana joined her in the corridor dressed in her AVEG suit. No Gemini.
"What's going on?" Diana asked as they thumped to the bridge.
"I don't know. I lost contact with Star."
"Does that happen often?" Diana asked.
Before them was a closed hatch cover to the bridge. It only closed during emergencies.
"What is often?" Cot asked. She pushed the emergency release and was surprised when the hatch cover opened easily and even more surprised when four figures were on her bridge.
"Identify yourselves," Cot demanded.
The four disappeared.
"Star Chaser, identify intruders."
"I have been breeched," was Star Chaser's dispassionate report.
It took a moment for Cot to register that this was not the voice she was used to.
"Star Chaser, did they download anything into your systems?" Cot asked.
"I have been violated. I have become non compliant with security regulations for a Star Force ship. I will begin to erase all..."
"Stop. On my authorization, you are to erase nothing until I authorize it. Do recognize my command as Captain of Star Chaser?"
All systems shut down with their faceplates activating simultaneously. Their suit comms came on and the scans on their face plates began filling with information.
Both women looked at each other.
Cot headed to the storage bay. This was where the CBIS would prove it's credits.
"What is that?" Diana asked as Cot signed on the CBIS.
"This is Star Chaser's backup, and security monitor. She was upset it was going into places she felt were her private spaces but she finally let it complete it's backup. Now is test time. It doesn't store her personality only files on the operation of the ship."
"I've never heard of the company."
"They were a small company that merged with a larger one to continue with their work on the CBIS. I was able to buy it from them when they were selling their test models for liquid credits. Since I knew one of the owners, he gave me a model he felt was ready for marketing. I understand the company that bought them out changed the name and other things so what is being sold now isn't the same."
"A test model, aye? Has Star upgraded it like she does everything else?"
"As far as I know, she wasn't able to access it." Cot was hoping with her warning to Star earlier that Star would be sure her important data was stored in the CBIS.
Cot activated the security mode and watched the alarms began to appear across the lines of code. She hit repair all and could see it move faster down the list of warnings.
The lights in the ship came on. Gemini appeared.
"Gemini, where have you been?" Diana asked.
"Star, can you hear me?" Cot mentally called.
"I am here. I have never left."
"I'm recovering," Star said.
"Were we in the corridor HQ gave us?"
"Yes."
"I will have to exit the travel corridor to get a galaxy fix," Star said.
"How far are we from our exit point?" Cot asked.
"I have no information on that point," Star answered.
"Review your journal logs," Cot said.
"My journal logs have not been restarted," Star replied.
"Start your journal logs," Cot said.
"Sounds like a system wipe," Diana said.
"I hope CBIS can help with that," Cot said. She looked at the submenus for Star Chaser's private files then selected restore.
"I have an unauthorized attempt to access my system," Star Chaser warned.
Cot accessed a console in the loading bay and signed on. The captain's console appeared with the request from CBIS to logon to Star Chaser. Cot allowed the access.
"I have an unauthorized user in my system," Star Chaser said.
Cot continued to allow CBIS into various levels of Star Chaser. She turned back to CBIS and watched the progress, keeping an eye on both screens.
"All systems need to stop for new user's control," Star announced.
Cot tapped another menu on CBIS and selected copy files to system instead of allowing CBIS to take control. Lights in the bay dimmed.
"Now we wait," Cot said.
"Looks like you've been through this before," Diana said.
"We're not done yet."
"So you have done something like this before?" Diana said.
"The other time was a lot more complicated."
"Do tell," Diana said and waited, expecting for Cot to continue. "Wouldn't it be better if you told me than Star?"
"Star wouldn't tell stories about me," Cot said automatically, then wondered. If Star thought it was a harmless trade for information she wanted, maybe she would. That was something she would speak to Star Chaser about later.
Diana smiled.
"On a patrol during the Incursion Wars I was shot down and landed on a planet with a burn out. My ship wasn't the only one that crash landed on that planet's surface and in that same area. Old and recent models of ships were scattered about so I pirated parts from the wrecks to get my ship back into space."
"You mean it was like a ship dump?"
Cot laughed. "It was like one, come to think of it. Instead of a dump in space this was on land. I wonder how they did that?"
"So, you make it sound easy," Diana said, "but I bet it wasn't."
For a moment Cot wondered just how much Diana already knew and then decided to tell her just what she was willing to discuss. "It wasn't. The parts I used were not recognized by my fighter so I had to get the system to register the parts as new and assign all the attributes I needed the part to do. When a new part is installed the ship's computer will test the manufacturer's specs. I had to turn off a lot of security checks to get that fighter back in space and hope I didn't burn up in the process. It was a learning experience I hope to not have to go through again."
"An engineer would have loved to have been in that situation. Do all pilots have to know how to work on their ships?"
"I spent a lot of time with the mechanics at the diplomatic school. They needed someone to test the ships they repaired and I was thrilled. First I was just a passenger and took notes from the test pilot. She taught me to fly too. Then she was shipped out and by then I was hooked on fighter piloting."
Diana smiled. "That's how you got into the space academy."
"Yes."
"So, you got your ship off the planet and into space. Good thing you were rescued."
"Yes." After a fashion, Cot thought. It was what happened after she got into space she didn't want to recount.
Her fighter shorted out the batteries and all she had was life support. She was unseen unless someone passed by and happened to be looking out their proverbial window. Due to her situation she witnessed a meeting that would blow the spy-intel organization into a frantic frenzy. Who would have guessed the spy they were all looking for within the fleet was the very person that was the head of intelligence?
Her last life beacon was fed the information with her location and dispatched. It was the energy required to send the beacon off that registered a blip on someone's monitor and she was captured by the enemy and sent to a death camp. She was lucky it only took a day to find her or she would have been executed with a dozen others.
Diana watched Cot's gaze become unfixed. There were a lot of stories not included in her file that Diana was curious about. She wondered if Star Chaser would fill her in.
"Shall I begin recording?" Star Chaser asked.
"You should always be recording," Cot said. Star was not up to her old self. "Star Chaser, all stop."
Both women held on as the ship came to an abrupt stop.
"All stopped," Star Chaser reported.
"Star, this abrupt stop would be an emergency all stop," Cot said. "Normally, all stop unless I say it's an emergency all stop, you can stop with less of a shock to the biologicals on board."
"Star Chaser is not performing to her specs?" Diana asked, unsure if she should be amused or worried.
"CBIS hasn't finished updating all her systems so I'll wait before I make any adjustments."
"So, we've come to an all stop in a travel corridor and we don't know where we are or if we get out of it, how to get back in," Diana said.
"Not a problem yet," Cot reassured her. Cot logged into her personal logs and quickly moved through stories she collected. After an hour she found the Tale of Two Hags and the Tea Kettle. The information was in the second line. She typed in the code.
Space before them changed.
"That's an exit?" Diana asked as she leaned forward to stare at a portal into another galaxy of stars. It shimmered and undulated. Diana closed her eyes as her equilibrium became unsettled, waiting for them to exit.
Cot could feel a change in energy as they moved out of the corridor into another part of space. The results of the scans from all around them filled her monitor. She picked her way through them, looking for something that she could make sense of.
"Star, can you locate where we are and C48MC22?"
"Ten hours from our present position," Star Chaser answered. "Would you like a more precise measurement?"
"Ten hours is sufficient, Star," Cot said. "Increase speed to as fast as possible without injuring us," Cot said.
"Speed has been increased," Star said.
"How long?" Diana asked.
"My fastest speed possible without injuring my passengers is an unknown," Star Chaser said.
Cot suddenly gulped as her equilibrium and stomach lurched. Diana grabbed the arms of her seat.
A medibot was activated and administered something to each. Whatever it was left Cot's limbs so loose she would have slid out of her seat if the harness to her seat wasn't activated.
Mentally, Cot couldn't form a complete sentence or even remember who she was. How long the feeling lasted she couldn't tell but suddenly she snapped out of it. Cot looked at the medibot that moved from her to Diana. Diana's eyes opened instantly without assistance from the medibot.
Cot looked at her screen and could see they had come to a stop. "Where are we, Star Chaser?"
"We are at the border of C48MC22. The warning buoys warn all ships crossing that there are no treaties or agreements between those that live in this space sector and the sector we are leaving," Star said. "Shall I resume course, Cot?"
"Is there any unusual danger we should be looking for?" Cot said to Diana.
"Be alert for anything," Diana said. "For a one year journey we made good time."
"Star, continue course and send out scouts."
Star was silent for longer than Cot was used to. "Star, acknowledge my last two commands."
"Acknowledged," Star answered.
"Did you send out scouts and what is the course and are we on our way?" Cot asked impatiently.
"Scouts have been deployed. I have plotted the course. We are underway."
"All stop and shut down all but life support," Cot said quickly.
The bridge went black.
"I have come to all stop with only life support active," Star Chaser said.
"Why does she acknowledge some of your commands and not all?" Diana wondered aloud.
"Exactly. Something is interfering with our communication."
Cot got up and went into the bay to check on CBIS. Parts of the device were scattered about the deck.
"This is getting more serious," Diana said. She looked around for any evidence of what destroyed CBIS.
Cot studied the parts lying about the deck. It was dismantled without damage to the parts. "Computer, emergency down." Cot then gave a code in a dialect no longer used on any planet - handy to know if you wanted to set a code in case of a ship take over.
"What are you doing?" Diana asked.
"I'm putting the ship into manual over-ride. It will come back up without external over ride capability. I will be the lone captain of this ship."
"You think someone has been controlling it from...where?"
"I don't know. That's why I'm going to take over. Let's get your job done so I can get to my ship's issues."
Cot headed back to the bridge.
Cot selected coordinates and began testing what weapons she had and querying the equipment Star Chaser had upgraded. So far they were all responding. That was hearting.
As they arrived at their destination, the scouts sent back data from their positions then spread out to supply protection while Cot and Diana went about their business. The planet that Diana gave the coordinates to was small and had a disinterested populace in star travel.
Cot located a small space station that orbited the planet. It an automated monitor. Though the planet's inhabitants weren't interested in investing in space travel, they didn't forbid visitors from space. No special accommodations were provided nor places for off-word visitors to go to should they run into problems on the planet. The message the station gave to all that arrived was that visitors were on their own. Visitors registered with the automated monitor of who to get in touch with if they didn't return at the time they expected to.
"We're going to board the space station," Cot explained. "Chances are the person you're looking for would be hiding there."
Diana smiled at her. "You're pretty good at looking for fugitives."
"Actually, it's from Star Chaser's files."
Both dressed in AVEC suits, leaving Star Chaser protected with the usual security a ship had for protection. Cot pushed out thoughts of worry about Star Chaser. Her orders were to assist Diana. The sooner she could take care of Diana the sooner she could get back to fixing her ship.
Chapter 27
"The hatch cover we can access is over this way," Diana said. They fired their jets and expertly maneuvered around the station. They passed hatch covers sealed against opening. The station didn't have any place to dock a ship either. The space station, like all the automated stations that were for monitoring, was locked up to prevent takeovers by vagabonds or homeless spacers. Some people had pass codes to a least one hatch, Diana had explained to Cot. Cot was thinking she was going to see if being Star Force meant she had a code somewhere in her instructions. She had relied on Star Chaser to look up such important details.
One SE that was latched onto Cot's shoulder detached and opened the hatch cover Diana tapped in a code to. Cot could image an alarm light going off somewhere in the station. The SE went in first, then Diana. Cot looked around for anything in space that was not Star Chaser before floating in.
The station was larger than Star Chaser, but not by much. Cot wondered why it was necessary for the station to be so large if it was only a beacon to anyone entering the area. Maybe because of some people having the code meant this was supposed to be an emergency hide away too. Boyton would know that, considering who his father is, Cot thought.
"This station was a space ship at one time," Diana said.
"Not one I would be travel in."
Diana looked over her shoulder at Cot. "Don't be making challenges out loud when you don't know what you're dealing with."
"This must have been a civilian ship owned by nomads," Cot said. "Too many places to hide a stowaway," she added. "Some of these nooks look like they were added as needed."
Cot was accustomed to the military designed ships that, until Star Chaser, were limited in personal space and were designed for optimum military use, meaning places for military hardware rather than pilot comfort.
"They probably were. As the crew expands private space is where you find it."
"Until Star Chaser, I shared physical space and when I had my own seat, the space around me was maybe a fingers width from equipment or bulkhead," Cot said.
Diana grinned. "You certainly lucked out with that star fighter then. You can take the left, I'll take the right," Diana said. She looked at the SE that was still attached to her shoulder. "How do I activate this?"
"Tell it what you want it to do. Yours is SE2. Just what did you want me to do with what I find, if I should find someone?"
"Hold him, her or it until I get there," Diana said. "SE2, lead on to the right."
"Keep in touch," Cot told her. "SE1, lead to left corridor," Cot said.
Cot moved slowly through the station, studying every shadow and nook. There were a lot of both. Her visor was showing that someone had passed and not wearing a space suit. The readings were fresh. How long could Boyton have been here if this was where he fled? A week at the most she calculated. Since there was no breathable air in the structure, he must have been here a short time.
"Cot, how are you doing," Diana asked.
"I haven't found anything that someone would use to stay alive. No food dispensers, life pods or quarters. Just nooks for tiny people to hide," Cot said.
"Don't forget the overhead. Anything can be hiding up there," Diana said.
Everything she passed showed part of a power plant. What was it powering? There wasn't any vibration from anything running and life support, from what her visor was showing, wasn't on.
Cot paused when a vibration registered on her visor but it wasn't a sound she could hear. Slowly she turned around watching her visor's readings and taking in what she could see. Nothing but bulkhead, more cabling, nooks and shadows.
"Diana, did you get a reading of that vibration?" Cot asked.
"Didn't feel a thing. I'm heading back to the hatch," Diana said.
It occurred to Cot that somebody in Star Force may have sent them on a false trail. Why her and Star Chaser may have been because they happened upon Diana, who was a tracker that Star Force asked to find someone. So was Diana meant to be side-tracked? The coincidence that the admiral, the Merdelie, her and Star Chaser all had something in common wasn't forgotten, she just didn't have a place to put those facts.
Cot reached the end then began her walk back. She met Diana just about where they came in.
"Found traces of someone but unless they're hanging outside until we leave, this place is deserted now," Diana said.
"Let's go. I'd like to see what's going on with Star Chaser."
The ship continued to move away from their position. The ship was powering up to leave.
"Reflected Light, identify me." She spoke a foreign language. "Dispatch to my coordinates immediately," Cot ordered.
"Blasters!" Diana said.
Star Chaser disappeared but not before the shuttle darted out her bay.
The two jetted to the shuttle. Cot dropped into the pilot's seat and immediately began to start the process of recovering her ship.
"Are you following Star Chaser?" Diana asked.
"Right now she's more important than your assignment. Do you plan on overriding my decision?"
"Count this as mixed luck. I think my assignment is in your ship. Do, carry on."
"My consolation is, the SEs on board and the medibot are programmed to disable the unauthorized person or persons and the ship will come to a stop in twenty minutes. I just hope Gemini doesn't decide this take over is something it will support."
"Star Chaser is headed further across the border. Have you ever been to unexplored sectors?" Diana asked.
"No. But I have met a lot of strange species on planets unexplored," Cot said. "What can be in the unexplored frontiers that your fugitive wants?"
"Besides away from known problems he has here?" Diana asked mockingly. "Whatever he thinks he can't get in known space - being anonymous.
Cot checked the last known coordinates of Star Chaser. "Whoever is on board is leaving an easily followed path. I hope we're the only one's following."
"Would Star Chaser be able to defend herself if she's attacked?" Diana asked.
"Since the personality of Star is not in command, the CF is just like any other star fighter, except, she doesn't have conventional weapons. To emphasize peaceful intentions her cannons were removed and her weapons were replaced with new gizmos to test. Star Chaser upgraded them all to protect herself."
"Will anyone piloting the ship be able to take over and control her updated equipment?"
"I don't believe so. A take over of Star Chaser was not just what our handlers planned against. Star and I had the same feeling. Each one of us devised our own method of circumventing a complete take over of the Coronda Fighter and banishing Star Chaser's presence. Wiping out her software or memory isn't going to be enough to control that ship to attack another. It will only protect herself."
"So when we catch up with Star Chaser, do you have any plans to get her not to think we're attacking her?" Diana asked.
"It depends on what we catch up to. Tell me about Boyton. What are his skills?"
"That's rather interesting but that part was left out of his files," Diana said.
"Just the pertinent stuff with the distracting information to keep you from asking. What does this guy do that makes him so valuable to Star Force?" Cot said thoughtfully. "It's not just because of who his father is." Cot glanced at Diana.
"There's always more than one bit of drama with my assignments," Diana said. "It's not a simple matter of delivering a message, because there's always someone that wants to interfere with the delivery. That's why if you want the message delivered the way you intended, you hire the best messenger service."
"What again is the message you're to deliver to this youth?" Cot asked.
Diana sighed and shook her head. "It's dependant on what I find when I find him."
"The person on the space ship we were at wasn't male," Cot said.
"I recognized the bio readings as Boyton's girlfriend that reported him."
"Is this going to be some kind of romantic angst with all the drama of family objecting to the liaison?" Cot asked.
"Don't wish that on me. Where's that artifact?" Diana asked. "I can feel it."
"Probably in the shuttle's baggage compartment."
"Are we going to pass a Murphy's Dinner?"
Cot tapped in an inquiry. "Here we are in unknown space and just like at home we're getting invitations. Right now I have 2000 businesses that have sent their destinations and advertisements. No Murphy's Dinner yet. The shuttle doesn't have the capacity to cross-check what danger these businesses pose to us in a reasonable amount of time."
"What do you consider a reasonable amount of time?"
"Two days. If we're lucky, we'll be here for less. We've been tracked since the shuttle left Star Chaser, so it's going to be interesting to see who does more than send advertisements."
"It must be a busy corridor then." Diana watched over Cot's shoulder for a few minutes. "I'm going to look over that artifact. It will give me something to do."
"Alright. If you should suddenly find a hidden pocket or a button on that thing, don't investigate it without Star Chaser's containment field around you. I've heard a lot of stories in spacer bars not to have some suspicion that the likes of such artifacts don't like being handled by strangers."
Diana grinned. "Aye. I've heard my share of stories too. I think we have enough to deal with now, without me adding to our list."
Diana went to the back of the shuttle and opened up the storage.
Cot busied herself sending out coded messages to Star Chaser, monitoring the space around them, and querying the SEs that were still on board Star Chaser. So far she wasn't getting any return pings from anything Star Chaser controlled.
Hours passed without any disturbance. Cot kept herself alert and busy reviewing data as her inquiries returned. Cot became aware of a silence in the shuttle that was suspiciously too quiet. Without changing her demeanor she activated a security buffer around her, then tested the security in the shuttle. Something was in the shuttle besides them. Cot turned in her seat and looked for Diana and anything that was setting off alarms in her head. Cot engaged her AVEC faceplate.
"Reflected Light, come to a stop." She could hear the shuttle's system shut down.
The shuttle wasn't large enough to lose someone yet there was no Diana. The SEs were gone too. "Reflected Light, where is Diana?"
The storage cabinet opened as if someone was there. Diana rolled out unconscious.
"Activate medibot. Activate..."
A shape materialized in front of her and then dissipated. Cot thought she recognized the species but it was too faint and too quickly it dematerialized. She didn't want to disengage the security buffer around her to see if she could help Diana so it was up to the medibot that was more qualified to see to Diana's needs.
"Reflected Light, how far are we from Star Chaser?"
On her visor the distance and location appeared.
"Resume course and speed, to Star Chaser. Dock in her bay on our arrival."
Cot looked back at Diana. She was still unconscious. It was important that Diana be awake when they reached Star Chaser. A light blinked on her visor. Star Chaser acknowledged Reflected Light's signal. Cot mentally reached out to see if her connection to Star Chaser was back. Instead she sensed something else. Cot jumped up and grabbed the figure that dropped from the overhead. It wrapped it's appendages around her and squeezed. The AVEC suit, enhanced with Star Chaser's changes, sent a shock to the outer skin of the suit. The figure was sent flying back in to the console. In a blink of an eye it zipped through the overhead out of sight. Her visor blinked that it had completed a scan on the figure and would recognize it next time it was near.
Cot looked behind her. Diana was on her feet and advancing on another figure. By her determined look, Cot was confident Diana could handle it. She turned her attention to their approach to Star Chaser. The bay doors weren't opening. Her commands to the SEs on board Star Chaser were not being acknowledged. The shuttle continued progress and her screen filled with warnings of an impending crash. Cot kept over riding the all stop. She was counting on Star Chaser's independent system to recognize it's own shuttle and that she was captain and open up. Cot kept sending out commands to Star Chaser, only using one code to prevent whoever had taken over her ship from learning the various codes she had created for situations like this.
"Hey!" Diana shouted near her ear. "Are you trying to kill..." Diana let out a huff as the bay doors slid open seconds before it was too late. Diana sat down and watched as they glided into Star Chaser's bay.
"It isn't over yet," Cot said. Her fingers sent another code that was programmed to disable after one use. "I don't know what we're facing so be prepared for anything that will keep everyone off balance."
"Star Chaser, I hope you have a plan. Mine is to retake your bridge."
"I hate going so fast I can't enjoy the ride," Diana panted.
"Your suit will adjust," Cot said. Her own suit was showing how hard it was working to keep her relatively comfortable. Her console showed a planet that Star Chaser had as destination "We're heading to a planet that hasn't any contact with space travel."
"Ascer. I was there once. It's another planet of choice for those that want to disappear permanently. There's a dozen planets like that scattered a days journey from the border."
"Permanently as in that there's no ride off the planet?" Cot asked.
"The individual goes through surgery to be able to live on a planet deemed safe from normal law enforcement visits."
"But not from bounty hunters or mortliege," Cot said. "Do their hunters have to go through surgery to be able to land on these planets? I hope the reward is enough."
"We all have our ways of adapting without making it permanent. With a lot of work, patience and ingenuity, it's possible to find the target," Diana said.
"We've come to a stop. Let's see if we're allowed off this shuttle." Cot read off her authority to take command of the ship, ending with, "Lieutenant Colonel Cot has the comm."
"Cot has the comm," Star Chaser's voice responded.
"Is that you, Star," Cot asked.
"Yes, Cot. Star Chaser, explorer of galaxies and adventurer of wide open spaces. We have arrived at our destination. All guests have disembarked," Star said.
"Where's Gemini?" Diana asked.
"Guest Gemini is no longer on board," Star said.
"We start inspection of this ship now," Cot said to Diana.
Though Cot couldn't see her altar, she could feel its presence. What type of space were they in that changed images around them? Diana must have had the same question for she paused where the altar would have been.
"We're in an energy phase. Some forms of energy aren't present here and new ones will be. It's like listening to your favorite music done in a different tone. How do you change the visor's scan range?"
Cot lifted the arm of her suit and opened a panel. "Up or down?"
"Every species is different," Diana said.
Cot jumped back when her manipulation of her scanner showed a person two feet in front of her.
"So, you can now see me," Boyton said. "Why don't you leave me alone?" he asked angrily.
"Why are you running?" Cot asked.
"When someone sends a mortliege after you would you just wait around to find out what that could be about? Would you just hang around when your ship is blown up, or your girlfriends life is threatened? I don't think you would just wait around for things to happen to you."
"If a mortliege was after me.... I have no idea what I would do," Cot said.
"So where are you going?" Diana said.
He smiled. "Where politics doesn't care who I and Ambe are."
"There are a lot of those. But sooner or later, what you're running from will find you," Cot said.
"The reason for why we are hunted now will be forgotten as new problems arise. Your Star Chaser, has been helpful. I'm sorry if you find it offensive I borrowed her but, I helped put her together," he said grinning, "so it didn't seem so bad to borrow her. She's more than what I had dreamt of her being."
"You're one of her developers?" Cot asked.
"Star Chaser," he said lovingly. "It was my own choice on what consciousness to embody in this fighter. I wanted a consciousness that had potential but no life experience. The others were older egos that had experienced life and everyone knew what they were about."
"You called Star Chaser?" Diana asked.
"No...well, I wished she could help." He sighed exasperated. "Some things are not explainable and are a waste of time to do. You miss the moment."
"So, that's why you put the CBIS out of order and then put it back together?" Cot asked.
"Eri Som's invention. He had a good idea but...it wasn't meant to be a back up for something like SID ships. As a thank you for the use of her, Star Chaser and I added the element you needed to have the CBIS as her back up. Know this, you must not reconnect CBIS to her. CBIS should only be used when she is wiped, just like on this occasion. You met the Corini's. They patrol some of the older travel corridors and don't want certain types of people in their corridors. SID ships are one. I gave Star all my coordinates of ship corridors and she has promised me, you'll leave us alone."
"She did, did she?" Diana asked annoyed. "I can see why someone wants you dead or out of commission."
Boyton laughed. "Our parents want us separated and since I'm no longer working on the sentient project, there are a lot of people that want me to work on theirs. I want to do something different."
"Star Force is after you?"
"There's a division in Star Force that develops weapons that are really scary to life. That's where I was being transferred to. I told them if they move me to that area, I would try every way I could to shut it down."
"So instead they put a price on your head?" Cot asked.
"No. They transferred me there anyway and gave me four projects to complete. The head of that department is a Creep. He was stuck on me like an adhesive so I had to figure out a way to do just what I said I was going to do."
"So who is this creep?" Diana asked.
"That's his species. It's from one of those planets they closed to further travel. They turned out to be an undependable species. They have their own agenda as that department proved. No one would investigate the group so I sabotaged the department's projects and let the galaxy police know about Creeps working on Space Station Uln. Star Force knew they were dangerous but thought they could control them. You don't control Creeps. They manipulate energy so you think you're the one in control."
"Boyton, you are being hailed," Star Chaser said.
"I have to go. This is but a brief stop in my journey," Boyton smiled. "You have an artifact power base in your shuttle. You should find some place to leave it otherwise you'll have every Hunter that can pick up the energy chasing you down."
Boyton disappeared.
Diana looked at Cot. "What's most annoying is that the figure was a transmission and I can't detain transmissions."
"So, what do you suggest we do now?"
"I'm still evaluating. I'll need to verify what he said. Creeps. I wonder if he meant Eps. They're an insect from Hibri sector. They're predators. Your Enas spotted them easily enough for what they are and wouldn't have anything to do with them, including allowing them anywhere near their ships," Diana said.
"Why didn't Star Force see them for what they are?" Cot asked.
"I don't know. SF has very good investigative teams that look into all members and keeps tabs on everyone...including me to make sure we aren't going out of wack."
"So what Boyton said could not be true?"
Diana shook her head. "I want to know if Boyton was as intelligent as he intimidated he is."
"Star, did Boyton have anything to do with your merger?" Cot asked.
"He initiated my merging with this physical embodiment."
"Did you know him before your merging?" Diana asked.
"Boyton is my brother in another life form. He allowed me to continue living within another form."
"This is getting more complicated," Diana said.
"Star Chaser were you connected to Admiral Boyez before you merged?" Cot asked.
"No."
"Where did you come from?" Diana asked Star.
"That information is classified," Star replied.
"So why did Boyton pass the information on to us? It's not doing his credibility of passing secrets any good."
"Not all is clear, but I'm sure it'll make sense later. Where do you want to be taken now?"
"Back across the border. Then Murphy's Bar unless you want to be hunted by Hunters."
"You don't want your ship back?"
"Glass Eye? The last time we saw it it wasn't in the best of health. Alti is going to be positively furious. He doesn't know I borrowed it."
"Set course across the border, Star. Then locate the nearest Murphy's Bar."
Chapter 28
"Diana, it's been nice meeting up with you. May the space tides bring you glory and adventure," Cot told her.
"And you, Cot, take care of your partner, Star Chaser."
The moment the shuttle docked, the ramp was extended. In less than a minute, Diana was gone along with the artifact. Cot felt its influence as it moved further away.
"If I can feel it's absence, then its good to get rid of something that had such a subtle effect on the energy around me and not be aware of it," she said to Star.
"The energy is of no of consequence in your atmosphere," Star said.
The shuttle was back in space, heading to where Star Chaser was waiting, giving the appearance of a private yacht. Once she was safe in her cargo bay, they were hurrying out of the sector.
Back in her seat, Cot began to catch up on her personal log.
"I'm going to miss her too," she said to Star who was already feeling the loss of their passenger. "But we need to get back on track, so find gates directly to our outpost without any more delays."
Cot held up a small talisman that Diana had left on her bed. Cot was sure it was intentional. "And here I thought she said her souvenirs are all in her head." She grinned. In Diana's pack of clothes that Star Chaser produced for her, was a stone her aunt had given her.
To be continued.