Shadow Keys (Prionen Directive Book 5), page 1
SHADOW KEYS
(Prionen Directive Book 5)
by
Matt Edsand
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Text copyright (c) 2022 by Matt Edsand
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author.
Table of Contents
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
TWENTY-TWO
TWENTY-THREE
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY-FIVE
TWENTY-SIX
TWENTY-SEVEN
TWENTY-EIGHT
TWENTY-NINE
THIRTY
THIRTY-ONE
THIRTY-TWO
THIRTY-THREE
THIRTY-FOUR
THIRTY-FIVE
THIRTY-SIX
THIRTY-SEVEN
THIRTY-EIGHT
THIRTY-NINE
FORTY
FORTY-ONE
FORTY-TWO
FORTY-THREE
FORTY-FOUR
FORTY-FIVE
FORTY-SIX
FORTY-SEVEN
FORTY-EIGHT
FORTY-NINE
FIFTY
FIFTY-ONE
FIFTY-TWO
ONE
Capital One,
Poruk Empire
The rain pelted hard against the dark alleyway on Capital One. Captain Gibson flicked his eyes across the dark path that led to the lights on the main road. He was still thunderstruck that they were standing within the Poruk Empire. Not only within the empire, but in its capital city, Ulra. Serli had been able to get passage for them from Adin onto Ulra and the journey across had been much smoother than even Gibson had anticipated. Leaving Leann and Laura had been hard. In fact, it had been the most difficult thing Gibson had ever been forced to do. He had been scared that Laura would be angry with him, but his daughter had been the first to encourage him to go with Serli and stop the Prionen species from destroying their dimension. Leann had also been supportive, which had made Gibson feel even worse. Just when he had reunited with his family, the attack on Imperial Command had separated them again. However, this time he knew his priorities. Gibson had sworn to his wife and daughter that he would return for them. He had even caught a glimpse of his daughter rubbing her tears away. Along the journey, he had been able to send a short message to Rear Admiral Hutchinson, but Gibson didn’t know if UHA would be able to provide any assistance.
His thoughts were broken by Shevonne. “Captain, how long will Serli be?”
Serli had left them in the dark alleyway, indicating that she would return with information on the whereabouts of the two Porukians. The plan sounded simple, but it was full of unknowns. Gibson wasn’t sure whether Serli’s assumption that the two Porukians were still on Capital One was valid or not. It was conceivable the two Porukians could have moved to another planet in the Poruk Empire and be far away. If that ended up being the case, it dimmed their chances of getting to the two Porukians ahead of the Prionen species.
“She did say it would take an hour,” Gibson replied. “We need to be patient.”
His Commander shuffled her feet. It was apparent Shevonne didn’t like waiting in the alleyway. To a certain extent, he agreed with her feelings. Fortunately, the alleyway was empty, but had someone entered, Serli had instructed them to then leave the path and move to the main road.
“Yes, sir,” Shevonne replied.
Gibson had admired Shevonne’s tenacity to join them in Capital One. Gibson had tried to encourage his young Commander to stay with his wife and daughter on Adin. However, Shevonne had been dead set against it, refusing to even consider the option.
“I just don’t like waiting here,” Shevonne remarked. “Even the main road is quite empty at this hour. Shouldn’t there be more traffic in Ulra?”
Gibson had to admit the emptiness of the city upon their arrival had been unnerving. Ulra, being the largest city on Capital One, had a substantial population. However, when they had emerged from the freighter at Ulra’s primary spaceport, the emptiness had been stark. Gibson suspected it had to do with the attack on Imperial Command. The Poruk Empire would have warned its citizens to minimize their movements, citing possible future attacks. It did work in the favor of Gibson and the rest. They had been able to saunter through and exit the Ulra spaceport without anyone trying to stop them. Serli’s credentials had also played a critical factor as well as the special deflectors that Serli had passed them, courtesy of her friends on Adin. The deflectors would ensure all sensors perceived them as Porukians. However, if they ran into a Porukian head-on, they would be easily recognized as humans. Despite having the deflectors, Gibson and Shevonne had also disguised themselves to the best of their abilities. Simply put, they had been very fortunate passing through the spaceport. After exiting it, they had taken an automated transport, which had dropped them off a few blocks from their present position.
“I got one contact staring into the alleyway,” Shevonne highlighted.
Gibson narrowed his eyes. This wasn’t the time for a firefight. He didn’t want to draw attention to their presence in Ulra.
TWO
Ulra,
Capital One
Shevonne swallowed hard, as the dark figure continued to stare into the alleyway. The only good thing was that she and Captain Gibson were at the other end of the alleyway and in the shadows. Serli had been adamant they remain there and don’t move until she returned. It would be hard for anyone to spot them from that distance. Nevertheless, Shevonne drew her weapon and waited.
“Commander, I don’t think we need that tonight,” Gibson whispered.
Shevonne turned to him. Gibson looked calm as he stared at the figure.
“He could come in here and detect us,” Shevonne countered.
As if on cue, the figure took a few steps into the alleyway. Shevonne caught her breath, as she tracked the figure. Was the figure able to spot them? One of the figure’s hands went up to the face and Shevonne relaxed. A whirl of smoke emerged from the figure.
“I didn’t know Porukians smoked,” Shevonne admitted.
“It isn’t smoking in the human sense,” Gibson muttered. “The Porukian is inhaling a hunri.”
“A what?”
“Hunri is a mineral that they inhale which helps them recharge.”
“What is with the device?”
“The hunri can only be inhaled through a special device. Those devices aren’t cheap.”
Shevonne was amazed at Gibson’s knowledge of Porukian customs. She wondered where he had amassed so much intimate details.
“What’s with the smoke then?”
“The device burns the hunri and they inhale it.”
“Sounds like smoking to me.”
Then, the figure cocked his or her head in their direction. Shevonne was certain the figure had detected them.
“At ease, Commander.”
When Shevonne had heard that Gibson was going to join Serli in the search for the two Porukians, her decision had been a no-brainer. Shevonne had never been to Capital One. She doubted any of her classmates had ever imagined that possibility and here she was on the edge of it. Shevonne didn’t think twice. She volunteered to join Captain Gibson, who had seemed surprised at her decision. The past few weeks had taken her on so many adventures that she couldn’t just stay back on Adin. Shevonne knew this opportunity to come to Capital One may never occur again. At least, not in her lifetime. She was also cognizant that if the Prionen species did attack both Capital One and Beta-1 there might be nothing left of either planet and its cities.
To Shevonne’s relief, the figure turned away and began walking out of the alleyway. “That was close.”
“It was.”
Although Shevonne had traveled to another dimension and fought with the Prionen species, the dangers here on Capital One were different. The Porukians wouldn’t hesitate to imprison or kill them as they were on the planet without the proper authorization. Yet, Shevonne felt a tingle in her heart. She couldn’t contain the excitement of being in Capital One. It would be a great story to tell anyone once this whole Prionen episode was over.
“Someone’s coming,” Shevonne announced.
This time, however, she relaxed as Serli emerged from the main road and walked up to them.
“I am glad to see the both of you still here, alive and kicking,” Serli said.
THREE
Ulra,
Capital One
“Your timing for a joke is really …,” Shevonne began.
Serli kept still, before flashing a broad smile. Ever since they had returned to Capital One, Serli felt relaxed. It was good to be amongst he
“I assume nothing exciting happened,” Serli commented.
“Nothing, unless the moment Shevonne nearly killed a figure who was simply inhaling a hunri.”
Serli looked stunned. “Captain Gibson, you continue to surprise me. I never expected you to know about the hunri. Those are Porukian traditions that never leave the borders of Capital One.”
Shevonne cast a mischievous smile. “Have you inhaled a hunri?”
“That is beside the point,” Serli replied.
“You never answered my question,” Shevonne said.
Gibson nodded. “I agree with my Commander.”
Serli pulled out a datapad. “I was able to identify the location of the first Porukian.”
“Are you changing the subject?” Shevonne asked.
The human Commander was being too much. Serli tried her best to maintain her composure. This wasn’t the time nor place to talk about the hunri. Serli had heard of the mineral, but never tried it. When she was in the Agri-Line, her parents had often talked of the hunri. To them, it had almost been mythical. However, in those days, Serli hadn’t been interested in adult conversations. Then, when she joined the academy, her classmates had often tried hunri without getting caught. At one point, she had been tempted to give in to peer pressure, but had been fortunate to control herself. Once she had joined Imperial Command, all thoughts of hunri had vanished into the clouds of her ambitions to be a Captain.
“What news of Imperial Command?” Gibson asked.
Serli was more than relieved that Captain Gibson had moved on from the hunri. “There aren’t any updates on the Porukian news, which is expected in Ulra.”
“I suspect everything is being tightly controlled,” Gibson hummed. “It isn’t everyday an attack happens deep inside Imperial Command.”
Serli agreed with Gibson. Even on the way to Capital One, she had tried to find out more information on the attack on Imperial Command. However, the news had been scant, which didn’t surprise Serli. After the attack, Imperial Command would have initiated a lockdown of the highest security level. She was aware of the protocols behind such a lockdown. No Porukian would be allowed to enter or leave Imperial Command and its compounds. Even if a Porukian needed urgent medical attention, they wouldn’t be allowed to get to a medical bay outside of Imperial Command. Thinking back, Serli found the protocols harsh. She chose not to imagine how bad things were now inside of Imperial Command.
Gibson continued. “If something similar had happened on Beta-1, I can tell you it would be complete chaos everywhere in the city.”
Serli smiled. “That may be a human reaction, but it isn’t the Porukian way.”
“Of course, the Poruk Code wouldn’t allow it,” Gibson countered. “Who are we going to visit first?”
“The Captain,” Serli replied.
“I thought it would be harder to get access to a Poruk Captain,” Shevonne highlighted.
“Under normal circumstances it would be next to impossible,” Serli stated. “But Shepti is no longer a Captain. I discovered that he retired early a few months ago.”
Gibson raised his eyebrows. “I didn’t know that Imperial Command permitted voluntary retirement.”
“They don’t,” Serli said.
Something must have happened to Captain Shepti for him to retire early. She didn’t have to guess that Imperial Command would have forced his retirement. Serli was looking forward to finding out why that had happened.
FOUR
Tipis Bar,
Ulra
Serli stared at the entrance to the bar from their booth. She found it uncomfortable to be seated inside a bar. It wasn’t that she never visited such bars. Rather, she recalled how Trez frowned on the bar establishments scattered throughout Ulra. Despite Imperial Command’s strict policies, these seedy bars had cropped up over time to entertain those Porukians who seemed to want to waste their lives away.
“I thought only Beta-1 had these kinds of bars,” Shevonne commented.
“Define these kinds of bars,” Serli asked.
Shevonne had a horrific look on her face. “I wasn’t trying to … wait. Are you joking with me?”
Serli smiled. She found it amusing to tease the young Commander. Shevonne had grown on Serli so much so that she found her comfortable to be with. Serli also was able to speak her mind with Shevonne without any fear of judgement. It was a liberating feeling, something that Serli had lost ever since she had left the Agri-Line.
“If Imperial Command had their ways, all these kinds of bars would be banned,” Serli said.
“But they don’t,” Gibson muttered. “How many of these bars are controlled by Imperial Command?”
Serli gasped. “How did you know?”
Just when Serli thought she had completely figured out the UHA Captain, Gibson was able to shock her in the most unexpected of moments.
“I have my sources,” Gibson replied.
“I believe your sources are efficient,” Serli said. “Over time Imperial Command decided to plant their own bars amongst these establishments. It was a way of ground surveillance.”
“Is this bar controlled by Imperial Command?” Shevonne asked, in a shaky voice.
“Fortunately, it isn’t,” Serli whispered.
If former Porukian Captain Shepti had begun to indulge himself in one of those Imperial Command-controlled bars, it would have made everything that much more complicated. Nevertheless, Serli had taken the precaution of disguising herself once they had disembarked from the freighter at the spaceport. If Imperial Command really wanted to find her whereabouts, they probably could. However, Serli suspected that Imperial Command considered her dead, which was perfect for this mission.
“I still don’t understand why you think one of the two Porukians has the entire list of locations for the construction of the galactic weapon,” Shevonne mused.
“It is my theory,” Serli admitted.
She had begun to suspect that Trez would have done it even if it went against the Poruk Code. Ever since Serli had uncovered Trez’s roots in the Agri-Line, everything she had thought of the Vice-Chancellor had changed. Serli had begun to analyze everything she could recall about Trez and her words, looking at every discussion she had with the former Porukian Vice-Chancellor through a different lens. If Trez had managed to avoid detection of her roots in Imperial Command and risen to the post of Vice-Chancellor, nothing was off the table of impossibility. Secretly, Serli hoped her theory was true. It would make everything simpler. All they had to do was find one Porukian and extract the information, instead of forcing herself and the other two Porukians to undergo an extraction and then combine the lists together. Serli’s preference was not to undergo any form of extraction.
