Chapter 10 - Onboard the Judgement Again
Hicks was lying on a bed in Medical. He was sitting up, propped up with three pillows behind him. He followed Jorden with his eyes. She was pacing in front of the bed, waiting to hear word that the team she had sent back down to the planet had returned.
"Are you going to tell me what happened?" he asked her impatiently.
"You really don't remember, do you?"
Hicks had a vague recollection, but the images were like pieces of a puzzle he couldn't put together. He lied to her. "No…"
Newt stopped pacing and walked over to sit on the side of the bed. She didn't look at him. "You totally went nutso. I almost had to shoot you." Newt frowned and looked down. "You killed Packer."
Hicks touched her arm, wanting her to look at him. "I'm sorry. I didn't know what I was doing."
Newt turned to look at him. "You didn't have a choice. He would have killed you."
"I'm sorry," he said again. When she moved closer to him, he wrapped his arms around her, despite the severe pain all over his body.
"I'm just glad you're alive."
"Yeah, me too." He turned her face toward him and kissed her deeply.
Bishop's voice came on the com. "Bishop here."
Newt pulled away from Hicks with a smile. "Go ahead, Bishop."
Hicks' head fell back on the pillow. "Some things never change."
"The dropship has returned," said Bishop.
"And?" asked Newt.
"They were able to retrieve both Packer and Gibson…and the gold."
Newt turned to Hicks and they high-fived. "Now that we got that out of the way, Bishop, how about explaining what it was you found on that planet?"
"If I must," came the reply.
Everyone was congregated in Medical with Hicks, listening to Bishop.
"The system operating the electro-magnetic shield was complicated. But I managed to break the code and disabled it."
"What about the freaking alien brain, Bishop?" asked Krall impatiently. "Who gives a rat's ass about the shield?"
Newt shot Krall a warning look.
"The globe we saw was in fact a very elaborate computer system that contained a neuro-net, much like the one that operates me. It was programmed to enhance sound waves our own systems are unable to pick up. The enhanced sound waves are picked up by the aliens. That's how they communicate with each other."
"So, if this globe spoke through the alien king and you disabled it, the aliens have no one to communicate with?" asked Newt.
"My guess is that they're still able to communicate with each other on a local level. But without the enhanced sound waves, they're no longer receiving orders from the alien king."
"Which probably means they'll be easier to target and kill," added Shale.
"Maybe," said Bishop.
"Do you think the Centurions made that system?" asked Newt
"I doubt it," replied Hicks. "They don't possess the kind of intelligence to create such an elaborate system. The Centurions were probably controlled by the globe, too."
"So does this mean the Centurions are now running around like chickens with their heads cut off?" asked Snow.
Newt ignored Snow's question and walked up to Bishop. "So what you're saying is that there's someone else out there that built it? Someone or something we have yet to see."
"That's what I'm guessing."
Newt turned to Hicks and they exchanged a concerned look. "Okay…that's it for now. Bishop, let's head for home. Cryo-chambers in a couple hours, everyone."
There were groans among the team as they filed out of Medical.
"I'll go program the ship for the jump," said Bishop.
"Wait, Bishop, before you do that, I want you to program several nukes. Now that the electro-magnetic shield won't be interfering, they should be able to hit the surface."
"How many do you want me to program?"
"How many do we have?"
"Forty-eight."
"Use whatever it takes to create a radioactive cloud that covers the entire planet."
"I'll let you know when they're ready," said Bishop before walking out.
Newt turned back to Hicks and walked toward his bed.
"I guess we're not out of the woods yet," said Hicks with a sigh.
"Yes we are. With the gold we found, the team can retire."
"Are you retiring, too, Jorden?" Hicks reached out his hand to her.
Newt gave him a half smile and then gave him her hand. "For now."
"Really. And what are your plans?"
"I don't know. I was thinking of a career fulfilling contracts."
Hicks knew she wasn't serious about it, but he played along. "Following in my footsteps is not a good career move. Trust me, you don't want to be on the wrong side of the law."
"Maybe we can start up our own company. Call it, 'Contracts Are Us'."
Hicks laughed. "Are you sure you wanna continue hanging out with me?"
"Why not?"
"Because it can be dangerous to your health. I'm convinced that I'm flypaper for freaks."
It was Newt's turn to laugh. He tugged at her hand and she obliged him, climbing on the bed with him. She moved into his right arm, since his left arm was indisposed from his injuries. She kissed him warmly. Then she hugged him.
Hicks acknowledged her…but barely. He looked straight ahead with a slightly glazed look in his green eyes. Earth…they were going to Earth. Home to 300 billion human beings. Havoc was headed their way…
And its name was Hicks…
The End
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