by Tim Blagge
Then a light went on in my brain. “Pops, listen to this. On our trip back here, there was a malfunction in the oxygen generator on our ship. Both Brenda and I passed out for a short time. My God Pops, do you think it’s possible they were able to change our memories?”
Pops related the entire story beginning with my meeting with Fred, the head of Cromwell until the time we left the stone house in Grapsner.
“Bill, remember when the pilots who picked you up were not the ones I had assigned to do the job.”
“Not really, but go on.” I answered.
“There were two new pilots I wasn’t familiar with who told us the original pilots had an emergency and couldn’t make the trip. I thought it was strange at the time but unfortunately didn’t think much about it until I ran into the original pilots two days ago. They told me that the replacement pilots said that they had been assigned the duty of piloting you back to Earth so they let them do it.”
“When I checked our roster of pilots, the replacement crew wasn’t listed.” Pops said. “That’s when I knew we had a problem.”
“After we left you, we not only picked up Rolf, Stella and Abe but a Dr. Jupsiv.” I explained. “We were told the Doctor came along to check returning Veladorians for earthly diseases. I believed it was a normal rotation of personnel, so I didn’t think anything of it either.”
“That’s when it happened, Bill! I’d heard a rumor that research was being done somewhere on Velador altering people’s memories but with all I was trying to get done, I never thought of it again until now. They’ve changed your memory when you were unconscious; that’s obvious.” Pops said with certainty.
“Now that I know the true story, is anything else going on?” I asked.
“Judging from our welcoming party at the jump zone, someone didn’t want us to talk to you or anyone else over here. It wasn’t the Veladorian Government and it wasn’t the Cromwells so it had to be Mindcon. It’s plain their goal is to control the flow of people and information between them and Earth.”
“I didn’t realize Mindcon had their own fleet, Pops. What kind of ships were they?”
“They were just like the government ships but with different markings. That’s why I assumed it wasn’t the government.”
“Anything else to report Pops?” I asked.
“Yes unfortunately. In addition to attempting to control the jump zone, Mindcon is trying to take over Velador. Since you left, two CEO’s have mysteriously died. And an attempt on CEO Blosh’s life was narrowly avoided. I’m afraid if elections are held, Mindcon puppets will be elected. With the power they have over the media, convincing the people to vote for a one legged monkey wouldn’t be beyond their capability.”
“And your replacement, Bill, World Chancellor Blintformacuz; he calls every other day wanting to schedule the complete government takeover of New Pasadena and the desert facility. I’ve been stalling but he seems to take a tougher more demanding stance every time he calls.
“What’s Jerry doing?”
“He’s trying to keep his troops loyal to the traditional Veladorian government where the CEO’s rule the roost but there is constant pressure from the media to set up a central government similar to the one that was in place when the Cromwells were in charge. Jerry’s doing a great job under the circumstances with all the lies on TV. I haven’t seen so much information manipulation, misinformation, deceit and just plain old crap broadcast on TV since I left Earth!”
“Why did you call me Pops? I’m just starting to get my life here back together here.”
“Bill, the loyal people who understand Velador and the Mindcon threat, believe that you are the only one who can put this planet back together. The people here revere and respect you Bill and they know that holding or wielding power is not your motive or desire. You could do it if you wanted but I understand if you don’t.”
“How do I keep from getting killed? If they’ve tried to assassinate Blosh and if what you say is true; I pose a bigger threat to Mindcon than anyone else. What’s our plan to keep me alive?”
“Does that mean you’ll do it?” Pops asked excitedly.
“Pops, I’m not saying that. But after what I’ve just heard; anything I accomplish here will be on behalf of Mindcon and not me, my family or the people of Earth.”
“And Pops how are you going to get back to Velador with enemy ships guarding the gate? And how will you get back here to pick me up?” I asked.
“Now that I know what I’m dealing with, I’ll have plenty of fire power on my return voyage.” Pops answered. “And I’m certain your sister will make scrap iron out of any ship that is waiting for us on the other side if they get in our way.”
“I need time to decide Pops.” I explained as I thought about what I’d just learned. “Give me two weeks to tie up some loose ends and come back. I can’t promise anything because I’ll have to talk to Brenda who probably knows everything already because she is standing right next to me. I’ll meet you on the hill behind the house at three AM. If you can bring a larger ship, do it. I’m not sure we could fit all our baby paraphernalia into a fighter. And don’t forget; I may not board that ship. I’ll see you two weeks from tonight. Tell Joanna I love her. Bye and please be safe.”
I explained the whole rotten mess to Brenda who didn’t speak but simply shook her head and sat down on the couch.
“Bill, as dangerous as going back to Velador is right now, we have no choice.” Brenda said slowly and she stared off into some corner of the room. “Now you’re going to save three civilizations. I was told by my angel that we were destined for great things. That was such an understatement, it’s almost funny. Bill, when do we leave?”
“I can’t let you go too, Brenda. There’s a huge chance I won’t make it. You’ve got to stay here and raise Four if anything happens to me.”
“Bill, while you were talking to Pops, I figured it out. We’ll let my folks take care of Four while we are gone. Since they closed their store, their financial situation has been difficult. We’ll pay them in diamonds, get them back on their fiscal feet and believe me; they will love Four as much as we do.”
“Let me think about this Brenda. If anything ever happened to you, my life would be over. I’d never recover from that kind of emotional devastation.”
“Bill, there you go being a drama queen. Don’t forget, life can be difficult and we’ve already proven that over and over again! This is just another fine mess you’ve gotten me into, to quote Laurel and Hardy.”
“I can’t believe you watched them too, Brenda. They were hysterical. Maybe we are two deformed peas in a twisted pod.”
“Well put Bill and probably true.” Brenda said as she visualized my goofy comment. “So where do we start?”
“I’ll need to contact Forest and tell him there will be a delay in our joint project. I’m afraid jerking him around again may cause him to bail on the whole project though.”
“Why don’t we bring him along? Then he could see for himself the potential of the technology.” Brenda said. “And there is something else I’d really like to do if we are talking passengers. I believe the medical technology on Velador could heal Felix Alvarez. I grew to really care for him working together during my spy training. If we could restore him to his former robust self, I’d want to do it.”
“And what about Special Agent Vaughn?” I suggested to Brenda.
“He’s a family man and probably won’t want to go but don’t let that stop you from asking him. Since we’re not sure how long we’ll be stranded there, nobody may want to go anyway.” Brenda said.
“True. Let’s call a meeting for Monday with those three men.” I suggested. “If they decide to go, it’ll give them a week to prepare.”
“You know Brenda, when we tell Felix, Marvin and Forest the story, we’ll be branded harebrained, crazy, demented lunatics,” I said as I ran out of adjectives for ‘nuts’.
“So what else is new Bill?” Brenda said and laughed. “Something tell
s me however, that when they see the flying saucer land, they will become instant believers.”
“It definitely worked for me that first time!” Brenda smiled and added.
-2-
The next week went as planned. We arranged a meeting with the three men on Monday. Everyone but Felix Alvarez brought additional people.
“Felix, it’s so good to see you,” Brenda said as Agent Vaughn pushed Felix through the door in his wheelchair. “How are you doing?”
“Brenda, it wonderful to see you too but to answer your question, it looks like I’ll be sitting in this chair for the rest of my life, so things could be better. But you know me, I’ll survive.”
“Bill and I are so sorry this happened to you.” Brenda said with real sincerity and emotion in her voice. “If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.”
“Thanks Brenda, but as I understand it, you two are going to tell us where you’ve been for the last year. If your story is half as exciting as the prior year, it should be quite entertaining.”
After we finished our greeting, I asked Forest and Vaughn to please have their men wait outside so we could discuss an extremely sensitive subject privately.
The room was cleared except for the five of us. I poured coffee for everyone and began telling the most preposterous yet true story anyone of these men had ever heard.
For the next hour, Brenda and I described our lives during the last year when we’d been away. The room fell silent and with a straight face, each of the three men looked back and forth at each other.
Finally a voice broke the quiet. It was Forest Buckholder.
“Bill that was a great story. When will the book come out? Putting anti-gravity and the danger surrounding it on hold while you pursued a writing career might have been a clever diversion.”
“That’s a more respectful comment than I expected.” I remarked. “Brenda and I thought you’d brand us crazy lunatics. But then again we haven’t heard from our other two esteemed disbelievers yet.”
“Bill, if you were just relating the outline of a novel you’re planning, I’m busy and I would rather have waited for the book.” Vaughn added.
“Your reaction is normal but I assure you gentleman, our story is true.”
“As unbelievable as your story is, why did you choose now to tell us?” Vaughn asked.
“Because we are inviting you three men to return with us to Velador!” I announced. “We are leaving next week. What I don’t know is when we can return. I’ve described our mission and the dangers associated with it. I believe you may be able to help us accomplish that mission – if you decide to go.”
“What good what I be Bill, I can’t even walk.” Alvarez said.
With passion Brenda entered the conversation. “Felix, you are my friend. We went through a lot together. Even though I cannot promise you anything, the medical technology on Velador far surpasses anything here. I believe the doctors there can help you; and maybe they can fix you!”
Tears came to Felix’s eyes and rolled down his cheeks as he grasped the possibility that he could walk again. After a pause he said, “Brenda, one or both of us is probably crazy, but if that possibility exists; I’m in!”
“Forest and Marvin, if you have an adventurous spirit, I have a proposal.” I said and elaborated. “Get your affairs arranged to be away for a month or so and meet us at the clearing behind this house one week from tonight. If we are crazy, nothing will happen and you will have lost a night’s sleep, nothing more. If a flying saucer lands, I assume you’ll believe us and will get on. I can’t insure your safety or when or if we will return. What I can guarantee you however is the experience of a lifetime!”
After a short pause where no one spoke, I continued. “Everything I’ve divulged to you today must remain confidential.” I added with the seriousness called for by my revelation. “The world here isn’t ready to have the existence of alien life forms confirmed right now.”
“Let me know what you decide.”
The three men proceeded silently out the door and met in the yard where they began to discuss the information and invitation they had just been offered. Neither Brenda nor I could hear what was said but that was fine with us. We had just asked three men to join us in our absurd life and we knew it was a decision none of them would take lightly.
“Brenda, it’s time to go tell your parents what we are planning. I hope they’re able to survive yet another shock like this one.”
“Bill, they are strong. It will be okay.”
-3-
“So let me recap what I just heard,” Brenda’s father Dick said. “You are going back to Velador to save three independent planets including Earth from an evil, greedy corporation and you want us to take care of Four while you are gone.”
“That’s the short version Dad, but yes.” Brenda answered.
“And if you are killed or can’t return for some reason, we raise Four as our own.”
“Yes again, Dad.”
“And you are giving us this huge hoard of diamonds to finance ours and Four’s life including his future education if you don’t return?”
“That too.” Brenda agreed.
“I’m good with your plan if Betty is.” Her father said. “What do you think, honey?”
“Brenda, I’d say you are a difficult child and you are, but certainly not in the way most people understand that term. Your life has become special since you met Bill. I believe you two have been called by a power larger than even the three civilizations you are trying to save. I also believe you will succeed.”
“I’m certainly not going to stand between you and God’s will even if I’d really like to. You two are courageous beyond comprehension. I can only wish you good luck.”
“Wow, I’m not sure what to say, Mom.”
“And if you don’t mind,” Brenda continued. “I’d like to leave Four here while Bill and I go have lunch somewhere. He needs to get used to being with you while we are gone so let’s start now and we’ll increase his time with you everyday until we leave.”
“Bill, how do you think Forest will respond to our proposal?” Brenda asked after she swallowed her first bite of lunch.
“I expect he will be there when we are picked up but I’d give it less than a fifty-fifty chance that he’ll get on. He’s got his fingers in too many pies to allow him to leave. Being a control freak like so many people are who have attained his level of success; I don’t expect him to table everything and go on an excursion he may see as a lark.”
“He wouldn’t miss our departure however. I’m sure his curiosity is killing him about now.”
The next five days dragged on. We spent an increasing amount of time with Brenda’s parents and began to leave Four with them overnight. Four was a happy baby and adjusted well to wherever he was.
Agent Vaughn called and said he had decided to go with us even though I was sure he never believed it would actually happen. He was going to bring Felix Alvarez with him and had taken a thirty day vacation from the FBI. He told me he was using some comp time he’d accrued so no one would suspect he was going to visit a different planet. That was his version of a small joke I surmised.
The day before we were to leave, Forest Buckholder called. “Bill, I hope you haven’t sold my ticket to Velador to someone else, because I’ve decided to go. While trying to decide, I realized I have a thoroughly competent staff and they will be able to keep my businesses going along just fine whether I’m here or not.”
“Forest, you actually sound excited,” I said, “That pleases me.”
“Bill, I hope you’re not the crackpot you sounded like in our meeting. As the days have passed, I decided I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to actually visit another world. I can’t believe I just said that but it’s true. If you are a crackpot, I promise you, I’ll have you locked up myself.” He added.
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning just before three AM and come alone.” I added.
“See you
then Bill, bye.” Forest said and hung up.
About 3 PM in the afternoon before our departure, I went out to the barn to store a few things while we were away. When I came out, two men were standing on either side of the door and grabbed me by my shoulders and arms. Immediately a car pulled into the yard from the street and stopped right in front of us. The men pulled my arms behind my back, put a zip tie around my wrists and shoved me into the back seat. I looked up to see a fourth man entering the house where Brenda was. I could only see the back of him.
The two men who tied me up stood beside the car waiting while the driver remained behind the wheel; I figured the three were waiting for the man who entered the house to come out with Brenda.
“Brenda came out of the kitchen where she had been doing dishes and saw the man.
“Hey Bill, why don’t we go upstairs for a while before we go visit Four for the last time before we leave.”
“Sure Brenda,” came the reply. “How much time do we have?”
“As much as you’ll need Bill,” Brenda commented and laughed.
“Very funny, young lady,” the man said.
Out in the yard as I sat in the back seat of the car, two people approached from behind. My two captors saw the people, pulled out their guns, and aimed them at someone behind me that I couldn’t see. Shots rang out and the two men near me went down. Another man arrived at the driver’s side door, put a gun to the man’s head and asked him to step out. It was FBI Agent Foster.
I looked toward the house to see Rolf and Stella running toward the door where, with guns drawn, they went inside.
“Brenda, are you alright?” Stella asked as Rolf ran to an open window.
Rolf pulled out his wave gun a shot it at the man who was running up the side of the hill behind Pops house. He immediately fell.