Ilox Saga 1: Eris Monroe: More Than Human (30 page)

“But it became a problem?” Eris asked
. She had casually crossed her arms.

“Yes, unfortunately for the Alliance, there was a large contingent of Vortex mercenaries also
on the planet - ostensibly working for them, apparently employed by someone high up in the hierarchy of the Alliance military structure – I never did learn the name. At any rate, there was constant tension between the two groups as they sought to find the Precursor…fights actually broke out several times. The sickness had begun to spread, and was infecting over two thirds of the population at each outpost. He shifted his body as if he was disturbed by what he was remembering. “I spent three weeks running diagnostics, tests, everything I could think of to find out what was happening. Nothing I tried worked, and I could find no evidence of any pathogen that was causing people to die, only massive internal injuries.”

“
However…about three days ago, the mutations began appearing. It was at that point that I knew something else had to be going on. The amount of change was drastic. Skin changes…
structural changes
…to the body as well as the mind – and it didn’t just affect humans it affected K’Tosk and Orvod as well. Of course, that was also when we found the Precursor…what you called the Initiator.”

“I thought you were only trying to help with the sickness, the Alliance used you as well to help find it?” Eli seemed flabbergasted.

“Of course! They knew my reputation as a researcher of the Valdren. They had no one of any intelligence or skills working on their team…all of them were military soldiers – no one of any expertise.” Gelkar turned his head slightly. “Except for one Orvod I met ten days ago. He seemed to have a grasp of the situation – he knew what was going on, his name was Chol Cuxa…”

“
He’s the leader of the Vortex Mercenaries - when did you last see him?!” Eris interrupted Gelkar who turned to face her.

“
A week ago was the last time I saw him. He showed up because he had brought new information that we began looking where the Valdren device was finally found. “I think he was there to crack some skulls and get results from his men…”

“When was the device found?” Eris asked
. She had an intense look on her face.

“T
wo days ago - I am certain he was not there when it became fully active.” He smiled a shallow grin, his lips barely pulled away; his teeth were flat as all Arrasian’s were herbivores who ate only plants.

“What happened then?”

“Destruction, death, chaos…” said the Arrasian with a frown. “I was trying to stay alive…the Vortex mercenaries that were part of the crew began to physically change and fight the Alliance soldiers – brutal hand to hand combat…they eviscerated each other.” Gelkar shuddered as he recounted the story. “If not for my portable shield generator I would have died. I still wish I had been able to bring it with me…” He sighed in a very human manner and was silent.

“So it’s highly probable that the Valdren device made the transformations happen!” exclaimed Eli excitedly.
Lia Xinhao was conferring with her lab computer and interrupted.

“Captain, the analysis is
finished. I tested the arm that Commander Malik returned to the Sparta with. Chromosomal base pairs show an extra five strands of DNA that are unknown. It appears that this is unlike any disease ever known. I don’t think the widespread sickness was the result of a pathogen at all – it was something else.” Gelkar brought up the lab conclusions on his datapad and began parsing them.

“I’ve seen these before.
Look…here…and here…these base pairs are identical to Valdren DNA.” The Arrasian scientist shook his head in disbelief.

“Wait, you’re saying that human DNA has Valdren DNA added to it? And this is throughout
his whole body?” Eris was taken aback…she didn’t know what to say to
that
. “Run more tests and double-check your results.”

“Of course, Captain,” said Lia in a soft tone. She began hurriedly communicating with her lab computer, ordering it to begin the analysis again. Gelkar helped her and began offering his insights into Valdren technology.

“I don’t understand…how could this even be possible?” Eris wanted answers. Gelkar turned his head upwards to look at the tall human captain.

“Eris Monroe - the Valdren were far above our technolo
gical level. They didn’t even use ships to traverse the galaxy…they used psionic ability to do so. It is not only probable but highly likely that they were capable of such genetic manipulations. Of course, that doesn’t answer the question of
why
they would want to do such things to other life forms.” Gelkar looked thoughtful. Eli shook his head.

“That doesn’t explain the headaches…or all the deaths that occurred. If the Valdren device caused the mutations
after
it was turned on, what was causing all of the headaches?” He put his chin in his hand and seemed lost in thought.

“Speculation of course, but it is possible that the Valdren device became aware that it was being searched for and put itself in a minimal
operational status…and began broadcasting its signal…which began to subtly alter and prepare sentient genetic structures for further instructions to be
coded
and altered. When the device became fully operational, the physical changes came on rapidly and severely.” Gelkar eyes widened…he looked as if he had discovered a sudden truth about the ancient race. He continued after pausing for a moment.

“
There is a theory that the Valdren had contact with all of the non-space-faring sentients throughout the galaxy…perhaps it is true after all.”

"So what you're saying is that the Initiator caused all of the mutations," said Eli.

"Correct."

"Lia, continue study
ing the samples we brought back from Furnace - keep me apprised of any new information you discover." Eris proceeded to exit the lab and headed to the brig. She was lost in thought as several crew members passed her by. Stationed outside of the brig were two of XO Malik’s marines. They saluted her as she approached.

“Tariv?”
Eris didn’t have to say more than a word. Isabella Dulac and Trygve Fasjovik had pulled guard duty for the mutinous Sev Tariv locked behind them in the only cell that the Sparta contained.

“Ma’am, he’s been quiet, but
Trafelle has been in there ever since we docked,” said Sergeant Dulac with an air of suspicion. “Whatever type of interrogation she’s doing, it’s not like anything I’ve ever heard of.”

“
Trafelle…has unusual talents…when it comes to interrogation. I am sure she’s been getting useful Intel.” Eris waved for Trygve to let her in. The big Norwegian complied without a word, manually entering the code to open the heavy durasteel door that also had a see-through plasteel window set in it. The door silently opened. As Eris entered, she saw Sev sitting down on a chair, with both hands handcuffed to a metal table in front of him. T’sell T’savri sat opposite Sev Tariv, wearing the face of Trafelle Talani. Sev had a pained expression on his face and T’sell seemed serene and at peace…her eyes were closed.

“Captain, I have some answers for you,” said T’sell without a hint of satisfaction or smile
as she opened her eyes. Eris ignored T’sell for a moment and turned her gaze at her former engineer.

“Why?”
Eris
needed
to know. The K’Tosk only glared at her sullenly and said nothing. “You were a vital part of the crew…and you betrayed us…you betrayed me.”

T’sell telepathically
projected the words inside of the Captain’s mind.
“I’ve managed to isolate what triggered his condition.”
Eris thought back at the woman – the more she concentrated, the easier it became to converse in the realm of the purely mental.

“What did you find out,”
Eris replied in her head.

“
Remember when I said that he had a neural firewall in place?”
The sound of T’sell T’savri’s voice was soothing in her mind…like the wind blowing through the branches of a hundred trees.

“
Yes, I remember. You said you would monitor him…”
Eris wished that T’sell had been able to warn her before Sev’s murderous intentions had become crystalline to her and the crew.

“
I’m sorry…but the Valdren device gave me such pain that my abilities were rendered useless. However, I have probed his mind deeply. I have your answers. Let us adjourn to your cabin…”
T’sell said nothing verbal as she stood and faced the only door out of the brig. Sev Tariv grimaced and moved his hands inside the tight manacles.

“Are you going to take these off of me? They hurt.” Sev was as emotionless as ever. T’sell looked at the Captain who imperceptibly shook her head. T’sell allowed herself a small smile that no one saw and turned her back on him as the door swung open.

“No,” said T’sell as she left the cell with Eris just behind her. Eris turned to the two marines as they shut and secured the brig door.

“I want him watched at all times and I want two guards posted here continuously…understood?” Eris said
. Her face was stern. Eris knew there were three hidden cameras covering every centimeter of the cell, but she was taking extreme precautions.

Isabella Dulac
saluted smartly. “Aye, aye, Captain…” Isabella watched as Eris and Trafelle disappeared down the dimly lit corridor then put her hand on Trygve’s shoulder.

“You think they’re going to kill him?” She hadn’t served with Tariv long, just this current mission, but she had heard about him working for Dynamic Space Development during the last year. He had been the main engineer working on Sparta when the Orvod
Hasephrey Saephan had quit DSD. Trygve Fasjovik was easily over one hundred and ninety centimeters and towered over Isabella. He looked at her with a blank expression on his face.

“I don’t know, but let me tell you this,”
Trygve said in a gravelly baritone. He looked down at his smaller but equally lethal companion with bright blue eyes that shone clearly behind his faceplate. “If you attempt to kill Captain Monroe, and don’t succeed…there’s a special hell reserved just for you…” Trygve leaned against the bulkhead of the prison wall to the left of the cell door. Both of the marines were wearing their full combat gear and had their gauss automatic assault rifles attached to their backs with
mimetic
seals.

When Eris reached her quarters, she saw Sif come bounding out of the small cabin.

“Down, Sif…down - go to bed, no, go to bed…that’s a good girl,” Eris wanted to do spend time with her dog, but she still had important things to do - very important things. Sif reluctantly moved over to the small bed that was hers and curled down into it. Sif was intelligent and knew what Eris needed and was quiet. As the door closed, Eris began taking off her combat armor piece by piece, starting with the breastplate. She felt
dirty
inside of it and sorely needed a shower. A satisfying
snick
followed by a
click
emanated from the durasteel plate as she unfastened the seals. The armor she just put on the floor – she would stow it away properly once she had finished with T’sell. She felt no inhibition at paring down to her underwear in front of an alien female.

“As I was saying…the
apparent neural firewall that Tariv had in place…” said T’savri in an even tone.

“
What did you find out?” Eris arched an eyebrow as she took off her armored gloves, followed by the arm greaves. She let the body armor fall to the deck with a metallic clatter. She would stow them properly later…for now she was tired and wanted some sleep. First, however, she had to learn what the Zari woman had discovered with her telepathic probing.

“
His memories indicate he was detained briefly by what he thought were Alliance agents roughly two months ago. They had him for only a short amount of time, but it was sufficient to install an undetectable neural firewall. Of course, it was not a normal type of neural implant…” T’sell appeared frayed and worn as she continued, “Nothing would show on medical scans because the Alliance agents didn’t put anything biomechanical inside of his head – they put a new type of security implant in him... purely biological – altering his ego and amplifying his greed instincts.”

“
He tried to kill me so he could make himself wealthy?” Eris didn’t want to believe that.
Greed was a powerful motive
.

“Yes, he thought that the time was perfect to get rid of you
and the rest of Alpha team. He thought that since I was incapacitated and Eli had shown signs of weakness, it was time to make his move.

“What about Gelkar Ruz’zel? How did he figure in his plans?”

“Sev figured the Arrasian scientist would be collateral damage.” T’sell looked wearily into her Captain’s eyes. “With you out of his way he could then grab the Valdren device – kill everyone else, and if challenged…claim that the transformed miners had killed all of Alpha team.” T’sell had a hint of admiration in her voice. “He calculated he would make billions…after he sold it to the Alliance, or highest bidder on the black market.”