Sacrifice:The Shenkar War (46 page)

             
Ten minutes later, they came to the room Liam had left Steve and Tim in. Entering the room, they found them standing in front of the examination table. Upon the table was a dead Shenkar warrior. By the looks of it, Tim had done an autopsy upon the Shenkar.

             
“
Okay, we are here--what is it?” asked Liam.

             
“
Well, you know how the Meshtrell have seemed to go to great lengths for us not to examine any Shenkar, saying that they carry deadly diseases. Well, Steve was going over some notes he found in Scyren’s personal computer--detailed notes on the human physiology compared to the Shenkar’s. I think you better take a look.”

             
Steve held out the personal computer to Liam. Taking the computer, Liam began to read. All seemed typical as the document examined physiology and the differences of human to Shenkar. Liam continued to read, not seeing what was so unusual. Then he came to it and his breath caught. He reread the same notes three times before he looked up at Tim, his eyes wide with shock.

             
“
This can’t be right . . . no way it can be right. Did you confirm this?” he asked as he indicated the Shenkar’s body before him.

             
“
Yes, I ran the test five times . . . all results came back positive,” said Tim gravely.

             
Tim then picked up a scalpel and pointed toward the dead Shenkar warrior. As Liam leaned in, Tim reached into the chest of the Shenkar and pulled aside a large organ.

             
“
See here,” he said, pointing with the scalpel.

             
When Liam nodded, Tim then continued.
“
Well, as you can see, the physiology matches what you have read. Yes, there are differences, but for the most part, the general makeup is a match. Also, I ran DNA tests, and they pretty much confirmed my suspicions. We need to show the Admiral this--things are just too close to be a coincidence.”

             
“
Okay, gather the information and then let’s go. Steve, stay here and make sure that neither Jaera or any of the other Meshtrell try and come back in.”

Battlecruiser
Tryliene
, Bridge

              Liam entered the bridge and immediately spotted the Admiral speaking with one of the engineering crew. Quickly, he walked up to the Admiral, snapped off a quick salute, and launched into speech before the Admiral could even return the salute.

             
“
Sir, Tim has found something you need to see,” he said as he held out the handheld computer.

             
With a slight look of confusion, the Admiral took the computer and began to read. After a few minutes, the Admiral looked up, a look of shock on his face.

             
“
Yes, it’s all true. Tim has confirmed it,” Liam said to the Admiral’s unasked question.

             
“
STOP!” yelled the Admiral.

             
At first, Liam was taken aback, wondering what it was that had angered the Admiral. But he quickly noticed that the Admiral was looking past him. Turning, Liam saw that Jaera was attempting to sneak off the bridge. At the sound of the Admiral’s voice, however, Jaera began to move quickly toward the door, more quickly than Liam would have expected of the little Meshtrell.

             
“
SEIZE HIM!” yelled the Admiral.

             
Seeing that the closest marines wouldn’t be able to grab the alien before it escaped through the door, Liam made his decision. Throwing up his hand, he focused on the fleeing alien and the electrical energies that surrounded it. Right before the little alien was about to jump through the door, Liam seized Jaera. With a backward flick of his hand, Liam summoned Jaera back through the air into the hands of the two pursuing marines.

             
Admiral Kelvin looked from Liam’s outstretched hand to Jaera and back again before looking up at Liam.
“
We will need to discuss what just happened later, Mr. Brennan,” said the Admiral.

             
“
Yes, sir,” Liam said as he lowered his hand.

             
Turning back to the two marines, he summoned them to bring Jaera forward. Then abruptly turning, he signaled everyone to follow as he exited the bridge into a small side office. Turning, he waited until everyone was present before he spoke, asking the two marines to wait outside. Crystal and Dimitri took up positions on either side of the door as Evan and Liam stood to either side of Jaera with Tim on Liam’s other side.

             
Looking down at the Meshtrell, the Admiral fixed an angry stare upon Jaera. Thrusting the small computer at the Meshtrell, he waited until Jaera took it.

             
“
What is this? No more lies. I want the truth now or I’ll jettison you out the nearest airlock!” commanded Admiral Kelvin.

             
Jaera looked down and briefly read what was displayed upon the computer. Looking up, Jaera seemed to study the Admiral for a time, probably measuring whether the threat was genuine, before speaking.
“             
Yes, it is true,” was all the Meshtrell said.

             
Looking as if he was ready to tear the little alien’s head off, the Admiral shifted his hands from in front of him to behind his back.

             
“
I know it is true! What I want to know is, how is this possible?”

             
“
I would think it is obvious. Humans and Shenkar are indirectly related,” Jaera said.

             
The Admiral looked from Jaera to Liam to Tim to Evan with a look of absolute frustration. Throwing up his hands, he turned and walked to a view port and gazed out at the stars.

             
“
Will one of you try? If I continue, I am going to throttle him . . . it . . . well, you know who I mean,” said Admiral Kelvin.

             
Liam and Evan looked at each other, but it was Tim who decided to take a turn at this point.

             
“
What the Admiral is trying to say is, how is it possible for humans’ and Shenkars’ genetic codes to be so close a match?”

             
At this, Jaera seemed to take time to think of what to say. It was a long time with Jaera just staring up at them before speaking.

             
“
Perhaps it is time you knew the truth. I must warn you, though, that if this information gets out, it could possibly cause great damage to the human race.”

             
Jaera looked to each to confirm that they all wished the Meshtrell to continue.

             
“
We the Meshtrell are great scientists, always searching to create, to make life better. Many centuries ago, we realized that while we were superior in intelligence, we were lacking in other attributes such as vitality, strength, and dexterity. We came to the conclusion that we needed a workforce--servants, as you might put it. So we began to work at creating a humanoid race for just this purpose.

             
“Many times, we tried to create such a race, but something seemed to be missing. Some were not aggressive enough, whereas others were too aggressive. Many failures we suffered, yet we were not deterred by such failures. After many failed experiments, we created the Shenkar: a race of superior humanoids that were perfect in all ways we could find. They were strong, virile, and intelligent beyond preliminary expectations.

             
“But with all our superior intelligence, we also suffered from another flaw . . . arrogance. In our arrogance, we immediately put the Shenkar to work in our everyday lives. We used them for everything . . . from brute manual labor to just the little things. In our arrogance, we underestimated the Shenkar’s intelligence and, even worse, their ambitions. While they performed all their duties, they watched and learned. Soon they moved into vital positions, such as securing weapons. Soon after, they massed a massive military and struck before we ever realized something was amiss. They were ruthless in their assault . . . sowing destruction at an unimaginable scale. Before the Shenkar, we ruled thirteen worlds, and in the end, we became a race of wanderers. Consequently, you see, in our arrogance, we were our own destroyers.”

             
Silence filled the room as Jaera stood watching them. After several tense and silent moments passed, Tim spoke up.
“
So how do humans factor into this?”

             
“
Well, you see, like I said before, we failed several times before we arrived at the creation of the Shenkar. In truth, the human race was a failure, an experiment we created and, for one reason or another, was deemed a failure. Our initial creation of man resulted in a savage animal-like race, what you refer to as Neanderthal man. While you showed signs of intelligence and at times were quite resourceful, you were, for our needs, useless. Therefore, you see, it really wasn’t by accident we found you. For while we had deemed you a failure, one of my ancestors had not seen it that way. My ancestor believed that while at first you were seen as a failure, in fact you just needed time to mature. So unbeknownst to us, my ancestor arranged to have the human race monitored in secret by a sect of Meshtrell.

             
“
After we suffered such a devastating assault by the Shenkar, we fled our home world with the remnants of our race. We were on the run, constantly on the move, to avoid being found by the Shenkar. It was then that one of the secret sect--Reeta, to be exact--came forth to reveal their secret . . . the human race. You see, over the centuries, the secret sect had continued their work. Expeditions were taken to Earth in secret to continue to monitor the development of the human race. It was a light to our darkness, for all preliminary tests showed your race as our only hope.”

             
Again, silence filled the room at this news. Liam knew what something like this would to do the human race. The concept of the human race being created by an alien race would create pandemonium. Many ruled their lives through religion, basing decisions of right and wrong by their beliefs. If there were no God or heaven, many would feel there were no longer any consequences to what was right and wrong. While in many ways, it would solve a lot of the problems created by the religious zealots of the world, it would in the end create havoc beyond measure.

             
Liam looked from the little Meshtrell to the Admiral, but it was Tim who spoke first.
“
We can’t let this information be known . . . it would create more problems than you can imagine. A world without religion? People would feel there was no longer any reason to fear heaven or hell, to be judged in the eyes of God. It would become a life without consequences.”

             
Evan spoke up, his voice full of worry.
“
I agree . . . don’t get me wrong, I loathe religion, but the damage this would cause would be irreparable. The human race isn’t ready for a world without God.”

             
“
So what do we do? It is bound to get out eventually. For all we know, people might simply say there still is a God and he created the Meshtrell,” said Dimitri from behind them.

             
All turned and looked at Dimitri. Dimitri, who realized he was suddenly the center of attention, did a kind of uncomfortable shuffle from foot to foot and gave a small shrug as he mumbled.
“
Sorry, just thinking out loud.”

             
“
No, Mr. Glasniv, think nothing of it. You are a part of this conversation, and you are right . . . what are we going to do about it
is
the question,” said Admiral Kelvin.

             
Everyone was silent as they contemplated what to do with such potentially dangerous information.

             
“
Well, I say we destroy any information and continue with the rumor that the bodies of the Shenkar can be potentially harmful,” said Admiral Kelvin.

             
All nodded agreement with the Admiral before he continued speaking directly to Jaera.
“
And you and your little cohorts will, from now on, let us know everything,” he said as he pointed a finger at Jaera.

The only response Jaera gave of understanding was a slight nod of its head in agreement.

              Before the Admiral could continue, his personal comm unit chimed.
“
Kelvin here, go ahead,” the Admiral said into the comm unit.

             
“
Sir, engineering crews have reported in. We have the engines online as well as the guidance systems. We are ready to get under way when you give the order, sir,” said a male voice.