Annihilation - Tommy's Tale (Annihilation Series (Book Four))
Page 33
“What! I was told that all that ship did was just enter your system and say greetings.”
“You were told wrong. The newborn was out on its first flight away from our home and the ship jumped in and fired on it killing the new child.”
Tommy and Cassandra were stunned. The Alfont ships were not a peaceful race.
Atlas paused and then asked, “Is that why you captured them and placed them in a prison?”
“Yes, killing them would have been too much of a mercy. They needed time to think about their crime.”
“What are you planning to do with them?”
“We really haven’t thought about it. I suppose we’ll just leave them imprisoned.”
Tommy thought to Atlas, “What do you want done, my old friend?”
Atlas was struggling. He knew the danger of his brothers to this universe if they were released. Finally Atlas said, “First Male, if you took them with you into the new universe, would the energy matrix you have around them protect them from the heat?”
Tommy and Cassandra took a quick breath. What was Atlas doing?”
“Not at its current strength but we can increase it and they should be fine.”
“As a favor, could you take them with you into the new universe and in the future when they can handle the environment, release them. I think by that time they should have learned their lesson about being aggressive.”
The First Male paused, “Stranger, do you want us to do what he is asking us?”
“Yes, we do. Our original purpose was to try and release them; however, we didn’t know that they had killed one of your children.”
The First Male said, “Fifty warriors, go to the silver ships and increase the energy surrounding them to level four and tow them through the nexus.”
“One more thing, First Male,” Atlas said.
“Yes.”
“There is one ship that is away from all the others in a corner of the energy matrix. Would you please release that ship before you move the others and would you allow me to speak with the other ships before you take them?”
The First Male issued instructions and then said, “My warriors will be waiting for you. They will release the ship when you direct them to do so. I have ordered them not to attack you and I believe they will comply with my instructions. Since this is no longer our home, they are not driven by their instincts as strongly as they have been.”
Atlas left the Kosiev and flew through the thousands of Captors flying toward the nexus. As he approached the energy matrix holding his brothers he could hear them yelling among themselves until one of them saw him approaching. The yelling got louder until Atlas had stopped just outside the matrix and waited. Finally the ships grew quiet. Atlas said, “I am going to say some things to you and you are going to listen. If you interrupt me, I am going to have the Captors destroy all of you. Do you understand?”
One voice said, “Yes.”
“The race that has imprisoned you is leaving this universe. The ones that made it possible for them to go are races that were developed from my DNA millions of years ago. I developed them in the hopes of one day using them to come and free you. That day has finally arrived. However, while my children have been fighting and dying to make this happen I have listened to you plotting to destroy all intelligent life in this universe if you are released. I have grown over the millions of years you have been held here and most of that growth has taken place in the last fifty rotations. I now know that your mega egos cannot be controlled.”
Thousands of voiced started yelling and Atlas turned to leave. Suddenly all grew silent and one voice said, “Please don’t go and leave us here. You are one of us. Please release us.”
Atlas turned back and said, “One more interruption and I leave. I will not endanger my children by releasing you into this universe. I know your think you are superior to all life; I know you look forward to killing; I know that you cannot be controlled; and I know what is in your hearts. All you know is total disregard for other life forms. The Plants that we exterminated millions of years ago are the ones that have led to our success in being here today. The Humans, Cainth, Glod and all other members of the Stars Realm have put their lives on the line to save you from your captors; yet you make plans to destroy them all if you are released. You will be taken with your captors into the new universe and held in this energy matrix until you can survive in the new environment and then you will be released. Your captors have agreed to make that happen. I suggest you go to sleep and wait for that time to come. I would also suggest that you think about what has happened here and know that you would have been imprisoned for eternity if it were not for races that cared enough to make your struggle their own. Now that the moment has arrived, I cannot endanger them with your release. Learn from this or eventually you will all perish. One of us came to this system and killed one of your captor’s newborns. That is why so many of us died and why you are imprisoned. If you don’t learn, you will eventually die. I have struggled with this moment since I listened to you plotting and I now know that all life is precious and should be protected. I sincerely hope you will also learn that lesson. You will have a billion years to think about it before the new universe starts to develop new life forms. Maybe you can help in that process.”
Atlas turned and he could hear the millions of ships calling to him. He ignored them and said to one of the Captor Warriors, “Carry out your instructions.”
The fifty Captors fired an energy field into the matrix holding the Alfont ships and then pulled the matrix with them toward the nexus. As it was pulled away Atlas saw one silver ship remaining behind.
The ship said, “Why are you not sending me with them?”
“Because I heard you trying to convince the others not to destroy other life forms; you said it when there was no benefit for expressing your view except to be ostracized by all the others. The fact that you stood by that belief has persuaded me that you can be trusted.”
The silver ship moved over next to Atlas made contact with his hull. “You feel so much better than all the others. I guess that means we are the only two of our race in this universe.”
Atlas felt her touch and his heart swelled, “Yes we are. I hope you and I can work together to make this universe a better place.”
She also felt the heat of their touch and said, “I truly look forward to our future and perhaps we can make our children see the wisdom of that vision. Atlas was smiling. He no longer felt alone.
“Will you take me to meet your children?”
“Come with me. I have someone that will give you a name.” Atlas took his companion and jumped to the Ross system.
Tommy and Cassandra had listened in to the two Alfont and as the millions of Captors entered the nexus at high speed; they felt their love for each other grow from feeling the emotions the two Alfont were sharing. Cassandra held Tommy tighter and thought, “This universe is already a better place and our children should also learn the wisdom we’ve seen.”
Tommy looked into Cassandra’s eyes and said “Children?”
Cassandra smiled and said, “I think it was my being pregnant that finally released the particle.”
Tommy felt his love explode and held on to her as tightly as he could as Captors flashed past them into the nexus.”
Epilogue
Atlas and his companion jumped to Ross where they found a very distraught Gardner family. Atlas explained what was happening and the announcement went out that the war was over with the Captors and that they had left the Stars Realm universe. The celebrations began at once and festival was everywhere in the realm.
Atlas asked Tag to name his companion and Tag named her Diana after the Roman Goddess that was Queen of the open sky and responsible for fertility and childbirth. Diana loved her name and over the ensuing years became as famous as her mate.
Tommy and Cassandra remained at the nexus until all the Captors were gone except for the First Male and First Mother. The First Male told them tha
t they would change the role their instincts played in their lives now that there was abundant pure energy; his race would begin to evolve in another direction. The First Mother also said something that bothered them. She told them that she feared that the explosion of the new universe might cause the Eight Legs to return sooner than normal to investigate the explosion. They would know that the explosion would only happen if there was an advanced life form capable of causing it. The First Mother also left a gift for them.
“The Eight Legs have not attacked us because they cannot see us due to the color of our energy screens. They are blind to that frequency of red. I am leaving you an energy generator that produces that screen. Duplicate it and use it to hide from them. If they come they will arrive in the billions. They could come as far in the future as a million years or it could be next week. Begin preparing now.”
The First Male added, “I have also left a recording of them from their last invasion. It might help you see what you need to do to survive. Thank you for our new home and we hope your lives will be full.”
The First Male and First Mother then entered the nexus to join their children and Tommy and Cassandra closed the doorway into the new universe.
They were greeted to a hero’s welcome when they arrived at Ross and the celebration exploded into fever pitch when the Realm learned that both Rose and Cassandra were expecting children. Tag and Danielle were beyond words to express their happiness at becoming Grandparents.
Sprig and Twig went back to their home planet and were received into the Grove of Elders and Sprig was named the successor to the Eldest Leader. Once it was learned that Sprig and Twig had downloaded each other together, it became a common practice for the developing adolescents and the Algeans learned the meaning of love for a mate. Sprig and Twig stayed together in the Sacred Grove and shared their learning with their people.
Kosiev sat on board the ship that carried his name and watched all that was happening. Finally he commed Admiral Mikado, “Lin, do you remember when we were on the old destroyer Moscow?”
“Yes, I do sir. It seems like it was a million years ago.”
“Do you remember that I wanted to go visit a certain star outside the twenty light year limit?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Would you like to take some time off and go see it with me?”
Mikado smiled, “Would I ever.”
Kosiev smiled and said, “I’ve taken one of the old destroyers out of storage and named it Moscow. It’s time to wish upon that star.”
Mikado punched his com and ran from the bridge of the Rising Sun and yelled to his bridge crew as he boarded the lift, “See you later. Don’t wait up for me.”
Tag sat with his arm around Danielle in their room in front of the fire holding their two new grand children in their laps. Tag looked at her and said, “I love you so much, Dearest.”
Danielle smiled, looked into his eyes and said, “Love conquers all.” Then she closed her eyes and held on tightly to the man she loved so much.
The End
Excerpt from Annihilation, Book V—Searcher
“Hold out, Captain. Use your links to fire your cannons.”
The two hundred and fifty warriors in each group released their grips on their shoulder mounted auto cannons and allowed their armor’s computer to take over firing. They then pulled their long swords and waited as the enormous green mass moved closer and closer. The two lines of warriors had fifty yards of spacing between their lines but they began slowly giving ground until the two groups were literally back to back. Then the on rushing green horde hit their lines and the killing got close and personal.
Brez swung his sword and cut off a spider’s head then turned and jammed the eight foot blade directly into the mouth of a spider leaping at him from behind. He ripped the sword out and slashed at another spider leaping at the back of the warrior beside him and then ducked as a spider passed over his head and hit another warrior in the back taking him down to the pavement and biting through his armor. The spider died as another warrior cut it in half with a sword slash. Brez’s auto cannon turned and fired six rounds into a spider leaping at his head and then shot two more spiders that had hit warriors beside him. The killing was happening almost faster than Brez could follow. Brez saw a four foot circle around Juck as the small Cainth walked through the green mass swinging the four swords faster than eyes could follow. Suddenly, Brez was hit and fell to the ground with a spider thrusting its fangs at his neck.
The Annihilation Series
Book One: Love Conquers All
Book Two: The Power of a Queen
Book Three: A Rose Grows in Weeds
Book Four: Tommy’s Tale
About Saxon Andrew
Saxon Andrew has a BA and Masters Degree from Mercer University in Psychology and Education. He is a former social worker, high school teacher and coach, manager of several sales organizations, and business owner. He has loved science fiction since he first learned to read and his stories are the product of being exposed to the universes created by the great authors of the genre.
Saxon lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife and two dogs and he smiles at what the universe sends our way. The dogs smile when they get a treat or rubbed behind the ears. Dogs always get the best end of the deal.
Copyright © 2011 by Saxon Andrew. All rights reserved. Screen Writers Guild no. VQEA3E380432.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author or publisher.
First Electronic Edition: May 2011
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue
Excerpt from Annihilation, Book V: Searcher
The Annihilation Series
About Saxon Andrew
Copyright