Guardian Awakening (35 page)

“What are we up against?” she asked.

“There is another cruiser besides this one and a battleship,” Tristan replied. “They are also constructing something in a pit. The fleet must have been only part of the attack; there is something else going on.”

Tristan thought for a moment and said, “If we can take this ship, we could use the weapons systems to destroy the other ships.”

“What about the pit?”

“We can’t fire on it from here it’s the other side of a small ridge.”
 

Aesia nodded. “We should make our way up to the bridge. If we meet any opposition avoid using the lasers. A laser power discharge would alert the crew.”
 

Tristan knew what that meant. He would have to use his fighting staff. Memories of his fights with Dionysia during the simulated training came flooding back. He shook his head. Without his ability to read what his opponent would do, he knew his skill with a staff mediocre at best.
Oh well, can’t be helped I suppose.
He reached for a small pouch on his belt and lifted out a small stubby tube. He twisted one end, and his staff unfolded to its full length and handed it to Aesia.
 

Aesia took the lead. She opened the door and looked out. The corridor was deserted. They walked carefully along the corridor, past Aesia’s cell, and up to the next deck. They managed two further decks before they came across the first of the crew. Aesia and Tristan waited in a doorway until they were past. Then, Aesia stepped forward and quickly dispatched the first one. As he went down, she smashed the staff into his head. He was dead before he hit the floor. Tristan hit the second one hard with his armoured fist. As the guard crumpled, Aesia finished him off.
 

They bypassed the galley as there were about ten crew eating. They could be isolated once the bridge was reached. There was one more crew member, who Aesia soon dispatched before they reached the bridge. There were two security guards on either side of the bridge door. Now there was no point avoiding laser fire. Aesia had done most of the work to get them there. She was a formidable warrior. Now, it was Tristan’s turn.

He signalled Aesia to wait. He thought she might argue, but after a moment’s hesitation, she nodded. Tristan unfolded his armour fully, pulled out the two laser pistols, and walked round the corner of the corridor towards the two guards. Tristan shot them before they knew what was happening. He then rushed the bridge door. It had started to close, but he caught it just in time. He jumped through, firing his pistol. He hit two more guards and took out two of the officers who were standing over a console. His armour took three laser blasts from his right. He turned and fired again at two more crew members. All went down.
 

This left the captain. She had turned in her chair and was starting to stand. Tristan was in front of her in two strides. He hit her hard across the face, and her knees buckled. Tristan turned and checked the bridge for anyone else and then opened the door for Aesia. She stepped through and closed the door. She moved round, checking that all the fallen crew were no longer a threat. She returned to the captain, who was just coming round from Tristan’s blow. Tristan folded his armour and stopped Aesia just in time from finishing off the captain. Tristan wanted to question her.

“Aesia, quickly, seal all the doors in the ship!” She went to one of the consoles.
 

After a few moments she said, “Done.”

Tristan knelt down by the captain and asked, “What are they doing in the pit?” She just looked at him.
Damn the field!
Tristan thought. It would be easy to get what he wanted without it. He looked up. “Aesia, can you shut down the damping field on this ship?” She shrugged and returned to the console.

Tristan turned back to the captain. She stared at him eyes full of hatred and defiance. He sighed, “You can make this easy or painful. The choice is yours.”

There was a fizz followed by strangled gasp behind him. He turned to see Aesia slowly sliding to the deck, a smoking hole in her back. His heart missed a beat his stomach lurched. “No!”

Chapter Twenty Four: End Game

A movement caught Tristan’s eye. An injured crewman had hidden beneath a console and was turning a pistol towards him. Tristan drew his pistol and shot the man in the head. He turned at the sound of movement behind just as the Captain launched herself at him. He sidestepped and shot her, and she hit the deck
 
dead.
 

He holstered the pistol as he ran over to Aesia’s prone body. Gently putting his arm under her he rolled her over. Her eyes flickered open and tears ran down her cheeks. The shot had passed right through the middle of her chest, missing her heart by inches. There was no blood, the heat had cauterised the flesh as the beam passed through her body.
 

She trembled in his arms. “Aesia, stay with me.” She smiled faintly, reached up and touched his face. Her eyes closed, and she went limp. Tristan lay her gently down on the deck.
 

Everything came into sharp focus, his whole body cold like ice. The controls for the dampening field had to be here somewhere. He sprang to his feet, scanning the consoles for anything, something he did not recognise. He moved from console to console his movements swift and sure. He kept his mind focused, holding onto the coldness and detachment like a crutch, keeping the thought of Aesia dying or dead from overwhelming his senses.

The life support console had a small panel with a green light that slowly dimmed and brightened in time with the small fluctuations he could sense in the dampening field.
That’s it! It has to be it.
His hands shook as he turned the key switch below the light. The light turned red. His hands clenched into fists, his breathing stopped.
No Difference! Oh God.

He moved to the next console his mouth was dry now. He felt faint he had forgotten to breathe,
Guardian?
The thought was faint.

Cassiopeia, is that you?

Yes Tristan.
Stronger now
 

Tristan felt his heart leap in his chest. He whirled round, rushing over to Aesia’s limp form, and he picked her up, holding her close.

Cassiopeia, can you transport two?

Yes, if you keep the other person close.

Your medical bay. NOW.

The lurch, and he was standing in the spotless whiteness of the small medical bay in Cassiopeia’s bunker. An avatar was standing by the single medibed.
 

Tristan, with a single stride, stood above the bed and gently lay Aesia down.

“Tristan, my protocols will not allow me to heal the Sicceian.”

It took a moment before Tristan realised what the avatar had said. “Cassiopeia, you have to be fucking joking!” Tristan felt anger rise from the pit of his stomach threatening to overwhelm him. “Heal her NOW, you stupid bitch.”

The avatar backed away from him and shook her head. “I’m sorry, I can only act on a Guardian or another if a Guardian’s life is at stake.”

“Then scan her! You can do that?”

“Yes but…”

Tristan clenched his fists resisting the urge to grab the avatar around the neck and squeeze. “But nothing! Do it!” he growled.

A semicircular arm came from the foot of the bed and slowly moved along Aesia’s body. “Her life signs are very weak, Guardian… Oh!” The Avatar manipulated controls at the side of the Medibed. “Healing protocols engaged.”

“How long will it take?”

“I don’t know, her injury is extensive. I can’t guarantee she will recover, I’m sorry Tristan.”

“Right, please do your best.”

“Yes, of course.”

Tristan bent down and kissed Aesia. Her cold skin made his chest tighten.
Cassiopeia, where is Tristain?
 

Playing with one of my avatars in her room.
 

Don’t let her know about Aesia until you know the healing is working and she has regained consciousness.

As you wish.

Now meet me in the conference room please.

The conference room was situated across the corridor from the medical bay, so Tristan did not have to walk through the main living quarters.

Cassiopeia stood waiting for him.
 

“Why are you avoiding Tristain?” she asked.

Tristan sighed and sat down. “Because as soon as we finish here I have to leave again. If she sees me, she will ask questions, and the answers will upset her. While she is happy playing leave her.”
 

Cassiopeia sighed. “All right, Tristan. Now, what did you need to discuss?”

The Sicceians are constructing something on that large asteroid. Can you access the details from my memory, please.” There was a slight tingling as the AI accessed his mind. “Are you able to identify what it is?”

“Yes.”

Tristan ground his teeth. “Well, what is it for God’s sake?”

“
A matter transfer drive system.
”

“
Why would they build a drive system on the surface of an asteroid?”
 

“That size of drive would be capable of moving the asteroid.”

Tristan gasped. “They are going to crash that asteroid into Mylia.”

“Something that large would destroy all life on the surface. It might even knock the planet out of orbit.”

“I have to destroy that drive system, Cassiopeia.”
 

“Yes, Tristan the loss of life would be enormous if you don’t. If you just damage the drive there is a chance they could rebuild the system. The best option would be total destruction.”

“So how can I accomplish that level of destruction?”

“The drive uses energy fields to accelerate the matter, the ice core of the asteroid in this case, building a considerable thrust. The fields will also regulate the matter flow ensuring there is no overload in the system. If you reverse the fields then the reaction will be into the core, causing a massive overload. The resulting explosion would destroy everything within a hundred mile radius.”
 

“Well that would stop them rebuilding it! Have you sufficient knowledge of this type of drive to give me instructions on how to reverse the fields? If so give them to me now please.” The tingling returned. Before he could take a breath, he knew everything about the drive systems the Sicceian’s were using to move the asteroid. He felt something warm on his upper lip. He wiped it with the back of his hand. His nose was bleeding.
 

“That is a normal a side effect when using instant knowledge transfer, Tristan.”

“Not a problem, Cassiopeia. Can you modify my armour to look like Sicceian armour?”

“Yes, it is done. Where do you want me to send you?”

“I noticed a small crater off to one side of the pit. Can you send me there, please.”

 
“Yes of course, are you ready?”

“Yes.” Tristan crouched down just as he felt the lurch. The white
 
ceiling became inky black space with the glowing silver band of the Milky Way stretching from horizon to horizon.
Either side of the band it faded to individual stars. The Milky Way from this region of space never failed to take his breath away. He glanced round, there was no one nearby, so he moved to the edge of the crater, lay on his stomach, and peered over.

The plain below, with the pit at the centre, was full of activity. The open gantry framework partly concealed the large doughnut structures stacked one above the other, the field acceleration control for the drive system. Off to his right, the concrete building projected from a low cliff on the edge of the plain. He watched the building. There were doors along the base, two small recessed ones either end and large double doors in the centre. The cables that ran from the gantry structure entered the building at the side closest to him. The building currently seemed deserted. All the work centred around the pit, with many suited figures working on the frame. As he watched, a group broke away and started walking towards the concrete building. If they continued on their course, they would pass the edge of the ridge where he was hiding.

He moved back from the ridge and worked his way to a gap that opened on the path the Sicceians were taking. He waited, heart thumping in his chest, the only sound the rasping of the air regulator with every breath. When the Sicceians passed they would have their backs to him. The group walked close to the gap as Tristan had hoped. He waited until the last one walked by then, taking a deep breath, he stepped out behind them. He held his breath, no one broke their stride or looked back. He took another deep breath and sighed as he fell into step. His sudden appearance had gone unnoticed.
 

As the group neared the building, Tristan started to hang back. He ducked quickly into the first door recess as the group passed.
 

He stood still in the shadows for a few moments just in case any of them should look back. The Sicceians carried on, seemingly unaware of him.

Once they had moved away, he turned to examine the door. It was the outer door of a simple manual airlock. The glass portholes showed an area beyond full of cabinets.
 

He cycled the airlock, stepped through and ducked behind the nearest cabinet. The room proved to be deserted. From his new implanted knowledge, Tristan recognised the area where he needed to change the connections to reverse the field flow.

He folded his armour and walked over to the cabinet. Indicators showed the system had not been powered on. To reverse the field he had to transpose six different circuits. He worked quickly, removing the fasteners for each board, then changed their position. He stood back once he had finished and shook his head. The boards were colour coded, and even a cursory glance would show the boards were out of sequence.

“Damnation! I shall have to prevent them from checking in here before firing up the engine.” He sat down, leaning against an adjacent cabinet.

I’m going to have to create a diversion, make them look elsewhere.