Cutlass Sharpened (60 page)

“
We have three and a half
hours to spare. I don’t see why not. If you have anything that can
solve who I am, or was, and find out what happened to the Solarians
and why I was left behind then we both get something out of
it.”

“
Then we have no need to
linger.” Jake’s eye unfocused. “There, that should do
it.”

“
Do what?”

“
I just gave ye access to my
quarters anytime you need me. Only ye, Renee, Abdul, Jessica and
Stephanie have that freedom. Now come into me study.”

They stood and passed through the treasure
hoard and took the first door. The study was rather large and had
data tablet crystals sitting all over a shelf that covered the
square room. Most were caked in centuries of dust. It was a rather
empty room covered all over every surface in octagonal patterns.
Jake said “Run program Solarian six.” The walls disappeared and
created a hologram showing thousands of symbols floating in the
air. “These are the Solarian symbols we’ve discovered thus far. You
can move the runes around as if they were real. I need ye to look
around and tell me first if there are any here that has a direct
translation that does not change.”

Amber eyes lost focus and he
shook his head. “It’s a jumbled mess. Why don’t you set up
comparison screens I
can
read. Maybe then we can find out.”

“
Not a problem. Run programs
nine, sixteen, eight hundred eight
and
nine thousand six fifteen.” Four
three dimensional objects replaced the floating letters. “These are
the only discovered and verified Solarian languages. Ye already
know the Geo Record cube. This is of a wall that was pieced back
together after the stone was broken. This is a spaceship fighter
unearthed on Verard and I’ve got a copy of what I believe is a
ship’s log or a personal journal. This last one was in a
temple…”

“
No, it was a place where
Solarian woman gave birth and raised children. It was a protected
nursery.” Oliver said as he looked closer at the open pyramid of
stone many millennia old. “This dais right here says
‘
Welcome to the nursery Sisters. Here our
children can grow in safety. We have plenty of Beasts here to let
them hunt in safety to hone their skills. Please enjoy and be
courteous to fellow mothers and show respect for all. The second
level is a lounge for mothers to enjoy company away from their
child. Level three is for recovering mothers, birthing and bonding
of their new offspring. Fathers, please go to the lodge and do not
enter. Now is time for your partner to be free. If you disturb the
sanctity of this place you will be punished. If any women die from
Yours you will be fully responsible.
’ It’s
more like a guide or rules.”

“
This is interesting. Any
direct connections?”

“
Uh, these look the same.”
Oliver pointed to the ones on the guide and on the Geo Record. “It
can be read as both ‘partner’ or ‘female’… these are offspring
spoken neutral of specific sex. And these here are specific to
‘male’ written as masculine.”

“
Keep going. The program is
learning as ye talk. Me chip is backing up everything and learning
too.”

Oliver moved to the
reconstructed pillar visual. “This one tells of a law.
‘
Article law one five two. All warriors
sworn to the sword must die in the name of the people, then the
Galactic King and then to the women who guide our race. Any
deviation of this oath is treason to what is sworn. Warriors do not
kill indiscriminately. They protect the weak and defend against
those who do harm. To slay sentient life of ones own will for no
reason is punished by death. The warrior oath is to be the shield
for the needy and the blade for the absolute defense. Once the oath
is sworn the warrior is eternally bound by honor. To stain that
honor is to die in life as well as the in minds of those sworn to
protect.
’ These mean ‘Warrior’ gender
neutral. Males and females in this context means they often fought
in pairs.”

“
So I was correct.” Jake was
glad to be validated.

“
This is ‘Oath’ and ‘Honor’,
put these three symbols together is ‘Sworn’. Those three
translations are the absolutes. These over here have different
inflections, but grouped like this means a contract
to
the warriors oath…
Wait… what is that in the corner?” Oliver got closer till Jake told
him to just touch the display and stretch to zoom.

“
A smudge I think.” Jake
admitted.

“
I don’t think so. The way
it’s written points to it like an arrow for me… I think it’s a
planet where warriors go to swear.”

“
Planet? I don’t see a
planet.”

“
I get the sense it is one.
Is there a way to factor in weathering?”

“
Ye’re looking at it,
Laddie. But if ye think that smudge is a planet I’ll certainly keep
an open mind and have Jessica figure it out with that in mind.
Let’s keep going.”

The discovered Solarian ship was next and
Jake listened to the translation and it was indeed a ship’s log
that told it was shot down seventy three thousand years ago after
getting hit by a Gamma ray burst from a neutron star that had gone
nova. It wasn’t a direct hit, but the glancing blow had enough
impact to kill the crew instantly from the massive dose of
radiation which not even Solarian physiology could withstand.

Only there was so much information that it
would take quite awhile to sort through.

Jake was as excited as when he was sixteen
and found out how to unlock the Geo Record all over again. In no
time at all compared to nearly a millennia of dedication he got
translations of a lost people who likely started the life on
Earth.

Chapter 13

“
Papa! Where are
you?”

“
In here.” His voice carried
and the door opened.

“
What are you two doing?
It’s almost eleven.”

“
Can’t be? We’ve only been
at the translation maybe two hours at most?”

“
Papa, you know how you get
when you think you are onto something. I’m telling you both to
hurry up. You need to be punctual today or the crew will be pissed.
I’ve lost count of how many times it’s happened.”

“
Right, right. Lad, ye’ve
been invaluable helping me. Thanks to ye I’ve translated eighty
three percent on how yer people wrote. Much better than my minor
six constant words. I’m glad that even with memory loss ye can
understand it. How ye do it I bet lays with how your brain is
wired.”

“
Speaking of brains. Papa, I
want to undo what you did to me. What solution must I make to
disable the splicing?”

The men stepped out and Jake didn’t hold back
anything more from his only child. “If ye create the M241Y
disabling protein it’ll strip both the block on yer brain as well
as yer tendons.”

Then Jake noticed she carried her synthesizer
on her lower back and before he could say another word she pulled
the cartridge out, and her bracelet activated to take and inject it
straight into her wrist. It was Oliver who asked “How long will it
take to work?”

“
Couple days at least. My
body will gradually regenerate itself to how it should be. Now all
I need it to wait.”

“
Tell me about yer
multi-tool. I’ve never seen one like that. What does it
do?”

“
Couldn’t you just steal my
research?” she countered hotly.

“
Not anymore. When ye
connected to the ship I initiated the closure of yer chip to me. If
ye want, Jessica can confirm me chip is no longer allowed to link
to yers without permission.”

“
I’ll believe you for now.
We need to hurry. If you’re going to spill that we’re Solarians to
everyone then we need to hurry.” They picked up the pace and found
the bridge completely empty already and made way to the
elevators.

They boarded and were away as soon as it
arrived. Along the way Renee could not help hearing the excitement
in her father’s gravelly deep voice about how far his life’s work
had come.

Outer bulkhead doors opened out to the
sprawling deck where every single individual looked rather
perturbed to put it mildly. The reason for the unrest was
discovered soon enough as Davan Took stood behind Abdul. Around
them were the Hunters and their companions idly standing, but the
crew stood back, not daring to butt heads with the three impressive
men, two birds of prey or a rather large wolf sitting proudly.

A long green neck lifted
above the crowd and Sparky told the three newcomers
“Do something soon about this situation. Dissent
is upon us and I cannot placate it this time.”

Jake did just that. His barreled chest
swelled and Renee suddenly shoved her fingers in her ears and
squeezed her eyes. Oliver noticed and followed her example and yet
it still didn’t prepare him from the captain’s voice. Jake’s yell
shook the very ground and those nearest fell back from the minor
shockwave of “SHAAADDD UUUPPP!!!!!!!!!!!”

SHIT!
Oliver mentally cursed as he took steps away from the man much
larger than himself. That yell reminded him of the time with the
Fire Wyrm and he could not shake off a slight tremor that rushed
down his spine.

And he wasn’t alone as the crew went
completely silent and looked to the entrance closing behind the
Scottish giant. People that fell picked themselves up and listened
as he said “I couldn’t hear meself think over yer bickering. Abdul,
is everyone here?”

“
Yes, Captain. All four
hundred sixty three with your arrival.”

“
Listen up ye dogs!?” Jake’s
hand rested on the axe at his hip. “Ye know the rules of me ship. I
do not tolerate this behavior. I tell ye this once, do not believe
all ye saw in the news about Davan Took. Aye, he killed his
assistants, but he was
controlled
. I give him me protection,
just as I gave a few of ye when yer necks were about to be chafed
by the noose for a crime ye didn’t commit.” Steely green eyes
glared and flashed with his anger. “Now I do not want to hear
another word unless ye wish to be thrown out past the barrier and
see just how long ye can hold yer breath.” The promise in his words
were clear as day he would follow through. “Jessica, where are
ye?”

“
Right here, Brother.” She
came around the group, already changed into a pair of skinny jeans
and a t-shirt that showed off her pale neck.

“
I need ye to initiate the
blackout protocol.”

Jessica raised an auburn eyebrow as they sped
through space, already exiting the Verard solar system. The primary
star was now as small as any in the vastness around them. She
pulled out her handheld gem and it activated in her hand to make a
screen to then type away till it turned from blue to red. She hit
the screen one last time and put the object back in her pocket.
“Alright, we can’t be tracked, call out or be found till you tell
me to take down the cloak. We can still take from the net, but
can’t send anything.”

“
I’ll only say this once ye
dogs!” Jake’s voice carried after seeing his little sister was
still irritated with him, but would deal with him in private,
later. “Each and every one of ye are family to me and ye’ve all
given me respect. Ye’ve followed me command, some of ye for
centuries. A few were even born here.” He pointedly looked at
Vanessa cradling her newborn as well as little Chloe standing on
Sparky’s back to get a better view. “Many of ye have doubted me in
recent years in searching around unknown planets, acting more like
scouts in exploring this vast galaxy than seeking treasure to
divide up. I tell ye now that I had a purpose to start a plan I’ve
worked on for five centuries. Only now is it possible to
begin.”

Jake’s meaty hand clamped
down on Oliver’s shoulder and brought him closer. “Most of ye
suspect this lad here is much more different than normal. Aye, but
not as ye can imagine. In fact he is the last
pure
blood Solarian.”

The reaction floored the crew. Even the
casual standing Hunters seemed hit by a bolt of lightning. Those
closest backed away and whispers abounded.

“
Solarian? You cannot be
serious!” Davan Took was the first to voice.

“
Aye. Ye saw it for yourself
in his movements, Laddie. Have ye seen a man move so fast, jumps so
high or carry both a Star-saber and a Multi-tool as well as have
malleable armor? Oliver, change into the one that is basic for
combat.”

Few had seen the true alteration and eyes
flew wide as the silver and black edges came out, the cape flowed
down his back and the helmet that instilled fear covered his head.
With this armor applied he was larger and more intimidating.

“
This is Solarian armor
depicted on the Geo Record that we could never find.” Jake motioned
to the swordsman.

“
But he has a double helix.
Ms. Dorgen said so.” Deegen said as he fingered the chakram on his
hips.

“
Not anymore.” Renee spoke
up. “Not since eating the Fire Wyrm. His DNA has mutated and he’s a
Class Four in psionics when he was a One when we found him sealed
inside the volcano.”

“
To further prove it, he can
read Solarian language even though they had taken all his memories.
The unknown message on the Geo Record was a warning about
him.”