by Rick Lakin
“Engage,” David said.
Ani reported, “Captain, Brilliant is in orbit around Jupiter. Our current mission is complete. Ready for return to Earth.”
Jennifer said, “Ani, lay in a course to Earth three degrees above the ecliptic to avoid asteroids.”
Ani replied, “Course laid in to Earth at sixty degrees North Latitude.”
David ordered, “Take us out of orbit, Ani. Let’s head home.”
Ani said, “Engaging gravity drive at point-three light-speed. Flight time two hours and twenty-seven minutes.” Jennifer reviewed the controls and displays that were slightly different than her steveLearn at home. “The BrilliantSim feels so much more comfortable than the HTVR version. The sharp edges are worn off, and the seats are worn. And the controls have a more rapid response. I just feel so much more at home here. Ani, perform a long-range sensor scan of our route home.”
“Sensor Alert. Detecting a spacecraft approaching Earth. Classification: Brilliant class StarCruiser.”
David asked, “How could that be?”
Jennifer obfuscated, “I think it’s a sensor anomaly caused by.…”
“Sensor Alert: Unidentified object entering the system at point-five light speed.”
Jennifer responded, “Ani, focus sensors, classify, and identify.”
“It's decelerating at one-hundred Gravities. Classify Hoclarth battle cruiser Camday class. Identification Camdex, third in the class.”
“Weapons inventory?”
“Long-range fighter drones. Medium range meteor cannons. Close-in Particle Beams.”
“David, we're way outgunned, but we're more maneuverable than the Camdex. If they detect us and release a fighter drone, though, we're toast,” Jennifer analyzed.
“Jen, point us toward the edge of the asteroid field and let’s hope we fit into the clutter.”
“Ani, plot a ballistic course one-hundred kilometers above the plane of the asteroids.”
Ani announced, “Laid in.”
David ordered, “Engage. Raise shields. Configure TopGun Pilot interface.”
“The fighter pilot?” Jennifer said.
“Dad and I watched the Tom Cruise movie several times and then we built this interface,” David said.
Jennifer followed protocol, “Ani, configure Weapons to the Ops Console. Captain, recommend we cloak as an asteroid.”
“Do it. Let’s make the Camdex think we’re planetary space junk.”
“One hundred kilometers above the asteroid plane,” Ani said.
“We are cloaked,” Jennifer said.
“Very well, let’s hope he doesn’t pick up the gravity drive distortion path.”
“Camdex has reduced her velocity and is on a routine patrol course.”
“Ani, engage passive sensors. Let us know if Camdex activates weapons sensors,” Jennifer said.
“Camdex is changing aspect ratio. Accelerating towards our gravity drive path,” Ani reported.
“Jen, plot a course into the asteroid field. Ani, give me stick-and-rudder control.”
“Activate Artificial Weapons Interface,” Jennifer said. “Owwie, display tactical. Ops, reinforce forward shields. Plot a maneuvering course into the field at three kilometers per second. Target small asteroids in our path with particle beams. Ani, look at the big picture and keep us out of the crowded areas.”
In a distinctive male voice, Owwie announced, “Tactical on Display. Order activate to begin targeting small asteroids. Chances of surviving fighter drone forty-two percent.”
David said, “Now, we wait to see if he picks up our trail.”
Riley said, “Okay, so you kicked my butt at ping-pong. Have you ever played pool?”
Tayla responded, “You mean the game with the really long sticks?”
“Ouch, this isn't my day.”
“Sensor Alert: Camdex has activated weapons sensors. They released a fighter drone.”
“Jen, how long before we dive the field?”
“The fighter’s in search mode. If he changes speed, he has us. The Hoclarth patrolled this system for years. They probably have contour and track for most of the rocks. I'm hoping that the fighter drone thinks we are one of the usual suspects.”
Ani said, “Fighter has activated narrow scan targeting sensors and is accelerating. Survivability is now twelve percent.”
David said, “Engage maneuvering thrusters and activate weapons. Take us into the field.”
Brilliant began accelerating. David flew her like an F-14 jet fighter. The tactical display became cluttered with numerous asteroids in three colors. Green rocks were deflected by shields. The yellow targets could be destroyed by particle weapons. The red asteroids, designated by their catalog number, were over a kilometer in diameter and were to be avoided.
“Ani, where's the Karin cluster from our current position?” Jennifer asked.
“Karin cluster is two-point-three degrees ahead in the orbital path of the asteroids. We can safely reach it in four minutes.”
“Sensor Alert: Fighter Drone has entered the asteroid field and is in pursuit. Intercept in three minutes.”
David asked, “You want to take us into the most crowded part of this field?”
“All we have to do is avoid asteroids. The fighter has to avoid asteroids and find us. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Course laid in.”
“I hope this works. Engage.”
I know it will, Jennifer thought.
“Fighter drone is matching our course and speed. It's now five minutes to intercept,” Ani said.
“Time to the cluster?”
“Beginning deceleration.…” There was a pause. “…now. Slowing to point-four kilometers per second for safety. Entry in seventy-eight seconds,” Ani said.
“Well, Spaceboy, let’s see if you can fly a Tomcat like Tom Cruise.”
“Ani, enter the cluster at two kilometers per second,” David said.
“We need the bad guy to think that there are two of us. Ani, activate a cloaked holodrone on our port quarter.”
“Holodrone cloaked and ready left echelon, Jendroid.”
“Warning: entering very dense asteroid cluster. Exceeding maximum safe speed. Fighter drone in pursuit. Intercept in forty seconds. Survivability three percent.”
David was now in full manual pilot mode avoiding the Reds.
“Target yellow 3 and release,” Jennifer said. Brilliant shook and three seconds later yellow 3 was space dust.”
“It’s getting crowded here,” David said.
“Owwie, target two, five, and seven. Release,” Jennifer said. “David, fly through that hole straight towards red 725.”
“Warning: Intercept in twenty seconds. Survivability one percent.”
“Do we win a prize if it hits zero?” David said.
“Gallows humor? Fly toward 725 at a point below the center, maneuver over and behind, and freeze in the shadow.”
“Owwie, when the fighter loses us, decloak the drone and fly it straight into 863.”
David said, “Five seconds to the shadow.”
“Seven seconds to intercept. The drone is tracking us below 725,” Owwie said. “Lost signal. Clone released. Its sensors say the fighter turned in pursuit.”
David shouted, “He took the hook!”
The fighter and the clone arrived at Karin 863, and the tactical display went white. When the debris cleared, Asteroid Karin 863 was in three pieces, the clone had gone to HoloClone heaven, and the fighter drone from the Camdex was space dust.
“I'm hungry for steak. How are you going to get us out of the asteroid field?”
“You won’t like it. We might put a dent in the sim.”
“What’s your idea?”
“Ani, what are the stats on this rock?”
“Asteroid Karin 725 is a twelve-million-ton M-Class sphere 1.1 kilometers in diameter.”
“Ani, calculate a StarDrive jump with a cardioid wave around the asteroid. Put Brilliant at the cusp and report.”
>
“The maneuver is possible but not predictable. With the energy available, Brilliant could activate a point-seven second StarDrive burst that would raise our velocity to four-tenths light-speed. The time distortion is undetermined.”
“What's the estimate?”
“The predicted median time distortion is negative two hours and twenty minutes.”
David interrupted, “What are you talking about? You can’t engage the StarDrive near a heavy body. It is totally unpredictable.”
“Brilliant did it and survived.”
“But it traveled 200 years into the past…”
“And landed Navvy and your Dad on Earth forty years ago and here we are. We are on a simulator in your basement. The worst that can happen is that the steaks may be overcooked.”
“So, what’s your plan?”
“We are going to hitch a ride on this rock and blast our way out of here.”
“Do you think this can work?”
“I already know it worked.”
“No balls, no blue chips. Get us out of here.”
“Ani, position the Brilliant for the optimum course out of the field and lay in a course using a point-one-eight second StarDrive burst. Make sure 725 remains on a safe orbit.”
“Course laid in. Activating on your order.”
“I hope you know what you're doing, Jen. Ani, engage.”
“Positioning Brilliant. Activating StarDrive in three-two-one….” The tactical display flashed white and the nearby asteroids became lasers passing by. 725 stayed right in the center of the display. “Burst complete. Leaving the asteroid field in five seconds.” David and Jennifer could see explosions and collisions around the edge of the asteroid for a few moments more, then nothing. “Brilliant is clear of the asteroid field. Velocity point-four-five light-speed. Recommend a course to Earth.”
David said, “Engage course to Earth. Take us home.”
Jennifer asked, “Ani, what's the time distortion?”
“We moved two hours and twenty-eight minutes into the past.”
“Do a long-range sensor scan towards Jupiter.”
“Detecting StarCruiser Brilliant.”
David was surprised and impressed. “That’s us in the earlier timeline?”
“Yes, David,” Jennifer said.
“That was us in this timeline that you detected before we went into the asteroid field?”
“Yes, David.”
“You knew exactly what was going to happen?”
“Yes, David. It’s that vision thing that I have.”
“Are you human?” David asked.
“I hope so because I'm really, really hungry.”
“But how did the simulator know…?”
“Captain on the Bridge,” Ani announced as Jack Masing took the Center Seat.
“Dad,” David said.
“Mr. Masing.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Jennifer,” Jack said.
“I'm honored, Sir. I have been a fan all my life.”
“I, too, have heard a lot about you. So, David took you for a ride in our BrilliantSim?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“He promised me an easy ride.” She winked.
“David, what simulation did you use?”
“The Asteroid Field, Sir.”
“That has never been survived.”
“Jennifer got us out of it.”
Jack looked at Jennifer in a new way. “It looks like you two have a story to tell over dinner. Steaks are on the barbie.”
David and Jennifer left the simulator and found Tayla and Riley hovering over a chess board. Jennifer could tell who was winning because Riley was down a queen and a rook.
Riley resigned. “This time she asked me if it was like checkers.”
David and Jennifer were still coming down from their experience on the simulator and Tayla was still exhorting her mastery of basement games. Riley was looking at Tayla like a puppy who found his master. The elaborate picnic table was set with a stunning view of the Santa Monica Mountains. Jack Masing and Alejandro Lopez stood over the grills. Jack called the four over, “Tell me how you like your steak cooked.”
After making their choices, Ellie called them over to sit down, “Margarita has prepared her famous salad.”
Margarita stood aside the table and prepared the salad and handed plates around, “My great-great-grandfather passed this recipe down to our family. He was a sous chef at a hotel in the nineteen-twenties.”
David’s older sister, Ava, joined them and when Margarita finished serving the salads. Tayla’s eyes lit up, “This is the best I have ever had. Ms. Lopez, did your grandfather work at the Caesar Hotel in Tijuana.”
Margarita smiled. “Yes, young lady, you certainly know your culinary history. On July 4, 1924, the restaurant was swamped with tourists and the kitchen ran out of food. The chef, named Caesar, was the brother of my grandfather, Alex Cardini. The two put their heads together, and using the ingredients on hand they went from table to table and prepared the salad. It quickly caught on with the Hollywood stars.”
“So, they drove all the way to Mexico for the salad?” asked David.
“Actually, son, they drove down for the booze. It was a time in our country called Prohibition when alcohol was illegal,” Jack explained.
Riley asked, “This salad doesn’t have the little fishies, does it?”
“Young man, this is the authentic Caesar Salad. My grandfather would never allow anchovies on his creation,” Margarita said. “But I have some over here if you would like.”
Tayla’s face contorted. “Ewww, you don’t know food, either, Riley?” Tayla teased as she dug into her salad.
Alejandro announced, “The steaks are ready.” After serving them, he joined the table, and everyone began to devour the steaks, freshly-baked bread, potato salad, and sweet corn on the cob.
After a few minutes of near silence, with only the sound of silverware and high desert crickets, Jack spoke to Jennifer, “David seems to think that you have run The Asteroid Field simulation on your system at home. Is that true?”
“Yes, Sir, I have run it twelve times,” Jennifer said.
“As far as I know, no one has ever survived this simulation. Have you ever lost the Brilliant?” Jack asked
“Yes…Twelve times.”
“What was the difference?”
“At my house, I run the simulator on steveLearn either with a simulated pilot or I fly solo. I was never able to survive. steve is a powerful system but when I sat down on BrilliantSim, it felt different,” Jennifer said.
“You said you almost felt at home,” David said.
Jennifer reflected. “Yeah, everything felt like it was exactly where it should be. I was more in touch with the Brilliant. Does that make sense?”
“I haven’t heard anyone put it that way in quite some time, but yes, it definitely makes sense,” Jack said.
David interjected, “So, you and BrilliantSim? That was the only reason you beat The Asteroid Field?”
“Okay, maybe part of it was because I had a decent pilot,” Jennifer said, and David smiled.
Jack explained, “Navvy designed that simulation to give our crew members a realization of the possibility that one cannot survive every situation.”
Jennifer replied, “The Kobayashi Maru.”
“You’ve seen that movie?”
“I don’t believe in the no-win scenario.”
“Take me through the tactics, you two.” The rest of the table began other conversations while David and Jennifer took Jack through the narrative.
“So, you engaged the StarDrive near a heavy body?” Jack asked.
“Yes, Sir,” Jennifer said.
“She cheated,” David said.
“I don’t like to lose,” Jennifer said.
Tayla and Riley got up and helped clear the table and Ellie Masing announced, “When I was growing up near Columbus, my school always had my favorite desserts at lunch. These are called No-Bake Cook
ies with oatmeal and chocolate.” There were some serious "oohs" and "ahhs" from those who experienced this Midwestern specialty for the first time.
“So that’s where you found these,” Jennifer said to David.
They finished the no-bakes and prepared the extras for take-home. Tayla said, “You have an amazing home. Thanks for the wonderful dinner.”
“The day was magical, and the dinner was the best I've had for a long time. It’s time for Tayla and I to click our heels together and head back down the mountain to Kansas.”
Ellie said, “We thank you for coming. Jack and I and the boys certainly enjoyed it.”
“Jennifer, have you been aboard the Brilliant?” Jack asked.
“That's my dream. I have seen it from a distance.”
“We'll have to work on that.”
Jen’s eyes lit up.
David said, “You haven’t even seen the whole house.”
Tayla said, “OMG, there’s more?”
“The screening room?” Riley asked.
“Jen, you talked about the Star Wars movie I have never seen. Stick around, and we can roll it,” David said
“Star Wars?” Tayla asked.
“Jennifer told me it was pretty good,” David said.
Jack said, “That was one of the first movies I saw.” In another time, Jack thought.
“That's where you need to begin your space opera experience, David,” Jennifer said.
Ava’s boyfriend arrived at the end of dinner. David led the six down a long hall, and they arrived at antique double doors. “Everything in the lobby comes from old movie palaces from the nineteen-twenties.”
Along the walls in the entryway were antique movie posters. Tayla listed them, “On the Waterfront with Marlon Brando, Tootsie with Dustin Hoffman, The African Queen with Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. Didn’t she have a sister named Audrey?”
“Same last name but they were unrelated,” Jennifer said. At the front of the lobby was a small concession stand. To the right was a glass box with a silver cylinder at the top. “Is that what I think it is? I love popcorn.”
“I'll fire it up right now.” David opened a cupboard and pulled out cooking oil and popcorn.
Tayla looked at the selection of confections at the counter. “Jujubes, Milk Duds, M&Ms, Corn Nuts. Wow, didn’t these people believe in eating healthy?"