Heaven Saga 3: Sojourn Into Despair (10 page)

When
the Mjolnir landed in the Vomada behind Grigon’s Talon, the old Malcovin jumped
out quickly to get a good look at the mobile suit.

“An
impressive piece of technology, isn’t it?” Grigon asked as Brian left the
cockpit. “By the way, does the black box system work?”

“Are
you talking about the A.I. system?” Brian asked. “Because if that’s what you’re
thinking, then yes.”

“Good,
good. I’ll have to check it over and make sure it’s functioning properly.”
Grigon pointed to the droid workers around his ship. “As you can see I expanded
on the A.I. system so I could have a crew. The ones on the bridge are as capable
as a sentient being is, though their company isn’t as interesting as yours.”

“Are
you the only living creature on the ship?” Brian asked as the old birdman
showed him around.

“Yes,”
Grigon said. “I intended to take my family and a few others with me on this
journey. Unfortunately, I had to flee Confederation space a lot sooner than
anticipated.” He turned on an odd looking console. “Well, here it is.”

“What’s
this?” Brian looked over the code. “This is the A.I. system.”

“Yes,
these codes are the basis for the prototype. From these lines of code I was
able to craft for myself a working crew. I’ve also finished writing the systems
for the Talons to fly on autopilot. Their reaction time is two to three times
that of a living pilot.”

“But
a living pilot has more to offer.”

“Of
course,” Grigon said. “A living pilot can awaken to surpass the systems I’ve created.
But these will serve as another line of defense in the coming battles.
Something I noticed was the incorporation of the fighter class vessel docking
systems into the Mjolnir and Phase Raknas.”

“Yes,
but since the Novaguard was retired they haven’t been used.”

“Did
you throw them away?” Grigon asked.

“Of
course not,” Brian answered. “They’re gathering dust in the old fighter bays.”

“Why
not program them using this system?” Grigon asked. “You can use them for additional
firepower on the mobile suits.”

“Good
idea. I’ll bring it back to Jesela when I return later.”

“I’ll
make sure to give you a copy before then,” Grigon said. “Now, what is it you
wish to speak about? I may have been away from civilization for a very long
time but I remember when someone’s going to ask me something.”

“How
far have you traveled?” Brian asked. “And what do you know about the Teacher?”

“As
for the first question, I’ve traveled the length of the Grey’s territory in
space. I’ve seen the other side, the divide between your world and the Mylor’s
territory. Before answering your second question I will tell you a few things
Brian.”

“Go
ahead.”

“The
incident with the Mardok is not isolated. The Greys have systematically
eliminated all space faring races within their realm. Like the Mylor, the Greys
have set up a line of ships and bases on the edge of Terran space. I’m sure the
Mylor have kept a vigilant stance because Terrans have great potential. Also,
I’m sure they don’t care for the Greys methods of dealing with races they don’t
agree with.”

“How
close to Earth did you reach?”

Grigon
cawed. “Close enough to pick up your race’s radio and television signals.
That’s the only reason I wasn’t surprised by your appearance. Although I only
got within fifty light years, I studied much of your people’s ways and history.
I know why the older races fear yours so much. The technological leaps your
people have made are incredible.” The old Malcovin noticed a keen interest from
Brian. “I heard news stories about the first Russian and American humans to
reach space. I also heard the declaration by the president of the United States
that his people would reach the moon by the end of the decade. Did it happen?”

“Yes,”
Brian answered. “We landed on the moon eight years later.”

“That’s
incredible!” Grigon shouted excitedly. “Your people achieved powered fight less
than a century before and managed to land on the moon circling your planet! No
other race can claim such speed as far as technological advances. No wonder you
managed to put the Mjolnir together. By the way, what does the name of this
thing mean?”

“It
was a tribute to you actually, though in an indirect way,” Brian answered.
“Mjolnir was the hammer the Norse god Thor wielded. Thor is the god of thunder
and storms.”

“I
see, a bit of a Terran tribute to my nickname. Well, I suppose I should show
you around a bit more, shouldn’t I?”

* * *

Celi
focused all over her energy on her research, still stumped on how to help Brian.
Everything that worked for her race wasn’t working for him. Another simulation
she attempted showed he would still die in six months.

“This
is really frustrating,” she said before sitting down to take a breather and
drink some water. She watched as her assistants outside treated the injured
pilots. After a moment of silence passed Zae entered and headed to the lab Celi
was in. After she closed the doors and made sure no one could hear them she
turned to Celi.

“So
how bad is it?” Zae asked.

“The
same as before,” Celi answered. She played through the simulation. “No matter
what I try it still ends with his death.”

“The
good news is you still have time Celi,” Zae said. “I’m sure you’ll figure it
out.”

“I
wish it were that simple,” Celi said with frustration in her voice. “Whatever
evolution that’s taken place in the disease’s jump to Brian has improved the
illness greatly. It’s amazingly efficient at killing.”

Zae
looked her in the eye. “He’s going to survive. Just like the rest of us. That’s
all you have to think about. To despair is to give in and that means death. I
know one thing; I won’t leave the stage of existence without a fight.”

“You’re
strong,” Celi said.

“No,
I’m just as weak as you are,” Zae said. “We need to believe in his will to
live. That’s what’s going to carry him. And with Grigon our chances of reaching
home have gone up a lot. If you can’t find a cure then find a way to extend his
life so we can get back home and search for help there.”

“I’ll
do my best, but I can’t guarantee anything.”

“Trying
is all you can do,” Zae said.

“So
how’s your music coming along?” Celi asked before starting the next simulation.

“Better
than I thought,” Zae answered. “Five years ago Mira defeated me with ease. This
time around I’ll be giving her the challenge of her life.”

“I’m
looking forward to it.”

* * *

After
a tour of the ship Grigon led Brian back to the hanger bay.

“You’ve
been rather quiet the last few minutes, what’s wrong?” Grigon asked.

“I
need to ask you for a favor,” Brian said. “I know you’ve been waiting for a
long time to meet me, but the truth is I’ve contracted the Grey plague
responsible for wiping out the Kalaidian men.”

“So
what you’re saying is I should prepare for the worst case scenario?”

“Yes.”

“Alright,
I’ll humor you. What is it you wish to have me do?” Grigon asked.

“Build
a series of mobile suits for the five Maidens,” Brian said. “Not just a Phase
Rakna, but something capable of surpassing them. In the battles we fought
recently I realized our current technology isn’t enough for victory.”

“I’m
more than willing to help you on this,” the old birdman said with another slap
on Brian’s back. “I happen to have one more light class drive sitting around
with nothing to use it with so I’ll start designing a new model right now.”

“Start
with the one Celi will fly,” Brian said. “I’m sure offense isn’t in her nature,
so build a defensive mobile suit with shields able to block anything.”

“I
don’t suppose that would be part of the plan?”

“What
plan?”

“Did
Myden ever tell you about the plan the Teacher left behind?” Grigon asked. “With
your appearance the sixth stage was cleared. Upon the creation of these weapons
the seventh stage had been achieved. Beyond that Myden wouldn’t say any more
about it.”

“No,”
Brian answered. “I’ll ask him about it if I survive this journey. By the way,
when did you meet Myden?”

“A
little over twenty five years ago, just after I’d finished drawing up the specs
for these.” Grigon patted a Talon on the leg. “I was shocked a Grey like
himself even existed. After a several visits I finally agreed to help him.
Myden is driven to free his people from the Machine God that’s taken them over.
That‘s all I know about him. My people are much the same, held back by their
archaic beliefs on males and females, as well as the acquisition of wealth. The
primary reason I was ostracized is because I believe in equality. Not just
financially, but sex wise. My wife was the most accomplished engineer I ever
knew. It was when they discovered her doing forbidden work they had her
executed.”

“I
didn’t know females were treated so harshly amongst your people,” Brian said.

“It’s
all history now,” Grigon cawed. “Moving on, what will I call the new mobile
suit for Celi?”

“The
Aegis,” Brian said after thinking on it for a moment. “It was the shield used
by the Greek goddess Athena. If she’s going to fly a mobile suit whose sole
purpose is defense I can think of no better a name.”

“Then
the Aegis it is,” Grigon said. “I promise you I’ll complete this mobile suit.”

“It’s
been nearly a month since we saw anything,” Baed said.

Zae
sat at her console with Brian in the captain’s chair. Jesela attended to her
duties at the console at the top of the bridge.

“We’ve
seen plenty of things, just not Greys,” Zae said. “I think the calm has been
welcoming after the hectic first few weeks out here.”

Brian
stared at the small computer screen on the captain’s chair and struggled reading
the device. His vision began blurring. He shook his head.
The meds Celi
gives every day are fucking with my vision. Or is it the plague? Doesn’t matter
which it is, it’s frustrating.
He thought before turning the computer off
and leaning back for a break.

“You
look tired,” Baed said after turning to face Brian. Zae did likewise a moment
later.

“I
am,” he said. “I’ve adjusted everything to match the new systems in place. Not
to mention update our battle formations for combat against the Greys. Thankfully
we weren’t attack in this last month. It’s given us time to prepare and heal.”

“The
crew’s looking better,” Zae said. “The only thing bothering us is the fact
we’re running low on fresh produce.”

Jesela
looked up. “It can’t be helped. We can only grow a little on the Avoni. To be
honest, I’m not looking forward to four months on emergency rations.”

“They
are a bit dry,” Brian said. “When I first was taken in by your ship I had the
opportunity to try them.”

“Was
that when you and Seles were stranded on the frozen moon?” Zae asked.

“Yeah,
that was the place,” he answered. “Rations aren’t the most enjoyable food but
they’re filling and nutritious.”

“Done,”
Jesela said before sighing and closing her eyes. “I’ve been at this for two
weeks and it’s finally done.”

“Is
it the new shielding system?” Baed asked.

“Not
just shields, but our weapons as well,” Jesela explained with excitement in her
voice. “This will free up the Raknas during combat.”

“Now
we can go on the offensive,” Brian said.

“True,”
Zae said. She noticed something strange on the edge of their scanning systems.
“We’re picking something up.”

“Is
it the Greys?” Brian asked.

“Not
exactly,” she answered. Zae called up the image on the monitor. In the orbit of
a nearby rocky planet was a large metallic object, ten
ketres
in length
and a third of that in width and depth. “It looks like a large colony.”

“Not
like any I’ve ever seen,” Baed said.

“Jesela,
what’s it look like on your end?” Brian asked.

“I’m
detecting Grey technology,” Jesela reported.

“Grigon’s
calling,” Zae said.

“Put
him through,” Brian ordered. A moment later Grigon appeared on the screen.

“I
see it,” the old Malcovin cawed. “Looks like one of their colonies. But
according to the scanners the place is abandoned.”

“I’m
not picking up anything alive in the entire colony,” Zae reported.

“Not
just that,” Jesela said. “The atmosphere of the place has been vacated. All
electrical systems are dead and no power source is currently functioning.”

“Why
would they have a colony this far away from their main territory?” Brian asked.

“I
have no idea,” Grigon answered.

“Should
we investigate further?” Zae asked.

Brian
thought for a moment. “Grigon, are the stealth cloaks working on both ships?”

“They
should be working right now,” Grigon answered. “We can approach unnoticed.”

“Let’s
do that,” Brian said. He stood up and looked at the image of the dead colony. “Zae,
I want you to take a boarding party over on the Mjolnir.”

“Me?”
Zae asked.

“Yes,
I can’t leave the ship,” he said. “I want one of us to be over there. I have no
idea what lies inside but my instincts tell me something strange is in there.
It makes no sense to build a colony this far away unless it was built for a
specific purpose.”

“Could
it be research?” Jesela asked. “One wouldn’t conduct dangerous experiments near
their home, but on a far away and preferably isolated solar system.”

“That’s
exactly what I was thinking,” Brian confirmed.

“I’d
like to bring Celi with,” Zae requested.

“Take
whomever you need,” Brian said.

“Good,
I’ll start preparing immediately,” Zae said before calling up the list of
security personal onboard.

* * *

Meldi
landed the Mjolnir on a docking hatch. “I’ll wait in here,” she said.

The
other six, including Zae and Celi checked their space suits once more.

“Is
everyone ready?” Zae asked.

“Yes,”
the others said.

Zae
looked at the
rakna
Brian recommended she bring along.
“If you see a living
Grey, blasters won’t work. You need to kill them up close, that’s the only way
to take them down.”
She echoed his words in her mind.

“Let’s
go,” Zae ordered.

The
four ensigns took point ahead of the senior officers. Finding the hatch was
sealed shut; Zae drew the
rakna
blade and activated it. Slowly, she cut
around the circumference of the hatch. She then deactivated the blade’s heat.
Using the sword, she pried the hatch away to reveal a hallway leading inside.
She pulled out her light.

“I’ll
go in first,” Zae said.

“Are
you sure commander?” ensign Aela asked.

“I
can take care of myself in a fight,” Zae said before winking.

She
pushed into the hallway and saw the outside appearance translated to the
interior. Dull black and grey with a metallic sheen. Covering the walls and
consoles were strange hieroglyphs none of them could decipher.

“Looks
oddly similar a colony back home,” Celi remarked as the group slowly made their
way down the dark hallway.

“Not
surprising to me,” Zae said. “But then again nothing can surprise me anymore in
this region of space.”

Zae
stopped and used the
rakna
blade once more to cut through a door. As the
smoke cleared the six Kalaidians saw a massive room filled with shattered glass
tubes. Upon shining her light onto the first one, Zae saw the skeleton of some
type of creature.

“By
the goddess,” ensign Hela said.

“What
is this place?” Zae asked. She shined her light on numerous shattered tubes.
Each had a different skeleton from the others.

Celi
started scanning immediately. “Reiki, Minan, Odaren, Malcovin, Kalaidian,
Shandi,” she looked at the others. “I’m detecting almost every race that lives
within Confederation territory, along with nearly a dozen unknown species.”
Celi shined her light and started checking each one carefully. “According to
the data there’s a male and female of each species that have two sexes.” Celi
went to the powerless monitors and switches. “If these still had power we could
see exactly what they were up to.”

“Maybe
if we go down further we’ll find something else,” Zae suggested.

“This
place gives me the creeps,” Aela said.

“Yeah,
it feels a lot like that Mardok lunar base,” Seli added.

“I
know it’s not pleasant but we need to see what else is in here,” Zae said
before cutting open the next door.

The
next hallway led into an open area of the colony. Around them floated various
dead plants along with a lot of droplets of water and other liquids. Zae shined
her light high into the air and noticed objects floating aimlessly about. Celi
came in last before scanning the area. She looked up at the objects just
floating at the edge of Zae’s light.

“What
is it?” Zae asked.

“Bodies,
a lot of them,” Celi said. She shined a light up as well to reveal scores of
other bodies. “It’s like they had a zoo for all the species they had obtained
samples from.”

Zae
turned to her. “Can you tell what killed them?” she asked.

“Exposure,”
Celi said. “When the Greys left they powered the colony’s systems down and left
them.”

“But
they didn’t kill each other, right?” Zae asked.

“No,”
Celi answered. “The Greys probably spaced them.”

“Spaced?”
Seli asked. “Would they really do that?”

“Remember
what they did to the Mardok,” Zae said. “If they really consider other
creatures nothing more than objects to use this result shouldn’t be
surprising.” Zae sighed. “Although I have to admit I agree with the rest of
you. This place is making me sick.”

“Why
do you suppose they didn’t destroy the colony?” asked Hela.

“They
want to use it again someday,” Celi answered. “Only the power systems are missing.
Return them and this place will work just like it had never been turned off.”

Zae
stopped the group and had to use the
rakna
blade to cut another door. As
she put the blade to the door frame, something pushed her back and knocked over
a few of the others in the process. Zae collected herself before turning off
the blade.

“What
was that?” she asked angrily. “I thought all of the power sources were down.”

“They
are,” Celi said before scanning the room once more. “This door is giving off a
strange magnetic force. It’s completely independent of the power this place
would’ve had running.”

“Could
it be a magnetic locking system?” Zae asked. “How do we get through?”

“Look
at these,” Celi pointed to a number pad with hieroglyphs instead of numbers. “We
can get through if we press the right combination.”

* * *

“Are
you alright?” Baed asked. She put Brian back into an upright position in the
chair. “Brian!”

He
shook his head. “What happened?” he asked as he opened his eyes.

“You
passed out. Are you alright?”

Brian
focused his blurred vision before clearly seeing Baed.
She really does look
like Seles’s twin.
He thought.

“It’s
the plague, isn’t it?” she asked.

“How
did you learn about it?” he asked as he shook his head. “I haven’t told anyone
other than Zae and Grigon.”

“Zae
told me,” she replied.

“I
should be mad at her, but I’m not.” Brian took a deep breath. “Celi has me on
powerful medications at the moment. It keeps me moving but the side effects are
terrible. My vision’s blurry, my attention is lacking, and I’m always tired.”
He stood up to stretch. “Thanks for waking me up. I guess I can’t be left alone
on the bridge anymore.”

“It’s
alright, I don’t mind keeping an eye on you,” Baed said.

“So
what’s going on between you two?” he asked. “Rumors abound but facts are sorely
lacking.”

Baed
blushed. “We’re still figuring it out.”

“Is
the friendship going in a different direction?”

“Yes,”
she answered. “Like I said, neither of us is sure about what to do now.”

“If
there’s love then there’s passion,” he said. “I don’t think I need to tell you
what to do next. One piece of advice I can give is you shouldn’t wait any
longer. Tomorrow we could be stardust. Live without regret, that’s what I
believe.”

“I’m
glad to talk with somebody about this,” she said. “It’s emotionally draining to
deal with alone.”

“Relationships
are like that Baed,” he said. “Just be glad you’re not dancing around with multiple
lovers.”

“Seles
and Mira must have been running you ragged,” Baed said.

“Don’t
forget Valis.”

“What
is the deal with the captain?” Baed asked.

Brian
smiled. “It’s complicated.”

“Nice
answer.”