Confluence, p.21
Confluence, page 21
“That is correct, Lysander. For both our species, the battle is over. We continue in the memory of those that were lost. We have committed our lives to protect the species that remain. There is a high probability the effort will consume us. However, there is no path more noble than this effort; for me, this is certain.”
Ryan gazed at Lysander. “Vi and I are a part of something larger, powerful.” He nodded. “Before we found each other, all of us were wandering dead and lost. As we drew together, a storm began to form. As our numbers grow, so does the power of the maelstrom. One day soon, a brilliant arc off it will strike down the Lumuera. Death is imminent, but together we will destroy the evil consuming this galaxy. This is certain.”
Lysander stared at Ryan for few seconds. “Why so dramatic? You could just say you’re gonna take out some alien thug. I’m surprised you didn’t invoke your patron deity somewhere in all that.”
Ryan laughed. “The Goddess does look after us.”
“Yes, yes; of course she does.”
Ryan continued smiling as the compartment grew quiet. “So where are you in all this?”
Lysander thought for a moment. “A gangster was recently killed on Kzuhu, and the event significantly cleared my schedule. It sounds as though having status as lost and dead fits an unusual prerequisite to join your social circle. If desired, I am available; this is certain.” The Arltog smiled.
Ryan smiled back and nodded.
Lysander grinned wider and wagged his finger. Chuckling through his raspy voice, he asked, “Long ago, did I not tell you we’d be partners one day?”
Ryan laughed at the early memory. “Yes, my friend, that you did.”
12
Reunions and Separations
“Go ahead, look me in the eye; tell me it isn’t true”
Khattara Eschala
Ryan plopped down. “So what’s this about? You two kids aren’t running off to get hitched, are you?”
“I do not entirely understand the reference of your comment. We have a topic of significance to discuss.”
Ryan looked at Lysander and shook his head. “What? You’re makin’ me nervous.”
“Violet and I believe I should move off this ship for the time being. Our relationship has evolved to a certain level that is…physical.”
Ryan’s eyes grew wide. “Ah! That’s a personal matter…It’s not something I—”
“Commander, I have certain fluctuations when Lysander and I make contact—”
Ryan shot up. “OK! Right. That’s not for me. I don’t wanna know about your—”
“Eylon, please sit down.” Lysander gently patted the air in front of him. “We need to discuss this.”
“No, we don’t. And you might as well use my given name; I was known to my friends on Earth as Ryan.”
“Ryan, we’re simply trying to create a dialogue around how to best support Violet.”
Ryan stared at the Arltog. “My name…How did…Did Vi help you speak my name? How’d you pronounce it so perfectly? It’s like…” His head rose. Instead of Paavi, Ryan spoke in English. “Do you speak my native language?”
With a near perfect accent, Lysander responded. “You’re not the only individual I’ve met from Earth.”
Ryan continued to stand and held his hands out. “OK, wait. This…This is unbelievable. How many languages do you speak?”
Lysander nodded and spoke in Andorian. “A lot, and quite a few that have disappeared.”
Ryan plopped back down in his seat.
Lysander put his hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “I understand what you’re…what we’re trying to do. We need to talk about the best way for this to happen with Violet and I.”
Ryan wrenched his hands over his face and nodded. “Yeah. OK. What do you have in mind?”
Violet piped in. “I have provided a few basic details about the existence of a ship named the Adriatic. What do you think about Lysander initially taking residence on that vessel?”
Ryan nodded for a moment. “What does he…What do you know about the Adriatic?”
“Only that it was a ship originally from Earth. I don’t understand how this is possible, but dearest said it was a story for you to tell me. She also said there is a resident synthetic life that has recently been augmented on par with her. I seriously doubt there is any being with her capacity, but nevertheless, she believes the being running that vessel can provide safe shelter for me.”
“Vi, anything else to add?”
“Thanks to Virginia’s persistence, Darlin was augmented and evolved into a superintelligence. The Adriatic has been fortified with additional power gateways, shields, and masking abilities. As such, she is now a weapons platform on par with the Aunts.”
Ryan grimaced and nodded. “So much for an easy retirement.”
“Commander, these changes were all by Darlin’s request.”
“I understand, but I’m also very aware of the benefits and hazards associated with augments after one’s useful service life.”
“Darlin has become the custodial guardian for our portal gateways. With the Aunts engaged in training and management, the Adriatic is the best logical option.”
Lysander listened to the conversation and cocked his head. “Who are the Aunts, and how many ships are aligned with you? You can mask an entire ship? What are portal gateways?”
Ryan cocked his head and opened his mouth. After a breath he held up his hand and patted the air. “One step at a time; I agree that Lysander moving to the Adriatic has merit.” Ryan looked to the Arltog. “Your questions will be answered, but gettin’ you up to speed is gonna be a process. I know we talked about this, but the information we’re gonna share…Once you’re in, there’s no turnin’ back. At all costs, we must stay obscured. Do you understand what that means for you, and are you OK with that?”
“Ryan, I’m already dead. Of greater concern is my level of contribution to this endeavor.”
“What? You speak like…a zillion languages. You have extraordinary auditory and visual perceptions; even with a single eye, your three pupils can see things like no others. How is the other eye healing, by the way?”
“Better and better each day. Who knew there were such things as therapy exercises for the eye?”
◊ ◊ ◊
“Hey, Darlin’, the being accompanying me is an Arltog named Lysander. If you agree, he’s gonna take residence on the Adriatic. Can you help ensure he feels welcome and at home here?”
“Is this Lysander the gangster you previously engaged for information and supplies?”
Ryan nodded. “The gangster Lysander died on Kzuhu. The life form that survived transformed into something different. Much like you, the being present here has evolved to a higher state. Does that make sense?”
“Affirmative. Does he have a service rank or stated authority?”
Lysander smiled. “Hello, kind lady. I am only here in an advisory role. I have a desire to assist wherever I can.”
“Understood. Nice to meet you, new Lysander. I look forward to our collaboration in the future.”
Ryan looked to the Arltog. “You gonna be OK here?”
Lysander smiled wide. “Of course! It’s a marvelous ship. It smells brand new. How is that?”
Ryan nodded. “There are a number of mysteries that will be revealed in time. These portals here, like the one we just stepped through,” Ryan motioned back. “If you don’t know exactly where it goes, don’t step through it, OK? You’ll most certainly invite death. Please don’t let curiosity get the better of you.”
Lysander nodded. “Where are you headed next?”
Ryan pointed to a different portal gate. “That one there goes to a particular hospital on Kzuhu.”
Lysander huffed. “Even knowing where it leads can still invite death. Be careful, my mostly Terran friend.”
Ryan nodded. “Will do. I’ll be back in a bit. Violet and Darlin’ are just…,” he motioned his hand in the air, “…monitoring everywhere.”
“Take care, Ryan.”
◊ ◊ ◊
Ryan stood silently masked from visible light for nearly an hour before Tchachahyleen Dohltchren’s administrative assistant entered her office. He followed her in and watched them exchange paperwork and authorize several documents. Ryan remained after the assistant withdrew and monitored the hospital administrator for several minutes. Her round eyes were twenty-five percent larger than a human’s and sat high on her face. Tzhadihk eyes were teardrop shaped and set wider apart than human eyes. Instead of white, the eye itself was light brown. And in Tchachahyleen’s case, the pupil was a deep chestnut color.
Ryan noticed the deep lines coming off the corners of her eyes and lips. There were considerable wisps of gray and white hair intermixed with shoulder-length, thick, dark hair. It was straight and pulled back into a single bundle. He guessed her age to be mature, but lacking familiarity with the species, he was unable to estimate a precise number.
She was typing on a workstation when she noticed the hooded Paavi standing inside her office. She jumped at the sight, and Ryan quickly raised his palms out.
“I mean you no harm. I’m a simple Paavi pilgrim and a messenger. I represent a clandestine organization of evolved beings that seeks the cessation of violence and care for civilian populations across multiple systems. Because of the dangers involved with your planet, my time here is very short. Before you push the security button on the inside edge of your desk, would you please identify the top five needed materials in this facility?” Ryan saw her body shift, and he motioned with both palms. “Please, don’t push that button. If you do, I’ll disappear just as I came. This effort only requires a few seconds of your time. Your facility has an opportunity to gain valuable supplies if you engage with me. Please, take a chance.”
“What is this?”
“A once in a lifetime opportunity. What does this hospital need?”
She huffed. “Have you escaped from a facility?”
Ryan smiled and chuckled. “Yeah, but not the kind of facility you’re thinking of. I assure you I’m quite lucid.” Once again Ryan pulled himself from visible light. He reappeared on the other wall of her office. “This is real, and I have resources at my disposal. I need only know what’s on your list. What is it you need?”
“I don’t understand what this is. How are you—”
“I told you: clandestine organization of evolved beings, care for civilian populations, opportunity for aid. What does this hospital need?”
She stared at him for five seconds before tossing her hands up. “Why not? OK, strange vanishing Paavi, we’re completely out of base compounds, but the materials we need represent far more than five. Our surgeries haven’t been operational in weeks, and we can only provide basic triage.” She spun a tablet around and pushed it across her desk closer to Ryan. “You understand what the things on this list are?”
He looked at her hands holding the tablet and smiled. “My mother was a surgeon too.” Ryan spoke in English toward the device on his wrist. “Vi, please tell me we have most of this stuff.”
She responded into his ear. “According to my translation, the entirety of the ‘stuff’ to which you refer is available and ready for transport through a portal.”
Ryan smiled and nodded. “Push it through.” He looked back to the administrator. “There’s a storage room on the fourth subfloor of this building.”
She studied him for a moment. “Yes, that’s correct. It’s a primary storage area, and it’s empty.”
Ryan cocked his head and smiled. “Sure about that? Is there a single being you trust and one that can hold a secret? I need you to discretely dispatch someone trustworthy to that room. I need them to help move supplies away from a portal. Those instructions will make sense once inside the storage room. It’s very important this individual not touch the portal. And to avoid potential looters, it’s equally important they keep quiet.”
Dr. Dohltchren looked at Ryan for a long moment.
Ryan held up both palms. “I know you’re trying to decide if you should call security. Make a different call. Get someone in that room, and have them report what they’re seeing to you and you alone.”
◊ ◊ ◊
Ryan sat quietly and smiled at Dr. Dohltchren while an excited voice squeaked through a communication device held to her ear.
After she heard the quantity of the materials, her eyes met Ryan’s. “I…I don’t understand. Surely you know we have no money. Who are you, and what’s this about?”
“I represent a covert group engaged in the support of civilian welfare. We provide that which is necessary. I have a proposition for you; think of this as a second delivery. We have established another portal in a different secure location. I will provide additional supplies in exchange for the contact information of a specific citizen. I’m looking for a woman named Jheleen.”
“Even if I did agree to this, we only have information on individuals we have treated. We may not have ever seen the person you seek in our database. What if we can’t provide the information you seek?”
Ryan smiled. “The medical supplies are yours either way. I only ask that you try. I’m reasonably certain you will have a medical record of her from a certain date and time.”
“Why are you searching for this woman?”
“She has family off world that’s looking for her. If it would make you more comfortable, you can ask Jheleen for consent to release her contact information. I can provide the name of the individual that sent me.”
“With what I’ve seen, you could’ve just taken the information. Why the medical supplies?”
“Recently a friend reminded me that care for one another is the only true tie that binds the beings of this galaxy together. My father taught me if you can help, you should. Like my mother, my aunt, and many sisters, you too are a healer. I bring supplies to you because I can. I believe you will help me because you can. Dvarah smiles upon us. She smiles upon us all.”
“I’ve always admired the medical capacity of your people. At one point I’d hoped to study on Eitchu.” After a moment Dr. Dohltchren moved her hands to her keyboard. Without taking her eyes off Ryan, she asked, “What did you say her name was?”
◊ ◊ ◊
Khattara walked over and peered at the monitor. A hooded Paavi looked up at the camera and winked.
She mumbled aloud, “What the…Open portal.” As the door parted, she spoke. “Where in Adark’s name have you been? The entire break I been tryin’ to reach you.” Khattara stopped talking when Ryan motioned toward another hooded form standing near in the hallway. The elderly woman peeked out and cocked her head. Khattara’s eyes drew wide as the dish towel in her hand fell to the floor.
“Jheleen?”
The woman nodded. “So many years…But you’ve not changed.” She reached out toward Khattara’s face. “It’s you, just exactly as I remember.”
Khattara trilled and moved forward, snatching the woman. Ryan watched as they rocked in embrace. Khattara continued to trill and say her name.
“Please, come…Come inside.” Khattara also motioned back toward Ryan to follow.
“Nah. I’ll let you two catch up. Jheleen can debrief you on her current whereabouts. Just give me a chirp when you’re done. I have transport arranged for her.”
◊ ◊ ◊
Ryan stared at the ceiling in his quarters.
“Your vitals suggest you may be awake.”
He smiled. “Is that a question or a statement?”
“Perhaps both. Is there something on your mind, old friend?”
Ryan chuckled. After a few moments he began. “While we’ve been on Centauri, I been seein’ that kid again, the little boy from Gamma Andoria.”
“Are you referring to the child that was murdered by Daerk just before the destruction of the Andorians?”
Ryan nodded. “Yeah.”
“You have saved others; one such is now running LUND.”
“Vi, I can see his face…right in front of me. When the moment came, she saved the kid in front of her.”
“Are you making a direct comparison of your experience with that of Khattara saving Jheleen?”
“Yeah, somethin’ like that.”
“We have discussed the zero-sum scenario you faced on Gamma Andoria at length. Is the visual memory sourcing from a nightmare?”
Ryan nodded. “Affirmative.”
“Can you acknowledge there is a difference between feeling and logic?”
Ryan nodded again. “Yeah.”
“Were you under the impression that retrieving Jheleen would in some manner provide a feeling of redemption for the loss of the Gamma Andoria boy?”
“Well, when you say it like that, it doesn’t sound very logical.”
“This is my point exactly. I am glad you understand the conveyed meaning.”
“Your logic has blunt-force merit.”
“May I ask another query?”
“Shoot.”
“You were not in favor of my plan to raze the entire gangster building, and yet you eradicated everyone in it. Why did you change your mind?”
Ryan rocked his head left and right. “I sort of changed my mind. When Dhynek said they were going back to the old ways, it meant more trafficking. That was a gating factor that changed the paradigm.”
“But why not raze the building from orbit and completely eradicate the threat?”
“Lysander’s right; fear is a powerful motivator. If we’d killed everyone in the building, the next ones in line may have continued to search for our ex-gangster friend. I’m confident that Dhynek will actively discourage any such search. The other factor was the additional occupants I found in the building.”
“I noted a pause in your offensive through the structure.”
Ryan nodded. “You remember that Daerk orbital station siphoning life energy off Diphda?”
“Yes. Although our successful operation to destroy it saved an evolved stellar body, you have always blamed yourself for the loss of the involuntary workers on the cargo supply vessel.”
