Mark McGinnis - The Simpleton

Tony staggered on the dead weight of his unconscious father. Cuddy saw that the sheriff’s chest continued to expand and contract with slow, shallow, breaths.

“I still think it’s crazy,” Tony said. “But I guess so is me standing here looking at a naked alien.”

With the help of Officer Plumkin and Tony, the sheriff was escorted to the lower deck and then outside. Tow was fairly certain the older human would perish soon if not given the proper medical attention. The plan was for them to borrow Momma’s automobile and drive to the hospital after Kyle first checked on his mother.

En route to the alien bridge, Tow, who’d often wondered before what the interior of the Howsh vessels looked like, was appalled. The foul space was an appropriate match for these barbaric aliens. He gazed at his surroundings, at the greasy bulkheads around them. Tuffs of errant strands of fur clung to them, as if somehow they were alive. Beneath his feet, the widely spaced grate decking had been used for bodily waste, even though more conventional waste facilities were provided on each deck. The humans had eagerly made use of those.

At present, Cuddy walked beside Tow, his arm around him adding support. “You’re going to have to tell me where to head next, Tow. So many passageways… I’m already getting lost.”

Tow knew the Howsh ship’s layout almost as well as he did the Evermore ’s, since her sensors provided him with a schematic layout on the bridge viewscape display. He knew they were approaching another stairway and wondered if he had the strength to climb them. He said, “Keep going the way we’re going, Cuddy. We need to climb those stairs up ahead.”

Jackie, closely following them, was never more than several paces behind. She asked, “Are you up to piloting this ship… well enough for that, Tow?”

Tow, musing on that same issue himself, knew the answer was no . He belonged on the Evermore, along with the heritage pod. “I will show you and Cuddy the basics. Just know… even on board the Evermore … the AI orb does most of the piloting. You will have the orb with you… to assist you.”

On the landing below the stairway, Cuddy gathered Tow into his arms. Tow felt grateful to the young human that he didn’t have to ask him for help. Halfway up the stairway, Tow heard the sound of running footsteps coming from below. Kyle and Tony had returned. Cuddy, pleasantly surprised, found Rufus again at his side. He probably came back with Kyle. A moment later, the AI orb hovered near the group, then continued moving past.

Cuddy asked over his shoulder, “Kyle… how’s Momma?”

“She was struggling with one of the dead Howsh… trying to drag it outside. Tony and I helped her. Then we threw both Howsh bodies into the barn. To answer your question, she’s fine. Carries one of those alien rifles around with her… never lets go of it.”

Tow, listening to the conversation, was amazed that violence came so easily to their species. He then pointed to the right. “Turn here, Cuddy. We’re almost there.”

Jackie said, “Tony, you didn’t want to go with your father… to the hospital.”

“I thought about it. Then thought maybe I’d be of more use here… with you guys. Plus, he’s got Plumkin with him.”

Tow, only half-listening to them, strove to make a mental connection with the AI orb, something that once had been second nature. He was disheartened. His battle with the two robots had so thoroughly drained him he now, apparently, had lost that ability.

Cuddy gazed down at the frail alien in his arms, a shell of the being he’d encountered only days before. How quickly his health was declining. They climbed two more sets of stairs.

“We have reached the top level,” Tow said.

Cuddy had already come to that same conclusion.

The AI orb, hovering by the wide entrance into the compartment, said, “Cuddy Perkins, you have arrived at the bridge.”

Cuddy entered the bridge and took it all in. Somewhat larger than the bridge on the Evermore , it too seemed, like the rest of the ship, to smell awful—beyond disgusting. The overall seating was metal and the technology appeared archaic.

Tony Bone said, “So Tow, those alien assholes defeated you, huh? No offense, but nothing here looks, um, all that sophisticated.”

Tow said, “Whatever technology there is on board was pilfered from other races… other worlds. What the Howsh are most proficient at is the destruction of other civilizations. Killing off divergent life forms. For the Howsh, the mere existence of other species within the universe is an insult to their God…”

Cuddy set Tow down on one of the metal seats at the most prominent set of consoles.

“Permission, Cuddy Perkins, to activate the ship’s core systems,” the AI orb then requested.

Tony, giving Cuddy a sideways glance, queried, “Why ask him for permission?”

Jackie answered, “Because Tow is sick, as you can see. He’s handed the command of the AI orb over to Cuddy. And before you make another smartass remark, know that Cuddy’s been… transformed. He’s probably smarter than all of us, at this point.”

Cuddy wasn’t at all sure he’d agree with that assessment, though over the last few hours he was conscious of experiencing improved mental acuity. He looked warily across at Tony, still wearing two, quite dirty, white strips of tape across his damaged nose.

“Thank you, Jackie… let’s all take a seat. Tow is very tired so we only get this one chance to listen to his instructions regarding the piloting of this ship. So let’s listen up. Tow…?”

It took Tow a full hour to explain the five major systems aboard the Howsh vessel: Navigation, Environmental, Propulsion, Tactical/Weaponry, and Intelligence. In that regard, Cuddy knew their systems were similar to the Evermore , although weaponry was not part of the mix on the other ship. Quickly tiring, Tow had referred to the hovering AI orb to provide most of the more in-depth explanations, only adding a few pertinent details along the way.

Reviewing first the overwhelming amount of information thus far provided, the orb next took and answered questions. Cuddy gestured toward the various consoles around the compartment, then toward the strange-looking colorless screens. He asked, “Is there a way to change all the screen prompts over to English? And also for the ship’s AI to speak in English?”

“That has already been addressed, Cuddy Perkins.”

Tony asked, “Is there a way for you to stop saying both his first and last name every time you speak to him? I mean, if he’s now the captain… call him that. Just saying…”

“How about you just call me Cuddy, orb. You can call me captain when I’ve earned it.”

Jackie said, “Shouldn’t we go. Every minute we waste… the destruction—”

“I am sorry, but it is now time for me to leave,” Tow said. “I will need some help returning to the Evermore .”

“I’ll help you, Tow,” Cuddy said, and looking at the AI orb, added, “Do what needs to be done to ready this ship, then come join us on the Evermore .”

Cuddy again picked up Tow, carrying him in his arms as they made their way back to the Evermore . Few words were spoken along the way. The wind had picked up as they left the ranch and entered the wooded pine forest. The tall evergreens violently shook and rustled around them, as if in the midst of throwing a rebellious tantrum.

The others elected to follow along, not wishing to breathe the rank air in the Howsh spacecraft any longer than necessary. Out of consideration to Tow, his failing health, they kept well back, fully aware his time was short and inappropriate for idle conversation. As they approached the Evermore , the AI orb, now joining them, drew close. Cuddy nodded to it in the direction of the ship. Immediately, the hatchway began to open, the gangway to descend.