“Not really.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The maximum speed on my gauge was pegged. I know for certain it went that fast but how much faster, I have no way of knowing.”
“Did you get a color?”
“It was silver in color and there were five of them.”
“WHAT?”
An image appeared on the ship’s monitor and the Commander saw four small ships surrounding an identical ship in the center. All of them flew at the same speed. He shook his head. His communications Commander shouted from across the bridge, “I’m getting numerous calls questioning what kind of ship that was.”
“Tell them their guess is as good as mine.” The Communications Commander shook his head and began talking into his communicator. The Commander felt that the strange ships weren’t from the giant galaxy. He had never fought against ships that small. He was shocked that the ships had been able to get close enough to the planet to make a scan. How was that possible?
Then he remembered two Green Ships closing in on his vessel that suddenly exploded. Was this the ship that had saved him? He stared at the image on the monitor and looked at his Communications Officer. He saw the commander looking at him and he put his hand over his communicator. “Issue orders to all fleets that if they detect their planets being scanned, before they attack, try to open a channel to communicate.” Everyone on the bridge stared at him like he was crazy. He ignored them and wondered if it was his savior.
“I think I understand why you’re reluctant to make a scan, Sir.”
Chris laughed, “That’s a good lesson to learn, Lieutenant.”
“Uhhh, Sir, I’m an Ensign.”
“Not any more. Keep up the good work.”
“YES SIR!”
Seven years passed and Chris worked in getting the Alliance’s military forces organized into an effective fighting force. His original four bodyguards were eventually replaced by the newest hot shot pilots and the four were given commands of a fleet of Pods. Allison was placed in command of all the newest fleets as the children on Earth and Eden came of age. She was doing a remarkable job. The number of fleets now numbered more than two hundred with ten thousand pods in each.
Chris sat up on his lounge chair and saw Audrey walking down from their residence. He smiled and kissed her as she leaned down. “What ya doing?”
“I want to go sailing. I’m going to take the small boat out and get in touch with the ocean. Do you want to join me?”
“Actually, I do but Dad is coming down with two surf poles to teach me how to fish in the waves. I think he wants to talk about something but can’t bring himself to tell me.”
“He’s like that.”
Chris nodded, “Yes he is. Where’s Michael?”
“He wanted to go and play with Junior. He should be home by nightfall.”
Chris stood up and helped her pull the small sail boat into the water and gave her a push. She raised the sail and tacked away from the shoreline. He shook his head; Audrey was a fine sailor. The bright pink and blue sail moved quickly out into the waves. Hey, give me a hand!” Chris turned around and saw Stoney lugging two long fishing rods and a rather large tackle box. He ran over and grabbed the tackle box and Stoney whistled, “Man, I need to get rid of some of those lures!”
“You know that will never happen; you’re too much of a hoarder.”
Stone smiled, “No, I guess you’re right. I’ve tried before but all of those lures are tied to the memory of a large fish I pulled in. Here, let me show you how to bait your pole.” Chris smiled. Stoney had taught him to bait a line when he was just five years old. He handed the pole to Stoney and watched him.
Ah hour later, Chris cast the line far out into the waves and set the reel. Stoney cast his line as well and looked at Chris, “Son, do you miss not having a childhood?”
Chris looked at his father, “What do you mean?”
“You changed your DNA into an adult when you were ten years old. You missed so many of the things that make a childhood fun.”
“Such as?”
“Going to high school. Playing sports. Going on family trips. I could go on and on but I worry that we allowed you to grow up too fast.”
Chris said, “Sit down, Dad.” Stoney sat down in a folding chair on the beach and Chris joined him. “I had a great childhood. You and mom took me to all the meetings that happened here and also wherever you went. My telepathy didn’t start developing until I was nine and my childhood was spectacular up until then. Once I started absorbing the thoughts of people like Amanda, Trevor, Jinks, Lukas, Salud, you and mom, playing with toys just didn’t do anything for me.”
“But you missed graduating from high school and college.”
Chris shook his head, “Dad, once I absorbed the thoughts of our leaders, I knew more than most Ph.D.’s. Going to school to confirm it would be a waste of time. I’ve done things that are important and I also found a woman to love that loves me just as much. I have a six-year-old son and I just don’t see how life could be any better. You and Mom did a wonderful job of preparing me for life. I don’t regret anything.” Stoney smiled and reeled his line in. “Are you leaving?”
“I am.” Stoney looked out and saw the pink and blue sail far out on the waves, “She’s a pretty good ways out.”
“She’s an excellent sailor, Dad.”
Suddenly, both of them jerked their heads to the north as the giant defense disruptor discharged a giant beam into the atmosphere. Instantly, the force field protecting the island slammed into place an instant before a brilliant flash turned it black to prevent them from being blinded. The sound of the explosion directly above the force field was deafening.
Chris shook his head to clear it from the explosive noise and suddenly looked out at the ocean. The force field was still pitch black but he didn’t see the pink and blue sail inside it. Stoney saw him look away and he looked out to sea with him. He felt his heart go into his throat, Audrey had sailed outside the force field’s coverage. Chris screamed at the top of his lungs and turned to run into the waves. Stoney tackled him and held on with all his might. Chris was screaming Audrey’s name over and over. He pressed his wrist communicator, “GET A DOCTOR TO THE BEACH NOW!!!!” Stoney held on to Chris and saw a doctor and nurse running down from the shore. The doctor saw Chris’s hysteria and took a syringe out of his bag and filled it with a clear liquid from a vial. He pushed the syringe into Chris’s neck and pushed the plunger. A moment later, Chris’s screaming stopped abruptly and his eyes closed.
“What’s going on, Stoney?”
“Jinks, Audrey was sailing outside the coverage of the force field.”
“OH MY GOD!”
“I had a doctor sedate Chris. Send a transport to the beach; we need to move him to a hospital.”
“It’s on the way.”
“Jinks, how did this happen?”
Jinks forcefully blew out a breath, “I don’t have all the details yet. I’ll let you know as soon as I find out.”
Stoney nodded and felt his tears. His son’s wife, his step-daughter was just murdered. He saw Kathy running down the dune toward him and as soon as she saw his eyes she stopped for a moment and grabbed her neck. Then she ran forward and threw her body on Stoney and Chris.
Four days later, Chris sat in a wheelchair staring out of a large picture window in the hospital’s hall. His arms and legs were tied down with leather restraints to prevent him from hurting himself. The view from the window showed a large orange field where workers were harvesting the heavily laden branches. Chris’s eyes just stared straight ahead without blinking. Lukas, Salud, Jinks and Sarah walked up and looked at Stoney. Salud said, “Has there been any change?” Stoney shook his head. Salud bent down and hugged Chris as she kissed him on his head.