The Young Pioneers Part Two – In Full01:14 Dec 30 2015
Times Read: 514
The Young Pioneers
Part Two
Chapter One
Having climbed up the shale rise, he bellied down on the grassy flat at the top, to peer over the edge, to the small community on the valley floor.
He watched the river meander its course around the small town.
‘Town,’ he thought and smiled; he liked being able to use the word.
Middle-aged and wearing clothes made from hide, The Captain’s smile emphasised every crag in his face.
His blue-eyes twinkled, as he recalled their landing on this world – now called simply Amanda, after the first of the initial three colonists to pass…
There was much that he remembered still, about the Earth Mother, who had been their companion, for nearly ten years. She had been very much there, at the beginning…
His starship had been called The Vasa, he had learned in the years after planetfall.
Growling inwardly, he recalled signing the papers that had led to ten years asleep amongst the stars; as the ship disengaged its liquid propellant, in favour of the stellar drive, intended for Deep Space travel.
Rolling a smoke from the last harvest, James grinned mirthlessly at the idea of being fortunate enough to have the necessary DNA to enable them to use you as a kind of guinea-pig, for a new stasis chamber.
Lighting the roll-up, James continued to dwell for awhile, on what had been and, led to this now, his now and his peoples ‘time to shine.’
He had been genetically compatible with the cryosleep units, they had used back then.
“Ah, wasn’t I lucky…” he sighed.
Three craft had followed theirs, each carrying more personnel then his own.
The problem had never been the propulsion system needed for Deep Space travel; it had been the systems needed to maintain life, on such voyages.
‘But on the way, there were failures,’ James mused, pushing the brim of his low-crown hat back, a little.
Inhaling sweet, blue-grey smoke, he recalled one of those failures, ‘not that many years ago’…
Fifty two people had been on the starship he had watched explode on re-entry, yet three people had managed to escape in escape pods: ‘Three, out of fifty-two!”
They had been intended as cheap labour, for the miners who would follow them, producing shelter and, a makeshift town, so there was a base to work from.
But, after the last of the colony ships arrived, there were no more.
A second corporate war had begun, that took resources from across the galaxy, leaving projects that had started unfinished and, a workforce stranded, many millions of light years from their Mother Earth…
Looking down to the valley below, James Tulliver frowned: he knew they would be back eventually, when the warring was over and, someone at the corporation took it into their head to remember there was a world ‘out there’, they had laid out capital funding on. And, he knew they’d want a return on their investment. He knew it...
Chapter Two
When the fighting had reached its peak, the talking began: it had to, as too much profit was being lost. Then, as the losses were counted, corporations amalgamated. And, so were borne the vast Multi-Corporations; few in number and, rich enough to buy and sell planets.
Yet, there were still ‘the bean counters;’ individuals in Audit, who took pride in locating things on and off the books, ‘stuff’ that others may have missed.
It was such a bean counter who found the purchase order, for the reclamation of a starship, used as part of a government initiative, to get the long-term unemployed to prepare a town for early colonists.
But, there’s been a mishap…
The public had lost faith in the costly initiative and, that had also been the time at which the last of the corporation wars had begun.
James Tulliver often thought back to his days spent at school: history had been one of his favourite subjects.
Yet, it had been at school and the auspice of one dedicated teacher Mister Morris, that he had learnt of the history revisionists; those who had seemingly rewritten social history, to accommodate state dictate.
But at fourteen he had become aware of the reality of what had been, through the stories his Great Nin had told him, on a visit of an indeterminate length of time.
She had illustrated with her stories, how Empire building had led to the subjugation of the workers, through the dawn of time. And yet, all the history he had been taught had been of the benevolence that can follow expansionism, with no mention of slavery, or persecution of the workforce.
James recalled how his wrinkled Great Nin had wagged a bony finger at him, as she had reminded, “While the South had grows even richer, those North of The Great Wall grew weaker…”
And, then with a grin and a twinkle in her eyes, she had told him, “But you have a time and a place to be. You will find it,” she had assured him; “Don’t worry.”
Back then, he had not worried; but if he had known about the journey he’d take, he might have…
Chapter Three
Inside a dome, one of several on a small base, on a small moon acquired by the MultiCorp Telos, when the Corporations had amalgamated; a series of dimly-lit corridors led to a small room wherein an audit technician ran the numbers, yet again.
‘There it is,’ the scribe intoned to himself, as he stared at the numbers that moved beneath his fingers, a short distance from his gaze.
The timorous technician wore spectacles; his hair greased back and, according to many of his former colleagues on Earth ‘stank to high hell’. Yet, it was hardly his fault that that his gut roiled and broiled, throughout much of the day.
Mitchell Towers had been good at his job though, very good at it. In fact, it had been recognized with the organization, how good he was, at what he did. That had been why his contract had not been terminated. Rather, he had been promoted, to be the Head of Audit Services, on Neelix Prime. The fact that he was also the sole inhabitant of the moon was neither here nor there to Mitchell though, as he felt valued: no-one, bar him, could find that which could not been seen plainly, in a stack of numbers.
And, this skill of his had earned the little man much within the Telos MultiCorp, yet he was lonely… so through himself into his work.
And now, he had reason to call Sharon, his liaison at Headquarters, to tell her of his findings… And, as he slick back his hair some more, he thought of the blue-eyed blonde, with a severe yet alluring manner… Mitchell liked her very much and, looked forward to these holocalls… a lot more than she did though…
“Ma’am, call from Neelix Prime, you ready to take it?” Her security guard and lover asked of Commissioner Sharon Teal.
She looked to the burly man, his naked body shorn of body hair, to please her. After a moments thought, she replied: “Yes I’ll take the call, but leave first.”
She knew that Mitchell would not approve of her having a lover: ‘But a woman has her needs,’ she thought, as she slipped on a lilac diaphanous robe, which revealed as much of her boyish figure than it his.
And although it was not protocol, to take a business call in such a state of undress, Ms Teal knew that her employers considered her role as Mitchells keeper to be important and, that meant she’d do almost anything, to keep ‘the odious little creep’ sweet.
“Computer, I’ll take that call now,” she pronounced and turned, toward where Mitchell would appear, seconds before he did.
And, there Sharon stood amidst flickering candlelight, blonde tresses loosed from their usual severe bun, her shoulders bare, as she smiled the warmest of smiles, at Mitchell, as he took form before her…
“I’m so pleased you condescended to my call Ms Teal,” the little man began, making every effort not to stammer, “But I’ve found something of interest, as I was going through the Milieu Corp records and…”
Mitchell has lost his voice, he was rapt by the vision before him.
“Do go on,” the seductress encouraged and, he did so.
“I think that Telos acquired a planet, when they acquired Milieu, a planet never been terraformed, for use… a planet left over from the first colony attempts…”
“Is this true? Are you sure?” She questioned Mitchell, walking around the man, so that he could enjoy looking, at her: as they wanted.
“Oh yes Ms Teal,” he gushed, his gaze fixed to the blonde’s deep cleavage, now somehow revealed to his lecherous gaze.
“And you’ll send me the planets coorinates?” She asked of Mitchell, wishing that she did not need to debase herself, as she did. ‘Yet the salaries very good,’ she reminded herself’ and continued to smile, at the fellow she despised so.
He nodded, still staring…
“That’s good Mitchell, you’ve pleased me…” she told him, speaking as if she were to a speaking to a pet.
Then, waving her right hand theatrically in the air, she told him: “Then go, get back to work. I’ll be needing those coordinates, for them upstairs, soon…”
“Yes Ma’am,” Mitchell told her, nodding.
“And?” Sharon queried, noticing that he was still there and, thankful she could not smell him, to see if the rumours were true.
“Oh er, sorry” Mitchell muttered, panicking: He was still standing before Ms Teal.
Then he was gone and Sharon Teal smiled, allowing her body to relax its normally rigid stance, until she called; “Traynor!”
She was determined that before she made her report, Traynor would finish what he had started, before Mitchell’s call…
Chapter Four
Both dedicated and a ‘stress-case’ Janice Deakin was one of three teachers, in the growing town of Freedom.
Blonde and slim, Janice wore heavy-frame glasses and a ponytail, so taut that it drew her hair back straight. Her manner of dress suited the hairstyle: severe.
Yet, het attire and attitude were no more than a front…
Janice Deakin was frightened of children and, what was worse for her, was that that the children she taught seemed to sense this fear, as if it were palpable. And so, the intimidation of the woman had begun.
Now Janice was already nearing the point of the day when she felt the need to lock herself away, to scream away her frustrations.
Yet, as Janice stared around her class of thirty-two, her frustration grew at the cacophony they created. Tutting, the teacher sat on the chair behind her sparse desk and steepled her finger together, as she stared at her pupils over the top of her glasses.
Then she reached into her brown leather case, full of slots to fill with copious amounts of books, paperwork and loose paperwork.
Withdrawing a battered tall narrow blue book from the case, Janice stood both hands splayed on the desk, as she informed her class, “If you’re not quiet now, for class registration, then each and every one of you will have to explain to your parents why you were so disruptive…”
Janice then stood quietly herself, allowing the youngsters to digest what she’d said to them… To use the children’s parents as a threat was the ultimate sanction, available to the teachers in the Freedom, who valued the real educators highly.
With just three teachers, little equipment and classes that were too large too easily manage, those few teachers were revered by most townspeople. And so, if the threat to inform parents of bad behaviour were used, it had to be with the knowledge that the ultimate sanction might have to be utilised, as threatened.
Yet, with every man or woman of age working, to draw them away from the place of employ was a distinct inconvenience, to both the parents and the parents.
‘After all,’ Janice mused, as she waited for a modicum of silence, ‘who likes conflict?’
Janice Deakin abhorred conflict herself. But, ‘her children’ were here to learn; while she was here to teach them.
‘Or, at least that’s the idea,’ Janice thought ruefully, as she watched a girl of thirteen at the window seat near the back continue to talk animatedly.
“Leanne Parks,” she barked, “your mother is the town Marshall, do you think she’d appreciate a letter from me?” Her words were not lost on the young teen.
Leanne closed her mouth mid-sentence and, then turned from her friends, to glower at her teacher, arms crossed tightly.
Silence followed…
“Alright class, thank you. Now…” Janice opened the blue-book, “Let’s get registration underway…”
Chapter Five
Jason looked around and, he couldn’t help but grin: ‘Eccentric me Dad is; he likes his little luxuries…’
The cave was quite deep and, almost head high throughout: there were the needed bedding and, limited washing facilities; but there was a chemical toilet.
The youth turned blue-eyes to his Father in amusement. He could just imagine his Father waiting twenty-odd years to warn the town of invaders and, then the day they arrive he is sitting on the toilet, reading.
With a grin he asked his Father, “You been to the toilet today?”
In response, James turned his head away from the rifles gunsight and answered, “You know it son, regular as clockwork.”
Looking to his Father’s left wrist, Jason Tolliver smiled, as he imagined Miss Deakin reading out the morning register.
A few of the older kids and their parents knew where he’d be. After all, he was the son of the town kook: their resident weird eccentric, warning them of a day yet to be, as he sat in a cave, he’d made.
He’d heard the stories many times as he grew up…
His Father and two others had been part of a small group that met the governments need and sent to prepare the way for later starships, that would carry the Corporations first pioneering colonists. That had before the war. But after it, it had been as though the Earth had forgotten them.
“In all likelihood they have forgotten us,” he had told the town assembly, “But, let me assure you, the Earthers will remember we’re here…”
Silence had followed his words, silence and the occasional titter of suppressed laughter.
“After all,” he had reasoned, “they’re hardly likely to invest so much in the tech needed to get us here, there’s noway the corpies will let this investment be lost.”
James still groaned at the stories told of the ridicule his Father had received…
“But then…” his Father had explained to him, “what more can you expect from a town of people qualified to put up flatpacks?”
It wasn’t wholly right; but there was some truth to the argument: they had been sent to prepare the way for later colonists, to follow. But that had been the war that they had learned of, through those on the last ship to land.
That had been way back then. Now his Father was who he was and, that was enough for his son…
Jason liked spending time with his wild-eyed Father. He was loving, attentive and, highly imaginative. Yet, it had not been till his mid-teens that he had realized that the many games he had played with his Father taught him much-needed survival skills.
Jason couldn’t help but smile at the image of his teacher’s face, if she saw him pulling rabbits fur, from its carcass, all in one motion.
“Your mother know where you are?” James asked his boy, after a long silence.
Jason chose not to answer – he didn’t want to lie, not to his Father: and, he could imagine her waiting for him, at that moment, scowling and anxious; her arms always ready to hold him.
Chapter Six
Gazing out the window Elizabeth Tolliver saw the first of the approaching scout ships at the same time as her husband.
One craft broke away from the other two and, then it swept down the centre of the valley, towards their homestead.
James gulped deeply, disbelief at what he’d seen quite apparent, as he pulled his eye from the ‘scope.
“What’s the matter Father?” He heard his son ask, as he tried to clear the image from his mind, of the starfighter running low to the ground, as it strafed his home and wife.
He had seen her putting the washing out, on a fine day, one moment; then fall to the floor clutching at a massive wound in her chest, that erupted red, that covered her and the white washing.
And his face white, James ran his hands through his son’s hair.
“Time to put some of those lessons I taught you to use…” he told the boy, enthusiasm sounding in his voice, that betrayed the empty maw inside that had formed with the death of Elizabeth.
“Now?” The young teen asked, suddenly feeling the need for contact. And, as if reading his thoughts, his Father took him into a warm embrace and he held him close, whispering to Jason: “Yes my son, this is our time, to shine!”
Chapter Seven
Having re-attained their formation, with one craft leading the other two, the three silverbirds flew high midst the clouds, then careened toward the winding river and the middle of the small town of Freedom; each with twin wing guns blazing with short purple beams of energy, that tore apart rock as easily as it disintegrated flesh.
Buildings of metal were ripped to shards and the people inside burnt within, their screams reaching the onlookers in the cave.
And, as townspeople ran from their buildings into the street at the sound of the approaching craft, they were quickly mown down, their bodies turning immediately into a cloud of bloody dust.
An energy blast hit a small fuel pump, which exploded, sending flames high into the air, sending shards of metal flying outward from the blast.
A piece of metal tore into Janice Deakin’s ankles as she ran, causing her to fall; thus her death was mercifully quick, for as her lifeblood ran out, she clutched at the earth as she watched her pupils run ahead, into a phalanx of armed and armoured soldiers, all prepared to deal death, for Telos.
Then as her vision rapidly diminished, with oncoming death, Janice heard one of the soldiers speaking into his wrist comm: “Their Freedom’s been acquired Ms. Teal. And, Telos has a new acquisition, as you wanted…”
“Very good Traynor, I can well imagine a few happy shareholders at that piece of news,” the Commander was told, “Now leave your men to mop up. You can help me celebrate...”
At this news Traynor pressed a button on his wrist unit, sending a high dose of stimulant through his system.
“Micheals…” He spoke through his internal comms to his men, “you’re in command, I have to go back to the ship…”
A moments silence followed, then he added, “…to report.”
Chapter Eight
Father and son watched their town be destroyed in silence. Neither could find the right words that would fit. Yet, as James watched the soldiers rip apart all that the three had created, he found voice.
“Jason, beneath my bedding there’s a door, open it… and get one of those rucksacks of gear and get down there, I’ll follow you. Alright?” He shouted, bringing his son back to this defining moment; one that he had planned for, over many, many years.
Jason rose and scampered to where the bags stood against the wall, “Which one?” He shouted, watching as his Father lay where he had, carefully taking aim, his face showing intense concentration.
“Doesn’t matter son,” his Father shouted back, “They’re all survival packs… Now go!” Jason ran, grabbed a shoulder-bag and scurried over to his Father’s bedroll, as James took his first shot.
The aim had been clear and true, with the target planted years earlier: an explosive, planted at the base of the communications array. The explosion produced a sonic wave that knocked over all those standing in its wake, prior to the fireball that that followed the second shot and, the second device, planted beneath the fuel dump…
And, as the sound of the explosion tore through the valley, the shock wave downing all three of the warcraft, Jason, and then James slid into a metal cylinder, which led them downward through the mountain, at tremendous speed.
“Father… where… are we going…?” Jason called out, into the dark, feeling terrified and exhilarated at the same time.
His arms folded across his chest, his heels pressed against the corrugated steel tubing, James slowed his descent, so that when they landed, it would not be on his son’s head.
“Just remember,” he called out, “this was never really meant for two…”
Then, as he finished speaking, a hatch slid open at his son’s approach and Jason found himself looking down into a well-lit cabin, with one seat below him, that he suddenly fell into, his fall being absorbed by the chair’s deep padding.
Feeling momentarily confused, as he looked round the small cockpit, Jason looked at the switches and flashing lights and, the second seat, just behind where he sat.
He liked the seat and, as he thought how comfortable it was, his Father landed upon him, laughing.
“Goddamn,” James yelled, “I’m damn glad that worked as well as it did!”
Chapter Nine
Once the two were inside the cabin, the hatch above them was ratcheted home, with a hand-crank to the left of it.
“Limited electrics,” James explained apologetically, “but, I’m pretty sure it flies and can do what we need to do…”
“What’s that?” His son asked, still testing the strength of the crossed webbing that had been used to hold him to his seat.
“Get revenge on them that sent me here and did all you saw,” James told the youth, as he began a systems check.
Jason did not reply, or make comment. He could hear an edge to his Fathers voice he had not heard before and, it worried him.
After a short time passed, James turned his seat round, to face his son, “Okay,” he began, “The countdown has begun and ideally, soon we’ll be looking down on all this and looking for a few answers. You ready?”
The youth did not know how to answer, or whether he should; after all, it seemed his Father was on a personal mission and, it seemed he was just along for the ride: ‘quite literally’… he mused, as suddenly the ship roared into life.
Engines roared, then became silent as the main drive kicked in, whilst still planet side.
But, James was ready for what would happen next – having spent nearly twenty years preparing for this very event.
And, around him rock vibrated, shuddered and, then shattered, with a thunderous roar and, suddenly the homebuild was able to thrust through and it took to the skies.
James looked out the front screen, his grip on the joystick tight, his eyes alight with his desire to obliterate the threat to the world that he’d grown on.
‘Up there is my foe,’ he reminded himself, pulling back on the joystick so that the small spacecraft would begin its ascent.
Chapter Ten
As the ship drifted toward the vast battlecruiser Jason looked to his Father, wondering what he was thinking, as he stared ahead, his gaze fixed on the leviathan.
James did not see the ship, he saw those on Earth who had sent him here and, for once he was grateful for the state sponsored courses for the unemployed that had enabled him to both build and pilot a ship such as that which he did now.
He then saw the world he’d known burn, with the green turn to black, as his fellow townspeople died, in horrific fashion.
Spring-coiled, the pilot of the smaller craft called back to his son, “We’re going to be flying under the ship, alright Jason?”
The youth nodded, wordlessly…
“You’re nodding aren’t you?” His Father enquired, hoping that he was and, that he might understand that his Father was looking out for him: “Well speak up lad, ‘cuz that don’t help me understand you, I’m no telepath!”
“Yes I understand,” Jason clarified, each word drawn out.
“And, I can understand sarcasm,” James told his son, without looking back, as he began preparing the timing sequence on the device in his lap.
“You know why we’re not being blasted out of the sky by them?” He asked of Jason, as they got nearer still and both were able to see the heavy armaments carried by the Telos battlecruiser.
“Erm no Father,” the young man answered, his nerves evident in his voice. He had realised that moment, just how endangered he had suddenly become.
“We’re just too small… frell son, as far as they’re concerned, we’re just another piece of floating rock and, it’ll stay that way until…” He wasn’t going to explain his plan, not yet. ‘After all,’ James mused, ‘if worst comes to worst, at least the lad will be safe in here and, the auto sequence will take him somewhere habitable.’
James wanted to know that his son would be safe… after…
“Alright lad, see that switch...?” He pointed just to the right on his son’s left shoulder.
“Uh-huh, I do…” Jason replied, noting where his Father meant.
“When I call ‘now’ you pull that lever, alright?” He enthused, hoping that all his years of teaching would not be needed and, they might both survive what was intended.
“Uh-huh I understand,” Jason assured his Father.
“Good,” James told him, as he stood and began to undress. Then once in his vest and pants, he opened a locker and withdrew an environmental suit.
“This I couldn’t make,” he explained as he dressed, “I was just fortunate that one of the ships I used had a few stowed away, for whatever reason. And, right now it’s going to suit my purpose…” he explained, as he donned the helmet.
Then James made his way to the rear of the ship, powered by its two engines on short wings. He twisted the wheel before him and, opened the hatch being careful not to drop the gift, he had so carefully prepared.
“When I say now, you pull that lever alright?” Jason heard through the ships comms.
He nodded, then realizing he had done so and spluttered aloud quickly, “I hear you!”
“Good,” James muttered aloud; “I came out here for three years. Now after two times ten, or so I figure; I’m due my payback…”
He looked down to the gift in his hands, wondering with ironic humour, whether his gift would be appreciated. He doubted it, he considered with a smile, seconds before telling his son, “Now!”
James pulled the lever and the airlock door opened, as the small craft passed below the much larger ship, carried by the gentle inertia produced from a measured burst from its thrusters awhile back.
He drifted upward, thankful for the secure tether that held him tied to his own ship, as he delivered his present, to its intended recipient, the ships engine housing.
The magnet held the device in place and then James began to pull on his line, to draw himself back into the small spacecraft.
“Lever, now!” he called out once back in the airlock, pleased his son’s responses were quick, as he was aware how little time was left, before his gift made its presence known.
“Yessir!” Jason answered quickly, as he followed his instruction and the outer door closed, as his Father made his way rapidly back to his seat.
“We have to go now Jason. I doubt they’ll like my delivery…” he muttered, as he began his pre-flight check.
“Drokk it,” he snarled, “I haven’t time for this!”
And, he was right. A small explosion erupted from the package, that tore at the field providing the ships hull integrity and a crack quickly formed in the casing around the battlecruisers engines.
With no sound to reach them, the two could watch in utter silence as a further series of explosions opened up throughout the large ship, causing it’s hull to fracture further, before a larger explosion tore the ship in to and thousands of people spilled from it’s many levels, their cries silent in the silent of space.
“Justice has been served…” James muttered, his face stone-like.
Then James powered up his own starcraft, directed it toward the stars far away and turned to his son, with a smile fixed firmly on his face: “You know Jason, this isn’t an end; this is just a kind of… new beginning and, our time to shine…”
Jason grinned at his Father and asked him, “So, will you tell me about me Great Nin?”
And as the craft entered uncharted space, James spoke with his blue-eyes twinkling with pleasure, as he told him of the old days and the old ways… times that were passed and, that could still be relevant, if he or his son chose…
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