Joseph mulled that over for a minute. “And the ultimate desired result?” he asked.
“Full integration of humans into Tschaaa operations, especially in near Earth orbit,” Andrew replied. A thrill coursed up Joseph’s spine. So, the Director hadn’t been exaggerating. He glanced at Andrew. He knew that the robocops were completely integrated into the Tschaaa computer and communication system, knew everything the Tschaaa knew, and were incapable of lying. The Tschaaa had infused them with the same inability to deceive in communications that the sea creatures had. This, in Joseph’s opinion, was weird. The Tschaaa, like their Earthbound cousins, had the ability to change their skin into camouflaged colors in order to blend into their surroundings. Yet somehow, the idea of deception, of using lies and equivocation to hide ideas, had never developed in their society. Physical concealment was one thing, maybe even physical ambush of prey. Intellectual concealment was another matter.
The sun was low in the sky when the Director and his party arrived. Joseph and Andrew met them as they exited the Humvees that had picked them up at the nearby airfield.
“Professor. Good to see you.”
“I am much more pleased to see that you got here in one piece, Director. This type of excitement is not the type an astrophysicist prefers.”
“But being launched on the end of a roman candle in a new, untested aircraft, is the type of excitement you do like, right, Professor?”
The Director had a point. What he was about to do was not exactly safe. “Well, Director, I guess one man’s refreshment is another man’s poison.”
Adam turned to the cyborg. “Nothing to say, Andrew? No lecture, no I told you so?” Andrew turned his head ever so slightly toward the Director.
“Would it do any good? I have given you numerous reasons why you should be more careful. I have offered you time and again my services as transport. Yet, you refuse.”
“Now Andrew, you know I must be approachable. I must appear very human to those around me. Flying around in an alien aircraft with a huge cyborg makes me appear to be less than human, and definitely not approachable.”
“I believe you are just stubborn, Director,” the robo replied. “Why should I waste my breath on a man who is as stubborn as a mule? I believe I shall ask the new information database to include a picture of you in the definition to the term ‘stubborn ass’.”
Nobody else said a word, but the Director immediately erupted in laughter. “I forget that under all that hardware is still a man with a sense of humor, albeit a damn dry one. Someday, when stand up comedy makes a comeback, you might want to take your act on the road.”
“Why, Director, when I have a ready made audience already?” Joseph would later swear he saw a twinkle work its way from Andrew’s eyes, from beneath the robocop’s protective visor. At this, the rest of the laughed party laughed as well, which helped release some of the tension from the failed attack.
“Come, Professor, let’s head toward the administration building. A bit of planning, then everyone needs to rest. You and Miss Monroe will be broadcasting live tomorrow from here in front of the gantry. At that time, everyone will see for themselves that yes, we are really about to return to space.”
CHAPTER 16
KEY WEST, FLORIDA
Professor Sarah Fassbinder, now primary teacher for some two dozen children, ages six to sixteen, had all of her students on the main athletic and parade field at 8:00am. She had decided that a few calisthenics and a walk around the track every morning would help get the children’s blood flowing. It also might help use up some of the children’s excess energy and relieve their stress. Six years of living hand to mouth, under constant fear of being eaten and with little or no structure, made it difficult for the young humans to sit still in a traditional classroom setting.
The older children were also given the responsibility of helping and keeping track of the younger children, both in and out of the classroom. Sarah was trying to reintroduce basic human interaction among non-related youngsters, many of whom had no contact with other children while in hiding.
“All right, young ladies and gentlemen. In the immutable words of our military, ‘you know the drill.’ Robert, lead the others in a few calisthenics. Then we take our walk around the track. I want you older ladies and gentlemen to review with the younger children what the assignments are today. Let’s get started.”
Sarah had forgotten how much fun it was to teach, to help educate young minds to bloom and grow. She was finally doing what she had originally trained to do in university. Somehow, she had been sidetracked into philosophical navel-gazing and fighting the establishment rather than establishing the future.
When the first rock hit, everything was frozen in time. Now, thanks to the Director, she had a chance to live, to teach again. She hated what he was doing, picking who lived and who died at the behest of the Tschaaa. But she could not hate him anymore. She could tell he did care about his fellow humans, and did what he could to help as many as possible to survive. She often wondered if he bled inside every time he thought about the human cattle he helped condemn to the slaughterhouse.
Suddenly, a blurred form entered her peripheral vision. At first, her mind said “dog”, but then registered the six-legged horror. It must have been hiding in the drainage ditch on the edge of the field. It did not really matter where it came from. It quickly reached an eight year old girl and literally clamped its wide mouth over the complete upper torso. Sarah screamed and charged the creature. Without any weapons to fight a clawed and toothed predator, she did not even think. She was a mother cat protecting her young.
The screams from across the field immediately drew Major Grant’s attention, as she was cutting across en route to a meeting in a nearby office. She was trying to get caught up on a few small projects while the Boss was away, as the Director could be a major distraction. Instantly, everything else was forgotten, except for the word “Eater”. The creature was a duplicate of the two that had been filmed trying to attack Kathy. Six limbs, two ending in clawed hands, with a huge, oversized mouth full of teeth; they got their name because they lived to eat. And now one was eating a young girl.
Jane automatically ran toward the danger. She was military, it was her job. The survival part of her brain scolded, “You dumb bitch, you have no weapons. What are you going to do?” The soldier portion replied, “Bitch, find a weapon.”
Between her and the children was a five foot tall metal fence stake, the type used to secure temporary wire fencing. It was still stuck in the ground, apparently used to mark some pre-measured distance on the field. She grabbed it and tore it from the ground. By rights, that was physically impossible. Even a fit, one hundred thirty-five pound zaftig female should have had difficulty pulling a metal rod out that had been pounded over a foot into the ground.
Whether it was divine help, or just the biological response that causes the overproduction of adrenaline in times of crisis, Jane had it. The Major grabbed and yanked the fence stake out in one motion, just as Sarah threw herself at the Eater. The Professor screamed, scratched and clawed at the body of the horror, until a blow from one of the limbs caught her on the edge of her jaw, and cold cocked her. Two of the older boys then rushed the Eater. A flick of one of the creature’s forelimbs flipped quill-like hairs off its forearms, and impaled the skin of the approaching boys just as porcupine quills impale an attacking dog. They screamed in pain, temporarily halted in their assault.
One of Jane’s old boyfriends, dead some six years, had competed in the javelin throw in college. He had taken her to the sports field when he practiced, and she had tried it a few times. While not good enough to compete, she hadn’t been bad either. Now, everything he had showed her came back. The Eater, eight year old girl stuffed into its expandable stomach, was looking for a place to escape so that it could digest its meal. Just as it began to move, the fence stake pierced its large right eye. It let out a howling scream no one at the scene would ever forget. A second later, Jan
e was on top of it. She threw her whole weight onto the stake, driving it through the eye into what passed as its brain.
It shuddered, regurgitated its last meal, and died. Jane started to grab the girl’s lifeless body, and screamed in pain as her hands were seared by stomach juices from the Eater. One of the older boys ripped off his sweatshirt and tried to wipe off the girls face. Her flesh began to slough off the skull. The boy turned around and vomited. Jane grabbed her radio phone from her pocket and began screaming into it. “Eaters! At the sports field. Everyone get here... Now!”
She heard Sarah behind her scream, “Susie!” Somehow she tackled Sarah and held her down, keeping her from the acid covered body.
The hazmat team carefully washed and cleaned the area around the dead bodies of the Eater and the girl, making sure the very corrosive stomach acids were neutralized. Jane had her hands treated. Luckily she suffered the equivalent of first degree chemical burns, nothing more. Sarah was sitting in the back of the ambulance, sobbing. Jane went to her. “Sarah...”
“It’s all my fault. They were under my care. I’m no fucking good!”
Jane grabbed and shook her, painful hands and all. “Sarah. Look at me!” Sarah’s eyes finally focused on Jane. “There was nothing you could do. Eaters are a force of nature. Like a pissed-off bear in the woods. Hell, I saw you jump on that damned thing. You’re lucky it didn’t rip out your throat.”
Sarah managed to catch her breath. “I should have...”
“You should have nothing. You were doing your job. Which does not include taking on alien life forms. That’s my job.” Jane began to tear up. “Christ! It was our job–my and the other soldiers’ job–and, we let it through.”
Suddenly, Sarah was calm. With steeliness in her voice she responded. “Now look here, Major. You’re a hero. That thing could have killed others. You killed it with the equivalent of a spear. A spear! And you beat yourself up? What are you, nuts?”
The two women stared silently at each other. Jane rested her sore hands on Sarah’s shoulders. “Maybe I am a little nuts. But, I’m sane enough to know you have a class full of students that really need their teacher now. The teacher that almost sacrificed her life for them.”
Sarah took a deep breath, and then let it out. “You are right, the living need me. And, Major, they need you also. No recriminations, no guilt. Just help us prevent this from ever happening again. Deal?”
Jane managed to smile. “Deal.” She yelped when she tried to shake Sarah’s hand, “Damn, this is going to hurt for a while.”
“Yes, Jane, it will. It will hurt. But, I think we can get through it, with a little help from our friends.” Sarah stood up and hugged her. Then, she stepped back, and wiped her face with the edge of the blanket the paramedics had wrapped her in.
“I guess I need to go to the kids. Thank you again, Major Grant... Jane. Oh. Can someone contact my husband and let him know I’m alright?”
“Done and done, Professor. See you later.” They both turned to leave when suddenly Jane turned back.
“Sarah.”
“What is it, Jane?”
“Joseph is one hell of a lucky man.”
Sarah smiled. “Thank you.” She returned to her class. Their parents would need a lot of help getting through this.
CHAPTER 17
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA
The Director stood by the launch gantry, giving Kathy and Joseph some last minute instructions for the upcoming broadcast.
“Joseph, just relax and follow Kathy’s lead. Not only is she a natural, but she has a lot of experience in this type of broadcast. We went over the basic questions, but I want this to be real and genuine, not some canned crap. I need people to see your true feelings, your beliefs about this space mission. Just relax and act like you’re having a conversation with me. Or better yet, imagine that you are in bed with your wife, having a nice talk about the business of the day.”
Kathy giggled. “I think the Professor would have something on his mind other than what is going on here if he was in bed with his wife. At least I hope so.” Joseph blushed.
Adam gave Kathy a small glare. “Now see what you’ve done. I can’t have him blushing during this broadcast. He is going to be one of the new heroes of humanity.” Joseph blushed more. Kathy began to laugh. “Boss, I know you are used to running everything, but trust me. I’ll make sure this goes smoothly. The Professor will do just fine once we start talking.”
“Damn, I sound like an old woman, don’t I?” Adam sighed. “No, don’t answer that. I’ll leave this in your capable hands, Kathy.”
Without warning, Andrew the cyborg appeared, seemingly from nowhere. How a being so large could move in such a quiet and unobtrusive manner was a mystery. “Director, an Eater attack just happened on Key West. I have Security Control on the line.” He pulled a handset from a hidden recess in his chest plate and handed it to Adam.
“This is the Director. Report.” Adam stood silently, listening to the controller on the other end. Kathy was frozen with memories of her close call with the Eaters in Oregon, all caught on camera. Joseph stood in shock. This was out of his expertise and experience.
“Thank you. Keep me posted.” Adam addressed Joseph. “An Eater attacked your wife’s class. She’s fine, but one of her students is dead. You are going to fly back with me on Andrew’s Falcon, immediately. Andrew?”
“Of course, Director. I am at your service.”
The Director now turned to Kathy. “I really need you to use your ability to communicate over that big eye we call broadcast television. This is going to be breaking news, no copy. Quick transition from the original subject to the Eater threat. Use film from your attack. You have more experience dealing with them than anyone else around. I need you to prevent panic, and prevent anything from derailing this space mission. People must know that things are getting better, that we are in control, that they are safe under Tschaaa oversight. Understand, Kathy?”
“Understood. I’ll handle it, Boss. I’ll make you proud.” Kathy refocused on Joseph. “Take care, Professor. Make sure your wife is safe and sound. I’ll take a rain check on this interview.” She kissed Joseph’s cheek. “See you later.”
Kathy dashed over to the production and broadcast technicians and began to brief everyone on what was going on.
“She’s definitely not a dumb blonde, is she, Director?”
“No Joseph, she’s anything but. Come on, you get your wish. A ride in a Falcon.”
Joseph had always wanted to get on board a Falcon, but not for this reason. The loss of anyone at Key West Operations Base was painful, the population was still small enough that most people had at least a passing knowledge of everyone else. The child and teenaged population was still more limited; everyone recognized each and every one of the young humans by name. And now one was dead, killed in a horrible fashion. While getting settled onboard the Falcon, Adam Lloyd gave him a quick rundown on what had happened. An Eater had caught Sarah’s class completely flat-footed. Sarah had almost been killed trying to defend her charges. By pure chance, Major Grant had been nearby.
“Let me get this straight, Director. Jane Grant killed this creature with an improvised spear?”
“Yes, Joseph, she did. Only our security police and soldiers normally go armed. I think that policy changes as of now. Having a feral population of very dangerous creatures on your doorstep requires drastic measures. I’m going to have as many people armed as possible. Everyone is going to be required to help provide for their own defense.”
“I think you have a bonafide hero on your hands, Director. Killing a nasty alien with a spear is not something people, even the military, train for.”
“Yes, I know. I knew that from the first moment, when the Chief and I recruited her, she was special and was capable of great things. She definitely just proved it in spades.”
“Time to strap in, Gentlemen.” Andrew’s voice boomed over the speaker system. The Falcon was not set up for comfortabl
e passenger travel. Andrew occupied the pilot’s chair, with another similar chair just behind it. Behind those were four very basic 1950s-style airline passenger seats. The cargo hold was just for that–cargo–which usually included collected meat.
Adam and Joseph strapped themselves in. The Falcon levitated and shot straight up, reminding Joseph of a high speed elevator suddenly rising. They accelerated straight ahead in the proverbial blink of an eye. Joseph felt a slight acceleration, but not to the extent he believed he would. Before he could comment, the Director explained. “Acceleration dampening system, Professor. This craft can create a small field that counteracts gravity and acceleration, at least in the passenger area.”
Joseph was bemused. “And they need me to give them advice on spacecraft? I think they have sold themselves a bill of goods.”
“I disagree, Professor, if for no other reason than the Tschaaa have become rather stagnant. Even before the long trip here, they lacked the true hints of genius that often fuels great discoveries. Humans still have that spark.”
“We have arrived,” Andrew announced.
“My God!” exclaimed Joseph. “How fast were we going? I felt virtually nothing.”
“Over Mach 3, Professor. Give or take a couple of decimal points,” Andrew answered over the intercom.
“It was smoother than riding in a luxury car. I sure would like to have one of these. This Falcon makes our spaceplane look like a Model T. I understand you could fly to the moon and back in this.”
“You are correct, Professor,” Andrew replied. “Falcons can fly between planets. Maybe someday, Professor, you will have that chance. But right now, one step at a time. Prepare for debarkation.”
Andrew had landed them in the middle of the sports field where the attack had taken place. Two vehicles were there to meet them. No sooner had they cleared the Falcon than Andrew launched, out of sight, with little or no noise. Even a delta, superior to human fighter aircraft, still looked like an also ran when compared to the Falcons. Joseph wondered what other marvels he would discover when he took the spaceplane up to Platform One.
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