The Battle for Eden

by Mark E Burgess

  The beautiful walls of dark polished wood were adorned with numerous family portraits. Some pics showed a younger Tyrus standing with buddies in military garb; others captured him with Amanda and the kids at various ages. And a few photos featured a smiling Katherine and a smaller Jessie with a dark haired man in dress uniform.

  Simon was lost in the history displayed there when he abruptly became aware of a presence at his right elbow. He turned and startled involuntarily as he saw Jessie’s smiling face beaming at him from inches away. Ares, how did she sneak around so quietly? Her grin broadened when she saw that she had surprised him, and she said, “Whatcha doin’, Uncle Simon?”

  Despite his irritation at having been caught off guard again, he couldn’t help but grin back. She was just too damn likable, and today her mouse brown hair was done up in pigtails, maximizing the cuteness beyond belief. And calling him uncle, well that pretty much sealed the deal. No doubt she knew that, too, the little vixen. “Not much, little Jess,” he answered. “Just relaxing and thinking about that great meal your Aunt Amanda fixed up. I haven’t eaten this well in years.”

  “Don’t ya have a wife or someone?” Jessie asked him, crawling onto the armrest of his chair.

  “Nope, no one,” he replied. “And I’m no good cook, and the SpaceForce food is even worse!”

  “Yeah, I remember my papa telling mama how good her food was compared to Service rations,” Jessie nodded. She pointed at a picture on the wall. “That’s my papa there, see? He was killed fighting Knackers.”

  Simon nodded somberly. “You must miss him.”

  She nodded, then frowned. “I do miss him, but I’m starting to have trouble remembering what he was like, in real life, you know, not just in pics or vids. I think mama misses him more; they were married a long time and she remembers everything. I wish I could remember more.”

  Simon’s heart ached at the little girl’s matter-of-fact statement. The words were right, but they were said with such scant emotion that he wondered if Jessie had ever had the opportunity to properly grieve. He suspected that her mother was grieving enough for the both of them.

  “Mama likes you,” Jessie interrupted his thoughts. She was grinning mischievously. “I can tell from the way she watches you, and sometimes she smiles when she sees you.”

  “Oh, she does, does she?” Simon replied, taken by surprise and not entirely certain what to say.

  Jessie looked from Simon to the wall photos, and said, “You’re kinda like my papa. He was brave and fought in the Service, just like you. When I get older I want to join up and fight Knackers, too.”

  Simon stroked her hair and said gently, “No, Jess, you’ll do something better. Fighting is ugly, it’s dangerous, it’s...necessary sometimes, but it’s never something that a person should look forward to.”

  “What could I do that’s better?” the child asked him, and he could tell she was totally serious. Damn, this war had caused so much damage beyond the physical casualties.

  “Well, you could have a family, for one. Create life, instead of death. Be a good friend to others, help people live happily. Maybe be a doctor or a vet like your mom, and save lives. There is a galaxy full of opportunities, Jessie, if you open your mind to them.”

  She looked thoughtful for a few moments, then said, “Maybe I could be a vet....”

  “Maybe. Just remember, your papa fought not because he liked it, but because he was protecting things that are more important. Things like family, loved ones, and freedom. Those things matter. The fighting is meaningless without the reasons behind it.”

  “Okay, I understand. But I can still shoot Crabs when they come to the house, can’t I?” she asked hopefully.

  Simon laughed and said, “If it’s okay with your mom, then I guess so.”

  “And mama says it’s bedtime right now,” Katherine’s voice intruded from the doorway, startling them both. “You’re up late, little girl. Get upstairs now and get ready to be tucked in.”

  “Yes, mama,” the girl said contritely, and she slid off the chair, but not before giving Simon a quick kiss on the cheek.

  As she ran out the door, her mother looked at Simon with a half smile, and said, “We’ll talk further,” before following her daughter upstairs.

  Awhile later Simon was beginning to doze off when Katherine returned and sat down in the chair next to his, sighing deeply as the cushioned softness worked its magic. She leaned back and closed her eyes for a moment, then looked sideways at Simon and offered, “She likes you a lot, you know.”

  He nodded, and said wryly, “Yes, I got that impression.”

  Katherine smiled tiredly. “Jessie has always been pretty forward. You never have to wonder what she’s thinking.”

  “True,” he agreed. “But her mother is a different story, isn’t she?” Katherine’s eyes widened and he looked at her steadily. “I would really like to know your thoughts right now, if you’re willing to share.”

  She dropped her eyes, fidgeting self consciously with a thread on her sweater, then she swallowed and said quietly, “I overheard part of that conversation you had with Jess. I want to thank you for the way you handled it. She misses her father more than she can say, and I think she’s subverted her grief into something darker.” Her fingers picked harder at the fabric as she continued, “I don’t like how vengeful she’s become, almost bloodthirsty. Having someone in the military tell her that there’s more to life than killing, well, she really needed to hear that, and I’m thankful.” She lifted her gaze again to meet his, and he could see the conflicted emotions on her face.

  “You’re welcome,” he replied carefully. “But that’s not all, is it?”

  “No.” She hesitated before continuing. “I—I’m not sure whether it’s healthy for Jessie to spend a lot of time around you,” she admitted, sounding unhappy at saying it. “It’s not you,” she added hastily, giving him a weak smile. “Or rather, it’s not who you are, it’s what you are that worries me. Okay, I can see now that you’re not all macho warrior and blood lust. There’s a depth to you that is, well, surprising and rather nice. In another life....” She shook herself and continued, “She needs a father figure, I know that. But you’re too much like her papa was, and that could make her vulnerable. I don’t want her getting too attached to you and then feeling abandoned once again when you return to SpaceForce. That could break her. And if you got killed in action....” Her voice tailed off and she looked again at her lap.

  “It’s not just Jessie’s needs we’re talking about here, is it?” he asked gently. When he got no reply, he said, “Katherine, this war has damaged all of us, in one way or another. I won’t lie to you, I don’t know if I’ll survive this conflict. Hell, I don’t know if any of us will, poor Jessie included. But I do know one thing. If we allow fear to win, if we stop living because we’re afraid of dying, then the Knackers have already won. What is the point of fighting, if there is nothing of value worth fighting for?”

  Katherine looked at him, and her eyes were moist with unshed tears. He continued softly, “A few weeks ago I didn’t care if I lived. I existed only to take revenge on the Crabs. They had destroyed everything I valued, and I had nothing left. Now, being here in this house, watching your family, I remember what it was like to have someone, to care about something other than vengeance.” He looked at her fiercely. “Live this life, Kate, and live it to the fullest, and tomorrow be damned. Because it’s the only life we have, and tomorrow might not come.”

  She sat silently, tears now coursing down her cheeks, and he thought about saying more, then bit his tongue. She would have to come to grips with her own demons; no one could do that for her. He would try to help but only if she asked him. Finally she wiped her arm across her wet face, and said haltingly, “Thank you, Simon, for being here. Jessie and I both appreciate you, and I want you to know that. But anything more is not mine to give at this time. I’m sorry.” Then she stood and walked from the room, her head down as she choked back a sob. Si
mon stared after her, wondering if he had just done more harm than good.

  Chapter Six

  In the days following, Simon’s energy was focused on implementing some new defensive preparations that he and Tyrus had been cooking up. In one of their recent strategy meetings Tyrus had presented a list of their assets that had potential military applications. One item that had seemed particularly useful was the large volume of liquid fuel stored in barrels in an underground cellar. Its primary purpose was for powering the house generators if the regional power grid went down. But Tyrus had accumulated a surplus of the flammable liquid, and given the aliens’ combustibility, it seemed too good a resource to ignore. They had already put it to use on a small scale, filling dozens of Molotov cocktail bottles. But Simon and Tyrus wanted to find another way to employ the fuel, something that could make a sizable impact on an attacking force.

  After discussing the logistics, they set some of the younger family members to digging a shallow ditch along the inside of the rock wall in front of the house. A similar ditch was also dug along the rear wall bordering the back yard. Then they lined the trenches with Duraplas sheeting to prevent liquids from sinking into the soil. All that remained was to pour flammable fuel into the ditches when the time came, and light it from a distance with a kiss from a plasma gun. Anything coming over the walls would be treated to a royal barbecue.

  Tyrus sought Simon out the morning after they had completed the firewall preparations. He found the spacer in the front yard helping the three brothers with yet another defensive project. He approached the group with an anxious energy, and Simon stopped what he was doing when he saw the look on the older man’s face. “What’s up?” he asked when they were within easy conversational distance.

  “Not sure. Maybe nothing,” Tyrus replied, looking worried. “Maybe everything. I’m picking up a lot more local chatter from the Crabs today. It sounds like their numbers have increased in this area. I also caught translated words that sounded like, ‘Rural softshells.’ I’m concerned that an attack may be imminent.”

  Without waiting for further elaboration, Simon turned and told the brothers, “Get this project done quickly. Once the charges are set on those trees, gather the equipment and get back inside fast. We may not have much time.” They nodded and scampered to complete their work. Simon turned back to Tyrus and said, “So what is your best estimate of things to come?”

  “Truthfully? I don’t know, but my gut tells me to expect action within the next two days,” Tyrus said.

  “Then we’ll work on that premise,” Simon declared. He had learned to trust Tyrus’s instincts; the man had an uncanny feel for ground warfare.

  “You know, Major, it might be time to implement that idea you had mentioned awhile back, after your jaunt into the country with Sarah.”

  “Do you think it’s worthwhile?” Simon asked him. “I wasn’t sure if it was even feasible.”

  “Your plan has merit,” Tyrus replied. “In the best case scenario, it could be very effective.”

  Simon scratched his cheek reflectively. “Well, we’ll need to prepare ahead of time, obviously.”

  Tyrus nodded. “Yes, I’ll send Sarah out right away. She likes riding around in the fresh air anyway.”

  “Sounds good,” Simon replied, then he added with a chuckle, “Whether it works or not, one thing is for certain. The Crabs are going to be in for a helluva surprise!”

  The next twenty-six hours passed uneventfully. The following evening the family shared a delicious dinner, laughing and conversing around the long dining table. Jessie sat next to Simon, and between mouthfuls she kept up a running conversation about catching bugs and killing Knackers and anything else that came to her mind. As he listened with one ear, he felt Katherine’s eyes on him several times, but she quickly looked away whenever his gaze met hers. Once he could have sworn she actually blushed.

  The three brothers were also going at it, trading barbs and good-natured insults back and forth as they consumed prodigious amounts of food. Their mother gently scolded them for their antics, and they laughed and began teasing her instead. Tyrus was chuckling out loud, until a stern look from his wife made him paste a not-too-convincing scowl of disapproval on his features. His sons weren’t buying it, and before long Tyrus’s features were twitching as he tried in vain to suppress a grin. Amanda just shook her head resignedly, which incited further laughs at her expense.

  At times like this Simon could almost imagine that this was an average family in normal times. But he knew they sat in the deceptively calm eye of a storm, and the tempest would be coming to them soon. After the meal, the family settled in for the evening, and as the hour grew late, one by one they headed off to bed.

  Around midnight, Simon’s wrist alarm jarred him from a sound sleep. As he fumbled momentarily, caught between the dream world and reality, he heard voices coming from outside the bedroom door. He forced himself to awaken, sitting up and shaking his head before swinging his feet to the cool floor and grabbing his clothes. He was still pulling his shirt over his head as he exited his room.

  In the upstairs hallway people were milling around with wrist alarms sounding, and more were appearing from behind bedroom doors as he watched. Some still were clad in pajamas, whereas others were fully dressed. Tyrus and little Jessie actually wore sidearms as well, and looked alert and ready for battle. Simon shook his head in admiration; he was supposed to be the professional here.

  “Okay, everyone, downstairs quickly,” Tyrus said in a loud voice, waving his arms toward the staircase. “Trouble has arrived; we have very little time.” With that he headed down toward the great room, and everyone followed on his heels.

  Powering up the vidscreen, Tyrus scanned the defense grid with the others crowding in behind him. In a moment he growled, “They’re here all right, and this time they’re coming in force. We’ve got four different perimeter breaches, all from the general direction of the highway. Predictable bastards.”

  Turning away from the screen, he barked out instructions to his family. “Everyone grab their gas masks. Jessie, get upstairs with an infrared farscope and start watching for them. Keith and Samuel, get outside and pour fuel into the trenches. The tree charges are set?”

  His sons nodded, and Tyrus said, “Good. We’ve no time to double-check the setup; let’s hope there are no glitches. Now go!”

  As they scooted out the door, he turned to Sarah. “Are your troops ready, girl?”

  “Yessir!” she replied.

  “Then get out there and be ready. I’ll signal you on wrist com when it’s time.”

  “On my way,” she called as she ran to take her position.

  “The rest of you, get upstairs and grab your weapons,” Tyrus commanded. “T. J., you’ll get one of the alien energy guns, along with your mother and aunt. Each of you take one window, and be careful! I’ll be up in a minute; Simon and I have to discuss our plan of action.”

  As his family headed to the upper floor, Tyrus turned to Simon and said, “I hope we get this right; we’ll not have a second chance.”

  “I know. What should we do first, do you think?”

  “That depends on them, in part. If they have floaters, they could fly them right over the wall. We’ll open fire if they do. A tracked vehicle will probably move up the road to the gate; we’ll take care of that when the time comes. I’ll be upstairs coordinating things and manning the remote controls for our various surprises. I expect they will attack mostly on foot as usual. This time they’ll have numbers, at least a whole squad, so we’ve got to expect they’ll get over the wall. When they do, we’ll need to light the ditches. That should slow them down. We’ll also have to time Sarah’s contribution exactly right, and then maybe follow it with the trees.”

  “What would you like me to do?” Simon asked.

  “Go get the boys once they’ve filled the ditches. Put them upstairs with the slingshot and cocktails; being out in the yard will be too dangerous with the numbers the Crabs are
bringing against us. T. J. can help them fire the sling. You get in a window and use your weapon of choice; you can have T. J.’s energy rifle if you want, since he’ll be spending the early part of the battle helping his brothers.”

  Simon shook his head. “I’m kind of partial to old faithful,” he said, referring to the heavy automatic rifle that he had used in the prior skirmishes.

  “Good enough. Just be sure you have your Service pistol,” Tyrus said. “I want you to be the one to set off the ditch fires when the time comes. Wait until they’re almost over the wall.”

  “What about the rear of the house?” Simon asked.

  “I’ve got sensors out back; if they come that way, we’ll have time to get to a rear window and ignite the firewall along the back fence. I doubt they’ll send many troops out there; we’ve got antipersonnel mines all over the place in back of the house. Their sensors will detect them, so it should deter a major assault on that front. We also have no lower-floor windows on that side, so it’s not as inviting to attack us from there.”

  “Got it. I’ll grab the boys. Happy hunting!” Simon added as he jogged out of the greatroom.

  Simon found the two older sons outside, one in front and one in back of the house, straining to empty large barrels of fuel into the prepared ditches. He added his strength to theirs, and the task was quickly finished. Then he ran with them upstairs, seeing them to a bedroom where they set up the slingshot and bottles. They called T. J. to join them at the window as Simon continued on to his room, where his trusty guns awaited. He strapped the Service energy pistol to his waist, grabbed the automatic rifle, and settled in at the window to watch for the enemy. He could see nothing in the inky blackness beyond the wall.