by Saxon Andrew
“I will.” The Royal rushed back to his ship and contacted the Royal Family. A day later, twenty thousand scouts blasted away from the galaxy and were allowed to pass through the other civilization’s territory. All of them were scared of what might be coming their way.
• • •
The twenty thousand scouts roared out from the galaxy and a scout would stop every fifty light years and hold position. This process continued until the last scout stopped just inside communicator range of the last one in line. It was a special scout and it carried a special subspace scope. The scout activated its stardrive and exited normal space where it turned the subspace scope toward the distant galaxy.
“What do you see?’
“Shut-up!” The scientist focused the scope and didn’t see anything initially. Then an image appeared and he fell back from the eyepiece. The Scout Leader looked up at his monitor and saw a massive blue wave moving away from the distant galaxy. He read the speed indicator and slammed the stardrive off. The scout ship popped back into normal space and he lifted his communicator, “Massive subspace disturbance is moving toward our galaxy at incredible speed. They’ll arrive in less than four weeks. I repeat, they will arrive in less than four weeks!”
The scouts passed the communication down the line along with the recording of the oncoming blue wave. They all then turned and fled back toward their galaxy once the communication was sent. Most would be destroyed by the leading edge of the Builder Formations before they could make it back to safety, safety being a relative term. Nowhere was safe now that the Builders were coming.
Chapter Nine
Essay stared at the communication sent back by the Carand Scouts and tilted his head, “I wonder what took so long for the Builders to start moving?”
Erica stared at her monitor and shrugged as she said, “You know how it is. Picking up and leaving always take longer than you plan. There’s so much to do and things keep popping us when you least expect it.” Essay and Kamela looked at her and Erica slowly looked up, “Hey, have either of you ever had to pack up and move?” Essay looked at Kamela and they both shook their heads. “Well, I had to move more than eight times before I was nine years old. Trust me, they had issues getting away.”
Kamela smiled, “They did intend to destroy all of their installations in the galaxy before they left.”
“I suspect they discovered there were more of them than they thought. Just when you think you have everything nailed down and you’re walking out the door you discover the cat just had kittens and they’re under the house where you can’t get to them!”
Essay lowered his eyes, “I think you have some issues around moving.”
“You think. I never had the same group of friends for a single year. I entered the Academy when I was nine and that was the longest time I remained in one place.”
“Why did you move so much, Erica,” Poul asked?
Erica sighed, “My parents went from colony to colony getting advanced weapon facilities set up. They’d finish one and go to the next one.”
“I’m sorry.”
Erica looked at Essay, “I guess I turned out ok. I just didn’t have much of a childhood.”
“Did you graduate from the Academy in three years?”
“Actually, I passed my final exams in two but hung around a third and fourth year to assist the professors.”
“How is that possible?”
“I was stupid. I took seven courses each semester instead of the normal three.”
“And you passed all of them,” Essay asked shaking his head?
“Actually, I aced all of them. The Commandant allowed me to take the last course required for graduation in my senior year. He didn’t want me to miss the opportunity to be Cadet Commodore.”
Essay shook his head, “Must be nice to be that smart.”
“What are you talking about, you were also Cadet Commodore.”
Essay jerked his head around, “How did you know that?”
Erica froze and Kamela quickly interrupted, “Did you not check to see who was Commodore after you graduated?”
Essay glanced at Kamela and nodded, “Yes, I did. I was naturally curious about it.” He turned back to Erica, “I suppose you did the same thing.”
“I did.” Erica quickly thought, “Thank you!” Kamela gave her a wink..
Essay tilted his head back and began reminiscing, “I really enjoyed my years at the Academy. When did you graduate, Erica?” Erica was silent and Essay said, “Did you hear me?”
“Sorry, my mind was somewhere else. I graduated in ’03.”
Essay’s eyes narrowed, “I graduated in ’05. I don’t remember you. The Cadet Commodore in ’03 was E.O. Bartoli.”
Erica held her hands up to each side and shrugged, “My mother’s maiden name was Bartoli.”
Essay stared at her and started nodding, “Erica Olivia Bartoli. You were there when I was in the Academy. I thought you looked familiar but underclassmen never associated with upperclassmen. You look different.”
“Well, I’m six years older.”
Essay lowered his gaze and thought back to his Academy years and tried to remember something that just wouldn’t come. He looked at Erica and smiled, “I still was nowhere near as smart as you were.”
“We have a development.” They all jerked their heads toward the wall speaker.
Essay looked up, “What is it, Poul?”
“It appears the civilizations in the Carand Galaxy are teaming up to meet the Builders.”
Essay looked at Kamela, “Is this why you delayed going back?”
“Someone else would have had to come and confirm it. This should delay the Builders some.”
“Not much. These civilizations are no match for the Builders,” he added.
“A hornet is no match for a human but enough of them can delay the human from doing what it planned.”
Essay smiled, “You make a good point. There are quite a few warships in that galaxy.” He looked up, “Poul, take us through the black hole.”
“Lining up. Event Horizon in twenty seconds.”
Erica breathed a sigh of relief. She buckled in and watched the black hole moving at tremendous speed toward them in the main monitor.
The Prophets Eyes came out of the black hole in the center of the Milky Way and accelerated away from the galaxy center toward the distant Coma Cluster. Kamela looked at Essay and Erica, “I do hope that both of you are aware that I am not going to leave this ship.”
“What?”
“I mean it, Essay.”
“I’m not sure I can prevent that from happening.”
“You don’t have to, Poul will do it.”
“If you don’t mind, please explain to me why I would be involved in this,” Poul inquired.
“Poul, who is your owner?”
“Welllll…Originally, I was given to the Prophet by the Bosrean.”
“And I am his direct descendent. Does that not give me ownership?”
“Uhhh…the Prophet originally sent me back to Earth for the original Essay Connor to use against the Traugh if he thought it was necessary.”
“But did he give Essay ownership?”
“Well, not really. He loaned me to him.”
“So who has ownership?”
“Kamela, I’m not an attorney. I’m just a simple computer.”
“Poul, you are never will be just a simple computer and you don’t have to be an attorney to understand that property is passed down through a family’s descendants. Look in your database and tell me I’m wrong.”
There was a long moment of silence and Erica said, “Poul?”
“I hate to admit it but she’s right. I’ve never been owned by anyone on Earth or the colonies. I was rebuilt by the Bosrean for the Prophet. Common Law says that without a direct descendant, I would belong to the Bosrean. However, Kamela is a direct descendant of the Prophet.”
Essay looked up, “Are you sure about that?”
�
�I scanned her when she came onboard and her DNA is directly from the Prophet. She is what she says she is.”
“What does that mean, exactly?”
“Essay, you are serving at her will. I am required to recognize her as the rightful owner.”
“But we rebuilt you and modified all your systems,” Essay argued.
Kamela smiled as Poul said, “Look at the laws used on Earth. Just because you build a house on someone else’s land doesn’t give you ownership of that land. I am required to carry out her demands.”
Essay shook his head and sighed, “Then we will exit the ship as soon as we arrive at the fleet.”
Kamela shook her head, “I’m sorry, but I can’t allow you to do that.”
Essay’s eyebrows came together, “What? Do you mean you can’t or you won’t?”
“I’m not going to be heavy handed about this, Essay, but would you admit that you are currently on another planet’s sovereign territory?”
“If our leaders agree with Poul’s rationale, then yes, I would agree to that.”
“And who controls the requirements to exit a sovereign territory?” Essay stared at her in silence and Kamela smiled sweetly, “You have not met the criteria to exit.”
Essay turned to Erica, “Are you still glad you wanted us to take her?”
Erica looked at Kamela, “Why do you refuse to leave?”
“If I do, who controls my freedom to go where I choose?” Essay and Erica looked at her and Kamela shrugged, “I certainly won’t and I’m not going to give that up.”
Essay sighed and looked up, “Poul, take us to the Admiralty building.”
“Kamela?”
“You will follow his orders unless I say otherwise.” The Prophet’s Eyes flew through the universe at its top speed and Essay wondered what kind of mess he had gotten himself and Erica into.
• • •
“Admiral Eagle.”
“Yes, Jock.”
“The Prophet’s Eyes just screamed past us headed toward the Ghost Colony.”
“Notify Admiral Connor.”
“Yes, Sir.”
• • •
Steve looked at the monitor and read Gabe’s message. He leaned forward and pressed a button on his panel, “Captain Connor, is there a reason you’ve not communicated since your arrival back into our universe?”
“Uhhh…Sir, we appear to have an issue.”
“What issue is that?”
“The Kindred Female has taken possession of the Prophet’s Eyes claiming it as her property. She refuses to step off the ship and is also holding us on board.”
“She won’t come and meet with me?”
There was a pause and he heard his son say, “No, Sir, she won’t.”
Steve thought furiously and said, “Then may I come and meet with her?”
“She says that would be acceptable.”
“How would she like to handle me coming on board?”
“She’s agreed to land on top of the Admiralty Building and will allow you to come on board there.”
“I’ll see you when you get here. Are you and Olivia alright?”
“Actually, she prefers to be called Erica and we’re both fine.”
“Let me know when you arrive.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Kamela watched the planet growing in size and looked up, “Poul, are you ok?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Why?”
“I feel like I’m betraying close friends.”
“I understand that and hope we can work this out and remove that burden from you.”
• • •
Amy appeared on Gabe’s monitor, “You and I have been ordered back to the Admiralty.”
“WHY?”
“It appears we’re to attend a meeting with the new Kindred Female. Admiral Connor has ordered us to be there in record breaking time.”
“We’ll both take a shuttle and save the time to pick the other up. I’ll see you there.” Gabe looked at Jock and jumped to his feet. He shouted, “Commodore, You have the ship!” as he sprinted off the huge bridge. Jock saw him disappear through the bulkhead and wondered what was going on.
• • •
Steve walked up the ramp to the Prophet’s Eyes and turned up the corridor. He arrived on the bridge and looked up, “Hello, Poul. How’s it going?”
“Don’t ask.”
“It can’t be that bad.”
“Watch and learn, Admiral.”
Essay stood up and pointed to the Command Chair, “Sit here, Sir.”
Essay nodded and walked over to the tall Kindred Female sitting in a chair smiling at him, “You have your Grandfather’s eyes.”
“Thank you, Admiral Connor. My name is Kamela; I also have his chin.”
Steve nodded, “I can see that now that you mention it. What’s going on?”
“Why don’t you sit down first?” Steve nodded and went to the command chair; he noticed that the entire console was dark with all of the controls shutdown. This may be more serious than he thought. He turned the chair and looked at the Kindred. She said, “Admiral, I believe you’ve invited two others to attend this meeting.” Steve smiled. Oh the benefits a telepath had over those that were blind. “You’re not blind, Admiral. I’d be thankful to be released from hearing every thought around me.”
“They should be here in a few moments.”
“Why don’t we wait until they arrive?”
“Erica’s parents are also screaming about what’s happening.”
“They may come as well.”
Erica looked up and rolled her eyes. Steve smiled, “Captain, they love you very much.”
Erica slowly shook her head with her lips pursed, “And they’ll know everything that I should do and not stop telling me.” Erica paused and then said, “Sir.”
Steve looked at Kamela, “I notice you have the Prophet’s name.”
“My parents said I looked so much like him when I was born. It was a burden as a child but I’ve learned to like it as I grew older.”
“I guess you never had to opportunity to know him?”
“My parents still has his thoughts in their minds and shared them with me at a very early age. I could see that Humans had a very special place in his heart.”
Steve’s wrist unit vibrated, he pressed a button and saw Carol, “Sir, Admirals Eagle and Hart have arrived along with Ali and Gabby.”
“Send them out to the ship and have them bring portable chairs with them.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“You look very much like the original Essay Connor.”
Steve smiled, “Not as much as my son.”
Kamela looked at Essay, “He does have the same red hair.” Essay rolled his eyes. Steve laughed as the four other attendees walked on the bridge. Gabby started yelling and Steve said, “GABBY, YOU AND ALI ARE HERE STRICTLY AS OBSERVERS AND IF YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH AGAIN YOU WILL BE ORDERED TO LEAVE!! NOD IF YOU UNDERSTAND!!”
Gabby’s mouth shut and Ali pushed her down into a chair. She opened her mouth and Ali put his index finger over it and shook his head. Gabby crossed her arms and stared at Steve.
Steve looked at Gabe and Amy and saw they were confused about what was going on but knew to be quiet. Steve looked at Kamela, “Let me summarize what I know. You have taken ownership of the Prophet’s Eyes and you are refusing to leave it to meet with me.” Kamela nodded. “You are also refusing to allow two of my officers to leave the ship.”
This time Ali had to put his hand over Gabby’s mouth and press down with some force. Steve looked at them for a moment and then Gabby settled down, after a moment, Ali removed his hand. Steve turned back to Kamela and said, “You have to admit that these behaviors do not appear to be something a friend of humanity would do.”
Kamela smiled, “Admiral, what would you say if I were sitting in your conference room and told you that I was taking the Eyes and going out into the middle of the battle that will be taking place in the Caran
d Galaxy.” Steve stared at her and Kamela said, “I think the others should hear what I just heard in your mind.”
Steve looked around the room and said, “I would tell you that you were not going to do any such thing with my son on board this ship.”
Essay looked at his Father, “Why would you not allow it?”
“It would be entirely too dangerous, Essay.”
“Would you go with her if she asked you to go?”
“That’s different.”
Kamela smiled, “Oh, I don’t know if I would have said that, Admiral.”
Steve looked at her and then looked at Essay, whose face was turning as red as his hair, “Oh, so you’re the only one that can put their life in danger. No one else is allowed to do what must be done and especially not a son who is woefully unqualified to do what you can.”
“That’s not what I mean. I have more experience.”
Essay’s face lowered and he looked at his father through his eyebrows, “And did you get that experience by not being allowed to take risks. Would you allow any other officer to go who isn’t your son!?”
Steve saw and heard his son’s anger and then turned to Kamela, “You’re right. I stuck my foot in it.”
Gabby stared so hard at Erica that Ali was surprised she didn’t have holes bored into her back but Erica refused to look at them.
Kamela’s smile disappeared and she looked around the room. “Since I was five years old, I’ve sensed that I was being called to do something. I didn’t know what it was but over the years the vision began to become clearer. I finally realized that I had a destiny to accomplish and that I would be leaving my planet on a human starship with two humans.” Kamela looked at Essay and Erica, “I saw them in my vision. I knew they were coming and I left my parents in disarray to walk to the Traugh Ruins. I arrive a minute after Poul landed with Essay and Erica.”
“Her name is Olivia!”
Steve jerked his head around as Ali pulled Gabby back in her chair and put his hand over her mouth, Ali said, “Sorry, Sir.”
Erica turned and looked at her parents, “I’ve chosen to be called Erica, Mom.”
“WHY?”
“Because my father has always encouraged me to go out and find my dreams and live my life to the fullest. You’ve tried to control everything I did down to every minute detail. I choose to honor my father by being called Erica.” Gabby looked at Ali and saw the moisture in his eyes. She looked at Erica and saw determination. She sat back in her chair and lowered her eyes.
