Defending Earth-Searching for Death Feeders by Saxon Andrew Page B

you thinking?”
    “I think I’m going to follow it.”
    “Kyle!?”
    “I’ve determined while I was on the planet that the other Feeders didn’t sense my presence. I can stay outside the range of their electronic scanners and go see what we’re up against.”
    “You should run this by the High Leader.”
    “This falls in my province.”
    “Then you should at least take Legune in her human form with you.”
    “Why?”
    “You need look no further than the Feeder that was able to stalk your Great, Great Grandfather.”
    Kyle put his hand back on his chin and thought about it. He leaned back in his chair and in a few minutes, he fell asleep.
    • • •
    “Kyle.”
    “I’m sorry, Miss Legune. I’m intercepting his calls so he can sleep.”
    “He told me to contact him.”
    “Please understand that he hasn’t slept much for more than thirty six hours. He worked to get the fleets moving before he picked you up. He’s physically exhausted and interrupting him now will deprive him of the energy he’ll need to be effective. If you insist, I will wake him.”
    “No, allow him to rest. Let him know we’re ready to have a discussion with him.”
    “Have you decided to return to your planet?”
    Legune chuckled, “We’re a lot of things but stupid isn’t one of them.”
    “I’ve just notified Captain Jorgenson to take the ship back to Earth and to send some stewards to take your people to the cafeteria.”
    “We’re going to have to wait on the cafeteria.”
    “Why is that?”
    “Your food is not digested well by our bodies; I discovered that when I tried to eat something in my normal form in Kyle’s office before we left. Everyone understands that they will have to undergo the DNA change to survive.”
    “Why don’t you do this then? I’ll have the Captain start converting your people to human DNA and they can go and eat after the transformation.”
    “That will work.”
    “I’m sure we can go back and collect the seeds you used to grow crops on your planet and a community can be built for you.”
    “Before we do that, we need to talk with Kyle.”
    “I’ll notify you when he wakes.”
    “Amber.”
    “Yes.”
    “You are a machine?”
    “More or less.”
    Legune chuckled, “I think it’s more less than more.”
    “Thank you.”
    • • •
    “What did you determine?”
    “The ones left on the planet are of the opinion that the dead Elder was killed by a local carnivore.”
    “That doesn’t sound right?”
    “I know Fleet Leader. But all the evidence supports their findings.”
    “Send me what you have.” The Ship Leader pressed a button and sent it to the Fleet Leader’s panel. He waited and after twenty minutes he heard, “I see why they came up with that outcome but it just doesn’t seem right. Even an old member of our species shouldn’t have missed that creature’s presence.”
    “It couldn’t have been killed by the Meals it was ruling; they were all killed as well.”
    “Did they get a reading on how long the Meals had been dead?”
    “They sent me away before they completed their investigation. I would think that if they found anything out of order, they would have contacted you.”
    The Fleet Leader was silent again and after ten minutes the Ship Leader heard, “I’ve just received a message from a planet in the inner core of this galaxy. One of our ships has encountered a civilization with a large defense fleet. I’m sending you to assist that ship against the fleet. Once you have the situation under control, return and join your unit.”
    “Yes, Fleet Leader.” The Feeder looked at his panel and saw the coordinates of the planet appear. “Move the ship to the coordinates I’m sending you. Arm all your weapons and move there immediately.” The giant ship’s stardrive activated and the ship went into the void. The micro-probe followed it as it accelerated toward a distant planet.
    • • •
    Kyle opened his eyes and shook his head. “How long have I