Mark McGinnis - The Simpleton

Sitting within the confines of the bridge, Tow turned in his chair and looked at the viewscape display. “Is this updated?” he asked.

The AI orb silently hovered around into view. “Yes, of course it is.”

The icon-based representation of Earth also provided evidence of the encircling three Howsh warships, leaving little doubt they were closing in on a specific southern section of North America—the area where the Evermore had landed . The same three vessels had already traversed the planet numerous times. Their long- and short-range sensor scans had disrupted the planet’s electrical fields. One effect—the atmosphere at dawn and dusk had blossomed into a kaleidoscope of beautiful colors. UFO sightings were becoming more and more commonplace. The alien vessels were mostly invisible to Earth humans’ rudimentary technology, but when one of the Howsh ships swooped down low toward the surface—to investigate and make possible verifications—they were very much, albeit momentarily, visible to the naked eye.

Today, Tow planned to power up the ship and begin repairs on the damaged drive, aware he would have to deal with repercussions from his decision one way or another.

“Captain Tow?”

“Go ahead, AI.”

“I have a suggestion… a temporary accommodation.”

“Accommodation?”

“It may provide you with more time.”

“Just tell me what you are referring to?” Tow said, his patience running thin.

“There are several nuclear power generating facilities in relatively close proximity to our current location. My suggestion is to instigate an emergency radioactive vent into the atmosphere. I can do that by interfacing directly with their Internet network.”

“That sounds dangerous. No, I am not going to jeopardize the lives—”

“Captain Tow, the amount of radiation dispersed would be insignificant… miniscule; just enough to thwart the Howsh’s sensor readings. Health risks to the population should not be a concern.”

“I will consider the option. Basically, you are suggesting camouflaging the Evermore ’s drive power signatures long enough for me to make repairs… to bring them back into balance.”

“Yes, that is correct, Captain Tow.”

Tow closed his eyes. More manipulations, with the possibility of harming local humans. He knew there was no way the AI orb could safely guarantee the non-effect of fallout long term. Yet there was still a bigger threat he had purposely avoided considering—the threat of Howsh ships attacking the planet the way they had Mahli— relentless plasma strikes; dispersion of the Dirth. No, he had to risk it—take the orb’s suggestion, then leave this planet quickly, if only to save it.

Tow’s musings were interrupted by the Evermore ’s proximity alarm. Looking out the bridge observation window, he noted movement outside.

Rufus ran ahead into the clearing, barking nonstop upon seeing the spacecraft. The yellow Lab ran from one end of the vessel to the other, then back again. Cuddy called out to him but the dog kept barking.

“No! Rufus… stop that!”

Cuddy stepped away from the trees and into the morning sunlight, his eyes focused on the rectangular shape he knew to be the closed hatchway he’d entered the day before. Rufus, finally tiring of barking, joined Cuddy’s side and sat down. “So, what do you think of that, boy?”

The gangway began to extend as the hatch door slid open. Cuddy watched, waiting for the glowing man to appear, and then there he was, waving back.

Cuddy approached the ship, stopping after several paces to look back. Rufus hadn’t moved—was staring intently at Tow.

“It’s okay, boy… he’s a friend. Come on…” Rufus then joined Cuddy, staying close by his side.

Tow waited for them at the bottom of the gangway. Cuddy took in Tow’s face—his reaction to Rufus and to himself—so much had changed in such a short time.

Rufus, keeping low, edged forward and began sniffing Tow’s feet.

Cuddy smiled. “It’s okay—you should pet him; let him know you’re not going to hurt him.”

“Pet him?”

“Yeah… like this,” Cuddy gave Rufus a couple of firm pats on his flank then petted his head.

Tow slowly moved his hand toward the dog, giving him the same combination of pats and pets. Rufus enthusiastically licked Tow’s fingers.

“He likes you. You can tell by his wagging tail.”

Rufus darted off to the right to grab a stick off the ground, then came back with it, dropping it at Tow’s feet. Tow looked from the stick to the dog.

“He wants you to throw it.”

“Throw it where?”

“I don’t know… wherever you want. It’s called go fetch .”

Tow picked up the saliva-covered stick and tossed it twenty feet away. Rufus chased after it, grabbing it in his jaws, then ran back and dropped it at Tow’s feet barking twice. Tow looked at Cuddy with a questioning expression.

“That’s basically it. You throw it… he brings it back. For some reason, dogs find it fun. People do too.”

Tow reached down for the stick but Rufus grabbed it first and ran off.

“He wants you to chase him,” Cuddy said.

Tow stood tall and held Cuddy’s stare. “Tell me about you, Cuddy. Tell me how things have been since you were here last.”

Cuddy figured Tow would ask him something like that, and he had questions too… many questions. He felt bad for how he acted the last time he was here. That he had yelled at Tow. He had been scared and unprepared for his increased mental abilities. He had so many new thoughts now. Thoughts he’d never had before—different kinds. Part of him already missed the old Cuddy, the one that lived a far simpler existence. Living an unquestioning life, for the most part. Perhaps because he knew, on some level, that he wouldn’t understand the explanation anyway. He understood better now, and he remembered things too. Not just events happening now, but also those in his past… as if all the broken wiring in his head had magically reconnected. But his new access to old thoughts and memories had come with some humiliation and embarrassment. Not knowing for sure if his mental disability was now a thing of the past, he only knew he never wanted people to look at him the old way again. With either annoyance or tolerance or, worst of all, pity. He’d come today for a reason, so it was important to say what needed to be said.

“I’m glad you are still here, Tow, and that you hadn’t left in your spaceship.”

Tow nodded at that, seeming to find it humorous, for some reason. Cuddy continued, “I want to thank you. I don’t know exactly what you did, or how you did it, using that chamber thing, but you’ve given me a different life. A life I didn’t know I even wanted.”

“Is it a life you want now, Cuddy, or have I pushed you into some sort of new existence that was never meant to be yours? Does my question even make sense to you?” Tow asked.

Rufus was back, again dropping the stick at Tow’s feet. Cuddy watched as the stick slowly rose into the air—all the way up to eye-level—then remained midair for several seconds before flying off. It was as if an invisible hand had tossed it into the trees. Rufus chased after it.

Cuddy could hardly believe what he’d just seen. He knew the alien was an amazing being, but this… “How did you do that, Tow?”

“The Pashier… have the ability to move matter with their minds. For two thousand years, my people—the Pashier—had continued to manipulate what is called our genome code, by enhancing a once-thought useless tiny organ, buried deep within the right section… what humans would call the parahippocampal gyrus. The Pashier have a very similar organ found, strangely enough, to influence psychokinetic abilities. What followed were thousands of subtle tweaks—over millennia—by the Kartinals. Revered—they were more like Gods than scientists to the Pashier.”