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While AliensWere Sleeping

Alienn, Arkansas, book 7

FionaRoarke

NickelRoadPublishing

Allrightsreserved

Thecharactersandeventsportrayedinthisbookarefictitious Any similarity torealpersons,livingordead,iscoincidentalandnotintendedby theauthor Nopartofthisbookmay bereproduced,orstoredinaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedinany formorby any means,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,orotherwise,withoutexpresswritten permissionofthepublisher

Dedication:ToS.M.K.forcomingupwithanamazingideaforthisbook.Iaskedyouaquestionandyougavemethe perfectanswer.Thankyou,mysweet.Andnowyoumustbrainstormwithmeforever.☺

Disclaimer:FionaRoarkehaspermissiontouseNocturneFalls,Georgia,asasettinginthisbookfromseriescreator KristenPainter.

Thankyousomuch,KP.

Prologue

HoraceMiddlemarch,dressedinthreadbarebutexpensiveclothing,steepledhisfingersandthoughtaboutthe intricateplanhe’dcreatedtosolvehisdilemma.

Hisoncevastfortunehaddwindledtothepointwheredrasticactionwasrequiredtosimplycontinueonwithouta direchangeinhislifestyle.He’dalreadysacrificedandcompromisedsomuch.

Therewasaslightpossibilitythatheshouldhavedonethislongago,buthehadbeenconfidenthisfinancial reversalwouldturnaroundonitsown

Unfortunately,thathadnothappened.

Inpointoffact,theproblemhadgrownfromanannoyancetoanongoingissueand,finally,intoahuge, unsustainablepredicament.

Drasticmeasureswouldhavetobeinstigatedtothwarthisrivalsand their inappropriatestrategiesagainsthim. Theyhadsucceededwherehehadcontinuallyfailedforthepastfewdecadesbecausetheyweregreedy.Everytimehethought hewouldrecouphissubstantiallossesandgrowhiswealthbiggerthanever,hehadnot.Meanwhile,theenterprisesofhis enemieshadgrownstrongerandmoreprofitablewitheachpassingdecade

Horacehadworkedonthisseeminglyinescapableproblemforquiteawhileandknewitwashisbesthope.Ifhe failed,ifnothingelse,hewouldhavehisrevengeagainstthosewhohadalteredthecourseofhisbusinessfortunes Yes,he would.

Thebestpartaboutthiswholeplanwasthatthey’dneverseeitcoming.Therewasalmostnoroomforhisgleeto beputbackintotheboxfilledwithhiswildrageandrevenge-fueledjudgments.

Buthemanaged.Fornow,atleast.

Hechuckledtohimselfforagoodlittlebit,ponderingthesufferingthatwouldbecomingtoallofhisopponents verysoon.Allthatremainedwastheimplementationofhisplan.Thetrickierproposition.Forthat,heneededhelp.

Thebuzzeronhisdesksounded Thevoiceofhisassistantcamethroughloudandclear “Sir,yournextappointment ishereinthewaitingroom.”

Knowingfullwellhisassistantwasonaclosedloopandthatthepersonwho’dcometoseehimcouldn’thearhis sideoftheconversation,Horacepushedthetransmitbuttonandsaid,“Havethemwaitforfivemoreminutesandthenallow entrance.”

“Yes,sir”

Hedidn’tneedthefiveminutes,buthelikedthepowerhecouldexertatwilloverothers.Itwasprobablya juvenileactonhispart,butthatdidn’tmakehimwanttostop

Ifhisassistanthadanyissueswithhisbusinesspracticesandhowheconductedthem,themanwiselykeptthemto himself.ItwaslikelywhyHoracehademployedhimforsolong.Themanunderstoodfullytheroleofsubservience.

Withoutfurtherpattinghimselfontheback,Horacesatpatientlyathisdeskandwaitedforhisappointmenttoenter Astheunnecessaryfiveminutestickedby,hementallyranthroughhisplanoncemoreandfounditperfectasitwas.

Nochangesneeded

Afterexactlyfiveminutes,theouterdoorsopened.Theindividualwassomeonehetrusted,toanextent,thoughnot ashisfirstchoicetotakecareofthisparticularmatter Orevenhissecond

Still,itcouldn’tbehelped.

Hehadn’twantedtogothisroute,butDarkfall,thecorrectorentitywithashadowyreputationinthisquadrantof thegalaxy,wasn’tavailable

Darkfallwasexpensivebuthadtheforemostreputationforgettingthingsdone.TherehadbeenrumorsthatDarkfall waschanginghisbaseofoperationsandthatwasthereasongivenforhisunattainability

RailingatDarkfall’sanonymouslackeywhohadcommunicatedthisinformationtoHoracewouldn’tchangeathing exceptmakehimshakewithfurywithstillnopositiveresulttotakeaway Hetookgreatpainstocalmhimselfandnot irrefutablydamageanyfuturedealingswithDarkfallorhiscontact.

HoracehadbeenwillingtooverextendhimselftohirethetopcorrectorandofferedmorethanDarkfall’susual exorbitantrate,tonoavail Hetookitasasignthatheshouldsavethefundshemightneedlatertofurtherthwarthisenemies nearandfar.

Apity

WithDarkfallunavailable,Queranwouldhavebeenaviablealternative.Unfortunately,whilethatinfamous correctorhadanequallysinisterbutimpeccablerecordforfixingthings,Queranhadbeencaughtupinsomesortofscandala whileback.Asaresult,hewascoolinghisheelsinagulagsomewhereacrossthegalaxy.

Yetanotherpity.

Histhirdchoiceforthispivotalroleinexactinghisrevengestoodbeforehimwithoutseeminginterest,annoyance orevenmotivationtocarryoutthetaskHoraceconsideredcrucialtothefutureofhisbusiness.Hepressedon,ignoringany

possibleattitudefromthispersonhe’dbeenforcedtoselect.

“Iwantyoutodosomethingforme.Somethingimportant,”Horacesaidtooneofthefewpeopleinhislifewhohe trustedtodohisbidding Mostly

He’dfoundthebestresultscamefrompayingwellforwhatneededtobedone quietly,carefullyandexpediently. AllwerewordsheassociatedwithDarkfallandQueran

However,hecouldn’thavewhathewanted,andthepersonbeforehimwouldhavetosuffice.Horacecouldn’twait anylongertoimplementhisbrilliantplanofrevengeandpunishment Therewasatimelinethathadtobefollowedandthe threatoffurtherfinancialturmoilifhefailedtodoso.

Hewasatacriticaljunctureinhisbusiness.Itwastimetoact.

Actually,itwaslongpast time Hevitallyneededsomegoodresultsto,atlonglast,swinginhisfavor “Oh?”histhirdchoicesaidwithclearindifference.“Willthisbeapaid‘something’orareyouwantingafreeride onmyprecioustransport?”

Horacestaredathisthirdchoicewithoutblinking,butitdidn’tseemtointimidatethepersononesinglebit.Itnever did,ashewellknew

WhilehewasonlyofferingasmallpercentageofwhathewouldhavepaidDarkfall,itwasstillatidysum afull tenpercent!Horacewasremindedagainofhisannoyanceathavingtopaythisthird-choicecontractoranything.

Despiteproteststothecontrary,thispersonowedHoraceandhadforawhile

ItirkedHoracetoadmithewasinadirepositionandsacrificeswouldhavetobemadetoputhisplaninmotion.

Horaceputacivilsmileinplaceandsaid,“Donotfear I’llpayyouverywellforthischore However,Ibelieveit willbenefitusbothinthelongrun.”

Thisdeclarationearnedhimaneyerollofdisbeliefandadismissivesoundtoaccompanyit.

Horacesincerelyhopedhewasn’toverpayingfortheservicesherequiredwhenhisthirdchoicesaid,“Doyou?I guesswe’llseeaboutthat,won’twe.”

Horacesettledbackinhischairandgotcomfortable Oncehehadoutlinedthebasicsofhisintricateandmost excellentplan,theonehe’dchosentocarryitoutwouldbetterunderstandtheprofoundleverageitwouldcreate.Horace wouldbeabletotakeadvantageofandcrushhisrivalsonceandforall And,asabonus,afewotherdeservingvillainswould bedestroyedinthewakeofitall.Hetrulycouldn’twait.

“LetmetellyouaboutmyplanandwhatI’dlikeyoutodo.Ifyoudon’tthinkit’sworthyourtime,thenyoumay declineit,noharm,nofoul.”

Theonlyindicationofinterestacrossthedeskwasahalf-shrugofindifference.Buthisthirdchoicedidn’tleavethe room,either Horacesilentlycheeredandneveronceletonthathetrulyneededthisperson,astherewasnotafourthchoicein hisretributionarsenal.

Horacesimplycouldnotcarryouttheplanhimself Afterall,theEarthColonywastwogalaxiesaway.

ChapterOne

GageGreydidnotlikebeingthecenterofattention.Heloathedpublicspeakingandhewouldratherpokeaforkin hiseyethanhaveanyonelookingoverhisshoulderwhileheworked.Thiswasnotasecret.Everyoneknewit.Withthe exception,apparently,oftheonepersonwhowasintheBigBangTruckStopundergroundbasementsciencelabwithhim

BasilErringtontheThirdhadhovered,snoopedandspiedsincethemomenthearrived,makingGagewanttofind thenearestutensildrawertomakeadecisiveselection Themomentthenewintern forced upon him against his will, noless wasassignedtothedownstairsmedicalfacilityandsciencelabspace,Gageknewitwasgoingtobeabigmistake.

Hisprotestsfellondeafears Dieselwantedhimready AsFearlessLeaderoftheBigBangTruckStop,both upsideandbelowstairs,Gage’seldestbrotherwantedtheresultsofthecominginspectiontobeflawless.

Hardtoblamehimonthatscore,butstill,GagecouldbeimpeccableandpasstheinspectionwithoutBasil hoveringoverhimallthespacepotatotime Unfortunately,hewastheonlyonewhoheldthisview

Dieselhadnotbeenhisusualconfidentselfasthescheduledcolonyinspectiondrewcloserandcloser.Gageknew hisbigbrotherwouldchangebacktohisold,hyper-competent,imperviousselfaftertheinspectionconfirmedhisleadershipof thefacilityanddidhisbesttogrinandbeartheindignityofhavingBasilathisside.Fornow.

Withthecomingreview,itwasnotonlyallhandsondeck,itwasalso,apparently,grabanyhandsavailableand shovethemintothebasementmedicalfacilityandsciencelab.Dieselhadgratefullyacceptedanyandallhelpfromtheirhome planet,includingthepresenceofBasiltheIntern.

Gagesuppressedanotherlong,dramaticsighofdiscontent Itwasn’tthathedidn’tappreciatehelpwhenitwas needed,butitjustwasn’tnecessaryrightnow.

Plus,BasiltheInternwasn’tlikeallthelabassistantsworkingherewhowerequiet,productiveanduseful No Basilwassneaky,pushyandannoying.Andwheneverheshowedup,alltheusefullabassistantsfoundsomewhereelsetobe. Clearly,theydidn’tlikehim,either.Itwasmaddening.

ThesingularthingthatgaveGagesolacewasthefactthatBasiltheInternwastemporary,assignedbysome namelessbureaucratservingonacommitteeonAlpha-Primeto“helpout”aheadofthebig,seriousinspectionoftheEarth Colony

Ifallheldtoplan,Basilwouldbeleavingbeforetheinspectionteamarrived.Gagecouldn’twait.Heonlyhada weekleftwithBasilinhisspaceandtwoweeksuntiltheinspection Hevowedtoavoidlookinginthedirectionofanyrandom utensildrawers,tolookawayfromanyand all sharpobjects,andsimplyendurethesituationuntilBasil’stimeinthelab expired.

SinceAlphashadlivedonEarth,theInterstellarColonyInspectionhadonlyhappenedonceeverysevenyears.That waswhyeveryone,nomatterwhotheywereorwheretheyworkedacrossthewholebasementoftheBigBangTruckStop,had acertainpanickedlookintheireyeoflate

Therewasplentyofstressandworryoverthecomingreviewfromallcornersofthebasement.Fromeveryowner ofafoodestablishmenttotheundergroundlodgingscoordinator,IvyOliveUpchurch,everyoneactedliketheywerepreparing fortheendoftheworld.Itdidn’tseemtomattertoanyonebutGagethatallofthepreviousinspectionshadgonedownwithout ahitch.

Thelasttimethey’dhadone,Gage’sfather,ZebulonGrey,hadbeentheFearlessLeaderandDieselhadonlybeena FearlessLeaderInTraining.ThiswouldbeDiesel’sfirstColonyInspectionsincehe’dtakenoverasFearlessLeader.

Sixmonthsago,GagehadoverheardDieseltellingtheirbrothersCamandAxelthathewantedeverythingtogoby thebook,buthedidn’twanteveryonefreakedoutandterrifiedaboutit.

Thatsentimenthadclearlybeenshotintospace,sinceeveryoneGagesawwastheverydefinitionoffreakedout andterrified,includingDiesel.Sure,theanxiousatmosphereattheBigBangTruckStopwouldsettlebackdowninlessthana month,oncethewholeprocesswascompleted.Gagecouldn’twait.

Hewasn’tworriedabouthispartoftheinspection Allhisducks orpossiblylittlegrayaliens,sotospeak were inaperfectrow.

Sincethelabwasinspection-readywellbeforetheteamfromAlpha-Primewasduetoshowup,Gagehadbeen workingonapetprojectandwantednothingmorethantobeleftalone.WithBasiltheInternintheroom,thatlikelywouldnot happen Still,hetriedtoignoreeverythinggoingonbehindhimandfocusonthisexperiment Heliftedthecarefully proportionedreactantinabeaker,readyingittogointothetesttubebeforehim.

Likehe’dbeamedhimselfacrosstheroomusingteleportation,BasiltheInternappearedatGage’sshoulderand askedinaloud,eagervoice,“Wantmetoholdthattesttubesteadyforyou?”

Gagestartled,almostdribblingreactantonthetable.Hefelthisbloodpressureriseinstantly.

Evenso,hepolitelysaid,“No,thankyou”Gageglancedoverhisshoulder,glaringatBasiluntiltheobtuseman movedacoupleofstepsaway.

Why does he always have to stand so close?

Gagepouredthemeasuredamountofreactantintothetesttubeandwatcheditswirltogetherwiththesubstancehe plannedtostudy Hisgoalwastotestthematerialcoatedinreactantagainstseveralstandardsubstancestodiscoverwhatit coulddobeyondputAlphastosleepifusedinanaerosolizedspray.

He’dacquiredthesamplefromarareshifterwho’dhadthislastsampleonhispersonwhenhewasarrested CharlieAdlerwasincarceratedinagulagandbeingfedasteadydietofkaletokeephisshiftingabilitiesatbay.

Gagehadspokenprivatelytoanotherrarealienshiftertoverifyitwasthesamesubstanceshehadinherown possession.

“EveryshifterI’veeverknownputstheirownspinonthesamebasicformulausingtheresourcestheyhaveaccess to,”AuntDixie’sbestfriendsaid “However,alloftheformulasarenearlyidenticalasfarastheirabilitytoputAlphasto sleeporwakethemup,dependingonwhat’sneededatthetime.”

“Thankyou,MissPenny”

“You’rewelcome,Gage.Maybeyou’llfindawaytocreatemorewiththevastvarietyofplantsonEarth,although I’veneverfoundanythingsuitablemyself”

“Iexpectittobealongproject,butI’mlookingforwardtotheprocess.”

She’dadmittedtoGagethatherstoresofthepotionswererunningoutandshedidn’thavethemeanstoacquireany oftheessentialcomponentstomakemore NotevenifshewentbacktoAlpha-Prime “IdokeepsearchinghereonEarth though,”shesaidwithagrin.“MaybeonedayI’llgetlucky.”

Evenso,shegavehimaverysmallsampleofherownconcoctionofAlphaknockoutmixtureforhimtotest alongsidetheconfiscatedpotion.AfterhetestedCharlieAdler’sknockoutblend,he’dmoveontoPhaseTwoofhisproject andtestMissPenny’sgifttowardthebettermentofscience,assheputit.

ThesmallsamplehehadacquiredfromCharlieAdlerwasaboonhewouldnotwaste.Thatwaswhattoday’s experimentwasabout.Gagewasexcitedtofigureoutalltheinformationhecouldontheseraresubstancesandhadbeen wantingtoexperimentwiththemforquiteawhile Oncehehadallofhisdata,heplannedtowriteapaperonhisresultsand sendittothehighestecheloninAlpha-Prime’snotedsciencecommunity,theTechnicianClassTechnologyInstitute,orthe TCTI

He’dbeenputtingoffhisexperimentswhilegettingthelabreadyfortheinspection,butnowwashischancetoat leastbeginthescientificprocess.

Babysteps,butimportantones.

Gagehadtodealwithaloominginspection,limitedfreetimeandanannoyinginternwhogavehimablinding headacheandtheuncontrollabledesiretostabhimselfwithafork He needed togetstartedonthisprojectforhissanity It woulddefinitelyhelpkeephimcalmandsteadyuntilthecolonyinspectionwasoveranddonewith.

Hebenttolookatthesolution Itswirledaroundinsidethetesttube,makingaplethoraofwispycolors Itlooked likearainbowinsidetheglass.Fascinating.

“ShouldIpreparethenextsolutionyou’llneedtoaddto ”

“No!”Gage’stonecameoutharsherthanheusuallydeliveredtoanyone,andnowBasiltheInternlookedlikean Eartherpuppykickedtothecurb.

Gagepushedoutasigh “Sorry,”hesaidinacalmervoice “Youstartledme” “It’sokay.”Andjustlikethat,BasiltheInternwasbacktohischipper,over-interestedself. Hurray.

“Isthereanythingyoucouldbecheckingonthatpertainstothecominginspection?”Gageasked,knowingfullwell therewasn’t.Iftherewas,hewouldn’tbeplayingaroundwithtryingtodiscoverthecomponentsofanancientshifterformula. “Nope.”Basilgrinned.“Everythingisinorder.”

“Good Arethereanypatientsinthemedicalfacilitythatneedtendingto?”

“Nope.Thelastonecheckedoutthismorning.”

Gagenodded Heglancedupattheclockonthewall,notingheneededtoleaveinafewminutestogotoSkeeter BiteHighSchooltoattendtheannualsciencefair.He’dbeenabletoavoidbeingajudgeforyears.Thistime,hiswilyAunt Dixiehadcorneredhimallaloneandhehadn’tbeenabletogetoutofit

Hehadreallytried,too.

ItwasjusthisbadluckthatAuntDixiewassomeonehe’dneverfiguredouthowtosaynoto.

Dieselsaidnotoherallthetime,ortriedto Gagejustcouldn’tdoit Tobefair,shedidn’taskGagethesame tough,volatilequestionssheaskedDieselinhiscapacityasFearlessLeaderoftheBigBangTruckStop.

Gagehadneverhadtofendhisauntofffromaskingpermissiontodoallmannerofoutrageousthingsinthenameof makingmoneyforthelocaloldfolks’home.ThatwasDiesel’scrosstobear,apparently.

GagestoppedthinkingabouthisauntandnotedthatBasiltheInternstoodbesidehimlikehewasasoldierwaiting fororders.Since“Go back to Alpha-Prime and leave me alone”wasverymeanandnotallowed,hepushedoutyetanother longsigh.

Basildidn’tseemtonoticehisannoyance,whichwasgood.Lesshehadtoapologizeforlater.Beingmeanwasout ofcharacterforGage,andhedidn’tlikehisownirkedattitudeabouthavinganextrahelperinhissciencelab.Hevowedto calmdownaboutBasil’spresenceandsimplyfindmoretolerancefortheduration

“I’vegottoheadoutassoonasIgetthistesttubebackinthelabfridge.”Gagemotionedinthegeneraldirectionof thelab’slargewalk-inrefrigerator

“I’lldoitforyou,”Basilsaidexcitedly,movingastepclosertohim.

Gagemovedastepbackward “No That’sokay I’lltakecareofit Thisisaprivateprojectunrelatedtothecoming inspection.”

Basilshrugged.

BeforeGage’sovereager,unwantedhelpercouldsnagthetesttubefromthemetalholderandracetothe refrigeratorwithit,GageturnedhisbackonBasilandquicklytookcareofhisownpetproject.

Thefluidinsidethetesttubecontinuedtoswirlinamultitudeofstreakylinesofcolor Itwasaninterestingview, buthehadafewmorestepstodobeforehe’dstartrecordingdataonthesubstanceanditsproperties.

Idly,GagewonderedifBasilhadagirlfriendwaitingsomewherewhocouldentertainhimandstophimfrom comingintoworkinthelab.Itwasafoolishdream,butthatthoughtmadehimconsidersomethingelse.

Hisownsadlovelife.Thenonexistentone.

Gageputhisprojectinthefridgeateyelevelinthefarthestrackfromthedoor Hepositionedapieceofcardboard infrontofitwithhisnameandthewords,printedclearly,“Pleasedonotdisturb.”

Oncethatchorewascomplete,hewavedatBasiltheInternandleftthebasementlabonhiswaytoanother unwantedchore.

Hehopeditwouldn’ttaketoolong.

GagemadehiswaythroughthelabyrinthofhallwayswherealltheGreys’officeswereandoutintothemainBig BangTruckStopbasementarea.

Tohisright,anewstorefronthadbeenaddedafewstepsawayfromtheBeanMeUpcoffeekiosk,afavorite businessofmanyAlphashere.

Thenewstorefrontwasbasicallyacountertoplikeonewouldseeatanairportrentalcarcompany,withabig,litupsignabovetheopeningthatindicatedthisnewshopwasfortheRoyalCalderaCruiseLine.

He’dreadinoneofthemonthlymemosthataRoyalCalderaemployeewasgoingtobestationedinthebasement facility.

Gageeyedthestorefront.He’dthoughtthenewRoyalCalderaofficewasn’tbeingputintoplacejustyet.Lotsof otherbusinessesandprojectshadbeenputoffuntilaftertheinspection HeguessedthattheRoyalCalderaCruiseLinegotin underthewire.

IvyOliveUpchurchstoodinfrontofthenewRoyalCalderacounter,chattingwithatall,slim,dark-hairedwoman Gagehadneverseenbefore.ShemustbetheRCCL’sliaison.

Hesmiledandsentasinglenodintheirdirection.Ivymotionedhimovertothecounter.Gagedidn’thavemuch time,buthedecidedtobecordial

“Hi,Gage,”Ivysaid.Shegesturedtothedark-hairedwoman.“HaveyoumetDorisAllen?Shehasrecentlymoved herefromAlpha-Prime She’sgoingtoworkheretohelpthecruiseline’spassengersduringtheirstayonEarth Doris,thisis GageGrey.He’ssortofourresidentscientistandemergencymedicaltechnicianallrolledintooneguy.”

Gageshookthewoman’shandbrieflybutdidn’tmoveanyclosertothecounterthanhehadto Heneededtoget goingorhe’dbelate.

“Hey,Ivy.Listen,IhaveanappointmentI’mrunninglatefor.”Totheotherwoman,hesaid,“Nicetomeetyou,” havingalreadyforgottenhername Atinypartofhimfeltbadaboutthat Hereallywasbecomingmoreandmore absentminded.

IvysaidherownfarewellstotheRCCLwomanandgotrightintostepbesideGageasheheadedfortheexit “Areyoureadyfortheinspection?”Ivyasked,marchingalongwithhim.

“Yes Areyou?”

“Ofcourse.Areyoureallyheadedforanappointment?”sheaskedwithanoddlookonherface.

“Yes.I’majudgeforthehighschoolsciencefair.”Gageusuallydidn’texplainhimselftoanyone,butIvywasa nicepersonandhedidn’twanttocomeacrossasdifficult She,likeeveryoneelse,seemedtobefeelingthestressofthe cominginspection.

Ivynodded

“Why?AmIsupposedtobedoingsomethingelse?”

“No.IjustwonderedifyouhadmetthenewRoyalCalderarepresentative.”

“Oh.Well.NowIhave.” What is going on here?

Ivykeptperfectstepalongsidehim.“Didyouhappentonoticeherinterestinyou?”

“What?No.She’sinterestedinme?”GageresistedtheurgetolookoverhisshoulderattheRoyalCalderacounter. Hehadbarelynoticedthewoman,andshedidn’tsparkasinglelittlebitofinterestinhimwhentheyshookhands.Hewassure shewasnice,whateverhernamewas Darlene? No, that isn’t right

Hedidn’twanttobreakthedark-hairedwoman’sheartoranything,butshewasclearlynotThe One forhim,since he’dbarelynoticedheratall

Ivysaid,“Asimpleanswertothatquestionis,yes,Ithinkshelikesyou.Sobeforewarned.Shehashereyeon you”

“Howdoessheevenknowme?”Gageasked.He’dcertainlyneverheardofthewomanbefore.Howdidsheknow whohewas?

Ivyshrugged “Icouldn’tsay,butshedidaskifI’dintroducethetwoofyouwhenshesawyoupassingby It surprisedme,becausefromwhatlittleIknowofher,she’sveryquiet.Again,justlettingyouknowsoyou’reaware.”Ivy grinnedathimandsaid,“Havefunjudgingthesciencefair”

Shepeeledoffandheadedinthedirectionofheroffice.

Gageshookhisheadandpickeduphispace Hedidn’twanttobelatetothesciencefair Ifhesawthedark-haired womanagain,perhapshe’dtrytomakemoreofanefforttotalktoher.Maybe.

Sincehe’dbarelynoticedherwhenshewasintroduced,itwasprobablyawasteofhisprecioustime.

<^><^><^>

CharlotteElsinoreWestbrooktappedhertabletawakeandstartedrecordingthemeasurementsoftherecentand mostvolatileflowoflavaonanuninhabitedplanetintheMilkyWaysystem

ShehadbeenworkingfortheTechnicianClassTechnologyInstituteonAlpha-Primefornearlytwoyearsandwas onloantotheRoyalCalderaCruiseLinetodiscover,identifyandfixtheproblemoflavaspewingintothebesttravelroutes forthepopularcruiselinecompany

Whileanoddassignmentforher,especiallysinceshewasnearingtheendofherworking-internstatusinherhardwonjobfortheTCTI,CharlottedidherbesttobeaccommodatingofallrequestsfromherbossandtheTCTI

Hertabletcametolife,andshepuncheditintoretrievalmodetotesttheairinthisarea.Itwasherfinalreadingof theday

Mostoftheplanetwasfairlystableandnotfraughtwithissues,butonelargevolcanohadbecomeunstableenough tointermittentlyspewlava,ashandsteamintotheatmosphere.Ithappenedtobenearoneofthemostpopularlanesoftraffic usedbytheRoyalCalderaCruiseLineinthisparticulargalaxy

ShehadjustcomefromLavaRockWorldinadifferentquadrantofspace,wheresherecordedbasedatato comparewiththisunstableplanet’slavaproblem Itwassomethingshewouldn’thavethoughttodo,butitwaspartofher instructionsforthisconsultantpositionawayfromherregulardutiesattheTCTI.

LavaRockWorldwasawonderfultouristdestinationfortravelersfromallacrossthisandnearbygalaxies.As instructedbyhernewmissionparameters,she’dgonetheretorecordthegeneralpropertiestodevelopaplantoreininthe dangerhere.

IfshecouldduplicatetheconditionsonLavaRockWorldonthisplanet,itwouldbeamajorboonfortheRoyal CalderaCruiseLine,aboonforherand,ifshewaslucky,evenhercareer,dependingontheresultsofhertestingandher suggestionsforwhatcouldbedonetosolvetheproblem Iftheywereimplemented

Eventhoughthatwasn’therprimarygoalandalongroadtosuccessifeverythingworkedinherfavor,therewasno guarantee.Plus,shewasascientistandtheworkshedidwasalwaysfascinatingandimportant,regardlessofwhatitdidfor hercareer.

CharlottehadbeenonherwaybacktoAlpha-PrimefromashorttriptoIchor-Deltatolookatanewhybridstrain ofanindigenousplantthere Shehadn’teventransmittedherresultswhenherboss,Mr Satterfield,messagedhertogo immediatelytoLavaRockWorldandgetstartedonpossiblesolutionsfortheRoyalCalderaCruiseLine.Shewastotake readingsonthisplanetandkeeptabsonitforthenextcoupleofmonths,filingareportaftereachvisit

Finebyher.Thiswasherfirsttimeonthisplanet,butitwouldbeinthegeneralrotationofplanetsshevisitedona regularbasisforherworkasleadfieldworkadministrator,pilot’slicenserequired,fortheTCTIonAlpha-Prime.

She’dneverbeenlentouttoanyotherentitybefore,thoughshehadheardofithappening UsuallyitwasforhigherupsonAlpha-Primewhenaproblemorissuearose.She’dneverheardoftheTCTIloaningstaffoutforacommercialbusiness before

Thenagain,richfolkslikedspacetravel,andifitbecameenoughofaproblem,folkslikeherbossesandtheir familiesinleadershipmadethingshappen ShewasapartoftheplantomakethingsbetterforAlphas,nomatterwhothey were.Orwhere.

Alsofinebyher.

Shewastakingstandardreadingsandgatheringdataforpossiblesolutions.Atthispoint,shewasn’tcertainwhatit wouldtaketostoptheexplosivevolcanofrombeingaproblemforthecruiseline.Sheneededtogetallofherreadingsloaded intoherhandheldcomputerandtransmitthemtoherspacecraft Shewouldlikelyneedtovisitthisplanetaminimumofatwo orthreemoretimestotakeandcompareallthereadingssheaccumulated.Notaproblem.

OnceshegotbacktoAlpha-Prime,she’ddownloadeverythingintoherworkcomputersoshecoulddoheranalysis andmakerecommendations.She’dhalfwaywrittenthereportinherheadbasedonthedatashe’dalreadycollected.However, she’dneedthefullreportafterafewvisitstomakeherfinalconclusions

Charlotteonlynotedonethingthatsurprisedheraftertakingtheinitialreadings.Therewasasmalleramountof microniumthanshewouldhaveexpectedforaplanetlikethis.Washerequipmentworkingproperly?Shedidanothercursory scanandgottheexactsamereading Sheranaquickdiagnosticonherhandhelddevice Theresultssaiditwasworking perfectly.

She’dhavetodoadeeperstudyoftheplanettodiscoveriftherewasareasonforthelowmicroniumlevel,butnot today.She’dhavetogivethisplanetaname,too,sinceitseemednoneexistedforit.Allshehadwerethespatialcoordinates toplugintothenavigationsystemofherspaceship

Theuninhabitedplanetthatdidn’tevenhaveanalphanumericdesignationwasnearoneoftheAlpha-Prime coloniesthathadawaystationthecruiselineusedasastoppingpoint.Earthwasthenameofthewaystationplanet.Charlotte hadneverbeenthere

Lavaspewinginahigh-trafficareanearawaystationinthisgalaxywaslikelytheexactreasonCharlottewashere.

Finebyher

<^><^><^>

GagedrovequicklytowardSkeeterBiteHighSchoolandoncemoreconsideredthewomanattheRCCLcounter whohadn’tmadehimspark.Whatwashernameagain?Darlene?Doreen?Hestilldidn’tremember.Hewasn’tcertaineither ofthosenameswerecorrectandwonderedifhewasbeingtoodismissive

Maybeheshouldatleasttalktoher.

Maybeheshouldfindouthernameandputittomemorythistime.

Maybehe’dbeentoopreoccupiedwithhisexperiment,hisloathingoverhavingtojudgethesciencefairandthe comingcolonyinspectiontonoticeapossibleromanticfuturewithanicewomanhe’dbeenintroducedtointheBigBang TruckStopbasement

Lately,Gagehadbeensearchingforasparkwithanywomanofhisacquaintance.Sofar,hehadn’tfoundone.

Gageponderedthelackofromanceinhislife Washealonebecausehebarelypaidattentiontoanyonearoundhim ashemovedthroughlifeandneverrememberedanywoman’snameafterbeingintroduced?Possibly.

Washemaniacallyfocusedonhisexperimentsandthemedicalfacilitytothedetrimentofhislovelife?Perhaps.

Recently,he’dspentsometimewithaverygoodfriendhe’dmetonAlpha-Primesomeyearsago Therewereno romanticfeelingsbetweenthetwothem,buthetrustedVivienneRomano.Hetrustedherwisdomandadvice,becauseheknew itcamefromtheheartoftheirfriendship

Whilethetwoofthemhadbeenonaroadtripnottoolongago,headingtoSuspicion,Minnesota,Viviennehad remarkedthatshewassurprisedhewasn’tinarelationship

Gagehadn’tthoughtmuchaboutituntilshe’dcommentedonit.Hehadhislarge,amazingfamilyandsomefriends aroundthetruckstop,soitwasn’tlikehelackedcompanionship.Severalofhissiblingshadfoundtheirloveinterests.Itmade himstarttothinkaboutlookingaround Thatwasbeforeallthestressofthecolonyinspectionhadfallenoneveryone

GageandJackwerethelastholdoutsamongtheGreysiblings.NoonethoughtJackwouldevergetmarried.His youngestbrotherhadbeeninloveahundredtimes Hehadseeminglymoreex-girlfriendsthantherewerestarsinthesky Oddly,eachrelationshipJackhadbeeninendedonagoodnoteandamicably,everysingletime.GagefiguredJacknever havingabadbreakupaftersomanyrelationshipsshouldbeputinarecordbooksomewhere OrpossiblylabeledtheEighth Wonderofthisworld.

Meanwhile,Gagehadn’tevenhad one girlfriend.Notreally.Thatwasn’ttosayhe’dneverdated.Hehad.Usually, itwasforspecialoccasionsandeventsheattendedwhereaplus-onewasneeded Afterward,though,Gagewouldretreatto hislabinthebasementmedicalfacilitybeneaththeBigBangTruckStoptogetbacktoworkonhislatestpetproject,whatever itwas He’dhadmany Heplannedtohavemanymore

Lately,he’dbeenthinkingmoreandmoreaboutthepossibilityofapermanentrelationshipforhimself.Hismarried brothersespeciallyhadalwaystoldhimthatwhentheysawtheirbelovedsignificantothers,they’dknownimmediately.That waswhathewaswaitingfor someonetolighthisromanticfireatfirstsight,sotospeak.

SinceGagehadneverfeltlikethatwithanyonehe’dmet,clearly,hehadnotmetTheOne.Atleasthehopedhe hadn’tbeentoobusywithhispetscienceprojectstonotice Itwasn’tlikehewasindangerofoldmaidstatus,pushingfortyor fiftywithnoromanticprospects.

Hewasn’teventhirtyyet,forspacepotatoes’sake.

HismusingskepthismindoccupiedashedrovetoSkeeterBiteHighinaneighboringcounty.Sincethetownsof Alienn,SkeeterBiteandOldCoothadsmallpopulations,they’dcombinedtheirschoolsystemsandsharedoneelementary school,onemiddleschoolandonehighschool.

TheelementaryschoolwasinOldCoot Aliennhadthemiddleschool,whichthey’dbuiltlongago SkeeterBite hadthebestandcheapestlandtobuildintherightarea,andwasequidistantfromtheothertwotowns,whichwaswhythey’d putthehighschoolthere

TherewereAlphateacherssprinkledthroughouttheentireschoolsystem,includinginadministrationandworking inofalltheschoolstoensurenoproblemsofanAlphaaliennatureeverarose.Andiftheydid,therewouldbesomeone trainedtodealwithitquietly Ithadbeenawhilesinceanyonehadtobememorywipedbecauseofsomeincidentatoneofthe schools.

MoststudentswhowereAlphasborninthecolonydidn’tknowtheyweren’tEartheruntiltheywereoldenoughto handletheknowledge.Therewasnohard-and-fastruleastotheexactageoftheTelling.Typically,onceanAlphawascloseto graduatingfromhighschoolorthereabouts,aceremonylettheyoungpersoninonthesecretandtheywereadvisedoftherules theyhadtolivebyorbesenttoAlpha-Prime.

SomechildrencametoEarthfromAlpha-Primewiththeirparentsandwereinstructedastotherules,butnone undertheageoftwelve,toGage’sknowledge

GageknewthathisbrotherCamespeciallyworriedthatoneofthesedays,somelittlekidwasgoingtofindout aboutthealiensintheirmidstandblab Thusfar,peacereignedinthelandofAlienn,Arkansas,inthatregard

GageturnedintotheSkeeterBiteHighSchoolparkinglotandparkedhisvehicleinthecornerneartheexitfora quickgetaway,justincaseheneededone.

Hisplanwastodotheabsoluteminimumthatwasrequiredofhimasajudgeandskedaddleasfastaspossible backtothebasementlabandthepetprojectthatwouldbemuchmorefunandenlighteningthanratinghighschoolsciencefair projects

Luckily,therewasanotherjudgetosharetheload.GageintendedtoletArthurReeves,ascienceprofessorwho’d recentlyretiredfromanareacollege,handleanyandalltalkingportionsofthesciencefairjudgingtasks,alongwiththe ceremonyattheendwheretheribbonsandtrophiesweregivenout.

Gagewouldremainquietandletallofthelimelightfalldirectlyonanyonebuthimself.Itwasthesinglestipulation he’dinsistedonwhenAuntDixiewastalkinghimintothisjudgingjob.

Thecloserhegottodoingit,themorehecouldn’twaitforittobeover.

Hispetprojectawaitedhim,andthatwastheonlythoughtthatkepthimmovingforwardintosomethinghe absolutelydidnotwanttodo HighSchoolScienceFairJudge,courtesyofapromisetohisAuntDixie.

ChapterTwo

Charlottereceivedthefinalreadingsheneededandpunchedseveralbuttonsonhertablettoputthedataina particularfile,gratefulsheonlyhadapartialspacesuitonwithabreathingtubeloopedoveroneear,insteadofdealingwith thefull-helmetaffair

Sheleanedclosertohertabletandherhairslidforward,blockingherview.Shetuckedalockofchin-lengthblond hairbehindoneearandcontinuedtowork Therelativelyrecentpurplestreakswerearebelliousadditiontoherlook

Typically,shewasnotadefiantsortofperson,butherlastboyfriendhadtoldherhewasbreakingupwithher becauseshewasboring

Ithadbeenveryhurtful.

She’dbeenoutofthedatinggamesincethebreakupseveralmonthsago,tryingtorecoveremotionallyandmakinga fewsmallchangestoseeifshecouldconvince herself thatshewasn’tboringatallandthatherformerboyfriendhadbeen simplysmall-mindedandcruel.

Charlottehadwantedsomethingnewbutdidn’twantherhairlong Thenobangs,simplecutshesportedcamejust belowherjawlineandwasperfectforherpurposesandworklife.

Extensionsthatwouldaddtwofeettothelengthofherhairweresomethingherhairdresserandbestfriend, DelphinePaget,wasalwaystryingtosellheron.Butlonghairwouldhavetobeputitupinaponytailwhilesheworked,and thatparticularhairdomadeherlooklikeshewasinsecondaryschool.Shetrulydidn’twanttobeayoung,school-age-looking, boringperson Ifsheeveneverdecidedtodateagain Thatwasupintheair

Itwasn’tlikeshesawmanymeninthisjobwhowerelikelyprospectsforanypossiblerelationships.Muchofher timewasspentonsolojourneystoinvestigatenotonlyproblematicissuesofasciencenature,buttotakesamplesforfurther studyofplacesuntouchedbyanyonefromAlpha-Primeoranywhereelseinthefarreachesofspace.Shelovedherworkand thetravelthatallowedhertoseenewandexcitingplacesacrossseveralgalaxies,evenifshediditmostlyallaloneondistant lonelyplanets.

Charlottetraveledhalfthetimeforherjob.Muchoftherestofhertimewasspentanalyzingthedatashe’d retrievedduringhertravelsinherAlpha-PrimeTechnicianheadquartersoffice

Admittedly,themajorityofherworktaskswerenotconducivetoaregularrelationship.

Whenherex-boyfriend,ArmandPickering,hadutteredthedreadedphrase,“Weneedtotalk,”Charlottehadbeen certainhewasupsetbecauseshealwaysseemedtobegonewhenhewantedtoattendspecialfunctionsaspartofhis jobinthe politicalcircleswherehelivedonAlpha-Prime.

Nope.Hethoughtshewasboringanddecidedhavingyoung,pretty,insipidgirlsonhisarmwaspreferableto havingCharlotte.Heinformedherthathe’donlyeverdatedherinthefirstplacebecauseofherfather’sconnections.

Somehow,thatunexpectedremarkhurtevenmore

Itwasthemainreasonshewasstillaloneafterseveralmonths.

AccordingtoDelphine,sheshouldgetbackoutthereandstartdating They’dbeenfastfriendsallthroughschool andintoadulthood,eventhoughtheircareerpathshadbeenvastlydifferent.

“Don’tlethimdictateyourlovelife,Charlotte.”Delphine’sexpressionwasseriousastheytalkedrightbefore CharlotteleftforIchor-Delta Sheoftenwasveryseriouswhendiscussinganythingintheromancedepartment

“I’mnot.”Butshetotallywas lettingherexdictateherlovelife.Shedidn’thavetoadmitit,though.

“Youare,too,”Delphineinsisted

Sheshouldhaveknownherbestfriendwouldcallheronthatinstantly.Delphinewasaromanticatheart.She wantedeveryonetobeinlove

“Okay.Maybeyou’reright.MaybeI’mnotreadytostepbackintothedatingworldjustyet.”Charlottereallydidn’t wanttobetalkingaboutthissubjectatall.

“That’stheexactpoint,Charlotte Ifyougetknockeddown,yougetbackupagain You’relyingontheground, wallowingoveramanwhowasneverrightforyouanyway.”

ThisstatementmadeCharlottefrownatherfriendinconfusion She’dneverheardDelphinesayanythingnegative aboutArmand.“Whywasn’therightforme?”

True,sheknew now thathewasacruelmanwhohadnevercaredaboutherandhadneverbeenworthyofhertime, justassheknewthatherbestfriendwouldstandbyherassessmentuntiltheendoftime.Still,shewantedtoknowwhat Delphinewasthinking.

“Well,Ihatetosayit”Delphinewentbacktofinger-combingCharlotte’shair,clearlynotreadytoadmitwhatever not-nicethingshewasabouttosayregardingArmand.

“But?”Charlotteprompted

“But he’sbasicallyarankrambler.”Shemeantsomeonewhodideverythingintheirlifeonlytogethighersocial

statusinthespherewheretheylived.MostupwardlymobileAlphasandmanyofthoserightbelowthehighestechelonsof powerandmoneyonAlpha-Primetendedtofrownonthepractice.

“Didyouknowthatbeforehedumpedme?”

Delphineshookherheadinstantly.“Ofcoursenot.Butinretrospect,itwasn’tasurprise.”

“Well,itwasasurprisetome Elaborate,whydon’tyou”

Delphinepushedoutalongsigh.“Henevertookyouanywherewiththeexceptionofhisboringpoliticalparties. Yawn Heneverbroughtyougiftsorwentoutofhiswayforyou,amIright?”

Charlotteallowedasmiletoshapeherlips,thefirstinalongwhilewhenthinkingaboutArmand.“True.Youare absolutelyright.Ontopofthat,hesaidIwastheboringoneinourrelationshipwhenhebrokeupwithmeviaamessage.”

“What?!Hesaidthattoyou?Hedidthattoyou?Whatanabominablelittlecrustfish!”Delphinerantedandraved forquiteafewminutesafterthat.

CharlottewonderedifArmand’sselfishnesswouldalwaysstabherheartwhenevershethoughtaboutit Maybeher truelove,whoeverthatmightbe,wouldbehigherinpoliticalrankthanArmand.Thatwouldshowhim.Althoughrubbing somethinglikethatinherex-boyfriend’sfacewasn’treallyherstyle

Evenso,Charlottesmiledagainattheferocityofherfriend’sattitudeaboutArmand.Whileshedidn’tdisagree aboutgettingbackupafterbeingknockeddownintheromancedepartment,shewasn’treadytodateagain.Notyet.

Besides,therehadn’tbeenanyoneshe’dmetinthelastfewmonthswhoshewantedtoevenhaveaconversation with,letaloneshareamealorakiss.Noone.

She’dhavetobebowledoverbysomeonetoevenbothertakingnoticeandgettingbackupagain,asDelphinesaid shemust.

EvenherfatherhadnoticedCharlotte’sdespondencyoverherbreakupwhenshe’dseenhimbeforeleavingfor Ichor-Delta.HeoftenwenttothesameboringpoliticalpartiesArmandattended.Whiletheydidn’ttravelintheexactsame circles,asanex-militaryleaderandcommanderforAlpha-Prime’sEliteGuardsmenAviationCorps,itwaspartofBentley AugustusWestbrook’sunofficialdutiespost-retirement

“IwassorrytohearthatyouandArmanddidn’tworkout.”Herfatherdidn’tlookdirectlyatherashespoke,for whichshe’dbeengrateful Itgaveherachancetoguardheremotions Herfather’smildtonebeliedhiscarefullyhidden concernforhisonlydaughter,butsheknewitwasthere.

Afterhe’dretiredfromtheAviationCorpswithfullhonors,he’dservedasapoliticalattachéinhislateryears. ThatwaslikelywhyArmandhadinsertedhimselfintoCharlotte’slife.

Shedidherbesttohideherpainwhenshespoke.“Well,myjobtakesmeawayfrequentlyandwedidn’tgettosee eachotherverymuchanyway Don’tworry,Dad Ifithadbeenmeanttobe,itwouldhavebeen Butitwasn’t Iamnot devastated.”Well,herfeelingshadbeendestroyed,butshewouldeventuallymoveon,wouldn’tshe?Probably.

Herfatherhadn’tsaidanythingmore He’dnoddedandchangedthesubjecttosomethinglessvolatile Charlotte hadbeeneternallygrateful.Shewashisonlychildandofcoursehewantedhertobehappyandliveagoodlife.He’dtoldher thatallthetimewhenshe’dbeengrowingup.And,forthemostpart,she was happywithherlife.

Charlottelovedherfatherdearly Shehadn’ttoldhimthe real reasonArmandhaddumpedher Shedidn’twanthim tofeelbadorlikehehadtoworryabouthernonexistentlovelife.Hedidn’tneedanythingelseonhismind.Besides,herfather beenwoundedenoughforalifetime Hewastheonlyparentshehad,ashermotherhaddiedwhenshewasverylittle He’d neverremarriedandifhe’deverhadanotherwomaninhislife,Charlottehadn’tbeenprivytoit.

Thelasttimeshe’dseenhim,herfatherindicatedhewantedtodiscusssomethingwithher Hehadn’tnamedthe topic,sinceshewasabouttoleavetheplanet,andinsisteditcouldwaitforherreturn.

Soshehad that futureuncomfortableconversationtolookforwardtothenexttimeshewashome.Sheclosedher eyesandshookherhead Itwouldbefine Heprobablywantedtoaskheraboutasciencearticleorsomethingbenign Certainlynotchatherupabouthernonexistentlovelifeorhis.

TheIchor-Deltatriphadendeduptakinglongerthanexpectedwiththisnewmission,soshemadeamentalnoteto sendherfatheramessagetokeepintouch.

ThehurtfromArmand’srebuffstillwoundedhersoul Wasshenotgoodenoughforlove?Withthatattitude, Charlottewonderedifshe’deverdateagain.Itwaseasierjusttobealone.Beinglonelywashardertodealwith.Shehated thatshecouldn’tseemtooperatefullywithoutsomeonetotalkto.

Shedidn’tneedmuch,justsomeonetosharehersuccesseswithandventherfrustrationstowhenajobdidn’tgo accordingtoplan.Wasthattoomuchtoask?Obviously,Armandthoughtitwastoomuchtoendure.

Shepackeduphertestequipmentandcomputers,placingthemcarefullyintotheappropriatebags Fieldgearwas bulkyandunwieldybutessentialtoherjob.Sheslungallthebagsoverhershouldersandheadedtohership.

Afteronlyahandfulofsteps,Charlottefeltatelltalehollowsensationwithinherchest.Herheartbeatsuddenly slowed.Shestoppedwalkingandtookaknee,thevariousbagsslidingoffhershoulderstotheunevenground.Shewaitedfor herhearttogetbacktoaregularpattern.Shejustneededamoment.

Theatmosphereonthisplanetwashardonherbody,apparently,despitehercustomspacesuit.

ShortlybeforeArmandhadgivenhertheheave-ho,shehadstartedcurbingwhatshetoldhimaboutherjobbecause shecouldtellfromhistonethathedidn’tenjoylisteningtoherchataboutwork

Inthebeginningoftheirrelationship,heseemedtohangoneverywordshesaid.Intheweeksbeforehebrokeup withher,hisattitudehadshiftedtooneofbarelycontainedforbearance Aftertheybrokeup,shecouldn’tstopherselffrom mentallyreviewingalloftheconversationsthey’dhad.Whichwasfoolish,morehurtfulandunnecessary.Nothingwasgoingto change Ifshecould,she’derasethem andhim fromhermemorybankscompletely

Ifshewasfortunateenoughtofindanotherboyfriend,she’dhavetobemorecarefulaboutwhatshesharedabout herwork.Hernewdatingmottowouldbe, don’t be boring.Hopefully,thatwouldbeeasierinpracticethanitsounded.

Shehadtimetoworkonit Ofthemenshe’dmetsincetheendofherlastrelationship,noonelitherup Noone madeherpulsespeedupasinglelittlebit. Therehadneverbeenanyswooningandshe’dnevermetanyoneshewantedtokiss ThatwouldbethetruetestforCharlotte If sheeverlookedataman’smouthandwantedtoplaceherlipsonhis,thatwouldmakeherstopandtakenotice.

Alavacolumnburstfromthelakebelow,startlingCharlottebacktothehereandnowbeforeitploppedbackinto thebubblingcauldron-likelake.Becauselavawasseriousandnowwasthetimetopayattention,notdreamaboutsome imaginaryman’slips.

Afteronlyafewmoments,herheartbeatreturnedtonormal,evenwiththeexcitinglavadisplay Sheroseup, rearrangedtheequipmentbagsonhershoulders,andheadedtoherspacecraftforthejourneybacktoAlpha-Prime.

Onhership,Charlottestowedherequipmentbagsintheappropriatespaces Shethenloadedherdataintothe ship’scomputer,whichwouldhelpherformulateaplanforthisunnamedplanet’sfuture.

Shedidn’tthinkitwouldbeanykindofaquickfix.Tokeepthelavafromspewingpasttheatmosphere,something drasticwouldneedtobedonetotheplanet’score.Andifthathappened,therewasabigchancetheplanetcouldchangeits orbitorrotationinunexpectedways.Muchthoughtwouldhavetogointoneutralizingthisplanet’scoretokeeplavaanddust fromunexpectedlyeruptingintothenearbytransportationlanes Wasitthelowmicroniumlevel?Hardtotellfromafirst reading.

Regardless,itwasallwellaboveherpaygrade Likelythecruiselinewouldsimplyhavetoavoidthisarea,even thoughthewidedetouranyshipswouldhavetomakeonthewaytothenextgalaxywouldbeproblematic.

CharlottecomposedherinitialfindingsreportviaherhandheldcomputerandsentittotheTechnicianClass headquartersonAlpha-Prime.Thecostofthetransmissionwaslikelyaking’sransom,butherspecialcommunicationdevice sentmessagesdirectlythere.OnceshegotbacktoAlpha-Prime,she’danalyzeallthedatashe’dgathered,doalengthierfinal reportandsubmitittotheTechnicianClasssciencedepartmentwheresheworkedandtheRoyalCalderaCruiseLine

Acannedresponsecamefromtheassignmentsofficetoacknowledgereceiptofhermessage.Thatwasinteresting. Usually,shedidn’tgetanyresponseuntilshereachedAlpha-Prime Maybetheproceduresweredifferentbecauseshewason loantothecruiseline.Itwas veryprestigious.

CharlottewasabouttoclickoffthetransmitterwhenavoicetransmissionfromTCTIheadquarterscamethrough. That hadneverhappenedbefore

“Areyoumissioncomplete?”Itwasanodd,robotic-soundingvoice.

“Affirmative,”Charlottesaid,wonderingwhyhercontactwassochattythistime Weretherenewrulesand regulationsshe’dnotbeenmadeawareof?WasthisbecauseitwasaprivatejobandnotherregularAlpha-Primegovernment assignment?

Yes. That must be it. Sheshouldhavecheckedforprotocolswithregardtocommunicationwhileonthisprivate mission.Thecruiselinewouldprobablywantupdateseveryfiveminutes.SheonlyhadasinglecontactonAlpha-Prime throughwhichallhermessagescamethrough Theyrarelyansweredtheircommunicationsdevice,though Typically,shejust gotmessages.

CharlottehadonlycalledoncetoprovideanupdateaftersheleftLavaRockWorldtomakeherwaytothis unidentifiedplanet.Therehadbeennoresponseorfollow-up,exactlyassheexpected.

“RedirecttotheEarthColonyintheMilkyWaygalaxyinsteadofreturningtoAlpha-Primeforstandardpostmissionbriefing,”thevoicesaid.“Instructionstofollow.”

What? She’dneverbeenreroutedtoanotherplacemid-missionbefore.ShealwaysreturnedtoAlpha-Primefrom hermissionsassoonaspossiblesotheupperechelonatheadquarterscouldaskherfivemillionquestionsaboutherwork, howshe’ddoneit,whatshe’ddiscovered,whatherprocedureswere,hadtheybeenscientificallytestedandsoon,usuallyina rapid-firescenarioandsometimesmorethanonequestionatatime

Itwasexhausting,ifimportant.Whileshelovedbeinginthefieldmostofall,sharingabigdiscoverywithher peersandbosseswasinvigorating.

“Redirect?”sheasked,wantingtoconfirm.Thiswasbyfarthelongestconversationshe’deverhadwhileoutinthe field.

“Affirmative.Instructionsanddirectionswillbesenttoyourspacecraft’sonboardcomputer.Doyoucopy?”

“Yes.Understood.” Well, not really WhatwaswaitingforheronEarth?Wasshenowbacktoherregulardutiesor wasthecruiselinedirectingher?Thatwasalsounclear

Charlotteshookherheadatherself.She’dfindoutonceshegottotheEarthColonyorperhapsthepromised instructionswouldenlightenher

Onceinthepilot’schair,sheputhertabletinitsregularplacetodownloadtheinformationshe’dcollected,firedup theengines,ranastandarddiagnosticchecktoensureshewasflight-readyforhertriptoEarthandreadtheinstructionsthat hadbeensentviathecomputer.

Therewasnotmuchmoreinformationthanshe’dalreadybeengiven.Justgothereimmediately.Thatwasit.No reasonwaslistedoranyusefuldetailsastowhatsheshouldexpectordowhenshegottothecolony Shesighedinannoyance Thedockingcodewastheonlyotherpieceofinformationgivensoshecouldlandatthecolony.Thatwasit.Not veryhelpfulasfarasmissionparameters Therewasnopointofcontactlisted,either Shesigheddeeplyoncemore Thiswas sofrustrating.

Charlottehatedthethoughtofspendingtimeonaplanetshewasn’tfamiliarwith,tryingtotrackdownsomeoneto learnwhyshe’dbeensentthere.Somethinglikeithadonlyhappenedtoheronce,whenanunexpectedmissioncameupandshe hadn’tmadespecificplansinadvance.Thattime,anearthquakesetoffaneruptiononanuninhabitedplanet.She’dbeensentto takeinitialatmosphericreadingsbeforetheywerelostintospace She’dbeencloseby,whichwastheonlyreasonshe’dbeen redirectedthere.

GoingtoEarthunexpectedlywasacompletelynewexperience Evenso,shewoulddoherbesttoenjoyexploring aplaceshe’dneverbeentobefore.

CharlottelookeduptheEarthColonyonheronboardcomputer.Therewasn’tmuchinformationlisted.Justablurb likeareallybadspacetravelmediaad,listingthegoodhabitabilityofitforAlphasandthatitwasawaystationthatprovided lodgingsandfuel.

Thatwasfortunate,sinceherdiagnosticindicatedtheonlythingshelackedalotofwasfuel Shewouldhavehad justbarelyenoughfueltomakeittoAlpha-Primewithouthavingtouseherreservefueltank.Charlottemighthavestoppedat theEarthColonywaystationanywaytofuelup,wereshegoingdirectlytoAlpha-Prime

ShenotedanasteriskatthebottomoftheblurbaboutEarththatindicatedtheindigenouspeopleonEarthdidnot knowaboutaliensfromotherplanets.ThatwassomethingAlpha-Primetookveryseriously.Shewassurpriseditwasn’tlisted inthefirstsentencefortheblurbabouttheplanetinboldandenlargedfont.

Shewould,ofcourse,abidebytherules.Shelikelywouldn’tevenleavethespaceportsetupbytheAlphafolks runningthewaystationthere Thenagain,theredirectmighthaveherscoutingallsortsofplacesonEarthifmoreinstructions wereawaitingherarrival.

CharlottehadheardoftheEarthColony Whatshedidn’tknowwasspecifics Wasitalargeoperationoratiny one?PerhapsifEarthwasinteresting,she’dstayandlookaround.Itwaslongpasttimeforhertotakeavacation.

ForCharlotte,herworkwasoftenliketakingavacation.WhetheronAlpha-Primeorvisitingthefar-offreachesof themanygalaxiesonherlistofplacestogo,shedidmuchthesamething Sheread Shevisitedlocalmuseumstogetabetter understandingofthecultureandhistoryoftheplace.Shelovedhistory.Armanddid not lovehistoryorlearningaboutany planet’sculture,withtheexceptionofAlpha-Prime’s,andonlytheninthemostsummarizedway Sheloveddetails Hedidn’t PerhapsArmandhadbeenrightandshe was boring. No!

Charlottedecidedinthehereandnowtonevergivehimthesatisfactionofthatcharge,notevenwithintheconfines ofherownmind.

ChapterThree

Gagewalkedintothehighschoolwithasmuchenthusiasmasamansentencedtoliveouttherestofhislifeina notoriouslydangerousgulag.Hedidn’tmindjudgingtheentrants’scienceprojectssomuch.Whathereallyhatedwashavingto speakinfrontofthecrowdattheend,oncetheselectionshadbeenmade

He’donlydonesomethinglikethisoncebeforebackwhenhewasastudentinhighschoolhimself.Heremembered vividlyseeingallthefacesofthecontestantswho didn’t winstaringathimwithdaggersfromtheaudienceforwhatthey certainlyconsideredhisill-favoredchoices.Hehatedthequietcriticism,evenasheunderstoodit.

Hopefully,ArthurReeveswouldn’tminddoingtheheavyliftingwithregardtothespeakingportionofthisjudging assignment.Asascienceprofessor,hewascertainlymoreexperiencedtalkinginfrontofagroupofstudentsthanGagewas.It wasanexcuse,butGageclungtoitlikealifeline.

ProfessorReeveshadbeenaffiliatedwiththecollegeinDorado,whichwasnotfarfromAlienn

Inthenormalcourseofthings,ProfessorReeves,anAlpha,wouldn’thavebeenallowedtolivesofarawayfrom Alienn,Arkansas,andtheBigBangTruckStop ButthecollegeandtheleadershipinAliennhadworkeditoutsotheprofessor couldoperateasatelliteschoolforkidswhowantedtogetsomesciencecollegecreditwhilestillinhighschool.

Therewasatablejustoutsidethemaingymspacewherepeopleweretosigninforthesciencefair Gage approacheditslowly,hisfeetdraggingindread.Buttheladyhandingoutthebadgessawhim,motionedhimoverandhewas committedtoit.Heinwardlysighedasheputasmileonhisfaceforshow.

Hereceivedaspecialbadgewiththeword“judge”onit Gagethoughtthecontestantsshouldn’tbeinformedin advancethathewasthejudge.Thekidsmightactdifferentlyiftheyknewhewastheonemakingtheselections.Noonehad askedhimhisopinionabouttheproceduresforthisventure,sohejustmovedalonglikeacowinachute,unabletoescapehis fate,waitingforthenextthinghe’dhavetodothathedidn’tlike.Heknewthiswasn’ttheonlything.

Hismentalcomplainingsoundedforlorneventohimself,andhehatedfeelingthatway.Itwastimeforapeptalk.It wasjustthisonetime.Gagevowedtostopfeelingsorryforhimselfandgetdowntobusiness.

“HasProfessorReevescheckedinyet?”Gageaskedthewoman.He’dlovetoconferwiththemanandassure himselfhedidn’thavetospeaktothecrowdsafterthey’ddonethejudging

“Notyet.”Sheglancedatthewallclock.“It’sstillabitearly.I’msurehe’llbealonginnotime.Youdon’thaveto waitforhim,though Goaheadandgoonin”

“Sure.”Gagespiedtherestroomdownthehallandadded,“I’mjustgoingtoruntothebathroomfirst.”

Shesmiledandnoddedvaguelyathimassomeoneelseapproachedhertable.

Gageknewthiswasafoolish,desperateacttokeepfromgoingintothegymalone,buthewas,afterall,both foolishanddesperateaboutthisjudgingjob.

Afterlingeringinthebathroomforseveralminuteslikeacoward,Gagegavehimselfanotherpeptalkandexited thebathroom.

Itwastimetostartthejudging Suck it up, Buttercup!

Hewanderedbacktothereceptiontable,whereafamiliarpersonhadjoinedthewomanwho’dcheckedhimin.

“HasProfessorReevescheckedinyet?”GageaskedMinnieFreelander,theattendanceclerkatthehighschool.

“No Notyet”Shelookedatherwristwatchandfrownedbutsoonbrightenedasathoughtvisiblyoccurredtoher “Hemighthavehadsomepaperworktocatchuponinclass.Ifhe’snothereinthenextfiveminutesorso,I’llgivehimacall.”

“Okay ShouldIwaitforhim?”

“Oh,no.Goaheadoninandtakealook.Therearesomeinterestingprojectsintherethisyear,ifyouaskme.”Her gazemovedtowardtheentrytothegymnasium,thenbacktothepapersinfrontofher Minnieglancedatherwatchagain

“MaybeI’llgiveProfessorReevesafriendlytextmessage,”sheadded,retrievingherphoneandtypingouta messagewithasingleforefingerinsteadofthetwo-thumbedmethodGagehadnoticedwasusedbymostkids.

“Good”Gagewonderedwhatshethoughtwasinterestingwithregardtothescienceprojectsinside,butdidn’task Hedidn’twanttobebiasedinanywaybeforeseeingtheprojectsforhimself.Healsodidn’twanttointerruptherslow,onefinger-at-a-timetextingprowess

Unabletoputofftheinevitableanylonger,GageleftMinnietoitandenteredthegymnasium.

Theloudsoundsofthesciencefairechoedinthecavernousspace Boothslinedthewallsofthegymintheshapeof aU.Thebleachershadbeenstackedupandstoredagainstthewallsontwosidesofthegym.Thickbrownstripsofpaperhad beenlaiddownandmaskingtapeappliedgenerouslytoprotectthefloorsfromnotonlytheprojectsbutalsotheguestswalking around

Theboothsweredividedintosections,witheachholdingtheprojectsofincreasinglyolderstudents.Therightside heldallofthefreshmanandsophomoreprojects,thebackwallwasforjuniorsandtheleftsidewasreservedfortheseniors Gagewalkedalong,notstoppingatanyofthetables,justpretendingtobeaparentorteacherspectatorinsteadofa

judge.Nooneseemedtopayhimanyattention,whichwasexactlyhowhewantedit.

Amongthefreshmanandsophomoreprojects,therewastheobligatory“volcano”thatusedbakingsodaandvinegar ascomponentstodemonstratecombustiblehouseholdproductsthroughpapier-mâchémountains

Theonlyprojectinthatsectionthatintriguedhimwastheonewherethestudenthadbuiltwhathecalledasafer modelcaranddemonstratedbycrashingitintoanothermodelcarwithraweggsScotch-tapedinside So if Barbie dolls ever come to life and need it, they’ll have a safer car to ride around in. Awesome. Still,Gagesupportedtheconceptofsafer things

Hestrolledtothebackwallofthegymtoseethejuniorclassprojects.Therewereafewworthyonesthere.

Amodelrollercoastershowedthepotentialofenergyconversiontokineticenergy.Thekidhadmorethanone loop-de-loop,andhissetuplookedreallycool

Anotherkidhadbuiltavoice-controlledlampthatalsoworkedwhenoneclappedtheirhands.Itwastechnology thathadbeenaroundforabitbutwasinterestingandfuntoplaywith Lotsofkidswerearoundthattableyelling“Turnon”or clappingreallyloud.Theyallseemedtobehavingfun.Thatwasnice.

Themoreadvancedprojectswereontheleftwallandcamefromtheseniors

OnekidhadbuiltahomemadeX-raymachine.Thatwasprettycool.

Anotherhadbuiltaradio-controlledcarthatlookedlikeanalienshipfromthemoviesorpossiblyalessflat automaticcordlessvacuum

Onekidhadmadearadio-controlledboatoutofafoodstoragecontainerandputitinalargehomemadepoolthat lookedlikeithadoncebeensomesortofgiantfishtank Interesting

Nexttothat,anotherstudentwasusingascaled-downtrebuchet.Thestudenthadbuiltitfromscratchtoshow ancientEarthlingcastlesiegeweaponry.He’dbroughtthesetupandwasplayingavideotoshowhowhe’duseditathome. Firingoffaweapon,evenanancientone,inthegymmighthavedisastrouseffects.Safetyfirst.

AnotherprojectGagelikedwasasmallrobotnomorethanknee-highthatwasprogrammedtocarryadrinkfrom PointAtoPointB ItwasbuiltoutofsparepartsandlookedlikeaFrankensteinscienceprojectgonewrong,robotstyle,but theoddlyassembledrobotdidwhatitwasprogrammedtodo.Ifbeingabletocarryasinglecanorbottleddrinkfromone roomtoanotherwasaproblemthatneededsolving,thatis

Gagewasn’tsosure,buthelikedthatthekidhadusedwhathehadonhandtomakehisproject.Itwasn’tpretty,but itwasfunctional.

Thescienceprojecthewasmostimpressedwithwasanotherrobotinabooththatwasthesecondfromtheendof alltheseniorprojects.Gagewasn’tsurewhatitscapabilitieswere,buttheoveralllookoftherobotwasimpressive.

Itwasshinysilver,withorangeeyessunkintotheeyesocketsandafacethatlookedlikeeitheramalformedhuman orpossiblyanalienskulloflore.Itwasfivefeettall,soslightlyshorterthantheoperator,aboywholookedlikeamad scientist,completewithhorn-rimmedglasses,messyhairthatstuckoutinalldirectionsandawhitelabcoat Hehadwhat couldhavebeenanoversizeTVremoteinonehandandwaspunchingbuttonsthatactivatedlightsontherobot’schestbut didn’tseemtodomuchelse.

Lite-BriteRobot,asGagewasgoingtorefertoit,satinachairmeeklyasitschestlightsflickeredonandoffeach timeitsmadscientistcreatorpressedabuttonontheremote.

WhenGagepassedby,therobotstoodup,lifteditsheadandseemedtofollowGage’sprogresstothenextdisplay Itwasoddlyunnerving,buthopefullyLite-BriteRobotwasn’thostile.

Gagesmiledandwavedattherobot Itdidn’tchangeitscreepydemeanor Therobotbeingacutelyobservant shouldn’tbesounnerving,butitlookedsomewhatlikeoneofthescaryTerminatormovierobots,withoutthegrinningskull. ThisrobotwasmorealienthanTerminator.Still,Gagedidn’tlikebeingtheobjectofitsattention.

AsGagetookhiseyesofftheunnervingrobot,breakingeyecontact,hescannedtheroomandcaughtsightofanew displaybeingsetupacrossthegymwherehe’dpassedthetablesforthefreshmenandsophomores.

Theprojectlookedlikeaflowerdisplayofsorts Probablyanotherplantgrowthproject Gagetookasecondlook andnotedtheunusualpurpleflowerthatlookedabitlikeadaisy,onlyinsteadofflatpetals,theywerethicker.Almostlikean Eartheraloeplantbutshapedlikeadaisyandpurple Itremindedhimofaplantthatgrewsomewhereelse Somewhere not on Earth. Doesn’t Ichor-Delta have flowers like that? Surelynoonehadbroughtanextraterrestrialbotanyprojecttothehigh schoolsciencefair.

Hesquinted,tryingtogetabetterlook Itwasdifficulttotellfromthisfaraway Heshouldmakesure Whilethere weresomevarietiesofpurpledaisiesonEarth,noneofthemhadthickpetals.Atleastnotthatheknewof.Perhapsthatwasthe pointofthedisplay

Perhapstheprojecthadtodowithaddingdyeorsomethingtothewatertocreateanewcolorofwhateverthe flowerwas.Maybethestudentwasshowinghowtomakeapurpledaisy.

Gageknewheshouldcheckitouttomakesureitwasn’tanoff-planetdaisy.Thatwouldbeespeciallydisastrous withthebigEarthColonyinspectionrightaroundthecorner.

Beforehecouldheadinthatdirection,therewasadisturbancebehindhim.

Gageturnedtowardtheshinysilverrobotintimetoseeitstandup,taketwostepstoitsleftandcrushthe neighboringproject,somesortofradiotransmitterandreceiverattachedtoaroamingvacuum Whateveritwas,itquickly becameapileofpartsafterLite-BriteRobotslammedbothofitsfistsontheprojectoverandoveruntiltherewasnohopeof revival

Thestudentwiththevacuum-radioproject,hiseyesaswideasdinnerplates,startedscreamingandpointingatthe robotthathadjustcrushedhisalienship-designed-automatic-wireless-vacuum Helookedaroundasifhopingforimmediate justicetobemetedoutoverthistragicmatter.

Therobot,clearlynotfinishedwithitsdestructiveplans,movedtothenextprojectintherow,whichwasafish tankfulloflittleplasticcontainerboatsmadeintorobots Lite-BriteRobotusedbothfiststostrikethesideofthetank The glassshatteredandseveralgallonsofwater,alongwithabunchofplasticcontainerrobotboats,rushedwaterfallstyletothe gymfloorinahugegush

Bythistime,theownerofLite-BriteRobothadgivenuppushingbuttonsonhisTVremotecontrolandwasyelling athisprojecttostop Therobotdidn’tlisten Aproject-killingrobotseeminglytakingoutthecompetition,onestationatatime, Lite-BriteRobotignoreditscreatorandmovedthroughthewatercascadingoutoftheshatteredfishtanktoreachthenext project.

Thestudenttestingpaintthrewhimselfinfrontofthefencehe’dbroughtintoshowcasetwoyearsofpaintwearand tear.Therobotliftedbotharms,metalfingersclenchedintofists,andbroughtthemdownontopofthefence.Thestudent faintedtothefloorbeforehehadachancetoseetherobotpunchitsfistthroughthefenceinthreeplaceslikeitwasinaboxing matchandthefencewasitsarchenemy.

Gagerealizedtherobotwasgoingtokeepdestroyingeachprojectalongtherowlikesomesortofdemented sciencefairprojectserialkilleruntilitwasstopped.Themadscientistfollowedcloselybehindhiscreation,oncemore furiouslypunchingbuttonsonhisTVremote,tonoavail.

AmanwhoGageguessedwasanangryparentapproachedtherobotfrombehindandtriedtograbitbytheneck Gageexpectedtherobottoretaliateorfightback,butitjustkeptmovingforwardasifthemandidn’tmatterintheleast.The guywasonlyabletoslowitdown,notstopit

Gageseemedtobefrozeninplaceashewatchedthedestructionofyetanotherproject,thisonehavingtodowith plantsandusingvariousfertilizerstoshowthegrowthdifferences.

Therobotdidn’tcarewhatitwas.

Itsmashedtheplantsandtossedthefourplantersoveroneshinysilvershoulder.Theterracottaplanterscracked intopiecesastheyhitthegymnasiumfloor,leavingapileofbrokenpotterywithdirtandshredsofthegreenplantsmixedinfor color.

ThestudentwiththeTVremotefinallygotcloseenoughtohitsomesortofkillswitchontherobot’sbody The robotstopped,armsintheair,roboticfingersfistedandreadytoobliterateacollectionofwhatlookedlikeveryexpensive porcelainfigurinesatthenextprojectstation.

ThesceneinthegymnasiumaroundGagecouldonlybedescribedaspurepandemonium Parentsandstudentswere everywhere,runningaroundandshouting.Forsomereason,lightswereflashing.ThewomanGagerecognizedastheviceprincipalwassayingsomethingintoamicrophone,buthervoicecouldn’tbeheardovertheraisedvoicesofthecrowd

Finally,Gageshookoffhisshock,turnedandheadedtowardthevestibulewherehe’dcheckedin,thinkinghe’dget Minnietocallinreinforcementstohelpthevice-principalcalmthecrowd Heglancedinthedirectionofthepurpledaisy display.

Itwasgone.

Gagestoppedinhistracks,frownedandscannedtherowofprojecttablestoseeifhe’dmisrememberedwhereit was.Nope.Thepurpleflowerwasgoneasifithadneverbeenthere.

Odd Hewould’veblamedLite-BriteRobot,butithadn’tmadeitthatfarinitsdestructiveroute Hadhebeen seeingthings?Maybe.Gagereregisteredthechaosaroundhimanddismissedthemissingpurpledaisyasunimportantfornow, makingamentalnotetocheckitoutlater

Heskedaddledtowardtheexittoavoidanyofthatchaoslandingonhisperson.

Themomentheleftthegymnasium,hecouldtellthatsomethingwasverywrong.Minnielookedfrantic.Shewas standingalonebehindthetable,gazingaroundasifshedidn’tknowwhattodo

Gagemovedtohersideofthetable.“What’swrong?DidyoufindProfessorReeves?”

“No He’snotrespondingtoanyofmycallsortexts Idon’tknowwhattodo”

GagecouldheartheelevateddinfromthegymandwonderedifMinniewassoworriedaboutProfessorReeves thatshecouldn’t.

Shelookeddownatherphoneasifitwouldgiveheranswers.ToGage,shesaid,“It’snotlikehimtonotshowup forsomethingimportantlikethis.I’vecalledhimandtextedhim,buthehasn’tresponded.I’mgettingworried,totellyouthe

Minniestilldidn’tseemtoregisterthemorepressingproblemofthesciencefairexperimentsbeingdestroyedbya ruthlessrobotwithachestfulloflightsandtheresultingmeltdownofeveryoneinvolved

“DoyouthinkIshouldcallthesheriff?”

Gageshrugged Minnieignoredhimandstarteddialinghercellphone

“ThisisMinnieFreelanderoveratthehighschool.CouldyousendSheriffCampbelloverwhenhegetsachance? ProfessorReeves,oneofthejudgesforthesciencefair,hasn’tarrived,andI’mveryworriedabouthim”

Gageglancedatthegymnasiumdoorasagoldenretrieverpuppyfromthepuppypadabsorptionrateprojectraced throughtheopeningwithhisownerhotonhistail,callingout,“Godzilla,comebackhere!”

Godzilla for a golden retriever puppy? No wonder the dog is running away

Thedininthegymhadincreased,andGagedecidednowwasagoodtimetoslipoutandgobacktotheBigBang TruckStop Thiswasn’tthewayhe’dwantedtogetoutofjudgingthesciencefair,buthewasrelievedhewasn’tgoingtohave tocontinueinthatrole.

GagemadehisescapeasseveralfolksconvergedonMinnie’sreceptiontable,allloudlycomplainingthattheir kids’projectshadbeendestroyedbyanothercontestantanddemandingtoknowwhatwasgoingtobedoneaboutit.

Hedidnotwanttobeinvolvedinthiscircuswithanyofthemonkeys,roboticorotherwise.

ChapterFour

DieselGreywashidinginthecubbybehindthewallinhisbelowstairsofficeattheBigBangtruckstop.HisAunt Dixiewasonthewarpathyetagain,wantinghimtodosomethinghedidnotwanttodo.So,prettymuchbusinessasusualinhis life

Hedidnothavetimeforthis.Hidingoutfromhiswilyoctogenarianaunt,thatis.However,itwasbettertohide nowandavoidabigfatfight AuntDixiewantedtodosomethingoutrageoustoearnmoneyforyetanotherdonationtothe richestoldfolks’homeintheland.

Hisassistant,Nova,hadwarnedhimuponhisreturnfromlunchwithhiswife,Juliana,thatAuntDixiewantedto talktohimaboutanimportantprojectinvolvingtheupcomingcolonyinspection.

DieselwasviolentlyopposedtoanyplanthathadanythingtodowiththecominginspectionifitinvolvedAunt Dixie Sowhenhisassistantsignaledthathisauntwasonherway,he’dhiddenlikeacowardtoavoiddealingwithatantrum whenhetoldhisauntno.

Frominsidehishidingplace,heheardhisofficedooropenandhisauntburstintotheroom “Diesel!”sheshouted “Iknowyou’reinheresomewhere.Oneofthesedays,I’mgoingtofindoutwhereyourhidingplaceisandthenyou’ll have to listentome”

Diesel’seyesdriftedshutandheheldhisbreath,worriedhemightmakesomegruntingnoiseofdisagreement withoutmeaningto.Itwastheequivalentofsomeoneknockingoutthefirstpartof“ShaveandaHaircut,”tryingtogetthe unsuspectingpersoninhidingtojumpoutandscream,“Twobits,”inordertofinishthepersuasiveditty

Dieselwasnotgoingtofallforit.

Heslowlyreleasedhisbreath,quietly,andinhaledjustassilentlyashecouldsohewouldn’tfaintfromlackof oxygen.

WhilethishidingplacewashandyfortimessuchasthesewhenhisAuntDixiewantedtogethis“permission”for heroutlandishprojects,herealizedthereprievewasnotgoingtolastforever.

AuntDixiewasverywily.Shewouldfindthishidingspaceeventually.

Butnottoday

Dieselsmiledtohimself,giddyforthemomentaboutthisspacehe’dconcoctedandtheunfathomableabilityto keepitsexistencequiet Heknewhisassistant,NovaGreene,wouldfigureitout,ifshehadn’talready Novawouldn’ttattleon himonpurpose.Hejustknewherabilitytokeepthesecretwouldnotbeasstrongashis.

“Justsoyouknow,Diesel,”AuntDixiecontinuedhertiradetohisemptyoffice,“Iwasgoingtotellyoumy brilliantideaforhowtogetthroughthiscominginspectionsupereasy.IknowyouthinkthattheonlyprojectsIcomeupwith arefortheoldfolks’home,andwhilethatmightbetruemostofthetime,thistimeIwastryingtohelpyou.Ihopeyou rememberthatwhenyoucomeoutofyourhidey-hole”

Dieselrolledhiseyes.Hehadnodoubtthather“help”withtheinspectionwouldhavenothingtodowiththe inspectionotherthanhowmakingtheoldfolks’homelookgoodwouldsomehow,inhermind,beahelptohisinspection

Heshiftedhisweightfromonefoottotheother,hisbackremainingsolidlypressedagainstthewallbehindthe bookcasewherehehid.Hewasnotgoingtobeswayedbyanythinghisauntsaidasshetriedtofindhimsoshecouldspouther ridiculousideasathimandhewouldhavetosayno,no,norepeatedly

“Hey,”saidavoiceherecognizedasCam’s.“Where’sDiesel?”

“He’shidingfromme Canyoubelievethat?”AuntDixiesaid “Yes.Icanabsolutelybelieveit.”

“Don’tgetsmartwithme,youngman”

“Iamnotgettingsmartwithyou.IamtellingyouthetruthasIknowit.Youcomeinherewithridiculousideasthat Dieselisforcedtosaynotoandyouwonderwhyhehidesfromyou.Everyoneelseknowsthis.Whydon’tyou?”

“Whyareyoubeingsuchasnot,Cam?”

“BecauseIneedtotalktoDieselaboutsomethingimportantandyouarethwartingme.”

“Iamnot!”

“Youare,too!”

Nova’sfirmvoiceinterruptedthedebate “Bothofyougetawayfromthisofficerightnow”Hervoicegotlouder asshespoke,andDieselknewshehadenteredtheroom.

“IreallyneedtotalktoDieselaboutasecuritymatter,”Camsaid.

“Well,asyoucanclearlysee,heisnotinhere Andtoanswerallyourquestionsbeforeyouaskthem,no,Idonot knowwhereheis.No,Idonotknowwhenhe’scomingback.Yes,makeanappointmentifyouwanttoseehim.”

AuntDixieharrumphed “That’snouse Hewon’tletmemakeanappointmentwithhimanymore”

“Andeveryoneintheentirethree-countyareaknowswhy,evenyou,right,DixieLou?”Novaasked.

“What?Well,Inever!”AuntDixieshouldbeusedtoNova’sgeneralattitudeaboutherantics,yetitalwaysseemed likeashocktohisauntthatnoteveryonewasreadytodoheroutlandishbidding.

“Tellmewhatyoursecurityproblemis,andIwillmakesureDieselhearsaboutit,”Novasaid,obviouslytoCam TherewassilenceforacountofthreebeforeCamsaid,“Fine.I’lltellyou.Butthisisclassified,sodon’ttell anyoneelse”

“Iwon’ttell,either,”AuntDixiesaidinawaythatmadeDieselfairlycertainwhateverCamsaidwouldbeold newsattheoldfolks’homebydinnertime,ifnotsooner

“AxeljusttoldmeaboutanunusualspacecraftenroutetoEarth,andIwantedtomakesurethatDieselknewabout it.”

“Unusualspacecraft?Whatdoesthatevenmean?”Novaasked Dieselwantedtoknowthat,too.

“Well,it’sasciencevesselfromAlpha-Prime,andwhileithasanauthorizedtransportcodeforlanding,normally, wewouldhavebeenapprisedofitsarrivalweeksinadvance.I’mwonderingifit’snotsomesecretinspectionspacecraftthat mightbeheretwoweeksbeforetheofficialinspectiondatetocatchusdoingsomethingwrong Idon’tknow Useyour imagination.”

“I’llreportwhatyoutoldme,”Novasaid.“Idonot,however,wanttousemyimagination.Itcouldjustbea spacecraftthatneedsfuelorsomething,right?”

Camsaid,“Hmm.Yes.Thatispossible.Well,Iguessyoujustdiduseyourimagination.I’llmentionthattoAxel. Still,makesureandtellDiesel,okay?Withtheinspectionlooming,Iwantanyout-of-the-ordinarythingsthathappentobewell communicatedamongstalltheleadership.”

“Yes.Iwilllethimknow.”

Dieselfrowned.HewonderedifCamwasrightaboutthespacecraftthatwasonitswayhere.Thenheshookhis head.No.Theinspectionhadbeenplannedforliterallyyears.Itwasgoingtobefine.Hisfatherhadgonethroughthree inspectionswhilehe’dbeenFearlessLeader,andthere’dneverbeenanyproblems Dieselwascertainhewouldbeableto makeitthroughthisoneonhisownwithoutanyissues.

Heresistedtheurgetocrosshisfingersasthatthoughtcompletedinhishead Thereweresomanythingsthathadhappenedinthesevenyearssincethelastinspection.Whilehehadlistedthem alloutandcarefullytriedtothinkofanyscenariowhereeverythingcouldgoincredibly,horriblywrong,hehadn’tfoundany weaknesses.Yet.

He’dmarriedJulianaMasters,nowJulianaGrey,whowasparthumanandpartAlpha.Hislittlesister,Valene,had marriedthepart-human,part-AlphasheriffofSkeeterBite,WyattCampbell Theyhaddiscovereddescendantsofthelost colonyinSuspicion,Minnesota,wheretherewasanequallygrumpysecurityguyinchargecalledtheSecretKeeperwho Dieselhadhadtocontendwithatimeortwo

Recently,therehadbeenseveralrun-inswithagulag-boundserialcriminal,IndigoJones.Hewassecurely ensconcedintheworstgulaginthreegalaxies,buthe’descapedacoupleoftimes,soitwaslikelyonlyamatteroftimebefore hediditagain MissPennyandherfirsthandinformationaboutrareAlphashiftershadhelpedthemkeephimimprisonedfrom nowon,hopefully,withasimplekalesmoothiegiventohimdaily.Onlytimewouldtell.

Thecolony’sassociationwithNocturneFalls,Georgia,wasanotherimportantchange

Thosewerejustafewofthethingshecouldthinkofoffthetopofhishead.

Dieselhadneverbeenanegativeperson Hehadtoadmithefoundhimselfalittleoff-balanceandslightlyanxietyriddenaboutthecominginspection.

“EverybodyoutofDiesel’soffice,rightnow.”Novasoundedlikeshewasattheendofherrope.Dieselcertainly understoodthat Heappreciatedhertonoend NovahadbeenhisassistantfromthebeginningofhisFearlessLeader responsibilities,andwhileshecouldbejudgmentalattimes,shewasareallygoodassistant.Truthfully,hewouldn’tknow whattodowithouther

InalowtonethatmadeDieselrealizeshewasspeakingforhisbenefit,shesaid,“I’mgoingtostepoutandlockthe doorbehindmesoyouwon’tgetanysurprisesifyou’reinheresomewhere Ifnot,whenyoucometoopenyourdoor,it’s locked.Hopeyouhaveyourkeyhandy.”Heheardthedoorclosewithasolidthump.

Dieselwaitedtothecountoftenbeforeextricatinghimselffromhisofficehidey-hole.Hecarefullyclosedthe secretdoortohishidingplace,thenunlockedandopenedtheofficedoor HeexpectedtoseeNova,AuntDixieandCamall waitingoutsidetocatchhim,buttherewasnooneinthehallway.

Arelief,tobesure,buthedidn’tthinkitwouldlast Heclosedthedoorbehindhimandwaitedoutinthehallway toseeifanyoneshowedup.

Hewasblissfullyalone.Andhewasintriguedbythesciencespacecraftthatwasonitswayhere.

DieselmadehiswaytoNova’sdesk,butshewasn’tthere.Aglanceattheclocktoldhimitwasherlunchtime.He headedinthedirectionofthesecurityofficeandCam’slairtoseewhathewasupinarmsabout.Hewouldn’tseekoutAunt

Dixie.Nowthatshewaslooseinthebasement,she’dfindhimsoonenough,whetherhelikeditornot.

Whenhegottothesecurityoffice,Camfrownedthemomenthesawhim.“Wherewereyou?Iwasjustatyour office”

“Novasaidyouwerelookingforme.What’sup?”Hefeltnoguiltfornotexactlyansweringhisbrother’squestion astohispreviouswhereaboutsorthemethodbywhichNovahad“told”himaboutCam’sissue Cammotionedhimovertoacomputerflatscreen.“There’saspacecraftonitswayherethatseemssuspiciousto me”

“Suspicious?Why?”

CamrelatedbasicallythesameinformationthatDieselhadoverheardhimtellingNova.“Ijustwanttomakesure thatit’snotsomesecretpre-inspectionteamtryingtothwartus”

“Idon’tthinkAlpha-Primeistryingtothwartus.”

“Youdon’t?”

“No.Theyhaveaverygoodreasontokeepushere.”

Camnodded “TheBauxitemine”

“Exactly.NowthatourableAshcraftcousinshavetakenoverthemanagementofthatendeavor,we’llbeless stretchedhereattheBigBangTruckStopbasement.”

“Ihopethatwillbetrue I’malsogladwestillhavepartownershipinitevenifourcousinsaretakingoverthe day-to-dayoperations.”

Dieselnodded “TheyseemveryexcitedtobehereontheEarthColonyforafreshstartafterUncleEzrapassed on.”

BeforeCamcouldrespondtothat,Axelstrolledintothesecurityofficewithaconcernedexpressiononhisface. “Hey,didyoutellDieselabouttheunscheduledsciencespaceshipthat’sheadedhere?”

“Wewerejustdiscussingit,amongotherthings.”

“So,spiesonthewayhere,doyouthink?”Axelseemedsoserious,Dieselalmostlaughed “No,Axel.Therearenospiesonthewayhere.You’vebeenreadingtoomanyDirkCrushernovels.”

“Ihavenot Thenewoneisn’tduetoreleaseforanothermonth”

Dieselshookhishead.“Okay.Keepaneyeonthespacecraft.Ifyouwant,havethepilotreporttothissecurity officeuponarrivaltoexplainwhytheyarehere.Callmebackifyoudon’tliketheanswerstheysupply.”

AxelandCamlookedateachotherandshrugged. Camsaid,“Okay.Thatworks.”

“DidyouhearthatAuntDixietalkedGageintobeingajudgeforthehighschoolsciencefair?”Axelasked “No.ButI’mgladI’mnottheonlyoneshecornerstobendtoherwill,”Dieselsaid. HesparedathoughtforpoorGage,doingsomethingthathehatedbecausehehadn’tlearnedtheartofsayingabig fatnototheirAuntDixie.

<^><^><^>

Deereadoverhernotes,completingthediabolicalplanshe hadcreatedandnoddingwithapproval. Yes. This will do nicely.

WhileshehadbeensentbyanothertosethislessacceptableplaninmotiontothwarttheEarthColony,Deehada muchbetterplan.

Themansheworkedwithhadanagenda,adetailedschedule,andhe’dsuppliedthekeymaterialsshewouldneed Wouldn’thebesurprisedtofindoutthatshehadanagendaofherown?

Hewantedhisplantobeblamelessbutcausegreatdamage Meanwhile,shehadaspecifictarget Shehadabetter plan,layingtheblameforwhattheyplannedtodoattheproverbialdoorstepofherarchrival. Itwouldbeperfect.

Assheconsideredthelonglistofthingsthatneededtobedone,alongwiththetimetablesheneededtoaccomplish itall,sherelaxed.Allshehadtodowastakeitstepbystep.

Deerelishedeachandeverytask,nomatterhowlongitwouldtakeorwhatshehadtodo,knowingitwouldnot onlysecureherthepositionshe’dbeencheatedofbecauseofnepotism,butthatitwouldgivejustdesertstotheonepersonshe blamedforthesubstandardlifeshe’dbeenforcedtoendurethesepastfewyears.

CharlotteWestbrookwasn’tgoingtoknowwhathither.

ChapterFive

CharlottepunchedinthecoordinatesfortheEarthColonyandusedthehyperdrivetoaccelerateher journey.Innotimeatall,shehadarrivedintheouteratmosphereofEarth,readytoenterherlandingcodeandsolve themysteryofwhyshewashere

“EarthGroundControl,thisisScienceVesselDeltaOne.Pleaseadviseonlandingproceduresforthis planet Over”

Charlottelistenedbutonlyheardstatic.Howannoying.Washertransmissiondevicebroken?Shehoped not Eventhoughshewasn’tcertainitwouldworkwithoutGroundControlapprovingherapproach,Charlottewent aheadandpluggedinthelandingcode.

Iftheyletherland,shehopedthatEarthdidn’thaveastandbyGuardsmenunitwaitingtospringinto actionandarrestheriftherulesofflightwerenotmettothetiniestdetailbecausehertransmissiondevicewas brokenandshecouldn’ttalktoanybodyaboutwhyshewashere.Thetruthwas, she didn’tevenknowwhatshewas doinghere Soannoying

Sheswitchedtoanotherchannelbutdidn’texpectitwouldwork.“EarthGroundControl,doyouread me?ThisisScienceVesselDeltaOne”

Morestatic.

Charlotteactivatedherwarningbeacon,whichmeantshewashavingtroubleandcouldnotcommunicate withtheauthoritiesontheground

Thiswholemissionwassofarbeyondherregularlyscheduledboringlifethatshewasn’tquitesurewhat toexpect

Charlottepunchedinthefinaldigitofthelandingcode,pressedEnterandthen readyornot startedto makeherlandingrunfortheEartherwaystation.

Sheguidedhercraftthroughtheatmospherewithasurprisingminimumofturbulenceandlandedwithout incidentatwhatlookedliketheonlyplaceforhertosetdownhercraft,accordingtoherinstrumentpanel.Sheput hercraftdownascloseasshecouldtothebuildingnearby

Oncemore,shetriedtoraiseanyonefromEarthGroundControl,butthefamiliarsoundofstaticwasthe onlythingsheheard Fine She’djusthavetogoinsideandpresentherselftoSecurity Sheputafewpersonalthings inhersmallsatchelandslungthesinglestrapoverhershoulder.Thebagfitniceandcloseunderonearm.Shedidn’t takeaweapon.Whileshehadseveraltuckedawayonboard,shedidn’twanttoposeanykindofthreattotheEarth Colony.

Sheexitedthroughtherearhatchofherspacecraft,closingitupwiththeremotecontrolshecarried,and putthedevicebackinherpocket Shelookedaround,shockedtoseetheterrainfilledwithverytalltrees Theywere everywhere,allaroundtheshort,squatway-stationbuilding.Itdidn’tlookverylargefromtheoutside,anyway.

Charlottehopedtheywouldhavefood,lodgingsand,evenbetter,achangeofclothingforher All luxuries,really,butshewasoperatingonminimalinformation,soshefiguredshecoulddreamupwhatshewanted forthetimebeing.Shehadn’tpackedforaverylongjourney,thinkingshewouldbeheadingdirectlybacktoAlphaPrime,anddidn’thaveanotherchangeofclothingonherspacecraft

Thespaceportlandingfieldwasempty.Shewouldhaveexpectedatleastasolitaryguardinplace somewhere,butitwasbarrenacrossthelandingzone Therewerenootherspaceshipsthatshecouldsee Itwas possibletherewerecloakedshipseverywherearound.

Therewasnotasoultogreether Inaway,thatwasgoodnews Atleasttherewasn’taplatoonof Guardsmenwithgunspointed,wonderingwhyshehadinvadedthiswaystationwithoutpermission.

Tryingtoseethebrightsideofthingswasinhernature.Itdidn’talwaysworkout,butfornowandinthis circumstance,shewasokaywiththat

Charlottesawadoorandheadedinthatdirection.Sheexpectedittobelocked,butwhenshetriedthe handle,itopenedeasily Shesteppedthroughthedoorwayandontoaplatform,againunsureofwhattoexpectand againquiteshockedbywhatshedidsee.Thedoorbehindherclosedonitsownasshegapedatthescenebeforeher.

Thiswaystationwasgigantic Clearly,thetop-sideviewmadeitseemlikethiswasasmallplace Itwas mostcertainlynot.ToherleftwasastaircasethatleddowntowhatlookedlikeanArrivalsarea.SoCharlottewent downthestairs,thewholetimelookingatalltheshopsandstoresthatseemedtogoonforeverinthisunderground waystationonEarth

Therewerelotsofplacestoeat.Therewasquiteanimpressivenumberofclothingstores.Surelythere wouldbelodgingsomewhereinthisfacilitywhereshecouldstayuntilshefiguredoutwhatwasgoingon Everywhereshelooked,downthecenterthoroughfare,therewerepeoplebustlingaround,busy almostfrantically

so straighteningthingsandcheckingtabletsasiftoensurewhateverlisttheycheckedwascomplete.

WasEarthinthemiddleofaninspection?Wasthatwhyeveryoneseemedfranticandterrifiedandwas clearlynotpayingheranyattention?Itwasdefinitelyapossibility

Charlottegottothebottomofthestaircaseandlookedattheendofthewaystationthatwasawayfromall theshops Shesawasignthatmightbeadirectorybutcouldn’treadanythingonit,soshemovedinthatdirectionto figureoutwheretheSecurityofficeswere.

Shemighthavebeenabletolandandexithership,butitwasneverfarfromhermindthatoncesomeone withanyauthoritycaughther,shewouldhavesomeexplainingtodo.Shewishedsheknewwhatshewasgoingto say.Asshereviewedwhatlittlesheknew,itsoundedsuspecttoherownears.ShedefinitelyneededtofindSecurity beforeSecurityfoundher Wanderingaloneinanunfamiliarwaystation,eventhoughitwasauthorizedbyAlphaPrime,couldbedireforher.

Whenshegottothesignthatdidturnouttobeadirectory,luckilyforher,shereadthatthesecurity officerwasCamGreyandnotedtheofficenumberwherehecouldbefound.Sheglancedattheschematicthat showedwherehisofficewasandheadedinthatdirection

Charlottefeltuneasecreepinside.Itworriedherthatshe’dbeenabletobreachthewaystationwithout theregularprotocolsshewould’veexpectedtostopheroratleastforcehertoidentifyherselfandherreasonfor beinghere Whichshestilldidn’tknow,becausetheinstructionssenttoheronboardcomputerhadbeenvagueabout whyshewashere.

Ignorancewasrarelyagooddefense,butitwasallshehad Sheheadedtowardthehallwaythatwas supposedtoberightpastthewallahead.Shepickedupthepaceofherstepsforsomeunknownreason,wantingto gettothesecurityofficer’sofficeasfastasshecould.

Charlotteroundedthecornerandsmackeddeadonintosomebodyelsewhowasclearlyinahurrybut goingintheoppositedirection.

Becausethedelicious-smellingmanwasbiggerthanshewasbyatleasthalfahead,heknockedher smackdowntotheground.Onceshehitthefloor,thebackofherheadbumpedagainstitwithathud.Thenthe delicious-smellingmantrippedandfell,landingdirectlyontopofher

Charlottetookanotherdeepbreath,findingthescentofthemanintriguing,beforeblackcurtainsclosed acrosshervision.

<^><^><^>

GagewasmildlyconcernedProfessorReeveshadn’tshownupatthesciencefairbutcertainlywasn’tas worriedasMinnieFreelander.Hedidhopehisbrother-in-law,SheriffWyattCampbell,figuredoutwhathad happenedtoGage’sco-judge.

Gage’sreliefthathe’dmanagedtoescapethemayhematthehighschoolwasshort-lived Apparently, afterhe’dleft,theprincipalandseveralothermembersoftheschool’sfacultyhaddecidedtheywouldpostponethe sciencefairforanotherday He’dreceivedanemailtothateffect,whichinformedhimthey’dlethimknowwhen he’dberequiredtoresumehisjudgingduties.

Now,Gagewasmostlyanxioustogetbacktohisbasementsciencelabsohecouldcontinueworkingon hisprivateproject.HefeltcertainthatBasilwould’veleftforthedayandhecouldhavepeaceandquietinorderto continuehisstudyoftheancientshifterformulathatmadeAlphasfallasleep.

Gagedidn’tevenmakeittothelowerlevelwherehislabwaslocated,becauseCamcorneredhiminthe halljustoutsidehisSecurityofficeonhiswayby.

“Hey,whereyougoing?”Camaskedsuspiciously “Why?”

“Ihaveasecurityissue,andIneedyourhelp”

“Whyme?CallAxelorDieseloranyofanumberofthepeopleyouemploytohelpyouout.I’mbusy.”

“Don’tbedifficult,Gage.”Cam’sradiocrackled,andanexcitedvoicecamethroughthespeaker.

Gagewashavingaconversationthathedidn’twanttohaveaboutasecuritytopichedidn’twantto discusswithsomeonehedidn’twanttobetalkingto.Annoying.

Notthathedidn’tlovehisbrother Hedid Buthehadpreciouslittletimetohimselflately,andthatsecret projectwascallingtohim.He’dratherbehiddeninhislabexperimenting.

Evenso,theexcitedvoicethatcameoverCam’sradiomadehimpause.

“Cam!YoubettergetovertotheSupernovaSupermarket.Someonepassedoutinthemiddleofthestore andhasn’twokenup.”

Hisbrotherlookedupintotheairandshookhisheadasifhecouldn’tbelievehehadyetanotherissueto dealwith.

Clearly,thiswasnottheissuehewastryingtogetGagetohelphimwith.ItoccurredtoGagethatmaybe thepersonatthesupermarketwasProfessorReeves.Perhapshe’dfallendownandhithisheadorsomething,and thatwaswhyhehadn’tshownuptojudgethesciencefair

“Askthemwhoitis,”GagesaidtoCam.

“Why?”

“BecauseIwasjustoveratthehighschoolandProfessorReeves,theotherjudge,didn’tshowup.Maybe it’sbecausehepassedoutattheSupernovaSupermarket”

Camrelayedthatquestiontothepersonattheotherendoftheline,whoturnedouttobeFrancine Boudreaux.SheworkedattheAlienngrocerystorewhenshewasn’tgallivantingaroundthecosmoswithher husband,RaphaelBoudreaux,bountyhunterextraordinaire

Francinesaid,“Well,Icantellyouthatit’saman,butIdon’tknowwhoheis.I’veneverseenhim before It’salreadybeenquiteaneventfuldayhere,andthenthishappened”Francinesoundedabitharried “Apparently,Mrs.Greenly,mylandlady,roundedthecornerwithhercartintimetoseethismanjustcrumpletothe groundandfaintdeadaway Healsodroppedagiantjarofpicklesthathe’dbeenholding,soofcourse,there’slots brokenglassallaroundhim,alongwiththelovelyscentofvinegareverywhereintheair.It’sarealmessalltheway around.Themanseemstobesleeping,buthecan’tbewokenup.It’sjustreallystrange.”

Camaskedwhythesheriffhadn’tbeencontacted,butFrancinesaidWyatthadbeencalledovertothe highschoolbecauseofsomeproblemthereandwouldbeatthesupermarketasfastashecould.“Hetoldmetocall you,becausenooneknowswhetherthemanisfromAliennorassociatedwiththeBigBangTruckStop,ifyougetmy drift.Andifheis,Gagewillneedtoknow,too.”

“Okay.Gageisstandingnexttome.I’llsendhimtochecktheguyout.Hecanarrangetransporttothe basement-levelfacilityifneeded.”

“Thanks,Cam.”

Space potatoes,Gagethought Therewouldbenosecretlabexperimentsinhisnearfuturenow He pushedoutalongsighandsaid,“I’llgoovertocheckontheguyattheSupernovaSupermarket.I’llarrangetransport toeitherhereorthehumanhospitalonceIassesshim”

“Okay,”Camsaid,stilllookingabitoverwhelmed,whichwasodd.Camusuallykeptitfairlytogether.If he’deverbeenoverwhelmedbefore,hedidn’toutwardlyshowit.

“Issomethingelsewrong?”Gageasked.“Whatdidyouwanttotalktomeabout?”

Cam’seyeswidenedasifhehadjustrememberedanotherproblem.Thenheshookhishead.“Not important GotakecareoftheguyattheSupernovaSupermarketandletmeknowwhereheendsupgoing,hereorthe humanhospital.”

Gagenoddedandheadeddownthehallway Hismindwasgoinginonethousanddirections

WasitProfessorReeves?Was that whyhehadn’tshownuptojudgethecontest?Whatcould’ve happenedtohim?Whywouldhebeasleepfornoreason?Thesubjectofhisexperimenttooktheopportunitytorise upandgivehimyetanotherthingtothinkabout Wassomerarealienshifterouttheresprayingpeopleagain?

Thatwouldbebad,especiallyrightbeforethebiginspection.

Gagespedhissteps,notreallywatchingwherehewasgoing,justknowingheneededtohurry untilhe roundedthecornerandsmackedrightintoagorgeouswomanwithchin-lengthblondhairsportingpurplestreaks. Beforeherealizedwhatwashappening,he’dknockedhertotheground Heheardherheadhitthefloorwithathud, thenhetrippedoverhisownfeetandfellrightontopofher.Gracious.

“I’msosorry.Areyouokay?”Gageasked,staringdownintohersaltwaterblueeyes.Shetookadeep breathandsmiledasbothofhereyelidsdriftedshut,notsayingasingleword

“Hello?Hello?Wakeup.Please.”Gageshiftedontohishandsandkneesandstareddownintothe beautiful,serenefaceoftheunconsciousstranger Hepattedhersoftcheek,butshewasout

Space potatoes!Notwhatheneededinthismoment.

But shesurewaspretty

Gageshookhisheadathimselfandcheckedhervitalsasbesthecould.Heascertainedthatshehadno brokenbones,buttherewasasmalllumponthebackofherhead.

Because you knocked her to the ground

Thankfully,thelumpwasn’tbleeding.Hecarefullypickedherupintohisarmsandcarriedhertowardthe medlab Onhisway,hepassedbyCam’soffice

Thedoorwasopen,andhesawCamwashavingalivelydiscussionwithAxel.Bothofhisbrothers lookedveryperturbed,andhedecidedquicklythathedidn’tneedtogetinvolved.Theylookedathimashepassed bythedoorwaywithoutexplanation.

Heshouldhaveknowntheywouldn’tlethimsimplygo.