Davron : The Universe Is Not Enough 2

by Gary Weston

  'I am adamant. This is not our fight. For one thing, our ship has been damaged. Serious repairs to the engines are required before it can even take off.'

  'That can be arranged,' said Paul.

  'We have fire power, but it is limited. It's a passenger ship, not a fighter.'

  'Again. I'm sure we can integrate our weapons into your vessel.'

  Patrick said, 'We are the crew of the Romulus. We would be putting our lives on the line for a fight that doesn't concern us.'

  Matlock had heard enough. 'Rather presumptuous of you, isn't it Patrick? You stole the Romulus. We are the crew by default. Liz is as capable of flying that ship as you are. The rest of us have the skills to repair the engines, fly the ship and more important, are not afraid to take on an enemy.'

  'Not our enemy,' said Patrick.

  Belle flared up at Patrick. 'This might not be our Earth but these are human beings just like us. We have no need to go looking for a new planet. We can make this our home. But I tell you something, Patrick. I want to earn the right to call it my home. As Dale said, we are capable of doing this without you. We would rather you be with us on this, but that's your choice.' She stood and addressed Paul. 'Your Excellency. I appreciate your offer of staying here for the time being and I shall. I could kill for a hot shower and a soft bed.'

  Paul smiled and said, 'My home is your home.'

  'Thank you.' She turned to face Patrick. 'You know how I feel about you. I love you, but right now I don't like you. I'm off to bed. Alone. We'll talk about this later.'

  'Belle...'

  'Later, Patrick. Come on, Muffin.'

  Belle stormed off as did the others, leaving just Patrick and Paul. Paul turned to leave Patrick alone, then paused at the doorway. 'D N A or no D N A. You are no son of mine.'

  Patrick sat alone feeling about as miserable as a man could be.

  Chapter 41

  After finally getting a good nights sleep, everyone helped out in the well equipped kitchen dining-room.

  Paul said, 'It's Sunday. My staff have a day off today. I can soon call people in.'

  'No need,' said Belle. 'Take a seat and I'll get you breakfast.'

  'Very kind of you,' said Paul taking a seat at the huge glass-topped table.

  'The least we can do. Just don't let Toby do your eggs.'

  'Hey. Nothing wrong with my cooking. Isn't that right, Muffin?'

  Muffin decided to sit at the table next to Paul.

  'See? He can hardly wait.'

  'That bed was to die for,' said Belle.

  'Perhaps a little lonely?' said Paul. 'Excluding Muffin, of course.'

  'At least Muffin doesn't snore. Where is Patrick, anyway?'

  Danders said, 'Probably sulking in his bedroom. We were pretty hard on him.'

  'No more than he deserved,' said Matlock, buttering a small mountain of toast.

  Paul said, 'On reflection, he was just stating his opinion. One he's entitled too.'

  Danders said, 'We can't force him to do something he doesn't believe in.'

  'So what are we supposed to do?' said Matlock. 'I think it's a given that we try to help our own kind. And Belle hit the nail on the head. We can make a home here. But I'm not prepared to let others fight to protect me while I sit back and do nothing to help.'

  'Where is Patrick, anyway?' Akrins said.

  'I'll go find him,' said Belle.

  There were several bedrooms and bathrooms in the palatial suite. several had open doors, so she soon discounted those. She knocked on one closed door before opening it. The bed was hardly disturbed as if someone had just lain on top of it. She found a note on the pillow which she took back to the others.

  'I found this.'

  Paul read it out. 'I'm in the Romulus, trying to fix it. Gotta have something to fight those aliens with, right?'

  'Now that's my Patrick,' said Belle, beaming.

  Chapter 43

  'It's been awhile since I drove myself,' said Paul. 'I forgot what fun it was.'

  He had jumped into the driving seat of an extended open-top vehicle and everyone including Muffin had jumped in with him. Minutes later they pulled up alongside the mighty Romulus. The airlock was open and several men and women were carrying things into the ship. A large black man in uniform supervised the activity.

  'General Burns,' gasped Belle.

  'I'm sorry, young lady. Do I know you? And for your information, I'm Major Burns. Some way off being a general.'

  'Maybe you will be a general in another life.'

  'I'll not hold my breath. I almost shot Patrick when I saw him trying to get into the ship.'

  'Glad you didn't' said Patrick as he appeared from the shadows. 'Belle. I couldn't sleep thinking about what you said. You were right. You were all right. Forgive me?'

  Matlock gave his friend a thump on his arm. 'Welcome back, pal. Been busy I see.'

  'But having fun. Toby. Up for one almighty challenge?'

  'Let me at it,' said Akrins with a grin a mile wide.

  'Good. I've made a start stripping down plasma drive two. If you and Dale set to work on that, I'll check these parts the major found for us.'

  'On our way,' said Akrins.

  'What can I do?' asked Danders.

  'Fire up the computer. We'll need that up and running to make sure the repairs are working.'

  'On my way.'

  'What about me?' said Belle.

  'Coffee would be welcome.'

  'Coffee?'

  'Sweetened with a kiss.'

  Belle kissed Patrick then skipped away.

  To Paul, Burns said, 'I'm a little surprised to see you here, Excellency.'

  'I wanted to see the ship. Do we have all the parts they need to make the repairs?'

  Burns said, 'What we don't have, engineering can make. I'll make it my priority to see they get anything they want. I've a team fitting two laser cannons, one forward, one aft.'

  'Good. This ship could be just what we need to win this thing.'

  They spent a few minutes planning everything they could to ensure a smooth operation before Paul left Burns to do what he did best. He walked into the flight-deck where Belle was handing out coffee to Danders and Patrick.

  'Oh, sorry, Sir. I should have offered you a coffee.'

  'I'm fine, thanks Jazz. I'll not be staying. I couldn't resist a look in here, though.'

  'I'd offer you the full guided tour, Sir,' said Patrick, 'But as you can see...'

  'Very busy. I've no intention of being under your feet, Patrick. Major Burns is a fine officer with space battle experience. You're in good hands with him. I'm just sorry I'm not something more useful like the engineer your biological father was.'

  'We have all the skills right here, Sir.'

  Paul grinned and replied, 'I have every confidence in all your abilities. Please keep me informed. When you're ready, have Major Burns bring you home. I'll have a feast prepared for you.'

  'Thank you, Sir.'

  Chapter 44

 

  A twelve-hour stint on the ship had brains too exhausted to think straight. They dragged themselves away and had one of Burns' men drive them to Paul Davron's suite. As promised, a fine meal was waiting for them with beer and juices iced and ready. Paul delighted on serving them himself, having dismissed his staff for the evening.

  'So tell me, damn it. How's it going?'

  Patrick sipped juice and said, 'Dale and Toby are putting the covers on the plasma drive engine and Jazz is helping me on the F T L engine. Another two days before we can fire them up.'

  'You'll be going faster than light?'

  'Err, no. We can test most of the ship without actually taking off. F T L is for emergencies only.'

  'Then let's hope we don't need it.'

  Matlock stopped shovelling food in his mouth long enough to ask, 'Sir. Do you really think the aliens will come back?'

  'They might. That's enough to make me nervous. They seemed more concerned about taking out our ships than cau
sing damage on Earth. They did take out two fighters on the ground. Caught us completely unprepared before disappearing again. We'll not make that mistake again, I assure you.'

  Belle said, 'That's just what I'd do if I were them. Take off the head. Or in our case, the ships. How many ships do we have ready for action?'

  Paul said, 'Worldwide, nine capable of going out of Earth's atmosphere. Three were just commercial freighters we cobbled laser weapons too. At least they all have crews.'

  'But very little space-battle experience, I'm thinking.'

  Paul sighed and said, 'Not much. Plenty of simulator training but that's not like the real thing. Three fighters and crews survived the last attack.'

  Patrick yawned and said, 'We'll have to assume the aliens haven't finished here yet. If you don't mind, I'm wrecked. Tomorrow is going to be another long day.'

  'Then let's go to bed,' said Belle.

  'A good idea. Where's Muffin?'

  Belle stood up and took Patrick's hand and pulled him to the lounge door through which they could see Muffin asleep on Paul's favourite chair.

  'Let sleeping chimps lie, I reckon,' whispered Belle. 'You and me, bed, now.'

  Chapter 45

 

  They pushed themselves hard because they all knew what was at stake. Two more days had the repairs done to the ship and all that was required was a thorough grounded testing with the computer before attempting a sub-F L T flight out of Earth's atmosphere.

  'I know you still have a little way to go before you're finished, but I'd like to reward your efforts with a night out on the town on me,' said Paul.

  'I like the way you're thinking,' said Patrick. 'We've hardly seen anything of our new home, yet.'

  'I've already organised our transport for the evening. I've taken the liberty of having new clothes brought for you. From some of our finest stores. You'll find them in your rooms. Just don't take all night getting ready.'

  Patrick and Belle found new clothing of the latest fashions on rails in their rooms.

  'Oh my goodness,' said Belle. 'This would have cost me a years salary for this one dress alone. And these shoes are to die for.'

  'I'd say this is my favourite colour. Navy blue. I can't wait to see you in a dress.'

  Half an hour later Belle was jaw-droppingly gorgeous in a perfectly fitting silk dress with a side split showing her right thigh. Her hair was up and she had a real diamond necklace around her neck.

  'I knew you were beautiful, but you take my breath away, Jazz.'

  'You look pretty handsome yourself, Patrick.'

  'We had better get out of here before I rip that dress right off you.'

  They found the others looking dressed to kill in the lounge. Even Akrins passed for handsome in a dim light.

  Akrins said, 'Well ain't we a collection of swells.'

  'Time to go?' asked Patrick.

  'Not quite,' said Paul as the arrival of the elevator pinged over a speaker. 'Ah! I think she's arrived. Toby. Would you mind?'

  'Of course, Sir,'

  Akrins opened the door and turned to stone on the spot.

  'Aren't you going to let a lady in?'

  'April?'

  Nurse April Golightly entered the lounge. 'When His Excellency requests my company for the evening, that's just too good an offer for a girl to turn down.'

  'Oh. Of course. You're His Excellency's date.'

  Paul laughed. 'I should be so lucky. Toby. I heard a rumour Miss Golightly quite liked you so I invited her along.'

  Akrins grinned and said, 'Then allow me the honour of escorting you for the evening, Miss Golightly.'

  'I'd be delighted, Mr Akrins.'

  Chapter 46

  Not only did they have their first real tour of the city, but they had the privilege of having the most important man as their personal tour guide. One of his staff did the driving in the electric vehicle, as Paul pointed out interesting aspects of the city he was rightly proud of.

  'And this bridge was built almost three hundred years ago. The longest suspension bridge in the world at the time.'

  'It's all very impressive, Sir,' said Belle. 'I love how clean and tidy everything is. Do you have stiff penalties for people making a mess?'

  'Not really. What we do have is an education process that ensures our environment is a particular part of the curriculum for all children at a very young age. This instils a pride in their city which generally means they look after it as they get older.'

  'Brilliant.'

  'Thank you. I was actually part of starting that initiative many years ago. A clean city is a happy city, I always say.'

  They drove through the busy streets which were free of any traffic pollution. A device had been fitted which regulated all vehicles, private and commercial,to ensure optimum traffic flow at all times. Many of the private vehicles were controlled automatically, with no effort required by the driver other than to key in coordinates of their intended destinations.

  Paul's driver was as much a member of his personal security staff as being the chauffeur. At a discreet distance in front and behind, other security personnel ensured His Excellency was safe at all times. Two of these men sat at a table sipping water in the restaurant they went to which was Paul's favourite. Akrins only had his mind on one thing and that was April Golightly who was equally enamoured of him.

  'Forgive me for asking, Sir,' said Belle as they waited for their meal, 'Couldn't you get a date for the evening?'

  'I do have a few lady friends, but nothing serious at the moment. Since my wife died several years ago, I have led the life of a carefree bachelor.'

  Belle noticed a downcast look on Patrick's face. 'Sorry, Patrick. I didn't mean to open old wounds.'

  'You didn't Jazz. Not really. I just thought of my own mother. I was very young when she died.'

  Paul said, 'My son Patrick had a special bond with his mother. Hey. This is meant to be a happy occasion. A celebration of your success with the ship. And also my way of welcoming you all to your new home.'

  Patrick raised his glass and said, 'Thank you. We really appreciate it.'

  'To our new home,' said Akrins, happily raising his glass.

  'To our new home,' added the others.

  Chapter 47

  'I didn't know you couldn't whistle,' said Patrick.

  Akrins fitted another part of the engine together and said, 'I'm happy, not musically gifted. Can you imagine April actually likes me? I mean, really likes me.'

  'You just look after her. Treat her right and let her find out what a great guy you are.'

  'She'll be my princess. Crazy. I had to come all the way to another universe to fall in love.'

  'We are all due a little happiness. Belle and I plan to look for a place of our own once the Romulus is fixed. Then we'll find gainful employment somewhere.'

  'Sounds like a plan. One step at a time, hey?'

  'And this is the next step. We're about ready to run the systems checks with the computer.'

  'Just a final adjustment here and...done. This is it, Patrick. The moment of truth.'

  Patrick patted the engine cover. 'You behave, baby. Toby. You'll have to stay here to fine tune if we need to.'

  'Ready when you are.'

  Patrick left Akrins to attend the engines and returned to the flight-deck where the others were waiting for him. Danders was at the controls of the computer.

  'Just a systems check for now, Liz. Start on the plasma drive number one.'

  'Right. The results are coming through. Hmm. The plasma flow is a little low.'

  Patrick said, 'Toby. There's an adjustment valve on the input side of the plasma intake. Turn it slowly clockwise.'

  'Flow level increasing,' confirmed Danders. 'That's spot on.'

  'Hold it there and secure it, Toby.'

  'Done.'

  Danders said, 'Plasma drive one checks out.'

  'Save those settings,' said Patrick. 'Now number two drive.'

  'Readings coming through. I
'm not getting the antenna temperature reading. It should be an ambient twenty degrees and I have it at zero.'

  Patrick said, 'Toby. You see the red relay on the control panel?'

  'Got it. Playing up?'

  'We have no readout this end.'

  Akrins said, 'I'll put the circuit tester on the terminals. Dead. I've a spare one here. Give me just a minute to replace it. Done. I'm getting a reading with the tester.'

  Danders said. 'We have twenty point three degrees.'

  'That's got it, Toby. Liz. Are we ready for the F T L drives?'

  'Yes.'

  'I have relays clicking all over the place on this capacitor,' said Akrins. 'That's a good sign, right?'

  'Liz?'

  'Yes. It's fine. It's just recalibrating itself. There. It's stable.'

  'Toby?'

  'Nice and quiet now. She seems happy.'

  'Job done for now. Time for a coffee break. Come on up, Toby.'

  Toby came whistling his way onto the flight-deck. 'Not much of a drama.'

  They were all about to go to the kitchen for coffee when the screen suddenly lit up with the face of Commander Drakov.

  'Mr Davron. Dare I ask how it's going?'

  'Good, Commander. Other than an actual test run in space, everything checks out fine.'

  Drakov said, 'You might be doing that sooner than anticipated. It looks like those damn aliens are heading this way.'

  'But nothing has been properly tested on a working flight,' said Patrick. 'We haven't even gotten around to testing those new laser cannons.'

  'Well, then. This as good a time as any. Every fighter on Earth is being Scrambled. Major Burns is in one of ours about to take off. He'll command the action.'

  Matlock said, 'This is it, people. Time to take on the bad guys.'

  'Right,' said Patrick. Buckle up everyone.'

  Drakov said, 'We're having the area around the Romulus cleared first. Blowing yourselves up is one thing, we don't need to take others with you.'

  'He's such a ray of sunshine,' said Danders.

  Drakov returned. 'The area is cleared. Go when you're ready. Good luck and come home safely.'

  Patrick said, 'You know what to do, Liz. Take her up.'

  Danders began the start-up procedure and the plasma drives crept up to operating temperature. The take-off thrusters engaged and the mighty ship lifted smoothly off the launch-pad.

  'Going over to plasma drive on both engines in ten seconds. Hold on tight.'