Confrontation

by William Hayashi

  Dr. Milton wasn’t at all concerned. They didn’t appear to be anything but happy with each other’s company. It had happened many times before, two people having undergone an extraordinary experience, their lives at risk, reaffirming life with each other once the risk had passed. The rest of the crew didn’t seem to find much odd in their obvious attraction; everyone was too anxious to finish the required post-mission examinations so they could all return home.

  Monday evening, as the crew relaxed in the cafeteria after the day’s rigors, John was surprised to see Tom Weston being shown into the room by a security guard. John jumped up, surprised that Weston had actually come to Houston to see him.

  They shook hands warmly, Weston clapping John on the back. John took Weston over to the table and introduced him to the crew, telling them that Weston was his boss in the “real world.” Once the greetings were done, John excused himself and took Weston to a quiet table so they could catch up.

  “Hey, man, I surely didn’t expect to see you here, how’d you manage that?” asked John.

  “Believe it or not, I’m actually on the job; the board wants you back, if you’ll come. They know they put you between a rock and a hard place when they asked you to join the expedition. So they sent me down here to smooth things over if you had any hard feelings about their heavy-handed treatment. But before we get too deep into that, what’s up with you and the ambassador?”

  “How the fuck … how could you tell?” John asked incredulously.

  “Come on, the way she looks at you? Plus, given the other male choices on the mission, you’re definitely the catch of the day.”

  “I guess you really didn’t get the job by winning a contest,” said John, both of them laughing at the joke. “Excellent sleuthing, Sherlock. It’s kind of recent, well maybe it really started while we were out at the colony. She nice, kind and intelligent too. And, if I’m going to be back and forth to New York we’ll get to see each other often enough. But it’s not like we’re planning a wedding or anything.”

  “She seems sharp, more by what she doesn’t say. And according to what I’ve heard she has the ear of the secretary general, that’s quite an endorsement. But hey, good luck with it. Which brings me around to ask how did things go out there? I was informed that you had the opportunity to talk to Sydney Atkins; how did that go?” Weston asked.

  “It was a shocker. I have a daughter out there.”

  “Holy Christ!”

  “Apparently our one night together was even more action-packed than either one of us suspected. Her name’s Joy and she’s a real beauty. Smart as a whip, too, from what Syd and Walker told me.”

  “How do you feel about all that?”

  “It’s sinking in okay. I didn’t know for ten years, and I’ve never spoken to her, so it’s kind of academic, I suppose. I know she’s being raised by the smartest people in the solar system, and that she’s not going to want for anything. It’s sad, though, that we’ll never get to meet,” John said soberly.

  “You get to see what she looks like?”

  “Yes, I have a picture Sydney sent me on my laptop, but I haven’t printed one out yet.”

  “Well, congratulations—I guess.”

  “Thanks, Tom. All in all, I’m fine with it.”

  “Good to hear. Now what about what went on in Chicago? What was that like?”

  “It seemed like as soon as they dropped Jove in the parking lot out back, I was being hustled into a flight suit to be flown to Chi-Town. When we got there, they gave me a change of clothes and sent me to the lakefront by helicopter,” John explained.

  “Out to the asteroid belt and back, jetting all across the country, you must have racked up insane frequent flier miles!” Weston said, laughing at his own joke.

  “No doubt. Then they took me to Navy Pier. I walked into a bar and there they were, just sitting there like regular tourists. I introduced myself and they invited me to sit down. Basically, they were just waiting for nightfall to get back to their ship, but we had a couple of hours to chat. They told me a little about their setup out there and that we’d never get anything from them in the way of technology. Hell, I can’t blame them, the whole reason they’re out there is because of the racist bullshit they all experienced here. Instead of trying to fit in or change the system, they decided to go it alone. No one can pretend that they don’t have a ton of advances that make us look like cavemen by comparison. They got us back to Earth in less than two weeks! It took us nearly eight months to get out there,” said John, shaking his head in amazement.

  “So, no chance of them sharing anything with us?”

  “Not a chance in hell. They aren’t going to ever let any of their people with advanced knowledge get into our hands either. Walker, he’s the older one, was an attorney, and I never really found out what the younger one did. With a colony of less than three thousand people, I have to believe that everyone up there does something vital, so he obviously had some kind of specialty, but they never said.”

  “How the hell did they get away from you? Weren’t you supposed to try to keep them here?” asked Weston.

  “I was told to keep them talking as much as possible; the feds had me wired. But I had just spent almost a month in zero-G and I just wasn’t up to wrestling anyone. It all happened too fast anyway. We were strolling along with agents right behind us, when three people came out of the darkness, put scuba gear on them and they all jumped in the water. Right after that those two ships that were hanging around the area dropped down over the water so no one could get near them, and that was that. We hung around for a little while but nothing happened. I stayed overnight and then they flew me back in one of those decked-out Gulfstreams the next day. The med team here worked me over a little bit over the weekend, and here you are to kick off the week,” John concluded.

  “You are the luckiest man in the world,” Weston observed.

  “How’s that?”

  “You’re the only person anyone from the colony has really talked to, twice! Let me ask you this: if they offered it to you, would you go and live there?”

  John was silent for a few moments, thinking it over. “I’ve thought about it quite a bit. I’d be the only white guy there. I’m not sure how that would work out, not for me so much but for my daughter and Sydney. I think it’s one thing for them to know that Joy’s dad is white, but to have me there might make things a real hassle. And I really don’t know how I would feel about trying to fit in. Christ, everyone up there is a genius, I’m just a career flatfoot nearing mandatory retirement age. Maybe they need a janitor, someone to sweep up.”

  “Jesus, what the fuck’s wrong with you?” Weston hissed. “You caught, well almost, the only separatist on the planet ten years ago; you found her. Hell, until you took over the investigation no one in the FBI even suspected that two thousand people missing. All of them off somewhere together; you discovered that!

  “Enough with the self pity. How many people do you think NASA could just pluck off the street and turn into an astronaut in just a few weeks? Hell, how many people could I have grabbed off the street and had them do what you do at GST without my having to mother hen them all the time? None, and believe me, there’s been a long string before you! They would be lucky to have you out there.” Weston paused a beat to get hold of himself. “Don’t get me wrong, I get your reluctance. Lord knows I couldn’t do it, even if I did have a child and spouse up there, but it’s not because I’m some kind of bigot. It’s because even though I’m good at my job, my skills have no use in a community like that. I’m not a generalist like you, and when I read people it’s for malice or concealment. I’m just too damn suspicious. You’ve still got a good heart, John. I’m too burned out and cynical,” Weston said in unaccustomed honesty. “But you would fit in perfectly, if they let you.”

  “That’s the problem, I have no idea if they could accept me. But screw it. The
question is moot. Walker made it pretty plain that they aren’t looking for any new recruits.” John then lowered his voice and said, “I half-expected them to offer Susan Roscoe a shot.”

  “She’s as sharp as they come. I saw the raw footage of that press conference before you all left, she doesn’t look like she suffers fools gladly,” Weston said, chuckling.

  “No, she doesn’t. She figured me out well before we reached the colony, and asked me who I really was and what I was supposed to be doing on the mission. She thought that GST put me on the mission to take over once we got to the colony. But she was a straight arrow. She said if they offered her the chance to join the colony she would have declined because she wouldn’t abandon her responsibility to lead the mission.”

  “So, you want to talk about your job?” Weston asked, smiling.

  “I still have it, I take it. Has it changed any?”

  “Not as far as I’m concerned. They even kept paying you while you’ve been on the mission since they’re the ones who made you go. And I heard there’s even a hazard pay bonus. Seneca has been taking care of your checks and benefits, she can fill you in on what’s been happening while you were gone. Any idea when you’ll be cut loose?” Weston asked.

  “By the end of the week, I’d imagine. I was going to stop home and see if the house is still there and pay Pete’s nephew for looking after the place,” John replied.

  “Pete’s the owner of the club, right?”

  “The very same. Last time I was home I barely recognized the place. The lawn was actually green. I just about drove past the place because I didn’t recognize it right away. It’s never been kept up like that since I’ve owned it. But once I check out the house and settle up, I can pack a bag and head wherever you need me.”

  Weston chuckled, then said, “And I guess a few days in New York would be all right with you?”

  “That would suit me fine,” said John, smiling.

  “Okay. Finish out the week, head home and I’ll see you in New York Wednesday morning. Maybe the board will invite you up again to apologize, but don’t hold your breath. How’s that sound?”

  “Great. Did you have dinner yet?” asked John. “I can always pull on some street wear and we could head into town.”

  “Thanks, but I’m beat. I’m heading to the hotel and getting in bed before midnight for a change. I just wanted to stop in and let you know about your job. I’m flying out in the afternoon. Call Seneca before the end of the week and have her send one of the corporate jets down here for you. Have it drop you in Atlanta and pick you up on Wednesday to bring you to New York; you’ve earned it.”

  “Thanks, that would be great,” John said, wondering how it would stack up to the government jet that flew him back to Houston.

  “Well then, I’m off,” Weston said, rising and shaking John’s hand. He waved to the few crew members still in the cafeteria as they walked out to the elevator. Once downstairs, John followed Weston to the parking lot to his rental. “I’ve really missed you, John. It’s going to be great having you back. See you next week,” Weston said, and then drove off.

  When John returned to the cafeteria, he was happy to see that Bianca had waited for him. He grabbed a cup of coffee and joined her.

  “He seemed nice. He also looks like very little gets by him,” she said when he sat.

  “You hit the nail right on the head. He could tell about us,” John said chuckling.

  Bianca blushed, but still reached over and took John’s hand. “It’s not like we’re hiding it.”

  “True. But guess what? I’ll be in New York next Wednesday. Will you be there too?” John asked, smiling.

  “Not until Friday. I’m going back to Brazil when we’re done here, then I’ll travel back to New York. Will you still be around by the end of the week?” she asked hopefully.

  “I don’t see why not. I’ll give you my number and you can call me when you know your itinerary. I’m pretty sure I can stay the weekend.”

  “I would like that,” Bianca said, squeezing his hand.

  The week went by quickly for the crew. They even had time to visit the downed Jove spacecraft several times as NASA technicians were disassembling it, saving everything for analysis and recycling. The test samples had been carefully removed the day the spacecraft landed in the parking lot, as were the crew’s personal items. Files were downloaded to removable drives for deep analysis. Systems like hydroponics were quickly recovered and removed, as they had been shut down in quiescent mode since the ship hit orbit.

  If they were careful, the NASA engineers could reuse almost a third of the Jove systems. Since the ion drive engines had performed exceptionally well their first trip out, the NASA engineers were determined to put them to use on the next interplanetary craft they designed and built.

  Patrick Jensen was leading the engineering team disconnecting the engines from the downed spacecraft. They were going to inspect and test the units to see if they could come up with design improvements that they never would have been able to perform in orbit.

  Coincidentally, one of the times John was visiting the partially deconstructed spacecraft he ran into Patrick. They briefly chatted about the investigation of Patrick’s former girlfriend. John shared the background they had dug up on the Melody Parker/Francine Jacobs identities. Patrick told John that he had learned his lesson, and that once Parker had left he decided to play it safe and date much closer to home; no more cute strangers who just happened to meet him on the plane or at a bar or restaurant.

  The day before the crew was due to be released, Dr. Milton finally arranged for a press conference to allow the media access to all of them at once. Since the videos of the conversations with Sydney had been classified top secret, it was agreed that John’s role on the mission would not be mentioned, even to the extent of him being absent from the press conference altogether.

  John watched on the television in his room, chuckling at the fact that all the questions had to do with the attack of the Svoboda and the quick trip back to Earth. NASA had released still photos of the colony with nothing much to see but a huge rock cylinder and the spacecraft that had escorted Jove back to Earth. Those photos were nothing compared to the videos taken of those same ships in Washington, D.C. and Chicago. The Associated Press reporter, who must have had an inside source at the White House or NASA, persistently asked where the ninth astronaut, the one who spoke to Sydney Atkins, was and why he wasn’t at the press conference. Fortunately, John’s real name was never mentioned, for that would have been a sensation. Dr. Milton explained John’s absence by telling the assembled that further medical tests were being run for persistent high blood pressure and that Jonathan Parker was doing well, making John laugh out loud. He had no illusion about his name being secret forever, but at least working for GST he’d be a moving target.

  John was looking forward to going home. He couldn’t wait to see Pete, and to sleep in his own bed, even if for just a few nights.

  Chapter 40

  UNFINISHED BUSINESS

  It seemed like everyone in the colony was waiting inside the huge airlock door the morning the Earth missions finally returned. Once all five ships set down and atmosphere was pumped back into the cavernous space, the inner door opened and the huge crowd surged into the room and clustered around the ships. When the crew members exited the ships, friends and family gathered around them, hugging, kissing, backslapping and chattering nonstop. The atmosphere was festive; getting everyone home safely was a relief to the entire colony. And when Lucius reminded them they had precious cargo to unload, everyone became even more excited, looking forward to the treasures the whale had carried home.

  Neil arranged for a crew to unload the whale after lunch, giving everyone a chance to see family and friends briefly before they completed the mission by unloading the whale.

  Lucius went to his quarters, happy for the privacy and quiet afte
r so many weeks spent with someone always within earshot. Once inside, he stripped off everything he was wearing, took a forty-five minute shower, feeling like he was washing the fatigue, stress and machinations of the mission down the drain. While the nearly scalding water beat down on him, he relived the highlights of the mission, finding himself spending much of the time on his conversation with Joy’s father. He was impressed with John and began considering the possibilities and implications of someone white joining their community. He was wise enough to know that the final word would be Christopher’s, no matter what consensus the colony came to. He still demanded that much respect, or was it really reverence, Lucius wondered. Recruitment from Earth was an issue that Sydney had been working on. The mechanisms for doing so were virtually impossible to employ from so far away. For all practical purposes, they wouldn’t be able to mount any kind of effective recruitment of new members for the community without a presence on Earth. But with John, if they could set up a secure channel of communication, at least the offer could be made, assuming it was in the best interests of the community.

  Checking his messages on the bedroom screen as he dressed, there was one from Sydney requesting they get together once everything got back to normal.

  “Genesis, Sydney please. Syd, busy?” Lucius asked.

  “No, did you see my note?” she inquired.

  “I did. How’s breakfast tomorrow, maybe after you send Joy off to class?”

  “That would be perfect. I was going to try for dinner but Andrea wants to get together. I’ll see you around nine. The commons all right with you?” she asked.

  “That’s great. See you then,” he said. Lucius finished getting dressed and then took off for the whale to meet Neil and the rest of the ground team who were going to unload the containers and begin delivering equipment and goods around the colony. When he showed up at the hangar, he saw that he wasn’t the first to arrive. Neil, Albert, Lena and Chuck had already removed the refrigerated container from the whale. When he entered the cargo hold of the whale, Lucius saw that there were several others getting ready to unload another container and bring it inside.