The Fight for Creation: Book 02 - Scout Warrior (14 page)

Tgon said, “For the love of the Creator, why not!?! She’s the best we have.”

Sam said, “You’ve all seen how she moved around all of your platoons as well as the Life Warriors on the front lines. I believe her real value is being free to go wherever she sees the need. She can’t do that if she’s tied down to a command position.”

Dort said, “I’m not sure about that, Sam.”

“Dort, how many times did Jixie teleport out to the main street leading to the weapons complex and blow the enemy forces back three miles? And how many times did she go to the main lines and drive back the forces that were threatening to overwhelm them. If she’s given a command she will make sure her warriors are safe. If she had done that in the last fight, three million Grogat Warriors would have come down that thoroughfare and joined the fight. She’s more valuable having freedom of movement.”

“Then where will we find the other two?”

Sam smiled, “That’s the easy part.”

Robby said, “How so?”

“We have ninety five warriors that survived the fight around that building. I’ll just ask Jixie which two of them have the brightest glow.” Dort snickered. “What’s so funny?”

“You weren’t this smart in school.”

“Yes I was.”

“No you weren’t.”

“Why didn’t I ever get caught for the carpet caper?”

Tgon yelled, “That was you?!? We nearly got expelled over that one and no one believed we didn’t do it.”

“You have to admit, it had you two’s MO all over it.”

Robby stared laughing, “Seeing the School Administrator sliding out the front of the building on that non friction carpet was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Sam said, “Watching the marching band slide out behind him was funnier. They shouldn’t have sloped the floor leading out of the building.”

Dort snorted, “How were you able to make carpet with that slippery surface?”

Sam smiled, “I told you I was smart.”

“You didn’t answer me. And don’t think I’ve forgotten the transponder in one of my swords.”

“You mean like the one you put in Gon’s sword.”

“You did what?”

Dort said, “Uh oh, look at the clock. I’ll see you later.”

“Wait just a freaking minute. Hey, where did he go?”

Sam looked at his wrist unit and said, “Umm, he’s headed out the front of the commissary at this moment.”

“Shut up, Sam!”

Robby and Sam laughed as Tgon ran out after the smaller Cainth.

• • •

“What’s wrong, Jixie?”

“I had a talk with my mother and she doesn’t like me being here.”

“I don’t think any of our families like what we’re doing and the risks we’re taking.”

Jixie shook her head, “My mother is different.”

“When was the last time you visited her?”

Jixie looked up and said, “I guess it was right before our initial training.”

“That long? We get days off; you should go visit.”

“I don’t know. It would take a lot of time.”

Jennifer looked at Jixie and lowered her chin, “Get real; you have armor now and can teleport anywhere you want instantly. You don’t have an excuse.”

“YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO YOUR FRIENDS.”

Jixie chuckled. Jennifer said, “What’s so funny?”

“I think you’re right. I’ll go see her on my next day off.”

“YOUR FRIEND IS WISE.”

Jixie thought, “Mother, I thought you weren’t watching anymore.”

“I’ve been looking at the information you sent me and I’ve found it entertaining. I look forward to seeing you.”

Jixie smiled and said to Jennifer, “Let’s go get some more food.”

“Jixie, you should weigh a ton. Where do you hide it?”

Jixie stood and moved toward the commissary buffet, “You really don’t want to know.”

Jennifer looked at her friend and saw she was back to her normal self. She worried about Jixie.

• • •

Jixie’s mother thought to herself, “You’re not alone in that.”

“I was just studying the information your daughter sent and I’m confused about this relationship with a creator.”

“I’ve wondered about that myself.”

“The pattern is confusing.”

“Why are you here?”

“If she sends you any more information, will you share it with my group?”

“I thought you were beyond this.”

“The concepts do not match the overall matrix. This pattern conflicts with our view. It’s…troubling.”

“She just promised to visit soon.”

She felt his enthusiasm, “Will you allow us to communicate with her?”

“I’ll ask.”

“Thank you so much.”

She felt his presence leave and she wondered about the contact. Why would the Senior Elder want to talk to Jixie and what in the information had him troubled? His understanding of the Study was beyond everyone. His enthusiasm was never seen. What could Jixie have possibly done to cause this?

J
ixie was watching the new recruits go through maneuvers on the vast grassland and thought some of them were pretty good. There were more than a thousand of them going through maneuvers and they were making great strides at working together. “What are you thinking?”

Jixie was startled by Sam. He was still invisible to her. “I was watching the new Warriors getting familiar with their armor. Some of them are pretty good.” Jixie turned to Sam, “I’ve been wondering why our armor is a fusion of modern technology and the technology of the first Realm.”

“We had to use the old technology to prevent the Dremor from killing our warriors and planets. They might return or we might encounter them.”

Jixie continued to watch the warriors and absently said, “You don’t need to worry about them.”

Sam said, “Why not?”

Jixie turned her full attention to Sam and said, “Uhhh…if they’ve not been seen, they’re probably no longer a problem.”

Sam smiled at Jixie, “Why are you concerned about our armor?”

“The old armor is a hog with power. There are recent developments that can make the modern armor more powerful, but they’re not compatible with the old.”

Sam stared Jixie in the eyes and said, “Would you bet the survival of your friends against a Dremor return to make those changes?”

Jixie had to decide about continuing a charade with Sam or tell him the truth. She knew he knew who she was and though he was not recognizing it openly, he deserved the truth. “I sense the Dremor will not be an issue.”

“Ever?”

“Ever.”

Sam looked up at the sky and said, “I imagine they played on the wrong playground.”

Jixie smiled.

“What changes would you make?”

“I’d just remove the old armor and store it. I’d leave the power source that powered both with the new armor. The new armor is so efficient that the additional power that was required by the old armor will increase the power of the modern armor four times.” Jixie paused and said, “The speed will also be increased.”

“Will you trial your idea with Jennifer to see if you’re right?”

“I’ll take her to the Armory now. I’ll send you a report when we trial it.”

“Thank you, Major.”

“Sam, I’m a scout. You know, a private.”

“You’re still a scout, but you’re now a Major as well. You may have to order some warriors around and I want you to have the rank to do it.”

“I think our warriors will listen to me.”

“I’m not worried about our warriors.”

“Oh.” Jixie smiled, “Well thank you for your confidence.”

Sam smiled as he turned and said, “Your smile brightens my day, Major.” He walked away and Jixie slowly shook her head. “You still look good from any distance.”

Jennifer walked up, “I’ve just been told to go with you.”

“Let’s go run an experiment.”

“I’m all yours.”

“Race you to the Amory.” Jennifer disappeared and found Jixie waiting. “Did you stop to eat or something?”

“How do you do that?”

Jixie remembered an ancient Earth video and said, “When you can remove the stone from my palm, grasshopperette, you’ll know.” Jennifer looked up and rolled her eyes. Jixie laughed, “Come on and let’s see if this works.”

• • •

Jixie and Jennifer arrived back at the training ground and Jennifer aimed her main blaster at a target with a force nine force field. “Are you sure this is ok?”

Jixie shrugged, “Sam said to run a trial and we need to know. Give it a shot.”

Jennifer sighed and fired the beam. The force field held for a half second and then exploded outward in a huge blast. Every warrior in sight teleported away instantly. Jennifer looked around at the empty training ground and turned to Jixie, “It works.”

Jixie looked at the deserted training ground and said, “Boy! They disappeared fast.”

Sam teleported in and yelled, “What are you doing!?!”

Jixie smiled, “My trial is complete, Sir. The new armor is stronger.”

Jennifer tried not to smile but Jixie’s innocent expression was too much. Sam looked at her and said, “What’s so funny, Captain?”

“I’ve never seen warriors disappear that fast, Sir.”

Sam glared at her and looked at Jixie who was humming and looking up in the sky. Sam said, “What was the force field set on?”

Jixie said, “Level nine, Sir.”

“Nine?”

“Yes Sir.”

Sam looked at the huge hole in the ground and said, “Make the changes.”

Jixie smiled, “You ought to see the projectile cannon, Sir.”

“I believe you; make the changes.”

“The hand blaster is amazing, Sir.”

Sam tried not to smile but gave up. He shook his head and teleported back to his office.

Jennifer looked at Jixie as she said, “The hand blaster really is impressive.”

Jennifer laughed all the way back to the armory.

• • •

Jixie was out on the hill in the middle of the training grounds looking up at the sky. “What do you see?”

Jixie gave a quick yelp and said, “You have got to stop sneaking up on me.”

Sam smiled, “You don’t mean to tell me that you can’t see me coming.”

“I can’t; so stop it. You just scared the crap out of me.”

Sam sat down and looked up at the sky, “What do you see?”

“Sam, do you really want to know?”

Sam looked Jixie in the eyes, “I do.”

Jixie sighed, “There’s a planet about two universes over that is about to be invaded by the Swarm. The inhabitants of the planet don’t even have a single warship to defend it. They’re peaceful creatures that have found harmony in their existence. They’re about to be exterminated in an agonizing death from the stings of the Swarm’s Warriors.” Jixie paused and said, “You were right.”

“About what?”

“This is not play.”

“Couldn’t you go and stop it?”

Jixie looked at Sam and shook her head, “I’m not allowed to play alone.”

Sam looked at the sky and said, “How would you stop them if someone went with you?”

“It’s not that simple. I have to use the toys…I mean weapons of the ones I’ve chosen to play with.”

“How long will it be before the Swarm attacks?”

“They’re moving in now. They’ll start dropping on the planet in four hours.”

Sam stared at Jixie and activated his wrist unit, “Admiral, I have a Swarm Fleet that will be dropping in on a peaceful civilization in four hours. Can you respond in time to stop them?”

Jixie stared at Sam and wondered what he was doing.

“Where is the planet?”

“Jixie, what is the coordinates?”

Jixie reached over and entered the numbers in Sam’s wrist unit. Sam pressed the send button and waited.

“I’ve just spoken with a Cat and we’re teleporting twenty forts around the planet in an hour to hold them off from landing to give us enough time to arrive. The forts will activate a jump suppression unit and Fleet will teleport in an hour later and remove the Swarm fleet.”

“Thank you, Admiral.”

“The Cats want to know how you know about the invasion.”

“I just asked the creature they’ve been searching for.”

Jixie’s eyes went wide and waited for the Admiral to respond. They both only heard silence. After a long silence they heard, “Do you want me to tell them that?”

“You probably should, but you need to let them know that if they come here with anything in mind other than staying out of our way, then they can just stay where they are.”

“You know they’ll go straight to the King.”

“Let them.”

“You know I’ll have to tell them.”

“I know. You have to be around them too often and they’ll see it in your mind.”

“Thank her for saving our warriors at the Grogat Planet. I wondered how she was able to do that.”

“I already have, Thom.”

Jixie looked at Sam, “Why did you do this?”

“I know you are not using some of your skills to prevent your discovery. Am I right?”

Jixie nodded.

Sam fell back on the ground and looked up at the stars overhead. “If you’re restricted, some of my warriors will die that might have been saved if you had more freedom to operate. I owe it to them.”

“Sam, I can’t use anything beyond the current technology you possess. I’m restricted anyway.”

“Jixie, you can see what we’re heading toward even when Fleet can’t. If only for that ability alone, I think it’s worth it. If they even think about doing anything to you, I’ll abdicate my title and commission.”

“Sam, you can’t do that. Your subjects love you and you’d be putting me ahead of them.”

“It’s because of them I’m doing it, Jixie. I need to use every tool in my tool box in this fight to save the Realm. You do not have to tell the Cats, the King, or anyone else anything you don’t want to reveal.”

Jixie looked back up at the sky. “Do you think you can win this fight? The Cats are a powerful force.”

“We’ll see.”

They stayed there looking at the sky and after a while Jixie said, “The forts have arrived.”

Sam smiled, “That peaceful civilization is another reason that this was worth it.”

Jixie looked at Sam, “Tomorrow should be an interesting day.”

“I imagine.”

“Do you want me to stay with you while this happens?”

“No, I want you to get my warriors ready to go out and make a difference in this war. I’ll handle this.”

“They’re ready, Sam.”