Dark Moon Rising

by Michael E. Gonzales

  "Is there anything that does not escape your attention?" Balaji folded his hands on his chest.

  "Security, remember?"

  "No, no. It was—nothing to do with you."

  "What should I do now, about Dr. Eddington, I mean?"

  "Her first name is Mary, but I'm sure you know that."

  "Yeah, I know, but the use of her first name is outside the parameters of my directives. I realize I'll have to work on that."

  "Just how long have you been up here, Sergeant?"

  "Come on, Doctor, what do you suggest now?" Hugh avoided the question altogether.

  "Oh, Mary, yes. Well, I suggest a chance meeting so that you two can just spend some time talking. Here is my plan. She and I take walks almost every evening right after work. We generally meet down stairs in front of our apartment complex about 18:30. Tonight I'll be late. You show up at 18:35."

  Hugh seemed to swallow hard, and his expression did not show much enthusiasm for Balaji's plan.

  "What's the matter, have you a better idea?" Balaji asked.

  "No, it's just, well, what will we talk about?"

  "Son, you have me now. There, I am afraid you are on your own. I am already doing more than a prudent man should do."

  ****

  It had been a hard and rather uncomfortable day for Mary. Stanley had made little snide comments and gestures, nothing direct, to let her and Balaji know he was not happy about the situation. Mary made a big show of ignoring him.

  Mary welcomed the end of the workday with open arms and a deep sigh. Balaji caught up with her at the door to the garage in the dome's basement. "Mary, are you too tired to sup with me and take a walk this evening?"

  "No, Balaji, I could never be that tired. I'm actually looking forward to it," she said. "It's the most relaxing part of my day."

  At 18:25, Mary was outside the apartment complex seated by the statue of Neil Armstrong. At precisely 18:35, she heard footsteps approaching from her right. She could not see who it was, but she waited, knowing that should the person not stop or turn off she would soon know. She was greatly surprised when Hugh stepped into view.

  "Well, if it's not my local florist," she said.

  Hugh stopped, stood very still and erect and blurted out, "Good evening, ma'am."

  Mary stood up and slowly approached him. "At ease, soldier. Listen, I want to give you a couple of orders. One, stop calling me ma'am."

  "Yes, Ma…er, Doctor."

  "And two, I'm not a soldier, so stop standing at attention."

  "Yes, Doctor."

  "What brings you here, Captain?" Mary was getting a suspicious feeling.

  "Sergeant, Doctor. I'm just getting off duty."

  Mary heard footsteps approaching and turned just in time to see Balaji walking up.

  "Oh, so Sergeant, you're off duty. Why not join us on our little perambulation?"

  "I must assume you are not on a tour of inspection, so you mean to walk or travel about, to take a stroll."

  Mary shot Balaji a look.

  "Yes, Sergeant, that is exactly what I mean. Will you join us?"

  "If Dr. Eddington has no objection."

  Mary could hardly object to them walking together, so with Hugh on one side and Balaji on the other, they set off toward the east. The conversation was slow and mundane.

  "Tell me, Sergeant," Mary asked, "how long have you been interested in botany?"

  "I have no particular interest in botany, Mar—Doctor."

  "No? You sure seem to know a lot about the flowers you made for me."

  "Oh, ah, I have a photographic memory and all manner information is trapped there."

  "Really, that must have been a great help to you in college. All your tests were open book."

  "I've never attended a college."

  Mary shot Balaji another look. "I was told you have a master's degree in mathematics."

  "Yes, Doctor, that's true. I do."

  "How'd you manage that?"

  "The Army insisted I have that level of education."

  "Still, how did you earn a degree without attending an accredited university?"

  At this point Balaji interjected, "The military has long had its own schools, has it not?"

  "Yes, Doctor," Hugh responded. "I was provided my education by the military."

  "Okay, quick, what’s the diameter of the Moon divided by Pi?”

  "Mary, please," Balaji objected.

  Without missing a beat, Hugh responded, “Six-hundred-eighty-seven point three two miles—or one-thousand-one-hundred and six point one three kilometers.”

  Balaji and Mary both stood in jaw-gaping silence for a moment. "Is that right?" Balaji asked.

  "How would I know? I use a computer," Mary said.

  "Oh, it's right," the sergeant said. "You can call up the calculator on your COMde and check my result, if you like.”

  Mary laughed. "No, no, that's okay Hugh. I trust you."

  The sergeant stopped dead in his tracks and looked at Mary.

  "What's the matter?" she asked.

  "You called me Hugh. And, you said you trust me," he replied, with awe in his voice.

  "Well, Balaji, here, embarrassed me into memorizing your name, and why not trust you? I'm told you are an honest fellow."

  His expression changed subtly, his gaze moved away quickly. "Yeah, honest. That's me."

  Mary could see something was troubling him about her assertion that he was honest. She exchanged another glance with Balaji, who had seen it, too.

  "Oh, come on," she said, pulling him by the arm. She gave a short laugh. "Everyone knows you Boy Scouts are loyal, trustworthy, and all that other stuff."

  "A Boy Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. But Doctor," he stepped very close to her and looked hard into her eyes, "I am not a Boy Scout."

  She paused. Her gaze searched his face—then locked onto his eyes. A heartbeat passed. "Okay," she agreed, taking a step back. "You're not a Boy Scout. We've established that as fact." She was worried she had angered him.

  Hugh glanced at Balaji and let out a sigh. "I'm really blowing this, aren't I?"

  "Well, it's not the best approach I've ever seen."

  He turned his gaze back to Mary. "I'm sorry. I wanted to make a better impression on you than I did your first night here and I just keep screwing things up. I'm not an honest man. There are things I'd like to tell you, but I can't."

  "Opsec," Balaji said.

  "What?" Mary asked, looking at him.

  "Opsec. It is a military term meaning operational security. There are things Hugh, here, just cannot discuss or even reference."

  "Listen, Doctor," Hugh began. "I'm not—"

  "Hugh," Mary stopped him, then paused and looked at him a moment. "I asked you to stop calling me ma'am. Now 'Doctor' is starting to wear me slick. How about you just call me Mary, okay?"

  "We soldiers are required to refer to you scientists by title and last name."

  "Hugh, you're off duty, and I don't mind. The name's Mary."

  "I'll work on that Mar…Doctor."

  "What's wrong? Mary is not that hard."

  "Ah, years of training. Give me a little time to become used to the idea."

  "Training, uh? Okay, Sure," she was not convinced, but decided to let it go, for now. "Say, are you hungry? I could eat."

  "That is a wonderful idea," Balaji said. "You two go grab a bite. I am expecting a call from my wife. Perhaps I'll join you in a few minutes. I will call you to discover your location."

  ****

  Mary and Hugh arrived at The Crater House some time later. Mary was attracted to this place because of its reputation.

  Mary asked, "Have you ever eaten here?"

  "No, but I hear their burgers are excellent."

  "Yeah, I heard that, too. Burgers it is, then." Mary grinned.

  As they approached the door, Mary noticed a sign displayed prominently in the front. It re
ad, Positively No Robots Allowed.

  Mary stopped before the sign, and then turned to look at Hugh. "Why would they want to keep the robots out, and why would robots want to come into a restaurant in the first place?"

  Hugh thrust his hands into his pockets. "Well, Mar...Doctor, there are some people up here that don't like the robots. They’re stronger, faster, think quicker, and will live longer. People are just jealous. It's human nature, I guess."

  As they stood waiting to be seated, Mary told him, "I read about the robots of JILL on the trip up. I think I saw one at the Cafe Sur la Lune, but I'm not sure. Can it really be that hard to spot one?"

  "You'd be surprised," Hugh said. "They are almost indistinguishable from their biological counterparts."

  "Really? I expected to see animated mannequins with glassy eyes and pre-recorded voices."

  They were shown to a booth and provided water.

  Hugh sat there examining the sweating glass of water and its ice. "Odd this should be free, don't you think?"

  Mary frowned and asked, "Why?"

  "Do you realize how rare water is up here? With all the riches to be found in the Moon, water is the rarest. Every tiny bit of moisture on JILL is captured and recycled. No molecule of water is wasted. It's used again and again."

  "Really?" Mary set her glass down. Across the room, she noticed a woman coming out of the ladies' room. The thought Hugh had just provided was rather revolting.

  "Yes, much like water on Earth, only up here, technology does the work rather than the natural water cycle."

  "Well, I'd never thought of it that way."

  Chapter 7

  Mary looked up as the waiter arrived, "Can I get you something from the bar?" he asked in a monotone voice.

  Mary said, "How about a piña colada?" She pushed her glass of water away.

  "And for you, sir?"

  "I'm good, thank you," Hugh said. He glanced at Mary, then added, "I'm on duty later tonight. I'm sorry."

  "No, no, it's okay. You have to be sober on duty, right?" Mary opened her menu and nodded at the waiter. As he left Mary said, "I was warned you are 'all Army'. So tell me, what is it you do when on duty?"

  "Oh, there is a lot to do. We monitor various systems, like the flow of human traffic in and around the base so we can respond quickly to anything that might threaten the integrity of the base or just impede or restrict the flow of traffic. It's one of the ways we ensure the optimum utilization of time. We also provide maintenance and security patrols both inside and outside the base—"

  "Outside? Isn't that dangerous?" Mary inquired, looking up at him.

  "It can be, but in the last twenty-five years, we've only lost seven troopers to all causes."

  "Have you ever come close to being killed?"

  "No."

  "What about when you rescued Dr. Hammerschmidt?"

  "I was fine."

  Mary laced her fingers together and leaned in toward Hugh. "I was told you disappeared for over a week afterward."

  "I received minor injuries, but nothing serious."

  The waiter returned with Mary's drink. "May I take your order?" he asked, and opened his electronic tablet.

  Mary, who was starving, chimed right in. "I'll have the Theta burger, extra pickles, and fries."

  "And for you, sir?"

  "Nothing for me, thank you." Hugh did not look up this time.

  "You're not eating?" Mary asked.

  "I'm just not hungry," Hugh mumbled.

  "Wow, you're a cheap date." Mary handed the menus to the waiter, who departed with her order.

  "Sorry. Guess I'm a stick in the mud, huh?" Hugh said, slowly lifting his head.

  "No, it's okay by me. But I'm going to eat, mister. I'm starved. How can you smell that food and not be hungry?"

  "I just don't smell it."

  Mary leaned back in the booth. "You must have incredibly strong will power. It must be your military training and discipline."

  Hugh smiled. "No, really it's because I'm so nervous."

  "Nervous? Around me?"

  "Yes. I was trying to tell you before," Hugh took his hands off the table and placed them in his lap. "I know I came on that first day like a ball of goof—"

  "You mean 'goof ball'."

  "Yeah. Well, Dr. Sharma told me my actions that first day scared you."

  "Dr. Sharma?" Mary cocked her head.

  "Yes."

  "So, you two have been colluding behind my back?"

  "No, no, Mmm-Maa—Doctor." Hugh became rather animated now for the first time. "I happened to bump into him and I asked him what I was doing wrong. He explained that I was frightening you. I would never want to frighten you."

  "Okay."

  "So I left you to germinate."

  "What?"

  "Oh, see, here I go again."

  "Hugh, just calm down." Mary reached across the table and opened her hand. Hugh stared at it a split second, and then placed his hand in hers. As their hands met, his eyelids widened.

  "You know," Hugh spoke faster now, "I'm really not like this. I'm a crack shot with my weapon. I lead a squad of men that are the best at their jobs here at JILL. I'm responsible for a Lunar Personnel Carrier and we've won awards for our maintenance. There has never been a single complaint filed against my squad, and our patrols are always executed flawlessly. I have even received awards for my leadership ability, and I've been acknowledged for my decisiveness under pressure." He paused. "However, near you, I become an adolescent: stammering, lost, and unable to speak in a manner that makes sense."

  "Hugh. I'm sure you are a wonderful NOC—"

  "It's NCO, means Non-Commissioned Officer."

  "Sorry, NCO. I'll bet you have all kinds of experience with the men in your—wait a minute. Hugh, have you a girlfriend up here some place?" Mary released Hugh's hand and sat back.

  "No, ma'am!"

  "Back on Earth?"

  "Absolutely not."

  "Hugh, have you ever had a girlfriend?"

  "Dr. Eddington—"

  "Mary."

  "Ah, I've known women I have called friend and who have called me friend. For example Dr. Lisa Cavanaugh and I were quite close."

  "Uh-huh." Mary folded her arms across her chest. "Hugh, there is a difference between a girl you are friendly with, and a 'girlfriend'. Besides, Lisa must be more than twice your age."

  "Still, I think my answer qualifies as a yes within the parameters of your question."

  Mary's eyes narrowed and the right corner of her mouth drew up. "Sometimes, Hugh, you speak more like a scientist than I do."

  Mary's food arrived at that moment and she plowed right in. "Ummm. You were so right, this is delicious!"

  "So I've heard." Hugh grasped the glass of ice water in front of him and then examined the moisture it left on his hand.

  "Next time you're hungry you must let me bring you here for one of these," Mary insisted.

  "Or better yet, let me bring you whenever you're hungry," Hugh replied, and smiled.

  Mary was aware he was closely watching her eat. At first, it was a little uncomfortable, but there was something in that look on his face that was disarming. As she ate, she tried to imagine this shy guy commanding troops. He just didn't seem the type.

  As they strolled back toward Mary's quarters, they continued the small talk that had marked dinner. "Hugh, do you think our waiter was a robot?"

  "What? No. No I don't, Mar—Mar—"

  "Mary."

  He licked his lips and closed his eyes. "Mare."

  "Close, but no cigar."

  "Mar-ee."

  "Hey, that wasn’t bad. Try it again."

  "Ma-ree."

  "Better yet! See, it's not so hard."

  Hugh just smiled.

  "Honestly, Hugh, why are you having so much trouble with my name? I don't think I'm buying the years of training story."

  They stopped in front of Mary's apartment complex. Hugh looked up at it. "Well, here you are. I want to thank you f
or the most enjoyable night of my...a very enjoyable evening."

  "Yeah. I had a good time, too. You're not the masher I thought you were." She smiled at him.

  "Well, good night," Hugh said.

  "Hugh, one last question. Where do you guys sleep? I mean where's home for you? What will you do when you leave here?"

  "JILL is home. I have a patrol that begins in another hour so that's where I'll be."

  "Inside or out?"

  "Outside. We have sector five tonight. That means I'll be able to see Earth most of the time. I really like looking at the Earth."

  "Yeah, me too."

  "You should be able to see it from the portal in your room, you know."

  From his pocket, Hugh produced a couple of paper napkins from the restaurant. He winked and turned his back to her, his head lowered and she could see he was busy doing something with the napkins. In less than a minute, he turned around and presented her a flower he had fashioned from the two napkins with his bare hands.

  "This is a Dianthus Caryophyllus, or Carnation."

  Like the others, it was exquisite. She looked up and Hugh was already several meters away, trotting.

  She watched as Hugh looked over his shoulder and waved. She responded with a small wave of her hand, and watched as he disappeared around a corner.

  Mary walked slowly to the elevator and slower yet from the elevator to her quarters. She kept rolling the flower back and forth between her fingers. She thought back on their conversation. Hugh had described himself as an adolescent when near her. He's so naïve, and nervous.

  She arrived in her room, and for the first time, pulled the curtains back from the view port. There, to the east, was the Earth, just as Hugh had told her. She turned her computer on, looked up Language of the Flowers and then Carnation, white. There it was: "Sweet and Lovely, Innocence—Pure Love"

  She sat there a minute. Next, she looked up red rose, "Love. I love you."

  That was three flowers he'd made for her that expressed love, he could not possibly know this "language of the flowers.” Why would a man who had known her such a short time be expressing love to her?

  In truth, she told herself, he was not. The word had not once escaped his lips. All he had done was to give her some paper flowers.

  "Balaji is full of bull. Where does he get all that crap anyway?" She carefully laid the flower down next to her collection on her nightstand and prepared herself for bed. In the shower, she remembered Hugh telling her how all the water was recycled. She walked into her bedroom, combing her hair and noticed the view port again, then noted the time. Casually, she drew the curtains back and looked east. There, very small in the distance, was a vehicle. It stopped with its front facing the Earth. It had to be him.