"The Asteroid Field of Death"
by Ted S.
2003.03.24
For the next few days I showed Jumbo the ins and outs of the Phoenix and how to work everything in case of my incapacitation. We also tried to determine, with the wealth of information I had accumulated in my files, Jumbo's planet of origin. More that once, just when we thought we had found it, contradictory information told us we had not.
I explaned to Jumbo what minerals were required to power the vessel and showed him the storage room, which was empty.
"Well, well sir." he said "I do believe that we are going mineral hunting tonight, is that correct?"
I was amazed at his eagreness to help and said
"It would seem so"
We climbed into the cockpit and readied ourselves for our first cooperative flight.
Jumbo had flown the Phoenix solo the previous day for a few hours and I was confident in this abilities to assist me in the dangers of flying through an asteroid field.
"Now Jumbo, maneuvering through an asteroid field is tricky business but just follow my commands and we shall come through unscathed."
"Yes sir." Jumbo replied respectfully.
Part of what made the connection with this being was how he talked. Not necessarily what he said, but how he said it. It was reminiscent of some past I had not known. A very curious effect this pachyderm had on me.
As we approached the debris left over from some long dead planet, I felt a quick, almost pulling sensation over my body. I quickly recovered and prepared for the tricky maneuvers.
"As we make our way, I’m going to keep one eye on the mineral indicator and one on the rocks ahead of us." I said "You can alternate between the pre-scanner and the visual field."
"Tis a task of simplicity good sir. I shall not let you down."
It wasn’t as though we moved through the floating rocks, but more of a dance. As if we were water flowing peacefully around all potential hazards. I was so confident in our non-verbal cooperation that I passed deposits of minerals that were adequate and waited until the indicator screen found the most rich and abundant source.
"Sensors indicate our best bet is on that large one dead ahead."
"I will have us there shortly" said Jumbo.
He drove us fluently through the remaining obstacles and put us down safely on the large asteroid.
"OK, we’re secure J, if you put on that auto-suit, it will adjust to your body style and weight. Then you can help me gather the minerals."
"If you could sir, please reassure me of the safety of such an outfit. I would hate to be stranded in the lonely grasp of cold space, helpless." Jumbo said worriedly.
I think that was the first time Jumbo expressed any kind of doubt in anything.
I told him "As long as the tubes from the backpack are securely fitted to the neck collar you will have nothing to worry about my friend."
Without another word, Jumbo climbed into the auto-suit, displaying the same undying confidence that has made him great. We made our way to the ramp of the Phoenix that would lead to the asteroids surface. I stood and depressed the large DECLINE button to lower the ramp. Ever so slowly the ramp made its way down to the dusty, gray surface of the asteroid. Our field of vision was taken up on the lower portion by the mineral rich surface of the asteroid, and split in half by the emptiness of the outer space of the Entropy Galaxy.
We made our way down the ramp and puffed away foot prints while slow motioning towards the mineral rich pockets that looked like tiny volcanoes scattered across the surface. We each found our own individual hole and began filling our containment bags. We were only there a few minuets when I looked over to check on Jumbo. He turned and smiled at me just as a fist sized rock came floating right onto his left air tube. I knew he would be dead in seconds.
His purple eye became a universe in itself. Flittering images and sounds began to fill my senses.
Lub
A grangomar on the edge of a cliff began to separate from the gravity that held it’s safely in check. All the while, luminescence beaming out its terrorized mouth.
A lonely planet frozen in the far reaches of space becomes bombarded with waves of sound that shatter and crack the ice that knows no other form bur chaos. The sound bounces off and is shot faster out into space again to pleasure beings that have the benefit of auditory organs and starlight.
Dub
A small Venusian child weeps at the sight of a never before seen demon that nearly covers the sky. Knowing full well, by pure instinct, the far reaching and devastating effects this monster will have in the meaninglessness of this, now become, pitiful galaxy.
After countless years and what has seemed like endless destruction, the center of two galaxies finally converge and rip space/time a new hole that will soon become so large, not even the light at the far edge of the universe will be able to escape.
Lub
Out of the air, chemicals form a type of lethal acid that rains from the sky on planet Ranoc, killing are group of unsuspecting beings.
"Are you getting it?"
Dub
A planet rejoices in its rediscovery and returns to its rightful place as a member of the galactic police force. The first thing it does is create glorious beaches where reproduction of smaller beings will occur.
"Order up."
"Four girls ready to ship out"
(Should we tell them we made a mistake and only filled the order ¾ of the way and only had a boy left for the last ¼?)
(Nah. . . let’s just see what happens . . . )
Then I found myself in the hull of the Phoenix next to a recovering Jumbo. Between breaths he said
"My good sir, I didn’t know you had such amazing powers."
I stared off into nowhere; not knowing what had just happened myself and said
"Neither did I."
