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  Different. TOM gave a mental shrug. I assume you mean one of the five, and to be fair, it would have been different. I can calculate the chance of it being better as we define better, but frankly I’ve no idea what their life would have been like without the existing Kurtherian meddling. What if, for example, their future had included something like a human smallpox epidemic that would have destroyed half their world, except that the Seven helped them?

  Bethany Anne went quiet for a moment, then took a few moments more to think on his words. That presumes we have a “winner take all” attitude about life, right? Go for a win, by any means is acceptable, so long as your race survives?

  It is assumed that the basic instinct for most peoples is the desire to continue the race.

  Unless you kill yourselves. Bethany Anne sighed. God, some nights I wish I could go back and kill those sonsabitches who released Armageddon.

  To what end? TOM asked. How many times can you take upon your shoulders the fate of a people? It isn’t your fault. Your job is here, protecting the Earth so they can make their own decisions. That one of those decisions might have been catastrophic was always in the cards.

  I just never believed it would happen.

  True.

  The two friends stayed there together in a mutual agreement to share the same time and space.

  If we get these seven braindead ass-backwards zombie butt-lords, it’ll be time we retire. Let’s go explore space, find the Entarians, and give you a chance to live again, maybe.

  Bethany Anne, TOM replied after a few moments, I’m living now. I’ve never, in my existence, lived as much as I’ve lived with you. You are—and may Michael forgive me—the best girlfriend I’ve ever had. Even if you are human and can’t do math to save your life.

  I’ve got people.

  No, you’ve got a Kurtherian-brain-supported AI for your math, but that’s cheating.

  Bethany Anne put a hand over her eyes. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t joke, TOM. I’m scared of what might happen when you are gone.

  Why?

  What if I need some of your magic Kurtherian ju-ju?

  Bethany Anne, you are the most amazing alien I’ve ever met. I think you would be just fine. Besides, unless you kick me to the side, I think I’d like to stick with you for a while.

  A few moments later TOM continued, And by ‘a while’, I probably mean a few more decades. She snorted. You can access anyone you want right now, just by routing it through your communications implant.

  Yeah, but it isn’t the same as you. She sighed. I’ve lied a bunch of times to you, TOM. You are almost a perfect boyfriend.

  Being an alien and all.

  Probably because you are an alien. Human guys come with all these…issues.

  Was that why Michael was a good match? TOM wondered. He was already past a lot of those issues?

  He was…is…a man out of time, she agreed. He knows how to let me be me, but then makes me want to be a better me. I can choose to impress him, or I can impress him by just being what attracted him in the first place. Which, she sniffed mentally, I can assure you wasn’t my talkative nature on our first trip to Europe.

  I think I figured that out, TOM replied dryly

  You can be such a Kurtherian.

  Ouch, I believe you used that as a pejorative.

  I did.

  Figures.

  However, your people have some bright spots, too.

  Yes, I know.

  You know, we never speak about my feelings for you. Bethany Anne yawned, placing her hand over her open mouth. Damn, I’m tired.

  Yes, TOM agreed, and you should sleep.

  A moment later, statement left unsaid, Bethany Anne fell asleep.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Devon

  Lerr’ek had reached up and was scratching his head right behind his ear when a voice caught him by surprise.

  “Lerr’ek?”

  He stood up and turned, glaring around his office to find the person who had stepped in without at least knocking first. He was irritated, sure, but his anger, if he were being honest, was with himself for not hearing the person enter in the first place.

  Except there was no one in his office.

  The voice spoke again. “Lerr’ek, you aren’t crazy. This is Stephen.”

  His eyes opened a touch wider. “Oh.” He sighed and sat down in his desk chair, the springs squeaking as they strained under his Zhyn weight. “Surprise many by talking to them?”

  “Yes,” Stephen admitted. “I’m familiar with the response.”

  “I thought perhaps you had my office bugged,” Lerr’ek replied. When Stephen didn’t answer immediately, his eyes narrowed. “Did you bug my office?” he asked as his eyes flitted from corner to crevice and back again.

  “Not that I’m aware of,” Stephen told him. “I can’t be sure about Baba Yaga, though. She does things without telling me. However, if I had to guess the answer would be no.”

  “Why not?” Lerr’ek wondered. “I suppose, now that the surprise is over, I might have done it in her place had our positions been reversed.”

  “Do you really wish to know?” Stephen’s voice became a bit flat. “I can tell you, but I don’t think it is any kind of secret.”

  Lerr’ek raised a hand. “I’m going to regret asking, aren’t I?”

  “Perhaps. I’m not sure how you Zhyns take to matter-of-fact conversations about your deaths.”

  Lerr’ek thought about that a moment. “So, this isn’t so much about finding me doing something as if something is found out, there was only one chance?”

  “That depends on what you did and why, Lerr’ek,” Stephen replied. “However, capital punishment—”

  “Is what can happen when you displease the Mistress of the Planet.” He chuckled. “I’ve felt that already. My curiosity was engaged, not my stupidity.”

  It was Stephen’s turn to chuckle. “Good to hear. This way I don’t have to come to Devon to find and train a new lead.”

  “So, to what do I owe this call?” Lerr’ek asked.

  “Production, Lerr’ek. We need production of a certain element that is there on Devon. We are going to use the profits from this effort to make the companies more efficient. That is not a euphemism for abusing the miners, however. We also want to move a core amount of profit sideways into building the base. We might need it a little earlier than planned.”

  Lerr’ek leaned forward. “Base? Now we are talking my language.”

  Stephen chuckled. “Are you sure you don’t want to go back into the military, Lerr’ek?”

  Lerr’ek turned his hand palm up, then palm down. “Business is competition without the bloodshed. However, there is nothing sweeter than running your hands across the flank of a machine built to blow annoying objects into their constituent atoms.”

  “Spoken like a true military person,” Stephen replied. “Stick around Baba Yaga and you might get yourself back into a uniform.”

  The two continued their discussion on what production Stephen wanted him to ramp up, and once they had finished their talk Stephen signed off.

  Lerr’ek, on the other hand, couldn’t put out of his mind the nagging suspicion that somehow, someway… He had just been recruited into the military in the future?

  Planet Leath, Primary City

  Jerrleck kept his hood up and his jacket on. The weather was thankfully a bit chilly, so his clothing wasn’t that far out of the norm.

  He carried a small backpack with him, swinging it around like he hadn’t a care in the world. The reality was that the backpack’s contents were making him sweat. There were minor explosives inside which shouldn’t go off if they were jiggled, but one never played with explosives without a heavy amount of respect.

  It was time.

  He had been hiding on his own planet for a while now, and he didn’t have to fake being dirty, smelly, and basically downtrodden.

  That was what he had become.

  He was, for better or worse, a prop
het for a new religion … a religion which didn’t feature the Seven as the Leath’s deities. One which didn’t require the Leath to commit genocide in order to move themselves forward.

  Jerrleck wasn’t sure what the future would hold, but he was pretty sure his people would be different after this.

  He just hoped the difference came about because the Seven had been removed.

  He made his way to a tower that was just out of town. Sliding into the trees a mile away, he walked through the brush to end up on the backside of a fence. He placed the bag on the ground, unzipped it, and pulled out two devices. He slid them into his pockets before zipping up the backpack and sliding it over his arms, then scaled the fence easily. The problem with a world so heavily defended up in the heavens was that they were blind to what someone on their own world could accomplish on the ground.

  If they were willing to die for the cause.

  Jerrleck hunched over and scrambled toward the small metal hut which sat at the bottom of the tall tower. Pulling out the two devices, he placed one on each side of the keypad lock. He pressed the red buttons on each, then looked around while the devices did their job. Several moments later he heard a click from the lock, and he grabbed the handle and turned it.

  He opened the door slightly and peeked in a moment, then pulled it all the way open and slipped inside. The room he stepped into was small, and glowed orange due to all the lights on the board in front of him.

  These towers ran both local and international shows and news, plus they had what he needed most.

  An uplink to the stations above and more importantly, if you knew the correct routing and passwords, they had access to the gates.

  Should he ever get the chance to design a secure system, he would not place the secured communications area alongside the public communications, no matter how much doing so would save in time, money, and productivity.

  He happened to rank high enough to know the right codes to help those friends who would soon be in the system.

  And how to set the trap.

  QBBS Meredith Reynolds

  Where do you believe you are going? The voice called in Bethany Anne’s head. She turned around and looked at her white-faced friend. “Off to war, and you weren’t invited.”

  Ashur chuffed.

  “What do you mean, ‘I don’t get a say?’” Bethany Anne put her hands on her hips as Darryl and Scott passed her in the process of loading her ship.

  I mean, when did you get a say if I can choose to risk my life or not. This is it, isn’t it? The major fight, the one to end all fights?

  Bethany Anne sighed and knelt, grabbing Ashur’s head in her hands and staring into his eyes. “Ashur, you are pretty long in the tooth, my friend. You have covered me from that park back on Earth to trips here, there, and everywhere. If Frank ever gets around to writing your stories, you will be more famous than Lassie.”

  I’m already more famous than Lassie, Ashur responded. And whether I am getting older isn’t the issue. You were trying to leave me behind.

  And me! Another bark sounded, and Bethany Anne turned her head to find Matrix bounding toward her.

  WHAT? TOM was shocked. I shipped him to Bobcat.

  Did you know that TOM tried to ship me to the research station to keep me out of this? Matrix chuffed.

  “Nope,” Bethany Anne responded, “but if I had thought about it I would have done the same thing.” She turned back to Ashur. “Are you sure about this? I don’t know if I can handle you dying.”

  Nor I, you, Ashur responded. Not if I wasn’t there to protect you.

  Bethany Anne’s shoulders dropped. She pulled Ashur’s head closer and tipped his muzzle down so she could kiss the top of his head before answering him. “Get on board, and make sure Eric gets you both locked into your suits.”

  Great, Ashur responded. Just what I love to do.

  Both Ashur and Matrix left Bethany Anne bemused as she watched them race down the length of her ship to the gangway, turning, and dashing inside the Shinigami.

  Are they going to be ok? TOM asked.

  TOM, Bethany Anne answered, I’m not sure we are going to be ok.

  Then, a thought occurred to her as she walked toward the back of the ship. “HEY! WHO LET ASHUR AND MATRIX IN HERE?” she called out innocently.

  Navy Docks, Location 07

  Kiel found Kael-ven and Snow walking around the large dock for the recently retrofitted G’laxix Sphaea. “Couldn’t resist coming one more time?” Kiel called.

  Kael-ven turned around and smiled in greeting. “I see you found me.”

  Kiel chuckled. “Considering that the invitation for the meeting was for Lock Seven, it wasn’t too hard.” He looked at the graceful ship. “Brings back old memories, yes?”

  Kael-ven reached up to slide his hand along the ship. “Can you believe how long ago we set out in this ship to find a new species to subjugate?”

  “It has been a ride,” Kiel agreed. “Remember how Bethany Anne accepted your servitude for seven years, and she didn’t understand it meant twenty-one of hers?”

  Kael-ven nodded. “Good times,” he agreed. “Let’s go on board,” he told his friend as the two of them walked toward the ramp to enter the ship.

  The ramp was up.

  “Sphaea, open the ship,” Kael-ven called.

  The EI G’laxix Sphaea spoke through the dock’s intercom system. “Permission denied, Vice Admiral Kael-ven. Unfortunately, only the captain of the ship and other individuals on my roster may order the ship opened. That you are not on this list must have been an oversight.”

  Kael-ven looked back to his friend. “This is annoying.”

  “See?” Kiel pointed to him. “You get accustomed to having everyone kiss your ass, and when reality hits you are just one of the grunts. The pain it causes is karma biting you in the ass.”

  “Have I told you how little I miss your stinging criticisms?” Kael-ven asked.

  “No.”

  “Consider yourself told.” Kael-ven turned back to the ship. “Sphaea, who is the captain?”

  “Unassigned at this time.”

  “When are you scheduled to leave?” Kael-ven asked.

  “I am in standby mode, Vice-Admiral. Without a qualified captain, I may not be in this operation.”

  “That is bistok shit,” Kiel spat. “This ship needs to be in the fight. This is a storied ship, one that has been through systems too far away to be seen by telescope.” He looked at Kael-ven. “Are you thinking what I am thinking?”

  “It would be a cut in pay,” Kael-ven responded.

  “I don’t know what to do with it all anyway.” Kiel shrugged his shoulders. “This is for all of the rocks, as John Grimes would say.”

  “’All the marbles,’” Kael-ven corrected.

  “What the hell are marbles but pretty round rocks?”

  “I have no idea. They have a lot of sayings where I just nod my head and agree,” Kael-ven answered. He spoke louder. “Sphaea, this is Vice Admiral Kael-Ven T’chmon. Do you recognize my identification?”

  “I do, Vice Admiral.”

  “Good. I declare Captain Kael-ven T’chmon to be the designated captain of this ship. Do you register my command?”

  “I do, Vice-Admiral. You are aware that assigning a captain to a ship is not within your normal duties, correct?”

  “Yes,” Kael-ven agreed. A moment later a second voice came over the speakers.

  “Kael-ven,” Admiral Thomas grunted, “what the hell are you doing?”

  “I thought I would make sure all the ships are being utilized, Admiral,” Kael-ven answered as he looked at Kiel, who shrugged his shoulders.

  “You sorry sack of Yollin shit,” Admiral Thomas replied. “I won’t have you taking over the roles and responsibilities of others. This is NOT acceptable. Therefore,” he replied evenly, “I’m busting your ass back four grades, effective immediately.”

  “Four grades for you is Captain,” Kiel whispered.

  “I s
ee.” Kael-ven chuckled.

  “Now get your crew onto your ship, Captain, and get your ass in gear. You have four hours. Thomas out.”

  “Well, shit.” Kiel looked around. “We have four hours to get a crew.”

  “Sphaea,” Kael-ven ignored Kiel. “This is your Captain speaking. Open up the ship and help me figure out where I can find a crew.”

  “Rear ramp is descending, Captain. May I say, welcome aboard?”

  “Hey, Captain?” Kiel called as Kael-ven was clop clopping up the ramp.

  “Yes, you may,” Kael-ven agreed. “Now, about my crew?”

  “Captain!” Kiel called louder.

  Kael-ven stopped and turned around, getting low enough on the ramp he could duck down to see his friend. “What?”

  Kiel pointed back the other way, so Kael-ven turned to look.

  Three doors had opened in the dock area, and huge numbers of smiling Yollin faces were heading in their direction.

  Kiel walked up to Kael-ven, whose mandibles were stuck open. “That Admiral Thomas is a real sneaky bastard, isn’t he?”

  Kael-ven nodded as he turned to walk back inside the ship. “That he is, Kiel. That he is.”

  A minute later an announcement was made throughout the ship and in the dock area while dozens of Yollins were confirming everything they needed was aboard the ship. “This is the Captain speaking. We have two hours before we join our comrades, so shake the lead out and let’s be going!”

  Kiel was checking the Marines’ armory locker when he heard two new crew talking between themselves. “Did you see that the new captain is named after both the first president of Yoll after the king fell and the original captain of this ship?”

  “The first president and the captain of this ship were the same person. I think he might be a Vice Admiral now.”

  “Damn, must be family. Sure hope he knows his business.”

  “Me too.”

  Kiel just chuckled. They will learn soon enough…

  CHAPTER NINETEEN