Caleb says aloud, "Paladin, contact the President."
Almost instantly, through the ship's holocom system on the Bridge, a woman’s voice is heard, "Hello! … Who is this? How did you get this number?"
The voice belongs to, the United States President, Angela Baker.
Caleb speaks, "Morning Madam President. This is Caleb Ocoda. I believe you may have heard of me?"
There is silence for a few moments, and then President Baker replies, "Yes Commander, I know who you are. What do you want?"
Paladin telepathically alerts Caleb, "She is having the communication traced. Should I block it?"
Caleb smiling replies, "No. Let her locate us." Caleb answers the President, "Madam President, I know you think I’m the enemy here, but I’m here to tell you that I’m not a threat. Not to you or anyone on this planet." Yeah, she’s going to believe me. Caleb sarcastically thinks to himself. He continues, "I’m here to help. If you will please allow me a moment to explain, at least before you scramble all your forces to locate me, I think you may find my offer very acceptable." Oh, what the hell am I trying to do here? She won’t believe me.
Paladin, concerned asks, "Caleb, do you want me to terminate the communication?"
Caleb surprised, responds, "No, Paladin, I was just thinking to myself. Sorry, it’s going to take a while for me to get used to us sharing our thoughts."
Baker, extremely suspicious, asks, Well, Commander, what do you propose, and remember as far as everyone in my staff room considers you’re the one responsible for the attack on this planet."
Caleb shakes his head, replying, "Paladin would please show our coordinates to the President." A holoimage suddenly appears in the center of the President's conference room. It shows the exact location of Paladin. Guards and Secret service agents circle the President. As a few military officers investigate the holoimage, which just appeared in front of them.
After a few moments, the President responds, "Ok, Commander, we have your coordinates, you’re directly above Otis."
Caleb replies, "Yes Madam President, but I won’t be staying here for long." Caleb then telepathically orders Paladin, "Paladin, let’s see how fast we are, head for Camp David."
Caleb continues, stating, "Madam President, they are thousands of other races in this galaxy, not just the T-Challa. The race, which created Paladin and changed me into what I am are called the X’ena. They just want to help.” Caleb pauses, asking, "Can you really afford not to listen?"
President Baker asks, "Paladin? That’s twice you have mentioned that name. What is Paladin?"
Caleb, feeling more confident, replies, "It’s the new name of the USS Massachusetts, which I am in, and which is currently heading towards you Madam President. I’ll be there at Camp David shortly; I’m presently ten thousand feet, and descending. If you would like, I will allow you and a security team onboard."
Baker shocked, shouts, "Caleb! If you think you can bring this ship into restricted airspace, I can’t guarantee that it won’t be shot at!"
Caleb smiles to himself, responding, "Madam President, there is nothing on Earth that can see me, let alone hurt me. Please, try to trust me a little here. I’m genuine in my commitment to help.” My god, how crazy is this. I’m bringing in an alien ship to the doorstep of the President of the United States. I am willing to allow myself to be captured, and they still think I’m the enemy.
Staff members call out on their holophones as they search the skies above yet nothing is visible, not even on radar. Suddenly, just outside the bunker at Camp David, the wind begins to blow wildly as a deafening roar echoes through the area. Secret service personnel are blown around, and still nothing can be seen. Then just as quickly, the winds die down and the roar stops.
Caleb then announces over the holocom, "I’m here Madam President. I’m in the clearing about eight hundred yards from your location. If you want, I will allow your security detail to search the ship. I’m unarmed, and alone." This is completely nuts. I’m so going to get shot.
Secret service and Marines approach the clearing, searching, when unexpectedly a bright light appears from above out of nowhere. It is about fifty feet straight up in the air.
A subtle voice speaks thru the ship's com system; it is Paladin, "Although you're unable to see it, there is a gangway, which leads up to the ship. Please follow the light slowly, to prevent unnecessary injury."
The Marines charge up the ramp, weapons drawn. They’re followed closely by multiple Secret service agents. The soldiers are shocked, as they see they’re inside a massive ship. It is unlike anything ever seen on Earth before.
The Marines and Secret service, move out through the ship quickly. Within minutes, dozens of armed men are running through the entire ship. Finally, they reach the Bridge where Caleb is sitting in the command chair. He is still wearing his hospital johnny. They circle him completely, all weapons focused on him.
Caleb shakes his head in complete disbelief, saying, "Really! I’m sitting here in a hospital johnny. If I stand up, I’m sure you’ll get the picture that I’m unarmed. Will you please let the President know she is safe to enter?” This is getting ridiculous. What the hell am I thinking?
Paladin asks, “Caleb, do you want me to disarm them? I can increase gravity on the ship, making them immobile. They would be unharmed, but if you are concerned about injury to yourself, you should recall that you will heal yourself instantly if wounded."
Caleb replies to Paladin, "No my friend, we don’t have time, I have to show my commitment to help. Paladin, I did notice one other thing. I can hear all the people on the ship. I can actually feel them move through the ship, it’s a very odd sensation."
Paladin responds, "Yes Caleb, but with just the slightest of concentration, you can block them out. Eventually, it will be like breathing to you."
For a few hours, Marines and Secret service search Paladin, from top to bottom.
Caleb, who has been sitting in the command chair patiently, finally speaks into the holocom, "Madam President, we have less than fourteen days until the T-Challa come looking for their tribute. I’d suggest we get on with this.” Emily was right I am too impatient.
Then a very big Marine walks up towards Caleb. He brings his face right up to Caleb’s and says, "I’m Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel Benton. If you so much as breathe funny, I’m going to rip that little head off of you Commander and put it where the sun doesn’t shine." Caleb smiles thinking. Well that is funny. I needed a good laugh.
Caleb, still smiling says, "Colonel, if I thought you were an actual threat you would be lying flat on your back as I stood over your unconscious body, but for right now.” Caleb stops himself and smirks, “You’re the most amusing thing I have seen in the past few days.” Ok time to get on with meet and greet.
Caleb gets a serious look on his face. He stands, saying, "I really don’t have the patience for this anymore. I know you’re doing your job, but right now, we need to get things moving, so if you will please clear the President to enter, I can begin debriefing everyone. Unless a half-naked man in a hospital johnny appears threatening to you."
Benton looks over Caleb, smiling, he says, "You got a lot of balls Commander."
Benton amused, grabs his mic, saying, "The ship is secure, as is the Commander, she can enter."
A few minutes pass, when the President finally enters with her staff. She looks over the Bridge, studying the technology. She stares amazed. She cautiously looks over at Caleb, and says, "Well Commander, it appears you have made quite a ruckus, haven’t you?"
Caleb stands up. He reaches his arm out to shake the President’s hand. The guards and Secret service, all raise their weapons simultaneous towards Caleb, but he keeps his hand out just the same. President Baker looks into Caleb’s eyes as she approaches. Against the request of her staff, she takes his hand, and in that brief moment. She feels the warmth through her entire body. Caleb grumbles, and bends over as if he is in pain. Baker, startled speaks, "What just happened?"
>
Paladin telepathically tells Caleb, "She suffers from arthritis Caleb, you have healed her temporarily from the damage of the disease, but you cannot cure her. Eventually, over time, it will return. Only their wounds can you heal, not sickness."
Caleb looks up in surprise, and says, "Sorry Madam President. I’m not used to all the changes in myself." Wow, that’s amazing. It was brief, but I could feel all the pain in her body and in a split second, it’s gone. I really have to get a grip on all these abilities, I never intended on that happening.
Paladin replies, "In time Caleb, it will all come to you as easily as breathing."
Caleb smiles thinking, "I see we repeat ourselves a lot too my friend."
Paladin responds, "A trait I must have picked up from you, I would have to say."
Baker cautiously smiles, asking, "Did I hurt you?" She quickly notices her joint pain is gone, looking very perplexed, she asks, "Wait, what just happened to me?"
A Secret service agent then pushes Caleb back away from the President, holding him fast against his seat. Caleb, still disoriented from the effects of his power easily falls back into the chair.
Caleb then looks up, and replies, "I didn’t know about your arthritis."
Caleb stands back up, unintentionally pushing the Secret service man, who was holding him down back. He barely touches the agent, but the Secret service man flies across the Bridge. The guards immediately charge towards Caleb with weapons drawn. Caleb ignores them, saying, "This ship is part of me, and I am part of it. Regrettably, I cannot operate it without a crew, and I need... No. Need isn’t the right word. I want, a multinational crew, and you will bring Colonel Jackson and his staff. I also want the Secretary-General of the U.N. To be debriefed, and while we are at it, I’ll take that big loud mouth Marine Benton over there. I want him as part of my crew."
Baker annoyed, replies, "Commander, I think you are mistaken. You don’t decide these things. Your superiors do."
Caleb sighs replying, "Madam President, please, don’t mistake what I’m about to say as disrespectful, but this is my ship. It will not operate without me, so I will decide who will be on this ship.” Caleb pauses for a moment to think, Ok Caleb, keep your mind on the objective here. You can’t go fly around the world yourself and pick up seventeen hundred people. You need their help. Continuing, "Paladin, will you please produce the list for us."
In a few moments, a computer creates a list of people from the entire globe, all of whom are experts in their fields.
Baker briefly looks over the list, noticing that many are from foreign countries. Alarmed, she says, "Commander, you are a U.S. citizen and a soldier in our military. I am your commander and chief, you will follow my orders."
Caleb impatient, replies, "I am also a citizen of this planet. You have my list Madam President. I expect you to get these people here now or decide that you want to be the one responsible for destroying the human race." Ok, that might be overkill there, but I gotta push this.
Just then over the ship holocom system. A familiar voice is heard. "Hello. Angela?" It is Secretary-General Chan.
Baker shocked, asks, "Wu? What are you doing?"
Caleb asks Paladin, telepathically, "Did you do that Paladin? I was just thinking about him."
Paladin responds, "Yes Caleb, I anticipated your need for his participation and initiated it. I hope I did not overstep my bounds?"
Caleb replies, "It's ok my friend, I will get used to you, as you do with me."
Caleb seizing control, says, "Secretary Chan, this is Commander Ocoda, I’m sure you know who I am."
Chan astounded, replies, "Yes Commander, I just received a call from my daughter about your miraculous recovery, and unbelievable disappearance."
Caleb says, "I want you and your daughter to come here to Camp David. I think you need to be debriefed as well."
Baker angered speaks, "Commander, just what is it you’re trying to do?"
Caleb condescendingly replies, "The petty differences of the Earth's multinational governments are no longer a concern to me. I am a member of the human race. A race that is about to be enslaved Madam President. So, unless we come to an understanding very soon, and destroy the threat together. We risk letting them destroy us.” I gotta keep my anger in control. I need these people.
Baker, thinking like a diplomat asks, "Surely with this ship we must have something to negotiate with these T-Challa?"
Paladin speaks aloud for the first time, which causes everyone to jump in astonishment, "Excuse me, Madam President. My creators the X’ena’s have long tried to find peace with the T-Challa, for some three thousands of your Earth years. In that time, the T-Challa have conquered or destroyed every race they have encountered. All those races tried to negotiate with the T-Challa, but to no avail. The T-Challa take whatever they need, or want. Your race is rich in resources, one being its people, whom will serve only two purposes for them, food, or slaves."
With that, Paladin shows horrific images on the main holoscreen located in the center of the Bridge, as hundreds, upon hundreds of holoimages, each showing the brutality of the T-Challa. It displays graphic images of these horrid beasts killing, and eating other alien races. Most are immediately repulsed by the scene.
Caleb interjects part of Paladin’s story, "The X’ena sent Paladin here to stop the T-Challa, and to prevent this from ever happening here."
Paladin then concludes, "The X’ena are a pacifist race, they abhor any form of violence. They themselves are well protected behind an almost impenetrable shield, one that the T-Challa have never been able to overcome for nearly three thousand years. However, the power to maintain that shield is fading. The X’ena’s hope is that you will be able stop the T-Challa here and then if you are willing. Mayhap help them."
Benton curious, speaks, "You know, when I look out this window here. Well, all I see is a whole lot of nothing. So do you think this invisible ship can destroy them?"
Paladin amused, "This ship, as you call me, can stop them Colonel Benton. I am far more advanced and far more powerful than anything in their fleet, and we also have the element of surprise."
Benton even more curious, asks, "So how are you holding something so large suspended in midair like this?"
Paladin responds, "I am currently using an anti-grav system to hover harmlessly above the ground, as for my size, I am big enough to hold you Colonel Benton. Should that not suffice?"
Benton smiles, saying, "Sarcastic son of a bitch, I like this ship."
Caleb stands up and heads towards the back of the Bridge, saying "Please excuse me, and make yourself at home, I will tell you our plan when the rest arrive. I want us to be in orbit in twenty-eight hours." I think I should isolate myself for a little while. I need to take this all in.
Paladin responds, asking, "Caleb, I know you were thinking to yourself, but would you like me to deal with these people? I believe I have an understanding of your wants and needs."
Caleb feeling overwhelmed responds, "Yes my friend, please do, but keep me advised."
Paladin responds, "Our thoughts are one Caleb."
Caleb is then elevated on his personnel lift to his quarters that are located directly above the Bridge. His quarters have a personnel office, a private bedroom, and a main conference room.
Paladin addresses the visitors, "Caleb has requested that I assist you with anything you need. However, I must ask that the explosives, which your soldiers are trying to bring on board and place near my reactors stop. I would strongly recommend these type of actions be discontinued or they may find it very difficult to move. Specifically, when I increase the gravity to forty times Earth’s gravity directly under their feet."
Baker, shocked and surprised, says, "Excuse me? What? I… I didn’t know about this."
"No you didn’t Madam President." Paladin replies, "Your chief of staff communicated the orders to the Marine’s outside. For future knowledge, and in maintaining Caleb’s request for full transparency, it should be known that
I can monitor every form of communication on the planet. I can also sense all forms of weapons on this planet at any given moment."
Benton curious, asks, "So, if I toss this grenade here at some of these computers over there what’s gonna happen?"
Paladin replies, "Other than a loud explosion, nothing, as I will shield the computers from the blast. I will also protect all the individuals on the Bridge from any possible harm."
Baker, curious to whom she is speaking with asks, "Are you in these computers, or are you invisible like this ship?"
Paladin replies, "I am in Caleb, and I am in every part of this ship. I am a transmogvirus, created to convert this ship, its metal, its engines, its weapons, and every bit of technology on it to become what you see here now."
Baker, now uncomfortable asks, "Where is Caleb now?"
Paladin responds, "He is in his quarters, changing his clothes Madam President, but he can hear everything you say."
"Wonderful." Baker sarcastically replies. She and her staff begin to walk around the ship before finally leaving.
Several hours have passed, as scientists have been examining Paladin and all his systems. President Baker has returned with Colonel Jackson, Val, Commander White, and Doctor Qui Shi Chan, as well as Qui Shi’s father, the Secretary-General, along with a large group of his personal security guards. They all enter the ship.
The group is in awe at what they are seeing. Jackson bewildered thinks. What the hell is going on? What is this thing?
All of a sudden, Paladin announces, "This area is coming into sensor range of the T-Challa. I will need to move the ship. I fear with all the current activity here it may cause them to do a detailed scan of this area, and my cloak may not work at one hundred percent efficiency under such a meticulous scan."
Jackson confused, looks around, asking, "Uhmm . . . excuse me? Who? . . . Was that?"
The Ocoda Chronicles Book 1 Paladin Page 5
