Chapter 54 1

Chapter 54

Tim sat in his office and thought about Deniece wanting to take the kids to see the space station. He wondered if maybe he could have a few of those clones Doctor Dell had shown him. If so, maybe he could have a few of them go ahead and get on the space station. Maybe even have a few follow Deniece and the kids through the MTS.

Tim reached over, picked up the phone, and called Doctor Dell.

Doctor Dell, in the clone lab, picked up the phone and said, "Doctor Dell here."

Tim explained to her what he had in mind and wanted to know if it would work. He sat there while telling his plan and wondering at the same time if he should tell Deniece about this or not.

Doctor Dell listened, then said, "Tim, the clones are ready, and yes, they could do what you are wanting. I'll have them dressed in different styles of clothing; I'll have them dressed and ready to go within ten hours. I will make sure that there are fifty clones, including somewhere around fifteen females."

No-Name was standing out in the common area, his optical sensors darting around the common area, processing the environment with a series of rapid clicks and whirs. His internal algorithms mapped out the layout, marking the exits and potential threats with precision and placing them in his memory bank.

Sarha's image appeared next to No-Name. Sarha asked, "What is your identity and where were you built?"

Wendy approached, seeing No-Name and Sarha together. She asked, "No-Name, did you do something wrong?"

Sarha pointed at No-Name and asked, "Miss Wendy, do you know this bot?"

"He's my friend! We talk all the time and play together. He was supposed to meet me at school, but I think he got lost again. He always gets lost!"

"All right, but keep him with you, please. A bot that is not under my control cannot be allowed to wander around," she said as her image disappeared.

"Did you get in trouble?" Wendy questioned No-Name, glancing his way.

"I was just standing here checking out the common area and she appeared wanting to know who I was and all those other questions."

Tim, sitting down at the dinner table, looked at Deniece and said, "Tomorrow, if you and the kids want to see the space station, I think it can be arranged. Is it going to be okay with Risfi going along?"

Wendy stopped eating and questioned, "Mommy, are we going to the Space Station?"

Deniece looked back at Wendy and said, "We'll see. Now finish your food." She then turned back to Tim and asked, "Is she a bodyguard?"

"No, she has been on some space stations before and is aware of how and where things might be."

"Thank you," Risfi said just before taking another bite of food. "This should give Deniece and me more time to get to know one another."

Wendy asked, "Can I bring a friend, please, Daddy? He said he knows the space station."

"Yes, you may take a friend," Tim said without thinking. He thought she was referring to one of her dolls.

Tim moved to the living room after finishing dinner. Risfi followed Tim into the living room. "Tim, is there anything I should be aware of?"

"Deniece doesn't need to know about the clones. You'll always be surrounded by clones wearing regional garb. They will protect you and keep her and the kids safe if anything happens."

"Why am I going?" Risfi asked.

"In the event that something goes wrong, it is your responsibility to ensure their safe return."

"I'll do that right away. Thank you." She walked back to the kitchen.

Tim sat down on the sofa and called Doctor Dell. "Doctor Dell," he said to the operator.

Doctor Dell, in the clone lab, picked up the phone and answered, "Doctor Dell, how may I assist you?"

"Tim here. I'm sending Risfi with Deniece and the kids to the space station tomorrow morning. Are the clones ready? Do they know what everyone looks like?"

"Yes, they have all been given the identities of everyone on board your ship through the ship's database programming. They have also been trained to surround the family without using any weapons."

"Okay, I'll see Deniece, Risfi, and the kids to the MTS," Tim said as he hung up the phone.

The next morning, in the living room, Deniece joined Tim on the couch. She said, "Two things. First of all, why are you allowing the kids and me to travel to the space station by ourselves? Next, what will I do for credits if the kids need to eat?"

"According to the reports I've received, the Space Station is a safe place. There isn't much of a problem. If there is any, it is shoplifting."

"Second, Miss C and Areyaka have set up the exchange system, and this is your credit stick. Credits total 50,000 for you."

Deniece kissed him while leaning in close to press her braless breasts against his chest.

"You better get a bra on before I mug you right here in the living room," Tim said with a smile as he acknowledged the emotion.

"You are correct, I'm sorry. I wouldn't want anything to happen." She turned and walked toward the bedroom and entered, where she put on a bra.

"Children, let's go," she called as she emerged from the bedroom. "Risfi, are you ready?"

Everyone exited their quarters, and No-Name was waiting for them in the hallway. Tim asked, "How did you get here?" and then turned to look around. "Sarha," he yelled.

At once, Sarha appeared and said, "Yes, Tim."

"How did he get on this ship?" Tim inquired while pointing at No-Name.

No-Name came up to Tim and asked, "Sir, could I answer that question?"

Wendy moved to No-Name after exiting their quarters. "I see you've met my friend, Daddy."

Tim stood there looking confused. "How did he get on this ship, and what do you mean your friend?"

"If I could, Sir," No-Name said.

"Someone, please call security. Sarha, answer me! How did he get on this ship?"

Wendy started to cry, "But, Daddy, he is my friend."

"My husband, relax and let the bot respond to your questions," Deniece said.

After spotting the tears, Tim glanced at Wendy before turning to the bot. "OK, but how did you get on this ship?"

"Sir, this little lady first offered to be my friend; do not hold it against her. I entered your ship the way that I did. I followed your group as they walked back. I merely assumed that this was a brand-new Space Station component."

"Can my friend stay? I like talking to him," Wendy said as she ran up to Tim and wrapped her arms around his leg. "He answers my questions really good, and I understand everything he says! Please, Daddy, pleeeease?"

"Do you have a name?" Tim inquired as he regarded the bot.

"No sir, you called me No-Name on the station. I'll go with that if it's okay?"

"Can Sarha scan your memory data to check you out?"

"There is a hook-up right there if you want." He made a motion toward the door while pointing at it, hooked himself in, and remained motionless.

"Tim, he's a pretty amazing bot. There is no evidence to support the notion that he was brought here or that he is under observation."

"You're welcome to be Wendy's friend and stay with her," Tim said after moving to No-Name.

"Thank you, Sir." No-Name walked toward Wendy. "Wendy, I appreciate you being my friend."

"Ewww! You're all dirty!" she giggled, wiping her hands on her shirt. "You need a bath, No-Name! Like, a really big bath!"

When Tim stepped into the lift, Sadris rushed up and yelled, "Where is everyone going?"

"Father is letting us travel to the Space Station; would you like to join us?"

"Yes, I have never visited a space station; how is it?"

David now asked, "Father, can Sadris go?"

"Sarha, could you please ask Sadris's mother if Sadris can go to the space station with David?"

"Tim, she said, if you believe Sadris will be OK, it's fine."

"Let's make our way to the MTS before the entire ship wants to go with you," Tim said as he turned toward the MTS location.

Once there, they waited for a few people to go in front of them at the MTS. "Where would you like the children to go, sir?" asked No-Name.

"They are free to travel anywhere as long as it is not a dangerous area," Tim replied.

"Yes, Sir, I think it's unlikely that you'd let them leave without providing any security. Am I not right?"

No-Name was looking around them when Tim noticed it. "You're right, and I ask that you protect them."

No-Name noticed the people in front of them as they turned to look at the kids before they entered the MTS. With the exception of the faces, he observed that they were similar, placing this data in his database.

Wendy took her mother's hand in hers before entering. Everyone else walked behind them.

No-Name started scanning the area to see if anyone else matched the two people in terms of appearance. There were, but they stayed away from his group.

As they exited the MTS and moved toward the main walkway, No-Name was monitoring the area around the group.

Some people would walk by them while they were moving, then stop by a store to stand and watch their reflection in the store's windows. Meanwhile, they were being passed by another group moving in the opposite direction. Others would briefly trail behind them before proceeding forward.

Wendy pointed excitedly at a man standing nearby. "Mommy, look at that man! He looks like us but he's all different colored!" she said loudly, bouncing on her toes.

"Wendy, it is not kind to point at other people," Deniece said.

"Wendy, he is a Krid, a humanoid with almond-colored skin. He is a frequent visitor," No-Name informed her.

According to No-Name, who kept tabs on these groups and did his best to count them, fifty people were watching over the children and Deniece.

Wendy inquired, "Mommy, why are there so many different kinds of people here?"

"Honey, a space station is for different people to come and exchange, buy, and sell their goods."

"Oh, you mean like our ship's stores."

"Yes, this is the same thing, only bigger and with many more people."

David and Sadris walked away from the group, asking, "Mother, can we go look for some toys?"

The store they saw on their right was being blocked by three people who stopped David and Sadris after they had gone five steps. Risfi swiftly moved to David's left side, heading him and Sadris back toward Deniece.

After scanning the three people and determining that they matched the physical description of the others, No-Name said, "Deniece, there is a nice toy store just ahead on your right. It has a lot of toys for kids of all ages."

"If you two do that again, we'll head straight back to the ship," Deniece warned the two boys as she called them back to her. "Do you understand that you must remain with Risfi and me?"

"I'm sorry mother, we won't do it again," David said, lowering his head, and looked toward Sadris and smiled.

"Where did you say that store was, No-Name?" Deniece questioned, casting a glance at him.

Before the group started making their way to the store, six of the people No-Name now recognized as the guards entered the store.

"Mommy! Mommy! Look at that! It's a big lizard walking on its back legs!" Wendy shouted, pointing and tugging on her mother's sleeve. "Can lizards do that? It's so cool!"

"Wendy, please not so loud!" Deniece said. Her face started to blush as she saw the Lizard looking toward them.

"That's a Sellan, and his race has been coming here for roughly 100 years," No-Name said, making sure that Wendy knew who he was talking about.

As Deniece arrived at the store, she saw that there weren't many customers around the doorway. She told the kids, "Each one can buy one toy. Don't be throwing them around! Now go look at the toys and be careful."

When No-Name scanned the shop, he noticed two people standing by the back doors. He stepped back from Wendy and continued to scan. Two individuals remained absent: a male and a female.

"Mommy, I need to go potty," Wendy yanked at the side of her mother's pants.

The two missing guards emerged from the restrooms at that precise moment. They made their way to the front of the shop and began conversing with those there.

Now that they had exited the restrooms, No-Name had everyone accounted for.

Deniece turned toward David and Sadris and said, "Why don't you both go to the restroom, so we wouldn't have to stop again."

No-Name moved to the middle of the store to check if anything had changed. At this point, Risfi was conversing with the four security personnel stationed in front of the store. His knowledge was based on what he observed. He now understood that Risfi was aware of the guards.

He made his way to the storefront and approached the five people there. They split apart from one another. Two left the store and went elsewhere. "Deniece and the children are protected by fifty of them? Is that not so?" No-Name asked Risfi.

Risfi was astounded that a bot could have both that knowledge and the count. "Yes, how do you know this information?"

"I am able to keep track of a lot of things. I haven't done this in a while, but Wendy is what you would call a friend. So, I can and will do my part to keep her safe. If I sense something I will say Alert. It appears that she or the others are about to suffer some sort of harm from something or someone."

After giving a head nod, Risfi turned to look for the kids.

After exiting the restroom, Deniece turned to look for Risfi, discovering her and the bot at the front door. "Kids, gather your toys and bring them to the counter," she said as she walked to the counter.

A man that had been inside the store ran into Deniece and smashed against her breasts as they were leaving the toy store. He faced Deniece before glancing at her breasts and saying, "Sorry, they felt nice. Enjoy your day." He left the store and turned left after exiting.

"Sorry, he moved too quickly for me to get between the two of you," said Risfi. "Do you feel pain?"

"Yes, they hurt a little, but they've been smashed before. In a moment, I'll be all right."

A flash of memory--Deniece recalled Tim's first time making love to her and then lying on her. Although his weight on them hurt, she found it enjoyable to hold him in her arms.

"Men," Risfi said with a sigh, her finger absently gesturing toward Deniece's chest. "They only know how to grab and smash. That's why they need gentle handling."

Deniece caught Risfi's gaze and raised an eyebrow. "I bet you think you know how to handle them properly, don't you?"

"Given the opportunity, yes." Risfi grinned while looking Deniece in the eyes.

Deniece scanned the area for the children, then nodded toward the heart of the station. "Let's check out what's over there."

They arrived at the station's center where an enormous fountain stretched upward through five decks. A colored liquid cascaded through a series of scupper bowls, each overflow precisely channeled to the tier below. At the fountain's base, vibrant blossoms--larger and more exquisite than any Deniece had seen before--drifted lazily across the surface.

The fountain's tranquility shattered when No-Name's voice cut through the ambient hum of the station. "Alert! Shooter on third deck!"

The fifty clones moved as one, converging around Deniece and the children in a practiced defensive formation.

Risfi's body slammed into Deniece, arms wrapping around her as they tumbled to the ground. The crack of a weapon echoed through the main lobby.

Through the forest of clones now forming a protective barrier around the children, Deniece could hear Wendy crying for her. She turned to Risfi, whose face had gone tight with pain. The realization hit her--Risfi had taken a bullet meant for her. "Where are you hit?" Deniece demanded, hands already searching for the wound.

"Left shoulder," Risfi grimaced, blood seeping between her fingers as she clutched the wound. She struggled to her knees and eyes frantically scanning Deniece. "What about you? Are you hit?"

Deniece patted herself down. "No, I don't think--"

"That man who bumped into you earlier," Risfi interrupted, pointing with her good arm. "He marked you. There's a bright red spot on your blouse."

Deniece yanked down her zipper to inspect the mark. In the seconds it took to examine herself, understanding dawned. She tore off the blouse in one fluid motion and flung it away.

Despite everything, a wry smile tugged at her lips. "Thank god I didn't skip the bra today," she muttered.

A voice wailed across the bridge of the Star Gladiator 1. "Red Alert! Red Alert. This is not a drill--I repeat--this is not a drill! All personnel to battle stations."

Tim bolted from his office, nearly colliding with a crew member as he rushed onto the bridge. He sat down in the captain's chair, eyes scanning the main viewscreen. "Status report!" he demanded, puzzled by what he saw. No enemy vessels firing upon the planet or the space station. "What the hell is happening?"

"Sir," the communications officer's voice cracked, "we intercepted a transmission to the King. The space station isn't under external attack--it's being hit from inside."

Tim gripped the armrests, mind racing. "Who would--why attack the station internally?"

"Any word from Deniece?" Sarha cut in, her eyes betraying her fear.

"Areyaka's hacking their security feeds now. We'll have eyes inside momentarily," said a voice from the front of the bridge.

The main viewscreen flickered before splitting into multiple camera angles from throughout the station.

A madhouse unfolded before them--panicked civilians stampeding through corridors, security personnel with weapons drawn. Bodies lay crumpled on blood-slicked floors while terrified survivors scrambled for shelter behind whatever barricades they could find.

Tim's eyes darted between feeds, searching frantically for any glimpse of Deniece or the children.

"Sarha, raise the station commander. Ask if they need assistance." He turned to the three commanders standing nearby. "I want your teams combat-ready in five minutes. Everyone wears red armbands for identification."

The commanders exchanged glances, nodded sharply, and vanished through the door without wasting breath on unnecessary acknowledgments.

Tim continued scanning the feeds, fingers drumming against his thigh.

"Tim," Sarha called, "I have Commander Reyes on channel three and he said yes."

"Tell him about our red armbands and have our reaction team at the MTS immediately." Tim rose and moved quickly toward the lift. "I'm heading down."

Minutes later, he emerged at the MTS bay where his crew and commanders stood assembled in full tactical gear.

Areyaka intercepted him as he entered. "We've located Deniece and the children. They've gathered quite a crowd around them for protection." Her expression darkened.

"Risfi appears to be wounded. I'm sending medical personnel with your team."

"Sarha," Tim activated his comm, "I need you down here. And have the clone warriors report to the MTS--all hundred of them."

He addressed the waiting commanders with cold precision. "Each of you will secure one deck. Check every room and even the closets. I want at least one or two of these individuals alive for questioning."

Pauline handed Tim his sidearm and ammo belt, the weight of the loaded magazines reassuring in his hands. "Stay in pairs," he instructed the team. "Nobody goes anywhere alone."

Shanae was first through the MTS, out onto the space station's MTS location. She checked the area, checking corners before calling "Clear!" and pointing right. After the team assembled, Tim gathered them close. "Stairwell's fifty meters out and to the right. We need to move up one deck."