Chapter 1: The Voice and the Schemer

"Hello, again, this is Elizabeth Chang, aboard the Terran Federation Battleship USS Washington where emotions are running strong among the crew. Yesterday morning, a move was made to bring happiness back to a young girl's life, by reuniting her with her family. They had survived the blast that leveled Reno.

"Why the girl was on this ship, I haven't been told; but she, along with her family, have been reunited aboard the ship. Rumors say they have been offered a chance to go out among the stars. If I were her or her family, I would go. It would be an adventure of the lifetime," Beth took a breath and continued her report.

"Admiral Thompson was gunned down with a high-powered rifle yesterday morning, while he was walking down the ramp of his shuttle to complete the reunion.

"The sniper, a young man who thought Earth was being invaded, shot Admiral Thompson in the chest and in the head. The young girl is devastated by this attack, on Admiral Thompson. The Admiral is alive, but in critical condition in the ship's medical facilities.

"These facilities are running at two hundred percent as they try to save over three thousand people who were wounded in the recent explosion in Reno. Already the crew of the ship has airlifted over forty thousand people out of the danger zone in the last twenty-four hours.

"In other news, Governor Lisa Andrew has asked the Federal Government to declare the state of Nevada a disaster area. The governor is still waiting on word from Washington.

"However, on another note, I can say this. Over five million emails have come in offering prayers to every single family who had been affected by this horrendous attack.

"I also have some good news for all the citizens of the world. Before Admiral Thompson was shot, he stated that he will release all the medical knowledge for the cures to all the diseases that are ravaging our people. I am talking cures for cancer, Lou Gehrig's disease, and heart disease. They also offer other medical cures for obesity, blindness, and diabetes. If you have lost an arm or leg, they offer to regrow you a new one for you. Therefore, in my book, these are good people that only want to help the world. This is Elizabeth Chang, for CNN, aboard the USS Washington."

Tammy stood beside Ken's bedside holding his hand, and looked up as Molly came over and started scanning him. Holding back the tears in her eyes, she watched her do her readings and then wiped the tears away as they started to run down her face.

"Why hasn't he woken up yet? It's been nineteen hours,"

"Tammy, he will wake up when he is ready. His body is healing from the massive wound he suffered to his chest,"

Looking over at Tammy, she saw the exhaustion on her friends face, "Tam, why don't you go get some sleep and I will call you when he wakes up,"

"No! I will stay here. I have to be here for him," Tammy said as she shook her head.

She looked down into Kens face and smiled at him as she brushed his hair out of his face. She bent down and kissed his forehead.

Molly saw the love in Tammy's eyes as she bent down to kiss Ken. As Tammy straightened up, she leaned over and hugged her tightly.

"Okay, stay. But at least do one thing for me? Sit in a damned chair, and give your legs a break."

Tammy smiled at Molly's concern, and replied, "Okay. I'll sit down for you."

Walking over to a stack of chairs, she picked up the top chair in the stack and carried it back to Ken's bed. Sitting down she took his hand back in hers, and stared at his face.

"Better?"

Molly patted her shoulder, and said, "Much. I will be in my office doing some reports, call me if there is any change."

Picking up her medical pad, she went into her office, and started in on her evening reports. Ten minutes later, she was sound asleep at her desk, her medical pad under her right cheek.

Ken lay there dreaming of when he first met Tammy and how her eyes sparkled even then. Suddenly, a voice disturbed his pleasant memories.

'Heal yourself.'

Ken sighed, and said, 'Who are you?'

Ken slowly opened his eyes and looked around the room. He noticed the clock was reading four am. Turning his head to the side, he saw the medical beds stretching along the three hundred foot room and he realized he was in medical. Why he had no idea, but his chest did hurt a little. Turning his head to look for Molly to ask what happened, his eyes settled on to the sleeping face of Tammy, his first love.

Lifting his hand, he noticed his fingers were trembling as he brushed the hair off her face and looked at her. He could see where tears had dried on her cheeks. The tip of her tongue stuck out of the corner of her mouth. As she took a breath, he could hear her small snore of exhaustion from her. Leaning closer he gently kissed her nose, and when he pulled back, he watched it crinkle as if he had tickled her.

Lying there, he watched her eyes flutter open, and he said, "Good morning, my love."

Tammy yawned and smiled at Ken, and said, "Hi lover, it's about time you woke up, you had me worried. How are you feeling?"

Tammy sat up, looked around the room, and noticed everyone else was still asleep. Looking through the window into Molly's office, she saw her sleeping at her desk.

"Let me go wake Molly so she can check you out."

Ken slowly sat up and looked at Molly, sleeping. Then he looked around the medical bay, and saw most of the beds were full.

Shaking his head no, he said, "No, let her sleep. She needs it, help me up."

As he sat up, he could see the puckered scar from the bullet that hit him in his chest. Reaching up he gently touched it.

"I was shot?" he asked.

"Yes Ken. A young man thought we were an alien race attacking the Earth. He shot you, injured Ted in midair, and nailed Corporal Summers who was behind a parked car. Corporal Summers is dead, as is another whose name slips my mind right now. They each took a round through the head. They died instantly.

"The boy's father trained him to shoot. The father is over in Iraq with the National Guard. The boy did not know that we were helping the injured. All he saw was an invasion. None of the marines are upset at him now, especially now that you are going to be okay," Tammy said.

She helped Ken to his feet and she continued with what she was saying, "Ted wants to recruit him for the Marines," Tammy lifted Kens arm over her shoulder and helped him stand.

Ken listened to Tammy's report, and replied, "He hit Ted in midair?"

"Yes, Ted jumped off the ramp, and the bullet grazed his back," Ken slowly walked toward the door with Tammy's help. Entering the passageway, they crossed to the transport tube and entered the capsule.

Ken shook his head in amazement, thinking to himself if he could do that, we need him. "Tell Ted to go ahead and recruit him if he is old enough to sign up."

Tammy smiled up at Ken and said, "He is, and I will let Ted know," Turning Ken around to face the doors she said, "Admiral's quarters,"

The capsule shot across the ship, depositing them outside their quarters twenty seconds later.

"Come my Admiral. Let's get you in bed, and let you get a good night's sleep," she said as she led him out of the capsule and to his quarters

Tammy led Ken into their quarters and across to the bedroom.

As they enter the bedroom, Amy and Jessica appeared and said at the same time, "Ken! You're supposed to be in medical."

Ken smiled at the two beautiful AI, and said, "I know, but I can rest in here just as well as there. Besides they may need the bed for some more wounded," answered Ken.

He groaned as Tammy helped him lay down on their bed. After he caught his breath he continued, "So what's the report on the city?"

"I will get you some juice," Tammy said and walked to the replicator.

"Thanks, Tam," Ken said as Amy started talking.

"We have airlifted seventy thousand people from Reno and another fifty thousand from Sparks to Stead, Virginia City, Carson City and Fallen, Nevada. All the mayors of those towns have been very helpful to us as well as the Governor of the state. No word from the Federal Government, except that they are 'dealing with the problem'. Which, as we know, is a bunch of crap. They have not done anything but try to order us to land and surrender the ship to them. They have blocked all the roads into the area and are turning back all aid to the city," Amy said.

Ken got comfortable on his bed, and asked, "How many... " Ken gasped in pain and continued, "How many more people are left in the cities?"

"About forty thousand. We are picking them up as fast as we can. Anyone with a warrant or an escapee from the local jail is turned over to the Carson City police as soon as we heal them, as well as any looters we catch." Amy stopped with a worried look on her face.

"What's wrong, Amy?" Tammy asked as she looked at her friend and set the glass of juice down on the end table.

"I ... Sir I have a problem. Jason Samara has been picked up in Sparks."

"Who?" Ken asked as he reached for his glass of juice.

"Jason Samara, in 2009 he will be responsible for the most deadliest terrorist attack on the world (not including this one), when his men seize the passenger liner Queen Ann and blow her up with a ten kiloton nuclear device. Twenty-three hundred people are killed when Navy Seals and British SAS board the ship and try to take her back. At the same time, the explosion kills thirty-five thousand people in Montego Bay, Jamaica and swamped the city with a title wave."

"Oh my God," Ken said as he looked at Amy.

"Well, he hasn't done it yet, so he cannot be held for it," Tammy said.

"True, but he will. I say we should just put him in prison..."

Ken interrupted Amy and replied, "No, Amy, it wouldn't be right," Ken said as he set the glass down, and continued, "Do this, recruit him as he is going through his healing process. Get him in the marines and thinking of the T'Lari and the Crytherians. Seal the records of that attack. I do not want anyone to know, and take it out on him."

"Yes, Sir. As you command," Amy said, with a little anger in her voice and then she continued, "However I don't think it would stop him."

"Amy let me ask you this. When did he become a terrorist recruit?"

"In 2006, when his father took him to Saudi Arabia, while he was on a job, there," Amy said.

"Then if he is in the marines now, I don't think he will come under those idiots ideology and their control."

"I didn't think of that Ken, I should have, I am sorry," Amy said as she apologized.

"It's okay. Now anything else?"

"No, Sir."

"Then all I can say is good work you two, and keep it up. Now let me get some more sleep. Then we have some planning to do."

Both AI's smiled at each other and disappeared in a sparkle of blue and silver mist.

Tammy leaned over and pulled off Ken's shoes and pants, and then tucked him into bed. She then started undressing and said to him, "Now sleep my love, I will be here for you," Walking around the bed she slipped in beside him and held him against her breasts as they drifted off to sleep.