Chapter 22: Out in The Open
Date: September 25th, 2023
Location: Ellington Memorial Hospital, City of Ellington
Time: 01:48 AM (Local)
Sophomore Year, 1st Semester
The Summertons, Aiko, and Amy all rush into the room and surround Allen’s bed. Alicia reluctantly leaves Allen’s arms and sits on the end of his bed. Kayla puffs out her chest and puts her hands on her hips.
“Spill it, bro!”
Laura cuffs Kayla on the back of her head. Allen glances over at Colonel Stryker and she offers a subtle nod of her head, clear approval to spill everything.
“I’ve lied to you all. Colonel Stryker over there and Amy have been concealing the truth about me. I kept it to myself for obvious reasons.”
“Go ahead son, I’m sure you had your reasons but it’s time to level with us if you want to be part of this family.” Laura says as she folds her arms across her chest. Brad leans against Laura and she wraps a supporting arm around him as he dry washes his hand. Kayla and Valerie gather on the other side of Laura and Amy joins Colonel Stryker on the couch. They lean in and start whispering while gesturing about. Allen clears his throat and indicates Alicia.
“This is my commanding officer, Captain Alicia Mercer of the United Alliance Navy. I’m Lieutenant Allen Stryker, a pilot in her squadron.”
The silence in the room becomes heavy as The Summertons and Aiko process Allen’s statement. Allen speaks aloud.
“Eve, connect with Laura’s cellphone and confirm my statement.”
“Yes, Allen.” Eve adopts a formal voice as she processes Allen’s request. Laura pulls out her cellphone and looks at it like it’s about to bite her. Eve’s voice projects from it after a few moments.
“Hello, I am Eve. I am a Combat Nuero-Cybernetic Implant assigned to Lieutenant Allen Stryker. Lieutenant Stryker is a star pilot assigned to the Alliance Navy carrier; UNS Steadfast.”
“This explains so much….” Valerie and Aiko say at the same time. Everyone turns and looks at them. Allen continues speaking.
“It’s a long story how Captain Mercer and I arrived here. Long story short, I was testing new technology that had a side affect of ripping a hole in the fabric of space and time. I ejected from my ship, and it burned up on entry. Captain Mercer followed me through. The rest, you guys know.”
“The question now Summertons, do you still want Allen in your family.” Colonel Stryker had walked up with Amy in tow as Allen explained his origins.
“Wait, is that even a question? Why would you think we wouldn’t want Allen anymore?” Kayla asks as she tilts her head at Colonel Stryker.
“Many foreign agents may take an interest in Allen. It might bring trouble to your doorstep.” Colonel Stryker responds.
“So, Summertons stick together. We already promised Allen.” Valerie adds. Laura, Brad, and Kayla all nod their heads in agreement.
“Umm…. For what it’s worth, I still want to be his friend.” Aiko raises her hand as she shyly speaks. Allen smiles at her.
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“Of course!” She beams back at him.
“You all need to understand this. It is CRITCAL for your safety and Allen’s that you do not speak a word of any of this to anyone for any reason.” Colonel Stryker holds their eyes as she drives the point home. They all give various means of agreement.
“So, where do we go from here?” Laura asks Colonel Stryker.
“Easy, Allen will go home once he’s cleared. Captain Mercer…” “Alicia.” She interrupts. “Alicia will go with me. We will work everything else out tomorrow. For now, spend time as a family.”
Amy approaches Allen’s bed and offers her hand.
“Agent Mira Lynch. Your liaison and protection detail.” Allen smirks at her.
“Allen Stryker.” He grabs her hand and shakes it.
“You’re not mad at me?”
“I figured there was more to you than what appeared the first day. You still have the new car smell.”
“What?”
“Any soldier, pilot, or in your case, agent, all have indicators that you are fresh out of training.”
Colonel Stryker chuckles behind Mira. Mira Scowls at Allen.
“Well, you haven’t made my job very easy!”
“That just means you’ll be the best after dealing with me.” Allen flashes that cute, annoying grin that always finds it’s way onto his face. She huffs in response.
“Can we give him a hug now?” Brad asks Colonel Stryker.
“Of course!”
Alicia yelps and rolls off the bed as the Summertons pile on. Allen’s cries for help are muffled beneath the pile. Aiko watches on with a smile. Alicia moves and joins Aiko at her side.
“Alicia Mercer.” She offers Aiko a hand.
“Aiko Tanaka.” She shakes the offered hand while scrutinizing Alicia. “Great! More competition, I will not fail!” Aiko raises a fist in defiance in her mind as her smile turns feral and she matches stares with Alicia.
“Strong grip.”
“Same to you.”
“I’ve seen him in his underwear.”
“I’ve showered with him, naked.”
Aiko drops Alicia’s hand and blood starts leaking out of her nose. Alicia cocks her hip and preens in victory. Luckily Allen couldn’t hear this conversation under Mount Summerton. Aiko claps her hands over her nose and rushes to the bathroom. A loud shriek could be heard through the closed door. Alicia moves over to the couch and sits down by Colonel Stryker.
“Nice counter-attack.”
“Thank you ma’am, love is war.”
Mira huffs. “Awmagawd! You, too?” Alicia raises an eyebrow with a challenging look. Mira chuckles and waves her hands in front of her while shaking her head.
“No, he’s like a little brother! I have no dog in this fight!” Alicia nods once and turns to watch the antics on the hospital bed. She sees untouched hospital food on a tray and curiosity gets the better of her. She wanders over to it to inspect. A green, gelatinous mass calls out to her tantalizingly.
“Enough! Air! Please!” Allen is finally able to croak out. Laura hears and starts to herd her family off his bed. He smiles at her in appreciation. They gather around his bed again and pepper Allen with questions.
“You’re an actual friggin’ pilot?”
“What’s your world like?”
“How old are you really?”
“They have a lot of boys where you’re from?”
“What’s space like?” The last question is from Laura, and everyone stops to listen to the surprisingly childlike wonder in her voice. Allen takes a moment to ponder her question. Alicia stops her finger prodding of the Jell-O to listen in on his take.
“At first, we learn that space is cold. Empty. Unforgiving. While true, that’s an incomplete idea. Space is also filled with terrible beauty. Filled with endless possibility. It’s endless as far as we know. Even in my universe, for all of our technology, we are still infants taking our first unsteady steps into the galaxy. We only just barely left our own solar system. That’s why I was testing new technology, so we could finally find new opportunities to chase our dreams.”
Alicia nods and goes back to prodding the Jell-O with a finger. After a few moments, Laura speaks to Allen again.
“Explains a lot about you. You’re obviously brave. To test new technology and step into the unknown, takes a lot of guts, BUT….” She holds up a finger. “You’re reckless and a bit selfish. You have a family now and have to keep your feet firmly on the ground and think of others. Now, I don’t want you to stop being you, but I need you to think of others more. We love you and will stand by your side, just stand by ours too is all I ask.”
Allen processes her words and smiles.
“You’re right. I’m sorry and will try more.” They all reach in and give him a gentler hug. Allen clears his throat and addresses Colonel Stryker.
“I know this is a bit off topic, but what happened to my new bike?” Laura, Brad, and Mira all sigh. Guess Allen will have to work on that selfishness a bit. Alicia has a spoon full of Jell-O in her hand and is about to take a bite.
“You mean, MY bike, Lieutenant?” Allen scowls at her pulling rank and eyes the Jell-O on the spoon. A wicked idea forms in his mind.
“Colonel Stryker informed me that Laura has already given you her motorcycle. I need conveyance and I am very interested in acquiring a motorcycle for myself. We so happen to have an extra one lying around after you relieved the foreign agents of theirs. I’ll be taking it.” Alicia brings the spoon to her mouth and swallows it. A look of glee blooms on her face and she digs in.
“Ma’am?”
“Hmm?”
“Want to know what you’re eating?”
End of Volume One