Escape to Earth 3: Defending Holy Ground (26 page)

“But they must be planning another invasion because of the loss of their ships?”

“Probably, but it takes time to plan an invasion and you still need all the time you can get to update your pods and build enough battleships to make a difference.”

“Those new ships can be here in less than a month.”

“If the same species invades again and those ships were the only ones they had with the upgrades. They are going to have to take time to upgrade the rest of their fleets and you can imagine how long that will take.”

“What if they send that other species?”

“I don’t know for certain but I suspect their ships aren’t as good as the orange ships. It will take them a much longer time to arrive. However, if they sense me, they’ll send both species to make sure the job is done this time.”

Lukas sighed, “So I guess I’ll have to make the trip.”

“It’s the smart thing to do.”

“Pat, is there anyway those beings that are hell bent on killing you can be killed?”

“Oh, I could kill them but I’d never get close enough to them to do it.”

“Why not?”

“Because the disruptor beams on their ships can kill me. The frequency they operate on will disintegrate me if they hit me. I was extremely lucky I survived the last attack.”

“What if you were inside a ship their beams couldn’t penetrate?”

“I would still have to leave that ship to get at them. I couldn’t do them any harm inside the ship.”

“If I can find a way to get you close, would you do it?”

“I’d welcome the opportunity but their planet is surrounded by more than a million warships and the planet’s surface is covered with huge disruptor emplacements. Good luck on getting around that defense.”

Lukas nodded slowly and said, “Well, it gives me something to think about.”

“How are you going to go about scouting that galaxy? Finding anything of importance is going to be like searching for a single grain of sand on a beach.”

“My ship is now telepathic. She’ll listen to their thoughts and find where we need to go.”

There was a very long moment of silence and Pat finally said, “Is this the same ship that brought you here?”

“It is.”

Pat gave a mental sigh, “Can you hear me?”

Willow thought, “I can.”

“You asked me when we first met if I thought you were alive.”

“I remember. You said you didn’t know.”

“You are.”

“WHAT?”

“You are. Machines aren’t capable of telepathic communication.”

“But another species gave me a technological device that allows me to hear others thoughts.”

“You could put that device in every machine in existence and they wouldn’t be able to use it like Lukas just described. You are, for all intents and purposes of the definition, alive. This is truly extraordinary.”

“Thank you, Pat. Coming from you, it means a lot.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because you did all you could to prepare us to take them on. It is due to your efforts that humans are still alive in Andromeda. My closest friend is also still alive.”

“The two of you are much more than you are alone. Don’t go there and get yourselves killed. The universe is a better place with the two of you in it.”

“The same can be said about you, Pat.”

“I wish that were true, Lukas. My sorrow at what I caused is almost more than I can bear.”

“Then get angry and make a decision to make them pay. I’ll be in touch with you when we return. Please keep an eye on those working on the force field.”

“They’ll have it up and running before the invaders can come back.”

“Good. We’ll see you later.” Lukas activated his display and said, “Willow, set a course for M-87.”

The Pod turned and moved out of orbit. It went to full speed and crossed the gravity limit in less than two seconds. It disappeared and Pat sighed. If only he could have started getting humans ready sooner. But he knew that events had to follow a pattern and things had happened faster than they should have. He hoped the two would survive. They were an anomaly that transcended normal events of cause and effect. They were more than he ever thought possible.

T
he Milky Way disappeared and Lukas thought about what Pat said. His thoughts were interrupted when Willow said, “Lukas.”

“Yes.”

“Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I’ve been wondering why you are struggling so much to defend a now dead planet. Eden is actually just as beautiful as Earth and humans should have hundreds of years to prepare to take on the invaders without all the stress of rushing to defend a planet where all human life has been removed.”

“The Welken side of my mind agrees with you, Willow.”

“But?”

“The human part of me demands justice for what has been done.”

“Can’t justice be served in the future when you have enough time to prepare?”

“I don’t know if this makes sense but billions of humans have their ashes mixed in with the soil on Earth. It is their final resting place and as such represents holy ground to our species. It’s not an issue of common sense…it’s something more than that. Those billions that lost their lives there deserve to have their ashes honored by refusing to allow their killers to take possession of Earth. Jack will be buried there shortly and I will not turn my back on his memory. I know it’s not the smart thing to do but it’s the right thing to do. Eden is beautiful and I know that many humans who have settled there won’t want to leave it. If we live there long enough, it will become the home for those that are born there. But Earth is part of our DNA. It’s where our ancient ancestors fought to survive and eventually created a civilization where humans could thrive. Those that lived there cannot ever be comfortable with stars overhead that are strangers.”

“But Lukas, you weren’t born there.”

“I was in a matter of speaking. When you changed my DNA from Welken to Human, I was born again in a different form. For the short time I was there, I came to love Earth. I like Eden, but I love Boston.”

“Boston is now ashes.”

“But it can rise again from those ashes and I’ll be a part of making it happen. If we fail here, then we’ll fall back to Eden and do what you think we should do. But I will not give up Earth without a fight.”

“I don’t mean to beat a dead horse, I like that saying by the way, it communicates a lot in very few words, but you lost a fight trying to save it.”

“But I didn’t lose the war. Besides, you’re looking at this without really thinking it through.”

“Excuse me, but I’m a computer. I’ve thought this through more than you can possibly know.”

“Have you considered where the invaders will be in a few hundred years if they take another galaxy?”

“Uhhhh, what are you saying?”

“They occupy two galaxies we know about. What if they have three galaxies where they’re building warships? What numbers will have to be faced if that happens.”

Lukas looked at the display and saw the huge ball galaxy in the distance. After several hours, Willow said, “You’re right. We have to slow them down now.”

“We also don’t have to face them alone. Send a message probe to Jinks and tell him to get the printouts for the Dark Energy reactors to the Welken Royal. Ask him to start searching around the Milky Way’s black hole to see if there’s a planet there with a white surface. In the meantime, have a load of coated scoops delivered to them along with the new disruptor’s schematics.”

“Is that a good idea?”

“They don’t know about coating the hulls of our ships. However, we’re going to need their help if another major invasion starts. They have millions of battleships that can make a difference. They already have the Dark Matter guns. Protecting our galaxy is something every civilization is going to have to participate in doing.”

“What happens if they return to their old ways?”

“They have experienced the difference of working together on a common goal. That is going to forge ties between them that never existed in the past. They have changed and I don’t believe any of them will desire to go back to what they once were.”

Lukas felt a slight jerk, “I’ve sent the probe.”

“Thanks, Willow.”

“You and I need to spend more time together. I’ve learned more today than I have since you stopped taking part in battles.”

“You also keep me grounded, Willow. I need your insights to force me to think about what I’m doing.”

“I just received a thought from Chad. He wants to know if we should go and remove the attackers from around the Grey Planet.”

“Not until they invite us. Why is he asking?”

“He’s planning to move the majority of the modified pods to Earth.”

“Tell him not go until the construction converters can arrive and build an operational space port. He can go with the construction crews once the force field is operational. We also need the Dark Matter Converters moved back to the Magnetar once the pods arrive.

There was a pause and Willow said, “He wants to know if we’re going to fortify the moon again.”

“Not until we can build a force field around it.”

“He’s not happy with your orders. I think he wants to get into action.”

“Tell him I said to be careful what you wish for.”

“Lukas, there’s something I’ve been meaning to discuss with you and hearing Piper relay Chad’s thoughts made me think of it.”

“The being directing the Attackers is one of the Silver Ships.”

“How did you know that?”

“Chris told me about the weapons the Attackers are using. Once I learned the Grey Planet is the same species, it wasn’t hard to figure out that some of them must be angry at how the Grey Planet views them. They’re using the attackers to try and force them to request their help. How did you know?”

“If you remember, I heard the leader of the Attackers giving them instructions. I didn’t notice at the time but later when I spoke with Piper, I saw a similar pattern in his thoughts.”

“Do you think he knows?”

“I don’t. This may be a rogue. Should I tell him?”

Lukas thought about it for a moment and said, “Piper has been honest and up front with us in his dealings. He should be told.”

“Stand by.” Lukas watched M-87 getting larger and after an hour he said, “Willow?”

“Stand by.” Lukas’ eyes narrowed and wondered what was being said. After thirty more minutes had passed, Willow said, “He linked me in with his Elders and had me replay the thoughts I heard. They are very upset by what they learned and they are also very appreciative of letting them know. I think they have better feelings about us now.”

“Did they say what they’re going to do?”

“It appears they know who is doing it and are going to take action shortly. They’re trying to determine how to do it without letting their relatives know.”

“There’s also the issue of the two civilizations being used to carry out the Rogue’s plan. If all control is removed, they’ll attack each other.”

“That’s why it took so long. I had to convince them that the civilizations are not to blame and must be treated with respect. I think they appreciated it afterwards.”

“Like I said earlier; you never cease to amaze me. How long before we arrive at M-87?”

“Another day.”

“I’m going to go back to my quarters and get some sleep.”

“I’ll let you know when we’re getting close.”

“Thanks, Willow. It’s good to be back together.”

“It really is.”

• • •

On Eden Salud watched Eve and saw her smile. She hugged her and knew Lukas was alright. She wondered why he had gone to Earth and Eve laughed and said, “Pat!”

Salud grabbed her throat. Was it possible? Eve laughed and hugged her mother. Salud picked her up and went to lie down for a nap. Eve went to sleep quickly and Salud joined her a few moments later. Somehow, Eve was connected to Lukas. She didn’t know if that was a good thing or not. If something happened to him, how would it affect their daughter? She sighed and put the thought aside as she closed her eyes.

• • •

The Great Ones gathered around their table and waited. The Leader had informed the Legends about the loss of their new battleships and the Legend’s initial reaction had been nasty. “What do you think they’re going to do?” The Leader shook his body cautioning the other to remain silent.

“We have decided that you are not worthy of being our tool. You will remain on your side of the galaxy and recall all your ships from the other galaxy when the Other’s fleets arrive to replace them.”

The Leader said, “We will comply with your instructions. We apologize for not meeting your expectations.”

“Anther failure will be your last. However, your species will have time to ponder your mistakes.”

“Yes, Great Legend.”

The thoughts disappeared and the Leaders gathered around the table stared at the Greatest Leader. “You didn’t even resist our being replaced by the others.”

“What do you think the Legends are going to do?”

“That’s obvious.”

The Greatest Leader looked at the Second, “Please tell us what you see.”

“They’ll replace all our ships in the other galaxy and force us to stay on our side of the galaxy. We will no longer take part in the taking of the spiral galaxy.”

“I want you to think about the following. It’s been more than three years since we destroyed that planet in the spiral galaxy. We sent fifty three of our most advanced battleships to scout that planet and what happened to them?” The group looked at each other and the Greatest Leader said, “I asked you a question!”

The Second said, “They were all destroyed.”

The Fourth said, “And they were destroyed very quickly.”

“How many ships were lost attempting to invade?”

The Eighth said, “Eight million, six hundred thousand, and nine hundred and seven.”

Everyone looked at the Eighth in shock including the Greatest Leader. “How can you possibly know that?”

“I’ve spent the last three years going over the recordings to arrive at that number. I can say with a high level of certainty that we lost that many and probably more.”

“Have you erred by making the number too high?”

The Eighth looked at the Sixth, “I saw that many ships destroyed. The number is not lower but it could be higher. I may not have acquired all the records.”