Michael looked at Luke shaking his head, “You outrank me. You should be the one to do it!”
Luke closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them. He turned his head slightly and looked Michael in the eyes, “Why didn’t my father accept command instead of your father?” Michael stared at Luke and saw his sadness. Michael couldn’t think of a reason and he shook his head. Luke took a deep breath and blew it out, “He didn’t do it because he knew he didn’t have it in him to make the really hard decisions. He knew he might hesitate at a critical moment and that could prove fatal. He was an excellent planner and tactician. I am my father’s child…just like you are. My father was a great leader but your father was a great warrior. What all of us need at this moment in time is a warrior to lead us. I’ve seen a warrior’s spirit in you for as long as I’ve known you. This is something you must do.”
Michael lowered his head and forcefully blew out a breath, “Do you not remember what my father did to the Goran?”
The Goran Leader said, “We forgave him and we are safer now for it having happened.”
Michael looked at the High Leader and said in a soft voice, “But he never forgave himself.”
The Goran Leader smiled, “That knowledge will serve you well in your new position. I think I have the right to say that we need someone that can do to our enemies what was done to us. I know that you will do what’s necessary and do it with compassion.”
Michael lowered his head and Luke said, “When do we do this First Commander?”
The room was silent and waited as Michael struggled with his emotions. He finally looked up, “We wait until they start installing the reactors. There’s no reason to do it now. We should allow them to waste as much time as possible building it.”
The room began cheering. Michael took a deep breath and wished to be a child again building a sand fort with his mother. He stood up, forced a smile, and then lifted his arms. The room exploded even louder.
The room broke up into small groups with all of them congratulating Michael. Hengel and Averel walked up to the Goran High Leader and waited for him to finish speaking with the First Leader of the Birds. He finally turned around and Averel nudged Hengel. “High Leader, will you approve…”
“I bless your union and will officiate the ceremony before I leave.” Hengel looked at him in bewilderment. The High Leader smiled, “I’ve been watching the two of you for quite a while and you belong together. You should have seen this long before now.”
Averel nodded, “I told him.”
“It wasn’t his fault, Averel; he almost worships you. He couldn’t get up the nerve.”
Averel glanced at Hengel as she spoke to the High Leader, “I want to eliminate the word ‘almost’.”
Hengel said, “Hey, hey, I’m standing here!”
Averel gave him a big hug and said, “We know.” Hengel shook his head.
Michael walked up and said, “Am I interrupting something?”
“Hengel and I are going to be united.”
Michael smiled, “It’s about time.”
Hengel shook his head, “Am I the only one that missed this!?” Averel looked at him and nodded.
The High Leader said, “What do you need, First Commander?”
“I would like to meet with all the designated Fleet leaders from each civilization. Who is leading your forces?”
“We’ve chosen Talel.”
Michael tilted his head, “Where have I heard that name before?”
“He was the baby your father allowed to live along with the rest of our leaders.”
Michael’s soft smile was instant, “I look forward to meeting him.”
“I happen to know he is looking forward to it as well.”
Chris sat on a beach on Eden holding Allison’s hand. She looked up and said, “Audrey just contacted me and said Michael reluctantly accepted the position.”
“Good boy!”
“Chris, he doesn’t want it. He’s being forced to do it.”
“I didn’t want it, either.”
“But…”
“Allison, he is the best one to do it. You have to know that.”
Allison sighed, “I guess.” She looked at him and said, “You’re hiding something.”
Chris jerked his head around, “Are you finally telepathic?”
“No, I just know you. I’ve seen it since you were asked to be the First Commander again. Is there a reason you turned the position down that I don’t know?”
Chris sighed, “I’ve never discussed it with you.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re surrounded by telepaths. It was all I could do to keep it hidden from them.”
“Not anymore; you do everything possible to avoid them.”
“That’s the reason.”
Allison saw his expression and finally said, “Are you going to tell me?”
“I need to tell someone. I keep going around in circles wondering if I’m right.”
“Tell me, Chris!”
Chris looked out at the ocean for a few moments and then looked at her, “Do you remember when we went on a scouting mission to look at M-86 and M-87.” Allison nodded. “We saw the Progen’s new ships actually firing their weapons. Remember?”
“I do.”
“Then that Giant Legend Warship came into the galaxy and we learned about the existence of other galaxies that the Legends controlled.” Allison stared at him wondering where this was headed. “Then we learned that they could not detect us in the void.”
“I remember.”
“Do you remember saying that the scouting mission accomplished everything we needed in just one trip and that it was almost too good to be true.”
Allison nodded and saw Chris staring at her in silence. Her eyes narrowed as she remembered and then they went wide open, “It was too good to be true!”
Chris blew out a loud breath, “Just like all the coincidences that happened to Lukas when he escaped to Earth, the odds of them all happening randomly were astronomical.”
“You believe there’s something else operating and exerting control over events.”
“I’ve tried to find evidence to prove me wrong.”
Allison waited for him to continue speaking but he remained silent, “But you only found more to show you were right?”
Chris nodded, “Why did Lukas send the Sentinels to the Legends’ Planet in M-87? Their presence is what turned their massive attack fleet around.”
Allison lowered her head and then looked at him, “I have no idea.”
“I asked him.”
“And?”
“He didn’t really know, Allison. He just said the thought occurred to him and he did it.” Allison continued to stare at him and Chris sighed, “Do you remember Lukas saying he thought Pat stopped him from killing me before I was born?” Allison nodded. “Lukas told me later that Pat didn’t do it. He said Lukas did that on his own.” Chris sighed, “Lukas’s mind at that time was primarily that of a Welken Warrior. He should have done it. It was the strategically right thing to do.” Chris took a breath and looked out at the ocean, “Salud said I was saved because I had a destiny to save all of us. I thought she was out of her mind…but now I wonder.”
“Could one of the Sentinels be doing it?”
“Pat told Lukas he didn’t stop him and I know that Pat would have seen another Sentinel if it were operating near him. I hate to say this, but I think the Sentinels are probably being controlled as well. Pat could have been pushed to do all the things he chose to do.” Lukas paused and said, “There’s one other thing.” Allison held her breath. “You know about the Stalkers that were trying to find Lukas on Earth?”