CHAPTER 33
Rina
“I am on the Ignis and on my way down to you,” said Marante. “Communication with the Quasar is inoperative. Due to the primitive technology of the missiles, the Neuron Field will have no effect on them. There is a huge gathering of sorts at the intended target. These people will die if we cannot stop the missiles.”
“Can we listen in on the gathering?” asked Justin aloud.
“Who is this?” asked Marante.
“I’m Rina’s father, Justin.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Sir. I am connecting with the broadcast.”
“...And this day will be remembered forever as the day that every nation on this planet willingly gathered together to peacefully unite this world.”
Clapping hands and loud cheers were audible.
“It’s the Peace Conference,” said Justin as he glanced at Rina. “Every national official is there. It’s got to be Bauman. His original plan failed and now he’s going after all of them. Can you detonate the missiles in the sky, Marante?”
“I’m afraid not, Sir. The Neuron Field will neutralize our weapons.”
“How about remotely adjusting their guidance systems?” said Rina.
“The Neuron Field will prevent that too,” said Kalin. “All our weapons are useless. We’re going to have to think of another way.”
The Ignis, thought Rina. A ship.
“How big are your docking bays?” she asked.
“What’s that got to do with this?” asked Kalin.
“Just answer the question; how big are your docking bays?”
“Big enough to hold a few Earth buildings. How is—”
“How strong are the metals on that ship?” she asked.
“Strong enough to withstand the heat of level one sun,” said Kalin. “Why are you asking?”
Rina grabbed his arm; he needed to stop talking. “Marante, are the missiles on a single line trajectory?”
“Yes,” he answered.
“Wait a minute...,” said Kalin, furrowing his brow in thought. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Your REM was powerful enough to create a planet tunnel into the core,” said Rina. “Can it handle the explosions of four nuclear bombs?”
“Maybe,” said Kalin. His thoughts were racing now.
“You are both out of your minds,” said Marante. “There is an eighty percent probability we will not survive.”
“It’s the only plan we’ve got,” said Kalin. He winked at Rina and made that stupid smile.
“Marante, what’s their ETA?”
“Five minutes, Captain.”
“What’s your ETA?”
From out of nowhere, a door began lowering behind them. No other sign of a vessel was visible. The light was almost blinding. Atop the ramp, Rina saw the silhouette of Marante’s angular frame.
“Good,” said Kalin, grabbing Rina’s hand. “Let’s go.”
“Wait,” she said, lifting the box of Rycon.
“Kalin,” said Justin, “we’re talking about four, fifty-kiloton nuclear missiles the size of small buildings. Are you sure the docking bays can handle that kind of fire power?”
Kalin tapped his Comlink and an enormous silver sphere appeared above the house. Its circumference took in their whole field of vision, shadowing the mountaintop and mirroring its surroundings.
Justin’s stare went up the giant craft. “That’ll do,” he said. It vanished again except for the ramp.
“What about Vurro?” asked Rina, clutching the box.
“Vurro’s in a low orbit around the planet,” said Justin. “The Rycon Sphere will keep him safe until we pick him up.”
“Let’s go,” said Kalin. “There isn’t much time.”
“Quickly!” said Marante, waving them in.
As they ascended towards Marante, Rina watched her father’s worried expression change into wonderment as he gazed at the Chaslean-human.
“Pleasure to meet you, Marante,” said Justin, shaking his hand.
“The pleasure is all mine, Sir,” said Marante. “We must hurry.”
Kalin held Rina’s hand as they ran down the blue-carpeted hallways. A light scent of gardenias perfumed the air. On the ceiling and walls were murals of Novas, Pulsars, and every type of astro phenomenon.
This is beautiful, she thought, and wondered if the décor of the Quasar was similar.
The brief stay in the Med Lab hadn’t allowed her time to examine her surroundings.
“The Ignis is your premium class star cruiser,” said Kalin. “It’s small compared to the Quasar, but it’ll suffice.”
Small, thought Rina. Holy cow.
In the semi-lit bridge, everything was shiny black except for the colorful orbs on the control console. They dotted the area like sparkling gems.
Holo orbs, she thought.
Hovering in front of the console were three white cushions. Kalin sat on the middle one and Marante seated to his left. The cushions instantly grew and molded to their bodies, creating armrests and high backs. The lights dimmed.
Kalin tapped an orb and on the black wall facing them a gold liquid gathered in the center then burst into an array of colored lights. A twenty-by-thirty-foot, three-dimensional picture formed, displaying her house and grounds. No fluctuations or any discolorations were present; it was as if she could reach out and touch her favorite tree. Marante was manipulating a holo. The technology was incredible. Her father had an ear-to-ear grin.
The screen split in two. On one side were the missiles; the other half showed her house shrinking in size as they rose into the atmosphere. They must have been traveling at a tremendous speed but there was no physical stress from the G-forces. The engines were barely audible. If it weren’t for the screen, she would have never known they were airborne.
“Impact in less than ninety seconds,” said Marante, studying a holo.
Kalin waved his hand over another orb and a holo revealed the trajectory of the missiles. She leaned on the back of his chair, observing him as he moved his finger through the holo, touching wisps of numbers. She felt the slight turn of the ship. He had adjusted their course.
The holos have to be biochemical-reactive, she thought, possibly epicritic. Wow.
“If the REM doesn’t react in time,” said Kalin, “we’ll be incinerated.”
“Have you ever done this before?” she asked.
“No,” he said, focused on the screen. “If this works, it’ll go down in the books as the Rina Crunch. We’re coming up on the missiles.”
“I have merged docking bays six and seven,” said Marante, working his holo. “The REM will automatically shield the area after the missiles enter and before the doors close. Purging of radioactive materials will commence immediately after detonation. Captain, there is a slight chance the Neuron Field may interfere with the ship’s REM.”
“I know,” said Kalin. “Either way, this is going to hurt.”
Rina glanced over at Marante’s holo, which showed the inside of a long, wide-open room. He wasn’t kidding about the size; three Empire State buildings could fit.
“Ten seconds to impact,” said Marante.
“Sound off,” said Kalin. “Justin, belt yourself in.”
Justin took the box of Rycon from Rina. “I’ll hold it,” he said, and sat on the cushion to the right of Kalin.
Kalin pulled Rina on his lap and wrapped his arms around her. The armrests snuggled them in place.
“Are these chairs safe?” she asked. Floating things never made her feel safe.
“Of course,” he said. “They’re designed to keep you secure in the event of a crash.”
“Great. Now ease up on your grip. It’s too tight.”
Kalin rested his chin on her shoulder, rubbing her cheek with his.
“What’s wrong?” he said, smiling and squeezing harder. “Never had a guy caress you before?”
He was doing it again. Aggravating her to the point where she wanted to bust his lip.
“Four-three-two-one!” said Marante.
With a deafening boom, the ship jerked back and everyone screamed. Jagged sparks flew across the recessed orbs. The vessel rumbled with the wild shock waves. The liquid screen went flying into the air in all directions. Panels burst from the sidewalls setting off mini fires. Automatic extinguishers clicked on, snuffing out the flames. Kalin tapped a yellow orb and it exploded, sending shards of glass into the palm of his hand.
This is it, Rina thought, we’re dead.
Suddenly, all was quiet. The floating gold liquid swished back to the wall, forming a picture of the docking bay where dark smoke blocked the view. She heard the faint whisper of exhaust fans removing the heavy smoke from the bridge.
“Did we do it?” asked Rina, coughing, “or are we all going to die from radiation poisoning in three months?”
“The REM shield initiated two millionths of a second before the weapons detonated,” said Marante. “It worked.”
Rina stood up and shouted, “Yes!”
She jumped back into Kalin’s lap and started kissing his face with joy.
“We did it!” she said, looking into his green eyes. “You did it.” She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed.
“Rina,” he said softly. “As much as I’m enjoying this, remember the ‘I’m only a man’ part?’”
She gasped and scurried off his lap. “Sorry,” she said. “I got excited.”
“So did I,” he said, trying to steady his breathing. “You really are a hot babe,” he added, swiping cold sweat off his brow with the back of his injured hand.
“You’re hurt,” she said, taking his hand and examining the pieces of glass jutting out from his bleeding cuts. “We need more Sarvins. I used the last ones on you.”
“I’m all right,” he said. “I’ve had worse.”
Justin approached them and touched Kalin’s arm. The wounds on his hand began to heal. The pieces of glass pushed out of his skin and clinked as they hit the floor. Rina stared in awe.
“Sarvins would take at least a minute to heal these deep cuts,” said Kalin, rubbing his palm. “These wounds have completely healed within seconds. I can only imagine what else Rycon can do.”
“Its capabilities are far greater than what you or Marante can imagine,” said Justin. “Your science doesn’t even come close to what Rycon can do. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before.”