by Saxon Andrew
“Frank, you’re in line to be our next Admiral.”
“That’s another thing Sir. I’m a pilot and it’s that part of my life that makes me whole. I don’t care one whit about being promoted; I want to fly a starship in the Big Black at maximum speed taking on humanity’s enemies.”
Justin smiled slightly, “Are you sure about that?”
“Yes Sir.” Justin blew out a breath and Frank added, “The Red Rock will be a lot safer with me at the helm.” Frank nodded toward Kelli, “She knows how to operate this console and she should be the one in this chair.”
Justin turned to Kellie and saw her staring at them. “How do you feel about this Captain?”
“Sir, I’m ready and prepared to do whatever you require of me.”
Justin glanced at Frank and then said, “Captain Kim, take the communication console and Frank, you will go to the pilot’s console.”
Frank smiled, “Thank you Sir.”
Kelli stood up and went to her new console. She began pressing buttons and moving slides at high speed. After a few moments she turned to Justin, “Communications have been established with the Squadron Commanders Sir.”
Justin was surprised at her speed and said, “You will retain your current rank and your performance will be evaluated at the end of this mission to determine if you remain on board the Red Rock.”
“Yes Sir.”
Justin looked at his console and said, “We are the first ship in the launch tubes, and it will remain there until we arrive at the Triangulum Galaxy. Upon arrival, we’ll exit the Nebula before the scouts start launching. Until we arrive at Triangulum, you are free to leave the ship and move about the carrier until we arrive ten light years from the Triangulum Galaxy. The launch order to the fleet will be issued in another two hours and we’ll be arriving at the Triangulum Galaxy three days from now. Be on board three hours prior to arrival.”
Everyone stood up to leave the bridge, but Kelli remained at her console. Justin looked at her and she said, “I need some time to memorize my panel Sir. I’ll leave once that’s done.” Justin nodded and left the bridge.
Frank walked by her and smiled, “Welcome aboard Kelli.”
Chapter Eight
Cami left the ship and took a ground car home. She arrived and Taffy rushed forward and hugged her as she entered the front door, “It’s good to see you honey!”
“Thanks Mom.” Cami headed toward her room and Taffy said, “What’s wrong?”
Cami shook her head, “Nothing. The mission has been delayed while the ship is being checked out. Robert found an issue in two of the reactors.”
“Anything serious?”
“I don’t think so. The power transfer isn’t running as smooth as it should be. Robert and Uncle Joshua are going to check it out.”
“Supper in an hour!” Cami nodded and went into her room. Taffy stared at the door and knew something was bothering Cami. Well, she’d see if she couldn’t dig it out of her after supper.
• • •
Cami kept a good face during supper and answered Grady’s question about the Grang Scouts and he finally stood up and excused himself to go and meet with RJ and Charlie. Cami stood up and Taffy said, “Please sit-down Cami.” Cami looked at Taffy and saw her concerned expression. She blew out a breath and sat down. Bob came in from his wall charger and cleaned the table as Taffy said, “Something is bothering you and it’s not the mission being delayed. Please tell me what it is.”
“Mom…”
“Don’t try to tell me it’s nothing, Cami. Something has you upset.”
Cami stared at Taffy for a very long moment and then lowered her head, “I’ve had a confrontation with Robert.” Taffy nodded but didn’t say anything. Cami raised a shoulder and said, “He discovered that I have a talent and he’s bothered by it.”
“What do you mean by talent?”
Cami raised her eyes and played the conversation she had with Robert telepathically to Taffy. Taffy watched it and at the end she had a troubled expression. Cami sighed, “I hate to admit it, but my talent has gotten stronger and I did control the two Grang in that scout; I didn’t just push them.”
“I notice your anger disappeared after he suggested you might have pushed Grady and me into adopting you.”
Cami’s tears started and she put her face in her hands, “Mom, I don’t think…I don’t know…I possibly could have caused it to happen.”
“You don’t know?” Taffy asked.
“Mom, I also have a subconscious. It could have done it without me knowing it.”
“So, you didn’t do it deliberately?”
“No.”
“Well, I think you’re clear on this issue.” Cami looked into Taffy’s eyes. “Were you aware that the family was going to ask you to allow RJ and Candy to adopt you before you arrived at the meeting?”
“No. I learned about it when Candy asked me.”
“Well, Grady and I had already requested that we be allowed to adopt you before you arrived. I’m reasonably certain you had no impact on that decision. The family felt you would be happier with Sweets’ family and voted that is where you should go. Grady and I voted against that, but we were outnumbered.”
“But how do I know my subconscious didn’t do something without me knowing?”
Taffy hugged Cami, “You don’t. But our adopting you is one of the greatest gifts we’ve ever been given. I don’t think this talent can be controlled by your subconscious anyway.”
“Why not?”
“Cami, you had to work hard to learn how to detect another’s subconscious and that takes conscious thought. If you want something, I believe you will have to focus on making it happen. Our subconscious minds are a cauldron of wants, needs, and fears and this process you’ve described wouldn’t lend itself to control without consciously focusing on another’s mind.” Taffy paused and then said, “However, you did use this talent to get Grady and me to approve you going out on those dangerous scouting missions.”
“I know; I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Grady and I were paralyzed in making the decision and without your…push…we’d still be stuck on making the decision. However, Robert is right. This talent is dangerous and if it’s getting stronger…” Taffy held up her hands.
Cami sighed, “What should I do?”
“Do you still follow the rules you came up with for telepaths to live in harmony?”
“What are you asking Mom?”
“The first rule you came up with is that another’s thoughts are their own and should not be violated. Do you follow that rule?”
“For the most part, I do.”
Taffy crossed her arms, “What does that mean?”
“If the situation is a dangerous one for me, my family, or humanity, I will look at the thoughts of everyone involved. But I do not look at other’s thoughts without permission.”
“Then you have to commit to do the same with this talent and not use it on anyone without them knowing,” Taffy remarked as she uncrossed her arms.
Cami was silent and then asked, “Why aren’t you just saying I need to stop using this talent period?”
Because I know you and your heart Cami; Robert doesn’t. Your talent turned that Grang Scout away and gave us more time to decide how to handle the situation we’re in. I know you won’t abuse it.”
“Mom, I’m not so sure about that. What happens as I age?” Taffy sighed and was silent for a long moment. “Mom?”
“Do you remember that RJ says that human telepaths are the next evolutionary step in humanity’s development?” Cami nodded. “This talent you’ve discovered is part of that development and I believe it’s there for a reason. I have no idea what it might be, but I wouldn’t trust this talent with anyone else but you. Just treat it with respect toward others and let the future determine what its purpose might be.”
Cami nodded and put her head on Taffy’s shoulder. Taffy hugged her and said, “I’ll tell Grady about this.”
“We don’t have secrets between us, and he needs to know. He loves you Cami and I know he’ll understand. You were worried about telling me weren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Well, he’ll probably be better at understanding this than I am. He’ll be thankful humanity has another tool in the box to use when needed. You don’t need to worry about your father; he knows your heart too.”
Cami put her head back on Taffy’s shoulder and said, “I need to get some sleep.” Taffy released her and Cami went to her room. Taffy watched her and for a quick moment wondered if Cami had manipulated their conversation. But she pushed the thought aside; there was no way to know if she did and not trusting her daughter was worse than having her do something untrustworthy. Faith…that was the only way to handle this situation.
• • •
The Comet and Nebula arrived three days out from Triangulum and Justin looked at Charlotte and Graylin in his conference room, “Have you worked out the details of how you’re going to handle scouting your sides of the galaxy?”
Graylin nodded, “Commodore Kessler and I will launch and hold position above our sides of the galaxy and receive our scouts’ reports. We’ll collect them for two days and then send them to the Red Rock, Sir.”
Justin turned to Kelli, “Get their coordinates and lock on our communication beams to their vessels.”
Kelli nodded, “Yes Sir.”
Charlotte looked at Kelli with narrow eyes and Justin saw her, “Captain Fuller has declined the promotion to my Second and Captain Kim will be handling my Second’s duties until a final decision is made on the matter.”
Charlotte nodded and Kelli said, “I’ll contact you for your positions once your squadrons start launching.”
Justin turned to Charlotte and Graylin, “The Red Rock will be launching tomorrow and if you need me for any reason, don’t hesitate to contact me; good luck and good scouting.”
“Are you taking any escorts to defend your ship Sir?”
Justin chuckled, “My ship is faster than any ship in the Triangulum Galaxy. If I detect anything, I’ll run first and ask questions later. By the way, how many scouts will remain with the carriers?”
“We’re leaving three hundred for defense of the carriers Sir,” Graylin answered.
“Is that enough?”
“Yes Sir. The Carriers are also faster than the Triangulum Civilization’s warships. And if there’s an issue, our scouts can make it back to the carriers in less than twenty minutes.”
Justin nodded, “I see you’ve come up with a good plan. You’re dismissed and report to your units.”
Charlotte and Graylin stood up, saluted, and left the conference room. Once they were out of the room, Graylin asked, “You don’t appear to like the new Second.”
“She was one of the pilots in my squadron and did a good job. I have no issues with her ability to perform her duties.”
“Then why the expression in the meeting?”
Charlotte sighed, “I don’t know.”
Graylin smiled, “Jealousy perhaps?”
Charlotte punched him on the arm, and he faked huge pain. “I didn’t hit you that hard!”
“You don’t know your own strength.”
Charlotte laughed, “Get over it. Stay in touch, Graylin.”
“You do the same.”
• • •
Cami took a cart to the construction site the next morning and found Joshua and Robert leading a team of engineers in replacing two of the ship’s reactors. Joshua looked around and saw her. He walked over and hugged Cami as he said, “We found the issue in the reactors which is the good news. The bad news is that your mission will be delayed two weeks.”
“Why so long?”
“We’re replacing the conduits as well as the reactors. They’ll have to be balanced and checked out before I’ll release the ship,” Joshua answered.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
Robert turned to her, “If you could check the contacts on our consoles while we connect them, it would speed the process up.”
Cami smiled, “Just tell me when you’re ready.” Robert nodded and turned back to one of the new reactors being welded to its floor mounts. Cami put on a welding helmet and joined in the effort. Robert made a weld and said, “I didn’t know you knew how to work a welder.”
“Picked it up along the way. What was the problem with the reactors?”
“The fuel wasn’t kept away from the reactors’ walls when it was initially fueled. The walls were warped, and the containment field wasn’t symmetrical.”
“We were lucky, weren’t we?”
“Yes. The time you spent firing your blasters on the asteroids for practice further deformed the containment vessels. The walls were barely holding and if we had used the blasters again it could have ruptured the containment vessel. Getting those Grang to leave probably saved our lives.” Cami nodded and continued welding the reactor to the mounts. Maybe her mother was right, and this talent had a purpose she wasn’t aware of; but who knew if that was just wistful thinking.
Joshua went to the bridge to check on the new cable connections and Cami looked up from the competed weld and saw Robert staring at her. “What?” Robert shook his head and turned back to the reactor. Cami stared at him and said, “When you first came on board the Red Rock you smiled most of the time and appeared to be happy. You haven’t smiled in a while, what’s going on?” Robert turned to her and his expression showed some reluctance to answer her question. “Come on Robert; we’re going to be together for a long time on this coming mission. Is it something I’ve done?”
“You’re part of it.”
“What’s the other part?”
“When I was confronted by your family, it showed me the underbelly of those commanding Britannia’s forces. I was accused of being a traitor and my skills and knowledge had no bearing on their decision. I was forced to discuss my private life and they didn’t care about my grades, skills, or ratings in the Academy. Your family runs Britannia like they are despots without being accountable to anyone.”
Cami stared at him and felt her anger rising but then she remembered when Britt was challenged for going out to confront the Stealth Civilization Scout. She remembered how angry she was when RJ confronted her about being a telepath and forced her to reveal her telepathic talent. She accused him of rubbing her nose in it and he didn’t back off. Cami sighed, “I went through the same thing.”
“Get real!” Robert said forcefully. Cami sent the memory of the meeting to Robert telepathically and he was shocked by what he saw. After a moment, he blew out a breath and sat down in a chair beside the reactor.
Cami shrugged, “I hated RJ in that moment, and it took some time for me to realize that his anger was due to his only child being put in danger; it was due to his love for her. You were put on the spot because of my family’s fear for all the danger I was forced to go through. You need to understand that my family is held together by very strong bonds of love and they were fearful of me going out with someone they didn’t know. My mother felt the most fear and anger at my having to go on the dangerous missions and she wasn’t being rational; her love for me overruled her logic.”
“I know that. But that’s not the way Britannia’s Commanders should act,” Robert remarked.
“If not for them, Britannia wouldn’t exist today and all of us would have died on New Britannia,” Cami said softly. “And given a choice of leaders that act strictly by the book or choose to use their love for others and humanity to control them; I’ll take love every time, even if feelings get hurt.” Cami saw Robert’s expression change slightly and she said, “You’re not telling me the whole truth.” Robert’s eyes narrowed. “You understood why you were confronted and that’s not what really has you upset. What’s the real reason?” Robert took a breath and blew it out slowly. “Please tell me what it is?” Cami asked in a soft voice. “Is it me and my
talent that has you upset?”
Robert stared at her and finally said, “I want your promise you won’t get upset by what I tell you.”
“I’ll do my best at not allowing that to happen.”
“You’ll think I’m being presumptuous.”
“Will you tell me already?!”
“When I heard you six years ago calling for the telepaths on New Britannia to come out of hiding, I made a decision.”
“What decision was that?”
“I decided that you and I would make a great couple.” Cami’s eyes widened and then narrowed. “I told you I was being presumptuous.”
“Go on.”
“The reason I was all smiles when I was on the Red Rock was because I was finally able to meet you.” Robert paused and then continued, “Look, I knew then that getting you to feel the same way about me was going to take a lot of work to convince you that I was the right one for you. But I had plenty of time to work on it and I looked forward to the effort.”
“What made you think I’d want you in my life?”
“Nothing and I could have failed miserably in convincing you. If that happened, I’d just go on with my life without you in it.”
“Why are you telling me this now?”
“Because you and I will never be together Cami.”
Cami blinked and stared at him in shocked silence before saying, “You’re giving up without trying?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t trust you.”
“How do you get off saying that?”
Robert sighed and said, “While I’ve been working on the ship, I’ve taken a look at numerous people around me seeing if I can detect their subconscious minds. It took a while, but I can sense them now.”
Robert stopped and Cami said, “Go on.”
“You told me that your talent won’t work on another telepath; they’ll sense you in their mind. You lied to me and weren’t being truthful.” Cami stared at him and Robert added, “I’ve looked at your subconscious several times and you’ve not detected me doing it.” Cami’s eyes widened and Robert held up a hand, “Before you go all righteous on me, you’re the one that said it couldn’t be done. Once I made that discovery, I knew that my hopes and plans for us were over.”