Carpathia IV: Episode 313 - Your Future
Conference Room, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
The meeting started with story time, first from Aire, for his was the one everyone wanted to hear the most. Joust followed with the Shadowdancer and the catching up ended with Azrael and the Cerberus. After an hour of story time, Aire took over again with new information.
Aire: I visited sick bay earlier and met with Ryuu first, just before he went into surgery to repair his ribs. First, I asked him about the wormhole generator that Lazmaedia used. He said it's too small to work independently. It must be tied to her somehow. Of course, we'll never know. Have you got a fix on our exact position?
Lyari on screen with the Cerberus answered.
Lyari: We're 977 light years from Carpathia. At our normal cruising speed, it would take a year to get back. Probably more, because we're on the other side of the void. I can bring up the map to show the distance.
After a few button presses, the holo projector in the middle of the table lit up with a star chart showing their position and a line charting a course back to Carpathia.
Riven: The way back is approximate. We only just started exploring the void. Not many stars in that area, but we don't know what else we might encounter.
Trex: Did Ryuu have anything to say about anything else? I'd like to know more about that First One.
Aire shook his head.
Aire: The doctor wheeled him off to surgery before we could chat further. He'll be fine, but one of his broken ribs punctured his lung and they wanted to get on that right away.
Azrael: That's two demigods for him now. He'll be a legend amongst dragons.
Aire: I couldn't have done it without him. He did most of the work, really. Now, all we can do is wait. After Ryuu, I spoke to Sylvar. Baal, please bring up the planet.
Baal: Yes, Captain. I've mapped it out as ordered.
A few button touches later and the star map was replaced with the vashta planet.
Aire: I appreciate your making this quickly, Baal. I was able to show it to Sylvar and get an idea of the political mapping. Before I move on, still no evidence of power?
Trex Not a flicker.
Aire: I said before that the First One's containment system in the fortress was tied to Lazmaedia being alive. I believe that system extended to the entire vashtari power network. She did this on purpose. If she dies, then the vashta go back to the stone age. Her final punishment. Perhaps she expected the First One would consume the planet too, but that, at least, didn't happen.
Aire fiddled with with the controls on his console. Struggled, more like, making the planet shift on the holoprojector in jerky, spastic movements until he finally settled on what he was looking for.
Aire: This is a live shot, right Baal?
Baal: It is, Captain. Do you need some help?
Aire pointed at a large structure in the middle of a city.
Aire: There's a huge, open-air colosseum in the middle of that city. Zoom in on that.
Baal did as he was told and the colosseum enlarged to fill the area above the table, close enough to see tiny people going in and out.
Aire: That is basically the capitol building, where the high mistresses meet and receive orders from Lazmaedia. All of the high mistresses have quarters nearby and there should still be at least a few that remained behind. Speaking of, it looks like there are a few entourages going inside.
Baal took the last statement as a cue and zoomed in even further. Three little groups of a ring of individuals on the outside with a single, important-looking person in the middle. Others that were in their path made darned-well sure not to be there for long.
Amenaru: Looks like an entourage to me.
Aire paused, pretty sure what he was going to do next, but kept a close eye on Joust for what he was going to say next.
Aire: I know some of you are not going to like this, but I'm going down there. I want them to know what happened. I want them to see me. I want... Honestly, I'm not entirely sure what more I want, but I feel like this is something I need to do.
Aire maintained his side eye on Joust throughout his declaration. For his part, Joust pulled several faces during that time and often looked like he was ready to say something, but never interrupted. After several moments of silence, he finally spoke.
Joust: Fine. But I'm going with you. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want them to know that Lazmaedia's goal of eradicating aptarans failed. I want them to see me too.
Aire raised an eyebrow, but otherwise stifled any other expression of surprise, desiring a calm composure under the circumstances.
Aire: Azrael, could you spare Riven to temporarily take over command of the Shadowdancer?
Azrael: Right away, Captain.
Azrael gave a nod to Riven who immediately darted from his chair.
Aire: Okay, we don't have much time because we don't know how long they will be there. Tamati, I want all dead vashtari bagged and loaded onto the Sunchaser. We shall return their dead to them.
Tamati: Understood, Captain.
Aire: Shep, assemble a security team. We know their energy weapons no longer function and Sylvar tells me they do not have projectile weapons, but that doesn't mean we won't run into any surprises.
Shep: Understood, Captain.
Aire: And perhaps a few volunteers from each ship, representatives of each of the species on our ships. Work fast. Let's be ready to go in 30 minutes.
Both ships erupted in a chorus of "Yes, Captain!" before clamoring for the exit to prepare for their next mission.
NCCS Sunchaser
The Sunchaser descended rapidly through the planet's atmosphere making straight for the colosseum. On board, a few representatives of each of Carpathia's species, but mostly a security team to protect their landing area. Nobody knew what to expect and they couldn't communicate to the vashta that they were coming. No matter what, surprises were a given. Aire, his uniform still in blood-stained tatters from before, looked away from the window for a moment to speak to Shep.
Aire: Shep, everything is ready on your end?
Shep: Yes, Captain. My team and I will secure the area first before you come out. I have deflectors ready to go up with a single button push should anything go wrong. It should protect anyone less than 9 meters from the hull, so do not venture far. I have someone on weapons if things get really hairy.
Aire: Let's hope it doesn't go that far. I don't want to start shooting if we can avoid it.
The Sunchaser emerged through the white, fluffy clouds revealing the city below. Under normal circumstances, one might say it was bustling with activity. Panic was more the reality, though, with people rushing around in every direction. As the Sunchaser descended closer to the ground, many looked up and pointed. Others either didn't notice or didn't care, entirely consumed with whatever they were doing. Shep kept a tight watch on his tablet, a video feed and tactical schematic of what was going on in the colosseum and, as they approached, started barking orders to his team.
Shep: Line up at the door! If everything looks good, I'll give the word as soon as we land. Form the perimeter as we discussed!
The tactical team instantly jumped to attention and lined up in a matter of seconds. Teek took the Sunchaser low and slow in the approach to the colosseum, and brought it for a landing in front of a small crowd of astonished onlookers. The instant the Sunchaster touched the ground, Shep gave the order.
Shep: Go, go, go!
Before the runabout door fully opened, two of the security team were already out, followed by the rest, with Shep bringing up the rear. He stayed near the door and, after a quick survey of the surroundings, beckoned Aire outside.
Not wanting to delay, Aire only allowed himself a deep breath before stepping outside of the runabout. As calmly as he could, he stepped slowly away from the door and toward the platform holding a dais in the center and surrounded by 24 raised chairs, one each for the families in Lazmaedia's favor. But wait, upon quick count, Aire realized there were 25 chairs. For what purpose was the 25th, he wondered. Far in the back, away from the others, high and overlooking the 25 chairs, was a black throne, guilded, and adorned with spikes. Obviously for Lazmaedia. Only three vashtari women occupied the chairs, the rest either gone to Carpathia or elsewhere.High in the stands surrounding the colosseum were thousands of vashtari women, but only enough to fill, maybe, half the seats. A spectator gallery.
The three vashtari women glared at Aire and he was unsure if they were prepared to kill him or didn't know what to make of him. One of the women spoke, a particularly angry-looking one with black hair that contained just a tinge of purple. She stood and slammed her hands on her podium.
Angrier Elf: How dare a man defile the sacred conclave! And a pale one at that! You will remove yourself...
The black-haired elf suddenly fell backward, crashing hard into her chair. It took a moment for Aire to realize that she'd been hit in the shoulder with a small object. It was too far away to be sure, but it looked like a throwing star, much like the sort of thing a ninja from human history might have. The thrower wasn't immediately obvious, but announced herself by shouting at the black-haired one.
Angry Elf: Shut up, Kelari! I will hear what the pale vashtari has to say!
Kelari: You dare bring weapons to the sacred conclave, Xindi? The Great and Mighty Empress Lazmaedia will not stand for this! She'll have our heads, and...
Aire: Lazmaedia is dead!
The two bickering vashtari suddenly ceased their chatter and turned their attention back to him. What worried Aire was the third, sitting between the two, calm as a lake on a windless day. She, it appeared, might be an elder of some sort.
Kelari: Impossible! The Great and Mighty Empress Lazmaedia is immortal! She cannot be... OW!
Another throwing star landed in Kelari's shoulder.
Kelari: STOP THAT!!!
The calm vashtari did not speak, but beckoned Aire to step onto the dias. With trepidation, he complied, slowly ascending the stairs until he was between the two angry vashtari. With a quick glance at both, he began to speak.
Aire: I am Aire Geoffrey Valro, Captain of the NCCS Shadowdancer, representing the New Carpathia Commonwealth of Planets.
To no one's surprise, Aire was interrupted by the angrier vashtari.
Kelari: A captain? You? Ha! That is difficult to...
Out of the corner of his eye, Aire saw Xindi ready yet another throwing star, but this time, a stern, matronly glare from the calm vashtari cowed her into submission. Kelari slumped into her chair and started picking throwing stars out of her arms.
Aire: Lazmaedia invaded our space, whether to destroy our planets or conquer them, we do not know. What I can tell you is that the Blood Agony is destroyed. We followed Lazmaedia here and killed her as well. The creature that she kept prisoner broke free and ate her remains.
Xindi: And what of our lack of energy? Was this your doing as well?
Aire: We are unsure of what has caused this. We do know that at least some systems of your world only function as long as Lazmaedia is alive. Possibly all of them. We are simply not capable of damaging your power grid as swiftly as this.
Xindi: So you've come to gloat before you kill us all?
Aire shook his head.
Aire: No, we are not in the business of extermination. I have simply come to deliver some messages to you. The first, I already have. Lazmaedia is dead. The second, during the battle, some vashtari infiltrated our ship and we just barely fought them off. We are returning your dead to you.
Aire pointed toward the shuttle. With all their focus on him, they hadn't noticed a team from the Shadowdancer laying bodybags on the ground.
Xindi: You would return our dead to us?
Aire: The war is over. They are no longer a threat. There will be no retaliation or revenge.
Before Aire could continue, Kelari pointed at one of Aire's crew and shouted.
Kelari: Is that an aptaran?
Aire gave a quick turn to see that she was, indeed, pointing at Joust. He approached the dais carrying a cage with a small, grey cat inside. The same cat that used to be a vashtari before Bastet transformed her.
Aire: This is Commander Joust, my first officer. Lazmaedia thought she eradicated the universe of Aptarans, but I assure you there are thousands living on my world.
Kelari sank into her chair, all rage seeming to have left her.
Kelari: I had an aptaran friend when I was a kid. My mother found her and turned her in.
Aire: This cat is the only survivor of the vashtari who invaded my ship. One of our allies turned her into a cat. She said the effect should wear off soon.
Vashta Kitty: Let me go!
Aire: Joust, you can release her.
Joust put the cage on the ground and opened the door, bracing himself in case she tried to attack him immediately. Instead, the cat bolted from the cage and ran in the nearest direction away from Aire, Joust, and the runabout. As it turned out, "soon" turned out to be very soon indeed, for she spontaneously transformed back and immediately fell flat on her face.
Xindi: Your people have strange abilities.
Aire: Our allies have many talents. Now, my final message to you. My world was also once in the thrall of a demigod. One not as direct as Lazmaedia. One who lurked in the shadows, controlling our leaders like puppets. His name was Wishmaster. With great effort and sacrifice, he too was killed, but that was not the end. After the initial shock wore off, my world descended into a civil war. In the end, King Riven prevailed. He established government agencies. He established institutions to benefit all people, not any single species or race. His last act was to declare that no other ruler would come after him. That leaders will be selected by the people. Your world is on the threshold of great change. We have learned that the vashta were once a culture of art, of thought, of beauty, and of exploration. You have a chance to be that again. One day, perhaps a long time from now, our people may meet again. Rest assured, we will be on our guard, but, hopefully, next time, we can eventually become friends.
Now, Xindi was also slumped in her chair, looking as if she were near tears.
Xindi: What will become of us?
Aire: That is up to you now. Take another look at my crew. Each are on my ship by their own merits and each brings their own unique skills, talents, and perspectives to our team. You will need the help of all the people of this world to move forward. Your future no longer belongs to Lazmaedia. Your future belongs to all of you. You will face hardships, but you can overcome them because you must.
Aire let his final words hang in the air. Neither vashtari spoke, both lost in their own thoughts. Aire said all that he needed to say and he turned, silently descending the dais on his way back to the runabout. Nobody stopped him. Nobody said anything as he entered the runabout, seeing that the work of delivering the vashtari bodies was complete. Once inside, Shep's team followed him in and closed the door. Aire made his way to the cockpit and put his hand on Teek's shoulder.
Aire: Take us back to the ship, Teek.
Teek: Yes, Captain.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Colourbrand
Falke2009
