“It’s just a good thing we were listening in from the bay, so we had time to jump away ourselves when it swung back on us,” Valeria commented from the periphery of the group. “And I’m glad you got our message, Jacqueline. When the probe came back without a return message, we really weren’t sure.”
“We just didn’t get a chance to respond,” Julian explained. “Right after we received your message, we were under attack. By the time we got everything sorted out, we realized the probe had already gone.”
“Who was it?” Anise asked. “Who attacked you?”
“Reya identified the woman as Col. Emily Stearns,” Julian replied. “She was the pilot of Aerospace Force One, back there.” He hooked a thumb down the bay. “She must have hidden herself away when everyone was leaving. A lot of people were trading idents to make, or avoid, that flight. She probably convinced someone to take her place, so someone as prominent as herself would not be missed and searched for.”
Behind them, Calvin’s head lowered slightly, and his eyes fell to the floor. Everyone was focused on Julian’s story, however, so no one took notice of his reaction.
“She managed to get a staff jacket from somewhere,” Julian continued, “and snuck up to CnC. She might have had a better shot at us, but Dr. Silver and Dr. Rios literally ran into her in the hallway, and she had to go through the guards to get to CnC. We heard the guard’s warning, the shots fired, then the GLIS’ warning, so when she came around the corner and squeezed through the doors, we were already taking cover.”
“With two notable exceptions,” Aaron pointed out, placing a hand on Julian’s shoulder. “Your old man stood there while everyone else scrambled, to draw fire.”
“Daddy!” Anise cried in horror, but Aaron threw his hands out to calm her.
“He knew what he was doing! He was standing on the other side of the display column… Sterns had to shoot through it to hit him. The thing is, the column distorts your vision through it at that angle, so much so that she was aiming at a blank wall!”
“And by the time she figured out she wasn’t hitting me,” Julian finished, “Reya snuck up around her and tackled her.”
“Did she really get shot?”
“In the hand,” Julian nodded. “Took the last bullet just as she hit Stearns. It managed to miss the bones, amazingly enough, though. She’ll be fine.”
“But she’ll have something new to complain about,” Aaron commented good-naturedly.
“Anyway, CnC got pretty shot up, and the column at the main station is smashed,” Julian explained. “When you com’d, and then Kline came on, we assumed the two events were timed somehow. Kris came up with the idea of pretending the attack had succeeded, hoping it would buy us all time to deal with your impostor. And by that time, Doctors Silver and Rios had input your translation equation, and were waiting for the signal to go.”
“And when we heard the Wasp pilot shout ‘incoming’,” Dr. Silver shrugged, “we figured that was as good a time as any.”
“My ears are burning.”
Everyone turned around to see Hunter and Goldie entering the freighter through the cargo entrance, Hunter in the lead. Julian immediately turned about and extended a hand to them. “Good job, pilots! Your quick thinking saved all of our asses!”
Hunter started to reply, but Goldie cut him off. “Glad to be of service, sir! But if I may: Where are we now?”
“Yes,” Anise said, turning back to Julian. “My nav board couldn’t make heads or tails of our position. If we really jumped, or whatever… where’d we go?”
Everyone turned to Dr. Silver, who in turn glanced at Valeria. Valeria’s eyes widened for a moment when she realized everyone was waiting for an answer from her, and she visibly gulped.
“Well,” she started nervously, “the equations came from my datapad. You see, when we were working on the original translation equations, we’d chosen different locations to translate to. In one of the tests, we had been looking at old space exploration data, and we came across references to some star systems that had been scanned in the twenty-first century, and estimations made of which ones may have held Earth-like planets, or similar elements to our solar system…”
As she had been explaining it, Anise’s eyes widened in amazement. She finally turned to Roy and said, “You were serious?”
“As a heart attack,” Roy said.
Anise turned back to Valeria. “Are you saying we’re in another solar system?”
Valeria grinned sheepishly. “Mmm… yeah.”
“Specifically,” Dr. Silver stated, “Fomalhaut. In the constellation of Piscis Austrinus. About twenty-five light years from Earth.” The group’s reaction to this news was mostly wide-eyed goggling at each other, and heads shaking in confusion or amazement.
“But why here?” Anise finally asked.
“In the early two-thousands,” Calvin immediately spoke up, though noticeably without the trademark inflection and animation that he was otherwise known for, “scientists identified gas giants and a thick shroud of dust around Fomalhaut. The predominant theory of the time was that a solar system needed a gas giant planet at a far orbit, in order to create solid planets closer in… just like our solar system was created.” He paused to clear his throat. His voice was still raspy and strained, and as he spoke, Valeria moved closer to him in concern and laid a sympathetic hand on his arm. He noted her concern with a look of appreciation, before he continued. “The theory was revised later, to suggest that while inner solid planets might not actually form, there would be a strong possibility of compound-rich asteroid belts at least, especially early in the system’s development… and Fomalhaut is a relatively young system. Either way, it would be a likely source of the same elements and raw materials common to the solar system.”
“Which turned out to be a perfect choice,” Dr. Silver explained, “because if we don’t go back to Earth soon, the one thing we’re going to need is raw materials.”
“What?” Anise stared. “Not go back? How can we not go back?”
“I’m not sure we can risk going back,” Julian told her. “We were attacked… twice… in order to take us over, stuff us with refugees, and destroy the sustainability of Verdant. It would have been a slow death sentence for everyone here. At least, for right now,” Julian went on, looking to everyone for understanding, “we can’t go back.”
“So,” Anise asked slowly, “what are we going to do?”
A strange light came into Calvin’s eye. “We’re going to live.”
~
They walked carefully through CnC, mindful of the shattered bits of the display column and other workstation surfaces crunching beneath their feet. The first thing Julian said upon returning to CnC was: “Reya, why aren’t you in the hospital?”
Reya Luis sat at a chair facing one of the working workstations in the room. Beside her was a doctor that was busily examining her hand again. He had taken the first bandages off, which were now piled on the floor, and he held up the puffy, bruised appendage to get a good look in the light.
When Reya heard Julian’s question, she nodded at the doctor. “Look: They make house calls.”
“Reya,” Julian warned.
“Well, you weren’t here,” Reya quickly defended herself, as Anise rushed over to comfort her friend. “And I don’t care how shot up this place is, one of us needed to be here! Just in case… I don’t know… an alien mothership came out of hyperspace, or whatever, and wanted to drop antimatter bombs on us. Oh… and something else.”
“Yes?” Julian prompted.
“Remember when Stearns showed up and the GLIS closed the doors to CnC?” Reya asked, and Julian nodded. They stared at each other for a moment, and Reya paused to see if he would comment further. When he didn’t, she said, “You know it’s not programmed to do that on its own.”
“It occurred to me,” Julian admitted. Everyone nearby was silent for a moment, and a few eyes drifted to the ceilings, where the cameras of the GLIS stared back down a
t them.
“But that’s a mystery for later,” Julian finally said, “and I’m here now. So I’m ordering you to go to the hospital. Now.”
“Yes, Dad,” Reya said, and slowly moved to her feet. The moment she was standing, she swayed dangerously, and the doctor on one side and Anise on the other grabbed her quickly before she fainted. When Reya recovered, she looked at Julian and Dr. Silver and said, “I’m pretty sure that was just me… right?”
“It was just you,” Julian said tenderly. “Ani, please help the doctor take her to the hospital.”
“Sure, Daddy,” Anise replied, and the two of them led her away through CnC.
“Reya?”
Julian’s voice stopped the procession, and Reya turned back to Julian. Julian smiled, and said, “Good work, Eo.”
Upon that proclamation, those in CnC that did not have their hands full began clapping, followed by those who could free up their hands to join in. Reya, taken by surprise by the response, smiled awkwardly back to those in CnC.
Then she spun about and said to Anise and the doctor, “Okay, get me out of here before I tear up.” And she was quietly led out of the wreckage of the room.
And the room was a wreck. Miraculously, other than Reya, no one had been hit by a single bullet, and flying shrapnel had only caused a few minor cuts. But CnC had indeed suffered from the attack, Col. Stearns having shot up the central workstation, and several other workstations, beyond repair. The GLIS was still functioning, albeit at a confused level due to its inability to get a reading on their position, but it had lost its vocal mode, and technicians were still working to restore it.
“Where’s Stearns now?” Roy asked. “I would’ve spaced her if she’d done this on my ship.”
“She’s locked up,” Julian said. “You should’ve seen the beating Reya put on her with her good hand and her knees and elbows.”
They eventually left CnC and crowded into the conference room down the hall, either taking seats or leaning on the table or walls. Julian sat at the head of the table.
“I meant what I said,” he stated, “when I said we can’t go home. At least, not now… it’s simply not safe. We need to figure out what we are going to do.”
“Maybe it’s not too late to go back,” Aaron said. “There must be a way to work something out with Earth.”
“I think the actions of the United States were pretty clear,” Valeria countered. “They attacked us, they sent someone to kill our Ceo, and they sent someone to pose as one of us and threaten the entire satellite.” She shook her head. “I know I don’t like the idea of going back.”
“So, what do we do?” Roy asked. “Doesn’t Verdant need supplies to maintain its atmosphere, the food, the plants… everything?”
“Yes, most everything,” Julian said. “We can stretch our resources as best we can, for now, and ration and recycle other things we used to trade with Earth, as best we can. In the meantime, I think we’re going to have to take advantage of our situation. We’re going to have to become explorers.”
“Exactly,” Dr. Silver stated. “We’ve translated to a solar system that may well have most, if not all, of the raw materials we need to survive. The least we can do is to see what is at our disposal… then try to figure out where else we can look for more resources. We need to see what we can find to stretch our resources to their utmost.”
“We have ships,” Julian said. “One of them has a Verdant drive already installed on it.”
“And we can build more drives,” Dr. Silver said. “If we manufacture more probes first—certainly an easier task—they can be sent out as advance exploration drones. We can then equip a few ships to allow manned missions, for further exploration. Then we can send ships like the Makalu to collect materials… or send Verdant itself, if it’s easier.” She smiled and nodded at Julian. “We can do this!”
“So,” Roy stated, “we’re just supposed to wander around the galaxy… looking for supplies?”
“Well, who knows?” Dr. Silver added. “There’s always an outside chance that we can identify an Earth-like planet out there somewhere. But we have an added advantage that no other humans have ever had: We can actually get there. Imagine the possibilities!”
Julian nodded sagely. “Just imagine.” Julian regarded Calvin for a moment. “Dr. Rios, I know this has been especially hard on you. You have all of our sympathy. Take all the time you need to get yourself together. When you’re ready, I’d like you to work with us on creating some public service recordings about our new life out here. We’re going to need to prepare people for a very different lifestyle than they’ve been used to. Harder… leaner… but not impossible.”
Calvin had listened with guarded eyes to Julian’s instructions. Finally, he nodded and looked away. Valeria, who had sat next to him, took his hand in hers and squeezed. The signal was clear to all who saw it: Calvin Rios, at least, would not suffer his loss alone.
Julian then turned to Aaron. “Aaron, we’re going to have to work out new resource conservation schedules, and come up with a strategy for… for space exploration,” he said proudly.
Then he looked at Kris. “At the same time, let’s try to figure out a way to eventually get us home. At the very least, I imagine there are a few people on Verdant who would rather stick it out on Earth than fly around the galaxy with us. At the very least, there are two American citizens I’d really like to get rid of,” he added wryly.
Kris nodded. “Maybe we can work out some way to sneak people back to Earth, and get the remainder of our people off. We’ll have to be careful: If we’re at risk going back, it’s certain that we don’t want one of the Verdant drives to fall into the hands of hostile forces. We don’t want them coming after us before we’re ready.”
“Agreed,” Julian said, “so anything we work out will have to be an underground effort. We need to protect ourselves.”
“Earth may eventually figure out how to come after us,” Dr. Silver pointed out. “Now that they know it’s possible, the scientists of Earth will make a serious effort to figure it out. Hopefully, Aaron and my efforts to cover our research and equipment will keep them in the dark for awhile. But they’re not stupid. They’ll work it out someday.”
“Until then,” Julian said, “we’ll avoid making it easy for them… we’ll stay out of sight, until we know we can defend ourselves.” His eyes surveyed the people in the room. “It’s time for a new mission for Verdant. We are no longer a satellite. Verdant is now… a space ship. And our job is to keep it flying, as long as we can… until we can go home again.”
Julian stood up. “Let’s get busy.”
40: Living
When Calvin returned home, he immediately smelled the inviting aroma of spaghetti and mushrooms, tomato sauce, zucchini, and fresh bread. He followed the aroma into the kitchen, where he found Erin working over the stove. Erin looked around in surprise when he appeared in the doorway.
“I didn’t hear you come in,” she said, crossing over to her father and giving him a big hug. They held their embrace perhaps a bit longer than normal for them, but neither of them felt the need to break it off before the other was ready. When they did finally pull apart, Erin said, “I know it’s a bit early for dinner… but I think you need it, Daddy. We both need it.”
Calvin’s eyes roved over the kitchen, and his lungs filled with the sweet smells of one of his favorite meals. He looked at Erin, and his eyes softened for the first time in two days. Erin smiled back upon seeing a sign of her old father coming back, and momentarily, the shine of tears caught the light. Calvin nodded, and managed a smile. “Thank you, honey. Yes, I can really use it.”
Erin turned back to the stove, quickly, before she teared up again. “I’m guessing that things are going to be very different around here for a while. The net is full of talk about the missile attack, and they know we’re not over Mars any more…” She looked over her shoulder at her father. “Are we even still in the solar system?”
Calvin regar
ded his daughter, whom he knew was as sharp as her parents. Still smiling, he shook his head.
Slowly Erin’s mouth fell open, and her eyes widened, as she considered the implications of Calvin’s answer. She had apparently suspected as much, but getting confirmation from her father settled it. She turned back to stir the spaghetti. “No one knows when we’re going to go back… do they?”
“No,” Calvin replied, “we don’t. And yes, things will have to be different, until we do go back.”
“So, we will go home?”
“I’m sure we will,” Calvin replied. “Eventually. But we have to make sure it will be safe for us to return first. Establishing that may take some time. So… we may be out here for awhile.”
“Well, that’s okay, I think,” Erin said, not turning from her pot. “We got this far. I’ll bet we can do wonders. We’re a pretty resourceful people. And we know how to take care of each other.” Finally, she turned from the pot, and Calvin saw the tears streaming down her cheeks. “Now, go get freshened up for dinner… it won’t be for another ten minutes…”
She fell into her father’s arms again, and they held each other for perhaps a minute. The moment wasn’t over until Calvin peeled her off of him, and physically turned her towards the stove, where the tomato sauce threatened to boil over the edge of the pot.
“Got, it, got it!” Erin laughed, lunging for the pot. As she rescued the sauce, she said, “Go, go get cleaned up!”
Calvin smiled back, and finally turned and headed out of the kitchen. On the way to his bedroom, he passed Erin’s room… then stopped, suspecting he’d seen something out-of-place there out of the corner of his eye, retraced his steps and looked inside. There, on Erin’s bed, was her overnight pack. He stepped inside the room and walked slowly over to the bag. He reached out, and laid a hand on it. It was already packed.
Calvin’s eyes danced with conflicting emotions, though none could be said to gain the upper hand over the others. Slowly, he backed out of the room, and considered returning to the kitchen. He stood there for a long time, just staring down the hallway. But then he turned around, and continued on to the master bedroom.
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