Space Combat (Part 2 of 2)

Click here if you haven't read Part 1

Kenny explored their spaceship, the Nautilus, with Tavia. It was actually a sprawling complex of rooms and machinery. He learnt that the Nautilus housed more than a few thousand people and many more back on their planet. These were the remnants of the humans.

Tavia and Kenny gazed through the viewing window at the inky space outside. There was a small reddish planet in the distance which Tavia said was Rutaine. It blew Kenny’s breath away to think that he was really in space.

“This is the enemy, the Urgus,” Tavia said as she flicked a screen on showing a picture of an extremely tall creature with rippling white muscles. The face resembled a melted wax figure and it sent chills down Kenny’s spine.

“They control more than half the galaxy and are planning an all-out attack very soon. The Nautilus is our last defense against them.” She swiped the screen close and let out a tired sigh.

“They look even scarier in real life,” Kenny said, feeling a cold gnawing in the pit of his stomach. “Tell me exactly what we’re up against and what we have.”

Tavia brought him to a colossal room with a long metal table and many screens lined the walls. Zorr was at the head of the table with a few other top level leaders. Zorr’s face was dark with anger and frustration.

Zorr saw Kenny and said mockingly, “Ah our savior is here. Please sit down and advise us.” The room rumbled with a cacophony of nervous laughter.

Kenny sat down ginergly on an egg shaped chair that molded to his body shape like jelly. It was comfortable. Tavia sat next to him and activated the control panel in front of her.

Out came a hologram of the terrain maps, weather, objective markers and extraction points. Kenny became more excited now. It seemed familiar. He reminded himself – play it like a game. Tavia explained the enemy forces and their probable plans based on reconnoiter intelligence. It was an overwhelming force and Kenny studied the situation silently.

“Go ahead and interact with the map,” Tavia said.

Kenny felt anxious as all eyes were trained on him eagerly.

Zorr had a smug smile on his face. “Come on boy. Use your game tactics on this one.”

Tavia shot Zorr a look of disdain. “Just let him think will you?”

Kenny ignored the distractions and racked his brain for any situation he faced in the past that was similar. Then it hit him.

He was reminded of a championship game not too long ago where his challenger had all this massive forces bearing down on him. Chan was advising him not to fight them head on but to get a small team of elites with high speed to cut down to size first. They would most probably die in the process but the weakened enemy would be ripe for the main force to charge in by then. Sadly, Kenny didn’t listen to Chan and lost as a result. He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

“Are you okay?” Tavia tapped Kenny’s arm and he jolted upright.

“I got it. I know how we can win,” Kenny said, grabbing Tavia’s hands in hope. “Choose a small company of soldiers with extreme maneuverability and experience in that terrain. Get them to attack the enemy’s supply batteries that fuel their cannons before our main forces attack.”

Zorr frowned. “Wouldn’t that be a suicide mission for that team?”

“It is highly likely. But I can see no other way. Attacking head-on would be a greater suicide.”

“Its lives we’re talking about here!” Zorr slammed his fist on the table and Kenny bit his lips in shock.

“Father,” Tavia finally added. “His strategy is sound and he’s more objective than us. We’re biased because we know the troops personally.”

Zorr opened his palms toward the other people at the table. “Shall we take a vote? Who’s in favour of this boy’s strategy and who will choose mine?”

All of the leaders at the table except Tavia timidly selected Zorr’s option to attack head on with the Urgus. Kenny knew they chose Zorr’s option to give him face.

“The table has spoken,” Zorr said proudly.

Tavia’s pretty face turned scarlet and she gave everyone a murderous glare. “Don’t you understand that attacking head-on will cause all of us to die? Are you all thinking straight?”

Then one of the leaders raised his hand. “Maybe we can ask Pa’u Wishimm? I can get him to contact us.” Kenny wondered how they could even contact Paul Williams on earth but he was learning that nothing much was impossible now.

“Ask that lunatic? I won’t believe a thing he says,” Zorr said.

“Please father,” Tavia begged. “Pa’u was our best tactician of ancient times. He has faithfully replicated the intricacies of the war here to the game Space Combat.”

Zorr sighed in exasperation. “Fine, for your sake. Make the call.”

Tavia smiled and punched several buttons in her console and within minutes, a hologram of Paul William’s face appeared though rather jerky.

“Greeting, my fellow Ruthiens! How may I help you?” Paul said. “Space Combat has become one of the best-selling miniature war games here.”

Tavia told Paul about the grave situation and Kenny’s unorthodox plan to fight the Urgus. “Would it work?”

Paul stroked his chin and flipped open some of the charts in his rule book. “Brilliant! It is a sound plan that might work. It stands a 73.9% chance of success compared to the 10.2% chance of Zorr’s plan.”

Everyone at the table murmured in delight and one of them said, “Let’s go ahead with Kenny’s plan.”

Zorr looked devastated but couldn’t over right the majority vote.

---

That night they had the biggest party that they had. No one knew for sure if they would be alive the next day after their battle. Kenny tried their local delicacies and drinks and it was quite delicious with creatures he never seen before. He wished he could stay here for life. Here he was revered as a guest unlike anything he had on earth.

Tavia came up to him and pulled him into the dance party. She taught him a simple dance from their planet. It was awkward for Kenny as the movements were spastic and random. These humans here had the uncanny ability to bend their hands backwards. Probably a genetic mutation.

"Let me show you how we dance on earth." Kenny showed them some breakdancing with pop and locking moves. He did a handstand pose also.

Everyone cheered in delight and many youths wanted to learn from him. Kenny taught some of the guys some slick moves to impress the girls. Tavia was certainly impressed.

After the celebration, the mood became sombre again. Reality set in again. It was time to rest and prepare for the battle the next day.

Tavia walked Kenny to his room, her face sullen. He was exhausted and half-drunk. She said to him, “I can send you back to earth before the battle starts tomorrow. You’ll be safe back home. We’ll implement your strategy.”

“And miss out on the fun? No, I’m going to stay all the way to see this through.”

“Don’t forget that I’m an excellent tactician too.” Tavia said with a smile. “You don’t belong here. You shouldn’t need to die for us.”

Kenny was going to answer when Tavia leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. “Thank you Kenny, I’ll visit you one day.” She injected a syringe into his arm and pressed on the plunger.

His mind blanked out.

---

When Kenny awoke, he was in the hostel room again. Room 312. Was it just a dream? He looked at the clock and it was near midnight. No time had elapsed since he came back.

What happened to Tavia? Ruthien? Did they win the Urgus?

His head was throbbing with pain and every part of his body was aching. He got up and dusted his clothes off.

There was something hard in his jeans pocket. He fished around his pocket and pulled the object out. It was a miniature figure of Tavia in her Voyager dress. Was any of what happened real? It all felt like a dream.

He shook his head to clear the cobwebs in his mind. He stumbled out of the hostel and went home.

One week later, Kenny was at the Game Bunker when Chan tapped on his shoulder. “Someone’s here to see you.”

Kenny thought it was Tavia and he whirled around.

It wasn’t. It was Paul Williams – creator of Space Combat. The legend himself. He couldn’t tell anyone that Paul wasn’t from earth. No one would believe him. To others, Paul was just an ordinary retired grandpa.

“Let me buy you a coffee,” Paul said as he walked Kenny towards the café opposite. “Don't look so disappointed! The Urgus were defeated thanks to your tactics. Ruthaine is safe now.”

Kenny pumped his fists in celebration. “That’s great! Glad to know that they are all safe. Is...Tavia well?”

Paul pulled open the café door and grinned. “You can ask her yourself.”

Tavia was sitting cross-legged at a booth, smiling at them. She was dressed in normal street clothes like last time. Kenny ran up to give her a tight hug and they kissed for a few moments.

Paul sat down with them and told Kenny, “I’m returning to Ruthaine. I'm really home sick. I’ll hand over my Space Combat shop to you both to further develop the game.”

“You both?” Kenny wondered as he peered at Tavia. “Aren’t you going back Tavia?”

“I’ve heard that earth has many nice places to visit. So I’ll be around with you.”

Kenny’s heart was bursting with joy at this news. A lifelong dream of becoming a shop owner and having a girlfriend became reality.

He held Tavia’s hand. “Aren’t you tired of Space Combat yet?”

“As long as it isn’t the real one.” Tavia smiled knowingly.

END