Freedom Saga 1: Heaven's Light by Marcus Johnson Page B

I’m going
to the mess hall to enjoy a big meal. I didn’t get a chance to eat beforehand,”
Myli said before running off.
    Meldi stayed
with Brian. “Are you alright?”
    He nodded. “The
stuff Celi’s giving me is suppressing the worst from happening.”
    “It’s like the
plague all over again,” she said with the resignation in her voice.
    “Not quite as
bad,” he said. “The end result will be better.”
    “What’s going to
happen to you if the suppressants fail?” she asked.
    “I’ll suffer the
same fate as the one who came before,” Brian said. “The Teacher was the first human
to fully awaken. The price he paid for doing so was his life. All that remains
of him is an echoing memory within the sea of thoughts.”
    “Seles told me
you were passed a message from him,” Meldi said. “What was it?”
    “For some reason
even I don’t know,” Brian said. “It’s like something inside me is blocking the
message. What I do know is the path we’re on now is part of his plan.”
    Meldi took his
hand. “No matter where destiny takes you I and those on the Avoni will follow.
Those who survived the sojourn will never live in ignorance again. If we’re to
survive the coming darkness the Confederation must change. If it doesn’t,
everything we love will be lost forever. We know the odds and the price we may
pay. But if the Greys are beaten, even if only for a little while, it’s worth
it.”
    “I’m glad we’re
on the same page,” he said.
    “We did briefly
touch minds,” Meldi said. “I’d expect no less.”
    “That’s true,”
he said. “Are you up for a meal?”
    “I don’t suppose
I get to spend the night with you?” Meldi asked playfully.
    “Probably not,”
he said. “I’m not really in the condition for things like that.”
    “You’re no fun,”
she said.
    “I’m flattered you’d
think of me in such a way,” he said.
    “By the way,
what are you going to do with the Mjolnir?” she asked.
    “I’m not sure,”
Brian said. “I’d like to bring him to the Freedom, but part of me thinks I
should leave him here. If I do that I’ll ask you to be his pilot.”
    She laughed.
“Having my machine talk to me is something I’ll have to get used to.”
     

Chapter 13 - Kalmar
Revisited
     
    After completing
a gravity jump, the Columbia base appeared in orbit of the desert planet
Kalmar. Veda and Grigon were in the command center when Kivi joined them.
    “What’s our
status?” she asked.
    “The same as the
last jump,” Veda said. “It seems the Confederation took the bait.”
    “We hoped they
would,” Grigon said.
    “I feel bad
making Brian and the Avoni to act as decoys,” Kivi said. “I don’t like, not at
all.”
    “Sometimes we do
what we must though we don’t like it,” Grigon said.
    “Valis hesitated
when she came up with this plan,” Veda said. “I can understand why.”
    Kivi turned to
the monitor showing the planet below. “Valis has grown quite fond of him over
the years. She tries to separate her feelings for him from the rest. But at times,
I can see it in her eyes,” Kivi looked at Veda, “You know what I’m talking
about.”
    “The first time
I saw them together I knew her feelings,” Veda said. “She tries to push
everything down to control herself. That’s how she wins battles.”
    Grigon cawed.
“I’m glad I’m not a mammal; too much fire in the blood.”
    “As much as it
weakens us that fire also gives us strength,” Kivi said.
    “Spoken like a
true Southlander,” Veda said.
    “And you sound
like a Northerner,” Kivi countered.
    Grigon feigned a
caw with a confused look on his face. “I have no idea what the two of you are
talking about.”
    The two women
laughed.
    “Don’t worry, we
don’t expect you to,” Veda said.
    Outside, a
number of Shandi ships appeared around the base.
    Kivi noticed a
message was coming in. “It looks like our friend has arrived,” she said.
    Shiken Ka’s
image appeared on the main monitor.