Galactic Crash Part 6


    Shen Rae looked a little tired and shaken when she arrived back at the palace on Caph.  He eyes were worn with worry, until Kiivan smiled at her, and then life came back to them.  It was obvious then that foremost on her mind was how upset Kiivan would be that his world had been dragged into this conflict.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I have someone for you to meet.”  Kiivan announced as he met her in the Great Hall.  He nodded in acknowledgement of his war advisors, who had just returned from the Heart of Light in Shen Rae’s Energy Glider.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Walk with me,”  he said.

    Shen Rae followed, noting again the absence of any guards or security.  He still trusted her implicitly.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Don’t worry so much.”  he said, trying to calm her obviously frayed nerves.  “It was a hard fight.  The most important thing is you listened to your conscience and stuck with it.”

    The Captain only had time to nod before they entered the foyer one of Kiivan’s very large guest rooms.  He knocked on the door gingerly.

    A woman with deep blue hair and eyes opened the door, and silently stared at Shen Rae as someone unfamiliar.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“This is Anna, she was sent by the Lair Legion to help.”  Kiivan said.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“How did she get here?”  Shen Rae asked.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“That’s...what I was getting around to.”  Kiivan replied with a laugh.  “They used some sort of teleport technology to get her here.  Only we don’t have similar technology to return her home.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’ll be glad to return her home.”  Shen Rae offered happily.  “If she’s comfortable with it.”

    Anna nodded.  “I am.”

    The Captain moved closer to Anna and looked at her closely.  “You’re not human?”  she asked.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“No.”  Anna replied nervously, swallowing hard.  “I’m artificial.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“There’s nothing to be afraid of.”  Shen Rae gave the android her best warm smile.  “I’m only curious.  You’re very close to human...your look, your mannerisms.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“What...made you notice?”  Anna asked.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Smell.”  Shen Rae replied.  “Humans, no matter how many scents they bathe with and use, they have an organic smell.  That was missing with you.”

    Anna nodded.  Having a highly sensitive smell sense herself, she knew what the Captain meant.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Kiivan, two ships from my Company are on the way.”  Shen Rae told the Emir.  “If you would accept them as your guests, they will do some initial trade, and make sure those black ships don’t return.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Initial trade?”  Kiivan sounded interested.  And impressed that Shen Rae didn’t waste time holding up her end of the deal.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“They will bring items, luxury items, your people might be interested in.”  the Captain explained.  “They will negotiate an equitable trade for them.”

    Kiivan nodded.  “I look forward to speaking with them.  However, Shen Rae...remember what I said.  If there are any problems, I must speak to you.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I agreed to that.”  Shen Rae nodded.  “And I will keep that promise.”

    Kiivan smiled.  “Then I will delay you no further, as you perform a favor for me.”  He looked at Anna.

    Shen Rae nodded, and offered Anna the lead.  “Right this way, Anna.”


---


    Earth was just as Shen Rae remembered it.  There was something calming about the sight of it - perhaps it was the blue glow of the sun’s light reflecting off the planet, or maybe that it looked so silent there alone in space.  No traffic around it, no large docking stations, at least not visible from so far away.

    She could tell the rest of the crew felt much the same way, a silence fell over the bridge as they approached.

    Anna, who had been sitting in one of the guest chairs below the company logo on the back wall, stood and walked to the railing behind the Captain’s chair to watch.

    The Heart of Light eased into orbit in a spot they knew wouldn’t interfere with the planet’s communications or surveillance, so they would be less prone to detection.  Though the ship was stealthed, blocking a signal source would definitely cause suspicion.

    Shen Rae led Anna through a maze of white, shiny-walled hallways to the entirely metallic launch bay where the Energy Gliders were kept.  Once they arrived at the shuttle, she stopped and turned to Anna.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I guess I shouldn’t have to tell you to keep all of what you’ve seen to yourself.”  Shen Rae said.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I understand.”  Anna replied.  “I know the consequences of not keeping it secret...dragging the Lair Legion and Earth into something it’s not ready for yet.”

    The Captain smiled.  “That’s a pretty smart conclusion.”  she said.

    Anna climbed into the Energy Glider, ducking for the low doorway, and took one of the sideways facing seats in the back.  After Shen Rae boarded, the door slid shut.  Then the craft hummed slightly as it rose off the deck, and the slowly cruised toward the bay doors.

    Once the Energy Glider was clear of the Heart of Light, it stealthed and headed into Earth’s atmosphere.  Energy Gliders didn’t seem like fast moving craft from inside, yet the trip was very short.  Light clouds buffeted the windows, and then clear skies prevailed as it descended over the bay outside Paradopolis, directly toward Lair Island.

    A couple minutes later was when Anna discovered why the Energy Gliders never really touch ground when off of its parent ship.  It could land while stealthed, and not make an indentation in the ground.  She supposed it might also have to do with not bringing contamination back to the ship as well.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’d like to thank you for all your help.”  Shen Rae told Anna as she climbed out of the cramped pilot’s seat.  “This is where we part ways...but maybe we’ll meet again.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I look forward to it.”  Anna said with a smile.  She stood next to the door and waited for it to open.  Then she hopped out.

    True to her word, Anna didn’t turn around to watch as the Energy Glider took off and headed skyward.  After all, it might give away that she’d been on a space ship.

    She then strolled cautiously toward the front gate of the Lair Mansion.

    The stunulators aimed at her, but she ignored them, as they were usually harmless to authorized guests.  She then opened the front door and stepped into the entrance hall.  It seemed so small suddenly, the Lair Mansion did, after spending some time at Kiivan’s palace.

    Anna ignored Flapjack completely - she walked faster than he could limp anyway, so he couldn’t keep up.  Then she headed directly to Hatman’s office, since Yuki Shiro had none of her own, and sometimes shared it.

    The android tapped on the door gently and then opened it.  Hatman was sitting in his desk chair, opening mail.  Yuki was indeed waiting for Anna’s return - lounging on the couch in the office.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“My mission was successful.”  Anna announced as she entered the office.  “How was yours?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“We’re still alive, aren’t we?”  Yuki responded with a question of her own, and a sly grin.

    Anna giggled.  Over the months living with the Lair Legion she developed a very human sense of humor.

    Yuki looked at Hatman for a moment, and then asked Anna, “You didn’t tell anyone where you’ve been, did you?”

    She shook her head.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Good.”  the purple-haired Legionnaire said.  “Only myself and Hatman know.  And Al B Harper, since Kiivan talked to him first.”

    Anna looked a little confused and worried at that.  “Is there a reason there is so much secrecy?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Yeah.”  Yuki smiled again.  “Two reasons, actually.  First and foremost, we’re not really supposed to meddle with Caph.  And also, you’re being tested.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Tested?”  the android asked.

    The purple-haired legionnaire nodded.  “You and Lara are very powerful, Anna, and as much as Jay protests...we can’t keep you on the sidelines, locked up in the mansion forever.  Lara has taken it upon herself to go into action...but you need a confidence boost.  You need a little push.  You did tell me you wanted to contribute more.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I...did.”  Anna confirmed quietly.  “So how did I do?”

    Yuki chuckled at that.  “Only you can tell me that, Anna.”

    She nodded, and smiled confidently.  “I think I did pretty well.  I tried not to let anyone get hurt.”

    The purple haired legionnaire smiled.  “That’s your answer.”

    Anna glanced at Hatman, and felt both proud and a little embarrassed when she saw that he was watching her approvingly and listening intently.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“And your opinion?”  the android asked him confidently.  She walked past Yuki moved closer to him.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Yuki and I don’t always agree.”  Hatman noted, “But this time we do.  You did great.”

    Anna nodded, and quickly said, “Thank you” twice, once to each of them.  She then quietly excused herself, and headed back to her quarters to change.

    Yuki stared at Hatman as she approached him, and then she leaned over the desk.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I know, I know.”  Hatman said, rolling his eyes.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“You read the report I...um...borrowed from SPUD, didn’t you?”  she asked.  “The day Anna escaped...she destroyed millions in equipment, some people were hurt.  But not a single agent was killed.  She’s always had the compassion, Jay, she just learned to be more careful.  It was an easy bet to make.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“So...dinner, was it?”  he finally asked.

    She nodded.  “Someplace nice.  I’ll wear an eye candy dress and make it worth your while.”


TO BE CONTINUED


-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2009 by Jason Froikin, and may not be 
--    reprinted without permission.  
-- Yuki Shiro designed by Jason Froikin, based on designs by Masamune Shirow
--  Liu Xi Xian and the Psychic Samurai are original design by Jason Froikin
--  Lara Night is an original creation by Jason Froikin