by Saxon Andrew
“I have no idea. My father and mother could see stardrive and force fields when no one else could. They couldn’t explain it either.”
Essay smiled, “Perhaps your ability is a gift from your Creator. Has it occurred to you that you might well be this Prophet your people have been praying for?” Kam’s eyes narrowed and Essay shrugged, “I’m just saying. It may have taken it this long to develop your parents so that you would appear. I find it remarkable that the only two members of your species that could see energy fields lived in the same community and ended up together. What are the odds of that happening by accident?” Kam’s eyes opened wide and Essay smiled, “You should think about that.”
• • •
The Traugh Scouts began reporting in and the Traugh Fleet Leader who sent them out was getting frustrated. At least six new planets were found for future expansion. He looked at one of the last reports to arrive and saw the recording of the two starships running from the Scout. He looked at the Scout’s communication frequency and entered it in his panel. The scout appeared on his panel and said, “Fleet Leader.”
“I’m looking at your report and I see you were unable to catch those two green ships. Were you moving at maximum speed?”
“No, Fleet Leader. I wasn’t?”
“Why not?”
“If I had gone to maximum speed I would have run so low on fuel, I wouldn’t have made it back.”
“How fast were you going?”
“Half speed.”
“Do you think you could have caught them if you did go to three quarters?”
“I think so. But I would have still run out of fuel.”
The Fleet Leader stared at the scout and knew he was more concerned about his profit than doing something for the Empire. “Your pay will be delivered shortly.”
“Thank you, Fleet Leader. I need it to purchase fuel.”
The scout disappeared from his panel and the large Traugh leaned back in his chair. Those ships came from a civilization with high technology. Should he send ships out to find it? He thought about it and smiled. He locked the course that the scout used to chase the green ships into his computer.
He would keep it secret and once the scheduled invasions were completed, he would take his personal fleet to find their planet. He gathered the rest of the collected data and sent it to the Supreme Leader, except for the course of the green ship, of course. He was also more interested in a profit than the Empire. With a high technology conquest, it was possible he could become rich enough to challenge the Supreme Leader. He smiled at the prospect. He would have to see that the scout that sent the recording would meet with an untimely accident. He knew just the one to send to force him into a duel. That should eliminate that loose end. He would purchase the scout’s ship and erase the data on the two green starships. Yes, this could prove to be a real bonus if he could make sure it stayed hidden. Those starships didn’t have any weapons on their hulls. He smiled again and pressed his panel. A face appeared and he said, “I have a small task for you.”
“You know my fee.”
“I’ll double it if you succeed.”
“Send me the information.”
The Fleet Leader nodded and ended the contact. He looked up the scout’s location and sent a picture and the location to his top assassin.
Chapter Twelve
Essay sat in the room high above the main hangar floor in Japan. There were more than a thousand people sitting in chairs scattered around the hangar waiting to be called. All of them managed to make it through the tests and evaluations Admiral Whitehall had developed to assist him in selecting pilots to fly the warships. Essay stared out of the one-way mirror at the prospective pilots on the floor below and wondered how the one to fly Kam’s former ship would be chosen. He heard Jason talking with Kam, “These are the most intelligent and experienced pilots on the planet. Many of them have flown numerous combat missions with success against their opponents.”
Kam stared through the mirror with Essay as Whitehall spoke and said without taking his eyes off the people on the floor below, “I suspect you have already chosen someone.” Kam looked at Jason, “Haven’t you?”
Jason paused and then nodded, “I have selected two but you said you wanted to take a look at them before the final decision was made.”
Kam nodded and said, “Call them in.” Whitehall nodded and left the room to use the building’s communication system. Kam looked at Essay, “Keep a close eye on the floor and watch for anyone that overreacts when Whitehall calls them in.”
“What am I looking for?”
“You’ll know if it happens. I’ll take the middle to the left side; you take the right side.” Kam looked at Andres, “Activate the speaker so we can hear them.” Andres nodded and pushed a slide on the console next to the window.
They heard the loud voices and then they heard a loud hum. A moment later they heard Whitehall say, “Captain Jacob Levin and Commander Antoly Shernakov, report to the planning room on the fourth floor!”
Essay saw a woman slam her fist against the table in front of her and both of them heard a loud voice shout, “PROMISE BREAKER!!”
Essay looked around the room but was unable to determine who shouted. He looked at Kam and saw him staring at him. “I saw a woman slam the table in front of her.”
“Find out who she is.”
Essay nodded and went to the console and replayed the recording that was being made of the large gathering. He found the woman on the recording and looked at Andres, “Find out who she is.” Andres nodded and began pushing buttons on the main console.
Whitehall arrived and said, “Dismiss the gathering.”
Kam looked at him, “Not just yet, Admiral.”
“Why?”
“Keep them here until I meet the two you’ve chosen.”
Whitehall tilted his head and started to speak but the two pilots entered the room. They came to attention and Whitehall took a folder and began reading the accomplishments of the Israeli and Russian pilots. Essay and Kam sat down and listened to their extensive accomplishments. At the end of it, Whitehall looked at them, “These two are our finest pilots.”
Kam looked at the Russian, “Why do you want to fly one of our warships?”
The Russian hesitated and then said still standing at attention, “To defend our species from the coming invasion.”
Kam looked at the Israeli, “Same question.”
“I’ve spent my life defending my people against aggressors. This is my calling.”
Kam stared at them and turned to the Russian, “You’ve been very successful against other aircraft. Some of them were more advanced than the ship you were flying. How were you able to survive?”
“I picked my targets carefully and attacked at the best possible moment.”
Kam smiled, “You didn’t want to die.” The Russian smiled and nodded. Kam looked at the Israeli, “And you.”
“Pretty much the same. We had limited numbers of jets to defend my people. I wouldn’t put my jet at risk of losing it.”
Kam looked at them and said, “Please go back down to the main floor and wait.” The two pilots and Whitehall both had a shocked expression. Whitehall looked at Kam and he said, “I also want you to make an announcement.”
“What is that?”
“Order the one that shouted promise breaker to report to me.”
“What?”
“Just make the announcement, Admiral.” Jason frowned and followed the two pilots out of the room. Kam looked at Andres, “Do you have the woman’s name?” Andres nodded. “Go down to the floor and escort her here.”
Andres nodded, stood up, and left the room. Essay looked at Kam, “What’s going on?”
“I sensed two people but I was unable to localize them in the din of thoughts. I’m too close to locate them.” Essay nodded and looked out of the mirror. Kam heard Whitehall make the announcement and stared at the floor below. He saw movement at the back of the large gathering and saw a
large number turn and look at a man sitting at the back table. He focused on him and smiled. The man looked at the ones that turned and stared at him. “What are you looking at!?”
A large pilot sneered, “You’re the one that yelled. Get off your butt and go upstairs.”
The man sitting at the table stood up and walked up to the large man and stared him in the eyes. The large man hesitated and then stepped aside. The shouter walked through their midst toward the elevator. He entered it as Andres exited. He pressed the button for the top floor and saw Admiral Whitehall standing at the door as it opened. He came to attention and saluted, “Reporting as ordered, Sir.”
“Follow me.” They entered the planning room and Whitehall said, “This is the one you want.”
Essay looked at the man standing at attention and said, “State your name and rank.”
“Sgt. Sparky Sprint.”
Whitehall went to the console and looked in the database. He shook his head and looked at Kam, “Prophet, this candidate has never flown an aircraft in combat.”
Essay said, “Then why is he here?”
Whitehall looked at the database and sighed, “He had the highest scores on our written examinations. He has a degree from Cornell and MIT which probably accounts for his scores.”
Essay looked at Kam who nodded to him. He turned to the man and said, “Why do you want to fly one of our warships?”
The man smiled, “I want to kill as many of those aliens as I can in the worse possible way.”
Whitehall’s eyebrows went up and Essay smiled, “Aren’t you interested in defending mankind.”
The man looked at Kam and said, “You’re telepathic?” Kam nodded. “So you saw what I thought when he asked that question?”
“I did.”
The man shrugged, “No, I’m not interested in the slightest in defending Earth.”
Essay’s smile disappeared as he slowly asked, “Why did you accuse us of breaking a promise?”
“Actually, it was a promise you made, Apostle.”
“What promise!?”
“When you initially spoke to the people on Earth, you said that if anyone had a burning desire to kill, then be patient and you’d send them out in the first wave of attackers. I did as you asked and didn’t kill anyone. I kept my end of the deal but now you’re not keeping yours.”
Essay stared at the man and saw something in his eyes that was unnerving. He could clearly see that this man would kill him and not give it another thought. Essay looked at Jason, “I did make that promise.” Essay saw the menace in the man’s eyes disappear as he was shocked by his response.
Whitehall looked at the man, “Are you saying you’ve deliberately not killed so you could go out and attack the Traugh?”
“Since the alien here can hear everything in my mind, I might as well be honest. I’ve had a burning desire to kill since I turned eighteen years old.”
Kam smiled, “You had that desire prior to that.”
Sparky nodded, “I did. But I didn’t act on it.”
Whitehall shook his head, “You mean you killed someone when you were eighteen?”
Sparky turned to him and snickered, “No, I joined the army. I figured I could do it without being punished. I made the recruiter promise to send me to the most dangerous location before I signed up.” Sparky looked at Kam, “Then Mr. Alien showed up and that ruined everything. I was forced to deploy to defend the cities and the opportunity to actually kill someone just didn’t present itself. I tried to resign to take part in all the violence taking place but the Army extended everyone’s enlistments and I was stuck.” Sparky’s eyes narrowed as he wistfully said, “There was so much death happening and I wasn’t allowed to participate.”
Whitehall looked at Sparky, “You’re insane!”
Sparky shrugged, “Probably.”
“And your birth name isn’t Sparky.”
“I had it legally changed when I turned eighteen.”
Whitehall stared at him and Essay said, “He named himself after the electric chair.”
Whitehall’s eyes went wide and Sparky laughed, “You’re absolutely right! I assumed Old Sparky and I would become close friends one day.”
Whitehall shook his head and Essay said, “How did you manage to acquire those degrees?”
Sparky shrugged, “I was something of a child prodigy. I entered Cornell at twelve and MIT at fourteen.”
Kam thought to Andres, “Wait outside until I call for you.”
• • •
Andres looked at the woman, “Wait here.”
“What’s going on?”
“Do as you’re ordered!” The woman’s eyes narrowed and Andres didn’t see the danger in them.
• • •
Kam looked at Sparky, “You can stand at ease. How were you able to avoid acting on your needs?”
Sparky nodded toward Essay, “The Apostle gave me a new plan. I’ve not killed anyone yet but I know that once I crossed that line, I probably wouldn’t be able to stop. His offer to kill those Traugh seemed like a good way to kill a lot of victims and I’d probably be rewarded for doing it. I have to tell you that when you didn’t call my name, I was close to killing that idiot that challenged me.”
Essay tilted his head, “Do you think you could have done it. He was a lot bigger than you.”
“I’m an eight degree black belt.”
Whitehall shook his head, “There isn’t an eight degree rating.”
“Then you should tell that to my last instructor.”
Kam smiled, “Admiral, extremely high intelligence can lead to very aggressive personalities. I think this one is a prime example of it.” Kam looked at Sparky, “I want you to understand that the one we’re going to choose will probably die carrying out their mission.”
Sparky stared at the alien, “Will it afford the opportunity to kill large numbers of the Traugh?”
“If you plan your attacks well, it will.”
“Then I’m your man. I really don’t concern myself with survival as long as I can meet my needs.”
Whitehall looked at Kam and shook his head, “He’s certifiably crazy!”
“He’s not psychotic.”
“Yes he is!”
“He sees reality. He’s not delusional. He is quite single-minded in scratching an itch that is driving him toward doing harm to others that he really has no issues with.”
Essay looked at Sparky and then turned to Whitehall, “I must confess that I agreed with you initially but ask yourself this; would you want someone taking that Traugh Warship out and carefully selecting targets that represented the least degree of danger or someone of high intelligence looking for the best opportunity to kill large numbers of the Traugh?”
Whitehall stared at Essay, looked at Sparky who was looking at him through his eyebrows as he smiled, and then looked at Kam. “Is this the sort of pilot you want to send?”
“Yes. But he won’t be going alone.”
All three of the others said simultaneously, “WHAT?!”
Kam looked at them and said, “Sit down and listen. Don’t interrupt.” He thought to Andres, “Bring her in and take a chair. Remain silent.”
Andres looked at the woman, “Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“To meet the Prophet.” The woman looked nervous for the first time as she followed the man into the huge room. She walked in and came to attention in front of Admiral Whitehall. She heard to her right a voice say, “I’ll be leading our discussion.” She turned and saw the Alien was the one that spoke to her. “Please state your name and rank.”
“Lieutenant Pamela Osborn.”
“Why do you want to fly one of our warships?”
“I want to stop the invaders from attacking Earth.”
• • •
Whitehall took a breath. She also said nothing about defending Earth. Was this woman also a loon? He looked at Essay and saw he recognized the same thing.
• • •
Kam smiled, “You should know that my species is telepathic and I can see what you’re thinking.”
Pam’s head went back, “You’re kidding me?”
“No, I’m not. The answer you just gave was a good one but not the real one. How about telling us the real one.”
“If I do, you’ll never allow me to fly a ship.”
“Sorry, but I’ve already seen your answer. Share it with the others present, please.”
Sparky stared at the young woman and smiled. He knew what was coming. It was obvious to those that knew what to look for. She was like him. The corner of Pam’s mouth went down and she said, “I want to take one of our warships and hit the aggressive aliens with my weapons until there’s nothing left but a wet spot on burning metal!”
Everyone stared at her and Sparky said, “When did you know?”
The woman looked Sparky in the eyes as Kam raised a finger and put it on his lips as Whitehall was preparing to reprimand the Sergeant for breaking the order to be silent. She lowered her eyebrows, “It started when I attacked a Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan. The thrill of watching them die was glorious and I couldn’t get the memory out of my mind. I wanted to do it again and again but…”
Sparky nodded, “The Alien put an end to your fun.”
Pam looked at Kam, “You took away the only thing that really brought me joy. Now I’m forced to fight the demon inside me that craves the death of others. It’s all I can do to not kill someone.” She looked at Sparky, “What about you?”
Sparky shrugged, “I’ve fought that demon since I was ten. I’ve not given in to it yet, but I’m close.”
“Don’t do it. You’ll crave it like heron if you do.”
Kam said, “If you know your chances to survive the mission we’re planning are pretty much zero, would either of you want to take it on?”
Pam looked at Kam, “Will I be allowed to kill as many of those Aliens as possible?”
“You would.”
“Then count me in.”