Erica Olafson Journeys of the Tigershark Vol 9 Chapter 4 Dispersed
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The woman that stepped through a shimmering portal of dark red light, had dark grey skin, long white hair and wore a skimpy outfit which was an odd combination of bikini, medieval armor, and wispy veils.
Her eyes had no pupils but glowed in the same dark red light as the now dissipating portal.
Stahl suddenly remembered Sunday school and stopped himself to actually make the sign of the cross. However, he was never really intimidated, by anyone.
The Eternal Warrior got up, like the old fashioned gentleman he was and greeted the entity that just entered his office aboard the Devi.
“Welcome aboard Ms. Fera, I should be concerned about your ability to appear inside my ship, but my wife asked.”
“I am quite honored, Eternal Warrior. Alycia equals me in almost every aspect and for her to chose what appears to be a simple human, has created quite a stir in the Nether Realms. Yet your reputation has seeped beyond the confines of this the Prime Reality.”
Alycia gave him her warmest smile.”Richard accepted me, Luci. The Narth Supreme calls him friend, that alone elevates my beloved beyond the definition of simple.”
Richard grunted.”Girls, I am right here you know. Can I offer you anything, maybe some sulfur or brimstone perhaps?”
Lucifera, also known as the Oldest laughed.”Oh no, Admiral. That is part of human mythology and has nothing to do with reality. You see, when rifts and portals between the Netherworlds and this universe are opened, some atmosphere will also make the transition. Since our molecules are completely alien to this realm, no olfactory organ can make sense of it and the mind associates a scent memory with it. The same reason why the Coven or any sliders do not appear as they are to your eyes.” She sat down on the visitors’ chair across his desk.”A taste of your famous beer will do.”
He smirked.”Wonder what it might taste like to your tongue then, being made of molecules of this Universe.” Before he could do it himself, Alycia motioned him to remain and went to retrieve three bottles from his cooler.
Lucy crossed her shapely legs and arranged the white wisp of chiffon attached to her bra-like top in a playful move.”You do know that this ship has ceased to be Seenian long before Alycia revealed it to you? The Vax of the Krytha galaxy modified this vessel so much, over 200,000 years ago.” She made an all-inclusive gesture waving her hands and added. “Centron loves you and this old contraption has still many secrets, one of them are Nether shields. Ask Centron to raise them and neither Alycia, me or any other creature of our plane can ever overcome them.”
Stahl raised his eyebrows.”And there I am, learning about this now, but that is not what brings you here right?”
“No, Admiral. I like to explain to you who I am and give you more insights, so you will then better understand why I am here.”
He sat down and nodded. “I am not pressed for time at the moment, the Devi is in good hands and the fleet simply follows at the moment.”
His eyes reflected concern.”While I think she, I mean Captain Olafson, can take care of herself. Every gut instinct tells me to rush with all haste to Deep Blue and find out how and who abducted her again. I doubt there is anyone in the history of the Union, that ends up somewhere else against her will than her.”
“Yes, this is why I am here Admiral. Not Deep Blue, however, but the planet known as N’Ger.”
“N’Ger damn she gets around, not so long ago she ended up on Sin 4, unfortunately with all my concerns for her well being, this is a planet beyond Union Space and unless the Assembly gives me the authority to flex Fleet muscles in old Wedmar’s Triangle.”
Alycia had asked Centron for a hard light chair projection and was sitting next to him said.”I know, love. It is not the Devi and her cannons we think is needed there, but you. Let Lucy explain things to you and then if you want we can make the trip there in mere moments.”
He crossed his arms before his chest. “Alright. let me have it.”
“I am in human terms, the oldest daughter of Satanis, ruler of six netherworld planes. My father is fearing the return of the Dark One and is preparing with schemes and plans for this event. He also gave me the ability to journey past...”, she paused for a brief moment looking to Alycia to help her find a descriptive analog.
Alycia said.” You crossed what some scholars describe as the Cosmic Veil.”
Stahl was very attentive, but his wife could read what others claimed to be an unreadable face.
She added.”Richard, this is not magic and not religious. There are near infinite parallel realities or universes, contained in a condition defined as MetaVerse. When our ships travel in Quasi-Space, they do so in a thin layer between this spatial condition and something Union scientists refer to as hyperspace. The definition of thin is misleading of course as standard spatial dimensional expressions do not apply.”
Lucifera actually smiled for the first time.”Yes, that is a good explanation. What you call Quasi-Space is just like an Onion layer; and so is hyperspace. We call the next condition Omni Ether and this is the veil your wife was talking about, the Nether worlds are something like an Anti-Omniverse.”
He waved his hand.”I get the idea, and some of it I understand at least in general terms. Now get back to your story so we can come to the point. I think the time is of the essence here.”
She nodded and went on.”My name, my origin and the undeniable reputation of my father and its alignment to what you define as evil is hard to deny, Admiral. I was sent by him to be an enforcer and given this appearance to be able to cross that veil we just mentioned, but I am not defined by my father or my origin. I used my power and position to help the Coven escape and find a new home in this universe and I joined them, hid among them when father sent mighty hunters to punish the escaped Coven and to bring me to heel.”
Alycia looked at Richard with the greatest admiration and love.”He knows more about this as he lets on. Richard fearlessly confronted the Arkhurm hunter to protect me and defeated him. He suffered terrible injuries and while I helped him recover, I feel deeply in love with him.”
The Eternal Warrior was visibly embarrassed by this and cleared his throat.”Can we stick to the subject please?”
Lucifera did continue.”The last and most powerful hunter, an entity called Malag was utterly defeated and destroyed just recently. The fight was witnessed, an apparent simple human woman defeated Malag, she defeated the creature wielding Bereaver. Not my father, not anyone would dare to touch this ax. It is one of the two weapons associated with the Dark One.
This leaves only one conclusion, the Dark One found its vessel in a human woman. Alycia saw the images and identified her as Erica Olafson.”
“And this is where you lost me. I still have no idea what this Dark One really supposed to be and what a native of Nilfeheim, that turned into a quite lovely woman has to do with all of it. That she is somehow connected I have no doubt. She gets abducted more than anyone I ever knew, and I met quite a few people in my 3000 years. So what is she doing at N’Ger and what can we do to help?”
Lucifera got up.”No one, with the exception of the One Behind it All can really define what or who the Dark One is, but one aspect is certain. He or it has the potential to be the biggest threat and danger to everything and everyone. Morgal the Cruel, the son of the Last Queen of Seenia slew his mother, split the indestructible mask of the queen with that ax, called Bereaver. And before he was utterly consumed by the weapon, he used Bereaver and lashed out with the Omni Strike. Killing the New Dark Ones and virtually every Seenian, destroyed fleets, billions of beings, a thousand suns and a greater number of planets.”
Richard’s mouth went dry.”If such a power exists what can I, what could the entire Union do?”
Alycia also got up.”There is no one, Erica respects more than you.”
--””--
The Assembly officially was back to normal business, but the recent events still hung like an invisible, hushing quality over everything.
Visible security and invisible security measures, not been used since the Assembly Sphere were dedicated and opened, activated and upgraded to the latest tech standards. Officers of First Guard strolling armed up and down the Sphere Corridor.
First Guard, conceived 2800 years ago by Saran suggestions to perform similar tasks and duties as a palace guard, actually was the official security force of the Assembly, but had never been called to anything more serious than a few aggressive Non-Cit panhandlers and Gal-Drifts. Repurposed to perform honor guard and ceremonial duties in crisp uniforms and side arms that had never been drawn.
Another sign that this was far from really being back to normal business were the members of PSI Corps here and there, in their smooth gray uniforms.
Alegar held up an insulated cup and gestured towards Egil who just stepped off a slide belt and proceeded towards his accustomed Inter-Building Access point.
The grumpy, representative of Nilfeheim noticed the gesture of the Saresii, who had become his best friend and came over. Instead of greeting the stunningly beautiful Saresii waved the Vent-Matic menu active and said.”Nilfeheim Special three.
The system treated him seconds later with a large disposable cup and straw. Filled with coke and a helping of his favorite liquor, clear Earth sourced Vodka.
“Isn’t it a little early for that?” Aegar asked.
“No, it is just the right time.” Egill gave his friend a glance and added.”Aren’t you a little too old wearing a short skirt like that?”
“I think it fits me fine and weather control has summery temperatures planned all month.”
Changing the subject Alegar pointed down the hall. “I wonder why they haven’t cleaned up and fixed the mess. All they did is place it behind security barriers.”
Egill shrugged and sipped at his drink.”I don’t know.”
“The faster they clean it up, the faster we can forget about it.”
The old Viking looked at the tall Saresii with his watery blue eyes.”Then I think I will suggest to the Assembly that it should never be cleaned up. What happened should never be forgotten.”
Alegar sighed.”I am Saresii and you are a brutish Neo Viking. It is I who should be wise and aloft, but I know better, of course, tell me why?”
“Almost 3000 years of serene safety made us soft and unprepared. Most of all it made us blind my friend.”
It was not the Narth representative that joined the two, but the representative of the largest Vantax community Dr.Yalki.”I could not help but overhear the last words.” He said as he was close enough.”I am always fascinated and deeply impressed by the blunt openness and frank honesty of you, Representative of Nilfeheim.”
The Vantax gestured across the corridor and towards the yellow hard light barrier that prevented anyone from accessing the bomb blast scene. “The culprits are hunted to extinction, not that there were many of them in the first place. I am sure there won’t be many or perhaps none left in a short time. If you, the Wisemen would support my suggestion to let the PSI corps really do their job and scan minds, we could make sure to weed out all the members of that barbaric and fanatic cult.”
Egill touched his temples, placing the thumb and middle finger to the sides of his forehead while using the rest of his free hand to cover his eyes in a gesture signaling tiredness and frustration. A human gesture completely lost to both the Saresii and the Vantax.
Egill added a deep sigh.”This is precisely the reason, I don’t like this Wisemen business. Now we are seen as opinion makers and lobbied to support certain ideas.” He looked up and spread his arms.”And where does it take place?” He asked and answered his own question saying.”Right here in the lobby, Fifl you are!”
The Vantax, not knowing that he was just insulted kept listening.”
The Narth representative simply suddenly there said with his deep cold voice.”The Vantax apparently waits for a sample of your wisdom, friend Egill.”
The painful expression now in Egills face was partially hidden by his now well-trimmed beard.”And with that, we become the Kermac and the PSI Corps the Thought Police. No, Dr. Yalki our ideas only work for all, if we have room for the opposition and other ideas, even or especially those not necessarily by us or the majority.”
Alegar nodded in agreement.”You are a wise man, my friend. This is why we have PSI laws, something the average Kermac envies us more than our Translocators.”
Egill was about to resume his original intention and proceed on his way to the I.S.T. access point, when a human man, somehow looking out of time and place approached the hard light barrier across their vantage point. The human wore a hat and a beige coat.
Alegar recognized him.”I think I know why they haven’t cleaned up. They waited for him.”
Egill mildly interested asked.”And who is he?”
“He is one of the virtually unknown immortals, older than the Eternal Warrior, or McElligott. Rumored to be not one of those picked by that entity called the Guardian of Earth. That is without a doubt, Phil Decker.”
Egill scratched his beard covered chin.”You are right, I never heard if him, but then I spend most of my life on Nilfeheim. Not exactly a hub of information.”
“Yet, your world had access to GalNet much longer than even you are alive.” Alegar chuckled.”I only know of him, because he was the first human ever to marry a Saresii, long before there was a Union and even before Earth ascended. As unknown as he may be to you and me, every Union policeman knows of him. To them, he is what Stahl is to the rest of us, a legendary policeman and detective.”
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“Well, we are well past GalNet range.” Circuit said sitting behind his console. He had insisted to come along, as this was a real Karthanian freighter and not my own marvelous ship disguised as one. I had contemplated taking the Tigershark, as the Janus mask could have been easily adjusted, but I wanted Har-Hi to have all its resources available, as I was convinced he had to face more than just old-fashioned atomic bombs. “Might be as well, Mr.Circuit. It will prevent me to call back every...
We didn’t have to fight the Merrimac destroyer. The mercenaries immediately signaled surrender. They all were Union citizens, and according to Hans, checking the files. They did have a notice to appear issued, but were still citizens and not yet charged with anything. The ship was bristling with illegal mil-tech, but it was registered to Nick Harlequin and not to any of the surrendering mercenaries. They also reported the demise of Chucky Harlequin and wanted to know if there was any bounty...
I knew I should have paid more attention to the Laurin Oghr, especially since I knew about the Bunthik subculture. The only excuse I had was the fact that I was drunk, but then this was no excuse because I should not have left my guard down like that in an environment that was less than familiar to me. I should have suspected the presence of more than one spy. If the situation was as serious as I believed it was, the opposing actors namely this Cam Elf-Na would not give up easily. All this...
The USS Braddock swung into orbit around one of the most mysterious worlds in the entire Universe, Narth Prime. She was the first Non-Narth vessel ever to do that in over a thousand years. Captain Mike Anderson was very aware of that. No active scanning was done. He gave strict orders not to activate any probing rays or scanners other than the passive ones needed for spaceship operations. The planet was as unusual as its inhabitants and reputation. It had no visible surface features from...
Shea tried to catch her breath, her suit was in restore and repair mode and the system assured her that it would be fully functional in less than an hour. Krabbel was not so lucky and her Archa friend was missing a leg. Hans and the Y’All and the marines were unharmed, except for a few bruises. The island was destroyed, and the shaft leading into the deep had collapsed. Hans was sitting by Krabbel who assured her that the Auto-Doc of his suit kept him pain-free and that losing a leg was not...
A muscular being covered with a brown shroud came running our way. It had a nonhuman snout sticking out from under his hood. What was exposed of him was covered with a short gray fur. In his right, he held an elegant looking weapon. It appeared to be an energy beamer of sort, he had fired it twice into the direction he was coming from. Now he turned and with it his weapon and he aimed at me. Lucky for me I was close, unfortunate for him, I had already drawn the Dai blade. I moved fast into...
Har-Hi was led to a Wisdom keeper, who was without question an old Dai. The revelation that there was a Dai was quite a surprise for Har-Hi. He had not expected that, but since he had become a Union officer and traveled with Erica, he had met and seen the unthinkable. Living dust clouds, planet surface covering creatures and a planet-bound, desert scavenging Dai. He had met Dai that were born in captivity and knew a Dai tribe leader was engaged in selling Dai Than as slaves. Meeting a Dai...
I had been in deep space before and knew how cold space was. Yet standing here on that frozen plane with these bizarre tooth or needle-shaped rock formations, with a bright star just over the horizon giving it all a bluish shine, made it look colder than anything I had seen before and I came off a very cold world myself. Not that I felt any of it, I wore a disguised Atas battle suit, made to look like a piece of undefinable alien hardware and I also wore Tyron Suit. While he assured me I...
I returned to the table where Har-Hi was talking with the former pirate captains and a former Union fleet petty officer, who had dealt with the Worm and now paid the price. “We need to get back to the ship, right away. “Har-Hi didn’t lose a second and got up, tossed a few Iridium coins on the table and was ready to follow me. Lemakr, the Togar said. “What about us, Black Velvet?” “I have all the crew I need and I am in a hurry, figure it out. “I was torn between showing them some sort of...
The disguised Tigershark dropped out of Quasi-Space and as it has become our routine just beyond the utmost Elfi said. “Looks like they had contact with our galaxy before. Communication is now possible. They respond to Squack.” I got up, Har-Hi held my mask. “You should wear it, it is part of your Black Velvet trademark and flair of mystery.” “You think I have that? I mean a flair?” “In spades, Captain and I begin to learn to like this Do suit, complete with mask. It gives me that...
The Thauran now known as Red Dragon cursed at the Situation and cursed his Sensor Operator.”You said you detected the Silver Streak in Orbit. Where is it?” “I swear to you it was there one second and now it’s gone. I think she went over the Pole. Adjusting for magnetic interference now.” “What a worthless idiot are you? Is she there or not?” “No Captain I cannot detect her ship anywhere in the system, maybe our Sensors were damaged.” “Of course your sensors are damaged. She can’t simply...
This situation reminded me of my first visit to Sin 4. I did not know where I was, brought here against my will. Abducted, stripped of everything I owned. I was once again bare feet, had several blisters and burn wounds. My hair was a mess, at least In didn’t have to go pee. Darn it thinking about it, made realize I actually did. I was still running across that landing field, not knowing where I was going, but I knew I still stuck out like a sore thumb, being the only pin skinned human. The...
I was sitting on the main diagnostic table of our sickbay. Cateria had taken me out of a regen tank just moments ago and was now examining me. “What did you do, Captain? Fight a blast furnace” I could not find the emotions to smile, Tyron’s demise was heavy on my mind. “What I faced was certainly hot enough to melt metal. “Har-Hi was standing outside the privacy bubble and said. “Whatever you guys did, worked the run-away Orlan equipment is inactive and we can no longer detect any random...
The USS Gromsmaro was not a supply transporter and not a unit of the Science Council. She was a full sized, late model Union battleship under the command of Captain Bronbohr, a four meters tall Vvolti. Bronbohr was not the most liked commanding officer in the Union fleet, but there was hardly one more correct or fair. His ship and crew were among the top ten vessels in the entire spatial navy in terms of response to alert times, simulated battle honors, efficiency ratings and so forth. The...
The news of Eric Olafson being on trial had reached Nilfeheim. First noticed by Lars Igvarhein the owner and operator of Nilfeheim Radio. That Eric had become Erica was not widely known, but his legend had grown. Isegrim, Siegfrieda, Exa, and Elenna had traveled to Hogun’s Tavern. The place was packed to standing room only. Hogun had his GalNet terminal active on GalNet One and the system displayed the proceedings on the largest field screen setting possible. Aunt Freydis was assisted by...
The latest development transmitted in the tightly packed guest room of Hogun’s Tavern was greeted with cheers and raised tankards. Gunnar Peerson said. “I guess we only hear now, what a hero our Eric Olafson really is.” “It is the strong arm of an Olafson and the sharp mind of a Ragnarsson paired with the virtues of a true Norse that is at the core of Isegrim’s firstborn that enables such deeds.” Proclaimed another. Isegrim shouted. “Mighty brother Hogun, open barrels and let your kitchen...
Rex Schwartz, now fully aware of his ancient dual personality, known as Invictus Rex had, of course, witnessed the approach and the initial attack of the Tomradi. He was confident, that the latest TransDim shields would hold against anything these aliens could throw at them from surface weapons. The appearance of these huge disc-shaped battleships however caused great concern. He brought along a sizeable army of Seenian Sentmacs. Cloned humans that had been altered to be the perfect...
After I was reunited with my friends and my ship we left Karthanian space and returned to the space dock of Fantlemo Brthail. The Karthanian engineer had returned with us. He told us, that with the First Engineer active, the old Guildmasters would be swept away; and he realized that he no longer wanted to be a Guild leader. He rather returned to Itheamh and helped rebuild it and run his space dock. In order to maintain our cover, he reverted to his alter ego of Fantlemo Brthail and only...