by Saxon Andrew
Kaylee rushed over to Gregor and wrapped her arms around him. She was an archer and never carried a sword. That changed in that moment. She looked up into Gregor’s eyes, “It’s time.”
Gregor nodded, “We’ll leave tomorrow. I want today to be with you.”
Elena heard him and went to her parents. She hugged them, and they wrapped their arms around her. Even Sammy joined them. The search would begin tomorrow.
• • •
Gregor and Kaylee walked out to the Dragon Fly after they received their swords and Gregor took the small datacube out of his pocket. “What is that?” the computer asked.
“Some homework for you.”
“That shouldn’t take long; it’s a small cube.” Gregor inserted the cube into the reader and heard, “WHAT IN THE HOLY DATA PIT IS THIS?”
“It’s all the information ever gathered by the Cartians.”
“GREGOR, THIS DATA IS MORE THAN EVERYTHING IN MY DATABANKS.”
“Do you have room for it?”
“Yes, but it’s going to take a long time to go through it. Why have you waited until now to give it to me?”
‘I don’t want any of it shared and you might be tempted to ask questions about it with another computer. We’re leaving tomorrow, and I want you to keep this secret!”
“I can keep a secret.”
“Like the time you told that freighter’s computer that we were headed to Earth.”
“Hey! That was years ago.”
“You share everything with Kaylee’s computer.”
“Uhhh…and you don’t want me to do that?”
“I promised to keep it safe. Don’t do anything to break my promise to the Cartians. I’m shutting down your transmitters until tomorrow.”
“I guess once you make a mistake, it will never be forgiven, huh?”
Gregor thought about the statement and looked at Kaylee. She shook her head slightly and Gregor said, “I will not turn off your transmitters. I’m trusting you with Elena’s and my life and not trusting you on this is not the right thing to do.”
“I’ll never let you down again, Gregor.”
“I believe you. Let me know in the morning what you find out about the filament makers.”
“See you in the morning.”
Kaylee and Gregor left the ship and headed home
• • •
The next morning, everyone said their goodbyes and Kaylee whispered, “Come back to me, Gregor,” just before she kissed him.
“I won’t be careless, Kaylee. I needed this time to learn that aggression is not always the answer to every situation. I promise to be careful.”
“Ii can’t ask for more, my love.” Gregor kissed Deuce and he whimpered. Kaylee smiled, “He knows you’re leaving.”
“He’s too young to know that, Kaylee.”
“He knows, Gregor.”
Gregor looked at Deuce and saw his wet eyes. He took Deuce from Kaylee and hugged him, “Take care of your mother. I love you.” Deuce turned his eyes to Kaylee and reached for her. The move surprised Gregor. Deuce wrapped his arms around Kaylee’s neck and looked at Gregor. Gregor stood there, and Kaylee smiled, “Get moving or we’ll be standing here this time tomorrow.”
Gregor kissed them again and headed toward the port. Elena kissed Angel and Sam, before saying, “I will not be foolish ever again. I’ve learned the price of breaking promises and I promise you that I will do everything possible to keep us safe.” Sam sighed, and Angel hugged him again, “I’ve learned from my mistakes, Daddy. I won’t let you down again.”
Sam stared into Elena’s eyes and smiled softly, “I will take you at your word.” Elena hugged him tighter and then went to her mother. Angel held her and said, “I can feel you mean it.”
“I love you,” Elena said as she turned and followed Gregor into the ship.
Sam looked at Angel, “Is she coming back?”
“I don’t know; I’ve no visions about it. But they’re in the most advanced warship we’ve ever created, and she’s got Gregor and his computer going with her.”
“Duncan and Annalee are with them as well.”
Angel turned to Sam, “I thought you didn’t believe any of that?”
Sam watched the small ship rise silently into the sky, “Sometimes it takes a few swords to convince the unbelievers.”
Angel hugged him and looked at the sky with him.
• • •
“Where do you want to go, Gregor?”
“Did you learn anything from the Cartian data?”
“Like?”
“Where are the oldest filaments located?”
“Generally, toward Tronan Territory, which is universal west from here.”
“Then go East until the filaments stop. We’re searching for their last location.”
“The 440-filament runs out that way.”
“Then hop on it and go to full speed. We have a huge area to cross.”
“According to the Cartian data, the 440 would take eight-years to arrive at the end of it, at our former maximum speed.”
“What about now?”
“About four-months, and there are some nasty civilizations along that path.”
“The faster we get there, the sooner we’ll get back home.” The Dragon Fly went to full speed and it lept ahead at unbelievable velocity toward Bellingham’s filament.
Chapter Ten
Three-months after Gem started working on the new Dragon Flies, he saw Gamgel running into the construction building yelling, “GEM! GEM!”
Gem came rushing out from under one of the ships and shouted, “What’s wrong?”
“An Insectoid squadron has attacked ten-Bellingham coated ships and destroyed them. Ana has ordered you and I to go and destroy one of their planets to prove we mean business.”
“Why just one of them?”
“She doesn’t have the heart to exterminate them. She wants to prove her point.”
“Which planet?”
“Gregezaut.”
“That’s their main construction planet!”
“Come on! I’ve having a Trillium Missile loaded on one of the new ships and we need to do this immediately, before they think we don’t mean business!”
Gem followed Gamgel across the huge hangar and entered one of the new ships through the port. He rushed to the pilot’s chair and powered up the systems. He lifted the ship off the floor and moved it through the opening steel door. The ship was fueled, and it blew out of Romania’s atmosphere and went to maximum speed toward the intersection. Gem turned the ship away from the intersection that led to the Royal Planet and arrived at the intersection outside the Gregezaut system.
Gem saw the Insectoid Fleets at the intersection and turned to Gamgel, “It doesn’t appear they have enough ships to close off this approach.”
“Where would you have the majority of your fleets if you were the Insectoid King, Gem?”
Gem nodded, “He’d have all of them defending the route to the Royal Planet.”
“I’m surprised he left this many here!” Gamgel remarked.
“I agree, but Gregezaut is an extremely important planet.” Gem allowed the computer to fly through the Insectoid Fleets and, an hour later, they arrived above Gregezaut. He flew the ship through the planet’s orbital defenses and stopped the ship high above the main continent. Gem shook his head, “What possessed the King to attack those ships.”
Gamgel was silent and Gem sighed. He activated the missile controls and turned to Gamgel, “I should do this; I don’t want your conscience to have to carry this weight.”
“I’ve transferred the launch control to your panel.”
Gem stared at the giant metropolis below them, as he took a deep breath. He leaned forward…and pressed the launch button. He didn’t feel the bump of the missile launch and he pressed it again. And then again.”
Gamgel looked at him and said, “The missile is not active.”
Gem turned to him, “We’ve got to go back and ge
t another one!”
“Gem, the insectoids have not attacked our ships.” Gem stared at him and started shaking his head. “It’s like you told Ana when you came back.”
“What did I tell her?”
“That even with all the evidence supporting your story, she could still not trust you were being honest. This was the only way to prove to her that you can be trusted.”
Gem stared at him and felt his anger start to build. He started to yell at Gamgel, but then stopped. He lowered his head and said softly, “You’re right.” Gem fell back in his chair and continued, “What would have happened if I tried to take control of the ship and take it down to the planet.”
“The computer has been programmed to self-destruct if you attempted that.”
“But you would have died with me!”
“I told Ana that I did trust you and I insisted on coming with you.”
“You put your life on the line to do that,” Gem said softly.
“You’ve learned too much about these ships to allow you to live if you were still working for the King.”
“You say that Ana came up with this idea?”
“No, Gem. I came up with the idea and got Ana to approve it.”
“Why?”
“Because she is dying with worry about whether or not she can completely trust you. As you said, all the evidence says you can be trusted but…”
“It could have all been an elaborate deception,” Gem replied. Gamgel nodded. “Why are we doing this now, Gamgel?”
“You’re going to assume the job of commanding the Mansion’s security. That will have you in the Mansion with Ana and, in a few more months, she can be seen developing an attachment to you. Eventually, there will be another wedding.”
“My children won’t know I’m their father. They’ll believe their father was a traitor.”
“For a while. When they’re old enough, they’ll be told the truth.”
“Thank you, Gamgel. I owe you again.”
“No, you’ve paid back everything in the construction of the new ships. Like I said, it wasn’t your fault.”
Gem smiled, “And since the Insectoids didn’t detect us here, no harm, no foul.”
“And it’s a good trial to make sure our new ships can defend us,” Gamgel replied.
Gem turned the ship around and headed back to Romania…and Ana.
• • •
Gregor looked at the huge fleet of warships holding station just outside the 440. He gave up counting the number of war fleets weeks ago and now ignored them. They had plenty of warning about their presence; the Cartian data contained information on all of them. He began to seriously wonder if there was anything they didn’t know. “Gregor, I have a call from Gamgel.”
“Put it on my monitor.” Gamgel appeared and Gregor smiled, “It’s good to see a familiar face.”
“How far have you gone?”
“We’ve not reached the end of the 440. But it won’t take much longer. What’s up?”
“I want to talk to you about Gem.”
“There’s nothing to discuss.”
“Gregor, you have to know he wasn’t responsible for his actions.”
Gregor leaned forward and scowled, “Gamgel, I don’t give one jolly tin cup if he was responsible or not. He committed a sacrilege against the metal of Bellingham and I don’t care how he tries to twist it, he did it.”
“So, in your opinion, anything someone does is their responsibility and can never atone for it.”
“In this case, that is exactly how I feel. I’m shocked you even allow him to set foot on Romania. He can’t be trusted.”
“I’m sending you a package of recordings concerning him, and I want you to watch them.”
“Won’t happen.”
Gamgel’s features changed and Gregor saw him angry for the very first time, “When you came to me and asked me to transfer your computer, did I send you packing?!” Gregor stared at Gamgel in silence. “And when you asked me to build you a ship to conduct the search you’re on now, did I say hell no?!”
Gregor sighed, “No, you didn’t, Gamgel.”
“Then show me the respect I’ve earned from you and watch the freaking recordings!!”
The monitor went dark and Gregor leaned back in his chair. “Are you going to watch them?”
Gregor turned around and saw Elena standing behind him, “How much of this did you hear?”
“Pretty much all of it. Are you going to watch the videos?”
“Gem doesn’t deserve my attention!” Gregor sneered.
“No, but Gamgel does. Or are to too shallow to see that?” Elena turned and went back to the rear of the ship. Gregor stared at the dark monitor in silence.
After a few hours had passed, he said, “You’ve not said your opinion.” His statement was greeted with silence. Gregor waited and finally said, “I want your opinion.”
“I’m glad Kaylee isn’t here to see this.”
“Why?”
“Because when we left Bellingham, she was supremely proud of you. Your behavior today would have caused her to change her opinion.”
“So, you think I should view them?”
“If I have to answer that, you don’t really know me Gregor.”
Gregor winced at the Computer’s remark. He blew out a breath and said, “Start them playing.” Elena magically appeared and sat down in her chair. Gregor shook his head, “Do you mind. I’d like some privacy.”
Elena giggled, “There is no privacy on this ship. Sit back and pretend I’m not here.”
Gregor rolled his eyes and said, Play it!”
The wall monitor illuminated with an image of Gem bent over his console with deep red eyes. He was trembling and was begging a warship’s captain to send a message. Gregor mentally sneered; what a great act! After an hour, he settled back in his chair and his expression went from exasperation to neutral.
• • •
At the end, everyone on the bridge was silent, including the computer. Finally, Elena asked, “What do you think about this, Gregor?” Gregor shook his head slightly and remained silent. Elena lowered her eyes, “Don’t tell me you still blame him for what happened?!”
“He can’t be trusted!!”
“Gregor, would you take three-blaster-bolts to the chest?”
“He knew the DNA packet would save him.”
“But would you take three-blaster-bolts, even if you knew you could be saved?” Gregor remained motionless. “And he kept pressing the button to launch the Trillium Missile to destroy that major Insectoid Planet. How can you sit there and say he can’t be trusted?”
“BECAUSE HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS ACTIONS AND IT DOESN’T MATTER HE DIDN’T HAVE CONTROL OVER IT!!”
Elena glared at Gregor like he was some kind of alien she never knew. Gregor’s face was twisted with anger and then he heard, “So, you can forgive your own mistakes but no one else’s.”
“What do you mean computer?”
“This may end our friendship, but I can’t sit here and listen to your holier-than-thou attitude. You caused Emmett’s death and I’ve forgiven you for it. You’ve even managed to forgive yourself.”
Gregor’s face changed to shock and Elena looked up, “What are you talking about Computer?”
“The Leaders of the Movement contacted Emmett and asked where he was located. We should have immediately run but Gregor told Emmett he was really hungry and was tired of ship’s food. Emmett took him down to a restaurant on the planet, where he was assassinated.”
“I DIDN’T KNOW!!” Gregor screamed.
“AND NEITHER DID GEM YOU SELF-RIGHTEOUS HIPPOCRIT!”
Gregor put his face in his hands and began weeping as he kept saying, “It was all my fault!” over and over.
Elena rushed to Gregor’s chair and grabbed his arms and pulled them away from his face. He looked at her and she said with steely eyes, “NO…IT…WASN’T!!”
“It was my fault we down to the planet.”
/> “But you didn’t know there was danger. You are not to blame!”
“Gregor.”
Gregor sighed and looked up, “Yes, computer.”
“I initially blamed Emmett’s death on you. It took me a long time to realize what Elena said is true. Emmett didn’t tell either of us about the threat from the Movement and neither of us knew to run. I forgave you long ago and accepted that the universe is often very unfair. If you can’t see that Gem has also suffered for something the universe threw at him, then you’re deliberately being blind. I can’t accept that character flaw in you.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re the most perfect being I know.”
Gregor’s head went back, and he roared his laughter as tears continued down his face, “I am very, very, very, far from perfect.”
“Tell it to someone that believes it. I know you and I’ve always been able to count on you to do the right thing; you can’t let me down now. I deserve better…and so does Gem.”
“It was my failure to prevent Emmett’s death that makes it so hard to forgive. I’ve never really forgiven myself.”
Elena said softly, “It’s about time you did. You’ve got to let it go.”
Gregor stared into Elena’s eyes and took a deep breath. He let it out slowly and, finally, nodded. “I’ve cried more recently than I have in my entire life.”
“No, you haven’t.” Gregor looked up. “You cried for six-months after your mother was killed but you were so shocked, you don’t remember it.”
“Computer, sometimes you can simply agree.”
“I guess. But we’d miss a lot of the fun.”
Gregor smiled, “Yes, I guess we would. Get Gamgel on my monitor.” Gamgel appeared and Gregor said, “Will you connect me to Gem’s communicator?”
“NO!”
“Why not?”
“He’s on duty in the Mansion and won’t be where he can communicate until morning.”
“Will you ask him to contact me?”
“He’s been trying for months!!”
“Just get him to try one more time, please. We’ll be leaving our sector shortly and will no longer use the communicator.” Gamgel smiled slightly and nodded. Gregor looked up, “Will you let me know when his call comes in?”
