The Staff of Ira

by Carl Sheffield

  Marie fired. She just fired. “Dorn, two more coming fast.”

  I yelled to Zar, “Full shields!”

  “Dorn, they are between us and the alien ship.” A large explosion, a bright light, they were no more.

  I asked Marie, “Who fired?”

  Marie said, “The alien ship took them out.”

  I announced, “That’s teamwork.”

  I heard Tressa behind me. April and Marie grabbed her as she falls to the floor.

  Marie said to Tressa, “Let’s get you to your bed.”

  I said, “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I turned to Zar. “Where is the other ship?”

  Zar replied, “He’s running the other way.” A real bright light showed the Xonian ship, took him out. I told Zar, “Let’s get to Earth.”

  The native that took the screen after Marie left said, “Dorn, they got a message before they were destroyed.”

  I told Zar to call the other ship. “Full alert, we’re in the Centaurian airspace. Let’s get out of here.”

  Zar said, “Hyperspace.”

  “Yes of course,” I said. I thought of Earth and their people. They had no knowledge of the world outside of their own atmosphere. On my world, we have been flying through space for thousands of years. Ira came to Earth over six hundred years ago. Before him, my Opa, as far back to Bota. Who knows our species may have flown through space long before Bota. It was my understanding, no one knew how old Bota was. Some said older than Maoke. Really, who knows? Maybe I should go to the archives.

  I suddenly thought of Tressa. Walking to her room, April had her in bed.

  “She is asleep, Dorn,” April said.

  “Dorn,” Marie asked, “How much longer before Earth?” I told her one month, maybe a month and a half top. Today is the fourth of July. The human’s Independence Day when they were freed from England.

  Marie said, “Dorn, how do you know that?”

  I looked at her. “Just history, Marie.”

  Marie asked while moving around the bridge, “Dorn, why is everyone trying to kill us?”

  Answering, “I guess it comes from the Centaurians. It doesn’t take long for news to travel in space.” I sat along with the girls talking. I told them I was going back to the bridge. Tressa was sleeping. As I started to leave, I heard her call to my mother.

  “Kayla, why is this happening to me?” Tressa was with my mother, there was no doubt.

  “Kayla, where is Zin? Look how he has grown. Let me talk to him.” There was silence for a moment. “Zin, you sure have grown.” Then Tressa giggled like she did when she and Zin played together. Tressa and Zin loved each other. I’ve always said that. I also said to Leah once that this would happen. She just looked at me.

  Lying still, Tressa spoke to my father, “Oh, Ira, how I’ve missed you.” I noticed in the corner of Tressa’s eye, a small tear fell down her face. She was with them. I moved from where I was. Tressa laid in silence for a long time, it was as she fell into a very peaceful sleep.

  I went back to the bridge. Looking at the screen, there was nothing. I thought this was good. I told Zar to send a message to all the ships.

  “Tell them nothing is wrong. Tell them to go to impulse. Tell the captains I want to speak to them.”

  Shuttles were launched to the George Washington. Fax, Ren, Mag, and the others, everyone was excited to be moving around. The shuttles docked with the ship.

  Standing in front of everyone, “I called you here to let you know what we were going to do.” I told them we would be on Earth soon. “We should be there in what the humans call September. Mag, you’re coming along with us.”

  Mag said, “We will come along with you. This blue planet, why is it called that?” I told him because of the water; It’s seventy-five percent water.

  I asked Mag his plans.

  Replying, he said, “We will stay until you retrieve your people, then we will go on our way.”

  I said, “Just remember what I said about the humans.” I told him, “I could suggest a place you could try. It’s a place where my family went once.”

  He gave his thanks. I told each captain when we reach Earth, remember to stay in cloaked when we come from hyperspace. We will be able to tell if someone waits for us. We do expect trouble from the Centaurians and the Palatonians. I told Zar when the captains are back to their ships, let me know. I told Ren and Fax of Tressa. I told him April and Marie said she was getting powers.

  “It’s possible,” Ren said. “Dorn, she is human by DNA, with native blood. I told Ren she had been talking to Kayla and Ira.

  “Dreams,” Ren said.

  I said to him, “No Ren, she is talking to them. Come with me, I’ll show you.” Walking to Tressa’s room, Ren sat on the bed. Ren reached out, his hand touched her face.

  Tressa moved, “Kayla, help me, please.”

  Ren said, “Yes Dorn, I see what you mean.” We listened for a moment. “Dorn,” Ren said, “I don’t think she is in danger. I suppose it will run its course. You want me to sit with her?” I told him no, I will do it. I also have April and Marie.

  Ren and Fax returned to his ship. I really didn’t know what to do. Kira and Tressa had never spent a night apart, not in the sixteen years of her life. I wish Leah was here, she would know what to do.

  I went to April and Marie. “I would like for you to try and reach Tyler tonight. We’re close to Earth, you should find where he is located. In your meditation, look with your minds.”

  April asked, “Do you ever do that?”

  “Do what?” I asked.

  “Meditate,” April said.

  “It’s so easy. Join us tonight and try,” Marie insisted.

  I said, “If Tressa is ok, I’ll try.”

  “Dorn,” April added, “She keeps telling Zin she loves him.”

  “Yes, I know,” was all I said.

  Tressa was resting, she wasn’t talking in her sleep. I sat with her for a while, then went to the bridge. I placed a sentry outside the door with instruction to come for me if something happens. Do not enter her room.

  He replied, “You can count on me, Dorn.” I told him I know I could. On the bridge, I checked all the instruments, found everything in order.

  Zar asked, “Dorn, what of Marie and April?” I thought of Tyler, what he was doing, what he would say when he saw me. Zar spoke to me again, brought me out of my thoughts.

  “Yes, Zar,” I said.

  Zar said, “Your captain Mi, he is a good person.”

  “Yes,” I said. “He went beyond to become human.”

  “Why are you asking Zar?”

  “Dorn, please don’t misunderstand me, I love being who I am. I love being a native. There’s a human female I wish to mate with. I know our emotions are sometimes suppressed. Dorn, when she is near me, I just want to explode; my heart races. I think of her all the time.”

  “I’ll talk to you of this later, Zar,” I told him I needed to check on Tressa. “Call me if you have trouble.” Walking down the corridor to Tressa’s room, stopping at the door,

  April said, “She has slept for hours, Dorn. She has not said a word.” I went to the galley for tea, then back to the bridge. I went to Zar.

  I brought up the conversation. “Have you told her how you feel?” I asked.

  He looked at me. “Dorn, I can pilot a spaceship yet I can’t tell her how I feel. We do talk all the time.”

  I stated, “Zar, Mi has been with me for a very a long time. Kira was crowned Queen when he joined me.”

  Zar told me, “I sure was pleased when Mekon asked me to join the crew. I’ve worked very hard to become a pilot. Dorn, you had a lot to do with that. You and Mi, I envy you. I someday hope to have a captain as Mi.”

  I told him from the beginning it was as we knew what each other was thinking. “You will find a
captain like that. I’ll make you a general myself. That I promise you. Zar, for the other thing, you must confront the girl, ask her how she feels. Tell her your plans when you return home.”

  I turned to leave. “It’s Marie, isn’t it, Zar?”

  “Yes, Dorn, I love her. I know in my native body, it is said, we don’t have feeling. Why was that ever said? Well Dorn, it is wrong? I feel it!”

  “Zar, you will be getting a wonderful and powerful woman,” I said.

  Zar said, “Thanks, Dorn.” I returned to Tressa.

  Sitting by her side, watching her sleep, Tressa looked so much like her mother. The hair, the face, some of her father was there, she was Kira’s daughter. I wondered if Winter was still here, what she would think of Omega and his daughter. April, speaking to me, brought me back.

  April said, “I’m going back to the bridge, Dorn. I was just checking.”

  I told April, “She is sleeping well. I think it’s over.” April turned to leave. Tressa turned on her side. Opening her eyes, she smiled.

  “Opa, why are you here? April, why are you here? What is going on? Opa, I’ve been with Kayla and Ira somehow. Opa, I’ve seen Zin.” A small tear fell. Wiping it away, “There were Busies everywhere. Opa, I saw a Unicorn, they’re such a beautiful animal.”

  I asked Tressa, “Why is she telling Kayla changed the word from present to past tense?”

  Sitting up in bed, “Opa, Kayla said strange thing would start happening to me. I don’t understand, I told her that. April, where is Marie?” April went to bring Marie to the room.

  Tressa said to Marie, “We will become a close friend, closer than you can image. You, April, myself. We will be as Candance, Ellie, and Leah. Kayla told me we would become very powerful. Marie, there is a trial coming your way, just be open minded.”

  Marie said, “I don’t understand.”

  “April, someone waits for you.”

  April said, “I know Tressa, I’m going after him. We will become mates, this I promise you.”

  Tressa said, “I’m hungry.” Tressa left the room as nothing ever happened.

  I sat, thinking. Tressa said Kayla told her they would become very powerful. First, Ellie then Candance then Leah, now three more. I was to sit back and let it happen. There was nothing I could do nor did I want to. Kira had no way of knowing this would happen, no one did. I told Zar to send for me, I was going to my quarters.

  Lying in my bed, I let my mind go completely in solitude. In my mind, I was with Leah. I could see she was asleep. Standing over her, she woke up, sat on the bed.

  “Dorn, my love, I can feel your presence here. There is something precious happening, a surprise when you come home. I miss you, I love you so.”

  Someone rapping on the door brought me back. “Dorn, Zar has asked for you.” I tell you it’s getting so a man can’t have some me time.

  “I’ll be there, tell him.” I dressed, went to the bridge. Zar was looking at the scope.

  I asked, “What am I looking for?”

  Zar indicated, “There was a great explosion one light year away.” I then saw what they saw - another explosion. I told Zar to take his seat, call the other ships.

  “Tell them to go to impulse, stay cloaked. Ask Mag if he would like to come along.”

  Mag replied, “Yes, very much so. Tell them to come alongside, we’ll shoot for the grid. send it, Zar.” Moments later, we come from hyperspace. Turning our course brought the others to the bridge.

  April asked, “Why have we changed course?” I told her I was not sure what was happening.

  I said, “Zar, bring us to impulse then cloak us.”

  I asked Marie, “Can you make out the ship?”

  Marie replied, “Not one I’ve seen before. Dorn, they’re sending a distress call.” I told them to answer, only stay cloaked. “This is commander of the Boldlygo ship, what is your distress? We have received your distress message. How can we be of assistance?”

  I looked at April. “I thought I was the commander.”

  April said, “No, not really, Dorn. You’re high commander.”

  “Oh, I see. Carry on, April.” I told April to call them again.

  The reply was, “We were caught in a fire from the Palatonians, a captain Porta.”

  The captain said, “Our engines are out, life support is falling.”

  April asked, “Where is your home planet?”

  Replying, the captain said, “Were not that far, just beyond the Milky Way galaxy.”

  April asked, “Why did the Palatonians attack you?”

  Answering, “They thought we were from a planet called Boldlygo.”

  April said, “Dorn, we’re picking up another ship. It’s Palatonian, the one we encountered before. It’s not Porta.”

  “Zar, take us closer to the ship,” I said. “Stay cloaked. Wait for my command. I need to check something.”

  April called, “Dorn, we are being held.” I told her to put it up.

  “This is captain Porta. Surrender your ship to me, you are in Centauria airspace. I’m in charge of this ship. I know you’re close. Surrender all or I’ll blow this ship to pieces.”

  “April, can you and Marie shield that ship?” I asked.

  April replied, “If we were closer, maybe.”

  “YES!”

  A voice behind me uttered, “What you need is me.” Tressa stretched her arms. Closing her eyes, arms stretched, Tressa screamed. “From the power of Mya, Kayla help me.” Tressa’s eyes were closed. I saw a power I never thought Tressa could know. An orange glow came from her.

  April said, “What the hell is that?”

  Marie said, “Damn Dorn, she’s glowing.” From inside to outside, a glowing haze went to the other ship. Zar brought the ship from cloak, doing as I asked.

  Tressa said, “Fire if you must.” The Palatonians fired three times, bouncing off the shields. All at once, a window opened. They went to hyperspace. I went to Tressa, caught her as she fell. Opening her eyes, “Is it over, Opa?”

  I held her to my chest. “Yes, it’s over, Tressa.” I was thinking, this would be something to talk about for a thousand years.

  Tressa said to Marie, “It’s time for you to find out something.” Zar stood. He knew this was the time. He knew what Tressa meant. For a moment, time stood still.

  Zar said to Marie, “In this body, I can’t be a part of your life. I want to do as Mi did for Ellie. I want to become human, so I can love you for all times.”

  Marie looked at Zar, turning the color of the clouds. “You’re a silly being. What took you so long to ask me?” I thought, where did I hear that before?

  Zar said to Marie, “I will love no other.”

  Marie said, “Well, shall we see if we can help these people, or whoever they are?”

  April called the ship. “Alien ship, do you hear me?”

  Replying, they said, “Yes.”

  April asked, “Can you give me a damage report?” I told Zar to come around, see if there is structural damage.

  Zar took the ship around the smaller ship, reporting, “The starboard engine has been hit.” April told them they have a fuel leak.

  April mentioned to the captain, “We have our own mixture, it works well. It will give your ship life support.” Several hours later, the aliens gave their thanks, told me they should be home in two days. We said our goodbyes. We were on our way back to the fleet. I will have this Porta, I promise.

  I took the lead of the fleet once more. I’ve never seen this much travel in space before. I didn’t ask them where they were coming or going; really, it didn’t matter. Once again, we headed to the blue planet called Earth.

  16

  The Willards were enchanted by the Mississippi river with the great riverboats that went up and down the river. The food and the drink on the ship were great.
Everything you needed was here. What a way of life!

  I asked my wife what she thought of the riverboats.

  June agreed with me, she loved it. Dining with the captain was a life we never thought of. I thought we should be on our way to Roswell, New Mexico instead of living it up on a riverboat.

  The captain asked me, “What are your plans, Mr. Willard, beyond Memphis?”

  I answered, “Oh, we plan to stay in Memphis a day or two, then on to Texas.” I didn’t tell him the truth. I thought the less anyone knew of my plans, the better. I told my wife after dinner what I did back in Saint Louis. I bought two tickets to Kansas City; we will never show up. June told the captain she would love to see New Orleans.

  The captain announced, “We will be in Memphis tomorrow to take on supplies, then on to New Orleans. Join us.”

  John replied, “Captain, will see.”

  Our captain stated, “I hate to leave good company, yet duty calls.” I told him my wife and I would like to take a stroll to the lounge.

  “Mr. Willard, until next time.” The captain walked away.

  “Yes,” I said, “Until next time.”

  The river rolled on, lights began to appear along the banks. Willow trees swayed in the breeze as it would never stop blowing. June and I sat, staring through the huge window. My thought went to the inspector.

  I took my wife’s hand. “How are you, June?” I asked.

  June asked me, “Do you think he will find us?” June knew what I was thinking, as I stared at the lights that followed the river downstream.

  I answered my wife, “It doesn’t matter, June, it doesn’t matter.”

  Oh, I knew the inspector would follow us. I knew it was a matter of time before he figures it out. I knew he would come. If he found us, it would take him sometime before he did. If we did manage to lose him somewhere along the way, he would still come. I told June we would stay in Memphis until Monday. I told her we would travel by bus to little rock. If he was behind us, it would take a week before the boat was back in Saint Louis.

  It was July 4, 1940. Fireworks were being set off in every state in the United States. Memphis was a big town, the largest in western Tennessee. Ferries crossed the river to Arkansas; a bridge was being built. There was a railroad bridge crossing the river. Times were changing here in America for everyone.