Atlantis Rising (43 page)

“I’m begging you as a friend to
reconsider your actions,” Ghost said as she faded from view.

“Not likely,” Jon said.

“Then I’m very sad for you, as
you can’t see the bigger picture and all the people who need you now,” Ghost’s
voice said.

“What about what I need for my
own peace of mind?” Jon said.

Jon rounded a corner and into
Oojoung and a squad of Black Ops all battle ready. Jon stopped short and looked
at them as he waited for them to make a move.

“Oojoung come and squad help,”
Oojoung said.

“I can’t ask you to do that,” Jon
said.

“Oojoung loved Terri,” Oojoung
said. “Oojoung needs to go and help with beatings.”

The entire squad nodded as a
Eutharan spoke up, “Terri was a Princess to the Eutharan people, and we want to
help. You’re our Prince and we must help you and protect you. Please allow us to
come with you.”

“Are you sure?” Jon asked.

“Oojoung sure of only one thing,”
Oojoung said. “Oojoung sure someone is going to pay.”

“Fine, come on then,” Jon said.
As he started back down the corridor, his Royal Marines showed up running down
the corridor towards them from behind. Jon stopped and turned as the squad
surrounding him got ready for a fight.

The Sergeant from the Royal guard
stopped short and saluted Jon as he spoke, “Sir, were here to help and continue
our duties.”

“Why?” Jon said.

“Princess Deatra has given us
strict orders you’re to be protected and we aim to do that,” the Sergeant said.
He smiled at Jon as he winked. “Besides, we want pay back too. Half us are from
the Princess’s detail, the others are staying to make sure the rest of the royal
family is well taken care of.”

“Welcome to the fun,” Jon said.

Five minutes later Jon and his
small army walked through the airlock and on to the
Atlantis
where Carla
was waiting for him. Jon frowned as he looked at the crew assembled behind her.
They were all dressed for battle.

“Carla, you’re relieved I’m
assuming command,” Jon said.

Atlantis appeared next to Jon as
Carla spoke, “You have command. We however would like to stay and help.”

“You sure?” Jon said.

“Absolutely,” Carla said.

“Atlantis,” Jon said as he turned
to look at her. “Are you here to stop me?”

“Hell, no,” Atlantis said. “I’m
here to support you. You’re my Captain and always will be I will always follow
you no matter what. However, I agree with this action. Terri was like my best
friend.”

“I didn’t know you two were that
close,” Jon said.

“We talked a lot and spent a
great deal of time together,” Atlantis said.

Jon started towards the bridge as
he spoke with Carla, “How many crew do we have left?”

“Well, it seems Terri was very
popular,” Carla said.

“Really?” Jon said.

“Yeah, you’re quite the star,
too,” Carla said. “As far as crew, we’re at full complement. I’ve had to turn
down requests.”

Jon stopped and stared at Carla
as he spoke, “Full complement?”

“Well, a little over,” Carla said.

“Miracles will never cease,” Jon
said as he started back towards the bridge.

“Not a miracle Sir,” Carla said.
“Love, people love you. They have a lot of faith in you and believe in you.
Most of them would do anything for you.”

“Amazing,” Jon said.

“Why’s that?” Carla said.

“I haven’t done a lot,” Jon said.
“It just surprises me that people think so much of me.”

“You haven’t done a lot?” Carla
said. She almost laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Jon said.

“You have restored the greatest
military asset in the Galaxy,” Carla said. “Not to mention getting races that
have been warring for hundreds of years to actually work together. I would say
you have done quite a lot.”

“Never really thought about it
that way,” Jon said. “I guess I have been a bit busy.”

Carla nodded and stopped at an
intersection as she spoke, “I’ll see you on the Bridge.”

“Take care Carla,” Jon said.

“Yes, Sir,” Carla said.

“No need for the Sir,” Jon said.
“I quit the ADF and no longer have a rank.”

“Sir,” Carla said. “If you’ll
excuse me, you are the ADF. You can’t quit.”

“Interesting,” Jon said as Carla
started towards the Secondary Bridge.

“Indeed,” Carla said.

Jon started back down the
corridor as Atlantis fell into step beside him and spoke, “Captain, I’m sorry
about Terri.”

Tears threatened to spill again
as Jon forced himself to hold it back. “I am too, I loved her very much. I
don’t think I ever told her enough.”

“She knew,” Atlantis said.

“I hope so,” Jon said.

“She did,” Atlantis said. “She
often told me that she knew you loved her deeply, and that it was her duty to
make sure nothing happened to you.”

“That’s why she did what she
did?” Jon said.

Atlantis nodded as she spoke,
“She knew how important you are to all of us.”

Jon reached up and wiped a tear
from under his eye as he continued to fight for control, pushing his emotions
down and letting the only emotion that he needed surface, hate. He refused to
let himself feel sorrow or pain. The only emotion he needed was rage! That
would suit him well!

Jon stepped on to the bridge and
immediately his crew started rattling off their readiness. Jon walked over and
sat down in his chair.

“Con, set course to the Cypher’s
home system,” Jon said.

“We already have the course
plotted,” Mike said.

“Mike?” Jon said. He was stunned
when he saw his friend.

“Of course,” Mike said. He
grinned at Jon. “You didn’t think we would let you have all the fun without us,
did you?”

“We?” Jon said.

“Yeah, bro’s down in
engineering,” Mike said.

“Thanks,” Jon said.

“Terri was family and we always
take care of family,” Mike said.

Jon nodded as he spoke, “Seems
we’re all family here.”

“That, we are,” Mike and Atlantis
said at the same time.

Jon smiled as he spoke, “Con,
take us out and prepare to fold.”

“Yes Sir,” the Con officer said.
“Ghost Station, this is the
Atlantis
requesting permission to depart.”

“
Atlantis
, you’re not
clear for departure. The lanes are full,” a voice said.

Jon blinked as he looked at the
screen. There wasn’t a ship in sight. “Ghost Station, what lanes are you
looking at? I don’t see any traffic,” Jon said. “Give us clearance for
departure now.”

“Jon,” Gilas’ voice said. “You
can’t go off halfcocked like this. You need to calm down and think about what
you’re doing. You need time to grieve.”

“When I’m done,” Jon said. “I’ll
grieve. Until then I’m on the war path.”

“We all lose loved ones Jon,”
Gilas said. “You’re not the first and you won’t be the last.”

“That was my sister!” Jon said.
He jumped up from his seat and started yelling. “How dare you tell me you know
how I’m feeling? Release us or I’ll order the clamps cut.”

A hand touched Jon’s back and he
felt a little bit of peace seep into him. He turned and he stared directly into
Deatra’s eyes.

“Thought you didn’t agree,” Jon
said.

“Being worried about my future
husband’s health doesn’t mean I don’t agree,” Deatra said. “I told you, I’ll
back you up one hundred percent and I mean it.”

“Thank you,” Jon said. He hugged
Deatra tightly, tears threatening to well up again. “You don’t know how much
that means to me.”

“Oh, I have an idea,” Deatra said.
She smiled as she looked Jon in the face and then gave him a quick peck. “Go
get them.”

“Sir, sorry to interrupt,” the
Con said. “But the clamps have released and we’re free.”

“Thanks Gilas,” Jon said. “Con,
get us moving.”

“Thanks for what?” Gilas said.
“I’m not letting you go until you calm down a bit. You’re just going to get
everyone killed.”

Ghost’s voice echoed in the
bridge, “Commander, I have thought about what you said about your peace of
mind. If this is what you need, then so be it. Just come back safely.”

“Thank you Ghost,” Jon said.
“I’ll do my best to return in one piece.”

“How did you get free?” Gilas
said.

“A little Ghost helped me,” Jon
said.

Atlantis headed for the outer
markers, the
Titan
close on her tail.
Atlantis
picked up speed as
they approached their fold point.

“Stand down Jon,” Gilas said.
“Please don’t make me fire on you.”

“Condition Red,” Jon said.
“Gilas, if you fire on my ship. I promise you one thing. You’ll pay dearly. The
Princess Deatra is on board.”

“I’m trying to protect you and
the Princess,” Gilas said. “I’m with in my rights to disable your ship and hold
you until you calm down. You’re not thinking straight.”

“
Titan
, this is the
Earth Revenge
,” Bill’s voice said. “If you fire on that ship I’ll shoot you
down.

“I can’t believe this,” Gilas
said. “Are all humans so irrational?”

“Most of us yes,” Jon said.
“Especially when one of our families is killed or hurt.”

“Fine,” Gilas said. “Have it your
way.”

The
Atlantis
and
Earth’s Revenge
both folded at the same time, followed shortly by the
Titan
.

A day later, all three ships
appeared in the Ga’sahde’s system and made the short jump to the home planet.
Jon, Gilas, and Bill stood at the planning table as they scanned the surface of
the planet looking for anything unusual.

“I’m telling you it was right
here,” Jon said. He was pointing at the map.

“Well it’s not there now,” Gilas
said.

“You think they fled?” Bill said.

“I have no idea,” Jon said.

“Sir,” the Tactical officer said.
“I’m picking up several hyperspace events in close proximity.”

Jon switched the map and it
showed ten little dots where the events were located. Gilas and Bill faded from
view as Jon spoke, “All ships, Condition Red.”

The
Marudas
exited the
hyperspace event as several battle cruisers did the same. Jon gasped at the
small fleet. “Prepare for evasive maneuvers,” Jon said. “All fighters to
stand-by and all guns prepare to fire.”

“Incoming transmission from the
Marudas
,” the Com officer said.

“On screen,” Jon said.

Prasuh’s face faded into view and
a smile slowly spread over the Invaru’s face as he saw Jon. “Captain Hunter,”
Prasuh said. “We meet again.”

“Well, at least one of us is
happy about that,” Jon said. “What do you want?”

“Why you of course,” Prasuh said.

“Sorry, I’m already spoken for
and I don’t think Deatra is the sharing kind,” Jon said. “I really don’t swing
that way either. I know a few who do and would be glad to set up a meeting for
you.”

“Always the smart ass,” Prasuh
said. Prasuh’s face faded from the screen as the
Atlantis
shook.

“They’ve opened fire on us,” the
Tactical officer said. “Shields at seventy percent and holding.”

“Guess he’s not in a talkative
mood,” Jon said. “Weapons free.”

“Sir,” the Com officer said. “The
Titan
and
Earth’s Revenge
are reporting power failures, and major
damage to several decks. The enemy seems to be concentrating their fire on
them.”

The
Earth’s Revenge
still
wasn’t completely finished with her refit and Jon half expected this. “Bring us
about and target those Battle Cruisers. Try to draw some of their fire.”

“Aye-aye, Sir,” the Tactical
officer said.

The Atlantis turned and
approached the
Titan
as she spread fire to several of the Battle
Cruisers. It worked as they started targeting the
Atlantis
, as the two
other ships were almost dead in space.

“New fold event,” the Tactical
officer said.

“Fold?” Jon said.

“Yes Sir,” the Tactical officer
said. “Oh my God, it’s the Ga’sahde vessel we encountered when we first arrived
here. They’re powering up weapons and have their shields up.”

“Oh, fun times!” Jon said.

hologram of a person in blood red robes appeared on the bridge of
every vessel, simultaneously. It stood in the middle of the bridge with its
hood pulled over its head, so that it covered the person’s face. Several of the
guards reacted, and brought weapons to bear on the figure. Jon raised his hand
and motioned them to lower their weapons.

“As you were. It’s a hologram,”
Jon said.

He walked up to the figure so he
was standing directly in front of it.

Deatra and Sa’oliq stepped on to
the bridge as the hologram started to speak.

“By order of the Ga’sahde, all
hostilities are to cease,” a woman’s voice said. “This area of space is
neutral, and always has been declared a safe zone. Failure to comply will force
a swift reaction that no one will like. The
Atlantis
and her crew are
under the protection of the Ga’sahde! The Ga’sahde has declared Captain Hunter
the High Councilor. An attack on his vessel is an attack on the Ga’sahde!”

“Who do you think you are?”
Prasuh’s voice said. “The Ga’sahde have been extinct for hundreds of years. How
do I know this isn’t some kind of trick?”

A second hologram faded into view
next to the cloaked figure.

“I assure you, Captain Prasuh,
this is no trick. We have been waiting for the time to come, and the time is
now.”

“Terri?” Jon said.

The cloaked figure’s head turned
to look directly at Jon as she spoke, “I’m sorry, Councilor. I’m Arianna. I am
captain of the
Desmodi
, a battleship of the Ga’sahde fleet.”

“Too bad,” Jon said. “Tactical
lock onto the Ga’sahde vessel, and prepare to fire.”

“Captain Hunter,” Prasuh said.
“You can’t be serious, if they are who they say they are …”

“I don’t give a damn about you or
your quest!” Jon said. “These people have killed my sister! I will have my
revenge.”

“That is your right,” Arianna
said. “We will do nothing to stop you. Whatever you feel you need to do, the
Ga’sahde will follow. If you must destroy this vessel to have peace in your
heart, then do so.” Arianna pulled her hood back as she spoke.

Golden hair mixed with hints of
red hair fell to her shoulders. A tattoo of red and gold marked her face in a
strange symbol. It began at her chin and ended just above her right eye, it
covered most of her face on the left side. Her exposed ears had two slight
points and her left ear had a small cuff attached to it. Her pale blue eyes
showed no hint of fear or sorrow as she stared in Jon’s direction.

When she revealed her face, the
reaction was immediate. People on all the ships bowed and knelt on one knee.
The fighting immediately stopped. Gasps and murmurs filled all ships. Even
Prasuh was silent as he knelt, his head bowed.

Jon looked around his bridge.
Over half his crew was doing the same, including Deatra and Sa’oliq. Jon looked
back up at Arianna trying to figure out what to do as she knelt and bowed her
head.

“Please forgive us, Councilor,”
Arianna said. “All is not as it seems to you, right now.”

“Three more fold events,”
Tactical said. “One of the events is very … Oh my God! I have never seen
anything like this!”

“On screen!” Jon said.

The main viewer changed from the
battlefield to the area of the incoming fold events. A ship twice the size of a
Super Carrier suddenly appeared. Two beams reached out, and grabbed the two
disabled ADF vessels. They began pulling them towards the larger ship.

“What the hell is that, and what
is it doing?” Jon said.

“Councilor,” Arianna said. “That
is our flagship, the
Odarius
. She is towing the disabled vessels in, to
start rescue and repair operations. The two other ships are her escorts.”

“A ship that size needs escorts?”
Jon said.

“The
Odarius
is well
armed,” Arianna said. “However, even a well-armed ship needs some additional
protection, at times. Her normal fleet is about sixty ships. From transport
ships, all the way up to carriers.”

Jon looked back at Arianna as he
thought for a second. She was still kneeling as she spoke to him.

“Arianna,” Jon said. “I want you
here, right now. I have some questions. How I react will be determined by your
answers.”

“The captain of the
Odarius
is my superior,” Arianna said. “He would know more than I.”

“Fine. Contact him. Both of you
will report to me, immediately,” Jon said.

“Transmissions coming in from the
Earth’s Revenge
and
Titan
,” the Com officer said. “They are
reporting that repairs are underway, with partial power restored. The
Titan
is reporting heavy casualties. The
Earth’s Revenge
is reporting light
casualties.”

“I’ve shifted extra repair bots
to the two ships, to assist in their repairs,” Atlantis said.

“Good. Keep me informed,” Jon
said. “I’ll be in the briefing room. Have our guests shown in when they arrive.
Deatra and Sa’oliq … care to join me?”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Deatra said
as she walked past Jon.

“Me neither,” Sa’oliq said. “This
is going to be interesting.”

“That’s not the word I would
choose,” Jon murmured as he followed them into the briefing room.

Ten minutes later, Jon received a
call announcing that two Ga’sahde had landed, and were on their way to him. Jon
looked up at Deatra as a thousand things went through his mind.

Sa’oliq had been silent. She had
been pacing slightly, ever since they’d entered the briefing room.

Jon eyed her for a second before
he spoke, “Sa’oliq why are you on edge?”

Sa’oliq stopped and looked at Jon
for second before she spoke, “You really have no idea who they are do you? You
have no idea of the power you have, now that you speak for them.”

“I don’t speak for them,” Jon
said, his tone was flat with a hint of anger. “I don’t want anything to do with
these people. Don’t you both understand?”

“In a way, you do,” Deatra said.
She stepped forward to stand next to him. “You have already acknowledged your
status over them.”

Jon shook his head as he spoke,
“No, I haven’t. I never will.”

Deatra glanced at Sa’oliq and
then returned her attention back on Jon. “You ordered them here. That, alone,
tells them you recognize your authority over them.”

“When you did that, you accepted
the position,” Sa’oliq said.

“That can be cleared up,” Jon
said. He narrowed his eyes as he thought about what Deatra and Sa’oliq said.

“No, it can’t,” Deatra said.
“There is no clearing it up. When you gave your first order, you accepted the
position as their leader and spokesman.”

“This is true,” Sa’oliq said. She
nodded her head as she agreed. “The laws clearly state that once the first
order is given, the leader’s position is sealed. Even Invaru law states it.”

“Old laws,” Jon said.

“You can’t keep the ones you
want, and throw the rest out,” Deatra said. “It doesn’t work that way.”

“That’s how it worked for my
people,” Sa’oliq said. “I offered, and you accepted. You gave us our first
command. From that point on, you are the ruling figure. I’m nothing more than
your voice.”

Jon sighed and slumped in his
chair a bit, as he stared at both women.

“You’re right. I don’t like it,
but you’re right. So, what am I going to do about my vengeance problem, and
then my quitting the ADF in the process?”

Deatra bent down and brushed
Jon’s bangs back. She ran a hand down the side of his face. She felt a shiver
of pleasure through their bond, as she did so.

She smiled as she said, “My
beautiful lover, the object of all my desire and love, when are you going to
learn?”

Jon arched an eyebrow as he felt
his temperature jump from Deatra’s touch.

“Learn what?” Jon stammered as he
worked to control the reaction from her touch.

“You can’t quit the ADF, nor can
you quit as leader of any of the people you bring into the ADF,” Deatra said.
“Everyone is still waiting on you to come back at the station. I’ve been in
contact the whole time, and have been issuing orders in your stead.”

“Finally used some of the power I
let you have?” Jon said as he shivered again.

“You have been training me, in
case choices needed to be made, and you could not be contacted, have you not?”
Deatra said. “What better time than now?”

“Sneaky, yet thoughtful,” Jon
said.

It was Deatra’s turn to shiver as
Jon reached up and cupped her chin. He pulled her face close and kissed her,
she melted as passion flowed through her body.

Sa’oliq cleared her throat. “Do
you two need me to step outside and lock the door for a bit?”

“No,” Jon said as he regained his
composure.

“Then please stop, as you two are
working me up. If you keep going, I might have to excuse myself!” Sa’oliq said.

Deatra giggled as Jon smiled.
“Sorry.”

“Deatra is correct,” Sa’oliq said
as she sat down and folded her arms on the table. “Even if you quit and walked
away, everyone would follow you, even if we had to shadow you.”

“So, I’m stuck,” Jon said.

Deatra and Sa’oliq nodded in
unison.

“Then what do I do about the
Ga’sahde?” Jon said.

Deatra sat back down and grabbed
Jon’s hand. “You let it go, and move on. Though I have a feeling Terri’s not
dead.”

“I can’t feel her through the
bond,” Jon said. “I have always been able to lightly feel her through the
bond.”

“Neither can I,” Deatra said.
“But, that doesn’t mean she is dead. I just have a feeling, from some of the
things Arianna has said.”

“Yes,” Sa’oliq said. “The, ‘All
is not as it seems’, told me something was up.”

Jon leaned back as he released
Deatra’s hand.

“Yeah, I caught that, too. I just
didn’t make any type of connection.”

The com beeped, ending their
conversation.

“Yes,” Jon said.

“Sir,” a female voice said. “I
have an unarmed shuttle from the
Marudas
asking for clearance to land.”

Jon wrinkled his brow, and looked
at Deatra who shrugged her shoulders, followed by a similar response from
Sa’oliq.

“Did they state a priority?” Jon
said.

“They say they have Captain
Prasuh on board. He is here for your meeting with the Ga’sahde,” the female
voice said. “According to scans, there are only two people on the shuttle.”

“I didn’t invite them, turn them
away,” Jon said.

“We did,” Arianna said as she
stepped through the door. “They have the right to join the meeting, if they so
wish. Captain Prasuh expressed that wish and we’re obligated to accept that
request.”

“You might be, but I’m not!” Jon
said as he stood up. “That Invaru will not step foot on this ship!”

A slightly taller figure dressed
in silver robed lined in red stepped around Arianna and spoke, “Are you casting
out the Invaru, my lord?” a deep male voice said.

Jon caught the expressions of
concern crossing the faces of Sa’oliq and Deatra.

“Please drop your hoods, I like
to see who I’m speaking to. What do you mean by ‘casting out’?”

Silver and red runes etched the
man's face, from his chin up along his nose. When the runes connected his
forehead, they spread out to the left and right, respectively. Close-cropped
silver hair covered his head, as steel gray eyes took in everything around him.

“Sorry, my lord. I’m Gabriel.”

“Jon, casting out is …” Sa’oliq
stopped mid-sentence, as Gabriel looked in her direction. “I’m sorry for speaking
out of turn.”

Sa’oliq knelt and bowed to
Gabriel.

“Excuse me?” Jon said. “You can
finish, Sa’oliq.”

Gabriel’s gaze switched to Jon.

“What?” Jon said.

He stood up as if challenging
Gabriel.

Gabriel’s eyes didn’t waver as he
stared Jon down.

“This is my ship! I will say who
can or can’t speak! Sa’oliq is one of my councilors. As such, she has the right
to speak in my presence at any time. Deatra is my fiancé. As such, she has the
right to give orders in my stead. If you have a problem with this, you can
leave and return to the planet,” Jon said.

Gabriel glanced at Arianna, who
had taken a knee, and then back at Jon, “You mean my ship, don’t you?”

“No, I meant the planet,” Jon
said. “I’m in command, here! You’ll either learn that, or I’ll replace you with
someone who does.”

Gabriel’s eye twitched for a
second, as he thought about what Jon had said.

Arianna glanced up at Gabriel and
slightly shook her head.