Borne On Wings of Steel (16 page)

Jysar chuckled.

"What happened?” Krinia asked.

"They discovered that someone put a tracer program on my queries, as well as a kill code. Their internal security programs recorded some of its activity, but not the source. However, they did trace it to my query."

"Why would anyone want to trace your search queries?” Krinia asked.

"I presume they wanted to know the results as much as I did."

"Well, we were on our way back anyway. Let's go."

"But I wanted to check on my queries?” Elise asked plaintively.

"No need.” Minstrel-Zuuk replied, holding up a data pad. “I have your results here—courtesy of Mrad Security. It seems the boys have gotten into some kind of trouble as well. Just when I was about to be released, more Mrad Security came in and informed me that we were all being ordered to leave RahajMr—immediately. They supplied me with the results of all of our queries—and told me to find you and get back to our ship—pronto."

"Were there any matches for mine?” Elisa asked, full of hope.

"I am afraid not."

Elise's face fell with disappointment.

"Don't worry too much, Elise.” Krinia patted her shoulder comfortingly. “You tried."

"You can't expect to be a hero on your first attempt,” Jysar added.

"I don't want to be a hero.” Elise looked from one to the other with a pleading in her eyes. “I just want Jaric and Kyle to know that I'm human too. That I want to find other survivors, just like they do.” She sighed deeply. “If I helped them find other survivors, then they'd like me."

Krinia reached around Elise and gave her a strong hug of reassurance.

"There'll be another time. And then you can try again.” Krinia smiled at her friend. “The biggest thing is to never give up trying. And one day you or one of the boys are bound to succeed. I know it."

Elise's eyes brightened. “Thank you."

They walked off together arm in arm following Jysar and the multi-colored shell of Minstrel-Zuuk.

The two Harg held their position a moment longer at their table. Each typed brief notes into their handheld units reporting everything they just heard. They finished and quickly followed their quarry, always keeping them just within eyesight among the never-ending throngs.

But as Elise and the others stepped into Berth B279 where Mother sat docked, the Harg following them walked inconspicuously past until they came to a corner. They ducked quickly out of sight and waited.

After a few moments, they looked at each other with confidence. One of them took out a scanner and tuned it. Concealing it carefully under his shirt, he nodded to his accomplice. This time they walked slowly by Berth B279, long enough to obtain a good scan of Mother.

They hurried on to report their findings to the Paum.

SIX HOURS LATER, Rok, Kyle, Jaric and the Hammatt stood before the watchful gaze of Jodacis, Mrad Judge of the Law and the Chief Justice assigned to the Lower Court of Refugees.

"What did they do with everybody else?” Jaric whispered. “I mean, they must've arrested a couple of hundred aliens back there."

Rok slowly twisted his head from side to side as if he were trying to get rid of an annoying tenseness in his neck. He remained silent as he glanced up at the stern gaze of Judge Jodacis sitting at his station above them.

"It has been determined that you four started this outburst,” the closest Mrad Officer said.

Jaric looked down at the floor and sighed.

"I trust you've been given the
usual
lecture.” The Judge's voice boomed out, breaking the silence of the large judicial chamber.

Jaric and the others seemed to shrink under that voice of stern authority. And with the recent memory of the multitude of tedious words that verbally beat them black-and-blue, they had absolutely no desire to hear the lecture again.

Even now, the words echoed inside their heads like a bad song you wish you could erase out of your mind but can't.

Actually, the lecture boiled down to one important theme—if you did something stupid, like break the Law, then the Law would set you straight.

"Don't fight the Law,” Kyle whispered to Jaric. “Cause the Law always wins, baby."

"I'm convinced,” Jaric whispered back.

"Silence in my court!” The Mrad Judge returned his gaze to the console and the list of charges. “Answer my first question, please."

"Yes, we've heard it. Three times in the last hour alone,” Kyle said with disgust.

"And you'll hear it more before you're out of my courtroom. The Law will be obeyed."

They all groaned in unison.

"Well, what do we have here,” the judge continued as he glanced at the console on his desk. “Let's see, yes.” He cleared his throat. “Disrupting the peace, initiating a riot, destruction of public property, assaulting an alien.” He paused here. “Or aliens. Or should I make it assaulting anything that is within your reach."

Kyle groaned.

The Judge began inputting new data into the console while the four remained silent.

Several, long minutes passed.

Finally, the Judge finished. He looked down at them once again with unflinching eyes.

"We don't like your kind of alien in our cities. Especially aliens causing trouble among the homeless refugees we are trying to help."

Rok started to speak, thought better of it, and returned to staring at the floor.

"You'll spend four days in captivity, working in the kitchens to pay off the damage you've caused—your calculated share. And then you'll be escorted away from our cities as
persona non grata
, and not allowed to return to RahajMr or its sister cities until two years have elapsed. Is that clear?"

"That seems a bit harsh, don't you think?” Jaric looked up with surprise at the Mrad Judge. “I mean, we made a mistake—one mistake. We've—"

The Mrad Judge interrupted him.

"There is another, more serious activity in which you seem to be involved—albeit there is no direct evidence, only circumstantial."

"What is that?” Rok asked with interest.

"Have you ever met an alien named Ablek?"

"Yes,” Kyle answered quickly. “We rented our Search-terminals through him.” He, Jaric and Rok looked intently up at the Mrad Judge now.

"He is in hospital even as we speak—badly hurt and only semi-conscious."

"What?” the trio said simultaneously.

"His wounds are the result of a vicious attack.” The Mrad Judge leaned forward. “And whoever attacked him will be dealt with in the most severe way, according to our law."

"How are we involved?” Kyle asked. “We liked the little alien."

"That's right,” Jaric quickly added, a look of concern on his face.

"We are investigating exactly what took place. Our investigators have discovered that whoever perpetrated this heinous act was able to partially disable our Security systems—another serious crime."

"That's not us,” Kyle said matter-of-factly. “I don't think we're that smart."

"And so it may turn out to be. However.” The Mrad Judge cleared his throat loudly. “Ablek whispers a word from time to time as he lies there in hospital. And the word he repeats is—
human
."

Kyle and Jaric bowed their heads solemnly.

"The Hammatt does not seem to be implicated in this first crime."

All eyes in the courtroom turned to the big alien.

But the Hammatt remained strangely silent.

The Judge's gaze focused back on Kyle, Jaric and Rok. “So, first you meet Ablek and perform a business transaction. And later that same evening he is brutally assaulted. Humans have never before been to our cities, and yet within the first two waking cycles since you arrive, two crimes are committed. And you are implicated in both—either directly or indirectly.” The Mrad Judge cleared his throat noisily once again. “We don't like your kind of alien in our cities."

"We're innocent of the first incident, Your Honor,” Rok said with conviction. “We would never attack another alien, unless it was to defend ourselves."

"The investigation will determine that. If we do find you guilty of the first charge, you will be dealt with much more harshly. Now, take them from my court."

Kyle looked up. “Can we contact our ship first, to let them know what's happened to us? Our mother will be concerned."

"One communication.” He waved them all away.

"WHY ARE YOU in police custody?” Mother asked with an electronic edge.

Kyle and Jaric both groaned.

"It was a mistake, we were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Jaric answered quickly.

"Yeah,” Kyle agreed. “We were just minding our own business, eating lunch, when..."

"Actually,” Rok interrupted with an apologetic tone. “Actually, we found ourselves involved with several irate aliens. Jaric inadvertently insulted one..."

"Yeah, the biggest one there,” Kyle said.

"Wait, wait,” Jaric broke in. “That Hammatt started it back in the..."

"Enough!” Mother shouted, her voice rising several decibels.

"Uh-oh,” Kyle said under his voice.

"I will ascertain all the facts from you and from the Mrad authorities—personally. At that time, I will determine what took place. And what additional discipline I need to take. Suffice it to say, you got yourselves into trouble. And you are also in serious trouble with
me
."

Kyle and Jaric groaned again.

"In the meantime, I have good news."

Rok, Jaric and Kyle stared at the Mrad communicator.

"Minstrel and I have decided we all need a vacation."

They looked at each other with puzzled expressions.

"We have been talking about this concept while I researched its history. The planet I have chosen for the process of vacation is not only an ideal place to relax and unwind, but there is also a famous festival taking place right now. It is a five-day journey from here."

"Go on,” Kyle said with growing interest.

"It is the island-planet called Meramee."

"Indeed, it is a most fascinating place,” Minstrel added from the communicator. “A rare and beautiful world—ninety percent ocean with the largest land mass only a few hundred kilometers in total area. There are tens of thousands of different islands that dot this planet. It is said—'no two islands are exactly alike on Meramee.’ I am in keen anticipation myself."

"Meramee."

Jaric said the word as if it were a long lost friend. He looked at Kyle with eagerness on his face.

"I've heard of it. A couple of aliens mentioned it to me a few months ago—some kind of tropical paradise planet."

"What kind of festival?” Kyle asked with excitement in his voice.

"It occurs every seven years,” Mother said. “Millions flock to it from all the planets in this quadrant, even faraway Jantannell. It's a festival featuring the best food, beer and wine from the planets of a particular sector chosen by the Festival Council. They call it ‘Rayall Shifanzz', which roughly translates ‘Taste of the Quadrant.’”

"Even better, the aliens who reside on this island-planet are an aquatic race called the Mejadic.” Minstrel glowed brightly. “These festivals feature their unique underwater concerts. They play their instruments underwater but the sounds can be heard above water. And song-whales are known to join many times, adding their eerie cries. I have heard recordings by other Minstrels who've visited Meramee, but this will be my first time to experience it personally."

"We plan on staying at least one month after the festival's climax subsides,” Mother added.

"The best food and beer from an entire sector,” Rok said as he licked his lips. “Sounds delightful."

"I have contacted your Kraaqi frigate, the
Aurora
. It is now on its way here and will pick you up once you are released. They will contact you with their berth number when they arrive."

"Wait!” Kyle shouted. “Where are you going to be, Mother?"

A brief, but powerful pause echoed from the communicator.

"We will be arriving at Meramee right about the time you are released."

"Why?"

"We too have been asked to leave and then return at the end of the week to pick you up. Instead, we will proceed to Meramee and wait for you there, a more efficient use of our time. There is no need for us to be inconvenienced by your mistakes. The
Aurora
will pass RahajMr on its way to Meramee. It is logical that they pick you up."

Jaric and Kyle looked at each other.

"Yeah, I guess there's no need for you to suffer for our troubles. I guess we'll see you at Meramee,” Jaric said, his voice tinged with sadness.

"Yes,” Mother said with firmness. “At that time we will discuss this issue again."

[Back to Table of Contents]

MOTHER LIFTED FROM her berth two hours later and made her way through the eternal winds. Her gift from the Kraaqi, the anti-gravity sub-light engines, powered her steadily through the tattered cloud bands of green and orange. Within a few minutes, she left the gas planet behind and sailed gracefully into the silent blackness of outer space.

As she turned and powered up her hyperdrive engines, Mother's manta-ray silhouette shimmered under the sparkling light of ten million stars. Mother locked in the coordinates for Meramee and kicked in her powerful ThunderStar engines.

With a mighty flash, she leapt into hyperspace.

"Why do you think tracer code and kill code were placed on your query, Minstrel?” Mother asked.

"That is a mystery.” Minstrel dissolved the multi-colored Zuuk shell and returned to its normal plasma body. Minstrel's twinkling body ebbed and flowed like a living cloud of countless miniature stars.

"I assume it has to do with sentient technology. I base that on the laws I found forbidding such technology—something highly feared.” A sudden wave of silver washed Minstrel's undulating body. “Further research I obtained remotely from my own starship revealed quite a number of alien races have actually outlawed and banned it in this quadrant."

Mother felt confusion. Why would any race ban such research? After all, humanity's efforts had resulted in her creation. She proved most beneficial to her creators, especially as the caretaker to the last three children of humanity.