“There are several BMS here to choose from.”
There were several canopies set up, with two eggs per canopy.
“These two are nineties. The ones here are thirties, but still pretty decent. Wanna see some specs?”
Darnell wasn’t completely sure what the numbers meant, but Thanatos wasn’t able to scan the eggs. A beam at any higher frequency risked harming the ships inside. He had to get samples somehow, or learn of their origin another way.
“Interesting.” Darnell said. There were others browsing as well, and the merchant began to lose interest with Darnell. The cape Darnell wore hid his features, making it difficult to determine his type-3 status in this dark place.
It had taken Thanatos a while to chart the nodepoints that would get them here.
“I’m looking for a particular egg, one that must have been delivered to you in the last… year.”
The merchant was talking with someone else, trying to ignore Darnell.
“I need the information about those eggs.”
“I cannot disclose that information.” the merchant replied snappily.
This location was the only lead Darnell had. Anton had spoken with this man before.
“You spoke to a tall black man once?”
“I speak to many people.”
The merchant was gone now, speaking to others. The eggs were watched by guards, there were velvet ropes keeping people from getting too close. Large screens on either side of the egg showed pictures of what the ship would look like, as well as statistics and prices.
The beems was probably the final purchase of modern civilization. Once you owned a beems, you were set for life. Many wanted to be a part of this elite, and those that couldn’t afford a purchase from a galactic council affiliate, would end up here, risking the complications of an artificial birthing for the decrease in price.
It had been Thanatos’ idea to search for the egg. As Violet grew, he felt an affinity to his second child, lost somewhere in cryostasis.
Kaira hadn’t been surprised, having heard of the Puritan he had encountered. She had responded empathetically. Their relationship had recovered, while Darnell and Thanatos had drifted. Neither said anything, but they both felt the schism that had formed after the last relapse with the symbiote. Darnell had nearly killed Thanatos to kill the symbiote, but the voices had returned.
Ironically, it had been Darnell that had convinced Thanatos that him and the symbiote were different, but now the targets were beginning to meld together.
Thanatos had kept his idea hidden, but he had plotted an encrypted course into the sun of their home planet. The symbiote had regressed when he had been nearly killed. There was a correlation there.
Besides, if Thanatos didn’t end himself, it wouldn’t be long before Darnell found the same correlation and killed Thanatos. He knew his captain wasn’t finding much value in him anymore.
With this egg recovered, there would be a ship for Darnell after Thanatos was gone, and he could free his captain of the symbiote’s grasp in a final redeeming manoeuvre.
Thanatos was monitoring the guards from his orbit up above. They looked away for a split second, giving Darnell a shot at the first egg. The genetic data from the syringe was immediately analyzed by Thanatos. It was negative.
It’s not a ninety, either. The merchant is lying.
What is a ninety? Darnell asked.
As their bond began to fade, Thanatos’ common knowledge was more difficult for Darnell to instinctively access, forcing him to ask explicitly for explanations.
Ninety percent one thirty one. A ship that is theoretically ninety would be a ship that is ninety percent related to the original Black Nova. Since nobody knows what exactly the Black Nova’s genetic makeup was, the number is moot anyways.
Then how do you know it isn’t ninety?
I took my own genetic data and removed the Puritan markers, then compared that to the sample I have.
You can do that?
It wasn’t that difficult; I’m almost pure Descendent. I only had to filter out a few elements.
I never knew you were capable of genetic analysis.
I can do many things. Thanatos replied, almost desperately.
You don’t need to sell yourself to me. Darnell said.
Thanatos wanted to transmit something, but decided not to. They both decided not to speak of the matter further.
Darnell positioned himself near the second egg, and took a sample in a similar manner.
One of the guards began to approach, but walked by. Darnell let out a sigh of relief. He didn’t want to fight anybody. He would survive, but he wasn’t sure if he would end the fight as himself.
There were five eggs left to scan.
–
Darnell had discovered the right genetic match after a few more hours of searching. Nobody had noticed. He had been able to keep a low profile among the crowd, and an argument between some of the patrons had resulted in a distracted security team.
He was off to the auction now. It was in a building several miles away from the main market area of this planet. Thanatos was being watched by a pair of Descendents, who were most likely being hired by some of the security staff. They asked him to move clear of the planet. If he moved clear, he wouldn’t be able to assist Darnell if something went wrong.
Move clear, Thanatos. Everything should be under control. I just need to know who the egg ends up with.
There was a lot of personal security here, both for the merchant and the clients. Client security was just an illusion, though. Through Thanatos’ eyes, Darnell could see the merchant’s Descendents keeping watch from up above.
Like gargoyles.
Gargoyles? Thanatos asked. He began checking the term in the database. It was difficult to follow for Darnell, which reminded him of their weakening bond. Neither of them said anything, but Darnell found it a shame. He didn’t want to dislike his ship.
Watchers of the church. Earth mythology.
Sentinels.
Aye.
The koveran-laced rounds I used at Fort should be able to take them out.
Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. The symbiote loves murder.
Darnell took his seat and watched the auction begin. The first egg, the ninety percent that wasn’t really, was sold for thirty three million credits. That’s enough to buy a city.
The next egg was a thirty, but wasn’t the one he was looking out for. It sold for twenty million. Thanatos checked the sample on it. It wasn’t even thirty. It would grow up to become mostly Puritan, with weak attributes in gravimetrics and firepower. Nobody seemed to want Puritans anymore. Everybody had to defend themselves. It was like the old days out here, when planets were first being colonized, no galactic peacekeepers to be seen. It didn’t help that Descendents had three reactors. It made the playing field uneven, making Puritans even less useful. The third egg was up now. It was another thirty. It wasn’t the one Darnell wanted, but he was interested in one of the bidders.
He was a kid, nowhere near his twenties. There were no parents to be seen, nor did he have any guards. He put up ten million without flinching.
An older man scoffed at him, increasing the bid by a million. The boy countered.
Darnell held his breath, watching the older man’s security team uneasily as the older man started to mutter under his breath. He stepped aside, and the boy won the ship for twelve million, quite a bargain.
It bothered Darnell that nobody else had bid. It meant that older man was someone of some importance, and that beems was special. He wasn’t sure if the boy knew what he was getting into. Darnell made sure to keep an eye on the kid.
The fourth ship was up.
That’s the one! That’s my egg! Thanatos exclaimed, warmth in the neural band.
I’ll get him for you. Darnell replied with confidence, imagining their bond get mended slightly. You know Thanatos, after we get this guy back – we really need to have some fun. Go off somewhere, you know?
You would do that? We haven’t gone anywhere for –
A warning blipped in his neural interface and Darnell flinched. A tracking beam was trained on him. It was one of the Descendents up above.
Thanatos tuned his ocular strip on the target and watched the Descendent’s AHC with full concentration.
It wasn’t a passive scan, but nobody in the crowd seemed to have noticed him under the cloak. It was just that one particular Descendent watching him awry.
Thanatos enhanced the image of the Descendent. He wasn’t too surprised to realize it was a ship he knew.
Flames…
I thought the symbiote killed him?
I thought I killed him… Thanatos muttered, reviewing his memories. He loaded a koveran-laced round, making sure to target passively, with visual cues only. He wouldn’t laze, not this target. Flames was too smart. Everything he had learnt, he had learnt from Thanatos. If he fires a round…
How long will I have? Half a second?
Less.
We could dodge it.
The blast radius would be too great. Thanatos commented, retracting his skids for a jump.
What are you going to do? Darnell asked, watching Thanatos balance a koveran reaction on the tip of his skids, trying to do it as subtly as possible.
I can read him. I know when he’ll fire. Thanatos transmitted, projecting a flight path into Darnell’s mind. Thanatos would appear above them, in the atmosphere, blocking the kinetic projectile if it was fired.
A disadvantageous position.
On the contrary. Kite’s taught me a lot about atmospheric combat. Thanatos replied livelily.
It’s good to have you watching my back again. Fort was hell without you. Darnell said. There was uneasiness from the compliment, Thanatos didn’t reply. I know it’s been tough, and I’ve done some –
Watch out!
Thanatos appeared on top of them.
Time slowed down. The crowd’s expressions froze. Darnell could see the boy beginning to dive for cover.
Darnell reached for his kinetic pistol, but changed his mind, disappearing into the crowd.
The kinetic-explosive round exploded over Thanatos’ upper shield ineffectively. Thanatos returned fire with a koveran-laced stab. Flames deflected the shot with a gravimetric field, closing distance quickly. The two ships clashed in the upper atmosphere, the sonic booms reverberated across the people below. The lenses buzzed with electricity. It was the sound of a hundred thunderstorms up above.
Darnell noticed raised weapons. He took a close look, letting time slow down again as the neural interface sped up his reactions.
They weren’t aimed at him, the rifles. They belonged to the man’s security crew, the one that had wanted to purchase the Puritan for ten million. They were aiming at the boy.
Darnell had an eternity to make a decision, but he made it within the first nanosecond of the nanosecond, pistol already in hand. He took down the two guards in the calamity, shielding the boy, grabbing his hand.
“Hey!” he yelled, resisting subtly but following Darnell. As they disappeared into an alley, Darnell caught his breath. The entire floor was now in chaos, with stray shots from Thanatos’ battle up above exploding over the city.
As Thanatos had said, he was already winning, with Flames on the retreat yelling insults. Thanatos noticed scars on his flanks that hadn’t fully healed. Memories of grabbing the ship to devour it resurfaced. The symbiote came, shrouded in those memories, but Thanatos was aware of it, injecting himself with a shot of the antidote, sending the symbiote’s essence shrieking back into the ether.
“Is that your ship?” the kid asked.
“It is.” Darnell replied, leaning up against the alley wall, catching his breath. He let the magazine drop from his pistol, catching it and putting it away. He loaded a fresh one. Flames had run off.
“Why not use the sword?”
“How do you know I have a sword?”
“I notice things.” the kid replied.
“Huh. Is that so?” Darnell scoffed, walking farther down the alley. The kid stayed where he was, not sure whether to follow or not.
Darnell wasn’t sure what he should do either, but an idea struck him. He had to think of a backup plan anyways, now that the egg would probably be moved again. He pulled himself up the fence to the roof.
“How did you do that?” the kid yelled from below.
“What’s your name?” Darnell asked.
“Josh.”
“Well, Josh. You have a lot to learn about the type of people you deal with in the outer rim.”
“Is that so?” Josh mocked, scoffing like Darnell.
“It is!” he said, leaning over and extending his hand. Josh jumped and grabbed it, getting pulled up onto the roof.
“That egg there.” Darnell said, pointing. Gunshots were being exchanged between security teams that thought they were being attacked by other security teams. A whole line of men were defending the eggs. “That’s the egg I need to get.”
“That one there is mine.” Josh said, pointing to the one he had agreed to purchase. Blood splattered on it as one of the guards protecting the egg was shot.
“Why that one?”
“It was the cheapest.”
“Heh. When that ship is born, don’t tell it that, ok?”
“Ha!” Josh laughed.
“You’re taking the chaos well?”
“No chaos here. I’m used to deals going to shit like the one here.”
“Are you? How’d you get your hand on twelve mil anyways? You got rich parents?”
“I have nobody. I got the money myself. With hard work.”
“Right. A living you get with hard-work, but money like that takes other types of work.”
“So, you have a shuttle to get these eggs to your ship?” Josh asked.
Thanatos had chased away the security team’s Descendents. He roared victoriously, extending his skids as far as they could go. He glowed a deadly crimson.
“I was planning on acquiring the egg after the deal, during transit.”
“That ain’t gonna happen. They’ll relocate and do the deal elsewhere. The big players have already left.” Josh explained.
“What did that man want with you?”
“I don’t know. People always want things with me. What do you want with me?”
“Nothing… I was just… worried.”
“About me? Sure you were. I know your kind.”
“Do you?”
“Yeah. Type-3 rogues? With ships like that? Who are you going to sell me to? My ship to?”
“Why would I do that?” Darnell asked.
“Whatever.” Josh replied, dropping from the roof and landing on the ground like a cat. “I’ll see you around.”
“Wait! You asked if I got a shuttle? I don’t!” Darnell yelled.
Josh just laughed, “Well good luck with that then!”
“Help me! I’ll make it worth your while.”
“Why should I?”
“I saved you from those guards!”
“I had that under control!”
Darnell sighed, watching the chaos die down as the bodies were cleared. Nobody had paid attention to them yet. Some sort of police force had arrived now. The police were talking to the merchant and the surviving security team. He was pointing up at Thanatos and yelling.
It’s good to be powerful. Thanatos transmitted happily.
“Fine!” Josh yelled back. “You take out the people around the eggs, and we’ll load the eggs into the shuttle.”
“All of the eggs?” Darnell asked.
“Theft is theft, might as well aim high?”
“Point taken; we have a deal.”
–
The fight had been quick. Those that hadn’t escaped were dead. Joshua was looking over the old Coalition t-3 he had used to get the eggs up to Thanatos. Drones gently unloaded the eggs.
We could birth them all back home. Thanatos said.
That would be quite the extended family.
“That’s quite the conglomeration of spare parts.” Darnell commented, watching Josh look over the t-3’s flight controls.
“It runs.”
“Where’d you get it?”
“I salvage. It’s how I made all that money.”
“Really? Where the hell do you salvage to make money like that?”
Josh didn’t say anything, but Darnell already knew where. The place was suicide.
“Carmine’s Sanctum?” Darnell asked. “You’re crazy. How the hell does a kid like you survive Carmine’s Sanctum?”
“I – It’s not dangerous if you know what you’re doing.”
“And how the hell did you learn?”
“It was either that or die! Not all of us are born with a silver spoon in our mouths.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You’re a type-3! You always had this guy looking out for you.” Josh said, extending his arms out at the ship.
“Right. We’re going back to my home, which means I’m dismantling your T-3. Who knows what kind of tracking beacons are in there.”
“No, screw that. You aren’t touching it.”
“Really? How exactly are you going to stop me?”
Radiological alarms activated.
“How the hell…” Darnell muttered.
I didn’t notice them until now. At least eighty megatons.
“That’s right! I brought insurance! That ship moves more than fifteen meters from where I parked it and boom! I doubt your Descendent has the shields to stop an explosion inside of it!”
How do you not notice eighty megatons! Darnell yelled over the neural band.
I didn’t want to deep scan. I didn’t want to harm –
Right, the eggs. I’m sorry – you’re right.
No, I’ve endangered us.
We’re always endangered.
“So what’s your consensus?” Josh asked.
“What?”
“I can tell when you people talk with your ships. What have you two agreed on doing?”
“Well we’re getting clear of here, that’s for sure, and making sure we aren’t followed.”
What about the kid? What if he brings others to our home?
“You do know if anyone follows us home we’ll assume it was your doing, right?” Darnell said.
“I know. Nobody will follow us. Not if your ship does its job right.”
“He will.”
“What’s his name?”
Darnell knew the notoriety associated with the name. “That’s none of your business.”
“But you know my name! How is this fair?”
“Life isn’t fair. Get some rest. There are guest quarters at 1-C.”
“Where’s 1-C?”
“Find it.” Darnell said, leaving the cargo bay. Watch him.
–
It took two weeks to trace their steps back to their home planet. They used the dimmest nodepoints on the nodescape. It ensured that they weren’t followed.
When they finally arrived, Violet bolted for her father, but Thanatos ordered her clear. “I’m carrying dangerous goods.”
“Dangerous goods?” Kite asked, keeping her distance as well.
“This should be good!” Carey exclaimed. “Welcome home.”
–
There was a short stand-off, but Joshua finally agreed to disarming the bombs. Thanatos made sure they were safe before letting his family come close.
“Thanatos, how busy have you been?” Carey asked, staring at the seven eggs.
“Only one is mine!” Thanatos chirped defensively.
“Which one?”
“That one.” Thanatos illuminated one of the eggs with the shuttle bay lights.
Carey traced the contours of the machine the egg was suspended in with her hands. Looking at the baby beemster through the glass.
“Hello there.” she cooed.
“It’s in cryostasis. Can’t hear you.” Thanatos said.
“You never know.” Carey replied.
“Baby?” Liam asked.
“Yes honey. Look at our new baby.”
“Heh. I didn’t think you were a family man.” Joshua said. “I misjudged you.”
“You’re welcome to stay with us, if you want.” Darnell suggested, slightly uneasily.
“Well. My egg needs somewhere to be born, anyways. And I want half the earnings from the eggs we’ve stolen.”
“We’re not selling them.” Carey said.
“What?” Darnell and Josh both replied.
“They deserve to live a good life, here. Besides, our future children will need ships!”
“That’s a lot of children.”
“This planet is our Eden. It’s only fair we share it with others less fortunate.”
“You’ll need the protection, anyways. If you want, I can do a type-1 with one of the nineties. Get him matured quicker. In case they do attack…” Josh suggested.
“Who is they? I killed everyone at that plaza.” Darnell said.
“What!” Carey yelled.
“I had no choice. I’m sorry.” Darnell replied.
“That merchant worked for Lorian. He’ll wonder where his earnings had gone off to. He’ll come looking for you.”
“Lorian? Never heard of him.” Darnell said.
“I have.” Carey commented. “He operates out of asteroid bases. Never in the same place twice. Rumour has it he’s got a fleet of over a hundred.”
“Quite the fleet.”
“They better not bunch together.” Kite warned.
“All Descendents?” Darnell asked.
“Probably.”
“You’ve dealt with this… Lorian… before?” Darnell asked.
“I have. It’s why I’m loaded with enough nukes to take out a continent.” Josh said.
“It’s time I visited an old friend…”
“An old friend?” Josh asked.
“Already?” Carey sighed, “How many injections did you and Thanatos spend in that fight?”
“All of them.”
–
–
Chiron, as usual, was happy to see them. He lived in a spruced up government building now, a beautiful pearl-white. Darnell sat down by a couch near one of the massive windows, looking out at the city. A massive obelisk had been built to commemorate the revolution. It was a Black Nova Obelisk.
“How are you guys doing?” Darnell asked.
“The planet is doing wonderfully. Everybody finally has water, and the buildings are being reinforced to withstand the sandstorms.”
“Anything else? Now that the people are satisfied?” Darnell asked, eyebrow raised.
“That attack was impressive. Don’t worry. It didn’t affect us. Not directly.”
“I heard those eggs belonged to Lorian? I’m looking for information on him.”
Chiron massaged his temple, beckoning for a waiter. He ordered a drink.
“Do you have any information on Lorian?” Darnell repeated.
“Ah yes, Lorian. Good man. I’ve dealt with him before. That is the indirect affect I was referring to. He will want revenge.”
“How can I deal with him?”
“He’s an honourable man. Return the excess eggs and work for the ones you wish to keep.”
“My wife is intent on keeping all of them.”
“That’s a rather large fleet. Why would you need that many ships?”
“I don’t know. She wants them to have a chance at a free life.”
Chiron leaned forward, putting his drink back on the table. He gazed at the drink, then back at Darnell, “Listen.” he said. “Freedom and liberty are great ideals. But they are just that: Ideals. I have lived a long time. I have seen many die for those words.”
“Are you saying I should return the eggs? Work for the ones I wish to keep?”
“It is what I recommend. Unless you wish to face Lorian for the freedom of those eggs.”
“What will Lorian do to the eggs if I return them?”
“He’ll sell them.”
“And what will happen to the eggs after they’re sold.”
“Lorian doesn’t care.”
“Who buys these eggs, usually?”
“Satellite organizations, fleets. The Puritans are generally used for logistics while the Descendents fight.”
“Why do they fight?”
“Some fight for that ideal you mentioned earlier: Freedom. They believe the Galactic Council is too imposing. That it is merely the old Coalition under a silk veil. Others fight because they have been neurally coerced into fighting.”
“By neural inhibitors?”
“That or the symbiote.”
“So this symbiote extends beyond me and Thanatos?”
Chiron nodded.
“Is it the same symbiote?”
“We would perceive it as such. The symbiote itself has no identity in realspace. It is merely a force of nature. There are rumours of it surfacing on occasion, but those are just rumours, I assure you.”
Darnell thought about that for a few seconds. Chiron watched him with a smile.
“Can you schedule a meeting with Lorian? I wish to speak with him.”
“I will put the word out. But Lorian is generally the one who initiates the meetings.”
“What does that mean? Does he know where I live?” Darnell asked anxiously.
“I don’t know about the extent of Lorian’s network, but if he hasn’t contacted you already, he will soon. I suggest you deal with him honourably. While honour may simply be a simple ideal as well, it is one that works well for Lorian. Abide by his code of honour and you should come through this alive.”
–
That was good. Darnell thought, on his way back to Thanatos.
If he is honourable, then he wouldn’t use your family against you. He would want to settle the issue some other way, most likely.
A duel, perhaps.
That would be fun.
–
“What did Chiron say?” Carey asked.
“That Lorian’s a man of honour. We should be fine. He will most likely contact us about the eggs. I doubt we can keep all of them.” Darnell said.
“Then what will happen?”
“I will try and keep Thanatos’ egg, and maybe Josh’s egg, but I will have to work off that debt.”
–
It didn’t take long for Darnell to change his mind. They had activated two of the eggs… for a few weeks. Without any contact from Lorian – Darnell decided to activate the remaining eggs.
Thanatos was very interested in his egg, keeping a geosynchronous orbit above it. The down time was good too. It was nice for Darnell to finally be able to relax. He played with his son, who was four years old now.
Violet would play nearby, as well. She was only fifty meters in length, and had mastered manoeuvring in the atmosphere. It didn’t mean there weren’t accidents. Tree collisions were common, and there were scars. But all in all Violet was doing well. Thanatos would stay in the upper atmosphere, watching Violet dart between Kite and him.
Carey had a task of her own as well. They had made her way into a cave network off to the north on some mountains that were nearly two thousand feet high. Kite had sensed lifesigns, and she had been right. With Kite’s help, Carey managed to make it all the way to the other side of the mountain, where several more tunnels existed.
Whether or not it was the creatures that had created the tunnels, she wasn’t sure, but the creatures themselves looked like Cave Beast, like Vorchans. Unfortunately, Kite’s translator was having a hard time with the language, as the Vorchans had ceased contact with the Galactic Council thousands of years ago. These Vorchans didn’t seem to have any contact with the Vorchan Empire, however, and seemed content living out their lives in the mountain.
Joshua spent a lot of time in the cave structure, fascinated by the ‘dragons’. It was an old earthen term.