Shai asked John, “Can you help me put this in the middle of the room? It’ll give you a little more privacy once Scout and Kathy arrive.”
John said, “Okay, that doesn’t sound too hard.”
John let go of Becky’s hand and walked toward the room divider. He lifted one side of the divider as Shai lifted the opposite side. The two of them moved the divider ten meters from its original location, so that it almost exactly divided the room in half. The divider left six centimeters of space at the bottom for the feet of the divider and one meter at either end of the divider because it was two meters too short for the space of the galley. Once the divider was in place, Shai placed blankets on the ends and bottom to provide more a little more privacy. There was a door in the middle to allow her to serve both parties or in case of emergency like a fire in the kitchen, which required an evacuation.
John then returned to Becky’s side and she grabbed his hand again as she guided him to the table. At the same time, Scout and Kathy entered the galley and took their seats. John and Becky were aware of their presence because they were quite loud as they sat at their table. Once the chairs stopped squealing against the floor, though, there was nearly absolute silence. John and Becky waited for their special dinner to arrive.
John said to Becky, “I don’t see what the delay with the food is. I mean, we ordered it this morning, so Shai had all day to get it ready.”
Becky said, “But she probably wants to have it arrive fresh and hot for us. She knows that this is our first date, and she doesn’t want to take the blame if it doesn’t work out tonight.”
John said, “Do you think that it won’t work for us?”
Becky said, “I think we’re off to a god start. I just think that Shai wants everything to be perfect.
John said, “That would make sense. So you really think we started well?”
Becky said, “Only if you stop analyzing it and let it flow naturally. Just enjoy my company like I’m trying to enjoy yours. Analysis only creates impediments.”
John said, “Good idea. What did you order?”
Becky said. “I ordered the barbecued chicken with baked potatoes and fried okra.”
John said, “I got the pulled pork. I wonder how Shai makes these special meals with meats that take up so much space.”
Becky said, “She had a little bit of room after all of the fish and chips had been loaded. Those are small and don’t take up a lot of freezer space. The better meats must be limited because they are usually a lot bigger and take up a lot more space.”
John said, “I wonder where our food is right now.”
Becky said, “I hear the door. Shai must be bringing it on the cart right now.”
As Becky finished speaking, Shai rolled the serving cart into their section of the galley. She had already served Scout and Kathy because their table was closer to the kitchen. The smells of the food wafted through the room as the cart got closer to them.
Shai said, “Here is your first date dinner, created just for the two of you per your order. Hope you enjoy.”
Shai placed the plates on the table after she wiped the table down. She then placed covered glasses with drinks on the table. The covers on the glasses were a safety precaution in case the ship lost gravity; Shai did not want free floating liquids to suddenly fall wherever they were when the ship regained gravity. Shai t gave the couple their utensils and napkins. Then she pushed the cart back through the door and closed the door behind her.
John said, “It smells amazing. I can hardly wait to taste it.”
Becky said, “Shai is an amazing cook. She does great things with the most basic of ingredients, and even makes the never-ending supply of fish and chips seem interesting.”
John said, “It’s amazing to think what she can do with a better supply of foods.”
Becky said, “I think that she has plans for a restaurant on Mars, once the colony is established.”
John said, “That’ll be my favorite place to eat.”
Becky said, “I think it’ll be mine as well. Now, can we talk about the two of us for a while?”
John replied, “I would love to talk about you.”
Becky said, “Then eat, and I’ll answer any questions you have about me. I hope you do the same.”
John took his first bite and said, “I will.”
Becky began eating and, after her first bite, she asked, “Why did you join the colony?”
John answered, “My sister talked me into it. She had these grandiose dreams of a utopian society where everyone was equal and had the same value regardless of what they did to earn a living.”
John immediately knew that he had broken his promise to himself not to mention his sister, but he had to tell the truth. He would try not to mention her any more for the rest of the date.
Becky said, “So you’re not as committed as she is?”
John said, “Oh, no. I am totally committed. I talked with Scout when I first came to a meeting. I became a believer in that man’s dream.”
Becky said, “I always wanted to explore space. Being a pioneer has always been my dream, and the society that Scout wants to create is just a bonus. I love the idea that everyone is the same and if you work then you have enough to live.”
John said, “It’ll be a lot of hard work, though. Plus there are those who are trying to stop us.”
Becky said, “I live for hard work. I volunteered for the maintenance crew. Back on Earth, I sat at a computer all day and entered data. It wasn’t enough work for me.”
John said, “And the people who are trying to destroy our dreams?”
Becky said, “I’m a believer in God. If God wants us to succeed, then we will. If He doesn’t, then we’ll either die or return to Earth as prisoners.”
John said, “I’m a believer in God, too. I’m Christian, actually. But I joined the weapons team and volunteered for the military because I believe that our freedom will have to be earned.”
Becky said, “I, too, am a Christian. I don’t think that God just allows dreams to come true without a struggle. You wouldn’t appreciate it if it was just given to you.”
John said, “But the greatest gift is freely given.”
Becky said, “But only one. Everything else needs a struggle to make you appreciate what you have.”
John said, “I totally agree with that. We’ll overcome our detractors and, when we’re victorious, we’ll really appreciate the colony for the struggle we had to endure to bring it into existence.”
Becky asked, “So it’s you and Jane on the ship? Are any other members of your family coming to join us?”
John replied, “We’re all that’s left. Our parents are both gone, and we don’t have any other siblings.”
Becky said, “So your grandparents are gone too?”
John said, “We don’t even know who they are. Our parents died when we were kids. We were brought up in an orphanage.”
Becky said, “That’s so sad. “
John thought, “I said no more talking about Jane. I need to change the subject. Maybe I should find out about her family.”
John said, “What about your family?”
Becky answered, “My parents are very opposed to me going to Mars. They think I’m crazy.”
John asked, “Did they try to stop you?”
Becky said, “No. They know that once my mind is made up, there’s no stopping me.”
John said, “So you’re their only child?”
Becky replied, “Yes, and I’m so jealous of anyone who has brothers or sisters. My childhood was very boring.”
John said, “A lot of only children have higher expectations from their parents.”
Becky said, “That’s why they don’t want me to go to Mars.”
The two ate their dinners while discussing their dreams for life on Mars. John told her about his desire to be a great military leader who would secure peace for the Martian Republic. Becky told John how she wanted to do as much of the
heavy building as she possibly could. She wanted to feel like the colony needed her work to continue. Becky even wanted her children to follow the same path if they were able. That way the colony would always depend on her family.
John said, “I hope that you won’t push your children into doing things they don’t want to do.”
Becky said, “I would never interfere with their dreams. If their hopes and desires lie in other fields, I won’t interfere. I just hope that at least one of my children wants to continue my work.”
John said, “How many children do you want?”
Becky said, “As many as I can take care of. If it’s only one, then so be it. But I would love to have a huge family. I want my kids to have the kind of childhood that an only child can’t have.”
John said, “I’ve always wanted to have a bunch of children. That way, some of them can help to defend the Republic.”
John and Becky finished their dinners, and Shai came in to ask if they wanted any dessert. They declined and Shai returned to Scout and Kathy’s table. Then the couple returned their quarters. Once at Becky’s quarters, John could not let go of Becky’s hand. He had fallen in love with her that night. Becky did not to let go of his hand either. She had also felt something that night.
Becky asked, “Do you want to come in and join me tonight?”
John said, “But we’re both Christians. We can’t do that without being married.”
Becky said, “I’m sorry, but I feel weak tonight. I need you to join me.”
John said, “I want to so badly. I guess if it’s just once it won’t destroy us.”
Becky said, “I think we’re going to end up getting married anyway. If you ask, I’m almost positive I’m going to say yes to you.”
John said, “That sounds wonderful. I know that I’ll ask once we arrive on Mars. I just need to prepare a ring of some sort and do it right.”
John and Becky entered Becky’s quarters and continued their date. They both enjoyed themselves for the rest of the night. John didn’t think about Jane at all for the rest of the night. He was way too focused on Becky to even consider his sister. The next morning, John would need to return to his own quarters to prepare for his shift at the weapons array.
Chapter Thirty-One
Albuquerque
Scott Owens departed for Albuquerque shortly after midnight. He had to get there before General Rich did. He needed to move supplies from the storage locker to a more secure location. Jordan Green informed him of a secret former Air Force bunker. He was not, however, completely sure that General Rich didn’t intercept that message. He was sure that the General knew where his primary storage locker was, and he needed to allow the General to think that he had destroyed it.
The same moment that Scott left Portland for Albuquerque, General Rich was being briefed about the location of Scott’s storage locker. Colonel Black walked into the General’s office and saluted him.
General Rich asked, “Do you have information for me?”
Black replied, “I do. The enemies have secured a storage locker in Albuquerque, New Mexico.”
General Rich asked, “Do you have an address for it?”
Black said, “Not the exact address. It is on Central Avenue, though.”
Rich said, “That couldn’t be more vague. Central’s the main road in Albuquerque, and there’s several dozen storage facilities on that road. Do you have a cross street?”
Colonel Black replied, “I was told that it was between Eubank and Tramway.”
Rich said, “That’s only marginally better. That still leaves an area three miles long with multiple storage facilities. Go back and get me an exact address.”
Black said, ‘Yes, sir,” then saluted the General and turned about.
While General Rich was being briefed, Scott had crossed from Oregon into California. He was traveling much faster than he should, but he kept an eye out for police. He could not afford to be delayed by either adhering to the speed limit or being detained by the police. He had to beat General Rich to the storage facility.
Colonel Black returned to his office and began searches of all storage lockers in Albuquerque between Eubank and Tramway on Central. He searched every listing available on the internet and cross-referenced each one against known members of Scout Ellison’s group. No results were found two hours later. The colonel saw no point in continuing the search, and returned to the general’s office.
Black saluted the general and said, “I didn’t find anything.”
General Rich replied, “And you cross checked every known member of the group?”
Black answered, “I have. They might be using an alias that we don’t know.”
Rich said, “There’s only one way to solve this problem.”
Black asked, “What’s that?”
Rich said, “We’re going to have to go to Albuquerque and see for ourselves.”
Black said, “But there were 16 storage facilities in the search area. Plus we don’t know whether the locker they’re using is really there. They could be using misdirection.”
Rich asked, “How many storage facilities are there in Albuquerque?”
Black answered, “Two hundred and sixteen. Each of them has an average of 50 units.”
Rich said, “Then we’ll search each and every one until we find what we’re looking for.”
Black said, “We can’t do that. It’s completely illegal, and it would take months, if not years. People would notice the invasion of their 4th amendment rights.”
Rich said, “Then I guess we’ll have to do some old fashioned detective work.”
Black asked, “What kind of detective work?”
Rich said, “We’ll show pictures of the group to every facility’s management. Then we’ll find the right one.”
Black said, “That still might take some time.”
Rich said, “Then we better get started. Get the plane ready.”
Black said, “Yes, sir,” then he saluted the General and prepared the plane.
While Colonel Black looked for the storage facility, Scott Owens traveled from the California/Oregon border to Needles, California. He was unaware that General Rich was preparing a plane to travel to New Mexico as he drove.
Scott thought, “I have to beat him. I must move the supplies from the storage locker to the alternate. I know that General Rich knows about the location. He’ll be in Rio Rancho before I am, and that’ll be disastrous.”
Scott continued to drive on I-40 to the Arizona state line. He still had about six hours at his current speed, and even longer if he had to slow down for the police. The odds of being caught by the police on I-40 were exponentially higher than on nearly any other road in the country. Drug dealers, human slave traders, and illegal immigrants used the road heavily, and it was the busiest road in the Northern Hemisphere. Scott had to be careful as he drove his Dodge through Arizona.
While Scott drove through Arizona, General Rich and Colonel Black were preparing to take off from the base in Eugene. They would be in Albuquerque in four hours, well ahead of Scott. They did not, however, know the city nearly as well as Scott did. Neither did they have an exact address for the storage facility. They only knew that it was in the southeast corner of the city.
Scott drove and kept an eye on his dash. It was equipped with sensors that detected the equipment police used. He also had a radar system that warned him when vehicles were near his car.
Scout said to himself, “I can’t afford to slow down. I need to be in Rio Rancho in the next couple of hours. I know that they’re already on their way; I can feel it in my soul. I hope they’re busy moving things to the storage facility on Juan Tabo. That place should throw them off the trail.”
As he finished his thought, his phone rang. He glanced at the phone and saw that Jordan was calling him. The phone was blinking red, which signaled that the call was urgent.
Scott answered, “Hello, Jordan. What’s so urgent?”
Jordan replied, �
��Where are you moving the supplies?”
Scott answered the question, “To the new storage facility.”
Jordan asked, “And where is it? I hope it’s not in southeast Albuquerque.”
Scott replied, “It is. It’s the old military bunker. Why?”
Jordan said, “Don’t put anything there. I’ve been watching General Rich’s searches. He’ll be looking for you in southeast Albuquerque.”
Scott said, “The crew hasn’t put anything in the new unit yet. What should I do?”
Jordan said, “Get them out of Albuquerque.”
Scott said, “They’re in Rio Rancho, so they should be safe.”
Jordan said, “Get them out of the metro area. They should go someplace they can get to quickly, yet is far from Albuquerque.”
Scott said, “I’ll send them to Santa Fe.”
Jordan said, “That’s a good idea. Have the people move the stuff quickly, because General Rich is probably on his way to the Sunport right now. He was fueling his jet when I last saw the satellite images. They’re blocked now.”
Scott said, “Thanks, Jordan. I’ll have the men hurry. They’ll be on I-25 in less than an hour. I hope we still have that long.”
Jordan said, “You should. It takes four hours from Eugene to Albuquerque. You still need to hurry, though. Where are you now?”
Scott said, “I’m ten kilometers east of Flagstaff, Arizona.”
Jordan said, “I’ll let you go so that you can keep an eye peeled for the bacon.”
Scott said, “I think that’s a good idea. I’ll call the guys and give them the new plan.”
Scott hung up the phone. He dialed his crew leader’s number. He gave him instructions to move the supplies from Rio Rancho to Santa Fe instead of the previous plan. He also gave his crew leader his location and estimated time of arrival in Santa Fe.
MARS: Renaissance Page 23