Jesse began to regain hope when he heard the blasts on the door. He knew Monica would come for him. He felt bad for the way he had treated her and promised himself that he would do whatever he could to make it up to her. His eyes began to tear up, as his thought shifted to Jaime. Even though he was in extreme pain, he couldn’t help but feel an intense pain in his heart for the woman who had taken her own life. He didn’t want to believe that she was really gone. He had looked forward to traveling through space with her. Jesse felt very comfortable around her, and loved how they had many things in common. He shook his head, trying to take his mind off of her.
“Luis, do you remember the time we raided that starship, on its way to the outer rim, and it was carrying a cargo of Twinkies? Captain Barakat was so pissed off. Someone told him it was supposed to be a shipment of weapons for the UPG's military. I never saw him so mad, so then he shot the guy who gave him the wrong information.” Jesse’s whole body ached, as he laughed. To his surprise, Luis was able to let out a strained laugh as well.
“Remember how the captain took the shipment of Twinkies anyway, out of spite. Everyone got so drunk and high that night, and we all ate Twinkies into the next day. Those freaking Twinkies were all over the ship. I thought the captain was going to kill us all. You we puking so hard, you sounded like you were pregnant. Those were good memories. Remember one of the guys called it the Twinkie massacre.” Jesse wished that he could turn back time.
“Have you…ever…forgiven yourself…for the deaths of all of those people, after we left Captain Barakat?” Luis asked him.
A flow of unwanted and unforgotten, memories rushed into Jesse’s mind. Jesse had buried part of his dark past deep in his mind. He wanted to forget about certain crimes he had committed, when he had first left Captain Barakat, several years ago. “No…it figures you would bring that shit up at a time like this,” Jesse said. The White Skull had killed people, looted and raided ships when he joined up with Captain Barakat. But it was after Barakat that he truly became feared throughout the known solar system, even by Barakat himself.
Luis fought his transformation, but it had taken him over. The little bit of flesh and blood he had taken from Jesse was enough to complete his transformation, but something was different. Luis felt a strange calm come over him. Luis exhaled deeply; he was now able to control his hunger. The pain he was feeling was now over, and the headaches he used to have was now completely gone. Everything seemed to make sense to him now. There was a certain strength that he had never felt before. Luis could even feel his new alien blood, flowing through his veins. Something else was different, something Mr. Toad did not suspect. He didn’t want it. He didn’t want his new power and strength, he wanted to die. He wanted to hold his lover, Frank, in his arms.
Luis had always been afraid of death until this moment. Things for him now were different, with his new transformation. Luis didn’t want to live as a monster, and he certainly didn’t want to accomplish what his father wanted him to do. Luis sat up against the opposite wall from Jesse, and said, “Jesse.”
Jesse couldn’t feel his leg anymore, as he tried to move it. “What? You sound different. Has the pain stopped? Is this it?” Jesse asked. He thought that this was the moment he would die.
“Yes, the pain has stopped. I’m not going to kill you, though. My father thought I could kill my friend, but he is wrong,”
“Good, I didn’t enjoy being munched on,” Jesse joked with him. His voice was almost completely gone, sounding like that of an old man. “I can’t move my leg, you ass,” Jesse said.
“Sorry about that. We have done some horrible stuff, but you have to forgive yourself,” Luis said, in his new deep voice. Jesse’s blood still smelled good to him, but he was through eating human flesh. “You never enjoyed killing the way I did. But, sometimes, you even scared me when you lusted for gold and destruction. You became someone else.”
“I’ll never be able to forgive myself. I’ve tried to forget many times, but the ghost of the dead haunt my soul. My painkillers helped for a while, but now they don’t even help dull the pain in my heart,” Jesse explained.
“You can redeem yourself,” Luis said.
Jesse gave a sarcastic snort.
“I’m serious,” Luis said.
“I will never be able to redeem the actions of my demons,” Jesse responded.
“You can, by saving the Horizon,”
“What?”
“You can save the Horizon,”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Jesse asked in confusion.
“Before I tell you something, I want you to promise that you will do something for me,”
“Anything, buddy. What is it?”
“I’ll tell you what I want after I explain something to you,” Luis said.
“All right,”
“My father recently explained to me why the Horizon was built.”
“Everyone knows why the Horizon was built. That’s not a secret,” Jesse said.
“Everyone is wrong, Jesse. The Horizon wasn’t built to find a new home.”
Jesse momentarily stopped breathing, and asked, “What was it meant for?”
“The Horizon was meant to feed the Renexobious,” Luis explained.
“What? But the Horizon has seventy thousand people aboard,” Jesse said, in shock from what he heard.
“I know. The Horizon was nothing more than a gift to my father and our species, from the president. In exchange for technology and help to carry out his plans,” Luis explained.
“That bastard, seventy thousand innocent people. Are you sure?” Jesse asked.
“Yes. The women are to be raped and used for breeding the Renexobious offspring, while the rest are livestock…food. But, that’s not the worst of it.” Jesse could hear the regret in Luis’ voice; it was as if he felt personally responsible.
“The Horizon is supposed to be claimed to be lost, or that it crash landed on a planet. They’re already building another colonial starship, which will be shipped out later next year. My father says that this time they are sending out one hundred thousand people. He also told me that we will completely repopulate our species within the next thirty years,”
“That’s horrible. But, why would the president want to do something so horrid, and to his own species? He told me he wanted to convert the solar system to Catholicism, which is sick, but I didn’t think he was that crazy, to sell out his own kind,” Jesse stated, in disgust.
“That’s right, my father promised the president that he would help him convert the entire human species to Catholicism, and that he would become the all-powerful Pope. He will rule the known solar system, and he will be able to do whatever he wants. The president is obsessed with wealth and power, and will stop at nothing to see that everyone is subjugated under his rule,” Luis explained.
“The only problem is that I can’t save the Horizon. I’m completely chained up, and was left as your fucking late night snack,” Jesse stated, pulling at his chains.
“Monica is outside right now blasting through the lock. She will be through very soon, and she can let you out,” Luis told his dear friend. “There’s more. You must kill my father. The president doesn’t know it, but my father is going to double cross him,”
“What’s he going to do?” Jesse didn’t know how much more he could take.
“My father is going to use the Horizon, and the other colonial starships that are going to be built, and use them to attack the UPG, completely taking over every planet and space station in our solar system. Our entire solar system is going to become one big Renexobious feeding ground. Earth is going to become the new Renexobious home world.”
“Fucking aliens.” Jesse was almost speechless.
“My father told me that he is going to use the technology from a robot to build an army. The Renexobious used to have robot servants who did their labor and prepared their food. One of their robots was altered with a technology they didn’t have. If they get a hold of th
at robot, then we can kiss humankind goodbye. Once they build their army of super robots, my father says that the Renexobious will take over all life. He’s gone mad, and wants me and my sister to rule by his side. So, you must promise me that you will kill him, Jesse,” Luis pleaded.
“I will. I must. It must happen. What did you want me to do for you?”
Luis didn’t answer. Monica had completely blasted through the lock, and began to push the door open. “Jesse!” Monica screamed, as she ran to him.
“Hello,” Jesse barely got the words out.
“Oh, my God! What have they done to you, baby!” Monica couldn’t believe the shape he was in. He was so badly beaten that she almost didn’t recognize him. She brought in his pants and logger boots and helped him to put them on. Monica turned to Luis and asked, “What the hell is that? And why does it smell so bad in here?”
“It’s Luis, and it’s a very long story. I’ll tell you later. Do me a favor and get us out of these chains,” Jesse said.
“Jesse. You have to use the spatial anomaly in the Antares Sector, the one that was reported found on the news. My people built it. It will place you just ahead of the Horizon. Four ships were sent out two days ago. If you hurry, you’ll be able to catch up with them. Jesse?” Luis said.
“Don’t worry, Luis, we’ll take care of it, and get you out of here. There has to be some kind of cure we can find for you,” Jesse said.
“I’m afraid there is no cure. It’s time for you to do what you promised,” Luis said, as Monica shot off Jesse’s chains, freeing him.
“What Luis?” Jesse asked
“I want you to kill me.”
“Stop fooling around, you dope,” Jesse said. His arms dropped to his side, as he tried to get the feeling back in them.
“I want you to kill me. I beg you. I don’t want to live like this…feeding off of human flesh. I want to be remembered by the way I used to be, not the monster that I am now. Please, if you are truly my friend you will kill me.”
“I can’t, man. Don’t ask me to do this. I don’t want you to die. Listen, you can come with us, I’ll lock your ass in a closet if I have to,” Jesse said, trying to lighten up the situation.
“No, Jesse, please. I can’t do it myself; my alien side won’t let me. I want you…my friend to do it. It would mean a lot to me. Don’t think of it as murder, but think of it as helping a friend find peace.”
Monica understood that it must be done and handed Jesse her laser pistol. Jesse took the gun but blankly stared at it. Jesse’s eyes began to burn, causing him to tear up. His tears burned the cuts on his face. He couldn’t believe what Luis was asking of him. He cared about him, as if he were a brother. Jesse didn’t want to do it, but held up the gun, and aimed it at his friend. His hand began to shake.
“Please, Luis, there must be another way,” Jesse said, as tears streamed down his face.
“You must. I love you, brother. You are a good friend, don’t forget me,” Luis said. Monica’s eyes began to tear up as well. The three of them had all been close at one point, a kind of family.
“PLEASE!” Jesse said, as tears streamed down his face. He couldn’t see anymore.
“Do it,” Luis begged.
“I love you, brother,”
“I know,” Luis closed his eyes and thought of Frank. Jesse screamed and pulled the trigger. A blast of white light shot into Luis’ head, making him slump over and die.
Jesse couldn’t look at him. He was still crying, and so was Monica. Although he knew he was helping Luis, he would never forgive himself for killing his best friend. He promised he would find some way to honor him. Monica slowly took the gun from him, and put it in her holster.
“Come on, Jesse, there is nothing else we can do for him. You did the right thing, babe. Let’s get out of here before it’s too late for all of us,” Monica said, as she helped him to his feet, putting his arm around her shoulder for support.
“I can’t feel my right leg.”
“Don’t worry, love; we’ll take care of it. We’ll get you fixed up,” Monica told him. She was so happy that she was able to help him. Having his arm around her gave her hope that maybe he would take her back.
“Monica, I need you to do me a favor,” Jesse said.
“What?”
“I want you to get Jaime’s body and bring it back to the ship. She deserves a proper burial,”
“I’ll get my girls to find her.” Monica wasn’t too happy about it, but she felt bad for him.
Monica contacted Natalie and told her to have four of her girls meet her by the hanger bay to take Jesse aboard, and then find the body of Jaime. On the way there, Jesse gave her a heads up about everything Luis had told him. Monica couldn’t believe her ears. Monica praised God that she was able to keep the guards from seeing them. After she met with her girls, they took Jesse aboard to receive medical attention, and Eronica was with them. Since Monica’s doctor had been badly wounded during their fight with the base, she agreed to let the blue-haired woman look after him. Eronica had told her that she was gifted in the art of healing. Pong told Eronica ahead of time, not to say anything to anyone about how she was supposed to marry Jesse. It was Pong’s little joke on Monica.
Natalie briefed Monica on what Pong and the Haven sisters were up to. Monica reached the third floor and cautiously looked around. The room was full of smoke and dead bodies. From the look of the uniforms on the dead bodies, they were UPG guards. As she walked through the smoky room, she held up her gun, ready for action. She heard a commotion coming from behind the large double doors. She could hear a woman crying as she entered the room. Monica carefully stepped over large pot holes in the floor from the explosives Don had dropped. Tony, Pong, and Don had their guns pointed at a mixed group of UPG personnel and Red Cardinals, who were on their knees, with their hands locked behind their heads. She saw Alexander’s dead body slumped sideways, with his throat slit from ear to ear. She thought that Pong must be happy now that she had taken her revenge.
Monica did a double take when she looked at Pong, and yelled, “That’s my outfit!” Pong gave her a smile. She was too upset and decided to handle it later. When Monica got closer to her friends, she quickly covered her mouth in shock. Cinnamon was on her knees, holding Heather against her body. She was sobbing as she rocked her sister back and forth. Heather’s shirt was covered in blood.
“What happened?” Monica asked Don.
He walked over to her, and said in a low, sad voice, “The president shot Heather,”
“Where is he?”
“He escaped. There was too much smoke and commotion in the room,”
“I can’t wait to get my hands on that prick,” Monica stated. She held herself back from approaching Cinnamon. It wasn’t easy, because she wanted to console her. She had something she had to finish up first. She looked in amazement at the incredibly massive starship, which was in the distance in the hanger bay. The starship was almost complete, and was separated from them by a thick layer of Plexiglas. A closed door led to the starship. Monica looked toward the top of the ship, and saw the words, “Galaxy One.”
“Don,” Monica said.
“Yes?”
“I want you to rig that ship and this station to blow. As soon as we fly out of here, we’ll blow it all up”
“What about them?” Don said, referring to the hostages.
“Kill them all,” Monica ordered. Don wasn’t one who liked to kill in cold blood, and gave her a frown.
“Pong, will you do it?”
Pong nodded yes.
“NO! Let’s tie them up to that starship. These bastards need to suffer slowly!” Cinnamon yelled, still holding her sister.
“You heard the woman,” Monica said to Pong.
“Damn,” Pong said, in disappointment.
Pong, Tony, and Don walked the hostages through the door and into the construction room. Pong found some duct tape on a maintenance table, and taped up everyone’s hands, legs, and mouths. Then, wit
h Tony’s help, they taped all of the UPG slime and Red Cardinals to the ship itself. They shook their heads in desperation and fear. Cinnamon, who was still holding her sister, gave the taped hostages a crazed look. She deeply despised the Red Cardinals, and made a mental note to rid the solar system of every last one of them. Monica helped Cinnamon up, as Tony and Don carried Heather’s limp body back to the Huntington. Once all of them had put their spacesuits on, they boarded the Huntington. Tony and Don quickly went back to the Galaxy One, and rigged the ship with explosives. Tony and Don kept their opinions to themselves, but they were not happy with letting the hostages die.
After they re-boarded the Huntington, Monica had Janet fly away from the space station. When they were at a safe distance Janet faced the ship toward the secret space station. “Destroy it!” Monica yelled to Don.
Don pressed the button on a device he had in his hand. The space station burst into flames, exploding in every direction. The stardrive, which was on the Galaxy One, adds to the explosion, making it burn harder and brighter. Rings of white energy expanded from the center of the explosion. Monica felt a certain satisfaction as she looked on. She had always despised the corrupt government, and felt happy to blow up their secret station. Not to mention destroying a ship, which was used to feed humans to aliens. The UPG had lied to the entire human species, saying that the resources were depleted, and that humanity had to find a new solar system so that the species could continue. She still couldn’t believe what Jesse had told her, that all of those innocent people were on their way to be slaughtered, like cattle.
Jesse told her that they would have to go after the Horizon, and save them from the Renexobious. Monica had Janet plot a course for the location of Jesse’s ship, the Black Ice. Once they picked it up, Don and Tony would fly her. Monica needed the Merrick as well. Monica contacted Haseeb, and asked him if he could send as many ships as possible to meet her and Jesse at the spatial anomaly in the Antares Sector. She gave him a quick rundown of what was going on, and he happily agreed. Haseeb told her that he would send what he could, but he did promise her that he would send his best pilot, Crazy Renzo.
Voyages of the White Skull Book 1 Page 28