Great Space Adventures of Unsung Heroes

By Gary T Brideau

This book is a collection of space heroes that started as an ordinary man trying to get through the day. But something happens in their lives that changes their destiny from being just a face in the crowd to saving their world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781669877486

Gary T Brideau

I was born in a small house in Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1947 and moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut as a small boy. I met Lauren, the love of my life in1985 and were married years later and moved to Bristol, Connecticut. One night, I had a vivid dream that caught my attention, that spurred me to write it down, and sent it to my sister T. Jene Brideau, for an interpretation who also is a writer. She wrote and told me that the story was good. I took her encouragement and my imagination went to work. That’s when I discovered my God-given talent to write great space adventures stories. From then on, I have written over fifty stories of which only seven of them have been published with great reviews.

Book preview

Great Space

Adventures Of

Unsung Heroes

Gary T. Brideau

Copyright © 2023 by Gary T. Brideau.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 05/12/2023

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

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Contents

THE OUTCAST

Storyline

Chapter 1 Four, Minus One

Chapter 2 Something New

Chapter 3 A Desperate Attempt

Chapter 4 The Highway to Nowhere

Chapter 5 Another World

Chapter 6 A Slippery Captive

Chapter 7 Thor’s Help

WHITE CLOUD CHAMPING OF THE INDIAN NATION

Chapter 1 Lester The loser

Chapter 2 White Cloud

Chapter 3 Enter, Blue Thunder

Chapter 4 Blue Thunder to the Rescue

AN UNFORGETTABLE VACATION

Storyline

Chapter 1 A Change of Plans

Chapter 2 Trying to make it Home

Chapter 3 The Final Straw

Chapter 4 The search

THE ADVENTURES OF MIKE AND HEATHER

Storyline

Chapter 1 Next Stop, Earth

Chapter 2 On the Run

Chapter 3 The Unexplained Foe

Chapter 4 Missing

Chapter 5 Hidden Terror

Chapter 6 Staying Alive

Chapter 7 Is Mike Alive?

Chapter 8 Depression

Chapter 9 Ralf Eats Crow

The Outcast

Benjamin Stiles, age 19: and Captain of DXS-1 Assault fighter

Rick Stiles age 20: Ben’s Older Brother Co-Pilot on DXS-1

Valerie Stiles 17: youngest, & communications officer on DXS-1

Viola Stiles: Ben’s Mother after Allen died she married Ray.

Allen Stiles: Benjamin’s father dies in a car accident.

Ray: The Stepfather, dies by a toxic orange slime.

Allen Stiles Senior: from the planet Avalon Prime.

Herb: A Good Friend of the Family and Margret’s husband.

Margaret: Herb Wife, who is a Makeup Artist, on Earth.

Jack: The Police Officer on Earth.

Norman: The Plastic Surgeon on Earth.

Jessica: Benjamin’s Wife, pilot and second in command.

Kora: a waitress, and a very intelligent Science Officer. Kora is a wiz at computers.

Alfred, The security Chef on DXS-1. He can flatten himself and slip under any door.

Lorie: The Cook.

Elizabeth: Yeoman, and Jessica’s cousin.

Storyline

The story starts in the suburbs, somewhere in America. Viola remarried several years after her husband died in a car crash. However, much to her surprise Ray wasn’t the kind and understanding gentleman Allen was, but a tyrant. It was only after the marriage that Viola discovered her new husband was the type who demanded strict submission from the children or else.

Benjamin’s older brother, Rick, loved the idea that he could now boss his pasty brother around and get away with it. Valerie, the youngest, was a free-spirited girl. Nothing seemed to bother her until the day her rose-colored glasses fell off.

Ben dressed in light blue peddle-pushers with an unbolted short-sleeved shirt and sneakers. Rick always dressed as if he were going out to a formal dinner party.

Valerie: put on whatever she felt that day, regardless of where she was going. Her older brother Ben, who would become an outcast from the family, had to find his way in society and stay out of the way of the stepfather Ray or be destroyed by his influence.

Planets throughout several planetary systems are dotted with mammoth craters, as whole cities come up missing. The system governments are powerless to stop this mass abduction. One can only imagine the devilish fate that is in store for the unsuspecting population. It will take a nonexistent man to defeat this dark, sinister power, which preys on its victims while they sleep.

Chapter 1

FOUR, MINUS ONE

Late one warm summer evening, Ben was upstairs getting ready to go out for the evening. When his older brother Rick hollered from the kitchen downstairs, Ben, get down here right now. Ben muttered under his berth, Dim-witted older brother of mine, always trying to spoil my evening; I wonder what he wants now. Ben then hollered back, I’ll be there in a minute. Rick came storming up the stairs screaming, I said I want to see you in the kitchen, which meant yesterday, not five minutes from now. Ben replied you lighten up, will. Yeah, you sound more much like Ray every day. Rick grabbed Ben by the front of his shirt and said, You’re a slacker, your clothes, everything about you shouts, I’m a freeloader. Now get out of this house; you are no longer a part of this family." Then through him down, he stares headfirst.

Valerie screamed, You idiot, Ben could have been killed; you don’t throw someone down the stairs like that. Rick shouted, Valerie, go to your room and stay there until Ray gets home. She replied, No, I’m going over to my friend’s house so we can go shopping, and you can’t stop me. If Ray even thinks of touching me, I’ll have his butt in jail so fast it’ll make his head spin. Don’t wait for me because I am not coming home. I don’t know what has gotten into you, Rick, but you’re not the brother I knew. Valerie ran down the stairs and out the door.

Ben made his way up the street to a nearby park and sat under a tree, wondering what he was going to do without a home. He knew as soon as his older brother told Ray his life wouldn’t be worth two cents. Just as he got up to go, Ben heard, Hey, you there, don’t you know that there is no loitering in the park. He thought, Now what, as he turned around slowly to apologize to the police officer, but saw Herb, a longtime friend of the family, standing there smiling at him. Herb walked up to Ben and said, Do you want to tell me what the trouble is, or do I have to beat it out of you. Ben immediately cringed and started sobbing, and said, I’m sorry; I won’t cause any more trouble again, I promise. Herb rested his hand on Ben’s shoulder and asked, Son, what’s wrong?

Ben screamed in pain as he recoiled from Herb’s touch. Herb then said, Son, let me take a look at you under the streetlight. Once in the light, Herb exclaimed, Good lord, what flight of stairs did you fall? You’re all black and blue; you need to go to the hospital to be checked out. Ben came back with, No, no hospital. Herb answered, Ok then, you’re coming home with me, Margate has an herb bath that will take away the soreness, and then you are going to tell me why you’re all black and blue.

Margate said, When they were inside the door, My gracious, what happened, Ben? You’re a mess; who threw you down a flight of stairs? I’ll get the herb bath ready for you, and then you can have some beef stew."

Ben was in the middle of enjoying his stew when a knock came to the door. Ben jumped up from the table and bolted out the back door. Herb intercepted him in the backyard and asked, Where are you going in such a rush? Ben replied, I have got to hide; if he finds me, he’ll kill me. Herb answered, Son, you’re shaking like a leaf. You’re going to tell me what is going on, and no one is going to harm you, I promise. It took a lot of persuasion from Herb and his wife to get Ben back inside and to calm him down.

Late that evening, another knock came at their door; Margate motioned Ben to hide while she answered the door. Ray stood on the other side of the door and politely asked, Is my son here? Margate replied, Let me remind you, sir, that he is not your son, and do you see Ben anywhere in my house? Ray hollered, Ben, it’s me, your loving stepfather. When there was no reply, Margate asked, So how many times a day do you browbeat Viola’s children? Does it make you feel good to push around helpless kids? Ray snapped back, Do you know who you are talking to? Margate answered, You can hide behind your power and money if you want to, but at far as I am concerned, you’re still a bully. Ray hollered, I can ruin you; do you know that? Herb, several inches taller than Ray, stepped out from behind the door, looked down at Him, and said, Go ahead and start something; I’ll make sure everyone in town knows that you beat your wife. Ray calmly replied, It was never proven that I beat my first wife or Viola. Herb got right in Ray’s face and said, Watch your step, you hurt Viola or any of her children, and you will have me to deal with. Now get off my property before I throw you off.

After Ray was gone, Ben crawled from behind the couch and said, Wow, I never heard anyone stand up to Ray like that, but he doesn’t give up that easily. Margate answered, Ben is right, we need a plan to stop him from coming after you, and I think I know how. Ben, you are going to die; it is the only way he will stop his relentless pursuit. Ben put his hands up and said, Hold on just a minute; don’t you think that’s a little drastic. Margate chuckled and replied, You’re not going to die, but it will only look like it, then grabbed the phone and made several calls.

The next afternoon Ben was walking in the park when Jack, a police officer, grabbed Ben and said, Now I’ve got you, Ben shook the police officer loose and tried to get away. Jack hollered, Stop, or I’ll shoot. Ben kept running, hoping to escape; Jack fired his revolver just as Ray was jogging by, sticking Ben in the back of the head.

Ray walked up to Jack, shook his hand, and said, Nice shooting, Jack asked, Wasn’t that your stepson I just shot? Ray answered, Yeah, but he was more trouble than he was worth. Ray hung around until the ambulance came and took the body away.

Viola rushed to the hospital demanding to see her son’s body, but she was denied. Officer Jack approached her and said, Viola, I am so sorry for shooting Ben, but he left me no choice. She looked up at Jack with tears streaming down her face and screamed, What did he do to deserve being shot in the head? Jack replied, You know me, I won’t do anything to harm a soul, especially Ben, but he left me no choice. Oh! You should know that Valerie is up on the second floor in serious concision. She looked at Jack and said, What is she doing up there? She is supposed to be in California, Then she rushed up, wondering if she was going to lose her only daughter.

Viola tried to compose herself as she walked into the room and over to the bed. However, she was shocked to see Ben lying in the bed instead; she shouted, Ben, you’re alive! I thought they shot you. It doesn’t matter as long as you are ok, and then almost squeezed the life out of her son. Herb and Margaret stepped out from behind a curtain and said, Sorry to put you through so much, but your husband Ray was gunning for Ben, and it was the only way we knew to stop him from harming Ben. Viola asked, How are you going to keep my husband from finding him once he’s out of the hospital? Margate sat Viola down and took her hand, and said, "Half the town showed up to help fake Ben’s death. Norman, a Plastic Surgeon, is going to give Ben a new face free of charge.

Margate looked Viola in the eyes and said, We have been like sisters all our lives, confiding in each other matter what. Why didn’t you listen to me when I tried to warn you about Ray? Viola answered, He was like a perfect gentleman all the while we were dating. Flowers, candy, dining out at fancy restraints, I don’t even know why I thought you were out to get me. Then Viola said, I guess I am stuck in a worthless relationship?

Just then, Valerie came rushing into the room, looked around at everyone, and said, Will someone tell me what is going on? First, I hear that Ben was shot and killed, and then a nurse in the lobby tells me that I’m in critical condition on the second floor. Now I see my brother alive, sitting up in bed where I am supposed to be. Ben smiled and said, Come here, Cupcake; promise me not to tell Ray or Rick about any of this. Valerie came back with, Are you kidding me? Tell Ray and miss the chance of a lifetime to pull the wool over that tyrant’s eyes. I am going to enjoy every minute of this. Ben said, Cupcake, you are not going to recognize me after my operation, so if I see you on the street, I’ll refer to you as Sweet Cakes, then you’ll know who I am.

After his surgery, Ben lived in a boarding house on the outskirts of town and worked for a construction company. One stormy afternoon, Ray walked onto the construction site and started to throw his weight around. Ben saw his chance and whispered something to the big boss of the construction company. He promptly canceled the deal he was about to close with Ray and had him tossed off the property.

Chapter 2

SOMETHING NEW

Walking on the way home that evening, Ben glanced up and spotted what looked like a plane plummeting to Earth out of control, and decided to investigate, hoping he could be of help.

Upon arriving at the crash site, Ben looked around, scratched his head, and said to himself, Where’s the plane? The place looks like something crashed here, but there isn’t a craft of any kind to be seen. Then he saw something that made him do a double take, a boulder suspended several feet off the ground. When he went to look under it, he hit his head on something invisible. Ben grabbed some dirt and started to throw it around the boulder to find out just what the invisible object was. When all of a sudden, a craft resembling a boomerang appeared, an elderly gentleman stepped out and said, Son, do you mind not doing that? I just had it washed.

Ben asked, Are you alright?

The man replied, Not one of my better landings, that much I can say. Then he asked, Are you Benjamin, Allen’s son?

Ben answered, Yes, but how do you know that, and where did you get such a strange craft?

The elderly man stretched his hand forward and said, "My name is Allen Senior; you can call me Al. I know about my son’s death, and I’ve come to help your mother. You had better get in the craft before others start searching for a downed plane.

Ben figured the guy looked harmless and joined Al in his craft.

Just as Ben stepped inside the door, Al said, It may get a little crowded around here soon, so how about us going somewhere secluded?

Ben replied, Sure, fine with me, but don’t you think you should do something about that boulder sitting on top of your craft before you take off.

Al replied, Oh yeah, rocks can’t fly on my world either.

Al touched a few controls and then started to talk to his grandson; Ben interrupted him and said, Don’t you think you’d better take off before this place is inundated with people.

Al smiled and said, "We are already airborne; it takes a bit of getting used to flying and not feeling any forward motion.

The spacecraft landed on a large, tall mesa; Al got out, sat beside his craft, and said, I used to bring your father here when he was a boy.

Ben was enthralled by the idea that he had just had a ride in a spaceship and never heard a word Al said.

His grandfather stood alongside Ben, put an arm on his shoulder, and said, Sit.

The two sat quietly on the edge of the tall mesa, watching the sunset. After a long silence, Al took a deep breath and said, Son, space is in your blood. That’s why when you saw my ship, you were not scared. Most likely, your mother never told you about where she came from. After she met my son, your father, they moved here to get away from all the technology on Dasher. There was something about Earth that the two of them loved.

Ben asked, Can you prove to me that my family is from, as you call it, Dasher.

Al came back with, Sure can, he pointed to an object far below the mesa and asked, Can you tell me what that object is?

Ben replied, Do you mean those weeds growing around that rock?

Al answered, Yes, I just proved my point. First, it’s nighttime, two; no Earthling could ever see those weeds, even in the daytime.

Al suddenly jumped up, rushed off to his ship, and came back a few minutes later with some harnesses. He then said, as he strapped one of the harnesses on, and asked, Ever wanted to fly? Then dove off the cliff.

Ben mumbled, This guy isn’t wrapped too tight. Jumping off the top of a mesa can be hazardous to one’s health. Ben crept carefully to the edge, fearful of what he might find. Much to his surprise, he watched his grandfather floating gently down.

A moment later, his grandfather shot back up again like a rocket and stated, Usually, the weightless belt is worn under your clothing, but outside will do for now; here, you try it. This belt goes around your waist, these two go over your shoulder, and these go around your legs. Now this part is very important, don’t forget to touch the red circle to turn the belt on, then tap the blue square to lock the unit in the on position. If you don’t lock it in the on position, you could accidentally turn it off and splatter yourself all over the rocks below.

It only took Ben a few tries to get the knack of it; as the stars started to fade, Ben lay on the ground next to the ship exhausted. He looked up at his grandfather and said, I have just one more question, and that is. How did you know it was me? Several weeks ago, I had plastic surgery done. Grandfather pulled out a disk about two inches in diameter and said, "Your genetic code is imprinted on this disk. Notice