CHAPTER 11
It was three days ago since the operation, upon my arrival, I had been covered in a giant anti radioactive bag, then isolated from the entire staff of NIRMANA 394, the worst part was that I could not see Dr. Jadhav, as only the specialists in this field were able to treat me. They ran certain test to make sure everything was fine with me. Until finally I was able to get out of there and return to my duties as head of security for NIRMANA 394. Thank God the two suits managed to save my life and my body had no traces of contamination.
The first thing I did after leaving the hospital was send for agent Shiva urgently. There were the murders still to solve, which until now had only been committed in our ship, the other two being free of any altercation. Agent Shiva was present immediately in my office, I could tell in his face, he had interesting news about the information only a few days ago I had provided to him. I, was eager to get into action.
- Any new news? Were you able to use the information I gave you?
- Yes, and I have something that will surprise enough.
The agent, as always, sat down by the table without asking.
- I hope you brought the report I asked, you had plenty of time, actually several days.
- Don’t worry Brigadier, it was worth the wait - the agent started talking, I decided not to interrupt again, before leaving you sent the report to my computer.
Major Singh is already aware of the issue, he will come to see it as soon as possible, thanks to the files you gave me, it was discovered that indeed the senator
Thomson was doing business with our enemies. We have records that prove the Senator selected ten possible suspects. All are being watched now, but the most interesting thing of all, is that among these ten subjects are Jamal Ahmed and Aditi. This caught my attention, the girl I knew belonged to the enemy group, but the guy I was curious about, and decided to seek more information comparing the files that made it to NIRMANA 394 before the holocaust the planet. It turns out the real Jamal Ahmed was found dead about twenty miles from his home just one day before leaving for the secret facility. So the man that died in the ship is not Jamal. We do not know who he is and how he got here. But we also know that one of the civilians in the ship LOTUS is not who he says, as his record belongs to the paternal brother of Jamal. And he was also killed in France a day before leaving for Asia's secret facilities. However, according to the results of DNA the testing effectively proved it is the blood brother of Baman; Now, I found no link between the senator and the people he chose for civilians on the ship LOTUS. Only the guy already in custody knows. We waited for you to make the first interrogation.
- Good work agent, good job, I said almost excitedly I’m going to see Brigadier Fabiens to coordinate the interrogation.
- Wait Brigadier, the most interesting thing I have not told you yet, he said. The agent stopped me with this phrase.
- In your absence we inspected the panels that Ahmed or Aditi wanted to open. And found this. -
The agent pulled out of his pocket a nylon bag and inside was a small trigger fusion. Sufficient to set off a small bomb H, or hydrogen. The puzzle of these murders began to come together. The hydrogen was the fuel the ships used and this type of detonator told me that the risk was higher than expected. If these terrorist infiltrators were trying to make or detonate a bomb on our ship we would not let them, because we were on their trail. I ordered the agent to double up on the monitoring of the eight suspects we already knew of, as well as throughout the ship, I wanted to talk to Baman.
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I passed the checkpoints in the tunnels that connected the two ships. I found Brigadier Fabiens doing his routine tasks and was glad to see me again. They had the guy in custody, two French soldiers guarded the door of the room where he was being held. We went and the boy looked peaceful. While lying in bed his eyes were still closed, but he was awake, we heard a kind of prayer that came from her lips almost imperceptible. Noticing our visit he stood. I ordered him to sit. We want to talk to you. -I said cordially.
The boy nodded, not a single gesture showed me that he was scared. He waited in silence for the first question.
- Do you speak English?
- Yes, He replied.
- Who are you? I asked looking into his eyes.
- Armaan Ahmed. – He replied.
- That's not true. I know you're not Armaan Ahmed. You changed identities with that person. That person is dead. He was killed the day before you showed up with false identity in Asia’s secret facilities. Your brother did the same in the India. Jamal’s identity supplanted Ahmed, we know from DNA tests that you are brothers. But they are not the Ahmed brothers.
- The boy looked up at me surprised. He did not expect me to tell him what I had just mentioned, his response was a question.
- How is my brother, also being held like me?
- Your brother is dead. I said with the low tone, he was found dead in a confrontation in NIRMANA 72ship with a girl named Aditi Mane, do you know her? The boy's eyes were teary eyed, he did not mention a single word. I waited a few minutes trying for him to react, but he still did not lift his eyes again ... Behind me Brigadier Fabiens remained silent with arms folded across his chest. From my experience I decided to leave the boy alone for a while, I stood up and said a few words before leaving.
-Listen, I want to think that your brother was not on the side of evil. Hopefully his death will not be in vain. I do not know who you are, I do not know who your brother was either, but if you can help stop these murderers you will be of great help. I will wait until you are ready to talk to me, just let them know and one of the guards will come get me. I regret very much the death of your brother, remember, we are on the good side, just a few of us here of our species.
You are just in time to help save them. - I gestured to my companion to come behind me. Once outside the room, Brigadier Fabiens asked:
- Why did you stop the interrogation?
- Something tells me this guy knows something, but does not belong to them. Hopefully in a few hours, he will the talk. I responded to the Brigadier before heading back to the tunnel that would take me back to the NIRMANA 394.
Pretty rest after the last three days, it was best to catch up on how things were. I toured the ship, I did a short interview on each floor with security guards and crew chiefs. Everything was quiet. Civilians began act a bit uneasy but normal and expected. The levels dedicated to the animal species there was no new, except a lionesses gave birth to a little baby that was the entertainment of many. The workshops functioned according to the daily work and the stores were all good. Everything under control, I thought it best to also check how the NIRMANA 394 hospital was running.
First time I was deeply interested in this topic without me knowing why.
She was standing with her back to me when I reached for the door. As always her neat white coat showed her perfect silhouette, still remember the feeling my hands take her by the waist, tight military trousers marked her strong and firm legs. Further north of her thighs something that made me crazy. She had not noticed my presence and for a few minutes, I was just staring at her. Until one of the doctors noticed me and greeted me loudly, then she turned to look at me, her face broke into a blushing smile. She did not come to me. As I walked toward her, I was watching as she gave nurses and patients instructions, until finally I had her beautiful bright eyes in front of me.
- Good afternoon, Brigadier. Is something wrong that you are in the hospital?
Now I do not know what to say, the art that women have to put men between the sword and the wall.
- No, I'm fine, just a routine visit. It was the answer that came from my mouth without thinking.
- How’s your arm? The Dr. insisted.
- My arm is fine, although still a little sore. I answered with a lie, just wanted to take the opportunity to feel her hands on my skin again, I would not let that pass.
- Come with me, let's look at the wound. She told me.
My mind jumped for joy, because my little white lie had worked.
We went to the same room as last time. The same table, the same tray into the rack. But this time I closed the door. I took her by the waist. With my hands I turned her body around holding her close to me a few seconds. She said nothing, I touched her soft cheeks, I did not kiss her, but we just stared into each others eyes and she stayed still and let me hug her, while stroking her back firmly. I whispered into her ear that everything would be fine. She pressed her arms against my body, looked down and lost her eyes up to my shoulder. Then my intercom broke the magic.
- Brigadier Jay? Commander Singh requests your presence in the control room.
It was the phrase that rang in my ear and both of us heard. Our bodies were separated, never had I hated an intercom as much as this time. I went walking toward the hallway that would take me to where the General was. I ran my hand through my shoulder and discovered moisture from a tears the doctor had shed on my uniform.
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Commander Singh was waiting in the main hall of the control room. As I entered, he stood almost lunged at me, exclaiming:
- Good news Brigadier. Finally some good news!
On the table were the leading astronomers and scientists of the three ships, on a screen in the left wall showed images of galaxies and planets. I sat at the table and I joined the conversation that already had begun at that meeting. The man who had supplanted Dr. Shetty, Dr. Akash and now chief astronomer and research director of NIRMANA 394 was the one that began the dialogue.
-According to our studies and calculations we have concluded that indeed in the Magellanic Cloud galaxy there is a planet, the PEGASIS 42, which has developed a kind of atmosphere with chemicals almost identical to that of the earth. We also confirmed the presence of a liquid that may be water. We can see two small oceans PEGASIS 42, all the other surface is solid. We have a plan to corroborate this information. The science and astronomer Dr. Thomas Reynolds will explain in detail what it is.
A man in his fifties, about six feet tall, with total baldness, and firm body of a man that had seemed to have exercised. He stood up and took the remote control in his hands. With this he spoke and passing different images on the screen at his back.
- As Dr. Akash mentioned, indeed we may well have found a planet where settle our civilization. The PEGASIS 42 in the LMC. The plan is to send a ship to take samples of liquid, solids and gas. Also if approved we would send some animal species within this ship, in order to prove that the atomic teleportation does not affect in any way the life and survival of our species, so far this method is just a theory proven, we need to confirm solid objects, such as metals, wood, etc.., but that has not been tested or with animal life. To reach PEGASIS 42 would have to go through a black hole, so it is necessary because of the distance that separates us from it. Using this method, if all goes well, in 72 hours the survey ship should bring back the results. Only after that would we confirm our theory. Commander Singh nodded and made some scientists questions that were answered by them. After nearly an hour of debate General Singh approved the dispatch of the ship. Dr. Akash is responsible for all studies and would be the head of this investigation, reporting progress every twelve hours to the commanders of the three main ships.
The meeting ended and I was alone with the general, I wanted to talk to him personally. Now alone, it was the general who started the conversation.
- Glad to see you and back to your duties. Since I was given the report of what happened on earth, I want to tell you that although it was a very risky decision I congratulate you for your courage.
- I just did my job, Commander. I replied.
- Let's move to another topic. - The man crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back into his seat.
- How are the interviews with the boy at the LOTUS ship?
- This morning we first spoke with him. Actually he was a bit upset when he learned of the death of his brother, so we decided to let him rest and not continue with the questioning, my personal opinion is that this guy has valuable information. But I don’t think he belongs to the bad side, let’s hope he wants to talk. We will give him a few hours and at night I will be visiting him.
- Remember, Brigadier, that this situation is delicate, I do not want another person dead in this ship.
The Commander's tone was strong-Try for this guy to give you the information you have, for the moment I have given orders for all each suspects to be watched closely and monitored. I do not want to leave any loose ends and give the enemy the opportunity to threaten the safety of this ship and this mission.
- I'm sure the guy will talk.
- After you talk to him at night not delay a second to come to me with your report, whatever happens on that interview I'll be waiting. After a military greet, I stood up and left the
Commander, we had finished our conversation. I decided to rest a couple of hours while it was time to go to the LOTUS ship, but my calculations within two hours of rest went wrong, leaving the central control room agent Shiva met me, he came looking for me because the man wanted to talk to me. I turned around my steps and went straight to the tunnel that led me to the room where I expected this guy incognito. I found him sitting on the bed. As I entered the room, he motioned for me to sit.
I did and waited for him to start talking. After a few seconds he became interested in the body of his brother, for the details of his death, and asked permission to see him one last time. I answered all their questions with absolute truth. I explained what the real situation was and that it presented a problem, I asked for his help. I knew the boy was confused, but my intuition did not deceive me from the first moment when I thought this guy before him was not among our enemies. After I spoke to him honestly
and he decided to tell his story.
- The story is long, I needed time to listen. My real name is Afreen Sheikh. I am twenty-six years and although I was born in Iran, I lived for fifteen years in France. My brother’s real name was Yusuf Sheikh, also born in Iran, four years older than me. Our father brought us up in the Baha’i religion. Our brothers have been abused, tortured and massacred for hundreds of years by groups of the Islamic Republic. When my brother was fifteen he witnessed our father’s death. Then tied him to a horse, dragged his butchered body through the streets. My brother saw that. He vowed for vengeance. Some friends of my father took us out of Iran, me to France, and my brother to the India. Yusuf never forgot, and although our beliefs do not support revenge or war, he swore vengeance on our enemies. Then infiltrated in an anti-Eastern Islamic groups within Indian territory. A week before presenting to the secret facility my brother traveled on false documents and visited me. He told me about the ships and the escape plan. That an influential senator had managed to introduce civilian personnel to a group of ten. The order was for the group to assassinate leading scientists before the discovery of another destination and perpetrate a terrorist act inside the ship detonating a bomb that, as I said, had infiltrated while building the ship. I do not know the exact location, but he mentioned several times ponds and marine species. There was a problem, Jamal Ahmed’s brother had been chosen in the UK for their qualifications at a university in London. The day before leaving back to India my brother killed Armaan Ahmed. He confessed this to me, that night he gave me all of Armaan’s documents, asked me to be present at the Asian secret facilities after 36 hours. He murdered Armaan Ahmed to save the lives of all civilians who are on this ship. He had to be here and stop the terrorist plot. But he could not trust anyone, not knowing who was with the senator and who was not. He was ordered to kill that guy and get me on the ship. We should not have any contact while we were here. The last time he was at my side was in France, he told me everything and told me that if anything went wrong, find someone you trust and tell my story. I did not have names, just telling you what I know. All these days I have prayed for him. But today when I heard he was dead, I know his plan failed. So I decided to tell you everything. I swear I'm telling you everything I know.
I thanked Yusuf for his decision to tell his story, and shook my hand as a sign that I believed everything he was saying. I promised that I personally would take him to see the body of his brother and when we got to our next destination, I would help him find proper burial for him according to their beliefs. I asked for his discretion. For security, until the bomb was not found and have the eight enemies inside the ship arrested. I will make sure you remain in custody in this room for protection. At the door, ready to leave, the boy said something that stopped my steps.
-Do not trust anyone, Brigadier.
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I go through the tunnel that led me back to the NIRMANA 394 I went to the commander and General Singh. Over two hours we talked about the derived information at the LOTUS and the data the man provided and by the first lady. Thanks to them we had everything under control in our ship. We decided that the strategy would not be to apprehend the eight civilian infiltrators who were inside the NIRMANA, always but keep them in check. They would lead us in one way or another to the hidden bomb in the level dedicated to marine species. How long it would take? We did not know, but we were sure that they were against the wall. After the assassination of Dr. Shetty our vigilance and care of other doctors had put the kibosh on the plan to kill the specialists. All that remained was to try to activate the bomb. So they would not delay much. The tranquility of the past few days made us think they were preparing the attack carefully.
We put an additional monitoring system at the level where the ponds are and made them believe that we neglected the care of the area by leaving a single soldier guarding the gates, when in fact in the premises were twenty of my best Shindes hidden. We encoded a new frequency for the staff assigned to this new operation. From that moment would speak only on that channel. It was only a matter of time when they trusted and try to get to the bomb
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