Graham Heights
Rainier
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Chapter 45
One's Destiny
Journal Entry - July 16th 2095
Julia Scott
There was a certain safety about being on the ground after yesterday’s flight. I just wish I could say we were no worse for the ordeal, however that is not the case. Tommy has a fractured arm, most likely the Radial and we splinted it, which makes him about half useless. And Freyja ..we are not sure just how extensive her injuries are. She was banged up real good and we are sure she has a concussion, but we fear it might be worse. Her vision is blurry and she has had a horrible headache since our landing, check that crash…
“What do we do?” Julia screamed at Jordy
“Tell everyone to strap themselves to anything solid.” Jordy was fighting the controls as the last bit of power drained from the number two engine.
Julia yelled instructions to the back as she knew that Jordy would not let her leave the cockpit. Jordy then instructed her to tie herself to the chair. He never looked over he just kept scanning the horizon and moved the steering wheel back and forth.
The ground was very close now and its details were a mixture of sand, sagebrush and sand. The bleached out landscape did not seem inviting at all. Yet here they were.
The first contact was violent and short, the plane sort of bounced and everything went weightless, then a second violent shudder said we were back on the ground, this was followed by a horrible screeching sound that penetrated your soul and more vibrations with an enormous banging coming from the ground. Another moment of weightlessness followed by more banging and screeching.
Then it went very wrong, the left side of the plane sagged followed by an enormous crash and ripping sound…
During the sudden stop the plane’s left wing collapsed letting the fuselage fall to the ground and bringing the wind straight up. And as the ground tried to tear the wing from this ailing bird the engine, with its still rotating blades, came crashing into the fuselage, then ripped itself off the wing and crumbled to the ground. The plane swerved into the engine as to cradle the grounds effect, only to suffer for it. That’s when the right wing’s landing gear gave out and the plane fell yet again as it skidded into a sand drift. The sudden change in the terrain broke open the left wing and what little fuel was left in the tank was ignited by the spark of metal skidding across concrete.
Julia could hear yelling, smell smoke, but for some reason could not move. There was someone to her right banging on metal. Then the sky, she could see the sky and smell smoke. The sky jerked and she could feel the ground beneath her. She thought, Oh good, not sure why, but it was good to see the sky.
Someone else was beside her, it was Bart. That’s when Julia realized she needed to get up. The plane had crashed and she needed to help. She was the head elder and she needed to help. She tried to get up on her elbows, but it hurt a lot. She tried to roll over and get to her hands and knees, but when she did she saw blood on the ground. She was bleeding and you have to stop bleeding or you die. Then someone else was dropped next to Julia, it was Freyja . Freyja didn’t look good. She was not moving and her hair was in front of her face and it was very dark, too dark for Freyja s hair. Julia reached over to sweep it away and then saw the source of the darkness. A gash on Freyja ’s forehead was bleeding badly. It was deep and she was not conscious. Julia snapped out of the fog that was over her and yanked her coat off. Then her shirt. She bundled it up and placed it on the gash. She had to stop the bleeding. That’s when Jordy returned with Tommy in one arm and supporting Luke with the other.
“If you bundle up the body of the shirt and use the sleeves to tie it with, you will make a betting compression bandage.” Jordy instructed.
Tommy sat by Freyja with his right arm held close to his body. He did not move it, but used his left to check Freyja for any other injuries. Luke was dazed but seemed unhurt. Julia took stock of the members that were loosely assembled, and realized that someone was missing. “Where’s Lisa?” When she looked up, Jordy was already gone.
Bart was now moaning and moving. Luke just looked back at the plane, said nothing and did nothing. Julia finished the bandage around Freyja ’s head and Tommy just sat there saying that she didn’t want to come. We were all in shock, but where the hell is Lisa. Julia was trying to gather the strength to stand. She had to find no help Jordy find Lisa.
There was fire and smoke coming from what was left of the plane, but something was missing. The front had a huge hole where the cockpit was and the right wing was propped up on a sand dune and on fire, the fuselage… the tail, where was the tail?
Jordy then appeared from behind the burning wing, he was carrying something, no someone. Julia wanted to run to him, but she couldn’t even muster the strength to stand, so she waited. Luke didn’t look, he just hung his head. Bart was beginning to moan more and try to bring himself back to reality.
This was bad and Julia knew it. Not just the injuries, but they were, by all accounts from the descent, in the middle of nowhere and most of their supplies were still in the burning plane, yet none of them could do anything about it. Jordy walked right up to Luke and placed Lisa in his arms. He accepted her and looked at her face. She was at peace, but the rise and fall of her chest also said that she was alive.
Jordy then started shoveling sand onto the fire. With such efficiency he systematically put it out fires and half buried the plane. Then he set Buster at the task of randomly picking sage brush and placing them about the plane. From the looks of it, Jordy had planned to camouflage the existence of this aircraft. Once that was set in motion, he approached the batter group of humans with the medical tricorder and started addressing wounds. Luke and Lisa were at the bottom of the scale as they appeared to be the healthiest. Bart was next; one broken rib and some strained muscles in his back. Tommy had two broken ribs and a fractured radial bone. Then it was Freyja s turn. She was still unconscious, but the gash on her forehead had stopped bleeding. She however, did have a concussion and some hemorrhaging on her brain. It wasn’t bad, but when it comes to the brain, anything is far from good. After that moment Jordy changed,
“We need to move.” Jordy commanded.
Julia was quite recovered and shot to her feet, “What the hell do you mean, move?”
With no emotion Jordy repeated, “We need to move because SAT comm 3 will be rising out of the Eastern horizon in two hours and we can’t be here.”
This time is was Tommy, “You emotionless piece of shit!” he tried to get up, “You force us onto the death trap, crash it in the middle of fracking nowhere.” He waves is his good arm. “And now we are just to pick up and what..” He looked around. “Where the hell do you want us to go?”
Julia tried to console him, but he resisted. “You just about kill Freyja .” Tommy looked down at her.
Bart was by Tommy’s side and was helping him and talking calmly, “It will be okay, we’re not alone.”
Jordy stood over the group, “If we don’t move, we would have done all this for nothing. I’m not asking that we try to venture out this evening, we just need to get under cover, and for now that means what’s left of the plane.”
That did not go well with the group. Climbing back into something that just about killed them was not a good idea, however it was the only cover as far as the eye could see. After a few more minutes of grumbling Luke and Bart build a stretcher for Freyja and placed her on it. Then Tommy helped Lisa while Luke and Julia one side and Bart on the other, picked up Freyja and brought her back to the broken fuselage of the plane. The smell of smoke and fuel still lingered in the plane. Jordy located the thermal suits. In the end they just used Freyja ’s as a cover and the rest took turners dressing outside. Jordy and Buster finished the final touches of disguising the wreck as just being a part of the landscape. Jordy actually buried the engines as they were still a little on the warm side and needed some earth over them to reduce the signature. The sand was already warm so it didn’t take much. As the time approached for the spy to cross the sky, everyone took up different locations in the cabin so as to spread out their thermal signature. Jordy was by the breach in the hull watching for the satellite to appear on the Eastern horizon. Once it was up he ducked back in and turned himself down. After twenty minutes Jordy started up like nothing had happened. He checked on Freyja first, no change. Then addressed the broken ribs of Bart and Tommy. Neither gentlemen like the solution, which was to wrap their abdomens tightly with cloth. Jordy explained this this would restrict their movement and allow the fractures in the bones to heal.
Once all this was done he turned to Julia, “Now it’s your turn.”
Julia brushed him away, she felt fine. However, Jordy told her to be still and he scanned her. She had suffered a few bumps and scrapes, but what concerned Jordy was the hormone changes that were happening. He informed Julia, “You will have your period soon, did you bring supplies for that.”
Julia was embarrassed and then concerned. It had been more than five weeks and she has not had any sign of her monthly visitor. However this was hardly the place to discuss such a subject amongst mixed company. Julia thought to herself, did she bring her supply of sanitary products.
Lisa interrupted, “If you need anything I have extra.”
Julia could feel her face flush. This was not happening. She wanted to run out of the plane and to sleep under the stars away from everyone. It was her coping mechanism. Keep people away and keep herself safe. Well, this was not safe. This was crazy.
The rest of the night went quite uneventful. Julia woke before dawn and was surprised to be the second one up. Bart was sitting outside the plane with his head bowed. At first Julia thought he might have been sleeping, but without lifting his head, he said, “Good morning.”
“Good Morning to you.” Julia was a little surprised and concerned that she had interrupted something. “Are you praying?”
“Always.” Responded Bart, still not moving.
“Am I interrupting?” Julia asked hoping she was so she had an excuse to slip off and be alone.
“Not at all my dear.” Said Pastor Bart. “I was hoping to finish our conversation from a month ago.” Bart scooted over on the blanket that was placed on the sound mound that took out the left wing. It gave an individual some advantage of looking out over the flat valley they had landed in.
Julia didn’t want to sit with Bart, but didn’t want to be rude either, the politician won out and she went over to Bart and sat down. Julia sat in silence and waited for the morning sun to break over the valley and hopefully reveal something worth landing for. The brief amount of time they had last evening didn’t offer much hope, but with the new day dawning, hope could be revived.
“Jordy went out about three hours ago to see where we are. He could not quite get a fix with the little amount of time that he track the satellite last night.” Bart reported.
“Were you awake when he left?” Ask Julia realizing it was a dumb question after she spoke it.
“Actually, no.” Bart stated, “Jordy woke me up and made me take the watch.”
“Oh.” Julia said.
“It was quite refreshing to be out here, listening to what is left of this place.” Bart admitted. “There are rodents, and owls and insects.” Bart reported.
“Really?” Julia was surprised, “You heard all that?”
“Oh I heard a lot more than that.” Bart adjusted himself to look at Julia. “When we first started this venture back in Rainier, you asked me a question.” Bart paused.
Julia didn’t take the bait, she just looked out over the desert and wondered how they were going to get out of here.
Bart continued unabated. “You asked my why I was assisting your captors.” Bart let the statement marinate.
Finally Julia was ready, “Yes, I did and you gave some vague answer.”
“Yes, because at the time that’s all I knew.” Bart said.
Julia just about jumped up, “Are you crazy, they kidnapped me and..”
“And saved your life.” Bart answered.
“You didn’t know that!” Julia wanted to make her point.
“Have you ever wondered what makes you so important, that people have risked their lives to get you here.” Bart indicated the valley they were in.
“Here!, we are in the middle of nowhere and with little to no resources to survive more than a few days. No, I don’t wonder why I’m here. I wonder why the hell God let them bring me here.” Julia spat out.
“I think the best way to see it, is in a matter of perspective.” Bart spoke as he waved his hand over the valley.
“Our perspective can’t get much worse.” Julia was not happy with this analogy.
“Exactly.” Bart admitted. “We have such a crappy perspective of our life, our future and everything that is around us.”
Julia walked right into that one. She gave Bart a disapproving look.
Bart plowed on anyway, “Yet, we tell God how to solve our problems.”
“How does that apply to me and this place?” Julia’s angry simmered.
“Have you asked God to get you out of here?” Bart asked.
Julia did not answer right away, this was a trap and she knew it. She indeed had pleaded with God to rescue her, but here she is and no rescue. However, that did not mean that he wouldn’t or couldn’t. She knew that, but where was Bart going. This was a game and she was going to win. However, there was only one answer, “Of course I have. Any sane person would.”
“Yes, any sane person would ask to be release from their captors. But maybe you should ask God, why am I hear and or what do you want me to do?” Bart said.
Julia just about hit her head with the palm of her hand. She had read this in her Great Grandfather’s journals. We keep telling God how to solve our problems instead of asking him for the solution and trusting that it is the right way to go.
“Just maybe you’re suppose to be here and you’re just to stubborn to do it yourself so God sent a little help.” Bart said in a fatherly tone.
Julia wanted to be angry, she wanted to disagree and she wanted to be at her cabin, but she wasn’t. And she did not know why, nor had she asked. Jordy claims that Mr. Monroe wanted her dead. Captain Hanson wants her by his side and Julia just doesn’t know where she suppose to be, all she knew was that she didn’t want to die. Check that she didn’t want to be left behind to die. “I know He wanted me to go.”
“So, you have marching order, but did you ask how?” Bart asked the sky.
Julia was embarrassed, she had not asked, but she had a plan or a plan was presented to her. She was suppose to go. “This… this desert was not a plan!”
“No, it was not your plan.” Bart said.
“Freyja could die, how is this a plan.” Julia was getting really upset.
“What if this is bigger than Freyja ?” Bart asked.
“What is bigger than young woman’s life. You are making absolutely no sense.” Julia was not thinking, she was angry and she wanted to be angry.
“You said that you felt right when you told Captain Hanson that spiritual people were essential to the survival of the human race.” Bart said.
“You eavesdropped on Jordy and me.” Julia sounded hurt.
“You weren’t talking quietly or exclusively, so yes.” Bart said with some justification in his voice and quit changing the subject.
Julia was not used to being talked to like a child. “I’m the Head Elder of the settlement of Rainier and you would do well to remember that.”
“You use to be the head elder.” Bart cut back. “And you’re missing the point.”
“Okay, yes I do feel that..” She paused, “that spiritual people need to be on those ships, that ship, whatever.” Julia was very angry. This whole thing was absurd, the cabin being blown up, her abduction and then being an unwilling participant in an ill thought venture that landed them here. For what? What the was end goal? To climb aboard another hundred year old something and get shot into oblivion. If you put it all together you wonder just how they have made it this far and what’s worse, how could a computer think all this possible. The probabilities had to be enormous. “This is no plan.” and Julia stood up and spread out her arm over the valley.
“Okay, you’ve been abducted, you’re here against your will and a religious man is helping that machine get you blown off this planet.” Bart was now standing as well, “but the alternative was to give Mr. Monroe and One World the opportunity to kill you once you walked through the front door.”
There were crickets singing in the morning light and not much else. Bart's words were just hanging there. No breeze was going to wash them away. Mr. Monroe had sent a drone to destroy the cabin, which was quite blatant. If Julia was accounted for on the MayFlower, what would stop him from a second or third attempt at killing her.
Julia had hung onto the hope of returning to Rainier and trying to work out some type of relationship with Captain Hanson and such secure her place, but the truth was she could not. She could not return to Rainier, nor could she take the safe route to the MayFlower.
A cold chill cut through her suit and jacket. No, it was not the morning’s cold breeze, it was truth. She was as good as dead if Mr. Monroe found her and if it wasn’t for this motley crew and one half man half robot, she would be dead already. Then the a shiver started in the lower back and made its way to the core of her soul, for once Julia was not in charge of her own destiny.
As you know this blog contains two books of the Remnant Series. Graham Heights is book 3 of the series. Below is more.
Book 4: Obsidian Arrows
Book 1 is now available in paperback or kindle The Grey Abyss
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R. A. Legg
R. A. Legg
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