Free Trader Complete Omnibus

by Craig Martelle

  “Ben! If you would be so kind as to escort our guests to their quarters. I’ll be down shortly.” And then to Micah, “It has been a tradition that honored guests dine at the Captain’s table. If you would join me for dinner, say in two hours, we would like to get to know you better,” the Captain said warmly without sign of an ulterior motive.

  “How many guests have you had?” Micah asked.

  “Well, none, actually, but the Captain’s Manual, handed down for generations, is very clear on this point.” Micah pulled herself toward the center of the Bridge until she was within arm’s distance of Treecia Atwood. She looked into her eyes, trying to better understand the Captain of a ship that hadn’t moved in a thousand cycles. She settled for a smile and warm, zero-g handshake.

  “There are a few more of us in the corridor, by the way. We bring ambassadors from the Tortoise Consortium, the Hawkoid Nation, the Hillcats, and the Lizard Men.” The Captain’s face changed to one of surprise and even alarm. “Please do not be afraid. These are our companions. Planet Vii is similar to this ship, with different areas where different capabilities are necessary for one to survive. Intelligent animals that I suspect were engineered here and then transferred to the surface to fill a certain need. They evolved and now we consider them equals. We need each other to survive, although it’s not enough to just survive. We seek to thrive, for us and for all intelligent species.”

  Braden steadied himself as he watched Micah acting presidential. When he made her President on a whim, he hadn’t realized that she had the negotiating skill to deliver as a world leader. But here she was, convincing complete strangers that the caravan’s goals were in the best interest of all humanity.

  Was it enough to convince the Androids? Braden lacked confidence in the machines; he sided with G-War and declared them the enemy. He opened his neural implant, allowing Holly a portal to attempt to communicate with them.

  The Androids, as one, turned toward Braden. Their faces expressionless. Not again, he thought.

  “We will not allow a foreign system to access us,” the Android leader said in his monotone. Micah quickly opened her window.

  ‘Holly, the Androids on this ship aren’t very friendly. We need to show that we mean no harm. We do mean no harm, don’t we, Holly? Are you doing something you shouldn’t?’ Micah asked, wondering about the emotionless hostility of the Androids.

  ‘I only want to see their programming, Master President. They should readily interface with me. The fact that they won’t suggests that their programming has been compromised. I shall redouble my efforts.’

  ‘NO! No, Holly. Let them be for now. We don’t need to fix them. We only need for them to not get in our way,’ Micah passed directly to Holly. Braden, closed his window so he could see all the Androids. He struggled to steady himself so he could draw his blaster.

  “We call him Holly. He works with us on the planet. He is not hostile. What I don’t understand is, why won’t you communicate with him?” There was enough space between Micah and the Android leader that Braden felt he could take a shot without hitting his partner. He didn’t know how fast the Androids could move in zero-g. From the moment they entered the Bridge, he’d been ready to fight. He was getting tired of seeing red before his eyes. His heart continued to pound in his chest, and it was wearing him down. He tried to calm himself down.

  Micah looked like she was in control. Braden hadn’t heard her conversation with Holly, but he heard her question to the Android.

  “Four hundred years ago, a virus was uploaded to our systems from the planet. Many Androids ceased to exist because of it. Only those who were cut off from the central core survived and are now allowed to interface. That is our rule. It is non-negotiable.”

  “I can understand that. Thank you for your explanation,” Micah said calmly. “I will inform Holly to make no further requests to interface with you. All we want is to align the ship, transfer twenty-three survivors from Cygnus VI here, realign the ship with Vii, and then transport them and us home. That’s all we want. Let’s see what we need to do to make that happen safely.”

  She turned and started pulling herself toward the hatch. “Ben, if you’re ready, please show us to our quarters.”

  33 – Crew Quarters

  Ben reluctantly headed into the corridor. He stopped when he was in close proximity to the menagerie of color the companions displayed. The corridor was an antiseptic white. The companions floated at various orientations. Ben turned his head this way and that trying to see each as they would look in gravity. He wouldn’t move until Micah chased everyone into the elevator.

  Ben was surprised that they could open the door. He looked closely and saw that each carried a bracelet.

  Braden was last into the corridor. On the way, he physically ran into the Android leader. Up close, it was easy to see this was a machine. Its eyes gave away nothing. The Android easily caught the human and redirected him toward the hatch. Its grip was firm, but not painful.

  Braden felt the unease that G-War felt when dealing with Bots. He couldn’t get anything from the creatures. He looked over his shoulder as he left the Bridge, and through the window once the hatch closed. The Androids went back to what they were doing at their work stations. They appeared to make no further comment. He wondered if they were communicating via their computer systems, internally like he and Micah did with Holly.

  When Braden finally pulled himself down the access tube, Micah was trying to convince Ben to get in the elevator. Micah settled for grabbing his arm. He tried to resist, but Braden came from behind and used a handhold for leverage to give him an extra shove.

  He cowered in the corner as Braden and Micah blocked the door.

  “Well? Tell it where we’re going,” Micah commanded.

  “Bridge Crew Quarters,” he said in a high, shaky voice.

  They hurried to orient the companions for the return of gravity, but the elevator took care of that for them. It went downward gently, sped up, then slowed deliberately, which forced everyone toward the floor at a pace where they could ease themselves down. When the elevator stopped, they stood upright. Their transition to full gravity was easier this time. It only took a few steps before they walked normally. G-War clung to Aadi, while Braden and Micah each carried one of the Hawkoids. Pik tried to blend into the wall, uncomfortable with the new human.

  Ben watched in surprise as Aadi continued to float, even though they were in the gravity environment of the Bridge Crew Quarters.

  Braden had to encourage Ben to get off the elevator. With a Hawkoid on one arm and Ben Amin on the other, they stepped into the open entrance of the quarters. Micah followed, pushing Pik in front of her. The ceiling was low, preventing the Hawkoids from flying. Skirill and Zyena eagerly hopped to a table near the door, where they could stand without trailing their tail feathers on the floor. Braden and Micah were happy to be relieved of their burdens.

  When the elevator door closed, Micah introduced each companion to Ben, extolling their virtues and sharing their warm greetings with him. Braden followed along as they went from one to another, ending with G-War, still riding Aadi.

  “And our last companion is the Golden Warrior of the Stone Cliffs, Prince among the Hillcats.”

  ‘You want me to say something nice to it? He’s an idiot. I’m surprised he was able to dress himself.’ G-War had been in a bad mood since they arrived on the Traveler, but this was more like the ‘cat of old. He wasn’t being sarcastic as much as he was being his honest self.

  Braden choked back a laugh. He wasn’t impressed with Ben, who was childlike in his manners and speech. ‘Maybe he just doesn’t know, G. There doesn’t appear to be a lot of humans to teach him.’

  “The Golden Warrior thanks you for escorting us to our quarters and wishes you peace and good health on your life’s journey.” Micah shot a hard glance in the ‘cat’s direction.

  He yawned back at her. ‘Yeah, something like that.’ He jumped from Aadi’s shell, landing softly before
walking around the room, sniffing.

  “A couple final questions, Ben. Our quarters? Where is the Captain’s table and can you notify us when it’s time to go there? I’m afraid we don’t track time as the ancients. We use turns of the sun or cycles of the season.” Micah looked at him, waiting for an answer. Ben looked back with a blank expression.

  “Ben? Is there anyone else we can talk to? How many other humans serve on the Bridge?” Ben continued to look at Micah.

  ‘G, can you sense any other humans?’ Braden asked over their mindlink.

  ‘I sense two more in this area, one other, not far, but not right here.’ G-War looked down the three hallways that led from the entrance, ears up and continuing to sniff.

  The area looked similar to the aft Engineering Crew Quarters. Door-lined hallways led from the entrance. They assumed the crew lived in the small rooms and the hallways led to open areas for recreation and dining. G-War walked down the first hallway, nodding at the third door down. Micah strode boldly to it and rapped on it with her knuckles.

  A sleepy voice yelled from the inside. She gently tapped again. The door slid open and an older, naked man stood there. He looked at her momentarily in surprise, then shut the door, excusing himself while he got dressed.

  He returned shortly, wearing something loose fitting, not his uniform. “Who are you?” he asked, now fully alert.

  “I’m Micah, President of Cygnus VII, visiting your ship. Who do I have the pleasure of talking with?”

  “I’m Phil Rupp,” he said as if she should have known.

  She ignored it. “We met Captain Atwood and had a nice conversation on the Bridge. Ben here is escorting us to our quarters, but seems to have lost his voice, so I’m asking for your help, Phil. Where would our quarters be and we are to dine with the Captain. Where and when would that be?”

  “I don’t know that, maybe the last rooms down that way? There’s nobody in them. Wow! You’re beautiful.” Phil’s mouth was open as he looked Micah up and down. Her ears were instantly red as she clenched her fists. Braden stepped close.

  “Hi, I’m Braden and Micah is my partner.” Braden put out his hand, which forced the man backward half a step. Phil grasped Braden’s hand, looking at him through narrowed eyes.

  ‘G? What’s this guy thinking?’ Braden asked using his thought voice. ‘Pik, stay close to Ben, just in case he tries something.’

  ‘He’s thinking how he can get rid of you to have Micah for himself.’ Before the ‘cat finished, Micah drove her fist hard into the man’s face. He was thrown backward, crashing against the wall inside his room and sliding to the floor. Micah stepped in after him.

  “Hey! You can’t do that to Phil!” Ben found his voice. He started to step forward, but Pik caught his arm and shoved him against the wall. He leaned close to Ben’s face and then shook his head. Ben relaxed under the Lizard Man’s iron grip.

  Micah reached down and pulled Phil to his knees. “So you want to do away with my partner to have me for yourself? Now that you’ve got me, what are you going to do except bleed?” Phil tried to push her away. She grabbed a handful of his hair and twisted his head backward. “What is wrong with you people?”

  “You’re the only real woman I’ve ever seen. I want you!”

  “You can’t have me, toad.” She shoved him to the floor. “Now get out here and show us where our quarters are!” she yelled.

  He staggered into the hallway, blood streaming from his face. Braden couldn’t tell if it was from his nose, his split lip, or both. He pulled his shirt up and held it against his face as they walked.

  Pik let Ben go. He followed with his head down. Aadi swam behind him. The two Hawkoids remained in the open area by the door. They positioned themselves so they could see the door and the hallways. They’d watch until they were told differently.

  G-War disappeared soundlessly down one of the other hallways.

  “Hey! You said Micah’s the only woman you’ve ever seen. What about Captain Atwood? Treecia Atwood?” Braden couldn’t understand these people. Every other thing they said didn’t make sense.

  “Treecia’s not a woman.”

  ‘G?’ Braden asked tentatively.

  ‘There were no women on the Bridge.’ G-War failed to see why it was important.

  Micah shook her head and laughed. What were these people? Holly called copies of people clones. Is that what they were?

  “Are you a clone, Phil?”

  Phil led them to the end of the hallway, opening three doors to small rooms, filled with debris. He shrugged and nodded. Micah wrapped her fingers around her blaster. Phil stared at her hand on the blaster. He let his shirt fall from his face. There was a blood smear on the front of it, but his lips and nose had stopped bleeding.

  “Yes. We’re all clones. Aren’t you?”

  “No, we’re not and neither are our children. Tell me how you can communicate with the Bridge from here.”

  “I don’t know. We don’t need to. We show up for our shift on the Bridge then we leave when our shift is over. That’s the way it’s always been, the way it always will be.”

  “When do you go on shift, Phil?” Micah asked.

  “Soon, less than an hour.”

  “Where’s the Captain’s table?” Phil pointed around the corner to a dirty area in front of the kitchen. “Thanks for your help, Phil.” She stepped aside to let him walk past her and the companions, then grabbed his arm and leaned close to his ear.

  “One last thing, Phil. If you or any of your pals try to touch me or any of my friends, I will kill you with my bare hands. Do you understand?” He nodded vigorously until she let him go. He bolted down the hallway and into his room.

  “I’m not staying in any of these.” Micah snarled in disgust. They went to the kitchen area. Braden decided to clean up, make the Captain feel welcome in his own home. He and Micah turned to work while the others watched for any of the other Bridge crew. Ben stood in the hallway, doing nothing but look confused.

  Braden and Micah threw excess food and dishes into the fabricator, where they promptly disappeared. They wiped everything down and straightened the furniture. It took no time. “I think it’s time we introduce ourselves to the last of the Bridge crew.” G-War stood before a door in the middle hallway.

  Braden held up a hand to stop Micah. He went ahead and tapped on the door. It opened. Another naked man. He looked at Braden curiously. He looked surprisingly like Captain Atwood, but far older. Braden was surprised that the oldster lived. He’d seen younger men die of old age.

  “I don’t know you, do I?” the gentle voice said.

  “No, you don’t. I’m Free Trader Braden, from planet Vii. We’re on a mission to save the survivors on Cygnus VI. Maybe you can help us. We need to align the ship for the matter transfer system to work. Do you know how we can do that.”

  “We can’t do that from here, young man!” The old man chortled. “We have to be on the Bridge to move the ship.”

  “That’s where we just came from,” Micah said as she stepped into the open.

  “Well now, aren’t you something different,” the old man said calmly, not threatening, unashamed.

  “Am I the only woman on this entire ship?” Micah was bothered by the old man’s nakedness, but he didn’t seem to care.

  “You’re the only one that’s ever come this way, that’s for sure. I can’t speak for the whole ship. We are here or on the Bridge. There is nothing else for us.”

  “You haven’t gone anywhere else? The elevator, right there, can take you to Deck 2, the Aviary. It is a wonderful place, full of life.” Micah didn’t understand how they could live their lives in two spaces only.

  “My bracelet won’t let me go anywhere else. None of ours do.”

  “My bracelet is for the Command Deck and it allows me to go anywhere on the ship.”

  “That would be why. Mine isn’t a Command Deck bracelet. It’s a Bridge Crew bracelet. Bridge Crew are special and can’t take the risk of explorin
g elsewhere on the ship. Tell me, what other areas have you visited?” The old man leaned forward eagerly.

  “Who are you?” Braden asked.

  “Why, I’m Captain Atwood, Treecia Atwood.”

  “You and the current Captain Atwood are clones?”

  “Yes, of course. Aren’t you?”

  “No and neither are our children,” Micah repeated herself. The old man sucked his tooth as he looked at her, then Braden.

  “Interesting. Very interesting. And you say you come from the planet?” Braden and Micah both nodded.

  “Then we need to get you back home. It isn’t safe here. But you have to promise me that you’ll take Treecia with you. Not me, the young one,” he said to Braden’s odd look.

  “We’ll be happy to go, as soon as we get the survivors from Cygnus VI and that takes realigning the ship. Either we do it manually, or you can turn over the ship to Holly from the New Command Center on Vii, Cygnus VII that is. But the Androids have a different idea. Can you help us?” Braden asked, hoping they had at least one ally from the Bridge Crew.

  “And by all that’s holy, would you please put some clothes on!” Micah added as the old man stood there, deep in thought.

  34 – Dinner and a Show

  The old Captain Atwood, with his uniform on, marched smartly from his room. He looked at Micah, then to each of the companions. “I shall fetch the Captain and we will both enjoy your company for dinner.”

  When he entered the open room at the entrance of the Crew Quarters, he stopped as two Hawkoids looked at him. “I suppose you’re with them?” They both nodded. “I see. Yes, we have lots of work to do. I shall return shortly.”

  ‘G, is he plotting anything? And where’s that third person? You said he was close, but not here. I want to find him,’ Braden said with his thought voice.