Dark as Daylight Ch. 19

"Do I sense fear in your voice?"

"No sir, what you hear is panic."

"Well the best way to get rid of panic is to get out of the spotlight in a hurry. Just spit out your answer and we will let you leave the room."

"My dad always beats into my head, if it's weird, and it has to do with science you should always answer Albert Einstein, because he has something to do with it. So, my answer is Albert Einstein."

"Meredith, what was your answer?"

"I'm going to kill her, because my answer was Einstein."

"She stole your thunder Meredith. All hail Beatrice, the winner of the first part of this contest."

There was a loud groan heard through the room.

"What! You heard the name of a man. What does that have to do with, No One Knows? You have one minute to think about that question and we will start with Meredith, of course."

"Why me, I had the right answer."

"Pride goeth before the fall, Meredith. You should have given me the answer, instead of proudly saying you had the answer, and letting it slip through your fingers. Always grab the brass ring, never let it slip through your fingers."

"I don't like you."

"You don't have to like me, you just have to learn from me."

"I didn't mean for you to hear that statement, I'm sorry Captain Luck."

"No harm done, Meredith. Life is a learning process, and I am still learning."

There was a large outcry of horror from the outside of the ship. Gordon and Gray started running for the exit. Women and children were running inside, while agents were being armed with rifles and sidearms.

"Billie, what's going on outside?"

"There must be a break in the acoustic fencing. A huge creature just took down a horse, as if it was nothing. We are sending out two teams, one to look for the creature and take it down, and after that to start combing the area for other animals.

Team two will look for the break in the fencing."

"Tell the second team to stay here until they have Newton with them. He has to take his complete kit with him, and he may need help carrying everything."

"Yes Captain, I'll spread the word."

"Come with me Gray, we will get sidearms, and patrol around the ship."

Gordon took out his communicator. "Monty state your position."

"Getting dressed, dammit."

Gordon laughed. "Don't worry, I'll hold the fort until you get here."

"That's what I'm worried about."

"What harm could I possibly do?"

"You dare ask me that question?"

"I have Gray with me."

"Thank the Angels for that. Now leave me alone. I can't fight him off, talk to you, and get dressed at the same time."

"The woman I used to know could take on a whole platoon, and fight off a pride of lions at the same time."

"Shut up Gordon, or I'll never get out of here."

"I'm rooting for you, Jackson."

"I'm going to kill you, Gordon."

"Where have I heard that before?"

"From me, you asshole, but this time I mean it. I'm going to use a gun, and I won't miss."

"I'll be here, waiting for you, as always."

He heard, "You are a dead man..." followed by a loud crash. A moment later, he heard a child cry, and a soft groan. Someone said into the communicator, "Watch out, Gordon, I think I made her angry."

"Jackson; is that you Jackson?"

"Let me check, it used to be, but I think several parts of me are missing."

"Oh crap, Monty is back."

"She never left, Gordon. I was able to control her for a while, but she just broke the bonds of romantic love I had her trapped with. Now we are equals. I believe I am in big trouble."

"You mean you are an old married couple, like Zoey and me, or Delicious and Gray?"

"You got it."

"Welcome to the club, big guy! You don't control your home anymore, Monty does."

"Well, it was fun while it lasted."

"Gordon, where are you? I'm going to break you in half."

"Exactly how much would you like to wager on that prognosis, senior captain? I remember the last time you tried to harm me. It took you six weeks to walk on your own. I'm sure Doctor Finch saved your crutches. He wouldn't want to cut down two more trees just to make two more for you."

"Let's go outside; you runt. I'll get a weapon and put an end to you."

"That's fine with me, but who will build my sister's engine?"

"I hate you."

"You couldn't live without me."

"I would sure like to try."

"I will make your wish come true."

"How, you have a wife, two small children, and she is pregnant. Where the hell do you think you're going?"

"Away, far, far away."

"Zoey will tear my heart out."

"Zoey will be just fine. She is five months pregnant, and she will be as gentle as a lamb for the next three months while I am not here. What will you do without me for the next three months, senior captain?"

"Where are you going to be?"

"Anywhere but here. You will not have need to deal with for the next 90 days. Won't that be fun?"

"No, it will not be fun. It will be paradise."

"Okay, let's take care of our current problems. Then make sure the fence is totally secure. After that, I will pack some survival gear, and you can watch me go outside the fenced area. 90 days from the day I go outside, you can come back and let me in. I will have the communicator with me, just in case you get in trouble, and need my services."

"In a pig's eye. Once you go outside, you can stay outside, until, or unless Zoey needs you."

"Are you finished? Do you want to bite your ass, to spite your face anymore?"

"If you weren't so important to this mission I would bury you, head down."

"Is that the next torment you want to try on me? I'll consider it if that's what you want."

"You have something up your sleeve, Gordon. I don't know what it is, but you are being evil, again."

"Gray, correct me if I'm wrong, but I am wearing a short sleeve shirt, right?"

"Yes, you are wearing a short sleeve shirt."

"Then will you explain to me how I could be hiding something up my sleeve?"

"I believe it would be exceedingly difficult to do that."

"That's what I thought, but I rarely differ with Monty, so the cards or whatever I'm hiding must be on my shoulders, or down my back, or up my ass, because Monty is never wrong."

Monty raged, "Get your weapons and start patrolling around the ship. Gray take a rifle. You know how to shoot properly. If you get the chance, shoot him."

"I'm not angry with him, you are. He helped me last night. He tried to help you this morning, but you still don't see it. It will hit you soon enough, and then you'll regret this tirade."

She screamed at the two of them, "Get your weapons, go outside, and start your patrol. I hope it rains on both of you."

"It's not going to rain today," Teddy said. "It's going to rain tomorrow night. It's been a long time coming. We must take the ship up to replenish the water supply, which is getting dangerously low. Can I fly the ship? I know where most of the rain will be falling."

Monty said, "I think it would be too soon for you to Captain ship in weather like that, Teddy. You know how violently the ship gets thrown around while we are replenishing our water supplies."

"You misunderstood me Big Captain. I don't want to Captain the ship. I want to be at the helm. I will be able to turn the ship and keep it in the areas where the water is, and not the violent winds."

Gordon said, "How foolish of you, Monty."

"At least I won't have you to put up with. You will be gone for 90 days."

"You are being sneaky, uncle Gordon."

"You are not going to tell her, are you?"

"Tell her what, uncle Gordon? How would I know what's going to happen during the next 90 days?"

"How did you know it's going to rain tomorrow night, and where the most water is going to be, niece Teddy?"

"Uncle Gordon, I think we have to talk."

"Niece Teddy, I would love to talk to you. However, right now, I must go outside and protect the people who are taking shelter inside this ship. There must be a hole in our acoustic fence. Dangerous animals are inside our protected zone, and one horse was killed, by a very large animal. Other dangerous animals might be inside our fenced in area. We must ferret them out, before they hurt any of the people who are on this expedition. Losing a horse is one thing, losing a human is much worse."

"How can you say that? Horses have feelings and families too."

"Teddy, I must go outside with your father now. I believe this is one of those times you should go to the chapel, and ask Her for guidance on this subject."

"Is life really this complicated?"

"Teddy, you are at the age where you are just beginning to understand how complicated life really is. You are no longer a child, and you are turning into a beautiful young woman. I don't want to know how many boys are after you, because I will put them all in stasis. I will see you later, okay?"

Teddy's hair was fire engine red, and her face blushed to match it. She turned away from her uncle, and spoke to her father.

"Daddy be careful out there. Mommy will be very angry with you, if you get hurt."

"Sweetheart, I will be very angry with me if I get hurt. Give me a kiss for luck, find your mother and take care of her. I don't think your brothers and sisters will have enough time to blow up the ship, while we are outside today."

"Daddy, I am going to put water in the ship tomorrow night. It means they can't possibly blow it up today."

"Thank you, Teddy. I love you very much."

"I love you too daddy. When you come inside, I'll bring you a 'Creamy Cow!"

"That's exactly what I need, more calories to add to my expanding waist line."

"Don't worry about it, Gray. You are going to walk 20 miles tomorrow, remember? Those calories will just melt away."

"The things you'll do for love, Gordon."

"Are you two ever going to leave this ship?"

"Yes, Monty, I was just talking to my daughter, and assuring her everything was going to be fine. I can't wait until Brendan grows up, and you have to start parenting."

"Don't you start with me, Gray."

"Uncle Gordon, something is wrong with this picture."

Gordon smiled. "What could it possibly be, little one?"

"Big Captain is yelling at my father, and not you."

"Trust me, that will not last long, because I just came up with an idea I have to pass by the Senior Captain."

"You're just stalling, Gordon."

"I am not stalling, Senior Captain. I think it's an excellent idea. It will save time, and it will keep our people safer. Do you wish to hear it, or do you want to put our second security team at risk? The choice, as always, is yours."

"If I was 30 years old, I would crush you like a bug."

"That's right, our birthday is coming up."

"If you say one word, I'll cut you from gizzard to gullet."

"Gray, I think that would be premeditated murder."

"It sure sounds that way to me."

"Say what's on your mind, Gordon, and get it over with."

"Instead of having a second team hike through the mountains to look at each post to see which one is not working properly, why don't we double up on team 1, to clear the local area, while you take the ship up, with Newton, and his equipment. As you pass over each unit, he can test the signal to make sure it's strong enough to keep the animals out. When he finds the dead zone, you can land, and he can fix it. You can do the entire perimeter in a matter of hours, instead of having them walk between one and three poles during a day."

Teddy said, "Isn't uncle Gordon smart?"

Monty replied, "That's how he drove your grandfather insane, while he was alive. You can speak to your grandfather, and ask him about Gordon, when he was a young boy, and all the things he used to do to get into trouble. It was his genius that got him out of trouble, so your grandfather could not bury him in cement up to his neck to keep him in one place."

Teddy looked at her uncle, and he grinned at her.

"Were you that much trouble when you were little?"

"As the captain said, Teddy, the only reason I'm still alive is because I was very smart. My mom and dad loved me so much, they wanted to kill me almost every day of my life. I'm amazed I'm alive thinking about the things I did back then.

One day, I got my father so angry with me, he had the agents handcuffed me. They linked my hands and ankles together, carried me out of the building, face down, threw me in the back of a truck, and drove me home. They carried me to my room, where they uncuffed me. I was as angry as a hornet. I stood up, turned around, and saw my father standing in my doorway. He told me that I was restricted to my room for seven days, and not to think of defying him or my mother. Then he left, without saying another word.

They had taken everything out of my room: my television, computer, paper, books and almost anything else you could think of out of my room that I could use for pleasure or for work. It was how I knew I would never be able to spend six months in solitary confinement, without going crazy. I knew I would rather die, and that's why I asked for it.

Every time I would open my door a little, to see if I could sneak out, Monty, or one of the other agents, was standing, or sitting there looking at me. The door never made a sound, but they knew when I opened it. I know now that it was the change of air pressure that did it, but I didn't know it then. So, the only time I opened the door was when I had to go to the bathroom.

Then I found a box of markers I left underneath my mattress. I didn't know when I put them there, and I didn't know if they would work, but I had no paper to use them on, so it would not make a difference. I'm lying on the floor thinking about a problem I was working on, and I had to write it down. There was only one place for me to write it on, and that's what I did."

"Uncle Gordon, you didn't!"

"Ask Monty, she saw it all."

"Did he?"

"Little one, I'm surprised he didn't start writing on the ceiling, because there was no room left on any of the walls. It was either that, or start ripping up the carpeting and write on the floor."

"Did you solve your problem?"

"Yes, and my dad got a patent out of it."

"Grandpa; why not you, you did the work?"

"Your grandfather said, "The only reason I got the work done was because he put me in the right atmosphere to get the work done. I was no longer allowed to play at my station. I was forced to concentrate on my work, and he was the one responsible for the success of the project. He took the credit, and put his name on the patent."

"That was mean of him."

"It sure taught Gordon a lesson in humility, didn't it?"

"It also cost him a lot of money too."

"Tell Teddy what your father paid you per year, Gordon."

"My dad paid me $500,000 per year."

"Was that a lot of money?"

Monty dropped her head. It was then she realized that none of the children on the spacecraft had any concept of how money was used in society. They didn't have any money on the spacecraft, and everyone was treated as an equal. This was Communism at its best. Would it stay this way? No, it never did. Someone was always smarter than someone else, and someone else would have to do something to pay for his services one way or another. It would break down to a barter society, and then money would develop. She hoped that was a long way off.

"Yes Teddy, that was a lot of money. It was 15 to 30 times the amount of money most people made on planet Earth. Before we get into that discussion, get off my ship."

Gordon said, "Tyrant," then ran for the exit.

Gray said, "I think I'll pick up a weapon for him, before I leave."

"Get him a water pistol."

"Senior Captain, I hate to do this to you, but you and I are going to spend one hour in the chapel praying, because your attitude towards my uncle Gordon is not good. It is bad for the morale of the people on our ship. I know you love him, but the way you treat him sends messages to other people on board that he is not trustworthy. This must stop, and I will help you do it, just as I help my mom."

"Teddy, you can't order me..."

"Yes, I can, Senior Captain, and I just did. I will do anything necessary for the safety and natural cohesion of this ship. She has plans for us, and we will carry them out. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I do. When shall we meet?"

"Tomorrow evening, just after liftoff. I will meet you in the chapel, with my mom. She will help you too. She is very good now, and she is only asking for help at remembering how the in the new engine works. She knows, but it is a very difficult concept to grasp."

"Okay Monty, I'm going outside. Close-up the ship, and check the fences just as Gordon required. Give me a kiss, Teddy, I'll see you in a little bit."

"Remember to look behind you, daddy. Animals are very sneaky."

"I will do that for all of us, Teddy. Have a safe flight."

"Thank you, daddy."

"Your mommy was a very lucky woman to find a man like your daddy."

"Not lucky, they were preordained to meet."

"Oh, right. Security, this is Captain Jamison, close up the ship, prepare for launch."

"Security acknowledging, all portals closing."

"Engineering bring the nuclear engine up to 6%."

"Nuclear engine to 6%."

"Attn everyone on board, in one minute we will be taking off. Strap yourselves in, we will be doing this nice and easy. We will be following the fence line looking for breaks in the sonic barrier. Newton and his team will be working on that as we fly along slowly.

"Bridge."

"This is the bridge. Captain Luck speaking."

"Jenny, I want you to keep us about 100 feet above ground level, and 100 feet outside the restricted zone. Keep your speed down to 200 knots, and use your view-screen to see if any of the posts have been knocked down. Newton and his team will be checking for the sound quality. Since something got in, something must be wrong."

"You got it, Monty. Newton, were you listening to this?"

"Yes, grandma. I won't be able to tell you if there is a broken sonic area, until we pass it. At that point, I would like you to make a right turn, go out about 5 miles and make a slow turn back in. That way I could isolate it, or them, and tell you where to land."

"That will be easy enough. I will land on the safe side of the grid, just in case."

"Depending on how long the system has been down, and how many units are broken, there may not be a safe side. We will fix them, one at a time, with enough guards to protect us while we are working."

"That sounds like a plan. If you get hurt out there, Elizabeth is going to make your life miserable."

"You didn't have to tell me that grandma. I know how miserable she can make me."

"Do you know how happy she can make you?"

"Yes."

"She makes you miserable when you're hurt, because she can't stand the thought of losing you, you idiot."

"Why didn't anyone tell me that before?"

"Because sometimes people are supposed to know what's good for them and what's not. Not all of us are as dumb as you are."

"Thank you, grandma; you just made me feel much dumber."

"I'm glad I could help."

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

Gray said, "The horses are very nervous."

"They should get away from the tree line. They would be safer over here by us."

"They don't know that. Maybe I can get Brock and a few of the other guys to walk behind them, and start moving them this way."

"No Gray, if they see us trying to get between them and the trees, they will bolt in every direction imaginable. I wonder if Daylight would come to me, like she comes to our Angel?"

"There's only one way to find out."

"Stay here, I'm going to them; watch your 6."

Delicious walked nearly 60 yards before calling out to her.

"Daylight, Daylight come here girl."

None of the horses were feeding, their heads up and their ears were swiveling, listening and sniffing with their big snouts for danger.