April 4, 1999 ?
I wasn't quite sure what time it was. All I knew is that it had to be Sunday by now.
Easter Sunday. Funny. I hadn't thought about it since Good Friday.
What is the purpose of this? Aximli asked me.
"About 2000 years ago, a man was born in a small city called Bethlehem. His name was Jesus Christ. Many people believed he was the son of Yah-weh, the One True God."
Ah yes. Aximili said. I remember this holiday. Prince Jake and the others were preparing for this holiday when we met Jara Hamee and Ket Halpek. This is a Christian holiday. Christianity is the most prevalent religion in this part of the planet. The part you refer to as the 'Western World'.
"That's right, Aximili, and I am a Catholic. The most notorious kind."
The most numerous kind, as well. Although, not within this country. The denomination Protestant is the most prevalent here.
"Yes, well, trivia aside, there are too important holidays concerning Christ. His birth: Christmas. And his death: Easter."
I thought this person was a deity. He died as a mortal?
"He was mortal. He was also divine. I know it seems illogical, but if you think about it, it's the most logical conclusion."
You contemplate your spirituality, David?
"More than I used to." I admitted. "Before I moved, I just kind of went through the motions. You see, not only do we celebrate the death, but his rising from the dead, as well."
Reincarnation?
"No, he just was alive again, after three days. We call that day Easter. And to prepare we have forty days before Easter to contemplate our spirituality and our faith in Jesus Christ. It is called the Lenten Season.
"Funny. I was still in Georgia this Ash Wednesday. St– . . . my friends were with me. At the mass. I had a good, normal, boring life. Now it is Good Friday. The day that Jesus died upon Golgotha. And I am a refuge. An exile. Solider in a war. Yes, Aximili. I have been contemplating my spirituality."
Jesus Christ died and rose again in three days? Why?
"To save the world."
This tale seems highly impossible. Every religion has its own myth of a great hero.
"Do you, Andalties?"
We have our rituals, but no real organized religions. And certainly no deities. We have had 'prophets' come. One, if I remembered correctly, spoke of being the Son of Existence.
"What happened to him?"
Archaeologists have determined he was executed by his fellow Andalites.
"Martyrs."
Strange thing is, archaeologists have also found accounts of his presence after his so-called death.
"Really?"
There has probably been a miscalculation somewhere.
"Maybe. Maybe."
That was the Second of April. Good Friday. It is now Easter Sunday, but it isn't a savior who has risen today. It is a destructor.
Today, I will deliver twenty thousand machines of death to my sworn enemy. It will mean ruin for my planet. Unless, I stop it.
I stood in front of a Dayang sink, which is very similar to our own. I washed my hands with the smelly liquid the dayangs used for soap.
The Roman Governors where the ones who had to authorize a crucifixion, but Ponchos Pilate didn't give a damn about Jesus. It was the Hebrew Priests who wanted Jesus to be executed for heresy. So, Pilate simply washed his hands and let the Priests have their way.
I thought about that as I washed my hands. Was I simply signing off Terra Firma? Why the fuck did the Ellimist bring me here??!!
It had something to do with Cassie. He went on and on about how he did not like the fact that I had kissed her. Been romantic with her.
But I loved her. What else am I to do?
But I loved Stephanie too.
And unless I fixed this whole thing up, I'll never see either one again.
I had been taking a crash course in programming, learning what I can from the Dayang computer database. When I thought I had learned enough, I tried it out. I wrote a simply piece of code that was to be included in the Thanatosts' programming. It was kind of fun.
"Holy shit!" I exclaimed as I finished with my code. "I'm a computer geek."
"*So! You're the morphing homo sapien?*" said a gruff voice.
I turned around. "Captain Gwarver. First Mate Hollin."
"*If we are done with the pleasantries, I have some concerns I would like to raise with you.*"
"Yes?"
"*I want to talk to you about Dayang life. We live for Wyrphat'd. Wyrphat'd is a life of leisure. We obtain this obviously by working and obtaining wealth. Every Dayang on this ship works to achieve Wyrphat'd. It is impossible to convey to a creature like you the importance and gravity of this drive, but needless to say it is very important to us.*"
"I think I can sympathize."
"*As you have probably figured out, these Thanatosts will be used against your planet.*"
"Former planet. My nationality is Drunkard. Which makes me a citizen of the universe." I said. Great, I thought. Now I'm quoting Casablanca!
"*I don't care for your jokes, you Alien Adolescent! Still, if you claim no allegiance to your planet, then I guess my concerns are at rest. But heed this, homo sapien, with over six billion of you, sapien life is cheap. We, the dayangs of the Rogin Gavic, have been wandering the cosmos for too long. Now with Wyrphat'd so close, I will not lose it to some backwater alien who thinks it's Gianna Draquen-001. *" Gwarver interrupted his rant with a gesture of reverence, having invoked the name of the Dayang God. (The same name as the planet, I noticed). "*You will not take this from me. I deserve this! *"
"'I'?" I repeated dangerously. "You meant 'we', right? The people of the Rogin Gavic deserve this."
Gwarver's eyes glowed and darkened rapidly in rhythm while his tentacles quivered and whipped about. He was struggling with intense fearful panic and anger.
He slipped. He revealed where his true concerns led. Hollin's eyes and tentacles were also doing weird things. He was struggling with surprise and worry. I guess, he didn't know his captain all that well.
I decided to break the tension. "You needn't worry about me, captain. The people of Earth mean as much to me as you and your rabble. The difference being is that you and your rabble will get me early retirement or Wyrphat'd as you call it."
The Captain left. Hollin stayed behind.
"*I know you better, David.*" He said calmly. "*You nearly killed me to protect your comrades. I don't believe you would abandon them so quickly for your own gain.*"
"I don't think it's me you should be worried about. I told Gwarver the truth. I care about the people of Earth as much as I do you and the people of the Rogin Gavic."
Hollin seemed to contemplate that. "*I hope you know what you're doing, David.*"
"Me too."
All goes according to plan.
The Visser came when he said he would, this time without the council member. The Twenty-thousand Thanatosts were a sight to behold as they marched into the Visser's blade ship. Orbin looked as pained. Captain Gwarver and First Mate Hollin were there. They each gave Doctor Orbin their concerns.
"*Where is the human, Orbin.?*" Captain Gwarver asked teresly.
"*He is in my quarters. He chose not to attend. He is betraying his planet for his own well-being. It goes against this human sensibilities.*" Orbin explained.
"*I think he will cause us trouble. We are seconds away from Wyrphat'd, and I just know that little alien-vikol is going to ruin things.*" Gwarver warned. My translator offered several translations for 'vikol'–vermin, scoundrel, trash. I got the idea. "*We should neutralize him*"
Neutralize? My dad told me all about neutralization, you prick. You won't be neutralizing me.
"*Sir, I think that act maybe too rash.*" Hollin said. "*If something goes wrong, we should just turn him over to the Yeerks. Let them deal with him.*"
You would wash your hands of me, Hollin? But at the same time I thought. Why do you even care if I live or die?
"*Klika and don't think he will be any problem.*" Orbin restated. "*Besides, like I said, he is in my quarters. He will not be a nuisance.*"
That's what you think, my friend. I'm sorry that I deceived you, but I have to do this.
Klika was practically gleeming, her tentacles were going everywhere. She was in a giving mood today, so she packed up a little something extra for the Visser's troops. They were waiting in transparent, cube cages.
So was I.
As the last of the Thanatosts loaded up in to the Blade ship, the Visser approached the Captain one last time.
Everything appears to be in order, Captain. I have given your First Mate the co-ordinates of your sanctuary. Two Bug Fighters will be on hand to escort you.
"*Visser!*" Klika called out sliding her top half forward. "*I have prepared a little something for your Taxxon-controllers. Twenty live Dibulobs. I know how they like our Dibulobs. I even put them in special cases that will protect them from dracon beams or explosions, but still give them air to breathe before you feed them to the Taxxons.*" She said pointing to the cages where Twenty dibulobs lay like many cows for the slaughter.
How thoughtful. the Visser said insincerely. Nonetheless, the twenty cages were brought in carrying twenty dibulobs.
Actually, nineteen dibulobs.
The Hanger closed and the Blade ship separated itself from the Rogin Gavic. I was in this hanger a week ago, fighting for my life. Here I am again. About fifty of the Thanatosts were in the bay. The others were probably in other parts of the ship.
Once we are in clear of them. the Visser said. Dispatch two Bug Fighters to destroy the Rogin Gavic.
What? Destroy them? Shit, the Visser was meaner than I thought. He was going to destroy them no matter what! Fuck! I'm going to have to act quickly. Let's hope what Klika said about these cages were true.
All Thanatosts Activate! Begin Self-destruct sequence now!
Twenty-thousand identical voices replied. "*Password required.*"
Password? the Visser yelled, confused. What password? What are they doing?
'Steph or Cassie? That is the question!'
"*Password accepted. Self-destruct activated!*"
KA-BOOM! The explosion was great. True to Klika's claim, the cages protected us, but we were tossed about a lot. Then an even more massive shockwave came from a different direction. A different part of the ship.
Hork-bajir and Taxxons burned. The Visser was morphing something as fast as he could. I couldn't tell what. When the explosion was over, all the cages had broken. The Dibulobs were running around like crazy as burnt Taxxons (and Taxxons who were still burning) greedily gobbled them up.
The Visser, half-morphed, demorphed. When he was fully Andalite, you could see that all he suffered were some minor burns. Damage report! He called.
"The blasts from the androids were minor and were mostly contained within the several storage bays. Unfortunately, my Visser, several of the Androids were in the Bug Fighter bay. All of our fighters have been destroyed." said a human-controller over the intercom. "Again the blast was contained with in the bay, but the shock wave damaged our z-space engine."
Destroy those treacherous Dayangs! They caused this!
Every action has consequences. Consequence you must take responsibility for.
No! I shouted as I began to demorph. I did it!
I rose from the remains of several broken cages, which went opaque when they broke. It was a bit too theatrical. But I'm a theatrical kind of guy. The Dibulob back tendril (the Dayang Delicacy) was the last to get sucked back into my body.
The Human! Visser Three shouted.
"You were expecting maybe Elfangor's ghost?"
He stepped toward me enraged. I WILL DESTROY YOU FOR THIS!
My forearms went Hork-Bajir before he could take another step. I looked like Popeye with blades. "Ah Ah Ah!" I said coyly, projecting confidence. (Even though I felt I might soil my morphing suit.) "Don't you remember what happened the last time we tangoed? Or do I have to slit your throat again?"
The Visser's tail twitched. Then he calmed down. Ha Ha! Ever the arrogant human. So you destroyed my army? Impressive. But if you were going to have a future, I'd tell you to be more thorough. Thanatost-0! Come to me!
Thanatost-0?! The proto-type! The one that doesn't have the self-destruct sequence. Oh shit.
The Android that looked so much like the Chee, entered, ready and willing to do the Visser's dirty work.
Ah, Thanatost-0. Capture that morphing creature. It's high time I gave my Temrash a more fitting host.
The Android fired a Dracon Beam at me. I dodged and completed my morph to Hork-Bajir. Thanatos-0! Cease and Desist! That is an order from your creator!
Nice try, Human! But it will not listen to you. It only responds to my voice. And why do you call yourself its creator?!
I hid behind some metal crates. I demorphed and tried to began a remorph, but I suddenly became very tired. Come on, David! Morph! You have to do this! This was my only chance. I concentrated on the important part of the morph I needed.
Were you in league with the Dayangs? Did that treacherous Klika purposefully smuggle you in my ship?!
No she didn't, but I realized then how much trouble I had gotten the Dayangs. Trouble I will have to get them out of. I told Hollin I cared for the people of the Rogin Gavic as much as I did the people of my planet. I better live up to that. I had just started my morph when the Prototype found me. Hopefully, the part I need was fully morphed.
Destroy him, Thanatost-0! the Visser yelled.
Then, an identical thought-speech yelled. Stop! The Prototype stopped.
What? Don't stop. Kill him!
Stop.
Don't stop. You worthless android! Kill him!
Stop.
WHO'S DOING THAT?!!!
I rose. Fully morphed, having received time to do so while the Prototype was confused.
What? the Visser muttered. Confused. How?
What's the matter, Visser? Don't like looking at yourself? I shouted in Visser Three's thought speech. I had acquired the Visser's host the last time I was on the ship. Now, I had morphed him.
Are all six billion of you like this? Is this what happens when humans get ahold of technology they are not ready for?? You wonder why, besides your comrades, the rest of the andalites have left you to us. You humans are a scourge! You are nasty monstrous creatures. You would do more damage in a century than a hundred Yeerk Empires could ever do!!! You double-brained, insane, absolute, HORROR OF A SENTIENT LIFE-FORM!
Flattery will get you nowhere, Visser! I shouted in my own thought-speech. Then in the Visser's: Thanatos-0! Ignore all commands until this order is fufilled: Destroy all Andalites!
The Thanatost was closer to the Visser, so it went after him first. I started to demorph.
Guards! Destroy the android and the human!
The Hork-Bajir guards. Shit, I didn't even see them! They began blasting at the Android, being careful not to hit the visser. They also shot at me. Since I was rapidly demorphing, there was no confusion over who I was. I was shot by a beam and lain their crippled. I started to morph Hork-Bajir, but I was very tired.
The Prototype was also firing Dracon beams. The Visser had managed to take out it's eyes with his tail blade, so sometimes they would miss and hit a Hork-Bajir.
The Visser managed to complete a morph of a large bird. It flew to the guards. The Protoype stood at attention (battered, singed, and missing an arm) having fufilled its last mission.
The Visser and the Hork-Bajir guards left. On the other side of the door, the Visser gave one last command.
Destroy all living creatures in the room!
Well, I guess I'm pretty much butt-fucked!
I turned over. I so fucking tired, I couldn't move. Couldn't morph. I saw death on the horizon.
The Thanatost was more damaged then I thought. It limped its way to me. It could barely move. Still didn't mean it couldn't kill me. It wrapped its one remaining hand around my neck, choking me. Things started to get dark.
FLASH!
Brett Taggart, the bastard.
"No one grabs my girlfriend's ass. Except me!" I shouted.
"Suck my cock and like it, punk!" He shouted back.
It was after school. Parking lot of the Taco Bell. Stephanie was there. Steph's ex-boyfriend, Brett was there too. Jason wasn't, so I had no one to get my back.
"I don't have the patience to deal with you. What the fuck's your problem?"
"Brett Taggart does not lose his girl to any way. Especially to some cocksmoking, Movie-coating pussy. Time for some justice."
"Boys who crave power, talk about themselves in third-person, and treat women like objects, take the wrong road of self-esteem compensation. They pile all of their evils and vices and call it 'justice'" I said. Brett got this look of confusion on his face. Typical when I give him a verbose insult. "And it's 'quoting', you dick-less, Neanderthalic, waste-of-space! 'Movie-quoting'! 'Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth???'"
That got immediate attention. He punched me in the gut and subsequently kneed me in the face. I was down for the count, laying face down on the asphalt.
Stephanie launched herself at Brett, but he caught her and threw her down onto the ground.
Needless, to say I was not happy. I got up and grabbed Brett by his shirt.
"'Hasta la vista, baby' Terminator 2'" I said, as I hit threw into a wall.
"'Yippee-kay-yay, Motherfucker!' Die Hard Trilogy" FWAP! I hit him across his nose.
"'Hello. My name is Indigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!' Princess bride." FWAP! I hit him in his stomach.
"'Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?' Batman" FWAP! I kneed him in the balls. I lifted his head so he could see me.
"'If I fight to protect the love of mine
Between Right and Wrong, There Is No Line.' That one's mine." I said as I smashed his head into the wall. In retrospect, yes it was cruel, but every action has consequences.
"David?" Stephanie called to me. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." I said as she held me and I walked leaning on to her. "As long as I have you to fight for, I'll be fine." I looked into her eyes and she kissed me.
"There . . . . . is . . . . no . . . . . line!" I shouted as I punched my human fist into the Thanatosts' skull. My hand probed its skull, till I found what I wanted: the CPU. I took it and ripped it out. All of the sudden the pressure in its hand released. I could breathe. And as soon as I found strength, I sat up.
As soon as I sat up, I found myself on my rock. The rock that jutts out over the stream in the Forest of which I live. I was home. My new home, but home nonetheless.
I looked into the stream. I could see my reflection. "Looks like you did it, David."
My reflection smiled. "Yes, and much to my surprise."
I didn't even flinch. "Hello, Ellimist."
"You keep changing things, you know. The game will be harder with you as piece."
"With whom do you play your game, with Ellimist?"
My reflection got a look of sadness. "You will find out soon enough."
"What happened to the Rogin Gavic?" I asked.
Suddenly, my reflection rippled. I saw in the water, Visser Three and Council Member Four. They were on the bridge. Hollin was speaking to them via transmission.
"* . . . . that it was Captain Gwarver who put the human David Hunting on our ship. The Captain's plan was to let David and his andalite comrades use our resources to make these war machines whose sole purpose was to cripple the Blade ship and deliver Council Member Four and Visser Three to the andalites. I executed Captain Gwarver as he told the Andalite Fleet of David's failure. Because of the destruction of the Thanatosts, we do not hold you obligated to deliver our sanctuary. We hope to do business with you again, Visser Three.*"
As do I. Good luck in your endeavors, Captain Hollin. the Visser said. And do not worry. I do not hold you responsible for this catastrophe. You will not receive retaliation from me.
My perspective changed and I was seeing the Rogin Gavic's Bridge.
"*Do you think they bought it?*" Dr. Orbin asked.
"*I think we are safe.*" Hollin said. "*The Visser would dare not do anything treacherous with Council Member Four on board.*"
"*Do you think David is safe?*" Klika asked.
"*I have a feeling he is all right, and we'll be seeing him again.*"
My reflection returned.
"I did good, Ellimist." I asked.
"Yes." Said the Ellimist. "And if you do one more thing, I will be convinced you are no nuisance to universe."
"And what's that?"
"David?"
"Steph?"
No. It was Cassie. Cassie in a very pretty dress.
"Hi." I said. "Nice dress."
"Thanks. I'm just about to go to Easter Mass. I only go to church like twice: Christmas and Easter."
"Is Jake coming with you?"
"No, he's half-Jewish. He doesn't celebrate Easter."
"Oh."
After a few seconds, Cassie finally spoke. "I can't do this."
I played dumb. "Do what?"
"David, you know I care for you, but I . . . . have feelings . . . . for Jake, and although we aren't like official or anything. I feel that if I expressed my feelings for you, it would be wrong. And I'm not saying that 'you and I' are wrong. It's just that 'Jake and I' is more right than 'you and I'. Not that 'you and I' are right, or something . . ."
"Cassie," I interrupted, "Why is it 'you and I' are and 'you and Jake' is?"
She was flabbergasted. She stumbled over her own words.
"Cassie, I will always love you, but I can not love you the way you need to be loved. They way Jake can love you."
"You think Jake loves me that way."
"No, but he can love you that way."
Cassie seemed to be happier. "That's the second time you've called me Steph. Who is she?"
I only smiled at her. "Happy Easter, Cassie."
Cassie let it go. "Happy Easter, David." She left. I looked down at my right hand and noticed it was still in the fist I had made to bash in the Thanatost's skull. I open up my hand relieving all the muscle tension.
There in my palm was the Thanatost's CPU.