Lost Empire

Chapter 44

Ship # - name - prime

0001 - Tempro

0003 - Conner

0097 - Ace - Zimmel

0098 - Lucy

0101 - Shelby (mother ship) - Derrick

0125 - Lars

0200 - Ellen

0301 - Rodrick

0403 - Johnathon

0667 - Marco - Brown

0778 - Jan

0798 - Celeste - Shelby (human)

0908 - Tara - Mara

0999 - Zan

1000 - Sherry - Lucie (for the moment)

Derrick calmly reached into his pocket to produce the requested documents. Emperor Gregor grasped the papers thinking that this was another spy. He'd not expected the man to remain calm. Looking over everything he could honestly see nothing wrong.

Trusting his instincts more than his eyes Gregor let the man go though he was going to keep an eye-? What in the hell was going on? He wasn't getting a reading on the man at all! Okay, this was a serious situation. Reaching for an alarm Gregor was about to set it off when he changed his mind.

Derrick breathed a sigh of relief as soon as he was out of sight of the emperor. Damn that had been close though knowing the man like he did he was watching. Adjusting a switch on his wrist comp Derrick smiled well he WAS trying to watch him. Then Derrick lost the smile, if Gregor was trying to watch then he'd be concerned when he couldn't see Derrick. Shit! Derrick thought I need to do this and get the hell out of here!

Moving as rapidly as he could Derrick found the computer. Loading the discs he crossed his fingers as he started to punch in the code that Shelby had given him. A mere twenty minutes later Derrick breathed a sigh of relief when the discs finished loading. Beating a hasty retreat Derrick didn't see the shadow of a man that had been watching.

Gregor arrived where Derrick was only a few minutes before Derrick left. Moving to the main terminal Gregor started to type in several commands. Then he typed several more, as a furrow came to his forehead he nodded. Trying another route Gregor was typing at a furious rate only to be confounded more. Who in the hell was this man that he could hide his activity from Gregor's absolute override?

Moving from the computer room Gregor contacted his best agents. He needed to have the man shadowed 'til they found out just who he was. If what Gregor thought was going on, then they had far more trouble within the inner circle of the empire than he thought.

Derrick hoped that what he'd loaded into Mary wasn't discovered. It was vital that she got these messages in the future. Fingering the blue disc Derrick just hoped that this would actually keep her safe as she had said she had been for centuries. Let's just hope that the quick fix he'd written was enough.

[Derrick I am picking up a transmission from emperor Gregor. It appears he is concerned about a man he saw. From the description he is talking about you. I suggest you return Derrick.] Came Shelby's thoughts.

[I would Shelby but I don't think I did enough for Mary. I set a good many things into motion but I think there are a few that I missed. I'm going for the ship I'll let you know as soon as I am aboard.] Derrick thought back to Shelby.

[Alright Derrick be careful, the emperor has dispatched an agent to follow you. Please hurry as I remember there were none better than them.] Shelby replied.