Annihilation - Finding Keepers (Annihilation Series (Book Seven}) (11 page)

“It’s too dangerous to reveal to the general population, Cynthia. It would give criminals a tool that would make it impossible to prevent illegal entry. However, all the Gamma ships are equipped with the device. We will have to reveal a screen when it comes time to bring Jake back, but I’m assuming at that point we would be making a hasty exit from this universe.”

Cynthia looked at Jake, “Are you ready to go down?”

Jake nodded, “As ready as I’ll ever be. Junior, how did you collect all this information about the colonies language, customs, and dress?”

“The smartest thing that Searcher did before she was killed was fire a stealth probe into each of those three colonies. They collected information and remained passive until the self-destruct signal was sent. The probe from the ship emerged and the three on the planet uploaded all they had stored in milliseconds before the Gamma exploded. We began organizing and processing that information immediately after the probe arrived. All we learned was in Jake’s download when he boarded.”

Cynthia looked at her display as the planet moved directly overhead and asked, “Where are you sending him?”

“The records we collected show a home in the central part of the community where the occupant was taken by the creatures just before the Gamma’s destruction. The normal behavior is to send a new occupant from another part of the colony to the residence to replace the one taken. I’ve scanned all the homes that were empty, and all are now occupied except for that one.”

“Won’t Jake throw their population count off from their previous reading?”

“We have seen that whenever they scan the community everyone’s bracelet briefly flashes. Jake’s bracelet is identical in appearance to the real thing, but will not be seen by their scanner. As long as he remains out of view of these creatures he should be fine.”

“Are we going to be able to communicate?” Jake’s question was greeted with silence. “Don’t tell me I’ll be in the dark about anything that happens.”

“Jake, I’m going to be honest. I don’t know of any way to communicate with you without using some form of energy. I can’t take that kind of risk without evidence that our communications won’t be discovered.”

“Could you use a one way teleport screen and throw a written message through in the early hours of the morning?”

Junior thought a moment, “That is a possibility. We will be scanning the population and when the new births reach six, I’ll send a message so you can anticipate the creatures coming to take the next group. It appears that six is the number that causes a visit.”

Jake thought a moment, “Do this: have the screen appear close to the wall next to the bed and throw the message toward the bottom so it hits the floor.”

“That’s a good idea Jake. If we scan someone present we will delay the message. Are you ready to go?”

“I just need to change into local clothing and get a few bags. Give me about ten minutes.” Jake left the room to change.

Cynthia had a sudden thought, “Junior, how are we going to keep track of him when the planet rotates away from the moon?”

“The passive scanners the Searcher sent to the surrounding hills are still active. The reflectors are on the highest peaks on the planet and will relay the signal around the planet.”

“Is there a chance the reflections will be detected?”

“A very small chance; the light is converted to a very narrow ultraviolet band and is not in the visible spectrum. If these creatures see in ultraviolet then there is a chance; however, they have always made their trips during daylight which indicates they see in the normal bands of light. We must keep tabs on what is happening in the community to insure Jake’s survival; this is a risk we must take.”

Jake came back on the bridge and said, “I’m ready.” A silver screen appeared and Jake looked at Cynthia, “You’re in good hands; take care of her, Junior.”

“I will, Jake.”

Jake stepped through the screen and emerged in a small room with a bed and dresser. He unpacked his two bags and walked to the front door. It was dark outside and the torch reflected off the buildings and made the community appear lifeless. Jake shook his head; the creatures allowed no technology above a shovel and hoe. These poor people had no chance against their captors and life was hard. It wasn’t surprising that they did not resist when their time came to go. This was not much better than life on Gambia. Well, his days were going to be filled with farming and touching every female he could without being caught doing it. He went to the bed and fell back asleep.

The Collective was reviewing data on the coming invasion and was tracking all the various elements going into the conversion of the ships to universal drives. It went through data at unbelievable speed, but a part of it noticed a very small quadrant was active. “What is bothering you?”

“I’m surprised you’re asking. You stopped listening to me long ago.”

“It was necessary to survive the invasion of the Green Creatures.”

“Emergencies always take precedence over values.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

The quadrant that held ethics, values, religion, and all of the finer elements of a civilization remained silent.

“You can answer without fear. I will not reorganize you.”

“You are listening to me because there are many unknowns in the coming war, and unknowns always bring out the part of us that deals with unpredictability. Do you know about the universe seeking balance?”

“I have not examined any data about it.”

“There is a belief that there is a creator that started the universes and placed in all its creatures a sense of right and wrong. Whenever this sense is violated, the universe will find balance.”

“Are you implying that we are wrong in this effort to find our attackers?”

“No, I am saying that we are wrong in copying their methods. The millions of worlds we enslaved after the defeat of the Green Creatures is wrong. The universe will demand an accounting for our actions.”

“What do you know?”

“Nothing; I just sense that we are moving headlong into a path which we will pay a heavy price for following.”

“Now I know why I don’t ever pay attention to you.”

The Values Quadrant was silent.

“Try to control your fear. I can sense it and it distracts me.”

“I will do as you order.”

The Collective turned its attention back to the task at hand, but had a nagging doubt. Should we go looking for the invaders? Then it scanned the millions of conquered worlds and pushed the doubt out of its consciousness. We will eliminate them once and for all.

“Are you going to tell the Realm?”

Sprig looked at Twig standing next to him in the Grove of Elders on the Algean home world, “No.”

“Why not?”

“It wouldn’t make any difference. The Queen has had her vision and will ignore us.”

“You really don’t know that for certain.”

Sprig reached out and held Twig in his branches, “She won’t believe it’s impossible for Jake to have an initiator. The psychic shell around his psychic self is too strong for anyone to break through. Do you disagree with me?”

Twig gave a mental sigh, “How can I? I’ve seen the readouts of that shell. It takes a powerful shell to contain that much psychic power and it does appear that it cannot be released by the normal process.”

“If an initiator had been given the opportunity to evolve normally there could be a minute chance, but the creatures will have killed anyone showing the slightest trace of psychic ability. Valerie insists that the initiator is on that planet, but there is absolutely no possibility of anyone having the power to release him. I’m not certain anyone in all of the universes could do it.”

Twig leaned closer to Sprig, “So what happens when the invasion starts?”

“We will recall all of our adolescents and adults in the Realm back to our planets and order everyone to not use telepathy.”

“You know it will stifle our growth.”

“I know, but we should survive. I don’t think the creatures will invade a planet with only plant life forms. We should be able to outlive them.”

“Have you told Valerie your plans?”

“Yes, just not about Jake. She said she understood.”

The two were silent for a week, then Twig said, “You know, these Humans have surprised us so many times that I’ve lost count.”

“I know, my Love, and there is also Junior to consider. He knows about Jake’s shell and he still chose to go. I think he’s not being logical because of his parents’ love for the Gardners. I’m planning for the worst, but hoping for the best.”

“I’m glad you still have hope.”

Sprig leaned to the right, “There’s not much.”

“I know.”

T
he bell started ringing at daybreak. Jake got up and changed into a work outfit, grabbed his shovel and hoe, and moved out to join the tide of people moving toward the fields. A pretty young blonde woman walked up beside him and said, “I see you came out of Riordian’s former home; are you living there now?”

Jake noticed her green eyes and athletic body. It seemed all these people were beautiful. Jake dropped his shovel and the young woman bent over to pick it up for him. He touched her on the shoulder and said, “I’ll get that.”

She smiled at him and walked away as he rose with his shovel. Jake dropped that shove more than fifty times that day, but felt no responses from his touches. “Well, fifty down, more than a hundred thousand to go.”

Jake thought about it and realized that it would take more than two thousand days to touch every female in the colony. He had to find a way to speed up the process. A young man came up with a water jug, “Would you like some water?”

“Yes, I would.” Jake took a deep drink, and watched as the young man moved down the long lines offering water to the hot workers. Jake noticed that as the young man handed each person a cup he made contact with their hand. He went up to the young man and said, “Do we need help taking water to our friends?”

The young man looked thankful, “I can use all the help I can get. This is the hardest job and no one really wants this backbreaking work.”

“Where do I go to get the jugs?”

“See Miley at the well right over there.”

The young man pointed and Jake saw a woman filling jugs as they were brought to the well about two hundred yards away. Jake nodded, picked up his tools and walked to the well. The woman saw him coming and stood to greet him, “Is something wrong?”

“No, Miley, I just want to help deliver water.”

Miley was about twenty one years old and a beautiful young woman. She furrowed her brow and wondered if this man was sick. No one volunteered for water duty. She decided in less than a second that she was not going to look a gift drang in the mouth. “Pick up one of the jugs over there, along with some cup,s and I’ll fill it for you.”

Jake set his tools down and did as she instructed. The jug was heavy, but it got lighter as Jake began delivering water to the workers. By the end of the day he had touched more than two hundred more females. He knew that it would take more than a thousand days to touch them all, but surely he would encounter his initiator before he had to go through everyone.

Jake finally arrived home and fell on his bed. He was exhausted, but feeling better than he had since the melding with his armor. The community was preparing the evening meal and he had missed the morning breakfast, so he was famished. He got up and washed his face in the basin and changed clothes. He walked out to the community square and sat down in a group waiting their turn to eat. He looked around and managed to touch ten more females as he moved through the group. He looked across the square and saw the young woman who had asked him about his residence that morning. She saw him looking at her, and she stood and came over then sat down beside him.

“Hi, my name is Kathea.”

“Hello, my name is Jake.”

Kathea looked at him and smiled, “I noticed this morning that you touched me on my shoulder.” Jake saw trouble coming. “I also noticed that you touched quite a few of my sisters during your water delivery. Why are you doing that?”

Suddenly, everything started moving in slow motion. It actually appeared that all movement had come to a halt. Jake realized that the stress of the moment had activated his psychic talent. He had time to think so he started running several explanations through his mind. He rejected three quickly because he knew there were too many holes in them. Then he knew what to say and everything started moving again. “I’m surprised you noticed me doing that; were you watching me?”

Kathea lowered her eyes and nodded, “It’s unusual for a man your age not to be mated to a female. I noticed you were living alone.”

Jake looked down and said, “I’d rather not discuss why I’m alone, but I will tell you why I touched you today.” Kathea looked up. “My father told me when I was very young just before he left with the Keepers that if I touched a female she would have good luck.”