Ancient Hunter

I lay in bed and reached across feeling the fading warmth of Jervic’s side of the bed. He only left moment ago sighting that he was on duty. I felt relaxed even though I ached in the most intimate places. The relief I felt after such a long time in the desert was indescribable. I’d used muscles long forgotten in my search for pleasure. It had been the best making up I had with Jervic being a considerate lover. I stretched and yawned, feeling the urge to rise I resisted as long as I could. But other needs came to the fore. Making the bed I turned my attention to my clothes Francine’s bundle had not included a change of clothes. Yesterday’s clothes would have to do at least she’d supplied me with several changes of underwear. Briefly I did wonder where the dresses she made for me after the Gala had gone. I could only assume they weren’t on the ship. With that thought in mind I attended to my other needs. Stepping out of the shower I considered my next move. I wasn’t going to go far Xenai warned me I was confined to the ship and with what those on the surface had planned for me a wise move. Exiting the shower cubical I headed to my living room clad in a towel.

I halted shocked clutching my clothes to my chest. Standing in the centre of the room was Jennifer she was staring straight at me.

“What…?” we said together.

“Jennifer?” I said changing what I was about to say.

“Why are you here?” she asked me directly.

“No, why are you here?” I responded. It sounded childish but I couldn’t think of anything else to say. I quickly gathered my thoughts.

“Because I sensed what you found was important.”

I couldn’t think of anything that I’d discovered. I was sure I would have known. I still dwelled on my bout of stupidity. “What is it I was supposed to find!” I snapped at her I couldn’t help myself. “All I found was that I touched a crystal!”

Jennifer blinked hard. “What was that? This crystal describe it to me!” she demanded.

I described the crystal. “It is as long as my little finger and purple in colour and was toxic. It contained a toxin that would kill a T’Arni.”

“No!” Jennifer yelled alarmed. “No! It can’t be?” her face lost any colour and her body flickered as if it was losing it integrity. She pulled herself to together her all too human face quite pale. “No, no, no,” she said in a quiet voice. “It can’t be?”

“What is it?” I asked was getting scared.

“The…” Jennifer answered in a language I couldn’t understand it sounded different to the Keepers’ language.

“The who? “ I had to ask.

“A race that should have be dead a million years ago.”

“Dead?”

Jennifer face grew grim. “Because we wiped them out.”

“Who did you wipe out?”

“The …” Again it was a word beyond my comprehension.

“I’ don’t understand?”

“You won’t you are not supposed to. We destroyed them. We had no choice they were going to destroy all life in the galaxy and replace it with theirs.”

“What do you mean?” I was really confused now.

“All carbon based life.”

“That would be them then?” I had the feeling that was the wrong question.

“Not carbon based, silicon based.”

I didn’t think it was possible that such a race existed then I thought of the false Orsini. “Like sand?” I said shocked at the way my mind was going there was a lot of silica in sand. No that wasn’t possible? I felt a growing horror. “Wait a minute like our attackers. They looked like Orsini but sure didn’t act like them?” I paused then continued. “The false Orsini that disintegrated when they died leaving a sandy goo.”

“What!” Jennifer practically shouted at me alarm on her face.

I explained the oddity of the attack and what we’d found. I went on to tell her about the crystals. “They missed the one I had in my pack which got me exiled because of the toxin it contained.”

Jennifer looked at me calmer than she had been. “It all fits now you were the key. My precog was right all along.”

“Not to me it doesn’t?” I was still in the dark.

“We’ve spent nearly a million years tracking down and removing all traces of them. Which is why we missed the extinction of the Janari. As I’ve told you there weren’t many of us.”

If I was feeling cold I felt colder now.

“When we discovered what the Rho’xan were doing to the T’Arni. Rather than destroying another race we exiled them and gifted the T’Arni worlds.”

I suspected that wasn’t the whole story Jennifer was holding information back.

“What happens now?” I was at loss as how to proceed.

“I inform the Collective.”

It was a lot of speculation for very little return. I needed answers but Jennifer wasn’t supplying them.

“And me?”

“Have done your part. We at least are now warned.” Jennifer shivered. “The hard part is convincing the others.” With that she shimmered and glowed only to fade into nothing.

I stared at the spot she had vanished from. I should be getting used to her but it shocked me every time she did that. Spurring myself in action I commed Xenai.

“Captain Xenai,” I said being careful to follow protocols in case she was on duty. It appeared I was correct when she answered.

“Lieutenant Hunter?”

“I’ve discovered something I can’t say over the comms.”

Xenai understood immediately. “Meet me in my ready room.”

I knew the way I’d been there several times before. I was half across the room when I realised I was only wearing a towel. This was no Valkyrie ship where I could walk around butt naked and no one would raise an eyebrow. Hastily I changed regretting my lack of choice and headed out.

Xenai was waiting for me in her ready room. It hadn’t changed much since the last time I was here. Same green patterned carpet, same semi-circular desk although there were no holograms floating above her head. Same doors behind her one directly behind her and one on each flank. The holo pictures on the wall reflecting ever-changing images.

“What’s this about?”

I quickly explained Jennifer’s words. I assumed Kelli had already told her who Jennifer really was. I went on to tell her what Jennifer had said to me.

Xenai listened without comment until I had finished. “That explains much.” She gave me a look. “It would be nice if you and Professor Neilson had given me a heads up. Anyway it makes sense with the reports about the remains of the so called Orsini They had a high concentration of silicates. Silica and carbon two elements that are anathema to each other.” She tapped on her terminal bringing up a complex holographic image of what looked like a tangled atomic compound. It seemed like that it had too many constituents. As I was no expert I couldn’t tell what was what.

“We’ll have to do this discretely,” Xenai said.

“Why?” I asked.

“We do not know who to trust.”

“Trust the Empress,” I said automatically. “Trust Joyce, trust the Silver Guard, trust my friends on Saros.”

Xenai considered my words carefully. “We need more evidence before we can proceed. Something that will make my mother sit up and pay attention.”

Xenai was right what I had was rather flimsy I only had the word of a First One. One person, an unknown or in the minds of the T’Arni an Ancient. There was too much that could flung aside by doubt. We had to have concrete proof something irrefutable.

“With what you supplied us with we can delve deeper,” Xenai assured me. “The truth is if I didn’t know you I’d be disinclined to believe you.” Xenai held up her hand. “I’ve walked through your mind, seen the things you’ve seen. Although I’m now shut out I know you.”

I was glad I had Xenai firmly on my side. There was a lot I wanted to talk through that Xenai would understand but now wasn’t that time.

“Go back to your quarters make the calls you need. I’ll convince mother we need extra resources. This is a serious threat more serious than the Rhosani, more serious than the Black Stripes. If these whatever they are, are as powerful as you say then we need all the help we can get.

With a lot to ponder I headed back to my quarters. Once inside I headed to my terminal. Seated in the chair I spoke. “Computer person to person call to Thirika Yanik.” Of all those in knew on Alfheimir she was the best person to call. It was a long wait before she answered. Half way through I thought about abandoning the call and trying someone else. Thirika appeared on the screen looking serene. I took hold of the calmness.

“I don’t suppose that this is good news?” she said to me.

“I’m not sure you’d believe what I’m going to say?” I explained what Jennifer had told me. It seemed I was doing a lot of that. “What do you make of it?”

“Coming from anyone but you I’d be inclined to disbelieve it. I can speak to the Elders and the arkistonhoitajat. There might be something in our histories.” Thirika did sound hopeful. “Oh that reminds me if you see Marcella Goodwin she is to return the book she stole.”

I knew what she was talking about Marcella had said it was a copy of a Valkyrie book. I should have known it wouldn’t turn out well.

“I doubt she’ll like spending time in a Valkyrie prison?” Thirika said to me empathising the seriousness of the matter.

“I haven’t seen her since Paranova.” She’d been the one to tell me more about the Valkyrie more than the Valkyrie had. She was also one who thought I was a Valkyrie Clan Mother.

“Our last report had her heading to Demeros.”

I blinked hard. “What the heck does she want here?”

“Nothing good I expect.” Thirika glanced at something. “I have to go.” The comms cut off abruptly.

My next call was to Ljufu on Saros. “What do you want Gwen?” she said grumpily. She was wearing a thin black and yellow robe almost too thin I could see things outlined underneath and she was naked under it. Although she had been exiled she still wore her Clan colours.

“I have some info for you.” I quickly told her about Jennifer and her words.

“Right I see, I’ll keep that in mind. Now I’ve got business to attend to.

I could well guess what that was. I had one more call to make and I wasn’t going to use the comms for that.

“Moon Shadow!” I called out with my mind. I was getting better at doing that.

“Mother?” she answered instantly.

I quickly I outlined what Jennifer had told me. “Is possible you know anything about it?”

“The First Ones never mentioned it then they never told us everything. I will look into it and get back to you?”

It seemed the First Ones were keeping these particular cards close to their chests. It was going to be a bit of a wait.