The White Sheep and the Black Wolf Part 37

Kablin strode briskly down the corridor, yet he barely paid
attention to where he was going. His mind kept echoing Zeeltor's
words: "Your home is Earth, the same planet you're going to destroy."

That phrase unnerved Kablin. Yet he did not understand why.
It was just another one of the odd doctor's tales...wasn't it? Still
an annoying nagging kept telling him otherwise.

Suddenly he ran bodily into a mass of coarse black fur.
Quickly he backed up as Alpha's monstrous face turned toward him.

"Ah, Kay. I've been looking for you," he spoke quietly.

Kablin swallowed. "Really?"

Alpha drew his snout close to Kay's face. And Kay wrinkled
his nose at the whiff of putrid breath. "Yes. How fared the
interrogation with the Zekklom?"

"Touch-and-go," Kablin replied hastily. If only Alpha knew
how much of a hurry he was in. Zafirr needed the weapon schematics
quickly and he was a man not know for his patience. "The doctor was
much interested in our electronic systems and was a bit nosy."
Kablin tried to edge around Alpha. Unfortunately, this was
impossible since his bulk took up a large amount of room.

"But we can count on you not to reveal anything." Alpha let
out a throaty grumble, which Kablin could only guess was laughter.
Eyeing Kablin's attempt to pass, Alpha asked, "And where are you
going in such a hurry, my friend?"

Kablin stopped his edging and looked straight to Alpha. "I
have a meeting with the Admiral, sir," he answered.

"Indeed?"

Clearing his throat, Kablin asked, "So, have you signed the
supply request for the Allied Forces' ships?"

Alpha waved an impatient hand. "That's not essential. You
and your crewmates could make do. The Hoon'taks have more important
matters to attend to."

Kablin frowned. Clearly he had judged Alpha wrong. Instead
of sympathizing with the crew, he evidently had no concern for them.

"Now did the Zekklom scientist hand you anything to you?"
Alpha leaned closely, until the sulfur breath almost became
unbearable.

Kablin felt Alpha was scrutinizing him and knew that he must
be using his psychic powers to probe him. Taking a deep breath,
Kablin cleared his mind, putting himself into a state of calm. "No
sir. Dr. Zeeltor didn't give me anything."

For a while there was only silence. Then Alpha drew back,
much to Kablin's relief. "Very well, Kablin. You may proceed to the
Admiral."

Kablin made sure he walked slowly, keeping in regular steps.
He had no idea what the range of Alpha's psychic power was, but he
kept his mind clear nonetheless. Instead of heading to the Admiral,
Kablin turned down the hallway to his quarters. The disk in his vest
pocket felt heavy.

At last he slipped inside his room. Still, with his mind in
neutral, Kablin walked over to the safe behind his desk. On opening
it he found what he was looking for. In the back of the safe, he
withdrew a Krematin Psychic Force Field Generator, which he obtained
secretly from the weapons cargo bay, as a precaution against Alpha.

Pressing a few buttons, the disk generator whirled,
signaling that it was activated. Kablin let out a sigh of relief and
let his thoughts flow freely again. At last he was freed from
Alpha's gaze.

Slipping the disk Dr. Zeeltor gave him into a projector.
Kablin sat back and watched.

On the video, the Zekklom scientist went through the steps
of upgrading defense systems as if explaining how to fix a toaster.
The system was extensive yet simple. Basically a network of force
field energy is formed when all the ships connect to each other's
systems. The result would create an umbrella that would protect the
Allied Forces. At last the video stopped.

Kablin got up to get a scotch, when suddenly the projector
displayed images that blew Kablin's mind. Series of clips of people
dressed in black were shown. And judging by the laughter and pranks
they had amongst each other, this was clearly a transmission of home
videos.

A black, tall man waved merrily, dressed in gym clothes. For
some odd reason Kablin felt that he knew him. Not as the taskmaster
on Hizuk, but something deeper.

A blond-haired woman came over to where a JeeDangian sat,
looking at something and not noticing her. Smiling mischievously,
she flicked one of his large ears. Blinking stupidly, the JeeDangian
looked about in confusion, before his eyes rested on Elle and he
scowled in mock anger at her audacity.

Then another scene appeared in which, to Kablin's surprise,
the Admiral was smiling as he fed some alien aquarium fish.

But the most startling was the next clip. Kablin gaped in
utter bewilderment as he saw himself in a black suit and talking
with the same black man.

"That's...that's my partner," Kablin suddenly recalled. He
blinked. How did he know that? That Zekklom, he must be telling the
truth, he thought.

One after another clips went by, and Kablin...no Kay, he
remembered, felt the fog that shrouded his past lifted. Suddenly, it
was like the storm had dissipated and he was seeing the sun for the
first time. A flood of memories came, from his past to his present.
Kay frowned on recalling the enslavement the Hoon'taks placed on
MiB. But that was nothing compared to the raging fury he had within
for someone else. Hatred burning in his eyes, Kay said the name that
had haunted him every night and churned his blood every time it was
mentioned. "Alpha."