Annihilation - Tommy's Tale (Annihilation Series (Book Four))

by Saxon Andrew

  Tommy looked at them with furrowed brows and Sprig said, “We really didn’t know what the feeling was but we were in your minds at the wedding when you touched each other and we saw and felt what you were feeling. We now feel that for each other. I was going to be silent about my feelings after we absorbed each other but she had every thought and feeling I’ve felt. She knew.”

  “And I will not live away from him,” Twig said. “We have also decided that the names you gave us will be our names for the rest of our lives. But back to the point, when we were in trouble, you and Captain Dodd came and touched so we could survive the process. We would like to offer you our help in return.”

  “What help,” Tommy said.

  “Why help you absorb each other,” Twig said.

  Cassandra said, “Can we do that; we’re different from you.”

  “We believe you can. We also believe the shocks you’ve been having are due to the difficulty of your inner selves letting go to allow each other in.”

  Tommy looked at Cassandra then asked, “Is it dangerous; is there a possibility I might lose her?”

  The Algeans paused and finally Twig said, “Yes.”

  “I can’t run that risk, then,” Tommy said. “She is too important in the fight against the Captors.”

  Cassandra looked at Tommy with tears in her eyes and said, “We could win the war and if I lost you I would die. I cannot go on fighting this war without knowing you are mine. I can see I’m losing you now. Tommy, we have to do this, please.”

  Tommy looked into her eyes and saw her pain. The speaker on the wall said, “I would also rather never save my brothers from their captivity if it meant that you two were hurt like I know you would be if you lost each other,” Atlas said.

  Tommy looked at Cassie and said without taking his eyes from her, “Boy, you sure are nosey.”

  “Comes with the job.”

  Cassandra smiled through her tears and Tommy asked, “How long will it take.”

  “We don’t know,” Sprig said. “We will be with you helping you through the process but we are in unfamiliar territory.”

  Tommy keyed his com and said, “Lt. McAnn and Ensign Johns, report to the third deck conference room immediately.”

  Tommy continued to watch Cassandra cry until three minutes later Wes and Linda Kay ran into the room. “What’s wrong,” Wes asked?”

  Tommy looked at Wes and said, “Stand by for just a moment. Tommy then keyed his com to the ships general intercom and said, “Effective immediately, Lt. McAnn is promoted to executive officer and will be in command of the Kosiev.” Tommy then turned his com off and said to Wes, “Cassandra and I are going to attempt something that is dangerous. Until the situation clarifies itself, you will take command of the Kosiev and keep her safe until we return. Linda Kay, you will stay here and keep Wes informed about how we’re doing; othewise, he won’t stay on the bridge. Any questions?”

  “Yes, what are you doing?”

  Tommy reached forward and took Cassie’s hands and said, “Getting to know each other. Sprig, give Wes the coordinates of one of those nerve centers out in deep space and let’s get this started before I lose my nerve.”

  Sprig said, “Wes, the coordinates are on your board on the bridge. Please move us there quickly.”

  Tommy could see Wes’ fear but he turned and ran from the room.” After three minutes he heard over the intercom, “Jump in ten seconds, 4,3,2,1, execute.” Tommy held on to Cassie as the universe turned around them.

  As the ship settled next to the nerve center Sprig said to Twig, “I will lead them; you need to monitor the nerve center.”

  “Now way; I’m better than you at handling the process.”

  Sprig gave her a mental smile and said, “You just worry about me being damaged by this. You know that we both are equal in skills for this task but you are definitely better at field dynamics and that makes you more qualified at monitoring the nerve center.”

  Twig felt a stubbornness arise but knew he was right. “I’ll be checking on your progress. Be careful, Sprig. I don’t want to lose you.”

  Sprig felt her love and it strengthened him. How’s the nerve center?”

  Twig looked at her instruments and said, “It’s starting to rise, but slowly. Don’t waste time.”

  Sprig entered Tommy’s and Cassie’s minds and felt the love they were feeling. Here we go,” he thought.

  Chapter 14

  A week had passed as Linda Kay and Twig waited in the conference room. Twig had almost stopped the process as the temperature of the nerve center continued to rise. Just before she halted them the temperature quit rising and leveled off. She continued to monitor the center but it did not change. Linda Kay was worried. Tommy and Cassandra did not move and their breathing was very shallow. They seemed to be in a coma. Wes would come in and watch his two friends and leave as duties demanded. Linda Kay looked at Twig and said, “How are they doing?”

  “I can’t tell. They are so deep in each other’s minds that I can’t reach them. Even Sprig is lost to me. I don’t know if I can bring them out even if I want to do so.”

  Linda Kay continued to watch and worry. Twig had an idea and thought to Tgon-Gee, “Tgon-Gee, do you have a moment.”

  “Who is this?”

  “I am called Twig, Tgon-Gee. I am one of the adolescents on board the Kosiev.”

  “I know you. What do you need?”

  “Would you look at Tommy and Cassandra’s auras and tell me what you see?”

  “Send me a visual,”

  Twig turned the com toward them and sent it to Tgon-Gee.”

  “By the creator, what are they doing?”

  “Why, what’s wrong,” Twig asked?

  “Neither one of them have an aura. What have they done?”

  “I’m not certain. I just wanted to know what you saw.”

  Tgon-Gee thought, “Rose, answer me.”

  “Hello, Tgon-Gee. What do you need?”

  “Tommy and Cassandra no longer have an aura.”

  “What!” Rose turned her attention to her brother and saw them in a trance. “What have they done,” she asked Linda Kay?

  Twig said, “Allow me, Ensign Johns.” Twig then explained what was happening.

  Rose said, “Give me your coordinates right now! I’m on my way.”

  Tommy thought to his sister, “That won’t be necessary.”

  Linda Kay and Twig jumped up and started hugging the three that had been locked in a trance.

  Rose said, “What have you done? Tgon-Gee tells me that you and Cassandra do not have an aura.”

  “Really, that’s interesting.”

  Rose said, “Duke Gardner, explain to me what you’ve done.”

  Tommy said, “Alright, Alright. We have just had a tune up?”

  Rose was speechless. Tommy saw Tgon-Gee on the com and said, “I’ve learned about auras during this melding. An aura is released from a person with psychic skill when their powers are not functioning at full efficiency. It’s like one of the old combustion engines that released smoke from their exhaust when they weren’t operating efficiently. If your psychic skills are efficient, then the aura is not seen easily.”

  Tommy got up and walked closer to the com monitor, “Look now Tgon-Gee.”

  Tgon-Gee looked at his screen and as Tommy got closer to the monitor he could see right up against Tommy’s skin was an aura that was darker than any he had ever seen. “I see it now. May I see Captain Dodd’s?”

  Cassandra walked over and stood next to the monitor. “I don’t see an aura around her. Have you lost your psychic ability?”

  Cassandra gave a rueful smile and said, “No, the inside of my aura is clear. The outer edge of my psychic sense is where the coloring is located.”

  Rose and Tgon-Gee waited for the other to ask the question. Finally Rose asked, “uh, where is the outer edge?”

  Tommy answered, “The last we saw of it, it had passed the outer edge of this universe.”

>   Twig looked at Sprig and he nodded to her.

  “Tommy, whatever you and Cassandra did; did it help?”

  “Rose, you have no idea. I’ll discuss this with you but we are going to talk to the Captors about changing their ways. I’ll keep you up to date but we have not had anything to eat for,” he looked at Linda Kay, and she held up her fingers, Tommy’s eyes opened and he mouthed, “Really,” Linda Kay nodded and Tommy said, “seven days.”

  Rose sighed and said, “I’ll talk with you later,” and broke the connection.

  Tgon-Gee said, “Good luck and make sure you come back safely.”

  Tommy nodded and turned off the com. He then looked at Linda Kay and said, “Were we really here for seven days?”

  Twig said, “Yes you were.”

  Twig entered Sprigs mind and was shocked. Sprig thought to her, “Yes, I’ve been changed by this process. You can look around if you like.”

  Twig was amazed at his mind. It had a depth and clarity she had not seen before. Perhaps we should absorb each other again,” she said.

  Sprig gave her a mental smile and thought, “Maybe we should.”

  Wes came running in and hugged Tommy then grabbed Sprig and hugged him, too. “Welcome back; I’ve missed you two.”

  Cassandra looked at Wes and said, “Wes will you and Linda Kay come here for a moment?”

  Wes and Linda Kay walked up to Cassandra and she told them, “I want each of you to hold the other’s hand and then take one of mine.” Wes and Linda Kay looked at each other then did as she asked. Cassandra said, “Close your eyes and think about how much you mean to each other.”

  Wes and Linda Kay closed their eyes and just holding hands reminded them how much they had missed each other for the last seven days. As they thought about it, Wes could hear Linda Kay telling him how much she loved him. Wes said, “Linda Kay, she told us to think about it, not say it.”

  “I was just thinking about it; I didn’t say anything.”

  “But I heard you.”

  “And I heard you.”

  Cassandra released their hands and said, “I have learned during the last week that if you truly love someone, it is easy to make a mental connection. From this day forward you can hear each other’s thoughts no matter where you are.”

  Wes looked at his wife and thought, “Can this be true.”

  Linda Kay started and thought back, “I hear you.”

  Wes reached for her and held her close. Tommy looked at his best friend and his wife and keyed his com, “Effective immediately, Captain Cassandra Dodd is resuming her duties as the commanding officer of the Kosiev. We will be jumping into the Captors galaxy in six hours. Please make sure your stations are ready for possible hostile action.” Tommy turned his com off. Then he looked at Cassandra and said, “Let’s go get something to eat where we can talk.

  Cassandra smiled and said, “I thought you’d never ask.” He took her hand and noticed that there was not a shock as they left the conference room. Sprig was wrapped up in Twig’s limbs and didn’t notice when they left.

  Tommy and Cassandra sat at a table eating a meal big enough for three other people. As they ate, Tommy thought to her, “Now I understand. I couldn’t see the turmoil your new skills were causing you. I was the trigger that you were waiting for to release you.”

  “Yes you are. I think we would have stayed apart except for the Captors. I think that your sense of them is what drove us together before our time. We could have been killed and my primary function would have terminated. Now that you have come into me completely, I feel at peace. My anger at the Captors was due to our not being able to be together so my skills were looking for a means to remove them.”

  “Cassie, I have never seen such a gentle heart, except in my mother. I thought you were an uncontrolled warrior with a hardened heart. I can also see that all you did in the academy caused you many sleepless nights.”

  Cassie stopped eating and looked at Tommy, “I could not understand why I was deliberately hurting you. After each time I was so mean, I hated myself for doing it but then as soon as I saw you I would do it again.”

  “We know that it was to protect us and our universe. If we had made contact back then, the particle in energy space would have exploded.”

  Cassie looked at Tommy and said, “I felt something when you were in my mind.” Tommy tilted his head and stopped eating. “I think my main reason for existing is to do exactly that, explode that particle. I think your parents were brought together to have you so that this process could happen.”

  “I didn’t see that, Cassie. What do you mean?”

  Cassandra shook her head to clear it and said, “I think our universe was started by someone just like me in another universe. They deliberately exploded that particle and our universe started. I can feel the particle calling to me. It is ready to start a new one. I had to have you in order for my psychic power to develop. Like us, I think that particle is ready.”

  “Cassie, that would destroy our universe; you can’t allow that to happen.”

  “I’m not feeling that, Tommy. I think that it would start a different universe from ours. I’m not ready to actually do it, but I think that when the time comes, I will know what to do.”

  Tommy paused, “So there is a creator that made our universe.”

  “No, not like that; the creator created a system that provides the means to recreate itself. That creator is much larger than I can encompass in my mind. Someone like me is made to start the process as each universe matures but I couldn’t do it until I found the trigger to release my psychic skills. Only after that trigger and I reach equilibrium can the process start. I can sense that it is a very difficult thing to make happen. The first and probably the most important step we just accomplished with our melding. Do you feel differently now.”

  “Yes, Cassie; I love you with my heart and mind. It is no longer driven by physical impulses alone.”

  Cassie looked at Tommy for a moment and said, “I hope the physical impulses are in good working order. I’m fighting hard not to jump you right now.”

  Tommy smiled and said, “It’s good to have impulses. However, we have a ship to prepare to go talk with a bee. Have you thought about how we want to do that?”

  “Yes I have but we’re going to have to go interrupt the kids. I want to talk with the Captors on an electronic frequency and not telepathically.”

  “Why do you want to do it that way?”

  “It will allow us to see if the Captors are trustworthy.” She lifted her com and said, “Ensign Johns, how many sensor buoys are there on the Kosiev.”

  “Just a moment,” Linda Kay said. “We have ninety six.”

  Cassie looked at Tommy and said, we have a lot of work ahead of us before we can make contact. Will you ask Mikado to bring us a shipment of five hundred more sensors immediately? When he’s ready to deliver them, we’ll give him our coordinates.”

  “What are you planning?”

  “A rather large shell game,” Cassie answered.

  Tommy immediately understood what she was going to do, “I think we might have a few dizzy bees before this is over.”

  Cassie smiled, “You think.”

  Lt. Edward Jones was standing in the landing bay surrounded by ninety six sensor buoys. He was listening to Captain Dodd explain what she wanted done. The two Algean adolescents were listening attentively. I thought we would just take the Kosiev to all of the sites for these buoys but you can teleport them right from this landing bay can’t you, Sprig.”

  “Sure, if you have the coordinates you want to send them.”

  “Each of these buoys has a specific transmission frequency. Mr. Jones, I want you to number each one of these buoys from one to ninety six and I want a list of their operating frequencies put on a list matching their designated number. Call your crew in and get busy.”

  “Aye, aye, Sir,” and Ed turned and began issuing orders to his team.

  “Sprig and Twig, I want to telepo
rt each of these buoys directly opposite of each other in relation to the Captors planet. Picture their planet in the middle of a large box. Send the first buoy to the bottom right corner of the box as far away as possible from the planet but still in range of transmissions. Send the second buoy to the top left hand corner. Send the third to the bottom left hand corner and the fourth to the top right hand corner.”

  Twig said, “You’re trying to make sure no two consecutive buoys are anywhere near each other.”