Saxon Andrew - Escape to Earth-The Legacy of a Conqueror

Salud’s eyes narrowed and she said, “What do you mean we were wrong?!”

Chris looked at Salud and slowly shook his head, “If mothers weren’t afraid of Aliens invading, they would be afraid their children might be injured in an accident. They might fear their child will get sick and possibly die from a freak disease. The number of fears that mothers have for their children have no end. I’m a parent now and I constantly worry about Michael. Will he grow up and be a good person. Will he find love? Is he going to be a warrior like his father? There are so many things that make me worry about him and his future. Worrying about aliens attacking us is just one of the many things we have fears about. It is not a good enough reason to go out and kill any civilization that represents a threat to us. I suspect, matter of fact, I know I killed more children in a day than live on both Earth and Eden.”

Salud’s expression began to grow angry, “That civilization killed your wife!”

Chris looked at her and nodded, “That’s what I thought as well, but that wasn’t true either.” Salud’s mouth fell open and Chris said, “The first thing I learned when I confronted that civilization’s Leaders was that their Highest Leader was begged by the others not to send that ship.”

“They were lying.”

Chris smiled slightly, “Salud, I’m telepathic. I saw them trying in their thoughts. He was arrogant and would not listen to them. He killed Audrey, not the billions of children that burned on the worlds I destroyed.”

Lukas said, “What are you saying, Chris?”

“Our intentions are all wrong. I went out with the intention to eradicate every last person in that civilization. There was no other intention, only extinction. I didn’t even look for anything that might change my mind.”

“They are an enemy of ours, Chris.”

“I won’t argue that point. But the intention shouldn’t be to just go out and exterminate them. The intention should be to find a way to avoid it if at all possible.”

The chime rung and Lukas looked at the small monitor on his desk. He saw Allison standing outside his door with a strange being. He looked at Salud and saw her confusion. Chris looked at them wondering what was going on as Lukas raised the door.

Allison walked in with the alien and said, “I apologize for this interruption but this is a Leader of the Civilization we just attacked. She contacted me and asked to speak to Chris. I feel her request should be granted.”

Chris turned around and tilted his head. Allison nodded at the alien and she thought where all could hear. “When you pointed your blaster at me and my baby, I could see your thoughts. I knew for certain that we were both going to die. How you managed to not fire on us is beyond my understanding…but you didn’t. Now after it’s all over, I can’t find peace until I found you and thanked you.”

Chris recognized her and Lukas saw the anguish on his face.

“I understand you lost your mate to the ship our Highest Leader sent. I am so sorry for your loss. My mate was killed on a warship attempting to defend us from your forces. I miss him more than I can tell you and all I have left is my child. I feel your pain. I know what you’re going through. I’m living it. But I must say thank you for allowing us to live. I will remember him each day in his child’s smile.”

The female lowered her head and Allison said, “Thank you for granting her wish to speak.” Allison took the alien’s hand to lead her out of the room.

Chris said, “Before you go!” Allison and the Alien female turned around. “I thank you for coming here and sharing your thoughts with me. I know what it took to do it. I have some thoughts I want you to share with your other leaders. Tell them that if your worlds are attacked, I will come and defend them.”

The alien began shedding tears and the four humans in the room learned there was another species that cried like them. She nodded and said, “From what I’ve seen, you can do a better job of that than we could. My people thank you.” Allison looked at Chris and shook her head. She turned and led the Alien out of the conference room.

Lukas and Salud felt the alien’s sorrow and they saw what happened in her thoughts. Salud stared at the door she walked out of and Chris said, “I had my blaster out and was going to burn all of them. Then, I saw her trying to hide her child from me. She saw me look at them and I could feel her panic and fear. She curled up around her baby and closed her eyes expecting to die.” Chris looked at Salud, “No mother of any species should ever have to experience that if it can be avoided. It was her fear that showed me I had become a monster.”

Salud couldn’t get the image of Chris pointing a blaster at the alien mother with a mask of rage on his face. She lowered her head and Lukas said, “He’s right.” Salud nodded through her tears. Lukas looked at Chris, “So what does this mean?”

“If you’re looking for a conqueror to go out and exterminate all of our enemies, then I’m not your man.”

“This only proves to me you are. You’re right. We were selfish and got it wrong. So how does this change things? I’m also wondering how you’re going to send our fleets to M-84 to defend them?”

“We have to go out with the right intentions. Don’t get me wrong on this. I know that these are not the last planets that I’ll order to be destroyed. But in the future, any destruction will be done to prevent more carnage. You don’t have to worry about sending our fleets to defend them just yet.”

“Chris, I’m sure M-87 had probes in that galaxy and know that they can walk in and take control of that galaxy.”

“I’m sure they do know but they won’t invade.”

Lukas and Salud looked at each other and Salud said, “Why not?”

“Because they had probes watching our attack.” Lukas and Salud looked confused and Chris said, “Put yourselves in their place. An enemy of yours has just attacked and mauled a civilization in another galaxy. Would you send forces there to take possession of that galaxy?”

Lukas started nodding, “You’re right. Before I go anywhere, I’d do everything to remove the ones that attacked and barring that, I’d build up my defenses. I wouldn’t weaken them by sending my forces elsewhere.”

“That’s how I see it. They think that if they invade M-84, we’ll fall on them and start wholesale destruction of their planets. They’ll stay home until they can remove us as a threat.” Chris looked out the picture window and said, “I want one fleet of Pods sent to M-84 to keep the peace. We’ll relieve them after sixty days with another fleet.” Chris looked at Lukas, “Does that meet with your approval?”

Lukas nodded. Salud said, “What are you going to do now?”

“We need to collect some information before we do anything rash.”

“Such as?”

“I need to determine whether M-86 is a threat to us or not. Then I need to find out just how powerful those Black Ships around the Legends’ Planet are. Once we’ve made that determination, I can start planning our next move.”

“Chris, Eve is furious you allowed Allison to call off the attack on their government planet.”

“She didn’t call it off. I did before I left.” Chris looked up, “Willow, have you been listening in?”

“Of course.”

Lukas smiled, “You are one nosey space ship.”

“Hey, I need something to occupy my time. Why do you ask, Chris?”

“I want you to share the thoughts of the alien that came and spoke to us with Eve.”

“Sure, I’ll do that now.”

Chris looked at Lukas and Salud and shook his head, “She’ll still be angry and the alien’s thoughts won’t really have an impact on her right now. But later she’ll remember and they will.”