Alec's Dream

by Dave Birchbauer

  “Sir, we are not aware of the ships origins, but we are sure it was destroyed.” The young lieutenant said. M'bron, the commander of the Seeker III, was irritated about not being told the details of what happened. They were in one of the ships many bridges. The squadron leader, Lieutenant Donel, stood at ease in the center of its observation deck.

  “I was under the impression that Earth did not have the kind of technology that this ship seems to have.” M'bron had been studying Earths technologies… and was curious about what the Lieutenant knew. “Why wasn't I notified when the ship was first spotted?”

  The young lieutenant, having changed out of his flight suit, now wore the ships standard uniform of black pants tucked into knee-high boots, a bright blue blouse, actually any colored blouse would do, laced up the front with exaggerated puffed out sleeves. At his waist was his Ga'Bour, a beautiful saber shaped weapon that not only could be used as a sword but it also provided a deadly plasma discharge.

  The lieutenant fidgeted under M'bron's glare. “Sir, I didn't feel it was important enough to disturb you.”

  “You mean a ship, displaying a technology superior to ours, coming from a planet that has nothing but primitive space travel, not important?” M'bron knew this arrogant young lieutenant was holding information from him, and knowledge is power in this administration. It was tempting to get rid of this threat, but he knew more about this lieutenant than the lieutenant knew about himself, and it would be stupid to throw his hard earned knowledge away.

  “I want you to collect every spec of debris from that ship for our scientists to study. I want it done by the end of the day.” M'bron dismissed the lieutenant with a flick of his hand before turning his gaze to the moon they were hiding behind.

  Donel turned and sprang up from the deck toward the ceiling where he gracefully spun and pushed off to glide downwards through the conning towers hollow core.

  With his hands folded behind his back, M’bron paced in front of the wall sized window, pondering the information about this ship that was using such an advanced technology. A technology he hadn’t seen during any of his travels over the past 100 years. “There is something suspicious about this planet.” M’bron muttered. He stopped pacing, unconsciously digging the toe of his boot into the reddish brown carpet moss that covered all the floors in the towers. He watched absentmindedly as the moss repaired itself, as it has done for as long as he’s been on the ship. To M’bron, the moss has always seemed strangely semi-intelligent, holding feet to the floor in null gravity but easily letting go with nothing more than a thought.

  Dreading what needed to be done next he let out an inaudible sigh and walked to the edge of the platform. Spreading his cloak wide, he stepped off and with practiced movements flew along the massive circumference of the towers upper level. Completing his circuit, he turned towards its center. Then with a vertical flip of his spread cloak, he stopped and floated motionless over the hollow core. Tier after tier of terrace like platforms faded into the green tinged darkness below him; each tier contained rows of work stations monitoring and operating every part of the ship. They were continually manned by brightly uniformed soldiers. Twelve towers contained thousands of such stations. Thousands of round screen cathode ray tubes provided the hollow cores greenish tinge. The dull buzz of the manned stations worked its way to him as he watched the endless movement of workers flowing up and down through the shaft below.

  With a slight movement of his cape, he steered toward an ordinary looking door on the ceiling. Slowing to a stop, he laid his hand over a fist sized stone protruding from the metal wall. After a moment, the not-so comforting click of the lock sounded.

  There was room enough only for him and a stone table and chair in the small chamber. An ancient cone shaped device floated above the table. He stiffly sat, then focused into the emptiness emanating from the cone. Pulling it closer, he placed his face fully inside. Immediately everything went dark. A familiar sickening feeling of flying, twisting and spinning through space poured over him… forcing him to close his eyes in order to keep his stomach in check. As always, just when he felt he couldn’t take anymore, it stopped. Opening his eyes, he found himself in a familiar windowless room and in it, the thing he was dreading. In a corner, the dark foreboding figure of a man kneeled with its back to him…it slowly stood and spread its cloak to its full width… where it turned into a set of shining white wings. Now facing M'bron, the familiar face smiled as though happy to see him. It was a kind and gentle face, its sparkling eyes made him feel warm and familiar. His blond hair flowed over his shoulders as he clasped his hands in front of him.

  “M'bron, what news have you brought me?” The voice didn't match his looks; it was ice cold, almost piercing, sending a shiver through him… as always.

  “The planet, they call it Earth, has many isolated countries. Their leadership is disorganized and will not be able to resist our offers. We have already made contact with many of its leaders and have given the guidelines for our trade agreements which will divide them even more.” M'bron left out the incident with the unknown craft. “Their ancestry is still unknown to us, but I doubt if these are the children we are looking for. This world is disorganized with too many languages and religions.”

  “Do not dismiss these people yet, I sense something is amiss. Do you have any specimens I can talk with?” The request sent a chill through M'bron having witnessed the result of his interrogations.

  “We will very soon. Plans are being readied.” M'bron replied, being careful not to show his revulsion.

  “I feel that we will find the 'chosen' ones, and once they are found, we will be forever free of our torment.” Loomius said turning back to his corner. M'bron bowed his head as the connection was mercifully terminated launching him on his long journey back.

  Savagely he pushed the cone away. It was a friendly meeting on the surface, but the menacing hatred encompassing his god still lingered in his mind and body causing him to shudder violently. He could only imagine what an unfriendly meeting would be like. He waited for his shaking to stop; glad there was no one to see his weakness.

  Chapter 13 ~ The Break in