Kerrigan’s suite was much larger than the regular crew quarters. It was actually made from on of the ships many viewing rooms that allowed you to see outside the ship and watch the stars go by. Kerrigan was sitting behind an antique wooden desk in the area designated as his office. He was putting his digital signature on some data pad reports.
Kerrigan asked Anyantha to go elsewhere for the time being. Janessa was alone in the office with him. He got up from his desk and came closer.
“You seem to be spreading rumors,” he said, “some story is going around that I want to rule the world. And you seem to have some ideas about the technology on this ship that you are not qualified to back up.”
“Its good to know you can get straight to the point without any of the usual bullshit,” said Janessa, “since we are getting to the point why don’t you try telling the truth? Where did this ship really come from? There is no way the Solar Fleet was able to develop technology this advanced so fast.”
“We have had a long time to work on it,” said Kerrigan, “this ship is the culmination of years of research. Why can’t you accept that?”
“Because she knows that it is a lie,” said Duron Ardiniero as he entered the office, “as soon as your assistant left I let myself in.”
“How did you get in here?” demanded Kerrigan, “even with your command codes you don’t have access or permission to enter my suite.”
“You are right,” said Duron, “normally I would not be able to come in here without permission. But I had help from the one person who has access to every part of this ship.”
Janessa could not move. It had been so long since she had been this close to Duron, so long since she had heard his voice. And now here he was coming to her defense.
“You do not have permission to divulge classified information Commander Ardiniero,” said Kerrigan.
“He has my permission,” said a deep voice.
The thing that appeared came from nowhere. One moment there was nothing then the dark figure was standing among them. It was shaped like a man. It was over six feet tall towering over everyone else in the room, even Kerrigan who was not a short man. It wore a black bodysuit with gray tubing. Its head was covered by a dark metal mask with round black goggle lenses and four sharp looking mandibles around the mouth and antennae on the sides of the head that were like great ears or horns. Overall the thing was quite menacing.
“What are you doing?” said Kerrigan startled.
“You are a clever young woman,” said the tall dark creature, “you are right. This ship was not built by the Solar Fleet. This ship belongs to me.”
“And who are you?” said Janessa trying to hide any sign she might be confused or frightened.
“I am Zai, last of the Raath,” he replied, “That Which I Serve has sent me to aid humanity in this time of war. I came to Earth one year ago with this ship, the last remaining Raath warship, and I am allowing the Solar Fleet to use it to combat the Spectral Horde.”
The reality of it truly started to hit Janessa what was happening. She understood what she was talking to and said, “You’re an alien?”
“By your definition, yes, I am an alien. I come from the planet Zeith. Before you even ask it, no, I am not the same species as the Spectral Horde. Their origin is unknown. My world and people are gone now.”
“Did the Spectral Horde have something to do with it?” asked Janessa, “did they destroy your world and now they want to do the same thing to us?”
“No,” said Zai, “my people were destroyed by a force far more powerful and dangerous than the Spectral Horde.”
Janessa wanted to ask what could possibly be worse than the Spectral Horde but Zai touched something on his arm and he vanished. From nowhere his voice came one last time, “You would do well to remember who this ship belongs to Mr. Kerrigan. You may hold the highest position of authority in the Solar Fleet, but you have none over me.”
Kerrigan was nervous. He told Janessa she was not to tell anyone about this, that it was beyond top secret. Then he told her and Duron to get the hell out. Janessa was standing alone in the corridor with Duron. He was looking at her but she had no idea what he was thinking.
“Kerrigan has a point,” he said, “We don’t know how the crew would react to Zai. It is best if he stays hidden.”
“How long have you known about this?”
“They told me about him a week before launch. Only the leaders of the six international blocks and their closest advisors know about Zai. They had to tell me because I needed to know in case I had to work with him. Apparently he just showed up out of nowhere with this ship a year ago. Everything they have said about how the ship was built and its technology is a lie to keep Zai’s existence a secret. That is how he wanted it.”
“There’s an alien on this ship and I can’t talk about it to anyone.”
“I am here if you need to talk Nessa…”
“No,” she said abruptly and held out her hand as if to keep him at bay, “don’t call me that. Just please, don’t call me that. Not you. Just don’t.”
Janessa could not bring herself to look at him anymore. A few moments ago she might have been ready to kiss him, but then he called her by that name, the nickname Tania had given her and all the other feelings the less affectionate ones she felt towards Duron came back to the surface.
“I see,” he said, “of course. I did not mean to… I wish our meeting again could have been under different circumstances.”
He walked away without saying anymore. And for a moment Janessa remember a time when he was the center of her whole world and she was the center of his. She remembered a time when he was her fiancé and she had a best friend and their nickname for her was Nessa. And then she remembered the day Tania died and what came after and why she would not let herself forgive Duron for it.
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