Survivors

by Alex Isaacs

  We head into the house; the girls are back out sitting in the living room. Joe talks to Rose as Zoey comes back up to me. Zoey asks when was I going to tell her that I was one of the people that stopped the asteroid, I looked at Rose. Rose apologized, saying it got mentioned in their talk. Zoey starts to call me a dumb country boy, then slaps me again. My mother tells me to go out for a walk; they will try to settle Zoey and the girls down again. I leave before Joe and Rose go to pick up the clothes. I walk down to the park, finding a bench to sit on while everything cooled down back at the house. I sit there for a couple of hours before getting the nerve to return to the house.

  Joe and Rose have returned; everyone is in bed, except for Joe. He tells me he was wondering if I was going to come back tonight. I said I thought about it, but I did not want to walk to the base. Joe shows me where I am going to sleep for the next few days. I close the door, climbing into bed, falling right to sleep. The next morning after breakfast, Joe, Zoey, and I head to the base. It is a quiet ride in, Zoey still being mad at me. We get ready to fly up to the asteroid; I have the new parts for the PSV’s tractor beams, plus I will upload the computer information. I find out that the two PSV’s will be leaving tomorrow. I go to see Simon, asking him to send three of the PSV’s to the asteroid belt, it would bring us back more resources and Kelly can remotely fly the third PSV. I can help to get her load to bring back. Simon said okay, I would have to help with Jason’s load as well.

  As we get ready to go, I get Zoey to ride with Jason and Jenny. We get up to the asteroid with no problems; I fit the new parts on then tell Jason and Kelly how they work. Kelly looks at me; I tell her she should find out soon; she will control the third PSV on the trip to the belt. I leave my PSV up on the asteroid with the other two going to the asteroid belt, catching a ride back with Kelly. Simon will still have seven PSV’s to use here until the next two are ready to fly.

  We land, going to get changed. Ann and Mandy are waiting at the base to go to our training. They get Zoey, who I now find out is going to start training with the three of us today. As we get on the floor for our training, the three girls stay away from me, Zoey calling me a dumb country boy again. Kelly hears her then comes over to me, asking what that is all about. I quickly explain it is a continuation from the other day. Kelly said, right. She gets the three girls out of the group, telling them this is a military operation, all pettiness will not be allowed. Kelly pointed over to the ropes telling the three girls to climb them five times then do fifty push-ups. Kelly gets another soldier to go over to count for the three of them. As I am about ready to start to train, Kelly tells me to drop and give her a hundred push-ups.

  When I get done, I join back into the training group, noticing the girls have just finished climbing up the ropes to the ceiling the five times. They are now struggling to do the push-ups. Zoey is now collapsing midway through them. Kelly goes over to her, telling her to hit the showers. The other two girls finally rejoin the group as we near the end of the day’s training. The two look exhausted. We hit the showers, then head back to get a ride home. The three girls fall asleep in the back of the van on the trip home. Joe pulls in, seeing the girls asleep. Joe asks me what happened; I tell him that Kelly saw the three still mad at me. Kelly made the four of us do extra work as a punishment, saying there is no place for this fit in the military. Joe tells me to get the ladies to help these three into the house.

  The ladies take the three girls in, putting them right into bed for the night. I explain to them what happened, just like I told Joe. My mother said great; Kelly disciplined all four of us; this should be the end of it now. I eat then go to bed myself; I am tired from doing the extra work at training. The next morning, we set out to the asteroid, getting the three PSV’s on the trip to the asteroid belt. Leaving a little late, but that would not matter. As we come back to earth with another load of ore, Kelly tells us to take our time; the training might start a little late today. I see Zoey telling the other two girls as we go to get changed. As I come out to start the training, I see the rest of the people set out in a group of four. It seems Kelly gave instructions to do this before I came out. As the three girls come out to join us, Kelly calls out for us to form into a group of four like the rest of the team.

  I look to see that I have to go with the three girls. I can sense they are not happy with this as Kelly now tells everyone that there is a backpack with our name on it. Each backpack has half the weight of our body in it. Each one of us has to carry the backpack on this exercise. Each team of four has to cross the line at the same time. Kelly tells us that it does not matter if we walk, run, or crawl to the line; we all have to cross together. The trip consists of two laps around the base. Kelly, now yells begin. Kelly picks up her backpack and watches as the group picks up their backpacks to begin the training.

  As we head out, our team stays in contact with the whole group until we start the second lap of the base. I see the General watching us, along with Joe and Jason. As we get around the first corner, Zoey begins to slow down. Zoey has not had much training with us; it is showing now. Zoey has to stop, saying she can not go any further. I look at Mandy; she knows we can get a lot of extra work if we do not complete this task. I tell Zoey to give me her backpack to carry. She looks at the other two, Mandy telling her to give it to me to carry. Ann says she will help Zoey as we continue with our trek. As we get near the second corner, Ann now stops in her tracks. I get her to give me her backpack, telling Mandy to keep with them, I would be back soon. I pick up the third backpack, heading off ahead of the three girls. I come around the last bend, seeing everyone else across the line. They are all watching me as I come up to the line, remembering that we all have to cross the line together. I drop the three backpacks at the line, looking at Kelly. I turn to go back to the girls. I see the General, and the others have stopped to watch what is going on now. I get back to the three girls, Ann and Zoey are struggling to keep up with Mandy.

  I shake my head, coming over to Zoey, I know I will have to carry her to get to the line soon. I look at Ann as I am about to pick up Zoey. I see it in her eyes that her helping Zoey has made her tired. I tell Ann to get on my back. After she is holding on to me, I pick up Zoey in my arms, telling Mandy to head out ahead of me. I will try to keep up with her. As we come around the last corner, there is a larger group of people watching us now. Mandy is now at the line waiting for me; I am only yards behind her. As I get up to the backpacks, I set Zoey down, Mandy helping her. I grab the three backpacks; then, the four of us cross the line together, where I fall over the backpacks hitting my hand. There is a loud cheer, people coming up to me, slapping me on the back. Kelly sees my hand; it is bleeding. Kelly calls out for a medic to look at my hand. My hand is cut and bleeding. It needs to have some ice put on it, but I will be alright.

  We head back in to complete our training. As Kelly is about to dismiss us all, she gets Zoey to come to the front. She tells Zoey she is new to the group; she needs more training to catch up with everyone. Kelly tells Zoey, each night, Zoey will jog around the base twice with her. Kelly dismisses the group. I look at Zoey; as she is going to start her extra training, I decided that I will go with her to keep her company, giving her support. Kelly stops me asking me what I am doing; I can go. I look at Kelly, then Zoey saying I feel like I could use a little more exercise on my time. Kelly can not say anything; I am on my own time now. As I look around, I see Ann and Mandy falling in behind me to run with Zoey. As we finish the extra training for Zoey, the two girls struggle to get her in to change.

  As I help them into the van for the ride home, Joe asks me what happened. I tell Joe we had some hard training today, leaving it at that. As we pull in the driveway, I get out, picking Zoey up first, carrying her into the house. I set her on the couch, going back out for Ann. Mandy is struggling to come in with us, the extra running made her tired as well. I set Ann down on the couch, sitting in between the two girls. Ann leans into my shoulder, falling asleep. Zoey moves over to me, put
ting her head on my shoulder, I put my arm around her as she thanks me for helping her today. Mandy has grabbed some ice for my hand, coming over to the couch, sitting down with us, putting the ice on my hand. The ice feels great on my hand. I hear my mother asking what went on today for the four of us to be this tired. I smiled, saying training. Mandy said that Alex helped these two out during our training exercise. Next thing I know, I fell asleep in between the two girls.

  I wake up in the morning, a blanket covering the four of us, Mandy must have fallen asleep just after I did, still holding my cut hand. I see my mother and Rose standing in front of the four of us; I am amazed she left us like this all night. I hear Rose talking to Ann, saying, Ann dear, it is time to get up. Ann turns towards me, her face next to mine, saying aww mom, just a couple of more minutes, please. Her mouth is against my cheek; she must think I am her mom as she kisses me on the cheek, saying just one more minute, please. I now hear Rose say, come on Sweetpea, it is time to get up. I see Ann start to come around, so I say come on Sweetpea, you need to get up, please. With the different sounding voice calling her Sweetpea, Ann wakes up, staring at me. She looks to see her mom standing there, smiling. Ann turns to me, telling me never to call her Sweetpea again, especially in front of people. Ann gets up, I smile at her but dare not to call her Sweetpea again. My mom now gets Mandy up, then Mrs. Simpson comes in to get Zoey, taking her to get changed.

  I go into the kitchen, sitting down to clean up my cut hand. Joe sits down with me, asking if it is true that I also went to do the extra training with Zoey, the other two girls joining in on the run. I say, yes. My mom and Rose come into the kitchen, my mom saying she is proud of what I did. Joe told us everything after Mandy fell asleep, holding the ice on your hand. My mom then said she is going done to that base to straighten them out; they should not be doing that to you four. I look at Joe, then ask my mom not to say anything about what happened, please. We are supposed to be a team. Joe said the General says I will make a good leader. I turn to Rose, asking why Sweetpea for Ann. Rose smiles, saying Ann used to eat the sweetpeas from our garden before we could cook them for dinner. Rose then told me not to call her that in front of anyone, please.

  The girls start to come into the kitchen for breakfast, each coming to look at my hand. We eat, Joe telling me that we have to get going for our meetings and work. As we get into the van, Ann and Mandy join us, asking Joe if they can come into space with us today. Joe looks at me, saying they have to ask the third pilot that may have some room in his PSV. As I look back at Zoey, she points to me; I tell the girls to get in, I would like to have their company in the PSV today. As we drive to the base, I ask Joe for us to try the tractor beam again today, these two should see the computer program to understand what is going on with it on board the PSV’s. Joe asks Zoey who she is supposed to be riding with today. Zoey says she can ride with anyone today; she needs to update her notes that Jenny has started. I ask Joe how his training is coming along. Joe says he is getting better, more solo time for him today. I ask Zoey to go with Joe, making sure he is okay flying alone.

  We get to the base, getting suited up for the trip. Kelly is there with another two soldiers. Lieutenant Smart will go with me; Lieutenant Cobalt will go with Jason. She is going to be with Joe this morning again. We are bringing more parts up for the next two PSV’s; soon, we will have them enclosed to work on the inside, putting the electronics into them. We see Simon; he comes over to talk with us. He would like samples for the other countries. He knows we are now bringing back loads for making fuel, but he needs these samples. Joe said he had them set aside from before.

  After Simon leaves, I ask Joe what is going on; Joe says the countries involved in the space platform are wanting to mine the asteroid, getting the precious metals. Joe says there is a lot of money to get from these rich ores. I asked if Simon did not tell them about the components for the fuel we are finding. Joe stops me telling me that Simon has not told them the extent to the mining we are doing. Joe says Simon will drag it out, saying we have only just started the mining operations. I started thinking about the phone call Zoey made; someone was listening in to any calls from the base on cell phones.

  We get to the PSV; I ask the Lieutenant if he has any experience flying, he says, yes. He is a fighter pilot. I do not like his tone; maybe it is because I am a civilian. We take off, getting into space. I call Joe asking if he and the other PSV are ready for the test. They both call back, saying yes. I tell Ann and Mandy to monitor the computer program now, noting the changes when I begin the procedure. I start the procedure, putting the tractor beam on. I can hear the two girls talking, noticing the changes, then, making notes. After a few minutes, I ask if they are happy with their notes. Mandy says yes, so I call the two PSV’s letting them know I am releasing the beams. We now get back on course, the girls looking out to see the asteroid. They watch as I land, telling them that we need to change the way we land on this asteroid. Mandy suggests using magnets to pull us down over the landing pad. I get her to make notes as we begin to go in and unload our materials.

  I help Joe get his samples for the other countries, before loading the regular load for us making more fuel. We find out that we will be getting more ore in two days. I ask Joe about this load, Joe telling me that this will fuel the PSV’s for a couple of weeks. As we lift off, I pay attention to the procedure we are using now, the magnets would be a great idea. They can be on cables, releasing the PSV’s once we are above the asteroid. I get the Lieutenant to take the controls on the way back, letting him know it is not like an airplane up here. He says he has some experience in the simulator back at the base. I tell him the simulator probably does not account for the weight we are carrying. As we get ready to start the landing procedure, I retake control, telling the Lieutenant to keep his hands on the controls to see if there is any difference in flying a fighter plane. He looks smug until a sudden gust of wind hits us. I can see it in his eyes that the simulator does not take in the weight of the PSV. I land the PSV safely, getting us over to get unloaded. I tell the girls I will meet them in the control room; I want to check on our three babies.

  I meet them in the control room; three technicians are monitoring the flights of the PSV’s going to the asteroid belt. It will be a few days before they arrive, I now hope the control room is set up in the valley for me to help to get the asteroids to come back to earth. We go to get changed for our afternoon training course. I wonder what Kelly will have us doing today. As we come out to begin, we hear someone yell, attention. I see General Horten coming in, stopping in front of Kelly. Suddenly, General Horten tells Jones, you are out of uniform. I see Kelly looking at the General confused. The General holds out his hand; there is a box in it. The General says Captain Jones, you are out of uniform. I see Kelly straighten up; the General has given her a promotion. She takes the new bars, putting them on her uniform.

  The General turns around to face all of us. General Horten informs us that we are now a battalion; it is a secret battalion. Only we know we are part of the PSV Battalion. The rest of the base will think of us as a technical battalion. Captain Jones asks if he means a geek battalion. The General smiles, saying he likes that. We are now to be known as the Geek battalion to everyone on the base. Captain Jones is your commanding officer. The General says there will be more people joining our ranks in the coming days. He looks at his assistant, who hands him a sheet. The General calls out, Brunner, Isaacs, Simpson, and Urbina. The four of us look at each other; Kelly says front and center. We move quickly to stand in front of the General. Master Sergeant Brunner, handing Mandy her stripes, adding you are one of the heads of the computer department for your past performance. First Lieutenant Isaacs, the General handing me my bars for my uniform, I will be in charge of computers and training along with First Lieutenant Peabody for my past performance. Lieutenant Simpson, handing Zoey her bars, adding she is in the medical division under First Lieutenant Sanders. Master Sergeant Urbina, handing Ann her stripes, you are another
head of the computer department for your past performance. The General congratulates us, telling us he will fill us in more later.

  The General turns to Kelly, telling her to continue with her training. Kelly turns to us, telling us to put away our bars and stripes; for now, tomorrow, she expects us to be in proper uniform. We head over to put our bars and stripes away for now. Our training today is not as hard as it was yesterday, maybe Kelly’s promotion changed that. At the end of the training, Kelly dismisses us, telling the three of us to go to get our new uniforms. Kelly looks at Zoey, telling Zoey she can pick her uniforms up after the run tonight. As the two begin to go for their run, I join in with them, followed by Ann and Mandy. I am now shocked to see the rest of the newly formed battalion fall-in behind the rest of us for the run. I see Kelly looking back, noticing that everyone is here. Jenny and Jason also show up, Jenny apologizing for being late, she had other matters to tend to earlier. Kelly asked if it was to do with our battalion, Jenny said, yes, ma'am. Kelly says she will get things better organized for the battalion. We do our run, all looking proud.

  We get back, going to pick up our uniforms, Jenny congratulating us all, turning to Zoey, telling Zoey she will be in charge of the Psychology section under her. We put on our uniforms, heading to the lab. Joe hugs Ann, saying he is proud of her. He congratulates the rest of us, then points out the new information from this test of the tractor beams. Joe tells me we should run another couple of tests when coming back from the asteroid with the different weights. We call it a night, heading back to the house. Everyone is happy to see us in our uniforms, my mother asking why we are in uniform now. Joe says some changes are happening at the base and the lab. When he finds out more about the changes, he will let us all know. The phone rings, Ann gets it telling my mom it is my dad. I hear my mom say I see, then say that is okay, then say we will wait for your next call.