“Very well. I am here for you if you need me.”
Rome opened up a channel to Rei and Junior. “Aason is being held in The Cathedral. Junior, do you know where that is?”
“Yes,” replied the starship. “When I was born, I inherited my father’s database. Do you want me to go there?”
“Not yet,” answered Rome. Then to Rei, she asked, “Do you agree?”
“Yeah,” Rei answered while staring at the center viewscreen. “It’s enough that we know where they are. We have to see how Keller is going to play this out. We might not have to do anything.”
“I want to do something,” Junior replied angrily. “My Dad would have.”
“Yes,” Rome said, “but he would also have listened to us. Right?”
“Yes,” the spaceship replied begrudgingly.
Rome stood up and continued to knead her thigh along the back. “I am alright,” she announced to no one in particular. “Rei, do you need me to take over?”
“Naw,” Rei said. “I got this. Just take care of yourself.”
Rome looked at Keller and Ionelli. Keller waved his hand limply toward the cargo bay. Rome took that as her cue and she rejoined her father.
“Everything will be alright,” she whispered to him. “We know where they are.”
So this whole time, right in front of Captain Keller's nose, Rome and the Overmind ran an investigation into the whereabouts of the boy. Rome and Rei have the advantage of knowing but Captain Keller doesn't know that they know. This is getting exciting!
Entry 5-067: March 8, 2017
Darwin Base
When the Arks were launched, only the US Space Command knew there were actually two different subgroups within the passengers sent to the stars. Those kept in the gray super-armored sarcophagi were part of the secret initiative called Project Darwin. Their sole goal was to breed, build up the population and technology and one day return to Earth and claim it for their own.
The other group, kept in ordinary white sarcophagi, thought their mission was to colonize the target planet, build up the population and ensure the survival of the species by removing our genetic eggs from one cosmic basket. To some degree, the two groups worked in concert but to a much larger degree, their goals were at odds since they were competing for limited resources to accomplish two separate missions.
On top of everything else, the Erklirte, the Ark Lords, kept their mission secret. So they needed a base of operations in the northern woods, far away from New Ark City, so they could work on their plans undisturbed by the would-be colonists. Rei certainly had no idea about this when Keller directed him toward their secret base:
Up ahead, Rei could see a grouping of six or seven Quonset huts huddled on the edge of a large paved area, mostly blacktop resembling tarmac. The metallic roofs of the huts glinted in the sun to the point where Rei had to tint the windshield a bit. There was a classic two-story tall old Earth-style control tower attached to the farthest building.
“What is this place?” Rei asked. “I didn’t know it was here.”
“You can call it Darwin Base,” Keller answered. “And you weren’t supposed to know about it but it’s way too late for that. This is going to be your home for a while.”
Rei made a guttural sound then shook his head. “Where do you want me to set down?”
“Over there,” Keller said, pointing. “Past where the two roads merge.”
Rei slowly drifted across the taxi portion of the landing area, scanning the vicinity as they crossed the first roadway. Parked along the Quonset huts were several flying carts along with the huge transports they had brought from Earth in their Ark. Rei had wondered where those things had disappeared to. He had not seen any of them in over a year. He touched an icon and Junior’s landing gear extended. Rei rotated the craft so that it pointed forward toward the other roadway then set down with the tiniest of bumps.
Keller unbuckled. “Go join your wife,” he said. “But make sure everything you do is slow. I don’t want you to get shot accidentally.”
This place, Darwin Base, is something that Rei is going to have to check out. There is no way he's going to allow such shenanigans to on, on his home planet.
Entry 5-068: March 9, 2017
The Prize
Yesterday, Keller instructed Rei to land Junior at what Keller referred to as Darwin Base. When you think about their charter, they were tasked with returning to Earth and taking it over. They were to wipe out the remnants of mankind, if necessary, with the Darwin virus strain 5. So when Keller arrived at Darwin Base with the ersatz virus containment vessel, he was all full of himself. He was so wrong:
The mass of soldiers herded them to the center of the tarmac. Only then did Keller and Ionelli emerge from Junior, Keller holding the ersatz vessel very carefully.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” Keller announced. “We got it.” He raised the canister over his head.
The crowd roared their approval. Keller acknowledged it and allowed them a moment of general hurrahs and cheers. Finally, he tucked the canister under his arm and waved his free hand, motioning for them to settle down.
“These three are going to be our guests for a while,” he shouted. He turned to Ionelli and spoke in a quieter voice. “We have to figure out where to put them, but we’ll do that later,” he said. “Go get everybody out here.”
Rei, Rome and Fridone were shuffled off to the far side by two guards who took up positions on either side of them. Ionelli entered the closest hut. When he emerged, he was followed by a few people. He entered each of the remaining huts, each time more followed him outside. The crowd grew in size. Rei estimated sixty or seventy in total. Another small group came up from behind Rei, Rome and Fridone. Rei found the sheer number of people disappointing if not downright depressing.
When most of the group was gathered around, Keller walked over to the doorway of the nearest hut and hopped up on a metal box sitting there. He raised his voice to address the crowd. “Thanks to these fine folks,” he said, pointing to his three ‘guests’. “We can think about moving up the schedule. Obviously, with starships like this one…” He pointed at Junior. “We don’t need to build Arks. And with this…” He held up the aluminum canister, “we have the ultimate power. They have to do what we say when we say it or they all die. The Earth will be ours in no time.”
Once again, the crowd cheered and hooted at Keller’s pronouncements.
“Now these three,” he said, pointing at Rome, Rei and Fridone again. “We have to keep them safe. I don’t know where their pet starship is but he can be a mean son of a bitch. They’ll keep him in check as long as we play our cards right. He turned and looked directly at Rome. “You will, won’t you?” he called out.
Rome nodded sullenly. Rei, sensing her resignation, draped his arm over her shoulder and gathered her in.
So... Keller thinks he has everything in hand. He thinks he is in control. Like I said above, he is soooo wrong.
Entry 5-069: March 10, 2017
He’s alive
Yesterday, Captain Keller held up what he mistakenly thought was the genuine Darwin virus strain 5 containment vessel as a symbol of their total dominance of the human race. The fact is, what he had was nothing but a glorified balloon. However, Rome was unwilling to make a move against him until she secured Aason's release. Little did she know that her son was already safe and sound and right nearby:
Suddenly, Rome heard Aason’s voice in her head. “Mommy, Mommy,” the little boy said excitedly, “I see you.”
“What?” Rome replied, eyes wide, looking around. “No, my son, you are mistaken. We will look for you very soon.”
“I will see you first,” Aason answered.
“What do you mean?” Rome asked.
Aason did not answer. Rome opened her eyes up even wider.
“Rei,” she whispered in frightened tones. “Something’s happened.”
“What?” Rei inquired but before Rome could answer, the air was rocked by twin
sonic booms. Overhead, the roar of plasma thrusters, louder than any jet engine, shattered the air. The acrid smell of ozone followed a hot wind blowing over the landing area. The ground started shaking. Rome whirled in place just in time to see a portion of the sky shimmer and out of nowhere MINIMCOM’s sleek black starship appeared in mid-air. His powerful EG lifters whipped the air, scattering the few people who were directly beneath. Landing gear extended, MINIMCOM settled on the tarmac and sat there menacingly with his “roadgrader” cannons extended, their fanned edges bristling with glowing red tips.
With a whoosh and a pop, MINIMCOM’s all black livetar appeared beside Rei and Rome.
“You’re alive!” Rome said, jumping up so she could put her arms around his neck. She hugged the livetar. “Why didn’t you tell us?” Suddenly, she slid off and backed away. “What about the virus?” she asked fearfully.
MINIMCOM leaned his head forward and spoke quietly. “As I told you before I left, immolating myself was not my first choice. Rei’s idea turned out to be a good one. I needed an autoclave and I realized I could just turn my cargo compartment inside-out. I plunged far enough into the photosphere of the sun to burn off a good percentage of my interior before I escaped. I am completely clean now; however, I did sustain some system damage, including my transmitter. It took longer than I expected to rebuild it. Otherwise I would have called sooner.”
Keller is in trouble now. The very thing he feared was MINIMCOM's presence which has now been realized. But at least he has the weapon of last resort. Or so he thought.
Entry 5-070: March 11, 2017
Do not make him angry
Yesterday, MINIMCOM reappeared, seemingly from the dead, just in the nick of time to act as the cavalry when it came to Rome and Rei's safety. Captain Keller thinks he has the advantage both with the fake virus containment vessel and with Aason and Binoda being held captive. Unfortunately for him, he was dead wrong on both counts:
Rome cocked her head, trying to infer what he meant. The livetar turned and faced Captain Keller. He spoke but used his EG lifters as a super-PA system so that his voice thundered over the crowd.
“I do not appreciate you holding weapons aimed toward my family,” he said, pointing up to the extrusions on the fuselage. “These cannons can and will slice all of you in half before you can blink.”
The troops behind Keller backed away several feet, spreading out as they moved. Keller looked at their formation and shouted back, “I knew those two were lying. You, spaceship. You’re forgetting. I still have this.” Keller raised the aluminum canister into the air. “And with all these rifles, I feel certain we can kill Rei or Rome before you get all of us. Besides, Rome knows we still have her mother and child. She won’t let you do anything to endanger them.”
With a whoosh and a pop, two more livetars appeared to Rome’s left, a tall white one and a shorter gray one. The small gray one walked up to Rome with an oddly stiff gait.
“Hello, Mommy,” a little voice said, issuing from the mouth hole. Rome bent over, looked into the eye holes and found Aason’s eyes staring back at her. She clapped her hands and stood up. She peered into the eye slits of the OMCOM livetar and saw her mother’s eyes peeking out from behind them.
MINIMCOM leaned over and whispered in Rome’s ear, “I took the liberty of picking up your mother and son on my way over here.”
Rome hugged the two-meter tall livetar again. “I don’t know what we would ever do without you,” she said.
Not exactly understanding what was transpiring, the myriad troops shuffled uneasily. The two guards standing next to the little group took a step back and raised their rifles taking dead aim at Rome and Rei.
The livetar shook his head and wagged his finger at them. Two sounds, like a zzt, zzt, issued from the cylindrical cannons and the two laser pulse rifles were sliced in half. It took the two guards a moment to comprehend what had happened. Frightened, the soldiers dropped the useless hardware and backed away, joining the larger group.
It is clear that MINIMCOM has the ability to disarm the crowd. It is time for Keller to play his final two trump cards.
Entry 5-071: March 12, 2017
The two trump cards
Yesterday, we saw MINIMCOM swoop in to save the day. He is very powerful and a dedicated protector of Rome, Rei and their family. The standoff is complete, at least in the mind of Captain Keller. He believes he still has Binoda, Rome's mother, and Aason captured and hidden away so he feels like he has all the power. But when you come from the 21st century, you make 21st century assumptions. And, as usual, he is wrong.
“MINIMCOM, can you disarm all of them that way without harming them?” Rome asked.
“It would be my pleasure,” replied the livetar. The tips of the cannons came alive and the angry red dots went zzt, zzt, zzt so fast, no one had a chance to move. Very quickly, every one of the soldiers now had two pieces of a rifle where there was only one before. Some of the onlookers, at the edge of the crowd, started running away.
“Settle down, people,” Keller shouted, trying to calm the crowd.
MINIMCOM used the crowd’s confusion as his opportunity. He stepped around in front of Rome, blocking her from Keller’s view. He reached into the folds of his cape and pulled out an object. He slipped Rome the 9mm pistol they had picked up from the armory on Earth.
“I promised I would return this to you,” MINIMCOM said. “It is fully restored and fully operational.” The livetar bent over and added, “I was able to match the dried blood on the handle to the stain we found back at the Tevatron.”
“What are you saying?” Rome asked, staring at the pistol in her hand.
“I believe this handgun belonged to Hanry Ta Jihn,” MINIMCOM replied.
Rome’s jaw dropped open. The livetar stepped away.
Seeing Rome holding the gun, Lt. Greer called out, “No, you don’t!” He reached behind his back and brought out another type of handgun. Even as he was drawing his weapon, MINIMCOM waved his arm. There was another zzt sound and Greer screamed. His hand, still holding the gun, fell to the ground. With the stump of his arm bleeding profusely, Greer sank to his knees, moaning.
In a panic, Keller shouted out, “You’d better stop him! We still have your mother and son. There is nothing you can do about that.” One of the assembled group waved a walkie-talkie in the air. Keller leaned over from his metal platform. The guard with the radio whispered something in his ear.
“What!?” he exclaimed, looking around frantically.
A thin line appeared at the top of each livetar which widened and became a crack. The livetars split sideways, almost completely in half, and Binoda and Aason stepped out onto the runway. As the livetars were resealing themselves, Rome shoved the gun into her left pocket and rushed over to pick up Aason. She cuddled and rocked him. “Oh my baby. I was so worried,” she said.
“I missed you, Mommy,” Aason replied with his little arms around his mother’s neck. Rei came over and stroked his son’s head gently. In the meantime, Fridone ran over and grabbed Binoda. They took turns kissing each other, just relishing the fact that they were together again. Binoda pulled free and came over and hugged her daughter and grandson as well. After a few moments, Rome looked up at Keller standing on the box and her eyes narrowed. She handed Aason to her husband then pulled the handgun out of her pocket. After slowly sliding forward, she shifted the gun to her right hand and aimed it directly at Keller. “Our business here is concluded,” she growled.
Do you think Captain Keller is just going to capitulate! Naw. He from the Killer Generation, after all. He believes he has one more card up his sleeve.
Entry 5-072: March 13, 2017
You’ve killed us all
Every book has a final, pivotal scene; the culmination of moving all the chess pieces in place until you have the last meaningful dramatic confrontation. Yesterday was the setup for this slam-bam climax. MINIMCOM has disarmed (and in one case dismembered) the Darwin crew. MINIMCOM also gave Rome Jack Henry's
handgun. Captain Keller has the fake virus container and still thinks he has the ultimate trump card. So here is the payoff for sticking with The Ark Lords up to this point:
Keller assessed the situation and simply shrugged. He shook his head and stepped down from the box. “I don’t know how you do it,” he said, “but I guess you win this round. Be careful where you point that gun,” he said with just a tinge of fear in his voice. “You could hit this vessel.” He held it up and away from his body.
“That is exactly what I plan to do,” Rome said. She brought her left hand up to steady her aim.
“No!” Keller shouted hoarsely.
“Yes,” Rome said grimly. She flipped the safety with her thumb then she exhaled and firmly pulled the trigger. With a bang, the gun went off and the bullet flew straight through the aluminum canister. Because it was pressurized, the air shooting out of it made a loud, whistling noise.
“You crazy bitch!” Keller cried out. He threw the canister to the ground and covered his mouth with his sleeve. “You’ve killed us all.”
Rome lowered her arm slightly, still pointing her weapon at Keller’s chest.
Tales of the Vuduri_Year Five Page 11