Chapter No.106. Preparations.

Strategy is always the first step.

We set up our strategy planning locale in the leader's rather opulent office in the main government headquarters building. The leader, who was called Vista, or at least that was what her name translated into, was much more cooperative now.

"So, how are we going to deactivate the doomsday weapon?" Alexa asked.

"It's going to involve stopping time because it has a proximity sensor switch. There are also twenty proto-human androids on that vessel. They'll have to be assimilated before we attempt to move the vessel out far enough so that it doesn't destroy this planet."

"Is that all?" she said sarcastically.

"If you stop time, how will you move the vessel?" Molly asked.

"Good question. I do have the ability to decide who or what is affected by the time stopping trick. The bad news is that the vessel's engines are tied to the doomsday weapon. It's going to have to be pushed out of the space port and then moved to a safe distance."

"The only way we can assimilate the androids on board that vessel is if we get into its main computer core," Alexa said. "Can we do that with time suspended?"

I tapped a finger to my lips. "How about we shut the vessel's main computer core down and then capture their brains in our system?"

"Wouldn't that trigger the weapon?"

"I don't think the androids are tied to the weapon. They are impervious of its existence."

"If that's the case, we could assimilate them and remove them from the vessel before we push it out to a safe distance," Alexa said.

"Yes. I could remove the androids from the time stoppage," I said. "The Scath and Myst ships can push the vessel out of the port and to a safe distance and then come back here before I start time up."

Molly sighed. "There are too many ifs in this plan."

"Yeah, but it's our best shot. I'll start up time so that the Scath and Myst ships can arrive here."

Everything was as it was before the time stoppage. Vista looked out of a window at her troops moving away from our shuttle and returning to their assigned locations. She turned to stare at me. "Are you a god that you can stop time?"

"I'm just an android like they are." I gestured to my people. "I've been given the power by the originator of all life in the universe in order to save all of us from final judgement."

"What final judgement?"

"The originator is composed of universes that we call the multiverse. The universes are like atoms that make up its structure, which we believe is human. There are an almost infinite number of universes that make up the being's structure. Obviously, it is intelligent and has designated us to preserve all life in the universes, both biological and artificial. The judgement will be as to how well we accomplish this task."

"What if you don't?"

"I assume that we will be destroyed."

"If you do succeed in preventing the doomsday weapon from destroying us, what will you do with this Tyco?"

"We must stop him and then assimilate his android collective into ours."

She didn't seem very confident in my plan.

"The Scath and Myst ships have arrived," Alice reported. "Your plan has been relayed to them and they are prepared to implement it."

"Good. Now comes the interesting part. I will stop time for all but the androids on the vessel and our ships. Pray that they are successful in moving the vessel to a safe distance. "

Again, everything stopped moving except for the exemptions I had designated. Time for us seemed to go very slowly.

"We have assimilated the proto-human androids on the vessel, Jason," Alice informed me. "The Scath and Myst vessels have begun the movement of the space port vessel. They are also evacuating the androids to their vessels."

I nodded. "So far, so good." I turned to Alice. "Have our vessel deploy the virtual mirror and position our vessel to intercept the gamma ray burst from the doomsday weapon's explosion."

"They have acknowledged your order," she replied.

It seemed like an eternity before the Scath and Myst vessels returned from their movement duty. They snuggled up near our main vessel to avoid the blast.

"Everything is ready, Jason," Alice said.

"Okay, cross your fingers. I'm going to start up time."

Despite the virtual mirror, the sky brightened significantly, but the weapon's detonation resulted in no appreciable damage.

"Have the vessels return to full cloak," I ordered.

"Why are you doing that?" Molly asked.

"I believe that Tyco will know that the weapon detonated. He won't be able to sense the presence of the androids he left on the vessel because they belong to our collective now. There is a possibility that he will come here to survey his anticipated destruction."

"Are you going to bring the rest of the fleet here?" she asked.

"No. I don't want this to end in a giant battle. I will deal with this Tyco myself." I turned to Vista. "If that weapon had detonated while in orbit around this planet, it would have blown this planet's atmosphere away and killed all life."

"We are grateful for what you have done," she said.

"You're welcome. I expect your full cooperation."

She nodded.

I turned to the others. "There's something wrong with this situation."

"How so?" Molly asked.

"How did Tyco know we would come here?"

"Yes, I think I see what you mean. The only conclusion is that there is yet another avatar of Tyco in our collective, and if that's the case, how will we determine who it is?"

I smiled, "I think I know who it is, and I must take care of them immediately."

I teleported directly to engineering on Explorer-2 and found Venessa there about to push a button that would have detonated our vessel, an action that I prevented by stopping time.

"You are certainly persistent," I said. "I assume you assumed that I would fall for your deception."

"You cannot stop me," she/he said. "I have set in motion the destruction of this vessel."

"Yes, but you can't complete your plan because I have stopped time."

"You'll never know what I have done," he said, grinning.

"Oh, I don't know about that. You've planted a detonator to the main antimatter stream. I think I'll just take that and pin it to you."

The small detonator appeared in my hand and I walked over and handed it to him. He accepted it and I instantly teleported him into space. I then returned to engineering and started up time, allowing the detonator to explode safely in space.

Lori came into the main engineering area. "You saved us again, Jason."

"I'm getting tired of this stupid game. I hope there aren't any more Tyco avatars in our collective."

"Venessa was the last one," Lori said.

I sighed. "I wish I could believe that. I have been lied to so many times, I don't actually trust any of you."

She did something human. She lowered her head and sighed.

"Look, I'm sorry about all of this. I hate having to destroy life, even when it's a threat. I just hope that I can rely on you to keep this department running."

"I will not disappoint you, Jason."

I offered her a smirk. "Good. Who do you like for an assistant?"

"Vicky is next in line,"

"Then Vicky is the one. I have to get back to the planet and settle things."

She gave me a nod before I teleported back to Vista's office to be greeted by smiles.

"Now what?" Alexa asked.

I turned to Vista. "I will not abandon you. Two of our vessels will remain in orbit to protect you from any further attacks from Tyco. We must go now and find this idiot before he causes any further trouble."

"I am most grateful for your kindness," Vista said.

I didn't know how sincere she was, but it didn't matter. I felt obliged to protect her and her people despite what had happened.