Space Odyssey: Spectre

Chapter 631: Reconnecting

The cruiser jostled slightly as the space bridge from the station attached to the airlock that was ahead of him. They were not able to get much closer. The station was not the kind a cruiser class ship could land inside of. So they had to pull up to the side where a military installation was and dock with it.

Jace could hear the sound of decompression and sighed as he realized there was something wrong with the method they were using. It was taking way too long. He reached up and removed his helmet as he looked to the side as Victor arrived with Catherine.

He ignored the look she was giving him as he could still feel the annoying mental block in his mind. Before it was not as annoying. But getting closer he could feel the blockage more vividly because Salem was so close.

After a few more minutes of waiting he could hear the bridge airlock door open. He in turn opened the airlock doors on their side remotely. Setting the doors so they would close if there was a leak on either side.

As the doors opened he spotted Salem stalking toward him in a thinner set of Spectre body armor. He did not notice it before either but her ears had sharpened and her skin tone had become a bit paler. She had already turned into a Spectre. It must have happened over the two year period he was gone. Because it did not happen before he left.

Her armor was less for combat and clearly more for movement and assisting her piloting skills. Her helmet was nowhere to be seen. But before he could greet her she surged forward. Jace saw it and went to react but stopped as he realized what she was doing.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a kiss that had the people from his side shuffling uncomfortably. While the pair of guards that were jogging after Salem froze in their tracks. Jace’s hands wrapped round her back to pull her in.

After a moment he felt his mind slip away like he was meditating or sleeping.

He was back in his mind place and looking at the door that was covered in a haze before. But now it was clearing up right before it swung open and Salem slowly stepped in. Glancing around and frowning. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

"I know it has been awhile since we have met in a physical sense. But still your mind has changed a lot. The defences you have built up are incredible. But I am wondering about the areas of your mind that you have blocked off from even me." Salem told him as she walked in and looked in a direction.

He followed her gaze and looked at a black door that had a mail slot and chains covering it and keeping it closed. "Yeah, I have portions of my mind sealed off from myself for my own sanity. My... abilities have become varied."

Salem tilted her head and shrugged. "Okay." She moved toward him and ran a hand across the black shirt that was covering his chest. "Now that I am a Spectre, I learned a few tricks. Like communicating mentally at a fast speed. So we can spend a few hours talking here and we will only be kissing in the real world for a second or two." Salem explained.

"I hope you have not used this particular tactic with anyone else." Jace pointed out as he followed her to the ranch house that sat in the center of his mind place.

"Jealous?" Salem chuckled. "I do not think you have a place to talk." She pointed out as she sat down in a rocking chair on the front porch.

Jace nodded in agreement as he sat in a rocking chair next to her. "Fair. But I did tell you from the beginning that I enjoy the company of women regardless of whether or not I was in a committed relationship with someone."

Salem smiled at him and stretched her arms out. "Should we just go back and forth for a bit?"

"Sounds good. You go first?" Jace asked.

Salem nodded. "The psychic jamming is the dark elves. Who seem to have some form of future sight or something. Although before them we were having problems with the Xenar. They committed full psychic warfare before the mortella and daemon arrived." She then nodded at the black door. "I can tell there are at least two doors like that. What are they for?"

"That one is for foresight. Another one is for Hex enchantments and other forms of ancient science. Both of them have a portion of my mind running it. The portion is split from the rest of my mind so I do not lose my mind from an overload of information." Jace explained as began rocking back and forth. "I do have a Xenar called Eduta with psychic abilities aboard my ship."

"We will take him in." Salem hummed as she ran a hand along the wood of the rocking chair. "I guess we will be able to equal out the dark elves’ front with your ability." She pointed out.

Jace shook his head. "That will be unnecessary. The dark elves will retreat from this galaxy." Jace told her. "You will receive the information within an hour that the majority of them are leaving. The only ones that will stay are defects."

Salem frowned. "Gods, that is annoying. They knew you entered the galaxy and would likely be a threat. So they are running rather than risk it." Salem began rocking back and forth. "How many did you lose and how many did you gain over these last two years?"

Jace huffed as he thought for a moment. "For the rest of you it was two years but for me it was roughly three or four months." He explained as he thought about how to answer her question. "Ignius was a traitor. I did not lose many others. I think that cocky kid, whatever his name was along with the knight from the kingdom. Then the only other individual we lost was Cain. He is not dead but we had to leave behind due to circumstances beyond my control."

Salem froze at that and then reached over and rubbed his hand. "I am sorry."

"It is fine. How about on this end? How many people did we lose?" Jace asked.

The life seemed to leave Salem before she sighed. "Your unit closed up shop in the system like you requested. Solisa offered me the command position but I turned it down when I realized your standing orders were for them to turtle up."

Jace shrugged. "It was the ’break glass in case of emergency’ plan. As soon as I realized I might die I figured that was your best chance. Fortunately I did not die so I can change the order now."

"Hmm... where did you go?" Salem asked.

"Milky Way Galaxy." Jace answered and smiled at her stunned expression.

"The origin or humanity?" Salem asked and Jace nodded. "Ha... well how many women did you bed?"

"A few." Jace shrugged. "How many men have you bedded since I left?"

"Eh..." Salem shrugged. "None." Jace looked at her. "No offense. But after the first few duds. I just got bored of the inadequate use of their equipment. So I switched it up. Joining your many women in the bedroom was actually quite fun."

Jace blanched at that. He had nearly forgotten about that. "I am not going to be getting much sleep in the future."

Salem raised an eyebrow. "In the future? What makes you think you will get any sleep tonight?"

Jace’s eyebrow twitched and he looked at her. "We have much to do. We can’t really-"

"No." Salem reached over and put a finger on his lips. "You do not know this. But while you were gone. You did have a bunch of kids from those women you slept with. All of them are adorable and healthy hybrids. I am not going to ask for one now. But you have more sexual experience with them than you do me. That cannot stand."

Jace shook his head. "Later. Let’s get the debrief done and have whatever doctor you have with a classified clearance to look over me. As well as securing Catherine and where I can get a crew for my cruiser."

"We noticed the damage. We can repair the broadcast system and I can provide you with the codes for the new galactic alliance." Salem began with a sigh. "But our resources are strained and in reality you are probably going to go to one of the core protected worlds to drop off civilians and refugees before grabbing your own crew from Cerberus. No one has anything or anyone to spare."

"Damn." Jace clicked his tongue. "How about you?"

Salem rolled her eyes. "I am the commanding officer of this front. I have my own problems with keeping the mortella at bay. If you want to fight on a front. I suggest you start with the other galactic nations’ war fleets that are attempting to set up roots."

"Okay, how long should we stay here?" Jace asked. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

Salem smiled and ran a hand across his chin. "A few days while we get the word out and the paper work done." He looked at her quizzically. "Just a few housekeeping things while I get you all to myself."