The Lost Soul
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“You’re not going to believe this, but I think the kid’s right,” said Captain Tagon. “I don’t know what it is or where it came from, and that makes me nervous.”
He was sitting in his office with a mug of tea and some biscuits. He’d been there for hours now, trying to make sense out of something he didn’t understand at all. It wasn’t just the fact that someone had managed to get into their system—that was bad enough; they were always on guard against such things.
But when you found one person who could do so, then others would find ways around your defenses as well. That was how the world worked. What made him uneasy was that whoever it seemed was able to move freely between systems without being detected by any security measures they put up after the first breach.
The only thing keeping them safe was the sheer amount of time it took to go through each individual system and check every single file.
And yet here we are, he thought grimly. We’ve got a ghost running loose inside our own network! And if that isn’t weird enough…
Tagon sighed heavily and looked down at the papers spread across his desk. They covered everything from reports about missing people to requests for new equipment to complaints about personnel issues. There were even several pages devoted to an ongoing debate over whether or not to allow certain individuals back onto active duty.
All of these problems needed attention, but none more than the problem of the phantom intruder. So far, no one knew anything beyond its presence within the system itself. No one knew why it was there, either. Its motives remained unknown, though Tagon suspected they might be related to the mysterious disappearances of both civilians and military personnel alike.
That was another issue altogether. While most of those lost were soldiers, there had also been civilian casualties, which meant that the incident had affected everyone involved in some way. Even the families of the dead were suffering emotionally, and the survivors themselves felt guilty because they hadn’t done enough to protect their loved ones.
This was especially true among the enlisted men and women, many of whom had come home bearing visible wounds. Some had suffered broken bones while others bore scars that would never heal completely. Others simply carried the emotional burden of knowing that they couldn’t have saved anyone else.
It was hard to blame them, really. After all, how can you fight off something invisible? How does one defend oneself against a foe whose identity remains hidden from view until the very last moment?
Captain Tagon shook his head sadly. He wished he could offer comfort, but there was nothing he could say that wouldn’t sound hollow. In truth, he didn’t feel much better himself. His job was supposed to be to make sure that the soldiers under his command were ready for battle.
Instead, he spent half his day dealing with paperwork and other administrative tasks. If he wasn’t careful, he feared he’d end up spending the rest of his life doing exactly the same thing.
But he wasn’t going to let that happen. Not anymore.
His thoughts turned to the man standing beside him. Lieutenant Commander Jorgen Kjelgaard was the officer assigned to investigate the intrusion. He’d been working closely with Tagon ever since the discovery was made, and he seemed like a good choice for the task.
A former Marine, he’d served in Iraq before joining the Navy, and he possessed a calm demeanor that helped keep him level-headed during stressful situations. Plus, he understood the importance of following protocol and sticking to established procedures. These qualities made him ideal for the position.
Unfortunately, he lacked experience. As such, he tended to rely too heavily on his superiors’ advice rather than taking matters into his own hands. At least, that’s what Tagon believed. On the other hand, perhaps he was just overly cautious. Either way, the situation called for decisive action, and it was clear that Kjelgaard was incapable of providing it.
So what am I supposed to do? wondered Tagon. Should I take charge myself? Or should I leave the investigation to Kjelgaard and hope that he comes up with a solution?
Either way, he decided, the sooner we figure out what’s going on, the better.
“How long will it take?” asked Kjelgaard.
Tagon frowned. “We’ll need to start checking the files immediately. It may not be possible to determine the extent of the damage until later.”
Kjelgaard nodded. “Understood. Do you want me to begin with the data centers closest to us or work my way outward?”
Tagon considered the question carefully. “Start with the nearest ones. Then, once we’ve confirmed that the intruder has left, we can expand our search radius. That way, we won’t risk losing any more time by having to go back and check every single file.”
The lieutenant commander nodded again. “I understand. Shall we get started then?”
Tagon glanced around the room. The two officers stood side by side, each holding a tablet computer. Their eyes darted back and forth as they scrolled through the documents, looking for clues. One of them wore a headset, presumably so she could listen to her colleagues’ conversations without being overheard.
Meanwhile, the other sat quietly, staring intently at his screen. Every now and then, he would pause to read a section aloud, nodding in agreement when necessary.
As for Tagon, he stared down at his own tablet, trying to decide where to begin. But after only a few moments, he gave up. There was no point in wasting time searching for information that was already known to everyone else. Besides, he had bigger things to worry about right now: namely, finding a way to stop the intruder before it caused irreparable harm.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and opened his mouth to speak.
“This is Captain Tagon,” he said calmly. “You’re cleared to proceed. Begin your search.”
***
Lieutenant Commander Jorgen Kjelgaard looked up from his tablet.
“Yes sir!” he replied enthusiastically.
Then he began tapping away on his keyboard.
For the next several minutes, he worked quickly and efficiently, scanning through the various reports and records stored within the system. By the time he finished, he was certain that he knew everything there was to know about the incident.
And yet, despite this knowledge, he couldn’t help feeling uneasy. Something felt wrong. He kept waiting for the alarm bells to ring, signaling an emergency, but they never did. So why was he still worried?
And what if I’m wrong? What happens then?
These questions plagued him throughout the remainder of the morning. Yet even though he tried to ignore these doubts, he found that he simply couldn’t shake them. They lingered in the back of his mind, refusing to let him relax. Eventually, he grew frustrated enough to give up and turn off his monitor.
It was almost noon. Time to eat lunch, he thought.
After all, he hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast.
But first, he needed to finish his report.
Jorgen tapped away at his keyboard for another minute, then stopped suddenly. He reached over to the mouse and clicked a button. Immediately, the document disappeared, replaced by a new one titled “Report #1.”
This wasn’t unusual; he often used the program to create temporary copies of important documents. However, unlike most of his previous work, which consisted primarily of routine paperwork, this particular document contained something far more significant.
In fact, it might very well change the course of history.
Jorgen smiled. Now, that’s what I call progress!
He typed rapidly, making sure to include as much detail as possible. After finishing, he saved the file and exited the application. Then he pulled out a small device and attached it to his earpiece. Moments later, he heard someone speaking softly on the other end.
“Hello?” he said. “Is anyone there?”
There was silence on the line.
“Captain Tagon?” repeated Jorgen. “Are you there?”
Still nothing.
“Please respond,” insisted Jorgen. “My name is Lieutenant Commander Jorgen Kjelgaard, commanding officer of the Vella Gulf. We have reason to believe that a hostile entity has infiltrated our systems.”
Silence.
“Sir?” continued Jorgen. “Can you hear me?”
More silence.
“I repeat,” said Jorgen. “Do you copy?”
Nothing.
Finally, he hung up.
That should do it, he thought happily.
Now, if only I could convince the captain…
A moment later, however, he realized that he wouldn’t need to. Not anymore. Because just as soon as he’d sent the message, his phone rang.
“Yes sir?” he answered.
“What happened?” asked the voice on the other end. It belonged to Admiral Starnes.
“We’ve located the intruder,” explained Jorgen. “She appears to be a human female named Mira.”
Admiral Starnes sighed. “How long ago did you discover her presence?”
“Just a few minutes ago, ma’am,” replied Jorgen. “At least, according to my sensors. She hasn’t made contact with us yet, but I suspect that will happen shortly. In any case, we can’t allow her to get past security. That would put the entire ship in jeopardy.”
“Understood,” agreed the admiral. “However, I don’t want to take any chances. If she gets past the outer defenses, there won’t be anything left to save.”
“Of course not, sir,” said Jorgen. “I understand completely. But I think I may have a solution…”
***
The door slid open.
Mira stepped into the room, blinking against the bright light. The walls were white, covered with rows upon rows of monitors. Each displayed images from different parts of the ship. Most showed empty corridors or rooms, while others revealed the interior of the bridge itself.
“Welcome aboard the Vella Gulf,” said the woman standing beside the entrance. Her hair was black and short, cut straight across the top of her head. A single strand fell down onto her forehead, framing her face. She wore a simple uniform, consisting of gray pants and a blue shirt. On her feet, she had a pair of brown boots.
“Thank you,” said Mira. “You’re Captain Tagon, aren’t you?”
“Correct,” said the captain. “Though you can call me Alex. Everyone else does.”
“Okay,” said Mira. “Alex. Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” said the captain. “So tell me—how did you manage to sneak onboard without being detected?”
“Well, I didn’t exactly sneak,” said Mira. “When I got here, I walked right through the front doors like everyone else.”
“And how many people noticed your arrival?” asked the captain.
“None,” admitted Mira. “They never saw me come inside.”
“Interesting,” mused the captain. “Did you use some sort of cloaking device? Or perhaps an invisibility spell?”
“No,” said Mira. “I’m sorry, but I really am who I say I am. And I promise you, I haven’t been using magic.”
“Then what are you hiding?” wondered the captain. “Why are you trying so hard to hide something?”
“Because I know too much about this vessel,” said Mira. “About its secrets. About what’s going on around here. And I don’t want to let them find out.”
“But why?” demanded the captain. “If you knew all these things already, then why not just tell us?”
“It doesn’t work that way,” explained Mira. “Not when you’re talking about military vessels. You see, they have their own rules. Their own ways of doing things. They don’t care for outsiders coming in and telling them otherwise. So instead, I decided to keep quiet. To stay hidden until I found a chance to escape.”
“Wait,” objected the captain. “Don’t you realize that by staying here, you’ll probably die?”
“Maybe,” conceded Mira. “Or maybe I won’t. Either way, it’s better than letting those monsters kill me. Isn’t it?”
“Perhaps,” allowed the captain. “Still, I wish you hadn’t done this. We could’ve helped you. Protected you.”
“Yeah, well, I appreciate the offer,” said Mira. “Really, I do. But I think I’ve taken enough risks today. Besides, I still might be able to help you. Maybe even stop whatever is happening here.”
“Are you sure?” questioned the captain. “After everything you told us, I doubt anyone would believe you now.”
“That’s true,” admitted Mira. “Which means I need to prove myself somehow. Otherwise, no one will ever trust me again. No matter where I go.”
“All right,” said the captain. “Let me show you to your quarters. Then we can discuss our options.”
“Sounds good,” said Mira. “Lead the way.”
Captain Tagon led Mira down another corridor, passing several more guards along the way. As they passed each group, the soldiers saluted. Some even bowed their heads respectfully. It seemed as though every soldier on board the ship knew the captain personally.
This meant that, if he wanted, he could easily order them to shoot Mira dead before she had a chance to explain herself. However, judging by his demeanor, the captain clearly wasn’t interested in killing Mira. He simply wished to talk with her.
Finally, the two reached a set of double doors at the end of the hall. These opened automatically once the captain pushed them aside. Beyond lay a large living area, filled with couches and chairs. Several tables sat nearby, holding various items: books, bottles, food trays, and other sundries. There were also numerous windows lining the walls, allowing sunlight to stream in.
As soon as Mira entered, the captain closed the door behind her. Immediately, the lights dimmed, plunging the room into darkness. Only the glow from the monitor screens illuminated the space.
“This way,” said the captain. “We can speak privately.”
Mira followed him across the room, keeping close to the wall. She kept her eyes trained on the floor, watching her feet carefully. The last thing she needed was to trip over anything while walking. If she fell, there’d be nothing stopping the captain or any of his men from shooting her.
Once they reached the far side of the room, the captain stopped. A moment later, the lights came back up. Mira looked around. Now that she could actually see properly, she realized the entire chamber resembled a small library. Shelves lined the walls, packed tightly together.
Most of the shelves held books, although others contained maps, charts, and diagrams. In addition, there were several desks scattered throughout the room. Each desk had a computer terminal built into it.
“You can sit anywhere you like,” said the captain.
“Thanks,” replied Mira. “Where should I start?”
The captain pointed toward one of the desks. “There’s always plenty of paperwork to get through.”
Mira nodded and headed for the table. Once she got settled, she pulled open a drawer and began sifting through some papers. After a few minutes, she located the proper form and started filling it out. When finished, she placed the paper on top of the stack. Next, she took a seat at another desk and booted up the system.
A screen popped onto the surface, displaying an image of Captain Tagon standing next to the bridge. His face appeared onscreen, looking directly into the camera lens.
“What’s taking so long?” demanded the captain.
“I’m working on something,” answered Mira. “Just give me a minute.”
“Fine,” muttered the captain. “But hurry up! I want to know what’s going on!”
“Okay,” agreed Mira. “Here goes.”
She typed in a series of commands, accessing the main database. At first, all she saw were lists of names, dates, and places. But after a short time, the information changed. Instead of just listing the people involved, it became easier to understand.
Names were replaced by pictures. Faces stared back at her, accompanied by brief descriptions of who they were. And when Mira focused on one particular picture, she noticed a familiar name listed underneath it.
“Oh my God,” gasped Mira. “It really happened.”
***
“How did you find out about this?” asked the captain.
“My father told me,” explained Mira. “He was trying to warn me away from the man. But I didn’t listen.”
“Your father warned you against him? Why?”
“Because he’s dangerous,” said Mira. “And because he wants to kill me. That’s why I have to leave here as fast as possible. Before he finds me.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Look at the list of names,” insisted Mira. “Do you recognize anyone else on there besides yourself?”
The captain studied the screen. Finally, he shook his head. “No. Not that I can remember anyway.”
“Good,” said Mira. “Now look again. You’ll notice the same person is mentioned under almost everyone’s entry. Do you see how many times ‘the man’ appears?”
“Yes,” admitted the captain. “So what does that mean?”
“That means someone has been following us,” explained Mira. “Someone who knows where we’re staying. Someone who might show up at our doorstep tomorrow morning. Or maybe tonight.”
“Who would be doing such a thing?” wondered the captain. “Surely not your father.”
Mira shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, I need to get out of here before I become a target. Sooner rather than later.”
“Well then, let’s go,” suggested the captain.
“Wait,” objected Mira. “First things first. We still haven’t figured out exactly what’s going on. For starters, what are these names supposed to represent?”
“They’re people who’ve died,” answered the captain. “People whose souls have gone missing.”
“Souls?” questioned Mira. “Are you serious?”
“Dead men tell no tales,” responded the captain. “Which makes them perfect candidates for the afterlife. They don’t even have to worry about being judged. Because once their soul leaves its body, it never returns. Which is why they end up wandering around the world forever, searching for something that doesn’t exist.”
“Then what happens if someone steals a dead person’s soul?” inquired Mira. “Doesn’t that make the thief immortal too?”
“Not necessarily,” replied the captain. “Some spirits possess powers beyond mortal comprehension. The ability to manipulate matter or energy. To travel between worlds. Even to control life itself.”
“Sounds pretty powerful,” noted Mira.
“Indeed,” agreed on the captain. “But it comes with a price. If the spirit possesses enough power, it may eventually lose track of its own identity. It becomes trapped inside a new vessel, unable to return home.”
“Is that why the man killed those people?” asked Mira. “To steal their souls?”
“Perhaps,” conceded the captain. “Or perhaps he wanted to use them himself.”
“You think he could take over one of the bodies on this list?” wondered Mira.
“Possibly,” replied the captain. “If he had access to a suitable host.”
“Like the woman who was murdered last night,” speculated Mira. “Could he have taken her soul?”
“I doubt it,” answered the captain. “Most of the victims on that list were already dead when their souls went missing.”
“What about the others?” pressed Mira. “Those who weren’t yet deceased?”
“There’s only one way to find out,” declared the captain. “We should pay another visit to the morgue. See if any of the other victims match the description of the man.”
“All right,” agreed Mira. “Let’s do that.”
The two officers left the room. As soon as they were gone, the door opened. A tall, thin man entered the room carrying several large bags. He set them down and began unloading them onto the floor. First came a small box made of wood. Then a wooden chest filled with various tools. Next, a bag containing an assortment of knives. Lastly, he pulled out a long white sheet.
“Hello, Mr. Smith,” greeted the captain.
“Captain,” acknowledged the man. “Please excuse my intrusion. I’m just delivering some supplies.”
“Supplies?” repeated the captain. “For what?”
“A job,” explained the man. “One that requires me to stay in town for a few days.”
“Oh?” inquired the captain. “Where will you be working?”
Mr. Smith glanced toward the ceiling. His eyes widened slightly. “In the sewers below the city,” he whispered. “At least, that’s where I believe the work will be taking place. I won’t know until I arrive.”
“How did you come across this information?” wondered the captain.
“It wasn’t easy,” confessed the man. “And it took time. But after weeks of research, I finally found a lead. And now, thanks to you, Captain, everything seems to be falling into place. My employer has arranged for me to meet him in the morning. At which point, I’ll receive further instructions.”
“Why didn’t you mention this earlier?” demanded the captain.
“Because there was nothing else to discuss,” explained Mr. Smith. “Until you told me about the murders.”
“Murder?” echoed the captain. “What kind of murder? Who committed it?”
“That remains unclear,” admitted Mr. Smith. “As does the identity of the killer. All we know at present is that the murderer used a knife to kill his victims. Each victim was stabbed multiple times in the back. With a blade so sharp that it severed their spinal cord.”
“So far, all signs suggest that the killings are connected to the disappearance of the souls,” remarked the captain.
“Yes, but how can that be?” questioned Mr. Smith. “After all, these deaths occurred years ago. Why would anyone care anymore?”
“Maybe because the souls haven’t returned,” suggested Mira. “Their souls must still be lost somewhere in the world.”
“Exactly!” exclaimed the captain. “Now that we know the connection between the disappearances and the murders, our next step is obvious. We need to find the missing souls before the murderer finds them first.”
“Agreed,” said Mr. Smith. “Which means finding the corpses of each victim and examining their bodies.”
“Good luck with that,” commented the captain. “Unfortunately, most of the bodies have been cremated. Which makes identifying the victims impossible.”
“Cremation?” gasped Mr. Smith. “Are you sure?”
“Positive,” confirmed the captain. “When the coroner examined the bodies, he discovered that the victims’ organs had been removed from their bodies. They’d also suffered severe burns. So much so that even the bones had turned black.”
The End