Trooper Down

by Jim Laughter

  Chapter Ten

  For nearly three hours Melissa listened from her seat at the defense table while the two attorneys wrangled about the school district’s actions. She hadn’t expected to attend these proceedings until their attorney thought it might help bolster their case. Melissa asked him if he’d heard from someone named Mary, but apparently he hadn’t.

  Still, in spite of not having the information Mary had provided to the judge, Melissa thought their attorney was doing an excellent job. More often than not, the judge overruled the objections made by the attorney representing the school district. She noticed that the attorney for the union was also seated at the district’s table, and appeared to be running things.

  Finally, the judge called a recess for lunch. Melissa found herself too preoccupied to remember what she ate and it only seemed an eye blink before they were back in court.

  The judge called the court to order and then summoned the attorneys to the bench. Melissa frowned when she saw the union attorney go forward as well. After a few moments of quiet discussion, the union lawyer began to protest loudly, creating a disturbance in the courtroom. The judge nodded at one of the officers who took the man into custody and escorted him from the room. Two other officers came forward and took Mr. Augur and the School Administrator into custody as well. As the two remaining attorneys returned to their respective tables, Melissa noticed they were both smiling. The judge then addressed the court.

  “I have before me affidavits and clear evidence from several sources revealing a conspiracy on the part of the union legal counsel to manipulate these proceedings,” he began. “I also have before me sworn statements from a large majority of the teachers attesting to the collusion against the Boren’s on part of the union and its sympathizers.”

  The judge shuffled the stack of papers together and picked up his gavel.

  “It’s within the jurisdiction of this court to dismiss this farce against this family and award them damages and expenses for their trouble.”

  The Boren’s attorney nodded his approval. The judge continued.

  “I also rule that the current union is disbanded and a court-monitored meeting is to take place among the teachers to decide whether they desire to form a new union or work independently. Officers of the former union are barred from those proceedings and any union or association related to education. Court dismissed.”

  The gavel banged.

  ∞∞∞

  Agnes and Robert Hassel were enjoying a bit of quiet time after dinner activities in their small, comfortable living room in Big Valley.

  Erdinata is so peaceful in the evening, Robert thought. He was buried in a good book that he’d been reading off and on for two days. Whenever he got a chance to read, something always seemed to come up.

  Agnes was busy at her desk writing down ideas for Stan and Leatha’s wedding. She planned to travel to Theta at the beginning of next week. To keep herself occupied, she spent her spare time compiling lists of possible options and how it could be done for a minimum of expense. When Robert learned what she was doing, he just shook his head and muttered.

  Both had made significant progress on their projects when they heard a ground vehicle pull into the driveway. Agnes and Robert looked at each other in puzzlement and ambled to the front door. They were curious to see who would be calling at this late hour.

  By the time they were on the front porch, the ground vehicle had pulled around to the back door and stopped. This puzzled Robert even more. Only their friends knew that the back door was the preferred entrance. Robert led Agnes down the steps and they started around the side of the house when something passed overhead.

  Robert looked up to see an Axia fast scout ship coming in to land just as Agnes cried out. Returning his attention to the ground vehicle, he immediately saw what had alarmed his wife. There, standing beside the vehicle, was an Axia trooper in full formal uniform. Robert recognized the man as the Trooper Liaison Lieutenant they’d met a few years ago during their extended court battle with a local social agency.

  The expression on the man’s face telegraphed the terrible news he was about to deliver. Robert stood frozen in his tracks, an arm protectively around Agnes as she clung to his side. While the Trooper Lieutenant slowly approached, the Axia scout ship landed in the field beyond the driveway.

  The Lieutenant came to attention before them and saluted. Numb with fear, Robert automatically returned the gesture. With obvious reluctance, the Trooper pulled a small envelope out of his jacket pocket. Although his mind registered that several passengers had gotten out of the scout ship and were approaching, Robert’s heart was focused on the envelope being offered to him.

  With a trembling hand, he took it, dreading the news it contained. He broke the simple seal with his finger and pulled the single page out while the envelope fluttered to the ground. In spite of her fear, Agnes strained to see the terrible words.

  To: Robert and Agnes Hassel,

  It is my sad duty to regretfully inform you that your son, Trooper-Third Delmar Eagleman, has been killed in enemy action. On behalf of Our Lady Empress Ane-of-Axia, the Axia Trooper Service, and our entire commonwealth of planets, we wish to express our deepest condolences at this terrible loss. The trooper bearing this news has been placed at your complete disposal to aid you in any way humanly possible. It is regrettable that no remains of your son were recovered.

  Colonel Rod Cafference

  207th Survey Division

  To Robert’s surprise, Agnes did not cry out. Instead they stood together in total shock. The Trooper Lieutenant politely excused himself to allow them a moment alone. Robert stood totally numb while a trembling Agnes continued to cling to his arm. Unexpectedly, he felt a hand gently come to rest on his shoulder. He turned his head to find himself staring into the face of his friend, Jake Sender. Sherry stood at her husband’s side and both faces told Robert that they’d already heard the tragic news.

  ∞∞∞

  Leatha stood at the field in the afternoon sun when the scout that was bringing Stan back to her landed. As soon as it touched down, she started her anxious walk out from the waiting area. The hatch on the scout opened and the captain of the ship came out first according to protocol. Close behind him was the man that Leatha most wanted to see right then.

  Stan carried his luggage and portable computer out with him and set them on the tarmac. He returned to the ship and reverently removed the wrapped piece of hull plate. Without a word, Leatha picked up his travel bag while Stan shouldered his portable computer and the piece of plating. Without saying a word, the two walked back to the ground car Leatha had parked behind the waiting area.

  Nightfall found the couple sitting alone in a deserted corner of the field dining hall. Stan had just finished bringing Leatha up-to-date on all that had happened in the search area.

  “So they don’t think the tragedy happened due to mechanical failure of some kind?”

  “Not a chance,” Stan answered. “As far as they could determine from the mothership’s damaged log buoy, all of the ships were ordered back from their patrol stations and were onboard when the attack took place.”

  “But that would have left the mothership without a protective safety globe to warn her of attack,” Leatha said incredulously. “What kind of incompetent commander leaves his ship unprotected like that?”

  “I know,” Stan agreed grimly. “The log also contained the routing of the various ships to their assigned bays.”

  “Did it include anything about Delmar?”

  “Yes it did,” Stan replied sadly. “He landed mere hours before the Red-tail attack.”

  They grew quiet for a moment. She already knew what Stan was going to say. If the Cabbage Patch was on the mothership when it exploded, there was no way he could have survived.

  “Any news from the Senders?” Stan asked.

  “Ert and I got them on a fast scout to Erdinata,” Leatha answered. “But Ert said it would be a toss-up if they got there before th
e messenger arrived. Just before I came here, Ert learned they arrived at the same time.”

  “You did the best you could, honey,” Stan said. “I only wish I could have been there myself.”

  “We both do. Now all we can do is wait. Jake said he would contact me concerning any memorial service the Hassels want to have.”

  ∞∞∞

  The sense of celebration over the court battle was short-lived for Melissa as she again found herself facing the dreaded computer lessons. Mary had excused herself today, leaving the teenager alone to wrestle with the frustrations of the lessons.

  Sure wish Mary would return, Melissa thought while she pondered the latest lesson. And she still hasn’t told me what the surprise is!

  Melissa stabbed angrily at the pause key on her keyboard. The lesson on the screen froze for a moment and then disappeared altogether.

  “What!” she squawked aloud. A moment later, text appeared on her screen.

  IS THAT ANY WAY TO TREAT YOUR EQUIPMENT?

  Melissa hesitated for a moment and then began typing.

  WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, MARY? I THOUGHT YOU WERE UNAVAILABLE TODAY.

  SHE IS, came the reply. MY NAME IS ERT. MARY ASKED ME TO CHECK IN ON YOUR PROGRESS AND GET ACQUAINTED.

  ARE YOU THE SURPRISE SHE TOLD ME ABOUT? Melissa typed excitedly.

  I’M PART OF IT, Ert said.

  ARE YOU A PILOT TOO, LIKE MARY?

  A PILOT? ME?

  YOU’RE NOT A PILOT?

  NO, I’M A COMPUTER.

  Melissa leaned back in her chair and stared at the words on her screen. Then she looked at her cobbled-together main processor. She remembered the many hours she’d spent piecing the thing together from salvaged and remanded parts. In the big scheme of computers, she knew it was a glorified piece of junk with no real intelligence of its own.

  So how can a computer be communicating with me? Wouldn’t that indicate a level of sentient intelligence?

  HOW CAN YOU BE A COMPUTER AND BE TALKING TO ME? I’VE NEVER HEARD OF A SENTIENT MACHINE.

  I AM FROM THE PLANET HORICON AND WAS IN HIBERNATION FOR MANY THOUSANDS OF YEARS BEFORE BEING DISCOVERED IN AN ARCHEOLOGICAL DIG A FEW YEARS AGO. I WAS REACTIVATED AT THE COMPUTER INSTITUTE ON MICA AND HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE AXIA EVER SINCE. MARY ASKED ME TO OVERSEE YOUR STUDIES AND CONNECT YOU WITH THE MENTOR PROGRAM THE TROOPER SERVICE PROVIDES.

  Melissa had the feeling someone somewhere was pulling her leg, but she was willing to listen to this Ert person, or computer, if he could help with her studies.

  WHAT IS THIS MENTOR PROGRAM YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT?

  IT’S A PROGRAM THAT MATCHES STUDENTS THAT SHOW AN INCLINATION FOR THE HARD SCIENCES WITH QUALIFIED PEOPLE ALREADY IN THE FIELD, Ert replied. IT HAS PROVEN BENEFICIAL TO BOTH THE MENTORS AND THE STUDENTS, AND IS MUCH MORE VERSATILE THAN THE REGULAR COMPUTER STUDIES.

  SOUNDS INTERESTING, Melissa entered. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND HOW DO I GET SIGNED UP?

  THE COST IS COVERED BY THE AXIA.

  Melissa let out a low whistle.

  AS FOR SIGNING UP, MARY HAS ALREADY ARRANGED IT FOR YOU.

  AND I’LL BET SHE ALREADY HAS A MENTOR PICKED OUT FOR ME.

  AS A MATTER OF FACT, SHE DOES, Ert said. HER NAME IS LEATHA MORDON. MARY AND I THINK YOU’LL ENJOY WORKING TOGETHER. LEATHA IS ONE OF THE FEW CAPTAINS QUALIFIED ON THE NEW FAST ATTACK RECON SHIPS WHICH DO SERIOUS SURVEY AND EXPLORATION WORK.

  WOW! Melissa typed. WHEN CAN I MEET HER?

  AS SOON AS IT CAN BE ARRANGED AT HER END, Ert replied. CURRENTLY, SHE’S INVOLVED WITH A FAMILY CRISIS.

  Melissa immediately felt concern for a woman she’d never met.

  IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP?

  I DOUBT IT. SHE LOST A FRIEND IN A RED-TAIL ATTACK.

  I’M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

  WE ALL ARE, Ert said. BUT THERE’S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT NOW, SO LET’S GET ON WITH YOUR LESSONS.

  ∞∞∞

  The sun had only been up for an hour when Doctor Murphy and Delmar rode into Fern Gulch. From the way he’d ridden his horse, Doctor Murphy determined that Del had never been in a saddle. This puzzled him but that was becoming the norm concerning his patient.

  Leaving their animals at the local livery stable, Doctor Murphy led Delmar to the railroad station who found himself immediately entranced. He stared at the locomotive and cars.

  He’s like a little kid, Doctor Murphy thought.

  He bought their tickets from the station master and returned to stand beside the gawking Delmar. The locomotive shrieked its loud whistle and the conductor called out the last boarding call.

  “Come, Del,” the doctor said, taking the young man by his arm. “You will have plenty of time to look closer at her later.”

  With reluctance, Delmar let himself be led to the steps where he and Doctor Murphy boarded the passenger car.

  They’d barely sat down when the whistle shrieked again. The train jolted into motion and with clanging bell chugged lazily out of the station. Delmar continued to try to see everything about the train. The doctor thought this was certainly an interesting beginning to their trip.

  He knows nothing about trains either. It’s like he has never seen one before.

  As much as he would rather have ignored it, the evidence was piling up, pointing to the fact that his patient was totally unfamiliar with everything around him. It was as if he belonged somewhere completely alien.

  Where can this boy be from? Doctor Murphy wondered.

  He watched the young man take in his surroundings. The look on his face and the wonder in his eyes fascinated the physician. He determined to get to the bottom of the boy’s memory loss if it took him the rest of his life to do it.

  ∞∞∞

  The three tribal braves crept stealthily down into the box canyon. They were aware that two drifters had set up a hidden camp at the far end of the canyon, but they were well clear of them. They silently worked their way toward the cave a scout had told the elders about.

  When he’d first told the village elders about the strange apparition in the cave, many had scoffed. Only the eldest respectfully listened to the young man while he related his strange tale.

  “There is truth in his words,” he told the other elders. “What his eyes have seen can’t be a lie.”

  The elder looked around the circle of wise men, making sure each was listening.

  “Our ancient traditions hold that our ancestors knew of beings that lived among the stars and travel in flying wagons such as this young brave has described. My own father told me many years ago about the great moving lights that traveled in the night sky.”

  “What shall we do?” another elder asked. “The whole village is laughing him to scorn.”

  “We send him back with two witnesses,” the eldest replied. “That way the truth will be established and we will gain a better understanding.”

  His words of wisdom prevailed and the trio of scouts were dispatched the next morning.

  Now the three found themselves standing just outside the mysterious cave. The hunter who had been there before led the way without hesitation, leaving the others to follow or not. Finally, the other two braves ventured inside lest they be thought to lack courage.

  As soon as their eyes adjusted to the dim light, they saw the first brave standing near the back. That, however, wasn’t the only thing their eyes beheld. There, towering over the first brave, was the black metallic apparition he’d told them about. With both awe and caution, the two placed their hands against its strange, cool surface.

  ∞∞∞

  Doctor Murphy and Delmar stood again on the station platform. Their expedition to the observatory had proven fruitless. The men working there had never seen Delmar before, nor he them. In addition, Delmar was totally unfamiliar with their equipment.

  Scratch one good idea, thought the doctor and sat down on a station bench.

  “Do you think I have time to go see the locomotive?” Delmar asked.

  “Yes, go ah
ead,” the doctor answered. “We have plenty of time. The engineer should be there right now. Just tell him Doctor Murphy sent you. He knows me. I delivered all six of his children.”

  Arriving at the locomotive, Delmar located the two men responsible for the machine. One of them noticed his unabashed interest in the engine.

  “Ain’t she a beaut?” the man commented as he stopped beside Delmar.

  “Yes sir, she is. Doctor Murphy said to tell you he sent me.”

  “Doc Murphy, he’s a funny old rascal,” the man replied. “Do you wish to see the inside?”

  “Could I?”

  Moments later he stood on the deck of the locomotive. All around him were the various gauges and valves that ran the piece of equipment.

  “Come over here and sit in my seat,” the engineer called.

  At the man’s direction, Delmar climbed up to the window seat on the right side of the locomotive cab. The engineer proudly explained each control and how they functioned. Delmar soaked it all in.

  “And this here is the throttle,” the engineer said, patting the iron bar.

  “May I touch it?”

  “Yes. Go ahead and put your hand on it, but don’t move it,” the engineer answered.

  Delmar reached up and gently fondled the iron throttle. His head began to swim as another memory opened up. Without warning, he found himself sitting in some sort of chair holding a throttle that was very similar to this one. A large front bank of windows was ablaze with millions of stars. The dream faded and Delmar found himself again in the locomotive cab.

  “It’s time for you to get back to your car,” the engineer said. “We’ll be pulling out soon.”

  Delmar thanked the engineer and brakeman and climbed down from the engine. Doctor Murphy met him on the platform and together they boarded one of the passenger cars. He wasn’t sure what he’d just remembered but he couldn’t wait to tell the doctor all about it.

  Chapter Eleven

  Peeking over the dirt brim, Trooper-Trainee Delmar Eagleman spied the attacking Red-tails as heat rays sizzled uncomfortably close overhead.

  “I think they’re preparing to overrun us, Stan,” he said to his buddy next to him. All around them were the other Trooper Trainees doing their best to hold off the enemy onslaught.