Alien Courage (Rise of the Empress) (11 page)

“I mean you no harm,” Torquay said to the T334 in a
language the Administrator had never heard before. The Administrator quickly
scanned the recording made by his arm console. No recognition of the language!

The T334 responded in the same language. “Do not move
- identify yourself!” It said after scanning the figure in front of it.
Automated pre-programmed functions sprung into life within the robot. Its
scanning ports moved slightly to take in the entire environment. Its motion
stopped and it repeated “Do not move - identify yourself!”

What Torquay did next would cost him his life if
incorrect. He also realised he had better be quick as there would be a time
recognition circuit activated. He tried very hard to clear his mind and reach
back in his memory for the manual recognition codes programmed in case of
electronic interference or jamming. One of the target ranging covers on the
robots body flicked open. This is it! Thought Torquay and he froze with his
memory blank. The Administrator realised something was wrong and half stood out
of his chair making a slight creaking noise, a scanning port on the T334 picked
up the noise and instantly targeted the Administrator.

That’s it, I’ve got it! Torquay suddenly remembered
and tapped the floor with his shoe in a remembered pattern, similar to a tune.

The T334 snapped its ranging port closed and its
computer voice said, “Preliminary recognition accepted. Do not move. Secondary
recognition
commence
.” Torquay tapped the same
sequence, waited and did it again but added one more tap.”

“Secondary recognition accepted. Advance for third
recognition sequence.”

Torquay didn’t know of a third. It must be new… He
simply didn’t know it. With no other choice but to do what it said he stepped
toward the T334. The robot stood motionless as Torquay walked right up to it
and stood almost touching it. A small black flexible rod came out of the robot
and touched the fabric of Torquay’s arm and snapped back inside the robot.
“Third recognition accepted.
Your instructions?”

Maintenance and circuit check section 2293535 section
Cl32 - scan identification module.” Torquay said without hesitation or error.
“Prepare for maintenance shut down.”

“Maintenance shut down complete. Rudimentary circuits
activated.” The T334 said and then sat down and leaned forward resting on its
arms. A small panel flipped open on its upper back.

Torquay took a few steps backward and sat down,
reached for his tea and had a sip. The Administrator got up and walked over.
Torquay put his hand up and the Administrator stopped. “I don’t know if it will
allow anyone not dressed in one of these anywhere near it,” Torquay said
rubbing the fabric of the robe. “It knows the fabric. Well, I think it’s
actually the special thread woven into it. You know one the reasons the
Trigeals are so powerful, they keep everything remarkably simple. My mission
here has now reached stage two. I need to see if anyone is indeed inside this
robot.”

Anything I can assist you with?” The Administrator
said with a hint of nervousness.

“No, this probably won’t take long. I have no idea if
it will show up on a monitor somewhere else or if there is someone or something
in there; it may not like a visitor. I suggest you go back to your chair and
keep an eye on your monitors. We don’t want any visitors ourselves,” Torquay
warned. The Administrator returned to his desk and sat down. He felt exhausted.

Torquay walked around to the rear of the robot and
looked inside the compartment under the open panel. He saw the control board he
needed to access, it was tempting to shut the weapons systems down first but
there was a high chance that would show up on a screen at one of the many
Priest’s
monitoring stations. He took a deep breath, cleared
his mind and reached in and placed his finger on one of the control buttons on
the board. He closed his eyes and let his mind clear of all thought. He
concentrated on his finger tip and slowly he became aware of the robots inner
eye, there were three of these sensors or communication terminals but he only
needed to work with one. Images started to appear in Torquay’s mind, they
settled on green. Some started to dance and Torquay concentrated and they
stopped.

Torquay adopted a trance like state where he allowed
no images from his mind to pervade his awareness. He felt like he was floating
in a timeless void, which actually it was unless he introduced time into it.
His training as a Priest was long ago but it came back to him in parts. He just
was, he didn’t think. He introduced something he
knew
, “hello?” and
therefore, “hello?” existed!

Peter Boland stirred from unconsciousness. He didn’t
know where he was and couldn’t feel anything. He tried to wake up but he felt
so very sleepy. He regained more consciousness and he thought he heard it
again…  “Hello?”

“Hello,” Peter thought.

“Hello to you”

“Hi, Peter replied. Who are you?”

“A friend”

“Good, I like friends”

“So do I, knew Torquay, What’s your name?”

“Peter.”

“Mine is Torquay.”

“That’s a strange name.”

“Yes it is. What are you doing?”

“I’m waiting to go home.”

“That’s nice, where is home?”

“Glide, Oregon.”

“That’s nice too; can you see the moons at night from
Glide Oregon?”

“Earth only has one moon silly.”

“Yes, yes of course it does. What are doing away from
Glide Oregon?”

“I joined the Marines, I’m a Lieutenant now. I’ve been
fighting the Japanese but I want to go home.” Peter started to feel distress
and the green turned grey around him. Torquay
knew
it green again and
then
knew
himself as Peter. Torquay’s concentrated and kept Peter steady
but could not hold it for long. The Earthman’s mind, full of images flooded
his… with a final effort of concentration he
knew
Peter a question and
repeated it over and over.

“Give me an unknown time? Give me an unknown time?”

The question repeated itself over and over in Peter’s
mind and became suggestive, he tried to answer it but every time he thought of
an answer he knew it and therefore was not unknown. Over and over he tried to
answer it correctly until he finally overwhelmed himself and slipped back into
unconsciousness.

Torquay flung his hand off the control button and fell
backwards to the floor. He landed with a heavy thud and the Administrator ran
toward him but stopped so as to not alarm the T334. Torquay rolled over and got
himself up on all fours. His head was spinning and he fought off these strange
images and mental pictures. He blew a soft whistle and staggered to his feet.
He looked around and shook his head trying to clear it. He spotted the
Administrator staring at him.
“Fresh cup of tea, please.”

At the Imperial Palace there was a flashing
illuminator on a monitor in the Great Trigealian Temple. The Priest on duty was
filling a water urn and the illuminator went unnoticed. A dark figure
approached the monitor and looked at the flashing illuminator. The figure noted
it came from the Academy and there was an active T334 from the House of
Irrimus. Then the light illuminator changed colour indicating maintenance mode
and back to active, then to maintenance mode and so on. The Duty Priest was
returning and the black figure cancelled the illuminator and the monitor
returned to normal.

“All is well, my Black Priest?” The Duty Priest asked.

“Yes, very well indeed,” the Black
Priest answered and hurried off.

---------

The wind abated but snow kept falling. Brakin and his
two companions, Teni and Sasra kept up a demanding pace. They could only just
make out
Url’s
footprints at rare times now but they
knew the direction he was travelling. “Url must have the strength of the Great
Spirit of Zion”, Sasra shouted into the snow falling around him.

“Yes, he does my friend. He killed a great cat this
day and possesses the spirit. His power will be strong. We will need the help
of the Great Spirit of Zion to release us from this peril,” Brakin shouted back
between large gulps of ice cold air.

The snow finally started to slow. They made their way
through a rocky ravine up to a vast plateau where there were large areas of
open ground. They followed the remnants of
Url’s
footprints which were following the cover of trees. It stopped snowing and with
no wind it created an eerie silence. They stopped behind a large tree and
dropped slowly to their knees. Something didn’t feel right and they all felt
it. The click of Teni’s gun cocking was quickly followed by two more. They
stared out into the open area, the pristine snow cover was like a sheet of
white velvet, there was not a mark on it and not a sound emanated from
anywhere, not even a bird.

Brakin sensed something and slowly turned around. The
faintest of sounds, barely audible drifted in on the ice cold air. Large clouds
of white vapour followed every breath from his mouth and he raised his gun
instinctively towards the mass of trees and undergrowth he was facing. Teni and
Sasra raised their guns anxiously as an ever increasing rustle came from deep
within the forest.

Suddenly a moibla, a large deer like
creature with enormous antlers broke through the undergrowth and raced toward
them.
Teni fired instinctively,
his shot was good and the moibla fell heavily, its nose disappearing into the
snow. The animal kicked and then lay still, Teni lowered his gun and smiled,
indeed it was a good shot. Fresh meat was always welcome and to hang meat along
selected points of a trail always meant somewhere easy to find food, no matter
how bad the weather. Brakin and Sasra breathed relief, they were just about the
congratulate Teni when another rumbling sound emanated before them in the
forest, getting louder and louder. Then moibla after moibla broke from the
cover of the forest, hundreds of them galloped toward the three men. The eyes
of the men opened wide in terror and as one they dived behind the large tree.
They hugged their guns between their knees and sat in a ball with their arms
around wrapped around their legs, leaving no space between them and the tree.

The large animals laboured in the heavy snow,
something was driving them on. One after another moibla fell only to get up and
fall again or cause another to fall. Large crashing hooves thundered in the
muddy slush. Brakin and his companions huddled closer being missed narrowly by
crashing hooves, snow and mud flew in all directions. Terrified, the men
waited.

As quickly as it began it was over. The stunned men
looked as the brown and white stripes on the animal’s tails bobbed across the
open field away from them. They started to rise to their feet when Sasra
screamed as a yellow set of vicious canines buried themselves around his coated
arm.  Brakin reacted instinctively and quickly reversed his gun and struck
the large wolf a heavy blow to its head. The animal made a deep grunting noise
and released its grip of Sasra. Blood spurted from his head and the animal
whimpered softly as it fell slowly to the ground. With his other arm Sasra
drove his knife deeply into its chest. 

The three men rose to their feet as a large pack of
wolves circled them. One of them made a lunge at Teni who lunged back with a heavy
swipe of his gun, swinging it like a club. The wolf backed off growling deeply
as it
bared
its wicked yellow teeth. The animals had
their heads low to the ground and slightly angled upwards toward the men,
growling and rolling their top lips exposing their vicious teeth. Deep guttural
growling emanated from all around, the animals making short sharp movements
sideways preparing to lunge.

Brakin who was between Teni and Sasra stepped forward
still gripping his gun by the muzzle and made large sweeping blows towards the
wolves. The animals avoided the gun by inches but did so easily. Brakin stepped
back between his companions, all three had their backs against the tree. The
wolves constantly changed positions with each other, waiting for the opportunity
to attack, their circle ever decreasing. The men had never seen so many wolves
in one pack and with a gun held as a club in one hand and knife in the other
they waited for the inevitable.