Shady Oaks

by Jerry Boyd

  “It passed all its self tests. I don’t know what the problem is.”

  Random spoke up. “He told me something about having a nerve implant after a bad accident. Maybe that kept it from working.”

  “Whatever it was, he seems calm enough now. Should we tie him up, in case he beats the badge as well?”

  Nikki said, “That thing works directly on the brain. But his implant might be able to get around it. Safer to restrain him. Dingus rooted in the tool cabinet, and came out with the mounting foam we used on the power cores. I asked, “Is that strong enough?”

  He replied, “I’ve used it on several men, none have beat it yet.”

  I helped him get Micky dressed, and then we sat him in the pilot’s chair. Dingus foamed his arms and legs solidly to it. Nikki lamented, “It’s a shame. He was such a good training officer. I wonder how he got off track.”

  “Not a clue, Space Cadet. You better call Dee and tell her we won’t be back tonight. Wouldn’t want her to worry.”

  “I’ll take care of it. You coming in for supper?”

  “Could you bring me a sandwich, please? I don’t want to leave Micky on his own.”

  Dingus spoke up. “What are you gonna do if he does manage to get loose? That stunner won’t work.”

  “Figured to shoot him in the calves with my Ruger, that should slow him up.”

  “I knew I liked you, Bob. I think I’ll sit with you. He won’t get by both of us.”

  Nikki brought us sandwiches, then went back to wait with Randi. Dingus told me stories to pass the time. Eventually, his comm rang. “Dingolus Slongum, at your service.”

  “Home on my signal, please. I’ll open the barn for you.”

  He turned to me. “They’re on the way in. Better let Nikki know.”

  I commed Nikki. “Space Cadet, the Guide is on their way in. Better leave Snitz in the house, who knows if they’ve fixed their power core.”

  “No biggie, Caveman. He’s been asleep since we got home. He had a big day.”

  We heard a door open. Dingus stuck his head out and said, “Over here, gentlemen.”

  Turned out he was wrong, they weren’t all gentlemen. Lady might be a stretch for Sergeant Bronkum, but she was definitely female. She snapped to and said, “Colonel Slongum. We are here to take charge of the prisoner.”

  Dingus replied, “Come aboard, Sergeant. We’ll get him ready for transfer.”

  As they came aboard, I put away my pistol. The Sergeant asked, “Who is this gentleman, Colonel?”

  “Acceptable Contact Bob Wilson. The proprietor of this establishment.”

  “Was he holding a native weapon on the prisoner?”

  “Mickolec showed us earlier that he was immune to stunners. We thought an excess of caution was in order.”

  “Obviously. Tranquilizer badge and foamed to the chair, and you still felt the need for an armed guard?”

  I spoke up. “He expressed a desire to desert in a Guide craft when he woke from his medical treatment. The failure of the stunner made controlling him a little sporty. We had no way of knowing if the tranquilizer badge would work on him or not. It was my decision to take extra precautions. It’s much easier to turn him over to you now, than to collect the bounty on him later.”

  “Well said, Mr. Wilson. A little sporty, you say?”

  “Luckily, Colonel Slongum insisted I get tactical training. I was quick enough to land a good blow after the stunner didn’t work. The colonel was able to subdue him long enough for my wife to find and apply the tranquilizer badge. It worked initially, but we had no way of knowing if his implant could override it, given time. Thus the foam. My pistol, well I’m just a worrier, I guess.”

  “Your wife?”

  “Ensign Benikkious Slongum.”

  “Benny-boo is here? Married to a native? I wish I had time to stay for this story.”

  Nikki arrived. “Bucki-buck-buck, is that you?”

  “Benny-boo!”

  Hugging ensued. Nikki said, “Buckious, I’d like you to meet my Caveman, Bob Wilson.”

  I stuck out my hand. Nikki said, “Primitive custom, just go with it.”

  We shook. I said, “Nice to meet you, Buckious. Buckious Bronkum, where’s Dee when you need her?”

  Dingus spoke up. “Ain’t that the truth. I even get this one.”

  Bucky asked, “What are they talking about?”

  Nikki answered, “Your name sounds like something in the native language. It has amusing implications, I think.”

  Dingus said, “Ain’t no way I’m taking this one.” He commed Dee, and explained the situation, and handed it to Bucky. “Hello?” She listened for some time. “So my name sounds like a wild transportation animal, difficult to tame? And that implies things about my sexual prowess? I see why these goofballs would find that amusing, yes ma’am.” She handed the comm back to Dingus. He checked to see if it was still connected, and then said, “Thanks, D-lightful, see you soon.” He hung up, then he got out the solvent for the foam. “A couple of you fellows want to stand by, just in case he’s not as out as he seems?”

  Two of Bucky’s men grabbed Micky’s arms. Dingus sprayed away the foam. Bucky said, “Pull the badge also, please.” Dingus complied. I expected Micky to come up fighting. Bucky’s guys didn’t. They were both on the deck holding themselves before they realized he was awake. He came at me, right into a nasty uppercut. He fell to the deck. I asked, “You want the badge back on now?”

  Bucky came forward with restraints. She hooked him up. “Nice punch, Mr. Wilson.”

  “Call me Bob. Once you get to know me better, you can call me asshole, like everyone else.”

  She laughed. “I see why Benny-boo likes you, Bob.”

  She handed Micky off to her other two men. “Secure him on our craft. Make sure he can’t get into any mischief.”

  She turned. “What to do with these two?”

  I asked, “Remedial Tactical training?”

  Dingus held up his can of solvent. “We could revert a training machine for you if you’d rather.”

  “I like the way you think, Colonel, but I don’t think headquarters would approve.”

  Dingus and I helped them up, and walked them back to their transport. Bucky said, “It was good to see you, Benny-boo.”

  Nikki replied, “You too, Bucki-buck-buck. Come back when you can stay longer. I’d love to catch up.”

  “Me too. Gotta go.”

  “Bye.”

  She climbed aboard, I asked, “Wait a minute, don’t you need Randinkus, and the other saucer?”

  “Oops! Is it safe to fly?”

  “My crew has been over it. It’s all up to spec.”

  “Jonkum! Front and center. You and Bongwater will fly the other vehicle in formation with us.”

  “Yes, Sergeant!”

  Randi gave hugs, and said, “Thanks for everything. I see why Lyla likes it here so much.”

  She climbed aboard and closed the door. Both saucers faded, and we felt the breeze as they headed out. I said, “I wish I felt better about how things turned out with Micky. He didn’t seem like that bad a guy.”

  Nikki replied, “That’s sure not how he was when I flew with him. I wonder what changed?”

  Dingus said, “Hard to know. I can’t even explain why I do things, much less somebody else.”

  We were strolling up to the house when all our comms went off together. “Bob Wilson.”

  “Everybody, It’s Max. We’re on a conference call with Randi. Go ahead, Randi.”

  “We’ve got trouble. The saucer with Micky aboard has changed course, and appears to be heading out of settled space at it’s best speed. They are not responding to comms. We fear Micky has somehow taken over the craft.”

  Dingus spoke up. “Keep them in sight. Be alert for anyone being jettisoned. We will do what we can. Reggie, stay on the line with her. We’re signing off to try and figure out a plan.”

  I said, “Won’t Ozzie’s hot rod catch them?”

>   Nikki replied, “Easy, but what then?”

  Dingus spoke up. “We’re trying to catch and board a ship in space. Piracy, basically. We’ve got the gear from that pirate shuttle. Let’s load it aboard the fast shuttle, and install it on the way.”

  I said, “Don’t we need the freighter to get them back?”

  Nikki said, “Grandpa and I can take the fast saucer. You get John and some weapons, and catch up in the freighter.”

  I replied, “Good enough. You two go get the drive killer out of John’s garage. I’ll have the big stunner ready to load when you get back.”

  They jumped in the saucer and took off. I found some little bots to work on the external emitters, while I pulled the inside console. I thought about all I had learned about those little bots, and sure enough they could work in space. By the time I had the console out, The little bots were carrying the emitters aboard. I told Dingus, “Take the bots. You’ll need them to fit the emitters.”

  “Good catch, Bob.”

  I sat the console in the door and backed away. The door shut as they were rising. I shut the barn and got on the comm to John. “Johnathan, Johnathan, Johnathan.”

  “I’m awake.”

  “Micky managed to hijack the ship taking him back for trial. Nikki and Dingus are after him in Ozzie’s special. We need to catch up in the freighter. Is the code on your main safe still the same?”

  “It is. How soon will you be here?”

  “I’m driving to your place as we speak. I need to get the freighter out, load weapons, and I’ll be on my way. Bring Taz. You do have exterior locks and flash bangs in the safe, right?”

  “No, I’ve gotten old and forgetful in the last month. Are you sure I’m still okay to ride with?”

  “I deserved that. A little flustered right now, sorry. See you shortly.”

  “Bye.”

  I drove down to the barn. I could re-sod John’s yard some other day. Max had the doors open, and had already loaded everything out of John’s safe. Some of that stuff, I surely hoped we wouldn’t need. “She’s ready to go, Bob. Dad told me what to load.”

  “Thanks, Max. See you later.”

  “Good luck, Bob.”

  Once I got her in the air, I commed John again. “In the air, be there soonest.”

  “Gotcha.”

  There was just enough room to put down in the parking lot. No one had parked in the last two rows. When the ramp hit pavement, I heard footsteps coming aboard. When I heard the ramp coming up, I got airborne again. John came into the cockpit. “What’s the plan, Captain?”

  “Just cause I’m in the big chair, huh? Nikki and Dingus are chasing them in Ozzie’s hot rod. Dingus is installing the drive killer and the big stunner while they’re underway. They intend to do a bit of privateering, when they catch up. Then we bring them aboard and set an exterior lock, while Taz and I take loose their power core. Once that’s done, we pull the lock, throw in some flash bangs, and hope they work on Micky.”

  “Why wouldn’t they?”

  “He has some sort of implant. Among other things, it makes him immune to stunners.”

  “Can I get one of those?”

  “Me too.”

  “That’s a decent plan, Bob.”

  “Everything up to us taking them on board I worked out with Nikki and Dingus. You see any changes?”

  “Are you good enough to slip this beast around their saucer?”

  “Not even. I figured Nikki could do it on remote, like with Leelee.”

  “How can we be sure they won’t wake up and try to leave while you’re taking loose their power?”

  “We should be in deep space at that point. If our power is down too, it won’t matter. Taz is armored against the field.”

  “Sounds like we have a good shot at making it work. I brought a couple extra shooters, just in case.”

  “Dee and who else?”

  “Jane. She did a hitch in the Marines. Solid troop.”

  “I trust your judgment. You gonna ask her out this century?”

  “Working the problem, Bob.”

  “That your ‘secret project’?’

  “Got no idea what you’re talking about, Bob. I got no secret project.”

  “Whatever you say, Kimosabe.”

  “I think you got that backwards. You’re the one with the silver bullshit.”

  The ship comm started blinking. I answered it. “You’re on with Bob and John.”

  Nikki said, “We’ve got them, how far out are you?”

  I checked the nav display. “Looks like about ten minutes. Wait, are you towing them?”

  “Yep. I put the other Guide saucer on a long tow rope to keep them out of the field. It’s not fast, but we’re headed your way.”

  “If I shut down, will you be able to drag them aboard?”

  “You’ll need to be idling, to match our speed.”

  “Won’t the field affect us?”

  “Grandpa tweaked it. It has better focus now.”

  “Dee’s aboard. I’ll have to get her to kiss him for us.”

  “You just cost me a quarter ounce. Dingus said she would be.”

  “Next question. Will an exterior lock work in that drive killer field?”

  “Dingus doesn’t think so, without special shielding.”

  “If Taz stands in front of it?”

  “Better chance, He’d still rather not trust it.”

  “Okay, we’ll clear the saucer with the field on. Can we force the door without damaging it?”

  “There’s an override that should work, but Mickolec has probably thought to disable it.”

  “Bummer. We’ll figure something out when you get here.”

  Taz stuck his head in the cockpit door. “Boss, I was monitoring your comm. I can open that door, brute force, no problem. We have plenty of door hardware in the barn.”

  I asked, “Did you hear that, Dingus?”

  “I did. Sounds as good as any, this far out.”

  I asked Taz, “Any chance you could open it one handed?”

  “After I get my fingers in, I think so. Why, Boss?”

  “Would you be able to toss a couple stun grenades through the gap with your other hand?”

  “Long as they’re non-lethal, I can do it.”

  Soon enough, we got close. Nikki dropped the towline to Random’s saucer, and had her stand off at a safe distance. I matched her speed, and dropped the ramp. “John, get back there and help the ladies cover the door. Grab a can of patch foam in case one of these idiots puts a hole in us.”

  “On it, Bob.”

  Nikki said, “Okay, Caveman. Here I come. Be ready to speed up when I say.”

  “Ready.”

  She eased it in, and I managed to match her speed. She put down in a cargo clamp, and Taz managed to wrestle our prize into another one. I ran the ramp up as soon as the clamp latched, then hit autopilot and headed for the cargo bay. Taz tried the override code, but it was locked out like we expected. He started to brute force it, but it suddenly flew open. Micky stood there, with a stunner in his hands. I shouted, “Cover!”, but Jane was already down. Taz caught the stunner, keeping it pointed in a safe direction. Micky fought him, but it wouldn’t budge. Micky didn’t notice what Taz was up to with his other hand. Being that close to a flash bang when it goes off can’t be good for you. Micky went down. Taz asked, “Will he be functional again?”

  I answered, “Yes, Taz. He’s going to be fine. No permanent harm done. “

  “Thank you sir, I mean Boss. I was afraid I had violated my programming.”

  “You’re fine Taz. Back up and let us take care of him.”

  Micky had a few burns on his face, but he would be right as rain after a day or two in the ‘doc. That’s where John and I put him. John called Dingus over. “Can you put a lock on this so nobody can get him out till they get back to base?”

  “I can put a command lock on it, so that it can’t be opened by anyone less than a colonel.”

  �
��That should do. We’ve had enough excitement out of him.”

  John turned to me. “There should be a package of zip-tie cuffs on that pallet somewhere. Let’s restrain all these folks until we can get out the truth cap and find out who the bad ones are.”

  “That’s a plan.”

  Nikki took over piloting, and brought us to a stop. We didn’t want to haul this mess back home. John was busy making sure Jane was okay, so Dingus and I started questioning folks. We brought them, one by one, out of the hold to be questioned individually. We started with the sergeant. She explained how two of her crew were loyal to Mickolec, unbeknownst to her. Once they were airborne, they released him, making it three on two, with the Sergeant trying to fly. She was stunned at that point and didn’t remember anything till she woke up after we took the saucer. The machine believed her, and so did we. We cut her loose, and asked her to stay clear of the people we had yet to question. We talked to the rest, and all their answers supported the Sergeant’s story. The one who had helped got cut loose, the other two got nighty-night badges. I said, “That just leaves the fella flying with Random. I doubt he’s in on it, or he would have done something before now, but we should check, before we send them off.” The Sergeant agreed. She commed him. “Jonkum, I need you aboard this vessel. Please dock in the aft cargo clamp once the ramp opens.”

  “Yes, Sergeant.”

  I opened the ramp, and he flew in smooth and docked tight. I closed up, and turned to see what happened next. He came out with a stunner in his hand. Jane emptied her power pack into him. I made a mental note not to whiz her off. The Sergeant went aboard, and found Random restrained. Freed, she said, “He turned on me when it became clear you had captured Mickolec.”

  John brought out the magic cap, and it said she was telling the truth.

  Jonkum got a nighty-night, before he ever woke up from the stunner. John donated another set of flex cuffs, just in case. Sergeant Bronkum said, “You folks pulled together a rescue kinda sudden. I like your style. You saved us, that’s for sure. Mickolec was talking about marooning us on a primitive planet he knew. Said he was smarter than his Pop, he wouldn’t leave us with an autodoc. I don’t know what he meant.”

  Dingus said, “What’s that man’s last name, I don’t think I ever heard.”