Annihilation Series-Searching for a Hero (18 page)

“I’m the one that is going to release him.”

“From what?”

“Not like that; I’m going to release his psychic abilities.”

Scott stared at Nicole and after a long moment of silence he turned her face to his and looked into her eyes, “Are you saying the two of you are…are…”

“Going to be bonded together for the rest of our lives.”

“How do you know this?”

“We nearly killed each other at the Academy when we almost shook hands. Oh we’ve been chosen by destiny to play a role in what’s happening.”

“How do you feel about that?”

“I hated it at first.”

“But…”

“He rejected bonding with me, Dad. I hated him for that. It’s taken some time for me to understand that he was overwhelmed at what was being demanded from him. The deaths of his closest two friends made him realize that sometimes destiny protects people.” Nicole looked up at the ceiling, “I can see him now.”

“What!!”

“My limited psychic abilities have grown much stronger over the last six months. I can now see any place in our universe and I can always see where he’s located. We are destined to be together.”

“And you just accept that?”

Nicole chuckled, “Now you sound like he did. If he had accepted his role in this, his friends probably wouldn’t have died. I have been taught since birth that accepting my station in life is my duty. This is no different.”

“But you should be able to choose who you love.”

Nicole stared in Scott’s eyes and smiled, “Love is a gift that’s given to us. How many struggle through life and never really find the one that will complete them and bring them happiness? Knowing the one for me has been chosen makes me very thankful for it. I’m starting to get impatient to go to him.”

“But how do you know he’s…”

“Worthy?” Scott nodded. “Who reminded you about our principles?”

Scott stared at Nicole and started to slowly nod his head, “He was adamant about that; although, he did say that he was not the one chosen to lead the fight.”

“What!?!”

“He says that there is someone in the other Creation that is the one for that role and it’s critical we find him.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Absolutely, positive.”

“Poor Ping.”

“Why do you say that?”

“He ran from his destiny and the two people he loved the most in life died. Now he sees that his role isn’t what he thought it would be. I need to go to him.”

“From what I know of the Realm’s history, you should not do that until the chosen moment.”

“I know…I know.” Scott hugged Nicole tightly and had conflicting thoughts about the Searcher with the striking colored eyes. His successor had not been determined. It was going to be either Victoria or Nicole. It was absolutely critical that whoever they chose to be their mate was worthy of the Crown as well. He decided he was going to keep a close eye on Ping.

• • • • •

Vremel looked at Rider as he stared up at the night sky. The giant Cat had his eyes closed and it was clear he was listening. Vremel shook his head, “You still can’t hear her?”

Rider issued a small growl and lowered his head, “No, it appears the creative force has gone back out into Creation and is no longer a single being who can direct us.”

“Why do you think it happened?”

Rider looked at the sky again, “There was so much evil in the past that the Creator was forced into a smaller and smaller area. That made it easier to hear her. Now, our Creation is at peace and we’ve lost contact with her.”

“What does that mean about your destiny?”

“We are free to go wherever we choose. I guess we’ve been rewarded for our former efforts.”

“How does that make you feel?”

Rider looked at Vremel and smiled a huge row of pointed teeth, “We’ve been predators our entire existence. If we can’t direct traffic, then we’re going to merge into it and join the fight.”

“All of you?”

“Most of the adults, and cubs with enough experience; it will be nearly impossible to keep them out of the fight.”

Vremel nodded, “I’ll send you recordings of what’s going on.”

“No need, my friend; we can still look around. Just tell me where the portals are located. We’ll watch it from here.”

Vremel nodded and teleported away.

• • • • •

The Slegan Mini-Leader screamed at his weakest pilots; “THE ONE BEING THE BAIT CANNOT ENTER NORMAL SPACE! YOU MUST JUMP AWAY BEFORE YOU EMERGE! NOW DO IT AGAIN AND IF I SEE YOU IN NORMAL SPACE, I’LL SHOOT YOU, MYSELF!!!”

He watched the two pilots six more times, screaming at them, before they finally got it right. They made one mistake in the next eight attempts and he knew that was the best they could do. They just didn’t feel the sensation of leaving subspace into normal space so they had to try and time it. Their fate looked bad but you just never knew what the universe would throw at you.

• • • • •

Eric Pederson was having the same issue with his fleet. He had thousands of ships to train and finally made a decision, “That’s enough. Those of you who have perfected the fake into normal space will play the role of bait in all of your encounters. The ones that can’t do it will be the hammer. Squadron Commanders, get your groups organized around their talents and let me know when the organization is complete.” Eric looked at his display and saw Jenny appear, “No, you don’t have to be the bait every time. I can perform either function.”

“Sir, you are too important to risk losing. You should be the bait.”

“And let you have all the fun?”

“Sir, I’m serious and if you’ll just think about it, you’ll know I’m right. With great responsibility comes great responsibility.”

Eric stared at her with a scowl and finally he blew out a breath, “You’re right. I’ll be the bait. Just make sure you get in and get out fast.”

Jenny smiled, “You know I will.”

Eric nodded at his Executive Officer and hoped she survived. She was on the list for a flag and she was just as important as he was. However, she didn’t have the rank yet and he would set a bad example for her if he chose to be a hammer. She would have to be tied down and ordered to be careful if he failed in tutoring her.

He looked at his panel and wondered where Kendel was at the moment. That was another one that was going to have to be forced to stay out of harm’s way. Eric heard Admiral Kosiev break in on his frequency, “Attention all ships, the portals have appeared and are drawing power. You will take your units to your assigned portal and prepare to hit anything that comes through it. We expect that will happen within three hours. Get moving.”

Eric shook his head, Kendel will have to take care of himself; he had more than enough to demand his attention. He lifted his communicator and began issuing orders.

• • • • •

Ping saw the five portals appear and start growing in intensity. He teleported his ship to Ross and thought, “Nicole, can you hear me?”

“Yes, I can Ping; is it time?”

“Not yet; however, I need your help.”

“Whatever I can do, I will.”

“I am going to keep an eye on three of the portals. Are you able to see things out in our universe?”

“I am; how did you know that?”

“It just makes sense that you would. I need you to watch the two portals in the Slegan Federation and, if either of them looks like they are going to be overwhelmed, I want you to teleport to my ship immediately.”

“What if one of yours is going to be overwhelmed?”

“I’ll contact you immediately and you’ll need to come to me.”

“I really hope that doesn’t happen, Ping…but I do so want to be with you.”

“Me too, Nicole.”

E
ric arrived at the first portal with his fleet and his ships moved into their place in the long line of ships extending from the portal out into open space. There were six lines surrounding the portal and extending directly away from it. They looked like six numbers on a dial extending out perpendicular to the face of the portal. The invading ships would exit the portal, if they did like the Black Scouts had done, and fly through the middle of those six long lines. The ships in those lines would fire their green energy balls at any ship that came through. Every half a second the six lines would teleport simultaneously to half the distance to the next line. Those lines would then continue to rotate clock wise until the lines fell apart or enough enemy ships made it through the gauntlet. At that point, all ships would be released to go after individual enemy warships. They couldn’t hold their positions in the lines if enemy ships could come at them from outside their formations. The Realm’s Commanding Officers hoped the lines could survive long enough to stop the invaders but nothing was certain. All three million ships were going to launch an energy ball at the portal when the first enemy ship emerged from it.

Eric’s fleet was placed close to the face of the portal and they would have the first shot at ships coming through. He didn’t know if the Black Ships could fire behind them and, if they could, things would get dicey. He continued to stare at the orange energy field as it grew brighter and brighter. It wouldn’t be long.

• • • • •

The Giant Master watched his wall monitor as one fifth of his ships organized to go through the portal. They would emerge in five ship groups at high acceleration and, once the train started moving, it would be next to impossible to stop it. That Advisor had better be right about the number of ships they were going to have to face. He saw the countdown and waited for the procession to get underway. The first ships would have more space between them to get up to speed and the space would be closed once all ships achieved their maximum speed. He put his hand on the portal control and listened for the reports from those that exited first. He stood up and paced in front of the monitor and wondered if the countdown would ever end. The first five units sent through the portal were sensor probes designed to send back a picture of what was on the other side. He kept his eyes on the monitor and waited.

• • • • •

Eric pressed his panel, “Make sure your initial shot is done automatically with the dimming of the portal. In the two instances so far, the portal dims slightly just before anything emerges. Make sure your sensors are locked on and your blaster coordinated with it. It won’t be long; the portal is approaching its maximum intensity.”

Suddenly, all of Eric’s ships launched an energy ball out of their blasters and the other ships at the end of the long lines fired at the area in front of the portal. The invaders started coming through at a high velocity and began running into the solid wall of incoming green and blue energy pulses.

• • • • •

The five probes came through the portal first and their scanners were overwhelmed by the brilliance of the energy pulses. They ceased to exist in less than a millionth of a second. The line of giant Black Ships following the probes didn’t fare much better but the center of the energy balls was being pushed away from the portal entrance as thousands of Black Ships came roaring through. The energy balls around the center continued to move in and the Realm’s ships fired another volley at the portal. The bulge in front of the portal moved slightly away from the portal and the Black Ships began firing their beams for a short moment before their destruction. Some of them hit Searchers and they exploded but the lines began rotating around the portal. It was difficult to fire on the ships surrounding the portal and hit them before they moved to another location.

• • • • •

Ping watched the portals and sent a message to Admiral Kosiev and the Director, “We have five different ship types emerging from the portals. It appears the Black Ships have enlisted the aid of four other civilizations. The Slegan are getting the most powerful of the lot.”

• • • • •

Vremel responded, “We’re moving there now with half of our fliers.”

• • • • •

Ping wanted to watch the Slegan portals but didn’t dare take his eyes off the three the Realm was fighting to hold.

Nicole watched the Slegan Ships being hit by giant red beams and they were close to falling apart. She prepared to teleport out but saw two million Zord arrive and fill in their ranks. The lines rotated again and they were holding on…but only barely.

• • • • •

The Director saw the Steel Blue Ships coming through the portal at an impossible speed and the bulge in front of the portal was more than two hundred miles long. The ships entering the bulge were able to target and fire at his ships. He knew they were going to break through his lines quickly. He started to order his ships to break away but saw the Zord arrive and the intensity of the energy balls entering the area in front of the portal was staggering. The bulge was wiped out and pushed back to within a mile of the portal but still the giant ships roared through.

Vremel sent a thought to the Director, “Start rotating every tenth of a second. Do it now!”

The Director issued the order and the six lines looked like hands on a clock moving at high speed around the face. Fewer ships were being hit but these ships were clearly much more powerful than the original Black Ships that invaded. That was when the other portal was overwhelmed.

• • • • •

The Second portal the Slegan were fighting to hold was facing bright Silver Ships that were smaller than the Black Ships and they were holding their lines. Two million Zord arrived and it looked like they were going to hold the front…but…then…the ships coming through dwarfed the first wave. They were gigantic and fired massive white beams. The Lines were going to be swept away in moments but four million Cats arrived in their armor and added their fire to the Slegan and Zord. But still they moved inexorably toward the end of the long lines and freedom from the incoming energy pulses.

• • • • •

Ping saw that the Realm’s portals were starting to break apart. Six ships had made it through the lines and were coming around to attack from outside the Realm’s defenses. “Ping, the Slegan are close to being overrun.”

Suddenly, thousands of the invaders made it out of the lines at all five locations and Ping thought, “Come to me, Nicole.” She appeared and he went forward and wrapped his arms around her.