The taxi glided gently to a landing on the outer edge of the parking lot. “That’s fifteen G,” the pilot said.
Michael handed him his pen phone which the pilot placed in a slot on the instrument panel. A small panel above the slot changed from ‘15G’ to ‘PAID’.
The hatch opened and Michael climbed out hauling his duffle bag after him. He looked up to see Halbert coming from the direction of the house.
“I got here, finally,” Michael said.
Halbert paused before replying and watched the taxi lift off and turn southeast back toward the spaceport. “Quite an adventure you had,” he said eventually.
“I’m trying to figure out what went wrong,” Michael said.
“Strange things happen,” Halbert said. “It’s just unfortunate that you had to bring your friends into it, but from what your father told me you did the right thing. You needed help chasing that boy down and you chose the right people.”
“How do you know they were right?”
“The Secret Service checked them out when you first got to the adventure camp, they also checked out your thieving friend.”
“What did they find out about Doherty?” Michael said. “He’s an enemy agent?”
“No, just massive psychological problems.”
Michael bowed his head. “That makes me sorry I punched him.”
“For his sake it’s good you did,” Halbert said. “There was a Secret Service agent on the Orontes. If we had to bring her into it, I doubt that Mr. Doherty would still be in the land of the living.”
“That bad?” Michael said. “He would’ve been killed?”
“The Secret Service agent was under deep cover. With the extremely limited time to get the pyramid’s location, she would’ve had to be quite intimidating. That boy would’ve complained to ship’s security and blown her cover.”
“Are my friends in danger?”
“No. They’re being watched and their pen phones have been tapped. If they mention a word about it the most that’ll happen is you’ll get two house guests for a while. Mr. Doherty is a different matter. With his psychological problems he’s classified as a major security risk.”
“I don’t think they’d mind coming to our house,” Michael said. “I was going to invite them later anyway. They loved first class.”
“And everything that happened was logically covered as security and concern for that 3V viewer. Did you have any more problems with that lustful debutant?”
“How did you know about that?” Michael said.
“The Secret Service sees all. You’re the son of a head of state and we’re at war. Protecting you is one of their jobs. You do know the Martinellys were looking for you, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Michael said. “We had breakfast in the suite, lunch at a restaurant in the mall and a ships officer told me when the Martinellys had dinner so we could avoid them.”
“And the first class lounge?”
“There were two lounges. We went to the other one. Tara pretended to be my loving girlfriend to avoid any other lustful debutants.”
Halbert laughed. “I told you. Now you’re sixteen you’re going to have to expect that. You’re a member of one of the five wealthiest families in the galaxy. That coupled with an exotic past will attract many a young lady.”
Michael lifted his duffle bag and started to walk toward the farm house. “Exotic past?” he laughed. “Before I arrived on Batalavia, I lived in a backwater army town in central Texas. I went to a public school and played soccer.”
“I ordered coco for you,” Halbert said as he followed.
“Oh yes,” Michael continued. “I also drank exotic drinks like coco and Coca Cola.”
“Did you see the debate in the Commonwealth Council last night?”
“Everyone on the ship did. People were showing up in the public 3V rooms in their pajamas.”
“And their reaction?”
“It was interesting. In tourist class they were shouting support for Casia. Later when we got to first class they talked about giving that planet away.”
“The rich became richer supplying the military when the war started, now they’re losing money because of the disruption in trade.”
“So the population is split.”
“Forget first class, it’s the people that count, or it will be when your father and the academics get through with redesigning the governments and election processes. They’ll make it so you can no longer buy an election.”
“The people in the public 3V room cheered when dad told Haugen to shut the fuck up. Everyone thinks he’s an idiot.”
“And they all love your father. He has no pretensions and speaks the language of the people. They have loved him since the first time he was on 3V nine years ago.”
“Then it was good that dad forgot to switch on the privacy function and everyone heard him yelling at Haugen.”
Halbert smiled. “He did not forget.”
They entered the house and Michael put down his duffle and opened it. “Boy, am I glad to get rid of this,” he said.
“We have another one for you to pick up,” Halbert said.
“Oh no!” Michael exclaimed. “I don’t think I could handle it. Where is it, an uninhabited moon covered in man eating trees in the galaxy’s outer rings?”
“Just back to the Carlisle spaceport. A man arriving from the planet Verloren will just walk up to you and hand you a package. It’ll take three hours at the most.”
“Can I take my own strato?”
“Of course.”
Michael took out the black pyramid and sat it in the table. “I’m damn tired. Couldn’t someone else get it?”
“Chock, Muna and I have each made two pickups. If we go there any more times it would attract attention. Earl has been there the most times, but he has an excuse. He owns the Carlisle Fargo Transit dealership. He meets just about every ship picking up repair parts for his service department.”
“Are Bund agents watching the spaceport?”
“We know of two. One is a girl who works at a store there and the other is a strato taxi driver. Remember, a lot of the people on Casia have German ancestry.”
“I guess it’s me then,” Michael sighed.
“After picking up a hundred of those things we’re running out of people.”
“That many?”
“The one you will pick up today will be the last.”
“Is that some sort of honor?” Michael said.
Halbert chuckled then opened a cupboard and took out two more pyramids. “I’ll take these three to your father while you go make the pickup then go home.”
“I wish you hadn’t told me about the spy. She’s going to pick my nervousness up on IR if she has a scanner.”
“She’s at the main passenger terminal. You’re going to the Halverson freight terminal. There will be a crewman off of one of the freighters who’ll hand you the package.”
* * *
“Carlisle Interstellar spaceport welcomes you,” said the strato’s computer. “The central parking net is now in control of your vehicle. As per your request, you are being dropped off at the Halverson shipping lines terminal, inbound ramp. When you wish to leave, activate your strato remote control and your vehicle will be delivered to your location. Have a nice day.”
Michael turned in his seat and looked around. “Damn,” he said. “My duffle bag. I must have left it at Halbert’s.”
The strato slowed and came to a halt a few meters above the landing strip. There was no gap in the line of stratos in front of a glass sided building.
“It will be thirty five seconds before a landing spot is available,” The computer said. “We apologize for the inconvenience.”
“A whole thirty five seconds,” Michael sighed then chuckled.
A strato in the line slowly rose, slid sideways then accelerated down the landing strip. Michael’s moved forward and took its place.
* * *
Halbert’s farm house was
unusually lit up as Michael’s strato glided to a stop in the parking lot. “Good,” he said to himself. “Muna and Chock must be here.”
The hatch opened and Michael climbed out. He started to walk toward the farmhouse. There were two other vehicles in the parking lot. One was an off grid navigator he recognized as Chock and Muna’s and there was another.
Michael stopped. The second vehicle had caught his attention. He didn’t recognize the make. It wasn’t an off grid navigator, there was no transparent dome on top. It looked like a strato but larger. There were only three models available on Casia, the Fargo, the Jensen and the Toyota, it was none of these.
Out of curiosity, Michael wandered over to it. “There’s no maker’s name,” he said to himself after inspecting the front. He wandered around to the side. “Where the hell are the propulsion jets?” He ducked down to look underneath. “No maneuvering jets either. It’s not a strato. Might be a small space shuttle.”
“Michael,” Muna said and Michael turned to see her. “What’re you doing here?”
“Forgot my duffle bag.”
“Oh yes,” Muna said, breaking into a smile. “I saw it in the living room. I’ll get it.” She turned and started to walk.
“Just a minute,” Michael said. “What on earth is this?”
Muna turned. “What is what?”
“This vehicle, is it a strato or a shuttle? It looks cool, whatever it is.”
Muna shrugged. “I don’t know one vehicle from another. It belongs to friends of Halbert.”
“Can I ask them what it is?” Michael said.
“Uh… they’re not here right now. They’re with Chock hiking up to Dixon point. They’re looking for public land to homestead.”
“At night?”
“They’re spending the night up there. You could take the navigator and join them.”
Michael laughed. “I think I’ve had enough camping for a while. That adventure camp put me off. I must have driven in a hundred tent pegs because of the rampant hammer phobia.”
“On Earth I used to camp in my van. Here, Chock’s in charge of tents.”
“Was that in Arizona where the Time Stone got us?”
“No,” Muna said hesitantly. “I’m from Memphis. I was never west of the Mississippi.”
“Karla,” Michael said. “I know who you are. Karla Brent, captured by the Time Stone in 1969.”
“Does your father know?” Muna said.
“I don’t think so,” Michael said. “I won’t tell him.”
“I don’t know if he’d forgive me for messing things up like I did.”
“My father also figured out who your boyfriend Charlie was.”
“He wasn’t my boyfriend. He was just a man that had powerful karma, evil karma. He controlled people, including me.”
“Did you take part in the murders?”
Muna shook her head. “I was there when they planned it. I panicked and took off. I was on my way back to my parents in Tennessee when I got zapped into this century by the Time Stone.”
“Why did you think he was still alive? The colony ship was from eighty years after you knew him.”
“His power, I was crazy. People on the ship told me he died in prison. I didn’t believe them.” Muna shook her head. “I really don’t want to talk about it. All I can do now is assure you that I’m sane. I won’t screw things up for your father again. I want to help.”
Michael hung his head. “I understand.”
“Stay here,” Muna said. “I’ll get your duffle bag.” She turned and started to walk.
“I’ll come get it,” Michael said.
“No, no, no,” Muna said. “Stay there, I’ll bring it out.”
A sudden dimming of one of the windows caught Michael’s attention. “Muna?” he called. “Is someone in the house? I thought you said everyone was at Dixon Point.”
“No one’s here but me,” Muna said nervously and continued to walk.
Michael looked back at the strange vehicle. “Something’s wrong,” he said to himself. “What the hell is that thing? It isn’t a strato.”
Michael started out at a slow walk back to his strato increasing his speed with every step. Out of the corner of his eye he saw another upstairs window dim as if someone walked past it. He dove through the hatch and into the pilot’s seat.
“Computer,” he said. “Connect me with my father.”
“Unable to transmit,” the strato’s computer replied. “Unidentified energy field disrupting transmission.”
“Damn,” Michael said. “Shut the hatch and power up.”
“Unable to comply,” the strato’s computer replied. “Unidentified energy field disrupting vehicle functions.”
“I hope this thing closes manually,” Michael said and reached for the handle on the hatch door.
As he extended his arm, it was grabbed by a hand. Michael turned and found himself looking into the eyes of Chock.
“Hey buddy,” Chock said. “Haven’t seen you in a while. What’s new?”
“Chock, let go of my arm,” Michael said.
“Hey,” Chock said as he let go. “I was just worried you would slam the door on my head.”
“I thought you were at Dixon Point,” Michael said.
“Just got back. It’s boring up there.”
“And the people you took there who wanted to homestead, where are they?”
“They didn’t like it. Too hilly. They wanted to start a peach farm.”
“That’s not what I asked,” Michael said. “I asked where they were now.”
Chock looked over his shoulder. “Somewhere around here. They could have gone down to take a look at the river.”
“At night?” Michael said. “Something’s wrong here. When I was shopping for a strato, I looked up every strato and shuttle made in the Commonwealth. That thing over there isn’t one of them. I don’t even know what it is.”
Chock looked over his shoulder again. “I think they said it was an experimental, you know, one of a kind.”
“Bullshit,” Michael snapped. “Muna’s acting strange. She doesn’t seem to want me in the house. You suddenly show up, also that weird vehicle.”
“There’s nothing wrong,” Chock said.
“There’s someone in the house you don’t want me to know about.”
“Chock,” Muna said as she walked up. “I think we’d better introduce him to our friends. If he tells his father what he’s seen it would cause problems.”
“What?” Michael said. “Do they have German accents?”
“No, no,” Chock said. “They have nothing what so ever to do with the war. They’re no threat to us or any other planet.”
“So, why don’t you want me to tell my father?”
“He’s up to his ears right now,” Muna said. “The government, the war. He can only handle so much.”
“Does Halbert know?”
“He introduced them to us,” Muna said.
“Come on,” Chock said. “Come in and say hello.”
Chapter 19
“You weren’t making a joke at the lemonade shop, were you?” Farren said. “You do have a bridge. You can speak to your people across the dark.”
Colin lowered his microphone. “Not only that, but we can get visions of them as well as talk. I can see him now.”
“How far away is he?’ Hansel said.
“Further than you could walk in a thousand lifetimes,” Colin said.
Malia stared in amazement at the image on the two dimensional monitor screen. The medical technician on Pellan broke into a broad smile and waved to her. Malia jumped in fright and tentatively waved back.
“The man lifted his hand and moved it,” Malia said.
“That was a wave,” Colin chuckled. “It’s a friendly greeting.”
“Is everyone across the dark friendly like this man?” Malia said.
“Most are,” Colin said. “But there are some that’re mean.”
“Like our drill instructor
, Sergeant Ko,” Yuri said. “I think he kicks dogs and beats his mother.”
“That’s terrible,” Tanni said.
“It was a joke,” Colin said. “Sergeant Ko’s probably a nice guy when you get to know him.”
“I have the results of the remote medical exams,” the technician on the monitor said. “First patient Tanni. The antivirals should relive the swelling on the optic nerves and she should regain her sight in both eyes completely.
“Patient Farren, due to the length of time he has had the virus, he’ll only have partial recovery in the left eye, there’s too much damage to the right. The optic nerve in the right will have to be replaced with a clone. The doctors recommend eventually replacing both.
“Patient Hansel. Permanent damage to both optic nerves, they will have to be replaced. You’ve sent us their genetic sequences; we’ll generate compatible optic nerve clone replacements for both patients. We’ll ship you the replacement nerves plus an attachment to your remote surgical unit. When we assembled your medical gear we weren’t anticipating micro neurosurgery of this nature. The doctors here can perform the operation.”
“What was that about a clown?” Farren said. “Do we have to wear baggy cloths, a lumpy mask and talk in a funny voice?”
“No,” Colin laughed. “Clone. They grow a new part for your body. In this case the part that gives you visions. It’s damaged.”
“They can do that,” Ken said. “Five years ago I was out hunting with my brothers. We were using replica antique chemical firearms. My stupid brother shot me in the foot and blew off a toe. The doctors grew another for me and attached it.”
Colin turned to the monitor. “Anything on why patient Malia is immune to the virus?”
“There are several unidentified strains of antibodies in her system. We believe one or more are giving her protection. A vaccination would be useless as they already have the disease. We’d have to do a lymph node implant for the production of antibodies. We need actual blood and lymph node samples from the young lady that’s immune. Doing it by genetic patterning would be hit and miss.”
Victim of Circumstance (The Time Stone Trilogy Book 3) Page 23