{"id":2469,"date":"2018-06-16T09:21:29","date_gmt":"2018-06-16T14:21:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2469"},"modified":"2018-06-23T07:26:49","modified_gmt":"2018-06-23T12:26:49","slug":"master-of-violence-part-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2469","title":{"rendered":"Master of Violence – Part 20"},"content":{"rendered":"

Master of Violence<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 20<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Toncor looked around the room.\u00a0 He had returned back to the Pakkara to inform them of what the situation was back on Earth and what their options were considering their engines had been repaired.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can leave at any time,\u201d Hakkas said to them.\u00a0 \u201cThe engineers have gone over the repairs and deemed the repairs complete.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen we can finally put some distance between us and this Dark Race,\u201d Aviella said.<\/p>\n

Toncor almost winced a bit at the term Dark Race after using O\u2019krads while on Earth\u2019s surface.\u00a0 It felt like an irrational fear of something they didn\u2019t know.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe longer we delay leaving the more likely they are to find us,\u201d another member said, Iccol.\u00a0 He had been selected by many on board to represent them in such meetings.\u00a0 Toncor wasn\u2019t familiar with him too much, only that he had been getting into politics before the O\u2019krads came to their world.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can have water and other supplies restocked within the day,\u201d Hakkas said to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere would we go?\u201d Aviella asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the latest information from the humans on the direction of the Dark Race and where they seem to come from we can calculate a new path which should lead us away from them,\u201d Iccol said to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a few promising worlds we can go to,\u201d Hakkas stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then do what?\u201d Toncor said speaking up for the first time as everyone looked at him.\u00a0 \u201cWe arrive at these worlds and do what?\u00a0 Resupply our ship, get more water, warn any race which might be there and then what?\u00a0 Leave and continue running forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked around at the other three who now stared back at him in shock at his language.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have been around the humans too much Toncor,\u201d Iccol said.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think you see the bigger picture anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOr I\u2019ve had my eyes opened to the truth and possibilities of what is going on out there,\u201d Toncor said to them.\u00a0 \u201cYou criticize the humans yet do not understand them at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are dangerous,\u201d Aviella said quickly.\u00a0 \u201cI know what they are capable of as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Toncor looked over at her knowing she had seen the same history vids of the humans as she had, yet she hadn\u2019t actually spoken with them for long periods of time, spent time with them learning who they really were.\u00a0 The history vids were only a small portion of who they were.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you watch any of the vids of their architecture?\u00a0 How about their music?\u201d Toncor asked watching as she avoided his gaze knowing she had not.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not saying settling on their planet, it\u2019s a very dangerous place.\u201d<\/p>\n

He recalled everything he learned about the planet.\u00a0 Many plants and animals on the planet were dangerous and even life threatening to him.\u00a0 Many were aggressive and the humans seemed to take it all in stride while fighting back and made it the top of the food chain of this planet.\u00a0 It was like the entire planet was formed for combat.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen what do you suggest?\u201d Aviella asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe could create a place of our own on another of their worlds.\u00a0 We have the ability to colonize a planet they call Mars,\u201d he said to them.<\/p>\n

He watched as Aviella looked it up and went over the details of the planet.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would take time, which we might not have,\u201d she said to him.\u00a0 \u201cThe Dark Race might return at any moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if the humans defeat the O\u2019krad we are retreating for no reason,\u201d Toncor said.\u00a0 \u201cLook at the Volors, they have been on the run for a long time, their numbers on board the ship have dwindled and are now a mix of many races.\u00a0 We doom our children to a prison ship.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is freedom,\u201d Iccol said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFreedom within these walls, how is that any better than being a slave for the O\u2019krad?\u00a0 We say freedom, but we really don\u2019t understand the word,\u201d Toncor said to them standing up and pacing the room and pointing at the walls of the room.\u00a0 \u201cFreedom for what?\u00a0 Freedom to do what?\u00a0 Where will our children play?\u00a0 What is our future?\u201d<\/p>\n

The others seemed to look at him as if he had lost his mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you babbling about,\u201d Aviella asked.\u00a0 \u201cYou talk freedom, but what freedom would we have under the humans?\u00a0 They will only enslave us as well if given the chance, its all there in their history.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps, perhaps not,\u201d Toncor replied.\u00a0 \u201cTrue, they have asked us for more information than we have, but that isn\u2019t enslavement.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, its only using someone and tossing them to the side when you\u2019re done with them,\u201d Iccol said.\u00a0 \u201cI think your judgement has been impaired, you are not fit to represent us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Toncor went silent and looked at them, his eyes resting on Hakkas.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be too quick to use those terms,\u201d Hakkas finally said after a few seconds.\u00a0 \u201cThere is still a lot we don\u2019t know and understand.\u00a0 If the humans really wanted more they could have delayed fixing our ship even longer than this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were not quick to begin with,\u201d Iccol said.\u00a0 \u201cIt should have been fixed in half the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they had the technology,\u201d Toncor replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd how do you know they don\u2019t?\u201d Iccol said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have no ship with this powerplant, in fact it was only recently that we even caught a hint of such a powerplanet signature on the scanners,\u201d Hakkas said to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey could have hidden such ships,\u201d Iccol said to Hakkas.<\/p>\n

\u201cPossible, yet improbable,\u201d Hakkas said.\u00a0 \u201cI doubt they would use such outdated technology on ships to defend their planet.\u201d<\/p>\n

The last statement from Hakkas seemed to take Iccol by surprise a bit as he went silent.\u00a0 Toncor considered a lot of options before finally speaking up.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you wish to leave, then you do so without me,\u201d he said finally seeing a slight gasp from Aviella knowing he had shocked her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou would stay here with such violent creatures?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cA chance to live on the surface of a planet against a ship, yes,\u201d Toncor said after a few seconds of internal debate.\u00a0 \u201cThe freedom to actually be free against the illusion of freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe others won\u2019t want to,\u201d Iccol said.<\/p>\n

Toncor looked at the others before Hakkas spoke up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Toncor has a point we are missing,\u201d Hakkas said.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve lived on ships for most of my life, working my way up to captain.\u00a0 Its only bearable when you know you can leave.\u00a0 If we leave, we condemn everyone to living on this ship, nowhere else out of fear of the Dark Race.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou would stay with such a violent race?\u201d Iccol asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think its worth staying for a bit longer to determine,\u201d Hakkas said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve already been here for a long time,\u201d Iccol said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere, but not actually down there, with them,\u201d Toncor said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe shall put it to a vote then,\u201d Aviella said.<\/p>\n

Toncor held no illusion what the result of the vote would be but made up his mind, he would not be one of those who left.\u00a0 For that he would make his voice known.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Angie watched as Jack and Ben walked back into the camp after heading back to the communications point.\u00a0 She wanted to go as well but was persuaded to stay behind as they could move faster than she could.\u00a0 She pouted at first but managed to catch up with Heather over what had happened.\u00a0 Her friend had no information about her mother or family and had been on the run since the attack happened.<\/p>\n

She also learned the other\u2019s names, there was Crystal, the other woman, along with Sven who knew her uncle, had been stationed on board the Enterprise with him until last year when he left the military.\u00a0 The last person was Aku, who seemed to keep to himself.\u00a0 Heather mentioned something about him seeing his family killed.<\/p>\n

Jack seemed to have some news as everyone moved over.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Sven asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cGot a reply back from Mark, especially considering we might be losing our ability to communicate with Earth,\u201d Jack said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are moving to clean up the area?\u201d Charlie asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting closer every day,\u201d Jack replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about delaying them?\u201d Sven asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what Mark suggested, only if we felt comfortable with it,\u201d Jack said to them.<\/p>\n

Angie looked on at them all wondering what they might do.\u00a0 She found herself for such actions as it might allow them to keep communicating with Earth a bit longer.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan we do anything?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere might be something,\u201d Charlie said moving back to his tent.<\/p>\n

Everyone watched as he came back with several packages.<\/p>\n

\u201cFireworks?\u201d Ben replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cMight be enough to make them slow down, nothing enough to hurt anyone, but scare them,\u201d Charlie said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMight work,\u201d Sven said as several others thought about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt won\u2019t hurt anyone?\u201d Angie asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t guarantee anything, but we don\u2019t have many options here,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe might also find something which might hold them up elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI might be able to inform my friend, they could set them off as well, make even a bigger panic when they go off,\u201d Jack said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMight be worth it to tell them to slow down as well, perhaps some information that Earth is planning to come and rescue us,\u201d Sven said to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cA resistance within the slaves,\u201d Jack said.<\/p>\n

Angie listened in wondering if this would all work.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can we trust them?\u201d Crystal, the other woman of the group asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne is my friend, been friends for years,\u201d Jack said.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s said they already are trying to rebel against them in secret.\u00a0 That\u2019s why there are slaves from other races.\u00a0 They brought them in hoping to end the rebellious nature of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey act like they don\u2019t know how humans think,\u201d Charlie said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps they don\u2019t,\u201d Angie said speaking up taking a logical approach.\u00a0 \u201cThey invaded us, but have they been watching us?\u201d<\/p>\n

Those words caught everyone by surprise as they considered the question.<\/p>\n

\u201cI say we do this,\u201d Aku said speaking up for the first time surprising everyone.\u00a0 \u201cThose bastards deserve it all.\u00a0 Any of my friends, if they are alive, will gladly die.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but the point is, to paraphrase an old World War Two general, to make the other bastard die for his country, or in this case, race,\u201d Sven said to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has a point,\u201d Charlie stated.\u00a0 \u201cWe have to take some risks.\u00a0 Would your friend be willing to take that risk?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think so,\u201d Jack said.\u00a0 \u201cThe last time I spoke to him things were getting tense among the O\u2019krad and the human slaves.\u00a0 I think they\u2019ll be happy to help anyway they can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf any of my friends are alive, they will willingly help,\u201d Aku said.<\/p>\n

Angie watched as the group seemed to look at each other in silence before anyone spoke.\u00a0 They all seemed to be thinking the same thing and the weight of their actions.\u00a0 Angie could not make such a decision, it went against what she thought was right but realized times had changed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI suggest we speak to them and set the traps,\u201d Charlie said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAgreed,\u201d Sven said.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll need to be able to communicate with Earth for as long as possible, and perhaps help them when they come back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen we move out,\u201d Charlie said.\u00a0 \u201cA group will head out at first light.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the decision made everyone seemed to relax despite the fact things had taken a new turn and they were not going to be actively involved in the war for the first time other than giving information back to Earth.\u00a0 Angie considered what might happen next and hoped for the best.\u00a0 She also hoped her uncle and Earth wouldn\u2019t wait too long before sending a rescue group to Sierra.\u00a0 She had no idea how long they could hold on.<\/p>\n

End part 20<\/p>\n

Continued in part 21<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Master of Violence by AJ Marks Part 20 Toncor looked around the room.\u00a0 He had returned back to the Pakkara to inform them of what the situation was back on Earth and what their options were considering their engines had been repaired. \u201cWe can leave at any time,\u201d Hakkas said to them.\u00a0 \u201cThe engineers have […]
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