Void's Psionics (9 page)

They all walked back up a wide set of stairs
up to the open entrance where a pedestal of greeting told of the
rules of the nursery. Before crossing the threshold Jessica removed
her crystal and activated a jamming signal over the nearby cameras,
but those designated as an exception continued working without
static interference. Long wire lights illuminated the tower to
easily navigate a mostly empty floor. There were many metallic
benches made in a circular pattern for individuals to speak. A set
of stairs led up to the upper levels every half kilometer. Each had
a safety handrail added so no accidents occurred. But they headed
for the center where a circular stairwell screwed its way up to the
pyramid’s highest tip. It acted as stars as well as a weight
bearing pillar.

Two kilometers of walking and listening to
Andrea Loke act as tour guide at last came to an end. She said “If
there is any chance for something to be under my tower, here would
be the place to look. Every centimeter has been scanned and deeply
penetrated and I’ve never discovered even a crack. The rest of the
floor is seamless. I never would have guessed this place was a
nursery. I had assumed for five centuries it was like a meeting
place to trade goods, like a Galicom mall.”

“
Renee, do you see that?”
Oliver asked as he pointed to the stairwell.

“
Just about to ask you the
same thing.”

“
What do you see?” Andrea
asked eagerly. “The pillar is smooth except where the stairs were
made.”

“
Well then maybe only Olly
and I can see it. It is like a soft glow shaped like a square, but
rounded by the curve of the wall. Everyone had best back away. The
AI did say there were traps to kill unauthorized personnel. Since
we can see a glow, however faint it is, means there is still power
running.”

“
Be careful, Sweetheart.”
Jessica voiced as everyone stepped what would be assumed as a safe
distance, but be close enough to react if something
happens.

Renee steeled herself before
making the wall light up brightly with her green eyes as she placed
her strongest shield around herself.
Doubt
it will be enough, but is better than nothing.
She thought, took a steadying breath and placed her palm over
the underlying light just large enough for a hand.

Nothing happened for five seconds before her
palm was read and a light traced around. A dainty feminine voice
said “Telleleo, Matuw Reten.” And it was followed by the stairs at
the floor began sinking into more stairs traveling down through
what was once thought to be solid metal flooring.

Andrea’s jaw figuratively kissed the floor
and kept going.

Renee turned to say “It thinks I’m this Reten
after all. I’m going to head down first and see if I can deactivate
security.”

“
Be careful.” This time
Oliver said.

Renee responded by making the mouth and nose
mask slide up as a thin film covered her head. Her eyes still
glowing bright. She lifted her left hand and out shone a light from
the topside of the hand, also now part of her suit. Her own cape
fluttered a bit as she moved forward and lit up the completely dark
passageway.

What felt like careful and heart pounding
hours was actually only ten minutes till she found the
claustrophobic stairwell open up into a small chamber. Her chip,
through the suit, told the air was safe, but musty and stale. The
room had a small bench for no more than four to sit directly in
front of a perfect sphere roughly the size of a person’s head
covered in dust. The room was painted a dark azure and as she moved
she noticed a pair of floating orbs with a barrel attached to it,
trained on her. She paused and so did they.

She tapped her com to warn “Weapons
confirmed.”

Oliver said through it “Copy. If they haven’t
fired, keep going.”

And she did. She continued another thirty or
so steps to land and carefully moved to the bench, to sit down. On
the arm of the bench she noticed a familiar ring depression placed
in the metal surface. She contacted her bracelet and willed
understanding. A sucker attached to a string stuck to her forehead
and her life flashed in her mind too fast to comprehend. The sucker
then shot into the recess. Lightheadedness was a result of the term
brain-hacker which can transfer mind and information instantly. But
she made sure that only language was willed, she couldn’t chance
her identity with the still aiming weapons trained on killing her,
which she hoped to resist, but wasn’t confident of the possibility
she’s survive a shot from them.

The dusty sphere began to vibrate so fast
most the debris fell off revealing a shiny and clear object, like
glass. She shone her hand mounted flashlight through it and was
confirmed. Through the fatigue she heard the same soft feminine
voice emanate directly from the sphere as tall as herself.
“Language update complete, General Reten, how may I serve you?” The
sphere asked.

“
Deactivate weapon
systems.”

“
Timeframe to
reactivation?”

She didn’t expect it and said carefully
“Reactivate when I command it. Shut down the weapons until I give
the command.”

“
Order confirmed. Powering
down weapons.” The levitating weapons gently lowered into a recess
in the floor to either side. As soon as they dropped she said “It’s
safe to come down, but only two more can fit. It isn’t very
roomy.”

Up above, Jessica had her holo-screen showing
all Renee did and Andrea was almost salivating for the store of
information. She decided “You boys stay out here and keep an eye
out. Andrea, come with me.” The two women hurried down.

The sphere then said “Unauthorized intruders
detected. General, I await your command.”

“
Stand down. They are
friends.”

“
Confirmed.” The weapon
systems didn’t budge.

Andrea was spellbound before taking off her
lab coat and went about wiping down the sphere and the guns till
they were clean enough. Jessica gave Renee a pointed look and had
nearly forgot. “All queries can be answered by my companions as
well.”

“
Confirmed. Access shall be
granted by the unknown species.”

“
Then tell us where there
are other nurseries. Are any active?” Jessica queried.

“
Negative. I was powered
down like all birthing centers roughly twenty five thousand years
ago.” The clear orb didn’t create any light as it spoke. “Network
lost. Have stored genealogy and archived. Most information has been
deleted after transfer to the five ruling Queens of this galaxy
prior to my shut down.”

“
So all you have is the
names of individuals and what families they are liked
to?”

“
Amend thinking. I hold
them, yes, but have knowledge of locations of the five castles
protected by the five Elder Queens of Andromeda, Shalek, Beli,
Natio, Jattea and Fru. It was by their command all birthing centers
cease operation and transfer all vital information.”

Jessica noticed Andrea had stopped cleaning
and listened intently. But she kept recording and asked “Can you
show us on which planets the Queens rule from and why they shut you
down.”

“
Second inquiry: Unknown.
First one is possible, but my energy it too low for accurate
representation. Power required.”

“
Where can I channel it?”
Renee wondered.

“
Surface of sphere
directly.” Renee got up and laid her hand on it, but rather than
keep the shield up she pushed it all into the clear boulder. It
quickly started illuminating the dark room and soon beams of light
started shooting from the walls as well as the sphere to create
five completely different planets and climates. One seemed like a
giant ball of fire, the others were covered in ice, ocean, mountain
and last being covered in endless forest. Inhospitable and rugged
to say the least.

The three woman studied in silence for
minutes before Andrea asked “Can you show un in which solar system
they are in conjunction within this galaxy?”

“
It is within my
parameters.” The soft voice said.

The five worlds shrunk into different solar
systems below a representation of the Andromeda galaxy thirty
thousand years ago and five pulsing stars showed their location
back then.

Renee and Jessica turned to each other,
coming to the same conclusion to the planets. “Valley Prime And
Zerika!” they chorused. Zerika being the forest planet and Valley
Prime being the mountain one. The Drake home world.

“
Can you now show us
approximately where the castles are of the Queen in relation to the
planets?”

“
Unknown position. Not in
current memory, General Reten.”

“
Then show me my family tree
with General Mantiv.”

The visual changed to show Renee, with her
eyes unfocused to read, the names of all Oliver’s children and
their descendants in English. “How many are of his line?”

“
Currently through your
ideal male, you have sixteen billions five million and nineteen
descendants, but no child born of your loins has been able to
compare in prowess to the powers of you and your match, General
Reten.”

“
How long will it take to
download the genealogy stored within?”

“
Ten minutes, General.
Visual aid only. Your access cannot copy my files, but you may
access it.”

“
Then begin.” Faster than
sparks exploded like fireworks in the room as the Solarian family
tree was recorded. For the whole duration the three women sat and
enjoyed the show. As they watched, Renee heard Sparky say he and
Rose were going to explore the upper levels and she was alright
with it.

Above, Oliver heard a chiming ‘beep’ followed
by a familiar voice. “Brother Oliver, it is about time I can
contact you.”

Grandest Vanishing Claw, eldest living Hunter
in humanity spoke and it had Oliver tap behind his ear to respond.
“It is good to hear from you, what do I owe the pleasure?”

“
Why do you sound
different?”

“
Sparring accident. Stone
Callicko kicked my mouth and I lost all my front teeth.”

“
Damn, not fun.” The
seemingly unassuming man laughed from far away. “I’ve been trying
to contact you for over three and a half months. Seems I was right
to try it at this time.”

“
Why now?”

“
Oh, I and Talon are
watching breaking new on GNN as we speak and are listening to my
old friend Jake Dorgen showing off yet again. I tried now because I
can put the pieces together after listening to why I couldn’t get
hold of either of you two. Talon is riveted and listening to Jake’s
sister-in-law lecturing on her most recent results. A Solarian
battle cruiser, eh? Not bad, but I know Jake is keeping a
certain
person out of the
spotlight. If he couldn’t get inside the ship centuries ago I can
see why he only allowed you a month with us on Zerika. You’re a
Solarian aren’t you?” it was spoken as a fact.

“
I won’t lie, but it is the
best truth so far. My memory loss isn’t helping.”

“
Say no more. I mean it.
Tell
no
one. Jake
said he sent a full report to Emperor Coleson on more private
matters the scientific community doesn’t need to hear, is this
true?” Vanishing Claw sounded serious.

“
Yes, I gave my permission
and agreed with the Captain that the Emperor should know as they
too are old friends.”

“
Then expect a visit soon
from the imperial battleship and a personal face to face. I’m going
to contact him after I finish with you so at least I’ll be a buffer
between you two. He can be rather forward, but when I’m near him he
seems to behave. Outside the spotlight he’s easily excited.”
Thinking of Andrea Loke had Oliver chuckle. “But now that I’ve got
your ear I have to say I can’t approve the ligament enhancement
similar to yours. I had to fine tune an adequate amount because
human muscles cannot handle the strain. I found out several painful
times as I tore my own muscles, but at twenty percent of yours, it
is ideal. The other Elders are currently experiencing the splicing
modifications and already the reports are favorable. Our speed and
striking abilities are much more efficient. It is still in trial
phase, but the other Elders are doing real world hunts while I
continue to heal. I just wanted to let you know and to be safe.
Emperor Coleson is good at keeping secrets and won’t tell even me,
but he doesn’t know I have an association with you and won’t tell
me even should I drop your name. Just keep safe and we’ll be in
touch. Again, keep your head down, factions will want to dissect
you if they knew. Trust few. It’ll keep you alive.”

Grand Elder Talon, Vanishing Claw’s wife
entered the conversation. “He’s right. Stay safe, Elder Void. The
interview has lost my interest with all the jargon. Lover, I’m
going to contact the Emperor and plot a course to meet up with him
right away.”

“
Thank you. And good luck,
Elder Void. See you soon.” With that the connection cut
out.

“
What is going on?” Steven
asked.

“
Vanishing Claw and Talon
just heard the breaking news and told me about the ligament trials.
They warned we’ll likely be seeing the Emperor soon and will be
tagging along.”

“
Hanging around you seems to
have many perks.” The Hunter chuckled. It stopped abruptly as he
narrowed his eyes then put on his helmet. The plated head cover
locked in place.