Bleaker

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Oh, we won’t. I have faith in Sam’s vision and ship,” Tucker said. “I believe the odds will be in our favor. He built a good ship and thinks of things NASA does not.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like attaching a line to the probe and sending it into the Androski so it comes right back,” Tucker said.

  “We did that,” Quinn said. “That’s how we learned about the power loss as you pass through. The probe was dead when it returned.”

  “Sam’s wasn’t.”

  “What?” Quinn looked at Sam. “How?”

  “He fixed it.”

  Sam spoke with a lowered voice, “I’m really not so sure you were supposed to say anything.”

  “Oh, who cares. What’s Marshman gonna do, kick me off the mission?” Tucker asked.

  “True,” said Sam. “But…”

  “Did you see what’s on the other side?” Quinn asked.

  “We did.”

  “Tucker,” Sam warned.

  “Heck, Sam, what is it gonna hurt if we tell him what our probe saw?” Tucker asked. “This isn’t a race to see who can conquer it first. It’s a race to save humanity.”

  “It has nothing to do with secrecy or trying to be one up on information,” Sam said. “It has everything to do with how big the news is and how it could affect the mission. People may back out.”

  “Whoa, whoa, you have me curious,” Quinn said. “Is it bad?”

  “No,” Tucker said.

  “Yes,” Sam said at the same time.

  “Doesn’t it depend on how you look at it?” Tucker asked.

  “You look at it one way,” Sam replied. “I look at it one way, others may not.”

  “Enough,” Quinn stated. “Well, why don’t you tell me and I’ll make the decision, as commander, if I tell others. Okay? Obviously, this is something I should know.”

  Sam looked at Tucker and nodded.

  “You’re right.” Tucker stood.

  “Where are you going?” Quinn asked.

  “I have to run to my quarters and get something,” Tucker told him. “Plus, I think you’re gonna need that peanut butter sandwich.”

  <><><><>

  Slowly, Quinn shuffled through the pixelated images. The folder was open on the table, with his sandwich next to it.

  “This is unreal,” Quinn said in shock. “I will say this actually crossed my mind.”

  “I think,” Sam said, “it crossed all of our minds but it was too bizarre to admit.”

  “You said you sent the probe back in several times.”

  “Ten times we sent NAT through,” Sam answered. “Each time was a…different time. It’s hard to tell by the earth images, but you can see continent changes, unwanted changes, cloud coverings in this one”—Sam pulled an image forward indicating to the darker spot—“this is dust, lots of it. Some explosion, volcanic eruption. The distinct difference is Planet X.”

  Quinn nodded. “Apparently, Planet X hasn’t settled into its new orbit in four of these time frames. Which leads me to believe…”

  “They’re in the past,” Sam said. “It’s nowhere to be seen. My guess is it’s before 2015 when people started continuously seeing it in the sky. And by the images it looks a lot like Earth today. But X…it’s nowhere.”

  “Past?” Quinn asked. “Or could it be so far in the future that it’s gone?”

  “It’s past,” said Sam.

  “Jesus.” Quinn sat back. “So there is a chance we can go through and end up back in the 1800s.”

  “Rare, slim,” Sam stated. “I’m not an expert, but it’s only ten percent.”

  “You can look at it this way,” Tucker said. “We go through to the nineth century, park it somewhere and live. Isn’t that what we’re doing? Trying to save some inkling of the human race. Then again, you’d have to deal with the Civil War all over again. Heck, I’d aim for some place in South America.”

  “This doesn’t worry you?” Quinn asked.

  “No, it’s a crap shoot,” Tucker replied. “It’s a chance we’re all gonna take. Even though we’re prepared for the power loss, we still could smash right into the new moon. Or Planet X.”

  “Certainly it’s not as big as they’re saying,” Quinn stated.

  “Big enough to kill us all,” Sam said. “What are you going to do with the information?”

  “Oh, I’m not saying a word,” Quinn replied. “It is my judgement to keep this quiet. Like Tucker said, we’re here to save them. Where or rather when we arrive isn’t important, as long as we do. Just kind of throws a monkey wrench into getting things ready for the ARC.”

  “But hey,” Tucker stated, “we have to go through under the assumption that we’re making it better for whoever lands there. For all we know these four images may be fifty or a hundred years apart from each other, progressively. But I agree with your decision. I’d wait until you land.”

  Quinn nodded. “Thank you. And thank you for sharing this. It certainly gives me a heads-up. And”—he lifted his plate—“thanks for the sandwich.”

  Quinn returned to looking at the probe photos and discussing them with Tucker and Sam. A part of him hoped, somehow, someway, while he was in Siberia, he could get Tucker to change his mind. Even if he had to pull out the trump card that they had cows on Genesis Two.

  <><><><>

  Quinn spent the night learning about the Robinson mission, and in a way he envied them. They didn’t have the regulations and rules that Genesis did. It seemed more relaxed—a pilgrimage to a new world. Only it wasn’t new. While he didn’t expect Marshman or Tucker to believe him, Quinn would keep everything he learned a secret. But he would use that knowledge.

  His chopper was due to arrive late the next morning, giving Quinn time to see the ship, to learn about the Lola. A part of him didn’t want to go. He wanted to stay but that wasn’t an option. Like Tucker he’d made a commitment.

  Tucker walked with him to the landing field where his helicopter waited.

  He stopped a short distance from it to say goodbye, far enough away so the blade noise wouldn’t drown him out.

  “I have to say, Tucker, this has been a true pleasure.”

  “Thank you,” Tucker replied. “I have read so much about you, I felt I knew you.”

  “Yeah, but you have read a lot about every astronaut going up there.”

  “I have. I really wanted to be a part.”

  “And now you are,” Quinn said. “I only wish I could have somehow persuaded you to come back with me. We will really need you and no one can compare.”

  “That’s very nice of you to say,” Tucker replied. “And I’ll tell you”—he leaned into Quinn—“that cow was awfully tempting.”

  “Yeah, I played the trump card.”

  “I have a feeling we’ll meet again,” Tucker said. “Either you’ll be waiting for us or we will be waiting for you.”

  “Let’s hope.”

  “You have that peanut butter and jelly sandwich I made for your trip?”

  Quinn patted his bag. “All ready to eat on the flight. You make a good one.”

  “It’s all in the bread,” Tucker replied. “Good thing I know how to make it and we have enough supplies for me to make it.”

  “Without an oven?”

  “Did the Pilgrims need an oven?”

  “Yeah, they just made one,” Quinn said.

  “True.”

  “Well, my new friend.” Quinn extended his hand. “Be safe.”

  “You as well.” Tucker shook his hand.

  “I’ll see you on the other side,” Quinn said, then he backed up and turned. He walked to the helicopter, crouching down as he neared it. Before stepping inside, he looked back. Tucker stood there watching. He waved once more to Tucker before getting on board.

  Something inside of Quinn told him it wasn’t goodbye, that somehow, some way they would meet up again.

  At least he hoped.

  Tucker Freeman would be a good one to have around when they landed on
the Noah, or rather, as he’d just learned, Earth in the future.

  But to Quinn, it might as well be a new world, because judging by what he’d seen, it was not the same. Nor would it ever be.

  NINE

  Siberia. One Week Later

  It was time.

  There was a buzz in the air for launch day. The final checks had been made, everything was in order and it was just a matter of time. Tucker couldn’t believe, with just under five hours’ flight time to the Androski, they would be on the other side in under eight hours.

  As he walked around the base, he thought of the old days of flight. How the astronauts needed hours to prepare for liftoff. Systems checks, suits checked, life-support systems, and each astronaut being secured in.

  It wasn’t like that now.

  Technology had advanced.

  It took no more time to prepare than it did for a domestic flight from one city to another.

  They were almost ready to go.

  Tucker double-checked the cargo and made sure he had what he needed in his personal bag. He would go back and check things one more time before they sealed the hatch.

  On his return to the hanger before heading to the craft, he could see the families waiting to go. Watching as their belongings, limited to one bag and box each, were loaded onto the ship. Tucker wished he had gotten a chance to meet them and to know them, but they’d been hidden away beforehand.

  He would have time to learn who they were once they arrived. After all, they were part of the new civilization.

  The multinational crew, however, he had gotten to know over the course of ten days.

  He learned that he was on the fence whether he liked Commander Merks. He respected him, wasn’t crazy about him. It wasn’t that he was mean, he just wasn’t very nice, plus he was pretty hardcore and a stickler about rules that actually didn’t apply to the Robinson Mission.

  Merks was from Germany but spoke flawless English. According to Sam, he spoke flawless Japanese as well, plus about six other languages.

  He was tall guy like Tucker, but much fitter. He had dark hair that he kept super short, and he’d even asked Tucker if he planned to get a haircut. Tucker didn’t see the point. Somehow when he heard the commander was German he expected a blonde-haired man. The blonde guy was Goncherov or, as he liked to be called, Gonk. He was the bridge guy, the cargo guy, and computer guy. He wasn’t tall or any other pictorial Tucker had in his mind about Russians. He was average and smiled a lot. Tucker just wished he understood him better so he could really laugh at the jokes instead of pretending.

  The ship’s doctor was Len Andros. Tucker had spent the least amount of time with him, and with Jenny, or rather Jennifer Pusk, who was an engineer.

  Sam, of course, Tucker was getting to know well, and he was glad Sam was the co-pilot. He didn’t know Merks’s experience with flying, but he trusted Sam.

  Everyone was already onboard and Tucker wanted to eye the civilians. To get a feel for how they were acting and if they were scared.

  Out of seventeen civilians, there were ten adults, two teenagers, and five small children. Tucker wasn’t good on guessing ages, he just categorized them as ‘under his hip in height’ young.

  “Tucker,” Marshman called to him. “Glad I caught you before I went to control and you to the ship. I was just there wishing everyone good luck.”

  “I wasn’t there.”

  “I see that.” Marshman handed him a small drive.

  “What’s this?”

  “You asked for it. I got it. I didn’t think I would be able to,” Marshman said. “Just plug it into the system and it will play on the monitor in the civilian cabin.”

  “Oh, that is fantastic.” Tucker hadn’t told anyone about it and even forgot himself about the movie he needed Marshman to get. “Thank you so much. This is great! I brought some others and loaded them on a drive just in case you couldn’t find it. I didn’t expect you to. I take this as a good sign.”

  “I don’t know why.” Marshman shook Tucker’s hand and gave a firm squeeze of support to his arm. “Good luck.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Tucker said. He slipped the drive into his pocket then he turned to look at the families again.

  There was a little girl there, her finger in her mouth. Her dark blonde hair hung partly over her face. She looked scared and held the hand of a little boy.

  Tucker was going to go to the ship, but instead he walked up to the family, nodded to who he believed was the mother, then crouched down to the level of the little girl.

  “Hey,” Tucker said. “You scared?”

  She nodded.

  “Well, don’t be. It’s gonna be just fine. My buddy, Sam, is flying the plane and, well, he’s the best. Okay.”

  Again, she nodded.

  “Is this your brother?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she replied meekly.

  “Brothers are a good thing. Big sisters are the best, you watch out for him always.” He stood, then rubbed her head and again nodded acknowledgement to the parents as he made his way to the ship.

  “About time,” Sam said the second Tucker stepped on board. “Thought you somehow snuck off with Quinn.”

  “Wouldn’t he have liked that,” Tucker joked. “Everyone else is ready?”

  “Yep.”

  “Okay, I’m gonna go back to the cargo and wait until they close.”

  “Gonk is already there,” Sam said.

  “Never hurts to double-check. Gosh, I hope he doesn’t tell any jokes.”

  “Why?” Sam asked. “He’s so funny.”

  “I don’t understand him.”

  “Well, just laugh because he’s funny.”

  “That’s what I do.” Tucker took a step and stopped. “Oh, hey, look what I got.” He reached into his pocket and lifted the drive.

  “What is it?”

  “It’s the in-flight movie for the civilians.”

  “The one we already have?” Sam asked.

  “No, different.”

  “You know, they hired a really good production company to make the videos for living on a new planet,” Sam said. “They’re good.”

  “Yeah, they are, and made by the same people who did all those Omni-4 videos. I can tell they used the same aliens. But this one, it’s even more educational and entertaining.”

  “It is?”

  “It really is,” Tucker stated.

  “Wow, that’s great. They can watch the other ones at a later time. What…what is it called?” Sam asked.

  Tucker grinned. “You’ll have to wait to find out.”

  “Do I…want to know?”

  Tucker’s response was a grin. He playfully tossed up the drive, caught it, put it back in his pocket, and walked off.

  <><><><>

  They punched through the atmosphere smoothly, but that didn’t surprise Tucker. The moment Merks announced that everyone could remove their helmets until Androski entry, there were cheers that carried from the civilian cabin.

  Once he was more comfortable with his helmet off, Tucker undid his belt.

  “Headed somewhere?” Sam asked.

  “Was gonna start the film,” Tucker said. “It’s all ready to go.”

  “If it’s all in place,” Sam said, “I can start it from here. You don’t need to go back.”

  “Really? Sweet,” Tucker said. “The floating stuff makes my stomach flip.” He inched his way back into the seat.

  Sam laughed. “We still have to float, we have systems checks to do.”

  “Dang it.”

  “I’m curious, though, what the video is,” Sam said.

  “You’ll find out. Commander Merks, may I announce?”

  “Sure.” He handed the microphone to Tucker.

  Tucker gripped it in his hand. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have now breached the atmosphere and are sailing nicely through space. If you look to your right, you can catch a glimpse of mars. This is a short flight, no snacks will be served. However, for your entertainment
and education we have begun your in-flight movie. We hope you find it beneficial about space and life on another planet. Thank you.”

  Sam reached over and started it. “Okay, it’s playing. Now, what is it?”

  Tucker smiled. “Planet of the Apes.”

  TEN

  A hush took over the ship. A silence so thick it couldn’t be penetrated.

  It was the moment.

  They knew that they would lose power the moment they slipped through the Androski. Everything would power down, and there’d be no life support.

  Once they passed through, Merks and Sam had to be fast. They only had a matter of seconds to power back up and gain control of the ship before the gravity of Planet X pulled at them.

  Not that they couldn’t get out, they could, but it would use all their power.

  It was a chance they could not take; they needed that power to circle the planet to find a place to land.

  Everyone had suited back up, helmets on.

  It was time.

  “Prepare for shutdown,” Merks said through the crew-only radio system.

  “Preparing for shutdown,” Sam repeated.

  “On my call once we get through, fire up the engines. I’ll steer us from the pull.”

  “Roger that,” Sam replied.

  “Officer Pusk, I need a systems check as soon as we are through. Check for damage.”

  “Yes, sir,” she replied.

  “Freeman and Doc, you’ll head to the back to check on our civilians. Keep them focused. Make sure they’re alright.”

  Tucker replied his agreement to the order.

  “Here we go,” Merks announced.

  The Androski was fully visible and there was no doubt when they went through.

  Every electronics system on the ship shut down as streaming lights flashed around them outside.

  The ship turned slightly sideways and for fourteen seconds they were floating, out of control.

  It was the longest fourteen seconds Tucker ever experienced. His heart raced out of control, he could hear his own breathing. He tried to keep that steady.

  Even though Tucker was prepared he wasn’t ready to find themselves facing the big blue planet. It was all encompassing and blocked everything from view.