by Saxon Andrew
Melanie bowed and said, Yes, Your Grace, but may I humbly request one thing.”
“What is that?”
“I will wear the uniform and follow the protocols set forth for a searcher’s appearance; I only ask that I be allowed to wear my hat.”
Matt looked at the floppy hat with the Ross symbol on it and asked, “What’s so special about that hat?”
“My family’s Grand Father that was killed on Ross by the Cainth was wearing it when he died. We have passed it down from generation to generation and now it is my turn to carry it into the future.”
Matt looked at the young woman in front of him and suddenly knew the strength of her commitment. He felt shame at having questioned it, “Searcher, by Royal Decree, you may wear that hat whenever you choose. Al, send that order to Fleet Command and get a copy printed that Searcher Grace may keep with her in the event that someone is stupid enough to question her right to wear it.”
“Done and done. Can you see now young lady that you should listen to me in the future?”
Melanie looked at Matt and asked, “Is he really your computer? And is he always like this?”
“What do you mean like this? You better be glad I saved you from the wrath of the Prince. It was my intervention that saved you.”
Melanie looked at Matt with wonder on her face. “Yes, Searcher, he is always like this but he is right. I caught him communicating with you and he showed me how I was going to take some of my frustrations out on you. So you do owe him.”
“Thank you, Your Grace. It’s about time I was appreciated for my good deeds.”
The four other visitors listened to the two go back and forth and started to relax. Melanie even thought she might get out alive. Melanie then said, “May I ask a question?”
Matt looked at her and said, “Go ahead.”
“How is it possible for a computer to be telepathic?”
Matt looked at her and said, “You are actually more curious about that than saving your hide.”
Melanie thought a minute and said, “I think I am. He doesn’t sound mechanical at all.”
“You got that right, Lady,” Al quipped.
“Now you back off, Al,” Matt thought. Matt looked at Sprig and said, “I cannot work with anyone at this point in my life and I certainly cannot open my mind to anyone else. I am just not up to the task. Give me one good reason why I should agree to work closely with her.”
“She is the occupant of the second chair.”
Matt froze. Even Al was speechless. Melanie tilted her head and said, “I’m what?”
Anglo moved forward and looked Matt in the eye, “I know it’s too soon since Angel died but you must start working with her and open your mind to her.”
Matt hung his head and said, “I can’t.”
Twig said, “You must.”
Matt looked at them and said firmly, “I can’t.”
Melanie had heard about the death of Angel Dodd and she knew that the Prince was her lover. She could see his anguish and pain. “He should not be forced to accept this,” she said.
Matt looked up at her.
Sprig thought, “Searcher Grace, he must agree.”
“Then I will not agree. I cannot be forced into this.”
Durk said, “You will if you intend to remain in the Realm’s Navy.”
Matt looked at Durk and said, “I believe that I am the one who will make that decision, General.”
Durk bowed and said, “Yes, Your Grace.”
Twig thought to Matt, “You must find a way to do it.”
“Why is it so important to do it now?”
Melanie asked, “Do what? What are you talking about?”
Anglo Gardner looked at Melanie and said, “All will be explained at the right time. Hold your questions for now.”
Melanie looked at the Baron and said, “Yes, Your Grace.”
Twig thought, “We have traced the links in the ship and have determined that the two chairs are linked with huge connections. We believe that to wait until you take your places in them to form a mental link could be disastrous for both of you.”
Matt was shaking his head, “I’m sorry, I just can’t do it.”
Melanie looked at Matt and said, “It would be a betrayal, wouldn’t it?”
Matt looked up sharply at her, stared for a long moment, and then said, “Yes.”
“May I suggest something, Your Grace?”
“What.”
“What if roles were reversed? What if you died and left Angel behind. Will you consider just writing her a letter saying what you would want her to know if that had happened; I think it might help you.”
“Why is that?”
Melanie cocked her head to the right and said, “Because you have forgotten how much she loved you and it would help you remember.”
Matt hung his head and stood there saying nothing. “Alright, everyone, the Prince needs some time. We will contact you soon and let you know what his decision will be,” Al announced.
Melanie looked over at the control panel and then turned to Durk and said, “I for one wish to respect his privacy. Will you please take me back to my ship?”
Anglo looked at her and said, “He will take you back to your ship, however, you will not participate in any attacks from this moment on without my direct consent.” Melanie tried hard not to show her disappointment at missing the next attack.
Sprig looked at Twig and thought, “General, if you don’t mind, I would like to take the Searcher to another ship first. I will then take her to her ship.”
“As you wish, Elder,” General Durk responded and he then disappeared from the bridge.
Sprig and Twig moved to each side of Melanie and they disappeared. Anglo walked to Matt and placed his hand on Matt’s shoulder, “Write the letter, Cousin. Angel see’s your suffering.” Anglo stepped back and pushed his wrist unit and disappeared.
Matt was left alone on the bridge and could not get his lost love’s face out of his mind. “Magic, write the letter,” Al said.
Matt moved to his chair and sat down and thought about all that had happened. He remained still for more than four hours and Al remained silent while he meditated.
Matt activated his display on the chair arm and cleared the screen. He thought;
“Dear Angel,
I am so sorry I’ve left you alone. I know how much you hurt and I am hurt even more for causing you to suffer so much. I have loved you for so long and now I’m not going to be there to hold you and care for you at the times you most need me. Seeing you in such pain hurts my soul so deeply. I didn’t plan for this to happen and if I knew it was coming I would have told you every day how much you meant to me and would have shown you the depth of my love in every remaining moment.”
Matt felt his tears falling but the next lines seemed to write themselves:
“I want you to find happiness, Angel. I will suffer as long as you endure the pain. You must find happiness in what life you have remaining. Only remember the happy moments we shared feeling our love for each other and let the pain go. I know you will always love me and you have to know that I want you to find peace and happiness again. I will be in misery if you live your life in sorrow. I cannot rest until you let me go and only remember what happiness I have given you. Love me, Angel, and live.”
“You know that’s exactly how she would want it, Magic?”
Matt jerked his head up. “She is as much a part of me as the ship I find myself in and, like you, I miss her so much.”
“Fly Girl, I miss her so much that there are moments I want to die.”
“Would you want her to feel the same way if you were the one that died?”
Matt took a shaking deep breath and said, “No.”
“Neither would she, Magic.”
“How do we go on, Fly Girl?”
“One day at a time taking one step after another until we only feel the joy she brought us. Choosing to live is the only way we can best honor who she wa
s and I know I must do it for her.”
“What are you going to do now?”
“I am going to make friends with that Searcher that just visited you. She is absolutely ga ga over Al. I suspect I will bring a new level of excitement for her.”
“Can you link to her mind after Angel?”
“I need to link to her mind to bring me back into the world of the living. You know that I would have eventually lost Angel anyway.”
“Why?”
“Because I would live longer, Magic, and I know that she would insist that my life after her be the best it could be. Do you think she would wish less for you?”
Matt hung his head and thought about what she said.
“Thank you for coming, Fly Girl”
“Al, I was as lost as he is until I read his letter. He helped me see what I couldn’t see. I know what I must do now.”
“Fly Girl, I love you.”
“I know, Al; and I love you as well. I have felt you during my reconstruction and it was your love that kept me from giving up.”
‘I wish you were going to be on the new ship with us.”
“Fly Girl sighed, “I will always be near you, Al, never forget that.”
“I won’t.”
“Good.”
Matt continued to sit in his chair and stare at the display.
Chapter 13
“Al.”
“Yes, Magic”
“Call everyone.”
“Do you want to clean up first; you pointed out how inappropriate our Searcher was dressed.”
Matt looked at his uniform and saw all the wrinkles. He smiled briefly and said, “Tell them to be here in an hour.”
“Messages have been sent.”
Thanks, Al. Thank you for bringing Fly Girl.”
“She wanted to be here, Magic.”
Matt stood and went back to his quarters to clean up.
Matt was sitting in his command chair when the group arrived together. Matt could see their apprehension and the young Searcher appeared to be more nervous than the rest. He looked at them and said, “I have reached a decision and I want to discuss it with you; but first I have a question for you,” and he looked at Melanie.
Melanie was dressed in regulation uniform and Matt thought that the baggy uniform really didn’t do her justice. Even her hair that was combed perfectly coming out from under her hat was unexpected. She had to have just piled it up under it the previous day. She came to attention and bowed, “Yes, Your Grace.”
“Why did you ask me to write that letter?”
Melanie just stared at Matt. Then she heard in her mind, “I really think that it is time to be honest and tell the truth here, Searcher.”
Melanie flinched then said, “I saw your pain and I knew that she did not have a chance to say goodbye. Anyone can see how much she meant to you and I believe that she loved you just as much; if either of you had left the other one behind it would be unbearable for the one that died to see the suffering of the one living. They would not want that and I felt that you could only see it by thinking about your love for her if the roles were reversed, Your Grace.”
Matt stared at Melanie and thought about what this said about her. He looked at Sprig, “Did you show her the ship?”
“Yes, I did.”
“What do you think about it, Searcher?”
“I must confess that I am amazed and wonder why I am a part of this. That ship surprises me more than the promotion they are trying to get me to accept.”
“Unfortunately, Searcher, you, like I, have no choice but to accept the role that has been given us.” Melanie frowned and tilted her head to the right. “I don’t believe in everything being predestined but I do know that the builders of that ship have seen what the future will be. I have rare glimpses of the future but they can truly see what the purpose of that ship is going to be. You and I have no more choice in this than Angel did in dying. We can fight it but events will transpire that will force us to it and others might lose their life before we accept this task. Can you understand that?”
Melanie thought and saw what he was saying, “I do. It’s just a huge shock to even consider that this was put into effect so many millions of years ago. I keep asking myself; why me? What makes me so special?”
“Searcher, I don’t have the answer for that. However, I do know that the reason will become clear but only if you and I accept our destiny.” Matt looked at Sprig and sighed, “I have had another vision, Sprig.”
“What have you seen, Searcher?”
“That ship will not activate in our universe until we eliminate the Eight Legs that invade us.”
Sprig looked at Twig and she thought, “You mean we won’t be able to use it to defend ourselves?”
Matt could hear her fear, “No, we cannot use it here. It is designed to use in other universes. The Reg cannot live with deaths they cause here. They would feel it and it would destroy them. However, it is available for us if we can win this fight. If we can do that without using their ship, then this gift they gave us will not be what causes the death of the invaders. It is critical that we win our own battle. The death of the three Eight Legs I killed was allowed only to show us the purpose of this weapon. Even that hurt the Reg but they stopped its further use which alleviates the destruction they would face if we continued to use it; they are in decline and the struggle they have with not stopping the massive loss of life with the necessary taking of life is slowly killing them. They are also depending on us to save them.”
Anglo said, “But we are no closer to finding a way to stop them.”
“No, we’re not; but I believe bringing this Searcher and I together must happen before the means can be uncovered. I don’t really know why that is true but my sense of danger goes down when I look at working with her and goes off the scale when I refuse.” Matt looked at Melanie and said, “We have no choice, Searcher. Either we act selfishly or keep the oath that we swore to uphold. Given that choice, I have no choice but to work with you and after hearing the history of your family I believe that you will also have no option but to accept your role.”
Melanie looked at the floor and was terrified at the responsibility being thrust on her. She heard in her mind, “You do know that you have no other options, don’t you?”
She straightened up and looked at Matt and said, “I am in the service of the Stars Realm and I will do whatever it takes to preserve it against all forces trying to destroy it. I will accept whatever my superiors deem necessary. I am terrified at this responsibility but you’re right, Your Grace, I have no other choice.”
Anglo Gardner stepped forward and placed a piece of paper on the control board, “Then by the power given me by the Royal Family and the First Family of the Realm, you are hereby promoted to the post of Vice Admiral commanding all armed forces of the Realm. You are charged to defend the Realm and those that cannot defend themselves. Do your willingly accept this post and swear to carry out this charge?”
Melanie paused, looked at Matt, and said, “I do, Your Grace.”
“Then sign here and welcome to our Leadership Council, Admiral Grace.”
Melanie signed and Al said, “This calls for a party.”
“In a moment, Al, there is one more thing to take care of before we celebrate.”
Sprig thought, “What is that?”
Matt looked at Melanie and said, “I want you to change ships.”
“Why, what’s wrong with my ship.”
“Do you want to tell her?”
The speaker on the command chair said, “I was hoping that you would explain, however, I think she should at least be given a choice in the matter.”
“Who is that?” Melanie asked.
“It is the computer on Angel’s ship. She needs a new commander and she has requested that you be offered the position,” Matt said.
Melanie’s eyes widened and she said, “Is she like, Al.”
“Of course not, no one can be like me.”
“Oh shut up you pompous wind bag. I am not telepathic like Al in that I was not given all of the advanced systems Al had built into him but I am somewhat similar.”