@~Alex was sent this story on the Internet and passed it on to me. @~I liked it as much as he did, and the author gave me permission @~to print it here as long as no changes were made, not even @~spelling corrections. I agreed to this. I should also mention @~there is one bit of strong language. He also wanted his name and @~address printed so people could contact him; he would love to @~hear from you. This is his address as he gave it to me ... I @~think you need to completely reverse it ... 115612 Russia, @~Moscow, Brateevskaya Str. 21-1-115, Paul Shoumov. ----------------------------------------------------------------- To: 'Julia Starshaped.' The Last Chance... ("Be as you r") - Part 1 ********** Old good rememberances ************** That old time I was a student in First Galaxy Academy... All my life was gray and without any holidays and that time I've met her for the 1st time. We've met at the hall, something was wrong in my life 'n' I didn't know what exactly... So, I've been just walking around, thinking that it would help, but, as usual, no any other thought in my head except problems... and that moment I've heard a noise and turned my head back... and there she stood. New cadet uniform with light-blue and yellow stripes, slight smile on her really cute, a little Japanese face and that eastern eyes made her face even more attractive; she was no very high, but good-looking her haircut was accurate, but the hall cooler turned in her direction that moment ;) so, her great haircut have been broken in a second... But... even after all that she was... gorgeous... - What's the problem... ah?... cadet... - Starshaped... - Yep... cadet Starshaped, what's the problem? - This man doesn't let me enter... - she said, pointing at guard. - I don't believe SHE is a cadet. She may be a spy or a journalist! This is a secure Academy...- the guard tried to say something meaningful. - Sorry, Lt. Jerkson, but... Cadet Starshaped, have u got something that proves the fact ur cadet? Except uniform, of course... :) -Yeah, I've got a certificate... -Lemme c! - Lt.Jerkson pushed me and tried to grab the certificate which has been in Starshaped's hands. - Lt. Jerkson, plz, stay calm... Ur talking to a lady. I was happy to tell that. It was 1st really good day for me here... The first woman in Academy and I'm the first one who's talking to her! -Ok-ok u may gooo... ALL "A"'s!!!! - almost cried the guard... It seemed he was really surprised. -Wha-wha-what??? - Being amazed, i tried to look at her certificate. I took her certificate... and Yes! ALL the marks were "A" ones. - Hey, guys! Wanna look at my certificate all the lifelong? Nope? Then give it back to me! - she said taking her document from us with a grin. She took her document and went in cozmo-barracks direction... I couldn't just let her go."Do something!"-I told myself.-"DO u really want to let her go???" -Wai-wai-wai-wait, cadet... -What else do u need, man? - she turned. -Ah... umm... U know... I'm just... i know everything around here... maybe... uh.. Let's go to the restraunt? -Wow! Is everyone so quick here? - she asked with a great surprise on her face. -Not... Oh, no... Only me... -Huh... squeezy guyieee, huh? Okay then... umm... -So, is it ok at... Friday? -I'll tell u if I wish to go... Your room is...? -555 -Good number... So, I'll find u if i feel the need to. -Bye.. -Bye, cadet... hm? And she walked away, taking a part of my heart with her... And only then I understood what have I needed all the time. I needed a girlfriend... Yeah..."So, pal,"-I told myself.- "U 've gotta become friends or U gunna die here, and noone will remember about your existance, only that crows in the sky..." **************** A_BIG_PROBLEM ******************** -So, cadet... -Yep! -What "yep"? U wanted to see me , I suppose... So I am here. - she has changed her clothes to a nice pink suit, which made her even more attractive. -Oh... yeah, right... come in pls... - i blamed myself for being such a "brakes". -No-no... It would be better for me to stay here. -OK, your choice... -So, ARE we going anywhere? -Oh, yeah... Sorry, I'll be ready in a minute... -OK... And, 2 minutes later we were going to the restraunt. When we came in, she has been surprised a little. Almost all the restraunt was filled by cadets, leutenants, captains and other useless stuff ;). -Is it a "dining room" or what???- her mouth had been opened coz of her being surprised... -Nope, it's a restraunt... U know, u won't leave Academy building until your education program is finished... It's absolutely secret place,so...- i was interrupted by... -So... u two! yes, Cadet Chatter and lady with you. Come here! Faster-faster!- it was Admiral Abrams! What a surprise for me! -Who the he.. is THIS?- she still couldn't believe it's all true that is happening to her. -Huh...he's Admiral Abrams. He is the best human I've ever met in this junky box - Academy.So, cadet Starshaped.. -Julie...- she replied. -Aha, Julie... Pls, be kind to him and maybe we will get a little present ;). He likes making presents to "green" students. -Okay... -So guys...'n' girls too, as I see... How r u? okay? -Yes, admiral... -Yeah, Mr.Abrams... -Oooh, sweety, don't call me Mr.; I am not of that jerks who think they r above all. Count me like I am usual cadet... okay? -Yes, Mr.Ab... admiral. -Okay then. -So, cadet Chatter... Wanna become a LT.? -Oh, yeah. That would be a great honor for me. -That's good because I've got something special for you... for you two, if u wanna. This mission is the secret one, so... no talks about it. Just u and me who know about it. got it? We've got a strange orbital station signals... Your mission is to know what the hell does all this stuff mean... i mean If u r able to decode it, u'll get a space ship and u will have to get rid of that alien structure. Okay? -Ah... umm... yeah,I'll try... - I murmured, not fully sure in success of the mission. -WE'll try, admiral!- almost cried Julie. -Oh! What a lady... U gunna become famous i suppose. 'k... U too... go to special forces level.. Here's security badge... Find a room number 179 and there you'll get all the rest info. So, that is how we have got the mission. I knew that it will be hard to decode that info, but... I was a good pupil, though, my "assistant" (J.S.) was good too... She has been even better than i thought or could suppose... That times were very hard for us, humanoids... After meeting that alien race we've got a lot of new problems. That first war between us was not very successful for Earth. The most popular business was a job of decoder... People hated aliens, even not trying to hide the feeling. But only some of the thousands became really great virtuosos in their work. The fact Julie could do the decoding better than me was strange... 'cuz guys could hardly find a teacher who'd like to take'em like the pupils, so what could the girls do? but, anyway, she was great, and i knew that. I've been very interested in one fact... -Who was your decodecraft teacher? -D.M.Horner, but why? -How did u manage to become his pupil? I've tried to make him take me to learn his masterpiece for THREE years... three long damn lost years! -and Nothin'?- she smiled. -Nothing... -Haha! U must know something to become his pupil... -What? - i just didn't know what to say. -There's no way I'll tell u. - she smiled mysteriously. -Okay... But I'll try to know it ... Be ready!- It made me angry... - Hehe... Way to go, Paul. We've been trying to crack this alien code for about a half of a year... Decoding proccess was very funny itself: while i've been trying to get what's encrypted in there, Julie has been sleeping, then we've traded places and this all repeated again and again... We've got our lunch each 3 hours thru a little window in a metal door with a signalistion system and two guards near it. From the inside the room was very cosy and lovely. It seemed we've lived in a 5-room appartment with all the stuff we needed to live comfortably. Tho, there was no window at all, but a big wall-size TV was like a window. Sometimes, after making a plenty of work and becoming tired we've argued but never -- fought or something. Each argue had finished with a laugh, coz we've always told "i was wrong" at one time. That period of life was the best one in my life. My past could not be compared with it. I've felt an eternal hunger, cuz i've had no parents and i didn't want to get in that "kids-jail" as we called it. I've spent the whole days on the streets trying to find some kinda job to have money for life. When i became 15, i've decided to become a decoder... The most popular job in the century. I knew, that there are a lot of decoders in the city. They've got encrypted signals and managed to know what is in earlier than the government did. There was one try to sell some info to police, but policemen lied to decoders and caught one of them... He escaped and since then there have been no more tried to trade with police or government. That human was D.M.Horner. He became very popular 'coz his masterpiece was the best one on the continent.Only few people could know where he is hiding. I've managed to know that too; i've had the only purpose -- to become his pupil, but, as u could see, i've been unable to. At least I've found the teacher who accepted to teach me. When he finished his teaching he said :" only the best ones are able to become good decodesmen, and only the Best of the Best are able to make Horner teach them. I've taught u everything i knew myself, now u know as much as I do. U've got a lot of lifeways to choose. Try entering First Galaxy Academy. I'm sure u'll pass those exams without problems. U've got a talent, so... just learn everything u think u need to know... Now, good bye" And then I've tried to find D.M. once more, but i failed. That's why i've decided to enter FGA. I've been studying there for a year and a half... and then I've met her. But you know all the following story... And, on the 29th of February, we 've made it! The strange combination was hardly understandable... All the information has been encrypted. It was hard, bu Julie was a really amazing person, she knew even more than i did. At least IT happened. Not me, but SHE made it... The code has been broken! -So, cadet Starshaped.. - i said, smiling. I've felt a little shake coz of adrenaline. -arrrrrgh! C'mon! Call me like that! R u crazy? Half o'a year together and still Cadet Starshaped... huh! - she tried to make an expression of an offended person,but when i said: -Okay-okay, Julie... I've just wanted to tell you... We DID IT! she laughed and cried: -YEAH!!!!! -So, r u agree to be captain's assistant on the ship?- i've made a jokey-serious face. -We'll c who will be captain...- and again that mysterious smile appeared on her cute face.. -Okay... Here we go! **************** Mission Complete, Sir! ***************** The door opened like with the magician's help as soon as we said: "The game is over, guys. Time to kick some butt!" Guards were very happy, as I saw, coz they've had to guard us 24 hours per day. and now they've got a lot of free time to spend. We've been convoyed to Admiral's room door, and there we've got our first mission. -Cadet Paul and Julie? Ah, i see... Hehe.. Haven't seen you for ages... -Half of a year, sir!- i remarked -Oh, yeah.. i've just been kidding. Okay. As i was told, you say that the work is finished? -Mission complete, sir! - again i said. -No-no-no, guys. Your mission is only beginning! Okay. Lemme see what have we got from that alien satelite? We've decoded all the information. The main point was that there's some planet in our galaxy, where aliens did take some kinda strange fuel, which can be translated like"The ones,that give us victory,no defeats" We've decided to call'em right like as it sounded in alien language "Victoariztex". As we managed to know, it was some kind of crystalloid form, which is an immense power source after splitting its atoms. The planet was called "oriental base 44:nothing of interest", or, as it sounded in their language, "vantalon-thia 44". Also we've got some information about its defence systems. For "not very interesting place" this planet was defended TOO strongly. 55 SpaceCarriers, 12 satelites and 23 space-fighter ships. Flight to this "vantalonthia" lasts about 150 years, if you are going to use usual nuclear- powered engines. -Ah-oh... You know, cadets, i thought that would be something nearer, but... try to understand me... It's meaningless stuff to send you there! -But, sir!- i replied. -Whadya want, cadet Chatter??? Do u live 150 years? or maybe more?? -Sir, give me 2-3 weeks more. And you'll get something new. -What? Nuclear toothbrush?... or Angel's wings? -No... something, that'll bring us to vantalonthia faster. -Hmm... i am not sure... but... okay! i give u 7 days! -No, sir! 2 weeks minimum! -I said 1 week! not more... -Sir! We've spent too much money for the project just to throw it away like useless junk! For about a minute there was full silence... -Oookay, guys... 16 days. Not more. If u don't gimme anything after those 16 days, project will be closed. -YES,SIR! Dismissed?- i cried happily. -nah... Dismissed... ** A simple thing - to invent a wheel once more **** -Okay, Paul. - Jules said, not understanding anything. - Now i suppose u want to tell me something i am right or i am right? -Yes, u r right. I wanted to tell ya that i've got an exchange idea - i give u my info, u gimme yours. -Nooooooway. - she shook her head. - noway i will tell u about DM Horner! -Nooooway.- i've made the same head movement as she did. - noway I will tell YOU about my idea! -Ah, you!.. -Yes? - -Eewff!!!- she turned and ran away. -I just tell you that i'm going to invent a wheel once more!!!! - i cried in her direction.- and i will do it, be sure!!!!! "Hey, buddy! Maybe u r making silly things?"- i asked myself.-"No... i am right, i know it..." I came back into my room, got some pieces of paper and wrote the only sign on'em : " Invent the wheel ". ****************** What a junky junk!!!!!!! ***************** -Ah, Paul... and Julie... It's u again... so, 15 days passed, what have u got to tell me, cadets? -Ask him. - Julie said, trying to hide her amazement. -Oh, there u go, Paul... -Yes, sir! I've invented the wheel. *** After signing "Invent The Wheel" on that sheet of paper, i began drawing all i've had in my head. All the plans. The subject was easy. I knew i know decoding not as good as Julie does, BUT! As soon as we've got the work, i've seen one string, the only string, which has been used ALWAYS by that aliens. I could never remember this only phrase at the exams and tests i've passed, learning at my teacher's place. That was : "Distance from Earth till Vantalonthia 44 (in Earth years) : 150" I've got it from the first day of working. and it seemed that Jules hasn't seen that string or just didn't know how to translate it.From that great first day i began working out a plan of new type of spaceship in my head : AGFounder.Its engines should be more powerfull than the usual ones, the ship should be lighter and stronger. And i've made the new type o'the engines - combination of electrical, nuclear fusion and any other ones. Those engines can remake themselves for any unknown type of fuel in 25 minutes. The percent of success of using that type of unknown fuel was 60. The speed should be 3 times higher than the usual one is. *** -Uh-oh.. It seems u've really invented the wheel once more, Paul. - Julie said. - But, u... u r baad guy! It was not good to keep that secret from me! -Oh, Jules, i'm really sorry, but that curiousity was more powerful that time :) -Okay-okay... your problems will be discussed later, but now... lemme think for a while. Dismissed. We walked in direction of the bar, but Julie stopped for a while... -What?- i asked. -Umm... ah... nothing, just nothing. Forget it. A half of an hour later Admiral found us in the bar. -Okay, guys. The mission is yours...-he has been interrupted by us... -hhhhooooooooooorrrrrraaaaayyyyy!!!- we cried at once, so all the people around looked at us, but Admiral became serious. -The ship engines are okay. If u hurry to the construction center, the ship construction will begin in 2 months. And the whole ship will be ready in a year... So..here are the papers u need and a higher access badge... -Thanx, Admiral! - we said at once again, going to leave him... -Hey-hey, stop! u two! stop-stop.. -Yes,sir! -U've forgotten one thing - cadets will never get access to the spaceship. -Uh-oh...- we looked at each other. -No "uh-oh"s! Since now u r Leutenant, Lt.Chatter, but u r Captain, Captain Starshaped. -But sir! .. - i tried to say something, but.. -Dismissed! We've been walking down the corridor in direction of the lift cabine... -So, Pauleyyy...-- I've told ya I will be the captain! hehe... -Yes u r now... yet... okay... u r.. -Uh huh.. So, u r not agree? -No, captain! i'm agree! 100% agree... And there we laughed again, as in old good times of being cadets... -So, i still hadn't seen that ship projects... aha... uhum... oh, here it is... She took ship project from the folder, giving the folder to me. -Oho! What a junky junk! Just look at this! It should be HUGE!!! -Yeah, it is... Verrry big thing, but it will fly. -but how? -You'll see, hon... :) you will see... ******************** All systems okay... ******************* During that year we became the best friends ever existed on Earth. Sometimes i've felt something more than the feeling of friendship... At least, nothing bad was in that feeling! She was a girl, i was a guy... :) She was gorgeous, and she is now... Tho... nothing... The ship has been finished in that year period. It was really great. It was damn huge, but damn beautiful. Sunbeams reflected from its covering, metal blue covering with a big red sign on it "AGFounder"... Our crew has been hired in two months period during which they've passed millions of psychological tests. And at least we've got faithful crew. I became Captain's assistant. The first system check was scheduled on the 13th of July... -Gear check... - Julie began all ship systems check. It is usual captain's work. -Passed. -Board computer check... -Passed. -Engines check. Here we've heard a great noise of starting engines... loud roaring... rrrrrrrrrrrrrr.... -Passed, sir! Engines checking system -- ok. Refueling system -- ok. Engines rebuilding systems -- ok. Engines sound -- okay! yeeehaaa! -Outter space check. -No conflicting with the outter space detected. system test passed okay. -Oooookay, crew! The ship is fully alive, fully okay and it means we can fly right now, tho we can't fly right now, coz the flight is scheduled on the 21st of September, but the ship is ready. -Yes, captain! -Does it mean that we can celebrate the event now? - i asked happily. -Yeah, Paul... -Hey-yeeehaaaa! - could be heard in headphones. The whole crew was happy... @~More next issue - o -