Alliance Hunter

“…more!” I opened my eyes to see Kelli and Miri leaning over me I was back on board the ship.

Kelli had her glove on. “Ancients Gwen I was afraid I couldn’t wake you.” She sounded relieved. “I was just about to call the crash team.”

Her words had me more than confused. It wasn’t that much of a difference to what I felt at the moment. Between Mouse and Digger I was little confused and afraid. I sat up and stared at her. Kelli said she had been trying to wake me. “What do you mean by that?” I asked her seeing Miri hovering behind her face pale and looking really scared.

“Kelli said you were in a coma?” Miri said to me.

I looked at Kelli seeing the concern on her face. “Coma?”

“Well not exactly,” Kelli admitted. “More like you were in suspended animation. The same sort of suspension when you are in a cell stitcher.”

“I don’t understand?” However confused I’d I was before this topped it. Kelli seemed to be implying I’d been lying here all the time. But that was not possible I was on Saros and I had a body.

“You were out cold.” Kelli waved her glove. “Minimal life signs the same readings we get from the stitcher.”

“How?” I asked her. My headache might have gone but I was rapidly developing a new one. “Ok tell me how you know this?”

Kelli blushed. “I’ve been checking on you every couple of hours. I know you said you would sleep off your headache but I was worried you might have had concussion.” She gestured with her glove. “I wasn’t sure I fully trusted my readings. I didn’t want to make that sort of diagnostic mistake again.”

I remembered telling her that just before I went to sleep and woke up in the cavern. “I went to Saros,” I said to her then realised I’d actually said it. Mouse must have released her restriction on me talking about the cavern.

Kelli quickly glanced at Miri. “Can you step outside and check we aren’t going to be disturbed. Please stay there for a moment the last thing we want is someone to come on us unannounced.”

We all knew that wasn’t necessary. It was obvious that Kelli wanted to talk to me alone. She waited until Miri had gone before speaking.

“Gwen?”

“You think I’m making this up?” I asked her anxiously. “Or that I’m going mad.”

Kelli’s expression became serious which wasn’t helping. I was beginning to doubt myself under her unrelenting gaze. “I don’t for one reason.” She grimaced. “With what Xenai told me and remember she did walk through your mind.” She continued before I could raise an objection. “ No it wasn’t about you this was someone else.”

“But according to Mouse I was the first one down in the caverns for thousands of years?”

Kelli closed her eyes and her next words were full of pain. My heart plummeted at the anguish in it I could almost feel what she felt.

“About someone that witnessed the destruction of Analon.”

The way she said it was deeply personal for her. “You don’t have to say anything,” I said to her. I had to admit I’d never heard of the planet. “Analon?” I asked and felt a total asshole asking her that.

“We moved there from Paranova.”

I now understood her pain. “Hell, Kelli I’m sorry I never knew?”

“How could you Com Ops kept it secret even from our own people. They were worried about the panic it would cause. But horrors like that can’t be kept hidden. It has been something I’ve kept close to my heart. I joined the TCA for my memories of Mark, but also I wanted revenge for what the Rhosani had done to my family, my home.” Her voice cracked at the end and a tear trickled down her cheek. She wiped it away with the back of her hand.

I got up and hugged her. I didn’t know if she was into hugging but with tears rimming my own eyes I had to just to assuage my own soul. “I’m sorry,” I whispered in her ear.

Kelli pulled herself back with a loud sniff. “I’ll weep properly when the Rhosani are finally destroyed.” She took a deep breath. “What I need to say is what Xenai told me.”

Despite my despondency I was intrigued. “About what?”

“She said this person she didn’t give me a name but I can guess who it was somehow travelled to see the destruction of Analon.” Again there was a painful catch in her voice. “What I’m trying to say is that she left her body behind and her mind travelled there. Don’t ask how it was what I was told. She did suffer cardiac arrest and had to be revived.” Kelli gave a shudder. “I’d hate to think of the fate of the Confederacy if she hadn’t.”

“And what happened to me is the same how?”

“I think you did travel but those that made you had more care for your health.”

“You sure?” I asked her.

Kelli frowned. “I’m not at all, what I am is working on speculation.”

I considered what she said, what I felt was different I had a body that I was sure of that and yet Kelli was certain I was here all night. Well what passed for night on a ship. “I best tell you it all.” I felt relieved that Mouse had lifted her restrictions I guess Digger was behind it. I told her everything and held nothing back. I looked at her as I finished my tale even I had started doubting myself. “Now do you see I had a physical form. It was me I am certain of that.” But I wasn’t, not really.

After a thoughtful pause Kelli spoke. “Cellular duplication. It’s the theory of how the cell stitchers work. They seem to duplicate your DNA and repair any damage to you. How they do it is the mystery. “These ‘Ancients’.” She paused. “I really shouldn’t be using it as a swear word. Could do that make a copy for you to house your soul.”

“Soul?” I felt uncomfortable at the thought of that it sounded like it had religious connotations.

“It’s the simplest word I can use as written down in ancient texts. There were races that could do that, tepe races.”

“I’m no telepath as far as I know?” I wasn’t sure about anything now.

“No one knows quite what the Ancients were capable of. Of any of them the only ones we could have asked have retreated to the Galactic Core. Ships have gone there.” She gave me a significant look. “Terran ships but none have ever returned.”

I winced at her implication despite everything I like her was a child of the Empire or if I wanted to be formal the Terran Empire hence the reason most of the Confederacy called us Terrans.

Kelli looked thoughtful emotions flashing across her face but gone was the anguish of earlier. “You said you could talk to them?”

I wasn’t sure what she wanted. “Mouse said I could contact her anytime. I doubt she meant in hyperspace.” Then Mouse hadn’t left me comms details anyway. “I’m not sure how they do it?”

“Please Gwen indulge me?” She paused. “Lie back close your eyes and call out with your mind.”

“Ok, ok I’ll try I’m not sure how but I’ll try.” I lay back down and closed my eyes. I really didn’t think this would work. “Mouse!” I called out.

“Yes Little One?”

My eyes jerked open as her words echoed through my brain. I quickly closed them again. “Mouse?”

“You called me Little One?”

“I prefer to be called Gwen,” I told her.

“Gwen why are your eyes closed?”

I felt a mild rebuke in her words. “I thought I would have to contact you?”

“No Gwen we can talk anytime you want to. Closing your eyes is not necessary nor is lying down.”

I sat up. “How did you know that?” I said startled.

“Be at peace Gwen we cannot and will not harm you,” Mouse reassured me her words echoing in my head.

“You machine did!” I shuddered at the thought.

“I know and I’m sorry for that but you did save us and the world.”

I couldn’t really argue with that. “Ok, ok.”

“That’s fine Gwen. You called me what is it?” Mouse asked.

It felt as if she was sitting at my side rather than a voice in my head. “Kelli has some questions for you?”

“Your medical friend. I’m afraid you’d be better off talking to Digger.”

What I didn’t want to do was have repeat questions and answers. I was trying to put that habit behind me. “I don’t think they’re medical questions she’s just curious.”

“I can do that.”

I sensed a ‘but’ in her voice guessing that it was something that I wouldn’t like.

“I’ll need to take over your body.”

“I don’t understand?” I really didn’t like the implications of her words.

“Be assured it is not dangerous and is only temporary. I will not force you do to do anything against you will.”

“Really it didn’t stop your computer?”

“That was unfortunate but necessary.” Mouse paused that continued. “The Corrupted struck after we had transferred our consciousness we weren’t in a position to stop it.”

“Ok I accept that.” I couldn’t fault her logic.

“Are you ready Gwen I won’t hurt you,” Mouse said awaiting my reply.

“Well Kelli is just dying to ask her questions,” I told her one of those throwaway Imperial phrases we always used. Phrases I had often found myself explaining for Jervic. At the moment I missed his touch and the pleasure it gave me.

“She’s dying?” Mouse interjected alarmed.

I realised she like most Confederacy didn’t understand idioms especially those from the Empire.”

“Sorry an unfortunate turn of phrase.”

“I assure you that you will not die nor shall your friend. Can we proceed?”

Before I could launch an objection I felt myself floating like I was in a warm bath. I felt tension ease from my body as I floated. I tensed slightly as I felt myself dislocate from reality. I was there and I was not yet I felt safe despite my fears. I heard Mouse speak through my voice and I was just a listener.

“What would you like to know?” she asked Kelli. “There are things I cannot tell you.”

“Who are you?” I heard an edge in Kelli’s voice.

“I’m Mouse, Gwen did tell you this?”

“No I asked who are you?”

“Oh yes I see that sort of question. Call us Keepers not our true name we left that far behind. Those we once considered rivals named themselves Guardians a bit conceited but that is how it is.”

“Do you mean the Guardians on Melanos?” Kelli countered sounding as if she was keeping herself in control of her emotions.

“Yes as they style themselves now.”

“So they are like you?” I asked surprising myself by saying it. In truth I didn’t think I’d be able to.

“No Gwen,” Mouse replied in a motherly way. “They were never like us, wanted to be us but were never like us.”

I felt my heart catch at her words it was too much like my own mother so many light years way.

Mouse continued and I could feel her tension. I lost the calmness I felt. “They create ‘Avatars’ living weapons intent on destruction.”

“Shit!” Kelli exclaimed. “Sandra Locke is she one of their Avatars?”

“Yes and no,” Mouse told her.

I was confused my feelings mixed. “I don’t understand?” I said as Kelli said the same.

“It’s complicated but she still has her free will.”

Kelli nodded thoughtfully. “And Gwen is she your Avatar?”

“Gwen no,” Mouse said to Kelli then to me her voice a caress in my mind.

I remembered what the computer did to me and how helpless I’d felt, something must have alerted Mouse to my rising state of fear.

“Gwen take a deep breath your heart is racing too fast. Be assured we will never hurt you. I know you are afraid but be assured the sooner I answer your friend’s questions the sooner I can leave you alone.”

“Ok I’ve right to be scared.”

“I know,” Mouse replied as wave of calmness washed over me. Her next words were for Kelli. “Can you ask your questions quickly my presence is making Gwen uncomfortable.”

“I’ll try to be as brief as I can,” Kelli told me except I had to keep reminding myself I had a lodger and she wasn’t talking to me.

“Please continue Kelli,” Mouse said.

“What is your connection to Gwen. I know she stumbled into your cavern.” Kelli scowled. “What was done to her afterwards wasn’t fair!”

“Which she wouldn’t have done had she not carried our essence in her veins.”

I shifted uneasily at the thought I could have easily died I listened on.

“Had her essence not been awakened she could have died.” Mouse paused.

“Conversely the world of Saros would have been destroyed along with us and probably you.”

I winced at the bluntness in Mouse’s words it seemed she wanted to say more.

“Gwen saved us, she saved every one of the lives on Saros to which we will be eternally grateful for.”

Kelli frowned. “That still didn’t answer my question did it?”

“True Gwen’s essence as we have established was the result of a Renegade visiting her world and sowing its seed.”

Ugh that wasn’t something I wished to know but Kelli did.

“How long ago?”

“About six thousand years as Gwen measures time. Why they were there we do not know this was long after we had become streams of data. Somehow they hid their essence but are unsure why. Somehow it was awakened.”

“Awakened how?”

“You will have to ask those you call the Valkyrie about it.”

I wasn’t going to ask and I doubt Kelli would either.

Kelli frowned again. “They do have a lot to answer for.”

I guessed she was on about their treatment of me. Then that was the Valkyrie way and I’d have to suck it up and see. What I had no intention of doing was to kow-tow to the whims of this Old One, Runa kept alluding to and head back to Alfheimir. I was my own person no matter what obstacles were thrown in my path.

“Does this mean all humans have this essence?”

“No one on Saros has and we’ve checked.”

I wondered how they did that.

“How?” Kelli pressed her point.

Before Mouse had a chance to reply a vast choral voice roared in my skull.

“Go away!”

With it came a burning, tearing sensation in my mind searing my brain with pain. I vaguely heard a voice screaming as I tried to maintain coherent thought. The voice screaming was mine but I seemed detached from it. I had bad migraines before but this was something, something different more intense than any pain I had ever experienced. It felt as it my mind was about to explode. I must have blacked out the next thing I knew was that I was waking in the medbay. Jervic was holding my hand gently stoking the back of it. His face was drawn with concern. In the corner of my eye I caught Kelli waving her glove over my head her face just as grim. She started seeing me with my eyes open.

“Gwen you ok?” she said.

“Gwen,” Jervic breathed relief strong on his face.

“Hello,” I croaked my throat dry. “Water,” I gasped.

Kelli hurried to get me some water and Jervic clasped my hand tighter but he kept glancing up. I saw what he was looking at. A Valkyrie medic sat at a desk her eyes on the screen in front of her totally ignoring the fact I was here with a man, a man that was holding my hand.

“What happened?” he asked this voice lowered.

The medic looked up. “I can still hear you,” she said with a smile. “I’ll just step outside and give your friends the good news and send them on their way. I can’t have them blocking the door to my medbay.” She got up and sauntered out of the door. Her acceptance of Jervic‘s presence had taken me totally by surprise her whole attitude was typically un-Valkyrie. I jumped a little when Kelli tilted me up and placed a glass of water to my lips.

“Drink slowly little sips ok.” When she had decided I had enough water she lowered me back. “Yes what did happen?”

I was unsure what Kelli had told Jervic so I chose my words carefully. “One minute we were talking…” I trailed off my eyes on Jervic.

“Yes those damn Valkyrie giving you concussion,” Kelli said hastily. “Should have taken better care of you.”

It was obvious to me that Kelli hadn’t told Jervic how I’d ended up in this state.

“How are you?” he asked his hand holding mine.

“Fine.” Which was the truth I did feel ok.

“Excellent,” The Valkyrie medic piped up I hadn’t heard her return. “Now you two out I have to examine my patient and she needs a little privacy.” She shooed Jervic and Kelli out before either could raise a protest. She turned her attention to me. “Now hop off that bed.”

I did as I was told knowing full well what was coming next and I was ready.

The medic threw a punch at my head had I not ducked I’d be on the floor seeing stars and she would not release me from medbay. I reacted faster than I thought possible especially after what had happened. I ducked and twisted grabbing hold of her wrist as it flashed past my head. With a roll of my hip I’d flipped her and she crashed to the floor on her back my hand still gripping her wrist. Instead of being angry the Valkyrie laughed.

“I’d say you are more than better.” She looked at my hand on her wrist. “You can let go now we aren’t lovers.”

That shocked me more than how I’d just attacked a medic. Valkyrie just didn’t say things like that. Even Ljufu was not that flippant around others even me. I quickly released my grip on her wrist.

“Sorry,” I apologised.

“Don’t be,” the medic said as she got off the floor. “Good now let’s do a proper introduction. I’m Kara Martin and I’m what these morons term a doctor.”

I looked at her shocked. I hadn’t known she was a Martin she wasn’t wearing a sash. Not only that she seemed to have a quirky sense of humour. As a Martin she could be considered a potential ally and on this ship I needed as many as I possibly could. There was something very wrong aboard this ship. Until now I had been oblivious to this but suddenly I felt as if I was seeing things through a clear lens.

Kara continued. “When we get to know each other better we can get to the real reason for your collapse. I don’t buy the explanation you friend gave me.” She gave me a significant look. “She should try harder. I saw straight thorough her lie.”

With a shake of my head I marched stiffly to the door. At that moment my stomach chose to rumble breaking my train of thought.

Kara laughed. “I take it that was unintentional. Get you and your friends down to the mess hall. If anyone objects say it’s doctor’s orders.”

Jervic and Kelli waited anxiously by the door to the medbay. I quickly explained my conversation with Kara leaving out what she had said about Kelli’s story of my collapse.

“She’s a Martin?” Jervic asked.

“And a potential ally,” I replied.

“Can we trust her?” Kelli said.

“To a certain extent as long as what we do doesn’t impinge on her loyalty to the clan.” I grimaced. “Mother Ronja wants me as part of her clan. I don’t think Kara will jeopardise that, besides I really do think she’s on our side.”

“I agree,” Kelli said her face flushed. “I know she gave me a grilling over my glove. But she was genuinely concerned. I had expected her to yell at me but all she did was give me a lecture on maintaining my equipment.”

I sensed Kelli was holding back. “And?”

“She stated I’d have to return to her for training.”

“Training in what?” I could guess it wasn’t the type of training I envisaged doing with Jervic. Despite her flippant comments I could sense she was more like Solstrid than Ljufu.

“Training for a certificate in general medicine.”

Something for which I knew nothing about.

“Good for you.” Jervic said patting her shoulder. “It would be nice to have a proper doctor on the team.”

Kelli turned bright red. “I know, I know Xenai is always on about it, that I should take the training and earn my certification. Looks like Kara Martin is going to do that anyway.”

“Is that a bad thing?” I asked her.

“No, It’s just that I like it on the Investigations Team. I’d rather be out in the field than tied to a medbay. That’s always been my argument with Xenai.”

“I don’t think it will wash with Kara, she is Valkyrie. Frankly I surprised she hasn’t recruited you to the clan?” I said that last bit as a joke Kelli was looking a little too grim.

She started at my words. “That too close as to what she asked me.”

Kelli’s reply shocked me. “She can’t do that you have to have the blood.” I know my link was tenuous as it was but as far as I knew Kelli was pure T’Arni unlike Jervic who had one human parent. I hadn’t asked him who, I guess he’d tell me when he was ready and I wasn’t going to push the subject. My stomach rumbled again reminding me that I had to eat. “Come if we hurry we can catch the others. Then head to the mess hall as sure as eggs are eggs Kara will be making sure I eat.”

Jervic looked at me. “I wish sometimes Gwen you tell me the meaning before you come out with confusing phrases I don’t understand.” He smiled and winked.

I knew he wasn’t being serious he loved my explanations. “Let’s get going I’ll tell you on the way.”

With that we hurried to the mess hall.