David Golemon - Legacy

The president personally greeted each soldier as they settled into the comfortable seats. They were given appetizers and for the first time in forty-eight hours the soldiers had no fear of being shot at or terrorized by machines that were supposed to have stopped operating more than 700 million years before.

The president finally made it to the forward portion of Air Force One. He saw the man he was looking for as he sipped on a bottle of water outside the main conference room, where a makeshift medical clinic had been set up. The Air Force had wanted a C-130 Hercules to bring the troops back to American soil, but the president wasn’t about to be denied the chance to thank every man individually for his sacrifice before their governments snatched them away for debriefing. Niles Compton saw his old friend and nodded.

“Good to see you, baldy,” the president said, and took both of Niles’s hands into his own, spilling the water he was holding as he shook hands vigorously.

“You too.”

“How’s Jack?”

“It was touch-and-go for a while, but it looks better than it did. I think he’s going to ask for a raise after this.”

The president nodded and gestured toward the conference room. On the way he shook hands with Pete Golding, who never wanted to venture outside the Event Group complex again. Then he shook hands with Appleby and Dubois, and then finally with Charlie Ellenshaw. He thanked them all and followed Niles into the conference room.

Colonel Jack Collins was sitting up on the bed with several other wounded men around him. The most severely wounded had been taken to four hospitals in the Quito area with a guarantee of protection from the Ecuadorian government. Collins was arguing with Everett and Sebastian about something and they were having a hard time helping the doctor keep Jack on the gurney. They all stopped when the president stepped inside. Jack could see that the man was still shaken from his brush with death aboard Marine One. He was white and his hands were still bandaged.

“What’s this all about?” the president asked, standing in the doorway. Then he reached out and took Everett’s hand. “It’s good to see you made it, Captain.”

“Mr. President,” Carl said. Then he stepped aside and introduced Sebastian Krell.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Major,” the president said as he shook the German commando’s hand. “I understand you think these two are a bad influence on you and your men.”

“They are, sir,” Sebastian said, shooting a glance at Collins.

“I think your own chancellor wants a few words with you. Something about a promotion, I believe-probably for breaking people out of jails.”

Sebastian smiled and stepped back.

“Colonel Collins, I take it you don’t like my aircraft,” the president said as he held out his hand. He saw the still bleeding bandage Jack was sporting after the surgeon had removed the bullet and part of his fourth rib. He had a liter of blood dripping from an IV.

“No, sir,” Jack said, taking the president’s hand and shaking it weakly. “It’s just that I don’t like to be told I can’t do something I’m capable of doing.”

“And that is?”

“I want to see Alice and the senator.”

The president released Jack’s hand and looked from the colonel to Niles. The sound of Air Force One spooling up its engines reverberated throughout the aircraft.

“Then you’d better hurry. The pilots are particular when it comes to people fastening their seat belts around here. Captain Everett, Niles, assist the colonel to his feet and show him into the bedroom, please.”

Jack saw the look the president gave Niles. He turned away as Everett helped Jack off the gurney. It was a short walk across the hall to the presidential sleeping quarters. Niles reached out and tapped lightly on the door. Alice told them to come inside.

When the door opened, Jack saw the senator stretched out on the large bed. Alice was sitting beside him with her feet tucked under her legs. She had a hand on Lee’s and she smiled when she looked up and saw Collins.

“Thank God you made it, Jack,” she said.

Jack cleared his throat as he looked from Alice to the senator.

“How’s he doing?” he finally managed.

Alice reached over and brushed some of Lee’s silver hair off his forehead.

“He died twenty minutes ago, Jack. Niles and I were with him.”

Collins felt his heart fall for the woman he was now looking at.

“I… I…”

Alice stood and walked over to Collins. She reached up and kissed him on the cheek.

“He said to tell you and Mr. Everett, and that little girl Sarah, that he said good-bye.”

Jack lowered his head and Everett closed his eyes. Niles turned and opened the door with tears in his eyes and allowed Jack and Carl to leave. He looked at Alice and she shook her head.

“Now, you know that kind of display would only get you yelled at,” she said as she wiped a tear from Niles face.

“Yes, it would. But not anymore.” Niles turned and left the presidential bedroom.

Air Force One started rolling soon after, taking the body of Senator Garrison Lee home for the last time.

The room looked like a hospital ward. Charlie Ellenshaw was sporting a cast from the backfire explosion of the alien weapon on its last discharge. Virginia Pollock had pulled through her surgery with flying colors and she had even learned from Niles that there would be no delay in getting her labs repaired. Jack, still sore and bandaged, sat at his usual spot, with Everett next to him. The guest of honor was at the head of the conference table next to his friend, the president of the United States. Niles Compton sat next to him. The room had been silent since everyone had sat down.

“Before we get started, I have something I want to present to this group.” The president nodded his head toward the double doors and a Navy signalman opened them. When Jack saw who it was, he closed his eyes and then blinked. Everett patted his forearm in support.

Sarah McIntire and Jason Ryan walked into the room and everyone with the exception of Collins rose and applauded. Sarah accepted their congratulations as her eyes found Jack. Ryan only half smiled, then stopped and looked almost angry. Sarah finally broke away and walked over to Jack. She took his hand quickly and squeezed. Then she turned and sat in a chair next to him. Ryan sat across from them, still not smiling.

“Welcome home. They just touched down three hours ago after transferring to the Atlantis. I suppose you’ve both had it with space travel?”

Ryan said nothing, just staring straight ahead. Sarah politely smiled as she leaned over and whispered to Jack, “I’m sorry about Will, Jack. My heart is breaking.”

“Is that what’s gotten into Ryan?” Jack inquired.

“Yes,” she said as she saw the strange smile cross his lips.

“Well, he damn well better get over it soon.”

“Jack, that was his best friend, I think-”

“Excuse me, Lieutenant McIntire. Is there a problem?” the president asked from the head of the table.

“Not at all sir,” she answered and then looked back at Jack, who only raised his right brow. He had that old “What?” look on his face.

“Go ahead, Niles,” the president said.

“If I may have your attention, this was picked up by Europa not five hours ago. It’s a live stream from Russian television that she hijacked and beamed to us.” Niles punched a button and the monitors around the table burst to life.

Jack looked from Sarah to Jason Ryan, who still stared down at the conference table.