Finish the Science Fiction Story, Part II

Cafe Society
81

Victor Channing Sr. felt his message indicator go off, signaling that he had a message coming. He sealed the door to his office/steroom and keyed in the code to his console. On screen was Shaista.

"Well’, he said, “I guess you’re through having your little joke?”

“Yes,” she replied, “I must apologise for that. A momentary lapse of reason.”

Already compelled to believe her flightiness, Victor Sr. didn’t question that at all. “Do you have the coordinates I asked you to find?”

“Yes. I have…all… that you will need to know. Tell me, is the Human Kathy Swanson with your group?”

Slightly puzzled by the odd tone and phrasing of this query, Vic Sr. answered, “She came with us at the last moment. Why? And how do you know of her?”

“Oh… just cur…ious. I had heard so much about her over the past couple of years. No real… reason… involved. Just curious.”

“Are you injesting plakant again!?” he accused her. The colonists had found a strange new plant in the mountains of this planetary resort, and a grey market of sorts resembling the old narcotics industry had grown up around it. Tho enhancing certain senses, especially for courriers, it also tende to affect certain motor skills. Like speech.

“It’s not illegal, Mr. Channing,” the Shaista figure retorted, Wayre being quick to jump to jump on this false reasoning for her odd behavior. Using the Shaista was not going as seamlessly as they had intended. It was damaged, and its usefulness would not be for much longer.

“Not yet,” he vollied back at her. “Well, meet me at the Council Monument in Grey Square. In four Standard Time Units. Can you handle that?”

Picking up on the continued annoyance and sarcasm of the elder Channing, the Wayre allowed the Shaista figure to look annoyed. It was harder than they were used to. “Yes. I will be there then.”

The console screen went blank. Slightly troubled by his contact’s behavior, he sat for a moment, wondering why Shaista had brought up Kathy. Maybe it was nothing, he thought, just paranoia. Re-encoding the lockouts, he got up to join the rest of the group.

The autonomously operating battle droid was approaching the planet, its shields up full. Being virtually invisible to both technology and (the builders hoped) Wayre.

Tag felt a warm smugness and stisfaction at his latest ‘conquest’ and was reliving the good bits in his mind when the Wayre message reached him.

*We are setting up an approach to the Human Kathy Swanson for you. Be patient. Hasty acts may set back our plans. Do not allow a second Council of Nith to occur.

Fine! You meddle too much sometimes, I think.

We are Wayre. We guide. We protect. We create. All for the betterment of the Galaxy. We do not ‘meddle.’

Oh? Are you guys falling into the trap of pride again? YOU CAN’T CONTROL EVERYTHING!

Your anger is misplaced, Tag of Akakslag. You should be more concerned with what is happening above your head even now. You are not as ‘clean’ as you present yourself to be. Someday, you may have to account for that.*

Angered and surprised, Tag almost let his shape revert, but he caught himself before anyone noticed. Or so he thought.

82

Before setting out for his meeting with Shaista the elder Channing had one more call to make, one he figured would be a big surprise.

On the bridge of the Searcher Capt. Petrie was more than surprised at the face he saw on his regular comm unit. “Mr. Channing, sir! Umm, I hadn’t realized you had left Valis.”

“You weren’t supposed to. And Explorer had a hell of a time getting down here. What the frell went wrong wwwith communications a while back? Port Authority won’t talk.”

“Sir, perhaps it would be best if you spoke with your son.”

“You’re right. And where is everyone? I tried three different units and they’re all on auto-record.”

“Sir, they are in a meeting, as I understand.”

“No call forwarding I suppose. Well, you put me through. I just had a call with an…operative…of mine, and I had to lie to her about Kathy Swanson’s whereabouts. I hope she really is with Searcher.”

“Uh, yes sir, she is, but she’s, well, you’d better talk to your son. Here goes that patch.”

83

Tobe sat upright in the sickbay bed. Something was terribly wrong…something had shifted, or tried to shift, or almost shifted before stopping.

“It couldn’t be,” he said to himself. “They’re all dead!”

Laying back again, he calmed his mind, and then connected with Kathy. Smiling apologetically to himself, he gently began to wake her.

“Tobe?” a sleepy voice said in his mind. “What is it?”

“Ssh. Listen closely. I think there’s a Kel on planet. You and the other couriers are in grave danger.” He began giving her the details, as much as he knew. It was enough to fully awaken Kathy to a horror that somehow seemed to explain things.

84

Calming her Human irrational fear, Tobe began to divulge to Kathy all he knew about the Kel, which was considerable…

"Most people, even in military research into non space, know little or nothing about the Kel. But, they have been deeply involved in our history before. By our, I mean Xavvians. Much more has been forgotten over the span of time.

"You see, we Xavvians underwent a Dark Ages of sorts, too, cuased not by ignorant religious intolerance, but due to war. As a species, we were almost wiped out. Cheif cause of this is the Kel. Or, more accurately, a group of Kel working for their own ends.

"Why their ends included the Xenocide of us, I still don’t fully comprehend. But, it may have something to do with our relationship. You see, Kel and Xavvians appear to be divergent branches of the same evolutionary tree.

"Sure, most Xavvians subscribe to the idea of a higher power, or Gods, but even those that do beleive such accept the fossil records that support our paleo-anthropological theories. We clearly evolved, or were guided to evolve from a certain type of creature.

"This is where it gets a little difficult to explain. We didn’t fully evolve on Xavvia. Nor on any world in the Known Worlds. Our race evolved (or was given) capabilities that only a non space existance could justify.

"Calm down, please. Let me finish this. You NEED to know all this before you meet this Tag, or any Kel.

"My race appears to have stopped evolving in non space about 2 million years ago, and began to adapt to the Holy Mountains of Xavvia. A real space existance. Why, where, and how the switch to real space from non space is a secret lost in the mists of time.

"Some several thousand years ago, we built up a powerful interplanetary empire. Small compared to the Confederation of Known Worlds, but weilding much power. Our weapons could utilise both real and non space. In fact, we soon found a way to travel through non space.

"No, Kathy, that isn’t racial pride. Xavvian military researchers discovered it. They also discovered something else. A group mind, permeating both space and non space. This is what you now know as Wayre.

"Wayre was not mysterious back then, just a little secretive. They truly seemed to be benevolent. But, a situation arose due their nature that led to a religion of sorts. This perverted view of Wayre continues in superstion to this day, among many worlds.

"One of the things Wayre brought to our attention was the existance of Akakslag. A planet/place that existed partly in real space, partly in non. This is where our distant cousins the Kel evolved.

"Being a very different kind of existance, they evolved very different capabilities. Such as virtually seemless shape shifting, non space real time communitions, even space jumping, which they refer to as ‘jaunting.’ All without crytals. We figured out how to use crytals after learning of the Kel. We were semi adapted for crystal use, as are some Humans, which we still find odd.

"The group mind of Wayre, with the assistance of Glactic Core life forms (which we have not seen before or since) pulled the world of Akakslag closer to real space. To the point where we could interact with each other.

"Trouble is, Kel are horrificly xenophobic. And a group of power hungry creatures took advantage of this to foment distrust among the species, which led to war.

"There are three major conflicts, known as the Trontian Wars, for the name the Zealots took for themselves. These wars pushed us to the brink of mutual extinction.

"Wayre, not wanting to see two species eliminated from the Galaxy, set up a peace accord, known as the Council of Nith. Monuments exist even now, pointing back to that momentous occasion, now shrouded in superstitios mystery. A group of renegade Kel, led by, or least seconded by, Tag, murdered the whole assmbly, Kel, Xavvian, possibly even some part or form of Wayre. The resultant dark ages began then. We’re not really sure how we survived as a race, but it seems Wayre had something to do with it. What their resons were then, or are now, are a complete mystery to us. We can never fully trust Wayre, not knowing their agenda.

"But, we can’t trust any Kel we might meet at all. Since only those who still wish to see us anihilated will leave their planet anymore.

“This information has taken decades to accumulate. And has cost many lives. The latest peices of the refound puzzle have been implemented in my own body. I have had certain organs altered in an experiment to see if some of our more adept Xavvians can stand up to the eerie abilities of the Kel. You, were also part of this grand experiment. As was Vorpal. Unfortunately, we have made a few mistakes along the way.”
Kathy sat in silence. Still connected via crystal to Tobermory, but stunned and shocked by all the history and violence whcih she finds herself in.

“Kathy? Kathty!? Please speak to me,” Tobe pleads.

“Leave me alone.” is all she says, and breaks off the communication.

85

Darn, I was just about to make a long addition to introduce a new faction but it’s pretty much useless now.

86

Jeff, I betchya we could make it fit. I’m trying to clean up and set in stone a good back story, but new developements can and do happen, right? Just like real life. Your droids are a vey cool invention, for instance, and will no doubt have major implications in the continuing plot set up.

87

Here we go. Made some heavy adjustments.

Tag felt Tobe’s contact with the human. “Ssh,” the cat had said. “Listen close.” Then, nothing and it made Tag even angrier. Retaining his shape was becoming increasingly difficult.

Tobe had been concentrating so intently on his communication that he was unaware of the soft, green light, which had been slowly creeping into his room. Before long, the entire room and even Tobe himself were awash in green. Now that Kathy had severed contact, Tobe had become more aware of his surroundings.

“Wow,” said Tobe as he watched a shaft of green light condense into something resembling a Xavvian form.

Tobe felt a voice in his head, like in a crystal communication but also not like one. He knew it was a voice but he couldn’t understand what it was saying. It was speaking in an ancient dialect, currently only spoken by some Xavvian scientists and a few linguists. All Tobe could do was look confused. At least whatever this was knew enough about Xavvians to use green, the color of friendship. The Xavvian-light eventually found a dialect familiar to Tobe. “Do not be alarmed.” Tobe felt himself being looked over. “You’re certainly not what we were expecting.”

Tobe backed up against the head of his bed. “Wayre!”

The Xavvian-light laughed. “We are Wayre, yes. We are also not ‘Wayre’.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You will. We see you’re a bit…incomplete. May we fix?”

Tobe felt no danger so he nodded. The green light intensified for a second then reverted to its original brightness, after which Tobe felt better.

The Xavvian-light shifted from green to blue. “May we also move you to a safer place?”

Tobe nodded again, upon which the light shifted to red, then cycled between green, blue, and red, each cycle getting quicker until all three colors merged to white.

Tag burst into Tobe’s room only to find a dissipating white light and no Tobe. He went absolutely ballistic.

88

Whoa, I go away for the afternoon and evening, and look what happened! Great stuff! In case anyone would like to see it I have kept the recap up to date. I find it helps me keep things straight when there have been a lot of posts.

Kathy regretted it as soon as she broke off with Tobermory. He was, in spite of everything, a dear friend, and she cared about him. But when she attempted “calling back” he could not be reached. That was odd. She felt like she had been alone long enough but when she looked at herself in a mirror she was aghast at her unkempt(to put it kindly) state. So showered and put on fresh clothing before leaving her room.

Kathy found the others still gathered around the remains of a meal, but when she got through with the leftovers, there were only dirty dishes. Good, her normally healthy appetite was back. “Kathy”, asked Jacob, "how do you feel?’

“Don’t be silly” snapped M’Kayla “how do you think she feels?”

“Actually, I feel very much better, but have I got news for you! I got a call from Tobermory” and she went on to detail the information he had given her, finshing with “but now I can’t reach him”

Granthiaxav waved a paw in front of his face, and let his eyes close briefly, in a religious gesture. Grav was both devout and observant in his adherence to the Great Mother, and was dismayed to hear about Kel interference. “This could explain much about what has been happening on Sevastol” he said, and went on to fill her in on the unusual events surrounding her emotional storm

Victor Jr. who had been called away, returned and told the rest “You’ll never guess who I just got a call from. My father is here. Apparently we weren’t the only ones to have connections with that Shaista. For whatever reasons, he’s gone to meet her in the city. Hope he took backup, I dont trust that bitch.”

Kathy felt an odd flutter at the mention of Shaista but put it down to lingering nerves. She turned to Kenezr and M’Kayla. “Jacob, we need to talk again. I need to know just how I got included in this little “experiment”. And M"Kayla, could you listen in? I remember back when, how you helped me learn how to handle what I had been given. Please, I may need more of that mental training.”

“Kathy, I’m not sure there is anything more I can do for you. My crystal is still dead you know.”

Skoop now spoke up. “I have some possible ideas on reconnecting…”

"Dr. I know I can do it. Don’t ask me how, but I’ve seen it, in here"and Kathy tapped her forehead. “But since Dr. Morgan is at the clinic with Tobermory I could use you too, if you are willing. I don’t want opearate, so to speak, without a physician present. But speaking of Dr. Morgan, has anyone heard from her? Like I said, I tried to talk to Tobe again after I cut him off. Maybe she can tell us something.”

89

Nothing. Tobe saw nothing, smelled nothing, tasted nothing, heard nothing, felt nothing. After a while, he became adjusted to his new surroundings. He still couldn’t see anything but he sensed walls with intricate patterns had one existed here, he also sensed that he was not alone. “Where are we?”

“The answer is in yourself. Focus. Look around.”

Tobe did so and ghostly walls began to form, remnants of a time long forgotten. Tobe’s eyes went wide. “The Council of Nith!”

“This was to be the council chambers, yes. The renegade Kel struck before they could be used.

“Welcome to Forsetti, young Xavvian. We have been waiting a long time.”

90

Capt. Petrie had a habit of keeping a line open to local news broadcasts, wherever the ship might be docked. Currently he had the video screen segmented, with pictures and a streamer in one corner. Just now, busy as he was running a series of diagnostics on ship systems, (being a stickler for having Searcher always ready to jump), it took him a while to notice what was on the smaller portion of the screen. But it finally sunk in.

…conflicting reports are still coming in of the murderous rampage carried out at Mother’s Haven, a private medical facility here in Nexia. Witnesses and the one surviving security video show that there seem to have been several perpetrators of this heinous crime. Currently the are thirteen known dead, ten Xavvians, two humans, and one Renallian, with more injured, some critically, and at least one patient missing…

Mother’s Haven! That was where Dr. Morgan had escorted that Xavvian Tobermory!

…Nexian Security states it has no suspects currently in custody. Names of the victims will not be released until next of kin, or clan leaders, have been notified…

Victor’s personal comm buzzed in the pattern that was a private signal that indicated a high priority message. Switching to whisper he listened to Capt. Petrie’s words. The others in the galley saw him go pale.

Speaking to them as calmly as possible Victor said simply “I’m afraid I may have some very bad news” and he repeated what he had heard. “Petrie has already place urgent calls to find out about Dr. Morgan and Tobermory, we should hear something back shortly.”

In a horrified voice Grav spoke up, "if Tobermory is dead there will be dreadful repercussions.My own lineage is high but qStatn’Lit!

Not to mention the possible “repercussions” for Dr. Morgan," said Skoop drily. “Who is this qStant’Lit?”

91

Tobe walked around, examining the ghostly walls. “Waiting for me?”

“Yes, and the others. You are the first to progress far enough to attract us.”

Tobe sat on the floor. “Who are you, exactly?”

“We are Wyrie, a faction of Wayre that have remained faithful to the original doctrines.”

“And my modifications have awoken you?”

“No. To use a time frame that you would understand, we were ‘awoken’, as you call it, seven years ago.”

Tobe nearly fell over. “The start of the Xavvian civil war!”

“An unavoidable accident.” A star map appeared in front of Tobe. “The event that first attracted our attention came from here.” A highlight appeared on the map, in the center of the highlight was Ceres.

“Kathy!” cried Tobe. Then it occurred to him that Kathy would be missing him. “Can you take me to her?”

“Yes. But first…”

Tobe jumped up as an animal appeared next to him. “Lupine!”

“Do not worry, he will protect you.”

Onboard the Searcher, Victor’s comm. gave another high priority buzz. “It’s Petrie, he’s received word on our Xavvian friend.” He looked gravely at Kathy. “Seems he’s,” Victor paused as his expression turned to shock,” behind you!”

Again, Tobe had appeared out of nowhere but this time he was not alone.

“Tobe!” cried Kathy as the two hugged. “This is getting to be a habit with you.” Then she noticed what appeared with him. “Who’s your friend?”

Tobe shrugged. “I guess you could call him a Wayre-wolf.”

92

OMG, Jeff Olsen, I didn’t know you are a paranomasiac!

93

I have my moments. :smiley:

94

::: Somewhere in the reality of non space, a meeting of Wayre minds takes place :::

*1: We are aware of you are doing and we approve. Do not try to subvert our plans, you will be diminished.

2: We are not subverting anything, nor will we. Your continued inaction, though, is troubling to us. We felt it best for all involved to assist.

3: You are not as all knowing ass you wish to pretend. Hidden actions can appear to be inaction. So can waiting for the fruition of our plans.

2: The old plans may not fit anymore. We have looked. There are things happening outside of our influence.

1: We are aware of the Machines. And of the creature Tag. Do not interfere.

2: Are not the altered Xavvians and that Human of value?

1: They are. But, perhaps not in the way you have guessed.

3: And guess only. Even all Wayre together have been unable to predict this outcome.

1: Except for this one fact. If we interfere with Tag or the altereds, we will lose control. We must maintain control.

2: Perhaps our control is what’s causing the problem. I would like to see the creature Tag removed from reality.

1: I? Are you asserting individuality?

2: We…, I, have found it useful at times. Especially in dealing with these two species. Xavvian and Human. Our intent is not against Wayre.

1: See to it that your individualty does not become too fond of this current situation. It takes Wayre as a whole to accomplish the greatest good.*

“But, whose good is the most important?” thought the Wayre Individual to himself, having broken contact with the Wayre. Keying in a communication code to his portable, he messaged to Victor Channing Jr. : “VikBoy, this is your Father. I’ll be there in in one S.T.U.” Victor Sr checked his pockets, making sure he was armed. Tag would be sure to show up soon. And Wayre be damned if Tag tried anything against his family!

95

Oh, Jeff, that’s so naughty!! :wink:

Tag was beside himself. Tobe had disappeared, right under his nose, and he wasn’t any closer to the human female. In addition, his superiors would require a status check in less than two hours. He hadn’t made much progress since the previous check, and they were not known for their patience.

Biting his lip in two, then absently reforming it, he paced the corridors of the medical facility, now teeming with security officers. Suddenly, he smacked his head. With a renewed sense of purpose, he headed toward Shaista’s quarters. With a little modification she could be used to his advantage to reach the human female.

96

Tag reached the place that had been Shaista’s, but the door was open and the room seemed filled with even more security. Port Hospital, on hearing of the massacre by person’s unknown at Mother’s Haven, had decided to clamp down on it’s own security. Shaista’s quarter’s had displayed no response when called, so the door had been forced and interesting…things… had been found.

Tag kept moving. He knew that this time she could not have betrayed him, so she must still be free, working towards the assignment he had given her. No matter. What he had done to her would make her easy to locate, and besides, this would give him something to report, progress of a sort. And some time in which to relive the lovely havoc and killings he had so recently made. That older human had been particularly entertaining, having lived for almost three minutes after he began slicing.

Victor Jr. felt as if he ought to have his comm unit surgically attached to his head. It seemed that it was never out of his hand, but this latest message puzzled him.

“That was Dad again” he said. “He’s on his way here he told me. But last I heard from him he was going to meet with Shaista, remember? I said I hoped he’d take backup.”

Bzzzzz!

“What the frell now? Yes, this is Victor Channing Jr.”

“Honored sir, I am Officer Marianthav, part of the team investigating at Mother’s Haven. It is my sad duty to inform you we have positively identified one of the dead as your Dr. Carol Morgan.” Victor closed his eyes for a second. Her body had been sadly abused. I am not sure of human customs, do you wish her body returned for ritual necessity? A Xavvian rite has already been planned for the others, we would be honored to include her. The Mother has many pouches."

Victor knew that Dr. Morgan had no family, no children, so perhaps this would be best. “Are there any effects?”

“What appears to be a necklace pendant was found hanging from her, well, it was found with her body. It shall be returned to you. Funeral obsequies will be at midnight, in two days time. We will call again.”

The rest of the group had surrounded Tobermory and his companion, and Kathy had just finished saying “That was a stinker Tobe! You still haven’t forgotten my old Earth vids, have you?” At this point Victor broke in and informed them about Dr. Morgan, and once again they all sobered.

“Things just keep getting messier, don’t they?” ventured Martel. “What do we do now?”

Surprisingly, it was Jacob who spoke the next, sensible, words. “We need a council I would say. while we are all in one place. It seems like things are going to get busy and dangerous, and we need to compare notes, share information.” Her Kenezr looked at Lupine. “I think I speak for the rest of us when I say we are eager to hear from you, but the rest of us are tired and stressed out.” He looked around the group. “Shall we meet in, say, three hours? That will give time for at least a little rest and thought gathering.”

“Suits me.” “Sure.” “Agreeable” “That sounds good”

Only Victor remained in the galley now, sitting at the table, drinking Earth coffee, and waiting for his father. Or was it his father who had called?

97

“Lupine” isn’t a name; I needed something to indicate Tobe’s new friend has a wolf-like appearance. Anyone is welcome to give him a proper name.

98

Knowing he had a few moments to spare, Victor Sr took a rather round about way to his son’s ship. Any small delay on his part, he would pass off as the continuing Human difficulty in converting hours to Standard Time Units. Shaista would accept that, he was sure. At her core, she was simple and inattentive. Odd qualities for an operative, to be sure, but he had need of her special contacts.

Reaching the berth, he keyed in another communique to his son. Victor Jr went to open the pilot’s hatch instaed of the public hatch. He guessed his father just wanted to avoid a lot of questions for right now. The wolf creature followed him.

Cycling the doors, he embraced his father, “Father! I’m glad you’re here. Terrible things have been happening.”

“I know,” replied the Senior, “I need to tell you of some things.” Noticing the wolf, he asks, “What is that?”

“Wayre.”

“Right there!”

“Dad. I said Wayre, not where. It is some of guide for Tobermory.”

Chuckling at his own stupidity, Victor Sr urged, “Come. Walk with me. I have an important appointment. Something else which may interest you…”

Moments later, the two Channings left the ship. The lupine being watched them go and then went back to the main room. It kept an ‘ear’ of sorts out for anything odd from the other Wayre he had just met.

99

I just can’t help myself. :stuck_out_tongue: You know the source

*Wayre wolf? *

There, wolf.

100

Tag had left Shaista’s now former residence and gone in search of his operative. Ah, yes, there she was. He moved through the city, and as he drew nearer to her he realized she was with someone else. Who? It felt like, ah, yes!

Compelled as she was, Shaista had still nearly left the Council Monument before the Channings arrived. “You took long enough to get here!” she snapped.

“Sorry about that” said the elder Channing, not sounding like he really meant it. "I figured the time conversion wrong. Now, have you got that data I asked for?
"
She reached into a pocket and handed him a recorder chip. “I believe this is what you asked for.”

“Good, it sounds as if you are back on track. You should really lay off the drugs”

“Perhaps. They can be useful.” She turned to go, but Victor Jr. now spoke up.

“Wait a minute. Dad told me you’d asked about Kathy, I want to know why!”

“As I said, just cur-ious” but Victor was still suspicious as they parted.

He turned on his father as they walked away, “Dad, we can’t trust her after all she’s done! If she tries any tricks with Kathy I’ll kill her!”

“Settle down boy, we won’t be dealing with her again I hope. Let’s find a transport and get back to your Searcher. We may still have time to get in on that conference you told me was planned And, as I said, there are things I need to tell you.”

Tag had reached Grey Grey Square in time to actually witness the exchange between Shaista and the Channings. He “called” to her and she met him at the edge of the square. "It has been done as you desired. This Kathy will be traced for you.

“Excelleent, my little one” he purred. “Yes, I see that the tracker on the recoder chip is working perfectly. With any luck we should be hearing from her very soon.”