The Star Reliquary by I O Adler

Author:I O Adler [Adler, I O]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: space opera, adventure, action, science fiction, sci fi
Publisher: Lucas Ross Publishing
Published: 2021-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty

JARI BARELY LOOKED at Carmen as he scurried past, four of his legs moving comically fast. Functioning under high gravity didn’t seem to be an issue. He made a complete loop of the ship, ducking into any room that lay open, wings twitching the entire time.

Carmen was winded when the mad-rush tour was over. Major Leavitt hadn’t kept up and was waiting for them as Carmen followed Jari to the control room. The rest of the crew watched cautiously as the Grylla inspected each of their stations. He bent to sniff at a food wrapper next to Captain Macamic’s flight couch and then gave him a once-over. Through it all, the alien’s two blade hands remained at his side.

Jari let loose with a string of popping sounds. They no longer had a translation light.

“Ovo, where are you?” Carmen called.

He came running from the direction of his quarters. “Sorry, sorry. I had too many juice rations.”

“You don’t need to explain yourself. But we need you here. What did Jari just say?”

Ovo fumbled with his device, pulled up a few floating screens, and started talking to Jari. Jari’s wings twitched irritably and he replied. The exchange continued for a moment before Ovo switched programs and addressed Carmen.

“He wishes to inspect our computer records and wants access.”

“Absolutely not,” Leavitt said.

“What does he want?” Carmen asked.

“Confirmation that we had nothing to do with the attacks on his fleet. He is also concerned with the other three Grylla ships which have gone missing. He demands to know if we had a hand in their disappearance.”

“We didn’t. And we have nothing to hide.”

Leavitt inserted herself between Ovo and Carmen. “You barely know the ship yourself. And we are just learning who the Grylla are. We can’t let him go probing around the ship systems.”

“I’m not handing him the keys, Major. If this is what’s stopping him from trusting us, what do we have to lose from showing him we don’t know where his friends are?”

“It could be a story he made up to get himself on board. We can send him a report of our sensor reading since we left Earth. Send him on his way. We’re getting sidetracked and we’re wasting too much time with this.”

The Grylla popped a few more times.

Ovo said, “Jari also adds that this request doesn’t come from him, but from their living prophet on the Framework.”

Carmen went to the control panel and expanded a sensor screen. “Ovo, show him what he wants to see.”

Ovo obliged. The display scrolled through page after streaming page of ship data. Jari appeared content to stand and watch, occasionally pointing to something and making a request. Leavitt stood back with her arms crossed. Carmen couldn’t tell if her obvious displeasure was from the Grylla getting what it wanted, or because Carmen had found a way to do so that didn’t involve allowing the alien pilot complete access.

“I have further instructions,” Jari said via Ovo’s app. “I will accompany you on your mission. We will search for the cause of our fleet’s destruction and facilitate a report on the incoming threat.

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