Captain Ryan, I bring horrible news. The unimaginable has happened. The UN command worldship, Exeter, has been fired-upon and badly damaged by Enterprise. Secretary Kahl has been killed, along with countless others. The surprise attack occurred fifteen minutes ago. Enterprise landed two rail-balls before our automatic membranes deployed. The damage is staggering. Currently we have air seals on most sections and damage-control parties are at work. As soon as our membranes went up, all other worldships employed them too. At that point, Enterprise, Firefly, Nimitz, and Defiance broke formation and headed off in a different direction at maximal velocity. They took one farmship with them, though it accompanied them under duress. No other ships were attacked or damaged. I am in temporary command.
No warnings, communications, or responses to challenge have been received from any of the fleeing vessels. No justification for the atrocity has been provided. I am not ordering a counter-attack, at least for now. I need to find out what happened and why in order to take a deliberate course of action. We do not, repeat do not request your assistance at this time. I am aware Dr. De La Frontera is aboard Shearwater.
Oh no!
I am able to report that Mrs. De La Frontera and all her children are safe and well.
Sounded like another shoe was falling like a meteor.
However, Dr. De La Frontera, who was in consultation with Madame Kahl at the time, was killed. Their bodies are barely recognizable, but both their identities confirmed. I am sorry to bear such horrendous news. I await your response and will keep you informed as more details become available. Massad out.
I was numb. Everyone was numb. I couldn't imagine what Prime felt. The situation was surreal. It was not possible. Those words could never be strung together in the same sentence. Why, in a billion years, would Enterprise attack Exeter? And why that ship? It was in a totally different section of the fleet. She had to go way off course to do that.
“I must return,” announced Prime, “at once.”
“The children,” Toño finished his thought, “must have their father.”
“If I strip-down a shuttle and fly at maximal speed…” Prime began.
“You can be there in less than two months, Carlos.” Again, Doc finished his sentence. And with no nickname either.
Carlos turned to me. “With your permission, Captain, I will proceed with all haste.”
“Of course, Carlos. Take Toño. Let me know if I can be of any help. Godspeed.” They raced off.
Sapale came to my side and put her arms around me. She rested her head on my arm. “What could have caused this to happen? I'm frightened.”
I'd never heard her say those words. Not during our firefight on Kaljax, not before childbirth, not even before we faced the Listhelon attack. This was big. “We're safe. The rest of the worldships are safe. We'll sort this out in good time. Someone will have hell itself to pay. But for now, we're together, and we're safe.”
We stood together in reverent silence for ten minutes. Our solitude was broken by Al. He spoke softly. “Captain, sorry to interrupt. I have an incoming message for you personally from Enterprise.”
“Say what?”
“Yes, Captain. They addressed the transmission to you specifically. I don't know if a simultaneous broadcast was sent to the worldship fleet. I can't be certain, but I think the gain on the signal directed it to us alone. Shall I put it on screen?”
“Yes. Who the hell on…” I stopped dead. In human history, no one ever said they were more speechless, or that they couldn't believe their eyes more passionately than me, right then on my bridge. I looked upon myself, my identical self. Sapale growled and reflexively recoiled, ready to attack the image. Words tried to exit her throat, but she could not muster sufficient force to do so.
“Hello, Jon. Recognize me?” was the face's greeting. It was my face, but that was not my voice. It was…it was… NO! It was parsecs beyond impossible. He was dead—blown to bits and dead.
Yes, son, it's your president, Stuart J. Marshall. He sat still, grinning. There. I wanted to give you a second to fully take in that concept. I'd pay good money, serious money, Jon, to see the look on your face right about now. He laughed maniacally.
I'm back from the dead, Jon, and I'm pissed. Your president, your commander in chief, is pissed at you, and that's never a good thing, son. I had a plan, and you ruined it. I hold you personally responsible. Yes, others acted traitorously and treasonously, but you were the lynchpin, the catalyst of my fateful but temporary setback. But, nothing's destroyed if it can be rebuilt. So, I may only kill you once in revenge. Well, once apiece for you, your alien slut, and those bastard children of yours.
Sapale growled in a tone I'd never heard and never wanted to hear again. All the maternal rage in the universe was contained it that growl. I wouldn't want to be the person that sound was directed toward.
But, enough about me. How're you? I bet your mighty proud of yourself, maybe even happy. Well, between you and me, don't get used to it. None of that will last for long. That I swear to you. For now, I'm regrouping. I need to establish my reign once again, and then, I will deal with you. My present plan is to move most of these freeloaders off on the planet you discovered, the one with the donut people, the little tiny ones. Yeah, I figure it'll be no chore to wipe their slimy butts out of existence. Might even be fun. Say, I wonder what one of them tastes like dunked in coffee. I'll just have to find out for myself, won't I? He mimed himself lofting a squirming Reglician and dipping it, live, into a cup of coffee, then biting down on it.
So, I don't want to keep you from your waning joy, son, so I'll let you go. I just wanted you to be the first to know I'm back, I'm doing reasonably well, and that I plan on killing each and every human, alien, or android who stands in my way. See you later.
He gave a flippant wave of his hand, then directed his attention to some papers on his desk. Suddenly, he jabbed a finger toward the camera, and screamed, Got ya! He couldn't stop laughing for nearly a minute. Finally, he composed himself enough to say, I had you going, didn't I? No, I'm not done till I tell you how I did it. It's really rather straightforward. You should probably do it yourself. You might be killed before I can be the one to do it, so you'll need to reanimate, so I can blow you away. Just a thought.
I have always made a daily backup of my brain. After you inconvenienced me by incinerating me, I had a loyal aide put the most recent copy into this android. Voila, a new me. There will always be, I promise you, a me in this universe. Never zero, never two, just the one of me.
So as not to put you through it any longer, ’cause I know you're a’wondering, why did I chose your body? That, too, was easy. The traitor De Jesus kept complete records of your production. I simply copied them. He put the back of his hand to the side of his mouth, like he was going to tell a secret. Don't tell anyone, because it would embarrass me to no end, but I kind of like your dick more than my own. He dangled a digit and swung it back and forth. Yeah, baby!
But, and I'll be serious for a moment. The reason I chose you is simple. Every time I look a mirror, I want to see the face of the man I hate more than any other in the universe. I hate you more than any being in any universe. I want to be reminded of that hate, that utter loathing, every night and every day until I slay you with my bare hands! I don't want one ounce of my hatred to falter, fade, or fail. He was pounding the table to splinters with his fists. I want to hate you more than it is possible for one being to hate another.
He stopped pounding and speaking. He tussled his shoulders to collect himself. After that, I'll go back to my old handsome self. He cupped his chin in contemplation. You know, hang on one darn second. You know what? Maybe I'll download myself into something else, just for fun. Hey, maybe a really stacked broad! He pumped his hands in front of his breasts. Or…or maybe a household appliance? Yeah, he nodded with self-approval, that would be nice and kinky. I think I'll become a broom. A broom with Jon Ryan's dick. Don't you think that'd be swell, Jon? Jon? Sapale? Anybody? He rea
ched over and rapped his knuckles on the camera lens. Anybody? Oh, turn the damn thing off, he said to the camera operator, boring conversation… Just before the image faded, he flung the back of his hand in the direction of the camera.
When I spoke my next words, to no one in particular, I did so with more conviction and heartfelt belief than I had ever said any words before. “Well, I'll be damned.”
TWENTY-NINE
I forwarded the complete message to UN command. It was more an evil spell than a message. I added minimal verbiage from myself. Just the bare facts. I alerted Toño and Carlos to view the holo ASAP and get back to me with their impressions. It didn't take long for them to jet back to the bridge, aghast in disbelief. Sapale was badly shaken. Quiet as a mouse, she kissed my cheek and said she needed to check on the kids. Please note, she said need, not want. Marshall's shadow had fallen like an eclipse and hung over the remainder of our lives. Damn that inhuman waste of space.
But, moving forward was not only our singular option, it was our ultimate rebuke of his threat. I felt at that moment I would never again feel peace. I would always worry he was sneaking up behind me or a loved one. Even when Sapale and Ffffuttoe were ancient dust, I could never let down my guard or be allowed one moment's respite. I couldn't allow him to kill me, even ten thousand years in the future. I needed to remain alive to try with all my heart and all my soul to end his blight on everything good that existed. He was an evil I needed to end or die trying. It was beyond me how a man could become so amoral, so hateful, and have such complete disregard for others’ lives. But, I didn't need to understand it to kill it.
I was alone on the bridge but a few moments. As I expected, the two scientists rushed in.
Toño spoke first. “He's insane. The man's gone truly and utterly insane.”
“He murdered me in ice-cold blood. I will kill him if it's the last thing I ever do. He didn't care if my family was slaughtered either. He must die and quickly!” Carlos's Spanish blood was boiling.
“I know,” I said in a hollow voice, “I know. Either of you have any thoughts as to what we should do at the present time, as opposed to the hypothetical future?”
They eased off on some of their frenetic, confused anger. “The shuttle,” Carlos replied, “will be ready to depart in an hour or so. I'll take one of the AI's with me. After I'm there, the AI can pilot the ship back to you.” He shuffled his feet. “I probably owe you my life. Any meeting the human Carlos attended, I would likely have attended also. Then my children would have no father. My wife would have no husband, if, in fact, she will have me as hers. Even if she rejects me as a spouse, she will at least have my undying support. Jon, I owe you a great debt, both for placing me here at this sad hour and for lending me the shuttle.” He reached over and hugged me.
“My pleasure. You'd do the same for either of us. Take Lily. Al's been in harm's way with me many times. I need him here, just in case.”
“Of course,” Carlos said. He nodded his head and exited.
“Will you go too,” I asked Toño.
He waited a few seconds before replying, “No. I will stay here, with you. I will remain at home.” After a longer pause, he continued. “I want to remain so that I can help protect your family. Plus, I'm very tired. I'm tired to the core of my soul of humans. I can no longer act in their perverse theater, no longer participate in their petty politics. My place is here with you. Ultimately, it will fall to you and me to put that dog down and kill it. That the fool has already promised to come to you only adds to the certainty that we shall confront him and without the bother of a hunt.” He laughed a spiteful laugh. “By your side, my friend, will be the least safe and most useful place for me to be.”
“Gee, thanks. I feel a bunch better knowing I'm, like, ground zero.”
He slapped my back. “Having known you for a century, I can tell you this. Whatever their reaction, be it positive of negative, you draw strong emotions from those who know you. Now, I must see Carlos off.”
I stood alone on the bridge once again. I stared out the viewport into the darkness that seemed only to spread. Al broke the silence. “Jon, I heard what you said to Carlos, about him taking Lilith. Thank you. That means more to this old AI than you will ever know. I'm proud to serve with you. I will protect your family forever. I hope someday you will come to think of me as your friend.”
Okay, like that would have brought tears if I could've produced them. “You are my friend, Al. You're a good friend. Always will be. I depend on your help to try and keep Sapale and the kids safe.”
“We will not try to keep them safe, you and me. We will keep them safe. I almost feel sorry for Marshall. We gunna open up an industrial-size can a'ass whooping on that pitiful piece o'shit.”
“Why, Al, I'm shocked and dismayed. Who programmed you to talk like that?”
“Wasn't it you, Captain?”
“I don't recall any sessions like that. I may need to go to confession just because I heard those words come out of your speakers.”
“I am programed to receive them, if you feel the need.”
I went back to our quarters to check on Sapale. She was having a snack with the kids and Ffffuttoe. Junior hopped down and ran to greet me. Along with the levity from Al, the naive joy in his eyes warmed my soul, if only a bit.
“Daddy!” he yelled. “Do you want some calrf? Mom made it special.”
Calrf was a Kaljaxian stew. It tasted like old sweat socks boiled in pickle juice that something living had accidentally fallen into, died, and decayed. The texture was that of splintered wood suspended in warm mush. Not a big fan of calrf, myself. Knowing she fixed it reflected how melancholy she was. Whenever she was sad, which was unbelievably rare, she made calrf or some equally revolting dish from back home. Not surprisingly, the kids loved it. I never had the nerve to ask Ffffuttoe how she could possibly like it, but she'd eat anything. She'd also asked Sapale why I questioned her on the point, which would bring a growl, directed at me, from the love of my life.
“No, Jon, I'll leave it all for you and your sister. It's too good to waste on me. I'll get a bowl of chicken soup. Okay?”
He grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the table. Sapale said she'd make the soup and asked me to sit. It was nice. The five of us sitting around the table sharing a simple meal. I needed that type of grounding experience. When the kids finished, they ran off to play.
Ffffuttoe pushed back from the table and said, “Babies need check. I go.”
With the two of us pretending to eat, we sat in silence a while. She broke the uncomfortable stillness. “Marshall, he's completely lost his mind.”
I raised my eyebrows and tilted my head. “It would appear so. I think he doesn't like me very much either.”
She dropped her spoon. It clinked loudly off her bowl and skidded to the floor. “Jon, please! This isn't the time for humor, especially yours.”
“Sorry. I know. I was just trying to lighten the mood.”
“A madman has just promised to kill you, me, and our children. Lightening of the mood is both impossible and inappropriate.” I raised my hands in surrender. She was, of course, right. “What're we going to do?”
I'd thought a lot about that in a short time. There was only one real option. “We do exactly what we were planning to do. We go to GB 3 and begin a new life.”
Her chin quivered as she replied. “But he'll know where we are, right where to find us. We have to go somewhere else. Somewhere safe.”
This was tough, easily the hardest discussion I'd ever participated in. “There is no safe place. If the moron is determined to find us, he will. And, even if he didn't or couldn't, we’ll jump at every sound in the night and never know a moment's peace. We have two options. One, keep running in this ship, at this speed, forever. That way he could never catch up to us. The other is to settle down somewhere and be sensibly prepared.”
She threw her head back in frustration. “I know. Even if we went back to Kaljax and blended in, he would f
ind us, sooner or later. Well,” she flipped the back of her hand my direction, “you might not be so hard for him to single out.” She almost smiled. Almost.
“Hey!” I protested, “I thought you said no silliness. That,” I pointed toward her, “was definitely silly. Very silly, in fact.”
She put the back of her hand over her mouth and chuckled. “I lied.” We both snorted a bit at that. “This isn't a worldship, so we can't run in it forever. If we tried, it would be unfair to all the children. They deserve a home. A place with dirt and bugs and a sun burning down on their heads.”
I drew my head back in confusion. “My children deserve bugs? I'm not certain how to take that factoid.”
She pointed a wagging finger at me. “Don't push your luck, flyboy. When will he come?” she asked seriously.
I was fairly confident about this issue. “Not soon. Likely, not for years. He's got a lot on his plate, just yet.” I held up fingers to document each point. “One, he has to consolidate his base of power. He can surround himself with a bunch of his old lackeys, sure. But securing the loyalty, or at least mortal fear, of millions of unpleasantly surprised citizens will be hard. It may be impossible. In retrospect, he was building up the numbers of women again. He's still salivating over creating a harem ship. That's going to pose a challenge in winning the hearts and minds of a consenting public. 'A vote for Marshall is a vote for him enslaving someone you love.' No landslide victories in those elections for Stuart, the dimwitted son of a bitch. He actually thinks he can take control of millions of nervous citizens while he's stealing their women.” I whacked the back of my hand against my temple. “Nuts!
The Forever Enemy (The Forever Series Book 2) Page 14