Dark Hunter's resolution.
Chapter 6: Recovery, desperation.
1st September 2901
UIP galactic arm, 600 light years from Solaris, Liberator medical bay.
10 days after being knocked out, and Alex was still unconscious. In that time, the NKI fleet had divided accordingly, heading back to the Solaris system in the case of the Liberator, and the destroyer it brought with it.
The dreadnought Raxler captured had been refuelled by skimming gas giants for duetrium and helium 3 in fuel ships, and refuelling on route in non FTL transit periods. The dreadnought was headed for the Solaris system, but would be hidden in the sensor shadow of the asteroid belt. The dreadnought itself was a day behind the old KI fleet in travel time, and its progress and condition was fine.
In that time, Xale, Lexa, Azula, Morthas and Ja'hail reported from a successful raid of the Tartarus prison facility in the Garonth VII UIP system. What they told was surprising. In addition to intel usable by the NKI they also found the person responsible for ratting out the Varya infiltration team. However, on vid comm, he continually denied it, and after one meeting with Sha'krii involved, it was revealed to be the truth.
28th August 2901
Dawnbreaker communications room, Alliance interstellar space.
"Shut up! Just tell us the truth!" Lexa had hit Jarothes on the head roughly. It was strange to see the more peaceful of the two clones physically abuse someone, but apparently traitors were people she hated.
"Please! I'm innocent! I was framed because of something I was investigating with some colleagues in the UIP intelligence bureau! I was investigating a transmission we thought to be the same one I was accused of!" Jarothes pleaded, his small grey head was actually bleeding red now, from a gash he had been given by Xale at the start of the meeting.
Sha'krii frowned, noting the desperation in his voice: "You are under lie detection software monitoring. Don't try to lie."
"I'm not lying! Myself and some colleagues were investigating a communication sent to a secret Alliance location just before the Varya invasions. I was arrested a few days after my uncle told me about a secret assignment he never spoke of to anyone before, into Alliance territory 16 years ago, as a scout!"
Kirth's eyes widened, as did La'kias, and the five present at the prison scene. No one in the UIP should know of that fact, a fact that correlated with only one event in Alliance history. In a cold voice, Sha'krii asked: "And what was your uncle's name?"
"Keros Hutreck."
Sha'krii lost it, and shouted: "You! Your uncle was one of them! Your uncle helped kill my father, and sealed my exile!"
"I know! He told me everything! And I can tell you everything he told me before he was found dead the next day!"
And Jarothes was true to his word. He spoke of the secret deal, the war profiteering done by Oro'naze from Alliance war industry shares, and later UIP shares, to bribe Keros into silence, until the former scout and 'ambassador' could not bear the guilt any longer. He spoke of the investigations into the data transmissions, revealing that the mole he was accused of being was likely still in the UIP intelligence bureau, and that if it was true, his two colleagues Krith Lovisk, a Sril'sask, and Bal'toro, a Na'vi, were in danger.
All thoughts of aggression towards Jarothes himself had vanished, and Norstith, from the Liberator's comms room, asked: "You're certain that Oronaze disappeared?"
Jarothes nodded, feeling the situation defusing greatly: "Yes. My uncle said so, and I managed to look into it before I was arrested. He vanished from all records over a decade ago, I suspect he was more deeply involved, but the bribes to my uncle kept coming through, so he might still be operating somewhere, relaying the information through the UIP intelligence agency networks. It might make sense, perhaps he even collaborated as the informant I was mistaken as, but that's just speculation."
Sha'krii bowed her head in her hologram, whilst the others looked at her for a response. She asked aloud: "Where might they be now? Your colleagues?"
"In the UIP, they work in the intelligence agency, but we agreed to go to ground for a while at least if one of us was arrested." Responded Jarothes, rubbing his forehead of sweat with his pale grey skinned, four fingered hand.
Shockwave had been silent the whole time, and spoke now: "The fact stands then. The reason for the start of this war was the poor behaviour and regicide against the Alliance by the scouts, as the first contact with the UIP. If we reveal the last of these ambassadors and capture him, or at the very least gather evidence, tensions between both sides could fall in the face of the war being waged as being on illogical grounds. Negotiations could open up, and this could prove to be the catalyst to ending the war."
"Great. Now all we need to do is get back into the UIP, find those two colleagues of his, get them to safety, find out what they know and possibly find more. No pressure." Commented Azula, her tone dry as could be.
"It's our best hope. For now, we'll make plans, but this is something that may require smaller force, with Jarothes's help of course. Will he help?" Said Kirth, looking at the Grey. At that moment, Lexa came forwards and unshackled the being, letting him slowly get to his feet.
"My uncle and his associate started this war, and I hated him for his cowardice. If I can help end the war, and clear my name also, I will do it. I'm not a combat person, but I can get you a lot of information about the UIP, including some less travelled routes through their space."
The next priority mission for the NKI was official. Gather intelligence and bring in the last remaining ambassador, or prove his involvement.
There was still a two day transit time to the Solaris system, and in that time, rest was key.
In the medical bay, Se'rie quietly slipped into the room once more, for now averting her sight from the human lying on the bed, a power cable and a drip feed hooked into his chest and nose simultaneously.
"How is he?" She asked aloud. The robot doctor was unresponsive, currently offline until required. It responded through a speaker system in the nearby medical desk area:
"Alex Hunter is medically stable, his oxygen deprivation induced state of unconsciousness has decreased significantly, to the stage where he is responding to outside stimuli. Tests confirm he is subconsciously responding to different objects at least contacting his skin."
Se'rie was hopeful, and asked: "Would it help if I stayed here with him, like I've done each day now?"
"Organics in similar states show increased responsiveness to the presence of fellow organics they share relationship bonds with, as long as they can distinguish them on any level. Your presence would most likely increase the likelihood of his awakening, perhaps even to within this day cycle."
Her heart soared, and she muttered her gratitude, and turned to the bed. She approached the bed, her metal talons clicking lightly on the floor beneath her, her blue plumage contrasting with the stark grey and white of the medical bay. At the bed edge, she gently placed a three fingered hand on Alex's right cheek, careful not to ouch the drip feed tube up his nose.
"Hey, it's me again. The doctor says you might get up today if I stay by you." Se'rie whispered, just loud enough for Alex to possibly hear. No response, just his breathing continuing, and his eyes shut. Blinking back tears, Se'rie muttered in a low tone: "You didn't do anything stupid on that dreadnought. Maybe we're both lucky then. If you'd been stupid, you might not be here now, listening to me rambling on. I already thanked Shockwave, and I know that if he can, Raxler feels bad for this."
No response still. She asked aloud: "Are his arms and legs sensitive?"
"Bionic limb sensory input working at optimum condition."
Thankful for that, Se'rie gently laid her hand on his right hand, her three fingers resting atop his five fingers, the avian flesh and finger claws on the metallic talons. She purposefully unfolded her left wing, and with her hand on his, her extended wing came to rest on his right shoulder, like a warm, feathery blanket, the wing shape like a T shape overall. She knew it would be another long stay, and she laid her head on her unfolded wing, resting it on her arm and Alex's arm as well, whispering:
"Please wake up, I miss you."
A few minutes in, and Se'rie had merely stared at Alex's body as she rested her head on his arm and her wing, when she finally saw something happen. His nostrils flared very briefly, smelling something, before his head tilted slowly to the right, eventually coming to rest atop her unfolded wing, nestled into the blue feathers.
Not daring to move, Se'rie laid there, waiting for another sign.
Another hour later, and Se'rie heard voices over the speakers, and in the room, two holograms appeared.
Shockwave was on one side, while Aru'san, her form much more shrunken and cut off in some areas, surveyed the bed and her. Aru'san was first to ask, her voice a mix of sombre concern and her synthetic tone: "Is he near recovery?"
"The doctor says he's going to wake up faster if I'm here by him, like I've been doing so far."
"Organic bonding, useful in the case of assisting medical recovery. A similar concept exists in my kind with our sparks, but that is for another time." Said Shockwave. His optic narrowed, scanning the human's body, able to make out more discrete movements: "He is near to waking, that much I can confirm. Thankfully my AI core disruption and Raxler's rebooting of his circulatory hardware should have prevented any neurological decay."
"I hope so." Said Se'rie, looking at Alex's body. Now that she saw it, she thought she could see his eyes moving beneath his eyelids. Aru'san spoke on last time: "I know from records that he has endured worse. He is durable, he will make it."
"Thanks Aru'san." Se'rie replied. All the while, she had still not moved from her position, Alex's head still resting on her wing.
Aru'san's hologram disappeared, leaving only Shockwave. He studied Alex's form, and suggested to the doctor: "He is stable, when his brain activity reaches the appropriate level, an injection of adrenaline should awaken him."
As his hologram disappeared, Se'rie saw on the holo screen a new line on his graph of brain wave activity. When the average brainwave level reached that height, they would administer the adrenaline.
2 hours later, and the time was now.
Stroking his hand, Se'rie smiled lightly as Alex's face furrowed slightly, his fingers clenching slightly. Pulling away, the doctor came forwards, engaging the automatic disconnections for the feed tubes and cables, slowly retracting them.
"Adrenaline injection should awaken Alex Hunter, but reaction might be physically overt, recommend restraining him if initial rise too rapid."
Finding his neck, the doctor injected the device, containing a set of double pricks and hypodermic needles inside them, and administered the serum.
Moving back, the robot doctor and Se'rie stood by, waiting anxiously. At that moment, Norstith came by, having been informed of the adrenaline attempt. As he came in, he commented: "He's taken it then? Any change yet?"
"He just got it seconds ago uncle."
A few moments passed, and Alex's eyelids began to scrunch, his fingers flexing rapidly, clawing at the table, until his eyes literally snapped open wide. Hyperventilating in the energy burst, he all but catapulted up into a sitting position, only to be seized quickly by the robot doctor. Breathing rapidly, he calmed eventually, feeling over his chest with his hands as he began to breath normally.
The robot doctor released him, and as Alex breathed a sigh of relief, he asked aloud, presumably to the doctor only, not seeing Se'rie and Norstith watching from the side, relief, and amusement in Norstith's case also: "Crap, that was close. Doctor, how long have I been out?"
"10 days." Replied Se'rie. Snapping to look at Se'rie, Alex's face softened noticeably, mouthing the words she had just said. Scratching his head while lying back down, he said aloud: "I can't remember exactly what happened. I may need help remembering."
As he lay down, Se'rie grabbed his shoulders as he lay down, and all but threw herself around him. Sinking into the feeling of her embrace, he said: "I said I'd be back, didn't I?"
In a whisper, Se'rie said: "I told you to not do anything stupid either. Getting yourself knocked out for 10 days is stupid. You had me so worried. I spent every day here."
"Se'rie, I, I'm sorry you had to do that. But, thank you." Pulling away, Se'rie then kissed him on the nose, her tongue licking it gently. As Se'rie stood up, Norstith interjected:
"It's good to see you awake again. You had me worried, but none so much as Se'rie." Alex was about to make a comment, but he then asked: "Did everyone make it out? Are they all here?"
"Well, yes, and no." Said Norstith. Alex obviously had not heard about Raxler hacking the dreadnought still a day behind them.
"I don't understand."
"You're already lying around, might as well fill you in on the time you've missed."
Suffice to say, it was a lot to take in. Alex had been told about the dreadnought piracy, and Raxler's current job as being the new AI for it until it reached Solaris. He was interested in the developments about the rescued prisoner, Jarothes Hutreck, among the prisoners broken out by the Tartarus raiders. Two smaller pieces of information did however give him a laugh.
"Wait, Gra'til was the warden at Tartarus? I hated that guy, he was such a pain in the arse in training! If I'd been on that raid he'd have gone ballistic if he saw me."
"As you describe him, he most likely might have." Said Norstith. Se'rie asked then: "What about the facility captain, after the admiral was killed? You mentioned you and him had a run in before?"
"Kal'sik? Yeah, he was the leader of the Varya operation. He had me captured by that UIP mole, and my friends, and was the one who kindly gave me these-" He gestured to his back spinal implants: "and led me to the frontlines, where one of my oldest friends was killed before my eyes. Me and Shockwave, we have a score to settle with him, and I don't think this was enough."
"You and Shockwave humiliated him with Raxler by stealing a dreadnought. He might get executed for his failure." Norstith suggested.
"One can hope." Said Alex.
2nd September 2901
Xathana shipyards.
11 days since the raid, and much had already been repaired, though not all.
Despite the attack, the 2 remaining dreadnoughts suffered little damage, though the same could not be said for the facility itself. In spite of this, development continued at a slower pace, and even now, the AI core for one of the dreadnoughts was being installed ahead of schedule, to improve its inner defences.
In his quarters, Kal'sik held his head in his hands. He had been contacted by Alliance military command, with a simple message. Discharged from the military, for questionable abilities as leader.
He was being made a scapegoat, and amidst the Alliance, the military was the only profession that he was safe in. His actions in leading the Varya conflict held no high regard among those in the Alliance populace related to the Alliance traitors and prisoners he had used in the slave network army. His reputation, his credibility, was ruined now. He was a lost cause, and he could no longer rely upon the Alliance military to give him a job, and therefore protection.
He was too aware of the few bounties placed on his head, and as he left the formal discharging on his homeworld, Tarihhis, he would be tracked, and likely picked off. He had no family left to rely upon, some even sending him messages stating they did not want to be related to him for the choices he made in the military. Those choices were necessary in Kal'sik's view, to end the war, or at least try to, but he had been ignored.
He was given another week, until his tour on the Xathana shipyards was done.
It was hopeless, but, with all things considered, there was hope for him still, a way for him to overcome his reputation, and not become a servant, but a tool of the Alliance military, a true force to be reckoned with.
"Professor, are we ready to begin?"
"I must say one last time, this is madness! The technological challenges have been tried and tested, but the ethical issues!" Blurted the Leg'hrul scientist.
"Silence! This is my last chance, and considering your achievements when working at the Varya station research labs, I would think you would welcome the challenge."
Kal'sik lay upon the operating table, for the second of a few series of off the record procedures. Before him, his doctor was none other than Professor Da'lioni Misira, once the project leader on the Varya station research division. He had a hand in researching not only the slave network neural interface, but also the dark matter combat matter project.
"The network was one challenge, an AI controlling multiple beings by the motor controls only is one thing. But uploading a mind into an AI?"
"It's been done before, I'm sure you can do it. How else did the reports state that the human KI agent Alex Hunter and Traitor General Norstith survive their 'fatal' accidents?"
"They transferred to similar bodies! You are suggesting I transfer your mind, not fully, but mostly, to the AI of a starship!" Professor Misira's facial feathers ruffled in shock and fluster, his mind struggling to comprehend the lengths this man might go to.
"Yes. I am due for forced retirement in a few days, and I see that I can't serve the Alliance as a true person any longer. I know that the only way now to win the war is to obliterate the UIP outright, at their very hubs of power and influence, their homeworlds. Varya was not far enough, we can't conquer the UIP, so we will destroy them."
"Sir, surely this must be discussed with the leadership-"
"They will certainly object if I do! Remember that if you speak of this, or do not do it, I shall force you one way or another! By doing this, I guarantee my continued use to the Alliance, and give myself a purpose. With no life to return to after I leave, I see no problem in becoming one with the next dreadnought out. My mental abilities can also aide its processes, and so long as the partial integration is successful, my body can act as a vessel for it and myself to interact on a more personal level."
"The dark matter neural interface I will insert today is similar to the Varya network designs, but more refined. When the AI core arrives for the dreadnought, we can begin integration."
"Good. As much as this is insubordination, I see that they will either have no choice but to keep me as a large investment, as a dreadnought is, or they will see my ways are the best route to victory." Kal'sik smiled grimly as the anaesthetic took affect, sending him to sleep. His last sight was Professor Misira shaking his head in disbelief, readying his tools, gesturing to the surgical robots with the implants ready, and fearfully gazing at the auto-turret pointing at him from the wall.
2nd Septmeber 2901
Ki'ristalis, shared apartment.
"They're outdoing us, that's for sure." Commented Quirinth. She had been watching a news report on the dual raids by the NKI.
The first, and most detailed, was confusing to say the least. It was the first attack by the NKI on a UIP territory, and a high security prison facility. NKI spokespeople had stated that the basic goal of the raid was to rescue prisoners being held by the UIP who held critical information that could be used to fuel their revolutionary campaigns. Critics responded by voicing this as hypocritical of their claims, commenting on the few dozen guards killed, along with the destruction of the entire facility.
NKI spokespeople commented that the conflict became more fierce than anticipated, and it was collateral damage that destroyed the station. They claimed to want to end the war, and intel was the key. If anything, their second raid seemed to back up the war ending claim, a raid that was ballsy to say the least.
A raid on a top secret facility, our of UIP reach, where the dreadnoughts were manufactured. They claimed that the damage to the facility, and the theft and destruction of another dreadnought near completion, was evidence of their stance.
Having returned from another tour of duty, the three had taken their 2 weeks of shore leave to relax.
Or so they thought.
That same day, a message came through for Trion, Sru'sky and Quirinth specifically, from the UIP central intelligence bureau itself.
The message was clear enough, there was the noting of a possibility that they would be called up for tracking work, undercover, to tail possible espionage suspects. One fellow person had recommended them, Lanver Kones, a freelancing counter espionage agent now.
"So, Kones again huh? It'll be nice to see him again, especially after the last time we saw him." Quirinth said.
Sru'sky dipped her head, she had been there when Mir'minsk had been shot, while Alex had tried to stop it. Trion examined the message, commenting: "It looks like they're recruiting a few people actually. They seem worried."
"All those spies might explain how the dreadnought attacks were so accurate, or how the Alliance is more prepared than we often anticipate." Sru'sky said.
"No, the dreadnoughts were just using brute force. If anything, the preparations for our attacks would be linked to possible espionage. It does make sense." Trion commented.
"Ah well, as long as we get off front line duty, I'm happy with it." Said Quirinth.
3rd September 2901
Solaris, New Earth, Island base.
"Nice. We've earned a break I think." Said Lexa.
The female clone was currently in the horseshoe shaped bay, lying on the sandy beach area, a towel set beneath her. After the chaotic series of missions they had been on, especially the last two, they had earned small respite.
Lexa was not alone though. The others involved in the prison or shipyard raids were mostly here as well. Shockwave was there, but he was busy scanning the local wildlife in the bay itself, wading into the deep water up to a 20 foot depth, or his waist height. His one red optic scanned the water, penetrating the water and gathering information on the local wildlife and coral.
Aru'san was lying on the beach, her synthetic grey scales reflecting the sun's rays slightly. As per her more 'organically' reminiscent AI nature, she was curious about organic activities on the beaches. Raxler stood beside the draconic AI, doing much the same, but his human appearing metallic face showed little to no emotion on it.
For the Ja'hail, being pragmatic, Aru'san's presence on the beach was aiding his way of relaxing. Having stripped his temperature controlling suit and armour, Ja'hail was learning to appreciate the newer AI beast, as he once more waded back to shore, the water cascading off his greenish yellow scales, and what could only be described as a Kro'nogri equivalent of boxer trunks.
"Reptillian species such as yourself are interesting to watch. You are very energetic in direct sunlight, but quickly retreat into cooler areas when you grow too warm." Said Aru'san, her large head following Ja'hail as he laid down on the sand near her.
"It's not easy beast. And could you-" As he said his words, Aru'san responded as she had done a few times now. She raised a single wing, and spread it over his small area of the beach like a giant parasol.
"Thanks. Hey, other tinny, why can't you have something like this?" Ja'hail thanked Aru'san, and jokingly asked Raxler nearby. Not turning to the Kro'nogri, he commented, almost in a bored tone: "So that Aru'san gets stuck with the task of providing shade for you and having to listen to your narcissistic attitude and blunt remarks."
"Its remarks like that which place you at social odds with Ja'hail and others." Commented Aru'san, amusement detectable in her voice.
"No further comment." Said Raxler.
Further down the beach, where Lexa was, Xale and Azula were talking pointlessly about nonsense:
"So, you think you could use your fire to, I don't know, make glass from sand or something. Cause if you could, you could sell glass figurines or something, make a fortune." Offered Xale.
"What a way to degrade my prodigious firebending to a monetary scheme. Firebending is an art that must be treated well." Said Azula.
"Why have a skill if you don't fully use it? You could get rich easily." Said Xale.
Pressing a finger to his bare chest, Azula said clearly: "My skills are not for sale. Besides, why waste my skills on such a trivial pastime when I have much more enjoyable things to do."
"Like maybe, I don't know, going swimming with me in the bay?" Suggested Xale. He truly did admire Azula's gorgeous body, curving in all the right places. Azula snapped her fingers, focusing his eyes to hers again: "Perhaps, so long as you don't undress me with your eyes in broad daylight. I swear you are so easily satisfied by so many things."
"And you seek perfection in many things. I know, I know. So, can we, please?" Xale mock winced as he said the last word.
"Hmm. Well, seeing as you said please, I will say maybe." She replied. Just as she finished, she noticed that Xale had been sneaking his hand to her shoulder, to wrap his arm around her. Making sure he could see, she slowly raised her hand as he approached, a red flame, easy for her, unlike blue, growing as his hand got closer.
"So that's it huh? I guess you really do get hotter as you go on." Xale asked playfully.
While Norstith had been in the base still, contacting Sha'krii, Kirth and La'kias, Alex ,Morthas and Se'rie were atop a small rocky outcropping, some distance away from the main beach.
"So, you two feel like a swim then? I must say I've never seen a Leg'hrul swim." Alex offered. Gazing over the edge, Morthas and Se'rie were dressed largely the same, in shorts leggings, though Se'ries were shorter in the legs. Coming back, Morthas commented aloud: "Have you ever seen what happens if our feathers get wet?"
"That would be a laugh for the UIP to learn. How to defeat the Leg'hrul forces, splash water on them. Stop those pesky shock troopers flying away."
"Okay then, let's see how you swim then!" Se'rie exclaimed, an evil grin forming on her face. Right then, Alex and Morthas had no dark matter, but it was two Leg'hrul against a human on a rocky edge. The older male Leg'hrul and younger female shoved a protesting Alex off the edge, sending him splashing into the water 20 feet below.
"I love doing that." Commented Morthas. Se'rie saw Alex resurface, and as he looked at her, she merely said aloud: "What? You were asking for it?"
"Your lucky you're my girlfriend! But Morthas, I'm going to get you in this bay for that!"
"Try all you can, it won't work." With that, the male took off, flying over the bay back towards the main beach.
As Alex climbed up the rocky outcropping again, Se'rie asked jokingly: "Well, he still jokes around with you then."
"Yes. Something I liked and hated about him off duty in the original KI."
It still annoyed Alex that Morthas got the better of him in situations where they try to outwit one another. But unlike Morthas, Alex had Se'rie, and she had him.
And soon, they would all have a new task. One which would lead Alex back to his home star cluster once more eventually.
Chapter 6 done, as usual please comment for feedback or helpful advice. Also, could you please pass news of my stories around? If I got feedback on my style, any stories I do in future could benefit.
[Just a footnote, I do have ideas for other fiction genres on this site. I just need to get this massive idea out of my head and into word document first. Vague, but they're there.]