Chapter 1: Chapter Seventeen: The First Space Pirate

Chapter Seventeen

The First Space Pirate

 

ALL FIVE RESEARCHERS were spooling up countermeasures and malicious bioware and software to broadcast during the raid, when suddenly, someone stepped out of the darkness and walked to where they were standing, his hands curled into tight fists.

            “You,” Sparta said. “Identify yourself.”

            Not so much as a whisper.

            All six noticed a squadron of security drones flying a pattern overhead, circling the clearing like hungry vultures, and they assumed that their weapons were deployed.

            “My name is Sparta, research android assigned to Fossil Crater. You are on private property and are required to identify yourself.”

            Then Zoran was descending a set of stairs beneath his starship’s flight deck, and as soon as he got his feet on the ground he walked to where Reuven stood. Zoran muttered something about recklessness, and then they were both walking to the edge of the clearing, to where everyone was standing with Sparta.

            Tarsus walked into the bubble of green Helix light; his face scrunched into an expression of anger.

            “Good evening, Researcher Astrophel,” Tarsus said.

            “You’ll pay for everything you’ve done to Fossil Crater!” Scotty growled. 

            His face fell a bit, but he continued his spiel.

            “You know, when I met you inside the shield development workstation in Sydney, I did not think a lot of you. I imagined the three of you surviving a week in the Cybernetics program only to be sent back to your foster home. But you surprised me, you did quite well for someone who is carrying a ton of baggage. I am beginning to understand why your Helix is a pioneering combat package. You have fought the good fight, Researcher Astrophel, but you will not win this battle.”

            “Tonight, a war will begin.”

            His eyes brightened at that, and he spoke in a most vile tone, “Zoran has your parents, Researcher Astrophel.”

            Both Joseph and Jasmine gasped in shock and scampered over to Scotty. However, Diego showed Madison how to modify a countermeasure in her Helix.

            “Don’t you lie about something like that!” Scotty shouted. He attempted to take a step or two toward Tarsus, but Sparta took his shoulder and kept him from moving into what may have been a trap.

            “That is why Stryker and Stratton moved you three brats to the spaceport. To hide you and keep you safe, but mainly to see if you could continue your father’s work. We removed him from Galactic Research to ensure that Doctor Voloshin will have sole possession of the Geneware and the Star Nexus, and when we depart this disgusting planet with those programs, we will rule this star system, and you will never see your parents again.”

            “No,” Zoran said, as he approached everyone, and there was a dark emptiness in his accent that was as icy and frightening as the stellar void. “With the Star Nexus, we will rule the entire Milky Way, then we will consume the entire universe.”

            Zoran had an unsavory appearance that was unwelcomed on Fossil Crater. Digitized tattoos decorated his face and neck, and his eyes were different colors: his right eye was brown and his left was pale blue. He wore black, deep-space pirate boots, a black space suit, and a black Bandito hat that boasted an Epsilon Eridani silver Milky Way pendant. Four Pollux gold rings encrusted with precious gems from four different star systems adorned both his hands. When he reached them out to Scotty, he energized a level thirteen Helix into action.

            “You’re a robot!” Scotty shouted. “Zoran’s a robot, everybody!”

            Zoran sneered at that. “Not quite, but close enough. I am a superhuman, the kind you and your parents create. Once a mech cyborg but now a tech cyborg, just like you.”

            Scotty’s mouth fell open. He tried to speak but only a groan escaped his lips.

            “Where are our parents at!” Jasmine shouted.

            “Yeah, give up their location and we won’t destroy your ship!” 

            Zoran sneered again.

            “Where are our parents at.” Scotty said, and caught his breath. “If they’re hurt, then it’ll be the end of you.”

            “I wish not to harm your parents,” Zoran said. “They both work for me now, and when I take command of this spaceport, they will develop the Geneware in Stryker’s office. They will help me become supreme ruler of the universe.”

            “It will never happen.” Scotty said.

            “You’re in over your head, Astrophel,” Reuven said from behind Zoran. “You’re not a scientist, you’re not even a cyborg. You’re just a researcher without a weapon and without a clue.”

            “I’m more than a researcher, I’m a programmer. I know how to write code and change the way the world works. I’m angry and full of vengeance, and that makes me the most dangerous person in the universe.”

            Sparta had something to say about that. “He will shut you down, Doctor Voloshin.”

            “You will tell me where my parents are. Or I’ll destroy the drives in that hunk of scrap iron you call a starship.”

            Zoran wanted to tell Scotty to not be so sure of himself.

            “They are not on planet Earth. I have them both at one of my research facilities. If you intend on seeing them again, I suggest you turn over the Star Nexus.”

            “Let our parents go!” Jasmine yelled.

            Zoran kept his gaze fixed on Scotty. “Stryker and Stratton both know everything about your parents. They know Michael broadcasted two important programs to you, including a clone of the Star Nexus. That is why they worked so hard at relocating all three of you to their secret spaceport, as they could never figure out which one of you was the recipient. It’s the reason you have a combat Helix.”

            “That’s a lie!” Scotty shouted.

            “No, Astrophel, I tell you the truth and only the truth.”

            “Let them go!”

            “Join us, Astrophel,” Zoran said. “Every one of you. Help me explore the galaxy and solve all the mysteries of the universe. Oh, the things we will do with the Geneware and the Star Nexus. We can make a real difference for the extraterrestrials you care so much for. We can make their lives better. We can make our lives larger than the Milky Way. Join us, Scotty, and turn all of your dreams into a reality.”

            “I’ll never betray Doctor Stryker or Doctor Stratton. My future is not larger or more important than the future of Galactic Research. You’re attempting to sell the Star Nexus’s data and the extraterrestrials to the highest bidder. You’re not trying to help our galaxy, you’re just trying to get rich.”

            Zoran laughed at that, but it was a dark, menacing laugh meant to scare everyone. “Understand, Stryker and Stratton hit the jackpot when they discovered extraterrestrial life. Do you really think they are desiring to provide aid and comfort to simple pestilence? Open your eyes, Scotty. The reason they abduct extraterrestrial life is to become wealthy.”

            “You lie!” Scotty shouted.

            “I need the Star Nexus, Scott!” Zoran said, his tone soft and laced with desperation. “It is the key to my success. Just give me the Star Nexus and I will take you to your parents and make you wealthy beyond your wildest dreams.”

            Scotty shook his head to say no, but said, “Never.”

“I’ll take care of this little glitch,” Tarsus said, and extended his arms to Scotty. A light was emanating from his hands, and it appeared as if his arms were glowing. Brighter and brighter they became until it hurt to look his way, and Sparta knew exactly what was happening.

            “He is energizing a dangerous weapon, researchers,” he said, and his voice was laced with fear. “Someone do something or everyone just scatter and run for your lives.”

            “I’ve got this!” Madison called to everyone, and Diego gestured for them to stand fast.

            “You think you can actually win this, Astrophel?” Tarsus growled. “You could have left well enough alone. You probably believe you are a good Samaritan, a hero for the weak and weary, and a scholar of advanced technology. Truth is, you are nothing but a troublemaker. I am going to have fun…I am…reboot…systems tools…diagnostic test.”

            Tarsus lowered his arms, and it did appear as if he was having technical difficulties. The tangle of lights on his arms faded away and he wobbled slowly from side to side.

            “Weapons…weapons…CPU compromised…corrupted data located…files deleted…reboot system offline…”

            His eyes faded for a few seconds and then slowly illuminated to that of bright headlights simply to dim down to that of a couple of smoldering firepit coals.

            Then an electronic clattering noise emanated from Tarsus. It was the sound of a repair and reboot program repairing an android. Tarsus slowly raised his arms and extended them to Scotty. He was without a doubt displaying his loyalty to Zoran.

            “Target…acquired,” Tarsus said, but it was a deep tone, and the words were spoken slowly. “Defender…Laser…locked…on.”

            That got Sparta’s attention. “Researchers, I insist that you take evasive action or just run for your lives.”

            “We don’t run from danger,” Scotty said. “Besides, I can’t imagine Tarsus developing anything that can get past my armored skin build.”

            “Why do you say that?” Sparta asked, sounding concerned.

            “Because Tarsus is a shield developing robot. The weapons systems upgrade never did install correctly, and besides, he’s been helping Zoran and Reuven develop a special shield build for their raid on Fossil Crater.”

            “He is targeting you, Researcher Astrophel,” Sparta continued with his pleas.  

            “Well, it’s a waste of time,” Scotty said. “Because he’s under cyberattack. His ordnance system was taken down before he had time to charge his weapons, but his CPU is under attack too.”     

            “If he would’ve spent more time developing his ordnance system,” Diego said. “He would have known to install a Nebula Cloud Wall build to block malware and countermeasures.”

            “I’ll…see…you in the…void…researcher,” Tarsus said in the weird low and slow voice.

            Then his eyes dimmed to a dark nothingness, he mumbled a few more words that made no sense and became still and quiet and never made another sound. Tarsus the android was officially decommissioned.

            “Told ya,” Madison growled as Diego pumped his fist in the air. “That countermeasure is called Blackhole 1.2. It’s used to decommission naughty robots like Tarsus, and Zoran, guess who’s next.”

*

“I bet Zoran has flaws in his plans,” Scotty said, his voice waxing with courage. “I’ll start by destroying his security detail.”

Sparta nodded, and all five turned their attention to his Helix. He was scrolling through his countermeasure files.  

            He touched the Gamma-ray Burst icon and moved his gaze to the night sky. Nothing. The security drones were patrolling in a figure eight, and it appeared as if nothing bad had happened to their CPU.

            Sparta peered into his Helix and scanned through an echo wave report. “An anticountermeasure that he has named Eclipse Fusion Zapper is being employed as a defensive application.”

            “Ha!” Zoran laughed in an angry tone.

            “I’ll send a virus to the CPU and take the software offline,” Jasmine said. “Maddy, I might need your help with this.”

            Zoran turned and walked with Reuven to the starship, its bright lights looming as a warning signal, informing everyone that a quick getaway was possible.

            “I bid you farewell, Astrophel,” Zoran said.

            “All six of you are going to pay for what you’ve done here tonight. You better get back to the residencia.”

            “I’m working on sending a trio of viruses to his ship, Scott,” Joseph said.

            Jasmine suddenly erupted with excitement, and Madison said, “Scott, Jaz’s virus hit its target, broadcast a countermeasure now!”

            He touched the Quasar icon, and in a matter of seconds the batteries within the drones depleted. Their weapons collapsed from the ready position and the propellers seized but for a slow spin while the wind wove through them as the drones descended to the desert floor. They hit hard and broke into twenty different pieces of plastic and metal.

            Then the interior lights of Zoran’s starship flickered, dimmed, and went completely dark.

            Zoran stopped and moved his Helix close to his face. He turned to Scotty and ran a diagnostic check of his starship’s computer and electrical systems. Within seconds he located the issue: Joseph had broadcasted a virus to the central processing unit that tricked it into sending only two watts of power to the sockets.

            “Well done, little boy,” Zoran mumbled, and then raised his voice. “But you will have to do better than a little virus if you intend on breaking this hunk of scrap iron.”

            He broadcasted an antivirus build to his starship’s computer and the interior lights immediately returned to their standard luminance.

            “This guy’s good,” Diego said. “But I’m better.”

            “Cyborg,” Scotty reminded everyone. “Don’t forget, he’s a cyborg that can be shut down.”

            “To bad you didn’t destroy all of the drones,” Reuven said from behind Zoran. “There are more at a higher altitude.”

            Then suddenly and without warning, a strange green rain fell from the desert sky, and everything it touched erupted into flames. The treetops and the clumps of grass morphed into fiery dandelions, and a bit of the green rainstorm washed over and around Zoran’s starship, making the shields glow and ripple in red electronic waves.

            They corralled around Sparta and deflected every green plasma slug that fell close to him. All five were hit, and their uniforms were burned and branded, but their metal skin build provided all the protection they needed. When the attack ended, Scotty and Diego went to work on a countermeasure that could reach the other drones.

            “Send the virus to the drones’ CPU to force the capacitor to move all of the power to its computer,” Madison shouted. “Their motors won’t produce enough thrust to allow them to hover. They’ll have no choice but to descend to within fifty feet of us.”

            “Genius,” Scotty said, but Diego prepared to broadcast the virus to the target drones.

            “Send the Gamma-ray Burst this time,” Jasmine said. “So, we’re sure that we got them.”

            “Got it, Jaz!” Diego said, and when Scotty gestured for him to broadcast, he touched the Gamma-ray Burst icon in his Helix. A few seconds later five fire flowers blossomed into existence, and the drones must have been all of one hundred feet above the ground because it took nearly a minute for them to crash land onto the desert floor. 

            Both Zoran and Reuven turned and looked upon them in both amazement and fear. Zoran was actually worried that his starship would be damaged, but Reuven was worried that he would be captured and turned over to Stryker and Stratton.

            “You’d best be getting back to the residencia,” Reuven yelled, balling his hands into tight fists. “You’re already in more trouble than you’ll ever get out of.”

            “Send a stop-all virus to Zoran’s ship!” Scotty shouted so everyone could hear him.

            “Scott!” Reuven yelled. “You better stop what you’re doing and get out of here.”

            Zoran kept quiet, he was too busy managing antivirus software and diagnostic tools to ensure his starship would not be damaged.

            Then something strange was happening. The starlight was inexplicably being cutoff in random and unpredictable patterns, and Scotty was the first to spy the phenomenon. When Sparta discovered the swirling mystery cloud, he immediately suspected it was something from the biodome.

            “What is that, Scott?” Joseph asked, sounding nervous.

            “I don’t know, Joey,” Scotty said. “Just keep working on Zoran’s ship.”

            He did. Joseph and Diego tweaked a virus and broadcasted it to the starship’s computer.

            Nothing.

             It was a virus that was supposed to have reduced the amount of energy the reactor was sending out to the starship. It should have made the engines go dark, but nothing happened.

            “I have spent a lot of time developing defensive countermeasures for my ships reactor core,” Zoran said. “That is a piece of hardware that I have created, it is called Magnetar Defender. Along with software, it strips the information from all virus software, making it useless.”

            Scotty considered that for a few moments. “But if that’s true then you’ll have to be able to turn the power down or your Magnetar Defender will strip the information from your ships computer, or it could damage your ship beyond repair.”

            “Nice try, little boy,” Zoran said. “But it’s way more complicated than turning the power up and down.”

            “You have no idea what you’re dealing with, Astrophel,” Reuven said. “That countermeasure is way out of your realm of knowledge. It’s something you’ll never understand.”

            Then Diego spoke, and Scotty appreciated the stream of information.

            “Zoran’s ship has a nuclear thermal propulsion system. All we need to do is send a virus to the computer that controls the heat exchanger and slow down the heat exchange.”

            Scotty shook his head to say no, but said. “The reactor will produce more heat than is needed and the reactor will have a meltdown. We don’t want that. Too bad his ship doesn’t have DNA.”

            “Well,” Sparta spoke on that at once. “It does have molecules.”

            “What can we do with molecules?” Scotty asked, and immediately shared a grand idea. “Turn his ship into a piece of plastic?”

            “The nuclear fuel his reactor uses is called rhenium, atomic number seventy-five. All I have to do is access the Geneware servers and broadcast one of my sub-atomic memory builds. It will change the atoms in the rhenium and make tungsten, atomic number seventy-four. Then his reactor will be useless.”

            All five smiled at that, and Scotty said, “Brilliant, Sparta, what do I need to do.”

            “Go into the Geneware servers, the sub-atomic memory area,” Sparta said, pointing at Scotty’s Helix.

            Scotty went directly to the Geneware servers and located seven files that held secret sub-atomic memory builds. With the Geneware technology he could rearrange the structure of molecules and make rocks float, wood as heavy as steel, and he could turn lead into gold. On that night he would turn a dangerous metal into a harmless element.

            He smiled at the massive build, seven hundred lines in all. It was complex but simple, dangerous but harmless. It had been a milestone for the Geneware with the digitizing of DNA being the ultimate goal, and Scotty and Mr. Astrophel allowed that part of the program to blossom into a powerful force.

            On that night, Scotty would put the sub-atomic memory program to good use. He shored up the build, packaged it up nice and neat, targeted Zoran’s starship and touched the broadcast icon.

            “His ship will soon be a giant paperweight,” Sparta said.

            A ripple of excitement fanned out from all five researchers.

            “What do we do now?” Diego asked, but Joseph said, “we can’t leave until I pinpoint the other self-destruct devices.”

            “How do we do that?” Scotty asked.

            “I’ll start with the contacts list,” Joseph said, and scrolled through the first page. “There are two more. Aldrich and Reuven are the administrators. Reuven must have attached them to a quad because they’re within two hundred feet and closing. I’ll send a virus to those two.”

            Then the dark, swarming mass was again looming in the night sky, a strange sound now accompanying it, but there was something on the ground with the researchers, and it was beginning to worry everyone, even Zoran and Reuven. Out in the desert, among the geometric beauty and the alluvial hodgepodge, a novel natural phenomenon was occurring. Something wild and otherworldly was encroaching on the clearing, and it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what was happening.

            The Darkstar Corvette was casting out just enough light into the desert for everyone to see the Wolf 359 spiders. They knew they were there by the cool green glow of their eyes.

You are reading story J.C. Warren: Scotty Astrophel and the Star Nexus at novel35.com

            A few minutes of whispering theories regarding the insects at the biodome, and all six understood that there would be a lot of work to do to get Galactic Research’s mission back on track. They were concerned that Zoran would get away with what he’d done, but the largest fear was that the extraterrestrial animals would perish on planet Earth.

            Both Zoran and Reuven were beneath the Darkstar Corvette and fully expecting and preparing to climb aboard and leave Fossil Crater when it happened. A horrible sound emanated from the aft of the starship; it mirrored the sounds the security drones made when they powered down. Then the lights went dark, one at a time for the first minute, then two and three at a time, all while Zoran raced around, attempting to figure out what had happened.

            “What is this!” He shouted at Sparta and the researchers. “What have you done to Perseus!”

            “Zoran, I give you Geneware,” Sparta shouted back. “With Geneware I can rearrange molecules and move mountains. I can destroy nuclear thermal propulsion systems.”

            “There is no such technology,” Zoran growled at Sparta, and then turned his attention to Reuven. “Is there?”

            He said nothing.

            But Scotty said, “Yes there is, and now not only will you not take control of the Star Nexus, you will not escape Galactic Research.”

            “You’ll pay for what you did to the spaceport,” Diego said.

            Then the engines became dark and silent. The drives had used up all but a kilowatt of electrical energy, rendering the Darkstar Corvette useless.

            Zoran turned his rage on Reuven. “You allowed adolescents to destroy my starship! I should have known not to trust you!”

            “No, the robots did this,” Reuven whispered, sounding weak and frightened. “And Sparta is helping them.”

            Then he bellowed the sinister laugh again. “It doesn’t matter! I have two neutralizers hidden at the launchpads, and now I shall destroy all of your spacecraft. Galactic Research is mine! The Milky Way is mine! It’s all mine!”

            “Think again, Zoran!” Someone shouted and walked to where everyone was standing in the clearing.

            All five tensed as Doctor Stryker walked past them, never addressing the group but for the scowling glare he hit Sparta with.

            “What is it, Christopher!” Zoran growled. “I will not leave without the Star Nexus. It’s full of priceless cartographic data that points the way to treasure routes, biological wonders, rare elements, and mystery and adventure. It is my calling you know, to explore the Milky Way and solve all the cosmic mysteries. I win and you lose.”

            “No, you will not win tonight,” Stryker said, and dropped the data terminals at his feet where they fell apart into five jagged pieces.

            Zoran’s face pulled back as old anger and resentment welled up inside him. 

            “Doctor Stryker, be careful,” Joseph shouted. “Reuven has something dangerous.”

“You and Wallace always did know how to find the needle in the haystack. You are the luckiest man I have ever met.” Zoran chided.

            Then Stryker turned to face Zoran and Reuven. “You have only ten seconds to get out of Fossil Crater, or I will finish what I started.”

Zoran extended his arms to Stryker, and shouted, “Electron Cannon!” Then his Helix was bending and contorting to take the shape of something dangerous. A weapon, and a large one too that created kinetic damage with less than twelve hundred watts. Then he was wrapping his hands around the thing and super charging the ammunition.

            Stryker bounced into a defensive position and reached out his hands to energize his Helix. He growled, “Parabolic Armor!” and his Helix snapped into a large dome shield. Everyone scrambled to get behind Stryker and his protective armor just in time to see the weapon fire.

            Zoran was squeezing the Electron Cannon’s trigger. There was a series of brilliant blue explosions as the slugs impacted Stryker’s Helix. It buzzed and flickered and appeared to have been damaged. Then Zoran was squeezing the trigger again, and again there was a series of spectacular blue explosions as the slugs hit their mark. He continued the attack for nearly a minute, when at last the weapon was out of ammunition.

            “Now, it’s my turn!” Reuven growled and added some enlightenment regarding his activities during the past nine weeks. “By the way, Scott, I haven’t been developing shields, and don’t forget, you had a hand in creating this weapon.”

            An eerie silence followed.

            Then Reuven extended his arms to the researchers, and he shouted, “Cyborg Shock Laser!” His Helix warped and contorted to take the shape of a weapon more dangerous than Zoran’s Electron Cannon, and Stryker’s shields would be no match against its power.

Scotty extended his arm to the desert. “Something else is preparing to attack!”

“You might wanna take a look around,” Diego said, his tone a tangle of humor and sincerity.

“And don’t try to harm them,” Madison said. “They have fangs.”

“The extraterrestrials have countermeasures of their own,” Jasmine said. “And they know how to use them.”

“And they’re bringing their home-world instincts and natural abilities with them. You should know this by now.”

            “You will pay for what you have done,” Zoran said. “Mark my word, little boy, I will make sure…I will make…I…I.”

            Zoran started walking backwards, away from Stryker and toward Perseus, because something harry and a little scary was flowing into the clearing. The Wolf 359 spiders – and there were hundreds of them too – were scurrying into the clearing and surrounding Reuven. He saw them a little too late and considered jumping to safety but thought better of it.

            Then Reuven moved his gaze to the sky, he was helpless not to because the starlight had been completely cut off, and discovered the giant swirling mass. Then suddenly and without warning, it descended to the Wolf 359 spiders as they muscled in on the director of space sciences.

            “It’s the Arcturus honey bees!” Scotty yelled. “Look, up in the sky.”

            They did.

The researchers, Sparta, and Stryker turned their eyes to the night sky and watched the swirling, buzzing mass descend upon Reuven and cover him from his head all the way down to his boots. He yelled, but his voice was small and insignificant compared to the sound the colony was creating. The researchers understood what was about to happen, but they couldn’t help but notice that the air around the clearing was spiced with the aroma of Arcturus clover and wildflower honey.

            “What do you think they’re trying to do?” Diego asked.

            “I think they’re going to –” that was all Scotty could get out.

            Reuven slowly ascended from the desert floor. The honey bees flew him to about twenty feet into the air and then headed out into the desert, to no-man’s land.

            “Oh, the memories we have made tonight,” Stryker mumbled.

            Reuven’s muffled yells could be heard for a few seconds, and then there was nothing but the fading sound of the Arcturus honey bees’ wings cutting through the night air.

            “I knew they were gonna do that,” Diego said, while rubbing his hands together and peering at the desert floor.

            The Wolf 359 spiders poured out of the clearing, seemingly in the direction the biodome to be. They were definitely returning to the biodome; it was their new home after all.

            “We must hurry to mission control, we have one more important objective to accomplish,” Stryker said. “We will be required to run. Now, follow me!”

*

Stryker led everyone to the perimeter road. They had been slowed by the Wolf 359 spiders, at least twice they had to walk for a minute or two, so they were the last to arrive at the mission control building. Everyone was standing before the staff members in the flight control room to conduct a hasty promotion ceremony for the researchers. Several stacks of certificates and metals were on a small table in front of the big screen.

            When the Astrophels walked in, everyone started clapping their hands and cheering. They were ushered to the very front of the group, and the staff looked upon them in both wonder and admiration. The room was warm, as the power had been disconnected, and the only light was green Helix light.

            Stryker, as angry and tired as he was, stood with Stratton at the table to help with the ceremony.

            “This is what I love the most about Fossil Crater. No matter what happens we all pull together and get the job done. Zoran inflicted quite a lot of damage to our beautiful spaceport, but no one was injured, and we have only a few critters running loose on the grounds, but we always have gnarly little critters hopping around.”

            A ripple of laughter fanned out from the group.

            “But before we board the flights to Zeus Terminal, a few researchers need to be promoted. From Alfa Flight, Astrobiologist Lopez, and Astrogeologist Kita. Bravo Flight, Astrobiologist Reynolds and Astrogeologist Tuckerman. Charlie Flight, Exoplanetologist Spinster and Exoplanetologist Thompson. Delta Flight, Astrogeologist Winter, and Astrogeologist Choi. All of you are now promoted to the Galactic Cyborg Corps. Congratulations to you all.”

            A wave of childish laughter rushed out from Charlie Flight. Scotty turned and locked eyes with Aldrich, and his expression of happiness and satisfaction pushed Scotty to a place he wasn’t familiar with.

            “Settle down everyone, we have a long night ahead of us,” Stryker said. “And I have a few awards to hand out.”

            As the flight control room fell silent, Aldrich’s face pulled back into a frown, and he kept his gaze locked on Scotty.

            “Yes, I have some Galactic Research Service Medals to hand out. I know who they are, so hand me five medals.”

            Exozoologist Slade placed five medals in Stryker’s hands.

            “Researcher Jaz Astrophel, front and center.”

            Jasmine walked to Stryker.

            “Jaz distinguished herself by taking a squadron of dangerous security drones off-line with a highly advanced malware. You are awarded the Galactic Research Service Medal and are promoted to the Cyborg Corps.”

            Bravo Flight erupted in applause and cheers and Jasmine covered her face with both her hands, but only for a moment as she was smiling and giggling too.

            The flight control room fell silent.

            “Researcher Joey Astrophel, front and center.”

            Joseph walked to Jasmine and stood beside her.

            “Joey distinguished himself by deactivating two self-destruct devices that could have caused a lot of damage. You are awarded the Galactic Research Service Medal and are promoted to the Cyborg Corps.”

            Charlie Flight erupted in more applause and cheers.

            “Researcher Scott Astrophel, front and center.”

            Scotty walked to where his siblings were and stood beside them. The flight control room fell silent.

            “Scott broadcasted a Geneware build from the Cybernetics program that rearranged the structure of the molecules in the reactor core of a space pirate’s starship. Quite effective too, as that hunk of metal is still out in the desert.” Laughter erupted from the group of researchers. “You are awarded the Galactic Research Service Medal and are promoted to the Cyborg Corps. Congratulations to all three of you.”

            Generous applause and cheers roared out from the group of researchers.

            “I have two more medals to give out,” Stryker announced. “It takes a team to make big things happen, and even though not every team member gets to be in charge, every team member has an important job to do. For supporting Scott Astrophel during the post attack reconnaissance, I award Diego Lopez and Madison Reynolds the Galactic Research Service Medal.”

            The extraterrestrial animals roaming around the crater surely heard the commotion from inside the flight control room as the group of researchers erupted in cheers and laughter. Everyone but Aldrich and Julian surged forward to hug the medal recipients. Diego and Madison had never won anything, ever. Scotty peered past the crowd and found Aldrich, and the expression of satisfaction had suddenly morphed into one of anger and shock.

            “With researchers like all of you here at Fossil Crater,” Stryker said. “There is no doubt in my mind that we will be able to repair this beautiful spaceport and return it to a fully operational status.”

            He energized his Helix. A display screen was suddenly floating before him, large and boasting an aerial map of Australia and Tasmania. There was a countdown clock too, but this one was used to inform passengers of a launch time. They had less than fifteen minutes to board before the three Centaurus Zeus spaceplanes, Just Remember I love You, The Cat’s Meow, and Just a Fun-Loving Robot, lifted off for a quick flight to Zeus Terminal.

            The Astrophel children were about to ride in a spaceplane again. They were about to see the curvature of planet Earth again and land at a secret research facility in Tasmania. They had just been awarded a medal and promoted to the Galactic Cyborg Corps. They were happier than they’d ever been in all of their lives.

*

Stryker and Stratton had been in such a rush to leave that they’d almost forgot about an important tradition. There were the new rank insignias to hand out to everyone, and the staff shared the honors. Stryker pinned on the Astrophel’s cyborg insignias to the lapel of their blouses. Scotty and Joseph watched Stratton pin on Aldrich’s insignia, and they both felt a bit of anger as Aldrich hadn’t exactly earned the promotion, and he would be fast tracking to a leadership position, that, everyone was sure of.

            Of course, that night it was Scotty’s night to rotate through the launch complex. He assisted Niles Winter, and John Choi during the pre-launch duties, ensuring that all the chains were removed from the anchor points and stowed away in the cargo bay, using flashlights to take a last look around the concrete pad for anything that shouldn’t be there, making sure all of the exterior doors were closed and locked, and then loading up through the side door and locating their space suits. Sparta boarded with the Astrophel children, and he made sure they were in their seats and buckled in just moments before the spaceplane lifted off.

            In less than a minute they transitioned into Electrosonic Travel (faster than light) and were approaching two hundred thousand feet above sea level. It took only five minutes for all three spaceplanes to cross Western Australia, zip down the Great Australian Bight, and then land at the secret research facility in Tasmania. Several androids were there to help offload the extraterrestrial animals, hauling the crates one at a time down to a hangar where Stryker stood before the researchers, taking roll call and handing out maps of the facility.

There was a small assortment of office buildings close to where they were standing, but not too far away to the east was a line of large spacecraft hangers. Yellow light spilled from their small windows, and their doors were shut tight, hiding their secrets from prying eyes. A squadron of security drones was patrolling the airspace above the operations side of Zeus Terminal.    

After a few minutes of milling around and getting their bearings straight at the new facility, Claudius Copernicus walked to where everyone was standing and talking with Sparta.

“Well, um, welcome to Moon Rock Island, everyone,” Copernicus said, smiling brightly.

They turned to the sound of his voice, and Scotty said, “So you’ve been here this entire time. I thought you’d disappeared.”

“No, I’ve been here overseeing the testing of the new Centaurus spacecraft.”

“Oh cool,” Scotty said. “What’s it called?

Copernicus stood with all his height. “The Cyborg Starfighter.”

Everyone was hushed down to a captivated silence.

“Every cyborg will be issued one,” Cornelia said, as she made her way through the crowd. “And every cyborg will learn to fly it.”

            Scotty peered into Cornelia’s face and smiled after realizing he’d already met the android. “Hi, I remember you from Sydney. We met you at Orion Sanctum. Weren’t you supposed to be at Fossil Crater?”

            “Yes, I was,” Cornelia said through a warm smile. “My orders were changed at the last minute, to assist Mr. Copernicus during the testing of the fighter.”

            “How long will you be here,” Jasmine asked.

            Cornelia moved her gaze to Jasmine. “Until testing is complete.”

            Then another android was approaching everyone and waving a Helix into hibernation.

“Congratulations on your promotions to the Cyborg Corps,” he said. “I am thrilled to finally meet the three of you, especially you, Scotty Astrophel. My name is Arrian, I’m a communications robot here on Moon Rock Island.”

            “Oh,” Scotty said, turning his attention to Arrian. “Well, it’s nice to meet you too.”

            “Yes, well Galactic Research has a lot of important work occurring here,” Arrian said. “We need more great researchers stationed here and elsewhere.”

            “So, where else does GalReach have facilities at?” Scotty asked.

            Joseph, Jasmine, Madison, and Diego stole a step closer to Arrian and hung on his every word.

            “Galactic Research has a large number of research facilities. A few interesting places I have been to are the Sea of Tranquility, the Gale crater, and Titan.”

            All five researchers were speechless.

            “Galactic Research has evolving opportunities available. In this star system and beyond.”

            “You know, Arrian,” Scotty said. “That’s very interesting.”

            “So, would you be willing to help Galactic Research achieve all of its lofty endeavors?” 

            “Sure, as long as I can be placed directly in the middle of the action, adventure, and even the danger,” Scotty said happily, nearly laughing.

            Arrian reached out his hand to the cyborgs. “Well, one thing is for sure, there will be plenty of action and adventure.”

            Scotty took the android’s hand in his and shook it appreciatively. When the other four saw this, they placed their hands on top, and they all recited the Galactic Research motto together; loud and happily too.

            “GalReach, our future is out there!”

The End

 

JC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can find story with these keywords: J.C. Warren: Scotty Astrophel and the Star Nexus, Read J.C. Warren: Scotty Astrophel and the Star Nexus, J.C. Warren: Scotty Astrophel and the Star Nexus novel, J.C. Warren: Scotty Astrophel and the Star Nexus book, J.C. Warren: Scotty Astrophel and the Star Nexus story, J.C. Warren: Scotty Astrophel and the Star Nexus full, J.C. Warren: Scotty Astrophel and the Star Nexus Latest Chapter