TROPHY

by Paul M. Schofield

  “Destroy it, Janet! Destroy it!” Martin said, hoping for an end to the nightmare. He lay on the floor beside Panther, totally exhausted, his head throbbing with pain.

  **********

  “Space-plane leaving the ship, Ma’am,” Kolanna said. “He's on the other side and we can't get to him. We're still attached. We can’t shoot him down and we don't have interceptor missiles!”

  “He's heading for Io Station,” Rogerton said. “If we fire and miss, we could hit the Station. We can't take that risk. Notify the Station, tell them to intercept with deadly force.”

  Chapter XXXXV

  Earth Date: 476 N.V.A.

  Location: Io Station

  “Archer, you're with me!” Rogerton said. She jumped up from her control seat, strapping on a stun-phaser. “Kolanna, you have the bridge. Call the medic to accompany us. Take a stun-phaser with you, Lieutenant-Warden.”

  “Sensors show the two Specialists and their prisoners in the forward cargo hold. Martin and Panther are at the space-plane port, Ma’am,” Kolanna said, quickly reviewing her instruments. “All are alive,” she said, looking up at the Lieutenant.

  “Thanks, Kolanna,” Rogerton said, returning her glance, relieved that no one was killed. Hurrying to the Octopus, they descended into the silent ship.

  “If this ship follows the usual layout, engineering should be up this corridor,” Rogerton said. “Yes, here it is. Louis must have a lab close by. This might be it, but the door is locked.” She began banging on the door with her fist. “Louis, it is Lieutenant Rogerton!” She shouted his name again, but received no answer. “Kolanna,” she thought, still mentally linked with her ship. “Can you tap into their circuitry and open this door? It's labeled EL-1.”

  “I'm looking, Lieutenant. Here it is, it's on the emergency circuits, trying it now.” In a few seconds the lock clicked open.

  Rogerton carefully opened the door. As she started to step in, a stun-phaser burst hit the wall, two meters away. She quickly withdrew and yelled: “Louis! Louis Franelli! I am Lieutenant Rogerton from CENTRAL! We were sent to rescue you and Guardian V! Do not shoot! We are your friends! I'm coming in slowly with my hands up!”

  She walked in, looking around the dim lab. Finally she saw him sitting in a back corner, his head in his hands, and a stun-phaser on the floor in front of him. Rogerton walked toward him and spoke calmly. “Louis, are you all right? Are you hurt? Has something happened to the Guardian?”

  “I have never fired at anyone before. I had to protect her, I swore my life on it,” he said, still looking down.

  “Is the Guardian all right?”

  “Yes,” he said, finally collecting himself and looking up at her. “She's in the cryogenic chamber, she's frozen. It was the only way I could keep her safe from Bestmarke.”

  “Is she safe now, with the fusion reactor shut down?”

  “Oh, yes. She is safe. We will need more power to awaken her, but she is safe now.”

  “Do you need medical assistance?” Rogerton said.

  “No, I'm fine. I'll stay here with Sondra.”

  “Stay here, please. Keep the door locked and protect the Guardian. We must find Martin and Panther.” She quickly left with her two companions. “The space-plane port should be nearby,” she said, running down the corridor ahead of the others, fear in her eyes. “In here!” The other two joined her.

  The Medical Specialist immediately went to Martin. “Look in my eyes,” she said, gravely concerned. She removed a small instrument from her bag, and meticulously examined his eyes for a few moments. “No permanent damage,” she said, relieved. “A little bruising, but it will heal completely. Let me look at Panther.” After another long moment, she smiled. “He is the same, no permanent damage. It will heal quickly, too”

  “How do you feel, Martin?” the medic said. “Do you have any pain or confusion?”

  “My head hurts and feels tired, but my body feels fine. Let me try standing up.” He attempted to get up, his legs shaking. The Lieutenant grabbed him firmly around his chest, helping him stand. “I feel my strength returning. Let me stand for a moment, then I’ll help Panther.”

  Even Panther was wobbly for a few minutes, but slowly his strength returned.

  “Kolanna,” Rogerton thought. “Do the sensors show anyone else aboard that is not accounted for?”

  “One person and a small life-form in the very bow of the ship, Ma’am.”

  “Thanks,” she thought. “Could this be our guider/pouncer team?”

  “Martin, can you and Panther walk?” Rogerton said.

  “Yes, our strength’s coming back.”

  “Good,” she said, turning to leave. “We're going to the bow of the ship, follow us at your own pace. We have one more person to meet. This should prove interesting for Panther, too.” She affectionately rubbed his head as she walked by.

  At the front of the ship, Rogerton and Archer drew their stun-phasers, positioned themselves, and unlocked the door, swinging it open. A woman with short, blond hair, blue eyes, and a slight build stood facing them. Somehow she looked familiar, and she held an orange striped tabby cat in her arms. Immediately she said: “Please identify yourselves and explain what you intend to do with us.”

  “I am Lieutenant Janet Rogerton of the New Victorian Empire. We have captured this ship belonging to Galen Bestmarke. He and his brother have escaped. Everyone else has been taken prisoner.”

  “Everyone?” she said, looking Rogerton straight in the eyes, shifting her weight, and tensing slightly.

  “Everyone, except Louis. He's still in his lab caring for something,” Rogerton said, setting her guard. “Who are you? What is your name?”

  “My name is Estelle Fairfield.” She paused and relaxed her posture. “This is Tommie,” she said, looking down at him, petting him gently.

  “Are you a guider/pouncer team?” Rogerton said, holstering her weapon. “Are you New Victorian trained?”

  “Yes, Lieutenant, we are extensively trained. Tommie has a TMC-7 rating.”

  “Do you submit to us, Estelle Fairfield?” Rogerton said, following conventional protocol.

  “Yes, in the name of the New Victorian Empire,” Estelle said, extending her hand, watching the Lieutenant’s expression.

  Rogerton gripped her hand firmly and looked deeply in her eyes. She began feeling something. She was sensing images, strong mental images about her.

  “Who are you, really?” Rogerton said, releasing her hand. “You are not really Estelle Fairfield, are you? I sense you have a position of great authority. Am I correct?”

  “You are very perceptive, Lieutenant. You must also have a link. I am one of the Protectors, a Level Ten.”

  “You could have taken us all quickly. We are grateful to you, and humbled, Protector. Please pardon our insolence,” Rogerton said, bowing slightly with her eyes down. The other two officers followed suit.

  “Nonsense, Lieutenant,” Estelle said, reassuring her. “You are a good officer, loyally doing your duty. When you said Louis was in his lab caring for something, I knew the Guardian was safe.”

  “But Protector, Estelle isn't your real name, is it?”

  “It was for three years while I had this assignment, an undercover assignment, to get close to Bestmarke and Louis. It now appears to be over, at least this phase of it. My real name, Lieutenant, is Michelle – Michelle VanDevere.”

  “Michelle VanDevere?” Rogerton said, stunned, her eyes open wide. “You are the Star-Commander’s sister? You are not a renegade?”

  “Yes, I am Abigail’s younger sister. And my renegade status was planned, necessary for my assignment. Even my sister didn’t know.”

  “Now I start to understand her pain,” Rogerton said, thinking back. “How relieved she will be!”

  “Do you know my sister well, Lieutenant?”

  “As well as a junior officer can,” Rogerton said. “Please, let me introduce you to two very special members of our crew, Specialists Martin and Panther,”
she said, smiling proudly.

  Tommie and Michelle’s eyes grew wide as Martin and the great cat walked around the corner. Martin and Panther stood at attention and bowed low.

  Michelle contemplated them, and looked deeply into their eyes for a long time. “I understand who you both are, and where you came from. I am happy that you are now free.”

  “Thank you, Ma’am,” Martin said, lowering his eyes and bowing slightly. Panther began purring loudly, looking straight at her and Tommie.

  “Please, Lieutenant,” Martin said, distress in his voice. “Can we go to the Trophy Room? I must see my father!”

  “Of course, Martin, let's go at once, I'll have Kolanna unlock the door for us,” she said, acutely sensing the pain he had hidden for so long. They all set off, moving towards the center of the long ship.

  They finally reached the hatchway door and went inside. “There are two switches on the side of each pedestal,” Rogerton said, pointing them out. “Just push the top one.”

  They turned them all on, waiting. One by one the form in each appeared as if out of a thick fog. Finally, all were clearly seen, all of them asleep.

  “He's not here,” Martin said, sighing deeply. Anguish and pain defined his questioning face. “Where could he be? After all this time and effort, I still don’t have him back.”

  The atmosphere of the room darkened as they all shared in Martin’s disappointment. The Lieutenant moved closer, her arm around his back, tears forming in her eyes. “I'm so sorry, Martin,” she said. “We have all tried so hard.”

  “But where could he have been taken?” Martin said.

  “I have an idea,” a deep voice said, entering the room. “I feel somewhat responsible, too.” Louis walked up close to Martin and looked him in the face. “Galen had a deal with a man called Izax who lives in the Asteroid Belt. I believe he is responsible for capturing Guardian Sondra and myself. The trophy of your father was given to Izax as payment. The captured men may know more details. I am very sorry, Martin,” he said, putting his large hand on Martin’s shoulder.

  “We will find him, Martin,” Michelle said, moving closer to him. “My sister and I will see to it. It will be done!”

  Martin stood silently for a long moment. His head was bowed as if deep in thought or lost in a memory. Final he looked up into the eyes of those standing near him. “Thanks for all your concern and sympathy. The pain is real and intense. But I know now what we can do as a team, and I’m thankful to have good, loyal friends. I’ve had bitter disappointments before – I’m sure I’ll have some more. One thing is for certain – we now have a trail to follow. If we have a trail, we still have hope.”

  Panther rubbed against him, purring loudly, sensing his innermost pain, trying to console him. Suddenly the great cat looked up and ran to one of the pedestals.

  “What is it? What does he want?” Michelle said.

  “He has found his mate!” Rogerton said, joyfully sensing the great cat’s innermost thoughts and feelings.

  “Bestmarke must have taken them both together,” Martin said. “Panther is happy now. At least one family can be reunited. Guardian VII will be busy when we get back.”

  Chapter XXXXVI

  Earth Date: 476 N.V.A.

  Location: CENTRAL, Earth

  The flames of the holographic fire crackled in the river-rock fireplace with convincing reality. The Chambers of CENTRAL were comforting, more so now with the confirmed capture of Bestmarke’s ship, and the rescue of Guardian V and Louis Franelli.

  “CENTRAL has granted a conditional pardon to Franelli,” Guardian III said, her eyes followed the dancing flames. “I have to admit, I am somewhat surprised. But it is a logical conclusion seeing that he saved the life of Guardian V.”

  “And the pardon is conditional,” Guardian II said. “It makes sense that we continue to monitor him.” She paused for a moment. “Franelli is a strange man, he marches to no drum beat but his own. Nothing has turned his head except Guardian V, and he insists on calling her Sondra.” She shifted position in her comfortable, black chair, her eyes fixed on the mesmerizing flames.

  “Did I not say that Guardian V’s mild and gentle heart would prevail?” Guardian I said, her black eyes glistening as she turned to the two older women beside her.

  “Indeed, you did,” Guardian II said. “Franelli may now be more malleable to our concerns. And if CENTRAL can accept Franelli, then it is our duty to support the decision.”

  “Once the squadron returns to Earth we can focus our full attention on time-travel through the Keyhole,” Guardian III said. “With Franelli’s help we can implement the regeneration program.”

  “Do we have more details yet on that program?” Guardian II said. “Is more data needed from Franelli?”

  “So far we have only a brief outline of the program,” Guardian I said. “We hoped that Franelli’s engineering files would speed up and enhance our understanding of how time-travel works. But all his files are gone, wiped clean from the ship’s computer.”

  “Could Bestmarke have taken them when he escaped to Io Station?” Guardian II said. “A full investigation for him and his brother is already underway.”

  “Franelli thinks so,” Guardian I said. “Franelli assures us he has all the information in his head, and that it will not take long to input into the computer again. He is also confident that Bestmarke cannot understand or implement the data himself.”

  “Is there someone else with a mind like Franelli’s that could understand and use the data?” Guardian III said.

  “I asked him that very question,” Guardian I said, her smile fading. “He said it would be difficult, but not impossible. He knew of no one, but he is a recluse, and has been out-of-touch with main stream research for nearly ten years.”

  “If Bestmarke remains hidden, eventually he could use or sell his data to someone as clever as Franelli,” Guardian II said. “They could begin using the Keyhole for time-travel.”

  “That is a possibility,” Guardian I said. “It is remote, but we cannot discount it, knowing Bestmarke’s resourcefulness. Franelli also mentioned a ‘human relocation program’ that Bestmarke was planning. Louis did not know the details, but it may be as Guardian IX feared – a slavery system that snatches biologically sound people from another time era to sell to the highest bidders in our time.”

  “The idea is monstrous!” Guardian III said. “It undermines the Empire’s most basic principles! We must capture Bestmarke soon!”

  “We must!” Guardian I said. “Here is another tidbit from the captured freighter captain and verified by Franelli. Bestmarke implants a locator chip in each of his crew members.”

  “So that is how the abductors found him and Guardian V so quickly when they broke into CENTRAL,” Guardian II said. “We will need to remove that from Franelli and presumably from Michelle VanDevere and Tommie.”

  “I agree, we must remove it from Franelli,” Guardian I said. “But Bestmarke locked Michelle and Tommie in their quarters. For all he knows, they were captured or escaped. Bestmarke still knows her only as Estelle Fairfield. She may be able to get close to Bestmarke again.”

  “It will be a difficult assignment. He will trust her even less than he did before,” Guardian III said. “She will need help, perhaps our team of Lieutenant Rogerton, Martin and Panther.”

  “We will keep all our options open,” Guardian I said. “CENTRAL will give us our directions at the proper time.”

  **********

  “Wake up, Sondra.” Louis gently nudged her and she finally opened her bright, green eyes. “How do you feel?”

  “I feel awake and alive. That's a wonderful feeling, isn’t it, my dear,” she said, looking up into his face. “Where are we?”

  “We're on Bestmarke’s ship, but don't worry, he's not here. Estelle, I mean, Michelle VanDevere is our Commander and Pilot. We're in Star-Commander VanDevere’s squadron, heading home to Earth. Michelle is the Star-Commander’s sister. Our other friends are with us in
a new ship called the Clipper.”

  Sondra started to sit up, but could not support herself. Louis reached over and gently propped her into a sitting position on the side of the padded platform of the cryogenics unit.

  “Thank you, Louis. I am not in pain, but I feel very weak. How long will this last?”

  “A few hours, a day at the most. You need to have some food, especially water.”

  “I will, Louis, but please, answer my questions first. What happened to Galen and Terran Bestmarke? Were they captured or killed?”

  “Neither. Lieutenant Rogerton followed them to Io Station and attacked them. Bestmarke’s ship was boarded. Martin and Panther wounded them both but they escaped in the space-plane heading toward the Station. They just seemed to vanish, the Station authorities could not find them or their space-plane.”

  “That's unfortunate. It means somebody is protecting them. Io Station is a desperate place, known for its lawlessness. Bestmarke will be able to buy friends and help.”

  “That's not all,” Louis said. “They took all my work on the Keyhole – all my files are gone. I can remember everything, but it will take time to replace it.”

  “Does CENTRAL know this?”

  “Yes. I have discussed it thoroughly with Guardian I.”

  “Will this slow down our work on time-travel through the Keyhole?” Sondra said. “Time-travel is the only way we can solve our dilemma of continuing the human race.”

  “It will only slow me down a few weeks, perhaps a month. I am confident we can repeat time-travel and do it for the right reasons.” He paused and gave Sondra a worried look. “I'm concerned that someone else will use my calculations for the wrong reasons. Bestmarke was planning a human relocation program – a slave trade.”

  “We're concerned about that possibility, too. Could the Bestmarkes figure out your calculations?”