“There appears to be traces of—”
“Psionic energy,” Tolukei interjected.
“That is correct, Tolukei,” EVE continued. “This device is powered by a low level of psionic power.”
Tolukei nodded. “I can sense it.”
Williams looked at the small holographic screen next to it. The screen changed every ten seconds to an image of various rooms, rooms that all had the same or similar design as the structure they were in. He tapped the hologram and it changed, repeated touches forced the image to change again. Every picture that loaded had an alcove that looked exactly like the one they stood before.
“What kind of psionic energy, Tolukei?” Williams asked.
“It is consistent with teleportation.”
“I am detecting several devices like this throughout the fortress, Commander,” EVE said. “It may be a form of transportation the Lyonria used.”
Williams slipped his EAD into his pocket and cracked his fingers. “Well, only one way to find out.”
Williams stepped toward the alcove as EVE began to speak again. “I advise against that, Commander, until further testing can be—”
Williams’ body rematerialized onto an alcove that faced a long rail-less bridge high above a massive drop with strange machines at the bottom churning out radiating bolts of electricity. Further ahead, across the bridge, was a square room which appeared to have been floating as if the bridge itself was holding it up.
“Advise against what?” he said with a smug grin.
“Well, that was . . . unexpected,” EVE said.
The alcove behind him flashed twice, Tolukei and Rivera appeared from it and looked in awe at the large drop below them and the room at the end of the bridge. Williams briefly looked back at the teleportation alcove and the holographic screen next to it.
“I’m guessing those screens are linked with a camera to let someone know what area they are teleporting to inside this place,” he said. “We are still inside, right, EVE?”
“That is correct, Commander. The alcove you have passed through has placed you in a location in the top spire of the fortress.”
The three walked across the bridge on the way to the room at the end. EAD scans from both Williams and Rivera had a tough time identifying what was going on with the machines below them, and the energy it was releasing as a byproduct. Tolukei looked ill the deeper they moved in, Williams figured he might have had acrophobia. It was a long way down after all should one of them trip and fall off.
“OK, this is big,” Williams said as they neared the entrance to the square-shaped room. “And I’m not talking about this fortress.”
“Intact Lyonria ruins, Radiance is going to be so jelly,” Rivera said. “No offense, Tolukei.”
“Why should I be offended?” Tolukei said, rubbing the side of his forehead.
The closer they got to the room the more discomfort Williams noticed he was in. “You OK, man?”
“My head hurts, the pain has gotten stronger since we’ve been here,” Tolukei said. “Not to worry, I’m sure it will pass.”
They pressed on and entered the room as EVE and their EADs scans did not report anything that could be dangerous. The room was dark at first, until motion sensors detected their presence and activated ceiling lights. The room was empty apart from an oval-shaped device, a holographic interface next to it, a computer terminal before it, and control panels on the walls.
“EVE, what’s the status of that storm?” Williams said as he lowered his EAD.
“High winds and rainfall continue to batter the region, Commander.”
“We need to set up a base camp here ASAP,” Williams said while they began to spread out and observe their new discovery. “The colony is important and all, but this . . .”
Rivera stopped next to a wall control panel and began to carefully analyze it with her EAD. “The Lyonria were using some high-tech stuff, there’s a lot that could be learned here.”
Rivera began to pull the panel apart and gain access to the strange ancient wiring on the side of it. It looked like white and green crystals with blue dots of light flowing through it.
“Careful, Chief,” Williams said.
“If we’re going to be staying here, we need to learn how their tech operates.” Rivera’s hands moved some of the crystalline electrics aside and took additional scans with her EAD. “I’m going to assume this is a data port.”
“It would appear to be so, Chief,” EVE said. “I may be able to interface with it so long as your EAD remains in proximity.”
“Commander?”
Williams shrugged and looked at the holographic screens that displayed words written in the Lyonria language. “Why the hell not? I can’t make head or tails of how to use this stuff.”
“Very well,” EVE said with static once again, making it harder for them to understand her. “Attempting . . . Interface—
Williams tapped his EAD as a connection lost error message appeared. “EVE?”
“The storm is interfering with the probe’s ability to relay data between the Carl Sagan and us,” said Rivera while she reached for her holo pad. “I’ll try and reposition it someplace better.”
Tolukei sat down on the cold, dusty, white floor and placed his hands over his face. Williams frowned the longer he looked at him in distress. “Yo, T’ if you need to head back up—”
One of Tolukei’s eyes looked up and at Williams. “What did you call me?”
“T’?”
“T’ is not my name, it is Tolukei. And do not be concerned about me.”
“You’re part of the crew.”
“Am I? Or am I your means to psionic support and teleportation which your species lacks?”
“Dude . . .”
“My name is not dude, it is—”
“Commander, I believe I have gained access to this structure's computer network,” EVE’s voice returned with slightly less static. “Furthermore, I am in the process of learning how Lyonria programming works.”
“Anything useful so far?”
“The device in the center of the room appears to be a wormhole generator.”
Williams and Rivera looked at the oval device laying front and center. “Really now?”
“That is the best I could figure out as the Radiance database has limited information pertaining to Lyonria language,” EVE said. “Fascinating, Commander, this device appears to have been used approximately ten years seven months ago.”
“And that’s important, because?”
“The Lyonria race was thought to have gone extinct nearly two hundred thousand years ago.”
“And then someone ten years ago used it while we were still in cryo.” Williams stepped closer to the wormhole. “EVE, can you open it?”
Rivera winced. “If you don’t mind me asking, sir, why would you want to do that?”
“It’s a wormhole, and to my understanding, they can theoretically connect two points together thus forming a gateway,” Williams said. “The Lyonria probably built this as a means of travel between different regions in space. We might be looking at the doorway to their home world.”
“Or a gateway to hell.”
“What like Paryo? If that’s the case, open it up I’d like to avenge my parents’ deaths.” Williams saw Rivera stare toward him turn to a negative one as if she was highly offended at what he said. “What? The Hashmedai made me an orphan.”
“Their species isn’t pure evil.”
“Tell that to the two billion dead humans and Radiance rangers being killed daily on the frontlines of war with them.”
“Vengeance only forges a path of destruction and endless conflicts,” Rivera said. “The Hashmedai are a beautiful race of people who were led astray by an Empress that wanted vengeance.”
Rivera’s words triggered him. He wanted to shoot back with stories of the horrific things he saw during the invasion of Earth, put her in her place, and remind her that her hippy and peace and loving ways have no place out in space. In the end Williams chose to swallow his pride and keep quiet, he and Rivera were on the same side and members of the same crew.