CH51 (130)
Kate had cried for weeks and had been almost completely shut down for just as long. Alexis and the girls hadn't been much better.
Kate had lost her husband and her heart was shattered just like she feared it would. The girls had lost their father and it hurt, it hurt a lot.
Kate had been so far shut down that the guys worried about her. She was slowly killing herself, not eating, not drinking, barely getting out of bed. The guys were on their own too, since their wives were just as affected.
Not that the guys were unaffected, far from it.
Elena had been the first to snap out of it some, followed by Kali. Emily followed a few days later. Alexis however was up but walking around in a haze, going thru the motions.
Everyone had heard about the large battles that had taken place. The enemy had taken a pasting. The second battle however hadn't been quite as easy as the first one. Two of their cruisers had each taken 4 torpedoes into their top side. The separate flight bay for each fighter idea had proven it's worth since 2 of the 4 enemy torpedoes that one of the cruisers had taken, was in that location.
The cruisers held more torpedoes however 2 of the cruisers had already shot a lot of theirs just trying to stay alive.
There had been 16 casualties along with another 32 injured combined between the two. It was estimated to take a full year to repair the damage for each of them.
In the last 7 years they had 4 new destroyers and 2 new cruisers, with 2 more cruisers due in about a year. The space station in Tellus orbit was now 7 years into a 30 year build.
The space stations for the colony planets were now 3 years into a 20 year build. The idea behind them was similar, just a lot smaller.
The funeral had taken place 1 month after Rick's death. An examination confirmed he had died of natural causes. Apparently he really was tired that day.
The entire family had been on Ariel for the services. Madison, Shawn and their family. Lanie, Jenny, Kevin and Javi and their family. Even the newest addition who was now 6 years old and almost 7 was there.
Little Peter was here with his parents Kali and Joseph. Kali was presently 7 months pregnant with her second. It took her longer but she had eventually caught up with her sisters. Plus she was happy, Joseph and her family made her happy.
Kate was babysitting him while her parents and her children were all off doing something they refused to tell her about.
The service was simple and it seemed half the Tellus council had chosen to attend. The council still thought they owed the Castle's for all they had done, and Alexis for all the information she had brought with her and given to them freely.
The newest explorer class of ship had completed construction and was just now entering orbit of Tellus. It had gone to Earth to survey the planet and bring back data that would help them ascertain when or if Earth could be repopulated.
It had then gone on to 3 different systems looking for colony planets. Their population was still exploding and they needed room. What no one except those on the ship, along with all the council members knew was that they had found one. And this time it wasn't a moon.
It was a planet that was roughly equal in size and weight with Earth. However instead of having 71% being land it had 79% land mass. There was a large section that was desert, however a lot of it wasn't.
The shuttles that had landed and overflown some of the planet showed it was teaming with life. One of the continents was loaded with massive herds of buffalo that were roaming all over. It was just what they had been looking for.
Several people had gotten up to talk about Rick, their father, her husband.
One of the council members presented Kate with the highest civilian medal allowed along with the flag of Tellus.
Kate was in the back of the shuttle with her flag, medal and a small box that held what was left of her husband. Kate was sitting quietly, not making a sound. She felt hollow and empty inside.
After landing at home Kate walked with the girls to the highest place on the island. There was a storm coming and the wind was up.
They had done what Rick wanted and had talked about. They had, had his body cremated, spoken a few words, had a drink of their choice. Now there was just one thing left to do.
Kate with her girls around her handed off her flag and medal, then opened the little box. "I love you, I'll always love you. … Always." Then dumped the box and watched the ashes that were her husband fly off into the wind.
He wanted to be one with the universe again after his death. "Goodbye my love." Then Kate had turned, crying heavily yet again and ran for the house. She made it as far as the next to last step on the stairs down to the house from the landing pad, when her leg shattered and she fell screaming out in pain.
Today she was sitting in her motorized wheelchair out on the Lanai looking out over the water that surrounded them. Kate's leg was in a flexible but still stiff brace. Kate could transfer herself in and out of her chair, but she needed help getting dressed and taking a shower, which Kate found extremely embarrassing.
Kate had, had yet another operation to clear out all of the tiny bits and pieces of her leg. Joseph had assisted in the operation after some pleading with the chief surgeon. The fact that Kate was his wife's mother had initially ruled him out.
There were rules about loved ones working on other loved ones. He had however relented and let Joseph assist him in the operation so long as Joseph did as he was told and left if he told him to.
Alexis stepped out onto the Lanai. "You want some lunch mom?" Madison had recommended that Kate eat 5 small meals each day instead of 3 regular meals.
Kate had stopped eating for so long that she had lost a lot of weight. She had become a shadow of her former self in just a few weeks. With 5 small meals a day she was slowly regaining some of that lost weight, though she was still too thin.
Actually Kate felt like a hollowed out person, no longer herself. She had been going thru the motions of living for the last 7 years, no real drive to do much of anything. All that died when her husband had died. Her children and grand children were all that kept her going at all. It was painful for the girls to watch.
"Sure pumpkin, something light." Kate had adjusted to all the little meals. However it still annoyed her that someone was always pushing food in front of her.
Alexis, Andre and their family had moved into the home and stayed to look after her. Kali, Joseph and their family never left. The house was more than big enough for all of them. Plus their children were loving the location just as much as Kate's children had when they were growing up.
Swimming and lounging on the beach, BBQ meals on the beach and of course the boat on the other side along with the 4 new jet skies. The old ones needed to be replaced.
Alexis showed up with lunch for Kate and herself. "How is Maggie?" Kate asks before taking a bite.
"She's off on the mainland on her date. Something about taking quads for a ride." Alexis had learned to trust her daughter finally as she grew up.
"Have you met him?" Kate wondered if her daughter approved of him.
Alexis chuckles. "Yes mom, I've met him and the answer to your next question is yes, he feels right for her."
"I didn't ask." Kate counters.
"You didn't ask very loudly." Alexis corrects her.
Kate just grins. "And her brother, has he finally found an interest in girls?"
Alexis laughs this time. "Yes, his sister has even introduced him to one of her friends. Those two and the others are out on the boat at the moment, towing each other around most likely."
"And?" Kate questions her daughter, digging for information.
"I've only met her once, she seems nice. … And yes I'll eventually spend some time with her if she keeps coming over." Alexis grins and shakes her head.
The two went back to being quiet while finishing their lunch. Then a flash caught Kate's attention. "We expecting company?" Kate could make out a shuttle approaching the island.
"No, her parents aren't scheduled to come get her till after dinner. Maybe it's Ell with a new project for her and sis." Alexis speculates.
They watch the shuttle land and Alexis gets up to look at the landing pad so she can see who gets out.
Except it isn't Ell. It was two men in suits instead, but she did see someone she did recognize.
Now worried Alexis steps inside the house. "Lucille, find my husband, sis and Joseph and have them come up here, we have unexpected company. … Then call Ell and see if she can join us." It didn't feel right to her. Having another detective around would make her feel better. Especially one that wasn't 7 months pregnant.
Andre, Joseph and Kali arrived just as their three guests reached the Lanai.
Kali stood out in front ready to defend everyone here. "SIS!?" Emily broke from the two guys and ran for Alexis. Kali was confused but continued to watch the two guys she came with.
"Sis, what are you doing here?" Alexis asks her, knowing she should be on Athos, and where was her husband and their children. Though it explained why Emily hadn't been answering her phone calls. Her and Emily talked daily.
"These two along with some Marines picked me up on Athos and ordered me here." Emily explains. "Then ordered my husband to keep quiet about them taking me." Emily turned and gave these two yet another death glare.
Alexis looks past everyone out towards the shuttle they came in and saw a pair of Marines standing outside of it but not making any move to come this way.
"Ok, and who are you two?" Kali was mad that they had just swooped in and took her sister.
"I'm Lucas Huber and this is Spraz Crumbler. … We're both with the Tellus council. Is your other sister here?" Lucas asks her for an answer.
"I just called her, she should be here in about half an hour. … You might want to warn your Marines, she is likely going to break a few bones when she gets here. She is likely to take my call as us being under attack." Alexis warns him.
Spraz nods his head at Lucas and walks back down to the Marines who retreat into the shuttle and close it up, then he comes back.
"Is there someplace we can wait?" Lucas asks.
"The dining table around the corner on the Lanai." Alexis offers.
After they all sit and Kate maneuvers her chair to sit at the head of the table. "Could we have something to drink if it's not too much trouble." Lucas asks.
"Of course, give me a few minutes." Alexis rises and Andre goes with her to help.
"Detective Castle, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. You and your family, especially your husband are a legend on Tellus. My condolences on your loss. I regret I was unable to attend the funeral." Lucas tells her, sounding sincere.
"Thank you, and it's just Kate now." Kate corrects him.
Lucas however shakes his head. "You're a detective Mrs. Castle, always will be. My apologies over how your AI unit was retrieved. The council had and still has no say in the matter. We showed a unanimous front in our disdain in how that was handled. It was handled badly and I have no doubt it hurt." Lucas was trying to sound sincere. If necessary he could allow Lucile access to those records to prove it.
"What they did was beyond cruel, even Lucille knows it." Kali swept her arm at the house where Lucille was on the closest monitor to the table they were sitting at. Kali was instantly mad at them. Maybe it wasn't their fault and maybe it was part hormones, but someone needed to get yelled at.
"We are aware of her opinion on the matter, the council agrees with her, for what its worth." There was nothing Lucas could do about it now. The council had quietly put an end to the inquiry into two of the three men having been tortured using a detective pinching technique. No permanent damage had been done, and the council thought they deserved it. Maybe it would help bring about some needed changes in how AI units are handled in the future.
"Can you tell me where Lucy is now?" Kate knew seeing her again was likely out of the question, she just wanted to know that she was alright.
"We had to pull a few strings and use up a few favors but yes I do. … Her memory has been wiped and her new name is Lynn. She has been paired with a detective Dell Bantam. She is the captain of the single stealth ship, named Wednesday, that you added your name to, to have it designed. It was highly instrumental in our victory with the enemy just a few days ago." Lucas tells her, hoping it helped.
"Wednesday? As in Adams Family Wednesday?" Alexis and Andre had returned with drinks.
Lucas smiles. "I'm told captain Bantam is a big fan of Star Trek, the original series and the Adams Family movies and the old Earth TV episodes. She was allowed to name her own ship, Dell chose Wednesday. … I'm told her AI unit Lynn tried to have it named Lady Wednesday, however captain Bantam shot her down." Lucas was grinning. He still found it humorous, Lady Wednesday just didn't sound right.
Kate brightened at that comment. "Lady Wednesday." Kate was grinning wide. Maybe Lucy wasn't completely wiped.
"Because of the success of the first stealth ship and captain Bantam a second ship has been ordered for construction. It should be complete in about seven years. Another detective will likely be assigned to the ship. He, like captain Bantam will be allowed to pick his own crew." Lucas explains.
Spraz spoke up for the first time. "I've personally met Dell Bantam, she is quite a character herself. She mentioned that she had met you and your sister once." He looks at Kali.
"Me and Ell?" Kali didn't remember meeting a female military captain.
"It would have been about 5 years ago, she had only just been assigned to the Wednesday, the ship was only about half finished at the time. … She's about 5 foot 3, very short boy cut blonde hair, very slight, not very intimidating for a detective." Spraz tries to describe her.
Kali scrunches her face trying to picture her, then tilts her head a little as if that would help. "Maybe Ell will remember." Just as Ell's shuttle lands and she comes flying up the trail with her weapon out and ready.
Kali meets her and calms her down and gives her the foot notes of what they have been talking about and then introduces their guests and then points to the two Marines at their shuttle who have exited it and are just standing there, with their heads looking everywhere for a threat.
"Let's get started shall we?" Lucas comments after Ell pulls up a chair to sit with them.
"We have two things we want and need to discuss. First, our new explorer class ship has returned from two missions. The first was to go back to Earth to ascertain it's condition." Lucas pauses.
This had Alexis's attention. "And?" Alexis asks, while she reaches across the table to take one of her mothers hands in hers.
"There are still large sections of the planet that are still heavily radiated. Others are recovering faster. Our guess is that the areas that actually received a nuclear explosion are recovering very slowly, areas that only had radiation land on them from rain are recovering faster.
It is not likely that it will be habitable during my lifetime, but maybe someday." Lucas tells them. "They also didn't see any sign of life on the planet. If we do someday repopulate it we will need to bring our own animals with us." They hadn't just killed themselves it seems, but all the wildlife too.
Alexis deflated. It would have been nice to see her old home again, though the areas she remembered were likely destroyed in the blasts. New York probably got hit several times, turning the entire city into rubble. Including her childhood home. All Alexis had of that time was what Lucy had downloaded onto the server that she had access to using her pad. She had thanked Lucy countless times. "I'm glad it helps pumpkin." Was Lucy's reply each time.
"It's other mission was to look for a new colony planet. She went to three different systems in fact and only just returned last week. We were told of their findings on our way out here." Lucas explains.
"And they found something." Alexis guesses.
"Indeed. It was a planet, roughly the same size and weight as Earth. This planet has a little more land mass than Earth does, however it like Earth is mostly water.
We don't understand it but data they brought back indicates that the plant and animal life is similar if not identical with Ariel." Lucas explains.
"Meaning just like Earth." Alexis's mouth has fallen on the table.
"Just how many Earth like planets are there?" Kate finally speaks up. Not expecting an answer.
"The council would like to ask you, Alexis Castle and your family to establish a colony on this planet, just like you have in the past. You are free to take anyone with you that you choose. We will of course compensate you for your time, just like the other times with your parents." Lucas officially asks her.
"I, … I, …." Alexis looks at her mom and then at Andre who was next to her. "We need to talk before I can answer that question." Then Alexis looked at Emily to see what was on her face. What she saw there was a 'please say yes sis. And take me with you'.
"Of course, I would expect nothing less. We have brought the data we have on the planet with us." And Spraz hands over a pad with all the data to it to Alexis.
"So you understand, we are almost maxed out in population on our colony planets, let alone Tellus itself. We need the space if we are going to increase our population. Keep in mind that this system is rather far out there. It is three months from Tellus this time. Almost the exact opposite direction our enemy seems to be coming from.
However as you know we now have a full fleet of cargo ships. You yourself own several as part of Castle Gardens. Several more are likely to start construction soon because of this planet. It's land mass almost exceeds the total land mass of our four colony planets. This planets potential is amazing." Lucas adds.
"We'll talk and let you know." Alexis offers watching Emily nod her head enthusiastically.
"Anything else?" Andre asks since he wanted to talk with his wife.
"Actually there is." Spraz answers the question.
"Roughly three months ago the Oracle building on Tellus opened." Spraz tells them.
He had everyone's attention now. "And?" Elena finally speaks up.
"She told us only one thing. It was very unusual. Something that we never expected." Spraz delays to draw out the suspense on purpose.
"We were told to have Detective Katherine Houghton Beckett – Castle and her daughters Kali, Emily, Elena and Alexis be at the obelisk on Ariel at a certain date and time. You four are suppose to deliver her to the obelisk at the date and time specified and leave Detective Castle behind and then return at first light the next day." Both council members were dying to hear what they thought of that.
"ME! …. Why me?" Kate was shocked.
"They want us to fly our mother out to the middle of nowhere and then leave her there. Weapon less?" Kali had concerns. They had come and deactivated Kate's weapon one week after taking her AI unit from her. Kali and Ell wished they had been there at the time. They would have broken every bone in their bodies and traded what was left of them for Lucy. They were then and still are now, MAD AS HELL!
"Not a chance in hell!" Elena wasn't leaving her mother who was in a wheelchair, even if it was powered, out in the middle of nowhere. That place was sabertooth tiger country and Tigger was likely gone by now.
"Her request was quite specific, you are supposed to take her to the obelisk and leave her there. She didn't say anything about coming back here after you did." Spraz points out.
"I'm going." Kate tells them.
"MOM!" Alexis didn't like this idea. Getting all the others except for Lucas and Spraz to turn their heads and stare at her with their mouths on the table.
"I'm going pumpkin. … I'm not getting any younger, maybe this is my one chance to see an Oracle. Don't take it away from me sweetie." Kate all but begs her. "I've lost enough already." Meaning her mom, her dad, the Walkers, the Quellers, the first Kali, Rick and her heart and her life.
"Leave mom at the obelisk but we only retreat a little bit. When is this suppose to take place?" Ell asks them.
Spraz pulls out his phone. "Six hours and five minutes from now, which is half an hour before sunset."
"If we can get my husband out here and maybe a couple of his Marine friends, armed Marines. … Alexis and Emily retreat to the shuttle and wait it out till dawn, while the rest of us patrol the area to make sure nothing gets past us and makes it to mom.
There's no way in hell I'm losing mom to some damn sabertooth or anything else. She's all I have left. … Not counting my husband and my children. ... and my sisters" Getting Kate to grin at her.
"We'll have our Marines pick up your family if you'll tell them they're coming." Spraz offers. After Elena nods her head and takes out her phone while Apraz makes the call to the Marines at their shuttle.
Ell walks away while she talks to her husband.
"You better go get some sleep mom while you can, if you plan on staying up all night." Alexis caves in since it looks like this was going to happen.
Kali stays to watch over their guests, while Alexis, Andre and Emily walk away and Emily calls her husband so they can all talk.
They had installed two lifts to allow Kate to get around her own home after she was stuck in a wheelchair. Kate could transfer herself to and from bed so she just slept in her clothes.
It was twenty minutes before the designated time and all of them were just outside the obelisk.
"Ok we spread out and make sure nothing gets past us all night long, anything makes it past us and gets to mom, I'm going to lose it" Ell warns them.
"Let's get it done guys." Leon tells the two armed Marine friends that he brought with him.
"Not a problem Leon. If something gets past us it's because we're dead. .. Semper Fi!" And the five of them head out so they can look around their area before it gets dark.
"It doesn't look any different from last time. You sure about this mom? You look tired." Alexis wasn't sure her mom's nap before this had helped her any.
"I'll be fine pumpkin. I get to see an Oracle." Kate was excited and maybe a touch worried.
"I love you mom." Alexis hugs her.
"Luv you too mom." Emily takes her turn to hug her mom.
"I love you two too. Remind your sisters. I'm so very proud of you four. I almost wish I was going with you. It'll be an adventure for you two. Extend the Castle legend. Rick was right, we'll be in the history books for years to come." Kate was beyond happy what her children had accomplished.
Kate still wished she had given Rick a son no matter what he had said. Still it looked like he was going to be right about the history books.
"If only your father could see this." Kate comments still missing him horribly. The almost physical pain in her heart was still with her.
"Dad would be envious. Not getting inside this one when we were here drove him mad. … which reminds me. This is your food and some drink. Don't forget to eat it." Alexis wags her finger at her mom, then puts it in her bag on her wheelchair. "And take this too." Alexis hands it to her mother so she can hold it.
"Lucy!" Kate smiles. "Thanks pumpkin."
"We'll all be back in the morning mom." Alexis kisses the top of her head and steps back.
"I'm dying to hear what you see or hear mom. Prepare to be interrogated." Emily chuckles and kisses the top of her mom's head. And they both walk off for the shuttle a few yards away.
Kate turns to face the obelisk. "Ready Lucy?"
"I'm sorry I'm not programmed to answer that question. You have to phrase your question in a manner I have a response for." Lucy answers back.
"That's ok Lucy, you just record everything. Maybe they'll put that in the history books too." Kate was kinda expecting that response. Lucy had been right, it wasn't perfect but it did help.
"That I can do Kate. Recording system active." Lucy responds.
Kate waited and watched. Then she saw a section of the wall of the obelisk quickly kind of melt away. Leaving an opening into the interior. It looked dark inside. They hadn't anticipated that, though she did have her phone that had a light app installed.