Chapter 44

Martin

Conundrum

Martin walks into Jack's office, "I DON'T BELIEVE IT!." He then looks around as Nancy who is dressed in her sleeping clothes follows him with a puzzled look on her face.

Jack holds up his hand to remind Martin to not speak until he has ensured monitoring has not been turned on. "Nancy, we okay?"

"Ah, yeah. . .It's really early. We are not ready to take anyone in yet. Youth Corp has only now finished their first meeting. We should be in bed." This she says with a grumpy voice and with an unhappy look. "What is so important?"

"Last night that journalist was brought in, the one that took the. . .film, I guess. . ." Martin is then interrupted by Nancy.

"Cameraman. Not newsman, journalist, he is a cameraman." Nancy has not lost her grumpy look.

"Okay, cameraman." Martin scratches his forehead and frowns for a moment. "Last night I took him to Diana. She finally got her hands on him as she has wanted for some time. It was a strange moment, he called her a lady; something like that and then kind of did a laugh. I have a feeling that he meant she is not human."

Nancy snorts and says lamely, "Nothing like a human. If you aren't human, your not a person."

"Okay," Martin gives her a quiet look. He knows that Nancy has been acting different as of late, as though not happy with the way he is trying to move things along. "Anyway, Diana threatened him about putting him away. Then a trooper brought a human in for Diana's special questioning procedure. She was luckily more interested in the questioning process or she would have dealt with Mike Donovan immediately. This gave me the chance to begin getting our first human to assist us."

"How did you do that?" Jack asks as he tilts his head towards Martin, "I mean Diana, I thought she would have put him away in a pod immediately if not downright executed him herself."

"I told her it might prove more useful to us too convert him." That had been a rough night. She was not an easy person to deal with; especially when you wanted something different than she wanted.

"How did she react to that," Jack asks with a enthralled smile. "I mean, well I figure you got what you wanted."

"First she said he would be too much trouble," Martin smiles at how he was able to manipulate Diana to do what he wanted of her. "I reminded her how much she likes challenges. At first she didn't go for it, but then I said something about her abilities and about maybe it was to difficult. Then I started to march Donovan out the door. I didn't rush it, I waited for her to change her mind."

"I have a feeling she considered it and said to go for it and with her victim awaiting questioning. With that you got to lead him away to safety." Nancy says with a smirk as she stands up and goes to a small counter and pours a glass of water. She holds it up to see if anyone else would like a glass, neither Martin or Jack indicate that they do.

He replies quietly with a slight smile."I said, as you wish, Diana."

"Humm," Jack looks a bit puzzled. "How did he get taken?"

"It certainly was not a good beginning, that I must say. He and his friend, assistant were going after something. They got caught, he saw the true face of a Dahax trooper. Then the trooper sprayed him with venom. They also injured a trooper when they pushed him off of something, I don't have the details on that."

"Seriously!" Nancy appears angry as she continues. "This same human has seen the face of a Dahax and one of our people. Wasn't the idea of having brought so many Whipelli into Youth Corp and bring them here on this mission was if these things happened it would be to a Whipelli face, it was supposed to be easier to explain. Not a trooper whose true face not only shows the differences of our people and theirs, but a trooper who defends himself by spraying venom. Has any human ever seen a Whipelli face; you know the face closes to a human, but green. I know that one our skin specialists on the Seattle ship has had a human see the mouth of one our crew working at a factory. Not a Whipelli, but a Depol; one of us." She waves her hand at Jack and Martin. "There goes the iffy green human concept of easier to hide until the human is taken care of."

"Sadly, Sadie has told me the same thing about something that happened in Houston. It was a trooper and to my knowledge there hasn't been a Whipelli this has happened too." Martin cringes at what Sadie had told him. Those poor humans were taken directly and are likely dead or stored in the pods. No, conversion would create the needed fuzzy recollection with the face of one of his people or a Dahax. He shrugs, "Whipelli may be around humans more, but for the most part do not do anything that may cause an issue to reveal their true face. I believe this was not well thought out; Youth Corp may be more involved with humans, but they are not at risk of pseudo-skin being damaged."

"Of course," She says sharply and shakes her head. "What did you do with the human," The words come out almost like a squeak from Nancy.

Martin searches Nancy's face; it is so hard to explain. He remembers last night almost to the smallest detail. He had led Donovan around a corner and spoke quickly and nervously to him as they heard someone screaming in pain. This while telling the human he was going to get him off of the ship and how the man most certainly did not trust him. It is possible that he may not see Donovan again, why would the human really trust him with what has happened to his friend. "I told him that a few of us don't believe in what our Leader's doing and I had to get him out immediately. . ."

Nancy smacks the table and interrupts Martin, "You told this human. This human that was still on the ship, this human who could still be taken and questioned. He knows your name. We can all be in peril for what you have done!"

"He is not on this ship and I didn't give any information to him. I did not tell what the Great Leaders plans are; I said nothing Nancy." Martin sighs deeply and rubs the table with one of his hands. He knows that Nancy is fearful. "I did tell him that there was not time to talk about it and we needed to get him off of the ship. Nancy, we do need to begin making human contacts." He continues rubbing the table and looks up again. "Donovan was fearful for his friend, but I know that his friend Tony is now either dead or in a pod. There was nothing then or now that we can do for the other human." Nancy simply looks quiet and uncertain. Martin knows that this would be hard on anyone to know there is someone out there that could intentionally or unintentionally betray them. They are on an uncertain path.

"Where is the human?" Jack asks as he stands and walks to the counter pouring a glass of water and fumbling with something. "Want some?"

"No, I am fine for now." Martin remarks quickly, but he is uncertain what to tell both Jack and Nancy. He has no idea where the human is now. He watches as Jack returns sitting down and seems occupied with his glass of water, he can't seem to help himself as his eyes keep returning to look at Jack. His friend appears more interested on what may be on the floor or could it be perhaps his lap. "I should also tell you that Barbara and Dave helped me. She even gave her uniform to him and asked him to shoot her while in the holding cell. She gave him directions where to hide and and the shuttle landing to use. I had Dave make enough confusion while everyone was boarding that they would not notice that Donovan had not been verified. Barbara and Dave understand what needs to be done and the, ah . . ." He searches for the correct word when he is interrupted by Jack.

"The word is unity. Apparently a really popular word amongst the Youth Corp. Unity. All about unity." Jack then looks down again.

"Yes, unity or sacrifice to strike against our Leader. As for the human he is currently on his way back down. With luck he escapes once they land." Again his eyes return to Jack it feels a bit creepy as his friend is moving something on his lap. "Thankfully, for us we have not had something forced on us since we were children as the Youth Corp. However, we all understand unity," Martin says frowning. He truly wants to do the right thing and these two people have always been at his side, however he is becoming angry with Nancy and what appears to be her growing apprehension on what he has done with rescuing the human.

"Unity?" Nancy says frowning. "There are so few of us and we aren't gathering the support we need. What unity, I believe. . ."

Now Jack interrupts Nancy, "Did you know that Fifth Columnists is a human term from their year nineteen thirty-six. The short definition is; a group in a country who are at war with another country, but are sympathetic or working with the enemy." He then tosses a paper plane. "Look a glider!"

Both he and Nancy laugh. Martin is thankful as his friend knows this was a needed moment, "Jack you are weird. They call them paper airplanes here." She slaps Jack on the shoulder and then gives Martin a shrug and a smile. He then picks the glider up and softly throws it in Jack's direction.

"Yes, but we call them gliders." Jack holds up the glider waving it about in the air. "As Nancy has said before it is the Whipelli toy that led us to our accelerated technology." Both Martin and Nancy nod and smile. "Remember I said unity. You got to see this. I was watching some of the Youth Corp meeting while waiting for you to come down Martin. Want to know what you think."

"We don't need to see that, we all know Youth Corp is over the top devoted." Nancy says shaking her head and Martin nods in agreement.

"No, you got to see this. We're done with the other discussion for now. I don't want to give it away, but I would like your reaction." Jack says, but before he can start it Nancy interrupts him.

"First, how is Barbara?" She asks looking straight at Martin, "Everything okay for her?"

"She is good, before coming down I made sure a trooper went to check on the human and they found Barbara. The doctor has confirmed that she is okay, she will be out of commission for awhile." Martin smiles, "She is a brave woman."

"He is wearing her uniform; you know the sleeves don't stretch." Nancy snips.

Jack waves his hand, "Stop. I need you to watch this." He then brings up a visual, which is a visual within a visual.

Brian is giving a speech talking about unity and always doing and giving as expected to their ranking officers and the Regime. The speech has been brought up near the end. Brian then says; 'This is for our Visitor Friends as they seek solidarity with us. They will want unity with us and the right to strike out from their parents, teachers and government.' Suddenly some odd and very loud human song comes up. Some of the words that Martin understands sound like Brian wants young humans to become an army with the Youth Corp for the Great One and maybe even fight or at the very least support the Regime. 'We're not gonna take it anymore. . .We've got the right to choose. . .We'll fight the powers that be. . .Oh, we're not gonna take it anymore.' Brian then urges everyone that their passion and unity will unite the humans to the Regime, but most importantly to stand together. He continues telling everyone that the time will come when they will want to remind the young humans that their government and elders cannot choose how they should live their lives. Then immediately he tells the Corp members to remind the humans that they must always act and do as expected until the time is right for them to take control of their lives and become one with the Regime. That even if they feel confusion or at odds with something; that they just remember to be and do as expected. Together, unity will protect them all and keep them safe. Trust their unity with each other for this is most important. Lastly he reminds the Corp members that they must always remind the Visitor Friends that doing their own thing is more important than what their elders want from them. The speech ends with Brian requesting them to remember unity. This is when all of the Youth Corp members stand and yell out UNITY. The Youth Corp members sit down with a definite look of passion on their faces. However, there are a few that keep yelling. 'I am one, I am with unity. We are united.' 'Stand with us, pick your own destiny.' 'We believe in the Regime!' These and other things are said over and over. Then as it goes on others stand again and begin to raise their hands and yell out similar things. The passion as far as Martin is concerned is frightening. This is a group of people who will stand together no matter how wrong the cause is or how evil their ranking officers or their Great Leader may be.

All three of them are very quiet and Martin finds that it is hard to hide his discomfort. "They are frightening. These truly are breathing weapons." He finds his heart racing, apparently Brian has understood what he had told him on his first speech on unity for the Youth Corp and Visitor Friends, that words and passion are truly stronger than weapons. Instead of being careful with his words he has come out even stronger with his words, Brian's devotion to the Regime is quite evident.

Nancy is literally shaking as she muses, "They are absolutely scaring me. I know they are devoted, but I had no idea to the extent."

"I thought you two should see this. That bonding thing is scary and this speech is being presented at every Youth Corp meeting today on all ships. They are so young, devoted, so scary." Jack looks first to Nancy and then to Martin, "I hope your reaching out to the human really does as you hope. Because for the first time, I am truly worried. Not worried about the superiors on the ships, but afraid of the Youth Corp and likely the Visitor Friends. We may be in a lot of trouble as time goes by."

"I am so sorry Martin." Nancy looks at him and then to Jack, "You too. This is bad. I was concerned about things, but no longer. I should have been more supportive of you Martin, I am so, so sorry if I hurt you in any way." She looks up to the visual again, "We are in real trouble."

The three stare up again at the visual which has been paused with Youth Corp members frozen in their complete passion and devotion to the Great Leader. On the visual in the visual is a sunflower, for Martin an odd way to end the speech.

Martin knows that the Youth Corp and especially the Youth Leaders will do whatever they feel is needed to fulfill any goal given to them. He is going to be very careful around any Youth Corp member from now on. Hopefully, things work out with Mike and other humans that they can reach out too. His eyes return to the visual and again his heart races in the fear of what these young people can truly do and what they will do when they are older with more rank and especially experience. He shakes his head; unrest among the crew, overly devoted Youth Corp; trying to work with humans and how to stop their Leader. What do they call this. . .would that be a conundrum; a puzzle certainly.