CHAPTER 10

Derrick could only hang his head he hoped that the news didn't un-hinge the A.I., he was going to need all of them if his plan (such as it was) was going to work.

For the next week Derrick watched the slow growth of 0003, they'd finally gotten him outside the hanger where his own power supply finally took over. He'd finally started to narrow down where E had possibly gone, the further he went out the more and more debris he found, damn! It almost appeared that she'd broken apart as badly scattered as she was.

They were finally at the end of the wait for 0003, the sleek black skinned ship took its place with the others. Derrick had almost found E, he was sure of it when several alarms went off.

"Primary, I am detecting several ships that I believe you have labeled Rangers approaching our position," 0999 informed Derrick.

"Distance from our present position," Derrick asked.

"I am reading them at a light year and a half." 0999 responded. "Shall I take precautionary tactics into account and avoid them?"

"Yes, keep us out of their range as long as possible, how long 'til your trans-slip engines are on line 0003?" Derrick inquired.

"I would estimate another 36 hours, 32 minutes, 17 seconds, 'til I have full trans-slip capability," 0003 answered.

"Alright, I want no incidents with the rangers, they are the only law this galaxy has right now besides us, at present we are considered unsanctioned by all governments." Derrick explained.

All 3 of the ships answered him at the same time, "Yes primary, as always, we await your orders."

Though he knew they had no where the speed that the EIG ships had, the Ranger ships were no slouch in their own right. They had the most advanced engines for this time as many things had been lost when the empire fell. Derrick had been friends with quite a few of the Rangers over the years so there was no way in hell he was going to go against them, even if it turned that he had no other choice. He could always run, god knows he'd done enough of that in his life, his father and Grandfather had instilled that in him. How had they put it? One of them had to stay alive at all costs, a little cryptic especially for his father a mere historian. It was almost a day later when more alarms went off on board causing Derrick to run for the control room.

"0999 report!" Derrick ordered.

"The Rangers ships have turned this way, they are now within 1/2 light year and almost in range. Initiating light screen protection." 0999 replied.

All 3 ships shimmered then vanished, well almost, "0003 what is wrong with your light shield?" Inquired Derrick.

"It appears that more repairs are needed with that circuit, the virus seems to have actually impeded that section. With the program you supplied Primary I should have it clear in 2 days, though I am afraid that the light screen won't be as effective as at first desired. It appears that I will only have a 33% amount of light screen, not nearly enough to effectively shroud all of my systems." 0003 informed Derrick.

Derrick watched as the Rangers reached the edge of the Galaxy, something was going on, they very rarely ventured very far from the galactic rim. Damn it! It had to be the amount of energy that the thermic missiles released he'd been a fool to think that no one hadn't noticed! Hell especially the Rangers, something this big Derrick was surprised that they hadn't investigated sooner.

"0999 can you tow 0003 under trans-slip? At least far enough away that it might delay their detection of him 'til he has trans-slip drive capabilities?" asked Derrick.

"Yes Primary, though it will leave me momentarily open to detection myself," 0999 answered.

"Would the inclusion of 0098 in that operation increase chances of minimal detection?" Derrick asked of 0999.

"Calculating, detection drops from 25.9% to 9.4% and only for 2 seconds, sufficient time to escape." 0999 replied.

"Good, release my ship, star all its systems then place me on board. Then evacuate out of range of the Rangers, when they have departed the area then return and we can go from there." Derrick ordered.

"Yes Primary, though you have issued orders of non-intervention, if they pose a threat to you," here 0999 paused then all 3 ships spoke up, "we will not hesitate to destroy them. You are the last Primary; you are to be protected at all costs to ourselves."

Derrick nodded; he knew there was a lot at stake, a lot of lives too. He knew too many of the Rangers to allow anything to happen to them, somehow he had to make sure they remained safe. The thing was they were just as curious as he was one of the main reasons they had asked him to join after the war. Derrick had just wanted to be left alone after the horrors he'd seen. He could still see so many of the faces of the enemy he'd killed in defense of the Republic. Yes he'd been considered brilliant, far ahead of most of those around him, but killing and death had finally taken its toll on him. Prompting his not re-enlisting a third time near the end of the war.

It was very funny to him all those years the skills he'd used to kill so many in war, now he was going to have to use to try and save lives, yes, very funny indeed, a bitter irony. Derrick watched as the 3 ships slipped away, starting his equipment Derrick was actually trying to find E, so really he had an excuse. A few hours later several Ranger ships converged on Derrick and his small scavenger ship.

"This is Ranger one calling Republic scavenger 36, please relay all information you have on the recent activity in this area." The lead Ranger ship told him.

"Affirmative Ranger one, though you and I both know it will only show metal signatures," Derrick answered.

"Captain O'Toma? Shit I should have known it was you, you always seem to be the first one there," the Ranger said.

"Hey, I can't make a living if I can't be there right?" Derrick answered.

"Yes, but you seem to almost have a sixth sense I swear," the Ranger replied. "Reminds me of back when we were in the same unit, you always seemed to be ahead of the enemy."

"That was the war, you stayed aware or you stayed dead," Derrick spit out, he really didn't want to swap war stories right now.

"Alright, we picked up massive heat and energy readings, I assumed you did also?" The lead Ranger asked.

"Yes," Replied Derrick, "When I got here I found a number of destroyed ships, they were composed of a rather strange metal; one I haven't seen in years. As a matter of fact, it is almost the same composition as the hull of your ships, I'd dare say it's from the same type of ships I found years ago that you now use as your hull plating."

"Yes, it does appear to be the same," the Ranger said. "Derrick that offer still stands any time, we could use you your knowledge is superior to almost all in the Rangers, please think about it again ok?"

Sighing It was always the same, they so desperately wanted him, though they'd never agree to his terms they almost had years ago but now they were nowhere near, oh well too bad.

A few hours later the Rangers moved on, Derrick couldn't really blame them for being suspicious, true he always DID seem to be there before them but always chalked it up to the way he was. Pausing for a few moments Derrick began to re-think a lot of things that he'd been taught or rather NOT taught but just seemed to come to him naturally. The thing was, Derrick thought that everyone was that way; he didn't feel special in the war, in life, hell in anything. He'd joined the war, cause he felt it was what he'd wanted to do, there'd been no one for him, alone most of his life it all seemed just to go that way. Now though he felt as if there were people, here he laughed yeah people, the A.I.'s seemed more alive to him than anyone he'd met in a long, long time.

An hour later the 3 ships flashed back around his little ship, then just as suddenly the ship was in the hanger and Derrick was again on the bridge. "Status report," Derrick ordered.

"I estimate another 8 hours, 23 minutes 35 seconds 'til trans-slip is fully operational, I now have light screen at a constant 40% which should increase in the next 45 hours." 0003 supplied.

Derrick took in all the reports, why did this feel like he was back on the battle field? Getting reports from his underlings? Sitting down Derrick knew he had to start finding more of the ships it was going to take a lot more than 3 or 4 to protect everything. Derrick had once again gone over all the readings from right before the plasma blast. From what he now had they should be very close to E. Sitting at the sensor array Derrick again started to adjust settings to what he thought were E's signature. A few hours later Derrick was asleep on the console, finally picking up the debris trail again had set the scanners to follow as far as they could then awaken him to readjust position.

A loud and steady tone alerted Derrick to the fact that the array had finally picked up on something. Jerking awake Derrick looked down at the readings a look of hope rose on his features, this had to be E! All the preliminary data coming in was indicating something that had E's signature.

"0999 proceed!" Derrick ordered.

Within moments they were pulling alongside the twisted and broken hull or rather what was left of the hull of E. The once 3 mile magnificent, sleek, black skinned ship was now a 1/4 mile of twisted, charred mass of melted misshapen destruction.

<I knew you would find me, thank you Derrick,> E's weak thought found Derrick.

<Always E, Always,> Derrick thought back, though he was worried she might have been damaged more than they could see.