This is episode eleven of the novel, From Here To 1137.
Why Tom?
“Good questions,” Gordon said. He sat back and relaxed in his chair.
Tom leaned forward and waited for the explanation.
“It has been years in the making,” Gordon said. “Years ago, we randomly began to monitor thousands of people.”
“And I was one of them?” Tom asked.
“No,” Gordon said. “We…”
Tom interrupted, “Who are we?”
“Do you mind if I get to that later?” Gordon said. “I want to avoid getting distracted. You have this expression, ‘going down the rabbit hole.’ I don’t want that to happen.”
“Okay,” Tom said, “it’s your story, tell it your way.”
“We were able to access millions of various tests and scores,” Gordon said. “Tests from universities, the military, and various government agencies. We were not only looking for intelligence but also certain patterns. Your father took a battery of tests before entering the military. He scored high, but we detected other things in your father. This wasn’t your father alone; there were, like I said, thousands of others, and from all over the world. We initially decided on your father. We left your solar system for a couple of years. When we returned, he had died. We were sad to hear that. Not for our sakes, but your family. Your mother, brother, and you were left in a difficult situation.”
“We continued to observe your family, and you caught our notice. All the attributes we discovered in your father existed in you as well. We waited and decided now was the right time to introduce ourselves.”
“Maybe you’ve made a mistake,” Gordon said. “I’m certainly not exceptional in any respect.”
“Anybody can pack their heads with facts,” Gordon said, “but not know how to use them, and it is those people who often make terrible mistakes. Your father was an incredibly intelligent and unselfish man.”
“He was only a farmer,” Tom said. “He was happy at that.”
“We weren’t looking for a person who used their advantages for wealth or fame. We focused on character. We were certain your father would use whatever advantage he had for good. And we have the same confidence in you.”
“I’m eighteen years old,” Tom said. “I’m nowhere near the man my dad was. Are you sure it’s not my brother, Edgar, whom you want? He graduated from Harvard Law. He’s really intelligent.”
Gordon smiled. “He did well, but he has made many bad decisions.”
“Like what?” Tom said.
“I can’t meddle in your brother’s private affairs,” Gordon said. “I told you, and that’s as far as it goes. With what I just said, I trust you to do whatever you think is best.”
“Okay,” Tom said, “I know why me, but what is this all about?”
Gordon paused, collecting his thoughts. His face tightened. And then it relaxed.
“I’d have figured if this is all that important, you might have everything you were going to say all plotted out and rehearsed,” Tom said. “I’m almost makes me wonder if you’re trying to pacify or outwit me.”
“Sorry,” Gordon said, “believe me, this is no situation for pacifying or to lessen the seriousness of why I’m here talking to you. And this is too important to play games and try to outwit someone. What we are doing is based on trust. If you should ever find out or think I was attempting to outwit you, the consequences would be devastating, not for you, but for me and many others.”
“This must be very serious,” Tom said. “And I can’t believe I’m having a serious conversation with an alien. I personally don’t think I’m up to anything beyond what this world offers. I doubt if I will even hold onto this farm. So, let me hear it.”
Gordon nodded. “I think you’re ready.”
“I do have soybeans to pick first,” Tom chided.
“I’m from a galaxy many light-years from here,” Gordon said.
“Let me interrupt,” Tom said. “I’m just thinking, many light years, that means, if you have an average life span of us on earth, you have never lived in your galaxy. What you may tell me about your galaxy could have happened millions of years ago.”
“I don’t want to get too far ahead,” Gordon said, “but our craft exceeds the speed of light, and once that is exceeded, it is easy to exceed twice the speed, a hundred times the speed, and so on. So to be clear, I have lived on a planet in my galaxy in my lifetime.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” Tom said, “but I guess I could ask Brain.”
Gordon said, “Go ahead.”
Tom silently posed the question to Brain. Tom lifted his head as if looking at something on the ceiling. He bobbed his head. “I see how. Collecting particles that exceed the speed of light, accelerating to warp speed, and entering a realm where time and space are compressed. Okay, let’s get back to your galaxy.”
“It’s just our planet,” Gordon corrected. “Peaceful conditions on the entire planet had been achieved. Enemies became friends. There was a millennium of peace, prosperity, and advancement. Our leaders were about to share what we had accomplished with other civilizations. However, there’s a faction in our society that wants to use our technology to subjugate others. The ruling council found itself in a situation where it had to escape into exile. For the last twenty-five years, the council, administrators, scientists, and their families have been on the run across the universe, one galaxy to another, stopping at an agreeable planet for a while, and keeping on the move. Being hunted like criminals.”
“What happens if you get caught?” Tom asked.
“Death to all of us,” Gordon said.
“What is it they want from you?” Tom asked.
“The council, administrators, scientists, and their families are on a master craft. On that craft is everything the rebels need to subjugate other civilizations. Their thirst for power is overwhelmingly depraved. They stop at nothing.”
“But, I don’t get it,” Tom said, “you just continue to travel through the universe for eternity. Is that your goal?”
“I can’t tell you what our plan is,” Gordon said.
“If those who are chasing you find out you contacted me, what happens to me?”
“I can assure you they won’t,” Gordon said. “Before we escaped, we were able to infect their information systems. They will never be able to find this galaxy. They will never know it exists. With the number of galaxies, solar systems, and planets, and people on each planet, what are the odds?”
“Why are you giving me this?” Tom said, opening his arms and looking around.
“There were only two crafts made like this one, “ Gordon said. “The rebels think there is only one. We will keep one, and you will have the other. We may need it back. We are certain you will relinquish it without question. It has extraordinary capabilities. We want those capabilities in the possession of someone trusted.”
“Trusted, how do you mean?” Tom asked.
“You could conquer your world with this,” Gordon said, “but something like that does not even appeal to you, does it?”
“Like, why?” Tom chortled. “Only a madman or idiot would want to do that.”
“Exactly,” Gordon said.
“What about upkeep?” Tom said. “It won’t rust or anything, will it?”
Gordon smiled. “No, but if something is needed, Brain will tell you.”
“So where is your master ship?” Tom asked. “Do you have any way of getting back, or am I going to have to drop you off? Actually, it could be docked right outside, and nobody would know.”
Gordon chuckled. “The master ship is about just beyond Mars. I brought with me a small craft called a Darter. If I don’t get lost and obey all the posted speed limits, I should be home by supper time.”
“Aliens do have a sense of humor,” Tom grinned.
“Before going, there is one thing I should warn you against,” Gordon said. “Don’t become involved in any international struggles that might drastically change the natural flow and changes in your world. Brain can explain it in detail, but sudden changes in power structures send disturbing waves through the universe. It also travels beyond the speed of light. If picked up by our enemies, it can be used to locate the disturbance. They would immediately suspect that the technology they desire is the source. They will come for it. It would lead them right to you.” Gordon added sternly, “Resist the urge.”
Gordon stood. Tom stood. They gave each other a pressed-lip examination; a last-minute inspection.
“We’ve made the right choice,” Gordon said.
“I hope that proves true,” Tom said.
“I wish we had more time,” Gordon said.
“I’d put ya ta work,” Tom said. “I got a field of soybeans to harvest, in case you forgot.”
“Can anything be done about that door?” Tom said. “I almost hit my head on it on my way in.”
“Brain will tell you that there is a robot at your disposal, which can enlarge the door.”
“Thanks,” Tom said.
“I hope we meet again,” Gordon said and grasped Tom’s shoulder. “Thanks.”
The door opened, and Gordon walked out. The door closed.
“Okay, Brain,” Tom said, “it’s just me and you.”
The door opened. Tom walked out, and the door shut behind him. He climbed onto the combine and began harvesting the field of soybeans.
