by Tim Blagge
As I looked around the room, there were twenty two other Veladorian men and women ready to take the course. Our instructor was a man named Captain Chuzwit who was the most experienced pilot at New Pasadena and was the Pilot who took Jerry and Rolf back in time to Earth.
I raised my hand and asked the first question and fortunately, just as I asked it Rolf entered the room and did the translation. Since Jerry, Joanna and I had translation devices that allowed us to understand Veladorian, the device translating English to Veladorian wasn’t available.
“How long will it take for us to become proficient at piloting the aircraft? I asked.
“To start the machine and pilot it will take less than a day,” Chuzwit answered. “To understand the basics of the machinery and get to your destination will take another two days. To become a skilled and proficient fighter pilot will take you a lifetime. We are all hoping that lifetime won’t be short so your attention is required at all times.”
“Unfortunately, our outdoor practice time will be severely limited.” Chuzwit continued. “In anticipation of this, our engineers are working to adapt the one flight simulator we have here to give you the most lifelike experience as a pilot of our new spacecraft. Every ship has its own personality and we have never had a ship this small that has had this level of power and armament so I’m not sure what to expect myself.”
With that comment, Chuzwit opened the first lesson.
Ten hours later, lesson one ended and Rolf and I returned to his station to check on the status of our wives.
As we were walking, Rolf said, “Bill, I was thinking that the government probably confiscated the girl’s untraceable phones that I gave them and replaced them with regular ones so they can monitor their calls. We need to smuggle them some new, untraceable phones. Any ideas as to how we accomplish that?”
“We could try the old file in the cake trick.” I answered. “If incoming items aren’t searched, they could be placed in some food packages or gifts or flowers. I saw it on an episode of The Three Stooges once. Bribing the guards is popular at home too and seems to work most of the time.”
“Bill, you’ve been watching too much TV. Go somewhere and think of something that might have a chance of success.”
I went to the commissary to meet up with Jerry and Joanna who were sitting down to eat dinner. “So how’d you two find school today?”
“Interesting,” Joanna said. “But I’m not sure I’d make a good pilot. I’m going primarily to spend time with Jerry.”
“I kind of like my feet on the ground but I guess I’ll try to get ready for wherever I’m needed,” was Jerry’s take on the class.
“I think you both may change your minds if we are actually able to get one of the ships in the air. Reading between the lines, I’m certain Captain Chuzwit wants that too.” I said. “I’ll bet he figures out a way to test drive one of the ships before long. That should be an interesting experiment. Considering two people are needed to fly one airship and there are only twenty four students in the class, Pops will catch up with the number of pilots being trained in twelve days; less if some of us wash out. So we’ve all got to complete our training in the next ten days.”
The next two days of training were all academic. The following day the simulator was completed with the parameters of the new ship installed. When we arrived for class, Chuzwit confessed he had been testing the new program.
“If the program is correct,” he explained, “flying one of these will be the experience of a lifetime. Since we installed the same anti-gravity drives as we have in our larger ships, this model is actually overpowered. This makes it very fast and maneuverable, if you know what you are doing. If not you might get yourself into the side of a mountain before you know it. I’ve decided to give every student an hour on the machine so you must all schedule your session. I or one of my other pilots will stand by and instruct you.”
Jerry, Joanna and I decided to schedule our time on the simulator early the next morning. I wanted to see if Rolf felt it was time to approach our wives who had been back at the house for a day.
“Bill, last night I went to the house to see if there were any guards. I saw two men camped between the house and the road. If that’s all they have, it will be easy to approach from the back side and get into the house.” Rolf explained.
“Can we go tonight?” I asked with a new found excitement.
“Let’s give it one more day. I think the guards will get comfortable doing nothing and after they go to sleep, we’ll slip in.”
“OK, it’s in your hands. I’ll be ready whenever you are,” I said.
The next morning Joanna, Jerry and I arrived for our training session on the simulator. Joanna sat down first and listened to the instructor give her instructions on the inner workings of the machine. She started the imaginary fighter, had it rise up and move forward. She smoothly gained altitude and speed. The instructor had her increase her speed and do some looping and rolling maneuvers.
“Young lady, you’ve performed those moves more smoothly that any student before you and I’ve been here all night. Now I’m going to inject some of the enemy into the mix. You job is to pilot your ship to get behind and blast them with your lasers. I’ll start at the lowest difficulty level first.”
Joanna put a quick end to any enemy that came her way. The instructor bypassed the next two levels and went to a moderate level and she performed equally well.
“You must have done your homework. You have already surpassed the highest score.” With that comment he switched the level of difficulty to ‘advanced’. My regular pilots with experience have trouble at this level so don’t feel bad if you get shot out of the sky.”
Joanna piloted her craft to an amazingly quick victory against three of the Cromwells.
“Let me try the next level of difficulty,” Joanna asked the instructor.
“You’ve just completed the highest level!” I’ve never seen anyone perform like you especially on the first try. I’m amazed. This definitely qualifies you for the pilot’s seat and you get to choose your co-pilot.”
“I choose Jerry. Okay husband?” Joanna answered with her typically cute smile.
As I stood there chuckling Jerry’s response surprised me. “Sure Joanna. You were always better than me at video games. Even though this game we are trying to master is for real, there’s no one I’d rather co-pilot for than you!”
“Wow Jerry, you never cease to amaze me! Now let’s see how you do.” I added.
Jerry took the pilot’s position and except for a few overly aggressive moves as the instructor put it, did well too.
I sat down anxious to give the machine a whirl. Being the brains of the outfit, I thought I had a chance to beat both Jerry and my sister. I began by trying some clever little tricks that I thought might work and dazzle the instructor. I totally failed and the Cromwells shot me out of the sky over and over.
“Bill,” the instructor commented, “you are near the bottom of the pack in piloting one of these crafts. If you work really hard, you might make an adequate co-pilot if we need one. But you’ll have to dedicate yourself to get to that level.”
“Damn it,” I said out loud. “You guys made it look easy. I must have overcomplicated the system but being at the bottom of any ranking gripes me! Oh well; so much for a career as a fighter pilot.” I looked at the clock and it was time for class so we all went to get the next lesson in armaments.
-Chapter 27-
After Class we went to visit Rolf.
“OK men, I’ve got several things to communicate. First all of the Cromwells have had their memories erased. Immediately after, they were blindfolded and as a group transported to California and dropped near a large city there. Their people should find them soon and these men won’t help the Cromwell cause anytime soon.”
“What does that mean” I asked. “Did the procedure go okay?”
“It went well but not perfectly,” Rolf explained. “We didn’t want to chance e
rasing too few of their recent memories, so our doctors erased a little more than would have been my preference. The men seemed to revert to a much younger age estimated to be between twelve to fifteen years old. All their later memories were gone and they were all asking where their parents and siblings were. It was unfortunate but it had to be done.”
“My God, that sounds horrible,” I said loudly. “Now we’ve given those people a reason to hate us even more. Wasn’t it possible to take a few less years away from their memories?”
“Maybe Bill, but we decided it wasn’t worth the risk,” Rolf answered. “Now are you ready to see your wife tonight?”
“More ready than you realize. I’m hoping I can spend some private time with Brenda. Do you think that would be possible?”
“I’m not sure Bill, but don’t get your hopes up just yet,” Rolf said. “Jerry, I’d like you to go with us and watch the guards at the front while Bill and I go through the back. If they start to move or look like they’ve heard anything, notify us ASAP so we can take the appropriate action. Here is a wave gun in case you need it for the guards in front.”
That evening the three of us met and Rolf drove one of the vehicles to an area near our house. Jerry took a position near the front guard’s location so he could watch them from about 50 meters away. Rolf and I circled around and approached from the rear. I peered through the small windows hoping to get a glimpse of Brenda. My heart jumped when I saw her but as I got closer, there was a Veladorian guard posted inside the house too.
“Damn it” I whispered to Rolf as I pointed to the man in the house.
“Bill, Stella and I have a signal between the two of us. I will place these phones underneath this potted plant. If I break a limb off the plant, it’s supposed to tell her something is here. Let’s hope she’s looking for a message. I’ll leave our numbers under this second plant. I didn’t program them into the phone in case they fell into enemy hands.”
After he finished his task we began to tiptoe away. Suddenly, five armed Veladorians and two Cromwell soldiers jumped out of the bushes and demanded we raise our hands. The man in the house came out and the two guards from the front came around to investigate the commotion. The Cromwell in charge looked smug and pleased with himself for capturing the two most wanted men on Velador. The highest ranking Veladorian ordered us to start walking to a vehicle they had concealed past a small hill near the house.
“We’re really screwed aren’t we Rolf,” I commented as I surveyed our situation.
“Yes, I’m afraid we are. Bill.”
Suddenly I heard a click and a whoosh and I passed out on the ground. It was the last thing I remembered for the next three hours.
Brenda and Stella rushed out of the house and found everyone lying unconscious on the ground. They heard the sound of cracking branches and turned to see someone walking toward them.
It was Jerry.
“I’m going to need help getting Bill and Rolf into our vehicle. I assume you ladies are coming too.” Jerry said.
“Damn straight,” Brenda answered. “Let’s get Bill up first and come back for Rolf.”
Jerry grabbed me under my shoulders and Stella and Brenda each grabbed a leg about thigh level. I was carried and placed in the vehicle. They repeated the exercise with Rolf.
“Now that Bill and Rolf are secured, I need to get a few things out of the house,” Stella said. “It will only take me a minute.”
Stella was gone about five minutes, came out with a stuffed carry-on style bag. As she walked past the porch, she noticed the broken branches on the potted plant. She looked underneath them and found the phones and numbers and stuffed them in her bag. We all jumped in our vehicle and Jerry found himself sitting in the driver’s seat.
“Stella, can you talk me through this or do you want to drive?” Jerry asked.
“Go ahead Jerry,” Stella said as she barked a few instructions about operating the car.
“Next question; where do we go now?”
“We need to get our unconscious husbands back to New Pasadena first so head that way.” Stella ordered.
Jerry carefully began their journey back to the home base and in a few minutes was driving the vehicle with a modest level of skill. In about forty-five minutes we were parked in front of the entrance to New Pasadena, our temporary home. Six of the men guarding the facility came out and moved Bill and Rolf to their quarters inside. Blosh was notified and met Stella and Brenda at the entrance above ground.
“It will be another hour or two before your husbands wake up.’ Blosh commented. “I have a temporary home where you can stay at least for now. My assistant is there and he’s is preparing the residence for you. It’s not as nice as the house you just vacated, but it should suffice for the time being. Let’s get back in the vehicle and I’ll take you there. Jerry, you should come along so you know where this place is.”
The drive lasted about fifteen minutes and Blosh pulled up in front of a dilapidated looking old ranch style house. As everyone exited the vehicle, the stench of a working cattle farm hit everyone hard.
“This is the ranch of a friend of mine.” Blosh explained as he apologized for the smell. ‘This building is quarters for some of his people who work the ranch. This house is not being used right now.”
“A bunkhouse is what it’s called back on Earth,” Jerry said. “How long does it take to get used to the smell?”
“Not long,” Blosh answered. “The good thing is the government won’t be looking for anyone in a place like this so it should offer some protection.”
An associate of Blosh came out and escorted the group into the cabin. Like most bunkhouses it was just one large room with a single bathroom at one end and a primitive kitchen at the other. Single cot-like structures lined the walls.
“My associate has left some food for you two. The rest of us are returning to New Pasadena. We’ll get Rolf and Bill here as soon as they wake up. You might as well get some sleep before they get here. Your husbands won’t be feeling too well even after they do wake up. It takes a while for the headache to subside.”
It took me about four hours before the headache began to go away. I would have called it a migraine but it was worse. About the time I was able to sit up on my bed and put my feet on the floor, Jerry and Joanna came in to check on me.
“How are you felling dude? Jerry asked cheerfully. “I’ve come to collect my thank you for saving your behind once again.”
“Next time either kill me or let me be captured.” I moaned. “I’ve never felt this bad before and I do not plan on feeling this way again!”
“It’s time to get up and meet the girls.” Jerry said “We’ve got a plan for Earth prepared and it’s not too long before we’re going back. Meet us at the entrance in half an hour”
Jerry left and I made my way slowly to the bathroom, showered, shaved and got dressed. The water helped clear my head and by the time I met Jerry I felt almost well. We all climbed into two large transporters and left for the bunkhouse. Jerry had described the girls’ new digs and I was not sure what to expect but my excitement over seeing Brenda brightened my mood significantly.
Fifteen minutes later, we arrived and Brenda ran out and almost knocked me down as she hugged and kissed me.
As we hugged I whispered into Brenda’s ear. “You have no idea how much I missed you young lady.”
“And I can hardly wait to get you alone, Bill.” She whispered back. “But it looks like it will have to wait for a while. Oh well, patience is a good thing, right?”
“So they say, my dear, so they say.”
Our entire crew including Jerry, me, Brenda and the eight Veladorian flight crew assembled at the Skunk House and went over the plan. Because of the smell, that name seemed more appropriate and all the humans agreed.
Rolf had created a detailed outline of how we could enter the Russian compound and neutralize the guards both outside and inside. Disabling the security system and communications would be another chall
enge but Rolf seemed to have that under control too.
“Bill you and Brenda must get on the ITD and become proficient in Russian. I assume you’ll want to stay here for a little while so I’ll have the ITD sent over along with the doctor who will administer the procedure. Stella will accompany me back to New Pasadena and return with the Doctor so you will have about an hour of privacy. Have fun.”
The crew left and Brenda and I engaged in another incredible session of love. After it concluded, Brenda looked at me and said “Bill, you are by far the best lover I have ever been with. You never fail to fulfill my needs.”
“I hope you’re kidding Brenda. Considering you have nothing to compare me to, I’m not sure that was a compliment either. But, it’s me and I’ll take any compliment I can get.”
“So what happened when you were in jail?” I asked
“It was strange and surprisingly non-threatening.” Brenda explained. “I was interrogated first with Stella and then by myself. Everyone was respectful in their questions. We both stuck to the story that we had no idea where you and Rolf were; that we were concerned that you two had been killed. I had to do some acting to convince them that I was a grieving wife. When Shinkorloft arrived, it got even better.”
“How so?”
“We were placed in a comfortable room with only one guard at the front door. The food was good too. Stella had several private meetings with the attorney and the only thing strange about it was her insistence that I not attend.”
“Why do you think that was strange?”
“At home, all defendants meet with their attorney. I only met Shinkorloft once briefly. After that, Stella took over. Since I don’t understand the legal system here, I let her do it.”
“Stella is an extremely strong woman,” I said. “She demonstrated that trait many times with me even up to our meeting with the President. I wouldn’t be concerned. It’s just her.”
A few minutes later, the ITD machine, the doctor and Stella arrived. “Who wants to be first,” he asked.