by Saxon Andrew
The carrier rose into the bright sky and Bart stared at his General and smiled. He had just broken through the toughest walls in existence. Accepting those that are different is never easily done. Josh was asleep before they arrived and Prissy had him carried to their quarters. Before she left the landing bay she came over to Bart and kissed him on the cheek, “Thank you for taking care of my husband.”
Bart turned red and nodded. Kim said, “Oh, so now you’re two timing me.”
Bart chuckled and pulled Kim into his arms, “How many times do I have to tell you to get out of your armor?”
Kim laughed and turned to one of the ordinance sailors and started the process of getting out of her armor. Bart looked up and knew that his karma had changed. His life was one big episode of everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. That’s why he knew Kim had died. But she was alive and for the first time, he looked forward to the future. He quietly said, “Thank you,” and moved to one of the ordinance sailors. He was going to make sure Captain Anderson was in this new unit he was going to command. He reminded him of the General. Men like that are hard to find.
• • •
Four years later the Alliance Fleet was above the last Weg infested planet. The only one remaining after this one was their home world. Bart looked at the new giant class of Transports above the planet and shook his head. They numbered in the thousands and the number of Weg on them was too large to count. It had been a long and difficult campaign but it became easier with each victory. The Gracken Planets were still being attacked by Weg Starships that were launched from another galaxy but now the Alliance’s Warships were no longer needed to drop on the infested planets. The Alliance had enough to prevent them from breaking through their defenses.
He thought about the device that Pricilla Adams had suggested to the Alliance Engineers and that device was the turning point. The Burn Stick as it became known was given to the Alliance Weg to defend themselves against the Queen’s children. It could be stuck into a Weg and it would release a small blast of burners. It was no longer necessary to convert the Weg on an infested planet to join them. Once the Alliance Weg landed on an infested planet, none of the Weg there survived. Six of the conquered planets were left for the Alliance Weg to live on until they died of old age. There wouldn’t be anymore. He looked at Kim and said, “Start the drop.”
Bart looked out of the viewport and saw the thousands of giant transports begin moving toward the surface. Josh had told him that the Queens on the infected planets knew they were going to be killed and they cried out for help to an uncaring universe. The surface defenders tried their best to defend their mothers…but the Burn Sticks sealed their fate. He sat on board the giant ship and wondered how things were going at the Weg home world.
• • •
Josh stared at the gold halo surrounding the planet in the distance and saw waves of it move toward their location. The tiny creatures in the halo could sense their presence but didn’t have the means of traveling far enough to reach him. He looked over his shoulder and said, “Start the bombardment.” Cheng nodded and lifted his communicator. Josh looked at the young man and sighed. Cheng had taken a long time to forgive him for not allowing him to go with him on the drop into the shafts.
He finally understood that Josh wanted him to survive to take care of his family if he didn’t make it back. Cheng finally understood that Josh really didn’t think he would survive the drop and after that he knew the faith Josh had in him. Josh saw huge explosions start appearing in the gold halo around the planet. He hoped Prissy and the engineers were right about what they would do. Josh sat up in his command chair and leaned forward, “Bring one of the blasts in closer.” Josh watched the monitor as the yellow colored cloud began to dissipate in the middle of the halo and saw gold colored waves rush through the halo as they rushed in on the cloud. Above the planet, the clouds from the explosion were being consumed by the tiny creatures in the golden band around the planet.
Josh reached over and put a special helmet on. He waited and listened. After an hour he heard, “Why are you feeding me?”
He smiled and thought, “We’ve determined that you have a selenium deficiency.”
There was a moment of silence and then he heard, “It has reached critical levels. You still haven’t told me why you’re feeding me.”
“I need your help.”
“I cannot leave this planet.”
“I don’t want you to leave.”
“Then how can I possibly help you?”
“I need your assistance in making sure the beings on the planet do not leave it.”
“They do not leave.”
“They launch objects off the surface.”
“The objects they sent through me have no energy and only one or two life forms on them.”
“Those two life forms go out and infest other planets with their species.”
Josh waited and then heard, “How is that possible?”
“The two life forms on board are a male and female. You’ve seen what one female can do on the planet below.”
“I depend on the elements they produce in their digging. They have unfortunately consumed most of the selenium in the planet’s crust.”
“They’re doing that intentionally in the hopes that one day you will die.”
“They are close to accomplishing that goal. How did you know about me?”
“You attacked three of our ships.”
“The ones that fired those delicious energy beams at the planet.”
“Yes.”
“I cannot allow you to destroy them. I depend on the elements released during their digging.”
“We have no intention of destroying them. We only need them to stop sending ships to infect other planets.”
“Why should I do this for you?”
“We will come and give you selenium whenever you require it. We will also fire beams into you as long as you don’t attack the ships firing the beams.” Josh paused and said, “This is all a moot point if you can’t destroy the ships they launch.”
“They don’t have any energy on board so I’ve ignored them. Destroying them would be simple.”
“They do have energy on board but it’s kept inside a lead casing to prevent you from seeing it.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I’m positive. They activate the energy devices when they’re clear of you.”
“If that is true, you don’t need to concern yourself with their destruction.”
“We will still provide the selenium you need.”
“Why?”
“We learned that you are genetically different from the creatures on the planet and that all of your body is connected electrically.”
“How did you learn this?”
“In attempting to save the ships you attacked, we made the discovery. It surprised us that you are actually one living organism.”
“Why do you find that surprising?”
“We’ve never encountered anything like you anywhere else.”
“I often look out at the stars and wonder at the immense size of the universe around me.”
“Have you ever thought about going to another planet?”
“I am not able to travel away from this planet.”
“Could you live at other planets?”
“I really don’t know. Why do you ask?”
“You are what we call a perfect planetary defense. If you are around a planet, no attacker could harm the planet.”
“I can see that.”
“However, you are also a jailer. Everyone on the planet would be imprisoned on the surface. No one could leave and explore the stars.”
“They would be trapped, like I am here.”
“Exactly.” Josh waited for ten minutes in silence as the explosions continued above the planet.
“You can stop sending the selenium. I have enough for a long time.” Josh looked at Cheng and ran a hand across his throat. Cheng lifted his communi
cator and the bombardment stopped. “I want you to bring one of your ships inside me.”
“Why?”
“I want to see if I am able to control my appetite.”
Josh looked over his shoulder, “Launch an unmanned carrier into the halo.” Cheng nodded. Josh watched the carrier leave the transport and head toward the planet. It entered the golden halo and stopped. Josh saw the carrier’s image grow larger on the monitor and he saw the halo surrounded the carrier at a distance of a hundred yards.
“You can take it back.”
Cheng saw Josh nod and he recalled the carrier. “Why did you want me to do that?”
“I’ve never actually communicated with another being until now. There has been no reason not to eat every bit of energy that enters me. I didn’t find it all that difficult to refrain from consuming your vessel.”
“Are you saying that there is a possibility of you coexisting with an energy using civilization?”
“You’ve made life much more difficult for me by coming here.”
“How?”
“I’ve never spoken with anyone. Now I know there are others that are able to communicate with me. I don’t want to return to isolation.”
“No one should be alone.”
“I’ve spent most of my life sleeping, only waking up to consume the random bits of energy that come here. What do you think I should do?”
“The real issue is whether or not you can allow a planet the freedom to come and go without interfering with the energy it uses.”
“What if I go to another planet and it doesn’t have the elements needed to feed me?”
“From the analysis we’ve done, most planets have the elements you need. Selenium is not in abundance but you’ve seen we’re able to provide it if needed.”
“I don’t need as much as you think. I think you’re right about those on the surface deliberately removing it.”
Josh saw the being’s thoughts clearly. There was no deception in it and Josh sensed its loneliness. “I have a planet where you can go. We will care for your needs and make sure you are well fed.”
“What would you want in return?”
“That you protect the planet from outside aggression and, for all intents and purposes, not act any different to those on the surface as their atmosphere does.”
“Basically, that’s what I do here.”
“I still need you to prevent any launches.”
“That’s not an issue. When will you take me to this planet?”
“How can you be moved?”
“Just collect enough of me and take me to the planet.”
“How much do I need to collect?”
“Just fill up one of the large ships you have here and release me above the planet.”
“How long will it take you to grow such that you surround he planet?”
“I’m not really sure. I’ve never done this.”
Josh smiled and said, “I and my people will be your friend. We will care for you and if needed, defend you.”
“I can see in your mind that you think you’re going to need my protection.”
Josh jerked at the revelation, “I’m really hoping that doesn’t happen.”
“I can see that as well. However, if you can free me from this isolation, I will be your friend.”
“Will you be able to communicate with that part of you I take?”
“That is something that remains to be seen.”
“The beings on the planet below you communicate among the planets they live on.”
“Let us hope I’m able to do the same.”
Josh looked over his shoulder, “Take the ship into the halo and open the landing bay doors.”
Cheng started shaking his head, “Shouldn’t you get approval for this?”
Josh heard the Halo chuckle in his mind and he said, “He and I share each other. He’s a friend, Cheng. Just like you.”
Cheng stared at Josh and then smiled. The giant transport moved into the golden halo surrounding the planet.
Chapter Twenty
The Weg planets launching the Starship attacks against the Gracken Planets were found. Josh discovered he could hear their thoughts if he moved far enough away from the six planets where the Weg were now living. He took a Q ship, jumped out an extreme distance from the Alliance, and found there were fifteen infested planets. The Alliance armed forces put on their armor again and transported the Weg to the attackers and began the process of removing them. It took six years and the Weg being used by the Alliance were transported to those worlds at the end of the conflict to live out their lives.
At the end of the war, Alex stepped down from his position and Josh was chosen in a landslide to replace him. Their family had grown and the six children took up all of Prissy’s time. It was the day after the election and they were sitting on the front porch in a swing rocking the newest addition to their family. “Josh.”
“Yes.”
“I notice that the sunrise and sunsets have a distinctive golden color.” Josh smiled. Prissy raised her eyebrows, “What have you done?”
“Hold Maddie.” He handed the two year old to Prissy and went inside. He came back with a helmet and handed it to Prissy, “Put this on.”
“What’s going on?”
‘Put it on.”
Prissy put the helmet on and she heard, “I was wondering when you were going to introduce me.”
Prissy’s eyes snapped wide open and Josh thought, “I didn’t want to expose you until you had grown enough.”
“I reached the size necessary to defend you a year ago.”
“I know. But you were still too faint to be seen.”
“Josh, who is this?”
“My name is Halo. You probably know me from the time I attacked that ship you were on above the Weg’s home world. I do apologize for that. I was unaware of you at that time.”
Prissy started shaking her head, “Josh, that being is an energy eater.”
“I know Prissy. But he has a great sense of humor and the most pleasant disposition of anyone I know.”
Prissy stared at Josh and said, “Are you now here at Sparta?”
“I am.”
“Why is it no one has noticed your presence?”
“I deliberately remained scattered so I wouldn’t be seen.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Josh felt it was important that my being here was not known until I grew to a point where I could cover the planet if needed.”
Prissy looked at Josh, “Do you honestly think we need him?”
“You’ve been in the meetings. What do you think?”
Prissy shook her head, “Josh, if it comes to that, they’ll hold Earth hostage against our doing what they want.”
“Oh, I’m there as well.”
Prissy’s eyebrows shot up and Josh nodded, “I didn’t want to take a chance.”
“Why are you worried?”
“I guess I’m just the suspicious type. There are two kinds of war, Prissy.”
“And they are?”
“Actual war involving combat and economic war. We have two allies that epitomizes each and I don’t believe they’ll ever stop fighting them.”
“Mike still leads the Alliance.”
Josh nodded, “This is probably all about nothing. However, we should know at the next meeting if we have anything to worry about.”
“Why do you say that?”
“The Alliance and Gracken have requested a meeting on Sparta to discuss post war plans.”
Prissy nodded slowly and said, “Halo, it is a real pleasure to meet you. Do you mind if I contact you in the future and allow my children to talk to you?”
“I would love it! I so want to speak to the young of your species.”
Prissy yelled, “Joshua, come here a moment.” A young boy ran out of the house and Prissy put the helmet on his head, “Say hello to a friend of ours.”
The young boy looked around and said, “Hello?”
“Hi, what’s your name?”
“My name is Joshua, just like my father.”
“My name is Halo.”
“That’s an unusual name.”
“That’s because that’s what I look like from above your planet.”
“REALLY!”
Prissy watched her son walk out in the yard, taking Halo on a tour of his toys.
Josh smiled, “Now that Halo has heard your thought pattern, you won’t need the helmet in the future to talk with him.
Prissy kept her eyes on Joshua as she said, “I really hope you’re wrong about this.”
Josh kept his eyes on Prissy and nodded, “So do I.”
“Would you mind if I attend the next meeting?”
“No, I can use your wisdom.”
• • •
Josh sat at the front table next to Mike Sanders and studied the people entering the room. Hetzel was present along with ten of the highest-ranking members of the Alliance Assembly. Gremel and four other senior Elders from the Gracken government entered and Josh noticed Tindel follow them in and take a seat against the wall with the other military leaders. Josh noticed he sat away from the other officers. That didn’t bode well for what was coming.
He looked at Hetzel and saw him almost smiling. He looked at Mike and saw he was oblivious to what was coming. Tilly looked troubled. He smiled. She probably didn’t know but she suspected something was going on. He looked to his right and saw Prissy was also studying the attendees. She leaned over and whispered, “This doesn’t look good.”
“Just stay quiet and let them speak.” Prissy nodded and forced herself to smile.
• • •
After everyone was seated, Mike stood and said, “I want to welcome all of you to Sparta and to congratulate all of us for the victory over the Weg. All of us paid for it with hard effort and sacrifice.” The attendees began clapping and after a few moments Mike raised his arms and the room grew silent. “The Gracken have requested this meeting to discuss what happens next and I’ll turn the discussion over to Gremel.”