by Saxon Andrew
He spiraled down to the valley and said, “Permission to land.”
“Permission granted, the door is open.”
Ed flew into the cave and climbed out of his Striker immediately. The night Crew Chief said, “Good Flight?” Ed nodded and walked away. The Chief pressed his communicator, “He’s back!”
Ed took a cart through the empty tunnel and arrived at his quarters without running into anyone. He went to his bed and laid down. Ahhh, the cots were nothing compared to his own bed. He set a clock and closed his eyes.
Chapter Six
The alarm went off like a bomb and blasted him out of a deep sleep. He reached over and hit the bedside table with no results…suddenly, the alarm went off. He raised his head and forced one-eye open. He smiled, his mother was holding the alarm, “I didn’t hear you come in.”
Ed dropped his head on the bed and said, “It was early and I didn’t want to wake you. I’ve missed you, Mom.”
“I let you sleep. It’s good to have you home. How long are you going to stay?”
Ed sighed, “Probably a few months.”
“Good, I like having you around!”
Ed almost reset the alarm but knew there would be no getting back to sleep. He had an appointment with General Alverez and he was going to follow his orders to the letter; clean up, eat a good meal, then come and see him…in that order. He sat up and put his feet on the floor and rubbed his eyes. He stood up and stretched feeling his muscles protest for a moment, then he headed to the shower. He had forgotten just how good a shower felt in Earth’s gravity.
He stayed in the hot-water for almost an hour and then forced himself to get out. He glanced at the clock and saw lunch was being served in thirty-minutes. He was going to ask his mother to cut his hair but there was no time; he had to get to the cafeteria before the crowds began arriving. He tied his black-hair back, put on a jumpsuit, tied his boot strings, and kissed his mother on the cheek, “I have an appointment; I’ll be back later this afternoon.” She nodded and went back to cleaning the kitchen.
• • •
Ed arrived at the cafeteria and looked through the glass panes in the door. CRAP! The room was full and most of the tables were full. He shook his head, ‘It must be a day off from school. There were children sitting around the room at most of the tables.’ He looked through the glass and saw his normal seat was empty and no one was sitting around it…GOOD!”
He slipped through the door and went quickly to the food-line and filled his tray. He kept his head down and didn’t look around as he carried his tray to his place next to the wall. He saw people glance at him but they quickly looked away. He slid in to his row and sat down at his chair. He kept his head down and began eating his lunch. Ohhhh…the food was so much better here than what he ate on the Moon. Being away made him appreciate the tastes so much.
He felt something on his left forearm and lifted his head. A little girl who appeared to be about four-years old was standing next to him with one hand on his forearm and the other holding out a wildflower. His eyes narrowed and she said only the way a four-year old can, “Thank, you!”
Ed looked up at her mother standing behind her daughter and she said with moist eyes, “Thank, you.”
Ed looked at the little girl, who had her hand holding the wildflowers extended. Ed smiled slightly and took the flowers from her. Both of her hands covered her mouth and she giggled.
Her mother put her hands on her child’s shoulders and walked her away. Immediately behind them was another little girl who had to be younger than the first one. She pushed her hand out with a wildflower toward him and said loudly, “THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY MOMMY!”
Ed looked up and saw Genna Edwards standing behind her with her husband, “Thank you for allowing me to come home, Ed. I wouldn’t be here if not for you.” Ed’s eyes grew wet as he took the flowers and he turned and stared at his tray. A boy about ten-years old appeared next and said, “Thank, you!” Ed continued to stare at his tray and the boy put his wildflower on the table next to Ed’s tray. Every parent in the huge cafeteria brought their children over to Ed. They thanked him and put their wildflowers on the table. Soon, the entire table was covered in wildflowers and still they came.
Finally, after more than two-hours, he heard a familiar voice, “Thank, you, Ed.” He looked up and saw Charlotte. Her tears were rolling down her face as she said, “I treated you horribly. I know you didn’t intend to hurt me and I just blew it all up to get attention. I’m sorry!” She put her wildflower on the table and ran away.
Ed sighed and saw Butch, Keith, and Dag standing behind her. Butch said, “We’ve been asked to offer the thanks of all the male-pilots for your bravery in protecting them and their families. He pulled out a sheet of paper and Ed rolled his eyes. Butch said, “I don’t have a speech. What I do have is something that I found, which I think is illuminating.” Ed stared at him with his eyes still moist and Butch said where everyone in the room could hear, “The Chinese Astrological Sign of the Rat occupies the first and most prominent position in the Chinese Zodiac. The Rat symbolizes such character traits as wit, imagination, and curiosity. Rats have keen observational skill and with those skills, they’re able to deduce much about other people and other situations. Overall, Rats are full of energy, talkative and charming but they do have a tendency to become aggressive when threatened. Rats are full of advice but they will never share their troubles with others. They are honest individuals and they live in the moment.” Butch looked up from the piece of paper and said, “They are also capable of surviving any situation.”
Butch put the sheet of paper on top of the large stack of wildflowers and said, “Except for being talkative and charming, although I must confess I have seen some charm lately, all those other traits describe you perfectly. I suspect if we had treated you fairly, you would have spoken to us more often. On a personal note, Dag, Keith, and I will follow you through the gates of hell and know that we’d come out safe and smiling. You will always be our Rat, Ed.” The three pilots came to attention, saluted, did a smart about-face, and walked away. He started shaking his head and looked back at his tray.
A few moments later, he heard, “I suppose you’re thinking that Command put everyone up to doing this?” Ed looked up and saw Jillian sitting across from him. He stared at her and she smiled, “The truth is that General Alverez ordered us not to do it.” Ed’s head tilted slightly and Jillian continued, “He said you would take it wrong and wouldn’t help him.” Jillian raised a shoulder, “But the mothers told him that their children were not under his command and they could do what they wanted! They essentially told him to go pound sand. They’ve been waiting for you to come back, so their children could go up into the meadows to pick the prettiest flowers to present to you.” Jillian paused and sighed, “Thank you for saving my life, Ed and I’m not just talking about what you did in your striker. My life is fuller and filled with excitement by having been around you.” Jillian held out two wildflowers that had their stems braded and held together with a yellow ribbon. She held the flowers out to him, looked into his eyes and said, “Thank, you.” Ed took the flowers and nodded. Jillian stood up and walked away.
Ed sat in his chair and the room was silent. He picked up the piece of paper Butch had read and read it again. He thought about the stars that he spent hours watching and shook his head. Stars, Chinese Astrology? Were his old-friends trying to send him a message? He took a breath and stood up. He squared his shoulders, which were normally slouched to prevent him from being noticed. He picked up his tray, walked out of the row, and went to the rear exit. He emptied his tray and saw everyone in the room was standing and watching him. He went to attention and saluted them and said loudly, “THANK, YOU!!” He dropped the salute, did an about-face, and left the room. Jillian watched him leave with tears in her eyes and Carol said, “I’m sorry, Jilly. I was so wrong about him.”
“Sis, we all were and that includes me. I went to be an irritant when I first went to
his table. It was only after looking into his tormented eyes that I saw there was something there none of us saw.”
Carol glanced at the back exit, “I think all of us see it now.”
Jillian sighed, “I really hope that’s true.”
Carol nodded over her shoulder, “Look around us…they know.”
• • •
Juan’s intercom came on and he heard, “He’s on the way to your office.”
“Thanks, Rachel!” He pressed a button on the intercom and said, “Are you ready!?!”
“Just finished setting it up.”
“We’ll be there momentarily.” Juan heard a knock on his door and said, “ENTER!” Ed walked in and went to attention, “Ensign Boyer reporting as ordered, Sir.”
Juan returned his salute and quickly said as Ed opened his mouth, “Don’t say anything!” Ed’s mouth closed and Juan ordered, “Follow me!” Juan walked out of his office and Ed saw a cart had been pulled up in the corridor. Juan said, “Get in!” Juan sat in the back seat and Ed sat down next to the driver. What was going on? The cart moved out of the corridor and into the northern tunnel. It picked up speed and accelerated to the far end of the tunnel in a few moments. It slowed before it arrived at the end and Juan got out of the cart and started climbing a ladder. Ed followed him up the ladder and went through a hatch on the surface. He stepped out and saw they were standing in the meadow next to the mountain chain that surrounded the valley. He looked behind him and saw General Alverez standing next to a large piece of white-colored metal. “Do you know what this is?”
Ed walked over and stared at the metal. He went to the side of it and his eyes flew open, “This has to part of the hull from one of those white ships.”
“Go on.”
Ed stared at the thickness of the metal and saw that there was a second piece of the metal behind the front piece. The two pieces had to be ten-feet thick. “You’ve placed two pieces back to back.”
“Very good, Lt. Boyer!”
Ed’s eyes narrowed, “Sir, I’m not a Lieutenant.”
Juan said, “Follow me,” and started walking briskly away from the rocky wall behind the two-pieces of metal. Juan said, “I know you wouldn’t agree to accept a promotion but during the fight you had with the two-white ships, I issued a battlefield promotion. I really didn’t think you’d survive but you did. However, battlefield promotions aren’t optional. Whether you like it or not, you’re a lieutenant.” Ed opened his mouth to protest but saw a young woman standing ahead of them. She was holding some kind of…rifle?
Juan arrived in front of her and smiled, “Thank you, Suzette. Have you checked it out?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good.” Juan lifted the rifle and said, “Now pay attention, Boyer! See this switch on the top of the scope?” Ed nodded. “To activate the scope, push the switch forward.” Juan pushed the switch and Ed heard a small humming sound that went away in a few seconds. “Now, this switch located just above the trigger-guard controls the gun. Push it up to activate it; pull it down to put it on safe. Got it?” Ed nodded again. Juan took the rife and held it out to Ed along with a pair of ear protectors, “Now take this and I want you to hit that piece of white metal in the center.” Ed looked behind him and saw the piece of metal was almost too small to see. He looked at Juan and Juan said, “Come on, you big baby! Take a shot!”
Ed took the weapon and said, “What’s going on, Sir?”
“Just shut up and take the shot.”
Ed was getting angry but he put the ear-protectors on, pushed the scope’s switch forward and lifted the rifle and stared into the scope. He was surprised when the white piece of metal filled the scope. He lowered it and the metal disappeared in the distance. He looked through the scope again and it was as clear as if it were twenty-feet in front of him. He pushed the safety-switch up and sighted on the center of the distant target. He pulled the trigger and even with the ear-protectors, the ensuing boom almost deafened him. He shook his head and Juan pointed toward the distant target, “Take another shot; you can do better that that!”
Ed looked through the scope again and saw a hole in the white metal about six-inches below and four-inches to the right of center. Ed sighted in again and held the weapons steady and gently squeezed the trigger. He was prepared for the noise and kept his eyes on the scope. The second shot hit the middle of the target in an instant. This was impossible. No object moving through air could move that fast! He looked at Juan and said, “What is this thing?”
Juan shrugged, “This is the rifle our ground forces used prior to our converting to blasters. The noise you heard was a sonic-boom that happened six-feet in front of the barrel.”
“It’s accelerating that fast?” Ed asked.
“Actually, we built this one to operate at a lower speed than it could at maximum power. What you’re holding is what we call a form of rail-gun. A small series of magnets accelerates the round through the barrel close to escape velocity. Matter of fact, Suzette here and Patrick originally built one and they fired a bowling ball sized metal ball out of it. It’s due to hit Neptune in another two-years.
Ed looked at the young woman and she smiled, “Jimmy Carpenter developed the magnets when he and Summer were students at MIT. Patrick and I were just fooling around and thought we’d see what would happen if we used the magnets to accelerate a metal ball. It left Earth faster than we could see and the radar on the north peak lost it in a couple of seconds.”
Ed looked at Juan, “Sir, why aren’t we using those magnets instead of the ones that the Aliens used on their shuttle?”
Juan shrugged, “The Strikers can already exceed the limits of our pilots.” Ed shook his head and Juan said, “What?”
“Sir, the Strikers can exceed the pilot’s physical limitations in a high-G turn but you just can’t beat straight out acceleration. If we could move this fast, we could have just pulled away from them.” Juan stared at Ed and he said, “Sir, it takes about four-minutes for the magnetic units on my striker to warm up. This rifle was ready to fire in less than two-seconds.”
Suzette said, “We call it a Rail-Rifle.”
Juan looked at Suzette, “Why did we choose to use the Alien magnetic drives?”
“After discussing it, we assumed the aliens were far ahead of us technologically. Plus, the drives were really simple to manufacture and we felt we needed to build as many Strikers as possible.”
Ed said, “Did you even take a look at the difference.”
Suzette chuckled, “Come on Lieutenant; you know once a burocracy starts moving, it’s close to impossible to turn it around.”
Ed shook his head, “That is what can get you killed.”
Juan stared at Ed and turned to Suzette, “I want you to convert all the magnets in the Alien’s magnetic drives to ours. You can use Boyer’s Striker to make the initial change. You and Patrick get it done as quickly as possible and you have permission to use anyone you need to make it happen.”
“I’ll have to pull some of the engineers off their pet projects, Juan.”
“I don’t care you if you have to drag them kicking and screaming to do it! Get it done!”
Suzette nodded and headed toward an open hatch fifty-yards away. Juan looked at Ed, “Let’s go see what happened to the metal.”
They walked the fifteen-hundred yards and stopped in front of the large piece of white metal. Ed’s eyes flew wide open as he saw the massive cracks and fissures moving out from the two-holes punched into the metal. Juan was also surprised and he walked around to the back of the metal as Ed continued to stare at the holes. Ed heard, “Come around here, Boyer.”
Ed went around to the back of the metal and saw two huge holes that overlapped in the back of the metal. He started shaking his head and looked at Juan, “Was the metal weakened when the white ship blew up?”
“We’ve tried to drill through these pieces to make mounting them on a brace easier and gave up. We had to build a special support structure to hold them
up against each other. You just took the first shots at them.”
Ed blew out a breath and said while staring at the two-holes, “What projectile did you use to hit it?”
Juan smiled, “A hardened, magnetic, metal ball.” Ed stared at him and Juan said, “You should be aware that the Rail-Rifle you fired can shoot those balls at a rate of a thousand a minute.”
“But there wasn’t any recoil,” Ed replied.
“There was a little but not enough to throw your aim off. You should also know that we had these mounted on our satellites before converting them to blasters. Those Rail-Guns could fire at six-thousand rounds a minute.”
Ed stared at Juan for a long moment and said, “If they were small enough to fit in our satellites, those guns could also be mounted in a Striker.”
Juan nodded, “Actually, three of them could replace the three-blasters being used in the bow of the Striker.” Juan lifted his phone, “Suzette, while you’re converting Boyer’s magnetic drives, install three of the Rail-Guns we used to use on the satellites.”
“That will take a little longer.”
“How much longer?”
“About four days.”
“Get it done!”
Ed stared at Juan and Juan said, “The reason I didn’t want you to speak when you entered my office is because I didn’t want you to turn me down on training my pilots.”
Ed’s eyes lowered, “Jillian tells me you ordered the pilots not to thank me.”