“Nice job, guys,” complimented Dennis.
“Is there a connection between the Skybounder and Brisula?” Jackson asked Pearson.
“Let’s keep this under wraps. OK? I’ve learned that the Skybounder was on its way to Brisula when it disappeared.” Dennis got up from behind his desk. “Unfortunately there’s not much we can do about that until we dissolve the force field and find the Captain. So Jackson, you and I need to get back to work.” He opened his office door. “And you, Ms. Shea, need to catch up on your sleep. Why don’t you go back to bed for a couple of hours.”
Dave Andrews slowly opened his eyes. Momentarily he forgot where he was and felt a wave of panic go through his body, as he took in his surroundings. Then he spied Marlana Berg and everything flashed back into his head. Now a surge of guilt flooded him. Their situation was dire. They were chained up and locked in a cage. Their weapons had been confiscated, and they were not able to communicate with the Gladiator or the Captain. Despite all that, Andrews was feeling joyful. He had spent the last day with a remarkable woman and had even held her in his arms. Under these circumstances he should not be letting his emotions get in the way of his duty as a UGC officer. I never thought I would feel this way. My whole focus in life has always been my military career. And yes, even though I say I do not want to be a captain, I know deep in my heart that is not true. Falling in love or getting married would interfere with that. When I watch Dennis get all googly-eyed and weak in the knees when he looks at Diane, I want to shout at him—that’s why you will never become a captain. Diane will always hold you back. You will need to stay by her side or break both your hearts by dissolving your union so you can advance.
There was movement all around him as the slaves he was sharing the cage with began to wake up. Lying beside him, Dr. Berg opened her eyes and smiled at him, as he was looking down at her. He helped boost her up to a sitting position and then snuggled up next to her. The feel of her body alongside his filled him with contentment, and he closed his eyes. But then the guilt returned, roaring loudly in his brain. I must pull myself together and not think of my feelings for Marlana. I need to figure out a way to get us out of here and then find Josh.
He moved away from the doctor. Putting his hands to his head, he commanded himself, THINK!
There was sunlight shining through the thick mass of treetops and into the windows of the James K. Beverly Glenna stretched her arms and legs, stood up, and tip-toed over to the large windshield of the spacecraft. She gazed at the view. It was so serene, peaceful, and totally silent. There were no birds singing or rabbits scampering. Right now, at this moment she wanted to stay here in this forest forever. Just she and Colin. She would never again have to face Keith or Captain Stoner. All her problems would cease to exist. She lifted her chin so that the bright rays of sun shone right into her eyes. She couldn’t feel the warmth nor did the light affect her eyes due to the thickness and glare protection of the ship’s windshield, but she could imagine the effects all the same. We are light-years away from our sun, so where is all this sunshine coming from? she wondered.
After a short bit Colin joined her at the window. “It is so beautiful,” she said. “It is a shame that your team will be clearing away the forest to make way for buildings and cement roads.” Colin shrugged his shoulders, a gesture indicating that to him that was no big deal. Constructing buildings and highways was what his world consisted of. A forest simply got in the way, and its necessary removal just made the job more time consuming. In a way, hers and Colin’s career choices were total contradictions. She was an environmentalist. She loved nature: the animals, the fish, the flora, and the land. She enjoyed studying indigenous cultures and putting into practice ways to preserve the natural environment. Colin, on the other hand, was a builder, destroying nature in order to build new or bigger cities.
“Where does the sun on Brisula come from?” she asked.
“Brisula is one of the sixteen planets in the solar system of the Shooting Star Galaxy. Like Earth’s solar system, these sixteen planets revolve around a sun. Brisula is the fourth planet from the sun making its conditions comparable to those of Earth,” lectured Colin.
“Is Lexter in the same galaxy?”
“I believe so. Why?”
“It was to be the Gladiator’s next stop but we turned around. The climate on Lexter is so drastically different from Brisula.”
“If memory serves me right, Lexter is the eighth planet in the solar system. It is far enough away from the sun to cause it to be very cold with arctic type conditions,” answered Colin. “Being a scientist I am surprised that you do not know all this.”
Beverly sighed and looked away from the window. “I only found out that I was going to Brisula a few days beforehand so I didn’t have time to read up on where I was going.” She blushed as she looked up at Colin. “And when we got back to the Gladiator, I never wanted to go to Brisula ever again, so I wasn’t particularly interested in learning anything about that awful planet.” Also, she thought to herself, I was so wrapped up with Keith and enjoying our time together, that nothing else in the world mattered.
Colin shrugged his shoulders again, this time to show that it didn’t matter to him if she hadn’t done her homework on Brisula’s planetary status. “We need to get dressed and scout the area to see if anyone has returned to the surface. If not, then you need to try and establish contact with your ship while I work on my building plans.” He gave her a kiss on the forehead and a pat on her naked butt before heading for the back of the vessel.
The knock on the door was right on time. This morning Colonel Flax opened the door himself.
“Good morning, sir,” greeted the Brisulan police officer. “Is Salton ill?”
“No, but my children are. A doctor has ordered that they not eat any solid foods, and they are to drink only clear liquids. Can they forgo the apples today?” the Colonel asked before motioning for the man to enter the apartment.
“We have not received a written notification from a doctor indicating that your children have been excused from their daily apples,” replied the officer suspiciously.
“Perhaps the order got delayed or misplaced. I assure you a doctor did examine the twins yesterday.”
“What is the doctor’s name? I will call over to the hospital to get verification.”
“I am afraid I do not recall the physician’s name. But please do not force them to eat something that will cause them to become more sickly,” pleaded Flax. It was to no avail.
“I am sorry, sir but without the doctor’s note, your children must have their apples,” said the police man sternly. “I do have a blender on my cart and I can make their apples into juice if that would help.”
Colonel Flax nodded and then called for Salton to get the children and Mrs. Flax.
After the consumption of the required apples, the Colonel asked Salton to put the children back to bed. Gina Flax hurried to follow Salton but Flax grabbed her wrist.
“I need to talk to you,” he told his wife.
“Can’t this wait?” she replied. “I want to see that the children are all right, and then I need to leave as I have to get to work early today.”
“No, Gina, this cannot wait,” he said sharply. “Salton is taking care of the twins. Please sit down.” He pulled out one of the kitchen chairs for her. “Why did you do it?”
“Do what?”
“You know exactly what I am talking about. Why did you have the doctor and Commander Andrews arrested?”
Gina looked at her husband and saw the fury in his eyes. She couldn’t understand why.
“You know exactly why,” she responded angrily. “They are our enemies. They are United Galaxy Command officers. They cannot be trusted. They are a threat to the Tradian Galactic Army. They are—”
“Enough,” shouted Flax. “I won’t hear any more of that kind of talk. You know how I feel about the Tradian Army. I am disappointed. I thought by now you would feel the same way.”
“What about the people we live among every day? The people we work with and socialize with. And what about all those innocent people being forced into slavery? You know from your job at the Court House what the Tradians have been up to. How can you stand by and watch what the Tradians are doing to Brisula?”
Gina stared at her husband. He looked so angry. So filled with rage. Gina’s answer only made him angrier. “We are Tradians. Why should we worry about Brisula?”
“We may have been born Tradians but we have lived most of our lives here on Brisula. Since arriving here the citizens have been nothing but kind and generous to us. How can we turn our backs on them?” Looking at his wife, he could not believe the expression of indifference on her face. “I for one am embarrassed to be a Tradian. If I could I would resign from the army and denounce my Tradian citizenship.”
Now it was Gina who was angry. “Warren, are you willing to give up the good life we lead due to your position in the Tradian Army? Are you willing to put your life and the lives of our children on the line for some strangers — strangers who are here for no other reason than to interfere and disrupt life here in Brisula.”
“You mean life as dictated by the Tradians,” he shot back. “Gina, I would never jeopardize the lives of our children. It is for them that I want to see an end to the Tradian rule here on Brisula, so that Tommie and Tossie can enjoy a good and peaceful life. A life where citizens are free to move about without fear, and slavery does not exist. If I can do anything, no matter how small or big, to bring that about, I feel compelled to do so.” He stared down at the floor for a few seconds then turned back to face his wife. “Please try to understand,” he said pleadingly.
Gina was still furious. “I enjoy our life just as it is,” she shrieked. “That is, how it was before that Captain Stoner arrived and stirred everything up.” She lowered her voice and shook her head. “He almost took Salton away from us.”
“I regret that. I was being selfish. When the Captain came to get Salton I should have ordered him to go. He deserves his freedom, and I feel guilty for keeping him from it.” Flax looked sadly at his wife. I can see that I am wasting my time arguing with her, he thought. She is not going to budge. “I guess we are at a stalemate. I cannot force you to change your beliefs. I accept where you are coming from. I only ask that you accept my feelings, and that you will not do anything to harm Captain Stoner and his officers.” He put out his arms to offer Gina a hug, but she rejected the gesture.
“I, too, understand where you are coming from. I love you dearly but I cannot accept your ideals nor can I promise not to bring harm to the United Galaxy Command officers.” She picked up her handbag, which was on the counter and walked defiantly out of the kitchen. He heard the apartment door slam shut.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
June 25, 0700 Hours
The doors slid open and the Captain and his Lieutenant stepped out. They had to shield their eyes from the glistening overhead fluorescent ceiling fixtures, which emanated even more glaring light as reflections bounced off the banks of shiny metallic computers and glass-topped desks. Bookcases stuffed with electronic gadgets lined the glossy green walls. A tall stainless steel cabinet stood alongside the elevator with its doors ajar revealing shelves stocked with whips and cattle prods. In the center of the massive room was a lounge area. A man and a woman dressed in the green Tradian Army uniforms sat on an overstuffed, red velvet couch sipping coffee from silver goblets engraved with fancy cursive letters TGA. Another red couch and two bronze colored recliners completed the seating in the area. There was a wooden, red-tinted glass topped coffee table adorned with a cut-glass crystal tray laden with fresh cinnamon rolls. A lavish silver chandelier hung over the table making the thick frosting on the pastry glow as if they were charged with electricity. Between the two couches was an enormous circular fish tank. It stood at least eight feet tall with a circumference of no less than six feet. Colorful fish and green shelled turtles lazily swam in circles dodging the long stems of seaweed that gently swayed in the pale blue water. Lying on the multicolored sand and rocks at the bottom of the aquarium was a bluish-colored octopus, its tentacles flapping in the waves.
Two men sat at a desk examining a diagram of some sort. Both turned their heads when the elevator doors slammed shut behind the Gladiator officers. Both jumped up from their seats when they saw who had exited the elevator.
“So we meet again,” growled General Platt. “I didn’t think I would ever again have the pleasure of being in your company.”
“Believe me, the feeling is mutual,” snapped Josh.
The other man eyed the two officers suspiciously. “Who are these men?” he asked. His finely tailored green uniform was decorated with medals and ribbons including five gold stars over the breast pocket on the left side of his chest.
“Chief, may I introduce you to former slaves, Captain Joshua Stoner of the U.S.S. Gladiator and his officer Keith Hampton. They are the ones responsible for the slave uprising.” He turned to face the man he referred to as Chief and flashed a smile, the type that indicates an inside joke not meant for an outsider. Platt turned back to Josh and said. “This is Chief General Monks. He is the Chieftain of Brisula Tradian Central. I suggest that you give him your utmost respect.”
“Respect needs to be a two-way street,” responded Josh. “As Captain of the Gladiator and an official representative of the Amalgamation of United Planets and Solar Systems, I, too, deserve respect.”
“What is the purpose of your presence in Brisula? I thought the Gladiator had departed a couple of weeks ago,” asked the Chieftain.
“We received a distress call from Lieutenant Shasta and returned to investigate.”
“We did not intercept any communications from United Galaxy Command that the Gladiator was being dispatched to Brisula.”
“Perhaps your hackers were unable to break the encrypted message.”
“Possibly,” murmured Monks eyeing the Captain. “But more likely it is because there never was a message and you are here without authorization.”
“That is purely speculation,” said Josh.
“Maybe, but if you are here without orders the TGA would not be responsible if you were to get injured or have an accident.”
“Like Lieutenant Shasta had?” inserted Keith Hampton. “Did he really bump his head on a post, or did someone take him to the Punishment Center and try to bash in his skull?” Keith’s face was flushed with anger. He saw the Captain staring at him, and he quickly averted his eyes focusing on the stars on Monks’ uniform.
“Need I remind you that it was you slaves that were smashing people over the head? With shovels I might add,” said General Platt. “By the way how is the good doctor? Any permanent damage from those shovels?”
“Dr. Loring has recovered nicely,” answered Josh. “He is on his way to a long prison stay.”
“Ah, prison. Maybe the doctor would have been better off not recovering.” Platt grinned sheepishly at the Captain and then turned to face Monks. “Chief, what do you want me to do with these two?”
Chief Monks continued to glare suspiciously at the two officers. Then staring directly into Josh’s eyes he said, “General Platt, these two men are our guests. Please give them a tour of our Headquarters and then escort them to the guest quarters. I am sure they are hungry.” He returned to his desk and picked up the diagram he had been studying earlier.
“Follow me, former slaves,” demanded Platt. He led them over to the shelves containing the whips and prods. “I am sure you remember what these are and what we do with them,” he chuckled.
Platt escorted them around the Headquarters stopping at various desks and computers to explain their functions. Josh was surprised at how much information Platt was revealing. He showed them the computer and controls that operated a force field above Brisula. He explained that a sensor installed in the Boulder automatically opened the entrance when
touched from the outside. “Once opened it triggers an intruder alert. From inside Brisula City a specially encoded plastic card needs to be waved in front of the Boulder to activate the automatic door opener,” disclosed Platt. He also divulged that on the day Josh and Wayne entered through the Boulder, there was a glitch in the system causing a delay in the intruder alert. The system had crashed and even now their ability to monitor the movement around the Brisula City tunnels and buildings was inoperable. The use of communication devices was also being greatly affected. Satellite phones issued by the TGA were still operable within the city but all other phones and communication devices were malfunctioning. Apparently there was a huge power drain that weakened the electric systems. They were awaiting a tactical team from Imp to arrive and fix the problem.
When Platt walked them by General Monks’ desk, the Chief was no longer sitting there. The diagram he had been studying was laying spread out across the desktop. Both Keith and Josh quickly scanned the document with their eyes. Platt guided the two officers to the far end of the Headquarters where he opened a door and motioned for them to enter. Platt led the way down a narrow corridor. Partway down he opened another door, announced it was the guest room, and told the officers to go in. Platt did not follow the two men. Instead he pulled the door shut.
Freedom Page 14
