Earth Ship Protectress: Book Two in the Freddy Anderson Chronicles

by John Ricks

  The media was there in helicopters but stayed away. Susan talked to them and let them know that the pressure from their props could cause an avalanche, and they moved back a little further. They were being very nice. Susan had also shown me several newspapers that morning with photographs of me walking with the dead. The articles told the exact truth of what happened. I was very happy, so I waved and smiled to the media.

  There were a lot of bones in the canyon, mostly those of small animals. I set the scanners to look for calcium, and they found quite a bit. It was easy to pick out the twisted forms of two humans. Their bodies were not that far down, and I used the tractor beam on its lowest setting to lift off one layer at a time. We placed the layers gently down the slope, only a few yards away from the dig. I could have sent them miles away, but I did not want to take the chance of tossing out one of the human bones by accident. It took all day to get to the buried bodies, and now it was getting dark. Not everything could be done with my equipment, at least not without causing more rocks to fall. The sides of the dig had to be shored up and braced while I watched to pull people out of harm’s way. Twice we had problems with rocks sliding down, and twice I had to pull people back to the skids. We covered the ground with a tarp, anchored it, and then went home. When we dropped Devin off, I asked him to let the doctor know that we would need her first thing the next morning. We went home, tired and dirty.

  The next morning, our prior day’s activity was all over the news. Videos showed the SEAL team using the tractor beam, scanning to find the right spot, and people miraculously moved out of harm’s way. But it was all positive news about the help the navy, with my assistance, was giving the town.

  We headed for town very early. The doctor was waiting for us and so was Captain Crain. “Good morning, Freddy,” said Captain Crain as he put his big callused hand out for a shake. “Hope you don’t mind, but when I heard that you were digging up my ancestors, I decided to come along for the ride.”

  The commander answered, “Good morning. Glad to have you aboard. Welcome, Dr. Jenson.”

  “Call me Karen, please.”

  The captain helped Karen board my little flyer, and we headed up into the woods, with the media following.

  “Say, Freddy, what do you call this skiff?” the captain asked.

  “Excuse me, sir?”

  “What did you name her? Seems to me that the boat is built to weather land or water. You put sides on her, so she should float if she’s not too heavy. You have a definite bow bent back to handle the waves, and the stern is nice and wide. I see tie-downs to moor her to the docks on both sides, and I think I see”—he fingered the rails—“what most of us would call a good line to allow her straight movement through the water. When you were coming down, I saw a V hull with a small pad and four strikes. Put a proper motor in her, and she’d make a nice dinghy—a little larger and wider than most, but the lines are right. You’ve got to name a boat or ship, boy. It’s bad luck not to!” He looked at me with a critical eye and a smile on his face that he was trying to hide.

  “Interesting idea, sir. I personally never thought of that. Commander, we need a name for our toys. How about you get the team to name them for me? They can paint the name on when we get back.”

  The commander said, “Freddy, you need to register them too.”

  “That creates a dilemma, Commander. Do I go for a license plate, flying numbers, or a boat registration? I won’t do it through the state, but if the federal government wants me to number them for identification, then it’s not a problem. Can you handle that, Commander?”

  “I’ll take care of it, Freddy.”

  “Thanks. Doctor, you doing all right?”

  “I’m fine, Freddy, but do me a favor. Keep a steady hand, and keep us closer to land.”

  Captain Crain laughed. “The doctor gets motion sick, Freddy.”

  “Sorry, Doctor. I’ll bring her down. We’re almost there anyway.”

  When we reached the site, I used telekinesis to lower all of them to the ground, and they uncovered the dig. The captain looked at all the preparations and bracing and said, “There’s been a lot of hard, dangerous work going on here.”

  “We’re trying to make it as safe as possible,” said the commander. “That’s why Freddy is still up in the flyer. He’ll pull us out if there’s a problem. He has the ability and did so several times yesterday. With him up there, it’s very safe. Without him, we’d be weeks just getting here.”

  “Just between you and me, why is he working so hard on this?” the captain asked. “Why is your team out here helping him? I know it’s my ancestors and all, and I’m very grateful—the whole darn town is grateful. My ancestors have been haunting this town for ages, and it tends to scare the holy bejesus out of people, but why is he so interested in getting this done? He’s exposing himself and some of his inventions to the media, and I thought he didn’t want to do that.”

  The commander looked back up my way. “Captain, if Freddy says he’ll do something, then he will. He is the most tenacious person I have ever known. He told that woman that he would do his best to give them their Christmas wish, and he will. If he had to dig it out all by himself by hand, he would. So if he wants to help dead people today, then today we help dead people. As far as the media goes, everything he is using is patented.”

  “You people are not at all what I was led to believe.”

  “What’s that, Captain?”

  “Trained killers.”

  She looked at the captain, and, without any hint of remorse or emotion, said in an even voice, “Yes, we are, Captain. Don’t ever forget it. That would be a very bad mistake.”

  He stopped and watched as she went to the doctor and bent down to help her uncover some of the bones.

  After several hours, I yelled down, “Hey, Commander. Would it be helpful if we just take this entire section back to town? I could lift the whole section three feet deep and carry it over to town, if that would give the doctor more time.”

  The doctor stood up. “Why didn’t you say so in the first place?”

  “I just thought of it. Sorry, Doctor!”

  Everyone climbed back aboard, and I set the tractor beam for a specific area and gently pulled that area away from the site. When we had gained sufficient altitude, I hit the hillside with a blast of energy, causing a rockslide that filled up the digs.

  “Don’t want anyone falling into that hole.”

  We took the dig back to town and placed it in the doctor’s backyard. She went to work right away, moving bone fragments into two coffins that had been delivered the day before. Captain Crain stayed with her, and we returned home.

  “Purple.”

  Everything went black, except I found a way around Yellows’ hold.

  “Sire?”

  Blue looked thoughtful. “This creature is a mix of everything. He is a great scientist and, therefore, Red. He also contains some Blue—note the helpful and political way he handled the meeting. He has a lot of Purple, in that he does the work. He is a doer. How many Green actually use the things they invent?”

  Green thought about that while Yellows answered, “They use their inventions constantly. It is just that many of their inventions are not for scientific research.”

  Blue smiled. “Exactly. Most are for getting tasks completed quickly and efficiently. Workers use most of the inventions. This creature uses the inventions himself and does not mind getting a little dirty in the doing.”

  Yellows said, “We see your point. It does seem that most of this species are a mix. Few can afford to be otherwise, with their antiquated monetary system.”

  Blue continued. “Purple are the most versatile. They work in every place, doing nearly everything, being soldiers, pilots, technicians, builders, and even in this lab, they help out. Without Purple, the elite colors would be lost. This one is an elite Purple.”
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br />   Green cringed. “There is no such thing as ‘an elite Purple,’ sire.”

  Yellows said, “Not so. This is a new species. They are not tested for position at birth. They blindly find their place in their civilization. What if they all started out Purple and worked their way up to the correct color?”

  I said, “It’s kind of that way.”

  Yellows quickly clamped down on my thinking.

  Green said in revulsion, with a grimace on his face even a mother would hate, “He is learning our language!”

  Yellows quieted Green. “As expected.”

  Green yelled, “Expected! No other has done so in ten thousand years. In known history!”

  Yellows set two tentacles on Green and said, “Calm.” Green became calm and returned to his scientific clear thought.

  Green said, “Blindly finding their place in life would be complete chaos. How would they know if they chose the correct color? If left to the individuals, they could get it all wrong. Greed and corruption would make some choose the wrong path. And look at the time that would be lost in not knowing what they should do or be.”

  Yellows said, “Perhaps thousands of years ago, we were the same way. We are wasting time, and he is learning through us. Please continue.”

  Chapter 8

  The Trainer

  The next day, after the burial ceremonies, I went to work in my shop. At noon I came out with a mock-up of the shuttle I was building. This shuttle had most of the things in it that the real one would have, except it didn’t really work. I had a computer simulator that the shop computer and I had worked on that made it look like everything was fully operational. It was built on a frame that suspended the mock-up between gravity fields so that the unit could move and feel real. Eight generators were concealed inside eight pillars of different heights, which stood out several feet from the shuttle mock-up. The shuttle itself was over thirty feet wide, fifteen feet deep, and fifty feet long. It was smooth and formed like a stingray, with wings that slanted back and were pointed.

  I had finished the programming only an hour ago and tested it out. It was connected to the shop computer for lifelike situations. There were sixty planned scenarios, the outcomes of which were completely dependent on the movements and actions of the people running the shuttle. It could be a real thrill ride if you messed up, or it could be as gentle and fun as a walk in the park if you were really good. I put a protective coating that was nearly impervious to weather on everything so that my trainer would stay shiny. The entrance was through a hatch in the back.

  As soon as I brought it out, the commander and most of the crew came out to have a look. I went inside the craft to finish setting up the programs. The commander came in, and so did several others.

  “Commander, please shut the hatch.” She motioned to one of the team, and I heard the hatch close. I turned on the outside speakers and view screens and said into the microphone, “Everyone, stand back. Commander, please take a seat.” I motioned for her to take the seat next to mine before I started pointing out the different sections. “That is communications. Please have one of the girls take a seat there.” The commander motioned for Petty Officer Henderson to take that spot. “Next is the science officer’s spot, which includes sensors, diagnostics, and monitoring equipment.” She motioned for Petty Officer Swanson to take that spot. “Right in front of us are the controls for navigation.” She motioned for Petty Officer Smith to sit there. “To the left are the weapons and shield controls.” Petty Officer Parks sat there. “The rest need to sit down and hold on tight, Commander.” They took the extra seats that I had installed for monitoring the exercises. “Ready, Commander?”

  “No, but go ahead.”

  I laughed and said, “Computer, start scenario number one.”

  “Confirm scenario number one. Loading. Starting. Home Base Shuttle One, this is Prime Tower. You have clearance to depart for high stationary orbit. Please take off using standard departure vectors.”

  No one did a thing.

  “Home Base Shuttle, please acknowledge my last transmission.”

  I looked back at Petty Officer Henderson. “You’re the communications officer. Please acknowledge receipt of that message.”

  “Yes, Captain.” She put on a headset and powered up her equipment. Then she toggled the transmit switch. “This is Shuttle One, acknowledging departure for high stationary orbit.”

  “Good luck, Shuttle One. You are cleared to go.”

  I looked down at Petty Officer Smith and said, “Navigator, please take us straight up to a high stationary orbit above home base.”

  The commander yelled, “Wait!” She turned to me and cautiously asked, “Freddy, are we really going to go into stationary orbit?”

  I nearly died laughing. When I finally calmed down, I said, “No, silly. This is that practice game I said I had for you. I won’t be finished with the real shuttle for weeks yet.”

  “Shuttle One, if you don’t take off soon, you will lose your launch spot. The next opening is not for three more hours.”

  “Navigator, take us straight up for five miles and then set stationary orbit.”

  Petty Officer Henderson looked at the commander and then started working the controls. She was not doing very well, but she finally started moving us up. At one mile, we hit a satellite and crashed.

  “Scenario one terminated. Restart when ready.”

  “Computer, shut simulator down.”

  “Shutting down.”

  I stood up with a smile and turned around, asking, “What do you think went wrong, Commander?”

  “We were not prepared. We have no idea how to operate this shuttle. This will take time and training.”

  “That’s exactly why I made this mock-up. Do you still want to play?” I got a resounding yes from everyone. “Then let me point out a few things to get you started. Each station has help; just ask the computer to guide you. She will take you through things step-by-step.” I turned to Petty Officer Parks. “Always use shields, even if it’s just navigation shields. Turn them on. That way, if we hit something, it gets damaged, not us.”

  I turned to the science officer. “I know that satellite was on your screen. If you see us heading toward something, tell someone. Navigation, always look before you move. You have navigation scanners. Commander, there are sixty scenarios. The last ten are training for my actual plan. When you get to them, I would like to be present for the first two or three. Please have two crews trained, and do cross-training. Everyone needs to know every position in case of an emergency.” I opened the hatch and left, saying “good luck” over my shoulder. I watched outside on one of the monitoring screens as the commander asked the computer to access information on scenario sixty.

  “I’m sorry, Susan. That information is restricted until both crews have completed all other scenarios.”

  She hit the chair and cursed. “I’m going to skin that boy alive.”

  I looked at the girls standing there, watching everything on the screen, and said with a smile, “Whoops, I don’t think the commander likes being kept in the dark. I think it’s time I go inside and get something to eat.” I left quickly, with waves of laughter following behind me. The commander was coming out of the shuttle as I reached the house.

  I was sitting at the kitchen table, eating a sandwich, when she came in. She pulled up a chair directly across from me. “Freddy,” she said with a gentle voice, like she wanted something. “What are you planning?”

  “Gee, Commander,” I said with a smile. “Should I tell you before or after you skin me alive?”

  “Heard that, did you?”

  “Yes. I can feel your emotions, so I know what you’re implying. It shows that I’m part of the family when you can get mad at me once in a while. So what’s up?”

  “You know darn well what’s up. What are you planning? Where are you taking us?�
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  Nearly laughing, I said, “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. I can change things around so one person can run it, if needed.”

  “Freddy, quit playing around. You’re making me mad enough to turn you over my knee and give you the spanking you deserve.”

  I could see she wasn’t joking, so I tried to calm down and get serious. “Commander, I told you that I was working on getting to first base, but we have a project before that. What do you think shuttles would be used for?”

  “To transfer supplies, to help set up a city on the moon?”

  “Exactly. It’s dangerous work, and there’s a lot of cargo handling in the scenarios, but even before that, I need people who can fly my inventions to fix another small issue first.”

  “Freddy, can I increase our complement to handle this situation?”

  “Of course! Do what you think is necessary, but remember, I get to approve them.”

  “When we get to the moon, how are you planning to go outside?”

  “That’s simple. We’ll use personal shields. I can easily make shields and utility belts that will supply heat and air, allow dumping of waste, and protect us from radiation. We’ll test them in a few weeks. I figure that skin-diving will work for that.”

  “We won’t need those big suits the astronauts use?”

  “No way! How can we work if we’re wearing that stuff? It’d just get in the way. I am impressed with our astronauts getting anything done in those cumbersome outfits. It must be very difficult.”

  We sat there for the next five hours, planning out what I could do and what she needed to do. Early on, we were joined by most of the crew. Some were playing with the new toy. They came up with some great ideas. The commander said, “There are experts who have already figured out what needs to go first to a moon base. I’ll call them and get ideas on whom to contact.”

  “Some experts on setting up a base would be great, Commander. But please talk with the president first, and get her thoughts. I don’t want to step over that line and upset her.”