CLOSE PROXIMITY

by Marshall Huffman

  “Well I still don’t like it much. They showed you the report?”

  “I glanced at it.”

  “And it was a Ford, not a Chevy,” Abby said.

  “Actually that part wasn’t in there but its good information,” Dan replied grinning from ear to ear.

  She was just getting ready for a comeback when they were told they were on final and needed to have their seatbelts on.

  While Abby and Dan knew where they were going, James and Brian hadn’t been informed. All they knew was that they were going to meet this strange Doctor Metzler who wouldn’t talk on the phone. It had been decided that they didn’t need to know exactly where they were for security reasons.

  When they got off the plane two SUV’s were waiting for them.

  “This is really cool. Area 51, and I’m actually here,” James said.

  “Maybe they will let us see Hanger 18,” Brian added.

  Abby looked over at Dan.

  “So much for security,” was all she said.

  Twenty-five minutes later they were back at the building where Metzler spent his time.

  “Doctor Miller,” he said smiling at Abby when she came in.

  “Montgomery,” she corrected.

  “Metzler. Doctor Fritz Metzler,” he said.

  “No. I meant I’m Doctor Abigail Montgomery,” she tried to explain.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Why don’t you just call me Abby,” she finally said.

  She introduced him to Brian and James and explained why they were here.

  “Young man. You understood what I had put down?”

  “Yes sir.”

  He looked at Brian for several seconds before, turning and taking a piece of chalk and handing it to him.

  “I would like to see what you came up with.”

  Brian shrugged and started writing. It took several minutes before he stepped back and looked his work over. He made two quick corrections and then turned to Metzler.

  Metzler squinted and used his finger to follow along. He made one change and then looked at Brian.

  “Very good. Actually, very, very good. You are a very bright young man. I see you left two variables out and just put in a question mark. Why is that? Do you think my calculations were in error?”

  “Oh no sir. I am more familiar with astronomy than theoretical electrical equations. I didn’t know what this number was here. I plugged in one that I worked backwards but I’m not exactly sure I got it correct. Since it is a constant number, it has a huge impact on the final answer.”

  Metzler picked up the chalk and wrote:

  9.0 = xN/ 2.90

  “It is a little different from what you are used to working with. The gravitational field and electrical force are not the same.”

  “Okay. I get it. That explains why when I put your values in I got a different answer,” Brian said.

  “Exactly. You are a very bright young man,” Fritz said smiling.

  “Then all I have to do is put in the two missing data points and we will have the amount of power needed to move the object.”

  “What is the mass of the object?” Metzler asked as James was reading off the data to Brian.

  “1.8723989 X ,” James told him.

  “What? No, no. I meant the object you are trying to move,” Metzler said.

  “Yes. That’s the mass.”

  Fritz started talking to himself.

  **

  Fritz had been talking to himself almost non-stop. Even when Brian finished the calculations all he did was check them quickly and nodded.

  “Can it be done?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Of course I’m sure. I built it didn’t I?”

  “What kind of mass could it move?” James asked.

  “Maybe half of that at absolute full power. That is theoretical only. I have only had a chance to test it at very low power.”

  “So if you had two of these, it may be possible to move that much mass?”

  “In theory. In actuality? Who knows? Besides, it is a moot point. There is only one machine like it in the world and it is in the other room,” Metzler said dejectedly.

  “But if you did have two, it could work.”

  “Young man. Listen to me carefully. There is only one E-PEG.”

  “Okay, let me ask this. How long would it take to build a second one?”

  “It took me five months on that one,” he said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder.

  “But you have drawings now. And if you had help could it be done in four weeks?”

  “Possibly. I have many of the machined parts here already. I had enough made initially in case the first one blew up,” he said smiling quickly for the first time.

  “What if Brian and I stayed here and helped you to build it. If Dan could make sure we had everything we needed, could we do it in six weeks?” James asked.

  “Hold on,” Dan interrupted, “I only have clearance for you guys for the day, not six weeks.”

  “Then that should probably be your first task,” Abby said.

  “That is if you intend to have a chance of saving mankind,” James added for drama.

  “You eggheads,” Dan said, dropping his chin to his chest and shaking his head.

  “Well if we don’t do something we will all be fried eggs,” Fritz said.

  It was so unlike Metzler that everyone broke up at the remark.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  Dan had called the President from Groom Lake and was surprised that he gave the okay for them to work with Metzler. He didn’t even hesitate or ask Dan what he thought about the idea.

  “Do it.”

  “You are authorizing them to stay the full time?” Dan asked, not sure he had heard right.

  “Yes Dan. Just get the damn thing made. I’ve already notified NASA that they needed to dust off a shuttle and get the thing ready to go into space. They said it was doubtful it could be done in six weeks. We are working on an alternative plan but it will get done,” Strong told him.

  “Yes sir. I’ll let them know immediately.”

  “Good, and see if Doctor Montgomery can come back with you. I would like to have her meet with Kincaid and LaForge again. They need clarification on several points and I sure the heck can’t answer their questions. Oh, and before you ask, I talked to John Dulles and have his assurances that he will make sure the doctor’s classes are adequately covered.”

  “Yes sir, Mr. President.”

  “When he hung up he walked back in the room and said, “Well don’t just stand there, build the damn thing.”

  James and Brian did hi-fives and even Metzler joined in much to their surprise.

  “Abby, the President asked if you would come back to Washington with me. It’s important or he wouldn’t have asked. He has already covered it with Dulles.”

  “Boy, talk about putting me on the spot. I though we already had this conversation about me being the last one to know,” she said.

  This was the second time it had happened and it was really starting to get on her nerves. She felt she was being manipulated and she didn’t like it one bit.

  “Abby. I just found out myself. I swear. I had no knowledge of this until I called. Look if you don’t want to go I can’t make you and neither can the President.”

  “That’s not the point Dan. The point is, I’m still not being asked. I’m being conned into doing other's bidding.”

  “Abby, the circumstances dictate direct and immediate action. This thing is going to be in close proximity to us and our moon in just a short time. We are all going to have to go with the flow. Our feelings have to take a back seat to the reality of our situation,” Dan said.

  She thought for a second and said, “Alright Dan. I don’t like it but alright. Don’t think I’m easy just because I’m giving in this time but I do understand the circumstances. The world in in jeopardy and I guess in the President’s place I might not go about things
like normal. This does not however mean that I am always going to be this easy,” Abby replied.

  “Why Abby, I never said you were easy,” he bantered.

  **

  When Abby and Dan landed in Washington, they were immediately taken to the West Wing of the White House and escorted to the Oval Office.

  They were shown inside and Dan plopped down and sprawled out on the couch.

  “Oh yeah, watch this,” Abby said and promptly jumped and landed on the couch flat out.

  Just as she did, the President turned around from his chair where he had been quietly talking on the phone. He looked over at Abby who had a look of stark terror on her face.

  The President started laughing. And laughing. He put his head on the desk and pounded it while continuing to laugh. Finally he stopped and wiped the tears out of his eyes. He looked at Abby who had her hands over her mouth and started in again. The more he tried to stop the harder he laughed.

  “I have to stop,” he said between laughs, “I’m the President and I have to have some…” he never finished the sentence when he started laughing again.

  The entire time Abby sat, frozen in place with her hands over her mouth. Finally the President wiped the rest of the tears from his eyes and clamped his teeth and lips together.

  “Well. Doctor Montgomery. I have to admit that I have never seen an entrance quite like that in the Oval Office before.”

  Abby couldn’t speak. Her face was so red it was taking on a purple hue. She was totally mortified.

  “Mr. President I am so very sorry. I had no idea you were here. I thought we were the only ones in the room,” she managed to choke out.

  “It’s okay, Abby. May I call you Abby? After all, not many women come bounding in and land on the couch like that.”

  She was beet red and shaking so badly she could hardly get a word out.

  “Relax. It’s okay, honest. The look on your face when I turned around was worth every second of it. How refreshing to have someone come in and act like a real human.”

  “I’m not like that really. I am a professional. I don’t know what overcame me.”

  “Abby, it was priceless. Honestly. I haven’t laughed like that since I became President. Actually I should be thanking you. Everyone needs a good belly laugh once in a while. By the way, thank you for coming,” he said.

  “Anything I can do to help,” she said gathering her composure.

  “I understand the basics from talking to Dan. It seems that Doctor Metzler has a machine that is capable of moving objects but not enough to do what we need it to do. Your two young men are going to help him get it done. Our job is to find a platform to get it into space. So far, indications are that the space shuttle is not going to be ready in time. We are currently trying to find an alternate way of getting it there. Assuming that can be overcome, Admiral Kincaid and General LaForge need some information of what to do, and what is needed in the way of movement,” he said, becoming serious.

  “When will they be here?”

  “Actually they are waiting. I just needed to brief you on what they needed so you wouldn’t be caught out. Are you ready to see them or do you need some time?”

  “No, I’m ready. I did everything on the plane. I figured it would be something like this,” she replied.

  “Of course you did,” he said and pushed the intercom to have Kincaid and LaForge brought in.

  They re-introduced themselves and got right down to business. They needed to know how far the ‘package’, as they called it, needed to be moved for safety. Where should the E-JEPs be located? How far from the package did they need to be? Could they be used to reflect rocks and debris from the earth if KA5 did hit the moon.

  Abby was able to answer all of their questions. When they got to the payload, she handed them the specifications that Metzler had written out along with precise measurements, weights, strong points and everything else needed to move and load them onto a rocket.

  “Doctor Montgomery, I have to say, we could sure use you in the military. When we ask these kinds of questions, about half the time we are told they will have to get back to us. It is a real pleasure to work with someone of your caliber,” Admiral Kincaid told her.

  “That’s very kind of you Admiral. I really appreciate that.”

  “Mr. President. I think that covers what we need. If you don’t mind, we would like to get these into the right hands to start finding a suitable delivery vehicle,” General LaForge said.

  “Excellent. Thank you both for coming,” the President said shaking their hands as they left.

  The President gave a brief thought to spinning around suddenly and saying he was just checking to see if Abby was bouncing on the furniture but decided she had been embarrassed enough for one day.

  **

  “Are you hungry?” Dan asked as he was driving her back to the airport.

  “Yeah, just a little I guess.”

  “Me too. How about we make a quick stop and get a bite to eat. I’ll let the pilot know we will be a little longer.

  “Works for me,” Abby replied.

  Dan took her to an off the beaten path eclectic restaurant in Georgetown that he frequented from time to time. They ate and talked about a wide variety of things including their relationship. Abby more or less played with her chicken strip salad and Dan had ordered a hamburger and fries.

  “Abby, I want to ask you a personal question if I may,” Dan said.

  “I guess that would be alright. Go ahead; shoot,” she said sitting her fork down.

  “You aren’t married and as far as I can tell, you don’t have a steady guy.”

  “Yeah so?”

  “Why? I mean you are smart, brilliant actually, and beautiful. Why are you still all alone?”

  “I have my work. Believe me, no one understands how much goes into teaching. People that have never taught think they know but they have no idea. Do you know that it takes a good three hours of preparation for every one hour of class? I mean if you are good at what you do. People say, well they only work a few months a year and they get all that money. That is a crock. You try standing on your feet in front of a hundred plus students all day and having to be totally ready for everything thrown at you. All I can say, if you have never taught, then keep your criticism to yourself,” she said passionately.

  “Whoa. I just asked about you being all alone,” Dan said looking at her wide-eyed.

  “Sorry. I kind of get on my soap box about that subject. Not why I am alone but teaching. It takes so much more effort than anyone realizes,” Abby said.

  “So you are saying you don’t have time for a relationship?” he asked, sitting back in his chair.

  “I guess I am saying, that I have let myself become emerged in my work. I haven’t found anyone that has come along that would make me want to change how I am.”

  “No one?” Dan said.

  “Until now,” she said and blushed.

  “Ah. So a relationship isn’t totally out of the question?” Dan pushed.

  “No Dan, it isn’t. I look forward to us getting to know each other better,” she confessed.

  “As do I,” Dan replied.

  “But Dan there is one problem.”

  “Ah, the ‘but’ part.”

  “Look, I really like spending time with you. You’re fun, good looking, obviously very highly regarded and easy to talk to. But...you live in Washington and I live in Arizona. That is a recipe for disaster in a relationship. I mean long distance relationships work for a short time but seldom over the long haul.”

  “I realize that Abby but look at the situation we are in. Not just us but the entire world. How long is long? I’m not trying to rush you but I feel the same way about you. You are the most amazing woman I have ever met. Fun, smart, beautiful, and I feel I can talk to you about anything. I don’t want us to just go back to our separate homes and let everything slip away.”

  “I know Dan. I do. But I don’t want a fling either. I get enough of
those kind of offers from the faculty several times a year but that isn’t what I need or want.”

  “I’m not talking about a fling. A one night stand. But we have to start someplace at some time,” Dan said.

  “I realize that but I guess I’m just not ready. It’s not you, it’s me. I just need to know there will be a tomorrow with the person I give my heart too.”

  “We have time. At least I hope we do. I’ll call you often and we can talk some more. I just don’t want to let this die.”

  “I don’t either,” Abby said, reaching across the table and putting her hand on his.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  KA5 was a chunk of a much larger planet that had collided with an even bigger one many thousand years ago. The two massive worlds hit with a velocity approaching 36,000 miles per hour.

  Both of the planets lost large amounts of matter and huge asteroids and planetoids were thrown out in to space. The wobbled off in different directions much like when one pool ball is hit by another.

  The two planets scattered debris over hundreds of thousands of miles in all directions. Because of the way the two had hit, it sent KA5 towards the Earth in general. As it passed other planets in the galaxy, the gravitational pull would alter its path from time to time.

  Eventually it drifted through space out of our immediate solar system. While it seems almost impossible, it was not picked up until the study by Doctor Abigale Montgomery’s team happened to note the anomaly while actually on a different mission.

  It had long been believed that a tenth planet was once a part of our solar system and that somehow it impacted with another comet or meteor and that it was destroyed. Some even believe that the impact is what caused the era of the dinosaurs to die out when a huge chunk streaked through our atmosphere and landed in Mexico.

  It changed the predicative live on Earth killing everything on the planet. That is exactly what Abby’s team was trying to ascertain when the discovery of KA5 popped up.

  The fact that it was not only heading towards our solar system but was coming towards the Earth gave the project a new importance.