Starting from Scratch (19 page)

“When the big gun fires it’s ionic bolt, the ions
from the smaller guns would help hold the bigger blast of ions to
move in the proper direction, giving it far greater accuracy and
range. The weakening balloon effect, which happens with all laser
and plasma shots, wouldn’t happen until much further down the shot
line. It should extend the effective range by over 400%. Basically,
you’d be firing a gun with a four thousand meter barrel.”

Mike whistled and asked, “What sort of range will
this thing have?”

“Dr, Frankenberger wasn’t sure, but he felt that it
might be effective to a range of fifty thousand miles. Also, he
thinks we can mount two of them on a small shuttle.”

“What about mounting them on the Sauran fighters we
have?”

Bet looked puzzled, then said, “I vaguely remember
those being mention by Mary, but I don’t think Dr, Frankenberger
was present at the time. In other words, I don’t know if they could
be placed there or not.”

Bambi offered, “I can place anything on anything. But
how is that going to affect the performance of the fighters. It
would be nice to have some powerful weapons on them, but if they
can’t maneuver, then they’re dead meat.”

Mike raised his eyebrows and said, “Well, it is food
for thought. What else do you have for me?”

Bet stood up and stretched, arching her back as she
did so. Mike couldn’t keep his eyes off of her svelte figure and
the alluring bulge of her breasts. He thought, “This is ridiculous.
I really have to get a handle on my libido.”

Then he got the shock of his life. Bet looked into
his eyes and said, “I’ve always been kind of a loose woman,
although it was only in my thoughts. I like sex and, in my youth,
fooling around cost me two husbands. My new healthy body is
horny.”

Her expression changed to one of fear. “Mike, I’m
afraid of being upgraded and afraid of what’s going on out here and
I’m very afraid for my grandchildren. In spite of all that, I want
a man. I’ve always been attracted to a man who is strong in heart
and just plain strong. On this tub, you’re it. I know I ain’t much,
when compared to a twenty five year old hard body like you, but if
you want me, I’m yours.”

“Damn it, Bet, you don’t even give a man a chance to
seduce you. Honestly, I…I have thought of you in that way. Don’t
forget, being young is still new to me. So when I saw you, after
you had undergone the initial med unit treatment, I found you very
attractive. But, it’s more than that; you have a way of putting me
on edge and also at ease. I like you Bet, but it wouldn’t be right
for me to be intimate with a subordinate.”

“Oh screw that crap, Mike. Either take me or tell me
to go. I’ll never bother you again, I promise.”

He rose, moved toward her, and as he grinned he said,
“Now that would be a damn shame.”

Bambi had to remind him privately.
Be gentle with
her, Mike. She hasn’t been upgraded yet and you’re much more
powerful than Bet can imagine.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

For the next hour, Bambi observed with great interest
from every possible angle.

For Mike it was an awkward experience, of trial and
error. He was terrified that he would become overwhelmed by his
first intimacy in many years and do serious harm to Bet.

She, on the other hand, proved to be a completely
uninhibited lover, who was quite skilled. She wasn’t Sherry, who
was loving and considerate. Yet, she was determined to give as well
as receive, without being too demanding.

Afterward, as they lay in the dim light, he
confessed, “That was rather awkward. I was so afraid of harming you
and maybe even more afraid of not pleasing you.”

She ran her fingers through the light hairs of his
chest and told him, “You were perfect, Mike. I was so needy. I was
attracted to you, when first we met and I’m ashamed at being so
forward with you. I hungered so badly to be wanted by a man. In my
youth, when those needs built up to a fever pitch, I would go after
the nearest man available.

“I’ve spent most of my later life in the world of
science, pretty much ignoring my baser needs. I know I told you I
was a loose woman; but I’m really not the sort of dame who comes on
so strong. I don’t regret throwing myself at you, but I’m still
ashamed. I acted like a whore.”

He gently shook her shoulder, as he said, “I think we
both suffered from the same problem. We’re scared and now that we
have younger bodies, we used them to explore an area of human
intimacy that neither of us had enjoyed for many years. Honestly,
it was a great way to lessen the burden of fear that I’ve had and I
suspect it was the same for you.”

“Is that what it was, Mike? Did we just screw to deal
with our fears? That’s terribly sad, if you’re right. Didn’t it
have any meaning for you at all?”

“Yes, it certainly did. I was attracted to your old
bones, when I first saw you. But, what really grabbed me was the
way you fired off at me, even though you were dead wrong. And then
you came to me and admitted you were wrong. That’s rare for anyone,
especially someone who is so accomplished and respected in her
field.”

He caressed her neck and told her, “I admired the way
you handled it, although I realized you were using your
considerable charms to get your way. I loved it.”

She pulled back from him, raised her head and glared
at him, saying, “My old bones…really. You certainly are a charmer,
Mike Hurst.”

He laughed and she joined him, as he hugged her
carefully.

Bet suddenly sat up and called out, “Bambi, I suppose
you’re there, watching us.”

There was no response. Mike said, “Bambi, you can’t
very well hide from us. We know you’re there.”

Bambi responded sweetly. “I was reluctant to
interrupt a special moment for both of you. What can I do for you,
Dr. Fulwiler?”

“You can start by calling me Bet. I know this is a
stupid question, but once I’ve been upgraded, will I look as I did
in my youth. You see, I had some work done when I was in my
twenties. I had my weak chin extended, my nose adjusted and” she
looked at Mike with embarrassment as she admitted, “I had my tiny
breast augmented. Bambi, I don’t want to look like I did as young
woman. Can you fix that?”

Bambi asked, “Bet, should I have Mike look through
some old girlie magazines and pick one out. I can make you look
like any one you wish.”

Mike exploded, “Damn it, Bambi, that’s enough. You
and Bet can discuss this, in private. I don’t want to know. I’m
sure I’ll like what I see, once Bet has been upgraded. Just pay
attention to her wishes and keep it quiet, just between the two of
you.”

“Yes General.” Bambi sounded a bit peevish at his
admonition.

Chapter
11

A few hours later the ship was abuzz with activity,
most of it by robots of various sizes and shapes. The med units had
been filled with men and, of course, the scientists, including Bet.
None of them had begun the painful transition yet. That would start
after their bodies had been strengthened. All of those people had
been loaded on the large shuttle, where Mike, Max, Jo and Mary
would ride with them to provide comfort, during the worst of the
procedure.

Huge robots, the likes of which Mike had never seen,
were attached to the outside of each shuttle. Bambi assured him
their presence wouldn’t effect the movement of the shuttles. Once
they headed for Earth in the shuttles, the giant mining robots
could be dropped off on the asteroid that Bambi had selected as the
sight of the new base. The huge machines would begin the process of
hollowing out the asteroid for their new home.

The smaller robots that had been left in the asteroid
belt, back when they made their first trip to Earth, had been
mining for precious metals and they’d been quite successful at it.
There were now sizable loads of gold, platinum, iron, nickel,
manganese, titanium, zinc and aluminum. A good variety of other
rare metals were being collected and set aside for future use a
well.

Bambi commed Mike.
Sir, I’m about to try and take
over the beacons. I’ve already prepped them for this, but I haven’t
attempted to place any new instructions, as yet. I’m waiting for
your order.

Bambi, I told you to just do it and tell me if it
goes haywire.

I know sir. But, it just didn’t feel right to chance
it, without having you with me, as I try it out.

“
OK, Bambi. You’ve got as much riding on this as
we do. Go ahead and do it. And let me see what’s happening as you
do.

In his mind, she sent him a trigger on his MCP, which
blinked for him. When he mentally touched it, he felt, rather than
saw the beacons. She had them all connected through her, so she
wouldn’t have to go to each one separately.

Here goes, General.

She sent a complete series of new instructions, which
would allow the shuttles to pass through the solar system,
unnoticed. He waited for the beacons to respond, but felt nothing
and that frightened him.

Bambi, what’s happening?

The absolute best thing that could happen, nothing.
They’ve accepted my control. You don’t notice anything, because
they haven’t seen anything to be alarmed about. The real test will
be in a few hours, when we move the Mother ship to the Asteroid
belt.

Mike was surprised by this idea.
We never
discussed moving right now.

Oops. My bad. It does make sense though, sir. We can
go to and from the Earth much faster and the Mother Ship will
provide an enormous boost to the robots ability to hollow out the
asteroid. With the high powered mining laser on board, it will
shave off months of work to prepare the new base for habitation.
The first section should be ready to occupy in a few weeks.

So fast?

Yes sir. Now that the beacons are ours, I’ve told
them to ignore all shuttle traffic and to pay no attention to
activity in this region of the Belt. Pretty cool, don’t ya
think?

He laughed and said, “Yeah, very cool. So when do we
make this move?’

“Sir, I’ve taken the liberty of starting the
intersolar drive engines. We will need a few more hours, as I check
out the entirety of the engineering section. Once that’s done, we
will be able to begin movement. It shouldn’t take more than six to
eight days to reach our first destination.

“One more thing, General. Do you think we should
notify the Earth? This movement will probably be noticed by a few
of their telescopes.”

He let out a huge sigh and told her, “Yes, Bambi, we
should. Get Todd Pierpoint on the line for me and have Max listen
in, but tell him to remain silent.”

Pierpoint had been in a meeting and had him wait for
twenty minutes. When he finally came on he apologized. “Sorry Mike,
I couldn’t leave this security meeting. It was a gathering of NATO
security chiefs and it would have looked suspicious if I ran out to
chat with you. So, what’s up?”

“We’re moving the Mother Ship to the Asteroid Belt.
Bambi tells me Earth telescopes might notice it and some of those
will not be the friendliest of countries. We need a reason for
this. Do you have any astronomers who might be able to come up with
something plausible?”

“I’ll check with Marge Chalmers and let you know. If
anyone can find the right person for this, it would be her. Why are
you moving?”

Mike explained the idea of using an asteroid as a
base and the closer proximity to Earth as the reason.

Todd told him, “I’ll tell the President and the rest
of the insiders. By the way, when is this going to happen?”

“We’ll start moving shortly and I’m told it will take
about six days.”

“Mike, I don’t think we can concoct a reason for such
an event so quickly.”

He grinned and said, “Then deny it. Tell them it was
just an anomaly and you’re as puzzled as anyone. The asteroid is a
big one, more than forty five miles long. So, once we’re in
position, all of the activity will be on the far side of the
asteroid, where no one will be able to see us. For a while, the
asteroid and the area around it will look normal. But that will
change as we begin to have frequent flights back and forth.

“At some point you’re going to have to brief the
other world leaders about this and I suggest they keep it quiet,
although I doubt they’ll be able to control the leaks.”

Todd gave him a concerned laugh and suggested, “You
would have made a wonderful politician, Mike. Deny, deny,
deny.”

“There’s one more thing, Mr. Pierpoint. We’ll be
coming to Earth much sooner than we expected and we’re bringing as
much stuff as we can. I hope that you guys have Nellis ready for
us, because we’re going to be setting down there in a few weeks. We
really need to get the ball rolling.”

There was an awkward pause, and then Todd asked,
“Have you decided how you’re going to deal with this damaged ship
headed your way.”

“We have some ideas and it’s looking better and we’ll
continue to work on it. Also, I want to include your people on the
planning for taking that ship. But, I’m sure you must be aware of
the old adage, ‘All plans go to hell, once the first shot is
fired.”

“That’s not very comforting, Mike.”

“My thoughts exactly. Gotta go.”

He spent several hours looking into every aspect of
what they were taking to Earth. He constantly badgered Bambi about
items they weren’t taking and whether or not they should find a way
to bring them along.

Finally, she commed him privately.
Sir, with all
due respect, you’re asking me for info about everything. Use your
MCP and find the answers for yourself. I don’t want you to think
that you’re alone with this problem. I’ve had to mention this to
several others. You guys keep looking to me for answers that are
easily available to you, if you learn how to use your mind. You’ll
save everyone a lot of time and become more confident when the shit
hits the fan, and we know it will eventually.