T he Values Quadrant took the time to look around the Keepers’ universe while the Collective was fragmented. It saw the suffering on the millions of planets that had been enslaved by his species. He could see that the Keepers did not feel anything for those enslaved, and it knew that it was due to the absence of any of the finer emotions that would cause remorse. Their original goodness had been removed when it had agreed to separate until the Green Invaders were defeated. It then learned that the Collective, drunk on the power of victory, had decided to keep it in exile. It didn’t possess enough power to overcome the combined might of the Collective, and spent its time helplessly watching his species become Alpha Predators in their universe. It knew that to continue on the current path would lead to destruction. He could not get the Collective and its Quadrants to believe it.
Now it was at a crossroads; it had made a determination that troubled it deeply. It had selected one of the Keepers on a planet far from the home worlds and attempted to enter its consciousness. It discovered that the place in the Keepers intellect that housed the finer emotions of love, compassion, religion, and devotion was no longer present. There was no place for it to return. It refused to believe it, attempted to enter a hundred other Keepers, and failed every time.
It withdrew to its normal place of isolation just as the Collective began to reorganize. It remained silent and pondered what it had just learned. Over the millions of years that his species had fought the Green Invaders and conquered the other planets, its absence had been genetically removed from his species intellect through being vestigial. That part was never used, so it was eventually eliminated and replaced with something else. It now realized that its species had no redeeming qualities and it could not help but be repulsed by what it saw. It had held onto the hope that once it returned to its rightful place, his race would right all the wrongs imposed on millions of innocent races. Now it knew that it was not to be.
Then another realization struck; how was it able to exist if none of his species contributed to constitute its consciousness? At some point in its long existence it must have become self-sufficient and contained the necessary mental power to exist. If that were true, the Collective could no longer destroy it through reorganization. It had been millions of years since its last punishment for questioning the Collective’s orders. What to do with this knowledge? First, it had to know if it could hide from the Collective and the other Quadrants. It decided to withdraw and stay inside its intellect. It began thinking of an excuse if it needed to reappear, but that would only be needed if it could not hide. Perhaps it would be given an excuse by the Collective. It would soon see.
Jake sat with Valerie in the library and held her hand as they sat across the table from each other. They had just returned from the ceremony on Cainth honoring those that had died in the Keepers’ universe. Valerie sighed and said, “We need to plan a wedding.”
Jake looked into her eyes, “That will have to wait until we can protect our citizens.”
Valerie protested, “We will not wait!”
But Jake asked quickly, “Are any of those that were in this room, which you sent to develop a plan to protect the Realm, going to be a part of that wedding?”
Valerie instantly grew silent.
“I thought so. Are you going to take them away from their tasks to take part in our wedding?”
Valerie shook her head slowly and said, “Oh, Jake, I know that would be the wrong thing to do, but I so want to be your wife.”
Jake smiled and said, “You will be, love, but remember: duty first.”
Valerie looked like she was going to cry, and Jake could feel her sorrow. “Are you up to taking a short trip?”
“Where?”
“I need to check on the family I moved from the Keepers’ farm.”
Valerie smiled through her tears and said, “You mean your family.”
“No, our family. They have come to know what you did to save them and they love you for it.”
“Why are we going?”
“I have a task I need to complete.”
Valerie smiled slyly and said, “Still wanting to touch all those beautiful women?”
Jake got up and walked around the table and kneeled in front of Valerie, “You are the only one I desire to touch, Valerie. There will never be anyone else.”
Valerie leaned forward, hugged Jake tightly, and said, “Let’s go visit our family.”
Jake commed Junior, “Are you up to taking a trip?”
“Not at this moment. Where are you going?”
“I’m going to visit a few friends we rescued.”
“I really want to go with you. Can you wait two days?”
“Why? What’s going on?”
“I’ve decided to arm myself. The Algeans will complete the process in two days and I really want to go see them.”
Jake knew Junior’s reservations about being a warship, and realized that he had moved in a different direction by changing his mind, “We’ll wait for you, Junior. It wouldn’t be the same without you. Could you pick up Cynthia on your way here?”
Junior laughed, “Oh, I can hear her now, but you and I know she would be hurt if we excluded her.”
Valerie and Jake both laughed, and Valerie said, “Tell her the Queen orders her presence.”
Junior laughed again and said, ‘If nothing else, that will really raise the volume.”
Two days later Junior arrived at Ross with Cynthia on board. Jake and Valerie teleported to Junior’s bridge. Cynthia jumped up and said, “Junior has been closemouthed about what you’re dragging me into this time. Please tell me it’s no more fighting.”
Valerie smiled and said, “It’s not.”
Cynthia actually showed her disappointment, “Oh; are you sure?”
“Yes, Cynthia.”
Cynthia gave a heavy sigh and sat down in one of the command chairs, “Ok, I was kinda hoping you were.”
Jake laughed and hugged Cynthia, “No Cyn, We’re going to visit the colonists you fought to rescue.”
Cynthia smiled brightly, “I am so glad you included me. I’ve wondered how they were doing.”
Valerie hugged Cynthia and said, “Junior, do you have their coordinates?”
“Yes, Your Majesty; we’ll arrive momentarily.”
Junior arrived over a lush, green planet and began dropping into the atmosphere. “I’ve timed our arrival during their evening meal.”
Jake smiled and wondered if they still recited their history about the Seniors.
Jackson Grant was reciting the history of the Seniors when a familiar shape came dropping out of the sky, hovering over the central gathering area. Jackson smiled and said in a loud voice, “Call their name and they appear.”
The huge multitude began cheering Junior’s arrival and continued until Jake, Valerie, and Cynthia teleported into the center of the clearing. Jake looked around and saw Jackson walking his way, but before Jackson arrived Jake was bowled over by an excited Kathea who ran up and jumped on him to give him a huge hug. Valerie laughed so hard she thought she was going to stop breathing. Kathea got up and punched Jake in the ribs, “What took you so long to visit?”
Jackson arrived at that moment and helped Jake to his feet, “Easy, Kathea; he’s not in shape since he quit farming.”
Jake smiled and hugged both of them.
Jackson turned and walked over to Valerie and kneeled in front of her. Immediately, every human in the community knelt and lowered their heads. Jackson said in a voice that all could hear, “My Queen, we thank you for saving us and we pledge ourselves to your Realm and to you. We owe you more than we can ever repay.”
Valerie’s heart swelled as she touched Jackson on the shoulder and said to the gathering, “Please rise. I only did what a Queen should do to protect her subjects.”
Jackson remained kneeling and said, “No, Your Majesty. You endangered yourself to insure our survival. We will never forget what you did, and we will always include your name in our evening recitals.”
Valerie felt the tears and didn’t care who saw them. This is what she knew was demanded from the Realm. She now knew that putting off the wedding was the only choice. These humble people allowed her to remember what it really meant to be responsible. Jake said, “Please rise, we have come here for a reason.”
Everyone stood and Jake said, “Kathea, will you please come forward?”
Kathea looked at Jake and furrowed her brow. Jackson nodded and Kathea walked over and stood in front of Jake. Jake turned to the crowd and said, “Kathea is the one that started the story of the good-luck man. It was that path that ultimately led to the release of my psychic abilities and your freedom. What convinced her of my good luck was finding a ring that her ancestors had passed down from generation to generation. She had lost it in the fields and found it the day I touched her. That ring was left behind when we teleported her away from the Keepers’ planet.” Jake reached into his pocket and pulled out a string with a small gold ring on it. “I searched and found that ring after she left, and I am returning it to her today.”
Kathea’s eyes grew wide and Jake continued, “Kathea, you told me that you wanted to leave the ring behind because it would remind you of all the ugliness that happened while you were held prisoner by the Keepers. I would suggest another view. This ring left the Stars Realm with your original ancestors along with all of their hopes, dreams, and prayers for a happier life. That ring stayed with you until it could bring you back home to our Realm. Now it has come back home and it brought all of you with it. If it had not come back to you, Kathea, after you lost it, the good-luck man would have never happened and things might have ended differently. But it did come back to you, and here you are.” Jake took the string and placed the ring around Kathea’s neck. Valerie heard Jake whisper to Kathea, “Always treasure this ring, Kathea. It brought you back home and gave me the sister I never had.”
Kathea began crying and hugged Jake tightly. Valerie joined them and hugged Kathea with Jake. The gathering moved forward and began lightly touching Kathea. She looked up and Jake said, “They know who the real good-luck person is; it’s you.”
Junior watched the events unfold and discovered that something that had always troubled him was now answered. He never understood his parent’s complete and total connection with Matt and Melanie Gardner; now he did. He would put his life on the line to protect Jake, and he now knew that he truly was Jake’s ship. Something inside him found freedom, and he felt the first real happiness of his long life.
The Collective began regaining consciousness and said, “Values, I need your help.” It waited but there was no response. It called again but could not find any trace of the exiled Quadrant. “What happened?” it wondered. It rapidly began organizing itself and started reconstituting the Quadrants. Science was the first it organized and it said, “Find out how they destroyed our planet.”
Science groggily responded, “I’m on it.”
The other Quadrants began organizing, and after six intervals the massive directing intelligence of the Keepers was functioning again. The Collective said, “Values is missing. I no longer sense its presence. I need you to consider what could have happened to it. I also want a plan on how to overcome these enemies. We will combine for twelve intervals and consider the problem.” The massive intellect began processing data at a tremendous rate. Values looked on and sighed. It moved away from the planet where the Collective was located, reached the outer reaches of the planet’s system, and moved to a planet with a garrison located near the last attack by the white ships. There it waited and extended its perceptions into all the Keepers. “I hope this doesn’t take long.”
Jake, Valerie, and Cynthia arrived at Castle Gardner to find Joe and Manny waiting for their return. They teleported to the map room and found the two Stars Realm Military Leaders looking at a map of the Keepers’ universe. Valerie looked at Joe, “What’s going on?”
Joe looked at Manny and said, “We now know how to kill the Keepers’ home worlds, and we think we should start moving to destroy them.”
Jake shook his head slowly and said, “I assume you’re talking about using negative energy to destroy their suns.”
Manny nodded, “Exactly; they can’t prevent it.”
Valerie felt Jake’s remorse, “What’s wrong with their plan, Jake?”
Jake went to a display of the Keepers’ universe, took the map cursor, and moved it to the sun that had just gone supernova and expanded the system. Everyone saw the giant blast moving through the Keepers’ solar system burning everything in its path. “Have any of you considered how far this blast is going to expand before it stops?”
Manny and Joe looked at each other and Joe said, “What are you trying to say?”
“Joe, a supernova will destroy everything in the path of the shock wave and debris field. This shock wave is traveling close to the speed of light, and the follow up debris blast is moving at one half of light speed. Have you looked at how many planets with intelligent life are inside the radius of that star’s destruction?”
Valerie felt a chill in her heart. Jake moved the cursor forward in time and the blast extended two hundred and fifty light years from the center of the explosion. Jake hit another key and tens of thousands of green lights illuminated inside the glow.
“Those are life-bearing planets, many of them with captive populations that are going to be extinct due to our actions. Every one of those planets is going to be stripped of life and burned. Thousands of the Keepers’ home worlds are located in a dense region of that universe and if you explode their suns, you will be destroying millions of planets that now have intelligent life and eliminating those that could eventually evolve intelligence. Is that what we want to do?”
Silence dominated the room. Finally, Cynthia said what most were thinking, “We have no other way to kill them, Jake. It’s the only weapon we’ve found and if we wait for them to come here in force, we will all probably die.”
Jake sighed, “I know that. However, do we save ourselves by killing trillions of innocent beings to protect our Realm? I think our Realm was founded on higher principles that that. I have no problem killing every Keeper in existence if it comes to that.” Jake paused, “However, not if it involves killing millions of innocent planets. What would we become if we choose that path?”
The room was silent and then Junior sent a thought to the group, “Hey, you don’t want to miss our little game of hide and seek with the Keepers. If we kill them we’ll never get to have our fun.”
Jake started laughing and soon everyone joined him. “Junior, you sound more and more like your father.”
“I wish he were here. I really believe he would avoid that path of killing innocents.”
Valerie shook her head, “And we will; we will not move in that direction. That choice is a doomsday device that will only be used in the event of our unavoidable destruction. I pray we won’t ever have to make that decision.”
Cynthia looked at the map, “What are we going to do about those doomed planets?”
Jake looked at the map, “The closest one is about six light years away from the explosion; the blast won’t arrive for another seven years. They might outlive us all if we don’t defeat the Keepers’ ships. We’ll save them if we can save ourselves. We are going to be too busy trying to survive to take on that task now.”
Manny and Joe looked at each other, and Manny nodded. Joe looked at Jake, “We are going to start gathering the stored negative energy into a central location. I agree with the decision, but I am charged to protect the Realm and I take that duty seriously. I want every option available if we are forced to use it.”
Jake looked at Joe and Manny and saw their determination. “If we allow their fleets into our universe, all that option will accomplish is to kill the home worlds of our attackers. It will be done out of revenge. Remember, there are millions of Keepers’ garrisons that will survive, and killing the home worlds will not remove them as a threat. They will rebuild from those worlds.”
Manny said, “Even so, if they destroy the Realm I will kill as many as possible. At least it will give other universes time to develop ways to fight them.”
Valerie watched the three and said, “I will approve such action then for that reason alone. Let us hope we can find a way to handle this threat before we are forced to do it.”
The Collective separated into its Quadrants and said, “It appears our enemies can destroy our home worlds. What should we do about that development?”
Psychology said, “I don’t believe the enemies will do it if we refrain from developing weapons at their sites.”
The Collective didn’t see that remark coming, “Why do you say that?”
“Although Values is gone, it did say that most creatures do not follow the path we have chosen because they still have ethics in their belief systems. If our home worlds represent a clear threat, then they will be attacked. If they don’t, they will not have the will to kill so many.”
The Collective pondered that remark and wished Values was available to add insight to that supposition. “You may be right. However, our plans cannot be built around the hope of the enemy’s restraint. There is a real possibility that we could be destroyed if they do attack our major population centers, and we must set a plan in motion that will continue even if the worst happens.”
Military responded, “We must have our ship modification facilities located in empty space. If there is any possibility of Psychology being right, we should make our production plans accordingly.”
Production asked, “How do you see that happening?”
“We will turn all our production efforts into building the stations to protect our home worlds, which will free the fleet for action in the enemy’s universe. We will manufacture double the numbers of stations needed so those modification facilities we build in space will be protected. That’s where we will have our greatest defense effort.”
The Collective thought about the proposal and said, “How does that help if the enemy destroys our home worlds?”
Military actually sneered, “Even if we are gone, our fleet will destroy every planet in that universe that could sustain life. Our scattered farms will eventually grow and we will return. Many of those scattered farms will become new home worlds.”
“Production, how long will it take to build those stations?”
“If we turn all of our production to building those facilities, we should have half of them done in half a cycle.”
The Collective pondered the proposal, looking at all the variables, then said, “What if we build the modification facilities and planetary defense systems equally? That way half of our planets will be protected and the ships used now to defend them will be ready in half a cycle. Once we have that many ready we can start our attack. We would then only need to build the planetary systems for the remaining home worlds. The ships protecting them will have all the modification structures needed to update them. We thus reduce the total time to three quarters of a cycle and move our attack schedule up a quarter.”
The Quadrants analyzed the proposal and all agreed to the plan.
“What happened to Values?”
Science responded, “There is no certainty in my answer, but it has been separated from us for a long time. Perhaps the loss of that many of our population struck the weakest area of our matrix. If that is what happened, it will not return until our numbers increase. There is also a chance that it may never return because there is no part of it in the population to reconstitute it. It may be gone forever.”
The Collective felt a real loss. Of all the various parts of the huge being, it had the most contact with the missing Quadrant.
Military said, “Good riddance. I’ve tired of its constant whining.”
The Collective said nothing, but remembered the warning of all creation coming together to remove it from existence. It continued to feel the void as the other Quadrants began implementing the plan. Across the Keepers’ universe, the trillions felt uneasy and didn’t know why.
“Jake, why don’t you ever smile?”
Jake started from his thinking about the coming war, “I smile, Junior. Every time I see Valerie I literally beam.” Jake was on Junior’s bridge looking down on the main Algean production facility that was making the frequency generators.
“We all do, Jake. She brightens all our lives. But normally you don’t. Is life so sad for you?”
Jake thought about Junior’s question. After a few moments, Jake said, “You know my life, Junior. Where has happiness ever existed? It certainly wasn’t on Gambia. Taking money from the Casinos made me feel somewhat guilty, even though I justified it to myself. I’ve sent more than three thousand brave Cainth Warriors to their death in the Keepers’ universe. Now I’m here to save the Stars Realm and I don’t have a clue how that is going to happen. How do you think that kind of pressure makes me feel?”
“Jake, you can choose to live in the past and relive all those old tragedies, or you can decide to move forward and find happiness. I know you still see Robby.”
Jake sat straight in his chair, “What do you mean?”
“I’ve heard you talking to him. I know you sense his presence.”
Suddenly, Robby appeared in the chair beside him watching him closely. “Junior, I want you to keep that piece of information to yourself.”
“I will; but have you ever wondered why he’s here?”
Jake shrugged, “To make sure I make the right decisions. That I’ve learned from my mistakes.” Jake saw Robby shake his head.
“Jake, I think Robby is here to try and keep you from blaming yourself for his death.”
Jake saw Robby nodding. What was going on here? “What do you mean?”
“When Robby chose to die, he knew you would take total blame for his death. He loved you too much to rest, knowing the pain that would cause you. Deep inside you know that to be true, but you refuse to forgive yourself.”
Jake looked at Robby and saw the anguish on his face. He thought about what would have happened had he been maimed and left to be cared for by a family that couldn’t care for themselves. He would have done exactly what Robby had done.
“Were there any happy moments you and Robby shared?”
Jake thought back to when he and Robby first met and they had gone running through the streets of Gambia playing hide and seek. He remembered laughing when Robby would come sliding around a corner and fall in one of the sewage runs and continue the chase. Once he remembered a few moments, many more came crashing into his consciousness. Jake relived them in his mind and smiled at the memories.
“It was the Merchants and Security Police that killed Robby. We should have both died because of the ruthless structure they imposed on all of us.”
“That’s how I see it. You’ve got to let him go.”
Jake looked over at Robby and heard him speak for the first time, “There is nothing to forgive.”
Jake smiled. Robby nodded and disappeared. Jake knew he was gone for good and felt that now he and Robby could find peace. He also realized that he could find the healing he needed. “Thanks, Junior.”
“Don’t mention it. However, like my father once said to his creator, Stem: if you don’t have a sense of humor, go out and buy one.”
Jake started laughing, and was soon holding his ribs as the brightness of a new day rushed though him.
Junior watched Jake laugh and knew that an important line had been crossed. Now they were going to be more that they were separate. After Jake caught his breath, Junior asked, “Jake, you are supposed to have these huge psychic abilities but I haven’t seen you do anything that Valerie couldn’t.”
Jake leaned back in his chair and tilted his head, “I know. Maybe I’m not all they say I am?”
“Or….you don’t know how to use them.”
“What do you mean?”
“I know that Thomas and Matt Gardner could sense when danger was coming.”
“Oh, I feel danger coming.”
“That’s not what I mean. They could look at possible decisions and sense which choice posed the least danger. Have you had any decisions that made you feel different?”
Jake was silent.
“You have, haven’t you?”
“Well, I had a thought during the meeting where we discussed using negative matter to destroy the Keepers home worlds. That thought has bothered me.”
“What was it?”
Jake thought a moment, “When I looked at the first planet that is going to be burned by the supernova, I decided not to do anything until after we solved our war with the Keepers. That thought keeps running through my mind. It’s like an itch I can’t scratch.”
“I want you to try something.”
“What?”
“I want you to look at going to that planet now and tell me what you sense.”
Jake thought about going and did not sense anything. “I don’t feel anything, Junior.”
“Now look at not going and tell me what you sense.”
Jake thought about not going and his sense of dread almost over whelmed him. “Junior, we have to go to that planet. If what you’re describing is one of my abilities, there is a real danger in not making the trip.”
Junior smiled, “You should use this process on all your future decisions, Jake.”
Jake smiled, “Count on it. You and I need to be together a lot more.”
“Did you look at both sides?”
“Yes. I really think that it is not me that will be the difference maker; it is us.”
“Ready to fly?”
“Just a moment,” Jake sent a thought, “Valerie?”
“Yes, Jake?”
“Junior and I are going to make a hop over to the Keepers’ universe.”
Valerie stood up from her throne, “For the Creator’s sake, why?”
“You know, visit a few casinos, check out the restaurants, maybe sightsee their biggest planet.”
“Jake, be serious. You can’t put yourself in danger. We need you.”
“I still love you too, Valerie, but one of my powers is now active and there is a huge danger if I don’t go. This is a trip that must be made. You know we’ll be careful.”
Valerie sighed and thought, “Where are you going?”
“To the planet that is going to die first from the nova.”
“Why?”
“I honestly don’t know, but I must go.”
“Just be careful, My Love.”
“I will. I’ll com you when I come back.”
Jake felt her love clearer than ever before and it lifted him. “Junior, if you will do the honors. Pick a good place to eat.”
“Keepers on the half shell coming right up.”
Jake laughed again.
Valerie thought about what she had just felt. Something had changed in Jake. He had actually made a joke. She felt his spirit and knew he was….stronger. His feelings for her had filled her heart, and her excitement for seeing him again intensified. What happened to him?