by C. G. Mosley
She sighed. “Yes sir.”
Hightower smirked. “And I’m sure your little stunt scared the hell out of Steiger.”
Roger and Colonel Madigan suddenly found that they were smiling as well.
“With all that in mind, all I’m going to say to you is that next time you’re given an objective, you stick to that objective and more importantly, you stick with your squad. Is that understood?”
For a moment, Roger thought that Banshee was going to argue the matter further.
Let it go, Voight, he thought to himself.
Finally, she said, “Understood sir.”
“Very well,” the Captain said. “You’re dismissed.”
Once she was gone from the room, Roger said, “Technically, Christian Smith left his squad too sir.”
Hightower huffed and shook his head. “Not the same thing, Stellick. Sabre was put into a precarious position and made a decision to save the life of another squad leader.”
“True, but another life was lost in the process,” Roger countered.
Colonel Madigan looked over at him, frustrated. “It was a horrible thing that happened, Stellick,” he said. “Playing the blame game isn’t doing anyone any good. Are you going to be able to mediate the conflict between Howler and Sabre or do I need to?”
Roger felt his jaw tighten but resisted the urge to say what he was thinking. “I can handle it, Colonel,” he muttered.
Madigan nodded and let out an exasperated breath before looking back to Hightower. “So, unless there is some new Kaloian technology the ship has been outfitted with that you haven’t told me about, I assume any chance of getting a message back home in a reasonable time is out of the question?”
Hightower rubbed at the back of his neck and suddenly all three men felt a subtle lurch under their chairs as the SC Titan came out of lightspeed. “It would take years to get a message back home,” he said begrudgingly. “Our focus right now needs to be on maintaining a decent level of morale with the crew while we try and find another gate.”
“What do you mean by that?” the Colonel asked curiously.
“I mean we relax some rules,” the Captain replied. “Little things…like allowing more time in the recreational areas of the ship. Forget the rules regarding wearing the uniform outside the cabins while off-duty on the third and fourth decks. Anything we can do to make these people more comfortable and relaxed will be paramount to our long-term survival.”
“Alright,” Madigan said while he nodded. “Agreed. So, what do we do when…if we find another gate? We don’t know exactly how to operate it.”
“Yes, I know it’s a concern,” Captain Hightower said as he leaned back in his chair. “Personally, I liked Merissa Voight’s idea.”
Roger’s eyes widened. “Captain, are you saying you’d be open to kidnapping one of the Kaloians?”
Hightower screwed his face up and shook his head. “Do you have a better idea, commander?”
Roger took a deep breath through his nose as he too leaned back in his chair. “No sir, I do not,” he admitted.
“So how would we go about getting a Kaloian?” Madigan asked, skepticism in his tone.
“The only thing I know to do at this point in time would be to return to where we last saw them, but this time we’ll be more prepared,” Hightower answered.
“I doubt they’d still be there, but it’s a start,” Roger said. “However, before we make plans to head back, I would request that we wait until I get a full report from Tim Reed on the status of our Comets.”
“Very well,” the Captain replied with a nod. “I want a full report on my desk in eight hours. That also gives the crew—and us—time to rest and decompress.”
“I’ll make sure you have the report, sir,” Roger said assuredly.
“Let’s meet back here in at least eight hours,” Hightower said, and he paused to look at the colonel. “Merrill, you and I will obviously need to take shifts on the bridge. I’ll take the first one, so you go and get some rest. You too Roger…that’s an order.”
Madigan and Roger nodded and stood from their chairs. As soon as they did the door to the conference room burst open. It was Tobias “Shephard” Bancroft, Charlie squad leader.
“Sirs, I’m very sorry to interrupt, but you’re needed on the bridge at once,” he stated, very quickly. “Another ship just appeared on our tail, and it’s hailing us.”
Chapter 19
“Stop blaming yourself,” Lauren said. She sat down beside Sabre and put an arm around him, squeezing slightly.
Sabre was seated on the bed in his cabin leaning forward with his face resting in the palms of his hands. He was glad Lauren was there, although he couldn’t figure out why. She’d clearly been angry with him the last time he’d spoken with her about her brother, Charlie.
“It is not your fault,” she added, as he continued to sit in silence.
“I know,” he finally answered. He then pulled his hands away from his face and sat up straight, looking over at her. Her blue eyes were bright and seemingly the brightest thing in the room. As usual her hair was pulled into a pony tail. She was a natural beauty—no makeup necessary.
“If you know, then why are you beating yourself up about this?” she asked.
Sabre sighed. “I mean…logically, I know it’s not my fault. But there is still a pang of guilt in my gut I can’t seem to shake…I keep running all the what if scenarios through my head.”
“You said yourself that the captain supported your decision…is that not enough?”
He smiled weakly. “No, it’s not,” he answered. “I’ve got another squad leader that absolutely believes it’s my fault, and who knows how many pilots that feel the same way.”
Lauren frowned and turned away from him but kept her arm still around his shoulders. “It’s not your fault, Christian,” she said sternly. “You did what you thought was right and it saved Howler’s life.”
Sabre smiled and looked down. “Thanks,” he said. “Thank you for being here.”
“As soon as I heard what happened, I knew I needed to come see you,” she said.
“Yeah, but last time I saw you, you were pissed at me,” Sabre replied.
“It doesn’t matter now,” Lauren said. “I think right now we’ve got bigger issues than you and Charlie not getting along. What can you tell me? Is there a plan to get back home?”
Sabre continued to stare at the floor. “They’re not telling me much…I’m sure I don’t know much more than you already do,” he said. “But I can tell you that right now, there is no plan. They’re working on that right now.”
Lauren raised her chin slightly and said, “Oh…okay.”
Sabre could see the disappointment and fear in her expression. He gently removed her arm from his shoulders and then put his own arm around her. “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “The captain will figure this out and we will all get home…you’ll see.”
She sighed and then fell over onto the bed. “I hope you’re right,” she said.
Sabre dropped beside her and gently caressed her face. “I’m always right,” he said.
Lauren rolled her eyes. “So, what do we do until this is all figured out?” she asked.
Sabre leaned close and kissed her on the lips. “I can think of a few things to pass the time,” he whispered.
Lauren kissed him back and pulled a blanket over the both of them.
***
Jado Baylor appeared both honored and scared all at once. It wasn’t every day that the Potentate Romulus Shade requested to see an ordinary Galactic Navy crewman. That was the part that scared him.
“I don’t know how I did it, Captain,” Jado said. “I told you…it just happened.”
Malcolm smiled. “I remember what you said,” he replied, “and I believe you. I’m sure the potentate will believe you also. However, you must understand that for you to be able to do it without the aid of the elixir—well, it raises questions.”
“Yes sir, I suppose
it does,” Jado replied meekly. “I just don’t know what else I can tell the potentate that you haven’t already said.”
“Me either,” Malcolm said. “But he still requests to see you all the same. It’s a rare opportunity and you should embrace it.”
Jado fidgeted in his chair. They were sitting on a bench along a busy street in downtown Clona, watching as the hover cars sped back and forth mere feet off the ground. It was a beautiful day and the rays from the setting sun, Vega, bathed them in warmth.
“Do I have reason to be afraid?” Jado asked.
Malcolm shook his head. “No, I do not believe so. Just meet with him and answer his questions honestly.”
“Alright,” Jado replied, and he stood. “I trust you Captain. I think I’m ready to go see the potentate now.”
Malcolm looked up at him and smiled. “Very well,” he replied, standing.
Upon his return to the palace, Malcolm was again met by Chief of Security, Hugo Horne. When Hugo noticed him, the mammoth man shook his head and smiled, and the corners of his bushy mustache moved upwards as he did.
“I sure hope you were telling the truth,” he said with his deep baritone voice.
“Please take us to see Potentate Shade at once,” Malcolm said sternly. He still outranked Hugo Horne and he did not want the big man to forget it.
Hugo snorted, and his mustache bristled. “Follow me,” he snapped.
Jado Baylor looked to his captain for some sort of reassurance, but got none. Captain Steiger kept his eyes directed ahead of him and seemed to be deep in thought. When Hugo Horne approached the metallic doors that led into the throne room, they hissed and slid open. Jado had never even seen a picture of the throne room, but it was exactly what he imagined. The ceilings were massive and the massive tapestries that hung from them were as wide as the street he and Malcolm had just been watching.
“Come forward, Captain Steiger,” a gravelly voice called out from the opposite end of the room.
Jado then noticed a massive throne on which a very tall man sat. It was no doubt the potentate.
“Thank you for returning promptly, Captain,” Shade hissed as he craned his neck to get a better look at Jado Baylor.
Malcolm knelt to one knee and nodded as he did so. “I live to serve you, sir,” he said.
Jado quickly dropped to his own knee when he noticed his captain do so and he instinctively dropped his head as well. He wasn’t sure why, but suddenly he became fearful of even looking at the potentate.
“And thank you Jado Baylor,” Shade said very politely. “Rise to your feet, young man. It should probably be me kneeling to you.”
Jado quickly rose to his feet and looked at the potentate, confused. “I live to serve you, sir,” he said. He realized he’d just repeated exactly what Malcolm had said, but truthfully could not think of anything better.
Potentate Shade laughed. “Enough of that,” he said as he ran a long-fingered hand over his white hair. “Did you not hear what I just said? I should be kneeling before you.”
Jado looked to his captain for some sort of guidance, but again there was no response. Malcolm remained on his knee and kept his gaze forward.
“I don’t understand,” Jado said, confused.
Shade clacked his teeth. “I understand that you have the ability,” he hissed.
Jado shook his head. “No sir, I don’t know what happened—I mean, it just happened,” he stammered.
“What just happened?” Shade asked, his gray eyes narrowing.
Jado cleared his throat. “Umm…the incident I believe you’re referring to sir…I moved one of the Earthlings without touching him. I do not know how.”
The potentate gathered his robes tight around him and stood from the throne. He then walked down the steps and placed a hand on the younger man’s shoulder.
“Have you taken the elixir?” Shade asked, staring intently into Jado’s eyes.
“No, your excellency, I have not,” he replied.
“Then how is it possible?”
Jado looked over at Malcolm again looking for some sort of guidance. Once again, he was disappointed. “I don’t know, your excellency,” he muttered nervously. “It just happened. The Earthling man was trying to intimidate a friend of mine. It angered me.”
Romulus Shade’s eyes widened at the revelation. “So, an emotion of anger seemed to spark it?” he asked anxiously.
Jado nodded slowly.
The potentate momentarily moved away from Jado and approached a basket of fruit that was seated on a table against a nearby wall. He placed his long fingers around a large melon and carried it back to the steps directly in front of Jado. After carefully placing it on the highest step, he turned back to face the young man.
“I want you to attempt to move this melon,” he said very matter-of-factly.
Jado looked to the melon and then back to the potentate. He then laughed nervously.
“Is this amusing to you, boy?” Shade asked coldly.
Jado immediately closed his mouth and returned his gaze to the melon. “Sir, I told you. I don’t know how.”
“Did you eat any Earthling food?” the potentate asked suddenly.
“Y-yes,” Jado replied.
“Did you eat anything that came from Earth’s oceans?” he asked.
Jado stared at him with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. “I don’t know, sir.”
Potentate Shade snapped his head toward Malcolm, still kneeling on the floor.
“Did he?” he asked.
“It is possible,” Malcolm replied. “I did not think it was important to question them on the origins of their food your excellency, but to my knowledge he did not consume any of the substance you’re inquiring about.”
The potentate again turned his attention to Jado. “Young man, I need you to imagine something in your life that has made you angry. I need you to find something that would stoke similar emotions you experienced that day you attacked the Earthling. Find it and use it to move this melon,” he commanded.
Jado looked at him with an expression of helplessness but it had become quite obvious that arguing or trying to explain the matter further was a useless endeavor. Reluctantly, he turned his eyes toward the melon and began to concentrate as hard as he could. He used every fiber in his being to concentrate on something that made him angry in his past. Immediately, his mind’s eye returned him to a terrible period in his grade school years in which he was bullied relentlessly by his teacher’s son. His teacher was very much aware of what was happening, but since the boy was her son, she refused to intervene. The end result was Jado receiving numerous bruises and a couple of black eyes. He’d told every adult that he trusted what was going on, but instead of one of them intervening, he was often instructed to either fight back, or avoid the boy altogether. The more he replayed the memories through his mind, the madder he became. He kept his gaze firmly on the melon but there was no movement.
“Are you thinking of something that angered you?” Shade asked impatiently.
“I am,” Jado said, closing his eyes. “I’m trying very hard your excellency, but it’s not working.”
“Keep trying,” the potentate hissed.
Jado squeezed his eyes tighter and again replayed humiliating and frightening images from his childhood. No matter how hard he tried, the melon did not move.
“Enough,” Shade barked finally. “He then turned to Chief Hugo Horne. “Give me your axe.”
Without hesitation, the chief guard handed it over. The potentate looked at the blade for a long moment and then looked down at Captain Steiger. He was still on his knee, but his eyes were closed. He seemed to be concentrating and doing his best to remain quiet.
“Are you certain that you can’t do it?” Shade said as he glared at Jado, his eyes just above the blade.
Jado felt his pulse quicken and he swallowed involuntarily. “Yes, your excellency,” he answered quickly. “I’m very sorry…I tried very hard.”
The potent
ate pulled the blade away from his face and let it drop down beside him. “Relax, young man,” he urged. “It’s not your fault.”
Jado felt slightly better when he noticed Shade’s polite tone, but still the axe remained in his grasp. “Thank you, sir,” he said, sounding somewhat hopeful that the potentate was finally believing him.
“You just need the proper spark to awaken the appropriate emotion,” Shade said. At that moment, he quickly lifted the axe and then thrust it downward. The blade chopped straight through the back of Captain Steiger’s outstretched legs, immediately severing both just below the knees.
Malcolm howled. He was clearly in excruciating pain. The captain fell on his side and reached for what remained of his legs. Instinctively, he placed a hand over the bloody stumps, but it continued to pump red liquid all over the tiled floor.
“Why did you do that?” Jado shouted, much more out of fear than rage.
“Move the melon!” Potentate Shade screamed.
Jado turned his eyes to the melon, concentrated, and much to his surprise the melon shot through the air as fast as a rocket. Hugo Horne almost fell backward as he watched it fly through the air. The melon didn’t stop until it reached the ceiling where it then burst. Pieces of blue, wet fruit rained down over them, most of which ended up on the potentate. However, Shade did not care. He immediately turned to Hugo Horne.
“Take Captain Malcolm Steiger to the infirmary,” he commanded as he made his way back to his throne. As he sat, he added, “And have your men escort Jado Baylor to a holding cell.”
“What?” Jado said. “I haven’t done anything your excellency!”
“You’re not being punished, boy,” Shade spat. “But I must have my personal physician examine you. Don’t you understand? You are the key. The key to opening the path that will lead us to the galactic domination all Kaloians desire. If we can find out how you are able to harness your ability without the aid of the elixir…well, nothing will be able to stop us!”
Chapter 20
“Stellick, which squads came out of the battle in the best shape?” Captain Hightower asked as he, Madigan, and Roger marched toward the bridge.
