by K R Sanford
“That I do, Sir.”
“Sargent,” interrupted Marco. “What was wrong with the dampener?”
“The dampener is a succession of hydraulic pads. The code wasn’t written for robots to fill with fluid, Admiral.”
“Ouch,” said Marco.
“We are running diagnostic on the code right now, Sir.”
“You know that bump almost knocked me out of my chair.”
“We’ll get it, Admiral.”
Marty squinted at Sargent Levitt. “Report when that code gets through quality control. And find out what happened at the back check review, Sargent. We can’t have this kind of thing happening.”
“I know, sir. I’ll walk it through myself,” said Levitt. He gave a final salute then mounted the powerlift and sped off.
“Let’s talk with the Royal Neptune, find out what they are expecting,” suggested Marco.
“Yes,” said Stiller. “Now is a good time to thank them for being here.”
“I want to get a feel for the commitment they have,” replied Marco.
“Interesting choice of words,” said Stiller.
“Doesn’t it feel a little too detached?” said Marco.
“I don’t know. It seems too clinical and intended. As if they know something. I get the feeling they rescue civilizations on a routine basis so downtime becomes a luxury.”
“Yeah, but I don't see anything wrong with that,” said Stiller. “It could be the normal model for a medical operation. But I do think we best get in there and find out what these people are thinking.”
“Right,” said Marco. “We’re going to need a shuttle to get up there,” he said tapping his lapel.
The General put up his hand like he was hailing a downtown taxi.
“Permission to come aboard,” said Marco.
The shiny black shuttle appeared out of nowhere. The gullwing doors opened on both sides.
Marco reached up and felt the cream colored upholstery. “I wish I had a jacket that felt this good,” he said.
“It’s likely,” said Stiller. “With your commission, you are authorized one of your own.”
“Oh, I’m very comfortable with the Eagle II,” said Marco admitting the new shuttle. He climbed inside and strapped in.
The gullwings closed. Ryan, in the front seat opened a bottle of water. Tomas seated next to him did the same. Marco and Marty sunk low in the back seats. They gazed at the mottling over the outer hull of the Royal Neptune. Cosmic dust and debris etched the story of hyper drive. The ship traveled asteroid belts and star systems. The story told the journey of steering too close to gaseous clouds of hot acids in uncharted places.
“It makes a person feel small next to this beast,” said Marty.
Marco snickered, “It is a hulk,” he said.
“She’s like a flying city with forbidden tales,” said Tomas.
Marty contemplating replied. “You are trying to read this ship aren’t you?”
Marco shook his head. “She’s more than a ship. She’s an entity. I can feel it.”
Ryan and Tomas turned half around in their seats. Ryan spoke, “Were coming up on the bay doors. We’ll find out more in a minute.”
Ryan turned to Tomas. “Forbidding what?” he said.
Tomas fixed his eyes on the ship's faraway bow. He answered as if a ghost outside was watching. “The cold of outer-space,” he said. “The sudden blast of a furnace so intense it pushes you away from the bulkheads. The light so bright, you cover yourself with a solar blanket. A vacuum so demanding, it robs you of your air, and the moisture in your lungs dry up. It's like robbery from a soulless ghost.”
“Let’s hope the interior of the ship is more hospitable,” interjected Marty.
Marty and Marco amused with Tomas’ reverie gave the Royal Neptune a second look.
“Here we are,” said Ryan.
The shuttle glided through the outer doors. The vessel integrated with the control bay. They were now locked within the peripheral domain of the Royal Neptune. They sped along inches above the flight deck on a cushion of air.
“Have you ever seen a whiter cargo bay than this?” Ryan said.
“I don’t believe I have,” said Tomas reaching for the ultraviolet goggles. “Most likely this bay is a port in the storm for refugees all over the galaxy.”
“Good guess, Tomas,” said Marty donning a pair of goggles himself. “This place is clean enough to do surgical work right here.”
“You know why it’s like this?” asked Marco. “It’s for decontamination. It has an ultraviolet copper base. It neutralizes gas, chemicals, biologics, toxic waste, flesh eating bacteria, nuclear radiation. You name it, this coating seals and kills long enough to clean up and blow out to the nearest star.”
“So far,” said Tomas. “Soon we will have a new visitor from a universe we know nothing about.”
“That is partly why the Emperor is a risk taker. I don’t think Kiterage is as bold,” replied Marty.
“This must be our stop, said Ryan.”
The shuttle pulled into a turnout at a Grecian façade. The entrance stood out from a white washed wall. The entrance was supported with four Corinthian pillars. Behind the pillars were two doors framed in ornate gold cyphers.
The gullwings opened and the officers disembarked. They mounted the four steps of the facade. They walked between the pillars to study the markings on the gold doors.
“That’s Greek,” said Ryan.
“In any language it says closed,” said Marco. “Tomas, do you see anything that looks like a communicator?”
“No, Marco I don’t.”
“Ello, ello, sorry, I got delayed.”
The four officers turned on cue. A slight built man with pencil-thin mustache bounded up the steps. He dressed in a black suit with black slicked down hair. He was reaching out his hand ten feet before he came to the officers. “I’m Doctor Harry Bellermine, Chief resident of this bone factory. You’re Admiral Marco Miller of the Starship Eagle. And you are Captain Ryan Blackstone second in command. General Marty Stiller, fleet commander and Captain of the Mastodon. And this is Captain Tomas Clairy also new to the Mastodon.”
“You are well informed Dr. Bellermine, Chief resident, with one correction.”
“Yes.”
“Captain Clairy is interim Captain of the Mastodon. That is until we figure out this rescue mission.”
“Yes, quite,” replied Dr. Bellermine stroking his chin. “We’re all waiting for the buzzer to sound. You can’t miss it. It will be short blasts of buzz, buzz, buzz,” said Bellermine. “The assessment team will come out. They will get followed by a triage party, followed by the medical staff.”
“You know your business,” replied Marco. “It’s quiet right now. Calm be for the storm?”
“Humm?” replied Dr. Bellermine. “Calm before the storm? Yes, of course, it’s always like this so people can study. This is a working university, Admiral. We house not only the working staff but we live here. We advance the evolution of regenerative health.”
“I see,” said Marco turning to ask about the gold doors.
Bellermine smiled, “It’s Greek and the guarantee to meet mortal man’s most powerful drive force.
“Behind these doors?” said Hector.
Bellermine still smiling, “That’s right, Captain Blackstone. Except for you fine gentlemen; it’s free, compliments of the house.”
“Oh, no, no doctor, we appreciate the thought but we don’t have time,” said Marco bringing himself up right.
“Wait a minute,” said Stiller. “What exactly are the compliments of the house?”
Doctor Bellermine, giving Stiller a point, passed his hand to one of the gold carvings. “Hunger,” he said. “What did you think was mortal man’s most powerful drive, Admiral? Come with me.”
The doors swung inward. They walked along a stone wall. It curved away from the gold reflection of the doors. On both sides of the wall, palm trees and tropical plants grew in black
marble planters. Soft blue lights revealed the dining tables throughout the restaurant.
“You will find everything you need to run a command post here, Gentlemen. You will find we mean business on the Royal Neptune. He turned and snapped his fingers bringing a staff of servers at the ready.
The officers turned to four white faced oriental women. The women took them to a table where a blue light hung overhead. Four dining placements waited. Next to each placement was a portable interface card.
The officers took a seat and touched the icons on the card then sat back watching the card fade to black. The men dismissed the ladies for a moment of select.
They took in their surroundings. They noted the neon fish swimming in the tranquil watery world of an aquarium. The aquarium ran along the back side of the curved rock wall.
“Feel better,” asked Ryan, giving himself to the ambience of the dining retreat.
“I do, yes,” replied Marco.
“So, what’s the message?” said Ryan.
Marco raised an eyebrow and replied. “I’d say it’s the: We will make you so comfortable you can have your nervous breakdown in peace and quiet message.”
Ryan chuckled. “I’d also say the Emperor is behind this and he says: time to evolve. It’s evolution at its finest.”
“That‘s what the Emperor is saying?” chimed Tomas.
Marty sitting back in his chair threw up a hand, “He says; enjoy the ride while you’re still flesh and blood.”
Ryan rejoined. “He might come through the wall any second and tell us what he thinks for amusement.”
“No, not a chance of that,” said Marco straight faced. “He and Kiterage are playing gulf in one of their parks before it all disintegrates into space dust.”
“So, you think the Emperor is an adrenaline junkie,” asked Marty.
Tomas chimed in, “They both are. Who stays on a battle-cruiser thirty seconds before it blows up? Only an interdimensional being and his secretary could do that.”
Ryan shook his head. “I thought she looked too good to be true. So that makes her a type four also?”
Tomas, wide eyed replied, “I guess. But they are open with their life styles. I think they enjoy provoking the lower classes. I think they need us to evolve into players and not spectators.”
Ryan replied. “So the new-comers will do exercises with us on the field of commerce, winner take all?”
Marco shaking his head, “We don’t adopt an attitude of, us and them. We look at the new-comers as family.”
“How’s that?” replied Tomas, knowing he had missed a critical point in the discussion.
Marco waved his hands. “Here is a landscape built on the principle of amusement. Still, Type-fours strive to expand a new wilderness.”
Marty, with a gleam in his eye and a measure of trepidation, turned to Marco, “I would say your argument has lost its value.”
“Let me finish, Marty," said Marco. “All living things experience fear. It’s better to assemble a reception team. I'm asking Hector and Chris to spearhead this team. I’m going to ask them to take lead until the refugees find suitable leadership of their own.”
“What determines suitable leadership?” asked Tomas.
Marco fell silent. Marty did likewise. Ryan picked up a glass goblet off the table and gave it a solid flick with his finger. The goblet rang-out.
Tomas looked around the restaurant. He was eager not to miss another point in the policy-making process.
The four ladies returned in a flurry of white, led by one who bowed. She asked in a delicate cool whisper. “Are you ready for service?”
Marco pulled himself straight in his chair. He replied, “I am interested in the formal service, please.”
“Of course, Admiral, right away,” she said disappearing into the shadows once again.
“Formal?” questioned Marty.
“Yes,” replied. “Our action is a formal rescue mission. The order itself demands nothing less. If you will allow me, I will tell you how I see this.”
General Stiller nodded.
“All life senses and feels fear. Bacteria, feels fear. The amoeba, a single-celled animal feels fear. By necessity all life must deceive its enemy to survive. When brought to its lowest form in nature, all life must compete to survive. The refugees will do so as well.”
Marco turned his eyes to the ceiling. He stared at the soft blue light above their heads then continued. “The refugees are a displaced people. They will be dependent on a universe they do not know; a people they do not know. They must not develop a dependence on our generosity. It may as be, Legion’s cube might not be ready to offer a territory in which to thrive. We will have to absorb their numbers.
We will have to supply the cube with their able bodied. They need to be a well healed stock to realize a healthy potential for our investment. We can use their numbers in other ways. We are also brought to a crossroads of evolution ourselves or else we suffer.”
The ladies brought water and bread. They set a saucer of oil and herbs next to each plate. A bowl of miso soup was set next to that. In the center of the table sat a kettle of tea. One of the ladies asked. “Tea?” she whispered. Picking up the kettle she poured the tea into a small painted cup.
“Fear will do a lot to a man,” said Marco. “People are of no value while living under hysterics, fear gone riot. So, we need to insure basic needs get taken care of. And, no harm comes to their families.
Life-forms with the means will have already arranged safe passage out. What we will be dealing with here are the poor and the sick. This is the reason the Royal Neptune is here. Our duty is a massive rescue operation. Desperate and frightened they will do stupid things.
Give the word to all your people. Be careful how you engage the survivors. Deception is a necessity for the ones who can use a ruse. We can expect temporary insanity as the normal. The Emperor chooses the bridge to get constructed here instead of a populated part of our galaxy.”
“Your logic is sound,” replied General Stiller. “I would like to know more.”
“Then we pull back our ships from the event horizon,” interceded Ryan. “The refugees, excuse me, the survivors will need to set up stores for supplies. They will need places onboard the ships to secure valuables.”
Marco turning over an empty hand replied. “Unfortunately, none of our ships can move until we know what we are getting ourselves into.
“Where are we in this meal; the process of this meal that is?” asked Tomas as if the Temple directed the question. “So I can interact with my own senses and the power of the Temple.”
Marco turned his head to Ryan and gave him a nod. Ryan took the goblet as he did before and set it before him. He readied his hand against the goblet to strike the ringing tone but held his hand steady. Within seconds the flurry of ladies formed shadows around their table.
The ladies in white reached their limbs between the men like birds landing on the wind. They set steamy bowls of food on the table surrounding the kettle of tea. Their leader whispered, “Will there be anything else?”
“No, no thank you,” said Marco.
“Nashi, nashi arigatō,” replied Ryan.
Marty smiled and bowed his head.
Tomas was in a trance grasping for signs for the order of business.
Marty cleared his throat getting the attention of Tomas, “They want to know if there will be anything else?”
Tomas replied, “No, thank you this is wonderful.”
“We have a shadow of our policy in service to the refugees,” said Marco.
“And security for predators among the sheep?” asked Marty.
Where is Hector, said Ryan. “I thought you hailed him.”
“I thought I did too,” said Marco. “We’ll give them a few more minutes then I’ll ring them again. How’s the food?”
“Perfect,” replied Ryan. “I’m grateful to be sitting at a fine table while the refugees are making their trek to the bridge. No doubt I will g
o overboard making them feel comfortable when they arrive.”
Ryan pushed back his chair and stepped to the next table. He reached for the overhead light. It responded by flooding the table with white light. Marco bit into a tomato and looked on.
Ryan held out his communicator, “Captain Ryan to Major Walters, open communications, Major.”
“I’m here, ready to report, Sir.”
Heads raised, Marco looked to Ryan.
Ryan continued. “Give me all you got, Major.”
Lieutenant Chew handed Walters the summary.
“People are coming our way. And they have livestock. This first wave total is one quarter million. Someone gave the order to send the ships back to you. They will arrive at Temple Starbase within the hour.”
“Can the ships hold that many?”
“Affirmative, Sir. There are over one thousand ships heading your way.”
“What else, Major.”
“A second wave is massing at the portal for the next breach. This group has two million life-forms,” reported Walters. “And the Event Horizon is getting perturbed.”
“We have ships coming through the wormhole?” asked Ryan.
“The largest armada I have ever heard of is on its way.” said Walters. “Someone has been giving orders and now fifty thousand ships are coming.”
“Jesus H. Christ,” muttered Ryan.
“No, Sir,” said Walters. “It was The Emperor Legion.”
Chapter 14
________________________________________________________
Rise and Rise Again
“Rise and Rise Again and Again, Like the Phoenix from the Ashes; Until Lambs Become Lions
And the Darkness Rules No More.”
Maitreya, 2010
THE HOLY BOOK OF DESTINY
“The Emperor is on this side giving orders. That means Kiterage and his secretary are on the other side with the survivors,” said Marco.
“Who’s to say?” chimed Stiller.
“No, I know. You can't send a race of people through a tube without a coordinated effort,” said Marco.
“Are we going to reason this out too?” asked Ryan.
“More tea?” said Marco reaching for the kettle. “Now, we find out where Hector and Chris got off to. I'm not ignoring your question, Ryan. I would like to circle back around to that. First, I need more information from the wormhole and from Hector.”
