Chapter Nineteen — Part 6

He keyed in a series of security commands, and two lighted spheres dropped from the ceiling, suspended by unseen forces. The orbs seemed to lock magnetically to my hands, and buttons on either side were triggers for propulsion. One orb moved vertically, the other horizontally. Dropping my hand, I triggered the forward thrust button, and then pulled the orb straight up.

We rose slowly off the port pad, and I took us carefully out over the moonscape, trying to get used to the controls. I found that I could control the ship by twisting and manipulating both orbs, and within a few minutes, I was able to control acceleration and deceleration. Restraining belts automatically snapped around my shoulders as Eohl brought the last of the fighter’s systems on line.

“We’re ready to retreat. Raising shields, weapons activated. Engines are at maximum.” Eohl said.

The sky was speckled with Scandivat war ships, and it took all my skill to get us through the wave without running into one. They didn’t fire on us. They were more interested in the supplies they hoped to scavenge from Isastan’s surface. Thousands of ships escaped into Otherspace, us among them.

“We need to get into Otherspace. Where are the phase controls?” I asked Eohl.

Eohl raised his hand to adjust his new silver wire crown, one hand still working the keyboard. “I’m working on it right now.”

I fidgeted, using my whole body to fly the ship between the wall of enemy ships. “What’s taking so long?” I said, “I’m not what you’d call an ace pilot.”

“We can’t do a straight jump, we have to build up a pulse charge. So keep us in one piece until that happens.”

Otherspace bloomed around us, and Eohl thanked God under his breath. The Scandivat ships were like transparent ghosts around Otherspace, though they shouldn’t have been visible at all.

“What do you make of it?” I asked, awed as we flew through a Scandivat ship.

He studied the sensors closely. “Otherspace is deteriorating rapidly. Soon it’ll be nothing more than a transition portal for the computers to fly through.”

We drifted in Otherspace, with no coordinates set.

Eohl looked into a contoured locker. “The computer managed to shift your clothes safely into a proper compartment.” He sounded a little uncomfortable.

I felt my forehead. The crown remained, and part of its design used my horns to support it. “Who made this crown for me?”

“I did.” Eohl said. “I wanted you to always feel beautiful. Pity we don’t have time for a honeymoon.”

I frowned. “Was a little rushed wasn’t it? We have to get to the colony one more time. If I can talk to the Central, I’m almost certain I can convince him to turn around and go home.”

“How are you going to do that?” Eohl wondered.

“By eliminating the key problem.”

“Wastik…” Eohl thought aloud. “He’s a tough metaphysicist. He merges will, magic, and technology all into one when he fights, and he may very well be insane, from what I’ve heard. I don’t know that I can counter his attacks, should he start to weave his web of power.”

“I’m not asking you to. This battle’s between Wastik and me.”

“You’re my wife. I should protect you.”

“I didn’t ask you to marry me, I chose you.”

Eohl stared at me in disbelief, his eyes filled with hurt feelings. “You think I would’ve been at that ceremony if I didn’t know there was a chance of us being together? It was my choice to attend. If you think you’re going into the bowels of hell without me, you’re out of your mind.”

My anger flared a little, and my eyes glowed red in response to that rage. “I’ll not let another man die helping me fulfill what’s so obviously my destiny.” I looked away, through the port, into space.

“As you noted when you chose me, I’m not a man yet.”

I grumbled under my breath, then looked at him, making my voice clear. “Set course for the Scandivats’ colony.” When he was done, I drew his lips against mine. “If you die, I’ll destroy every last Scandivat in existence, Prince Wastik, and any of his allies.”

The smile on his face faded, and he turned away, staring through the opposite portal. We both looked in opposite directions for several minutes.

The computer beeped, breaking our silence.

“We’ll be at the edge of the sub-teselar field in an hour. Are we going to try to go in peacefully, or are we going in blasting?”

“This may be a fool’s errand, but I’m not suicidal. We’re going to take the path of least resistance. The Central’s still young, and he’s probably working under Wastik’s coercion. Besides, I’m certain that my presence will draw Wastik out again. Only this time, I intend to trap him in Realspace and finish him.”

I closed my eyes and let my mind drift, wondering if I could. Finish him, that is.

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