Ming was next and he too landed a solid hit that yielded similar results. This fallen combatant was also ignored by his companions as they sought shelter from the missiles. Twice more the two cast their weapons at the Suits, but with the element of surprise gone, there was only one glancing hit. But the objective had been attained as the Suits crept with extreme caution toward the two men. Farr and Ming launched themselves toward their next positions and again the Suits tentatively followed, only to stumble on the myriad of traps and snares left by the two Earthmen. Several loud screams issued from the massed humanity following them and Farr stopped and looked at Ming.
“I said nonlethal traps.”
“You didn’t say anything about kneecaps,” Ming responded with the face of innocence personified.
“Good point,” Farr allowed nodding as they resumed their flight.
Back and forth across the dome the confrontation ranged, Farr and Ming maneuvering desperately, trading space for time in an attempt to keep from being pinned down. The Suits, moving cautiously, fell prey to trap after trap set by the two men. Apparently, Ming had interpreted ‘nonlethal’ very liberally.
And still there was no word from the security team.
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news but we’re down to our last position and the cavalry’s nowhere in sight,” Ming transmitted, thirty meters away from Farr.
“Looks that way but that’s why we used the outcropping as our last stand.”
“Yeah, I was kinda hoping we wouldn’t be using it, seeing as how we’ll be pinned down with no way out.”
“Have faith in the cavalry, Ming.”
“I’m Chinese, we don’t believe in the cavalry.” The reply was lightly said but there was tension under the surface. They both broke at the same time and sprinted in a low gravity stride straight for the rocks located near one end of the biome.
This was a left over rock formation from the original moon hole and the people had made it an aesthetically pleasing structure combining plants and what may’ve been a fountain and waterfall at one time. Now the fountain was dry and the plants were dead and they could climb straight to the top twenty meters above the surrounding land.
Half way there Farr spotted several Suits who’d managed to circle out of sight while the two men had followed a staggered path across the landscape. They were now racing to intercept them before they could make the rocks. He glanced in Ming’s direction and saw two Suits farther ahead on his side. Farr once again prepared to use his earthly muscles without restraint and prayed fervently that he didn’t end up sailing high overhead like a clay pigeon for the Suits to use as target practice.
Just as the Suits rounded a tree and lost sight of him briefly, he leaped, deciding to go higher than he had originally intended and he soared four meters into the air and fifteen meters toward the near side of the tree arriving just as the three Suits cleared the base. They were low to the ground and looking low for their quarry as well.
Farr came down on the first man and spun him viciously about, his arm around the man’s neck and there was an audible snap as the Suit went limp. Farr didn’t stop or even slow down as he snatched the man’s weapon in midair and flung it toward Ming who’d angled slightly in his direction.
Ming made a small jump without breaking his stride and came down with the weapon firing two accurate shots that hit the men in front of him low in the abdomen. They went down screaming immediately. He glanced at Farr who’d disabled the other two and continued running toward the outcropping. Ming left his erstwhile assailants lying where they’d fallen in excruciating pain. Surprisingly, he found that he was able to endure their distress without an excess of effort.
He joined up with Farr at the base of the outcropping only to have projectiles crash all around them. The other Suits had gained enough ground on them during their brief encounters to now be within weapons range. The projectiles weren’t yet deadly but that would change momentarily. They scampered quickly to the top, peppered by projectiles all the way, before they flopped behind the large rock adorning the formation and apparent safety.
“You hit?”
“They grazed both legs but nothing serious. How about you,” Ming inquired.
“Grazed in a couple of spots and I think one’s actually stuck in my back. Can you take a look?” Ming crawled over, whispered for him to hold still, and dug into Farr’s shoulder blade. Farr gritted his teeth but made no sound. He tossed the remains of the shattered projectile at Farr’s feet. Then Ming fell back against the rock, exhausted.
“You see, this worked out pretty well. We even have weapons now,” Farr said, breathing heavily and staying low.
“Yeah, maybe they’ll just get tired and go away,” Ming said hopefully. Farr stuck his head up just above the rock and a firestorm of projectiles shattered all around them.
“I wouldn’t count on it,” Farr said, his face grim as he picked shards of obsidian out of his utilities.
—————
Six hundred kilometers above the lunar surface, the Resolution hurtled relentlessly toward her rendezvous with Lunar Base Five. Master Chief Wells was commanding the bridge and all systems were standing by.
“Prepare to initiate on my command Mr. Mbata.”
“Standing by Master Chief.” Quincy sounded more confident to Wells and that was a good thing. He’d performed well, but now it was time to put it all together.
“Security this is Home Base, do you read?”
“Loud and clear Home Base. We’re at the entrance. The commander and Mr. Ming are penned down by a small army at the opposite end of the biome. Standby while we contact them.”
Wells waited patiently and the bridge crew drew strength from his calm demeanor and went about their duties, mimicking him, as he knew they would.
“Home Base this is Security, execute Brightstar, I say again, execute Brightstar.”
“This is Home Base, executing. Mr. Mbata, light them up.”
Mbata verified execution and the ship’s laser, modified by Mbata with a xenon arc prism and a computer program that continually modified the beam width and the transmit power, fired, lighting up the dome and the lunar surface around it.
—————
“I’ve always wondered,” Farr said calmly as the projectiles shattered on the rock wall behind them, showering them with the glasslike obsidian. “Why are you so interested in those twentieth and twenty first century movies? And why do you love all of those one liners so much that you’re always tossing around? I mean, what is it about that time period that you find so fascinating?”
Ming stared at him for a full five seconds. Then he blinked twice. “Seriously? Right in the middle of our big ‘Butch and Sundance die in Bolivia’ moment and you want to know what makes me tick!” His voice had raised several octaves in the process of answering and his head had risen slightly. This drew another smattering of shots from the assailants below.
“You should probably keep your head down,” Farr advised nonchalantly, “I’m just curious unless maybe you’ve got something else to do.” Ming stared again and then broke down laughing. Farr chuckled alongside him.
“Alright,” Ming said regaining control. “You want to know why. Well you just had an example of it. It’s called laughter. It was before the corporate presence corrupted the world and they knew how to laugh back then, even in the bleakest of times. Our species survived the Calamity and the Dying, but what did it do to us? We’ve become a pretty dour species, and you, my captain, are one of its most dour citizens. We’re all so serious and pragmatic and practical. Hell, we don’t even make movies for entertainment any more, and our appreciation of music has stagnated. I rarely see people laughing in our society. Oh yeah, they smile all the time, but that’s not the same thing. A smile is just a polite thing you show for strangers. Believe me, I’m Chinese, I know. We invented the meaningless smile just to be polite. Laughter is genuine happiness and I happen to think we need to bring it back.” Farr’s face was screwed
in reflective thought for several seconds before he answered.
“You’re right, now that I think about it, there isn’t much laughter in our society anymore. Oh occasionally with Admiral Ngata, I’ve had some humorous times and we’ve laughed, but as a general rule I’d have to agree with you. We’ve become very serious since we avoided extinction.”
“Away team this is security team, we are in place and we”ve brought a few friends.”
Ming and Farr both leapt slightly at that, exposing themselves, and drawing fire instantly from the Suits surrounding them. When the volley subsided Farr acknowledged the security team.
“It’s good to hear from you security but we’ve got a little bit of a situation here. We could really use some relief.”
“Away team this is security team, roger, standby to execute Brightstar,” Farr and Ming heard over their commbuds and then the security team started a ten second countdown.
“What’s he talking about?” Ming asked.
“No time to explain, just follow my lead.” At that Farr yelled over the top of the rocks, “We surrender.” Slowly he stood up and raised his arms. Ming, shocked, did the same and muttered, “This had better not be your grand strategy.” The countdown reached two seconds as the Suits stood up and cheered their rousing victory looking up at their two prisoners.
“Close your eyes, now!” Farr hissed and Ming did so without hesitation, sensing danger. Even though his eyes were closed, the world on the other side of his lids became brighter and brighter, until it was almost intolerable and then abruptly went dark again, three seconds later. It was several seconds before Ming could open his eyes and it was hard to believe the first sight he beheld. The Suits below were rolling on the ground in obvious pain, their hands grasping their eyes. And they were screaming.
CHAPTER 18
When Farr and Ming had stood up with their offer of surrender, the Suits had, to a man, stood up and cheered, looking upwards at their new captives. A bright light had suddenly appeared above them. The human eye, even in the dark caverns of Luna, is drawn to light. And so they stood, looking up, when the three million candlepower beam descended on them. It was just three seconds but that was time enough for the beam to sear the sensitive optical nerves of the Suits, effectively blinding them, if only temporarily. Their sight would probably return in forty minutes or so but for now they were utterly helpless, the bright light causing them intense pain but no serious damage.
Ming looked accusingly at Farr, whose face was a mask of innocence. Ming continued to stare and Farr casually shifted his eyes to the security team. Backed up by what must’ve been five hundred of the Workers, they swarmed into the dome and surrounded the fallen Suits.
“You had something planned all along,” Ming accused him.
“I didn’t even know if the Master Chief could pull it off, if we could maneuver the Suits into position or if it would even have the desired effect.”
“And you didn’t tell me because?” Ming asked in a level, caustic voice.
“I didn’t want to get your hopes up. Chances were we were going to die a grisly death at the hands of a madman and it would’ve been cruel for me to give you false hope.”
“I see,” he said flatly. “You were only considering my feelings. How altruistic of you.”
“That’s the kind of person I am,” Farr agreed with a benign smile.
“Normally altruism is its’ own reward,” Ming intoned, his eyes malevolently shining, as he started down the outcropping toward the area where the security team was directing the Workers in the securing of the Suits. “But I think in this case, your selflessness deserves more. I’m pretty sure I can think of an appropriate reward.”
“What do you mean?” Farr said, suddenly wary. Ming’s practical jokes were legendary.
“Nothing,” was the guileless reply, “I just think a reward is proper under these circumstances.” Farr started to follow him, his eyes suspicious.
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing Commander,” he said lightly as he navigated down the outcropping.
“You know a practical joke would be in poor taste under the circumstances,” Farr retorted.
“I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about.” Ming’s face was as innocent as that of a new born as he smiled complacently at Farr.
“You know exactly what I mean,” Farr said crossly, dreading the waiting that would now come as Ming plotted his ‘appropriate reward’ for the situation.
“Really, I’ve no idea what you’re talking about Callum. I simply stated that you should be rewarded for your altruism and saintly actions.” By now Farr was agitated by the anticipation of the anticipation.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. You’re already plotting some devious retaliation aren’t you?”
Ming wore a neutral smile as they reached the security team and said offhandedly, “I suggest we table this conversation for a more appropriate time and place. It wouldn’t do for the children to see us fighting.”
“So you are plotting retaliation.” Ming ignored him as they moved forward and Farr instantly switched into his command persona.
“Senior Sergeant Solomon it’s a real pleasure to see you given the situation,” Farr said as he addressed the senior military person on site. “Where did you pick up the Workers?”
Solomon turned toward Farr, a smile on his face, which immediately disappeared as he took in the condition of his commanding officer and chief biologist. “Get me a medic over here now!” he shouted and then turned back. “Commander, forgive me for saying it, but you and Mr. Ming look like hell warmed over.”
Ming and Farr exchanged glances and then looked down at themselves, taking stock.
“We encountered difficulties,” Ming replied, his face impassive. Solomon started to reply, but something must’ve assailed his olfactory senses, because his face crinkled slightly and his eyes squinted before he could get control of them.
“Many difficulties,” Ming amplified, seeing Solomon’s reaction. Farr, as the commanding officer chose to ignore the repulsion on Solomon’s face, pretending that it didn’t exist.
“The Workers Mr. Solomon, you were going to tell me where you acquired them.” Farr’s physical condition might’ve been an utter mess, but his eyes had assumed their command authority and Solomon responded.
“Yes sir, we met them at the junction of their tunnel and the one leading here. They were just sitting there, waiting for us and Dr. Skorsson was with them. The one in charge,” he said, indicating the Foreman who was walking calmly among the throng not fifty meters away, “said they were going to accompany us. I told him I didn’t have orders for that and he said ‘There is a time for all things my son and our time has come.’ I didn’t know what the hell that meant or what else I could do and they were adamant, so I agreed, because Dr. Skorsson was with them and he seemed fine with it. I also didn’t know what to expect in the dome and I figured the more hands the easier the job would be. The old guy turned toward his people and gave them their orders, which seemed okay to me, and we moved on. The whole thing took less than two minutes.” Solomon finished his explanation in a rush hoping he’d done the right thing.
“What instruction did he give them?”
“Let me see,” Solomon thought, the adrenaline still pumping in his system. “He said ‘We will not fight if reason is enough. We will not kill if wounding is enough. The time has come for us to redeem our misguided brothers and sisters.’ That’s about it. As you can see, sir, they came in handy.”
Farr scanned the area and saw the Workers assisting the fallen Suits, who were terrified by their blindness. Here and there he caught scraps of words from the Workers as they addressed the Suits in their care.
‘It will pass brother’ he heard one say, his hand touched gently to the Suit’s face. ‘Retreat within your mind and there will be no pain’ another intoned. They were helping the Suits. There appeared to be no malice in their actions after a hundred y
ears of slavery and Farr just couldn’t fathom it. He’d seen this scenario before and it always ended the same, with bloodshed, unless a firm hand was in control. But not this time.
“Good call Solomon,” Farr commended him as the medic, Bellerino, arrived. Everyone onboard the Resolution had received medical training but Bellerino and Faye were the only ones qualified as ‘combat/emergency medics’. Bellerino’s nose crinkled as he assessed Ming and Farr, but he controlled it well and said nothing.
“Senior Sergeant, we need a shower area to clean them up. They’ve got multiple contusions and what look like projectile wounds, so I’m worried about infection.”
Solomon motioned to Faye who stood nearby and she set out for the SCC. A few minutes later she returned and Farr and Ming were ushered ahead of her, a good deal ahead of her Farr noted without comment, to the lower level of the SCC.
Tegev was there and she’d rigged a tank that connected to what was obviously an old decontamination station.
“If I’d known that this was here I could’ve made myself presentable for the party,” Ming said sarcastically.
“Wouldn’t have done you any good, Mr. Ming,” Tegev said. “The pipes have all corroded. Unless you had a tank of water with you, you’d still look the same.”
“Strip,” Faye ordered and the two men complied without any self-consciousness. Nudity was just a fact of life accepted in the twenty third century by a species that had survived a brutal threat to its existence.
After they’d scrubbed themselves for the better part of half an hour, Faye resumed her examinations using her pocket computer, running it over their bodies again and again. By this time the two men were dozing slightly in a sitting position.
Dr. Alexeyev’s voice drifted to them over the commbud and both men were instantly alert.
“I think we’re fine Faye,” Farr said standing up. Ming followed suit. “We’ll have a full physical when we reach the ship.”
“You’ll both sit down now and let her finish her scan,” Alexeyev’s voice ordered.
“Doctor there’s a lot of work still to be done here. We’re going to need you here as well. So, this time can be better spent in other pursuits.” Farr finished and looked over at Ming who gave him a covert nod.
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