AMP The Core (25 page)

When the final square had turned on, the first square changed from the silvery white to transparent. We looked on in awe as the other squares changed, revealing a beautiful blue-green planet underneath. When the last silvery-white square had changed, we were faced with a clear view of our home planet.

Ashley pointed. "It has a moon!"

I spoke. "Have you ever seen anything so beautiful? Look, I can see great cities down there. And what spectacular colors! The greens and blues are just striking with the clarity of that atmosphere!"

Frig placed his hand on my shoulder. "Sir."

I continued to gaze at the wonder before us.

Frig continued, "Sir. You should turn around."

I pushed his hand off my shoulder. "Just let me take it in for a few minutes, OK?"

Frig again placed his hand on my shoulder. "Sir. Turn around."

I sighed. "What is so important?"

I turned to look behind me. "What?"

As I turned back, I replied, "Ashley? She’s probably in the restroom or—"

I spun around in my chair as a cold chill ran down my spine. I stood, and with a single step, I was back at the door to the sleeping quarters. I jerked the door open with a terror-filled expression on my face. The room was empty!

I spoke. "Frig! Where is my wife!"

Frig replied, "I do not have the answer to that, Sir. She was there and then she was gone."

I held my hands out. "What do you mean gone?"

Frig looked down and then back at me. "I believe we are facing two possibilities here, Sir. Either something in that fleet or something down on that planet transported her out of here, or—"

I again threw my arms out with an anxiety-filled expression on my face. "Or?"

Frig sighed. "Or, the Duke took her, Sir. If the latter is the case, then I would fear that he may have taken everyone."

I sat in my chair, still in disbelief. "If he took everyone, then why am I still here?"

Frig replied, "You said he was having trouble tracking you. I believe the DNA serum you took disrupted whatever method he used for that purpose. But, Sir, before we pursue that, we should first see if she is on that planet. It is possible that whatever mechanism the Duke uses to track Humans is also used by these ships and this planet. Remember, the Defender was able to recognize you as being Human."

I motioned towards the planet. "How do we get down there? Do we just go through that transparent structure surrounding it?"

Frig made several swipes at his holo-display as the wormhole generator began to hum. "We jump down there, Sir."

We settled onto the well-kept grass in front of a white-spired building that rose up one hundred stories in the crisp, clear air. I stepped out of the rear hatch and onto the green grass. It felt soft under my BGS boots. The bright yellow sun shone down, yielding a moderate, very comfortable temperature.

The building before us had a set of great arched doors that stood twenty meters high, opening into a lobby with ceilings of the same height. Simple decorations and paintings of people adorned the walls.

A large box then descended down tracks on a far wall. When the box came to rest on the floor, a bell sounded and a door opened. A young, strong, handsome man in a white BGS suit stepped out into the lobby with a look of concern.

The man spoke. "Travelers. Welcome to Earth. However, your visit will be short. I can offer you whatever assistance you require to be on your way. There is nothing for you here."

I replied, "I am Human."

The man looked at me intently. "You appear to be Human, but you are not Human. You will have to leave immediately."

I walked towards the man, and he raised a hand. "Please do not approach me. You will kindly board your ship and be on your way, by force if necessary."

I stopped my advance. "My wife, she is Human; did you take her?"

The man again replied, "There are no Humans present on this planet. I have been pleasant with you up until now. Please return to your ship and leave this star system. You may return if you have a Human with you."

I held out my arm and pulled it back.

I then poked out my chest. "Here, take a blood sample. I bet I have the same DNA as you!"

Frig spoke. "Sir. I think we better leave."

I turned to see a robot, strikingly similar to the ones we had used at the Defender, standing behind Frig. It was time for us to go.

I turned back to the man. "And you are sure there are no Humans up there on that fleet?"

The man replied, "There are no Humans in the vicinity of this star system. Please, Sir. This is your final warning."

I held up my hand. "OK, we’ll go, but we will be back. And you will welcome us with open arms."

The man stood silently with a calm and stoic expression on his face.

As we walked out onto the bright green grass, I spoke. "We need to get back to Tresha. If everyone is gone, Frig, what are we going to do?"

Frig replied, "We are going to find them, Sir. We must find them."

~~~

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