The shop owner’s initial hesitation seemed to evaporate instantly. “Certainly; I can have it ready for you shortly.”
“Just one thing,” Dean said. The shop owner, already headed for his manufacturing area, turned back quickly. “I will need a special modification done as well. And, I would like to use your computer while I wait.” Okay, Dean thought, that was two things, but the shop owner didn’t seem to care.
Dean explained what he wanted, and the shop owner scampered off to complete the request. Less than ten minutes later, he returned with the new garment in hand. Dean pulled the new jumpsuit on over his armor as quick as he could. He thanked the shop owner and made his way out the door.
Taking a quick look around, he performed a rapid march across the shopping area. He stopped at a vending machine and, looking around to make sure no one was watching him, he quickly removed his pistols and tucked them behind the machine. He then turned and walked directly to the bank that held his account. He knew the bank’s security system would detect his pistols. He just hoped the special gadgets in his armor wouldn’t set off any alarms.
As he passed through the door to the bank, Dean winced expecting a loud alarm to sound. When nothing happened, he smiled and proceeded to the counter.
Chapter 36
When Dean returned to the maintenance breakroom, Meriyl immediately ran up and hugged him as soon as he opened the door.
“I thought something had happened to you,” she exclaimed. “Where were you?”
Dean was taken aback by her hug, but gathered his wits and replied, “I have been getting things set up. I want you to know that the next part of my plan is extremely dangerous. I will try to do it alone if you want to stay here.”
“No way,” she said quickly. “I am not letting you leave me here alone again. Whatever we have to do, we’ll do it together.”
Dean smiled and said, “Okay, let’s get this show on the road.”
Meriyl screwed her face up in confusion. Dean smiled even bigger and said, “Never mind, just follow me.”
He led Meriyl back the way he had just traveled. They made their way back to the door leading to the public areas. Dean cracked the door and carefully looked around. Seeing nothing suspicious, he opened the door and walked out. As soon as he had stepped past the door, one of the guards he had seen manning the desk next to The Path came around a corner. The guard immediately noticed him and shouted for him to stop. He promptly turned around and pushed Meriyl back through the door into the maintenance area. As he went through the door himself, he used his foot to push the small piece of wood back between the door and the jamb. Luckily, he had left it lying beside the door when he had removed it earlier.
He shoved Meriyl off to the side and waited beside the door. It wasn’t long before the guard came crashing through door at a run. Dean reached out and took hold of the guard’s nearest arm. Just as he had been shown in his martial arts classes, he swung the guard around using the guard’s own momentum. He put his other hand right on the elbow joint and pushed. He tried to force the guard down to the ground, but he didn’t realize how hard that would be when the being he was trying to do it to had six legs. Luckily, his training had taught him to keep his opponent moving. When he couldn’t force the large, insectile guard down, he simply ran him headfirst into the wall. The guard’s head smacked into the stone wall with a loud thwack. The guard immediately collapsed to the floor unconscious.
Dean turned back to Meriyl and saw her staring at him in shock. “Where did you learn to do that?” she asked stunned.
“Ask me again when we have more time,” he replied shortly. “Right now, we need to go.”
Dean didn’t realize at the time that even with the augmented strength provided by his armor, the Gorroshtic guard was immensely stronger than him. He shouldn’t have been able to do what he did. At least, that’s what Meriyl was thinking as she followed him out the door.
Dean made a beeline for Quinsil’s restaurant with Meriyl in tow. Once they were close, Dean pulled her up against the nearest wall. “Okay,” he said with his mouth close to her ear. “I need you to go in and distract Quinsil. Keep him looking away from his office. I will sneak into his office while you have his attention. Once you see me go into his office, try to get him to follow you in there. I will take care of the rest.”
She nodded her head in understanding, took a deep breath, and headed for the restaurant. Dean edged his way over to where he could see into the restaurant’s front window. He watched as Meriyl approached Quinsil. He saw the Gorroshtic become immediately angry. He couldn’t hear what was being said, but he could tell that Meriyl was being yelled at. He also noticed her slowing circling. As she did, Quinsil turned with her, slowly turning his back to the front door.
When Quinsil was faced the other direction, Dean made his way into the restaurant. He began working his way around the tables, towards the door at the back. As he went, a he saw Meriyl circle back the other way, forcing Quinsil to keep his back to Dean. He reached the door leading to Quinsil’s office and quietly slipped inside. The few customers present were watching the shouting match between Quinsil and his slave, so no one saw his entrance.
Dean waited impatiently, hoping Meriyl would be able to get Quinsil into his office. Just when he was about to peek out the door, he heard the door opening and stepped back. Quinsil followed Meriyl into the office still shouting. “I don’t know what you have going on with that being, but you have no right to…”
Quinsil stopped short when he noticed Dean standing in his office. “What are you doing here?” he asked angrily.
Dean reached down, pulled aside the special panel he had had the clothing shop owner place in his new jumpsuit, and drew one of his pistols. He pointed the firearm right between Quinsil’s eyes and replied, “I am here to make a deal.”
Quinsil almost choked. He took a breath and said, “I have no interest in making any kind of deal with you.”
Dean smiled with an evil glint in his eye. “Sure you do, you’re going to sell me Meriyl.” He ignored the sudden look of surprise on Meriyl’s face and said, “I will pay you whatever her remaining debt is, and you will sign her over to me.”
“Why in the universe would I do that?” the angry alien asked.
“I assume you know who Bex is?” Dean asked in retort. From the shocked look, Dean knew he was right. So he continued, “Meriyl is here to spy on you and Quillitonoxic for Bex. She already has enough information for Bex to crush you. That information has not been transmitted yet, but if I push this little button – Dean pointed to a small button on his suit computer – that will no longer be the case. It’s simple; you sell me Meriyl and the information never finds its way to Bex.”
Quinsil paused for a moment before he asked, “How do I know you won’t send the information anyway once I sell you the girl?”
“You don’t,” Dean said smugly. “But, if you don’t sell her to me, you can be sure I will send the information.”
Quinsil appeared angrier than any Gorroshtic he had ever seen. He watched as Quinsil stomped one of his feet. Reluctantly, he said, “Fine, but I promise you will never make it off this world alive.”
“Whatever, “Dean replied. “Let’s just get this done.”
Quinsil walked over to his work table and had the computer bring up the necessary documents. When everything was ready, Dean transferred the required funds and verbally agreed to the contract. Meriyl now officially belonged to him. He didn’t know if he should be happy or sick.
Their business concluded, Dean and Meriyl hastily made their way out of the restaurant. As they began walking in the direction of Quillitonoxic’s office, Meriyl turned to him and asked, “I never told you what information I had learned. How were you going to transmit what you didn’t know?”
Dean smiled and said, “I lied.” He pointed to the button on his suit computer and said, “this button simply lowers the temperature inside my armor.”
Laughing loudly, Meriyl repli
ed, “Dean, I didn’t realize you were so devious.”
Chapter 37
Dean and Meriyl walked boldly right into Quillitonoxic’s office. They found Dean’s evil partner standing behind his work table. Quillitonoxic looked stunned as the pair walked into his office and right up to his table.
“Hello Quill,” Dean began. “I believe you and I have some business to discuss.”
Quillitonoxic began laughing as he reached forward a pressed a button on his desk. “You are quite mistaken my friend,” he said. “You have actually just made a fatal mistake.”
As he finished speaking, a dozen guards piled into the room from a side door. Each was holding a pistol not so different from the two Dean was carrying. Dean immediately reached down and activated his helmet. The helmet wrapped itself around his head and the heads up visor lowered over his face.
“That won’t do you any good Dean,” Quillitonoxic said. As you can see, you are hopelessly outnumbered. Please slowly remove your weapons and place them on the table.”
Dean reached down and pulled open the panels built into his jumpsuit. He carefully pulled his pistols out of their holsters and placed them on the table in front of Quillitonoxic.
Quillitonoxic reached down and pushed the pistols out of Dean’s reach. “Now, I’m afraid you are about to have a terrible accident.”
“You don’t have to do this Quill,” Dean said with menace in his voice.
“Of course I do. You have what I want, and I always get what I want. But first, I owe you some payback for all the trouble you have caused. Before I send you away to your fate, I want you to watch your girlfriend die right in front of you.” Quillitonoxic turned to one of the guards and said, “Kill her.”
The guard raised his pistol and pointed it right at Meriyl’s head. Dean could see tears streaming down her face.
“Any last words you would like to say to your girlfriend Dean?” Quillitonoxic asked.
As Quillitonoxic had been talking, Dean had been using his eyes and his heads up display to target each of the guards. His former commando instructor had taught him how to properly target with his armor.
Dean turned to look at Quillitonoxic and said, “Just one thing. Fire!”
Two square lumps suddenly appeared, one on each of Dean’s shoulders. Several small blasts of air could be heard, and then all of the guards dropped to the ground. Dean lunged forward and swiftly grabbed both of his pistols. Quillitonoxic was so shocked; he didn’t even try to stop him.
Dean pointed one of the pistols dead center on Quillitonoxic’s head. He had already firmed up the target with his heads up display, so even if Quillitonoxic moved, his armor would force his arm to follow.
“I told you we didn’t have to do it this way,” Dean said.
Looking resigned, Quillitonoxic replied, “I suppose you are going to kill me now.”
“I hadn’t planned on it,” Dean said boldly.
Quillitonoxic looked up sharply and said, “You will never get away with killing these guards if you leave me alive.”
“Oh, they’re not dead. I had the flachettes in my armor replaced with tranquilizer darts. They’ll wake up in an hour or so.”
Quillitonoxic looked down at the guards with a surprised expression. Turning back he asked, “So what do you propose we do now?”
“I propose to give you exactly what you want.”
Looking remarkably confused, Quillitonoxic asked, “What do you mean?”
Dean took a deep breath and said, “I don’t want to kill you and I don’t want you to kill me. I also don’t want you hunting me if I manage to escape. I want to be done with the whole thing. I will sign over my half of the company, and you are even welcome to the funds remaining in my account. Afterwards, you let Meriyl and I leave this world.”
Confusion fought with shock on Quillitonoxic’s face. “You would just give me your half?
“Yes, I will give up my half of the company.”
“What about the girl? She is the property of Quinsil.”
“That’s already taken care of; he sold Meriyl to me.”
Shaking his head, Quillitonoxic agreed to Dean’s terms. They quickly brought up the documents to perform the transfer of ownership. Dean verbally signed over his half of the company, along with all rights to his account. That done, Quillitonoxic allowed the pair to walk out of his office. Now that he had what he wanted, he assured the two they would not be stopped and could freely leave the planet.
No wanting to test this too far, Dean and Meriyl headed straight for The Path.
“Where do you want to go?” Meriyl asked as they made their way.
“I have no idea. You pick.”
“Well, we will have to go somewhere we can earn money. We are both broke now.”
“Not exactly,” Dean replied with a grin. “I have about two million credits in gold tucked into my armor. We need to hurry, this stuff is heavy.”
Laughing, she said, “I have the perfect place in mind.”
As they neared the The Path, she asked him, “Why did you let Quillitonoxic have all of your business. He’ll just become even more wealthy and corrupt.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that too much,” he replied. “I programed the central computer to release a rumor in about a week that there is meat in the ice cream. I figure by the time all the lawsuits have been settled, Quillitonoxic will be just about broke.”
“Like I said before, you are very devious.”
When they reached the metal arch, Meriyl reached out and touched the side. A bright keyboard made of light appeared in front of them. Meriyl rapidly tapped several keys that glowed brighter with her touch.
“How does a couple weeks on a beach, sipping drinks by the ocean sound?” she asked.
Dean smiled broadly and said, “Deal.”
Hand in hand, the pair walked through the silver curtain.
Epilogue
Back on Earth, Dean would never know what had happened, but his name would be remembered there for generations to come. The crew of Destiny, including Bill, had spent every moment possible on Mars attempting to either dig out the hole he had fell into, or finding another way to get to the source of the radio signal. Even after it was clear that his oxygen supply would have be exhausted, they continued to search, determined to not let his body remain on Mars.
After they returned from their last trip down to the red planet, the somber crew notified Earth of their failure and began their long voyage home. For much of the trip, the crew remained heartbroken and performed their various duties listlessly. Stacy cried often whenever she thought of the exuberant youth that had saved her experiment. Bill kept pretty much to himself, not even spending much time with Stacy. Sarah spent most of her free time writing a book about Dean. Little did she know it would become an international best seller when they got back to Earth. Captain Rogers was never quite the same. Where once he would laugh openly, after Dean’s loss, he would merely perform his duties in the most perfunctory, professional manner. He left no room for anything besides serious work.
When they finally arrived back on their home planet, they were all greeted as heroes. They were almost immediately whisked around the globe to meet with various dignitaries and news reporters. They sat for numerous talk show interviews. Each time, they would tell the world about the brave young man that had given his life to save a fellow astronaut. Bill quickly became the most vocal on the subject, openly daring anyone to say a bad word about Dean.
SpaceTek had wanted to keep the entire incident under wraps, and pretend Dean had been lost to an accident on one of the later landings; however, the crew threatened to release news of the alien signal if they weren’t allowed to set the record straight regarding Dean. Government pressure to keep the signal classified ensured SpaceTek’s cooperation. So now, Dean was known the world over as the first person to set foot on Mars, and as a courageous astronaut that lost his life saving another.
A month after the crew had returned, the President
of the United States declared a national holiday in honor of Dean. Most of the world’s countries quickly followed suit. A memorial service was held that was attended by more than ten million people.
Statues of Dean were erected all over the planet, and numerous Dean Danforth high schools began to pop up. Dean was posthumously given citizenship to most of the world’s countries, even many of the more troubled countries like North Korea and Syria. Dean became known as the first true citizen of Earth, and his name was used often to help negotiate peace in many warring nations.
Dean Danforth would be remembered throughout history as one of Earth’s greatest heroes.
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