Gates stood watching the light approaching their location with a level of suspicion and intrigue. Whoever this being was, they had seen their descent from space and had pinpointed their exact location. This being had an agenda and was concerned with greeting them with some hast. He only hoped its intention was peaceful, to lend some form of aid. After all, it appeared their stolen crewmate had joined some kind of rebellion during her initial time in the belly of that massive object.
As the light started up the steep incline of the hill they were standing upon, he turned to his splintered crew and said, “Stay calm, let me do most of the talking, and don’t do anything to antagonize them. We’re marooned with no way back to Earth, so we have to weigh our options carefully if we are to survive.”
The crew nodded emphatically and placed all their trust in Gates as their commanding officer, certain he was protecting their futures with all of his experience and expertise in space. They all moved slowly to position themselves behind him, to make no doubt who was in charge and who needed to be addressed first.
The vehicle slowed as it neared the ragtag crew of Redemption. As it came to a stop, Gates and his crew got their first good look at the vehicle. It was rectangular at the front end and came to a rounded point in the back. There was no indication of wheels at all as the vehicle seemed to hover above the surface of the ground.
The light on the front of the vehicle was so immensely bright that Gates could not make out any windows or viewport of any kind. There were no visible creases on the sides or top of it. No indication of any kind of door.
The strange vehicle sat there for an awkward moment while Gates and his crew stood just as awkwardly, tense, and ready to respond.
The light suddenly turned off allowing the crew to stop squinting their eyes. A strange and pulsating hissing sound could be heard and then an opening just appeared on the side of the vehicle like a blurry picture coming into focus. The effect was magical to their eyes, but even more so when their crewmate exited with a big grin on her face.
Gates could not believe his eyes. He wanted to believe it was Cheryl Atkinson, their friend. Caution dictated that he should remain vigilant to ask appropriate questions when mystery and danger abounded all around them.
“Cheryl?” he asked, “Is that really you?”
Atkinson stepped forward slowly, sensing the caution and fear in her commanding officer’s voice. She responded, “Yes, Benjamin. It’s really me, your Cheryl.”
Gates smiled and hoped in his heart this was his friend and shipmate. He said, “I mean, how can we be sure? We’re kind of on an alien planet…we’ve never done this before. Not to mention the other two times we were deceived by the inhabitants of this planet.”
“I understand your concern and it is founded in wisdom, from your perspective. I also know that you love pepperoni pizza and root beer floats more than anyone else I know. Not to mention your fanatical love for the earth game of basketball.” Cheryl smiled and it was her smile that convinced Gates that this was indeed their shipmate.
Information could be extracted and retained but a smile like that was so original and unique that Gates believed for the first time that he was standing in the presence of Cheryl Atkinson. The rest of his crew seemed to see the sign as well. They all surrounded Atkinson like in an old Earth movie where the aliens surround the earthling in fascination and excitement.
Albert Fox, chief engineer of the now presumedly destroyed Redemption, was interested in the vehicle Cheryl had driven to reach them.
He touched it much like he would have an antique sports car from Earth, gently caressing the side of it as he walked from front to rear, gazing with fascination.
Cheryl noticed the engineer, “Isn’t she something special, Fox?”
Adeena Montgomery sighed. “Why do we always have to attribute the female gender to cars and ships and stuff?”
Gates piped up somewhat sheepishly, “It’s with the utmost respect and honor, Adeena, I assure you.”
“Right,” Adeena responded, “I’m going to build a ship one day and give her a good name!”
Gates and the rest of his crew laughed for the first time since making planetfall. It felt good, but there were still questions he needed answers to, and his biggest and best resource was standing in front of him: Cheryl.
Fox excitedly asked, “How fast can she…I mean it go?”
Atkinson answered, “Over three hundred miles per hour on a flat, straight surface. I’ve never had to drive it that far and travel outside the dome is strictly prohibited. But I’ve got special privileges being that I’m a part of the revolution.”
Pilot, Frank Wright broke into the conversation, “You mean that you’re obligated to break the rules because you don’t believe in them!”
Cheryl put her arm around Wright’s shoulder. “That exactly right, ensign! But it’s much more complicated than that.” As she spoke the words, a concerned look came over her face and she directed her attention to Commander Gates.
“Commander, we have a lot to talk about, but I’ve brought some things that will help sustain you and keep you well hidden from the preying eyes of our alien overlords.”
Before long, Cheryl had unpacked food and shelter supplies from her mysterious vehicle, as well as a sensor-deflecting canopy that she claimed would keep any scans from locating their position, as long as they were under it.
After they were all settled and the camp was set up, Cheryl began to share her story in more detail, and they listened to her harrowing tale with great interest.
Coming soon: Chapter 19 - The Story
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