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  I never did crack the secret behind Farley. I saw no obvious or not so obvious flaws in his fighting style. The man made very few mistakes. Tonight’s bout was going to come down to who made the least amount of errors. I had been lifting and doing cardio the entire month, in fact it was the first time in a long time I didn’t have to spend the majority of my downtown recuperating. So I figured I would match him in weapon selection and go sword to sword. Neither of us were sword-wielding swashbucklers. He might have the advantage in strength but I was confident that I had him in speed. So like I said before, it was all going to come down to who made the biggest mistake first.

  Once again I was led into the arena first and listened to the crowd hissing and booing. Apparently I cost a lot of money to the ugly bastards. Well too bad because unless they bet on me tonight they were going to lose a bunch again. Farley came in after a few moments and received the lion’s share of adulation from the throng and he didn’t seem to mind. He bowed in the general direction of Beth and then proceeded to bow to every corner of the arena. They ate it up. I stood there hoping he pulled a muscle or something with all that bowing. But he didn’t.

  Here was a twist; the aliens did not terraform the arena, they left it flat gray and lifeless. It looked much like a warehouse, maybe that was the effect they were shooting for. It didn’t really bother me as I had no intention of hiding anyway. Farley went to the far wall and grabbed a sword; I did the same. And then we just started walking to meet in the middle. There was no particular rush or sense of urgency. Both of us knew what had to be done, but hey, where was the fire. When we got roughly ten to fifteen feet away from each other, Farley actually bowed to me and saluted me with his sword. I thought that was a really classy thing to do, so I returned the bow, but I kept my head up just in case it was a ploy to catch me unawares. It wasn’t. He waited till I stood completely back up and then advanced, but much more warily than he had the first forty-five yards. So the dance of swords began.

  CHAPTER 27

  “Ground Control to Major Tom, Ground Control to Major Tom.”

  “Butch, you know I hate it when you do that, my last name is Thomas and I’m a Colonel now, Major!”

  “I know Ray, sometimes I just can’t help myself.”

  Ray Thomas was the commander of the shuttle USS Liberation and had been dealing with his best friend Major Pat (Butch) Hatfield’s long running joke for years. He knew that Butch had been happier when he made Major then he himself had been. Butch had been calling him Major Tom since they were boot lieutenants out of Annapolis.

  “How are things going up there, Ray?” Butch asked, adopting a more serious tone.

  “Major, when are you going to start using military protocol?” the colonel asked half seriously.

  “Come on Ray, I’ve never used it before, why would I start now. Besides I’m your kid’s godfather, that transcends all military rank.”

  “Somehow I don’t think you’d be saying that if the ranks were switched,” Ray replied.

  “Yeah, but then I’d be in charge and you’d have to do what I said,” Butch laughed.

  “That’d be the day.” Colonel Thomas snorted, he wasn’t too thrilled with his lack of military bearing at the moment but Butch always seemed to have that effect on him. If he had never met Butch Hatfield he was sure he’d be a full colonel by now instead of a Lieutenant Colonel. But if he had never met Butch Hatfield he would never have met Butch’s sister Gina, and then he would never have had the light of his life, little Devlin. Some things were definitely worth the tradeoff.

  “No, but seriously, Ray. How are things going up there?” Butch sounded a little stressed out.

  “They’re going as well as can be expected, Butch. We’re traveling as fast as this bucket will go and we’re still a couple of months out. If the aliens decide to move at all, we’ll never be able to catch them.”

  “Why’d you do it Ray?”

  “Why’d I do what, Butch?” although he knew full well what the major was talking about.

  “Why did you volunteer for this mission, there are a hundred captains out there who would have gladly given their right arm to fly this mission.”

  “And what? Should I have sent them to their deaths?”

  “I’m not saying that, but they have less to lose. You’ve got a beautiful wife and my godson. Ray, my sister is shattered.”

  “I’m not quite dead yet Butch.”

  “Come on Ray, who are you fooling, this is me you’re talking to. I’ve known you longer than anyone. You flew this mission because you knew the outcome and you couldn’t bear the thought of someone taking your place. But you have more to lose.”

  “Would that make any of their deaths any less significant, Butch? How could I possibly send someone else when I know the odds of success are almost zero? I don’t even think they’ll let this ship get close enough to receive our transmission.”

  “Abort the damn thing, Ray. Pull a fuse, I can create a computer glitch here that’ll make your ship look like it’s dead in the water.”

  “Butch, you know this has to be done. If for no other reason than to let those bastards know we aren’t going out without a fight.”

  “Ray, you read the reports, if by some grace of God you do get close enough you know the chances of you doing anything more than scratching their hull are one in a million,” Butch said with urgency in his voice.

  “You don’t know that Butch, the scientists said that they believed that the original probe and the ships that took those people are more than likely made from similar materials but different ratios.”

  “So you’re basing your whole mission on the results of a radar scan?”

  “What else do we have? I didn’t sign up for a suicide mission. I know the odds are horrible but if there is still a chance, I’m taking it. Even if our ‘transmission’ does nothing more than shake their dishes around I’ll be happy. They’ll know that we’ll go to any length. Maybe they’ll even second guess their reasons for coming here.”

  “And maybe we’re just stirring up the hornet’s nest.”

  “Listen Butch, we’ve been round and round on this. What kind of husband would I be to your sister or father to your godson if I didn’t do everything in my power to keep them safe from this threat? I’d never be able to live with myself.”

  “I know Ray, we just all miss you down here. I have no one’s ass to kick in darts on Thursdays.”

  “If I remember correctly pal o’ mine, I was winning three games to two before I left.”

  “Just don’t forget you promised me that you were going to finish the series.”

  “I’ll be back Butch, one way or the other I’ll be back.”

  Butch did not like the tone his longtime friend had used. He guessed a couple of months out in space could cool anybody’s jets. That would definitely give you enough time to really think out the probabilities of success for the mission. The odds had to rank up there somewhere with the USA hockey team defeating the Russians in the 1980 Olympics. Possible but definitely not probable.

  CHAPTER 28

  “Sub Commander Krulak, we have intercepted a message from the Earth vessel Liberation,” the crewman noted to his superior.

  “What did it say, crewman?” the sub commander asked.

  “Sir, they are using some sort of arcane 512-bit encryption. It’s been a long time since we’ve had to decipher something so crude, it should only be another minute or two.”

  “Crewman, until you have that message decoded do not bother me.”

  “Yes, Sub Commander.” If reptiles could sweat he would have been, the sub commander was not someone to be trifled with. He hated being bothered for trivial events. The crewman had even debated whether to inform him of this latest development. They had been monitoring the space shuttle since it had departed Earth, but it had been more of a curiosity factor than out of any actual concern.

  “Sir, the translation has come through,” the crewman said, visibly shaken. More importan
t crewmen than himself had been sent to the ‘games’ for less than bothering the sub-commander with immaterial matters.

  “Well what is it crewman, I can hardly wait to see what these puny hu-mans are up to.”

  “Sir, there was some discussion about a transmission.”

  “A transmission? Crewman,” the sub commander said sourly, “what kind of transmission? What do the scans of their little ship show?”

  “Sir, there are four life forms on the ship and some minor radiation leakage, but so insignificant that it has to be from their computer equipment as opposed to any type of explosive device.”

  “Is there any sign of plasma ionic dispersion or anti-matter fluxuations?” the sub-commander sighed heavily.

  “No sir, we have been studying their technology for months now and they are at least one hundred to possibly two hundred years away from that type of technology.”

  “No, crewman, you have it wrong, these puny hu-mans will be under our boot heel in less than a year; they will never attain that goal.”

  “Yes sir,” the crewman grunted in agreement.

  “Well then crewman, if they have no plasma discharge weapons and no anti-matter weaponry and barely enough radiation to power a computer monitor, then why are you bothering me. The largest conventional Earthling weaponry discharged directly on the hull will not even disturb my drink. So unless you wish to become the next challenger in the games I suggest you go back to something worthwhile and go check the status of the invasion launch.”

  “Sir, yes sir,” the crewman stammered.

  “Sub Commander Krulak?”

  “What?” the sub commander said irritably, and then turned to note his superior officer standing behind him. “Sir, what can I do for you.” His tone matched that of the lowly crewman from a moment before.

  “Well, if you are not too busy I would like to talk to you regarding this Earth vessel.”

  “Sir, anything,” the sub commander said as he nervously licked his chops.

  “Calm down Sub Commander, I have no intention of sending you to the barrens of Sverlock. I just wish to know what you feel about this ship.”

  “Sir, what do you wish to know?” the sub commander said, visibly calming down.

  “What is its purpose?”

  “Sir, we have been monitoring their transmissions but as of yet have come up with no viable explanations as to their purpose. My guess, sir, is that they are coming here on some sort of diplomatic mission.”

  “Does this ship pose any type of threat?”

  “No sir, none whatsoever, what could these puny hu-mans possibly do to us?”

  “Krulak, I have seen the smallest germ take down the largest warrior. What if they are the germ?”

  “Sir, we have scanned their ship for every type of known weaponry and we can find nothing of any great significance. That ship couldn’t even hold enough explosives to take down our smallest cargo transport.”

  “What about their nuclear weaponry? It’s a small threat but a threat nonetheless.”

  “Sir, our scans show nothing more than minor radiation leakage, probably from their onboard equipment. A bomb the size they would need to harm us in any way would have pegged our scans.”

  “Then what do you propose we do about our ‘guests,’ Sub Commander?”

  “Sir, I say let them come. I see no reason to waste any of our resources and our time by getting rid of them. By monitoring the planetary media we know they are still waffling in regards to us. They don’t know whether we have come in peace or to take total control. The longer we let them debate the issue, the easier our task at hand becomes. If we shoot this ship down, they will galvanize and make our job just a notch more difficult. I say let them come and then maybe we can even throw them into the games.”

  “I like your reasoning Sub Commander, carry on.”

  “Sir, yes sir,” the sub commander said as he opened his mouth wide in an attempt to diffuse the heat that had been building up inside of him.

  CHAPTER 29 – Journal Entry 21

  Damn that hurt, the vibrations up and down my arm almost made me drop my sword when it first came into contact with Farley’s. I was beginning to regret my choice of weapons, Farley was stronger than I and he was a step or two higher on the ladder of usage with said sword. He had me backpedaling every time he swung, it was all I could do avoid acquiring a gaping wound on my chest. As it was I had suffered a semi-serious gash on my left arm and an annoyingly painful cut along my right side. I wouldn’t bleed out from either of them but if he kept adding to them I might be in some trouble. We kept parrying, finally I got him to break out in a sweat. It wasn’t much, but I didn’t want to go out without at least having him work for it. If he didn’t fall over soon and land on my sword I was going to be in some trouble, at this pace fatigue would be a problem and soon. Farley looked like he could do this for days. The crowd’s buzzing was beginning to get louder, maybe they were getting the blood scent. I was certainly giving them enough to enjoy.

  “Mr. Talbot just give yourself up, you know that I have you beat,” Farley said almost matter-of-factly in his Jamaican accent.

  I would have replied but it was all I could do to breathe and dodge, I had no time for useless words at the moment.

  “I begin to tire of this Mr. Talbot, the crowd wants a kill and I aim to please.” With that he renewed and doubled his efforts. My future was beginning to look bleak.

  “Bite me,” was all I was able to muster. I was tempted to turn tail and run so that I could catch my breath but with Farley this close I wouldn’t make it half a step before I felt the cold steel of his sword cut into me. It was time for desperation. I would either make it or I wouldn’t, I knew by playing his game my moments of being alive and well were numbered.

  “Farley, how bout we call this a draw,” I said as I gasped for air.

  “I would man, but the guards be havin’ none of it,” he answered. And I think he really would have gone for it, but he wanted to die about as much as I did. So it was either kill me or be killed by me, but he sure wasn’t going to let the guards do it. Damn, he hit my thigh, that was the deepest one so far. I was slowing down and he was beginning to take me apart piece by piece. I had backed up as far as I could go, he had pushed me back to my starting point, and I literally had my back up against the wall. There was nowhere to go except sideways so there I went. Farley had renewed his attack probably thinking the end was near. And it was, just not the one he had envisioned. I knew hand speed wise I was quicker than him, and now was the time to implement that. I slid across the wall to where the mace was stationed. I had to time this right or not only would Farley kill me, the guards would finish the job. Hey, I thought, was there such a thing as double jeopardy on this ship? I hoped that did not only apply on Earth. Farley swung at my head for all he was worth. I ducked and dropped my sword. Before the sword had a chance to hit the ground I grabbed the mace and brought it up just in time to catch Farley’s back swing, and like a good little mace the chain wrapped around the blade two or three times. I let go of the mace while Farley desperately tried to untangle his weapon. I retrieved the sword and drove it straight through his mid-section. I would have thought that those rippling muscles he had in his belly would have prevented the sword from entering or at least slowed it down. But it slid in as if he had been swimming in tenderizer for a week.

  “Well that’s it, man.” And those were the last words Farley ever uttered. He was another one I was going to have to chalk up for the nightmare list. He didn’t deserve to die here, and I had no right to mete out this judgment. One day I was going to have a good old talking to these bastards for now though I was going to claim my spoil, get cleaned up and go to sleep for a week. It appeared that I had won a few of my fans back, the crowd was going nuts. When in doubt take the points and bet on the underdog. I was tired, who was I kidding, I was bone weary. But at least most of the wounds I sustained were far from life threatening. For one of the few times I was actually able to
meet my spoil and not have to be carried back to my living quarters. She was a black girl, gorgeous, maybe 5’7”, jet black hair that stopped just shy of her shoulders and dark brown liquid eyes. She was a knockout. I know it sounds prejudiced but I hoped to all hell that I hadn’t just killed her boyfriend, or somebody that she knew. But she seemed relieved enough when she was led to me. I’m thinking that she would not have been nearly so pleased had I just skewered her beau. We didn’t say much on the way back; I was still too hopped up on adrenaline. My entourage at the house was immensely pleased that I had suffered very few wounds, I thought to myself, they’re getting as desensitized to all of this as much as I am. I just killed another human being and they wanted to know what I wanted for dinner. Maybe that was just the way they coped. Did they not yet fully realize what would happen if I lost?

  “Hey Steph!” I yelled across the room.

  “Yeah Mike. What do you need?” she yelled through the din.

  “Could you check the vitals on Farley and see how many guests we should be expecting later. And thanks.”

  “Sure thing, I’ll check now,” she yelled even louder, apparently the women were finally letting their collective breath go and it wasn’t quiet. It appeared to me that all of them were talking at the same time, how do they do that? Women are funny that way; they can talk at the same time and still understand each other perfectly. Men on the other hand step on one word of their friend’s speech and they have to start over. It was harder trying to follow one of their conversations than the battle I just had.

  “Deb, could you please tell me when the grub’s done, I’m gonna lie down.”

  “Don’t you think that we should get you cleaned up before that?” she asked with genuine concern.