The Simpleton: An Alien Encounter

by Mark Wayne McGinnis

  Cuddy thought about that, though it really didn’t mean anything. Whoever was commanding that fleet of warships could take his sweet time. We are completely at their mercy, he thought.

  “Bob, do you have defined coordinates where we’re to go? Where the heritage pod is to be … placed?”

  “No, that was not included in my directives. You can make that determination, if you wish, Captain.”

  “There!”

  Cuddy spun around to see Jackie, standing with her arm extended, her finger pointing out. He stepped back and followed the direction of her finger.

  “Near that patch of forest. At the base of the mountain ridge,” she explained. “Yeah … that’s the place,” she said with certainty. “Can you take us down there, Bob, so we can take a look?” Her face was animated and her enthusiasm contagious.

  Tony and Kyle barged onto the bridge together, their mouths agape as they took in the panorama of beautiful Primara.

  “Take us down, Bob … let’s bring them home,” Cuddy said.

  The descent into Primara’s lower atmospheres was fairly quick and non-eventful. If anything, Cuddy wished they could slow time down—make their moments together last a little longer. With a quick glance over his shoulder, he noticed Brian too had joined them on the bridge, and was now easing his bulk down into a rear seat.

  Tony said, “Holy crap … that world is …”

  “Incredible!” Kyle exclaimed, finishing his words.

  The orb brought the Evermore lower—barely skirting the tops of trees. Cuddy briefly wondered if forests like this one, seeming both endless and undisturbed, still existed back on Earth. He didn’t think so.

  Out the port window could be seen the ragged mountain ridge they’d spotted from space. Below, the trees were now becoming more and more sparse. Then they were traversing low over long golden grasslands. Something bright sparkled in the distance.

  “The lake I saw below us … it’s over there,” Jackie said.

  The orb changed their course slightly. Ahead lay a shimmering body of water—a great lake—that Cuddy could see was rimmed with a wide sandy beach.

  Cuddy caught Jackie’s eye. “Here okay?”

  He watched her eyes take in the landscape beyond, before she nodded, “Yeah … right here.”

  “Put us down, Bob,” Cuddy said.

  * * *

  Cuddy was the last one to exit the Evermore and walk down the gangway. He breathed in the brisk, fresh air, and held it deep in his lungs for several blissful moments. As he took his first steps onto Primara soil, he acknowledged the good fortune, as well as the sacrifices they’d made to get there. In the distance, he saw Kyle—walking near a stream all by himself. Tony and Jackie were walking together, heading toward the distant lake. Brian, the one nearest him, was slowly waddling toward a nearby stand of Aspen-like trees.

  “It is time, Captain.”

  Cuddy, aware of the orb’s close presence, gazed into the sky, wondering if his pledge to Tow was an act in futility. Would the Howsh begin their attack now?

  “How do I do it? How do I get the heritage pod out of the ship?” Cuddy asked.

  “The lower sub-deck of the Evermore is a separate construct. It also has a lift mechanism.”

  A soft whirling sound brought Cuddy’s attention to something behind him. The Evermore was rising up higher on extended struts. A mid-section of the ship was slowly being lowered downward, beneath the spacecraft’s underbelly. He studied the organic shape of the heritage pod as it came into view. In this vast wilderness, it somehow looked small and vulnerable. And then he felt it—a heavy weight on his shoulders, nearly bringing him to his knees. It was the weight of responsibility—the weight of an entire race of people, depending on him.

  Cuddy walked back toward the ship and came to a stop, just as the lift settled onto the ground.

  The orb, still hovering at Cuddy’s side, communicated with him telepathically:

  The pod must be moved onto the ground.

  Cuddy looked at the orb, then at the heritage pod. It was easily seven or eight feet tall, and twice that size across. “What does it weigh?”

  “Ten thousand pounds, Captain.”

  Cuddy made a face, showing his disbelief. “Well … there’s no way I’m lifting that! Even if everyone helps, there’s no possible way!”

  “The heritage pod will not unfold, unless it is on Primara soil—”

  Cuddy cut the orb’s words short: “I got it … it needs to be moved.” He stared in the direction the others had gone then dismissed their help, again, as a viable solution.

  “Sit, Cuddy Perkins, sit upon the ground. I will assist you; you can do this.”

  Cuddy gave the hovering orb a weary look, but eventually did as asked. Although he tried to clear his mind of all thoughts and concern, it quickly became apparent that was not possible. To have come this far—this close—only to be stymied now. He sat there for a long while. The sun lowered into a pink, orange sky, as a steady breeze carried the scent of the distant lake. Cuddy’s thoughts turned to Tow. He should be here, doing this honored task. He was a true Pashier … with powerful mental abilities—far more powerful than his own.

  “Do it! Move the heritage pod, Cuddy!” the orb said.

  Jackie, returning, took a seat to his left. He felt her take his hand in hers and hold it tight. “You can do this. Look what you’ve accomplished so far.”

  Cuddy felt a hand on his back and knew it was Kyle’s. He and Tony seated themselves behind him. Leveling his eyes first on the heritage pod, he then closed them. Exhaling a deep breath, he concentrated—envisioning himself standing next to the pod, far larger than he was in reality. In his mind his arms were huge—like tree trunks. Bending his knees, and lowering his body, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around the circumference of the pod. He felt the pod’s encompassing leaves crinkle and constrict under his tight hold. With all the strength his mind and body could conjure up, he began to straighten out his thick, column-like legs. Immediately, they began to shake and wobble under the immense weight. Cuddy continued lifting, as the joints in shoulders, wrists, elbows, knees and ankles screamed in a torment he could hardly endure. He stepped back with one foot while stepping forward with the other—turning both his body and the pod in the process. Sweat streamed down his forehead, stinging his closed eyes. As moisture crept into his palms, he felt his grip on the heritage pod begin to slip.

  Chapter 49

  You can do this, Cuddy … I know you can do this … the orb repeated, telepathically.

  Cuddy took more hurried steps, to the point he had lost count. He tried to tighten his hold but the enormous pod was slipping even more from his grasp. Another step, then another …

  He was helpless as the heritage pod slipped from his grasp. Cuddy opened his eyes. Totally exhausted—spent—he realized he was still seated next to Jackie, who was vigorously shaking out her hand, a pained expression on her face. He glanced over to the Evermore—the heritage pod was gone! Looking around the ship’s outskirts, no sign of the pod was evident.

  A distant voice yelled, “It’s over here. Cuddy … it’s here!”

  Cuddy squinted into the setting sun. No less than fifty yards away, and no longer seated behind him, Kyle and Tony stood by the pod.

  But how …?

  “You did it, Cuddy! I don’t know how … but you did it.” Jackie kissed him on the mouth, and he felt her excitement, noting the smile on her lips. She stood and pulled him up to his feet.

  The sun slowly dipped behind a distant ridgeline as dusk settled in around them. As they approached the heritage pod, Cuddy detected the slightest movement—at its very top, where all the leaves converged into a single point.

  Brian appeared, the last to join them, and they separated out from each other, forming a circle, of sorts, around the heritage pod. The leaves were unfolding now. Like Cuddy had witnessed several times in the past, a spray of glittering lights streamed upward—higher and higher into the air. As the
heritage pod continued to unfold, he felt its now-familiar swirling breeze around him.

  It took a while for the last few leaves to open, before settling onto the ground. A galaxy of starlight moved above them, but here—on Primara—it spanned out hundreds, if not thousands, of feet, ever ascending higher. The brilliance of light around them made it impossible for Cuddy to concentrate on any one particular thing.

  “Look!” Jackie exclaimed. She was now visible to Cuddy, easy to see over the fully opened pod. She was pointing to a moving pinpoint of light above them. The star-like object, approaching fast, was not slowing down. Cuddy wondered if something was wrong. Or was it a new spectacle—one he’d not witnessed before, when within the Evermore’s lower sub-deck.

  The approaching star intensified in both size and brightness. No, he thought, it’s not only coming near us, it’s going to crash land right into us! Before he could move—get to his feet—the streaking object struck the middle of the heritage pod in a brilliant flash of blue light. More surprising, the ground didn’t shake and no audible sound was heard from its sudden impact. Now standing amidst the flattened leaves of the opened heritage pod stood a lone figure—a Pashier—glowing; standing tall.

  Up above, the galaxy of stars swirled brightly. No sooner had the figure stepped away from the center of the pod than a second bright object struck. A bright blue flash erupted forth, and another glowing figure appeared. Soon another and then another. This same awe-inspiring spectacle continued for an additional three hours. Only now, it wasn’t a single being arriving—it was ten, or twenty, or even one hundred, at a time.

  * * *

  Cuddy and the others retreated back to the Evermore to watch from there as the returning continued. They sat on the gangway, letting their legs hang over the side. Thousands upon thousands of Pashier had arrived already. Quickly moving away, they hurried off in every direction. It was as if they knew exactly where they were meant to go—where, on this beautiful planet, they were supposed to settle.

  Jackie, seated next to Cuddy, continued to watch with rapt fascination. She nestled closer into his shoulder against the cool night air. “You know … what we’re witnessing here … no one has ever—ever ever ever—seen before.” She gazed up at him. “Thank you, Cuddy, for sharing this heavenly experience with me, with us. I’ll never forget this time with you.” She then leaned up and kissed him tenderly on the forehead.

  Cuddy wondered if she was, in some way, telling him goodbye. That they’d come to the end of their long journey together and she would be moving on. He was well aware she had clear-cut plans for her life. With a heavy heart, he stared out at the masses of glowing Pashier, still arriving.

  Two glowing figures, hand in hand, approached them from out of the multitude. Whereas all others moved past them—avoiding any contact—these two headed directly for them. By the time Cuddy recognized Tow’s unique Pashier features they were almost upon them. Soweng looked as beautiful as ever, and Tow emanated good health, plus a boyish youthfulness that Cuddy hadn’t seen in him before.

  When he stood to greet his friend, Tow pulled him into a powerful bear hug. Caught off-guard by a sudden onslaught of emotion, Cuddy blinked away the brimming tears.

  * * *

  The sun was coming up before the last few Pashier arrived on the beautiful planet. Home again, they too moved off. Tow and Soweng stayed with them for a long while, but soon they were pulled away, responding to their own distant callings. Cuddy learned they would be sharing this life together, here, as a couple. That didn’t surprise him in the least. Their love for each other was clearly evident. After a heartfelt goodbye, Tow and Soweng headed off.

  Cuddy yelled after him, “Will I ever see you again, Tow?”

  Tow stopped and turned. “Yes, you and Brian are Pashier. Return here, when you know your special time has come.” He gave a final wave and walked on.

  Cuddy watched until they too merged into the distant landscape.

  “Wait! So you get to come back here? Be a part of this … this magic? What about your Earthly girlfriend? What is she supposed to do?”

  Cuddy stared back at Jackie uncomprehending. “But I don’t have a girlfriend.”

  She tilted her head sideways, making an exasperated expression.

  Then he fully got what she was saying, as she slipped her arms around his waist, laying her head on his chest. “I love you, Cuddy … I always have.” He then confessed back his deep love for her as well. At that moment, he didn’t think he could be any happier.

  From out his peripheral vision, he saw one last, brilliant light, streaking down from above. “Somebody’s late for the party,” Jackie said.

  They both looked out to see who had arrived and found the figure was not a two-legged one. Then Cuddly heard a familiar, distant woof, and thought, I’d know that bark anywhere!

  His beloved yellow lab, now running free, snatched up a stick even longer than he was. As his ghostly form appeared near by, Cuddy said, “Bring it here, boy!”

  Jackie said, “Maybe one doesn’t have to be Pashier … you know … to take part in this?”

  Epilogue

  The orb, Cuddy, Jackie, Kyle, Tony, Brian, and last but not least Rufus reentered the familiar confines of the Evermore.

  “I have one question,” Kyle said, following after Tony. “What happened to those Howsh ships? I expected them to swoop down on us at any second.”

  Tony and Kyle, halting in their tracks, stared back at Cuddy. Jackie, already clanging around in the galley, stopped long enough to peer out.

  Cuddy said, “I have no idea. I was afraid of the same thing.” He looked over to the AI orb. “Bob?”

  “The Howsh fleet is gone.”

  “They just left? When?” Jackie asked.

  “Brian transported them away.”

  “What? Brian did that?” Cuddy asked, total disbelief on his face. “How?”

  “That is correct. Using his new Pashier kinetic powers … those ships are now five point eight light years distance away from Primara … away from us.”

  All eyes turned to Brian. Cuddy realized that the brightly glowing, half human/half Pashier was levitating nearly a foot off the deck.

  Brian smiled, a bit of his former cockiness returning, and said, “All those hours alone in that compartment … well, I’ve been practicing. Bob, the orb, helped me get started. First by levitating a bread crumb, then a pillow, then a pair of shoes. Eventually, I could levitate myself. My own body above the deck.”

  “But … five enormous spaceships? Dude, you’re a badass!” Tony exclaimed.

  Brian shrugged, “Maybe I am.”

  Cuddy studied Brian’s wry crooked smile and wondered if his new, transcendent, ability was a good thing or not. Of course it is, he thought. He saved us from certain death, didn’t he?

  A part of Cuddy wanted to believe the Howsh wouldn’t have attacked anyway. That Tow’s home movie—the incredible revelations of their shared past—would have made an impact. Would have given them pause. But how realistic was that? He had little doubt that the information had the capability to alter opinions—but the results could take a long time, perhaps years. It was a start.

  “I’m starving!” Tony said, resuming his trek toward the galley.

  “So where are we off to now, little brother? Or should I call you Captain Perkins from now on?” Kyle asked.

  Cuddy shrugged. “We can head on back to Earth … I guess.”

  The orb rose several feet higher into the air. “There are twenty-two other Pashier heritage pods within the galaxy. Several survived the decimation back on Mahli, while others are well hidden beneath the surface of another nearby planet. Some are confined within the holds of enemy spacecraft. Those pods must all be brought home … brought here, to Primara.”

  “What’s going to happen to them if that doesn’t happen?” Jackie asked.

  “In time, they will break down … turn to dust.” The orb continued, “Do not despair. I will pilot the Evermore, continui
ng on with my directives, once I have returned you back to Earth.”

  “And if I should want to go with you?”

  Cuddy was surprised—the question asked was from Tony.

  “Me, too …” Kyle said.

  Cuddy spotted Jackie, again peering out the galley, and looking at him with a bemused smile. Her brows were raised questioningly.

  The End

  Thank you for reading The Simpleton.

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  Acknowledgments

  I am ever grateful for the ongoing fan support I receive for all my books. This latest book, my sixteenth—The Simpleton—came about through the combined contributions of numerous others. First, I’d like to thank my wonderful wife, Kim, for her never-ending love and support. She helps make this journey rich and so very worthwhile. I’d also like to thank my mother, Lura Genz, for her tireless work as my creative editor and a staunch cheerleader of my writing. I’d like to thank Mia Manns, for her phenomenal line and developmental editing … she is an incredible resource and friend. Others who provided fantastic support include: Lura and James Fischer, Sue Parr, Stuart Church, Eric Sundius, and Chris DeRrick.

  Other books by MWM

  Scrapyard Ship

  (Scrapyard Ship series, Book 1)

  HAB 12

  (Scrapyard Ship series, Book 2)

  Space Vengeance

  (Scrapyard Ship series, Book 3)

  Realms of Time

  (Scrapyard Ship series, Book 4)