“I don’t know, Cuddy. I mean… who would take care of Momma? Plus, I just got released from a two-year stint inside a prison cell…”
“I get it, more confined spaces. That’s okay, Kyle,” Cuddy said.
Tony looked disappointed at Kyle’s decision. “Hey, then it’s you and me, Cuddy… we’ll take on the Howsh. We’ll kick their furry asses.”
Cuddy honestly didn’t know if Tony would be of help, or be a hindrance—but he appreciated the support, just the same. He asked, “Orb, how soon before we’re supposed to reenter the atmosphere?”
“Fifty-three minutes.”
“How will I know what to do?”
“I will assist you, like I have done on two previous occasions. It should be less taxing. Moving an object in space is far easier than making an object disintegrate.”
Slowly the orb navigated the Revenge, bringing it close to the other Howsh ship. Cuddy watched through the forward observation window as they came right beside it—approaching from its stern. At this close distance, he got a good look at the damage he’d inflicted, using only mind projection. The whole tail end of the spacecraft was scorched black, and he could see several breached open patches where it was possible to actually see into the ship. It was then that it struck him—the loss of life he’d caused.
“How many were on board?” Cuddy quietly asked the AI orb.
“Crew of twenty-seven Howsh.”
Cuddy knew any sadness he felt was unjustified. They would have destroyed the Revenge, and everyone aboard, without a second thought. He well understood that, on an analytical level, but he wasn’t feeling analytical right then—simply guilty.
Kyle broke the silence. “So what now? How do we work this?”
Cuddy said, “We need the Revenge to disappear from view. Orb… can you turn on that stealth mode?”
“They’re not stupid… aren’t they going to see… detect… that there were two ships up here, then, all of a sudden there’s just one?” Kyle asked.
“They may not fully understand it, but they’ll continue tracking the one ship that they do see. We’re only looking to buy ourselves a little extra time.”
Chapter 37
Jackie had hung around the house just long enough to start feeling uncomfortable. Her father was obviously convalescing, but the sparks going off between Mrs. Perkins and her old man—well, it was embarrassing to be around them. She’d heard that high-stress situations can bring people together, and this—what was going on—most certainly, qualified as a high-stress situation.
It was Jackie’s suggestion that she drive back to the Perkins’ ranch and see to Ellie. To get her into her stall within the barn. Speeding along the country roads, Rufus, there beside her on the passenger seat, was good company—content just hanging his head out the side passenger window—and letting his ears flap in the wind. Halfway there, she remembered all the dead Howsh bodies, lying on the property. Shit. There must be ten of the weird aliens—piled up, one atop another, like big, hairy cords of wood. She’d just have to deal with it. After all, she was pre-med… not like she’d never been around dead bodies before.
She was startled from her reverie as the local CBS station was blaring out news over the car radio:
“…this really is an amazing turn of events, Simon. Inside sources tell us the interchange can take place at any time now. Obviously, exact coordinates and timeframes are classified, but I’ve been told the alien craft, which has been designated the Revenge by its present human crew, is currently on the move.”
Jackie had followed the ongoing events occurring in space back at her dad’s house. She’d learned that Kyle, Tony, and Cuddy were now acclaimed heroes—the men of the hour—hell, of the century! But instead of being grateful they were alive—that the world had been saved from certain destruction—she was angry. Just hearing of their actions in space made her blood boil. She should have been up there with them. Cuddy had no right to tell her not to come. Once again, being a female meant being short-changed in life. Screw him… screw them all. She had her own life to lead; important things of her own to accomplish.
As if on cue, her father’s cell phone began to ring. He’d offered it to her before she left his house. The smart phone, a gift from her to him the year before, was almost never used. He didn’t understand all the icons and buttons.
She looked at the screen, noting Brian was on the line, and answered the call. Why wouldn’t she? She had a life of her own that extended far beyond Cuddy…
“Hello?”
“Jackie? Finally, where the hell have you been? Do you know how long I’ve been trying to get in touch with you?’
“I know… and I’m sorry. It’s just been crazy. More than you could possibly realize, actually.”
“I think I have a good idea what you’ve been going through,” he said.
“What?”
“I’m here… at your dad’s place. Must have just missed you. Been getting the skinny on—”
“Wait! You’re… here?” she asked.
“Yes, and I want to see you. As soon as possible.”
“Well, I’m… I have to do some things, Brian. Maybe later we can connect.”
“Connect? You make it sound like a business transaction. I’m your boyfriend and I’m worried about you. I love you!”
“Sorry, bad choice of words. Not connect… connect is a stupid word. We’ll meet… meet up, okay? Just not right now. Later on.”
“You’re acting strange. What’s going on with you? Is it us? Are you having second—”
“No! Of course not! Well… not exactly,” she said, annoying even herself with her vague responses. “Hold on, Brian… I want to hear this news report.”
“Okay… I’ve got confirmation; the alien craft is on the move.”
“Peter, tell our listeners what’s happening.”
“Simon… I’m told the alien ship is proceeding slowly, just now leaving Earth’s low orbit… entering what is called the Exosphere… where space and the atmosphere merge. From there, the ship will descend to the Thermosphere, and then to the Mesosphere. This will take approximately five minutes.”
“Very exciting news, Peter. And where, exactly, will the U.S. squadron of F35A Lightning fighters be waiting?”
“That will be at the Stratosphere level, Simon. The same altitude where most military and commercial flights take place; where there’s enough oxygen. Oh my God!”
“Peter?”
“I’m sorry, Simon, but new reports are now coming in regarding a catastrophic explosion. Hold on… yes, it is confirmed… the alien spacecraft has exploded. I repeat, the alien craft, designated the Revenge, has exploded in midair. This is truly awful… a terrible…”
Their voices turned to static as the radio lost its signal. Jackie stared at the car radio in stunned silence. The Howsh ship had exploded! Oh God… Cuddy.
She pulled to the side of the road, letting the engine idle while she stared out the windshield, feeling numb within. In the distance, she saw the tall roofline of the Perkins’s barn. Hearing a distant voice speaking, she realized Brian was still on the phone and brought it up to her ear.
“Damn it, Jackie! Are you there?”
“Please stop screaming into the phone, Brian.”
“Tell me where you are. I’m coming to you…”
Without even looking at the phone, Jackie disconnected, letting her hand fall limply to her lap. She continued to stare blankly at the Perkins’ dilapidated old ranch house in the distance. They were all dead—she would never see them again. She would never see Cuddy again. Everything he was trying to do—for Tow—for a race of people, called the Pashier, was never going to happen. A single tear, rolling unconsciously down her cheek, led to uncontrollable sobbing. Unbuckling her seatbelt, she wrapped her arms around the old yellow Lab. Rufus licked her face—the tears on her cheeks.