The Ocoda Chronicles Book 1 Paladin

by Daniel OConnell

  Another four days pass. Because of the destruction of New York City, a new temporary United Nations gathers in the Arena Stage Auditorium in Washington. There the newly elected Secretary-General Wu Lei Chan of the People's Republic of China brings the assembly to order to discuss the attacks and the message that each government received just seven days ago through the global satellite system. It has been finally translated, and is played to the assembly of nations.

  The message translated says, "TO THE PATHETIC RACE THAT INHABITS THE PLANET. WE ARE YOUR MASTERS THE T-CHALLA. YOU HAVE THIRTY CYCLES TO HAVE OUR REQUIREMENTS MET, OR FACE YOUR DOOM."

  The message has demands for millions of metric tons of precious elements: uranium, titanium alloys, and various other precious metals. However, what is most troubling to everyone is their demand for half a million human slaves. They are all to be delivered in just thirty days to a preset of coordinates in the Nevada desert. With the seven days it took to decipher the message, it now leaves only 23 days left to meet the T-Challa's deadline.

  This information is kept secret, and only select information makes its way out to the public, but none is actually confirmed to the world. In any case, there is mass panic running wild throughout the world.

  Caleb Ocoda returns back home after spending the past week with his brother-in-law Val, as they searched through the ruins of New York City for any signs of his family. His body reeks of ash and soot, and he is covered from head to toe in dust and debris.

  During that week, he realized that there is no hope of ever finding them. Extremely depressed, he isolates himself in his home watching the news on the holoscreen. He plays with his military service revolver against his head and pulls back the hammer, clicking it back and forth ever so slowly. His holophone rings and rings, as he sits staring blankly at the holoscreen. He thinks to himself, a lifetime of trying to find happiness. A lifetime of serving my country, and it's all gone in a single moment. All my skill, all my abilities and I lost everything.

  Caleb sits with a bottle of pills in one hand, and a half-empty bottle of gin beside him. He stares blankly at the holoscreen as the news reports the events of the past two weeks. He scarcely notices a report of all military service personnel being recalled to duty, active and inactive members. Laughing to himself, he thinks. Well, this is one military man who won't be rushing back.

  Caleb then opens the bottle of pills and lifts them to his mouth. He tilts his head back, swallowing almost the entire bottle, spilling some on the floor. He quickly grabs his bottle of gin and washes them down. He slowly raises his weapon, and looks down at the holopicture of his family sitting on the table beside him.

  Caleb reaches his hand out to touch the image. He closes his eyes and begins to pull the trigger, thinking. I’m sorry Emily I failed. I screwed it up, and I should have been there. I won't make that mistake again. I won't be making any mistakes ever again.

  Just at that exact moment, a crackling noise comes from the holoscreen. Caleb groggily looks back at the holoscreen and starts to see a blue light materializing from it. He is extremely disoriented from the effects of heavy drinking and the pills, but strains to grasp what he is seeing as best he can. The blue light forms into the blue orb, the very same blue orb he had seen a week earlier in the skies above Boston. It is about the size of a large beach ball, about two meters in circumference. "Not this thing again. What the hell!” He curses aloud.

  Caleb, drugged and losing conscience quickly points his gun at the blue orb firing his weapon. The shot misses and goes through the holoscreen, and out a window.

  The orb effortlessly moves around his weapon's discharge and moves directly into Caleb's body. Caleb instantaneously feels unbearable pain, as he collapses to the floor. His body convulses and twists, and then he passes out.

  Forty-one hours later, Val pounds frantically on Caleb's front door. Frustrated, he looks around the house, as he yells through the door, "Come on brother answer the damn door! I know you're here, your car is here, and you don't answer your phone. Damn it all Cale, I am not leaving until you answer this damn door!" Val unexpectedly notices the shattered window, which was broken out earlier from the inside by Caleb's gun. Val immediately reacts, no longer waiting for Caleb to answer. He races to the broken window. Once there, Val sees Caleb, lying prone on the floor.

  Val reaches in through the shattered glass, unlocks the window, and enters the house. He runs to Caleb yelling, "Caleb! Wake up, brother! Wake up!"

  Val shakes Caleb violently, noticing the empty pill bottle, and an empty bottle of gin. He quickly checks for Caleb's pulse and sees that he is still breathing. Just then Caleb groans, but does not wake up. Val grabs his holophone to call for help. The line is busy. Val hangs up and tries to call his wife, as he dials he hears a loud knock on the door. Val says to himself, "Oh what the hell is this? Not now!"

  Val struggles, as he pulls Caleb up and then tosses his limp body on the chair beside him. He rushes to the door.

  Out of breath, Val opens the door, and sees a well-dressed naval officer. The officer is Commander Reginald White, a tall, dark man of American Indian descent. He looks down at a file and asks, "Are you Commander Ocoda?"

  Val, a little concerned replies, "No, I'm his brother-in-law.”

  "I am Commander White.” He says, "May I speak with him?”

  Val, hesitantly responds, "I’m sorry, but Caleb is very sick, he just fell asleep. You see, he lost his entire family in the attacks on New York City and exhausted himself trying to find them. We just returned from what's left of New York City."

  Realizing he did not want to tarnish his brother-in-law's military career, Val keeps to himself about the condition he discovered Caleb.

  Commander White asks, as he reviews his file, "You're Commander Ocoda's brother-in-law, Valentine Arao, is this correct? The one with him in the plane he landed on the Mass Pike?"

  Val a little annoyed answers, "Yes sir, that was us."

  White looking at Caleb's file asks, "I'm sorry about your sister Mr. Arao. May I ask you a few questions?"

  "Yes.” Val hastily answers, asking, "With all that's happening in the world Commander, why is this even worth discussing?"

  Commander White smiles as he looks up at Val, he then looks down at his report, saying, "In your report you filed with the F.A.A." He pauses, looks up at Val in disbelief, and asks, "You reported seeing a blue orb like light around your flight path. This was recently confirmed by others near your plane." White, coughs clearing his throat in disbelief. He shakes his head slightly and then continues, "This blue orb was seen hitting the approaching fireball. Destroying it before it could destroy the city of Boston?" White thinks to himself, A few days ago I would have thought being sent out to investigate a crazy story like this was nuts.

  "Well, Commander," Val replies, "I didn't see this blue orb, only Caleb did."

  "I see." White takes a deep breath and responds, "Well, I will need to see both of you down at our temporary office at the Otis Air Force base as soon as possible."

  Val sighs, and asks, "Can you give me a few hours to get him ready? He has been extremely sick, and he has had a lot to deal with."

  White reluctantly replies, as he passes his card to Val, "I will expect you both at Colonel Andrew Jackson's office, at fourteen hundred hours. Will that be enough time for you to get him ready?"

  Val looks at the card, and answers, "Yes, Commander, we'll be there, and thank you."

  Commander White then shakes Val's hand and leaves. Val waits at the door for the Commander to leave the driveway. He runs downstairs to find Caleb, still lying prone where he left him. He once again shakes Caleb, who reacts with just a slight groan.

  Val is so frustrated at this point grabs Caleb, and drags him to the shower in the next room. He tosses Caleb into the shower, and turns it on ice cold. Val furiously yells, "You want to die Cale! You'll have to fight me to do it."

  Within seconds, Caleb begins to wake up. He yells out, "What the hell!" He jumps out of the s
hower and hits the floor. Caleb is very groggy but looks up, seeing Val.

  He grabs his head, asking, "What's going on Val? Where's that damn blue thing?"

  Val sternly glares at Caleb and says, "Brother, that blue orb of yours has gotten us in some major crap. Some Naval officer was just here and they want us both at Otis Air Force base in two hours."

  Caleb is starting to come around further, but still feels weak. He pulls himself up to his feet and looks in the mirror, asking, "What is happening to me Val? I should be dead."

  Val closes his eyes taking in a deep breath, asking, "I saw the bottle brother, please tell me you didn't try and kill yourself?"

  Caleb looks to Val, and shakes his head answering, "I thought I did Val, I truly thought I did."

  Caleb takes a deep breath, as he slowly stands up straight, stating, "The last thing I remember was that damn blue orb coming at me, and then there was a deep sharp pain and then nothing."

  Val apprehensive asks, "When did this happen?"

  Caleb confused, answers, "It was Tuesday night, the day we got back."

  Val, surprised, replies, "That was two days ago brother."

  Caleb looks surprised, saying, "I should be dead Val." He looks at himself in the mirror again and says, "Something happened to me." What the hell is going on with me?

  A half an hour later, both men are driving down to Otis Air Force base on Cape Cod. Caleb's mind is flooded with crazed thoughts and images, images that he cannot begin to fathom. Caleb is so deep in his thoughts that he doesn't even realize that Val is talking to him for most of the trip.

  Val, now annoyed, asks, "Caleb! Have you heard anything I have said?"

  Caleb still doesn't respond. They finally approach the security checkpoint at the entrance of the base. A guard comes over to the window of the car.

  Val speaks, "We're here to see Colonel Jackson."

  Caleb surprised at hearing that name reacts. He looks at Val, and asks, "Colonel Andrew Jackson?"

  Val surprised answers, "Yes brother, you know him?"

  Caleb reluctantly replies, "Yeah, I know him. We met once indirectly a long time ago. I actually served under his father. He was a fleet Admiral and he was the toughest ass I ever met. I would have hated being his kid growing up." Caleb thinks for a minute, and asks, “I thought you said he was a naval officer? Colonel Jackson is a Marine."

  "Yes Cale, I said many things. I am amazed you heard any of it,” Val answers, continuing, "His name was Commander White, I believe."

  Caleb confused replies, "Odd, this isn't the normal operating procedure for the Navy, but then again after what just happened, what is normal anymore?"

  They drive on through the gate, and on through the base, to the Colonel's office, where Commander White greets them at their car.

  Commander White says, "Good afternoon, Commander."

  Caleb answers, "I'm not in the Navy anymore Commander you can just call me Caleb."

  White, politely replies, "Well, Commander, I guess you haven't received your orders. All active and inactive personnel have been recalled to duty."

  Caleb tilts his head down and walks into Jackson's office.

  Val walks over to Commander White, saying, "You'll have to forgive him Commander, he's been through a lot."

  White respectfully replies, "Yeah, I'm truly sorry about your loss."

  The two men follow Caleb into the Colonel's office. After a few minutes, Caleb gets up and starts looking around the Colonel's office as they patiently wait. Caleb is then suddenly fixated on the pictures of old battleships, which cover the walls. He is so overly compelled to study the pictures that he is unaware Colonel Jackson has entered the room and greets him.

  "Commander!” Jackson repeats yet again, much louder than before. This seems to draw Caleb from his trance-like state.

  Caleb, unaware of Jackson’s repeated call simply replies, "Yeah Colonel." Caleb remains focused on the pictures on the wall, thinking to himself. Not sure why these are so interesting to me, I've seen hundreds of old battleships.

  Jackson, a little annoyed, says, "If you're finished looking at those old War World two battleships Commander, I need answers to some of my questions."

  Caleb looks over to Colonel, but doesn't reply. Jackson, uncomfortable turns to Commander White and signals to him to bring in the holoviewer.

  Jackson grabs the file, stating, "Commander you reported that you saw a blue orb destroy the fireball."

  Caleb interrupts, "It was a mass driver." Caleb is stunned by what he just said, he thinks to himself. Did I just say that aloud, what the hell is wrong with me?

  Jackson looks puzzled, and asks, "The blue orb is called a…. mass driver?"

  Caleb confused, answers, "No, Colonel, the fireball was a mass driver. It came from the attack by the T-Challa. I don't know what the blue orb is called." Caleb, confused at his actions thinks to himself. I have to stop this. What the hell am I saying? This is insane. Where is this coming from? It's like there's another voice inside me.

  Jackson now concerned, sits back in his seat, and looks at his report for a few moments.

  Then Jackson, very concerned asks, "T-Challa? Commander, how do you know that word, and how do you know their assault is called a mass driver attack?"

  Caleb surprised at himself replies, "I don't know Colonel, Uhmm I… I just do." Caleb thinks to himself. What do I tell him? No matter what I tell him I will end up in some nut house, and I really don't need this crap, I have enough going on in what's left of my life.

  Caleb stands and says, "Lots of strange things have been happening to me in the past few days. I really don't know how I know this stuff Colonel, I just do."

  White then starts up the view screen, saying, "This holovideo was captured by one of the commuters on the interstate. It clearly shows your jet making its emergency landing on the pike. Do you notice that blue glow around your aircraft Commander?"

  Caleb, confused looks closely at the image. He shakes his head and answers, "I don't know what that is Commander.” What is that? Why am I hearing myself echoing in my head?

  Val surprised, replies, "I didn't see it either."

  White apprehensive states, "You know we had that jet thoroughly checked out Commander. All our experts said that engine staying attached to what was barely left of the wing was nothing short of a complete miracle. Why it didn't fall off before you landed, and how you landed so short without killing yourself and everyone on that plane is remarkable. The G-forces to stop so short should have knocked you all unconscious."

  Caleb confused, looks at Commander White, and says, "I don't know what it was."

  Jackson sits patiently, listening to Caleb and Commander White’s exchange. He finally interrupts, saying, "Commander, that blue orb is extremely important to your government.” Jackson pauses as he thinks to himself. This guy knows more than he's telling us. Funny thing is I think I know him. Jackson continues, "Commander, it shows in your file that you were an exceptional leader. You even turned down a Captain's rank, as well as a field command of your own several times throughout your career and that you retired to be with your family…" Damn, he lost his family in New York.

  Jackson apologetic says, "I'm very sorry about your family Commander." Pausing, he continues, "It also says here you held a few flight records too.” Damn, he's one hell of a pilot. How do I know him? Paladin, hmm how do I know that call sign?

  Jackson stands from his desk and says, "I see a good officer, but I feel you know something more about that blue orb Commander."

  Caleb smiles briefly. He replies, "Well, Colonel, you may not remember, but we flew together over a mission in Myanmar. About ten years ago as I recall, you were pretty reckless back then, but a damn good pilot." Caleb hesitates, "I have respect for you as a fellow pilot. Unfortunately, I don't know any more about this blue orb, or how I know about the T-Challa. Look, Colonel, if I did I would tell you."

  Jackson, discouraged, walks over to Caleb. He looks him in the eye and says, "I've
flown a lot of missions Commander. I really don’t remember all of them, but I'll take you at your word about what you do and don't know. Nevertheless, I am ordering you to get checked out by the base physician before you leave. Then I want you to report back here to my office tomorrow at, O seven hundred hours. Is that clear, Commander?"

  Caleb looks the Colonel right back in his eyes and replies, "Crystal clear, sir." Caleb thinks to himself. What a dick head.

  Jackson pauses, as he thinks to himself. That was him, in Myanmar. My god, I owe this man my life.

  A Marine guard enters the office as Commander White orders him to bring Caleb and Val to the base hospital.

  The three men walk across the base to the hospital. Once there Caleb sits with Val, and waits in a secure area.

  Val gets on his holophone, and talks to his wife Maricel. He begins explaining the situation to her. Caleb then goes off into a dreamlike state while waiting. Caleb's mind begins to focus on his wife Emily. The images of her are very vivid and lifelike, as he watches the image it seems as if he's not actually in control of his mind. He feels the images and can almost manipulate them in his head, placing himself there with his wife. It feels as if he is in control of his own world, but then he is suddenly pulled out as he is interrupted by a nurse.

  She says, "Commander Ocoda, please follow me."

  Caleb feels slightly confused, and follows the nurse to an examination room where he sits, Caleb, thinking to himself. What the hell was I just doing? This is too unreal, I don't understand what's going on with me, but it's getting worse. The nurse draws blood, takes his blood pressure and temperature. She looks at her gauges in disbelief. She does these tests again, and again. Each time she looks more perplexed.

  Caleb, noticing this thinks to himself. I have a very bad feeling about this.

  Then she excuses herself. A brief moment later, the Marine guard returns at the door of the examination room. Caleb then notices Val being escorted into the room across the hall from him. Ok, what's going on? I know this isn't good. Please tell me Val isn't affected like me.