The Simpleton QUEST

by Mark Wayne McGinnis

  “Let us sit for a while. I want to tell you a secret, Cuddy.”

  Cuddy waited for the alien to climb up on the fallen tree before doing the same, sitting down beside him. He was long past being uncomfortable around Tow’s, and the other Pashier’s, total nakedness. Their hairless bodies were beautiful, ethereal-looking and their nearly transparent forms emitted a distinctive bright bluish glow. Far brighter than Cuddy’s own Human-Pashier hybrid glow. “What secret?”

  “One of my favorite places on this new world. Right here…sitting on this old log. Having you here now, Cuddy, sharing this with me…well, that makes me quite happy.”

  Cuddy didn’t like the way Tow was talking to him. It seemed—patronizing. Momentarily, he wondered how he even knew that word. But he knew a lot of things now that he’d never known before his time spent within the wellness chamber. Stop, it doesn’t matter, he chided himself. What he did know was that Tow was incapable of acting in anything but a lofty manner, at least not intentionally. Yet there was a certain sense of finality in the way he was speaking. Like, in some roundabout way, he was saying goodbye again. With no further thought, Cuddy prepared himself for what the alien was about to say next.

  “Tomorrow you will travel to Mahli…Pashier’s home planet.”

  “Why’s that? There’s nothing left of it! The Howsh…they’ve destroyed it. You told me that much yourself.”

  “Much of it, yes. Even most of it…but not all of it,” Tow said. “The Pashier are a technologically advanced race of beings. That is clearly evident when you witness the technology that comprises the Evermore. Once beautiful…highly advanced cities flourished across Mahli. And Cuddy, there is still Pashier technology hidden there. Newer…more advanced technology that is needed here to heal our recently infected Pashier.”

  Tow looked as though he were contemplating telling him something more.

  “What is it?”

  “Sometimes certain things come to me within the dream state and sometimes during my waking hours. Sometimes it is only a subtle nudge.”

  “So, you’ve had a nudge?”

  “Yes…there is advanced technology we can use to help the sick. Somewhere within the city of Mahli exists another wellness chamber. A far more advanced model than the one you are familiar with on the Evermore. Every day, more and more of our people are succumbing to the disease, so your mission is of utmost importance. You must locate that chamber and quickly bring it back to Primara. Can you do that, Cuddy?”

  “Sure…we’ll leave today.”

  “I wish I could go with you, my young friend. As you know, none of us can leave Primara quite yet…not at this stage of our reemergence. While traveling to Mahli will be your new mission, Cuddy, I too have a mission of my own. In time, you will understand why I must leave here. Why I must venture to the other side of Rah.”

  “Wait. What are you talking about? You just said none of you can leave here yet.”

  “This particular place, I can travel to…I believe.”

  “And just where is this…that destination? What did you call it…the other side of Rah? What does that even mean, anyway?” Cuddy hated the idea of Tow leaving. He tried to think of reasons he shouldn’t go. Nervously, he plucked at his shirt’s sleeve cuff.

  “The other side of Rah refers to a place few have traveled to willingly and later returned to speak about. It lies beyond where one enters the great space within a heritage pod. Some call it Tanthian.”

  “What is it like…like heaven?”

  Tow’s lips twitched. “Maybe. I will let you know.”

  “So you will come back?”

  “I hope to.” Tow place a hand on Cuddy’s shoulder. “You will need my help in up- coming days, Cuddy. It is from the other side of Rah that I will be of most use to you, and to my own people. For now…let’s leave further discussion for another time.”

  “Fine. But our leaving here puts Primara in danger. It’s only a matter of time before the Howsh return. Without Brian around to fend off…”

  “I believe we will be safe…for now.” Tow looked up at the sky. “The other AI-orb, Rob, is up there now…constantly circling the planet. Constantly relaying back sensory data. Brian’s network concept was a good one, and it is already in place. Even as we speak, key Pashier around the planet are reaching out to one another; working together. Are practicing combined telekinesis. We should know when the next enemy ship arrives. When it does, we will be able to send it away.”

  “And suppose there is more than one ship?”

  Tow lifted his chin. “At some point, we must rely on fate. I cannot believe we have come this far only to be so easily annihilated by the Howsh. Now you must go, Cuddy. Travel to Mahli, bring back the new wellness chamber, and several other items I’ve listed for you. But you must make haste in leaving.”

  Chapter 9

  The small crew of the Evermore arrived at the outskirts of the Pashier capital city, Tripette, on Mahli. Prior to heading out on foot, Cuddy double-checked things with Bob one final time.

  “You have asked me that same question in different forms on three recent occasions, Captain Perkins,” the AI orb said.

  Cuddy, securing the pack on to his shoulders, stared out the bridge-side starboard window. “I know that. But look at it out there…it’s a—”

  “Wretched wasteland,” Kyle interjected, poking his head around the bulkhead and into the bridge. “And we’re ready out here whenever you are. Can we go?”

  Cuddy had witnessed Kyle’s growing impatience over the last few days. Hearing there was a possible cure for the dying Pashier, he couldn’t wait to get the mission started and over with. His feelings of guilt and remorse were ever increasing.

  “We’re coming,” Cuddy said, not taking his attention away from the arid landscape outside the ship. He shook his head. “I don’t like this, Bob. What about the things we can’t see…like the Dirth, or some other microbial infestation, or another harmful disease?”

  “The Dirth is strictly a Pashier disease, Captain. Your human DNA ensures none of you will be infected.”

  About to turn away, Cuddy saw movement outside. Brian, now leading the others—Jackie, Kyle, and Tony—down the ramp. So much for waiting for me, he thought.

  Cuddy and Bob exited the bridge and made their way to the starboard-side hatch. “I have no idea where we’re going, so you’ll be leading us, Bob. Lock down the ship then catch up,” Cuddy instructed the orb over his shoulder, already halfway down the gangway.

  By the time he joined the others, he wished he’d walked instead of run. The air outside was foul, far worse than what he’d anticipated—a harsh chemical smell to it. He wondered if Bob ever erred with his internal sensor readings.

  Passing Tony, and then Kyle, who offered him a quick no big deal shrug, Cuddy—on coming even with Brian and Jackie—said, “In the future, please wait for me…we go as a team, Brian.”

  “Whatever. It wasn’t as if you couldn’t still see us.”

  Cuddy, hearing the almost imperceptible yet familiar hum, turned to see Bob approaching behind them. Hovering at head level—the orb quickly passed, then and took over the lead.

  In the distance, Cuddy could see what remained of the ruined city. Even from where they were, a good mile out, he noticed standing buildings were mostly skeletal—completely ravaged. Only then did Cuddy fully absorb the carnage around them. What was once a meandering stream, off to the left, was now a thick, greenish, soup. The landscape was purplish-brown—scorched earth. This planet’s in really bad shape, he thought. Even with that understanding, he saw it was already trying to heal itself. Tiny clusters, here and there of green, spotted the ground—base-level vegetation beginning to creep through the poisoned surface. He found that at least somewhat encouraging. Tow would be pleased. Then he heard it. Living on a farm most of his young life, he knew that sound much too well. Buzzing flies—or whatever was the Mahli-equivalent of flies. He didn’t see them. Not yet. But he definitely heard them.

&n
bsp; They entered the city proper in silence. While few of the decimated buildings still stood, albeit precariously, most had fallen; were nothing but giant mounds of rubble. Scores of Pashier remains lay scattered around the streets and sidewalks. Flies—like moving dark clouds above the still, lifeless forms. Though the smell was pungent, Cuddy figured the odor had been much worse—weeks, perhaps months, earlier. Those still lying here were mostly skeletons—signs of flesh long gone. Obviously, not everyone made it into an escape ship before succumbing, either to the aerial bombings or the Dirth. Worse, these poor souls were never assisted into a heritage pod. That made Cuddy sad—he wouldn’t convey this one aspect to Tow.

  Deeper and deeper into the fallen city they walked, the buzzing sound of countless hordes of insects increasing. “That sound is…so irritating…not to mention, gross,” Jackie said.

  They followed Bob down one street, then partially up another. The orb slowed, idling in front of a building whose upper half was decimated—.

  “This is the central government science and technology building,” Bob said. “Our destination.”

  “Not much of a building…looks like it was hit with a wrecking ball a few hundred times,” Kyle said.

  “If we’ve come all this distance for just this, we’ve wasted a trip,” Brian said.

  Cuddy couldn’t argue with Brian on that point. He watched as the orb slowly moved closer to the building when suddenly a metal girder toppled down from above. It made a loud reverberating clang when it hit the ground.

  “Careful!” Cuddy and Brian said to Bob at the same time.

  The orb hesitated for a moment, then kept moving forward; entering the building’s standing remnants of broken walls, shattered windows, and protruding, twisted, bent girders, before disappearing completely from sight.

  “Might as well return to the ship…this is one giant cluster fuck,” Brian said. He turned on his heels and walked away. Cuddy stayed put, noticing the others still remained.

  In the near-distance, Cuddy heard Bob say, “In here. I have found an entrance.”

  Exchanging doubtful expressions with the others, Cuddy said, “All right…hold on.” He told the others, “You don’t have to go in there with me. But if you do, try not to touch anything. Um…try to tread softly.”

  “Yeah, you’re a real twinkle toes,” Tony scoffed.

  Cuddy led them around mounds of debris then into the building through a narrow gap between two broken walls. The wreckage inside seemed even worse than outside. He roughly followed the same roundabout course he saw Bob take only moments before. Directly overhead, suspended by a single hanging cable, a girder slowly pendulumed back and forth.

  Thirty feet on, Bob was waiting for them, at what looked to be a stairwell. No less than ten stairs rose up and made a ninety-degree-left-angle to a landing, before rising up another five steps. The steps ended—leading to nowhere.

  “Come on, Bob! You can see from here there’s nothing up there,” Jackie said.

  The orb lowered close to the ground. What Cuddy had first thought were dark shadows, he realized were open crevices. As Bob descended lower into the blackness below, after first switching on its forward spotlight, Cuddy could just barely see the outline of stairs.

  Jackie followed close behind Bob. Halfway into the open crevice, she looked back at Cuddy. “Buzzing sounds are even louder down there,” she said with a grimace.

  “Don’t be such a girl…either keep going or get out of the way.”

  Cuddy turned, noting it was Brian who’d spouted off. When he’d rejoined them, Cuddy had no idea, but he wished Brian had done what he said he was going to do—return to the ship.

  As soon as Jackie’s head disappeared from view, Brian followed suit. Then Kyle, then Tony, then Cuddy. It was almost total darkness below ground. But what Jackie referred to as insects buzzing—well, it wasn’t so much buzzing as something else. Clicking. Still, definitely insectile, Cuddy figured.

  Cuddy could see Bob’s swinging headlight ahead, darting this way and that, as the orb made its way back to him. He heard the AI orb tell the group to stay put. Multiple complaints about being left in the dark began to spew out.

  “We are fortunate, Captain Perkins,” Bob said, drawing closer.

  “Are you sure about that, Bob?” Cuddy said, still trying to think around the constant rhythmic chattering noise in his ears.

  “Tow’s directions were perfect. Indeed, this is the Tripette Science and Technology Building. What technology is not found stored within these walls, we will, nevertheless, find references to other, specific, locations within the city on where to look.”

  “Can you get some the lights turned on, Bob? There’s no way we’re going to see anything…or find anything…down here otherwise.”

  “Perhaps. Pashier structures each have their own internal power generation—unlike Earth which accesses power from a common distributed utility source. A grid. I believe I know where the subterranean sub-panel is located. If you will give me a few minutes, I will see if anything can be done.” With that, Bob was gone. No faint departing audible hum this time. Nothing could be heard over the present, ongoing chattering sound.

  In the distance, Jackie’s voice echoed, sounding somewhat hollow, “Are you going to join us, Cuddy, or stay back there…all alone in the dark?”

  Cuddy said, “On my way, but I just stepped in…Uh…something mushy.”

  “Someone should have had enough foresight to bring flashlights,” Brian said.

  “Thanks, Brian…nothing like stating the obvious,” Tony retorted.

  By the time Cuddy reached the others, his eyes had adjusted somewhat better to the dark. He noticed tiny openings high above them—streams of light catching on dancing dust particles filtering down around them. Jackie and Kyle were seated together on what looked like a bench. Cuddy noticed Kyle had one hand causally resting on her knee. Kyle pulled it away self-consciously. Tony was leaning against a wall, while Brian, resting on the ground, lay flat on his back. Cuddy personally didn’t think that was such a smart idea but decided not to say anything.

  “So…you have like a list? The one that Tow gave you?” Jackie asked.

  “Nothing written down. I remember what he told me, though.” She made a huffing sound.

  “What?”

  “Nothing. Just…when you were younger…after the accident…you couldn’t remember anything. I remember once you forgot to put on your pants. Came out to the barn, where Kyle and I were shoveling horseshit, and here strolls in…little mister tightie-whities.

  Everyone, including Brian, laughed at that. Cuddy didn’t remember the reference. Analytically, Cuddy had studied the anatomical repercussions behind what happened to him when he was seven. The temporal lobes, located on the left and right cerebral hemispheres of his brain—where both the hippocampus and amygdala are located—became scrambled after his fifteen-foot fall directly onto his head, creating problems establishing new, long-term memories. Although what was filed away in his long-term memory bank before the head injury was still fairly accessible, new memories didn’t endure longer than a few minutes to a few hours.

  The tightie-whities incident, Cuddy figured, must have happened quite a few years after his earlier barn tumble, yet long before he spent time within the wellness chamber.

  From above, came a series of click-clacks—like electronic relays opening and closing. When the lights came on, Jackie was first to scream out—quickly followed by Brian.

  Chapter 10

  Not all the overhead lights had come on, but enough to take in the basement-level space around them. Brian was covered with insects; how he didn’t earlier feel their presence, whatever they were, Cuddy couldn’t figure out. Jackie, the first one to notice them, had pointed and screamed at the bright-yellow and purple creepy crawlers. Only then did Brian look down at his body. Dozens covered his shirt and trousers, perhaps had been attracted to his body’s warmth as he lay prone on the cold concrete floor.

  Cuddy realiz
ed the bugs, unseen until now, had long been skittering around them. A good four inches long, they were part centipede—possessing hundreds of tiny, constantly moving, legs—and part something else. Each owned three sets of elongated wasp-like wings. He hadn’t seen any of them fly, which was one positive. He watched as they twitched and fluttered their useless wings—apparently the root of the annoying clicking sound they’d been hearing. He could almost feel the creatures’ frustration—triple winged but unable to get airborne.

  “Glithopedes. Mostly a seasonal insect here on Tripette…as well as several neighboring planets,” Bob said. “Non-poisonous, but their sting is very painful from what I understand.”

  “What’s with the useless wings,” Tony asked.

  “During this seasonal time, their wings are non-functional. That will change…soon. Any day, I suspect,” Bob informed, hovering close to the floor while extending an articulating arm. “As long as they cannot fly, they will remain relatively docile.”

  A glithopede slithered up Bob’s claw-like appendage. Not stopping there, it continued to crawl onto the orb’s upper surface. Bob then rose to head-level to give Cuddy a closer, one-on-one perspective of the winged insect.

  “Great, Bob’s found a pet,” Jackie remarked with a smirk. “Any other Tripette City surprises you want to tell us about…Bob?”

  “If you will follow me, I will lead the way to the records conservatory.”

  “Terrific, now even the robot ignores me,” Jackie muttered.