Tracker – The Past Comes Back to Haunt Us – Part 6
For Nestov, the scene was like a childhood nightmare come to life. Desserians had told stories for eons to their children about creatures made of light that preyed on bad Desserian children. The figure in front of him was the Desserian equivalent of Earth's bogeyman.
The glow faded and Paden Lyles once more stood before them. Lanky legs splayed and arms akimbo.
"Ok, formalities are out of the way, let's get down to business. And get the girl a chair before she falls down." Waiting for them to seat the clearly shocked Jess, Paden paced.
"Alright we have a Desserian, a fairly young life force, here on Earth. I'm guessing that means contact has been made with a Migar world, yes?" He directed the question at Nestov. Reaching over Paden ripped the duct tape from Nestov's mouth, wincing in sympathy as he howled.
Moistening his dry lips Nestov told the Eamon about Zin, the wormhole and the convicts. Ignoring Jess' look of horror. "Daggon is also here. I've been helping him capture the others."
"Ah a Desserian with an altruistic streak?" Merry hazel eyes twinkled at Nestov; clearly the Guardian was amused by the thought.
"Well, to be honest. He made me an offer I couldn't refuse." Nestov felt compelled to tell the truth of the matter.
"Daggon? I assume he is a Tracker, yes?"
"Yes, his Earth name is Cole and he is Cirronian." Nestov replied.
"Ah the Cirronians, a wonderful life form. So like us. Of all the crossbreeds they were always my favorites." A fond smile spread across the Eamon's face. "Bet they scared the hell out of your people at first contact, hmmm?" A sly glance at Nestov's sweaty appearance proved his point.
"So this… Zin is searching for something. How much does he know?"
Nestov shrugged as much as the duct tape would allow. "Don't know exactly, the Tracker has been screwing up his plans royally." Nestov wriggled a bit more then stopped at the quelling eyebrow lifted in his direction. "He knows there are maps & keys & weapons here. He has some equipment that helps him locate things. Vardian's hide their intentions well. "
"Based on old Eamon technology no doubt." Paden sighed. "Appropriated from some museum probably."
"Release the Desserian." Paden told Jerry. "He won't be going anywhere." Turning a warning frown on Nestov. "I haven't forgotten the pleasure of the hunt." The words fairly oozed menace.
Nestov struggled against the urge to blend. "No problem man." At the cocked eyebrow he hastily amended his statement "No problem sir!" Nestov stood on shaky legs & squared his shoulders. "I've been helping the Tracker already, I might as well cross the rest of the way." Raising his arms as if fighting with a light saber and grinning" Good Jedi am I." Nestov basically had a good-humored nature and it was asserting itself, even in the face of danger.
Paden threw back his head and roared with laughter. "Welcome to my side of the Force, young Desserian." They shared a conspiratorial grin.
Nestov relaxed. 'Unlike a certain Cirronian, this menace had a sense of humor, and no neck pinch! This is good, I can work with this.' He thought.
"What are you called Desserian?"
"Nestov"
"Yeah, ok I'm Jess, he's Nestov, whatever. You guys are all welcome to hang out with light boy here but you can count me out!" Jess voice held the shrill edge of panic.
"Sorry fair Jessamin" Paden took Jess by the hand in spite of her attempt to keep him away. Warmth stole over her. She felt peace and something else through the contact. Arousal? Looking into the pale face she searched Paden's eyes, their brandied tones holding green flecks now. Something, for a brief moment something hot and wonderful stared back at her, then it was gone, shuttered behind a half lidded hazel gaze.
"We need you. No one can control a weapons lock except a direct descendant of the bin H'ari or someone who has been given the A' mesh of such a bin H'ari life force." At her continued blank look he went on.
The Guardian sighed over their ignorance, "At the time of death certain Eamon were able to project their A' mesh, the closest I can come in your language is soul, not the consciousness but the very essence of themselves. They were able to pass this on to someone else. Usually a loved one would accept it. Because of this 'talent' the H'ari or O'lesh lines were chosen as keepers of information. They would literally key a lock of one type or another to their soul or a' mesh's signature. No one except the person with that a' mesh would be able to key open that lock."
"Like a retinal scan is today?" Jerry was on more familiar ground with the lock & key theories.
"Exactly. No two would be alike". Paden confirmed.
Jess took a deep breath, "I control the key!" Suddenly Gran P's letter made sense.
"You have the keys?" Paden 's body tensed.
"Wull, noh. At least I don't think I do." Jess look bewildered. "Do I?"
Aurora came forward. Opening her hands she showed Paden what Jess had brought with her.
Without touching the sphere, Paden sifted through the pieces. Looking up he sighed, "We're missing some things, that's the good news."
"And the bad news?" The duet of questions came from Sam & Marion. "She's already keyed the sphere." Said Paden sadly.
"And that means whot exactly?" Jess piped up.
"Something I was hoping to avoid. It means a weapon of mass destruction has been keyed to your soul. The key can only be released to another upon your death.
For Nestov, the scene was like a childhood nightmare come to life. Desserians had told stories for eons to their children about creatures made of light that preyed on bad Desserian children. The figure in front of him was the Desserian equivalent of Earth's bogeyman.
The glow faded and Paden Lyles once more stood before them. Lanky legs splayed and arms akimbo.
"Ok, formalities are out of the way, let's get down to business. And get the girl a chair before she falls down." Waiting for them to seat the clearly shocked Jess, Paden paced.
"Alright we have a Desserian, a fairly young life force, here on Earth. I'm guessing that means contact has been made with a Migar world, yes?" He directed the question at Nestov. Reaching over Paden ripped the duct tape from Nestov's mouth, wincing in sympathy as he howled.
Moistening his dry lips Nestov told the Eamon about Zin, the wormhole and the convicts. Ignoring Jess' look of horror. "Daggon is also here. I've been helping him capture the others."
"Ah a Desserian with an altruistic streak?" Merry hazel eyes twinkled at Nestov; clearly the Guardian was amused by the thought.
"Well, to be honest. He made me an offer I couldn't refuse." Nestov felt compelled to tell the truth of the matter.
"Daggon? I assume he is a Tracker, yes?"
"Yes, his Earth name is Cole and he is Cirronian." Nestov replied.
"Ah the Cirronians, a wonderful life form. So like us. Of all the crossbreeds they were always my favorites." A fond smile spread across the Eamon's face. "Bet they scared the hell out of your people at first contact, hmmm?" A sly glance at Nestov's sweaty appearance proved his point.
"So this… Zin is searching for something. How much does he know?"
Nestov shrugged as much as the duct tape would allow. "Don't know exactly, the Tracker has been screwing up his plans royally." Nestov wriggled a bit more then stopped at the quelling eyebrow lifted in his direction. "He knows there are maps & keys & weapons here. He has some equipment that helps him locate things. Vardian's hide their intentions well. "
"Based on old Eamon technology no doubt." Paden sighed. "Appropriated from some museum probably."
"Release the Desserian." Paden told Jerry. "He won't be going anywhere." Turning a warning frown on Nestov. "I haven't forgotten the pleasure of the hunt." The words fairly oozed menace.
Nestov struggled against the urge to blend. "No problem man." At the cocked eyebrow he hastily amended his statement "No problem sir!" Nestov stood on shaky legs & squared his shoulders. "I've been helping the Tracker already, I might as well cross the rest of the way." Raising his arms as if fighting with a light saber and grinning" Good Jedi am I." Nestov basically had a good-humored nature and it was asserting itself, even in the face of danger.
Paden threw back his head and roared with laughter. "Welcome to my side of the Force, young Desserian." They shared a conspiratorial grin.
Nestov relaxed. 'Unlike a certain Cirronian, this menace had a sense of humor, and no neck pinch! This is good, I can work with this.' He thought.
"What are you called Desserian?"
"Nestov"
"Yeah, ok I'm Jess, he's Nestov, whatever. You guys are all welcome to hang out with light boy here but you can count me out!" Jess voice held the shrill edge of panic.
"Sorry fair Jessamin" Paden took Jess by the hand in spite of her attempt to keep him away. Warmth stole over her. She felt peace and something else through the contact. Arousal? Looking into the pale face she searched Paden's eyes, their brandied tones holding green flecks now. Something, for a brief moment something hot and wonderful stared back at her, then it was gone, shuttered behind a half lidded hazel gaze.
"We need you. No one can control a weapons lock except a direct descendant of the bin H'ari or someone who has been given the A' mesh of such a bin H'ari life force." At her continued blank look he went on.
The Guardian sighed over their ignorance, "At the time of death certain Eamon were able to project their A' mesh, the closest I can come in your language is soul, not the consciousness but the very essence of themselves. They were able to pass this on to someone else. Usually a loved one would accept it. Because of this 'talent' the H'ari or O'lesh lines were chosen as keepers of information. They would literally key a lock of one type or another to their soul or a' mesh's signature. No one except the person with that a' mesh would be able to key open that lock."
"Like a retinal scan is today?" Jerry was on more familiar ground with the lock & key theories.
"Exactly. No two would be alike". Paden confirmed.
Jess took a deep breath, "I control the key!" Suddenly Gran P's letter made sense.
"You have the keys?" Paden 's body tensed.
"Wull, noh. At least I don't think I do." Jess look bewildered. "Do I?"
Aurora came forward. Opening her hands she showed Paden what Jess had brought with her.
Without touching the sphere, Paden sifted through the pieces. Looking up he sighed, "We're missing some things, that's the good news."
"And the bad news?" The duet of questions came from Sam & Marion. "She's already keyed the sphere." Said Paden sadly.
"And that means whot exactly?" Jess piped up.
"Something I was hoping to avoid. It means a weapon of mass destruction has been keyed to your soul. The key can only be released to another upon your death.