Escape to Earth-Living Legends (9 page)

Josey looked at Jan and nodded. Jan turned to Michael and said, “Sir, we are extremely reluctant to discuss this.”

“You’re worried that the third member of your team will kill himself if I bring him in and question him.”

Jan and Josey’s eyes went wide and Michael nodded slowly, “Both of you should understand that I’ve watched everything you did in that battle and it didn’t take long to see that there were three of you working together, not just two. I’ve not gone after the third member because I have it on good authority that he is hanging on by a thread and might do something stupid if I brought him in.”

“He would, Sir.”

Michael stared at them for a moment and said, “That’s why you haven’t shared what you used or did anything to stand out?” Both of them nodded. “What is it you’ve developed?”

Jan looked at Josey and she sighed. Josey turned to Michael, “We’ve moved one of our computers from controlling the top disruptors to controlling the barrier control and the scanners during combat operations.”

“Surely there’s more than that? Budge tells me that he tried every possible combination of computers when he designed the new systems.”

“I suspect he didn’t develop them to handle deliberate suicide runs.”

“What?”

“The system works best when used inside large groups of enemy ships. The larger the better.”

“How is that?”

“The enemy ships won’t fire through their own ships. Our computer looks for hits to our force field and hull and automatically goes into the barrier when two quick hits are recorded. I don’t have to think about avoiding beams or missiles when flying my pod. I just look for a route through them so that my weapons can hit them.”

“What about the disruptors on top that are no longer computer controlled?”

“I set the front disruptor to fire ahead of my ship at a forty degree angle; the middle disruptor to fire directly overhead; and the rear disruptor to fire at forty degrees above the rear of the ship. “When one disruptor fires, all the top ones open fire and continue to fire until the barrier control is activated. I can also start them firing with a button on my steering wheel.”

Josh looked at Josey and said, “Why does this work best inside a heavy concentration of enemy ships?”

“Because if you’re out in the open, large numbers of them have a clear shot at you and a large number of disruptor beams and missiles could hit simultaneously. As small as our Battle Pods are, inside an enemy formation, only the closest two ships can fire. It’s much safer to fight that way.”

Jan looked at Josey and then turned to Michael, “However, it won’t do any good to share this.”

Michael looked at her, “Why not?”

“Because our fleets’ computers are programmed to avoid going into large concentrations of enemy ships. They resist doing it and that resistance can get you killed.”

“How did you get your computer to do it?”

Jan tilted her head, “We linked it with a computer that didn’t really have a problem with getting its pilot killed. That link broke through our computer’s prohibitions and allowed us to attack large concentrations of enemy warships.”

Michael stared at her, “And without that link?”

Jan nodded, “The entire system falls apart.” Michael stared at her and Jan said, “And if you approach the pilot that is linked to that computer…”

“He might kill himself.”

“Or worse.”

“What’s worse than that?”

“Killing you for violating his privacy.”

Michael stared at them and leaned back in his chair. “He obviously has a relationship with the two of you.”

Josey nodded, “I think we’re the only reason he’s still alive.”

“Then the two of you will bring him here to have a conversation with me tomorrow.” Both of them shook their heads at once. Michael leaned back in his chair, “I’ve done some research on him and I’m not going to tiptoe around him if he’s as unstable as you say. Tell him I have a message from Eric.”

Jan shook her head hard, “Sir, you can’t even joke about that!”

“I knew him. Tell him that.”

They looked at each other and Josey said, “We need to go talk to him.” Michael nodded as they left the conference room.

• • •

Jay looked at Josey and shook his head, “No, I am not going to meet with this First Commander.”

“Jay, please don’t do this. We need you and this is something he’s asked nicely for you to do.”

“Just how is he being nice?”

“He could have come here and drug you away in irons.”

“I wouldn’t have allowed that to happen.”

Jan shook her head, “And how many would die with you if you resisted?”

“Does it matter?”

Josey looked at Jan and then sighed. Jay said, “What?”

“He said he has a message to you from Eric.” Jay’s eyes narrowed instantly and his rage was incredible. Jan quickly said, “He told us he knew Eric!”

Jay’s head whipped around and he glared at both of them in an expression that had both of them worried about what he might do. Jay stared at them and said, “Yomo, tell these two that the freaking Commander is a liar!”

“Actually, he may not be lying.” All three of them looked at the computer console. “The First Commander is Michael Stone. He and Eric attended Fleet Academy together and according to my data, they both had ten advanced classes together.”

“That’s not possible!”

“Why not?”

“The Fleet Commander has to be much older than Eric. They wouldn’t be in the same classes.”

“Actually, the Fleet Commander was four years younger than Eric and was allowed to skip several years of formal education due to his test scores.”

“How could he have a message for me from Eric?”

“That is something that you’ll have to ask him.”

“Is it possible he’s telling the truth, Yomo?”

“Someone went into Fleet’s files recently and pulled all the information they have on you. I have watched this particular Commander for a while and everything I’ve seen does not lead me to believe that he would say something he knew was untrue.”

“But why would Eric leave a message for me with him?”

“That is something…”

“That I’ll have to ask him.”

“Well, it is.”

“If I go to his office, I’ll lose the means of taking my life.”

“Get real. You know more than forty ways to do it on your own without the aid of an outside agency.”

Jay stared at the location of his main computer and blew out a breath. Jan said, “What if he’s right about the message?”

Jay looked at her and shook his head, “ALL RIGHT! I’ll go! Now get out of here and leave me alone!” Josey and Jan left his ship and both of them knew their friend was probably going to die the next day.

M
ichael sat in his office and waited for his guest to arrive. “Michael, Jan and Josey are taking him to your office. He’s told them they will not go in with him.”

“Is he planning something stupid, Averel?”

“If you’ve lied to him, he is planning something very stupid.”

Michael shook his head and leaned back in his chair. Two minutes later, the chime to his door rang and he pressed the speaker button, “Enter!” A tall young man came through the door and Michael wondered if it were possible for anyone to be that tall and skinny and still be able to walk around. This man had to be deliberately starving himself. The man walked up to his desk and stood a little straighter but it was far from being at attention. He raised his hand to his head in a mock salute. Michael didn’t return it, “Take a seat.”

Jay pulled a chair out from the desk and sat down. He extended his legs and slumped in the chair as he put his right arm over the back. Michael stared at him in silence and Jay finally said, “I believe you have a message for me.”

Michael leaned back and said, “How long did it take you to push the memory of Eric out of your mind?” Jay’s eyes narrowed and his arm came off the back of the chair. Michael said, “I knew him and you are nothing more than an embarrassment to his memory. Where were the three dots?” Jay’s anger almost overcame him but the question made him pause. He stared at Michael trying to remember and his mouth came open. He started to speak and then his mouth closed. Michael said, “The three dots were his three nieces that were all named Dorothy. Each of them were named after his mother. He loved those babies so much. Tell me he never told you about them?”

Jay stared at Michael and his eyes went down to his lap. “Who was Lappy?” Jay looked up and his eyes were moist. “You don’t remember. You’ve forced everything good you knew out and left nothing but anger and pain in its place.”

Jay blew out a breath and looked at Michael, “Who was Lappy?”

“His younger sister who loved sitting on his lap and listen to him sing to her.” Jay lowered his head again and Michael said, “But I bet you do know who Fred was!”

Jay’s eyes narrowed again and he sneered, “The Father who disowned him.”

“You remember everything bad that ever happened to Eric and nothing good. You’ve erased the true essence of his being and left nothing but a dark hole in its place. Let me show you who Eric really was and how I remember him.”

Michael pushed a button on his console and the wall monitor came on. Jay turned around to see it. He saw Eric standing in a small park at Fleet Academy and smiling, “Will you hurry up and get that camera going.”

“Hey, give me a minute. You know how I am with machinery.” Jay recognized Michael’s voice. “Ok, are you ready?”

Eric looked at the camera and started laughing, “Give me a minute. You look ridiculous.” Eric bent over and laughed and after a minute he took a breath and said, “Let’s get this done.”

“Hey, you have to record me next. Don’t wear yourself out.” There was a pause and Michael said, “Recording….now. Mr. Yomogura, why have you chosen to be a warrior fighting for our survival?”

Eric smiled and said, “Because I will defend those I love and humanity against those that threaten it.”

“But why?”

“Love is reason enough. Love is what drives all of us to be bigger and better than we can be alone. It is those that have given so much to us as we grow up that deserve all we have for their efforts. What I’ve chosen to do is worth doing and I’m excited at the prospect of making a difference.”

“Aren’t you afraid of dying?”

Eric shook his head and paused as he looked directly at the camera, “Everyone is afraid of dying and death deserves our respect. No one wants to die and I feel that way as well. But we will all die one day, there’s no avoiding it. I just hope and pray that I can make my life, and death, mean something.”

“What message do you want your classmates to hear?”

Eric looked at the camera and smiled. “Make your life count! Never accept giving less than your best effort at whatever you do. If you live this way, then at the end, you’ll die in peace.”

Jay sat in his chair and wept. “I miss him so much!”

Michael stared at Jay, “He was the only family you ever had.” Jay nodded. Michael sighed, “We were assigned to make that recording by our sociology teacher. Eric chose me to work with him because he liked my enthusiasm.”

Jay looked at him, “May I see what he recorded?”

“You want to hear his voice again?” Jay nodded. “I didn’t record a video. When the professor asked me to present mine, I told him that what Eric said was what I believed and I wouldn’t diminish the message by saying it differently. Ten other cadets threw their recordings away and agreed with me that Eric had really said it all. His video was chosen as the best in our class.”

Jay sat in his chair and managed to stop his tears. Michael said, “Eric told me about you.” Jay’s head snapped up. “He said that he had found someone that was incredibly brilliant and whose spirit brightened his day. He insisted that you were the example of how he wanted to live.” Jay continued to stare at Michael and then heard, “Now look at what you’ve made yourself? You’ve destroyed the very things Eric loved in you and you diminish his memory. What do you think he feels about what you’ve become?”

“I’M THE ONE THAT SHOULD HAVE DIED NOT HIM!!! HOW CAN YOU SIT THERE IN JUDGEMENT OF ME FOR MY LOSS WHEN YOU’VE NEVER EXPERIENCED IT!!?”

“But he died, not you. What would you have wanted him to do if you had died? Would you want him to become the creature you’ve made yourself?” Michael stood up, “You should have done your homework before you came here and I suspect that if Eric were in your place he would have.”

“What do you mean!?”

“When I was seven years old, the Goran launched a nuclear missile at the city where I lived on Earth. My mother was out sailing that day and she was outside the force field when the missile exploded. She was vaporized and I never saw her again. You wallow in your self-pity thinking you’re the only one that ever lost someone they loved. The difference between you and me is that I chose to make myself someone my mother would be proud of. You’ve chosen to become something that Eric would have abhorred.” Michael stood up and walked toward the door.

“Where are you going?”

Michael stopped and looked at Jay, “I brought you here because I really did have a message from Eric that you should hear. You are free to go and kill yourself. I know that’s what you’ve been trying to do since Eric died in the car wreck. I just ask that you don’t take anyone with you when you do it. You can stay here and watch the message alone. I can’t abide seeing what you’ve done to yourself.” Michael left the room.

After ten minutes, Jay stood up and walked behind the huge desk. He glanced at it and immediately understood every button on it. He pressed three buttons and then started the recording of Eric playing on a loop. He moved the chair to just in front of the monitor and stared at it without moving.

• • •

Michael kept checking in with Averel and she kept telling him that Jay was still fixated on the video. Finally, Michael had enough. He went to his office and said, “You can take a copy of the recording with you; however, I need my office.”

Jay stood up, went to Michael’s desk, pressed four buttons, and removed a data-stick. He took it out of the reader and said, “I’ve already recorded it.”

“Then why are you still here?”