Carpathia IV: Episode 251 - Aptaras Gigas
Aionaptara's Island
Shep adjusted his binoculars yet again, trying to catch a glimpse of anything positive from the island. Up to now, all he, or anyone else, had seen was two lightning bolts crash down on the other side of the temple. On the positive side, the sky now began to clear. Though still darker than the landscape not far behind them, it was lighter than it was. Finally, he spotted five figures, specks in the distance, and raised his binoculars again.
Shep: I can see all five of them.
Tamati: That's good. Anyone look injured?
Shep steadied his hands while making smaller adjustments to get a clearer look.
Shep: Admiral Zhang, Commander Joust, Phobos, and Ryuu look okay. Captain Valro has blood on his neck that ran down his uniform, but he seems able to walk okay.
Tamati: I'll get a kit ready.
Ramei: Since they're all still alive, I guess we can assume the mission was a success.
Baal: First priority, they said, was to get out alive. In that regard, they succeeded.
Kit: Just a few more minutes to wait and we'll get the story.
Aire would have been fine bringing up the rear of the procession leaving Aionaptara's island. It had been a harrowing ordeal and though he might normally have been keen to rush off the island as quickly as he could but his wobbly legs would only carry him so quickly. Phobos would not allow his Captain to follow behind alone and stood by his side all the way to the swing bridges.
Phobos wouldn't even allow Aire to go last across the bridges. At the other side, they found the rest of the team waiting expectantly, except Tamati, already springing into action with his medkit. He guided Aire to the back of one of the cars and sat him down under the open hatch. He opened his kit and began to scan. Aire watched as the others shifted their heads between him and Admiral Zhang, not sure who to talk to first.
Admiral Zhang: Suffice to say we made it out in one piece, mostly. We can talk about it more after we leave. Aionaptara, I believe has deactivated the shield and the dampening field preventing our ships from flying. First, there's something we need to talk about and if Aire is up to it, I'll let him do that, since he's your Captain.
Heads swivelled back to Aire and though keenly aware of all the gazes upon him, he waited patiently for Tamati to finish, which only took another minute.
Tamati: I fixed the lacerations. You have some bruising on your trachea and elsewhere in your neck. Dr. Teagan should be able to take care of that when we get back.
Aire tried clearing his throat, a struggle in itself, and he knew he wouldn't sound like himself, now that the bruising had time to percolate around his vocal cords.
Aire: Ahem. Thank you, Tamati. I'll keep this short. Aionaptara has not had a casual conversation with anyone in 50 years and he said he's interested in volunteers to...
Without waiting for Aire to finish, Ramei's hand shot up into the air and he jumped up and down.
Ramei: Oh! Oh!
Aire: Not you.
Ramei's hand went down immediately as he went still.
Ramei: Aw.
Aire: Ramei, you and I both know that you're not the best choice to have a conversation with someone as dangerous and unpredictable as Aionaptara.
Ramei: Okay, that's fair.
Aire: Anyway, Joust is going to stay and chat. I need two more volunteers. He has promised that he won't keep you for more than a day. We'll leave you with provisions. Come to think of it, he didn't mention if there was a potty, but I suppose you can make do.
Aire thought he might have to ask the Shadowdancer crew after he got back for all the indecisive looks that were very deliberatly avoiding his eyes. From all, except one. Kit stepped forward and offered his services.
Kit: I'll do it. It sounds interesting. Maybe I can learn more about this ancient aptaran language.
Baal: I'll go. I'm all for conversation with interesting people and Aionaptara nothing if not interesting.
Aire: Very good. The rest of you from the first car stay here for now. We'll go back and send a relief team. You can pick up the shuttle and return once they arrive.
Shep: Understood, Captain. We shall await the relief team.
Aire stood, giving a tug to his uniform and running his fingers over his now, partially healed, neck. With Aire out of the way of the ATV's cargo area, Phobos slipped in and put the Aptaras Gigas in the cargo area.
Teek: What's that? A book?
Phobos: It's the Aptaras Gigas. Basically, the aptaran satanic bible. I scanned it for anomalies, but it appears that it really is just a book.
Ryuu: We thought it was a myth until now. It's going to be an interesting study for a lot of people for sure.
Ramei: Right, the less I know about that, the better.
Aire stepped to the passenger front door of the ATV and opened it.
Aire: Shall we, Admiral?
Admiral Zhang: Yes, Captain. Looking forward to a warm bed tonight.
Enroute to Shadowdancer-A
It was a quiet ride back to the Shadowdancer. Admiral Zhang elected to take the seat behind the front passenger and Aire sat next to her presumably, he thought, because she wanted a conversation on the way. Yet, she said very little. About halfway back to the ship, Ryuu broke the silence.
Ryuu: I suppose it's worth mentioning that we are all very lucky that Wishmaster was sneaky about operating that tokki wormhole generator. If either Aionaptara or Lazmaedia had ever learned of it, none of us would be sitting here right now.
A shiver went up Aire's spine and his mind raced with possibilities, none of them good. Yes, this was something that lurked in the back of his head since the first confrontation with Ksenva. Ryuu brought it to the front. If Wishmaster had been found out, Ramewet would likely have been subjugated long before he was ever born. Not that he would likely have been born at all. And then what? Would Lazmaedia have explored the sector? Conquored Earth and Tokkastra? Destroyed Draconis? Despite the very real threat of Lazmaedia's imminent arrival, this was no small bit of fortune.
Admiral Zhang: This opportunity is a gift. We don't know what Lazmaedia is going to throw at us, but we have a chance and we have to take it. Aire, I presume you shall visit the doctor when we get back? I'd like to use your ready room in the meantime to report back to the Admiralty.
Aire: My ready room is yours, Admiral.
Admiral Zhang: Thank you. ETA, Phobos?
Phobos: Twelve minutes, Admiral. Dr. Teagan is standing by along with Commander Fisk.
Admiral Zhang: Aire, I trust you can manage the crew. I will go straight to the ready room.
Aire: Of course, Admiral.
NCCS Shadowdancer-A
The ATV touched down in the shuttle bay and Admiral Zhang's door was the first to open. Dr. Teagan and Trex stood up straight as the Admiral exited. With a quick nod, she acknowledged them and made only a single, terse statement.
Admiral Zhang: I'll be in the ready room. Do not disturb me except for emergency.
Trex: Understood, Admiral.
The rest emerged from the ATV in quick succession as Admiral Zhang strode away.
Aire: Phobos, take the book to secure storage before you head to the bridge.
Phobos: Yes, Captain.
By the time Aire finished with Phobos, Dr. Teagan was already on him with her scanner.
Sorchae: You sound quite hoarse, Aire. Let's get you to sick bay and get you fixed up.
Aire: One moment, Doctor. Trex, when you round up a relief team to go to the planet, start with Amenaru. I'm sure he'll want to go, but make sure he understands not to do anything stupid.
Trex: Will do, Captain. He's usually pretty malleable when we give him the stink eye.
Aire, now ready to accompany Sorchae to sick bay, was stopped by a disturbing noise from her scanner. An unusual confluence of Phobos walking by and the last split second that her scanner was on before it got to her pocket. In short, she had accidentally scanned the Aptaras Gigas.
Sorchae: What is this?
Phobos: Aionaptara gave us the Aptaras Gigas. I guess you could call it a satanic bible. We're going to study it. If he was telling the truth, it's probably thousands of years old.
While Phobos spoke, Sorchae waved her scanner around the book and studied the readings with a grimace on her face.
Sorchae: And made almost entirely of aptaran wing skin and written in aptaran blood.
Aire made a grimace of disgust that matched Sorchae's.
Aire: Ew. Should have guessed.
Sorchae: Before you put it into secure storage, I'd like to do a full bio on it, if that's okay with you, Aire.
Aire: Of course, doctor, as long as you're not reading anything malicious.
Sorchae: No, just dead bat parts. Nearly 9000 years old, if this is right.
Aire: In that case, Phobos, follow us.
Phobos: Yes, Captain.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
Falke2009
