LIS Series End Challenge
Forces of Nature
Part 3
The Alpha Centauri star system lay before them. The family was strapped in and Don turned to John. Their mission would be completed within minutes, but he couldn't celebrate until the ship was safely on the ground. He tried to think of something eloquent to say, but only asked, "Ready?"
John nodded. He held a map in front of him. "We should land in this area here," he said as he pointed.
Don had studied the map in great detail over the last two days, but he still glanced at it, double checking his position and nodded. Within thirty seconds, the intercom crackled and a voice announced, "Unidentified vehicle, state your identification."
Don turned to John and said, "Somebody beat us here."
John grabbed the microphone and replied. "This is the Jupiter 2 of the planet Earth. I am Professor John Robinson leader of the Jupiter mission to colonize Alpha Centauri."
"Jupiter 2?" a new voice responded. "And your pilot is Major Donald West of the United States Space Corps."
"You know who we are. Now, how about identifying yourself?" John demanded.
"This is Colonel Thomas Bryce, Professor Robinson, welcome to the U.S. military outpost on Alpha Centauri."
John and Don smiled at each other. Neither expected to be welcomed by a human, let alone greeted by a familiar face. "Requesting permission to land," John said.
"Granted," Bryce replied. "We even have a landing pad cleared for you. Follow the flashing lights to the yellow circle," Tom told them.
Two minutes later, the Jupiter 2 landed with no more than a soft 'thud.' Will and Penny scrambled up the ladder to the upper deck while Dr. Smith, Maureen and Judy rode the elevator.
"Earth? Are we on Earth?" Dr. Smith asked.
"No, Dr. Smith, we've finally reached Alpha Centauri," Maureen told him.
"Alpha what?"
"Alpha Centauri," Will exclaimed as he rolled his eyes.
Maureen gave Will a harsh glance, and then turned to her husband and asked, "Are we ready?"
John looked at Don before responding.
"Go ahead, John. I have to finish the shut down procedure. You should be the first one out, anyway," Don told him.
John stood and offered his elbow to Maureen. "Then, I guess we're ready." The hatch opened to expose a lush, green land, and Colonel Thomas Bryce, in fatigues, standing at attention. He snapped a crisp salute and said, "Welcome to Alpha Centauri." John held out his hand and Tom grasped it with two hands. "I can't tell you how glad I am to see you." He looked over the rest of the family. "All of you…" He stared at Dr. Smith and said, "…And?"
Dr. Smith snapped to attention. "Colonel Zachary Smith, chesskers champion and saboteur of the Jupiter 2!"
Tom's face reflected his confusion, but he saluted and said, "Colonel." He turned towards two of the men behind him and said, "Take him into custody." They walked up to Dr. Smith and each took him by the arm.
Dr. Smith tried to step back, saying, "Unhand me!"
Maureen intervened and told Dr. Smith, "These nice men are going to take you to your quarters, Dr. Smith, where you can have a nice meal and a warm shower."
"Could it possibly be… a warm bath?" Dr. Smith asked. "Yes, a warm bath. And for dinner I will have pheasant, with a rich cabernet wine…" His voice faded as the men walked him away. Maureen and John were relieved to have someone else take responsibility for him.
Tom extended a hand to Maureen, who took him in a hug; then he stepped back and said, "Will, Penny, you've both grown." He winked at Penny, "Beautifully, I might add. And Judy… No little Wests running around yet?" Judy blushed and turned away. Tom knew better than to pursue that line of questioning. "And where is your courageous pilot?"
"Right here, Colonel Bryce," Don said as he snapped a crisp salute and stood at attention.
"At ease, Major," Tom told him and then took him in a bear hug. "We thought we had lost you all. I should have known you'd get them here a year later than expected."
"Well, we, uh, had some problems," Don responded.
"You must all be dying for a long shower and real food. We'll get you decontaminated and debriefed, and then we'll catch up on old times," Tom told them. Tom motioned for a nearby soldier to step forward. "Lieutenant Conway."
Penny glanced at Judy as they were lead away by a six foot two officer with the greenest eyes she had ever seen. "You know, Judy," she whispered, "I just might like Alpha Centauri."
Don stayed behind. He didn't miss the admiring glances of the sisters as they followed the lieutenant, and Tom didn't miss Don's wistful expression as they walked away. "Trouble in paradise?" Tom asked.
"I was hoping that, once we got here, we'd be in paradise again," Don replied.
Tom reached out and placed a hand on Don's shoulder, and said, "This is as far from paradise as you can get."
Decontamination, showers, and debriefing took several hours. Finally, the family was together again and eating a grand meal in the officer's mess. Tom noticed that Penny and Will sat on either side of Don, and Judy positioned herself next to her mother. He didn't miss the glances Don and Judy would give each other when they thought the other wasn't looking. When they had been in training, all those years ago, Tom felt sure that Judy and Don were destined for each other. He wondered what had gone wrong.
As he dug his fork into a mound of mashed potatoes, John asked, "What do they think happened to us?"
"The odds-makers had you dead," Tom replied. "General Bowers, Red and I were the only ones who were willing to bet that you'd make it. I guess everyone else underestimated the best and brightest of Alpha Control."
Don tried to catch Judy's eye at that statement, but she refused to move her eyes away from her plate. "Tell us about the colony, Tom," Don said.
Bryce, obviously uncomfortable, couldn't reply immediately. He ran his fingers down his glass and said, "There is no colony. After the Jupiter was presumed to be destroyed, Alpha Control sent a military force. Other than some coupling among the soldiers, there are no families and no children here."
"So, technically, we're still the first to colonize," Maureen suggested.
"Not exactly, Maureen," Tom told her. "The idea of colonization has been abandoned. In fact, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with you. I've sent a message back to Earth than you've arrived."
"But it will take years to get that message to Earth!" John exclaimed.
"Not with our new technology. We should hear back in a couple of days."
"Do you think there's a possibility that we might be sent back to Earth?" John asked.
"That would be my first guess," Tom replied.
"Well, I'm not going back," Will told them. "I'll join the military so I can stay here if I have to."
"Don't jump to conclusions, Will," Penny told him.
"But why would they abandon colonization?" John asked. "Frank and I put our lives into this project. Colonization was the purpose of galactic travel."
"That was before the alien attacks started," Tom replied. "Even General Bowers had to give up the idea of colonization. All money is being put into militarization and protection of our planet. This is the outer most military post, but there is a series of them leading back to Earth, and they're building more." Tom turned to Don and said, "In fact, Don, you'll get a promotion and can have your pick of any command post you want."
Don shook his head. He hadn't thought about what would happen beyond the landing. "I… I never thought about going back to Earth," Don told him.
"The government is going to want the Jupiter for the Smithsonian. Somebody is going to have to bring it back. It's still your ship."
"And I'm still an officer in the United States Space Corps." He stared at Judy, who averted her eyes. "And I guess there's no reason to stay around here."
Lieutenant Conway approached the table and saluted Tom. "A communication just came in from the moon base from Lieutenant Colonel Miles confirming transmission of your message onto Washington."
Tom took the paper from the lieutenant and motioned for him to sit down. "Join us for dessert, Lieutenant," Tom said as he read the message.
"Red?" Don asked.
Tom nodded. "He's in charge of the moon base." Tom laughed out loud. "Ask Major West a question for me," he read. "Where the hell have you been?" Even Judy laughed at that line.
"How's he doing?" Don asked.
"Married General Bowers' daughter last year."
Maureen smiled. "I'm happy for them. Red was always one of my favorites of the pilots who competed… um… you were too, Don."
Don chuckled, "You don't have to be nice, Maureen. I remember those days. I think I was the last person you wanted on this mission."
John chuckled along with him and nodded. Then he glanced at Judy and said, "But we made the right choice."
Judy couldn't meet anyone's eyes. She felt as if she was a stranger eavesdropping on a conversation at the next table. She felt no connection to Don, to her family, or to Alpha Centauri. She wanted to go home. If there was a chance she could return to Earth, she decided that she would take it.