by Saxon Andrew
“I’ll need the King’s approval.”
“No you don’t. You run things around here and you can pretty much do whatever you want.”
The Scientist stared at Drey with a scowl and after a moment tilted his head and said, “You’re smarter than I thought.” He punched a button and his computer activated. He stared at the screen and pushed a button. “Take a seat.” Drey sat down and watched the Scientist work on his computer for thirty minutes. The Scientist finally sat back and lifted his communicator, “Yes, I want you here packed for an extended trip.” There was a pause and he said, “No, you have no choice in this. Now get moving.” The Scientist slammed his communicator on the table.
“It sounds like we have another reluctant participant.”
The Scientist shook his head, “These younger Genetics are just not like we used to make them.”
Drey laughed. The Scientist glared at him and he said, “Is anyone around like you used to make them?”
“Hell no. Just look at that Prince.”
“That’s what I’m hoping to do.”
“Well, I have something to tell him.”
“I suspect he has more to say than you do.”
The Scientist thought a moment and said, “I think you’re probably right.”
The door opened behind Drey and the Scientist said, “It took you long enough.”
Drey heard a female voice say, “Patience is a virtue that is seldom perfected.” He whipped around in his chair and saw a woman that was as beautiful as the violet eyed beauty with the Prince. Only she was the direct opposite in coloration. Her hair was so blonde as to appear almost white and her eyes were a green that were deeper than he had ever seen.
Drey said, “Oh hell no!”
The Scientist looked at Drey and said, “Did he say the highest ranking Genetic?” Drey nodded, “Well she’s it and I suspect he has the same list I do. Do you want me to select someone else and show up with them instead?” Drey looked up at the ceiling and rolled his eyes, which was the most animated expression he had ever made.
“What does he mean?”
The Scientist snapped, “He doesn’t want you to go with him.”
“Go where?”
“Looking for aliens.”
The woman looked at Drey and said, “You’re the one that killed the Nebula Dictator?” Drey scowled and nodded. The woman smiled, “Then the Prince thinks you need a babysitter.”
Drey narrowed his eyes and said, “What?”
“You are rather quick on the trigger. Even one as stupid as me can see you need someone to balance that aggressiveness.”
Drey did a double take, “I thought you’re the highest ranking Genetic here.”
“When you really learn a lot, you begin to realize how much you really don’t know.”
The Scientist said, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, let’s go do this.” He looked at the woman and said, “Do you still not want to go, Andi?”
She shook her head, “On no, this is shaping up to be a great learning opportunity. You should have told me.”
The Scientist looked at Drey and said, “I’ve been led to believe that this is a secret mission.” Drey nodded.
“Well I love secrets. Lead the way.”
Drey walked out of the building toward his ship with two in tow and knew his life was going to be full of trouble. This was just not acceptable. He decided to confront the Prince about this decision, but knew he wouldn’t change it. At least she remained silent as the Scientist kept a running commentary all the way to the coordinates he was given. He longed for silence. He looked at the woman and saw her roll her eyes. It appeared she did as well.
• • •
They arrived at the coordinates and Drey leaned back in his command chair. “Is this the place?”
“It is.”
“Why aren’t they here?”
“I suspect they want to confirm we weren’t followed.”
The Scientist said, “Oh yeah.” He remained silent for ten minutes.
Drey looked at him, “I was wondering if you ever stop talking.” The woman snickered.
The Scientist looked at Drey, started to respond, and looked out the forward view screen. After a minute he said, “I start talking when I’m nervous or uncertain.”
“Then I suspect you’ll be talking a lot.”
The Scientist continued to look out and said, “I suppose.” Suddenly the Scientist fell back from Drey’s control board, “Holy brains in a pan!”
Drey looked out the front view screen and saw a ship ten feet from the nose of his vessel. Andi walked up and said, “E’s been modified.”
The Scientist came back and said, “It appears he has.”
Drey looked at them and said, “How?”
Andi said, “The blaster ports are open, which tells us that the weapon’s system has been activated. The blasters that were originally installed are no longer there. I think I see a much smaller unit in the port. There is also a unit under each wing that wasn’t there when he launched.”
Drey looked at the Scientist, “Do you recognize the units under the wings?”
“I do not.”
They heard, “It took you long enough to get here.”
“We’re waiting on you.”
“Then you’re backing up. Set your ship on standby and bring a shuttle over.”
Drey was reluctant to leave his transportation but sighed and stood up, “Come on. Let’s not keep him waiting.”
Drey landed in the bay and waited until his board told him it was pressurized. He opened the side port and stepped out. He offered his hand to Andi and she was surprised at the offer. She took his hand and stepped out of the port. The Scientist followed Andi and saw the Lost Prince and his companion enter the landing bay. Before he could say anything, Violet rushed up and jumped into Cole’s arms hugging his neck, “Cole, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you.”
Ian raised his eyebrows and the Scientist said, “She’s my younger sister.” Even Drey was surprised at that revelation.
Violet kissed Cole on the cheek and said, “Hi Andi, how’s it going?”
“It’s been a real party. Be glad you left.” Drey was once again surprised.
“How’s Ross?”
Andi shrugged, “That ended more than a year ago. I lost interest.” Violet raised her eyebrows and Andi said, “I allowed him to get involved with someone else and caught them together.”
“You mean you set a trap and sprung it.”
Andi smiled, “I did introduce them. Everything else just happened naturally.” She paused and said, “My righteous indignation was really quite good. He hasn’t contacted me since.”
Drey listened and didn’t like what he was hearing. This woman thought six pages ahead of everyone else. Cole looked at Ian and said, “You went to a lot of trouble to get a new Monarch chosen.”
Ian shrugged, “You gotta do what ya gotta do.”
Cole shook his head, “Your language has really atrophied.”
Ian smiled, “It helps not being noticed.”
Cole turned to Violet, “Valerie, I can’t understand why you ran away. You’ve ended up exactly where you’d be if you had stayed.”
“My name is Violet now. If I had stayed, Tad would have always been a barrier between Ian and me.”
“Where is Tad?”
Violet’s expression changed and she told them what had happened. Cole listened and said, “I’m really sorry he died but I’m thankful you weren’t with him.”
“I’m just starting to feel that way as well.”
Drey said, “So why have you brought us here?”
Violet looked at Drey and said, “It’s good to see you, too.”
Drey waved his hand and said, “That goes without saying. What’s going on?”
“We’re taking you to the planet where we found the aliens.”
Cole said, “Why?”
Ian tilted his head and said, “So you can come and take some of the technology b
ack to the Union.”
“Do you think we’ll be able to use it?”
Ian and Valerie smiled as Ian said, “Come with me.”
They went to the small bridge and Ian said, “E, everyone’s on board.”
Drey said, “How long is it going to take us to get there?” Suddenly the view port dimmed briefly and Drey saw a planet directly below them. He looked at Ian and heard, “Not very long.”
Drey said, “I thought you said the planet is close to the core?”
“It is.” Ian pointed and Drey looked off to the right and saw the massive black hole spinning in the distance. He looked at Ian and said, “I have got to have a ship like this.”
“That’s why you’re here. Cole is going to build you one.”
“I’m what?”
“You’re going to build Drey a ship. We need more than one ship.”
“Why?”
“In the event one of them is destroyed, the other can go back and warn the Union.”
Drey glanced at Andi and saw she didn’t like that statement any more than he did.
• • •
A week later Cole exited one of the fifty crashed ships Ian had found on the planet and said, “I believe we have enough parts to take back and begin construction. I’m not sure we have enough rare metals to do it.”
Violet said, “You can solve that issue easily.”
“How?”
“Bring three heavy commercial haulers and pick up thirty or forty mining vehicles off Hellhole and bring them here. While you’re collecting the technology, the miners can be collecting the rare metals. They can unload their reservoirs into the two other haulers. This planet’s surface is covered with them.”
Ian said, “You need to pay them market price for what they mine.”
Cole waved his hand and said, “Money is not an issue. Are you sure about the metals?”
“I am.”
Cole was silent for a moment and said, “I need to take several of the drive boxes back with me now. And I need the software E has developed to control it.”
E said, “I’ve put it on a chip and you can take it with you.”
Cole looked at Ian and said, “Why are you determined not to return?”
Drey turned around to hear Ian’s answer. “I’ve been spoiled by my freedom. I’ve seen court life and I now find it stifling. I would die of boredom if I went back.”
“But you would be the most powerful man in the Union.”
Ian shrugged, “Power is not all it’s cracked up to be.”
Drey said, “That is not an easy lesson to learn.”
Violet said, “I see you have.” Drey shrugged.
Andi sat at a computer console and watched the four. She watched Drey and knew he was a very dangerous man. He could shoot her in the head and not give it a second thought. But there was something about him that was eluding her. Drey suddenly turned and looked at her, “Do you have me figured out yet?”
Andi leaned back in her chair, “Not quite, but I’m working on it.”
Drey turned back around and thought, “I imagine you are.” He didn’t want to but he was starting to like the straightforward talking Genetic. He had confirmed that he wouldn’t have to worry about her working an agenda. If she was, she’d tell him and dare him to stop her. He could deal with someone that was honest. It was the deceptions that most used that drove him crazy. He suddenly had a thought and said, “Cole, how long is it going to take to build my ship?”
Cole was talking to Ian and said, “If we start from scratch, a year.” Cole saw Drey’s expression and said, “We’re not starting from scratch. Another ship like E was started as soon as Ian escaped. I suspect it’s going to take five months to get it ready.”
Drey looked at Ian, “What am I going to be doing during that time?”
Ian smiled, “You and Andi will be directing the construction crew’s efforts to make sure it’s done right.” Drey fell back in his chair and looked at the ceiling.
Violet said where Drey could hear, “I liked him better when he never changed expressions.”
Ian smiled, “He was easier to talk to back then.”
Drey said “I never said anything.”
Violet said, “My point exactly.” Andi laughed out loud and Drey knew the next five months were going to last forever. He was wrong.
Chapter Ten
The time on Euclid seemed to fly for Drey. He spent the first month arguing with Cole about the reactors for the Ship. “Why are you building in a dark matter field? That system is a power hog. It takes huge amounts of power just to keep it operative.”
“It’s a failsafe in the event the alien jump drive fails.”
“You are going to have to either commit to the technology or not. The blasters need every available bit of power we can feed them. Can you tell me they’ll be just as strong with the Dark Matter Field?”
Cole looked at Drey and was getting angry. “You just don’t get it!”
“Cole, have you ever fought in a real space battle?” Cole stared at Drey saying nothing. “Well I have. Ditch the Dark Matter system.”
The attachment of the units under the wing also caused trouble. Drey fought with Cole for two weeks over placing the alien missiles inside the hull of the ship.
Cole was exasperated and he said, “Give me one valid reason for putting them inside the hull.”
Cole stared at Drey with satisfaction until he said, “They provide a target for lasers out in the open.”
Cole said, “Give me another reason.”
“You can have a belt feed to the launchers and fire more than if you just had one loaded in each canister under the wings.”
Cole said, “Well, well, oh yeah!”
Drey laughed, “Yeah.”
Cole sighed, “I’ll have them put inside the hull. The feeder was reason enough to do it.”
Drey said “Well at long last, thanks. By the way, you can reroute the reactors to the force field if you exclude the Dark Matter system.”
Cole said absently, “It’s already been done.” Drey forced himself to keep a straight face. Cole had ditched the Dark Matter system. He walked out of the ship and silently mouthed Hallaluuuuia just as Andi came out.
Andi looked at Drey, “You’re working him pretty good.”
Drey whispered, “He’s impossible.”
“I heard that.”
“I was talking about Andi’s computer engineer.”
“Oh.”
Andi pushed her lips together, “Now you’ve gotten me in trouble.”
Drey shook his head, “Better you than me.”
• • •
Three months into the construction process E, showed up. Drey saw the ship land and waited for Ian and Violet to step out. Andi said, “It’s not going to happen.”
“Why not?”
“If they set foot on Euclid, Ian will be declared King and he won’t be allowed to leave.”
“Who flew the ship here?”
“E can do it alone.”
“Will our ship be able to run errands?”
Andi smiled, “Oh yes.”
“Why did E show up?”
“Cole has developed a way to increase the power going to the blasters. E needs to have the modifications done and the wing units moved inside his hull.”
“I wonder where Ian and Violet are?”
Andi looked up at the sky and sighed, “They’re free.”
Drey looked at her and said, “Yeah, I guess they are.” Drey saw at that moment that originally he didn’t want Andi to go. Now he knew getting her to come back was not going to be easy; even if she didn’t stay with him. She had tasted being free and Euclid would never hold her again.
The final day was getting closer and Cole called Drey and Andi into the energy lab. They arrived and Cole said, “Pull the blasters you took from the planet.”
Andi said, “Why?”
“I’m not going to take them.”
Drey looked at Andi an
d saw that Cole had called it right. Drey said, “I must be rubbing off on you.” Andi stuck out her tongue at him and handed her blaster to Cole.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m adjusting the force field so there will be a very slight leakage.”
“Why, won’t that damage it?”
“No it won’t. The energy field will be so minute it won’t really exist as a force field for all intents and purposes.”
“Then why are you doing it?”
Cole looked up from what he was doing, “You have always been the most inquisitive person I’ve ever known.”
“Thank you; why are you doing it?”
Drey tried not to laugh but couldn’t stop himself. Andi stuck out her tongue again when Cole wasn’t watching.
“You know the ships can jump you to locations as long and the blaster’s field is active.”
Andi said, “That makes sense. Thanks for telling me.”
Drey said, “Hey, hey, not so fast. Why are you doing it?”
“An occasion may arise where the two of you may need to be removed from a dangerous situation. With the small leakage, your ship can pull you out.”
Drey looked at Andi when Cole went back to work and stuck out his tongue at her. She smiled and then laughed. Drey decided he liked her laughter.
• • •
Cole finally declared the ships ready and Drey shook his hand, “You’ve done a remarkable job, Cole.”
“Thanks, some of your suggestions made good sense.”
“Then why did you argue?”
“Sometimes the disagreement uncovers things that would be missed without it.”
Drey stared at Cole and then started nodding, “You’re right. Rerouting the reactors to the blasters came from that disagreement.”
“Yes it did and it also allowed me to bypass the Dark Matter System.”
“WHAT?”
“Don’t worry, it doesn’t draw any power, but it can be activated with the push of a button. It never hurts to have more than one door out.”
Drey smiled and knew his respect for the Lead Scientist had grown immeasurably during the construction and he suspected the Prince wanted the two of them to get to know each other. Drey now trusted Cole and Cole felt the same about Drey. Cole said, “Get out of here. I know you’re itching to leave.”
“Where’s Andi?”