CHAPTER 94

Derrick looked around the room at each and every hologram as each promised that Lucy would never be an outcast again. Each said that they were proud and would let her know just how proud. Derrick nodded at each of them as they made their pledge. Pride was starting to swell up in his chest, he had been so proud of Lucy, it had almost killed him when she didn't make it.

Derrick decided right there and then that he had to make sure that this didn't happen again. Already ideas were starting to push their way to the front of his thoughts. Bending over a computer notepad Derrick started to outline several ideas that were taking hold in his mind. Hmmm Derrick thought it might be a good idea to give these to Kimison and Rayburn, as it appeared he was going to be busy for a while.

Derrick finally dismissed all of the ships watching as each of them left. All of them except for Tara. "Yes Tara, was there something else?" Derrick asked.

"Yes Sire, I know that you are extremely busy. I have a favour to ask Sire." Tara asked hesitantly.

"I always have time for my EIG ship Tara." Derrick answered.

"It is just that, uh..." Tara started.

Shelby nudged her daughter and whispered, "Ask him he won't yell or bite!" Shelby said as she started to giggle then Tara did also.

Taking a deep breath Tara said, "Sire I feel so alone I would love to have a prime. That is if you have time Sire."

Derrick smiled, then thought for a moment. Hmmm he had someone in mind if they took it. Yes! They should do very well indeed! "Of course Tara I have just the individual in mind though you will have to finish growing before I can have them brought here to you ok?"

Tara's face lit up and a huge smile spread across her face. "Yes Sir! Thank you so much sir! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

Derrick smiled widely also this was the type of praise he liked not the bowing and scraping others did!

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Three days later

1st specialist Ensign Callie was bored out of her mind. She didn't want anyone to take her wrong, she loved her work as a tech specialist. Since the incident with the other personality being placed in her, they had stuck her at central. Basically all she did now was process reports, she was a tech specialist for god's sake not a desk jockey! Even though she hadn't said anything she had felt that the emperor and Rear Admiral Hartwell had been happy with her brain results.

Sighing again or at least she thought she had, she looked around the corner. In another cubicle sat a young science officer with the markings of the Ranger ship Plymouth on his shirt. Then she thought she heard another sigh next to her on the other side. Looking over she saw an old friend of hers, the old science officer of the rear Admiral's old flag ship the Comrade.

"Mack?" Callie stated, "They stuck you here too? My god man, what did you do?"

Ensign Mack Brown was startled by the voice from the past, "Mara?" Mack asked, looking around for the source of the voice. Shaking his head he went back to the scientific analysis of several anomalies. Sighing he thought yeah an exercise in boredom.

Suddenly there was a body standing next to him, a very hard but sweet smelling body. "Mack Brown you avoid me again like that and I'll knock your ass all over this centre!"

Looking up, Mack's eyes went wide, "Mara?" He asked. "MARA!" He shouted jumping up and picking her up, twirling her around.

"Hey! Put me down! You want us both to be court-martialed?" Mara said with a stern look on her face. "Again, what did you do to get stuck here?"

"I don't really know, I noticed something that no one else did, a month later I was here. It feels a lot like school but a thousand more times boring. Same thing happened to Zimmel a month after that." Mack replied with a grimace and then a smirk.

From the other side of her cubicle they heard, "What!?"

"You mean to tell me that Randall is here too?" Mara said with a look of shock on her features.

"Oh yeah," came a voice from behind them. "Actually made it to Lieutenant Junior Grade." Randall shook Mara's hand. "I got busted for not giving up when I noticed the same thing that Mack did. Though I am sure Mack is as curious as I am as to why you are here."

Mara sighed, "I was used as a pawn by one of the sect's to try and assassinate the emperor. I actually met the man afterward, I thought I was about to be executed like that slimeball leader of the Republic. The emperor and the Rear Admiral were both there, they asked me to help which I did. Then a month later I was transferred here. I thought I was clearly safe, but here I am. I really miss being out there."

Mack and Randall both nodded. They'd rather be executed than to be subjected to anymore of this tripe! Mack did a double take, looking behind Mara and Randall and motioned for them to get back to work. They both looked and saw the High Commander of the Rangers was heading their way after an attendant pointed them out to him.

A moment later the High Commander stopped about 20 feet from their cubicles. "1st specialist Ensign Mara Callie! Science Officer Ensign Mack Brown! Lieutenant JG Randall Zimmel! Front and centre NOW!" Came the commanding voice of the older man.

"SIR" All three said as they stood at attention in front of the man.

"As of today I am proud to announce that all three of you are being reassigned! I was... well let me let HIM

explain to you, I have them here sir." The High Commander said as he pulled an odd looking device from his side belt.

"Hello officers. I apologise for taking as long as I did to come for you. All three of you were singled out for your attention to detail and your mind strength. Yes Ensign Callie, I am including you in that category." The voice that only Callie recognized said.

"I'm sorry for sounding misinformed sir," Mack Brown started. "I am afraid that I don't know your voice. You are obviously a man of high rank if the High Commander calls you sir. I am afraid as I said, though I mean no disrespect, I do not know you sir."

"Ah! I apologise again then. I am your emperor Derrick O'toma. I am here to enlist you in further service to the empire. A service I think, that all three of you would find a hell of a lot more satisfying than sitting at those desks!" Derrick said with a smile crossing his lips. "I do not require you to do this. I only expect loyalty, nothing else. I am rebuilding the empire and I need strong people like you, yes Ensign Callie I mean you!"

"Emperor! After what happened last time, I thought I would never be allowed to serve again!." Mara said with a sad look on her face.

"My dear I don't know why you would think that! You were cleared and strengthened. Ok, now here's the deal. Your ride will be there in an hour, though I could send them now. You have that long to say your goodbyes to family, get what you want then be back here. I suggest you hurry cause I will pick each of you up no matter where you are so be ready ok?" Derrick advised all of them.

"Yes Sire!" All three of them replied as they all went running.

"What do you think, High Commander? You think they are ready?" Derrick asked as soon as they were out of sight.

"I don't know Sire. They are of high calibre, they all possess high intelligence. If it were for me, I'd say hell yeah but you Sire demand more a lot more than I do." The High Commander replied.

"The mere fact that you give them the praise you do is more than enough for me. You are definitely one to go to if I need advice, High Commander!" Derrick told the older man.

"Sire you do an old man good with your praise though, I know that you possess far more knowledge than I!" The High Commander stated.

"Oh so you have heard of that huh? Ah yes I remember you were a master of information gathering! All I can say sir is that, I may have the knowledge but you have far more experience than I can use that knowledge!" Derrick said as he smiled.

"Touché Sire! Alright sir, I will remember and always be open and ready if you need me!" The High Commander said then Derrick clicked off.