The Ocoda Chronicles Book 1 Paladin Read online

  Qui Shi replies, "He is a hybrid, and he is not the first. You have done this with other races."

  Bach replies, "Yes, we have over one hundred-fifty-one times before Caleb. However, Caleb is a very complicated person, so much pain in his mind. The loss of his family has deeply harmed his psyche. Yet he is unselfish, giving what he has left to help others. Paladin choose wisely."

  Val asks, "How do you know what is in his mind?"

  Bach replies, "I know all about you Val. Caleb cares for you, your sister was his life, and now you and Carla are his anchor to this life."

  Bach pauses, then continues, "All that Paladin knew is now part of me. When I repaired his programming, I then copied all the data to my mind just as I downloaded the information to Dr. Qui Shi. It is how X’ena’s communicate."

  Onatof says, "Amazing, the transfer of information in such a way. It’s truly outstanding."

  Qui Shi asks, "What happened to the other hybrids?"

  Bach replies, "Most were killed trying to help their worlds. Others left their worlds, and headed out across the universe. Some went to X’enablanca."

  Onatof asks, "Do they share the same abilities as Caleb?"

  Bach answers, "Some do and did. The merging has different effects on each race and individuals. Paladin and Caleb were the only hybrid merging that allowed for violence."

  Qui Shi says, "I have most of those blending’s in my head. It will be helpful in understanding Caleb’s physiology."

  Bach says, "If there are no more questions, I will start getting my things ready to leave here. Once we leave, I will set this lab to self-destruct, so the T-Challa cannot use this technology."

  Jackson curious, asks, "Paladin tells us your people found the T-Challa. Why did you try and help them if you knew they were so violent?"

  Bach replies, "My people discovered them some thirty thousand years ago. They are a hive like race with a single Queen. The Queen gives birth to millions upon millions of T-Challas every year, each born with all her knowledge. After observing their race for almost thirty millennia we saw they were just starting to explore their own solar system, so we decided to make contact with them. We landed our science vessel outside the Queens main hive. She is of unimaginable size, encompassing seventy meters. We spoke to the T-Challa Queen and her court, explaining to them our ways of life and of our passive non-aggression nature.

  The Queen appeared to show true interest, or so we were lead to believe. Before the X’ena’s could return to their ship, the T-Challa attacked, killing them all. Then, within a matter of weeks, they had dissected our ship technology, and built an armada of warships, using our own technology to conquer every civilization they encountered.

  Eventually, they found our outer colonies, and destroyed them as well. They hunted our people, believing we were a threat to their empire. They destroyed the colony below while I was in my lab here. Then they destroyed all our remaining colonies. Finally, they tried for three thousand years to destroy X’enablanca. During their never-ending campaign of universal terror, they have increased their technology by scavenging other civilization's technology. The T-Challa are a vicious race, they target the weak, and once you fail them, you are killed and used as food. They are a most loathsome race."

  Jackson bluntly asks, "So your people released the T-Challa on the universe?"

  Bach answers, "Unfortunately, yes. It is why I created the Paladin transmogvirus in hopes to stop them."

  Benton asks, "So you folks decided to help us to stop them, because you won’t fight them?"

  Bach replies, "I don’t know why my people empowered your race, but your theory is a valid possibility."

  Benton comments, "Yeah, well at least it's a universal thing. Leave all the problems of others for the Marines to fix."

  The Marines begin to move Bach’s equipment to the shaft. Over the next four days, they unload tons of equipment from the lab.

  During this time, White travels with a small support crew to mine the devastated planet below. Picking up the resources, Bach needs to survive.

  White reports to Jackson, "Colonel, this planet is decimated. Whatever the T-Challa did to this world is beyond barbaric. If they get to Earth, I can only image what will happen. Damn, such devastation."

  Jackson replies, "As long as I’m alive, we won’t let that come to pass. Caleb may seem a bit extreme at times, but after a few months out here, and seeing the reality of it all. You begin to see just how young a race we are."

  White says, "You know Colonel, after seeing this devastation down here, I gotta agree with you, if we live through this we need to teach our people what’s out here."

  On day five, Bach and Qui Shi prepare to release Caleb from the chamber. Carla arrives in the lab for the transfer of Paladin.

  Carla jumps and skips in the lab being very playful and joyous. She laughs and giggles.

  Bach says, "Paladin is very amused with the child, she is pure innocence."

  The chamber opens, and Caleb’s unconscious body is floating in the center.

  Bach creates a tentacle and touches Caleb’s head. He then does so with Carla. The room is filled with a blinding blue light, which continues for several moments. Suddenly Carla screams in pain.

  Caleb opens his eyes; they glow a deep bright blue aura. Caleb then screams in unison with Carla. Caleb yells, "Stop Bach! You’re killing her!"

  Bach stops, saying, "I can’t remove all of Paladin from her.” Qui Shi quickly rushes to examine Carla.

  Caleb asks, "Paladin is in both of us, I can hear him, and I can hear Carla. What’s wrong, why can’t you finish the transfer?"

  Bach replies, "As I feared, the damage to the ship must have damaged the blocks I placed in her to prevent this. I must now leave a part of Paladin in her Caleb. I'm sorry, but she will grow up to be a hybrid like yourself. There is no other way."

  Caleb’s eyes continue to glow ever so brightly. He hovers across the room and looks at Carla. The two seem transfixed on each other. A moment later, they both descend to the ground and look to Bach.

  Bach then releases the two. Caleb remains floating just an inch from the ground. He looks down at Carla, and she smiles, looking up at her father.

  Qui Shi amazed, asks, "Caleb your eyes, you’re flying, what happened? Why couldn’t the transfer be complete?"

  Bach replies, "Caleb is more X’ena than human now. The chamber replaced his damaged cells with X’ena cells, as for his daughter. It seems that Paladin replicated itself inside Carla, it appears that Paladin believes that in order to survive he must have children. I believe Professor Onatof, you taught him that?"

  Caleb interrupts, "I am not sure if it’s the melding of Paladin, or the centuries of X’ena wisdom I have, but I welcome this." He looks down at his daughter, saying, "Carla is now the future of the human race. When she matures, her transmogvirus will reach its full potential. She will be able to do all that I can do and more, much more. She will live longer, perhaps four to five thousand years. Her children will be even more powerful. The cycle will continue on."

  Jackson surprised, asks, "You’re happy about this Caleb?” She’s your daughter man. Think like a human.

  Caleb smiles and says, "Yes Jackson, I am for two reasons. The first is selfish, but I can hear my daughter, and she is happy. Second, the human race is being forced out of its protective shell. It must evolve, and move out into the universe. I will not live to see this completed in my lifetime. My guidance will only go so far, but Carla can ensure thousands of year’s protection for our people."

  Bach says, "I am sorry, I didn’t see that Paladin would evolve like this. I feel that the damage from the combat may have caused complications in the blocks I put in place. I never would have thought of something like this would happen. His interaction with your race has affected him greatly."

  Caleb, still floating grabs Carla. He lifts her above his head and smiles, saying, "Bach, I can hear Paladin, I need to get to the ship, but he is thankful as am I."


  Jackson confused asks, "Caleb, you sure about this? This is about your daughter’s life."

  Caleb replies, "My daughter’s life is now the key to the human race. Her children, and their children, will be able to guarantee their safety forever."

  Qui Shi confused asks, "Caleb? You keep referring to the human race in third person. Do you not consider yourself a part of the human race?"

  Caleb answers, "I may have the appearance of a human Qui Shi, but you know more than any other human that I am not."

  Jackson confused asks, "Uhmm... Hey Caleb, you plan on floating around like this all the time now?" He can fly now. Yeah... that’s gonna really freak the crew out.

  Caleb jubilantly replies, "We’ll see, for right now, I’m very happy. This is the first time my daughter has spoken to me since her mother’s death."

  Jackson perplexed says, "Cale, she hasn’t said anything."

  Caleb smiles, and says, "Yes she has, she hasn’t stopped talking to me yet."

  Bach interjects, "They are telepathically linked, he can hear her thoughts, and she can hear his."

  Jackson eyes go wide, saying, "That may be a fate worse than death, the ramblings of a little girl in your head for the rest of your life."

  Qui Shi looks coldly at Jackson, disapproving of his recent statement, saying, "The child will have no privacy either Colonel."

  Caleb looks down and says, "It’s not like that, it’s like talking. I can’t read her mind directly, but I can hear her unprotected thoughts. She can mask her thoughts just as I can."

  Jackson then remarks, "Ok, less talking more moving. We still have a few planets to save."

  After several minutes, everyone finally enters Templar’s transport pod. Caleb sits with his daughter, as Jackson lifts off and sets course back to Paladin.

  Bach, floating in the pod asks Caleb telepathically, and privately, "Caleb, are you sure that you want to go to X’enablanca?"

  Caleb responds in the same manner, "Yes, it has always been my intention to save your people, no matter the cost."

  Bach asks, "Even if that cost is the life of your daughter?"

  Caleb responds, "Yes Bach, because of my daughter more so than any other reason. She needs to learn the responsibility of having such power. We are not just responsible for our own world, but of all those that could be hurt by the ruthless aggression of others."

  Templar lands in the hangar bay, and just as before, Paladin reactivates all ship systems. Paladin is restored completely, as the ship roars back to life. Carla rushes out of the pod first, racing by everyone. She runs to the Bridge at an incredible speed. Shi Reies alarmed, charges right after her.

  Qui Shi looks at Caleb, and asks, "She is so fast Caleb I know she is stronger and faster and she will continue to be so, as she grows older, but do you think she will understand that strength around others?"

  Caleb answer, "That’s the job of her father Doctor. One I will be extremely diligent in."

  Paladin speaks, "All systems are operational. We can head to X’enablanca as soon as you are ready."

  Jackson asks, "How long until we are there?"

  Paladin replies, "Uncloaked, the journey will take three weeks."

  They arrive on the Bridge. Most of the crew is shocked to see Bach, being the first alien most have seen.

  Kitanna speaks, "Admiral Ocoda, welcome back."

  Caleb smiles and says, "It’s good to be back." I feel more in control than before, much more at ease in understanding my connection to Paladin.

  Paladin says, "Cale, I want to apologize for not asking your permission first before infecting Carla."

  Caleb replies, "It's ok my friend, I understand why you did it and I do approve of it. Ever since meeting with Bach I have a much different understanding of my place in the universe."

  Carla then races in from the other side of the Bridge, with Shi Reies and Val, trying to catch her.

  "Cale!” Val yells, asking, "What has happened to her? She is so fast?"

  Caleb smiles, saying, "Only good things Val, only good things."

  Jackson then orders, "Klaus take us out of here, and back on our original course."

  A week then passes when Kitanna says, "We have four incoming bogies from behind. They’re of no immediate threat. We will easily outrun them, but one of them is extremely large. I have no classification in Paladins database of this ship."

  White, who is in command of this shift asks, "Dreadnought?"

  Kitanna replies, "No sir, the other three are definitely Dreadnought class. This one is almost three times their size, and sir, I’m measuring it at least eight hundred meters long."

  White sighs as he replies, "That’s not good, keep an eye on it. Why do I always get these issues on my shift?"

  Later in the day, Jackson is on the Bridge, Cooley is watching sensors when she reports, "Colonel, sir, we’re picking up some strange energy signatures from ahead, they are appearing and disappearing. They’re scattered all over the place, and sir, we will be right on top of them in just a few minutes."

  Jackson stands calling out, "Klaus all stop!” He pauses, and grabs the com, saying, "All command personnel to the Bridge.” Damn, I knew this was going to well.

  Caleb hovers down from his quarters. Being first on the Bridge, he asks, "What have you found Colonel?"

  Jackson replies, "Not sure, we still have those four ships behind us, but now we have something in front of us. I’m going to guess here, but it seems to be cloaked."

  Caleb focuses on his vast knowledge that he shares with Paladin says, "T-Challa don’t have the technology to cloak a large ship as of yet. They might have the tech to cloak a mine."

  Jackson replies, "Yeah, that’s what I was thinking too."

  Bach and Val arrive, with Onatof, and Dr. Qui Shi following closely behind.

  Caleb asks Bach, "Bach do the T-Challa have the ability to cloak?"

  Bach replies, "Yes, they have the technology. However, they have never had to use it before, and never on anything larger than a scout ship."

  Jackson curious, asks, "We have a monstrous ship behind us, almost three times the size of their Dreadnought class, any idea what that is?"

  Bach replies, "No, I don’t Colonel. Please remember I have been out of contact with my people for almost a thousand years."

  Caleb, looks towards Commander White and says, "Commander White, please take out Cavalier and be very careful. I need you to do a simple recon, and Reggie, absolutely no heroics. Just do a deep, detailed scan, try to see if you can find any cloaked mines."

  Jackson concerned asks, "You sure you want Reggie to do this?" You should send me. Hell, I should overrule you, and go myself anyways.

  Caleb turns and looks at Jackson and says, "No, but we have to be sure what we’re facing."

  Jackson says, "No, I mean, why not send me instead of White?"

  Caleb, smiles, saying, "Sorry Colonel, you’re too important. You enjoy sticking me in a corner. Well, I have to stick you there too.” That felt good for a change, Jackson is as important to this crew as I am.

  Kitanna announces, "Those four ships are closing quickly. They will be here in a few days. I will be able to do a detailed scan on the big ship in a few hours."

  Anders, frustrated, asks, "Can’t we go around the minefield if there is one?"

  Klaus, annoyed, replies, "Sure, just tell me where they are and I‘ll go around them?"

  Klaus, mocking Anders asks, "Why not blast a path through them, mister shoot now and ask later?"

  Anders smirks mocking Klaus, "You have a target for me to shoot at, smart-ass kid?"

  Jackson asks Caleb, "Why can’t our sensors pick these mines up like they can pick up our ship if we use too much power? Aren’t our sensors better than theirs?"

  Caleb replies, "They are better, we did detect them Jacks. We just cannot get enough details on them, they're too small, and you have to remember it was a science-vessel they captured, albeit three thousand years ago. Therefore, they have the same ba
sic sensor system we have. The only difference in their sensors and ours, is we have much better range, and a little more detail."

  Jackson asks, "How powerful of a blast should we expect from these mines. Could we possibly just plow through them?"

  Paladin replies, "It's unknown Colonel, they could have an antimatter nuclear mine. I would however, detect the buildup before it could be a threat. Regardless though, their most powerful explosive devices could easily rip this ship apart with our shields up at full. I would need much more data to give an accurate report."

  Ten minutes later, White is away, heading to the spacial disturbance.

  Kitanna says to Cooley, "There is a disturbance right in front of him. I’m detecting others moving towards him. They appear to be circling him in."

  Cooley, panicked, calls to out White, "Reg! You have one right in front of you. The others are starting to circle behind you."

  White responds, "I can see flashes of light, I’m thinking possibly thrusters. I also can see what appears to be debris. Hmm, it looks like that green metal crap that the T-Challa ships are made of."

  Cooley, looks over to Jackson, and asks, "Sir should we call him back now?"

  Jackson replies, "Relax Lieutenant, let him do his job." Reg and Cooley, hmm, didn’t see that, hope if I get involved with Doc Qui Shi that I can hide it better than they are.

  White says, "Ok, I see more of those flashes of lights, I’m going to move closer to see what it is."

  White says aloud to himself, "Hope this isn’t going to be something I end up regretting."

  Cavalier asks, "Sir, are you asking for an assessment of the current situation from me?"

  White, surprised, says, "No Cavalier, just thinking aloud."

  Cooley, overtly concerned yells, "Closer! Are you bloody daff? You’re ordered to be careful! How is moving closer being careful?"

  White laughs and replies, "Yes Admiral Cooley.” He then says to himself, "Man that woman is one hell of mother hen."

  Cooley, embarrassed, says quietly to White, "Just be careful luv, please."

  White smiles as he maneuvers closer when he hears a loud clunk and his ship goes heavy.

  White says over the com, "Cooley, I hit something, it’s getting hard to maneuver. I’m heading back and declaring an emergency."