Colossus

by John Ricks

  “I can see your worry, Freddy. Don’t worry. Relax. We’ll keep you informed.” She gently pulled the helmet off my head and motioned for me to relax.

  I went over to the hammock and started swinging a little. When Maggie came down, she was sound asleep in Denise’s arms. Denise brought her directly to me. Julia and Aggie were shocked and worried.

  I examined her. “There is nothing wrong with her except that her energy is very low. She’ll sleep it off in an hour or two. She may have a slight headache when she wakes.”

  Susan asked, “What went wrong, Freddy?”

  “I won’t know until I look at the belt.” I took the belt off her and opened up the electronics. I smiled, reached in, and removed a tiny screwdriver. I looked up at Susan, laughing, “Maggie is what went wrong.”

  Susan frowned, “Explain, please.”

  “You give an electronics toy to an electronics genius, and what happens? She pulls it apart to see how it works.” I held up the screwdriver and said, “See this? She shorted out the energy pack, and the belt used her body to replace the lost energy, which fried the energy input circuits as it gathered energy too quickly. Design flaw that is easily fixed. Please tell everyone that Maggie is the first to find a flaw. Congratulate her. Then chew her out for tampering, please.”

  Susan was just a little upset that Maggie tampered with the equipment and caused issues. She didn’t show it, but I could feel it. I was fairly sure Maggie was going to find herself on kitchen patrol for the rest of the trip.

  Susan ordered, “Colleen, tell everyone what happened, and let them know I’ll fry the next one that tampers with the equipment!”

  Julia had her hands resting on the belt, and she quickly took them off.

  Colleen toggled the all-hands switch and ordered, “Attention, team. Maggie will be okay. She is just very tired. She tampered with the circuits of the belt and caused the belt to need to reenergize quickly. Being vampire in nature, you can guess from where the belt took the energy. Orders are, don’t tamper with any of the equipment. In addition, it’s time, and the cook is nearly finished making dinner. Everyone report and return.”

  I couldn’t hear what was going on, but I could see Colleen marking off each person as they reported on a small board and marking them a second time as they showed up. It’s good working with professionals. Far fewer worries.

  Red said, “Well, Gray, now we know what vampire means. It takes your energy away if it needs energy to keep you alive.”

  Green said, “With the communications and the readouts on personal vital signs, everyone will quickly know if there is a problem. We can do that, but Gray said not to clutter things up.”

  Gray said rather disinterestedly, “Who cares if someone is not doing well? Leave him, and continue with the plan.”

  I said, “Fool!” at the same time Little Yellows whispered to herself, “Fool!” We both started laughing. Big Yellows and Green caught what happened and were laughing. Gray was getting mad.

  Gray asked in a tone that screamed warning, “What did it say about me this time?”

  Little Yellows said, “It is not what he said that we are laughing about. It is the fact that he and we said the same thing at the same time. We think a lot alike.”

  Red said, “Amazing. You actually said the same thing at the same time. What did you say?”

  “Fool!”

  Gray took a step forward and said, “You had better be careful, Yellows.”

  A Black stepped up and turned toward Gray. “Do you have a death wish, little Gray.”

  Gray quickly backed down. “No.”

  Six tentacles shot into—not around but into—Gray and picked him up. He was screaming in pain. “No, what?”

  “No, Great One. I did not mean to offend.”

  The tentacles pulled out so quickly that I could not see the move. As the Black turned and started back to his position, Gray fell from the ceiling to the floor with a bang. He picked himself up and left.

  No one said a word for several seconds.

  Blue finally broke the stillness and said, “Body Proper, watch that Gray. He may wish revenge.”

  Body Proper answered, “I would close the doors as he is returning with a blasting weapon.”

  Gray walked back in. The weapon was still at his side. His hand was on it, but he did not draw the weapon. He said, “If you attack me again, you had better kill me.” He turned my way without taking his eyes off the others. “Say something about me again, and see if you are not expendable.”

  I reached out with my mind, and his weapon became white hot. He tried to pull it but it was now melted into the holder.

  Black walked over and said, “Body Proper, we need a new Gray. Have any been watching?”

  “Several.”

  “Please send one now.” He turned to another Black. “Take this one to the Black pens, and let them play with him.”

  Gray left in the arms of a big Black. Gray was begging, “No! No! Not that! I’ll be quiet. I’ll be good. Not the pens!” His voice trailed off.

  Little Yellows said to me. “Now, how did you make his weapon hot, little one?”

  Red said, “He tampered again. Bring me a dampening helmet.”

  A Green brought over a big device that looked like a metal helmet enclosure of some sort. They transferred it into the tank and placed it over my head. My mental powers shut off. Darn!

  Red said, “Continue, Green.”

  Chapter 28

  Testing

  I was swinging in the hammock when Julia came over.

  “Hi, Freddy.”

  “Hi, Julia. Want to swing? There is plenty of room.”

  “Okay.”

  I stopped the swing, and she climbed on, and I started the swing again.” Susan was at the command post, going over the reports, and Aggie was sitting in front of her tent, picking bugs off her pants. Both gave me a funny look.

  Julia noticed and said, “I don’t think they want us together much. Mother doesn’t because you’re always in some danger. Why not Susan?”

  “Susan does not like ruffles and lace. She wants me around someone strong and fast.”

  “Are you attracted to someone strong and fast, or are you more ruffles and lace?”

  “Actually, I’ve been too busy to give it much thought.”

  “Don’t start skirting around issues. Which is it?”

  “I’m really not avoiding the issue. It’s just that …”

  “What?”

  “Being empathic and telepathic, I find myself drawn toward females who have good minds. I would have to say intelligence and order inside a mind is the first thing that draws my attention.”

  She sadly said, “I had not thought of that. I suppose only specials have that kind of mind.”

  “Absolutely not. That’s not even close to being correct. Specials are not special when it comes to intelligence. We have some remarkable specials at home, and believe me, they would test out as totally normal for intelligence.”

  “Then what makes a person intelligent?”

  “I am not really sure what made them different at birth. However, what makes them different when they reach my age is what they have done with their lives. For instance, you have a great mind.”

  “I do?”

  “Yes. If you took the proper tests, I am sure you would come out well above normal. Now, what got you to that point? Do you like to read?”

  “Yes, I love to read.”

  “I would also bet you read a lot, and that increases your knowledge and helps organize your brain. In addition, you are a good student, aren’t you?”

  “Four point zero, all the way.”

  “Highly expected with a good mind like yours. You read, you study, you work at life, and therefore, you make your mind work.” I turned to her. “And that’s what makes a
mind intelligent and ordered. Putting it to work and exercising the mind makes you the person you are.”

  “That’s nice of you to say, Freddy.”

  “I won’t lie to you, Julia. When I say you have a good mind—an attractive mind—I mean just that. I am not saying I am attracted to you. Just that you are attractive because of your mind.”

  “And once you get past the mind and see the girl?”

  “Then I would have to say health.”

  “Health?”

  “Does she care enough to keep herself healthy?”

  “Oh, now were talking looks.”

  “In a way but not what you’re thinking. I have seen some very lovely girls that are not healthy and some homely girls that are very healthy. The prettiest girl I have ever seen wears glasses and has a mole on her chin.”

  She reached over and pushed my shoulder. “You’re joking.”

  “No. What made her pretty is that when I touched her hand, there was nothing to heal. Nothing to fix that was caused by her. Her hair was well taken care of, and her teeth were clean, and she was clean. She exercised, and her body showed it, in that her muscles were tight and lean. However, her mind was unorganized and weak.”

  “Then strong and fast is important?”

  “No. Strong and fast is normally healthy, but you can be healthy without being strong and fast. We had a girl called Tammy at home for a while. She had a great mind, and she was very healthy, small, weak, and almost fragile. I was very attracted to her, and so was every man at home. She had a special ability that drove men crazy in need for her. However, she was not strong or fast.”

  “You talk of her in the past tense. What happened to her?”

  “Becky happened. My love for Becky let me see through Tammy’s special ability, and I sent Tammy away until she could control her special ability. We called it Tammy-craving. She’ll be okay once she figures out how to control it.”

  “You love Becky a lot, don’t you?”

  “It’s kind of strange. I would do almost anything for her. I think of her more than anything else. However, we don’t seem to hit it off too well when we’re together.”

  “Rocky relationship?”

  “Aren’t all relationships rocky?”

  “I’d have to agree on that. You’re not watching what you say with me. Why? I could report in the magazine that you have a rocky relationship with Becky.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “You don’t mind?”

  “I’m not one to hide anything except my inventions. I am who I am. I don’t understand why you are interested in me. Why the fan club?”

  She looked over at me with a smile, patted my check, and said, “You really don’t know, do you?”

  “No. So why?”

  She stopped the swing and got off.

  “Hey, I answered your questions, Julia!”

  As she was walking away she looked back at me with a smile and said, “Thank you.”

  I wanted to say more, but as soon as Julia walked away, the team was on me, wanting to talk about the belt and helmet.

  Lieutenant Uniceson was the first to reach me. “Freddy, these are great. Too bad about Maggie, but I had a great time. There seems to be several controls I can’t activate. The rest of the girls say the same thing.”

  I took my eyes off Julia, the brat, and focused on the lieutenant. I reached over and touched her arm. “I have them deactivated at this time, sir.”

  “Why?”

  “For safety reasons. I need you to be fully used to what I have activated before I can allow the use of the rest of the system.”

  “What do they do?”

  I smiled at that. “Tell you in about a week.”

  “Freddy, you do love to keep people in suspense.” She hit my arm in a friendly manner and had to grab the swing to keep me from falling out. “You need to loosen up this swing. It’s too tight.”

  Katie and Marian made it to me next, but the lieutenant warned them, “He’s not telling. Wants us to use ’em for a week and become fully comfortable with ’em before allowing us the full use.”

  Katie looked at me with a critical eye, saying to the lieutenant, “I’ll get Julia to jiggle it out of him.”

  I reached out and touched Katie and then Marian, and I retorted, “Fat chance, you two.”

  Marian smiled. “What’s the matter, Freddy? Julia and you seem to be getting along really well. That was a nice touch, having her swing with you. Very romantic.”

  “Romantic! She was here just long enough to get the information she wanted without telling me anything I wanted to know. Then she left to go write it down. She could be writing anything!”

  Patricia walked up and said, “Lay off, you two. Freddy is supposed to be enjoying his time off. Nice job with the belt and helmet, but there seem to be controls I can’t activate. What’s the deal?”

  I looked at the lieutenant, waiting for her to speak up, but she just stared back. I took hold of Patricia’s arm and said, “Patricia, I don’t wish to have to tell everyone individually, so I’ll talk about the other controls after dinner. Okay?”

  “Sure, I can wait. See you after dinner, Freddy.” She turned to walk away.

  The lieutenant said, “You’ll be waiting to hear he’s not telling.”

  She stopped, turned around, and started walking back. The look on her face said I was about to tell whether I wanted to or not.

  Susan walked over and put a hand on her arm. “Stop right there.”

  Patricia stopped but said, “This isn’t over, Freddy.”

  Susan looked at Patricia and said, “No, it’s not over.” Then she turned to me. “Freddy.”

  I gave her the most innocent look I could achieve. “Yes.”

  “Don’t use those big eyes on me, young man! When you hold back information about ships and projects, I get upset, but I don’t push too hard. This time we are field testing your equipment. We need to understand the full capabilities, or the testing is over. Do you understand?”

  I could feel she was quite serious, so I touched Susan’s arm and said, “Come here, Patricia, and give me your belt.” She took it off and handed it to me. I went into my tent and came back out with the repair kit, opened it up, and turned on the computer. I opened the belt and took out the electronic pack, plugged it into the computer, and reprogrammed it so that it had all capabilities. While I was reprogramming, I explained. “The belts are for moving and working in hostile environments. Whether out in space or on some forbidden planet, these belts will protect you from almost everything. The shielding they provide will allow you to withstand temperatures from -273 degrees Celsius, or absolute zero, to above 25,000 degrees Celsius. I placed tools inside them to help with repairs and help you survive.” I put the belt back together and handed it to Patricia. “Here.” I started putting my repair kit back.

  She put the belt on rather reluctantly and looked into her helmet’s display. “Everything seems to be available now, Captain.”

  Susan ordered, “Toggle through, and see what you have.”

  “Wait! Wait, wait, wait!” I said. “Don’t do a thing until I say. I don’t want to be killed.”

  “Killed?”

  I think everyone in the camp, including Julia and Aggie, said killed at the same time.

  Sounding a little apologetic, I said, “Yes, well, killed is maybe a little strong. How about cut in half?” Susan picked me up and sat me gently in the swing. Then she put an arm on each side of me so she could look me right in the face. I teleported to the other side of the lieutenant. “Now look, you want me to explain or not?”

  Betsy tapped me on the head, saying, “Please go ahead.” I didn’t even see her until she tapped me. One second she wasn’t in the camp, and in the next she was beside me. It startled me, and I teleported over to Colleen.

  “Do
n’t hide behind me, Freddy.” Colleen grabbed my arm and pulled me out from behind her.

  Susan said, “Stop teleporting, Freddy! Tell us what the other capabilities are.”

  “Okay, okay. Calm down.” I’m not sure if I was saying that to them as much as I was saying it to myself. “Patricia?”

  “Yes.”

  “Toggle to ‘stealth’ mode.”

  “Very well.” She did so and instantly disappeared.

  Susan asked, “Where did she go?”

  “I’m right here, Captain.” Those who still had their helmets on could hear Patricia very clearly. No one else could hear anything Patricia said or did.

  The lieutenant ordered, “Everyone, helmets back on.”

  Susan put her helmet on and toggled through all the sight modes and found Patricia on several different modes.

  I went into lecturing mode. “As you can see—or not see, whichever—in the stealth mode Patricia is completely invisible to the unaided eye. In addition, she can talk, walk, run, whatever, and she won’t make any noise. Scanners will pick her up, and so do four of the seven modes of seeing in the helmets. The helmet will send her voice to other helmets, but no one else can hear her. The entire team could walk into a movie, sit in the back, and yell at each other, and no one else would ever know. If we’re moving people out to other planets, I am sure that the passengers will be a lot less nervous if they don’t see people working on the outside of the ship. Aren’t you?”

  Patricia said, “This is amazing.”

  Susan said, “Freddy, please continue.”

  “Patricia, please come out of stealth mode so we can see you.” She did. “Now toggle on ‘beam.’”

  She did, and her shield changed to a red color. “How are you feeling, Patricia?”

  “I’m fine. Why the color change in my shield?”

  Betsy was now near me, so I touched her arm. I looked at Patricia and said, “The color change is to warn you that you have the laser armed. Point at the log over there.” She pointed to the log. “Now toggle ‘long beam’ and then ‘on,’ and slice that log in two.” She did, and a beam shot out, putting a hole through the log and into the ground. She moved her finger, and the beam cut the log into two parts. “Now, toggle to ‘off,’ and place it in short beam.