Fall of shadows, p.4
Fall of Shadows, page 4
part #7 of Steven Gordon Series
Amanda felt the truth of his words sink into her. Her head dropped. ‘It is beyond genocide, isn’t it Charlie?’
‘Oh, way beyond genocide Amanda. Is there even a word for destroying an entire planet and everything on it, then terraforming it to your own ends?’
‘Not in any dictionary I have seen.’
‘Speciocide is the act of killing an entire species.’ They looked up and found Komoru there. She put her bowl down beside Charlie and sat. ‘I'm not sure there is a word for killing off every species.’
‘Ultra Speciocide,’ Amanda suggested. She was watching Charlie with great trepidation. He seemed to relax after a few seconds and she took a relieved breath. He took a deep draught of his glass of water and stood.
‘Enjoy your lunch ladies.’
Amanda waited until he was out of earshot.
‘Why did you sit down beside him?’
‘I was trying to be nice. Did he tell you anything about what happened to him on leave?’
Amanda sighed, ‘I was hoping to engage him in conversation and then ask. We haven’t conversed in quite a while.’
‘Oh! Sorry. If you find out, would you tell me?’
‘Not if I want to rekindle a friendship with him.’
Komoru looked shocked. ‘Why would you want to do that?’
‘To show my appreciation for saving my life. To let him know I am beginning to understand the choice he had to make on the city ship and why he made it.’
‘So you won’t tell me?’
‘Unless there is a specific reason for you to know, then not a chance.’
‘I thought we were friends.’
Amada smiled, ‘I love you to death my friend, but there is such a thing as professional ethics. I am a doctor, he is a patient, first and foremost.’
Komoru didn’t look happy about it, but her mind changed tack.
‘As a friend, can you advise me on something?’
‘Yeah sure.’
‘Am I, you know, too bushy… down there.’
Amanda cringed, ‘It is a personal choice.’
‘I noticed that you have, well…’
‘As I said, it is a personal choice.’
‘Do guys like it more?’
‘Some do like au natural. Most like it trimmed in some manner. Ask your man what he prefers.’
‘Mines is the only one he has ever seen.’
‘I am quite sure he has seen pictures. Ask him if he would like you to. You’re a big girl now Komoru. A little change can spice up the sex life. A wee adventure. Maybe you should surprise him, see if he likes it. Why do you ask now?’
Colour darkened, ‘Charlie caught me naked; made a comment.’
Amanda felt herself close to laughing, ‘What did he say?’
‘Last time he saw something that bushy there were birds nesting in it.’
It burst forth, ‘I’m so sorry for laughing Komoru. ‘He really does have a way with words, doesn’t he?’
‘He is horrible.’
‘He is that as well.’
chapter 7
Sato was on his knees and apologising to Komoru and Steven.
‘It is my fault that Ico and the crew were captured.’
Steve was scratching his head, ‘Why wasn’t Babes captured alongside you?’
‘When we lost contact, Charlie immediately took action. I refused to. I am sorry. I thought he was being over cautious.’
‘Get up man. There was no reason for you to expect foul play. I think I would have made the same decision.’
‘As would have I,’ Komoru confirmed. ‘You are a valued officer. Please get up.’
Sato bowed once more and got up. ‘How did they paralyse Ico and our crew?’
‘I don’t know Captain. The ships appeared and a few seconds later Ico went down, as did all of us.’
She turned to Steven, ‘Does Charlie know?’
‘I have not had the opportunity to ask him yet.’
‘Maybe we should ask him in.’
‘I will ask him alone.’
‘I have already talked to him. I’m not worried anymore.’
‘You sure?’
‘Yes.’
Sato waited with them until Charlie arrived and Steven asked the same question.
‘An electronic beam of some sorts. That’s about as much as I know. Babes will give you the tech stuff when we get back. She did do something to the nanites to prevent them being stunned again, no idea what though.’
‘Field harmonics,’ Steven mused, ‘She must have them generating their own small field. That means she knows exactly what happened, thanks Charlie.’ Steven nodded to Sato, who got the message and left.
‘Can I ask you something?’
‘What?’
‘How did you know, did you read someone’s mind?’
‘Like who? Those ships were well out of scanner range. Too far for my wee ability, as were those on the planet’s surface. It was no more than a hunch. We scanned for a dampening field, as soon as we found it, I decided to take action.’
‘What about Sato?’
‘He and Ico both refused to move. Babes is now on her way for help. She gave me a transponder that will trigger when sent a coded message from our own people. Sid has already patched it in to the freighter’s emergency broadcast system. The Albany have set up multiple decoys, so it will help our people track us down quickly.’
‘All right, thanks Charlie,’ Charlie made a quick exit.
‘You’re right, he does seem a little calmer. Let’s get to the bridge, talk to the senior staff.’
Half an hour later they were all gathered in the freighter Captain’s office. Steven called them to order.
‘Has anyone been able to think of a way out of this?’
Howe decided to play spokesman. ‘There isn’t really anything we can do sir. We can’t outrun them, we have nothing to fight with. The dampening field has effectively stopped us getting in touch with Ico, so we can’t beam out of here. All we can do is wait for the cavalry.’
‘What about speaking to the other ships, what if they try and contact us?’
‘I have read their orders. All are to maintain strict radio silence until they reach their home world, passive systems only. If we try and call for help, they will hear.’
‘So you’re saying we sit tight.’
‘There is nothing else we can do. When our people arrive, and receive the answering transmission from this freighter, they will know we are on board and attack. That is when we should break free.’
‘What about our course to their home world?’
‘It is already programmed into the ship’s navigational system. It will take us close to the Ambatta system, but that is the nearest we will be to friendly territory. That is about three days away. It will take us ten to reach the Albany home world.’
‘We have rations for seven, isn’t that right?’
‘Full rations yes, I have already ordered Cookie to make it last ten, just in case. He says that won’t be a problem.’
‘Do we have any idea what their orders are if they are stopped by a Human fleet?’
‘Yes sir.’ Howe took a deep breath, ‘Once we were all converted to paste, our remains were to be stored as cargo, and the equipment jettisoned.’
‘Cargo!’
‘In containers labelled “fruit juice”.’
‘Seriously!’
‘Every trace of us was to be disposed of. Only the nanites from our systems were of any interest to them. Our clothes and anything else were to be incinerated.’
‘So there was to be no trace of us.’
‘Nothing.’
‘Is there some form of timetable? Will the battleships be watching us?’
‘What do you mean sir?’
‘If we don’t begin to jettison those blenders, will they notice?’
‘I suppose they might. It is after all an important part of the mission.’
‘Then I suggest we get to it, and keep up the impression that everything is going to plan for them.’
‘Yes sir.’
A half hour later, the cargo bay doors opened, and everything related to the project was ejected out into space. On board one of the battleships a visual recording was taken of the event. A single signal was sent to their home world: “success!”
On board the freighter, the Humans sat down to wait it out.
Chapter 8
The Modloch Emperor began to feel his temper rise. Michael Montgomery could read the signs well, and was glad they were miles apart.
‘You are telling me that two members of my Royal household are now captives of the Albany?’
‘Yes sir.’
Darrick struggled to keep his composure, ‘Give me the details.’
‘Earth’s Goodwill Ambassador and all of the senior members of his crew, along with the ship Ico, were captured and abducted by the Albany on the Haspsopot home world, while on their way to a function. The Haspsopot have no idea what happened.’
‘You know that is a load of shit don’t you?’
‘Of course we do, but what the hell can we do about it? It’s not like we can bomb the shit out of them, is it?’
‘I find it hard to believe Charlie was captured so easily.’
‘Ah! Captain Murison wasn’t captured. He put himself in harms way to effect a rescue.’
‘That sounds more like it. Tell me everything.’
The telling of the story didn’t take long. Darrick asked for the evidence. A short while later he called Rannalld.
‘Are you still pissing about in Catatarac space?’
‘Of course.’
‘I have a new mission for you. Two Albany battleships and a freighter are on their way to the Albany home world with the Lady Mya and Lord Noch Man Drich on board. The Lady Mya was abducted by the Albany along with the crew of one of the Ambassador’s ships, the female’s. They also have the ship in tow. Find them. There are decoys out there. I am sending you a signal frequency. Transmit it at any ships you come across. If you get no reply, simply destroy them.’
Rannalld got over his shock and began throwing things across the room. Darrick waited until he had regained some of his composure.
‘What are the Albany intentions, brother?’
‘Serum. Don’t worry, Charlie discovered the freighter and was able to get on board. I am hoping they are safe.’
Rannalld snorted, ‘I see. I suppose he had the signal frequency. So if we don’t get a reply, then the chances are, they are all dead.’
‘That’s right.’
Rannalld felt his temper rise, ‘If they are all dead, what will be our response?’
‘Full war. Your first task will be to destroy every world and outpost they occupy; then destroy the moon close to the Albany home world. Make sure enough pieces are sent towards their home planet. Collateral damage. After we have dealt with that, we will wipe the bastards off the face of the galaxy.’
Rannalld roared his approval, ‘We will teach them to hurt members of our family.’
‘That we will.’
‘What are the Humans doing?’
‘They will be right there alongside us. You know how important the Ambassador is to their world.’
‘This smacks of revenge to me.’
‘I have no doubt that’s exactly what the Albany had in mind.’
‘What are you going to do now Darrick?’
‘I am going to put the wind up the Albany Emperor.’
Rannalld roared with laughter, ‘He has no idea just how deep into the shit he is.’
‘Get to it.’
Rannalld roared his compliance.
The Albany Emperor looked quite cocky when he finally answered Darrick’s call.
‘It has been a while, Blang.’
‘What the hell do you want Darrick?’
‘I'm am officially declaring war on you and your Empire.’
The smirk began to slip, ‘What the hell for!’
‘For the abduction of two members of my Royal household.’
It was obvious he was confused, ‘What are you talking about?’
‘The Lady Mya, and Lord Noch Man Drich. Both may have been born on Earth, but both are family to me. You abducted the pair of them earlier today. You should have done your homework better Blang, but then, it wasn’t always your strong point, was it?’
‘I have no idea what you are talking about.’
‘One of the Human’s Builder ships escaped. They recorded the whole thing.’
‘You can’t prove it.’
‘I have evidence enough to justify a war on the grounds of provocation. If they aren’t alive, and returned in the next few hours, I am going to destroy every planet your people occupy. There will be nothing left of your Empire but your home world. You have no fleet Blang. Vison won’t help you, not this time, and the Haspsopot are going to be so busy trying to defend their own territory, there will be no help there either. I am going to reduce both of your races to ashes.’
‘You can’t attack our home world directly.’
‘No, but I can legally blockade it.’ Darrick leaned close to the screen, ‘You had better pray those Humans are all still alive.’ Darrick cut the connection.
Trembling, Emperor Blang called for his deputy.
‘Yes sire?’
‘Have we received a communication from the ships that took the Humans?’
‘I’m not sure. Let me check.’
It took him almost a minute. ‘We have. I am delighted to say they sent the code word “Success”. The Humans have been processed and they are making good time.’
He was shocked when his Emperor began to vomit over his own desk.
‘Sire, are you all right?’
‘Do they still have that Builder ship?’
‘Yes of course.’
‘Tell them to destroy it utterly. Leave no trace of it.’
‘Yes sire.’
Chapter 9
Charlie had only managed to grab a couple of hours sleep when Komoru turned up. He rolled onto his back with a groan.
‘What the hell do you want?’
‘Remember when the Builder’s ships took control of Ico and Babes?’
‘I remember.’
‘You were the only one who could talk to them and hear them.’
Charlie could see what she was about, ‘Aye, but I was on board at the time.’
‘Can you try?’
‘That’s what I was doing when I feel asleep. Either these dampening fields are too strong, he is dead, or still knocked out.’
‘We could try dropping ours.’
‘They are listening on passive systems. They will notice if our field drops. One scan and we are all dead.’
‘We need to try something.’
Charlie shrugged, ‘Like what? Make a suggestion, you’re Ico’s Captain.’
‘Maybe Ico would respond to me. You joined minds with Steven once, didn’t you?’
‘Using a machine, yes.’
‘That was a long time ago Charlie, your powers have grown a lot stronger since then.’
‘This isn’t a power,’ he laughed, ‘Do you think I’m some sort of superhero or something?’
‘Don’t make me swear Charlie. There is a mental boot up sequence we could try. We just have to join together somehow.’
Charlie reeled back, ‘You’re the last person I want to join anything with.’
‘Oh! Not like that, link our minds somehow. Project my thoughts.’
Charlie closed his eyes for a moment. He shook his head. ‘Not like this. Maybe if we can join nanites.’ He sat up and crossed his legs. ‘Sit on my lap.’
‘What!’
‘Do it or don’t, I can go back to sleep.’
She stomped a foot but crawled into his lap and mimicked his pose. He grabbed her hands and began to concentrate. Komoru squealed and wrenched her hands free. ‘That burns.’
‘Where?’
‘At the wrists.’
‘That’s where they concentrate. I am going to have to spread them all around our bodies, diffuse the heat. Take your top off.’
‘I will not!’
‘Then piss off then.’ When she didn’t move, Charlie leaned back and took his top off.
Komoru’s chest heaved, ‘Don’t you dare look.’
‘Consider my girlfriend and consider yourself. You have nothing to look at.’ Komoru flushed darkly and removed her top. ‘Lean back against me.’
She did so reluctantly. Charlie took a peek and smiled. He closed his eyes and concentrated. Komoru shuddered as Charlie’s skin seemed to lose cohesion and melt into hers.
‘You alright?’
‘Hot, but bearable. My arms and back.’
‘All right. Start reciting that boot up procedure, and I will try and transmit it to Ico.’
Komoru closed her eyes and focused her mind on Ico. ‘Ico, Ico. Wake up. Ico, Ico. Wake up.’ Words seemed to seep into his mind. ‘Ico, Ico. Wake up.’
Ico’s consciousness began to flow forward into the present.
‘My heart, my heart, where are you!’
The joy from Komoru was transmitted straight to Ico. He fully awakened.
‘My heart, where are you, where is my crew?’
‘We are all safe. I am transmitting this signal through Charlie. We were abducted and are on board a freighter. You are being held captive by a warship. You must not allow them to read your life signs or awareness. Repair yourself and your systems and be ready. Do not search for us.’
‘I understand my heart. They have cables attached to my hull. I do not know what to do.’
‘I don’t know either Ico.’
‘I do. Can you hear me Ico?’
‘Yes Charlie, I can hear you.’
‘Isolate those areas. Repair yourself. Think of a sink plug, Ico. Instead of a drain, you will be complete underneath.’ Charlie sent him a mental picture. ‘If the time comes when you must tear yourself free, there will be no damage beneath the plug, your hull will be whole.’
