AL CLARK - Avalon -: (Book Two)

by Jonathan G. Meyer

  Al lowered his voice and turned to his partners, “Okay, does anyone think we should stay here and find out more about this place, or should we leave?”

  They were toward the end of a long day, tired from their exertions and shocked by what they had learned so far. Still, they were teased by what was yet to learn.

  Chris said it all when he volunteered, “My brain hurts, and I am tired. I can’t think straight.”

  Al saw that the rest of the party appeared to agree. He turned to the little figure on the platform and asked, “Can we continue this discussion tomorrow. It is late, and we must be going.”

  “Yes, you can reinitiate the conversation whenever you wish. To end this interaction just remove the data cube from the receptacle. When you return, you can find the hangar bay door by watching the badge while you circle the mountain about three-quarters of the way up. Do not be alarmed, as you must fly through a camouflaged force field to enter the hangar. You need only to reinsert the cube when you are ready to reopen our conversation.”

  “Where would be a good place to get a sample of this metal used to construct your facility?”

  Tiro seemed to consider the request, and several seconds later a drawer slid silently out from the console nearby.

  “Inside this slide-out receptacle, you will find six small samples of the principle metals to which you refer. They should be sufficient for sampling.”

  The captain was pleased. “That was easy enough.”

  When they were ready to leave, Al removed the data cube containing Tiro’s program from its slot and asked, “Should we take him with us?”

  Edward, ever the scientist, said, “Yes—definitely, I would like to run a few tests on the cubes structure.”

  “I can’t think of a safer place than in Al’s pocket,” said the captain.

  The lights turned themselves off as they left, and it was a snowy but not too difficult trip back down to the shuttlecraft. Once in the shuttle, the captain started the engines, and they removed the cold weather gear that had kept them warm. The sun was setting as they picked up Robot Nine and pointed themselves towards home; anxious to get back. The discoveries in the mountain filled them with hope and added urgency to their return to Visto.

  ****

  Five minutes into their flight Al checked with his village security team and was given bad news. The worst kind of news.

  “We have been attacked by Riktors sir! Two of them and some of those devil dogs came out of nowhere. They made it past the fences before we could stop them,” an almost hysterical Sid reported.

  “How bad is it?”

  “It is bad sir. The count is fourteen…so far.”

  “Injured or dead?”

  “Dead sir. Maybe thirty injured.”

  The first person on his mind was Liz. “Is my wife okay—and the rest of my family?”

  “They are fine sir; I have seen them all since the attack.”

  “Why wasn’t I contacted?”

  “We tried sir…believe me…we tried.”

  Like a smack in the forehead, Al realized something and voiced his deduction. “The facility is shielded somehow. They couldn’t contact us—because they couldn’t get through. Nobody noticed we didn’t have a signal? Why didn’t you say something Robot Nine?”

  “I am sorry sir. It is not a part of the protocol to report a loss of communications.”

  Al was becoming angry and frustrated, “Well it is now, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, sir. I have amended the requirements.”

  They had been so busy exploring the lookout post; they hadn’t noticed the loss of communication, and because of this, Camelot was ignored when they called for help. The attack was fast and coordinated and only lasted a short time. When it was over, Sherriff Clark’s team of skilled and courageous security personnel paid a high price but ultimately managed to kill most of the offenders.

  The lights were coming on as they passed the fence to touch down on an open spot next to the community center, and the returning party found the town a shambles. Debris and smashed houses littered the whole outer ring of the settlement. One Riktor from the south and one from the north kept the defenders too busy to cope with the dogs that followed right behind and created havoc of their own. It made for a terrifying scene of destruction.

  His senior officer was waiting as they landed and came running to the shuttle as the door opened. “I am so sorry Chief. I don’t know what happened. They’re not supposed to hunt during the day!”

  “It’s all right Sid, this wasn’t your fault,” Al reassured him. “Where are the casualties?”

  “At the clinic sir, and at Ana and Kayla’s. There were two people taken to your place because we had so many injuries.”

  “And the creatures?” asked Al with an angry tone.

  “We had the carcasses hauled out to the east side sir, out of sight.”

  That’s good. Why don’t you go round up the men and reestablish a perimeter? I don’t believe the danger is over. Oh yeah—what happened to the watcher?”

  “That’s the thing sir; it didn’t send an alarm until the beasts were tearing down the fences. They somehow got past its sensors, and we don’t know how.”

  Al thought, Great. Now the only watcher we have is practically useless. He would have to post it closer to the ground and not as far out. It would be more vulnerable, but he had no choice. It would have been nice to have that second one.

  The team split up to check on their respective loved ones, and everyone ran for home. This day that started so well was fast becoming one to remember for many reasons. A day they would not be able to forget.

  There were fourteen settlers and two security people killed during the attack, along with two more settlers that died from their wounds. They transported the severely wounded to the medical facility aboard the Excalibur where the medical equipment was more suited to treat severe injuries.

  Elizabeth was tending to the two injured people taken to his house when he arrived. The unfortunate victims had been almost fast enough, resulting in long slashes down their backs.

  “Are you okay?” Al asked while hugging her.”

  “Yes, I’m all right, just a little shook up.”

  She leaned back and looked up at him, “Are you okay?”

  “You will not believe what we found. I considered spending the night there…but, as it turns out, I’m glad I didn’t.”

  “We’ll talk about that later. Right now, I need you to get some more antiseptic from the clinic. I have to clean and wrap these wounds, so go on now and hurry back.”

  Al stopped at Chris’ house on the way, to be sure the rest of his family was okay. Tammy was holding Thomas; the scared five-year-old having witnessed some of the destruction. His eyes were wide, and he was shaking. Tammy and Chris were both trying to console him.

  “Is everybody okay?” Al asked Chris.

  “Yeah, we’re okay. He just woke up, and the noise and commotion scared him.”

  The poor child had tears in his eyes; huddled against his mother, his long blonde hair was wet where it fell over his blue eyes.

  Al leaned down and spoke to his grandson, “Are you all right Thomas?”

  “What was that noise grandpa? Everybody was screaming and yelling, and I was afraid the monsters were going to get me.”

  Al tried to keep the concern from his face, “Don’t you worry. We won’t let them get you. You have my promise.”

  “You weren’t here to stop them. Where were you?”

  “I’m sorry, believe me…it won’t happen again.”

  Al had to leave. He told them he had to get medicine and left. The realization that he was failing to protect his family, and his community, concerned him. He would need to try harder.

  When he reached the community center where they kept the clinical supplies, he was told that Kira, the local girl, had been one of the injured.

  “Is she going to be okay?”

  One of the medical staff answered, “I d
on’t know, she went up to the ship with the first shuttle. I haven’t heard yet how she’s doing.”

  He made a call and spoke with Cody on the Excalibur. “She going to be all right Doc?”

  Cody answered, “She was severely injured my friend, and lucky to be alive. I had to amputate both her legs just above the knees, and I will have to break the news to her when she wakes up. I am not looking forward to it.”

  Al was shocked, and wanted to go up to see her right away, but he had other more pressing problems. He told the doctor, “I’m sorry you have to be the one to tell her. Would you also let her know I’m pulling for her, and I’ll come up to see her soon?”

  “I will do that Al. Please be careful yourself,” and Cody ended the call.

  Shaking his head, he began jogging back to his house with the medicine. He could see it was going to be a hard night, but this was the time when things needed to get done. He had no time to feel guilty and stepped up his pace.

  ****

  Those were dark days in Camelot. There were two funerals a day for nine days, and the community center was bustling with activity the entire time. No one slept a full night, they just caught a quick nap when they could and then got up to attend the next funeral.

  They repaired the fences, reassigned the watcher, and increased security even more than it was before the attack.

  Kira was well liked by the villagers and somewhat of a celebrity with many of them. She had been visiting with friends near the outer circle of houses when the Riktors breached the fence. The beasts seemed to know to go for the men with the guns first, and almost immediately they concentrated on and killed the first officer they met.

  It was Kira that distracted one Riktor with a long metal pole, long enough for one security officer to get to cover, and steady his hands for shooting. Before he could shoot it, the beast had managed to take both of Kira’s legs.

  Three days after the attack, Al made it up to the ship to see her. It was the first chance he had to get away, and it would have to be a quick visit. She had enjoyed running through the forest all her life, and life without legs was going to be a hard thing for her to get over.

  She was in a room by herself like a VIP, with the rest of the patients having to share rooms. “How are you, Kira? Are they treating you okay?”

  The poor girl’s eyes were red, and she had a defeated look about her. She was looking at him but saying nothing.

  Al kept talking, “It’ll be okay. You did a brave and dangerous thing the other day, and you’re lucky to be alive. Things could have gone worse. Give it time, you will get better.”

  She sniffled and then said, “I am sorry Mister Clark, but I will feel better when I get out of this bed. I hate lying here.”

  “It’s only for a little longer Kira, and then you can go home. Doc Cody told me maybe in a week or so.”

  “Doctor Mumbada, he tells me I could walk again, but I do not understand. How can I walk without legs?”

  “I don’t think you should worry about that right now. It will take some time for your body to heal, and they can’t do much for you until then.”

  “And then I will walk?”

  The hope on her face, and in her eyes, caused him to reply, “Kira…in time, I think you will be able to run.”

  She liked that news, and her spirits quickly improved as his visit progressed. They had known each other for some time, and they talked non-stop for an hour before Al had to tell her that he needed to go.

  “Doctor Florida is back in his shop doing some robot repair. I want to talk to him about helping you, and I don’t have much time before I have to go back down. Maybe I can find a book or something you can read, and I’ll drop it off on my way back—Okay?”

  “I do not think I am going anywhere for a while. I am stuck here.”

  As he went through the airlock separating the medical center from the hiber-pod bay, he was taken back to when he cycled through for the first time with Chris, five years ago. This section of the ship was where they spent most of their early days.

  The engineers had reconfigured this part of the starship for manufacturing, and storing the now silent pods under the floor left room for the fabrication machinery they needed. Bright lighting lit the large space, and industrious manufacturing specialists were busy instructing the semi-intelligent production systems.

  Al knew a few of the people as he made his way to the back of the ship and acknowledged them as he passed. There was a man he knew with a collection of real paper books, and he stopped along the way to talk to him.

  “I’m sorry Mr. Clark, but all my books are in the library on Camelot. They use them for the school. If I had known Kira wanted to read, I would have brought a couple with me. I can bring some next time I come back.”

  “That’s okay Bob, I’ll think of something,” Al said, “Thanks anyway,” and he left.

  Walking through the shuttle bay, he could hear the doctor’s music over the operations of the almost empty room. The pilot he flew up with was sitting by the shuttle waiting for his passengers. The young officer was tapping his foot to the music, and something about the way he was smiling gave Al an idea.

  As he hurried by, he told the pilot, “I’ll just be a little longer.”

  “Take your time Chief, I’m in no hurry.”

  Edward Florida loved music. Especially old music from the nineteen sixty’s and seventy’s. His favorite was a popular group of the times called The Beatles.

  The short white haired scientist was standing at a large monitor, taking notes on a datapad of the complicated schematics displayed. He heard the door close and turned to see who it was.

  “Oh, Hi Al. What brings you up here?” He reached down and turned the little music player down, so they could talk.

  “I’ve come to see when you’re free to go back to the sentinel outpost. I need to be in Camelot for the rest of the funerals, but as soon as possible, I think we need to explore that mountain station further.”

  “I am ready whenever you are. I have all I might need already packed up and prepared to go. I’m just waiting for the word. You can believe me, Al; I am as anxious to get back as you are.”

  “How about the metal samples we brought back. Have you had a chance to analyze them?”

  “I have, and one is an alloy of titanium even stronger and environmentally resistant than what we have. Amazing stuff. The others I am still analyzing, but they appear to be quite remarkable also.”

  “How much do you think we need to replace the power supplies that have gone bad?” Al asked.

  “I am figuring about a pound per unit, and with yours being just a little heavier, I am thinking somewhere around twenty pounds to be safe. But that’s just for the power supplies. We use titanium for a lot of things, and eventually we will need much more.”

  “Well, we’ll deal with that later. Are you going to be able to help Kira?”

  “Her prostheses won’t be anything like your legs, but yes, I think I can.”

  “How long will it take—to build her new legs?”

  “If I have the right materials available, I would guess a month, maybe sooner. But she won’t be ready to try them for at least a month.”

  “That sounds pretty good; it will give her time to get used to the idea, and get healthy. Right now I’m more concerned about her depression than anything else.”

  Doc Florida saw a sparkle reflected in Al’s eye and asked, “Any ideas?”

  “As a matter of fact I do. Do you have another one of those players that you’re not using, and a copy of your old-timey music?”

  A smile lit the doctor’s face, “That is an excellent idea. Do you think she’ll like my music?”

  “How could she not?”

  Thirty minutes later, Al was headed back to give Kira their gift. He believed that the right kind of music could help conquer sadness. He was partially correct.

  ****

  Al tried to make Elizabeth stay behind while he went to explore the sentinel
station, but she would hear nothing of it. Her argument was, “After what you told me about that mountain, you would have to tie me to a chair to keep me from going. Come to think of it, I probably know more about that place right now, than you ever will.”

  Her husband could not disagree. She was an electrical engineer, after all, and when they were on-board the ship she was the senior engineer. He would not be allowed to say no.

  Their discovery had been kept secret from the public, so he and his friends had to be careful how they went about coordinating their return trip, but at the earliest opportunity they managed to construct a plan without being discovered, and snuck out of town an hour before sunrise.

  The captain was their pilot, with Al and Liz, Chris and Tammy, and Edward Florida. Chris said it was worth getting a babysitter for Thomas because his wife would not let Chris go without her. It turned out to be a family affair, with the captain and Edward tagging along.

  As Tiro had told them, the little ship on the access badge began to glow a dim yellow as they approached a ledge carved from the slope about mid-way up the mountain, the little emblem kept getting brighter the closer they flew. A razor-thin red outline appeared on the side of the mountain, showing them where the hangar bay door was.

  The captain took note of their location and said, “This is above the outcropping where I parked the shuttle the last time. You can’t see this ledge from below.”

  “Without the outline, you could never tell there was a door there. Should we land and check this out?” suggested Al.

  The group agreed, and the captain set the craft down. They left the shuttle to get a closer look at the outline, and the invisible door. Tammy, up to this point had been quiet. Mostly listening and trying to digest what it was they were doing. She was, however, the first one to the wall.

  Edward was nervous, and not comfortable with taking unknown risks. “Please be careful Tammy, let’s approach this with caution.”