Atlantis Rising (38 page)

Sa’oliq got quiet as she thought about what
was being said.

“However, until that time, ships flying under
the Cypher Flag can’t be touched,” Breq said. “We can’t afford a civil war,
with what is happening in the Empire right now. It would tear us apart at the
seams. Though, I would suggest that the Honorable Cypher find a less
threatening means of transport.”

Terri bowed.

“Sa’oliq,” Breq said. “What is the Castanian
position on this new Cypher?”

“My people accept Honorable Hunter as a true
Cypher,” Sa’oliq said.

“So shall the Invaru,” Breq said. “We will
take our leave, now. I must report back to the Emperor in person about this
matter. I also must enter Honorable Hunter in the database, so that all can
recognize her as a Cypher. We don’t want this to happen again. With your
permission, Honorable Hunter, I’ll take my leave.”

“As you wish, Admiral Breq,” Terri said.

All three Invaru ships entered hyperspace as
everyone on the Atlantis let out a sigh of relief. Terri stepped out of camera
view and grabbed her face with a hand and made a motion like she was pulling
something off it. She made the motion of tossing it on the ground and then
stomping on it as she smiled. Jon chuckled as he watched his sister do her
little dance. Terri then stopped and smoothed her clothes as she stepped back
into view.

“We will continue our escort and assist you
with your repairs,” Sa’oliq said.

“Thank you,” Jon said.

“Sir,” the Com officer said. “We received a
burst transmission from the Wrath’s Revenge just before she entered
hyperspace.”

“What does it say?” Jon said.

“Well, Sir,” the Com officer said. “It looks
like a set of coordinates. There is also a small note that says ‘go here.’ It’s
signed: Admiral Breq.”

“Con have you plotted the coordinates?” Jon
said.

“Yes, Sir,” the Con officer said. “It’s a
dead end system with five planets. It’s actually situated pretty close to Ghost
Station.”

“I know this system,” Sa’oliq said.

Jon arched his eyebrow as he spoke, “You do?”

“Seems you have more friends than I thought,”
Sa’oliq said.

“That isn’t widely known,” Jon said.

“Yes, I thought not,” Sa’oliq said. “We will
keep your secret. Some believe that system is the home of the Cypher Guild.
Whether it is or is not, I have no idea. No one who has ventured there has ever
come back to report.”

“Interesting,” Jon said. “But, what
significance would it have for us?”

“I do not know, Jon,” Sa’oliq said. “I only
know what I have been told or heard.”

“Sounds like a place we need to visit,” Jon
said.

on stepped onto the Bridge of the Atlantis, followed closely by
Terri and Mike. They had completed their repairs thanks to the Castanians.
Atlantis
stood next to Jon’s chair, smiling.

“Good to see you, Atlantis,” Jon
said as he returned the smile.

“Good to be back, Sir,” Atlantis
said. “Glad to have you back, too, Captain.”

“Glad to be back,” Jon said.
“Wearing my uniform with the helmet deployed was getting a bit awkward.”

“No joke,” Terri said. “I would
have never guessed they lived in an atmosphere that thick.”

“You could breathe it if you had
too,” Mike said. “It’s pretty close to our own. It would make you light headed,
though, because the helium content is a bit high. It would also tire you out
quickly and you would probably suffocate from exhaustion if left exposed for
too long. The density, combined with the pressure, is what allows them to
breathe. I gathered from speaking to them that they absorb it, rather than
inhale it, as we do.”

“An interesting race,” Jon said.
“Speaking of them, how are our guests doing?”

Mike turned to check a few read
outs as he spoke, “Deck six environmental systems report the atmosphere is a
match for their own. They should be quite comfortable for the trip.”

“Tactical, make sure guards are
posted at all entrances and exits,” Jon said. “I don’t want any of our people
wandering in by accident. Our guests also have limited access to the whole
ship. Just make sure they have an escort. If Sa’oliq needs anything make sure
she gets it, if we can do it.”

“Aye-aye, Sir,” the Tactical
officer said.

Deatra stepped off the transport
tube, followed by her guards, and walked towards Jon as she spoke, “So how was
it?”

“Confining,” Jon said. “But,
pleasant and interesting. Their capital is something to see.”

“So I have heard,” Deatra said.
“Is it true what they say?”

Jon nodded as he spoke, “Their
city is made from an amber substance which is created by a lower caste of drone
workers. It’s almost as hard as steel. Yet, at the same time, it is flexible
enough to absorb impacts. It’s a massive golden city that reaches far into the
sky and shines brightly under their sun. It’s very beautiful and breathtaking.”

“I’m glad everything has worked
out,” Deatra said. “I’m also glad you all are okay.”

Jon watched Deatra as she spoke.
His heart thumped as he felt her love reach out to him, as his own love warmed
her.

“You know,” Jon said. “I have a
job for you.”

“Anything I can do to help,”
Deatra said.

“I want you to go to the
secondary bridge and get with Carla,” Jon said. “I want you to make sure the
preparations for the Castanians’s arrival at Ghost Station are ready. Pick a
deck, and work with Engineering to get it prepared. Carla and the secondary
bridge crew will be at your disposal. I’ll also leave it to you to contact
Sa’oliq to find out if there is anything special she will need done.”

“It will be my pleasure,” Deatra
said.

“If you have any problems, Carla
is there to help you,” Jon said.

Carla’s hologram, which was
across the room looking over the shoulder of one of the holographic personnel,
looked up at Jon and nodded as he spoke.

“I’ll be honored to assist you,”
she said.

“Thank you, Lieutenant Taldage,”
Deatra said.

“‘Carla’ is fine, Princess,”
Carla said.

“In that case, you can call me
Deatra,” Deatra said.

Jon stood up and gave Deatra a
kiss and then swatted her ass as he said, “Off you go, then.”

Deatra jumped and let out small
squeal.

“Just you wait,” Deatra said as
she walked away. She swayed her hips a bit more than usual as she added, “I’ll
get you back, Mr. Hunter.”

“Yeah, well you better bring your
guards with you,” Jon shot back as he winked.

“No, I think my handmaidens will
suffice,” Deatra said.

She grinned at Jon, who was
open-mouthed and trying to think of something to say. Before he could say
anything, she disappeared into the transport tube with her guards close behind;
every one of them was snickering.

“Have your hands full bro?” Terri
said with an evil little grin on her face.

“You have no idea,” Jon said.

“Oh, I think we do,” Atlantis
said as she winked at him.

Jon just blinked as the chuckles
started.

“Way too full,” Terri said as she
turned back to the Con.

“I, um,” Jon said. “Never mind,
prepare for departure. Have all stations report readiness.”

“That’s what I thought,” Terri
said.

“Stuff it,” Jon said.

He smiled as his sister giggled.

“Oh! Our big strong Captain is at
a loss for words,” Terri said. “Who would have thunk it.”

Mike had been laughing the whole
time as the two went on, as was most of the bridge crew.

“Hey, Chuckles,” Jon said,
looking over at Mike, “how about a report when you’re done laughing it up?”

“Sure, just give me a second,”
Mike said.

Mike began laughing harder and
wiped some tears from his eyes. Then suddenly, he stopped in mid-laugh.

“Engineering is reporting all
green.”

This made more than one of the
crew to start laughing again, and even Jon smiled at the antics.

“Oh, you’re a regular riot. You
both are, you should be a team and tour the known systems.”

“Really, you think so?” Mike
said.

“Yeah, really?” Terri said.

“No,” Jon said.

Terri stuck her tongue out at
Jon.

“Party pooper,” Mike said.

“That’s me,” Jon said. “Okay,
folks that’s enough! Let’s get down to business.”

“All stations reporting green,”
the Tactical officer said.

“We have clearance to depart at
our convenience,” the Com officer said.

“Con,” Jon said, “take us out. Prepare
for initial jump once we’re clear.”

“Aye-aye, Sir,” Terri said.
“Docking clamps released. Making speed at one-quarter power. Preparing to fold
in four minutes.”

The Atlantis turned from her
docking berth, making her way towards the outer markers. She picked up speed
and suddenly disappeared in a flash of light.

Two days later, the
Atlantis
sat at the edge of the mystery system. Jon was staring at the hologram of the
system. Atlantis was going through some readings on the other side of the
table, and Terri was standing next to Jon staring at a planet.

“You’re sure about that, Terri?”
Jon said.

“Yes,” Terri said as she pointed
at a small planet displayed on the hologram. “That’s where we will find what we
have been sent to find.”

Deatra and Sa’oliq stepped onto
the bridge, and made their way to where Jon was standing. Sa’oliq was dressed
in a special type of environmental suit that was also battle armor.

“I’m getting a power reading from
that planet. It’s very low, almost as though it was trying to remain hidden. I
almost missed it, and if Terri hadn’t pointed the planet out I probably would
have not seen it,” Atlantis said.

Deatra and Sa’oliq looked at each
other briefly, and then turned their gaze back to Terri.

“What?” Terri said.

She was looking at Deatra and
Sa’oliq.

Jon looked up at the pair as his
sister spoke.

Deatra glanced at Atlantis as if
she was seeking confirmation.

“I told you,” Atlantis said. “She
is the one.”

“Of this you’re sure?” Sa’oliq
said.

Atlantis nodded.

“The one what?” Terri said.

Mike stood up, joined the small
group, and he was listening intently as they spoke.

Deatra glanced at Sa’oliq, who
just nodded.

It was Atlantis who spoke first
though.

“Terri, remember when I told you
that you were special and very rare?”

“Yeah,” Terri said. “You told me
I had a special ability to understand languages and even learn them quickly.”

“Yes,” Atlantis said. “But that
isn’t all of it. When I scanned you after the accident on Earth, I noticed your
brain worked in a very similar way to how a Cypher’s brain worked. It was that,
which made you special.”

Your brain functions in such a
way, that you can’t help but interpret what is going on around you. As a matter
of fact, I would say you have a more advanced brain than a Cypher, because you
do this with almost everything around you. Piloting is an example. The
hand-to-hand fighting Oojoung has been teaching you, is another example.”

You’re more of a Ga’sahde than a
Cypher. Sa’oliq and Deatra agree on this and we have had many talks about how
to handle this situation.”

“And following the appointed one,
shall be the appearance of an ancient and long forgotten sect of the Cyphers,”
Deatra quoted.

“This is the same as our
prophecy,” Sa’oliq said.

“Two questions,” Jon said. All
eyes turned to him. “What the hell is a Ga’sahde and why wasn’t I informed of
this little bit of prophecy?”

Deatra cast her head down as she
spoke, “My love, I’m sorry. You have to understand if word of this slipped out
by accident; the Emperor would have done everything in his power to destroy
you.”

“As if he hasn’t already,” Jon
said.

“No, Captain Hunter,” Sa’oliq
said. “He hasn’t put effort into finding and destroying you. Right now, he sees
you as a thorn in his side. To him, you are nothing more than a bug to be swept
aside.”

“I guess I can understand the
need for secrecy, even though I don’t agree with it,” Jon said. “However, I
don’t want any more secrets kept from me! It’s very important I have all the
facts so I can make choices based on them. Now, about these ‘Ga’sahde’…” Jon
let the last of hang in the air.

“Simply put,” Atlantis said.
“They were the warriors of the Cyphers. The galaxy used them to force peace
agreements when there was no hope of a peaceful resolution. In those matters,
they held power above the Kings, Queens, and Emperors. They’re who kept the
peace, and would have protected your world had they still been around. My base
was a station for the one who protected earth and its people.”

“If they were so powerful what
happened to them?” Mike said.

“No one really knows,” Deatra
said.

“My people say they encountered
something dark and more powerful than them,” Sa’oliq said. “What was called a
Black Death. They were gleaming ships able to withstand massive amounts of
damage. However, this is just a story my people pass around. I don’t know if it
has any truth. I remember the Ga’sahde. While they died like normal beings,
they also were capable of remarkable feats. They had different ranks,
Engineering, Command and on from there.”

“You’re an Alpha, Terri,”
Atlantis said. “A supreme Ga’sahde.”

“That means what, exactly?” Terri
asked.

“You will rule the Ga’sahde,”
Deatra said.

“What?” Terri said. “No thanks.”

“They will need you,” Sa’oliq
said.

“Who will?” Terri said. “There’s
no one left.”

“My people began testing a week
ago,” Sa’oliq said.

“And Ghost has been going over
medical scans for over a month,” Atlantis said.

“I’ve seen a couple of my
handmaidens, transmitting back to Euthara. They have been secretly transmitting
medical scans back to the station, for just as long,” Deatra said.

“Great,” Jon said, muttering to
himself. “The handmaidens know and I don’t.”

“I never said they knew why they
were doing it, just that they were,” Deatra said.

Jon slammed his fist down on the
planning table. Everyone in the room jumped at the sudden outburst. Jon glared
up at Deatra as he spoke, “This is all some big game to you, isn’t it?”

“I…” Deatra said.

Jon interrupted her as he raised
his voice, “Shut up! I trusted you, and this is what I get back in return:
secrets!”

“Jon…” Deatra said.

Tears were filling her eyes as
she took a step towards him.

“Shut up! I don’t want to hear
any more from you right now,” Jon said. “Guards confine her to quarters until I
decide what I’m going to do with her, no visitors. Com, no calls to or from her
room until I say otherwise. I’m so sick and tired of being led around by the
nose, so I can do what you all want me to do.”

The Royal Guards escorted a
crying Deatra off the bridge.

“Jon,” Mike said. “That was a bit
harsh, bro.”