by Bob Cooper
***
The early morning sun heated the cool, desert air, invigorating Acey as she walked into the Academy Starship Ready Facility. Planning a major dig is never an easy task. There are too many contingencies to plan. The flight crew focused on a checklist of fuel and provisions they would need to make the journey. Joe caught up to her as she entered the Ready Room.
“Acey.”
“Hey, Joe. Glad to see you.”
“I have the coordinates, maps, and surveys of the site. The Brothers asked me to go in case mine safety becomes an issue.”
“Not a problem. I’m glad you will be there. How are they doing? I haven’t heard from them lately.”
“They’re fine—someplace in Europe, I believe. They send their regards and thank you for the reports you filed.
Acey smiled, knowing there would be another batch of paperwork waiting for her when she returned from this expedition. Taking the microphone, she walked to the front of the room.
“Good Morning. I can see you have already started. Captain Christopher James, will you please stand up? For those of you who don’t know him, he and his crew will be taking us to Eris. He is a well-seasoned captain, and I trust him and his crew to get us there and back safely.”
The Captain waved at everyone and sat back down.
“As you all know, this dig has the potential to uncover a new civilization, and for that reason, I have chosen the following scientists to participate in this expedition. When I call your name, please stand up.”
“Bressa Cobashi. Bressa is the committee chairperson for Geologic and Astro-Archeological studies here at the Academy.”
“Tim Arden. Tim is a freelance astro-archeologist who is well published with lots of deep space digs under his belt.”
“Nafeez Rashid, representing the International Organization for Alien Relations.”
“And last but not least, Joseph Turner representing the JPG Interstellar Mining Company, from which I am also employed.”
Acey spent the next two hours walking through her plan to excavate and secure artifacts from the site. After a brief question-and-answer period, Acey looked around the room and could tell one last question remained on everyone’s mind.
“I want you all to know that I am honored to lead this distinguished team of scientists and explorers. You all know that this is my first major expedition. I am not above learning from your experiences. I expect and deeply appreciate your insights to assist me in making this a successful expedition. Captain James has set the departure date for four days from today. If you have any questions or concerns, you know how to reach me.”
With Acey’s conclusion, everyone began to make their way out of the facility.
***
In a parked van across the street, Stryker was busy photographing everyone as they exited the building.
4
A cey walked into the Gallery and immediately located Hillary as she educated a group of visitors to the latest trends in the art scene. The Gallery had been Hillary’s dream ever since she could remember. She practically lived with Acey and Dirk all through the girls’ schooling. After Hillary’s parents divorced, she was left to fend for herself. Drugs took over her life, and it was Acey who supported her and got her the help she needed. They have been best friends ever since.
Acey glanced at a set of sculptures and noticed one, in particular, that was definitely Hillary’s design. She studied it carefully, feeling the contours of the male and female subjects in a loving embrace. There was sadness in the male as their bodies entwined. Looking closer, she detected a hint of Aidan in that face—especially the bright blue eyes.
“You like that piece. I’ll sell it to you cheap—only four hundred credits,” Hillary said, sneaking up behind Acey.
Acey laughed, and they embraced.
“How have you been? I see you expanded the gallery quite a bit,” Acey said, forgetting the sculpture for now.
“Yes, ever since Billy joined me in this endeavor, we have attracted many new artists. It’s been a big success.” Hillary changed the conversation. “According to the media, I see you’re leading an expedition to some godforsaken planet.”
“Yes,” she replied sheepishly, feeling guilty her best friend had to learn about it from the media. She looked at the sculpture again, reaching to touch the smooth contours of the piece. Hillary saw the pain in her eyes.
“Have you talked to Aidan yet?
“Not yet. I was going to call him yesterday, but I’ve been swamped, you know,” Acey said, fumbling for words.
Hillary grabbed her arm and gently moved her to the office in the back and closed the door.
“Look, he’s back in town and is asking about you. You owe it to yourself to talk to him—get some resolution one way or the other for your own peace of mind.”
Acey knew that Hillary was right. A big part of her life went missing the night Aidan walked away. She understood why he walked but could not get over the fact a year passed since she last saw him. Tears started to fall.
“I know, I know, she said sobbing. I miss him so much, and I can’t go on like this.”
Hillary held her hand and let Acey cry for several minutes before handing her a box of tissues.
“Raina gave me his contact information. I’ll call him before I leave on the expedition,” she said, regaining some composure.
“Great,” Hillary said, trying to help her friend move on. “Now, come with me. I have something for you.”
Hillary led her back out to the Gallery. In a bin of paintings marked “in-process,” she picked out a small canvass wrapped in plain paper and gave it to her.
“This is a little thing I painted.”
Acey looked at her as she opened it. It was a watercolor of her, Dirk and Raina.
“Hillary, this is so awesome,” she said, recognizing it from an image taken after a media shoot they posed for during Dirk’s trial.
“I need to talk to you before you leave on the expedition,” Hillary said while hugging Acey.
“Ok, I’ll call you tomorrow,” Acey promised, watching her return to the crowd.
Hillary was in her element. Pointing out subtle details of the art and the artists, she captivated the crowd. Her positive attitude permeated everything she did, and now it was paying off big time. People were not looking but buying. Out of the corner of her eye, Acey noticed someone looking at the bronze statue. From the back, she saw long, dirty-blonde, shoulder-length hair, jeans, and a denim jacket. He held the sculpture toward the light studying it from every angle. Walking closer, Acey a saw a scraggly beard and piercing blue eyes turn towards her.
Acey stopped dead in her tracks, finally recognizing him.
"Aidan, is that you? I, uh didn't recognize...."
Aidan turned quickly and walked up to her, not knowing what to do next. Trying to find the right words to say for what seemed to be a very uncomfortable length of time, Acey finally put her arms around him, and he responded awkwardly in return.
“I'm so sorry that I haven't contacted you,” he finally managed to say.
“Do you have some time? I’d like to talk to you,” Acey said.
“Well, uh, I’m on my way to…..”
He stopped in mid-sentence seeing the tortured expression on Acey’s face.
“Yes, let’s get out of here and talk,” he said to her.
As they left the Gallery, Hillary saw them out of the corner of her eye. But she didn’t see Stryker taking pictures from the parked car across the street.
***
General Blair Coburn squirmed as she reviewed the dossier Stryker had prepared. Knowing Dirk, she honed in on Acey and remembered Acey’s exploits during Dirk’s trial. Very resourceful, she thought. This woman could definitely pose a problem. It wasn’t time yet to let the world know, and prematurely leaking the information would be catastrophic. The military was entrusted with keeping these places a secret, and she was going to do all in her power to make sure that nothing would compromise
that on her watch. There was a plan and a timeline in which all would be revealed.
Stryker sat patiently and watched her read through the entire file. He knew what she would do before she finished reading it. There was no other choice. General Coburn put the file down, took off her glasses, and rubbed her eyes. The other locations were easy to secure since it was the military that found them. But this location was different.
“We must stop this expedition. They cannot be allowed to go there,” she said, looking at him.
He nodded his head in agreement but said nothing.
“Find out what you can about this mining company and shut them down. Get the paperwork changed and the various mining permits canceled. We need to do this now since they’re scheduled to leave soon.”
Again, he acknowledged her instructions with a nod and walked out of her office.
***
Aidan walked over to the park across from the Gallery with Acey beside him. Neither of them spoke. It was early in the evening, and people crowded the walking the paths. Finding a bench, he motioned for Acey to sit next to him. She waited for him to say something. He watched a couple walk by and then looked at Acey, trying to refocus his thoughts.
“I want to apologize for not contacting you. I have no excuse for that. I was caught up in my own self-pity and was very confused.”
Acey listened.
Aidan knew his words weren’t enough. Her eyes reddened. Behind them, he could see the anger that had built up after all this time. He ran his hand through his long hair, searching for the right words.
“I drifted from town to town, taking on menial jobs. There’s not much I know how to do. The Citizen Guard was my whole life, and after that was gone, I was lost.”
Aidan didn’t know what else to say, but he knew what was on her mind. The closeness and love they found, while on Antares had been pushed to the back burner by time and confusion. He didn’t know how to bring it back. He didn’t know if he could bring it back. He was no closer to finding direction than he was when he first left. He knew he had to say more. But Acey broke the silence.
“Why did you come back?”
“I never left, thinking that I wouldn’t come back.”
“So, what are your plans now?”
He stared back at her and shrugged his shoulders. Then he lowered his head and stared at his feet.
Acey trembled as the hurt boiled over and out of her mouth.
“Well, I hope you find yourself,” she said sarcastically. “Instead of wallowing in your self-pity, you could have asked your friends for help and support. No, you decided to abandon those who loved you, and then you come waltzing back a year later. Well, I have a life! I moved on Aidan. Good luck finding yourself,” she said, walking away and leaving Aidan standing alone.
He knew he deserved every word she said, and it hurt all over again.
***
When the Brothers got the communication, they were in the Fuji Islands. On the beach surrounded by a bevy of half-clad locals, Ignacio read the directive from the Federated Bureau of Mining Affairs.
“…You are hereby ordered to cease all mining operations immediately. All mine locations are currently off-limits, and all equipment is now under the jurisdiction of the Federated Bureau of Mining Affairs until further notice. Disregarding this order will result in fines, imprisonment, or both.”
“Why is this happening?” Ignacio asked, giving the communiqué to Jose’ and taking another sip of his Rum and Coke.
“There must be some mix-up. I’ll call Joe and Acey and ask them to look into this.”
Acey received notification from the Academy that the expedition had been canceled before she got the call from Jose’. Totally bewildered, she called Joe for a better explanation. He was no help at all and forwarded the official communiqué that the Brothers received to her. There was no reason given—just a cease and desist order from the Bureau of Mining Affairs. Incensed, she went to the Academy looking for Bressa Cobashi, Department Chairperson and found her walking down the hall toward her office.
“Bressa. Hey, hold on.”
Bressa slowed down but kept walking. Her face was burning red.
“I assume you heard. I came from the Provost’s office, and all he could tell me was that this involves Interplanetary Intelligence and they are citing some obscure mining regulation to halt the expedition,” Bressa said, unlocking the door to her office.
Once inside, she pulled up the Federated Bureau of Mines site on her computer. “Regulation 2362.8 paragraph B is the regulation.” Finding the regulation database, she pulled up the verbiage.
“Pursuant to the Terran Security Statutes Accord relating to the interplanetary security and wellbeing of inhabitants in our known universe, The Interplanetary Intelligence Agency may do whatever is deemed necessary to thwart any hostile security breaches after being vetted by the Interplanetary High Court Judicial Committee.”
“What can this expedition possibly have to do with interplanetary security?” Acey asked with frustration in her voice.
Acey’s com link buzzed. “Acey, please help us. They have both of us in custody. I don’t know what we did. This is the only communication they will allow us. Please help us, I beg of you,” Jose’ said, sounding exasperated.
“Jose’, where are you? Who has you?”
“We are on a flight back to Washington, DC. That is all I know. Please help us,” Jose’ managed to get in before the communication halted.
“Jose’! Jose’!” Acey shouted.
“They’ve arrested my bosses. I need to find out what’s going on. Can you gather the rest of the team tomorrow in your office so I can discuss this further with them?” Acey asked in a panic.
“No problem. I’ll try to find out more from the Provost,” Bressa said as Acey scurried out of the room.
Acey walked out of the building, onto the campus and over to her cruiser in the parking lot. Her com link buzzed again as she climbed into the vehicle.
“Acey, it’s Raina. I passed! I passed! Got my own office and everything!”
Acey almost forgot today was Raina’s Bar Exams. “Congratulations, I’m so happy for you. Now I need you to meet me at Dirk’s office. I believe I have your first case.
***
Dirk waited for Acey and Raina to show up. Her message said they needed to speak to him urgently. Raina arrived first.
“Come on in and congratulations. I’m really proud of you,” he said hugging Raina.
“Thanks. Do you know what this meeting is about?” she asked.
“Not really. All she said is that it is urgent.”
Before Raina could say anything else, Acey walked in and closed the office door. Out of breath, she threw a folder on Dirk’s desk and sat down to gain her composure before she spoke.
“They canceled my expedition and ordered the company to cease and desist all mining operations,” she blurted out as she took the official letter out of the folder and put it on his desk.
Raina picked it up and began to read it.
“Who canceled it?” asked Dirk.
“It says the Interplanetary Intelligence Agency is citing national security reasons,” Raina said, handing the letter over to Dirk.
“What in god’s name did you find on Eris?” Dirk asked.
“I don’t know, but they shut down all operations—not only on Eris—but on all projects the company is involved in. This will put the company out of business. I want to challenge this in court,” Acey said, looking at Raina.
“I’m not sure this matter could be brought to court. The IIA will cite national security and won’t divulge anything. But we could sue them for jeopardizing the company’s right to engage in lawful commerce,” Raina said, not quite sure she really knew that for a fact.
“I think you need to get a more experienced attorney,” she added.
“Look. We don’t have time to shop around for another attorney. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but without the revenue from the
Eris operation, the company will not make payroll in the next three months. I have all the confidence that you can help us out. Bring Robert in if you think he can help. I’ll make sure I get the Brothers to pay your fees.”
“I can call in some favors and see if I can obtain some more information,” Dirk said.
“I can’t thank you both enough,” Acey said.
“One more thing we need,” Raina said.
“What’s that?”
“I will need a private investigator to help gather information,” Raina said.
“Okay. Get whomever you need.”
***
After being interrogated and processed in Washington, DC, the Brothers arrived in Arizona late last night. They were released from custody after intense questioning. Joe arrived early this morning. They joined Acey at the Academy and waited for the rest of the team members to show up. Raina and Robert agreed to attend the meeting to answer any legal questions they might have but said they might be late.
Acey was in the next room reviewing the agenda and the presentation. News spread fast in the archeological community. Sipping on a cup of coffee, Acey didn’t notice Tim, one of the scientists from her expedition team, walk into the room. He realized he needed to make some noise to get her attention. Dropping his satchel on the table did the trick. Acey jumped and spilled her coffee.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” Tim said, looking for something to help clean up the mess.
His boyish, good looks and extroverted personality made him a hit with the younger scientists, but he was sometimes dismissed by the older ones as too flippant and not serious enough about his work. Never the less, he was well regarded in the archeological community.
