CHAPTER EIGHT
The Rigil Four floated silently through space, and its crew remained just as quiet. There wasn’t much to be said; it just wasn’t the same without Jeff. Even Milgic, who was usually quite talkative, was at a loss for words.
They were three days away from their arrival to Sentros, and had activated the distress signal. hey just entered into the Republic’s range and were waiting for a scout ship to find them. Zarcon decided it would be imprudent to use the ship’s name or his own name until they were within visual range. The Republic would see it as a threat and attack.
He wondered if Jeff was even still alive. He knew the human was badly hurt, and left with the reptiles, but nothing else. If Riona captured him, he probably wouldn’t kill him right away because he needed him, just as he needed Zarcon for his complex game of control. He didn’t know why the Republic would go along with his plan; it just didn’t seem logical to him.
As they approached Sentros, Zarcon recollected a time when matters were much simpler. There was a time when the Tolarions were allies of the Republic, and assisted them in forming all kinds of governments on far away planets. Although both societies relied heavily upon their military’s strength, they were partners with one another. After that, both governments began to deteriorate. They began raiding each other’s colonies, and building stronger weapons to use against one another. Riona, who was already in power at the time, was more of a diplomat than a dictator. His mental power had somehow corrupted his judgment. Zarcon warned the council of his recent behavior, but they dismissed it as being overzealous about the Tolarion threat.
They would soon realize his maniacal tendencies caused him to break several peace treaties. They could no longer look the other way on this, for it meant fighting a war of unseen devastation. The Tolarions were a militant society, but they used to believe in some peaceful virtues; the worlds who considered trade with them or information they could use were the worlds they respected treaties with, and Republic outposts were usually off limits to them, unless hostility was provoked.
Riona had done just that. Zeloria was an insignificant world in the Tolarion star system, but it was one of their greatest allies. Now they would probably launch a full scale invasion on Sentros unless the council sent a fleet of their own to intercept them.
It was obvious peace couldn’t be reached by making treaties. The leader of the council was absent for negotiations, and there was no guarantee he was sane enough to do so anyway. Balar, a humanoid from Befa Seven was second in command, and had just made preparations to embark to Alokia for negotiations. He knew this required great care; their enemies were becoming too aggressive for negotiations and they already received news of reported attacks on some of the smaller populations of the Galactic Republic’s territories.
Zarcon and his friends experienced a feeling of doom over them, and knew they were right in the middle of the conflict. Even if the Republic received their distress call, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t attack them before they were able to make contact. With that thought in mind, he switched the engines to sub interstellar speed and opened communications.
“Sentros, come in,” he said. “Please come in, Sentros.”
There was no answer. “We must be out of range,” Zarcon said to his two companions. “We’ll try again later.”
Just as he was about to close communications, there was a faint transmission. “Walker here,” it said, as Zarcon glanced at the open space in front of him. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Was it really Jeff?” The lingworts’ green eyes grew wide in glee.
“That sounded like Jeff!” Dormiton yelled, as he ran to the helm.
“Walker here,” he said again. “Please respond.”
“Jeff,” Zarcon answered. “Is that you?”
“Yep,” he answered. “I’m right on your tail. At present speed, we should rendezvous with you in six hours.”
“But how?” Zarcon questioned. “How could you be alive?”
“It’s a long story. When I have time, I’ll explain it to you.”
“You said ‘we.’ Who is with you?” Zarcon asked.
“A race called the Talokians. They are the reptilian creatures that we came across,” Jeff explained. “They’ve seemed to have undergone some kind of evolutionary process. I still don’t quite understand it myself. They’ve agreed to help us.”
“What is he talking about?” Milgic asked.
“It appears that our reptile friends were more than they appeared to be,” Zarcon stated, as he recollected the derelict spaceship. “Jeff, was that damaged spaceship we found theirs?”
“In a sense,” Jeff answered. “It belonged to their ancestors.”
“Any sign of Riona?”
“He landed, but we escaped before he could find us.”
“Be careful. The Galactic Republic and the Tolarions will soon be at war.”
“We’ll be all right. These Talokian ships are much faster than either side’s.”
“I’ll see you soon. Keep moving, we’ll catch up to you.”
“We’re going to need food and supplies soon.”
“We have enough onboard here. Use the jamming device if you have finished it, and stay out of sight until we reach you. See you shortly. Over and out.”
Zarcon had no assurance the Republic would welcome him with open arms. He just hoped they would listen to his side of the story. He had great confidence in the council, even though he didn’t agree with their decision to make Riona the president. He knew, however, they were diplomats first, even though their leader was not. If he was able to approach them before Riona, he might have a chance to help and leave their enemies far behind. From the way Jeff described this new race’s vessel, they could reach Sentros in no time at all.
Another thing puzzled Zarcon. Jeff spoke of an evolutionary process that changed the Talokians. He wondered how a race could suddenly go through such a process and what prompted them to do such.
That was the least of his worries. He still didn’t know how he was going to tell the council what happened. He could explain that they escaped Belor because of the death ray that Riona stole, but couldn’t explain the attack on the Tolarion base on Lingwort. That was something Jeff was going to have to explain, and they didn’t usually give credence to explanations from outsiders.
As time slowly passed by, the lingworts felt a sense of joy and relief that they found out their friend was still alive. They found it remarkable he endured his ordeal virtually unscathed. They were looking forward to their reunion with the human.
Zarcon checked the scanners for enemy craft, and then turned towards his friends. “The Republic will be pleased to hear that their tyrannical leader has finally lost his mind,” he said. “I’ve been expecting this for quite some time.”
“Will they try to stop him?” Dormiton asked.
“Yes,” the arthropod answered. “But they still will not be able to correct what has begun even through diplomacy.”
“What is that?” Milgic asked. “Diplomacy?”
“It is learning to communicate with one another; to talk with them,” Zarcon explained.
“Like we do?” Dormiton stated.
“Yes, but a little bit different. We have people who represent all of us, and they do the talking. Their war has just begun. I’m afraid however; it might already be too late to stop it.”
“Then we have failed,” Dormiton said.
“Not quite. There still is a chance.”
“A chance at what?” Milgic snarled. “If war has already broken out, how can we stop it?”
“An intergalactic plea for both governments to stop.”
“The Tolarions won’t stop!” Milgic yelled.
“That is true,” Zarcon sighed. “But they will still give in to the Republic’s demands if they see how much they have to lose. Their army is not as formidable as ours.”
“Now you’re talking like Jeff!” Dormiton snapped. “Isn’t there a way to solve this without more vio
lence?”
“I’m afraid not, Dormiton. Freedom cannot be weighed by peaceful options,” Zarcon replied.
“How did we ever get ourselves into this mess?” Milgic questioned, and held his hand on his face in remorse.
“You didn’t, the Tolarions did. You were forced into this war, as was I, which is all the more reason to defend ourselves. When we get to Sentros, I’m sure the council will understand this, and be more than willing to help. They commend peaceful societies such as yours.”
“After we explain the situation, can’t we just but out?” Milgic suggested. “I’d prefer to go back to Masgria.”
“There may be no Masgria to go back to,” Zarcon stated. “I’m afraid your quiet little planet is in the middle of this whole thing.”
“Why?” Dormiton asked. “We’ve done nothing!”
“There is something there the Tolarions want, something extremely valuable to them.”
“I don’t know what that could be,” Dormiton said.
“Well let’s find out, shall we?” Zarcon said, as he turned towards the computer for consultation. “Computer?”
“Working,” it answered.
“Name planets involved in Tolarion operations and indicate the nature of those operations.”
“Aria Four, mining operations, Tetra Two, defensive operations, Ulta, mining operations, Caraz, defense operations, Vartos, scientific operations, Valtar, scientific operations.”
“Stop,” Zarcon interrupted the device. “Indicate planet that is located in star sector 89101, coordinates 69102.”
“Ventros.”
“Indicate Tolarion interest.”
“Scientific operations.”
“Nature of operations?”
“Mental expansion experimentation.”
“Specify.”
“Telekinetic and telepathic research.”
“So that it explains it, “Zarcon said, as he turned towards his friends. “They were using the base for some kind of mind experiments.”
“Why our planet?” Milgic asked.
“I don’t know,” Zarcon answered. “Maybe there’s some kind of substance there that enables them to read minds.”
“I thought that was an ability only your people and Riona possessed,” Dormiton stated.
“So did I,” Zarcon said. “Computer, is there any substance on Ventros that enables one to possess telekinetic or telepathic powers?”
“Affirmative. A substance known as Triachilite,” the machine answered. Zarcon knew Riona’s powers were not inherited, but he never expected anything like this. It seemed unfathomable to believe that he either stole this substance or was in league with the Tolarions.
A warning from the computer came up after they closed in on the Beta Four star system. “Asteroid belt in approximately nine hundred thousand miles,” it said.
“Turn on shields!” Zarcon yelled. The two lingworts jumped in their seats and strapped themselves in. They knew what to do from Jeff’s teachings. “Cut to sub interstellar speed. Brace yourselves!”
They passed through the belt, and the ship slowed to sub interstellar speed. Zarcon carefully guided the ship through it, avoiding many of the smaller asteroids that came at them. When he saw a large asteroid coming right for them, he addressed the computer.
“Avert forty fives degrees!” he yelled. The computer responded, but too slowly. “Switch to manual control!”
The computer turned navigation over to him, and Zarcon pressed the navigational controls, but was unable to compensate in time. The asteroid slammed into the side of the antimatter chamber, causing a large explosion on their right side, and started a fire within the back of the ship
“Fire!” Dormiton yelled, as he unbelted himself, and ran to put it out. Zarcon checked the controls, making sure that other systems were operable.
“At least we have life support,” he said. “Shields have failed, and the engines are dead.”
“How long have we got before there’s no air?” Milgic asked, extremely worried.
“About four hours,” Zarcon answered. “And we’re still far from any Republic outposts.”
“What are we going to do?” Milgic cried.
“Well,” Zarcon said. “Don’t panic for one. And whatever gods you pray to, you better start praying to them.”
Three and half hours passed since the incident, and they began to wonder if there was any hope for them. Zarcon couldn’t repair the ship; part of the engine had been ripped right out, leaving a hole in the ejection chamber floor. Fortunately, there was another door that separated them from it. As a last resort, he opened communications again, hoping someone would hear him.
“Sentros,” he gasped. “This is Zarcon, please come in.”
There was nothing but silence, as he watched his two lingwort friends begin to suffocate. He then fell unconscious onto the helm. While Zarcon drifted in and out, he heard the main door hatch opened by a laser blast. The door was kicked open, and he could barely make out the figure of a human bending over his slumped body.
“Zarcon,” Jeff said, as he helped him breathe in oxygen from a tank. “Are you okay?” He nodded as he awoke.
“Here I thought I was going to rescue you,” he said. “You cut off your facial hair.” Jeff smiled and helped him to his feet. The Talokians helped the lingworts wake up as well. Dormiton was a little startled to see their faces had changed, and they no longer had claws, but fingers.
“Do not be afraid, Friend,” Barva told him. “Our kind will no longer harm you. You have our sincerest apologies. We have undergone complex changes that you wouldn’t understand.”
When the lingworts regained their senses and saw their friend, they ran to hug him.
“At least you’re alive,” Dormiton cried. “We were worried sick about you! Hey, you cut all the hair off your face!”
Jeff smiled again and scratched his face while two more Talokians entered the ship. They began to work on the ship’s controls. Jeff turned to his arthropod friend.
“I’m afraid I lost my laser,” he said. “Are there any more on board?”
“Yes,” Zarcon answered. “In the weapon compartment. I have some interesting news for you. Our Tolarion friends have been using the Lingwort’s planet for mind experiments. Apparently, they are trying to discover the secret to Riona’s power.”
“It figures,” Jeff said. “Balta spoke of domination of the galaxy, and I wouldn’t put it past him to use mind control. At least now he’s dead.”
“Do you know that for sure?” Zarcon asked.
“No, I don’t,” Jeff answered. “But I very much doubt he survived the attack.”
“Nonetheless, the Tolarions are still preparing for attack. We have to reach Sentros soon, or there won’t be anything left to control. They’ll destroy each other. What are they doing to the ship anyway?” He referred to the Talokians dismantling the helm.
“They’re taking the jamming device, and anything else they need,” Jeff answered. “We need to destroy this ship when we leave. What about your death ray. Won’t that scare the Tolarions off?”
“I don’t think so,” Zarcon said. “Riona has it by now.”
“Then we’re in real trouble.”
“I’m afraid so,” sighed Zarcon. “Knowing him, he’s liable to use it against the Republic as well.”
“Can the Republic stop him somehow?” Jeff asked his arthropod companion.
“That is doubtful. With the weapon Riona can destroy them.”
“Do they possess a force field around their planet,” Barva asked.
“No,” the insect answered. “Only surface defense systems. I take it your culture is much more advanced?”
“Forgive me,” Jeff said. “I’ve forgotten to introduce you. Barva, this is Zarcon, Dormiton and Milgic. They are the friends that I spoke of.”
“How do you do,” Barva said, as he bowed. “I understand that your races are going through the same ordeal that we went through millions of years ago
?”
“That is correct,” Zarcon stated. “We’re involved in a war. I now know, however, that the Republic is not responsible for our plight. It is Riona!”
“Ah yes,” Barva sighed. “The one Mr. Walker spoke so highly of.”
“Yes,” Milgic answered as he stomped his feet. “He started this mess!”
“”Where is he now?” Zarcon asked, unable to register his thought transmissions.
“He has retreated to a distant world,” Barva stated. “He has eliminated the rest of his fleet and his crew is next.” Zarcon looked at him in awe, as he realized he also had telepathic abilities, and much more advanced as well.
“We have to get to Sentros,” Zarcon said. “They will know how to handle the situation. They have probably already sent advisors to Alokia.”
“If what you say about Lingwort is true,” Jeff suggested. “We need to find out more about the Tolarion mind experiments. They may be the key to his power.”
“I hope you’re right,” Zarcon said. “At least then we have a chance. At any rate, I still need to clear my name of the Zelorion incident.”
“Agreed,” Jeff said. “Perhaps the council knows more than we do.”
“They do have spies on Tolaria,” Zarcon informed them. “If they know something, however, they may not tell us.”
“Then we’ll have to find out on our own,” Jeff said. “Unless we can make them understand the situation.”
“If it means stopping Riona from using the death ray,” Zarcon explained. “They’ll be more than willing to help.”
They proceeded to switch ships, and prepared for entry into the Republic’s space sector as well. They noticed several of their spacecraft on the scanners, but they weren’t heading towards them. They were heading toward the Tolarion space sector, probably on route to greet the Tolarion fleet. It was quite obvious to Jeff and his friends that negotiations had fallen through. Even if they explained their situation, there wasn’t any guarantee they could stop the violence that already erupted.
Riona’s plans for the death ray were still a mystery to them. They knew he had an animosity towards the Tolarions, or was this just a smokescreen to cover the fact he was actually working with them all along? Was he going to use it against anyone who got in his way, including the Tolarions? Jeff and Zarcon had their well justified suspicions he was working with them, and this was just an act.
After the alterations to the new ship were completed, they named it ‘Varcon’ after a Talokian word meaning ‘freedom fighter’, and plotted a course for Sentros. With the earth-like world only one day away, they knew they would soon be in Republic territory. They probably wouldn’t attack the Varcon right away because it was an alien ship unfamiliar to them. They would investigate first and try to establish contact. Barva turned on the distress signal on board to catch their attention.
The derelict Rigil Four was now floating in space, until they were at a safe distance to fire the main plasma weapons at the craft, leaving it in pieces. Maybe if the Tolarions found their craft in ruins, they would give up their search for Jeff, if they hadn’t already. The Republic ships became more frequent as they approached Sentros. Most of them paid no attention to the Talokian ship, after all it wasn’t Tolarion and it was too far away still to pose a threat. A couple of scout ships finally noticed them, and came closer to investigate.
“Alien ship, identify yourself,” a voice announced. Zarcon felt it would be best if he answered, being a Republic officer.
“This is Zarcon, President of Belor,” he stated. “We have important news for the high council.”
“If you are who you say you are,” the voice said. “Then why are you traveling in an alien ship?”
“I can’t disclose that information over this frequency,” Zarcon explained. “If you like, we will surrender the ship into your custody until we reach Sentros.”
“I’ll have to clear that with the command center first,” the voice said. “Please standby.” Within a few minutes, the voice came back with a reply. “Please proceed. We will escort you to Sentros, but please be warned that any hostile actions will not be tolerated.”
The group of outlanders followed their orders, and their ship slowed down to sub-orbital speed and proceeded towards the bluish-green planet, which was now within full view. Zarcon could tell that the council would listen to him. After all, they would not let them approach if this hadn’t been the case.
The craft penetrated the Nitrogen based atmosphere and they knew for the first time since leaving Ventros they would be safe. Riona wouldn’t dare attack Sentros, and if he did, the Republic would surely hunt him down. They were outposts all over the galaxy, and if one of them was destroyed, another would retaliate. Even the Tolarions knew this, and carefully planned around the fact.
Approaching the land masses of the world, they could see immense cloud covers and the structure of their enormous cities. It reminded Jeff of the old pictures he saw of New York City before the nuclear war. He wondered if all their inhabitants were different races of aliens, or all one race. Even Zarcon had never been here before, and was anxious to see what kind of world it was.
They followed the small scout ships as they headed towards one of the metropolises. They could hear the voice of one of its pilots, who contacted headquarters
“Scout Ship Tentra to base,” he said. “Please come in.”
“Sentros Central here,” another voice answered.
“I’m bringing in the visitors,” the pilot said. “Over?”
“Proceed, Tentra. Is President Zarcon among them?”
“Affirmative. Bring the whole crew to the council. They are expecting them. Over?”
“Acknowledged. Preparing to dock. Please stand by with security personnel. Over and out.”
The three ships came closer to Sentros Central, which possessed buildings which were very similar to those of ancient Rome. It was very clear to Jeff that they took pride in their architecture, as did the Belorions.
The doors were already open when they approached the landing deck. It was apparent that the atmosphere was breathable, for several Sentrons walked back and forth outside the complex. Much to Jeff’s surprise and joy, they were mostly humans. ‘Finally,’ he thought. ‘I get to talk to my own kind.’
The Varcon was surrounded by several guards upon landing. Zarcon and Jeff emerged from the main door hatch first, with their arms outstretched. They were directed down a large corridor of the complex.
“Do you think they’ll believe us?” Jeff asked Zarcon, as he peered at their captors, which hid behind their helmets and gray uniforms.
“If I can convince them Riona is responsible for Zeloria,” Zarcon stated. “It should be easy when they discover what he has done.” When they approached the council chambers, the guards opened the cathedral type doors, revealing a long table.
“The Council awaits,” Zarcon stated, as they were pushed to enter.
One of the figures rose from the table. He was humanoid in appearance, had no facial hair other a mustache, and very little on the top other than a few grayish black hairs around his ears. He was a hefty gentleman, and wore a long red cloak. He walked towards the insect, which he only had seen through visual communication meetings.
“Zarcon,” he said, outstretching his arms in acceptance. “I’m pleased to finally meet you face to face; although I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances.”
“Hello, Balar,” Zarcon answered and embraced him. “You know that I’m innocent.”
“Why don’t you explain what happened on Belor?” Balar asked. “And you must introduce me to your friends.”
“Yes,” Zarcon said. “This is Jeff Walker, from a planet called Mars. These two amphibian beings are from Ventros, and these are the Talokians, led by Barva.”
“This planet called Mars supports humanoids?” Balar asked.
“Yes,” Jeff answered. “My parents were originally from Earth.”
“You must have traveled a great d
istance,” Balar said. “I’ve never heard of either of those planets, or the Talokians for that matter.”
“We’re both from another universe,” Jeff explained.
"Ah,” he sighed. “You must have gotten here by way of a Tolarion dimensional transportation device?”
“As far as I know, that seems to be the case. I don’t know why though.”
“You must have somehow been trapped in a wormhole with them,” Balar retorted. “Well, my friends, why don’t you take your seats. We have many things to discuss. I held off going to Alokia for negotiations until I could speak with all of you. Barva, your friends are welcome to use the recreation area while we meet.”
The five former renegades walked over to the empty seats of the conference table and sat down, as the other Talokians followed the guards out of the room. A feeling of uneasiness came over Jeff as he stared at the various aliens at the table. He could see there was another Belorion at the table, as well as another reptilian being who was completely different from his friends. There were also several beings that were unlike anything else he ever saw before. There was a bluish colored humanoid with wings, a small grayish creature with large dark almond shaped eyes similar to those reported on Earth in the past, and even a cat-like being.
“The session of the council of Galactic Republic of Peaceful Civilizations will now come to order,” Balar announced, as he sat down. “Zarcon, you have allegedly attacked a Zelorion outpost with the planetary disintegration device, starting a confrontation with the Tolarions, destroyed a Galactic Republic outpost, and conspired with President Riona in these charges. Do you deny any of allegations?”
“Yes, Sir," Zarcon said, rather surprised at his turnabout behavior. “I deny all of them?”
“If you deny these allegations, how can you account for the incidents that have taken place?” Balar asked.
“Riona is the one you are looking for!” Jeff said, defending his friend. “He is the one who did all of these things!” The reptilian creature spoke to Balar in his native tongue, who interpreted what he said.
“If this is so,” Balar asked. “How come he hasn’t been found?”
“He’s escaped with your device,” Jeff said. “He’s been trying to hunt us down.”
“Although we would like to believe you,” Balar stated. “We have no evidence to prove what you’re saying. All we have are two destroyed planets, and a missing weapon. Riona has been troublesome with us in the past, but he has never committed an open act of aggression.”
“There’s always a first time,” Jeff smirked, as he smiled to his two amphibian friends.
“Neither have I,” Zarcon explained. “You don’t really believe I would kill my own people, do you?”
“Of course not,” Balar said. “We are merely suggesting that something went on there, and we would like to know the details.”
“Riona wanted to know where my home planet was,” Jeff said. “Balta also wanted to know this before he destroyed my friends’ home. I wouldn’t tell him, so Riona destroyed Zeloria instead. He wanted to have Zarcon executed for some reason, and make him appear guilty. Why did they want to know where Mars was?”
“I do not know, but if what you say is true,” Balar stated. “This conflict between the two of you has cost us interstellar peace, Zarcon. If he is still alive, and has the weapon like you say, he needs to be found before he destroys us all.”
“I believe there’s more to it than that, Sir,” Zarcon said. “He is apparently trying to get the Tolarions to do his dirty work.”
“What does he have to gain from this? “Balar asked, scratching his mustache.
“Plenty,” Jeff said. “When both forces have destroyed each other, he’ll move in and take over what is left. The Tolarions are planning something with a substance that enables them to have telepathic and telekinetic powers such as Riona’s.”
“Triachilite,” the Belorion ambassador said. “It was first used on Zacharas. That is how we first achieved our mental powers. The drug is absorbed in the genes, and passes down through them, but only if it’s administered right. The Belorions learned to control its properties for practical purposes, not for mind control and domination.”
“How come you didn’t tell us this?” Jeff asked Zarcon, as he turned towards him, feeling a little slighted.
“Because I don’t know much about Zarcharian history,” Zarcon retorted. “I left there when I was young, and spent most of my life on Belor.”
“If they’ve developed the Triachilite,” Balar surmised. “Then we have much bigger worries. As Valtar has told us, the Belorions have achieved a usefulness of the drug, but an addiction to it does have drawbacks, as you have seen in Riona. We had no idea this is where he got his mental powers. At least now we have an avenue to defeat him. There is an old saying; with power comes corruption.”
“My people had a similar saying,” Jeff responded.
“Is there anything the council can do?” Zarcon asked.
“We can try opening communications with Tolaria,” Balar said. “They may not speak to us, but even they do not want an outright war on their hands. If we withdraw, they might also.”
Balar walked over to a screen and pressed a button, turning the screen on. A human appeared on it, which totally surprised Jeff as he stood from his seat in shock. He was a white man with black hair, brown eyes, and a full beard. His face was rather thin, and his hair was curly.
Jeff recognized his face right away from Earth history books. It was Dr. Louis Avery, a scientist who first developed cloning experiments on human beings. So this was the Earth man the computer spoke of. It all began to make sense to him. That was why the Tolarions all looked the same, because they were the same, through cloning. That didn’t explain, however, why Balta was more superior to the rest, however.
He read that Avery was working on the idea of a superior race of human in the late 2050’s, and the experiment went terribly wrong. Abominations were created that had to be destroyed. He was then committed to a mental hospital, only to escape the institution and never be found. Could it be that he somehow discovered how to bend space and time and travel to the future? And if so, why would he do this? Was it because he needed something in this universe that he couldn’t find in his own to complete his experiments?’ These questions were all going through Jeff’s mind, and he was eager to find the answers. While he pondered, the human spoke.
“Akros,” Balar announced. “Akros, I want you to break off your attack We will withdraw our ships immediately if you do the same. There has been a grave mistake by our leader. He has been ousted from power. I am in command now.”
There was a few minutes of silence, due to the distance that the transmission had to travel between the two worlds.
“I am a reasonable man, Balar,” Akros said. “But I cannot ignore the fact that you have destroyed two of our bases. I’ll tell you what. You turn over the Martian and his accomplices, and we shall be more than willing to negotiate. He has destroyed our bases on Ventros and Zeloria, and has cost us much research!"
“Research of a drug known as Triachilite, perhaps?” Balar tested. Again, there was a short silence.
“I know of no such drug,” Akros lied. “I will give you two days to comply, or we will attack your planet!” The screen went blank, and the council members’ eyes were all fixed on Jeff.
“It appears that the Tolarions want you pretty bad, Mr. Walker,” Balar said.
“Yes,” he answered. “I guess I’ve been a bit of a naughty boy!”
“Just what did you do to the Ventros base?” Balar asked.
“Nothing really, just protected my friends from invaders,” Jeff said. “I think there may be another reason he wants me. I know of your Akros.”
“How,” Zarcon asked.
“He was an Earthling that somehow got here,” Jeff explained. “He was working on cloning experiments. I think he wants my DNA.”
“It’s a possibility,” Balar agreed. “But why you
rs and not just any human?”
“Because I am a descendent of Earth.”
“He’ll want an answer soon. I have to save our people from war as well.”
“Yes, I know,” Jeff stated, as he bowed his head in despair. “I’ll surrender myself to them.”
“No,” Dormiton pleaded. “You can’t do that!”
“Do I have any other choice?” Jeff asked.
“It would appear not,” Zarcon stated.
“You’re not going alone!” Dormiton pleaded. “We’re all in this together! If we must fight together, we must die together!”
Zarcon addressed him in amazement. “Fight together?” he asked. “How would you know about fighting?’
“I’ve seen enough to know that I won’t give up that easily,” he roared. “You can’t just let him go in alone!”
“Dormiton’s right,” Barva agreed. “We must stick together. Besides, I may have a plan.”
“Yea,” Milgic added. “He’s got a plan!”
“Well,” Zarcon said, bewildered. “We’re going to need one. It would appear the decision has been made. However, there still is the problem of Riona. I will have to deal with him, he’s my problem.”
“He is all of our problems,” Balar said. “And as soon as we can establish peaceful relations again, he will be dealt with.”
“How do you know the Tolarions will stick to their word?” Barva asked.
"Because they have in the past,” Balar answered. Our treaties are what keep us alive. That and our highly advanced weapons.”
“Which Riona now possesses,” Zarcon added. “We must stop him before he causes anymore damage.”
The reptilian ambassador spoke into the council leader’s ear. “One step at a time,” Balar said. “We must first see to it that no enemy vessels penetrate our sector of space. Then, we can negotiate.”
“Koros is right,” the Belorion member said. “We must defend ourselves first!”
“If we can escape Akros,” Zarcon suggested. “We may be able to find out more about the Triachilite.”
“That was part of my plan,” Barva added, as Zarcon looked a little annoyed by his intellectual superior.
Balar nodded. “Yes,” he said, and held his index finger up. “That may be our only chance.”
“There hasn’t been a cell that can hold us yet,” Jeff laughed.
“It will be more dangerous than you can imagine,” Balar warned them. “You may all be killed.”
Jeff smiled, his brown eyes staring ahead at the new leader of the Republic. “There’s an old Earth saying,” he said. “We’ve made our bed, and now we have to sleep in it.”