*******
Kindel's pale fingers drummed against the desk as he looked over Dr. Barrine's report. Biology had never been his thing—archeology was his passion—but the information contained in the report from the research team proved to be more than fascinating. Extensive analysis of the lephadorite had revealed something he hadn't expected. "Explain this to me again, Doctor. I'm not sure I believe what I'm reading here."
"Again, it is all speculative since we haven't been able to examine the stone itself," Barrine reminded him. "But from the scan results you sent us, we've theorized that your ‘lephadorite' may be a living organism, not just a rock."
Thorus shifted his eyes to the soldier. "How is that possible? How could such a living organism sustain itself without nutrition of some kind?"
"That is one of the many things we have yet to determine, Sir." Barrine was clearly agitated that he wasn't permitted to study such a scientific marvel. It was evident in his voice, his expression, and his entire demeanor. "If we could just be allowed to sit down and study the sample, I may be able to—"
The boom of Kindel's fist against his desk echoed through the ship. "I will not allow it to leave my possession!" he shouted, rising to his feet. "When the time comes to begin the cloning process, I shall bring it to your lab myself, and I shall do whatever is necessary for the procedure, but I will not allow it to fall into anyone else's hands!"
Barrine didn't flinch, staring at Kindel with unwavering frustration in his eyes. "As I've stated multiple times, Admiral, I cannot even hope to duplicate the stone without studying it. If it is a living organism, then it is certainly possible to clone it, but computer scans do not provide me with detailed cellular analysis or DNA samples. That information is critical if I am to find a way to adapt the reproductive capabilities of the Belvid's stone to yours. For that matter, as a living organism, it may have its own reproductive functions written into its DNA that I may be able to make use of. But without being able to take a sample and study it, I cannot do anything."
Thorus swore loudly and punched his desk again. "What is the condition of the baharinda you extracted from the Belvid?"
"It is deteriorating rapidly," Barrine didn't seem at all phased by the outburst. "I don't know what kind of sample we'll be able to retrieve from it at this point. I'm not sure any cells we draw from it would last. In another day, it'll be nothing more than a lifeless rock."
That meant it had a preservation period of approximately three days, given that two had already passed since the incident on the prison level. "Are the other two Belvids still secure?"
"You would know better than I would," the doctor responded, sounding almost bored.
Kindel whirled and extended his hand toward Barrine. The wiry man's body raised from the floor slightly, finally breaking his indignant and annoyed expression and replacing it with shock and fear. "Your attitude is less than acceptable, Doctor. I suggest you learn your place, lest I show you to it. Repair whatever cracks have formed in your respect for your superiors, because I do not tolerate insolence in my crew. Are we clear on this?"
"Yes, Sir!" Barrine saluted, still hanging in mid-air. "I apologize, Admiral! I meant no disrespect, I simply—"
Thorus lowered the doctor's feet to the floor. "Save your groveling. You are dismissed."
For a moment he thought Barrine might ask to study the lephadorite again. The doctor hesitated for an instant before wisely nodding and making for the door. "Fool," Kindel muttered, though he wasn't sure if he meant himself or Barrine. He knew that what he asked for was going to be nearly impossible to determine without handing over the stone, but everything he'd read about it—prior to today—had stated that any changes to the composition of the stone could have an adverse effect on its properties, and he couldn't risk allowing the research team to work with it. It was an unpredictable little thing, capable of granting such immense power, yet the slightest change could theoretically turn it into a ticking bomb.
And who could say what kind of damage could be caused by a magical living stone?
Living? The word echoed over and over in Kindel's mind. It couldn't be possible, of course. Barrine's report only suggested it as a theory, but the entire report had revolved around that concept. Imagine! A living rock that required no nourishment to sustain itself! Living. Is there . . . a race of these things out there somewhere?
He opened the top drawer of his desk and removed the lephadorite. If it was, in fact, a living organism, and if there were more such rocks out there, perhaps there would be no need for genetic engineering. It was the records of Terranias' history that had led him to find this one. Had the warrior that had nearly destroyed Terranias so many years ago found a planet were these stones were indigenous life-forms? The records he'd studied had not mentioned such, only that a human by the name of David, or something similar, had claimed to have been hired to craft a golden amulet for the stone. Precise measurements and calculations that had been listed—supposedly provided by David himself—and it was those specifications that allowed Thorus to create his own amulet—rather, have a jeweler on Ariath create it—to house the lephadorite. The records then went on to describe the powers David had unknowingly unlocked, leading to the near-complete destruction of the planet. But nothing described where the stone came from in the first place.
Lifting his communicator from his belt, Thorus summoned Lieutenant Petreit to his office. The soldier had led him to the Belvid's stone, giving a great deal of credit to his abilities as a researcher and his knowledge about the life-forms of the universe. What he didn't know he learned from connections he'd formed across many galaxies. If a planet existed where these stones were commonplace, perhaps Petreit could find it.
Kindel was staring through the viewport, rolling the Lephadorite in his palm, when the visitor alert tone sounded from the door. "Enter," he called. The glowing blue aura of the Terranias memorized him. If only the humans had kept better records of their own history, the information he sought could have been right at his fingertips. Instead, he was reduced to scavenging for clues in countless databases of those supposedly descended from the humans that had fled during the invasion, most conflicting each other on many of the details, yet all agreeing that it was the stone that had caused it all. But where had the stone originated?
"You called for me, Sir?" It was the second time Petreit had said it, Kindel realized.
"Yes, Lieutenant. Remember this?" He held up the stone as he faced the soldier. Petreit nodded, suppressing a nervous gulp while he was at it. "Dr. Barrine tells me that this stone may actually be a living organism. That, of course, increases my interest in where it came from. I want you to trace this stone to its origin. If there is a planet out there where these rocks are considered a species, I need to know about it. We may be able to return the Belvids to their home without harming them if you can find it."
"Y-Yes, Sir!" Petreit responded with a nod. "But . . . a question, if I may, Sir?"
Kindel turned back to the viewport with a sigh. The man was brighter than he gave himself credit for. He always performed well, but only once he'd been shoved in the right direction. "Yes, Lieutenant, what is it?"
"Sir . . . where did you learn about it?" He was obviously uncomfortable asking about Kindel's personal research. "So I have a starting point for my research, I mean."
A reasonable question. "Begin with the great invasion war that nearly destroyed Terranias," he answered. "That is where I first read about the stone."
"As you command, Admiral," Petreit bowed slightly. "Is there any other way I may assist?"
"That will be all, Lieutenant," Kindel told him. Through the reflection on the viewport, Kindel could see Petreit heading for the door. "And Seavan?" The use of his first name caught the lieutenant off-guard, as he froze for a moment before facing his superior. "Great work, thus far. Keep it up."
Petreit smiled openly. "Thank you, Sir! I'll do
everything in my power not to disappoint!"
Amazing, Kindel thought as Petreit hurried through the door. If all my soldiers had his humility, the Armada would be a machine that never needed grease. Dr. Barrine could stand to learn something from the lieutenant. It wasn't that Kindel despised dissent; a fresh point of view was always welcome. But Barrine went beyond dissent to downright insolence, and there was no room for such behavior in the Vezulian Armada. Command decisions were respected, or punishments were doled out. Barrine would learn his place. How harsh the lesson would be was up to him.
His eyes caught a glance of the Refuge, still orbiting the Terranias in silence. Scimitar and Kalibur had taken a transport to the surface days ago and had yet to report. Not that there was any cause for alarm—the two were the best fighters in the galaxy, aside from himself—but it was unsettling not to have any information regarding Aldoric's activities. If the kyrosen had indeed caught the Alliance's attention, Thorus wanted to know. Truce couldn't have rebuilt his army that quickly. Could he have? But if he hadn't, what then could've attracted Aldoric's attention? Perhaps the kyrosen and the Aeden Alliance are working out a partnership to strike against the Armada. The last thought stopped his heart for a moment. Knowing the deceptive natures of both groups, it wasn't entirely impossible. And he still hadn't even managed to duplicate the stone once, let alone enough for every soldier under his command.
And as long as I keep it out of the hands of the research team, that won't change.