Heaven Saga 2: Sands of Aquarius (31 page)

“But
without him inside its powers would remain dormant,” Celi said. “I couldn’t
have guessed that the technology from a hundred and fifty years ago would stand
up to today’s weaponry with minimal modification.”

“I
thought you preferred living things to machinery,” Seles said. “It seems like
the technical stuff would be more to the liking of Daes.”

“Oh,
it is Seles,” Celi said. “While I prefer biological systems to mechanical, the
problem is the two are forming a singularity.”

“You
mean like the nanomachines in our bodies?” Mira asked. “It does beg the
question of the difference these days.”

“Yes.
That paired with our ability to replace limbs or organs with mechanical
replacements,” Celi added. “Using a cybernetic system a being could literally
become one with a machine like an exoskeleton or mobile suit.”

“That
sounds crazy,” Seles said. “But I wouldn’t put it past someone to try.”

“The
greatest proponent of such thinking is the famed Malcovin scientist Grigon the
Thunder,” Celi explained. “His theories on mechanics melding with biology are
still valid today, even a hundred years after he proposed them. Daes told me
there’s a black box system built into the Mjolnir even she wasn’t sure did.
Maybe it has something to do with those theories.”

“You
mean something that even Daes couldn’t figure out was built into the mobile
suit?” Seles asked.

“It
is a bit like our friend Brian, don’t you think?” Mira asked. “We can see on
the surface what his functions are but his mind is hidden. It’s like a black
box in the mobile suit; we’re not sure exactly what’s going on in there since
we can only see the surface.”

Seles
closed her eyes. “When he was fourteen years old he fell in love with a girl. It
never came to be for him. His heart turned dark in the years afterwards, until
he met us.”

“Did
he tell you this?” Mira asked.

Seles
looked up. “He didn’t have to. When I touched his mind some his memories
transferred to me.”

“Do
you remember much of his life on Earth?” Mira asked. “He never talks about it
himself.”

“Bits
and pieces, that’s all,” Seles said. “The thing that disturbs me the most are
the images of war on his world. His people glorify killing each other in a very
graphic and unsettling manner.”

“How
so?” Celi asked.

“They
use video technology for entertainment purposes, much like our people do now,”
Seles answered. “But the entertainment I see much of is full of violence, gore,
and a lot of death.”

“We
should be glad we don’t have to see it then,” Mira said. “And at least he
doesn’t subscribe to such things.”

“I
know Mira, but it’s still disturbing,” Seles said.

“You
could say the same thing about our religion,” Celi said. “We glorified a system
for over a thousand years that enslaved a vast majority of the population.”

“I’m
glad he helped us,” Seles said.

“I
think we all are Seles,” Mira said.

* * *

After
drying himself off after a relaxing bath Brian headed into his bedroom wearing
only brown pants. As he walked towards the bed he turned, rolled and picked up
his
rakna
blade, pointing it at the shadows.

“Who
could have slipped in unnoticed?”

“Your
senses have grown keener,”
Myden said telepathically as he stepped out of the
shadows.

“Is
that you Myden?” Brian asked. He put his sword away. “What are you doing here?”

“That’s
the question you should be asking,”
Myden answered.
“It looks like
you’re doing well.”

“I
wasn’t expecting to see you for a while longer.” Brian glanced about his room.
“I’d offer you something to eat or drink, but I don’t really have anything on
hand.”

“It’s
alright,” Myden said in his raspy voice. “I came for a brief visit.”

“Is
something wrong?” Brian asked while putting his shirt back on.

“No,
I’ve come to see how far along you are.”

“What
do you mean Myden?”

“When
you were on Shandi Prime you touched a conduit to the database of reality, at
least, that’s what my people refer to it as. The Teacher imbued you with
knowledge. I’ve come here to see how much you’ve unlocked.”

Brian
grinned. “Go ahead.”

Myden
closed his black eyes and focused his mental energy into Brian’s mind. When he
opened his eyes they flashed blue and then turned back to their usual black.
“You’ve learned to control it.”

“You’re
talking about the berserk, right?” Brian asked.

“Oh
yes, it does do that. But there is much more to the berserk state you haven’t
figured out,” Myden explained.

“What
kind of things?”

Myden
paced back and forth for a moment to gather his thoughts. “The berserk state is
not some random occurrence, no; it’s not like that at all. The older races
refer to this phase in a beings evolution as awakening. Notice how all the
older races have a special, almost magical power. This stems from the fact
their species have awakened, thus beginning evolution to the next phase. But
there’s something unusual about the awakening of one sentient creature. That
being, when one person begins to awaken the ones around him or her begin down
the same path. Lady Seles, Lady Mira, and the others have felt this power surge
through them. Even one that you call an enemy has been affected by your
awakening.”

“Dreka,”
Brian said, looking lost. “If I’ve awakened as you speak of why haven’t I
developed a power like the older races?”

“You’ve
only begun to second phase of awakening. The first is experiencing it without
control; the second phase is learning to control it. It will likely take
several years, perhaps decades to finally achieve the result you speak of,”
Myden said.

“Do
you know what that power might be?”

“The
older races have an idea of what the awakened powers of the younger races may
be, but nothing concrete.” Myden paused. “But time will tell the story.”

“You
mentioned Dreka has started to awaken.”

“Yes.”

“What
should I do about it?” Brian asked.

“Like
you, Dreka seeks an answer. The Malcovin are a people dedicated to the
accumulation of wealth and power. For them, having money and power are the keys
to success. But many amongst their race disagree. The first to truly rebel
against this ideal was Dreka’s grandfather, Grigon. Grigon went missing fifteen
years ago, but not before leaving behind the seeds of the Mjolnir and Talons.”

“A
while ago, you mentioned that one of the wise men was referred to as the hawk.
Is it possible that Grigon was that hawk?”

“Most
likely,” Myden answered. “And because Dreka’s of the same blood he’s likely
inherited the mark as well. Dreka seeks an answer Brian, the same answer as
you. He wants to understand, he wants to join you. But his heart is closed
right now.”

“How
can I change that?” Brian asked. “He seems convinced I stole his grandfather’s
plans and am using them to spite him.”

Myden
backed away and began fading away. “A closed heart and mind can only be opened
by breaking away that which is closing it off. Show him there is another way.
He won’t submit to words alone, but neither will he submit to arms alone. I leave
the rest in your hands.”

Myden
faded away, leaving Brian alone in his room. He looked at his
rakna
and
then his armor.
What am I supposed to do?

“Are
they ready lieutenant?” Vrekt asked while looking at the new mobile suit.

Dreka
checked the power levels in each suits’ Q-Drive. Everything was green. “You can
all get in the mobile suits now,” he said.

“Great!”
his subordinates shouted as they jumped into their newly outfitted Talons.

Captain
Riga walked into the launching bay as the mobile suits lit up. “Your
grandfather would be proud,” Riga said.

“I
hope so,” Dreka said, sounding a little more reserved. “So what plan of action
have you chosen?”

“I
want the four of you to take a defensive position around the Duchess’s estate,”
Riga said. “The fleet we’ve assembled will strike Valis when her forces are
most vulnerable.”

“I
take it you’re expecting Brian and the other mobile suit to head to the
Duchess’s estate?” Dreka asked.

“I’m
counting on it,” Riga said. “While they attack here and are occupied Valis’s
fleet will be surrounded. It will only be a matter of time before they fall.”

“We’ll
see,” Dreka said before turning to his Talon.

Riga
put a hand on his shoulder. “Remember what we spoke of earlier.”

“I
know,” Dreka answered. “If Brian and his side are victorious we should join
them. But I’m not going to give him an easy fight.”

“That’s
exactly what I would expect from you,” Riga said. “One more thing, should this
ship fall you’re to disengage immediately.”

“I
don’t think that’s going to happen,” Dreka cawed. “But I’ll remember should it
occur.”

* * *

The
Duchess’s main fleet, consisting of nearly one hundred heavy class vessels and
dozens of smaller class ships, hovered in orbit of Dega Jul above the Kein
estate. Squads of twenty at a time took turns pelting the estate from orbit
while the rest stood by. Suddenly, two ripples appeared in the center of the
fleet as the Mjolnir and Zero gravity jumped with a pair of Novaguards attached
to each mobile suit.

“You
know the drill ladies,” Seles said to her Nova pilots. “Don’t detach until
we’re joined by Valis in a few minutes.”

“Yes
lieutenant!” her pilots shouted.

Both
the Mjolnir and Zero turned back to back with each other, pulse cannons drawn.
Using their shields to block incoming attacks, the pair of mobile suits spun
around and fired a series of blasts, forcing the ships around them to scatter.
At the same time the Novaguards attached to them fired in opposing directions.
The Ick-Tckt forces started attacking the mobile suits with Drones, but none
were able to get close enough to do damage.

“Looks
like Valis’s plan is working,” Brian said. He glanced at the radar. It showed
the fleet around them had separated into a number of smaller units.

“When
was the last time one of her plans ever failed?” Seles asked.

Brian
laughed. “When she made the foolish mistake of cracking open a Grey ship and
found a Terran onboard.”

“So
true,” Seles said. When the Mjolnir and the Zero began edging towards the
atmosphere, Valis’s main fleet, along with Shiken Ka’s appeared around them.

“Looks
like that’s our queue to head down,” Brian said as he turned the Mjolnir for
atmospheric entry.

“Ensigns,
detach and join the Avoni,” Seles said.  Her subordinates detached and flew
towards the Avoni. She turned her mobile suit in the same direction as the
Mjolnir.

“Let’s
pay a visit to Veda Kein,” Brian said.

“Of
course,” Seles said as she followed the Mjolnir.

* * *

Valis
stood on her bridge as the Avoni as the rest of the fleet gravity jumped into
the center of the enemy fleets.

“Looks
like Brian and Seles were successful,” Kivi said.

“Yes,
I’m glad everything is going as planned,” Valis said. She turned on her com.
“How are the other mobile suits coming along?”

“They
should be ready within the hour,” Daes replied.

“Good,”
Valis said. She turned to main monitor to observe the enemy. “It looks like
plan A-4 is the one to go with. Send it out.”

“Yes
captain,” Zae said.

“Baed,
keep an eye on how close the Avoni comes to the other ships. We can’t afford to
be caught to close together,” Valis said. “Launch all Novaguards and have them
take a defensive formation around the Avoni. Our goal is to isolate each enemy
formation one by one and destroy them individually. Given that we have little
more than half of the number of ships of our enemy, the advantage is theirs.
Brian and Seles will aid the ground forces and strike the Duchess’s palace within
the hour.”

“Captain
Riga may have something to say about that,” Kivi warned.

“That’s
why I kept the three Phase Raknas here,” Valis said.

* * *

The
Mjolnir and Zero descended through the atmosphere of Dega Jul before coming to
a soft landing outside the Kein estate in the midday sun. All around Drones,
Claws, and Talons flew, blasting the energy shield protecting the Kein estate.
Brian and Seles scanned the area and saw the destruction areas around the
estate had endured.