by Saxon Andrew
“Duncan, do I get to choose my crew?”
“Certainly. You’ve earned the right.”
“I’ve chosen Indie Wolfe to be my sensor officer. Please sign the papers for him to be inducted into the navy with the rank of Captain.”
“TAL! HAVE YOU TAKEN A GOOD LOOK AT INDIE WOLFE?”
“I have, Duncan and I like what I see.”
Duncan paused and asked, “The normal rank for a scanning officer is Lieutenant, Tal.”
“He will be third in command on my ship, Sir. You should spend some time with him looking at his abilities and you’ll see why I want him on my ship. Will you sign the papers?”
“Are you sure about this?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’ll have them ready in an hour. Have him come by my office.”
“Thanks, Duncan.”
Tal turned to Indie, “May I assume you can also operate my console.”
Indie smiled, “I can, Sir.”
“I will also need some rest occasionally. Welcome to Zak’s Jil, Indie.”
“Thank you, Sir. I won’t let you down!”
“I’m counting on it. By the way, what does Indie stand for?”
“Indigo, Sir.”
Your name is Indigo Wolfe?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Well, carry on and let’s get into learning how this ship operates.”
“Yes, Sir.”
• • •
Eight-hours later, Tal called an end to the training. Indie smiled, “Sir, I’m not tired and I can keep on with the training.”
Tal looked up and then turned to Indie, “Maybe you can but my mind feels like it’s fried, dried, and tattooed. I have to absorb everything I’ve learned today before I can keep this up.” Tal turned to Ka, “How about you?”
Ka shook her head as she rapidly pressed buttons on her console, “Indie is a demon! These simulations are worse than the Galactic War video game. Give me a moment.”
Tal stood up from his chair, walked over and looked over her shoulder. Multiple bogeys were appearing at a horrific speed and blue missile launches were coming in from four directions. Indie stood beside him smiling, “She’s really doing a great job!”
Suddenly, the screen went bright white as a ship rammed into Ka’s ship. “Damn, damn, damn!” She turned and looked at Indie, “Just how am I supposed to deal with a ramming warship with everything else going on?”
“I’m sorry, Sir, but you and the new pilot will have to work together on that simulation to avoid the ramming ship. Once she joins you, it will be a lot easier. However, you can deal with it after you grow more accustomed to the system.”
Ka turned with a glare at Indie, before asking, “How many levels are there to this sadistic program?”
“Just six-more, Sir.”
Ka fell back in her chair and closed her eyes, “I’m at level two! Are you suggesting there are eight levels, each more difficult than the previous?”
Indie glanced at Tal and answered Ka softly, “Yes, Sir.”
Ka opened her eyes, “Did you complete all eight-levels?”
“Uhhh…yes, Sir.”
Ka turned to Tal, “I’m ready for a break.”
Tal turned to Indie, “Thank you, Captain Wolfe. We’ll meet you here at eight in the morning.”
“Yes, Sir. I’ll be here on time.”
Indie walked off the Z-J’s bridge and Ka could only shake her head. “Oh, the energy of youth, where has it gone?”
“Ka, I never had that much energy. This young man is something special.”
“Tal, you know his appearance will cause him issues with the others.”
“I suppose.”
“You can do something about it.”
Tal turned his eyes to her, “What are you suggesting, Ka?”
“Give him the shot and allow him to choose an image before the others arrive.”
“Kaaa….”
“He’s been through assassin training and I suspect he’s more than capable of using the talent wisely. I didn’t know they made humans this smart. He makes me feel like a dummy.”
Tal released a heavy sigh, “Tell me about it.”
“Will you do it?”
“Let’s see what he thinks about it.”
“He would want it, Tal!”
“But he may regret it later!”
“Why?” Tal sighed. “Tell me!” Ka insisted.
“You know I refused to use my normal appearance because of how I felt about myself.”
“You were being stupid. You thought you were ugly and you really weren’t. Your appearance is quite attractive.”
“Ka, you see me that way now because you’ve not been around all the handsome men in the colonies. I didn’t, and still don’t, hold a candle to them.”
“I’m not that shallow, Tal.”
“I’m not saying you are, Ka. But I never allowed myself to be in a relationship because I always felt I was deceiving anyone that showed an interest in me. I felt they were attracted to someone I wasn’t. I felt that way toward you, initially.”
“I know. But you’re a lot more than just your appearance. So is Indie.”
“We’ll discuss it with him in the morning, Ka.”
“Fair enough; how about a bite to eat?”
“I really want to go over my communications system one more time without him looking over my shoulder. Do you mind?” he asked.
“I’d like another shot at this last simulation as well,” Ka replied. “Let me know when you’re ready.” Tal nodded and went back to his chair. Ka sensed something was wrong but decided to wait until later to discuss it.
Chapter Four
Tal finally wrapped up and noticed that Ka had managed to complete the simulation; she was sitting in her chair watching him. He stood up and stretched, “Ok, I’m ready to go.”
“What’s bothering you, Tal.”
Tal saw her concern and sat back down on his chair, “Why do you ask?”
“Something is wrong. I know you and I can see it clearly.”
Tal sighed heavily and shook his head slightly, before saying softly, “I thought I could handle this.”
“You’re talking about my being on the ship with you?” Ka responded. Tal released a long breath and nodded. “Tell me what you’re thinking,” Ka requested.
Tal looked toward the floor and softly replied, “Sha helped me get over my feelings for you and I eventually came to love her…very much. If I would be honest with myself, I would see that my feelings for Sha came from how much she looked like you. The two of you were so different, but you were also so much alike. Now, I see Sha…in you. I don’t know if I can handle this.”
Tal’s head was still down, when Ka asked, “I’m sure you’re wondering why I chose to stay on your ship instead of going with Jee or Jan.”
Tal looked up, “I am.”
“Tal, do you believe in destiny?”
“I’m not sure what you mean by that, Ka.”
“Do you believe that there are some events that take place in the universe that are unavoidable, pre-planned, if you will. No matter what you do, the end result always happens.”
Tal’s brow furrowed, “I don’t know. I guess I can look back on my life and see outcomes that can’t be explained.”
“And if you avoided any of those events, what would your life look like now?”
Tal was silent for a long moment and said firmly, “I would have never joined the Assassins Guild.”
“You were the Colonies top geneticist and had a great career ahead of you. But you chose to give it up to get revenge for the death of your parents.” Tal shrugged and nodded slightly. “I believe that the death of your parents had to happen to get you to this place in time where you would make the difference in humanity’s future. If it weren’t their deaths, then someone else close to you would have died to get you here. You are where you belong, and you are critical to mankind’s future.”
“What about free will, Ka?”
&n
bsp; “You could have still chosen not to join the guild. But you did join and now here we are.”
Tal’s eyes narrowed, and his eyebrows came down, “What do you mean by ‘we’?”
“Tal, destiny may not have played a role in getting you here. But I finally understand that my destiny was to be in the Guild Master’s office accepting the contract to kill Christophal Meier. It happened so that you and I would meet and start this journey we’ve been on since that moment.”
“But…”
“Tal!” Ka interrupted. “Unlike you, I refused to accept that destiny at first and did everything in my power to avoid it. My first marriage soured me on every man in existence and I would not allow myself to see you for what you truly are.”
Tal stared into her face and asked, “What am I, Ka.”
“You are the one chosen to bring me out of my darkness and back into the land of the living. I finally allowed my resistance to fade away after you married Sha. There was no longer a possibility of us ever getting together after that. But she was taken from us.”
“Are you suggesting that was part of this destiny you’re talking about?!”
“Yes, Tal, I am. Would she have died if I had accepted you into my life at any of the multiple times I rejected you?” Tal was silent, and Ka continued, “No, she would have never been placed in the situation that killed her! It was my refusing to see through my obstinance that led to her death.” Ka paused for a moment, “I told you that the only place I belonged in this universe is close to you. It took Sha dying to get me to see it. Ste’s death was a direct result of my behavior.”
“But you loved Ste, Ka.”
Ka nodded, “I did, Tal. He taught me that I could love again. I never thought that would happen…but it did. That only proved that I was fighting against something that I should have embraced but chose to reject. I’m done with fighting it, Tal. I don’t insist that you accept me after all I’ve done, but I can’t live in peace if I’m not near you. I told you in the LMC that I don’t blame you for Sha’s death; it was destiny playing a cruel hand to make things happen. I had a larger role in her death than you did. I hope you can forgive me for refusing to make the right choices along the way. I believe we are intended to be together and only more harm will take place if we aren’t.”
Tal continued to stare at her and then asked, “You think if you went with either Jee or Jan, something would happen to them?”
“I believe that you and I will be together no matter what we decide. If someone else has to die to make that happen, then they will.”
“But you’re saying you have no free will, Ka!”
“Look where free will has gotten me, Tal. I lost my daughter and the finest man I’ve known. Free will is highly overrated if you ask me.”
Tal sighed, “Ste was such a remarkable person.”
“I’m talking about you, Tal. You are more than I could have ever hoped for and I was blind and stupid. You and I are so closely matched that it took a blind, stupid woman to not see it! Think about it Tal. If you and I were together, I wouldn’t have gone out to repair that satellite alone like Sha did. We would have gone together, and you would have seen the trap that had been set up by the aliens. Ste and Sha would still be alive and, who knows, they might have ended up together. I don’t mind losing free will if I get you in return, Tal. I’m done fighting it!”
Tal’s eyes were moist, as he asked, “And what do you think Sha and Ste would think about this?”
“Tal, they’re together now and I have no doubt that Sha and Ste would be smiling; both of them knew how we really felt about each other. It’s a shame I didn’t.”
“When did you…”
Ka interrupted him, “I started seeing the pieces fall into place after Sha and Ste died. I suspect Sha helped me in some way. But by the time I went to visit the kids in the LMC, I knew the truth. But after seeing how you reacted to my presence, I felt there was no longer any hope for us.”
“What changed your mind, Ka?”
“Seeing you.” Tal lowered his head. Ka stood up, walked to his chair, sat down on his lap, and put her arms around his neck, “Now you have to find if you see it within yourself as well.”
Tal wrapped her up in his arms and held her tight. Ka started crying and said, “We have time now, Tal. Let’s try to do this like it should have been done from the beginning.” Tal agreed and squeezed her tighter.
• • •
Indie was waiting on the bridge the next morning when Tal and Ka entered. Tal was carrying a black leather pouch and Tal said quickly as Indie stood up, “Before we get started, we’d like to have a discussion with you.” Ka went to her console and Tal went to the scanning officer’s console. Tal pointed to the pilot’s chair between them for Indie to take a seat.
Indie saw their serious expressions and his expression turned sorrowful, “You’ve changed your mind about me being on your ship.”
“No, you’re going with us if I have to tie you up, gag you, and take you forcefully with us,” Tal responded with a chuckle.
“Then what?” Indie asked.
“If you could choose any appearance you wanted, would you do it?” Ka asked.
“I’m not sure what you mean.” Indie replied.
Tal took a magazine out of his pouch and tossed it to Indie, “Look through this and tell me if there is any one you’d like to look like in there.” Indie caught it and stared at them for a moment before starting to turn pages.
Ka smiled, “If you see any, fold the page over and keep looking.”
“What’s going on?” Indie asked.
“Do you always challenge the orders given you, Captain?” Tal asked.
“No, Sir.” Indie began turning pages and folded over numerous pages.
After he went through the book, Tal ordered, “Now, tear out the top-five you’ve selected.”
Indie went back through the folded pages and at the end said, “I can’t decide between the fifth and sixth.”
“Tear them both out,” Ka instructed. Indie tore them out and Ka nodded to the pilot’s console, “Place them on your console and see which one you like best.”
Indie spread them out, and mumbled, “Every man in that catalogue was incredibly handsome. This wasn’t easy.” He stared at the six-images and then finally picked one up, “I think this is how I’d really like to look.” He turned to Tal, “Now, what’s going on?”
Tal smiled, “We need to show you something first.”
“What is that?”
Tal instantly assumed Zak’s appearance and Ka assumed Jil’s appearance. Indie’s eyes flew wide open his head turned rapidly back and forth between them. “The Assassin’s Guild developed a means of allowing their top assassins to mimic another person’s appearance. We currently look like a couple that we mimicked for an assignment on Earth. Did the Guild Master discuss this ability during your training?” Tal asked.
“He intimated that I would be able to change my appearance but didn’t give any details,” Indie replied. He held up the page he chose from the catalogue, “Are you telling me that you can make me look like this man?”
Tal smiled, “Yes, I am, Indie. If that is what you want?”
Indie stared at the page and turned back to Tal, “Are you serious?”
“As a hand blaster.”
Indie started shaking his head, as he said, “I’ve dreamed about changing my appearance so many times from looking like a kid. But…” He looked up at Tal, “this would be a mistake to look like this.”
“Why?” Ka asked.
“Two reasons, Sir. One is that there is another man looking exactly like this walking around on Earth. I’m pretty certain his image is known to many who have looked at this catalogue. Second, I don’t want people to be fixated on me being handsome, I’d rather they get to know me for who I am than how I look.”
Tal smiled, “That’s very wise coming from someone so young. So, you don’t want to change your appearance.”
“I di
dn’t say that, Sir. I’d prefer to choose an image that’s not so…distracting, and I’d want someone that isn’t still alive.”
Tal chuckled and said, “Why don’t you do this; Ka and I have plenty of work to do getting familiar with what you taught us yesterday. Look in the computer’s database and select someone you’d like to mimic.”
Indie nodded and then his eyes widened, “Will I be able to go back to my normal appearance?” Tal and Ka immediately returned to their normal bodies. Indie smiled, “Good. I’d only want to do this until my body catches up with my age.”
“Bravo!” Ka shouted. “Let us know when you find an image you like.” Indie nodded again and took the scanning chair, as Tal moved to his command chair. He pulled up the database and began looking through it. Ka started a simulation and announced with a smile, “I completed the simulation that beat me yesterday.”
Indie turned to her with a big grin, “I knew you could do it. You learned how to program the pulse cannons to target specific types of targets, didn’t you?”
“Indeed, I did!” Ka turned to her console and the only sound for the next two hours were the clicking of the buttons on Ka and Tal’s consoles.
• • •
Indie looked up from the console and announced, “I believe I’ve found an image I want to use!”
Tal and Ka stopped what they were doing, and Tal ordered, “Put it on the main monitor.”
The huge monitor in front of the three-consoles illuminated and a man’s image appeared. Tal’s brow furrowed, “Who is that?”
“I don’t know, Sir. There wasn’t a name associated with it.”
“Why did you choose that one?” Ka asked.
“Well, I downloaded my current image into the computer and asked it to age the image ten-years. Once the computer developed the image, I asked it to find someone in Earth’s history that looked like it. This is the one it chose.”
“Put your projected image next to the one on the monitor,” Tal ordered. The monitor split into two-images and Ka whistled, “They’re almost identical. That’s incredible.”
“You have no information about that image you chose?” Tal asked.
“It was a portrait of someone,” Indie replied.
“Put the original image on the monitor,” Ka suggested.