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  “Captain, I have this fairly thorough briefing in front of me but I would like your opinion on this matter. I have some very conflicting theories and proposals being thrown around here, I would most welcome an outside opinion in this grave matter. What are your thoughts?”

  “Sir, at this time it is near impossible to theorize on what these “beings” want. At this time we can’t even be sure that there is life on this ship, it could possibly be some sort of probe. We can hope that if there are sentient beings on this ship that they are merely out on an exploratory mission as opposed to a military operation. However, it is my belief that we should prepare for a full scale planetary invasion, but I believe Sir that a pre-emptive strike, as some of your advisers are advocating, would be futile and more than likely fatal.”

  “Why is that Captain? My generals here feel that we should launch our shuttles armed with all the nuclear payload they carry, and strike well before this ship ever enters our orbit.”

  “Mr. President, with all due respect, these aliens …” that even sounded funny to himself, the captain could hardly believe that he was saying the words aliens and wasn’t making up a story for his sons. “Well, these aliens traveled from a distance that we cannot even fathom at this time in our evolution, it would be a safe call to say that they are at least two hundred years ahead of us in technology. It is my opinion and my opinion only, Mr. President, that to attack them with nuclear weapons would only prove to these aliens that we are a hostile species and that we would need to be dealt with accordingly. Quite possibly they are merely curious about another intelligent species in space.”

  “Captain, what makes you think that they believe we are an intelligent species?” the President said, stress was beginning to strain his voice.

  “Sir, it is mine and Dr Schoville’s opinion that the only way they even noticed us was by radio and television transmissions. We had the computers running simulations for the last hour and as near as we can tell from the distance that that ship is from our planet, they are watching and hearing transmissions from roughly 1970ish. Sir, another assumption that we have made is that these beings most likely have already formed a not so flattering portrait of our species. The vast majority of our television matter is laced with violence.”

  “So my point again, Captain, what makes you think that those aliens think we’re intelligent?” That earned a few laughs and helped to lighten the mood for a least a short while.

  “All the more reason to strike as soon as possible!” the commander of the Army, General Forbes yelled. Always the tactful one.

  “I understand your concern General,” the President stated flatly. “But I agree whole-heartedly with the Captain’s view, we would merely be proving to the aliens that what they are watching on our television transmissions is true, and most likely a full strike would do little more than be an irritation to this ship. No, we must seek a diplomatic solution, although it would be a lot easier for negotiations if we knew what the hell they were up to. Having the upper hand is the key to negotiations and I can assure you, gentlemen, that is not something we possess at this time. Mr. Secretary, could you please get me the Chinese Premier and the Russian President on the line. Thank you Captain Moirane, I’ll be in touch.” With that, the huge monitor inside the “mountain” winked out. Captain Moirane looked into the screen for a few more minutes, letting the full weight of the events hit him like a tidal wave.

  The Captain turned from the screen and approached the lieutenant.

  “Lieutenant, go home, enjoy the weekend. And remember, everything that you have seen and heard today is top-secret.”

  “I understand sir, I’ll see you on Monday. Sir?” the lieutenant asked.

  “Yes Lieutenant,” the Captain answered, already half submerged in other thoughts.

  “Are we going to be all right, sir?”

  The captain turned back to fully face the lieutenant. “Son,” and now it was clearly meant to be a term of endearment, “I just don’t know.”

  CHAPTER 13 – Journal Entry 12

  “Bud, what’s up with you, you look like a whipped dog,” Paul quipped.

  “Paulie, Beth has got me in such a funk I don’t know if I should fart or cry,” I lamented.

  “What’s up?” he asked seriously.

  “She didn’t come right out and say it, but I think she got back together with Mark.”

  “Mike, I’m sorry, but I told you not to get too involved with her. She’s a heartbreak looking for a place to happen.”

  “I know you’re right, it’s almost as if I can’t help myself. I know I’m in over my head, but when I see her…”

  “Yeah yeah, your other head takes over,” he chided.

  “No, it’s not like that. Okay well it’s a little like that. But there’s more, it’s almost like I’m falling…”

  “Talbot, don’t say it!” Paul looked mock horrified. “Don’t spend your entire collegiate career on one girl, although she is one hell of a girl. Man, you’ll miss out on so much, and you’d better remember she still has Joe Jock out at Penn State unless she told you that she has other plans for that particular problem. Face it buddy, you’re her plaything, not the other way around. Women have needs too, you just happen to have what she needs now. Although I bet it’s not really all that impressive.” He chortled at his own wit.

  “Blow me,” I said, but he really did have me thinking that I was merely a pawn in a much larger game.

  “Just ride it and her out, I’m not saying to not enjoy your time with her, but don’t get any more emotionally involved than you already are. I can guarantee that you will get irreparably burned. You are my best friend and I don’t want to see you waste away our greatest party years.”

  “Thanks I appreciate that, and I know you’re right, but right now I have no idea how to stop this train. When I’m with her I just know she’s the right one.”

  “She’s just Miss Right Now, don’t do this to yourself.”

  “I know, well no I don’t know, let’s go get a beer and shoot some pool, I haven’t kicked your ass in something all day, I’m starting to get the DT’s.”

  “Just make sure you get some of your balls out of the way so that I’ll have clear shooting lanes!”

  The afternoon blurred to late in the night, whether distracted drunk or both, Paul beat me, fifteen games to nine.

  CHAPTER 14

  Wednesday February 3rd

  “Captain, the ship disappeared!” the lieutenant fairly yelled.

  “Lieutenant, I know that you’ve been pulling double shifts and you must be tired but you had better check your screens again.”

  “Sir, it was right there by the nebu… oh shit!”

  “Lieutenant, please try to regain your military bearing, and tell me where that ship is!”

  “Sir,” the lieutenant whispered, his face an almost ashen gray. If the Captain hadn’t known any better he would have thought that the lieutenant was dead.

  “Speak up boy, what’s the problem?”

  “Sir, the ship has shown up in orbit around Venus!” the lieutenant almost cried.

  * * *

  “Yes Mr. President, the ship simply winked out of the Crab Nebula and approximately eight seconds later was in orbit around Venus.”

  (Pause)

  “No Sir, we have not had any contact with the ship.”

  (Pause)

  “Yes Sir, we have tried to hail them on every known frequency.”

  (Pause)

  “No Sir, the ship has not changed its course in the last ten minutes. It is staying in a stationary orbit around the planet. My guess, Sir, is that they are aware that their ship will cause gravitational effects on our planet and are being somewhat courteous.”

  (Pause)

  “You’re right Sir, hanging around two planets away and not signaling your intentions is not very courteous.”

  (Pause)

  “No Sir, the press does not know about this yet, but anyone with a telescope from Sears wil
l be able to see this, it will be in the morning papers.”

  (Pause)

  “Yes Sir I am fully aware of the repercussions that this will entail.”

  (Pause)

  “Yes Sir, Defcon 5 has been initiated, I have alerted the other governments around the globe. We have done all that we can at this time. Sir, I believe that the next move is theirs.”

  “Captain, Sir,” the lieutenant broke in “you might want to see this.”

  “Lieutenant, do you know that I am on the phone with the leader of the free world?” the captain muttered with a little more anger then he felt that the lieutenant deserved.

  “Sir, the fact remains you should still see this.” He motioned desperately toward the screen that had the live feed from the Hubble telescope, which was now pointed directly at Venus.

  “Mr. President, could you please hold for a moment, we have some developing issues here.”

  “Captain,” the President intoned, “I have three heads of state on a conference call. Could you please hurry.”

  “Yes sir, I’ll be right back.”

  “Lieutenant what is it, and make it quick.”

  “Sir, the ship vanished.”

  “Any idea where it has gone, Lt?”

  “Sir, it hasn’t gone anywhere, it’s just invisible to every sensor array that we possess. The only reason we know it’s still there is the gravitational effect it’s having on the planet.”

  “This just gets better and better,” the captain muttered. “Mr. President, I’m sorry to have kept you on hold. Our public release problem has been solved,”

  “How so Captain?”

  “The ship has some sort of cloaking device Sir, it is no longer visible to the human eye, or any instrument known to mankind at this time.”

  “Captain, you have an optimistic way of looking at things”

  “Sir, if I could speak freely.”

  “By all means, Captain, speak.”

  “Sir, this new event brings up some significant questions. We have to assume that they have been studying us by our transmissions and have decided that we are not yet ready for a visit from them and don’t want to panic our populace or that we pose no serious threat to them technology wise. My belief, Sir, is that they are going to sit there for a while and contemplate our fate. If the public discovers their existence there could be panic in the streets, and if they attack, well Sir, if they attack there won’t be much that we can do.”

  “Captain I appreciate your candor, but those are your views and unless you have some more concrete evidence I will as your Commander in Chief order that those opinions of yours go no further than this call. I will not tolerate rioting on top of this… visit.”

  “I understand completely Sir.”

  “Captain.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Go be with your family, I’ll talk to you first thing in the morning.”

  “Yes Sir, thank you Sir.”

  CHAPTER 15 – Journal Entry 13

  And so begins April; the second half of freshman year was proving to be much more difficult than the first half. Beth had cooled things considerably as she wrestled with the demons that plagued her. Namely me, Penn Boy and her guilt. My heart would alternately leap and drop at the sight of her, even if it was only for a fraction of a second halfway across campus. I made sure to drop the one class we had in common that semester. I knew I’d never get anything done in there anyway. I tried to avoid her, which was sort of difficult considering that we lived in the same dorm and on the same floor. One good thing did come of all this mess, my grades soared. I went from an average 2.1 GPA to a semi-respectable 2.95. Not all-star material but great for a partier. I had actually gotten to a place within myself that I could accept the fact that Beth and I were pretty much over. Do women have a sixth sense? As soon as they feel that you are over them they come back and make sure to light the friggen fire up again.

  “My head hurts. Dude, what’s that smell,” I snarled as I attempted to wipe the crusties away from my eyes.

  “Oh man, I so ralphed last night,” Paul half gurgled. “But I did get the majority of it in the trash can.”

  “What are the odds that we had a trash bag in that thing?”

  “What do you think?” Paul semi chuckled.

  “Are you gonna get that thing outta here?”

  “Mike, if I even look at it, I’ll heave again.”

  “Aw this sucks,” I said as I pulled myself out of the bed. With the puke bucket as far outstretched as possible I headed for the door and opened it. To my surprise, Beth was standing there about to knock.

  “Oh man, what is that!” she cried as she shied away.

  “Ginner had a Technicolor yawn in this thing and I’m trying to get it the hell out of our room.”

  “How you feeling?” she asked.

  Man, I don’t care what Paul says, she looks like she cares for me. “I’ve been better and I’ll be a whole lot better once I drop this damn thing in the dumpster.”

  “I won’t keep you, I just wanted to know if you wanted to go to a concert Saturday night. I got tickets for Widespread Panic at Red Rocks.”

  “Who?”

  “Don’t worry about who, silly, do you want to go or not?”

  “With you, I’d go to the ends of the earth.” Maybe it was the aftereffects of the alcohol, hell, maybe I was still buzzed, but Beth gave me a strange look after that comment. Was she wondering why I would say such a thing or was she flattered? Women, they should come with some sort of instruction manual, although with my luck I’d get the book and it’d be in Braille.

  “So I take it that is your version of a yes?”

  “Just let me know what time and I’ll be ready.”

  “Just be ready by 5 on Saturday and we’ll head out to Red Rocks.”

  “Gotcha, now if I could just go take care of some business, standing here with a bucket of puke is not my idea of a good time.”

  “Tell Paulie I hope he’s feeling better. And I’ll see you later,” she said nonchalantly.

  I guess I really wasn’t expecting a kiss under these circumstances, but I’d take a squeeze on the shoulder as opposed to the casual way she left. I’d really better get rid of this bucket or it was going to get a little heavier.

  “Hey Paul who the hell is Widespread Panic?”

  “I don’t know bro, sounds like some sort of heavy metal band.”

  “Oh.” I winced. Listening to heavy metal didn’t sound like much fun with the headache I was nursing. Oh well, I was sure I’d be back in fine shape by Saturday.

  “Why what’s up?” Paul half lifted his head from his pillow.

  “Beth invited me to a concert at Red Rocks.”

  “The chick doesn’t so much as say ‘hi’ to you in the past month and a half and you say yes right from the get go. You’ve still got a lot to learn, grasshopper.”

  I basically just stood there looking for all intents and purposes fairly stupid.

  “Don’t sweat it man, I’ll ask around when I get up and see if I can find out what kind of music they play. Dumb ass.”

  “Paul.”

  “Yeah,” he said grumpily.

  “Don’t you have a test today?”

  “Already taken care of, my friend,” and with that he rolled over and was again enjoying the company of his eyelids.

  * * *

  “Beth, Beth!” Paul yelled. “Hold up!”

  They were just outside the entrance to the Student Union; people flooded around them on all sides. “You got a minute?” Paul said breathlessly.

  “Yeah, I was just going to get a cup of coffee before my Sociology class.”

  “Excellent, I’ll buy.”

  “What can I do for you Paulie?” She asked as they sat at the small café set up to the left of the student union.

  “Beth, well it’s more of what you can’t do.”

  “I don’t get your meaning.”

  “Beth, I have no idea of what your intentions are with M
ike, but I’ll take it as a personal affront if you purposely hurt him in any way.”

  “I’m just having fun Paul, what business is it of yours?”

  “First off he’s my friend, and secondly I don’t think he’s just having a good time as you put it.” That caught her a little off balance, she really hadn’t thought about their relationship being anything more than having some comfort from a person that was within arm’s distance.

  “I think he’s starting to …”

  “Don’t finish that, Paul, I’m not ready for that and I don’t want any of it.”

  “That’s my point exactly Beth, if that’s not where you want to go I think you should give him the heave ho and leave him be before his feelings grow any deeper.”

  “Paul, tell me this isn’t some elaborate plan for me to get rid of Mike so that you can give it a go.”

  Paul laughed, “At one time, Beth, that probably would have been the case. I love you but more as a great friend than a potential lover, I’m honestly just looking out for my friend. Obviously do as you wish, but I hope you’ll at least rethink your feelings and act accordingly.”

  “Thanks Paul, I’ve got to get going.”

  “See ya.”

  She was so deep in thought she did not even hear his goodbye.

  * * *

  “Hey Paul can you get the phone, I’m just about to win this level.”

  “Yeah I wasn’t studying too hard,” Paul said sarcastically

  “You study? Are you feeling ill? Come on man, I’ve been trying to beat Bald Bull all day.” Geez even to me that sounded like whining.

  “Shut up already, I’ve gotta answer the phone. Hello? Hey Beth, yeah hold, on Mike’s here.”

  So I tore myself away from the Nintendo and answered the phone. “Hey Beth, are you getting psyched to go to the concert?”

  “Mike, I just wanted to call and tell you that I don’t think that we should go to the concert.”

  “Why, is it supposed to rain?” I knew this was a futile attempt at humor, I could tell from the tone of her voice that this conversation was not going to go well for me. A large knot began to form in my stomach.