The Xenonian Encounter
by Sarien Helmet

***

Report 309678A 
Fr: Commander Fleekut of Star Generator Project 
To: Master Vohaul 
Everything is going as planned. The Arcada will be in sector HT at designated time thanks to efforts of spy. Deltaur route of escape to sector HH after capture of Generator. The galaxy will be yours. 
End Of Report 309678A 

I stepped back from the computer. The plan was completely laid out. Steal the Generator, leave, destroy Xenon. Simple. Nothing could stop it. Although, I was beginning to question in my mind a Xenonian ruling everything. It just didn't seem right. Why had Sarien officials allied with this Sludge Vohaul? He seemed evil enough, but there was just the question in the back of my head. Why not just kill him and take over the universe? It would be easy with no annoying Xenonian in charge. But they gave him authority on every aspect of the mission. It was just wrong. I knew it would collapse. But then, maybe then the Emporer would agree to wipe out every Xenonian in the universe. It was my plan. It was perfect. 
I walked down the hall of the Deltaur. True, something was nagging at me. I knew there was nothing wrong with the mass murder aboard the Arcada that would happen in just a few hours. I knew my plan would work. What could be overlooked? Xenon would be a ball of flame soon. As long as the soldiers carried out their orders to search the ship. Leave no doors closed. Leave noone alive. Of course, they assumed that only meant the Xenonians. Ha, ignorance is wonderful. 
The droid rolled slowly into the room. We finally had it. The Star Generator. Destruction of the Sarien Empire's enemies. It was finally possible. "Rel. Guard the Generator in room E50." I commanded. "Soldiers 57639577 to 57639677, guard Deltaur sector E. I want that Generator to survive the trip to Xenon. Our opponents will soon be nothing but a new Sun and a few historical records. I will be a legend. Future Emporer Fleekut, of the Great Sarien Empire. Emporer, of the Universe. 
It must have been a wonderful suprise to our soldiers aboard the Arcada. Only our spy and the Generator had left the ship. The Deltaur was cruising towards sector HH and then Xenon. We would be unstoppable. Of course, the Arcada had to be destroyed. Our guards had to make sure noone would come and stop the self-destruct sequence. 
"Sir," said a communications officer, "We have been recieving messages from the Arcada. They are requesting to get off before self-destruct. Should I send shuttles?" 
I replied, "No. Save all communications from Arcada, according to regulations, but they are unimportant." Those words had to be an amazing mistake. I wouldn't realize that until too late. 
A short time later, an acquaintance of mine walked up to me. "Neelus, I'm not sure leaving our soldiers on the Arcada is the best decision." 
"That's Commander Fleekut to you. And I know what I'm doing. If another ship comes, they could send men aboard and discover the missing Generator. That would bring the downfall of our mission. All Xenonians are scum. Not one should be left alive. They can't be trusted. They're a waste of oxygen, even though oxygen is so useless everywhere but Xenon." 
"You're forgetting, Vohaul is one of them." 
I was annoyed that I let my opinion about him slip. "Yeah, well, maybe I just don't see why an alien was put in charge of this project. He's used others before. Not too long ago, he got Ael to make clones for him. Ael was found dead in his cloning facility, and there was a bug in the machines. The clones were turned into useless insurance salesmen. I think Ael did it once he realized what Sludge was doing, but he found out and killed Ael for it. It's obvious anything Vohaul is in gets screwed up somehow." 
"Then why are you letting this go so smoothly?" 
I chuckled. "It's all part of my plan. The Emporer will realize all Xenonians are worthless. I already told him that. When he... realizes this is all Vohaul's fault, I will be rewarded with a higher military position. I will, with my own hand, kill the last Xenonian in existence." 
"You're sounding crazy." said the bastard disrespectfully. 
I grew into rage. "You're speaking to future Emporer Neelus Fleekut! I recommend returning to your station aboard the bridge now. You don't want to defy me." 
"Request denied." he answered, very bravely. 
"Fine. Goodbye then." I pulled out my modified pulseray and shot Butston Freem. Due to some bugs in the pulseray's ability to only destroy organic matter, a spot of blood was on the uniform. I called a worker to take it to the washer. That worker was really slow in getting to the place, but I decided that was OK. 
"Sir?" a scanning officer called. 
"What?" 
"We've detected a escape pod crash on the planet Kerona." 
"So?" 
"The escape pod's path is from the site of the Arcada. One Xenonian lifesign is detected." 
How could the soldiers be so stupid as to let a Xenonian escape alive?! "Send down a Spider Droid." I said calmly. 
"Yes sir." 
Some time passed. I'm not sure how much. I thought about the possible outcomes of this man escaping. He would obviously know the Generator was stolen. The Xenonian military could come. My plan would be ruined. 
"Spider droid self-destructed." beeped a computer. 
"Is this Xenonian dead?" 
"Sir... the lifesign is still reading." replied the scan officer. 
"What?!" I yelled, "The Spider Droid should track and kill the organism. What went wrong?!" 
"It destructed early, sir. Unidentified cause." 
"I want that Xenonian to be killed. No excuses." 
"Sir, the lifesign is faint. Wait- it just dissapeared." 
"Excellent. Stop tracking and resume course to sector HH." 
Somehow, this escapee had died. Maybe the Spider did kill it and some bug in our scanners didn't detect anything until later. Now nothing stands in my way of being the Emporer. I would be the first ruler of the Universe. According to some, especially natives of Andromeda, there are multiple universes. If I do discover these universes, they will also be under my command! I will be Ruler! Not a protoelectron will be out of my command! It was then that my pet Species 489234 came up to me. I felt happy. Not from power or death, I just felt happy. I remember seeing it in the streets when I was just a little weakling kid. Power. I must have power. My pet must have sensed my thoughts, because it squirted acid at me. It was always mad when I want the Power I deserve. I called a guard to take the creature away. I walked into my quarters and started checking almost useless facts. Wait. What is this? According to the computer, Butston Freem just took his pulseray from the Weapons dispensary. That can't be. Butston Freem was the man I shot not too long ago for resisting command. I brought up the security camera recordings from that time. Sure enough, a Sarien walked up to the droid and asked for the pulseray with the ID card. Butston Freem. I don't know what happened, but Freem had to be stopped. I watched him steal a gas grenade and walk out. I watched him drop the grenade down onto the Star Generator's guard. 
"Stop Butston Freem with defense measure 4734." I told the computer. That would scramble his molecules. He wouldn't live to tell anyone anything. It was my own ingenious invention. Unfortunately, it didn't have the same effects on non-Sariens. In most other species, it caused almost instantly leaving neural confusion. It was only useful to, maybe make that person trip, drop something, or lose a helmet. That was my next big mistake. If I had only found the problem I could have made it stop anyone. It would be an excellent torture machine. 
"Movement detected." 
That was impossible. I had killed this sorry excuse for a Sarien twice. Something was going on. "Scan him. I want to know everything." 
"Scanning..." said the computer. 
Soon, the results were in. "Non-Sarien bio-sign detected. Probable Xenonian." 
No. This wasn't true. The same man who had escaped from the Arcada? 
"DNA results show match to Xenonian detected in Kerona crash." 
I had to stop him. Now. Suddenly, a blaring alarm. 
"Star Generator set on self-destruct. Deltaur has 0% chance of survival. Evacuate immediately. 
I left to the escape shuttle. I dove in while the door was closing. Straight in front of my face was his feet. Sludge Vohaul. The Xenonian. I stood up. 
"Commander Fleekut." said Vohaul. 
"Sir." 
"Your failure has not been tolerated. You are now taken off of your duty as Commander. If there was a next time, I would recommend not losing your ship and the chance to destroy Xenon. When we arrive at the nearest planet, you will be taken off this shuttle. It would save resources if you wouldn't have made it in here." 
"Yes sir." I said as he ripped my badge off my uniform. 
I went to a computer hooked to the database and entered the DNA of the Xenonian who had destroyed my future. 
"Match confirmed. Name: Roger Wilco. Birthplace: Xenon City, Xenon. Occupation: Janitor Second Class, Starship Arcada." 
There had to be some mistake. "Refresh information." 
"Name: Roger Wilco. Birthplace: Xenon City, Xenon. Occupation: Janitor Second Class, Starship Arcada." 
No. My plan had been ruined by a janitor?! That is impossible! How could a measly floor-mopper save Xenon from destruction?! I must kill this Roger Wilco! Nothing will stop me! 
"Nearing Labion." announced the navigational computer. 
"I hope you enjoy your stay." Vohaul laughed. "Move within transporter range of Labion." said Vohaul. 
I was dropped off on the jungle planet. But I will get my revenge. No janitor stops the great Neelus Fleekut. I will find him someday. Until then, let him stay all proud. Savior of Xenon, bah. I don't know when it will be. Tomorrow, a year from now, or on my deathbed. Wilco will pay.