Space Odyssey: Spectre-Chapter 517: Goodbyes VI

Jace walked forward and looked through the observation window at The Elysium. Colonel Dahlia would be dropping them off because the Wolfsbane required repairs. At least as far as their commanding officers were aware. It actually did not. It was part of his backup plan to have the Wolfsbane here to move if the worst came to pass.

"It is one hell of a ship." He looked over at Admiral Dakota who was standing next to him. "How’s the shoulder?"

"Stopped hurting after the shrapnel was removed. Are you here too..."

"Wave you off? Yes, but also because most of the nations have agreed to a ceasefire so I am meeting with the top military brass of each faction to work on a plan to contain and remove the Nano Plague. Any thoughts?" The Admiral asked.

"Yeah, ask the Centuria for help. They have nanotechnology and understand it far better. There should also be the sentient ship from Earth. I was never able to access all of its records. But it might be of some help." Jace answered as he glanced to see if anyone nearby was listening.

"How?" Admiral Dakota asked in confusion, glancing around to make sure no one was nearby as well.

"Because the nanotechnology was not originally made by the Xenar. Or at least it was not made by them alone. It was created by both a group of humans and Xenar and was one of the last things they did together before the Xenar began disappearing." Jace informed him and got a confused expression on his face. Jace rolled his eyes, "all the information is in my classified personal file. Ask the former Emperor to translate all of it for you."

"You hid the information?" The Admiral asked in confusion.

"What? It has been a long time since the academy. There are some things that even I know not to leave a trail of." Jace answered with a shrug.

"Okay... I suppose I will know all of it soon enough. Do you have plans for the other possible attackers?" The Admiral asked with a whisper as they saw the Emperor of Oda approaching.

"Already sent to you in paper form." Jace answered as he smiled at a figure that was trailing behind the Emperor. "Jordan. Is this old man bothering you?"

"Ha! I apologize Colonel Jace but your daughter looked a bit lost." The Emperor apologized as Jordan ran out from behind the emperor and hid behind Jace. "The other one..." He looked around in confusion. "She disappeared quickly."

"She will be fine." Jace answered.

"That girl is a menace." The Admiral scoffed. "I would be more worried about who she is bothering."

"Eh..." Jace shrugged. "Do you know where your sister went?" He asked Jordan who nodded and looked at the emperor before responding.

"She said she was going to put something in your gear bag that you needed. Something you did not realize you forgot but needed." Jordan sighed as she looked around the room shyly. "I saw her transform with it and then move through some walls."

"Then she will be back shortly." Jace told her as he looked around as well.

"You know, I was rather surprised that you adopted children. Was it because you were not planning to have any of your own?" The emperor asked.

Jace frowned. "I do not believe that should be any of your business." Jace responded with an annoyed growl.

The emperor held up a hand to stop the guards. "Do not bother, it would just be lambs led to slaughter." He told them. "It is my business because you are my blood relative." The emperor declared.

"Distant relative." Jace scoffed. "Besides I very much prefer to not have a last name." Jace informed the foreign emperor.

"Hmm... regardless. That name and your blood line is the only reason you are still alive." The emperor told him. "So I would suggest you take more pride in-" He stopped as he was suddenly shoved to the side as Cho pushed past him.

"Hey dad!" She bounced to him in excitement.

"Cho, welcome back. But please do not leave Jordan alone in large crowds like this. You know Cain is not here to look out for her." Jace told his other daughter.

"I know." Cho rubbed her foot into the ground in embarrassment.

"This must be the Astral Beast." The emperor glared at the little girl.

Cho turned and looked at the Emperor of Oda. "Oh?" She then looked above him. "You have a fox!" She pointed in the air above him and there was a sparkle before a small white fox with red fur on the end of its tail appeared. It then fell and nuzzled at Cho while the fox nuzzled the Emperor stared in shock.

"What..." The Emperor stared before suddenly the fox began changing and took the form of a young woman.

"Ohh!" The woman squealed and hugged Cho. "To think another of our kind would join this galaxy. That makes twelve in total." The woman claimed as she hugged the young astral beast tiger. "I am so glad I am the one you met first. The others are so serious."

The Emperor kneeled immediately. "Lady Fox-"

"That is fine Emperor Oda. You are far too serious." Lady fox told him.

"Because my bloodline is-"

"Oh, enough of that nonsense. Your ancestor may have not been as serious but he at least knew how to relax himself. I mean, you are always so stiff. There is a reason I never appeared before you before." Lady Fox waved him off as she continued to rub her face against Cho. Her hair was white but she had a tail with red on the end of it just like her fox form did.

"I-what? You..." The Emperor slowly stood up and stood in confusion while others in the room looked on with shock.

"Do not be too shocked. I have appeared to many before. Usually when they were young, including all of your children. Although there was Jace’s mother and father I appeared before. But it was more curious why they were violating the Xenar’s tomb. Turned out to be quite the fruitful endeavor." Lady Fox declared.

"Is there a particular reason why you appeared today?" Jace asked.

Lady Fox grinned and showed her sharp teeth. "You are far more observant than most. That is correct. I just wanted to warn you that the hands of fate are steering your fate and will tie it irreparably to this galaxy."

"What is this thing talking about?" The King of Montez walked up.

"Lady Fox, the Astral Beast of the Oda Empire. He is talking about reality on an almost mystical level. It is not something we cannot understand yet with our technology but things like Astral Beasts have an innate understanding of it." Jace explained to the King and glanced at a flash of light that shimmered but disappeared. It seems the other Astral Beasts would not be making an appearance.

"Ladies and Gentlemen and... other things." The High Priestess glanced at the shapeshifting fox before looking away. "It is time for the investigation team to head out. So say your final goodbyes. Because they might not be coming back." She informed them.

Jace crouched down and ruffled Cho and Jordan’s hair. "Take care of each other, you two." He smiled at them as he stood up. "Oh, and I left you some gifts just in case."

He then walked toward the doorway where the others that were part of the team were already walking through. They were just doing a quick meet and greet while The Elysium underwent its final checks. But now it was time to go. So he walked through and onto the bridge that led to the ship.

The bridge led right toward the hangar bay they would deploy from. It was also the only one the team were allowed in. He could already see the various mechs that were inside the hangar and were situated ahead of time. Once he was closer he could see the various set ups for the thirteen different operatives. Of the set ups this was the one that was clearly lacking anything. Even the gear he had been making all week had made an appearance on some of the shelves.

His own gear and equipment was stored away in the tattoos that were covering his body. So it was no surprise that the only thing at his station was a small bag. Once he was inside the hangar he walked up and slid open the bag. Freezing in surprise at the sight of the item that was at the top and remembering the words Jordan told him earlier.

About the item being something that he ’forgot but needed’ was now making more sense. Because the leather book with all of his research on the history of this galaxy and research of Earth was not something he expected he would need. But if Cho said it, then maybe he would need it.

He glanced back out the hangar door just as it began closing. This might be the last time he saw this place. For some reason he was already feeling a pang of sorrow.