by Saxon Andrew
One of the four Agents said, “Yes.”
Jimmy looked around and saw C-lem and his family swimming through the gathering. Jimmy looked at him, “Do you want to tell them the drill?”
C-lem nodded and said loudly, “All of you are going home.” The gathering was stunned by the remark. “The freighter that brought you here will lower its bow into the lagoon momentarily and you will board it. Once everyone is on board, you will be returned to our planet.”
One of the Agents said, “What about you?”
C-lem smiled, “I will be going with you, so, if you wish to file a claim, I will be present to answer it. My family will remain here.”
“What?”
“They’ve chosen to stay here and our hosts have granted their request.”
The pilot swam up to Jimmy with a female beside him, “Who is going to fly the ship?”
“The owner will be piloting the freighter.”
“May we stay here as well?” Other Gread began swimming closer asking to stay. C-lem looked at them, “Why would you want to do that?”
The pilot looked at him, “On our planet, I live in a space only ten feet wide and eight feet wide. This space is something I will never see back on our planet.” He turned to Jimmy, “Please allow us to stay. We will do everything you ask.”
Jimmy stared at the pilot and looked at C-lem, “What do you think?”
C-lem looked at the couples and said, “I will agree to allow you to stay provided you promise to not repeat our mistakes.”
“What is that?” A male Gread asked.
“That you will have one birth and, as long as ten of your children survive, you will not give birth to any more offspring. We will not turn this planet into what our world has become.”
The couples looked at each other and the Pilot was the first to say, “That is fair. I choose to remain and I will abide by the restrictions.” The other couples agreed as well.
One of the Agents said, “I ask if I can go and bring back my mate to live here.”
C-lem’s eyelids came down, “Why would you do that? You’re wealthy on our world?”
“Wealth can’t buy the peace this much space gives me. My space is larger than the Pilot’s but this place is a paradise in comparison. There’s more food than we can ever eat and it’s better than anything on our planet.”
C-lem looked at him and nodded. He turned to Jimmy and said, “Will you bring them back when you return?”
Jimmy looked at the wealthy Gread and felt an immense sorrow at what they endured on their world. “I’ll check with Ayet and make sure it will be safe to do so.”
“Why wouldn’t it be safe?” another Agent asked.”
C-lem sighed, “I am going to face the Mercenary Guild in the Supreme Law Center over the loss of their ships.”
“WHY ARE YOU GOING?! YOU’LL BE EXECUTED!”
“Because it’s the right thing to do.” C-lem turned and hugged his mate. His children hugged him and he walked forward with Little Ayet and said, “It’s time.”
Jimmy pressed his mask and said, “Give us a moment for the Jumper to pick us up. Once we’re clear, you can come in and pick up the passengers.”
“Son, if you and Spring need to say good-bye to anyone, this is going to take several hours for them to move through the pressurized doors.”
“Let me know when you’re ready.” Jimmy looked at the Jumper’s Pilot, “Take us to the valley.” He pressed his phone and said, “Summer, we have some time and we’re coming back to the valley.”
“I’LL BE WAITING!!” Jimmy smiled. Life was one special moment after another when you have someone who loves you.
• • •
Jimmy heard Ayet over his phone, “Ok, we’re ready to go. I’ll be moving into orbit momentarily.”
“We’ll meet you there.” Jimmy hugged and kissed Summer along with Rachel, John, Hope, and AA. He boarded the Jumper with Spring and looked at the pilot and his head went back, “What are you doing here?”
Kee smiled, “Ed, Leit, and Reddy thought I should pilot the Jumper but you left to suddenly for us to make it happen. Coming back to the valley gave us the opportunity to correct it.”
“Kee, is this a good idea?”
“Why not? They can’t harm me as a transporter of a witness. Besides, one of us should be present to witness what happens, don’t you think?”
Jimmy blew out a breath, “Give a little freedom and see what it gets you.”
Kee laughed and turned around, “Lifting. Everyone should go to their chairs.” The Jumper rose above the valley and moved swiftly into orbit. The freighter moved around Earth and they met above the old United States. Jimmy looked down on the giant crater left by the asteroid impact and sighed. So much lost. The Jumper and freighter activated their stardrives and disappeared.
• • •
The voyage to the Gread’s planet only took ten days. It was located close to the edge of the Andromeda Galaxy. Ayet flew the freighter to the giant ocean and lowered the bow. He appeared on the Jumper’s monitor, “I’m going to need some time here for C-lem to collect the contract. He’ll also have to set a few guidelines on what will happen in the event he loses his life. Since that’s going to take a few hours, the Agent, who wanted to stay, has asked if he can gather up his mate and go with me to my planet. Do you have an issue with that?”
“Not really. How is he going to survive?”
“Duh, this freighter is designed for water-beings.”
“Not if we shoot several hundred holes in it.”
“I’m an idiot. I forgot about that. I’ll have him bring a water-suit and some extra tanks to keep it filled. Thanks for reminding me.”
• • •
Spring looked at Jimmy, “Holes?”
“I don’t know what your grandfather is up to but he wants us to shoot some holes in the freighter’s hull.”
“And he’s going to court?”
“Yes.”
“He wants to prove damages.”
Jimmy stared at Spring and shook his head, “You have to be right. How did you arrive at that so quickly?”
“I read a lot, Daddy.”
Jimmy laughed, “All of you do. But you’re right, he must want to prove his property was damaged. I wonder why?” Spring shrugged.
It took more than a day before C-lem and the others went back on board the freighter. Sixty more of the Gread that lived-in the Lagoon came on board with their mates and said they wanted to return. Things had gotten worse while they were gone. Population pressures were building. Jimmy approved it and the two huge ships left for Ayet’s planet. They arrived in orbit and Ayet said, “I’m going down to the surface. Meet me there with the weapon you’re going to use to shoot holes in it.”
“Should we bring our scuba-gear, Dad?”
Jimmy shrugged, “Ok. We’re going to be here a couple of days and you and Ayet might want to take a swim.”
“I’m bringing yours as well. You might want to join us.”
• • •
They took a small courier out of the Jumper’s bay and landed next to the giant freighter. Ayet smiled and said, “Just shoot some holes through the top hull.”
Jimmy shook his head, “You need to get everyone out of the freighter.”
“Why?”
“The rounds will probably blow through the roof and out of the bottom of the freighter.”
Ayet stared at him, “Are you joking?”
“No.”
“That’s a little more damage than I counted on.”
Spring said, “Can the Gread go to the water until we take them back.”
“Only if they will enjoy being eaten alive by the predators we have on this planet.”
Ayet and Jimmy stared at each other and Spring said, “Why don’t you shoot them through the roof from inside the ship?”
They turned to her and she shrugged, “Holes in the roof will keep the water inside from running out and the Gread can stay on board until
we come back.”
Ayet and Jimmy shook their heads and Ayet said, “She has to be related to me. Will that work?”
Jimmy nodded, “Let’s go see.”
“Dad, at least put on your mask.”
Jimmy sighed and rolled his eyes. He walked back to the courier and picked up his mask and tank. Ayet said, “I do have my doubts about her being related to you.”
“She takes after her mother.”
“Obviously.” Spring laughed and followed them to the freighter.
Shooting holes through the freighter’s roof was not an issue. Ayet was stunned by what he saw and said, “That’s enough.”
The Gread watched the process and Jimmy said to the Agent, “The water should remain inside until we come back to pick you up.”
“Actually, it improves the oxygen content. The air touching the water through the holes will make it last longer without having to use our supplies.”
“Good.”
Ayet had several ships hovering over the freighter and Spring asked, “Are they taking recordings?”
Ayet smiled, “Very good. That’s exactly what they’re doing. After they’re done, we’ll go to my house and take a little break.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to stay with my friend Ayet for a while.”
Ayet smiled softly, “Go right ahead. We’ll come and get you later.”
“Can he come with me.”
“He certainly can.”
• • •
Ayet had a get-together with Jimmy, Spring, and Little Ayet and he enjoyed it immensely. He poked fun at Jimmy and he took it with a grin. He was surprised at how smart the two younger attendees were and was disappointed when it had to end. He watched the two kids walk out toward the freighter and said, “Your daughter is remarkable, Son.”
“Yes, she is. She has the biggest heart of the four.” Jimmy looked at Ayet, “My oldest son, who was named after you and I, had the biggest until he lost his life.”
“I’m really sorry about that. I might have been able to save him if I knew what was going on. Don’t put them in harm’s way again without telling me.”
Jimmy looked at Ayet, “What could you have possibly done?”
“How do you think I keep appearing out of nowhere? My species has the talent to teleport and I might have been able to go in and take him out.” Jimmy lowered his eyes and Ayet put his hand on his shoulder, “You can only do what you know. This is not on you but for me not telling you.”
Jimmy sighed heavily, “And you couldn’t do what you didn’t know. I’ll try to let you know next time.”
“That’s going to be difficult; you can’t just run across two galaxies to let me know everything that’s happening. By the time you let me know, events will probably already have passed.”
Jimmy nodded, “But we could have told you when Ayet died; they were in your galaxy. Father, I miss him every day.”
“So does your daughter; I can see it in her eyes.”
“So, what happens now?”
“We’ll go to the Supreme Law Center tomorrow and present our case.”
“Do you think we will win?”
“I think we have a good defense. I can’t say the same for C-lem. The Mercenary Supreme Guild Leader saw his name on my list of witnesses and opened a case against him to be heard concurrently with mine. I hate it but there’s not much of a defense for his actions.”
“But he didn’t harm any Mercenary White Ships.”
“No, but he made the contract that made it happen. All damages that come out of a contract are the responsibility of the one that makes it. I’m sorry.”
“I really shouldn’t feel bad about this but I do. He’s not what I thought.”
“But he is responsible for what happened.”
Jimmy shrugged, “He knows it.”
“At least that will make his death more bearable. Not believing you’ve done anything wrong and having to die is a terrible end.”
“I’m worried about his son. I don’t know how he’s going to take this.”
Ayet smiled, “Spring will be here to help him through it. I think she’ll get him to see that he should be very proud of what his father is doing.”
Jimmy smiled, “I’ll see you in the morning.” Ayet nodded and Jimmy headed toward the Jumper.
Ayet sighed. He carried a great sorrow that he and his mate never had children. His eyes moistened and he knew they would have been just like the family Jimmy had. He shook his head and then realized, he did have a family.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jimmy stood behind a large podium with Ayet, C-lem, and a very weird looking Alien. Jimmy immediately knew this had to be a Big-Head that Ayet and C-lem talked about. He was olive green in color and his body looked like a bunch of matchsticks with a little, very little, muscle and skin. Its head was just about as wide as its shoulders. Jimmy wondered how it was able to walk about. He decided that the head must not be very dense. It must be close to empty…but the Big-Head sounded intelligent and smarter than most of the aliens he encountered from this civilization. The court was huge and every seat was taken by hundreds of different species. The Big-Head said the price for each seat was quite high and only one representative from each civilization could attend. There were still millions of civilizations not represented.
He looked across the huge room and saw a huge Urrik talking with another Big-Head. That had to be the current leader of the Mercenaries. He turned around and saw Kee standing at the back of the room with Spring on one side and Little Ayet on the other. He smiled at them and they waved. He noticed the huge Urrik was staring at Kee with a frown.
A loud tone sounded and everyone in the room stood up. Seven of the largest creatures he had ever seen entered the room and sat down behind a raised wooden dais. They had six-arms, three to a side, that were heavily muscled. He looked at Ayet and he whispered, “They are the Enforcers.”
The huge Enforcer in the middle said, “Be seated.” Everyone sat down and the Lead Enforcer looked at the Big-Head with the Mercenary. “You have brought a case of damages against Ayet and C-lem. Present your case.
The presentation took three hours with numerous recordings of damaged Transports and destroyed White Ships. The contract between C-lem and the two Mercenary Pilots was entered into evidence along with all the expenses paid to find out the location of those pilots.
The initial phase of the presentation appeared to be directed toward C-lem. At the beginning of the third hour, the recording of the thousands of White Ships stalling a mile from their transports was introduced. The recording of invisible ships was shown and entered. The Big-Head had pointed at Ayet and said that his species was the only one that could make a ship invisible. They also inferred that it was his species that killed the pilots as they launched from the transports.
The Big-Head standing with them remained silent throughout the presentation and Jimmy wondered why he didn’t at least lodge one objection. Finally, the Big-Head summarized his presentation and called for penalties and damages from both parties.
• • •
The Lead Enforcer in the middle said, “You have presented a clear case, thank you for your organization of the facts.” The Big-Head nodded and the Enforcer turned to the Big-Head standing with them. “Do you wish to challenge any of the evidence presented?”
“I could challenge that the plaintiff has not proved that the invisible ships were actually Skeer vessels and it has only been inferred by the presence of those invisible ships that my client has been accused. However, I am willing to accept the evidence presented.”
The Enforcer’s eyes widened, “So you admit your client is responsible for the damages the Supreme Guild Leader has suffered.”
“Yes.”
“Then I have no choice but to declare…”
“I have not agreed that my client wasn’t within his rights to do it.”
Silence slammed down on the huge room. The Enforcer looked at the Big-Head with narrowe
d eyes and he leaned back in his chair. “I see no justification for your client’s actions.”
The Big-Head lifted two folders and an assistant came over and gave one to the other Big-Head and one to the Lead Enforcer. The Enforcer looked at the folder’s contents and passed it to his right, “What exactly am I seeing here?”
“What you see is the top of the freighter my client rented to the Gread standing here with us. Please notice the hundreds of holes shot into the freighter’s hull.”
The Guild Master said, “My ships did not do that!”
The Enforcer scowled and said, “YOU WILL BE SILENT!” He turned to the Big-Head and asked, “Was this damage done by the Mercenary Ships?”
“Not directly.”
“What do you mean?”
“The damage to my client’s vessel was done by the ships of the civilization on the planet they were attacking. The damage you see happened when the court allowed them to go and find their missing two-pilots and they elected to attack the planet, causing the civilization there to defend themselves against their attack. My client’s freighter was hit by the local warships as they fired at Mercenary Warships between them and their planet. I have the Leader of that Civilization present to confirm the evidence.”
The Enforcer looked at Jimmy and said, “Did you damage the Skeer’s Vessel?”
Jimmy nodded, “Yes.” He did damage it but not at Earth but with the Rail-Pistol. He was answering the question honestly. The truth, but not the whole truth. “The damage does appear to be caused by our weapons.”
“Why did you damage it?”
“We did not intend to damage it but the White Ships used by the Mercenaries to attack my world were incredibly difficult to hit. Many of our rounds missed and hit the surface of my planet.”
“How many of the Mercenary Guild’s ships did you damage or destroy?”
“We destroyed close to three-thousand in that first attack along with two-transports.”
The huge crowd gasped. The Lead enforcer looked at the Supreme Guild Master, “Is this true?”
The Guild Master kept his eyes on Jimmy and he said, “Yes.”