Jim reached out his hand and turned off the phonograph. For a long, long, long time he didn't speak or look at Beth. He just kept his head down and let his thoughts run through his cluttered mind. Beth was kind and perceptive enough to let Jim meditate upon what they'd listened to. Finally, Jim snapped out of his trance and turned to his partner. "We're in more trouble now. That spider-psycho tried to kill me last time we met." "Kill you?" Beth was taken back with horror. "Yeah. If he finds me this time, I'll definitely be killed." "NO JIM, "Beth nearly yelled before Jim motioned for her o be more quiet. "No, I won't let that happen, not to you." she stammered with a growing strain of courage that steeped from her concern for his safety. "I…don't want to lose you." Jim grinned slightly. "You sound like my mother; she says the same thing." Beth nodded as her beautiful eyelashes tried to hold back another flow of tears. Jim noticed her concern and gave her another comforting embrace. With that, Beth regained her composure and confidence.
It was 3:25 PM at the Interstellar Observatory on the spaceport, Omasilam. The rabbit-like astronomer was inspecting the Chautauqua Barrens through the highest-powered telescope. He was watching for any movement in a set grid about 32 leagues away from the battle area where the RLS Ulterior skirmished with the pirates.
He was slowly scanning through the sector when all of a sudden he stopped and swung the scope back a few degrees. He relocated the image of what he'd seen: a flashing light that seemed to be emanating from a shadowy orb. He focused in on it as much as possible. Then he turned away to run over to a voice pipe. "Observatory to station command, observatory to station command." Observatory, this is station command, go ahead." "Sir, I've got a signal message being flashed from Area 32, Section 192 of the Chautauqua Barrens! It's a tiny white light—hydrogen laser based, I assume!" "Very well. Hold coordinates; we're sending a decryption officer down there right away. Don't lose it!" "Aye, Sir, holding coordinates." He ran back over to lock in the telescope's position settings. He wasn't aware of what was happening; he was only expected to watch for any signals coming from the Barrens.
In a few minutes, the officer arrived and the astronomer escorted him over to the massive lens. Inserting a special lamp, the officer stuck one eye onto the view lens and began to communicate with the unknown correspondent.
Back in the Interstellar Naval Headquarters, right inside of the Strategic Command room, Admiral Creed was briefing a large group of rear admirals, ship captains and marine colonels about the upcoming assault against the pirate's garrison. At the end of the massive, gargantuan table sat Sarah Hawkins with Amelia & Delbert Doppler. They were waiting for the end of the conference to speak with the Fleet Admiral for any news that might concern Jim or what had happened since the battle.
Just then, a marine corporal burst through one of the side doors and smartly walked over to the table. He saluted crisply and handed Admiral Creed a white envelope with a stamped "urgent" across it. The Admiral saluted back and was reading the contents before the door clicked shut after the aide.
Admiral Creed read for about 7 seconds before his eyes grew wider and he looked up. "Gentlemen, the time is now near. We must move Now and Quickly before we lose any advantage in our attack." All the officers arose as the Commander-in-Chief began to give orders. "Admiral Greene, Colonel Packer, prepare your forces to embark in one hour-half. The rest of you, gather your personnel and return to your ships: we embark in," he pulled out and studied his pocket watch, "two hours. We have less than 48 hours of opportunity and we shall not miss it. That is all." With that, the Colonels, Captains and Generals took their logbooks and exited the room.
Once they were gone, the Dopplers and Sarah stood and walked over to speak with the Admiral. He adjusted his reading spectacles and looked up. "Please be seated." They did and he began the discourse. "Mrs. Hawkins, let me begin by saying that I and the rest of the committee who chose your son for this mission are sorry if we've caused you any distress or over-concern by our actions and procedures. We are very interested in his welfare and safety for your all's sake and are determined to keep him alive at any cost." Sarah just nodded with a still-saddened expression but Captain Amelia spoke up. "Is there anything, Sir, that could possibly suggest to his current status and welfare?" "As a matter of fact, this transmittal which just arrived seems to imply that he is well and at least still undiscovered." All three of them perked up. "He sent that letter to you just now?" queried Delbert. "No, he sent this message to our nearest spaceport, Omasilam. This is what it says." He cleared his throat and reread it out loud.
CHAUTAUQUA BARRENS, UNKNOWN LOCATION. STOP.
ADMIRAL CREED. STOP.
CHILDREN ARE GETTING READY FOR BED. STOP. HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU COME & SAY GOOD NIGHT BEFORE THEY PULL THE COVERS OVER THEIR HEADS. STOP.
TOOK ONE OF THEIR TOYS AWAY, THEY WANT IT BACK. STOP.
ROOM IS MESSY. STOP.
SIGNED, JIM. STOP.
He folded the note back up and looked back at his audience of three. They were dumbfounded by the wording and couldn't make head or tails of the meaning—if there was. But the Admiral had presumed upon their ignorance and "translated". "It's quite simple, truthfully. The nouns in the sentences stand for specific things or creatures we've designated with code names so as to further protect the secrecy of the mission.
But allow me to enlighten you all: The "children" are the band of pirates that occupy a certain portion of the planet; the phrase "getting ready for bed" indicates they are preparing for battle; the second line means your son, Mrs. Hawkins, recommends that we make haste to catch them before their preparations are complete." "And the rest?", asked Amelia with a slanted, still-puzzled look. The Grizzly-like officer turned his gaze back to the note as he reopened it. "The "room" is their fortress which he indicates as being in a state of highly-sensitive unrest or "messy". It's the third line that somewhat concerns me." "What does it mean, Admiral Sir?", Sarah pleaded. "It means….that…sigh…he's…" "What? He's done WHAT?!?!", Delbert nearly screamed in a nearly-frantic tone. "Patience, Doctor, patience; the sentence rewords itself to say that he's released a hostage or captive of theirs…and they're on to his trail." Sarah gasped. "Oh No, Not Jim!!" "Please rest assured, Mrs. Hawkins, Jim, oh, I mean…well, never mind, we'll just stick with first names. Anyway, Jim knows exactly what to do in such scenarios as this; I'm sure that you, Mr. & Mrs. Doppler, are well familiar with his experience and expertise in such instances as this, am I correct?" The couple both nodded with Delbert doing so more briskly than his wife.
Sarah just held her pose; yes, she was confident in her son's abilities but she was very conscious of the fact that Jim was by himself with no assurance of returning alive. She leaned forward in a gesture of wanting to speak that Admiral Creed recognized. "You may say whatever you wish, Mrs. Sarah—if I may go on a first name basis."
She nodded and went ahead. "I want to go with the men-excuse me-soldiers who are going to fight those…pirates. I want to be there to find out if Jim is well or…" She ceased speaking as her countenance turned somber again. But Admiral Creed just smiled and nodded generously. "That is possible and will be arranged if you can and are willing to leave her immediately, Mrs. Hawkins."
No sooner had the words exited his mouth then Amelia quickly half-stood and addressed him with an urgent tone. "Uh, Admiral Creed Sir, If I may have your permission to speak?" "You have it, Captain.", he replied politely. "If it is suitable to your ease and benefit, I would like to request that I may provide transportation for my dear friend, Sarah Hawkins here. I am still, if I may be so forward, declared captain of the Royal Lancastrian Ship Legacy and I, as well as certain people I am well familiar and intimate with, are very eager to see to young James safe and sound. Therefore, with your permission, I'd like to accompany the assault fleet—in the vanguard, of course—along with a select and well-trusted crew of my choice." She finished speaking and stood erect. Admiral Creed leaned on his elbow and rubbed his left pointer finger over his lips. After a long pause, he resumed his pose and smiled broadly. "Your request is granted, Captain. Now there is no time to lose! Gather whatever crew, passengers and provisions you shall require; we'll rendezvous at the Nobles Belt in approximately 12 light-hours. Now, let's all clear the room and go bring home our boy!" "Aye-Aye, Sir,"
Back on the pirate's hidden planet…
The two "escapees" both emerged back out into the darkened, rocky landscape. Jim helped Beth climb out of the hole and then retrieved his gear. "Now, where do we go?" demanded Beth with a little impatience from the effort of sneaking around without doing anything. Jim just shook the cave dust out of his hair and put his hands on his hips. "We' go scout for their defense: cannons, trip-wires, buried explosives—they've got to have something concocted to protect their hideout." He buckled his revolver and 3 ammo belts onto his hip, loaded his 42" sniper rifle and did likewise for the long carabine. With that done, he held it out to Bethany. She leaned back slightly in surprise. "Go ahead, it's alright, you'll need it.", Jim reassured her. She hesitantly reached out and slid her small, white hand around the barrel. Jim came over and stood beside her. "Ever—" "Why yes, Jim, I've watched how the pirates use theirs which are similar." Jim was surprised; he hadn't thought that maybe she had some foresight in operating a firearm. "Oh cool, so…you know how to load a rifle too?" Beth shook her head without embarrassment. "I don't remember that." "Oh, it's simple. Here watch." He demonstrated on his own rifle and she then did the same on hers—flawlessly. Jim congratulated her and shouldered his pack. Just for reassurance, he placed his right arm around her shoulders and with his left, he grasped the long rifle. Thus set, they set out quietly as possible, keeping their eyes and ears alert for any sight or sound of the ultra-wary foe.