by Paul Dayton
Ruth, who had been peeking through the floor drain said, “What just happened?”
“I don’t know. It just died.” The soldiers had discovered that Ruth had gone in through the floor grate. Over half of the base had become inaccessible because of numerous cave-ins, but they didn’t know that this grate led anywhere. Ruth and Timothy could hear intense hammering as the soldiers were attacking the grate Ruth had blocked off with the pry-bar.
Timothy looked at the screen, his hopes now lost and knowing full well what was in store for them. As he sat there, a business-like female voice suddenly spoke out and said, “What year is this?” Timothy was too shocked to reply, and even Stormdancer had gone quiet as he listened outside. When it received no reply, it asked again a little louder, “What year is this?”
Timothy recognized what this was and didn’t answer but instead allowed HAL to communicate through his transponder. Within seconds the screen lit up again, and system after system came online. Ruth, having heard the voice from above gave a little cheer.
Timothy watched the screen until it finally went transparent again, and then the voice came back.
“Hello Timothy, Ruth and Elkana. My given name is Meagen. Thank you for turning my system on.”
Timothy asked, “Did HAL fill you in?”
“Yes,” Meagen replied. “Why are you naked? Is that the custom now?”
“It’s a long story,” Elkana said laughing, but Timothy cut in before things got out of hand. “No, it’s not the custom!”
After waiting a few seconds and not receiving any more information, Meagen asked, “What is your command?”
Obviously HAL had made the base computer subservient to them. “Are there Duty-Bots available for repair and Guard-Bots available for protection?”
“Some are recharging as we speak, others are too far from chargers and have to be dragged to one. As Duty-Bots get charged sufficiently, they will be assigned to this task. HAL has informed me of your status and one Guard-Bot will be here momentarily.”
When Stormdancer heard that, he furiously yelled orders at his soldiers to intensify their efforts. Timothy ignored them, knowing full well that Meagan had other defensive systems she was probably enabling as they spoke.
“Very well. The base’s repair and ability to function is a priority. Start repairs immediately, most important ones first,” Timothy said.
“The Base has been heavily damaged, and my system is running at only 36% efficiency.”
Timothy and Ruth looked at each other through the drain and Ruth asked, “What happened?”
“Twenty-Six years after the initial alien attack, China Lunar Base was able to launch and successfully target a two ton piece of meteorite at this base. The meteor came in below our field of fire and fortunately fell well short of this base, but the impact rendered most of this base inoperable. My system was unstable enough that the surviving soldiers occupying this Base felt it safer to shut me down until sufficient repairs could be completed. Once shut down though, it was never restarted until now.”
“Why are military men occupying the base?” Ruth asked.
“I’m not sure, Ruth. This base was originally a military base built for Earth defense, and it also doubled as a research center on positron propulsion. HAL has informed me of what my surveillance systems are now showing, that Quasi-military people are occupying parts of the base, so it appears that they must have set up some sort of rule. Are you in immediate danger?”
“Are the defensive systems in this area operational?”
“Generally, yes.”
“Then no, we are not. There’s nothing more we could do here that you can’t do yourself, I think. I need to meet this General Harvard and see what’s going on. Just one more thing though. Why would China Lunar Base attack this one?” Timothy asked.
Stormdancer, who had been listening in through the opening, became upset when he heard about Timothy meeting with General Harvard. “You won’t get out of this room alive, Chinese spy!”
Timothy ignored him and listened to Meagan instead.
“There are a number of conjectures, but nobody knows for certain, Timothy. There was some animosity between China Lunar and all the other bases. Most felt that China Lunar purposely stayed out of the alien war to save their own lives and thus simply lied when they said they had their laser offline for repairs. Certain people from this base were particularly critical of China Lunar, and perhaps that was why it was targeted. It also didn’t seem overly preoccupied with China Lunar’s fate as it successfully worked on the positron drive. The growing resentment from China Lunar drove a wedge between itself and all the Earth-bound bases until all communications were cut, except for the odd and incomplete reports of alien ships. You should know there was also a report from China Lunar that Canada Base attacked it somehow, but my reports are incomplete and I have no direct record of any confrontation.”
“But this doesn’t make any sense!” Ruth replied. “Why would bases set up for earth defense target each other?”
“One theory is that when Canada Base openly criticized China Lunar on the non-operational laser, China Lunar presumed they were being singled out and attacked, possibly hoping to deliver the first and only strike. I give this theory a probability rate of fifty-eight percent. Others think that they were jealous of the positron technology being developed here and were afraid of the implications of a viable drive. There were rumors that Chinese spies had infiltrated the base and tried to steal the technology. But this conjecture is most likely not correct, because Canada Base already had a working Positron Drive and they were sharing the technology with the world as Earth Alliance had demanded. Seeing as China was also part of Earth Alliance, this argument falls in on itself.”
Meagan paused before continuing. “There is also a third possibility.”
Timothy waited for Meagan to continue and eventually grew frustrated. It seemed that this computer had the same personality as HAL’s. “And, what is the third possibility?” Timothy finally asked.
“The third is tied to the first one. China Lunar would have inflicted heavy casualties to the aliens if they had gotten involved, but they would also undoubtedly have been destroyed. On the other hand, they were easy to see and it was highly improbable that the aliens somehow missed the base. Therefore, I calculated a 40% chance that China Lunar made a pact with the aliens.”
This thought shocked the three of them as they listened. A pact with the aliens! They stood there, too stunned to think.
“But are they not destroying alien ships now? And quite successfully too?” Ruth asked.
“That is a valid point and one I have obviously considered. My conclusions are based solely on the information I have at hand gathered before, during and after the Great War. Records indicate that alien losses were extremely heavy. Human determination and their potential for lethal strikes beyond reasonable odds caught the aliens by surprise, and the War ended in a stalemate. What has happened since then is beyond me and that’s why this possibility was only given a forty percent chance.”
After pondering over this, Timothy brought his mind back to the task at hand. “Meagan, your information has proved invaluable. Now, how much of the base do you think can be repaired?”
“My active Duty-Bots are assessing the damage now as we speak. I’ll let you know as soon as I do. Are you leaving this room now?”
“Yes, why?”
“Then please keep in mind that the automated security system is functional everywhere you see automated lights. Please be careful.”
Timothy walked over the floor drain and said, “Ruth, we’re coming to get you. Just wait a second.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Ruth said.
Timothy turned to Elkana and said, “It’s time to go,” and they went to the door that they had come in through and looked carefully around it. “Nobody’s there! But the lights are on…” Timothy said.
“But don’t forget, the lights were already on before we activated Meag
an,” Elkana said.
“Good point Elkana,” Meagan spoke up. “But don’t fear, all the lights I control will flicker every few seconds. Please be careful.” Sure enough, a slight but not annoying flicker appeared in the lights, both in the computer room and in the corridor outside. Timothy was about to try to squeeze through the door when he remembered the guard-bot outside.
“Guard-bot, can you open this door a little more?”
A hand came up, somewhat unsteady but functioning, and moved the door a few more inches open. Timothy put on his clothes and went through, carefully looking around for the soldiers, but none were in sight. “Recharge and protect the computer room unless I call for you,” he told the Guard-bot.
“Understood. Please keep in mind my power source is severely damaged.”
They walked over to the door leading into the stairwell and Timothy glanced through the small door window. It appeared clear of soldiers and he breathed a sigh of relief at seeing the lights flickering every few seconds. Opening the door carefully, he and Elkana went through and stood over the damaged grate.
“We’re here Ruth, come on out.”
They heard some clanging, and then grate lifted up and Timothy helped Ruth up and into the stairwell.
“Where are the soldiers?” Ruth asked.
“I don’t know. But they can’t be far, they just stopped making a racket a few minutes ago.”
“Perhaps the area is too confined for a fight,” Ruth said.
“Or they’re looking for an ambush!” Elkana added in. They both turned to Elkana and patted him on the back. “Ambush it is!” Timothy said. “Now let’s go find them.”
“Best be careful, like Meagan said…” Ruth added.
They cautiously climbed the stairs, with the flickering lights operating floor by floor as they climbed.
“Timothy, the soldiers are behind the door on the next landing. My security defense system is down here but the surveillance is working. Try to make it to the landing above this next one, marked ‘LEVEL 16’,” Meagan said in a quiet voice.
“Thanks Meagan,” Timothy replied. Ruth looked at Timothy and whispered, “I think they’re trying to trap us - they’ll let us pass and soldiers from above are going to come down to meet us.”
“I think you’re right,” Timothy said. They climbed up to level 17, and sure enough Timothy could see numerous sets of footprints in the dust leading behind the closed door. They carefully made their way by it and continued to level 16. Within seconds of passing, they heard the door open and they turned from the landing just in time to see Captain Stormdancer and two other soldiers coming into the stairwell. He looked up at them and smiled, then put his fingers in his mouth and whistled. In level 15, another group of soldiers looked down on Timothy, Ruth and Elkana just before they ducked in behind the door on level 16.
Timothy and Ruth quickly surveyed their surroundings. The lights had turned on when they entered and they were flickering reassuringly. The hallway was long, but obstructed by a cave-in of metal and plaster approximately 20 meters down. There were two more doors on either side, and Ruth was about to walk and open one of them, but Timothy stopped her.
“Ruth, they’re just about here. We make our stand here and now.” They walked far enough into the hallway to allow Captain Stormdancer’s full group to come completely in.
At that moment, the door swung open, and a sarcastic looking Captain Stormdancer walked in, followed by his soldiers. The last soldier closed the door behind him to trap them in. Timothy looked at Stormdancer’s wrist and saw that it had swollen to twice its size. Stormdancer noticed the glance and said, “Don’t worry, I only need one arm for what I have planned for you.”
“I thought you were supposed to take me to General Harvard,” Timothy said with the same sarcastic look on his face that Stormdancer had.
“General Harvard won’t be bothered with the likes of you and neither will any of us!”
He could see that Stormdancer was ready to move, but he had more to say. “So when are the real soldiers coming?”
“We are the soldiers,” one in the back of the group said.
“Soldiers? The soldiers I know have dignity, courage and valor. Their loyalty is not to themselves but to the ones they serve, which would be the people.” Timothy looked around at each one but completely ignored Stormdancer. “I see no loyalty or valor here. All I see is thugs and cutthroats.”
Stormdancer’s anger flared and he sprang forward. Timothy didn’t even notice the knife that flicked open in his good hand, but Ruth did. She had positioned herself at an optimal spot to intercept any attack, and she jumped forward and raised her foot up to hit Stormdancer solidly in his crotch. He doubled over, his momentum still bringing him toward Timothy but Ruth spun around and drove the point of her foot hard underneath his jaw as he went past. Everyone heard his teeth crack hard as Stormdancer fell to the floor unconscious from the blow. Meagan had seen the attack but was caught off guard by Ruth’s lightening quick reaction. She re-analyzed her information and corrected for the next confrontation.
The others had moved into an attack position, but the hallway was narrow. One of the younger soldiers in the back pushed his way through and ran straight at Ruth, now in the front. Ruth readied herself and Timothy came forward too, but the attacker came to a stop just in front of them with a bewildered look on his face. Timothy could see blood starting to pool on his uniform, and he fell flat on his face. All the others watched too, confused at what just happened. The lead soldier from the group came forward and turned him over, and the blood had now completely covered his uniform and started pooling on the floor.
“No one here can hurt us. I control this base’s computer system, and if anyone tries to attack me or my group, they will be killed.” He looked at all of them again and saw disbelief on their faces.
“If you don’t believe me, go ahead…”
Another soldier came forward, ostensibly to help the dead one on the floor. At the last second, he also whipped out a knife, but before he could take a jab at Ruth his arm was neatly severed, and the hand still clenching the blade dropped to the floor.
“Anyone else?” Timothy looked around, but the others avoided his gaze. “Good. I have no interest in harming anyone. I come in peace to promote peace and to unite all of us against an impending threat. But we’ve been insulted, threatened and attacked from the very instant we landed. You have gone to great lengths to make enemies out of your fellow humans. We could use your help, but we don’t need it. The decision is yours. Now take me to General Harvard.”
The soldiers looked at each other and stared at the dead body and Captain Stormdancer unconscious on the floor. One of them spoke up, saying, “We don’t take orders from you!”
“Very well, Ruth said. Perhaps you’ll take them from the base computer. Meagan, please clear a path through the soldiers so we can accomplish our mission.”
“Very well,” Meagan said as gun ports opened up and the whine of lasers powering up could be heard by the now silent group.
“There’s no need, one of the soldiers said hurriedly. He was a large black man who had been quietly studying them the whole time. “General Harvard is in his room in the emergency infirmity. He’s very sick and can’t see anyone right now.”
“Then perhaps we can help him,” Ruth said.
“You can either take us to see him, or stay here with Meagan,” Timothy added as the lasers hummed in the backdrop.
“I know Stormdancer and your other friend would probably like company,” Elkana added laughing.
They looked at each other and the soldier replied, “I’m Private Antwon. Look, I don’t know who you are or where you came from…” and after stealing a look at Stormdancer lying unconscious on the floor, he continued, “…but it will do you no good to see General Harvard. He’s not himself, and hasn’t been feeling well for a few years now. He’s barely lucid. Nobody sees him except Captain Stormdancer and his private nurse.”
“I
see,” Timothy said. “Nevertheless, we are all going to see him now. Please show us the way, Private.” It sounded to Timothy that Stormdancer was more of an enemy to this General then a friend.
The soldier looked at the others and they nodded.
“Very well,” Antwon said.
After another look at Stormdancer, he led them out of the corridor and back into the stairway. Some of the soldiers tried to get behind Timothy, Ruth and Elkana, but Timothy insisted they stay in front. They climbed the stairs until they reached the guard house at the top, and Antwon led them past the Gravplane.
He eyed it longingly and after some hesitation, he asked, “How did you get the Gravplane to work?”
“Antwon, we told you right in the beginning,” Ruth said. “He’s the New World Leader. All bases respond to him.” Antwon stayed quiet as he digested the information.
Timothy waved at those inside the Gravplane and asked them if they were ok. It was now daybreak, and Sam said, “Everything’s fine here Timothy. We’re having breakfast, brought to us by a Duty-Bot. Some of our friends tried getting in earlier, but HAL gave them a little jolt and that kept them out. They’re hiding in the bushes, ha-ha. How about you?”
“We had a bit of a scuffle, but since then I think our friends here have come to an understanding. Just one thing Sam. If a big American-Indian looking soldier comes around with a badly swollen wrist, ignore him. If he tries to cause trouble, then let HAL take care of him. He’s dangerous and stupid,” Timothy said.
They were about to turn away when Ruth stopped him. “Timothy, shouldn’t we bring someone along who could help out in case this General needs medical attention? Perhaps we can bring Elan?”
“Coming!” was the reply from inside the Gravplane. Within moments, Elan, a thin man of medium build in his late twenties jumped out of the Gravplane with more than enough energy for the entire group. “I was getting sick and tired of being in that…in that pot. No offense Mr. HAL.” They laughed and a few more piped up and asked to leave too.