Tom Swift Jr #34, Chapter 20: A Meeting of Friends

Sandra Swift sat on the bridge of the Cosmotron Express and looked through the window at the giant planet Neptune. Her father, Tom Swift Sr., sat beside her. A few hours ago the bridge had been a flurry of activity, but it was now empty except for the two of them. A clock on the wall indicated that it was almost midnight.

Bud Barclay stepped out of the elevator and onto the bridge. “So there you are,” he said. “I figured I’d find you here.”

Sandy turned her head and smiled. “I don’t get to visit Neptune very often, you know,” she said teasingly. “I’d better make the most of it while I still have the chance! Dad is threatening to ground me for the rest of my life.”

Tom Sr. laughed quietly. “You gave me quite a shock, young lady! I still don’t know what possessed you to come out here and rescue us, but I’m glad you did. You handled yourself like a true Swift.”

“Speaking of Swifts, how’s my brother doing?” Sandy asked Bud. “Has he regained consciousness? I heard the initial report, but nothing since then.”

Bud nodded. “He’s fine. He came to a little while ago, and then drifted off to sleep. The doctor tells me he had a rather nasty blow to the head. He’ll be fine, though. After all, the Swifts are legendary for being hard-headed.”

“I think you’re coming down with a bit of that yourself, Bud,” Tom Sr. said. After all of the stress of the past few days he finally felt able to relax. “I’m surprised you were able to drag my son out of the Challenger. He’s never been one to abandon ship, and he really hates losing. I still remember what it was like to lose the Red Cloud when the ice caves collapsed. Tom’s never had to deal with that before.”

Bud agreed. “I was by his side an hour ago when he regained consciousness, and I talked to him for a few minutes. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that we would have to leave the Challenger behind, though. Someone else will have to break that news to him.”

“What’s that?” Sandy asked, surprised. “I thought it was salvageable.”

“I’m afraid not,” Tom Sr. replied. “It’s suffered more damage than I first thought. Both the fusion plant and the solar collectors are destroyed, and the robots did quite a job on the interior. It will take weeks of work to make it spaceworthy again, and we don’t have the resources with us to fix it or to tow it back home. One day we’ll have to make another expedition out here and repair it. Until then it will remain a satellite of Neptune.”

“Oh – that reminds me,” Bud replied. “I knew I came up here for a reason. The crew has finished moving the Challenger‘s Transmittation to Hangar 4 and they need your help putting it back together.”

“I’m on my way,” Tom Sr. said. “Are you sure they’ve moved all the parts? I’d hate to get halfway to Mars only to find out that we’re missing a key component and can’t beam the translators to the surface.”

“That’s what they tell me, but only you or Tom would know,” Bud replied.

Tom Sr. nodded. “I’ll go check, then. If everything is there I’ll let you know, Sandy, and you can take us to Mars. I believe our space friends are expecting us to arrive no later than tomorrow afternoon.”

Sandy nodded. “I’ll get you there on time, Dad. Don’t worry.” Tom Sr. then walked over to the elevator and took it downstairs, leaving Bud and Sandy alone on the bridge.

Bud sat down beside Sandy and relaxed. “Man, it’s been quite a day,” he said at last. As he settled down into the chair he could feel his body cry out in pain. He had spent a few hours in the infirmary himself, getting his broken ribs x-rayed and cared for.

“And how are you, Bud?” Sandy asked. “I’ve heard you weren’t exactly uninjured yourself.”

“Eh, you know how doctors are,” Bud said flippantly. “They tell me it’ll be weeks before I can start fighting evil robots from outer space again. It’s awful.”

Sandy shot Bud an anxious look. “I just can’t believe you guys. Are you crazy? Do you know how close you came to dying out there? If you had done so much as lost your grip on the gun in the elevator you would have both fallen, and – ”

Bud saw that the stress of the day was finally getting to Sandy, and he tried to calm her down. “We’re fine, Sandy, honest, and we’re going to be on our way home in a moment. I won’t say that I didn’t have my doubts, but we got through it, and that’s the main thing. It was really brave of you to come out here and rescue us.”

Sandy looked at Bud and tried to smile. “I’m sorry, Bud. I’m just not used to all of this. I really had no idea what it was actually like, being out here, on one of your adventures. Please tell me they’re not all this dangerous.”

“Sometimes they are, but not always,” Bud said. “I remember when the asteroid pirates took over Nestria and we flew the Challenger into the antimatter barrier for the first time. Let me tell you, that was tense. But there are a lot of good times too, Sandy. It’s not all bad.”

Sandy sighed. “You do realize that most people go their entire lives without getting their consciousness trapped in an alien machine, right? Has Tom ever considered finding a new hobby? I hear that gardening can be a real blast.”

Bud laughed. “You say that as if your brother deliberately caused all this! I’d watch your back, though, Sandy. You’ve already started taking the first steps into the wild world of Tom Swift. Before you know it you’ll be caught up in your own adventures, and then Tom and I will have to come and rescue you.”

The intercom beeped, interrupting Bud. Sandy switched it on, and Tom Sr.’s voice came through the intercom. “It looks like we have everything we need, Sandy. You can take us to Mars.”

“Thanks, Dad. I’ll take care of everything. We should be there by morning.”

For the next few minutes Sandy worked at the controls, first contacting the alien fleet and then laying in the course for Mars. When everything was set she engaged the repelatron drive, and the ship began moving away from Neptune. It did not take the planet long to disappear from view.

Bud glanced at the radar console and saw that the alien fleet was keeping pace with the Cosmotron Express. “Say, you never did tell me what happened when we were trying to escape from the Challenger,” he said. “Why didn’t the space friends take care of the robots for us? I mean, after all, that was the plan!”

“They were kind of busy,” Sandy said, as she monitored the ship’s systems. When she was satisfied that everything was in order she turned her attention back to Bud. “I’d better start at the beginning. As you know, Uncle Ned and I took this ship to Mars, where we met with the space friends’ fleet. We then charted a course for Neptune and set out.”

“I’m guessing all their ships are robotic,” Bud replied.

Sandy nodded in agreement. “Well, as it turned out, we beat you to Neptune by about a half-hour. As soon as we got close to Neptune everything went nuts. It turned out the Space Legion actually had a fairly tough fleet, and the battle got pretty intense. We mostly tried to stay out of it until the Challenger appeared, and it showed up right in the thick of things. That’s when the fight got really ugly. We began beaming you out as soon as we could, but it didn’t take long to start sustaining damage.”

“Like your propulsion system and transporter,” Bud said.

“Exactly. One the transporter went out, all we could do was hope that the rest of you would be able to find a way off the Challenger. The space friends had their hands full, and we were dead in space. I figured Tom would find a way to get you guys off the ship, but when everyone but you and him were beamed over and then we didn’t hear anything else, we – ” and Sandy stopped, as her emotions rose to the surface. “We thought we’d lost you,” she said softly.

“We were just delayed a bit,” Bud said easily. “You know how it goes. Some aliens just don’t have any respect for your calendar or to-do list. But man, this time our space friends really had bad timing. It figures that they would remove the robots from the Challenger just minutes after we abandoned ship. Oh well. At least we were able to salvage enough parts from it to get this ship going again. It would’ve been a long walk home.”

After a moment Sandy spoke up. “Somehow I have a feeling it won’t be long before you and Tom are out here again. You know he won’t rest until he gets his ship back.”

“And somehow I have a feeling that you’re going to want to join him on that little expedition,” Bud said. “I just can’t believe it. Whatever happened to staying home and knitting? I hear that crocheting is all the rage these days.”

“If you’re looking for a sedentary girl that stays at home, Bud, you shouldn’t date a Swift,” Sandy retorted. “Just don’t make me come and rescue you again. After all, what if I had been the one at the dentist?”

Bud laughed. “Just get us to Mars, Sandy. I’m going to go get some sleep. It’s good to be back.”

The following afternoon, the Cosmotron Express was in orbit around Mars. Every single person on the ship had gathered onto the spacious bridge, filling it to capacity. Even Tom Swift Jr. was present, sitting comfortably in a chair. He was bruised and had his arm in a sling, but his blue eyes were as sharp as ever, and he had an expression of pure joy.

“Well brand my spacedust, Tom, but that there is a bee-you-teeful sight,” Chow Winkler exclaimed. He was standing in front of the window on the bridge, gazing out at the planet below. The ship was in low orbit around Mars, and everyone could see the beautiful mountains and canyons of the Red Planet. Today the view was simply breathtaking.

“One day it will be even more beautiful,” Tom Jr. replied. “These two translators that we’re about to beam down will give our space friends everything they need to bring Mars to life. Eventually this planet will look just like their original home world.”

“At least, it will if you have anything to say about it,” Bud replied, needling his friend. “I sense another project in your future!”

Tom shrugged. “You could be right. There’s always another invention on the horizon.”

“We’re receiving a transmission from the planet below,” James Nathan announced. He paused a moment as the ship’s electronic brain decoded the message. “It appears that the space friends are ready to receive the translators.”

Tom Jr. smiled. “Beam the translators to the planet, James, and give our space friends our regards.”

James pressed a few buttons on the console. A moment later Sandra Swift spoke up. “We’ve had a successful transmission.”

Everyone cheered. “You did it, Tom!” Bud said, clapping his friend on the back. Tom winced. “Sorry,” Bud replied, grinning.

“I’d have to say this was a joint effort,” Tom Jr. said. “I couldn’t have done it without all of you. This has been an amazing experience.”

“And one that I hope we never, ever go through again,” Tom Sr. said.

“I second that motion,” Ned Newton agreed.

“We’re getting another message from the surface,” James Nathan replied. “Our space friends are asking us to stand by.”

Tom Jr. smiled. Bud looked at him and frowned. “You’re up to something,” Bud said accusingly.

“Let’s just say I have a hunch,” Tom replied.

A few minutes ticked by. “So what’s next on your agenda, Tom?” Ned Newton said at last. “Now that you’ve conquered the ocean floor and the depths of space, what’s left?”

“It’s hard to say,” Tom replied. “There is so much that needs to be done! We’ve only just begun to explore the stars, and there are still frontiers on our own world that we haven’t touched. It’s impossible to say where we’re going to go next.” It would not long, however, until Tom was soon deeply involved in his next great invention, Tom Swift and his Claytronic Stones.

James Nathan spoke up. “We’re being hailed from the surface, sir. The space friends are requesting permission to come aboard.”

Tom Jr. and his father exchanged glances. “This is it!” Tom Jr. said excitedly. “All these years of effort have come down to this moment.”

Tom Sr. nodded. “Let’s not keep them waiting, Son.”

“Tell them that permission is granted,” Tom Jr. announced.

James relayed the message to the surface of the planet. Moments later, the bridge was filled with a soft, white light. When the light faded they saw a tall, elderly gentleman standing in the middle of the bridge. The man was easily six and a half feet tall, and had brown eyes and thinning grey hair. He was dressed in a long, brown robe, tied about the middle with a white belt. He scanned the crowd for a moment and then saw Tom Jr. sitting in a chair.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Tom,” he said, as he reached out his hand. “Allow me to extend the warmest thanks to you on behalf of my people.”

Tom Jr. struggled to get up out of his chair. Bud helped him to his feet. “We’ve been honored to know you,” Tom Jr. said. “Have we met before?”

“Indeed we have,” the man said, smiling. He grasped Tom’s hand and shook it firmly. “Don’t you remember? When I traveled to your world you made a most elegant metal case for me. I believe I aided you in fighting a mortal enemy – the Brungarians, or something like that.”

Tom’s eyes widened, and some of the crewmembers gasped. “You mean you’re Exman?” Tom said.

“I prefer the name Jack, but Exman will work,” he replied agreeably.

“Hey Tom,” Bud said, nudging his friend. “Not to interrupt your historic occasion or anything, but why can you shake his hand? I didn’t think projected light was that solid.”

Jack turned to Bud. “We have not been idle during all those years we spent on Mars, young Barclay. For some time we have known how to leave the translators and retake physical form, much as you yourself did. The problem was that our translator had been damaged over the centuries, and was nearly destroyed in a violent earthquake not long ago. Had you not brought these replacements our race would have perished. Thanks to all of you, however, we have been given a new lease on life. We are in your debt.”

“It was kind of touch and go there for a while,” Bud said. “We were glad to do it and all, but if it’s all the same with you I’d rather not tangle with the Space Legion again!”

“They have been dealt with,” Jack told Bud. “Rest assured that they will not trouble you any longer. They will survive, but their ability to trouble others has been forever taken from them. All of you have truly accomplished a great deal in a very small amount of time.”

Jack then turned and addressed the entire crew. “It is my pleasure to invite all of you to our city on the planet below. Please, come and be our honored guests. There is much we would like to show you, and it has been many generations since we last sat down with your people face-to-face. Preparations are now under way for the evening meal, and we would like for you to share it with us.”

Bud smiled. “How can you turn down an offer like that, Tom? You know what they say – it’s sure to be a real out-of-this-world experience!”