“We also prevented the rest of these ‘new’ transceiver implants from operating, as they would have eventually caused brain damage and death.”
“What about their fifth city, Hero?” Frank was heard to ask.
“It never existed Commander. It was the site where our ship landed to modify the inhabitant's implants.
We planted the story of City Hero in their minds after we modified their implants, just to add weight to the story and to protect them and us.”
“So, when Bren and Acarea said they had sensed the settlers coming from Hero. What you are really saying, is that Bren and Acarea were two of the settlers, and they weren’t coming from Hero they were really coming from your ship?”
“So it would seem, err, Susanna,” the Solveron replied.
“Does that mean that you didn’t actually do any harm to our settlers?” Frank asked.
“Of course not, Commander. At that time, you hadn’t helped the five Crillon ships return to, err, Kepler.
We couldn’t understand that action, by the way. After that, we considered you an enemy.”
“So, because we tried to get the Crillons back to their planet, to hopefully, change their higher-ups destructive path. You decided to attack us.” Frank asked.
“Yes, and if my ships hadn’t encountered you, and our discussion hadn’t taken place. You would still be our enemy.
But now, I feel ashamed of our actions, you let me return to a waiting ship. You could have destroyed my rescue ship as easily as the rest,” the Solveron explained.
“Yes, we could have. But then, we’d all still be going down the same path to extinction.” Frank finished.
The recording ended.
“That’s the end of the section that is relevant to you,” Frank said. Looking around at everyone.
Then there was uproar as the recorded information sunk in.
Acarea and Bren’s faces whitened as they realised that the ‘settlers’ had been them. But they hadn’t been coming from Hero. Both had, instead, been coming back from a Solveron ship.
Frank stood up and waved his arm, urging the people in the chamber to be quiet.
“Calm down everyone. Nothing has really changed. Alright, so Hero never existed, and your ancestors were helped by an alien species, which probably saved them from dying of radiation.
Then if you look at Acarea and Bren. No doubt there are others with implants that were probably fitted by your underground lab, then modified by the Solverons to protect them, and to keep an eye on your development.
I’d say you’ve been very lucky, to have been helped when you most needed it.”
“So,” Susanna said. “You know your past, now concentrate on the future. Even the Crillons need a second chance.”
There was uproar again at that.
“Do you honestly expect us to trade with them?” One of the female councillor’s shouted. “Absurd!”
“You will!” Susanna icily replied. “I’ve just had my best friend blow her head off right in front of me. So, I’m damn sure you can forgive and make things right for your children.”
“Acarea smiled encouragingly at everyone. “Susanna’s correct. It’s about time we stopped blaming everyone and got on with it. We are what we are now.”
“Yes, and we can see that City Atreen is sprouting up again, and everything is gradually becoming better,” Frank said, trying to defuse the situation.
“I think Susanna and I will finish for now and let you ponder for a while. But we will leave a copy of our findings for your archives.”
Frank and Susanna got up.
“We’ll see you outside in five minutes Frank,” Acarea said.
“Thank you, we’ll be waiting.”
All the councillors, now slightly subdued by the events, then got up and shook Susanna and Frank’s hands as they left.
Chapter 30
Things to Conclude.
“Well, that went fairly well considering,” Susanna remarked as they headed for one of the two waiting force-crafts.
“Was the meeting successful, sir?” The Marine sergeant asked.
“Not bad Sergeant,” Frank said, then stopped. “You’re Jimmy, aren’t you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did you like Jenny?”
“Yes, sir. But, she did turn a bit strange after we met that Cazer guy. I didn’t like him much.”
“No one did,” Susanna added as the other marines came over.
“Are we leaving sir?”
“Not just yet, Captain.”
“Err, it's Sergeant, sir.”
“No, not anymore. We need you to take Jenny’s place.”
He turned to the other marines. “Sorry lads, but Sergeant Jimmy is now a captain.”
“Jimmy Carpenter sir.”
“Ok, Captain Jimmy Carpenter?”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.”
“Acarea and Bren are coming as well, Frank.”
“See you boys in a minute.”
“Very well, sir.”
To the left of the vehicle park, was a table and benches, where Frank indicated the two Pavonisiens should meet them.
“Bit cloak and dagger Frank?” Bren commented as all four sat down around the table.
“I think they will be all right about the Crillons and Solverons, in the long run, Frank,” Acarea said comfortingly. “Now I wish I’d let you tell us about our Solveron encounter before we went in.”
“So do I, Frank,” Bren added.
“Sorry, about that,” Susanna apologized.
“Don’t worry about any of it,” Frank said.
“Now, about Jenny. I’m afraid she’s dead,” Frank sadly told them.
Susanna almost started to cry but managed to control herself.
Both Acarea and Bren were shocked.
“How? When?” Bren asked.
“Yesterday. She killed herself, she had too.”
“Killed herself. But, why Frank? And why the ‘had too’?” Acarea asked.
“Well, we were at the Crillon’s home planet in the star system of Kepler. We had finished the main conference and were then taken to one of their moons. To be shown over the Crillons spaceship manufacturing facility.
We met a scientist named Cazer there. He had been on your planet for a while, overseeing the crystal growing operation.”
“I think one of the operators mentioned a Cazer,” Ben said.
“He was definitely here,” Frank replied, then continued.
“Luckily, we recorded the conference. During the demonstration, Cazer got Jenny to put her hand on the object that was being demonstrated. Then he put his hand on top of her hand, to push the object down.
We think it was then that he injected her with something on his palm, which eventually ended in her demise. Of course, at that time, we didn’t know what he’d done.”
“Can’t we get him for that?” Acarea asked.
“No, we can’t prove it. Anyway, they’re 600 light years away, and he’s far too valuable to them.”
“We should be able to get him.”
“I agree, Bren. However, going back. When we returned to our ships, the drug messed up Jenny’s mind. As for her desires. She became sexually violent, and I mean, violent.
She had to conceive, no matter the cost.”
He paused a moment, with bad memories erupting in his mind. Then continued.
“To quieten her down, we told her she was pregnant. But she wasn’t stupid and saw through that.
Then in a rage of hate and frustration at not being able to fulfil the drug’s demands, she blasted her own head off.”
Bren and Acarea gasped.
“That’s the reason Susanna and I are upset.”
“Oh, I’m very sorry, for you both. But how does this affect us, Frank?” asked Acarea.
“Well, If Cazer used the drug on one of your girls when he was here, then the girl would probably end up with a mixed species child. Similar in looks, too, say a human.”
&nb
sp; “We can’t be compatible with them,” Acarea said in disgust.
“You could be,” Susanna told her. “Both, Andromeda and our medical people think they are compatible, as unlikely as it seems. But, although compatible, there would still be slight differences.”
“So, are you saying, he could have fathered cross- breeds?”
“Yes Acarea,” replied Frank. Slightly amused at Acarea’s description of the mixed-species children.
“Now for the bad bit.”
“You don’t think this is bad enough?” Bren asked, grunting.
“I don’t like the sound of this, Frank,” Acarea said.
“I’m sorry, but there is more. He would have selected a group of girls, say, between 18 to 25 years old, but they would have had to be very intelligent. That would have been a must for him.”
“Yes, he must be an evil man, Frank.”
“Yes Acarea, very. Anyway, he would have one girl at a time on the drug. Then, as long as he remained close to her for a while afterwards, she would be fanatical in her desire for him.
I know that sounds terrible, but it was really only a side effect of the drug that made the female react that way.
The only point to her life from then on though would be to have his child.”
“What do you want us to do Frank?” Acarea asked.
“What we don’t want to do, is to alarm people. But we need to know, if possible, who he ‘went’ with, while on your planet. And, if she or they, had children. Also, did the girls who didn’t conceive kill themselves, like Jenny?”
“It doesn’t bear thinking about,” said Acarea.
Then asked. ”Would he have taken them up to his ship?”
“I don’t think so. Cazer would have wanted to stay on the planet with her or them. If Jenny’s sexual antics are anything to go by.”
Bren looked thoughtfully at Frank for a moment.
“You seem to know a lot about the effects of this drug, Frank. Did Jenny come onto you?” he asked.
“Yes. Her desire was fixated on me, unfortunately. It was like ecstasy Bren. But terrifying at the same time.”
Susanna gave him a cold hard look. “He always over-exaggerates sex.”
Both Pavonisiens looked at each other, then smiled nervously at them both.
“We’ll start our search as soon as you’ve left,” Bren assured them.
“What did you think of Frank’s ‘ecstasy’ remark Susanna?” Acarea asked.
“If it were not for Jenny’s loss, then I might never have forgiven him,” she replied, looking down at the table with tears coming back to her eyes.
“But, Andromeda showed me a recording. Jenny was a marine, and unbelievably strong.”
Frank put his arm around her shoulders.
“We’ll leave now, and let you both get on with finding Cazer’s contacts.”
Acarea brightened, “Perhaps Jenny should be buried here.”
“Well, she didn’t have any family alive,” Susanna said. “And she did like it here. Yes, that would be really helpful.”
“Then call me when you’re ready, and we’ll do it here.”
“Thanks,” Frank agreed.
“I know where to start looking for Cazer, this evil Crillon,” Bren said.
Then interrupting Bren, Acarea said. “We came across the name Parker quite a lot in our old records.
Does that mean, your Ned Parker could be related to the original scientists who worked on the Acarea’s nuclear drive?”
Susanna thought a moment. “Could be, though Ned has never mentioned it. He would have had to have been his great-great-great and so on, grandfather.”
“I expect quite a few of the original designer’s descendants are in your Space Federation,” Bren mused.
“Probably,” Frank added. “Don’t forget, in those days, Space adventure was in the blood.”
“How is it you’ve no children Acarea?” Susanna carefully asked her.
“Well, we’re only 36, so we’ve plenty of time. In fact, Bren wants us to start, especially now that things are looking better for us at last.”
“Don’t leave it too late then Acarea.”
“We’ve been trying to trace our family tree. It’s amazing how far back it goes back,” Bren said thoughtfully.
”It sounds like you’ve got more time than you know what to do with,” Frank added, feeling they should really be thinking about leaving.
“Yes, Frank. The tree goes right back to when our ship crash-landed here, 130 years ago. It seems that the family split at that point. We can find our side, going right back. But we haven’t yet, found the other branch.”
“I’m sure you will.”
“We’ll leave you to it then,” Susanna said with a sigh.
“Oh, Frank. We found out why the old ship Acarea ended up here.”
“How?”
“The records in City Marca’s vaults are full of old, and un-accessed files,” Bren said.
“It seems that as the ship got closer to Procyon, and the images became clearer. Their astronomers decided that Procyon had nothing that was capable of supporting life. But, Delta Pavonis did. So, it was easy for them to change course.”
“Another piece of the puzzle solved,” Acarea added.
“Indeed,” Frank agreed.
They all kissed each other on the cheek and went their separate ways.
As Frank and Susanna approached their force-craft, the newly promoted Marine captain met them.
“Ok, Captain Carpenter, we’re ready to go now,” Frank instructed as he and Susanna stepped on.
The Marines each boarded their own force-crafts, and in moments, their force-fields became active. At the front, the under force-field emitters went to full strength angling both crafts upwards. Then the fusion reactor’s drives engaged and they lifted off, heading up towards the Andromeda, which was still hanging in a Geo-stable orbit above City Marca.
It was almost six o’clock when Susanna and Frank flopped onto Susanna’s bed.
After half an hour. Frank left Susanna’s cabin and went to the control room, sat down and tapped Hector’s Icon.
Hector’s image came on his screen. “Hi Frank, I see everything went smoothly. So, what can I do for you?”
“Just wanted to talk Hector. Anything of interest while we’ve been planet-side?”
“Not really, and before you ask, we haven’t been able to precisely identify Cazer’s drug, even though we’ve isolated the component structure from Jenny’s blood.”
“Keep at it, Hector. I've got a feeling that Bren and Acarea are going to find a few of his girls. Anything else?”
“Well, one thing our autopsy found. Ah, but it’s slightly delicate.”
“I know what you’re going to say Hector, and yes, I was forced to have intercourse with her.”
“Do I need to keep Susanna out of the loop?”
“No, she knows everything about it. There is no problem Hector. I’ll tell you what happened the next time we meet.”
“Come over to the Argonaut for a chat.”
“Might just do that, with Susanna if that’s all right?”
“Yes, if she doesn’t mind my knowing about it?”
“As I said, she knows all about it. Andromeda knows as well. I’m sure you’ll understand what happened Hector. Maybe we’ll pop over tomorrow sometime.”
“Fine, just tell me when. Out.”
His image vanished.
Frank got up and left the control room for Susanna’s cabin. He was pleased that Andromeda was sensitive about his ordeal, and not bothering him with mundane things.
He sent a flash to open the door.
Once inside and with the door closed he sagged onto the sofa.
“Early night?” Susanna asked, watching him.
“Yes, good idea.”
The next day, the Captain of the Titan, the small cargo ship, informed Andromeda, that it was leaving orbit and would be jumping back to Earth in an hours’ time. Other than that
, all was quiet.
By the time, Frank and Susanna had surfaced, the Titan had gone.
After breakfast, Susanna went to the Gym while Frank went to the control room. He needed to complete the recommendations he intended to make to the SpaceFed.
He knew he was late with it. He should have got a move on and sent it with Derrick. Now, even though the updated hyperlink between here and Earth was up to full speed; it would still take another week to get there.
It was almost mid-day when Susanna joined him, by which time he’d completed and sent his report.
“Good timing Sues, we’ve just received a message from Jack, along with a short movie. Now we can watch it together.”
Susanna felt homesick and really missed Alex, but she knew it would only be two to three weeks before they would be heading home.
They played the movie, watching with delight as they saw their son Alex playing with some fluffy toys.
“He’s grown a lot, Frank,” Susanna said, running the movie again.
“He certainly has.”
“I’ve missed him.”
“Me too, but it won’t be long before we go back to Earth.”
“I know Frank, but it all seems such an anti-climax now. Don’t you think?”
“Yes, I suppose so. But, let’s hope that Bren and Acarea find out something soon.”
“Cazer’s got a lot to answer for,” she bitterly said.
“Yea. Maybe one day we’ll get him.”
“Do you think Hector’s medics will have finished with Jenny’s body yet?”
“I’ll give him a call,” he replied and tapped Hector’s Icon.
“Hello, Frank. Oh, Hi Susanna. Are you coming over?”
“We could do. OK, Sues?”
“It’s okay with me Hector, we’ll be over in fifteen.”
“See you then, I’ll make sure the door is open,” and his image was gone.
“He’s really nice,” Susanna said.
“Yes, we’ve been lucky to have such good work mates. Shall we make a move?”
“Yes, better not keep him waiting.”
“He’s like us, nothing much to do.”
The Definitive SpaceFed Trilogy (SpaceFed StarShips Trilogy).: A thrilling, action-packed Sci-fi space adventure. (SpaceFed StarShips Series Book 8) Page 64
