Escaping the Cradle

by Karen Page

Part 2

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Part 2

"Is barn three still empty?" asked Tina over the phone.

"Yes. Why?"

"Can I store something big in it for a bit?"

"Of course," Emma said without hesitation. There was no question about what it was.

"Thank you. I'll see you soon."

As Tina made her call, the ship was loaded with spare parts and vital equipment. Once she finished, she helped with the loading. The area was deserted except for the activity around the ship.

"You're getting your ride in Aurora without your ma," said Tina to Jenny.

"She will be okay, won't she?"

"She better be. I should have gone with them, to protect them."

Jessica laughed, "You don't go with someone while they're on a date."

Evan and Henry had composed themselves but were not entirely focused on their duties. Liam was assigned a seat and instructed to ensure everything was prepared. That stopped his panic. Sam, Jessica, James, Tina, and Jenny were fully engaged in their tasks.

"What about the guards?" asked Sam, as they shut the ships door.

"I sent them off as soon as you got here," said Tina. "It was pointless them hanging around with armed mercenaries on the way. Their job was to stop casual intruders, not determined teams. The automatic building security will cause them some issues. If they get too far into the building, then there is a failsafe."

"Tina, do you have the coordinates?" asked James.

"I have what I hope are what we need. If I'm a bit out, we're going to materialise within the frame of a barn. Any idea what would happen?"

"It should push it out, " said Evan. "But that is theory, we've never tried it."

Tina's phone pinged. The message read, 'Ten minutes'.

"Everybody, please switch off their phones and watches. They must stay off where we are going. We don't want to be tracked."

When everybody had complied, she said, "Let's go."

Tina fed in the coordinates. James raised the Perspex cover and pressed the indented button underneath. The ship disappeared from within the underground ship factory and reappeared elsewhere. The screen in front went from a wall five meters away, to blackness.

"I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore," quipped Sam.

James flicked on the external lights and whistled. "That looks close. Let's hope the barn was clear."

"Open up," requested Tina. "I'll go say hi and then come back for you. Keep the ship shut just in case you must leave without me. It's a ten-minute walk to the farmhouse, so I'll not be back quickly."

She grabbed one of the walkie-talkies and gave the other to James. A cold winter evening in rural Wales wasn't the place to hang about outside, so Tina rushed down the path. At least there was a moon, or finding the way would have been difficult without a torch. Without her phone, she couldn't use the torch facility.

As per previous instructions, she slipped through the back door and into the house. There was no need to ring the front doorbell. If the house was locked, she had a key.

"Hey hey," called out Tina.

There was a clatter of footsteps and Paula appeared. "Blimey Tina, you look a bit windswept. I didn't hear the gate. Did Emma let you in?"

"No, I didn't come by car. I have a few people who might need a place to stay for a few days. They're still up in your barn. Is it okay to bring them down?"

"Sure. Two questions. One, how did you get here and two, how many?"

"Four single men, Sam and Jessica, a seven-year-old girl and me."

"And my first question?" asked Paula, as Emma came into the room with their adoptive son Jay.

Tina sighed. "We came by spaceship. We'll tell you about it later."

"It's a good job someone paid to put in a few holiday homes for us. Strange how that happened. Let me grab a few torches. Do you need night clothes?"

"Please."

"Jay, can you grab night kits for four men, three women and see what you can find for a seven-year-old girl."

"Yes mum. Do you want me to meet you at the cottages with the keys too?"

"Sounds good. We'll be at least twenty minutes, probably a bit longer."

Tina thought they probably thought she was being sarcastic when she said she'd come via spaceship. Either that or they'd heard so many tales at Christmas gatherings that they didn't get phased. Since they were accompanying her to the barn, they would soon find out the reason.

"It's me," called out Tina into the handheld radio as they approached.

"I thought you were teasing," said Paula in awe at the sight of Aurora. Emma just gawped.

"Sam!" called out Emma when the ship doors opened, and she saw her old school friend at the entrance.

"Are you okay with us staying a few days?" asked Sam.

"Of course. Come on out and we'll show you where you're staying."

"Leave your tech in Aurora," instructed Tina. "That way they can't be turned on by accident."

When everybody was out, Liam secured the ship.

"Where's your mummy?" Emma asked Jenny.

"Her ma is with my sister," quickly said Tina before Jenny could retort that her mother was dead. In a hushed voice she whispered, "Her mummy was Hilda."

"Oh," said Emma, now fully understanding the foot-in-mouth situation she'd almost got into. "Let's get down to where you'll stay. You can then tell me how you managed to put a spaceship in our barn without damaging the roof!"

"It's magic," said Jessica.

"No, it isn't," protested Jenny. "It's science."

"Oh, and one bit of good news for you Jenny. You'll have additional people to practice your French with."

"I think it's only Evan, Liam and Henry that can't speak French," said Jessica.

"Can we use Aurora to go and get Ma and Miss Thompson?" asked Jenny.

"We don't know where they are. Your ma has a predefined rendezvous to meet up with assistance. You shouldn't worry. She also has my sister helping."

"Miss Thompson doesn't have training like you," responded Jenny, not taking Tina's reassurance for granted.

"I'm worried about my sister too," said Tina. "But they were after the ship tech. They probably didn't know where your ma and my sister were."

"This is the farmhouse," introduced Paula. "You're all welcome to come and go there. Just stay on the ground floor. We have some holiday homes where you will be staying."

They continued for another few minutes, and there they were. A group of four small buildings. "Each have three bedrooms, a small kitchenette and lounge. They are all linked via rear passages to a shared entertainment area behind them. There are settees, books etc. People on holiday can relax on their own or relax with others."

Jay was waiting for them when they got to the first building. Silently he handed out the bags until he got to Tina. "I missed you this Christmas, Mrs Poop."

"It wasn't the same, not being here. But sometimes it isn't possible. Oh, and Jay, please don't tell your friends from school that we're here."

"Of course not," he said indignantly. "I'll also stay away from the barn."

Jenny was looking in the bag she'd been given and then glanced up at Jay and gave a small. "Thank you."

It was decided that Evan, Liam and Henry would share one chalet. Sam and Jessica would take one of the rooms in the second along with James. Tina took the third with Jenny.

"Are you guarding me?" she asked Tina as they went into their holiday home.

"A little. But more of an aunt for now. You are too young to be on your own.

"You've been here before?"

"A few times," smiled Tina. "Let's sit on the settee for a few minutes and I'll tell you a bit more about things."

When they were seated, Tina continued. "You know I'm an investigator, right?"

"Right."

"Well sometimes we can't be home for the holidays. Just like this year, Luke was away."

"Okay."

"Well, those of us that are on our own normally gather here. Emma and Paula are farmers. This is their farm. They were in the same year as David and Helen at Hayfield. Only a few train as investigators and the other pupils aren't told about it. They know some do additional things, but not what or why. Anyway, because something happened while they were in their first year, all the pupils in David and Helen's year found out what they did. Emma and Paula decided that if they ever got a farm, they would allow Investigators there to hide if needed. It gradually became more."

"And we're in hiding now? What happened to the factory?"

"I'll find out later what happened to it. But yes, we are hiding. This is the first jump the ship has done since the first test. I think Evan will insist it is checked out. Make sure that the fix they did worked."

"What'll we do for clothing?"

"They have some stashed for emergencies, but I've no idea if they will have anything your size. We'll work that out tomorrow. In the meantime, I want to show you something. Come on, leave your night things there."

Tina guided Jenny through a door at the back of the room. It was a passageway. They walked a short distance. The other chalets connected to it, and they proceeded through the door at the end.

Jenny gasped. "That's a huge piano."

"You can use it," said Tina. "Why don't you go try it out."

The shiny black grand piano was totally different from the old battered upright that she normally practiced on in the pub, or the slightly newer one that Becky had installed in their house. The lid was up, and after peering inside tentatively pressed a few keys to see how it sounded. Convinced that even though it was bigger than her normal piano, it was still a piano. She sat down on the piano bench and started to play.

While she did, Tina went to the bookcase on the left-hand wall. It would be out of Tina's sight. She removed a few books from the third shelf and pressed a hidden switch. It swung out revealing a secure door. After entering the access code, it opened. The shelves were covered with instruments. Another security keypad was on the far wall which Tina started to put in the code but had second thoughts and turned away. She took three instruments from the room and closed it all behind her. The books she'd removed put safely back on the shelf.

"This is my spare clarinet," explained Tina as she went to Jenny who was still trying out the piano.

"Did you enjoy going to Hayfield?" enquired Jenny, stopping playing.

"Yes. At first it was hard. I was away from everything I knew. But it was somewhere that gave me the freedom to learn and grow. At some schools they pick on people who are good at learning. At Hayfield you are expected to learn. It is respected and cherished."

"It sounds perfect."

"It's far from that," said Tina seriously. "You are away from family. You don't go home in the school holidays. You wouldn't see your ma while you were there."

"No Ma at all? "

"You can write or email. They don't know where the school is, so can't visit. It is like a bubble. You learn there, not just academic things but about yourself, life, how to look out for others. The first thing is learning how to learn and how to take personal responsibility."

"Before Christmas, I was told I was being selfish about Hayfield. Do you think that?"

"It depends. If you demanded to go, because your mother used to work there, then I would agree. However, if you take the test, and you pass the interview then you have earned the place and aren't being selfish. You haven't stolen someone else's place, but they deem you a good fit and that the school will help you."

"You have a lot to learn before you even think about that," added Tina.

"Learning the piano?"

Tina laughed. "No. Courtesy and respect. You already have the respect down, and you are learning about courtesy. You are learning about social norms. For instance, you ask how people are. When you are a bit older, you will be able to offer them a drink when they visit. Here is something you can do to help. There is a bigger dynamic of people in a stressful situation. Why don't you watch and observe them. You'll then see how that is different to normal."

"You don't seem stressed."

"I'm a lot less stressed than a few hours ago. The difference was I didn't panic. Panic blinds you and stops you working efficiently. Actually, you didn't seem to panic. Why not?"

"Mummy taught me that panicking didn't change the problem. She said I was to use my energy to work on a solution, rather than worrying about what I couldn't change."

Tina smiled. "She might have told you that but doing it in practice is something else. Well done."

There discussions were interrupted by James, the ex-RAF and ex-ESA employee, coming into the room. "Wow, look at this."

He walked further into the large open room and slowly looked around. "I bet the view out of that large window is fantastic. It looks so stylish yet relaxing. Like it would be used by people who live the good life. Yet I bet you are so far from London that you wouldn't get that many out here."

Tina shrugged. "It surprisingly has very good internet and phone signal. In summer, it is a place the jet-set like to use to get away and commune with nature. It's winter – not much call for that then."

"Did you go to a military school?"

Tina laughed. "No. It was a music school. Why?"

"I know that you, Sam and Jessica went to the same school. I expected Sam to be good under an attack, but you and Jessica didn't panic. Henry, Liam and Evan reacted more like I expected."

"Jenny, why don't you get the others?" suggested Tina. "We need to plan."

Jenny disappeared.

"Do you play an instrument?" Tina asked James.

"Many years ago, I played the trombone."

"Nice. Were you good?"

"It wasn't something I'd have managed to do for a career. I enjoyed it. I was more a jazz trombonist than classical or big band. You said you went to a music school. How good were they?"

"We played concerts around the world, though mostly in Europe. I remember when I was in year three and we played in Strasbourg. Most of the top EU officials came to that concert. When we played in Bangkok, the king was in the audience."

"Okay," James drew out slowly. This wasn't what he'd expected to hear.

"The school was also very academic. I completed my A-Levels when I was sixteen. I finished my first degree by eighteen."

"Yet you are a part time teaching assistant and hanging around your sister in a frankly secret science project. Am I missing something?"

Before Tina could respond, Evan, Liam and Henry entered and gazed in amazement.

"I thought our rooms were plush, but this. Wow."

"Wait until you see the view," said Tina.

Sam and Jessica were followed the scientists in. Tina indicated the instruments to them, and they beamed.

"Where's Jenny?" asked Tina, putting her clarinet back on the sideboard next to Sam and Jessica's. She knew she wasn't going to get to play it yet.

"She told us to come up here," said Liam. She then shot off.

"She can't have got far, " said Jessica. "We're in the middle of nowhere."

Before anybody could react, Emma and Paula came in. Jenny in tow. Jay wasn't with them.

"You are so unfit," grouched Emma to Jenny.

Tina laughed. "Have her help you with the sheep. A few days of that will help."

"You have sheep here?" asked Jenny. "My friend at school has cows."

"Did you know that sheep have shorter front legs?" said James. "It's so they can walk up the hills easier."

After a few seconds, Jenny said, "Are you teasing? Because they'd fall over coming down.

"Yes, I was teasing. I should have known you wouldn't fall for it."

That lightened the mood a bit, and then all took seats.

"Okay, some practicalities," said Emma. "By the looks of it, you left wherever you were in a hurry. We've provided things for tonight. Does anybody have clothes with them, apart from what you are wearing?"

Everybody shook their heads. Emma took out a small book and passed it to Liam, who was closest. "Put your name, and size. I'll see what I can do. It'll be underwear, socks, jeans, t-shirts and pullovers. All very generic. It's surprising what guests need. The groups that come up from London sometimes don't pack very sensibly for the raw countryside. They want to get away, but don't have appropriate clothes."

The little book got passed from person to person and ended up back with Emma.

"Our first booking isn't until June, so there is no rush if you need to be here that long. If you're still here by March, we can cancel them if you need longer."

A few mouths opened in surprised, though that wasn't any of the ex-Hayfield students. If someone was in need, they always took precedence.

"I hope we're not in your way that long," said Evan. "Tina?"

"I haven't called anybody yet. I was waiting for the situation to become clear. I think it all boils down to today's announcement."

There was no need to say more. The Prime Ministers commons speech and the interview later with Tim Harper was all that was being talked about.

"The PM said the aliens had made contact because we might soon leave the solar system," said Paula. "Is this your ship that caused this?"

"Probably," said Evan. "I'm not aware of another spaceship capable of that."

"Why did you bail?"

"I got a call that a team of mercenaries were on the way. The best way to get out was to take the ship. It protected the personnel and stop the ship falling into the wrong hands. The ship can be rebuilt. Life can't be."

"Anything else?" asked Emma.

"We have three people that will be trying to find us but can't."

"Three?"

"Becky, Ashleigh and Luke."

"Luke?" asked James, puzzled.

"Her husband," filled in Sam. "He's been away and was due back tomorrow."

Paula dug into her bag and pulled out a phone. "When we moved here, David left me this. He said to save it for an emergency. He said would be untraceable for ten minutes. How, I don't know."

"Yeah. If he said it's untraceable, then it will be. Okay. Let me make two calls."

Tina moved away from everybody else and made the first. "Emergency connection to Bravo Bravo Niner."

Nothing more was said at the other end before she heard a, "Hello?"

"It's me. We bugged out. Can you tell me anything else?"

"They made a mess, but whoever installed the defences did a top job. When they attacked a comms blanket came down, and they were deaf to the outside world. They didn't manage to penetrate more than the ground floor. It isn't safe to go back until the bodies have been removed."

The phone started beeping. Tina had a glance at the screen. It showed 'Backtrack in progress. Step 1 of 30'.

"Are you tracing me?" asked Tina.

"No. You know I wouldn't."

"Someone is. I've not long. Can you contact my other half, inform him of the situation."

"Will do. The two that weren't there, are in the wind. No sign. They followed protocol and have disappeared."

"Thanks. Don't search, just in case. I'll contact you again when I can."

"Good luck."

Tina hung up. The tracking had got no further than 'Step 3 of 30'. She wanted to make connection with Luke, but if that emergency connection was being tracked, she didn't want to take the risk. She removed the phone battery. When Tina got back to the group, Paula handed her a signal blocking box, which Tina placed it all into.

"You really have stocked up with essentials, haven't you?" murmured Tina to Paula.

"And?" asked Henry.

"The assault of the factory wasn't successful, but apparently it is a mess. We can't go back there until it is cleared. Someone tried to trace that call. I don't know who or why."

"A mess?"

"The team that built the structure of the building added a level of security. The stairwells have shutters to stop easy migration to other floors. The one to the basement is shielded the most. That barrier would have taken them hours to get through. There were also some armaments and electronic defence."

"So can we go back?" asked Jenny hopefully.

"As I said, not until it's cleared. I'm sure an investigation team is already on the way to check on the bodies before the police get called."

"Dead bodies?" croaked Jenny. "Like mummy and Ryan?"

Jenny was suddenly surrounded by the three scientists and Tina. Evan had lifted her onto his knee, and Tina was knelt in front."

"No," said Liam. "Not like Ryan and not like mummy. Ryan and mummy were good people. The people that were coming today wanted to take. They had guns, not to defend themselves, but to hurt us all.

"But they shouldn't die. Just because they were doing bad things."

"It's one of those things, Jenny. People die. They die when they get too old for their body. They die from disease or illness. People die due to accidents. They die in wars. You can't stop everybody dying. If nobody died, the planet would be full of people, and not enough food to feed them."

"But we're not doing anything to help that, " said Jenny. "We've built a spaceship. Why didn't we do something to stop people dying?"

"It will," said James from across the room. "Some people go to war because they're egotistical. They want more people under them. They feel they have a right to something. However, for most of history, it has been about getting access to limited resources. They need more land for food or want access to minerals that they don't have. This spaceship will introduce energy for people, giving heat and light to people who don't have that. It will also introduce new areas for people to get minerals, such as asteroids. They don't need to squabble over land anymore."

"Thank you," muttered Jenny, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

"You are all quite something," said James in wonder. "Jenny had an issue, and you all rally around. Such a display of unconditional love."

Tina looked across at him. He looked uncomfortable and she wondered if he wasn't used to this type of support.

"Are you okay now?" Tina asked Jenny.

Jenny nodded and got off Evan's knee. "Thank you all."

She then tottered across to James. "And thank you for explaining how we're doing good."

James was surprised when she led him towards the main group. "Please don't sit away from everyone else."

"But I'm just the pilot."

"You were just the pilot," said Henry. "Now it looks like you are part of this team."

"So, what now?" asked Jessica.

All but James looked at Tina.

"Why me?" complained Tina.

"You're the investigator," said Paula. "Why are you reluctant?"

"I'm supposed to be recovering from Turkey," said Tina quietly. She was sat next to Paula, so only she heard.

Paula understood the reference, as the abuse scandal had been all over the news. She leaned across and gave Tina a hug. "I'd have shot them."

"Okay," said Tina, looking around. "This is going to be quick as Jenny needs to get to bed. I'm sure Emma and Paula will want to get back to Jay. And as my sister reminds me, 'Rest is a weapon'. So, nothing else is going to happen tonight. Tomorrow, after breakfast, can Henry and Sam check out the ship. Make sure the fix held, and our move here didn't cause any issues. If we need to move again, I don't want to wait. Everybody else, relax and if you want to help with the farm, I'm sure your help will be welcome. Any questions?"

There wasn't, so Tina and Jenny walked back through the corridor to their cottage.

"It's really helpful that when it splits there is a sign for which passage goes to which cottage," said Jenny.

"Yes, or we might go to the wrong one," agreed Tina. "It could be really embarrassing if we wander into the wrong bedroom."

Tina was hoping for a giggle, but Jenny just nodded solemnly.

"Okay, grab your night pack, and let's find you a bedroom."

They went upstairs. There were five doors. "Those are the three bedrooms. The other two link to the neighbouring cottages in case of a fire. Which bedroom do you want?"

"Where's the bathroom?"

"Each room has its own."

Jenny looked in each room. They were basically the same. "Can I have the middle one?"

"Sure."

"Which one are you taking?"

"The one closest to the stairs. I'll leave you to get ready. Shall I come back in say ten minutes?"

"Thanks."

While Tina waited for Jenny, she went downstairs and put on the television. Emma or Paula must have enabled the security menu, as it was there when Tina looked. She was able to see the area in front of the cottages, and the main drive from the road.

She wanted to go back to the entertainment room and play on her clarinet for a bit, but she put that thought out of her mind. The others might hang about together for a bit, but Jenny needed someone to be with her. She'd lost Becky and Ashleigh. None of them were part of her instructions. She was there to keep an eye on things. There had been no indication of trouble but when the warning came, they had very little time to get out.

After she'd made sure that Jenny was settled for the night, she grabbed a blanket from the top of the wardrobe and took it downstairs. She wanted to be close to the front door. If someone wanted to grab Jenny, they would have to get past her.