No Technology Is Invincible (The Death Prophecies-Book Four 4) (27 page)

“The Bosrean and the Kindred.”

Gabe blew out a breath and then rolled his eyes, “Touché. However, neither of them had weapons in their civilizations and I doubt it is an accident that both species are telepathic. Every other civilization we’ve encountered had warships and planetary defenses. So, I’ll agree to that exclusion. If a civilization is without any means of defending itself, then it would be appropriate to assist them. I might add here that assistance would not lead to a stronger aggressor.”

Gabby’s eyes narrowed, “Gabe, you’re scaring me.”

“Get used to it. What do you think the purpose of the Death Prophecies is, Gabby?”

Gabby looked at the plaque on the front wall and then looked at Gabe, “They’re rules for us to follow to survive.”

“Do you believe in them?”

“What?”

“Do you believe that they’re more than just recommendations made by the Prophet?”

“He insisted they weren’t that important.”

“That’s not the question, Gabby. Do you believe them?”

“Yes, I guess I do.”

“Read them now and tell me what you sense they say to us as a whole, not individually?”

Gabby looked at the plaque and read them one by one:

Death Prophecy Number One; Confrontation must be avoided until it is absolutely unavoidable.

Number two; Never do what others can.

Number Three; The unknown enemy will kill you.

Number Four; Never stop development. No technology is invincible.

Number Five; Revealing less is more.

Number Six; Always choose your best to lead.

Number Seven, Only knowledge can save you.

Number Eight; Never shy from doing the right thing.

Number Nine; Survival is never free.

Number Ten: Only worry about things you can control.

She looked at Gabe, “They tell us that we must be the Unknown Enemy.” Gabe’s face showed his shock. “What’s wrong, Sir?”

“I am shocked that you see it. That’s exactly what they are telling us. We have to hide and not allow any other species to know anything about us. What we’ve been through has only solidified that in my consciousness. In that last confrontation we found ourselves in, we were the unknown enemy and we could have destroyed all of those aggressive civilizations. But they would have learned about us and know what they would have to build toward to eventually defeat us. Or we could have remained hidden and allowed them to destroy each other and learn how they did it. We’d take any technology that would make us stronger and continue being hidden.”

Ali looked at Gabe, “So you believe the Death Prophecies are more than just ramblings from an old Kindred?”

“The Prophet said that he didn’t know where they came from; they just appeared in his mind and he wrote them down. He was the vessel used to communicate them but I firmly believe they came from another source and that is how truth is often uncovered. If we had followed them, we would not be in our current situation with the Darkness or the Builders or those giant black ships. We would have observed and learned things we’d need to survive.”

Ali’s eyes narrowed slightly and he said, “Now we’re going back to Earth with a full scan of a warship that’s more powerful than any we’ve seen.”

“No we’re not.”

Ali’s head tilted, “No we’re not, what?”

“Going back to Earth.”

“Then where are we going?”

Gabe smiled, “Poul, set a course for the Fornax Dwarf Galaxy.”

“Fornax it is.”

“What are you doing, Gabe?”

“Gabby, I’m going to become a ghost.”

“How?”

Gabe lifted his wrist unit and turned off the magnetic field. He immediately disappeared as Gabby and Ali heard, “You can’t fight what you can’t see.”

Gabby stared at Gabe’s empty command chair and smiled.

A
li was struggling with sleep. The boredom of the long voyage was starting to get to him. He sat up on the side of the bed and shook his head. He stood up and went to the small storage room. He took out some rations and went to the kitchen. He poured a glass of water and ate at a slow pace. He finished and stood up. He just couldn’t sleep. He decided to go to the bridge. At least Gabby could provide some company. He walked up the corridor and saw the bridge’s portal was open. He stepped through and noticed that the lights were dimmed. He looked across the bridge and saw Gabby standing in the middle of the floor with one leg straight behind her and the other bent. Her upper body was tilted back toward her back leg and her left arm was straight over her head. He tilted his head and heard her say, “Now!”

Suddenly, the bridge was filled with music and he heard a loud Latin beat. Gabby did a slow turn on her front leg never bending her back leg. She suddenly straightened and started moving to the beat. She stood in place as her hips and shoulders moved together as she pumped her arms in rhythm in front of her.

The beat accelerated and she spun so hard her hair, which was not tied in the perpetual pony tail, spun around her head like a black wave that wrapped around her head as she changed direction and moved across the bridge. Ali’s mouth fell open. She was moving in a rhythm that was impossible. Her hips followed her shoulders in one fluid motion like he had never seen before. She spun twice and moved to the left. She spun again and moved to the right. She moved in a rhythm that stunned him. The ability to do what he was witnessing was…was…he sat down on the floor and watched her move lithely around the bridge. It was almost erotic. She had no idea he was watching her and he began to feel guilty about doing it. He started to tell her but she suddenly reached over her should and pulled her grey uniform top off. She swung it around her head and threw it at her chair. She stopped and turned four circles before dancing away.

Now he knew he was violating her privacy. He didn’t dare tell her he was watching her now that she had taken off her uniform. He went to all fours and started crawling toward the portal. Gabby saw the movement and instantly stopped. She ran to her chair and grabbed her grey top, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” She raised her arm and quickly lowered it; the music immediately stopped. Ali sucked in a breath and froze. Gabby ran over and stood over him, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?”

Ali turned and fell back against the bulkhead, “I couldn’t sleep and I came here to visit. You started dancing when I came through the portal.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were here!?”

Ali shook his head, “I was too shocked to say anything.”

“What?”

“Gabby, what you just did was…incredible. I’ve never seen anyone that can dance like that. You are amazing!”

Gabby’s face turned red, “Get real!”

“I’m serious. I was stunned by how good you are. I just couldn’t speak and stop you. What you were doing is magical.”

“And when I took off my shirt!?”

“That’s when I tried to get away without your seeing me.”

“Why! Am I that ugly?!”

Ali started shaking his head hard, “No, you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

Gabby stared at him and sighed, “Close your eyes!” Ali put his hand over his eyes and Gabby put her top back on. She should have had underwear on under it but she didn’t normally wear any. Walking back to her chair she said, “You can open them.”

Ali opened his eyes, stood up, and walked to his chair, “I’m really sorry for violating your privacy.”

“You didn’t?”

“What do you mean, Poul? He most certainly did!”

“Since when was the bridge made your private quarters, Gabby? Everyone on board has bridge access twenty-four hours a day. Did you tell Ali that you needed some privacy before you started practicing your dancing?”

“Well…no.”

“Then how can you accuse him of violating your privacy when you’re not in your private quarters and didn’t request privacy.”

“I just didn’t think anyone would be up this late.”

“That’s not his fault. He’s the one that’s due an apology for your behavior.”

Ali shook his head, “No, I’m not. I could see that she was unaware of my presence. I should have let her know I was here or left the bridge.”

Gabby sighed and shook her head, “No, Poul’s right. I just didn’t think. It’s not your fault.”

“Gabby, how did you learn to dance like that? You have more moving parts than a Chinese escalator.”

Gabby laughed, “You’re being too kind.”

“No I’m not. I’ve seen professional dancers and they have nothing on what I just witnessed.”

Gabby sat back in her chair and shrugged, “When I was a little girl, my parents really didn’t like having me around. So I’d just sit in my room and play music through my earphones. I started dancing to the music and found I enjoyed it. I’d watch dancers on the video channels and try to copy them. Even in the academy, I’d dance off my stress. I just…I don’t know…enjoy it.”

“I apologize for watching but this is a memory I’ll really treasure. I could never dance like that.”

“It’s not as hard as it looks.”

“Come on, Gabby. What you did is impossible. And where did you get that music? I’ve never heard that song.”

“Poul has a pretty complete library of human music.”

Ali looked up, “Why is that, Poul?”

“The Prophet loved the music humans created. He had me download everything I could find before he went home.”

Ali shook his head, “What’s the name of that song?”

Gabby smiled, “Fireball.” Ali could only shake his head. Gabby’s eyes twinkled, “How about me teaching you how to dance a Latin rhythm?”

Ali shook his head, “Gabby, I’m not nearly as limber as you are.”

Gabby stood up, “Come here!”

“What?”

“Come here and stand in front of me.”

“You’re serious.”

“As a blaster beam. Come here!” Ali walked over and stood in front of her. “Now, put your right hand on my hip.” Ali placed his hand on Gabby’s hip and she lifted her right arm, “Now take my hand.” Ali took her hand and Gabby said, “We’re going to do this slowly without music. Start with your right foot, step forward and then stop.”

Ali did as she instructed and within thirty minutes he had the basic steps down. “Now, can you feel the motion of my hips when you move forward?” Ali nodded, “I want you to do the same but do it very slowly until you can feel it.”

Ali messed up several times before he got the rhythm. He looked at her, “We’re only going back and forth.”

“You have to learn to walk before you run. We’ll add a step every day until we get back.”

Ali nodded and looked down, “Keep your eyes on mine!” Ali jerked his head up and moved back and forth with her. After a few minutes he closed his eyes and felt the rhythm. Finally Gabby said, “Go get some sleep. We’ll continue this tomorrow.”

Ali stepped back and smiled, “Tomorrow it is. He turned to leave the bridge and turned before he walked through the portal, “Gabby.”

“Yes.”

“You’re beautiful.” He disappeared through the portal and Gabby’s face turned red. He was the first man to ever see her breasts. She took a deep breath and shook her head.

• • •

Two weeks passed and Gabby was impressed with Ali’s improvement. They were moving around the bridge effortlessly and Ali said, “Are the steps to this dance fixed?”

“What do you mean?”

Ali stopped and said, “When we arrive here, can we do something different?”

“Like?”

“I want you to go under my arm and spin.” Gabby tilted her head and spun under his arm, “Like this?”

“Yes, but when you complete the spin, I want you to turn and jump.”

“What?”

“Just do it.”

Gabby’s eyes narrowed as he said, “Spin and jump!” She jumped and Ali grabbed her hips and lifted her over his head. He made two turns and lowered her to the floor and continued the dance.

Gabby shook her head, “You’re a lot stronger than I thought. I’m as tall as you are and you lifted me easily.” Ali shrugged, “Let’s do that again but as you lower me, take my right hand, lift it over my head, and turn to the right.” Ali nodded and as he lowered her to the floor he took her hand over her head and she spun eight times as she turned a circle around him. Ali stopped and shook his head. Gabby lowered her eyes, “What’s wrong?”

“Every time I think I’m starting to get good, you show me how bad I am.”

Gabby smiled, “Poul, did you record what we’ve been doing.”

“I have been ordered to record everything that happens on this mission.”

Gabby shoved Ali to her chair and pushed him into it. She sat down on his lap and said, “Play it on the main monitor.”

Gabby leaned back against his shoulder and Ali looked at the monitor. After a few minutes he said, “I can’t believe that’s me.” Gabby nodded. He saw that he was moving to the music and that his body was doing things he didn’t think possible. When he saw Gabby being lifted and then spinning around him, he saw that he hadn’t lost the rhythm. He was impressed at the progress they had made in such a short period of time. Before he finished his thought, Gabby turned around in his lap, smiled, and kissed him. She stood up and he grabbed her hand and pulled her back on his lap. Her eyes widened and then he kissed her. She almost broke the kiss but then put herself into it. She didn’t need a thought recorder to know his thoughts. She finally broke the kiss and leaned against his shoulder. She closed her eyes and listened to the fast beating of Ali’s heart. She silently prayed, “Please let this be real.” He put his arms around her and held her close.

• • •

Gabby finally sent Ali to bed. She sat in her chair and fought her emotions. Was she setting herself up for another brutal disappointment? There was no way this could work out. She was the only woman on board and Ali could have anyone he wanted when they got back home. She should have kept her distance. She was such an idiot. Her eyes filled with tears and she dreaded what she knew was coming. Ali arrived to relieve her and saw her red eyes as she quickly stood and walked toward the exit. Ali grabbed her arm and stopped her, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Gabby refused to look at him and Ali took her chin and turned her face to him, “I’m not like that scientist that betrayed you, Gabby. You’re worried that once we arrive home I’ll disappear.”