Slideways

by Jeffrey Grode

  Patrick rapped the tabletop with his knuckles. “I see FBI here. Who’s the lead agent?”

  “I am. I’m Agent Lovitsky.”

  “Good. Agent, I need a status report from outside,” Patrick said, sounding like Captain McDugan, USMC. “Please take the guardsman, get eyes on the battle, and come back to report. Quick out and quick back. Don’t get shot. Need to know if the portal’s open or closed, and if we’re still in danger.”

  “Yes, sir.” They both left through the bulkhead door.

  “Please, everyone else standby.”

  Bootsie jumped up on the table near the female agent. She picked the cat off the table and held her close. Her eyes met Patrick’s. “This your cat?”

  “No, ma’am. But I hope to return her to a friend someday, soon.” He pictured Miss Betsy’s smile and pushed the thought from his mind. Patrick cleared his throat. “Dr. Caliban, your technician mentioned a portal over Carmichael.”

  The technician nodded. “300 feet above the ground, but it was only open for a few seconds.”

  “Yes, but maybe long enough for an aircraft to pass through,” Patrick said. “What’s the range for your portal detection equipment?”

  “We’re not sure yet.” Caliban said. “Where are you going with this?”

  “Terra has portal technology, but no beacon. Terrans can’t travel here without our live beacon, so they tried to copy or capture ours. The enemy you faced today wasn’t from Terra, but from Erde, a world with both portal and beacon technology. If they had time today to place a beacon here on Earth, then they could cross at will. You and your detection equipment have work to do.”

  “Yes, we do, and I may need your help, Dr. McDugan.”

  “That we can discuss, along with immunity for me family and reparation for me property and home.” Patrick smirked. “I’m not covered for alien invasion.”

  “Yes.” Caliban narrowed his eyes. “We can work something out.”

  “Good.” Patrick heard a noise from the bulkhead door. Someone, or something, thumped down the wooden steps.

  Due to the closure of route 99 near Carmichael, Patty abandoned her car and hiked three miles along dirt roads and forest trails in a driving rain. Sodden and cold, she reached her father’s property from the north. Loud explosions shook the ground, but arose from somewhere on the other side of the property.

  Patty ran halfway to the house, but heard gunfire close by and ducked under a low hanging spruce. The remaining fifty yards of open ground seemed like a mile away. She shivered. Maybe her family members were somewhere else and safe. As far as she knew, Dad was stuck on Terra. Had John evacuated? She glanced over her shoulder to the safety of the woods. No. John would stay. Especially if he thought Ben might show up here.

  Bullets sprayed the tree above her. Up the hill, a stream of laser light burned through the air and detonated a tank. Her ears rang from the explosion. Seconds later, a stray mortar round hit her father’s house and blew a hole through her former bedroom window. Oh my God. John! Her hands shook.

  A soldier raced past, pursued by a tall green robot carrying a silver tube with handles. The soldier dashed to the house, jumped over a sandbag barricade, and returned fire. Bullets splashed off the green devil’s armor like hail on aluminum siding.

  The robot aimed the silver tube at the soldier. Light burst from the barrel and melted a hole through a sandbag. A second shot destroyed the patio door, sending cinders into the air, only to be extinguished by the rain. The guardsmen ducked into the house, and the robot followed.

  Dear Lord. What if Ben’s inside? She gritted her teeth. C’mon Patty get off your arse! Crawling from beneath the tree, she picked up a muddy stone the size of a soft ball and raced toward the patio in the rain. Nobody is going to hurt my son.

  Fifteen yards from the house, a second robot ran in front of her and blocked her path.

  Patty came to a sudden halt twenty feet away from the green monster.

  Tilting its metal head, the robot slowly raised the silver tube.

  “Get out of my way!” She wound her arm for a fast underhand pitch and hurled the rock. The stone bounced off the metal monster’s shoulder as the laser fired. A stream of hot light sizzled past her ear. Oh, God. Need a little help here.

  “Hey, Robo-nuts. I’m over here!” called a soldier in a dark green uniform from thirty yards away to her left.

  The robot hesitated then turned toward the soldier who’d dropped to one knee.

  The soldier fired his wide barreled weapon first. Although Patty heard a “Fwwoop” instead of a gunshot, the robot staggered backward and fell like a tree. The enemy’s silver tube lay at her feet.

  Lovitsky rushed back into the cellar, dripping wet. He wiped his face and eyes with his shirtsleeve. “The portal is gone. When it closed, it sheered a huge alien tank right down the middle, and the enemy soldiers took a beating. Good thing the Army Special-Ops had electromagnetic pulse rifles; otherwise the robots would have won. The pulse waves fried their neuro circuits.”

  Caliban smiled. “You see? New technology can save lives.” His eyes followed Ben.

  “What about our men?” Patrick asked.

  Lovitsky frowned. “Heavy casualties. Seventy-four dead, one-hundred twelve wounded, and some missing. The bunker was completely demolished. They’re digging through the wreckage for survivors.”

  “Thank you, Agent.” GranPat narrowed his eyes at Caliban. “These casualties could have been avoided. Our soldiers paid a steep price for what we’ve learned today.”

  Caliban stared at Ben. “We’re not done yet.”

  Chapter 49

  Ben’s eyes searched the cellar. Dad, his face covered in dust and sweat, stood across the worktable near the bulkhead door. The two FBI agents near his father looked anxious. GranPat, Brandon, and Lori stood on his left near the cellar steps, while the guardsman kept watch on Ben’s right near the technician. Caliban stood two steps away and stared at him.

  Ben arched his eyebrows, but stood his ground.

  “Something bothering you, Dr. Caliban?” Dad’s eyes brimmed with anger.

  Caliban nodded toward Ben’s father. “Though the loss of lives was tragic, today’s test proved how vulnerable our world has become. We lack the understanding and technology to protect our planet from invasion.” Caliban’s gaze turned back toward Ben. “If your son is as smart as I think he is, he can help us solve this problem.”

  Ben shook his head slowly.

  Caliban’s lips formed a tight smile. “Ben. Please. Give me the portal watch. I’m asking you to do the right thing for all of us. Trust me.”

  Ben’s chest tightened. Albert had trusted him to safeguard the watch and warned him not to give it to anyone. People were willing to kill for the power it promised. “Are you threatening me?”

  Caliban shook his head. “Of course not. I want to protect you, your family, and our world.”

  Ben swallowed. He wanted to protect everyone too. Should he just give the watch to Dr. Caliban and be done with running and hiding? After the past week, he wasn’t sure if he trusted anyone outside his friends and family, but who was he to tell this government scientist no? He glanced around the room.

  “I trust Ben to keep us safe.” Lori faced Caliban and folded her arms. “I’ve known him for a long time. He’s smart, brave, and honest. I don’t know very much about you, sir, but if you’re responsible for the casualties outside, you should be ashamed of yourself.”

  Caliban glowered.

  GranPat looked stricken and nodded slowly. “The portal watch was Albert’s invention, but I share in the blame too. If I hadn’t invented the beacon, our fallen soldiers would be alive today. I trust you, Ben.”

  Brandon placed his hand on Ben’s shoulder. “I trust you too. Keep it.”

  Ben glanced at his father.

  Dad showed him the same slow smile from when they worked in the garage together. “You have to look at both sides, Son, and make the best decision. What do you think?”


  Ben pulled the shoestring and watch from around his head. “If I keep this, Dr. Caliban, what will happen? Will my family and I be safe, or will you lock me in a cell and treat me like you’ve treated Albert?”

  Caliban wet his lips. “If you keep the watch, you better run far and fast. Good people and bad will hunt you down.” Caliban’s eyes flared. “But, I’m sure we could work something out. Tell me what you want.”

  Ben shuffled slowly from one foot to the other. Part of him wanted to keep the watch and disappear through a portal, but running away wouldn’t make anything better. He’d learned a lot about himself since last Saturday. Maybe he wasn’t such a screw-up. People needed and trusted him.

  “Look. I . . . just want to go home, play football, and live a normal life. I promised to take a nice girl to the homecoming dance.” Ben smiled. “I want to be a scientist someday and help make the world safe for my kids and grandkids.”

  Ben met Dr. Caliban’s gaze. “You were right. This is about family and country, but I’m not sure if I can trust you, or our government, with this technology.” He sighed. “Lori’s right too. We warned you to stop the test, but you couldn’t wait to use the beacon. People died today, and for what?”

  Caliban lowered his eyes.

  Ben glanced at his father and then back to Caliban. “I’ve made some mistakes too, bad ones, but giving you the watch might be the worst one of all.” Ben untied the shoelace from the watch and searched Caliban’s impatient face.

  “Give me the watch.” Caliban held out an open hand. “I promise you and your family will be safe. I’ll guarantee full immunity from prosecution.” Caliban grinned. “You want to be a scientist? We’ll give you a full ride scholarship to the college of your choice. Anywhere.”

  Ben’s eyebrow rose. A scholarship to MIT would fulfill his dreams. He straightened his shoulders. “And the portal watch?”

  Caliban nodded. “A blessing and a curse. Portal technology will revolutionize our lives. With instantaneous transportation we could feed the world and eliminate dependence on fossil fuels.

  “Picture a greener world without starvation.” Caliban knit his brows and glanced at GranPat. “Yes. Today was a terrible lesson. Unchecked teleportation between worlds leaves us vulnerable to our enemies. With the portal watch, we can learn how to protect our homeland, and our world, from invasion.”

  “Even if it meant attacking Terra?” Ben’s eyes narrowed.

  “Well, yes. If it became necessary." Caliban frowned. “They remain a threat.”

  Ben shook his head. There were more than two sides to every argument. He felt bad for leaving Ben-Gen and his family on a dying planet, but the Erdian government had attacked Earth instead of asking for help. The Terran government had done the same, but on a smaller scale.

  “Ben,” Dad said. “You have friends on Terra, but we’ve both seen the danger Terra and Erde represent. If we don’t resolve our technology gap, more people will die.” His father smiled. “You have a good mind and a good heart. I’ll stand by your decision.”

  Ben swallowed and felt the weight of the watch, and maybe the world, in his hand. He could give up the watch and be done. Just walk away. No one would blame him. Right? But if he gave the portal device to Dr. Caliban, he may never see Jack again. Worse, a war against Terra would put Jack and his family in danger. What if Jack dies because I make the wrong choice? I can’t let that happen again!

  Today, his government had been reckless, despite being warned. Seventy-four people had died, not counting those from Erde. If he entrusted Dr. Caliban with the watch, then he would no longer control the outcome despite any promises.

  Yet, if he kept the watch, he’d become a fugitive. Could he keep his family safe, or would he put them in danger? Might Erde discover another way to attack Earth? How many more would die? Ben’s head felt woozy, but he recalled GranPat’s words. Just remember to breathe. Trust yourself.

  Caliban took a step closer. “Well, Son? Give me the portal watch and let us do our job. I have a team of scientists who can sort this out, but we need to move fast.”

  Ben studied Dr. Caliban’s eyes and then GranPat’s. “Sorry if I disappoint you, but this watch is too heavy for me, or anyone else to carry.” He held the watch in the palm of his hand and smashed it down upon the metal table with an audible crunch.

  GranPat’s eyes flared in surprise.

  Lori’s face brimmed with admiration. “Crush it.” She grinned as she passed him the hammer.

  “No, wait!” Caliban cried with his arms raised toward Ben. “Please, think before—”

  Ben drove the hammer down three times upon the watch as if he nailed shut the door to hell. “It’s done.”

  GranPat blinked rapidly, then gathered the broken pieces in his hand and slid them into his pocket. “Gentleman, for good or ill, we can no longer make portals.” He placed his hand on Ben’s shoulder. “I’m not disappointed, Ben, I’m impressed. Without a beacon or portal watch, we should be safe from attacks from Erde and Terra.”

  Dad walked around the table and hugged Ben. “You are amazing.”

  Ben took a deep breath and smiled. Maybe there’s always more than two sides, but it’s our choices that make us who we are. He hoped he’d done the right thing. It felt right.

  Caliban shook his head at Ben. “Foolish and short sighted. You put our whole world at risk.”

  GranPat pointed at Caliban. “No, Phylo. You put our world at risk today. And . . . maybe I did too.” GranPat rubbed his hand through his gray hair. “I’ve been so focused on findin’ Betty, I didn’t think about the consequences. Maybe some doors are locked for a good reason. Sorry, Ben.”

  Ben squeezed GranPat’s shoulder. “I watched my brother die on Earth two years ago. I still miss him, but I got a chance to meet his doppelganger on Terra, and it was incredible. Jack became my friend, and I feel . . . whole again. If destroying the watch protects Jack and his family from an earthly invasion, then I made both worlds a safer place.” He straightened and met Caliban’s eyes. “As for a scholarship, I plan to earn one on my own.”

  “Good luck with that.” Caliban pursed his lips and turned toward GranPat. “Patrick, you and I need to speak privately.”

  “Yes, we do, Phylo, but later,” GranPat said. “John, Ben, and Brandon, let’s check out the house above and see if it’s safe.”

  “I’m coming with you,” the female FBI agent said.

  “Me too.” Lori’s blue eyes flashed with determination.

  “Let’s go then.” Ben grabbed the hammer and led them up the stairs.

  Patty picked up the silver tube from the wet grass and ran toward her father’s house. Her left hand grasped the barrel grip, and her right the trigger grip. The tube was much lighter than the rifle she and her father had practiced with when she was young. She knew how it felt to take a rabbit or a deer, but she’d never hunted men or robots before. God help me. I’ll do whatever it takes to save my family.

  As the heavy rain fell, she raced around the sand bags, across the deck, and into the house. Debris littered the kitchen floor from hell to breakfast. Her hands shook, but she held onto the laser. Focus, Patty.

  The soldier and the robot were not in sight, but muddy foot prints ran through the dining room floor to the stairs. Pistol shots rang from the second floor above. Jesus. I hope John isn’t up there. She moved toward the stairwell with the laser rifle at the ready.

  Ben opened the door to the kitchen slowly. Rain pounded the kitchen floor through a gaping hole where the patio door had been. The ceiling creaked as something heavy moved about upstairs. WHZZZZZZTT, sounded from above and a man screamed.

  A hand squeezed his shoulder. “Go slow,” Dad whispered.

  The female FBI agent slid past them. As she moved into the dining room, she stopped and drew her sidearm. “Lower your weapon!”

  Ben followed her into the dining room and stopped, as did everyone else behind him.

  Mom aimed a silver tube up the stairway. Her wet
hair clung to her face and her clothes dripped into a puddle at her feet.

  “Mom, what are you doing here?” Ben said. He couldn’t see up the stairs from his vantage.

  Mom didn’t move her eyes from the top of the stairwell. “I came to find my family.”

  Dad stepped in front of the FBI agent. “Ease up, Joanie. That’s my wife.”

  The second floor landing creaked. “Everyone stay back,” Mom said. WHZZ-ZHHHIT. The air sizzled as light blazed up the stairway from her silver tube.

  “Mom!” Ben rushed forward to help. A charred green robot stood at the top of the stairs and aimed toward him. Someone grabbed his collar from behind and yanked him backward and down. He landed hard on his butt.

  WHZZZZZZTT. The robot’s return fire scorched the floor where Ben had stood a second earlier.

  “Stay put,” Lori’s grip on his collar tightened. “She’s got this.”

  Mom fired once more up the stairs.

  Clod-domp-domp-domp echoed in the stairwell as the robot’s severed head bounced down the steps and into the living room.

  Holy shit. Ben stood up quickly. “Mom, are you okay?”

  She hugged him fiercely, nodded to Lori, and smiled when she saw Dad and GranPat. “I am now.” She looked around the room. “Where’s Jack?”

  “Back home and safe on Terra,” Ben said. “Albert too.”

  “Good.” She nodded. “Well done, Benzo. I couldn’t be more proud of you. And I’m sorry.”

  Ben frowned. “For what?”

  “For not being able to talk about our Jack when you needed me.” Her eyes watered. “His death was never your fault. I should have been able to tell you that long ago. I’m sorry.” She held his chin gently. “Do you forgive me?”

  Ben’s chest felt tight. “Yes. Love you, Mom.”

  “Love you too, Ben.” She turned towards her husband. “You too.” She hugged Dad and then GranPat.

  Joanie cleared her throat. “Any more of them upstairs?”

  Mom frowned. “Don’t think so, but there may be a soldier who needs help.”