The Interstellar Police Force, Book One: The Historic Mission by Raymond Klein (ebook reader 7 inch txt) 📕

the Horseshoe River, sun sparkling off the water. The homes, as far as he could see, seemed to have been built around the same time as Mrs. Remke’s. They were all of similar design, and all kept up very well. It was a quiet neighborhood with large old oak trees. A few people were out in their yards working or relaxing. A perfect location to blend in.

She found the correct key, inserted it, and opened the door. Warm and musty air hit them as they entered a small living room. There was a couch and a coffee table facing a television, along with a chair and matching ottoman. To the left of the front door, overlooking a bar with three bar stools, was the kitchen. “Well, there you have it. I’ll let you look around, Mr. Trent. I’ll be in the house. My shows are on. Just knock when you’ve made up your mind.” And with that, Mrs. Remke left Jeff and Genghis alone in the small apartment.

“So . . .” Genghis said, glancing around the apartment, “Do you think Mr. Remke committed suicide?”

“Most likely!” Trent replied, “And what’s housebroken?” He looked at Genghis for a possible answer.

“You mean besides this place?”

“Oh, I think it’s quaint,” Jeff said, while walking to the kitchen. “A place a real human would reside. And look how nice our galley is.” The white vinyl floor, with its small, black diamonds uniformly dotted throughout, was scuffed, and the ends that met the oak cabinets were slightly curling up and cracked. The olive green refrigerator stood to the right as you entered the tiny kitchen and hummed loudly. The matching olive green electric stove was at the far end, toward the front wall of the apartment, set between cabinets. To the left was the sink and in front of that, an open space overlooking the bar and into the living room.

They both walked toward the back of the apartment. On the left, was a full bath and beyond that, a short hall. The two bedrooms on either side of the hall had identical twin beds with one dresser and two nightstands on each side of the bed. “Hey, if we take this, can I have the one on the right?” Genghis asked, pushing the door open with his nose. He entered and hopped onto the bed, circled left, then right, then plopped down. “Hey! This is kind of comfortable.” Jeff pushed open the door on the left. The bed was made and there was nothing on the walls. He was thinking his partner was right. It did look very comfortable.

They both proceeded down the short hall to the back door. Jeff opened it to reveal the backstairs leading into the garage. “Very convenient,” Jeff said. “We can park the cruiser in the space below and be able to bring up equipment through here without being seen.”

They both returned to the small living room. “Hey, look at that,” Trent said, pointing excitedly. “A television . . .  human entertainment!” He walked over to the old JVC. “I wonder how we activate it?”

“I’m not sure,” Genghis replied. “Maybe it’s voice activated?”

“Perhaps you’re right.” Trent looked at the set and said, “Activate!” Nothing. “Online!” Still nothing. Genghis saw a small black remote on the coffee table with the same JVC logo on it. “Mainframe online!” Trent said, without any luck. Genghis pushed the little red button on the remote when Trent said, “Television online!” Just then, the set came to life with a low pop. Trent turned to Genghis with a big grin, “It’s ‘television online’ to activate.”

“Ah, Jeff I don’t think . . .”

“Hey! What’s this?” Jeff was mesmerized to see actual human entertainment on the television. Moe had just slapped Larry across the face, then swung around and brought his fist down on Curly’s head with a bonk! “I didn’t know the human skull could make that sound when struck?” They both watched in amazement for about ten more minutes. When all three human males on the television ran out of the fancy dinner party after starting a pie fight with the bald one going, Wooo, Woo, Woo, Woo, Jeff and Genghis looked at each other, stunned.

“Is that how humans are supposed to act?” Genghis asked in disbelief.

“I don’t know,” Jeff said, just as befuddled. “We’ve been here now for a while, and I’ve never seen anyone in Old Town greet someone by taking two fingers and poking the other in the eyes!”

“Oh, God no!” Genghis exclaimed. “That would hurt like hell!”

“I don’t know. It’s something we could look into at a later date.” Jeff leaned forward and spoke to the TV. “Television offline!” Jeff stared at the set, waiting for it to shut down, but all he saw was an infomercial for the greatest adhesive tape ever.

“Television off . . .”

“JEFF!” Genghis said, getting Trent’s attention. He slid the remote across the coffee table. “Push the little red button.”

He picked up the remote and did what his partner asked. The television shut off. Jeff grinned while looking at the little device. “Remotely controlled. Brilliant!”

They both stood in the silence of the apartment, looking around. “So, what do you think?” Genghis asked.

“I like it,” Trent said sincerely. “We have two bedrooms, a nice galley, a bath, and a hold for the cruiser. I think we should take it.” He looked down at his partner, “What do you think?”

“Yeah, I think it could work. Let’s go ahead and do it.”

Jeff backed the cruiser into the garage then discreetly went below decks to the replicator to produce more currency for Mrs. Remke. He gave her the twelve hundred dollars and with a clammy handshake, the deal was done. Keys were passed over, and rules were set.

They closed the garage door and spent the rest of the day moving in. Personal effects were brought up and placed in their respective rooms. Jeff filled his small closet with the clothes that were tailored for the mission and what the Replicator produced