“Jace, you’re not trained to enter a ship like that,” Captain Parker said, growing stiff. “None of us are actually since the Alliance hasn’t seen fit to let us join the fight and given us proper weapons and equipment.”
That was aimed at him like a barb. He could have said that humanity had nothing to offer in this fight. They did not have the strength, quickness or intelligence of other species. They were soft in so many ways and, of course, their emotions led them. But then he thought of how the humans had modified some of the Precursor tech to their own ships without Alliance help or knowledge. That ingenuity had saved his life.
“Actually, Dad, I’ve been training for 10 years for this. I am good to go,” Jace told his father though his eyes remained on Khoth’s face.
Jace’s parents exchanged glances. Their unease was unmistakable. Khoth could just imagine what it was like for them to know that their son had been taught for years by an alien AI whose existence--let alone motives--they did not know or understand.
“I will keep him safe,” Khoth stated.
Jace tipped his chin up and said proudly, “Maybe I’ll be keeping you safe. I’ve got… gifts. Things only I can do so… there’s that.”
Khoth inclined his head. Jace was an unknown quantity. He had brought Metal Rain. He had shown how brave he was. Who knew what else Jace could do?
“We will keep each other safe then,” Khoth stated.
“Exactly,” Jace said.
The young man’s cheeks flushed with pleasure at being taken seriously. The others, sans Thammah and Gehenna, appeared uncertain to the extreme of Jace’s statements.
“You are our connection to the ship, Jace,” Colonel Parker said to her son. “And Gehenna. If something were to happen to you we would… lose that.”
Khoth was impressed that she did not say that she simply did not want to lose her son under any circumstances. She reminded him, for a moment, of his own mother.
“I am the one who is going to make the decision about where the Osiris goes and what it does,” Jace said to his mother. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the general wince. General Intoshkin clearly did not like Jace thinking he was in charge. Jace went on, “I think I need to know what’s at stake, what’s really at stake. So I have to go and see like Khoth said.”
“Is there anything that you could see that would make you leave Earth defenseless?” General Intoshkin asked.
Jace opened his mouth, but no words came out. “I don’t believe so, sir. But I have to see nonetheless. If, for nothing else, so that I understand what humanity is facing. And those people… we can’t let them suffer.”
“You know that means… kill them, right, Jace?” Thammah lifted her scarred eyebrow.
Jace nodded even as both his parents paled. “Gehenna knows a way that will be quick and painless.”
But even with those conditions, Jace’s eyes were shadowed. He saw Colonel Parker’s hands clench then she forced them to relax.
“Perhaps you should take someone with you, Jace,” she suggested evenly.
“Jace and I should be the only ones to enter the ship in order to keep the chance of infection low,” Khoth explained. “But you will be able to see what we do. Our suits will send video and audio back to you.”
He tapped a few instructions into the epad and handed it to her. Just at that moment, lights appeared inside of the floor. They flashed one at a time leading towards the doors of the Core and out into the corridor. They reminded him of emergency lights that led to exits. Everyone stepped back from them in alarm except for Jace and Gehenna.
“What’s happening now?” Captain Parker asked. “This thing is dead for years. Won’t react at all. And now it’s like a roller coaster ride.”
Jace laughed. “Let me find out.”
The AI leaned down to examine the white lights more closely. Jace’s eyes flashed over with electric blue light similar to the color of the pool and his gaze grew distant as if he weren’t seeing what was before him. Khoth guessed he was communicating with Gehenna or the Osiris. He wondered what they were saying and wished to be a part of it. He was surprised that his feelings were not simply because he longed to understand the ship, but instead were a desire to be a part of Jace’s discoveries.
He does not want that, because he thinks of me as the enemy. I cannot blame him. He wants to protect humanity and sees me as someone who does not. Is he wrong?
Khoth remembered his sister’s dismay at how the Alliance was simply defending and retreating, leaving worlds to fend for themselves, their ability to explore cut off sector by sector. Worlds like Earth had only been left alone because of little Precursor tech and space being vast. Otherwise the Khul would have used the gate and wiped them out long ago.
“Any explanation, Jace, about what this is?” Colonel Parker asked as she followed the lights a few feet. “It looks like it's trying to lead us somewhere.”
“It is. Osiris says that if we’re going to enter one of the Khul spacecraft that we need some proper weapons and suits,” Jace explained. His eyes cleared of that blue glow and that faraway look. He was smiling. “The lights will show us the way to the Armory. They’re more for you guys, obviously, as I know where the Armory is, but… well, forget about that. Let’s go!”
Jace gestured for them all to accompany him, despite what he had said about not showing or telling him or Thammah any more of the Osiris’ secrets. And the Armory might be one of the greatest secrets the Osiris had. But General Intoshkin hadn’t forgotten. He stepped in front of Khoth as he tried to follow Jace and gestured for several of the soldiers to flank him. Thammah tensed and her gaze slid to him. She would follow his lead. Antagonizing the humans more was not a good idea, but he very much wished to see the Armory.
“I’ll have to ask you and Flight Commander Thammah to wait here,” the general said firmly.
