Dick and Henry: The Space Saga

By Kenneth Buff

Join Captain Dick Shannon and the harvest bot HN-R3, as they solve some of the most unusual mysteries in inter-planetary history.

The Space Saga contains five unforgettable tales of deception, greed, and revenge. Watch as Dick attempts to outsmart a broken machine in Robot’s Bluff, as he searches for an answer to the Robot Wedding, and join him and HN-R3 in the search for the missing persons in The Headless Hover Biker.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Buff
• Release date: Mar 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311777713

Kenneth Buff

Kenneth Buff was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. He moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma in 2007 to attend Oklahoma State University. He graduated in 2013. He currently spends his days working as an elementary special education teacher and his nights at Aspen Coffee, writing his next novel.

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/ DICK AND HENRY THE SPACE SAGA / 52

Dick and Henry: The Space Saga

by Kenneth Buff

Copyright 2014 by Kenneth Buff

Smashwords Edition

Visit: Kennethbuff.com

Dick and Henry: The Space Saga

Kenneth Buff

This one’s for Michael.

Thanks for reading these back when they were just a file on a hard-drive.

The Outer Shell of Known Existence

Dick sat in his seat as Miracle Grocer’s Transport 1 slowly moved through the vastness of space. His ship was carrying a load of fresh vegetables from the farm station. He was taking them to be packaged and processed at MG Station 2.

The trip was a twelve-hour flight that he would be making alone, except for the harvest robot on board, bot model HN-R3.

How are the pressure levels in the trailer, Henry? Dick asked the robot.

The levels are visible on your dashboard display, but since you have asked I will provide the information, the robot read the gauge on the wall. The gauge currently displays the pressure at 43 psi, perfectly within the limits needed for the plants to continue to survive.

Thanks, Henry, Dick said smiling.

Henry’s direct answers were the closest thing Dick had had to conversations in months. A skeleton crew who was all business and no chat populated the stations. Their idea of conversation sounded something like this: The trailer goes in Dock 43. Your room is number 12B, and those were the exciting ones. But he mostly didn’t mind it. As long as he was paid, it was all fine by him. He made enough that he was able to put a little away every month. Saving for that dream home back on Earth. Hoping to start a family to put in it once he met the right girl, or at this rate, any girl.

Engage autopilot, Dick said to his dashboard display.

Autopilot engaged, the ship said.

Taking a break, sir? Henry asked. Your quarters are prepared, and I’ve activated the tea dispenser if you prefer a stimulant.

Thanks, Henry, Dick said pulling a table out of the wall. But I was hoping you’d be interested in playing a game of checkers with me.

Interested, sir? My only interests are your safety and well-being as well as the continued success of the Miracle Grocer’s transport program.

Dick smirked at the robot. My well-being would be improved if you played a game of checkers with me.

Well, in that case I would be most interested in playing a game of checkers with you. The robot took a seat across from Dick. But I should inform you that based off of win history and behavior observations, my calculations show you only have a 7.5 percent chance of winning.

The two played several games. Henry won them all.

Display front view, Dick said to the ship.

Front view displaying. The screen of the ship was now consumed by the blackness of space. Clouds of dirt floated past, reflecting back the floodlights of the ship.

Do you think there’s anything out there, Henry?

Henry looked to the ship’s screen.

Are you referring to space, sir?

Yes, I am, Dick said.

Of course there is. But I do not think, I know. Space is full of combinations of gases and solid elements that make up the universe’s planets, stars, and solar systems. It is the most outer shell of the known existence.

Right, Dick said, but do you think there is anything else?

Like what, sir? the robot asked.

Do you think there is life?

Life has proven to exist on many of Earth’s outer colonies. It has been found growing in flowing water and in the warmest surfaces of the planets.

Dick rubbed his hand across his face in frustration. Of course, you’re right. Life has proven to exist. I forgot about the plankton on Marsia.

And the mushroom spores on Phidelphius, Henry added.

Right, those too, Dick said.

With no other pieces left, Dick moved one from the back row forward. Henry moved, taking the piece and kinging his own.

Good move, Henry, Dick said.

Thank you, sir, the robot said, his voice mimicking a sense of pride.

After the game, Dick placed the pieces in their slots and pushed the board back into the wall.

Dick returned to the pilot seat and watched the screen. On it he saw something strange. Rocks. They were in the distance, and they appeared small, but Dick knew this wasn’t the case.

MG, activate manual pilot.

Manual pilot engaged, the ship said.

Henry, do you see that?

They appear to be asteroids. I estimate their average size to be fifty-three yards in circumference, judging from their apparent size from this distance.

Thanks, Henry, but what the hell are they doing here? We’ve never seen asteroids between the stations before. The shield is supposed to protect this space from them.

It would appear the shield has failed, sir.

Failed, Dick said with disbelief. It was built to take asteroid hits.

Yes, but if any given point were hit by an asteroid with a circumference meeting or exceeding 343 yards, or if several asteroids were to hit the wall at one time in an adjacent space with a combined circumference meeting or exceeding 343 yards, the wall would fail.

Dick maneuvered the ship left, avoiding an asteroid a quarter the size of the ship. Small bits of frozen rock bounced off its hull.

"So