H.O.M.E. 2
by
Fin
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10 years later...
Lieutenant James Blade stood in his father's apartment on Earth.
The young soldier had traveled all the way back to humanity's birthplace in order to visit his old man, whom had retired from Space Command soon after the accident which had claimed his brother's life.
Today was the anniversary of Sam's death, and James wanted to be with his father during this time.
"Dad? Are you here?" the attractive brown haired soldier called out into the empty flat.
There was no answer.
Weird.
His old man should have been here!
The admiral knew he was coming!
And several thousand light years was quite a long way to visit!
"Dad? It's James! Where are you?"
Still no answer.
That wasn't good.
To say that Admiral Franklin Blade had taken his eldest son's death hard, would have been an understatement. It had crushed the man. And the war hero had never recovered.
The admiral had been one of the first to try and persuade Fleet Command to belay The Icarus' last transmission and mount a rescue, but he had been voted down nearly unanimously.
The mission parameters had been very clear.
And the last broadcast had been sent by mission leader Captain Kyrce himself.
If The Icarus encountered in the other dimension what could in any way endanger the Home Universe, they were to signal instructions on what to do very precisely.
The transmission from the other universe contained all the correct codes to communicate that any further travel through The Rift may risk the lives of every creature in our dimension.
And so Fleet Command's actions had been swift and total. A blockade had been created to guard the fissure, and prevent any other matter from our universe from entering it.
There would never be a second mission through The Rift.
Admiral Franklin Blade retired the next day.
James did not want his father to be alone on this 10 year anniversary.
The man had always been too stubborn for his own good.
Who knows what he was capable of if he set his mind to it?
"Dad, this isn't funny. I could have used my Shore Leave to visit the rings of Xeta Prime you know?"
Still no answer.
There was only one place left to look.
James grabbed his jacket, and hurried out of the abandoned apartment.
The 30 year old soldier did not have far to travel. Catching a lighttrain down the block from his Dad's apartment, James rode the magnetic hover car to the other side of the small city his father now inhabitated.
The cemetary was in view within only a few minutes.
If his old man was not here, James would have to call the authorities.
The young soldier breathed a sigh of relief though, when he saw a lone figure standing on the hill that held his brother's empty grave.
Jogging to meet his father, James came to a stop only a few feet away.
"Dad, I've been looking for you!"
Unlike 10 years ago, the man answered his child immediately.
"I'm sorry James. I must have lost track of time."
Turning to face his boy, Franklin Blade had tears in his eyes.
"Oh Dad!" said James as he embraced his old man strongly. "I'm glad I came."
"Me too Son. There's something I have to tell you."
"For the last time Dad, it's not your fault!" answered James quickly.
"Yes, it is boy," continued Franklin. "I didn't even tell him that it was okay... that he was... okay..."
The man swallowed, and tried to compose himself as he looked at his one surviving family member.
"But that's not what I have to tell you, Son."
James looked at his Dad oddly. What could it be that his old man wanted to say? The young soldier looked at Sam's headstone. A fresh bouquet of flowers was now resting on the grass before it. How long had his father been here?
"You know more than anyone James, that what ocurred that day never sat well with me. That I tried with all my influence to go after him."
Tears again welled in the man's eyes as he talked.
"I know Dad. I never once questioned that," said his boy, trying to console him. "There was nothing to do, though. It was just too dangerous."
"No James. It wasn't!" said Franklin Blade, his voice now filled with a passion James had not seen for years.
"Boy, they lied to us! They lied to me!" exclaimed the retired admiral. "They knew! They knew what I would do if I found out!"
"Dad, what are you talking about?!" said James becoming emotional himself. What had his father discovered?
"There was a second transmission, James! Only a few minutes after the first!"
Franklin Blade began to tremble with rage, unable to speak any further.
"Dad, what did it say?"
"It was from your brother..."
"Dad, what did it say!?"
Unable to talk any more, Franklin Blade just handed his son the datapad.
Written on it, was the real final communication from The Icarus.
"I have taken command. Belay last transmission. Send rescue immediately. Highest Priority."
-Lieutenant Commander Samuel Blade
James Blade did not know what to say. Nothing made sense anymore. Not the sky. Not the ground. Not the breath in his chest.
"Dad, this can't be real. Where did you find this!?"
"It's real James. I know it is! I've worked for years to find the truth of that day... to find what they hid!"
"But why, Dad? Why would they do that?" cried James unabashadly, unable to hide his emotions.
"They think it was a mutiny of cowardness, James... that your brother.. that he did not want to die over there, on the other side of The Rift!"
Franklin's face was once again set in a scowl!
"I know my boy!" bellowed the retired admiral, his voice ringing out across the cemetary hill. "Sam was no coward!"
James nodded in agreement.
"Sam wouldn't do that," the young soldier spoke softly.
"No, he wouldn't," said the elder Blade taking his youngest son by the shoulders.
"James, I need you to be strong now boy. I'm going to need you to cover for me while I'm gone."
"Wait, what? Gone where Dad?" said James unable to understand what his father met.
"Isn't it obvious Son? To the other side of The Rift! I'm going to bring back your brother!"
James just stared at his father. The man had gone insane!
"Dad, you can't do that! I won't let you!"
Confusion mixed with fury emanated from the elderly war hero!
"What did you just say to me boy!" yelled the admiral.
"I won't let you go... without taking me!" said James staring at his old man directly in his eyes. "I'm coming with you, Dad!"
The two men continued to stare at each other on the lonely cemetary hill as day slowly turned into night, their determination joining into a plan of decided action.