The Begining (The Navigator Book 1)

by Ben Winston

"Well, I sort of forgot to tell you two when I came to see you in medical. I had the Admiral promote both of you. You're probably going to need the extra rank at some point, so I just asked him to handle it now," Joe explained shrugging.

  "We're both officers?" Luke asked. "What are we going to be doing that will need a higher rank?"

  "Citadel Security. I would like the two of you to eventually take charge of that area. That way, there are two men I can trust close by if I need to call on you, and it gives you a cushy job off-planet," Joe explained. "That was my thinking on it anyway. I owe both of you for when you came to get me. You could have been real dicks about it, but you trusted me and treated me like a fellow soldier. I really appreciated that."

  "Sir, this is one hell of a thank you!" Luke replied, smiling.

  "That's right, neither of you have been to the Citadel before!" Becka said. "Guys, when we get there, you will get an immediate headache. If it wouldn't dull your reactions I would suggest that Doctor Symms give you an analgesic for it."

  All three men looked at the woman in confusion. So she explained. "Joe, you remember the reaction you had when we went to the Citadel before. With normal humans, it manifests as a mild to moderate headache initially." She looked at the two Marines. "When Navigators practice, it creates a lot of 'noise' in hyperspace. Continual exposure would eventually drive you insane, but we shouldn't be there that long. Still, you will feel it; everyone does. That's actually what Doctor Symms will be trying to resolve with the shielding he's installing. I just thought you would like to know before we got there."

  Joe nodded. "I'll have Symms give you something that won't dope you up. Good catch, Becka."

  "This party just keeps getting better and better," Gary commented dryly.

  Joe nodded. "Just be glad we're not facing a bunch of extremists with assault rifles and a nuclear weapon."

  "Amen to that!" Luke replied. "That's no fun at all."

  Shana received clearance to land outside Dr. Symms labs and everything went off like clockwork. Joe, Luke and Gary pitched in and helped get the equipment loaded just as if they were exactly what they appeared to be; techs from Darkwater station. After they took off for the forty-five minute flight, the group settled down as well as they could in the common area of the ship. Before they had landed, Joe had asked Becka to use her ability to monitor the team coming aboard when he told them of the mission. If any of them were working for Jarad, the news would make them have a very different reaction than it would the others.

  Joe asked Symms about something for Luke and Gary to help with the headache they would get but would not dull their senses or reactions. Grinning, he reached into his pocket and drew out a small bottle of acetaminophen and tossed it to Luke, who was closer.

  Joe nodded and looked at the group. "Can I have everyone's attention for a moment?"

  When everyone had stopped talking and looked at him he continued. "I apologize for our earlier deception, but I'm not who Dr. Symms introduced me as. My name is Major Joseph Anderson. Myself and my two companions work for Admiral Hawklings and the Council. We are with you today as a means of sneaking into the Citadel in order to remove Jarad Smalls from power there." He paused, and put a worried look on his face. "We will be armed, and there is a strong possibility that we will need to use our weapons. All of that should take place far away from you folks, but I would still like to ask each of you to wear a ballistic vest under your coveralls. Once we arrive at the Citadel, we will help you get your gear off-loaded and even appear to begin helping you. So please don't say anything when we slip away."

  "Is that why you didn't bring Sara and the others Doctor?" one of the techs asked. Luke and Gary went to the replicator and began making the vests for the technicians, then handing them out.

  Symms shook his head. "I trust all of you. This is a very important mission for the Council as I'm sure all of you can attest to. Guys, the Major and his men are professionals. Before they joined us, all three of them were highly trained special operations soldiers. Rest assured, they know what they are doing and will work to ensure we are kept safely away from what they have to do."

  "In other words, they're assassins, right?" someone said, neutrally.

  "No, I'm the assassin, my men were Marines," Joe said. "I'll be doing what needs to be done. They will be trying to keep everyone else safe while I'm doing it."

  "Jarad is insane and is trying to set himself up as a dictator. He has to be stopped, but I'm not sure I feel comfortable being party to murder, Doctor. We took an oath to save lives, not help someone else take them," the other medical doctor said.

  "Doctor," Joe began. "You are not party to this action. I would be doing it whether you are here or not. However, we know the medical officer on the Citadel is under Jarad's control and can't be trusted to treat any wounded. We honestly need you with us to help save the lives of anyone that might get caught in the crossfire. Ideally, you won't have anything to do but work on the shielding with Doctor Symms and you won't know anything else even happened."

  "There is a rumor that Jarad is psychic and can see events before they happen. How certain are you that he doesn't already know you’re coming?" someone else asked fearfully.

  "Jarad is not clairvoyant. He gets his knowledge the same way others do; with spies. Most of whom do not work for him willingly, but are rather coerced or controlled into doing his bidding. This is another reason we are doing this. Ladies and gentlemen, Jarad Smalls is a person that cannot be brought to trial for his crimes because he has the ability to control the jurors. He is abusing his powers and authority, he has kidnapped free citizens and has used them as hostages, he has committed murder, as well as ordered others to commit murder and so many other crimes it would be redundant to repeat them all.

  "I'm not a mindless killer. I do not enjoy doing this. However, I also understand that in certain circumstances this is the only way justice can be served, or failing that, lives can be saved. I agree, everyone deserves their day in court. If this person were anyone other than who he is, I'd be the first person to make sure he got it. That is simply not an option under these circumstances," Joe finished.

  "If Jarad can control people, what's to keep him from controlling you or your men?" the doctor asked.

  "I'm told he can't control me because I'm stronger than he is." Joe shrugged. "I have no idea what that has to do with it, but I do know he already tried once and failed. As for my men, we simply don't know. It doesn't seem to work on everyone. I plan to make certain he doesn't get the chance to try."

  "You'll just kill him without saying a word?" someone else asked. "That's pretty cold."

  "Talking to him would serve no purpose. No matter how you go about it, killing someone is always cold," Joe said. "We'll do everything we can to keep you safe. But if Doctor Symms tells you to report to the shuttle for a design meeting, immediately stop what you’re doing and go. That'll be the signal that things have gone to hell and we want you to get to safety. Does everyone understand?"

  "Everyone, I would like to support what the Major has told you. Jarad has tried to control me on several occasions. It has failed every time and I possess no abilities at all. Chances are, he has tried the same with any of you that have met him," Symms said. "If you trust me, I ask that all of you trust the Major in this. He really does know what he's doing here."

  Joe looked at Becka who smiled and shook her head. Everyone had passed. Joe let out a mental sigh of relief. It had been bad enough telling these folks about Jarad's ability to control others, but most folks would figure that out for themselves anyway. He just hoped it wouldn't make everyone afraid of all Navigators.

  Using the intercom, Shana announced their pending arrival at the Citadel. Joe closed his eyes and raised the personal shields that Doctor Symms had given him. He looked at the small group. "Thank you for helping us."

  "Good luck Major," one of the techs said, and the rest of the group nodded agreement, even the other doctor.

  Shortly after arr
iving at the Citadel, the team was unloading the equipment they brought along and setting it off to one side in the bay. Doctor Symms stood by and had certain boxes placed in other positions based on how they would need access to them. The door into the Citadel proper opened, two men entered and walked up to Doctor Symms.

  "Doctor, the Prime would like to see you in his office."

  Symms ignored the man and continued to direct his team. Finally he turned to the man. "It can wait a few minutes, this is important."

  "I'm afraid we must insist, Doctor. The Prime wants to see you. Now," the other man said stressing 'now'.

  Symms motioned with his hand and got Joe's attention. When he walked up, Symms said. "Take two people and go check the power unit. If we have to modify it, it's really gonna throw us off."

  "Certainly Doctor," Joe replied, but glanced at the two men. "Is everything alright Sir?"

  Symms nodded nonchalantly. "Yeah, Senior Navigator Smalls is just throwing his weight around again, he's demanding to see me right away."

  "That'll really mess up our schedule. Would you like me to come along to explain about the power unit? I can send Wills and Bennet to look over the system?" Joe suggested. "Maybe we can ease his mind and be able to keep our schedule. This headache is really bed, I know it has to be affecting the others." Joe was using the headache issue as an explanation to why they wanted to hurry.

  "That's a good idea, Andre. I'm sure Navigator Smalls will appreciate it as well," Symms replied.

  "As you wish, Doctor. I'll go get the others moving and grab my data sheet. It'll only take a moment," Joe replied.

  "Just hurry up, The Prime is not known for his patience," the first man said.

  "It'll only take a moment, who's 'the prime?" Joe asked as he stepped away.

  Symms turned to the men. "He's a power systems engineer sent here from Darkwater station to assist us in getting the new shielding installed. He's one of the men that designed the last power upgrade you got."

  "You know The Prime does not like bringing outsiders here Doctor. He is not going to be happy about this," one of the men said.

  "He'd be even less happy if we overloaded the power unit. This was the only way to do this, so deal with it," Symms said getting annoyed.

  Symms continued to direct the operations while Joe gave his order to his men and Becka. Very shortly, Joe trotted back to the waiting men carrying a small case of the type used for data sheets. "All set up, Doctor. They'll head over as soon as the rest of the gear is unloaded."

  Symms nodded. "Perfect, with any luck, we'll be back before they return with the good news."

  Joe nodded agreement, "That would be ideal, yes."

  "Whatever, let's go," the man said and took a step toward the door.

  Symms sighed. "Doctor Harolds? Can you take over here? Navigator Smalls wants to see me."

  Doctor Harolds looked upset with the request, but nodded agreement. Then Symms turned to the two belligerent men, "Well?"

  Ironically enough, Jarad's office was actually in the hold of the original cargo shuttle the Citadel was built around. There was an extra hatch built into the side of the old shuttle that Joe knew led to Jarad's private quarters. As they approached the hatch, Joe opened the case he was carrying and began sorting through the pile of data sheets it contained.

  "I asked for Symms, who's the other person?" Jarad's voice sounded when the guard pressed the entry request.

  "A tech sent here from Darkwater to help with the upgrades, Prime. He tagged along to explain what he'll be doing to the power systems," the man explained diffidently.

  What that told Joe was that Jarad had a camera in the corridor and was watching the hallway. Joe had expected that, after all Jarad was paranoid.

  "Has his identity been verified?" Jarad asked.

  "Not completely, Prime. Only that there was someone sent from the station for this project that matches his and the other men's descriptions. There was a shift change before our person there could finish the verifications," the man explained.

  "We don't have time for this crap! Navigator Smalls, you wanted to see me, let's get on with it! You know how this environment affects us. Every moment you delay with this paranoid crap is one moment closer to my people making a mistake that could hurt someone. Let's get on with it, or let me get back to work!" Symms demanded.

  "Very well, Doctor," Jarad replied. It was clear he was pissed and barely controlling his anger. "Get in here and bring your Darkwater flunky with you!"

  The door slid open and one of the men led the way through the hatch. Doctor Symms followed him and Joe moved to follow Symms. As he crossed the threshold he purposely tripped and dumped the folder of smart sheets all over the floor.

  "Idiot!" the Guard behind him said. "Pick that up and get fucking moving!"

  Doctor Symms also turned when Joe fell and bent down to help him gather up the scattered plastic sheets.

  "What the hell is going on out there?" Jarad yelled.

  "The idiot from Darkwater tripped over the door and dropped his files. We'll be with you shortly, Prime," the first Guard said and turned back into the short corridor to assist getting the sheets picked up.

  When the man bent down, Joe was ready. He pulled out the pistol hidden in his coveralls and shot Jarad in the forehead, killing him instantly. In a fluid motion, he turned and brought the butt of the pistol down on the back of the neck of the guard behind him, knocking him out. But when he completed a full turn, he found himself looking down the barrel of gun in the first guard's hand.

  "You're a fucking idiot, Anderson. The Prime recognized you when you got off the shuttle, you failed," the man said sneering.

  "I think you should look behind you, Your 'Prime' has an extra hole in his head," Joe replied.

  The man chuckled. "You see, that was where you fucked up. You just killed a double. A replicated body that looked like him. He's safely escaping on a shuttle as we speak. What the!" He quickly dropped the aim on his gun down to where Symms had been sitting on the floor, Joe jumped the doctor and disarmed them who fell to the floor like a rag doll.

  Joe checked on Symms to see him putting the cover back on a syringe before putting it in his pocket. "A paralytic agent. It won't harm him, but he won't be moving around very much."

  Joe moved back over to the man. "Dumb fuck, you should have just pulled the damn trigger!"

  "It doesn't matter, we're all gonna be dead in a few minutes anyway," the man replied weakly and tried to laugh.

  "Oh fuck! Symms! Get back to the shuttle as fast as you can and get as many people as you can on it," Joe said. "Tell Shana to launch as soon as she's full regardless if I'm back by then or not."

  "But what…" Symms began, but Joe interrupted him.

  "Now Doctor! We don't have time! Move! This place is going to self-destruct!" Joe all but yelled as he moved to Jarad's desk and pushed the clone out of the chair.

  He quickly took out his Council Authority card and slid it into the slot. He was immediately granted access to the computer system. The first think he did was open the intercom to the whole station. "Attention all Citadel Navigators, this is Major Joseph Anderson of the Terran Defense Force. Jarad Smalls has fled the station but set it to self-destruct. By the authority of the Council, I am ordering all personnel to abandon the station immediately! This is not a drill. Get to the nearest escape pod as quickly as you can. I repeat abandon this station immediately!"

  Shutting down the intercom, he tried to access the power systems of the station. When he got to the power systems, he found them to operating normally with no self-destruct activated. So if the power core was stable, then how was Jarad planning on destroying the station?

  Joe stepped around the desk back to the paralyzed man on the floor.

  "Hey, dickweed! How was your insane boss planning in destroying us? Or was he so fucked in the head he couldn't figure out how to blow the reactor?" Joe asked.

  The man was in a euphoric, almost dreamy state. "We're going h
ome. We're returning to that in which we came. Only the brightest burn the longest."

  What the fuck did that mean?

  Joe went back to the terminal in Jarad's desk and opened a comm to the shuttle. "Shana can I talk to Dr. Symms?"

  "Sure, what's taking you so long?" She asked but Symms came on the line before he could answer her.

  "What do you need Major?" Symms replied.

  "Doctor, Jarad did not set a self-destruct, but he did do something before he ran. All I could get out of that guard was 'We're going home. We're returning to that in which we came. Only the brightest burn the longest.' I have no clue what that could mean, do you have any ideas?" Joe asked.

  "It could mean just about anything depending on what the person that said it believes. Some believe we came from the stars themselves, others would see Earth as our home. Really it's far too ambiguous to guess," Symms replied, but he was clearly thinking as hard and fast as he could.

  "Who the fuck cares! Just get back here!" Becka yelled from behind Symms.

  "She's right Major, the Citadel is empty, get out of there and let whatever happens happen," Symms said. "Shana's sensors say that everyone is evacuated."

  "Okay, I'll head back, but if it goes to hell you make that girl launch, do you understand, Doctor?" Joe replied.

  "Yeah, I do. Good Luck Major," Symms said and cut the comm.

  Joe grabbed his ID out of the terminal slot and ran for the door.

  "You can't figure it out, can you?" Jarad's voice said over the comm system. "I guess I am smarter than you are. All that vaunted power and not a lick of intelligence."

  "I know what I need to know. You're insane and I'll eventually kill you, nothing else really matters," Joe replied, but kept moving.

  "You're not going to make it you know. The landing bay is too far away for the time you have left," Jarad replied giggling.

  Joe came to a stop at a remote terminal and slid his ID into the slot. He used his nanobot control system to interface directly with the computer.

  :PriCom/> Admin Override: Disable all access for Smalls, Jarad. Effective immediately.