Blood on the Stars - Part 1: Secrets & Lies - CH. 9 (5)

“How?” Hans was surprised that his thought was immediately translated into words. At that moment he realized exactly how the interface worked. He thought about Cantun and the system that the alien was using. He looked down at his altered limb and as he thought about it the DNA was analyzed.

“You are the human known as Hans.” Ohaehim was connected. Hans could hardly believe how easy this way of communicating was. “This is not a known part of your technology. This is more similar to Shai Halad technology.”

“I’m as surprised as you, but there are far more important things to discuss.” Hans said.

“The Afoixox move ever closer to this region of space. Is this the representative to which I am to make my case?” Ohaehim suddenly appeared physically in front of them.

“I am called Eve. I am not a representative of the government, but I am the person who will make sure that the message you have is received by the right people. Are you set up for direct communication?” Eve stepped towards the massive alien.

“Yes.” Ohaehim reached out a tentacle towards Eve and she grasped it without any hesitation.

Hans had a sense of information being passed, but he could hear or see nothing of the transaction. It lasted only a brief moment, like a handshake. They stepped apart and Eve gave a single nod. She turned her attention back to Hans.

“I have the information that I need now. Thank you for acting as a go between for this interaction. Ohaehim has been apprised of current situations. It will not be long till the Afoixox arrive, we must enact the plan immediately.” Eve held out her hand to Hans who took her hand reluctantly. There was no flood of information like he had expected, but instead it was similar to the interaction he had had with the Shai Halad – like he was in a different place entirely.

Hans now knew exactly what Eve had planned for them and she was going to enact this plan. Hans could feel the smile that was not just virtual, but real. It was a brilliant plan, a brilliantly simple plan. “Let’s do this.”

It didn’t take long for them to arrange what they needed within the virtual interface. Eve and Ohaehim seemed to know exactly what to do and how to do it. It was obvious to Hans that this was an incredible medium to work in – even if he required a lot of guidance to make it work for him. He could easily get used to this.

It seemed to take forever and no time at all, in that way it also reminded him of the virtual interface that he had experienced back on Cantun. Once all the material that they needed was created and stored somewhere that they could access it manually, it was time to disconnect. Ohaehim disappeared first and then Eve turned her full attention to Hans.

“Disconnecting for you will not be easy. I cannot just unplug you or I may damage you. You will be alone here for a few moments while I gradually slow down the information flow until it is safe to disconnect you. Do not do anything.” Eve didn’t wait for him to answer, but quickly disappeared herself.

It wasn’t long till Hans felt a distinct feeling of being cut off from something, but he was not quite able to comprehend exactly what he was being cut off from. He could still feel the vast network of information around him that could be accessed with a single though, but at the same time he felt as though he was no longer a direct part of that network anymore. The feeling increased until he was alone in the darkness and then he blinked and the computer room was visible once again.

“I feel…” Hans struggled to find the right word after that experience. He had been wrong to compare it to his experience in Cantun. This had been something so much more than that, something he had no words to describe. “I feel separate.”

“That is common. One day maybe we will all have the ability. I have disconnected from the network once and it was the worst experience of my life. Imagine having always been connected to that and then having it ripped away from you. It is an experience that cannot be compared to any other.” Eve said.

Hans almost felt as though, for the first time, that she had emotions – buried deep inside, but they were emotions all the same. She had a human part and Hans clung to that thought. He clung to the belief that he wasn’t working with some heartless machine because it was easier to work with a person that he could relate to in some way.

Eve used the same fast, efficient walk to take them back to the command centre. Duke and Honora were deep in discussion with someone else when they entered. Eve stopped short and raised her hand. Silence immediately followed.

“We have devised a plan to rectify the situation in which we have found ourselves. Do not worry; the founder of this organization sacrificed himself for the right reasons. I will enact the plan as soon as possible. I would like to remind everyone here that there have been instructions left in case of just such an eventuality.” Eve walked over to the console and placed her hand on it. She closed her eyes for a brief moment and when she opened them again she announced to all. “Altheia Nikos is the interim leader of A Bloc. She has been summoned.”

No one questioned the statement, but each turned back to the jobs they were doing except for a few people that approached Eve – including the man that Duke and Honora had been talking to when they had walked in. He was the first one to speak out of the handful people.

“Is this plan going to put us in the line of fire Eve?”

“That depends. I’ve been meaning to discuss that with you. We have an opportunity here to make ourselves known.” Eve walked towards the room where she had pulled Hans aside in earlier. Everyone that had approached followed her into the small room. It was quite crowded with seven people in it, but they managed to make it work.