Brian Saves the World, Maybe

Chapter 23 - The Cafeteria

It was Saturday morning. Brian was pouring coffee in two to-go cups when he heard a car horn.

Must be Jessica, TV said.

Brian grimaced. You announce guests now?

* * *

"Where is the cafeteria, anyway?" Brian asked. They had been driving on country roads for a couple hours, and Jessica hadn't said much about where they were headed.

"Almost there."

They passed through a small country town. A big banner hung over the street, that said "Coon Dog Day," and a nearby sign said "Street Square Dance, 8 PM." Brian raised an eyebrow. "What sort of place is it?"

"You'll see. Be patient!"

They drove a few more miles, as the scenery opened up to grain fields all around. The car slowed, coming to a stop on a large hill next to an oak tree. The tree had some boards nailed to the trunk, forming a crude ladder leading to a small treehouse.

Confused, Brian glanced over at Jessica.

She opened her door. "Let's go."

The two got out of the car, and Jessica pointed to the treehouse. "Up there," she said, gesturing for Brian to climb.

Brian looked at the weathered boards that made up the ladder, and cocked his head. "You're kidding, right?"

She didn't appear to be kidding. Brian placed his foot on the first board, and slowly shifted his weight to it. Pretty sturdy, actually. Frowning, he worked his way up the ladder, testing each board in the same way.

"Hurry up!"

Brian looked down to see Jessica standing below, holding a picnic basket.

* * *

The treehouse turned out to be a bit more stable than it had appeared from the car. A trap door allowed entry from the floor, and there was a single window facing away from the road.

The two sat there eating sandwiches. Brian was impressed with how good they were. When he packed his own lunches, he usually made peanut butter and jelly simply because it was quick and easy.

When they had finished eating, Jessica pulled a pair of binoculars from the picnic basket.

"Take a look out the window," she said, handing them to Brian.

"Oh, okay... Are you a bird watcher?" He put the binoculars to his eyes.

In the distance, he saw a large building appearing to be some kind of warehouse. A sign next to the entrance read "B&O Cafeteria Supply."

"That's the Cafeteria?" Brian said, still looking through the binoculars.

"Yep."

"What's so special about it?"

As he watched, a truck pulled into the entrance, and drove somewhere behind the building, out of sight.

"That's where the Resistance stores captured Borae tech," Jessica said.

"Seriously? Why keep it in a place like that and not in the bunker?"

"Some of the items in there are really big, and it wouldn't be practical to move them underground. Besides, keeping the stuff in a ground-level warehouse makes it much easier to transport, when necessary."

"But, aren't they concerned about it being discovered?"

Jessica took the binoculars from Brian. "Now look."

He looked again, but could no longer see the large warehouse. Instead, he saw a much smaller building.

"Hey, gimme those binoculars again!"

She handed them back. He could still see the smaller building, but it comprised only the front portion of a much larger structure. The whole back section, which was significantly wider and taller, hadn't been visible without the binoculars. Brian moved the binoculars to and away from his eyes several times, fascinated.

"That's why," Jessica said, simply.

"How...?"

"The resistance used Borae technology to hide the warehouse."

Brian chewed on his lip. "What about the people that go there? Do they have to hold binoculars up to their faces the whole time?"

Jessica laughed. "No. The trucks enter the front part of the building that you can see, and the back section is actually visible from the inside."

Brian wondered how that worked.

I have seen information about this technology, TV said. Only one plane of the surface is cloaked, the outside or the inside. In addition, any objects that come in contact with the affected surface are also cloaked.

Interesting, Brian thought. But wouldn't that mean the ground should be invisible too, and the whole Earth, for that matter?

The technology is calibrated so that only objects with less mass are affected when in contact with the cloaked surface.

"Still there, Brian?" Jessica waved her hand in front of his face.

"Yes, sorry," Brian said. "So... how are we going to do it?"

Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Do what?"

"Get in there," Brian said.

She laughed again. "Are you serious?"

"I need another one of those phones. It might be the only chance I have at figuring out how to stop the Borae. Anyway, it doesn't look like the Resistance has done much to lock the place down. No barbed wire fences, or watchtowers."

Jessica opened her mouth, and hesitated. "We could get in a lot of trouble, Brian. Are you sure you want to risk it?"

Brian shrugged. "My aunt runs the place, doesn't she?"

Jessica smirked. "Okay, whatever. But listen, I've only had one tour of the building. I can maybe help find what we're looking for, but how are we going to get inside?"

Brian grinned. "I have an idea. Follow me."

They quickly made their way down toward the building. As they reached the parking lot, Brian motioned to a row of bushes that ran along the building. Crouching low beside the bushes, they walked around the corner of the building where the truck had gone.

Soon, they saw a huge garage door where the truck must have entered. The building appeared to end a few feet beyond the door. They walked to the edge of the visible building and Brian held his hand out toward Jessica. "Here. Take my hand!"

She hesitated at first, then walked over and took his hand, a curious look on her face.

Brian touched the invisible part of the building. He suddenly couldn't see his hand—or his arm. He couldn't see any of his body! Jessica gave a little squeal and gripped his hand tighter. He turned, and couldn't see her either. He looked down to where his hand should be. It was a very strange feeling, to be able to feel something and not see it.

"How did you know it would work like this?" Jessica said, in a slightly strangled voice.

"I wasn't sure, But TV had told me how the cloaking worked, so I thought of trying it."

"Okay, what now?" Jessica asked, still vice-gripping his hand.

"Now we just wait for that truck to leave."

After a few minutes, the garage door opened, and the truck rumbled out. The door immediately began to close. Just as the truck was turning the corner around the building, Brian and Jessica darted through the opening.

The door closed behind them with a heavy thud.