Salvage-5 (First Contact)
Page 18
“Well, then I’d have to say he’s fair to middlin’ today.”
“Hmmm, okay then. Say, have you ever seen the good general in a great mood? Ever?”
“Nope, just between us, I can’t say that I have.”
“Well, at least one thing’s for sure.”
“What’s that Colonel?”
“You’ll not likely see him in a good mood today.”
“Great, thanks for the warning, Colonel,” the aide said as he pulled up to the building entrance.
The driver escorted the two down the corridor, stopping in front of the general’s office, where a snooty secretary sat at her desk.
“Hellooooo, miss,” Tucker said in his friendliest tone, “Could you be so kind as to tell the General that we’re here to see him now?” Then he puffed his cigar and blew the smoke over her head.
The woman waved her hand in the air, gave him a stare and then called the General, “They’re here…please…go inside,” she said hurriedly.
“I get the feeling she doesn’t like me,” he said to Cass as they walked through the door to the General’s office.
“Sit down,” the General said with a stern look.
“Hey, I’m happy to see you too general,” offering his hand to him.
The general, taken back by his gesture, instinctively grabbed for his, but Tucker raised his hand to a salute before he could make contact.
“Colonel!” he shouted, “I’m in no mood for your tomfooleries today…”
Tucker pointed to the general with his thumb and looked over at Cass, “Tomfooleries?”
“Yeah, Dick,” Cass snipped, looking at Tucker, “Just about as bad as Mawkish.”
“Geez, where do they find these people anyway?”
“I said I wasn’t in the mood!”
“That’s odd,” Cass said, returning her stare at the General, “the driver said you were fair to middlin’, I think your way less than that, wouldn’t you say, Colonel?”
The general, still standing when they came into the room, leaned on his arms across his desk toward Tucker, “You wonder why I’m in such a bad mood?”
Tucker began to open his mouth with an answer, but the general cut him off, “…I’ll tell you why…first you created an international incident that I’ve been trying to fix since you left,” he shouted, “Then you completely obliterated a company CSMO dredge, destroyed an 80 million dollar MECH, cause thousands of dollars of damage on your ship…and next on the list, you shoot a company top executive’s nephew in the leg, and finally, to add to this list of fun that I’ll take months of red tape explaining your actions…” running out of breath, McKenzie gasped, “…You lose two of our very best men under your command!”
Tucker stood as calm as he possibly could, “Really General?” he spoke softly, then just stood there for a moment, slowly shaking his head.
Cass’s expression changed from playfulness to one of discontent as she stared daggers at the man.
Tucker tossed the alien tech on the General’s desk making it bounce and roll over to one side, “Here’s your tech…mission accomplished…general…”
“Hey, be careful with that!”
“Oh come on now, Mac…I mean, it made it all the way home with us in one piece.”
“Might I now add to my list,” the General began with a stern look into Tucker’s eyes, “Breach of security protocol!”
Tucker was no longer able to contain himself, grabbed the general by his lapels and drew him close to his face, “General…let me tell you a thing or two! I’ve been kicked, stabbed, jabbed, shot at, abducted, strapped to an alien table, injected with alien tech…I saved my entire crew, and, one from the number 4, and healed him of cancer to boot!”
“Let’s not forget about that,” Cass chimed.
“…delivered parts to a slimy CSMO and was ordered to leave two of my crew behind...”
“…two crew we could have used on our little episode after the mag-ring,” Cass again added, “…and the kid’s lucky that a bullet wound is all he got…”
Tucker glanced at Cass, “Thank you Major,” then turned back to the general, “…then I got to witness the instant change into full blown cyborg alien type thing of one of the best deckhand officers I’ve seen in years…I got to see her tears well up in her eyes, full well knowing what was about to happen to her,” Tucker shouted, choking out the words, “knowing that I would have to try and kill her just to survive the trip home…then, just as I was about to give my life for my fellow crew, I witness my best friend throw himself on the grenade of life…he did this so I can bring this tech back in order to save my son’s life!” then he pushed him back, releasing his iron grip.
The general remained silent and brushed off his freshly pressed suit.
“Tuck,” McKenzie said, sitting in his chair, “You better sit down.”
“What? Next you’re going to tell me that it was all for nothing? …’cause, General, you really don’t want to tell me that,” turning to Cass, “Tell him he really does not want to tell me that.”
“Sit down, Colonel.”
“I prefer to stand!”
“As do I,” Cass said, folding her arms.
“Very well…”
“Spill it, Mac.”
“We won’t be able to perform the surgery on Ben.”
“Excuse me? Tucker asked, cupping his ear, “Can you repeat that? I don’t think I heard him right.”
“It’s too late for your son, Tucker…it’s been too long…the doctors don’t think the tech will take, he’ll die with or without it…and we need our subject to live.”
Cassandra pulled her side arm, cocked the chamber and pressed the gun to the general’s head, “No, you heard him right.”
“Cass,” Tucker smiled, “You go girl…”
“I’m not going to allow you to say those words again, Mac, Richard, or Dick, or whatever it is you like to be called...”
“Hey, that’s my line.”
“And a good one it is too…” Cass turned her head back to the General, “You will not have Gus’ act of heroism be all for naught…if he dies either way, then what difference would it make? At least we’d know he died trying!”
“Uh, yeah…Major…put down the weapon…”
“Make the call…”
“Put down your weapon first.”
“General, I’ve known you for…I don’t know how many years,” Tucker said, “about as many I’ve known the Major here?”
“Yes…”
“And how many times have you ever seen the major draw her weapon on her superior…not counting the incident in Libya twelve years ago, that is…”
“Never…”
“Then I suggest you realize that she’s dead serious here, wouldn’t you?”
The general reluctantly picked up his data pad from his desk and called Griffin, “Yeah, it’s me…prep the boy…yes you heard me correctly…don’t make me repeat myself again….yes, I know what I said before…never mind that…just follow your new orders…right...he’ll be ready in twelve hours? Good…the Colonel will report for prep before that… …right…you can stop by my office anytime…that’s right, I have the alien tech….we’ll need to start working on reverse engineering it right away…very good, Griffin. See you soon.”
The general terminated the link and set his data pad gently back on the desk, “There, now lower your weapon.”
Cass looked over at Tuck for approval and saw his affirmative nod, “Probably a good idea now, Major.”
She raised her weapon in the air, un-cocked it and returned it to her side holster, never taking her eyes off McKenzie, “I’m glad you finally saw things our way, General.”
“Get out…get out of my office before I arrest you for…”
Cass reached for her side arm again, and the General, immediately changed his tune, “Just get out of my face, both of you…”
“Why thank you General,” Tucker said, “It’s been real…it’s been fun…but it
’s not been real fun…”
“Until next time, General,” Cass smiled as the two walked out of his office.
* * *
Whidbey Island
Oak Harbor, WA
Memorial Hospital
Earth Date: Sept. 24th, 2064 1830hrs
Tucker held some flowers in his hand and knocked on the glass of the ICU where his son was.
Beverly looked up and came over to open the sliding glass door, “Tuck?”
“In the flesh,” he said. “Here.”
“For me?” she said, smelling the bouquet.
“No, they’re for Bennie, Bev.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Bev, I’m about to go down and be prepped for the transplant…can we go someplace and talk.”
“Talk?”
“Don’t worry, I’m not asking to get back together. I know it was over ten years ago.”
“Okay, come with me…there’s a conference room down the hall.
Tucker closed the door behind them as they entered the privacy room, “So, after all these years…you finally want to talk?”
“Bev, bear with me…this ain’t easy for me.”
“Yeah, probably not…I’m sorry, go ahead.”
“I was able to talk with Gus…”
“…and? What did he tell you?”
“I know why you two were so close…he told me about his cancer.”
“Tuck…”
“Shhh shhh shhh,” Tucker said, “It’s alright now. He told me to keep it a secret…so I know he told you as well, I don’t blame you anymore.”
“Tuck, our connection was greater than your love for you and I…we had something in common, but I swear we never slept together.”
“I know…you both had cancer….only you survived…”
“His was inoperable…he was getting worse day by day…”
“You were treated…but that’s not the real issue.”
“Then what is?”
“Bev, you left me because I was always away on missions…those were my life...somewhere, I forgot about the people that I really cared about…I finally realize that it was all on me…not you…I had to find a way in my own mind as to why you left…but I could never face you like this before.”
“Tucker, I’m glad you finally understand…”
“I know we’ll never get back together. But now, I’m going to try a new relationship.”
“Oh, Tucker, that’s great news…I’m so happy for you.”
“I do hope we can become friends, though.”
“Of course, Tuck…we can be friends.”
The two hugged for the first time in years. He really had missed her warm body next to his, but he knew it would never work out that way again with them.
Separating after a few moments, “So who’s the lucky girl?”
“Cassie.”
“Cassie! I would have never guessed…I thought you hated her.”
“Apparently I was wrong.”
“Tucker Petersen? Admitting he’s wrong? Was this being recorded by chance?” Beverly laughed.
Cass knocked on the door and then peeked inside, “Sorry to interrupt, but they’re ready for you downstairs.”
“Okay, looks like I’m ready for the happy train…thanks for taking the time to listen Bev…that meant a lot.”
“Tuck, what you have done and what you are about to do for our son…I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”
Tucker smiled, “Thank Gus…he’s the real hero here…come on Cass, chauffer me away.”
“Don’t be too humble Tuck, “Cass said, “You did your part on the mission too.”
“Oh, hey thanks for finally taking notice.”
“Come on already, Tucker. Your chariot awaits.”
* * *
Whidbey Island
Oak Harbor, WA
Memorial Hospital
Earth Date: Sept. 28th, 2064 1030hrs
Tucker fluttered his eyes open and began to focus on the woman standing over him, “Ca…Cass?” he whispered through a dry mouth.
“There you are, Mister.”
“How long?”
“You were out nearly three days.”
“Three days?”
“Yes, Dr. Rhodes said that your brain had to heal after the chip removal.”
“The chip…right…how’s Ben?”
“Why don’t you see for yourself,” Cass said.
Stepping aside revealed a young man sitting in a wheel chair, “Bennie?”
“Hi Dad.”
“Son! I’m so happy to see you…how are you feeling?”
“Doc says I’m as good as new, if not better that I was before.”
“You okay with having this inside of you?”
“Yeah, I think it’s kind of cool.”
“The doctor says, he needs to take it easy for a few weeks,” Cass answered.
“You guys are welcome to crash at my pad while you two convalesce.”
“You’ll take care of us both?”
“Come on Dad, it’ll be fun…maybe we can actually be a family again.”
“How much have you told him already, Cassie?”
“Enough…”
“Great…now just don’t get any ideas of me settling down too awfully soon…”
“Now Tuck,” Cass winked, “You don’t have to worry about our military life, we all know you have about two more years of service…and as luck would have it, there’s another mission we’re being asked to go out on.”
“Oh really…we’re being asked? Guess I didn’t think the General would have allowed me to have another command again.”
“It’s not the General’s idea…’sides he’s been transferred to another top secret facility.”
“With the alien tech I presume?”
“Of course.”
“So whose idea was this anyway?”
“It seems that executive of that nephew’s knee you shot?”
“Oh, come on now…I had to…”
“Relax Tuck. He actually thanked you for doing that…”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah, seems he’s been wanting to do that himself for a long time.”
“Only happy to help…so what’s the mission?”
“The mag-ring at the CSMO 253 Mathilde was damaged when a thruster jet misfired on one of the container transports…the company wants us to go out and facilitate the repair.”
“Oh, how fun…I hope Hargrove and Samuels have the place fixed up before we go back…which is when again?”
“There’s no rush on this…just means that no one can rotate out until it’s fixed…”
“Okay, so that doesn’t answer my question: when?”
“We can depart in six months. That’s the optimal launch time.”
“Okay then…it’s a date…sounds like a cake walk compared to our last mission.”
“Well, it’s a little more than just repairing this ring…”
“Go on…”
“Seems the company has officially contracted the military to place these mag-rings throughout our system at strategic locations…just think of the opportunities…”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa…back the truck up…I’m not going to…”
“Tucker…”
“Geez, where do you find these people,” he said, smiling at Ben as he pointed with his thumb.
“Well, Whattya say?”
“Do I really have a choice?”
“Nope.”
“Okay, then…it’s a date,” Tucker said. He reached over to his table but it was just out of reach.
“Here, let me help ya,” Cass said, picking up a slightly used cigar. She held it to his lips and held a flame up to him.
He puffed real hard three times and blew a large plume of smoke, followed by several alarm bells ringing out.
The charge nurse ran into Tucker’s room with a scolding tone, “Put that out! You can’t smoke in here,” she demanded, canceling the alarms.
Cas
s turned to the nurse, “Wanna place any bets on that?”
“It’s against policy!”
“Sorry nurse ratchet, but I deserve every bit of this,” then took another drag and blew it in her face.
The nurse waved her hand in the air and stared disgustedly at Tuck when Cass spoke up again, “See, you’re gonna lose this bet,” she whispered.
She turned and stormed out, closing the door behind her.
“Tucker took another puff, “I love it when a plan comes together…say,” he asked, “when can I blow this pop stand?”
“Doc says you can be discharged in a couple of days.”
“Good…very good…I’m going to have a ton of fun with this one,” he smiled.
“Tucker…”
“Relax, I’ll be kind.”
“Sure you will, Tuck…sure you will,” Cass winked, “Come on Ben. Let’s let your father get some rest.”
“Okay, Mom…can I call you mom yet?”
“Don’t push it son,” Tucker smiled.
“Hey, can you bring me a bottle of my favorite scotch? GlenLivet? Thanks…you’re a real peach, sweetie.”
“Don’t push it Tuck.”
“Ah, Cassie, you’re such a party poop.
Cass and Ben ignored his request as she pushed Ben out of the room.
“Ah, come on…love you too… bye, bye now, see ya soon…geez, where do they find these people anyway?”
# # #
SNEAK PEEK
If you enjoyed Salvage-5 – The First Mission, I’ve included a special preview for the next book in the series for your sneak peek.
Salvage-5
The Next Mission
by
Brian K. Larson
Chapter 1
“I don't think the human race will survive the next thousand years, unless we spread into space. There are too many accidents that can befall life on a single planet. But I'm an optimist. We will reach out to the stars.”
-STEPHEN HAWKING
The Daily Telegraph, Oct. 16, 2001
* * *
UTS Liberator
Location: Kuiper Belt