Dahlia's Deception (The Annihilation Series) (16 page)

Ping tilted his head and straightened it, “Then we lose the game. If we do nothing, we still lose.” Ping teleported out and Tess looked at Dahlia, “That is not a good forecast.”

“No, but it’s accurate. Excuse me; I need to talk with him.” Tess nodded and Dahlia disappeared.

Tess turned to Dean, “The Prince seems distraught.”

Dean nodded, “I understand his feelings; I don’t want to see Victoria harmed either.”

Tess suddenly understood and smiled softly, “Then we have to do all we can to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Dean nodded, “I think that is exactly what he said.”

Tess thought for a moment and smiled, “I guess you’re right.”

• • •

Dahlia teleported to the ship and found Sprigly working with Pare, “Don’t let me interrupt you; I was looking for Ping.”

“Before you go, we need to discuss a matter with you.”

Dahlia hesitated; she needed to find Ping and she now knew he was at the stream. He wouldn’t have come to the ship if he knew Sprigly was working on it, “What?”

Sprigly leaned right, “I know you’re in a hurry to find Ping; however, this involves his safety.”

Dahlia’s eyes narrowed, “What are you talking about?”

“When Ping was here on the bridge scanning the approach of the Rageon and Black Scouts, he saw a flicker out toward the edge of the star cluster.”

“A what?”

“A flicker of light that disappeared when he tried to view it from a closer range.”

“I’m not following you.”

Pare said, “He used his distant vision and I used my scanners and, whenever we tried to view it from closer than a hundred light years, it disappeared.”

Dahlia thought for a moment, “Then it couldn’t be a natural object.”

“It isn’t. Ping is determined to go and investigate it.”

“I guess I understand why.”

Sprigly leaned forward, “We do as well…but…”

“But what?”

“I’ve been able to make some scans from more than a hundred light years and have discovered that the flicker is a form of energy that is woven together in an intricate matrix.”

“What are you saying?”

“That matrix is beyond anything I’ve ever seen. Whoever is producing it is advanced far beyond our capabilities.” Dahlia stared at Sprigly thinking about what that could possibly mean. Sprigly saw her thinking, “I don’t believe it is in anyway associated with the Five.”

“Why?”

“Because they went through the area the flicker is located and didn’t see it. I’ve determined that the flicker is located on a planet that is invisible. It is moving and its motion would indicate it is coming from an object that is circling a star.”

“Are you sure it’s a planet.”

“If it’s not, it’s as big as a planet.

“Why do you think Ping is in danger?”

“Our technology is nowhere close to what I’ve seen. Our ships would not match up with the power on exhibit there. The field is also invisible and if he accidentally runs into it…”

“He could be killed.” Sprigly leaned forward telling her she was right. “What do you think should be done?”

“I believe whatever lives there has been there for a very long time. I think we should let sleeping dragons alone.”

“Sprigly, how can you say it’s been there a long time?”

“Dahlia, we’re more than fifteen thousand light years from that object and we’re seeing the light. It took fifteen thousand years to arrive here.”

Dahlia tried to think about the implications and was drawing a blank. She started shaking her head, “You won’t stop him from going.”

Pare said, “We know that; we just hoped you would help us delay him to give us time to try and learn more about it.”

“I think the best way to delay him is to tell him what you know and ask for additional time.”

Sprigly shook his head, “I don’t think he’d listen.”

“You better hope he does.”

“Why?”

“He can see my thoughts. He’ll know everything you’ve said to me as soon as we get together and I am not going to avoid him. Matter of fact, I should discuss this with him and ask for a delay.”

Pare said, “I’ve sensed his thoughts; I don’t think he’ll wait.”

“He will if he knows I’m going with him.”

“You can’t do that.”

“Now that I know about it, I’ll not have it any other way. So start your work, I won’t be able to delay him long.”

Dahlia teleported out and Pare said, “Ping will want to know everything possible if Dahlia goes with him.”

“Pare, we need to nail down that planet’s position tighter than a thief on a witness stand. We have to avoid hitting that field or whatever it is.”

“I’ll make the scan and you can use your algorithms to predict its location.”

“Start making the scans.”

• • •

Dahlia teleported to the stream and saw Ping casting a fishing rod. She smiled and said, “Have you caught a flicker?”

Ping turned and looked at her with his brows lowered, “How did you learn about that?”

“Look at my thoughts.”

Ping squinted and smiled, “They were smart not to tell me what they were doing.”

“That’s because they know you and they love you.”

“I really don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go with me.”

“I notice you didn’t say I can’t go with you.”

“I would never force you to be away from me; I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“It probably isn’t but this could be something we need.”

“That’s why I have to take a risk and go. I don’t want the Planters to lose both of us if things go wrong.”

“Be realistic, Ping. If either of us was lost, the other would be pretty much useless afterwards. If it’s a risk worth taking, then we should do it together.”

Ping shrugged, “I know and I prefer you be there. I couldn’t live if something happened to you.”

“You know you have to give the boys time to really take a look at this thing.”

“I was going to tell you about this.”

“I know.”

“We’ll wait to see what they come up with. Why don’t you go back and get a rod; fishing seems to relieve the stress of having the universe on your shoulders.”

“Tell you what; I’ll go get a pan and I’ll cook what you catch. We’ll build a fire and sleep out under the stars tonight.”

Ping smiled, “That sounds like a deal.” Dahlia teleported away and, by the time darkness fell, Tess, Dean, and Victoria had joined them. It was a night all of them remembered for the rest of their lives.

• • •

The next morning, Ping was on the ground with Dahlia covered in blankets. The morning air was chilly and he felt a leaf touch his face. He brushed it away and felt it again. He opened his eyes and saw Sprigly standing over him. He was startled and Dahlia opened her eyes and yawned, “Good morning, Sprigly.”

“I waited for you to wake up but I guess I lost my patience. I need you to come to the ship to see what we’ve been able to determine.”

Ping slowly stood and felt his back muscles immediately complain. Dahlia jumped up and smiled, “What’s wrong old man, can’t take it?”

Ping shook his head, “I’m too young for this.” Ping looked around and saw Tess, Dean, and Victoria were still asleep. He put his finger to his lips and the three teleported to Ping’s ship.

Sprigly started talking as soon as they arrived, “I’ve been able to prove that the flicker is coming from a planet. Pare and I have nailed down its orbit and know where it will be at any given moment. We both know we are not going to determine anything else without getting closer to take a look.”

“Whoa, slow down.” Ping rubbed his eyes and said, “So the flicker comes from a planet. Is that all you’ve been able to see?”

“We moved the view in closer and the flicker disappeared along with the planet. We know where it should be, but nothing is there when we look closer.”

“So what do you think we should do?”

“Honestly, you should allow Pare and I to go take a closer look before you and Dahlia go.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“We thought as much but you asked.”

“Do you think they’ll be able to see our ship?”

“I really don’t know.”

“But….”

“The level of technology to weave the energy they’re using is far beyond anything we can do. Our light shifting hulls are just another form of energy and I suspect they will detect it.”

“What about the nemite coating?”

“If they can see us, the nemite won’t matter.”

Ping thought for a moment and looked at Dahlia, “What do you think?”

“I think we should leave the light shifting off.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want whoever is there to think we’re trying to sneak up on them.”

“Then we should take my Searcher and go there.”

“Wait just a minute!”

“Pare, if you think about this, you’ll see we have to go in without any sign of subterfuge. Your nemite hull might be construed as an invasion.”

“Then link me with the Searcher’s computer.”

Ping looked at Sprigly who said, “I can copy his central processors and insert them into the Searcher. If, and I do mean if, we return, I’ll copy them back into Pare.”

“Does that satisfy you?”

“I guess. The part of me that’s here won’t be involved but…I guess it’s the only way to do it.”

Dahlia looked at Ping, “Do we tell Tess?”

“We’ll tell her that we’ve seen something out at the edge of the cluster we want to investigate.”

Dahlia shook her head, “I don’t like being evasive with my sister, but she has enough stress without adding to it. Pare, if we don’t come back, tell her to stay away from that region.”

“How long do you want me to wait before I do that?”

Dahlia looked at Ping and he shrugged. “Give us two days.”

“Two days it is.”

“P
are, are you comfortable?”

“I must say this ship has so much more to offer.”

Ping lowered his head, “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

“This ship is huge. The systems have many additional items that I don’t have in the Mite. The force fields alone are amazing.”

“That’s because the Mite is too small to have them. And this ship is actually one of the smallest ships the Realm constructed.”

“I saw that in my databanks but being here on board is amazing. There are a hundred different routes I can use to coordinate the weapons.”

“For the duration of this flight I want all our defensive systems turned off.”

“I know, I know; it’s just remarkable.”

Ping stared at Sprigly for a moment, “Sprigly, can a coating of nemite be put on this ship?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Pare has me thinking that this ship does offer many conveniences that our mite doesn’t.”

“I’m sure we can do it; but if you’re considering moving, you might want to swap their reactors; that’s one place the mite has an advantage.”

“Can it be done?”

“I’ll check on it when we get back.”

“Don’t you mean if we get back?”

“I’m not going to sugar coat this; I am worried about exactly that.”

“Maybe you should stay behind; your loss to our efforts would be huge.”

“Perhaps you’re right, but I am not one to disobey orders.”

“Huh?”

“The King ordered me to make sure his citizens here were defended to the best of my ability. Last time I checked, you are still a citizen.”

Ping stared at Sprigly, “I don’t see a way around that order.”

“I can think of about a hundred but I’m surprised you don’t remember what my species just can’t resist.”

Ping smiled as Dahlia entered the control room and said, “You’re right, Sprigly; the thirst for knowledge is more than you can resist.”

“And in this instance, even if you didn’t go, I would.”

Ping looked at Dahlia, “I told Tess we were going to investigate an object. We need to get out of here before she wonders why I made a point of telling her instead of just going.”

“Pare, teleport us out to about fifty light years from the flicker’s location. Make sure you do have on your shifting hull. I don’t want to leave a trail back to the Planters.”

“Teleporting now.”

• • •

The Searcher Vessel arrived and Sprigly smiled, “This is a good choice, Pare. We’re slightly above the edge of the cluster and should have a direct view of it with no interference.”

“I’m scanning the system now.”

Sprigly had his hand unit plugged into Dahlia’s panel and ran the scan through an algorithm and sent it back to the main display. He started moving back and forth.

“What’s wrong, Sprigly?”

“I’m having second thoughts about going to that planet’s system.”

“Why?”

Sprigly turned a dial on his unit and Ping and Dahlia sat down in their chairs. Scattered around the star were destroyed hulks of thousands of starships. They were all the same distance from the star in the center of the system and made a rough circle around it. Sprigly said, “Those ships are scattered on the orbit I calculated that planet is making around the star.”

Dahlia sighed, “It appears they’ve been visited in the past.”

“That’s not what bothers me.”

“Oh?”

“Dahlia, what happens when a ship is destroyed above a planet?”

Dahlia struggled with the idea and couldn’t see what he was asking. Ping said, “The ship moves with the planet.”

“Yes, it does. It will go with the planet as it moves around the star. Those ships were killed and remained where they died. The planet’s gravity did not pull them along for the ride.”

“What are you saying?”

“Dahlia, whoever is there has a way of masking the gravity of a planet sized object. You could stumble in on the planet and never know you were approaching it.”

Ping nodded at the display, “Perhaps that’s what caused those ships to be destroyed.” Dahlia and Sprigly turned and looked at him. “They trespassed on their territory.”

Dahlia stared at the display with narrowed eyes, “Pare, do you know where that planet is currently located?”

“I do, according to the readings we took on the flicker from a hundred and ten light years away. I’ve scanned the area and absolutely nothing appears on my sensors.”

“Sprigly?”

“Hey, I have Pare’s scanners linked to my most advanced programs. If he can’t see it, I don’t have anything else that would work.”