The Ocoda Chronicles Book 1 Paladin Read online

  For fifteen long minutes, Jackson waits to see if anyone wants to leave. He calls out to Paladin, asking, "Anyone leave?"

  Paladin simply replies, "No."

  With that Jackson smiles and calls out to Klaus, "Ok Lieutenant Commander, take us up. Set course and make your best speed to X’enablanca."

  Paladin lifts off, in a spectacular show. Cameras from around the world watch as Paladin blasts off. As far as the world is concerned, they are going on a routine patrol to continue to protect the planet. Only a very few know that they are planning to leave our galaxy, and may be gone for more than a year.

  Caleb looks out the observation dome in his quarters towards the stars. He looks down at his wound, which is still not fully healed. God, I know I haven’t prayed to you since Emily’s death. I was angry, I was hurt. I felt lost, but you gave me back my Little Flower, and gave me the ability to feel again. Val says I am your weapon. A weapon to fix the wrongs made against the people in your world… in your universe, if I can ask one small thing God. Please let me get my crew home safe.

  Dr. Qui Shi arrives in Caleb’s ready room. She quietly asks, "Caleb, I know you think no one can help you. I however, would be honored if you would allow me to try?"

  Caleb looks over at the Doctor, and says, "Ok Doc, I’ll defer to your wisdom because right now Paladin doesn’t know what else to do any more than I do."

  Dr. Qui Shi smiles, saying, "I will need to see you in my med-bay as soon as you are able."

  Caleb smirks as he states, "You know Doc, I’ve gone over your file and the word no and can’t be done. Well, those words don’t seem to exist in your vocabulary."

  Qui Shi humbled replies, "I come from a very strict family upbringing, and to get where I am Admiral… Well, I had to learn to push and fight to be in this place here and now."

  Caleb weary replies, "I expect then that you will need to do that with me every step of the way Doc, because I’m not an easy patient."

  Paladin states, "We have exited the Earth’s gravity. We will be entering hyperspace in one minute."

  Caleb looks out his view portal as the countdown hits zero. The stars become like lights crisscrossing around the ship. He looks down to his daughter, and smiles, picking her up so she can see the stars fly across the giant dome. She then smiles slightly.

  Paladin is confused at Caleb’s earlier prayer. He becomes compelled to learn more about this God. Paladin does so, throughout the following days.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  THE JOURNEY

  A few days later, "Paladin!” Onatof calls out,

  Paladin responds, “Yes, Professor Onatof.”

  Onatof asks, "We have been traveling at hyper speed for more than four days, do you need to stop and rest?"

  Paladin responds, "No Professor, as we travel through space, we are exposed to many different elements. Such as hydrogen, and what you would call dark matter, as these elements make contact with my shields I then convert it into fuel for my fusion antimatter reactor. So simply put, the more we travel the more power I create."

  Onatof amazed replies, "Truly amazing science your race has discovered, truly amazing indeed."

  Paladin asks, "Professor may I ask you a question?"

  Onatof surprised, happily replies, "Yes, please, ask anything. I find it fascinating that you would seek my knowledge on anything my friend."

  Paladin asks, "Professor, I have noticed that unlike most of the crew, you seem not to refer to or pray to a supreme being. Why is that?"

  "Oh.” Onatof a little disappointed answers, "Yes, Val has told me of your interest in our world’s many different religious beliefs. I myself am an atheist, which means I don’t believe in that foolish religious fervor. I believe in science."

  Paladin puzzled, asks, "Do you not believe as the others that your soul will continue on after your death?"

  "No my confused alien friend.” Onatof replies, "We live on through our children that is our legacy to the universe. When I die, my memories, my hopes and dreams will be carried on by what I leave behind. Do you understand?"

  Paladin does not immediately respond. A few minutes pass.

  Onatof curious as to Paladins silence asks, "Have I upset you Paladin?"

  Paladin concerned replies, "I do not believe I can have children Professor, so in your belief system I will end when Caleb passes. I find that difficult to understand and somewhat upsetting."

  Onatof surprised, asks, "Upset? You feel sadness. How is it a machine can feel anything?"

  "Professor!” Paladin answers sharply, "I am as alive as you are. My melding with Caleb has shown me human emotions and although I do not truly understand them all. I hope to someday."

  Onatof surprised responds, "My apologizes Mister Paladin, but it’s hard to accept that you are alive. You were created in a lab. My understanding of life is so much different then what you may understand."

  "Professor," Paladin says, "No offense to your beliefs, but I hope you are wrong."

  Onatof raises his eyebrows and chuckles replying, "Perhaps I may be, my Mr. Pinocchio."

  "Pinocchio?” Paladin curiously asks.

  Onatof replies, "The puppet that wanted to be real."

  Paladin now understanding responds, "Ah yes, I see your analogy Professor. It is amusing, but I am very much alive, and very real."

  Four days later, in the officer’s mess hall. Shi Reies and Benton sit with Cooley and Commander White.

  White jokingly asks, "Shi Reies are you the biggest in your family or did you just eat everyone else in your family?"

  Shi Reies smiles looking over at Commander White, he answers, "Well Commander, in my country most people are afraid to even speak to me, let alone joke with me."

  Shi Reies smiles as he closes his face next to Commander Whites, saying, "But with this crew I have found great bravery. You sit at a table with three black people. Your name is White and you insult a man who is almost done with his meal and is still very hungry." He smiles, and looks at Commander White’s unfinished food.

  Benton laughs spitting out some of his food, "Hey, he’s part Indian Shi Reies. Cut the boy some slack, he can’t be as pretty as us, but at least he is trying."

  Shi Reies laughs as well.

  White smiling states, "Well, actually my family name was Whitefeather. My great, great, great grandfather changed it to White so it would be easier to get into restricted schools back during segregation. My family has never changed it back."

  Cooley smiles at White, asking, "So how is it you came to be third in command here luv?"

  White awkwardly replies, "Well, Caleb requested me and Colonel Jackson to be on his command staff, and to be honest, I’ve had a pretty lackluster career up until now, so there was no way I was going to turn this down."

  Cooley, still smiling, asks, "Well luv, maybe you could take me up on Cavalier during your next patrol."

  White smiles back, saying, "Hmm, well, I am in charge of the duty roster I could always use an extra pair of eyes."

  Benton curious now asks, "So what’s in your file Lieutenant that you didn’t want us to hear about."

  Cooley smiles and looks to White, saying, "Well, I’m not ashamed by it, but I was once a beauty Queen."

  Mohammed smiles as he says, "Well of course you are, blessed with such beauty, and intellect. You are truly a blessed child."

  Benton, still chewing down on his food says, "Ah hell. I thought you did something bad. Beauty Queen, bah."

  The four laugh, as they continue talking throughout the hour.

  While down in med-bay, later that same day Colonel Jackson has a private meeting with Val, and Dr. Qui Shi.

  "So Doc," Jackson asks, "What have you found out so far on Caleb’s condition?"

  Qui Shi concerned replies, "What I have found is very serious Colonel. His body is rejecting the alterations to his D.N.A. and it’s as if the altered silica proteins that they used to bind them together are just not strong enough. It’s actually ripping him apart. I’m hoping
at best we have four, maybe six months until the process becomes life threatening, and that is only an optimistic guess."

  Val asks, "Is there anything we can do to slow the process Doctor? Do we have any idea why his body is rejecting the change?"

  Onatof, whom was outside the room enters, having overheard their conversation he states, "I think I know why his body is rejecting the alterations."

  Professor Onatof quickly pulls up a holoscreen and projects an image of the Neanderthal saying. "The X’ena’s last known human was that of a Neanderthal. We have developed considerably since then. I believe that the genetic coding wasn’t compatible with a modern day man so his body and Paladin’s programming are both rejecting each other."

  Dr. Qui Shi curious says, "If that is true, I may be able to come up with some sort of way to confuse the histones in his D.N.A. possibly slow down the genetic degradation."

  Onatof offers, “I would be honored to help.”

  The Doctor and Professor begin working on a possible treatment, while Jackson and Val head back to their individual stations.

  Two more weeks pass, and the Earth is almost out of normal communication range. Jackson calls for everyone to spend no more than five minutes each on the holocom’s to say goodbye to their families though keeping their mission secret. The cover story is that they will be maintaining radio silence during their patrol.

  Hundreds take turns in private holocom rooms, each saying their goodbyes while keeping their mission secret. The process takes the entire day.

  Elsewhere, in the engine room, Paladin surprises Val, asking, "Val! Why have you not said your goodbyes to your family? You are aware that we are almost out of normal communication range?"

  Val surprised, answers, "Well Paladin my friend, I have already said my goodbyes to my wife, if I contacted Maricel again she would only get sad. I don’t want to cause her any more pain and anguish."

  Paladin curiously asks, "Does she not know you will be coming back?"

  Val replies, "She knows Cale is a man of his word. He promised her I would come back home safe, so she knows I will."

  Paladin probes further, asking, "Is her belief in Caleb’s word similar to her belief in God? Does she believe he will protect you?"

  "No.” Val, taken aback, answers, "She has known Caleb for as long as me and knows that he is a man that keeps his word."

  Paladin politely asks, "May I ask you something about your God?"

  Val, feeling uncomfortable replies, "Yes Paladin, you may ask."

  Paladin asks, "Do you believe that your God will let me have a soul, and perhaps let me enter your heaven?"

  Val even more uncomfortable now answers, "You do have a soul Paladin. All you need to do is believe in him and he will let you join him in his kingdom."

  Paladin confused, asks, "Professor Onatof says because I have no children I will have no legacy. No one will remember me when I’m gone, no one will carry on my dreams."

  Val surprised, asks, "You dream?"

  Paladin replies, "Yes, especially since I merged with Caleb. My dreams are the same as his."

  Just then, a holoimage of Emily appears before Val.

  Val jumps up in shock. Striking his head against engines conduits, which are directly above him. Yelling out in pain he screams, "Paladin! What are you doing?"

  Paladin replies, "Caleb is dreaming, and this is his dream. Emily dancing and laughing, he dreams of her every night. He used to cause her to appear all over the ship, as he is tied into all my systems the holoemitters will project his or my thoughts. I often have to chase them down and prevent them from being seen."

  The image dances around before Paladin stops it.

  Val curious, asks, "You know his dreams and his nightmares too?"

  Paladin responds, "Caleb has had many nightmares since we have merged. It has always been the same nightmare."

  Val sighs, saying, "The death of Emily and Domingo?"

  Paladin says, "Yes, he often wakes from that dream emotionally drained."

  Val says, "I would say Paladin that you do share in Caleb’s soul. You two are very much connected and Carla is a part of you as well. So even by Professor Onatof’s theories you will live on in her as will Caleb. Besides Paladin, just because someone doesn’t believe the same as others, doesn’t mean he is correct, my friend."

  Paladin says, "Thank you Val."

  On the Bridge a few moments later, Lieutenant Kitanna Cohen, Klaus Meyer, and Scott Anders are at their duty stations.

  "Klaus?” Kitanna calls out, asking, "Don’t you want to say goodbye to anyone?"

  Klaus quietly replies, "No Lieutenant, all my family lived in Berlin, I am all that’s left of my family."

  Kitanna says, "Oh, I’m so sorry Klaus. I didn’t know."

  Anders asks, "Have you said your goodbyes yet Lieutenant?"

  Kitanna answers, “My mother died when I was born. My father is all I have left and he is very sick in a hospital in Tel Aviv. I couldn’t talk to him if I wanted to."

  Anders asks, "Why did you come on this mission? You should have stayed Kitty."

  Kitanna answers, "My father is dying. There is nothing anyone or anything can do to stop that now; we said our goodbyes long ago, before the illness took his mind."

  Klaus asks, "Have you thought about asking Admiral Ocoda if he could help, like he did with Shi Reies or his daughter when we get back?"

  Kitanna smiles answering, "I have thought about it, but I don’t think the Admiral is God. I doubt he can prevent death."

  Paladin interrupts, "I must apologize for listening in to your conversation. But may I ask a question?"

  Kitanna surprised, replies, "Yes Paladin."

  Paladin asks, "I have been trying to learn about this thing that your race is focused on, that which you call faith. Each of you has a different view of faith, but each of you has it. In your faith Kitanna, is it not believed that your father will live on through you, and will live forever with God?"

  Kitanna shaken by the question replies, "Paladin that is such an unexpected question, I’m sorry I wasn’t prepared for it."

  Kitanna pauses, "Yes, my faith believes in a soul, as do most faiths. My father does live in me every day. He told me that as his last rational words."

  Paladin asks, "The history of your faith Kitanna is one the oldest on your planet. Yet your people have been persecuted and attacked for its entire history. Such things have shown to make your people stronger."

  Kitanna replies, asking, "Yes it has, but why these questions Paladin? I have heard other crew members talk about your interest in our religions. You seem very concerned about them, why?"

  Paladin replies, "I have never encountered anything like what you as a race believe in. Your race is strongly tied to your faiths. It drives you. It gives you hope when there is none, and because of your faith, your race has succeeded when perhaps it should have failed. This tells me that perchance there is something to this. It makes me wonder about myself. What will become of me when I will die?"

  Anders slightly arrogant asks, "Are you afraid of death?"

  Paladin replies, "No. I have no fear, just wonder. Will I continue on like you humans will, or will I fade away into nothing?"

  Klaus replies, "Paladin, you will be known and remembered throughout our history and for all time as the ship that saved us from the T-Challa. I think that should answer your question."

  Paladin says, "I hope, if I can hope, that you are right Lieutenant Commander."

  Three more additional weeks go by, and the crew has started to settle in with each other and their new settings.

  Later that day on the Bridge, while most of the crew is resting, Caleb and Jackson are the only senior personnel on the Bridge, as support crews handle the rest of the ship's daily functions. The rest of the command crew is off duty. Where some rest, others take time to indulge in some on ship entertainment.

  "Caleb.” Jackson asks, "About how long until we reach T-Challa space?"

  Caleb answe
rs, "We will be able to scan some of their outer colonies in about a week. They don’t have much of a defense force this far out. However, I’m hoping we can catch a patrol."

  Jackson surprised, asks, "Hoping? You want them to chase us through their space. Are you sporting for a fight?"

  Caleb answers, "Yes, hopefully they will send everything they have after us, instead of sending them to Earth, and that should give Earth even more time."

  Jackson replies, asking, "And you think we can survive long enough to get to X’enablanca?"

  Caleb chuckles as he says, "X’enablanca is the most fortified area of the T-Challa Empire. I am hoping that we can draw enough of them away from there to chase after us. The more chasing after us, will be less we have to fight when we get there. Besides Jackson, we can easily outrun their fastest ships."

  Jackson asks, "Qui Shi’s medical potions working at all?"

  Caleb pauses, looks at Jackson, saying, "I know she is trying, but no, it’s not working Jacks. My condition is accelerating, but I have a backup plan just in case we can’t reach X’enablanca in time." Caleb pauses, as he collects his words, saying, "I wasn’t sure I should tell you, or if should I keep this private, but I guess I should trust you with everything. You trusted me and came with me."

  Jackson looks at Caleb and says, "You waiting for an invitation? Tell me."

  Caleb smiles, saying, "Well, it’s about a month out of the way from here. It could also draw the T-Challa away from our original course." Caleb pauses, as he pulls up a holomap, saying, "There is an old X’ena outpost on the third moon in this system.” Caleb points it out on the map, and continues, "It was destroyed some one thousand years ago, but one of the lead scientists who created Paladin was on that outpost. It’s believed he survived and is in hiding on that moon."