The Outer Worlds: Book One of the Epherian Chronicles (20 page)

‘
I want everyone to meet my teacher, Acacius Trifon. He will be
joining our crew,’ said Michael. They each introduced themselves
and before long the conversation reverted to the events on Zeno
Par.

‘
Somehow the aliens learned of our location,’ said Acacius.
‘They may have already reported our presence to the End
Machine.’

‘
The aliens would have scanned the entire surface of the planet
before the attack,’ said Sara. ‘They would surely have Michael’s
face on file after the events on Herman Beta 3. They transfer
continuous visual data streams from their scanners to the closest
battleship. That’s how they found you.’

‘
Then we will have to be careful,’ said Acacius. ‘We must
discuss how we are going to reach Epheria Prime.’

‘
Epheria Prime! Impossible,’ grunted Ajax. ‘No one can cross
the borders of the Epherian Empire.’

‘
There must be a way,’ said Acacius.

‘
There is no way,’ said Ajax. ‘You know that better than
anyone, Cap, and why are we even thinking about going to Epheria
Prime?’

‘
We have to rescue someone,’ said Michael.

‘
What? Another rescue! Cap, we are a salvage crew. What’s this
all about? I don’t want to be a rescuer. Why are we suddenly
becoming a charity outfit?’

No one said a
word for a few moments.

‘
We need to save the galaxy,’ said Michael.

‘
Save the galaxy from what?’ asked Ajax.

‘
A darkness so deep and terrible that no one can stand against
its power,’ said Acacius. ‘We must seek out the Magnifier. She is
on Epheria Prime, and without her we will not be able to save
humanity from the everlasting night which is descending on us all.
A shadow is reaching out across the galaxy. The End Machine has
found humanity and is seeking to enslave us. There could be a way
to stop the machine, but we don’t stand a chance without the
Magnifier.’

Ajax lowered
his eyes, crossed his arms, and leaned back in his seat. He looked
up at Michael from beneath his deeply furrowed brow.

‘
Sweet ablation! That’s just perfect,’ grumbled Ajax. ‘No
profits and no way to cross the Epherian border. Do you know what
happens to ships when they approach the Epherian frontier? They’re
incinerated! The Epherians border cannons don’t ask questions; they
just shoot. Even battleships are turned into space
dust.’

‘
We will find a way,’ said Michael, but they could sense the
uncertainty in his voice.

‘
There’s no way, Cap,’ said Ajax. ‘This idea of saving the
galaxy is madness.’

Ethan tapped
the table, and they turned their attention to him. ‘I know a way,
but it’s not going to be easy.’

‘
I’m listening,’ said Michael.

‘
There’s a planet called Arist 12; some of you may have heard
of it.’

‘
That’s where the Epherians mine Aristonium,’ said
Sara.

‘
That’s right,’ said Ethan with a nod. ‘The planet is situated
in the Outer Worlds.’

‘
What’s Aristonium?’ asked Ajax.

‘
Aristonium is a precious stone that only exists in the Arist
system,’ said Ethan. ‘It’s used by the Trade Guild to build GCTDs
and other extra dimensional technologies. Scientists believe that
part of the stone exists across other spacial dimension. The ore
lacks the extradimensional qualities when synthesized in a lab;
that’s why natural Aristonium is so important to the Epherians and
the Trade Guild.’

‘
What’s Aristonium got to do with us?’ asked Ajax.

‘
The Epherians transport the raw Aristonium ore across the
borders of the Epherian Empire in large freighters. They process
the ore inside the empire. Before I joined the Out Drifter I worked
for the Tunnel Makers, a faction of smugglers. At the time the
Tunnel Makers had a deal with the navigators who operate the
Aristonium freighters. They smuggled people and ships into the
Epherian Empire for a price.’

‘
How much?’ asked Michael.

‘
Probably a lot more than we can afford,’ said Ethan. ‘But we
may be able to make a deal with them, and remember, I was once a
Tunnel Maker. They know me, and maybe I can negotiate a good
deal.’

‘
Where are the Tunnel Makers based?’ asked Michael.

‘
On Bodach Delta, it’s an ice world.’

‘
Nasty place,’ said Ajax. ‘This is a really bad
idea.’

‘
That’s where we have to go if you want to make a deal,’ said
Ethan.

‘
Then we will go,’ said Acacius.

Ajax shook his
head. ‘Cap, this is crazy. It’s got danger painted all over
it.’

‘
Ajax, you know I respect your opinion, and you are a valued
crew member, but if you don’t want to come on this mission I can
drop you off at the next stop.’

Ajax lowered
his eyes. His dry lips turned up at the corners and his weathered
face broke into a smile, which looked out of place. ‘I’m just
saying that it’s dangerous, Cap. I don’t plan on leaving the
crew.’

‘
Good. It’s decided. We will go to Bodach Delta and seek out
the Tunnel Makers.’

**

Sara set a
course for Bodach Delta. Michael had been silent for some time. His
mind was focused on the future and all the possibilities. He stared
out through the viewing panel at the vast expanse of space. He had
no idea how they would negotiate a deal with the Tunnel Makers.

‘
Bodach Delta is a fifteen day trip at full speed. We will come
close the alien battle zone, but I think we should be able to avoid
any unwanted interruptions,’ said Sara as she finished programing
the navigational computer. ‘We have to stop somewhere along the way
to replenish the reactor.’

‘
Have you searched for suitable locations?’

She smiled,
knowing that Michael knew the answer before he asked the question.
‘Of course.’

‘
Where are we stopping?’

‘
There is a moon called Nod 33. It’s a former Epherian outpost
which was bought by a rich investor and turned into a holiday
location. Unfortunately it’s a little too close to the alien battle
zone to attract many tourists. The owner is developing a plan to
convert it into a service centre for ships, but with the current
expansion of war I don’t think the service centre will last more
than a few years.’

Michael smiled
across at Sara. ‘We have been through a lot in the last few weeks.
Sara, your skills saved our lives. I don’t know what I would do
without you.’

‘
You always say that.’

‘
I mean it,’ he added.

‘
I know you do, Captain.’

CHAPTER
THIRTEEN

A lone figure
was standing inside the central dome of the alien fleet command.
After their initial incursion into human held systems the aliens
had built a main base on a prime world which they seized from the
human race. The world was one of six in the Outer Worlds that acted
as a base for the alien fleet. The ceiling of the dome was over two
hundred metres in height and was made entirely of steel. A single
door led into the dome which was perfectly circular. The dark stone
floor was polished, and the whole area was lit dimly by florescent
particles which floated in the air.

Gartax was the
only one who had the right to enter the dome and converse with the
Master Shadow. He was a tall alien with an oversized cranium and
sinewy muscles. His skin was paler than the average alien which had
caused him to be a victim of relentless abuse in his early years.
He grew up among the ranks of soldiers and gradually hardened,
becoming a force to be reckoned with. He had fought his way to the
position of Fleet Master over the course of twenty years, and many
other ambitious aliens had died or been brutally subdued by his
relentless climb to the highest position in the alien
hierarchy.

‘
I am here, Master Shadow. How can I serve you?’ he asked,
speaking the harsh alien language.

A swirling
shadow appeared near the height of the dome, and the entire area
became so dark that he could hardly see, even with his large orb
like eyes which were well adapted to the dark. He was in awe of the
power, and raw fear pulsed through his body.

‘
The exiles have awoken,’ howled the voice out of the darkness,
and the sound of the voice resonated throughout the dome. Terror
tore through his body. He trembled and fell to his
knees.

‘
We…we are aware of their presence,’ he said, covering his eyes
with his elongated fingers.

‘
They have escaped your grasp twice already. You will find them
or you will die!’

Gartax bowed
his head to the ground. ‘Our scouts are searching for their ship.
We will locate them soon and when we do we will bring them to
you.’

‘
I have given your race almost half this galaxy; nevertheless,
I will take everything away from you in an instant if you fail me.
This is far more important than your pitiful war. Find the exiles
or I will destroy your race and replace your people with a more
agreeable alternative.’

Gartax lifted
his dark orb like eyes and trembled as he gazed up at the swirling
shadows directly above. ‘We will not fail you. My commanders will
find the exiles. I will bring them to you.’

**

‘
We are approaching Nod 33, Captain,’ said Sara.

Michael looked
out through the viewing panel. He could see the planet Nod, which
was a giant red planet made entirely of gas which was in orbit
around eclipsing binary stars known as the Merton Brothers. The two
stars were in very close orbit around each other; from a distance
they had the appearance of a single star. Nod 33 was one of
fifty-four moons in the orbit of the planet. The moon had been
successfully terraformed by the Epherian Empire more than a
thousand years earlier. Nod 33 hosted the only major settlement in
the system. There were also a few small mining colonies on some
inhospitable planets further away from the Merton Brothers.

‘
Nod 33 Watchtower; this is the Out Drifter; Interworld code
AMB712; mandated by the Outer World Salvage Guild. We request a
landing dock and reactor refuelling,’ said Sara over the external
com.

There was no
reply. Sara glanced at Michael and raised an eyebrow. She waited a
few moments and then repeated the request.

‘…
I have you on our scanners, Out Drifter…’ answered the clear
voice of a woman. ‘…It is not clear why you would want to land
here. Nod 33 has been abandoned. The alien fleet is nearing the
system. Alien scout ships flew through the system four days ago. We
are expecting an invasion…’

‘
Abandoned? But you’re still down there,’ said Sara.

‘…
I am a synthetic android. I work for Nod 33 Customs. I am the
last remaining employee in the tower. Almost everything was
abandoned in the haste to leave the system. I am not aware of any
human beings currently abiding on the moon…’

‘
Sounds like a salvaging dream,’ said Ajax, who was standing at
the door to the control room.

‘
We don’t have time to scavenge,’ said Michael.

‘
Are we able to replenish our reactor?’ asked Sara.

‘…
The reactor refuelling system is still online…’ replied the
android. ‘…The payment GCTDs have been removed from the landing
docks…’

‘
We can hack the system with the quantum code breaker,’ said
Sara. ‘Nod 33 watchtower; can you direct us to a landing dock with
a reactor replenishment system for an Armorstonian class
ship?’

‘…
Dock A, position eighty seven. I will set the navigational
signal to guide you to the landing platform…’

‘
Thank you.’

**

The Out
Drifter descended through the thick upper atmosphere and followed
the tower’s navigational signal to the main landing dock. They
could see a small city through the viewing panel which was set
between a craggy mountain range and a large lake. The landscape
surrounding the city was sparsely filled with tall conifers.

‘
This world looks cold. Why was it a tourist destination?’
asked Michael.

‘
It was a rock climbing and mountaineering hub,’ said Sara.
‘Apparently some of the natural structures are beautiful enough to
draw tourists from nearby systems. The 0.75 gravity makes
mountaineering activities safer. The owner of the moon had high
hopes for his resort and his ship service centre, but it look like
the aliens ended those dreams.’

They flew
directly over the empty city. There were no more than a dozen large
resort towers, and the vast majority of buildings were smaller
residences which followed the shore of the lake. Most of the
automated systems were still online, including street lights and
robotic street cleaners. The two Merton Brother stars were setting
across the lake, which created a bright pink and violet
lightshow.

The main
docking port was situated where the city met the craggy mountains.
Sara guided the Out Drifter over the city and descended toward the
dock, which consisted of about one hundred open concrete platforms
of varying sizes. Each platform had large numbers painted in red.
Sara gently landed on their designated platform.’

Michael
slipped out of the co-pilot seat and headed for the cargo bay.
Acacius was standing near the exit door and speaking with Ajax and
Ethan. Cynthia was sitting beside Dog-Two. She had recovered enough
to come out of deep sleep, but she was still exhausted from the
ordeal on Zeno Par.