The Cartographer (30 page)

“Hey before you get all sentimental on me,” he muttered sarcastically, “you may want to take a look at what Klax has.”

I entered the shuttle and Klax stood waiting. Apparently he overheard our conversation and took the luxury of bringing it up on the main screen.

The High Prince stood in the foreground with Hark-Kalech, Varooq and Kale flanking him. The remaining Council members were dressed in armor, similar to those of the Defense Fleet soldiers. They looked prepared for war.

“Nathan, I'm afraid we tried everything we could to prevent the events unfolding on Earth,” Meta conceded. “We were too late.”

“Wait a minute,” I protested. “We know where Calypso is, we have to go to New York and stop him.”

Meta held up his hand. “It is too late for that. I have consulted with the Council and we have decided to invoke Helios Protocol.”

At first I didn't understand what he was talking about until I remembered the file on my computer. My heart turned into a bongo drum inside my chest.

“Wait!” I exclaimed. “Earth is not a total catastrophic loss, what the hell are you doing?”

Looks of shock spread on the Council members faces. It was out of the ordinary for anyone to question the High Prince. A hand dropped on my shoulder.

“Calm down, Nathan.” Wraith's concerned expression bothered me, but didn't stop me.

“I will not calm down, this is my planet we are talking about.” I scanned the cramped space of the shuttle. Embeth's soldiers looked unsure of the High Prince's order—a positive sign for me. Wraith on the other hand had the same stoic look on his face which prevented me from reading his emotions.

“I have no idea what a Helios Protocol is, but telling from Nathan's face, it's not good,” Kedge muttered.

“Excuse me, Nathan,” Meta interrupted. “I understand this is a very emotional time for you, but you must understand, we have to protect the planet's assets.”

“Assets?” I turned to the screen and clenched my fists. “Those aren't assets, those are PEOPLE!”

Meta stood up and a scowl spread across his face. The Council members stepped back. “I know what they are!” he growled. “We have done this before, lest you forget, with your very own people.”

Wraith stepped forward. “But sir that was when the planet was attacked directly. There has been no attack on Earth. Surely there is another way?”

“Hasn't been attacked…
yet
,” Kale interrupted. “We have credible information that Calypso plans on decimating the planet once he is done with its inhabitants.”

Wraith cocked his head and leaned toward the screen. “What credible information? We haven't received any such information.”

Kale stepped back and the Council members looked at each other—as if they were unsure how to respond.

“I received the information, and its source is unimportant,” Meta countered.

“This is a load of crap,” Kedge muttered. “Something is not right.”

“What was that?” Meta asked. “Are you questioning me? I'm sorry but the last time I checked you were the former leader of the Lumagom. They cared for no one. What right do you have in judging me?”

“He isn't the only one questioning you,” I blurted.

Meta narrowed his eyes. “You better mind your place, Nathan.”

Behind me Klax and Wraith stared apprehensively.

“This isn't right,” I whispered to them.

Klax reluctantly nodded. “I agree,” he whispered. “But what can we do? We have our orders.”

“They're not my orders,” I countered.

“But you are the Cartographer,” Wraith interjected.

“I'm the Cartographer?” I scoffed. “A Cartographer without a map you mean.”

“You are to report to the Argus and await further instructions,” Meta interrupted. “This is not negotiable.”

The screen went dark. The Consortium was going to sit back and allow Calypso to take over the planet. It didn't make any sense. I slumped into the nearest seat and strapped myself in.

“What are you doing?” Kedge asked.

“Following our orders,” I grumbled.

Kedge picked up his staff and stood next to me. “They aren't my orders.”

“So what are you going to do?” I scoffed. “Take them all on by yourself?”

“Still it does not take away from the fact that I'm not going back,” he argued. “I failed to save humans once and I refuse to let this happen again. I'm ashamed you would even consider following orders you know is wrong.”

His words struck home and I lowered my head in shame. An ancient being, long removed from mankind, chose to stay behind and fight for my people while I ran. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I followed Meta's orders. I unbuckled myself and stood up.

“You're right.”

Wraith sighed and glanced at Klax.

“They're right,” he added.

Klax slowly nodded. “What the High Prince has proposed does not sound right.” He turned and looked at me. “I would like to send a coded message to Embeth advising him of our dilemma. In the past he has frowned upon invoking Helios Protocol unless absolutely necessary.”

I nodded and he turned to the control panel. After several moments passed an image of Embeth appeared on the big screen. He was not pleased.

“I have received your transmission Klax,” he responded. A shower of sparks rained down behind him and he brushed them off his shoulder. “Well, obviously you can see the Argus sustained heavy damage, but so far the crew has managed to stabilize the ship, if only temporarily.” He lowered his voice to a whisper and everyone leaned in closer. “I agree with your assessment, but unfortunately you will be alone. I cannot send reinforcements and we are locked down until Royal Command arrives.”

“They are coming to Earth personally?” Wraith asked. “That doesn't make any sense.”

Embeth grimaced. “Tell me something I don't already know. This whole thing stinks like grain slugs, but because of Calypso's defection I guess the High Prince has very little trust in the remaining Council members.”

“Why would he order the evacuation of Earth?” I asked. “It hasn't been attacked yet? Hell we aren't completely sure that Calypso will even attack at all.”

“What do you mean?” Embeth asked.

“What if this is just a distraction? We know Calypso's end game is to eventually dismantle the Consortium.” I moved around Wraith and moved closer to the screen. “He wants the time hole, but he wants the Consortium more. We are bringing it right to him.”

Understanding dawned on Embeth's face and he nodded. “Klax, I authorize you to go to New York. Take both shuttles and all available weapons. Discretion is highest priority of course. Unfortunately you have very little time, so I suggest you get moving.” Another shower of sparks rained down on Embeth and he turned toward a passing crewmember. “Dammit, I thought I told you to get that hole welded shut!”

The screen went black.

Klax turned from the screen and fixed us with a grim stare. “You heard the man, let's move out.”

The Big Apple

W
e entered New York City forty-five minutes later using the shuttle's onboard stealth systems, which allowed us to avoid radar. We hovered briefly over the East River near the Queens Midtown Tunnel, trying to decide our next move.

“I can't land without deactivating stealth mode,” Wraith admitted.

“Well, what the hell are we supposed to do now?” I groaned.

Gard activated the scanners. “
It appears we are above a tunnel, perhaps we can land in between the tunnel and Four Freedoms Park
?”

Wraith nodded. “It could work.”

“Wait a minute, you are going to end up landing in the middle of the East River,” I objected.

Wraith turned and smiled. “Exactly.”

Before I could ask him to clarify how he proposed to do just that, we splashed down.

“No human aquatic vessels nearby, go ahead with submersion,” Wraith said.

“
Deactivating stealth mode, flipping to submersible
,” Gard warned.

“The river is shallower than what we are used to, so hold on tight,” Wraith grunted.

The shuttle landed on the river floor with a thud and I grabbed the back of the pilot's chair tightly as we rocked violently to the side.

Wraith reached for the communicator. “Klax, are you OK?”

“
Yes. We landed approximately twenty yards from your location. Everything seems to be calm
.”

“
Wraith, no signs of anything unusual on my end
,” Gard offered.

I unbuckled myself and gathered my things. “OK so how do we get out of here?”

Wraith placed his hand on my chest. “Whoa, slow down. We aren't going anywhere until we have visual confirmation.”

Before I could voice my protest, a beeping sound echoed throughout the cockpit. “What the heck is that?”

“We're being hailed,” Wraith replied and cocked his head inquisitively. He leaned over and switched the transmission to the main screen. Calypso's face filled the screen.

“I can see you there.” A vicious smile crept across his face.

“Where are you coward?” Kedge roared. “Come out from hiding so we can end this once and for all!”

Calypso waved his hand dismissively. “I have other things that require my attention. Do you really think you're safe down there? It's too late, I already warned the humans of your impending attack. They were very receptive.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I bellowed.

Calypso moved aside and a human stepped into the picture. I recognized him as the President of the United States, but there was something different about him. His irises were red—like Calypso's.

“To whomever I am speaking to,” the President said flatly. His voice seemed more mechanical in nature, like he was in a trance. “I assure you the United States does not wish to engage in hostile acts against your people. However, we located several of your vessels orbiting the planet and relayed that information to several governments across the world. If you plan on continuing hostile actions toward us, we are prepared to retaliate.”

“We are not the aggressors,” I cried. “He is!”

The President looked at me and seemed unsure of himself. “Wait a minute, is that a human?”

Calypso forced his way back into the screen. “They are tricksters, sir, they will do anything to make you believe them.”

Wraith reached over and snatched the radio. He gripped it tightly and peered at me.

“Do you know where they are?”

I shook my head. “The camera is zoomed in too close, I can't make out anything in the background.”

“Klax, stand ready,” he whispered into the radio. “On my signal.”

“
Aye.
”

Wraith leaned over and whispered, “Get him to pan the room.”

“How the hell am I supposed to do that?” I muttered.

“Do what you can,” he replied calmly.

I wracked my brain, pushing aside one insane notion after another until an idea came to me—something that might work.

“We will leave if I can see that my people are safe,” I said.

Calypso's eyes filled with suspicion. “Do you take me for a fool?”

I refused to back down. “I promise we will leave as long as we confirm that the people are safe. You know how the Consortium operates, Calypso. The ships are ready to back off, I just need you to guarantee that everyone is OK.”

“It sounds reasonable,” the President said off screen.

Calypso scowled. I recognized the doubt on his face. He knew the Consortium's standard operating procedures, but not mine—not that I actually had any. But it bothered him that he couldn't read me and I needed to turn that into my advantage.

His smile returned, prepared to continue the charade. “Fine, I accept your terms. How would you like me to grant your request for a guarantee? Would my word of honor do?” he quipped.

“I'm afraid not. There is an easy way to do this if there are other humans with you. Just zoom the camera out so I can be sure they're OK.”

Calypso chewed on his bottom lip while he analyzed my proposal. He was silent for several minutes and a thin sheen of sweat begun to form on my brow. I tapped my foot nervously and Wraith stepped on it with a scowl.

“OK, fine,” Calypso agreed.

The camera panned the room. Natronix stood against the far wall with his arms crossed and a sour expression. The camera moved past the President to two humans in dark suits—Secret Service, judging by their appearance. The camera moved the other way, revealing a dark skinned man dressed in a light colored suit I didn't recognize. An older woman with gray hair and a hard look sat in a chair in the corner of the room. Behind her was the evidence I needed—a map of the world—the official symbol of the United Nations. I assumed the other two people in the room were members of the U.N.

“Satisfied?” Calypso moved to the center of the screen.

I leaned over to Wraith. “They are in the United Nations building,” I whispered.

Wraith turned his back toward the screen and leaned over the radio. “Klax, they are in the United Nations building. Go,” he whispered.

“Fine, I'm satisfied,” I muttered. “I guess we will go.”

Calypso smiled and the screen went dark.

“So, what now?” I asked.