I rest my head against Rygar’s shoulder as a wave of sadness makes my body feel like lead.We will help him get to his spaceship so he can escape themen in blackand return to his people.But I don’t know if I’m ready to go with him.Not when everyone I love is here.
Mom drives just fast enough to avoid a speeding ticket, weaving around the turns with precision.But then, dad taught us both offensive and defensive driving for dangerous situations.I never thought they would come in handy until today.
“It’s a beautiful day for a hike.”My dad would live outdoors if he could figure out a way to convince mom to join him.
Mom pulls the SUV into their driveway.The two-story with Victorian architecture blends into the woods around it.It’s why my dad chose a brown and green color scheme, to add an element of camouflage.We clamor out en masse, even Kiki, and head into their house.Golden pine, hardwood floors gleam as we follow my dad into his study.He beelines it to his safe.
I’ve never seen him open it with anyone around.He’s had that thing since his days in the Navy.He’s never shown me what he keeps inside.
Kneeling in front of the big, black and silver safe, he opens the door and pulls out a rectangular case.I’ve seen enough gun cases to know one when I see it.
A red light on Rugar’s spacesuit blips a warning and his relaxed posture disappears as his shoulders tense.“What is that?”
Dad opens the case and lifts out a weapon—I assume it’s a weapon—I’ve never seen before.Shaped like a handgun, the silver weapon gleams and appears to have no moving parts.“A relic from my Navy days.Took it off a blue fella a bit taller than you.”
My mother gasps.“Henry, you didn’t.Tell me you didn’t steal that.”
“Okay.”Dad grins.“I won’t tell you.”
My earlier question has been answered; No, I do not know my parents.Not at all.“You stole an alien gun?”
Dad looks at me.“No, sweetie.I didn’t steal it.I never reported it.This baby doesn’t exist.”
I look at Rygar.“What is that?”
“A very dangerous weapon.”He stares at my dad.“Have you practiced?”
“Of course.”Dad slides the silver handgun into his pocket and puts the black case back into his safe.“It’s real good at making things disappear.”
“Disappear?”I ask.
Rygar takes my hand.“The technology is neutrino based.An energy blast from the weapon disintegrates the target on an atomic level.”Rygar scowls.“Unless you have appropriate frequency shielding armor.I doubt the Dark Fleet agents we encountered today have access to that technology.Their masters prefer to keep the advanced tech for themselves.”
Disintegrates?Holy shit.Frequency shielding?I am so lost.I barely passed high school chemistry.
“Jesus, Henry.You’ve had that thing in our house the whole time?”Mom has her hands on her hips.
“Anything to keep my girls safe.You know that.”Dad grins and gives her a quick kiss, stealing all her thunder.One kiss and all the tension leaves her body, her shoulders relax and she’s smiling at him like a newlywed.Guess she’s as helpless to resist her man as I am mine.
“Let’s gear up and get you to your ship.”Dad closes and locks the safe.He rises and heads to his desk, and his collection of paper maps.He insisted on paper, another quirk I always found odd but now understand.Can’t exactly do in internet search for coordinates to Rygar’s spaceship.
Dad rolls out a map of the town and we all stand around as he secures the edges with items from his desk.“Show me on the map where your ship is, and we can figure out the best approach.Charlotte, will you fill the canteens for our journey?Sweetie, go help your mom.Your man and I will get this sorted.”
I ignore my cell phone, which has been ringing off the hook.I assume it’s the fire station trying to reach me.I don’t have time for that.I send a quick text to Emily and Hannah, hoping one of them reads it before the fire department calls them.It’s all I can do.
Canteens full, Mom and I grab one of the ‘go bags’ my dad always keeps at the ready.After giving Kiki some raw ground beef, we take off from my parent’s house and hike into the woods.Their plan adds another half mile to the hike, but it’s safer than driving back through town where we could be spotted.Rygar and my dad work together.Those two have bonded with startling ease, two men cut from the same cloth.We walk single file, with Kiki trailing beside me.Dad is in the lead with Rygar bringing up the rear.
We keep the chatter to a minimum, Dad’s suggestion out of fear of discovery by satellite or drones.We move at a fast pace.
At least we’re not running, or the hike would truly suck.Although we couldn’t have asked for better weather.Bright sunshine warms my back and I enjoy the backdrop of pine trees and hills outlined by a nearly cloudless sky.
I feel Rygar through our bond.His anticipation is growing.We must be close.
“It’s right around the next ridge.But it’s cloaked.”Rygar announces.He and my dad move ahead using their military training to scout the area for danger.It’s like they speak their own language.
Once they give the ‘all clear’, Mom and I hike over the ridge and descend into a small mountain meadow filled with wildflowers.We are surrounded by dense forest full of sugar pine, incense cedar, and black oak.In the center of the field, deep ridges have been torn into the ground.I assume by Rygar’s ship as it tore through dirt and trees while landing.The marks stop as abruptly as they began and I assume Rygar’s invisible ship is there, where the deep grooves end.
Rygar moves toward the center of the field, exactly where I suspected his ship to be.No longer shaded by the trees, his suit reflects the sunlight and I wonder if everything Dad said about satellite capabilities is true.If so, Rygar might as well be a homing beacon.
