The Returning Hero
by
T.J. Kinsella
Copyright 2017 T.J. Kinsella
Major, ‘Flack’ Baxter was widely believed to be the greatest hero who had ever lived. He had overseen the defence of Titan, almost single-handedly repelled the invasion of Mars, then personally led the final assault on Trappist three. Now, after almost fifteen years travelling across space, Baxter was finally returning home
If there was ever a man who deserved a parade in his honour, it was Baxter, and as president of the united colonies, it fell to Chancellor Lorrimer to organise it. Lorrimer’s enthusiasm for the task was endless, even though, for the past few weeks, he had worked tirelessly to arrange every detail. To him, it was a labour of love, having grown up listening to the tales of Baxter’s heroics.
The chancellor, like most people, idolised Baxter. Statues and pictures of the great war hero now adorned every settlement, of every human colony. Such was the extent of his fame that numerous films had been made about his deeds and Flack Baxter action figures were the treasured possessions of almost every child.
Hundreds of thousands of people were expected to line the streets to welcome home the returning hero, but it was Lorrimer’s honour, to be the first. He, along with a handful of aides and dignitaries, made up the small welcoming party at Kuipers spaceport. Barely able to contain his excitement, Lorrimer stood anxiously on the landing pad, scanning the sky for signs of Baxter’s shuttle.
“Is my tie straight, Mason?” he nervously asked his assistant.
“It’s about as straight as it was the last time you asked,” replied Mason, sarcastically.
“Do you think we should wait on the other side of the landing pad?” Lorrimer continued, having not heard a word of Mason reply, “Would that make it easier for him when he comes down the steps?”
“We’re fine where we are,” said Mason, “Try to stop fussing, will you? Just relax and enjoy the moment.”
“How can I relax?” snapped the chancellor, “I’m about to become the first person to welcome Flack Baxter back to earth…I just want to be sure that everything is perfect.”
“We’ve checked, and triple checked everything…now, stop worrying about it!”
Before Mason had finished speaking, Lorrimer caught sight of the shuttles jets, glowing through the clouds, above. Pointing up at the approaching craft, he excitedly began bouncing from foot to foot.
“He’s here!” he called out, his voice a clear octave higher than normal.
The delta shaped craft roared rapidly downwards, until, a few seconds later, it was directly over their heads. It hovered above them, momentarily, before slowly descending and gently touching down on the landing pad. Lorrimer watched with anticipation as its hatch slowly hissed open and a set of metal steps automatically unfurled to the ground.
Seconds later, the unmistakable figure of Flack Baxter, appeared in the doorway. He was dressed in the white ceremonial uniform of the orbital infantry, adorned with as many medals and ribbons as his broad chest could carry. His cropped blonde hair, his square jaw and his piercing blue eyes were instantly recognisable from the countless news clips and pictures that Lorrimer had seen of him.
A stern faced female officer then appeared by his side. She began waving at the welcoming committee, simultaneously leaning in towards Baxter and whispering something in his ear. A broad grin instantly appeared on the major’s face as he too, began waving enthusiastically at Lorrimer’s party.
The female officer then whispered to Baxter a second time, before taking his arm and leading him carefully down the steps. Another officer, whose frame was larger even than that of Baxter, then emerged from the shuttles hatch, slowly following behind.
As the three approached, Lorrimer extended his hand towards the major. However, instead of returning the gesture, Baxter, just stood there, smiling back at him. A second later, the female officer grabbed his hand and shook it, as if the gesture had been intended for her.
“Chancellor Lorrimer, I presume?” She said confidently, “Captain Gillian Rogers, three hundred and third, Orbital infantry. I am Major Baxter’s aide.”
“P-pleased to meet you, Captain,” said Lorrimer, somewhat perturbed by the major’s reluctance to shake his hand, “and may I be the first to say, ‘welcome home’.
“Thank you, chancellor, it’s good to be back.”
“I have to say Major,” said lorrimer, turning back to Baxter, “that it’s a tremendous honour to meet you…”
Baxter did not reply.
“There are thousands of people lining the parade route, it looks like most of the population have turned up to see you,” the chancellor chuckled nervously.
Again, there was no response.
“Well, we don’t want to keep them all waiting then, do we?” Rogers interjected.
“Lieutenant Willis, be so good as to show the Major to his car, will you?” she then said, turning to the other officer.
The chancellor watched as Willis took the major by the arm, then carefully led down to steps of the landing pad, to the waiting motorcade. Lorrimer noticed, as the two men walked away, that the major was a little unsteady on his feet, seemingly lacking in co-ordination. This fact, when added to Baxter’s slightly odd behaviour, was starting to make him a little uneasy.
“Is he alright?” the chancellor asked Rogers with concern.
“He’s fine,” Captain Rogers assured him, “It’s just the after effects of the cryo-sleep…it can sometimes take days to fully recover.”
“I see...” said Lorrimer, “though it doesn’t seem to have affected you too badly.”
“Th-that’s right,” she replied, “But I’ve had a little longer to recover…it’s common practice for a small number of the crew to be woken early…to oversee the rest of the crew as they come out of cryosleep.”
“Of course,” said Lorrimer, “how silly of me.”
The chancellor then gestured towards the steps of the landing pad, “After you, Captain.”
Rogers then made her way down to the motorcade, follow by Lorrimer, Mason and the rest of the welcoming party. A line of four open-top limousines waited for them, together with a police escort consisting of two squad cars and six motorcycles. Rogers joined Baxter and Willis in the leading car, with Lorrimer and his group getting in the following vehicles.
As soon as the main gates of the base opened, the convoy was greeted by a cacophony of cheers and whistles from the thousands of people who lined the road outside. As the crowds caught sight Baxter’s limousine, the roar that erupted from them was almost deafening. The scene was the same for the next ten miles, until they reached the outskirts of the city.
Whilst the reception they had so far received had been impressive, the welcome that awaited them in Amsterdam itself, was nothing short of overwhelming. The streets were awash with ticker tape, ribbons and flowers, which rained down from every window. From the pavements to the rooftops, every possible vantage point had been taken, with people eager to catch even the merest glimpse of their hero.
The convoy slowly wound its way through the packed city streets, accompanied by rapturous chorus of cheers and applause, until it reached the steps to the presidential palace. Once the vehicles had drawn to a halt, a waiting military struck up a rousing rendition of, ‘Beyond the Stars’; the Orbital infantry anthem.
Chancellor Lorrimer, flanked closely by Mason, emerged from his limousine looking particularly pleased with himself. Every aspect of the parade had been executed perfectly and, from what he could tell, Baxter seemed to be enjoying the spectacle. At no point, on their journey, had Lorrimer seen the major stop smiling or waving.
The stone staircase of the palace had been adorned with a red carpet which was flanked by
a mix of royal guests, politicians, and generals, all of whom began applauding enthusiastically as Baxter stepped out of his vehicle. At first, the major appeared a little overawed by the reception, as he stood with an expression of confusion etched upon his face. His grin soon returned, however, when Captain Rogers placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered reassuringly, in his ear, once again.
Once Baxter’s party and the rest of the dignitaries had gathered, Mason ushered them up the steps and through the great palatial doors. The grand entrance hall was decked out with ribbons and, at the top of the palace staircase, a huge portrait of the major had been hung on the wall, just as the chancellor had instructed. However, as they made their way up to the first floor, it seemed to Lorrimer, that Baxter barely noticed it.
Mason then led the group through a set of double doors and into a large, lavishly decorated reception room. On one side of the room,