Ultimate Warrior (The Fight for Creation (Book Three)) (28 page)

The oldest Member said, “You know that this quest could lead to us being attacked by a more advanced species. Many of us could die.”

“There are some things worth dying for, Supremacy. If we are only willing to die for ourselves, we are not what we could be. I’ve been changed by this melody and for the first time in my life I look forward to tomorrow. Can any of you say that?” The Beetle waited and was greeted with silence. “Before I heard the Singer, life was nothing more than a burden of boredom. We have been bored too long.”

The Supreme Nest Members thought about what the Beetle was saying. After three days the Oldest said, “We will decide our future now. I for my part will vote with the one that has challenged us.” The Oldest looked at the Beetle waiting in front of them and said, “I was skeptical initially but you said the words that struck me in my deepest consciousness. I have nothing that excites me any more. Everyday looks just like the one before it and tomorrow will only look the same. This quest has brought me hope that the future is not as dull as the past. If we decide to do this, I will resign my standing in the Nest and joyfully join the fight. I believe it will be exhilarating.”

The other Members of the Nest put their minds together and the united voice said, “We will fight for the Singer.”

Suddenly all of them heard the Melody at high volume and they were lost in its beauty. The Oldest looked at the Beetle and thought, “You were right. This is worth fighting and dying for.”

The Supreme Beetle said, “She now sees us.” He paused and said, “She sees us.”

The Oldest closed his eyes and said, “And she’s showing us where they are.” The Supreme Beetle smiled in his mind and looked forward to the coming confrontation.

• • •

Sam, Jixie, Pixie, and Ken waited above the planet for the Blue Ship to arrive and saw a shuttle lift from the planet and move their way. They waited and then heard the thoughts of the Beetle flying it, “The Supremacy will not be able to attend the discussion today.”

Ken felt his disappointment. Jixie said, “Why not?”

“He is leading our ships against the ones that kill planets. We have destroyed all but two of their home worlds and most of their fleets. The cleansing should be completed in another three rotations.”

Ken was stunned by the announcement. “That is wonderful news.”

“We now hear the Singer and we are going to allow her to direct us in future cleansings. We thank you for what you have done for us and want you to know that we consider you a species that we will defend as well.”

Jixie said, “I will give you our location.”

“The Singer has already done that. We wish you peace and prosperity.”

• • •

Three weeks later Ken teleported to El Prado with Pixie and found Eyes waiting on him. Eyes smiled and said, “You’re troubled by what you see.”

Ken said, “I am.”

Eyes’ tail twitched, “When were you released?”

Ken slowly shook his head, “A week ago; much has become clear since that happened.” Pixie looked at Ken and Eyes and wondered what was being said. Ken said, “I want to see the real dangerous species that are out there.”

“Why?”

Ken stared at Eyes and said, “The Creator made them and they are now out of control. She had to know what was happening. I need to see just how dangerous they are.”

Eyes looked at them and said, “I will show you but only if you agree to keep this information private. You may not share it with any member of the Realm’s Royalty.”

Pixie said, “Does that include my Mother.”

“Especially her.”

“Why?”

“Because her husband, your father, will not just sit on the information and it could lead to the Realm’s destruction. You know him. What do you think he would do?”

Ken said, “He would go out and take a look at them.”

“And that would lead to the Realm’s destruction; especially if he went to see the most dangerous species.”

Pixie stared at Eyes and said, “I don’t know that I can prevent her from seeing it in my mind.”

Eyes looked at her and said, “Then you should leave and I’ll discuss this with Commodore Clarke.”

“She’ll be able to see it in his mind as well.”

“No she won’t; not any more. Not if he decides to keep it hidden.”

Pixie stared at Eyes and then looked at Ken, “Is he right?”

Ken stared at her and, after a long moment, nodded.

Pixie stared at Ken and turned to Eyes. The giant Cat stared at her and she said, “How is that possible?”

“He is a special creation and he has a task to perform. It appears he has now seen his part in what’s going to happen.”

“What task?”

“He’ll know when the moment arrives; it is not something I can tell you.” Eyes stared at Pixie, “Have you encountered anyone in the Realm with the mind he possesses?”

Pixie looked at Ken and shook her head.

“He sees things that you and your mother miss; think about that.”

Pixie said, “She’s probably watching us at this very moment.”

Ken shook his head, “She can’t see us.”

“Why not?”

Eyes said, “Commodore Clarke is a creation of my Mother’s mate. All of his predecessors were made by Mother. He is unique in that she did not make him.”

Pixie looked at Ken and said, “Just like the three brothers?” Ken nodded. Pixie looked at Eyes, “What do you mean by predecessors?”

“That is something I will not share with you.”

Pixie stared at Eyes and then turned to Ken, “Ken, I trust you with my life. Do you think I should leave?”

Ken sighed, “Pixie, I love you to the depths of my being but I’ve been allowed to see a pattern emerge that really bothers me. I’ve learned that my insistence on not being noticed early in my life was for a reason and I need to find out who I am. If what I see is accurate, you should not know it…yet.”

Pixie walked over and kissed Ken. She stared into his eyes and then disappeared. Eyes looked at him and Ken said, “Why would Mother do this?”

“Because after everything smoked out, every plan might fail.”

“That’s what I’ve seen. However, the product of this may kill her anyway.”

“Mother knows that.”

Ken stared at Eyes and said, “I can now see all of Creation in my mind. Show me what Mother’s done.”

Eyes sent the images and Ken felt fear beyond anything he had ever experienced. “This is an abomination.”

“It is the result of her seeing what was in her future.”

“The risk is too great to have ever considered this.”

“Look at the other three species closely and then see if you feel the same way.” Eyes showed Ken the other three species and Ken’s fear doubled. Eyes said, “You are the only one that can do what’s necessary. You are the unique tool that must be used to save her. We never thought you would be released this soon but one of the three species is starting to expand and the other two will join them shortly. No creature in Creation will survive them.”

Ken saw the pattern and knew all of those he loved would die unless he was willing to use the most dangerous species of them all. That prospect chilled his soul. He looked at Eyes, “There is another.”

“There is but you are the one chosen.”

• • •

Jixie saw Pixie appear and said, “What were the two of you doing?”

“Ken went to meet with Eyes.”

“I know that. My vision was blocked from that meeting. How was that done?”

“Ken did it.”

“What’s going on Pixie?”

“Mother, I left to keep from finding out. Eyes and Ken both said it was necessary that I not know.”

Jixie thought a moment and said, “That was to prevent me from knowing.”

“It was.”

Jixie stared at Pixie and shook her head, “The end game must be approaching.”

Pixie lowered her head and nodded, “That’s the only thing it could be, Mom. And Ken is going to be right in the middle of it. I’m frightened.”

Jixie hugged her and said, “I’ve suspected for a long time that Ken is more than I’ve been able to see. If he can stop me from seeing what’s happening, he’s more dangerous than both of us. I trust that whatever pattern he has seen, he is the best one to make the proper decisions. I’ll not pressure him to reveal what he knows.”

“I think the real problem is Dad finding out.”

“He is somewhat impetuous. Keep this in one of your mental compartments.”

“You are willing to keep it from him!?”

“I am. It might be what prevents him from being killed.”

“That makes me feel better about Ken not telling me but frightens me more about losing Ken.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t want you to die either.”

Pixie stared at Jixie and said, “If what he’s facing can kill me, what chance does he have?”

Jixie slowly shook her head, “That is something you are going to have to put aside and be there for him. He’s going to need you; don’t let him down.”

Pixie felt her fear start rising. She had lost her first love. She didn’t know if she could handle losing another.

• • •

The giant green warship left orbit and disappeared. It entered normal space above a blue and green planet and began scanning the surface. The planet’s defenses came online and began targeting the giant ship as the leaders attempted to communicate with the intruder. They attempted every frequency and there was no response from the ship hanging in orbit.

As a last resort, one of the planet’s warships approached the behemoth sending out communications asking why it had invaded the planets territory. The ship moved to within fifty miles and a black beam lanced out and vaporized the warship leaving nothing but hot gasses that expanded in the resulting explosion. The eight thousand ships above the planet rushed toward the green ship and were destroyed in less than ten seconds. The orbiting satellites opened fire and didn’t even cause a flash on the green ship’s force field. The giant invader fired a black beam at the planet and boiled away the atmosphere as it blew all the way through the planet’s core and out the other side, leaving a fifty mile wide hole. The molten core rushed up and the planet fractured. The green ship then fired a beam more than three hundred miles wide and the planet exploded, taking the satellites and every living thing on the surface out in a massive shock wave. The wave blew by the green ship which stayed in orbit unaffected by its passing.

After an hour, the giant ship disappeared and returned to its origin. The planet it had destroyed had conquered more than two hundred other worlds and, for the moment, they were free of their oppressors. They never learned about their freedom. The information collected by the attacker while it was in orbit scanning the defense systems on the planet was sent to the green ship’s home world and two hundred green ships left and arrived at their doorsteps before the news of their oppressor’s destruction. The two hundred planets were hit by black beams and they ceased to exist. The Illineg were moving out of their universe again and no world was safe.

K
en sat in Sprigly’s office and handed him a green square of hardened metal. Sprigly looked at him and said, “What is this?”

“I need you to prepare a ship for me with this exact color. It must be exact.”

“Why?”

“I need my ship to be mistaken for another species’ vessels. Can you do it?”

Sprigly took the square and put it into a machine and stared at the print out. “This color green is unusual.”

“Can you do it?”

“I believe so. How soon do you need it?”

“Every day that you take to make it will result in hundreds of planet’s being destroyed. Billions will die.”

Sprigly didn’t move. Finally he said, “How many ships do you need painted this color?”

“One.”

“Does the King know about this?”

“No, and I’m not telling him; unless you want our worlds destroyed as well.” Ken took a deep breath and said, “If you need someone to approve this, contact Eyes.”

Sprigly flinched and said, “I’ll get on it immediately. I’ll have it ready in six hours.”

“There’s more I need done to the ship.”

“What else do you require?”

“I need the absorbing skin on the hull completely discharged and disabled. I also need the reactor replaced with an older model that is no longer used by any ship in the Realm.”

“If I make those changes you will be defenseless. The force field will be useless against any beam we’ve seen in the last hundred years. If you’re taking on an advanced civilization, you’ll be killed with one shot.”

“There’s more.”

Sprigly leaned back, “What else?”

“I want the wings and rear stabilizer fins removed. I don’t plan to enter a planet’s atmosphere so I won’t need them.”

Sprigly stared at Ken and said, “You don’t want your ship to appear anything like a ship in the Realm?”

“That’s what I’m hoping for, Sprigly.”

“Then I’ll need to change the front view port.”

Ken thought about it and said, “I didn’t think of that.”

“Why don’t you just take one of the old armored shuttles?”

“Because there are three of them on display at various museums in the Realm; my ship will have to be unique. Besides, the old shuttles used the Coronado Power Cells. That technology is still being used.”

“What about a Keeper scout ship?”

Ken looked at Sprigly, “The Keepers were all destroyed.”

“They were, but not all of their installations were blown up. We have an intact scout ship that would only need a reactor change to make it operational. It would also be easier to paint than an absorption hull. Preventing an absorption hull from taking energy is next to impossible.”

“Can one person pilot it?”

“Yes.”

“How long will it take to get it ready?”

“Four days. If we made all the changes you want on your ship it would take us twelve days.”

“Then get it ready.”

“Are you sure you only want one ship prepared?”

Ken slowly nodded, “Any more than one will get us killed, Sprigly. Please make this happen as quickly as possible.”

• • •

“Ken, where are you?”

“I’m at Sprigly’s office.”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m having a ship prepared.”

“Why?”