Exodus Of The Phoenix

by Robert Stadnik

  “Then I guess you have a new squad leader,” he answered. John extended his hand.

  “Commander John Roberts. Welcome aboard the EXODUS,” he said as the two men shook hands.

  “Lieutenant Martin Everold.” Dr. Meyers looked at them and nodded in satisfaction. He knew Admiral Johnson would be proud seeing John right now.

  “Commander Roberts, report to the command deck. Repeat, Commander Roberts to the command deck,” came the announcement through John’s pip. He immediately assumed the ship had picked up a new Screen energy signature, but the lack of the battle siren screaming abated his concern for the moment.

  “The doctor has your room assignment. Get a few days rest before reporting to the hangar,” he said to Lieutenant Everold before heading out of the medical bay.

  John smiled to himself and was pleased he had convinced Everold to join their cause. It was one small victory, but much more needed to be done. EXODUS was going to be the first human starship to explore interstellar space and John was beginning to realize what an enormous task it would entail. The EXODUS crew spent years establishing protocols to handle first contact with new alien races, studying and visiting habitable planets. But none of them had been tested. Everything they did from here on out would be a first for everyone.

  The lift door opened and John stepped onto the command deck, still preoccupied with his thoughts.

  “Over here,” waved Julie as John walked along the catwalk. Julie was standing next to Bret at his communications station and John quickly made his way down to the pit to join them. Had something gone awry? Julie’s voice lacked any urgency, which calmed his fears.

  “What is it?” he asked, maintaining a calm tone.

  “We got a message from Earth,” replied Julie smiling.

  “What?!” John was confused at her answer. “Not from TERRA, I hope.”

  “No, from us you blockhead,” came a familiar voice from the station speakers. John looked down at the monitor and saw Billy and David. Billy waived to John while David seemed busy checking the various monitors on their end.

  “I was able to create a logarithmic sequence and send a signal to Earth and disguise it as normal background radiation,” explained Bret. I sent it to the comm unit number you gave me earlier and 20 minutes ago got a reply back from Cadet Pedia and Block.”

  “Twenty-minutes?”

  “And no indication that anyone from TERRA has detected the signal,” said Billy.

  “But this will be the only time we’ll be able to communicate in real time,” said Julie. “Once we leave the system we’ll only be able to send message packets to Earth.”

  "You guys don't have communication satellites to deploy?" asked David from behind Billy. If the EXODUS deployed satellite relays they could continue to communicate in real time even with the EXODUS hundreds of light years away.

  "We have a limited number on board," said John. "And I don't want to establish a communication network. The Screen would be able to track our movements. Communicating directly via message packets will be good enough for what we need.” He looked at his friends on the monitor. “Has Bret explained to you what we want done?”

  “Don’t you worry about it on our end,” said Billy reassuringly. “You send videos and reports on your progress and we’ll get it out to as many news outlets and people as possible. We’ll make sure that the public know about what you’re doing out there.”

  “John,” said David. “TERRA has already reported the ship was destroyed by the Screen. They’ve taken full control of the system sensor net so no one can confirm what they’re saying.”

  “And undoubtedly they’ll create more propaganda to discount anything we send,” said Julie.

  “Eventually people will start to question them. They can’t keep fooling people forever.” John looked at his friends one last time. “Just be careful you two. If you get caught...”

  “We’ll be fine,” interrupted Billy. “You just keep yourselves alive out there. David and I will take care of things on our end.”

  “We’re rotating towards Luna’s trajectory,” said David. “We need to disconnect or risk being picked up by Luna Station.”

  “Right,” said Billy. “John, Julie...you two take care.”

  “You as well,” replied John. The transmission was cut and the images of his best friends disappeared. John knew it was a real possibility that he would never see them or Earth ever again.

  “There’s one more thing,” said Julie, grabbing his attention. He stood back up from leaning on the console and noticed the entire command deck staff standing together behind John. Alex’sis, who was in front of the group, stepped forward.

  “It’s been discussed with the entire crew and after everything that has happened we realized that we couldn’t have the ship led by a commander.”

  She handed John a small black velvet box. John recognized it as one used in TERRA ceremonies that contained military bars. He opened it and saw a set of gold captain bars.

  “I know this is unconventional, but on behalf of the entire crew we hereby grant you a field promotion to the rank of captain.” Alex’sis extended her hand. “Congratulations, and thank you for getting us this far.”

  John took Alex’sis hand in kind and shook it. The entire command deck crew clapped and cheered in celebration.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  President Butu looked out towards the ocean as the sun slowly began to set. It was nothing like the sunsets of the mountain region in her home of Ethiopia, but it still provided a median for her to clear her thoughts. She was waiting for the arrival of Admiral Donalds whom she finally demanded a face-to-face meeting. There had been quite a stir in the general public since the release of footage showing the EXODUS was still intact and had defeated several Screen ships. The footage was authenticated which meant that everything the command council had told the tri-planetary government was a lie. Although the council had not been forthright with Butu she was still shocked at the extent to which they were trying to cover this entire matter up.

  The door opened and Butu turned to see her chief of staff walk in alone.

  “Is the admiral here?” she asked. Charles said nothing until he was at her desk.

  “Admiral Donalds elected not to meet with you in person,” he replied in a somber tone. “I communicated the urgency of the meeting, but he was committed in his decision not to come.” The anger welled up in the president. Never in her years in office had she been dismissed in such a manner. TERRA reported directly to the president, but it seemed the command council no longer felt a need to report to a superior.

  “I did manage to convince the admiral to speak with you over communication. He’s on the line now.”

  “Thank you Charles,” she said, not showing any display of anger. “I’ll need some privacy.” Charles nodded.

  “I’ll be heading over to see our guest.”

  “Let me know how he’s doing.”

  Charles nodded and left the office. Alone, the president turned on her desk monitor and saw the admiral. He looked as smug and arrogant as ever.

  “Admiral Donalds, so good to finally speak with you again.” She maintained a pleasant composure even though every bone in her body was telling her to show no mercy towards him.

  “As you as well,” he replied in an equally pleasant voice. “My apologies for not keeping in regular contact with you, but this whole situation has been most troublesome.”

  “Oh, I agree. It’s also quite disturbing what the news has been broadcasting. It contradicts what you’ve been telling the public and my office.”

  “Unfortunately there are those out there who look to discredit TERRA. I just hope the public sees this erroneous transmission as the fabrication it is.”

  “Except it’s not a fabrication, is it?” Butu leaned in towards the monitor, her eyes ablaze with an intense look. “I know the EXODUS wasn’t destroyed. You didn’t think we weren’t going to verify the legitimacy of that footage?”

  Th
e admiral sat back in his chair and took stock of the situation. “I know I could deny it, seeing how no one in your administration had access to the sensor net.”

  “Did you really think I was going to sit here and do nothing as you told the world what was going on? I know the ship survived two Screen attacks. I know about the dummy dossiers you’ve created about the cadets to discredit them in the eyes of the public.”

  “Very good, Madam President,” applauded the admiral in a mocking tone. “You would do well in TERRA. A shame you will have your hands full confirming our cover story to the public.”

  “I have no intention of going on with the lies you created.”

  “You also cannot contradict them either. If you go to the public and expose our cover story the people may think you approve of the ship’s launch. Some may even think you orchestrated it. It would not be difficult to link the president’s office to EXODUS or Admiral Johnson.”

  “If that’s supposed to scare me then you’ve threatened the wrong woman.”

  “Who’s the public going to believe? A president who deals with planetary affairs, or us, who have protected humanity from the Screen for generations. TERRA is revered by everyone. We protect the well-being of the three planets. It’s because of TERRA that the Screen has never attacked Mars, Luna, or Earth.”

  Unfortunately Butu knew Donalds had the advantage. A showdown between TERRA and the government would certainly result in the public siding with TERRA. The organization was simply too well respected. Butu’s presidency would be consumed by such a fight, turning her into a lame duck.

  “Don’t be too sure about being so highly regarded,” she remarked. “Not everyone in TERRA holds the institution in such esteem. The people on the EXODUS have proven that.”

  “The EXODUS is gone and the chance of her surviving in space is negligible.”

  “She's already survived two Screen encounters. If she could do that then I believe she’ll survive in space. And TERRA will have a lot to answer for the day EXODUS returns home.” Butu was ready to turn the monitor off, but had one more comment to shoot off. “By the way, did you ever locate Admiral Johnson?” Donalds looked at her with wide eyes. But she ended the call before he could respond.

  Butu sat back in her seat and took a deep breath. Her relationship with TERRA had permanently changed. She could never trust them again. But she had to be careful; TERRA was the military and could exert martial law over the three planets if the relationship between the president and TERRA degenerated.

  Her interoffice line beeped. It was her assistant Janice.

  "What is it?" asked Butu.

  "The techs just dropped off the bot. It's out here waiting for you."

  "Good, send it in alone," instructed Butu. "Did they find anything wrong with it?"

  "According to them the bot is old but in perfect working order." Butu saw the door open and the black bot roll in.

  "Thank you, Janice." Butu shut the line off and stood up. She had been given regular updates regarding this house bot, who called itself X. It took a lot of convincing from the agents to separate X from Admiral Johnson. Only when the bot saw the admiral was actually receiving medical care did it agree to leave the hospital. Given its odd behavior the bot was thoroughly checked out before being interviewed by the president.

  "Hello there," said Butu. X's upper body rotated so it's ocular sensors could lock onto her. The bot said nothing and it seemed to be gauging the president.

  "Do you know who I am?" asked Butu.

  "Your physical parameters conform to President Mushari Butu, leader of the tri-planetary government governing Earth, Luna, and Mars."

  "That is correct," said Butu as she slowly stepped from behind her desk and approached the bot. "Do you know why you're here?"

  "It has been stated that you wish to have a private conversation with me."

  "Is that alright?"

  "Are you the one responsible for arranging Admiral Johnson's care?" Butu found it strange for the bot to ask such a question. They had not even addressed the admiral, yet the bot took it upon itself to inquire about him.

  "I am. I was told the admiral is quite ill."

  "Your assessment is correct. I am grateful for your assistance with him and will answer any question you may have."

  This bot was acting very strange. It seemed to display emotional concern for others, something the president never saw in a bot. It made her uneasy and she wondered if maybe the technicians had missed something in their assessment.

  "Do you mind if I sit down," Butu asked as she sat on the couch. "I understand you lived at the Roberts residence in California."

  X moved around the couch and stood near to the president. "Correct. I was initially owned by John Senior and Graciella Roberts. When they died I assisted Nicole in raising John."

  "So she became your owner?"

  X looked away from the president for a few moments, contemplating the question. It looked again at her when it replied. "Nicole, John, and I were a family unit. According to law I was technically owned by Nicole, however such notion was not carried in the household."

  This bot intrigued and unnerved Butu at the same time. It seemed to be able to convey some sort of self-awareness, but such a thing was impossible with bots. Research into artificial intelligence was far from making a bot self-aware.

  "When Nicole departed I assumed responsibilities for John's care," said X, interrupting Butu's thoughts. "When he moved to New York my primary function was relegated to the house's upkeep.

  "Why did Admiral Johnson come to the house?"

  "John sent an electronic message to me informing that Admiral Johnson might reside temporarily at the house and to obey any and all instructions he gave."

  "Did John tell you anything else?" Butu was hoping the cadet had confided in the bot about the EXODUS.

  "John informed me that he was leaving the planet and would not return for an extended length of time. He requested I continue my duties watching the house in his absence."

  Which the president learned had been destroyed. "Did you or the admiral blow up the house?" she asked.

  "Admiral Johnson was the only individual capable of detonating the house with people inside. Since it is against my programming to harm a person I could not execute such a task."

  Butu was relieved to hear that the bot still had its basic programming intact. "But John never told you about where he was or what he was doing."

  "Negative," said X. Butu was disappointed hearing this. She was hoping the bot would have yielded new information.

  "May I make several inquiries?" asked X. The question dumbfounded the president.

  "Of...of course."

  "Do you know where John is and when he might return?"

  Butu was amazed the affection the bot seemed to hold for people. She thought about telling it where John was, but felt it best to keep the bot in the dark.

  "I'm afraid I don't know. I was hoping you had an idea."

  X slowly rolled away from the couch and to the window, looking out at the view. Butu was genuinely touched by what she saw. She wasn't sure, but she felt that X was saddened not having any news about his owner.

  "With the house non-existent I am no longer able to fulfill my functions," said X. "What will become of me?"

  "It hasn't been decided," replied Butu. "What would you like to happen?"

  "Logically, I should be turned over to Robonetrix for refurbishment and upgrade so I may be sold to another family or company. However a refurbishment would entail a memory wipe and I do not wish to have my memory lost."

  Butu stood up. "You don't want to lose your identity?"

  "I have many years of memories of my time with John. I would not want to lose those memories. I also made a promise to Admiral Johnson to ensure he is properly cared for."

  Butu had seen many things in her life, but nothing could match what she witnessed today. Somehow this bot had made a personal connection with people in its life. It had transcended it
s basic programming and was able to formulate thoughts and opinions about others.

  Butu approached X and kneeled down to face its ocular sensors. "How about you stay here with me? I promise you won't be refurbished and we both can wait until John returns."

  "That is a most agreeable offer," said X. "Why would you agree to take me in?"

  "Because it's the right thing to do," said Butu. "Sometimes people do things because it's simply the right thing to do."

  "It is logical to assume that John would be satisfied with this arrangement." X turned its sight again out to the window.

  While Butu was talking with X Charles had the presidential car take him to the local hospital. The car dropped him off in the back of the building where two secret service agents were guarding the door. He quickly headed inside and down the stairs. He made arrangements to have the entire basement level evacuated per orders of the president. The only individuals down here were the president’s personal medical staff and more secret service agents. Charles knew exactly where he was going as he had personally made all the arrangements. He entered a room finding the president’s chief medical doctor and nurse talking. The room was bare with only medical equipment lining the back wall. In front of the equipment was a bed where Admiral Oliver Johnson was lying.

  “Doctor,” announced Charles, shaking hands with the older gentleman. “Have you finished all your tests?”

  “I did and the results are not good,” replied the doctor in a disheartened tone. “The admiral is suffering from severe dementia. It’s apparent that he’s had this condition for years. Blood tests indicate that he was taking medication for it, but his condition has deteriorated to the point that his medication could no longer suppress his symptoms.”

  “Have you tried treating him?”

  “We’ve tried various combinations, but nothing’s worked. His body has developed immunities to the medications he was taking and nothing else has proven effective. We’ll continue to do what we can for him but I’m afraid he’s beyond help.”