Alive?

Graham Heights 

Rainier

Pixabay

Chapter 50
Alive?

Journal Entry - August 15th 2095
Lieutenant Jason Knorack

Despite my best efforts, my family and I are in quarantine for the next two weeks.  It was almost traumatizing to reduce our lives down to four boxes that had to weigh less than 95 kilogram.  Luckily it was just for personal items and special cloths.  Everything else would be provided once we were aboard.  

Then they stuck us in here. This waiting…

Jason was pacing the floor and by Paul’s count he was on his 27th pass by the kitchen.  Lorin knew that this was the worst possible scenario for her husband.  He didn’t like cages and this was a cage in more than one way.  

Lorin finally said, “Why don’t you take one of the sedatives the doctor gave you?”

Jason shot her a look that would have stopped most people, “I did.” was all he said and he marched on.  

Lorin knew that it was going to take a lot more to distract her husband and she knew what might work, but it was the middle of the day.  Nevertheless, if she did not do something Jason will have all of them nervous and pacing the floor.  So, on his next pass by the bedroom she ambushed him and slammed the door.  

It was close to an hour before they reemerged and Jason was in a much better state of mind.  Still not quite relaxed, but better.  He just needed to be doing something.   Lorin gave him a squeeze as she went off to the kitchen to start dinner.  Jason went back into the living room where Paul and Samantha were playing video games, another of the advances that One World had brought to them.  Jason’s opinion of them was still out. They seem to consume an enormous amount of time without producing much.   However, here where there was so little to do, they made since.  

Jason sat down to see what the game was and why the kids seemed to enjoy it.  The kids were building villages using natural resources so they could acquire more stuff for the village and the people.   It seemed educational as well as entertaining.    The downside was that everything matured at an incredible and unrealistic rate.  And plowing a field was as simple as pushing a button.  Jason spent days preparing the soil for their personal garden and maintaining it was such an arduous chore that he would not miss it.  .  

As Jason sat there he could feel the restlessness starting to rise again.  Then he realized that it was more than restlessness, he started something and then could not finish it.  Julia was still out there.  Jordy was still missing and he was convinced that the two were related.  What’s worse is that, more than ever, he was convinced that the Captain of the Creatos had something to do with it.  

In Jason’s final efforts to get his orders rescinded, he accused the good captain of the crime of sedition.   This did not go over well and some veiled threats about leaving certain individuals behind were made.  Jason had to think of his family.  He was being backed into a corner and had little to no evidence to support his claims.  In the end, Jason backed down.  His family's future was dependent on playing this little game.  He only hoped that Julia was okay and that her future had a better ending than she was portraying to him just a few months ago.

Jason’s laptop suddenly dinged which indicated that he had an email.  He thought to himself that it was a strange name for an electronic correspondence.  But that is what One World called these thing, so that’s what they must be.  With nothing else to do, Jason got up and opened his computer.  He activated his “email” program and looked at the latest addition to the inbox.  It was from Tiffany.  Apparently she too was reassigned.  She was headed back to South America for a complete check-up and then would join them on the MayFlower.  

Jason realized that the good captain was probably disbanding the whole group, but to reassign Tiff to the Mayflower, well that was just plain strange.   Jason wondered if it was too late to get his files from his previous post.  He quickly tapped out a message to Tiff.  “Glad to hear that you will be joining us in the sky.  Looking forward to working with you again. When do you leave and could you possibly zip up my last and put it on a chip.  Just not done with it yet.   Jason”  

Hopefully she can do it and bring it with her.  It would be a shame to loose all that work.  

There was another ding, Tiff had responded already, “Done-See you soon.”

Jason marveled at these machines, they did have personality and they definitely learned how to deal with the humans that they worked closely with.  But he wondered what she meant by see him soon.  Did she mean on the ship?  Or did she have something else in mind.  He didn’t want to get an explanation because he knew that transmissions were monitored, so what ever Tiff had in mind, it was going to happen quickly.  

About ten minutes later, the intercom buzzed and Jason was again surprised by the sound.  They had had no contact with anyone for three days.  Both kids jumped up to race to the door to see who was calling on them.  Jason just walked towards the door.   The door does not actually open, but the upper part slides down and you can see through the window at the person in the adjacent room. When Jason lower the panel, Tiff was standing at the door.  She was in a clean suit and her hair was gone.  She just stood there.  Jason was not sure what to do next.  

“You can open the door.” Tiff said  and indicated the door knob much like a human.

“Oh, yes.” Jason said as he reached for the knob.  

Lorin walked in at this moment, “Who is this?”

Jason was unsure of what was going on and unsure just how much he could tell his wife. “This is Lieutenant Tiffany, we call her Tiffy.”

Lorin shot Jason a look, why is she here?

“So glad to finally meet you face to face Miss. Knorack.” Tiffy extended her hand.

Lorin took it and they shook. However, the what the hell are you doing here looked did not go away.  “We need to talk sweetheart.” Lorin directed at Jason.

“Excuse me Tiff, I’ll be right back.” Jason was sure Tiff was trying to pass him information, but she was scheduled to go South and this visit would surely be monitored.  

“Lorin what’s wrong?” Jason started in.

“That’s Tiff?” Lorin was angry and unsure.

“Yes, I’ve told you about her.” Jason was a little confused.

“You didn’t tell me she looked like a model.” Lorin was jealous.

“She’s a machine and they can look like whatever they want.” Jason was still unsure why this reaction.

“Why is she here?  This make no sense.  If she was a machine she would just...go or stay or do what they do, but she came here.”  Lorin was trying to put some of this together.  She knew that Jason was at odds with the command and that their sudden departure from Earth was a result of her husband looking for Julia.  Another sour subject.  

“I’m not entirely sure either.  Let me talk to her and see.”  Jason tried to be patronizing without seeming patronizing.  It was not going over well.

“No, we talk to her.” Lorin insisted.

“She won’t tell me anything with you their.” Jason assured her.

“Well then we won’t have anything to worry about then.” Lorin was not going to let Jason’s obsession with finding Julia ruin their chances of leaving Earth.

“They didn’t even let her bring her hair in, so if she has anything it would be verbal and they are listening.” Jason was trying to get Lorin to back down. “So, it must be a social call.”

Lorin was not sold, “She’s a machine!” she said to the wall in the general direction of the entryway.  She then turned to the Jason, “Don’t get us thrown off that ship.” it was more of a plea.

“I just need a two minutes.” Jason said.

“You’re mine and she’s gone.” Lorin shot back.  She was not about to let it go.  

“You act as if I’m still in love with Julia.”  Jason threw his hands up in the air, “That was two decades ago.”

“Yet, she still treats you like her little puppy.”  Lorin shot back.

“It was my job!” Jason shouted back.

“This isn’t, you were relieved.”  Lorin elevated her voice to match her husband’s.

Jason moved in close so he could whisper, “The captain was in on Julia’s abduction.”

Lorin was horrified.  She knew Jason would not stop.   She knew that he had to find the truth.  It was who he was.  Now she was really scared.  “So, we won’t be safe up there either?”  it was almost a statement.

In a whisper, “Someone is trying to kill her and I need to know if we are taking him with us or not.”  He looked at his wife, “I need to know who I can trust.”  Jason looked at Lorin, “Right now, that machine is the only one I trust.” Jason corrected his mistake, “In this One World organization.”

Lorin's shoulders relaxed, she had lost the argument, but her fear of losing her husband to Julia again, was gone.  This was strictly an investigation into the captain and Julia was only a stepping stone to that end.  

Jason left the room and went to the entry, Tiff was not there.  Noise from the video game caught his attention.  So Jason went to the living room and Tiff was with the kids  She was actually playing the game.  

When Jason entered she addressed him, “I was bored so the kids asked me to join them.”

“Sorry.” Was all that Jason could offer, but to himself, Tiff does not get bored.

“The game was a little slow so I did a check-up on the processor.” Said Tiff.

“Oh, I’m sure the kids will love to build their little kingdom faster than they were.” Jason countered.

“The computer banks are full of these games, they were installed so as to build an understanding of what it will take when we reach our destination.” Tiff continued as if it was a practiced speech with little emotion.

“When do you depart for Panama?” Jason got the message and was changing the subject so Tiff could stop dropping hints.

With that Tiff gave her controller to Paul and stood up.  The clean suit made a ton of noise and it was distracting.  Jason and Tiff walked back to the entry and stood there.  Tiff leaned in, “I told them we were having physical relations, that’s why they allowed me in.”

Jason was shocked, but tried to hide it.

“We know how attached humans can get to their toys.” Tiff added loudly and then she kissed Jason.  She then hugged him close, “They will reprogram me and I will lose myself and everything we have worked on.  I’m going to kiss you again and pass you  a chip.  It’s Me.  And I want it back when we see each other again.” then she gave him a long and passionate kiss.  Jason felt the chip against his teeth.  He bit down on it to keep it in place.  Tiffy pulled herself away and looked at Jason.  “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss...you too.” Jason managed.   

Next Chapter

Please add a comment.

If you like Graham Heights, please share the link with friends www.rogeratlarge.com.

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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Thank-you
R. A. Legg

Learn about the individual heroes of Graham Heights. 

R.A. Legg © 2016. All Rights Reserved.

Space Port?

Graham Heights 

Rainier

      Chapter 49

Space Port?

Journal Entry - July 23rd 2095

Julia Scott

We made it to the deserted.. Launch site.  It was suppose to be a spaceport, but the reports of its grandeur was greatly exaggerated.  The site consisted of six above ground buildings, a launch pad and two underground facilities.  All of which were dark and none functioning.  What’s worse is the price we paid to get here…

Jordy did not return on the fourth day, nor the fifth.  We were reduced to the condensed water that we had just excreted earlier in the day.  It was not as bad as is sounded, but it was still hard to swallow.  We reserved most of it for Freyja, however she was not getting any better.  By evening of the fifth day, we were just about ready to pack up and leave on our own.  Bart was also in agreement and we started packing.  That evening Tommy announced that someone was coming.  

No one hid.  If we were caught then so be it.  If it was Jordy, then there was no reason to hide.  As the small procession got closer, we could see buster and four others.  They did not appear to be sneaking up on us, so we breathed a sigh of relief.  

Once Jordy was in speaking range he gestured a friendly greeting.  He had a jug of water in his hand and we accepted it greedily.  Lisa was first, Julia and then the boys.  It tasted great and we devoured it.  Once that need was extinguished we looked at the other treasures that Jordy had.   Buster was loaded down with supplies and water.  The worker AI’s were also burdened with packages.  They all received a new set of cloths and shoes.

Needless to say, spirits were up that night, but they were all but spent by morning.  Upon the rising of the sun, Tommy discovered that Freyja had died sometime in the night.  Jordy’s tricorder showed that the hemorrhage was hiding a weakened blood vessel that burst when the hemorrhaging went down.  She died as a result of the aneurysm.  We spent the morning crying and mourning her loss.  The worker prepared a grave and we buried her before the damn satellite came over.  Bart was hard pressed to come up with the words that would adequately express the pain we felt.  His guilt would be hard pressed to be relieved, she was here because of him.  He had hand picked her for this venture, a venture that was supposed to last only a week.  

Tommy, well he just didn’t talk, at all.  He just did what was asked and stayed silent.  So much so, that Jordy became concerned.  He scanned Tommy to see if there was an physical issues and then dropped it for the moment.  They needed to be going and with the workers loaded and the satellite some sixteen hours away, this would make the best time.  

So with little words or emotion, they left the failed aircraft and headed into the desert.  Jordy had them spread out and the AIs drug some shrubs to hide their tracks.  It was so depressing to watch the procession go into the desolate landscape.  Jordy took the lead and the workers were at the end.  Slowly the kilometers melted into memory and the sun rose on the next day.  

By day three of the trek, they entered the valley that Jordy was looking for.  Tommy had remained silent the entire time.  Bart had made several attempts to get him to express his anger, pain or anything for that matter.  But he remain bottled up.

The company made its way South and by the next day they have found what they.. well, what Jordy was looking for.  It seemed a far cry from what any of them had imagined a spaceport might be.  As a matter of fact it was barely a launch pad.  

Julia was furious with Jordy and let him have it.  “We came all this way and this is what… what?  I mean look at this place!”

Jordy didn’t defend himself, he just looked at the facilities and said nothing.  If he could feel discouraged, then this would have been the event that would have put him at the bottom of the pit.  Instead he just looked at the site that was suppose to be the end of his plan, but in reality was an absolute waste.  Nothing was standing and everything was covered in rust.    

Bart tried to be encouraging, “We should looked around and see what’s left.” His voice betrayed his feelings, “Maybe there are some underground… buildings.”

Lisa crumbed to the ground and started crying, Luke tried to comfort her, but he was just barely above a mental break himself.  

Tommy just stood there.

What seemed like an hour went by before anyone could fight off the discouragement and actually look around.  It was gone and looking further would only confirm what their eyes were telling them.  They started with the closest building and picked their way through to the three buildings that were in the South.  It was so discouraging that Tommy just sat down and they left him.  

The two worker AIs were employed to remove debris from the first of the larger buildings.  It was encouraging to find that there was some underground portions to this building, however once the doors were open, it was just a compartment full of rusting equipment.  The next building was nothing more than storage tanks, most likely cryogenic storage for liquid oxygen and hydrogen, aka rocket fuel.   

With hope slipping away they gathered at the last of the buildings.  It was larger than the other two and most of its roof was still in tact.  But the doors were jammed.  The two worker AI made several attempts to open them, but could not.  It was decided to punch a hole in the side of the building and enter that way.  Once the whole was made, Jordy entered.  There was movement here.  He told the others to stay out and then ordered one of the worker AIs to enter and scan the area.  He found nothing living, but there was some machinery that was still functioning.  A faint energy source was behind another set of doors.  Jordy approached and suddenly lights filled the room.  

Jordy took a defensive stance and waited for something to happen, but nothing did.  The two big AIs were not trained in tactical maneuvers and just stood still.   After a minute Jordy relaxed and went to the door.  It was jammed.  He instructed one of the workers to bust it down.  Which he did simply by pushing it in.  

It was dark on the other side of the door, so everyone just waited.  Jordy looked in and then stepped through the door.  Everyone else waited.  One minute, then two.  At this point there was a large thunk and lights started popping on.  At first very dim, but getting brighter.  Then another thunk and they went out.  After a second there was a smaller thunk and the lights came on much quicker.  They were brighter than the first, but did not grow any brighter once they were on.  Bart looked through the door and saw Jordy coming out of an alcove on the far side of the room, but then all hell broke loose.  About a half dozen bots started moving from the far wall and they were headed towards Jordy.  

Bart pulled himself from the door and ordered the AIs to enter and help Jordy, but the door was barely big enough for Jordy, so the first worker AI got stuck in the door.  From the other side you could hear banging and smashing of object, but we could not get in.  The first worker AI finally made the door bigger and stepped through, the second followed and Luke had retrieved the third from outside.  

The scene was quite surreal.  Three very large bots had Jordy pinned to the wall while three others were in various stages of dismemberment.  The two AIs quickly came to Jordy’s aid, but Jordy commanded them not to destroy the bots.  So, they did what they could to subdue them.  Once the third AI was in the huge room, it was a one on one fight and Jordy could maneuver around the back and disable them without destroying them.  They weren’t designed to fight, so they were stopped quickly.  

Once the commotion stopped the humans entered the.. Hanger?  The room was large, well enormouse.  You would not have pictured this room, based on what you saw outside.  Some of the room was still obscured in darkness, but it appeared to go on for several hundred meters.  It was more than a hundred and fifty meters wide. In the visible parts there were tanks and pipes going up and down and horizontal.  These pipes were yellow, red, blue, green and white.  It was like nothing they had ever seen.  

Jordy was still standing on the back of one of the bots and had the power cable dangling while he was tapping on a box.  He looked at Julia, “This is the rocket assembly building and its in great condition.” he sounded almost jovial.

Jordy returned his attention to the bot and then plugged it back in. He jumped off the back and walked around to the front.  He pulled down a flap and started typing on the keys.  The Bot did not move as it received its new orders.  Once that was done, Jordy closed the door and bot turned and went to a large alcove.  From the looks of it, the unit was stored there until it was needed by the builders.    He did the same to all three units and they in turn, went back to their storage compartment and put themselves away.  

Jordy looked in the direction of the dismantled ones, “Those will take a little longer to fix.” He then turned his attention to the building.  An office was near where the robots had pinned him to a wall.  Upon entry they saw computers and desks all around with windows that went up three meters.  On the tables were drawings and in the outer wall were large flat drawers.  Jordy scanned the table and then turned and almost ran over Bart as he tried to make his way out of the office.  Julia and Luke dodged out of the way as Jordy made the corner and ran off into the dark. Since no one had goggles, they waited for Jordy to return.

It was twenty minutes before Jordy walked out of the dark.  He reported, “We have three completely assembled rockets and one is in the test stand.”

Julia asked, “That’s good?”

Jordy looked at all of them, “That is better than I had hoped for.”

Bart looked at the dark, then back at the way they came in, “So.. How do we get them out of here?”

“That just may be the hardest part of this venture.” Jordy looked up, “We need to clear off the roof and then open it.”

They all looked up and Bart said, “That’s all?”

While they were all looking up Jordy added, “And find a way to run the compressors so we can compress the air into liquid oxygen, nitrogen and see if the hydrogen tanks have held.”

Julia added, “And we only have six months to do it all…”

Next Chapter

Please add a comment.

If you like Graham Heights, please share the link with friends www.rogeratlarge.com.

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

You can Leave a comment.  

Or follow us on Facebook.  

Or hit the subscribe button to get updates on new chapters or books.

Thank-you
R. A. Legg

Learn about the individual heroes of Graham Heights. 

R.A. Legg © 2016. All Rights Reserved.