Chapter 5
Back in their cell and still at gunpoint, Admiral Reynolds wanted to talk. After three weeks of brooding silence, he’d picked this time to come alive. What Jason needed was quiet. Multiple conversations were going on in his head via what he’d recently determined was referred to as NanoTexting. Earlier, Jason had tried to communicate to his father this way, but apparently he hadn’t activated that NanoCom option. Jason couldn’t fault him; until several minutes ago, he too had no idea the option even existed.
Jason turned to his father and held up a hand. “Dad, please! Just give me a few minutes to think. I’m doing some … internal processing here, do you understand?” The admiral sat back in a huff; his frustration seemed to be rising by the minute. Jason closed his eyes and returned to his in-process NanoText conversation with Ricket.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
… No, Ricket, I saw her. It was like a signal. She held two fingers up to her ear, just as we do when communicating in public via NanoCom. What I’m asking you is this: was she nanotized like the rest of us—-perhaps back when she was injured? I need to know if, like the crew, she has the same NanoCom tech in her head.
Science Officer Ricket:
Yes, she was nanotized, but restrictions were placed on her devices. She cannot initiate conversations—only respond to those of others—and only from those at officer level.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
So she would know that she has those capabilities. She was telling me to contact her.
Science Officer Ricket:
That seems like a logical assumption, Captain.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
Can you do that now? Go ahead and remotely configure her NanoCom? And configure NanoText for her as well?
Science Officer Ricket:
Yes, done.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
And what about Admiral Reynolds? Can you configure his as well?
Science Officer Ricket:
Yes, done.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
Also, is there a way for you to access the Pacesetter remotely?
Science Officer Ricket:
Yes, Captain.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
Is she located at the same coordinates here at the outpost where I left her?
Science Officer Ricket:
Yes, sir. Although several unsuccessful attempts have been made to enter her cockpit.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
Thank you. I’ll be back to you shortly.
Disconnect NanoText Command: Science Officer Ricket
Establish outbound NanoText hail: Crew Member Mollie Reynolds:
Crew Mollie Reynolds:
OMG, Dad, what took you so long?
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
For one thing, I can’t text as quickly as an 8-yr-old can. How are you? How is your mother?
Crew Mollie Reynolds:
I’m fine. Mom’s OK too. She punched a man in the face and he pushed her to the ground really hard. They did that twice.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
Are you alone? Is someone there watching you now?
Crew Mollie Reynolds:
No, we are alone.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
I want you to tell your mother I’m coming for you. Tell her to hang on. Also, do you know where you are? Where you’re being held?
Crew Mollie Reynolds:
Yes. We are on The Gordita in the cages. It’s really gross and it smells bad. Mom and I are in the same cage together. All the crew people from The Lilly are in cages too. Mom says they gassed us last night while we slept and then moved us here.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
How about Billy and the rest of the SEALs? Where are they?
Crew Mollie Reynolds:
Here too. They are mad. Billy keeps yelling bad words I can’t repeat.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
One last question: Do you know where The Gordita is? Still in Washington? In space?
Crew Mollie Reynolds:
I don’t know. I’m scared, Dad! Please hurry!
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
Hang on just a little longer, kiddo. I’m proud of you and I’m on my way!
Disconnect NanoText Command: Crew Member Mollie Reynolds
The whole texting process left Jason mentally exhausted. How the hell do kids do it all day long? And since Ricket had also reconfigured each of the crew’s NanoText settings, he was far from finished.
Within the hour, the cell door clanged opened and they were marched back to the conference room. The feed from Mollie and Nan’s cage was back on the screen.
“Well?” said Admiral Cramer. “I have an unscheduled appointment at the White House. You’re going to do as I’ve asked. Right now … or you will witness first the death of your former wife, and then that of your daughter.” Two soldiers had entered Mollie and Nan’s cell, rifle barrels held mere inches from their heads.
“So, what’s it going to be, Captain?” Admiral Cramer asked.
She’d always borne an irritating air of superiority, but now her smug tone carried it to a whole new level.
Jason and his father looked at the screen, seemingly weighing their alternatives. Mollie was trying to hold it together, but was starting to lose her composure. Scowling, Jason shook his head toward the display. It started with a smile. Then Mollie was holding back a giggle. Then Nan was holding back a smile and then a giggle as well.
“What the hell’s wrong with those two?” Admiral Cramer barked, looking back and forth from the display to Jason and his father. “I don’t think you understand the seriousness of—” She abruptly went silent with the appearance of two different soldiers who’d moved into camera view and taken seats next to Mollie and Nan. Billy Hernandez smiled and waved up to the camera.
Jason slowly stood and walked to the front of the room and sat down next to Admiral Cramer. “Let me tell you where your plan fell apart, Admiral …”
There was new activity from the display with the CNN news feed. High above, perhaps from a news helicopter, the scene was of Washington D.C. Both Craing Battle Cruisers hung in the air, big and ominous-looking, and were firing their energy weapons from multiple guns. Difficult to see at first, the dark-red Pacesetter fighter came into view maneuvering at incredible speeds. Astonishingly, it was avoiding plasma bursts from the Craing warships. The Pacesetter then took a direct hit to her aft shields. Seemingly undamaged, the small fighter returned fire. Jason wasn’t sure who on The Lilly was remotely piloting the fighter, but his or her skill level was impressive. Obviously the fighter was using the latest highly-effective type of munitions. First one and then the second Craing warship ceased firing. Drifting, they’d taken damage to their drives. Slowly at first, then picking up speed, the mammoth vessels fell from the sky.
A mile apart from each other, the two warships billowed dark smoke into the air—miraculously avoiding the populace below, each crashed onto opposite banks of the Potomac River.
Admiral Cramer sat back in her chair, realization of the situation coming to bear.
The news feed changed again, this time to the third Craing cruiser, still sitting on the White House lawn. Seeing the spaceship, Admiral Cramer’s confidence returned.
“One Craing Battle Cruiser is more than enough to bring Washington to its knees, Captain,” she said with contempt.
“Don’t get your hopes up, ma’am,” Jason said, pointing to the display. “See those markings—there towards the stern? I memorized those marks—saw them when that ship landed in San Bernardino and took my ex-wife captive. Ironically, my daughter had named that very same vessel. She called it The Gordita.” Jason pointed to the other display and the now empty cage. “You forget, Admiral, just like the Pacesetter, The Gordita has been configured for remote access. All her onboard systems can be controlled by The Lilly—weapons systems, navigation systems, even the ability to open prisoner cage doors. Billy Hernandez and his SEAL team took back control of The Gordita several minutes ago.” The admiral watched as her one last hope lifted off from the White House lawn and quickly flew out of the camera’s view. “The Gordita is currently on her way back to the outpost,” Jason said.