Close Proximity

by M. W. Huffman

  “Tell me this, how is rioting going to help anything?”

  “It doesn’t. People who do that are lazy bums that want to take advantage of others. It’s a license to steal. The cause isn’t why they join in, it's being able to rip people off. Oops, we’re getting ready to land. Make sure your seat belt is buckled.”

  “And my tray is in its upright position?”

  “Very cute.”

  * * *

  A large SUV was waiting for them when they disembarked from the Gulfstream. The heat hit them like a sledgehammer and Abby was lightheaded for a few seconds.

  “Are you okay?” Dan asked.

  “I think so. It just kind of took my breath away. Is it always like this?” she asked.

  “Not always. Well, I guess the truth is I don’t really know. I’ve only been here maybe six or seven times.”

  “Did you get to see the aliens?”

  “Sure. We sit and have coffee when I’m here. They really like their cup of Joe. Nicest guys you would ever want to meet. They talk a little strange and get pretty hyper if they have too much caffeine but other than that,” he shot back.

  “It’s all men? You haven’t been flirting with a female alien?” Abby asked.

  He shrugged and said, “Who knows? I can’t tell one alien from another.”

  “You are so bad Dan Fowler.”

  “I can be when prompted.”

  Abby just shook her head.

  They drove along until the asphalt turned into a gravel and sand road. Twenty minutes later they stopped by a small building that had a strange little pond in front of it. It was the only water Abby had seen so far and she wondered how it managed to keep from evaporating.

  The driver opened the door and led them into the building. A man was sitting behind a desk covered with papers, books and notepads. He was talking to himself and didn’t seem to even know they were there. He was mumbling about some process that Abby had never heard of before. He seemed like the proverbial mad scientists.

  “Doctor Metzler,” Dan said.

  “Metzler? Yes, I’m Doctor Metzler.”

  “Doctor, this is Doctor Montgomery. She is here to talk to you about your project.”

  “Which one?

  “The E-PEG. Remember the President wanted you to discuss it with Doctor Montgomery.”

  “E-PEG, yes, yes. Of course I remember. Well what do you think Doctor Mallory?” he asked.

  “Montgomery,” she corrected, “And I know nothing about the E-PEG you mentioned.”

  “Oh dear. You don’t? Are you sure?”

  “Quite sure,” she said looking at Dan.

  “Well my dear, let me show you and then I’m sure you will understand. I’m sorry; you are a doctor of what was your field again?”

  “Astronomy.”

  “Oh, Tarot cards and the like.”

  “No…”

  “Just kidding. You’re a star gazer. Boy would you love it out here at night. It gets a tad cold but you can really see what the universe looks like with no background light,” he told her.

  Abby was thinking this guy has spent too many nights out here in the cold. He led them into the back room where a huge contraption was setting that took up almost the entire room.

  “What do you think?” he asked.

  “What is it?” Abby said looking at it from several angles trying to determine just what it did.

  “The E-PEG. Electro-Pulse Emitting Generator.”

  “I see. And what does it do exactly?”

  “Emits electromagnetic pulses.”

  “No kidding. Who would have thought,” Abby said thinking that the conversation was definitely taking on an Area 51 feeling for sure. She was sure at some point he would change into an alien right before her eyes.

  “Okay. Let me explain,” he said and jumped up on the side of the machine.

  “EMPs as you know are electromagnetic pulses. They are usually associated with either nuclear bombs or high output microwaves. When I was working on trying to turn microwaves into a propulsion system I remembered an earlier experiment I had done years ago. Combining EMP with HERF I was able to build a fairly powerful shock impulse machine. The problem was that it took a significant amount of power so the actual force generated was limited. That was many years ago. Today, getting the power isn’t the problem it was then.”

  He paused, warming up to the lecture.

  “It occurred to me that if I could build a two dimensional electronic spectroscopy of CdSe nanoparticles I would be able to generate the power to create a device that could be used for propulsion. But, that’s not all. It could be used to actually move objects if the sine waves were altered and focused.”

  “So you are saying that this E-PEG can possibly move objects?”

  “Yes, yes. That’s it exactly. It would actually be able to move a space ship great distances without running out of fuel. Suddenly deep space, and I mean really deep space, exploration would be achieved. The only limitation is that when it is used it creates EMPs that escape and can cause widespread damage.”

  “Ah. So the problem isn’t getting it to work, the problem is keeping it from damaging other computer equipment when it is working.”

  “Yes,” he yelled, “Exactly. Excellent. Most people just look at me like I have lost my mind when I explain the problem. You are one smart lady. ”

  “She is very bright,” Dan said.

  “You’re darn tootin’ Sonny,” Metzler said.

  “So the E-PEG can’t actually be used until after you determine how to control the random EMPs. Once that is accomplished then it can be fitted to a rocket ship.”

  “Oh, you are a sharp one. That is exactly the problem. I can move a test sled with the waves but I have only been able to test it at the very lowest power,” he told her.

  “So for this to be used need is a platform in outer space to make this practical. A space ship would have to be fitted after it was out of the Earth’s atmosphere otherwise it could damage the computers that control the lift off on the ground.”

  “Absolutely correct.”

  “And it can be used to move other objects in space as well, correct?” Abby said.

  “Now I understand why I’m here. To figure out if this E-PEG device can be somehow used to move KA5.”

  “What is a KA5?” Metzler asked.

  “It’s not important. Doctor, how big of an object could it move at full power?”

  “I really don’t know. A lot of variables would need to be considered. For starters; size, weight, composition, location, surrounding area. There are numerous other variables. I’m sure if I had the data I could figure it out mathematically.”

  “But if you had the platform, it is possible to move something pretty big?”

  “Depending on what ‘pretty big’ is,” he said and started laughing.

  “What?” Dan asked.

  “Definition of ‘pretty big’. We had a President say it depended on what the definition of ‘is, is’. Do you know how lame that sounds?”

  “Okay,” Dan said rolling his eyes.

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  Abby and Dan went back to the main complex with Metzler. Abby spent the next three hours explaining what KA5 was and the potential damage the Earth could sustain if it did hit part of the moon.

  “That is very interesting,” he said when she finished.

  “It’s a little more than interesting doctor. We’re talking about the potential loss of life in the billions,” Abby said.

  “It certainly would thin out the herd some. Stop overpopulation in its tracks,” he replied.

  “Doctor. We are talking about people’s lives, not cattle.”

  “Yes. Yes, I understand all of that, I’m just saying.”

  Abby, Dan and Fritz went to the dining area and had a surprisingly good dinner. They continued to talk all during the meal but it was hard to keep Fritz on track. He would suddenly stop listening and start talking to himself. For Abby it was very unnerving. D
an seemed to take it in stride.

  “Fritz, can you give me any data about what kind of power the E-PEG generates and what you would need in the way of a platform?” Abby asked.

  “Oh heavens to mercatroid, I’ve given that to the military countless times and then I never hear anything back.”

  “Do you still have copies of what you gave them?”

  “I have copies of everything I have given them. A whole filing cabinet full. Lot of good that has done. I sometimes wonder if they even read what I give them. I never hear a word. Well until now.”

  “If you give me the information, I promise I will see that it gets to the right people. I will personally place it in their hands.”

  “Really? Honestly?”

  “Honestly,” Abby said crossing her heart.

  She felt silly doing it but if it made Metzler happy, she didn’t mind doing it.

  “Okay then. When will you do it?” he asked.

  “Just as soon as we get back,” she assured him.

  “That’s good enough for me. Say, not to be nosey, but young man is this your girl?” he suddenly asked.

  Dan’s eyes got big for a second before he answered.

  “Doctor, I’m just her escort. I was sent to pick her up and deliver her here. I believe Doctor Montgomery is unattached at the moment,” Dan managed to get out.

  “Well Sonny, if I were you, I wouldn’t let any grass grow under my feet if you know what I mean,” Fritz said.

  “I’ll certainly take that under advisement. Thank you for the suggestion,” Dan replied.

  Abby was fighting laughter at Dan’s predicament.

  * * *

  After Metzler left, Dan asked if she wanted to head back. Abby said she thought it would be best if they did. She would need all the time she had to study what he had given her. Dan seemed a little put off by her wanting to return immediately but he knew she was right. Time was running out. It still didn’t make it any better. He wanted to spend more time with her.

  They talked about how weird Metzler was. Brilliant but weird. Abby looked over and saw that Dan had dozed off after a few minutes. She got a blanket and covered him and sat and watched him until her eyes got heavy and she drifted off as well.

  They landed back at the Litchfield Airport where Abby had left her car. Dan walked her to her car carrying the armload of files Metzler had turned over to them.

  * * *

  “Please be very careful driving home. Are you going to be alright? It’s almost 2:00 A.M.,” he said glancing at his watch.

  “Sure. I was able to sleep some on the plane. I don’t live far from here so I’ll be fine.”

  “Alright. Thanks for going to talk to Metzler.”

  “Wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I am disappointed that you didn’t introduce me to any aliens. I wanted to check out my competition in case any of them had an eye on you.”.”

  “I did. You met Fritz, right?” Dan replied.

  “Boy, you got that right. Well, have a safe trip home.”

  He hesitated just a second before pulling her to him. He looked into her eyes for a moment before he kissed her. Softly at first but she responded and pulled him tighter against her. They probed each other, not wanting to let go. Finally Dan pulled away.

  “I had better go before something comes up,” he said.

  “I’m pretty sure it already did, unless you brought a rabbit back with you,” she replied.

  “I’ll call you. I promise.”

  “You won’t will you?” she said.

  “Won’t what? Call?”

  “Let grass grow under your feet,” she replied as she got in the car.

  Once again he stood there watching as she drove off. He needed to get with the program he decided.

  * * *

  “Holy smokes,” Brian said.

  He had Metzler’s papers scattered all over the floor and had been working on trying to make some sense out of them for the past three hours. Abby sat next to him offering suggestions.

  “The guy is definitely way out there but man, who can follow his logic or chicken scratches?” Brian said scratching his head.

  “Hey, you’re my go-to math man. I just bring the problems to you and you are supposed to figure them out,” Abby said, taking a slice of pizza from the one’s that she had brought for the team to share.

  “Gee thanks. It would help if I could tell what half of it even said,” Brian replied

  “Do you think you can make heads or tails out of it?”

  “Probably. I get the general idea of what he is getting at. I can probably work some of it backwards. It’s highly advanced, but I think I can do it.”

  “Of course you can. That’s why you get the big pizza.”

  “You are too kind,” he replied.

  “I know.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  When Abby came back from a faculty meeting, she brought a another large pepperoni pizza with her for Brian. When she got there, she was surprised to see the whole team. They had helped him get the papers in order and were reading off the equations and he was putting in the latest values from Chili.

  “How did you get the latest numbers?” Abby asked.

  “I called them from your phone,” Brian said still writing down numbers.

  “Well, I guess you guys don’t need me. I’ll just sit here and eat this pizza by myself,” she said sitting down on the floor.

  That’s all it took. Like vultures descending upon dead prey they were swooping down to grab a slice of the pizza.

  “So I take it you were able to decipher Metzler’s equation,” Abby said in between bites.

  “Actually Jessica could read his handwriting pretty well and that helped a lot.”

  “Really? Good job Jessica.”

  “Well I had an advantage. I write just as badly so it wasn’t that hard for me to read.”

  “You know, now that your mention it. I used to always save your papers for last so I could try to read what you had put down,” Abby teased her,

  “I’ll admit it. My brain works faster than my fingers when I really get on a roll,” she said.

  “So what do you have so far?” Abby asked Brian.

  “Even without the rest of the data, we’re talking about numbers that I have never seen before. He uses a couple of values that I need to understand to extrapolate the data.”

  “If I understand you correctly, you are saying that you get the theory but need clarification on some of his values?”

  “Something like that. He just has a couple of things that we don’t see in astrophysics so I am unfamiliar with them,” Brian told her.

  “And if you had that part, you could finish the work?”

  “Absolutely.

  “Then let me see what I can do,” Abby told him.

  * * *

  “Abby, I’m telling you, he won’t do it. He will not use the phone under any circumstances. He believes that everything he says on the phone is being recorded. It's a phobia.”

  “Dan, I can’t help if I don’t have what we need. Brian can’t proceed by just guessing. He won’t and I won’t let him. This is too critical to just throw numbers at. Besides, that’s not the way I work and you should know that by now,” she said raising her voice a notch.

  “And I can’t do what I can’t do either. I can’t force him to change his mind. We quit using cattle prods on subjects six or seven months ago,” he said trying to lighten things up a bit.

  “Look Dan. All I’m saying is time is critical. If we don’t get the information then it is all out of our hands. I hate giving up but I can’t do anything more. We need those values. Only he can supply them,” she said.

  “Alright Abby. Let me see what I can do but I wouldn’t hold out much hope for some sort of a miracle. We seem to be a little short on those these days.”

  “Do the best you can and let me know what you come up with,” Abby replied.

  “I’ll go to work on it as soon as we hang up. I’ll d
o the best I can,” Dan told her.

  “Sorry I got a little short with you.”

  “It’s passion. I didn’t take it personally,” Dan replied.

  “Good. Please don’t. Talk to you soon,” Abby said.

  Abby sat there after he had hung up and went back over the conversation. Why had she gotten so upset? It wasn’t Dan’s fault. Maybe she was feeling responsible for this whole mess. She shook her head. I didn’t create it, I just found it, she decided.

  * * *

  James and Brian were talking a mile a minute in the back of the Gulfstream. Abby and Dan were talking quietly in the front two seats.

  “I can’t believe they are going to let these two go to meet with Metzler.”

  “The President said that’s what he wanted so off we go,” Dan told her.

  “But the security clearance?”

  “They are clean. We did a deep background check long before they came to the White House. You don’t get near the President unless we know everything about you,” Dan said.

  “So…”

  “Yep. You were checked out as well. Sorry but that’s part of playing in this league.”

  “What did you find in my background?” Abby asked, sitting back and folding her arms.

  “That you should be up for Sainthood if it wasn’t for that small indiscretion in the back seat of that Chevy in high school,” he replied.

  “You rat. You…you, whatever. You really had me checked out?” Abby demanded.

  “Abby, everyone gets checked out. They run a check on me twice a year. It is a mandate to the FBI that they are required to carry out,” Dan said.

  “Well I still don’t like it much. They showed you the report?”

  “I glanced at it.”

  “And it was a Ford, not a Chevy,” Abby said.

  “Actually that part wasn’t in there but its good information,” Dan replied grinning from ear to ear.

  She was just getting ready for a comeback when they were told they were on final and needed to have their seatbelts on.

  While Abby and Dan knew where they were going, James and Brian hadn’t been informed. All they knew was that they were going to meet this strange Doctor Metzler who wouldn’t talk on the phone. It had been decided that they didn’t need to know exactly where they were for security reasons.