The Revealing The year is 2108.
By Lanette
Chapter One
Unexpectedly, a small black space craft flew past Rebecca at a fast rate of speed.
"What was that?" Rebecca verified her computer to see what kind of craft flew past her. The computer screen scrolled, then locked on a T-66. "A T-66? I thought they quit making those? Where did that one come from?"
The T-66 spun around coming straight toward Rebecca. "Uh, Oh!" She spun her craft around facing the T-66. "What does he want?"
Firing, the T-66 shot two laser bolts quickly past her. Jerking her ship away from him, Rebecca wondered, "Why is he shooting at me?" She didn't have any onboard weapons. Her craft was only for transportation and fun. Spinning out of control Rebecca tried to set her ship aright. Gripping the lever tightly, she tried to maneuver her ship to fly steady, but to no avail. Finally, in about two minutes, but it seemed a lot longer, she managed to pull out of the spin. When she straightened up, the black craft was gone. Looking around through her windows, and checking her instruments, the craft could not be found.
Rebecca Conrad had been leisurely taking a spin in her A-38 two seater space craft, that her father had bought for her after she completed her two years space craft training. Zo� Space Academy had trained her to fly just about any space craft that existed in the Alpha System. The Alpha System consisted of thirty three planets. Rebecca is from the twin planets Alpha, and Jira. Her father studied at Zo� Space Academy when he was young. Therefore growing up, she knew she would study there as well. Rebecca started the space academy when she was sixteen, two years ago. The academy is located on the planet Zo�.
Michael Chadwick, nineteen years old, was in his fourth year at Zo� Space Academy. He and Rebecca were close friends, having met each other about three months ago at a lecture. Just happening to sit next to each other, they had hit it off instantly.
Michael was walking along the corridor when he sensed that something was very wrong. He didn't know what it was but he knew something was off beam.
Looking all around for the T-66, Rebecca didn't see it any where. "Where did it go?" Seeing a shadow by Ventrons moon, she took a closer look with the computer, zooming in on the shadow to possibly see what it was.
Ventron was the planet the Alpha System Military, (ASM) put the penal colony on. These prisoners were usually put there for life, with no way of getting off the planet. In order that prisoners could not escape when other prisoners were brought to Ventron, the new prisoners would be beamed down to the surface. Supplies would be beamed down as well. The prisoners were pretty much on their own. There were no guards, as it was way too dangerous to have them down there.
Rebecca saw the black craft come around from Ventrons moon. "Now, what is he up to?� She pondered to herself. He started shooting at her again. Laser bolts flew everywhere. She dodged them repeatedly. At the space academy she had been trained on fighting with enemy ships in computer simulations, but had had weapons and could fire back on the enemy. She knew how to use her weapons well. Even in real life training when the cadets flew real space crafts and space ships, they had simulated weapons that fired. The T-66 had to know by now she didn't have any weapons. So why was he still firing at her? Was he wanting to destroy her? All these questions raced through her mind.
Dolphus kept firing at the A-38 space craft that was trying to get away. He knew it didn't have any weapons, or else it would have fired on him. This little craft that he was firing on came from Zo� Space Academy, where they train the Alpha Systems Military. Cadets are trained to protect the thirty-three planets in the Alpha System. Therefore, he had to take this cadet out, to get rid of another protector. This should be easy enough, he thought. Since it has no weapons, it's defenseless.
Dolphus worked for Stephen Lightfoot, the War Lord, who currently resided on the planet Ventron. Ventron was their base of operation. Although he wasn't allowed to land on the planet for obvious reasons, he had worked out a way to communicate with his boss. The War Lord was planning an escape of himself, and all those who wanted to serve him under the new order, that of course, he would be over. After they take over, a dictatorship order would be established, with Stephen Lightfoot as the dictator. They plan on setting up his kingdom over everyone in the Alpha System. The War Lord was currently training his troops for the new order. The Alpha systems Court had sentenced them for life to the penal colony on the planet Ventron, for horrendous crimes to the Alpha System. They cannot get any kind of spacecraft in which they could attempt an escape, so they have been there for ten years.
Dolphus can't land there and rescue them, because the planet's been equipped with a spherical motion detector, that's connected to the planet's Computer Isolation Network, called C.I.N. by those in the Alpha System. C.I.N. has a bank of laser beams that shoots toward where the violator is trying to penetrate. Dolphus is working on a plan to shut the spherical motion detector off, or at least to fool the motion detector into not sensing their presence, so he can take a ship down to the planet's surface and rescue his people.
"But, first, I have to kill this pilot," Dolphus cruelly said. Starting to shoot, he was determined to take the A-38 out. As he fired laser bolts on the little space craft, without warning, another ship appeared, swooping down upon him, firing laser bolts.
"Whoa, where did he come from? In addition, this one has weapons! If I die, there won't be anyone to help the War Lord. I have to complete my mission at all costs! I'm out of here!"
Rebecca didn't think she could outrun the T-66, it seemed he was determined to kill her. She didn't know what to do. She sensed a presence. Then out of nowhere, she saw Michael's ship appearing out of space coming toward her. Michael went after the T-66, firing laser bolts at it. Abruptly, the T-66 stopped firing. It was as if he was considering what to do. Then, after a minute or so, he retreated behind Ventron's moon.
Rebecca heard Michael's voice on the converser.
"Are you ok, Rebecca?"
"I am now, Michael! Thanks!" she exclaimed. Rebecca let out her breath with relief. "How did you know I was out here, and needed help?"
"I sensed something was wrong with you. Then, I sensed you were out here. Therefore, decided I better go see what the problem was, and if you needed assistance. I guess you did. What happened?"
"He just came out of nowhere, and started firing at me! I don't know who he thought I was, but it sure seemed to me, he wanted to kill me!"
Jeremy Caewood, a thirty-year old computer expert, rounded the corner. Standing watch at the door, that Jeremy wanted to go through, was a guard. Adjusting the setting on his laser pistol to stun that he himself had made, he stunned the guard. Stepping over the guard, after he fell down, Jeremy took out the ID that he had stolen, running it through the sensor on the door. Hearing the beep that let him know the door unlocked, he opened the door and stepped in. Heading for the government computer, his intention was to hack into the computer, stealing the latest computer technology that he invented and sold to the Alpha System Government.
Jeremy Caewood, alias Jacon Sprague, started keyboarding the computer. His goal was to steal the security they just installed. He knew all about the guard dogs, because he programmed them in. Successfully, he hacked into their computer. Coping the files on a compressed computer disk the size of a quarter, he then erased all the security files off their system.
Opening the door; looking both ways to make sure no one was watching him, Jeremy alias Jacon, stepped into the corridor. Walking through the corridor, he kept glancing around to see if anyone was following him. Leaving his laser pistol set on stun, Jacon not wanting to injure anyone, continued walking, keeping alert.
Without warning, he felt a laser pistol shoved into his back.
"ASM! Freeze! Drop your weapon! Place your hands on your head, and drop to your knees! Do it, NOW!"
Jacon froze. Dropping the laser, he placed his hands on his head, dropping to his knees to the hard floor. He felt his hands being placed behind his back and cuffed.
ASM was Alpha System Military. Jacon knew he was in deep trouble. He was marched down the corridor by the guard. Turning several times they came to a door marked Security. �Military Holding Cells.� The steel door was opened and he was shoved in. Grabbing his arm, the guard pulled him down the hall. Stopping at a door, the guard pushed Jacon in. The door slammed shut behind him. Touching some buttons on his remote control, the guard caused Jason's cuffs to fall off on to the floor.
The next morning, Jason's cell door was opened. A man in a dark suit walked in. "So, you�re the one I'm defending. My name is Alex Stolis. I'm your lawyer." Sitting on Jacon's bed, he said, "You stole some important technology, young man! Do you know what kind of trouble you�re in?"
"Yes, Alex, I do. What are YOU going to do about it?"
"Well, I've set everything up with Judge Winghill. He's going to hand down a conviction. Stealing government computer technology is a big no-no. However, you knew that, didn't you Jeremy? I mean Jacon ." The lawyer laughed.
Alex rose to his feet and said, "It's all been arranged. The Judge will sentence you for five years in the penal colony. At which time, you'll infiltrate Stephen Lightfoot's gang, find out what they're doing, how they're going to escape, and become part of their gang, supposedly helping them. Become a part of their team as a computer expert. You'll be able to make it look like you beat the prison security and helped them escape. Then you'll stay with them, and find out what their plan is, and stop them."
After the door shut behind the lawyer, Jeremy thought about what he was going to do.
Three days later, Jeremy stood before Judge Winghill, as Jacon Knighton. The Judge knew what was going on. He was eager to catch Stephen Lightfoot in the act, because he could give him the death penalty. Stephen Lightfoot had killed many innocent people when he was free. It had taken many years to catch him, and put him away. Now, he was wreaking havoc on the penal colony. They had to do something. An informer told ASM what Stephen Lightfoot planned for the Alpha System. It turned the Judges stomach to think that Lightfoot might succeed. He had to be stopped. Jeremy Caewood, alias Jacon Knighton was the man who could pull it off. His knowledge of computers, and weapons technology would be the bait that would throw Lightfoot off kilter. Jeremy would win his confidence, thereby giving him the means to stop him.
The verdict was handed down. Jacon Knighton was found guilty. The Judge looked at Jacon sternly, "I sentence you, Jacon Knighton to five years on Ventron, the penal colony, for willfully stealing government technology."
The guard handcuffed Jacon, and took him away.
Shoving him into the space craft, they lifted off flying him to the planet, Ventron.
The guard turned around and looked at Jacon, "We'll have to beam you down. No space craft lands on Ventron because the prisoners always try to escape. Last time they tried to escape a guard got killed, so the Alpha System Government made a rule that no space ships at any time could land on Ventron. All new prisoners and supplies have to be beamed down."
Jeremy felt himself dissolving , and then he appeared on Ventron. Looking around, he saw men rushing up to him. He'd seen pictures of Stephen Lightfoot, so he knew who to look for. Looking around at the men, he didn't see anyone that looked like Stephen. He wondered where he was. A husky guy came up to him, looking as though he could use a good shave. "You�re the new prisoner? What are you in for?"
"What's it to you?" Jacon asked haughtily.
"You better watch yourself,mister, a lot of horrible things can happen to you in here."
Jacon gazed at him hard. "Right."
Grabbing Jacon by the arm, the husky man said, "You come with me, mister. Let's go see the boss."
Jeremy wondered if the boss would be Stephen Lightfoot. The husky man roughly took him to what looked like barracks.
Walking into one of the barracks, there was a sandy haired man sitting at a desk, using a computer. The husky man thrust Jeremy toward the man at the desk. "Here he is Brad. He gave me a lot of trouble getting him here. Watch yourself."
"Oh, I can handle the likes of him, you can go now, Norphus."
Asking Jeremy, he said, "So, you�re a trouble maker? What did you say you�re name was?"
"I didn't." Jeremy stood there looking at the man. Seeing the computer Brad was operating, Jeremy wondered how much information the prisoners were allowed access to. He would need a good computer to plan their escape.
"You like my computer? Don't touch anything, unless you want to lose a hand. Got it? You have to have permission to use one of these."
"You have others? That's great." Jeremy looked around. He didn't see any other computers in that barrack. He speculated where the other computers would be.
"Yeah, but they aren�t for you. The boss says who uses them. So don't get interested."
"I thought you were the boss."
"Na, Lightfoot�s the boss."
"Ha, ha, what kind of a name is Lightfoot?" Jacon was covering his mouth trying not to laugh.
Brad jumped up from his desk, grabbed Jacon, knocking him to the floor. "You watch your mouth, son. No one gets away with making fun of the boss' name. You've got some gall making fun of a genius."
Jacon got up from the floor, nursing his chin. "Oh, I didn't know he was a genius. Pardon me, while I stand in awe."
About that time another man walked in the door. Dressed in jeans and a blue and green striped shirt, clean shaven, brown hair neatly combed, the man didn't look like a hardened killer, except Jeremy knew looks can be deceiving.
"What's going on here, Brad?" Stephen looked sternly at Brad.
Brad looked scared. Terror swept across his face. "Uh, I was just telling the new guy about you Stephen."
Stephen looked at Jacon. "You�re Jacon Knighton, computer expert, and outlaw computer hacker. You can hack into any system without getting caught. Right?" Stephen stared at him.
"Well, almost. I'm looking for a job, know of any?"
"Maybe, How did you get caught? You�re supposed to be good; what happened?"
"They planted a bug on me, small enough, that it couldn't be detected with normal scanning equipment. Then they followed me to the Alpha System Government building, waited for me to do the job, and then had me arrested. It won't happen again. I'll know what to look for next time."
"You�re planning on doing it again then, I gather." Stephen put his hands in his pockets.
"You betcha. Although, not for five years. For now, I guess I'll be hanging out with you guys. What do you have to do around here for fun?" Jacon asked.
Stephen thought, and then said, "How would you like to get out of here, in say, a month?"
Jacon looked at Stephen cautiously. "How?" He asked slowly.
"I have a man on the outside who's working on shutting down the security system, which keeps a ship from landing here. He's having great difficulty. Are you familiar with a security system called C.I.N.?"
Jacon thought for a second, "Yes, I am. It's a spherical motion detector. Computer Isolation Network. C.I.N. has laser beams that will shoot any space craft that attempts to land on this planet."
"I'm impressed! Can you shut it off, or fool it into not sensing a space ship, so we can get off this planet?"
"Sure, no problem. Who is this guy you have on the outside? Anyone I know?"
Stephen looked at Jacon, thinking. "That's confidential for now. I�ll need to check you out, make sure you�re not with ASM."
"Have you had problems with spies before?"
No, but, I can't be too careful. No telling what those sneaky Alpha Systems Military will do, if they think they're in a corner. Better safe than sorry. I can't have my plans that I've been working on a long time destroyed." Bending down to pick up a pipe, Stephen said, "If you are ASM, I'll have to kill you. You've been told too much."
"Don't worry, I'm not." Jacon looked Stephen square in the eye, without flinching.
