Tatum's War

“You look great son! Have you been working out?” His Father beamed.

“Hi Tatum!” Gabriella waved at the screen.

“Hey Gabby.” Tatum waved back. “You been a good girl for dad? Making sure he stays out of trouble?”

Gabriella nodded enthusiastically. “I’m making sure he eats healthy and he goes with me and Shadow on walks.”

Tatum raised an eyebrow, “Shadow goes on walks?”

Gabriella smiled broadly, Tatum’s Dad looked less enthusiastic about the arrangement.

“What does Mr. Chance think of this?” Tatum asked.

“He thinks it is wonderful. He pushes Shadow out the door every time and says that she was getting fat anyway.” Gabriella frowned. “I think he says those things to upset Shadow. He’s not very nice to her.”

“Now, now, Gabby. I’m sure Mr. Chance is just teasing. He loves that dog just as much as you do.” Tatum’s Dad smiled. “You should see your sister when she is sitting on Shadow’s back. It’s almost as high as a horse.”

Tatum looked surprised. “Shadow let’s Gabby ride her?”

Gabriella giggled uncontrollably. “It is so much fun. And when Shadow runs, I am going faster than a car!” Gabriella clapped her hands then held them out like an airplane.

The doorbell rang.

Tatum’s Dad looked towards the door. “I wonder who that is.” He picked Gabby up, who was still making airplane sounds, and placed her back down on the chair.

“Who’s at the door, Gabby? Alexa?”

Gabriella strained to see. “I can’t tell. But it’s not Alexa, she’s gone.”

“What do you mean she’s gone? Is she okay?” Tatum’s said concerned.

“I think….Shadow!”

Gabriella disappeared from the screen, as Tatum strained to the side to see. Tatum heard muffled sounds but couldn’t make out what was being said. Frustration continued to build as wild thoughts of Alexa’s demise ran rampant in his mind. Their conversation before he left crashed down on him with the weight of a wall. Finally, a dark figure appeared, which he immediately recognized as Shadow’s massive chest, followed by Gabby giggling hysterically as she was being pulled by Shadow’s tail.

“Dad, Dad!” Tatum shouted at the screen.

“Tatum, we need to shut down soon.” Zulutan informed him.

“Not until I find out what happened to Alexa.” He told him.

“Who is Alexa?” Iyara’s voice sounded a little annoyed.

“She’s my neighbor. We grew up together on the block. Where did she go?” Tatum wasn’t certain, but a bad feeling crept into his belly.

After some commotion, Tatum’s Dad reappeared on the screen. “Sorry about that. Mr. Chance is here. He’d like to talk to you, if that is okay.”

Tatum nodded. “Of course.” If anyone had the answers, Mr. Chance would.

Mr. Chance pulled up a chair and shared the screen with Tatum’s Dad. Tatum noticed that he looked a little older than he remembered, but his eyes were still full of life. But he saw concern in them and Tatum thought it was meant for him.

“Hiya, Tatum. How goes your schooling?” he asked.

Tatum laughed. “Much more physical than our games of GO, Mr. Chance. I’ve spent a lot of time being tossed around.”

Tatum’s Dad perked up. “You playing sports?”

“Taking a Kung Fu class, Dad. You’d be proud. My instructor mops the floor with me quite a lot actually.” Tatum said.

“Nice, son. No wonder you look stronger. But everyone has to start somewhere. How are your classes?” he asked.

“Good. Learning a bunch of things, about a lot of things. It’s been quite an education.” Tatum smirked.

“Like what?” he asked.

“Ah, well…” Tatum saw Zulutan shaking his head. “Well, just a lot of sciency stuff. Biology, physics, you know, pretty boring stuff.”

“Biology? You?” His Dad asked surprised. “I thought the school was about strategies, and the game of GO?”

“Yeah.”

Mr. Chance spoke up. “Well, they do a lot of cross training. They believe in a well-rounded education, where you can apply strategies in all things. Right Tatum?”

“Yes…yes. That is very true. I’ve gain a new appreciation for the variety of species in the universe.”

Zulutan shook his head, and Iyara laughed silently.

“Universe, huh. You sure you weren’t abducted and replaced with a pod person?” His Dad teased.

Tatum nodded nervously. “If you only knew. It’s just that I’ve gained a new appreciation for things after meeting such a diverse group of people here at school. I can learn, dad.”

“I know. You just sound more confident than you did.” He smiled proudly.

Tatum blushed under the complement.

“Tatum, is anyone there with you?” Mr. Chance asked.

Tatum involuntarily looked over at Zulutan and Iyara. Both looked unsure what to do.

“Yes. A couple of my classmates are studying. Do you know where Alexa has gone, Dad?”

He shook his head. “No. I haven’t seen her since you left for school.”

“I know!” Gabriella came shouting into the screen. Her face scrunched up against the screen giving a good view of her snotty nose.

“Go blow your nose.” Tatum told her.

Gabriella sniffed, while moving back from the screen. “You better be nice to me, or I won’t tell you.” She huffed.

“Gabby. Tell me where Alexa went.” Tatum told her.

“No.” She said turning her back to the screen.

“Gabby!” Tatum started but Mr. Chance leaned in.

“Tatum. Who is there with you?” he asked.

“What does it matter? Do you know where Alexa is!?” Tatum almost grabbed the nonexistent screen.

Mr. Chance nodded. “But I need to talk to one of your classmates.”

Before Tatum could say anything, Iyara popped her beautiful face into the screen. Tatum’s Dad appeared surprise, and Mr. Chance smiled warmly.

“Iyara, nice to see you.”

“As you, Mr. Chance.” Her musical voice answered. “Nice to meet you Mr. Harper. Your son is a very nice young man.”

Tatum’s Dad sat up straighter. “Thank you, Ms…”

“Iyara. Just Iyara.” She cooed.

“Well Iyara, with a woman as beautiful as you saying that, I’d say he must have changed quite a bit.”

Iyara laughed and flipped her hand at the screen. “Now I know where he gets his charm.”

Tatum sighed. “Gabby, tell me where she went please.”

Gabriella was staring at the screen. “She’s pretty. Is that your girlfriend? Alexa is going to be mad. You shouldn’t cheat on her Tatum!”

“I’m not cheating on anyone Gabby. What do you mean anyway? Where is Alexa!?” Tatum yelled.

“Iyara, will you tell the Head Master that the Dragon is on the move.”

Iyara’s eyes widened. “Where?”

Mr. Chance shook his head. “I can’t not say. But he needs to inform the Two.”

Iyara nodded. “Thank you. Mr. Harper it was nice meeting you.” Iyara squeezed Tatum shoulder as she left.

“Tatum, Alexa has been recruited by a specialty school like yours.” Mr. Chance said.

“That’s great!” Tatum’s Dad clapped his hands together. “I knew she had a hidden talent.”

Mr. Chance nodded in agreement. “A very special talent.”

“Who, Mr. Chance. Who recruited her?” Tatum asked.

“The Conclave.”

Tatum’s breath caught in his throat.

“We have to go.” Zulutan whispered.

Tatum shook his head. The picture started to turn fuzzy.

“No! Dad!” Tatum yelled.

Tatum’s Dad waved though the fuzzy picture as the audio began to fade. “I love you, son. Take care and I’ll talk to you soon!”

The picture faded out.

Tatum pounded his fists on the table. “Bring them back!”

“The black hole we used to relay the communication has moved. The conversation is over.” Zulutan tapped some buttons, stood, and walked out.

Tatum sat in silence. He couldn’t believe what he had heard. Alexa would never willingly go with anyone from the Draco Conclave. They were the enemy. What could she possibly have known to be a part of the war? She was peaceful.

The door opened.

Commodore Greystone walked in with a passive face, followed by Iyara, and MeerRhonda. Commodore Greystone sat down at the head of the table, as Iyara sat beside him, while MeerRhonda sat on the other side of the table. Before Commodore Greystone could say anything, Tatum pointed his finger at him. “You knew! Didn’t you? You knew Alexa had been taken by the enemy.”

“Tatum, understand. We didn’t know for sure.” He said.

“Why, why would they take her? She doesn’t know anything. She draws for god’s sake. How could that help them?!” He put his hands together.

Commodore Greystone shook his head. “I don’t know Tatum. I really don’t. The Conclave has no rhyme or reason for what they do. They destroy and move on. Whatever reason they adducted her, she must be very good at what she does.”

“She doesn’t do anything! That is what I’m trying to tell you.” Tatum yelled.

“Tatum,” Iyara started, “she must be good at something. They wouldn’t have taken her if she wouldn’t be useful to them. Can’t you think of anything?”

“No. I told you. She never did anything other than draw.” Tatum pounded his fist on the table in frustration.

“Then she will die.” MeerRhonda’s statement hit Tatum harder than any punch she could have struck him with.

“We have to save her.” Tatum pleaded. “We have to go and get her.”

“We don’t know where she is, Tatum.” Commodore Greystone said. “Besides, despite what Cadet MeerRhonda said, they won’t kill her. The Gray Witch wouldn’t take her if she wasn’t useful. We just don’t know why yet. Let’s not give up hope.”

Tatum felt sick to his stomach. “Tell me about the Draco Conclave.”

Commodore Greystone leaned back in his chair. It was clear many thoughts were running through his mind, as his lips pursed and relaxed in rapid succession. Finally, he leaned forward, folded his hands together and placed them on the table.

“I think you have the right to know, and since you have been working so hard, you should be given the opportunity to understand your roll. You were sent here to help us after all. I don’t see why you shouldn’t understand what we are up against.” Commodore Greystone sighed. “The war we are involved in is very old. It has been waging across the universe since this part of the universe was just a bunch of heated gasses. Countless civilizations have come and gone in that time.”

“Destroyed by the Conclave?” Tatum said.

Commodore Greystone shrugged. “Not all. The war is not like any war you might understand. And I can’t fully give it meaning, for even I am still trying to understand, and I’ve been at this my whole life. Like Buccaneer Zulutan, my civilization is very old too. But even then, we were a very young race, not much more advanced than yours, when the Two came to us.”

“Who are the Two?”

Commander Greystone smiled. “Until you meet them, I can’t really explain.”

“Then let me meet them. I have to find and save Alexa! She’s my friend.”

“And you protect your friends.” Commodore Greystone finished.

“Yes!” Tatum said. “I told Alexa that if anyone were to take her, I’d find her and then make them pay. Those aren’t just words for me. Do you understand?”

He nodded. “Are we your friends?” He asked.

Tatum’s eyes widened in surprise. He’d never really thought about it before. He looked over at MeerRhonda, who watched him impassively. Iyara smiled as he looked at her. Tatum acknowledged that these were his friends too.

Tatum nodded. “Yes.”

Commodore Greystone smiled. “Then you need to focus on helping us. In doing so, you will help and find your friend.”

Tatum reluctantly nodded. “Okay. I’m still unclear how I can help though. Besides being a punching bag for MeerRhonda, I still don’t know much about our enemy and how I can help. I’m just some kid from a backwards planet, in an unremarkable part of the spiral galaxy. Mr. Chance didn’t tell me anything before I came. I’ve just enjoyed my time here, except for the beatings.”

MeerRhonda cracked the slightest of smiles.

“Well, be as that may, you are here to help us figure out how the Draco Conclave is expanding their territory. Our best strategists can’t seem to find a pattern or reason why the Conclave attack where they attack and leave other more strategic positions unmolested.” Commodore Greystone shook his head. “Not even the Two understand the Gray Witch’s motives on capturing territory and they know her best.”

“Is that the name of the leader of the Draco Conclave? Gray Witch?” Tatum asked.

“No, that is just our name for her. No one knows her real name, except the Two and they only refer to her as Magus Canusa. All we really know about the Gray Witch is what the Two have told us, and what we have seen her armies do.”

“Can’t you stop her? Are they unbeatable?” Tatum asked.

Commodore Greystone smiled a wiry smile. “Most of the times, they are easily beaten. We have won every major battle we’ve been in, except those involving the Habitation ships. Unfortunately, when we clean them out of a system, the inhabitants return back to the Conclave. It’s frustrating that once we reclaim a territory most inhabitants go back to her anyway. Sure, some systems return to their former ways or join our cause, but over fifty percent return to the Conclave.”

Tatum frowned. “That doesn’t seem right? Why would they do that? What could they possibly want from a conqueror?”

Commodore Greystone shrugged. “We don’t know. That’s why it’s important to find out where they are going, so we aren’t chasing them. If we can stop them, before they take a system, then we might be able to gain some ground and stop this war.”

Tatum saw the agreement in Iyara and MeerRhonda.

“What about these Habitation ships. Why can’t you defeat them?”

Commodore Greystone’s eyes narrowed. His face turned ugly at their mention. “They are beyond us, mostly. They have great power, and even greater defenses. We haven’t been in many battles with them, which is lucky on our part. For even our best ships can’t beat them. But we do have a ship on the way that will even the playing field. Needless to say, when a Habitation ship arrives, the best strategy is to run.”

Tatum heard the hard truth in his statement, and it sent a shiver down his spine. He wasn’t sure how he could help; their best strategists were having trouble finding a reason for the Draco Conclave’s attacks. But he knew he would help anyway he could. Not only because Alexa had been taken, but no one should rule another.

Tatum stood. “I’ll do my best. We have to get Alexa back. She isn’t like them. She’s not cruel or mean or anything. She just wants to help people. I know her.”

Commodore Greystone nodded. “Good. I’ll give you access to our files. If Random believed in you, then we will too.”

Tatum’s chest swelled with pride. He knew he’d do whatever it took. “Let’s go, MeerRhonda. We have some training to do.”

MeerRhonda nodded.