Atlantis Rising (36 page)

“So,” Deatra said.

Jon leaned back into the couch as
he spoke, “There are concerns from my command staff.”

“About me?” Deatra said. She
straightened up a bit and looked at Jon.

“Yes,” Jon said.

“I can understand that,” Deatra
said. “It’s hard to understand The Bond from an outside view point. How do you
feel?”

“I,” Jon said. He looked at
Deatra and felt his heart thump in his chest. “I don’t have any question about
you…” He left the end hanging intentionally.

“However,” Deatra said. “You have
questions about the guards and maybe some of my handmaidens.”

Jon nodded as he spoke, “How well
do you know them?”

“My hand maidens have been with
me for a long time,” Deatra said. “Could they be spies? That I can’t answer.
Could I vouch for all of them? No. Can I vouch for some of them? Yes. The Royal
Guards on the other hand I don’t know. I can’t vouch for any of them.”

“One of the concerns brought to
my attention is all of them are Eutharan,” Jon said. “It makes people nervous.”

“You have Human Guards as do I,”
Deatra said.

“One or two and then even they
aren’t full time,” Jon said. “We tend to seclude ourselves away and the only
time you are really seen is when I’m out and about.”

“That’s how this works,” Deatra
said.

“No,” Jon said. “I think you
misunderstand me. I mean we don’t hold parties or events to allow people to get
to know you. We don’t invite people over for dinner or even just to relax and
chit chat.”

“Oh,” Deatra said. “You know I
never thought about getting to know all of your friends and command staff. Sam,
Oojoung, and Terri are around all the time so I never gave that a second
thought.”

Jon nodded as he stared at Deatra
trying to fathom how she felt, even though The Bond was telling him she wasn’t
upset. “I want to set up a Captain’s table in the mess hall, and start eating
there on a regular basis. It will give people exposure to you and me, and allow
the command staff to dine with us whenever they want,” Jon said. “I also want
to open our door to the command staff so they can just drop by anytime to
visit.”

“They can do that now,” Deatra
said.

“Yes, they can,” Jon said, “but
we have just never extended the invitation, and they are unsure if they can.
They need to get to know you. I can’t really blame them for being suspicious.”

“I always wondered why more
people didn’t stop by,” Deatra said. “Back home on Eutharan, we would have
people visiting all the time. I like the idea of eating in the mess hall. It
would get me out more.”

“It also lets people know you
don’t place yourself out of reach, and if you’re needed, they can call on you,”
Jon said. “I’m going to make a few changes when we get back to the station. You
might not like them, but I have to do it.”

Deatra raised an eyebrow in
question.

“I’m going to limit your access
to certain areas without prior authorization to enter those areas,” Jon said.
“You will have to contact the department heads to gain access if you want it.”

“I can live with that
restriction,” Deatra said.

“Look, it’s not that I don’t
trust you,” Jon said. “It’s I don’t trust those around you because I don’t know
them. I actually recommend you do regular visits to these areas, and get to
know the command staff for each area. In a way, it’s the best of both worlds.
They want to get to know you better, and they want peace of mind. This gives
them both. Once they get to know you and the guards, they will relax.
Eventually they’ll let you know it’s okay to come by without notification.
While you’re on these visits, it’s a good time to get to know some of the other
crew, too.”

“Actually, that doesn’t sound too
bad,” Deatra said. “I’m still welcome there, they just want to know when I’m
going to show up and visit.”

“Exactly, so they can make sure
sensitive materials are out of eyesight,” Jon said. “The second thing I want to
do is mix the Royal Guards on all shifts. I want two of each race every shift
acting as Royal Guards. We’re also going to rotate personnel every two weeks so
that they all start getting to know each other. We will have a pool of sixty
four guards, sixteen of each race and they will rotate and live in the same
section.”

“I don’t know,” Deatra said.

“It’s not really up for debate,”
Jon said. “It’s going to happen.”

“What about the extra Eutharan
Royal Guards?” Deatra said.

“I think we will have them
assigned to Black Op’s as a promotion,” Jon said. “I know a bunch of them want
to join it. We’ll still have them listed as Royal Guards so we can call them at
a moment’s notice.”

“Oh, you’re sneaky,” Deatra said,
laughing. “I can live with that too.”

“One more thing,” Jon said.

“Yes?” Deatra said.

“I love you,” Jon said. “Come on
let’s go to bed and get some sleep.”

Deatra laughed as she got up,
“Yeah, right.”

Jon slapped her lightly on the
ass, making her jump and yelp in surprise as he got up.

Deatra whirled on him and
growled, “Don’t make me beat you!”

“Yeah? You and what army?” Jon
said as he lunged at her.

Deatra spun back around, and
yelped again as she dodged Jon’s grasp for her. She took off for the bedroom,
with Jon hot on her trail.

Twelve hours later a refreshed
Jon stood on the Bridge of the Atlantis minus Deatra. Terri was sitting in the
newly restored Con and doing a last systems check, as her holographic
counterpart did the same. Mike was across at Engineering running over some
readings, as they got ready to make their attempt to leave the void. The teams
hadn’t found any more explosives, and everything seemed all clear for the
moment.

“I’ve been able to restore some
of Atlantis’ basic functions,” Mike said. “Her emitter network is still
offline, so all we will have is audio. Also, most of her main subroutines are
offline.”

“Atlantis?” Jon said.

‘Yes, Captain?’ Atlantis said.

“Nice to have you back,” Jon
said.

‘Well, I’m not completely bac …
but yes, it is nice to be back,’ Atlantis said.

Jon smiled as he said, “Yep,
she’s back.”

“We’re ready to bring the fold
engine back online,” Mike said. “Just as a warning, there’s no telling where we
will exit, if we get out. We have been drifting a long time, and were folding
blind.”

“Blind?” Jon said.

“Yeah,” Terri said. “Navigational
computers have nothing to lock onto. So, we’re basically jumping with no
heading.”

“Um,” Jon said.

“Trust me,” Mike said. “It’s the
only way out. If we tried to put in coordinates they would just get rejected as
the computer can’t lock onto them.”

“So? Are you saying we could end
up in the middle of a planet?” Jon said.

“Well, yeah, I guess so,” Mike said.

“Guess so?” Jon said.

“A planet or a sun maybe,” Mike
said.

“A sun?” Jon said. “Are you
nuts?”

‘Captain,’ Atlantis said. ‘Chief
Anspach is correct. It is the only way out.’

“Understood. I don’t like it, but
understood,” Jon said. “Con, bring fold engine online and prepare to initiate
on my mark. Tactical, set Condition Red throughout the ship. Com, get me ship
wide.”

“Aye-aye, Sir,” Terri said. “Fold
drive online and charging.”

The lights changed to a dim red
on the Bridge as tactical acknowledged the command.

“Ship wide open, Sir,” the Com
officer said.

‘Crew of the
Atlantis
,
we’re about to attempt to break free of the void we’re stuck in. It might get a
bit rough, signal green when your area is secure,’ Jon said.

Seconds later Tactical reported
green across the board.

“Fold Drive charged,” Terri said.
“Ready to initiate fold on your mark.”

Jon took a deep breath and let it
out slowly. “Engage,” Jon said.

Nothing happened at first then
Atlantis
began to shake slightly. Slowly the vibration increased until
Jon’s teeth were chattering and he could not stop them. Suddenly the entire
ship went dark as her power failed briefly. Jon watched as the various stations
began to reboot when the power came back online.

Jon stood up and stared at the
blank Main Viewer. Slowly everyone stood up and stared at the main screen as it
booted up. Mike reached down and hit a button on his display as the screen
finished.

Stars sprung to life across the
screen and everyone on the Bridge cheered with hugs all around.

“Nice job,” Jon said. He was
hugging Mike as he patted him on the back. Jon let Mike go and stepped back, a
grin on his face. “Tactical…” Jon started.

“Captain,” the Com officer
yelled.

“Yes?” Jon said. He turned
towards the Com.

“Communications are back online,
and I’m in contact with Ghost Station. I’m sending them a report on our current
situation,” the Com officer said. “However, Sir, we have an incoming
communication.”

“From who?” Jon said. It suddenly
got quiet on the Bridge and people quickly took back up their stations.

“Unknown, Sir,” the Com officer
said.

“Put it through,” Jon said.

“Unknown vessel, you are ordered
to hold position and identify yourself,” a harsh voice said.

It sounded like someone was
gurgling thick liquid as he or she spoke.

‘That is the Castanians,’
Atlantis said.

“Who are they?” Jon said.

“Sir, if I may,” an Invaru
officer said. He stood up from a station and turned to look at Jon.

“Go ahead,” Jon said.

“The Castanians serve the Invaru
Collective,” the Invaru said. “They’re mainly an industrial race and are known
to be fierce fighters in their own right. We need to be very careful here as
this area is on the opposite side of the Invaru collective from Ghost Station
and there will be Invaru and Buranis patrols.”

‘He is correct,’ Atlantis said.

“Sir, I have five contacts
closing rapidly. Unknown ship designs,” the Tactical officer said.

“Well, let’s not wait around,”
Jon said. “Terri get us out of here best speed. Plot a course back to Ghost
Station and initiate Fold at earliest convenience.”

Atlantis
swung around and sped away from the approaching ships. The
unknown ships continued to advance on her even when Terri pushed the Atlantis’
engine to one hundred and ten percent.

“The fold drive is taking a long
time to charge,” Terri said.

“No, it’s down. That’s why it’s
not charging,” Mike said. “I have the engineers working on it.”

“I thought you had it fixed,” Jon
said.

“No,” Mike said. “I told you it
was a patch job and might hold together. Worst case would be we would have to
do a few more repairs when we got out.”

“Oh, yeah,” Jon said.

“Sir,” the Tactical officer said.
“They’re still gaining.”

“Time to intercept?” Jon said.

“Four minutes at current speeds,”
the Tactical officer said.

“Any more communications from
them?” Jon said.

“Just the normal communication
asking us to power down our engines,” the Com officer said.

“Okay, bring us about,” Jon said.
“Prepare to engage, all weapons hot.”

‘Sir,’ Atlantis said. ‘I have a
better idea.’

“What is it?” Jon asked.

‘This is what we do…’ Atlantis said.

he
Atlantis swung slowly back towards the approaching ships, as her external
lights switched color to cyan. A dim cyan color surrounded the lettering on her
hull as she slowed to a stop. The three ships pursuing her slowed and came to a
complete stop in front of her.

“Ma’am?” the Com officer said. “We’re being
hailed by the lead Castanian vessel.”

Terri stood next to Jon dressed in the formal
uniform of the Cyphers. The dark blue suit had bright cyan bands of rank
encircling her wrists. The same cyan color bordered her cloak as the uniform
she wore. She looked over at Jon who just nodded.

“Put them through, audio only,” Terri said.
“Turn the translators off, please.”

“Translators off,” the Com officer said.
“Audio only.”

“Unidentified ship, this is Captain Hi’joas,”
a gurgling voice said. “Heave to, and prepare to be boarded.”

Terri frowned a bit. She understood most of
what she heard. This was one of the languages she had been studying. Everyone
else heard it perfectly clearly. Jon shook his head as he quietly contacted
security, and had them prepare to repel borders.

Terri raised her hand as though to stop Jon
as she spoke, “Honorable Hi’joas, I would speak to you for a few moments,
before we make any hasty moves between our peoples.”

Silence was her reply.

“Honorable…” Terri started.

“You speak our language?” the gurgling voice
said. “Not perfectly, but well enough. Who are you? I have never before seen a
ship of this design.”

“I’m but a lowly servant to my people. I
bring myself before you on this day, to ask for your help,” Terri said.

“Strange, you were running away from us, not
but a moment ago. Yet now you believe I’ll think you bring yourself here to ask
for help?” the voice said.

“M’lord would you not run from such might,
too? It was a misunderstanding, and nothing more,” Terri said.

“Then show yourself,” the voice said.

Terri raised her hand and pointed at Mike.
The lights on the bridge dimmed, and turned a bright cyan.

“As you wish,” Terri said. “I only hope my appearance
doesn’t offend you.”

Jon sat down in the Captain’s chair as Terri
stepped back away from the center of the room.

“Visual,” Jon said.

The main viewer blinked briefly as the
connection was established. Terri bowed towards the screen, as a large life
form appeared. It looked like a cross between a slug and an insect. Armor
plates covered the soft flesh of its arms and head, and four eyes stared at the
screen.

Hi’joas gasped when he saw Terri bowing
before the screen. A murmur rippled through his ship as the crew began
whispering. Hi’joas leaned forward as if studying the screen on his side
intently. He leaned back, looked over one of his shoulders, and then spoke
softly to someone standing behind him, who shook his head no.

All four eyebrows on Hi’joas’ face furrowed
as he spoke, “What kind of trick is this!”

Terri straightened up and smiled, “I assure
you, this is no trick.”

“Do not lie to me!” Hi’joas said. A large
two-fingered hand slammed onto the arm of his chair. “There hasn’t been a
Cypher in thousands of years!”

“Yet here I stand,” Terri said.

“You are deceiving us!” Hi’joas said. “If you
are who you say you are prove it! If you fail, we will destroy your vessel and
everyone on board.”

“I doubt that,” Jon muttered.

Terri spun around and stared at her brother
as Hi’joas’ eyes locked on to Jon as he spoke.

“You doubt my sincerity? Who are you to do
this?”

“Hush!” Terri said.

Terri directed her words at her brother, and
they were quiet enough that Hi’joas didn’t hear her.

Jon stood up and stared back at Hi’joas, as
he stepped towards the planning table.

Terri reacted before her brother could speak.

“M’lord, if you distrust what you see turn
your translators off! See that I am real. Allow me to answer your question too.
This is Jonathan Hunter, Captain of this vessel. He doesn’t doubt your
sincerity; he just worries about his people.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jon
roll his eyes, as he returned to his chair and took his seat.

“My greatest apologies,” Jon said as he bowed
slightly from his chair.

He only said it, to get the screaming
Atlantis out of his head. God! She could be a pain in the ass when she wanted
someone to do something.

Hi’joas was still watching Jon as he nodded.

“Accepted,” he said. “I can understand duty,
so you are forgiven, Captain.”

Jon said nothing but slightly bowed, again.

“Why should I believe that the Cyphers are
back?” Hi’joas said.

“They’re not,” Terri said.

Hi’joas raised all four eyebrows in surprise.

“But, here you are,” he said.

“Yes,” Terri said. “I’m the only known Cypher
alive. I am the base for rebuilding the Guild.”

“If the Cyphers make their reappearance, it
could solve a lot of things,” Hi’joas said. “I know of Jonathan Hunter and the
Atlantis. Why should we not destroy your vessel right now, and be rid of the
nuisance of your people?”

“Because,” Terri said, “that would be against
the ‘rules of engagement.”

“What rules of engagement?” Hi’joas said.

This is what Terri was waiting for and he had
fallen into it without much prompting from her. “‘The Cypher Mandate of Radosa
Prime.’ It established that any ships flying the colors of The Cypher are
exempt from combat and are to be accorded all privileges and rite of passage
through space owned by any race signing The Mandate,” Terri said.

“That is an old document,” Hi’joas said. “It
is long forgotten, and was made by a now extinct race.”

“The Eutharan,” Terri said.

“Yes, of course, the Eutharan,” Hi’joas said.
“For a thousand years that race hasn’t been seen.”

“Strange,” Terri said.

“Why’s that?” Hi’joas said. He was eying
Terri suspiciously.

Terri walked across the bridge and stood next
to a person with their back to the main viewer. “I was just wondering if this
was something you were told, or something you know for a fact?” Terri said.

“It’s a fact,” Hi’joas said.

“Well, then,” Terri said. She turned the
chair around to show a Eutharan officer sitting in it. “I think you need to get
out a bit more.”

Hi’joas blinked all four of his eyes in
surprise.

“Impossible! We were told…” he said.

Terri arched an eyebrow as she looked at
Hi’joas. “You were told what?”

Hi’joas shook his head, “Nothing, it’s not
important.”

The murmuring had resumed on Hi’joas’ ship,
but he quickly cut it off when he slapped a hand down on the arm of his chair.

“It still doesn’t matter,” Hi’joas said. “You
travel on a warship. If you’re truly a Cypher you know that this is against the
rules and provides you no protection.”

“So, you acknowledge The Mandate as viable
and intact,” Terri said.

This caught Hi’joas off guard and his mouth
looked like a fish gasping for air. “The Castanian Empire is still under The
Mandate, yes.”

Terri smiled.

“You’re still aboard a warship,” Hi’joas
said.

“That is true,” Terri said. “However, under
certain circumstances, I’m allowed such transport. This ship flies my colors
for all to see with her weapons secured. We travel through hostile space. As
such, I’m allowed to travel in a warship, for my protection.”

“What hostile space?” Hi’joas said.

“All space is hostile, now. There is no peace
in this galaxy,” Terri said.

Suddenly before anyone could say anything
more, the screen split. An older Castanian appeared next to Hi’joas. Its armor
plates were deep red and highly polished with Gold bands etched into them,
running left to right.

Terri immediately knelt as she spoke, “Your
highness.”

As soon as Hi’joas saw the hologram, he
immediately knelt and spoke, “My Queen, to what do I deserve this unexpected
call?” Every Castanian on board Hi’joas’ ship knelt and bowed.

The Queen smiled at Terri and bowed slightly
before she spoke, “M’lady! The Castanians welcome you with open arms!”

After the Queen acknowledged Terri, she rose
and said, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

“No need to be so formal Cypher Hunter,” the
Queen said. “I’m Queen Sa’oliq, and you may call me by my name.”

Terri’s eyes widened in surprise as the Queen
spoke.

“Surprised? Oh, you shouldn’t be. I know
about you and your brother, Jonathan Hunter. I have read the reports, and I
must say I’m impressed.”

“You have me at a loss, Sa’oliq,” Terri said.

Hi’joas interrupted suddenly. “My Queen, we
still don’t know if they’re who they say they are. It could all be a trick!”

“Bi’ahantas, Hi’joas” Sa’oliq said. “You have
had your translators off, just as long as I have. She has been speaking
perfect, or close to perfect, Castanian. I have no doubts that she is a Cypher,
and that her claims are true.”

“Even so,” Hi’joas said. “There’s not a lot
we can do about it. We can’t render assistance to them. They’re outlaws, and
the Invaru seek them in connection with a crime. This makes them our enemy. I’m
just trying to decide what to do about them. Let them go or destroy them.”

“You’ll do no such thing, Captain,” Sa’oliq
said. “You’ll escort the ‘Maker of Worlds,’ and his friends, safely to port.”

A slap resounded on the bridge, as Jon’s hand
hit his face, and pulled downward as he groaned. A few chuckles echoed on the
bridge, but the crew immediately cut them off when Jon looked around trying to
see who was laughing.

“That’s him?” Hi’joas said. Surprise crossed
his face, then fell off. “Even so, we don’t have much choice. We must act to
preserve our people.”

“You will do exactly what I have told you to
do,” Sa’oliq said. “Is that clear?”

Hi’joas just stared at Jon, his mouth
slightly open.

“Captain,” Sa’oliq said, her voice gaining
strength and authority, “I said, ‘is that clear?’”

“Yes, my Queen,” Hi’joas said.

He knelt and bowed.

Sa’oliq smiled as she locked eyes on Jon.

“Please stand and step forward, Captain
Hunter, so that my old eyes can see you clearly,” she said.

One of her hands was making a motion for him
to stand up.

Jon looked at Terri who nodded back at him.

“So young, for a human,” Sa’oliq said. Jon’s
eyes widened in surprised. “Oh yes, Captain, I know of your people and their
plight. I have met many humans in my lifetime, though they’re rare in this part
of the galaxy.”

“There are humans here?” Jon said.

“No, not anymore,” Sa’oliq said. “However,
that is a discussion for another time.”

“Your Highness,” Jon said.

Sa’oliq snorted and spoke, “Sa’oliq, please.
The Maker of Worlds should never address those beneath him as equal or higher
in station.”

Jon arched his eyebrow in confusion.

“Your coming was foretold,” Sa’oliq said. “In
a great flash of light, the Maker of Worlds shall arrive. He shall carry a blue
light thought to be lost, thousands of years ago, and a long forgotten ally.
Both had been believed gone forever from the age of peace. He shall come to the
Castanians, and release them from their chains. He shall remake their world as
a place of peace and harmony… but only after much discomfort and disharmony.”

Jon let out another small moan as Sa’oliq
continued.

“Our laws are written in such a way that you
are the supreme leader of my people,” Sa’oliq said.

“What?” Jon said. His eyes widened as several
gasps filled the room around him. “Uh, I don’t want that.”

“I’m sorry,” Sa’oliq said, “but, that is how
it has to be. After certain conditions are met, you can then restore a
Castanian of your choice, as ruler.”

“What conditions?” Jon said.

“I’m sorry, we’re not allowed to speak of
them,” Sa’oliq said.

“Um, I order…” Jon started. Terri grabbed his
wrist and squeezed as she shook her head.

Sa’oliq smiled as she spoke, “See, Hi’joas,
she truly is a Cypher. She understands our ways.”

“Don’t, Captain,” Terri said. “If you order a
Castanian to do something they can’t do, they must take their own life, to
avoid spreading shame to their household and their bloodline.”

“…you to take us to port,” Jon said.

Jon thought he felt more gray hairs form on
his head, as he ran his hand through his hair.