Probe Predators (8 page)

“I really think he wanted those that killed his family to be punished for it.”

“That’s a shallow reason.”

Trip nodded and blew out a breath, “I suppose you’re right.”

“Would you do it?”

Trip looked at the Grandfather and could only remain silent.

• • •

The Renegade Shuttle took Trip back to his ship and Cole and Andi breathed a sigh of relief. Trip appeared on their displays and Cole immediately saw something was wrong, “What did you find out?”

Trip shook his head, “I’ll share the conversation I had with the Family’s Senior Grandfather and you tell me what you think. I don’t want to color your thoughts with my own.” Trip took the language translator off his belt and plugged it into his panel. “Moe!”

“Yes Trip.”

“Please download a copy of this conversation and I’m also plugging in a data cube the Grandfather gave me with all the information he has on what he expects to happen.” Trip plugged the data cube into his panel beside the language pack and leaned back. The three ships jumped out of the Renegade’s system and no one spoke until they arrived back at Euclid.

• • •

The three Needles landed at the Mansion and the three weary pilots exited their ships and went to Trip’s quarters. Cole was the first to speak, “This kinda puts all we’ve done into perspective.” Trip looked at him and Cole said, “Barbara’s temper really doesn’t measure up to what I’ve just seen.”

Trip tried his best not to laugh but he couldn’t stop himself. Andi just looked confused and Cole said, “No, honestly; I thought that was the ultimate fear to face until this.” Trip’s stress came out in his laughter and he found he could barely breathe. He fell to the floor when Andi said, “Barbara?”

Cole shrugged “I guess you had to be there.” Dee walked in with Andrew and found Trip doubled over and the other two standing over him wondering what was so funny.

“Is everything alright?”

Trip fought to catch his breath and after several attempts he said, “We need to go talk with Marilyn.”

Dee said, “About what?”

Cole looked at her, “I think you’ll want to get the whole mess before you understand.”

“Understand what?”

Andrew came in and Trip said, “We’ll eat in the vault.”

“Yes Sire.”

Trip rolled his eyes and Dee had a small smile.

• • •

“Marilyn, what do you think about this?”

“The Union is not prepared for this.”

“Are you able to determine if our ships can measure up to this new species?’

“No, not really; their force fields have not been challenged by the Families’ ships so there is no clear measure of what force it would take to penetrate them.”

“How do you see this playing out?”

“M87 is history. We would probably follow.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Our galaxy was mentioned in the probe’s broadcast. I suspect the new species will end up victorious and then check us out.”

“They should have collected all they need to feed in M87.”

“Are you willing to bet the Union on that?”

Trip stared at the wall and then shook his head, “We need to start getting ready for their arrival after M87.”

Dee shook her head and Trip looked at her, “What?”

“Have you forgotten your history?”

“I probably know it better than anyone in this room.”

“You know it but you don’t quite
know
it.”

“What are you talking about?”

Dee lowered her gaze, “Why did the Union go to M87’s defense in the last Family’s invasion?”

Trip looked at Dee and was amazed at how much she looked like the original Dee Montgomery. “Why don’t you tell us?”

“Because you don’t want to wait and see if our technology works against this aggressor when they show up at our front door. If we can defeat them, we need to do it there when their planets are being destroyed instead of ours.”

“Those scum were going to attack us.”

“How does that change what I just said? They did attack us before the first invasion.”

Marilyn said, “Dee, that does make the most logical sense.”

Trip jerked his head around, “Dee?”

Dee sighed, “That is what my family and friends call me.”

“Then why did you say your name was Denise?”

“It is my name. I said family and friends; are you in either of those categories?”

Trip stared at her and then lowered his head, “I apologize. Please excuse me.” Trip stood and left the vault.

Dee looked at Cole, “What’s wrong with him?”

“He has always worshipped his ancestors, even though his behavior didn’t show any evidence of it. The one he loved the most was his Great, Great, however many Greats are called for here, Grandmother Dee. I’ve caught him staring at portraits of her but he would never tell me what he was thinking. I think you look so much like her that you cut him to his soul. You reminded him that he has not lived up to the responsibility of upholding their reputations. I think you shamed him.”

“I didn’t mean to…”

Cole shook his head, “It’s not your fault; it’s what’s inside him that made it hurt. I suspect he needs some time to come to terms with what he’s done with his life so far.”

Andi said, “How do you know this?”

Cole turned to Andi, “Why do you think I have stuck by his side through all the silliness over the years? He’s been slowly dying in a Union that has no place for a real warrior. His soul has been lost and he gave up on life. All of that nonsense you’ve seen in the publications is just his way of trying to forget that there is no place for heroes in the Union anymore. He hated his existence.”

The room was silent and Marilyn said, “Andrew and I have seen his suffering. We’ve watched him stare at the family portraits and saw that he knew he would never be given the chance to come close to their accomplishments. He is Drey and he did stare at Dee’s portrait for hours. Something inside him misses her.”

Dee said, “That’s absurd.”

“Dee, you know how the genetics of the Royals on Euclid have been manipulated. He is a direct descendant of the four most powerful High Genetics in the Union’s history. He is them. He is more Drey than any of the others but he has their heart. That’s why Andrew will never accept that he won’t be King. He knows he is the ultimate choice for that role.” Dee was silent for a moment and Marilyn said, “And the only person in existence that looks exactly like one of his ancestors just told him he was not one of her friends. He had to believe that it was his ancestors speaking to him through you.”

“But it wasn’t?”

Cole looked at Dee, “How would you know? You obviously don’t like him.”

“That’s not true.”

Andi shook her head, “Then I don’t want to see how you treat someone you like. That was a rather vicious comment to someone who just risked his life confronting the Renegades Senior Grandfather.”

Dee lowered her head and shook it, “You just don’t understand.”

Cole stared at her and said, “No, I suppose we don’t. Excuse me.”

“Cole.”

“Yes Marilyn.”

“I think he needs this time alone. I believe he will feel diminished if you see his sorrow right now.” Cole sighed and nodded.

Andi came over and put her arms around Cole’s neck, “I really detested him and then hated him when he had my father dismissed. But now, I’d give my life for him.”

Cole put his arms around her and said, “Get in line.”

T
rip sat on the edge of the hangar floor and looked out at the lights of the Capital glowing like a billion fireflies. He thought about all that had happened and sighed. He wasted his youth on frivolous things. He just never dreamed a crisis would happen in his lifetime. He felt the calling to fight the good fight but there had never been a fight to enter. He lowered his head and felt immense sorrow. His shame was almost more than he could bear. He knew the gifts he was born with and he did nothing with them. He shook his head. Now, he was at the front lines on this crisis and he was diminished by his behavior. No one would want to follow him into a good fight and he wouldn’t blame them. He threw away his image in bouts of drugs, alcohol, and fast living.

“You really don’t understand.”

Trip was startled and he turned and saw Dee standing behind him. He turned back around and continued to stare at the lights in silence.

“I didn’t use my name because I didn’t want to hear you say it.”

“I can understand why.”

“NO YOU CAN’T!!”

Trip turned around and saw Dee was furious. “What, what…”

“I’ve dreamed my entire life what it would have been like to have Drey Montgomery say my name. I’ve longed for it…I’ve dreamed for it. And now you show up and you look so much like him it haunts me. You’re even acting like him. I don’t dare allow myself to get close to you.”

Trip stared at her and whispered, “Why not?”

“I don’t have to tell you! You already know. You’re not the only one that’s stared at portraits for hours on end!” Dee turned and left the hangar.

Trip jumped to his feet and caught her before she could enter the elevator. He grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her around, “I’ve dreamed about you my entire life.”

“No you haven’t; you’ve dreamed about our ancestor!”

“The one in my dream had a small diamond shaped mark on her left hip. Our ancestor didn’t have that mark; do you?” Dee stared at Trip with wide eyes, “DO YOU?!” Dee nodded and felt the first tear star rolling down her cheek. “I never thought you existed. I knew I’d always live alone. And now, here you are.”

Trip pulled her into his arms and Dee’s arms remained at her sides. After a moment she whispered, “It was your portrait I was staring at all those hours.” She raised her arms and hugged him tight. Trip turned and walked with her back to the edge of the hangar. They sat on the edge of the floor and Trip said, “You really don’t know me.”

“Are you saying that because you’re scared?” Trip lowered his eyes and nodded. Dee took in deep breath and slowly exhaled, “I don’t understand how the genetics of this works but you and I know each other better than any other couple in existence. I can see you, Drey.” Trip was startled. “I can feel you.” She looked in his eyes, “It’s time you emerged and claimed your destiny.”

Trip looked at Dee, “You are my destiny.”

“We share a destiny. Do you see it now?” Trip nodded. Dee put her arms around his neck and closed her eyes. Trip kissed her and something inside him came alive. Dee held him tight and knew she wouldn’t be staring at portraits any more.

• • •

“Your Majesty, we’ve had a development.”

“And what would that be other than the one facing us at the moment.”

“It appears that Trip has found Denise Montgomery.”

Angela sat up in her chair, “WHAT!?!”

“I know you wanted to keep them separate but the Mansion’s computer selected her to be the new Caretaker.”

“Oh crap.”

“They have spent the last two days together.”

Angela fell back in her chair, “Well, that just cuts it.”

“What’s wrong?”

“You’re not aware of what we did to Trip’s parents?”

“No, I’m not.”

“They have pretty much cloned Andrey Montgomery’s DNA in him. He is pretty much a living replica of the Dark Officer.”

“At this moment in time, I think we could use him.”

“The issue is that with all the other genetic modifications done to High Genetics over the centuries; we’re not really certain what is going to emerge out of the brew that is Trip. You know how dangerous the original was and he almost made a horrendous mistake at the end of the last war.”

“You’re talking about killing the Renegades.”

“He also wanted to remove half the civilizations in M87 at the war’s end. Our scientists thought that we would get a great warrior as long as the entire package wasn’t activated.”

“That’s why you wanted to keep them apart.”

“Yes, Drey loved Dee immensely and if they came into contact, the fear was that the entire Drey would emerge. I’ll bet you see the difference immediately.”

“You’re leaving something out.”

“Yes, Dee was also an experiment.”

“Were you an experiment?”

“You’re good.”

“You said you have Dee’s ability to see things and you can interpret my flashes. That’s not exactly normal patterns of behavior.”

“I do have some skills, but not like the one Trip just ran into. She was developed after they played with me.”

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I just don’t see a downside to this. We get one of the Union’s best warriors and a psychic to boot.”

“Drey Montgomery wrote before he died that if he knew life was going to be so stale, he would have never ended the war with the Family or M87. What if Trip finds that feature inside him?”

Moe paused and after five seconds said, “He could make the war last forever.”

Exactly, and loss of life in the Union won’t matter as long as he can play at his game of destruction and death. His powerful personality will drive the Union to become an aggressive civilization looking for a fight. There’s too much out there to avoid all of them if you go out looking for trouble.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Make sure he doesn’t acquire the Crown. At least not until he proves he’s not a ticking time bomb.”

“That may not be an issue.”

“Oh?”

“The Threshers may make it all a moot point if something’s not done quickly.”

“There is that. It appears Drey is going to get his war.”

“We need to decide what to do?”

“And that means I have to use him and that woman to help us plan.”

“I thought you…”

“That’s the problem. You have to pick up a blaster to defend yourself whether you want to or not. We have to use them.”

“Your Majesty, genetic manipulation is like a hole in the ground.”

“How’s that?”

“You never know what’s going to crawl out. I suspect that before this is over, all of us will be surprised.”

Angela rolled her eyes, “Contact them and call them in along with the Lead Scientist and Military Staff.”

“I’m sure Victor will want to be here.”

“Tough, I don’t want him around.”

“It will only make things more difficult.”