“Oh, is that all?”
“No, I’ve also included the field trials of the new Progen Battleship. Share it with your civilizations. That should give them pause.”
The Commander stared at him. Then he said, “If we attacked, would you come to our aid if we were pushed out of the Monster Galaxy.”
“No!”
“Why not?”
“Because we don’t have enough of our new ship to take them on. They are more powerful than our previous model.”
“That’s scary.”
“And it’s also true. You need to develop new technology before you take them on.”
The Commander shook his head, “We’re at our developmental end. The new reactor you gave us is now on our ships.”
Chris sighed, “I included a diagram of a new reactor.”
“WE JUST INSTALLED THE ONE YOU GAVE US BEFORE! WHAT KIND OF REACTOR IS BETTER?”
“It’s a Dark Matter Reactor.”
“Say what?”
“I’ve included a detailed description on how to collect dark matter to power them.”
The Commander stared at Chris and exhaled a huge breath. “That should give me something to slow them down.”
“If it doesn’t, start the civil war early and force them to not go there.”
“WHAT?”
“Trust me on this, fewer lives will be lost than if you choose to invade the Monsters. You are nowhere near being able to match their current technology. Your ships will bear most of the load and you’ll be so weakened, you will lose in the following civil war.”
“You’re serious about this?”
“As a supernova.”
The Commander nodded and said, “I’ll do what I can.”
Chris stood up and smiled, “I know my way.”
The Commander nodded, “Don’t be a stranger. Come back and see me when it’s not an issue of life and death.”
Chris nodded, “I’ll see what I can do.” He turned and left the room.
The Commander sat down and shook his head as his two senior engineers rushed into his conference room, “WHAT DID I JUST SEE IN THE DATABASE?”
The Commander shook his head, “Take a seat and perhaps you can tell me.”
Chris entered the Pod and said, “Alley, take us back to Earth.” He looked at Allison, “Have you decided who will fly with you.”
“Yes, I’ve decided.”
“Who?”
“Don’t worry about it, Chris. You go and do what your soul calls you to do.”
Chris nodded and the Pod arrived at the space port ten minutes later. He stood up and hugged Allison, “Thank you for all you’ve done. You made the difference in getting things accomplished.” He released her and walked out of the small ship.
“ALLISON!!”
“Be quiet you two! It has to be this way.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“That’s insubordination!”
“Tell it to someone who cares. You’re an idiot!”
Allison watched Chris walk away and shook her head. Idiot wasn’t a strong enough term.
Two days later, Chris picked up a single Pilot Barrier Pod and moved his backpack on board. He looked around and said, “Computer, what should I call you?”
“How about Willow?”
“WILLOW!!”
“Lukas thinks I should go with you.”
“That is the best news I’ve heard in a very long time. Let’s get out of here.”
“Give me a little time to familiarize myself with the systems. I hope you don’t mind if I fly around a while.”
“Take all the time you need. Time is what I now have in abundance.”
Willow spent an hour learning the systems and then said, “Off to M-84.” Chris smiled and watched the outer edge of the huge elliptical galaxy appear on his display. “Where do you want to go?”
“Let’s go visit the Leaders first. Give me a moment to call Allison and wish her good luck on her new partner.”
“Uhhhh, you might want to delay that call.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Admiral Simmons has resigned her commission.”
“WHAT?”
“She’s no longer in the navy.”
“WHAT?”
“I just told you, she resigned.”
“WHY!!”
“She wouldn’t give Lukas a reason. She turned in her resignation and he told her he wouldn’t accept it. She said he had no choice and he told her that she didn’t have a choice. She told him to arrest her and put her in jail but she was leaving and not coming back. She walked out and Lukas didn’t have her arrested. Now you have the whole story. I’m skipping to the planet where the leaders are located.”
“Take me back to Earth!”
“Will you make up your mind!? We just arrived!”
“Willow, take me back to Earth NOW!!”
“Alright, you don’t have to be so pushy. All you had to do was ask.”
“I did!”
“Boy, you’ve gotten a lot more impatient since the last time I flew with you.”
“I’m sorry, Willow. Forgive my manners but get me back to Earth!”
“Is there anywhere in particular you want to go? I hear the weather in Florida is outstanding and the Emitter team there have a nice community.”
“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“It is, what’s going on?”
“You tell me. Why do you think she walked out?”
“I have no idea.”
“Then you’re not as bright as you come advertised.”
“WILLOW!!”
“Why do you think Lukas wouldn’t give me to you?”
“Because the two of you have a close relationship. You’ve been together from the beginning.”
“What would happen if I were destroyed?”
“He, and I, would grieve and then he would have to take another ship.”
“Why?”
“Because.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“He needs a way to go out into space.”
“How could he possibly want to go if I couldn’t take him?”
“Because he needs to be able to go out to know what’s happening. How would he ever get back to Eden? How could he visit the ones he loves there?”
“So you’re saying his life would be less if he didn’t take another ship?”
“Exactly.”
“Think about that and then you tell me why she walked out.” Willow skipped back to Earth in an instant and Chris sat on board in silence. Willow sat on the concrete runway at the spaceport for an hour and Willow left him alone with his silence. Another two hours passed and then Chris sighed. “Willow, take me home.”
The Pod lifted and flew away.
Salud and Lukas sat in chairs next to the huge window in his office and stared at the pod sitting off to itself for the entire three hours. They ordered a meal brought in after the first hour and then continued to stare at the barrier pod sitting on the concrete. Salud held Lukas’ hand and shook her head when the pod lifted. She held her breath expecting it to leap into high atmosphere…but then…it slowly turned and headed toward the officer’s quarters near the beach. She looked at Lukas and he sighed.
Willow landed just outside the officer quarters and Chris stepped out in silence. He went to his quarters and looked around. The place felt empty without Michael. He was with his grandparents and Chris decided to leave him there. He changed clothes and put on a bathing suit. He grabbed a towel and headed toward the beach. He walked down the slope from the dunes and headed toward the beach chairs. He looked hard and saw Allison sitting in a chair. He took a breath and walked down to the chairs and pulled one up next to her. She glanced at him and then turned back to the ocean, “I thought you left.”