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"These stories are dedicated to memory of Benjamin Thomas W. and to anyone who has had to deal with the loss of a child." Part I From the Cradle... Arcanum Ulric moved next to him. His mind raced as he tried to think of something to say. "I think he's going to be fine, Jack." He tried to generate a smile at Ulric's statement. Jack changed the subject. "We should introduce, Enra to Arcanum." He turned and headed to the transport disk without looking at his friends Enra remember the beautiful little girl that was the image that Lursa projected for Ulric. "I look forward to it, Jack." Ulric looked at her with a cool expression. "Enra, Arcanum is nothing like Lursa." "Ulric you make everything sound so dark and foreboding. You need to lighten up a bit." The small grin seemed to melt from her face. He was not playing with her. He was serious. The transport disk stopped outside of the
control node. They stepped down and entered through the huge doors. They
approached the pilots at the center of the huge room. "What is this?" She turned
and looked at Ulric. "Why two Pilots?" Jack walked up to the larger Pilot. It did not
raise its head at his approch. "Enra the smaller pilot is far more cooperative.
The larger one just ignores us." He waved his hands in front of the
console. "I will stop along the way to allow you to replenish your needed supplies." The voice boomed. "I am not pleased Jack Crichton. Why have you brought her?" Ulric moved next to Enra as if he could protect her from the voice. "She knew too much. It was not safe to leave her behind." Arcanum's image formed slowly in front of them. His image was of an old thin withered man. Jack moved forward. "Arcanum this is Dasvalla Enra Talis." She stepped forward. He looked at her for a moment then returned his glare to Jack. "Enra this is Arcanum." "You were to come alone Jack Crichton! Next you said that Commander Selton had to come due to his ability to communicate with Biomechanoids." He looked at Ulric with contempt." This infestation I can tolerate. " He pointed his bony finger at Enra. "But now you bring this pregnant Vladic as well! I will not be responsible." Again with his anger his image became transparent. Ulric Selton, father to be. Ulric stood there still trying to understand what he had just heard. He looked at Enra with his head tilled slightly. He then turned to Jack then back to Enra. Then back to Jack. He seemed to be trying to say something. His jaw seemed to be moving but he wasn't saying anything. The tough PeaceKeeper facade seemed to melt away. The un-Peace Keeper grin that appeared seemed to be contagious. Finally Enra broke the silence. "I was hoping to wait until I was…" Ulric moved forward and scooped her from the floor. He howled and laughed. He pulled her close and kissed her. "How, how…" He still could not get over the shock. "Uli you know how." She smiled. "Seriously… I
am almost at half cycle now." "We are not as different as your mighty Peace
Keeper Deca dictates." She looked away. "I did a full double helix scan back on
the Marauder. Everything is fine." She hated to lie to him but it was for the
best. He didn't need to know about the genetic issues that she had faced. With
luck he would never know of the alterations she had to make. "Congratulations Ulric!" Jack was smiling ear to ear. " Now we just have to…" It was at this time he noticed the strange thing. The smaller pilot who had helped them earlier was smiling at them. She seemed to be enjoying the interchange of the strange little beings in front of her. He stopped in mid sentence. They followed Jacks stare to the smiling pilot. Cela "I am not Pilot." She looked across at the other Pilot. "He is Pilot. I am his mate." Enra moved next to Jack." That would make sense Jack. Biomechanoids Outlive Pilots by hundreds of cycles. "What make sense, Enra?" He looked at her confused. Ulric who was still in his own little world was not paying attention to their conversation. Enra smiled at Jack. "Arcanum is a generational Biomechanoid. It travels the outer rim of the galaxy. So he has a breading pair of pilots on board. Just in case he is too far from a replacement." The she looked at Enra." Yes Enra you are correct." Her smile widened. "I wish to congratulate you on you pending birth." Enra looked at her companions. "Thank You a…" "Do you have a name?"
Jack spoke up "What would you like us to call you then?" She was startled by the question. She became rather excited by the concept. "You can call me Cela." A smile grew on her face. she looked over to pilot who gave her a disapproving glance. "Ok then, Cela it is nice to meet you." Enra walked back to Ulric whose mood had changed. He seemed dark. " What's wrong? Ulric?" He looked at her for a long time. "Nothing!" His face betrayed him. Jack knew there was something more going on in Ulric but he knew better then to ask. "I am going back to the hanger to load the transport disk with our supplies." He smiled at Ulric "I'll be back in an Arn." Ulric looked at him puzzled. "An Arn? It shouldn't take you more then twenty microts to load the…" His voice trailed off he realized Jack was trying to give him some time alone with Enra. "Thanks!" He smiled again a little bit more sincerely. Jack hugged Enra. "Congratulation!" He turned and exited the control node. My Kind! "I…We have to get you off this ship." He looked at her knowing her response. He knew that they would not survive this little trip to Drathor. He had accepted that, but now... Now things were different. "No Uli! By the gods I will not leave. I have told you before! I will not be alone! She seemed to gain strength in her resolve. "You and Jack are all I have." She smiled at him. "End of conversation!" She walked away from him to the huge display in the center of the node. "We have to find out what this Drathor Prime is and how to destroy it from as far away as possible." Ulric smiled, he had not seen this side of Enra before. He turned his attention to Cela. "Cela, What do you know of Drathor Prime?" She looked at them. She slowly raised her claws at the central projection "It is the memory of the before and the food for the future." Her statement seemed to be almost religious dogma. "That will be enough." Arcanum appeared. "You are to deliver the bomb to Drathor Prime that is all you need to know." "Arcanum what do you expect us to do?" Just travel to Drathor Prime and detonate the bomb? His projection turned to Enra. "Yes." "I have a better idea." Ulric said in an uncommonly cheerful tone. "Arcanum how many transport pods do you have?" Arcanum looked slowly at Ulric. "Four long-range transport pods." He became suspicious." Why?" Ulric looked at Enra and smiled. " Simple Arcanum. We will Starburst into orbit above Drathor Prime. We will then release a transport pod with the bomb in it. You will then Starburst us the frell out of there. See, simple." He walked closer to Arcanum. "And I promise you this Arcanum, if anything happens and the plan doesn't work…" He looked back at Enra. " I will personally detonate the bomb." Ulric thought he detected a slight smile on Arcanum's face. Arcanum looked at Ulric for a long moment. "Why should I do this?" "Enra go get Jack, I think we have to define our roles in this little expedition." He turned and looked at Arcanum." We are willing to die to stop the Peace Keepers, but we deserve a fighting chance of survival!" He pointed a long bony finger at Ulric. "A
Fighting chance! You know that your kind is close to gaining our secrets. We
would not need to do any of this if it were not for your kind." "My kind!" He tried to stay calm for this to work he had to be calm. He made sure Enra was gone. "My kind! I will show you my kind." Ulric closed his eyes to listen to their beautiful songs. He had not had a chance to listen to their songs since they made contact with Moya. Their songs calmed him. He felt as if they were with him. He was ready, he then tried to link to Arcanum. Arcanum stood there his image distorted slightly by the realization. " Foolish animal!" He felt Ulric trying to contact him directly. " I could burn your mind out in an instant." But he did not; even with his distaste for these beings he was an explorer. He wanted to see what this animal's little brain held. He carefully opened his mind to Ulric. Allowing the communication to flow only at the seabacian speed. Arcanum watched in horror as the Leviathan Aben committed suicide. He felt Ulric mourning over this loss. He listened to the Biomechanoids songs from Ulric's perspective. How pure the communication was how…"Beautiful!" He saw Ulric defend Jack's small world from the PeaceKeepers. Arcanum had seen countless worlds but he could not comprehend how beautiful Earth was. Earth the cradle of Arcanum's race. How is it possible this little creature holds such closeness to it? Earth was magnificent as seen though Ulric's eyes. He felt Ulric's pain as he said goodbye to Lursa. Arcanum was assaulted by these emotions. The pleasure and pain that this small being had been subjected to in its minute life span was incredible. Arcanum had missed all of this in the five million cycles of his own life. He felt Ulric's feelings of hopelessness for his unborn child. These emotions pulled at Arcanum. He had seen more then enough. He carefully released Ulric from his link. Ulric fell to the floor unconscious. Arcanum's image moved down next to Ulric. "I will not let Enra or your unborn child be harmed. This I promise you Commander Ulric Selton." His image evaporated. He needed time to sort through all that he had felt. Enlightened She smiled at them and did not seem alarmed by Ulrics state. " They were communicating. It was wondrous. I have never felt anything like it Enra. It was…" "You felt it?" Jack looked up from Ulric. "Yes Jack of course we are linked to Arcanum. What he feels we feel." I thought you knew…" "Never mind Cela it's…" The memory of Ulric in the AutoDoc filled Jacks mind. "Cela, when Ulric linked in the past he has suffered damage." "He is un-injured, I assure you!" The voice boomed. "Arcanum. Did you link with Ulric?" Jack stood and yelled back in protest. "No… He tried to link with me…" With those words his image appeared. Enra moved face to face with Arcanum. " What did you do?" Her voice rose. "What did you Frelling do?" She moved forward to hit Arcanum but just passed though the projection. Jack moved quickly to where Enra was standing. He grabbed her by the wrists. He looked deep into her green eyes. "Enra Calm down! Ulric needs us to stay calm." Still holding Enra wrists, Jack turned and looked at Arcanum. He was about to say something when he noticed Arcanum looked different. Jack could not place his finger on what was different about his image. Then it hit him. "Color!" He said out loud. He released Enra's hands and turned to face Arcanum. Enra looked at him. "What? Jack what are you talking about?" She turned toward Arcanum. In her anger she had not noticed. "Amazing!" Arcanum's image in the past was a gray projection. Now his image was in color.
Jack stared at the image. "I would say that you were effected by the link. Lets hope for the better." Ulric stirred slowly on the floor. As he started to rise Arcanum disappeared. "What the frell!" He rubbed his neck. "Ulric are you allright?" Enra dropped down next to him. "I think so, what the frell happened? I feel like I was hit by a scrub runner." He looked up at Jack who stood over him looking down his arms folded in front of him. Ulric smiled, he remembered John had the same strange stance back on Moya. "I know Jack. It was dangerous to try to…" "Save it." Jack turned and walked back to the transport disk. The doors closed behind him. "I don't blame him Ulric. That was frelling stupid!" She stood back up. "So what happened?" Ulric closed his eyes. He couldn't remember most of it. "All I remember is that he is cold, so frelling cold." He looked at Enra his eyes glossy." I never want to feel anything like that again." He pushed back the emotions and stood up. Under PK
rule Jack now knew what it must have been like in
occupied France during World War "What do you think you are doing Captain Delin?" Ulric said through clenched teeth. "What did the PeaceKeepers do to these people?
Jack knew the answer to that question. "That is not important! Captain Delin!" He looked around to see if they were being watched. "First, by touching the fruit in that sack you might as well wiped your ass with it. They would not touch it now. Second, did you see the patrol guards at the end of the street?" "No… No I didn't!" They continued quickly down another street. "What do you think they would do if they saw a PeaceKeeper Captain picking up the dropped groceries of some poor old native?" Ulric didn't give him time to answer. "That would be seen as suspicious behavior and they would investigate." He stared at Jack for a long time. They came to a stop outside the spaceport. " Jack you have to think! I won't always be there to cover your ass." He smiled at Jack. Jack bit his lip. And smiled weakly back at him. Jack wanted to get rid of this uniform. He hated it. He knew from his own history what it stood for and it made him sick. But he also knew that he needed the shield of the PK persona to protect him. They found their transports. The PK Identchip that Crais gave them worked better then they had expected. Once scanned, they were given a wide birth. They boarded the transports as the two suns started to set. Ulric was uncomfortable staying here at night, so the heavy-laden transport pods headed back to Arcanum. Alterations "Go ahead. Arcanum had them made for you." They walked cautiously through the doorway. There was a short hallway with two translucent doors across from each other. The door on the left opened into a small room with a bed grown out of the far wall. The room had a bench and small table. There was a second door on the left side of the bedroom Jack opened the door to a recycler room with recycler, shower and sink. "Ya-hoo. indoor plumbing!" Jack shouted. Enra and Ulric had no idea what he said but they knew the spirit of his comment and they all enjoyed a much-needed laugh. They walked thru the door on the right. The quarters were larger. The far wall had a large bed. There was a table with two small benches. There was a second recycler room the same as the smaller bedroom. On the opposite wall was a second room. Enra stepped back at the realization of what it was. "From the Gods why would he…" She looked at Ulric as if she was going to cry. All this was lost on Ulric. Jack stepped past them to look at the room. "Holy shit!" Jack could not believe his eye. It was the largest of the three rooms. It was a hemispherical shaped room with a low walled bed near the doorway. The ceiling pulsated lightly with light and sounds from some biometric source. Its lights and sounds were quiet soothing to the senses. "What is this room for? Ulric had no idea what it was. Jack looked at Enra and smiled. She turned to Ulric. "It's a nursery Ulric. This is a crib." "Holy Shit!" Ulric said. "Very good, Ulric. I knew you would catch on to a few of my sayings eventually." The men laughed. They returned to the control node to the ever-smiling Cela. "Thank you, Cela. The quarters are wonderful! How did you get Arcanum to agree? "It was Arcanum's idea not mine." Enra looked to the ceiling. "Thank you Arcanum. The quarters are wonderful." Jack looked at Ulric. "I'm sorry Ulric. Obviously your linking with him has changed him." "Forget it Jack I know you were being protective." His smile widened. "Ulric, soon you'll know where I'm coming from." That comment wiped the smile from Ulric's face. He turned and walked towards the transport disk in silence. Jack headed after him. He jumped on the disk just as it was about to leave he stumbled slightly. The disk moved down the long tunnel. Jack yelled into the air. "Arcanum, stop transport!" The disk decelerated to a stop. "What did I do, now?" "Nothing!" He took a deep breath. Ulric turned and faced Jack. He was shocked by his expression. For the first time Jack could see Ulric was scared! "Jack… I have killed many times in my life." He laughed. "I have been almost killed many more times as well. But I have never been as scared as I am now. You know Jack that I was bred in an incubator." He turned from Jack stare. "I have no family. I have no knowledge of how to raise a child. " Jack smiled at his Sebacean friend. "Do you think just because I was raised by a father and mother that that means I knew how to be a father? Ha! Ulric it's a guessing game. You learn as you go, trust me." He smiled at Ulric. "I fu…frelled up many times raising John." Pain started to seep into his expression. "The worse thing I did was not being there for him especially when he was young." He lowered his stare to the floor. " You will always have regrets, Ulric. That comes with the territory of parenting. As long as you try your best no one can ask anymore of you. "He looked back up at Ulric. " I have seen you in action son you'll be a great dad." He slapped Ulric on the back. "Lets get back I want to move into my new room." Ulric smiled slightly. "I am looking forward to not sleeping on the floor of the control node." "Arcanum return us to the control node." They returned in silence to the control node. The two men stepped down from the transport disk. Ulric stopped Jack. He put his hand out to Jack. "Thank you Jack…" He was going to say more but he didn't need to, Jack understood. Jack Crichton's log entry
87 Dalthena Mace The first officer approached. "We are detecting a Biomechanoid dropping from Starburst outside the system." "I knew he would come." A smile crept across her face. "Captain?" The first officer looked at her puzzled. "Captain Jass Delin is on board that Leviathan. He must know what's his going on here." "Im sorry Captain its signature is that of a Daedalus class Biomechanoid not a Leviathan." "What!" Her mood changed. "The hunt is on." She looked at the pitiful man. "Send out hunters and prepare to jump to that location." She turned and looked at Drathor Prime again and smiled. " This might be my chance." The command carrier Jumped from orbit. Drathor Prime "What is a Mars?" Ulric looked at Jack. "Ulric this is my system! Earths system! Mars is the fourth planet." He was still stunned at the revelation. "Strange name for a world?" Enra look at Jack. "It's named for the God of War from Earth's ancient history." He could not take his eyes off the little world. He smiled as he saw the canals descending from the northern ocean to the dry southern hemisphere. Perciful Lowell would be proud of their accomplishment. Ulric smiled at Jack. "How fitting Jack that the PeaceKeepers are they're looking for the secrets of the God of war." Jack looked at both of them. "This changes everything. We can't just destroy it. I need to know more." Ulric snapped "What! No Jack! We have not come here to visit. We have come here to blow that Frelling planet up." He sometimes could not figure out the motivations of his human friend. This was definitely one of those times. The Pilot broke up there discussion. "I am detecting seven Peacekeeper Destroyers and one Command Carrier. On patrol in this system." Jack turned from Ulric "Pilot can we reach Mars…a Drathor Prime without being detected?" "It is doubtful." As usual the pilot did not look up from his console when he spoke. Arcanum Appeared. He moved to the center of the control node. "I am almost ready to starburst into orbit." "Arcanum!" Jack fought his anger. "Why didn't you tell me we were going to Mars?"
"Arcanum, how do you know of the Library of Alexandria?" Jack felt a chill run through his body. "He called out for help. He knows we're here, Jack Crichton. He has sent me information to help persuade you that this cause is just. You are here to help him in this final task. You cannot stop the PeaceKeepers, but you can end Drathors life." He turned to Ulric. "Listen for yourself Ulric." Ulric closed his eyes. He listened he could barely make out its cry. Then he felt it wave after wave. The pain and agony that were in its songs were so disturbing to Ulric he ended the link quickly. He had to catch his breath. He looked at Jack then back at Arcanum. "We have to stop them." He turned back to Jack. "Listen to me Jack, Arcanum is right. Drathor is in incredible pain we have…" The Pilot interrupted them. There was certain nervousness in his voice. "I am detecting four Biomechanoids closing on our position." Hunters Ulric looked at Arcanum. His image was moving slightly. He seemed to be struggling in the link. Ulric closed his eyes and listened. Arcanum broke free of the link and yelled. "No Ulric it's a trap!" It was too late. The fire erupted in Ulric's mind he stood there convulsing in pain. Jack grabbed his pulse riffle from its holster adjusted the setting and fired. The plasma pulse knocked Ulric to the floor and the peace of unconsciousness. Enra was by his side by the time he had hit the floor Jack ran for the medical kit. Arcanum stood watching them trying to revive Ulric. He turned to the Pilot. "Destroy those abominations." The Pilot nodded obediently. Jack looked up from the medical kit "What happened? He had a terrified look in his face he was reliving the event on Lursa as he removed the mediScan from the kit. Arcanum moved closer. They are Biomech hunters. Peacekeepers use them to capture Leviathans. They have Cloreum injectors that are designed to sedate us. But these are new. They project a Biomechanoid signature." He looked at Ulric. "Commander Selton foolishly tried to communicate with them." They felt Arcanum fire its Frag cannons. Jack looked up at the projection. It showed the little image disappear from the central projection. They had destroyed them. Arcanum returned to Jacks side. "Will he survive?" Jack looked up at the old man. "I don't know…" "I am detecting more Hunters!" The Pilot yelled. "Nine. Eleven. Fourteen" "What are you going to do Arcanum? They know we're here." "We must leave here now." His image shimmered with intensity. "We will have to find another way." Arcanum felt the attack. They knew exactly where to strike. At the base of each starburst talon are soft joints that allow the talons to move. The clorium warheads of each of the hunters penetrated deep in to the joints. He felt his consciousness start to fade. "It is too late." The ship shuttered beneath them. Jack fell to the floor. Enra fell on top of Ulric. "I am sorry Ulric I can not keep my promise." His head lowered. His image disappeared for the last time. 12. Sorry Enra Jack found it faster to pick him up and throw him over his shoulder. They entered the transport pod. He lowered Ulric onto an acceleration chair. "Enra program the ships trajectory for ninety degree port from our standard heading. Maximum acceleration!" She moved forward to the control area of the ship. Jack lock Ulric down and headed for the hatch. Enra ran after him down the ramp. Jack stopped he did not turn back to face her. He took a deep breath and unlocked the clasp on his holster. "Enra I want you to leave now!" Enra looked at Jack. "No Jack we're staying! "Im sorry Enra I have to make sure you get away safe. The only way I can do that is staying here and a… distract the PeaceKeepers." He smiled to himself. He never was a very good liar. Enra circled around to face jack. "No!" She became quite angry." We will leave when you leave, Jack." Jack maintained his stare on the floor. "Enra, please do this for me!" He knew that time was running out." You are going to get into that transport pod and leave now." Jack knew better than make eye contact with her. "Look Enra you don't understand." He slowly pulled his pulse gun from his pocket. Before she could react, he struck her at the rear of her head. Slowly Enra fell forward into him. He would have preferred to trank her. But in her condition he was afraid it could harm the baby. "I'm sorry Enra you'll understand someday." He picked her up and carried her back into the transport pod. He walked past Ulric lifeless body. He locked her into the acceleration chair. He gave her a small kiss on the cheek. "You have two to watch out for now." He pulled his logbook from his pocket and stuffed it into Enra's jacket. Jack headed back to the hatch. He stopped next to Ulric. He had a hard time looking at him. A thin trickle of blood still ran from his nose. He bent down and hugged him. If only I had a chance to say goodbye. He cleared his throat. "Goodbye Ulric, I love you son." Jack got up from Ulric's side slowly. He turned and exited the transport pod. He sealed the hatch and headed back to the control node. He walked to the central display. "Lock Control node door. Prep the transport pod for departure." He turned to Pilot." How is Arcanum?" The pilot looked at Cela then looked down. "He is responding slowly but I don't think he is in any condition to starburst." Cela looked at Jack with pity. "I'm sorry Jack." "No we will not give up that easy." He walked over to the Pilot. "We have to try to starburst at least five light cycle away from this position." Pilot looked at Jack for the first time. "Yes Colonel Crichton. On your command." "We must wait till they board, then I want you to launch the transport pod." Jack stood at the center of the control node watching the display. The command carrier jumped to normal space off there starboard side. It unleashed its fighter like angry hornets from a nest. Jack stood there with a smile. "I know what you want. Come and get it!" |
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The small female pilot looked at them her head
slightly tilted. " I did before I was chosen and joined. That name is no longer
who I am." The grin disappeared from her face she seemed to fall back into the
solemn world of this Biomechaniod.
So frelling close! Fleet Captain Dalthena
Mace stood in the center of the command deck. On the main viewer was the Planet
Drathor Prime. She could make out the excavation site. This world had been
terra-formed long ago. Its biosphere was not a natural evolution. Its
environment was altered by some alien race long dead. What secrets do you
hold? She knew whatever it was that they were doing down there smelled of
power. She had petitioned the PK council a number of times to be allowed to land
on the planet. Each time she was refused. They wanted her in orbit to protect
the site, not getting her hands on what they were uncovering. The frustration
burned in her belly. She had to break her stare of the planet.
He moved in front of Jack. "It is time
for you to know what is here-who is here." He turned towards the central display
as he spoke the image of a huge city that had been excavated on the surface
appeared. "He has lived under the surface of Drathor Prime for almost ten
million cycles. He is the Histor of your race Jack Crichton. He holds the
knowledge of what passed before us. The PeaceKeepers discovered him cycles ago.
They are close to breaching his Progenitor's Key." He moved closer to Jack. " If
I told you we were going to burn the library of Alexandria would you have come?"
Jack was silent. How could Arcanum know of Earth history? "No, you would
not." Arcanum looked down. "Drathor's knowledge would be catastrophic in the
hands of the PeaceKeepers." If he could end his own life he would.