Okay... I've been a busy little boy lately and during that time I ran accross a book in the Borders Express in my mall called Flight Vol. 3. Now, while I don't necissarily judge a book by it's cover, this one caught my eye and I started flipping through it.
Turns out that its a series of short comics collected from people who are reputed to be excelent story tellers. One story in particual caught my attention: Polaris by Azad Injejikian.
Despite the way the story ends I like it, but I still feel so terrible for poor little Amelia Zot. And so, in my writing project where we never know who or what we're gonna run into next, I figured, what the hell. It'd be interesting if he had an adopted daughter...
Oh, and BTW, Amelia Zot is used with permission from Azad Injejikian. References for Earthsong, however, I'm still waiting to hear back on - until then they're used without permission.
It was saddening to see yet another perished world especially when it was Earth. Some Earths were glassed radioactive cinders left over from a terrible war. Others were polluted to death barren rocky lands bathed in caustic mists or lifeless arid wastes where harsh winds blow with fantastic force.
This was a water world, a place without a single trace of dry land. The Ice Caps, for one reason or another, had melted down, but not boiled off. It was one of the more common scenarios for worlds that had mismanaged their efforts to control air pollution.
My task here was a simple one: search for survivors.
It was a disheartening one at that. Command knew already from the reports of our probes that I wasnt likely to find many survivors, if any at all. Thus, all I was given was a single Pegasus scout craft.
After a day of intensive sensor sweeps I was about to make ready to break orbit when the computer warbled for my attention. A single human life sign had been detected. It was a weak, yet steady sign and more than enough reason for me to go down there for a closer look.
I found her in the northern polar region, floating in the water under what appeared to be something like an oil-derrick. With great care, I eased the Pegasus into the water next to her. I then slipped out onto the hull of the craft, spooking a seagull in the process, and smoothly scooped her from the water. She was a beautiful little girl who could be no more than eight years old, with fair hair and skin.
That fair skin had suffered. It was red, blotchy and cracked from who knew how many days under a harsh, unforgiving sun and bone-chilling nights.
Gently, I ran my I ran my right hand over the tortured skin of her face the worst affected area healing it with the tissue regenerator built into that hand. Within a few moments work her face was restored and taking on a healthy bronze tone. And yet, a troubled ex-pression darkened that face.
Mommy, she whimpered. Mommy Please dont leave, Mommy Take me with you Mommy, please It was more than I could take, even now as I write this account. Tears stung my eyes as I felt my heart break for this poor little orphan.
Oh my God, I cried softly as I held her close to my chest and wept for her. You poor thing. You poor innocent thing. Im so sorry.
Suddenly I felt her little arms wrap around my chest and hold to me tightly. She held me so tightly that I dont think I could have made her let go, even if I had wanted to. I then knew that she was wakeful enough to hear my words, to know what sorrow I felt for her. I then knew that I would never make her let go of me, nor could I let go of her.
I swear to you, little one. I will protect you, always.
***
Shortly after I got her inside the scout crafts tiny, yet serviceable, sickbay and got her to drink a restorative. As I prepared the bio-bed for her, I noticed that she watched every movement I made. But then as I moved my hands, I noticed that it was not necessarily what I was doing that she was watching. She was watching me as I was not skinned and wore no gloves.
Oh, I guess you noticed that Im not normal, huh? I said when I realized this, holding up my left hand and wiggling my fingers so she could see it working. She did so with what appeared to be morbid fascination. She then looked at me as though to ask what had happened to me.
Well, I had a bad accident a long, long time ago, I explained as I continued to ready the bio-bed. The only way I could live something like a normal life was to be given this machine-body. Its not as nice as having a normal body, but I can do things no normal humans can because of it. You could say that Im special.
She looked at me in wonder and curiosity at that. I smiled back at her that was much better than the morbid fascination she had earlier. I then went to her and gently scooped her up. At first she froze, frightened at what it would be like to touch me she apparently didnt remember too much about me carrying her in here. But then, she relaxed as I carried to the bio-bed and then set her down. She then looked at me in startled amazement. I could tell what she was thinking. How could someone made of metal be soft? Suddenly, she reached out and poked my right arm and felt the myomer under my jumpsuit yield. I smiled.
Yeah, it is pretty amazing, isnt it?
She nodded her head in reply.
Anyways, this bed is a special machine. If you lay down on it, it will heal you. The only thing is, though, is that you have to be naked for it to work right, so Im going to go
Suddenly she lunged and grabbed me up around my chest, taking me by surprise. That surprise melted into compassion as she then began to sob softly on my chest. Gently, I put my arms around her comfortingly.
Okay, I wont leave, I said softly. Ill just turn around while you get those old clothes off and lay down to let the bed do its work. Okay?
She looked up at me with a tear-streaked face and nodded. I noticed that her skin-tone on her face had darkened considerably since I had healed it earlier a reflex from being out in the sun for so long. This little one was going to have a Cali-girl complexion. Smiling down at her, I gently set her back on the bed, then turned around and stood at ease. I could hear the old tattered clothes and single shoe she wore fall to the deck, and then the sound of the bio-beds tissue regenerators going to work on the girl. It did not take very long, and once it was through, I reached over to a shelf in the bulkhead and handed her a blanket behind me. I waited a moment, and then turned to look at her.
Will I ever learn to always expect the unexpected?
There she was, with the blanket wrapped around her. This wouldnt have been strange except that the bottom edge of the blanket was hovering about a couple of decimeters above the deck. With no sign of feet or legs underneath it.
Are you a telekinetic? I asked.
She gave me a confused look.
Never mind. Could other people on your world hover like that?
She shook her head.
You were the only one that could do this?
A slow, reluctant nod.
Thats interesting. Ive never heard of anything like this in real life before. Ill save the rest of the questions for later, though. Right now, lets get you dressed in something nice, huh? A slow nod. She seemed so sad, though I couldnt blame her. Everyone she had ever known was dead. However, something about her sadness told me that it was something else as well. Unfortunately, she still seemed to be shell-shocked from the experience, thus words would probably not come easily to her for a while.
Again, I gently grab her up into my arms. She makes no complaints whatsoever and I make sure to snag her old clothes.
This way now, I say as I take her out of the sickbay and into the small common area which doubles as the galley and mess. It was odd to hold her like that since she figuratively weighed nothing, but I could certainly feel her mass as I moved with her. Very curious, indeed. I let her go when I approached the replicator in the room and looked through the old clothes for the tags.
Computer, one childs jumpsuit, size eight, cotton, pink scheme, one pair of childs ship-boots, white, size four, and a set of underclothes. I collected them from the replicator and placed the old ones on a nearby desk, then went to the girl and gently grabbed her up again and took her over to the crew quarters and showed her how to use a sonic shower. Then, afterwards, it was time for a meal she chose spaghetti-and-meatballs from the computers pictographic menu. It was during that meal that I learned, by giving her a PADD to type on, that her name was Amelia Zot. And so, with all those tasks out of the way, Amelia was clean, dressed, fed and much healthier looking.
Well now! You look much better, I told her.
Amelia managed blushed a bit at that and smiled weakly.
Now that weve got all that out of the way, how about we get going?
She gave me a look as though to say, Go where?
My home. Its out in space.
She gave me an incredulous look.
Its true. Come on up to the control room with me, Ill show you. I began to move to the front of the Pegasus and she followed, slowly. Almost reluctantly, Amelia followed. To my eyes, the control room was nothing remarkable, but to someone like Amelia, who was taking all these technological marvels with remarkable stride, simply looked around in awe.
She gave me a mildly surprised look when I gently took her by the shoulders and placed her in the co-pilots seat and activated the safety harness. I smiled as she felt and tugged at the harness experimentally and sat down myself in the pilots seat next to her. She then watched me with fascination as I then began to start the Pegasuss engines once more, running through the checklists as I did so.
I was about to lift off when suddenly the proximity sensors went off, bringing the shields online. Something hit the Pegasus with incredible force and I was glad that Amelia was in the harness. The inertial compensators were not very effective this far into a gravity well, thus the jolt. Automatically, the Pegasus went into Red Alert.
Before I could even assess what was going on, we were pummeled again.
The system popped up a warning at me the matter/antimatter reactor chamber (MARC) could not fully power up the Pegasus for lift-off if we kept on getting pummeled like this. In this landed state the Pegasus was helpless. Maybe if it were a larger, more capable ship, then we wouldnt have this problem. The only option for me was to go outside and face this threat myself.
Youll be safe here, I told Amelia as I got up.
She gave me a horrified look that I read as, Please dont leave me alone!
Im sorry, but I gotta do this. Dont worry Ill be back. I promise. And with that, I left her.
I only had time to don the lightweight flight armor not exactly what I would have liked to face an unknown force with, but it was far better than nothing. Once outside the airlock I got airborne to see what the heck was attacking. I was not dis-appointed as something that resembled a dragon in the ancient Chinese style reared out of the sea. It was huge bug enough to take me in a bite and it had beautiful pearlescent blue scales. However, it was not its size that bothered me. Indeed, I had killed bigger, and potentially more dangerous, bugs on Klendathu. It was what it did next.
You who has taken the gifted child, it said in a great, seismic growl, return her to me and I shall leave you in peace. This situation wasnt exactly good. This thing not only sounded intelligent, but ancient too. Ancient enough that I was picking up the vibe off him. It wasnt necessarily a bad vibe, just a dangerous one. Still, I mastered my fear as I had learned over the years. Ancient dragon or not, I swore an oath to Amelia.
And what is to become of her if I do?
That is none of your concern, strange mortal. My eyes narrowed at this.
I am sorry, ancient one, but in my experience when somebody feeds me that line of bull it usually means nothing good is going to happen.
Your feelings are irrelevant you crass young upstart. You will deliver her to me or I shall devour you.
"No, ancient one. I claim this child as my own and will take her from this place. You no longer have any right to her!"
So be it! snarled the dragon as it then lunged for me. He was fast, almost impossibly fast, but I was ready and dove to the side. Even as I did so, I ignited my plasma sword, the familiar crack and sizzle piercing the air as the blade extended from my left hand, and slashed the beast along his side.
With an outraged growl he recoiled from the strike and I pressed my advantage by letting him have it with my particle beam gun, causing him to roar in pain. Then as I came around for another pass I was given new food for though. The wounds I had inflicted were gone already!
Red light! said Akis voice in my head, coming to the same conclusion I did conventional combat was not gonna get me anywhere with this beast and Id only expend my reactors fuel supply before I knew it. I killed my plasma blade and darted to the side the dragon missed me by the proverbial mile, his jaws snapping shut were I had been. At this moment, I knew that I had to get her out of harms way.
Aki! Get her out of that things reach. Explain the situation while youre at it so she doesnt panic.
Right! With that, I felt her presence withdraw from my mind.
***
Amelia knew that there was something desperately wrong. She knew already that Benjamin, the kind man made of steel, had gone outside to fight some sort of monster. Not only that, she also knew that it wanted her. She didnt know why, she just did it was the same way when someone has an itch that they must scratch it.
Suddenly, on the black glassy-looking panel in front of her, a woman she did not recognize appeared and began to speak.
Amelia! Im going to move the ship away from the battle so that you wont get hurt. Ben said not to worry. As soon as its over Ill call the ship back, okay? Suddenly, Amelia heard a whining crescendo somewhere behind her. Before she even had a chance to even realize that it was coming from somewhere inside the Pegasus, she was suddenly shoved into her seat by some invisible force.
She gasped this was something she had never felt before. Looking around her, she tried to understand why she was feeling this sensation, and then she looked out the windows and gasped once more. The blue sky was slowly fading into darkness. No, not just darkness, a night sky! Suddenly, the stars in that sky shifted as though some great hand had turned the Pegasus, but she hadnt felt like anything had moved.
And then, at the end of this almost nausea inducing sweep, the entire planet swung into view. Last, but not least, a new image flicked onto the display before her eyes. Amelia did not really know what she was looking at she could tell that it portrayed the endless seascape that she had been rescued from. At the bottom was a white bar that had a graph with a regularly pulsing heart icon next to it that pulse and the pattern on the graph was a steady and even one. In that image, squared directly in the center, was a dragon.
Amelia was suddenly filled with a petrifying dread. She had always thought that at least some dragons in fairy tales were nice, but for some reason this one did not feel very nice to her at all. And then, to her even greater confusion, she heard Bens voice.
***
Okay, scaly. So youre some kind of magical creature? Fine then. I can do magical. My Soulstone throbbed gently against my heart as it called out to my weapons and at once they were in my hands, overhand in the left, underhand in the right.
Your weapons shall avail you not! snarled the dragon as it charged for me once more.
You know not what youre up against! I cried out as I darted just to the side and slashed the blade in my left hand along the dragons side. This time, instead of the pained roar, came an ear-splitting screech of agony. Once again, Earthsongs gift was proving invaluable.
The Dragon was the one who stopped this time as he had something to think about.
How in all eternity did you come by such weapons? Such things are not for mortals to wield!
I guess Im just special then, I growled.
No matter. I shall just have to be more cautious. And just as he said the words, the sky immediately turned dark and ominous. I looked around and saw that it was all around us. A super-storm, a perfect hurricane from nowhere, was rapidly building all around me. Not just within a day, rapidly. This storm was going to become fatally dangerous within mere minutes. Already I could see waterspouts beginning to form.
So then, you coward. Is this how you ended this world? Is this how you killed all those innocent people?
Dont make me laugh, mortal. They were nothing more than chattel. Only the gifted one mattered.
Is that so? Then Ill show you what befalls those who favor only the gifted! I then made my charge. Wild currents, water spouts and lightning all came at me at once and I was unafraid. Ive played this game before. Never fight the currents. Instead, flow with them and use them to your advantage. This is doubly so for the waterspouts. As for the lightning, I ignored it. Flesh and blood may be affected by the high-energy static discharges, but not me the lightning could not even touch me because Aki was constantly tracking the static charges and making sure that the lightning could not seek me out.
The dragon reared back in shock as I navigated his hazard field and lunged for him, my blades seeking his flesh. He tried to whip me aside with his tail and succeeded, but only to an extent. I quickly recovered and alighted on one of his coils. Of course, he was quick to take action here.
So it was that while the storm raged all around me that I did battle with this dragon, striking and counter-striking against his blows, but only managing to nickel-and-dime him. Still, I was holding my own against his onslaught.
Apparently, he didnt like that idea.
I grow tired of this game, mortal. Be gone with you! He somehow managed to shake me off and the storm dissipated as I regained stability in the air. Once I was upright, I saw that he had climbed high up in the air and was charging some sort of energy in his mouth. Before Aki could even begin to assess the risk factor he let go with it.
Benjamin! cried Akis voice. The yield of that energy discharge is phenomenal its registering in the gigaton range! We cant survive this!
My mind raced momentarily there had to be a way out of this mess. And then my eyes came to my Blades of the Sidera. I had yet to explore the full potential of these weapons as I had only recently learned to summon them at will.
Are you serious? said Aki as she picked up on my thoughts. We have no way of knowing if theyll work or not!
I never know till I try, Aki. And right now that seems to be our only viable option. I looked up at the oncoming energy sphere it was huge. There was no way to dodge this thing. The only way to go was straight through. And it sounded perfectly fine to me. I crossed the blades over my head, said the infamous spacers prayer (Lord, dont let me screw up.) and charged onwards. And then I was engulfed.
The energy swirled and eddied all around me. My shield gauge immediately began to drop steadily and the sheer force of it all wracked me. But I couldnt stop now to do so was to wish for death. I didnt want that. Never in a million years would I give up. Suddenly, seeming to have sensed my resolve, my Soulstone pulsed once again and I felt a surge of power flow through and uplift me. I shot out of the energy orb faster than I went in.
Probably made one hell of a light show, too.
What!? cried out the Dragon in shock. You should be dead! I killed you!
I adjusted my blades into a scissor formation and relieved the dragon of his head. Far below, the massive energy discharge dispersed before it could ever touch the surface.
A lot of people like you have said that, I said as I hovered over the Dragon. For some reason, he still floated there in the calm air, but now I could see its body slowly starting to disintegrate.
So, he said in a hushed, weak tone. I have been defeated. Take the child then. I shall rebuild this world anew in my own image without her power. A suddenly gust of wind came from nowhere carrying a cloud with it. When it was gone, so was the Dragon.
Aki, summon the Pegasus for a high-altitude, high-speed intercept. I dont want to stay here any longer than I absolutely have to.
Affirmative. The Pegasus is on its way now.
***
He had killed it.
Benjamin had killed the dragon, a creature that had struck such a horrible fear into Amelias heart.
That was it then, Amelia resolved to herself. No matter what happened, she wanted to be brave and strong like Benjamin. Once she was, she too could protect people the way he had protected her today. She never noticed that the Pegasus was in motion again. It couldnt be held against her though since the inertial compensators were fully operational this time.
Ben came in and she didnt notice until he unlocked her harness. Suddenly she shot out of her seat and into Ben, who had to stumble back or else shed hurt herself on him, and began to wail inconsolably.
Ben knew that she needed a good cry. Hell, she would probably need several more after all shed been through, which Ben could only guess at. For the time being, he did the smart thing. He told Aki to set course to rendezvous with the Event Horizon and send a preliminary report to Captain Keyes. Then, with nothing better to do, he took little Amelia to bed with him. He was absolutely exhausted and was more than happy to let the grieving girl fall asleep on his chest.
***
When I awoke later on, I was mildly surprised to see that Amelia was hovering just a few centimeters over me as she slept. I supposed that as she regained strength her flight ability improved. I just hoped that it wouldnt become a problem later on the last thing one would need would be to drift around ones home aimlessly in their sleep.
Carefully, I got up, slipping out from under Amelia without much trouble and she stayed where she was.
Anything from Command, Aki? I asked as I went to the common room and got a nutrient drink from the replicator.
Captain Keyes would like to speak with you as soon as convenience allows.
Right then, I replied and went to the control room to run status checks. I know Aki was minding the store, so to speak, but it was good practice to make sure that everything was ship-shape. It seemed that everything was so and we were only a couple hours from the Event Horizons current position. That taken care of, I made certain that I was presentable and sent in the call to the Captain.
Apparently she had been waiting for me.
Chief Petty Officer Rhodes, said Captain Miranda Keyes with a smile on her face. Leave it to you to find a survivor against all odds and even get into a fight with one of the locals.
Well Captain, I guess thats just my karma.
Well, whatever it is, the only person I think Ive ever seen get into as much trouble is the Master Chief. Ah yes. Good old John. No longer fighting on the frontlines these days, but training new recruits for SPARTAN II though Im sure if given the opportunity, hed gladly go to the front lines. The Captain went on, So then, tell me about this survivor, Rhodes. Im curious about this strange ability that Aki mentioned.
Yeah, she flies around with no visible means. Oddest thing Ive ever seen just like something out of comic books. I havent done anything to figure out how she does it. Ill leave that to the scientists. She even floats in her sleep it seems.
Youre right, Rhodes, that is odd. Well, you dont have to worry about her once you get here. The UNSC will take care of her from now on. I sighed at that. Being a ward of the state was not such a bad thing with the UNSC, but it still meant that she would be staying in an orphanage or a foster home, and I had already become attached to her.
Captain I dont know how to break this to you, but I want to adopt her.
Have you flipped your lid, CPO? said the Captain, just a hair under actually yelling. I know she needs someone to take care of her, but you arent exactly whats called parenting material. Youre a killing machine, not a nanny. I winced at being called a killing machine. Granted, thats what I was to be sure, but that had connotations to it that I did not like.
Captain, all due respect, you know how I feel about being referred to like that.
Right. I owe you an apology, Rhodes, but thats beside the point right now.
I dont care what anyone else thinks. And besides, shes latched onto me already. Shes lost everything shes ever known and if you take me away from her shell be inconsolable. And given her ability I think youd want her otherwise. Captain Keyes leaned back in her chair and sighed as she put a hand up to her temple.
You know what this would mean, dont you?
Ill have to be inactive while shes dependant on my constant care. Its not like youve had all that great a need of me lately, and God knows Ive earned a few years off. Besides, if you really need me for something special, then Im always around. You only have to call and Ill answer. You should know that.
Dont patronize me, CPO Rhodes, said Captain Keyes, bristling a bit. She then sighed and went on, You are right. Youve earned some inactive duty time. Ill have your living accommodations upgraded your belongings should be moved to your new residence by the time you get here. As for the custody rights Well, Ill have one of our best JAGs on it. The Captain was definitely a by-the-book officer, but when it was called for, she could also be a good friend.
Thank you kindly, Captain.
Right. Now, Rhodes, whats this about fighting a monster? Hoo boy, this one was gonna be another doozy.
It was some kind of dragon, Captain, and I dont think it was ordinary. I think it was some kind of spirit.
Rhodes, were on record here, warned the Captain.
I have proof, I replied and sent the contents of my mnemonic memory logs from the battle, tightly compressed and encoded with one of Cortanas own algorithms. The Captain noted the arrival of the file, decrypted it, decompressed it, and inspected it.
Jesus H. Christ, Rhodes! uttered Captain Keyes. What the hell is it with you? Youre like a magnet for this kind of shit.
I have no idea, Captain, but Im starting to get the feeling that someone up there has it out for me.
Well, just as long as nothing like this happens while youre inactive. I dont know if the Event Horizon would stay intact.
Not as long as I can help it, Captain.
Between you, the Manticors, Spartans, and all your other friends, I wouldnt doubt it. Dont worry about debriefing when you get here, Ill handle that. Just worry about Amelia. Understood?
Yes Captain.
Good. Ill see you once you get settled in. We saluted each other and then the signal was broken. Sighing, I went over to wake Amelia. It was a bit early yet, but good habits are best started as early in life as possible.
-To Be Continued-
Black Aeronaut Technologies Group, LLC
Aerospace Solutions for the discerning spacer
What!? Were you expecitng something witty?
Turns out that its a series of short comics collected from people who are reputed to be excelent story tellers. One story in particual caught my attention: Polaris by Azad Injejikian.
Despite the way the story ends I like it, but I still feel so terrible for poor little Amelia Zot. And so, in my writing project where we never know who or what we're gonna run into next, I figured, what the hell. It'd be interesting if he had an adopted daughter...
Oh, and BTW, Amelia Zot is used with permission from Azad Injejikian. References for Earthsong, however, I'm still waiting to hear back on - until then they're used without permission.
It was saddening to see yet another perished world especially when it was Earth. Some Earths were glassed radioactive cinders left over from a terrible war. Others were polluted to death barren rocky lands bathed in caustic mists or lifeless arid wastes where harsh winds blow with fantastic force.
This was a water world, a place without a single trace of dry land. The Ice Caps, for one reason or another, had melted down, but not boiled off. It was one of the more common scenarios for worlds that had mismanaged their efforts to control air pollution.
My task here was a simple one: search for survivors.
It was a disheartening one at that. Command knew already from the reports of our probes that I wasnt likely to find many survivors, if any at all. Thus, all I was given was a single Pegasus scout craft.
After a day of intensive sensor sweeps I was about to make ready to break orbit when the computer warbled for my attention. A single human life sign had been detected. It was a weak, yet steady sign and more than enough reason for me to go down there for a closer look.
I found her in the northern polar region, floating in the water under what appeared to be something like an oil-derrick. With great care, I eased the Pegasus into the water next to her. I then slipped out onto the hull of the craft, spooking a seagull in the process, and smoothly scooped her from the water. She was a beautiful little girl who could be no more than eight years old, with fair hair and skin.
That fair skin had suffered. It was red, blotchy and cracked from who knew how many days under a harsh, unforgiving sun and bone-chilling nights.
Gently, I ran my I ran my right hand over the tortured skin of her face the worst affected area healing it with the tissue regenerator built into that hand. Within a few moments work her face was restored and taking on a healthy bronze tone. And yet, a troubled ex-pression darkened that face.
Mommy, she whimpered. Mommy Please dont leave, Mommy Take me with you Mommy, please It was more than I could take, even now as I write this account. Tears stung my eyes as I felt my heart break for this poor little orphan.
Oh my God, I cried softly as I held her close to my chest and wept for her. You poor thing. You poor innocent thing. Im so sorry.
Suddenly I felt her little arms wrap around my chest and hold to me tightly. She held me so tightly that I dont think I could have made her let go, even if I had wanted to. I then knew that she was wakeful enough to hear my words, to know what sorrow I felt for her. I then knew that I would never make her let go of me, nor could I let go of her.
I swear to you, little one. I will protect you, always.
***
Shortly after I got her inside the scout crafts tiny, yet serviceable, sickbay and got her to drink a restorative. As I prepared the bio-bed for her, I noticed that she watched every movement I made. But then as I moved my hands, I noticed that it was not necessarily what I was doing that she was watching. She was watching me as I was not skinned and wore no gloves.
Oh, I guess you noticed that Im not normal, huh? I said when I realized this, holding up my left hand and wiggling my fingers so she could see it working. She did so with what appeared to be morbid fascination. She then looked at me as though to ask what had happened to me.
Well, I had a bad accident a long, long time ago, I explained as I continued to ready the bio-bed. The only way I could live something like a normal life was to be given this machine-body. Its not as nice as having a normal body, but I can do things no normal humans can because of it. You could say that Im special.
She looked at me in wonder and curiosity at that. I smiled back at her that was much better than the morbid fascination she had earlier. I then went to her and gently scooped her up. At first she froze, frightened at what it would be like to touch me she apparently didnt remember too much about me carrying her in here. But then, she relaxed as I carried to the bio-bed and then set her down. She then looked at me in startled amazement. I could tell what she was thinking. How could someone made of metal be soft? Suddenly, she reached out and poked my right arm and felt the myomer under my jumpsuit yield. I smiled.
Yeah, it is pretty amazing, isnt it?
She nodded her head in reply.
Anyways, this bed is a special machine. If you lay down on it, it will heal you. The only thing is, though, is that you have to be naked for it to work right, so Im going to go
Suddenly she lunged and grabbed me up around my chest, taking me by surprise. That surprise melted into compassion as she then began to sob softly on my chest. Gently, I put my arms around her comfortingly.
Okay, I wont leave, I said softly. Ill just turn around while you get those old clothes off and lay down to let the bed do its work. Okay?
She looked up at me with a tear-streaked face and nodded. I noticed that her skin-tone on her face had darkened considerably since I had healed it earlier a reflex from being out in the sun for so long. This little one was going to have a Cali-girl complexion. Smiling down at her, I gently set her back on the bed, then turned around and stood at ease. I could hear the old tattered clothes and single shoe she wore fall to the deck, and then the sound of the bio-beds tissue regenerators going to work on the girl. It did not take very long, and once it was through, I reached over to a shelf in the bulkhead and handed her a blanket behind me. I waited a moment, and then turned to look at her.
Will I ever learn to always expect the unexpected?
There she was, with the blanket wrapped around her. This wouldnt have been strange except that the bottom edge of the blanket was hovering about a couple of decimeters above the deck. With no sign of feet or legs underneath it.
Are you a telekinetic? I asked.
She gave me a confused look.
Never mind. Could other people on your world hover like that?
She shook her head.
You were the only one that could do this?
A slow, reluctant nod.
Thats interesting. Ive never heard of anything like this in real life before. Ill save the rest of the questions for later, though. Right now, lets get you dressed in something nice, huh? A slow nod. She seemed so sad, though I couldnt blame her. Everyone she had ever known was dead. However, something about her sadness told me that it was something else as well. Unfortunately, she still seemed to be shell-shocked from the experience, thus words would probably not come easily to her for a while.
Again, I gently grab her up into my arms. She makes no complaints whatsoever and I make sure to snag her old clothes.
This way now, I say as I take her out of the sickbay and into the small common area which doubles as the galley and mess. It was odd to hold her like that since she figuratively weighed nothing, but I could certainly feel her mass as I moved with her. Very curious, indeed. I let her go when I approached the replicator in the room and looked through the old clothes for the tags.
Computer, one childs jumpsuit, size eight, cotton, pink scheme, one pair of childs ship-boots, white, size four, and a set of underclothes. I collected them from the replicator and placed the old ones on a nearby desk, then went to the girl and gently grabbed her up again and took her over to the crew quarters and showed her how to use a sonic shower. Then, afterwards, it was time for a meal she chose spaghetti-and-meatballs from the computers pictographic menu. It was during that meal that I learned, by giving her a PADD to type on, that her name was Amelia Zot. And so, with all those tasks out of the way, Amelia was clean, dressed, fed and much healthier looking.
Well now! You look much better, I told her.
Amelia managed blushed a bit at that and smiled weakly.
Now that weve got all that out of the way, how about we get going?
She gave me a look as though to say, Go where?
My home. Its out in space.
She gave me an incredulous look.
Its true. Come on up to the control room with me, Ill show you. I began to move to the front of the Pegasus and she followed, slowly. Almost reluctantly, Amelia followed. To my eyes, the control room was nothing remarkable, but to someone like Amelia, who was taking all these technological marvels with remarkable stride, simply looked around in awe.
She gave me a mildly surprised look when I gently took her by the shoulders and placed her in the co-pilots seat and activated the safety harness. I smiled as she felt and tugged at the harness experimentally and sat down myself in the pilots seat next to her. She then watched me with fascination as I then began to start the Pegasuss engines once more, running through the checklists as I did so.
I was about to lift off when suddenly the proximity sensors went off, bringing the shields online. Something hit the Pegasus with incredible force and I was glad that Amelia was in the harness. The inertial compensators were not very effective this far into a gravity well, thus the jolt. Automatically, the Pegasus went into Red Alert.
Before I could even assess what was going on, we were pummeled again.
The system popped up a warning at me the matter/antimatter reactor chamber (MARC) could not fully power up the Pegasus for lift-off if we kept on getting pummeled like this. In this landed state the Pegasus was helpless. Maybe if it were a larger, more capable ship, then we wouldnt have this problem. The only option for me was to go outside and face this threat myself.
Youll be safe here, I told Amelia as I got up.
She gave me a horrified look that I read as, Please dont leave me alone!
Im sorry, but I gotta do this. Dont worry Ill be back. I promise. And with that, I left her.
I only had time to don the lightweight flight armor not exactly what I would have liked to face an unknown force with, but it was far better than nothing. Once outside the airlock I got airborne to see what the heck was attacking. I was not dis-appointed as something that resembled a dragon in the ancient Chinese style reared out of the sea. It was huge bug enough to take me in a bite and it had beautiful pearlescent blue scales. However, it was not its size that bothered me. Indeed, I had killed bigger, and potentially more dangerous, bugs on Klendathu. It was what it did next.
You who has taken the gifted child, it said in a great, seismic growl, return her to me and I shall leave you in peace. This situation wasnt exactly good. This thing not only sounded intelligent, but ancient too. Ancient enough that I was picking up the vibe off him. It wasnt necessarily a bad vibe, just a dangerous one. Still, I mastered my fear as I had learned over the years. Ancient dragon or not, I swore an oath to Amelia.
And what is to become of her if I do?
That is none of your concern, strange mortal. My eyes narrowed at this.
I am sorry, ancient one, but in my experience when somebody feeds me that line of bull it usually means nothing good is going to happen.
Your feelings are irrelevant you crass young upstart. You will deliver her to me or I shall devour you.
"No, ancient one. I claim this child as my own and will take her from this place. You no longer have any right to her!"
So be it! snarled the dragon as it then lunged for me. He was fast, almost impossibly fast, but I was ready and dove to the side. Even as I did so, I ignited my plasma sword, the familiar crack and sizzle piercing the air as the blade extended from my left hand, and slashed the beast along his side.
With an outraged growl he recoiled from the strike and I pressed my advantage by letting him have it with my particle beam gun, causing him to roar in pain. Then as I came around for another pass I was given new food for though. The wounds I had inflicted were gone already!
Red light! said Akis voice in my head, coming to the same conclusion I did conventional combat was not gonna get me anywhere with this beast and Id only expend my reactors fuel supply before I knew it. I killed my plasma blade and darted to the side the dragon missed me by the proverbial mile, his jaws snapping shut were I had been. At this moment, I knew that I had to get her out of harms way.
Aki! Get her out of that things reach. Explain the situation while youre at it so she doesnt panic.
Right! With that, I felt her presence withdraw from my mind.
***
Amelia knew that there was something desperately wrong. She knew already that Benjamin, the kind man made of steel, had gone outside to fight some sort of monster. Not only that, she also knew that it wanted her. She didnt know why, she just did it was the same way when someone has an itch that they must scratch it.
Suddenly, on the black glassy-looking panel in front of her, a woman she did not recognize appeared and began to speak.
Amelia! Im going to move the ship away from the battle so that you wont get hurt. Ben said not to worry. As soon as its over Ill call the ship back, okay? Suddenly, Amelia heard a whining crescendo somewhere behind her. Before she even had a chance to even realize that it was coming from somewhere inside the Pegasus, she was suddenly shoved into her seat by some invisible force.
She gasped this was something she had never felt before. Looking around her, she tried to understand why she was feeling this sensation, and then she looked out the windows and gasped once more. The blue sky was slowly fading into darkness. No, not just darkness, a night sky! Suddenly, the stars in that sky shifted as though some great hand had turned the Pegasus, but she hadnt felt like anything had moved.
And then, at the end of this almost nausea inducing sweep, the entire planet swung into view. Last, but not least, a new image flicked onto the display before her eyes. Amelia did not really know what she was looking at she could tell that it portrayed the endless seascape that she had been rescued from. At the bottom was a white bar that had a graph with a regularly pulsing heart icon next to it that pulse and the pattern on the graph was a steady and even one. In that image, squared directly in the center, was a dragon.
Amelia was suddenly filled with a petrifying dread. She had always thought that at least some dragons in fairy tales were nice, but for some reason this one did not feel very nice to her at all. And then, to her even greater confusion, she heard Bens voice.
***
Okay, scaly. So youre some kind of magical creature? Fine then. I can do magical. My Soulstone throbbed gently against my heart as it called out to my weapons and at once they were in my hands, overhand in the left, underhand in the right.
Your weapons shall avail you not! snarled the dragon as it charged for me once more.
You know not what youre up against! I cried out as I darted just to the side and slashed the blade in my left hand along the dragons side. This time, instead of the pained roar, came an ear-splitting screech of agony. Once again, Earthsongs gift was proving invaluable.
The Dragon was the one who stopped this time as he had something to think about.
How in all eternity did you come by such weapons? Such things are not for mortals to wield!
I guess Im just special then, I growled.
No matter. I shall just have to be more cautious. And just as he said the words, the sky immediately turned dark and ominous. I looked around and saw that it was all around us. A super-storm, a perfect hurricane from nowhere, was rapidly building all around me. Not just within a day, rapidly. This storm was going to become fatally dangerous within mere minutes. Already I could see waterspouts beginning to form.
So then, you coward. Is this how you ended this world? Is this how you killed all those innocent people?
Dont make me laugh, mortal. They were nothing more than chattel. Only the gifted one mattered.
Is that so? Then Ill show you what befalls those who favor only the gifted! I then made my charge. Wild currents, water spouts and lightning all came at me at once and I was unafraid. Ive played this game before. Never fight the currents. Instead, flow with them and use them to your advantage. This is doubly so for the waterspouts. As for the lightning, I ignored it. Flesh and blood may be affected by the high-energy static discharges, but not me the lightning could not even touch me because Aki was constantly tracking the static charges and making sure that the lightning could not seek me out.
The dragon reared back in shock as I navigated his hazard field and lunged for him, my blades seeking his flesh. He tried to whip me aside with his tail and succeeded, but only to an extent. I quickly recovered and alighted on one of his coils. Of course, he was quick to take action here.
So it was that while the storm raged all around me that I did battle with this dragon, striking and counter-striking against his blows, but only managing to nickel-and-dime him. Still, I was holding my own against his onslaught.
Apparently, he didnt like that idea.
I grow tired of this game, mortal. Be gone with you! He somehow managed to shake me off and the storm dissipated as I regained stability in the air. Once I was upright, I saw that he had climbed high up in the air and was charging some sort of energy in his mouth. Before Aki could even begin to assess the risk factor he let go with it.
Benjamin! cried Akis voice. The yield of that energy discharge is phenomenal its registering in the gigaton range! We cant survive this!
My mind raced momentarily there had to be a way out of this mess. And then my eyes came to my Blades of the Sidera. I had yet to explore the full potential of these weapons as I had only recently learned to summon them at will.
Are you serious? said Aki as she picked up on my thoughts. We have no way of knowing if theyll work or not!
I never know till I try, Aki. And right now that seems to be our only viable option. I looked up at the oncoming energy sphere it was huge. There was no way to dodge this thing. The only way to go was straight through. And it sounded perfectly fine to me. I crossed the blades over my head, said the infamous spacers prayer (Lord, dont let me screw up.) and charged onwards. And then I was engulfed.
The energy swirled and eddied all around me. My shield gauge immediately began to drop steadily and the sheer force of it all wracked me. But I couldnt stop now to do so was to wish for death. I didnt want that. Never in a million years would I give up. Suddenly, seeming to have sensed my resolve, my Soulstone pulsed once again and I felt a surge of power flow through and uplift me. I shot out of the energy orb faster than I went in.
Probably made one hell of a light show, too.
What!? cried out the Dragon in shock. You should be dead! I killed you!
I adjusted my blades into a scissor formation and relieved the dragon of his head. Far below, the massive energy discharge dispersed before it could ever touch the surface.
A lot of people like you have said that, I said as I hovered over the Dragon. For some reason, he still floated there in the calm air, but now I could see its body slowly starting to disintegrate.
So, he said in a hushed, weak tone. I have been defeated. Take the child then. I shall rebuild this world anew in my own image without her power. A suddenly gust of wind came from nowhere carrying a cloud with it. When it was gone, so was the Dragon.
Aki, summon the Pegasus for a high-altitude, high-speed intercept. I dont want to stay here any longer than I absolutely have to.
Affirmative. The Pegasus is on its way now.
***
He had killed it.
Benjamin had killed the dragon, a creature that had struck such a horrible fear into Amelias heart.
That was it then, Amelia resolved to herself. No matter what happened, she wanted to be brave and strong like Benjamin. Once she was, she too could protect people the way he had protected her today. She never noticed that the Pegasus was in motion again. It couldnt be held against her though since the inertial compensators were fully operational this time.
Ben came in and she didnt notice until he unlocked her harness. Suddenly she shot out of her seat and into Ben, who had to stumble back or else shed hurt herself on him, and began to wail inconsolably.
Ben knew that she needed a good cry. Hell, she would probably need several more after all shed been through, which Ben could only guess at. For the time being, he did the smart thing. He told Aki to set course to rendezvous with the Event Horizon and send a preliminary report to Captain Keyes. Then, with nothing better to do, he took little Amelia to bed with him. He was absolutely exhausted and was more than happy to let the grieving girl fall asleep on his chest.
***
When I awoke later on, I was mildly surprised to see that Amelia was hovering just a few centimeters over me as she slept. I supposed that as she regained strength her flight ability improved. I just hoped that it wouldnt become a problem later on the last thing one would need would be to drift around ones home aimlessly in their sleep.
Carefully, I got up, slipping out from under Amelia without much trouble and she stayed where she was.
Anything from Command, Aki? I asked as I went to the common room and got a nutrient drink from the replicator.
Captain Keyes would like to speak with you as soon as convenience allows.
Right then, I replied and went to the control room to run status checks. I know Aki was minding the store, so to speak, but it was good practice to make sure that everything was ship-shape. It seemed that everything was so and we were only a couple hours from the Event Horizons current position. That taken care of, I made certain that I was presentable and sent in the call to the Captain.
Apparently she had been waiting for me.
Chief Petty Officer Rhodes, said Captain Miranda Keyes with a smile on her face. Leave it to you to find a survivor against all odds and even get into a fight with one of the locals.
Well Captain, I guess thats just my karma.
Well, whatever it is, the only person I think Ive ever seen get into as much trouble is the Master Chief. Ah yes. Good old John. No longer fighting on the frontlines these days, but training new recruits for SPARTAN II though Im sure if given the opportunity, hed gladly go to the front lines. The Captain went on, So then, tell me about this survivor, Rhodes. Im curious about this strange ability that Aki mentioned.
Yeah, she flies around with no visible means. Oddest thing Ive ever seen just like something out of comic books. I havent done anything to figure out how she does it. Ill leave that to the scientists. She even floats in her sleep it seems.
Youre right, Rhodes, that is odd. Well, you dont have to worry about her once you get here. The UNSC will take care of her from now on. I sighed at that. Being a ward of the state was not such a bad thing with the UNSC, but it still meant that she would be staying in an orphanage or a foster home, and I had already become attached to her.
Captain I dont know how to break this to you, but I want to adopt her.
Have you flipped your lid, CPO? said the Captain, just a hair under actually yelling. I know she needs someone to take care of her, but you arent exactly whats called parenting material. Youre a killing machine, not a nanny. I winced at being called a killing machine. Granted, thats what I was to be sure, but that had connotations to it that I did not like.
Captain, all due respect, you know how I feel about being referred to like that.
Right. I owe you an apology, Rhodes, but thats beside the point right now.
I dont care what anyone else thinks. And besides, shes latched onto me already. Shes lost everything shes ever known and if you take me away from her shell be inconsolable. And given her ability I think youd want her otherwise. Captain Keyes leaned back in her chair and sighed as she put a hand up to her temple.
You know what this would mean, dont you?
Ill have to be inactive while shes dependant on my constant care. Its not like youve had all that great a need of me lately, and God knows Ive earned a few years off. Besides, if you really need me for something special, then Im always around. You only have to call and Ill answer. You should know that.
Dont patronize me, CPO Rhodes, said Captain Keyes, bristling a bit. She then sighed and went on, You are right. Youve earned some inactive duty time. Ill have your living accommodations upgraded your belongings should be moved to your new residence by the time you get here. As for the custody rights Well, Ill have one of our best JAGs on it. The Captain was definitely a by-the-book officer, but when it was called for, she could also be a good friend.
Thank you kindly, Captain.
Right. Now, Rhodes, whats this about fighting a monster? Hoo boy, this one was gonna be another doozy.
It was some kind of dragon, Captain, and I dont think it was ordinary. I think it was some kind of spirit.
Rhodes, were on record here, warned the Captain.
I have proof, I replied and sent the contents of my mnemonic memory logs from the battle, tightly compressed and encoded with one of Cortanas own algorithms. The Captain noted the arrival of the file, decrypted it, decompressed it, and inspected it.
Jesus H. Christ, Rhodes! uttered Captain Keyes. What the hell is it with you? Youre like a magnet for this kind of shit.
I have no idea, Captain, but Im starting to get the feeling that someone up there has it out for me.
Well, just as long as nothing like this happens while youre inactive. I dont know if the Event Horizon would stay intact.
Not as long as I can help it, Captain.
Between you, the Manticors, Spartans, and all your other friends, I wouldnt doubt it. Dont worry about debriefing when you get here, Ill handle that. Just worry about Amelia. Understood?
Yes Captain.
Good. Ill see you once you get settled in. We saluted each other and then the signal was broken. Sighing, I went over to wake Amelia. It was a bit early yet, but good habits are best started as early in life as possible.
-To Be Continued-
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