Confrontation
Page 7
“Just catching up on some of the macrophage cell, stem cell and interferon research they’re doing back on earth.”
“Something we can use up here?” he asked.
“Not sure yet. The problem is with our retrovirus, there’s very little landscape where we’re second best in medical technology. One area where I’d like to see us do more work toward is limb and organ replacement. We’ve been lucky having so few serious injuries in the years we’ve been out here.”
“A new line of research for you, dear?”
“Perhaps, we’ll see. Look at the time, Chris. Don’t be late,” she cautioned.
“So, just a piece of cake?”
“That’s it. Tell Peanut I said hi, and that he has to come by for dinner and see his nephew.”
“Will do. I’ll see you later.”
Christopher had been sitting in the bar at Sherman’s for about ten minutes when he saw his friend rushing through the door. Waving, he caught Peanut’s eye. He pointed toward the dining room and joined him at the host stand.
“We haven’t seen the two of you here together for quite some time,” said Albert, the maitre d’.
“Busy, busy, busy,” Peanut replied.
“You think you could squeeze us in?” Christopher asked.
“Absolutely, follow me,” said Albert, grabbing two menus and leading the way inside. “How’s this?” he said.
“Perfect, thanks Albert,” Christopher said as they sat.
“Dude! What up?” said Christopher, drawing the desired laugh from his friend.
“What’s it been, a couple of weeks now?”
“About that. Pat wants you to stop by and see Ben. But no big rush, she knows how busy you are. How’s commuting to and from the Death Star?”
“The same. Got three others assigned to the project now. With Genesis and TJ helping out on the design of the equipment and programming the probe, I’m thinking we could be ready for assembly in a few months.”
“That soon? That’s amazing!” Christopher exclaimed, clearly impressed.
“We’ve stuffed as much instrumentation into the shell of the probe as possible. And, with Genesis programming the sensors, if it leaves this space time, and we get it back, we will have a pretty good idea of the physics of the interdimensional framework outside this universe. But that’s not why I wanted to talk to you.”
“So what’s up? You worried about something?” Christopher asked with concern.
“Two things. The first is what might happen—and it’s a really long shot—if we create a dimensional tear in the fabric of space. None of the simulations suggest even the remote possibility of that happening, we won’t really have the power. But damn it all, I have no idea what’s going to happen when we fire up the effect.”
Just then the waitress showed up to take their order. Once they told her their dinner selections, the conversation resumed.
“Okay, so what do you suggest?” Christopher asked.
“Well, first off, I want it towed way the hell away from everything; us, planets, moons, and as far out from the sun as feasible. Second, I only want the effect to be active for a few minutes to start. We’ll be monitoring the radiation output around the probe, high-speed cameras and whatever else Genesis can come up with to scan the local environment.
“TJ and Genesis are working out just how much of a kernel of Genesis’ core personality the probe can carry to provide onboard intelligence and special monitoring capability.”
“You seem to have all the bases covered.”
“That doesn’t mean much. Talk about your unknowns. This isn’t like when we pointed two G-waves at each other to see what would happen! We’re punching a hole in the universe,” he said, his voice rising to a worried hiss.
“Easy there, bud. I know you’re going to take whatever precautions are necessary. You know that I have every confidence in you and your team. You’re so much further along in understanding this aspect of the effect than I ever was, and I discovered the damn thing. So calm the fuck down. If there’s any question of safety, then we pull the plug. You know that.”
Peanut upended his glass of beer, drinking it down in one long pull. When he was done, he signaled their waitress for another.
“Do have another. You’re wound up a little tight there. When was the last time you spent any time with Bernice?”
“Fuck you. I don’t need to get laid!” Peanut said angrily.
“That’s not what I’m getting at. I mean, when was the last time you took some time off? Look, we’re safe from any earth interference out here. If they decide to actually send one or both of those ships they’re building out this way, we’ll have plenty of notice.
“You of all people know that with the shield technologies you developed there’s nothing they could send our way that we can’t protect ourselves from. And really, any rock out here large enough to become a problem is monitored. You have to learn to relax. I have an idea. Genesis?”
“Yes Christopher, how may I be of assistance?”
“Chuck please.”
“What’s up, my brother?” answered Chuck.
“Did you eat already?”
“No, been burning the midnight oil working on the shell for the Jupiter probe. Why, what’s up?”
“I’m in Sherman’s with Peanut. Can you join us?
“Hey, Peanut! Yeah, sure. Give me fifteen minutes.”
“We’ll wait,” Christopher promised.
Ten minutes later, Chuck dashed in the door, scanning the crowd for the two.
They stood as Chuck approached the table, both hugging and clapping the new arrival on the back.
“Beer,” Chuck said, as the waitress put a napkin down on the table in front of him.
The three chatted about what they had been up to, waiting until they all had fresh drinks before they got down to it. They raised their glasses and Chuck intoned, “To Riley,” which Christopher and Peanut softly repeated.
“So what’s up, guys?” Chuck asked.
“Peanut’s nearly ready to fire up the inter dimensional probe.”
Chuck slapped five with Peanut, saying, “That’s fuckin’ fantastic. How long before the maiden flight?”
“I don’t know exactly. A few months. TJ and Genesis are working out how much of the computer’s awareness can and should be loaded into the onboard systems. The sensor package is nearly complete, we won’t need any propulsion, and there’s a very high-powered transmitter that will scream bloody murder once the probe re-emerges into our space/time.”
“It shouldn’t be going anywhere, right?” Chuck asked.
“That’s right. But we have no idea how other dimensions map physically to our space, if at all. Coordinates might slip, we have no idea. Genesis has no idea either. The calculations and simulations work out but everything about this is an unknown,” said Peanut, shaking his head.
“I could give the calcs a look-see. But in all honesty, you’re light years ahead of where I left off while we were flying that asteroid back to the moon,” Christopher offered.
“Me too,” added Chuck. “But, there was never anything the four of us couldn’t accomplish. And I don’t care what anyone says, Riley is always going to be with me. But I got nothin’ on you in the theoretical math department.”
The three clinked glasses again in silent tribute.
“We need to make a point of getting together more often. I miss just shooting the shit with you guys,” Christopher lamented.
“It’s a lot harder now. Hell, we’re all family men. And Chris has Ben to boot! Speaking of which: Peanut, you and Bernice have any plans for tying the knot anytime soon?” Chuck inquired, watching Peanut blush at the question.
“Things are fine just as they are. When are you and Iris going to have kids, Chuck?” Peanut asked, going on the offensive.
“How can that be? We got all kinds of people up here! You not delegating right?” asked Christopher.
“That ain’t it. I have a bunch of engineers under me, it’s—well, it’s just that the projects are so interesting. Take the Jupiter probe, for example. Building a craft that can take the pressure all the way to the bottom of the atmosphere, run some tests and observations and look for life? Now that’s the shit.
“Plus, I’m fascinated by the engineering of those two earth spacecraft they’re planning to send out this way. What the hell, nuclear and ion propulsion? Chris, your G-waves are still, hands down, the most important discovery in space travel since Yuri Gagarin, but the designs of those ships are really cutting-edge.”
“That’s about eighty percent bullshit. We both know you still want to go back to the moon and evict those soldiers from the outpost. Peanut also told me about your plan to screw around with those Mars robots. Although I will admit the online entries for your sign contest to put in their way made me laugh for days,” Christopher said, laughing. “But I’m glad you’re leaving Earth’s crap alone.”
“Laugh all you want. It’s going to be just like the moon all over again. Genesis has been keeping me up-to-date on the NASA mission out here. They’re going to be here in the next year. Then what? Those assholes obviously can’t take no for an answer.”
“And?” Christopher asked.
“And? And it’s getting near time we make our wishes known a little more forcefully,” Chuck answered.
“Meaning what? Violence, killing? What are you suggesting? That we betray everything we stand for?” Peanut asked. “They’re no threat to us. Screw them!”
Chuck and Christopher looked at each, then broke out laughing.
“You got to admire their persistence. They still have those guys stuck on the moon and all they can think about is coming out here. Talk about your screwed–up priorities,” Christopher observed.
“No shit. Enough about them, they’re dead to me. However, as soon as we’re ready to test the probe, I’ll let you guys know; it would be great if we could do it together,” suggested Peanut.
“No doubt,” answered Chuck.
During the rest of the meal the old friends talked about all manner of topics from raising kids to the possibilities of traveling to other star systems. By the time they ran out of steam, it was well past midnight, with none of them feeling any pain as they made their way to their respective homes.
* * *
“Wow! You’ve got a lot of stuff!” said Melody when she walked through the door, having just passed the movers getting in their truck and driving away.
“Not really. I had the movers leave most of the boxes in here so I can sort everything out easier. I really only have furniture for the bedroom, the living room, the kitchen and a study. My condo wasn’t all that big, I didn’t need the space,” Patrick replied. “It’s not going to take me but a minute to really get moved in. Maybe after training I’ll do some shopping to fill in the cracks.”
“Nice couch!” she said, sitting down and bouncing around a bit. “Fluffy, and… damn hard to get out of. Hey, I don’t have anything planned for Saturday. If you want, I’d be happy to stop by and help you get moved in.”
“Really?”
“Of course. What, you think I’m kidding?”
“No, pleasantly surprised is all. Tell you what, I’ll do something on the grill for dinner. How’s that sound?”
“It’s a deal. Oh yeah,” she said, reaching into her briefcase and pulling out a folder. “Here’s all your executed paperwork, and you should have the deed transferred in thirty days.”
“That’s fantastic!” he said, taking the folder and putting it on the fireplace mantel. “Okay, where to for dinner? You wouldn’t believe what we did today in training!”
“Mexican, Chinese? What do you have a taste for?” she asked.
“Can we do this? Let’s eat at the hotel so I can pack up and check out. I also want to take my car and make sure the trip cross-country didn’t mess anything up. I have to stop and fill the tank, too.”
As they left the house, Patrick fumbled around with the unfamiliar keys, locking the front door.
“Nice car, and a ragtop at that,” she said, walking around the royal blue Mini Cooper.
Patrick reached inside and released the catches of the top, opened the roof and secured the snaps of the cover in the back. He was quite happy when the engine caught on the first try.
Melody pulled sunglasses from her purse and shook her hair free from the ponytail. She then laughed for the sheer joy of a beautiful summer’s eve.
Once Patrick gassed up the Mini, they took the long way to the hotel enjoying the evening’s sultry air. When they reached the hotel, they went straight to the dining room.
“So, tell me. What did you all do in training today?” Melody asked, once drinks were served.
“It was a blast. Have you ever heard of the Vomit Comet?” he asked.
“Of course. It’s the plane that simulates weightlessness, right?”
“Sure is!”
“Did you or any of the other trainees puke?” she asked.
“None in our group, a couple in the group that went before us did though. But by the time we got inside the plane, though, there was no smell or anything.”
“So, how’d you like it?”
“Oh man! It was a complete rush. I was scared shitless before we took off. But everyone was so jazzed it was hard to stay scared. And that first pass was just too cool. One moment I was being pushed down into the mat, the next I was just floating toward the ceiling. You know what? Once you’re floating around like that, it’s impossible to be scared!”
“That’s a good thing, Patrick!”
“Yeah, maybe. I don’t know how it would be in a suit looking out into space. That definitely scares the shit out of me. But doing the Comet every few weeks would be a blast!”
“Weightless, eh? The possibilities!”
Patrick laughed. “Not so much. You get less than half a minute at a time, but we went weightless about thirty or forty times. I had skipped breakfast just in case, but didn’t get any stomach willies at all.”
Melody busted out laughing.
“What? What did I say?” Patrick asked, embarrassed.
“Oh stop. There’s nothing wrong. Tell me this, exactly where did you grow up?”
“Well, Kentucky, then we moved to California. Why?”
“Because you don’t sound anything like a California boy. You don’t really have an accent, but your phrases definitely dodn’t originate from Southern California. So tell me, what other kinds of training exercises have you been put through?” Melody asked, diplomatically changing the subject.
“Mostly the basic dos and don’ts of what an astronaut has to know. We toured a working model of one of the construction habitats that they have in orbit. It’s like a tin can with an airlock. It ain’t pretty, and the instructions for how to go to the toilet require a master’s degree to get right. They’re holding off on fitting us for spacesuits until they have a better idea on who might have to go up. There’s two distinct groups. There’s support guys like me, guys and gals, and then there’s the actual candidates for the construction and assembly mission. Their training is ten times more intense.”
“So they must think there’s a chance you’ll be needed up there, right? They wouldn’t waste your time otherwise. What about your contract? Is there anything specifically in there that covers you having to work in space?”
“Yeah, there
is. I’m listed as an irreplaceable asset to the project, and as such I can be posted where needed with proper notice, et cetera and so on, with a lot of legalese that I have no real understanding of. I really, really don’t want to go up there, but obviously someone else thinks it may become necessary. The only saving grace is that I get quadruple pay if I have to launch into space,” he said.
“Four times! Is it tax free too?”
“Sadly, no. But get this, if they do have to make a suit for me it’s going to cost fifteen million dollars!”
Melody laughed, saying, “Holy crap! Now I don’t feel so bad spending three hundred dollars on a pair of shoes.”
“I had no idea what the cost was until they told us today. That’s a big whopping investment. You know what? Even though I’m an engineer, the stuff I work with just makes the ship go. The subjects we’re covering now are technologies and procedures that are supposed to keep us alive. There’s absolutely no room fo error. That’s what scares the hell out of me about going–that I may make a mistake with my suit or I may not close a hatch properly, or any of a million details that I could screw up!”
“Hey, hey, hey!” Melody said, reaching out to grasp his hand. “Don’t you think they know that, about everyone I mean? You think you’re the first trainee who has doubts about your ability to remember every possible detail?”
She squeezed his hand in reassurance.
“Think about it, how many astronauts has NASA lost to that kind of accident? I can’t remember any, can you?” she asked quietly.
He took a deep breath before replying. “None that I know of, either.”
“Well then. NASA’s training must be pretty good. How many people are in orbit working on your project right now?”
“Anywhere from ten to thirty at a time, probably about twelve thousand here on the ground. Look, I know where you’re going with this. And I’ll be the first person to admit some—maybe even most—of my fear is irrational. But damn it, I can’t help how I feel.”
“Tell you what, lets wrap it up here and go pack your stuff. I know a great ice cream parlor sort of on the way back to your place. I’ll help you get the bathroom set up while you figure out where you’re going to sleep. Maybe we can stop for some groceries too, at least coffee, I made sure the fridge was on, you may even have ice cubes by now!”