Chapter 78

0001 - Tempro
0003 - Conner- Thomas
0097 - Ace - Zimmel
0098 - Lucy
0101 - Shelby (mother ship)
0125 - Lars
0130 - Gillese
0200 - Ellen
0250 - Tendra
0301 - Rodrick
0403 - Johnathon
0778 - Jan
0798 - Celeste - Shelby (human)
0805 - Toran
0808 - Radella
0881 - Handrax
0908 - Tara - Mara
1000 - Sherry

Ungrown - unnumbered

0100 - Derry (father ship)
Rescued from Tendraxians
so far

4 on Shelby 2 in re-gen
8 on Lucy

Known and OR numbered

0501 - Thaddeus
???? - Lena

missing - 0667 - Marco
0999 - Zan - still lost

Kimison and Rayburn were still a little rattled, they had already started in on the commander’s orders. The thing is they were both certain that the man was suspicious. Both men looked over several projects that were laying on a nearby table.

“So, you think he has any idea what we’re working on?” Kimison asked.

Rayburn was looking back and forth between the table and Kimison. “Hell, I have no idea. Then again, the man was always far more observant than we thought. Not sure I want to test just how much he can suss out either.”

Kimison shivered a moment then nodded his agreement “I have to agree with you. Not really wanting to see him as pissed at us as he was before. I am sure he can find as competent scientists as us quite easily.”

A shimmering appeared next to the two men as Tempro appeared. “I find that statement to be highly unlikely. I am sure that the Emperor is under a lot of stress. I am also certain, that anything the both of you can do to alleviate that stress will garner his thanks and reward.”

Both men could only to stare at the holo-gram. “You really have no idea as to the who he really is. We served with him through the horror of war. A bloody, messy, confusing as hell war. One that at times, it seemed we were doing nothing to advance.” Kimison said.

“There were times that we felt we had been abandoned. Times when we thought there was no way we were getting out alive. The commander pulled us from the jaws of hell more times than we care to recall. We are loyal to him to a fault, the man is still military, therefore he still thinks with that mentality.” Rayburn continued.

“With us not following what he has ordered us to do, his military mind might think we are disobeying orders. We have to show a damn good reason for not doing exactly as he ordered.” Kimison explained.

“So, the improvements and the new machines you have started, is your working toward that end?” A surprised Tempro asked. To which both men nodded. “Then it would be acceptable if I was to lend my services to aid you?”

Wide grins broke out on both men’s faces as they were both vigorously nodding their agreement.

“Hello?” A familiar voice sounded from the speakers.

“Ah! Derry, no, we haven’t forgotten about you. Tempro is he ready to evacuate to space?” Kimison asked as he looked over the readings.

“Yes primes, I am reading forty percent regen of the body. Sixty percent of cerebral activity. Derry, I am about to evacuate you to space.” Tempro said.

“I am ready, I am anxious to begin serving the Emperor.” Derry said.

“Open bay one,” Kimison said as they all watched what was finished of the ship move out. “I’m sorry that you won’t be able to join the fleet for several days. You have to complete your regen before that is possible. Well, that and we have to make sure your personality matrix is functioning properly.”

“I concur, I do not wish to fail in my duty to the emperor.” Derry answered.

Both Rayburn and Kimison looked at each other, this they hoped was true. This was their first attempt making a personality, especially one as complex as the commander.

Shiloh and Grant appeared before Hartwell. “You called us sir?” Shiloh said as they both snapped off a salute.

Hartwell turned to smile at both men. “Yes, it appears that the both of you have been reassigned. Also,” there was a shimmering beside both men as the hologram of Derrick appeared.

“I regret that I am unable to be there to do this in person. Vice Admiral Gunter Shiloh, step forward.” Derrick said as both men could only stare at Derrick. Looking at Grant, Shiloh shrugged then moved forward to Hartwell. “For meritorious service and aid with the other empire business, I hereby promote you to admiral.”

Hartwell pinned a fourth star on Gunter who could only stare with his mouth hanging open. Hartwell shook his hand then whispered, “ close your mouth Gunter it might attract flies.” Gunter nodded closing his mouth saluted, then stepped back.

Derrick turned toward Grant, “Lower Rear Admiral Richard Grant, step forward.” Grant advanced to Hartwell with a slight smile. “For meritorious service and aid with the other empire business, I hereby promote you to Upper Rear Admiral.”

Hartwell smiled as he pinned a second star on Grant. “Welcome to my world the both of you.” Hartwell saluted then stepped back.

“As I stated I regret not being there to do this personally. With the threat of the Cregons upon both empires I am afraid that I am still trying to hammer out details. The both of you go to the empire planet. You”, Derrick said as he turned toward Shiloh, “have a family that is awaiting you. You,” here he turned to Grant, “need time off.”

“Sir?” Shiloh questioned.

“Both of you along with Jimison have been on duty for the last few months. Jimison, is engaged in more ways than one. He has an avenue to release all of his pent-up frustration. The both of you do not at the moment, though you Shiloh---?” Derrick started when there was the sound of small running feet.

“Mister nice man?” Derrick heard the voice of a small girl.

“In here,” Derrick shouted then heard the small feet divert, heading in his direction. A moment later Shelly Shiloh burst into the room followed closely by her mother, Empress Shelby and Mary.

Shelly ran to Derrick throwing her arms around him. “Hide me!” Shelly whispered to Derrick. “They want me to take a nap. I’m not even tired!”

A wide grin came to Derrick’s face as he felt almost all the tension drain from his body.

“Ah Miss Shelly, it is always so good to have you visit. I am sorry that, I haven’t been to visit you, so much has been going on. You know,” Derrick said low, “I think that there is someone who’d love to talk to you.”

Derrick slowly withdrew, revealing her father’s holo-gram. “PAPA!” Shelly screamed as he ran to then through the vision of Gunter. Shelly’s eyes opened wide, “Papa? Are you where the see-through lady is?”

Another gasp behind Shelly, had them turning to stare at his wife Mita. “Gunter! It is good to see you. I wish...” she started.

“Rest assured, I am sending him to be with all of you as soon as I can.” Derrick said making the smiles on Shelly and Mita’s faces grow large.

Both launched them selves at him as they were both hugging and kissing his cheek.

Mary and Shelby could only smile when they saw the look of pure joy on Derrick’s face.

“Hey!” They all heard Gunter shout. “I hope that the both of you save a lot of that for me. I have missed those kisses and hugs greatly.”

Shelly leaned up to whisper in Derrick’s ear. “I think that the see through lady is mad at me. I tried to go into a room with big letters on the door. Mainframe? She has been chasing me ever since.”

Mary sighed a moment, “I have not been chasing you the whole time. I only wanted you to stay away from there. If you damaged something there, I am afraid that I might disappear for a very long time. You are a very smart girl, I didn’t want you injured.”

Shelly’s eyes glazed over a moment as she stated. “I would not cause any damage to any logic nor personality banks. Though I was anxious to observe the full extent of your system.”

Derrick touched a band on his wrist, seeing that Shelly was rapidly returning to her more normal state. “Shelly?” Derrick asked as he saw the glaze look disappearing from her eyes.

Shelly was staring at Mary a moment more then, turned her attention toward Derrick. “Uncle Derry?” She asked then walked to Derrick, “I am better, no headache this time. I believe that Momma was able to suppress most of the damaging effects of the nanomites.” Turning toward Mary and Mita she stated, “I believe that .001 more microvolts might further impair more episodes.”

Mita looked at Mary, both nodded as Mary started to adjust the charge. “I do believe that will keep the episodes away further.” Mary said.

Shelly nodded then kissed Derrick on the cheek. “Thank you uncle Derry.” Shelly then fell into Derrick’s arms unconscious.

“Status?” Derrick asked.

“This latest adjustment should keep almost all her episodes at bay. She had to fight when the charge wasn’t enough. I am reading that she is healthy with no ill effects.” Mary said after she scanned Shelly again.

Derrick, Shelby and Mita all breathed a sigh of relief. Picking Shelly up Derrick walked her all the way across the palace. Placing her in her bed he saw that all her brothers had appeared deep concern on their faces.

“Let her rest guys, she has been through a lot today.” Derrick said to all three of her brothers that had appeared extremely worried looks on their faces.

The youngest boy’s hand gently tugged at Derrick’s shirt sleeve. “Sir?” The boy asked a few tears on his face. “Will she be ok? She is the only sister I have, I told her I would try to protect her.” Here the boy lowered his head as more tears escaped his eyes. “Please sir help her, she is the only sister we have.”

Mita’s eyes were wide she’d not heard not a word of this before. Looking from her son to Derrick, a pleading look in her eyes, Derrick nodded slightly to her.

For a moment Derrick’s thoughts drifted back a few hours. He’d convinced the emperor Kandra and the Delcrons to come to the empire planet for a while. He’d only been at it an hour, finishing several royal requests when all four of them had come in. Shaking his head, he still had no idea how he had achieved that small miracle.

Another shake of his head, cleared his thoughts as he now addressed what Shelly’s youngest brother asked. “We are doing all that we can to help her. She has even added to what we have done to help her.”

The boy nodded as he listened to Derrick. In a whispered voice he asked, “you ... you don’t think she will hate me? I have been so afraid that she would hate me when I couldn’t help her.”

“No, I don’t think that she will, she is your sister, family. She might be a little mad though, hate you? No, I don’t think so.” Derrick explained.

A wide, happy smile, slowly started to dominate the boys features. “Thank you sir, I will do my best for her.”

“I think, that will make her happier than you think, just be there for her. That I think, will help her more than anything.” Derrick replied as he turned to go.

“Thank you sir,” Mita told him outside of the room. “That, I believe will help more than you know, well the return of Gunter won’t hurt either.”

Derrick nodded then turned toward the opposite side of the palace. He still had the official dinner that the Delcrons had agreed to. Moments later he sat again at the desk he’d been at before. his day was starting to grow stranger and stranger.

With renewed vigor, Derrick again started in on the preparations for the dinner. An odd shimmering across the room had Derrick snapping his head toward it.

“Sire,” came Mary’s voice, “I am detecting a foreign transmission to this room. Should I attempt to block it?”

Attempt to block it? Since when, didn’t Mary NOT have ther power to block anything?

“Can you tell where it is emanating from?” Derrick asked almost afraid of the answer.

“The signal seems to be coming from the direction of the Delcron galaxy.” Mary replied.

Derrick nodded he’d been afraid that was where it was from. “Allow it, though, you are having trouble keeping the signal out?”

“Sire, this is no ordinary signal. It contains brain waves, plus it is backed by a substantial amount of broadcast power.” Mary informed Derrick.

Shit Derrick thought, these bugs were starting to seriously piss him off. “Keep working on blocking it, no need just letting them in without permission.”

“Open sire,” Mary replied.

“Ssssoo the great human ruler hassss power after all. Though you are the firsssst to block ussss, you won’t lassst long. Your antiquated machine will sssssoon be nothing. We will crussssh it, we ... what isssss happening?” The Cregon voice asked.

“You should do far more research before you insult a living machine.” Snapped Mary’s voice.

“This is not over! We will...” The Cregon started then the sounds of explosions then nothing.

Derrick had a smirk on his face as Mary appeared. “So, mind letting me in on the secret?” Derrick asked when he saw the look of satisfaction on Mary’s face.