CHAPTER 72

Derrick was doing his best not to laugh though now that he thought about it he too had felt the sting of Mary's electrode shocks. Finally unable to hold back Derrick fell to the floor as he burst out laughing. "I'm sorry you two, I have felt her shocks too. I warned you both all those years ago that your fighting was going to be the death of both of you." Derrick told them between gasping for breath and laughing after seeing the looks of indignation on both of their faces.

"Really Sore," Rayburn told Derrick as he started to smile, "it isn't funny!"

"Yeah hey! You can stop now!" Kimison told him half heartedly as he too started to smile. This of course caused Derrick to laugh even harder as the both of them tried their best to squelch the desire to laugh with him.

"Ah god! I needed that so much you two! I haven't had much to laugh about in a long time." Derrick finally told them after all three of them had regained their composure. "I called you both because I have come across some information that I can't quite believe. I need the both of you to confirm the validity of the transmission with Mary. I need to know if it is true or not so I can launch a few feelers myself."

Kimison and Rayburn looked at each other, they both remembered their commander's "feelers" from the war. One thing could be said though, they always got the job done if not a lot messy.

"Uh sure Sire but what's that got to do with the both of us?" Rayburn said as he and Kimison looked at each other again. "After all we're just your tech guys though," they both smiled widely. "We are better than most."

Derrick was also smiling widely. There was no denying that fact, "No this has to do with a certain half brother of yours Kimison." Derrick stated his face dropping all pretence of a smile.

"My half-brother? I thought that ass hole was dead, considering he tried to kill me and you several times." Kimison said as he looked at Rayburn.

"Yeah, for a long time it was about the only thing we had in common, a real hate of that son of a bitch!" Rayburn spit out poisonous venom.

Derrick was nodding his head he remembered the animosity that had existed between the brother and Rayburn at the start of the war. Kimison's brother had tried to kill or injure both of them on numerous occasions. It had finally taken Derrick stepping in and having the man arrested for attempted murder. As Derrick remembered the brother had been sent to be rehabilitated, they'd lost all contact after that.

Sighing Derrick wasn't exactly sure how he'd take the news, "according to information we've received he is believed to be in control of the sect that is out to kill me."

"Ha! Yup sounds about like something the ass would be tied to do. Never did trust him always plotting and planning ways to get one up on me. After mom died the rift between us grew exponentially 'til I didn't even know him anymore. I think he blamed me for her death, funny but I always blamed him." Kimison said as sarcastically as he could. "I had actually hoped that he was dead after all this time, figures he's still alive and behind a lot of this. If I remember right he tried to get you once didn't he Sire?"

Derrick nodded and he remembered it like it was yesterday they had been on manoeuvres near the end of their third year. They had just secured a vital position when they had heard a call for an airstrike on their position. They all would have nearly been killed had it not been for Derrick moving them early. He'd felt something was off and had then pulled back, after radioing in they pulled back over 1000 yards. Not even 10 minutes later their previous position was pounded flat.

"So no word from him? Nothing of him boasting like he had when he escaped the last time?" Derrick asked.

"No sir, not a single word except, the place they put him sent me papers that said he was no longer there and no further information was offered. That was the main reason I thought that the ass was dead." Kimison told Derrick.

Sighing, Derrick nodded and picked up a few sheets of paper, handing them to Kimison and Rayburn. At first they scanned the sheets then both started to growl. "Are you absolutely sure these are right?" Rayburn asked suddenly. "I really don't want to be looking over my shoulder all the damn time for this piss ant!"

"All reports we've received indicate he just took over leadership of the Tapiolan a short time before they attacked ." Derrick replied. "He obviously remembered about me and what's left of my family. I guess he thought he'd get all three of us through me."

Kimison finally spoke up a seething anger behind his words, "Personally as I said I was hoping the son of a bitch was dead." Looking up at Derrick Kimison's face twisted into a mask of rage. "I think we should do everything possible to make that a reality!"

"I'm working on that now as soon as I know it's..." A beeping at his wrist alerted Derrick to an incoming call. "Yes Shelby?"

"Just letting you know it's almost time. The new configuration of power feeds has done wonders to the re-gen cycles." Shelby advised Derrick.

"Alright Shelby I'll be right there." Turning back to Kimison and Rayburn, Derrick stated, "I just thought I'd let you know at present you two are almost as hard to actually find as I am. Alright Shelby" With that Derrick was gone leaving both men to stare at each other. Both smiled yes they were hard to find, especially with Mary running interference.

Derrick moved to the command chair as soon as he was on board. "Alright Shelby let's hear."

"0667? I have the emperor here, he wishes to welcome you. Plus he has a few questions. Sire?" Shelby said at his prompting.

"Hello 0667, I am Derrick O'Toma." Derrick started.

"It is a great honour Sire." The male voice replied.

"As I told all EIG's I require all of you to go by the name that was given to you. That being said, please state yours." Derrick instructed the voice.

"Yes Sire, for a very short time I was addressed as Marco. Not really sure why but that is what the crew called me." Marco told Derrick.

"Ah good! Then Marco you shall be, you will be a fine addition to the growing fleet." Derrick advised Marco.

"Thank you Sir I will do my best!" Marco replied.

"I have moved 0125 to bay 1 and have transferred 0403 into bay 2. Thank you Derrick," Shelby appeared a moment later. "It has been so long since I had this many of my children nearby." Shelby wanted so desperately to hold Derrick close and thank him. Touching her lips she remembered the tender kiss that they had shared. She'd give almost anything to feel it again.

Derrick could only stare at Shelby as she was gently touching her lips. Interesting Derrick thought freeing up that much of the programs was a bad thing? This was the first time she hadn't heard his question to her. "Shelby? Has the others being in close proximity to you caused their re-gen cycles to start at a low level?" Derrick asked again.

This time Shelby heard Derrick and looked at all the brain boxes that had been and were still on board. Surprised she told Derrick, "Yes Derrick it appears that with all the upgrades we have made, their re-gens were already in progress when I moved them to the bays. I have seen data to support the faster re-gen but nothing of this 'till now."

"I was hoping for something like this when I had you initiate that last upgrade." Derrick informed Shelby. "I am sorry I didn't inform you sooner but I didn't want you to be disappointed if it hadn't worked."

Smiling her sweetest smile Shelby moved to in front of Derrick, "Oh Derrick you could never be disappointing to me, ever." This last was spoken in a whisper. "I also feel that 0125 will emerge in 2 - 3 days, I will call you as soon as possible."

"Thank you Shelby, for putting up with me all this time and all of my ... problems." Derrick told her, a faraway look in his eyes.

"For you Derrick always and they weren't really any trouble," Shelby replied with almost the same look in her eyes.