Search & Rescue (11.1)

EXTRACT FROM LAURIE KINGSTON'S MTD JOURNAL:

Over the past few months, Chris and I have enjoyed helping out wherever we can. Being ECOPs, "Exandra's Caretakers of the Peace", we have been called upon quite a few times to help put to rest small disputes here and there. We've even settled a few minor disagreements that have occurred here in Dirin City. Our friend, Tarpin, has also stopped by a few times just to talk and give us updates on the general gossip among the communities of Exandra. I am sad to say that I feel I should take a furlough from the ECOPs. Our group has once again been given a new mission and I will not be able to help them out much for a while. Once again, we are being sidetracked from our original mission to find the alien artifact that the map we found on the Moon says should be here on Exandra.

Captain Mitchell was just given his orders yesterday afternoon. We were all briefed in the Capitol Station via a radio transmission from EASA a few hours ago. Apparently, we are being sent out into unknown space to follow the trail of a missing EC ship that was supposed to bring more volunteers to our colony on Exandra. EASA has informed us that the ship had somehow lost its way and the last time they had been heard from it was in a short distress call.

Captain Mitchell, Dr. Smith, my parents, and I will all be leaving at 0800 along with Mr. Gorioshi Higashi, a volunteer from Earth. He seems excited to have an opportunity "To see the wide expanse of God's creation." I had only met the man briefly before I left Dirin City. It will be interesting to learn more about the new addition to our crew.

I told my parents that I should go and inform ECOP leader Whirlp of my leaving; Chris volunteered to join me on my trip. He has said little since we left the City. We left behind the forest's edge moments ago and should be arriving at the ECOP leader's new camp in about half an hour.

During our training by the ECOP members we've learned more efficient ways to travel through the different biomes. In our current haste we are finding our training useful. It used to take a few days to make this same trip but thanks to our ECOP training we are able to cut our travel time in half. We are in a hurry so we've also cut our time further by traveling at night. Exandra looks different at night than it does in the day. Without our ECOP-trained sense of direction we probably would be lost by now; everything is so untamed and ever-changing.

Chris' silence is starting to become a bit unnerving; perhaps I ought to break the ice.

Laurie out.

Laurie closed her MTD, clipped it back onto her utility belt, and took a deep breath of the cool night air.

"You've been awfully quiet," Chris said.

"What?" Laurie laughed. "I was waiting for you to say something."

"Oh, I see," Chris stated.

"I will miss it here," Laurie said quietly after a while.

"You'll be able to call us from the ship on your MTD."

"That's true."

"Hey, let's make the best of the time you still have here," Chris exclaimed, suddenly brightening. "Do you remember the time the Squirrels thought we were coming to attack them?"

"Yeah, that's when we first met Tarpin."

Determined to maintain the lighter mood, Chris decided to continue.

"Remember the time we went with a bunch of the other ECOPs to help stop a mud ball war between the Scorpions and the river dwelling fish?"

"Yeah!" Laurie laughed, "we were plastered in mud from head to toe, it took me forever to get it all out of my hair; my Mom had to help me!"

"I think my Mom washed my clothes three times!" Chris reminisced.

"Remember the time one of the volunteers brought a cat from Earth and it hissed at Tarpin when he approached it."

"I remember! Obviously the language-learning element in the atmosphere doesn't work on Earth animals, or else it would have known Tarpin wasn't going to hurt him," Chris added.

"Yeah! Hey look over there, you can see Whirlp's campfire from here," Laurie exclaimed.

Silence reigned once more.

*****

"Hello!" Whirlp called rising to his feet from the grass around his campfire to welcome the children.

"Sir, we cannot stay long. The Star Traveler crew and I are leaving in the morning," Laurie stated in a quiet voice. "I just came to return the tegar. Though I am quite sad at leaving, I have no idea when I may return here to Exandra."

Laurie held out her tegar, collapsed into the first stage.

Whirlp smiled and waved his hand.

"No need, young ECOP. Once you are one of us, you are always one of us. Being an ECOP is not just about using a tegar and developing expanded senses. It is about accepting the responsibility of ensuring peace and safety for the present and the future. Our senses become adapted because they learn to identify trouble. The tegars are not only our defensive weapons; they establish us as a group; a group of peace keepers," he beamed at his recruits.

Both children nodded in understanding, deep in thought.

"Keep your tegar," Whirlp said with a smile. "You never know when you may need it. Maintaining peace and protecting those who cannot protect themselves should be a commitment everywhere."

"I agree sir, thank you," Laurie replied with a smile, clipping her tegar back unto her belt.

"I'm sure you'll keep in touch"‒at this, Whirlp saw Laurie nod‒ "and Chris will undoubtedly relay to us your adventures‒"

"That I will sir!"

"Now then, I won't deter you two any longer," Whirlp said, "seeing as you have a long journey back to Dirin City." Whirlp said.

"Yes, sir," Laurie answered, with a smile that showed the relief she felt.

"Friends should never have to say goodbye, so, instead I say, good luck and‒ until next time!" Whirlp patted Laurie's shoulder and then nodded to Chris in farewell.

Chris and Laurie began their speedy trip back home.

*****

Captain Mitchell, Dr. Smith, Eli and Dr. Kingston, and Gorioshi were all preparing the Star Traveler for their mission. The "Mess Room" storage was refilled with food packets sent from Earth while fresh food grown on Exandra was put in frozen storage. Dr. Kingston was busy making sure the sickbay was well stocked, equipped, and up to date. Eli and Dr. Smith, overseen by Captain Mitchell, also checked and double-checked all ship's electronics and sensors. Gorioshi put his things into his quarters; and wandered about, trying to stay out of the way while he became familiar with the Star Traveler.

"Do you think Laurie and Chris will get back in time for our scheduled departure?" Dr. Kingston asked her husband, as she emerged unto the main deck. She stopped short and surveyed the jumble of tools piled on the floor.

Dr. Smith and Eli were peering into the open side compartment of one of the ship's main computer consoles.

"Yes dear, don't worry. Laurie seems to have learned a lot from the ECOPs. She told me that Tarpin has taught her how to tell the time at night by the position of the stars. I myself taught her how to tell the time by the position of the sun. That, and she does have her MTD, which can easily tell her what time it is. I can also add that you have taught her well from the beginning that being fashionably late is not very fashionable. She's also able to call us from her MTD if she fears she'll be delayed," Eli added, counting off on his fingers as he enumerated with a chuckle.

"Yes, I guess so," Dr. Kingston said, "but we only have one hour until we leave."

"She'll be here," Captain Mitchell assured her. "Eli, if you and Dr. Smith have everything under control, I'm going to go see if Gorioshi is finding his way around all right."

"We only have a few more things to check. We'll be fine here," Eli answered as Captain Mitchell left the main deck.

*****