Saturday, May 12, 2007

Chapter Part 3of 3
Biku watched from the doorway of the large bay area as a crew worked at taking the bodies and cargo off the ship. It appears there is more to these people and their world that I thought. Biku looked at the Harentin representative as he talked to the Union police. The alien did indeed look plant like. His body was bulky like a small tree trunk and while he had hands of sorts, they here narrow and only had three branch like fingers. His skin looked like old bark and made his face seem old and sunken. The rest of the people in the bay looked human enough. Some had distinct marks like a ridged forehead or oddly shaped limbs. Well, he was in a foreign land.

“Must be hard for them.” Biku turned sharply, he didn’t sense anyone approach. The woman smiled and brushed back her dark hair. There was more, something green on the back of her hand and he could have sworn he saw some of it on the back of her neck too. The woman smiled, her pupils grew thin like a lizard’s, “What? Never seen an alien before?”
Biku turned back around and went back to watching the workers, “What do you think?”
“Well, given where you are,” She leaned against the other edge of the doorway. Biku could see the green more clearly, it was scales. They blended into her tan skin before they reached halfway to the front, “I’d say that you are just surprised that I snuck up on you. The only one I know that could ever catch me is Catboy.” She looked at Biku, “Where is he by the way? I got word from Yuna saying I was needed.”
Somehow I should’ve known. “Last I heard, he was out doing something I don’t care about.”
The woman laughed lightly, “What a bundle of joy you are.” She looked at the wreckage, “I got some details from Yuna, but if you could fill me in all the same that would be nice.”
Biku shrugged, might as well, “The ship was carrying something called barrier solution; enough for about a hundred people. It was on a regular run hiding the special cargo among the usual. It was attacked by an unknown group and all on board were killed.”
His flat tone made the woman smile. “For someone who hates to get involved, you seem to have a good grasp on things.”
Biku scuffed, “I’ve been in the military longer than most families live in one country. I should hope to be able to deal with things such as this.”
“Ah,” The woman nodded absentmindedly.
“So who are you?” Biku asked, still watching the salvage.
“I was wondering when you would ask.” The woman cracked her neck and laid her head against the wall, “I’m a friend of the family and a Union senator. Name’s Rachel Lesone”
“Lesone is Vermillion’s name.”
“Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s a long story that you might have heard bits and pieces of already.”
“I see.”
“So,” Rachel yawned, “How long are you planning on staying with us?”
Biku grunted and shrugged.
“Spiffy.” Rachel shook her head and fell silent.

Biku looked off toward the opposite entrance when he heard a yell. Shinobu walked quickly over to the Union police and handed one of them a small silver brief case; then she went around to the other side of the ship and pulled aside one of the salvage crew. She seemed mad, but Biku couldn’t quite tell at this distance. When she was done talking, the man walked away from the ship and out of the bay. Shinobu shook her body vigorously and started to walk in Biku and Rachel’s direction.
“God I hate probies.” Shinobu fumed as she got close enough to speak without yelling, “You tell them to do one small job and they go and screw it up.” She stopped in front of Rachel, “You have authority, do something.”
Rachel laughed, “I don’t run the defense forces.”
“Argh!” Shinobu screeched, clutching her head, “Why me? Oh why me?”
Rachel reached out and placed a hand on Shinobu’s shoulder, “Looks like someone could use a cookie.”
Shinobu stared at Rachel all cockeyed and stupid, “Eh?”
Rachel giggled, “At the suggestion of better worldly understanding, Vermillion said that I should ‘troll’ Earth’s internet. It seems that giving virtual cookies as a reward is common practice.”
Shinobu sighed, “Should have seen that one.”
Rachel motioned to the wreck, “Care to tell me why I’m here.”
Shinobu leaned against the wall next to Rachel, blocking Biku’s view of her, “I need to know why the Union is secretly transporting barrier solution in such large quantity.”
Rachel rubbed her forehead, “I can look into it, but my source pool is still quite small. Most of the big wigs try and smuggle information past me since they know I have ties with you guys.”
Biku closed his eyes and laid his head back against the wall, “You mentioned something about the Federation’s activities along the border. What did you mean?”
Shinobu looked at him, “In essence the border exists around any system or sector that the Federation occupies. Lately, they have been massing forces in areas where the sector or system is surrounded by either Union or Independent planets.” She looked at the wreckage, “I see it as a warning. Like they are saying ‘don’t come near us.’”
“Diversion.” Biku said flatly.
“Makes sense.” Rachel agreed, “But from what, though?”
Shinobu shrugged, “I don’t have the slightest idea. This isn’t a field of expertise for me. Chances are Vermillion won’t know either. Our dealings with the Federation have been minimal till recently. And that worries me.”
“How recent?”
Shinobu scratched her chin, “Probably a month ago or so.”
Biku shifted his footing slightly, “Who produces the solution that they stole?”
The two women looked at him in surprise, “That is a large assumption.” Rachel said.
Shinobu nodded, “Yes, but I think I see where he gets it. The Harentin are Independent and are more vulnerable to attack since they don’t have our protection. As for the answer to the question, I don’t know who is right now.”
Rachel brushed back her hair, “Last I heard it is Poseidon Industries.”
Shinobu looked at Rachel, “What is a cybernetics company doing manufacturing barrier solution?”
Rachel removed a small cord from a small pouch on her belt hidden under her shirt, “I recorded the press conference. It’s a better cut than what was seen on the news since it has the entire heated quarrel between Poseidon’s CEO and Raytheon Lab’s head of development.”

Biku watched curiously as Shinobu took the end of the cord and placed it under her hair at the back of her neck. She seemed to stare off into space for several minutes before removing the cord, “I see.” She said after a few seconds of thought. As if expecting his question, she turned her head away from him and moved her hair, revealing what looked like small data ports, “Most people, not on Earth mind you, now and days have some level of cybernetic implants. They basically allow us to have our brain act in a similar way to computers. Like just now I connected my brain to Rachel’s and she transferred her memory of the conference to me. The implants also allow for access to what ever intranet you might come across.”
“What is the reason someone would need them? Vermillion carries a computer with him to access data.”
Rachel laughed, “Don’t let that fool you. His body is riddled with implants of all types. That computer merely acts as a controller for them.” She flashed her pouch, “Much like this is for me. Since we are shapeshifters, we can’t have the same sort of structure other humanoids have. So all our connections are wireless.”
Shinobu rubbed the back of her neck, “I have many small cores and pins that run along my spine. On top of that the back of my neck and the surroundings of my brain stem are incased in a synthetic alloy for protection.”
“This leads into the reason for Poseidon’s want for production rights.” Rachel continued, “For some reason, the solution reacts badly to heavily cyberized people. The company wants to incorporate nanos with the already existing biological virus that composes the solution. Raytheon says that in doing so the nanos will negate the solutions effect and possibly cause cyber-brain sclerosis since the virus will run out of control and attack cells that aren’t infected with tyrium poisoning.”
“Tyrium poisoning,” Shinobu continued, “is basically what we call the reaction most humanoids have to tyrium; usually consists of complete genetic breakdown after most of the muscle and lung tissue is eaten away. Tyrium is a strange crystal that can exist is all three chemical states at the same time. So, while someone can avoid touching it, they will surely breathe it in. Tyrium is cultivated and then refined for use in alloys and medicines. It exists on only three known planets making it a commodity. It grows fast and if it isn’t kept in check, it can grow for miles in a matter of months.”
“It would seem that things are more complex than I first believed.” Biku commented.
“It gets worse, but I don’t feel like getting into detail right now.” Rachel agreed, “If you want to know, you should be able to access the records using Omo.”
Shinobu shook her head, “They are enemies right now.”
Rachel smiled playfully, “Oh.” She placed a finger on her chin, “Then I guess he and I could get together for coffee on a later date.”
Shinobu sighed as she watched the salvage team exit the bay, “Back to the drawing board.” She left the bay through the door beside her and the other two followed.


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