by Saxon Andrew
“You know me too well, Duncan.”
“Ka was rather hot about the whole thing, but I believe she left understanding why he had to go.”
“Thank you for that, Duncan. She’s been through enough.”
“Stay safe and keep me informed on what’s going on.”
“I will, Sir. Thanks for everything.” Tal ran his hand across his throat and Jan ended the call. Tal turned to Jee, “Was that so hard?”
“I’m glad it was him and not Mom.”
“You realize you do need to call her before we leave for the LMC?” Jee nodded, as he lowered his eyes. Tal smiled, “We’re going to take a couple of days to really learn our controls and then we’re headed to the LMC galaxy. Make good use of the time. Both of you will learn how to pilot the ship and that starts now. Jee come over here and watch how I use the controls. We’re starting with the joy stick. Jee you will also learn how to use Jan’s console.”
‘Why?”
“Because all of us are going to have to get some sleep sometime!” Tal replied. “We will cross train on each other’s systems until we know them in and out. You’re first, Jee.”
• • •
Tal and Jee were sitting on the bridge the next day staring out of the viewport at the distant Milky Way and the smaller Large Magellanic Cloud close by it. The LMC looked tiny next to the giant Milky Way. Jan entered the bridge with wet hair and sat down at her console. She joined them in silence and stared at the galaxies with them. Jee sighed and turned to Tal, “What do you think about Allison, Tal?”
Tal continued staring at the viewport, as he asked, “Do you have a thing for her?” Jee nodded. Tal blew out a heavy breath before turning to Jee and saying, “I think she’s a remarkable woman who’s been through a lot.” Jee smiled. After a moment, Tal turned back to the viewport and added, “However, you need to think long and hard about having a long-term relationship with her.”
Jee sat up straight in his chair, “And why is that?!”
Tal shook his head slightly before answering, “Don’t get defensive, Jee. You need to think it through before you decide to do that.”
“What do you mean?” Jan asked.
Tal looked at both and then answered Jan’s question, “Because he’d be setting himself up for a huge heartbreak if he goes through with it.” They were silent, and Tal shrugged slightly as he said softly to Jan, “So would you Jan, if you decided to pair up with someone on Earth.”
“Why do you say that, Tal,” Jee asked.
Tal hesitated and asked, “How long are the two of you going to live?”
“About three hundred years,” Jan quickly answered.
Tal nodded, turning to Jee, “Allison’s life expectancy, if she takes good care of herself, is about a hundred years. You’ll have to watch her grow old and die of old age right in front of your eyes. There’s nothing you can do to stop it and she’ll grow to hate you for staying young and handsome long before she dies.”
Jee’s expression showed his surprise, as Jan asked, “Tal, you’re one of the colonies top geneticists, couldn’t you extend her life?”
“I could but I’d never do it,” he replied slowly.
“WHY NOT!” Jee asked impatiently.
Tall shook his head, “The worse thing the colonies ever did was to extend humanity’s life span. Before the aliens invaded, the colonies were headed toward total collapse in a few hundred years and their civilization would have fallen into civil war.”
“Why?” Jan asked.
“Jan, the colonies were headed toward over population and there was nothing that could be done to stop it. The Assassins Guild was created to slow the coming fall by killing millions of people, and it did just that for a century, but it’s not enough now. The extended life spans and the wealthy and better off citizens that want large families make it a certainty. Both of you are smart enough to look at the last census and make the same determination I did. I will not start extending the life span of anyone on Earth. I will not start the long fall on Earth that was happening on the colonies.”
“But you could do it just for Allison, Tal!” Jee interjected into the conversation.
Tal turned to him, “And what about her baby, Jee? Is Allison willing to watch him die of old age? And if I do him, where does it stop. Do I extend Duncan’s life and then the Chancellor? Besides, you have a rather fickle heart, Jee, and you need to slow down choosing anyone for a while.”
Jee’s expression turned dour, “Why do you say that, Tal!!”
“If I’m not mistaken, didn’t you ask your father to bring along a girlfriend with you? What happened to her?”
Jee sighed, “She didn’t want to come, and, after the fact, I really wasn’t that close to her. But I’m very close to Allison.”
Tal rolled his eyes, “If you weren’t that close, why did you ask to bring her with you? Trust me on this, Jee; you’ll always be close to the woman you’re currently interested in.” Tal turned to Jan, “What about you Jan? Did you leave anyone in the colonies?”
Jan’s eyes closed slightly, “I left someone that I didn’t have the strength to leave if I had stayed. Dad taking us to Earth was the best thing that could have happened to me.”
“He was a real slug!” Jee added.
Jan sighed, “I know. I just didn’t have a good opinion of myself and couldn’t bring myself to walk away.”
Tal smiled slightly, “Both of you have plenty of time before you need to make a life decision on anyone. Besides, how old are you?”
“Twenty-five,” Jee answered.
“How old are you, Jan?”
“Twenty-five.”
Tal’s head went back in surprise, “Are you twins!?”
Jan nodded, “Yes, we are.”
“But the two of you look nothing alike!”
“We’re fraternal-twins, Tal. The genes of most people in the colonies have been manipulated so much over time that even identical twins no longer look alike.” Jan replied.
“But you two are nowhere close in appearance! Your eye color, hair color, even your height is completely different! Fraternal twins still share common genes.”
Jan rolled her eyes, “No they don’t, Tal. I look like my mother and Jee looks like our father. You’re a geneticist, you should know that the old rules of dominant and recessive traits have been overturned by all the genetic manipulation taking place in the colonies. That’s why Jee and I did not take the genetic modification shots; we didn’t want our DNA messed up any more than it currently is. We’ve kept our normal appearance for the most part. When we were younger, we used hair dye to change color if we chose.”
“I wondered why you were using your normal genetic forms when we picked you up at Haven. I’ve been out of the lab too long,” Tal responded. “I can see why you wanted to do this together.”
Jan nodded, “Jee is the last member of my immediate family. I don’t want to be separated from him.”
“What about your mother?”
‘She turned down the wrong man a few years ago and an assassin ended her life,” Jee answered softly.
Tal sat back in his chair, “And now you’re on a mission with a high-ranking assassin. What do you think about that?”
“Tal, you and Mom are the finest people I’ve ever known. I’ll never see you as an assassin,” Jan answered.
“Thank you, Jan.” Tal paused and added, “Jee, if you’re determined to be with Allison, you can take her and her son with you to the colonies and have her life extended there. A lot of doctors will do it for a minimal fee.”
“If I do that, are there any consequences?” Jee asked.
Tal shrugged and hated sharing his thoughts with Jee but decided he deserved to know, “I suspect Earth is not going to allow any more extended-life humans to immigrate to Earth. Thousands of scientists, engineers, and special-talented colonists have moved to Earth and the government knows the danger of having too many of them on the planet. You and Allison would probably have to stay in
the colonies if you chose to do that.”
“I don’t know if Allison will like that. She has a large extended family and wouldn’t want to leave them.”
Tal saw his concern and turned to the viewport, “Well, we’re going to be out here for a while. Worry about it when we get back, Jee.” Jee nodded at Tal and turned to his console, before asking them, “Are you ready to start making a nuisance of ourselves with the aliens?”
Jan laughed, “Am I ever!” Tal looked at Jee, saw him smile at his sister, then nodded himself. Tal reached for the steering wheel and pushed the thruster handle forward. The ShaKa moved forward and then leapt away at a speed that seemed to tell them that the ship was just as impatient to use its talents as the crew. Tal smiled and hoped to find the redemption he so needed in order to find peace. He gripped the steering wheel and pushed the thruster-handle fully forward. The stars became streaks and Tal saw Sha’s face in his mind again. He smiled slightly and thought, this is for you, my love.
Chapter Eight
Tee was weary and sat down in the pipe to rest for a few minutes. Since the Alien’s had captured his face in every scanner, he couldn’t go out into the city without being caught. So, he walked through the underground pipes looking for his targets. Today marked his hundredth-kill and he decided that was going to be it. He was forced to walk twenty miles to make his attack today and it was just too far to keep it up. The Aliens had stopped sending their landing forces into the center of the city and that forced him to walk too far to continue his attacks on the aliens.
With a heavy sigh, he wished he hadn’t been stupid and took his headcover off when he killed the alien that shot him with a stunner rifle. But…even if he didn’t, they’d have his image from being shot by the alien. Either way, his days above ground were gone. He stood up, slung the compressed-air-rifle over his shoulder and continued the long walk; only eight miles to go.
He finally arrived at the pipe leading to his lair and had to rest for five minutes before he could climb the ladder. He tied a rope to the Air Rifle and climbed up without it. Once he was inside, he pulled the rifle up and stumbled across the room to put it in the gun cabinet. He undressed and went to the shower and took a long, hot, bath.
He finally, dried off and went to his chair. He opened a bag of chips and a bottled water, before falling back and turning on the monitor. The screen was filled with an announcement saying the aliens were going to address the planet in an hour. Tee sighed before setting his alarm clock for a quick nap. He didn’t want to miss it and wondered what they were going to say. He took a few bites of chips, washed it down, and chuckled to himself, if they’re going to ask for me to stop attacking their troops, they’re a day late and a credit short. He made his last march today. A moment later, he was asleep.
Fifty minutes later, the alarm went off and Tee nearly jumped out of his chair before reaching over and shutting it off. He stood up, stretched, and twisted his shoulders a few times before sitting back down. He started eating the chips again and thought that if he hadn’t hustled back, he probably would have missed the announcement. He looked at the monitor and saw an alien’s face appear. Here we go.
• • •
The Fleet Commander began his announcement with, “I know that we’ve not spoke to you before now because it was our intent to handle everything without having to use you to accomplish our goals in coming to your planet. However, it appears that our original intentions are not going to come to pass. With that in mind, I am offering a proposal that I hope you will accept. We came here to mine and process the metals that are on this planet. We intended to do the work but the savagery of the attacks on my landing forces have made that impossible. So, I’ve told your elected leaders that if they will mine the ores, and refine them into high-grade metals, we will move them to our ships in orbit and leave your planet in peace and never return. Your president has agreed that the weight of metals I require is reasonable and has agreed to produce what we require.”
The Alien paused for a moment, and then continued, “As part of this proposal, we have also demanded that your government collect one trillion of what you call credits and place them in an account to be held until this transfer is complete. Once we have the metals on board my ships, and we’ve left your planet, that fund will be sent to the party responsible for paying the ones that have been attacking my forces. Provided no more attacks take place, then that fund will be sent to be divided evenly among the attackers on the planet. If the attacks continue, the funds will not be sent, and we will be forced to resort to other actions that I assure you won’t be beneficial to your population. I hope your planet accepts this offer and, if so, we will abide by the set conditions.”
• • •
The monitor went dark in the Government Center and one of the Representatives turned to the President, “YOU AGREED TO THIS?!”
“I did. It appears the aliens don’t know about the metal deposits recently discovered under the Melbourne Continent. There’s more metals there than we’ve taken out of the planet since the colony was first settled. What the alien wants represents less than five-percent of our total.”
“What about the trillion credits?” the Vice-President asked.
“We’re not going to impose a tax. We have enough on hand to fund the account and we’ll recoup it from the wealthy citizens after the aliens leave. The faster we can get this done, the sooner they will be gone.”
“Do you think the Assassins will lay off them?”
The President shrugged, “I think they’ll all receive more than five million credits if they do; they’re only attacking because they’re getting paid; I think they’re greedy enough to back off.”
“What if we keep the fund?”
The President turned to the Representative who made the suggestion, “Do you want to face them if we don’t abide by the agreement? I suspect there won’t be anyone in this room left alive if we keep it.”
Everyone looked around and knew the President was right.
• • •
After listening to the Alien Commander, Tee started shaking his head, “That sneaky SOB!” He quickly reached for his communicator and instantly shut it off, other assassins could home in on its signal if it was left on. The alien was right that the assassins wouldn’t attack his forces anymore…but…every one of them just figured out that the fewer assassins on the planet when the aliens left, the more they would be paid. That alien knew it as well! He just kicked off a war among the assassins and no one was safe.
Tee leaned back in his chair and thought, who knew about his location? Tee thought hard and only knew five assassins that had ever been here. Tee knew that they would be coming to take his lair and remove him as quickly as possible. No place on Australia was as safe as the lair he had built. There was only one way to get in…they’d have to come through the pipes. The lair was buried under more than a hundred feet of concrete in the parking garage’s foundation; even a nuclear blast wouldn’t get to him. He jumped to his feet with a low moan at sore muscles screaming at him. He activated his computer to begin turning on the cameras at all the cutouts within six miles of his location. He set the computer to give a warning alarm if any motion was detected, as he began getting the guns ready. It wouldn’t be long.
• • •
He had his black suit on and pointed a small handheld remote at the computer. The computer pinged as he pressed the link button, telling him the connection had been made. He slipped the device into his leg pouch, picked up a high-powered dart handgun, along with the Double-Dart-Rifle, which he slung over his shoulder, before starting down the ladder to the pipe forty feet below. He had brought the five assassins to his lair from the exposed pipe in the ravine outside the city. That would be the probable path they’d take to get to his lair now. There was no way they could tunnel down to the ancient pipes with the alien warships in orbit scanning the planet. They’d be forced to find an open pipe on the surface.
He wondered if there were other e
xposed pipes around the city but decided to worry about that was a waste of energy. If there were, he’d have to depend on the cameras he’d placed in the pipes to give him advanced warning. That alien was a pretty smart cookie; he had to know what his proposition would lead to. Tee had no doubt assassins were dying all over the planet; he just had to make sure he wasn’t one of them. He laid down against the pipe, took out the remote, activated it, placed it inside the chest flap of his suit, before closing his eyes. It would vibrate if anything was detected moving his way and he needed the rest.
Tee was jerked out of a deep sleep by the remote vibrating against his chest. He shook his head and looked at the small screen on the remote. It appeared Cha wasn’t wasting any time coming after him. He was in full camo-mode and was carrying an automatic dart thrower. Tee stood up, stretched, did deep knee bends, and forty pushups to get his circulation moving. He pulled his headcover over his head and moved toward the approaching assassin. He knew Cha had the best monitoring electronics available and Tee wasn’t sure his black suit would prevent Cha from detecting him. He moved quickly up the pipe and jumped into a small six foot-pipe that intersected the main pipe about four feet off the floor. He pulled himself feet first into the pipe and pulled out the hand-launcher. He settled in and waited, Cha was about five minutes out from his current position.
The pipe Tee had entered sloped down toward the larger pipe from the surface enabling Tee to extend the hand-launcher. He focused on the pipe in front of him and held his breath. Cha suddenly appeared directly below him and he squeezed the hand-launcher’s trigger. Cha screamed as he instantly fell to his knees. Tee was out of the smaller pipe in an instant and leaned down over Cha, “You shouldn’t have done it, Cha.” Cha’s expression was frozen in fear as Tee pulled a small tube out of his black suit and fired a dart into Cha’s arm. The dart from the handgun would have eventually killed him but this made it quicker. Cha instantly died, as Tee grabbed him by the collar of his camosuit and dragged him up the pipe to where another large pipe intersected from below. He threw the body into the pipe that came up from the floor and stood beside the pipe and he listened intently. He finally heard the body hit bottom four seconds later.