Astra Pt. 09

She sighed, "Different route to take. Leaving out the time travel pieces?"

He nodded, "For now."

She nodded, "Except for the wives."

He nodded, "Also the Planetary President when she contacts me. You can explain all of that but we will not get wives until we have a roof to put over their heads."

She nodded. She took a cred stick from him, "Then I will need to get an ID as well. Astra Travus for a name?"

He chuckled, "No, Astra Future. Too many, 'legality' issues with 'are you or are not my wife and not being human. Let me get this sold and then we can look to get my ID straightened out with a judge first. Then deal with your ID on the planet."

She nodded, "Alright. Get the seven tanks sold and get back. I will get the sperm samples set for pickup. Then tie it into your account when it gets created from selling the tanks." He nodded at her. He worked over getting things situated inside so they could get them out without exposing the rest of the contents of the ship. He went back to the second floor.

He looked at the board at it changed, 10,802 TC ml.

He walked toward the 2 bodyguards who looked to stop him. He asked, "3 or 4?"

One of the bodyguards looked at him, "What?"

John stared, "Places you want those arms broken? 3 or 4." The guys looked back and he was waved through. John looked at him, "They almost cost you some business." The man nodded, "My commission is 15%."

John looked at him, "No, it is 13% the reason being is this deal is worth 151,228 Million TC's. I can go to another station and get someone to accept that. That leaves my share at 82,888,066,800."

He asked, "What is it?"

John smiled, "Do we have a deal?"

He nodded, "If it is worth that much."

He nodded, "14,000 liters of metallic hydrogen in 7 pressurized tanks. Which I expect you to pay to replace."

He asked, "Where?"

He looked over, "Tau Ceti. Another failed rig; this is the last of the cargo from it I managed to salvage it before it failed to gravity."

He waved him on to his scout "Heavy Gravity lifts, no forks." He let him scan the 7 cylinders on the ship. He looked up, "14,000 liters."

He nodded, "John Travus. Open an account for me as I just got here."

He sent for men. The men came over and tried to move the tanks, "We need forks."

The man looked, "Don't you rupture those! It is worth Billions. Get some more men."

He walked away while John watched the dock workers struggle with the cargo. After they got it onto the gravity lifts, they watch them start to short out. He shook his head, "GS industries finest products." The man nodded.

He was given his account number. He boarded his ship. Astra got the account associated by sending the message to the courier. The sperm back service that had come and left already.

He called out, "TSM-158475 requesting to depart pylon 3. He released his docking clamps and he was freed, "Terra-7 TC, you are free to depart TSM-158475. You have a 7-hour balance remaining."

He sighed, "Hold it for me as I will be back to one of these stations soon."

He took it into the atmosphere. He looked at her, "Get me a security firm."

She nodded, "You want bodyguards?"

He nodded, "I want a private hanger, A private shuttle purchased and registered. Name of "Nymph and a second named Divine Grace. The same model with docking rings on opposite sides so we can dock them both and jump them all." She smiled and nodded, "Helps to explain some of the additional length you put into the Pylons."

She nodded. "Shuttles ordered. Collins Security. We need a location?"

He sighed, "Tokyo, Japan."

She nodded, "Understand. They have offices there. You want a weekly or monthly contract?"

John looked at her, "A year and with the guards being top of the line and vetted by you." Including two personal bodyguards when we take a shuttle out."

She nodded, "There are cheaper places to get a shuttle in place and stored."

He looked at her, "Where?"

She sighed, "Australia. There is a remote field there."

He shook his head, "Remote has not worked for me. I want another as a pilot as well as the two bodyguards." She nodded, "Very well; the two 9-man shuttles. Will support that."

They flew into Japan, "Tokyo TC, this is TSM-158475 inbound for the secure hanger, C-45, owned by Collins Security."

He heard back, "TSM-158475, Your glide path is set. Welcome to Tokyo."

He chuckled, "They know if we are going there, we have money."

She nodded. He flew it straight into the hanger and looked over the shuttles. "Astra listening devices." She fried several, "Done."

He walked in and shut down the shuttles and pulled the power core and the engines. He went back to his ship and created up his own versions. Including incorporating space worth engines into the design.

He looked it over, "Better than GS quality on the frame design but still GS crap for parts. He had guards who stood around and watched him as he installed a new power core, relays, heatsinks, and engines. Then used the ship's tractor beam to perform the work. He then did a sensor upgrade on both shuttles." He nodded when he finished. He had been running 32 hours straight.

He put a little picture of a nymph on the side of one that reminded him of Sprits, scantily clad. Then the same for Divine Grace. Once he was satisfied, he spoke with Brandar Collins. A nephew of the company owner, "I take it the shuttle did not meet your standards? We could have had it customized for you."

He shook his head, "Not with what I installed. All who work for me must sign an NDA. This has teeth and if your people violate it, we will come after your company. Nothing about me or my research can be released."

He nodded, "Our employees are already under such an agreement. Our customers pay for privacy."

He nodded, "That was why we destroyed 6 listening devices aboard each of the new shuttles."

He sighed, "I will look into this."

He signed and got the other 8 members of his security detail in place. He docked Divine Grace to the Scout. "Astra, arm all weapons and PD weapons on the Survivor. Nobody goes near it or the ship will kill them."

The man nodded, "Understood. Not the first time this has happened."

He nodded and boarded the shuttle with Astra, "Chiba, Dragons' Mall."

The pilot nodded, "Doing some shopping?"

He nodded, "Yes, need a suit or two that fits."

Astra sighed, "You ate right more often that suit would fit just fine."

He kissed her, "Need one for today and you need a new dress. Appropriate for court. Maybe a few of them."

She nodded, "Alright."

John thought to her as the shuttle flew along, * Status of my family during this timeline? *

She groaned and thought back to him, * I knew you would eventually ask. All dead from that disease I told you about. You have no past life here. *

He nodded to her and thought, * Thank you for being honest with me. *

They went in and shopped a couple of high-end stores and got tailor-made suits and a few dresses for Astra. She loved the attention of the sales lady she was flirting with. They walked out and he looked at the driver, "Courthouse."

He nodded and took them to the courthouse. He went and grabbed forms for marriage, name change twice over. And filed them all out on his pad. He walked into an available Judge.

He thought to Astra, * Background. Trustworthy? *

She simply nodded. He walked into the judge's chambers with just her. He thought, * Phase 1.*

15 little popping noises occurred around the office. John looked across and spoke in Japanese, "My Apologies, your honor. First, my associate disabled all the listening devices in the room. Second, our being here is under a slightly different and more complex motive."

The Judge looked across, "Might I ask how she disabled all of those devices?" John nodded and thought to him, He started with his first meeting with her to how he ended up stranded in Tau Ceti. The Judge looked a little shocked. John was glad he was still seated.

He sighed, "What do you want with me?"

John held out the forms for him, "The first will clarify my legal name change. With the extenuating circumstances, we would like the details of why this was approved sealed.

The second is to establish an identity for Astra Future. A wannabe holovid star who has changed her legal name from Astra to Astra Future. Also sealed."

He sighed, "You want to pass her off as being human?"

He smiled, "The ID's do not state race on them. Only name and qualifications. Her's are listed. She is very talented obviously."

He nodded, "If questioned she would own up to not being human?"

He smiled, "If questions by authorities she would. To a person on the street, not likely."

He nodded, "Very well. Your age presents a challenge."

He nodded, "I know. List the real age, the lady at the ID counter did not pick up on it when I put in for my new ID. Let people ask why I look so young it will come up.

But my new name will be required to keep up all the legality on existing and future contracts. I have one for security only now. Also, the registration on my scout and two shuttles."

He nodded, "You planning on doing the same in this timeline. Becoming a military leader?"

John shook his head, "No, I want to build a business base to take on GS head-on in competition. I never set out to become a military leader. That just happened as a side effect of being an inventor and being attacked over and over again."

He nodded, "I am personally tired of seeing them clutter up our courts with all of these lawsuits."

John nodded, "I am tired of all the death they cause."

The judge nodded and shook John's hand. "I thank you for what you are trying to do for humanity. That was a lot to take in and you carry all that weight on your shoulders. Find others to help carry that water."

He nodded, "I will."

He signed the forms and sealed the files. They left his office and got Astra Future her ID created. She smiled, "Thank you."

He thought to her, * Still my hidden wife if you will. *

She hugged into him. They went back to the shuttle. *Scan for listening device and explosives. *

She scanned, "I did find a tracker." He nodded, "Locate and relocate it to another shuttle." She smiled and did as he asked. He looked at the guard, "How did a tracker device get placed on the shuttle?"

He looked at what she found, "A traffic cop came by and did a routine inspection on the shuttle. We did not see them place anything on the shuttle. We will be more careful about that."

He nodded, "He got back into the shuttle with his contingent. "Astra check messages." She laughed, "I have 30 requests for interviews."

He nodded and thought, * You want wife and wife candidates who in there has more than a journalism degree and a pretty face. *

She looked and she displayed three. He read through them all and then selected one. A local one in Japan. He looked at her, "Find me a patent attorney and business manager."

She looked through and she stopped. "John give me a second." She ran a check. "I found one in Australia but I am not sure if this will upset you or not."

He asked, "Why?" She sighed and showed him all the information. On the woman and then her picture."

John felt gut-punched and conflicted. "Give me everything about her. She pulled it up and he found she had a girlfriend who had aboriginal roots. He looked over, "I want to dock this shuttle to my scout and take it to Sydney to one of your facilities there." He nodded, "Will make the arrangements."

He looked over the reporter's information. "I want to get the lawyer and business manager locked down first."

She shook her head, "Reporter first."

He sighed and brought up the reporter. Yoshida Kiru, 27 single, Bi-sexual, never married, she had no children. Military service as a fighter pilot for 2 years. Degrees in journalism and engineering. Martial arts experience including Kenjitus, and karate, Shito-Ryu style. Black belt level.

She popped up on the Screen and smiled, "Did I win the interview lottery?"

He chuckled, "Maybe."

She smiled, "I am recording now. John Travus, walked into Terra-7 sold 14,000 liters of Metallic Hydrogen and made billions and then simply left the station."

He nodded, "Yes, that is true."

She laughed, "Who are you and where did you get this fortune from?"

He sighed, "The name of my ship is The Survivor. I am the last survivor of Tau Ceti. Pirates were a problem there. The man I worked with had a mining rig on a gas giant. I was tasked with trying to protect it. I failed. I destroyed the pirates but they damaged it enough that we could not arrest its fall. The man I worked for was killed in the attack.

Explosive decompression in the area and I assume his body went into the Gas Giant. I salvaged several cylinders of Metallic Hydrogen and hydrogen and with nothing holding me in Tau Ceti I returned to Terra. I sold the cargo not knowing it's exact worth until I arrived. That caused me to pause and think about how I would approach my personal security.

The first thing everyone would ask me is how did I do it? Can I do it again? Even though I was not the one doing it. You get the idea. I made some money. If I was interested in or had the ability to do it, I would have looked at buying up the leases here. I have not done that."

She nodded, "I have to ask, you look to be in your mid 20's yet your ID lists your age as 50."

John smiled, "An investigative journalist. The age on the ID is correct."

She smiled, "How can that be?"

He sighed, "Because under human law I am human. But I am not entirely human. I encountered a race known as the Drakor. Their DNA modified me to be 40% Drakor."

She looked shocked, "You encountered another alien race? They modified you for what purpose?"

He smiled, "The short answer. To try and help humanity. As you can see my age has been retarded significantly. My blood is a biological gift to humanity. It can cure most diseases including cancer, Parkinson's, dementia, and many others that plague humanity."

She looked at him, "You are giving me one hell of a story. How do I know this is true?" He held up his right hand and twisted and bent it in seven different ways including twisting it backward.

He straightened out his arm. "I am human and not a lab rat. I will wait until contacted by the Planetary President if she wishes to accept this gift for humanity or not. It is a choice. The changes that were done to me would fundamentally alter the DNA of anyone who got 5ml of my blood.

They could do the same to anyone else. They have asked me to be a protector of humanity. They have different roles in their society all bound by a psionic blade. A red blade is the aggressive ones who go rushing in to defend humanity; if they were a human hybrid. The blue blades, they are the cautious ones the defenders, if they were a human hybrid. They watch the attack and counter as appropriate.

The reds, are sword if you will, the blues are the shields. Then there are the justices. They are a balance of the two. They seek to keep the sword and shield balanced but to seek justice for humanity. I can say that is what those justices seek because I am a Justice. My sword name to the Drakor is Dispenser of Justice.

Every hybrid, for each race they do this with, undergoes several challenges. I have completed the first level of graduation if you will. The one that tells them humanity should not be destroyed. They have the firepower and technology to walk in and destroy us if that is what they wished. Instead, they want our people to learn to find a balance. Not all; not asking all to become hybrids.

I am looking for a high level of acceptance for what I can do, and what I have done to protect humanity. Things I will continue to do. To go after the enemies of humanity, to root out corruption, and work to bring balance to humanity. Because if hybrids fail, then humanity will fail. That means extinction. There is a second means of getting this DNA in smaller doses.

My personal assistant had put my semen samples on the market. Every child conceived with it will give the mother 1% Drakor DNA for each child she carriers. It will provide those gifts dealing with regeneration and disease removal at a lower level. It takes longer, but it works. Those are out there for those who wish to make that choice. Again, I am human by human law and I am declaring this openly.

I have no reason to make that up. Anyone who wishes for me to assist them or a family member; I would urge you to send the request to the Planetary President to authorize this exchange."

She was still in shock, "You talked of Psi swords. What are those?"

He slowly had his blade float into his hand and then activated it. "I am a master with the Katana if you wish to test that out for yourself. I studied all of the techniques for decades." He put his sword away. "I will give you time to get approval to put this interview on the air; how much they will allow, and time to hear back from the Planetary President." He ended the call. Astra smiled, "So much for keeping a low profile."

He shrugged, "Let me know when it airs."

She laughed, "They are airing it now. You have an incoming call from the Capitol." He nodded, "Put it through."

She stood there with her cabinet. He thought to Astra, * Phase one then scan for aliens. *

She chuckled as the room literally exploded in fireworks. She looked around, "What just happened?"

He sighed, "Ask your Security Services. When they find the remains, they will find dozens of listening devices; some alien, most are human."

He thought, "Astra net over Capitol."

She smiled and nodded, "There is now a net over the Capitol. Anyone who has or brings in a listening device will find they explode going through your Security Service checkpoints."

Astra responded, * The Admiral is a Caldar. *

John thought to the Admiral, * Stand perfectly still and silent until I ask you questions. *

He looked at her, "Drakor hybrids have many talents to help protect humanity. Including finding aliens who are hostile to humanity." He thought to the admiral, *Show your true form. *

The admiral turned into a green Caldar. The President backed off from him. John looked at her, "Meet the Caldar, they hate the Drakor because the blood I am offering helps to protect humans.

That takes away from the Caldar's food supply; they eat humans. Admiral! How many humans have you killed?"

He growled out, "Get out of my mind. I have killed hundreds of thousands over the last 234 years."

John sighed, "More likely over a million correct?"

He thought back, "Yes, if not two million."

He sighed, "How many of each color are on the planet currently. I will hunt them down and exterminate them one-by-one. You have no redeeming qualities."

He growled out, "Only 9 of us, 3 from each sect."

He looked at the President, "They have 3 sects if you will. All based on color. Blue, green, and yellow. They are extremely flammable and hybrids blood causes them to explode and poison the food supply." He looked at the Admiral, "Have I told her anything that is not True Admiral?"

He groaned out, "We have value. That I disagree with."

John sighed, "Come now Admiral, to humanity what value do you have?"

He growled out trying to fight John's influence on him, "To humans, we are a means of population control as you are cattle. We prefer the males of your species over the females."

John nodded, "Contributing to the lopsided number of men to women."

He growled, "Yes."

He called out, "Put the small cube of material that controls that blob on the table. And leave the rest of that body on the floor. NOW!" He separated out a 2cm square of material on the table. The rest fell to the ground. "He looked over, "Anyone of you has a lighter? That is the only part you must destroy before disconnecting this call. They are telepathic, which is why I can do this with them. I lose control over his mind and he will go on a murderous rampage to hide his identity."