From Beyond the Blue Planet Read online

  The boy stood awkwardly, with terror spreading across his face but Keelotron stood still in the shattered doorway and in an unusually soothing voice said, “Do not fear me, Kevin. I am here to save you. Your father and mother are here with me.”

  They stood looking at each other for the minute it took Seth to race up the stairs and throw his arms around Kevin.

  “Thanks, Kee,” he called over his shoulder. The robot found this shortened name familiar and somehow, as far as a robot can assess the quality of spoken words, satisfying.

  Dave called the general and gave him a brief account of their success. Soon after that a military force, led by General Ceri-Baker himself, arrived to clean up and to investigate computers and any other records or useful stuff that might be lying around. While that took place, half the squad escorted the Hellmans, Dave and a big, swarthy stranger back to their house … the general was to follow later after he had had a good look around the hacienda. The guard unit men stayed discreetly scattered around outside the Hellman’s house to protect them from a sudden reprisal attack, although everyone agreed that this was most unlikely in the near future. The enemy would need some time to take stock and to plan any revenge mission. But, although it was recognised that it was long odds against a quick response, they were all sure that it would come. Plans needed to be made.

  In the Hellman residence jubilation and joy reigned, so much so that Ginny and Seth were far too preoccupied with Kevin to be thinking of the future. Dave, however, had a surprising plan beginning to form in his mind. He waited for the general to arrive before making his far-reaching suggestion.

  Keelotron sat on a firm chair, quietly assessing the input it was getting from those present … and from its scan of a mass of broadcasting frequencies all over the world. Every single intercept was put into its almost limitless memory banks. At each intercept it did an assessment and calculation of importance and whether a response was called for, now or later. So far, it had detected nothing of immediate reaction of expected to be and was ignored. any significance. Given the

  the others in the house, it

  Chapter 7

  Take five Ginny did not want everyone and Kevin in particular to have to remain sealed up in their house. She wanted to get back to some sort of normal routine for Kevin’s sake. Her first suggestion raised an objection from her husband which she quickly swept aside ….

  “I’m taking Kev over to the Calhouns,” she had announced.

  “Gin! What are you thinking? We’ve only just got our boy back safely and here in this house he will still be safe but you want to risk him so soon out on the streets?”

  “I’m quite happy to take a couple of soldiers with us for protection. It’s only in the next street. We’re no safer staying in all the time … they could throw a grenade or something.”

  “I don’t like it.”

  “I need to explain to George and Cynth what has happened … and I know it will do Kev good to see Sam again. We have to get back to a normal routine as soon as we can and locking ourselves away from our friends and neighbours isn’t going to do that.”

  Seth found it difficult to argue against her logic. He looked across at Dave hoping for some support. Dave grimaced and shrugged. “I reckon she’s right, Seth. Providing she takes care … Make that four soldiers, Ginny.”

  She exchanged grins with Kevin and they were quickly on their way. Then the general arrived in his armoured Cadillac and the big meeting was soon able to go ahead. The general had frowned across at the silent figure which stayed seated …

  “So-ooo. This is our robot?” He said. He was obviously bursting with curiosity. “I thought it was a metallic thing. Does it speak?”

  Seth had expected this. “We still have to get to know all about it … It’s no good me having a personal robot if I don’t know fully what it can do. It answers to the name of Keelotron, by-the-way.”

  “Personal? How can it be yours? …”

  “General, if you want to try and take it away from me you’re welcome to make an attempt. Good luck with that but tell me this … do all generals get a military burial at Arlington?”

  The general’s tanned cheeks showed some reddening. “Is that a threat, Hellman?”

  Dave butted in. “The robot is an alien device, general, and it’s programmed to belong to and to defend Seth here. Just him.” Dave showed the trace of a smile. “I’m sure he’ll look after it.”

  The general muttered inaudibly, “We’ll see.” He then sat down at the table and they all followed suit except Keelotron.

  “Do we need any drinks or maps or anything else?” queried Seth, relieved that they could now concentrate on business in hand. There were negative shakes of the heads.

  Dave took a deep breath. “I have a plan,” he announced. “Seth my friend, you won’t like it at all. General, it may not fit in with your plans either but here goes … If Seth continues to work at Caltech the food mafia are sure to have another crack at him … and his family, I’m afraid. Since his job is a world-wide concept, there is no good reason for him to stay tied down here in LA and this will be the least safe place anyway, I reckon.”

  Seth said, almost dismissively, “Where are you sending me, Dave. Alaska?” He raised a grin. “The US is a mighty big place, pick somewhere good.”

  Dave let the pause after that hold them in expectation. “Nowhere in the US … I suggest England.”

  “England? That had to come from a Brit. How did you arrive at that?”

  The general added, “I need him here not thousands of miles away.”

  Dave locked on to their eyes in turn. “As I said before, this food protection we’re all hooked into is world-wide now. We need to liaise with countries all over the world to combat the threats and it will also be vital experience for Seth in what others are doing … How they detect and deal with possible threats. If Seth can be slotted in at, say, Cambridge he’ll be in his element there. Not so wild as Caltech but it has its own, er, attractions.”

  The general was the first to react. “Seth Hellman is under my command. He’s a vital part of our surveillance and response team in the US. He can’t just roam off to all parts of the globe. There needs to be good reason for it … and you, Flack, are not the person to suggest it. You’re not a part of my planning team: simply a bodyguard … although I do appreciate the contribution you’ve made so far,” he added.

  Seth had been thoughtfully contemplating the idea. He ignored the general’s statement. “I have no great objection to a term in another country. I’ve visited the UK a couple of times and I reckon I could work there. But Ginny; that’s something else. She’d factor in Kevin’s education, his friends …”

  “I’d like her to factor in the threat to all that. She’s got to realise that the food mafia are not finished with you Seth. I’m not saying you’d be out from under that threat in the UK but the mafia has a better setup here. Just think of that fortified hacienda … Can’t see that sort of thing over the pond. Of course, they may come up with a different type of threat. We Brits have some mean, well organized mobs over there. But we also have good intel on our side too, trust me on that one.”

  “What about my other bodyguard?” Seth nodded towards the robot, sitting quietly. “How would he get past the airport che…?”

  “Airport checks? This would be a military transfer, eh, general?”

  The general tightened his lips. “He’s not going.”

  Seth’s quick brain had covered most of the angles by now. He drew things to a conclusion …

  “That’s for me say, general, with all respect. I don’t have to stay under your wing … even if I have to find another job doing something entirely different. You closed down the edge-of-space project which was where I did my best work; maybe this food protection agency isn’t the best alternative for me. And that’s for me to decide. That is, me, Ginny and Kevin.”

  “And movin’ your robot over there to the UK without military help?”

  “W
e travel in my pod.” The first contribution from Keelotron took even Seth by surprise.

  “The general swung to face the seated humanoid robot open-mouthed. “Pod? What are you talking about?”

  Keelotron’s tone stayed even and simply it explained what even Seth was unaware of …

  “I came to Earth from a very large vessel, a spaceship you would call it, by using its escape pod. The pod is now not too far north of this location and can be used for travelling about this planet.”

  “We would pick it up on the radar and then, god help anyone inside,” smirked the general.

  Keelotron retorted immediately. “Your primitive devices are not capable of detecting this pod. It incorporates a technology far beyond your detection capability.” The general found this hard to believe but he was not really in a position to argue the point. He just said with obvious displeasure …

  “Think this over carefully, Hellman. You already have a top job here in the US and you have as good a protection as you would get anywhere.”

  Dave rounded things off. “Why not take a little time off to think this one over carefully, Seth: you and your family and other friends if you wish. Weigh up all the factors; talk things over calmly. If it didn’t work out in the UK you could always return. I’m sure the general would still find a slot for you again but, if not, there are plenty of openings for you at Caltech, someone with your experience and qualifications. Meanwhile Ginny and Kevin would see life at our slower pace. Although we don’t have a monarchy any more we still have plenty of other things to sightsee.”

  Seth nodded slowly. “Thanks for this, Dave. I’m already beginning to see some of the possibilities but Ginny has to go along with it too. We’ll do what you suggest and take a few days to give it full consideration.”

  The general said nothing but looked sourly at both the younger men.

  Dave said, “Okay, that’s decided, Seth. Take five.”

  ………. It was day 2 of the break period. Even in this short time, Ginny and Seth had hammered away at the list of pros and cons regarding a move to another country. It was hard to say which way Ginny was leaning, some of the factors seemed irreconcilable. Dave had left them to it, saying he was always available if they needed his input. Kevin had been invited to give his opinion and he had surprised Seth in particular with his mature and thoughtful take on the whole matter: it wasn’t all about leaving his best friend, Sam, behind.

  Kevin had still been very wary of Keelotron but eventually his curiosity got the better of him. Although Seth had planned a long session with the robot to find out as much as he could about its capabilities, Kevin got in first.

  While Seth and Ginny began one particularly adult session, Kevin had asked if Keelotron could go up to his room saying he might learn some interesting things from the robot. They agreed, aware that Kevin was getting bored with their long debate.

  “Take a seat, if you like,” invited Kevin. “The bed might be a bit soft for you though.” He waved his arm around the small room. Then he laughed. “I like the beany bag but that would be even worse for you, I guess.”

  “Standing is no problem for me but I will sit if you wish.”

  “Standing makes you very tall. Can you sit on the floor?” The humanoid robot folded smoothly into a sitting position on the floor. “What should I call you,” asked Kevin. “Keelotron or, what I’ve heard pop call you sometimes, Kee?”

  “Sometimes my previous master-friend called me Kee when he was specially friendly. Other times, Keelotron. I notice you are called Kev sometimes and Kevin at other times. I can see more reason to use the shortest name as it uses less talking time. I do not mind which you use.”

  “I guess it’s Kee then.” He waved his arm around the room. “What d’you think of my den, Kee? No certificates you’ll notice … although I did get one in fourth grade for being polite. No chance of one for running.” He looked down at his leg. “That’s why I’m sittin’ on the bed and not the floor. Easier!”

  “May I look at the leg?”

  “Sure, Kee. Everyone else does. Wanna see how it works?”

  The robot rolled slightly so it could inspect the artificial leg without getting up. “Mmmmh. A simple mechanism. Quite crude. I can improve this …”

  “Improve it? I don’t understand. Pops said that it was the latest design.”

  “The latest design on your planet maybe, Kev. Also, I can stimulate tissue growth in your stump. It may take a year of your Earth time before you do not need the mechanism but…”

  “You can what? Grow me a new leg? That can’t be done. I didn’t invite you up here to josh me, Kee. If that’s what you thought, you better go.”

  “The word josh has been left out of my words storage unit but I detect that you believe I am not being truthful. I can assure you that tissue can be re-generated. With your father’s permission, I will begin this process tomorrow. In the meantime, if your father has a working room, I will make a better walking device than you have now.”

  “Pops has a workshop on the end of the garage … with tools an’ all … is that what you mean?”

  “It may suffice.”

  “Kee, did you come from another planet … or another galaxy? Was … is your home like this one?”

  Kevin began to learn about a planet in another star system but it was impossible to locate it on his star map. However, he was enthralled for the next hour yet, when Ginny arrived with his banana milkshake and cookies, he was bursting with the news about his leg. Ginny was even more disbelieving than her son had been. ……….

  General Ceri-Baker had sat in his office chair thinking hard for over half-an-hour. His expression suggested he had now reached the culmination of his deliberations and he seemed to relax. His strong, brown fingers loosened on the side arms of his seat and he casually reached over to an intercom on his desk. He pressed a button.

  “Colonel? Are you free at the moment?” The answering voice sounded surprised. “Oh, General Ceri-Baker … I didn’t know you were back, sir. I … “

  “You should always know when I’m here. Can you get here right away?” It was a command more than a question.

  The reply sounded only slightly hesitant. “Of course, sir. I’ll be there in seconds.” This was true enough as Colonel Regis worked from one of the smaller offices across from Ceri-Baker’s.

  The general composed himself and set his facial expression to unreadable/not to be argued with. Colonel Regis tapped the door and entered and was waved to the chair facing the general. He wanted to begin with a congratulatory, ‘Mission accomplished, I hear. Well done, general,’ but he read the face and simply waited.

  “You’ve heard about our successful attack on the unit operating in the park, I take it …?” The colonel nodded but, again, just managing not to butt in. “… The release of Hellman’s boy, etcetera, etcetera? Did you hear also about the robot thing that was used by our boys?”

  This seemed to call for a fuller response. “Why yes, general. The office grapevine passed on most of the essentials but we were all a bit at a loss about the robot like, where did it come from, who controlled it, and how the hell did its firepower wipe out a full unit of the mafia. I didn’t know we had anything like that.”

  The general studied the man opposite to him. Regis was a ‘full bird’ but had dragged his ass in that position for too long, he thought. He had a pale, pinky face with rounded cheeks and had recently acquired a gut. Goin’ soft, thought the general. On the positive side, he was one of several officers under the general’s command who would jump when he said ‘jump’. He decided to put Regis in the picture …

  “We don’t. Hellman, who you know is a GL, acquired the thing from somewhere … probably a backroom at Caltech. Of course, those wise guys have spread a rumour that it’s an alien robot but we’ve seen off plenty of those tales … I’m surprised that people still fall for them.”

  “But what about its destructive powers, general? … as demonstrated at that hacienda.”

>   “Pishhh! The snipers and SEALS did that, I reckon. Anyway, Colonel Regis, it is an interesting gadget and we need to know more about it. Those Caltech geeks often come up with something clever we can use but they’re a law unto themselves.” He paused now for effect. “Here’s what I want you to do …”

  ………. It was Seth’s turn to find out all he could about Keelotron. Ginny had been asked to complete the trio, you might have a different slant on how he can be used, Seth had suggested, but she had declined. She noted that to Seth, Kee was now a ‘he’ rather than an ‘it’ and then she realised that she had thought ‘Kee’ instead of ‘Keelotron’. Well, Kevin calls him that, she concluded. Her reason for opting out was that it would probably become quite a technical session. There was a lot in that…

  “The thing which I understand least about,” Seth began, “Is how this morphing process works. If it was simply a change of shape, that would be hard enough to get my head around but how can a mainly smooth, metal body change into what looks like skin and with eyes and a mouth? Not to mention the clothes. It all seems too impossible to be real.”

  Kee was quiet and still for a minute. “You require an explanation?” he asked. Seth nodded. “The key to it being possible is the material used … the skin. This material was manufactured in laboratories using a rare metal … not one you have on Earth but it has some of the properties of your gold. The manufacturing makes it responsive to thought-waves of a certain frequency. Just as you have three-dimensional positioning on this planet at large magnitudes, we have five-dimensional at micro magnitudes. Thus, thought-control positioning of molecules … not your three-dimensional molecules but ours. It was required that this skin material should be not only completely manipulative but have heat energy dispersive capability at extremely high … and low … temperatures …”