Dark as Daylight Ch. 12

Things became cramped, but everyone was warm as their clothes dried, and their eyes closed to get some well-deserved rest. The Op-Force didn't know this was not an isolated thunderstorm, but a line of storms that would turn into a Nor'easter later that week. It cleared the mainland U.S., and was now gathering strength over the warm water of the Atlantic Ocean, east of New Jersey. This line of severe weather, thunderstorms, and tornadoes it spawned, stretched all the way to Louisiana, and into the Gulf of Mexico.

Laura moved away from Joe, to the edge of the parapet, and yelled into her headset, "Everyone, inside now."

The men who were covering the center, turned, and looked for verification of the order.

She yelled her order again. "Dammit, get inside now."

Joe was standing by her side, trying to understand her logic. Instead of waiting for his mind to work, he said, "You heard her, do it."

There was a mad scramble to get from their muddied positions, and into the dry cavern of the building site. Within minutes, the 263 defenders were inside, drying each other off, and wondering who the hell was in charge.

At this moment they didn't care. Outside, the rains were causing havoc. No one in his right mind would begin an assault now.

Laura thought about that too. These people weren't in their right mind, otherwise they would be at home, with their families now. She grabbed Joe by his bulletproof vest and pulled him along with her, as she went to speak to the 2 demolition engineers.

"Listen to me; I want you to be ready to blow the entrance at a second's notice. Anyone walks into that tunnel, without today's code word, blow the fucking thing, before they shoot you. If you don't blow it, I will shoot you then I blow up the entrance."

Their answer was simple, short, and concise.

"Yes ma'am."

Joe asked, "Do you have the General's permission to do that?"

"No, I don't. I have God's permission to do it."

"I guess you answer to a higher authority than I do."

"I'm not answering to you yet either Joe. We have a lot of talking to do."

"So you are 'Going to Marry Me?"

"I thought you were a three-time loser?"

"I am. So was that a yes, yes maybe, maybe yes, maybe, no maybe, maybe no, or no?"

"Are you going to be this confusing if we get married?"

"I certainly hope so."

"I've lived alone for 18 years; I'm very set in my ways."

"You are 37 years old. You are very young and pliable. So am I. You can change me anyway you want."

"I'm on a very important case. I can't stop working on it, because of you."

"I wouldn't expect you to stop working, until you wanted to."

"What if it takes me away for weeks at a time?"

"As long as you call me every night to let me know you are okay; I can live with it."

"Joseph be serious. Sometimes cases can take me out of the area for months at a time. You are going to be here in Charleston for the next eight years, or more, with the boys."

"I believe you're going to have to be transferred down here. I make more money than you do. I can support you in the lifestyle you have become accustomed to."

"Do you mean above the poverty line?"

"I don't think $122,000 a year is above the poverty line."

"How do you know my base salary?"

"I looked it up on Wikipedia."

"I can't believe they have that stuff on there.

***********************

"Marcus."

"Hi, we are going to be late getting to you. I think everyone is. This damn weather has us holding over Charleston. Our last estimate for a landing time, was 1 hour and 50 minutes from now. That puts us nearly 3 ½ hours before we get to you. Can you hold out that long?"

"Lucius, the same weather that is keeping you in the air, is keeping them from attacking us. They started coming, and then they retreated as the skies opened up.

A few moments ago, Burkart ordered all our men inside. I thought she was out of her mind, so I looked at Joe and Tom to see if they agreed with me, or with Burkart.

They looked around at the men, who were toweling each other off, smiling, and shrugged their shoulders at me.

Tom said, "If the men were happy with her decision to withdraw from their positions to get out of the rain, they will be just as happy to get back in them, when the rain stops."

"Have you ever talked to her General?"

"Yes, I have. She was at the townhouse, and had dinner with us. She has a very commanding way of speaking, she will brook no insult, and she has a quick temper."

"You don't know the half of it. She is a brilliant tactician, and she is fearless. When she makes a suggestion, I would listen to her carefully. She is an extraordinary soldier."

"Lucius, you have no idea what's been going on here. Tom must've noticed something about Joe and Laura. He has been playing matchmaker for the last four hours. I mean he has been brutal about it. Somehow, Tom got Joe to propose to Laura."

"Marcus, go yank on someone else's chain; I'm not falling for that one."

"Call William, and tell him he won the bet. He will tell you what the bet was."

"Okay, I have nothing better to do. Patty is doing a great job of avoiding these thunderstorms, while we're waiting to land. A lot aircraft below us have left the area, because the weather below us is brutal. We have 4 ½ hours of fuel left, so we're good for a while. Don't let your guard down, you don't know what those bastards will do."

"You don't have to worry about us, Lucius. Laura came up with a contingency plan. Anyone that comes through the front entrance, without today's code word, will be caught in the biggest fireworks display of their life. Unfortunately, he won't survive it. We have 100 pounds of TNT placed there, with the primer-cord buried underground. The two demolition engineers are seated at the end of the tunnel looking for anyone who comes in. They will challenge them, and if they don't answer correctly, they are going to blow the tunnel."

"Should I ask whose idea that was, or do I know?"

"You already know Lucius."

"I told you she is a marvel. If she was a man, she would be the director. It's a damn shame. I'm going to give William a call, and tell him what's going on. Stay alert Marcus, and keep those two away from a bedroom."

"They haven't gotten that far. Burkart keeps telling him, "We have a lot to talk about."

"You've never talked, while lying down, Marcus?"

"Okay, I'll put a squad of men around them to keep them vertical."

"Marcus, you are getting old. I'll send you some videos on the proper way to make love standing up."

"If they're making videos of that already, I am getting old. Send me a few, and I will pay you for them."

"Payment is not required; give them to Laura when you finish them. Just make sure you are wearing your armor, when she sees what they are."

*******************************

49. A New Town

Knowing what was going to happen the following morning, Monty posted security guards at all the exits to the spacecraft. They snuck out of their rooms, intent on playing outside early, and were turned away.

You could hear the moans and groans of children everywhere, because they had not eaten breakfast, or told their parents of their intentions to leave the spacecraft.

Gordon said, "I wish they would let those kids out already; don't they know it's my feeding time?"

With Payne feasting at her left breast, Gordon feasting at her right, and the new tiny invader in her stomach, Zoey was in paradise.

She said to him, "What are your plans for today?"

"Our first order of business is to find a way to refill the water cavity on the ships exterior shell. It's very important that we get it done quickly, just in case an emergency situation comes up and we have to leave. They've only known about this planet for eight or nine years, and they know nothing about its seismological makeup. It's better for us to be prepared for the worst and receive the best, then the other way around."

"Can I help?"

"You are a mere woman, what could a woman possibly do?"

"When did you say you wanted to get near that breast again?"

"You are my wife; you will do what I say."

"Oh really Mr. Luck, come back in 100 years, and let me know how that works out for you."

"Mrs. Luck has our child finished feeding yet?"

"Yes, but she sleeping comfortably where she is."

"I could show that pillow to 1 million men and they would say the same thing. May I have our child please, so I can put her in her bassinet."

"I don't like the look on your face, Gordon. The last time I saw that look I got pregnant."

"Well, unless things work differently here, then they do on earth, I don't believe you're going to get pregnant today."

"So how did you say I was going to help you today?"

"We are going to take a walk into the hills to see if we can find the source of the water that is flowing down the stream. We will pack a lunch, and try to time it for three hours out, and three hours back, with 30 minutes in the middle for lunch."

"I think you're being too optimistic. None of us have used our legs for that amount of time in years. I believe you should cut it down to two hours out and back."

"If you don't think you can make it, woman, I can leave you here."

"You could be dead in the morning."

"You are evil little girl."

"You knew that when you first saw me."

"Yes I did, didn't I."

His mouth attached to Zoe's right nipple, and he began to suckle.

Zoey moaned, and pressed his head closer to her body.

His communicator went off.

He screamed, "What?"

"Little turd, am I disturbing you?"

"What would be new about that Monty?"

"You are 10 minutes late for your 9 o'clock meeting, or did you forget about it?"

"I thought that was just for engineering."

"Did I hear you say you were thinking again? Do you realize how dangerous that is?"

"I planned on going for a walk with Zoey to look for the source of the stream. It would take us a year to fill up the outer cavity of the spacecraft using every drop of water that flows down it. If we could find the source, possibly it has a greater flow, and we could fill it up quicker?"

"That's an excellent thought Gordon, but I have a better one. Why don't you take the Good Luck up and do a quick survey of our local area? Take the science section with you, and map the entire area down to the size of pencil point. It shouldn't take you longer than an hour to do it."

"That's fine with me Captain, but that leaves you totally unprotected. What happens if there is a predator on this planet? There normally is, in order to control the population of the other animals. Shouldn't we do this while everyone is on board?"

"I had not thought about the possibility Gordon, but you are correct. Head for the bridge, and get us into the air, while the children are having breakfast."

"Roger that senior captain."

"Bridge this is Captain Gordon Luck."

"Go ahead captain."

"We are going for a ride. Do all the systems checks; and bring the nuclear engine up to 1%. Advise engineering to get their heads out of their asses."

"Roger captain."

"I'm sorry to leave you like this dear. Maybe you should speak to Monty personally about interrupting us in the morning."

"Oh no, I won't talk to Monty about it. I'll talk to Jackson."

"Who is Jackson?"

"Jackson Oberlin, our chief electrician, and Monty's suitor."

"Please tell me you're not pulling my leg."

"You are leaving me in a condition I will have to take care of myself. Would I fool you with information about Monty and Mister Oberlin?"

"Zoey, we are going to name our first newspaper after you. I have to go to work. I love you, and I always will."

"I know. The quicker you get out of here, and get this job done, the quicker you can get back to me, and you can finish what you started."

"Think of the nastiest things I can do to you, and then make them worse. That's what's going to happen when I return."

"Promises, promises, promises, all I get from you is promises."

"I can't use the paddle on you, because you keep getting pregnant on me."

"Like it's only my fault, and you had nothing to do with it."

"Well I may have been in the same room with you."

"Your mother said your father could use that excuse, not you."

Gordon's communicator went off again.

"What?"

"Captain the Good Luck is ready to fly."

"Is the science section at their stations?"

"Yes they are Captain."

"Retract the elevators. I will be on the bridge in two minutes."

"Roger captain."

"I've got to leave dear, duty calls."

"Gordon, pants would be a good idea."

"Yes, that would've been embarrassing."

*********************

"Captain is on the bridge."

"Good morning everyone; good morning Callie."

"Good morning Captain Luck, this is an unexpected trip. What is on our itinerary for today?"

"Callie, we are going to do an in-depth survey of a 100 square mile area around the touchdown point. Specifically, we are looking for the source of the water that is flowing by our encampment. We have to refill the external cavity of this spacecraft, as quickly as possible, to its maximum level, just in case we are forced to leave. If that does not happen today, we will look for it on another day. We do not wish to leave our campsite for more than one Earth hour. Would you please set up the parameters for this search, and give me the appropriate altitude, and speed required to accomplish that mission?"

"Certainly Captain. Altitude 12,860 feet, speed 250 miles per hour."

"Everyone on board the Good Luck 1, this is Captain Gordon luck. There is no need for you to buckle yourselves in. We are going to gain altitude slowly to 12,860 feet, and our speed is going to be 250 mph. You will feel nothing out of the ordinary, and we will be back at our base camp in 60 Minutes. Continue whatever you were doing, and when we get back on the ground, everyone will be allowed outside to continue their day. That is all."

"Nuclear engine to 5%."

"Nuclear engine is at 5%

"Increase antigravity engines slowly to 3%."

"Increasing antigravity engines to 3% Captain."

"Altitude 100 feet and increasing."

"Antigravity engines to 5%."

"Increasing antigravity engines to 5% Captain."

"Retract the landing gear."

"Landing gear is retracted and locked altitude 1000 feet and increasing."

"Extend Mickey Mouse ears."

"Mickey Mouse ears are extended."

"Callie, you have control."

"Thank you Captain Luck."

*******************

"Pony, where you think they go? They leave me here? I miss my mommy. Why she leave me? Why everyone leave me? They not know I go out to visit you? I not needed anymore? What happened to me now? Why they go? Why they not look for me?"

Teddy sat down in the middle of the open field and cried. Her friend, the pony, got down on the ground beside her, trying to give her comfort. Teddy began stroking the pony's neck, and she began to feel better. She laid down against the little horses' flanks, and wondered if she was a bad girl for leaving the ship, without telling her mommy. She knew the answer, before she finished asking herself the question.

Pony raised its head, sniffed the air, and lowered its head again to rest.

Teddy stroked her neck and after a long time she began feeling lonely.

************************

It was 40 minutes later when Delicious charged onto the bridge.

"Gray, she's not on board. I've searched everywhere. I've asked everyone, they haven't seen her. She must have left early to see that pony of hers."

Gordon did not have to be asked.

"Callie back to our landing site maximum safe speed for the members of the crew, altitude upon arrival 40 feet."

"Roger Captain Luck, altering course and speed.

**********************

The pony jumped up, and was moving on its feet nervously. She began moving Teddy towards the tree line, using her nose.

Teddy thought she was playing.

This was a deadly serious game. The animal moving towards them was a cross between a wolverine and a hyena. Both were lethal predators, and could kill with one bite of their ferocious jaws. It saw its prey, and broke into a trot.

The pony tried its best to get Teddy into the woodlands, but when Teddy saw the ferocious beast coming at them, she said to her friend, "Go to your family. Maybe this why my family leave me. I die, they safe. Go, bye pony, my friend."

She shoved the pony's head towards the forest, and the pony finally left her standing in the open.

**********************

"Lower landing gear."

"Landing gear down and locked."

"Callie rotate the ball; I want Teddy to be able to climb onto the Mickey Mouse ears."

"Captain Luck that can't be done with the landing gear down."

"Then raise the fucking landing gear."

"Raising the landing gear, rotating the ball distance between the predator and Teddy is 230 feet and closing. 200 feet, 150 feet, 100 feet, Teddy is approaching the Mickey Mouse ear. 50 feet. She has one hand on it

"Flip her into the air. Security get out there."

The animal howled and jumped into the air attempting to get at its meal to no avail. These larger, two leg things came at him, and he decided to retreat, rather than become dinner himself. What a lousy way to end a day of hunting. Where did that pony go?

"Tedddyyy are you alright baby?"

Delicious pulled her off the Mickey Mouse ears, and crushed her to her breasts.

Teddy asked, "Why you leave me? I thought you go away, and leave Teddy here alone."

"Teddy, you know I would rather die than leave you all alone. Who would I pray with if I didn't have you? We didn't know you left the ship. You didn't tell me, or your father, or anyone you were going outside, did you? Do you realize how much trouble you caused today? I think the Big Captain is going to have something to say to you about punishment. The ship was doing something important. We had to stop what we were doing to save you. Are you more important, than what is important to the other people on the ship?"

"No mommy."

"Were you with your pony?"

"Yes mommy."

"Maybe that should be your punishment, not allowing you to play with her anymore."

"She not understand why I hurting her. She be sad, and it be my fault. She try to save me, but knew she couldn't. Had to push her to make her go away, before she get killed too."

"How did the pony try to save you?"

"She try to push me to trees to hide. I think she playing, until I see animal coming at us. Then it too late to run. I send her away. She not want to leave me, but I tell her to go to her family, and she go. I think she very sad."

"When she sees you're okay, she will be very happy."

"I very happy to be with my family too."

"Did you learn your lesson today? You are never to leave the ship without telling us."

"Yes mommy, I very frightened when I see you leave. I not want to be alone. No one to talk to; miss my mommy very much."

"How about daddy, my angel, did you miss me too?"

"Yes daddy, you know what to do when see animal like that. I so frightened I stand still. Not right thing to do. You know right thing to do. I sorry I not tell you I leave ship. I did bad thing."

"Yes you did. I want you to go to your room, and stay there for the rest of the day. That is my punishment for you. I am sure there will be another punishment for you, from the Senior Captain."

"Yes daddy."

Teddy walked away from her parents, and up towards her room. On her way there, she saw Elizabeth, and ran to her.

"Captain Elizabeth, I talk to you a minute?"

"Yes Teddy."

"When you 4, you bad girl?"