Johnny was numbed by the loss of his home and many family members, and confused why his parents took the aliens’ offer of accommodation. Much to his surprise, his parents even started to work for these beings from outer space. His father did get to wear a really cool-looking bodysuit which could make incredible things. The boy got to hear a lot about the aliens, especially the one called Sharz. At first, he was resentful of his dad’s friendly attitude to this one alien. This changed after the second explosion in New York, for it was Sharz that arrived in a shuttle and transported them to safety.
The aliens departed after a few short months, leaving behind more questions than answers. Before George and Lisa had a chance to consider their next move, the military took them. They, and the others who had worked with the Gamin, were transported across the country to Cheyenne Mountain.
Johnny found NORAD to be an amazing place; its many secret tunnels and levels proved to be most inviting. He often ended up being escorted back to his parent’s quarters after getting ‘lost.’ Soon after, he and his mom were separated from his dad.
George was whisked away to perform some top-secret job, while Johnny and Lisa were forced to wait inside the underground facility. The days seemed to pass slowly as the pair waited, wondering what was going to happen next.
Without any warning, Lisa and Johnny were taken by the military on yet another mysterious trip. This time, they were flown a long way, on a couple of different large planes, and eventually landed in the dusty Australian Outback. When they arrived at the desert base, Johnny was given all sorts of stuffed toys: kangaroos, koalas, and an unusual looking one, called a platypus.
Once the family was reunited, Johnny was able to watch, from a distance, as his father worked on the secret project. The Gamin had left behind a partially constructed spaceship. Johnny’s pride blazed when he discovered that his dad had been chosen to wear the only alien bodysuit left behind.
Johnny was not allowed onboard the spacecraft, which made him all the more curious about it. At nine years old, and like many boys of his age, he was a natural explorer. His hazel eyes and light brown hair came from his father, while his slight build could be attributed to his mother. As for his keen intellect, though neither would take credit, both were responsible.
Having plenty of time on his hands allowed Johnny to wander all over the base. The airstrip he and his mom landed on was one of three. Each runway is wide, and extremely long, to allow for the safe landing of the largest planes. A spacious road ran next to a rail line that extended through a distant wall surrounding the base. This alien-built wall was demolished in one section by the early ground teams. This same hole had since been widened to accommodate a rail line and road. Numerous buildings are scattered across the landscape. They support the engineers, scientists, and laborers, who worked day and night to complete the spaceship. In one of these buildings, was the apartment occupied by the Stanton family.
This story is about the youngest, and perhaps most mischievous member at that family, Johnny. Being a little short for his age had often caused him to be the brunt of jokes, but on this day, he found that being a small boy could indeed be very helpful.
Forbidden Exploration
Johnny wakes to the sounds and smells of breakfast being made. Jumping out of bed, he gets dressed quickly. Their apartment is much like any other in this facility, not quite large enough. Even though the only occupants are his parents and himself, they are quite cramped. Bounding into the kitchen, he finds his mom busy cooking bacon, eggs, and loads of toast. Her long, dark hair is pulled back, revealing her striking European features. Her high cheekbones and dark eyes pair well with her dark complexion. If he were a little older, he would realize that his mom is truly beautiful, but, as it is, he is too young to notice such things. Lisa turns to him with a wide smile, and says, “Well, look at who finally crawled out of bed.”
George walks to his son and ruffles his hair. He stands there for a moment, admiring their similarities.
Johnny looks up at his father with great admiration, and asks, “So dad, what ‘cha gotta do today?”
George gazes down at his son and smiles. He glances at his wife while he replies, “Well, Son, it’s going to be a hectic day. We load the shuttles aboard the spaceship today.”
Lisa chimes in from the counter as she finishes cooking, “Food’s up! You don’t have to help them every day. Let’s have a family day today.” She adds wistfully.
George’s shoulders sag in defeat as he responds, “I wish I could. The retractable rail was my idea, and was built using the Gamin bodysuit, so I had better make sure it works.”
Lisa sighs, “Yes, I know, but come on, can’t you let someone else do something?” She knows she is not being fair. A lot of other people are working hard too, not just her husband.
The three of them quickly eat their breakfast. George hurries because the sooner the shuttles are loaded, the quicker his work day will be over. Lisa is also motivated to hurry; a few of the women are getting together to discuss bringing other children to the base. This debate has been raging between the civilian authority and the military for months. Wrapped up in their own thoughts, Johnny’s parent’s hardly notice him wolfing down his own food. He wants to get out of the apartment for his own reasons. Inside, he is almost jumping for joy, but he is trying to act as if this were going to be just another boring day.
Finishing up, Johnny takes his dishes to the kitchen. Having decided to scout around the base to see who is busy, and where, he takes his time heading outside. As he sets out, his father’s voice comes to mind. Johnny Stanton, I do not want to catch you near that spaceship again! Well, Johnny’s interpretation is not entirely what his father had meant. I just won’t get caught this time, that’s all. He reasons innocently to himself.
Johnny steps outside, and into the morning sun. It is another hot and dusty day, as had been forecast. The enormous ship looms in the distance. The rising sun shines brightly off the metallic hull as it rests inside the alien construction dock. He studies the dock for a little while, wondering why the adults call it that. A single massive section of the dock runs along the ground, and extends almost the full length of the ship. There are a dozen slim sections that extend upward from each side, curving out from the base, and wrap around the ship. These arms not only hold it in place, but, as he overheard the adults discussing, evidently were designed to be used to aid in the ship’s construction. It is believed that these arms can operate independently and craft components, hull, and armor directly onto the ship. So far though, no one has been able to figure out how to make them do anything at all.
The ship the aliens left behind towers higher than the Empire State Building, and could easily straddle ten city blocks. It is not as big as the one that landed in Manhattan, more like on Manhattan, thinks Johnny as he reflects back. That one was almost as wide as the whole island.
Johnny continues to gaze at the one the aliens left behind. It has a pair of massive engines that are joined together; they look like giant binoculars as they jut out from the back of the ship’s wide body. He stares across the desert landscape at the open loading ramp, and then up to the ship’s widest point. He has been told that the odd-looking ports on the top, bottom, and sides, are sub-light engines. Even at this great distance, they appear huge. He daydreams about alien treasures and devices scattered throughout the ship. The main hull area alone, has twenty levels, which includes a massive hangar deck. The command section that appears to be just plunked on top, has another five. The front of the ship is narrower, curving in from the top, bottom and sides. Overall the ship almost looks like an arrow, albeit a blunt one.
Johnny has been desperate to get on board, and today may just be the day. He was watching patiently the day a group of Japanese arrived and started putting together a fancy computer. He also just happened to be wandering about when the Russians arrived with the first of many nuclear reactors. He also recalls being scolded and sent on his way by the grumpy Russian, Olaf. Sin
ce that event, Johnny avoids him when he can; Olaf is big and loud. His ponderings bring to mind another special day, his recent birthday. Being the only child on the base has been as much a boon, as it has been a lonely time. The cake was shaped like the spaceship; it even had an extra, smaller layer to represent the upper levels. He really liked all the presents, most of which he has put aside waiting for the right time.
With the day passing quickly, he runs back home to grab an early lunch and prepare himself to put his plans into action. Johnny spends a short time at home. He gobbles down a couple of hastily made sandwiches, then sorts through his stash of presents. Finding everything he needs, he thinks about the three American space shuttles that are to be loaded onboard the spaceship today. They are being moved to make room in the nearby storage shed for some reason. He chuckles at his thinking of the massive storage area as a shed. Wasting no more time, he bounds back outside, his excitement building.
Way off in the distance, he can see a group of tiny specks on top of the ship’s hull. Getting out his powerful binoculars, he scans the ship and smiles. With so many people being busy at the storage shed, and even more up on top, today is finally going be, ‘the day’.
His excitement builds even more as he crouches among a stack of crates. He fidgets with his tool belt while he waits. Quite a few of the adults will catch a nap to avoid the heat of the day. Looking down at his brown paper bag, he hopes his flimsy cover story holds. Taking a deep breath, he rises from his hiding spot and tries to walk nonchalantly toward the spaceship. He begins whistling a little tune, trying to act naturally especially since he knows he is breaking his parents’ rules. Hearing his own whistle, he stops. Idiot, he thinks, I don’t want people to notice me. He sighs heavily, and glances around with a guilty look on his face. No one seems to be paying him any attention at all. He grins as he continues on his way, each step bringing him closer to his goal.
Johnny arrives at the ship and steps out of the bright sunlight, and into its shade. He looks up at the oddly colored hull plates that are scattered all over the ship’s underside. He can see where welding crews have been busy filling gaps in the outer armor. He walks on, and is almost to the massive ramp when he hears the disheartening sound of an approaching jeep. He cringes and waits, expecting a lecture from yet another adult. The ship’s ramp is so close, and suddenly, so very far away.
“Hey, Johnny, what ‘cha doing?” The driver asks, as he stops the jeep, kicking up a cloud of dust in the process.
Johnny looks down and kicks his shoe at the ground while mumbling. “Just taking my dad some lunch, Sir.”
“Right…” The tone in the driver’s voice is of a man who knows he’s being lied to.
The boy looks up to see the man looking at him oddly. The driver cocks his head to one side, then glances over at the ramp. He asks bluntly, “You wanna look. Don’t ‘cha? Get in, then.”
Johnny’s jaw drops in disbelief.
“Hurry up, kid. I’m gonna catch hell if your ol’ man finds out I snuck ya in.” The driver scolds.
Johnny quickly jumps in the passenger seat, and almost regrets his decision. The man smells like old baking grease, oil, or something worse.
“Thank you,” Johnny says while wrinkling up his nose in disgust.
The smelly man laughs heartily. “I was a kid once too, ya know. This thing,” he motions to the ship with his thumb, “It’s gotta be killin’ ya, not knowing what’s inside.” Even though he is old, and rough looking, his eyes glint with a mischief all their own.
Johnny finds it difficult to believe that this driver was ever young. He is also very surprised that the man can see straight through him so easily. The engine revs as the jeep bumps its way up the monstrous ramp, heading inside.
The boy’s heart sinks at the sight before him. Standing at the top of the ramp is a soldier, one of the British ones. They are so serious when on duty. The driver does not even slow the jeep down, he simply waves at the guard as they drive past. Johnny thinks he sees the soldier smiling at him while he is pretending not to notice the boy’s face gaping back at him in awe.
Johnny had heard stories about how big the inside of the ship was, but he had no idea. The ceiling is a long way up, and the walls are far away. He counts the levels that stretch upward by the number of railings that are stacked one on top of the next. Eighteen, nineteen, twenty. Wow! He tries to imagine how many football fields could fit in here, thirty, forty, maybe more. While Johnny is craning his neck upward to see more, the jeep squeals to a halt.
“Now be off, and don’t make me regret this.” The driver gives Johnny a serious look before he steps out of the jeep, and walks away.
Johnny cannot believe his luck; the jeep is parked with his side facing a wall. A nearby opening is most tempting. He grabs the brown paper bag and heads inside the huge passageway. Why would he help me get on board the ship? I thought everyone knew that I am not allowed. He tries to recall the stinky man’s name, but is unable. Shaking his head in disbelief, he gazes around. The corridor is wide enough for four people to walk side by side, and really tall, almost three times his height. It is well lit, with long florescent lights being spaced every thirty steps or so. By the haphazard way they are attached to the ceiling, he can see that they have been added recently. The ship’s normal method of lighting is not obvious to him. Probably like the lights in my old room, he thinks, recalling the alien housing they had lived in for a while in Manhattan. The floor, walls, and ceiling, are all a dull metallic grey. Running his hand along the wall, he is surprised to find that the surface is not smooth as he had expected. His tool kit rattles a little as he walks along, but the sound does not echo as much as he thought it would.
Finding a stairwell, he debates which way to go. Stories about the bridge make his decision an easy one. He heads upward. Each stair tread is just a little larger than he is used too, another reminder that this is an alien craft. Making quick bounds, Johnny runs up the stairway. Having heard that the ship’s main hull has twenty levels, and the command levels are above these, he ventures ever upward. The stairs go round and round, reminding him of the stairwells in city buildings. Every four corners brings him to a new level, until he finally reaches the top. Taking deep breaths, he frowns a little, he has only counted to twenty levels. There must be another way up, he reasons.
Feeling proud of his great sense of direction, Johnny confidently walks down the passageway toward the command levels. To his surprise, he comes out onto a balcony that stretches left and right as far as he can see. The expansive area that first greeted him, sprawls out before the boy. The far wall is a long way away. Glancing over the edge of the railing, he can see a tiny Jeep on the cavern’s floor. Walkway after walkway stretches around this massive area. He can see a few stairwells here and there, connecting the many levels. Looking up at the ceiling, he feels as though it is too close now. Glancing downward again makes him feel a little dizzy. Stepping back, he turns around and walks back down the passageway. He is confident in his choice of direction now. Passing the same stairway again, he hesitates for a moment, frowns, and pulls a piece of chalk from his tool kit. He draws a little star on the wall and smiles at his own ingenuity. I won’t get messed up now, he reasons.
Once again striding down the passageway, Johnny glances left and right as he passes darkened room after darkened room. After walking for what feels like a long way, he is alarmed to see a darker area up ahead. As he gets closer, he can clearly see where the last fluorescent light has been installed. The lights turn to the right, heading down another passageway, while the one he is in, continues on into the darkness. Fumbling in his small toolkit, he finds his flashlight and turns it on. The light it gives off is very dim. He stares at the weak light in distress, then bangs the flashlight against the palm of his hand. He is instantly rewarded with a brighter beam, and smiles. Feeling very pleased with himself for being so well prepared, he treads warily into the darkness ahead.
Clomp… Clomp… Clomp…
&n
bsp; Johnny‘s heart jumps at the unexpected sound. The footsteps come from behind him, and they are close. He quickly turns the flashlight off, plunging himself instantly into darkness. The soft glow from the last ceiling light almost reaches him, but not quite. The footsteps get closer, then without pause, get quieter again. Johnny thinks for a moment, and realizes that he is not headed for the bridge. He remembers hearing the adults talking of installing lights all the way there.
Johnny backtracks as quietly as he can, until he is once again bathed in light. He shakes his head in annoyance. He had been so focused on going straight, that he did not think to follow the lights. Back on track once more, he comes to yet another open doorway. This one is has light radiating out from it. Peering around the corner, he is rewarded with the sight of a stairwell. Listening carefully and hearing nothing, he cautiously sneaks in. This one has steps leading both up and down. Grinning excitedly, he runs upward, until he is at the very top. He is almost out of breath from the fast climb, he is still finding the larger steps difficult to adjust to.
Glancing out, Johnny can see that the stairwell gives way to the widest corridor he has seen so far. Peering left and then right, he sees that it is easily wide enough for six people to walk side by side. He steps out of the stairwell as two people exit a nearby side room. Johnny freezes as the pair turns away from him, and casually walks down the passageway. The fact that they did not notice him surprises him as much as their appearance did. Johnny watches as the pair retreats, he then hurries to the same room they had just exited. He listens carefully before stealing a quick peek around the corner.
Initiation Series: Series One Compilation (Terran Chronicles) Page 26