by Chris Hechtl
“People, people!” he said, raising his hands as the yelling and arguing spread. He waited for the room to quiet and then nodded, lowering his hands. “The doctor is pointing something out that each and every one of us by now has realized, if not consciously than subconsciously. We know that there is no turning back the clock. The doctor here and other scientists around the world have been trying to find a magic bullet, a fatal weakness in the aliens. To date they obviously haven't been successful.” He avoided trading on Jen's name and participation in that effort. He didn't want to sound like he was capitalizing on it.
The doctor looked a little embarrassed and annoyed. Shane nodded. “Thank you doctor,” he said gently pushing him back to his seat.
“I was trying to help,” the man said in his ear. Shane turned to look at him and then nodded.
“I know doc, but some people can't handle bad news. Nor can they handle it in a group,” he said. The doctor frowned and then nodded.
He waited until the doctor was seated and then nodded. “So, I know we can't go back to the old world, but I bet there are some of you out there that probably have ideas on how to improve things here, or move back to that state of... safety as much as possible. If you've got ideas in that regard, post them on the boards and shoot off some e-mails. Work on your plan on your off time and present it to others. Get with a section head and present it to the council and the public at large.”
“What about the housing situation?” A man called from the back. He waved. “This crowding...”
“Is getting better,” Jayne said standing suddenly. “We're doing what we can. Bob here has added annexes where he could, to try to expand but where limited on space here.”
“So what about moving out? More places?”
“To do that we have to have them available. We have to have the resources to retrofit them for defense and for people to live in.”
“What about the apartments down a ways or nearby on the other side of Eucalyptus?”
“Yeah why'd you bulldoze them??!”
“They did it to keep us stuck here!”
“No...” Shane raised his hands again as the crowd got out of control once more. When Jayne blew on a police whistle the group winced, putting hands to offended ears. She popped it out but kept it handy.
“Thanks,” he said dryly turning to her as he ringed his ear out. “I think,” he said, picking at his ear with his finger. A few people snorted. “As I was saying, we are here for a reason folks. It’s defensible. The more places we take up the more area we have to defend which stretches both our materials and our people thin. If it becomes too thin, then we're in trouble.”
He paused and gripped the lectern. “As to the question of the apartments, the ones closest to us were bulldozed because we needed the area for our defenses. You can go out and look and see if you don't believe me.”
“Yeah, but what about others?” a guy asked.
“What about them?” he asked. “If they are in our perimeter we can see about retrofitting them. I don't believe we have any in our area, but we'll check. The ones over on March are a mess. We're still trying to figure out how to fix them up and use them. But there is a problem with them.”
“Oh yeah? What's that?”
“Simple,” he said shaking his head mournfully. “The alien Hoppers and fliers. They might be available but they are trashed and are a sieve. But aliens like the Hoppers and Creeplings and others can fly right over our defenses. Many infest our sewers and drainage systems and are an ongoing threat. Now picture living in your filthy second story apartment with these flying around outside your bedroom window at night. Anyone?” he asked looking around. “Anyone at all want to be there?” He spread his hands apart. “Anyone at all?” he asked, turning to face everyone assembled.
Many were shaking their heads no. Others were looking at people with set expressions. More than one person had their face cloud over in doubt and uncertainty. They had heard how well their militia was doing, so why couldn't they just clear out the aliens and be done with it? He tried hard not to get mad at such a stupid mindset. He nodded after a moment seeing a woman nearby visibly upset. One woman was shivering. Her partner patted her arm. “I didn't think so,” he said firmly.
“But we can make them better!” one person said.
“Maybe. Sure we can board up windows and doors. If we have the material. Remember apartments have a lot of doors and windows. We can cover openings. But ask some of the soldiers and some of the harvesters about false ceilings, fireplaces, air vents, and just how dangerous things in there can be.”
He waited for the crowd to talk and then tapped his arm. “Been there done that,” he said, pointing to the scar on his cheek and then pointing to the scars on his bare forearms. Many people looked and then looked away.
A woman in the front row started shivering now, tears running down her face. He went over to her and patted her arm. She nodded and gripped his fingers. He waited a moment until she got her control back and then returned his attention to the crowd.
“As you can see, more than one of you has been traumatized by that. We'll figure it out folks, it will take time but I guarantee it will get done. We've got a lot of motivated people here. We're working on our long term food situation, our long term water situation is doing better than expected; trash, power, and shelter are all doing well. It’s a work in progress folks, bear with us,” he said finally.
“Now, let's break this up, some of us need to get some down time before our shifts begin. I've got to check the perimeters and that's a two or three hour job there. Then I've got a beautiful lady to check on. I'll make sure the IT crew,” he turned to a camera. The camera light flipped on and off. “...know to get the boards set up and ready for you, if they haven't already. Good day everyone,” he said.
People broke into groups or headed for the exits. A few looked irritated; a few perplexed, some were talking animatedly. He knew he should have ended the meeting on a more positive note, ended it with good news or plans, but he just didn't have it in him right now. He felt Bob pat him on the shoulder and nodded as the big man walked on. He nodded to Jayne and then went to work. He had a request for Torres since his own efforts hadn't paid off yet.
...*...*...*...*...
Jayne was waiting for him when he exited the assembly area. She nodded and took up pace with him. “Its not going to go away you know,” she said after a moment when he didn't say anything.
“What?” he asked. “The talk of finding more apartments or the economy thing?” he asked amused.
“Both. Either; take your pick.”
“I don't expect them to. Nor do I want them to actually. I want us talking about this. I want us focusing on the next step, and the one after that, not hiding and terrified, living hand to mouth. We need to be focused on the future, on the horizon and what lies just beyond it. It’s the only way we can get through this,” he said waving his hands. “But they need to stay focused on getting food and weapons not on more creature comforts.”
“I like Gabe's idea actually,” she mused. He turned his head to her, cocking an eyebrow. Her lips puckered in a small smile. “He wants to relocate everyone.”
“Where?” he asked, throwing his hands up. “Doc just pointed out the world's covered in aliens!” he said in disgust.
“That's what Gabe said. No he wants to relocate everyone off world.”
He laughed, shaking his head. He paused, standing and then stepping aside to let others past. “You're so, so, not serious,” he said as he slowly stopped.
“He is at any rate,” she said amused. “He's right in some regards, up there, no aliens. Down here, its alien central. Up there we can focus on living and rebuild. Here it’s, well...”
“We can do a lot down here. Besides, down here we've got air and other resources. We just have to work harder for them,” he said. “Has he even thought about the resource expenditure to get people into space? Large groups? Plus habitats?”
“Not
really,” she said. “Guy is a dreamer. Gifted, but sometimes not all there,” she admitted.
“Yeah,” he sighed shaking his head. “I gathered that. No, we'll keep working on the ground. It’s an interesting idea; I bet more than one space buff is thinking it right now if they are still alive. Who knows, we might run with it someday. Stranger things have happened.”
“Says the guy in the middle of an alien invasion?” Jayne asked, smiling her trademarked tight lipped smile again. He nodded returning the smile. “Right. Anyway, I've got some people to check on. Say hi to Jen for me,” she said.
“I will,” he said waving as they separated. Right after he made a pick up. Hopefully they had what he wanted. What she needed. He'd have to check.
...*...*...*...*...
“Did you get anywhere with the citrus?” Jen asked Yan as he came into the room. He paused and then smiled.
“Good to see you too,” he said holding up his tablet. “And no, we were sidetracked by the fur issue. Again.”
“Fur?”
“Some of the aliens in cold climates have been growing fur now that we're getting closer to winter. Very fast. The primary shades are white or gray with black, purple, or red stripes or spots.”
“Huh. Hellcats?”
“Shaggy fur, they definitely look less reptilian and more cat like with the fur,” Yan said shaking his head.
“Interesting. I wonder if they will shed it in the spring?” she mused. She could just imagine fur dotting the landscape. Could it be used? She made a note for them to look into it.
“Most of the animals are settling into migratory patterns similar to Terran animals. You were right about that again.”
“It just makes sense. You go where the food and water are. If your food heads South for the winter you follow or starve.”
“Or go into hibernation. We haven't seen that yet.”
“I'm not sure we will but it’s possible,” she said indicating the chair next to her bed. He looked hesitant. “Sit, sit.” she ordered.
He sat and smiled at her. “You were saying?” he asked.
“Um...” she paused to think. “We know that the aliens hibernate in some form. They had to to cross interstellar distances. Some sort of organic hibernation. It could be something like marsupials do, but I...” she sighed and shook her head.
“Marsupials?” he asked making a note.
“Diapause. They can carry multiple pregnancies and can even control when they become pregnant and even for how long. Kangaroos can have one Joey in the pouch while another is gestating and others are in stasis in the upper uterus.”
“I missed that,” Yan murmured, writing fast. He was still a student after all. Even after a year of dealing with the alien’s day in and day out.
“I remembered it.” She made a brushing motion. “Do bring up the citrus argument. We need it tested fast. Different concentrations and on different animals. We know it works, but not how it works and why. We need to work on an aerosol plan. Perhaps we can spray crops to keep aliens at bay? Maybe on demand like pest control? What about spraying ahead of a herd to redirect them?”
“All right,” Yan said with a nod as he wrote. He kicked himself for not bringing that up to Doctor Phillips and the team earlier. It was fascinating watching the team dig into various alien biota. They tended to diverge though, going off on tangents that had Colonel Nash gnashing his teeth in annoyance. This was a possible break through. One that had been overlooked for far too long. He looked up to see her drifting, eyes almost closed.
“I'll ah, get this in motion,” he murmured softly and patted her hand and walked out as quietly as he could.
...*...*...*...*...
Outside in the hall, he sighed. The nurse on duty smiled sympathetically. “She's sleeping,” he said.
“She doesn't have a lot of energy,” the nurse said with a nod.
“Well, she gave me my homework and chastised me for not doing it earlier. I'll pass it along.”
...*...*...*...*...
Yan nodded to doc as he knocked and entered the conference room. Doctor Phillips and Nate the veterinarian nodded to him as he entered. “How is she?” Nate asked.
“Sleeping. She doesn't have much energy. It won’t be long now,” Yan said sadly. He nodded to Doctor Phillips and turned to bow to the men and women on the screens around the room.
“It is a terrible thing,” the Asian doctor said with a sigh. “To lose such a mind when the world needs her the most.”
“Yes well, she pointed out an idea to me. She actually has been on us about it for some time but we've been sidetracked. She pointed out it is possibly vital and that we've been overlooking it.”
“Oh?” the Colonel asked. “A weapon?”
“A deterrent,” Yan said taking his seat. He set his tablet in front of him and keyed up his notes. “But one that can possibly be used as a defensive weapon or to steer the aliens if used properly. What she suggested is citrus juice or concentrated vitamin C or Citric acid. We haven't narrowed down exactly which it is that the aliens don't like or why. What we do know though, is that the herbivores avoid it...”
“Interesting...”
“What she's proposing is crop dusting areas. Or getting ahead of a herd and dusting an area to redirect them away from populated areas...”
Yan watched as one by one the other scientists blinked and then smiled.
“Beautiful. Simply beautiful. We'll have to try it.”
“She suggested experimenting on the predators as well. I believe her husband is working on that but I think they got mixed or minimal results. I do remember that the farm people planted citrus plants all along our perimeter and that usually drives off the aliens that come near. I'll make sure to get the results,” Yan said with a small smile as approval and excitement radiated in the room. Jen, I wish you could see this, he thought with a pang. Her legacy may be born right here and now.
...*...*...*...*...
“You remembered,” she said as he came in holding his hand behind his back. Nick and Jayne looked up at him. He shrugged. Jayne had apparently beaten him here. It had taken a little longer to find the flowers than he'd thought.
“What gave me away?” he asked pulling his hand out to reveal the scraggly roses in a vase. They weren't long stem roses, and they were of different colors, but they were the best he could come up with.
“The smell,” she said, smiling, eyes twinkling. “Let me see them,” she said.
He smiled and came closer, and then knelt on one knee so she could get a better whiff. She smiled again, caressing a fragile blossom. “Where did these come from?” she asked amused by his show of theater.
“Torres found them for me,” he said smiling. She took a nice long sniff and smiled again. “I think she found them in an enclosed greenhouse or something,” he said shrugging. Eric had certainly been happy about it.
“Glad you remembered,” Jayne said nodding. Nick looked at them confused.
“Um...”
“Your parents' anniversary,” Jayne said, resting an arm on the boy's shoulder.
“Oh,” he said nodding. “Wait; that means my birthday is next week!” he said eyes lighting for a moment and then dimming.
“It is,” Jayne said, looking down at him and smiling. She looked up as Jen coughed. Her body was wracked with coughs for a moment. Jayne felt Nick tense up under her hand. She rubbed at the boy's shoulder.
“Let's let your mom rest huh?” Jayne suggested, watching Jen's eyes flutter. The woman was having all she could do to remain awake for her audience. Nick looked up at Jayne then back to his mother. He went over to her and kissed her on the cheek.
“Happy anniversary momma,” he whispered.
“Thank you honey,” she said, trying to hug the boy. Her IV tube got in the way. He cupped her palm to his cheek and smiled. “I love you. Now go get some school work done while I rest. I want all your homework done young man,” she teased.
He sniffled and rubbed his nose fo
r a moment then chuckled a watery chuckle. He'd always hated doing his homework. He nodded as his mother's hand fell. “Yes momma,” he said backing into his father who was standing. His father rested a hand on his shoulder. He hugged his dad's side for a moment and then left, wiping at his eyes.
“He'll be okay,” Jayne said. “I'll just go check on him,” she said walking out stiffly. He nodded as he put the vase down on the end table next to Jen's head.
“Busy day?” Jen asked.
Shane sat in the chair and smiled a little as his hands naturally fell into his lap. “Oh you know, it’s actually quiet for once. Routine and all,” he said. “It’s cooled off. The weather forecast thinks it will be that way right into September at this rate. Something about all the water vapor in the air and the changing climate. Gabriel said there is some stuff coming up from the South but we're hoping it'll blow by. Other than that, thankfully quiet,” he said.
“Don't curse yourself my man,” she teased. “May you live in interesting times indeed,” she said, voice drifting as she started to slur. He leaned over and kissed her cheek gently.
“Sleep love, we'll talk later,” he said, stroking her cheek.
Chapter 58
Shane came into the war room and nodded to the others. The map of the area was looking better. Only a few big spots of red, most were green, yellow, or blue.
Hernandez, Ross, and the others were bent over a large LCD table top looking at a terrain map of the area. “What's up?” he asked, not being able to see a clear view of what they were looking at. Something had them on edge. They didn't normally call him in when he was sleeping or with Jen. Torres and Wayne, Todd, hell all the team leaders had been called in. Something was in the wind.
“We've got a problem coming our way,” Hernandez said quietly, looking over his shoulder. “We just got the intel and it’s not good.”
“We do?” he asked.
“Yes, check it out,” they made room for him and Ross pulled the screen view out to about thirty miles.