“So what do you suggest we do now?” Jason asked.
“The Craing Empire is on the precipice of even greater, unparalleled dominance throughout the universe. We cannot allow that to continue. Providing you, your government, and its military factions access to the interchange, and the ability to move about the universe with far more accuracy than the Craing, will somewhat level the battlefield.”
Jason continued to look at the virtual image hovering over Ricket’s bench. As it slowly turned on its axis, another aspect of the interchange came into view. And with that, Jason realized he was looking at something familiar.
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Several rhinos helped lift and position Traveler onto a waiting hover cart. A circle had formed around Dira and Jason. Uneasiness was in the air. The rhinos, now without a leader, watched as Traveler, whom many considered to be their true leader, would soon be carted off onto the human’s ship. Jason brought his attention to the murmuring crowd of rhinos.
“We will do everything possible to return Traveler to you shortly. Some of you are questioning whether you should be helping us at all. Truth is, I’d probably feel the same way. But we must continue to fight the Craing Empire. Do not forget, this is the same empire that has enslaved your home world. Your mates and your offspring are still at their mercy. That scenario has undoubtedly been repeated countless times across the universe, with other warriors, other species. Now, the Craing’s ability to move across the universe has been disrupted. But many Craing warships are still close. None of us will be safe until we rid ourselves of their last remaining fleet. We need your help. I need your help this one last time. I cannot force you to fight. You must decide amongst yourselves which course of action is best for you. Whatever course of action you choose, I consider you my friends, and I thank you for all you’ve sacrificed.”
Jason stepped in closer and walked the perimeter of the circle, his eyes meeting theirs one by one. “We leave here shortly. Our fleet of Craing warships will join with other fleets in the Alliance, and perhaps others will join the fight as well. We will make this stand against the Craing—this last stand together. We’ll rid ourselves of those bastards once and for all.”
Rustling Leaves stepped forward and raised his heavy hammer. He did not speak. One by one, each of the rhino-warriors also raised their hammers. Then the rhinos lifted their heads toward the sky and howled. A strange mix of noises, not unlike the howl of a wolf, an animal they had recently come to admire here in the habitat. Soon, heavy hammers were smashing together high in the air—the resulting sound so loud Traveler was even brought back to consciousness, briefly.
* * *
The new MediPod, nearly twice as large as the others, had been moved into Medical. Ricket stood at the device’s new interface. The clamshell commenced closing. Traveler, unconscious, lay quietly, his head bandaged. Several moments later, a vacuum-seal thump indicated the MediPod was indeed tightly closed and ready to begin.
“Captain, as with the other MediPods, this process utilizes the introduction of nanites into the rhinos’ physiology. We also have the option of installing a full set of new-generation nano-devices as well,” Ricket said.
Jason thought about it. NanoCom was a frustrating intrusion to say the least. But it had saved his life more than once.
“Go ahead. Do it.”
Jason left Medical and headed for the DeckPort.
* * *
Jason found Nan and Mollie taking another self-defense class in the gym. Orion was in the process of throwing Nan over her shoulder. He cringed as Nan hit the mat with a loud thud.
“Good!” Orion yelled. “See how you broke your fall using your other arm? Now let’s try some kicks. You too, Mollie. Front and center.”
Sitting down, Jason leaned against the bulkhead and watched while Orion put Nan and Mollie through various front, side and back kick drills. Within minutes, all three were sweating profusely. But what impressed Jason the most was Mollie. Never a complaint—no whining. She was eating this stuff up. Orion looked up and saw Jason and smiled. But that two second distraction cost her; Mollie connected an impressive side kick to her abdomen, while adding a loud Kia! in the process. Orion bent over holding her stomach, then gave Mollie a rueful smile.
“Okay, let’s take a ten minute break,” Orion said, clearly still hurting.
Nan, spotting Jason, walked over and sat down beside him. “The rumor mill has it that we’re heading back into space soon.”
Jason nodded. “We’re retrofitting The Lilly right now. As well as making changes to the rest of the fleet. So, yeah, sometime in the next few days.”
“I think Mollie and I should stay here on Earth. I need to put Mollie back in school. She needs to be around other kids, Jason. I want to go back home to Los Angeles.”
“You know if the Craing make it past our fleet, there’s a good chance they’ll head straight for Earth. The major metropolises, including Los Angeles, will be targeted first.”
Nan shook her head. “I don’t know what to tell you.”
“I’d feel a whole lot better if you stayed in San Bernardino.”
“You mean at the scrapyard house? Why on Earth would we want to stay there?” Nan asked, looking disgusted.
Jason laughed. “Come on, it’s not that bad. The main thing is at least there you can hide, and if necessary get to the base below ground.”
“Oh God, really? You know I’m still the legal envoy between the EOUPA and a slew of allied governments around the world, not to mention Washington. I need an office; I need fast Internet access. Do you even have running water at that place?”
Jason rolled his eyes, but then remembered the infiltration of subterranean roots into the house’s plumbing. “Of course I have running water. Look, according to Ben Walker, the U.S. government wants to provide me with reparations for the two fighter jets that crashed into the yard. Plus, there’s a bonus amount for above and beyond services rendered. It’s fairly substantial—”
“I don’t know,” she replied.
“It’s close to three million dollars.”
“Three million dollars!” she repeated, her interest level suddenly heightened.
“Yeah, go hog-wild; fix up the place … if you want.”
Chapter 8
Chapter 8
The Lilly had returned to San Bernardino to the underground base beneath the scrapyard. The Lilly’s two holds were temporarily reconfigured into one larger hold compartment. A tight fit, they’d phase-shifted the salvaged hull from the damaged Caldurian vessel into The Lilly’s hold prior to leaving the Chihuahuan Desert.
Now, a flurry of activity continued. Under the joint direction of Granger and Ricket, ten Caldurian workers had spent the last few hours retrofitting The Lilly. Moving back and forth from various DeckPorts, the men transported both small and large pieces of equipment that were being installed and configured at various locations throughout the ship. Jason’s primary stipulation before getting started had been that nothing was to be installed without at least a rudimentary explanation of how each of the changes would affect The Lilly. It turned out the staff on Granger’s workforce, both male and female, were exemplary in that regard. The Lilly’s section heads were individually brought up to speed on the new modifications added to their areas: Dira received a wide array of new medical equipment; Orion and the Gunnery in general benefited with updated weapons and tactical components; and Jason and the XO with a completely new bridge configuration, including the one hundred years more advanced consoles and a significantly higher-resolution 3D wraparound overhead display. Granger had also furnished new large drive components from somewhere for Chief Horris and his group. The installation and subsequent hands-on instructions continued for seven straight days.
Jason sat in the command chair reviewing the progress.
“Captain, the last of the modifications have been completed, with one exception,” Ricket said. He was wearing his LA Dodgers baseball cap and a too
l belt around his hips.
“And what’s that?”
“The AI.”
“Yes. I’ve been thinking about that. I’d like to talk to you in private, without the AI listening in.”
Ricket moved to a side console for several moments, then returned. “The audio input for the AI has been disabled here in the bridge. You can talk freely.”
Jason looked around the bridge, unsure if he believed that was actually true. “Here’s the thing, Ricket. As much as our current AI can be annoying, she’s always come through for us. So I don’t want her completely removed. Is it possible to keep her, say, as a backup, if necessary?”
“Two artificial intelligence systems?”
“Yes.”
“There is plenty of core storage space available. The new AI will take over from the original one. If ever the need arises, she can be reinstated—although she may not be as adept with some of the newer technology now installed. Would that be acceptable?”
“That should work. Also, how many are there of the newer droids—the ones that were on the Caldurian ship?”
“There are three, Captain.”
“I’d like to repurpose one of them to stay here to provide security, and to help Nan if anything comes up. From what I understand, they have defensive capabilities and can pilot any of our vessels. So I’d also like to keep one of the original shuttles here underground.”
“Yes, Captain.” Ricket nodded once, then scurried off the bridge.
* * *
Nan was in the kitchen showing Mollie how to put together a salad, while Jason manned the BBQ on the back porch. He checked the hamburger patties and saw they were just about ready. He added a slice of cheese to each and closed the grill again.
Jason took a pull of his beer and looked out at the acres of junk cars. The sun had set and he noticed there was a bit of autumn chill in the air. Laughter was coming from the kitchen. It had been a while since they’d all been back together like this, like a family. It felt good. It was bittersweet, though. Although the subject hadn’t been breached, and nobody had said the words, this little party tonight would be their last opportunity to be together for an indefinite period of time. In truth, it was more than likely he would not return home at all. For that reason, he’d provided a stack of documents for Nan to sign, giving her power of attorney over his funds and anything to do with the scrapyard property.
They had dinner outside under the stars. A radio was on somewhere in the house and the soft overhead lights from the yard gave the night a soft, pleasing atmosphere. Jason glanced across the table and caught Nan’s eyes. She held his stare a moment and then nervously looked away. She was obviously thinking about the same thing he was. Earlier, an hour before dinner, he had unintentionally walked in on her just as she was getting out of the shower. Like an idiot, he’d just stood there, staring at her—taking in her nakedness, the absolute perfection of her body, and the flush of her skin as she grabbed for a towel. And then she yelled at him to knock next time and get the hell out.
“What’s so funny?” Mollie asked, looking at the two of them.
Nan made a bewildered expression. “Nothing’s funny, it’s just a nice night. That okay with you, Pumpkin?”
Mollie turned her attention to her father, who’d also been smiling, but now just shrugged.
“You guys are weird.”
Nan looked out at the scrapyard beyond. Jason turned to see what she was looking at.
“It kind of grows on you, doesn’t it?” Jason asked.
“I guess. Everything here is so … old. Even the house is falling apart,” she said.
“I’ve thought about rebuilding. Maybe start from scratch. Put up a new house.”
“That would be a start, I guess,” Nan replied.
“A start?”
Nan ignored the question, and passed Mollie a plate, “Hey, kiddo, help clear the table?”
With exaggerated movements, Mollie held out her arms like a robot. Jason and Nan stacked the dinner plates onto them with the silverware on top.
“You got all that? Careful now, don’t drop those,” Nan said.
Mollie, still acting like a robot, slowly walked back into the house. A minute later they heard water running and the sounds of the plates being rinsed off in the sink.
“She’s a good kid. You’ve done well with her, Nan.”
She nodded, looked as if she was about to say something, but then didn’t. She glanced his way again, smiled, and looked out toward the scrapyard. He noticed she was biting her lip. A nervous habit when she felt uncomfortable. She really was lovely. More so right now than he could ever remember. Her small upturned nose, the little dimples on her cheeks when she smiled, like now.
“Okay, you really need to stop doing that.”
“I’m staring, aren’t I?”
“Yes. Again! You tend to do that, you know?” She shook her head and smiled. “What the hell are you doing, Jason?”
Mollie, back for the glasses, sang along with the radio but seemed to make up her own words as the music played. Once she was gone, Jason reached over the table and took Nan’s hand. She didn’t pull away.
“To be honest, I have no idea what I’m doing. But what I do know is that it feels right,” he said.
“Well, knock it off. You’re not only confusing me, you’re confusing your daughter.” She pulled her hand away and stood up. Before she walked away she smiled down at Jason and tousled his hair.
“Oh, come on, don’t look so distraught. It’s not like it’s the end of the world.” When she walked toward the kitchen, she too began singing along with that same damn tune on the radio.
Later, when the dishes were dried and put away, the three of them played far too many hands of Go Fish. Mollie was put to bed in Brian’s old bedroom and Nan went to the master bedroom at the end of the hall. Jason retreated to the same small bedroom he’d slept in as a kid. He tried to get comfortable but his feet hung over the end of the bed by nearly a foot, and memories of the house, of his youth, filled his thoughts, until he heard his bedroom door open and then close again. When Nan slid in next to him on the small bed, she was naked.
“I couldn’t sleep, how about you?” she asked, right before kissing him on the mouth and pulling him close.
* * *
When Jason awoke the next morning, he was alone in bed. His thoughts immediately went to Nan and their late-night lovemaking. Now, in retrospect, it only complicated things. His mind then went to Dira. Why do I feel I’ve been unfaithful? Jason knew why … Because that’s exactly what he was.
Someone was yelling at the back of the house. It was Nan. No, Nan and Mollie. He quickly pulled on his jeans, opened the door, and ran down the hallway into the den.
It they hadn’t looked so scared, the scene would have been funny. Nan was holding a floor mop ready to strike and Mollie was ready to swing the old Louisville slugger.
“Get back! Get out of here!” Nan yelled in the direction of the front door. Jason couldn’t see who they were screaming at. As he stepped around the corner and into the room, he understood. It must be one of the new droids, specifically the one Ricket had repurposed to stay behind.
“It’s okay, it’s one of ours,” Jason said, holding up his hands to fend off an attack from either of them.
Turning to the droid, Jason was surprised by its appearance. It seemed the Caldurians had made an effort to humanize, or more accurately, Caldurian-ize, its appearance. But there was something menacing, dangerous about it. As tall as Nan, the drone was an iridescent white, had a head and two arms, a long angular-shaped torso and it was legless—it hovered several inches above the floor. It had a cold, intimidating face with a somewhat downturned mouth, which Jason guessed was strictly placed there for appearance’s sake, without being functional. It moved with aggressive purpose.
“What the hell are you doing in here?” Jason scolded.
“Captain Reynolds identified. Nan Reynolds identified. Mollie Reynolds identified
. Drone allocation 724 security perimeter circuit in process.”
Mollie’s eyes were wide with fear and never left the hovering droid.
“Relax, both of you. It’s here for your safety; really, it’s okay,” Jason said, trying to sound calm.
The drone moved forward into the house, passed by Jason, and turned down the hallway toward the bedrooms.
“Oh no, that thing is not going to be floating around this house like a frigging ghost while you’re gone.”
Mollie nodded her head in agreement, eyes still wide.
Jason knew Nan well enough to know that laughing would be a bad idea.
Scrapyard Ship 3 Space Vengeance Page 6
