by Kenneth Buff
Dick and Henry: The Space Saga
by Kenneth Buff
Copyright 2014 by Kenneth Buff
Visit: Kennethbuff.com
Dick and Henry: The Space Saga
Kenneth Buff
This one’s for Michael.
Thanks for reading these back when they were just a file on a hard-drive.
The Outer Shell of Known Existence
Dick sat in his seat as Miracle Grocer’s Transport 1 slowly moved through the vastness of space. His ship was carrying a load of fresh vegetables from the farm station. He was taking them to be packaged and processed at MG Station 2.
The trip was a twelve-hour flight that he would be making alone, except for the harvest robot on board, bot model HN-R3.
“How are the pressure levels in the trailer, Henry?” Dick asked the robot.
“The levels are visible on your dashboard display, but since you have asked I will provide the information,” the robot read the gauge on the wall. “The gauge currently displays the pressure at 43 psi, perfectly within the limits needed for the plants to continue to survive.”
“Thanks, Henry,” Dick said smiling.
Henry’s direct answers were the closest thing Dick had had to conversations in months. A skeleton crew who was all business and no chat populated the stations. Their idea of conversation sounded something like this: “The trailer goes in Dock 43. Your room is number 12B,” and those were the exciting ones. But he mostly didn’t mind it. As long as he was paid, it was all fine by him. He made enough that he was able to put a little away every month. Saving for that dream home back on Earth. Hoping to start a family to put in it once he met the right girl, or at this rate, any girl.
“Engage autopilot,” Dick said to his dashboard display.
“Autopilot engaged,” the ship said.
“Taking a break, sir?” Henry asked. “Your quarters are prepared, and I’ve activated the tea dispenser if you prefer a stimulant.”
“Thanks, Henry,” Dick said pulling a table out of the wall. “But I was hoping you’d be interested in playing a game of checkers with me.”
“Interested, sir? My only interests are your safety and well-being as well as the continued success of the Miracle Grocer’s transport program.”
Dick smirked at the robot. “My well-being would be improved if you played a game of checkers with me.”
“Well, in that case I would be most interested in playing a game of checkers with you.” The robot took a seat across from Dick. “But I should inform you that based off of win history and behavior observations, my calculations show you only have a 7.5 percent chance of winning.”
The two played several games. Henry won them all.
“Display front view,” Dick said to the ship.
“Front view displaying.” The screen of the ship was now consumed by the blackness of space. Clouds of dirt floated past, reflecting back the floodlights of the ship.
“Do you think there’s anything out there, Henry?”
Henry looked to the ship’s screen.
“Are you referring to space, sir?”
“Yes, I am,” Dick said.
“Of course there is. But I do not think, I know. Space is full of combinations of gases and solid elements that make up the universe’s planets, stars, and solar systems. It is the most outer shell of the known existence.”
“Right,” Dick said, “but do you think there is anything else?”
“Like what, sir?” the robot asked.
“Do you think there is life?”
“Life has proven to exist on many of Earth’s outer colonies. It has been found growing in flowing water and in the warmest surfaces of the planets.”
Dick rubbed his hand across his face in frustration. “Of course, you’re right. Life has proven to exist. I forgot about the plankton on Marsia.”
“And the mushroom spores on Phidelphius,” Henry added.
“Right, those too,” Dick said.
With no other pieces left, Dick moved one from the back row forward. Henry moved, taking the piece and kinging his own.
“Good move, Henry,” Dick said.
“Thank you, sir,” the robot said, his voice mimicking a sense of pride.
After the game, Dick placed the pieces in their slots and pushed the board back into the wall.
Dick returned to the pilot seat and watched the screen. On it he saw something strange. Rocks. They were in the distance, and they appeared small, but Dick knew this wasn’t the case.
“MG, activate manual pilot.”
“Manual pilot engaged,” the ship said.
“Henry, do you see that?”
“They appear to be asteroids. I estimate their average size to be fifty-three yards in circumference, judging from their apparent size from this distance.”
“Thanks, Henry, but what the hell are they doing here? We’ve never seen asteroids between the stations before. The shield is supposed to protect this space from them.”
“It would appear the shield has failed, sir.”
“Failed,” Dick said with disbelief. “It was built to take asteroid hits.”
“Yes, but if any given point were hit by an asteroid with a circumference meeting or exceeding 343 yards, or if several asteroids were to hit the wall at one time in an adjacent space with a combined circumference meeting or exceeding 343 yards, the wall would fail.”
Dick maneuvered the ship left, avoiding an asteroid a quarter the size of the ship. Small bits of frozen rock bounced off its hull.
“So you’re saying that these asteroids hit the wall all at once and ripped through it?” Dick asked.
“No,” the robot said. “These asteroids do not contain the proper density to have broken the wall alone.”
“So what are you saying, Henry?”
“These asteroids are small pieces of a much larger one. One that was at least 343 yards in circumference before it impacted the wall.”
“Computer, split screen 50:40 between A cameras and AB cameras.”
Half of the screen showed the space directly in front of the ship, while the other half now showed the rest of asteroid Henry was talking about. It was enormous. Larger than both Stations 1 and 2 combined.
“Rotate camera twenty degrees left,” Dick said to the ship. He could now see more of the small frozen rocks. They were headed down, in the direction of the ship, fast.
“Henry, is this ship designed for asteroid impacts?”
“No, sir, but minimal impacts would leave the ship functional. However, it is unlikely we will only withstand minimal impact in our current situation. Evasive maneuvers are advised.”
“Thanks, Henry. Do you have any advice on where to evade to?”
“The likeliest location for survival is between the slower moving asteroids that are now above the ship. If timed properly, they will absorb the majority of the faster-falling debris.” The robot stepped toward the display. “I will program the path into the ship’s computer.”
“Suggested path impossible,” the ship said. “For evasive maneuvers, detach trailer and power cells 4A and 4C.”
Henry turned toward the rear of the ship.
“Henry, what are you doing?” Dick asked.
“Removing the trailer and power cells 4A and 4C.”
“You can’t,” Dick said. “If you remove the trailer, the missing merchandise will be docked from my paycheck.”
The robot looked at Dick, confused by his concern. “If the trailer is not removed, you will die, and the product will be destroyed regardless. It must be removed now.”
“Can’t you program a new path, one that requires less weaving so we can keep the trailer?”
“I cannot progr
am a route that will ensure survival with the trailer still attached. Its hull is designed for perfect conditions; it was never intended to be used outside of a space shield. Any amount of foreign pressure over fifteen pounds will rip through it, and likely induce a fire.”
“So you’re saying it’s not possible to keep the trailer?”
“Not if you want to live, sir.”
“Remove it,” Dick said.
Henry pressed the air lock button and entered the pressure chamber. The chamber began to depressurize.
“HN-R3, requesting depressurization override.”
“Override accepted.”
The ship skipped depressurization and opened the exterior door. Henry activated the magnetic clamps in his feet and stepped toward the trailer.
“How’s it going out there, Henry?” Dick asked, speaking into the microphone inside the ship.
Henry looked up at the falling debris. It was growing larger every passing second.
“Debris impact imminent. Convert automated path to DESCANO directions.” Henry reached down for the bolt connecting the ship to the trailer; he pulled it, and the trailer detached.
Henry turned and began climbing toward the belly of the ship, toward power cell 4A. He did not look back as the debris tore through the trailer; small flames erupted inside it before being swallowed up by the cold breath of space.
The debris shook the ship, testing its integrity.
“Have you converted the automated path to DESCANO directions?” the robot’s voice asked Dick over the ship’s loudspeaker.
“Yes,” Dick answered.
“Good,” Henry said. “The ship will be able to perform the maneuvers within a 70 percent range of accuracy. That will increase as I remove the power cells.”
Dick wiped sweat from his head. “Hurry.”
“Turn ninety degrees,” the ship’s voice said. “Hug wall of adjacent asteroid.”
Dick turned the wheel in the direction of the asteroid. It was twice the size of the ship. He pulled away, just before the nose of the ship hit. The rear of the ship bounced off of the side of the asteroid, sending vibrations rocking through the vessel.
“Sorry,” Dick said into the microphone.
Henry’s arms flew into the air while his feet remained planted firmly to the ship. He had almost reached power cell 4A.
“Do not apologize. The ship is flying accordingly.”
“Flying accordingly?” Dick asked. “The heat sensors are going crazy in here. If that’s flying according to plan, I don’t know how many more times the ship will be able to do that.”
“Judging from the vibrations passing through the mass of the ship, I estimate that the ship should be able to withstand 1.5 additional impacts of equal caliber.”
“Thanks, Henry,” Dick said with irritation.
Henry reached the cover of power cell 4A. He pulled the tip of his index finger back, revealing an electronic screwdriver. Henry bent down and unscrewed the cover. The power cells circuits glowed a dark blue, shining brightly in the darkness. Henry disconnected the power cell and pulled it from the cavity in the ship; he released it, and it floated behind the ship. Debris battered against the cell, pushing it quickly into an asteroid. It exploded.
The force of the explosion twisted the ship, sending it off course. Dick pulled back on the controls, smacking the side of a small asteroid.
The blast’s vibrations loosened Henry’s magnetic feet, and he went flying toward the nose. He scraped the side of the ship with his fingers, but found no grip. He activated the magnets in his hands, and his palms stuck to the ship. He placed his feet on the metal once again and headed for power cell 4C.
“What the hell was that?” Dick asked.
“Power cell 4A made contact with an outside substance. Most likely an asteroid,” the robot said, nearing the second cell.
“Well, make sure that doesn’t happen this time. It’s hard to fly this thing when it’s being pushed into rocks.”
“I cannot guarantee power cell 4C will not make contact with an outside substance. In our current surroundings, it is 98.3 percent likely that it will.”
“Great,” Dick said.
Henry bent down to remove the cover of the last cell, but when he placed his finger over the screw it wouldn’t turn. The screw was stripped. Henry forced his hands between the cover, and the ship pried at it until the screws snapped. He released it, and the cover drifted off into space.
The cell beneath it was damaged. It was leaking fuel. The fluid was leaking out onto the belly of the ship, decorating it with its vibrant glowing blue.
Henry looked at the cell, then at the debris falling around the larger asteroids.
“Sir, the last cell is leaking fuel. When I remove it, the fuel will spill out onto the ship; this will ignite upon the cell’s explosion, but then will quickly extinguish. You can expect the ship’s flight to be as equally affected by this blast as the last, but it will likely affect it more.”
“So, expect another explosion and prepare to get the ship back on course?” Dick asked.
“Yes and no,” the robot said. “When I release the last fuel cell, the ship will accept the automated path programmed into it, and it will right itself. I will need you to open the exterior door to the pressure chamber for my return.”
“Okay, just tell me when.”
“Approximately thirty seconds from now.”
“No, I mean tell me when you drop the cell.”
“Yes, sir.”
Henry reached his arms into the ship’s cavity and disconnected the cell. He pulled the cell out and carried it in his arms. The blue fuel leaked out in floating pools, coating the underbelly of the ship and the metal legs of the robot.
Henry stood at the ship’s edge. He watched as rocks drifted past. He released the cell.
“Activate automated path now,” Henry said to Dick.
Henry activated his magnetic hands and began to climb the ship, heading for the pressure chamber.
The cell drifted behind the ship, leaving a trail of fuel. A small asteroid hit the cell, and it exploded. Shards of rock and fire pushed the robot forward, igniting the fuel on his legs. He flew through the opened chamber door, flames following behind, wrapping themselves around him.
The door closed, killing the fire and activating the room’s gravity. The robot lay on the floor, his bronze legs darkened from the intense flames.
Dick stood above him dressed in an airlock helmet and suit. “Glad you made it, buddy.”
“Thank you sir,” the robot said as he pushed himself to his feet. “Has the automated path been activated?”
“Yes,” Dick said, smiling. “Let's get you inside.”
Once the ship was safely out of the asteroid field, Dick switched the screen to the ship’s rear cameras. He watched as the massive asteroid descended into the field, crushing the smaller asteroids into dust.
“Wow,” Dick said. “It’s a good thing we made it out of there when we did.” His voice was full of gratitude.
He blinked his eyes and turned the rear cameras off. He spoke into the ship’s display, “Asses damages.”
“Exterior hull moderately damaged. Quadrants A and B have suffered light asteroid impacts, Quadrant C has lost multiple layers of paint due to fire damage—”
“Assess total cost of damages to pilot,” Dick said, interrupting the ship’s monologue.
“Total cost, including loss of product trailer and power cells 4A and 4C, is estimated at one hundred thousand credits.”
“Two months’ salary,” Dick said aloud.
“That is correct,” the ship said.
Henry, sensing Dick’s wavering morale, unplugged himself from the wall and approached the pilot’s chair.
“Your heart rate has elevated. Would you care to play a game of checkers?”
Dick looked at the display clock, saw that he still had ten hours until their arrival at MG Station 2, and said, “I’d love to.”
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