AmerIndian 2192

by J. Scott Garibay

CHAPTER 32

  Darkness ebbed slowly away and light played carefully along the edge of Alexa's consciousness. The fall into the ship had knocked her unconscious and so the journey through the grav hole had been oblivion to her. Now she could feel her arms and legs around her. She snapped upright, quickly opening her eyes wide. It was a strange sensation. As she opened her eyes the darkness returned. Her eyes were wide open but seeing nothing.

  Alexa felt around her and realized she was lying on a soft mattress. Alarmed, she wondered who had put her in bed? No one should be on this ship but her. Throwing her legs over the side of the bed she tried to stand, falling immediately to the floor. Her alarm intensified. The floor was cold, hard. She tried to scramble back to her feet but hit something as she rose. The crash of steel and the breaking of glass erupted in the small dark room.

  Breaking glass? She had only heard the breaking of glass one other time in her life. She remembered her father, President Sullivan, angry over a failed political maneuver throwing a two hundred year old vase against a wall. A beam of light, orange and flickering, spread across the room. Cold liquid now covered her, clinging to her light robe.

  A figure stood before her. The figure bent and as Alexa's eyes adjusted, she saw a man. His head was shaved and he was dressed in a heavy black robe. She scrambled away from him picking up a large piece of the broken glass. In a flash she was on her feet brandishing the long slice of glass that had already cut her hand.

  The man backed away quickly. “No, No. We mean you no harm. You are safe, you are safe.”

  Alexa looked around. Lit only by the torch the man held, she could see the room was small and windowless. A bed, a nightstand, a desk and chair were the only pieces of furniture. The furniture seemed to be wood. She also made out that the cold, hard floor was stone. The walls were made of stone as well.

  “Where am I?” she demanded.

  The man spoke softly. “You are at the Monastery and you are not in danger. We have not harmed you, nor will we harm you in any way. Please put the shard down. You are injuring yourself.”

  She glared at him and raised the long slice of glass. “Where am I?”

  “You are in Amanth Sector, fifth planet from the solar source. We received you and your ship two days ago. Please, look around. You were not restrained and there is no lock on this door. You are safe. Put down the glass and let me help you.”

  Alexa looked around the room. There was no sign she was being held by force. It occurred to her that if the man had wanted to harm her the torch he held was more of a weapon than the shard she held. She dropped the shard and startled when it broke on the floor.

  The robed man stepped forward slowly. “Please relax. Sit on the bed. I am Michael, the first advocate, the healer of this monastery.” Alexa realized the man was handsome and tall. The healer took a small case from his robe. He then took her hand gently and began to bandage it.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “Please, wait here and I will bring you some clean dry clothes.” The monk exited quickly and Alexa was alone. She studied the room. She discovered to her surprise the desk had a comp unit in its face. She activated it by standard “Comp on” command. It was a high-end model, beautiful resolution on the screen. She asked questions but discovered quickly the comps parameters were locked and would allow access only to the entertainment functions.

  The handsome monk returned and gave Alexa a thicker robe of the same design he wore. He waited outside while she dressed. When she was done, she came out of the room into the hall.

  “I'm sure you have a thousand questions. Come with me. I will take you to the man who can give you the answers.”

  A walk through stone halls brought the two to a set of large double doors. The monk opened them and light bathed Alexa. Abruptly, the stone and wood of the monastery disappeared.

  Before her loomed a hangar bay. Alexa and the monk looked down on a bustling area of war preparation. Four highly customized prime ships hovered in the air. The ships were surrounded by dozens of fighters being repaired, loaded or armed. Alexa knew immediately that she was not looking at any kind of UDA operation. Most likely, this was a Periphery base run by outpost pirates. How the monastery played into what she saw was beyond her.

  A wide, chunky hovercraft floated up to the double doors. Another handsome young man piloted the craft. Alexa looked again at the monk and could see the all too perfect features of a clone. The monk gestured toward the hovercraft, which was now snugged close to the wall. Designed to carry up to six passengers the hovercraft was convertible. Alexa took the monks hand and stepped down into the front seat next to the pilot. The monk sat behind her and addressed the pilot, “We are expected by Command.” The pilot nosed the vessel down and made his way through the hangar bay.

  “What is this place?” Alexa could see rock outcroppings at the front of the hangar bay, which was open to cold vacuum space. A sophisticated grav shield held the atmosphere of the hangar bay in.

  “New Eden,” the monk said without comment.

  The trip to the bottom of the hangar bay was short. The monk climbed out of the craft and helped Alexa down. Alexa stood on the floor of the hangar bay and looked back at the now the distant double doors she had exited a moment ago. The monk led her over to an older man dressed in unassuming, simple coveralls. He stood over a battle table. Alexa had seen a battle table before in her father’s office. A two-meter oval with a view screen over a dedicated comp, a battle table allowed detailed tracking of ships and or troop movements in remote locations. The older man’s eyes met hers. She knew he was set apart, a leader here. He flashed a dangerous smile. With a fast hand he grabbed her chin and turned her face to a slant, examining it. Alexa gritted her teeth but something told her not to struggle.

  “Meat” he said and released her. She shook her head feeling a slight pain in her jaw where he had clutched her. She scrunched her nose at the comment. “Clones, you are all clones,” she said.

  The older man’s smiled broadened.

  “My god, you are Octavias, head of Humanitace. You are UDA public enemy number one. Well, I guess your numbers lower than that considering the AmerIndian Confederacy Elders.”

  Octavias nodded curtly. “Public enemy number one? It's all politics. I sow more havoc in a week than the AmerIndian Confederacy has been responsible for in years. I just hide my tracks better. Now while we’re disclosing, you are Alexa Sullivan, daughter of UDA President Sullivan. The low end model.”

  “You know I was replaced by a clone?”

  “Of course we know. Gavon Lige is quick, but we can tell our own,” he sniffed, “regardless of falsified tests.”

  “I ended up in the periphery? My ship was supposed to be headed for Earth.” Alexa began to feel nervous as the monk gestured to the clones in the area to find tasks to do elsewhere.

  Octavias leaned against the battle table and folded his arms. “Oh no, your jump was excellent. Your ship came out of its correspondence plane within two million kilometers of Pluto. Just happens your ship, with you sleeping like a baby inside, was found by an ice tug with a Humanitace captain. He had to kill the rest of the crew because one of them recognized you on sight. He brought you here to Humanitace HQ.”

  “Why? Why go to all the trouble to bring me here?”

  “The answer to that is complex. There is currently a very delicate shadow combat being waged. The AmerIndian Confederacy, Gavon Lige and the UDA are the participants. Each is a fulcrum for political and military power. The outcome will determine the destiny of billions.”

  Alexa looked puzzled, “Lige and the UDA? No, Lige serves the UDA.”

  “Lige serves the UDA no more than the lion serves the gazelle. I would sooner have your father call an intergalactic blood hunt for me than receive a dinner invitation from Gavon Lige. He is more dangerous than the Race Representatives or any other member of the UDA government. I need to know where you fit in. All I want is your complete and honest s
tory. It will answer many questions and prepare me to be in the right position when things shake out. If you give me your full and complete story I promise you I will return you unharmed to the AC. If you withhold a single detail I need – well I will not hesitate to slice you into six pieces and send each to a different galaxy.”

  She could not look away from his gaze and she had no doubt he would carry out his threat. “Why are you doing this? The AmerIndian Confederacy treats clones fairly. Clones are accepted and respected as full tribals.”

  Octavias paused before speaking. “True. Many of my brothers and sisters have taken refuge with the AC. However, they are in severe, unfortunate denial of their true nature. The tribals treat them as equals; tell them they may enjoy all of the rights and privileges of a full human. It is telling a prince he may serve as a stable hand. We are not equal to humans; we are superior in every facet. Humans rut like filthy dogs creating random, inferior stock at best, deformed and witless at worst. We are planned. Created in clean, beautiful form, sound and superior in mind, body and spirit. The Harmony League, the only other clone rights group of significant power, wishes clones to live as equals, integrate and work with humans. Did homosapiens integrate with neanderthals? Evolution has spoken clearly. We are the new generation and the sooner we wipe away your kind, the sooner the human race can progress to its proper condition.”

  Octavias turned and walked under one of the hovering prime ships. Reluctantly Alexa followed him. He stopped before a grouping of large red cases piled neatly on top of one another, three cases high. Recognizing the cases as containers for Nagaspheres, Alexa move forward to get a better idea of how many cases there were. “You are the group who has been supplying the AmerIndian Confederacy anonymously with Nagasphere when they ran low. Why? Why would Humanitace do that?”

  “Why? It should be evident to you. The AC is currently the lesser of the two evils. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. For now. The actions of the AC serve our purposes in a round-a-bout manner. There is a balance of power forged by the struggle between the AC and Lige. The AC could defeat the UDA with Lige. Lige would now rule the UDA if the AC did not exist. Without the AC or Lige the UDA will crumble without purpose or direction.”

  Alexa nodded. There was some truth to his words.

  Octavias pressed the release on the first case. It hissed open showing the gleaming mirror surface of a Nagasphere. “Now please, you are a lovely, charming girl and it would pain me to carve you to pieces, but if you cause me the slightest delay or inconvenience that is exactly what I will do. Your story please.”

  Alexa smiled back at him. “It all began…” The President's daughter spoke steadily. Octavias would not allow her to stop talking for two more hours. His questions were many and she was surprised at how much he already knew of AmerIndian Confederacy operations. Finally, she told him the story of how Jaret freed her. Octavias now looked tired, but at this particular tale he perked up and devoured every detail. Alexa finished and felt a strange calm wash over her as she closed her story. Octavias was silent. His aid bent and whispered something into his ear.

  “What happens now?” Alexa asked.

  “I am returning you to the AC. With you I am sending a care package. One thousand Nagaspheres, which the AC is in desperate need of at this juncture. You will also carry a message for me to Stormseeker.”

  Alexa nodded. “Courier for the clones. I can do that.”

  Before Grand Admiral Lige stood eight squads, the best body tank troops gathered from every colony and outpost in the UDA. These sixty-four men would be all he needed to settle his problem with the AmerIndian Confederacy once and for all.

  Lige walked slowly, visually inspecting each man's mobile armor as he passed. “Your commanders have failed. You have failed. Time and time again we have been turned back by a band of thieves. Today, that will change. Today, you will have only men of the highest caliber at your side. Weak, indecisive leaders will not hinder you. The man next to you will be quick, lethal and efficient. Today, we will deliver a blow to the AC that will break the foundation of their ramshackle organization.”

  Lige stopped and took in the soldiers. They were indeed strong, sharp and deadly. They would serve as the weapon he needed. One man, his head looking small poking out of the massive suit with the helmet held in his left hand, looked concerned. “What is wrong, soldier?”

  “Nothing, sir.” The soldier replaced his slight frown with a soldier's standard, determined visage.

  Lige walked forward. “Permission to speak freely, soldier. What is your concern?”

  The soldier hesitated a moment. “How are sixty-four men going to beat the AC when one hundred and sixty thousand UDA soldiers were slaughtered?”

  A broad smile came across Lige's face. “A fair and astute question, soldier. Each and every man here needs to understand that what occurred at Naanac was a military blunder of significant proportion. The AC waltzes in and takes possession of Naanac and the UDA's response is simply to send hundreds of ships to take the planet back by force. The UDA response was completely predictable. It was the one and only response for which the AC could plan perfectly. The last Grand Admiral,” Lige said the title in contempt, “led his men headlong into a trap. I will not do the same. Here, today, I am relying on each man to carry out his duty. Each of you has been hand picked for this mission. Soldier, what is the main driving force behind the AC? What have they consistently established as a goal for their Homeland?”

  The soldier thought for a moment. “Preservation of natural resources, sir.”

  “That is correct, soldier. They wish to establish a clean, unpolluted environment. So instead of bloodying our noses by fighting them head to head we will simply deny them what they are fighting for.”

  Jaret stepped forward. He pressed a button on a long black box and with great care held it out to Lige. Lige plucked a long tube out of the box. He held it up over his head. The tube, made of a clear plasteel alloy caught the light and glowed an iridescent pink. Lige spoke slowly, staring at the tube. “Anthra Sweet. The deadliest, fastest spreading virus in existence. Spreads from one living host to another by physical contact. Once released on Naanac, Anthra Sweet will spread from blade of grass to blade of grass at a rate of half-meter a second killing every single living organism down to the last cell. The planet will be transformed from a new habitable planet, teaming with life, to one of billions of lifeless periphery rocks in a matter of days.

  “Before this day passes we will release Anthra Sweet on Naanac. Plans have been laid to get each one of you onto the planet with Jaret and I as we meet with the AC Elders. When the signal is given you will create enough chaos to allow Jaret and I enough time to don our body tanks. The Anthra Sweet cylinder is equipped with a release mechanism that will trigger the second both Jaret and I have sealed our body tanks. Once the virus is spreading all units will then leave Naanac through the Free Mantle via shuttle, rendezvousing with our waiting prime ships. Does everyone understand?”

  “Yes, Grand Admiral,” the soldiers shouted in unison.

  “Is there any man here who does not believe he can complete this mission?” Silence answered Lige's question. “Success awaits us.”

  Lige turned and headed toward the bay ramp on his prime ship. Jaret reported as the turbo lift raised them toward the bridge. “All parameters are go, sir. Prisoner is prepped and healthy.” Lige nodded.

  Jaret stepped forward. “Sir, there may be a smaller window for success on this mission than we planned for. I believe you should reset the Anthra Sweet cylinder to release when your suit alone is sealed.”

  Lige turned to Jaret. The young Kentucky samurai was stunned by what he saw on Lige's face. It was the look of a father's love toward a son, pure and strong. It was the look of approval and pride he had looked for in his own father's eyes, but had never seen. “Jaret, I am now at the head of the UDA fleet. You of all people should know how close I am to ascending to the power that should be mine.
I will soon take control of the weak coalitions that abound on the colonies and outposts. My product will be a nation strong enough to rule all of the seven settled galaxies, strong enough to open the Periphery to safe settlement again and control them as well. Caesar and Alexander the Great will be my inferiors. With the force of my own will I will build an empire to last ten millennia.”

  Lige set his hand on Jaret's shoulder. “I will need leaders for my military, men I can trust, men who understand and share my vision. Jaret, you have been the first of my servants. You have been my most trusted aid since the day you attempted to sacrifice yourself for me on Preltas. We will leave Naanac together. Together. Alive. Victorious. That is the only way I will leave that planet. But from this day forward you will no longer be my servant, but my son.”

  Jaret stood not knowing how to respond. “Thank you…. Father.” It was all Jaret could think to say. All that was necessary.