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.”
