“And you say you can do all of this in a year,”
“We have to. I don’t believe we have more than that. And, depending on the speed of the alien invasion, it may be less.”
“Mr. Gregor, do you mind if we huddle up for the rest of the afternoon?” the governor of Tolimar asked. “Since we are planning a major change to Tolimar, we need to hash this out.”
“Not a problem, Governor Kaufman. Let’s meet back here tomorrow, same time. We can finalize whatever we plan to finalize then. Does that work for you?”
“Sounds about right.”
“Sean, would you contact Jean and let her know that we will be staying another night?”
“Certainly, Mr. Gregor.”
Turning back to the Tolimar group, Gregor continued, “If it would be no trouble, I’m sure my people would like to take some time and learn about your town, your land. I know I would. Could we find a guide? Maybe get a tour?”
“My boy, Randy,” Kevin volunteered. “He’s at Decker’s ordering up supplies. He wouldn’t mind showing you around. He’ll probably be done by the time you get there. It’s not very far. You can walk it. He’s got a van that he uses to haul the hands around. So fitting in would be no problem.”
“Thank you, Mr. Roth. That will be fine. Gentlemen, Ladies, let’s leave these people to their conference. And, Shar? Everything is still on my tab.”
“Thank you.”
Gregor rose and gestured towards the double-doored exit. “Shall we?” Even though it sounded like a request, the Gregor team knew it was an order. Everyone stood, filed out and headed up the road to Decker’s Supply.
Aboard Griffin
The five Elonians followed Krag to the cargo bay. Krag walked to a spot, tapped three different sections of floor and a lid swung up and open. The Elonians moved forward.
“If you would be so kind, could you step back, a little out of sight while I wake her? I don’t want her to startle or panic when she sees you. Do you mind?”
“Of course not. We should have thought of that.” The five moved back and behind Krag. Mahajani put a grip on his sword. Krag knelt down, pressed some icons and waited as the monitoring lights changed from green to blue. Once the resuscitation cycle completed, the lid of the cryo-tank opened. Keiko struggled to sit up. Krag placed a hand on her shoulder and held her down.
“Keiko, Keiko. Just rest. Rest until you are all the way back. Ok?”
Trusting Krag, she did. After a few minutes, she responded. “I’m back. Ready for my shift.”
“About that. We have a situation. More, a momentous event. We have visitors.”
“Visitors?”
“Yes. Alien visitors. They appear friendly. But we need to be careful. So I want you to get up slowly, keep your eyes down and no big, quick movements. Wait until you are ready. Then I’ll perform the introductions.”
After a few slow breaths, Keiko sat up. Krag stood and moved out of the way. Keiko saw the black and white, upright cats, pointy ears, tails, paws and all. She saw the mechanical cat. Taking another breath, she rose and stepped out of the tank. Krag took her hand and led her over to the new, strange aliens.
“Princess Analyn, I wish to present Mz. Keiko Suzume. She is a female, a child bearer. She is my pilot and second in command. Also the daughter of an interplanetary ambassador.”
Having heard what Krag said in English and hearing it translated over the speakers, Keiko placed her hands together in prayer fashion, bowed deeply, touching her thumbs to her forehead and waited.
“This is a formal show of respect that her planet displays to rulers and leaders. A simple nod will allow her to rise.”
Princess Analyn nodded. Keiko straightened.
“It is good to meet you, Keiko Suzume.”
The Elonians looked around as the human translations radiated from the Griffin’s speaker system.
“Why is the translation being projected when we communicate with Keiko Suzume and not with you, Captain Marston?” Doctor Roshnak interjected.
The Princess gave him a look. He bobbed his head and backed up.
“I apologize for the interruption. You know how scientists are.”
“Yes, Your Highness, I do. I have two of my own. In fact we will be reviving them next. Back to Doctor Roshnak’s question. I’ve had a web of electronic netting implanted in my brain.” Krag touched his head. “It connects to a computer that is implanted here.” He touched his chest where the computer had been implanted so many years ago. “I connect directly to Buster. After he finished the translation program, he downloaded it into my internal computer. Mz. Suzume doesn’t have that net. But she does have wearable electronics that performs the same translation task as my cranial net. Currently she is not wearing them.”
“Dame Suzume, do you wish to retrieve your translator device?”
Keiko looked at Krag. He nodded. “Yes, your highness.”
“Also, would she be able to change into more comfortable clothing?”
“Of course. And once you return you can be introduced to the rest of my people.”
“Keiko, you don’t need to wear the liner. The Elonians have artificial gravity.”
“Incredible.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Dame Srilin, would you be so kind as to accompany Dame Suzume to her cabin?”
“Certainly, My Princess.”
“Keiko, would you please allow Dame Srilin into your dressing room while you change? We have no secrets. The more they understand us, the better we will get along.”
“Yes, Captain, I will.” After her initial surprise, Keiko easily transformed into her professional persona.
Keiko and Srilin left.
“Captain Marston, May I inspect your cranial web and processor?” Vidhee asked.
“I don’t know how you could, Vidhee. Is that right? Vidhee?”
“That is correct, Captain Marston.”
“There are no connection ports. It’s all built into my body and brain.”
“You communicate with Buster wirelessly. That indicates that there is a signal that you and Buster share. I wish to analyse that signal, with your permission.”
“Couldn’t you have done that at any time?”
“Yes, Captain Marston. I could have. But that would have been a violation of an individual’s privacy. And, since our species, Elonians, are telepathic there are strict laws and fierce punishments for anyone who violates those laws.”
“I see. Do you want me to communicate with Buster and have you listen in?”
“If that is acceptable with Buster.”
“Buster? You been listening?”
“Yes, Captain.”
“We’re back to captain?”
“I perceived that Mz. Suzume addressed you as ‘captain’, indicating that you are currently wearing that mantle. So now it is ‘captain’.”
“Oh. Ok. Anyway, do you give permission for Vidhee to monitor our communications?”
“Yes. Vidhee, I give you permission to monitor communications between me and my captain. But this one time only.”
“Thank you, Buster, Captain Marston.”
“Is there anything in particular you want to monitor, Vidhee?”
“Anything will do, Captain Marston.”
Krag decided that keeping the formality in place helped his, and his people’s, situation. So he didn’t mind constantly being referred to by rank and name. “Buster, let’s count to twenty, I’ll take the odds, you take the evens.”
“Got it, Captain.”
“Got it? You get that from Mack?”
“Yes, Captain.”
Krag and Buster counted to twenty, alternating the count between them. Krag subvocalized, using his computer to send the count to Buster. Buster responded with silent radio waves which the computer in Krag’s chest received and instantaneously sent the signal to the cranial net weaving through Krag’s brain. When finished, Krag looked at Vidhee and waited.
“Thank you, Captain, Buster. I
have what I needed.”
Princess Analyn interrupted. “Back to your people, Captain Marston?”
“More People coming, Your Highness.” Krag moved on to Mack’s cryogenics tank. The Elonians stayed back. The reviving ritual repeated.
“Stay down for a moment, Mack. You’re going to love this. But I need you at the top of your game. Stay until you’ve knocked out every cobweb.”
“I bet you don’t think I know what a cobweb is. Huh, Cap. Well, I do. We’ve got spiders in some of the unused areas of the shipyards. I’ve seen ‘um, Bucko.”
“Ok. You’re back,” Krag laughed. “Move slow. Don’t jump. Don’t freak out.”
Mack sat up. “This feels different. What’s happened to the mag-grav?”
“I shut it off.”
“What? Why in Sam Hill did you do that?”
“Because,” Krag said with a smile, “Our hosts have artificial gravity.”
“What?” Mack popped out of his tank and froze, gobsmacked by the sight of cat-like aliens waiting patiently.
“Giant tabby-cats?”
“Manners, Mack. We’re their guests. Stay cool. Let’s do the introductions,” Krag smirked.
The two walked over to the four. “Princess Analyn, may I present Mr. Henry McCauley the Second. He is a male of our species. As Vidhee goes by a single name, he goes by a single name also. Mack.”
Mack stuck his hand out. Princess Analyn looked at Krag.
“No, Mack. She is royalty. No touching.”
“I just wanted to feel this soft one’s fur, Cap.”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. He’s a scientist. More accurately an engineer. And he’s Scottish.”
“I guessed that. No harm, Captain Marston. Although, if he had touched me, he would answer to Sir Mahajani.” The princess waved a paw at her bodyguard.”
Mahajani raised himself to his full height, grabbed his sword’s pommel, showed his teeth and focused his brow.
Mack looked both scared and sheepish. “Sorry Princess.”
“Apology accepted, Mack. What is Scottish?”
“Well ma’am, on our original home world, different parts have different types of people. Mine come from an island called Scotland. When we made it to space, we settled on Novia Two. I guess we kept our traditions. And accent. Ma’am.”
“So your people come from a different planet than Dame Suzume and Captain Marston. You have given me and, no doubt, Doctor Roshnak much to think about. What do you engineer?”
“Griffin, of course. My Pa designed all the upgrades and additions. I make sure she purrs like a cat being goodly petted. No offence.”
“A cat?”
“I again, apologize, Your Highness,” intervened Krag as he fiercely glared at Mack. We have domesticated animals, beings with very low intelligence. Some we keep in our homes for comfort. One of these animals is a cat. When a cat is content, it makes a rumbling noise in its throat. That noise is called a purr.”
“I see. So Mack thinks of Griffin as a cat and works at keeping it content, happy, in top condition.”
“Yes, Your Highness. That pretty much sums it up.” Krag almost wiped his brow, having dodged that hot spot.
The entire conversation bounced around the bay from the speakers, first English then Elonian. Then it reversed, depending on what needed translation.
Mack, noticing this, “Cap, how is it that we have a translation program that understands our new friends?”
“They downloaded their language to Buster. He figured it out.”
“You mean I can get an update to a translator?”
“Yes, Mack.”
Mack dashed off, heading for a locker on the far wall. Mahajani took two giant steps and leaped, covering half of the bay in a single bound.
“Sir Mahajani!” the Princess shouted. “Care, please.”
Mahajani arrived at the locker just as Mack clicked it open. Mack jumped. Mahajani started to pull his sword.
“Whoa! Hold up, mate! I’m just getting some translation gear. That’s it! Just gear!”
Mahajani had heard his princess. He kept his sword in its scabbard, but ready to draw it, if needed. Mack slowly opened the cabinet and pointed.
“See? Translators. I’m going to take one out and put it on.” Mack’s actions duplicated his words. The earpiece went into his ear. The throat mike band went around his neck. The actual translating processor clipped to his liner.
“See? All connected. Buster, you there?”
“Yes I am, Mack. What can I do for you?”
“Cap says you have a translation program for the alien’s language.”
They call themselves Elonians, Mack. Don’t be rude.”
“Don’t be rude? Buster? Where’d that come from?”
“Me being me, Mack.”
“We are so going to have a right tight talk, my electronic friend. Could you connect to my com unit and download the Elonian translation software?”
“Of course, Mack. Hold.” Mack held. “Done.”
“Oh, and update all the others.”
“I already completed that task, Mack.”
Mack looked at the hulking Elonian, shrugged and leisurely walked back to the group. A glowering Elonian followed.
Keiko and Srilin arrived just as Mack and his shadow returned. Keiko wore her power suit, a cream-colored blouse, knee-length royal blue skirt and a matching single-button blazer. Practical shoes, emerald ear studs with the imbedded translator electronics and a matching broach that housed the microphone completed her ensemble.
“Captain.”
“Mz. Suzume.”
“Princess Analyn.” Keiko again formally bowed.
Princess Analyn nodded. “Dame Suzume, or is it Mz.?”
“Mz., Your Highness. In our language, Dame is a title for a female in high authority or the mistress of a household. I am neither. Therefore, Mz. is the more appropriate term.”
“Thank you for the insight, Mz. Suzume.”
“My pleasure, Your Highness.”
“You said you have three shipmates, Captain Marston?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Our fourth member is Sue Benton. She is our software engineer, our computer scientist, much like Dame Srilin. She is over here.”
For the third time, with everyone knowing their parts, the fourth member of Griffin’s crew revived and experienced the shock of meeting a new species. After Mack fitted her with a newly updated translation communicator, Krag introduced Sue to the Princess.
All nine gathered, two lines formed - five Elonians across from four humans.
Captain Krag Marston formally introduced his team, pointing to each member, explaining their background and expertise, their planet or moon of origin, their function onboard the Griffin.
Princess Analyn, daughter and second in line to the Monarch of Elonia, duplicated the introductions of her science team, including the two absent members.
Throughout the civil interplay, the social hierarchy establishment, Krag furiously kept thinking, scheming ways to insure the protection of his people, his ship, himself. True, these alien beings showed nothing but respect and acceptance. But knowing his own civilization, he suspected that there would be others that didn’t look upon him or his team so benevolently. He also suspected that there would be still others that looked at them as lab rats, useful for testing and dissecting. He needed a plan. But first he needed Buster.
“Princess Analyn. I have a favour to ask.”
“And that would be, Captain Marston?”
“Before Buster became upgraded, he was capable of inhabiting an android, giving him ambulatory and manipulative capabilities. However, after your modifications the amount of storage he occupies is greater than that contained in his avatar. I would like to have my software engineer, Sue, and my hardware engineer, Mack, increase the storage capacity in the android.”
“Where is this android?”
“It is over there, attached to the bulkhead, stored for future use.”
&
nbsp; “Vidhee?”
“That is an excellent idea,” the artificial Elonian enthused. “Buster, before his enhancements, had no concept of self or the desires to expand his immediate surroundings. I foresee this outlook changing. I see this as not only agreeable but also desirable, if not mandatory for Buster’s growth and maturation.”
“Captain Marston, I see no reason why your people can’t work on that. Do you mind if I have Dame Srilin and Vidhee observe, possibly guide?”
“Not at all, Your Highness.” Turning to his people, “Sue, Mack, you’re up. Let’s get the new Buster into his avatar.”
“Captain?” Sue asked. "Why can’t Buster fit in his avatar?”
“Short version, the Elonians enhanced him. They gave him full sentience. He’s like Vidhee, now. Only different.”
“So now we’ve got a true AI? Not a top-of-the-line processing unit, but a true AI?”
“That’s what they say. And, in time, Buster is supposed to develop his own personality, his own set of values, his own likes and dislikes. Is that right, Vidhee?”
“Yes, Captain Marston.”
“This is going to be fun,” Buster announced over the speaker system.
“See. He’s already started. And, he’s already a pain,” Krag joked.
“I’ll show you pain, Krag.”
“That’s ‘Captain’ to you, Buster.”
Gleefully clapping his hands, Mack ordered, “Let’s get to it, mates!”
Decker’s Supply
Lawrence Gregor and his team walked the same road that Krag Marston had driven those months past. They got hit with the same dry wind, the same hot sun as Krag had. They saw, pointed at and commented on the same shops that Marston had passed. The bright day, warm wind and rising heat baked the space-acclimatized group as it trudged down the hard-packed road.
“Well, this is a miserable place. I’ll bet this is even more miserable during the rainy season,” Harriet remarked.
Waking in the Stars (Marston Chronicles Book 2) Page 6