Doctor Nate Neutrino's Bare Knuckle Science Adventures

Above and Beyond

Doctor Nathaniel Neutrino pushed the crate into the back of the truck. He was a tall, square-jawed man with dark brown hair, blue eyes covered by glasses, and clad in a lab coat. Around him, soldiers dressed in US Army uniforms and helmets loaded several crates into the back of the truck. Dr. Neutrino assisted them, knowing what was in these crates had taken decades of covert operations, clandestine dealings, and blind luck. He saw a large soldier carelessly drop a crate.

“Hey, careful with that box!” he shouted. “If that thing was armed, we'd be radioactive ash!”

“Sorry, sir!” the soldier saluted and picked up the box with a lot more care and slid it backwards into the truck. No matter how many times he had been reassured that they were safe, Dr. Neutrino was always nervous about the radioactive growth-rays they had captured from the recently imprisoned Dr. Harry Hausen. Despite the large amount of goods that were supposed to go on the truck, it appeared nowhere near being full. Superficially, the canvas-covered GMC “deuce and a half” CCKW Army truck looked like any other military truck, right down to the white star on it. Dr. Neutrino knew that it was much more than that, and was as much a part of the stash as the items being loaded on it. Dr. Neutrino took a quick glance at an inactive robot in the corner of the warehouse, and turned to the Army officer in charge of the men helping him load the truck.

“So, Captain, you said a G-man asked for me to take this to the edge of the base?” Dr. Neutrino turned his head to the side, checking the clipboard. He noted the name “Roberts” on his uniform.

“Yes, sir,” Captain Roberts replied. “Said is name was Dick Spencer. Didn't say what agency. Only that the Reds were after this swag, and it ain't safe here.”

“Captain, I must thank you for your assistance. There's one last thing I need,” Neutrino pointed to the inactive metal man. “Take special care with the robot.”

The Captain directed two soldiers to lift it up. “Careful with that, you apes!”

Both nodded and set about picking the man-sized robot up. The head was rounded, the body was a cylinder, and the arms and legs resembled vacuum tubes. The letters “IKE” were painted across the torso. Nate had recalled his parents and Dr. Krupp mention the machine before and showed him photos, but never actually saw it in person. The two soldiers leaned the robot sideways, and rolled the machine into the back of the truck.

“That's all of it,” Dr. Neutrino checked a clipboard and checked off the robot. “Thanks again, men!”

The soldiers nodded in acknowledgment of him. The Captain bowed his head. In the corner, an older Sergeant looked at Dr. Neutrino. “Hey, I have a question for ya, Doc,” he asked.

“When did I give you permission to speak freely, Wilkins?” Captain Roberts replied. “Don't harass the man!”

“Let him speak,” Dr. Neutrino asked the officer. “So, what can I help you with?”

“I think I saw you before. Were you in Korea on Line Kansas?” Sergeant Wilkins asked.

“Yes, I was. I was in the Army Corps of Engineers, assigned to blow some bridges before the Reds could take them,” Dr. Neutrino replied nonchalantly. “It was nothing major.”

“Nothing major my ass! I knew I saw you before!” a huge grin appeared on Wilkins' face. “You saved my entire squad, and held the Reds off with your pistol while we made it across that bridge!”

“I'm sure you saw someone other than me,” Neutrino shrugged. “I don't recall much of the war.”

“I don't forget a name like yours easily, Doc!” Wilkins nodded. “Thanks to you, I'm still alive!”

“If you say, Sergeant,” Doctor Neutrino added. “I hoped my actions saved lives, but I'm afraid I don't remember much.”

“Okay, slobs, head back to the barracks!” Captain Roberts shouted. “Let's leave the Doc to do whatever he needs!”

The soldiers left the warehouse as the scientist climbed into the vehicles' cab. He locked the door, and moved the right seat. He entered a large, empty space. The walls, floor, and ceiling looked like sheet metal, but no matter how far he walked towards the walls, he never seemed to get closer. But it was not the size of the space he cared for. He approached the edge of the vast space, and found the robot that had been previously loaded into the truck.

Dr. Neutrino recalled the instructions from the letter he had received earlier. He opened a hatch on the back of the robot's head, and saw a small keypad. Dr. Neutrino pulled out a rolled up piece of paper out of his lab coat, and began to enter the long sequence of numbers into the machine. As he finished, he closed the hatch, and waited. For a few long seconds, there was nothing. Then, the robot's lightbulb eyes flashed on, and the machine began to stand up. Nate felt the M1911A1 pistol in his pocket, glad that it was there in case he needed it.

“Unit IKE reactivation sequence complete,” the robot said as it sat up. “State owner name. Current entry: Doctor Otto Krupp.”

“Change to Doctor Nate Neutrino, authorization code two-nine-three-six-eight,” the Doctor spoke. “State internal operational status. Activate default personality, male gender.”

“All systems optimal,” IKE replied. “Personality system activating. Booting from source.”

The robot stood up, holding its metal head with its mechanical hands. It looked around, standing tall. IKE looked at Dr. Neutrino and extended his hand. “Glad to meet you, Doctor Neutrino.”

“Doctor Krupp told me to ask about his last data entry,” Dr. Neutrino added. “He said I was in danger because of it.”

“Doctor Krupp's latest entry was an inventory of experimental devices from the Science Wars, and several Allied and Axis secret projects. Tell me, Doctor, is the war still going?” IKE asked.

“No, we won that one a decade ago. The Manhattan Project was successful, it made the Japs give up, and the Russians have the Bomb too,” Neutrino replied. “There's also some alien items in this mess from a town called Roswell.”

“My positron brain shows several types of modern munitions in the Soviet Russian arsenal,” IKE explained. “Can you specify the nature of this 'bomb'?”

“The atom bomb, IKE. What came from the Manhattan Project. It wiped out two Japanese cities, and now the US and Soviets have them pointed at each other,” the Doctor replied. “Both us and the Commies are fighting each other in just about every way but direct conflict.”

“Ah. Thank you for the update on world geopolitics, Doctor Neutrino. Has Dr. Krupp been in contact with you recently?”

“Yes, and the news wasn't very swell,” Neutrino added. “The G-men are trying to give me the shaft up the wazoo, and set me up as a Red spy.”

“What is our current location, and plan of escape?” IKE inquired.

“We're at White Sands Test Base in New Mexico,” Dr. Neutrino answered. “Technically, we're in the back of the Deuce.”

“Yes. The experimental truck utilizing Compressed Area Relative Directional Infinite Space,” IKE replied, nodding his head as servomotors whined. “Many items from my inventory also seem placed around here.”

“Exactly,” Neutrino explained. “A G-man named Dick Spencer is trying to set me up as a communist spy trying to escape with these devices. I am employed as a scientist at the base, but he planned to use me to take the wrap for something I didn't do. The scumbags have their agents around the base, waiting to move.”

“So how do you know this?” IKE inquired.

“Dr. Krupp sent me a coded letter a week ago,” Dr. Neutrino added. “I was told to reactivate you, and given a method of escape. I have to get this truck inside the experimental rocket ship Copernicus and haul ass. He told me he'd contact me once I had cleared gravity.”

“That does not sound very challenging. It is statistically unlikely Spencer does not know you are aware of his plot,” IKE replied.

“When I head for the rocket, that changes fast,” Dr. Neutrino opened a nearby wooden crate labeled: “Experimental Weapons.”

He pulled out a black metal assault rifle with the words “Heckler and Koch Gewehr-3” engraved on it. Dr. Neutrino removed the bayonet, loaded a magazine, and pulled the bolt back. “Now this is something I might need.”

“What is your plan, Doctor?” IKE inquired, turning his metal head to the side.

“You've driven the Deuce before, correct?” the Doctor grinned. “At least from what Krupp said.”

“I have been compared to a surgeon with my vehicle handling abilities,” IKE replied. “Do you require me to drive?”

Neutrino nodded. “I need you to put the pedal to the metal and head directly north. Avoid hitting any humans, and get up the rocket ship's ramp.”

“Affirmative, Doctor,” IKE nodded.

Neutrino readied the rifle, but hoped he would not have to use it. The last thing he wanted to do was shoot his former coworkers and give credence to what Spencer was trying to do to him. Either way, he would probably be pursued if he landed back on Earth. But whatever they had planned was enough to get the elusive Dr. Krupp to personally warn him. The Doctor entered the cab of the Deuce, and instructed IKE to sit in th driver's seat. Neutrino sat next to him, and buckled his seatbelt. Most people did not have the idea of using safetly belts in cars yet, but Dr. Krupp had that foresight long ago. He readied the rifle, and felt IKE hit the gas. The truck speed forward, out of the warehouse. There was a row of hangers between him and the rocket ship. The Copernicus was a large blue rocket, towering over the rest of the base.

The truck began to accelerate, and Dr. Neutrino saw ominous black cars in the rear view mirror. The path in front of them was clear, but the cars could easily circle around. IKE drove as fast as he could, while Nate saw one of the men stick out of the car. The G-man fired a pistol at him, shooting the back of the truck. Out of another car's window leaned a man with an M3 Grease gun. He fired wildly, shattering the rear view mirror on Dr. Neutrino's side. He fired single shots at the leading car's engine block, hoping to stop the car. Instead, the bullets ricocheted away harmlessly.

“Damn armored cars,” he muttered as he aimed for a not as protected target. Nate fired at the lead car's front tire, causing it to swerve out of control. It struck one car behind it, and then the other before skidding to a halt. Nate turned to see a G-man was shouting at him and gesturing wildly. Neutrino looked to his right to see another car coming at them from behind a hanger. Shooting their tires out, the car again skidded out of control before stopping.

Directly ahead of the truck was the loading ramp for the Copernicus. The ramp had been left open by Nate just a few hours prior. IKE floored the gas, propelling the truck straight up the steep incline. IKE managed to swerve the truck in a perfect one-hundred-eighty degree turn as he applied the brake. The robot them climbed out of the truck, and pressed a button on the wall. The ramp began to close behind them. Dr. Neutrino leaned back in his seat, regaining his composure. He got out and faced the machine.

“IKE, I have to say I'm impressed,” he slapped the metal man on the back. “Now, let's get into orbit.”

Inside the craft resembled a submarine, by Neutrino's reckoning. There was a bed, computer room, airlock, toilet, sink, shower, mini-kitchen, and microreactor providing backup power for the rocket. The cockpit had two seats with belts, controls, a computer, and a radio. The vessel was able to sustain two people for an extended amount of time. Since Nate didn't need to breath, bathe, eat, or shower, he would last longer. It was good that he had ensured that there was enough fuel, air, water, and food for a week. It also also good that they were testing one of Krupp's rockets the week they tried to set him up. Neutrino wasted no time and climbed up the ladder to get to the cockpit. IKE was already seated and beginning the countdown. Dr. Neutrino buckled himself in.

“Launching in five, four, three, two, one,” IKE directed. “Lift off!”

The rocket ship blasted off, and the intense G-forces pressed down on Dr. Neutrino. He felt sick for several seconds, but grew used to it. IKE simply operated the controls, unaffected by the intense forces. The auto-charging batteries in that robot certainly had been made to last. Outside the front windows, Neutrino saw the blue sky become darker, until finally they were in space. The pressure on his chest was gone, allowing him to move freely again. He quickly changed the radio to the frequency that Dr. Krupp had informed him of.

“Doctor Krupp? You there?” Nate Neutrino shouted into the microphone. “This is Doctor Neutrino and IKE aboard the Copernicus. Repeat! Krupp! Respond!”

“Loud und clear, Nate!” replied a voice with a thick German accent. “Velcome to space! Is IKE activated?”

“Yes, Otto. He helped me cut out,” Dr. Neutrino replied.

“Greetings, Doctor Krupp,” IKE added. “It is good to talk to you.”

“Gut! Gut! I vas getting vorried about both of you! Now, listen closely,” Krupp explained. “Back in my day, I worked with my family's company, researching big guns und artillery. Zhen came ze First Great War, and I decided to research rockets instead.”

“For which I am grateful,” Neutrino snickered.

“It vas around zhen I moved to my currently location, after discovering CARDIS. I am not bothered any more, yah? But it vas not as peaceful as I had hoped,” Krupp continued, his accent as thick as always. “Ze vile Nazis and zat failed Austrian art student had infested my country. Zo, I moved to America and vorked vith zem. It vas around zhen I met your parents. Yet ze Nazis had stolen notes of mine, from mein old lab. Zhey stole zheir ideas fro the V2 rocket and V3 cannon from zhose notes!”

Neutrino leaned back, allowing the garrulous old man to continue. Interrupting him now would only cause him to ramble more. IKE remained silent, also aware of his master's mannerisms.

“I uploaded a list of all ze freelance scientists, zheir research as of 1945, und who vas employing zhem,” Krupp continued. “Zhat list is not merely zhose employed by governments. It also includes every freelance scientist in ze vorld! If ze Americans or Russians get it, zhey will control ze direct of all of zheir research for years to come! It vould be ze Science Vars all over again, as vell as Vorld Var III!”

Simple enough. The US and Soviet Union would try to recruit or conscript every freelance brilliant scientist on that list. After World War II, many had been recruited by the victorious governments. Some, however, had slipped through the cracks. Since the Science Wars had ended, most of the remaining freelance super-scientists had laid low. The list, then, could direct the two superpowers to the new sources of advanced technology in the world. Even if the scientists were recruited by them already, it could inform them of any past or concealed research. It could also give them clues about their enemy's own researchers. That made both American and Russian spies potential enemies, to say nothing of any freelancers themselves.

“But zere are zome of us freelancers who have not been found. However, not all of us are simply trying to research in peace. Zome of us are trying to get revenge on zhe superpowers. Zhese rogues endanger ze rest of us, and must be stopped!” Krupp continued. “Zhat is why I need you to help me! At ze end of ze Second Great Var, ze vile Nazis zhat stole mein ideas took a rocket too zhe moon, and are building a zuper-cannon able to hit any point on ze Earth!”

“How do you know this?” Dr. Neutrino asked.

“Because I have un robot spy above zhem now! I have been listening to zheir radio communications, and zhey are near completion after all of zhese years!” Dr. Krupp's voice grew angry. “Zhese fools are planning to destroy zhe vorld with an idea they stole from me! You must stop zhem, und destroy ze cannon, so zhey can never threaten ze vorld again, und neither the Americans or Russians can capture it. Imagine vhat ze hawks on either side vould do!”

Doctor Neutrino knew he had been employed by the USA for some time, and would have preferred to continue doing so. However, the Red Scare, HUAC, and McCarthyism had gotten out of control. Eisenhower himself hated McCarthy, as did the Democrats, the Army, several Republican political foes within the party, and anyone else unlucky enough to have been in his sights. Dr. Neutrino figured the reason they had tried to frame him was his connection to Dr. Krupp. As one of the major freelance scientists remaining, they were growing desperate. McCarthy, or perhaps just this Dick Spencer fellow, wanted to frame him as a Red to draw out Krupp. Despite serving in Korea and researching for them for years, Dr. Neutrino found himself in the crosshairs of the Red Scare.

There was another possibility. Perhaps Spencer and his fellows were acting alone, and trying to procure the technology from mainstream military and scientific research and put in it in the hands of McCarthy, several hawks, or worse, their own like-minded scientists. Either way, Krupp was right. They had to find the scientists on the list, and see who employed them or what they had been up to. If the would be fascists in the US or the Communist tyrants monopolized all sources of super-science, then the world would truly be doomed. Likewise, if a mad freelancer attacked the world for revenge, the world would support such a monopolization of research.

“Give me the location,” Dr. Neutrino pulled up a map of the moon on the computer. “I'll clean up the Nazi mess the Allies missed. Tell me about him.”

A location on the far side of the moon was listed. A picture of a stern-faced man in a Waffen-SS uniform appeared. “Zhis is Standartenfuhrer Rolf Dietrich. As ze Third Reich fell apart, he und his unit fled into space aboard a heavily modified V2, und planned to exterminate ze world's population. Zhen, he und his Aryan race vould repopulate ze vorld.”

“Got it,” Nate replied. “Neutrino out.”

“So, Nathaniel, set our destination to moon?” IKE asked.

“Punch it,” Neutrino leaned back, preparing for acceleration. The rocket ship Copernicus picked up speed, and headed for the moon.

Agent Dick Spencer muttered to himself. He was battered and bruised, but still able to stand. What happened to his own wounded agents never crossed his mind as he looked into the sky. He helplessly watched as the rocket ship vanished into the sky. He tried to use the radio, but no one replied to him. He knew that the soldiers on this base hated him, and their refusal to launch fighters or shoot down the rocket was somehow Neutrino's fault. He had turned several otherwise moral, upstanding good white Americans into nigger and Jew loving Godless heathens. McCarthy was on the right path, but not willing to walk it completely. If he could bring down Neutrino, then he could hopefully do more than just chase these egomaniac eggheads around. The thought of himself running for office caused him to grin, before he fell down. A group of medics approached, but he muttered a curse at them while he faded into unconsciousness. Of the agents, the medics found there were some concussions and broken bones, but remarkably, no fatalities.