Freddy Anderson’s Home: Book 1 (3 page)

The Green said, “Yes, master?”

“Did we not capture an Admiral Bates?”

“I will check, master. Yes. The Body System confirms.”

“Stop and read back what this Bates and any other captives may know. I want to tie everything together. I need a case to present to the body superior for complete inhalation of this species.”

The Green looked upset at that announcement but answered, “As you wish, master.”

I tried as hard as I could to prevent entrance into my mind, but the Green replaced his tentacle and memories flowed. My senses were wide open, and I could clearly see Admiral Bates on a big screen in the ceiling.

Chapter 3
Great News

A
dmiral Jeff Bates was near retirement. He was sixty-seven years old, with hair as white as snow—at least, what little was left on his balding head. He had the start of a pot belly because of all the desk work, and he was tired.
I was tired ten years ago. I was tired last year, and I’m tired now. How darn tired do I need to get? I don’t need this kid on top of everything
else.

His hand felt the cool smoothness of his old sea captain’s desk. It was made of mahogany, with carved figures of dragons adorning every corner and leg, as well as the front. Thinking back, he said to no one in particular, “I got this in the Philippines thirty years ago. Nearly fainted trying to bring it up three flights to get it into this office last year, but I’d be darned if I was going to let those stupid movers put another ding in it.” He patted the desktop. “This desk and I go back a long way.”

He would retire in two more years, after a distinguished career of fifty years in the navy. He had both elbows on the desk, and his old worn hands held up his wrinkled face. He was actually happy to learn that the land near the base had been sold, but the smile on his face showed concern mixed with happiness. True, it meant that the army would not be using it anymore. The little fishing town would be very happy about that, and his base would run a lot smoother without the army personnel messing around and getting arrested. He could cut the military police force down by 75 percent, and watches could go from port and starboard to four-day or maybe five-day rotations. That meant more time at home with wives and children for the sailors and marines. Fewer fights meant fewer injuries and a considerably shorter wait at the base clinic and the dental facilities on Friday nights and Saturday mornings. The base commissary finally could be stocked and kept that way. He lifted his head, thinking,
I can start letting the veterans have access and privileges again. Oh yes, this is going to make me very popular around here. When I retire, I’ll be a hero. Yes, in
deed!

Still, something was not quite right about the situation. The president herself had sent a message regarding this Freddy Anderson person:

TOP SE
CRET

For Admiral Bates’s Eyes
Only

Office of the President of the United States

Jeff,

I hope this finds you well. By unanimous decision, in payment for services rendered, the Congress, Senate, and I have granted the land southwest of your position, a total of forty square miles, to one Freddy Anderson. Copies of the pertinent papers are on the way. The army has been notified that they are not to come within fifteen miles of that area. It is now off-limits to all personnel, with the exception of your radar team and your top staff, for inspection and maintenance of the radar station only. Do not get caught spying on Dr. Anderson!

Dr. Anderson is only ten years old, but he can take care of himself. Don’t let his age fool you. According to my information, he is probably the most intelligent person on the face of the planet. He is highly eccentric and very capable of doing almost anything. My God, the kid has more degrees from a highly respected university than my entire staff. His abilities are limitless. I don’t know what he plans to do with the land—it could be anything. One justice confided in me that Dr. Anderson needs to be alone most of the time, but he would not say why.

Jeff, I want you to keep an eye on this one. I’m making this your top priority. Befriend the boy, help him in any way you can, but don’t hamper him. Keep undesirables away from him. Frankly, his abilities and knowledge scare me. You have permission to grant him full base privileges. That should be a good way to see him and get to know him. Give him housing on base until he gets his new home built. Get someone to help him with anything he wants. Naturally, I don’t expect you to do this yourself, so find someone he can learn to trust.

Best regards,

Margaret A. Kabe

President of the United States

He’d read the letter a hundred times and could well see why the president was scared. It left a bad taste in his mouth. According to the files, this kid had invented a portable laser, an anti-gravity device, and some kind of compression system that was being used for compacting rock to make tunnels. All he needed now was a portable power source, and he would be his own army.
Impressive, but I’d be more impressed if the kid could straighten out my supply problems. Relax—what difference does it make if a kid is moving in? The army’s moving out, and nothing could be better than
that.

Smiling, he rested his face back in his hands as he thought,
Now, who can I get to babysit the brat? I’ve got it! Another one of my problems is about to be solved!
Smiling even wider, he said out loud, “I love this kid.”

The view on the alien ship’s monitor changed to a split screen, with the admiral on the right and an outside view on the left, showing Susan throwing knives.

Navy SEAL Lieutenant Susan James was outside her barracks when the call came. She stood tall, about five foot eleven, and weighed about 150 pounds—all muscle, solid. Her blonde hair was in a tight cut that made her look more male than female. So far, every knife she tossed had stuck two inches into the trunk of the old oak, all within a finger’s width of each other, cutting the white, hand-sized circle that was painted there.

A very nervous ensign approached, stopped a good distance away, and after a snappy salute said, “Lieutenant, sir, the admiral wants to see you.”

She returned his salute with a smart one of her own. “Very well, Ensign. Carry on.” Her words were lost on the ensign, as he was already running away as fast as he could.
It’s about time
, she thought
. I’m bored, and my team is being wasted. I hope the admiral has something a little more interesting for us this time. We’ve been sitting here for a month with nothing to do but pick on the army and marines—not that it hasn’t been
fun.

Thinking back on her situation, she realized that the boredom was mostly her fault.
I should have realized that in proving my team is the best—that an all-female team is by far superior to male teams—we’d hurt the feelings of too many high-ranking men. It’s not Admiral Bates’s fault that we were forced on him.
Part of the orders from her last commanding officer had been verbal. “In a nutshell, Lieutenant, it comes down to this: you’re being transferred to a little command in the middle of nowhere near the Oregon/California border. Try to advance your career from there.”

When they’d reached this base, the admiral had nothing to give them. He was always trying to find something. He’d sent them out to pull some interesting things on the marines, but the admiral had kept that secret, and the marines couldn’t prove a thing. He’d also had them spy on the army. For some reason, the general of the army in that area had a mean streak and so did some of his men. They were always messing with the town, parking convoys in the middle of the street, getting drunk and starting fights with the fishermen and tourists, messing with the fishing nets, and just generally being obnoxious. When the men were arrested for drunken assault, the general had enough power to get them out. They never paid for anything they damaged—they nearly put the tavern out of business due to broken furniture and light fixtures. Therefore, my team threw some shenanigans into their maneuvers. It was a lot of fun, but according to the latest scuttlebutt, there was no more army—they were finally kicked out forever.

The whole town was saying that some little kid kicked them out. I’d heard how hard the town had been on the general and his men—throwing sticks and rocks and yelling out names. Stupid civilians! That was a big mistake on the town’s part, and now the general was madder than a hungry pit bull and swearing revenge. Strange—most army personnel were very good people, some of the best to know and have as friends, but this group seemed handpicked for malicious personalities.

Susan tossed the last three knives, one right after another, and they thudded into the circle on the oak, touching each other.

Within minutes, she stood tall in front of the admiral’s office, waiting for permission to enter. When he finished with the yeoman, he motioned for her to come in. She entered and stood at attention in front of his desk.

“At ease, Lieutenant. Have a seat.” She relaxed and sat down. “I have new orders for you.” He handed the Top Secret folder to her and said, “Read it.”

It took her only a minute to scan the paperwork and memorize it. She handed it back.

“Well, what do you think?” he asked.

“Begging the admiral’s pardon, but I think this is a babysitting job for some yeoman or one of the enlisted men’s wives.”

The admiral looked upset, as one eye squinted and the other became hard and glassy. His brow wrinkled, and his mouth became tight. “I don’t think you’re seeing the whole picture, Lieutenant. Private, state, and federal groups have fought over that land for years. Suddenly, this child gets it lock, stock, and barrel with a unanimous decision from Congress, not to mention tax-free! When’s the last time we’ve seen the Democrats and Republicans vote unanimously on anything, especially something tax-free that doesn’t include them?”

Lt. James said, “Never, sir.”

“This request was from the president herself, Lieutenant. You have a degree in human behavior. What’s the emotion in that letter?”

Lieutenant James thought before responding. “I would say
 …
worried and possibly a little afraid, not necessarily for the child’s life but for the knowledge and abilities that he has. Admiral, why don’t we just kill him?”

“Because he’s useful in some way, so much so that everyone wants him protected, but he wants to be alone.”

“So, leave him alone, sir.”

“Can’t do that, Lieutenant. How would you feel if you had the world’s smartest person sitting in your backyard? No supervision; you can’t touch him; you can’t see what he’s doing; and he has everything he wants to make anything he wants at his disposal. To top that off, the kid has the social experience of a naive ten-year-old. I don’t care how smart he is; he has only ten years’ experience with life and morals.”

“I see what you mean, sir.”

“This kid will see right through anyone I send to befriend him. You’ve always said that your team is the smartest and ready for anything. Well, here’s your chance to prove it. I don’t care if everyone sees it as a babysitting job. You and I know it’s different. Do we have an understanding, Lieutenant?”

“We have an understanding that you were probably never at a loss for babysitters. You’re a born salesman, sir.”

“Good. Do your best on this, Lieutenant. I have to make monthly reports to the president, so I expect weekly reports from you. Dismissed.” Lieutenant James came to attention and left.
How is she going to explain that to the team?
the admiral thought with a smile.

The Gray said, “I don’t understand this human admiral.”

Everything went black.

“Master?”

“This Bates clearly outranks James, yet he took the time to talk her into the ‘babysitting’ position and is wondering how she is going to talk her subordinates into the situation. She outranks them. Why explain anything? How do they run a military like that?”

“I do not know, master. Possibly they spend a little time attempting to acquire approval for what they are doing or plan to do. Some might consider getting buy-in from subordinates as a way to enhance the morale of the troops and therefore make their duty seem more worth doing.”

“That’s very funny, Green. There is nothing more worth doing than to do that which keeps your superiors from stripping the skin off your backs.”

Under his breath, Green mumbled, “Yes, you get the job done exactly to the bare minimum required to please the Gray—or less, if you can get away with it.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing, master.”

“Then continue with the little one’s memories.”