I was standing there trying to decide what to do. I had taken all the weapons to the ship.
"You've returned awfully soon," I heard Rommie say. "Is anything the matter?"
I held out all three of the weapons. "Yeah, you might say that. These cannot be here; the technology alone could throw this world into chaos. Never mind that they are also not in phase with this reality or universe."
Rommie only looked at me as I started to pace the deck for a few moments. "Logically, the only thing I can suggest, is that you return all to their rightful owner."
I turned to stare at Rommie, "just how in the hell am I expected to do that? Not only do I not know how they got here if I brought them, I also, have no idea how I can go to their realities."
Rommie was silent again for a few minutes, then made a throat clearing sound. I turned to look at her. " I think I have a possible answer. After analyzing all data up to this moment, it is obvious that you can do almost what you want to with a thought."
I could only stare at her as I tried to take in just what she had said. "I'm not so sure Rommie, I mean I tried not too long ago."
"Captain Thomas, everything indicates that you can do this. Readings also indicate that the more you use them, the stronger they get," Rommie said.
I thought about it, it sounded like something I had read in a story somewhere. I had used the thought shift as I was starting to call it what? Twice, three many four times? So, it had gained a little strength.
"Ok, not sure I can do this," I said as I thought of the ship high in orbit. I was shocked when a mere two seconds later we were high above the earth.
"Well," Rommie said with a smile. "That was sure a time saver."
I stared at Rommie incredulously, "here I thought that you weren't a smart ass."
Again, Rommie smiled, "I was always told while they were programming me that I had unique, memory algorithms. Many said that I almost had synapses."
"You mean more like a human brain or... whatever the ones that created you were," I said.
"Well," she started "they were humanoid not too dissimilar than you. Though many things within were different."
"Yeah, so not really human, I can also assume that Dylon wasn't human either?" I asked.
"Actually, his physiology was very much like yours," Rommie said.
I started to shake my head; I forgot that unlike most A.I.s Rommie had an infuriating personality at times. I stopped a moment, just where in the hell had that thought come from?
Searching through my memories I tried to think of something that might help. "Tell me Rommie, what is your primary function?"
Rommie's eyes blinked a few times as if he were human and trying to pick her words, interesting. "I am the main operator of this small ship. I was created to aid you in all your missions that you have."
I narrowed my eyes at her with this answer, "uh huh, answer the question, what is your primary function?"
"Sir?" She said, "I am not..."
"Can it Rommie, answer the question what is your primary function!' I almost shouted.
I expected a reaction though not the one I got, Rommie lowered her head, and I could swear that her lip trembled. "Sir, I am to aid you in anything you need. I was created for you and you only. I am highly advanced beyond the Rommie that you remember." Her she stepped toward me, then her image solidified! She continued toward me, kissed me, the faded to a holo-gram again.
For A moment I could only stare at her, touching my lips my eyes went wide. "Ok, I never remember you being able to do that."
Rommie bowed her head, "as I said I am far more advanced beyond the Rommie you remember."
I was still a little shocked, as I started to go through everything that had happened up to this point. "So, you have no idea just who created you?"
Rommie's head slowly raised as she looked at me with a curious look. "Sir? You don't know?"
"Rommie, do I look like I freakin know?" I almost shouted, regretting it a moment later.
I watched as Rommie shrank back, trying to make herself as small as possible. Damn I thought, I also don't remember her being this sensitive. Great now I was feeling like a first-class heel.
I took a deep breath as I looked at Rommie, "I'm sorry Rommie, I am more frustrated than I have ever been in my life. Can you do a scan of me," I said as I moved to an input panel. I then started to enter data though it was in simple language, "use these parameters."
I swear Rommie let out a breath of relief as she assimilated what I was typing. "I will as soon as you are finished. Ah! I see I will have to manipulate a few scanners so that I can accomplish this," Rommie then vanished.
I started to input data faster then stopped as I realized that in was going a hell of a lot faster than I had ever done. I shrugged as I thought a moment then started back up.
Behind the wall of instruments in front of me, there was a surge of power, then I heard machinery working back there. As soon as I finished, there was a pause of the machinery, then another minute it worked again.
A few moments after they stopped Rommie reappeared. "I believe that we are ready," Rommie said with a smile.
I nodded as a small scanner came out of the wall passing down me, up me, down then up again. "With the parameters you have provided, it appears that ninety eight percent of the adjustments are finished. The last two show no sign of movement or improvement. I am sorry, the chemical that you outlined I do not have three components to finish."
"So, I take it without these three, it would prove to be fatal to me. The problem is without it, I am afraid that I might revert back to what I was," I told Rommie.
"I cannot allow that to happen, if you revert, it will mean to end of me. I do not wish to return to being nothing," A saddened Rommie said.
"So, I just have to figure out where the three components are, then get there," I said.
I walked to the table I had put the three, I did a double take noticing that now? There were five weapons instead of three. Three different types of Phasers, a Guass gun from Hunt's universe and a Liberty Hammer from Reynolds reality.
I shook my head the whole damn universe seemed to be against me. I reached to touch the Liberty Hammer, which looked much like an earth pistol. I should have known that something odd was going to happen. Did I listen? Hell no!
The instant I touched it I felt a slight shock run through me. Then I was opening my eyes as I was on the deck against the bulkhead.
"Captain Thomas are you alright?" I heard Rommie ask.
"Not sure what the hell happened?" I asked shaking my head to clear it.
"When you touched the weapon from Captain Reynolds reality, you were blown across the room. Some type of portal opened, drawing us in. That was a minute ago," Rommie told me.
I tried stand up immediately, bad mistake, I immediately went back down to the deck, not gently. A few moments later I saw that we were starting to slow down, then we shot out of the corridor or tunnel or whatever we were in.
This time I got to my feet slowly, "where are we? I asked as I looked at the readings, might as well be another language I thought then it suddenly made sense. "Is this right?"
"Yes sir, we appear to be out past Pluto," Rommie said then several alarms started to go off. "Sir, I am detecting several heavily armed ships approaching at a slow speed."
I was about to say something, when an authoritative voice came on the radio. "This is the Alliance ship Hammer, come to prepare to be boarded. If we find no counter band, you will be allowed to continue on."
I growled I remember this from the series, they wouldn't find anything though they'd take the ship. A moment later an explosion near our ship pissed me off.
I was really pissed, then remembered, I had stealth, plus I could destroy all of them in a few minutes. A huge smile slowly spread across my face.
"Target the largest ship, full power energy weapons," I told Rommie. "Open a channel, I do not recognize your Alliance. Therefore, I do not recognize your authority to stop nor board my ship. Any attempt to do so will be met with deadly, powerful force. Your toys that you call ships, are no match for me."
The same voice came back on, "I am now authorized to seize you ship, placing you under arrest."
"As soon as the lead ship is destroyed, go to stealth, move us behind them," I told Rommie.
"Understood," Rommie answered.
"This is your last chance, come to," The voice stated.
"Fine, this is my answer, fire!" I said.
I watched with a smile of satisfaction as one moment the ship was there, mine fired, then there was a huge explosion. I felt Rommie moving the ship as there was chaos behind me. Damn I thought, did they even have shields?
It was then that I noticed that more ships were moving out a little faster to where the other ten were. Less than a minute later at least forty ships fired upon where we had been.
Ok this was more than a little over kill. "I want you to target their three largest ships, no make it four, I am tired of messing with them. Also, did you find out if that ass that was demanding we surrender was on the first ship?"
"Sir, he is on the very last ship, it appears that he hasn't any confidence in his fleet," Rommie advised me.
"Open another channel, Alliance ships, unless you want to lose more ships you should break off," I told them.
"We are the mighty Alliance fleet we..." The voice was saying.
"Just shut him up," I told Rommie.
There was a brief energy weapon flash, then the very last ship vanished. "Should I take then other four?" Rommie asked. I only nodded then there were four less ships out there.
"Now, do I have to destroy more or are you going to go?" I asked what was left of the fleet.
A few moments later the fleet started to leave though one small ship stayed. "Sir?" Rommie said a minute later. "We have a signal from a ship that is calling it's self the Serenity."
I nodded I didn't think we'd find Reynolds that fast, shit why did this feel like a really bad omen?
"Serenity, this is Rom 1, how can I help you?" I asked.
"I remember the voice, is this Captain John Thomas?" The voice asked.
"Hello Captain Reynolds, I thought I was gonna have a harder time finding you," I told him.
"Not to sound ungrateful, what the hell are you doing here," Reynolds asked.
"Ah that," I said. "It appears that as soon as you left, I found a weapon from all five of you. I have what appears to be an almost new Liberty Hammer. Can't have the technology in my reality, so I brought it back."
"Uh huh, that's all, why don't I believe that? True you have done us more than a service getting rid of the commanding Alliance officer. What, you want to take over? Be another tyrant? Not going to happen, not while we are alive."
I sighed, this was supposed to be easy, not hard dealing with an ass at almost every turn. "You obviously didn't see how easy I destroyed all those ships, or how easy I could you. Rommie shut them down."
I watched as the Serenity went dark, moving along side of it. I docked, then opened the outer docking hatch.
"Neutralize all weapons, then open their hatch," I told Rommie.
"All weapons neutralized, I am afraid that there are four beings waiting inside the hatch," Remmie said.
"Can you stun them as soon as the hatch is open?" I asked Rommie.
"I am prepared," Rommie answered.
I stood back as she opened the hatch, I nodded as a holo-gram of myself walked through the hatch. There was a lot of grunting as the four jump out to attack me then hit the floor, passing through the image.
A second later they all yelled as Rommie shocked the hell out of them. I looked into the dark ship a moment, then Reyolds appeared in front of me.
"You know, for one that is hiding trying to not draw attention, you sure have a funny way of showing it," I told him as he stared at me with a shocked look on his face.
"I told you I trust no one, especially when they attack and easily destroy four, fast attack, heavy destroyers," Reynolds told me.
"You really think, that if I have the power to destroy what I did that, I couldn't see your ship? Hiding amongst the rest of them? Please give me a break, like I said I am only here to return this." With that I drew the weapon in question out from behind me.
Reynolds was smirking 'til I pulled the weapon out. The minute it appeared; his mouth was hanging open. "Where the hell did you get that? He said reaching for it.
"Like I said, I found it not long after you left. Why? Something special about it?" I asked.
"Yeah, "Reynolds said. "This appears to be either an exact copy or it really is his."
"Ok, I'll bite whose?" I asked him.
He turned to look at me still with a look of shock on his face. "It belonged to my father, before he disappeared. I haven't had a single thing of his 'til now." He then shook my hand. "Thank you, now I have something of him."
"No problem, I need to go I have four more to deliver. As you might remember they are in different realities or universes, not sure which. Sorry I can't stay, possibly help more, though the five biggest gone, might give them pause."
Reynolds smiled large, "not sure but at least now they know they aren't the best out there. Uh, you aren't gonna turn us back on, aren't you?"
"Yeah, later," I said as their hatch closed, then I moved back as ours closed. "Alright, as soon as we are a great distance away release them Rommie."
"Away now Sir, now at ten thousand, I have released the damping field on them," Rommie said.
In the distance I saw that the Serenity was coming alive, a moment later they turned they flashed out.
In was about to reach for another weapon, when there was an explosion not far from the ship.
"Have they had a damn lock on us?" I asked Rommie.
"No sir, though we have a problem, we are very slowly venting atmosphere. I have most of it sealed, though we are still slowing losing atmosphere," A worried Rommie told me.
"How many are we looking at?" I asked.
"Analyzing, all thirty-five from before, plus it appears another fifteen. I am also detecting another twenty in hyperspace," Rommie advised me.
"Open a channel, I don't want to completely destroy this fleet, but I will if you force me. I do not recognize your authority, your Alliance, nor will I surrender to a weaker force," I told them.
"Unidentified craft, you are ordered to surrender, for the wanton destruction of Alliance ships and personnel," A new authoritative voice said.
"I repeat, I do not wish to destroy all of the ships, though I will, to defend myself. You have fired on my ship twice without provocation, by all rights I can destroy you with a clear conscious," I said.
A large loud amount of laughter came from the com., Between clenched teeth I said, "the first ten energy and missiles."
Yeah, they were laughing, 'til the first ten hips vanished within twenty seconds. Suddenly I had become a threat as the rest of the ships opened fire where we had been. "Next fifteen Rommie." I said.
Within a minute another fifteen ships were nothing but floating debris. The last twenty-five ships were now no longer firing, several had moved back.
I shook my head, this was more distasteful than most anything I had done in my life. Thiry-one ships, countless Lifes, was really leaving a real bad taste in my mouth.
I was about to reach for one of the weapons when I felt Rommie move the ship further away. I was afraid that the others would show up before we left.
I looked at the twenty new arrivals. These were by far the heaviest armed and armored. I shook my head really? The new ships were indeed heavier though that was it. From the readings we were getting that was all that they had. The armor was a lot better though, the power? Wasn't really much more at all.
At least they weren't firing anymore. I was keeping an eye on the air gage didn't want to lose it all before I got home.
I knew that we were playing a waiting game, though really what were they waiting for? They had lost twenty-six ships, twenty-five in less than two minutes.
"I am receiving a signal from the lead ship of those that just arrived. I am also reading that they are trying to track the signal, they won't succeed," Rommie informed me.
"Good, open a channel, keep a lock on those that just arrived. They obviously think that these heavier ships give them an advantage. I think that they are going to be sorely disappointed, don't you?" I asked Rommie.
"Yes sir, I do believe that their power isn't even half ours," Rommie said.
So, I waited while all the ships had an obvious meeting. I wasn't sure if they were trying to figure out if I was still here or not. Then if I was just what in the hell they were going to do.
A little less than an hour later I got my answer. They had tried to contact me though I had refused to answer. I was still watching the air situation, not that worried at the moment.
As I said less than an hour later, a different signal came from the lead ship. "To the ship that has destroyed many of the Alliance ships, we wish to parley. To come to terms for you destroying..."
Somewhat pissed for them only wasting time, but their obvious arrogance. "I warned all of them, they thought they were superior, they weren't. They fired upon me thinking I was an easy target, I am not. I will not hesitate to destroy your little war toys. you've lost twenty-six, I have no problem with the last forty-five.
"There is no need for," the voice started then the several of the ships fired next to where we were.
Over the open radio I said, "target all the twenty lead ships, full power full complement."
"Wait! There's no need for," the voice started.
"Too bad you signed your own death, fire," I told Rommie.
This time the front twenty ships actually tried to raise shields, nothing really. Within three minutes there were twenty more areas of debris.
"I think it's time we went home," I told Rommie as I thought of home and the earth.
out of nowhere a huge swirling portal opened in front of the ship, rapidly drawing us into it.
I looked at the air gauge as we started back to our reality, what in the hell? Why the hell weas the air starting to decline so fast?
"Sir, I suggest you climb into the chamber; we are losing atmosphere at a rapid rate." Rommie said.
"You know I can't, if I am not awake before we get there, I am afraid that we will drop out of the stream. No, I have to be here if we are to even have a chance to make it," I told Rommie.
"Sir, John, I cannot lose you, the loss of you will result in my own end. I will do all I can to keep you alive," Rommie said.
I nodded as I felt the air start to grow awful damn thin. Damn, we had only been in the stream for a minute, we needed at least another minute. The thing is could we do it?
A minute later I was almost gasping for breath, Rommie was pumping air in as fast as possible though the hole in the hull was taking it almost as fast.
Finally, we broke through in orbit, Rommie got us down as fast as possible, though I damn near got roasted. Then the oddest thing, I was on the ship, then in was suddenly in my bedroom.
I could feel consciousness starting to fail me as I increased the shield around the house. That was the last thing I remember as I slipped into the darkness thanking God for Rommie.