Chapter 14
Protection
T Minus 1 Year and 0 Months…
By the end of the summer, General Bowers asked John if was closer to choosing a pilot, but he wasn't ready to commit. Every week he would pour over the data from the training results and rearrange the names, and every week, the name Donald West came out on top, much to his chagrin.
Maureen would join him occasionally to review the list with him, and she would consistently remove Don's name from the top spot and replace it with either Tom Bryce or Red Miles. One thing was certain. The top three were decided, but Alpha Control did not want the information leaked until they had a lift-off date.
On a clear fall evening, Don had taken Judy, Penny and Will on a haunted hayride excursion and Maureen decided to utilize the time wisely with her husband. As was his usual Friday night activity, he was arranging the names yet again, with the same results. Maureen entered and looked at his list.
"I think I'll leave Don on top for tonight."
"Really? What brought on your change of heart? I thought you preferred Red?"
"I do, but I'll let Don have a reprieve. He took all three children out for the evening, and we, my dear, are alone until ten o'clock."
"Are we? And what do you plan on doing with all of this free time without the children?"
She made her way into her husband's lap and put her arms around him. "Oh, I can think of something that is very… unscientific… primitive… and frivolous…"
She kissed him and he responded with a passion few would have expected from the stern and proper professor, but the man was passionate about the things he loved, and he loved his wife and family dearly. They walked arm in arm to their room.
Ten o'clock came too quickly and Maureen and John showered and had just prepared their evening tea when Judy and Don returned with the children.
"Mom! Dad! It was great!" Will exclaimed. "There was this guy in this coffin with blood dripping down his chin."
"That was Dracula, Will," Penny corrected.
"Whatever his name was. And he would stick his hand out and grab your arm as you walked by."
"That was creepy," Penny added.
"Wonderful, and I'm sure you'll both have nightmares tonight," Maureen complained.
"No, I won't. I loved it!" Will said.
"Well, off to bed with both of you. It's past your bedtime," Maureen ordered. "I'll come up and kiss you good-night in a few minutes."
"Do we have to go to bed, Mom? Can't we stay up just a little bit longer?" Penny asked. "We don't have training tomorrow."
"You and Will have another interview with Dr. Smith tomorrow."
They both groaned and Judy rolled her eyes. "I had mine last week and I thought he was never going to finish."
"I had one too," Don said. "What did he say about you?"
"You don't want to know."
"Bad mouthed us, huh."
"Captain West, Dr. Smith is a highly trained environmental specialist. His opinion is based on sound psychological principles," Maureen stated.
"I'm not so sure about that. He has no idea how any of us will react on a distant world because no one's ever been there before. He's just taking wild guesses," Don replied.
"It sounds like you didn't like what he said about you," John said.
"Oh, no, he was right on about my personality. He said I'm hot-headed, impulsive and overactive. That translates to caring, quick thinking, and a doer. Those qualities might be an advantage in a new world."
"If you ever give up flying, Captain, I think you should consider a career in PR. You know how to spin information," John said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some work to do in my office. Good-night."
Maureen went upstairs with the children to shuffle them off to bed.
Don felt as if he had been punched in the stomach. "I think it's time for me to go, Judy."
"No, I can't let you leave now. Come talk with me in the living room."
"I don't think your parents…"
"The hell with my parents," she whispered.
Don was shocked. He had never heard her talk that way about anything before, let alone her parents. They went into the living room and Don sat in a corner of the sofa while Judy turned on the TV to cover their conversation. She settled next to him and brought her feet up under her while he put an arm around her shoulder. They sat quietly for a few minutes.
"I want to apologize for my parents, Don… again," Judy emphasized.
"You know, Red and my dad told me that his reaction is typical. No father ever likes his daughter's boyfriend, but our situation isn't typical."
"They'll come around, Don."
"What if they don't? I mean, I've done everything I can to earn that seat. The only thing left that I can to do is tell them I'm gay."
Judy giggled, "I'm not so sure they'll believe that."
He turned and smiled at her, their lips drew together and just as they touched, Maureen cleared her throat and came downstairs. Don removed his arm from Judy's shoulder.
"Still here, Captain?" she asked.
"Not if you don't want me to be, Mrs. Robinson," he replied.
"It is getting late," Maureen said.
"Mother, he is my guest!" Judy said.
"It's okay, Judy. I thought I'd do some studying tonight anyway. I should leave."
"I wish you'd stay,"
"We're going out with Mike and Sherry tomorrow. Pick you up at seven?"
She nodded and started to walk him outside.
"Oh, Captain West, thank you for taking the children out tonight. We did appreciate it," Maureen said.
Once outside the door, Judy apologized for her parents one more time.
"It's all right, Judy."
"No, it's not all right. They treat you like you're going to attack me or something."
Don sighed. "I know I have that Casanova reputation, especially since I've been dating you." He looked into her eyes, and said, "But I'm not what they think I am."
"I know." Judy waited a moment longer and asked, "Don, how do you feel about me?"
He took her hand in his and was about to open his mouth when the professor came to the door. "Judy, I want to lock up," he called.
Don felt that he just couldn't win. "Go ahead in, Judy. I'll see you tomorrow," he suggested. He kissed her on the cheek and went to his car.
Judy watched him pull away and went inside, her cheeks flushed with anger. Her parents were watching the news when Judy lowered the volume of the television and stood in front of them. "Why do you both object to Don so much?" she demanded.
"I object to him because he's older and experienced. I think that he's taking advantage of you," her father responded.
"For your information, he's always been a gentleman. More of a gentleman than I want him to be!"
Her mother tried to soothe her. "Judy, you're so young and you've never had a serious relationship before."
"Mother, I did more with Eddie than I ever have with Don."
Professor Robinson didn't want to hear about Eddie. "What's going to happen if Don is not chosen to be our pilot, Judy? What are you going to do then?"
"I… I don't know," she replied.
"Don't you see how complicated he is making your life by chasing after you?"
"He's complicating my life? You and mom are the ones complicating my life, not Don! Besides he's not chasing after me, Dad. I want to be with him as much as he wants to be with me."
"For now… but what happens if he is our pilot and you stop… getting along so well?"
"I know we would work it out. I… I think I love him."
"You think you love him," John repeated.
"You're too young to know about love, Judy," Maureen added.
"You were only nineteen when you and dad got married," Judy stated.
"But I wasn't so sheltered. I lost my parents when I was eight years old. I had to grow up quickly."
'I don't think you're being fair, mother. You're not being fair to Don or to me."
"This isn't about being fair, Judy. It's about protecting you."
"I don't need to be protected from Don. And don't ask me to stay away from him because I won't."
She turned sharply and ran to her room. Her parents watched her leave.
Maureen asked, "Now what?"
"I guess I'll have a talk with our young man," John said.
Other than Sundays, John was rarely away from the training facility. Saturday found him checking on the progress of the chariot, the land/sea vehicle that would be the mission's "car." Three pilots were already talking with the engineers as John approached with General Bowers.
"May I make a request if I'm chosen for the mission?" Don asked.
"What's that, Captain?" the engineer asked.
"Paint it red?"
Captains Miles and Major Bryce rolled their eyes and groaned. Only West would have the audacity to make such a request. "Zorro would squash that one before you could blink!" Miles laughed.
"Zorro alert!" Bryce whispered as John was within hearing distance.
The three pilots snapped to attention and saluted the General and John.
"At ease, men," General Bowers said. "Zorro?" General Bowers asked, "I don't believe there is anyone by that name on the base."
The three remained silent, but John came to their rescue. "I believe they were referring to me, General. I was a fencing champion in high school. In fact, I still have my sword."
"I would like to see it someday, professor," Don said. "I always wondered just how sharp those swords are."
"Not sharp enough to cause physical damage, but sharp enough to get its point across."
"Hurt, but not kill?" Don asked.
Bryce shot him a 'shut your mouth' look.
"No, Captain. It can be quite deadly if necessary, but my only goal is protection, not killing."
Don smiled, "Understood, sir."
Captain Miles turned to the General. "When will training on the chariot begin, General?"
"After the Thanksgiving break, but only for Professor Robinson and the pilots."
"What about the rest of the family?" Don interjected.
"That won't be necessary. Once they're on the planet, Professor Robinson can train his wife to drive it," General Bowers said.
"I disagree, sir," Don stated, "I believe every member of the crew needs to be able to drive the vehicle. We don't know what we'll face once we land. They may need to drive the chariot in an emergency before they have a chance to learn. Besides… I'm sure there's no driving age in the Alpha Centauri system."
"Point taken, Captain West.," John said. "I'll take your suggestion under advisement. By the way… she is not going to be painted red."
Blue jeans, a rusty orange tank top and a jean jacket completed her outfit. Judy decided to let her hair drop to her shoulders and combed her bangs back, thinking that she looked just a tad older than in her usual ponytail/bangs combination. She and Don were meeting Mike and Sherry at the theater for a movie and then getting a bite to eat afterwards. This was her first double date and she wanted to make a good impression on Don's friends. She had only met Sherry once and Mike a few times. They seemed friendly enough, but she still harbored concerns about being perceived as too young for Don.
Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she ran down the steps to wait for Don to pick her up, and was surprised that he was already in the living room speaking with her father.
"I understand that you and General Bowers have narrowed the field down to five pilots, Professor," Don stated.
"We have, Captain West," John replied.
Don waited. "…And?"
"And an announcement will be made on Tuesday." John's stare dared him to ask another question, but Don remained silent.
Judy took Don's arm and asked, "How do I look?"
He cocked his head. "Eh… I guess you'll do."
She shook her head. "And I was just telling my parents last night about what a gentleman you are."
"Captain, please remember that her curfew is midnight," Maureen advised.
"Midnight? Mother, it's Saturday night!"
"Midnight would be a problem, Mrs. Robinson. The movie is at seven forty and it's over two hours long, and then we're going out for a bite to eat afterwards," Don said.
"What movie and where are you eating?" John asked.
"Executive Decision. We'll probably stop at a pub for a late dinner."
"A pub? Will you be drinking?" Maureen asked.
"I guess not," Don replied.
"And you, Judy?" John asked.
"Dad, you know I won't drink. In fact, I'll drive so Don can have a beer."
Don noticed her parents exchange a look of disapproval, and decided to negotiate. "I'll skip the beer if we can extend her curfew to one a.m.," he offered.
"All right, Major. And maybe I'll show you my sword when you get back tonight," John suggested.
"Thank you, sir. I'll look forward to seeing it... someday."
They left the house hand in hand. Judy asked, "Sword?"
"A subtle message from your father."
"Doesn't sound subtle to me."
He laughed. "Ah, Judy. I just have to keep telling myself that it's not that your parents hate me, it's that they love you so much."
"That's what I find so frustrating. If they love me so much, why can't they accept the fact that I'm…" She stopped.
"That you're what?" Don encouraged.
'I can't be the first one to say it,' she thought. "That I'm so… 'simpatico' with you?"
One mug of draft and three sodas sat on the table as the two couples discussed the movie.
"I don't think it was believable, especially the part where they transferred the guys from one plane to another in mid-air," Sherry said.
"No that's possible. I wouldn't want to do it, but it is possible," Mike replied.
"Anyway, I adored Kurt Russell," Sherry stated.
"Oh, I've loved him since he was a kid and I saw him on that TV show, Lost in Space," Judy added.
"Now that was a great TV show," Mike added.
"Made we want to become an astronaut," Don stated.
"The movie scared me, though. Do you think it would be possible for someone to release nerve gas over an entire city?" Judy asked.
"Yes," Mike and Don answered simultaneously.
"But who would do such a terrible thing?" Judy asked. "No one could do that to innocent people."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Judy, especially with the way things are going in today's world," Don answered.
"Well, I loved the jet scenes," Mike said as he picked at the onion ring appetizer.
"Even better than me and Bryce last spring," Don added.
"Oh, you're so humble," Judy teased.
"Humble wouldn't have gotten me where I am today, sweetheart," Don stated.
"Which is?" Mike asked.
"You'll know when I know," Don replied.
Sherry and Mike looked at Judy, eyebrows raised.
"I don't know anything, I swear," she replied. "I didn't even know they were narrowing the list of pilots down to five next week."
"Judy, what are you going to do if Don is eliminated?" Sherry asked.
What would she do? "I'm not sure, Sherry. I'm not ready to make that decision yet." That wasn't totally true. If it came down to a choice between Don and her family, she knew whom she'd choose.
Don placed his hand over hers. "If I don't make it this time, Judy, I'll do everything I can to be on the next flight. Just wait for me, I'll find you."
She smiled. "There wouldn't much more I could do, is there?"
Mike took Sherry's hand in his and held up her left hand. Judy noticed that she wore a ring on her fourth finger that looked like a band of gold. Mike turned the ring around and a solitary diamond appeared.
"You did it!" Don exclaimed, "Congratulations!" He stood and shook Mike's hand and gave Sherry a hug. Judy followed him and hugged them both.
When they settled back into their seats, Judy looked at the ring. "It's beautiful Sherry."
It was a simple round quarter caret diamond solitaire. "I love it," Sherry said.
"You better," Mike added. "It was all I could afford."
"When is the wedding?" Judy asked.
"Next summer or fall," Sherry stated.
"And I'd like you to be my best man, Don," Mike added.
"I'll be there," Don answered.
"What about you and Judy?" Sherry asked.
"I thought I'd bring her as my guest," Don stated.
"That's not exactly what I meant," Sherry said. "I mean, of course she's invited, but have you two…"
Judy blushed and glanced at Don, who replied, "Hey, I'm still working on getting her parents to like me."
"And despite what you may have read in the tabloids, we haven't talked marriage," Judy added.
"Yet," he said as he took her hand and brought her hand to his lips.