The colonel left to arrange a meeting. Tawn took the opportunity to inspect a newly constructed home beside the spaceport field. Harris sat in the Bangor’s cabin with Trish and Gandy.
Gandy asked, “I’ve heard you say there are about ten thousand slugs and stumps. And you all look to be the same age. Why aren’t there any younger?”
Harris replied, “We’ve asked that question repeatedly. Best answer we got was they were scared of making too many of us. At some point there was also a rumor that the lab where we were created was sabotaged and destroyed, and the scientists involved were killed. From that they weren’t able to replicate the prior breakthroughs that made us possible. Whatever the reason, we’re all that remain of probably thirty thousand who were made.”
“You ever want to dig into those stories and find out?”
Harris shook his head. “I am who I am. No evidence of this or that is gonna change what happened and how I came about. It’s the same for all the slugs and stumps out here. That part of our past is irrelevant. All that matters is what we do from here forward.”
Trish asked, “You think we’ll get help from the others?”
Harris shrugged. “Can’t say. But I will say the Biomarines are a patriotic lot. If you’re gonna find a group to drop what they’re doing to fight for Domicile, it would be here.”
Tawn and Harris were called to a community meeting with the colonel. The situation was revealed and the request for assistance made. As an incentive, the colonel promised to turn over full ownership of their properties to any slug or stump who volunteered. Two hundred forty volunteers raised their hands.
With their army staffed, the two Biomarines returned to the Bangor.
Tawn said, “We can use the shuttle we purchased to move everyone from here. And we have some of the weapons we confiscated from the Earthers on Eden, but we need more. And I’d like to see if we could get biosuits for each of them. That environment is too hostile to just drop into.”
Harris replied, “We’ll want to make a few scouting runs while we’re at it. An assault plan needs to be put together.”
“Maybe the colonel could help you with that. He did volunteer his services. And I’d rather not put him in the fighting as I think they need him here.”
Harris rubbed his forehead. “So we need more weapons and biosuits. We’re also gonna need standard supplies like food and water. And we’ll have to check our volunteers for any other skills they might have. If we take control, we’ll have to do whatever maintenance it takes to keep the place running. That’s mechanics, cooks… and just about everything else.”
Trish said, “Sounded a lot easier when you just said raise an army.”
Harris turned to face Tawn. “I think we should pay a visit to Bella III. Reacquiring weapons might be our toughest activity.”
Tawn nodded. “Take Gandy and me back to Chicago. I’ll look into the biosuits while you two work on getting some rifles.”
A jump was made and Tawn and Gandy dropped at the Kingfisher. The Bangor returned to Bella III. After a full day of purchasing every weapon that was for sale, an ad was posted at the sporting goods store and a message was sent out to the advertising channels that a premium would be paid for personal plasma weapons.
By the following afternoon, close to a hundred fifty rifles had been purchased. Combined with what they already had, they remained twenty short. No other rifles were offered, even at five times the original price.
Trish piloted the Bangor back to Chicago port station.
Harris opened the hatch. “I’ll be back in a few.”
Trish asked, “Where you going?”
Harris smiled, “Time to pick up my dog.”
A short walk had the anxious pet owner standing in line at the pickup desk.
“You Gruberg?”
Harris nodded. “I am.”
“How much you want for your… pet?”
“Not for sale.”
“Hang on a minute.” The attendant signaled a manager.
The shop owner hurried to the front. “You the owner of the robotic dog?”
“I am.”
If you’re ever interested in selling him, I would like first opportunity.”
Harris replied, “Not interested. Is he ready to go?”
“First, I’d like to say, we did our best. He’s very old. And those parts just aren’t available. And probably haven’t been so for centuries. He seems to be in good shape mechanically, but he doesn’t seem to want to respond in the manner you said he should. Almost like he’s running slow.
“Anyway, the bill may be a shocker. Sixteen thousand two hundred credits. I even gave you a preferred rate given the hours we had to put into him. And I’m sorry about his appearance. We weren’t able to replicate his coat with any materials we have available, so we left it as is.”
Harris sighed. “Well, can you bring him out?”
The owner turned, signaling a tech to bring the dog from the back. “I’ve worked electrical and mechanical gadgets my whole life, Mr. Gruberg. Farker is a first. Would like to have met whoever designed him.”
The mechanical pet was brought through the door on a leash. As it looked up to see its master, its tail began to wiggle and the unusual grin appeared on its otherwise mangy face. A short burst of energy saw the dog standing on its hind feet as it attempted to lick its master.
“Whoa, boy. I’m not a popsicle.”
Harris smiled. “Other than looking like a junkyard mutt, he seems OK.”
The owner shook his head. “That’s more movement than we’ve seen from him since he’s been here. The other robots we’ve had in here never acted like that.”
Harris winked. “He’s special. Now if we could I’d like to get checked out. I have urgent business to attend to.”
The owner gestured for the attendant to conduct the transfer. “Say. I have a few professor friends down at the main university planetside. Would you be willing to bring him by for them to check out? I’m sure we could compensate you for it.”
Harris declined. “Sorry. Not interested. And thanks for the work you did. I’ll have my mechanics check him over.”
The owner looked on anxiously as Farker left the store by his owner’s side. As they proceeded down the promenade, two men emerged from the shop and began to yell and to wave. Harris took to a run, moving off the main path as he made his way back to the Bangor.
Once through the hatch he pointed. “Take us out and down to the surface.”
Trish replied as she slipped into the copilot’s chair. “What’s wrong?”
Harris kept an eye on the door leading into the docking bay. “I think someone is interested in Farker and I’d rather not get tangled up with them right now.”
The dog moved over to greet Trish, offering up his impish grin. Trish responded with a rubbing of the only spot of fur left on his head.
“They couldn’t fix him up on the outside?”
“Said they couldn’t find anything to replicate that fur. It wouldn’t have lasted for centuries like that so it must get replaced at some point. After we catch up with Tawn I want to make a run out to Midelon to see if that structure that housed him can do anything. Those recordings inside him said the maintenance there was autonomous, maybe that includes him too.”
Tawn was raised on the comm. “How goes the look for biosuits?”
Tawn frowned. “Not well. The sizes we need would have to be custom made. The salesman said at least six weeks minimum. They might be able to pull that into five for a premium.”
“We can’t wait that long. And I’m not gonna ask anyone else to go down there without protection. There has to be an alternative.”
Tawn said, “I have the sunshield I was wearing. I’m wondering if we could make a few mods to optimize it for use out there. Certainly wouldn’t be perfect, but it kept us alive. And it was completely nonrestrictive of our movement.”
“Have you asked about it?”
“Give me a sec.”
Harris turned and held up a hand. “Hold on, Trish. Don’t take us down yet.”
Tawn came back over the comm. “Three hundred suits in three days. And they claim their material should offer slightly better thermal protection.”
Harris nodded. “Good work. Order them up. And see what you can do about water-packs. We’re gonna need to stay hydrated.”
Tawn replied, “You could help with this, you know.”
“I would, but we need to make a run out to Midelon for Farker. I want to make sure the repairs they did to him are OK. And I think that facility out there will let us know. I should have done that from the start, but it didn’t occur to me until I just picked him up.”
Tawn scowled. “Last time he went in there we had to wait hours for him to come out. He goes inside and you’re stuck there until that door opens again. And how’d the weapons run go?”
“We came up 20 short on rifles. I left an ad running so I hope to be able to purchase more. Too bad we can’t call on Bax for some additionals.”
Tawn sighed. “If we did that, she’d have us snuffed. Which she might do when she finds out we took back Eden.”
Harris reached for the comm button. “When we get back, I promise to go all in on putting this raid together. This dog saved us last time. I want that option available again. And at the moment I don’t trust the repairs.”
The comm was closed to an unhappy Tawn Freely. A jump was made to the Midelon system and a run made down to the surface. The Bangor landed in the grassy field beside the mystery structure.
Harris stood. “Wait here. We have plenty of food.”
“You going in?”
“I’m gonna try. The door opened for the dog. Maybe it will open for me at the same time.”
Harris hopped out of the Bangor as Farker followed. As they stood in front of the large heavy door. The dog let out a single fark. Nothing happened.
Harris banged on the door. “Hello?”
All was silent. The impatient Biomarine turned to walk back to the ship. Trish was standing in the open hatch.
“Nothing. Not opening.” Harris said.
“Trish pointed as he reached the ship. “Opening now.”
Harris turned and sprinted as his mechanical pet trotted through. The door to the structure closed before he reached it.
“Well that’s not fair.”
Trish smirked. “Maybe they don’t like you.”
Harris stopped with one foot up in the Bangor. “There is no they. It’s a program.”
“Then maybe it doesn’t like you.”
Harris glared. “You’re not helping with those comments.”
“They’re helping me.”
“Gonna help you out of a job.”
Trish shook her head. “I don’t think so. You like having a lackey to order around.”
Harris stepped up into the ship. “Maybe.”
Chapter 25
_______________________
Two days later, the door to the structure opened and a renewed Farker bolted out. Harris was sitting in the hatch with a smile when the mechanical dog ran up to him acting all excited. Its external coat had been replaced.
Harris reached down, taking the dog’s head in his hands and scratching the sides of its face. “Aw, you look good, boy!”
Harris and his pet hopped up into the ship and the hatch was closed. An hour later Trish had them back on Domicile. A comm was opened to Tawn and Gandy.
“How are the supplies looking?”
Gandy replied, “She’s working on foodstocks. We’re sitting outside a company that makes MREs. They’ve fallen on hard times since the truce, but still make replacement stock for the aging supplies in the military storehouses.”
“Has she said anything about how we’re gonna get all this to Eden? Just using that shuttle doesn’t meet our needs. Maybe I should lease a larger transport.”
Gandy replied, “She’s coming in now, you can ask her yourself.”
Tawn stepped up into the cabin of the Kingfisher. “I just bought two months of MREs for two hundred people.”
Harris chuckled. “I hope you ordered for slugs and stumps and not regulars.”
Tawn nodded. “I did. Triple ration. We can stretch it if needed.”
“Do we have a way to get it there?”
“Took care of that this morning. We leased the Biarritz. Big enough to accommodate everyone and our supplies. Tomorrow we’ll have the suits and the food. How’d it go with the mutt?”
Harris smiled as he adjusted the camera to include the dog. “Good as new.”
Tawn returned a guilty look. “I ordered a sunshield for him.”
Harris laughed. “So you do actually like him!”
Tawn grimaced. “I want to hate him but I just can’t. If he would ditch the leg-humping, he’d be ideal.”
Harris replied, “No. If he did that he would no longer be special to you. That’s your bond. You secretly like the humping.”
Tawn scowled. “This conversation is done. Glad your dog is back to normal. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to buy every type of tool we think we’ll need out there to sustain a colony. I want to hit that place ready to go from day one. And I don’t see it taking more than a day to take control.”
Harris said, “We’ll make a run back the Bella III for the rifles. It’s been a few days, maybe a few more will be available.”
***
Trish piloted the Bangor down through the atmosphere of the Bella colony planet.
Harris commented. “You sure are getting good at that. Hardly felt a bump.”
“You were right about letting the feedback guide you. Once you get that reaction set in your brain it all seems natural. Watch this landing…”
The Bangor dove toward the ground at an increasing speed. Harris gripped the edge of the console in front of him. Trish pulled back on the throttle, righting the ship at the last moment as they came in hard. It touched down with only the slighted sound reverberation through the hull as a cloud of dirt and grass spread out in every direction.
Harris nodded. “Impressive. Scary, but impressive.”
Trish frowned. “Actually I botched that one. Cut it too close. Glad I didn’t pick the tarmac to land on. I guess there’s always next time, huh?”
A taxi was called and the duo made their way to the sports store where the posting had been made. Another sixteen rifles were available. Premiums were paid and the weapons collected. When they returned to the Bangor, another ship was parked in the grass beside it.
Baxter Rumford was standing with her hands on her hips. “Hope the two of you aren’t up to no good.”
Harris said, “Just picking up a few rifles.”
Bax crossed her arms. “You wouldn’t be planning an assault on Eden would you?”
Harris replied, “I’ve had enough of that fire-pit. Why would I be going out there?”
Bax shrugged. “Maybe feeling guilty about it falling to the Earthers?”
Harris shook his head. “I’m sure you know about the Retreat. Well, slugs and stumps like having rifles. I’m just picking up a few to help out some friends.”
Bax scowled. “Some friends? That why you bought up a couple hundred a few days ago?”
“We have over four thousand of us at that colony now. I could actually use more if you have them for sale.”
Bax held up a hand. “Not happening. And I can’t say I like you digging into this out here. Paying that much for those rifles draws attention. I’ve done my best to cover your tracks from our dealings. Don’t need you exposing them again. Make this your last buy.”
Harris chuckled. “Or what?”
“Or the people I work for will see you as a liability they don’t care to have.”
Bax pointed at Trish. “And that goes for your friend there. They won’t hesitate to take out anyone they feel is a threat.”
Farker growled at the red haired woman. “And get that beast away from me. Shouldn’t he be humping someone’s leg or so
mething?”
Harris signaled for the dog to go back inside the ship. “He’s just a good judge of character. Can’t fault him for that.”
Bax looked at the ground under the Bangor. “Who landed that thing? If you’re making craters when you land you need a new pilot.”
Trish began to step forward with a balled fist. Harris held her back.
Bax huffed. “Looks like you need leashes for both your pets. Anyway, I warned you about your dealings. If they decide they’re done with you there won’t be a warning. Just a swift and sure end.”
Baxter Rumford turned and boarded the Fargo. Seconds later the air surrounding it was rushing inward as it rocketed up through the atmosphere.
Trish said, “Please, just let me punch her next time.”
Harris chuckled. “I don’t know, she looks kind of scrappy herself. You sure you’d want to tangle with that?”
Trish scowled. “Hmm. She may have the looks but I have the fists of wonder.”
Harris laughed. “The what?”
“The fists of wonder. I boxed in grade school, and that’s what my coach called me. Never lost a match, even in the weight class above me.”
Harris sighed. “Big difference in a coached match and a fight out here. She won’t play by any rules and wouldn’t hesitate to stick a blade in your gut.”
Trish slowly shook her head. “Wouldn’t give her the chance.”
Harris gestured toward the hatch. “OK, Warrior. Let’s see if we can make it back to Domicile before you unleash your horror on someone.”
***
The reflective sunshields were collected along with the large supply of MREs. Drills, wrenches, welders and metal-formers were picked up and loaded on the Biarritz. A flight was made out to the Retreat where the two hundred forty slug and stump volunteers waited. A further jump had the ship in orbit over Eden. The Bangor and the Kingfisher sat parked in a docking bay.
Colonel Robert Thomas stood in front of the recruits. “Men and women of the retreat, honored veterans, slugs and stumps. You volunteered today to fight against the oppression of the New Earth Empire. Against the taking of your freedoms and rights. Against the domination of your beloved world… the free planet of Domicile.
ARMS War for Eden Page 23
