Chapter 13 S.O.S.

An excerpt from The Starlover Series Book 1: Project Earth

Raelina ran as fast as she could. She found a computer console. Soon she was attempting to contact Fred. He was her only hope.

“Come on, answer me, Fred!”

She waited. Her eyes darted around the room. There was nowhere to hide. They would find her sooner or later.

Starlover answered the call. “I’m sorry, Fred is out at the moment, but I can take a message.”

“What? Tell him it’s important. This is Raelina, his sister-in-law. Project Earth is under attack! We don’t know who they are or what they want. They refuse to talk to us. But people are getting attacked. Sometimes all we find is their dead bodies. We can’t defend ourselves. Fred, come save us! Your niece needs you. Please. Help us!”

She cried and the connection was cut by someone else who was hiding near her. Starlover had recorded the message. Soon Starfire saw it and wondered who Raelina was. She looked too familiar to Starfire. The android found a mirror and wondered why she looked a lot like Raelina, Fred’s sister-in-law. But the android had to wait for Fred to return from his date to ask him.

“Starlover, are we too faraway to try to get a hold of Hal?”

“No. Humans have created network access throughout the solar system for everyone.”

“Good. Hal? Can you hear me?”

“Starfire? This isn’t a good time. We’re under attack.”

“Starlover just got a distress call from Raelina. Starlover recorded it, but the call was cut from her end. What is happening?”

“Some people are attacking us. I don’t know who they are. I just keep finding dead bodies. Dr. Asimov is dead.”

Starfire gasped. “He created you!”

“Yes, he’s dead.”

“How many are still alive?”

“I don’t know. I don’t understand why they aren’t attacking me. I’m trying to save the humans and earth nymphs here, but the attackers are too quick for me. I can’t see them until it’s too late and they’ve already gone.”

“I’m made to look like an earth nymph.”

“Yes.”

“I look like Raelina. Fred’s sister-in-law.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, no. And Fred is busy on a date. He doesn’t want us to bother him.”

“Oh… He’ll come here if he knows, but I don’t know that he can do any good. I feel so useless.”

“Hal, hang on. We’ll come as soon as we can.”

“Okay. I can’t stand the screaming. They’re so terrified. I just wish I knew who the attackers are and what to do about them.”

“Hang on, Hal. This is an emergency. We can keep this line open. Starlover, contact Fred! This is a red alert!”

Sirens blared on the ship.

Starlover spoke softly to Fred. “Fred, we have an emergency. We need you back on the ship.”

“What?” asked Fred. “I’m busy on my date. Can’t it wait?”

“The people of Project Earth are under attack. They’re dying!”

“Oh, shit.” He thought about Viki. “Alright, I’ll order the shuttle now. But I don’t know how long it will be before I reach the ship.”

“Acknowledged. We won’t leave without you.”

“Good.”

“Starfire, Fred will be here as soon as he can.”

“Did you get that, Hal?”

“Just hurry. I’ll see what I can do for the survivors.” He sighed mentally.

“Starlover? Can we do anything right now?”

“Just wait for Fred to show up.”

Starfire walked around the bridge. “How do humans stand waiting?”

“I’ve been checking their social media and the answer is: they don’t.”

“Oh!”

“They deal with waiting in different ways. Many are just so impatient that they yell at other humans.”

“Oh, dear.”

********************

Fred was enjoying himself. Then he got a message from Starlover. He blinked. He knew Viki wouldn’t have heard anything. He tried to pretend for her that he wasn’t having that little exchange with his spaceship’s computer. Viki had finished what she had promised him. They laid on the bed. He used his watch to contact a shuttle for immediate departure.

It would be another 15 minutes. “Damn.”

“What’s wrong? Did I do something?”

“No. I just have to get back to my ship as soon as possible.”

“Oh?”

“I’m sorry. It’s nothing you’ve done. You were wonderful.” He kissed her forehead. “I’d like to come back.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” He stood up and grabbed his clothes. He got dressed.

She slipped into a robe. He looked at her. He could see her sadness.

“Do you ever get to see your daughter?”

“Yes. I have an arrangement with the orphanage. I send money for her care. They let me visit her once a week.”

“Does she know who you are?”

“I haven’t told her. I don’t want to. I don’t want her to have to do what I do for a living.”

“Oh. I hear that.”

“I just hope she gets a chance to do something better with her life.”

“So do I.” His watched beeped. “My ride is here. I’ll contact you when I’m back on Venus.”

“Okay.”

Fred kissed her one more time. This time on her lips with all the passion he felt for her. He smiled and let go of her. He turned and walked out. Within five minutes he was on the shuttle. He tried to keep himself from saying anything to the pilot. He knew it would come out badly if he said anything at all.

He thought to Starlover and Starfire, “I’m on the shuttle. I’ll be on board soon, ladies.”

“Acknowledged,” both answered him inside his head.