Tony, Kyle, and Plumkin answered at the same time, “No, he’s not.”
Kyle watched as the Howsh continued to focus his attention on Jackie. He groped her breasts and snorted. She screamed, “Stop! Get the fuck away from me!”
Cuddy felt useless—pathetic—then remembered what he’d done to the Howsh who was attacking Momma. How do I do that again? How do I use my mind that way? He’d had the help of the AI orb and wondered where the orb was now. Cuddy mentally called out to it and listened for a response. Nothing. Swaying his body back and forth, he craned his neck around until he could see the entrance into the compartment. Something shiny lay on the deck—one of the AI orb’s clawed arms—and the rest lay hidden in the passageway. Has the orb been completely destroyed? Cuddy wondered.
Suddenly, Cuddy’s body was swung back in the opposite direction and the alien’s face was mere inches from his own. His rank breath made Cuddy want to throw up. The snarl was back as he looked into Cuddy’s eyes, then asked him in broken English, “Where is Pashier ship?”
Cuddy stared back at the angry furry face. “Um … who are you?” Cuddy asked.
Growling in annoyance, he answered, “I am captain of ship. I am Holg. Now tell … where is Pashier ship?”
Cuddy stared back at him, confused. How could he not know? The Evermore was less than a mile’s distance away. Then he thought of something Tow had mentioned—that once both drives were operational, well synchronized, he could turn on some kind of additional shielding device, camouflaging the Evermore from being spotted from above or picked up by their sensors. Is that what happened? Had the Howsh gotten so close then lost track of the Evermore at the last moment?
“Tell him what he wants to know, Cuddy,” Tony said. “He’s asked that same question over and over again … He beats us. He’ll kill us, like he did the others here.”
Cuddy heard his brother ask, “Do you even know where it is?”
Holg, listening intently to their conversation, was watching his face so perhaps he should just tell him. He didn’t want anyone to die because of him. Especially Kyle and Jackie. But then he thought of Tow and his promise to him. Thought of the heritage pod. That no one would be left to return it to Primara. Cuddy didn’t know what to do. He’d been so concerned with Tow and his incredible mission to save his kind that he’d almost lost track of the fact that his own kind … his own family may pay the price. Maybe he should tell this foul-smelling best what he wants to know … and just maybe he would let them all go.
Jackie said, “Don’t you do it, Cuddy. The only reason we’re still breathing is because he doesn’t have what he’s looking for yet.”
The alien’s eyes flared with anger. He bared his teeth and roared over his shoulder in Jackie’s direction, then spun back again. “You are called Cuddy … tell me, Cuddy, do you not want to go free? All go free? Do you, Cuddy?” Then, using a clawed furry hand, he scratched himself on the neck and Cuddy momentarily caught movement that looked like small insects scurrying around in the matted fur.
Holg then brought the same extended claw forward to rest on Cuddy’s cheek, and as he applied increased downward pressure, Cuddy felt his face begin to bleed.
Chapter 28
The orb arrived outside the ship ten minutes earlier. Apparently, one of its articulating arms was still somewhat operational. Enough so, that it was capable of dragging itself around. The Evermore’s proximity alarm twirped twice—letting Tow know that there was outer movement, of some sort, approaching. Checking the bridge viewscape display, he saw the AI orb, lying outside the ship.
Opening the hatch and finding the orb there, obviously struggling, Tow felt both relief and deep concern. He hurried. Lifting the orb into his arms, he carried it back inside the ship. Earlier, he had feared the worst, witnessing the dreaded arrival of the Howsh spaceship. Soon after that, he lost mental contact with the orb and had to struggle with the prospect that the AI orb had been destroyed. Also, more than likely, the human, Cuddy, had been killed as well. And with that, all hope for his kind—the Pashier—would be forever gone. In the end, Tow’s presence on Earth had only brought catastrophe.
Now, with a glimmer of hope rekindled, Tow carried the AI orb directly to a small, lower deck workshop, setting it down carefully on the bench. As much as the orb had become an annoyance over past months—years—he was surprised at the sadness he felt. For such a long time now, there’d only been the two of them, and he instinctively knew he wouldn’t have made it this far all alone.
Tow took in the orb’s multiple blackened scorch marks, resulting from Howsh plasma fire. Opening the small access panel on the underside of the orb, Tow noted there was little he’d be able to do since it was clearly evident much of the orb’s mechanical functionality was severely damaged. Damaged, he could see, beyond repair. He exhaled a long breath. Moving slowly, and coughing continuously, Tow—leaving the orb lying on the bench—left the small workshop area. He moved aft and entered the second of two hold compartments. He knew exactly where to go; knew where everything on the ship could be found. His eyes scanned the many rows of deck-to-ceiling shelving, before he turned down and walked between the sixth and seventh set of shelves. Halfway down the row on the left, at eye level, he found exactly what he was seeking—twelve new, pristine, AI orb units. Each had two articulating arms—folded up and strapped down for optimal storage. Tow arbitrarily selected one. Pulling it off the shelf, he studied the inanimate object now lying in his hands.
* * *
Back again in his small workshop, Tow set the new AI orb unit next to the battered older one. He was somewhat familiar with the mechanics of transferring one orb’s set of dynamic-gel-tabs—brains and memory plus a complete set of system interface components—into another unit. Typically, that type of technical work would be assigned to an orb to perform, but that was no longer an option. The trick was to ensure that the old gel-tabs didn’t get compromised during the procedure’s transfer. Gel-tabs, highly sensitive, were, in a sense, living organisms, possessing trillions upon trillions of firing synapses and active neurotransmitters. Much like those found in an actual organic brain—but with far more speed and capacity. It also explained why these hovering AI units took on, to some degree, a personality of their own. Tow wasn’t at all sure that was a good thing. He briefly wondered if the older unit’s gel-tabs were still salvageable … worth the trouble. There were new, unused ones, still back in the storage hold. No … he would try to salvage these.
He clipped off the shipping straps and unbound the AI orb’s folded-in arms. He then flipped the orb over and opened its access panel. He knew already that new units were stored brainless, without functioning, dynamic gel-tabs.
Tow looked for, then found, zero-sensory calipers mounted up on the wall between numerous other complex tools and devices. He placed his thumb and forefinger into the end with two scissor-like openings then watched as the other end—which had a set of three, independent prongs—came alive. They were now in search mode—looking … searching. Tow, shifting his position before the bench, brought the calipers down—close to the damaged orb’s access panel. As he lowered the calipers, the prongs continued to both move and work together, like animated worms. They constantly readjusted, in respect to the other, and to what lay within the open panel. Tow steadily lowered the prongs deeper and deeper into the AI orb’s center cavity. They intrinsically knew what to look for. The same procedure could not be done by hand, as gel-tabs were far too sensitive to be touched by an organic being.
A series of tiny lights began to blink on and off, indicating the calipers had found, and were secured onto, the targeted gel-tabs. Now came the tricky part. Gently, Tow pulled up on the calipers. At the slightest resistance, he would need to stop. Either that, or risk damaging the living gel-tab’s ultra-thin surrounding membrane. Feeling another series of racking coughs coming on, he steadied his hand, keeping the pressure of his fingers constant and consistent, while attempting also to clear his throat. But the coughs cam
e on anyway. Tow’s eyes filled with moisture and his chest burned as the hacking episode relentlessly persisted. All the while, he watched the set of tiny caliper indicator lights that continued to remain lit.
Tow’s fit of coughing finally relented and he found he could breathe more easily again. Slowly, he continued raising his hand up until the prongs of the clippers came back into view, along with what they now held. Tow stared at the three glowing, bright blue, odd-shaped gel-taps. Not wanting to chance another coughing fit coming on, he quickly repositioned the calipers above the new AI orb unit. Then, lowering his hand, he felt the caliper device gently guiding his fingers to where the device needed to go. The same series of lights were blinking on and off in a new pattern now—confirmation the gel-tabs were seated properly. Tow removed the calipers, then returned them to the open slot on the tool board. After closing the access panel, he flipped the new AI orb over, and waited. Nothing happened.
Tow’s mind suddenly became flooded with new imagery. He saw the interior of the Howsh ship but didn’t understand what he was viewing. Not at first. There were numerous swaying forms—hung from somewhere high above. Humans. Both Cuddy and Jackie were among the prisoners.
So captivated by the horrific visions he was witnessing, Tow didn’t at first notice that the AI orb had reinitialized and was hovering six feet off the deck. The orb said, “I shall return now … to assist Cuddy Perkins.”
Tow said, “Welcome back, orb!” The orb hovered silently nearby.
“How many Howsh are on board the Howsh vessel?” Tow asked.
“Only one. Captain Holg.”
After three years of relentless pursuit across the cosmos, Tow felt like he personally knew Holg. There’d been a few brief communications. Holg, offering Tow his life in exchange for destruction of the heritage pod, would be satisfied knowing Tow would die alone in space—his race of people eviscerated for all eternity.
Over time, Tow spent many hours doing in-depth research on his adversary, looking for areas of weakness. Perhaps some psychotic malady that would give Tow an upper hand. But he never found one. Holg was a warrior, through and through. Even among his own kind, he was considered ruthless. Ruthless and unyielding, he never ceased his aggression. Giving up was as foreign a concept to Holg as committing violence was to Tow.
Focusing his attention again on the AI orb, he wondered if that lone, small drone-like device could actually make a difference. Planet Earth was in the midst of something heinous. Those other two Howsh ships were repeating the same systematic, city-by-city annihilation they’d committed on Mahli. It needed to stop. They’d already won.
“I will go with you, orb. It’s time I personally speak with Captain Holg.”
* * *
As Tow descended the gangway, he spotted his favorite walking stick, lying nearby on the ground. As he’d done so many times before, he attempted, using his mind, to retrieve it, but soon found he was far too weak to elevate it off the ground. Instead, he walked the short distance, bent over, and picked it up one-handed. Then, after walking around for a while, he turned back and faced the Evermore, wondering if he would ever see his ship again. He pictured the heritage pod, entombed within the lower deck, and thought of Soweng. His heart ached. I’m so very sorry, my love.
He was weaker now and walking was difficult. As Tow and the orb moved farther into the trees, he queried the AI orb about any recently transpired events that he was unaware of. Then Tow said, “You can hurry ahead, orb. I will catch up.”
Chapter 29
His face hurt where Holg, the Howsh with the red sash, clawed him. When a loud tone blared out somewhere above them the alien rushed off.
Now, with so much time to think—and little else to do—Cuddy wondered how the Howsh accomplished the arduous task of chaining up, feet first, all the prisoners. But he soon realized two large robots were also moving about. They didn’t look anything like the AI orb on the Evermore. These robots were similar in size and girth to the Howsh themselves. Peculiar looking, they also were covered with fur—similar to that on the Howsh.
Cuddy watched the two robots silently work together, removing one of the dead bodies from the compartment. That was a good thing—the smell had gone way beyond toxic. Efficient in their movements, one robot raised itself high off the deck. Reaching out with a clawed mechanical arm, it opened a clasp attached to the chain above. The lifeless body of a large woman dropped to the deck, making an awful-sounding thud. Effortlessly, the second robot lifted her up off the deck and carried her from the compartment. The first robot then turned its attention on the next corpse—again, lifting itself up high in order to release the clasp. Another body, an old man this time, dropped below with a loud thud. It too was carted off.
The two robots next moved toward Sheriff Bone’s hanging body. As one robot began to rise, the sheriff yelled, “Get away from me! I’m not dead yet! Get away!”
Cuddy knew that the sheriff was still alive, seeing him every so often twitch or move. But he understood how the robots could make that mistake. The older man, black and blue everywhere, looked to be in pretty bad shape. He had been terribly beaten.
Cuddy estimated it took the robots about ten minutes before the compartment was completely cleared, free of dead bodies. They left then, not returning. His eyes nervously glanced toward the entrance. Though trying hard not to think about it, he found it nearly impossible not to, praying he wouldn’t see the robots again—carrying in Momma. Prayed they wouldn’t find her back in the house and grab her, then return and hang her up as they had all the others.
Cuddy by now had become fairly proficient at moving his hips—pivoting his body around either left or right—so he could see the others. They all seemed to be asleep. He stared at Jackie for a while. Her long straw-colored hair hung down, swaying back and forth like she was underwater, moved by invisible currents.
Reluctantly, he turned his thoughts back to the strange incident that occurred at the house. When somehow he’d made that alien’s hand … vaporize, using only the sheer force of his mind. Suddenly it went … Poof! For sure, the AI orb assisted him in some way. Could he now, mentally, do a similar thing on his own? The same way Tow so easily could? His sessions in the wellness chamber, he knew, did more than just fix his brain.
Off and on, Cuddy tried to manipulate things in his surroundings. Currently, he was attempting to make a distant and stationary hanging chain move about. But nothing seemed to be happening. What did the orb say to him? Use your mind … your will to prevail. Well … wasn’t that exactly what he was struggling to do? Cuddy thought about that for a while. Perhaps, it wasn’t so much what he was attempting to do, but how he felt while doing it. The orb’s presence in his head at that time had made him feel safe. Safe and confident. He certainly didn’t feel that way now. How could he, hanging upside down, along with Kyle and Jackie, when they all were in so much danger?
He noticed Jackie was now awake, looking at him. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“Trying to move that chain, on the other side of the room, with my mind.”
“Seriously? Why would you want to do that?”
“Because of something I did … back in the house. It’s hard to explain. Can you do something for me?”
Jackie almost smiled. “There’s not much I can do for you, or anyone, in my current predicament.”
“Can you … kinda just talk to me? Um … like tell me I can do it? That you believe in me. Or something like that?”
“I guess … sure, why not!”
Cuddy, focusing, brought his full attention back to the hanging chain and waited. “Okay … go ahead.”
“You can do this, Cuddy. You can do anything you set your mind to. I believe in you, Cuddy.”
Cuddy liked the sound of her voice. That she no longer spoke to him like he was plain stupid. As his mind began to wander a bit, he quickly reined his thoughts back in, concentrating on the distant, four-to-five-foot-long chain. Then, as if he were extending an invisible h
and across space, he gave it a little push. The chain visibly began to sway back and forth. It wasn’t as dramatic as making an alien’s hand burst into a mist of blood and gore, but still, it was something. Yes, I can do it!
“Look Cuddy! Do you see that? The chain … it’s moving,” Jackie exclaimed excitedly.
“Oh for fuck’s sake … they’re all moving. Get real, retard,” Tony Bone said.
The truth was, all the chains seemed to be swaying somewhat. Perhaps Tony was right. That it was simply wishful thinking on his part.
“Don’t call him that, Tony!” Kyle ordered.
Cuddy noticed that those hanging were all wide-awake now, except for Officer Plumkin, who was snoring loudly. A large wet spot darkened his crotch area where he’d peed himself. Soon Cuddy felt he would do the same, as he needed to urinate pretty badly. Not something he would want Jackie to ever witness.
Holg, the Howsh captain, still wearing the red sash, entered the compartment and headed directly for Cuddy, his teeth bared. Evidently, something unlikely had occurred since he was last pulled away. The painful claw marks on Cuddy’s cheek began to burn in anticipation of what he knew was coming.
Holg came to a stop directly in front of Cuddy. Pent up anger permeated the air around him like a bad smell. Cuddy hadn’t noticed, until they were practically on top of him, that the two furry robots were there as well. Then two mechanical arms came around him and gripped him tight, below his shoulders and around his chest, in a vise-like hold that made it nearly impossible to breathe. The second robot released Cuddy’s bound hands from behind his back, but the relief he suddenly felt was short-lived.
“Let him go! He doesn’t know anything!” Kyle yelled.
Cuddy then felt his arm grasped in two places—above the wrist and just below the elbow.
The Simpleton: An Alien Encounter Page 15
