“Excuse me, Commander, but those reinforcements will take time to reach us, and there’s something else, something I just learned. It wasn’t Clarion you spoke with. Our fighters didn’t go to the maintenance dock. I don’t know where they ended up, but I spoke with Clarion myself. He’s still waiting to hear from you to schedule them in.”
“But, but, that’s impossible,” Tavlon sputtered. “I had several conversations with him. He told me, unequivocally, there was a lull in his workload and—”
“You were speaking with someone else,” Valodar declared, cutting him off. “The Sparians duped you. They have duped us all. They have managed to insert transmitters into the station, divert half our fleet from the Terminus, and have intercepted our communications.”
“I am utterly speechless,” Tavlon stammered. “This is impossible.”
“They know we have only fifty-percent strength and we cannot defeat them. I suspect they have been waiting for us to become aware of all this, and they will offer us the chance to surrender. If we don’t, they know they can take over the station anyway.”
“And what will come next is Sparian Rule,” Tavlon muttered grimly.
“Yes, what will come next is Sparian Rule,” Valodar sighed, “and then they will spread their iron fist throughout the galaxy, just as they did in their own.”
A heavy silence descended. Ellie’s heart was pounding against her chest, and an icy hand had wrapped itself around her neck and was squeezing, making it difficult for her to breathe. They were all about to die. Worse, her beloved Earth, and all the other planets about which she had been so blissfully unaware until a few short days ago, were about to fall victim to an evil, aggressive, ruthless race.
Gazing at her surroundings, she felt a lump in her throat. Would this be the last thing she would see? Would she never be with her sweet, loving parents again? Would she never walk down the noisy, crowded, famous Oxford Street? It was all so surreal, but it was happening. It was actually happening. Moving her eyes to Valodar, she felt a tear slip down her cheek. He may not be human, but she realized, in that moment, her heart had never been so full. Facing possible death, she had to admit the truth. She was in love with him. Every fiber of her being was in love with him.
“You changed your chambers to make me feel at home, you manifested a Tudor bedroom to bring a long-held fantasy to life. You didn’t have to do any of those things,” she mumbled. “You make me feel loved, and…”
Suddenly, out of the universal ether, the answer to the calamitous situation fell into her head. Wiping the tears from her cheeks, she rose to her feet and walked across to him and the commander. They were deep in hushed conversation, but when they saw her approach, they stopped talking and stared at her.
“What is it, Ellie?” Valodar asked, though not brusquely, but certainly confused that she was interrupting him at such an important time.
“I know exactly what to do,” she said calmly. “I know how to save us all.”
Chapter Nineteen
Valodar wasn’t sure what to say, but Commander Tavlon had no such problem, and with a heavy frown crossing his brow, he glowered down at her.
“We are in the middle of—”
“Forgive me, Commander Tavlon,” she said, cutting him off, “but we’re wasting time. It’s imperative we set my plan into motion at once.”
“Plan? Plan?” he barked. “This is a matter for Xan military minds, not a foolish human female.”
“I’ll admit to being human and female, but I’m not foolish. I have been known to do foolish things occasionally, but this isn’t one of those times,” she snapped back at him. “Now do you want me to tell you how you can save your ass, or not?”
She had spoken to shock him, and it did. He stared at her, flabbergasted by her outburst. Valodar knew she was imaginative and clever, especially for a human, and though he didn’t approve of her tantrum, he wanted to hear what she had to say.
“Tell me what you’re thinking, Ellie.”
“How did you change your sleeping quarters into a Tudor bedroom?”
“What? Ellie, what does that—?”
“Please just answer the question,” she said testily. “How did you do it?”
“It’s too difficult to explain in detail, but as I told you, it’s moving particles around to form different shapes.”
“The Sparians believe your fleet is depleted by fifty percent, right?”
“They know we are. It’s obvious they’re the ones who duped us into sending them out.”
“What if there was an entire second fleet hidden away here on the station that they weren’t aware of, and then learned about?”
“But there isn’t,” Tavlon exclaimed. “This is ridiculous. I’ve had enough of this nonsense.”
“But what if there was?” she pressed, focusing all her attention on Valodar. “Wouldn’t it be enough to convince them they should back off?”
“Absolutely,” Valodar nodded. “They couldn’t win if we had another full contingent of fighter pods.”
“So, move your particles around and create them.”
“I can’t make something out of nothing,” he protested.
“Of course you can’t. I wasn’t suggesting that. Use, I don’t know, desks, couches, counters, whatever you can. Have them moved into the Terminus and transform them. They don’t have to actually be fighters, they just have to look like they are.”
“Comets blazing!” he exclaimed. “That is genius. Hmm, I could I transfer the regular pods into the Terminus and change their shape,” he said quickly, thinking through her suggestion, “but no, the Sparian scanners would pick up the empty transportation docks. They’d figure out the duplicity right away. You’re right, we have to move in large items, couches, tables and beds, and change them.”
“And use Endolin’s transmitter to advertise it.”
“Yes!” he exclaimed. “They’ll be forced to hold back any aggressive action until they’ve had a chance to use their scanners, and when they do, and pick up the shapes on their telemon—”
“Telemon?” Ellie interrupted. “What’s a telemon?”
“It’s the receiver for the scanners. Everything is seen in three-dimensional images. Telemons are common. We have them too.”
“I’ve just had another idea,” she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. “Why limit this to just pod fighters? Create some bizarre-looking thing, call it something, and talk about how glad you are to have a powerful new weapon that could annihilate them.”
“Ellie, you’ve done it. This is absolutely brilliant. It will work, I’m sure it will.”
Tavlon, who had been silent during their exchange, shook his head.
“You don’t think so?” Valodar asked, incredulous that his commander didn’t appreciate the merit in Ellie’s stroke of genius.
“On the contrary, not only do I think it will work, I’m deeply embarrassed. Ellie, I believe you will be hailed as our savior when this is all over, and now I understand why Valodar was so determined to bring you here and wishes to pair with you. I’m truly sorry. Please, Ellie Blake, forgive me.”
“Of course,” she said warmly, “but how do we get this party started?”
“Party started? Such phrases you have,” Tavlon remarked, a slight smile curling the ends of his lips. “I will arrange for the furniture to be moved to the Terminus, and you, Valodar, fetch the transmitter and bring it back here. We’ll put on an act for the Sparians, but we must hurry.”
“Perhaps Ambassador Golan and I should have that conversation. It will get the message out faster, and I’ll also tell him Endolin needs to be decontaminated because of the flea scare. That way we can pretend to find her transmitter and do away with it, or at least, put it with the others in case we need to use it again.”
“Yes, good suggestion,” Tavlon agreed. “I’ll contact the ambassador and alert him while you’re on your way over there.”
“Excellent, come on, Ellie, time to get this… what is it you say?
Show on…?”
“Show on the road,” Ellie replied. “Yes, let’s hurry up and get this show on the road.”
Endolin, who had walked forward and anxiously listened to the exchange, let out a shrill chirp.
“I’m so relieved. I honestly thought we were all done for. Now I know why Raven was so jealous of you.”
“But she doesn’t know me, at least, I don’t think she does,” Ellie remarked as they started to follow Valodar from the room. “She was just after Valodar.”
“Raven has yet to be dealt with,” Valodar said grimly as they stepped into the corridor, “but she will be.”
Touching his necklace, he summoned a pod, and moments later they were racing toward the Quillian Embassy.
“Ellie, there’s something you need to understand,” Valodar said solemnly as they zipped through the corridors. “I’ll still have to lead the remaining fighters into a defensive position around the station.”
“Why? Isn’t that dangerous?”
“It would be dangerous if I didn’t,” he replied as they reached the turquoise and gold entrance. “I’ll need to make room for the fabricated second fleet, but more important, if we did not take up the posture, the Sparians would see it as weakness, but don’t worry, once they scan and see we have an entire second fleet waiting, as well as the new strange-looking weapon, they’ll back off.”
“I still wish you wouldn’t do that,” she mumbled. “What if they get trigger-happy before scanning, or something goes wrong?”
“Trigger-happy isn’t a word I’d use to describe the Sparians,” he assured her as they moved through the embassy. “Think about all the planning they’ve put into this. They’re unmerciful and barbaric, but they’re far from stupid.”
“I still don’t like it,” she said with a heavy frown as they stopped at the door of the ambassador’s quarters. “In fact, I’m coming with you.”
“Oh, no, no, no,” Valodar said firmly, as the pod’s roof lifted and they began climbing out.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she said just as firmly, walking beside him as they made their way to the Golan’s office.
“This is not up for discussion!”
“If it’s not dangerous, why can’t I join you?”
“Ellie, the subject is closed,” he said sternly, moving into the reception area.
They were approaching Mylon, sitting pertly behind her desk, and she waved them toward the open door into the ambassador’s office.
“He’s waiting for you,” she declared. “Go on in.”
“Commander Tavlon filled me in,” Golan said solemnly as they entered. “Let’s do this performance in the ante-chamber. We don’t want any distractions.”
“I’m worried,” Endolin said nervously. “I’m afraid I’ll say the wrong thing.”
“You’ll be fine,” Valodar assured her. “We won’t ask you any awkward questions. Just follow along.”
“If you say so,” she squeaked. “Ellie, will you come with me?”
“Of course I will, but I’ll have to stay silent. There’s no reason for me to be here.”
As they entered the ante-chamber, Ellie stood quietly watching as Valodar retrieved the tiny transmitter and sat down next to Endolin. It gave Ellie a moment to catch her breath, and admiring Valodar’s body, and glancing at his long tapered fingers and moist purple lips, she was determined to find a way to steal a few minutes alone with him before he had to leave to take command of the fighter pods.
“I hope you’re now prepared to tell me everything, Endolin,” Valodar began, “but before we can discuss that, I must take you to a decontamination unit. We’ve had a flea scare, and we found some strange new parasite on residents who have just visited Quillian. We don’t know what it is, and we need to make sure you’re not carrying it.”
“Yes, Monitor,” Endolin replied, and as she stood up, and Golan and Valodar led her out, believing the transmitter would be super-sensitive, Valodar made a hushed comment to Golan.
“I wish we could see our new secret weapon in action.”
“The Disintegrating Device. It was well named,” Golan whispered back. “That Sparian warship would disappear in front of our eyes. I’m with you. I’d greatly enjoy watching it annihilate them, but our second fleet will do its job as efficiently as ever. Maybe we could use the weapon instead. We should ask the commander.”
“We should,” Valodar agreed. “You know, Golan, I was against that second fleet. I never thought it would be needed, but now I’m glad it was voted through,” Valodar remarked, then raising his voice, he said, “See you at the banquet, Ambassador. I’ll bring Endolin back after the decontamination is completed.”
“See you there,” Golan replied, and greatly relieved the dire situation appeared to be under control, he decided to return to his quarters to see his lovely wife. It had been a scary time, and he needed to be in the comfort of her presence.
* * *
All the transmitters were being kept in a sealed container in the communications laboratory for security and study, so it was Valodar’s first stop. During the ride, Valodar led Endolin through a pretend scenario as though she was being decontaminated and the strange bug was discovered. Ellie, sitting silently behind them, didn’t pay much attention. She was focused on how she might be able to steal some time with Valodar before he had to leave. When the transmitter was finally out of the way, it was a relief to them all. They could finally talk freely.
“I hope what you and the ambassador said has some effect,” Endolin chirped, “and I hope Daddy and Landin really are safe. I wish I could talk to them.”
“They are,” Valodar assured her, “and I have no doubt you’ll be speaking with them very soon, or at the very least, talking to someone who has been in touch with them. Oh, excuse me, I’m receiving a communication from the commander.”
Though Ellie and Endolin couldn’t hear what Tavlon was saying, the smile on Valodar’s face told them it was good news.
“What’s happened?” Ellie asked the moment he ended the conversation.
“The Sparian ship has stopped. It appears what they overheard has given them cause for concern. They haven’t turned around or backed away, but they have halted their approach, and they’re still a fair distance from scanning range, thank goodness. The transformation of all the furniture isn’t complete yet, and there is still more that has to be brought in. I need to go and help.”
“Already?” Ellie said, disappointed that her wished-for private moment was about to be stolen away. “I was hoping for a couple of minutes alone with you before you took off.”
“A couple of Earth minutes?” he grinned.
“Yes, a couple of Earth minutes,” she smiled back. “Are there other kinds of minutes?”
“That’s why we don’t use time measures like minutes and hours on the station,” Endolin piped up. “It gets too confusing.”
“When this is over, you’re going to have to explain this to me. Time is time, isn’t it?”
“No, not really,” Endolin replied, “but I’ll leave that to Valodar. Please let me off here. My quarters are down this passage.”
The pod came to a stop next to a narrow corridor, and climbing out, Endolin touched her beak to both Valodar’s and Ellie’s cheeks, surprising Ellie with its softness.
“Bye, Endolin,” Ellie said warmly. “You have to come and have a meal with us when things are back to normal, though obviously I have no idea what to call it. Dinner? Lunch?”
“Just a meal,” Endolin happily chirped. “I’d love that. Thanks.”
“We need to go,” Valodar declared. “You take care of yourself, Endolin. I’m sure we’ll all be together again soon.”
“Thanks for everything, Valodar. Bye.”
As Endolin started down the corridor, Valodar instructed the pod to take them back to his chambers, and as it pulled away and began to zip down the hallway, Ellie leaned her head against his shoulder.
“You didn’t answer me,” she purred. “Can
you spare a couple of minutes?”
“For what exactly?”
“You are such a tease,” she murmured. “You seem so human sometimes.”
“I know, and you seem so Xan sometimes. There is a belief that Earth was colonized by Xans. Sometimes I see and hear things that make me believe it’s true.”
“Maybe Xanadu was colonized by humans,” she giggled.
“Hardly. Humans are seriously backward.”
“Oh, yeah? Who was it that figured out how to get these nasty Sparians to back off?”
“That was the Xan in you,” he chuckled as the pod stopped in front of his chambers. “I’m coming in. I need to get a couple of things before I leave.”
“How does the pod know we’ve arrived?” Ellie asked, climbing out. “It does everything automatically. It even takes itself back to its dock.”
“These pods are simple, they’re like bicycles,” he declared, gesturing at the small, oval-shaped cab. “Our fighter pods, now those are amazing. I can maneuver them from a control center, like your drones, but they’re far more advanced, of course.”
“Then why are you going out? Why don’t you do that? Why don’t you stay here in the safety of the station?”
“In a situation like this I need to be inside the pod and at the controls. I need to feel the enemy, as do all the Xan flyers I command. There’s an instinctive thing that materializes when we’re out there facing an enemy, and it doesn’t happen sitting at a remote control. It’s what we’re trained for, Ellie.”
“But my idea is going to work, you said so yourself. It’s already working. You won’t have to fight.”
“But if we do, I need to be out there to do it effectively. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I suppose,” she muttered, “but getting back to my two minutes,” she added, stepping up to him and circling her arms around his neck, “what do you think, Mr. Aviator? Can you use those magic fingers of yours?”
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