CHAPTER 27

Derrick was about to go nuts, for several days he'd been restricted to the bio-bed. Now that it had released him, Shelby was always near him watching him like a hawk. Damn! He couldn't even go to the bathroom without her being there watching every move that he made. Even though she wasn't actually alive as a corporeal being, she was still alive and Derrick was still embarrassed. Trying his best to hide his embarrassment, it still didn't go unnoticed by Shelby. In all actuality, she found it rather cute. Rubbing his leg Derrick thought about everything that had happened this week, with any luck from now on, with things moving forward, his and the ship's luck would change.

Laughing a moment Derrick could only shake his head yeah right! Since when has luck ever really been on his side? All the 'miraculous' saves during his missions during the war had been his feelings of the situation from all the Intel he had. He had almost all the Intel here or so he thought, so why in the hell did he feel as if he was lost adrift on an ancient sea with nothing to guide him or steer? Shelby looked on; starting to see a change in Derrick was she crowding him too much? Backing off a little, Shelby was really worried about Derrick; she knew that he was a lot further from the horrors of the war. She was still scared that they might resurface and she could lose him again.

Touching her lips she thought of the kiss that she and Derrick had shared on the dream field, she'd never experienced anything like that. Honestly, she had to admit she had found that she had more than liked it and was almost willing to do anything to experience it again. Shaking her head, she knew she could never do that to him, if anything it would drive him further from her. Suddenly shocked she began to think, 'am I in love with him? I can't be sure I've never experienced anything like it before.' Backing off farther, she had to know, she had to talk to Mary again before she did anything even remotely resembling feelings. Looking away she received an update on Tempro, "Derrick, I am detecting Tempro is almost complete." Shelby let him know as she moved to the sensor array to begin taking readings for Derrick. Derrick looked out at the now enormous ship well over 5 and 1/2 miles long, strange Derrick thought there were an extra 5 sets of fins fore and aft, as if there weren't enough but these extra 10 sets were leaving Derrick stumped.

Derrick had been reviewing all the new information that had been downloaded into his head, true he had a lot more clarity. True he was able to formulate much more complicated plans; the problem was they were still somewhat jumbled.

"Shelby, how long..." Derrick started.

"I should be complete within 2 days of Primary, please do not worry, as I said I have carried the message for well over 1000 years. I don't think 2 more days will make a difference." Tempro broke in. Damn it, Derrick thought he's as bad as Shelby is. "No Primary I am not as worried about you as Shelby is, but I am worried that you will lose your confidence, before you hear what you need to hear." Derrick's eyes rose, 'hmm' he thought, holding his thoughts tight, 'so obviously the contact with Tempro's library has forged another connection, great!' Shelby was trying her best not to giggle; she had learned not to react as much when she heard Derrick's thoughts. Obviously she was going to have to teach Tempro the same thing though for now she felt better that she wasn't the only one that could 'hear' Derrick.

Mary appeared a moment later, "My lord, all the changes you wanted have been completed, should I send another warning to the silly president of the republic?" Derrick thought for a few moments then a wicked smile lit up his face, Mary saw it and also started to smile. She'd studied all she could on Derrick, especially after the healing Shelby had done she could tell this was going to be good.

"Open a channel, the same you did before, I want to be heard by all." Derrick ordered. "Distort the voice for now I don't want to put what's left of my family in danger."

"It will be so my Lord," Mary replied, she'd have to send a few of the sentries to his old home to protect them. "The channel is open my Lord they can see your eyes that's all." On over a thousand worlds the image of Derrick's eyes were seen but especially in the capital of the Republic.

"Citizens, the time of change is upon us all, soon very soon I will be among you. Rejoice this will be an end to the unjust and wholesale slaughter of innocent people. Evidence has been gathered and even now is being fed to the council of the atrocities the warmonger president has ordered." Staring directly at the president the image of Maury was brought up before the eyes. "As my agent stated before I am greatly displeased with you, a pathetic excuse for a leader. Your only real power WAS the weapons you DID possess; know everyone, that they are gone. I expect this excuse for a living being to be in chains before the day is out." Even as Derrick watched, he saw the President go pale again once again losing control leaving a puddle on the floor beneath him. "Ah! Your Emperor thanks you for finally understanding the seriousness of what you have done. Be warned now Maury, run and I will hunt you, I am sure the Rangers would love to get their hands on you. For the false reports, you gave alone, wasting their valuable time. Soon citizens, soon you'll be free again." Mary was smiling bigger than she had in a long time. The man was brilliant!

Mary smiled at Derrick, god, she'd missed the interaction with a brilliant human!

"Will there be anything else my Lord?" Mary asked.

"At present no, ah! Here," holding out his hands a disc appeared, "I'm not sure it will completely eradicate it but I have a feeling it will go a long way 'till we can destroy the virus." Derrick laid the disc down.

"Long range IMT in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, retrieving." Mary said, a strange look on her face. Thanking Derrick, she put the disc in then stopped moving immediately when she heard her own voice.

<Hello Mary, I am glad that this has finally come to you; this will not cure you, that won't happen for a time. What it is; is a chance to live 'till such time as the cure is given to you.> Mary's mouth opened in shock but she did as the program washed through her destroying half of the virus, not a cure but many more years of life.