Ilox Saga 1: Eris Monroe: More Than Human (32 page)

“Of course - they are very large, and allow for much greater freedom of movement,” Kizzara said. She seemed very proud of her people, and the architectural structures they had built.

“Maybe when all of this is over, you can take me there someday.” Eris said wistfully. “I’ve seen videos of Rallan - it is a beautiful planet…”

“Yes, ‘eco’ tourists come for the scenery though many still regard my people as backwards and primitive. We were only contacted by the Arrasian’s seventy-five years ago. Many on my homeworld are distrustful of the wider galaxy. That is why there are so few of us scattered throughout the stars.” Kizzara saw how Eris had switched to a multi-workout machine that included a bench press. The machine had set the weight to five hundred kilos. As Eris worked out, she developed a fine sheen of sweat on her skin. After three sets, Eris stood up and used the towel to dry herself on her face and neck. Kizzara had watched the entire time.

“I…I wanted to ask you something, Captain,” Kizz’s tail was twitching. Eris knew that something was bothering her.

“Go ahead.” Eris said with an encouraging tone.

“I have read all of the reports from your mission on Furnace – and I saw some of the video logs that Eli prepared,” Kizz’s claws were popping in and out of her pads. She began to pace the small workout area in front of Eris while looking at the floor. “Were you ever afraid?” She finally looked at her captain – her golden pupils were dilated. “I mean, did you ever feel fear?”

“Yes, I was afraid…”

Kizzara had a strange look on her face, as if something didn’t add up. “But…I thought
you
of all people, you never fear anything!”

“Fear is in all of us – all sentients evolved with the response so that we could survive.” Eris put her hand on Kizzara’s shoulder; the Evene’s skin was warm. “Fight or flight, it’s the instinct that is set at a primeval level – but we can use it.”

“If I had been in your place, I don’t know if I could have reacted as well as you did…you didn’t hesitate…not even once.” Kizzara had stopped swishing her tail and popping her claws. “I watched all of the logs.” Kizzara’s puzzled expression deepened.

“Fear sharpens combat… it brings a sense of…reality…to such situations. Master it and don’t let it control your actions - use it as a tool.” Eris sat back down at the workout machine and it morphed its architecture slightly. This time she started to do lat pulldowns.

“I’m really glad
you’re
the Captain…Captain – and not somebody else.” Kizzara began walking away from the gym.

“And I’m glad you’re my pilot, Kizz. From what I’ve heard from Hasephrey you pulled some amazing maneuvers in that fight against the Alliance heavy cruiser…”

As Kizzara walked out into the corridor, she wore a broad grin, and saw Eli Bowman come down the hallway. Eli glanced from her to the Captain inside the gym.

“Ah damn, I’m too late…wait Kizz, aren’t you going to…you know…do that stuff you do on those bars some more?”

“Are you spying on me?” Kizz was amused. Eli Bowman blushed – his pale cheeks turned rose colored.

“Uh…no way, I’d never do that!” Eli said hastily. “Just wandering the halls and saw you and Eris talking…”

“Right - I know you Eli Bowman, you were
watching
with those powers of yours.” Kizz delighted in teasing him and she trailed one of her claws down his arm, taking care not to draw any blood. She saw that he shivered involuntarily.

“I’ll see you later…” Kizz continued on down the corridor, heading to her quarters. Eli watched until she had disappeared behind a bulkhead and then turned and walked into the small gym.

“Uh…Captain, are you going to keep exercising? I mean, if Kizz is done for the day, maybe I should do a few pushups.” Eli raised an eyebrow with mock seriousness.

“Eli, I’ve never seen you work out before,” said Eris with a chuckle. She was steadily going through her routine. “If you need this machine, I’ll be done in fifteen more minutes. If you’re serious that is.” Eris knew he probably wasn’t.

“No, I only came down to try to get Kizz to do some more of those acrobatic flips…you know, the ones where she…uh…ah…” He pulled on the hem of his shirt. “Never mind – I’ll be going now,” Eli muttered quickly as he walked in the opposite direction that Kizzara had taken. True to her word, Eris was finished after fifteen more minutes. She took a quick shower in the tiny bathroom of her quarters and then headed to the CIC one deck up.

The Sparta was in orbit above a Class C planet, designated only as XB18966, a world that humans could survive on as long as an environment suit or sealed combat armor with an air supply was worn. The poisonous carbon dioxide and methane atmosphere would kill nitrogen-oxygen breathing organic life in less than two minutes. The planet was smaller but denser than Earth resulting in a gravity of one hundred and five percent above Standard Gravity.

Eris Monroe glanced at her personal datapad which projected the bridge navigational readouts showing Sparta was travelling to the Bereton system. She played the recorded message she had received from the CEO of Dynamic Space Development sixteen hours ago. She had taken to recording all of her communications with her erstwhile employer, encapsulating the entire communication stream between them. Eli Bowman, T’sell T’savri, Gelkar Ruz’zel and Hasephrey Saephan were in the comm room watching the message. Eris was seated at the head of the large horseshow shaped table in the middle of the room. All eyes paid rapt attention to the holographic video playing slightly above the center of the table.

“I think I finally have some good news for you,” said Dominic Gray. He was dressed in an expensive tailored suit and was smiling. The usually grim faced eccentric didn’t smile when he communicated with her so it was odd – almost jarring.

“What is it?” said Eris as she glanced at the report Arnav had prepared for her on the Holdfast.

“An Evene contacted one of my agents yesterday. A defector from the mercenary group you’ve had so much trouble with. His information is solid and he wishes to defect.”

“Vortex?” Eris arched an eyebrow.

“Yes – I’ve already had my agents look over the credentials he presented and his story checks out. He says he has knowledge of the whereabouts of the mercenary Chol Cuxa. He says he can find him, but the information is time sensitive and is only good for the next forty-eight hours.

“One other thing, Captain,” Dominic Gray said. “The mission on Furnace that you and your team completed has thoroughly disrupted the plans of the Alliance. It’s safe to say that time can be spared for this Vortex defector – if you choose to pursue it.”

The recorded conversation and images faded. T’sell and Eli looked at each other while Hasephrey appeared contemplative as he leaned against the bulkhead wall. Professor Ruz’zel was tinkering with a small device on the table in front of him. A set of tools were splayed out beside it. T’sell spoke first.

“Are we going to initiate contact with the Vortex defector?” The Zari woman was still wearing the human face of Trafelle Talani. The crew of the Sparta did not yet know of her true identity as a Zari shapeshifting spy.

“Yes, this could be my only chance to find Chol Cuxa and finish him,” said Eris as she picked up a gauss pistol and checked to make sure it was loaded. “We’re here…at this planet…to meet him. He suggested the meeting take place here in a place of his choosing.”

Gelkar’s wings buzzed. “Captain, are you sure that this is a wise move on your part?” he asked with a puzzled expression. He had stopped tinkering with his device momentarily.

“It’s the only way I’ll ever be able to find the leader of the Vortex…”

Eris glanced at Bowman who was picking at his nails. “Eli, go ahead and tell her what you did.”

“Well, after Eris got that transmission from Mr. Grey, she ordered me to try and figure out if any of it was valid. The Captain didn’t want us to waste time if it was some kind of Vortex ruse, or worse…bad information from Dominic Grey.” His face took on a smug look. “It took some doing – but I managed to hack into Dominic’s communication systems and traced the comm signals of his agents that had met the Vortex traitor,” said Eli. The Orvod Hasephrey Saephan looked alarmed. “It really was incredibly complicated, but I managed it,” said Eli with satisfaction.

“You can
do
that?” Hasephrey questioned unbelievingly.

“Yes.”

Gelkar seemed to perk up and peered at Eli Bowman with newfound respect. The small alien spoke.

“Humans have been known to exhibit so-called bio-mechanical abilities,
psionics
as many races call them. Such abilities tap into multi-dimensional energy - much like the Zari telepathic powers, yet I have never heard of such a thing as you possess.”

“From inside Sparta…in deep space?” Saephan’s head tattoos became flushed with confused blue and yellow circles. The patterns were jarring to look at.

“Of course,” said Eli smugly. He had crossed his arms. “And I found out that it all appears to be true. The agent’s name is Lluras, and he does work for Vortex, or at least he used to. He wants to meet us…” Eli was cut off by Eris abruptly.

“I want the four of you to head down to deck five and prepare - full combat gear and weapons. I want to minimize the possibility of any…mistakes,” ordered Eris to those assembled. Eli nodded and left. Kizzara looked troubled.

“Captain, I know you want me with you to watch this Lluras. He is an Evene, like me…but I don’t see what use that is to you. I may be the best pilot around, but I am still just a pilot,” Kizzara said. Her mane of glorious red hair had been tied into many braids. In each braid were multicolored strands of jewelry and each moved in a glittering display as she turned her head.

“Kizzara, you know the Evene culture, you come from the homeworld. I think you underestimate how much use you will be to me. I need to know what your instincts say about him.”
Eris smiled at Kizzara. “Plus, I don’t think T’sell will be able to read his mind. He’s too clever to not have a mental blocking device on him somewhere.”

“Very well, I shall be ready to leave when you give the word…” The pilot of the Sparta was agitated but left. Professor Ruz’zel carried the small device in his arms and he looked up at Eris before leaving.

“Eris Monroe, I thank you for allowing me my field test. I wanted to calibrate the device using real-world situations.” He paused before leaving the room. “The labs on this ship are exceptional. Give a word of thanks to this Dominic Gray as well.”

Eris ordered the computer to bring up a link to Kyle, who was seated at the pilot’s station in the CIC. His handsome face filled her screen and she spoke briefly, “The Vortex defector is at the following coordinates on the planet - we’re going to go talk with him.” She knew Kyle was anxious about her. The minute Starlifter had returned from Furnace, and docked with Sparta, he had been there for her, concerned about the damage she had suffered and insisting he be with her in the med-bay while Lia carefully examined the wound on her torso and re-bandaged it. She didn’t want him down there with her.

“Kyle, set down and then take Sparta back up into orbit. I don’t want anything happening to her if this turns out to be a trap.”

“Captain…Eris…be careful down there.” She could hear the emotion, and the restraint, in his voice. She cut the link then turned to Hasephrey. The huge Orvod was troubled by her plans and made it obvious to her.

“I hope you know what you’re doing, Captain. Revenge is a dark path that often leads to more killing – a never ending cycle of violence…”

“It’s something I
have
to do.”
I owe it to all my team-mates that died on Domovik due to the actions of the Vortex…
She wouldn’t talk any further about the matter and Hasephrey Saephan stood to his full height and sighed.

He then turned and left her alone with T’sell T’savri. The Zari woman had said nothing during the entire conversation.

“You must do what you feel you must do.” T’sell said calmly. In her long lifespan she had learned that flesh was measured in units of pain – in death there was no more pain. The finality of it was always sobering. “I think we’ve been lucky so far.”

“What do you mean?” Eris twisted her lips in a grimace.

“Planoss…Furnace…we were lucky. We could have died on the surface of those planets easily – or been captured…and tortured. The Sparta could have been discovered and blown up…”

“My team wasn’t lucky on Domovik…”

“Exactly - the law of averages is not on your side. Not on my side, not on yours…not anyone’s side really. Eventually, in this line of work, events catch up to you - and luck runs out, and your life comes to an end.” She glanced at Eris with a wicked smile. “Usually… quite spectacularly bloody ends.”

“Do you want to back out?” Eris was unsure what T’sell was getting at. She had always been somewhat enigmatic…mysterious even.

“No…I am an agent of Dominic Gray. He charged me to make sure that your missions were successful. He wouldn’t have allowed you to seek revenge if it didn’t serve a purpose.”

“Why do you follow him?” Eris was curious. She had never asked before. She had been furious when she had discovered that T’sell was a spy for Dominic, but the Zari woman had proven herself and her abilities, many times over. She
trusted
her.

“Why do
you
?” T’sell deflected her question calmly. “I know you’ve doubted his sincerity. Doubted his integrity - I assure you…he means well, though his methods can be severe at times.”

“I woke up in a hospital…and had all of this thrust upon me. I’m not sure I really had much of a choice…”

“You could have refused Gray’s offer – gone back into Republic space…rejoined your Fleet.” T’sell T’savri was nonchalant in her reply.

“Yes, at first I was going to do that. But I learned that the Fleet had branded me a traitor and blamed
me
for what happened at Domovik. They would have thrown me in the brig and it would have taken months…maybe years for the truth to come out.” Eris had thought this over many times and the equation had always come out the same. She had to do everything she could to finish the task at hand.

“Maybe never…it is quite probable that whoever framed you for Domovik still has much power.”

“Whoever it is, they also implicated my superior and forced him to resign. He told me…Admiral Hargrove flat out told me that there was a coup being planned to topple the government of the Republic. That’s another thing I have to worry about…”

“But the worries of a galactic war and the Alliance gaining Valdren super weapons are a more pressing matter…” T’sell looked coolly at Eris.

“Exactly - I can only attempt to put out one fire at a time…”

Eris had learned that the planet the Vortex defector had wanted to meet in was of no interest to anyone – there was no colony there and nothing of economic importance. It was a barren, frozen hunk of rock in a non-descript system well off the normal jump point space lanes. She donned her combat suit and geared up with a full array of hardware – gauss assault rifle, pistol and six fragmentation grenades.
Better to be prepared for anything.
She then headed down to deck five. Various crew members passed her on the way.

Assembled and waiting near the airlock were Kizzara, Eli, Gelkar and T’sell – suited up and ready. She wanted each of them for their unique talents. It didn’t take long until Sparta was down on the ground and her team cycled through the airlock and stepped out onto the frozen surface.

They landed in a narrow valley between two large mountains. The ground was rugged and completely ice-bound. No life was possible or lived in the poisonous atmosphere.

The planet was a refuge for the Vortex defector. She had to think things out before proceeding any further. She nodded at Kizzara and Eli. She was leaving XO Malik in command while she was off the ship - Kyle was the pilot. Eris, T’sell, Kizzara and Eli stepped out of the Sparta onto the frozen alien world. Ruz’zel was carrying a device attached to a collapsed tripod. Dressed in sealed combat armor, the group set off through the green-hued methane snow and sharp rocky outcroppings at a leisurely pace. Eris wanted to gain a little bit of distance from the ship before she began her meeting.
She was being a little bit paranoid, thinking that maybe not all of the bugs had been taken care of
.

“What is that?” asked Kizzara of the diminutive alien. Her voice and face came through the suit link perfectly. Professor Ruz’zel answered promptly.