that.”
Chapter Five
“The hull shield is too badly damaged for interplanetary travel. Not capable of atmosphere re-entry. Everything else is all right, though, so we can get around Amulen.”
“Okay, thanks,” Brandon said to the shuttle pilot. “Our task here is only minimally successful, but we’ll move forward with the resuscitation of the five subjects we managed to save. I have an errand to run, unfortunately, so we’ll move the bulk of the food supply from the shuttle into the lab and seal the building again while I’m gone.”
“What about us?” Jumper asked.
“You kids come with me.”
Jumper was happy to hear that.
Yob3 objected. “Brandon, you know this process goes a lot easier when another Earthling is here to help administrate.”
“I’d stay if I could, Professor. Believe me. You’ve revived twenty-five of us with no human administrators, and we all turned out fine—except for Derek, or course.” Jumper cocked his head but straightened it when Yob3 laughed.
Brandon’s lightpad beeped. He activated it, read a message, and chuckled.
“Mip7 has booked me a ride on a hostile alien shuttle with a rebellious militia leader, in an attempt to stop a war. Sounds perfect. Just like the old days.”
Yob3 stopped laughing. “Why do I have the feeling we’re going to be stranded here?”
“You won’t,” Brandon said. “I’ve let both Mip7 and Olut6 know our situation. Worse comes to worse, one of them will see to your transportation needs. Derek also knows you’re here, and you have your lightpad. Tun2 will stay with you. He might come in handy.”
“The three of us can handle everything in the lab,” Yob3 said. “You sure you don’t need the soldier with you?”
“I’m sure. Where I’m going, he’d only be a burden. I should be back before the new subjects are ready to be transported.”
“That would be nice.”
Brandon and the two pilots moved cartons of food and equipment from the shuttle to the laboratory, along with a few weapons. There was no more trouble outside. When they were finished, Brandon reassured Yob3 that he would soon return before leading Jumper, Alan, and Kayla back out to the shuttle. Tun2 was waiting for them. It was getting to be late in the day.
“Have Yob3 reactivate the force-field from the inside,” Brandon said to Tun2. “I’m going to hover until I see it come on. Please don’t make me wait around until more of those mini-drones show up.”
Tun2 looked concerned but agreed. The thought crossed Jumper’s mind that he took orders from Brandon as if Brandon was his commander. But then, soldiers were conditioned to receive orders from people who sounded authoritative. Jumper knew that’s why he could never join the military. Not unless they let him in as the High General.
Jumper climbed into the copilot’s seat with enthusiasm, never having been in a real cockpit before. He enjoyed the few flights he’d taken on the commercial shuttles in the past, but these small private crafts were a different experience. Jumper looked behind him to watch Alan and Kayla settle in. When they were securely in the cabin with the door closed, Brandon fired up the hover engines.
“When’s the last time you flew one of these, Uncle Brandon?”
“Trust me—you don’t want to know the answer to that.”
Jumper smiled widely at his response. He knew Alan and Kayla overheard it and were probably nervous as a result, which made it even better. As far as Jumper was concerned, life didn’t get any better than this moment. He was out of the Earth colony, away from the university, and embarking on an adventure with Uncle Brandon, who was famous among humans for his adventures. Here Jumper was right next to him in the copilot seat. The fact that Uncle Brandon was flying, and admitting to being a little rusty at it, perfected the scene.
Tun2 waited until they were off the ground before entering the building. Brandon ignited the thrusters, and
Chapter Five
“The hull shield is too badly damaged for interplanetary travel. Not capable of atmosphere re-entry. Everything else is all right, though, so we can get around Amulen.”
“Okay, thanks,” Brandon said to the shuttle pilot. “Our task here is only minimally successful, but we’ll move forward with the resuscitation of the five subjects we managed to save. I have an errand to run, unfortunately, so we’ll move the bulk of the food supply from the shuttle into the lab and seal the building again while I’m gone.”
“What about us?” Jumper asked.
“You kids come with me.”
Jumper was happy to hear that.
Yob3 objected. “Brandon, you know this process goes a lot easier when another Earthling is here to help administrate.”
“I’d stay if I could, Professor. Believe me. You’ve revived twenty-five of us with no human administrators, and we all turned out fine—except for Derek, or course.” Jumper cocked his head but straightened it when Yob3 laughed.
Brandon’s lightpad beeped. He activated it, read a message, and chuckled.
“Mip7 has booked me a ride on a hostile alien shuttle with a rebellious militia leader, in an attempt to stop a war. Sounds perfect. Just like the old days.”
Yob3 stopped laughing. “Why do I have the feeling we’re going to be stranded here?”
“You won’t,” Brandon said. “I’ve let both Mip7 and Olut6 know our situation. Worse comes to worse, one of them will see to your transportation needs. Derek also knows you’re here, and you have your lightpad. Tun2 will stay with you. He might come in handy.”
“The three of us can handle everything in the lab,” Yob3 said. “You sure you don’t need the soldier with you?”
“I’m sure. Where I’m going, he’d only be a burden. I should be back before the new subjects are ready to be transported.”
“That would be nice.”
Brandon and the two pilots moved cartons of food and equipment from the shuttle to the laboratory, along with a few weapons. There was no more trouble outside. When they were finished, Brandon reassured Yob3 that he would soon return before leading Jumper, Alan, and Kayla back out to the shuttle. Tun2 was waiting for them. It was getting to be late in the day.
“Have Yob3 reactivate the force-field from the inside,” Brandon said to Tun2. “I’m going to hover until I see it come on. Please don’t make me wait around until more of those mini-drones show up.”
Tun2 looked concerned but agreed. The thought crossed Jumper’s mind that he took orders from Brandon as if Brandon was his commander. But then, soldiers were conditioned to receive orders from people who sounded authoritative. Jumper knew that’s why he could never join the military. Not unless they let him in as the High General.
Jumper climbed into the copilot’s seat with enthusiasm, never having been in a real cockpit before. He enjoyed the few flights he’d taken on the commercial shuttles in the past, but these small private crafts were a different experience. Jumper looked behind him to watch Alan and Kayla settle in. When they were securely in the cabin with the door closed, Brandon fired up the hover engines.
“When’s the last time you flew one of these, Uncle Brandon?”
“Trust me—you don’t want to know the answer to that.”
Jumper smiled widely at his response. He knew Alan and Kayla overheard it and were probably nervous as a result, which made it even better. As far as Jumper was concerned, life didn’t get any better than this moment. He was out of the Earth colony, away from the university, and embarking on an adventure with Uncle Brandon, who was famous among humans for his adventures. Here Jumper was right next to him in the copilot seat. The fact that Uncle Brandon was flying, and admitting to being a little rusty at it, perfected the scene.
Tun2 waited until they were off the ground before entering the building. Brandon ignited the thrusters, and
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