Dan Brown Space Adventure – Part 4
Deception is a necessary evil when dealing with a human time bomb. Suzette and I knew well enough we couldn’t trust Roger, so we decided to plant a little seed. After Roger barged onto the bridge shouting about our mission being a death sentence, I had an idea of what corner to back him into. I lied about there only being two planets left on the star chart Mission Control had provided us. In reality, there were five left, but I wanted to turn up the pressure and find out what he was so afraid of.
I plotted the farthest distance possible to the first planet on the list. I chose that one with purpose: The intel described only a 28 percent possibility of it being a suitable replacement for Earth. During the month it took to get there, Roger grew increasingly agitated, pacing and mumbling under his breath. Whenever Suzette attempted conversation, his responses were short, if he responded at all. I didn’t bother playing nice after a few days. When we finally arrived, the planet was a bust, unable to support life of any kind. Roger and I suited up to explore the surface anyway, while Suzette monitored progress from the Vanguard. While walking over the black sand of the lifeless terrain, I heard Roger lightly sobbing over his com channel. I knew then and there that he was broken. Fear had seeped through the cracks. If his knot did come loose, he could jeopardize everything. Not on my watch, buddy.
The thing about space travel is that you can’t be afraid of death, not even for a minute. Fear of failure isn’t an option either. We signed on for the job knowing full well the risks involved. Our training could have killed us. The launch rocket might’ve exploded on lift-off. The first aliens we encountered might’ve dissected us into tiny bits. In space, death lurks around every corner. Despite the danger, we have to keep moving forward. The mission is even more complicated now that the fate of the human race is in our hands. If Roger’s emotional state is indeed compromised, he has to be handled.
Once we’re out of orbit, I plot a course for a planet that looks a little more promising. If we get there and Roger does crack, I’ll have my finger on the trigger. While imagining all the different ways this could play out, my thoughts are interrupted by a transmission from Mission Control. Suzette opens the com while Roger looms over our shoulders. The channel clicks on, revealing a sullen J.W. Anderson. His face looks so much older than when we left Earth. He looks surprised when he notices Roger is aboard.
“Hello Suzette, Dan. I see you’ve picked up a passenger,” J.W. says through crackling static.
“What, didn’t think you’d see me again, General?” Roger asks rather bluntly, throwing J.W. off guard.
“I thought you might crawl out of whatever hole the Quardians left you in, but I didn’t expect to see you on Dan’s ship.”
Before Roger can throw another dig at J.W., I lay all the cards on the table. “General, we know why we’re really out here searching for these planets. Can we cut to the chase? What’s happening on Earth?”
J.W. hesitates slightly. “As I’m sure Roger’s told you, we’re in a bad way back home. If you boys don’t pick a winner, we’ll all be lost in space until we run out of supplies.”
“We gathered that much, General. Is everything going to plan on your end?” Suzette asks.
“I’ve only got one kind of news for you Suzette – the bad kind. Some jagoff scientist leaked our impending disaster to the press. As you’d imagine, the shit has hit the fan and panic’s overrun the streets. The only thing we have going for us is that the transport ships remain secure, for now.”
The three of us allow it to sink in for a moment. And for the first time since I heard the news about Earth’s impending future, I’m actually glad I’m aboard this spaceship in the middle of nowhere. To experience that level of panic – I don’t know how I would cope. That’s coming from someone with no family and few friends, mind you.
“Any word from the Revelator?” I ask. The Revelator is the designation for the Vanguard IV piloted by Larry Cranston and Laura Marshall.
“Laura checked in a few hours ago. She reported that she and Larry were half a day from what they hoped was a strong candidate. They’ve been made aware of what’s at stake as well.”
“We haven’t turned up anything yet, but we remain hopeful,” Suzette says with convincing optimism, which is lost on Roger at this point. She’s careful with her wording so as not to point out exactly how many options we have left. Regardless, I’m sure J.W. has received automated reports of our location since we left.
“When do you plan to pack up and leave?” Roger asks abruptly and with malice.
“Turns out we can’t wait till you find a place to land before we take off. Boarding will begin tomorrow as quietly as possible. Mission Control requests all birds be airborne inside of three days.”
Roger appears even more rattled. Then he asks, “How many?”
“How many what?” J.W. retorts, playing dumb.
“You know damn well what I mean, Jerry. How many people will fit on those transport ships?”
“Forty-two percent of the population. That’s all we could accommodate on short notice.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? Short notice? You assholes have known this was coming for years and did nothing! Fifty-eight percent of the world is going to die instantly because you were too hard-headed to listen!”
For once, I have to agree with Roger, but it doesn’t change the stakes. I’ll be angry at mankind’s ignorance once I’m positive mankind will still be around to be mad at. “Good luck, J.W. We’ll keep up our end of the deal. Just get those ships in the clear.”
“Just like that, Dan? When are you going to wake up and –” Roger starts.
“You aren’t helping anything by whining!” Suzette interrupts. And with that, Roger storms off the bridge in a blind fury.
J.W. waits a moment, then says, “I don’t like where he’s headed. You two keep your eyes wide open.”
“Don’t worry,” I reply. “We’re coming up on our next target, General. Godspeed and good luck.”
“To you as well. Be careful. Mission Control out.”
Suzette shuts down the com. She’s uncharacteristically silent, despite the new information we’ve been dealt.
“Hey, you OK over there?” I prod, which elicits no response. “Suzette?”
“Dan, I appreciate what you’re doing, I do, but I can’t talk about it right now. We have to stay focused, especially with Roger going off the deep end.”
“No arguments there. It’s just, if you want to talk – I’m sure I’m still terrible at it. Consoling, that is.”
“Was that an attempt at a joke?”
“I suppose. We need a joke or two, all things considered.”
“You know, Dan, for an emotional cripple, you aren’t half bad.”
“Likewise, doll. You ready to land this bird?”
She nods while readying the ship for entry into the planet’s atmosphere. From a distance, this planet resembles Earth, with incandescent yellow waves where blue oceans would be. I am taken aback by its beauty, but the smile on Suzette’s face trumps it. Could we learn to love each other if we were trapped on that rock below us? These romantic notions are a welcome distraction from our current predicament, but I put them aside. I make my way toward the ready room, where I slip on my space suit. I pull my 2028 from the compartment I had hidden it in, returning it to my holster.
“Isaac6, can you inform Roger he’s needed on deck?”
“STATEMENT: Roger is en route currently.”
“Thanks, Isaac.”
Roger dons his gear without uttering a word. When he first came aboard, he at least maintained some semblance of civility. The performance is at an end. His eyes are nearly empty, showing only the thousand-yard stare of someone with nothing to lose. He doesn’t scare me, but unpredictability sets me on edge. Suzette moves the ship over the center of the largest land mass on the topographical chart, then sticks a landing. Roger and I walk down the ramp, stunned by what we find. For the first time since we began our journey in space, I feel at home. There is truly breathtaking scenery here. The colors are all skewed, but the visuals are strikingly similar. I see overgrown grass and odd-shaped trees, along with clouds hanging in an orange sky. Isaac6 even confirms that there is breathable air here. I take my helmet off slowly, hoping to confirm. It’s then that I feel both warmth and a light wind. Up ahead I notice that Roger has come to the same conclusion and removed his helmet. He’s hunching over, reading the results of soil tests.
“Suzette just launched the planetary probes. We should know whether or not the water is drinkable in a few minutes,” I call over to Roger.
“This place will have to do, Dan. Suzette needs to hail Mission Control immediately and tell them we’ve secured the relocation target.”
“We haven’t secured anything without detailed reports,” I reply.
“We’re running out of time! If Larry calls it before us, those transport ships will move to his position. Don’t you get it, Dan? We’ll be alone out here – trapped.”
“That was always part of the deal, whether the mission changed or didn’t. You knew that going in, Roger.”
“Don’t you think I know that? At least before, we had a home to go back to. Without that fleet of ships to join us, we’ll just grow old and rot. No way am I allowing that to happen.”
“And what if those probes report back with bad news – say the water isn’t fit to drink?” I ask. “You’re just going to condemn the whole of mankind because you’re lonely?”
“Your Vanguard isn’t fit for another trip across the galaxy. At least if they show up I can hitch a ride. With the ship’s reserves, I can hold out until then.”
“You’re forgetting one thing, jackass: I’m standing in your way.” I draw the 2028 and aim it between his beady eyes. I didn’t want it to come to this, but I’ll be damned if I let this psychopath pull the wool over Mission Control.
“I thought you might put up a fight, Dan. You were never lacking for bravado, just brains.”
He advances, so I don’t hesitate pulling the trigger. Unfortunately, after a few empty clicks, his head is still attached. Roger gets the drop on me, pulling what looks to be Suzette’s gun.
“You know, Dan, I never liked you,” he says, pulling the trigger. I never liked that bastard either, but everything goes dark before I can tell him off. Bloody hell.
Check in next month for the exciting conclusion!
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