chapter 5 - compressed air

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“Mom, I going to Mars!”

“Oh, Barry, that’s wonderful!” declared Cindy. “When?”

“Within six months,” replied a beaming Barry. “We’ve been training for two years and now it’s finally going to happen!”

Cindy gave her big strong son a hug and kissed him on the cheek. “I wish your father could see you now.”

“Me too,” reflected Barry. “Do you think he’d be proud of me?”

“Proud?!?” asked a stunned Cindy. “He was always proud of you. And he loved you very much.”

“I guess so,” revealed Barry. “It’s just that sometimes I find myself forgetting what he looked like. I have very vivid memories of him but I’m afraid I’m going to forget him.”

“Oh, don’t be silly,” offered Cindy. “All you have to do is take a good look in a mirror and you’ll see your father.”

“Then he must have been a very handsome guy,” teased Barry.

“Yes, he was,” smiled Cindy as she gently slapped Barry on his arm. “And you are too.”

“You know, Mom, I’ll be gone about a year,” observed a more somber Barry. “I worry about you being here alone.”

“Oh, don’t you worry about me,” offered Cindy. “You’re going to have enough to worry about during your mission. Besides, with my son being the first human on Mars, I’ll have plenty of company around here.”

“Now, you know you don’t have to talk to the press unless you really want to,” declared Barry.

“Oh, you know me, I’ll talk to anybody who’ll listen,” reflected Cindy. “Besides I’ve got hundreds of pictures of you I want to show.”

“Please don’t show my naked baby pictures,” pleaded Barry.

“Oh, don’t worry,” smiled Cindy. “I’ve only got two.”

“But knowing you, that’ll be the only pictures you’ll show,” laughed Barry.

“Now, have more faith in your mother than that,” ordered Cindy. “Of course, I can’t help you had a cute little butt.”

“Oh, mother!” replied an embarrassed Barry. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too, son,” smiled Cindy as she once again hugged her son. “Now you make me a promise.”

“OK.”

“You go to Mars and enjoy yourself,” ordered Cindy. “But you be sure to come back safely to me.”

“I will, Mom.”

############### 

“Orbit tomorrow, then touchdown two days later,” declared Floyd.

“Am I the only one or does it seem like these three months have taken forever?” mused Barry.

“The last three months?” asked Wendy. “The last two and half years have been a lifetime.”

“Well, it’s not going to be long now,” observed Floyd. “I want everybody to get plenty of rest over the next twenty-four hours. We’re gonna need it.”

“Yes, doctor,” saluted Barry.

“Barry, you haven’t told us what you’re going to say,” reflected Wendy. “You have thought of something haven’t you?”

“Well, I’ve been thinking about it,” revealed Barry.

“Thinking about it?!?” asked a shocked Wendy. “You’d better do more than just think about it!”

“Wendy’s right, Barry,” chimed in Floyd. “Even to this day everyone remembers Armstrong’s first words on the moon.”

“’That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind’,” offered Wendy. “You’d better come up with something just as good when you step out onto Mars.”

“Well, how about ‘Help!! I’m melting, I’m melting’,” laughed Barry.

“Oh you’re crazy,” laughed Wendy.

“Or how about, ‘I’m here, I’m queer, get over it’,” offered Floyd.

“Yeah, and when I got back home to Mom, I’d be one dead astronaut,” smiled Barry. “She’s done got a list of ‘potential brides’ for me when I get back.”

“Momma want grandbabies,” teased Wendy.

“Oh, you folks don’t know the half of it,” offered Barry. “She’d worry you to death over something like that.”

“Well, people it’s time to get some rest,” reflected Floyd. “Doctor’s orders!”

“Yes, sir!”

############### 

Valdi and her daughter walked down the main street of the capital city of Alpha Centauri. As they turned a corner, they came face to face with a Krogan soldier.

“What are you two maggots doing out in the middle of the night?” barked the Krogan.

Valdi bowed her head and replied, “Our Master has sent us on an urgent mission.”

“A Master sent two Centauri maggots to take care of business for him,” mocked the Krogan. “What kind of Master would even think of doing that?”

“Well, sir, he did have a little Krogan liquor after dinner,” mused Valdi.

The Krogan soldier burst into laughter, “Krogan liquor never did harm anyone. In fact, it’s hearty for the soul.”

“May we proceed with our mission?” asked Valdi. “I would not want to disappoint my Master.”

“All right, go on,” replied the Krogan as he continued to laugh. “You two little maggots be careful. You never know when some big old mean Krogan will try to take you away from your Master.”

“Thank you, sir.” 

Valdi and her daughter, Khosnos, continue down the street and then ducked into a nightclub that catered to the slave population. They walked to the back of the club and sat down at a table against the wall. Shortly a male and female joined them. 

“What is your name?” demanded the man.

“My name is Valdi, and this is my daughter, Koshy,” replied Valdi. “Are you two Swashkinese?”

“My name is Dominic, and this is my wife, Hope,” offered Dominic. “And, yes, we are Swashkinese.”

“I didn’t know there were any of your species left,” mused Valdi. “I thought the last were destroyed at Camp Mogandish.”

“There’s a few of us left,” reflected Hope. “It’s not from the lack of you Centauries trying to kill us.”

“Look, at one time I had those feelings against you, too,” offered Valdi. “But over the years I have come to see things in a different light.”

“It makes a difference when you walk in another’s shoes for a while, doesn’t it?” asked Dominic. “But hopefully your daughter’s generation and ours can put that behind us.”

“I believe we do have a common goal,” offered Hope. “That of ending the Krogan tyranny and restoring peace and prosperity to this system.”

“That is my goal,” offered Valdi.

“Mine, too,” replied Khosnos.

“Then you have come seeking our help,” mused Dominic. “I believe I have what you are looking for.”

“You have knowledge of where we can obtain a fighter ship?” asked a hopeful Valdi.

“Yes, I do,” replied Dominic. “Here is the key and the override codes that you’ll need.”

“And here is a map showing you how to sneak unnoticed onto the Krogan air base where the ship is,” offered Hope.

“Thank you,” said Valdi. “I do not have the means to pay you for this.”

“Getting rid of the Krogans will be payment enough,” reflected Dominic. “We ask nothing more.”

“Wow, you actually hate the Krogans more than you do us Centauries,” observed Valdi.

“Oh, I refuse to hate anyone anymore,” offered Dominic. “Hatred has got us to where we are today. Hatred made us enemies and outcast of the Centauri Right. And now hatred makes us slaves to the Krogans. I guess if anything, I hate hatred.”

“I wish it were that easy for me,” revealed Valdi. “I have an abiding hatred of everything the Krogans stand for. Unfortunately, my people used to stand for much the same thing. But the future’s going to be different. I have promised my daughter that much.”

“Well, we Swashkinese are not totally without blame for the Krogans coming here,” offered Dominic.

“How is that?” inquired Valdi.

“Our families escaped from detention at Camp Mogandish and hid in the caves of Dolihin,” revealed Hope. “Our intentions were to save the Swashkinese species and to seek help from outside the Alpha system.”

“My father devised a transmitter that sent a help message out into space beyond this system,” offered Dominic.

“So that’s the signal the Krogans heard and brought them here,” mused Valdi.

“Yes, it is,” reflected Dominic. “He never dreamed someone like the Krogans would answer the distress call.”

“Who could have imagined the Krogans?” asked Valdi. “I can see that in such dire straits, he was just reaching out to anyone who would listen.”

“Over the years it became a heavy burden on him,” offered Hope. “He never forgave himself for bringing the Krogans here.”

“What happened to him?” asked Khosnos.

“One day he told us all ‘goodbye’,” revealed Dominic. “We heard later that he came to the city, and with a homemade knife, tried to kill a Krogan soldier. They sent his severed head back to us.”

“He thought he could take the Krogan army on all by himself?” inquired Valdi.

“No, I don’t think so,” reflected Dominic. “I have come to believe it was his way of committing suicide and trying to redeem himself for what he did. I guess he thought he would take out a Krogan with him.”

“Did the Krogan die?” asked Khosnos.

“No, he didn’t,” replied Hope. “But he’ll never be able to procreate again.”

“Well, it seems we all have good reasons to carry out this plan,” offered Valdi. “Koshy will find a good and decent species that will come to our aid. I just know she will.”

“I hope so,” offered Dominic. “I truly hope so.”

“Are you going to be safe getting out of this joint?” asked a concerned Valdi.

“Yes, we will,” replied Hope. “After we leave here we’re making our way to Diaden on another stolen ship.”

“It’s a freighter,” revealed Dominic. “It’s slow and can’t go very far, but it’ll get us to Diaden.”

“What’s happening on Diaden?” inquired Khosnos.

“Underground reports suggest that the planet has been taken over by a rebel force of freedom fighters,” offered Dominic. “It’s our hope to join them and help with the cause.”

“The Krogans have lost control over Diaden?” asked a surprised Valdi.

“That’s what we’re hearing,” replied Hope.

“Do you have any word of the workers that were in the mines?” inquired a hopeful Valdi.

“No, we haven’t,” replied Dominic. “All we know is the planet is in the hands of the rebels and they’re working on going against the Krogans on the inner planets.”

“My husband was sent to those mines,” revealed Valdi.

“I’m sorry,” offered Hope. “We just don’t know anything.

“It is interesting,” revealed Dominic. “Though the rebels are Swashkinese, there are rumors that the freedom fighters are being led by two Centauries.”

“Centauries?” asked an amazed Valdi.

“That’s what’s being told,” replied Hope. “Two Centauries and an alien from another world.”

“Maybe we’re not the only ones who hate the Krogans,” reflected Khosnos.

“I’m sure we’re not,” offered Dominic. “Look, I think we’d better be moving on. We don’t want to stay in the same place too long.”

“I believe you’re right,” agreed Valdi. “The Krogans may not be the brightest species, but they do have their moments.”

“Koshy, be safe,” declared Hope. “And God speed to you.”

“Thank you,” replied Khosnos.

“Thank you,” offered Valdi. “Thank you both.”

############### 

“Shhh-hh!”

Valdi motioned for her daughter Khosnos to join her.

“It’s time,” declared Valdi. “I want you to circle the ship from the left. I’ll go around the right and take out the guard.”

“Mother, please be careful!” pleaded Khosnos.

Valdi smiled and brushed her daughter’s hair out of her eyes. “Careful is what I’m all about.” 

Khosnos made her way around the Krogan fighter ship. She hid at the left door entrance. Valdi crept softly and slowly behind the Krogan guard. As he was dozing, she covered his mouth with her hand and buried the knife into his back. His cries for help were expertly muffled and soon he expired and fell to the ground. 

“Koshy,” whispered Valdi. Immediately her daughter joined her. “Are you ready for this?”

“Yes, mother,” replied Koshy. “As ready as I can be.”

“Now remember all the things I taught you,” ordered Valdi. “Don’t worry about reaching orbit. Just get out of this system as quickly as you can.”

“Everything looks just the way you drew it, mother,” observed Koshy. “I shouldn’t have any problems.”

“Good, now buckle up,” offered Valdi. “And dear, I love you.”

“Mother, are you going to be all right?” asked a concerned Koshy.

“Oh, yes,” replied Valdi. “I’ll be safe at the camp. The Krogans have been here so long now they hardly pay any attention anymore to what’s really going on.”

“I love you, mother,” declared Koshy as Valdi pulled the canopy of the ship closed. 

Valdi retreated to a safe distance to watch her daughter start the ship’s engines. In a matter of moments the ship was alive and had lifted off the surface. In a blink of an eye it disappeared into the heavens. Valdi smiled to herself. Her daughter drove a ship just the way she used to.

############### 

The bleach blonde former “Miss Sugar Cookie of the Year” now turned newscast reporter looked at her co-anchor. 

Natalie—“Fred, this is so exciting!”

Fred—“Yes, it is Natalie. For the first time in human history, we have landed on another planet.”

Natalie—“And now we wait for the first human footprints in the Martian soil.”

Fred—“And those footprints will belong to Barry Bailey, a remarkable young man that the whole world has come to know.”

Natalie—“He’s become as famous as the first man on the moon, who was Bill Armstrong. You remember him don’t you Fred?”

Fred—“I, uh, believe that was Neil Armstrong. And yes, I remember that historic occasion. I remember how we all held our breath until we heard those immortal words: ‘Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.’”

Natalie—“Uh, Fred, I thought I read where he had actually said something else, something about a ‘giant leap.’”

Fred—“Well, what I quoted were the very first words that came from a human immediately after they had landed on the moon. I believe what you’re referring to are the first words Armstrong said after stepping out onto the moon’s surface.”

Natalie—“And how did that go again, Fred?”

Fred—“After stepping off the Lunar Lander’s foot pad he said:  ‘That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.’ I still get a chill up my spine every time I hear those words.”

Natalie—“And here we are at another point in history where what is first said from the surface of Mars will be remembered for generations to come.”

Fred—“From the picture showing now, you can see astronaut Barry Bailey making his way down the steps of the Mars Lander.”

Natalie—“We’re going to be especially quiet now so everyone can hear the very first words ever spoken by a human from the surface of Mars.”

(Crackle, crackle) “Shit!! We done screwed the pooch!”

Fred—“Well, I, uh, don’t know what to say.”

Natalie—“There you have it. The history books will be written with this historical first. Future children in grades K-6 will delight in memorizing those immortal words that have been spoken by astronaut Barry Bailey. The very first words ever spoken by a human standing on another planet. I feel my heart fluttering.”

Fred—“I don’t know what I feel.”

Natalie—“Just for the record, let me read exactly what was said by Barry Bailey from the surface of Mars. He said: ‘Shit!! We done screwed the pooch.’ Fred, do you have any information on how long he worked on preparing these words?”

Fred—“I believe at this time we’re going to take a short break. We’ll return in a few minutes.”

 ###############

“Floyd, get down here right away!”

Floyd lumbered down the steps of the Mars Lander. He immediately saw what had upset Barry.

“Is there any way to fix it?” asked Floyd.

“I’ve been able to tighten it some,” replied Barry. “But it’s still leaking.”

“I guess we can report to the engineers that they need a cutoff valve right there,” mused Floyd.

“Yeah, but a lot of good that does us now,” offered Barry. “Earth Control, this is Lander One.”

“Barry, this is Director Stevens,” came the reply. “Do you realize that the whole world heard you swearing?”

“I couldn’t care less right now, Director,” offered Barry. “We’ve got a fuel leak and it’s pretty bad!”

“All right, then, we can talk about your foul language later,” remarked the Director.

“Well, that’s up to you,” smirked Barry. “But if we don’t start working on this leak, you can start preparing the world for the first dying words from another planet.”

“Barry, we don’t have the means to fix a leak like that,” declared Floyd.

The two astronauts took a long hard look at each other. Finally, Barry broke the silence, “Check how much we’ve got left. I’ll check on how fast we’re losing it.” 

After looking at the calculations, Barry declared, “Ok, if we hurry, we’ve got enough left that you can take off and make it back to Wendy and the command ship.”

“Wait a minute,” protested Floyd. “I’m not going to leave you.”

“Yes, you are,” ordered Barry. “I outrank you, so you’re going.”

“I don’t want to go!” yelled Floyd.

“Look, I don’t want you to go either,” replied Barry. “But it’s the right choice. I’m going to take all the compressed air I can and hide out in those caves over there.”

“You can’t make it in there, Barry,” protested Floyd.

“Well, I have the best chance of the two of us,” offered Barry.

“Oh, yes, your famous genetic makeup,” mocked Floyd.

“Don’t hate me because I’m a little different,” smiled Barry. “After all, it’s just a small enhancement, that’s all.”

“A small enhancement?” mused Floyd. “You’re as strong as ten men. I wish I had that small enhancement.”

“Come on, we’re wasting time,” ordered Barry. “Help me unload some of this oxygen. Then you’ve got to get going.”

Floyd and Barry unloaded all the oxygen that could be spared. With Floyd still protesting, Barry picked him up and placed him on the steps of the Mars Lander. 

“You know they're going to come back and get you,” offered Floyd.

“Good, that gives me something to live for,” reflected Barry. “Now get going!” 

Barry stood at a safe distance and watched the Mars Lander ascend into the red Martian atmosphere. Wendy had been keeping Earth Control appraised of the decision made and the progress of the lift off. 

“Barry? Can you still hear me?”

“Yes, Wendy,” replied Barry. “The signal is not very strong, but I can hear you.”

“Earth Control wanted me to tell you that there going at full steam in preparing a rescue mission,” offered Wendy.

“Please tell them I appreciate their effort,” replied Barry.

“Barry, I don’t know what to say,” remarked a tearful Wendy. “It’s not suppose to turn out this way.”

“Well, we all knew the risk,” reflected Barry. “I haven’t given up, yet.”

“And I know Earth Control will not give up either,” offered Wendy. “Is there anything you want me to do?”

“Yeah, when you get back home, will you go see my mother for me?” asked Barry.

“Sure.”

“Will you tell her that I’m OK and don’t worry?” continued Barry. “That I still plan to keep my promise to come home. It’s just going to take me a little longer.”

“That’s the least I can do,” replied Wendy as she wiped the tears streaming down her face. “Anything else?” 

“Just get home safe, that’s all,” requested Barry. “The wind’s picking up here. I’m gonna get this air into the cave and get settled in.”

“Bye, Barry.”

“Goodbye, Wendy.”

############### 

Barry scratched another mark on the wall of the cave. The best he could figure it had been four weeks since he had been left alone on Mars. Wendy and Floyd were well on their way back to Earth and had been out of communication range since they left orbit. Without the Mars Lander there was no means of communicating with Earth Control. He could only hope that they were working day and night to send a rescue team for him.  

Once again he sat down to figure how much oxygen he had and how long it would last. He had done everything he could to reserve the precious air. At times he would actually breathe the Martian air and turn his oxygen off. Barry hoped that if he could get use to the thin air of Mars, he might even be able to survive without the tanks of compressed oxygen. When he had to use the oxygen, he counted his breaths per minute to make sure he used the very minimum amount of air he could.  

Barry knew the cave went deep into the ground, but he had not explored any of it. One day boredom drove him to follow the tunnel of the cave deep into the underground. He was about to turn back when an object caught his attention. Barry was stunned to realize that the object was not naturally made. This meant that at one time there had been life on Mars. Barry felt a sense of satisfaction in finding proof of life, the very reason that mankind had wanted to come and explore the Martian planet. The metallic object was actually shaped like a bomb that could be carried on a space ship. Writing on the object had faded over time, but could still be seen, though it was completely foreign to Barry. 

With thoughts running wild Barry made his way back to the entrance of the cave. As he was turning the final corner, he stumbled into the alien knocking both of them to the ground.  

“Who?!? What are you?!?”

The alien jumped to its feet and adjusted an object on its belt.

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” asked the alien.

“Who are you?” repeated Barry.

“My name is Koshy. I come from the Alpha Centauri system,” explained Koshy. “And just who are you?”

“I’m Barry, and I come from Earth,” replied Barry.

“That’s where I was headed before I had to land here,” offered Koshy.

“You were going to be First Contact,” reflected Barry. “Are you by yourself?”

“Yes. I was traveling to your planet to seek help,” explained Koshy. “But my ship developed a fuel leak and this is as far as I could go.”

“Well, that’s kind of ironic,” smiled Barry. “I’m stranded here because of a fuel leak, too.” 

Barry explained to Koshy about Earth’s first adventure to another planet and what had gone wrong. He welcomed her to stay with him until the rescue ship arrived. In turn, Koshy gave the details of her world and why she had tried to escape. 

“That’s amazing,” reflected Barry. “You were actually born on the very day these Krogans made your people slaves?”

“I know, and that’s one reason my mother named me after our fallen leader, Kosnos,” replied Koshy. “My given name is Khosnos.” 

“How did you get Koshy out of Khosnos?” inquired Barry.

“Well, the Krogans forbade the name Kosnos from ever being uttered in their presence,” explained Koshy. “My mother didn’t want to take a chance, so she gave me the name of Koshy.”

“Where’s your father?” asked Barry.

“As far as we know he perished working the mines on our sixth planet, Diaden,” offered Koshy. “I was so young that I never really knew him. Are your parents alive?”

“My Mom still is,” revealed Barry. “I wish I could see her. I know she’s worried sick about me.”

“Well, maybe the rescue ship will be here before long,” offered Koshy. “Listen, I got some oxygen tanks on the ship. We could get them and it would help us hold out a lot longer.”

“Sounds good.” 

Day after day Barry and Koshy talked to each other and tried to keep the hope of rescue alive. Eventually they became trusted friends as they revealed their deepest secrets. 

“Have you ever stopped and thought about the irony of what happened on your world?” asked Barry.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, your leader was intent on making everyone everywhere subject to the Centauri Right, and yet the Krogans came and made you the way you were trying to make everybody else,” reflected Barry.

“I’ve thought about that often,” revealed Koshy. “Once my mother was an ardent supporter of Kosnos and the Centauri Right. But over the years she’s come to look at life a little different.”

“I believe it’s everyone’s Right to live the way they want to,” offered Barry. “The whole thing is to have respect for another’s person’s choice.”

“Is that the way it is on your world?” inquired Koshy.

“No, not always,” revealed Barry. “We certainly have had a checkered past. We’ve had our share of our own Kosnos and Krogans. But we keep learning. We just have to keep adjusting our thinking.”

“Well, I do believe that if we can ever get the Krogans off our back, we will build a better world than we’ve ever known,” reflected Koshy. “I know I want to try.”

Barry grabbed some rationings and started to open the can. “This is all I’ve eaten for weeks. I’m really getting tired of it.”

“On my ship were some Krogan rationings,” offered Koshy. “Let me go get them.”

In a few minutes Koshy returned with the food. She and Barry ate until they were full.

“That really was pretty good food,” offered Koshy.

“Yeah, it’s a lot better than the rationings I’ve been eating,” reflected Barry.

“Shhh-hh,” cautioned Koshy. “Do you hear that soft rumbling? What is it?”

“Uh, I believe, it’s my stomach,” suggested Barry. “I’m not sure that Krogan food is agreeing with me.”

“Oh God, what is that smell?” gagged Koshy. “It’s horrible!”

“Excuse me. I’m sorry,” apologized Barry. “I couldn’t help it. That food made me pass some gas.”

“Whew, that is some wild chemistry,” laughed Koshy.

“And I suppose your species never passes gas?” mocked Barry.

“Sure we do, but it doesn’t stink like that,” declared Koshy.

“Oh yeah?” laughed Barry. “Let’s smell it.”

Koshy raised her leg and strained until Barry noticed the odor.

“Hey, you’re right, that’s not bad,” marveled Barry. “It kind of has a minty smell to it.”

“I told you so,” bragged Koshy.

“Listen, I want to show you something I found,” declared Barry. 

Koshy followed Barry as they went deep into the cave. Before long they came upon the metallic object that Barry had discovered weeks before. 

“What is it?” asked Koshy.

“I don’t know,” replied Barry. “It’s got some writing on it.”

“Barry, the writing is Krogan,” declared Koshy.

“Can you read it?”

“Sure,” replied Koshy as she studied the writing. “There’s a lot of technical gibberish but right here it says, ‘Planet Buster’.”

“What’s a Planet Buster?” asked Barry.

“Oh, Barry, I’ve heard my Krogan Master talk about these,” revealed an excited Koshy. “This is the most powerful weapon that has ever been made. It can destroy a whole planet in an instant.”

“Man oh man,” marveled Barry. “What in the world is it doing here?”

“I don’t know,” replied Koshy. “But it looks like it’s been here a very long time.”

“I wonder if it still works?” mused Barry.

“Well, right here is the activation switch,” offered Koshy. “Should I try it?”

“Go ahead.”

Koshy flip the switch and after a moment’s hesitation a light on the bomb started flashing.

“It’s alive,” declared Barry.

“Barry, we could use this to free my world,” declared an excited Koshy. “We have a chance to get rid of the Krogans!”

“Well, for right now, you’d better deactivate it,” offered Barry. “We’ve got to get off this world first.” 

A few days later Barry and Koshy were sitting at the entrance of the cave eating their dinner.

“You’re going to eat Krogan food again?” asked a somewhat concerned Koshy.

“Yeah, I’m just getting so tired of my earthling rationings,” declared Barry.

“Well, you be sure and let me know if your stomach starts rumbling again,” laughed Koshy. “I’ll go stand outside for awhile.”

“Oh, you think that’s funny, huh?” laughed Barry as he grabbed Koshy by the hair. Koshy fought herself loose and took off running. Barry caught her and they wrestled around until they were face to face. Suddenly they both stopped laughing. 

“You know you’re the most beautiful woman on this planet,” declared Barry.

“I’m the only woman on this planet,” mused Koshy as their lips inched their way toward each other’s. As they were about to kiss, a rock nearby crumbled from the blaster fire. Barry and Koshy turned to see a Krogan with a blaster pointed directly at them. 

“You stupid Centauri maggot,” offered the Krogan. “You thought you could get away.”

“Who are you?” demanded Barry.

“I’m just a lonely bounty hunter,” explained the Krogan. “The General pays a hefty price for runaway maggots. He likes them back so he can make an example of them.”

“She’s not going anywhere,” declared Barry.

“And you’re going to be the one to stop me?” laughed the Krogan. He let out a yell and hit Barry in the stomach bending him over with pain. Koshy tried to jump on top of the Krogan but he backhanded her and she fell to the floor.

“You poor pitiful maggots,” laughed the Krogan. “You think you can take on a Krogan?”

“I’ll kill you before you ever take me back,” declared Koshy.

The Krogan bellowed with laughter but suddenly stopped short.

“What is it?” asked Koshy.

“Shh-h,” commanded the Krogan. He started sniffing the air and a concerned look came across his face.

“Do you maggots smell that?” asked the Krogan.

Koshy looked at Barry. He had a silly grin on his face and just rolled his eyes at her.

“You maggots didn’t tell me the Jachwans were here,” declared the Krogan.

“The Jachwans?” asked Koshy.

“Can’t you tell?” pondered the Krogan. “Those smelly little rodents are around here somewhere.”

The Krogan started sniffing around the cave. When he turned his back, Barry jumped on him. With all the strength Barry could muster, he jerked the Krogan’s head until he heard it snap. The Krogan’s lifeless body fell to the floor. 

“That takes care of that bounty hunter,” declared Barry.

Koshy was still lying on the floor. She burst out laughing so hard she could hardly contain herself.

“I just killed this Krogan and all you can do is lie there and laugh?” mused Barry.

“I’m sorry,” replied Koshy while trying to catch her breath. “I just couldn’t help it.”

“What’s so funny?” smiled Barry. “It was just a little compressed air I had to let loose.”

“He thought your gas smelled like the Jachwans,” replied Koshy as she tried to regain her composure.

“Who in the world are the Jachwans?” asked a bewildered Barry.

“Oh, they’re the dreaded enemy of the Krogans,” replied Koshy. “They can’t stand the sight of them. They breathe methane and I guess they smell like you.”

“Very funny,” mocked Barry. “Well, at least it worked to our advantage.”

“Oh, Barry,” offered an excited Koshy. “We’ve got the Krogan’s ship. We can leave this planet!”

“And we can take the Planet Buster with us,” declared Barry.

“Oh, my God, Barry,” mused Koshy. “We really do have a chance of freeing my world.”

“Let’s make our plans,” offered Barry. “But before we head to your world, I want to make one stop.”

“Let’s do it,” yelled Koshy as she hugged Barry’s neck.

############### 

“No, I’m not going to do anymore interviews,” declared Cindy. “I just want my son home.”

As she hung up the telephone she heard a gentle knock on her front door.

“I said no more interviews,” yelled Cindy as she opened the door. There staring her in the face was her son, Barry.

“Oh, my!!!” whispered Cindy as she grabbed her son. She smothered his face with kisses as she started crying.

“I thought I’d never see you again,” cried Cindy. “How?!? How did you get home?”

“Oh, Mom, I had a lot of help,” declared Barry. “I want you to meet somebody.”

Barry motioned for Koshy to come out from the side of the house and join him and his mother.

“Mom, this is Koshy,” continued Barry. “This beautiful creature helped me get home.”

“Hello.”

“Hello, Koshy,” offered Cindy as she looked her over. “My name is Cindy.”

“It’s nice to know you,” declared Koshy.

“You’re not from around here, are you dear?” asked Cindy.

“No, she’s from a world far away,” explained Barry. “She helped me to come and see you and now I’m going to go help her save her world.”

“You know, Barry,” offered Koshy. “The ship has enough room for another person if your mother would like to come with us.”

“Well, I don’t know,” reflected Cindy.

“Oh, come on, Mom,” begged Barry. “It’ll be the chance of a lifetime!”

“Well, why not?” smiled Cindy.

“All right!” said an exuberant Barry and Koshy at the same time.

“But Barry, dear, I must say, Koshy looks nice and all,” mused Cindy as she lowered her voice. “But she’s got awful skinny legs.”

“Mom, they’re not skinny,” corrected Barry. “They’re slender.”

“Oh, no, Barry, they’re skinny,” replied Cindy. “I’ve seen fatter legs on a mosquito.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter, mother,” declared Barry. “This is the woman I love.”

“You love me?!?” asked a surprised Koshy.

“Yes, I do,” replied Barry as he turned to her. “And if you love me, I think. . . .”

The rest of his words were never finished as Koshy had jumped onto his lap and was kissing him as hard as he had ever been kissed.

“Well, it sure is getting hot out here,” smiled Cindy as she fanned herself with her apron.

############### 

“Director, there’s a phone call for you,” declared the aide.

“Please take a message,” responded Director Stevens. “I too busy right now.”

“Uh, sir, the caller claims to be Barry Bailey!” said a shocked aide.

“Sure, it is,” mocked the Director. “Barry’s a hundred million miles away and he’s calling me on the telephone!”

“Sir, the caller said to tell you that you have a choice,” responded the aide. “He said you could either kiss his right butt cheek or you could choose to kiss his left butt cheek.”

The Director froze. “Let me have that phone!” he ordered.

“Barry?!?”

“Director, how are you?” asked Barry.

“W-What’s going on? How is this possible?” stuttered the Director.

“Listen, I don’t have much time,” responded Barry. “There’s no need for a rescue. An alien from Alpha Centauri found me and brought me home.”

“Do what?!?”

“You heard me,” offered Barry. “Now I can’t come to the control center right away. I’ve got to go help this alien fight off some bad guys.”

“Barry, I must be hallucinating,” declared the Director.

“No, you’re not,” replied Barry. “Just put a halt on the rescue. If you send them to Mars you’re not going to find me there. When I get back I’ll explain it all to you.”

“Barry, I want to see you now!” ordered the Director.

“Can’t do it. Gotta go. Bye.”

############### 

“Bring the maggot in here,” ordered the Krogan General. Valdi was brought bound with irons to face the Krogan leader.

“Are you the mother of the runaway maggot?” inquired the Krogan General.

“I am the mother of Koshy, slave of the Krogan Empire,” replied Valdi.

“Where’s your daughter, maggot?” asked the Krogan General.

“I don’t know, master,” replied Valdi.

“Lies!! Nothing but lies!” yelled the Krogan General. “How dare you defy me, you worthless piece of slime!”

“I am not trying to defy you, master,” pleaded Valdi. “I am here only to serve you.”

“Then serve me you will,” declared the Krogan General. “You have one day and only one day to bring me your daughter. Now, get out of my sight.”

The soldiers led Valdi out from the presence of the Krogan General.

“The General of old, that I once knew, would be holding that maggot’s severed head,” mused the Krogan Secretary. “Instead, you show mercy and give her another day?”

“Are you trying to say something?” snarled the Krogan General.

“It just seems to me that every since we lost Diaden to those maggot rebels, you’ve become quite timid,” offered the Krogan Secretary.

“Timid?!?” bellowed the Krogan General. “You watch your tongue you piece of Jachwan slime. We’re holding our own against them in the inner planets.”

“Holding our own?” mocked the Krogan Secretary. “General, it should have never got that far!”

“We were caught by surprise,” offered the Krogan General.

“And why was that?” continued the Krogan Secretary. “It’s because we’ve become so dependent on the slaves to do everything for us that we can hardly do anything for ourselves anymore.”

“I suppose you would have done things different?” barked the Krogan General.

“If given the chance, yes I would,” replied the Krogan Secretary. 

The Krogan General bounced to his feet and shouted as he drew his saber from its sheath, “See how timid I am when I hold your severed head in my hand!!” Withdrawing his sword, the Krogan Secretary barked, “I’ll give your carcass to the maggots for their dinner!!”

“Sir, we have an urgent communication coming in from outside the system,” interrupted a Krogan Aide.

“Put it on my teleprompter,” ordered the Krogan General as he spit at the Krogan Secretary and placed his sword back into his belt.

“To all Krogans residing in the Alpha Centauri system, please take heed. You are to leave this system immediately or face annihilation.”

“Who dares to waste my time with this dribble?” yelled the Krogan General.

“It is I, Koshy, once a slave of the Krogan Empire. Now I am free, and I am prepared to destroy the entire Alpha Centauri system to rid it of the Krogan infestation.”

The Krogan General looked at the Krogan Secretary and both of them burst into laughter. “A slave making such demands? When I get my hands on you we’ll see who has the power to make demands!”

“You’ll never get your filthy hands on me. I will destroy you first. You see, I have in my possession a Krogan Planet Buster.”

The Krogan General glanced at the Krogan Secretary who just shrugged his shoulders. “Sure, I’m to believe a maggot slave has a PB? Humor me and tell me where you got such a weapon?”

“The Jachwans gave it to me.”

“Now I know you’re a lying maggot,” declared the Krogan General. “The Jachwans have never developed a PB.”

“I said it was a Krogan PB, you idiot. The Jachwans found it in the Sol system. It seems you left it there centuries ago.”

“Sir, the ancient writings do tell of a lost PB in that system,” offered the Krogan Secretary.

“So, maggot, you’ve got yourself a toy,” mused the Krogan General. “One PB is not enough to make me leave.”

“Oh, dear Krogan, that is not all. The Jachwans have studied this PB thoroughly and they are on their way here with the new technology they’ve learned. You have twenty-four hours before they arrive.”

The Krogan General tried hard to control his nausea. “I’ll get back to you,” was all he could muster.

############### 

Valdi ran into the street to join the crowd celebrating the departure of the Krogans. Overnight they had boarded their ships and left in such haste that they left most of their belongings behind. The Centauries were shouting and crying over their freedom that had finally come after more than twenty years in slavery. Word spread quickly about Koshy and how she was responsible for the Krogans leaving.  

The crowd moved out of harm’s way as Koshy steered the Krogan ship to a perfect landing in the town’s square. She opened the ship’s door and was greeted by her mother, Valdi. They hugged and kissed as the crowd wildly cheered. Barry and Cindy made their way out of the ship to join Koshy and her mother. 

“Mother, this is Barry and his mother Cindy,” declared Koshy. “They’re from Earth and they helped me get rid of the Krogans.”

Valdi hugged Barry and Cindy and then hugged her daughter again. Barry grabbed Koshy and gave her a big victory kiss.

“It appears he’s more than just a friend,” smiled Valdi.

“That’s the impression I got, too,” offered Cindy. “They say they’re getting married.”

“Then that makes this an even better day,” declared Valdi as she gave Cindy another hug. 

From the corner of her eye Valdi saw Dominic and Hope waving at her. They all embraced in celebration of the victory over the Krogans.

“I didn’t know you two were here,” laughed Valdi.

“We came just as soon as we heard that the Krogans had left,” offered Dominic.

“Barry, Cindy, here are two friends that helped Koshy leave this planet in search for help,” declared Valdi. “Without their help, she would’ve never found you and none of this would have been possible.”

“It’s my pleasure to meet you,” declared Barry. “This is a glorious day.”

“Yes, it is,” laughed Dominic. “I sometimes wondered if I would live long enough to see it.”

“He’s going to be my son-in-law,” beamed Valdi.

“Congratulations!” offered Dominic.

“Valdi, we have a surprise for you,” smiled Hope. “Take a look over there.” 

Valdi looked across the street at three men standing together. Even though he looked a little older, she immediately recognized one to be her husband, Moshnos. Cindy saw the expression on Valdi’s face and looked in the same direction. She mouthed, “Oh, my God!” when she saw Ted standing beside Moshnos and Carlos. 

Cindy and Valdi’s hearts jumped to their throats as they ran to the awaiting arms of their husbands.

“I didn’t know if you were still alive,” cried Valdi as she kissed Moshnos all over his face.

“I thought I had lost you!” sobbed Cindy as she hugged Ted.

Barry and Koshy joined their parents.

“Barry?!?”

“Dad?!?”

“Koshy?!?”

“Daddy!!” 

Carlos smiled as he watched the happy families try to speak all at once. There was so much to catch up on he knew they would be talking for a long time. 

“Carlos?!?”

He turned to the voice and found a Swashkinese female looking at him.

“Jade?!?” 

“It is you,” smiled Jade as she hugged him.

“I was so sorry to hear about Trevor,” offered Carlos as he stared into her eyes.

“It was hard losing him,” reflected Jade. “I loved him very much. He was a good man.”

“Yes, he was,” agreed Carlos.

“Carlos, you’re a good man, too,” smiled Jade.

“Well, sometimes, I guess,” replied a blushing Carlos.

“So, what are you going to do now that the war’s over?” inquired Jade.

“I don’t know for sure,” replied Carlos. “What about you?”

“Oh, I was thinking we could pick up where we left off,” offered Jade.

“And where was that?” 

Hope elbowed Dominic and pointed to the kissing couple, “I believe your mother is getting reacquainted with Uncle Carlos.” A laughing Hope and Dominic joined Jade and Carlos.

“Valdi, the crowd is calling for you,” offered Moshnos. “Go speak to them.” 

“Speech!”  “Speech!”  “Speech!” 

Valdi made her way onto the palace balcony followed by the rest of the group. The crowd below cheered and yelled as loud as they could. 

“My fellow citizens, this is a glorious day for all freedom loving people!” 

“Freedom!”  “Freedom!”  “Freedom!” 

“No more is the Centauri system in bondage to the evil Krogan Empire. All species can now rebuild their lives in the pursuit of freedom, peace, and prosperity!” 

“Valdi!!”  “Valdi!!”  “Valdi!!” 

“You have asked me to be your queen. I will be your queen, but we will have no dictator! You will elect a parliament that will control the matters of state. You must elect a Chancellor who will be fair to all and will work in pursuing peace with all people. I will be your queen as a symbol and will spend the rest of my life reminding everyone of the importance of remaining free!” 

“Queen Valdi!!”  “Queen Valdi!!” 

“My recommendation to you is to elect as Chancellor a man who has proven himself a lover and fighter for freedom. I give you one of the leaders of the rebel force, Carlos!” 

Carlos waved to the masses below and turned to hold Jade’s hand. The crowd yelled in frenzy adoration. 

“Carlos!!” “Carlos!!” “Carlos!!” 

“There is some irony here. We Centauries used to suppress other species like the Swashkinese. Yet, these two, Dominic and his beautiful wife, Hope, were instrumental in bringing the Krogans to their knees. And that’s not even mentioning what the freedom fighters did on Diaden. We Centauries, in fact, the whole Alpha Centauri system, owe this day to the Swashkinese. May we never forget what they have done!” 

A cheer for the Swashkinese arose from the crowd. Dominic and Hope bowed and waved to the people in the street below. 

“And yet there is even more irony. Two men helped us from the Sol system, the very system that we once had plans to enslave. Let our past actions be a warning to future generations as it is to us who are alive now. Freedom is precious. It is to be cherished. It is to be had by all creation. That is every creature’s Right!!” 

“Freedom!!”  “Freedom!!”  “Queen Valdi!!” 

“And on a personal note, I want to introduce my future son-in-law and his family. They are from the third planet in the Sol system. His name is Barry, and we owe a debt of gratitude to him and his father for their efforts in setting us all free from slavery!” 

Barry, Koshy, Ted, and Cindy waved at the crowd and then Barry and Koshy kissed each other. After a few more minutes all turned and entered the palace, leaving the adoring crowd behind.

############### 

A few days later, Valdi was sitting at her desk when Barry and Koshy entered the room. She hugged both of them and had them sit with her. 

“Mother, do you know what the doctor said when we took our blood test to get married?” asked Koshy.

“No, dear what?”

“He said it was the strangest thing, but Barry and I have certain elements of our DNA that are very similar,” declared Koshy. “How in the world could we be related to each other? We’re from two different worlds.”

“I don’t know,” smiled Valdi. “We just may never know.”

“Your majesty, I greatly appreciate you allowing my parents to stay here at the palace,” offered Barry. “They’ve got a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on their door. I guess they have some catching up to do.”

“I know the feeling,” reflected Valdi. “I’ve got a few papers to sign and then Moshnos and I are going to get away. We may never come back.”

“Oh! Mother!” laughed Koshy. “You will be back for the wedding? Everyone’s going to be there. Even Carlos and Jade will be back from their honeymoon for it.”

“Of course, dear,” smiled Valdi. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“And then, if it’s all right with you, I would like to go back and visit Earth,” reflected Barry.

“Of course, anytime you want to,” replied Valdi.

“I like Earth, mother,” observed Koshy. “I was thinking maybe Barry and I could spend our honeymoon there and that way, oh God, Barry did you have to pass gas right here in front of mother?”

“I didn’t. I’m innocent,” protested Barry.

“Your majesty,” interrupted the crier. “Delegates from the system of Jachwan request an audience.” 

“Jachwan?” mused Valdi. “Please show them in.”

The two Jachwan delegates approached and set gifts at the feet of Queen Valdi.

“Thank you for seeing us, your majesty. My name is Tamaa and this is my pilot, Hamuu.”

“Tamaa and Hamuu, I welcome you to the free Alpha Centauri,” replied Valdi.

“Your majesty, we were traveling nearby when we heard Princess Koshy’s message to the Krogan General,” explained Tamaa.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” apologized Koshy. “It was just a little lie. I was trying to scare the Krogans into thinking you Jachwans were coming to our rescue.”

“No, need to apologize, Princess,” declared Tamaa.  “In fact, we thought it was an excellent piece of strategy. But we did become very interested when we heard about the Planet Buster.”

“I’m sure you did,” smirked Barry.

“Oh, I beg your pardon, sir,” protested Tamaa. “We are a peaceful species. We too have felt the tyranny of the Krogans as well as other species. We mean to harm no one.”

“Then why such interest in our PB?” asked Koshy.

“With PB technology we would be able to secure our place in the universe,” declared Tamaa. “The Krogans, Qualins, and other powerful species would leave us in peace. It would give us an even playing field as it were. That is all our interest in such a weapon.”

“Well, your words sound good,” reflected Valdi. “But unfortunately, we’ve heard grandiose things before.”

“Your majesty, I greatly respect your suspicions,” offered Tamaa. “But our feelings are more than just simple words. Peace has become our way of life. A few years ago we adopted a Good Neighbor policy. It has been our guiding principle ever since.”

“That’s the principle many on Earth are trying,” mused Barry. “Where did you learn such a policy?” 

“Actually, it was from your very world,” revealed Tamaa. “Hamuu and I were shown such light of truth from earthlings and now it is the Jachwan way of life.”

“Well, I’m not sure I’m convinced we should share such a weapon with you,” observed Valdi.

“If I may, your majesty,” requested Tamaa. “We have traveling with us two ambassadors who are better at explaining things than I am. May they have a moment of your time?”

“Sure, show them in crier,” ordered Valdi.

The crier led the ambassadors into the room.

“Hi ya’ll. My name’s Cledus and this here’s Roy.”

“You’re from Earth!” remarked a stunned Barry.

“Yep, one and the same,” replied Cledus. “These little fellas come and fetch us every once in a blue moon when they want us to speak to some other outer space fellas.”

“They let me drive,” offered Roy.

“Ya look very familiar, like we’d knowed ya,” observed Cledus to Barry. “Are ya one em Miller boys?”

“The ones that moved down from southern Georgie,” declared Roy.

“Yep, one and the same,” offered Cledus.

“Well, my mother’s maiden name is Miller,” replied Barry. “I believe you’re talking about her brother, my uncle. He moved down from Georgia.”

“I knowed it! I knowed it!” laughed Cledus.

Tamaa and Hamuu gave a knowing glance at each other.

“Ya ain’t mean like em are? Are ya?” asked Roy.

“Now, Roy,” declared Cledus. “Thar ain’t no need to hurt this fellas feelings. A fella can’t help who his kin is.”

“I didn’t mean nothin’ by it, Cledus.”

“I knowed, Roy.”

“But they are mean,” offered Roy.

“I knowed, Roy.”

“Real mean, too.”

“Well, what these little fellas is sayin’ is purty near right,” offered Cledus. “They ain’t up to no harm. They even gave me some medicine for my old bum knee. Ain’t stiff like it used to.”

“And they got me a new ticker,” offered Roy.

“Of course, they is stinkin’ a lot,” reflected Cledus. “But other than that ya can trust em.”

“And Tamaa’s sister’s sweet on Cledus,” smiled Roy. “Cledus’ done sweet on her, too.”

“Oh, gosh, darn,” said an embarrassed Cledus. “She’s a cute little thing and all. Stinks though. I mean ST—IN—IN—INKS. I ain’t never smelt nothin’ worsen’. But my old nose stays stopped up purt near all the time. I ain’t use to these little fellas’ air. So it ain’t awfully bad.”

“So, you think we can trust the Jachwans?” asked Barry.

“Sure enough,” declared Cledus. “They just want to look over that big old bomb ya got. These little fellas trust us. They uns even let Roy drive. I’m here to tell ya, you gotta have trust to let Roy drive. I mean to tell ya, he’ll zig it to the right, and then he’ll zag it to the left. Then he’d zig it to the right again. He ain’t never gone in a straight line. These little fellas was purt near getting sick on the way over here. I says that’s all I needs, em stinkin’ and pukin’ at the same time.”

“They let me go fast, too,” offered Roy.

“We’ll have our scientist come here,” offered Tamaa. “That way it will be under your control at all times. You can even post soldiers to watch us. And of course, we’re willing to share any information that we learn.”

“Well, I believe we may be able to reach an agreement,” offered Valdi.

“Also, your majesty,” added Tamaa. “We would be very interested in signing a treaty with you. That way we could help each other if we ever came under an attack from someone like the Krogans.”

“I believe that is something we can negotiate,” mused Valdi. “Of course, the parliament will need to approve all this.”

“Roy, go get the corn whisky,” ordered Cledus. “It looks like it’s time we do a little celebratin’.”

“I’m on my way,” replied Roy.

“Oh, mother,” cried Koshy. “Things are turning out wonderful!”

“Yes, they are, dear,” replied Valdi. “But we still have much work to do. I just wish we had learned these lessons years ago. It would have prevented so much suffering and loss of lives.”

“Well, your majesty,” offered Tamaa. “I believe life is a continual learning process. It’s something all species have to go through.”

“I believe you’re right, Tamaa,” observed Valdi. “Slaves are not given the opportunity to learn. You must be free to have that chance. May we never allow that learning to stop. Learning is our Right.”

THE END

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