CH 38
Jackie and Duncan were planning another trip to Australia. It was just getting there Jackie was nervous about. Duncan's plane didn't have the fuel to make it, so she contacted Catherine Weaver about getting nuclear powered engines for his plane. Catherine was wiling to do it, but it was going to cost money. For a two engine plane, it would be $940,000. She presented Duncan with the idea.
Duncan frowned at her. "Even if we did do that, that is a long time in the pilot's seat," he reminded her.
"How about that C-200 that Joan flies?" Jackie asked. "That has an incredibly long range, and it floats."
"Isn't that a military plane? Besides, Joan is off in outer space, somewhere."
"We just borrow it," Jackie said.
"I don't think they'll let us." he replied.
"We can ask," Jackie prodded.
"It is safe for you to fly in normal commercial jets now," Duncan said firmly. "You got the one who was making planes crash, didn't you?"
Jackie winced. "We did, but I still don't trust them."
"I suppose not." he agreed. "So you know, I'll think about having my plane changed over. It's just going to be a lot of money to do that."
"I'll pay for it," Jackie assured him.
"You need to watch your money too," he reminded her. "I have a few investments that bring me money in. I know you have some too, but you need more than bonds and some stocks."
"They are making more money that we use," Jackie said. "It's not like we have to be richer."
"No but things happen," Duncan said firmly. "Stocks crash, turmoil happens that wipe out banks. About the only safe investment is something solid, like gold, silver, and platinum. They only keep up with inflation. Just in the last few years here, the funds you have are only worth half of what they were. You have to keep that in mind."
Jackie cast him a smirk. "OK. So, you got a solution on getting to Australia?"
"Let me think about it. That is a long trip," he replied.
.
Duncan did do some searching. One thing he found was the older C 125 two engine cargo planes were cheaper. They didn't carry as much, and everything now by air was as big in capacity as it could be. Even C-130's, which were great cargo planes were falling by the wayside and being replaced by the bigger jet cargo planes.
In a plane auction in Arizona, he found two C-125's available that no one was bidding on. Much like the C-130's, they had rear cargo doors that dropped down and could be easily made into float planes also. One up for auction needed new engines anyway. He looked into what it would cost to have Weaver's nuclear powered electric engines put into it and have it float -ready. For the money he would save not having to buy gas, and being able to sleep on the plane mid flight in the long run, that would be cheaper to use that even his Cessna.
He also found out what the shipping costs were especially to get things between here and Australia. He could undercut that and do some shipping to get back some of his money, if not make more.
First, he'd need at least another pilot and co-pilots to take long trips with him. It was time to teach Jackie how to fly.
.
John Connor had to begrudgingly admit the Colonials couldn't help him get back to Earth. He'd have to go with Bob's plan if they had another engine failure. When they were ready to leave, he insisted Joan slow down in the way back. No more Ludicrous speed, They were to travel at just below Ridiculous speed to make sure they got back with engines still capable of operating.
Joan wasn't happy, but agreed on why they had to go slower. Cameron insisted they go slower. One thing that might help was Malinara offering to cool the feedback units. While the engines were operating, the area by the engines did receive radiation. Bob talked to John. They decided due to the possible injury to Malinara, they would only do that if there was no other option. Bob also had to find out how much radiation in that space there was when the engines were in operation.
Before they left, Roslyn wanted a Colonial to go with them. John and Cameron thought hard about that, then decided on the next trip. John had to talk to some politicians first.
Getting on their way, Bob watched the engine reading closely. He was sure that soon, they'd lose another engine.
The first few days, he nor the terminators noticed any changes. They knew by now that any fluctuations meant an engine was about to go. Watching the inter engine spaces, Bob also saw the radiation wasn't that bad outside the engine itself. It was by no means safe, but it was well below lethal levels. They did have anti-radiation suits, and Malinara now had plenty of nanites to remove any she did receive.
After the first week, he decided to let her go in and cool down the units. She went in. It only took her a couple minutes with each engine. He checked the radiation badge she'd worn when she went in. She'd received very little, her nanites would take care of it. Malinara was also very happy to do something important for them.
The cooling she did only lasted a few hours though. He got her into a routine, just before a meal, she'd cool the feedback units, then go eat to help her nanaites remove and radiation she'd gotten quicker.
.
Two weeks after Jackie had talked to Duncan about how to get to Australia this summer, He cast her a smile as he helped her sit at the dinner table.
"I got an answer how we're going to get to Australia," he said brightly.
"No commercial planes?" Jerry asked with a grin.
"No, but one being made for us," Duncan stated. Seeing Jackie look at him, he explained, "I bought a C-125 from an auction cheap. That's a two engine cargo plane and plenty of room for what we'll be using it as. Catherine Weaver picked it up and is putting her nuclear powered electric motors on it, and making suitable for water landings as well as ensuring the whole plane is flight ready with a large upper deck so we can be comfortable when we're not flying. I also contacted a few shippers and suppliers. Fitz did the same in Australia. We take a couple crates to Australia with us and bring a few back."
"Cargo hauling?" Jackie asked. "That's why you've been teaching me to fly?"
"You can use two of your boat crew to be co-pilots. With this arrangement, we do high value hauls when we fly and in a couple years, that plane won't have cost anything."
"Yeah, Mom! Maybe you'll stop being scared of flying," Jerry added.
Jackie frowned at him. "I'll be less nervous in our own plane no one else messes with. What about the Cessna, Duncan?"
"I'm selling it. If I get my asking price, that cargo plane will only be $230,000." he replied.
"That is a better deal," Jackie admitted. "We'd get there faster too, not having to put up with a flying commercial. We do spend hours at the airports checking in and waiting."
"We'll only be waiting for the cargo, and customs, which we'd have to do anyway." Duncan coaxed.
"How many people can we take?"
"Catherine is going to make eight suites on the upper deck. Doubled up, that's 16 people. That should be plenty of room. Especially if you and me do the loading and unloading duties."
"So, me and Patricia can go?" Jerry asked eagerly.
"Separate rooms," Jackie said firmly.
"Ahh yeah," Jerry agreed.
Jackie chuckled. "So we're going to have air McLeod?"
Duncan shrugged. "Why not? Catherine assured me the plane will be ready by the first of June. We can't leave until at least the 20th. We hadn't planned in going until the 25th. That will give us time to finish your flight quals."
Jackie chuckled. "I didn't want to fly, but now I'll be driving."
"You and me, baby," Duncan said with a wink.
.
Patricia came home from school and ran inside, calling, "MOM!"
In the living room, her mother looked up and saw her daughter's wide open smile. "What are you excited about?"
Bouncing up to her, Patricia beamed, "Can we go to Australia this summer? Can we? Jackie Conner said we can go with them! It won't cost anything."
"Australia? Dear, plane tickets are expensive."
"No tickets," Patricia said. "We'll be riding in Duncan and Jackie's plane. Jerry's coming too, so are a couple from Collinwood. Come on, won't that be fun?"
"We need to talk to your Father and find out if we can get the time off to go. When is this?"
"Jerry said they will be leaving 25 June. He didn't say when they will be back." Patricia said with a shrug. "I'm sure it will be before school starts again."
When her Father got home, he said they only get a week of vacation besides Christmas and he couldn't take extra time off especially in the summer. They couldn't afford it.
At least they agreed Patricia could go, at first. Her father ended up saying no when he found out that plane would have two person rooms in it.
The more Patricia learned about the Bach family, the more she never wanted to work for people like that. They paid low and insisted on people who needed time off, would be let go. Basically, slave for us of you're not welcome here. She also had noticed that while her family had one old car to get around in, every servant at Collinwood had their own cars, and except for the work truck, they were all newer vehicles.
Thinking hard, on Saturday Patricia asked Jackie if she could go work for her while they were gone.
"Why stay here and work for us?" Jackie asked.
"I can't go, so I was thinking to at least make some money of my own while you're gone," she explained.
Jackie eyed her. "Why can't you go?"
With a roll of her eyed, she said, "Dad's afraid I'll be sleeping with Jerry."
Jackie chuckled. "That's possible. The thing is, do you want to go?"
"I do! This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity. I won't sleep with Jerry, promise!" she begged.
Jackie laughed. "OK, we'll see how that works out. You know, we will need help loading and unloading cargo. Since Jerry is going to help with that, you can too, say for…" Jackie paused then said, "Three hundred fifty a week."
"Really, for loading cargo?"
Jackie shrugged. "We'll be gone at least two weeks, maybe three. I'm sure you and Jerry will find ways to spend money once we get to Australia. Find out if your parents will let you work for us."
"OK!" Patricia said happily.
"JUST don't tell them what your job will be!" Jackie warned.
Patricia nodded and ran out. Heading home with the news Jackie was going to pay her $350 a week to work for while she was gone, her parents agreed. It would be good experience for her. She had to start a day before they left, and would be back the day after the other servants got home. It was sneaky, but she was going to Australia!
During a weekday, instead of going out with her friends after school, she took her birth certificate and went down to get her passport. Having no money herself yet, Jerry paid for it. At her next doctor visit, she also got a prescription for birth control. Just in case she needed it.
.
Sonya had been watching her expenses closely. Although she had good paying jobs here in California, the taxes were terrible and if she stayed in her house for another full year, she'd have to be paying the real estate taxes on that also, which would mean less money going back to Driftwood. She was also missing being home.
Hugh wasn't doing well. He was more lethargic and didn't play as much. She was sure she was the cause of that. One day she had to swim down to his little house to feed him. Worried about him, she talked to Officer Hanson and her group.
"Most likely, it was the chlorine in the fresh water pool," the older professor in the dive group said. "Octopi can pretty much squeeze their bodies into anything as long as their beak can get through. Chlorine is made to kill microbes, but it is also very damaging to sea life. You probably didn't realize it, but it poisoned him."
"Is there anything I can do?" Sonya asked.
He shook his head. "No. Breathing in the chlorine, it's gotten into him. The damage it did, can't be taken out. He may recover, he may not."
Sonya mumbled, "I'm sorry, Hugh." With California still sinking economically, despite a bit of influx of people returning, she'd already heard that salaries were going to be reduced to help 'recover'. She decided that if Hugh died, that was going to be it for her here. She'd resign and go back to Driftwood.
.
While Johnny was home, Kaede did her best to avoid Sophie. It didn't work. The third day JJ was home, Kaede had gone in a supply run, just to hurry out before Sophie could catch her.
Going down to their house, Sophie noted the truck was gone. Darn, were they avoiding her now? She peeked her head in the door and called, "Anyone here?"
"Kitchen!" JJ called back. He turned to see her peeking in the door. "Hey Sophie. Come in."
Sophie did, noticing he had something on the stove. Meekly, she said, "I don't mean to bother you …"
"Don't worry about it." he told her. "I bet you are wondering why she snuck up behind you and grabbed you like that?"
Sophie nodded. "I still don't know what to think about that," she said.
JJ chuckled. "You were a bit shocked, huh?"
"Yes! I mean, WHY? That was the last thing I was expecting!"
JJ grinned. "Kaede can have a weird sense of humor." He sat down and motioned for her to sit.
She did, looking at JJ for an explanation.
"Only she can tell you, but I think part of it was to give you a surprise," he told her. "She used to do that with another woman in the house she lived with. The surprise and fluster factor, and the woman begging for her to stop, she thought was hilarious."
"But, with one of my Dads right there watching?" Sophie cried. "Does that mean she'll accept me into your house?"
"I don't know," JJ said. "Hey, if she's comfortable enough with you to give you a bit of a shock, maybe that's a good sign?"
"What about you," Sophie asked, eyeing him intently.
JJ saw she wanted an answer. He did as best as he could. "Sophie, it took a while for Kaede to warm up to me, and we really did need each other. For her own peace of mind, Kaede takes things slow. I see that, and I abide by it. Yes, Peggy insisted on Lilly joining us. This is different. Kaede is not nearly as open as Peggy was. To me, you are a good kid. If staying with us is what it takes to make you happy, fine. The thing is Kaede needs to be comfortable with you being with us."
"So there is hope for me to join your family," Sophie concluded.
"Wouldn't hold my breath if I were you," he said firmly. "IF it happens and I stress IF, it's going to take a while."
Sophie looked at the table for a moment, then said, "You're saying it's up to Kaede."
"Pretty much. Right now, with the job I got, I'm going to be gone much of the time. It'll be you and Kaede here. You have to think about that."
Sophie flashed a grin. "I can see that. You need to protect Kaede's feelings. She is your most important person."
"She is, and knowing what her life's been like, I do everything I can to protect her. Emotionally, that is."
Sophie got up and went around the table to hug him. "Johnny, I think you are a great husband."
"Thanks," he said and patted her back. "Now go sit before Kaede comes in."
Sophie did. "That is why I want to be with you and Kaede. I know you both truly care. You do like me, don't you. Despite calling me just a good girl."
JJ shrugged. Kaede then came in carrying groceries. He tried not to grin when she eyed Sophie with a glint in her eye. He looked at the stove.
Lifting herself up off the floor, Kaede silently floated over to set the groceries down then came up behind Sophie. Reaching around, Kaede grabbed Sophie's breasts. "Hey Sophie," she said in a purr.
After her initial squeak of surprise, Sophie bend her head back to smile at Kaede. "Hi Kaede. So, can I have a turn?"
JJ burst out laughing.
Kaede chuckled with him. "You'll have to sneak up on me first," she chided.
"OK!" Sophie beamed, then giggled. "Want help putting things away?"
"Sure," Kaede said and went over to put the groceries away.
JJ watched them. They seemed to get along all right. Kaede hip bumped Sophie. Sophie hip bumped her right back. They were both grinning.
"I should go out and make sure the grape presses are cleaned out," JJ said and left. For how they were acting, JJ could see this working.
Sophie had a good day. Kaede had chores to do an Sophie stayed inside to help her. She was also watching carefully to reach from behind on Kaede and grab her boobs. It was weird, but a little playing while they worked, hip bumps and a shoulder bump, was putting Kaede in a good mood. It was fun too!
Sophie saw her chance. Kaede was looking up at a cob web high on the wall, when she reached up, Sophie hurried up behind her. Unfortunately, Kaede lifted herself up so Sophie ran into her butt when she hugged her. Both her hands were between Kaede's legs. Realizing what she just did, Sophie jumped back with, "Sorry!"
Kaede looked down at her, swiped the cob web away, then seeing Sophie's red face she chided, "Ah-ha, you missed!"
Sophie giggled in relief. She wasn't mad.
They got dinner ready, then Kaede had her watch the stove while she went out to get JJ. Sophie eyed the food on the stove. It looked done. She reached over and up for a plate and felt hands clap onto her breasts. A rub and light squeeze, then Kaede said in a musical tone, "Two for me, none for you."
Sophie wasn't even surprised this time. She giggled, "I will get you back."
"Try your hardest!" Kaede cheered, then helped get the tableware out.
The only thing that made Sophie sad was after they did dishes, Kaede told her this was Johnny's last night home, and Kaede wanted to be alone with him. Sophie could come back tomorrow.
Sophie agreed. She'd had a wonderful, silly day, but today was over. Getting nothing but good feelings from Kaede, she was happy with that. JJ had told her it was going to take time. She could wait. She did give Kaede, then JJ a solid hug good night, then skipped her way home.
.
They were only two days out from Earth when the engine room called over the intercom. "Fluctuations on number four engine! Bob, Malinara to the engine room!"
"Awww hell!" Bob was just getting into serious grazing on Joan's chest.
She let him up and asked, "Can I help?"
"Not much you can do," Bob told her as he got dressed.
Malinara was already in the hallway. "Robert, come on!"
"I'm coming!"
Seeing them go, Allison said, "Not in the good way," and giggled.
"I can't wait to get home!" Joan grumbled.
.
Malinara ran to the engine room and got her radiation suit on. "Let me try to cool it"
Bob saw the fluctuations and said, "You got two minutes. No longer!"
Malinara went in. the feedback unit was glowing red it was so hot. She focused on it and drew the heat out of it. It cooled down to a dark purple. "How's that?" she yelled.
Bob yelled back, "Still fluctuating, we have to shut it and number two down again!"
"Darn," she grumbled and came back out.
In the control room, a little more power to one and three, and they kept up their speed. John called back, "Bob, how to one and three look?"
"So far, so good. Malinara's cooling the units down for them. She said number one's looking pretty bad. I hope we get there soon."
"We got two more days of travel. We'll see how we do," John said.
.
In their room, looking over how the resurrection system made new bodies and moved data into them, Delilah was studying the body plan and programming.
Jennifer Six had come along and was watching her. She saw Delilah frown. "Find something?" she asked.
"I did," Delilah said with a sigh. "The resurrection system makes the bodies and puts your mind into them."
"Right," Jennifer said, watching her.
"And part of making the body is making the body plan so it stays as made. If you say get a cut, it repairs your body, or tries to back to the original condition," Delilah explained.
"Yes, so we can heal some damage."
Delilah looked at her. "So if you grow something in your womb that was not originally made to be there, your body plan rejects it."
Jennifer's jaw dropped open. "That system is killing out babies!"
"It is. Another question is why can Athena have a successful pregnancy. The only answer I can find from this is her husband, Helo, is human. His sperm won't have the pre-programmed limitations that Cylons do. However the cellular details work, it's his DNA contribution that keeps that baby growing inside her."
"To get pregnant, I have to have sex with a human," Jennifer stated.
"That's what I'm seeing here," Delilah stated.
"I have to inform everyone what you found," Jennifer stated.
Delilah shook her head. "We are well out of any contact range."
Jennifer then said, "Then kill me, I'll resurrect!"
"No, you won't," Delilah stated. "The range for that is only 800 light years at the most. We're much farther, like 2900 light years away. You wouldn't make it." Seeing Jennifer was upset, she offered, "I'm sure us, or someone will be going back out to see your people. We can tell then then."
Jennifer frowned. "Knowing the answer and not being able to tell anyone," she said.
"Frustrating?"
"Very."
They only needed to go another few hundred light years, a couple day's travel. Just in case, John had terminators mark everything that needed to be turned off, or turned down so if they had to supply engine coils power, they were ready. He was surely hoping they wouldn't need to do that.
.
Now that Delilah had figured out why Cylons couldn't successfully have a baby, she worked on another problem. Engine failures. Taking the flight hours they had when number thee engine died, and with the problems of number two, she figured out how many hours those units were reliable and showed it to John.
John called Bob up to the control room. Bob looked at what Delilah had and agreed. "Yeah, I'd say that's about right. Right now, number one engine is working on borrowed time."
"So one could go at any time," John concluded.
"Yup," Bob said. "But two's off anyway. So if we shut the engines down, swap the feedback units for one and two, then we should get home all right. The newest units will be in the engines we're using."
John nodded. "I like it, do it when you're ready."
"John, number three is already past it's recommended lifetime," Delilah told him.
"It has a better chance of lasting that number one," Bob said.
"Do it, Bob." John stated.
With Bob in one engine and Delilah in the other, they shut all the engines down, Malinara cooled them, and they got the unit's swapped out. One and three came back on line with no problem. They were still nervous about loosing another engine, but at least now, they had a better chance of getting home.
.
Kaede had her loving night with JJ. Cuddled up and ready for sleep, JJ petted her and asked, "Kaede, what's your feeling on Sophie?"
"Conflicted," she stated. "I do like Sophie, very much. Still when I think about her here, in bed with us. Can't say I like that. You do know she will want to be here, in bed with us."
"Yeah, I know," JJ agreed softly. "She's Atlantian, so to her, it wouldn't matter if there were six people here in bed."
"Someone would fall out." Kaede said. They both laughed.
JJ sang, "They all roll over and one falls out." They chuckled again.
"Can we talk about that later?" Kaede asked.
"Sure, no pressure." he assured her and kissed her. "I want to make sure you're not unhappy."
Kaede smiled and drifted off to sleep.
*Kaede watched Sophie straddling JJ, riding him happily. The look on Sophie's face as she bounced up and down, making her boobs bounce, was pure bliss. She orgasmed loudly, then fell to lay on JJ, an arm around him, and one around her.
"I love you both!" Sophie cried. *
Kaede woke up. JJ was out, Sophie wasn't here. Realizing she dreamed it, she had also felt pleased Sophie wasn't here.
She shook her head and tried to go back to sleep. Not that was just a silly dream. It didn't mean anything.