Encounters 1: The Spiral Slayers (16 page)

Astronomy had been a little different back then, but it had
still been a mature science. The Loud’s home star, G214h, had not been
classified, logged or named back then, but other large stars around it had been
and, of course, the constellations had been named and documented for thousands
of years before that. G214h was dim but visible to the naked eye.

He leafed through the twenty-two accounts of the event that
he had narrowed his search to. There were other accounts, but the ones he
needed were the ones that had documented where the star appeared to be in
relation to the constellations and other bright stars. These accounts came from
sources all around the planet.

Eighteen were completely consistent on where the star was
located. One was a few degrees off while the other three were significantly
off… maybe. The eighteen consistent accounts were all from better developed
areas for the most part.

The ones that were off, well, one was in an area that was
definitely underdeveloped – he could dismiss that one. He could dismiss a
second one as well – it had been made during a break in a storm that had pretty
much hidden the entire event. The other one was in a developed area, but the
language suggested that it had been made by a layman – at least Woodworth
could, if he wished, view it that way.

The one that was only slightly off was in an area considered
highly developed, but it was the only report from that area so maybe they had
constellations that were slightly different.

He sighed. Well, he didn’t really know about the ones that
were different, but he did have eighteen that were consistent. All of them
pointed to what could only be G214h.

He sat back and tried to think what else might explain it. Perhaps
a wandering star had just happened to align itself with G214h and it had
flared. Doubtful. He wished that he could talk to the Loud directly about this.
He needed to contact someone working with or connected in some way to the
aliens and tell them about this discrepancy.

It had only been a fluke that he had stumbled upon this
thousand year old flare up. When Nero had told him that the class could come up
with one question that they could ask Bugs, he had searched the databases for
the star as an afterthought. This had turned up nothing at first, what year it
was classified, type, and distance and so on. But then he had searched on the
constellation it was in and came across a note on the flare up. He had then
done several more searches on the solar flare and there it had been.

And yet the alien Loud called Bugs had denied it had ever
happened to their star or any other around it.
How odd
, he thought.

He looked at his watch then quickly stacked the reports and
left the room, carrying them precariously. Making it to the turn-in desk
without dropping them, he dropped them off, signed himself out, and rushed from
the building. He was cutting it close. He had an hour and a half to get to
Plymouth via train, rent a car, and then get to the conference center.

---

On any given day you would have at least twenty Loud avatars
working one–on-one with the humans hammering out what items could be traded and
what the exchange rate would be. This was grueling and tedious work. It seemed
that the Loud were experienced in the art of trading which both helped and
hampered the process.

Also on any given day, anywhere between four and twelve Loud
were traveling with guides to somewhere on the planet to tour high technology
centers, manufacturing plants, laboratories, computer hardware shops, software
development companies, machine shops and other varied facilities of interest to
them. Almost always they would suggest a number of improvements, sometimes even
sending back avatar technicians to help implement these upgrades.

Then there were the invitations to the Loud to speak at
lectures, conferences and other events. None had been accepted. However, Bugs
had been invited to do the opening address at the 23
^rd
Annual
Symposium on Quantum Physics and had accepted. It said that it was time “to
compare notes” and this event presented the perfect opportunity.

---

After the tour of the farm, Bugs had landed at the listening
chamber compound in Hillcrest with Adamarus, Leewood and Harrington. Bugs’
avatar had needed a fresh power pack so while that was being taken care of, the
others went to freshen up and grab something to eat before traveling 420 miles
to Plymouth where the conference was taking place.

After a quick breakfast, Leewood took off. He was in charge
of a tour of a large wildlife preserve in the Southern hemisphere that the Loud
had requested. Only Adamarus and Harrington went with Bugs. In the hover
capsule the flight to Plymouth only took about half an hour.

When they arrived, Bugs parked the hover capsule in the
mobile home parking area. It was 7:15 AM – the conference would start at 8:00. It
was about a half mile to the entrance and they decided to walk. The early
morning sun promised a warm day, but now it was cold and a strong wind blew in
from the Southwest buffeting them.

Upon arriving at the gates, they entered and waited in line
to pick up their name tags and other assorted literature from tables in front
of the entrance. Bugs - or rather his robotic avatar - was getting a lot of
attention.

A woman dressed and tagged as someone associated with the
conference hurried from behind the tables and came up to them. “Hello!” Addressing
the avatar she asked, “Are you Bugs?”

Bugs answered, “Yes, I am, and with me are Captain Maximus
and Dr. Harrington,” he motioned to them.

“Well my name is Lora and I’m delighted to meet you.” She
offered her hand to the avatar just a little nervously and Bugs, trained by
three years of video shows, took her hand but instead of shaking it, with a
sweeping gesture of its other arm, Bugs bent over and pretended to kiss it.
Lora turned a bright red. It was absolutely hysterical and everyone around
laughed.

Bugs had not been prepared for more than some token chuckles.
He leaned towards Lora and said, “Did I do that correctly?”

There was more laughter from the people close enough to hear.
Lora also laughed, “Bugs, you did it perfectly – in fact, it was absolutely
superb and you made my entire day!”

Bugs was still holding her hand, “Oh, good. Then, at this
point, a gentleman would ask for your com number, but alas, I’m afraid it
simply wouldn’t work out between us.” Again everyone who could hear laughed. Bugs
released her hand and bowed. The laughter grew louder.

Adamarus leaned towards Harrington and whispered, “Bugs is
sure in top form today!”

Lora turned to Adamarus, “I certainly recognize you, Captain
Maximus,” again offering her hand. “It’s an honor to meet you.” Adamarus, not
about to follow Bugs’ performance, took her hand and shook it once, inclining
his head slightly.

She then turned to Harrington, “Dr. Harrington, I’ve read
both of your books and loved them.” Harrington raised her eyebrows in surprise
at this. They shook hands.

Lora turned back to Bugs, “As you’re the keynote speaker, we
need to get you backstage.” She turned back to Adamarus and Harrington
producing their name tags/entry badges. “If all of you will follow me.” She led
them through the front doors and Bugs continued to turn heads and stop
conversations.

They entered a large lobby filled with science exhibits and
displays and Bugs slowed down to take them in, even stopping at several for a
better look.

Soon they were led through several doors and down a long
corridor to an open region that was clearly the backstage area. There Lora
introduced them to half a dozen people then led them to a dressing room with Bugs’
name and a large star on the door.

Inside were a couch, a closet, and several chairs, one in
front of a vanity with a large mirror. “This is your dressing room, Bugs. Normally,
if you were human, this is where you’d have your makeup done and dress before
going on stage.”

Time passed and finally someone from outside hollered, “We’re
on in five!” Then he peeked into their dressing room – it was one of the
technicians with a head set and a clip board. He seemed to be going a hundred
miles an hour, but came to a dead stop when he saw Bugs. “Ah…Mr., er…Bugs?”

“Yes?” Bugs held up a manipulator as if needing to identify
itself to the technician.

This small joke went right over everyone’s head. “Ah…sir…we
need you on spot A1 now…I can show you.”

“Okay.” Bugs got up, and Adamarus and Harrington followed
them.

The tech led Bugs to an area just off stage behind a curtain.
A scuffed and worn orange circle was painted on the floor with A1 painted on it
in black. Behind it was A2 and A3 but no one was on these.

The tech told Bugs to wait there until he signaled him to go
out on the stage and deliver his keynote speech.

Adamarus and Harrington, seeing that Bugs was in good hands,
asked where they could watch from. The tech waved to another tech and this one
showed them to an area to the extreme left of the stage and told them to wait.

While they waited they listened to the host, a high ranking scientist
and politician named Wayne Brittan. He was in the process of welcoming everyone
to the conference. The tech came back with two folding chairs and they sat
down.

---

Woodworth knew he was cutting it close, but he refused to
look at his watch – it would only cause additional stress and there was nothing
more he could do to get there any faster. Better to focus on his driving.

He reached the parking lot and decided to drive towards the
entrance and park as close as possible, regardless of whether or not there was
a parking space. He’d park illegally – getting there in time for the Loud’s
keynote address was worth the cost of a ticket.

He took the corner a little too fast and his tires screeched.
He grimaced as a parking attendant turned and gave him a disapproving look.

He drove to the end of a row of legally parked cars and
pulled next to the last car. Perfect, he thought, he wasn’t too far out in the
drive and it might go unnoticed. He quickly got out, locked up and jogged to
the entrance.

Woodworth grabbed schedules and tags from the table and
entered. As he did, he saw a clock and immediately slowed down – it had just
started and he could hear that the host was still speaking. He passed by all
the exhibits and entered the conference room. It was packed but a friend was
saving him a seat.

Woodworth pulled out his com unit—he had heard that Adamarus
would be accompanying Bugs and if he could contact Nero’s mother, Grace, he
might be able to arrange a talk with the Loud while here. He searched his PDA
for the number as he headed down the right side aisle heading for the front row
where a friend would be saving him a seat. Finding the number, he pressed dial
and got ahold of Grace after two rings. “Hello, Mrs. Maximus, this is Professor
Woodworth, one of your son’s teachers from school.”

“Well, hello, professor. There’s nothing wrong I hope.”

“No, no, nothing like that. In fact, I’m up in Plymouth at
the conference – I understand your husband is here with Bugs.” She indicated
that was true. “I’m following up on a little mystery that has to do with the
question your son’s class came up with to ask Bugs. Actually, I’m trying to
find a way to discuss this with one of the Loud, or at least find someone who
works with the Loud to ask some questions for me.”

“I can call my husband and see if he can help.”

“That would be great.” Woodworth had reached the first row
and looked down it. Woodworth’s friend had already spotted him and was waving
him over.

On the com Grace was saying, “Well, hold on then, let me see
if he is answering his com unit.”

“That would be great! Tell him I’m in the front row,”
Woodworth replied as he made his way to his seat.

---

Adamarus felt his com unit vibrate in his coat pocket. He dug
it out and answered, “Adamarus here.”

“Hi, stranger.” Grace said.

Adamarus smiled, “Hmm…this sounds like a very sexy and
mysterious woman I happen to know.” He felt Harrington look over at him.

“That’s me” she replied. “Honey, I have Nero’s teacher from
school on the other line, Professor Woodworth…”

“The Professor Woodworth?” Adamarus asked.

“Yes, the one and only. Anyway, he wants to talk to the Loud
– Bugs if possible — about that question Nero’s class came up with…the solar
flare thing.”

“Oh, yes, I remember, the one Bugs denied.”

“That’s it.”

“Well, Bugs is about to give his speech right now—I’m not
sure how long it will be.”

“Well, he said to tell you that he was sitting in the front
row.”

Adamarus looked but didn’t see him. When he remembered that
he wasn’t looking for an old man, he immediately spotted Woodworth holding his
com unit to his ear. “I can see him. Tell you what, tell him I’m on the left
side of the stage off to the side – I’ll be waving to him. Then get his number,
send it to me, and I’ll call him as soon as I can.”

“Okay, love, see you later?”

“I should be home tonight.”

“That would be nice. Love you.”

“Love you, too,” he replied and disconnected.

Adamarus turned to Harrington, “See that fellow on the com
unit in the front row?” She nodded. “Ever heard of Woodworth’s ten volume set,
‘The Advancement of our Species – A Historical Perspective’?”

“Who hasn’t? We were forced to read it in college. I think
everyone is.” Harrington looked at the front and spotted him. “What about it?”

“That’s Woodworth.” As they watched him, he hung up and
immediately looked towards them. Adamarus waved and Woodworth waved back. Checking
his com unit he saw that Woodworth’s com number had arrived so he called it and
watched Woodworth pick it up. “Professor Woodworth?” Adamarus asked. He
listened for a moment then said, “It’s an honor to meet you as well. Can you
come to us as soon as Bugs’ speech has ended? He listened again, then, “We’ll
see you then,” and disconnected.