The man nodded, and the two of them walked down the hall. Jeff limped his way back to the bed, crawled in, and thought to himself this is where he was going to be in hot water. He needed to do some investigating that night, if not to at least find some kind of information on who he was impersonating. If he was on the space station for a longer time, he might have found something to at least keep Carver satisfied.
In so many ways, he already saw the family resemblance between John and him. He was a persistent, thorough, soldier with a determined attitude, and apparently, John inherited those traits from his great grandchildren as well. John had a better sense of humor, however; than the General, who was stiff lipped and straight to the point. He wasn't looking forward to facing him again, or his "archaic methods," whatever they may be.
CHAPTER FIVE
The small scout vessel nestled itself in a stationary orbit behind the darkness of the far side of the moon, as its crew contemplated Jeff's fate. Wilson wanted to know if he landed safely, so she checked the monitors and panels to see if the descent vehicle's procedure executed its flight path correctly. She then returned to the ship, who was piloted by Lori, and later by Batar, who took over the helm in her place, as she moved back to the
communications panel.
"I'm not getting any more signals from the station," she said.
"Yes, I know," Wilson said. "I fried their communications."
"Won't they send someone up?"
"Yes, they will," Batar stated. "But from the way she dismantled it, they'll think it short-circuited. They'll blame it on the bogie, or a malfunction."
"Is he okay?"
"Well, right now, yes. General Carver is suspicious of him, however."
"Who's General Carver?" Lori asked.
"He's the man in charge of the base, and also John Carver's great grandfather."
"You're kidding?" Wilson questioned. "He's involved in this mess too?"
"Yes," Batar said. "I'm afraid so. All of your ancestors are from Earth, and involved in this one way or another."
"I hope they don't mistreat him," Lori said. "How long before they regain communications?"
"As soon as they send a payload vessel to the space station," Wilson said. "But with communications down, they'll probably send a recovery ship up first anyway."
"And then Jeff's cover will be blown?" Lori asked, nervous for her spouse.
"I'm afraid so," Batar said. "If Carver doesn't find out before then. They plan to use truth drugs on him tomorrow."
"How do you know that?" Lori asked.
"You forget I can read minds," Batar answered. "Be thankful we have that advantage."
"Then he'll tell them everything."
"Not if I can block it from his memory," Batar said. "But we'll have to get closer, so I can concentrate my effort."
"How long can the light refraction device keep us cloaked?" Wilson asked.
"Up to thirteen hours, until it starts to weaken the power reserve."
"What time are they going to do this?"
Batar closed his eyes for a minute, then opened them again.
"10:30 am," he answered.
"Well, it only takes about ten minutes get back to Earth," Wilson said.
"We'll head over in the morning," Batar said. "Lt. Walker, have you received any signal from the Varcon?"
"Not yet, Sir," he said. "Should I open a channel?"
"Yes," Batar said. "It's been three days, we should have heard something from them by now."
"Opening channel," Lori said.
"Varcon, this is Scout ship I, do you read?" Lori asked.
There was a few moments of silence, until a fuzzy, faint signal came in.
"This is the Varcon," Barva stated.
"What's your status?" Batar asked.
"Still working on impulse fusion drive," Barva said. "We're heading towards Mars, although our travel is a little slow. We figure about another day before we get there. What's your status?"
"We have completed Phase One, and Captain Walker is safely on the Earth in the military installation."
"Very well," Barva said. "Keep us posted on your progress."
"Affirmative," Batar said. "You do the same."
"There is one thing I need to mention, however."
"And that is?"
"It may be nothing. We got some of the sensors to work, but they indicate a large object about a half mile wide just beyond the orbit of Neptune. I don't know if it's a glitch yet, or an actual object. It could be an asteroid."
"And it could also be a spaceship," Batar surmised.
"I'm not getting any Andronian thought transmissions," Barva said.
"And neither am I, but it doesn't mean he's not out there. He must have a way of masking his thoughts from us."
"Your suggesting that he's more advanced than either you or I," Barva laughed. "And I don't believe that."
"You don't know Varloo," Batar said. "He's considered one of our top minds. Well, stay sharp. Do you have weapons?"
"Only fusion torpedoes. If he has anything stronger, he could severely damage or destroy us."
"Well, do your best. We have to move closer to Earth again tomorrow, so we'll be out of range. We'll contact you in two days."
"Affirmative," Barva said. "Out."
Batar turned his head to Wilson. "Take over the sensory system onboard, and see if you're picking up the object."
"If Varloo has a way of getting back here, don't you think he'd have a light refraction device as well?" Lori inquired.
"Yes, perhaps," Batar answered. "But I don't believe with his mental power that's an issue."
"Getting readings of the object, Sir," Wilson reported. "It appears to be at least 2500 feet in width, triangular in shape with a cylindrical device underneath. No known life readings, and it doesn't appear to be traveling
in one direction; just drifting. Do you think his ship was damaged and he was killed when he came through the wormhole?"
"That's possible," Batar said. "But for some reason, I don't believe that. The fact that they saw a craft thirty five years ago, and now we're seeing the same craft now leads me to believe he attempted time travel at least twice, maybe even more times. Apparently, whatever he set out to do, he didn't finish, and he needed to come back."
"But there's no life readings," Lori blurted.
"He may be in a cryochamber, and the readings are too low to detect," Batar answered. "And then there's the Baratu."
"Baratu?" Wilson asked.
"A ritual in which Andronians can lower their heart rates and other vital functions to an almost unreadable amount. It makes them seem dead when they are not."
"Do you think that's why we're not getting a reading?" Lori asked.
"He could have just died too," Wilson stated. "As long as it's just drifting, what threat does it pose to us?"
"Uranus is closest to Perigee in two days. At that point, he'll have the shortest direct route to Earth. His engines may be damaged, and he may have no other choice than to use the shortest route."
"We'll have to be the Varcon's eyes and ears until we here from Jeff," Wilson said. "I wish we could go and investigate it."
"We're needed here," Batar said. "Tell me, how long have you known your husband, Major Walker?"
"Since we were teenagers," Lori answered. "We just joined the Martian academy."
"Do you know his favorite color?"
"Of course I do, it's blue. Why do you ask?"
"Just trying to prove a point. He likes blue because it's the color of your eyes, and he likes your eyes because they are his favorite color."
"You're beginning to sound like Barva did," Wilson said. "What's your point?"
"How you look at reality is your own perspective of how you see yourself. Varloo sees his reality as saving mankind from themselves; and you as a human see his mission as a destructive one to wipe out the human race."
"Well, which is it?" Wilson asked.
"Neither, and both, depending
on your perspective."
"That doesn't make sense," Lori said. "It's either one or the other."
"Varloo sees your race as a threat to his own," Batar explained. "And
you have to admit, he's partially correct in this assumption. Your race has a tendency to destroy themselves, even when they're given the opportunity to do otherwise."
"Yea, but we worked beyond that and created a planetary alliance."
"Or, you destroyed your own world, and left it behind as waste," Batar said. "To understand Varloo and the Andronian way of life, you have to become him. I understand because I am Andronian. We haven't exactly had the best relationship with your species over history."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Lori said. "But we seem to get along okay."
"That's because I've learned to live among a galaxy of beings such as yourselves. Native Andronians see the human race as arrogant, selfish, and dangerous."
"If they're called Andronian, why are they from a planet called Aldron?" Wilson questioned.
"The Aldrons were the forefathers, or teachers and the planet was named after them. They later called their descendants the Andronians, or learners. Varloo is a distant relative of an Aldron; he is one of the chosen to become leader of the Andronians."
"Then why isn't he at his throne?" Wilson asked.
"The race didn't want him, and ousted him from power. Our world is very violent now, as it will be in the future."
"So that's why he wanted to get the Triachilite," Lori surmised. "To take control of his own people."
"Maybe," Batar said. "Or maybe, like Balta, he's wants to be in control of the entire galaxy."
"Well, unlike Balta, I don't believe he has any support," laughed Wilson.
"You may be right," Batar agreed. "But I don't believe that will discourage him from trying. Well, at the moment, it's a waiting game. Why don't you two go down and get some rest; I have things under control up here."
They nodded, and went below to the sleeping quarters. As they lay in the beds across from each other, Lori turned to her female companion.
"Liz?" she asked.
"What?" Wilson asked.
"Did you ever think about getting married?"
"Not really," she answered. "Never met anyone I liked enough to
marry. Most of the guys I worked with are real idiots."
"Jeff was a little bit of a jerk when I first met him. But then I learned what he was really like, and I began to have a thing for him."
"That's nice," Wilson said, halfheartedly. She just wanted to get a little shut eye, not get into a conversation about men.
"Do you think we'll be able to get back?"
"To where? Earth? Mars? Or the other universe? I'm beginning to feel like I don't know where I belong."
"If Jeff changes the future, wouldn't Mars be saved as well?"
"Maybe. But it will also mean you and Jeff will never be married."
She pondered the thought for a moment, and realized Wilson was right. This time travel situation was all very tricky. She missed him so much already, and couldn't imagine not having the pleasure to share her life with him.
"Liz, I'm scared."
"I know, so am I," Wilson answered. "Let's hope Jeff is successful."
"But where will that leave us?"
"You'll get through it, we all do."
"Not without a friend like you."
"Thanks, Lori. If we still know each other when this is all over, I'll be there for you. Now, can we get some sleep?"
"Yes. Goodnight."
The next morning, the crew was up by nine, and prepared to head towards Earth. Lori manned the communications, and was picking up a signal from the ground base; something about sending a rescue vehicle, as Batar predicted they would, at 11:15 am. It would take an hour and a half for the ship to dock, which made her a little nervous.
"Ground base is talking about launching a rescue ship."
"Don't worry about that," Batar answered. "I can make them veer off course."
"You can do that?" Lori asked.
"Yes. All I have to do is make the pilot press the wrong button."
"Won't they get killed?"
"I'll make sure they land safely. But first, we'll have to concentrate on Jeff's mind."
"Coming up on Earth orbit now," Wilson said. "We're at opposite
sides of the ISS, however. Right now, they can't see us on their radar, but they will in ten minutes. We're within range of ground base, and they've activated the missile system again."
"Shields up, light refractor on," Batar said. "Avert 45 degrees."
"Yes, Sir," Wilson said.
As the missiles passed them by again, they prepared for Batar to perform his mind meld. It was then that they received a signal from the Varcon.
"Scout ship One, do you read me?" Barva asked.
"We read you loud and clear," Batar said, as Lori opened the communications. "What's going on?"
"The vessel has reactivated its engines and is heading past Uranus now at half light speed. If it continues on its current flight path, it will arrive near Earth in 82 minutes."
"Do you want us to intercept?" Batar asked.
"Negative," Barva answered. "Your weapons are no match for his. Stand down for now. Travel as far away as you have to, and stay out of sight."
"And how are we going to do that?" Lori asked.
"It won't be easy." Batar said. "We'll leave the light refraction device on until we're out of range."
"Out of range?" Lori cried. "What about Jeff? How are we going to stop Varloo?"
"Well, we can't do it up here," Batar said, as he raised his four gray fingers. "We're out-powered mentally and out gunned. We'll have to wait until he lands."
"I thought we weren't going to land there?"
"Now we haven't got a choice. Once he lands, Jeff won't be able to stop him alone."
"Are you sure you can stop him at all?" Wilson asked.
Batar bowed his head to the floor, solemnly.
"No, I'm not. But we have to at least try. Up here we're helpless. Set a course out in the opposite direction, towards Mars.”
"Course set, Sir," Wilson said. "I'm afraid we can't outrun him if he decides to come after us."
"He won't," Batar said. "We're not his main concern. Barva, are you
still there?"
"Affirmative," Barva said. "We'll continue on to Mars. Contact us when you decide to head back to Earth."
"Affirmative," Batar said. "Out."
"It's a damn good thing Mars and Uranus are at opposition right now," Wilson said. "Otherwise, he'd see us."
"It still doesn't mean he can't. But like I said, he doesn't care about us,
he's just trying to get back to Earth."
"To do what?" Wilson asked.
"That's the big question," Batar said. "Let's try to figure out what we know already, shall we? He tried to destroy the Tolarions with the virus, which we know he stole from the android's memory banks, and is also using the Triachilite to boost his mental ability. Why would he risk coming back here, and what is he trying to do?"
"Maybe it wasn't Avery who put the information there, but Varloo instead," Wilson stated.
"Why would he do that?" Batar asked. "He wanted the android to obtain the information, and he didn't know the code. Ms. Avery helped him figure it out."
"Perhaps he gave her the code in 2055 through some sort of mind transference."
"It's possible," Batar answered. "But for some reason, I don't believe that either. She said part of the code was from the future, the date that Akros created the Empire, and the cloned birth of Balta."
"Maybe Varloo had something to do with that as well," Lori suggested.
"Not likely. He hated the Tolarions, so why would he help create them?"
"I see what you're saying," Lori said. "But that only leaves the option of Avery knowing the future. Do you really think he was clairvoyant?"
"No," Batar stated.
"Then Varloo
must be involved," Wilson said. "Batar, how is it possible for him to run an entire starship by himself?"
"He's not," he answered. "Garlona's with him, remember?"
"Oh, yea," Lori said. "I forgot about him."
An hour passed, and they checked the scanners again, this time picking his ship up near Earth. "Somehow, he's deactivated their nuclear weapons, Wilson stated.
"He's disabled their computerized firing sequence," Batar said.
"Entering the atmosphere now, Sir. Should we follow him?"
"Not yet," Batar said. "Give him plenty of berth, and let him land. We'll deal with him on the ground. Set a slow course toward Earth, and prepare to land in an hour and a half."
"Yes, Sir," Wilson answered, and followed his order.
"There is a great degree of radiation on the surface," Batar explained. "It would be best if you let me handle Varloo on my own."
"But you're an alien," Lori said. "If he gets on the base, you can't stop him, or you'll be captured and dissected yourself. One of us would be a better candidate."
"If he is on the base, there's no human that will be able to stop him either, including you. It's the risk I'll have to take."
"Things just keep on getting worse," Lori said. "What happens if they capture you? What do we do then?"
"Get the hell out of here as fast as you can."
"I thought you didn't believe in superstitions like hell?" Wilson asked. "To believe in Hell, you have to believe in demons and God as well."
"God is not real," he stated. "Demons are what we call 'vices' or 'setbacks', and are very real in a sense."
"So you're using the term figuratively?"
"If that's how you wish it to be."
"Note taken," Wilson laughed, and checked the scanner again.
"They'll probably send a recovery team to his vessel," Batar said. "But they won't find him. And they won't be able to get inside the craft either."
"How can you be so sure?" Lori asked.
"If he has came here before," Batar said. "And I believe he has, he won't allow them to penetrate his defenses again. There's only one thing worse than an Andronian who has his powers, and that's an angry one."
Dimension Lapse III: Dimensional Breakdown (Dimension Lapse Series Book 3) Page 7
