Teardrops In The Night Sky (Steven Gordon series) (24 page)

Chapter 39

S
teven became instantly aware the moment Komoru regained consciousness, but fought the urge to contact her.  Babe had kept him apprised of what was happening so he knew she was coming to join them for a meal.  He got up and crossed to a squinting Cookie.

‘Do you have any more Cookie? We’re about to receive a visitor.’

Cookie squinted at him, ‘the new Captain?’

‘That’s right.’

‘I hope she’s no fussy, there isna much left.’

‘I wouldn’t worry about it Cookie.’

‘So what's everybody think, am I in?’

‘Well you have my vote but they’re not all in yet.’

Cookies face fell comically, ‘Och, away man and stop torturing me.’

Steven laughed, ‘it’s ok Cookie you’re in.’

He let go a large sigh of relief, ‘thank god for that, I was beginning to get snow blindness.’

Steven laughed again, ‘I'm sorry I know it isn’t comfortable.  As soon as Komoru arrives I will get someone to take you down to get your implants.’

A big grin split his face, ‘great.’

She arrived within a few minutes and Steven waved her over to the table he shared with Buzz.

‘Good evening how are you feeling?’

Her return smile lit up his world, ‘I feel better than I ever have, but I’m starving, where can I get something to eat?’

‘You just sit their lass and I’ll bring it over.’  Cookie was approaching the table with a plate of food in one hand and the other stretched out before him, ‘if I dinna trip over anything first,’ he muttered to himself, but he made it and placed the plate before her.  ‘It isn’t much, but I’m afraid it’s all that’s left.’

She took a morsel and made approving noises, ‘oh it’s lovely, what is it?’

‘You really don’t want to know Miss.’

‘Then I won’t ask.’

Steven turned to Haley who was sitting at the table across and was just about to leave, ‘Haley could you take Cookie down and get him his implants.’

‘Yes no problem,’ she gave the small Scot a big smile, ‘would you like to come with me Cookie?’

‘Aye I would that,’ he fell into step beside her and they made their way to the bridge.

Steven suddenly felt at a loss and didn’t want to stare so he drank from his coffee mug.  He caught Buzz smirking at him. 

‘What's up with you?’

‘Just waiting for an introduction to this lovely young lady.’

‘She’s eating Buzz.’

‘I’ll wait.’

Komoru swallowed, ‘it’s ok my table manners aren’t very good anyway.’

Steven gave in, ‘Miss Komoru Kaizu, this is Buzz Anderson, my best friend and the second in command of this ship, which as you know everyone now calls Babe.’

She smiled and held out a delicate hand, ‘it’s a pleasure to meet you Buzz.  I’ve called my ship Ico.  What did you do before you came on board?’

‘I ran my own security company.’

She looked shocked, ‘you aren’t a scientist?’

He grinned, ‘nope.’

Suddenly she heard Steven’s voice inside her head, ‘trust him he is a good man.’

She blinked rapidly for a moment then caught her composure, ‘did Steven work for you at the institute?’

Buzz’s grin widened, she was fast on the uptake this one, ‘yes that’s right.  He didn’t have too of course, but I kinda liked having the little fella around so I could look after him.  Turned out to be the best damn move I ever made.’

Steven flushed with embarrassment, ‘hey big fella, if you hadn’t given me that job I wouldn’t be here now.’

Komoru suspected Steven wouldn’t have given him the job out of gratitude, ‘have you two been friends long?’

Buzz pointed a thumb at Steven, ‘since he was a kid and kicked the sh
it out of two red necks at college.’

Steven laughed, ‘you weren’t that much older Buzz.’

Komoru realised she had never talked to a security guard before.  All her life they had been vague shadows in the background.  She now knew they had almost been lifelong friends and suspected correctly that this was the friend whose bike Steven had borrowed when he had his accident; she knew that much of the story.

‘Does the fact that I’m not a scientist bother you Miss Kaizu?’

‘Please call me Komoru, I find it strange yes.’  She looked at Steven whose eyes were smiling.  ‘I thought you would have filled the ship with scientists, yet most of the people I have met so far seem to be anything but.’

Steven nodded, ‘I understand your concerns Komoru, but we really don’t need that many scientists.  Between both ships we can probably cream off the top of the scientific community, but we certainly don’t need half a dozen of each.’

Steven put down his coffee cup, ‘Buzz isn’t a scientist but he ran a big security company.  He knows how to organise people and motivate them, including me.  He has a no nonsense, common sense approach to life that will keep all of the crew well grounded, and that’s why I chose him to be my second in command.

I don’t need Buzz to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos, that’s my job, but I do need someone to knit this crew together and look after their welfare.  I also need someone I can trust one hundred percent.  Someone that will get on with the job and back me to the hilt no questions asked.’

Buzz raised an eyebrow, ‘that doesn’t sound like me.’

Steven laughed, ‘ok someone who will question everything I do but back me to the hilt once I’ve made that decision.’

Buzz nodded, ‘that’s better.’

Komoru’s tinkling laugh ran up Steven’s spine.  She nodded to Buzz, ‘please forgive my impertinence; I still have much to learn.’

Buzz grinned, ‘you’re forgiven, after all you are only a scientist.’  The three laughed.  Buzz turned his attention to Steven.  ‘We’re completely out of food now and the tea and coffee won’t last much longer.  I talked to the Scottish Prime minister, he’s got some supplies put together for us at a secure location and a good man we can have as a quartermaster.  There's also Colonel Howe’s armourer to pick up, he’s waiting for us.’

Steven nodded, ‘ok, can you see to it yourself; I think Babe will let you into the driving seat.  Komoru and I have a lot of ground to cover, and I would like most of it done before Colonel Howe’s briefing.’

Buzz stood up, ‘right no problem.  I’ll pick up the armourer first, that will give us an extra hand to help load stores.’

‘Once we’ve got that transporter room
online we will be able to beam it onboard from orbit.’

‘Yeah provided no one starts chucking missiles at us again.’

Steven grinned, ‘I have a few ideas on how to deal with that.’

‘Right catch you later Stevie and it’s been a pleasure meeting you Komoru.’

‘And you Buzz.’

Komoru finished her meal and Steven took her around the ship to give her an idea of the changes they had made since coming aboard, that and to meet everyone.

Buzz sat himself down in Steven’s seat and gave himself a self-satisfied smile. 

‘Take your stations please we’ve a couple of unscheduled stops to make.  Colonel Howe report to the bridge.’

Within five minutes everyone was at their stations.  Buzz decided the time had better be cut down somewhat, but first things first.

‘Colonel Howe, get in touch with your man and tell him we’ll be with him in about five minutes.’

The Colonel was looking a little sceptically at Buzz in the Captains seat, ‘He’s ready sir it will take him about ten minutes to get to the pickup site.’

‘Tell him to get a move on then, we don’t want to spend any longer in American airspace than we have to.  Then I want you to gather up every spare body you can find.  We’re going to Scotland to pick up some stores.’

‘Scientists as well?’

‘Have they got arms and Legs Colonel?’

‘Eh!  Yes sir.’

‘Then they can carry boxes cant they
?  All I want is one man or woman on comms, weapons, navigation and the engine room.’

‘Yes sir, may I ask where the Captain is?’

‘This time yes; he’s busy, ok.’

Howe nodded his acceptance of the orders, ‘yes sir, I’m on it.’

Steven arrived while they were entering the atmosphere for the first pick up.  He noticed things seemed a little tense and presumed they were wondering if he would take over from Buzz at the last moment, but he studiously ignored everyone and continued giving Komoru her tour.

Buzz leaned forward, ‘Haley I want to enter the atmosphere on the opposite side of the Earth from America and reduce our re-entry speed to half that of normal.’

She looked to Steven for confirmation of the orders but he never even looked her way, ‘eh! Yes ok.  May I ask why?’

‘Because I’ll bet every damn telescope on Earth is pointing up at the sky this very minute trying to c
atch a glimpse of us.  If we re-enter the atmosphere over an empty ocean then there's less likelihood of us being spotted streaking across the sky like a neon light.’

‘Oh! Ok.’

Steven couldn’t prevent a slight smile play across his mouth as he steered Komoru towards his quarters.  Buzz gave him a small wave and a wink as he disappeared below. 

‘Stealth mode please,’ Buzz ordered.  ‘Colonel get to the ramp and make sure it’s your guy were picking up and not a stray.’

‘Yes sir.’

‘Major Forbes I want that whole area searched with every system we’ve got before we land.  I want no unpleasant surprises.’

‘Yes sir.’

Within a few minutes they were over the continental United States.  Buzz felt strange, for the first time in his life the country that had bore him and supported him through life was now as hostile as a snake in a bear pit.

They flew over the area once.  Buzz looked at the Tapper, ‘you see anything Major?’

‘Just one vehicle going hell for leather towards the pickup point with one person on board.’

‘That’s good enough for me; take her round and land.  Then de-cloak, I don’t want the bugger ramming us.’

There were a few grins passed round the bridge as they began to warm to his handling of the ship.  A small car came into sight.  Buzz squinted as it bore down on them.  It seemed very low on the suspension as it bounced across the uneven ground. 

It slewed to a halt barley ten meters from the ship.  Buzz cocked his head to the side as a figure began to squeeze itself out of the open door.  Eventually he managed to detach himself and Colonel Howe appeared at the man’s side.  They shook hands warmly while those on board sat slack jawed at the sight.

Colonel Howe was a big man but he was a dwarf compared to this man.  The giant grabbed a kit bag from the boot then inexplicably patted the car on the roof as though to say good-bye.

They disappeared around the side of the ship and then Colonel Howe’s voice came through, ‘we’re on board and the ramps up sir.’

Buzz nodded to Haley, ‘ok let’s get the hell out of here.  Colonel take your man forward.’

They appeared together both men talking animatedly.  Buzz wasn’t sure whether to stand up or remain sitting.  Beaver detached himself from the Majors side and welcomed the man warmly.  Buzz took a moment to study him.

There was only one word to describe him, enormous and he was the blackest coloured man Buzz had ever seen, but from where he was sitting Buzz couldn’t see an ounce of fat.  The man could easily have been a professional wrestler.

Howe took him over, ‘Lewis, this is Buzz Anderson our second in command.’

The giant offered his hand and Buzz hesitated for barley a second, ‘Lewis Benjamin suh, nice to meet yah.’

Buzz shook his hand and it was lost in the massive paw, but he was surprised by how gentle the giants grip was and Buzz immediately warmed to him, ‘nice to meet you Lewis, welcome on board.  So you’re going to be our new armourer?’

‘So de Colonels telling me suh, but don’t know how, I caint see nuthing.’

Buzz smiled, ‘don’t worry about it you will soon enough, but you have to get past the Captain first.  May I ask you a question Lewis?’

‘Go ahead suh?’

‘That was a very small car you just got out of, had you never thought of getting a bigger one?’

‘Old Betsy suh, is de best motor I ever had.  Cain't afford nuthing else and I kinda got attached so I did, had her five years I have and never a busted spring yet.’

Buzz grinned, ‘I would never have taken a bet on it Lewis.’ 

The giant laughed, ‘you ain’t the only one suh.’

‘Colonel can you take him down to see the Captain.’

Howe took him by the elbow, ‘this way Lewis.’

Buzz got on the comms, ‘Steven the new guys on his way down, and we’re heading for Scotland.’

‘Ok Buzz.’

Steven was no less surprised than Buzz at the sight of the man but he never hesitated to offer his hand and the giant noticed it.

‘Hi I’m Steven Gordon Captain of this ship and you are?’

‘Lewis Benjamin suh I’ve heard good things about you.’