Borne On Wings of Steel (5 page)

"You have done well."

"Could this be the Iraxx again?” the sub-commander asked.

"I do not think so, they would not be this foolish. No, this public search of the great Mrad system is from another alien race. And that is what makes it more dangerous to us."

"Shall I use breaker code and slice into the Mrad credit system to see who purchased the search console?"

"Using the kill code to stop a public search is one thing. Using breaker code to infiltrate their credit system will certainly get picked up by their security sub-systems. It may lead them to our ship and compromise our cover.” The Harg in command paused in thought.

The subordinate Harg waited patiently as his commander pondered the risk.

The commander nodded. “Do it."

With rapid keystrokes, the Harg sub-commander enabled the breaker code and targeted the infiltrate and seek parameters with the system ID of the Search console and the time the search began.

The breaker code launched.

The Harg watched the progress chart intently. At first, the Mrad security kept the malicious code at bay. But before an entire minute passed, a hole was identified and penetrated. Ten seconds later, the targeted data scrolled across their screen.

"A Zuuk purchased the search?” the Harg commander said with surprise.

"Hmmm. Zuuks are not that common in this Sector. Although they do come to Mrad on occasion."

"Look.” The commander pointed to the screen. “The Zuuk purchased time on two other Search consoles. A Hrono on one. Now, that is an alien race I've not heard of before. We need to check its searches."

"And look at this, a Kraaqi and something called humans on the last console?"

The Harg looked at each other with puzzled expressions.

"We must interrogate the Clakza in charge of this station and identify these unknown aliens. As well as this Zuuk who searches for the forbidden knowledge."

"And when we find him?"

"Then we find out who sent them, and why—and report directly to the Paum. The Paum has explicit orders on this subject—if anyone showed interest in sentient machines."

The Harg commander stroked the blaster on his hip as a smile grew.

"And if the Paum decides they are dangerous to our paradigm, we kill the Zuuk and everyone else on its starship."

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MINSTREL-ZUUK'S EYES STARED unblinking.

"You know, your new shape gives me the creeps sometimes. I feel like I'm being watched all the time,” Kyle said with a laugh.

"I'll be glad to remove this body myself,” Minstrel-Zuuk whispered. Clearing its throat, it continued in a normal tone. “I left my searches running in background mode a few minutes ago and will check their output tomorrow. How have you done?"

"Mine are running as well,” Jysar reported.

"We're trying something new.” Kyle stood. “But, the progress bar is barely growing. And it's time to get back to Mother."

"Good, I'll see you later then."

"Hey, did you forget it's ‘Music Evening’ tonight?” Jaric said with surprise. “The band won't be the same without Minstrel."

Five of Minstrel-Zuuk's seven eyes twinkled with pleasure.

"I have a
musical adventure
awaiting me at the Blue Star Lounge. A new musical fad—or genre—is blooming here. It's spreading across the planets like wildfire too.” The huge Zuuk form quivered with excitement. “In recent weeks, a Minstrel copied a few songs from starships that recently traveled here. The songs were communicated outbound to all Minstrels in this quadrant—which is how I received them. The music is quite distinct."

"Yes,” Jysar said with remembrance. “You travel the universe in search of song."

"That is one code we live by, yes. But there is more. Minstrels seek out what is good and beautiful and noble from all races. Music is our greatest love,” Minstrel-Zuuk said with pride. “Think about it, what greater bond is there between all sentient races in the great, wide universe? They may speak different languages. They may breathe oxygen, nitrogen, or hydrogen. They may live millennia, or they may live mere weeks. But, music is something that all sentient races share in common. And each can listen to and enjoy the music of another alien race even without being able to speak their language."

"What about the technology we share?” Jysar asked. “And a decent Galactic Translator resolves any language barrier."

"Pre-space travel sentients, even pre-technology sentients, make music, my Hrono friend."

"Music is good—
good for the soul
.” Rok nodded appreciatively.

"And the melodies, the lyrics, and the rhythms are unique to each alien race which creates it. Still, because it is music—the rest of the universe can enjoy it. But only if the music is heard—that is why we Minstrels seek it out, not only to listen but to record it and share it. We ourselves learn to play it with our instruments—instruments integrated directly into our starships."

"What is this music you go to hear now? And I hope you've told Mother you're not coming tonight,” Kyle said.

"Mother is informed. In fact, she is eager to hear what I will record tonight, although no one will realize what I'm doing at the Blue Star. The music is associated with a new dance form—the Mrad call it ‘Happy Dancing.'” Minstrel-Zuuk smiled. “And the songs I have heard so far identify the music as ‘Happy Music.’”

"Happy Dancing?” Jaric said with surprise. “Why should that be so special, or different?"

"Most forms of dancing by adult sentients are with specific purposes in mind—to tell stories, to follow a complex choreography, to impress others, or to encourage mating rituals."

"And this?"

"This, it seems, falls into the genre of pure, child-like enjoyment. To dance, to make music—for the
sheer enjoyment
of it, much as young children dance simply for the joy of dancing, not caring if others see. Adult aliens are ‘Happy Dancing’ across all planets in this sector.” Now, all seven of Minstrel-Zuuk's eyes gleamed with excitement. “Humans may reference the music of J. S. Bach or Mozart as happy music. However, there is a better example that spawned a kind of ‘Happy Dancing’ on Earth in the mid-twentieth century. This genre, called Rock and Roll, is exemplified by early Beatles songs as well as songs by Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, and others of this time period."

"Cool,” Jaric agreed.

"Hey, I want to hear some when you get back,” Kyle said excitedly.

"And so you will.” Minstrel-Zuuk glided gracefully away toward the more sedate thoroughfares—the moving sidewalks—of RahajMr .

"And now, we get to see why they put the
bullet
in Bullet-Cars.” Kyle laughed.

Eagerly, the foursome made their way through the throngs in the opposite direction of Minstrel.

The queue moved quickly as they pulled out their credits and prepared to step into the tight confines of the sleek Bullet-Car.

"Very cool,” Kyle said with awe as he watched a Bullet-Car in the next slot over from them suddenly shoot into the air with a hiss. Seconds later it disappeared inside one of the hundreds of tunnel openings studding the great wall that rose before them. Each tunnel led to various destinations of the great city.

"Oh man, those things can fly."

While watching others pay and step inside the bullet-shaped cars, they noticed how the gull-wing door closed shut and made the steel surface seamless and totally aerodynamic. Next, the Bullet-Car moved slowly forward to a launching square. After a quick countdown, it shot silently through the air directly at one of the tunnel openings—each one the beginning of a long tube lined with both magnetic and anti-grav components. These devices ‘shot’ the cars down through the tunnels with ever increasing velocity to their destination, normally in less than two minutes. The longest tube ride lasted just over four minutes, and its destination was the other side of the city.

"Bullet-Cars are not for the faint of heart.” Rok nodded with anticipation.

"Wow,” Kyle agreed.

They watched with mouths agape as another car disappeared with a blur of motion.

Rok and Jysar paid their money and stepped inside their own Bullet-Car. Jysar smiled and waved to them as the gull-wing door closed. In total silence, the Bullet-Car moved forward into position—aimed at a specific tunnel opening.

"I hope they have lights lining the tubes, I want to see and feel this bad-boy as we fly through the tunnels,” Jaric said to Kyle as the Bullet-Car with their friends suddenly soared silently away.

Another Clakza, his distinctive black and white striped snout and face fixed on them, waited for payment.

Kyle fished some credits out of his pocket to pay for himself and Jaric.

"So, these are the famous Bullet-Cars, eh?” Kyle smiled as he started to sit down in the front seat as Jaric took the rear one. Both seats faced forward inside the cramped compartment.

"Yes,” the Clakza said, his dialect not as strong as Ablek's. “Some aliens jest come to RahajMr in order to rad every single tube. When we dee-signed this transit system, we wanted the rad to be as much fun as the destination—meybe more. Each tube, or tunnel, has its own unique set of twists and turns. We designed it that way.” The tiny mouth grinned at the end of the huge snout. “Jest for the
fun
of it."

"Alright,” Kyle said with excitement.

Kyle twisted his body and finally fell the rest of the way into the tight confines of the forward seat. He immediately noted the lack of buttons or controls on the console before him—only a few indicators for speed, time and location. Looking up, he stared through the reinforced windshield at the curved nose of the Bullet-Car.

"All Bullet-Cars are automated bah the central computer,” the Clakza said, guessing his thoughts. “But I'll tell yew, if yew really want a ride yew need to take the city-to-city Bullet-Cars. The ones that leap out into the wild winds and fly between the floating cities! Now
that
is a ride."

"How do they work?” Jaric asked, his interest piqued.

"Navigation systems are point-to-point between the cities. Those parr-ticular Bullet-Cars are bigger and carry their own internal anti-grav engines, which is why they can carry up to six average-sized aliens. But even with their bullet designs, the ride can be rough and wild as they sail into the eternal winds of this gas giant."

"Oh man, we may have to try that before we leave,” Kyle said from his seat.

Jaric twisted his body and fell into his seat behind Kyle. He smiled mischievously as the safety force field wrapped tightly around his body in order to hold him in place. “You bet."

Their hearts pounded with adrenaline as the Bullet-Car moved with complete silence to the launch pad and stopped. On the console, all lights glowed green.

Kyle tensed.

He knew that at any moment they would be launched forward and get to their bullet speed of one hundred fifty kilometers an hour in mere seconds.

Jaric looked around, his head firmly held against the back of the thick cushioned seat by the safety force field. Jaric smiled as he saw Kyle glance back.

"
Let's rock this thing!"

In that instant, their Bullet-Car rocketed forward with a blur of motion.

For one brief instant, it seemed that they were leaving their bodies behind, a strange sensation of intense speed and the conflicting sensation of the force field holding them in place.

Seconds later, they entered a tunnel.

As their eyes quickly adjusted, they noted with satisfaction that a line of lights lit up the tube's interior.

Their car surged silently forward with a new burst of speed. The two young men felt their bodies pressed deeper into their seats as the G-forces increased.

As they reached their top speed their eyes were assaulted by the line of lights as they hurtled down the long tube and suddenly curved to the right, back straight, then left. In another moment, they hurtled forward upside down.

With two more bursts of speed and three more hard banks into tight curves, it became impossible for them to tell if they were right side up or still upside down.

The only thing they knew was that they were hurtling forward at immense velocity.

Suddenly, the line of lights traveled downward.

The Bullet-Car shot straight down with more speed.

The Bullet-Car quickly turned upright as they realized they could feel their bodies again.

They were only fifteen seconds into the ride.

Jaric's mind began to function again as his senses coalesced and he realized how fast they were traveling. In that moment, Jaric did what came naturally.

He screamed.

Kyle's laughter mixed with Jaric's howl as the line of lights revealed a curve that now took them left and straight up.

And suddenly down with a hard left turn!

Both men felt their stomachs jump with the sudden turns as their bodies jerked time and again between the two forces assaulting their senses—one fighting to keep them in place with an iron grip, and one pushing and jerking with titanic force with each turn.

With their mouths wide open in silence, they stared in wild fascination.

In the next seconds, they felt the Bullet-Car slow.

Slightly.

In another moment, the car slammed hard left followed by a hard right.

They entered a series of corkscrew turns that lifted them out of their seats, but the force field pressed them back down each time.

Again they felt the Bullet-Car throw them upside down.

And again they banked upward and through a long curve to their right as the Bullet-Car righted itself.

Jaric felt a dizziness enveloping his mind.

The Bullet-Car dropped straight down again.

Down, down they hurtled.

It felt like the drop would never end.

Suddenly, they straightened and hit a long straight-away.

Now an electric thrill of total excitement filled their senses as the pure speed pressed them deeper and deeper into their seats with each passing second.

Kyle and Jaric found their voices as they yelled with excitement. But it required all their effort simply to scream—each held in place by the comforting grip of the force field.