Annihilation - Finding Keepers (Annihilation Series (Book Seven}) (3 page)

She quickly nodded and looked at Jake with fear in her eyes. “Have a three block area around us cleared.” She raised her com and said, “I have a Red Flag emergency. I repeat; a Red Flag emergency. Respond immediately.”

Jake looked around the room and saw the agents all talking on their coms. He looked at Cynthia, “What’s going on? What just happened?”

Cynthia looked at Jake, “I hope your character is as good as you just demonstrated. Jake, you are probably the most dangerous person in this universe; however, we need to make sure before we make a huge mistake.” She pressed her com again, “I repeat, I have a Red Flag Emergency. I need directions for what to do now.”

“I’ll be there momentarily, Searcher.”

A large spider appeared out of a teleport screen in the middle of the room. “Where is he?”

Cynthia nodded toward Jake and the spider moved forward with a device. He held it close to Jake and pressed the handle. It immediately burst into flame and melted. An Algean appeared a moment later out of another silver screen and the spider said, “Don’t scan him!”

“Why not?”

“I just used a proxirose scanner and it melted. You need to move far enough away to make sure you don’t destroy the scanner.”

The Algean nodded and teleported out of the room. Jake heard over the spider’s com, “I’m outside the building; beginning scan.”

There was silence and the Spider looked at Cynthia who had a furrowed brow. After a long moment the spider asked, “Well, what does the scanner read?”

“I have to teleport a new one in.”

The Spider looked at Jake as he said, “Why is that?”

“This one just melted as well.”

Cynthia and the spider looked at Jake. Even he could tell that there was a high level of apprehension and maybe downright fear in their demeanor. The spider lifted his com, “We have found a Red Flag. I repeat; we have found a Red Flag. Please tell us what we should do.”

J
ake was sitting in the control room of a small ship. Cynthia was sitting in the command chair wearing a Searcher’s uniform, staring at the screen on her chair’s arm. They had just teleported aboard from the casino and Jake still had the shackles on his ankles; Cynthia had helped him take his seat. “I don’t know why I had to bring you here,” she said to herself as she stared at her display.

“Can you please tell me what this Red Flag business is all about?”

Cynthia looked up from her display and sighed. “I just don’t know if I should. I’m waiting for someone to tell me what I should do. Please be patient and let me get a grip on what’s going on. I suspect we will be receiving visitors shortly who will explain everything.”

“Are these restraints still necessary? I’m not going anywhere.”

Cynthia asked, “B.C., do you have him locked in?”

Jake heard a voice emanate from the walls, “Absolutely, Cyn.”

Cynthia got up and used her bracelet to break the electronic field of the shackles and they fell away from Jake’s legs. They immediately disappeared.

“Who is B.C.?”

“My ship’s computer. B.C. is a shortened form of Big Cheese. It was one of my father’s favorite terms for big shots and it fits him quite well.”

“I thought a ship’s computer had the same sex as the Searcher?”

“That was true more than eight thousand years ago when computers were bonded and imprinted to the Searcher, but the newest models have cybernetic systems that are pretty much autonomous. They’re built right into the ship already active.”

B.C. said, it allows us to be assigned to different Searchers without having to be reprogrammed.”

Jake looked around and said, “Well, hello B.C.”

“Hello, Jake. Boy, have you stirred up a hornet’s nest. I haven’t seen this much excitement since Cynthia took command.”

Cynthia quickly said, “Not now, B.C. We need to wait for instructions.”

“Why?”

Cynthia struggled for an answer and said, “Because.”

“I hate it when you do that; however, you’re probably right. We are treading in uncertain territory. Anyway, welcome aboard, Jake.”

“Thank you, B.C.”

Suddenly Cynthia’s com activated, “Permission to come aboard, Searcher.”

Cynthia signed, “At last.” She pressed her com key and said, “Permission granted.”

A silver screen appeared and a teenage girl stepped out of the silver screen. She was about five foot six inches tall, weighed about 125 pounds, and Jake thought she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. She had amazing hazel eyes and jet black hair that hung down below her shoulders. She was wearing a rose and blue colored formfitting jumpsuit that made her look regal. Then he recognized her.

She looked around the small bridge and saw Jake, “My, you’re handsome for the fearsome criminal the casinos paint you up to be.” She then looked at Cynthia, “I am Valerie Rose, and I am a member of the Royal Family.” Cynthia bowed and Valerie walked forward and shook their hands.

Jake now started to get nervous. Valerie looked at him and quickly said, “The last thing I need for you to do is get nervous, Jake. Relax; you’re not in any trouble that should concern you.”

Jake answered in a shaky voice, “Easy for you to say. Then why are you here? People go all their lives and never see a member of the Royal Family. If I’m not mistaken, you are next in line for the throne.”

Valerie tilted her head, nodded, and smiled, “Ta-Dahhhh! You’re absolutely right. Give the man a prize! I would still feel much better if you would relax. Some rather dramatic events could take place if you get too nervous, and I’d like to try and avoid those.”

Jake shook his head, “What are you people talking about? All I’ve heard is Red Flag this, Red Flag that, most dangerous person in the universe, don’t get nervous! How could I not be?”

Valerie looked at Cynthia and said in a voice Jake could hear, “I like him. He’s so open and direct. Don’t you think so, Searcher?”

Cynthia was in shock herself from seeing the Princess. She looked at Jake and said to Valerie, “I know a little about what a Red Flag is, but your coming here has me, just like Jake, very nervous.”

Valerie laughed and said, “Both of you need to lighten up. The safest place in the universe, at this moment, is aboard this ship. So relax. It’s everyone else outside this ship that should be nervous. But we are perfectly safe right here, and that’s why I was sent now. To make sure I was safe in the event of an “event”. By the way, would you please move your ship to an empty area between galaxies?”

Cynthia started to speak but heard, “Already on it.”

“Thank you, B.C.”

Valerie walked over to Cynthia’s command chair and looked at the view outside the ship. The closest galaxy looked like a tiny speck of light. She took a deep breath and turned to look at Jake and Cynthia, “Well, maybe now we can talk. Why don’t we move to the galley and have a bite to eat. Anyone else hungry?”

Jake thought about it and realized he had not eaten anything for hours. “Well, I am, Your Majesty.”

“Lead the way, Searcher.”

Cynthia left the bridge and walked the hundred feet to the small kitchen. They each ordered a meal from the ships system and sat down at a small table. Jake was more hungry than he thought; he took a big bite of his sandwich. Cynthia just sat there not eating. Valerie was also eating and noticed Cynthia’s nervousness. “Searcher, I think you need to relax. We have some time to get to know each other and you’d make coffee nervous with the way you’re acting right now.” Cynthia picked up a spoon and started eating. “That’s better,” Valerie said. She looked at Jake and smiled, “Tell me why you went back into that casino, Jake.”

Jake stopped his sandwich half way to his mouth, then put it down. “I’d rather not, Your Highness.”

Valerie leaned back and said, “Jake, I want to share some things with you, but I need to know what kind of person you are before I do. If you want to know what’s going on, I need you to be open and honest with me.”

Jake looked at her and saw she had the most open face. He didn’t feel any danger from her. He was still amazed at how beautiful she was; he guessed she was about sixteen or seventeen years old. “Can’t you just look in my mind and see whatever you want?”

“Possibly, but that might cause things to happen I would rather avoid. Besides, I want to get to know you. I’m amazed that we’ve finally found you, and I’m excited at the opportunity to actually get to talk with you.”

Jake could see she was serious. He lowered his head, then decided. He told them about his childhood and how he had caused Robby’s death. He could not allow someone else to take the blame for his actions, and that’s why he went back to rescue Cynthia.

Cynthia listened to Jake and forgot her nervousness. “How old are you, Jake?”

Jake looked at her and said, “Nineteen.”

Valerie actually broke into a beautiful smile, “Good! You’re not too old.”

“‘Too old?’ For what?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. We are going to have to do something about Gambia; it’ just not right how the population is treated. Why do you steal from the casinos?”

The sudden shift in topic startled Jake. He looked Valerie in the eye and said, “I don’t.”

Cynthia turned and said, “Oh yes you do! You did it tonight.”

Jake shook his head and looked at both of them, “Tell me how I stole something tonight.”

“You knew the machine was going to payout, and you tricked me into moving so you could win. You prevent others from winning, too.”

Valerie tilted her head, “She does have a point, Jake.”

Jake smiled, “No she doesn’t.” Cynthia started to stand up and Jake quickly said, “Sit down, please, and let me explain.”

Valerie looked at Cynthia and nodded. Cynthia sat back down and leaned back.

“Cynthia, if someone was giving away food and I jumped in front of you in line to get it, what law have I broken?”

Cynthia thought a moment and said, “You probably didn’t break a law, but you were very discourteous.”

“Is that against the law?”

“Well, no, but food and money are different.”

“How?”

Cynthia struggled for a response and looked at Valerie, “Don’t look at me. I don’t see a difference. He tricked you, but there is no law against that.” Then she looked at Jake, “But there are laws against psychics using their powers to take money from casinos. You used your psychic ability to take the winnings from that machine.”

“No there aren’t, Your Majesty.” Valerie furrowed her brow and Jake said quickly, “There are laws against psychics using their abilities to steal money from the casinos.”

Valerie asked, “Now you have me confused. What’s the difference?”

“If I used my powers in card games to see what cards were going to be played, then I would be stealing money that the casino might not lose under normal circumstances. I don’t do that. I only play gamers and I only take money the casino was going to give away to somebody. I do not influence the machine at all. I can just see the ones that are going to pay out. If I wasn’t there, someone else would walk away with the payout. Either way, the casino has lost nothing. They were going to give the money away anyway. I see nothing wrong with stepping up and taking what they are giving. Just like jumping in line to get food.”

Cynthia piped up, “But you’re preventing others from winning.”

Jake smiled, “Doesn’t anyone who plays a gamer that pays out prevent others from winning at that machine? As far as using my talents to win, doesn’t an experienced gambler have an edge over a novice? Should he not be allowed to play because he is more skilled? I do not influence the game in any way. I just make sure I’m in the food line when it’s being given away.”

Valerie looked hard at Jake, “You’ve made a good point and you’re right; you are not taking money that the casino would keep. However, you have shown a very high level of downright discourteous behavior in doing what you did tonight.”

Jake stared at the princess for a long moment, “Your Majesty, why don’t you come out of your castle for a couple of weeks and spend it in the ghettos on Gambia? See how long you live being courteous. After three weeks, when you’re starving to death and the stench of sewage and burning bodies overwhelms your senses, you might learn to forget your courteous behavior. Being courteous will get you killed. If you had a food line on Gambia, you would be killed by those swarming the line. When my parents starved to death, I never saw a Stars Realm Representative show up to show them courtesy. You learn to survive or you die. Courtesy is for those who can afford to give it.”

Cynthia felt ashamed. She better understood this handsome young man now. Then she had a thought, “You keep touching something inside your shirt. What is that?”

Jake looked at her and then looked hard at Valerie. As he unbuttoned his shirt and showed them a large gold coin on a chain he said, “I swore over Robby’s body that I would never steal again and risk getting killed. I promised to make my life count for something.”