Second Chances (126 page)

“Robots remember? Can you say narrow minded?” Tina said in disgust. “I had more questions to ask!”

“They'll be back,” Mitch said. “Sometime,” he said. She sniffed.

“So, what will you do this time to attract their attention if they don't?” Sandra asked. The others looked at him and then her in consternation. She looked up and smiled to everyone. “What? You didn't think he was pushing the rocket and satellite program for just one or two reasons did you?” She asked.

Evan blinked, then stared at Mitch. Colonel Dunn did as well, scowling. Professor Hinkley, however, chuckled, then nodded.

“Oh, if we have to we can always try exploring more. Visiting our neighbors here or sending probes up to the moons or even to the other worlds,” Mitch said, smiling.

Professor Hinkley grinned and then started clapping. Evan shot him a look and then joined in, followed by Miss Raynes and then others. Soon the entire room was clapping and cheering. Mitch blushed but didn't get a chance to wave them off since his wife leaned over and planted a kiss on him.

Chapter 55

News that the aliens returned, however briefly, made its way through the Terran communities via Jolie's broadcast. Some of those who listened and commented were put out that the aliens only went to the capital to see Mitch.

Jolie listened for a bit, then frowned and interrupted a diatribe from Tariq. “Well, we know they came here mainly due to the satellite. Which was launched from where again? And yes, they like Mister Chambers. He can't help that. But remember, each of your community leaders are here as well. So, they were in on the discussions. Well most of them since one skipped town just before that recent outbreak...” she said nastily. She noted Tariq didn't rise to her bait nor deny it.

------*------

When Cassie woke her mother let her recover for a few hours. But when the girl insisted on seeing Vance she sat down on the edge of the bed and broke the news to her. “I'd already guessed I'd lost the baby but Vance too?” Cassie asked hoarsely in tears. “I'm soo, so sorry baby,” Sandra whispered. “There was nothing I could do. It ...the things got into his heart and ....” she shook her head.

“At least it was quick,” Cassie said bitterly. Sandra bit her lip. The red headed girl wept, wiping at her face until her mother hugged her.

“I thought it was morning sickness,” Cassie sobbed. “I thought the nausea was normal. What you said. I didn't know,” she said choking up as she cried. “We thought the movement was the baby...We were so excited...” Her hands bawled into fists as she gripped her mother's medical smock, bawling her broken heart out.

“Let it out baby,” Sandra urged, rubbing her back, her own voice foggy with grief. Cassie broke down further as the sobs started. Sandra felt her own tears fall and closed her eyes tightly. A vision of Vance and her daughter in her wedding dress formed in her mind. She did her best to banish the errant thought.

Dora watched her friends from the doorway, wiping at her own tears.

------*------

They held a funeral for Vance and the others who had died on a clear evening three days after the Memes had left. Ducky had finished his autopsy with Doctor Ventura assisting, then frozen the bodies at Sandra's request. They knew Cassie and Mitch would want to attend when they were able.

Mitch and Cassie attended in wheelchairs. The entire community attended in the field. “It sucks loosing someone. Losing a kid hurts worse. This...this didn't have to happen. We don't know what happened, but I promise you. I promise them,” Mitch said grimly, nodding his head to the wrapped bodies on the waiting pyre. “We will get to the bottom of it.”

Cassie murmured I love you before she took a torch from her mom and tossed it onto the fire. Mitch at first thought the wind would blow the torch out but there was enough fumes from whatever Brian and Lisa had put on there to do the job. The fire lit fast, blinding all as it turned into an inferno. She wasn't the only person who wept as the bodies were burned.

Mitch wanted to confront the group he thought was responsible but Brian, Travis, and Phyllis convinced him not to do so at the time. They did brief Gunny Hodges though. They also noted that Ciara had retreated and Tariq was conveniently absent. Ciara had gone to her quarters then “gotten an urgent call from Jake” and had returned to her home, catching a flight to East Village a few hours after the Meme aliens had returned.

------*------

With Tariq missing and Mitch still on the mend, the conference went into recess for a week to give Mitch time to recover. Colonel Dunn was all for them continuing, but he was outvoted. Those that could returned home during the one-week window did so. Olaf, Mike and Jack returned home for a few days. The others took turns in the radio room talking with their home communities. They soon discovered though that those that had Internet could send and receive e-mails faster...if both parties on either end were paying attention.

A day after the recess started requests for ideas on how to do various engineering projects or medical issues cropped up. Some of the architectural issues were passed on to the Capital Base's network...and lingered in the computer since no one had been promoted to fill Vance's vacancy.

A few like Tsakhia and Adam were bored and spent time with Maggie in the barns managing the animals or in general getting under foot.

Evan and Professor Hinkley closeted themselves with Miss Raynes to go over what the Memes had said. Colonel Dunn tried to keep up with them but quickly realized he was way out of his league and gave up. He tended to stick to Gunny Usher, but the retired Marine wasn't happy about having a sidekick.

Yuri started delving into the computer database to look for various projects his people could get into. Kirafiki, Mussad, and Yung li, Sandy, Rabbi Weiss, John Duster and a few others joined them. It started with ideas on what simple DIY projects they could do in their own communities, but then they started to compare ideas that led to intrigue and excitement over what they could make and export.

“I'd like an air conditioner,” Kirafiki grumbled. Mussad nodded. Both of them were from a hot desert climate, but both had been spoiled by modern air conditioning.

“Does anyone know if Capital will make any small units? Or large building ones?” Yung li asked. “Summer is fast approaching,” she warned. “We had three people who passed out from heat exhaustion and one heat stroke last year. We cannot do much for those working in the fields, but some relief would be appreciated.”

“It'd probably cost a fortune,” Yuri said. “It doesn't get very hot up in the far north,” he said.

“That's where you are at. We're near a desert,” Mussad said.

“And we are on the plains,” Kirafiki said. Yung li nodded.

John looked up absently and then back down to what he was looking at. “Make one,” he said.

“Make...impossible. The Freon...” the woman shook her head.

“Not that,” John said. He looked up from the grinder and sifting blueprints he'd been studying. “Make a DIY one. You can make a simple one with a five-gallon bucket, some PVC, a small fan, a bit of insulation, and a frozen gallon of water,” he said. “Works pretty good too,” he said, sounding like he'd experienced it firsthand.

Yuri chuckled. “Yankee ingenuity?” he asked.

“Well, I don't know about that,” John said. “I saw it on YouTube. You cut three holes on the side of the bucket, then cut a big hole in the lid for the fan. Take the shield off the fan and mount the fan to the lid so the blades are face down. Line the inside of the bucket with some of that cheap insulation, you know the quarter inch stick on shit. Then drill the holes again, but smaller and glue in PVC pipes about two or three inches long. Stick a bottle of frozen water in the bucket, pop the lid on, plug it in and let it rip. It's good for about four or five hours,” he said.

Kirafiki stared at him in astonishment. Yung li blinked then her Asian face crinkled a little in amusement.

“It works if you just put the ice in front of a fan too...if you don't have a bucket,” Yuri said. “Old school,” he rumbled.

John nodded. “That too,” he said, looking at the Russian.

“We don't have any of that stuff. Maybe the fan,” Sandy murmured. “I can check. That's brilliant though. But getting water frozen...”

“Freezer.”

“And the electrical power. Though we do have some solar panels. We're supposed to buy some this year from base. And a couple of the wind turbines Copper Town is exporting...” Sandy mused.

“We can check with plastics to see if they are going to do a run of buckets and PVC,” Rabbi Weiss suggested. The others nodded.

“And the insulation.”

“I think Brian said Vance...” Yung Li's face fell. “Sorry,” She murmured.

“It's okay,” John said after a moment. “You were saying?”

“They are planning to expand the base. There was talk about building an apartment complex out of concrete, metal, and wood sometime this year or next to give them room to expand. I'm not sure when though.”

“So, we can go the old school route and try it on our own, or wait and hope Mitch makes the apartments and makes AC units for it. I think I'll try this old school method. And we can always use buckets,” Kirafiki said. “I know of a method to filter water in one...”

“Oh? Do tell?” Sandy asked, looking at the African with interest.

“Well, you need charcoal, and PVC...”

------*------

Chief Roberts and Phyllis focused on Tariq being the culprit behind the parasite infestation. “Her skipping town with an emergency was certainly something...I'm not sure what.”

“We may be reading too much into this. It could be a coincidence,” Phyllis warned. She caught the SEAL's expression. “And yes, I believe it as much as I do in the tooth fairy. Proving it though...”

“Well, since we don't have a constitution we don't have a court room.”

“Except the one of public opinion,” Phyllis reminded him. “And she's a bit far out of our reach.”

“Oh, if I want the bitch, I'll go in personally and dig her ass out,” the chief growled. Phyllis stared at him. He nodded grimly. “Jaden, Vance, all of them were my friends. I'm not going to let this go down easily, nor am I going to let that bitch get away with it.”

“Well, let's work on, um, more proof before we go down that road shall we?” Phyllis asked. He nodded. “Mitch said the jerky was too spicy. Someone handed him that drink. We should focus on that, find out if anyone remembers it. I know Cassie is too grief stricken to talk, but maybe someone else who was there...”

------*------

Mitch was on the mend or so he insisted. He ate sparingly, not interested in food but eating to regain his strength. He was a bit concerned about how his system would function, and he was pretty sure he wasn't the only one. He did insist the IVs be removed after the funeral. He also insisted on doing his own business in the bathroom as well, though Dora hovered worriedly the first time. She'd taken the stool sample without batting an eye and logged it with the date and time for the lab to process. She hastily set it down as he made his way carefully back to the bed under his own power.

“I'm okay; I just need to rest,” Mitch said.

“You are so going to get us both in trouble!” Dora hissed at him.

He glanced at her. “Why?” He brushed off her helping hands as he sat on the bed. He took a breath, let it out slowly, and then swung his legs up onto the bed once more. “Damn that floor is cold,” he grumbled.

“Serves you right,” Dora scolded. “Doc's busy consulting with the other medics but...”

“Doctor Ventura and the others are still here?” Mitch asked, stopping what he was doing to look at her.

She shrugged. “They needed to consult on things. They decided since a lot of them were here anyway, they could get what they could done. Work on some details, plan other things like training...” she waved a hand as Mitch thrust his feet under the covers.

“And how is our patient this morning?” Sandra asked, coming into the room. “Doctor Ventura and Nicole are checking up on Cassie. So...” She rubbed her hands together gleefully.

Mitch eyed his wife warily.

Dora snorted. “He's being a stubborn pain in the ass,” she mock griped.

Sandra smiled. “Since when is he ever not a stubborn pain in the ass? How can you tell?”

“Funny,” Mitch drawled. “I'm not sure it's safe for me to be in her clutches,” he said.

“Better me than anyone else dear,” Sandra said, smiling sweetly to him as she pulled the covers up to his hips. Her hands lingered briefly on his hips making him squirm.

“Ah...a little early to test that equipment there, Doc,” he said.

She grinned. “Just seeing if it works,” she said.

“Oh it works all right,” he growled. “I prefer you playing doctor and naughty nurse over some of the other role play you've done,” he teased, hands protecting his manhood.

“What do you mean
play
?” She demanded, hands going to her hips. He grinned at her, nonchalantly stretching. She eyed him. He just kept the grin up. Dora giggled. “When I get you home...” She shook a finger at him.