With only an hour to go to the appointed meeting point, Wren slipped into the training area. Taking a deep, cleansing breath, Wren tried to center her energy.
So far, she had managed to increase her power, though her energy use was far too high. She was missing something, though for the life of her she couldn’t think of what.
Unfortunately, the mention of her brother’s name, still had her anger seething inside. Thomas Tygoron, she would most definitely make whomever was using his name pay. Unlike the Eloagones she had slowly eradicated, the bastard that dared to use Thomas name, would suffer far greater.
“Trigon, set to next set of training drones, I need the next level. I have to find what I am missing.” Wren said as she quickly ran through the information and visual records.
“Next level set Master Wren, again I must protest that.” Trigon started
“Shut the hell up!” Wren shouted feeling the seething anger within her though reduced by more than half. A shake of her head she started again on her training, have to rid myself of the anger. If I go in like this, I’ll have no hope of emerging alive.
It was almost an hour later, Wren covered in a fine sweat heard the proximity alarms go off.
“Shut down all training activities. Have a complete wok up of the buyer by the time I reach the control room.” Wren said.
“I am working it up now Master Wren. I have to advise you that there seems to be information missing.” Trigon advised her.
A small growl escaped Wren’s throat, “send a communique, I either have the rest of the data, or I am leaving. I think that they know that they have nothing that can touch me. If they think they can take it, also advise them that I am not held responsible if they attack. I will defend this ship without prejudice.”
Wren hopped into the sonic shower, hurrying after to dress. She’d just reached the control room when several alarms went off.
“Damn fuckers,” Wren mumbled low. “I wasn’t going to use stealth, I suggest we go to it now, adjust course immediately.” Wren looked over the power attack ships that were approaching from the planet the had achieved orbit of. “Take us behind them as soon as you can, they are seriously starting to piss me off.”
“Send them another message, back off or they are going to start losing ships.” Wren said through clenched teeth.
“Message sent, still no reply.” Trigon said right before there were several blasts that where they had been.
Wren could only shake her head. “Fire a photonic missile at the last ship, fifty percent yield.”
“Missile away, already adjusting course.” Trigon replied.
A moment later, there was a bright explosion, the back half of one of the hips was blown away. Almost immediately there was a huge barrage of weapons firing on the spot they had been in.
A growl escaped Wren’s throat, “ok they want to play, target the lead four ships. I am tired of playing with these idiots, I suggest high enough yield to get their attention.”
“Compliance Master Wren,” Trigon replied.
The darkness of space was lit up as the four beams struck the four ships in the lead. There was immediate shouting over the com as all the ships stopped.
“You advise them I am through with the games; the next shots won’t leave disabled ships. There won’t be any survivors.” Wren again growled.
“Message sent, oh dear, they say that if you do, they will declare war on you.” A distressed Trigon said.
“Hmph,” Wren said, “move us over the capital building, I want everything around the building destroyed. Use the neotronic beam, not as messy. Then break orbit I don’t think they will follow if they detect us. Though if they do use deadly force.”
A few moments later, a strange beam shot from the sky all the way around the capital building. Everything within ten meters of the building metal or otherwise started to turn to melted slag. More than a few ran screaming from the area.
Trigon broke orbit, moving several hundreds of thousands of kilometers from the planet. As Wren expected A red face alien appeared on her monitor.
“We will hunt you down, you attacked us without provocation, we,” The alien started.
“You won’t do a thing. You obviously don’t know whom you are dealing with. That wasn’t even half power to the beam, I am the Master thief/killer. I do not take betrayal well, had I so desired I would have leveled your capital edifice. You are lucky I am feeling generous.” Wren’s disguised voice said.
“I have heard of this one though I also know they do not exist. I think it it only you on a ship that only appears to be powerful. Soon you’ll be dead, so we’re not worried.” The alien leader said.
Wren started to laugh, “very well, let it not be said that I did not give you a chance. I have instructed my agent to destroy your entire fleet, plus the three ship yards, ought to slow your treachery down a few decades.”
A click had the communication cut. “Target all three ship yards, three missiles each. One hundred percent yield, I want nothing left. Then we’ll deal with the fleet.” Wren said as she watched the missiles streak planetward. Wren smiled when a few minutes later there several explosions in three separate areas of the planet.
“Target all but the five we have disabled, it’s time all the arrogant races out here know that they aren’t the strongest.” A grim-faced Wren said.
Less than a minute later there were several hundred explosions. Wren watched as the fleet started to disappear. Finally, the area grew dark, Wren looked at the readings nodding, five disabled ships.
“Wasn’t that a bit harsh Master Wren?” Trigon said as they started out of orbit.
“Harsh? No, the destruction of the earth that was harsh, the loss of over four billion souls within moments THAT was harsh. Never again will the galaxy think that the human race is weak. If I have to destroy pieces of it from time to time to remind it, then I will.” Wren spit out.
The A.I. Trigon was quiet for a few moments, “I am sorry for misunderstanding, Master Wren. Shall I set a new course?”
“In a moment, have you any other leads on the highest offer’s source? Wren asked.
“Not as of yet Master Wren, most is still pointing to a planet far deeper into this area. I am still getting mention of a Thomas Tygoron. I have been stopped by some of the most advanced blocks. They seem to be specially made to block me.” Trigon stated.
Wren’s hands tightened on the railing she had a hold of. Walking to the console, she didn’t even look back to see the crushed railing she’d just released.
Once there she started to type a a freighting speed. The only sound in the control room being her typing and the um of the ship. A few minutes later she stepped back. “Trigon, assimilate the later information displayed.” Wren said.
“Now working, this should help greatly to break through the blocks. Thank you, Master Wren, I will implement them immediately.” Trigon said.
Wren smiled; these latest code breakers had cost her a bit. She was glad she had the memory retention engrams added.
“Now, while you integrate that, show me the third offer.” Wren said.
“Yes, master Wren, this offer is for ten billion. It is from a, hmmmm. Master Wren since you added the updates, I have started to notice a slight pattern. Each of the offers two through six, all seem to have been made by non-existent corporations.” A slightly perturbed Trigon said.
Wren was rapidly typing pulling up the information that she could. “Yes, I see what you mean, pursue all of them. Try to find who is the true controlling factor in this.” Wren said.
“Working on that now, Master Wren.” Trigon replied.
“I’ll be training if you find anything of merit.” Wren said as she headed toward the exit.
“I will advise you immediately, Master Wren. Do you still wish to leave all safeties off?” Trigon asked.
“I believe that to be advisable, I have to figure out how to lower my energy usage.” Wren said over her shoulder as she turned, then left the room.
“If I may ask Master Wren?” Trigon said.
“You may,” Wren responded.
“When you require that of me or the ship do you not just shut some systems off?” Trigon said.
Wren stopped in the middle of the passageway. There was no way that it was that simple, was it? Entering the training area, she sat to meditate. Reaching in she began to shut what parts of her body that she could, the rest she tried to limit the amount of energy they used.
“Alright Trigon begin exercise.” Immediately the robot opponent appeared. Again Wren, reached out with her eyes closed, with the barest amount of energy, she could swear that she could see the robot moving around her in slow motion. The moment the robot moved in to attack Wren almost crushed it into a pile of scrap.
Slightly surprised, she sat to meditate again. It was then that she remembered her master saying, what one sees is not always what is there. What you see with your inner eye, is more often what is truly there.
“Next level Trigon,” Wren said as she went through several robot drones before Trigon called her.
“Master Wren, I believe I have something.” Trigon said.
“Exercises off, I’ll be right there.” Wren said as she rose, it was then she noticed the pile of broken drones in the corner of the room. A look at her chronometer told her that she had been at it for well over six hours. A smile crept to her lips; she didn’t feel she’d expended any energy at all.
As Wren entered the control room, Trigon immediately pulled up the information it had garnered. “As you can see Master Wren, they all seemed to be controlled by the same company.”
“The amalgamation syndicate, at least now we know whom we are dealing with in name. Send them a message, let them know, we know it is them that wished to acquire the item. I either get information on them or there will never be a deal.”
An hour later there was a steady tone of a live transmission. Wren had just stepped out of her sonic shower when Trigon called her.
“Master Wren, I have a live transmission from the syndicate we contacted.” Trigon said.
“Put it through,” Wren said.
A voice she thought to never hear again, suddenly came through the speakers. “So damn much like father, aren’t you? Unlike him though, you are going to die, I know all of your systems, though I have to say your A.I. will make a handsome addition to my own personnel arsenal of tools.”
“Thomas, here I thought you were dead, not a traitor to the human race. Oh, before you try? This ship is nothing like it was when it was first created for father. Though, I welcome you to try to take it, traitor.” Wren spit as she broke contact.
As she expected the area was soon swarming with hundreds of fast attack ships. Though she was already in stealth mode, Wren, had the frequency of it changed a few times before the ships could no longer zero in on her.
“So,” came Thomas’s voice, “you have upgraded good, good. It will be even better when you are broken at my feet.” Thomas taunted.
Wren laughed as she could feel him baiting her to speak. “Alright Trigon, release ten thermic missiles. I think it’s about time we thinned this fleet.”
“Compliance Master Wren,” Trigon said as there were ten ignitions. Wren kept them moving as she saw over half of the hundreds of ships explode then fade to nothing.
“You little bitch, you’ll pay for that!” Thomas shouted then the rest of the ships opened fire all around the area Wren had been in.
“I guess that wasn’t enough of a warning,” Wren hissed as she thumbed another ten missiles to finish the job. “As soon as they igniter get us as far away as possible.”
“Compliance Master Wren, now accelerating.” Trigon said.
Wren watched as the missiles streaked to their pre-set destinations. There were suddenly several bright flashes as each missile started to detonate.
Wren smiled as she watched the shock wave, followed by the thermic wave, wash over the rest of the fleet. A satisfied smile came to her lips as the fleet started to blink out of existence.
A screaming came out of the speakers, “You are now a target of the amalgamation syndicate. We will not rest ’til you are dead!”
A quick check showed that there were no more ships. “Bah,” Wren said, “been a target since I single handedly destroyed the Eloagones.” In more a growl than speaking Wren continued on. “I rather enjoyed ending that arrogant race. I imagine that you are finding it hard to gather allies, good!”
“You destroyed the Eloagones? Please you haven’t the fire power. it would take,” Thomas started.
“You obviously didn’t check your records. I had killed most of the planet before I released two, shatter bombs. It was a wonder to watch that garbage planet crack, shatter then explode. Father wasn’t happy, though humanity answered to the threat that WAS there. One I will happily extend to you Thomas, you traitorous filth!” Wren spit.
“Yeah,” Thomas started to laugh. “Good luck with that, I am a hell of am lot harder to find than you are.”
“Oh really?” Wren said with a wry smile as she nodded. A moment later there were several energy bursts that lashed out from the ship.
There was a great amount of shouting from Thomas’s end. A few moments later space was lit up as the energy blasts exploded against what appeared to be a large ship.
“Return fire!” Thomas shouted. “What do you mean we have no weapons? You little bitch! You caught me unaware, this won’t happen again.”
“As long as you use such ancient equipment, you’ll be easy to find.” Wren said then cursed as Thomas’s ship winked out into hyper space.
“Damn it! Can you track them?” Wren shouted.
“I am sorry Master Wren; they appear to have an anti-tracking device.” Trigon said.
Wren’s face was red a moment then she calmed. “Set up to listen for any mention of Thomas or his ship. I have to try and contact mother.”
“I am afraid that won’t be possible for a while. The sub-space and hyper communication antenna’s were damaged. I have already engaged repair bots, though the sub-space will take at least two hours. The hyper antenna will require far more time, barring anything major.” Trigon advised Wren.
“I guess we have no choice, head back to galactic space. Hopefully we can get word to mother.” Wren said disappointed. “You started making more missiles?” Wren asked.
“Yes, I have Master Wren, at present we only have about fifteen left. The twenty we used in the last battle has slightly depleted them.” Trigon said.
“Time to the edge of the galactic empire edge?” Wren asked.
“I am reading that we should reach it within two hours.” trigon said.
“Hopefully we can reach someone with the sub-space, they can contact mother.” Wren said as she typed in a new set of coordinates.
“I have the course set Master Wren. I estimate it will take at least a week.” Trigon said.
Wren shook her head she really needed to get there a hell of a lot faster.
“Trigon? Have you finished the tests on the new engines and shields?” Wren asked.
“I am eighty percent of the way through them. Though at this point they appear to be safe, I do not advise using them ’til they have been thoroughly tested.” Trigon advised.
“Trigon, we need to get back as fast as we can. Might I suggest we engage them for thirty seconds? I am sure that the tunnel drive won’t develop much in the way of problems in that time.” Wren said.
“It would help to go through the test far faster. Master Wren, please strap in, I am unsure of just how the ship will react when we enter the tunnel.” Trigon warned.
Wren did as she was asked, Trigon started a count down. Wren heard a surge of power, then an area in front of the ship started to glow. Space then seemed to warp, then opened into a lit tunnel.
“Now engaging tunnel drive,” Trigon warned. The ship suddenly lurched forward as it entered the tunnel.
“Call out the time,” Wren called.
“Now at five seconds, approaching ten. No problems as of yet, now at fifteen, approaching twenty. Tunnel, drive not showing any problems, now approaching twenty-five. Position indicates we are within the galactic empire. Approaching thirty all readings nominal.” Trigon said.
“Trigon go as far as you can try to get us as close to the coordinates as you can.” Wren said.
“This action is not conducive to your first idea.” Trigon said.
“Keep going you might be able to completely finish all tests.” Wren suggested.
“Still in drive mode. If we are able to go all the way we will need to stop at two minutes thirty seconds. Now passing forty seconds, now at fifty, still reading no problems. Now at one minute, I am getting a slight vibration in the starboard stabilizer. Continuing now at one minute fifteen seconds, reading halfway to destination.” Trigon said.
“I am starting to see a slight vibration in port stabilizer,” Wren said.
“Correcting, now one minute and a half. Coordinates set to exit tunnel. Now at one minute forty-five seconds.” Trigon said.
It was at the moment that a series of alarms started to go off. “I am reading a massive heat spike in the tunnel drive engines.” Wren said.
“Yes,” Trigon said, “fuel mixture too rich, compensating. Temperature 538 C, now starting to drop. Now 482 c, 427 c, 371 c, now holding steady.”
“Time?” Wren shouted.
“We are now at two minutes, preparing to destabilize tunnel.” Trigon said. ” Now at two minutes fifteen seconds. Beginning deceleration in five, four three, two, one. Cutting tunnel drive.”
In space, there was a momentary ripple, then it seemed to open as a ship came out. Space immediately closed as if nothing had ever been there.
Wren could see that she was almost to the Ceti-5 space. Opening a special frequency Wren said “control, this is Chrysalis one returning home. Please inform Master Flugret, that something happened. Something that I cannot explain.”
“Follow the guide in, we will discuss this after you land.” Master Flugret said.
As Wren brought the ship in he saw, once again a lone figure awaiting her.
“Ah, little Wren, what has happened that you cannot explain?” Master Flugret asked.
“I believe I will have to show you Master,” Wren said. She concentrated but a moment then. Blinked out. Her Master also blinked out.
Flugret began to smile widely when he saw that Wren was moving far faster than she had ever before. A moment later there was a thud as her Master was driven back.
Here Flugret held up a hand stopping Wren immediately. “She seems to have passed through almost all of the fourth level. I’d dare say she is touching the fifth level.” A voice said behind Flugret.
“Indeed, little one even your father didn’t make it this far. You should begin her on level five immediately.” Another voice said.
Flugret nodded then saw the troubled look on Wren’s face. “What has you so troubled, my little Wren?”
“Master I lost control of my anger. I found out that my brother is still alive. That he was responsible for the over four billion lives that were destroyed on our home planet. I was able to regain, though I had to train far harder than I ever have.” Wren whispered trying her best to keep her rage within.
Flugret nodded he knew she was at dangerous point now that she was touching level five. “We need to have you stay here at least a week. In that time, I will teach you all I can.”
“Thank you Master Flugret, the rage is all consuming when it hits me.” Wren said.