Chapter 36

We have to do everything in our power to preserve it…

Only Red and the base doctor were there to greet the returning ship – at Tom's request. Don disembarked first, hoping to prepare Red for Tom's appearance. "How is he?" Red asked.

"Angry, Red. He looks like the Phantom of the Opera – without the mask. He's blind in his left eye," Don told him. "I just want to be sure you're ready for what you're going to see."

Red nodded. Within moments Tom descended the ramp with the women on either side of him. Nothing was said as Red extended his hand to Tom, who shook it. Red pulled him into a hug and then held him at arm's length. "You look like hell," he said.

Judy was shocked at Red's statement and caught Don's eye. He smiled at her and made a mental note to enlighten her on the science of man-to-man communication. "He's been to hell and back, Red," Don stated.

"Yeah, give me a break," Tom chided.

Red bowed to both women. "Ladies, you are a sight for sore eyes – especially you," he stated as he took Judy's hand in both of his own.

"I guess Lee Ann's back home?" Rebecca asked.

"Well, actually, she's preparing a private dinner party. Once you are all debriefed, we'll meet up in our quarters."

"Our quarters?" Don repeated.

"Well, uh, Lee Ann never went back to Earth, and… well, she has to sleep somewhere."

Judy threw her arms around Red. "Rebecca told me you and Lee Ann hit it off. I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks, Judy. I'm happy too. Now, let's get you all decontaminated and let the doctor get a good look at Tom. It looks like we'll only need two rooms for the four of you?"

Don nodded. "We're all official."

"Professor Robinson?"

Don nodded. "Double ceremony."

"Wish Lee Ann and I had been there too. I think General Bowers would have been pleased."

"And Professor Robinson would have been honored to perform a triple ceremony."

The Jupiter traveled through space, just days behind Don and Judy's flight. There was no jubilation that they were finally returning home. Although none of them would express the thought aloud, all were aware that there might not be a home to return to. "John," Maureen asked, "what do you think we'll find when we get back?"

"Hopefully, it will be the same as when we left," John replied.

"Then we'll have made a useless trip!" Will exclaimed.

"It won't be a useless trip if the Saticons have already gotten there," Penny told him. "Do you think they're already there, Dad?"

"I don't know, Penny, but, it was our home, and we have to do everything in our power to preserve it."

"Bottle of red or bottle of white?" Red asked as he held two bottles in his hand. All he knew about wine was that red went with meat and white with seafood.

"Red," Don stated while Judy said, "White."

Don turned to Judy. "What is it with women and white wine?" he asked.

"Another 'Rebecca' moment?" Judy teased.

Don blushed and said, "Yeah… Chardonnay." He turned to his friend, "Um… Hey, Red, how about beer instead?"

Red laughed. "That'd be my choice."

Lee Ann came in and snatched both bottles from his hands. "Oh, no you don't. Tonight is a celebration."

"Exactly!" Red said. "So we three pilots should be drinking beer, not wine."

"Save that for your 'night with the boys,'" Lee Ann replied.

"We better not call it a celebration until we find out if Tom will get his eyesight back," Don warned.

Lee Ann placed the bottle of Chardonnay in a bucket of ice and handed Red the Cabernet. "You're right, Don. We'll call it a reunion, then. All of you have been through so much. I don't know how you've made it through so well."

Judy took Don's hand. "I couldn't tell you Lee Ann. I'm not sure what would have happened to me if Don hadn't come back."

"Your father would have rescued you from the Saticons with or without me," Don said.

"But there was nothing left of me, Don. I was already a shell when they took me."

"Which scares the hell out of me," Red stated. "If they can get that tea stuff into the water system, they'll have an army of zombies – no resistance. By the way… our security chief is filing a report with Washington tonight. I'm sure you're going to be ordered back ASAP to give a report in person."

"You mean before they court martial me again?"

"What? Why would they do that?" Judy asked.

"Because I'm supposed to be on some lighthouse outpost, not back in their faces," Don replied. "What do you think will happen, Red?"

"At this point, I have no idea. No one can understand what's coming out of Washington these days. It's like the country's being run by a committee of… idiots." There was a knock at the door. "Must be Tom and Rebecca," Red said as he rose and answered the door. He was right. "So… what's the verdict?" Red asked Tom.

"How about a drink first?" Tom asked. They all knew the outcome with that statement. Lee Ann poured two glasses of wine and handed them to Rebecca and Tom. Tom downed half the glass in one gulp. "No hope," he stated.

"You need to see a specialist," Rebecca stated.

"Who will tell me the same thing…" He finished his glass and added, "…Just be a hell of a lot more expensive."

"Tom…"

"Look, Rebecca, I'm just being realistic."

No one knew what to do or what to say. Rebecca looked at Don… helpless. Judy stood and walked over to Tom. She gave him a silent hug. At first, he didn't respond. He stood there like a wooden statue. And then he crumbled.

Tears slid down Rebecca's face. Judy caught her eye and turned Tom towards her. Shed relinquished Tom into her arms. He buried his head in Rebecca's shoulder. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"It's all right," she whispered back to him as she caressed the back of his head.

Judy returned to Don, who put his arm around her. He knew he could have been the one standing in Tom's shoes. Tom and Lee Ann quietly retreated to the kitchen. Don took Judy's hand and led her out of the apartment to a viewing platform that was at the end of the hall. She placed her arms around his waist as they stared at the Earth floating before them. "I should be the one who's blind, Judy," he whispered.

She nestled deeper into his side. "I know. If you hadn't been with me, you would have been at Dad's side, not Tom… but… things happen for a reason, Don."

"Yeah," he replied. "I just wish I knew what that reason is…"

Hoboken, New Jersey…

The Path train from mid-town Manhattan was late. Chuck left his car and started pacing the sidewalk in front of the station. Pizza and beer were no longer his usual Friday night routine. Josie was now his fiancé and they would regularly dine at one of the riverside restaurants to discuss their future together. The sidewalk was getting crowded and worried murmurings rolled through the crowd. An announcement finally came over the loudspeaker. Due to an electrical problem, all service to New York City was suspended. 'Shit!' Chuck thought to himself. He entered the station and fought his way to the information counter. "What about the people who are stranded on the trains in the tunnel?" he asked.

His question was met with a shrug. "I guess they'll have to walk out."

LaGuardia Airport, New York City…

A message was sent to Don's parents about his return the moment he had contacted the Bowers Base. Red had made sure of it. Jan and Mark West wasted no time in making arrangements to head to Houston. They were finally next in line for take-off. Jan took her husband's hand as the engines powered up. She hated take-offs. It always seemed as if the plane was struggling to escape gravity. Mark knew what she was thinking. "Don't worry, Jan. The jet engines are up to the task." He squeezed her hand – and the lights went out. The engines went silent. Mark looked out his window and saw the ground rushing towards them. He could see that the pilot was attempting to steer them away from land and towards the bay. He pushed Jan into crash position and then he, too, bent over. He estimated that they were only seconds from hitting the water when all mechanical systems suddenly re-ignited. The pilot pulled the jet into a steep climb. Mark sat up and looked out his window… New York City was a black hole in the evening landscape.

Bowers Base, The Moon…

Dessert was simple. Foil packets of astronaut freeze-dried double chocolate ice cream. No one reacted at first. They stared at the foil packets as if they held a deadly virus. "Um, Lee Ann, honey, did you tire yourself out with the main course? I mean the roast beef and potatoes were perfect, but… a packet?" Red asked.

Judy, always sensitive, spoke up. "Oh, it's fine, Lee Ann. These packets are great. We used them all the time." Don handed his packet to Judy. Then Rebecca did the same, to be followed by Tom. Red tossed his on top of the pile.

Lee Ann giggled. "I just wanted you to feel at home, Judy." She stepped into the kitchen and returned – with a Boston cream pie. "I heard this is your favorite."

Judy laughed. "Only when Don makes it."

"Her real favorite is cyclamen salad," Don added.

The dinner had not been the celebration that Lee Ann had hoped for, but it was a reunion. The men had been merciless on each other with the stories they told. It was just what they needed that evening. Red's communication system buzzed and he excused himself to answer. When he returned, he stood for a moment in thought before he sat down. Don and Tom exchanged glances. "What happened?" Don asked.

"I don't know. It might be nothing, but the report we sent to Washington tonight didn't go through. It kind of bounced back as undeliverable. Must be a technical problem."

"We haven't had that problem before, Red," Lee Ann said.

Tom and Don stared at each other. "The Saticons." Rebecca guessed.

"This soon?" Judy asked.

"It's possible," Tom answered. "Remember – they had people working with them through Aolis Umbra. Unless we hear otherwise, we should assume that the Saticons had a hand in this. Their invasion might already have started."