“Well that’s just great,” Donna said.
“We have to find some way to rescue our loved ones without sacrificing ourselves,” Laura mused.
“There has to be another way,” Kadija said. Dedron was silent, but his face revealed just how dubious their prospects seemed to be.
“There is only one thing to do,” Donna said in resignation as she left the bridge. Langur just stood there gazing out into space, deep in thought.
“Well Captain Fildred, what do you think?” Kadija said.
“I think we need to contact David and Ken. They are involved in this too. Then we will plot a course for Remoir, one of the only planets in the known universe that I had always hoped that I could avoid visiting.”
“So that’s it, then?” Laura said, making her disappointment known.
“Frankly, I don’t see any other way,” Dedron said.
“We weren’t trained to just give in to our enemy’s whims. We were trained to fight them with everything we have!” Laura said.
“Laura, I don’t disagree with you. I just don’t see any other recourse in this case,” he said. Laura sighed and left the bridge.
“What if we try and rescue our loved ones before Perbron has a chance to send them all to Remoir?” Kadija proposed.
“Didn’t we just try that with Donna’s mother? Besides, we don’t know where all of them are being kept, anyway,” Dedron said. Kadija became frustrated at his response along with Laura and left the room. Langur stood in the same spot all of the while gazing out into space. Dedron shook his head and began to put in the coordinates to contact David on the communicator. Langur turned towards him and began to speak.
“You’ve done what you could, sir. You shouldn’t blame yourself,” he said.
“Thank you, Langur. It’s good to hear that even if I don’t quite believe it myself. I keep thinking that if I had made just one decision differently, we might have been able to rescue Donna’s mother.”
“You made a valiant effort. I’m sure that you surprised Perbron at the very least. You likely made him realize that he’d underestimated us. As long as there is doubt and fear lingering just beneath the surface of his mind, we have a chance,” Langur said, confidently.
“You know, I don’t know why, but I feel the same way even though it doesn’t seem like the odds are with us.”
“Odds are made to be defied,” Langur said.
“I like your attitude. It may prove to be enough,” Dedron said, optimistically. Just then, David’s image came up on the communication screen.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Dedron,” David said smugly.
“Hello Captain,” Dedron said, not bothering to hide the sarcasm in his tone.
“If it wasn’t for the sarcasm, I would think that you were resigned to the shift in power that has taken place,” David said.
“Enjoy it while it lasts, captain. We have a problem that involves each and every one of us, regardless of our ranking,” Dedron said.
“If it’s the matter of Perbron’s revenge plot, we are already on it. By the way, if you run into Laura, Kadija, and Langur you can tell them that Ken and I are busy replacing them as we speak. Let me tell you, there are some candidates that have some righteous skills.”
“That does not concern me. Despite what the general has said, we remain true to our original oaths and will see to those ends whether we are official Defense Squad members or not,” Dedron stated.
“If that’s the case why are you contacting me? Are you not going to try and get back in the general’s good graces?”
“He has already said that if Donna and myself return to Earth, he will have us arrested on charges of desertion.”
“I might be able to convince him to change his mind about that,” David said, confidently.
“David, that is not why I got in touch with you. Perbron just contacted us and requested that all of the Defense Squad members report to Planet Remoir in the city of Gertron so that he can watch us fight Remoir soldiers that he chooses to pair us with. Each of us will have to fight someone on our own. If you win, Perbron will release your loved one. If you lose, well you get the idea.”
“And you are just going to go along with it? That’s not the Dedron who led the siege on Guanthan,” David said.
“If you have a better idea, I’m open to it. I just wanted to pass along the message although I’m sure that Perbron has tried to contact you himself, surely.”
“He has tried, but we have ignored him,” David said, arrogantly.
“Ignore him at your own and your loved one’s peril. He says that we have four weeks to report to Remoir. We are going. I’m not saying that we will give up searching for an alternative, but for now there isn’t one that is presenting itself.”
“If dying is what you desire, than off you go. I will ask you one last time to come back to Earth and join us, though,” David said.
“My mind is made up,” Dedron said.
“Very well. Later days,” David said, simply.
Donna had just come back onto the bridge.
“So he’s just going to let his parents die?” she asked.
“He thinks there is another way,” Dedron said.
“Maybe he’s right, but as things stand, I’m afraid that we’re right,” Donna said, taking Dedron’s hand in hers.
“We will find a way out of this my dear,” Dedron said. His reassurance filled Donna with hope as they gazed out over the vast sea of stars. After leaving the bridge, Donna went to the training facility that the Remoir had installed in the second level of the cruiser. It consisted of simulation room where one could choose one’s virtual opponent and one’s weapon. Donna chose a legendary Remoir fighter named Yanboran who was much taller and muscular than she was. For her weapon, she chose an energy sword. When her virtual opponent materialized on the opposite end of the room, Donna harnessed all of her anger and bitterness towards the Remoir and came at him with a cry like a Sioux warrior. Yanboran moved to one side and dealt her a blow to the arm with his energy sword. It didn’t hurt due to the fact that it was a simulation, but it did serve to fill her with even more anger. With two precision moves, Donna did a cartwheel, got behind Yanboran and dealt him a blow to the shoulder and a second swipe through his mid-section. The simulated Remoir vanished and a computerized voice congratulated her.
“Level three accomplished. Would you like to advance to level four?” it asked.
“Not at this time,” Donna said. Her quick victory made her feel somewhat better about things. She switched off the simulator using the control panel on the wall, and the four walls took on their former, nondescript appearance again.
Chapter 14:
Donna and the others all took turns training for one on one combat, preparing for the trial that awaited them. Although they longed to find an alternative to Perbron’s wishes, there wasn’t one that was presenting itself. Finally, they reached the Nebuloba galaxy and saw the Planet Remoir looming in front of them like a bad omen. It was a stark grey planet that at first glance did not look like a place where life existed. It was warm and arid with a climate similar to the Nevada desert. As the cruiser began to enter the planet’s atmosphere, they began to see lonely, rocky peaks interspersed amongst the desert landscape.
“What a desolate place. Are you sure this is the right planet?” Donna asked Dedron as they strapped themselves in for their approach.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Dedron said. A few other ships were moving through the airspace, but none of them interfered with the cruiser’s approach. Commander Perbron made sure that the Defense Squad was able to arrive without being hindered. Soon, the city of Gertron came into view. There was a large quarter of the city with shimmering hover towers and large dwellings, but it quickly became apparent that this was an island of wealth in a sea of desperation. On the outskirts of the wealthy quarter were hordes of tiny, primitive dwellings where the majority of the citizens lived.
“Doesn’t appear as if Perbron and hi
s minions are sharing their prosperity with the rest of the Remoir,” Donna remarked.
“I was just thinking the same thing,” Dedron answered.
“Are we really going through with this?” Laura asked as she pulled the safety straps over her shoulders.
“What choice do we have?” Kadija asked.
Before long, a runway appeared below them. It led to a large, dome-shaped building teeming with activity. There were no communications asking for the Defense Squad’s security clearance. Perbron asked the control towers not to hinder the landing of the Defense Squad. Once the ship landed, robed Remoirs directed the cruiser into a docking bay. Once the ship came to a halt, about twenty armed Remoir guards appeared.
“That must be the welcoming committee,” Donna joked.
Once Dedron opened the door of the ship, the armed soldiers came in closer until they surrounded the group as they walked out together. One of the Remoir officials, dressed in a silver robe, stepped forward. His uniform was unlike the others in their drab, brown robes.
“Where is the one they call Dedron?” the official asked in a guttural voice.
“I am Dedron,” Dedron said, stepping forward.
“Wonderful. My name is Captain Zarbron. My first request is that you to shed yourselves of all weapons. Then, we will move on to inspection to make sure of your compliance with my request,” he said.
“We have left all of our weapons on board, but feel free to inspect us as necessary,” Dedron said. The Captain seemed suspicious of Dedron’s willingness to cooperate, but nodded his head and led them to a crowded room adjacent to the loading dock. There several guards frisked all five Defense Squad members. Donna slapped one of them as he moved his hands along her hips and down her legs to check for weapons.
“Watch it!” she warned, but the guard continued his inspection. Guards bound each of the Defense Squad member’s hand behind their back and led them to a black hover car that was waiting outside of the inspection room. The car drove through the more well off quarter of the city to a tall, run-down looking building on the edge of the poorer district. Donna looked out of the window and noticed the frayed robes of the Remoir walking the streets with bowed backs and slow gaits.
“This looks a bit like the poorer parts of Memphis back in Tennessee,” Donna said.
“Yes, it seems that Perbron has enriched himself at the expense of his own people,” Kadija said. “This is a problem in many African nations as well.”
The car stopped in front of a maximum-security, prison-like building. There were tall, steel fences surrounding the building and a multitude of guards standing on platforms in order to afford them a bird’s eye view. The massive steel gate opened, allowing the car to pass through. Once the Defense Squad members exited the car, they were led into the building and up several moveable walkways until they came to a dark, dank tower. Cells were stacked on top of each other as far as the eye could see. They were tiny rooms with only a sink, a toilet, and a small bed. It made the facilities they had witnessed in the past look like deluxe accommodations.
“Until we meet again,” Dedron said to Donna, kissing her forehead as the guards separated the members, placing them in separate cells from each other. Donna smiled at Dedron as they led her away to a higher level of the cells. They shoved her inside the cell and activated the invisible force field. The other Defense Squad members were subjected to the same treatment. Perbron made it a point to separate the comrades so that they would have less time to put together any kind of plan.
Dedron sat in the corner of his cell, turning over ideas in his head about how they might get out of this debacle, but nothing was coming to mind. Finally, a guard came in to bring him his dinner. When the guard entered the room, he accidentally dropped something when he was putting Dedron’s tray of food on the ground. Dedron picked it up, gave it a brief glance, and then handed it to the guard. It was picture of his wife and child wearing the same tattered robes they’d seen the street people wearing on their way to the prison.
“Is that your wife?” Dedron asked.
“What business is it of yours?” The guard asked.
“It’s none. I just thought I’d ask.”
“She has been dead now for two years if you must know,” he said.
“I am sorry to hear that,” Dedron said. The guard seemed surprised at Dedron’s politeness.
“She gave her heart and soul to building our community. She grew gardens and tried to organize our people. For that, she was killed,” The guard said.
Dedron raised his head as his heart filled with sympathy for the guard.
“She was killed? By whom if I might ask?”
“It is not important. There is nothing that can be done about it. Enjoy your meal,” the guard said. He quickly disappeared.
The guard came back later to take the empty tray.
“Can I ask you something?” Dedron inquired.
“If you must, but that doesn’t mean I will answer you,” the guard said, defiantly.
“Was it Perbron and his men that killed your wife?”
The guard did not answer right away, but his hands began to shake. Then, he looked around as if he were making sure that no one was listening in.
“Yes, it was. The commander does not wish for us to live under better conditions.”
“If I might ask, how did you come to have this job if you feel the way that you do about the system?”
“I have two children to feed. I had to pledge my allegiance to the state and hide my beliefs, but it is worth it to feed hungry mouths.”
“I am truly sorry to hear of your plight. Are there others that have attempted to organize in order to improve the lives of your people?”
The guard looked around again to make sure he wasn’t overheard and continued to share information.
“Yes, but they have to meet in the dead of night and continue to regularly pledge their support for Commander Perbron in order to avoid suspicion. We are secretly organizing,” he said. Dedron was both surprised and pleased to hear of this. The wheels began to turn in his mind.
“Is there anything that could be done to stage a widespread rebellion? My comrades are trained soldiers that would be happy to aid you in your quest. We have a common enemy in Commander Perbron. We Defense Squad members are not enemies of the Remoir people, only of your evil ruler.”
“We are aware of the Defense Squad and already know what you say to be true. However, my family and I will be executed if it is found out that I aided you. Therefore, I can do nothing to help you,” the guard said.
“What is your name, sir, if I might ask?” Dedron said.
“Herbaron,” he said.
“Herbaron, my people are going to be asked to participate in duels with Remoir soldiers. There will likely be a huge gathering of people at these events as we have been told that the entire public will be able to witness the spectacle. Wouldn’t this be a great opportunity to stage a rebellion? The Remoir citizens will greatly outnumber the soldiers and officials, and Commander Perbron will most certainly be there. If an attack is mounted on the soldiers, we will most certainly come to your aid and fight alongside you. This could be the opportunity your people have been waiting for,” Dedron said. Herbaron looked into Dedron’s eyes, sensing his sincerity.
“I am sorry, but it is too risky for us to be talking this way,” he said as he quickly made his way out of the cell.
Donna spent her time exercising and training for her upcoming duel. She filled her thoughts with hatred for Perbron and his men in order to make sure that she would be ready to face her opponent, whomever it might be. She considered trying to attack the guard that brought her food in order to mount an escape, but there were far too many armed guards patrolling the multiple levels of the prison, so she let go of this idea.
The next day, Herbaron returned to Dedron’s cell. He looked around again to make sure that no one was listening in.
“I have considered your idea about the rebellion and bro
ught it up to others in my village. Rebroan, who is in charge of the resistance, likes the idea and is talking it up to others,” Herbaron reported. Dedron smiled at this. “The first duel is set for the day after tomorrow. By then, we should be able to organize a sizeable force. Once the duel begins, we will target one of the nearby buildings that house the military’s weapons. The explosion will distract the guards and officers. We will attack amidst the confusion. I will make sure that my comrades provide you and the other Defense Squad members with weapons once the guards are sufficiently distracted. This should give you the opportunity you need to join the attack and free yourselves from the custody of the guards. We have been waiting for just such a public gathering to stage our rebellion,” he said.
“Wonderful! You will not regret it. Although we are few in number, we can do quite a lot to help your cause. We will fight them tooth and nail until we help to liberate your people,” Dedron reassured him. The guard removed his hood to reveal what Dedron thought was a kindly face smiling at him. Herboran then put his hood back on and turned to leave the cell.
Dedron was filled with hope. The Defense Squad members had entered a situation that was rife and ready for a rebellion to be staged. It seemed that Commander Perbron had set himself up for this through his treatment of the average Remoir citizen in the city of Gertron. If only he could relay a message to the others. Luckily, Herboran was more than willing to help. When he returned with Dedron’s meal, Dedron made a request of him.
“Herboran, are there other guards who can get the message to my comrades so that they are prepared for the rebellion?”
“I am one step ahead of you. There are several of us guards who are against the Frembor regime. Your comrades have already been notified of the situation and support amongst the resistance has grown just in the last few hours. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for.”
Chapter 15:
A New Reason To Fight: An Intergalactic Romance Page 18
