The Ninth: Invasion (58 page)

“I believe you know him as Davis.  When he searched our mind for emotions, he left a mental fingerprint, if you will.  While I was able to repair our body over the next decade, I was largely unable to use it.  I had only rudimentary control over movement and speech, but I couldn’t figure out why.  That was until you showed up.”

“Me?”

“Turns out that fingerprint Davis left behind was the foundation of a Spark.  I’d manipulated countless Sparks in my time, but never had I seen one come into being.”

“So, I’m a fragment of Davis?”

“Not at all, you are a complete and independent whole.  Davis provided the soil, but you grew all on your own.  I don’t have personal experience, seeing as I’m a man myself, but I gather your development was quite similar to normal childbirth, save for the fact you were born into a mostly developed body with my mind to lean on.”

“So, that’s why I knew certain things.  I was using your knowledge.”

“Basically.  Of course I only had experience up until my destruction at the hands of the Commonwealth’s planet killers.  Everything that had happened over the last thousand years was new to me, but then again not all that much had changed.  There were a few new things, those amusing corporations for example, but the fundamental technologies were all the same.  I wonder how long it will take humanity to emerge from the shadow of the Great War.”

“Why did Lazarus bring you . . . me . . .
us
back?”

“I’ve given that a lot of thought.”

The old man paused.  Brent waited but he offered nothing.

“And?” Brent pressed.

“I believe time itself wanted
you
here.  In fact, I’m certain of it.  I’ve observed you, those around you, and even tested you.  It’s the only solution that solves the puzzle.”

“Tested me?”

“Not one of my better moments, but I felt I had to do it.  Do you remember your first fight in the mess hall?”

Brent thought back.  He had endured several brawls in the mess hall.  Slowly he shifted through his memories.  Suddenly, he remembered his first day on the academy.  A group of troopers were holding him while a division leader was about to beat him to death.  He vaguely remembered time slowing and a voice taunting him.

“That voice that prodded me to kill everyone, that was you?” Brent asked in shock.

“I prompted you as if you were a normal Shard, ordering you to do what any Slasher would have done automatically.  I was quite impressed with your choice.”

“You didn’t sound like it.  You sounded enraged at my decision.”

“I had to be certain you were determined about your choice.  If I automatically accepted your choice, it would have let you relax; plus, you were in a lot of danger – relaxing wasn’t an option.”

“Fair enough, but what do you mean time
wanted
something?  Isn’t time just a neutral force?”

“Of course it is, but it has rules and natural phenomena, too.  Think of it like a planet.  There is a natural order to things, but once man starts meddling with things, the world has to adapt.  The art of terraforming isn’t about building an ideal world so much as it is gently shifting the natural balance toward something more comfortable to our species.  The world has to reach a new balance or be destroyed.  Man has altered time, and it is working to find a new equilibrium.”

“Lazarus?”

“Among others.  It is my belief that Lazarus failed to bring back anyone else because time needed
you
here.  If it had worked, man would have spent time it didn’t have bringing back unimportant figures.  It took them centuries of failures to bring you here; it would have taken millennia of successes to reach the same end.  With my children waiting, humanity didn’t have the millennia to waste.”

“Why do you say time needs me?  Why not us, or you?”

“I have my part to play, that is true.  However, you are far more important than my contribution will be.”

“What are you talking about?”

“A single drop of water can create massive ripples.  You have started the chain reactions that will correct time, allow it to heal itself.”

“What have I done?  I’m just a single trooper.”

“You’ve saved the life of Weaver Davis.  If he weren’t on that academy supervising you, he would have been on the front lines.  His abilities would have no effect on the Shards, and his demise was assured.  You revitalized Alden.  He had given up hope, knew his forces would not be enough to stop man’s extinction.  But you gave him hope – hope that let him serve his purpose and thwart Fifth.  Beyond that, you were able to reach understanding with Third and made the decision that has led us here.”

“But why me?  You could have done all that.  Anyone could have.”

“That is as far from the truth as you can get.  Only you would make the decisions you made.  You alone are responsible for your choices.  Anyone else would have thought differently or felt differently and created a completely different chain of events.”

“But still . . .”

“Another might have failed my test, or failed to revive the girl after the spy shot her.  Perhaps another would have let the Weavers suffocate on the floor of the mess hall.  Another would have ignored Tyra’s pleas for help, or shunned Angela for what she had done.  Someone else would have ordered the Shards to destroy themselves instead of ordering them to leave peacefully.  There is even the possibility that, when faced with the power of the Shards, another would have given in to the power and chosen to rule over humanity as a self deluded god.”

“How do you know all this?  Can you see the future?”

“I have been alive for over ten millennia.  In that time I’ve learned that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.  Trust me when I say that I have seen enough to know where we are headed.  For the first time in a very long while, our destination is a glorious place.”

“Why are you telling me all this?”

“Because I’m still a human at heart.  You’ve forgiven my children in your heart, and I’m hoping you can forgive their father, or at least understand him.  I had decisions to make when it was my turn.  Some were the right ones, others . . . well, no one is perfect.  It is almost time for me to rest.”

“Rest?  It sounds like you are saying goodbye.”

“I know it is your nature to worry about others, but don’t dwell on my fate for too long.  I have lived long enough.  I have seen much and experienced a great many wonderful things.  Now it is my time to take the role time has laid out for me.”

“I don’t understand.”

“That green claw you drove into Second’s chest is a crude variation on the technology I originally developed.  I call it the soul tap.  Much to the chagrin of my fellow researchers.”  The old man smiled, lost momentarily in long forgotten memories.  “Right now you are linked to Second’s consciousness just like the two of us are linked.”

“So, he’s here somewhere?”

“I am keeping him at bay.  The truth of the matter is, you can’t beat him here any more than you could in the physical world.  However,
I
can.”

“Why does that have a ring of finality to it?”

“Alden is right; you are indeed perceptive. It will be the end of both Second and myself.  Whatever is left after will be neither of us, just a broken shell of what once was.”

“And you are okay with that?”

“I’ve watched you sacrifice yourself over and over and have come to find myself at peace with the idea.  Plus, I am ready; no father should outlive his children.  However, before I go, I have a final gift I hope you will accept.”

“A gift?”

“When I leave, all that I am will go with me.  While I have no regrets about what that will accomplish, it does sadden me that all that knowledge will be lost.”

“You want to give me your knowledge?  Is that even possible?  Can I survive receiving ten thousand years of knowledge?”

“What I want to give you is not what I’ve seen in the Great War.  What I desire to live on is our history.  The forgotten tale of how we reached the Great War.  What our ancestors endured and accomplished.  There is no danger in sharing that much with you.  However, you have to accept this gift yourself.  I cannot force it on you.”

“So, that is why you have talked with me for so long; you wanted me to trust you and accept this knowledge.”

“Guilty as charged.  I did not mean to manipulate you, but I knew it would be too much to accept all at once.  If I had bluntly told you what I desired, you would most likely have declined automatically.”

“Don’t worry about it.”  Brent smiled at the old man.  “I don’t hold it against you. I’ve done my fair share of manipulation.  I’ll gladly accept your gift.”

A tear rolled down the old man’s face.  Leaning heavily on his cane, the man rose and approached him.  As Brent stood, the man embraced him in a gentle hug.  Brent’s mind ached as sparks of pain arced through it.  Countless images flashed before his eyes of events that hadn’t been witnessed in eons.  Stories and tales filled his mind with the great tapestry of human history.  As the old man stepped away, Brent tried to sort through all of it.  The pain quickly faded as his mind grew accustomed to what he had just gained.  The old man cast a kindly smile at him.

“I suppose that means my time is up.  I enjoyed our time together.  Now do this old Spark one last favor.  Live a long and happy life.  Have children.  Teach everyone what they’ve forgotten.”

Brent nodded to the old man.  The old man smiled as he placed a hand on a door that hadn’t been there a moment ago.  It was a simple square door of wood painted Navajo white with a single gold doorknob.  As he slowly turned the knob, the old man hesitated as if remembering something he had forgotten.

“I fear I’ve placed a great burden on your shoulders.  However, I believe I may be able to atone for that as well.  Make sure you speak with Eighth when this is over.  She’s a sweet girl, and she has something you’ll want back.”  The old man winked at Brent.

With his last words uttered, the old man turned the knob and opened the door.  A blinding light shown from beyond the doorway.  Brent rose his hand to shield his eyes from the intense light, but it wasn’t enough.  The light grew so bright that he couldn’t make out his own hand that hung mere inches away.  After only a couple of moments, the light faded away.  The light and the white expanse all faded away.  Brent was back in the hub world, Second perched over him ready to strike.  Second’s hand fell toward him, but it landed with no force.  Shortly after that, the rest of Second’s body limply fell on top of him.  Brent drug his broken leg over to the command console and placed his hand firmly on it.  Thinking his message, he contacted the Shards.

“It’s over.”

“So when’s the big day?” Nathan asked with a large grin.

“Helen isn’t big on dates.”  Jack smiled.  “As she puts it, ‘when the time is right.’”

“So, the fair doctor’s name is Helen.  I’ve worked with Doctor Benedict for as long as I’ve been Administer, and I don’t think I knew she even had a first name.”

“She’s a private person.”

“So I’ve gathered.  What did the commission have to say?”

“After ranting at me for a few hours about letting the boy out of my sight, they admitted it was the right thing to do.”

“I’d certainly hope so.  If not for him, we’d all be nothing more than memories.  How are they taking word of his death?”

“As well as you’d expect.  They had a dissection table all picked out and everything.  It’s not every day you have a human who can order Shards around.”

“What a pity,” Nathan said with a wide smile.  “I’m sure there are a lot of depressed surgeons.”

“A real shame,” Jack said, chuckling.

“Standing here in the sun, it’s hard to believe not that long ago I was cowering in the dark with a station full of terrified recruits and troopers all waiting for something to get around to finishing us off.”

“Guess Brent was keeping them too busy to bother with the likes of us.”

“I hear that edge of disappointment.  Don’t tell me you wanted to be on the front lines, Jack.”

“Not really, although it was frustrating knowing I couldn’t help in any way.”

“Not everyone helps out by carrying a rifle,” a voice called out to the two men.

Nathan turned to face the voice and vigorously shook the hand of its owner.  Jack saluted, only to have Nathan nudge him forcibly in the side.  After a moment’s pause, Jack stiffly bowed like a tripod to the newcomer.

“That gesture doesn’t suit you at all, Weaver Davis.”

“Call me Jack.”

He extended his hand.

“Jack then,” Brent said with a smile as he took the hand and shook it with much less vigor than Nathan had just done.

“Sorry we missed the wedding,” Nathan said apologetically.  “We got here as quickly as we were able.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Brent said, chuckling.  “Cain had the whole thing put on 3P; plans to sell them like souvenirs.”

“Some people never change,” Angela said, patting him on the shoulder.  “Although, he means well.”

“You look different, my dear,” Nathan said warmly.

“I hope you meant that as a compliment,” she said darkly.

“I do!  I do!” he said reassuringly.

“She’s playing with you, Nathan,” Jack said with a smile.  “Remember, she can feel your emotions.”

Angela grinned mischievously.  Nathan’s eyes widened briefly before he started laughing.

“Sounds like you are all enjoying yourselves,” Cain said with a wide grin.

“Brent tells us you’ve got a 3P we might be interested in,” Nathan said with almost as large a grin.  “I hope you’ll cut us a fair deal.”

“For the Administer who let me get away with so much?  It’s on the house.”

“So you
can
be generous,” Angela nudged Cain.

“And spontaneous.”

Cain took her hand and kneeled.

“Since the universe isn’t going to end and all that,” Cain asked, slipping a ring over Angela’s finger, “would you mind marrying me?”

In the center of the ring was a single, overly expensive looking gem that obviously wasn’t an imitation.  She stared at Cain and the ring, unable to speak.  Jack leaned over and tapped his shoulder.

“That’s a yes,” he whispered into Cain’s ear.

“All right,” Doug shouted at a grating level, obviously intoxicated, “who’s hogging the groom?”

Brent shifted uneasily as Doug tripped and almost fell on top of him.  A single, strong arm grabbed his collar before he ran into Brent and steadied him.

“Sorry about that,” Mr. Springate said with a smile as he held Doug still.  “He wandered away from me.”

“Dougie, you causing problems?”  Marie asked, joining them.  “Hey Cain, why are you kneeling like that.  Don’t tell me you’re drunk too.  Wait a second.  What’s that on Angela’s . . . would you look at that!  That thing must be worth a year’s credits!”

Marie quickly closed the distance and started examining the ring on Angela’s finger.

“Where’s Liz?” Brent asked.

“Where she always is when she’s not clinging to me,” Marie said, not taking her eyes off the gem.

“Where’s that?” Nathan asked, not understanding.

“Clinging to my bride,” Brent said with a smile.

“Administer!” Tyra said, quickly saluting.  “I had no idea you’d be here.”

“It’s not every day you get to celebrate the wedding of a dead man,” Jack said, chuckling.

“Dead man?” Kindra asked.  “Who’s dead?’

“Brent.  Officially he’s listed as killed in action,” Sanderson explained.  “Last I heard there was a monument or something being constructed in his honor.”

“As long as he keeps a low profile,” Ronald said, nodding, “the Commonwealth should leave him alone.”

“That shouldn’t be too hard for you.  Right, sir?” Dante asked with a smile.

“I don’t know about that,” Erin snickered.  “Asking Brent to lay low is like asking Cain not to run scams . . . Would you look at the size of that rock!”

“I thought we already had a wedding,” Penny said.

“The more the merrier,” Owen said, limping over.

“How’s the leg?” Brent asked.

“Hurts a bit, but they say it’s good for a doctor to be operated on at least once – know what it feels like on the other side.”  He smiled as he shifted his weight off his bad leg.

“I never would have believed the Shards took prisoners if I wasn’t looking at one with my own eyes,” Jack said in amazement.

“They didn’t at first!” Hiroko said, possessively perched on his shoulder.  “My Owen had to fight off an endless horde of Slashers until they finally decided to keep us.”

“It wasn’t really as spectacular as she makes it out to be,” he said, blushing in embarrassment.

“No need to be humble, Owen!” Marie said, patting both Hiroko and Owen on the back.  “You saved half the crew of the Harbinger.  I hear you are up for a medal or two.”

“I didn’t really . . .”

“Owen, do you really think you’ll convince them otherwise?” Rhea asked with a smile.

“You’ve got a better chance of making Humphrey speak clearly,” Hiroko said, sticking out her tongue.

“Hey!” Humphrey mumbled, chuckling.  “I resemble that remark.”

“Wait a minute,” Doug said in a slurred voice.  “When did all of you get here?”

“We’ve been here for a while, Dougie,” Marie said with a sigh.  “You’re the one who’s not all here.”

“Really?  When does the rest of me show up?  He’s missing a great party!”

The troopers chuckled as Mr. Springate let Doug fall to the ground.  A sudden hush fell over the group.  Cain let out a wolf whistle as the last few joined them.  Liz gestured for him to be quiet as she pulled Cassandra along.  She blushed a deep apple red at all the attention.

“I told you I should have gotten out of this dress first,” Cassandra complained.  “I’m about to die from embarrassment.”

“There is no need to be embarrassed my dear,” Nathan said, bowing politely to Cassandra, “you look absolutely stunning.”

“I know you mean well, Administer,” Cain said with the blissful smile of an idiot, “but I think you just made her worse.  I think she’s about to explode!”

“Be quiet, Cain,” Liz said, berating him.  “I think she’s lovely, too!”

“I agree,” a small girl said, running up and clinging to Brent’s left leg.  “She is the perfect companion for father.  I’m glad she wasn’t harmed by the Slashers.”

“Father?” Jack asked, rising an eyebrow.

“Think of her as an adopted daughter.”  Brent shrugged to Jack.

Brent smiled as he patted Eighth’s head.  Jack cast a scrutinizing gaze over the young girl.

“So where are you two off to now?” Nathan asked quickly.

“A tour of the Commonwealth,” she said excitedly.

“Cassandra has always wanted to travel and see the sights,” he said with a smile.

“And what better wedding present than an all expenses paid trip?” Alden said, placing a hand on his son’s shoulder.

“What a romantic honeymoon!” Liz said, sounding giddy.

“A honeymoon with a kid tagging along?” Tyra asked.  “I’ve got first hand experience with romantic settings, and that’s not part of the package.”

Ronald tried to conceal his blushing.  Brent realized he’d never gotten the exact details out of the pair about their experience with the “romance” 3P.  Cain smiled and ruffled the little girl’s hair.

“I don’t think she’ll get in the way,” Cain said to the little girl a wink.  “You know better, don’t you?”

“I’ll be preparing their home while they are away,” Eighth said, blushing slightly under Cain’s attention.

“So, you’ve figured out where you are going to stay?” Nathan asked.

“There is this charming little university on Cassandra’s homeworld,” Brent said, smiling to himself.  “Thought I’d settle down and teach some history.”

The other troopers tilted their heads and raised eyebrows, not understanding.

“Sounds . . .” Dante was lost for words.

“Boring,” Liz said, pushing Cassandra next to Brent.  “Then again, after saving the Commonwealth, maybe some time off will do you two some good.”

“Well, enough of this seriousness,” Rhea said, snatching the half-consumed bottle out of Doug’s hand.  “Let’s celebrate!”

The troopers and guests all cheered in agreement.  After several hours of dancing, drinking, and other entertainment, the evening came to an end.  With a mixture of tears, hugs, and promises to meet again, the troopers said their goodbyes.  Cain had been the one to suggest the Commonwealth tour to Alden, and it had sounded like everything Cassandra had ever dreamed of.  Cain often made fun of her, but he obviously knew more about her than he let on.  As Brent entered the drop pod, he couldn’t help but wonder if this was his way of apologizing for giving her a hard time back in the academy.  Gentle warmth rested on his hand.  A sensation he had once thought he’d never feel again.

“You look lost in thought,” Cassandra said, sitting down next to him.

“You must be used to that,” he said, smiling.

“For a while I didn’t think I’d ever see that expression again.  Or anything else for the matter.”

“No regrets?” he asked holding her hand.

“None,” she said, blushing at the tenderness in his voice.  “I had no idea what I was in for when I first saw you.”

“No one can know what the future holds, but I have a pretty good idea,” Brent said, kissing her neck.

“Do tell,” Cassandra said giggling.

“Wherever we might be headed, I’m sure the destination is a glorious place.”

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