Chapter Fifty Five
Kukurnal had raced home after the fascinating discussion with Joe and the Matriarch. His excitement only sky rocketing as he learned ever new fascinating pieces of information. Almost every night after his discussion with Joe proved a fruitful time in his prayers with Mimir as each piece of new information was readily accepted with great pleasure. He’d even received great blessings from Mimir for his service in seeking out new information, so found himself quite giddy with excitement to return to his cell for another powerful time of mediation and prayer.
He bustled into the temple with excitement and quickly scurried down into the depths of the temple to where the various rooms of the faithful were kept prepared. He came to his room and found the small basket in front of his door filled with a memory core missive wrapped in a singular velvet pouch of gilt purple tied with a similar purple ribbon at the opening of the pouch. He couldn’t see the memory core inside the pouch. He had no ability to do so as it was entirely encased by the rich fabric, but the deep purple pouch with purple ribbon could only mean one thing.
He froze upon seeing it, then almost leaped into the air with holy fervor but kept his dignity. He could not, however, keep himself from leaping forward in avid joy as he quickly pulled up the glorious purple pouch. A direct message from Mimir himself! For me! I… He could barely keep from hyperventilating as he scrambled into his room and then sat on his bed, staring at the purple pouch as he held it in his hands and caressed it. He thought nothing, only basking in the joy of knowing he’d received a missive from Mimir; a direct communication only for him! He didn’t know how long he stayed there, but he found himself simply basking in the moment of his first communication with Mimir.
He didn’t know how long he stayed there, but after some time, he was finally prepared to bask in the spoken word of his god, and he quickly brought the memory core before him and allowed its knowledge to flow into his mind. His face flushed with joy to hear his master’s thoughts, his face ecstatic even as he heard! The glorious flush of his face slowly grew pale, then paler still. When his communion with his god had completed, Kukurnal remained seated upon his bed in horror for some time. His breathing was deep and stuttering, and he did not sleep that well that night.
* * *
The Director of the QQF Silverfish strolled through the floors of the QQS Observant station with aplomb and calm. Her face, calm and without concern. Hidden deeply within, her rage broiled as she strolled back to her ship. It was too late, and there was nothing she could do. The bastard, Lanlow, had destroyed her, career and life. His request for her to ‘help’ with the mission and take on responsibility for said mission was the nail in her coffin, and the board of directors back home would see her buried for it. This entire fiasco had to be buried, and the appropriate head hanged neatly on it. Her calm façade ended when she slipped into her ship and made it to her personal room. Rage erupted, as she bent backwards and screamed to the heavens in silent fury. She could hide her face and body, but she could not hide her screams, so they must remain silent. There was little she could do now but survive. And she would survive.
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“Observations. Report to the director’s office immediately.”
She quickly settled her appearance and emotions before sitting at her desk, preparing some meaningless busywork for when the Observations officer arrived. The knock on the door was quite prompt and she responded as promptly.
“Enter.”
The observations officer stepped into the room and saluted with the appropriate bow, “Director. Observations reporting.”
Director Stephliquen looked up, “Excellent. Send me all observational data of our latest drop into the planet; absolutely everything. Also have communications send an immediate request for all data from the QQS Observant relating to their studies of the planet as well.”
Stephliquen was able to keep her face stone despite the sudden look of sympathy from the observations officer. The man bowed with an appropriate salute immediately, however, and slipped from the room.
As the door whisked open for him, Stephliquen added on one more thing, “Oh. Send me the mechanics officer as well.”
The observation officer quickly turned and saluted once again before leaving the room. Only moments later, the data that the Silverfish had collected was on screen and she quickly began parsing through it, organizing the video feeds and data by each specimen that had arrived on the moons surface. Only a short time later, she received an email detailing her authorization to the QQS Observant’s data servers and the experimental data on the gas giant, its moons, and the specimens sent to the surface.
She turned to doggedly begin digging into it when her door chimed her next visitor. Who… oh… the mechanic!
“Come in!”
The mechanics officer entered, offering her appropriate salute, “Mechanics reporting, Director.”
Director Stephliquen bowed her head quickly in acknowledgment before immediately getting to business, “I need another pod readied for insertion onto the outermost moon. Make sure it is without flaw and include everything needed to successfully touch down on the surface safely. I want propulsion and guidance, but it must be done all mechanically. There can be no electromagnetic machines of any kind.”
The mechanic’s officer froze, shuddering, even as her eyes widened in shock. She grimaced, replying without concern for status, “This is bullshit, director.”
“Language. And maintain appropriate respect!”
The mechanic grimaced but then tightened up her demeanor while saluting, “It will be… much better than the bullshit the Observant put together.”
“And easily controlled… with whatever controls are available.”
The mechanic stared down at her sister, frowning and hiding her pain, “You?”
Stephliquen sighed, “I have no… options.”
Her sister pulled back, “It might… not…”
Stephliquen sighed once again, “Stop dreaming. You know what is going to happen.”
Her sister grimaced and turned away, hiding her pain and tears, “It will be done, director.”
Director Skarlan faded away, and Stephliquen came to the fore with a sigh and drooping shoulders, “Sis. Don’t worry. I’ll… I’ll figure this out.”
Her sister turned back to her, tears welling up. She suddenly reacted, skirting the director’s desk and pulling the director up in her arms. The two sisters held each other for several moments before both officers returned, standing to attention.
“I’ll build the best damn lifeboat you’ve ever seen.”
Director Stephliquen Skarlan nodded, “You better, mechanics! Or you’ll see the brig!”
The stances were stiff, perfect in form. The salutes crisp, and quick. The about face well executed, and suddenly, the room was empty once again and Director Stephliquen collapsed back into her chair. She sat there for several moments, holding back her pain before sighing deeply and turning back to her comp. She dug into the data, scouring everything she could find, for she would need all the help she could find. There has to be something… there must be!
* * *