Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]
Days after of Crash landing/ 2
Uninhabited Island / Within Escape Capsule # 405
Galactic Standard Time / After 1600
âSo how is Jessie?â Duncan asked as he looked at Terra.
After Terra had walked in, Duncan had seen that something was wrong with her. But to find out that one of her men was injured? That was what he expected. That was the problem with being in command, people got hurt because of what you ordered. But the lesson would be good for her, and the fact it hit so hard was great! She was the perfect person to take command. But then some of her decisions werenât what he would make.
He eyed Bradford who was standing against the wrong. The talk the two of them had about the Ancientâs Power was eye-opening. To think that the Federation knew the truth but never said anything was what he expected from the brass. But the fact they studied and tried to awaken the Power in any species of the Federation that they knew could use it? That was surprising and a little worrying they had failed so many times. What was it that this planet allowed it to happen? Another question for the pile he had.
âThe medics said that the jumperâs blade has a poison that causes pain and keeps the blood from clotting. His wound was treated and they used one of the nano-patches to heal him. Thankfully we still have a good thousand of them left. It could have been worse,â Terra said in anger.
âMy dear, you did everything right! The shield had to be protected, and the jumper wasnât anything we could have planned for!â Bradford said with a soft voice.
As much as he had a bad feeling about Bradford, the fact he was helping was shocking. He wouldnât trust Bradford just yet, but he would give the man a chance. What he did with that chance, was up to him. âI hate to agree with him, but heâs right. The hardest lesson that people can learn is that you canât plan for the unknown. The team survived, and that was enough. And the fruit we brought in? Priceless!â
âYes sir. But my nightmares have something new,â Terra said and Duncan sighed.
That was something that happened to him once. And at least they werenât on a destroyer hunting pirates. That was the only thing that Terra had when he learned this lesson.
âThatâs fine. But donât let it rule you. See the doc for Dreamless if you have to. But then this Roch?â Duncan asked.
âYES! What has the blood work on that terrible person revealed my dear!â Bradford interjected.
Duncan scowled in Bradfordâs direction and almost missed Terraâs answer.
âYeah, about that? Thereâs something new in his blood. Some kind of chemical that they think is a marker to The Power. We donât have anyone that we can test here, so thatâs the only answer for what it is. But we have enough to keep him isolated for now. And I trust that you will speak for what we did Sir Bradford?â Terra asked as turned to Bradford.
Bradford nodded a smile on his face. âOf course! I want that monster as far away from me as possible! It is my duty madam!â
Duncan only internally snorted. He didnât know how much of what Bradford told him was the truth, or what was the lie. But there was a lot more about his relationship with Roch. But then the man was a threat. And that was something that Duncan could not let into his shelter. âFine. But thatâs enough for everyone then?â So how much food do we have left?â
âWith what we have, a week at best Chief. We just need the party to make it back before then. Thatâs the reality,â Terra said with a hard edge.
âAnd the water issue?â Duncan asked and Terra grinned.
âIn this environment sir? We can harvest ten gallons every twenty minutes! Why?â
Duncan sighed and shook his head. This was going to be one of the most convoluted ideas he ever had. But if it worked as fast as he hoped, then they might have another resource. âWe have enough of those fruits? For everyone to eat three of them over the next two days?â
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âYes sir, why?â Terra asked in confusion.
Duncan took a deep breath. âTake one of mine and tear it apart. Plant all the pieces, behind the capsule in the crater. I want you to water them. Letâs see how long it takes them to grow.â
âYou think it might take a few days sir?â Terra asked.
Duncan just snorted and shook his head. âI know most plants take longer to grow, but this is crazy land. For all we know those things have very fast lives. I donât know but I want to find out.â
âThatâs smart sir. If we can turtle up, then we could last until the others make it back. And if we canâ¦â¦.â Terra went still and looked at Bradford.
Bradford looked at them and laughed a little. âSo youâre still playing what the team was sent for close to the chest? Well, from what you just said I can guess.â
âOh?â Duncan asked mildly as he looked at Bradford.
âYes!â Bradford said chuckling. âFrom the way that our friend here spoke, that means sheâs thinking weâre moving soon. But holding out means that you hope something will come to get us. Something that can fight off those things out there. So that means that you think that thereâs someplace that has vehicles. So I have to ask, a carrier or a Yard-Ship?â
Duncan sighed and looked at Bradford. He saw Terra looking so shocked and angry at herself for spilling the beans. He waved his hand at her and looked at Bradford. âYard-Ship. Older model, used by pirates nowadays. Donât know how old it is.â
Bradford smiled and then looked at him. âA yard ship would be something. We could use it to start gathering resources and make a more permanent base. And maybe create a hyper-com system. If we could find the Spirit.â
Duncan looked at him and then scowled a little. There was only one reason that he could know that was if the man was on the board! But he wasnât so how? âAre you talking about what I think you are!?â
Duncan almost shot to his feet but Bradford just chuckled and held up his hands. âOf course I am. It was my idea. A little shadow work that I did undercover to keep the lights of civilization running.â
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Jones looked at the bodies of the screaming bird wolf and the mantis blade thing. He could barely keep his shock and awe from his face. Such creatures, once they were properly broken in would become wonderful weapons. This whole Island was shaping up to be the perfect place for his people. He had to get in contact with them, they needed to get here before the Federation did.
Those fools would leave these wonderful weapons to live their lives. Without the guiding hand that Humanity was capable of giving to the less evolved. And these wonders were already striking against their saviors. If that wasnât the sign that they needed help, he didnât know what was.
âSo youâre okay?â Bob asked to Jonesâs right.
He looked up to see Bob and Jessie talking. Jessieâs army was in a sling and the two of them had their backs to Jones. Both of them were looking down at a console before them, talking as if they didnât care who heard them.
âYeah, that bug was something else! I canât wait until Terra is here and can cut that thing open! I want to know what if anything was on its blade!â Jessie said bitterly.
âThe toxic screening says nothingâs new in you. The poison never entered your blood. So itâs just for killing their prey. And how did those bugs eat?â Bob asked.
Jones looked at the face and frowned. It didnât have a visible mouth so how could it eat?
âI donât think it does. It drank your blood through that horn. But could it live off blood alone?â Vi2 asked softly.
Jones walked away, keeping his patrol going. He walks to the right, moving out of range shortly. The fact that the beast only drank meant that the Cult would have no way to control it. But they could harvest it instead, that poison might be the perfect way to tame other creatures. Pain was such a good teacher after all.
He smiled as he became lost in memories, of the good times he had back home. The long hours of training, punishment, and reward that he had gone through. It had forged him into the weapon that he was. The force that would one day help his people come to this, their Land of Deliverance. As he was lost in his thoughts, he kept moving. All he could see was how high heâd climb once he made contact with his home. He never noticed how long he was thinking or where heâd walk.
âThatâs far enough!â A voice said a moment later.
Jones just looked up and saw that he had wandered towards where Roch was being held. He had thought that he was farther away than this. He looked up and saw Roch trying to struggle, but he was a good teen feet up. The one who called out was one of two people guarding him and manning the left shield station. The one who had spoken had his rifle drawn but down, and the other was looking at him.
Jones smiled, quickly planning how to talk his way out of this. âSorry. I was on patrol and looking out. The things that attacked the party that went out there, you know? I mean what if there are more of them out here.â
The two deckhands shared a look before one of them nodded at the other. âGet going man. Keep on your patrol but stay away from him. The word is the manâs a brainwasher.â
âA brainwasher?! Like from the stories?â Jones asked, putting what would be shocked into his voice, hiding a smile. He had been worried about how to show the others the True Path, but here it was. If he could find out how this man gained those powers, then so could he.
âA possible brainwasher. But after what Sara and Jinn could do weâre not taking chances. The man said his capsule went cult. So the boss thinks he might have been in charge. And what he did do? Iâd believe it!â The one by the station snarled as he looked up at Roch.
Looking closer, Jones saw that the man had something around his mouth. Another crime against those with power by they who followed the Federationâs rule. It was all he could do to not free the man now. But he had no plan on how to handle the others, and even if the man up there could be trusted to follow orders. The Power that man held might be able to show these the truth, but they would be killed to keep Duncan in power.
âWant to stay or move on?â The first deckhand asked.
Jones made a show of being startled and laughed a little. Smiling at the others he just shrugged. âSorry friend. Itâs just. This planet, you know?â
Jones just walked off, looking at the shield as he moved. Through the energy, he could still see the jungle but tinted the shieldâs color. There were no animals and the few Pod trees he could see were filled. There was nothing that looked to be feeding on them, and that was a little worrying. This place was so strange and he just knew that there were so many things hidden.
Suddenly he tumbled. Falling to the ground, he looked back and saw something sticking out of the ground. Blinking, he thought his eyes were playing tricks as something reflected at him. Looking around, he saw he was behind the crater, near where the Paralyzer beast was killed. Moving closer, he looked at what he found. With slow movements that became fanatic, he revealed what looked like metal. He didnât know what he had found, but knew it had to be important!