chapter 4 - the good guys

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♪I’m Skeeter Man, Skeeter Man.

I fight crime when I can. ♪

“Bar-ry!”

“Yes, Mom?”

“Come into the house!”

“But, I’m playing.”

“Your father’s on the teleprompter!”

“All right!!” 

The young man with the yellow cape went running into the house to talk to his father. His mother made him stop at the door and wipe his feet. 

“Daddy!” yelled the excited youngster as he saw his father’s smiling face on the family teleprompter.

“Barry, my man,” laughed his father. “What’ve you been up to?”

“I been fightin’ that mean old Dr. Frogg,” replied Barry. “He’s been tryin’ to take over the world again.”

“Well, I know you and Skeeter Man will save the world,” laughed his father.

“Oh, Daddy, I am Skeeter Man,” offered Barry in a childish mocking manner. “You know that!”

“Oh, yeah, shhh-h,” whispered his father. “It’s supposed to be a secret.”

“It is, Daddy,” replied Barry as he lowered his voice. “I’ve only told Tommy.”

“Good,” smiled his father. “Now let me talk to your mother. I love you, son.”

“Love you, too.” 

Barry ran back outside and pulled his cape around from the side as he continued playing as Skeeter Man. He was determined to defeat the evil Dr. Frogg. 

“He’s certainly full of himself,” reflected the father, Ted. “How do you keep up with that little ten-year-old man?”

“Most days I can’t,” replied the mother, Cindy. “But he’s a good child just like his father.”

“I wonder who that would be?” teased Ted.

“Oh, if you weren’t so far away, I’d wring your neck,” laughed Cindy. 

“Sometimes I wish I weren’t so far,” mused a more somber Ted. “Don’t get me wrong. It’s exciting here on the moon, but I’ll be glad when this stint’s over with and I can come home.”

“Me too,” mused Cindy. “There’s times Barry really needs his father. And I need you, too.”

“You do?” smiled Ted. “Why, little lady what do you need me for?”

“Oh, let’ see,” teased a smiling Cindy. “Sometimes there’s trash that needs taking out. Other than that, I can’t think of anything.”

“Oooo, I see right now I’m gonna have to come home and remind you how you need me for other things,” said Ted with a naughty laugh. 

“I can hardly wait,” laughed Cindy. After some more chitchat the conversation turned to more sober matters. “When you get back I’m probably going to need your help,” reflected Cindy.

“Are the suits still giving you trouble?” asked a concerned Ted. 

“Only one, that Stephen Hoover,” replied Cindy. “There’s not a week that goes by that he doesn’t call.”

“You want me to talk to the general again?” asked Ted.

“No, not yet,” reflected Cindy. “If that’s all he does, then it’s nothing. And if all fails, I’ll just have Barry break him in two.”

“That boy has got some strength about him,” mused Ted. “Are you sure he’s my son?”

“Now, don’t start with me,” smiled Cindy. “You’re not going to tell me you’ve forgotten that hot summer night when we made a baby.”

“Was I there?” teased Ted. “Oh, yeah, now I remember.”

“So when’s the next time we get to talk to you?” asked Cindy as she ignored Ted’s attempt to goad her.

“I’m afraid it’s going to be awhile,” revealed Ted. “Tomorrow we leave for the other side.”

“You’re going to the back side of the moon?” asked a surprised Cindy. “I thought they were going to wait until the new communication satellites were in place.”

“Well, I did too,” offered Ted. “But the powers that be have determined that it’s safe without a direct link to earth. There’s this eagerness to get back there and see what it’s really like.”

“Now, I’m starting to get worried,” reflected Cindy. “There’s too much unknown on the other side. And no communication with earth!”

“Oh, we’ll be safe,” comforted Ted. “We’ve already come this far. A few more miles is not going to take that much. Don’t worry.”

“Well, how long will you be gone?” asked Cindy as she tried to hide her worry.

“It’s going to be at least two weeks, if not longer,” replied Ted. “We’re gonna take the time to make the best of it.”

“You call me just as soon as you get back,” demanded Cindy. “I mean it, Ted.”

“Yes, ma’am,” responded Ted as he gave a fake salute. “You be sure and answer the phone when I call.”

“You know I will.” 

The two said their goodbyes to each other and Cindy felt her heart turn heavy as the teleprompter went blank. After a moment of reflection she turned to see what her rambunctious son was doing as he played in the back yard.

############### 

The following evening Cindy and Barry were having dinner when there was a knock on the front door. Her face turned to disgust when she peered through the peep hole and recognized the man on her front porch. She opened the door to face Stephen Hoover. 

“Mr. Hoover, you’re interrupting our dinner,” she said with as much venom as she could muster.

“My deepest apologies, ma’am,” came the smug reply. “I only stopped by to leave you some papers to look at.”

“You can leave all the papers you want, but I’m not going to sign anything,” declared Cindy. “As I’ve told you a hundred times before, when his father gets back home from the moon, we’ll sit down and discuss what we’re going to do. Until then you can just leave us alone.”

“It’s not my intention to be a bother,” offered Stephen. “But these are the papers you and your husband will need in order to make an informed decision.”

“Then bring them back when we need them,” smirked Cindy. “They’ll just be in the way until then.”

“Mrs. Bailey, I don’t think you realize how special your son is,” declared Stephen as he removed his hat. “His strength is amazing! Every test has been off the charts.”

“I know how special he is,” reflected Cindy. “I’m his mother. But I also know he’s a child. I want him to have a normal childhood and not be treated as some government experiment.”

“Oh, I want him to have a good childhood, too,” offered Stephen. “But it should be under the direction of specialists who can guide him to use his talents to the full.”

“And I want him to be directed by parents who love him,” declared a visibly annoyed Cindy. “He needs that more than he does some governmental agency that’s only interested in him as some sort of weapon.”

“Mrs. Bailey, he has the potential to be much more than just a weapon,” surmised Stephen. “Why, he’s only the beginning. He can become the father of a whole army of weapons that would have the same remarkable strength and endurance.”

“You’re a sick man, Mr. Hoover,” offered Cindy as she started closing the door. “He’s a little boy and you’re talking about him being a father? I think you need to leave.”

“Look! I’ve tried to be nice about this, but you’re tiring my patience,” declared Stephen as he stuck his foot to block the closing of the door. “I am prepared to do whatever is necessary to see that your son’s talents are used to the benefit of national interests.”

“Skeeter Man!” yelled Cindy.

“Yes, momma?” asked Barry as he came running to his mother.

“This man works for Dr. Frogg and he’s trying to break into our house,” declared Cindy as she pushed harder on the door.

Barry immediately took his fist and pounded Stephen in the shin. He yelled in pain and tried to wiggle his foot free as Cindy kept putting pressure on the door. Barry hit him again. The force of the impact pushed his leg and foot free. He went sprawling on his back as he fell to the floor of the porch. Looking up at Cindy and Barry he cried, “If he broke my leg, I’m gonna sue you!!”

“If you bother us again, I’m going to have him break your head!” declared Cindy as she slammed the door shut.

Stephen pulled himself to his feet and started limping down the steps. At the bottom he turned and shouted, “Mrs. Bailey, this is not the last of this! You will hear from me again!”

############### 

The lunar tractor’s headlight shone brightly against the black velvet sky as it made its way across the bleak surface of the far side of the moon. Though approaching fast, the dawning of a new lunar day was still some miles ahead of them as the vehicle came to a stop. 

“Commander, this is the last of the unmapped trenches,” declared the driver.

“Very good, then, Sean” replied Ted as he peered eastward through the window at the chasm. “Beth, you and Bobby come with me and we’ll get this over with.”

“Sounds good,” offered Bobby. “I’m really looking forward to getting back to the base.”

“I know,” agreed Beth. “I really like you guys, but I’m starting to get tired of just seeing you three.”

“How in the world could you be getting tired of three handsome men like us?” mocked Sean as he dimmed the tractor’s lights.

“Easy,” laughed Beth. “I’m even getting tired of me.” 

The three moon explorers donned their space suits and bid Sean farewell. Within minutes they were out of the tractor and standing in the darkness of the lunar surface.  

“Looks like we’ve got another twenty minutes before sunrise,” declared Ted. “So everybody watch your step.” 

The three figures lumbered in silence toward the rim of the trench. As the terrain started sloping toward the edge, they stopped and took a panoramic view of the surroundings. 

“Commander, I think it would be best if we hook the safety line,” offered Bobby as he started unwinding the rope.

Taking a hammer from the utility bag he pounded a stake into the ground and firmly attached the line. After securing the cable to his belt he handed the end to Beth. As she clipped the line to her belt, Ted looked across the trench in time to see the meteor impact the moon’s surface. Before anyone could react the shock wave knocked all three astronauts to the ground. As they started rolling toward the edge of the chasm, the safety line caught and held Beth and Bobby from sliding any further. Frantically they grabbed for Ted as he rolled out of arm’s reach. Beth screamed, “Ted!!” as he disappeared over the edge of the cliff. 

“What’s going on?!?” came the frantic cry from Sean in the vehicle.

“Ted’s gone over the edge!” yelled Bobby as he helped Beth to her feet. “Get some lights out here now!!” 

Sean made his way to Bobby and Beth as she kept calling Ted’s name. There was no response from inside the trench. Taking the lights from Sean, Bobby slowly inched toward the edge of the chasm. Leaning against the safety line he peered into the darkness below. 

“There’s something shining on a ridge,” he declared to the other two. “I can’t quite make it out.”

“Here comes the sun,” offered Sean. “Maybe you’ll be able to see better.” 

The solar light bathed the trench and fell upon the three explorers. Bobby leaned over the edge again and immediately recognized the shining object he had seen. His heart sank at the sight of Ted’s helmet lying by itself in the middle of a bolder protruding from the wall of the trench. Bobby turned and pulled himself up the slope to join Sean and Beth. 

“What did you see?” asked an anxious Beth.

“He’s gone,” is all Bobby could muster to say.

“What did you see?” demanded an uneasy Sean.

“All I could see was his helmet on a rock,” declared a teary-eyed Bobby.

“Let’s go down and get him,” cried Beth as she bit her lip.

“He’s gone, Beth,” stated Sean as he gently grabbed her arm.

“No! There’s still a chance,” sobbed Beth. “I’m going to go get him!”

“Beth! Commander Bailey is dead!” shouted Bobby. “Now let’s get back to the base before anything else happens.”

The three looked at each other in silence. Finally, Bobby softly said, “Look, we can gather some supplies and get more help. Then we can come back and recover his body. That’s all we can do.” 

The three downhearted explorers boarded the lunar tractor for the trip back to the earth side of the moon. No one spoke until they were within communication range of the base. At that point Sean informed everybody of the accident and the death of Ted Bailey.

############### 

The oxygen generator softly hummed in the dimly lit cave. Carlos stretched in his homemade chair and was about to doze when he felt the violent shudder from the meteor striking the moon’s surface. A piece of the cave’s roof came crashing down and missed hitting him by inches. He quickly donned his space suit and entered the airlock. Carlos figured that for the moment it would be better to be on the outside safely away from any falling debris.  

He climbed the ledge hanging over his cave and was startled to see a figure lying on the rock. Carlos rushed to the man’s side and quickly realized that his helmet had been fractured. Peering through the darkness Carlos could see the alien was unconscious and not too far from dying. He quickly pulled an oxygen tent from his belt and inflated it to encompass the man. The alien’s helmet fell to the ground as Carlos heaved him across his shoulder and climbed down from the ledge to enter the airlock. 

Once safely back inside the cave, Carlos laid the man on his bed and removed the tent. He opened a first aid kit and removed a scanner. Carlos frowned and closed his eyes when he saw the readings. 

“Well, I know you can’t hear me, and if you could, you wouldn’t be able to understand me,” sighed Carlos. “But my friend you are in deep trouble.” 

The alien’s brain suffered a concussion in the fall and had been deprived of vital oxygen when the helmet had split open. Thankfully, the helmet held together enough to keep a little pressure inside. If it had not, then the alien’s body would have exploded as the air inside him tore through his tissue as it escaped out into the vacuum of space. But Carlos could tell that permanent damage had been done. He also realized from the scanner’s readings that the man’s condition would slowly deteriorate over the next few weeks until he eventually died. 

Carlos took a long hard look at the alien creature lying on his bed. He took a deep breath and then closed his eyes again, “You are forcing me to make a decision that I’d hoped I would never have to make.” 

Without hesitation, he quickly went about the business of gathering all the necessary supplies to carry with him and the alien back to his home world in the Alpha Centauri system. While making the preparations, Carlos let himself think about a world that he had left years ago.  

After graduating in the top ten of his class at the university, Carlos had joined the Centauri military as a scientist. He had never liked the military, but it allowed him the best freedom to continue his studies and to work on exciting new experiments. Of course, the pay was not much, but all his necessities were cared for. Life in the military was good and enjoyable until a man named Kosnos became Chancellor of the Centauries. Before long he had formed an ultra-conservative political party and had himself declared “Kosnos, leader of the Centauri Right.” To Carlos it was just another name for another dictator.  

Kosnos had actually treated most Centauries decently, that is, as long as they did not question his directives. He had no tolerance and showed no mercy to dissenters. Carlos could have lived under Kosnos’ rule if it had not been for his determination to annihilate the Swashkinese species. They were a simple race and Carlos failed to see why Kosnos hated them so much. To treat beings in such a way was beyond his comprehension. In an effort to help them survive, Carlos had maneuvered matters to where he was stationed at Mogandish, the camp that Kosnos had established for the extermination of the Swashkinese.  

At the camp he had pretended to be using the Swashkinese for ghastly experiments. The truth was that he was helping them preserve their species. Fortunately, the camp had been blessed with an inept and drunken Commodore who had no clue as to what Carlos was really doing. Eventually the Commodore did become suspicious of his actions and had started to ask questions. While the whole camp was distracted with a surprise visit from Kosnos, Carlos made an escape in a stolen military fighter ship.  

At first, Carlos thought he would seek help from the third planet in the Sol system. As he studied their behavior from deep space he quickly realized that they were not advanced enough to help him overthrow the Centauri Right. Without enough fuel to advance further into the cosmos he decided to make his home on the planet’s moon. He found a cave on the far side and built a modest domicile. From this side of the moon he was able to continue monitoring the progress of the human race without detection. He was surprised to find that they had ventured to his side of the moon.

Over the years Carlos had suppressed the longing to return to his world. His fighter ship had enough fuel to make the return trip, but he knew he must be a wanted man. If he was captured, Kosnos would delight in burning him at the stake. The only thing he could do was wait and outlive the dictator or find some humans that he could train to help him overthrow the evil on his home world. Now he was faced with the prospect of doing neither one.  

Carlos knew the humans did not have the medical knowledge to save the injured man. He did not have the required equipment with him in his cave. The only place he knew where help could be given was back home in the Alpha Centauri system. Of course, this meant putting his own life in jeopardy. Carlos made the decision without hesitation. It was firmly embedded in his nature to save any intelligent beings that he could. The only thing that he allowed himself to think about was taking the injured alien back to Centauri for help. He would willingly face the consequences of his actions if it became necessary. 

With the alien resting comfortably in the rear of the ship, Carlos powered the engines and lifted from deep within the trench into the dark sky. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the flash from the detonation as his cave imploded. He had made sure that as the humans ventured further out on the moon’s surface they would find no trace of him ever being there. Pushing the throttle to full force, Carlos and his precious cargo raced toward Alpha Centauri and their destiny.

############### 

Carlos had done his post graduate work on Diaden, the sixth planet in the Alpha Centauri system. Of course, this was before Kosnos had waged war on the Swashkinese which had resulted in Diaden joining in the battle. This planet had been the origin of the Swashkinese race and they had lived comfortably there until overpopulation had set in. A treaty between Diaden and the Centauries had allowed them to migrate to the Centauri home world. All was peaceful until Kosnos came to power. His hatred resulted in his attempted extinction of their entire species and had led to war with Diaden. Carlos suspected that Kosnos’ main ambition was to be ruler over the whole system and had used the Centauries’ loathing of the Swashkinese as a disguise.  

As he brought the fighter ship to orbit around Diaden, Carlos finalized his plan of action. He knew the university there had a medical center with the equipment needed to not only save the alien’s life, but to regenerate his brain cells back to normal. Also, Diaden was far enough away from the Centauri home world to help reduce the threat of being detected by Kosnos’ soldiers.  

Carlos found it strange that his instruments showed no other ships in the area. He was afraid he would be spotted by other vessels and be forced to land quicker than he was prepared to do. The lack of air traffic made him wonder as to how bad the war had been between the Centauries and Diaden. After punching the coordinates into the ship’s computer he braced himself for the descent to the planet and the landing at the university. 

The engines whined to a stop as Carlos looked around at the abandoned buildings. He had a sinking feeling that the war had not gone well for the people of Diaden. Opening the ship’s hatch he quickly and quietly moved the alien into a nearby shelter. He recognized the area as being the athletic gymnasium and knew the medical center was only two buildings away. Racing against time he rushed into the center and found the regenerator needed to save the man’s life.  

All the machines and furniture in the room were covered with a fine layer of dust. It was apparent they had not been used in a long time. Carlos tried the switches but there was no power. He opened the emergency electrical room and found a generator still in working order. There was enough fuel in the tank and before long the machine was humming away as it produced the needed electricity.  

The regenerator blinked to life as Carlos dialed the necessary settings for brain cell regeneration. He had only seen the machine used one time, but his photogenic memory gave him all the numbers that he needed. Gently he placed the alien’s entire frame into the regenerator and then stood back to watch the results. 

“Well, my friend,” he said half aloud. “I have done all that I can do. The rest is up to you.” 

Carlos busied himself with exploring the rest of the building while the alien continued treatment in the belly of the machine. He was about to return to the regeneration room when he thought he heard blaster fire. Before long he heard a commotion in the hallway. It sounded as if someone was running and had stumbled and fell.  Carlos eased the door open and saw a Centauri sprawled on the floor. The man looked up at Carlos with a pained expression.  

“Get back! Hide!” cried the man between deep gasps for air. Carlos opened the door and pulled the exhausted man into the room with him. 

“You shouldn’t have done that,” offered the man as his breathing returned to normal. “You just got the both of us killed.”

“Who’s going to kill us?” asked a perplexed Carlos.

“The bounty hunter,” replied the man. “He’ll be here in a minute.”

“A bounty hunter?” pondered Carlos. “Is he one of Kosnos’ men?”

“Kosnos?!?” laughed the man. “Where have you been? Kosnos’ been dead for years.”

“Kosnos dead?” reflected Carlos as his thoughts ran wild. “Then who’s the hunter?”

“He’s a Krogan,” explained the man.

“What’s a Krogan?” 

At that moment the door exploded off its hinges from the force of the Krogan’s fist. In walked the biggest, ugliest, and meanest looking creature that Carlos had ever seen. 

“Ah, another maggot who’s trying to escape,” barked the Krogan as he raised a blaster pistol. “My bounty just doubled.”

“Look, I don’t know what’s going on here,” offered Carlos. “But it seems to me that…”

His words were interrupted as the Krogan backhanded him across the face. Carlos found himself on the floor a good ten feet from where he had been standing. The Krogan pointed his pistol at Carlos and put his finger on the trigger. 

“He’s not with me!” shouted the man. “I’m the runaway. Don’t hurt him!”

“Well, isn’t this sweet enough to make me puke,” laughed the Krogan. “A maggot trying to save the life of another maggot.”

“Look! Kill me if you want,” begged the man. “But please let him live.”

“When did you maggots start worrying about something else than your own miserable lives?” smirked the Krogan as he lowered the pistol.

“Please?” continued the man.

“Well, it would be easier to only have to carry one dead maggot,” reasoned the Krogan. “It doesn’t matter to me which one. I just want to kill something.”

“There’s another in a room near here,” offered Carlos as he rose to his feet and walked closer to the Krogan.

“Another maggot?” whispered the Krogan as he licked his lips. “Why, this is turning out to be a very profitable day.”

Carlos led the man and the Krogan back to the room where the alien was still healing in the regeneration machine.

The Krogan looked long and hard at the prostrated figure, “He’s not a maggot!”

“He’s an alien I discovered on another world,” explained Carlos. “I brought him here for experimentation.”

“It’s no telling what they’ll pay for something like this,” surmised the Krogan as he again licked his lips. “Tell me more about this creature.”

“I don’t know much about them,” offered Carlos. “They’re somewhat primitive, but they have developed space flight.”

“Where did you find him?” questioned the Krogan.

“On the third planet in the Sol system,” explained Carlos. “I haven’t had much time to interrogate him. All he wanted to talk about was the special drink that his planet produces.”

“What drink?” asked a more interested Krogan.

“Oh, the one in that bottle over there,” answered Carlos. “I’ve never tried it, but the alien claims it’s the best liquor in the galaxy.”

“Best liquor?” laughed the Krogan. “There is none better than Krogan liquor.”

“I wouldn’t know,” offered Carlos. “Like I said, I’ve never tried it.”

“Which bottle is it?” demanded the Krogan.

Carlos picked up a bottle and offered it to the bounty hunter. The Krogan threw his head back and burst into laughter, “You think I’m fool enough to drink that? You try it first, maggot!”

“Hey, it’s way too strong for me,” protested Carlos. “I’ve never been able to stomach the strong stuff.”

“That’s just like you Centauri maggots,” smirked the Krogan. “Too weak to enjoy the finer things in life.”

“Well, if you’re afraid to try it, then I’ll just put it back,” smiled Carlos. The Krogan jerked his saber from his belt and held it to Carlos’ neck. “I’m afraid of nothing!!” he snarled as he grabbed the bottle.

“I can see that,” offered Carlos as he swallowed hard.

The Krogan took the bottle and brought it to his nose. “It’s not strong enough,” he barked as he raised it to his lips. In one long gulp he finished the bottle and then threw it against the wall. “That’s the weakest liquor I’ve ever drank,” he bellowed as his eyes rolled back into his head and he fell face forward to the floor. 

The man looked at Carlos in amazement and then broke into a big grin, “Weak liquor?”

“Well, it’s not exactly liquor,” offered Carlos.

“What exactly is it?” asked the man.

“Oh, it’s just some concentrated industrial strength rodent poison,” smiled Carlos. “I lied a little.”

“Well, it sure killed that rat,” offered the man. “How did you know he would drink it?”

“I didn’t for sure,” explained Carlos. “But I noticed he kept licking his lips, so I figured if he was thirsty it was worth a try.”

“Good thinking,” reflected the man as he examined the Krogan’s blaster pistol.

“Thank you,” replied Carlos. “Look, my name is Carlos and I’ve been away from here a long time. Would you please tell me what’s going on?”

“Well, Carlos, it sure is good to meet you,” offered the man. “My name’s Moshnos. Let me tell you about it.” 

Moshnos explained to Carlos how the Krogans had invaded the Alpha Centauri system and killed Kosnos. Instead of proving to be liberators they had overturned the Centauri Right and made everyone a slave of the Krogan Empire. He told of their brutality and how they were raping the land of its natural resources. All resistance had been met with annihilation. They made a practice of beheading anyone who fought against the imposed slavery and destroyed anything that got in their way. He had been snatched from his wife and young daughter and sent to the mines on Diaden. After years of tolling and watching others around him fade away he had decided to take his chances on escaping. He had never known anyone that had been successful in running from the Krogans. In fact, the wall of the mine shaft was decorated with the heads of the slaves who had attempted and were caught. But Moshnos reached the point where he welcomed death as opposed to staying a slave. So he took a chance and ran away. He was making good time until the Krogans sent the bounty hunter after him. After being on the run for days he was so exhausted that he was ready to surrender and accept his fate. That is when Carlos found him the hallway. 

Carlos in turn told of his life as a scientist and how he had fled for his life. He related how he had found the injured man and why he had returned to the Centauri system. Their conversation was interrupted by the stirrings of the alien as he pulled himself to a sitting position. 

“Well, it appears the machine has done its healing,” smiled Carlos. The alien looked at him with a puzzled look.

Moshnos took a device off the belt of the fallen Krogan and handed it to Carlos. “I don’t think he can understand you,” he offered. “Here’s a Krogan translator. They carry them all the time.” 

Carlos adjusted the settings and then smiled again at the alien, “Hello, can you understand me now?”

“Uh, yes, I think so,” came the reply.

“Good, I’m glad to see you’re feeling better,” offered Carlos. “My name is Carlos and this gentleman is Moshnos.”

“I’m Ted,” offered the alien as he scratched his head. “Where the hell am I?” 

Moshnos and Carlos explained to Ted all that had happened and that he was now on the planet Diaden in the Alpha Centauri system. He shook his head in disbelief, but he could not deny the strangeness of everything around him. The truth of everything sank in when he finally got a look at the dead Krogan bounty hunter. Ted had never seen a creature like that. Slowly but surely, he realized he was a long way from Earth. 

“You actually risked your life to save mine?” asked a bewildered Ted.

“Well, that’s what I do,” replied Carlos. “Besides it seemed the right thing to do.”

“I could never repay you,” declared Ted. “All I can do is say, ‘Thank you.’”

“That’s perfectly all right,” offered Carlos. “It was time for me to come home. I just never imagined finding things the way they are.”

“I hate to be the one to break this party up,” declared Moshnos. “But we need to get moving.”

“Why should we leave?” asked Carlos. “This university has everything we need for survival. We might as well stay here.”

“Uh, you don’t know the Krogans,” offered Moshnos. “When this hunter doesn’t return, they’ll send another. They’re relentless in tracking down runaway slaves.”

“Is there a safe place to go?” inquired Ted.

“The workers in the mines secretly whispered about a small band of freedom fighters held up in the Buckinhan caverns,” revealed Moshnos. “That’s where I was headed.”

“The Buckinhan caverns,” reflected Carlos. “I don’t believe my ship has enough fuel to make it all the way.”

“Just get us far enough ahead of the Krogans where we can make the rest of the way on foot,” offered Moshnos.

“I believe we can do that,” declared Carlos as he took the Krogan’s sword and placed it in the regenerator. 

“Why are you doing that?” asked Ted.

“Well, my friend, if I remember my physics, this piece of metal will cause the machine to explode in about twenty minutes,” revealed Carlos. “When the Krogans get here and find their dead comrade, maybe they’ll believe he set the machine off by mistake. That may be enough to throw them off our trail for awhile.”

“It’s worth a try,” smiled Moshnos. “Every little bit will help.” 

The three men left the medical building and headed toward the fighter ship. Carlos stopped for a moment to look around. A strong wind whipped at him and he shuddered as he felt the cold run down his spine. He had forgotten how hostile the weather could be on Diaden. Now this unfriendly and unforgiving planet was becoming his only hope of salvation.

############### 

Cindy sat in her rocking chair staring out the window at the setting sun. It had been almost six months since she received the news of Ted’s death. Even now she was having trouble coping with losing her husband. The doctor was keeping her medicated to control the periods of deep depression. Her son Barry was adjusting to a life without his father. Cindy tried not to dwell on what could have been. Now she needed to make a life for her and her son. A life without Ted. 

She smiled when she recognized the man walking up her sidewalk to her door. Opening the door, she hugged the man and said, “Bobby, I didn’t know you were back in town.” 

“I got back from the moon early last week,” he revealed. “I came here as soon as the debriefings were over.”

“I’m glad you did,” smiled Cindy. “Please come in and stay awhile.” 

The two reclined to the sofa and spent the time talking about the space program and how the moon base had grown to include over a hundred residents. When the small talk had ended, they sat in silence for a moment. 

“Do you think Ted suffered?” asked a somber Cindy.

“No, I don’t,” replied an equally solemn Bobby. “I believe he died quickly.”

“Knowing that is at least some comfort,” reflected Cindy.

“Cindy, I want you to know that we did everything we could,” blurted a teary-eyed Bobby. “When that meteor hit it all happened so fast. We just couldn’t react quickly enough.”

“I know Bobby. You don’t have to tell me this.”

“You know I would’ve gone over that cliff myself before I’d let Ted go,” he cried as he buried his head in Cindy’s shoulder.

“It’s OK, Bobby. It’s OK.”

“He was the best Commander I’ve ever had,” continued a distraught Bobby. “He was my friend.”

“He thought the world of you, too.”

“We searched and searched but the trench was too deep,” he continued. “I thought at least we could’ve brought his body home.”

“Bobby, I know you did everything you could,” offered Cindy as she handed him a tissue. “It was a freak accident. There’s no one to blame.”

“How’s the little man?” asked Bobby as he wiped his eyes.

“Oh, he’s all right,” replied Cindy. “At times I think he’s coping better than I am.”

“That’s good,” offered Bobby. “I also wanted to let you know that I’m retiring from active flight.”

“You are?” asked a surprised Cindy. “What made you decide to do that?”

“It’s time,” answered Bobby. “Besides I asked Beth to marry me and she accepted.”

“You and Beth?” smiled Cindy as she put her hand to her mouth. “When did this happen?”

“Well, the moon can be a lonely place,” replied Bobby. “We kept getting assigned to work with each other and one thing led to another. I found out later that Ted was putting us together on purpose.”

“That sounds like him,” laughed Cindy. “He always was a hopeless romantic.”

“We’re going to set a date as soon as Beth finishes her time on the moon,” revealed Bobby. “You’ll get an invitation just as soon as we know.”

“I’d better,” smiled Cindy as she gave him another hug. 

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the front door. Cindy opened the door to find Stephen Hoover standing on her porch. 

“Hello, Mrs. Bailey,” he offered. “You are still going by ‘Bailey’ aren’t you?”

“What do you want, Mr. Hoover?” asked a disgusted Cindy.

“I just came by to offer my condolences,” Stephen said with a smirk on his face. “It’s a shame that such a fine man was lost in the prime of his life.”

“Your sympathy is noted,” offered Cindy. “Now if you will excuse me…”

“It tugs at my heart to think of you being left all alone,” continued Stephen. “You with no husband and trying to raise that special little boy all by yourself.”

“Thank you for your concern,” smirked Cindy. “But we’ll be just fine.”

“Oh, but I beg to differ, Mrs. Bailey,” smiled Stephen. “The young man needs special guidance. It’s time you recognize your duty to your son, and of course, your duty to your country.”

“I know my duty to my son,” offered an increasingly angry Cindy. “And my husband lost his life in duty to my country. So don’t you dare stand there and preach to me about my duty! Why don’t you do your duty and take your smug attitude and stick it up your ass?”

“Now, now, Mrs. Bailey,” mocked a smiling Stephen. “There’s no need for hostility. I only have the boy’s best interest at heart.”

“If that’s true then you’ll leave us alone,” declared Cindy.

“I’m sorry but I can’t do that,” offered Stephen. “I’ve come to take the boy with me. Please do not stand in my way.”

“How about if I stand in your way,” declared Bobby as he approached from behind Cindy.

“Well, well, who do we have here?” smirked Stephen. “If it’s not the famous astronaut, Robert Stevens. You come by to console the widow?”

“You know, Hoover, you may be big enough to pick on a woman,” smiled Bobby. “But are you big enough to pick on me?”

“I’m not here to fight,” declared Stephen. “I just want to take the boy with me.”

“I believe you heard the lady say that you can’t have him,” offered Bobby. “So, get your sorry ass off her property while you still can.”

“OK, I’m going to leave,” revealed Stephen. “But when I leave here, I’m going to prepare legal papers to file with the court. I’ll be back and then the boy will be leaving with me.” 

Cindy slammed the door and buried her face in her hands. “I hate that man,” she declared as Bobby tried to comfort her. “What am I going to do?” 

“I don’t know,” replied Bobby. “But don’t worry. We’re going to think of something.”

############### 

Carlos walked to the entrance of the cave and stared at the grassy plain below. It had been two months since they had left the medical center at the university. After traveling across the windy prairie they had found refuge in the hills of Buckinhan. They had restrained from trying to find the freedom fighters as the Krogans could be tracking their course. It would be better to be captured than to compromise the location of the freedom camp. Ted joined Carlos at the edge of the cave. 

“Does the wind ever stop blowing on this world?” asked Ted as he pulled his jacket closer to his body.

“Not that I’ve ever known,” replied Carlos as he continued staring into the distance.

“Well, I’m going to join Moshnos beside the fire,” offered Ted. “Don’t stay out here too long and get chilled.”

“I’ll be there shortly.” 

Before long the three men were sitting beside the fire lost in their thoughts. Moshnos stirred the fire and reflected, “I’ve got to believe the Krogans have given up on us.” 

“I pray that you are right,” offered Carlos. “If we don’t see anything by next week maybe we should move forward and find the freedom fighters.”

“I believe we can do that,” reflected Moshnos. “What do you think, Ted?”

“Oh, I’m sorry but I wasn’t paying much attention,” replied Ted. “My thoughts were elsewhere.”

“I know it’s hard on you being so far away from your family,” offered Carlos. “I wish I could change things for you.”

“Oh, don’t get me wrong,” smiled Ted. “Without your help I would’ve died and never had a chance to see them again. It’s just that I wish I could at least get a message to them. At least let them know I’m alive.”

“If there’s any hope that the Krogans can be defeated, then one day I will personally take you back to your world and your family,” declared Carlos.

“What’s your wife like?” asked Moshnos as he continued stirring the fire.

Ted thought for a moment and then replied, “She’s the greatest. I’d been married before and it didn’t work. I really had no intention of ever marrying again until I met Cindy. She was the cutest littlest woman I had ever seen. But even though she’s petite, you don’t want to get on her bad side. She’ll hurt you and laugh about it.” He thought for a few more moments and then continued, “She’s got the greatest laugh. It’s contagious. If Cindy laughs, everybody around her laughs. And she gave me the greatest son. His name’s Barry. For some reason his genetic makeup is a little different. It’s given him the strength of ten men. But he’s got a mother that keeps him straight. I’m grateful for that.”

“You’re a lucky man, Ted,” offered Moshnos.

“What about you?” asked Ted. “Are you married?”

“Yes, though I haven’t seen her for years,” reflected Moshnos. “Her name is Valdi. She was a pilot in the Secret Force of the Centauri Right. If you ever want to be around a wild cat, then Valdi is her name. She’s as fierce as they come. Everything she does is at full speed. But what a woman! I can’t wait until the day I hold her in my arms again.”

“Any children?” inquired Ted.

“Yes, we have one daughter,” replied Moshnos. “In fact, she was born on the day the Krogans invaded our system. Her given name is Khosnos, but we call her Koshy. She was the sweetest little baby. I didn’t get to know her for long. Shortly after the occupation the Krogans came and took all of us men to work the mines. I really don’t know if they are even still alive.”

“It appears we both have some good reasons to defeat the Krogans,” reflected Ted. “What about you, Carlos? Who’s your special one?”

“Oh, I’ve always been too busy for romance,” laughed Carlos. “I mean I’ve dated a few times, but I always had my nose buried in the books. I just never found the time for a relationship.”

“Oh, come on, Carlos,” smiled Moshnos. “Everybody needs a little love.”

“Well, I must admit, there was this one time,” reflected Carlos. “It was a kiss. Just a simple kiss. But it stirred me like nothing before.”

“And you let this woman slip through your fingers?” asked a smiling Ted.

“Oh, I had to,” revealed Carlos. “She’s a married woman. It would have been improper to pursue her. Besides, it was just a goodbye kiss. Nothing else.”

“It doesn’t sound like nothing else,” offered Moshnos.

“Well, the truth is there’ve been many nights that I’ve thought about it,” reflected Carlos. “But it’s a mute point. She’s married and I haven’t a clue where she is today.”

“What’s her name?” asked Moshnos.

“Her name is Jade,” sighed Carlos. “I met her at Camp Mogandish. She’s the mother of a Swashkinese family I helped escape.”

“You were at Mogandish?” inquired Moshnos.

“Yes, I was.”

“Then you don’t know,” reflected Moshnos.

“Know what?”

“Kosnos had the camp destroyed,” revealed Moshnos. “He nuked it.”

Carlos’ head dropped in despair, “That dirty bastard! All those people.”

“Even his own soldiers were killed,” continued Moshnos. “I guess the only good thing the Krogans have done was to get rid of him.”

“How big was the bomb?” asked an anxious Carlos. “Did it reach to the hills of Dolihin?”

“No, I’m sure it didn’t,” replied Moshnos. “It was pretty well confined to the camp.”

Carlos breathed a sigh of relief, “Then they were saved.” 

Moshnos stirred the fire again as they finalized plans to find and join the rebel force in the following week. Each man was renewed in his convictions to do whatever was necessary to defeat the Krogans and free Alpha Centauri.

############### 

Carlos, Moshnos, and Ted climbed another hill in the mountainous region of Buckinhan. It had been three days since they left their cave in search of the freedom fighters. The constant wind whipped at them every step of the way. They finally stopped to moisten their chapped lips and to check the lay of the land. 

“Moshnos, are you sure they’re really a band of rebels out here?” asked a tired Ted.

“Well, all I know is that was the talk in the mines,” offered Moshnos. “I hope it wasn’t just talk to keep everybody’s spirits high.”

“I don’t believe it was just idle chatter,” declared Carlos as he picked an object off the ground. “This is a piece of pottery. Someone has been here.” 

The men were startled by an ear shattering scream. Instantly they were surrounded by a group of warriors. Some had blaster weapons, but most were armed with bows and arrows. 

“Please, we come in peace,” yelled Carlos as all three men raised their hands. “We want to join the freedom fighters.”

“That is yet to be seen,” came the reply from a man standing on a nearby hill. “Tie them and blindfold them. We’ll take them to the caverns.” 

The small band of rebels led the three strangers to their secret hideout in the hills of Buckinhan. After being taken deep within a cave the men’s blindfolds were removed. They turned to meet the leader of the rebel force. 

“Who do we have here?” smirked the rebel commander.

“My name is Carlos. This is Moshnos and the other gentleman is Ted. We’ve come to join you in fighting the Krogans.”

“Alpha Centauries are wanting to help us lowly Swashkinese?” mocked the leader. “I’ve never heard of such a thing!”

“Well, it’s true,” offered Moshnos. “Not every Centauri believed in Kosnos and the Right.”

“This one. He’s not a Centauri,” observed the leader as he looked over Ted.

“I’m from another world in a different system,” explained Ted. “Defeating the Krogans is my ticket home.”

One of the rebels approached Ted and started sniffing at his ear. He pointed a blaster pistol at Ted’s face and turned to the leader, “I believe he would be tasty.”

In the blink of an eye Ted grabbed the pistol and smacked the rebel across the face. He collapsed unconscious onto the ground. Ted swung around and pointed the gun at the rebel commander.

“Impressive!” smiled the leader.

“I hope you guys fight better than that if you’re going to go up against the Krogans,” declared Ted as he handed the pistol to the rebel leader.

“Well, we do have some training to do yet,” offered the leader.

“I’d say we could help you,” reflected Carlos. “All we are asking for is a chance.”

One of the soldiers came over to the commander and whispered. The leader took a long look at Carlos and then asked, “Tell me about Miguel?”

“Miguel?” pondered Carlos. “I knew a Miguel at Mogandish. He’s Swashinese. I was able to help him and his wife, Vivian, and their daughter, Hope, to escape from the camp.”

“So, you’re that Carlos?” smiled the leader.

“Yes, that’s me,” replied Carlos. “Though, I must admit, I haven’t seen them for a number of years.”

“Miguel is my cousin,” declared the leader. “My name is Ian.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ian,” beamed Carlos. “Have you heard from them? How are they?”

“Communications move slow,” explained Ian. “It’s been a while. But the last I heard they were surviving like the rest of us.”

“I’m glad they’re OK,” reflected Carlos. “Over the past few years there were many times that I would have given all my possessions just to eat a meal prepared by his dear wife, Vivian.”

“Oh, can she cook or what?” laughed Ian. “I have never eaten better.”

“Look,” declared Carlos as he became more serious. “We want to help. I can build or fix just about any weapon. Moshnos is well acquainted with tactical maneuvers, and you’ve already seen how Ted can help in hand-to-hand combat. We’re at your service.”

“You know, Carlos,” offered Ian. “We’ve been praying for help. I believe you could be the answer to our prayers.”

“You do have more soldiers than this, don’t you?” inquired Moshnos as he looked around at the small band of rebels.

“We have a few more,” replied Ian. “Follow me and I’ll show you.” 

The men walked with the soldiers through narrow paths in the cave and finally came to a large opening. Carlos quickly estimated that the room was at least three acres in size. Ian gave out a loud whistle and before long the cavern was filling with people. Moshnos looked at Carlos and nodded his head. 

“Will this be enough?” asked Ian. “If not, there are at least four more caverns full of people.”

“I believe, my friend, this is a good start,” smiled Carlos. “It’ll take us awhile to get everyone trained and equipped. But this is a good start.”

############### 

Cindy’s apprehension was apparent as she sat by her lawyer in the federal courtroom. Across from them were Stephen Hoover and a government lawyer. Proceedings would soon begin on the fate of her son, Barry. Hoover was trying to force her to place him under his supervision because of his tremendous strength and unique DNA. He felt it was the best for national interest and security that Barry’s whole life be scrutinized under the auspices of the government. All Cindy wanted was to raise her son in the loving atmosphere of her home and to have Hoover and the government leave them alone. 

“Mrs. Bailey, I have reviewed the briefs that have been submitted by the government,” offered the Judge. “It appears everything is in order, and I am of the notion to grant custody of Barry Bailey to Mr. Hoover. Do you have anything else to present that would have a bearing on this case?” 

Cindy rose to her feet and addressed the bench, “Your Honor, all I can ask is for you to reconsider. Barry’s already lost his father and now he’s being forced to lose his mother. Without my husband and my son, you might as well bury me. I’ll have nothing to live for.”

“Your Honor!” interrupted the government’s lawyer. “Mrs. Bailey’s emotional outburst should have no direct influence on what is best for the young man, and of course, what is best for our country. There is nothing else that can…”

“Your Honor, may I approach the bench?” came a voice from the rear of the courtroom.

“Who are you and do you have anything pertinent to this case?” asked the Judge.

“My name is Robert Stevens,” replied the man. “And yes, your Honor, I have some papers to show you.”

“Are you the Robert Stevens who’s an astronaut?” inquired the Judge.

“Yes, I am, your Honor.”

“Then I would be very interested in what you have to say,” offered the Judge. “Please come forward.”

“Your Honor, I must object,” declared the government’s lawyer.

“Overruled.”

Bobby approached the judge and handed him a document. “This is an authorization to place Barry Bailey under my care and direction.”

“What is this?!?” whispered Stephen to his lawyer.

“I have retired from active flight duty,” continued Bobby. “And have been assigned the Director of YTFA.”

“And what is YTFA?” asked the Judge.

“It’s Young Trainees to be Future Astronauts,” declared Bobby. “The program was started in memory of the late astronaut, Ted Bailey, Barry’s father. Of course, it’s only natural that Barry be the charter member of the group.”

“I see,” pondered the Judge. “And exactly what does this mean?”

“He is to be under my care, or whoever I choose, so long as, he attends training classes two days a month,” replied Bobby.

“And who did you have in mind to care for him?” asked the Judge as he smiled.

“I only have one person in mind,” reflected Bobby. “A woman who was the wife of an astronaut and the mother of a future astronaut, Cindy Bailey.”

“Your Honor, this is outrageous!” declared the government’s attorney.

“Why is it outrageous?” pondered the Judge. “Mr. Hoover insists that Barry Bailey be under the care of the government, and I believe this meets that criterion.”

“You can’t do this!!” yelled Stephen as he stood and pointed at Bobby. “He has no authorization!!”

“Well, this document looks official to me,” pondered the Judge. “It is signed by the President of the United States. I believe that’s authorization enough. Custody awarded to Mr. Stevens.” 

Cindy hugged Bobby tightly as Stephen stormed out of the courtroom. Wiping the tears from her eyes she cried, “Thank you, Bobby. Thank you.”

“I told you we’d think of something,” laughed Bobby. “Now, you go home and take care of that son of yours. One of these days he’s going to do some wonderful things.”

############### 

Carlos paced nervously back and forth at the entrance of the cave. After several years of training and preparation, the freedom fighters were attacking the Krogans at the capital city of Diaden. It had taken much longer to prepare than Carlos would have liked. The Swashkinese people were naturally more interested in seeking pleasure than they were in becoming fighting soldiers. Finding materials on this desolate planet to forge weapons was a greater challenge. The Krogan military had proven itself a “killing machine,” and any uprising against them was a daunting task. Now, all that Carlos could do was wait and hope. 

Off in the distance, he saw a cloud of dust as two vehicles approached. As they pulled up to him, Ted jumped out of one and yelled at the top of his voice, “They did it!! By God, they did it!!”

“We defeated the Krogans?” laughed Carlos.

“You bet we did!!” replied Ted as he slapped Carlos on the back. “There’s over a hundred of them dead and the rest took off like a scared rabbit.”

“How many casualties?” 

“Eleven.”

“Eleven brave men,” pondered Carlos. “May they rest in peace.”

“Yes,” offered Ted. “They died a hero’s death. The Swashkinese will be singing their praises for years to come.”

“Ted?”

“Yes, Carlos?”

“What’s a rabbit?”

“I’ll have to describe it to you later,” laughed Ted. He took a deep breath and then said in a sober tone, “We’ve won the battle, but we haven’t won the war. You know the Krogans will come back.”

“I expect they will,” offered Carlos.

“Next time we’re not going to be able to catch them off guard,” reflected Ted.

“No, we will not,” agreed Carlos.

“Do you think we’ll have a chance?” asked Ted as he shuddered in the chilled air.

“Of course we do,” replied Carlos as he stiffened against the wind. “In fact, I think we’re going to win.”

“You really do?” asked a somewhat surprised Ted.

“Of course. We have to,” smiled Carlos. “After all, we’re the good guys.”

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