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  Her face fell a little, but in true form she tried to hide it before I noticed. She understood I still meant to get back with Beth at all costs, and that she was not included in that equation.

  The next few weeks went by pretty much uneventfully. I was studying for midterms and my roommates were busy doing household chores. I could have guaranteed you there wasn’t a freshman male alive who had as many women as me. Although, on that same line of reasoning, there wasn’t a freshman whose life depended on passing his next test. My ranking had improved some but not anywhere near the top tier I was looking for. I felt like Rodney Dangerfield, I couldn’t get any respect. I was ranked tenth which still made me an underdog. But it was still better than being grouped in the final three. Instead of offering any byes this round the aliens opted instead to have a three way among numbers 17, 18, and 19. I hoped this wasn’t a trend they planned to continue. They were having that tri-event a full week before the main course began. I hate to admit it but I was as excited about that fight as I was with the first week of Monday night football. The only thing missing was the beer. But I planned on being fully prepared for my bout before I sat to watch that one. My next opponent appeared to be from the island of Jamaica, he was a very dark-skinned man named Jacob Farley. He wasn’t particularly big but he was well-built, more on the wiry side. He could dole out punishment as well as receive it. In his last bout he had been speared straight through the leg and still had the presence of mind to sever the arm holding the spear. Unfortunately for Joe Parkerson, the shock and blood loss did him in. Farley didn’t move, maybe the pain was too great or more than likely he just wanted the front row seat for the impending death. He was a scary-looking fellow. I can’t say I was particularly thrilled about fighting him, of the nineteen of us left I felt I was the weakest link in this chain. Farley varied almost all of his styles to adapt to the competitor he was fighting. If the opponent was bigger and faster he would grab the bow. If Farley was bigger he opted for the sword. If the terrain did not allow for a clean shot with the bow he headed straight for the spear. And he was proficient at every piece of gear he handled. He was going to be a tough nut to crack, but I had to believe he would opt for the sword against me. Great, I knew by what means he wanted to kill me but as of yet I had not figured out an adequate defense. Or offense. I had the inklings a major headache was coming on and began to rub my neck as best I could. And then I felt it—the touch of one who knew how to give a great massage. Tanya had come over, noticing my discomfort and had begun to rub my neck. Had I not been so delighted in the feeling I would have noticed the daggers being thrown my way by Deb, Steph felt the need to tell me about the psychic daggers later. 'If looks could kill I don’t know which of you would have been dead first'. Tanya, however, had noticed the stare and simply chose to ignore it. Under any other circumstances, this would have been phenomenal, two gorgeous girls fighting for my affections. Why doesn’t this stuff happen in the real world? No, it only happens on alien spaceships hundreds of thousands of miles away from anybody who would actually believe this was happening. When I finally did look up, Deb had retreated from her spot at the top of the stairs, but I found out later they had one doozy of a spat after I had gone to sleep. I could have used a little enjoyment. Especially from two women vying for my attention and it would have also been nice to witness a confrontation that did not end in bloodshed. But from what I heard from the other girls it could have gone that far had some others not stepped in. This just never happens to me, where’s a camera when you need it? The month went by a lot faster than anticipated, things in the house stayed somewhat tense. I guess when your life is on the line you’ll always be sort of tense. Tanya and Deb didn’t actually work out a truce, but when I shunned Tanya’s next advances, it kept Deb at bay. At least she finally realized I meant everyone except for Beth.

  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’s one of the few times 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 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 the ugly bastards a lot of money. 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’s 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 until 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 Butch had been happier when he made Major than 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 ranking.”

  “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.”

&
nbsp; “And what? Should I have sent them out here?” ‘To their deaths,’ he did not add.

  “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 gone 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 it any less significant, Butch? How could I possibly send someone else when I know the odds of success? 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 them know we’re out here.”

  “Ray, you read the reports. If by some grace of God you do get close enough, you know the chances of you doing anything about delivering the package are one in a million,” Butch said with urgency in his voice.

  “You don’t know that Butch. The scientists said they believed 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 screen?”

  “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 we’ll go to any length. Maybe they’ll even second guess their reasons for coming here.”

  “And maybe we’re just getting their shoes wet.”

  “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 butt 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 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 him enough time to really think out the probabilities of success for this 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 2056-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 important crewmen than himself had been sent to the ‘games’ for less, such as 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 it has to be from their computer equipment as opposed to any type of explosive device.”

  “Are there any signs of plasma ionic dispersion or anti-matter fluctuations?” 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?” The obsequiousness in 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.

  “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 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. 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 regard 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 stronge
r than me 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 to 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 would 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 wasn’t going to win. 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 of that to enjoy.

  “Mr. Talbot, just give yourself up. You know I have you beat,” Farley said 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 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 me in half. 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. 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 had my back up against the wall. There was nowhere to go except sideways so there I went. Farley 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 guess that only applies 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 the rippling muscles of 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.