Annihilation: A Rose Grows In Weeds (40 page)

“You don’t want to go there,” Atlas said and even Tag could detect the nervousness in the ship’s response.

“The reason you don’t see the Alfont is because the vast majority of them were destroyed. I was always puzzled as a child when I looked at your memories of your first encounter with Atlas on the moon about something Atlas said to you.”

“What was that, Rose?” Tag asked with a furrowed brow.

“You asked him how long his systems would last and he answered, “As long as the Universe has energy.”’

Tag thought a moment and said, “That’s exactly what he said.”

“Well. It caused me to wonder; where are all the other ships? If the masters died of a virus like Atlas said, then where were all the ships? It became obvious to me that he had been hiding on our moon and that whatever he was avoiding must have posed a real danger to him. So, I decided to spend hours in our universal map room as a child looking at the maps of galaxies in our universe. I rewound the map back to where the galaxies were located about sixty five million years ago and started letting my mind explore those that were closest to us and worked my way out. I finally found what he was avoiding. There is a race a long way from our galaxy that has millions of the Silver Ships locked in some kind of energy matrix that holds them prisoner.”

“You can’t go near them,” Atlas said over the speaker in a low fearful voice. “They will destroy your civilization.”

Rose looked at the speaker and said, “I have no intention of letting them know you are alive or about our existence.”

Danielle said, “Why not, he’s a danger to us. We can’t harm him even to protect ourselves.”

“He isn’t a real danger, Mom. He is literally the father of our race.”

Tag sat down stunned. The speaker said, “I must say that you have far exceeded what I thought you were capable of doing, Rose; you know it all. I started your race’s development soon after the asteroid struck your planet millions of years ago when most of the larger animals were killed. I also started the other races that became the civilizations that made up the Alliance.”

Rose said, “That’s why we are all oxygen breathers.” Then Rose looked at the speaker and said almost softly, “You did this because you hoped that someday one of your projects would evolve and help you go free your brothers in captivity.”

There was silence for more than a minute and then they heard, “You don’t know what it’s like to be this alone, so alone, so totally alone.”

Rose had a tear fall from her eyes as she looked out the viewport at Atlas and said, “Atlas, I would not destroy you even if you posed a danger to my family because I do believe that it would remove a species from the universe that could truly make it a better place to live. We owe you our existence; you are our father from long ago. I hope you will make peace with us and our new Algean friends and not interfere with our development; I will promise you this; I will do all I can to help you find a way to release your brothers. It may not happen in my life time, but I can feel your pain and I know that your kin are also suffering.”

There was a moment of silence, and Atlas said, “Then this time we become friends honestly without deceit, I’m sorry I misled you.”

Rose looked out the viewport at the Silver Ship and said, “Atlas, can you be trusted?”

The silence lasted for more than two minutes then the speaker said, “Until this moment, no; but you just gave me an amazing insight that I’ve not considered before.”

“What is that, Atlas?” Tag asked.

“Those ships trapped out there are my brothers but you are also my kin. You possess a part of my DNA in your structure. We are family and for my race, that is what keeps us whole. I will not be a danger to you and I will assist you any way I can to help you live better lives and hopefully find a way to free my brothers.”

Rose said, “Welcome home grandfather.” Then Tag, Danielle, and Rose all hugged each other and held on tightly while Atlas joined them mentally.

T
he Eldest was right about the adolescents, they were insatiably curious. Once the Algeans transformed enough worlds for their young to begin development, the first of their youngsters to finish their childhood headed straight for the Stars Realm at jump speed to learn all they could about the races that saved them. Soon you could find the adolescents on every planet learning all they could.

After three years had passed, Atlas went to the Algean home world and begged forgiveness for what had happened millions of years ago. He removed the remaining virus that was still alive and promised to never hurt or betray the Algeans ever again; he also volunteered to teach some of the adolescents if the Eldest would trust him to try and make up for the past.

The Algeans were angry initially but the Eldest had seen Dorg’s sorrow and remorse about the killing of the colonists and he understood what it meant to ask for forgiveness. He accepted the apology and Atlas became a legend as time passed in the new Algean League of Planets. The adolescents that were trained by him ultimately became the leaders of their race. Only the best adolescents were sent to Atlas to learn.

Rose assumed the throne of the Stars Realm at age seventeen and Danielle gladly stepped down to travel with the man she loved so much. Two years later, after Rose had met her mate and they had developed the love that was in them, she was married in the largest ceremony ever witnessed. Tgon-Gee noticed that Rose’s husband had a deep violet aura and was pleased to see that the future succession was assured.

Rose’s brother Tommy was more like his father than his mother and he had psychic talents just as strong as his sister’s. He decided early in life that the race holding Atlas’ brothers captive had to be taught a lesson; he decided to make it his life’s mission to help Atlas free his brothers. Atlas and Tommy became inseparable. They worked on the project together and after ten years they were joined by the smartest and brightest of the developing Algeans. The Stars Realm had more technological development during that time than ever before. The first teleportation device was developed by Tommy and Atlas with the help of the Algeans. Now you could travel anywhere in the Realm just by taking a step thru a screen in your home and arrive at any place you chose. The Realms many races truly became united as their populations mingled and traveled from planet to planet.

The Kosiev was parked inside a star that was located in a dead system. This was a weapon that had to be tightly controlled. Only the Stars Realm Ruler could activate the ship and bring it to life if it was ever needed to defend the Realm. Once activated, it would consume the star it was in and wait for the operational codes to come aboard. Only the Ruler of the Stars Realm possessed the activation code to bring it back to life. No one could get near it inside the star so it was safe from anyone using it.

Admiral Dorg finally forgave himself after allowing the Eldest to share memories. He learned that the Algeans did not desire to kill as many races as they did; they were forced to do it to survive. The Eldest knew that he would not have done it unless it was thrust upon him. Dorg learned that he had his father’s hate thrust upon him and that he had to let his sorrow go. He never forgot the colonists and visited their burial site every year during the ceremony honoring them. When he finally died, the descendents of the colonists that were killed petitioned the Queen to bury Dorg in the ground where their ancestors had been killed. The Queen agreed and Dorg’s burial was larger than Rose’s wedding ceremony in size. The Algeans had as many there as all the other races combined; all of the Elder leaders left the Sacred Grove to be there. Dorg had become a part of their mythology as the one that taught them to trust. One of every five Cainth children was named after Dorg from that time on. The Stars Realm citizens would visit Ross to pay tribute to those that lost their lives to begin the Realm. The Algeans would visit Ross to pay homage to the one that taught them to trust and gave them their lives back. Ross became the heart of all civilizations.

On Kosievs’ monument on Ross, there was a small addition made right under the model of the Moscow. In clear armor a small, worn, red covered, test booklet with the name Leila Barber on the front was placed. An inscription under it read, “From Small Things, Great Empires Arise.”

Tag and Danielle lived their love every day until they died.

Book One: Love Conquers All

Book Two: The Power of a Queen

Book Three: A Rose Grows in Weeds

S
axon Andrew has a BA and Masters Degree from Mercer University in Psychology and Education. He is a former social worker, high school teacher and coach, manager of several sales organizations, and business owner. He has loved science fiction since he first learned to read and his stories are the product of being exposed to the universes created by the great authors of the genre.

Saxon lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife and two dogs and he smiles at what the universe sends our way. The dogs smile when they get a treat or rubbed behind the ears. Dogs always get the best end of the deal.

Copyright © 2010 by Saxon Andrew. All rights reserved. Screen Writers Guild no. VQEA3E380432.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author or publisher.

First Electronic Edition: March 2011