Mark McGinnis - The Simpleton

Cuddy gestured toward the emersion drive, with its myriad of newly mounted replacement parts. “Almost done.” Then, pointing to the contraption Jackie had held in her hands for the last twenty minutes, he said, “I’ll take that.”

She handed the strange device across to him. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.” Cuddy held it up before the hovering orb, and gestured with his chin towards the side of the big drive unit. “How will this be oriented onto the suspension-regulator?”

Tow, his voice now barely above a whisper, told Jackie, “Cuddy’s intelligence has continued to grow exponentially. Yet emotionally, he is still immature. I am sure you too have noticed as much. Those two aspects will continue to be at odds for him. For how long, I do not know. He will need help… to cope and understand.”

“I have my own life to lead. Obligations… my father’s recuperation… school…”

Tow nodded appreciatively. Then he and Jackie looked toward Cuddy, who was addressing them.

“Sorry, Cuddy, what did you say?” Jackie asked.

“Weapons.”

Confused, Tow shook his head.

“Time is a crucial factor. Best if we do things in parallel. The orb here tells me the initializing and synchronizing of the repaired drive will take over an hour. Eventually, we’re going to need sufficient weaponry on board this ship to even the odds with the Howsh.”

Tow said, “Why would the Evermore have any weapons available? Pashier are pacifists.”

“Look… you’re going to have to get over that, Tow. I’m sorry, but there’s no other option, now that humans are in the mix. And remember, you made that choice.”

Impressed, Jackie watched Cuddy patiently hold strong—not backing down.

“Well, there are no weapons on board, although the vessel does have powerful energy shields.”

“Obviously not powerful enough, since your thirteen other armada ships were all destroyed. That should be proof enough.” Cuddy turned to the AI orb. “And are you a pacifist too?”

“I am programmed to be, that is correct.”

Cuddy looked back to Tow. “I’m sorry… the orb needs to—”

Tow interjected with a raised hand: “AI orb, from this point on you will take directions from Cuddy Perkins. I am transferring my executive command status to him. Update your database to coincide with my orders.”

“Database updated,” the AI orb said.

Jackie was well aware something huge had just transpired, as Cuddy and Tow continued staring at one another.

“Cuddy Perkins, a Howsh vessel is quickly approaching from the north. The course vector is perfectly aligned with our current position.”

“How much time—”

“None,” the AI orb replied. “It is nearly upon us.”

Tow, Cuddy, and Jackie, along with the hovering AI orb, hurried forward. Standing within the small bridge compartment, Tow showed Cuddy the symbolic representation of the landed Howsh ship on the virtual viewscape display. It took Cuddy several moments to make heads or tails out of the surrounding landscape.

“That’s your ranch. Right there!” Jackie then said, “Don’t you see it?”

Cuddy did. It appeared the Howsh spaceship had landed close to the house. His mind raced. Had the Howsh now taken Momma—in addition to Kyle? Or had they killed her? Killed them both? He looked at Jackie, his face registering indecision.

Jackie in turn looked first at the AI, then at Tow. “Is that orb thing capable of… doing more than hovering around? Can it fight?”

Tow said, “The AI orb can speak for itself, Jackie, and will do what is asked of it.”

“Both my articulating arms are equipped with integrated plasma implements. Utilized mostly for close-range welding and cutting,” the AI orb said.

“And they can be reconfigured?” Cuddy asked.

“Affirmative.”

“As weapons?” Jackie asked.

“Affirmative.”

“Then do it…” Cuddy ordered.

Jackie leaned in toward the viewscape display and made a face. “Shit, that looks like…”

“Police cruisers,” Cuddy said, raising the crowbar grasped still in his right fist. “We need to get over there, Tow. I know that violence is not your thing, so maybe you could get started initializing the drives?’

“Yes… I will do that.”

Cuddy and Jackie ran full out, skirting in-and-out between trees, as the hovering AI orb kept pace alongside them. Never before in his life had Cuddy been this scared. His newly intelligent, informed mind was useless dealing with the mental bombardment—the all-too-real possible scenarios of what might be going on now at the ranch.

He followed behind Jackie as she leapt over the brook, and they heard the crack crack crack of gunfire, coming from up ahead. Jackie quickly glanced back over her shoulder then slowed so he could catch up with her.

Cuddy shouldn’t have been surprised. It was only a matter of time before the Howsh found the Evermore . But only one Howsh ship had appeared on the display. Where were the others ? Would they too be landing soon ? Would the U.S. military start bombarding this area? Maybe with nuclear weapons?

Cuddy, now taking the lead, ran out from the line of trees as gunfire continued to fire. Cuddy, Jackie, and the orb entered the barn, quickly slowing down their pace. Out of breath, Cuddy and Jackie leaned over and, with hands on knees, heaved in deep lungfuls of air. The AI orb continued forward, moving toward the open doorway then hovered there. Still out of breath, Cuddy joined the orb in the barn doorway and peered out toward the house. Thank God, it’s still standing! Both the Maxima and VW bug were where they’d been parked. But near to the road was a landed spaceship, equal in size to the Evermore . It was supported above the ground by three landing struts. A gangway ramp extended out, beneath the ship’s underside. Fifty yards further down the road were two police vehicles parked at angles on the road. Cuddy recognized the vehicles as the sheriff’s and Officer Plumkin’s. Both driver-side doors were open—used for cover—as the officers periodically fired toward the spaceship. The sheriff was firing a rifle while Plumkin used his side arm.

Cuddy felt Jackie move up to stand close by his side. Placing a hand on his arm, she asked, “What’s going on?”

“Sheriff and Plumkin are shooting.”

“So do you see them… what are they called, the Howsh?” Jackie asked.

“No, not yet. Wait… there… there’s one of them.”

They watched as a tall, furry creature came around the corner at the far side of the house, holding a weapon—a rifle of some sort. Then Cuddy noticed the front screen door of the house was partially open, hanging loosely on a single hinge. Momma!

Standing outside on the porch—Rufus barked continuously. The dog was obviously highly agitated at what was going on inside. It took all Cuddy’s willpower not to charge forward—run full out toward the house. He didn’t know if Momma was still safe inside or if she’d already been taken. Was she even alive?

The alien beast, lurking by the side of the house, fired back toward the sheriff’s police cruiser. Bright red bolts of energy hit the open car door, leaving in their wake several charred—glowing hot—craters. A second, nearly identical Howsh joined the one at the side of the house. He too held an energy weapon, which he raised and began firing toward the second police SUV, parked farther back down the road. Cuddy heard Officer Plumkin make a yelping sound, then quickly duck his head back behind the open car door.