Escape to Earth-The Legacy of a Conqueror (3 page)

“Lukas, you should be doing this?”

“I don’t have the heart to do it. I would fail at the critical moment.”

“Just like I just did.”

Salud shook her head, “You didn’t fail. You told them that next time you would finish what they started. You actually wanted to finish it then but managed to stop and do the right thing. That’s what convinced us that you are the one destined to do this.”

“You think this is my destiny?”

“Lukas should have killed you before you were born to prevent the Stalkers from seeing you and learning that he was on Earth. He didn’t do it. You were created to do something remarkable. You are going to save us.”

Chris looked at them and slowly shook his head, “Can the two of you imagine how many intelligent beings I might have to kill?”

Salud’s smile turned hard, “If they were intelligent, they would leave us the hell alone!”

Chris stared at her and started chuckling. After another moment he started laughing. Lukas joined him and Salud said, “What’s so funny!?”

It took a minute before Chris managed to say, “We have to change the definition of intelligent life; coming after us is really stupid!”

Salud nodded, “Indeed it is!” Chris grabbed his ribs and laughed even harder.

Lukas laughed and managed to say, “She’s serious about this!”

Chris fell back in his chair holding his ribs and managed to look at Lukas through his tears, “You think?” Lukas had to stand up and bend over to breathe.

Salud stared at them and frowned, “I don’t see anything funny!” Her remark was greeted with another roar of laughter. Salud stood up and stormed out of the room.

After some time had passed and they had caught their breath, Lukas said, “The most dangerous of our species are the females.” Chris nodded. Lukas took a deep breath and blew it out. He leaned back and slowly shook his head, “I’ve watched her at night staring at our children with more love than I can describe. But I can see the fear in her eyes wondering if they would live a full life or be killed by alien invaders. I would not go out to attack but I can’t allow her and all the other mothers on Eden and Earth to live with constant fear for their children. We have to bring them peace.”

“Thanks, Lukas. I needed to hear this. I couldn’t understand why you’ve undergone such a radical departure from your previous views. Now, I do.”

Lukas looked at Chris, “I’m very proud of you. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to raise you.”

Chris smiled, “It was my destiny, remember. I suspect Pat had a hand in it but you’ve always been there taking care of me. It’s time I did my part.”

“Can you do this?”

Chris looked at Lukas and his expression turned dark, “I’ve heard the thoughts of real killers wanting our extinction. This conversation has freed me to look at them in another light.” Chris stood up, “I’m going to need enough ships to go out and do this. I can’t go and leave this galaxy and Eden undefended.”

“The population on Eden is growing at a tremendous rate. It appears when humans are stressed by fear of dying, their birth rate skyrockets. When the original colonists went to Eden, nearly all of them were at childbearing ages. We’ve also made a rather remarkable discovery.”

“What is that?”

“I hate it but our people on Eden are forced to be a part of a military culture. Even the children are subjected to the fears of being conquered by aliens. Amanda and Trevor have built small training pods for the young adults and teenagers to fly.”

“WHAT?”

“They love it. They aren’t armed with anything more than bright lights that replace their disruptors and they are not given any instruction except to go out and play.” Lukas looked at Chris, “They can do things with a pod that are absolutely impossible. They can already fly rings around our veteran pilots and they’re getting better as they grow up.”

“How many?”

“There will be more than a million in six years.”

“I do hope you’re looking for the leaders among them?”

“Piper is assisting with that task. I’ve also asked Pat to look in on them and he’s also pointing out the ones to keep our eyes on.”

Chris stared at Lukas, “I really hate that our children have to live like this.”

“Don’t. They love it.”

Chris stared at Lukas and said, “Are you saying our species is born for war?”

“No, I’m not. But I am saying that we’re really, really good at it.”

“I can live with that. I’ll see you later.”

“What are you going to do?”

Chris’s expression was a mask of anger, “The first thing I’m going to do is handle the issue of our galaxy being scouted. Then the Fellowship has to be dealt with.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“Not really, but Pat may not like your killing them after all he’s done to defend them.”

“Then Pat needs to wake up. I’m not going try hard not to kill them but I am removing their claws.”

“They deserve what you choose to do.” Chris and Lukas looked around and heard, “I felt responsible for who they are because of what my species has made them. I observed the trial. They cannot change and I am satisfied that the ones that deserve to live are now working with you.”

Chris felt the sorrow in Pat’s thoughts and said, “I am not going to kill them if it can be avoided.”

“I will not stand in your way if you choose to do so.”

“Thanks, Pat.” Chris walked out of the room.

Lukas watched Chris exit and said, “Thank you for not allowing me to kill him before he was born, Pat.”

“I didn’t prevent you. You did that on your own.” Lukas’ head went back and wondered about Salud saying it was Chris’s destiny to be a conqueror. He continued to think about it until she returned an hour later to apologize for her anger. He shushed her and pulled her into his arms.

• • •

Chris met Audrey at the spaceport and they boarded Barbie. “Why did you want me to meet you here?”

“I’ve been given a new job.”

“What is it?”

“I have been chosen to go out and conquer all the civilizations that represent a danger to Earth, Eden, and the Milky Way.”

Audrey stared at Chris and finally started shaking her head, “You have got to be kidding me! I thought your decision not to destroy the Green Fleets was justified because we are not conquerors.”

Chris shrugged, “That was then; this is now.”

“Why you?”

“Why not?”

“I guess I don’t see you as the blood thirsty type.”

“I’m not and I guess that’s part of the reason Lukas and Salud chose me to do it.”

Audrey stared at him, “No one else took part in the selection?”

“Do they not have the authority to make it?”

“I guess they do. I just wonder if all of the others would support changing our philosophy from a peaceful outlook to an aggressive approach.”

“How do you feel about it?”

Audrey thought for a moment and sighed, “I guess I’m glad we’re going to take this war to them instead of waiting for them to attack us.”

“Because….?”

“I don’t want our child to be put in danger.”

“Salud has children, Julie has babies, Sarah is pregnant, and my mother is also expecting a child. I’ve looked at the fleet personnel files and a huge number of our warriors already have children or are expecting a new arrival. Do you think they would feel any different than you?”

Audrey’s eyes narrowed, “Why is there an explosion of pregnancies?”

“Throughout human history, whenever humans have been at war, the birthrate sky rocketed. It’s part of our survival instinct when populations are under the threat of being killed. Lukas is going to announce the new structure shortly.”

“Did he say when?”

“I suspect after he discusses it with the Welken, Myot, and Johan. He wants me to have some time to get up to speed on the most recent events before he gives up with the task of organizing our forces. That’s why we’re here.”

“Oh?”

“Barbie.”

“Yes, Chris. And congratulations.”

“Thank you. Did you see anything that happened during the most recent invasion that I need to know about?”

“There are a number of events that took place which changes the overall picture.”

“Such as?”

“Our probes in M-87 have determined that the Green Civilization is no longer the chosen tool of the Legends. That role has been handed back to the Progen.”

“That is news.”

“You also didn’t know that the Commander of the Green Forces in M-86 decided to leave early with more than two million warships and return to M-87 before the Progen Warships arrived. His fleet arrived right after the attack from M-84 started and his fleets prevented thousands of their planets from being destroyed. The space battles continued until the main invasion fleet returned and ended it.”

“Do you know how many planets they lost?”

“No, but the number was in the tens of thousands. Your allowing the Invasion Fleet to escape saved a huge number of their worlds.”

Chris sighed, “I hope that was a good decision.”

“There’s something else.”

“What is that?” The Pod’s display illuminated and they saw a huge Black Warship appear outside a formation of Green Warships and, after a slight pause, it fired on the largest Green Ship and blasted it into ashes. “What happened there, Barbie?”

“That Green Warship was the flagship of the Commander that left M-86 early. The Legends punished him for leaving without their approval.”

Audrey shook her head, “Oh my God!”

Chris’s expression turned grim, “That Commander had to be one of his civilization’s great heroes after holding back the Invaders from M-84. This can’t sit well with them!”

“It doesn’t. The Legends also called the Commander of the Invasion Force in but declined to kill him when they watched the recording of the attack on his fleets. They realized it was good judgment to flee. They didn’t know you allowed them to go unharmed. I suspect if they did, they would have killed him as well.” Chris sat back in his chair and shook his head. “There’s one more thing.”

“Yes.”

“That Commander is now the Supreme Leader of his civilization. The surviving worlds demanded he be promoted to lead them.”

Chris nodded and wondered what that Commander thought about the Legends now. He stared at the display as it showed the destruction of the Green Warship again. “Where did that black ship come from?”

“It’s one of those defending the planet where the Legends are located. Our probe there has detected about a million of them around the planet.”

“What can you tell me about it?”

“It’s more powerful than any other warship in that galaxy.”

“Can we handle it?”

“I don’t know. The probe didn’t use an active scan on it. If it did, it would have been detected and probably destroyed.”

“That’s a question we are going to need answered eventually.” Chris ended the recording that was playing over and over, “Do you have the location of the six M-84 scouts here in our galaxy?”

“I do.”

Chris pressed his panel and Chad appeared, “Admiral, I am going to remove some hostile warships that are scouting our galaxy. I need you to assign three Pods to five of them and have them skip in and surround them.”

“What about the sixth?”

“I’m going to go and have a conversation with that one.”

“Should I send you two more Pods to go with you?”

“No, just be prepared to fire on those five if I give the order.”

“I’ll issue the order and have them ready in thirty minutes. Let me know when you want to do this.”

“We’ll go five minutes after the Pods are ready.”

“I’ll confirm our status when the Pods are ready.”

“That would be good.”

Audrey looked at Chris, “Is it a good idea to go alone?”

“The Green Warships were able to kill them. I don’t see a scout being a real threat.”

“Then why are you sending three after the other five?”

“I want them surrounded so they can’t escape.” Audrey nodded and waited for Chad to notify them the Pods were ready.

• • •

Chris looked at Audrey and said over his communicator, “We will skip out to our targets on my mark! Three, two, one, MARK!” Barbie ignited her thrusters and the B-Pod blasted through the void at her highest speed. She moved in on a small object in the distance at an incredible closing speed and Chris thought, “If you attempt to flee, I will destroy your vessel!” The small scout fired its thrusters anyway but the B-Pod was on it in an instant and the Scout saw the small Silver Ship rotate its three disruptors and lock them on him. The Scout shut down his engines and hung in the void. “I have your other five ships surrounded and if they attempt to escape, they will be destroyed.” Chris’s comment was greeted with silence. “Why are you here?” Again there was nothing but silence. Chris pressed his panel and said, “Destroy one of the ships.” An A-Pod fired its disruptor and the small ship that was surrounded was blasted into vapor by the Dark Energy beam. Chris said, “I will kill each one of them if you don’t answer my question.”

Again there was silence and Chris pressed his panel, “Destroy…”

“WAIT!”

“Cancel that order. Why are you here?”

“We are going to make you pay for your criminal act against my galaxy!”

“I am going to assume that you blame us for the attack done by the Green Civilization.”

“You led them toward us!”

“My ships were fleeing them. We weren’t going to lead them here. You happened to be on the path we used to escape.”

“It was not an accident. You fled toward my galaxy. You deliberately led them there. You will pay for your crime!”

Chris listened to the Scout’s thoughts and could feel its hostility and malevolence. It wanted to kill every intelligent being in the Milky Way. Chris didn’t like being dishonest and decided that nothing he could say was going to change the mind of this being. “You’re right. We deliberately fled toward your galaxy. If we could go back and do it differently, we would. However, what’s done is done.”

“You will pay!”

“Let me see if I can possibly talk some sense into you.”

“Don’t bother!”

“I feel it necessary that you know what you’re doing. We have not attacked your planets, yet!”