The Summit Beyond Our Galaxy - An Apple Loving Individual space opera

Chapter 17 - The Bait Is Delivered

Chapter 17 – The Bait Is Delivered

Monday, May 18, 2176
10:59 PM USA CT
Near the satellite array, Korolev Crater

"Alright, team!" said Larkin. "It's just about 2300 hours, and we will deliver the ruse to Miller." Luna then spoke up. "I'm glad this is coming to an end and soon." She said. "However, it won't be long. Soon, Miller will eventually find out we created synthetic AI holograms of Jerry and Alyssa!" Lance then comforted her. "Maybe so, but by then the tapeworm will destroy the machine!" he said. "Miller also will be arrested, and we'll have ended this Armageddon." Rahul then spoke up. "After that, I'm gonna have a barbecue party back at the barracks, y'all are surely invited!" "Hell, yeah!" said Larkin. "Count me in!" They finally arrived at the satellite array.

Meanwhile, Jerry got up to go. "Dad, while they've sent a ruse to distract Miller, it won't be long before he finds out!" said Jerry. "I need to confront him myself and end this." Durand looked at his son, in concern. "Jerry, you know he'll kill you!" said Durand. "We can't afford to lose you again!" "Don't worry!" said Jerry. "I'm gonna be home before you know it! It's all part of the plan!" "Don't you dare!" said Alyssa, on the verge of shedding tears. "You don't know Miller, he's very dangerous!" Jerry looked at her. "It's better than allowing him to destroy the Earth and kill all of its citizens still living there!" said Jerry. "Alyssa, there's no other way!" Alyssa looked at him, as a few tears escaped her eyes. Jerry looked at her. "I'll be back!" said Jerry. "I promise!" Alyssa then walked towards him and the two shared a passionate kiss. She then smiled. "You me a lot of love after this!" said Alyssa. "I owe you the rest of my life after this!" said Jerry as he smiled.

Jerry then left to go save the galaxy. At least, as per his belief. He then called Carlos. "Carlos, I hate to do this, but I need a favor from you!" said Jerry. Carlos seemed concerned. "Is everything alright?" said Carlos. "Remember the secret project I told you of?" said Jerry. "We weren't supposed to launch it until Christmas, however misfortune and circumstances, have compelled me, to tell you we need to launch it sooner and ahead of schedule." Carlos then replied. "I don't understand!" "There is a shitload of garbage that we must get rid of before it's too late!" said Jerry. "What do you mean? Can you speak clearly?" said Carlos. "People will die! On Earth, on Mars!" said Jerry. "Ah! That type of garbage!" said Carlos. "Meet me at the power plant! You can explain me more then." "Wilco!" said Jerry. "Moving there now!" Jerry then took out his holo-phone. He opened an app and placed a few orders. Before he paid for it, he saw the order costed six hundred cloud jewels. Jerry shook his head. "Probably the most expensive transaction I've made in life!" he said. "But worth it!" It was not long before the order was sent out, when within five minutes, a large drone came down to Jerry, dropping a package at his feet.

Jerry picked up the package, opened it and looked inside. He had ordered high-tech gear for himself. Ranging from night-vision visors to a reactive camouflage suit. "Miller, your days of torturing Alyssa, are over!" said Jerry. With that, Jerry suited up and got ready to stop Miller and his schemes. In the meantime, Durand also decided to leap into the action, along with Alyssa. "We're going to have to call in a few favors, Alyssa!" said the general. "I know some guys who shoot first, and not bother to ask questions later." Alyssa also geared up, as it turned out Jerry ordered the same things for her, with a note saying, "If we do this together, I'll be happy. Don't worry, we won't be endangering one another!" and Alyssa for the record, had no reservations in endangering herself, just for the sake of saving the galaxy.

Tango Galnac approached the satellite array, much to their surprise saw Jerry was there. The real Jerry, along with his employer Carlos. "What are you doing here?" said Larkin. Jerry then looked at her. "I understand y'all have already created a ruse. However, y'all won't be able to destroy that weapon alone!" said Jerry. To which, Lance responded. "What do you have in mind?" said Lance. Jerry then looked at him. "I've worked at Kanzen City's antimatter power plant for four years now, so that's long enough for me to figure out the machinery and parts used in the weapon." Jerry explained. Carlos then nodded. "Jerry filled me in on everything, before you got here!" said Carlos. "Y'all aren't enough to do the job. But you need to keep Miller distracted, as me and Jerry infiltrate this machine." Larkin shook her head. "Negative," said Larkin. "I'm not compromising operational integrity, to put civilian lives at stake." Then Jerry responded. "Yeah, at the expense of putting the Earth and its citizens in danger. We may be civilians, but even you know you can't take down that machine without us!" Luna nodded. "I agree with him!" said Luna. "Even we couldn't get the job done alone." "Me and Carlos, will infiltrate the machine. If we have any sort of trouble, then Arjun and Priya will be there to assist us!" said Jerry. Larkin then made a fist and smacked her other hand on it. "Oh, alrighty then!" said Jerry. "I guess it's a party!" Then, Tango Galnac proceeded to enter the building of the satellite array.

Miller bring true to his word waited in the satellite array's cloud server room, as Tango Galnac arrived, with the false Jerry and Alyssa, who were in reality holographic sentient, artificial intelligence. "Welcome!" said Miller, unaware of the ruse. "So, you're the dumb bastard, who stole my love from me?" The fake Jerry looked at Miller. "The hell you care?" said the fake Jerry. "What do you know what love is? You tortured her! You abused her! And you talk about love?" Then the fake Alyssa spoke up. "I never can be yours!" said the fake Alyssa. "No matter how hard you try!" Miller got mad. "I know we've had misunderstandings in the past, I'm willing to change though!" said Miller. "For you! Can't you see that?" "Bullshit!" said the fake Jerry. "You didn't change then, what'll you change now?" Miller glared at him. Tango Galnac glared back at Miller. "We've kept our end of the bargain!" said Larkin. "What more do you want?" Miller then chuckled menacingly. "Nothing more but to do this!" said Miller. He took out his pistol and shot the fake Jerry thrice.

The fake Jerry began to spew blood, or at least whatever was written in the hologram's program. Then fell to the ground. The fake Alyssa looked at him, ran to him. "No!" screamed the fake Alyssa. She broke down and began to cry. Meanwhile, in the room adjacent to cloud server room, the real Jerry along with Luna, Carlos, Priya and Arjun worked to locate the diabolical machine. "This is it!" Luna said, pointing to a huge gun-shaped mechanism. She took out her SAT holo-phone. "This costed me 400 cloud jewels!" said Luna. "Let's hope this works!" "We also can help!" said Priya. "You need to access the software and allow us to enter the machine." Then Luna got to hacking. Arjun then assisted Luna. Jerry and Carlos on the other hand, were told to pull security as well as implementing an antimatter-powered battery, to help with the hack. Meanwhile, Durand and the real Alyssa also arrived at the satellite array. "Alright then, Dad!" said Alyssa. "This is the place! We must help them, stop the machine and apprehend Miller!" Durand then instructed her to put on her camo suit. "You'll need it, to infiltrate the base." Durand said. "Stay out of sight and await my instructions!" "10-4!" said Alyssa. "Let's shut down this party, once and for all!"