Chapter 4: Chapter Fourteen: Secret Starship

Chapter Fourteen

Secret Starship

 

DURING THE TRIALS and tribulations that were to become the Astrophel children’s future, Scotty often reflected on this day as a turning point in his life and the future of his father’s work. He had requested to meet with Doctor Stryker and Doctor Stratton to inform them of the pulse weapon and the decommissioning of Sparta. That meeting took place in Stryker’s office after breakfast.  

             The end of the Spacecraft Recovery Assembly was drawing near as the last Centaurus Boomerang had concluded its voyage home from the Struve 2398 system the previous night. Its hyper sleep pods had been off loaded and transported to the exoculture room. Just Five More Minutes, Mom had been relocated to building 72 and was receiving a close-up inspection by the staff. The doctors fully intended to learn of the weapons Zoran had used to peel away its shields and then turn its metal skin into Swiss cheese. 

            Luckily, the heatwave had lost its grip on Fossil Crater. The Epsilon Indi pygmy parrots and the Groombridge 34 giant butterflies were roaming the aviary during the day, and the Pollux pygmy monkeys seemed especially pleased with the cool air.

            During the meeting, Scotty told the story of Sparta and his endeavors to protect Fossil Crater and of Zoran’s machinations designed to quell Sparta’s best efforts. Of how Electra and Aldrich had taken them to Reuven’s office – which was illegal and a violation of the Alien Technology League’s policy – to administer disciplinary action. And how they had located Sparta and the Cryptovirology pod inside the Astraeus Laboratory.

             “Scotty, we know about Zoran and the deeds that he is attempting to accomplish,” Stryker said. He kept his gaze fixed on the digital Galactic Chart. “As for the data terminal, there is no self-destruct technology installed, and now is not the time to worry outside of the Galactic Research mission.”

            “And about Sparta,” Stratton said. “Our spaceport doesn’t possess Cryptovirology technology. Besides, Patrick has no reason to decommission one of our bots.”

            Scotty stiffened a bit and sat up in the office chair. “I promise you both, it was Sparta. Researchers Lopez and Reynolds are my witnesses, and my brother and sister were there too.”

            Stryker leaned back in his chair and momentarily moved his gaze to the ceiling. He was pondering something important. “I will talk with Patrick about his version of a criminal trial,” he said that and locked eyes with Scotty. “With the last day so close, I do not see why the five of you should have your liberties limited.”

            “I promise, Doctor Stryker,” Scotty said as calmly as he could. “This isn’t about the probation thing. We need to help Sparta. He knows exactly what’s gonna happen when Zoran gets here. I believe he knows more than all of us, and I think something really bad is gonna happen. And that has to be the reason Doctor Reuven decommissioned Sparta…to silence him.”

            Both Stryker and Stratton appeared impressed, but they weren’t about to stake their reputations on a theory created by an adolescent.

            “I have made one decision,” Stryker said, and got to his feet. He walked around his desk and stood before Scotty. “I will not allow you to return to the Astraeus Laboratory for the purpose of detective work.”

            A gloomy expression fell onto Scotty’s face. “But I have to-”

            Stratton gestured with his hands for Scotty to stop talking. “There are too many things in there that are dangerous, and its actually off limits to anyone under the rank of exoplanetologist.”  

            “Well, what’s so dangerous about that facility?” Scotty asked.

            And Stryker was quick to answer. “There are a lot of secrets in that facility. A lot of plunder and paraphernalia that must be buried.”

            “We have a lot of stuff that needs to be hidden away.”

            “Now, go back to the biodome and try to forget about Zoran. If he returns to this spaceport, he will be dealt with,” Stryker said, and gestured for Stratton to open the door for the young researcher.

            Scotty did what he was supposed to do. He used his chain of command to try and resolve a big problem. However, the staff wasn’t convinced by his testimony; if only he could hand over a little evidence. Unfortunately, time was in short supply, and he was moved to use the little bit he possessed very carefully. First thing first, of course, so he messaged everyone via his Helix to meet at the residencia for lunch, as he had a big, important announcement.

*

When Scotty arrived at the residencia, everyone was waiting in the lounge. All four appeared racked with fear and anxiety. His plan would undoubtably add to their concerns, but he would roll it out as a simple yet perfect mission that was necessary. The extraterrestrial animals at the biodome were counting on them to succeed, so they had to act.

            At first Madison and Jasmine were angered that neither Stryker nor Stratton believed their story. Then, as Scotty explained his plan and the logic behind it, they became very much frightened. Diego and Joseph, however, were onboard and ready to push the button.

            “I’m at the observatory tonight,” Madison said. “I’m the astronomer, and my team and I will hunt for an Earth-like world in the Kruger 60 system, and I can’t wait to get started.”

            She was reading an end-of-run report, and Diego believed she was attempting to escape the new reality that was unfolding around them. Jasmine kept her attention fixed on a Tau Ceti dragonfly that was resting in the landscaping at the front entrance.

            “Message Vicky and order her to take your place.”

            Madison’s eyes widened at that. “She is not the astronomer that I am, Scotty. Besides, she won’t do what I say.”

            “Yes, she will, Maddy,” Diego said. “All she wants to do is hang out at Wallace Park.”

            “We need you tonight.”

            “Listen, I don’t want to break any more rules. We should focus on helping Sparta. After all, we have less than a week to go before the SRA officially ends.”

            Scotty shook his head in aggravation. “I’m broadcasting the countermeasures to everyone’s Helix. I’ll help you download them tonight.”

            “I’m actually tired of keeping planet Earth safe from Zoran,” Jasmine said. “My feet are killing me.”

            Scotty ran his hands through his hair. “I need everyone’s help with this. Four is more than two, and I cannot do it alone.”

            “We should all go to Doctor Stryker,” Madison said. “He’s more likely to see things differently if the five of us tell the same story.”

            “No time,” Scotty said. “We have less than five hours to shut Zoran’s weapon down.”

            Diego didn’t want a full-blown argument to start.

            “Maddy, Scott is right, there’s a countdown clock ticking away, Sparta showed all of us. We have no idea if it’s real or some sort of scare tactic. That’s why we have to examine the data terminal up close to find out, so we can prioritize. If it’s fake, then we’ll help Sparta. If it’s real, then we’ll focus on shutting it down.”

            Scotty politely clapped his hands, but he was just as worried as the others. When he admitted this to everyone, Madison said, “You’re concerned about the extraterrestrial animals. I’m worried about them too. For the past three days I’ve gone to the biodome simply to stand back and look at them. Yesterday it was all I could do to leave.”

            Scotty was certain his worries had little to do with the biodome. He was preparing to take his younger brother and sister back to a place full of danger and mystery with only untested countermeasures as a defense. He felt as if he needed Sparta’s help, wondered if he should get the android back online first, and suddenly understood the reasoning behind the android’s decommissioning.

            “That’s it!” he shouted.

            “What’s it?” Diego asked.

            “Don’t you get it,” Scotty said. “In order to introduce fear into our lives and keep us busy so we won’t interfere with Zoran’s plans, those three put Sparta in a crypto tube. He was training us, giving us top-secret information, and allowing us to help him safeguard the Star Nexus. I should have known Reuven and Aldrich were helping Zoran.”

            Madison deactivated her Helix and scrambled to her feet. “You’re right, Scotty. The pulse weapon, the probation, and decommissioning of Sparta…it was meant to throw us off balance. To trick us into moving our eyes in a different direction. We must examine Zoran’s data terminal tonight.”

            “It’s what they don’t want us to do.”

*

As night fell on the desert world, a not-so-distant memory flitted through Joseph’s mind. It was one of Naxos explaining the basics of the Helix and informing everyone in the Geneware research office that the system had generated a novel combat package for Scotty. During the Spacecraft Recovery Assembly, he’d often wondered what the combat package entailed, and was slowly learning why he had been issued a space exploration package. Jasmine wasn’t too far away with her thoughts and memories. She had come to understand why she had been issued the astrobiologist package, as she loved caring for the extraterrestrial animals at the biodome.

            After everyone returned to the lounge, Scotty attempted to download the countermeasures to their Helixes, but only Madison’s Helix accepted the software. Joseph’s, Jasmine’s, and Diego’s displayed the error message: Build is not compatible with this version of Helix. At least he learned a little about the combat package, and he sort of figured that everyone’s Helix could be upgraded in time.

            “It’s dark enough now,” Scotty said at last. “And the shuttle will be here in a few minutes.”

            They left the lounge and crept down the stairs to the foyer, through the glass doors, and out onto the front patio. The late evening desert air was cool, and there was a breeze blowing in from the south that was almost cold. As they walked down the sidewalk to the Aero bus stop shelter, something made them stop quickly and contemplate running back to the residencia.

            A pair of electric eyes were glowing outside the wall of light surrounding the stainless steel bench and awning. It was Electra, and her Helix was fully illumed and live.

            “There will be no shuttlecraft tonight,” she sneered, and took a couple of steps toward them. “So, return to your rooms or face punitive consequences.”

            “We won’t do what you say, Electra,” Scotty said. “You’re an enemy of Galactic Research, and you decommissioned Sparta.”

            Joseph and Jasmine couldn’t believe their brother was standing up to one of the androids.

            “You will be next if you do not do as I order.”

            “Let’s go,” Scotty growled. “We don’t need the shuttle.”

            All five of them bounced to the sidewalk and strode off in the direction of the Astraeus Laboratory. However, Electra wasn’t going to give up – she had learned to be persistent and mean – so she followed them, interacting with her Helix and broadcasting out a flurry of ultrasonic messages.  

            They walked quickly and silently while searching for anything dangerous. Every now and then the silhouette of a security drone would pass overhead, some so low their engines were noisy and alarming, but some were so high they couldn’t be heard at all.

            Scotty could tell that both Joseph and Diego were becoming very nervous.

            “Could Electra have control over the quadcopters?” Joseph asked.

            “I doubt it,” Scotty said. “She might be able to shut a few down, but she can’t do any reprogramming to make them do what she says.”

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            They walked past a streetlamp. Scotty spied a small security drone on the sand and rocks surrounding the big metal pole, its propellors humming softly. There were several larger drones hovering in the distance; probably flying watch over the laboratory.

            “You guys alright?” Scotty asked Joseph and Jasmine. “What about you, Maddy? We’ll be at the gate in a few minutes and then we can – stop…stop now.”

             Scotty extended his arms out in a stopping gesture. Up ahead, a silhouette of a young man was looming near the Exoplanet Laboratory, and the glow from his Helix made the scene even more ominous. Could he have been manipulating the security drones; Scotty had an idea of what was going on.

            “It’s Aldrich,” he whispered. “We’re being followed, and our every movement is being watched and maybe even recorded.”

            Then suddenly, unexpectantly, Tarsus appeared before them there on the sidewalk, crackling and buzzing, and Scotty understood that he was using the Quantum Port technology to follow them, and that Tarsus – the android – could be anywhere.

            “Is this esoteric enough, researcher?” Tarsus said and energized his Helix. He rotated it so everyone could see the display. It appeared as if all five of them had been targeted by a security drone, and that particular drone was one hundred feet away and descending to a tactical attack altitude; about ten feet off the ground.

            “Survival and evasion mode, to the telescopes!” Scotty shouted.

            They did.

All five jogged the quarter mile road to the observatory.

            Once inside, they sprinted to the observation patio. Among the stainless steel park benches, the Altair palm trees, and Tau Ceti fir trees, there were ten small telescopes scattered around the concrete pad that were for teaching researchers how to locate stars and nebula clouds; with the correct lens they could be used to view everything in the crater. Convenient too as there was a lot happening on that night. Scotty, however, dove off into the countermeasure file to give himself a crash course lesson in cyberwarfare. Five minutes passed, then ten, and it seemed as if all the trouble had blown away in the desert breeze.  

Scotty quickly discovered that he could target a security drone if it was within fifty feet of him and his Helix. Discovered that he could broadcast malware to that drone’s hard drive and force it into hibernation. Scotty appreciated that countermeasure too, because it was not only useful but stealthy.

            The other four were making discoveries of their own.

            “Look!” Jasmine shouted. “North of the launch pads.”

            Scotty took a telescope in his hands and pointed the viewfinder to the launch facility. It took less than a minute to locate what Jasmine had discovered. And as everyone exhaled sounds of both fear and wonder, Scotty examined and memorized every detail of what he was witnessing.

            It was a Darkstar Corvette; a spaceplane similar to the Centaurus Zeus but used primarily for deep-space exploration. It was matte black with only two landing lights. The interior was illuminated by a red light, and the windscreen was small and narrow, making it almost impossible to see what was happening on the flight deck.

            Scotty had zoomed in to try and locate numbers and letters when a bright white light lit up the desert floor below the spacecraft. Two men climbed down a ladder and walked to the outer wall of light. He could clearly see that one was Reuven and the other he assumed was Zoran.

            “He’s here. Zoran is here.”

            “I knew Reuven was helping him,” Diego growled. “Knew it all along.”

            All five spied a squadron of security drones enter into a pattern over the domes, and Scotty kneeled to energize his Helix.

            “We need to get back inside. If the quads are smart enough to stay fifty feet away, then my countermeasures might be useless.”

            They all went back inside to what they believed was the safety and security of the observatory.

*

A nice array of security cameras was scattered around Wallace Park, so they relocated to Amherst’s office where they could keep an eye on the sky and discuss their next move. They were slipping behind the power curve, and they understood that time was in short supply, but they were rich with resources.

            Scotty sat in the big executive chair before an enormous monitor to take a look at the grounds to the west and the south. He could see small swaths of Fossil Crater tangled with light and shadow, a few of the brightest stars slipping across the night sky, and a line of Altair palm trees beneath the Chapman Telescope.

            But the thing that captured his attention was the large security drone that had posted up before the front doors. It was hovering four feet above the ground and probing the lobby area with its red lasers.

            “Quiet!” Doctor Amherst said, speed walking into his office. “Don’t make any noise.”

            “Where is everybody at?” Scotty asked.

            “As soon as our guest landed out there, I sent them all to the laboratory. And you guys are next to go.”

            Madison was too busy explaining why they should begin evacuating the extraterrestrial animals.

            “We have a big responsibility to these innocent little critters. It’s our job to protect them now that they are here on planet Earth.”

            “Everybody, shut up now,” Scotty growled, but it was almost a whisper.

            “Why?” Joseph and Jasmine chorused.

            “Because the observatory is being cleared by a security drone,” Amherst said.

            Both Madison and Jasmine walked to the door.

            “Oh well,” Jasmine said, sounding relaxed. “Let’s go on the assault.”

            After an entire minute passed, Scotty said, “Might not have time. It all depends on what the quadcopter does.”

            “Scott, don’t lie,” Joseph said. “Are we in danger? Are we gonna be attacked?”

            “Yup,” Scotty said, even though he didn’t want to scare the others any more than they were already. “Big time.”

            “I knew this was gonna happen,” Diego said. “I think we need to leave. Go to the laboratory and regroup in the culture room.”

            “We can’t,” Amherst said. “At least not yet.” 

            Scotty returned his attention to the monitor and the security camera displays. Two additional drones had relocated to the front entrance, and their weapons were deployed. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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