MYLEA: the journey begins (Mylean Universe Chronicles Book 1)
Page 22
The last comment was a joke, as well it should have been. But, Tom was acutely aware of Jim’s very special relationship with Mitch. He recognized that there was a definite twinge of jealousy somewhere in his friend’s heart and that some delicate fence mending was in order.
“I understand your feelings completely. I’ve kept you in the dark far too long already, but I must ask you to be patient for just a little longer. I apologize for being so mysterious, but I assure you I have valid reasons. My true identity is of little importance. What I am, not who I am, is what we must concentrate on at this time.
“As for Mitch, she would never let anyone replace you. She’s like you. She’s lived in Washington for far too long,” he said with a chuckle. “You know how it is. Finding a trustworthy person in D.C. is like finding a virgin at the Bunny Ranch. I rest my case.
“I’m probably just the first person she’s encountered of late that gave out good vibes. She understands that I’m your friend and that we’re working together. I’ve come to adore her, and who knows, one of these days, maybe I can settle down and find a little Mitch for myself. Hope springs eternal.”
Tom pushed his chair back and took a sip of wine. He studied Jim closely and was relieved that he was now a bit more relaxed, almost back to his old self. The last couple of days must have been more than stressful, and that would have certainly put him on edge.
Jim Slater was obviously struggling under his heavy burden. He had been assigned an almost impossible task. He would have to convince the leaders of the government that aliens not only exist; they are within our solar system. He could only imagine the utter panic that would cause. How many would believe that the end of the world was imminent? How many terrified people might commit suicide rather than face a gruesome death at the hands of some strange looking creature from another planet? After all, Hollywood had long produced scary movies about wars between planets and the end of civilization.
Again, Tom noticed that Jim had fallen back into a morose state.
“Let’s have another glass of wine. You worry too much. I promise that everything will go according to plan, and your report will be well received. I can also confirm that Maxx is no threat to Earth.
“Tomorrow, when we leave here, I’m going to possess almost unlimited powers. I’m going to use that power for the good of all people.
“I’m going to have a smaller version of Maxx and a fleet of spacecraft. There will be about one thousand of them, and I’ll even have my own space station to service and maintain them. All that, and a bit more, is my price to open the editor program and make a few changes in the code. Of course, my DNA is the only way possible to get into that editor. Unbelievable! Yes, but true. Maxx gave me life and managed me all these years just for this magical moment. I don’t feel that what I am getting is too much. After all, what is one’s life worth?
“There is a very simple reason behind my deal with Maxx. I’m going to use my resources and power to set things straight in the world. I’ve thought about this for a long time. The only way to get some people’s attention is to scare the daylights out of them. I intend to do just that with world leaders.
“If they refuse to straighten up and fly right, they’ll pay a terrible price. If they are smart enough to listen to me, they can lead long, prosperous, and peaceful lives. The choice will be theirs.
“I’m going to be the most powerful man in the world, and I only want to spend the rest of my days in anonymous happiness. If I’m happy, everyone will be happy. If I’m miserable, I’m going to be the meanest SOB on the planet.
“I have only one simple request, and it is nothing difficult. I’m merely going to ask world leaders to use their powers for peaceful purposes. No more conflicts. I have no problem with rewarding good behavior, but I also have no problem with severe punishment for unacceptable behavior. I will have the military power to back up my simple requests, and I will use it to force changes if they cannot be done peacefully.”
After a moment, he continued, “I’ve decided to request one more thing from Maxx; I’m going to ask for Mister T. I have grown rather fond of that robot.”
Tom looked deeply into Jim’s eyes and continued, “Jim, you’ll be playing a crucial role in this game of chess. What we do tomorrow morning will decide the future fate of the world, and my fate as well.
“Later, if all goes well, you will deliver my ultimatum to the president. If he has any sense at all, he’ll comply with my demands and will make sure that the other world leaders do the same. I’m not at all certain that he has a trustworthy character, but faced with utter destruction, he might decide to react reasonably.”
Jim was totally surprised at how Tom planned to use his powers and at how he might be called upon to participate. He had assumed that his role would be over as soon as he delivered his report to the president. Now, he began to feel that he might be destined for something much more important.
“I think that you may need a lot of help in that endeavor. I am just a mere Washington grunt. What can I do?”
Tom smiled wryly, “You’ve already agreed to give your report to the president and to deliver my letter personally to him. There’s only one additional thing that I’ll need from you.”
“You overestimate my importance. I’m only a tiny cog in a vast wheel. I don’t have routine access to the president, and besides, his staff guards his time jealously. I’m not significant enough for a private audience.”
Tom roared with laughter. “Not to worry. I have everything under control. I can assure you that there’ll be no problem accessing the president. That stuffed shirt boss of yours will not present a problem. I can guarantee that!”
Jim assumed that Tom must have some inside connection in the West Wing. He wouldn’t make such a bold promise if he couldn’t deliver.
“OK, let’s say I get to meet with the president. What’s that final thing that you want me to do?”
Tom raised his wine glass and touched it to Jim’s. “Nothing much. It’s a small thing. Just convince that SOB that he’d better follow my instructions to the letter, or I’ll declare war on the United States government and he will be the first casualty. Then, I’ll get around to asking the other world leaders to comply. By then, I don’t think that I’ll get any arguments.”
Jim almost fainted. “The Secret Service would haul me out of there and deposit me in the nearest mental hospital if I’m lucky. If not, I’d be in the nearest jail with a charge of high treason. Neither option is very appealing to me at the moment.”
Tom chuckled, “Now you know why I won’t reveal my true identity. You can’t divulge what you don’t know. I just do not want them to know my identity until I am ready. But that won’t be very long. Until then, do not worry. I’ll protect you and Mitch from now on, and that’s a promise.”
He rose, “Finish your wine. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”
With that, he picked up a small packet of colorful capsules that had been on the tray. Jim hadn’t noticed them before, and he became quite curious as to what they could be.
Mitch wagged her tail energetically and demanded a goodnight kiss from Tom.
Jim could only breathe a sigh of relief. Mitch still completely trusted Tom. Jim had always thought of her as his little lie detector and character analyst. Thank goodness, she made no indication that there might be a problem.
“Come on, Little Princess. Let’s get some rest.” With that, Jim pulled the covers back and placed Mitch on the soft pillow on the opposite side of the bed from where he would sleep. He quickly undressed and put on a pair of pajama bottoms from the closet. Mitch opened her eyes slightly as if to let him know that all would be well. Then, she tucked her head down and nestled deeper into the soft pillow. Jim was glad to have her warm body in bed with him. Perhaps it would help with the cold chill that was running up and down his spine at the moment.
****
The next morning, Jim and Mitch went to Tom’s quarters for their meeting. Tom was hol
ding his coffee cup and examining it closely.
“Look at this. It’s Royal Albert, and the pattern is Old Country Roses. My mother always loved that pattern and was able to collect a few pieces over the years. She was so proud of them and only brought out her cups and saucers for a very special event. Seeing this here, today, takes me back to my childhood and the memories of that very gentle lady. Dear old Maxx is truly the most devious of beings. He has pulled out all the stops to influence me that I should agree to his request.”
Just then, Mister T entered with a cart filled with breakfast dishes along with fresh juice and more coffee. He looked a little sad this morning as if he had the weight of the world on his robotic shoulders.
Tom noticed and gave his twin a smile. “Don’t worry about anything. We’ll be leaving to return to Earth immediately after I meet with the MCM.
“Incidentally, we’ll be ready to go to that meeting just as soon as we finish breakfast. Mitch will stay here while we’re gone.”
Mitch didn’t seem to mind the arrangement and wagged her tail in approval. Jim gave a quick sigh.
After a quick breakfast, they left Mitch comfortably enthroned on the king-sized bed. Mister T waited just outside with their shuttle. He spoke a single command, and they began their short, but momentous, journey.
Just outside the elevator that would take them to the control room, Tom handed Mister T an envelope. “Here is my contract. It details what I will receive in exchange for the use of my DNA. Please inform Maxx that I have decided to ask for one last thing that I haven’t discussed previously with him. It is a small request, and there shouldn’t be any problem. As Maxx’s representative, I understand that your approval is required before we proceed further. I also understand that your agreement to my terms represents Maxx’s acceptance of the contract.”
Mister T opened the envelope and unfolded the document. He scanned it quickly and committed the entire contents to his memory bank within a fraction of a second. After he had read the last item, his face brightened, and a broad smile crossed his face.
“I agree to all of your terms and conditions. Please proceed.”
The door opened, and Jim and Tom entered quickly. Jim could feel his heart beating faster and faster as they entered the Master Control Module control room containing the editor workstation.
Tom was completely relaxed and seemed not to have a care in the world. He walked to the chair in front of the Master Control Module and sat down at the empty desk. Jim stood silently behind him and continued to wonder how his friend could be so calm.
The large video screen in front of Tom remained blank until Tom spoke, “Editor." Almost immediately, a flat panel on the desk opened. It aligned with his right hand and glowed with a pale green light that pulsated ever so slightly.
Tom placed his hand, palm down, on the panel. There was not even the slightest hint of a tremor. Nothing happened for a few seconds; then the screen lit up, and Jim was stunned at the image that appeared.
It was Tom, or at least it appeared to be his friend. Maybe it was the robot? After all, they looked almost exactly alike.
Tom obviously understood that this was the original Tanaka, the Mylean whose genetic profile he shared. The screen displayed Tanaka, seated at the desk in his private laboratory, examining some document. Behind him stood a small-scale model of the interstellar transporter.
With the three-dimensional technology, Tom felt that he could reach out and touch this doppelganger. Tanaka was obviously tall and slender, with a face unlined by time. His eyes were bright and intelligent and looked out from a deeply tanned face that contrasted with his snowy white hair.
He seemed ready to speak—ready to communicate down through the ages with this human who would provide Maxx with the power to complete his mission. The future of Mylea, and perhaps the future of Earth, was hanging in the balance.
Tanaka’s eyes seemed to bore into him relentlessly, impatiently waiting for the resolution of this ancient dilemma that had plagued Maxx for so long.
After a few seconds, Tom spoke, almost to himself, “At last we meet. Or, at least I’m meeting your image. I feel that I’m looking into some sort of cosmic mirror. I see myself, but it’s not me. How I wish that we could have met in life.”
With that, he shook his head sadly and spoke to the computer. “I request total privacy.”
The image of Tanaka faded and the computer screen flashed, “Your request has been granted.”
Jim was amazed that the computer could translate the English into the Mylean tongue. Well, maybe not all that amazed. His computer had the capability of translating English into several different languages.
Tom continued, “I will give my instructions to you in my language. You will translate my orders into Mylean, and you’ll execute my instructions precisely and immediately.”
Tom took three sheets paper from his pocket and held them flat against the video screen. The screen lit and pulsed briefly and then, “Your instructions have been received and executed.”
“Now I’m going to enter a new password for future use in accessing the editor function.
His original plan had been to use Jim Slater’s DNA to change the password after the editing process had been completed.
Tom turned to Jim, “Place your hand on the lighted panel just as I did.”
Jim was quite startled by the request but leaned forward to access the panel with his right hand. He was stunned when Tom deftly pushed his hand aside and took a folded tissue from his pocket. He quickly placed the tissue on the screen and held his finger to his lips to indicate that Jim shouldn’t speak.
The video screen flashed several more times and then a new message appeared, “The password has been changed successfully.”
Tom removed the tissue from the small screen. He turned to Jim, winked, and handed him a note that said, “Don’t speak a word until I tell you that it’s okay.”
Jim was utterly confused but nodded that he understood and would comply.
Tom rose from the chair and saluted the Master Control Module. “Well now, our work here is done and we can go home. I’ve enjoyed the visit, but many things await me there. Au revoir.”
As they stepped from the control room, Mister T stood waiting for them. He threw his arms around Tom in a giant bear hug that almost lifted him off his feet.
Mister T suddenly realized that he might be using a bit too much his robotic strength for the hug and quickly released Tom.
“Sir, you have served Mylea well and you shall be revered in our history as one of our most important heroes. Future Myleans will speak your name with reverence just as they do for Tanaka. I thank you on behalf of all the Myleans who have preceded us and for all those Myleans who are yet to be.”
Jim started to speak but remembered his order to remain silent. Tom seemed to read his mind and smiled, saying, “Yes, indeed. We were very, very successful. Now it’s time to get back home. You and Mitch have been great company, but I’m ready for some of the pagan rites and mindless heathens back on good old Mother Earth."
They arrived back at their quarters and retrieved Mitch. She had had time to think about being left alone and was ready to show her displeasure. Mister T led them to a spacecraft that was not the same one that had brought them to Mylea. This craft was a little smaller and sleeker. Jim wondered if this might be an economy class flight.
After they boarded, and the door closed behind them, Tom grinned wickedly, “We can talk now.”
Jim was still at a loss for words. This strange old man had controlled and used him from the moment they had met. Not only that, he’d used him again and again. Somehow he didn’t mind in the least. He was a Rhodes scholar with a Ph.D., yet this enigmatic, and complex person had led him around like an obedient puppy.
“Okay, it’s time to tell the whole truth about what you just did.”
“Jim, I had to be very careful with everything that I said aloud until now. Maxx monitored everything we did and everything th
at we said. I could block him from reading my mind, but he could always see and hear everything else. That surveillance ended when we entered this ship.
“Look around; don’t you think this is beautiful? It’s mine! Not only that, I also now possess all the other craft that are within our solar system, and there are many. Imagine that, and it was only part of the reward that I got for helping Maxx. I also made that computer promise to leave our solar system and never return.”
“Tom, do you believe that the computer will honor that agreement?”
“Maxx has no choice," he replied. “The Master Control Module functions as a conscience to the main computer and it will not allow the primary computer to break the contract. The Myleans were strange people in many ways, but they would die before they would break their word. The MCM was programmed to uphold the law and prevent any misuse of computer powers. I have complete faith that this will be done. I have no doubt that Maxx will honor his contract with me explicitly.”
He looked down at his watch, “Hey, it’s only 11:30 in the morning and that’s a perfect time for a Bloody Mary!”
“Sure, sounds great," Jim said, expecting to see Tom get up to fetch the drinks himself since they were on this smaller spacecraft.
To his great surprise, Tom remained seated. The door slid open, and Mister T appeared with two freshly prepared drinks.
Tom gave him a sheepish grin. “I have come to be very fond of our mechanical friend. My last request was that Mister T be given to me permanently. I think that Mister T is quite happy with his change in residence.”
He continued, “I’ve spent my whole life listening to that voice and being controlled by Maxx. He kept me safe throughout the years, but at a great price. I didn’t live a normal life. I never fit in anywhere. I couldn’t have a satisfying personal life.
“I eventually learned why I was so special to the voice. It certainly wasn’t my wit or outgoing personality. I was just something he needed for a very specific purpose. Now that was a letdown!