My account is temporarily on the fritz, so I'm using my mother's. Anyway,
here's another installment of Blue Lightning.
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Blue Lightning
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Volume IV
(c) 1995 By Damon Casale
The year is 2008. Overcrowding, a totalitarian government, and
vicious, constantly infighting intelligence agencies plague the world.
It's not a nice place to live.
I had a plan. There was a way out, away from all of the worst
humanity has to offer. It was only a matter of time...
* Night Out
The planet slowly circled below, gray and silent.
"It's been three hours. I'm worried." Jeremy frowned. "I hope
it's just the storm. They should have signaled by now."
"If they did, we probably wouldn't have gotten it. That storm is
really messing things up", Lucky said.
Andrea gazed at the screen. "I wonder what's down there."
"Lots of plant life, but very little animal life, from what I can
scan."
"I'd like to go, but..."
Jeremy shook his head solemnly. "It's way too dangerous."
"I know. But I can't stand not knowing..."
Jeremy thought for a long moment. "If we don't hear from them by
tomorrow, we'll wait for the storm to pass and send down a search party."
He looked at her. "I don't think you should go, though."
"Please?"
"It's your decision. But since we don't know what's down there--"
"But that's why I want to go."
He sighed. "Are you sure Nick will be all right, with Tyler?"
She nodded. "I've been stuck up here for too long. I want to see
a planet, for once."
They faced the viewscreen, silently gazing at the enigma below.
**********
Chris and I dashed through the hole, out of the rain, and dumped an
armload of wet tinder each on the ground.
Steve looked at me, and raised an eyebrow.
"What are you waiting for?"
"You expect to be able to light that?" He asked.
"We can try. Would you?"
He pulled out his laser, and fired it nonchalantly at the smaller
pile of tinder. For a moment, it just smoked and supttered. Finally, a
few weak tongues of flame appeared.
We sat down, cold, wet, and miserable.
"All right, let's eat."
I rummaged through a backpack, and pulled out a few food packets,
some cups, and a pan. A moment later, the pleasant aroma of sizzling meat
and vegetables wafted through the room.
"WACHOO!!"
Steve glared at me. "Watch it. Fine, that's yours."
I sniffled. "Sorry."
A bit of rainwater from outside, and the stew bubbled and popped
invitingly.
"What are we gonna do?"
I looked at Steve. "Tomorrow, if the storm lets up, we'll fire
that flare gun of yours."
"Great. One more scoutcraft down, but at least we can get back to
the ship."
I shook my head. "We're sticking around. I'll be getting more
supplies, and a team down here to explore the ruins."
He grimaced. "You never learn, do you?"
"I'll want the scoutcraft repaired too, if possible. We only have
two more, besides the flitter."
I poured the stew into a cup, and handed the pan to Chris, who
started on her own stew. "I think I'll stick around."
John shrugged. "Same."
Steve sighed. "If I didn't have a job to do..."
For several minutes, the sound of simmering meat and vegetables,
and the howling of the wind and rain outside, were the only sounds in the
room.
"ACHOOO!"
Chris sniffled.
I smiled at her, chuckling.
My nose itched again -- "WACHOO!"
She laughed, and grinned wryly.
The air was misty, and it was still fairly dark outside. The rain
had finally stopped, leaving the wind to moan softly through the trees.
John stirred, and sat up. Everyone else was still asleep.
He stood by the hole, looking out into the morning fog. Thinking.
Chris joined him shortly. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
He nodded. "And a bit frightening."
She frowned at him, puzzled. "Why frightening?"
"I'm not one for wanting to explore the unknown."
He smiled slightly. "Peace and quiet appeals to me. That's one
reason I became a doctor. It's a little harder to get hurt in this line of
work."
She smiled back, and...
Steve tapped John on his shoulder.
They started, separating.
"Good morning."
John smiled sheepishly, and they walked back inside.
A booted foot jabbed at me. I moaned and rolled over, trying to
find sleep again.
"Come on, that's long enough."
Steve found my shoulderblade with his boot.
"Ow. I'm awake already." I sat up, rubbing my eyes, and
stretched.
"Good morning. We're up early", I said.
"Now that you're awake..."
I stood, dusting myself off. "Right. Where's that flare gun?"
Steve reached inside his coat, and produced a short, stubby pistol.
"Let's go, then."
The sky was clearing up, and the mist had all but dissipated. It
was turning out to be a bright, sunny morning.
I pointed. "Look!"
Steve nodded, and raised the flare gun.
**********
Andrea smiled. "Look!"
"I see it." Jeremy tapped away at ops.
Eric nodded. "That's them, all right."
**********
Chris frowned, gazing after the scoutcraft. "Where are they
going?"
"They can't land here. Not enough room."
She started off into the woods. "Then come on."
I smiled. "Yes, ma'am."
Jeremy, Eric, and Andrea were waiting for us, as we walked out of
the woods.
"Am I glad to see you guys."
Jeremy frowned. "What happened?"
"The storm caught us by surprise. We got hit by lightning." Chris
harrumphed, and shook her head.
"How bad?"
I looked back at the forest. "Our scoutcraft crashed back there.
We were lucky."
"And I'm supposed to fix it, right?"
Eric quirked a grin. "Can't you be more careful with your toys?"
I grinned back. Someone chuckled softly.
"I'll see what I can do. I'll need some things from the ship."
I nodded. "All right. We'll also need some supplies. We'll be
here a while."
"I'd like to explore those ruins." I paused, lost in thought.
"Let's get back to the ship, then."
Andrea gazed into the forest. "What was it like?"
"The ruins?"
She nodded quickly.
"We didn't see much. If you want, you can come along next time."
"Do you mind if I stay here?" She looked back at me, questioning.
"Eric, do you mind sticking around?"
"No problem", he said.
I climbed into the ship. "See you later, then. Meet us back here
in three hours. Have fun."
She smiled, and waved.
The ramp closed, and my voice echoed from inside. "I need a
shower..."
Damon Casale
scyth@andrew.cmu.edu