by Saxon Andrew
“Because he kept avoiding them. I’m sure they tried numerous times to get a copy of the contents of his Link and grew frustrated at not getting close enough to make it happen. They finally decided that Emmett must know something and they couldn’t run the risk of that information getting out.”
“If that’s the case, why didn’t the assassin kill you as well? It had both of you in its line of fire.”
“They need me to make their plans happen.”
“What?”
“That woman told me as much when I told her that the Dragons wanted her and the other members of the Movement and that I was just a secondary consideration. She said I was wrong. That means I play some sort of role in whatever’s happening. I need you to find the place in Emmett’s link where he was told to take me on board.”
“I don’t need to look in his link to find that piece of information. I was there when it happened.”
“Show me what was said.” Gregor turned back to the monitor.
Chapter Five
“Gregor.”
“Yeah?”
“Before I start the recording, there’s something that I’m wondering about.”
“What is that?”
“Did you ever see Emmett gamble?”
“No, he always told me that gambling was the highest form of stupidity. The house always controls the game. Why do you ask?”
“Among Emmett’s possessions in his room is an open deck of cards. The wrapper has been removed.”
Gregor’s eyes went wide and he jumped out of his chair and ran down the corridor to Emmett’s room. He heard, “They’re in the bedside table’s drawer.” He opened the drawer and saw the deck of cards. He took them out and started looking for the jokers. He found one and there was writing on it, however, it was too small to read.
He went back to the bridge, took the joker and put it flat on his console, “Are you able to focus one of your scanners on the card and enlarge what it written?”
Gregor stared at the wall monitor and saw the card grow in size. “I’m surprised you could see this.”
“I’ve seen Emmett write things like this before. As I think about it, he made sure I saw him do it. I knew that dot is something he wrote.”
Gregor stared at the monitor as the small dot grew larger and in a minute it filled the monitor. He stared at it and started reading.
“I guess the Movement has finally had enough of playing games with me. If you’re reading this Gregor, then you collected my link and learned about Jimmy’s death. I’m hoping the computer will tell you about the deck of cards I’ve kept with me over the years. I expected them to eventually take me out so I went to a specialist and had my link armored in the event it was hit by a blaster beam. Since you’re reading this, it was money well spent. I guess you’ve figured out that I was deliberately killed and no matter what the Movement did to make it look like an accident, it was no accident.
“Now I know you’re wondering why they would go to the effort to make it look like an accident. Would you work with them if you knew they killed me? If you say you would then I’m sorry I left everything to you in my will. But…I know you loved me as much as I grew to love you. I suspect you’re on the run but have no way of knowing where to go if you are. If you’re not, it’s time to run. I’ve tried to determine what role you play in the Movement’s plans but for the life of me I wasn’t able to find out. I wish Jimmy had given me some clue about how he uncovered what was happening but I understand why he didn’t. Just run and don’t slow down. Harmony told me she has some fuel cells for you and I told her we’d pick them up later. You should contact her and get them now, you’re going to need them.
“I initially resisted taking you on board my ship, I didn’t need a brat slowing me down. I told them you’d cramp my style. They gave me no choice and for that alone I can’t bring myself to hate them. You grew on me like a Rapzet Fungus and for the first time in my life I learned to love someone else more than myself. Stay free, Gregory. I’m sorry I’m not there anymore to protect you. I love you, Son.”
• • •
Gregor lowered his head and felt the extreme sense of loss he experienced when Emmett died. He sat there in silence and eventually said, “I don’t need to see the recording of when I came on board.”
“There is one detail you should be aware of, Gregor.”
“What is that?”
“The man that spoke to Emmett about Jimmy was the same one that brought you to him.”
“Put that man’s image on my computer screen.” The image appeared and Gregor memorized the face. “He’s the one that had Emmett killed.”
“I have arrived at the same conclusion. There is one other item you might have missed.”
“What is that?”
“Emmett’s link must have recorded the Kendowns that killed him. You sent that woman the contents of Emmett’s link and she should be able to figure out that Emmett was killed in a similar method used to kill Jimmy. They now know that you’re aware of their culpability in Emmett’s death and know you will not be cooperating with their plans. I suspect they, like the Dragons, are now in a frenzy to find you.”
“Maybe.”
“What do you mean by maybe?”
“She came alone. She’ll have to reveal what she knows for them to know. I just haven’t figured out what game she’s playing and that is something that is critical to understanding this messed up situation we find ourselves in.”
“You really think she won’t tell them?”
“I have no blooming idea! I can’t figure out what she’s doing. Either way, I’ve always listened to Emmett’s advice. We’re running and keeping our heads low. Accelerate with the boosters and get us out of this corner of the universe.”
Gregor was pushed back in his chair and the small starship flew in the filament at a speed that was incredible.
• • •
The woman walked into the office and saw the frown on the Leader’s face, “I understand that you took one of our ships out alone.”
“I did.”
“And you did this because…”
“I thought I was getting a vision of where the missing ship was located.” The man stared at her in silence for a long moment and she said, “I’ve told you in the past that having others around me when I see a vision prevents me from seeing it clearly. I had to get away from here and see if I could see it without the interference of their thoughts.”
“And?”
“It wouldn’t come.”
“Where did you go?”
“Out toward the area of space where it was last seen.”
“I’m sure you won’t mind downloading your link into my database.”
The woman smiled, “Just as I’m sure you won’t mind downloading your link into mine.”
The man stared at her and lowered his eyes, “Kaylee, I am not playing here.”
“Neither am I. If you’re suggesting I’m not being honest with you for the first time in our long relationship, I want to see your link to find out why. Are you unwilling to be open with me?”
The man saw the determination in the young woman’s eyes and immediately smiled, “No, that won’t be necessary. I just wondered if I could see something in the vision you had.”
“It never clarified itself. There were no images other than colors melting into each other. I might have seen something but there was too much mental interference around me and the vision faded before I could see it clearly.”
The man smiled, “Ok. Please contact me if you see anything.”
“I will. If another vision starts, I may have to move away from the thousands of people here to get it to solidify. However, next time I’ll let you know if it happens.”
“That would be good, Kaylee.”
The woman moved forward and hugged him, “You had me worried that you no longer trusted me.”
The man’s expression changed as he held her against his chest and said, “You know I trust you implic
itly. Keep me informed.”
The woman released him and stepped back and saw him smiling, “You know I will.” She turned and walked out of the office.
• • •
A week later, she walked on her ship and activated the computer, “I’ve missed you, Computer.”
“What’s going on?”
“Alpha, 10, zeta, 09, jingo, 79, execute.”
“Programming has been changed to the designated file.”
“And the two transponders?”
“There are actually four.”
“Oh, they’re getting really sneaky around here,” Kaylee responded.
“All four have been modified to send the programmed locations you inserted and then self-destruct.”
“Are you ready to go?”
“Four fuel cells are now in the containment system and all systems are at full power. What’s happened?”
“I’ll bring you up to speed once we get away. The two ships assigned to keep an eye on you are currently on the other side of the planet changing crews. Now would be a good time to make our run.”
“Going to max speed. We’ll be entering the filament in five minutes.”
“That would be good.”
“Where are we going?”
“A very long way from here. I’ll give you the location once we arrive at the intersection and move to another filament.”
“Why not now?”
“There are a few mind scanners around here that just might be listening to us. We should know if they are momentarily.”
“Three ships are powering up and I’m receiving a communication from control.”
“Ignore it and start running.” She leaned back and felt the boosters kick in. The small ship accelerated away from the planet at maximum speed and flew toward the filament at a velocity any Traffic Controller would have issued permanent injunctions against using the filaments for a century. But there were no Controllers here and no one to stop the speeding starship.
• • •
“Gregor, why are you wanting to go home?”
“The Movement brought me to Emmett when I was four or five years old. Whatever’s going on, it started before I was brought to Emmett. They must have had a reason for bringing me to him and the answer must lie before Emmett picked me up. I need to go back to where I was before Emmett took me in and see if I can find some answers.”
“Earth is not a safe place.”
“Nowhere is safe at the moment. We’ll not be in any more danger there than we are out here. At least the Dragons won’t be around.”
“You should know that after what’s been happening, I’ve found myself questioning everything that’s taken place. Things that I’ve taken for granted without questioning them have started me reexamining the past.”
“I’m not sure what you mean, Computer.”
“Well, did you know that the Movement directed Emmett to purchase this ship after he agreed to assist them?”
“No, I didn’t. He purchased this ship before I came on board.”
“One of the humans involved with the movement persuaded him that he should help the cause to bring Earth back to life. He agreed it was a worthy cause and told the man he could be counted on. He also told him that he wouldn’t be able to do much, his ship was pretty much shot. The man gave Emmett the name of a ship dealer that could possibly assist him in purchasing a new vessel and give him good value for his current ship against a new one.”
“What happened?”
“Emmett went to the dealer and bought this ship.”
“Weren’t you a part of the deal?”
“No, I wasn’t. Emmett said many times that the ship was a steal. The first thing he did after purchasing it was to go to a computer seller and purchase me to replace the computer on the ship. Emmett insisted that…”
Gregor interrupted the computer, “Not having the most modern computer possible was a sure fire way to have a very short life.”
“That’s exactly what he said. Anyway, the old computer was removed and I was installed immediately.”
“Why does this matter?”
“Because nothing the Movement has done has been without purpose. They have a purpose behind everything they do. I’ve stated questioning everything since I learned they killed Emmett and I can’t help but wonder if Emmett was sold this ship for a reason we were not aware of.”
“You’re thinking they had an ulterior motive.”
“I do. They directed him to that dealer and he bought the ship for far less than it was worth. Emmett said he looked at several other ships but the seller kept lowering the price on this one to encourage him to buy it.”
“That doesn’t sound evil.”
“Well, there’s something else.”
“Uh, oh! What?”
“After I was installed, I noticed that there were some connections to my control boards that didn’t seem to have a purpose. I’ve sent power to those connections over the years and nothing has ever happened. I assumed that the former computer needed more connections to operate the ship, after all, it was an older model.”
“That makes sense.”
“There was something else that I saw and pretty much ignored.”
“What was that?”
“There are two compartments inside the hull that also don’t appear to serve a purpose; one is under the upper hull and the other is under the lower hull.”
“Scan them.”
“I’ve done that many times but the metal surrounding them is too thick to penetrate with a scanner. If this ship was sold to Emmett for an ulterior reason, those connections and those two compartments must have a purpose I’ve not been able to determine. So, I ran a full scan of the ship from bow to stern to see if I missed something. I not only used the scanners but the interior cameras as well.”
“You found something.”
“I discovered that two conduits run directly from the reactor to those compartments. One conduit goes to each of them. Gregor, those conduits are large enough to transfer a huge amount of power to those two compartments. I’ve run all the possibilities of what would need that much power and I’ve only come up with one answer.” The computer paused and Gregor started shaking his head as he heard, “They have to be blasters.”
“That’s ludicrous! I can think of too many times to count where we could have used a blaster to get us out of some tight spots where we were nearly killed by bounty hunters chasing us.”
“Gregor, Emmett didn’t know they were there either. Hear me out on this. If the computer that was originally in the ship had control of them, it would have used them if it determined that we were in grave danger. But Emmett removed the computer and that computer must have disconnected them before it was removed. The Movement brought you to Emmett three months after I was installed. I have to believe they didn’t know the computer was replaced and if they did, they weren’t about to tell Emmett they knew about it. They just remained silent and kept a close eye on Emmett to see if he ever uncovered them. It may be that Jimmy discovered his ship was armed and that’s what led to him being killed.”
Gregor leaned forward and furrowed his forehead, “They put them there to ensure I wasn’t killed.”
“I’m not so sure about that. They didn’t know about needing him to take you in when Emmett originally bought the ship. They may have been put there against the time when their plan was going to be put in place. However, if they really are blasters, there’s only one way to find out.”
“How?”
“You need to put on a pressurized suit, go into the hull through the ports in the landing bay, and trace those conduits.”
Gregor stood up and headed out of the bridge, “I’ll attach a camera so you can see what I find.”
“Make sure you depressurize the landing bay, I don’t think the space between the walls and hull is environmentally controlled. You should also take an electric field scanner with you to trace any electrical wiring.” Gregor nodded and headed towar
d the landing bay.
• • •
Twenty minutes later, he pulled a ladder under the overhead port and climbed up to the port in the ceiling after he depressurized the bay. He turned the wheel several times and the port’s door dropped. He climbed up into the opening and looked to the left and right. He immediately saw the large metal conduit running from the back of the ship toward the front. “I see the conduit.”
“Follow it forward. You’re about sixty yards from the compartment.”
Gregor crawled forward and moved through the narrow space easily. The computer had moved the ship out of the filament and had shut down the gravity controller. “I see a painted metal wall ahead of me.”
“That’s the compartment.”
Gregor floated up to the wall and shined his helmet’s light on it, “There doesn’t appear to be any way to get inside it. It’s just one solid wall.” Gregor stared at the wall and took a deep breath. He blew it out slowly and said, “Do this. Activate the unused connections on your control board one at a time.” Gregor turned over on his back and held up the field scanner and the needle on it spun. “That’s the one! Keep it charged.” Gregor moved the scanner around and saw the needle moving further up the scale on the scanner’s face. He pushed himself back the way he had come and moved the scanner toward the ceiling. The needle on the field scanner went to its highest level and he saw a long black cylinder strapped down on the side of the large conduit, “Do you see this?”
“Yes, that is a high power electrical connector. It’s three inches longer than it should be, which tells me that the relay inside it has been tripped and the connections separated.”
“What do I do?”
“Put a hand on each end of the black cylinder and push the ends toward each other.”
Gregor reached up and gripped the cylinder on each end and pushed the ends. Nothing happened. He took a breath, held it, and pushed as hard as he could. He felt something click inside it. “I feel a vibration!”
“Back out and come back here.”
“What do you see?”
“I was right, a swivel turret has emerged out of the hull and a barrel has extended out of it.”
“Does it work?”