World of Good - Chapter 21

Chapter 21

 “...final preparations...”

            With the help of Shelby, the major, and the Vlanco scientists, modifications for integrating the Ravion device to Earth technology went well. A navigational and propulsion marriage was made, and a test flight was in order. The major and I agreed to man the test to a destination for a star system, with a red dwarf, 100 light years away. Back home, we could do it in a life time. The trip to the red dwarf would only take three days.

            Once achieving light speed, the Gravametric propulsion supercharged our speed as expected. However, once the traditional navigational course adjustments started degrading, the Ravion interlink engaged and caused serious side effects. It was as if someone had turned on an erratic strobe light, which was felt from one end to the ship to the other. At one moment, I felt like I was in a slow motion animation movie, and then in an instant, it was as if nothing happened at all. Then came the headaches. Every time we doubled our speed, the strobe/slow motion episode would increase in frequency. This was just a hundred light-year test. If we were to travel several thousand light years, it would become a horrendous torture. This was one big bug we had to iron out. 

            On the whole, the test was successful. We returned to Onos not only precisely where we wanted to be but precisely when we expected to return. This was revolutionary. Never did I see more excitement from a group of people than from my crew. And never did I see Earth as close as it seemed at this moment. It may be doable, but it would be a bumpy doable.

* * *

            Dale was playing a 3D handheld electronic game when Shelby walked in on him. He failed the last level and tossed the game aside. He stared out the porthole.  Shelby sat down next to Dale with a glint in her eye.

            “Dale? I thought you’d be excited now that we actually may have a chance to get back to Earth,” said Shelby.

            “Oh, yeah that’s great,” he said, pensively.

            “Why didn’t that sound like you meant it?”

            “I guess I’m still thinking of Quin.”

            “Hmm, oh yes, Quinn.” Shelby couldn’t contain her smile.

            “Why are you so happy, Shelby?”

            “I just found out that Quin is awake and has been completing some rudimentary movements in the last several days. Do you want to see her?”

            “Maybe.”

            “What’s wrong Dale?”

            “What do you mean by that?”

            “You know you have to let this guilt go. Go visit her.”

            “Who are you? My big sister?” He paused. “It’s not that I feel guilty so much. It’s that I feel kind of nervous to see her again. I mean, we were starting to really enjoy one another and...and after the accident...she—

            “Might not remember you?” interrupted Shelby.

            “Yeah, she might not even know who I am.”

            “Well, Dale, the best way to resolve your questions, is to visit her and find out.”

            He jumped up and looked down at Shelby. “Ya don’t think I know that!” he roared. “I’m petrified.”

            Shelby didn’t even flinch. “Dale, are you afraid she might not remember you or are you afraid she might not like you?”

            He closed his eyes a moment. “Yeah, that’s really it,” he said despondently. “Don’t tell anyone, Shelby!” I have to keep up appearances.

            “Appearances?”

             Dale scratched his arm. “I guess I was hoping she would, um, love me like I...you know,”

            “What Dale?” she asked, innocently.

            “Like I...love her,” he whispered quickly.

            Shelby could hardly, contain her smile, and before completely bursting out in laughter, said, “Go! Go talk to her, you nut.” She sprang up and pushed him hard toward the door, then stood with her hands on her hips. “Do you want me to come along, again?”

            “Naw. I can go by myself. Thanks Shell.”

            She kicked him in the butt. “Then get going.”

 * * *

            It felt like dejavou.  He entered the hospital, and proceeded to the greeting room to find out if he could see her.

            “Hello,” said Dale, nervously to the medical assistant, “I’m here to see if I can visit Quin again.”

            “Oh yes, Dale, the Earth person. Quin was moved to another room a week ago.”  The assistant checked the monitor. “Yes, at this moment, she is in the dining area. She has mentioned your name several times, since she woke.”

            “Really?” Dale replied with a surprised smile. His smile changed to a worried frown.  “In a good way?”

            “Yes, I believe so Dale. To meet her, take this directional finder, and it will lead you to her.” The assistant handed him the device.

            “Thanks.”

            Dale was still nervous, to see her, but when he entered the room, and saw her taking small steps through parallel bars, his heart jumped. She looked up from her feet to see him and gave him a big grin. He was so relieved to see she had remembered him he forgot his fears and walked toward her. As he approached her, she moved up and kissed his cheek, tenderly. She teetered a bit and put one hand on Dale’s arm to steady herself. She stepped back and looked at him sweetly.

            Dale could feel his face was warming. 

            “Oh my, Dale, you are starting to look like my kind.”

            He chuckled and touched his own face. “Yeah. I must be beet red.” He sucked up a knot in his throat, as he wiped a tear from his eye.

            They sat down together and talked for hours…as if they hadn’t been apart for a minute.

* * *

            Later that evening, Dale caught up with Tammy at the ship and began to reminisce. “Tammy, I’ve heard how people say couples begin to look like each other as they get older; but do they also think like each other as they get older...like mixing colors, after stirring the bright yellow with the bright red, orange will result?”

            Tammy pulled back to view Dale as if he were a foreign specimen. “What brought that on? I think it’s the first time I ever heard you philosophize.”

            “Earlier today I was talking to Quin, and she said...something that got me thinking about race and relationships. I was hoping that through time we may become a close part of each other. But the trick was to figure out how I could take on her good parts without her absorbing my bad parts. It’s like I’m a leach, and I don’t want her to have to get rid of my bad habits by drawing blood.” 

            “I’m not sure what you trying to say. But it’s obvious you like her…don’t you? But you’re not going to stay here, are you?”  Dale wobbled his head and squinted into space.

            “Are you serious, Dale?  What have these people done to you?”

            “I don’t know?! Dale said flustered. “They have a ton of answers and something about them makes me want to listen to ‘em.”

            “Well I originally thought they were kind of fun, but when Derngo mentioned that all Vlanco men saved sex for marriage, that’s when I knew I was in trouble.”

            “What do you mean trouble.”

            “Let me explain the equation Dale, no sex equals no fun.”

            “I’ve had fun with you, and we’ve never had sex.”

            “Your different Dale, you’re a friend.”

            “Friends have weddings and friends have health, ‘cause when they aren’t they lose their wealth,”  he said, as he sang an old jingle.

            “What drug are you on?”

            “Remember that Public Service Announcement that said  ‘Lose a virus - save a friend,’ You know - back when the group sex parties became popular, because of the relaxation of the porn laws?”

            “Oh yeah, during the Europan uprising, I remember. But that didn’t stop me, I did it anyway, whether it was legal or not.  I guess I’m just a girl who like to have a good time,” she said with a sultry voice.

            “Well I took ’em pretty serious. A buddy of mine got the neuropetulous virus and ended up barely walking and talking.  After that, I was mucho careful about sex.”

            “But Dale, that’s what science is for.  Don’t you remember, within a year, they found a vaccine to prevent it.”

            “Great, tell that to my buddy who got it before the vaccine arrived... and besides, we’re getting way off the subject. For once, it‘s nice to be around people who really care and listen to what you say without expecting something.”

            “Well, I’ve got to give you that one Dale. They are the most honest guys I’ve ever met.  Remember that kid I told you about? The one that lied and cried about doing it.” Dale nodded. “I still can’t get over how strict they are with themselves.  I’d go nuts trying to be as perfect as they try to be.”

            “Hmm, that would normally have bugged me, but now I’m okay with it. But I’ll tell ya, Tammy, after the shock wave experience, it fully convinced me, what I’m doing is right.”

            “Why? I know it was a strange phenomena, but…what else?”

            “Oh yeah, right,” said Dale, “just a strange phenomena.”

            “I’m serious Dale. Just like the Discharge that brought us here in the first place, it’s another strange Galactic Phenomenon.”

            “Are you kidding? The odds of the shock wave occurring just when the Negritee were surrounding us, is astronomical. And besides, who’s to say the Discharge didn’t occur because the Creator didn’t want it to happen.”

            “The Creator?  You’re starting to sound like them.” She paused and twiddled with her hands.  “Listen, think what you want Dale, but other than entertainment, science has been my night in shinning armor.  All of my questions have been resolved through science, not some squishy-squashy, sacred, twaddle.”

            “I don’t know when I’ve seen you so defensive, Tammy.”

            “It’s because were talking about this spiritual crap, which, by the way, is a first for you.”

            “Well, we’ve gotta change sometime,” Dale said proudly.

            “Urr,” Tammy growled, then eventually mustered up some composure. “Dale, I just don’t think you fit in here.”

            “I don‘t fit here, just as much as I don‘t fit on Earth, so what‘s the difference?” He reached for her arm, gently. “Listen, Tammy. They’ll be a real good influence on me, and ‘ll help me to smooth out my emotional rough spots...It’ll be good for me.”

            “You’re not going to become some sort of fruitcake are you?”

            He smirked lightly. “Me? Ha! That’s rich.”

            She stirred the floor with her foot, arms crossed “Well... actually I’m glad, Dale. Glad you have something to hang on to...and I’m going to miss you. I’ve already lost Chip’s endless needling, and now you going away too.”

            “Thanks, Tammy. That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

            He reached over and gave her a hug and held each other for a good moment, before releasing themselves. They looked around to see if anyone was watching and wiped the moisture from their eyes.

* * *

            The crew members from both vessels were excited to make the final preparations for the trip back to Earth. I was instructing the crew to download as much data as possible to the Wayfarer. The Sojourner was going to be left on Onos. The major was trying to glean some last minute details from Spaest and the other scientists, before returning to the Wayfarer. 

            That last night was the most enjoyable time I had in a long time.  All the Vlancos, I made friends with, were there to celebrate our return to Earth. Even Anon, made a special trip to the metropolis, so that he could give us some last words of advice.

            Anon was a wealth of wisdom, I still wish we had more like him in our solar system. I sat with him alone in the control room while sipping on a drink.

            “How I can stay good in a mixed up world, Anon?”

            Anon spoke in his usual authoritative demure. “You must first stay close to the Creator. When you have a desire to please Him, your actions will fall into place. Remember, Alex, you must rely on the Creator first, all else should be subordinate.”

            “But how can I put God first, that just would mean my family, work, etc. would never be attended to.”

            “No, no, no. If the Creator is first, then all else will be taken care of. Putting Him first is like a covering on everything in your life. He understands your needs and will provide you the knowledge to respond to your world, and take care of those things you have no control over. Remember also what I told you earlier about striving for perfection. Do not strive to test how mighty your strength is to resist evil, but accept your weakness and keep evil far away from you. Evil is cunning, and sneaks up on you when you least expect it.”

            When he said that, I recalled the game ‘Red Light, Green Light;’ a game I played as a child.  When I was the  Light I would call out “Green light!” close my eyes, and turn around, while the neighborhood kids would sneak up to me, trying to touch me before I turned back around. When I thought they were getting close, I would turn around and yell “Red light!”  If they were moving when I saw them, they would be sent back to the beginning. Most of the kids couldn’t make it to me, because they were so anxious to get to me, it was blatantly obvious to see them move. However, there were some real cunning kids that hung around on the outer edges—slowly inching there way forward. I was so busy looking at the kids in plain sight, I was caught off-guard by the ones around the edges. When I turned around, they were right in my face, totally surprising me. And once touched, I was sent down to the other end. 

            In cases of murder, or assault I would swear never to do.” But even with them, it could start with a hurt, then an angry thought, then the first hit, and eventually an uncontrollable urge to commit unspeakable acts. These are the things that don’t just happen to others; it happens to all of us. Maybe not to the extent of murder, but anything in little insidious ways that separate and disrupt relationships.

            Since I’ve been here, I have learned rather than fear or resist evil, I need to concentrate on embracing virtue. I don’t know what kind of impact it was having on the rest of the crew, but visiting these people has certainly changed my life. Would this be a temporary experience or a change of a lifetime?

* * *

            Although it hadn’t been tested, the scientists felt confident about the new requirements, to reduce the effects of the Ravion/Gravametric interlink. They downloaded the new parameters into the majors compad. The major made a few alternate adjusments and was ready to get back to the Wayfarer.

            The major closed down his compad and turned to Spaest. “Thank you for this Ravion device. If it wasn’t for that, we would probably never have a chance to make it back to Earth.”

            Spaest smiled and nodded. “Your appreciation is noted, my friend.”

            “You know, Spaest, when you told me that you listened in on our conversations, coming in to the system, I thought it would have been very interesting to listen in on the Negritee command during the shock wave event.” 

            “Oh, you are interested in the event, Peter?”

            “How could I not? If we hadn’t reversed course, I suspect we would floating in space as we speak.”

            “If you would like, we can replay the data on the event from the Negritee flag ship ‘Carpusian’ and one of its escorts. We used the Ravion equipment to infiltrate their vessels.”

            The major grinned. “Your kidding!”

            “No Peter, I do not kid.”

            “Great, let’s hear it then.

            They walked over to the console to access the time and day of the Ravion operating accounts. Spaest initiated the sequence of events on board the ship, fifteen minutes prior to the shock wave.

            The visuals were only slightly distorted, but the vocals were crystal clear. The anger of the Negritee Premier, Disguman, was increasing, with every second of silence from the Vlancos. He hated to be ignored.

            The Negritee Premier muttered a vow to exterminate every last Vlanco. “High Commander, we can not wait much longer. Inform the other fleets that we will commence the final assault, at my command.”

            “Yes, 3rd Premier.”

            Chip patted his sealed container containing the Tara 100. It seemed he had his back-up plan for power if the Negritee got any smart ideas.

            Disguman paced the floor, nervous that the Vlancos were up to something; but he wasn’t about to wait too long for them to retaliate. “High Commander, set the attack sequence for two minutes, and scan the area for any Vlanco space craft. I suspect a trap.”

            “Yes, 3rd Premier.”

            While the commander made preparations, Disguman saw Chip cradling his container.

            “What is in the container, Earth alien?”

            “Nothing you can handle,” Chip said defiantly. 

            Unknowingly, Chip said the wrong thing to the wrong Negritee. Before Chip knew it, Disguman had grabbed the container and was about to open it. 

            “Don’t do it,” said Chip. 

            Disguman’s face turned red. “Why is there something you are trying to hide!”

            “No, but you must be careful or it will blow us all to kingdom come.”

            “You think me a fool!”

            Chip kept one eye on the container. “No I don’t. But you will be if you open that. It contains enough power to destroy—

            “I have heard enough! I did not become 3rd Premier by being naive, he said, as he unscrewed the lid.

            “Don’t” screamed chip, as he dove for the container. It was too late. 

            The quantity of Tara 100 was so great that when Disguman release it into the air, the explosion was immense and devastating. The imager went blank at this point as it was a record from the Carpusian.

            Spaest reached over to the monitor controls. “It seems this view doesn’t illustrate the effects of the disturbance. In a moment, you will see that the explosion on the flag ship wasn’t the only concern for the Negritee. Here we are.”

            Spaest found the wider view outside the vessels. Space, on the dark side of the planet Onos, lit up the sky as great as a hot summer day. In all, the Carpusian, three cruisers, a battleship, and a hundred fighters, were either destroyed or badly damaged.

            The major gasped. “Now I know what your people were talking about when the said they saw an extremely bright light.”

            Aside from the explosion, was the energy wave that moved out from the center of the Vlanco planetary system. The three other fleet commanders were preparing for the attack , when the energy wave hit. The wave started out very porous, almost vaporous. As it expanded out into space it became more solid, like a bubble.

            Spaest stood with his hands clasped behind his back. “I have not had a chance to critique the event, Peter. Notice how the bubble-like structure gains speed as it expands outward.”

               The Negritee fighters, in front, were the first to be hit. As the wave rolled onward, it picked up and rolled over every vessel in its path. They looked like driftwood moved along by a great ocean’s current. No amount of thrust from the engines could release them from its grip. If the vessels, caught in the wave, weren’t damaged from the explosion, they were either carried into space or ripped apart from collisions with other ships in proximity. The Carpusian and nearby vessels, were completely obliterated, but the debris continued to tumble outward, along with the rest of the ships. All Negritee vessels were helplessly pulled deeper and deeper into space, until they could posed a threat to no one.

            “This is incredible footage,” said the major.  “Is it permissible to get a copy of this?”

            Spaest stood with a downcast expression. “Certainly Peter. However, in many ways, it is very sad.”

            “How so? They had no mercy on your people.”

            “It is very simple Peter. To know the Creator is life, to ignore Him is death.  They were so strong in their science but lacked so much in their heart.”

            “What do you mean, Spaest?” asked the major.

            “It may take some time to discuss this matter with you, and I do not believe we have time. I suggest you converse with Shelby or Alex. They can explain my meaning.”

            “Alright, thank you, I will.”  The major looked at his wristcom.  “Oh, you’re right, I completely lost track of time. I must be getting back to the ship.”

            “Yes, quite right Peter. You must be on your way. You have an important schedule to keep, and your friends are waiting. I will be there to see you off at the launch.”

            The major, shook hands warmly, before dashing back to the Wayfarer.

            Back at the Wayfarer, both crews, were loading supplies and following the final procedures for the trip back to Earth.  If there was more room on board, specimens from a variety of disciplines, would have been loaded. Due to the cramped quarters, supplies had to be limited. 

            Tammy let out a breath and sat down on a box of stores. “Do we really need so many food supplies, Alex? Don’t we expect to be home in a few weeks?”

            I glanced up from checking off the list. “It is always better to prepare for the worse, and hope for the best, Tammy. Survival has priority over luggage.” I rechecked the list on my compad. “And everything seems to be in order.”  I looked up to see Tammy fidgeting where she sat.

            “Good, and not anytime too soon,” she said, rubbing her hands.

            “Is there anything you’ll miss on Onos, Tammy?”

            “Yeah, their entertainment, it was incredible...,” then without warning, her countenance moved into a gloomy one. “And Dale.”

            “Ah, Dale.” I put my arm around her. “I will too, Tammy.”

            Tom poked his head into the room. “Alex, they’re waiting for us outside. “Is everything ready?”

            Tammy saluted. “Yes sir, Tommy. All is well. We’ll be right out.”

            We straggled out to the front of the Wayfarer to say goodbye to many dear new friends and one old one. There were was a large crowd assembled. The local media had scanners to report the launch to the rest of the Tri-star system.  Dale was standing next to Quin, who was seated in some sort of hover-wheelchair.

            Dale ran over to talk to us, before retreating back to the onlookers. “Don’t forget to tell my parents, that I’ll miss them.”

            “Sure, no problem,” I said. “ By the way Dale, you and Quin seem to be hitting it off.”

            “Yeah, but confidentially, I have a lot to learn about their courting patterns....  Actually, It’s pretty cool. Relationships move just like I like ‘em—slow.”

            “You mean slowly, don’t you?” said Tammy. We all took a step back for a moment, startled.

            I smiled. “Well it looks like Chip had some good spillover effects, after all.”

            “Well you take care of yourself bud.” I reached out to give Dale a noogie.

            Dale pulled back . “No you don’t. Not this time.” He scooted behind Shelby.

            I laughed. “I’ll settle for a handshake!”

            But before he knew it, we all had grabbed him in a group hug. We squeezed until a few tears came. Dale shuffled back into the crowd, while the rest of us waved goodbye. We didn’t know for sure, if we’d ever see them again.

            The Vlancos now know that us Earth people have the technology to instantly fly to any part of the galaxy we wished. I’m sure they hoped we would consider ethics an essential part in discovering and cooperating with other cultures. Meanwhile, one culture we will be keeping our distance from is the Negritee. If I were them, I would be having second thoughts, before pursuing another conquest with the Vlancos.