In out last episode, Captain Jake Evans of the marooned GSF Destroyer, Pickett, along with Dr. Clint Norwood and Lieutenant Decker found a mysterious elevator. The elevator took them twenty kilometers beneath the surface. After exiting the elevator, Lieutenant Decker disappeared. Meanwhile, more Corpellian ships were headed to attack the downed vessel.
Captain Jake Evans searched for Lieutenant Decker with help from Dr. Clint Norwood.
“It’s no use, Jake. She is gone. Almost like she was never was here,” he said.
“Do you have any idea, Doc, of what her first name was?” Evans asked.
Norwood thought about it and shook his head.
“Yeah, me neither. I know the crew rolls like the back of my hand. When Arnie told me about Decker, I just scratched my head. I first thought this whole crash thing was messing with my mind.”
“Jake, we are here now. Let’s just walk down this path and see if we find answers at the end.”
Evans nodded. They began to walk.
The path seemed firm and made of solid stone. There was muted lighting everywhere, yet there did not seem to be any source. The openings for the pathway through the rock seemed to be opened and not drilled.
The path snaked around and led to a stairway. Unlike the one on the planet’s surface, this one was well lit.
The stairway led to a large opening. The men could see figures moving in the distance. Glowing lights, similar to computer screens, could be seen floating around each of the figures.
The men stopped when they detected a movement near them.
A tall, humanoid-like being floated towards them. Its face was calm, as if waiting for the humans to arrive. The mysterious being stopped.
“Captain Jake Evans and Doctor Clint Norwood, we are honored that you are here. Please if you could follow me.”
“Who are you?” Evans asked.
“I am Mol, Chief of the Guardians for this sector. Long have we waited the meet the people that originated from Earth, although we hoped it wouldn’t be under circumstances such as these,” the being said.
“Where are we?” Evans asked.
“Ah,” Mol answered, “you will have all your answers in the meeting chamber. We are going there now.”
“What about my people, Mol? They are on the surface. We saw several Corpellian ships ready to attack. Is there some way to save them?”
“Patience, Captain,” the being said without any sign of irritation. “Your people are safe. Indeed, since you arrived you have been under our protection.”
“That didn’t help Mitchell and Deavers much,” Evans muttered.
“We are almost there,” Mol said.
The trio walked down another stairway. This one opened into a huge bowl shaped room. The walls were lined with spectators of different races and shapes. Mol walked in the middle of the floor with Evans and Norwood.
Three beings waited for them. Mol nodded. “I believe you two know D’Qur.”
Norwood whispered under his breath, “Decker?”
A female version of Mol stepped forward. “Pardon the deception, Captain. We wanted to know what type of beings we were dealing with.”
“What is going on?” Evans demanded.
“Patience, Captain,” D’Qur said. “We will begin with the explanations.
“Your civilization was first brought to our attention some ten thousand of your Earth years ago. Since that time we have frequently visited you to check on your progress and even help guide your people on some of their more advanced findings.”
“We could not help but like your people,” Mol interjected.
“Who are you all?” Evans asked.
“As I said we are the guardians,” Mol said. “We are charged with keeping peace and order within this galaxy.”
“Such a fine job you are all doing!” Evans snarked.
D’Qur held up her arms. “As I was saying, your people seemed pleasant and eager to learn. We were optimistic, except that you have this penchant for destroying each other. Our council was divided on admitting your people to our group. We decided to wait and see how you developed.”
“That was before the Corpellians attacked,” Mol interjected. “It was clear at this point we needed to intervene.”
“Agent D’Qur was assigned to your craft,” Mol took up the story. “She made sure you came here and observed your people in times of war and hardship.”
“So, did Decker kill my crew members?” Evans asked getting more belligerent.
Mol stopped talking and something that appeared close to a smile. He stepped back and allowed Evans and Norwood to see the rest of the floor. Walking towards them was Claire Deavers and Alfred Mitchell.
Norwood turned white, “But… How? I saw them dead!”
“The appearance of death, Dr. Norwood, is not necessarily death. D’Qur caused your mind to believe they were dead, just as your navigator’s mind believed you were heading to safety.”
Evans walked to his crew and shook their hands, more to make sure they were warm than anything else.
“What do you want from us?” Evans finally asked.
“We want what you want, Captain,” D’Qur answered. “We want peace.”
“What gives you the right to interfere in our affairs?”
The whole room erupted in laughter.
“Captain, pardon our exuberance, but had we not interfered in your development, you would have just figured out how to light a fire,” Mol answered.
The humans grew silent.
Mol held out his hand. “It is time, Captain. Come, and let us meet the Corpellians.”
