“What offer?”
“This is the first of a new class of Searcher Vessels. The ship’s name is Grace and I want you to be her partner.”
Virze’s eyes grew wide and she sat down on the floor, “Are you serious?”
“Yes, I am. I’ve seen how you have taken part in the planning for Bristone’s defense and I confess that I’ve been highly impressed with what I’ve seen.”
Virze looked at Scotty and then said, “Grace, does this meet with your approval? I know I’m not worthy of you but I do promise to do my best to be a great partner. I’ve been so jealous of Timmy having Greyson as his partner.”
“The fact that you asked about my approval goes a long way towards making me feel good about having you. Welcome aboard.”
Virze looked around and said, “This Bridge is a lot bigger than Greyson’s. How large are you?”
“I’m a little more than 3,200 feet long.”
Virze sat there with her mouth open. Then she asked, “Am I the first one to be a partner on this class of ship?”
“You are.”
“Outstanding!! Now Timmy can see what jealousy feels like.”
“Virze, Greyson will be moved to a ship just like me soon.”
“Yes, but I got my ship first. Now I can give him his jacket back and get one of my own.”
“You’ll find it in your personal quarters.”
“How do I get there?”
“Just step up to the bridge’s exit and say, “Personal quarters” and step through. When you’re ready to return; say bridge and step through your door.”
Oh, Grace, this is going to be the most exciting time of my life. Thank you so much for allowing me to join you!” Virze jumped up and ran to the door and said, “Personal Quarters,” and stepped through.
Grace said, “She reminds me of Melanie when she first joined me all those centuries ago.”
Scotty watched Virze disappear and said, “I want you to take her to the Life Province and meet Jessica and Greyson. She and you need to evaluate what’s going on and help me formulate a plan on what to do next.”
“We’ll leave as soon as she comes back to the bridge. I need her to get imprinted to the systems so that she can use them.”
“Thanks, Grace. You know your opinion carries a lot of weight with me.”
“That means a lot. I’m sending you down to Julie. Congratulations, again.”
Scotty disappeared from the Bridge.
Virze reappeared yelling, “It fits perfectly. How did you know?”
“I looked at you in Emperor Robbins’s mind and teleported it in.”
Virze tilted her head, “Are you telepathic?”
“Yes, I am. Once you’re imprinted on my systems you will be able to contact me telepathically as well.”
“Will that make me telepathic?”
“No, only with me.”
“Oh.”
“Don’t act so disappointed. Once Timmy is imprinted on Greyson, you’ll also be able to communicate with him mentally through our communications’ system.”
Virze’s smile was huge, “Great. I hate being separated from him.”
Grace felt her feelings for the young woman grow. She was also an extreme level passive psychic. Her children wouldn’t need a ship to communicate telepathically. “Virze come and sit in the command chair and place your right hand in the indentation on the chair’s arm.”
Virze ran and jumped into the chair and put her hand on the arm and closed her eyes and began seeing the structure of the most powerful ship ever produced in the universe.
Chapter Nine
Greyson and Jessica were in stealth mode over the Capital of Life Province. There were a hundred Searchers with their screens overlapping Olympos protecting it. Timmy said, “I don’t see anything we can do. We might as well go have a shot at some of their ships.”
“Actually, the two of you have been given other plans for the near future.”
“Tesa, who said that?”
““I don’t know.”
“Greyson, do you seen anything?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Oh, relax. It’s just me and my new partner.”
Timmy frowned, “Virze, is that you?”
“Yes it is, Tim. I’ve been sent here to get you and Jess to go to the Defense Facility for further upgrades. I’ve sent you some coordinates and we’ll meet you there.”
Greyson said, “New Partner?”
“You’ve got me. I don’t know what she’s talking about.”
“Let’s go see. We’re wasting time here.”
Greyson and Jessica teleported to the coordinates and saw a huge gleaming white ship in front of them. “Hi, what do you think of my new partner.”
Timmy was stunned, “How, what, who..”
“Emperor Robbins asked if I would accept a post as a Searcher on this ship and Grace allowed me to join her.”
“Hello Greyson and Jessica.”
Jessica said, “Well, I am jealous of your new outfit. If my scans are right, you are a handful of trouble for somebody.”
“Thank you, but don’t stay jealous too long. You and Greyson are going to move into one of these ships as soon as Alex finishes with Anglo.”
Silence ruled the channel. “By the way, I sent one of my probes through those Searcher’s screens and we can listen in to the King’s conversations. I’ll patch you in so you can listen while you’re being upgraded.”
“You sent a probe through their screens?”
“Yes. I could just explode the castle but we have a bigger problem than that king. Alex will update you when you arrive. I’ve also given you the entry protocol for the Defense Facility. You need to go now so we can start making plans. Greyson, if you will contact your family and schedule them for the upgrade I would greatly appreciate it.”
“I’ll get on it right away.”
Timmy said, “Virze…”
“I know, I know, you want your jacket back.”
“No, I just wanted to say that it doesn’t surprise me about your new position. You are a perfect choice.”
Greyson and Jessica disappeared. Virze started crying. “What’s wrong?”
“I love him so much. He has the warmest heart. It’s him that I’m undeserving of having.”
“Oh, don’t sell yourself short. From my position, you are perfect for each other.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes, I do. Now let’s see what’s going on at the castle.”
Virze closed her eyes and watched the King swaying back and forth in front of a huge window.
Vring and Kreej absorbed the data being fed them telepathically by Alex. He had speeded up the feed six times until the Zord were comfortable with the rate of transfer. It really was amazing at how fast the two were absorbing the data and Alex knew that most computers couldn’t operate that fast. Vring said, “Stop it here.”
Alex stopped the feed, “Is something wrong.”
