At the same time in a different place
A strange sensation fills the senses, a sensation difficult to classify. An unusual feeling running down the spine, like a shiver but unlike it. The feeling becomes stronger and stronger and transforms into a rather familiar sensation pain. Terrible pain, originated in the back of the skull, burning down the spine and running through the entire body as if there were hot lava flowing through the veins instead of blood. The body convulses uncontrolled as the pain rages, wiping away any self-control, causing the victim to scream in horror.
The pain vanishes as quickly as it came, the exhausted victim drops to the floor, panting rapidly.
A figure, seemingly standing within fog that covers it like a grey veil, drops a blue glowing crystal next to the body lying on the floor.
Screaming, Ta-vora wakes from his sleep. He is drenched in sweat after the terrible nightmare he had.
He hits the lightswitch but immetiately regrets it. Squeezing his eyes shut, he shuts off the lights again and raises from his bed. Thanks to his hunter genes, he is able to use a nightvision.
He heads to the bath cabine and splashes some water into his face.
Strange, it felt so real it felt like someone superior would touch my matrix but that never happened, so how could I know how it feels?
The matrix could only cause such pain if someone with superior psionic powes touches it.
This was not a nightmare, it was a vision. Ki-jara it must have been her. Why do they do this to her? A bit more had killed her. Don't these Voininans know this? On the other side strange I didn't know that there are Voinians with psionic abilities random mutations, I guess. But anyway, I fear we're short on time. I hope the crystal chip will hold a clue to her location.
Ta-vora felt that he could not sleep any more this night, the nightmare had pushed his adrenaline level too high, so he got dressed and made his way to the regeneration chamber.
Sitting in the middle of the white kayarin crystals was one of the most wonderful feelings a Ka-nuth could experience. His matrix prevented his mind from getting lost within the swirling energies. It absorbed them and let them flow through the body. Ta-vora could almost feel the energies as if they were material.
It has been too long since my last regeneration. I really needed this.
Meditating in the flow of energies, he tried to expand his mind, touching a few other powerful psionic beings. He sensed Page, still waiting on Atlantic Station and a strange, dark mind bearing unusual energies close to him. Feeling their energies without them noticing him, he searched for the once so familiar energies of his companion. But like every time, he could not find a trace.
After two hours of regeneration, Ta-vora leaves the chamber and heads for the bridge. It is 4 AM ship-internal time, so the officers on the bridge look at him a bit curious.
Couldn't sleep. he says, looking at the panorama view.
A yellow-white nebula can be seen in front of the ship. To the left was a star, that was darkened by the automatic view filters.
Where are we? Ta-vora asks.
System DSN-1597, we need to refill our energy banks. This is the Ji Nebula over there. Beautiful, isn't it?
Ayie. Ta-vora replied.
Strangely enough, the nebula reminded him to the swirling energy pattern of one of the neutral kayarin crystals in the regeneration chamber.
Good thing I woke up, otherwise I had missed this sight.
When will we be ready for hyperspace again?
About five minutes, Kre.
Good, trigger the jump when you're ready. No change in course.
Ayie, Kre.
Kre, we're receiving a message from the Kamikaze.
On speakers.
Larra's message sounds through the Azula's bridge.
Now we know what caused the shockwave. We once experimented with 5D-bombs, but found them too devastating, as they could destroy entire systems. That's why these experiments were aborted and the technology was declared illegal.
Wasn't it the quinta-bomb technology that brought up the Tschamyaah-Pulse?
Not quite, the Tschamyaah technology was a by-product, a quinta-bomb with a limited range but more focussed energy. It produces a short living black hole that then inverts into a white hole.
Ta-vora thought about the Azula's Tschamyaahs. He had once sweared that he would never use them. He still regreted that he didn't have them removed. But this had taken several days, too long to wait to begin his search.
-----<======================================================>-----
A few days passed.
The Azula falls back into realspace with a bright flash and a thunderclash.
Entering the Isled-system.
Full scan, check if there are any ships in here.
I'm reading a Voinian Frigate strange, it seems disabled.
What do you mean, 'it seems disabled'? Is it disabled or not?
Actually, the scanners show that it is fully functional. But it isn't moving, no energy readings.
Life-signs?
None. The ship seems abandoned.
Strange. Anyway, approach the coordinates Larra gave us.
I have the object on screen. It's well hidden inside a lagrange point, totally invisible to less advanced sensors like the ones the Voinians use. Distance three lightminutes.
Excellent. Move us within range and salvage it.
Five minutes later, the Azula begins the salvage.
We have the last part save, Kre.
Very well. Get us back to the Liat-system.
Course laid in, Kre. Triggering hyperjump.
Seconds later the Azula once again vanishes from realspace.
Ta-vora was just about to get up and leave the bridge, he never stayed there during a hyperspace jump.
When the double doors open, his wristcom beeps.
What is it?
Kre, this is Sayan dinLavas. I'm in the cargo hold. These three wrecks we salvaged you may want to see this.
I'm on my way.
Upon entering the cargo bay, Ta-vora is being greeted by Sayan dinLavas. He recognizes him as one of the science officers aboard.
Is something wrong?
I'm not sure, Kre, but I hope we don't get in trouble by these parts. Look at this.
He shows Ta-vora a hand-held scanner, displaying some diagrams. Several of them reach the 30% mark, two even approach 50%.
These are energy readings from the three salvaged parts.
Most interesting. So the energy sources of these parts were just at stand-by.
No, actually none of these parts should function alone. They are receiving an external energy input.
By what?
As strange as it may sound, but we believe it's the recreation matrixes. Do you remember the experimental ships tested in the Surreal Web that were driven by the psionic energies of these crystals? They proved ineffective, but this one seems to work.
Did this occur before? I mean, it is strange that this started when just when all three parts were aboard.
We discovered this by chance. So if it did happen before, we just failed to notice.
Well, Page said the ship is driven by the psionic energy of his sword. And this sword is powerful. We should isolate the rooms as long as the parts are aboard. And tell those technicans over there to stay well clear of them. We should not mess with things we don't fully understand. Who knows what this ship is capable of.
Ayie, Kre.
And the Azula continues its journey back to the Liat-system.
------------------
The lie is a truth, too. The truth of the one who believes it.
(This message has been edited by Ta-vora (edited 04-16-2004).)
