Last Stand Read online

  “I feel the same way about Earth,” Jarrod replied. “I was born there but only spent short periods of time on my homeworld. But no matter where in the galaxy my father’s obsession took us, I loved seeing Earth as we came home.” Jarrod’s eyes took on a saddened appearance as he thought of his father. And, of course, Earth was now under Azairi control.

  Harlu Az turned to face his young friend. “Jarrod, I am truly sorry that I did not recognize your father’s interest in the Z’Laan for what it was. My brief interactions with him and the communications I intercepted between him and his crew led me to believe they were yet another bunch of treasure seekers planning to plunder Z’Laan worlds for their own profit and power. I was not convinced of Humankind’s readiness to receive our gifts. My time with you and your crew mates, the access to your databases that you willing offered to me, have proven to me you need to go to Z’La and take possession of what we have stored there for our children’s use.”

  “It’s alright, Harlu Az. My father could be obsessive when it came to his quest for Z’La. And, sadly, he was not always the best judge of the character of others,” said Jarrod. “On more than one occasion he hired some…shall we say…less than reputable people to transport him from place to place. As much as I think of you as a living being, I must remind myself that you are a cybernetic avatar of an alien being. You operated within the parameters of your programming.”

  Harlu Az looked askance at Jarrod, “Well, most certainly we are alien to one another. As much as I acknowledge my status as an avatar, my programming does contain the memory engrams of the original Harlu Az. I have his memories, his feelings, and the Z’Laan did have feelings, very much like our human children possess. As such, I regret not giving your father the assistance he required.”

  Jarrod and Harlu Az’s conversation was interrupted by the voice of Lieutenant Commander Maria Yolanda Esteban-Smith. “Approaching Z’La, Captain!”

  Bradley leaned forward in his chair and looked at the planet looming larger and larger in the forward screen. Harlu Az turned back to the screen and Jarrod thought he heard the faintest of gasps from his Z’Laan friend. Harlu Az stepped across the bridge to stand before the screen. He reached out with his left hand and seemed to caress the image of the beautiful blue and green world.

  Harlu Az turned to face the bridge crew and said softly, “My children, welcome to Z’La.”

  Everyone’s eyes were glued to the beautiful world on the primary monitor. It looked young and pristine. It was difficult to believe that it was an ancient world that once supported a highly advanced civilization.

  The Bennu slid into a low orbit and the Terrans continued to watch Z’la as it revolved slowly beneath the ship. A massive continent in the world’s northern hemisphere came into view. A vast city spread out from the center of the continent. Harlu Az pointed to a portion of the city and said, “The spaceport is located here. When you are ready to land, I will transmit the landing codes I possess to the planetary system.”

  “Recommendations, people?” asked Bradley of his senior personnel.

  “Let’s land, captain,” answered Jarrod without hesitation.

  Maria Esteban-Smith nodded and responded, “Ready to land, sir!”

  “I recommend landing, sir,” said Ian Huntington-Smythe. And so it went around the bridge. All were in favor of landing the Bennu upon Z’La and moving their mission forward.

  “Very well then,” Bradley began, “Pilot, prepare the Bennu for planetary landing. Harlu Az, please transmit the necessary codes.” The Z’Laan avatar reached forward with his right hand and placed it on the console before him. A low hum could be heard briefly on the bridge and then Harlu Az turned to Bradley.

  “The codes have been sent and acknowledged, Captain Bradley. We have been cleared to land upon Z’La. Landing coordinates have been transmitted to the helm,” Harlu Az reported.

  Bradley pressed the ship-wide intercom button on his chair and a hailing whistle sounded throughout the Bennu. “Attention all personnel…prepare for landing. I repeat…prepare for landing.” He turned off the ship’s intercom and nodded to Esteban-Smith. “Take us in, Maria!”

  “Aye sir!” the pilot responded. Her fingers played across her console and the Bennu began to descend from orbit. Seconds later, she was in Z’La’s upper atmosphere. Unlike Terran vessels, the Z’Laan scout vessel plied its way through the air smoothly. Just minutes after leaving orbit, the Bennu slowed to a hover above the spaceport Harlu Az had pointed out then set down gently.

  “Captain, the Bennu has landed!” Esteban-Smith reported.

  “Copy that, Maria! All stations report vessel status,” ordered Bradley over the ship-wide intercom. The reports came back quickly. The Bennu was in the green, safe, and secure. Bradley acknowledged the reports then added, “Vessel security remain on alert. Senior officers to the briefing room in 10 minutes.”

  Ten minutes later, Bradley, his senior officers, and Harlu Az were seated around the briefing room table. “Well, we’re here!” said Bradley. “Now what? Harlu Az?”

  The Z’Laan avatar activated a large monitor on one wall of the room. It displayed an aerial view of the Z’Laan city. “We must go to Z’La’s Central Core located here,” he said pointing to location within the massive structure at the center of the city. “I must upload my data to the Central Core and receive updates in return. It has been thousands upon thousands of your years since I was last in contact with the Central Core.”

  “And then?” asked Jarrod.

  “My reports on your race, your history, and your current situation will be processed and evaluated. Then I shall be given further instructions on how to assist you,” answered Harlu Az. Bradley looked at Jarrod as if to ask, Can we trust him? Jarrod nodded. They needed whatever technologies they could glean from the Z’Laan. The fate of Humankind was in their hands at the moment.

  A doorway opened on a large structure off the Bennu’s port side and a small vehicle appeared, leaving the structure and gliding towards the Bennu. “Our transport to the Central Core,” said Harlu Az. “Shall we, Captain? Jarrod?”

  Bradley looked to Jarrod once again. Jarrod nodded. Captain Bradley waved to Harlu Az and Jarrod, “Let’s go! The rest of you, stand by your stations. We’ll stay in communications with you.” Everyone rose and left the briefing room. At a cross hallway, Bradley, Jarrod, and Harlu Az left the group and headed towards one of the Bennu’s landing gear access bays. Each landing gear was equipped with a stairway to the ground. The trio stopped at the Armory just long enough for Bradley and Jarrod to gather equipment harnesses, comm-units, and weapons. Harlu Az tried to convince them that the weapons were unnecessary but finally concluded he could not sway them.

  The Z’Laan hover vehicle was waiting for them at the port forward landing gear when they reached ground level. They boarded the vehicle and it rose gently into the air and began to fly away from the Bennu. As it flew towards the center of the great city, Harlu Az spoke with his friends.

  “This is the Z’Laan capitol city of Z’nea. From here, our administrators governed thousands of worlds. Some of our great authors, painters, musicians, and scientists lived here, disseminating their works throughout our federation. I was born on the far side of Z’nea from our current position. I was educated at one of our finest universities…just over there near that wide park area. My home was located near those hills to our right, where I lived with my spouse and children…so long ago,” a note of sadness entered Harlu Az’s voice as he said the last.

  “You know, Harlu Az, you’re kinda emotional for an avatar,” said Captain Bradley gently. “I think there’s more than just memory engrams of the original Harlu Az in you.”

  The alien doppleganger tilted his head to one side as he gazed at Bradley. He paused for a moment then answered, “Perhaps so, captain. You have treated me, not as merely an avatar or recording of Harlu Az, but as Harlu Az himself. You have seen more in me than what I believed was there. Perhaps, more of the original Harlu
Az was copied, stored, and replicated than the Z’Laan realized.”

  Jarrod reached over and patted Harlu Az’s shoulder. “I think you’re both right. And, we are proud to have gotten to know more about your people through you, Harlu!”

  Moments later, the small transport vessel slowed then descended into the open atrium of a giant flat-topped, four-sided pyramid. The transport continued its descent through the open center of the pyramid for several hundred feet until it slowed to a halt, then hovered horizontally toward an opening that appeared in one wall. The transport passed through the opening into what appeared to be parking area for similar transports. The vehicle came to a halt and the trio disembarked.

  Before Jarrod or Bradley could ask Harlu Az what they were to do next, another smaller vehicle hovered up to them. Harlu Az signaled to his friends to board the vehicle then climbed aboard himself.

  The smaller transport, obviously designed to operate within the smaller confines of the pyramid, whisked them from the parking area into a broad corridor and accelerated. Doors, archways, and cross corridors flashed by. Finally, the hover transport began to slow down. A door opened ahead and the vehicle carried the trio into what Harlu Az said was part of Z’La’s Central Core.

  Jarrod, Bradley, and Harlu Az stepped from their transport and the alien led the Terrans toward one wall of the room. Harlu Az stepped up to a console along the wall and pressed a number of controls. Two narrow cylindrical columns began to rise from the floor near his human friends. The columns stopped at an appropriate level for the two humans to sit upon, which Harlu Az then indicated they should do. A panel opened in the floor to the right of the console and a glass-like cylinder began to rise from the opening. When the cylinder reached a height of 10 feet, it stopped. Jarrod and Mac could see an opening in the cylinder large enough for a human, or a Z’Laan, to step through.

  Harlu Az stepped over to the cylinder and entered the cylinder. Once inside, the avatar turned to face his friends then became very still. A bright light filled the cylinder and Harlu Az seemed to glow within that light. A series of high-pitched sounds began to fill the room.

  “Do not worry, my friends,” the voice of Harlu Az said coming from speakers hidden around the room. “I am unharmed. The Central Core is communicating with me via the light you see and the sounds you hear. I will attempt to describe to you what is transpiring. I have identified myself and have begun a data transfer to the Central Core of my experiences since I was created and sent to my post on Kulera. I am explaining to the Central Core that you are from one of our descendant races and that I have examined your records and willingly vouch for you. I have described the Azairi attacks upon your worlds and your need for our assistance.”

  The light within the cylinder started to pulsate and the sounds changed pitch. “My data transfer is complete and I am receiving updates while the Central Core is evaluating my report and request.” Then the light ceased pulsing and the sounds suddenly stopped.

  “The Central Core wishes to speak with you. Through my data, it knows who you are, the worlds you represent, and your need for assistance. Just be truthful, my sons,” Harlu Az said.

  “Alpha Harlu Az speaks the truth,” said a Z’Laan voice through the hidden speakers. “Captain McLelland Bradley…Command Jarrod Caulder…welcome to Z’La.”

  “Thank you!” said Bradley speaking for himself and Jarrod. “We are glad to be here with you.”

  “You have been brought to Z’La by Alpha Harlu Az because you seek our knowledge and our technology to fight the Azairi?” the Central Core asked.

  “Yes!” answered Bradley. “The Azairi have spread into the Terran Federation’s sphere of influence, attacking and occupying our colonies. Earth, our homeworld, has been occupied. Commander Caulder and I are from the Terran Defense Fleet, which has sworn to protect our worlds. One of our colonies, the planet we call Camadin, has become our last stand against the Azairi. Those people the Azairi do not kill outright are used as slave labor to take our resources to power the Azairi war machine, their expansion across this arm of the galaxy.”

  “We are aware of the Azairi and their warlike nature. Alpha Harlu Az’s review of your records from your Terran vessel has been extensive but how are we to know that they are accurate?”

  Bradley turned and looked to Jarrod who shrugged. Jarrod knew they were telling the truth. Bradley turned back to face the console he thought of as the Central Core and said, “I don’t know what more we can offer except our word of honor.”

  “There is another way,” responded the Central Core. “With your permission, I could use the same technology that copied the memories of the original Harlu Az to scan your minds. You would not be able to deceive me or hide any duplicity. But I cannot proceed without your informed consent.”

  Bradley and Jarrod nodded to one another then stepped closer to the console. Again, Bradley spoke for both of them. “We consent to your mind scan.”

  “Very well,” responded the Central Core. Part of the floor near Bradley and Caulder’s feet began to swarm with nanites. Very quickly, the nanites began constructing two recliner-like chairs. As the chairs were constructed, the cylinder surrounding Harlu Az receded into the floor.

  Harlu Az stepped over to his friends. “Please remove your weapons and equipment harnesses then sit down in these chairs. They will recline and the nanites will construct the linkages which will attached themselves to your temples. The Central Core will examine your thoughts. There should be no pain unless you resist or attempt to hide information from the scan.”

  Bradley and Caulder removed their harnesses then each sat down in a recliner. The chair backs tilted backwards while the footrests rose. The nanites then assembled antenna-like linkages that grew from each chair’s headrest and reached toward their temples. The linkages ended in circular pads about 2 inches across that rested against their temples.

  “Relax, my friends,” said Harlu Az softly. “There is nothing to fear. I trust you both implicitly and, once the scan is complete, so shall the Central Core.”

  Bradley and Caulder grunted their acknowledgments, neither wishing to move or disturb the linkages. They closed their eyes and took several calming breaths to reduce their stress levels.

  When they opened their eyes moments later, Harlu Az was extending a hand to each to assist them from the chairs. “It is done! You have answered the queries of the Central Core. Now, we must await its response.”

  “How long were we out?” asked Jarrod.

  “Less than five of your minutes,” responded Harlu Az. “Did you feel any discomfort?”

  “No,” answer Bradley truthfully. Jarrod simply shook his head.

  “Excellent!” said Harlu Az. “We did not believe you would be harmed. My memories from the original Harlu Az did not include any pain or discomfort from the procedure he underwent to have his memory engrams copied.”

  Harlu Az helped them to their feet then handed them their weapons and equipment harnesses. Bradley donned his harness while Jarrod simply hung his over his right shoulder.

  “Captain Bradley and Commander Caulder, I thank you for allowing me to scan your minds,” said the Central Core’s voice over the room’s speakers. “Your command implant devices were helpful in completing the scans in such a short time. Your minds corroborate your records and I can find no attempt at deception. Your peoples are indeed in danger from an ancient and aggressive species; one the Z’Laan once fought and thought imprisoned within their star system. An analysis of your DNA and the Z’Laan records find that you are indeed a descendant species of the long-range Z’Laan planetary seeding project. As such, you are welcomed to Z’La and are offered whatever assistance we may provide.”

  “Thank you!” said Bradley. “I apologize for our haste but as you know from your scan of our memories, our worlds…our people are in grave danger. As descendants of the Z’La, we formerly request whatever aid and assistance you can provide. We came here seeking anything that we can utilize to help our peo
ple; weapons and star vessels, if possible. With the aid of Harlu Az, we have begun training many of our personnel using the training pods on Kulera and aboard the few vessels that remained on that world.”

  “Your request is granted. Alpha Harlu Az, you will escort our children to our primary weapons depot where they shall have access to all that they seek. The Z’Laan predicted this day might come and prepared to aid our descendent races in their time of need. The Central Core stands by to assist you further should you ask.”

  Harlu Az lead Bradley and Caulder from the Central Core’s chamber. “That went exceedingly well! The Z’Laan placed many safeguards upon their worlds and their technologies to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. The Alphas, Z’Laan avatars such as myself, who were stationed upon outpost worlds serve as the first layer of protection against those who might misuse our technologies. It is our duty to study and analyze any who approach our worlds to determine if they are worthy to be brought before the Central Core. My time spent with you convinced me that you were prepared to come to Z’La and had sufficient need of Z’Laan assistance.”

  “Harlu Az,” Jarrod began, “how many other descendent races have approached you before us?”

  “Jarrod, in my many millennia upon my assigned world, your father and his crew mates were the first members of a descendent race to come before me,” Harlu Az answered. “I regret that I failed to correctly identify their intent.”

  “Just how many worlds did the Z’Laan seed with variations of their genetic materials?” Bradley asked. “How many other races are out there?”

  “At that time of my assignment, the Z’Laan had seeded over 300,000 planets with hominid life forms as well as a number of aquatic life form. Each world required the Z’Laan to make certain modifications to their base genetic materials to aid the new races in surviving on those worlds. The update I just received from the Central Core lists another 240,000 planets were seeded after I was transferred from Z’La to Kulera. The update identified 157,392 descendent races living upon those worlds as of 16,311 of your years ago, when the last update was made to the Central Core,” Harlu Az replied.