Lyssa Thorne's
Science Fiction Novels
Double Dragon Ebooks
WARNING:
CONTENT MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR GENERAL AUDIENCES DUE TO EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT.
“SHATTERED EXPECTATIONS”
EPISODE 86 – EURYANASSA SHATTERED
BY: LYSSA THORNE
FADE IN:
INT. BRIDGE, EURYANASSA
Marc desperately held on to a panel while Arcas was sending the massive Euryanassa in extreme astrodynamics.
On the main screen, he saw space shimmering wildly.
MARC
Yuri, what's that shimmer on the screen right and up?
Yuri concentrated and the screen's resolution changed to the upper quadrant and changed to infrared.
YURI
That is Nikklo fighting a very high frequency charge. He's nearly paralyzed according to my sensors.
ARCAS
Skisla dai? Yuri, face that ship attacking Nik!
Yuri changed back to the former view. The ship had a powerful aura around it that converged ahead of the bow.
YURI
Swing about now, Arcas!
Arcas worked the controls.
ARCAS
Come on, come on!
YURI
Hull breach! Sealing decks one through twenty in sectors J through M!
MARC
What the hell? That's the whole middle section!
YURI
Houk, we are split in two.
MARC
Oh crap!
The intense beam lanced out and blinded the screen for a second.
FADE TO BLACK
FADE IN:
INT. BRIDGE, EURYANASSA
Marc's vision cleared.
MARC
Yuri, where are we?
YURI
We are back in the bunker at Gasbaja where this ship was stored until Nik found us again.
ARCAS
Nik phased us back to the bunker.
MARC
Shit, Nik! Yuri guide me to the ground. Nik's going to be a wreck.
YURI
I will take you.
Yuri and Marc left the bridge.
INT. GASBAJAN BUNKER – DAY - CONTINUOUS
Nikklo dropped to the floor in a shivering heap and cried bitterly.
Marc crouched beside him.
NIKKLO
This wasn't a Human attack. This was Tauian technology hidden in Human machines. How many died?
MARC
About a dozen people.
Nikklo closed his eyes wearily.
NIKKLO
I'm going to find out who is behind this madness. The Humans are being used as pawns. It has to end.
MARC
What should we do now?
NIKKLO
Move everyone to the living quarters in this bunker. I'll find a way to repair Euryanassa.
MARC
Ambri and her pilots were still fighting at Belvas.
NIKKLO
They'll be brought home.
MARC
You're exhausted and demoralized.
NIKKLO
And most of my family is still at Belvas. How much more can I take?
Danu sat down on his knees on the concrete and hugged Nikklo's back.
Nikklo sat up and hugged his childhood friend desperately.
NIKKLO
I feel like my core is broken, Danunka!
DANU
Does Tarek need to check your containment?
NIKKLO
No, the grief hurts so much.
MARC
You need to rest. We'll do the cleanup. We'll ask Tarek to bring Ambri and her teams home. Let's get you off this hard floor and find a soft bed so you can sleep.
Nikklo forced himself off the floor.
NIKKLO
I feel so heavy. I had to open my core a little to break the containment beam.
Marc swung his arm around Nikklo's back to help him walk.
DANU
We'll have Tarek check you when he gets here.
Razorwing Arcas flew ahead of them and fluttered from room to room.
ARCAS (PSI V.O.)
I found a room with a bed.
Nikklo followed Arcas' mental signature to the room.
Marc and Danu lowered Nikklo onto the bed.
Nikklo laid there and stared at the ceiling with tears pooling into his ears. He felt like he could barely move a muscle.
MARC
Try to rest until Tarek gets here, Nik.
NIKKLO
(whispered)
Just leave me alone.
Both men sighed and stepped from the room.
(LATER)
Nikklo woke up and sat up to wipe his eyes. He sighed heavily.
Andoku sat in a chair beside the bed.
ANDOKU
Hey, Dad, we'll get through this.
NIKKLO
Things are bad, Andu.
ANDOKU
Things were bad when we had the ground the Kumani too and we got through that.
NIKKLO
That was different.
ANDOKU
It wasn't your ship.
NIKKLO
That's not it. Yeah, it is. Now I have to explain to my crew why we're back at Gasbaja with a ship split in two.
ANDOKU
Nice correction, Dad. Wanakaya is getting through to you.
NIKKLO
Fausa to you too, Andu!
AMARANTA
(Speaking Basic)
What does that mean? Exactly translated it says garbage to you. That's a bit confusing.
NIKKLO
It basically means take your garbage back.
Nikklo tried to keep the grin from cracking his grave mask but failed.
AMARANTA
Oh, so you're not agreeing with him.
NIKKLO
He's not entirely wrong, Ama. I'm just frustrated.
ANDOKU
She got you to smile, though.
NIKKLO
How is your mother, Ama?
AMARANTA
Scared but she's okay. She still thinks she needs to be with Dad and me. It's about time!
NIKKLO
She was scared about how her kind are rioting and remembered her people from Mexico were treated as badly as we are being treated now.
AMARANTA
They're all acting like big babies! I swear!
Andoku grinned at her.
Nikklo felt an aura of warm feelings surround his son. He grinned at Andoku.
Andoku turned blood orange.
ANDOKU
Aw, blaua, Dad! Don't say it! Don't you dare say it!
NIKKLO
What?
ANDOKU
I know what you're thinking! I'm a telepath just like you!
NIKKLO
I didn't say a thing! My thoughts are my own and you can't do a thing about it!
Amaranta giggled.
Danu stepped in and smiled.
DANU
Thanks for cheering my patient, Andu.
ANDOKU
My pleasure, Danu.
AMARANTA
So why do you call your Uncle by his first name?
ANDOKU
Because we're relaxed about titles. I know he's my father's sister's mate but we don't have to use the title unless we want to. I'm an adult now.
NIKKLO
Almost an adult.
ANDOKU
I'm old enough for a career and nearly to my Usuata Os Tasra!
NIKKLO
Anyway, Andu's right. We don't insist on voicing titles as long as we accord them proper respect.
AMARANTA
You were once in my situation not understanding Astrisi culture.
NIKKLO
It was tough at first but I learned, Ama. Now I hardly think about the translations and culture differences.
Tarek stepped in.
TAREK
Hello, kids.
ANDOKU
Hello, Grandpa.
AMARANTA
Why did you call him Grandpa, now?
ANDOKU
He's the Saili Great Forger. He's a bit special.
AMARANTA
The Great Forger?
TAREK
I'm a scientist who helped to accelerate the evolution of the Saili so they call me their god The Great Forger. Nik and I are Tauians who look like Saili. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to examine my son to make sure his containment is secure.
Andoku stood up.
ANDOKU
Sure. See you later, Dad.
AMARANTA
What containment?
ANDOKU
I'll explain it to you the best I can but Tarek is usually as busy as my Dad and may have limited time to visit.
AMARANTA
Okay.
The two teens walked out together.
TAREK
He's got a crush on her.
NIKKLO
He's got it bad. He told me not to say anything about it in front of Amaranta.
TAREK
So she's Marc's daughter?
NIKKLO
She's Marc's daughter. She's Brocana and Human.
TAREK
She's cute. Anyway, Danu told me that after you broke that light bubble, you felt heavy?
NIKKLO
I had to slightly open my core to break the paralyzing light. By the time I broke it, another strong light split Euryanassa in two. I phased both pieces here to Gasbaja to store them until I can repair the break. Tarek, I swear the weapon they used could not have been Human! It was too light-based. To me it just screamed Tauian but it was launched from a Human vessel.
TAREK
I've talked to the surviving Tauians on Sailia and they say most of the Coercers are missing. This concerns me.
NIKKLO
Coercers. One of them turned Cherna and Arcas against me.
TAREK
They like to manipulate people and exploit weaknesses. It figures they wouldn't want to live in peaceful coexistence.
NIKKLO
How do we draw them out?
TAREK
I think you're right when you said you thought the Humans were being used as pawns. We need to find out how.
NIKKLO
Selik. I asked him how did he know how to contain a Tauian and he said, wouldn't you like to know. Everyone I've talked to have had images in their minds of Selik in video shows raging about Tauians and the aliens who are harboring them. He seems to be the aggressor who's pushing the Humans to strike out at Astrisi. But why would he be speaking out about targeting Tauians if he's working for Tauians?
TAREK
Maybe he doesn't know he's working for Tauians?
NIKKLO
I thought coercers weren't polymorphs?
TAREK
They're not but they can manipulate the receiving mind to perceive them any way the coercer wants them perceived.
NIKKLO
I know I'm deceptive. I was including us in that statement. How can we convince Humans that we can choose to live peacefully when we're all hiding in plain sight?
TAREK
So Jake Arlington, Roger Arlington and George Yothers are not deceptive?
NIKKLO
You had to remind me of those hateful Humans? They're the reason I was raised Astrisi!
TAREK
Nik, they are as deceptive as a Tauian but entirely Human. Humans can be as deceptive as a Tauian and they also hide in plain sight, as you say.
NIKKLO
So it comes back to the only reason Humans are striking out at us is because we have powers beyond their understanding and it scares them that they know about our existence now.
TAREK
Basically.
NIKKLO
Hadah said we're gods because we have more power than they.
TAREK
Like I just told Amaranta, I'm called a god on Sailia because I helped the Saili evolve quicker. So, yes, that's the core of their problem; we're super powered beings who revealed scary intentions. Now that we're trying to be peaceful, they doubt we can live in peace because Humans think they can't live in peace with us.
NIKKLO
And now they sliced my ship in half with the very technology they fear! That's fucked up!
TAREK
So we find out how they're getting it and reveal the deception. Then we figure out the next step.
Tarek pulled out his sensor and waved it over Nikklo.
TAREK
Your core is contained. You may have felt like your core tried to compress your Tauian form because you had to use a moderate amount of power to break the light field. I'm not registering any cracks in your shell from the compression. I made sure your shell was stronger than most because it may get exposed to your pulsar core.
NIKKLO
How the hell can I be a highly compressed star and be self-aware?
TAREK
Now that I don't know. There are higher powers than us in this universe, Nik. It's beyond my powers to make a star self-aware. I just made that body to give you self-ambulation. That knowledge of who made you self-aware can only be explored by you.
NIKKLO
I can't worry about that right now. I need to find out who attacked Belvas and sliced my ship in two. I have to assess the damage and have a parts list made up so I can look around for the materials I need to put the mid-ship back together. I'm going to be insanely busy. Oh, Cheri, Di and Ambri's Vizha'e are still on Belvas at the grounded Kumani.
TAREK
Nope, took care of that. Ba'ia is a nice lady. I can see Cheri favors her.
Nikklo stood up.
NIKKLO
They're here?
TAREK
Zhad and Adara are charming too.
Nikklo shook his head and bared his teeth.
TAREK
Yes, I brought your whole family to Gasbaja. Ba'ia didn't want to part with her children now that she's alone. Zhad and Adara have missed you being inside their heads all the time and Tanei is your cook so they want to be with their grandchildren. Now will you calm down?
NIKKLO
I'm feeling short tempered right now. I apologize. Danu will probably push the mood stabilizers again.
TAREK
It may be a good idea for now. You've been through some traumatizing events today. I'm honestly sorry your Father-in-law died of seranimite burns and your ship was split in two. Keep working on the problem, Nik. You know I'm a telepathic shout away.
Nikklo nodded.
TAREK
Okay, I need to get back home. The Saili are thoroughly pissed about the Human violence after their attempt to take over Sailia several years ago.
NIKKLO
I don't blame them.
TAREK
Oh, and Devasru wants to speak to you personally. New Sailia is just as angry.
NIKKLO
I'll put it on my list of things to do.
TAREK
Good.
TAUIAN TAREK elongated into the light.
Nikklo stepped out of the room and looked around.
He locked on Cherna's mental signature and walked through the halls to where Cherna was.
After several mis-directions, he walked through an opening door into another living quarters.
CHERNA, ZHAD, ADARA, BA'IA, AMBRIKA and DANU spun around to look at the door.
CHERNA
Nikky! You're finally awake.
NIKKLO
I had to talk to Tarek for a few minutes. He told me he brought everyone from Kumani.
DANU
Did he check you for injury?
NIKKLO
He did. He thinks I just had some compression sickness but I recovered. I'm okay now but my ship is a wreck. I have a lot of work to do.
ZHAD
You need some down time. You may be super-humanoid but you still need relaxation time to regain strength and perspective, young man.
NIKKLO
Before I can do much more, I have to investigate who attacked us. We know the ships configuration was Human but we don't know where they came from.
DANU
Nik, your father told you to relax.
Nikklo dropped into an overstuffed arm chair.
DANU
Okay, I'm getting your mood stabilizer if you're going to get an attitude with me, Nikklosannaro.
NIKKLO
Go ahead!
(apologetically)
I'll take them.
CHERNA
I'm glad you added that. I was just about the join the lecture.
NIKKLO
I apologize. Tarek told me to calm down and so is the rest of my family. I need to listen and comply for now.
DANU
Good.
Danu held out the pill and water.
Nikklo swallowed both and set down the empty glass.
He looked around the room and saw that Adara was cradling Rakulinea and cooing at her with Ba'ia at her side.
NIKKLO
I see my daughter is establishing her control over her Grandmothers already.
BA'IA
She's adorable. Cheri, you didn't tell me you were pregnant again?
ZHAD
Or that you even had a uterus again? I removed it when I amputated your legs.
CHERNA
But I'm in the Saili body Tarek moved my soul to after the Tauians caused my Astrisi body to go into cascade failure. This body has legs and all female parts.
NIKKLO
The pregnancy was complicated and during the war, Ba'ia. Cheri is actually the surrogate mother.
Ba'ia cocked her head in confusion.
NIKKLO
I'm the mother of Rakulinea.
BA'IA
You're a man. You can't be a mother!
DANU
Actually, he's a gender mosaic.
ZHAD
How did I miss this? I've doctored nearly every centimeter of Sannaro's body!
DANU
We didn't notice his extra parts because they're mostly internal. It's hard to see them unless a surgeon is working in that area and the organs are vestigial.
NIKKLO
I'm a he/she. I'm both male and female, well, eighty percent male, twenty percent female. I was in the process of aborting Linea when Tarek gave me an emergency abortion but she survived and attached herself to Cheri. Because she was a Tauian nodule that connected with Cheri's body, Tarek modified her umbilical connection to look more like a Humanoid pregnancy.
BA'IA
If you're the female, who was her father?
NIKKLO
I killed him for raping me.
ADARA
You shouldn't talk about such things in front of the baby, Nik!
NIKKLO
She knows about it, Adara. She's a telepath. She only speaks telepathically. To her, she has two mothers and a bad memory about her father. I'm trying to get her to call me Yaro so that when she interacts with Astrisi she won't confuse people.
BA'IA
So she isn't related to me?
NIKKLO
Cheri carried her so she is Cheri's and my child. That makes her your granddaughter, Ba'ia.
BA'IA
A bit indirectly but she's still a baby who needs love.
NIKKLO
That's irrefutable.
BA'IA
So this is a Tauian baby?
NIKKLO
She's Tauian. She isn't a polymorph like me. She has limited morphing abilities and decided she wanted to look like her sister Ambri.
AMBRIKA
I hear she loves when I make silly noises at her.
NIKKLO
She told me she does. She squirmed with delight when Zhad said she looked like you.
AMBRIKA
Love you, too, little sis!
Rakulinea grinned as she waved her arms and legs excitedly.
BA'IA
Aw, this is so cute!
Adara hugged Linea closer.
ADARA
It's adorable.
NIKKLO
Yep, heart to heart tractor beam, locked and secured.
Cherna sat down on the arm of the chair and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
END ACT 1
ACT 2
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
This is good healing for my mother.
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
Yes, reconnection with the remains of her family is very important right now.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
How are you doing, Nikky?
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
I'm sad about Ku'an and my ship. I'm surly and physically drained.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
I'm sad too. You need more time to rest before you launch the investigation.
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
But Belvas is still rioting and I can't be there to help Alrian.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
You can only do so much! The Humans can face weeks in a cramped ship as punishment for rioting on Belvas instead of convenient instant travel!
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
You can be positively evil, woman! I like it!
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
Sometimes us sub-light beings just have to have our slowness rubbed in our faces.
YURI (PSI V.O.)
Nik, I have received word from the other Astrisi ships that they are voyaging to Gasbaja to join us.
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
How are your people doing, Yuri?
YURI (PSI V.O.)
Some of us were destroyed but most in the impact area were blown into space. They were retrieved. We are fixing the systems we can fix for now.
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
Good, have you heard from Kumani?
YURI (PSI V.O.)
Her skin has been repaired and is spaceworthy. She has full engine power but she will have to be monitored and coaxed. When she arrives, we Crystallines can interface with her and help to repair her quicker.
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
Okay, keep me updated.
YURI (PSI V.O.)
I will, Tsikakayu.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
It's great that the Kumani is back in space and joining the fleet to fly to Gasbaja.
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
It is great. I look forward to everyone being here so I can spend less energy watching over everyone.
AMBRIKA
We beat those Humans back embarrassingly. All the Vizha'i from the twelve ships and my team joined together and pushed them into retreat. The Belvans were so incensed, they told the Human fleet to pull back from their solar system and await transports to move the Humans off Belvas to their ships and they weren't welcome back.
Adara crinkled her nose.
ADARA
Uh oh. Linea needs cleaned up.
Nikklo chuckled, stood up and took Linea from Adara to take her to the bedroom to clean her up. He dressed Linea again.
YURI (PSI V.O.)
Nik, there's an urgent message coming in for you. I can route it through to the bunker systems.
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
The machines here are Gasbajan. I don't know how to work them.
YURI (PSI V.O.)
Okay, I can route the message then use my mobile unit you made at New Sailia to come help you work the machine.
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
I'll await you.
A minute later, YURI and DI'OK walked in the door to the suite they occupied.
BA'IA
Who's that?
NIKKLO
It's okay, this is Yuri, a member of my crew.
He moved over to the computer on the wall.
DI'OK
He's one of the Crystallines I told you about, Mother. He's the physical manifestation of Euryanassa's central core computer.
BA'IA
That's why you talk about your ship like it's alive.
NIKKLO
It is alive.
BA'IA
Wild.
ADARA
Yes, it is wild!
Yuri pressed several buttons and the panel lit up.
YURI
It still works. I hoped I wouldn't have to initiate repair before we could view the message.
The screen lit up and scrolled Gasbajan runes across the screen before it blanked and a picture of Selik appeared.
SELIK
So you think you've won by shoving my brethren on a transport ship away from Belvas? Think again, Tsikakayu! I've convinced the Alliance to declare war on your new Astrisi Alliance! Now everyone will know your treachery!
NIKKLO
Selik, think about what you're doing! Don't you realize you're not fighting against the Tauians. You're fighting for the Tauians who want to conquer!
SELIK
You're deluded, Nikklo. That's your problem. Enjoy your new Alien alliance now because it will be short-lived! We're going to wipe you aliens out of existence! Selik, out.
The screen darkened.
NIKKLO
Shit!
YURI
I will return to Euryanassa to continue repairs.
Yuri left the suite.
Nikklo slammed his fist into a table.
NIKKLO
Did I only make things worse?
DI'OK
The Humans were pushing it. You had to respond. The Belvans aren't warriors and they were pushed past endurance. You didn't make this decision alone, so, no, you didn't make it worse. It became worse despite your best efforts.
NIKKLO
I know you're trying to make me feel better.
ZHAD
You're too sad right now. Take it a step at a time. Right now, I strongly recommend down time.
Nikklo nodded and sat down.
NIKKLO
Now what? I'm restless as hell and you want me to relax.
CHERNA
You just finished fighting again. You and I can go to another suite and I can give you a sandpaper rub down?
Nikklo blushed.
NIKKLO
You can't see me in Tauian form.
CHERNA
Who has to see? My hands are all I need.
NIKKLO
You're wicked, woman.
CHERNA
Then we can finish up with making sure your Saili body is nice and clean.
ZHAD
I think that would suffice as relaxation time, um, after the rub down.
DI'OK
I'll guide everyone to personal quarters in the bunker so these two can be alone.
AMBRIKA
Jere and I can watch Lini for a while.
Soon after, everyone was gone except Nikklo and Cherna.
Cherna pulled out a box of sandpaper.
CHERNA
After Tarek told me about the sanding, I took liberty of asking Kratis for a box while I was on the Kumani. I'm glad I did.
NIKKLO
It's really dirty.
CHERNA
The Gasbajans have bath tubs. Whether it's sandpaper or sponges, a scrub is a scrub.
NIKKLO
I like where your thoughts are going, lover.
CHERNA
Then get going.
NIKKLO
Yes, dear.
They walked into the bathroom.
INT. BUNKER, GASBAJA
Later, he stood on the floor of the bunker and looked up at the two pieces of his ship. When the ship was intact, it looked deceptively small. Now that he could see the gaping internal structures he was shocked at the immense size of a spaceship.
YURI
We can easily repair the skin of the ship. Both Sailia and Belvas has offered to shape the new skin panels with Saili metal. Since the whole ship is made of Saili metal, it should graft cleanly. I have records of shipbuilding techniques in our old records. Shall I send those records to Belvas and Sailia?
NIKKLO
Houk, send those records. Was there essential systems in the area of the ship that was destroyed?
YURI
Very little. We could scoop as much debris we can find from around Belvas.
NIKKLO
We should. It would, not only, clean up the mess around Belvas but we may be able to recycle the pieces if they're mostly intact. Yuri, did you find any registry numbers on the hulls of the ships that attacked us?
YURI
None.
NIKKLO
How about their communications frequency?
YURI
Human.
NIKKLO
ADF or civilian?
YURI
Civilian.
NIKKLO
Pirate?
YURI
No known pirate frequency.
NIKKLO
Just because the frequencies were civilian doesn't mean it wasn't a pirate ship playing safe with a Human business.
YURI
True.
NIKKLO
How about that communication from Selik? Was it ADF or civilian frequency?
YURI
Civilian.
NIKKLO
So I can assume for now that Selik has left the ADF.
YURI
Some clues to where Selik called from may be embedded into his communication but I lack knowledge to decipher them.
NIKKLO
But Amber! She's worked for the Bureau of Space Transportation for years! She my know the locator codes embedded in the communications! Nice work, Yuri!
YURI
What work did I do for you, Tsikakayu?
NIKKLO
You helped me think out what I needed to do, my friend.
YURI
Then you're welcome, Tsikakayu.
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
Marc, can I talk to Amber, please?
MARC (PSI V.O.)
Amber? What do you need to talk to Amber about?
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
A communication I received earlier. Yuri reminded me that every communication has originator codes embedded in it but he can't decipher them. I'm wondering if Amber remembers originator codes?
MARC (PSI V.O.)
Wow, I can understand why you would consider Amber would know. I'll ask her.
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
Di, can you retrieve the communication I received from Selik earlier?
DI'OK (PSI V.O.)
I'll bring it up. What's your plan?
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
All communications have an origin code.
DI'OK (PSI V.O.)
Houk, but sometimes if someone wants to be sneaky they can scramble the code or damage it and I don't know all the codes because we mostly get communications from this part of the galaxy.
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
I asked Amber to look at it since an Earth Bureau of Space Transportation controller will have seen more diverse codes.
DI'OK (PSI V.O.)
Good idea. I'll get working on bringing up those codes for you.
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
Thanks, Di. Where are you?
DI'OK (PSI V.O.)
In quarters near where we were earlier.
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
Okay, I'll get with Amber first then be with you.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
Okay, she says she'll help the best she can.
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
I'll come to you and we can go to where Di'ok is bringing up the records of the communication.
He sensed Marc's mind and followed the signature to a suite of rooms. He knocked on the door.
Marc was at the door when it opened.
NIKKLO
Is Amber ready?
AMBER
I'm ready.
NIKKLO
Thank you for offering to help.
AMBER
Well, if I'm going to apply to be a communications specialist, I should offer my knowledge to show my willingness to fulfill the requirements.
NIKKLO
Very true.
AMBER
I know about these codes Marc asked me about. Every communication is stamped with an originator code, local date and time. We can learn where the communication came from by looking at that stamp.
NIKKLO
I'm trying to find out if there is a colony or corporation that's helping Selik move against us. Let's go look at the stamp on this communication.
AMBER
Are you always talking to Marc telepathically?
NIKKLO
I require it from each of my senior staff so I can relay commands quickly and privately.
AMBER
So even if he was asleep, you could talk to him about something?
NIKKLO
Well, yes, but I try to be respectful. I wouldn't want my sleep to be disturbed all the time so I try to keep those calls to a minimum and short.
MARC
Unless it's a baby crying for a bottle.
NIKKLO
That's what I get for having a new baby.
AMBER
What does Andu and Ambri think?
NIKKLO
Ambri likes to watch Linea and play with her. Andu is accepting her but he's so busy sculpting pottery.
MARC
And being with Ama.
AMBER
About that, I want to talk to both of them to get a feel for this relationship both of you say is forming between them. I leave her in your care for several months and I arrive to her having a relationship?
MARC
You should look into it.
NIKKLO
It's your right to investigate it. I just thought since Andu met Ama years ago, Andu would be receptive to guiding Ama through her first days living with the Astrisi. One thing led to another.
AMBER
Both of you are seasoned warriors. It's hilarious to see you men squirm.
NIKKLO
Wives hold much power.
MARC
Wives can force men to sleep on uncomfortable couches.
AMBER
Okay, let's look at this communication.
Nikklo centered his telepathy on Di'ok's mental signature and walked down the hall.
AMBER
I'm feeling this tingly feeling.
MARC
That's Nik using his telepathic tracking. It always causes a tingly feeling. It won't harm you.
He followed the halls to Di'ok's suite and knocked on the door.
The door opened and Di'ok waved them in.
Nikklo led them inside and stopped beside Di'ok at the computer.
Di'ok pointed to the screen with Selik's face frozen on it. At the base of the video was a sequence of numbers.
DI'OK
I brought up the information codes.
Amber bent closer.
AMBER
The first numbers are the ID frequency. Those numbers are reserved for ships so he was on a ship. Next numbers are the planet where the ship is registered to fly from. Hm, it's not a number for a major planet.
DI'OK
I noticed that but the first number sequences suggest it is out here on the rim of the Alliance.
Di'ok worked further on the computer and brought another program that looked like a database of numbers. He keyed in the numbers and looked down the list that came up.
DI'OK
Damn, registry unknown.
AMBER
I know something else to look at.
DI'OK
What do you need?
Amber
The intergalactic web.
Di'ok brought up the browser.
AMBER
Bring up the site for the Bureau of Space Transportation.
Di'ok typed for a few seconds and the screen lit up with that site.
AMBER
Type in planet registry list on the search browser at the top of the page.
Di'ok typed in the information.
Another screen came up with a log in screen.
DI'OK
Fausa. Dead end.
AMBER
Type in Amber dot Daniels as the user and bamasha7 as the password.
MARC
Amber, that's your work information.
AMBER
I know but if I'm going to stay with you, I'll have to resign from the BST. I'm on sick leave right now. We're banished from the Terran Alliance anyway. Enter it, Di'ok.
Di'ok entered the information and the screen came up with a database. He typed in the code number and looked at the list that showed up.
END ACT 1
ACT 2
DI'OK
Okay, the registry is for Kebilban, a mining moon near Arcturus.
NIKKLO
Fucking miners! Here we fucking go again!
DI'OK
The parent company is on Arcturus.
NIKKLO
Are they associated with Pallas Mining Company?
DI'OK
I don't know. That information isn't available.
NIKKLO
Okay, so we have a lead to Arcturus. We'll start there. Thank you, Amber.
AMBER
That's a very useful tool. I'm glad I could help, Nikklo.
NIKKLO
So, what do you think, Di, should we give Amber an apprenticeship to communications?
DI'OK
She was very helpful. How many languages do you know?
AMBER
Four conversational and about six well enough to understand and speak a little.
DI'OK
No Astrisi, I assume?
AMBER
You Astrisi don't like to share your language.
DI'OK
You have a point there. Okay, I'll give you an apprenticeship but you'll have to take lessons on speaking Astrisi and reading native Gasbajan.
NIKKLO
He's a good teacher. He taught me how to speak Astrisi.
DI'OK
You still pronounce some words crappy, though.
NIKKLO
Hey, my base language is still Basic, niyaroi!
DI'OK
You're calling me niyaroi, halkia?
NIKKLO
Not fair!
DI'OK
Okay, halalin!
NIKKLO
Blaua!
AMBER
What are they saying?
MARC
They're insulting each other. Don't take it the wrong way. These guys love each other. They're just blowing off steam.
AMBER
They're acting silly.
MARC
Yep, they get that way. The real trip is to hear Nik and Danu.
NIKKLO
Right, talk about us while we're in the room!
MARC
You were speaking Astrisi insults to each other and Amber was confused. I'm waiting for her to learn Astrisi to find out what you were calling each other.
DI'OK
Nik called me a bastard. I called him a bitch. He said I wasn't being fair so I called him a girly-boy which he is because he's of mixed gender. That's your first Astrisi language lesson.
NIKKLO
Oh, and blaua means to shut up! Now, Di'ok, shut up!
DI'OK
There's going to be a test on it too!
NIKKLO
I'm not going to stay here and be treated like this!
DI'OK
So disappear!
NIKKLO
You're going to get it later.
DI'OK
Bring it on.
AMBER
They're going to harm each other?
MARC
No, they're not going to harm each other though they may do a martial arts match on gym mats. It's a common practice in the Astrisi culture.
AMBER
Oh, okay.
MARC
Let's go and leave the brothers to their wacky argument.
Marc and Amber left to go back to their suite.
DI'OK
You're tripping on the mood medicine, aren't you?
NIKKLO
Yep!
Nikklo and Di'ok broke into laughter.
INT. CORPORATE OFFICE, ARCTURUS - DAY
Nikklo appeared in an opulent office on Arcturus.
In the large overstuffed office chair sat an elderly Human woman in a three piece suit with gray hair.
KELLIN
So you finally figured it out. It took you long enough.
NIKKLO
You're a Tauian disguising yourself as the representative of Arcturus to the Terran Alliance. What do you have against me?
KELLIN
You killed my son Beken.
NIKKLO
I killed your son? You mean, you're my grandmother? If that's true, why are you phasing me away to be tortured?
KELLIN
Because you're Tarek's son.
NIKKLO
I'm missing another story from my wonderful family's life?
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
Tarek, please come to Arcturus.
TAREK (PSI V.O.)
Sorry, I'm not getting anywhere near Kellin. You should get away from her too.
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
What? Why won't you go anywhere near Kellin? She's your mother!
TAREK (PSI V.O.)
No, she's Beken's mother, not mine.
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
She's your step mother?
TAREK (PSI V.O.)
I was a love child. My father had an affair with another woman who had me. Kellin never forgave my conception.
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
This family is so fucked up.
KELLIN
Beken gave you that body. He made a deal with you. You should have kept it instead of hiding like a rodent. Neither you nor Tarek seem to understand that promises should be honored. But why should I be surprised about Tarek since my husband took leave of his senses and merged aura with another woman?
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
If you haven't changed in the hundreds of years since Tauia exploded, I can see why he sought comfort from another woman.
KELLIN
Oh yes, and I heard that you're not anymore loyal to your wife since I hear you have multiple partners, yourself! You promised Ilanit first and then you married that Astrisi rodent.
NIKKLO
I had no memory of my life as Nikklo and remember almost fifty years of life as Sannaro. I would've been happy to have not remembered any Tauian at all! Ilanit was a girlfriend. I truly love Cherna. Leave my love life out of this!
KELLIN
You are so like Tarek, it sickens me!
NIKKLO
Oh, really? Please tell me about Tarek and I can tell you about Beken. Beken wanted to give me a body so I could blow up planets for him. I didn't like how he treated me so when I protested his treatment, he carved me up like a roast on a banquet table while I begged for mercy. Since he had none, I blew up his world. He took it personally and hunted me for two hundred years until he found me as Sannaro and forced me to remember how he tried to murder me. Now, your turn.
KELLIN
I told Beken not to trust that half-brother of his. He didn't listen to me. He said that Tarek was brilliant and if he manipulated his brother to do the lab work for him, he could be the greatest emperor of all time and space. Tarek turned on Beken and stole you from him after you said you would do anything to be able to travel like a Tauian. You owed my son a debt! You turned on him and killed him. Since I know that to kill you would cause a catastrophic effect that would destroy the whole universe, I at least wanted you to suffer as much as I could make you suffer for killing my son. Your beloved Terran Alliance is a wreck. The pirates are marauding through the colonies and your treasured ship is split in two. How am I doing so far, dear?
Nikklo howled in rage.
NIKKLO
They're your fucking pirates!
He felt power crackle around him. As he took one step forward, his vision blurred.
FADE TO BLACK
INT. CENTRAL CALDERA, MISIPATASUTISGA, SAILIA - DAY
His sight cleared up and he saw heavy vapors around him.
Magma lapped thickly against a shore of rock.
He whirled around to see the forge of the Great Forger with Tarek before it.
NIKKLO
Fucking hell, why did you do that?
TAREK
I told you to get away from Kellin. I'm not joking. Stay away from her. We'll have to think of how to counter her. For now, you need to calm down and not open your core so indiscriminately.
Nikklo whirled around and slammed his fist into a boulder.
The boulder exploded into a cloud of sand.
Tarek coughed and waved his arm before his face.
TAREK
Did that make you feel better?
NIKKLO
Anticlimactic! Now how the hell am I going to rebuild my ship? Yuri says his people can rebuild it if I could get the parts. Belvas says they can shape the parts but it will take them several months! I can find the parts already made easily in the Terran Alliance but they won't import shit to us!
TAREK
You're a polymorph. Get creative.
NIKKLO
You told me to be careful what forms I took on or it would mutate my default form until I was no longer recognizable!
TAREK
You already have several forms and you can take on more but you have to not go crazy and take on too many forms. You have your Saili form, a Human male and female form. Everyone knows your Saili male form so you can't use that but you can switch to your female form and or use your Human female form or male with little effort. You just have to be careful about the forms you take and consider how you can reuse them as much as possible. We're at war and we need our Great Defender. Fix that ship as quickly as you can or we're in terrible danger.
NIKKLO
Why do you keep blindsiding me with all these forgotten fucked up stories about our family, Tarek? Don't you trust me with the truth? Do you think I'm so fragile that secrets have to be kept from me?
TAREK
It's not just you, Nikky. It's me. I was hurt too. I never got to see my natural mother because I was stolen from her shortly after I was born. I was raised by Kellin but she never let me forget how I was conceived.
NIKKLO
I sensed she only had disdain for you.
TAREK
Yes, I was a genius and excelled in school but she never had a nice word to say about anything I did. Sometimes I would've rather been an orphan.
NIKKLO
Take my word for it, it's a difficult life.
TAREK
So was my life as an unwanted step-child, constantly reminded that I shouldn't have existed.
NIKKLO
Like when Ku'an would tell me I coerced Cherna to love me and he hated she loved me more than she loved him?
TAREK
That was a glimpse of how rough it was for me. Imagine that every day of your life.
NIKKLO
I got annoyed with it when he'd mention it once a year until he went into counseling and learned how to get beyond his resentment.
TAREK
Kellin never did get beyond her resentment. I don't talk a lot about my childhood because it was so painful, but you're right that I need to come clean with you. Maybe I do need to talk about it.
NIKKLO
Varanani hauled me to Wanakaya earlier after I snapped at Danu and scared Jeremy because I was stressed about Linea. Wanakaya would be willing to give us joint counseling when I have the time. We could try while the Euryanassa is grounded for repairs.
TAREK
I'll try. You really want to understand all this. Maybe it will help you fight them if you knew more about them.
NIKKLO
Well, since that was a dead end, I'll return to Gasbaja to figure out what I'm going to do next.
TAREK
Take care and stay away from Kellin.
NIKKLO
I will.
TAUIAN NIKKLO PHASING VISUAL to Gasbaja.
INT. BUNKER, GASBAJA -DAY
Nikklo tried very hard to not look at the two pieces of the Euryanassa while he walked to the living area hatch.
WANAKAYA (PSI V.O.)
Nikklo, do you have some time to talk in a counseling session with Cherna and me?
NIKKLO (PSI V.O.)
Sure.
Nikklo walked into Wanakaya's office.
INT. WANAKAYA'S OFFICE, BUNKER - DAY - CONTINUOUS
NIKKLO
You wanted to talk to me?
WANAKAYA
Yes, Cherna has something she wants to tell you.
Nikklo turned toward Cherna and was once again struck by her beauty.
NIKKLO
What ever I did this time, I'm sorry.
CHERNA
It's not you, Nikky. I know you punish yourself hard for when you don't do something as well as you think you should or you miss a detail that messes up your plan. I realize now that I can sometimes play into that insecurity to make you feel guilty so I can have my way. Then if you don't give in to it, I get mad and become cruel to you. I really need to work on this. I'm the one who should say I'm sorry.
Nikklo felt dizzy and quickly sat into a chair.
NIKKLO
Uh, wow, that was a powerful statement.
CHERNA
I just had to say it quickly before I lost my nerve.
WANAKAYA
What would you like to say back to Cherna, Nikklo?
NIKKLO
Maybe when I say you're my anchor to this place, I put too much pressure on you. I realize it's a lot to ask of you. I am hard to live with because I'm not native to being a humanoid and I'm a gender mosaic so you can't know how I'll react to situations. Sometimes I react like an aggressive male or I react like an emotional female. The truth is, I still love you, Cherna. When I cried quietly in a corner because I hurt so badly from another skin graft, you visited me and made me laugh. You can still make me laugh.
CHERNA
But I also make you cry and I need to stop doing that.
NIKKLO
I don't want to cry, either. I'm raising a baby I don't always understand. She doesn't speak and sometimes I don't know what to do about her language barrier with non-Tauians. So why did this suddenly come up?
CHERNA
Seeing how Marc was so sad while Amber wouldn't come with him and then how happy he was when she came back. I also began to think about my father's death and how he treated my mother. My father was so lucky that mother stayed with him to help him be less controlling. I began to see that you have done the same for me. I need to work on learning how to be less manipulative with you because I do see that you need someone to help you through. Thank you for being so supportive to me.
NIKKLO
I must thank you for learning to adjust to my abrupt changes. I'm still learning how to live with them. You've tried very hard to learn how to live with them too. Now that I'm learning more about my very confusing Tauian family, I do need help to adjust to what I'm facing.
CHERNA
I'll be there, Nikky.
NIKKLO
I appreciate your support, Cheri.
CHERNA
You said you just learned more about your family?
NIKKLO
I just met my super manipulating step grandmother and she's feeding the Alliances hate toward us! She even caused the Euryanassa to be split in two because I killed her cherished Beken and not her reviled step-son Tarek! Tarek forceably phased me away from talking to her because he's scared of her!
CHERNA
Tarek scared? She must really be much worse than Beken if Tarek fears her! I think you should listen to Tarek.
NIKKLO
I am listening to Tarek but now I'm going to have to get parts for the Euryanassa by stealth or it's going to take too long to build the parts before the Alliance attacks us en mass!
WANAKAYA
You say Kellin cherished Beken and reviled Tarek? Did you get any more details about that?
NIKKLO
Tarek grew up in a bit of a Cinderella situation. His father conceived Tarek with another woman. Kellin learned about it, killed the mother and raised Tarek under constant reminders that he was the child who should never have been born. It was worse that Tarek was a geneticist genius and Beken was a coercer. Beken wanted to use Tarek's genius to further his ambitions. Kellin told him not to but Beken didn't listen and manipulated for me to be given a body. Now Kellin's furious that I killed Beken. Tarek told me he didn't tell me sooner because he was deeply wounded by Kellin and was protecting himself from unpleasant memories.
WANAKAYA
It sounds like Tarek was mentally abused and is still deeply affected. She does sound like a master manipulator. I would follow Tarek's advise as well and find another way to fix the Euryanassa without crossing her for now.
NIKKLO
Can I go now? I have more work to do.
CHERNA
Go on. You're so hard to hold on to anymore.
NIKKLO
I promise I will arrange time with you, sweetheart.
Nikklo left the office.
FADE OUT.
THE END