“Bite me, boy bun,” Tony said.
Cuddy could now see the three olive-green Army trucks en-route to their location. One truck had a soldier seated up high behind a weapon.
“Run!” Cuddy said. “Everyone get to the Evermore!” While they all rushed, including Brian, down the Perkins’s driveway, Cuddy suddenly halted, noticing the orb was unmoving where it hovered.
“Cuddy, I must pilot the Revenge. The Evermore will be incapable of fending off the Howsh in space.”
“Who will pilot the…”
“You will, Cuddy. I will assist you,” the orb replied. “Now go… get to the Evermore’s cockpit.”
Cuddy ran down the drive, Rufus loping along at his side. By the time he reached the barn, he heard the Revenge’s remaining drive power up and then its thrusters engage. Cuddy glanced back just in time to see the Howsh ship steadily rising into the air. He also noted the three military vehicles were maneuvering around the red sports car and also the VW bug. They were turning down the driveway as he sprinted into the barn.
Gasping for breath, Cuddy ran out of the woods and into the open clearing. The others were waiting for him next to the Evermore. He stared frantically at the closed hatchway and wondered how they would get inside?
I am here with you, Cuddy. I will instruct you in how to open the hatchway, as well as accomplish other functions, simply through the employment of your mind.
Cuddy was instantly relieved, feeling the orb’s presence within his consciousness. He mentally spotted the controls, situated right inside the hatchway on the bulkhead.
“Use the Pashier part of your mind, Cuddy. Open the hatch now and extend the gangway.”
The others stood by, staring up at him, waiting for him to do something. He mentally envisioned activating the controls and the Evermore’s hatch began to slide open and the gangway to descend. Tony Bone was the first to run up the ramp and into the ship, with Kyle quickly following on his heels.
Jackie gestured for Cuddy to go past her, saying, “Go on… I need to talk to Brian for a minute.”
Cuddy said, “Okay, but we have to leave… immediately.” Brian gave him a less than friendly look as he ran past them and up the gangway. Inside, Kyle and Tony were nervously waiting for him.
“What’s happening with Jackie? Is she coming or not?” Tony asked.
“Not sure. I need to get to the bridge.” Cuddy hurried forward, feeling strange being inside without Tow, or even the orb—almost like trespassing. Reaching the bridge, he took a seat at the forward console. The displays around him came alive and he caught the unique outline of the Revenge nearby—hovering just above the treetops.
You must start the propulsion system, Cuddy. The two drives can be initialized via the controls, located on the far right of the panel.
Cuddy’s eyes scanned the myriad of touch controls—all the strange symbols—and he felt an overwhelming urge to flee. Get off the ship and run as fast as his feet could take him—he was incapable of doing what the orb now told him to do.
Then his worried gaze settled on the two elongated levers. But what was even stranger, he could now read the series of exotic symbols printed beneath them:
Cuddy flipped the levers and immediately felt the vibration of the big drives coming up beneath his feet.
Very good; now you need to secure the ship, Cuddy.
Cuddy then remembered the hatch was open to the outside and the gangway still extended. Lifting off his console seat, he peered out the bridge starboard-side window. Jackie and Brian were still in the clearing, engaged in a heated discussion.
You need to get the Evermore into space, Cuddy. Look at the Viewscape display… as you can see, the military forces—twelve humans, holding automatic weapons… have entered the woods and are headed your way. It is time to leave.
Tony and Kyle entered the bridge, sitting nosily down in open seats.
“What the hell are we waiting for?” Tony asked, his eyes locked onto the Viewscape display. “Are those soldiers the ones the orb mentioned?”
Kyle said, “We’re going to have to leave her. I’m sorry, little brother, but—”
“You were going to leave without me?”
Hearing Jackie’s scolding voice, all three spun around to see her, standing at the entrance to the bridge. One hand rested on her hip, and she wore a defiant expression that flustered Cuddy. He looked out the window but could no longer see Brian.
“Is he out there?” Kyle asked.
Cuddy, resuming his seat, shook his head. “He’s gone.”
“Actually… he’s not,” Jackie said. “He’s decided to come with us. Wants to stay with me. I couldn’t talk him out of it.”
Cuddy looked past Jackie and saw the somewhat older man, now standing close behind her, his hand resting on her shoulder.
“Shit!” Kyle yelled, pointing toward the tree line. “Troops!”
Cuddy saw them too. The Army guys had arrived—some moving right, some left—as if to surround the ship. Three soldiers were moving forward—toward the still open hatch.
Chapter 39
Gunfire erupted from all around the ship. Cuddy was well aware the Evermore was practically impregnable—bullets would have zero effect. Then he stopped to listen to the sounds that were not gunfire. Barking. Rufus was barking. Cuddy hurried to the side window and peered out. He saw the end of the gangway below and Rufus there—noisily holding his ground against the approaching soldiers. Paralyzed with fear, Cuddy was unable to speak or move—he simply watched in horror as the old dog was getting more and more riled up.
Cuddy heard both Kyle and Jackie screaming for Rufus to come back inside. Only then did Cuddy pull himself free from his frozen stupor. He ran out of the bridge and into the main open cabin. He pushed Tony and then Brian out of the way. Reaching the open hatch, he wedged himself between Jackie and Kyle standing there—where he saw three helmeted men closing in—all dressed in black with protective combat vests. All three had their automatic weapons raised. Instinctively, Cuddy flung his hands out toward them—while dispatching a tremendous wave of energy. All three attackers were sent up and backwards—as if an invisible cord had yanked each of them away—out of sight, deep into the trees.
Only then did Cuddy see Rufus. He was lying on the gangway. There was blood at his midsection—obviously he’d been shot. No longer concerned with the other soldiers and sound of increased gunfire, he hurried down the ramp—slid his two arms beneath the injured dog and lifted him up. Turning back to the ship, bullets raked the gangway—he heard the zing of a supersonic round passing within an inch of his left ear.
Even before clearing the hatch, Cuddy used his unique mental abilities to initiate closing it and to retract the gangway. As the hatch slid into place he heard multiple rounds colliding with the outer hull. He looked down at Rufus. His eyes were open and watery. He stood there for a moment not knowing what to do. He looked up to the see the shocked faces of the others. Mentally, he reached out to the orb. What do I do now? He’s dying… please help me.
Jackie took a tentative step forward. “Cuddy… I’m so sorry.”