Odyssey (Galactic Neighborhood Book 2) Page 9

  Mayfield then split the screen into thirds and added an additional image. It was similar to the one taken earlier, except now the blue areas were much denser.

  “This is the scan I performed just a few minutes ago. The changes have been both swift and significant. You said earlier your understanding of Sh’zul is becoming stronger over time, and he claims you are now linked to him. It seems clear to me the brain activity we are seeing is evidence you are indeed experiencing something unique.”

  Kiren looked at the scans for a moment longer, and then shuddered as she suddenly received a rush of thoughts and images from Sh’zul. She closed her eyes and tried to even out her breathing, hoping she could make some sense of it all. She wanted to understand, and even try to send her thoughts back to Sh’zul, but the others were waiting. She opened her eyes to find concern on all three faces.

  “I’m all right. Sh’zul just sent me a lot of information and I am feeling a little overwhelmed. Some of it makes sense, but I think it’s going to take time to figure out the rest.”

  Andre reached out to grasp her hand and smiled.

  “Have you been able to send anything back to him, or it is all just one way so far?”

  She looked embarrassed for a moment.

  “I hope the link goes both ways, but I haven’t really tried yet, so I’m not sure.”

  Kiren faced the doctor for another question.

  “You said there were two things you found during my exam. What was the other one?”

  Mayfield chuckled, but turned towards Arlington when he answered.

  “Whatever is happening here, it doesn’t seem to be having any other negative effects so far. Pardon me, Kiren, but the Captain is concerned about your overall condition, and I wanted to reassure her. What I found were alien substances in your blood which we have never seen before. You came into contact with both his thorny scales and his saliva. Based on what we know of your encounter, you became sleepy and lethargic after your hand was injured. It is possible the Rxyl’s spikes are tipped with something which caused a reaction in your body. It may be one of their defense mechanisms or perhaps a way to capture prey.”

  “On the other hand, Sh’zul’s saliva apparently contains some type of healing agent which not only stopped the bleeding, but repaired the tissues almost immediately. You don’t even have a scar on your palm, and healing of this nature is unheard of. Even with the proper equipment and a good deal more time, our own medical techniques don’t even come close.”

  “My initial analysis has revealed there are two substances in your bloodstream which we cannot identify. I can only conclude they came from your direct contact with Sh’zul. The assumption is one or both of them are responsible for the unusual activity in your brain. What we also do not know, is what other affects they may have on you or how to counter them. I would need samples directly from one of the Rxyl in order to conduct a thorough study.”

  When Kiren asked when she would be released from sickbay, Mayfield instructed her to lay back and rest for a few moments while he discussed her request with Arlington and Swanson. She was grateful for the time to simply think without interruption, except it was no longer possible with Sh’zul rummaging around in her head. She decided to focus on an older memory of the Rxyl leader standing at his usual lookout, gazing into the sky. She imagined herself standing next to him, and focused on the word ‘soon’. She was about to repeat the attempt when Sh’zul responded.

  We await you, Kiren. You are...damaged?

  He sent along two of his own memories of her. The first was of her bloodied hand, and the second of her unconscious on the ground. She had the distinct impression Sh’zul was not accustomed to asking and answering questions when he wanted information. In addition, he seemed to be unsure of his word choices, which made perfect sense for someone with no experience using the English language or the convolutions of human thought. She responded by focusing on the idea of resting, hoping he would understand she was no longer injured. The response came almost immediately.

  You are strong. Good. You will come after darkness?

  This time he sent an image of her at the lookout in the dead of night. The second image was of a very large cave, filled with Rxyl. By all rights, the simple thought of being surrounded by the powerful creatures should have frightened her, but all she felt was welcome. It was an invitation to meet them and interact – the very goal her team discussed this morning.

  “Yes, I will come”.

  If she could get herself out of here and back to the surface, she would return to the lookout tonight after dark and see what she could discover. It seemed she was the only person who could communicate with them, even if it was still somewhat clumsy.

  When she opened her eyes, Andre was seated next to the bed watching her. He smiled, scooped up her hand, and kissed her knuckles tenderly.

  “I was really worried about you today. You gave us quite a scare. In case you are wondering, the Rear Admiral is arguing with Dr. Mayfield to get you released from sickbay. You want to return to them, don’t you?”

  Kiren nodded.

  “I must go back, Andre. They are asking me to return, and this is our chance to find out who they really are. Their sentience is no longer debatable as far as I’m concerned, but I’m sure they want to know who we are and what we are doing on their planet. We both need answers, and I’m the best bet we have to get them.”

  Arlington and Mayfield returned to her bedside with very different expressions on their faces. It was obvious the Rear Admiral claimed the upper hand in their discussion, though the good doctor appeared to have won a concession or two in whatever deal they struck.

  “Against my better judgement, I will be releasing you from sickbay in the next couple of hours. I want you to eat something, and continue to rest. I will conduct one more thorough scan and another blood test before you go, but you will be wearing a monitoring device. It will alert us if you have any additional problems, and will also serve as a homing signal so we can locate you. If you end up going underground, the signal may not get through, but it’s the best we can do on short notice. If you become faint or have any unusual symptoms, I want to be notified immediately, understood?”

  Kiren nodded in agreement.

  “Yes, Sir. I understand.”

  Mayfield excused himself to arrange a meal for Kiren, leaving the three officers to themselves. Arlington remained standing at the foot of the bed, hands clasped behind her back.

  “If your connection with the Rxyl is real, we need to take advantage of it while it lasts. I hate to ask it of you, Ensign, after what you have already gone through today, but we have no choice. I will leave the planning to you and Ambassador Swanson, but I expect to be informed. We’re going to keep this mission confidential, so I want you to use a buoy to transport there directly. Only a small number of people will know of our plans, and we will be anxiously awaiting your return to the surface. You are already aware of the information we need, and you have your orders. Good luck, Kiren.”

  She turned on her heel and walked calmly from the sickbay. Andre leaned down and kissed her tenderly, hands on either side of her face.

  “I know you don’t really need me there, but for professional and personal reasons, I wish I could go with you.”

  He kissed her once more, and then they got to work.

  Chapter 7

  The next two hours flew by as they worked out the details of her mission; interrupted by Kiren’s meal, the doctor’s final tests, and the insertion of the monitor/beacon. It was a thin intradermal device about the size of Kiren’s thumbnail, and was placed near the spine at the base of her skull. Once Dr. Mayfield was satisfied it was working properly, the signal was uploaded to the buoy network as well as the medical monitoring channels aboard Expedition. Kiren’s final examination revealed no change except for the continued stimulation of key areas of her brain.

  When questioned, Kiren assured Mayfield, and Swanson, she was not in any pain and her mind was clear. The
connection with Sh’zul was getting stronger and less confusing, and she was becoming accustomed to the presence of his mind. Though he did not interrupt her thoughts directly, she sensed he was listening in the background to the plans being made for her return. He seemed...not happy, but perhaps satisfied it would not be long before they would be able to communicate in person.

  Before Kiren left the ship, Andre arranged a secure comm conference with Luftis and Wells to explain everything, as well as her upcoming mission with the Rxyl. They both weighed in with questions, counsel and advice, and were more than concerned with her safety. As soon as she returned to the surface, they would join her for a thorough debriefing with President Morales and her staff. They both wished her luck and Swanson ended the communication. Kiren smiled at Andre.

  “I could tell they both wanted to come along. I’m not sure what would happen if all four of us showed up at the Rxyl’s doorstep.”

  She stopped speaking suddenly, with a far off look in her eyes, and then chuckled.

  “I stand corrected. Sh’zul is not opposed to welcoming the rest of the team, but tonight they are only planning on me.”

  Swanson laughed and then sobered as a question came to mind.

  “How do you suppose we could do that? Would each person need to go through what you did in order to be able to communicate with them?” Kiren shrugged.

  “I don’t know yet, but it’s one of the things I intend to ask. I get the feeling from Sh’zul this is something new for them, too.”

  In order to remain under the radar, Swanson arranged for a direct transport from the ship to Kirens’ quarters in Reno. While she bathed and changed into clean clothing, Andre went in search of a very late lunch. When he returned, he and Kiren went to the shopping district to find her some appropriate gear. Fortunately, there were several hiking outfitters in the city which could supply just what she needed. It was assumed she would be crawling through the subterranean tunnels on her hands and knees, which meant warm and sturdy clothing, hiking boots, and heavy gloves.

  They found a pack she could carry either on her back or against her stomach, if the overhead clearance was too narrow. Next came water and easy to eat rations, as it was unlikely Kiren would be sharing whatever the Rxyl usually ate for dinner. They already brought an emergency blanket, night vision goggles, and a handheld torch from the ship’s supplies, which they left in Kiren’s quarters.

  Swanson paid for the purchases and they left the store with several large bags. The streets were crowded now, with late afternoon shoppers and workers just getting off shift. Kiren pointed up ahead as she spotted a group of their shipmates gathering outside one of the local bars. They stopped to say a quick hello, and were invited to join what turned out to be a birthday celebration, but made their excuses and continue on their way.

  Moments later an explosion from behind knocked them both to the ground. People were running, screaming and calling for help as Perry and Swanson got to their feet unharmed and looked around. Emergency personnel were already making their way to the scene when a large banner was unfurled from the roof of a nearby building.

  “Go Back to Pacifica. We don’t need you! Saharan Freedom League”

  The explosive device was in a trash receptacle, and seemed to have done more damage to buildings than people, though many were injured. Several of their shipmates were sprawled in the street, either unconscious or stunned. It was clear the Pacificans were the target of the explosion, but many Saharans were also injured. Swanson activated his hand comm and reported in, answering questions and providing a few first person facts. Kiren could not hear what was being said, but watched as Andre suddenly stiffened and slipped the comm back in his pocket.

  “We need to get out of here, now!”

  Kiren didn’t bother to ask questions as they wound their way through the crowd, still carrying their bulky purchases. Once they were in the clear, they moved quickly back to Kiren’s quarters, where he shut and locked the door.

  He turned to look at Kiren’s confused expression.

  “Sorry. My orders were to get you away from the scene and to safety as soon as possible. There was nothing we could have done to help back there anyway, and your mission has top priority. I’ve been briefed about the possibility of something like this happening, but no one knew when or where they might strike. We have a buoy stationed above the city, so hopefully we can glean some helpful information from the images.”

  Swanson stopped talking when he realized Kiren had that far away look again. She blinked twice and then looked up at him.

  “I heard you, Andre, but Sh’zul wanted to make sure I was not harmed. He knows I am safe now, and he asked about you, too.”

  Andre encircled her with his arms, holding her close before pulling back enough for a kiss.

  “Sh’zul isn’t the only one who wants to keep you safe, though I have a feeling the Rxyl occupy the safest place on the planet.”

  Swanson released her, and they got busy filling her pack with supplies. Kiren activated the viewscreen in the front room and requested recent news reports, hoping to see what else they could learn about the attack. Most of the stories were the same – images from the street, reports of injuries being treated, and a general outrage something like this could happen on Sahara of all places. Everyone from President Morales on down condemned the attack in the strongest terms. Even the interviews with average citizens in the street were all favorable to the growing relationship with Pacifica.

  The newsfeed from the Carruthers Media Group, however, was full of talking heads about the negative influence Pacifica was having on Saharan society, and ‘serious concerns’ about the safety and welfare of its citizens. They also called into question the President’s ability to maintain law and order, and her misinformed decision to ally herself with foreign interests.

  When Kiren began to object rather forcefully, Andre explained the Carruthers Media Group was in the pocket of Senator Roux and his cronies, who were also behind the terrorist activity. Technically, she was not cleared to know, but he wanted her to understand what was going on and provide some reassurance her superiors were watching the situation very carefully.

  “I hate to say this, Kiren, but whatever evidence you bring back for the sentience of the Rxyl is going to drop a bomb on the political situation. We are going to have to prove their sentience without any room for doubt, and even then, Pacifica will still be accused of doctoring the facts for their own nefarious purposes. You, personally, are going to be smack dab in the middle of the firestorm, so I need you to be aware of what’s coming.”

  Kiren shook her head, a sour expression twisting her lovely face.

  “I’ve had many discussions with my parents about the realities of politics and how it might impact my career. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised it has reared its ugly head so soon. I have no idea how I am going to explain it to Sh’zul and his people, especially when I don’t understand it myself.”

  Just as Kiren was about to turn off the viewscreen, she heard the reporter mention a familiar name, and paused to listen.

  “Thea Chilton, one of the last surviving original colonists, died this morning at the age of one hundred and two. Chilton, who served as a junior communications specialist on board the Odyssey, lived a very private life. Her last years were spent at the Manor House, where she had few friends and no family or relatives. Officials report she passed away in her sleep.”

  Kiren turned it off, sat down in the nearest chair, and burst into tears. Andre, caught off guard, stopped his packing and sat down next to her. She leaned into his side and let the tears fall as she realized she was probably one of the last people to see her alive.

  When she finally pulled herself together, she told Andre the story of her visit to the old woman yesterday, and how she recorded her experience and hid the framed image Thea gave her.

  “I intended to tell you about it, but other things got in the way and I didn’t have the chance. This is going to sound strange, but I
’m not so sure her death is coincidental. She was afraid, Andre. Afraid to talk to me, afraid of ‘that man’, afraid of the nurse. When I asked her about the sand dragons she said, “we weren’t supposed to stay here” and “this place belongs to them, not us”. Apparently, someone has been keeping secrets since Odyssey arrived here. Doesn’t it seem suspicious to you a computer virus wiped out all the early records, as well as the ship’s AI?”

  Andre considered her story very carefully, and concluded Kiren was onto something.

  “May I hear your log entry and see the framed image she gave you? If Thea really did have some secrets to share, it could answer a lot of questions about the origins of this colony and what they knew about the Rxyl.”

  Kiren made a copy of her personal log and then removed Thea’s gift from its hiding place. They listened to Kiren’s recollection of her visit and examined the old photograph together. A very young Thea Chilton posed for a picture in front of a standard issue shuttlecraft along with several of her friends or shipmates. There didn’t seem to be any particular significance to the faded image, and Andre was afraid this was a dead end.

  “Did she say anything about the image itself?”

  Kiren shook her head.

  “She was very nervous and wanted me to hide it immediately. Though she did say...wait...she said, “behind the picture – that’s what’s important”. I still don’t know what she meant by it though.”

  Andre turned it over, but there was nothing written on the back or any other clues he could see. There was nothing behind the picture, so what could the old woman have meant? His eyes opened wide as a thought suddenly occurred to him. He began to work the backing out of the frame, though someone carefully sealed it in place long ago. Finally, it popped free and Andre gently removed the stiff cardboard piece. The back of the image itself was as blank as everything else, but sandwiched in between the pieces was a thin flat disc about two inches in diameter.

  Kiren gasped in amazement.