Heaven Saga 1: The Lost Hero (17 page)

“Is that you?” Seles asked.

“Yes,” he answered with his robot voice. “Remember to
call me Commander while we’re amongst others.”

They gave him a funny look again. “What is it?” he
asked.

Mira came over to him. “Your voice sounds really
weird.”

“I agree,” added Jesela.

“Such amazing detail,” Celi said as she paced around
him. “You look like a Keinien Android.”

He gazed at the metropolis around him, with
skyscrapers reaching twice the height of those he saw on Earth. He saw city
from horizon to horizon, with aerial vehicles flying everywhere. The group
gathered around.

“So where should we go friends?” Jesela asked.

“I say shopping, and then make a stop at the
Kritkar
,”
Mira suggested.

“Yeah, there’re a lot of things I need to pick up for
research,” Celi said.

“Then let’s go!” Jesela exclaimed as she took the
lead.

Brian followed them quietly. Seles walked near the
back and stayed with him.

“What’s wrong?” Seles asked. “You don’t seem very
talkative.”

“It’s nothing,” he answered. “I’m just taking in the
scenery. You have to remember I’ve been cooped up on the Avoni for almost a year
now.”

They walked behind the others as they entered the
street level of the city. Brian saw numerous different races making business,
legitimate or not.

“So what is this
Kritkar
place?” he asked as
they walked to the store front of a Kalaidian seamstress.

“The
Kritkar
is a mixed race bar less than a
ketre
from here,” Seles explained. “It’s a good place to acclimate you to our world.
The bartender is an old Malcovin named Grig. ”

Mira and Jesela started ranting on how they had to get
a certain dress. Celi looked totally disinterested, while Seles laughed at the
situation. Brian noticed that even disguised, he was getting a lot of stares.
They went into the Kalaidian shop and were greeted by the designer. She was an
average sized lady with long purple hair and crimson eyes. She wore a bejeweled
dress that accented her figure perfectly.

“Who’s she?” he asked Seles.

Seles stood next to him. “Her name’s Mya. She’s owned
this shop for over forty years and is considered one of the top three clothing
designers amongst Kalaidians.”

“Welcome again ladies,” Mya said. “So what can I get
for you today?” She walked to each of the girls to note their figure and size.
Mya stopped when she got to Brian.

“Don’t mind him Mya,” Mira said. “He’s a Keinien
Android we reactivated a few months ago.”

Mya paced around him. “It’s in excellent condition for
something over a century old. She tapped his chest. “Can you speak?”

“Of course,” he answered. “My designation is A-17598.
But, I’m usually called Commander.”

Mya nodded to the others. “Go ahead and look around
girls.” She turned back to Brian while Mira and Jesela started looking around.
Celi and Seles did the same while staying close to him.

“My Commander, you’re impressively built,” Mya said as
she looked at Brian’s armor and weaponry.

“As you are Mya,” Brian said.

Mya giggled. “It seems you have an advanced A.I. No
normal android would have a sense of humor.”

“That’s true Mya. I’ve been updated beyond the
standard perimeters for an android of my class,” Brian said.

Brian was peppered with questions from Mya for two
hours before Mira and Jesela finally decided on what they were going to buy.
Seles asked for something special, prompting a funny look from Mya. They left
and headed for the
Kritkar
. Brian noticed the street opened up into a
market. There were beings of every kind, from the snake people called the
Shandi, to the humanoid rat people called Odarians. After a few minutes they
came to a large building with the Malcovin Rune style sign showing “
Kritkar
”.
Seles led the way in with Brian right behind her while Celi, Mira, and Jesela
followed. The main bar was set around the center as one large square. There
were a number of Malcovin, Kalaidians, Minans, Shandi, and a pair of heavily
dressed creatures in the corner. The place was about half full at the moment.
At the far end was a large stage. Manning the center was a grey feathered
Malcovin dressed in a set of loose brown shirt and pants. Seles led them to the
center bar. Brian noticed he was drawing the attention of a number of
customers.

The bartender turned to Seles and her group as they
came to the bar. “It’s good to see you again Lady Seles,” the old birdman said
as he looked at Brian.

Seles smiled. “Don’t mind him Grig; he’s a Keinien
Android we found a few months ago on a job,” she patted Brian on the back, “He
makes a great bodyguard.”

Grig cocked his head and blinked. “It’s sure
imposing.” He turned back to Seles and the rest of the group. “So, is it the
usual?”

“Yes,” all of them responded.

Grig turned to Brian. “What about the android?”

Mira leaned forward. “He doesn’t need food or drink
Grig.”

He looked at Mira and nodded his head. “I’ll have your
drinks ready in a few minutes. Until then, take any place you want.”

Grig began gathering ingredients for Kalaidian style drinks.
Jesela and Celi picked out a table near the wall. Brian noticed that the pair
of strangely dress figures eyed him very closely as he joined his companions
and sat at the table.

“So how is it Commander?” Celi asked.

“I didn’t think the universe was so diverse.” He
turned to Seles. “What race are those two in the corner. The way they’re
looking at me gives me the creeps.”

She glanced in their direction. “Those are Ick-Tckt.
They’re insects, so they don’t need to blink. Their kind is unnerving to everyone.”

Grig came over to the table with their drinks. “So,
can I get you ladies anything to eat?”

Each of them labeled off some kind of special
Kalaidian dish. Grig took their orders and left. Out of the corner of his eye,
Brian noticed a pair of Minans staring at him while their bear-like faces kept
snorting. Each of them stood over seven feet. Their bodies were covered in
thick brown fur with hands and feet like humans. One flexed his retractable
claws in and out while looking at Brian. Their clothes were patched pieces of
metal and cloth, and each wore a battle axe on their back. Both finished their
drink before slamming the tankard on the table and walking over to Brian. The
girls noticed the drunken bearmen towering over them.

“What kind of creature is this thing?” one of them
asked as it waved its fist.

Seles turned to them. “The Commander here is a Keinien
Android we recently reactivated.”

“Keine…what?” the second asked.

“It’s an android,” Celi said.

“Well I don’t like it. Get it out of here!” the first one
bellowed. The Minan moved to put a hand on Seles. Brian swiped it away and
stood between them and the table.

“If you have something to say, say it to me,” Brian
said.

“You can talk?” the second asked.

“Yes, and I’m telling the both of you to leave.”

“You leave robot!” the first one bellowed before
punching Brian in the face. The helmet took most of the hit.

He smiled under his mask. “Bad move.”

He punched the Minan in front of him, knocking the
bearman into the wall. The drunken creature stood up, totally confused. The bar
went silent. The second Minan attempted a punch. Brian caught its hand. He
squeezed until he heard bone break and then tossed the injured creature aside.
He walked towards the other one and noticed he’d drawn his axe. The Minan cursed
and swung. Brian drew his sword and shattered the axe with a single blow. After
sheathing his blade, Brian grabbed the Minan and threw him out of the bar. The
second Minan, holding his broken hand, cursed Brian as he ran out the door. He
walked over to the Grig.

“I’m sorry for the scene.” Brian pulled out some gold
strips and handed them to the old Malcovin. “That should cover the fee for any
damages.” He walked back to the table and sat down. They all stared at him.

“What?” he asked.

“How did beat them so easily?” Mira asked.

“Did you go to full power?” Jesela asked.

“No, only 50%,” he answered. “I didn’t think the
people in this establishment would like guts adorning the walls.”

Grig went to their table with their meals. “Here’s
your order,” he said as he looked at Brian again.

“I’m not going to attack you,” Brian said. “I serve as
a bodyguard for these ladies.”

“That’s not what I’m wondering,” Grig said. He turned
to the girls. “If you come across another one of these androids please send it
my way. I could use a guard like it,” the old Malcovin said before going back
to the bar.

The girls started laughing.

“It’s Seles,” she said through the door com. “We have
a mission briefing an hour from now.”

Brian groaned
and tossed his blanket aside.

“Are you awake?” she asked through the door.

He yawned and opened the door to find Seles holding a
tray of food. “You brought me breakfast?”

She smiled. “I didn’t think you’d have time to stop at
the mess hall.”

She walked in and placed the food on the table. Brian
wandered into his bathroom for a few minutes and emerged in uniform with tired
eyes.

“Thanks for bringing this,” he said as he sat down to
eat.

“It looks like you’ve acclimated to our food,” she
said.

He looked down at his half-finished plate. “I’d really
give anything to have a pizza right now.”

“What kind of food is that?” she asked as she handed
him a canister of water.

“Describing it won’t be any good,” he gulped down some
water,” It’d be better if I make one for you.”

“It doesn’t have any meat, does it?”

He shrugged. “One can put meat on it. But, I’ll make a
pizza that complies with your diet.”

Seles looked down as if she was in deep thought.
Finished
with his meal, Brian finished the water.

“What’s wrong Seles?” he asked.

She looked him in the eye. “Are you happy here?”

“Yes,” he answered. “I miss my home of course, and my
old friends. But, I’m happy here.”

“Is that all?” she asked.

He nodded his head. “I’m not going crazy.” He donned
his armor and stretched.

“Okay,” she said. “But if something does come up,
please tell me.”

“If something’s bothering me, you’ll be the first to
know.”

* * *

Valis, Kivi, and Zae stood over the strategy table.
They were looking at holographic images of a large asteroid with an entrance on
the outside.

“Are you sure this information is legitimate?” Zae
asked.

“Yes. This information came from Captain Esra,” Valis
said.

“It’s been a long time since we got the chance to meet
with our sister ship,” Kivi said.

“Yes, it has been a long time,” Valis said. “I
recently met with Captain Esra to discuss a few things. She told me this base
is a major smuggling operation run by Shandi and that it would require more
than one vessel to take it.”

“So this will be a joint operation?” Zae asked.

Valis nodded. “Yes, we’re to meet the Daevoni near
Dega Six and commence the operation from there. The base is well guarded, but
we should be able to pull this off.”

“And what are we plundering?” Brian asked as he
entered the room with Seles behind him.

Valis smiled. “My source tells me the Shandi have a
rather large load of weapons and shielding systems for space vessels. That’s
all she knows.”

Brian walked up the table and studied the images
carefully. He smiled as if he found something.

“What is it?” Zae asked.

“There’s obviously an advanced shielding system
protecting the front,” he pointed at the front gate, “But they lack one here,”
he pointed to the back of the asteroid.

“You’ve caught onto my plan before I even explained
it,” Valis said. “I was going to send you out on the Mjolnir to infiltrate the
rear entrance.”

“Is he ready for this?” Zae asked.

Valis nodded. “He’d better be. That mobile suit of his
cost me a fortune.”

“I’d like to go with him,” Kivi said.

“Bring a few soldiers with you,” Valis ordered. “I
don’t want me first and second officers getting killed in their first mission
together.”

* * *

Brian entered the cargo bay with Zae and Kivi and went
straight to the Mjolnir. He looked up and saw the giant was nearly complete.
Only the paint job remained.