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Ziniz
Avril 23, 52065 1000hrs, Family Reception area, Julien III.
"Oh my little Ziniz, I'm so proud of you!" My mother says to me as I walked towards her. Tears in her big blue eyes. She was indeed, proud. It was hard to not smile in return as I wrapped my arms around her. My mind is still racing with questions about my father. I try my hardest to ignore it, but the look on my mothers face was a clear indication that my father's death must have been hard on her. She appears to have aged 20 years since I seen her last, at the quarterly banquet.
She stood roughly five foot tall, her hair had changed from her golden blonde to a shining silver that flowed down to her mid back. Her head was proportionate to her body. Not large like father and I. She resembled that of 40 year old woman. Though she was easily 90 at this point. She wore a long blue dress. Similar looking to a jellaba that you would find in primitive Islam cultures. It had extravagant designs on it that resembled that of a star cluster. I have never seen her wear anything like it before. She was beautiful.
After a few minutes of heart felt embracing. I could hear her start to speak, "Ziniz, I'm so sorry. Your father, he..." I placed my hands on her face. I swallowed, "It's okay mother, The Commander told me before the ceremony." She fights through a painful smile.
"He broke the rules?" She says as she wipes the tears from her face. "He always was close with your father. Right up to the very end." We turned and I guide my mother towards a table in the corner of the room. "He and your father loved each other. They even spent a couple days together before he passed" she continues as I pull a chair out from the table and allow her to take a seat. I stopped as the words left her lips. "What do you mean? The Commander visited father before his death? Why?" I asked her, confused. I pull out my chair and place it in front of her. I take my seat, waiting for her response.
I watched as my mother’s face shifted from sadness to anger. She turns her head to the left and places her palm on her chin with her fingers over her mouth. She is fighting tears. “Mother?” I ask, raising my hand towards her face. She turns and grabs my hand before I am able to reach hers. Her eyes looking directly into mine. Her words screamed through my ears like a train slamming to a stop. “Zin, your father’s death was no accident, nor was it caused naturally, The Commander is the only other person who knew.”
I sit back in my chair. My mind racing with questions. Anger, filling my insides, as I flash back to the words that the Commander spoke to me after breakfast.
After he imprinted and informed me about my father's death. We communicated telepathically a great deal. About a number of topics. Ranging from my father and his retirement, to the alterations and the strange things going on. He broke policy and opened up to me in that hour and the things that he told me all sounded like ramblings. I could not understand why he was telling me what he did. If I’m being entirely honest with myself, I was so shocked of the news of my father that I hadn’t been able to focus on much else that he said. It’s all a blur. However, the last words said at the end of his imprint is what bothers me now.
“Your father knew he was going to die. He never told anyone, but your mother and myself. She can tell you more.” He said to me before grabbing me by the shoulders, breaking his imprint, and saying to me aloud. “You are the key Zin. I don’t know why, but your parents are intelligent, and your father repeatedly told me that you were created by them to “fulfill a great purpose.” Don’t fail him and don’t fail us. Now go! We need you.” The words stayed with me throughout the entire ceremony. It was only the sight of my mother that had the power to break the thought.
“Mother!” I snapped as I force my way out of thought. “I have so many questions” I sit up in my chair, “What do you mean his death was no accident? What else do I need to know about my father? Why did the Commander say that I was the key? Key to what?” The words stumbled from my lips as my emotions begin to get the better of me. My body started to tremble. I’m furious, I’m confused, and l’m hurt.
My mother grabs my hand, her soft, pale hand was tiny in comparison to mine. She shifts her attention behind me at the rest of the room. I watch, as her eyes dart back and forth rapidly, scanning the room, before locking up with mine again. She slowly leans forward and says “Zin, you need to imprint me. There are some things you must know and it’s not safe to speak about them aloud.”
“What? Imprint you? Are you sure?” I quickly react. I look around the room real quick. “Nobody is paying attention mother. Why wouldn’t it be safe?”. Her eyes become stern and demanding “Ziniz, do it! Now” realizing that I had no other choice. I begin the imprint.
The thumping starts as I enter my mother’s mind. The process for doing the imprint is slightly different than then it is when you are the one being imprinted. Not so much thumping in the imprinter’s mind as the imprinted, and the one doing the imprinting has to go through a series of thoughts and memories before they can enter into the mind. In fact, one of the most intense areas of training that we had to endure during the Minder program, was the manifestation of stronger thoughts. Sort of like a firewall for the mind. My mother, had not tried to resist in any way. I didn’t have to try at all to enter. When I did, she immediately started to communicate.
“Zin, my child, I need you to pay attention.” Her voice, like my own thoughts, manifesting within my mind. “I know that this is all coming as a shock to you my son, but your father and I needed you to remain focused. We could have told you what we know through the Commander. We just couldn’t risk you getting found out.”
“Found out? Mother, what the hell are you talking about?” I think. My thought, much louder than hers!
“Calm down, It would be best to just show you what I know Zin.” Her words were followed by a brief pause. During which I see the memory of a star-gate opening in the kitchen of my childhood home, my father steps through, covered in blood and soot. His right arm gripping his abdomen, he is applying pressure to a wound. It appears to be a stab wound. I watch from my mother’s perspective as she runs and catches him before he falls to the ground. The star-gate closing behind him. Her voice overlaying the memory as if she was narrating. “This was the day your father returned from the last alteration he ever did. It was two years after you finished your fist decade of training.”
The images of my mother scrambling to close my father’s wound play out. Blood covering the kitchen floor. My mother panicking and in tears. My father is calm, quite, and aware. He grabs my mother’s arm and says,
“They ambushed us. There’s no one else left. I know what happened, I know.” He goes unconscious as my mother injects a foam into his abdomen to seal the wound. The image goes black and immediately another begins. Fading into my mind along with my mother’s words once more. This time, I see my father, sitting in his chair at home. His face is blank and lifeless. My mother places a plate of food in front of him. He doesn’t respond. “After that day, your father was like this nearly the entire time. He wouldn’t eat, he wouldn’t speak, and he almost never slept. Sometimes, this would happen.” Her voice says as my father begins to scream and shake uncontrollably. Knocking the food across the room and falling to the floor. His head smacking the wall, blood flowing down the side of his face and onto the floor. It was horrifying to watch. My mother, is trying to help him but he is shaking too much. Finally he stops. His body goes limp, his mouth and eyes, wide open. Strange yellow liquid seeps like tears from the corners of his eyes.
“Mother...” I interrupt the memory and it fades to black. My vision return to the room. “... that is exactly what happened our ancestors. I learned about it in training. Is that what killed him? How could it happen to him? How could you speak to him?”
“You know your father. He was stubborn and extremely secretive about his time in the service. Hell Ziniz, your father and I met in the past during an alteration. I was studying a primitive human with some greys during an abduction and he and his Ambassador arrived shortly to talk with my superior.” She laughs aloud. “The bastard wouldn’t even tell me what they were doing there. It was one of the things that i admired most about him. It was what made him such an honorable man.” She sighs. “He would not speak outside of an imprint. He wouldn’t tell me what happened Ziniz. All he would say is, “it isn’t safe, it isn’t safe”. I tried and tried to get it out of him but the answer was always the same. It wasn’t until the commander came to visit that your father gave me some information.just before his death.” She paused. “He said that the Collective might be involved and if he had told me sooner, they could have had both of us killed. So he stayed silent, he also gave me this, for you.”
She reaches into one of her pockets and pulls out a small coin shaped device. Silver, with a small red button in the center and a small lens above the button. A holographic recorder. “He told me that you would understand when the time is right and you need to watch it in private. Nobody else can see this.” I hear as she places the device in my hand.
I didn’t know what to say. I took the holographic recorder. I looked back into my mother’s eyes. She starts to speak again but i quickly interrupt.
“I don’t need to hear anymore today.” I released my imprint, placed the recorder in my pocket, and leaned in to hug my mother. “Father is gone, Im sure he tells me what I need to know. So, ill learn more when I watch this. We don’t have much time left before my assignment mother, Lets talk about you.”
Jarka
1040hrs, far corner table, Reception area. Julien III
I sat there, looking at the other graduates, showered with love and praise from all of their families. I don’t even know what that feels like. Not like I wanted it anyways. I don’t need the distractions. During the quarterly banquets Ziniz would just invite me over to eat with him and his parents. Not this time however, I don’t see his father anywhere. Maybe that’s why he is upset? They have been staring at each other in that corner over there for a while. I want to know what’s up, but at the same time, I just want my damn assignment so that i can leave this fucking place! I have had a couple of members of the Collective try to speak to me but I just hissed them away. I don’t want to talk to those fancy assholes either. I want out! “Fuck it!” I say out loud as I jump up, my chair sliding away from me causing a few of the others in the room to glance my way. I ignore them as I walk out of the reception area and into the courtyard.
The Auditorium where the graduation was held, was a massive structure positioned on the eastern end of an even larger rectangular complex. It had a large rounded entrance atop a small flight of stairs at the end of a 300 meter courtyard in the center of the complex. Fountains, line the center of the field. Statues of former Minders, Ambassadors, and other immortalized military heroes lining the path on both sides. One side of the field was lined with the living quarters, dining facility, and gymnasium. The other, research buildings, classrooms, and the indoor weapons training facility. The far west end was HQ and the officer’s quarters. Beyond that was the airstrip where The Collective has a large number of craft.
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I exited the building and descend the stairs. The fresh air is nice. I walk over towards the nearest bench and have a seat. I lean back, spread my arms, and closed my eyes. I started to think about what the President said about the timelines when a voice broke through and a shadow crept up, darkening my eyelids.
“Congratulations Jarka. You did it. How does it feel to be a Minder?” The voice, deep and slow. I open one eye and begin to say “Please, leave me alo...” when i stopped and sat up in my seat so fast i almost fell off. “You!” I exclaimed, staring right into the dark sunglasses of the suited man. “Who the fuck are you?”
The strange looking man removes his sunglasses and slips them into his jacket pocket while he gestures that i scoot over so he could take a seat. Before I move, I look around the courtyard. Nobody is out here but us now. I scoot a bit and the man takes a seat. He leans back and throws his right leg over his left knee. I watch. His slow deliberate movements are starting to piss me off.
“I said, who the fuck are you? Why do you look like a primitive?” I demanded.
“That’s because I, am, a “primitive” as you say in this time.” he replied. A little too cocky for my liking. “I’m sorry for startling you during the ceremony. I was trying to remain unnoticed.” He turned his head and smirked, then continued to speak with a sideways stare. “Quite impressive. Top of the class, flawless combat scores, and your shapeshifting is even better than I expected.” He turned to face front again. “They call me Henry. Henry Black. It’s not my real name, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is what happens next.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Are you the reason that I was selected for this shit?!?!” I snap clinching a fist. “Answer!?”
“No, I’m not the reason you were selected Jarka. Also, I am not your enemy. So please, calm down. I’m simply a person who is looking out for your best interests. Remember the food I gave you?”He stands up and turns to look at me. He smirks at the confusion on my face. “Listen, you’re about to be assigned an Ambassador named Landu Gildon. He is a fool. He is involved with some unsavory people, you’ll learn more soon. Your Minder partner, will be Hans Hill, The Nordic that graduated seventh in your class. You remember him? Of course you do.” He pulls the sunglasses from his pocket and puts them back on. “Im telling you this because I need you to survive. Don’t take unnecessary risks for those two.Trust me. We will talk again soon.” He turns and walks away. After he takes a few steps, I hear the sounds of people leaving the Auditorium. I glance back for a second and when i look forward again. He is gone.
“What the fuck was that Jarka?” I ask myself, remaining in the seat for a few more minutes. I am not sure what to think at this point. I stand up and turn around to see Ziniz standing by the doorway waving at me.
“Come on snake eyes! It’s time for our assignment.” He yells.
I turn around, looking in the direction Henry walked. Still confused. I ascend the stairs and enter the Auditorium.
Mina.
1110hrs Briefing room, moments before assignment. Julien III.
The briefing room was small. Roughly the size of a small classroom with three rows of chairs and a podium in the front with a small interactive holo-screen. The remaining Ambassadors consisted of Mina, a Nordic, Landu Gildon, another Nordic born on Orion. Gifton Inrol, A tall grey born on the International space station to Collective parents. Another tall born in tranquility known as Lilan goi (pronounce like the French Roi) and his older brother filan. With the last one being a Reptilian politician by the name of Tacka. They all sat straight and focused in the first row of chairs as the President of The Collective briefed them.
“...this is why we need you all to remain vigilant and travel with two Minders from now on instead of one.” The President says as he brings his briefing to a close. Two members of the Collective walk towards the front of the room. They are each carrying a small box. “Inside these boxes are the new and improved jump gear, and your new Minders’ assignment dossiers. These have been designed to allow for travel, not only into the past, but to the future, and throughout timelines. No longer will you be sent only to the past. We have made them, not only smaller, but faster as well.” He continued as they begin to remove silver, cell phone sized blocks from one of the the boxes, the dossiers from the other, to start handing them to Ambassadors. “We need you to find more information of the other timelines to stop the deaths of our men.” I look over at Dim. He is standing on the side of the room. Still, like a statue. His head, slightly hunched forward with his lengthy arms at his side. Staring, directly at me the whole time. Greys have always creeped me out with their discipline. Dim was no exception.
I hear his voice enter my mind as the dossiers are placed in my hand. “New jump gear, we need it. Didn’t have the heart to tell you but our old unit was nearly destroyed during that last ambush in New Oor. Did we get the boy?” I blew him off as I opened the dossier to see the name Ziniz Kagta in bold letters on the top of the first page. I smirked as I thought “We did, we got the boy.”
“What about the reptile?” Dims words appear serious and inquisitive. “Did we get her too?”
After quickly skimming through Ziniz’s dossier I closed it and opened the other. A young Nordic, named Thern Dol. I reply to Dim, “No, we got some Nordic kid. Says here he is he youngest graduate. Only 23. Not really anything special in comparison to test scores to this Ziniz. Interesting pair these two” I shrug and shut the dossiers. “Don’t matter anyway. What’s so important about this reptilian?” I ask him. “I’ve noticed you have been showing serious interest in her Dim. That’s not like you.”
I wait for a response as I hear the President say. “Alright, dismissed. Go out and meet your Minders and head out.” Relieved, I stand up and start to walk towards Dim and the exit. I’m about two feet away when I hear, “Ambassador Mina, the Commander and I would like a word please...”
I turned around to look at the President. The commander was standing beside him. “... Your grey can go wait out in the lobby.” He continues. Dims voice pops into my head. “Strange”
I ignore him as I walk towards them at the front of the room. As soon as the last person leaves the room, the President speaks. “How are you Mina? Been a few years since we seen each other face to face. I’m sorry to hear about your last mission.”
“I’m doing good sir, it has indeed been a few years. Well, you know how it goes. Another day, another alteration, and by the sounds of it, another timeline am I right?” I respond with a sarcastic overtone as I elbow the commander. Who doesn’t seem to find my attitude entertaining. They knew I didn’t care for the Collective. “What’s this about? I feel special being called after class.” I ask.
“This is about your Minder. Ziniz.” The commander steps in. “As you know, this isn’t something that we normally do. However, with the recent loss of all the Minders, we feel this is important for the newest graduates. Especially Ziniz...” confused, I listen as the President removes an envelope from his jacket and places it in my hand while the commander continues. “...That is your first assignment. It is in 5 days. Space time. Before this assignment however, you need to take Ziniz to tranquility. His father recently passed away.”
I examined the envelope for a second and was just about to open it when I glanced at the President. He was lightly shaking his head telling me not to open it. “Best to not open that till you reach tranquility Mina.” He says before I ask.
“So what if this kid’s father passed away? What’s the catch? I’ve learned in my years that the Collective is not as up front as they say they are.”
The commander continues, seriously, “His father was a Minder for nearly 50 years. He is the only minder to have ever said the words. “I know what happened” After he returned from an alteration where his entire team, including his ambassador, was murdered in an ambush. He was changed forever after that day. He was a valuable asset and he was my dear friend. However, even on his death bed, he refused to tell me the details of what happened. He only wanted his son to be safe. Therefore, we believe that this, Ziniz, May bethe key to finding out exactly what happened to him. So, as sort of an assignment, you are to take him straight to Tranquility for a few days of R&R. Let him go about his business. Let him rediscover his childhood home. Whatever he needs this week. Make sure he gets it, and, try to get to know him during this time as well, your first assignment together is an important one. Is this understood?”
They stand there, patiently waiting for my reply. I mull over the idea for a minute before finally giving a quick nod and saying.
“Well, I knew something was special about the boy. This, however, you’re right, this is not normal. Normally I just take my new Minders out to get drunk on our first nights together. No better way to bond with a new partner than over good bottle of Orion wine. Okay! We will go straight to Earth.” I shoot my hand out to shake the commander’s. “I’ll head out immediately...” the commander takes my hand and gives it a firm squeeze, his gaze shifts directly into my eyes as we shake. “...Just do me a favor will you? Don’t bother me for five days. I want my R&R as well.” I conclude with a smile as I turn and leave the room.
*********
The door shuts behind Mina and the Commander turns to the President.
“I’ve played my part in your little game. I saw the boy to graduation. Now, I’m done. Im going home like we agreed.” He says. His voice, sounding slightly defeated.
The President cracks a mischievous smirk as he replies with. “I understand this wasn’t easy for you Commander. The Collective greatly appreciates your service.” He starts to make his way towards the door. “As agreed, you can return home with full pension and benefits for your years of service. I am obligated to remind you however, that you are not permitted to speak about your service to anyone. At anytime. This was part of the agreement, if you recall?”
The commander straightens himself out “Sir, I am well aware of the terms of my retirement. I am loyal to the Collective and will remain so. I simply want to go home.”
“Good, then, I wish you a happy retirement commander. Dismissed.” The President says as he opens the door and steps outside.
The commander slumps down into a chair, unbuttons his jacket, and leans forward placing his head in his hands. “I’m sorry.”
Ziniz
1200hrs Reception area. Julien III
“It’s been real Snake eyes” I say to Jarka as I bring our embrace to a close. “Hopefully we will run into each other soon. Stay safe out there.”
“I hate to admit it Zin, but it’s been nice having a good bunkmate and rival all these years. When we do run into each other again, I’ll buy you a drink.” Jarka replies. We shake each other’s hands one final time and turn to part ways.
Jarka was selected to Mind another Nordic ambassador along with one of the better recruits, in my opinion. She was acting weird when she returned from the courtyard. Typical Jarka, she wouldn’t open up to tell me what bothered her either. Which is unfortunate considering we don’t know when we will see eachother again. Just quiet and serious, until my mother hugged her and gave her a small gift. That really seemed to brighten her spirits. My Ambassador is still in the briefing room.
I have a seat outside the briefing room beside my new partner. Thern, youngest in the class. Great, I remember helping this kid get through a couple tough training scenarios. Kid is more of a nerd. If I recall correctly, he didn’t excel in much outside IT and, hacking and coding.
We sat on a row of chairs opposite the door to the briefing room. Near the door there is a gray standing like a statue. “He hasn’t moved a bit since I sat down.” Thern says.
“Really?” I ask. “I think he tried to imprint me during the ceremony!” I reply before leaning forward and saying “Hey!”
He starts to slightly turn his head as the door opens up and my ambassador steps out. He is not what I expected. Roughly 6’ or more in height, long wavy blonde hair, frizzy beard, and odd flamboyant clothing similar to revolutionary times in Ancient North America. He was a little goofy in the way he walked.
He closes the door behind him and straightens his back. Thern and I immediately stand and go to attention. Our ambassador starts laughing. “Oh boys, please. At ease that shit. I don’t care about the formalities. I’m Mina, your new boss.” He says. Extending his hand towards Thern. His other waving towards the grey. “This little creepy man is my best friend and colleague, Dim.”
Thern shakes his and asks, “Thern, is it?” Thern nods. “Well disciplined, don’t bore me boy.” He jokes and he turns to me, as I reach out and grab his hand, he says “Ziniz, right? I’m told you’re a special boy. Never in my days as an ambassador have I been given a special assignment because of a Minder.”
“I dont understand sir.” I ask, puzzled.
“Ah, I’ll tell you more on the way to Earth. Come on.” He waves for us to follow as he and Dim turn to walk out the door. “Get your bags and tell your mother you’ll see her at home!”
Confused, yet excited. I turn to Thern. We both shrug, and start following behind.