by Saxon Andrew
“She won’t see it unless someone tells her.” Britt’s eyes narrowed and Cami smiled, “I’ll always be her little girl…just like Candy and Sweets.”
“What do we do to start this?” Sweets asked.
“Britt, set your navigation system to form a large cone above the two colleges. Fly an erratic course inside that cone changing direction radically; but make sure you stay inside that cone. Sweets, you will make disparaging remarks about Linda Kay’s flying ability and Britt, you will come to her defense and tell Sweets she’s just being mean. I will shut down the part of my brain that broadcasts my thoughts and listen for the alien.”
“What happens if we find one of them?”
“I’ll tell you then.”
Britt looked at the others and tilted his head, “Better strap in, this could get ugly.”
Cami said, “Whatever happens, don’t stop talking! Continue it throughout this search!” They nodded and Britt moved the Rex Rabbit away from the planet.
• • •
The search was entering its third hour and Sweets was not pretending when she shouted, “A TOMATO COULD FLY A SHIP BETTER THAN THIS!!”
“SHUT UP! YOU WEREN’T ANY BETTER WHEN YOU LEARNED TO FLY!”
“YOU’RE FULL OF MORE STUFF THAN A THANKSGIVING TURKEY.”
“WILL THE TWO OF YOU SHUT UP! IT’S HARD ENOUGH TO FOCUS ON KEEPING US IN A STAIGHT LINE WITHOUT THE TWO OF YOU SCREAMING IN MY EAR!!”
Suddenly, Cami opened her eyes and rushed to Britt’s console. She waved her hand in a circle telling them to keep talking. Linda Kay said, “I think I might be getting this.” Suddenly, Britt whipped the ship hard right and Sweets screamed, “IF THAT’S GETTING IT; I’M A BLIND MUD FINCH!”
Cami stared at Britt and then began pressing buttons on the ship’s navigation system. A bright green line appeared on the display and Cami touched the screen close to the end of the green line. A red light appeared, and Britt looked at her as he said loudly, “WILL YOU JUST PLAY NICE!” He looked at Cami and she nodded. She pulled a sheet of paper out of her back pocket and handed it to Britt. Sweets began talking directly to Linda Kay, “Will you please not do all you can to kill us!”
Brit finished reading it and his eyes narrowed. Cami stared at him and he handed the paper across to Sweets. She began reading it as he started giving instructions, “You’re moving the control stick with hard moves. Move it gently and if you want to change direction, move it gently and use the stabilizer pedals to keep the ship level.” Britt steadied the ship and started moving on a course parallel to the course on the monitor. Sweets read the paper and turned to Cami with wide eyes. Cami nodded and she looked at Britt. He was still giving instructions, but he nodded to her. Sweets shook her head and pulled a combat helmet out of a compartment beside her chair. She handed the paper to Linda Kay and said, “It appears she’s listening for the first time.”
• • •
The alien sat on his ship and listened to the thoughts of the young humans that were trying to teach one of them how to fly the small ship. He actually laughed several times at what was being said and he had to admit the one trying to fly the ship was abysmal. But the small ship finally leveled out and began flying a somewhat smooth course across the stern of his ship. It was gradually moving away from his position and he decided there was no need to move his ship; they would be out of range shortly and he’d no longer be able to hear them.
Sweets focused on the cursor in her helmet and waited. The cursor was placed over the red dot on the navigation screen and she remained focused on it. Britt continued to give Linda Kay praise and instructions as the cursor turned red in Sweet’s helmet. She punched the blaster enable button and pressed the red firing button.
A brilliant blaster beam shot out from the Rex Rabbit and something to the portside of the ship exploded. Britt went to full speed and flew away in an instant. He turned the ship around far out from the small explosion and waited. Cami put her finger over her lips, and they sat in silence.
Cami handed Britt another sheet of paper and he started reading it. He looked up at Cami with narrow eyes and she nodded. He saw Sweets and Linda Kay staring at him and he passed the paper to them. They read it together and turned to Cami. She shrugged and nodded.
Forty-minutes after the explosion they heard in their minds, “How did you find me?”
Sweets handed the paper back to Britt and he said, “We knew where you were all along, but I wanted to stop you from trying to flee and force me to destroy your ship.”
“Why didn’t you want to destroy my ship?”
Britt looked at the paper and said, “Contrary to what you may believe, we don’t like indiscriminate killing. We want to deliver a message and we needed you alive to deliver it.”
“I’m not going to deliver anything in this ship; you’ve disabled my thrusters.”
“After you call in the other ships you have spying on us, one of them can tow you back to your civilization.”
“What makes you think there’s other ships here? I’m the only one.”
Cami kept her eyes closed and held up five fingers. Britt forced a smile and said, “Starting our conversation with lies is something you shouldn’t do. You have five other ships spying on us and if you don’t order them to come here to take you back, they will be destroyed immediately, and I’ll finish destroying your ship.” The alien was silent, and Britt said, “You have two hours for them to arrive and I’m issuing orders to destroy them and you.”
“There’s no possible way for them to get here in two hours. It will take at least four hours for all of them to arrive.”
“Then you have four hours. The clock is running now!”
The alien scanned the space around him and only came up with the single small ship holding position out of range of his blaster. The other five ships also reported they weren’t detecting any ships around them either.
• • •
Cami opened her eyes and took Britt’s communicator off his belt. She started scrolling through it and then handed it to Britt. He looked at it and his head went back. Cami pointed at the communicator on his console with an index finger and he just stared at her. Cami grabbed his cheeks and pointed at the communicator again more forcefully.
Brett stared at her, sighed, and pressed a frequency. Cami grabbed his cheeks again and turned his head to her. She pointed out of the ship and then touched her ears. Britt understood; the alien would hear him.
• • •
Grady appeared on the wall monitor smiling and Britt said, “Sir, your plan went off like clockwork and we’ve disabled the alien’s ship. It has called in the other five ships spying on us and they’re due in another two hours.”
Grady’s eyebrows slammed together, and he said forcefully, “WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!”
Britt flinched and looked at Cami. She shook her head and pointed out of the ship and then at her ears. The alien couldn’t hear Grady. “Sir, we found the alien scout and it was exactly where you said it would be. We’ve fired a blaster disabling his ship and he’s called the other scouts to this position.”
“GIVE ME YOUR COORDINATES!! NOW!!!” Britt sent them and the monitor went dark. He looked at Linda Kay and Sweets and saw real fear etched on their faces.
Grady jumped up from his computer cursing and Taffy asked, “What’s going on?”
Grady yelled as he ran toward the stairs to the roof, “IT APPEARS THE KIDS HAVE ATTACKED AND DISABLED A STEALTH SCOUT. FIVE MORE OF THEM ARE HEADED THEIR WAY!!” Taffy’s eyes flew wide open and she sprinted after him. Grady punched his communicator and Rory appeared on it, “RORY, OUR CHILDREN HAVE DISABLED A STEALTH SCOUT AND MORE OF THEM ARE COMING TO THEIR LOCATION! GET THE READY SHIPS LAUNCHED AND MOVING TO THE COORDINATES I’M SENDING YOU!”
“WHAT….”
“RORY! YOU KNOW AS MUCH AS I DO! GET THOSE SHIPS MOVING NOW!!” Grady ended the contact and boarded the King Hare. It lifted from the roof and Grady broke every speeding law lea
ving the planet.
Grady arrived above the planet just as the hundred large warships in the ready force began moving out of orbit. They flew out at incredible speed and Taffy said quietly, “Please let them be safe.” Grady nodded and poured on the speed.
• • •
Grady punched the Rex Rabbit’s frequency and said, “I’m on my way! What’s going on?”
“I’ve delivered your message to the scout, Sir. I’ve told him that if his civilization sends any more scouts to spy on us, we will retaliate.”
Grady glared at Britt and Taffy said, “Grady, that alien can hear what he’s saying. He’s trying to tell you without giving away they’re there alone.”
Grady nodded and said, “Inform that scout that I’ve chose to come and speak with him directly!”
“Yes Sir.” Britt looked up and said, “One of our leaders has chosen to come out and speak with you directly.”
“What is the leader’s name?”
“Supreme Fleet Commander Grady Henricks.” The alien was silent, and Britt shook his head. He was grounded for life.
• • •
Grady and the ready warships arrived in less than ten minutes and they passed the Rex Rabbit and surrounded the scout. Grady’s expression was grim, and he said, “I assume you’ve been given a warning!”
“I have,” Grady heard in his mind.
“Further, if the other ships that have been spying on us don’t arrive on time, I will destroy them and your ship. I will then assemble our combined fleets and go to Andromeda to deliver my warning in person. You got that?!”
The alien now knew he had no choice but to have the other ships arrive at his position. Even if they were in danger, he could not risk the humans going to Andromeda; they weren’t ready yet. “They will arrive shortly, Admiral.”
“Why have you been spying on us?”
“Admiral, I think you can figure that out yourself.”
“You’ve come to try and steal our technology.”
Cami’s eyes closed as the alien said, “No, we just want to make sure you don’t launch an attack against us.”
Grady ended the contact and Grady changed frequency, “Britt, you can return to base.”
Cami opened her eyes and shook her head hard. Brett saw her and said, “Sir, I intend to complete my mission. I’ll leave when this threat is removed.” Grady wanted to explode but Taffy put a hand on his arm. He looked at her and saw her staring intently into his eyes. He gripped his fists so tight his fingers dug into his palms. He forced his voice to be calm and said, “Report to headquarters after this is settled.”
“Thank you Sir.”
The five scouts came flying in and Cami closed her eyes again. After a few minutes, Grady said, “I want you to know if you send any more ships to spy on us I will consider it an act of war and take appropriate action.”
“We will not send any more ships, Admiral.” Cami raised her arm and made a thumbs up. Britt sighed and she opened her eyes and nodded to the left. Britt powered up the Rex Rabbit’s gravity drive and left for home. Grady beat him there and was waiting for them on the roof with Taffy. They landed and exited the Rex Rabbit. Grady glared at them and he said angrily, “This is the last time any of you fly again! Get in the house!”
Britt led the others to the stairs and Grady glared at them. Taffy said, “Grady…”
“STAY OUT OF THIS!” Taffy winced and followed Grady toward the stairs. Rory and Abby came roaring in on a fleet shuttle and landed on the roof. Grady waited on them and Rory glared at Grady, “HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!”
“I intend to find out. Follow me.” Abby looked at Taffy and she shook her head slightly. Abby was angry but followed Taffy’s lead and remained silent.
Chapter Four
The youngsters went to the living room and pulled up four chairs facing the huge sofa. Britt sat between Linda Kay and Sweets while Cami sat down next to Sweets. None of them were speaking and Cami felt their fear. Grady walked into the living room followed by Taffy, Rory and Abby. They sat down on the sofa and Grady stared at them, fuming. He opened his mouth to speak as RJ and Candy burst through the door and entered without knocking. Everyone turned to them and RJ said loudly, “GRADY, BRITT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND I DEMAND HE BE PUNISHED APPROPRIATELY!!” Grady’s eyes narrowed and RJ glared at him, “I MEAN IT GRADY. HE ENDANGERED MY DAUGHTER AND HE’S NOT GETTING AWAY WITH IT!! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!”
Grady’s expression revealed his anger as he replied, “I’m about to find out! Take a seat and I’ll continue.”
“I WILL NOT SIT DOWN! WHAT HE DID DESERVES JAIL TIME!!” Grady glared at him and RJ sneered, “AND I WON’T BE SILENT! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS?!”
Grady looked away from RJ and turned to Britt, “I’ve always seen you as the responsible wise one in this group. But what you did today shows me that I don’t know you at all! You acted totally irresponsibly, and your stupidity absolutely amazes me. Why did you take our children into a deadly situation without discussing it with me first?!”
Britt stared at Grady and remained silent. RJ sneered, “He’s not even sorry for doing it!” He looked at Britt and yelled, “ARE YOU?!?”
Britt turned to RJ and said nothing. RJ sputtered and Grady said, “Answer me!”
Britt looked at him and RJ turned to Sweets, “DID YOU AGREE TO DO THIS?!”
Sweets lowered her head into her shoulders and Britt spoke for the first time, “Linda Kay and Sweets refused to decide on what we did. The decision was totally mine.”
Cami sat forward and said, “Britt isn’t to blame for this. I’m the one that persuaded him to do it.”
RJ turned to Cami and said in a quieter tone, “Don’t try to lie to protect him! It’s ridiculous to think a ten-year-old is responsible for this. You’re lying to protect him!”
Cami looked at RJ and said, “Quite the contrary, Britt is trying to protect me.”
Taffy looked at Cami, “Honey, what you’re telling us is very hard to believe.”
Cami turned to her, “I know, but it’s true.”
RJ’s head went back, and he shouted, “AND JUST WHAT COULD YOU SAY TO HIM THAT WOULD MAKE HIM DO THIS!?! THIS IS ABSURD!”
Cami turned back to RJ, “I told them that I was the only one that could find out if those aliens you discussed at Christmas are scouting us.”
“THAT’S REDICULOUS!! AND JUST HOW DO YOU GET OFF SAYING THAT?!”
Cami sighed and said, “I told them I’m a telepath and that I can hear them if they’re out there.”
RJ paused and sneered, “If you’re a telepath, why aren’t you using your thoughts to talk with us instead of your big lying mouth?!”
Cami stood up and faced RJ with anger written all over her face. Everyone in the room saw her lips weren’t moving as they heard, “IT’S NOT ENOUGH THAT I’M A FREAK DIFFERENT FROM EVERY PERSON ON NEW BRITANNIA, YOU HAVE TO RUB MY FACE IN IT!!”
Sweets glared at RJ and said, “My mother has told me numerous times that you are the most brilliant warrior in the Navy. But you have your head stuck so far up your back side that you need a window in your stomach to see! I’m ashamed of you!”
RJ’s face turned red as he said in a menacing tone, “I have never hit you but if you open your mouth one more time I will!!”
Sweets glared at RJ and Candy said from the sofa, “You’re not going to hit anyone! She’s right! You’re acting like a boorish ass!” RJ jerked his head to Candy and opened his mouth. Candy spoke before he could say anything, “YOU REALLY DON’T WANT TO GO THERE! IF YOU YELL AT ME I’LL MAKE THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OF YOUR LIFE A LIVING HELL!! NOW SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!!”
RJ glared into Candy’s eyes and almost spoke. But then he remembered when Candy refused to speak with him for a month when she was pregnant with Sweets. It was the most miserable time of his life; he saw in Candy’s eyes that she meant it. He hesitated a moment, then sat down on the sofa with his arms crossed. Sweets looked at Candy and mouthed, “Thank you, Mom.”
“Don’t be thanking me! I’m just as angry as he is but I want to know what happened!” Sweets wilted and sat back in her chair.
Taffy said softly, “Cami!” Cami continued to glare at RJ. Taffy said slightly louder, “Cami!” Cami turned to her and Taffy said gently, “Talk with us.” Cami glared at her and Taffy added, “Please.” Cami’s eyes softened and she took a deep breath. She released it slowly, sat down, and nodded. Taffy turned to Grady, “Why is it that all three males on this sofa are sitting here huffing and puffing acting all macho and aggressive, while the three women are sitting here in silence listening attentively?” Grady glared at her and Taffy’s eyes narrowed, “Answer me Grady Henricks!”
Grady glared at Taffy and replied, “It’s because we take protecting our families seriously!!”
“And you failed in that today by not preventing what happened!” Taffy replied. “You’re taking out your anger of that failure on our children without listening to what they’re telling us. Britt didn’t suddenly change into a different person when he took that ship into orbit. Abby, Candy and I know that, and we want to know why he made the decision he did.”
“Do you think you can do a better job?!”
Taffy nodded, “Anyone can do a better job than what you’re doing!”
Grady extended his arm and waved his hand toward the four youngsters sitting in front of them, “Be my guest!”
Taffy’s eyes narrowed as she said, “You will be respectful and remain silent while I question them!” Taffy turned to Rory and RJ, “And so will you! RJ, if you open your mouth, I will ask you to leave my home and not come back!” RJ glared at her but nodded.
Taffy turned to Britt, “I’ve always known that you are the rock of our children. This decision you made to go out and confront an alien warship doesn’t make sense. Why did you do it?”
Britt stared at Taffy and exhaled as he sat forward, “Because no one else could.”
“What do you mean?”
Cami interrupted them, “I think I should be the one to answer that question.” Taffy turned to her and nodded for her to go ahead. “The aliens are telepathic, and they will know if any human moves close to their ships. If they detect the thoughts of a human and their scanners show a warship is moving close to where they are holding position, they will immediately flee and not come back until there are no thoughts inside the range they can detect them. Nothing, and I do mean nothing, can get close to them without being detected.”