Atlantis Rising (19 page)

“I’m sorry to speak to you like
this, but frankly you have everyone on edge. You run around trying to make sure
everything is under your control. People are worried you’re going to give
yourself a heart attack with all the pressure you’re putting yourself under
constantly. You need to relax a bit and trust in the people around you.

“I know command is a hard thing
to cope with. I’ve been there, done that, got the Tee-shirt, and burned the
fucker,” Marc said. “But trust me when I say you need to relax a bit, and trust
the people around you. As long as I command the security on this station or
Atlantis
, and Oojoung is around, I will continue to allow him to train my
security personnel. He has made himself very useful, and has shown a desire to
be useful.”

“I came here to let you know I
think we should let his past be his past, and that we should give him a chance.
After all, he did help save us, even if the beginning was a bit misguided by
some slime of an Invaru.” Marc crossed his arms as he stood there waiting for
the backlash from Jon.

“He’s right, Jon,” Gilas said.

Jon looked at Gilas as he tried
to control his anger.

“You do try to do too much
micromanaging. It’s something we learned in officer’s school, not to do. You
only have people in positions of decision making that you trust to make the
right calls,” Gilas said. “If you don’t, you really will have gray hair. So
far, if you don’t mind me saying so, I think you have all the people in the
positions they need to be in. Though, I would turn the security force into a
marine force, given the option. I’ll be glad to send over some instructors to
help.”

Jon blew out his breath as it all
sank in.

“I’m sorry, and you’re both
right. I’m new to this command thing. I thought I had to be in control of
everything, needing to know every little thing going on. I’m sorry I blew up,
Marc. I trust you, and everyone who’s in command positions, to make the right
calls.”

“I apologize for snapping at you,
Sir,” Marc said.

Jon raised his hand, “No, I
needed a reality check. I needed to know I was overdoing it. So … thanks.”

Marc grinned as Gilas nodded.

“It’s a common mistake made by
people put in positions of authority, nothing new about it. You will know
everything going on around you. Your people will keep you informed, if you let
them. Trust in them, because they trust in you,” Gilas said.

“You are off the hook,” Jon said
to the guards. “Marc if you think Oojoung is okay then we will give him his
chance. He’ll resume training your ‘Marines,’ they are no longer ‘Security.’
Gilas can send his instructors if he doesn’t mind. Oojoung, you will be
confined to quarters, when not in the company of at least two marines. When
Marc feels it is time, he can lift that restriction, and you can roam the
station freely. Let me make this perfectly clear to you, though … any slip-ups,
and you will sit in the brig until you die of old age. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Oojoung understands,”
Oojoung said bobbing his head up and down. A grin spread across his face.

“Thank you, Jon, for trusting in
my judgment,” Marc said.

“Thank you for knocking some
sense into me,” Jon said as he flashed Marc a smile.

“Anytime you need that
adjustment, just holler,” Marc said winking.

Jon laughed as he said, “Will
do.”

“Everyone is dismissed,” Jon said
as he stood up.

Oojoung grabbed one of the guards
by the arm and started pulling him towards the door. “Training time, this time
Oojoung train more than two marines!”

The marine groaned as he
followed, “Oojoung I’m still sore from the last time.”

“Good, means Oojoung teaching you
something. More you learn less sore you get to become,” Oojoung said as the
door cycled open.

“Oh, joy!” the marine said
halfheartedly.

He disappeared into the hall,
followed by Marc and the other marine.

“That was a wise choice,” Gilas
said as he followed Jon out of the room.

“You think so?” Jon asked. “I’m a
bit nervous about it.”

“Oojoung is what we call an
infiltrator. He is highly trained in the art of combat and espionage. It is a
very rare thing for a Buranis to train outsiders in their combat forms. If I
had to guess, I’d say he is only doing it for one reason,” Gilas said.

“Really?” Jon said.

“Yes,” Gilas said.

“Then why would he do such a
thing?” Jon asked.

“He has attached himself to your
family. From now on, he will protect you and your family with his life, if need
be,” Gilas said. “That is a rare thing to have from a Buranis. It filters down
through his clan and up through his line until you dismiss him. Something must
have happened to have him do such a thing.”

“No, he’s been in the brig ever
since we left Earth. Nothing comes to mind,” Jon said.

Gilas shrugged as he spoke,
“There’s a reason for it. When he is ready, he will tell you why. You and Terri
are probably the most protected people on this station, right now. He will stop
at nothing to protect you two. You will not keep him in his room. I can tell
you that, right now, from experience. If he had wanted to escape there would
have been very little anyone could have done to stop him. He will be shadowing
you and Terri when he isn’t training your marines. Just don’t be too harsh on
him if you catch him. I would actually just overlook the matter completely, and
let him do what he feels he needs to do.”

“Strange,” Jon said.

“Very,” Gilas agreed.

They walked the rest of the way
to the
Titan’s
brig in silence. It was time to talk to the councilor and
decide what to do with him. Jon was thinking about everything said in the
interrogation room. He had come to the decision to stop pestering people, and
to let them do their work. The more he thought about it the more it made sense.
It made him more determined to back off some, and let his people grow.

“So, Councilor,” Gilas said. “I
trust your stay here has been very pleasant.”

The councilor stood up and glared
at Gilas and Jon as he spoke, “You will let me and my men out of here this
instant.”

“Oh, yes. That’s the idea,” Gilas
said.

“Good,” the councilor said.

“I can’t take any action against
you until I hear back from the council,” Gilas said.

“I know,” the councilor said. A
grin spread across his face.

“Yes, while this is true,” Gilas
said. “Commander Hunter, the Weaver of Worlds, has talked me into turning you
over to him, because the incident happened on his station.”

Jon rolled his eyes at the
mention of the prophecy.

The councilor’s face paled and
every marine in the cell with him stared at Jon. “What did you say?” the
councilor said in a hushed tone.

“I said I’m turning you over to
Commander Hunter,” Gilas said.

“No, the other part,” the
councilor said.

“Oh, you mean Weaver of Worlds?”
Gilas said.

“Yes, why do you think this is
the Weaver of Worlds?” the councilor asked.

“He controls Ghost Station and
Atlantis
,” Gilas said.

“Impossible!
Atlantis
is a
myth, nothing more,” the councilor said. His guards started whispering behind
him but a look from him hushed them.

“Trust me, I have seen and been
on board her. She is real enough,” Gilas said.

“I don’t believe it,” the
councilor said.

“Well, that makes two of us,” Jon
said.

“Doesn’t matter what you believe,
Councilor. As more of the prophecy comes true he will be shown for who he is,”
Gilas said.

“Yes, the Destroyer of Worlds,”
the councilor said.

“What?” Jon said surprised.

The councilor stared right at
Gilas as he spoke, “Oh, he didn’t tell you? If you are whom Gilas thinks. Then
you will bring about the destruction of every civilization. Billions of people
will die as their worlds rip out from under them. You and you alone will be
responsible for their deaths.”

“Gilas?” Jon said.

“That’s just a different way of
looking at what I told you. The text doesn’t say that, it is just what some
people think. Besides, you don’t believe in it, anyway,” Gilas said. He cursed
at himself for not preparing for this; the councilor was shrewd.

“True, but still...” Jon said.

“I told you before that there
were people who would not see you the same way as I do,” Gilas said. “The
councilor is one of those people. He is only interested in himself. If the
prophecy comes true, he will have no power, and that scares him.”

“I see,” Jon said.

Still it was a bit unnerving to
think he could be responsible for the deaths of so many.

“Anyway, I’m turning you over to
Jon for judgment,” Gilas said. Gilas’ face broke into an evil grin. “I’m sure
you would much rather have stayed here. I know what he has planned for you.”

“What? You can’t do that to me.
He has no jurisdiction,” the councilor said.

“Don’t worry councilor. I’m
letting you go,” Jon said.

“Huh?” the councilor said stunned.

“Oh, don’t thank me just yet. I’m
going to give you an alpha class shuttle and set you free,” Jon said.

“That shuttle has no fold drive,”
the councilor said. “That is a death sentence.”

“You’re right about no fold
drive. However, my engineers have installed a hyper drive in it. It should get
you home in, oh, say about four months or so,” Jon said. “Isn’t that what you
said, Gilas?”

“Yup, about four months if they
don’t get intercepted by some patrol,” Gilas said.

“But, food, there won’t be enough
food,” the councilor said.

“Oh, we made room for enough food
for the trip,” Jon said. “Of course they’re all just rations, and we have to
yank the weapon systems out for there to be enough food for the trip. These men
will escort you and your men to the shuttle. Goodbye, Councilor.”

Jon turned with Gilas and left
the room as the marines started getting ready to transport the prisoners to
their new ship.

A day later Jon sat in his chair
aboard the
Atlantis
. The Engineers and bots had extensively overhauled the
Bridge since the last time he had been onboard. The catwalk was now a
shimmering force field instead of beams and girders. In addition, they lowered
the center of the room so you had to step down to the planning table.

Another force field created the railing,
which separated the planning table area from the rest of the Bridge. The
Engineers needed to make room for the newly positioned Helm and Tactical
stations, so they slightly raised and moved Jon’s command chair back a little.
To insure guests or visitors had someplace to sit, they installed two new
chairs on either side of his chair.

Beside every station was a
hologram of a sister station echoed from the secondary control room. Each
station had personnel sitting at it doing system checks. Beside those people on
the bridge, was a holographic representation of the people in secondary
control. From what Jon understood, the same set up was now in the secondary
control. The second in command would be there, while the current Captain would
be on the bridge.

Gilas’ image sat next to Jon in
one of the vacant chairs. As they listened to the reports come in on the ship’s
condition. Atlantis stood behind Jon smiling like a little kid just handed a
bag of candy.

“Happy?” Jon said without
looking.

“Very,” Atlantis said. “It feels
good to have a crew again.”

“Just remember most of the crew
is on loan from Gilas,” Jon said. A smile on his face, he was happy that
Atlantis was happy; it made him feel good. “How do you like the changes?”

“Mike and Brad have done a good job.
The force field catwalks were an excellent idea. They have them installed
everywhere there were catwalks. The backup reactor has freed up a lot of my
power to run systems at peak efficiency,” Atlantis said. “I’m surprised I
wasn’t built with one installed already.”

“I take it you approve?” Jon
said.

“Of course! I feel like a new
ship,” Atlantis said.

“We’re ready Captain,” Helm
reported. “All systems green.”

“All right, take us out Helm,”
Jon said.

“Station Control, this is the
Atlantis
,” Helm said.

“
Atlantis
, Station
Control. Go ahead,” Bill’s voice said.

“Station Control,
Atlantis
requesting clearance to get underway,” Helm said.

“Roger that,
Atlantis
,
you’re clear to make way,” Bill said. “Port speed is restricted to one-quarter
speed until you are clear of the inner markers.”

“Roger that, Station Control,”
Helm said. “Captain we have clearance.”