Chapter 58

0001 - Tempro
0003 - Conner- Thomas
0097 - Ace - Zimmel
0098 - Lucy
0101 - Shelby (mother ship) - Derrick
0125 - Lars
0200 - Ellen
0301 - Rodrick
0403 - Johnathon
0667 - Marco - Brown
0778 - Jan
0798 - Celeste - Shelby (human)
0908 - Tara - Mara
0999 - Zan
1000 - Sherry - Lucie (for the moment)

Ungrown - unnumbered

3 - on board Tempro awaiting Sherry
1000 - Sherry- Lost at the moment

Derrick watched as Zan appeared out of the trans-warp portal. ‘Something’s going on,’ he thought as he waited for Sherry to exit the portal. When there was no Sherry forth coming Derrick’s fist hit the desk in front of him.

Shelby backed away from Derrick as she saw his face twist into anger. Derrick had just reached for the com, when Zan appeared in front of him. The distraught look on Zan’s face was all Derrick needed to see to know that Sherry was lost.

“You son of a bitching COWARD,” Derrick heard Lucie’s railing voice not far behind Zan. “You just let her die. I hate you; get me off you I will have nothing more to do with you!”

Zan looked at Mary as she nodded her head. A moment later Lucie appeared in the throne room. Looking at the holo-gram of Zan, Lucie pointed an accusing finger. “I suggest Sire,” Lucie hissed between her teeth. “That you get that unfeeling piece of garbage out of here before he stinks up the place with his treachery.”

Lucie growled as she whirled leaving the room her face blood red with rage.

Derrick nodded, though said nothing ‘til Lucie was gone. “I want everything, every little detail.”

Zan his head still low started to recount what had happened after Sherry contacted him. The whole time Derrick kept his anger in check. Then tears started as Zan started the last part of the tale.

“I had destroyed the ship that was emitting ripalon energy. Sherry’s trans-warp and hyper drive were down. We’d destroyed the last of the visible ships, I was about to pull her with the attractor beam when many more of them appeared. It was then that she sent Lucie to me asking me to protect her. She told me she was about to fire ALL her thermic missiles, that I had a minute to escape.”

Here Derrick could see Zan reliving the last moments he saw his wing mate. “I see you had no choice if you were to save her prime Lucie. Continue please,” Derrick’s terse voice stated.

Zan nodded as fresh tears started, “She kissed me goodbye. It ... it was the hardest thing I have ever done Sire. I was so thrilled to have her with me again, only to be completely helpless to aid her. If you wish for my termination Sire, I will understand.”

Derrick’s knuckles were white having gripped the arm of the chair next to him. Even his Grandmother Milley O’Toma, who’d been standing nearby had backed away from Derrick.

“First,” Derrick said in a low angry voice. “If you were terminated Sherry would be far angrier with me, than I am at the moment. Second you are the key to defeating these aliens. With all the readings I know you took I’m sure we will defeat them. Third you are the only one who knows where she was when she set the thermic missiles off. No, I don’t want your termination though I am going to work you as much as possible to find her.”

Zan’s face went through several emotions as Derrick made his speech; first shock, which melded into a look of anger, and then one of fierce determination. “I will do all and everything I can do to find her!” Zan nearly shouted.

Derrick looked at Zan and nodded, “Until we find her, I’m afraid that Lucie will continue to hate you. I’m sorry to say that can’t be helped. As I am sure you noticed they bonded quite closely.” Derrick looked at Mary as she nodded.

A moment later both Rayburn and Kimison appeared. “Yes Sire; you called us?”

Derrick nodded as he pointed to Zan. “Zan contains information, about an old enemy that has a new defense, you might say. I’d find it desirable if the both of you could find a counter for it.”

Both men looked at Zan intrigued by what Derrick had just said. “We need to start...” Kimison started then nodded as he saw that Zan was already downloading all that he had recorded. “Alright Sire we’re on it.” Kimison said then they winked out.

Derrick turned back to Zan, “I want you to start scanning for the new signal I had installed on all of you. With more than luck we should be able to find her quicker.”

A determined smile covered Zan’s face as he bowed then also winked out. Shaking his head Derrick sighed as he let his shoulders droop a bit. ‘Now to handle the rest of this,’ he thought. Turning toward his grandmother he steeled himself up for the fight he felt he was about to have.

“Alright Grams we are here.” Taking Shelby’s hand he presented her before his Grandmother and his mother who’d just appeared. Bowing to both of them even as Shelby did also Derrick stated, “I’d like the both of you to meet our Empress and my soon to be wife, Shelby.”

Milley O’Toma was about to reach out to Shelby when she stopped withdrawing her hand as if she were burned. “Shelby?” Milley said a hint of disgust in her voice. “The same as the ship that was responsible for my grandson getting hurt?” Milley angrily backed away scowling at the blonde, green eyed woman before her.

Sherry O’Toma had also backed away from Shelby a look of fear on her face. “You can’t unite with her, Derrick!” Sherry O’Toma stated as she backed further away.

Derrick’s face suddenly contorted into a mask of anger as he pointed at both his relatives. “I AM uniting with her. She was made for me literally. She has been through hell while I was in the past; she has been through hell even after I returned. She has more than earned the right to this union!”

Shelby’s face held a look of genuine shock at Derrick’s words. She then threw her arms around a startled Derrick as she kissed his cheek. Try as she might, she couldn’t hold back the tears of happiness that were threatening to spill from her eyes. Finally she thought he is starting to have feelings for me.

Milley O’Toma was about to object to Derrick, though the look in his eyes made her think he’d brook no argument. “Alright Derrick,” turning to Shelby she asked. “Are you alright with the three of us planning the union ceremony?”

Shelby’s head turned toward Milley, “Yes Ma’am, I’d prefer that you two helped as much as possible!”

Milley turned toward Sherry as Derrick’s mother nodded, “So, she is far smarter than I at first thought.”

Milley narrowed her eyes as she stared at Shelby, “Yes my dear, she is at that. Much smarter than I thought her at first also.” With that both Milley and Sherry welcomed Shelby as the three of them moved out of the room to plan.

Derrick’s eyes were wide as he groaned, “Dear god what have I done?” A chuckling behind him caused Derrick to turn seeing Johnathon Hartwell.

Leaning against the door jamb Hartwell had his arms crossed trying to hold back his amusement. “Your Grandmother always was a force to reckon with. I’m glad I was never on the receiving end of her anger.”

Derrick’s eyes narrowed as he stared at his long time friend. “I thought you were planning, finding out as much as you could about where the Duke might be.”

Johnathon nodded as he handed a print out of all he had. “Did you forget Sire? I did a major part of my growing up on that planet. Where you thought and I know the Baron is, has a great many strategical advantages. Unfortunately the coward chose well. Then again as we both have seen don’t they all usually?”

Derrick was quiet a moment as he thought about Hartwell’s statement. “I’m glad you’re here Admiral. It appears that we may have another problem. We lost Sherry today to an overpowering force. It also seems that this old enemy race has developed a light bending technology comparable to our light shield.”

“WHAT!? Shit this is bad Sire, I need to advise...” Hartwell started when Derrick shook his head. “Oh I see you are far ahead of me on this. I take it they are both working on a counter?” When Derrick nodded yes, Hartwell thought a moment, “‘bout like normal huh, Commander? Getting it from two fronts.”

Derrick’s eyes went wide a moment then a thin smile crossed his lips as he nodded his agreement. “It always seemed to be that way, no matter how much we had done or did.”

“Since they have tipped their hand, you think they might attack?” Hartwell asked concern heavy in his voice.

Derrick sat his hand on his chin as he sifted through all the information he had about this race. “I’m not sure they will for the moment. They lost a few ships when they attacked Sherry. Plus they use ripalon energy on some of their ships.” Derrick was thinking more as Hartwell waited. He’d seen the Commander like this before, what usually followed was a brilliant idea.

A few minutes later snapped his fingers a new thought cane to him. “You have something sir?” Hartwell asked hopeful to which Derrick nodded.

“This race is called the Tendrax, they are technological hoarders. From all I’ve read of them they depend more on their tech then much of anything else. The last time they were seen their tech was nothing compared to what they have now. It is obvious that some survived, copying what they saw. It also appears they improved upon it.” Derrick advised Hartwell.

“Are you thinking that they use ripalon energy with all their weapons and machinery?” Hartwell asked.

“It would explain why Sherry was completely blind to them before they appeared. They also know that the overproduction of it renders much of the EIG’s somewhat helpless. I need to advise Kimison and Rayburn of that fact if they haven’t seen it already.” Derrick replied.

Hartwell was about to make a suggestion when Derrick got a faraway look in his eyes. Damn Hartwell thought, just like my sister.

Derrick’s face lit up a huge smile crossing his features when he ‘heard’ Shelby. [Hello Derrick, I am so saddened at the loss of my daughter Sherry.]

[As am I, her wing mate Zan took it very hard. There are times I wish I hadn’t opened all of your emotion circuits as I had. It has saddened Zan also, though my promise to work him hard to find her has him more determined.] Derrick advised Shelby.

[That will give him the purpose he will need. I hope that I can be with you again a day sooner Derrick.] This news caught Derrick by surprise. [I was able to advance my regen without the adverse effects that the others suffered.]

[It will be good to have you back in the fleet Shelby. Lucie found three more of them before she was lost. Kimison and Rayburn have made great progress with the other parent ship’s casing. I hope they have it ready in a few days though, with all the new developments I’m not sure.] Derrick thought to Shelby.

[I believe in you Derrick, I know you and the empire will emerge victorious. I better rest more now, I should reemerge sometime tomorrow.] Shelby replied.

[Rest well Shelby.] Derrick said a huge smile on his face. He then looked over to Mary who nodded then contacted Kimison and Rayburn.

Onboard the Celeste where most of the Rangers that now worked for Derrick were; Dempsy, and Greeson had just completed another exercise. Bowing to each other Dempsy nodded as they both went into meditation. A few minutes into it a fiery redhead hologram appeared in front of Dempsy.

Dempsy’s left eye opened as he could feel a difference in the air of the room. “Yes? May I help you?” He said as he addressed Celeste. “Please forgive me as I do not know your name.”

Celeste nodded, “I am Celeste, sir.” This caused Dempsy to groan a bit. “I would not have disturbed you and your training unless necessary.” This got Dempsy’s attention. “I received a communication from a ship that is on its way here under hyper drive. I was told that they requested you to know that they are coming.”

Dempsy’s eyes shot wide as he tried to think of who would do this. “I see, did they mention any names?”

Celeste shook her head as she said, “No sir, they only said that it is time, and that the student is now a master, and worthy. Also something about she will wait no longer, therefore she has come for you.” Greeson was deep in meditation though he was listening as intensely as he could.

Dempsy’s eyes got large as he realized just who had said these things, and then larger still when he realized just WHO was onboard the ship heading toward them. Swallowing hard Dempsy nodded, “please respond that I will be ready for her arrival, though at present nothing can happen as the Emperor is on the Imperial planet.”

Celeste nodded as she winked out to send the transmission. Greeson felt Dempsy tremble a bit before he calmed then arose. Shocked Greeson opened an eye seeing that Dempsy was shaking a bit. What or WHO in the universe could scare; almost terrify his master this badly?