Posted January 25, 2014
Jenson laid his aching body onto a Servor mattress. Immediately, he felt his eyes tugging closed. He desperately needed sleep. Still, rest was elusive as his racing thoughts kept him awake.
Despite Jensons best efforts, Mal was simply not the same afterward. He blamed himself for lying, leading to the deaths of the Masters. His innocence and exuberance vanished; he no longer smiled or laughed but was prone to sullenness and fits of brooding. The other Servors could sense some damage deep inside him and avoided him where they could. Mal became obsessed with the prophecy, believing that bringing his people to Earth was the only way to redeem his actions. As the Servors took control of the Jitz vessel, Mal sat in the captains chair, directing their actions. Despite his obvious emotional trauma, Jenson thought he had come a long way in a short time. The Servors had a lot of potential.
Kepler was no help, dismissing Mals and the other Servors 'squeamishness' with characteristic contempt while explaining that they were now all at war with the Jitz. She demanded that they be destroyed before traveling to Earth, an idea that, much to her delight, spread among the Servors on the ship very quickly. Jenson was furious with Kepler. Her reckless and unilateral actions, as well as utter contempt for the Servors demanded to be confronted.
However, discussions with the lieutenant proved fruitless. She had decided she was free to do whatever she wanted, and was using the prophecy as a blunt instrument to accomplish her goals. In the end, she offered her sidearm to Jenson and challenged him to shoot her for desertion. Exhausted, he had walked out. After that, there wasn't much else to say.
Jenson didn't like the new plan. Keplers new plan. It was as vicious and reckless as the old one. The Servors on board the ships and stations that protected Jitania were supposed to rebel and shut them all down. Then they were going to waltz over to the main planet and explode radiation bombs in the atmosphere to wipe out the entire population. Revenge from beyond the grave. Over in minutes. The GDF high command would agree with Kepler. This was a unique opportunity to wipe out the Jitz, sworn enemies of Earth. Any actions or casualties would be deemed necessary.
Jenson finally slipped into a deep slumber. In his dreams, he stalked through plain metal corridors, trying to find General Baboas office. All the offices had the same simple, golden nameplate on them, but they were the wrong names; each one seemed to have a simple, Servor name on it. When he finally found the Generals Office, the General wouldn't open the door. He whispered through the intercom, his voice thready and strange. We're pulling back our assets, Jenson. Defeat is inevitable. It was reliable tech - bottled in 1926. I love my daughter, Jenson. Jenson pushed the button to open the door and it flew open instantaneously, like the lift door on the Jitz ship. On the other side lay butchered Jitz, their blood pooling on the ground.
Jenson tossed in his sleep, his uniform growing damp with sweat.
~
Jenson tugged at his uniform and ran a hand through his hair. He hadn't had a shower since he awoke from cryo-stasis, which was too many hours ago. At least he had been able to get a few hours of sleep while they were en route to Jitania, but he didn't feel much better. Disturbed by dreams he could not remember, he awoke feeling haunted, wishing for nothing more than a hot shower.
Kepler looked grim and determined, like an unstoppable force. She stood straight and tall, her hand on her sidearm. Despite her projection of strength, Jenson knew she was exhausted. She was pale and had deep circles under her eyes. From what he understood she had refused the opportunity to sleep while they were en route.
They flanked Mal, who occupied the former captains seat.
Mal studied the terminal at his side, deciphering a string of lights and shapes that gave him information from the entire ship. Jenson had been trying to learn how to use the ships system, but he simply couldn't approach Mals level of skill. The Servor was on his home turf, and he was able to direct the ship with ease.
"We have arrived at Jitania." Mal said, breaking the silence.
"What about the other ships? The platforms?" Jenson asked urgently, putting his hand on Mals shoulder.
Mal was silent for a moment, flipping through several boxes of information rapidly. Then he nodded and looked up.
"The Servors turned them off, as you commanded Great One. They honour the prophecy, as I said they would."
Kepler exhaled sharply, as though she had been holding her breath for a long time.
"We are receiving a transmission from the planet..." Mal said, frowning.
"We don't need to hear some fecking Jitz transmission! Mal, turn off communications." Kepler interjected, a cruel streak running through her voice, "They'll be able to detect that, won't they?
Mal nodded and tapped several controls on the terminal. Jenson tried to follow what he was doing. He could see information readouts pertaining to the Jitz homeworld. Wind speed. Background radiation. Gravity distortions. Life readings. He bent over slightly and poked the last control.
"Good." Kepler continued, "That's how much they talked to us when they bombed Vancouver."
The life readings showed a vast density of living things on Jitania. They had oceans, mountains, forests, and animals, just like Earth. He tapped the last control, bringing up animal life forms on the planet.
"Mal, prime those bombs. They'll be able to detect that too, correct?" Kepler was exultant, like an almighty being passing a terrible judgment.
The terminal displayed life signs for billions of Jitz, a multitude of animals and... Servors. Jensons eyes grew wide. There were readouts for millions of Servors on the planet.
"Yes," Mal said. "Jenson, I need to use the controls. Would you mind?"
"Good." Kepler said with finality. "They're feeling fear right now, all of them. Let them chew on that for a minute."
Jenson looked up from the terminal, but kept his hand on the control. He was suddenly filled with a terrible certainty that what they were doing was a mistake. Their attack would kill millions of Servors, and condemn the survivors to the wilderness of space. Bombing Jitania and slaughtering all the Jitz was a solution for another time, his and Keplers time. It was no longer so simple. He looked at Kepler and finally saw the one thing in her that he had never wanted to see. The hatred in her heart that had slowly consumed her very being. She was no longer Janice Kepler, but a spirit of revenge. Jenson knew what he would have to do.
"Kepler... we can't do this. We're not doing this." He said quietly.
Kepler slowly turned towards him, a look of shock and confusion on her face. Mals eyes widened in surprise.
"We'd be killing millions of our own people. Committing xenocide in an act of simple retribution for something that happened hundreds of years ago. And we've seen how the Jitz didn't wipe us out when they had the chance, the Servors are proof of that. We don't have to do this."
"They're not my people!" Kepler shouted, oblivious to Mal and the surrounding Servors. "The Servors arent an example of mercy, they've been made into weaklings, nothing more than creatures born to serve the Jitz scum! It's an insult and a humiliation, can't you see that? Our people are all dead! I'm not going to let you get in the way now, Calvin!"
Kepler pulled out her sidearm, faster than Jenson thought possible. Even though he had his weapon ready, she almost got the drop on him. Jenson fired before she could take her aim, blowing out Keplers chest in a dramatically fatal shot. He heard a pop as Keplers weapon discharged, then felt a sickening impact.
He tasted smoke. There was shouting. I was ready, he thought. I got her.
~
Mal cradled Jensons head in his lap, letting fall tears that wet the other mans forehead. Though clearly in agony, Jenson was whispering something. Mal leaned forward and strained to hear. It was a series of numbers. He furrowed his brow, listening as Jenson repeated the numbers again and again while his voice slowly vanished like mist on the water. When he stopped, Mal did not cry. Jenson had done it again. He had given Mal a great weight of responsibility and changed his future forever.
The numbers were coordinates. Jenson had given Mal the map to find Earth.
(Epilogue to follow)
Despite Jensons best efforts, Mal was simply not the same afterward. He blamed himself for lying, leading to the deaths of the Masters. His innocence and exuberance vanished; he no longer smiled or laughed but was prone to sullenness and fits of brooding. The other Servors could sense some damage deep inside him and avoided him where they could. Mal became obsessed with the prophecy, believing that bringing his people to Earth was the only way to redeem his actions. As the Servors took control of the Jitz vessel, Mal sat in the captains chair, directing their actions. Despite his obvious emotional trauma, Jenson thought he had come a long way in a short time. The Servors had a lot of potential.
Kepler was no help, dismissing Mals and the other Servors 'squeamishness' with characteristic contempt while explaining that they were now all at war with the Jitz. She demanded that they be destroyed before traveling to Earth, an idea that, much to her delight, spread among the Servors on the ship very quickly. Jenson was furious with Kepler. Her reckless and unilateral actions, as well as utter contempt for the Servors demanded to be confronted.
However, discussions with the lieutenant proved fruitless. She had decided she was free to do whatever she wanted, and was using the prophecy as a blunt instrument to accomplish her goals. In the end, she offered her sidearm to Jenson and challenged him to shoot her for desertion. Exhausted, he had walked out. After that, there wasn't much else to say.
Jenson didn't like the new plan. Keplers new plan. It was as vicious and reckless as the old one. The Servors on board the ships and stations that protected Jitania were supposed to rebel and shut them all down. Then they were going to waltz over to the main planet and explode radiation bombs in the atmosphere to wipe out the entire population. Revenge from beyond the grave. Over in minutes. The GDF high command would agree with Kepler. This was a unique opportunity to wipe out the Jitz, sworn enemies of Earth. Any actions or casualties would be deemed necessary.
Jenson finally slipped into a deep slumber. In his dreams, he stalked through plain metal corridors, trying to find General Baboas office. All the offices had the same simple, golden nameplate on them, but they were the wrong names; each one seemed to have a simple, Servor name on it. When he finally found the Generals Office, the General wouldn't open the door. He whispered through the intercom, his voice thready and strange. We're pulling back our assets, Jenson. Defeat is inevitable. It was reliable tech - bottled in 1926. I love my daughter, Jenson. Jenson pushed the button to open the door and it flew open instantaneously, like the lift door on the Jitz ship. On the other side lay butchered Jitz, their blood pooling on the ground.
Jenson tossed in his sleep, his uniform growing damp with sweat.
~
Jenson tugged at his uniform and ran a hand through his hair. He hadn't had a shower since he awoke from cryo-stasis, which was too many hours ago. At least he had been able to get a few hours of sleep while they were en route to Jitania, but he didn't feel much better. Disturbed by dreams he could not remember, he awoke feeling haunted, wishing for nothing more than a hot shower.
Kepler looked grim and determined, like an unstoppable force. She stood straight and tall, her hand on her sidearm. Despite her projection of strength, Jenson knew she was exhausted. She was pale and had deep circles under her eyes. From what he understood she had refused the opportunity to sleep while they were en route.
They flanked Mal, who occupied the former captains seat.
Mal studied the terminal at his side, deciphering a string of lights and shapes that gave him information from the entire ship. Jenson had been trying to learn how to use the ships system, but he simply couldn't approach Mals level of skill. The Servor was on his home turf, and he was able to direct the ship with ease.
"We have arrived at Jitania." Mal said, breaking the silence.
"What about the other ships? The platforms?" Jenson asked urgently, putting his hand on Mals shoulder.
Mal was silent for a moment, flipping through several boxes of information rapidly. Then he nodded and looked up.
"The Servors turned them off, as you commanded Great One. They honour the prophecy, as I said they would."
Kepler exhaled sharply, as though she had been holding her breath for a long time.
"We are receiving a transmission from the planet..." Mal said, frowning.
"We don't need to hear some fecking Jitz transmission! Mal, turn off communications." Kepler interjected, a cruel streak running through her voice, "They'll be able to detect that, won't they?
Mal nodded and tapped several controls on the terminal. Jenson tried to follow what he was doing. He could see information readouts pertaining to the Jitz homeworld. Wind speed. Background radiation. Gravity distortions. Life readings. He bent over slightly and poked the last control.
"Good." Kepler continued, "That's how much they talked to us when they bombed Vancouver."
The life readings showed a vast density of living things on Jitania. They had oceans, mountains, forests, and animals, just like Earth. He tapped the last control, bringing up animal life forms on the planet.
"Mal, prime those bombs. They'll be able to detect that too, correct?" Kepler was exultant, like an almighty being passing a terrible judgment.
The terminal displayed life signs for billions of Jitz, a multitude of animals and... Servors. Jensons eyes grew wide. There were readouts for millions of Servors on the planet.
"Yes," Mal said. "Jenson, I need to use the controls. Would you mind?"
"Good." Kepler said with finality. "They're feeling fear right now, all of them. Let them chew on that for a minute."
Jenson looked up from the terminal, but kept his hand on the control. He was suddenly filled with a terrible certainty that what they were doing was a mistake. Their attack would kill millions of Servors, and condemn the survivors to the wilderness of space. Bombing Jitania and slaughtering all the Jitz was a solution for another time, his and Keplers time. It was no longer so simple. He looked at Kepler and finally saw the one thing in her that he had never wanted to see. The hatred in her heart that had slowly consumed her very being. She was no longer Janice Kepler, but a spirit of revenge. Jenson knew what he would have to do.
"Kepler... we can't do this. We're not doing this." He said quietly.
Kepler slowly turned towards him, a look of shock and confusion on her face. Mals eyes widened in surprise.
"We'd be killing millions of our own people. Committing xenocide in an act of simple retribution for something that happened hundreds of years ago. And we've seen how the Jitz didn't wipe us out when they had the chance, the Servors are proof of that. We don't have to do this."
"They're not my people!" Kepler shouted, oblivious to Mal and the surrounding Servors. "The Servors arent an example of mercy, they've been made into weaklings, nothing more than creatures born to serve the Jitz scum! It's an insult and a humiliation, can't you see that? Our people are all dead! I'm not going to let you get in the way now, Calvin!"
Kepler pulled out her sidearm, faster than Jenson thought possible. Even though he had his weapon ready, she almost got the drop on him. Jenson fired before she could take her aim, blowing out Keplers chest in a dramatically fatal shot. He heard a pop as Keplers weapon discharged, then felt a sickening impact.
He tasted smoke. There was shouting. I was ready, he thought. I got her.
~
Mal cradled Jensons head in his lap, letting fall tears that wet the other mans forehead. Though clearly in agony, Jenson was whispering something. Mal leaned forward and strained to hear. It was a series of numbers. He furrowed his brow, listening as Jenson repeated the numbers again and again while his voice slowly vanished like mist on the water. When he stopped, Mal did not cry. Jenson had done it again. He had given Mal a great weight of responsibility and changed his future forever.
The numbers were coordinates. Jenson had given Mal the map to find Earth.
(Epilogue to follow)
Post edited January 25, 2014 by maggotheart