gun.” Though it shot sophisticated projectiles and not any kind of electrical energy, the display it had made in the dark shaft on Vovok had resembled nothing more than a multi-pronged lightning bolt. Shiny had prayed her up a reload for the weapon, which could only hold three shots. But what shots they were!
The next artifact she chose was a cloak system from the Vovokan vault. Telisa had taken a liking to the invisible sphere she had found by accident on one of the shelves. She’d learned how to extend the cloak of the sphere to hide herself. The effect was similar to the special suit her father had taken from a spy. Though she couldn’t tell the difference, Shiny assured her the alien stealth sphere was a more complete and durable stealth system than the Terran equivalent. Shiny had easily seen her father in the Terran stealth suit due to his mass signature, but the sphere system was able to block that as well.
Telisa had figured out how to activate the sphere with her link, so she hid it away in her backpack where it could remain safe and serve her as needed.
The next item was another kind of weapon, really, though a highly specialized one. It could be used to deadly effect on large machines. Telisa held the flat piece of metal in her palm. It was shaped like a giant eagle’s claw. Exactly why it was that shape probably had more to do with the details of some unknown alien’s physiology than anything else. She called it her “breaker claw.” It could remotely cause a superconductor to gain resistance. Superconductors were used for many things, including power storage in large robots and machines. When a superconducting storage system suddenly got hit by the breaker, at the very least a lot of power would be wasted, and more likely in many systems was a violent explosion as the stored energy was released in spectacular fashion. Telisa had tested it on one of Magnus’s scout robots. The machine had been completely destroyed because it contained a Vovokan power system Magnus had adapted with Shiny’s help.
The last two items were identical: tiny spheres. Telisa grabbed them in one hand and gave them a solid upward toss. Instead of arcing up, then falling to the floor, the spheres immediately began to orbit her about half a meter away. They were both Vovokan attendant spheres, gifts from Shiny. The gifts were part of the next “mutually beneficial arrangement” for the expedition. The spheres could not only help to protect her, but they could also be used as spies, scouts, computers, and a long list of other miscellaneous services. Cilreth had taken a liking to them immediately, and a day later she had figured out how the Terrans could integrate the spheres with their links.
Telisa regarded herself in the mirror. The spheres lazily drifted by.
I’m like a superhero with a long list of cool devices stowed away on my utility belt, she thought. If I can only remember all my amazing superpowers when I need them!
It was only a half joke. With so many new toys, selecting the right one for her attention under pressure took some getting used to. It was like giving a kickboxer another couple of arms and legs: she would fall back on her originals by instinct but needed to remember the new arsenal. Telisa and Magnus had been training with her new items in VR, trying to integrate them with their combat styles. But it had all been too much, too fast. She still didn’t feel comfortable enough to get everything working by reflex.
Maybe there won’t be any combat this time, she thought. Just some digging around and some mysteries to be solved…
***
Cilreth calmed herself, trying to master feelings of frustration. She struggled with her interface to the ship and demanded a surface scan for the tenth time.
She finally got some unknown parameter correct. Her link filled with data. The next problem presented itself: information overload.
She tried again with a restrictive set of filters. She got a graphical display of the planet and opened it in her personal view.
“Okay, well, what can I see here? No major cities. Good. Progress is progress.”
She saw what looked like forests or jungles. A lot of life was catalogued in her scan.
I don’t have to struggle by myself for hours to make each little insight. I’ll bug Shiny for a minute.
She connected to Shiny aboard his own ship nearby.
“Shiny. I’m trying to