highflyingadventures

Free Hit Counters

 
                                                                                                                           Episode 4

                                                                                     Copyright 1/22/2001

                                                                                                                                by

                                                                                                                               NM

                                                                                                 Early Monday morning. Dr. Lewis’ ranch

     The sounds of early morning birds greeted Zev as his eyes flickered open, happy in the knowledge that he was again connected to home and to those which he loved. As he lay quietly upon his back; both hands under his head, he quietly wondered just how his QI had managed to have a ship delivered here without his knowledge? Did his QI actually “feel” something for him? Friendship, perhaps? Or had QI simply wanted to eliminate his emotional strain; removing the sense of isolation which he was feeling to ensure that his mind would once again be focused upon his job, and not distracted by unproductive emotions? There was clearly more to the guest within his mind and their relationship than he had previously thought. Perhaps his questions were irrelevant. Maybe all that mattered was how they both worked together..... Maybe ..... At any rate, time would tell ..... Buzzzzzzzzzz. He reached over and gently tapped the alarm clock, eliminating the offending noise.
     “Ah. I see that you are already awake, Zev. A good morning to you.”
     "Thanks to you, QI, it is indeed a very good morning. I wish to thank you for giving me a way home once more.”
     “No problem. I am pleased to have been able to accomplish the task.”
      Another thought flashed through the young man’s mind. Just where did his QI go at night, and during those time periods, both short and long, when he didn’t hear from him? Zev slowly shook his head. Too many questions without answers. Maybe one day he’d figure them out ..... For now, a really hot shower and a good breakfast would be enough. He was going to have to remember to hold himself  in check during work this week.
                                                                         *****************
     And that's just what he did; he fit right in at work. Although difficult not to finish the job hours sooner than normal, with Jackson Hole's prodding and his QI’s reminders, he managed to blend in .. to look humanly normal.
     Surprisingly, at his newly relaxed pace, he found the time and days proceeding quickly. And before he knew it, Wednesday afternoon had arrived along with his friend; for by the time that Zev had returned from post hole digging he found Anna Lewis already back at the ranch, hard at work within her study -- its' closed door an unmistakable sign to stay out; for every time that she returned from Neon City she would spend two to three hours updating her records and files ..... At dinner there would be plenty of time to catch up on things. He headed silently down the thickly carpeted hallway toward his room, a hot shower and a change of clothes.
                                                                           ************
     “I thought that you maintained your control quite well at work this week, my host.”
     “I believe that I did, QI. Thank you. You know, right now it’s awfully tough holding back sometimes. But I can only assume that the more that I do it, the easier it’ll get.”
     “Exactly. My scans indicate that Dr. Lewis is now finished with her work and dinner is prepaired.”
     “Great!” Zev quietly exclaimed as he stepped from the steaming shower, dried and then quickly dressed. “Even though today wasn’t a difficult one I still managed to work up a pretty good appetite.”
     “I hope that they have plenty upon the table.”
     “For sure, buddy.”
     “Hi ya, Doc. How was your stay in the city,” Zev happily asked as he gently pulled a chair away from the table.
     “Ok, Zev,” Anna said, her reply seemingly a bit distant.
     “Is there something wrong, Doc?”
     Anna slowly shook her head. “I’m afraid that I can't give you a definitive answer, Zev. We've had quite a few cases at the hospital of people complaining of flu like symptoms, abdominal pain, weakness; things along those lines. Of course the flu isn’t out of the question," she continued with a slight off hand jesture, "but it’s not really the time of  year when one would expect to see this many cases of it.”
     “Perhaps a new strain?”
     “That's a possibility," Anna replied with a thoughtful nod. "But in all cases, with the exception of a couple of individuals, our results were negative. We considered food poisoning but came up empty there as well," Anna said with a frustrated shake of her head. "The affected individuals seemed to have nothing really in common. Even with some slight similarities from time to time the cases were so wide spread that we couldn’t really make amy sort of a connection. Whatever caused the outbreak seemed to be city wide with no identifiable pattern. Generally the symptoms would last about twenty four hours. After that, the people seem to experience no further discomfort.”
                                                                                           *********
    “Dr. Lewis’ description indicates something quite widespread within the city, Zev. Some sort of airborne or aquatic contaminate could possibly be present.”
                                                                                           *********
     “QI seems to think there could be some sort of contaminant in the air or possibly within the cities’ water supply.”
     Dr. Lewis nodded. “That’s what I began to suspect as well. So before I left the city I took an atmospheric and water sample. I thought you might get QI to take a look at it for me.”
     “No problem. Where are they?” With a smallish motion of her hand Dr. Lewis indicated two small containers upon the nearby table -- one, a small specimen container with the water sample within it, the other, a small double sealed tube with her air sample. “Neither is a particularly large sample, but perhaps QI can find something.”
     “I scan nothing of interest within the atmospheric sample, Zev. The water sample appears normal for the most part. However, I do detect some trace residue which I am forced to admit that I am unable to identify or to explain. Unfortunately it is so minute and degraded that it is impossible for me to reconstruct its chemical formula.”
     “Thanks, buddy.”
     “Your air sample is normal, Doc. So there's no concern there. But QI did find a trace residue of something within your water sample. Unfortunately it was too small and degraded for him to analyze."
     “Hmm," Anna mused with a slight nod and rub of her chin. "Now that’s interesting. Something foreign in the water could explain a great deal. QI can't tell me anything more?”
     “I'm afraid that that's impossible," replied Zev with the shake of his head. "Apparently QI can just barely get a reading on it much less tell us if the stuff is from here or elsewhere.”
     “By elsewhere I assume that you mean off world.”
     Zev nodded. “I'm afraid so," he said with a mirthless smile.
     “Damn," Anna heatedly replies. "That's just what we need, something else to contend with." 
     “I understand, Doc," replies Zev with a sympathetic nod. "First you had the Vole stalking Neon City. Now you've got the rifts within the Plain -- and who knows who or what'll show up through the one up there," Zev said with a jab of his thumb skyward. "And let's see, oh yeah; Vashdon wants this world in the worst way and he’ll do just about anything he can to get it. And if I'm not mistaken there have even been hints in the newspapers about some sort of huge, underworld organization that’s supposed to have links all over your world... Iii think that's all," Zev snickers.
     Anna sighs dejectedly. “It’s all pretty depressing really.  Are you certain that you don’t want to phone home and ask for reinforcements?”
     Zev smiled and chuckled once again. “I am sorry, Doc, but for the time being it looks as if I’m all that you’ve got ... I do have a bit of good news though. Last Sunday I had begun thinking about home .. a lot; and by the time that I got back here I was feeling really down.” Zev shook his head. “You know, without my ship there’s no way that I’d ever see home again.”     
     “I understand. Being cut off from your home and family has to really hurt.”
     “It does indeed. Anyway, last Sunday evening after returning from Neon City, QI had me go out to the lake. Now don’t ask me how, but he had requisitioned another ship and had it hidden in the lake. And believe me Doc, I was one, happy camper when I saw it.”
     “That’s wonderful, Zev," exclaimed Anna. "I’m really happy for you. Sooo when are you going to take a little time off and head home for a bit?”
     “No time soon I’m afraid," Zev replied with the shake of his head. "The situation around here is just too unsettled right now. But ya know, just having the ship down there lifts my spirits."

                                                                          *******************
                                                                        Herman Valenski’s estate

     “I don’t understand why you don’t just f(@%)n blow the thing up. Wouldn’t that teach the Mayor a lesson?”
     “I don’t want it to happen that fast, Sweet Cheeks; at least at first. I want to make a point with that f%$#*r. I want him to have to sit there and see it happen, bit by bit. Then at the end,” Valenski nodded with a cruel smile, “it’ll all go up... And he’ll learn his lesson. He won’t f**k around with us again. The next time we tell him something, he’ll damn well know we mean business.”

                                                                     ***********************
                                                                    The ranch of Dr. Anna Lewis.
                                                                        Early Thursday morning.

      “Come on Zev, shake a leg. We got a lot to do over in the North Forty today.”
     Zev swept the last ham and cheese biscuit from the table as he ran out the door. “See you this afternoon, Doc. Have a good day.”
     “You too, Zev.”
     Vaulting easily into the moving pick-up Zev took his seat beside the other ranch hands. From what he had heard, they were going be cutting a pretty big field. Apparently they hoped to get a lot of hay, whatever that was, put up to help them through the next winter. Zev made a mental note to remember to ask Dr. Lewis just why they needed the stuff when it looked as if they already had plenty of food to eat. But whatever it was that they had him doing today, Zev was resolved to be careful, to not over do it. He had to ensure that he fit in.

                                                                          *********************
                                                                                   
     Neon City, easily the largest metropolitan area in the country -- a city where every day of the work week, morning and afternoon, massive numbers of people made their way into and then out of -- a large number of them using the ICW Bridge on their daily trek. The high, long suspension bridge over the ICW was supported by many, concrete pillars sunk deep into the ground upon either side of the waterway, its lone, central support, emerging from a small, thin manmade island directly in the center of the waterway. It was this support which really kept the bridge’s center aloft. Take it out and a great deal of the bridge would collapse.....

                                                                           *******************
                                                                                     The ranch.
                                                                               Thursday afternoon.

     Dr. Anna Lewis was in a serious, oft times life or death profession, but she just couldn’t seem to help herself. Everyday at four thirty, when time permitted; she had to catch William Jumper on Channel Ten. The show had a great following within the city and consistently pulled the highest ratings in the four thirty to five time slot. She liked to call the show The Punches are Us half hour because people were constantly duking it out on stage.
     Today’s show was a particularly juicy one dealing with two women arguing over their lover. It seemed that they were both enjoying the services of another woman of diminutive stature. Neither knew of the other until they were brought on stage and seated conveniently next to each other. Their lover was then brought out and introduced as such -- both women’s look of dismay quickly turning to anger and rage. They had just grabbed each others’ hair when the screen went blank -- an authoritative, disembodied voice  filling the room. “We interrupt our regularly scheduled program to bring you the dramatic events now unfolding at the ICW Bridge.”
     A pale looking John Rast stared directly into the camera. “Ladies and gentlemen, our information is still sketchy; but KNON has learned that there are two massive fires burning on either end of the ICW Bridge.” The anchor quickly glanced off camera. “I’m now informed that KNON reporter, Melissa Est has just arrived on scene in KNON’s Skyview 10 helicopter. Melissa ..... can you hear me? ... Ah, Melissa can you hear me? ... Ladies and gentlemen there appears to be some difficulty in contacting .....”
     “John, can you hear me now,” Est excitedly asked over the whine of the helicopter’s engine.
     “Yes, I can hear you, Melissa.”
     “Do you have our video feed?”
     “It’s”..... Rast quickly glanced off camera - quickly giving some unseen person a nod. “We have it now, Melissa.”
     The scene Anna Lewis saw unfolding before her was horrible; for it seemed as if hundreds of different vehicles along with their many occupants were trapped by two massive fires burning on either end of the bridge -- their flash points littered with the charred, twisted and buring remains of many blackened cars and trucks. Anna shivered uncontrolably, her tears streaking her face; for she couldn't help but wonder how many families had been destroyed in those two blazes.
                                                                       **********
     "From the chatter on our scanner," Est paused momentarily as she gathered her emotions, "it appears that the police believe that both fires were the result of two simultaeous explosions on the bridge." 
     John Rast gasped, his pale face turning into a mask of unbelieving horror; for to have something like this happen accidentally was terrible, but for it to have been caused by someone was almost unthinkable.  "Well ..... if what you’re saying is true ..... that would mean someone deliberately set both fires.”

                                                                ******************
                                                               Herman Valenski’s estate

     “Damn right they were deliberately set, Rast. Wait until they get a load of the rest of it, Angela. That mayor’s gonna think twice about turning us down.”

                                                               *******************
                                                                Dr. Anna Lewis’ ranch

     Smallish figures could be seen scrambling from their vehicles, racing headlong toward the imagined safety of the center of the bridge, away from the searing heat of the fires. And for the time being they were safe; for both fires seemed to be staying put -- almost as if they were ment to keep things nicely boxed in.
     “How stupid!!” Anna exclaimed; giving her head a well deserved smack. “You dummy!!” She grabbed her phone, punching its first memory button.

                                                                 ********************
                                                                     The North Forty

     “All right already, I’m coming. Hold your horses.” Jackson Hole was tired from the days work and was in no mood to hurry now. Click. “Ok Doc, whatcha need?”
     Dr. Lewis’ voice sounded excited, almost to the point of panic. “Jackson," Anna all but shouted, "you have to get a hold of Zev. Tell him to get back here fast!”
     “What’s wrong, Doc,” Jackson asked as countless possibilities ran through his mind.
     “There’s big trouble on the ICW bridge! A lot of people have already been killed. For God's sake, tell Zev to get back here now!”
     “Sure thing, Honey. Right away.”
     “Zev!” Jackson yelled as he frantically waved toward the younger man. “Get over here, pronto!”
     Seconds later Zev skids to a stop by Jackson's truck -- the older man visibly shaken, his worried, pale face telling Zev as much. “What’s wrong, Mr. Hole?”
     “Doc wants you back at the ranch in a hurry. Said there’s big trouble in the city, son. Don’t worry about the others, I’ll take care of em.”
     "Thanks, Mr. Hole," Zev called over his shoulder as he sprinted out of sight around a handy curve in the road. In a flash he stood dressed in his uniform.....
     Slam.
     Racing through the house Zev found his friend within the den. "What’s wrong, Doc?”
     Anna threw a quick glance over her shoulder at her friend and then nodded toward the TV. “It’s the ICW Bridge Zev ..... uh QM, take a look,” Anna said, the horror within her voice apparent.
     Zev stared, slack jawed at the TV screen. 
     “The reporter said that she believed that a couple of explosions started those fires.”
     “That was deliberately set,” Anna's shocked friend asked.
     “She seems to think so.”
     “Can you scan that, QI?”
     “Only superficially, Zev. Judging from what I'm "seeing" both areas of intense thermal activity appear relatively stable for now. But of course that could change quickly. And if the fire begins to spread inward, each vehicle could explode, adding its fuel to the thermal activity.”
     Zev quickly saw how a bad situation could rapidly morph into something out of his worse nightmare. He couldn't help but wonder what sort of monster could conceive of, much less carry out what was transpiring before him on the television. Perhaps that phantom criminal organization that he'd heard rumors of ..... If they did exist and were involved in this, that'd make them far worse an adversary than the Vole ... At least that creature finally faced him, something that he seriously doubted members of this shadow organization would ever do .. if they in fact really existed. “QI seems to think that the two fires could spread inward, Doc. I’ll see you later.”
     “Be careful.”
     “Will do.”
Whoosh!
     “Give me an HP and target solution, QI.”
     Fractions of a second later Zev gazes at the ghostly HP floating before him .. present position in red, his destination, the ICW bridge in blue, and his course layed out before him -- the smallest of corrections turning the direction line a burning orange, sending him hurtling toward the ICW bridge. 
     “Seconds count, Zev. Those people upon that bridge are in grave danger.”
     Zev pushes his speed to the max, turning the forest beneath him into a green mass without contour or definition.
     “Time to target, forty seconds.”

                                                                                 **************
                                                                                 Dr. Lewis’ ranch

     “Come on Zev." Anna silently urges, her fingernails digging deeper into her chair's arm rests. "Where are you? Those people need you .....” Anna felt helpless. The lives of all those people hanging in the balance and she could do nothing but sit and watch .. and hope that her friend would soon show up. Why anyone would plan, much less carry out what she was witnessing she could not fathom. The underworld organization which she had heard mention of .. it had to be, but what type of person could do this?
     “John, do you see them,” Est quietly asks as if worried that her voice could draw the attention of whoever was piloting the approaching airships. 
     “I’m sorry, Melissa. I still don’t ..... Yes, I can see them now! But, but they're like nothing I've ever seen in the air.”
     “Ladies and gentlemen, I believe that you can see them now," reports Est. They’ve just come into view at the bottom right of the screen.  I’ll try and get some kind of a count .......... I see fifteen ships, John. All of them seem to be heading directly toward the bridge.”
     Seconds later Anna could clearly see the aircraft that Melissa Est was talking about. Three waves of small, dull silver, triangular shaped craft, seemingly too small to have anyone aboard, were quickly winging their way toward the burning bridge.
     The camera on board the helicopter zoomed in on the approaching ships. With no visible engines and no discernible airfoil shape to speak of, each appearing smooth and  flat on every side, Anna instinctively knew that the ships presently closing upon the bridge were either strickly alien in design or a meld of alien/terrestrial technology. But in her mind the distinction was moot; for she knew that they had a deadly purpose for the bridge and the people marooned upon it.   
     “They’re firing, John!" Est all but screamed. "Those ships are firing some sort of rockets at the bridge,” she exclaimed, her voice clouded with emotion. 
     Dr. Lewis could do nothing but sit and watch in horror as two rocket/like projectiles were released from inside of each ship within the first wave - the slender projectiles dropping Earthward, some ten feet beneath the larger ships before igniting their engines, the blood red glow of their exhaust trail clearly seen on the TV, clearly headded toward the bridge.

                                                                              **************
                                                          Over Neon City, closing on the ICW Bridge

     “I have three waves of five unmanned ships approaching the bridge from the South. The helicopters are to the West, safely out of the way ..... The first wave has now discharged their weapons. Scans indicate the bridge to be the target. Time to impact, fifteen seconds .....”     
     “Got it, buddy.”

                                                                            *****************
                                                                              KNON helicopter

     The objectivity within the voice of Melissa Est was gone, swept aside by the drastic, life and death events transpiring to the East of her position, her frantic emotions pouring out with each report. “Those ships, they're are trying to destroy the bridge, John! Trying to kill all of those people down there,” she frantically reported as the tears began to stream down her face. “They’re all going to hit the bridge any second now ..... All those people .....” sob.

                                                                       **********************
                                                                  The sky just North of the bridge

     “Projectile impact in five seconds, my Host," QI warned.
     Concentration levels honed through years of training increase, young eyes see everything with perfect clarity, their targets appearing as huge, slow moving objects. Fractions of a second later, ten brilliant pulses of concentration guided energy rocket outward, racing toward their streaking targets.
     Clouds of expanding metal and gas errupt in mid-air, sending their thunderous explosions bouncing into the surrounding city, rattling and shattering nearby windows, sending a hail storm of smallish particles tearing into the waterway below.
     “Excellent shooting, my Host. All targets have been destroyed .. but then I would not expect anything less from this range.”

                                                                     ***********************
                                                                        The ranch of Dr. Lewis

     Pulses of brilliant energy streak across Anna's television screen, moving as if under intelligent control toward the approaching missles. Thunderous explosions send clouds of expanding gas, smoke and debris flying outward. Anna relaxes, leaning into the back of her chair with a sigh of relief .. all of the rockets had been destroyed just short of their target. Seconds later she gasps as she sees her friend come racing into the picture, sweeping in over the top of the bridge, headding for the approaching fleet of small ships.
     “Pan left! Pan left! Did you see that, John!?” Est all but yells.
     “We saw everything, Melissa. We've got him now.”
     The attacking ships break formation -- some racing skyward while others scream toward the water below ... still others hold their course, dead straight for the bridge.
                                                                   ....................................
     “My scans indicate that the five craft which are presently headed for the bridge have expended their payloads. It appears that their sole intention is now to ram the bridge .. the other craft are apparently holding their fire until they are closer to the bridge. Those craft are apparently able to assess the situation and adapt accordingly, Zev. You must take the five ships headed toward the bridge out now. Then the other ten must be destroyed before they can launch.”
     "I gotchya, Buddy," Zev replies, his eyes locking on the five ships streaking toward the bridge at breakneck speed.
                                                                  ...................................
     Unfortunately for our hero, and his onboard QI, the attacking ships are unmanned, a decided advantage in the coming fight; for each of the ships are able to disregard the effects of increased g's, an adaptation which will allow them to change directions literally on a dime at sickening angles.
     Zev fires to no effect; for his first volley of pulses are off target, many missing by a dozen feet or more.
     “Concentration level has fallen to seventy six percent," warns Zev's QI. "It must be increased. You must concentrate harder. Remember the Vole, remember how it felt when you fought the Vole.”
     Zev paused momentarily as he gathered himself.
     “That is excellent, Zev. Your Concentration level has now increased to eighty two percent. Do you feel the difference?”
     "I do, QI! I can feel the difference," Zev silently exclaimed as he accelerated toward the approaching ships.
     Seconds later the brilliance of five exploding ships fill the sky, their expanding, billowing fireballs racing outward to nothingness.

                                                                       ******************
                                                                 The estate of Herman Valenski

     “Damn," screamed an enraged Valenski. "Fire the other rockets, Angela!”
     “But those other ten ships aren't close enough yet, HV.” 
     “I don’t give a rat's ass! Fire the damn things! If we wait much longer there won’t be any ships left. Fire em now,” screamed the red faced underworld kingpin. 
     “Rockets away, HV.”
     “Good! Now send the rest of those f*&%(# ships after that guy. Have em try and ram him ... Maybe that’ll keep his f&^%(# ass busy for awhile. Is the barge underway?”
     Angela nodded. “The barge is moving up the ICW now with an ETA of seven minutes.”
     The older man gave a half smile and nod. “Good. Let’s see how that !@#$% boy scout handles all this.”

                                                                      *********************
                                                                            The ICW Bridge

     The remaining rockets ignite, streaking toward the bridge with wild abandon. Zev makes a quick, mental note of the new threats, the only thing which he can do; for his attention is quickly torn away from the needle-like attackers to face two of the larger ships screaming in his direction. Two glistening, golden-like pulses race toward the approaching ships.
KATHOOM! KATHOOM!
     As smoking/burning bits of alien/terran material splatter against the water's surface Zev turns his attention toward the wildly, diving, turning and rolling rockets as they closed the distance between themselves and the crowded bridge.  
     As if under the control of some unseen intelligence, an intelligence which realized that it was under the scrutiny of its enemy, each of the deadly, streaking projectiles began wildly evasive maneuvers designed to avoid destruction-all the while bring themselves closer and closer to their target.  
     “We have eight incoming hostiles, Zev, five behind and three in front of us.” Once again Zev's attention was ripped away from the rockets toward the ships closing upon his position. 
     Spinning sideways Zev wrenched his upper body backwards, barely avoiding one of the small, attacking ships as it roared by just where his head had been fractions of a second before. Quickly regaining his balance Zev pounding two passing ships with vicious punches, sending them spinning and flipping their way toward the water hundreds of feet below. 
     Catching the slightest glint of movement just to his right, Zev spins, catching the next ship by it’s side -- his fingers easily tearing their way into its hull. Blending his momentum with the forward speed of the ship, he sends the triangular craft careening out of control into the four, oncoming alien craft. 
KATHOOM!! 
     The racing, expanding fireball quickly engulfs all five of the approaching ships, its explosive force slamming Zev backward .. and off balance. Seizing its opportunity, the last, remaining ship adjusts its course ... slamming full bore into the youngman's back with explosive force.
     Bridge, buildings, water and sky spin wildly into and out of Zev's line of sight as blackness threatens to overwhelm him. 
     “You still with me, Zev? Time to impact, seven seconds.”
     “I’m .......... still ....... here, QI," Zev painfully replies as he tries mightily to maintain consciousness and regain control of his momentum and concentration.
                                                                                      ........................
     "Oh my God," screams a woman upon the crowded bridge as she watches an explosion send a smallish, maroon clad figure twisting and turning toward the water. "There's ten of those things headded right toward us! We're not gonna make it! My children!" .....
     The hundreds of people upon the bridge can do nothing but stare horrified at the approaching rockets as they paint their deadly, cutting and weaving smoke trails through the air.
     "THERE! LOOK!" Screamed a man dressed in an expensive suit. "CLOSE TO THE WATER!!" He screamed again as he shoved his pointing finger toward the surface of the ICW.
                                                                                        .................... 
     “You have no time, Zev," QI hurridly warned. "A miss from this angle could easily hit the bridge dooming many people. Your concentration level now stands at eighty five percent.”
     Ten, brilliant energy pulses flash from Zev’s extended right hand, his concentration along with help from his QI guiding each upon their life or death trajectories. Seconds later ... KATHOOM!! Ten massive, expanding orange fireballs fill the air near the bridge - some close enough for their energy to wash over the bridge's lower, central support.

                                                         .....................................
                                                         Dr. Lewis’ ranch

     “YESSSSSSSS! You got em all, Zev,” screamed Anna as she jumped from her chair, pumping her fists skyward.

                                                         ...............................
                                                         The ICW Bridge

     “Excellent job, Zev. You have now successfully eliminated all the airborne threats.”
     Zev's elation plummeted like a bowling ball drops through water. “Airborne threats,” he cautiously asks/says.
     “I scan one other hostile,” reports QI calmly.
     A quick survey of the surrounding grounds and waters reveals no discernable threat. “Sorry QI," Zev replies with the shake of his head, "the only thing that I can see is that barge moving slowly up the ICW.”
     “My scans indicate that that IS the threat, Zev. It is heavily laden with explosives and has a proximity fuse for detonation. My scans indicate that its present course shall take it into the central support island within minutes. I am afraid that utilizing your energy pulses to destroy the barge would be unwise, for there are too many occupied structures on either side of the waterway. And a detonation would most certainly result in an unacceptable loss of life.
     Whatever tactics you employ, extreme caution must be exercised, for if you are in close proximity to the barge when detonation occurs, it will most certainly kill you.”
     “And my shields?”
     “I would advise against their use in this instance. The fuse on board the barge while mechanically stable is unfortunately electronically unstable. And there is a chance, however remote, that the energy from your shields could possibly trigger an explosion... And don't even think about sinking. With water comes the possibility of a short, and a premature detonation.”
     “Oh, that’s great news, QI. Just what I wanted to hear,” Zev replied, his voice tinged with dread.
     “At the present time we have a small window of opportunity of  approximately five minutes to halt the barge's advance, for a detonation close to the bridge's central support will most certainly destroy it. So, my Host, the sooner you can halt the vessel's advance, the better.”
     Hanging motionless within the air, Zev allows his eyes to slowly traverse the scene beneath him, sweeping from the low riding barge to the bridge and then back to the slow moving vessel.

                                                                                          ***************
                                                                                           Dr. Lewis’ ranch

     Anna had stopped celebrating, her earlier feeling of joy being replace by one of foreboding. Although both fires still raged, her friend hung motionless, apparently intently observing something below him out of camera range... The crew in the news helicopter had apparently gotten the same idea, for the picture upon Anna's set panned downward, sweeping the ground and ICW beneath it.
     The only thing of interest that she could see was a rather large barge slowly making its way up the middle of the ICW toward the bridge’s support island. "Not much there," she quietly thought ..... at least she didn’t think that there was... Of course the barge was riding low in the water ... that could indicate that it might be heavily loaded with something; but just what that might be, she couldn’t tell ..... Once more the camera  panned upwards toward the maroon clad figure still hanging motionless in the air... "But he is certainly interested in that barge for some reason," Anna thought, the unease within her growing with each passing second.

                                                                                    **********************
                                                                                          The ICW Bridge

     With the proverbial lightbulb floating above his head, Zev sizes up the scene beneath him.  “I've an idea, QI. If I could attach some filaments to each corner of that barge, I just might be able to lift it out of the ICW and get it into the ocean.”
     “Hmm," muses Zev's faithfull QI. "The vessel which you are at present eyeing along with its cargo will weigh at least ten to twenty tons ... a weight which may well be beyond your capabilities, Zev.”
     “I realize that QI," replies Zev somberly, "but towing it out of here with that proximity fuse puts everyone on either side of the ICW in danger.”
     “If the towing distance were only a few hundred feet I would have to disagree with you. But considering the distances involved are anywhere from fifteen to twenty miles, some of those miles very close to the shoreline, I find I must agree with your assessment. But consider this. If you fail to hold it, assuming you are able to get it into the air, you also place a great many people in the city in danger.”
     “I know the risks, QI. If you have any other suggestions, let me hear them.”
Silence.
     Zev carefully judges is angle of attack, extends his left hand, concentrates and then fires, sending a brilliant beam of coherent energy streaking across the sky toward the slow moving vessel. A mere fifty yards from its target, the leading edge of the beam begins to coalesce, to change, to transform into what is known as a Quantum Filament.
     Incredibly strong and durable, these filaments not only have the ability to merge with an object at its molecular level but they can also, under a Quantum Man’s concentrational guidance, be made to expand or contract, depending on the need at the time.
     The leading edge of the streaking filament divides, seperating into four, separate “tentacles,” one for each corner of the barge. With a muffled WHUMP, each filament impacted a seperate corner of the barge, becoming one with its steel hull. 
     In the blink of an eye after contact and attachment, the energy flowing from Zev’s hand reverses itself in a cascade-like effect, emanating from the distal, solid end of the filament - forming a thick, solid rope-like filiment. Powerful hands and fingers close about the filiment and begin to strain against the weight and momentum of the barge.
     Except for the slightest reduction in its forward momentum, the barge paid no attention to Zev’s efforts.
     “Concentration level at eighty three percent,” reports QI.
     With every fiber of his being Zev strained against the barge’s pull ... “I ....... can’t ..... stop it, QI,  much less ..... lift it.”
     “You must do it. If you fail in this effort many people upon the bridge shall loose their lives .. many families .. destroyed ..."
     Zev's resolve strengthened .. he began to pull again .. seconds later his second effort resulted in failure just as had his first attempt. Weakness swept over his body and mind, everything seeming to swim before his eyes. Outlines of solid objects appeared disjointed and at strange angles. He began to slowly loose altitude.

                                                                          *************
                                                                The estate of Herman Valenski

     “He can’t stop the @!#$%* thing, Angela. He can’t stop it! We’ve got em now," screamed a wide-eyed, red facedValenski. The f%^&(n next time that I tell that sorry sucker something, that fat fart of a mayor’s gonna listen! He he he.”

                                                                    ********************
                                                                           New Quantum

     “Mr. Zypher please report to ops, Section One Hundred. Mr. Zypher,” boomed the call throughout the headquarters complex. Watch Controller Zypher quickly excused himself from the weekly operational meeting and headed toward the massive building that contained Ops. As he hustled towared his destination his mind raced. “Lets see, Section One Hundred. Oh, yeah. That would be Stal’s observer. Why am I not surprised?”
     Each graduate of the Academy was assigned a Section Nnumber in Ops according to his standing within his graduating class. Zev Stal had graduated last in his class, hence the mumber One Hundred designation.
     “All right Argon, what’s going on with Stal now,” a slightly puffing Zypher asked as he poked his head through the doorway.
     “We have that spiking and increase in concentration levels again, sir. Only this time, it isn’t gradual like the last time. It began slowly, but then it just kind of exploded. The readings shot upwards to where they were when he fought the Vole, sir.”
     “No shit,” a smiling albeit puzzled Zypher.
     “No sir. No shit,” came Argon's calm reply.
     “Hot damn, Argon; I love this kid. He’s gotten into more crap since he’s been on Earth than all those other tight asses in his class combined. What’s goin on now?”
     “Plenty, sir. Someone’s started a couple of huge fires on either end of what passes on that planet for a large bridge. I believe that the fires were intentionally set too .."
     "No shit?"
     "No sir. No shit. Whoever set them managed to trap an awful lot of people on the bridge, sir."
     Zypher shook his head in a disbelieving sort of way. “Has Stal managed to put em out yet?”
     “No sir, he really hasn’t had the chance yet. Apparently whoever’s behind this wants those people dead in the worst way. Stal did manage to stop an air assault upon the bridge ..... The attacking ships appear to have been hybrids, combining Earth based technology with technology which is not as yet available upon that world, sir.”
     “Vashdon?”
     “While there is no hard evidence to support that conclusion, I would not discount Vashdon's involvment in this, sir. One other interesting fact that I've discovered after analyzing the data is that the explosive projectiles used in the attack appear to have been hybrids as well, sir.”
     Zypher swivled, angrily pounded his fist against the nearby wall. “That sorry sack of avian guano. Vashdon’s a royal pain in the ass, Argon.”
     “Without a doubt, sir. My readings indicate that Stal has experienced a brief period of disorientation ... I believe this to be a result of the sudden spiking and increased concentration levels, sir.”
     “Well how’s he doin now?”
     Argon turns his head toward Zypher, an angry smile upon his face. “He seems to have recovered nicely, sir.”
     The older man nodded and returned the Watch Tech's smile. “I love this guy Argon. He’s gonna kick some f*&^(n ass now.”
     “He already has, sir.”
     “Yeah? Well he’ll do it better this time.”
     “Yes sir,” Argon replied with quiet conviction.

                                                                                 *****************
                                                                                    Dr. Lewis’ ranch

     A quick glance at the screen told Anna that Zev had managed to hold on to that “rope” of his, but just barely; for he seemed awfully shaken, his whole posture reminding her of someone whose blood sugar had just gone through the floor. Anna could not help but wonder how he was managing to keep himself upright as he lost altitude at an alarming rate..... 
     But whatever had happened to her friend  it seemed to have passed rather quickly; for within perhaps thirty seconds, give or take, he seemed to have fully recovered, regaining the altitude which he had lost.

                                                                              ********************                                                       
                                                                                   The ICW Bridge

     “I now have your concentration level at one hundred and seven percent, Zev," reported QI confidently. "If you’re going to do something to stop that barge .. now is the time.”
     Feeling as he had just before he defeated the Vole, Zev climbed skyward, increasing the tension upon the filiments with each passing second.....
     “Now, Zev," urges his QI, "Lift and pull with everything you've got.”
     Zev began to mightily strain against the momentum of the barge, slowing erasing its forward momentum.
     “More, Zev. We need more effort ..NOW!”
     Even as the rope-like material cuts deeper into his already bloody hands Zev ignores the pain and intensifies his efforts ... Beads of sweat stream from his face, soaking his blood stained and torn suit ... Muscles tremble and strain against the unyielding weight beneath him, gradually slowing and then completely stopping the forward motion of the barge ..... Long seconds later the rust covered hull of the massive vessel begins to slowly climb from the water.
     “Hang in there, Zev. Pull hard! Pull hard,” urges his QI.
     With a body shaking, Herculean effort, Zev manages to finally wrench the barge clear of the water.
“How  .......... How high,” gasps Zev.
     “You need at least one hundred feet to clear everything,” QI ominously replies. Zev allows his eyes to sweep the eastern shoreline, the sight which greets his gaze does not inspire confidence within him; for all reason tells him that he cannot possibly get the barge over the crowded shorline and into the ocean ... His mind races back in time to his days at the Academy and a situation, not as dire as the one which he presently faced, but at the time one which he believe was equally beyond him. "Can't never achieved, never overcame, never won anything....." He silently thanked Teacher Lazarous for his words ... and he pulled harder.

                                                                               ********************
                                                                              Herman Valenski’s estate

     “Blow it now, Angela! Now! Blow the f*&^(n thing up now,” screamed the red faced older man.
     “I can’t do that, Herman," Angela heatedly replied. "Remember, you insisted on a proximity detonator for the barge. You wanted to make certain that it was close to the bridge when it exploded.”

                                                                             **********************
                                                                  The ICW Bridge, two agonizing minutes later

     “You have now achieved sufficient altitude for safe transport, my Host,” reported QI, his voice oddly distant, blunted by Zev's increasing fatigue, by the fire burning within every muscle of his body.
     "How ....... far," he asked, his rasping voice barely audible between desperate gasps for breath.  
     “Approximately one hundred and fifty yards, Zev... You must hang in there, must keep going. Failure is not an option. There are too many lives at stake. Maintain your concentration .......”
     Zev’s shaking body had been hauling the barge across the narrow slip of land toward the ocean for what seemed an eternity now - all attempts at increasing his speed ending in failure; for it took every ounce of his strength and every bit of his concentration just to maintain his altitude.  
     “Fifty yards, Zev... Maintain concentration... If you are successful I guarantee that you shall have no practice next week.” QI's rather childish attempt at a bribe made no impression upon the youngman, save deep within his tiring mind where the smallest kernal of humor sparked to life, but just; for the strain upon his body was so much that he was certain that the least hint of a smile would send the barge crashing down upon the buildings and people below.
     “Twenty five yards .... Fifteen yards ..... Five yards. You are now safely over the water, my Host.”
     With a strained, downward glance, Zev assured himself that the area beneath him was clear. 
     “My scans confirm your observation .. the blast area is clear." With that last rather detached report QI's tone abruptly changes. "Drop it .. activate your shields and get us out of here!” he all but shouts.
     Aching, burning, cramping muscles thankfully release their grip upon the filiment. Zev desperately gasps for breath as he staggers/slides to his left - the massive bulk of the barge growing smaller as it slowly spins on its headlong plunge toward the ocean. 
     “Get those shields up and us out of here, Zev!” QI all but screams within Zev's tired mind.
     Zev could hear QI's frantic voice, and his spirit was willing .. it was the execution which posed the problem; for despite his best efforts, he was barely able to bring his shields to life. And try as he might, he just couldn't get his tired body to respond, to quickly gain the altitude that he so desperately needed. 
                                                                                ***********************
                                                                                       Dr. Lewis’ ranch

     “Go Zev, get outta there,” Anna Lewis all but screamed at the TV before her; for as she watched the barge drop toward the ocean and her friend climb for altitude, both seemingly in slow motion, Anna couldn't help but believe that there had to be something within that barge that Zev considered important .....
KABOOM!!!!!
     The massive explosion sends foaming water, smoke, steel, and debris, fish and otherwise, twisting and tearing their way skyward - its shock wave shattering windows well into the city. As Anna's eyes flicked toward the top of the flickering, shaking picture she catches the briefest of glimpses of a smallish figure being knocked helpless from view.

                                                                            **************************
                                                                                      New Quantum

     Zypher's eyes nervously flick over the intel screen before him. “Tell me he survived that blast, Argon."
     “Although unable to fully deploy his shields before the shock wave hit, my readings indicate that he is indeed still alive, sir. Apparently he had managed to put enough distance between himself and the explosion to ensure his survival... He’s gonna feel it for awhile though, sir," Argon concluded with a chuckle.
     The older man cracked a massive smile. “That’s one tough kid, Argon,” he said with an admiring shake of his head.
    
                                                                               *******************
                                                                                    Over the ocean

     After feeling as if he had been hit by several tons of rock, Zev's struggles were finally beginning to pay off; for he was finally bringing his wild, head over heals tumble through the atmosphere under control.
     “Ah, I see that you are still with me, Zev.”
     “Yeah ... I think I'm still here ... QI,” Zev quietly replied, his painfilled voice betraying his discomfort.
     “You did good work, Zev. An excellent job. Excellent job. But I must inform you that you still have two fires to deal with. A spread toward the center of the bridge by either could prove disastrous.”
     “Hang on" ... Zev quietly said followed by a deep breath. "I’ll get us back there ASAP.” Ignoring his aching body Zev turns and accelerates toward the distant shore.
     “Have you any idea about how you plan on dealing with the ongoing situation?"
     “I do," Zev replied as his eyes scanned the distant blazes. "I believe that the filaments should be able to handle both blazes. With a little help I should be able to form them into something which should smother both fires.”
     “That sounds like an excellent idea. And any assistance which you may require, I shall be happy to provide."
     From the look of it most of Neon's fire engines were on scene and pumping what must have been many hundreds if not thousands of gallons of water per minute, their water driven haze filling the surrounding air with many vivid colors and hues. Zev had to admit that if the situation weren't so dire he could have enjoyed the show. But try as they might the fires refused to yield to the torrent of water pouring down upon them.
     "What gives with those fires, buddy?"
     "My scans indicate that an accelerant of alien origin was used to initiate both blazes, Zev. Their cascade of water shall be of no use, at least in the short term, in extinguishing both blazes. They do however need oxygen."  
     "Give me their measurements, QI."
     “Are approximate measurements acceptable?”
     “That shall do nicely, QI.”
     “Very well. The length of both is approximately sixty yards with an approximate width of thirty yards.”
     “That’s what I needed,” Zev replied with a determined nod his eyes flicking from bounary to boundary of the first inferno. Extending his left hand he takes aim at what passes for the center of the first blaze and sends a beam of bluish energy rocketing earthward. Fractions of a second later the beam halts is headlong rush some five yards above the inferno, its' end coalescing, transforming itself into a solid, repeatedly dividing quantum filament... Fifteen seconds later... With the divisions complete and interconnected, Zev drops the completed filament tent over the fire, completely covering it. Seconds after the tent adhears to the surrounding ground the blaze flickers to nonexistence. Zev quickly extinguishes the second fire as easily as the first.

                                                                           **********************
                                                                                Dr. Lewis’ ranch

     Zev had successfully extinguished the final fire, the material which he had created  to smother it seemingly disolving into thin air. 
     With eyes accustomed to a great deal careful observations Anna was certain that, judging from what she had seen in the past, Zev just didn’t look as if he were feeling very well. Hanging as he was above the now smoking remains of the fires may have seemed “normal” to those not familiar with him, but  not to the eyes of his friend; for he looked very tired and unsteady.
     The emotional voice of  Melissa Est returned to the TV. “Ladies and gentlemen, trying to add anything to what you’ve just seen would be superfluous. All I can say is thank you Quantum Man for your help. You saved the lives of a great many people this day. This city is lucky to have you here.”  Dr. Lewis watched as Zev slugishly turned and slowly headed Northward, out of the city.

                                                                         ********************
                                                                                New Quantum

     Watch Controller Zypher smiled broadly and smacked Argon’s back smartly. “We’ve got a winner here, Argon. I love this kid.”
     “Yes, Sir. I believe that we do, Sir. His spiking and concentration levels now returning to normal, sir.”
     Zypher nodded. “I expected as much. He’ll most likely need some down time to recover from this.” The older man smiled and shook his head. “Great Globulus Cluster! That was a lot of weight, Argon!" 
     The younger man smiled broadly. "I didn’t think that he could lift it, sir.”
     “Same here. Hot damn, I feel like a drink. See you later, Argon. Let those other tight asses match that," he quietly said as he left the room.
     “Yes, sir,” Argon replied with a snicker.

                                                                       *********************
                                                                                Neon City

     The combined effects of blast which had pounded him and his drop in concentration levels were beginning to take effect, and Zev could feel it well enough; for not only was he feeling weaker by the minute but he was finding it more and more difficult to stay aloft. Although his speed seemed decent enough, the city beneath him just seemed to crawl by in a never ending parade of dull grey and black streets. All that he wanted now was to be back at the ranch, to crawl into bed and rest. Rest, now that sounded great right about now.
     The city’s boundary, that point where Neon abruptly stopped and the dense forest immediately began, finally passed, slowly receding into the distance behind him.
     “You think it wise to land and take a rest, Zev? You have been through quite a bit this day,” QI asked, his motives not entirely clear to the youngman who served as his host.
     Zev weakly shook his head as he continued to fly northward just above tree level. “I .. can’t do that, QI .....  If I land now .....  I’ll never get back into the air. I’ll end up having to walk back to the ranch ..... It’s better if I keep going.” Concern for his well being ..... or his future readiness ... maybe both, Zev's tired mind indifferently concluded.
     “Very well," replied the QI in business-like fashion. "I scan no one following. You are in the clear.”
     Time passed. The featureless green carpet below refusing to end. The lone, airborne figure’s unsteady flight continued. After what seemed to be hours, but in reality was only thirty to forty five minutes, the ranch loomed some distance ahead. “Almost home Zev, hang in there...”
     After hitting the ground hard just outside the ranch house’s back door in a sort of controlled crash, Zev collapsed to the ground. A flash of light exploded from nowhere bathing the surrounding forest in its' weak glow. Minutes later Zev was once again visible upon the ground dressed in his ordinary clothing.
     “Not far to go, Zev. Come on; up and into bed.”
     Zev slowly rolled over, supporting himself on his knees and shaking arms... With a great effort, Zev grabbed the edge of the house and pulled. Long seconds later he had managed to pull his shaking body errect. The weakest of taps penetrating the steel door.
     Anna flung the back door open as Zev stumbled/fell into her arms. With a struggle Anna managed to hold him upright and steady herself. "Zev,” she gasped, "are you alright?"
     Zev hung limply upon his friend's shoulders, his eyes closed, his chin resting upon her back. “Never ... been so tired. Hope ..  we can make it to my room ... before I pass out.”
     After a struggle they did eventually find themselves within Zev's room where Anna dumped him unceremoniously onto his bed.
     “Wonderful job, Zev. A lot of people owe you their lives,” she quietly said.
     The younger man managed a weak smile. “Thanks ..... Doc.” His eyes closed. He was asleep within seconds.

                                                                          *********************
                                                                        Binocular Hill, just outside of
                                                                                     Neon City


     Smash! Crash! Pop! Bamm!
     “That sorry @#$%!* boy scout,” screamed Valenski.
     “Herman Valenski! You put that down this instant ...”
     Pow! Smash! Crash!

 

                                                                                     The End of Episode 4

I hope you enjoyed this episode. Tune in again for the next exciting adventure of Quantum Man, coming soon.

 

                                       

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