This short chapter of the science fiction novel develops the character of Tomas Snow and explains his views on violence, guns, and gives his reasons for pacifism.
Chapter 6
Taser gun
Tom was glad to have a friend on the long lonely trip, and Roger’s friendship helped like no other would. Roger was always honest and straightforward with him and told him things the grownups kept secret.
Ollie liked Roger too. Ollie sorted people into packs. The rangers were like a wolf pack; they were fighters and had no fear. If Ollie were a human he would be with Roger in their pack.
“Are you busy for the next few minutes?” Roger asked.
“No, I'm going to sick bay for first aid training, but I have a few minutes.”
“Good. Let's stop by my quarters, it’s on the way.” Roger seemed to lead even though they walked side by side with Ollie between them. At regular intervals, the white walls on the right opened to huge poly-glass viewing ports that showed the blackness of space full of distant stars like white spots of tiny lights.
Rodger stopped at his door and put his hand on a gray square on the wall. The solid door divided in two and slid into the wall on both sides. When all three passed through the door whispered shut.
Ollie began the important job of gathering all the smells in the small room. The raw gray metal floor was cold on his paws.
Tom sat on the bed that was built into the wall, amazed at the spartan bareness of the room, it had only a small shelf, a chair, and a trunk against the wall opposite the bed.
Rodger remained standing and touched a square on the wall, a narrow door appeared and opened. Inside was a few personal things, some boxes, and bags. Reaching in he brought out a gun-like weapon, a photon electric taser. The weapon’s black handle grip was repaired with a ribbon of melted black rubber that wrapped around it three times in a checker pattern.
“Thomas, do you know how to use a stun gun?”
Tom sat on the bed, Ollie jumped on the bed next to him; he turned around three times and lay down next. Tom looked at the gun with interest and dread.
“Tommy?” Roger looked down at his friend. and scrunched together blond eyebrows in worry above his washed out blue eyes. “You do know that stun guns hardly ever kill anyone?”
“Yes. But my father is a minister. He is against violence. My mom would never allow any weapons in our home. Not even toy guns.”
“Well, I respect that. But you don’t understand the situation. When we started on this trip everything was safe.” Roger was serious. His voice became tense as he spoke slowly and deliberately. “But, now things have changed. We’re at war. Rebels are trying to take over the government. They have captured some planets and colonies. And one of the pirate clans has claimed this territory of space. Normally, we wouldn't have anything to worry about, but something is wrong.”
“What’s wrong?” Tom stroked Ollie’s fur.
“We have to make a supply stop at a space station called, Cirrus Four, but they won’t answer our calls. They are completely out of communication. Captain Pierce says it is because of sun spot activity from the nearby star, but we think the station was captured by rebels or pirates. We may be going into a trap."
“Pirates, Rebels.” The words echoed in Tommy’s mind. This was too much, he felt as if just the words had caused the room to tilt slightly. He rubbed Ollie s shoulder and felt the hard muscle beneath the fur; if only he was strong and fearless like the dog. It made him feel better with Ollie there.
“Look, this gun is called a taser. Here is how it works.” Roger stepped back and pointed the weapon at the plastic chair. He slowly pulled the trigger. A loud zap and a bolt of lightning hit the chair flipping it up against the wall and bouncing back across the tiny room. Ollie jumped in an explosion of fur and claws, landing on all fours between Tom and the Chair. The fur was up on his back, his head was low with menace, as a threat from his throat rumbled a low growl at the chair. The dog's legs and back were twitching with the tension of rage. If the chair were a living thing he would have shredded it with his fangs.
Tom knelt next to Ollie and put his arms around the dog’s thick neck. He was amazed how quickly Ollie could move. “It’s okay, boy. It’s okay.”
"It's OK boy." Roger reached out a hand and patted Ollie. “Tom, I've had this taser a long time.” He continued. “The power light is burned out, but it is fully charged. I repaired the handle grip myself. That’s the patch there. If you slide the lever on the side you can set it to stun or set to maximum, but on maximum power, it could kill a person. Tom, you only need to have it set on stun to use it. I hope you don’t need to use it but it may be good to have just in case there is trouble.”
Roger held the taser out for Tom. Tom moved back on the bunk. He would not touch the weapon.
“Take it. It won’t hurt you.”
“No, my father would not be happy. The scriptures teach to ‘honor your father.’ Besides, I don’t want to hurt anyone. That would be wrong. Ollie and I can take care of ourselves. I signed up for sick bay. That is where I will be if there is any trouble.”
“I agree it is wrong to hurt innocent people,” Roger said thoughtfully. “But self-defense is a different thing. Besides, see here, as long as this little lever is down on the handle it is only set on stun, so it won’t kill anyone. Slide the button up with your thumb and only then it could kill. But you can just use it to stun someone so you can get away, you know- self-defense.”
How could Tom disagree with his best friend and still keep true to his ideals? After a moment, Tom said slowly, “I know, Roger. But I’d rather not. The Scriptures say, ‘Do not resist the one who would do you evil, and if someone strikes you on one cheek turn to him the other.’"
“Ok. That is true. But isn't that is for personal conduct? I am a ranger cadet. We serve the government as it serves society. Part of an orderly society is that if someone does wrong they must accept the consequences of their actions. So, sometimes we need to have weapons of force. The purpose is to protect society. Now I don’t know the scriptures like you do; but doesn't it say something about “defending the helpless,” in the book of proverbs? And didn't the Old Testament say a few things about punishing wrongdoers?”
“I don’t know about all that. We have a different view of these things in my home. We’re pacifist. I would rather save lives in Sick Bay than to take them in battle.”
Roger sighed. He put the taser back in the cabinet. “Well, I guess it is okay. Good friends can agree to disagree and still be friends, can’t they? Besides, you have Ollie here.” Roger rubbed the dog’s back fondly. “You are a good man Tom Snow. Your Father should be proud of you.” With a sigh, Roger added. “It’s going to be hard when we get to the colonies and have to transfer Ollie off.”
“Yeah.” Tom sighed, glad to change the subject. “I’m going to miss him a lot; it was great being able to take care of him. I hope he likes his new home, wherever that is.”
Roger put a kind hand on Tommy’s shoulder. “I’ll walk with you to the sick bay."
“Roger, watch his trick. Let’s go, boy.”
Ollie walked over to the door. Getting up on his hind legs he put his paw on the gray pad. The door divided in half again and disappeared into the wall. Ollie walked out.
“Wow, Thomas that is a smart dog.”
“Yeah, real smart,” Tommy smiled with pride.
They walked side by side up the corridor, Ollie followed. People were coming and going. The two friends stopped at an observation lounge where the corridor widened into a comfortable room with large soft chairs, carpeting, and real wood paneling. People were sitting and relaxing as they gazed out of the windows at the dark beauties of space. The two stood side by side in front of the over-sized window.
Roger admired the sleek lines of the two ships that traveled beside their ship. He studied them carefully as if he had designed them himself. They looked fast with rockets on fins and pointed prow. Deadly gun turrets made them look like fortresses. Cannon and rocket launchers angled away from the hull like pins in a pincushion. Roger longed to be an officer on such a battle cruiser one day. In the distance beyond was a large red planet with five moons like white dots floating around it.
Orbiting one of the moons would be the station, Cirrus Four. Tom thought the moons had a sad lonely beauty, bitter and cold like a song that came to an end. The two stood in the comfort of friendship and for a long moment gazed at the silent scene of space.
The peace was shattered by a blow from the alarm. The intercom screamed. ”All personnel are to report to emergency stations. I repeat all personnel report to your emergency stations. Rangers and crew report to battle stations. This is not a drill.” A gray shield descended over the huge window, replacing the beauty of space with steel panels and bolts.
Ollie sensed the excitement. People ran past. He could tell there would be a fight. He was a hunter and longed to fight.
“This is it!” Roger shouted. He turned and ran out of the lounge and joined the crowd that filled the corridor.
Thomas’s stomach turned sour with fear. He watched Roger disappear up the long crowded corridor. Tommy’s head felt like it was floating outside his body, with an effort he forced his legs to move, making one step after another until without realizing it he was running toward the safety of sick bay.
(c) Adron
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