The Sands of Time Ch 43

 

They roared into camp but each were thinking of what had transpired. Howie seemed quiescent now, silent. The Seekers had ascended the hill, leaving some of their number around the base, presumably as guards. People surrounded Rachel as they arrived, asking her what it had been like. The first known human- Seeker meeting. 

Joon was thinking about the Seekers being humanoid. They could have been human. Maybe they were? But the fact that they were, at least, humanoid- and that the Intruders were, too- gave him pause. What were the odds of that? 

He remembered something else he'd read in Valerus' notes. 

The theory that mankind, and other intelligent races, have been seeded throughout the universe is an old one. Not always taken seriously. However, I have seen enough to give it serious credence. 

Joon kicked his speeder into hover mode and dismounted. They assembled in one of the larger tents. Joon needed a drink. Or coffee. Something. Howie seemed exhausted. He was in a corner and just seemed very quiescent. Maia looked anxious. 

"Do you think he's okay?" asked Rachel. 

"We don't know. We know very little about him." 

"Okay. I think we can leave first thing in the morning. It's a long way back. Maybe my people have cracked Hillier's code."

"Hopefully," said Joon. "What are you going to do about that?" he asked, waving in the general direction of the Mound. 

"Nothing," she replied. "Wait until they disperse. Then we can resume our study. I will, though, have to break camp and get these people back to the base, in case of evac. I can't just strand them here."

Joon agreed. 

"It's going to really put us behind." 

Joon wondered what kind of schedule she was on but hesitated to ask. 

They arrived back at the compound late the next day. There was an excited air running through the base. Rachel's people had cracked the code, they thought, at an 85% probability of confidence. They had not acted though, waiting for Joon and group to return. 

"The problem is, once we deactivate that scrambler, anything could come through."

Joon agreed. "We have to be ready to go. Can we get out before they get us? And what about your people?" 

"Also," Maia added, "the only gateway we know of at Sanctuary is the Ops center. If the unfriendlies still have it aren't we just walking into a buzzsaw?"

"Where else could we go? Should we try Poseidon first?"

"If they got through or are tracking us - they'd go there first?"

"It's likely- or maybe they'd come here."

"Options?"

"There's Elysium. It's big- lots of places to hide- and there's a base there." 

"Of course."

"Do you think you can work the Gate enough to get us home?"

"Well..." she considered. "I mean, it was open. Hillier scrambled it. If she unscrambles it and it's open we can do things, but most of the programming and interfacing is done there. Poseidon has controls. Ymir too. Here we're mostly just a forward outpost."

In other words, no, thought Joon. Or at least maybe. 

"I need to see Hillier." 

"Will you help us?"

"Why?"

"So you can be free. And not have to wear that inhibitor collar." 

"You need me."

"We always need you." He regretted the sarcasm the moment he said it. 

"Joon! There's hope for you yet. "

"Have they unscrambled my thing?"

"They're pretty sure." 

"No, then."

"No, they have. Not 100%. Would be easier if you gave us the code."

"You're not confident Rachel can work it." 

"You need me to get you home." 

Joon waited. 

"How was your field trip, by the way?"

"It was fine. Will you help us?"

"What do I get?" 

"Freedom." 

"Not enough. You know, I've been stewing in Leo's knowledge. His memories. He was quite fond of Rachel, you know. Jen, too."

Joon waited. 

"I want- besides freedom- a crystal. That one you've recovered would do nicely."

"No." 

"There is no no, Joon. It is either this or you get comfortable here."

Joon's silence was assent. 

"Glad we've cleared that all up. Did you know the stuff that Val knew... about Stella? Oh, you wouldn't, would you? And... they're making changes?"

That got his attention. 

"Yes. It's not enough to explore strange new worlds. Let's see if we can... better things." 

"What do you know?" 

"Stella's actions are more reasonable now. Could she be the good guy here? Well, I wouldn't say that. But her and dear Leo's actions make a lot more sense now." 

"Can you get us home?"

"I can. Not my home, but yes. That cow Rachel will fuck things up, but I'll do it. Where exactly are we going?"

"Not sure. We want to get to Earth but not if a firing squad is waiting for us."

"Running for our lives across the planes of existence. Such a romantic notion." 

"No."

"There's Elysium. Leo's thoughts tell me that would be a safe haven, if all goes poorly. I'm sure you've considered it. There's Ymir. A lot of infrastructure there, tunnels. I could get us safely lost." 

"Ymir?"

"It isn't just a cold base. It's an ancient ruins- levels and levels, largely unexplored. No one knows the extent." 

Joon mulled this. 

"I know. You want to get back so you can make your precious decisions." 

Joon didn't answer. 

"Didn't Stella already give you your marching orders? Close the Gate?"

"It's not that simple. We don't just leave our people." 

"Please. Your kind leave people at the drop of a hat."

"Well, not all of us."

"Did you know, Joon, that in the multiverse there are many races that have discovered the Gates? Use them, like we do? And yet, in all the multiverse, I have yet to see beings going back to earlier eras. You wonder why you have Incursions?" 

"You're just afraid you'll lose all your new playthings." 

...further studies have convinced me that these beings are very skilled planewalkers. And I have disquieting revelations about their possible connection to the Ancients. Do they understand the Gates so well because they have a connection? Are they- scary thought- immature Ancients, or a servitor offspring? Are the Ancients