Purity - 21. Chapter 21

Sol System | Earth | Heidgate

Sage slowly opened his eyes, the smell of dampness invading his nostrils. It was an offensive smell he quickly realised was coming from the dirty brown mattress he had slept on for the night… a mattress that used to be white. He pinched the bridge of his nose as a ripe headache came into focus.

"Jesus," he murmured, wincing with the pain. He looked around pulling himself up on to his elbows, before tossing the filthy flap of a sleeping bag off of his legs. Standing up and stretching, again wincing from a pounding head, he stepped over to the window of the launderette and wondered why he was there. He opened the rotten door and peered outside revealing a still, cold, but crisp sunny day.

"Hey Adam, are you in…" He stopped mid-sentence and twisted his head round to look back inside the rusting room of old machines and dryers somehow knowing Adam wouldn't be here.

But why wouldn't he be? he thought, frowning. Closing the door back up he searched around the old building and found one of Adam's old coats and encased himself in it before walking back to the door of the old launderette and stepping outside.

Heidgate was especially quiet today, with no trace of any activity usually found. But what time was it he wondered, noticing his cheap Casio watch was missing from his wrist, a wrist that also was void of any needle marks that were present once before.

"That's weird!" he mumbled, turning his arm in different directions to try and find evidence of his moderate drug habit. As he stepped out of the shelter of the old brick building a small winter sun pierced his eyes with a sharp bright light causing Sage to bring his hand up as a shield.

"Aaghhh, fucking hell that hurts!" he hissed, wondering why he had such a sore head. Had he been drinking? It didn't feel like he had. Now feeling fully awake Sage made his way along the dilapidated street towards an old house he remembered having friends stay in. On arrival, he pushed open the door and made his way up the bare wooden staircase to the first floor and pushed open another door that looked like it had once been a family sitting room. Splayed out on the floor were the sleeping bags of three scruffy looking young men, perhaps in their late teens, 20 max.

"Hey Ryder, wake up!" Sage demanded, kicking the individual's ankles with his dirty white sneakers.

"Huh… wha-"

"You got any food in here, I'm starving," Sage asked, crouching down and ripping back the bag from Ryder. He immediately became more awake, and his eyes became wide.

"S-s-sage, is that you?"

"Are you high? Of course, it's me, do you have any food or what?"

"Where the fuck have you been dude and what have you done to yourself?"

"Ryder, are you dreaming, it's me, Sage… a hungry Sage!"

"I know, I can see that now, it's just… fuck man where did you go, the guys were worried about you, and your face… your EYE!!"

Sage looked at his two other friends. "Yeah they look really worried about me, they haven't even woken up…look come on, we gotta go find food unless you are actually gonna tell me you have some?"

"Uh no, but the bakery bin should be half full this morning on Broad street, its Thursday after all"

"Is it!" Sage said, wondering why he didn't know that.

The skinny boy with long curly dirty hair held out his hand and Sage pulled him up to a standing position and he brushed himself down. Bits of tobacco strands and ash began falling from his polyester rich tracksuit complete with dry food and semen stains leaving Sage to shake his head.

"You gotta get those clothes washed somehow, you leave those near a girl and she's gonna get pregnant with the amount of spunk stuck to you."

"What can I say, I'm always horny!" Ryder replied, trying to get the knots out of his greasy hair.

 

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Now out on the street, the boys made their way towards the small bakery that stood on the edge of Broad street and Heidgate. Each Thursday morning the bin was full of old cakes and disused bread and had become a staple for the homeless locals. Residents nearby had complained to the bakery and the council that it attracted all sorts of street urchins but the owner said it was his way of helping the homeless and never worried about the bin being emptied by poor kids with nowhere to live.

"So are you gonna tell me where you've been?" Ryder asked, still not having had an answer.

"Fuck me Ryder, I thought you were joking earlier, why do you keep asking?"

"Uh, maybe because no one has seen you since like four months ago?"

"Shut your shit up," Sage sniggered. I've been right here.

"Uh, shut your own shit up, you fucking well have not, ask the others."

"Okay so if I ain't been here then where have I been for this supposed four months?"

"I thought you could tell me!"

"Meh, stop chatting shit, and lay off the weed for a while."

"Okay then, wanna explain your eye for a start? You didn't have that four months ago, even you have to admit that."

"What's wrong with my eye?"

"Uh… it's purple for a start!"

Sage stopped abruptly and looked at Ryder who also had to stop sharply. "What the fuck do you mean it's purple?"

"As I say, it's purple! Where one is white, the other is purple. And your skin…"

"What about my skin?"

"It's… it's clean, no spots, no moles and that scar on your neck has gone. Not to mention your teeth are like white and the chip has gone… you know, that chip you had on your front left tooth?"

"Yeah I know the chip, so it's gone?"

Ryder chuckled but out of exasperation "Yes Sage, it's gone."

Sage frowned and grabbed Ryder's arm. "C'mon, I need a mirror, come with me to the petrol station and I can use the gents’ toilet there!"

"But what about the bread…"

It was too late, Sage was already on a brisk walk now up ahead. Ryder sighed and started to trot after him. "Sage, wait up!"

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Sage barged into the small grubby restroom now breathing heavily and almost taking the door off its hinges. He marched towards the left of two sinks and closed his eyes, leaning his palms on the rim. He opened them slowly revealing not just the mirror in front of him but also the reflection that made him reel backwards, smashing into the wooden toilet stall behind him.

"What the fuck," he mouthed touching his face all over. He could see it was him in the reflection but he looked different… almost like he was staring at a brother he'd never seen before. Ryder was right, he looked fresh, bright and clean. His teeth were indeed pearly white and the eye… the fucking EYE!

He moved in for a closer look opening both of them wide, getting a good view of the purple ball that bestowed him. Ryder walked in moments later and came up behind him.

"See?"

"And you say I have been missing for?"

"Four months give or take a few days."

"Did I say where I was going?"

"No, last time the other two guys saw you said you were going to see Adam and then that was it, you never came back."

"And Adam, where is he now, perhaps he could fill me in."

Ryder grinned. "Oh well, you see the rumour with him is that he's been kidnapped by aliens."

"What?!"

"Yeah I know, have you ever heard such bollocks?"

"Don't tell me... the work of old man Fred, right?"

"I think so, but something weird is going on because apparently, his brother has shown up on the scene. Got a hand job apparently from Tasty Tina when he got to Heidgate and didn't last that long from all accounts."

"Meh, I don't think I did if I remember, she's got quite the hands. Anyway, that is irrelevant, I gotta find Adam."

 

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At the University Sam studied at, he, Brandon and his Geologist Professor stood around a microscope looking at the artefact Brandon had stolen from old man Fred's place.

"Well, it's pure Vanadium alright." The professor remarked, picking it up again.

"But could it be made here?" Brandon asked, a little excited.

The professor scratched his chin. "Yes possibly, but for what purpose I don't know. For this much of the material to be collected, melted down and then be made into what looks like a glorified paperweight, I fail to see why so much effort would be put into it."

"But it does do something… right Sam?"

The Professor looked up at both boys intrigued by Brandon's comment. "What do you mean it does do something?"

"We kinda worked out that it is sensitive to light," Sam revealed.

"But the room is full of light and I see no notable changes to its structure," remarked the professor,

"The light needs to be intense, such as a flashbulb, do you have one?" Brandon asked.

"I have an inventory camera to classify various rocks… look, one moment and I'll get it, this sounds very unlikely though, it's just a piece of Vanadium."

The man started to walk off to a small utility room at the back of the classroom. "Professor Talbot, do you think it might be worth bringing in Professor Cowell, you know, just in case it came from space?"

"Indeed, that would be a good choice of person."

 

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Professor Cowell had just arrived looking rather flustered having heard Sam's description of the rock he had brought in to show Professor Talbot. Only it wasn't a rock, but somehow no one could agree on what to call it.

Cowell was a loud, camp and enthusiastic Meteorologist with a keen interest and belief in life outside the solar system.

"Must say this all sounds very exciting," he snorted happily, making his way past the pupil's desks to where the others had assembled.

"Hi Professor, thanks for coming, so what do you make of it?" Sam asked.

Professor Cowell picked up the heavy item and studied it closely. "Hmm, well it is not a natural creation that much is certain." He stated, squinting his eyes.

"Why do you say that Bob?" Talbot asked.

"Well if my eyes do not deceive me I can just about make out some markings that could have only been put there by…"

"Humans?" Sam asked.

"I was going to say, intelligent beings. It's been under the scope, yes?"

"Yes, I've had a look, it's pure Vanadium," Talbot replied.

"Fascinating, well I think we need to get a closer look, lads, don't you? But first, show me this light trick you boys did with it, I have a feeling if it does react we may need to look at doing some detailed tests with its composition"

Sam picked up the camera Professor Talbot had gotten from his utility room and aimed it at the small artefact. "Okay, stand back, here goes."

He clicked the shutter and a bright white light lit up the already naturally bright room, making them all blink. To the astonishment of Professors' Talbot and Cowell the lump of Vanadium once again started to glow a reflective, shimmering shade of purple, each second more intense.

"Well I'll be damned," Talbot muttered.

"Indeed," Professor Cowell agreed.

"So let's take stock here then, can we all agree that something like this could not be made on earth?" Brandon asked, smiling.

Professor Cowell scratched his head and frowned. "How many other people know about the existence of this item?"

"Just the people here," Sam replied, leaning back and folding his arms.

"Let's keep it that way. I have a feeling that whatever this is, it will be of great interest to some people."

"Like who?" Brandon asked.

"Well the military for a start perhaps," Professor Talbot mused. Everyone looked up at him, each with concern.

 

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In Heidgate Sage sat deep in thought munching on some dry bread in the old launderette while being kept company by Ryder. Ryder meanwhile was trying to fire up an old Tilly lamp he had found in the bin of the local fishing tackle shop but couldn't seem to make it work.

"There's a reason that thing was in the trash!" Sage commented looking over slightly irritated at Ryder's futile attempts to get it going.

"Be good if I could make it work though, it's freezing in here."

"Yeah," Sage replied, tearing off another chunk of bread into his mouth. "So when are you gonna let me fuck you?"

"I'm not, I like chicks as I keep reminding you, Sage!" Ryder replied, looking over at his friend with a look of scorn.

"So, it's not like you are getting any from them."

"How would you know, you've been missing for four months, I could have been getting loads."

Sage sniggered. "What looking like that? You could fry chips in your hair, your clothes have about a pint of dry spunk on them and you smell like last week's fish supper."

"Well gee thanks, if only I'd known!"

Both boys looked at each other seriously until grins started to form on both their faces culminating in chuckles.

"I feel strange," Sage commented out of the blue, pressing his temples with the palms of his hands.

"In what way?"

"Dunno, it's like the feeling you get after a heavy night of drinking… I feel like I'm missing a huge gap in my life."

Ryder laughed. "Been on some heavy drugs have you?"

Sage remained serious and screwed up his face looking off into the distance. "it's like… it's like I've been somewhere but can't think for the life of me where. I mean, you say I have been gone for four months right?"

"About that, yeah."

"Well, where the fuck have I been because I don't know. It seems like I've been here… it feels like I have never left Heidgate."

"Trust me, Sage, me and the guys looked everywhere for you and nothing."

"And Adam too, that's worrying me. Like, where is he?"

Ryder shrugged. "When did you last see him?"

"That's just it, somehow it feels like I have just seen him recently, but another part of me feels like I haven't seen him for ages. It's all swirling round in my head… have I, haven't I, did I, Didn't I? That's what I mean when I say I feel strange."

"Perhaps you just need a good night's sleep to let your brain sort stuff out."

"But I don't feel tired."

"Perhaps you're overtired, that sometimes happens to me. I feel like, dog tired but when I put my head down I just can't drift off."

"Hmm, maybe. So uh… will you sleep here, with me tonight?"

"Huh? This is the same Sage who doesn't need anyone and says he can look after himself?"

"I can look after myself, I just want some company tonight."

"I can if you want, but keep your fucking hands to yourself okay, I'm not into your kinda shit."

"Fine!" Sage responded sulkily.

 

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Back onboard the Selsha Adam was standing at a large computer terminal being given a 3D presentation of what his procedure was going to involve. His expressions were turning from expectation to worry then fascination and back to worry again as Relshek explained the procedure.

"So is this going to hurt?" Adam asked, squeezing his left arm after seeing a computer-generated needle just puncture a cross-section of an arm.

Relshek chuckled. "Oh no Adam, you will be rendered unconscious, but you will be weak for many hours afterwards."

"Weak?"

"Yes, we plan to extract quite a lot of blood to achieve the best chance of success. We will then need to incubate the extracted genes."

"I don't think I want to know anymore. What if I die?"

Relshek cupped a worried looking Adam, stroking his thumb on his face. "I will be leading the procedure and I promise you, you will not die."

"So uh, so when do we begin?"

"I won’t lie to you Adam, I am now under growing pressure from the high council to begin as soon as possible but I don't want to push you."

"Do it… just do it as soon as you can, I don't want this hanging over me any longer."

"If you are sure then we can begin tomorrow."

"I am Christian, I just want to get on with my life with Castro and put this behind me."

"Very well, just to advise you I am having the last of my team brought up to the ship very soon and all of the equipment I need should now be in the holding bay. Go enjoy some time with Castro and I will collect you when the time is near."

"Pffft, now you make it sound like death row!"

"Death…"

Adam smiled. "Forget it… now, how do I get out of here and back to my Castro?"

Relshek pressed on an intercom terminal and shortly after a young Puritan walked into the Medical bay and stood just inside the door.

"Will you please direct Adam back to deck seventeen and on to his quarters please?" he called. The puritan gently bowed and Relshek gestured to Adam to walk over to him.

 

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Adam jumped onto his and Castro's bed in their quarters and lay next to his boyfriend.

"What are you doing?" he asked, seeing Castro was holding a white Flexipad in his hands.

"Just looking up things that interest me," Castro replied, lowering the device down onto his bare legs.

"Oh yeah, and what sort of things interest you then?"

"I was reading about our ancestors. Did you know that thousands of years ago we didn't have to wear these masks?"

"Yes Christian told me, but you know… I don't think I could imagine your people ever not wearing them."

"I guess. Hmm, they are kind of stuffy though."

"I'll bet."

"So tell me about your world."

"Earth? Well, it's blue from a distance whereas your planet looks purple and green. Earth is one of eight planets in our system but unlike you, we don't live on any of the others."

"Why not?"

"Uh, well because we don't have the technology that you do yet, and besides none of them have air to breathe."

"Oh. So what about your people, are they nice?"

Adam laughed loudly. "No Castro, humans are not nice, they are selfish people and the world is trapped in a cocktail of greed, nonsense religions and corruption. It's no place for a pure soul like you."

"But you're nice, right?"

Adam sighed. "You know babe, yes I like to think I am, and I guess I was wrong to say all us humans are nasty. In fact, individually you could probably pick out some really nice people who would be kind to you, much like your people, but for a life form looking down on our world as a collective force? Well, let's just say I think they would be horrified."

Castro looked up at Adam for a moment, his face serious. "But you are forgetting something, Adam."

"What's that?"

"No matter how bad you think your species are, how many others apart from yours are about to save an entire planet and its species from extinction. I believe that when more worlds are discovered and more life forms start being able to travel the stars, I would like to think that maybe one day your planet will not be remembered for the bad things it's done, but instead for the selfless act one person made to save millions more."

"That's a really cool thing to say, baby, thanks. And yeah, I would like to think that in the end we humans will be known as the good guys too."

"Yes, I believe that will be the case one day. So shall we get some rest?"

Adam dimmed the lights and kissed Castro on the head. "Yeah, we better; something tells me I'm in for a rough day tomorrow."

"I'll be there, don't worry," Castro replied, leaving a smile etched on Adam's face.

 

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Commander Skada sat tapping his fingers on the arm of his command chair, intently watching the viewscreen as reports came in about the Silga.

They were close!

Puritan officers darted from one station to another as news came in that the enemy race would be nearing the system imminently.

"Communications officer Telco, has the Tomleek left dock yet?"

"The last report was that they had my Lord, would you like me to hail them again?"

"No, but please give me an update on the fleet."

"Yes, my Lord, one moment, please."

 

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Relshek was making his way to Adam and Castro's quarters having heard the whispers on the ship and was eager to begin Adam's procedure as soon as possible. As he stepped out of the elevator to deck 17, a group of Puritans rushed past him wearing full battle clothing complete with weapons holstered to their belts. Relshek was almost knocked over as they all clambered into the waiting lift.

He made his way down a long lonely corridor as the familiar blue strips of light started flashing along the walls, indicating an alert. As he began to veer around a gentle bend, he stopped outside a door numbered 312 and buzzed on the intercom.

"Come in," Castro called from behind it. The door opened, and Relshek walked in.

"Hello Castro, how are you… where is Adam?"

"I'm fine, thank you, Lord Relshek. Oh, Adam is in the sonic shower. He should be finished shortly."

"Good."

"Lord Relshek, why are the walls flashing blue?"

"It is an alert, Castro; the Silga are approaching."

"Are we to perish?"

"The odds are against us, my son, but you need to stay strong for Adam. Humans are more sensitive to death than we are."

"I will be strong, My Lord, with all my heart."

Moments later, Adam walked out dressed in a white jumpsuit, his hair damp and limp, which he proceeded to push back with his fingers before greeting Relshek.

"Though I'd better be clean before you and your clowns start poking about with my naked body."

"Come, Adam, we must get going," Relshek replied seriously, causing Adam's smile to fade from his comment.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yes, Adam, but there are reports that the Silga are approaching the system, and so I wish to start the procedure as soon as possible. Are you ready?"

"No, but then I don't think I ever will be so lead the way… Baby, are you coming?"

"You go with Lord Relshek Adam," Castro replied. "I will follow shortly once I have cleaned and dressed."

"Okay, just don't be long."

 

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"Navigator, bring us out a little from the planet and put us into battle mode one, but leave the weapons offline. I don't want to use unnecessary power."

"Yes, Sir, raising deflector panels and auto plates."

"Communications, contact Space Operations and inform them we are fully prepared and await further instructions."

"Yes, my Lord," Telco responded.

"SIR! Five ships approaching on the long-range radar… no six, bearing 123 degadons." The puritan at the tactical station shouted.

"Navigator, bring us about to sit parallel with those coordinates… Tactical, bring the weapons online. I want to know when-"

"SIR! I am now reading seventeen ships," the officer shouted again, causing Skada to rush back to his chair."

"Full weapons to bear! Telco, are the fleet in position?"

"Just one more ship, Sir, and we are in formation."

"Good… Tactical, time to intercept?"

"Twelve heshtons, Sir… no eleven," he corrected, sounding nervous.

"Balsan, calm yourself, son, and focus."

"Yes, Commander, sorry, Commander."

"Navigator, key in evasive patterns four B, five D and six F and put them on standby."

"Yes, Commander, right away."

Skada pressed a button on the arm of his chair. "Crew, this is Commander Skada, all hands, battle stations. Secure your positions and close all fire doors. This is going to be a rough ride, Skada out!"

 

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"Must be serious", Adam remarked after hearing Commander Skada's message broadcast all over the ship. "Should we be doing this now?"

"Yes, Adam, we need to so that we can get the gene solution back down to the planet as soon as possible."

Adam looked at Christian curiously for a moment. "You don't think we are going to make it do you?"

Relshek stopped what he was doing and froze. "Why would you say that?"

"Because this battle could be over soon, and then we could proceed, but the fact you are still insistent on doing it right in the MIDDLE of a battle says that you-"

"Says that I need to put the needs of the planet before the needs of this ship, me and even you Adam, yes, I admit it!" Relshek interrupted his voice stern. "If we can complete the procedure and get the gene solution off this ship while it is still in one piece, then that's what I need to do!"

It was a stark revelation Adam felt. He had never heard Relshek seem so authoritative and worried like this before, and it worried him. It was also out of character to admit for the first time that Adam wasn't the number one priority here and that it was the planet instead.

He didn't argue though, how could he? Adam knew the reason why he had been brought here, the reason why all this effort had been undertaken to keep him safe.
The good life on Purity was all well and good, but there had always been an end game for the Puritans, always the day when Adam would have to complete what he had actually been brought here for.

Adam hopped up onto a flatbed like structure while Relshek keyed in commands on a computer at a furious pace. Moments later, six more Puritans walked into the medical bay wearing what looked to be the familiar white scientist or doctor suits Adam saw.

Without being commanded to do anything, Adam watched as they went in different directions and connected up different mechanical parts into two different looking machines. One of them he noticed pulled out various glass instruments and rubber looking tubes.

Nobody spoke.

 

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"Commander, two of the ships are flanking our portside and powering weapons. Shall we fire?" Navigator Breshra asked, looking back at the Commander, now strapped in his seat.

"No, not yet; we don't want to be accused as the aggressor here. Let's see what they do, and then I'll make a judgement."

"Sir, the Tomleek has begun taking hits. Shall we assist her?" Tactical officer Telco asked.

Commander Skada sighed. "Fire off a warning volley but no direct hits."

"Commander, we MUST defend our fellow Puritans. We cannot just sit here and-"

"Son, are you questioning my orders?"

"No, Sir, of course not. I just think we should…." The Navigator decided to stop talking, knowing he was on a thin line if he continued.

On the viewscreen, the number of enemy ships was now building; however, there didn't seem to be many weapons being fired. It was Skada's hunch that maybe the Silga were trying to call the Puritans bluff and make them out to be the aggressor to gain support from other planets. It was also that hunch that was holding him back from firing.

"Communications, damage report on the fleet?"

"Reports are coming in, Sir but nothing serious, just minor damage to five of our ships."

"What are they up to?" Skada mumbled to himself before getting up and walking over to the viewscreen. "Give me multiple views on port, aft and bow. Let's see what's going on."

The viewscreen was suddenly split into 3 sections giving all those on the bridge a view of the unfolding but relatively mild battle. Skada folded his arms and waited. Something felt wrong to him, but he didn't know what or why it did. He knew it had taken the Silga vast amount of resources to get all their ships here, and he wondered what their plan was if Purity refused to start a war.

"Commander Skada, The fleet, including us, are being hailed by the lead enemy vessel." Stated communications officer Brento. Skada walked back to his chair and sat down.

"Shall we hear what they have to say? Put it on audio."

There was a brief crackle before a loud and screeching voice started to talk. "Puritan fleet, your planet is in possession of an earth child. Release him to us or face the destruction of your space vessels. You have ten of your heshtons to comply!"

The message ended with a crackle, and Skada could see all the enemy ships had now got into a diamond formation and were stationary out beyond planet Purity.

"Commander, I have weapons locked on to six of the vessels; our targeting systems will not allow any further ships to be marked."

"Stand by Telco… Communications, send a message to Space operations and ask them for further instructions, and who is leading this fleet, ask them that too. We need orders!"

 

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On Purity, Grand Master Telstrek was deep in conversation with two of his advisors after being informed Adam could not be located.

"This has got to be a dream. I want him found," Telstrek barked, banging his staff on the marble floor.

"There is more Grand Master. We have been informed that if we do not hand over the boy to them in ten heshtons, they threaten to destroy our fleet," one of the advisors stated before bowing. Telstrek got up and slowly paced the circular hall they were standing in.

"Where is Lord Relshek? Get me, Lord Relshek."

"Master, Lord Relshek is not on the planet. He was rumoured to be aboard the Selsha."

"For what purpose?!" Telstrek bellowed, his mood now sounding unstable.

"It was reported by Lord Kelshen that he was conducting an experiment to do with sand based plantations."

"Contact space operations and ask them to send a message to Lord Relshek. I want to know where that Earth boy is, and I want to know now. And hurry, we do not have much time!"

"Yes, your excellency."

 

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"Please lie back Adam, my assistant is going to give you a powerful sedative that will render your mind unconscious and put you into a deep sleep. The operation is predicted to take about three of your hours."

Adam started to breathe heavily. "But… but what if the ship gets hit and something happens."

"Adam, while the operation is being conducted, you will be encased in a reinforced glass incubator. Should any damage happen to the room we are in, you will be protected, but trust me, I have a feeling we are going to get through this, now lay back and close your eyes."

"Right, okay."

Adam did as he was told and lay back on the bed after being hunched up on his elbows. He was now naked apart from a small white cloth covering his modesty. The room felt warm and comfortable, and as he closed his eyes, he decided to think happy thoughts about the life he wanted to have with Castro when this was all over. A few seconds later, he felt a cold pressure applied to his neck, and then blackness seeped into his mind.

"Lord Relshek, I can confirm the Earth child is now under, and his life signs are normal."

"His name is Adam, and thank you!" Relshek responded, slightly irritated. "Please set the extractor to phase one and inform me when this is complete."

"Yes, my Lord," replied the assistant."

 

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It was approaching ten hestons, and there had been no firm instructions from Space operations on what Skada's ship or the rest of the fleet should do. Skada was well aware he was holding Adam and was wrestling with his conscience as it was being reported that the High Council were frantically trying to find Adam on the planet in order to give him over to the Silga.

Relshek appeared on the bridge and signalled to Skada he wanted a word in private. Skada, desperate not to leave the bridge in the current situation, rushed over to him and pushed him quickly into an annexe room and locked the door.

"What the hell is going on? Has the operation started?" Skada hissed.

"Yes, it has. I am sorry I have not kept you informed. I didn't want to create any suspicion with the crew."

"Justified admittedly, but I have Space Operations in chaos down there because the High Council are unable to decide what the next move should be."

"This is another reason Telstrek needs to be removed, Lord Skada. Master Telstrek told me that even if he was going to hand over Adam to the Silga, he said it would be after the gene extraction operation had been completed, and now look, he just wants to bypass that objective and hand over the boy with no cure for the planet, and I know why."

"Why?"

"Because the Silga is on our doorstep now, and if we hand him over, it will send them away for a while. A while that I am sure will be long enough until Telstrek dies."

"Well, what difference would that make?"

"Oh, don't be so naive, Lord Skada, Grand Master Telstrek is not interested in curing the planet of this horrible affliction! All he is interested in is his legacy. He wants to be able to say that under his ruling, there was never an all-out war with any other species and that he led a peaceful and prosperous term on Purity. The rest of it, he is happy to let his successor clear up."

"Hmm, I never even thought of it like that."

"Why else would he be willing to just hand over Adam now… before the operation? He just wants to buy our planet some time."

"Or himself."

"Exactly, so you understand?"

"Sadly, I do now, yes."

Before anything else could be said, there was a thunderous crash that filled the room together with a jolt that almost shook Skada and Relshek to the floor.

"We're under attack, GO!"

"I'll get back to Adam. Please keep us all safe, Lord Skada."

"I will try," Skada replied as another bang rang out, followed by a tremor. Relshek rushed back onto the bridge and up the slope towards the elevator. Skada, meanwhile, walked towards his chair and was thrown into it, and yet another assault was being made on his ship.

"Damage report… bring us about and return fire. Looks like we have our orders," Skada said, looking at the viewscreen and seeing the other purity ships engaging the Silga.

"Firing a volley of Uranium shells, Sir."

"Charge all plasma rails and target as many of these parasites as you can… fire at will."

The Selsha rocked and jolted as it was assaulted by five ships in a concentrated attack that seemed to be in retaliation for the returned fire on theirs. Skada's ship began to charge a substantial white beam on all 3 of its plasma weapon rails before unleashing them all onto one ship and blowing it to pieces. There was a cheer on the bridge as the ship's external cameras focused on the explosion.

"One down, Line up the next one, Telco. Bring us about heading 512.3. Increase speed to half pulse, swing us around and then fire off again."

"With pleasure, Commander."

The communications officer shouted over the noise that four crew members had been killed in a targeted blast that had damaged one of the cargo bays. Engineers were working to fix a minor hull breach, but Skada seemed relieved as he nodded his understanding.

"Sir, the portside shield is down to twenty per cent. Shall I compensate?"

"Navigator, get us on the other side of this attack… Telco, fire another volley, keep up the intensity… OHHHHH!" he screamed as a Puritan ship exploded a short distance away, taking one of the enemy ships with it and sending large hunks of burning hull slamming into his own ship. There was a fizz of sparks before the Navigator's station seem to explode from some kind of power surge, melting the officer's mask and sending him flying backwards and landing almost at Skada's feet.

"GET A MEDICAL OFFICER DOWN HERE!" Skada shouted over the deafening noise of alarms, weapons fire and frantic voices. He got out of his seat and heaved the Navigator onto his back, seeing bits of the mask had burned onto his face as the officer screamed in agony.

The Selsha was now taking multiple hits from all angles as Skada tried desperately to stem the damage by firing back. He looked on as the Tomleek was under extreme assault from no less than nine enemy ships, With some of the Puritans, smaller vessels trying to pick them off in vain.

"REPORT!"

"WE HAVE LOST EIGHT SHIPS, SIR, AND FOUR SEVERELY DAMAGED. OUR PORT SHIELD DEFLECTOR IS FAILING, AND WE HAVE TWENTY-SIX DEAD AND FORTY-EIGHT WOUNDED," The communications officer shouted.

"Engage all evasive manoeuvres pre-set and fire everything we have! What is the situation with the enemy?"

"Fourteen ships destroyed and six damaged Sir out of twenty-four."

"It's going to be close," Skada quietly muttered to himself as another blast ripped through the ship. Skada looked back behind him in what felt like slow motion as the entire rear of the bridge was blown away, killing several officers in the process. The brief loss of pressure sucked another three officers into space before the breach was closed by an electromagnetic sheet.

"Get me replacements up here; whoever we have that can crew stations. Charge all rails and divert all power to them.... take it from wherever you can. Shut down life support to all non-essential systems, quarters, cargo bays and anywhere else you can find which is empty!"

The pressure was now getting to the Commander, who just sat back in his chair for a moment and buried his head in his hands.

"Commander, the port shield deflector has now failed, and we have lost one of the plasma rails. Should we abandon ship?"

Skada lifted his head up, almost dazed and stared out at the viewscreen, witnessing the carnage before him.

"Sir! I said should we abandon ship?" Telco repeated.

"What? What for?" Skada responded dreamily.

"Commander, the situation is hopeless; we hardly have any shield deflectors. A few more big hits and they will be firing directly onto our hull; we will be blown up."

Skada got to his feet, now seething. "We will never surrender, DO YOU HEAR ME, NOT TO THESE VERMIN! Keep firing with what we have left. Communications, can you hail the Tomleek, see if they can offer us some cover."

"Yes, Commander. Switching to reserve."

"You! You who just arrived, can you navigate my ship?" Skada called to a newly arrived officer just entering the bridge."

"I have Piloted a class-two Delcha cargo ship," The officer replied.

"Good enough... Helmsman, take any working station that accepts navigator commands. Bring us around and place us between the Tomleek and that flanking ship."

"Yes, Sir!"

"Sorry, Tomleek, you're going to have to take a few for us," Skada muttered as the mighty Selsha limped, almost drifting into Skada's required position.

"Communications are now out Sir, We are almost dead here."

"What's left in the salvos?" Skada called out.

"We have another 114 Uranium shells and 28 Class F Torpedoes." Came a response.

"It might be enough. Target whatever is left and fire at will. Recharge the rail guns and..."

"Sir, all three rail guns are destroyed."

"Okay, well... uh. Right put us into full reverse, divert all power to the aft panel shields and...." Skada stopped, pausing to think about what he was just about to do.

"And do what, Sir, what are your orders?"

"Full reverse!"

"But Sir, that will..."

"I know, but it's all we have left."

"Yes, Commander full reverse."

The Selsha's pulse engines exploded into a colossal haze of blue light pushed to the maximum of their design. Pre-empting what Skada was about to do, the last remaining battleship of the Silga tried desperately to engage its own drive to move forward, but it was not enough as the colossal vessel's size prevented it from moving quick enough out of the collision areas. The Selsha, in an almightly last-ditch attempt to save the rest of the fleet, slammed straight into the side of the damaged Silga vessel ripping vast parts of both ships away, sending them hurtling in all different directions. Fragments of red hot metal burned in space with the force of the blast of both mighty vessels, permanently taking out one Puriton ship and another two Silga vessels, such was the magnitude of Skada's decision to ram the enemy ship.

"Communications. By whatever means necessary, get a message to the Silga and tell them to surrender immediately. Oh, and tell them it is unconditional," Skada said, falling back into his chair.

"Sir, We have asked the Bulshta to submit the message for us. Unfortunately, right now, we only have very short-range communications to our own vessels."

"As I said, by whatever means necessary," Skada repeated. Then, running his finger down a significant split in his mask.

"We are getting reports they have refused, but the Tomleek is bearing what weapons they have left. Commander, do we have any reinforcements left in the shipyards?" Said the young communications officer, bleeding heavily from his shoulder.

"That may not be necessary."

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

"Did you hear that?" one of Relshek's assistants worriedly shouted as the ship was thrown into an unexpected jolt. Unbeknown to many people at the time, Selsha's portside Pulse engine had just exploded, which also by design of the ship powered lighting and heat.

The whole ship instantly plunged into darkness.

Relshek walked back over to Adam wading through a debris ridden floor. He had blood coming from his ear, and he travelled with a limp. In the corner of the room against the wall were four Puritans who had been instantly killed when an explosion had ripped through a bulkhead adjoining their medical bay. Relshek seemed to be in a trance, methodically adjusting the now damaged machinery working on Adam while every now and again squeezing his hands together as if to relieve the stress he was feeling.

Just then, an alarm sounded on Adam's life sign monitor, and Relshek wondered what it was. Was it damaged? It was true Adam had been violently thrown around during the operation, but there did not appear to be anything obvious. The alarm, though, seemed to go up a pitch as Relshek and his one remaining assistant tried to see what was causing it. The process was being made harder as the screen was cracked and splintered all over, so they could not take any readings.

"Should we try and bring him around… should we terminate the procedure."

"Let me think!" Relshek snapped uncharacteristically.

The machine alarm then got faster, its pitch yet higher just as another explosion rocked the Selsha, which appeared to be breaking apart, and a large shard of metal flew across the room and speared Relshek in the side, causing blood to quickly turn the whole garment he was wearing dark red on the left side.

"My Lord, you… you are badly injured."

Relshek just looked up at him slowly before returning his gaze back to the jagged metal object protruding from his ribcage. Then, surprisingly, he went back to try and assist Adam, who was now starting to convulse in his glass enclosure.

"Lord Relshek, we… we are losing him!"

"I know," Relshek replied quietly amidst the chaos around them. Moments later, Adam's body fell still onto the bed, and the machine's tone changed to one continuous beeeeeep. Upon hearing this, Relshek, through loss of blood and undeniable defeat, fell to his knees. His assistant, not knowing what to do, ran for the door, possibly in a bid to find help or maybe just through fear alone.

Relshek, feeling weaker by the second, twisted himself around and fell into a sitting position up against Adam's glass incubator. As the light faded from his eyes, he surveyed the damage around. Flickering emergency lights, sparking hanging wires and chunks of metal and glass debris sat all around him. His head grew heavy, and suddenly a feeling of intense loneliness washed over him for the first time in his life. All as the room began to lose its sound and colour. He lucidly thought about all his work, his life, his research on Adam, the friendship that had developed and finally, the present. The present that felt like the end, and in his head, very subtly, he was sure he could hear the mighty Battleship Selsha weeping from her own wounds until finally, all that remained... was darkness!