by Mark Tufo
“We need to get back to the nerve center.”
Dee was transfixed on the scene in front of him. “It seems our propensity for violence mirrors your own,” he said to me sadly.
“Universal cancer, I suppose. Somewhere, Dee, some race has transcended this shit, but not here, at least not yet. Let’s make sure we survive long enough to see if it can happen.”
He finally pulled his gaze away, a deep sadness in his eyes as he looked down on me.
“More of your people won their freedom today, Dee. Let that be the thought you take away from here.”
He didn’t say anything as we left the barracks. The nerve center was eerily quiet as we approached. I went to the comm board. “Hey General, you in the vicinity?” I asked. I purposely did not use the familiarity of his name, as I was still a little pissed at him. It was tough though to be overly ripped. I was still alive and he was partly the reason for it.
Well, if I thought I was being formal, Paul took the cake.
“Colonel, are you in command of the ship yet?”
“Yeah, I walked right up to the bridge and they handed the keys over.”
“Colonel, we have reason to believe a Destroyer’s arrival is imminent. I don’t need smartass remarks right now.”
“Sorry, General. Things have not been particularly cake-walkish down here.”
I could almost hear Paul purse his lips. “I’m sorry, Mike. You’re right; I don’t know what’s happening over there. I do know we have a world of hurt hurtling towards us though. The Guardian has lost nearly half its fighters and at least a third of our systems are off-line. Without that Cruiser we don’t have a chance.”
“General,” Dee spoke, “this ship is not fairing much better, and even at full complement she is no match for a Destroyer, even with the element of surprise,” he added to end Paul’s next argument before it even began.
“That’s it then,” Paul said with deep resignation in his voice. “All we’ve struggled for these last few years is all for nothing.”
I cared little for myself or for the countless millions that were about to die. I was concerned solely with the cherub face of my child and the angelic face of my wife. They were all that mattered, they were the sole reason I existed. That I had failed them weighed heavily upon me.
“General, how much time do we have?” Dee asked, looking around the room.
“A little under seventy minutes now.”
“You hoping to get a good long marathon prayer session in?” I asked him sourly.
“While I would certainly like to, no, that is not my reasoning.”
“I’m sorry, that was in poor taste.”
“You are learning. General, you must demand the bridge surrender. If they do not, fire on the bridge until it is destroyed.”
I knew Paul probably had twenty questions.
“There is no time for answering questions, General.” Dee was moving towards the control panel. “There is a chance we could still win the day but we must either own the bridge or it must be destroyed. Once that is done, sir, we will need a pilot and some technicians.”
Paul was talking to the bridge when I asked Dee what was his plan. “I am breaking honor with what I am desiring to do, Michael.”
“What exactly are you ‘desiring’ to do, buddy?”
“The best analogy I could use from your Earth history would be kamikaze.”
“What? You plan on ramming the Destroyer once it shows up?”
“No.”
I blew out a gust of air. “Woo, thanks man, you scared the hell out of me.”
“I plan on ramming the ship before it comes out of its buckle. To do it after would be like driving a car into a tank. We would not win. It is against all manner of treaties to do this. Even some of our most bitter enemies have vowed to never interfere with a buckle. To do so is catastrophic.”
“I’m not thrilled with the prospect of dying today, Dee. But if there is anything we can do that allows my wife and kid another chance at life, I’ll take it. Honor be damned. All’s fair in love and war. And now that I’ve said that, it finally makes sense. Never really did right up until now.”
“I am glad you were offered an epiphany.”
“Sarcasm?”
He didn’t answer.
“Mike, I think with the defeat of their Devastator troops all the wind is gone from their sails. They have vowed revenge but for now they are acquiescing to our demands. However, they will not formally surrender until they are face to face with the leader of the rebellion. It does sounds like a trap to me though.” Paul added.
“Normally I’d agree with you, Paul, but the aliens are seldom duplicitous,” I replied.
“I asked you once before to stop using those fancy words with me,” Paul half joked.
“I don’t have a choice. I have to sound vaguely intelligent in front of Dee.”
“You have yet to succeed,” Dee said dryly. “I do agree with Michael on his assessment. Once a word is given it is kept.”
“You guys just be careful. Iserwan has volunteered along with some techs to come over. We have a chance now! With that ship in our arsenal we just might have a chance.”
“You going to tell him your idea?” I asked Dee softly.
He shook his head tersely. “He would not agree.”
“Agree with what?” Paul asked.
“Talk louder next time why don’t you,” I hissed at him. To Paul I said, “He’s saying cherry Pop-Tarts are the best food earth has to offer and for some reason he thinks you’d disagree.”
“Really? You’re having a Pop-Tart discussion right now? And no, Drababan, cherry Pop-Tarts are not the best. I’d say something more along the lines of a chicken Parmesan sub.”
“I’m starving.”
“Just get to the bridge and be careful.”
“Yes dad,” I said, then I smacked Dee on the arm. “General, I’m sending the freed Genos your way. Some of them are going to be in some serious need of medical attention, so please send a shuttle pilot with the group so that he can fly them back.”
Paul responded with ‘uh-huh’. I knew all of his thoughts were dominated with the newest war ship he had at his command. I was not going to tell him it was to be a short-lived responsibility.
Dee and I ran back to the Geno quarters. He told Stirrix what needed to happen. She did not look too entirely pleased.
“She is concerned for what is to happen when she gets to the new ship. The games are widely known among our people. She would rather take her chances here.”
“And she knows your plan?”
Dee nodded.
“Tell her to get her ass on a shuttle.”
Stirrix snorted in anger when Dee told her.
“She and her off-spring will be safe, for now.”
The offspring part got her, as I knew it would. The Genos were in full-throated celebration and mourning. Their freedom was hard fought and the price paid steep. Leading the cheer was a familiar face. Chaplin was grunting his satisfaction, thrusting a Devastator rifle over his head.
“It is good to see you again!” I shouted. “I thought you’d been lost.”
He’d not a clue to my words but the conveyance of meaning was clear enough. Chaplin elbowed his way through the crowd. He placed his rifle down and snatched me up. The crowd instantly quieted as he held me up. I felt like Simba in The Lion King the way he was displaying me. Stirrix said a few words and then a chant started up.
“They are honoring you, Michael,” Dee said, coming up alongside.
“I feel like a rack of ribs about to get devoured. Any chance you could tell him to put me down? We’ve got a lot of shit to do before we die.”
“Surely a minute more will not hurt either way.” Dee was smiling.
“You’re an asshole. He’s squeezing me like a tube of toothpaste.”
He waited a few moments longer before he spoke. Maybe he could tell I was losing the ability to breathe. Chaplin put me down, it was then I remembered
he’d been wounded. Blood was running from his shoulder although he seemed relatively nonchalant about the whole thing.
Stirrix got the group moving towards the hangar level.
“Will they be alright?” I asked Dee.
“They will once we acquire the formal surrender from the Commander of this vessel.”
“Well, let’s get it done.” It took some convincing to get Chaplin to go with the main group. I think it had more to do with the blood loss than any true desire. Once Stirrix told everyone where to go, she refused to leave. Grabbing a rifle, she said that she’d lived her whole life wanting to witness a Progerian bow to someone else and she’d be damned if she was going to miss out.
“She really said damned?”
“Loose translation. I improvised,” Dee elaborated.
I kept expecting to be ambushed at some point along our journey to the bridge. Dee looked tense but I think it had more to do with the confrontation that was about to take place. Whereas Stirrix had a look of anticipation upon her stony features, if I was to apply a ‘loose’ translation, I would say she looked like a kid on Christmas morning about to unwrap a coveted present. I just kind of felt like I wanted to crap. Not a very heroic feeling, but it’s my journal. I might as well be honest.
There were seven Devastators on the bridge along with the eight Progerian commanders. Apparently they weren’t as trusting as we were. I don’t even think anyone glanced in my direction as we walked in, all eyes were on Dee. He was known far and wide for his exploits. I guess it’d be like Mike Tyson walking into a room. There was shock and anger on the Progerians’ faces. Shock that Genogerians had rebelled and anger that the Progerians had somehow let them. I felt like the forgotten kid among a room full of adults; they were talking and I was just looking around at all the pretty lights. The instrumentation used to run this thing was beyond my skill set.
“Michael!” Dee said harshly. “Come back and try to act regally, will you? I am having them surrender to you.”
It was then I noticed that the bridge had gone quiet and the Progerians and Mutes were looking at me. I’d seen that look before—plain, unadulterated shock.
“Why me, Dee?” I asked out of the corner of my mouth.
“They can see you. They said they would only surrender to the leader of the rebellion and that, well, that is you. Plus it gives me great satisfaction to see the look of disappointment on their faces that they lost to someone of your stature.”
“Are you saying I’m short?”
“Do not turn your back, it is a sign of weakness.”
I abruptly stopped what I was doing.
“The Devastators will now lay their weapons at your feet. They will attempt to intimidate you. If they feel they are succeeding there is the possibility they could attack, no matter the orders from the Progerians.”
“Just knowing they exist intimidates the hell out of me, Dee.”
The first Devastator began to walk towards me, his weapon still in his hands. He was snarling, rage contorting his features. I lifted my rifle up and pointed it at his head. He snarled more.
“I’m not playing this game Dee. Tell him to drop his weapon.”
The Mute was still coming my way, his rifle not exactly pointing at me but in the blink of an eye he could be firing a shot. If anything my words taunted him more.
“Fine, have it your way.” My shot burned through his eyeball and somehow found the brain. Apparently I was a better shot than even I knew. He fell back, nearly taking a commander with him.
“Michael, this is not honorable! They are surrendering!”
“They’re not surrendering, Dee. They’re trying to make me scared, which I am. And if they can pick up on that a tenth as well as you can then he was going to rip my fucking head off my shoulders. Sorry, but I’m pretty fond of its present location. Tracy may or may not agree with that last statement. And don’t give me any shit about honorable, these assholes came to my planet unannounced and nearly destroyed it. Forgive me if I don’t play by their skewed rules. Tell all of the Mutes to put their guns down or my next shot goes to one of these Progerian pigs with all the shiny shit on their shoulders.”
Dee spoke, the Mutes did not look like they were going to comply, at least until the commanding officer spoke. They did not hesitate at this point. The Mutes nearly threw their guns to the ground. The officer, who made the Mutes do as I told, did one of those backhanded surrenders. Something along the lines of, “you have won this round but we will destroy you in the end. We will reduce your cities to ashes and rape your luggage”. Yada yada yada.
“Could you please ask him if he is done? He’s boring me.”
The officer’s mouth clamped shut.
“I do not believe him to be a fan of your insolence.” Dee had delivered those words with humor. I would have loved to turn and see his expression but I didn’t need to give the Mutes any other reason to attack.
I was unsure what we were going to do with the captives. Then Stirrix stepped forward and took charge.
“She is taking them to the hangar to be transferred to the Guardian,” Dee explained.
“Good riddance. Think we could take this thing for a little ride before Iserwan gets here?”
“I believe the best you could hope for would be a fiery crash.”
“Come on, Dee. There’s nothing even out here.”
“Yet my original statement stands.”
“You mad at me for killing the Mute?”
“You had your reasons. I wish I had fought as ruthlessly as you when the Progerians took everything of mine away.”
“We’re doing it now, bud. We’re making them pay for every wrong they’ve committed. Earth is the rock they are going to wish they’d never crashed up against. And, Holy Man or not, I know you are enjoying the revenge.”
“Retribution.”
“You call it whatever you want, if that lets you sleep at night.”
“I do enjoy it, though.”
“That’s my over-sized cowboy boots!”
“Would you like it if I wore monkey mittens?”
“I get it. Sorry and please don’t get monkey mittens. It would take like three of the poor things to cover your hands.”
I walked around the room a few times. It was extremely difficult for me not to touch all of those instruments. All the lights and displays captivated me. I noticed that Dee hovered extremely close, especially when I got close to what I figured was the drive or possibly the self-destruct.
“What if I pushed that?” I said, lunging.
Dee swiped to grab my shoulder.
“Having fun?” Iserwan asked from the doorway. “Permission to come aboard?”
“Permission granted,” I told him, wiping the smile from my face. I felt like my parents had just caught me teasing the dog.
Iserwan stepped through with a couple of Progs and humans I recognized from the bridge of the Guardian.
“Who commands the Guardian?” Dee asked.
“I have put it in the capable hands of Colonel Bailey. He will command her until such a time that I can train someone properly on this vessel. That is if we make it through the day. My technicians should be able to have the drive back online in twenty minutes.”
“That soon? I really thought we’d messed that thing up indefinitely.”
“All Progerian technology is predicated on over-redundancy. It will merely be a matter of re-routing past the damaged consoles.”
“I’ll remember that next time.” Iserwan stated.
“How many ships do you plan on boarding?”
That was a good question. I really hoped this was the last.
There was a moment of silence as Dee figured out his next words. “Iserwan, I need you to show me the basic operation of this vessel.”
“For what purpose?” Iserwan asked him suspiciously. “You could not learn enough in the short time available to sway the inevitable outcome.”
“It is possible that I could.”
�
�Oh fuck, enough dancing around. We plan to meet the Destroyer head on while it’s in its buckle,” I said. Dee looked at me so hard I thought it quite possible he was hoping I’d wither.
“This cannot be done!” Iserwan shouted. “It is against every conventionality of war.”
“It’s against your conventionalities. I personally don’t have a problem with it. Well, that’s a lie. I’m not enamored with the thought of dying. But if it saves my planet then I’m all in.”
“The General does not know about this,” Iserwan stammered.
“And he won’t ‘cause I don’t plan on telling him. He wants this ship more than just about anything, except maybe that one girl up at college in his history class, and I can’t really blame him for that, she was smoking hot. Dee, don’t tell Tracy.”
“I am unsure, Michael, when you thought I might have the opportunity.”
“Oh, yeah.”
Iserwan was looking back and forth at us and then at the bridge. “Does not suicide condemn your Cravaratar, Drababan?”
Dee looked down. “Indeed, I am fearful for my soul, but I consider this more as a selfless act of sacrifice than of suicide.”
“This is not like driving an earth vehicle, Drababan. I cannot show you enough of what you need to know before it is time.”
“We’ll have to take our chances, Iserwan. Show us and maybe between the two of us we can figure it out.” I’d no sooner said the words than I knew the lie I’d spoken. Dee was magnitudes of order smarter than I was. The best I could offer him was that I liked shiny stuff and I could push buttons.
“No.”
“What?” I asked him incredulously. “This isn’t open for debate, Iserwan! As soon as that Destroyer figures out what’s going on, the Guardian and then Earth will be reduced to rubble. I have a wife and child and I will not let that happen.”
“I said no, Colonel Talbot. I will not attempt to teach you something in thirty minutes that can take up to three years. The mission would be destined for failure before it ever began.”
“That is unaccept...” I was shouting until Dee placed his hand on my shoulder.