“You are a Zulbano.” the Eltaran said, “You are a mercenary. A hunter.”
“Not any more.”
“Yes, you are. You may have failed your last hunt, but there will be more challenges coming. Why not face another foe, defeat an even stronger enemy. You could return victorious, even if you failed one mission.”
“There is no returning for me.” the Zulbano growled.
“I’m by far no expert on Zulbano culture, but there are people in your packs that failed their hunt and still live their lives, right? You may drop to the lowest rank in your pack, you may be the scrub at the bottom of the barrel - but you would be alive. A Bultaz.” Ang’Tue said and saw the wolf flinch at that, “Believe me, pup, with time things change. It may be hard at the beginning, but eventually you will get used to your role in the pack. Death never can be the solution to a personal crisis.”
“There is no returning for me.” the wolf repeated, “I can’t become a Bultaz anymore.”
“You are too afraid of falling to the bottom of the hierarchy in your pack, you are too afraid to end your life and you are too afraid to live on. That won’t work out, boy.”
“You don’t understand. I can’t become a Bultaz anymore… I was a Bultaz already. A whelp with a second chance. There won’t be a third one.”
Now it was Ang’Tue who was lost for words.
“That… I’m sorry. I didn’t think that was possible.”
“I failed my rite challenge and became a Bultaz. My alpha took pity on me and gave me a second chance to prove myself...”
“But you failed again and yet you are still alive.” The old man said with his grandfatherly smile, “I don’t understand too much of your customs, but I at least can see that you really want to live - so make the best out of that.”
“There is only one thing left that my people are expecting from me. Dying.” The Zulbano growled and Ang’Tue realized the short moment in which the wolf had opened up had passed.
The Eltaran took a deep breath and slowly let go of it again, bracing for what he had to do next.
Carefully he pulled up his left sleeve and unlocked the silver wristband he wore. Then he did the same on his other arm. Holding up the two rings he took another deep breath.
“I’m sorry, dogo. Time is running out, our next location is such a sensible topic that we do not have the luxury to entertain your personal crisis. If you can’t see a way forward for you, I have to give you a slight push in the right direction.”
“What do you–?” The wolf began but stopped, eyes wide open, when he noticed black smoke rising from the Eltaran.
~ Yes… Yes… YES!
With one quick motion, Ang’Tue reached out and grabbed the wrists of the surprised Zulbano. “You don’t want to die? Good! But unfortunately we can’t leave you behind with what you’ve learned about us and I’ll not allow those kids to stain their hands with your blood just to protect their secrets.”
~ That’s it! Power!
~ Subdue this creature!
“You are lucky, though. I still have a use for you.” A cruel grin crept on the old man’s face and the black smoke rose from his body, taking the form of a huge beast. Thick legs and long arms that dragged on the floor formed from the poisonous cloud. While the head wasn’t visible, three gleaming eyes peered out from within the darkness, staring at the shaken wolf before the smoke further expanded and slowly filled the whole room.
The last place to get overrun by billowing clouds was the bed where the Zulbano was sitting, the bestial figure was gone, but its eerie eyes still stared with ferocious anger and thirst for carnage. When the first wisps of smoke touched the wolf, he began to scream and howl as his flesh rapidly decayed and pain flooded his body. The small bunk was plunged in darkness just for a moment but the heartwrenching wailing didn’t stop even after the smoke retreated and vanished into Ang’Tue’s open mouth.
Only a good minute later did the screams turn into a low whimpering. The wolf was cowering down on the bed, his dark fur now stained with gray patches and a rotting smell hung in the air. There was a low click when Ang’Tue closed the suppression shackles around the wolf’s wrists.
“Zulbano don’t have mutations, so these things won’t activate automatically. But believe me, I’ll be watching you. And if I ever see you having hostile intentions…” Ang’Tue said and pressed the button of the remote control.
Again the Zulbano began to scream when strong electric shocks ravaged and paralysed his body.
“I’ll not only electrocute you, I’ll make sure that your fur falls out and your flesh rots from the bones while you are still alive, watching yourself falling apart piece by piece.”
“What do…” The Zulbano stammered with a broken voice, “What do you want from me?”
“We are about to face some serious trouble. Protect these kids at any costs. You can see this as forceful drafting of a mercenary.” Ang’Tue said with a low voice, nothing of his grandfatherly demeanor remaining. He gave him a moment to process his words before he continued, “I gave you a goal; Keep them alive and I’ll get these cuffs off sooner than you think.”
He saw a bit of light coming back to the Zulbano’s eyes, a mix of defiance and challenge, and nodded approvingly.
“Whats your name?”
“Bultaz.” The wolf growled but quickly changed his mind when anger flashed over Ang’Tue’s face, “Krezolgok! I am Krezolgok. I don’t have a hunter’s name… yet.”
“Good!”
Then the Eltaran stood up and walked to the door. Before he left, he turned around once more, “I want to push you forward. Out of whatever hole you are stuck in. However, if you decide that you want to remain in that hole, that you are so weak that you don’t want to continue with your life and bow to the barbaric rules of your clan, give me a note. I’ll set you free and end that pitiful life of yours, quick and clean.”
When the door closed behind him, Ang’Tue took another deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. Then he looked at Alena, Robin and Happy who sat on the floor opposite of the bunk, waiting for him with a multitude of emotions flickering on their faces. Curiosity, sadness and anxiety struggled against nervousness and anger, but none of them began to ask questions. They just waited for him to calm down.
“His name is Krezolgok, he will follow us as hired gun for now.” Ang’Tue said and when he only saw confusion on their faces, he just shook his head, “I’ve bought you time. Use it well– the whelp is so far gone, I don’t know if it is possible at all to get him back on track and save him.”
Robin and Alena just nodded solemnly but Niu stood up and was about to shower him with questions.
Tired, Ang’Tue raised a hand to stop her, “Not today, young lady, sorry.” Then he turned and walked up to his own bunk.
Before he walked in, the Eltaran looked down at his hands and mumbled to himself. “I need to take a shower, I feel dirty…”.
Moments later, he hit the bed and sighed.
“Have I crossed a line today?”
~ No! We showed this creature who is superior!
~ We are a force to recon, it is only natural for lesser beings to capitulate before us!
“Torturing a young pup who is already completely broken after his people have brainwashed him since birth. That excites you? Really?” Ang’Tue sneered at his inner demon. “You are a pathetic creature!”
~ You know that I’m born from your inner desires
~ I’m as much ‘you’ as you are!
“I know… I know” The old man sighed and took out the picture from his little granddaughter to calm his heart.
***
Robin left it to Happy and Alena to check on the Zulbano after Ang’Tue had left. They were better with people than he was anyway.
Slowly he walked through the dark hallways and without even realizing where his feet took him, he soon found himself sitting in the captain’s seat on the dimly lit bridge.
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Looking around, he marveled at the alien technology that didn’t stop to amaze him.
The enormous window gave him a wide view into the dark forest. With its width of nearly 30 meters it was lost on him how it didn’t destabilize the whole integrity of the ship’s hull.
The five stations, for the captain, the pilot, the copilot, the navigator and probably combat controls, had not only an unfamiliar, strange design but also many labels and signs in the mysterious Keeper language he couldn’t read.
“There is already so much trouble with the UAS behind us, a Zulbano among us and the destructive Second ahead of us. Now we even plan to visit the Eltaran, adding one more delicate topic to our list. How will I be able to maneuver us through that in one piece?”
Robin sighed, feeling the weight of the responsibility he had.
One of the speakers at his station crackled and an artificial but friendly voice could be heard.
“You know, when we first met I also would have never thought that you would be able to get this far. But here you are– the captain of a Keeper ship, your own crew that covers your back and a mission that touches the oldest mysteries of the universe.”
Robin immediately recognized Proto, even if there wasn’t the usual jokingly tone.
“I don’t know if this is what I expected when I first set out. Sure, I wanted to explore the unknown and even had the boyish dream of following the non-existent trail of the Starborn. But this? I’m not sure I’m ready to have that much responsibility.” He said, “I dreamed of exciting adventures and uncovering secrets, not of bloody fights and losing friends.”
“When I first gained sentience and suddenly could think for myself, I had so many big dreams and childish ideas. I followed them without caring about anything. In the end, I was drawn into events that shook the universe at its foundation, nearly destroying it.” Proto said, “Robin, we can’t always choose how things turn out. I wanted to wake up more of my kind and was greeted by the biggest asshole ever, you wanted to learn more about the Starborn and fate placed you closer to their secrets than you ever expected.” he paused, “Maybe we can’t turn back and start again to change the decisions we’ve made, but we can make the best out of the situation we have been thrown into. Just make sure that you don’t have regrets when you turn around and look back.”
There was a long silence as Robin thought about Proto’s words. He wasn’t wrong, it was too late to turn back, too late to get out of this mess, so he should make the best out of it and live without regrets.
Robin shook his head, clearing his mind from the heavy thoughts.
“So, you have finally adjusted to your new home?” He asked, changing the topic, “Did you find a smartass-upgrade in there or where did that speech come from?”
“Damn you!” Proto laughed, also returning to his mischievous self.
“Thanks mate, good to have you back. I mean it.” Robin said, “Do you have control over the ship now?”
“Yeah, I have replaced the old main system and completely integrated myself in the Star Atlas. If you ever kick me out, this ship will go nowhere anymore.” Proto chuckled, “That being said, I strongly advise that the happy woman is the one piloting this walker. As AI I’m restricted by the routines and features provided to the ship’s support-system. While I can fly and steer this ship, it will never be on the level of a skilled pilot. I’ll teach her the basics and then she can use the journey to the Eltaran to get used to the ship.”
“That’s good.” Robin nodded, “She would never agree to sit anywhere other than the pilot seat.”
“You’ve said I got a message from Eston? Do I have to read it now or can that wait until we’re out of the Mereus Cluster?”
“Shouldn’t be a problem to wait a few more days.”
“Good, I really don’t want to have the next thing on my table already. There is enough other stuff going on right now.” Robin nodded, “I choose blissful ignorance for a few more days then.”
He let his thoughts wander for a moment before he continued.
“You said, ‘Last Protector of the Starborn and the Endless Empire’, right?”
“I know what your computations are about.” Proto chuckled, “I can’t share details with you about the Starborn. There are strict rules. But you are about to dig way deeper into their mysteries anyways. It won’t be long before you start uncovering them on your own, I believe. And with each secret you learn, I’ll be able to fill in the gaps here and there.”
“Yeah, I thought as much. Would have been too easy otherwise, wouldn’t it?” Robin scoffed.
“Yes, you completely miss out the opportunity to make this your own big adventure.” The AI laughed but then it turned serious again.
“There is one thing, though. I have to take back ROMAS. I didn’t have much time back at the Drel outpost and as such decided to just separate a piece of my system and give it to you. As you may have noticed, since you had to rescue me, I’m lacking critical judgment and make sloppy mistakes. I need to reintegrate my missing parts.”
“Oh… okay.” Robin sighed. ROMAS had become an essential part of his daily life, not only providing him with information and analytics but also covering for his missing color vision. “That may sound offensive, but can’t you just… I don’t know, re-write the missing parts or make a copy? At the end of the day, you are an artificial intelligence made of endless lines of code, right?”
“Technically you are right, but do you really think that any being that has gained sentience can be repaired by ‘just recreating missing parts’?”
“Huh, if you explain it like that… no, probably not.”
“You don’t have to look like a beaten puppy. I’m giving you something much better in exchange!”
“Better? At the risk of stroking your ego, I have to admit that ROMAS is quite helpful as it is…”
“What could be better than a piece of me, you ask?” Proto asked with the voice of an announcer in a TV show and Robin’s heart sank, “You are right! The complete me!”
“Argh, Burn in Plasma!”
“Do you still have the adapter you crafted to control the BWT drone?” Proto asked after laughing like a mad scientist for at least a minute.
“Um… yes, I think so. I kept it as a memento. It should be with my stuff in my bunk.”
“Awesome!” the AI cheered but stopped, when Robin didn’t stand up, “…what are you waiting for? Go and get it!”
Not long after, Robin was back on the bridge and connected the device he had crafted on Gaunus to the plug at the back of his head. It would work without that but since he would have power to spare after ROMAS was gone, this would make things much easier.
Lines of text scrolled through his vision.
- Downloading new files…
- Download complete
- Installing new system…
- Installation complete
- Shutting down ROMAS
- Initialize transfer…
- Transferring ROMAS…
- Transfer complete
- Restarting system
“What is all that? New system?” Robin asked when his Interface finally didn’t show any more text.
“I’ve created a little tool that allows me to get better access to your Neuro Chip and Interface. Even remote, as long as you aren’t too far away from the ship.” Proto explained.
“Okay, but couldn’t we talk via comm anyways?”
“That? Yeah. But just wait and see!”
Moments later his vision flickered. Text, numbers, random characters and even images rushed through his vision too fast to make out any details. After the lightshow stopped, a map was projected in his field of view.
Robin didn’t need long to realize that it was a map of the ship. The rooms were labeled and he saw a few dots here and there. Concentrating on them, the map zoomed in and showed details.
- Bunk #05, Ang’Tue
- Ang’Tue
Willing the map to zoom out again, he concentrated on another room.
- Bunk #03, Krezolgok
- Alena Vlasov, Niu Alaris, Krezolgok
“Wow! Okay, that is awesome!” Robin marveled.
“I know, right? If you need more details, I can adjust the map for you.” Proto said.
“Okay, remove the markers of the crew. I don’t want to intrude on their privacy.”
“Boring!” Proto complained but the markers still vanished.
When Robin concentrated on clearing his view, the map shrank down and positioned itself in the top-right corner like a minimap from the games he used to play with Timothy.
“You have your eyes and ears everywhere on the ship?” He asked.
“Yes, each room and hallway has cameras and microphones for the internal comm system. But I would never eavesdrop on you, I promise!” Proto quickly explained.
“Of course you wouldn’t!” Robin nodded sagely, “I don’t want the specifics, but tell me, has Ang’Tue overdone it?”
“I told you, I don’t–”
“Proto, don’t take me for a fool!”
There was a short silence, then Proto conceded. “It was a close call, each step a balance act on a thin line. I think he went further than his own conscience allowed but not too far considering the situation. I agree with his course of action, it has the highest probability to get the wolf back from wherever it is hiding in his mind.”
“Good.” Robin nodded. He trusted Ang’Tue, but the old man was carrying his own package right now. “Keep an eye on the Zulbano and notify me or someone else, if he behaves suspiciously.”
“So much for your crew’s privacy…” Proto muttered.
“He isn’t part of the crew yet.” Robin shrugged and then changed the topic. “Can you show me the ship’s status?”
“Of course!” The AI said and once more Robin could see the ship in his vision. But now it was just a rough representation colored in green. With a few yellow and red icons here and there.
“The ship is in good shape, no damage detected. That’s why it is green. Warnings and such are colored in red and yellow.
“I can see colors in my Interface!” Robin gasped. The Interface was just an overlay to his normal sight, so it should also be in grayscale.
“Not really, sorry.” Proto said, “I just use a little trick to stimulate specific parts of your brain with the Neuro Chip. I make your brain believe it sees the color, while the actual vision remains gray. I’ll dig deeper into that, maybe I can get something more useful out of it, okay?”
“Awesome, thanks!” Robin said, not too sad. It was still a pleasure to see something with color again. To give it a test, he concentrated on a few warnings.
- Yellow
- Fuel remaining: 49%
- Red
- Missiles remaining: 0/10
- Yellow
- Drones remaining: 1/4
There was more, but Robin had seen enough to get the gist of it. Willing the overview away, the image minimized and moved to the top-left of his vision.
“That is really great! Thanks a lot!”
“No, thank you for finding me such a great vessel. I can also provide you with information about planetary and interplanetary travel and so on. Everything the ship’s sensors learn can be forwarded to your vision.”
“Nice!” Robin excitedly nodded, “Finally we know how much fuel is left. 49%, is that enough to reach the Eltaran?”
“Yeah, you know, that actually might be a problem… We need to dock somewhere and refuel the Relentless Stride!”