AMP- Aftermath by Brian K Larson

Author:Brian K Larson [Larson, Brian K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Slipstream Publishing
Published: 2019-11-25T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Saratoga Base Camp

January 17, 2068 14:02

Bennie looked down on his unconscious mom, “What happened to her?”

Jenny was brought back to her cot and gently laid down to rest as Major Preston stepped over to Bennie and stood next to General McKenzie, “We think it has something to do with her and Tonya’s self-amp charge being dumped into the transport systems. She just collapsed when we shut the ship’s systems down.”

“The transport engine is offline now and so is she,” Major Preston added.

“And soon, we need to shut all the ship’s systems off so we can make repairs,” Titus offered, “This was our only working ship.”

McKenzie raised his eyebrows toward Major Hargrove, “Are you sure we can’t get the Saratoga back into the fight, Major?”

“It’s possible, General, but it’s gonna take time.”

“We don’t have time,” Bennie said, kneeling by his mom, “Not much time left at all.”

“Don’t be such a pessimist all the damn time, Ben,” J said as he placed a hand on his shoulder.

Bennie glanced up at his friend, “We don’t have much time, I know we don’t.”

Trudy stepped over to the group, “Why do you say this, Mister Bennie?”

Bennie stood and brought the others to the side of the tent away from Beverly and Jenny before whispering, “I don’t have an explanation, I just feel this sense of mission and the scene of what is right… it’s a useless situation and I’m not sure what’s going on here, so we have to make it easy on ourselves…”

“You’re quoting your dad’s music again, Ben,” J added. I remember that tune from his archives. That’s from Rush’s ‘The Color of Right’ isn’t it?”

Bennie shook his head, “Yeah, it is, but I have no idea why… it’s just coming to me and it fits… that’s all I know. We have to change the color of right. It feels right, but this isn’t right… not by a long shot,” Bennie raised his voice from his lower whisper.

“Whattya mean, Ben?” J asked.

“This whole thing, J,” Bennie answered as he passed his hand around the room, “Our world is gone, J… destroyed… infected by the aliens… the Van Allen Belt destroyed or nearly destroyed… yeah, and aliens are returning to finish the job… hell, the ones that were left are doing a pretty good job by themselves…. If Jenny, Eva, or whoever it is inside my Jen…” he placed his hands on his head in distress, “Gawd, I can’t even figure this stuff out! If she hadn’t come out and sent these aliens back to goo, they would have taken us all out in quick order!”

“Take it easy, Son,” McKenzie said, trying to calm the young man.

“Take it easy, General? Really?”

Bennie began to hyperventilate as he breathed through his flaring nostrils. In and back out, quickly, as his anxiety grew within, “How can we ‘take it easy?’ We can’t take it easy! Not until they’re eliminated… but we have no way of really doing that now, do we?”

Major Preston stepped up to Bennie

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