by Saxon Andrew
“No way, Essay! I have film showing it fifty miles behind us when I activated the star drive,” Poul stated emphatically.
Essay stared at the disk and then looked up, “Poul, are you suggesting that this creature came through two galaxies, two black holes, and arrived here a moment after Erica said she wished it was here?”
“I’m not suggesting anything; I’m saying we left that flat creature where we found it. I’m absolutely sure about that.” Poul paused and then said, “And if you even think about taking it back again, you’ll do it without me.”
Essay’s eyes narrowed, “And why do you say that?”
“If this thing could do it once, it can do it again. Just like walking through that force field, this thing is a lot more than we realize. A whole lot more!” The three on board stared at the copper colored disk as its legs moved while Erica rubbed it between its six legs. Essay sighed, stood up, and walked over to Erica’s chair. He reached down and rubbed Penny’s legs. He felt a minute shock and Penny’s legs moved even faster. Erica smiled, “She likes you.”
“Perhaps we should keep what happened between us until we can make sense of what just happened.”
Kamela nodded, “If you mention it, the scientists and engineers will demand you turn it over to them.”
Erica’s eyes narrowed as her eyebrows came together, “It will be a cold day in hell before I allow that to happen.”
Essay sighed, “Erica…”
“She’s just a baby, Essay. I will not allow her to be harmed.”
Penny flipped over on her legs and the small ball on the upper surface ran around the edge and looked directly at Essay. Essay stared at Penny and looked at Erica, “How do you know this is a she?”
Erica smiled, “We women recognize each other.”
Kamela smiled, “I can tell from what little I can hear that Penny is indeed a female.”
Essay smiled and said, “Just don’t let her get into trouble.” Erica threw her arms around Essay’s neck and hugged him tightly as Penny moved over and rubbed against his boots.
Chapter Ten
The community that worked and lived around the Admiralty buildings became accustomed to seeing the flat disk shaped creature following Erica wherever she went. One day, she was called to attend a meeting at Admiral Connor’s conference room and she decided to walk instead of taking a shuttle. It was a beautiful day and it felt good to be alive. They arrived outside the main Admiralty Building and Erica saw Timmy sitting on a bench outside the front doors with his crutches beside him. Timmy survived the surgery but suffered brain damage that left him with slurred speech and legs that didn’t cooperate. Eric walked over and Timmy used his crutches to stand up, “Hi, Timmy. How are you feeling?”
“A…abo…about th…same.”
“Timmy, I’m so sorry.”
“He…hey, I…I’m live.”
“Are you and Alexandra getting married any time soon?”
Timmy looked down at his body and blew out a ragged breath, “I won…won’t…”
“She loves you so much, Timmy.”
“Eve…even so.” Timmy looked down at Penny and smiled. He sat back down on the bench and then reached down and rubbed her. “I felt…”
Erica nodded, “A small shock.” Timmy’s head jerked up and then down. “I think that’s the way Penny gets to know you.” Timmy smiled slightly and Erica said, “I’m going to be late to Admiral Connor’s meeting. Come on, Penny.” Erica turned and started walking away and heard Timmy shout something unintelligible. She stopped and saw Penny was still there with Timmy. She jogged back and said, “Come on, Penny! I’m going to be late!” The round ball on Penny’s edge kept moving from her to Timmy. She motioned for her to come but then Penny started bobbing up and down. “I’m sorry, Timmy. She’s never acted like this before.”
Timmy forced his way to his feet and grabbed his crutches, “I walk with.”
Erica saw Penny’s small ball moving back and forth between them at an incredible speed. She bent down and stared at Penny, “You want to do something?” The ball stopped and stared at her. Erica sensed something was going on and she said, “Then, do it.”
Suddenly, Penny dissolved into a shape like a large slinky, shot off the ground over Timmy’s head. The coils surrounded Timmy and then became an orange colored field. Erica saw Timmy inside the field as he dropped his crutches and pressed on the walls with his hands. It was obvious he was screaming. Erica was too shocked to do anything and tried to decide if she should go for help. Suddenly, Timmy’s eyes closed and he smiled. Erica stared at him and three minutes later, the field dissipated and the slinky shape flew back over his head and Penny was her usual shape on the ground. “Timmy, are you all right!?”
Timmy opened his eyes and stared at her as he said, “Yes, I am.” Erica’s eyes went wide as Timmy left his crutches on the ground and walked forward to hug her, “Erica, your friend here has healed my wounds.”
Erica’s eyes went wide and she said, “Timmy, you can’t tell anyone that Penny did this!”
Timmy nodded, “I know. They’ll take her from you if I do.” Timmy smiled, “Do you mind if I attend the meeting with you?”
“No, not at all.”
Timmy picked up his crutches and put on the hat that covered the former huge scar on the side of his head. He smiled and said, “Let’s go make some waves.”
Erica smiled as they rushed toward the meeting.
• • •
Steve looked at Essay and he said, “She should have been here by now.”
Steve started to respond but saw Erica enter the room with Timmy beside her. He looked at Essay and nodded. Essay turned around and saw Erica with Timmy and knew it took time to get Timmy here. Everyone in the room watched Timmy struggle down the center aisle and take a seat beside Alexandra. She smiled at him and squeezed his hand, “I love you.” Timmy looked at her and nodded.
The meeting started and after an hour Steve said, “Alright, the first supercarrier will be ready for trials in a week. I am opening the floor for suggestions on who should command it.”
Names stared to be offered and Steve wrote each name on his panel and it immediately appeared on the huge wall monitor. Erica stood up and shouted, “I would like to put Timmy Hart’s name up to be considered.” The entire room turned and looked at her. She looked back at them and said, “He’s one of our best Carrier Commanders.”
Steve looked at Timmy staring at him and closed his eyes. He knew Amy was beside herself at Erica’s impertinence at putting Timmy in such an embarrassing position. He started to tell her what he thought about her suggestion when Timmy stood up and said, “Perhaps I should list the experience I bring to the table to assist you in making this decision.”
To say the room was struck silent would be the understatement of the century. The ones shocked speechless the most were Amy and Alexandra. Timmy stood up and handed his crutches to Alex, “Would you mind holding these for a moment?” Alex’s mouth was open and she didn’t even grab the crutches as they fell to the floor. Timmy walked out of the row, jumped up to the stage, took the microphone out of Steve’s hand as he stared at him in shock and said, “We’ll to begin with, I commanded one of the first Carriers that went into service, the Homosassa, and…”
That’s as far as he got. Amy got to him first but only barely ahead of Alexandra. They wrapped him in their arms and Timmy threw the hat off his head. The meeting ended at that point. Timmy refused to discuss how he was healed. Essay looked at Timmy out of the corner of his eyes and then looked at Erica out of the other corner of his eyes. He saw her point at Penny next to her foot. Essay’s eyes went wide and Erica nodded. Essay looked at his father out of the corner of his eyes and saw him looking at Erica with his eyes lowered. He started sliding to the right in an attempt to quietly slip away but Steve grabbed him by the arm, “You and Erica, in my office, now!”
Essay looked at his father and saw he was not a happy space cadet. He looked at Erica and wave
d her to come to him. Five minutes later, they were in Steve’s office flinching as he yelled at them.
• • •
“What have the two of you done with, Timmy!?!” Essay started to speak but Steve yelled, “AND YOU!! Nominating Timmy and putting him into an embarrassing position?”
Erica said, “But…”
“I don’t care if he’s suddenly undergone a miraculous healing, you know that suggestion would put the entire room on edge. Did you know he was healed?” Erica opened her mouth and Steve said, “Shut up!” Erica closed her mouth and Steve looked at Essay, “Did you know about this!?!” Essay opened his mouth and Steve yelled, “SHUT UP!” Essay and Erica stood at attention and Penny was hiding behind Erica’s legs. She’d move out slightly and look at Steve and then move back behind Erica’s legs when Steve yelled at them. Finally, Steve stopped yelling and said, “Pull up a chair!” They went to the side of the office, drug two chairs over, and sat down in front of Steve. He stared at them in silence and it was clear he was in no mood to be trifled with. After a few minutes, he said, “I’m only going to ask this once. How was Timmy healed?”
Essay glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw Erica’s mouth tighten. Oh crap!
“I’m not going to wait much longer for an answer!”
Erica said through tight lips, “I’m sorry, Sir. I can’t answer that question.”
“I’ve given you a direct order, Commodore! Answer the question!”
“I’m sorry, Sir, I cannot.” Steve’s eyes went to slits and Erica said, “I hereby offer my resignation from the Colony’s Navy, Sir.”
Steve’s eyes widened and he looked at Essay, “Same question, Admiral!”
Steve blinked and said, “I’m sorry, Sir. I cannot answer that question.”
Steve sat in his chair staring at them and suddenly looked down. Penny was rubbing against his boots. He reached down and rubbed her top, flinched slightly, and then looked at Erica. “I don’t know you as well as my son but it’s clear to me that both of you are trying to protect someone.” Erica glanced at Penny and saw the ball moving rapidly around her edge. It didn’t just go between Steve and her but was making a complete circle around her upper body at high speed. Steve saw her looking at the floor and said, “EYES FRONT, COMMODORE!!” Steve stood up and walked in front of Erica and opened his mouth just as Penny changed into the slinky form and jumped over Steve’s head and enclosed him in the orange colored field.
“Penny!!” Erica shouted. They could see Steve inside the field pushing against the sides and yelling at the top of his voice but no sound made it through the orange field.
Essay looked at her as he pounded his fists on the field, “WHAT IS HAPPENING?”
Erica wailed, “I don’t know!” Suddenly, Steve closed his eyes inside the field and Essay pounded on it harder, “Stop, Essay!! This is how Penny healed Timmy!” Erica said as she grabbed Essay’s arm.
Essay stopped hitting the field and looked at her, “What?”
“This is what Penny did to heal Timmy. Something about your father has upset her!”
Steve stared at his father inside the field and said, “How long is this going to take?”
“It’s already taken longer than it took with Timmy.”
They stood outside the orange field and after fifteen minutes, Essay said, “Tell her to release him!” Suddenly, the orange field cleared and Penny sprung over Steve’s head, landed on the floor, assumed her normal shape, where she immediately ran over behind Erica’s legs. Steve stood there with his eyes closed as Essay rushed to him and wrapped his arms about him.
Steve’s eyes opened, he sighed heavily, “This is the first time in months I haven’t felt the pain.”
Essay’s eyes narrowed, “What pain? What are you talking about?”
Steve sat down in his chair and leaned back. He took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. He looked at each of them and then said, “I’ve not been willing to tell you. Only Lani knows.”
“Knows what!?”
Steve looked into Essay’s eyes and then fell back in his chair, “Five months ago I was diagnosed with cancer.”
“WHAT?”
“It was a very virulent form and the Doctor gave me a very short time to live. The latest evaluation yesterday said I have three weeks left at the rate the cancer was growing.”
Both of them knelt beside his chair and each took one of his hands in theirs. Essay could only shake his head, “Dad, you should have told us.”
Steve smiled, “You sound like, Lani.”
Essay sighed, “I know you’ve been losing some weight but you convinced me you were on a diet.”
Steve shrugged, “It’s been a forced diet. I can’t keep anything down.”
Erica looked into Steve’s eyes, “How do you feel now?”
Steve looked at her, moved his shoulders slightly, and tilted his head, “Not bad. What just happened?”
Erica blew out a hard breath, “It was Penny who healed Timmy.”
“Penny?”
Erica nodded behind her and Steve saw the copper colored disk peeking out from behind her legs. He jerked his head to Erica, “That’s why you refused to tell me?” Erica closed her eyes and nodded. “You’re afraid the scientists will claim her and take her from you?” Erica nodded again. Steve stood up and unbuttoned the top of his uniform. He looked at his stomach and his eyes went wide.
“What are you doing, Dad.”
“Before I walked in this room, I had a tumor the size of a cantaloupe sticking out of my midsection. I’ve been having to wear loose shirts to hide it. It’s not there now.” Steve walked back to his desk and punched a button, “Doctor, can you come to my office and bring your hand scanner with you.” Steve listened and said, “No, it’s not time yet but I need you to check something for me.” Steve ended the call and said, “I have Doctor Cameron on speed call.” Steve leaned out and looked at Penny, who immediately moved further behind Erica’s legs. “Hey you. Come over here.” Penny leaned out and Steve nodded, “Yeah, you.” Penny looked up at Erica and she nodded. Penny walked slowly from behind Erica and stopped in front of Steve’s chair. Steve picked her up and put her in his lap, “Thank you for helping with the pain.” He started rubbing her and she flipped in his lap and put her feet in the air.
“Penny likes to be rubbed around her feet.” Steve started rubbing between her feet and Penny had all six legs moving in ecstasy.
Steve laughed as Doctor Cameron came running through the door, “WHAT’S WRONG, ADMIRAL?!”
“I want you to do a quick scan and tell me where I am with this disease.”
Cameron lifted his hand scanner and ran it down Steve’s chest. He looked at the screen and his eyes narrowed. He ran it down again and then said, “Stand up!”
Steve put Penny down, stood up, and raised his arms. He looked at Essay, “I’ve done this many times with the good Doctor.”
The Doctor ran scan after scan and said, “I need to have another scanner brought in.”
Steve smiled, “Why?”
“This one is defective. It’s not picking up any traces of the cancer. I’ll order another one, Admiral.” Steve nodded and the Doctor ran out of the room. Steve picked up Penny and started rubbing her again. He stared at her and said without looking up, “Is there anything else I should know about Penny.”
Essay rolled his eyes and sighed heavily, “I’m of the opinion that she can teleport across the universe.”
Steve continued to stare at Penny and smiled as he rubbed her, “Essay, I’m being serious.”
Essay paused and said, “So am I.”
Steve’s eyes narrowed and he looked up at Essay and saw he wasn’t smiling. He looked at Erica and she shrugged before she nodded. Steve looked back at Penny and said, “Now you are really something.” All three of them heard the low volume hum Penny made when she was the happiest. Steve leaned back in his chair and smiled, “Tell me what happened.”
• • •
An hour later, Eric and Essay left Steve’s office followed by a very distraught Doctor. The Prophet’s Eyes came down from orbit, picked Essay and Erica up, and boosted off the planet. They flew out to the orbit of Mars and Kamela linked Essay to Steve’s mind, “Are you still holding her, Dad?”
Steve nodded, “I am but she isn’t quite as happy as she was before you left.”
Essay looked at Erica and nodded. Erica said, “Penny, I want you here with me now.” In an instant, Penny was rubbing up against her boots. Kamela’s mouth fell open and she sent the image to Steve.
“Holy guacamole! I thought the two of you were crazy, originally missed something, or possibly delusional. How does she do this?!” Steve exclaimed.
Essay stared at Penny and heard Poul say, “I’ve given a lot of thought to this, Admiral Connor, and I think that Penny is mentally linked to Erica no matter where she is in the universe. She can go to Erica when she hears her asking her to come.”
“There’s something else the two of you should know.”
“What is that, Dad?”
“The last thing the Doctor told me in private after the two of you left my office was that my body is now the body of a thirty year old instead of a sixty three year old man. He says my hair is grey but will probably grow out to its normal color. Somehow, she’s managed to make me younger.” Essay could only sit in silence as Steve said, “I will keep her a secret but can you imagine what your mother will have to say about this?”
Erica huffed, “We’ll take her to Lani and see if we can’t get Penny to do the same with her.”
“I would greatly appreciate it. She will be very upset if she’s fifty eight and I’m in my thirties.”
Kamela laughed out loud. Essay looked at her, “What do you find so funny?”
“The two of you look younger as well. Are you sure Penny hasn’t also changed you while you were sleeping?”
Erica looked at Essay and then they both looked down at Penny, who was running off the bridge as quick as her stubbly little legs could move her. Erica sighed, “I guess that answers that question.” Kamela laughed even harder.