“Evil monster (unable to translate) you will all be killed.”
“Last chance. Tell us how to operate everything on the spaceship, or the little one loses a tentacle. When it dies, I will begin with the next littlest one. I will use the cold to cut off the tentacles.”
“Ask your questions. I will answer.”
“If you lie, or say no, the little one will be hurt.”
“May your oceans dry up, and your water always be foul. Ask, and I will answer.”
“Explain your basic drive system. Then you will tell me everything,” Major Gonzales stated. “If you fail to answer, I will come back in here, or shoot cold in here, or find some other ways to hurt you.”
“I understand. The ship is…”
And I entered it all in the translator device. The Jellies would complain and threaten, but they did always answer, even though we sometimes had to persuade them to do so. I even went into that tank to help with the persuasion, and I never regretted what I did to those Jellies. Most of them are still alive now, and they answer questions more rapidly now.
Before too long, MC87 had a better than 95% understanding of the Jellie’s language, including scientific items. We found that the Jellies could somehow see images which we displayed on the clear permalloy, although I never did figure out where their eyes were located, if they have eyes as we think of them. The three artificial intelligence systems—the MC network—also began to be able to extrapolate and make accurate conjectures on how the Jellie systems and the ship itself ran. We own this ship now, including all its carapace pods which we think we can use as our own probes and for activities outside the ship.
And so, Ryan, that does now lead us to this point. I keep thinking back to that book, Facing the Flag. In a way, Ryan, I wonder if I am like Hart from that story. Oh well, those kinds of musings are not telling my story, and I wrote this for you. We have plotted the course of the big jump, using the Jellie ship’s faster-than-light drive. Samuels understands the mathematics behind it, but that is way beyond me. We are heading back to Earth to that Dome 17 place. They launched that robotic probe looking for the Marathon, and they must be an advanced society. It is good to know Earth recovered from all the horrors the Marathon ran away from, and that dome system must be doing very well to come looking for some old colony ship. I only wish we had more records from that probe, but the Jellies destroyed it before more was understood. But we know they came for us, so we are making the big jump back there. In a way, the Marathon is going home again. At least part of it is. The 10,000 people in suspended animation are going to be very surprised when they awaken on a rejuvenated Earth. We could not go forward to the target world, for that is where the Jellies originate, and we are just hoping they never learn where Earth is.
Oh, also, after we got things settled a bit, I did access MC87 and ask about my friends from the militia. The records show they all died in various battles on the Marathon. I checked each name carefully, but details were skimpy. The records were spotty, and some just were listed, “Missing in action, presumed dead.” Which left me pondering what might have been. I did stumble across why we had the first mission to get the oceanographers, Earle and Sylvia. Apparently, then Captain Adams did not believe anything Earle and Sylvia had reported, and sent us militia to get them as a cover story to show something was done, but we were expected to all die in that attempt. The Adams family were instrumental in the downfall of the Marathon. I wonder what would have happened if we had competent leaders? I think about the what-if questions a lot now. Mister Fisher tried to prepare us for any eventuality. How well did he do?
So, my brother Ryan. I often wonder what we could have done together, had these Jellies never found the Marathon. Would you have still died in that accident when you were trying to create your own militia training, there on the farm? I doubt it. Mother and father told me how much you wanted to be like me, and I hope I lived up to your expectations. What if you had not followed in my footsteps? What if when the Jellies first came we had had a competent response? What if you had not died? Oh, how I just wish you had not died way back then. Even more, I wish the Jellies had never found the Marathon.
Maybe you and I would have adjacent farms. Farming looks really good to me right now. We could have had horses, cattle, crops, and automacubes like Greenie. I think it would have been fun to have emus, lamas, and pigs. I know being a farmer would have been good. I might even have been an engineer on the side. I know we would have had dogs to throw toys for and who would chase rats, rabbits, and racoons. Then you and I would have married some beautiful farm girls from Kansas and had own kids. Our sisters would have been great mothers, and innovators, and we all could have laughed, loved, and lived. Just a bunch of wonderful dwellers in that biome we called Kansas. If only the Jellies had never found us. One can dream. Right Ryan? Dreams are all I have of you now. I sure miss you.
Well, I will add more after we reach Earth, and remember Ryan, I will always miss you.
11
Legacy
A whistle cut through the air and echoed off the exhibits. A dozen children knew that signal, and they rushed back to the grand lecture hall. As they entered the gallery, they passed by tables where they eagerly grabbed up packages with their names on them. They then sat down in the plush theatre seats, and ripped into the packages. Squeals of joy and awe sounded from them as they discovered souvenirs, beverage containers, and boxes of treats. Some of the children were stuffing their mouths with the goodies, before even looking at all they could take home with them. Their happy faces were soon smeared with chocolates, cakes, frostings, and berries. Crumbs and drips splattered over the children’s school uniforms, but the materials absorbed that so there were no stains. The statues which lined the sides of the lecture hall were all but forgotten in the children’s eagerness to consume the delicious food.
“Children, our visit at the Jellie War Heroic Museum is about to end,” a pleasant man with a sweet voice said as he walked out on the floor in front of the elevated stage. His red coat had huge pockets on its sides, and was lined with white. “Please take your assigned seats, and keep with your buddies. Be careful not to spill your snacks or make messes. This beautiful museum should be kept tidy.” His smile indicated that he knew it was already too late for that. He glanced up and saw a silver automacubes was already carefully and quietly cleaning up after the youngsters.
“Teacher? Teacher?”
“Locran, do you know I have a name?” the man asked with a chuckle. It was his standard response to being called “teacher.”
“Yes, Tutor Clyde, I know you have a name,” Locran responded. His dark hair and brown eyes were huge with his attempt to hold back a bursting question.
“Locran, you have something to share?” Tutor Clyde asked.
“I got to see a real shuttle from the Eschaton! Is it really over a hundred years old?” Locran exclaimed.
“Yes, Locran, that shuttle is real, and it came from the Colony Ship Eschaton. Everything in this museum is real, or an exact reproduction of what came to our planet one hundred and seventy-eight years ago.”
“Tutor Clyde? What about that log record of Kalju?” Olivia asked. “We all listened to it, but it is not really finished. What happened?”
“Let me pass that question over to Curator Rebecca of the museum,” Tutor Clyde responded. He gave her a wink as she walked over to join him.
“Oh, you just are doing that because you two are married,” Eversyn, one of Locran’s classmates chided.
“That was how we got to come here when the museum is closed to the public,” Asher added. “And thank you for the treats and snacks!”
“Yes, thank you Curator Rebecca!” the children called out in various ways, all with grateful hearts.
“But what exactly happened to Kalju?” Albertine asked. Her hair was in long cornrows, and accentuated her face which was about the same color as the chocolate she was eating.
“That is a common question, and almost everyo
ne asks about it when they visit the museum,” Curator Rebecca gave Tutor Clyde a sly smile, “The log of Kalju, commonly known as the ‘Battle on the Marathon’ is the best surviving record of what happened on the Colony Ship Marathon. Kalju is considered among some of the first heroes of the Jellie War. His log is as complete as it will ever be. If he recorded anything more, it has been lost to the ages. However, I have included in your gift bags a data stick. On it you will find several scholarly articles, displayed at your grade level, explaining what happened after Kalju’s log ended. In brief, we all know that they made the big jump to Earth, but it was not what they expected. So, they jumped again to the Colony Ship Eschaton. Also, next time you come back you can check more about that in the exhibit on the Colony Ship Eschaton. You can find out more about our founders, Jamie and Michael, as well as about Kalju, Major Gonzales, and so many others. When you come back, you might want to check out our interactive genetics directory. That is where you can trace back your own personal history and find out which one of the people who landed on our planet Bounty was your founding ancestor. But you will need your parents to come along to do that, as children cannot access that part of the museum without a parent being present. So, children, I thank you for taking a field trip to the Jellie War Heroic Museum. Remember, this museum is the largest and best museum on all of the planet Bounty. Thanks again for your visit, and I hope your teacher will bring you back another time. Included in your packets are discount tickets for your next visit. Remember, your parents can bring you here during our regular hours, but at those times, there are almost always large crowds of people.”
The children applauded, laughed, and ate their treats.
The End.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
John Thornton lives on the Northern Plains of the United States with his wonderful wife. Their four children are all grown up and married. Of course, armor is a big part of living in the plains. You need armor against the Dakota Viper, the Dakotasaurus, the Dakota Winged Monster, and the Dakota winters. Only the last is real. As his one daughter once said, “Whenever my dad calls something a Dakota blank, it is made up stuff.” Yes, John Thornton has been making up stories for a long time. He and his wife share their trailer with two dogs, one of which is old and having difficulty walking up and down stairs. That dog is seeking gravity manipulation to easy her struggles. Thankfully no Jellies have invaded their home. Some of the best times are when family come to visit.
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