Helium Fall

by Darren Robison

  "Eliot, I am going to take your advice. I have to pee so bad I may not make it to the head." Sam bolted from the lab and ran down the passageway to the head closest to the galley. Once inside he barely got into position before the pee started to flow. "Damn close Sam, too damn close!" He washed up and headed into the galley for a late dinner. It was a little past midnight and he was starving. He punched up a protein drink, a banana pudding, a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches, and some tomato basil soup. Not his best combination but it was comfort food for him and Grant was not around to keep him in check. He was exhausted and knew sleep would come quickly regardless of his brain working overtime. The soup and sandwich filled the comfort portion of the meal, the protein drink replenished his needed vitamins and minerals, and the banana pudding hit the spot, pushing him to the brink of total comfort.

  "Eliot, please wake me if you come up with anything. You might want to try the green sand looking stuff mixed with the grey gooey looking stuff."

  "Very technical of you, Sam, I will do my best."

  Sam made his way to his quarters where he promptly collapsed onto this bed and fell asleep. The dreams did not come tonight and he slept like a rock until Eliot woke him from his much needed sleep.

  "Sam, I figured out the correct combination to fabricate the part needed for the anti-gravity drive."

  "Great news, I will take a quick shower, eat, and be down shortly." Sam's mind was not fully awake as he sat on the edge of his bed assimilating what he heard. In a stupor he made his way to the head, did his business, and stepped into the shower. "Holy crap that's cold," he stepped back out of the shower. The shock of the cold water brought his eyes wide open. After adjusting the temperature to his satisfaction he got back in the shower. He did some of his best thinking in the shower and this morning was no exception. Eliot found a good combination for their project, but Sam needed to know how they were going to forge the part. Once the part was forged he would install it, test the shuttle, and check on Grant. Game plan in place, he finished and headed to the galley. No comfort food this morning. Protein drink, peanut butter and jelly toast, and three over hard eggs, lightly salted with smoked pepper seasoning. "It should hold me for a while."

  Sam bounded down the passageway and into the lab to find Eliot at the helm of an automated loader, beginning to smelt the materials.

  "Eliot, what are you doing?"

  "I am moving the process along, as you would say. I have calculated the proper temperature and time in the smelter to produce the slag we need to pour into the forms I created while you were sleeping."

  "Well I'll be damned!"

  "No Sam, you will be crushed if you do not move out of the way." Eliot had yet to find a sense of humor, but it was in the works, according to Sam.

  As the slag began to pour into the molds, Sam noticed an odd scent wafting through the air; it tickled his nose and made his skin super sensitive. Not a feeling he detested but something way out of the ordinary, it made him sort of uncomfortable. He couldn't quite place the feeling but it was familiar and his mind drifted to the women and the pool.

  "Man, I miss Kyera and Dyanta." Shaking his head to clear his thoughts and get back on track he had a thought, "Eliot, what materials did you use to create the slag?"

  "In your terms, I used the green sand looking stuff mixed with the grey gooey looking stuff, added some crushed plant material, then mixed in some clay. We have created basic metallic porcelain. It is stronger than steel and lighter than aluminum. The first batch is cooling now. We need to see how well it can be tooled or if we need to be more precise in our form design."

  "Excellent work Eliot. Has it cooled enough for me to pick it up? "

  "I believe it is cool enough to be picked up, with care."

  Sam donned a pair of thick gloves and picked up the first piece. "It needs to be cleaned off a bit." He went to a water bath and immersed the piece. The water began to boil and he thought nothing of it since the piece was still hot from being smelted and cast. When the water began to foam he quickly pulled the piece out and gasped. "Holy crap Eliot, this thing is melting!"

  "I calculated it would begin to disintegrate when you submerged it in the water. The chemicals that make it tough and light quickly separate when water is added. Making it the perfect product for space and a poor a product for a submarine."

  Sam laughed, "Did you just make a joke? Dry humor Eliot, way to go."

  "I was not being funny; I was stating the facts about the application of the material."

  "Either way it made me laugh. Let's get another casting and I'll see how well it can be tooled. Once I get it installed we can get the heck out of here." Sam went to see what needed to be done in order for them to take off and go find the bots.

  "We are a couple of slobs! When did we make such a mess?" He began dismantling their small but cluttered camp and put everything back inside the shuttle. Eliot would be done in short order and time was running out. He took in their table and chairs, and finally their equipment and tools. It took him about an hour and it was closing in on 10 AM.

  "Time to check on Eliot."

  "How goes it, Eliot?"

  "I have cast three pieces, two for testing and one for the final fit."

  "A tooling I will go, gotta get this craft flight worthy today. If the parts can be tooled we can be in the air in an hour."

  Sam took a drill to the first piece and it went through smoothly with no incident. He took the piece to a grinder to grind off the rough edges and burrs. Again, no incidents. "Great luck, Eliot, the piece took drilling and tooling well. Now I can go test fit it and adjust as needed. We can be in the air shortly if all goes well."

  "Great news, Sam."

  Sam made several small adjustments to the piece with a hand file and it finally slipped perfectly into place. He fastened it in and marveled at what they had accomplished in such a short time. "We are going to be airborne in about fifteen minutes; we can make it to the Ebony Belle and get the heck out of here. Eliot, have you made it back to your dock?"

  "I am five minutes from a complete dock."

  "Good, we take off in fifteen minutes." Sam tested the controls, cleaned up the bridge, and performed a full systems check. What a mess, it seems like we haven’t been here for at least a week. I wonder how Grant’s doing, but I’ve got to have this ship ready to move, every minute counts. Grant’s in good hands, and once he’s healed, we’ll be all right – I hope. All systems checked out. "Eliot, prepare to take off, low levels first please."

  "Initiating take off."

  "Ten feet off the ground, beginning maneuvers." Sam swung the shuttle left, then right, rising and falling. "Take us up another forty feet please."

  "Rising to fifty feet."

  Sam began to fly forward, stopped, and backed the shuttle up. "All systems seem to be in working order Eliot, let's take this thing for a spin, and I don't mean flipping us over."

  "What is our heading?"

  "Let's go find the bots; we need to get them loaded. We will process their findings later, but for now we need to get them aboard and secured." The bots were much farther away than Sam anticipated, "Do you have the bots on your radar? I'm not seeing them on mine yet."

  "They are five miles away. They traveled as planned over the last three days and are waiting for pick up."

  "This will be their last mission here. The mining camp gave us a great deal of information and we are sure this is a life sustaining planet, with water, food, and other natural resources. I'm certain it will be mined. It will probably be turned into a destination planet for the wealthy as well. Let's get to the bots as quickly as we can." Sam gave the thrusters a boost and they would reach the bots in no time. He marveled at the landscape and how it went from desert to plains, to valleys to plains, and back to valleys in only a few miles. The mountains were taller than he guessed and he could see snow caps on the highest ones. "What a planet!"

  "We are almost to the bots, Sam."

  "Thanks Eliot, I was s
pacing off and daydreaming about this being a destination planet. I'll leave the landing to you and make my way to the lab bay to open the doors." The landing was textbook. "Good job Eliot! Opening the bay doors, signal the bots to return to the shuttle. We will take the live stuff and quickly process it so we can turn them loose. Don't want anything to die in here and stink the place up."

  "Signal sent, bots should be on their way."

  "We'll secure the rest of the bots in their docks and process at the PSAD labs. No time now to do a thorough job. Hopefully once the threat has passed they will send us back to finish up."

  "No Sam. The PSAD will send miners, harvesters, and developers in your place. The processing will be completed here."

  "What a sobering thought. Oh well, let's get things moving. I want to be back at the village before night fall."

  Chapter Fourteen

  Tayana made her way to the med pod to check in on Grant. "How is he doing?"

  Salbola's look was not positive, "He has not changed, and we have determined there may be something else going on inside of him. We do not have the technology to see inside of him and I fear his time is running short."

  "Please say it isn't the case, he has not yet completed his mission and I have not completed mine."

  The healers' gave one another a knowing look. Emara thought, there is more to her statement than we know. I believe Tayana fell in love with Grant at their first meeting, but I'm not about to breech the subject with her.

  Salbola continued with his assessment. "His color is still ashen and he has a fever we cannot bring down. Unless Sam can get him to their ship's technologically advanced medical equipment, he may not make it.

  Tayana frowned, turned, and left the pod without another word. No, no, no not again. I have not felt this way since my parents and brother died. Tears welled up in her eyes and she began to cry as her heart raced. I cannot allow my emotions to take over. I cannot be the wreck I've become. She took off towards the headwaters of the falls. Hopefully no one saw me. I cannot let them see m, their leader, so vulnerable. She found a secluded spot away from prying eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks. I cannot bear the thought of losing Grant. I must find Sam and tell him he needs to get Grant back to the Ebony Belle. Maybe he's still at their camp. She dried her eyes and returned to her pod.

  She changed into her traveling clothes and grabbed her weapons. She headed for the camp on her C-Rex. Daydreaming, she thought, there are so many things I need to say to you Grant, if and when you comes out of your deep sleep. You need to know how I feel. I pray you feel the same. I love you, Grant.

  When she arrived at camp she was shocked to find the shuttle gone. How could it be gone? It wasn't flight worthy yesterday. Tears began flowing again. This is so frustrating! She surprised her C-Rex when she voiced her frustration aloud. "Where are you Sam? Grant needs your help and you abandoned him in his darkest hour!" She dismounted her C-Rex and paced. Shaking her fist at the vacant camp she yelled, "You sorry son of a swine. You lecherous scab of a human. He needs you and you are gone, some friend you are. If and when I see you again you will feel my wrath, you will feel lots of pain. You sorry sack of Chotuk crap!"

  Her C-Rex tried to break free from her hold on its reins, but was unable to back away.

  Her chest heaved as she sucked in large mouthfuls of air trying to catch her breath. She realized she was screaming at the top of her lungs. She was livid. How could he leave his friend in his deepest time of need? He is going to die if you don't return and take him to your ship in orbit. Tears flowed freely, but she did not care. She made no attempt to wipe them away. She was alone with her C-Rex and no one was in sight, so she screamed into the air again, "Sam you animal's ass, come back now, you are a coward and a wretched man!"

  Walking along side of her unhappy C-Rex, Tayana paced. She was perplexed. What do I do? The C-Rex tossed its head, startling a small bird as they approached the bush it was perched in. The commotion drew Tayana away from her emotions. Maybe there are medicines or salves at the Digger's camp to help Grant hang on until Sam shows up again — if it isn't too late.

  "Come on, my trust C-Rex, the mining camp is only two miles north of here. It will take time to get there, look around, and make it back to the village, but I have to try." She remounted and prodded her C-Rex, forward. Off they went. "Just you wait and see, I'm going to punish Sam for his heinous act of cowardice — for abandoning his friend. You just wait and see."

  The unhappy duo arrived at the Digger's camp in short order. Tayana tied the reins to a bush near the bombed out building and began searching for medical supplies while continuing to mutter about Sam's cowardice. There were supplies here somewhere, where are they? I've already spent more time than I have to waste. I need to slow down and search every room carefully. This place isn't that large and I know the supplies were here somewhere. Where are they? Sam, you are in so much trouble.

  Tayana heard her C-Rex make its spooked sounds again. She stopped, realizing she was alone at the camp and had told no one where she was headed. Moving carefully forward, she finally located the room she remembered. The labels on everything were in a language she could not read, but she found bandages and tubes full of what looked like medicine, so she gathered them and made her way to the main bunker entrance.

  She was almost at the exterior door and was met by something large, and she gagged at the smell. Startled, she dropped the meds. A large, very alive, alien stood at the entrance. It was an exact replica of the one killed by the SHTF missile Grant fired.

  The intruder reached out to her. She defended herself with reckless abandon. Her sword whistled through the air clanging loudly on the Alien's chest armor. The alien reached out with another arm nearly missing her arm as it raced past its menacing hand. Her rage swelled along with her fear. She swung her sword harder and faster with the same clanging result as its armor covered arms. She jabbed her sword into the neck hoping to inflict pain. She jabbed once more, this time into an armpit, and the alien howled in pain. The howl was terrifying. Unnerved, she spun and ran to the hanger bay. She hid hoping the alien would not find her. Knowing she was in there, somewhere, it spoke and she understood him. Would it know where she was hiding? She quietly crouched and grabbed her bow and an arrow out of her quiver. If it advanced, she would pierce its brain.

  The alien spoke again, "I mean you no harm. I am a scientist, and I am unarmed."

  She knew better It had three arms, and each was a weapon. If it got a hold of her it would be her end. It did not advance and repeated, "I am not going to harm you, I need your assistance. I am injured and need care." She wanted to step out to see what condition it was in and if she might be able to help, but the warrior in her wanted to step out and fire a warning shot into a leg so it could not pursue her.

  "I need your help, I am going to lie down on the floor and will not attack you if you come near, and all fight has left me."

  Tayana knew this may be a ruse, but she also knew it could read the medicine bottles for her. She stepped out of hiding, bow drawn, and arrow pointed at its head. It was now lying motionless on the floor.

  "Where are you hurt?"

  He jolted when she spoke his language and replied, "Who are you, you speak my tongue?"

  "I am Tayana, this is my world. Where are you hurt?"

  I have sustained several punctures to my midsection and now I have one under my arm. I have no means to mend myself. I have also lost a limb."

  "I am not a healer," Tayana replied. "I am here to find medicine for another who is injured. Can you assist me in reading these bottles? In return I will do what I can to assist you."

  "I can and will."

  "How did you receive these wounds?"

  "I was out gathering sustenance when there was an explosion. I feared the worst and ran back to check on Greack. There was another explosion then hissing and everything began to vaporize around me. I made for a large boulder and was almost there when something pierced me and then my limb was gone.
I waited for yet another explosion but one never came. I was afraid and remained in hiding until I felt it was safe to return. Then we met in the entrance, and now we are here."

  Tayana lowered her bow. She crept slowly, and cautiously crept toward him. She could see where the missing limb once was and noted the blood on his clothing. She drew her sword as a precaution and moved within six feet of him. "If you can, come to a seated position, and face me."

  He moved with effort to a sitting position and turned to face her. He was not a pretty thing by any means, but he did have a softer look than the other alien. "How is it I can understand you and you me?"

  "There is a life-form on this world with the ability to translate languages. It is small and looks like pink gel. As filthy as this place is, it must be everywhere and apparently made its way into your ears. Who are you and why have you come to my world?"

  "Delack, I am Delack. We are here to gather knowledge of your world's resources and to mine what we can of value in a short amount of time. This world is rich in minerals, gems, and metals. We need these resources. Again, I am a scientist and wish you no harm."

  "Then why the boomers? They have killed many of my family and you say you mean no harm."

  "The boomers, I do not understand."

  "The flying things and the explosions they create. We call them boomers because of the noise they create."

  "The missiles are our protection. They keep local fauna away that could interrupt our mission. They are automated and we have little control over what they seek out to destroy."

  "Do they communicate with you when they have discovered or destroyed something?"

  "No, they are activated when motion is detected by sensors around the perimeter. We were unaware there was intelligent life on this world."

  "Well, there is! Now there are several forms of intelligent life here, if we include you. Was a distress signal sent by this place before it was destroyed?"

  "I do not know the answer to your question. Like I said, I was returning when I met you. Did you capture Greack? Did he survive the explosions?"