Heaven Saga 2: Sands of Aquarius (9 page)

A
moment later the door light flashed OPEN in Kalaidian. The door opened suddenly
as four Minans dressed in blue and gold uniforms ran inside. They were armed
with pulse rifles and stun batons. The four took positions around the girls.
Seles stared at their uniforms and noticed at the starburst badge they wore on
their sleeves. She was about to ask a question when a fifth being entered the
room, this one wearing a crimson and gold exoskeleton that resembled a humanoid
cat.

The
Mylor floated over to Seles and spoke in a robotic, feminine voice. “You are
Lieutenant Seles Daevon of the Avoni, are you not?”

Seles
glanced around. “Yes, and who might you be?”

The
Mylor moved next to Brian’s empty exoskeleton. “I’m Commander Siata of the
Confederation Special Task Forces. I was dispatched by the Degan authorities to
ask Brian a few questions about the incident last night.”

The
bedroom door opened and Brain walked out carrying his
rakna
blade. He
looked at the girls to see if they were okay before tossing the
rakna
on
the ground. Siata used her telekinesis to take the
rakna
and hold it in
her hand. Her suit’s cat eyes glowed blue while she checked the blade. “I’m
still amazed at the construction of such a weapon,” Siata said. “One would
think the Kalaidians were a much older race when looking at this sword.” Using
her telekinesis again she placed the sword back onto the ground. “Your friends
seem surprised to see us.”

“Do
you know her Brian?” Seles asked.

“Yes,
I was told by the Degan authorities that a special task force would watch my
activities,” Brian answered. He turned to Siata. “So you know about the
Ick-Tckt?”

“It
was reported by some concerned citizens. I don’t suspect you or Kivi of doing
anything wrong.” Siata turned to Seles. “Nor do I suspect any of your friends
here did wrong.” She turned back to Brian. “I just need some questions
answered.”

“Go
ahead,” Brian responded.

“Stand
down,” Siata commanded the Minans. They lowered their pulse rifles. “Now Brian,
tell me everything you can remember.”

“I
was at the Kritkar with Kivi. We were enjoying a night out, drinking and such.
During the evening, we were approached by a pair of Ick-Tckt, male drones. They
asked if I was willing to work for their Duchess, Chka. Since I have a contract
with Captain Valis I declined.”

“What
position were you offered?” Siata asked.

“They
offered me the position of her Tcka Knight,” he answered.

“So
after you turned them down, what happened next?” Siata asked.

He
cleared his throat. “I got drunk. Kivi and I headed back to this apartment
complex later, when we encountered a number of Ick-Tckt armed and ready. They
requested I come with them, or else.”

“I
snuck up behind their sniper and knocked him out,” Seles added. “I took that
position myself.”

“So
you claim rightful self-defense?” Siata asked.

“Yes,
that’s what I claim,” Brian answered.

Siata
held her one hand up and signaled before turning back to Brian. “That will be
all. If I have any more questions I’ll call you into my office.” Siata turned
and left, flanked by the four Minan soldiers.

* * *

Zae
sat in the cockpit of the Mjolnir and fought a simulated battle. After
destroying a number of simulated enemy Talons she turned off the system and
closed her eyes. She opened up her eyes and took a deep breath before standing
up to stretch. She opened the front hatch of the giant and took the elevator
cord to the ground. She saw Daes was busy working on something on the computer.

“You
did pretty well,” Daes said as Zae came over to get a drink of water.

“I
could do better if the restrictor wasn’t in place,” Zae said.

Daes
looked at her with a brow raised. “You do know that would kill you in real
combat Zae.”

“Not
if I have an exoskeleton like Brian and Kivi.”

Daes
again stared at Zae. “I should tell you that they paid for those suits
themselves.”

“I
know Daes, that’s why I’m willing to pay the same as them,” Zae turned to the
Mjolnir and gazed at the giant, “I wouldn’t mind having one of those either.”

Daes
called up the image of the prototype Talon. “I may have a solution to that
problem. You see, unlike the Mjolnir, the Talon isn’t doesn’t use a gravity drive.”

“I
know that much.”

Daes
pointed to the back of the prototype Talon. “The original design for the Talon
uses a Q-Drive. But for cost reasons, the Talons we see today aren’t equipped
like that.”

“What’s
the difference between the gravity drive and a Q-Drive?”

Daes
called up the blueprint of the Mjolnir. “The Mjolnir is equipped with a light
class gravity drive. This is what gives the mobile suit its power. Being a true
gravity drive, it only needs to be replenished every ten years with Aldenite.
The Q-Drive doesn’t process Aldenite the same way. Although it’s much cheaper
to recharge the Q-Drive, its maximum usage time is about ten standard days.”

“In
other words, it may be cheaper and more effective for mass production, but not
as good as the Mjolnir,” Zae said. She stood in thought for a moment.
With
the advent of the Talon fighters like the Novaguards are going to be scraped in
a few years.
She turned again to the Mjolnir.
Is he trying to incite an
arms race?
She noticed a new image on the screen. “What’s this?”

The
image appeared a little small than the Mjolnir, but similar in shape and size.
“This is the mobile suit I wanted to work on during our vacation Zae. I’ll call
it the Phase Rakna. It’s going to cost up a lot of credits but it’ll be worth
it.”

“You
two have some fun,” Mira said with a grin. She stood with Jesela and Baed at
the door. They waved as they left. The morning sun filled the apartment with
radiance. Seles stood outside Brian’s bedroom door. She turned and knocked on
the metal door.

“Brian,
are you ever going to get up?” She stood for a moment, hearing silence. She
knocked again, this time a little louder. “Brian, wake up.” She put her ear to
the door and listen, hearing someone groan, and then a thud. She heard some cursing
and the door opened. A sleepy eyed Brian stood in the door, wearing only
shorts.

Seles
giggled. “You look great Brian.”

He
grinned faintly as he tried to pose in a sexy manner. Doing so caused him to
fall over.

“You
really are a fool,” Seles said after laughing. He stood up and shook his head.

“Well,
falling on my head like that wakes me up. Since I haven’t found the equivalent
to coffee here in space I need something to get me going.” He opened the closet
and took out a set of clothes.

Seles
paced about the room slowly. “What’s coffee?”

Brian
finished putting his new clothes on. “It’s a drink that has a lot of caffeine
in it. It helps me wake up in the morning.”

“Your
people use caffeine as a stimulant?”

He
turned to Seles, who looked perplexed. “Yeah, caffeine is used all over Earth.”
He noticed the strange look on her face. “Alright, what is it?”

“You
don’t know do you?” she asked.

“Know
what?”

“That
drug has a powerful effect over my people. Our metabolism is such that caffeine
works like a narcotic.”

“Are
you serious? What kind of effects does it have on you?”

She
blushed. “It enhances the physical senses and increases sexual desire. But, if
too much is used, we can suffer severe hallucinations or even cardiac arrest.”

“That’s
weird,” he said. “Never mind then.”

She
brushed her hand across his face. “I don’t think you’d mind if I used it for
the sex part,” she said with a wink.

“Normally
I’m to the one who’s sick, but this time it’s you.”

“Are
you feeling any better?”

Brian
touched her face while looking into her eyes. “A little bit.”

She
closed her eyes and held him tightly. “You’re lying again.”

“I
know Seles, I know.”

* * *

“Seles,
why are you taking me here?” Brian asked, standing just outside Mya’s store.

She
grabbed his covered hand, as he was wearing his exoskeleton armor and
rakna
blade. “I just want to show you something,” she said as she dragged him inside.
As they entered a number of Kalaidians were shopping around the store, looking
at various dresses and fabrics. As soon as Brian was visible they all stopped
and stared.

He
leaned down to whisper. “Maybe I should go somewhere else.”

Seles
smiled at him. “No.”

“I
can’t win against your smile.”

A
moment later the well dressed and beautiful Mya entered from the back room. She
took one look at Brian and Seles and ran them over. “You got him here Lady
Seles!” Mya exclaimed, clapping her hands. “I’ve been waiting for months for
this chance!”

Confused,
Brian turned back to Seles. “What’s she talking about?”

“Well,
Mya’s been busy the last few months working on special projects.” Seles turned
to Mya, who looked quite happy to see Brian. “That special project being
clothes for you.”

“The
first time we met, when you posed as an android, I had a feeling,” Mya said as
she walked around him. “Would you mind taking that off?”

“Alright,”
he answered as he flipped the switch and stepped out of the armor.

“You’re
quite the specimen, aren’t you?” Mya asked.

“That’s
only because of the training I went through. Seles she can tell you what I
looked like before.”

Seles
turned to Mya. “He was tiny compared to now. So how many outfits do you have
for him to try out?”

“Twelve
or so,” Mya answered, staring into his eyes. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“No,
not at all…” Brian stopped in mid-sentence and stared across the room.

“What?”
Seles and Mya asked in unison. They turned, seeing what Brian was staring at.

Zae
emerged from one of the dressing rooms, wearing a gorgeous, sparkling emerald
colored dress. It was cut low, highlighting her breasts, and the skirt hung
just below her knees. She wasn’t wearing her usual rank circlet, but a pair of
golden hair pins studded with emeralds. Wearing a pair of black sandals she
walked over to him.

“From
that expression, I get the feeling this was a good idea,” Zae said while smiling
playfully. She twirled, giving them a better view of just how much the dress
matched her.

Mya
took Zae’s hand. “You look gorgeous dear.”

“Brian,
you’re gawking,” Seles said.

He
composed himself. “I’ve never seen you like this before.”

Zae
smiled at him. “I’m on leave so I thought I’d relax and try something
different.”

Mya
took Brian by the hand. “Now it’s your turn!” He shrugged as he was dragged
into the back room. The other Kalaidians watched. Seles stood next to Zae.

“You
look great,” Seles said.

“Valis
mentioned I was acting rigid,” Zae said. “Since I lost to Mira for the position
of
Reinere
I‘ve been in a rut.”

“You
shouldn’t feel bad about that. Mira’s a special case when it comes to music,”
Seles looked Zae in the eye, “Your skill is great as well. Much better than I
could ever hope to be.”

“I
thought the queen of Kalaidia is the High Priestess and must know how to
perform.”

Seles
laughed. “Do you know the reason why my mother is good at song and dance?”

“Isn’t
she a natural?”

“No,”
Seles said as she shook her head. “It’s because she’s had over a century to
practice. I’m the same way. I’m sure if I practiced long enough, I’d be just as
good.” Seles stared at the spectacle around Brian’s changing area. “Not like
you or Mira.”

The
two watched as Brian came out wearing a black and green suit. Mya and the other
Kalaidians were going crazy over it while Seles rolled her eyes and sighed.

“He
might be smiling, but I can tell Brian feels alone,” Zae observed.

“It’s
because we’re different. But there are things that bring us together.”

“Are
you speaking of love?” Zae asked.

“That
and beauty.” Seles brushed her hand against Zae’s dress. “That was the first
time I’ve ever seen him look at you like that.”

Zae
smiled. “I know. I was hoping for a reaction.” She looked Seles in the eye
again. “But the difference is he looks at you like that no matter what you’re
wearing.”

“I
know. So what is it about him you find so enticing Zae?”