Page 14 of Lorrd
“A virus?”Worry tinged Wren’s voice.“How could that happen in Hillsboro?”
“It likely happened not long after I landed here, though that doesn’t necessarily mean anyone from Hillsboro is responsible.Hold on.Let me check something.”His fingers flew over the console as he searched for recent transmissions, including unsanctioned ones.
He frowned at one of the screens as new information was suddenly displayed.Fluxx.It was just as he’d suspected.
“Yes, I’m afraid it appears that not long after I landed, my ship received several transmissions from Poseidon—one of Earth’s many planetary broadcast systems—but the transmissions triggered unauthorized system updates on theKerrla.Those updates introduced destructive codes into the ship’s systems.”
“I won’t pretend to understand all that, but it sounds serious.Why would this broadcast system—Poseidon—intentionally infect your ship with a virus?Do you have… enemies from Earth?Do you think someone is trying to hurt you?”
“I have no enemies from Earth.Not that I’m aware of.This is my first time visiting your planet.”
Lorrd hurriedly entered a kill command, attempting to expel the virus from the ship’s systems.But it didn’t work.
A savage growl built in his throat, but he didn’t want to frighten Wren, so he held it back.
“Since your planet’s governments are often in conflict, Earth lacks a unified global broadcast network.Instead, there are dozens, and while most are tied to countries or businesses, some are operated by wealthy individuals.Poseidon, however, is privately owned by an interplanetary corporation that specializes in the trade of alien technology.”
Lorrd’s mind worked quickly as he tried to decipher the problem he faced—not just the problem of the shockingly sophisticated virus that had infected his ship, but the reason theKerrlahad received the tainted transmissions in the first place.
Had Poseidon targeted his vessel by mistake?Or was the attack deliberate?Did someone want to keep him grounded on Earth, and if so, why?
He thought of the guards who wanted to take Wren back to the compound.Earlier, they’d been loitering in the street, their gazes fixed on the bakery.But not long after his arrival, they’d disappeared.At the time, he’d assumed they’d fled because they were intimidated by his presence.
But perhaps they hadn’t gone far.
Perhaps they were still watching.
Could the Harmony guards have instructed someone at Poseidon to send the corrupted transmissions?The possibility was unnerving.
He realized he knew very little about Harmony, the home Wren had fled, which she’d referred to as “the compound” several times.From what he could gather, it was an oppressive, isolationist group led by a male known only as the Prophet, who was likely a religious zealot.He’d read about similar sub-cultures in Vaxxlian history, as well as in the histories of other alien races.
But could an isolationist place like Harmony possess the resources to influence Poseidon into launching an attack on a Vaxxlian ship?Privately owned planetary broadcast systems didn’t go around disabling Vaxxlian cruisers for free.Such an attack would’ve cost the Prophet, or whoever had ordered the hit, several thousand galactic credits.
From his studies of similar groups in history, Lorrd recalled that most isolationist factions weren’t very wealthy.At least the general population of such groups wasn’t.The followers of such harsh, power-hungry leaders usually lived in poverty.
He turned his chair and faced Wren fully, and he tightened his hold on her hand.She peered at him with those enchantingly soulful dark brown eyes of hers.Star God, he might become lost in those eyes one day.
“Wren, I need to ask you about the Prophet.”
She paled and a sudden tremble affected her body.The physical reaction revealed she feared the male, and Lorrd resolved that if he ever encountered this crazed leader, he would make him pay for inciting fear in Wren.
“What would you like to know?”she finally asked.
“How wealthy is he?The reason I ask is because I want to know if Harmony, or the Prophet as an individual, could possibly possess enough wealth to pay someone at Poseidon to harm my ship.”
“Well, that’s a disturbing prospect,” Wren said with a shudder.
She fell silent for a moment, appearing to be deep in thought, and Lorrd didn’t like the worry in her eyes.He hoped his suspicions were wrong.He hoped Poseidon had sent the tainted transmissions to theKerrlaby mistake.
“The Prophet has the largest house in Harmony,” Wren eventually said.“He also has the nicest clothing and wears a lot of jewelry.But in his daily sermons, he condemns the use of money.He claims money is evil, and in Harmony, residents are supposed to share with their neighbors.”
Lorrd considered her response.It sounded like the Prophet was living in luxury compared to his followers.But even though the male denounced the use of money, that didn’t necessarily mean he adhered to his own rules.Corrupt leaders tended to ignore the guidelines they put in place for others.
“I am sorry for asking, it is only that I must consider all the possibilities,” he said, wanting to assuage her worries.
A glimmer of amusement suddenly entered Wren’s eyes, taking him aback.She leaned a little closer and tilted her head, appearing to study his features.
“What is so humorous?”he asked, and the question came out harsher than he intended.But he couldn’t help it.His beloved ship, theKerrla, was currently inoperable.
