Lost Empire 3

Derrick had gone numb from all that he’d seen when he was formulating this plan; NOTHING could survive that plasma blast. A voice was talking to him but he was numb, couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, nothing. As Derrick continued to stare, he felt a chair behind him bump the back of his legs, he don’t know if he sat, or didn’t know if he fell or was pushed. Several hours later he opened my eyes, finding him sitting in front of a view screen, at first he thought he was on E but as the memories flooded back he sadly shook his head.

Derrick caught a movement out of the corner of his eye, shifting his glance the visage of 0999’s hologram came into view. “Ah Good, Primary! I thought that the loss of 0101, had caused a serious overload of your cerebral circuits.”

Derrick could only nod, still somewhat in shock he still wasn’t too sure what he felt.

Derrick could feel the chair moving but really didn’t care at the moment as it took him to nearby crew quarters. Laying in the bed Derrick went over and over the plan trying to figure out just what went wrong, so far he’d come up with nothing. It was possibly a day later when several alarms went off on board 0999, running out Derrick wasn’t sure what was going on.

“0999 report,” ordered Derrick.

“It appears that the thermic missiles took well over 60% of the fleet, they appeared to halt for 2 days but are on the move again.” 0999 replied.

“Status of 0098,” Derrick asked.

“All repairs are completed, all systems are ready, would you like to link, Prime Derrick?” 0098 asked.

Derrick thought about it, it had supplied a tactical advantage last time, and with 0098 it might even be more.

“Yes 0098, initiate cerebral link, we need to eliminate this threat before they reach this galaxy.” Derrick said. Donning the head gear he had a better heads up display with both ships enabling him to use both as one during the battle.

“Estimated time till they are past the point?” Derrick asked.

“I estimate it will be 22 hours ’til they breach the galaxy’s edge.” informed 0999.

“Alright move us into position, prepare all batteries, set shields to full, charge all weapons, I want everything on full standby.” Derrick ordered.

“Yes Prime Derrick,” both ships answered at once.

Derrick wasn’t really feeling up for this not without E, but as E had told him the galaxy needed to be protected and that was what they’d been created for all those centuries ago. Derrick had both ships run full diagnostics he wanted nothing to go wrong, he might have lost E but he’d be damned if he’d lose one of her brothers or sisters. A full 20 hours later they were well in position, looking out Derrick could see that what was left of the alien fleet was substantially less than he first thought it was, hell it was about the size of the last fleet they’d defeated. The enemy fleet was almost to the galactic edge when the two ships attacked, several ships at the rear exploded, but it appeared there was no other ship there. Just as suddenly 0999 and 0098 appeared at the head of the fleet just as they had turned to attack who was hitting them from behind. Smiling it was happening just as he hoped; only this time they took out far more than a few ships. Flashing in and out the battle took almost an hour, then as suddenly as it started it was over. Neither ship had sustained even minor damage, though the enemy fleet was now just a debris field on the galactic rim.

Derrick breathed a sigh of relief, that was finally done, now he could look for E. Setting a course they emerged near the last point E had been, Derrick had found that not only had E transported him but his ship as well.

Painstakingly Derrick began to adjust to sensors ’til he had the wavelength he wanted; now all he had to do was wait and listen. It was almost a week later that they finally got something, a weak signal as always but still it gave him hope.”0999, proceed,” with that they went to were the signal source within seconds.

“Primary, it is indeed a brain box, attempting to identify… it appears to be 0003, shall I bring him aboard?” 0999 sounded hopeful.

“First scan the box for anything out of the ordinary,” ordered derrick.

“Yes Primary, scanning now… I am detecting several large explosives attached to the outer contours of the box.

Attempting to disarm now, all clear nothing else detected radiation within normal parameters.” 0999 responded.

“Good, bring it onboard and start re-gen and re-growth as soon as you have stabilized and increased energy feed to the box,” Derrick ordered.

“Yes Primary, starting procedures now,” 0999 reported. “Inform me when 0003 is stable and has started to regrow, I have to search more.” Derrick said.


Damn it! He thought for sure that the signal had been E, son of a bitch! He had found not long ago that each brain box gave off a different signal, he’d thought this one had been E. Sitting down he began to adjust the scanner again, though this time he wasn’t getting anything. He’d been at it for 2 hours when 0999 chimed in.

“Primary, I have stabilized 0003 and have started the processes, I estimate it will take 13 days, 12 hours, 33 minutes, and 30 seconds ’til 0003 is fully regrown,” 0999 informed him.

“Very good keep a close watch on him, adjust if any problems arise and advise me at once,” Derrick said.

“Yes Primary, as quickly as I can,” 0999 responded.

Derrick sighed; this was like looking for a new piece of metal in a rust filled metal yard. Again he started to go over the area 0101 had been in and the last projected course that she had been on when they had lost sight of her. Derrick hadn’t been sure, at the last instant before he’d lost sight of her, he could have sworn that he’d seen her divert at an almost 45 degree turn from the blast. He wasn’t sure he was hoping she had done that on purpose so he could find her easier. The fact that they had found another ship this fast out of the gate was
seemingly incredible, or was it? “0999 I want a full spectrum of tests run on the brain box of 0003 something isn’t right here.”


“Compliance, all growth has been halted it appears that the growth cycle was having trouble starting.