Lexi smiled at him. “See, I knew you’d figure it out. I’ve got a question for you about that by the way. But first, Urania, can you start analyzing the Rose for me? I’m curious as to what makes it so special. It’s more than just an old jewel in a fancy setting. It does something; Jameson was using it to control people.”
“Which one, Lexi?” Urania asked dryly. “I imagine the box in your pack contains one. If it does it is shielded. You’ll need to take it out. Or should I just start with the one I see in your head?”
Lexi frowned. “I was kind of hoping I had imagined that. Let’s start with the real one.” She stood from the bed. Her injured arm was still relatively useless, but the wound itself was visible only as a thin, red line through the transparent dressing. Nothing hurt. “Thanks for patching me up, Urania. I’m going to go get a shirt.”
“You’re welcome. Ron, get her a sling out of the supply cabinet. Try not the use the arm at all, Lexi, for the next week. The muscles need time to grow back together. The sword scratched your ribs. That area will be tender for a while but there is nothing to be concerned about there. I administered a cell-growth enhancer so you’ll need to eat more than normal for a while.”
Chapter 22
The Rose of Light
They delayed the jump to hyper in order to eat in gravity. Gravity was one of those things easy to take for granted until you had to live without it. Ron made ham sandwiches, bless Geena, for everybody and pulled out a bag of potato chips. Once the sandwiches were ready, Lexi took the box containing the Rose out of her pack, setting it open on the kitchen table so Geena could examine the artifact. She had, after all, been looking for it for two years. Ron opened beers for them.
While they were eating, Lexi explained, mostly for Geena’s benefit, “I know you must be wondering about Ron’s comment about children. If Ron and I make it to the point of our lives where we want to be parents, we are genetically compatible. I verified that. I know a man and a woman who have only been a couple for two days shouldn’t even be thinking about things like that, but our circumstances are unusual. I had to know whether or not we needed to keep using contraceptives. What puzzles me is there was nothing in the genetics rubrics to explain why Ron’s alien DNA is so nearly identical to my Earth DNA.”
“Probably because it’s more or less common knowledge,” Geena responded, after thinking about it herself. “We’re not as alien as you think. Think of us as being European. Our language is different. Some of our mannerisms are different. Some of our DNA based characteristics are different. No one on my world has hair the color of yours. It looks beautiful, by the way.”
She paused. It was difficult explaining something everybody knew to the one person who didn’t. “Basically, all of the human and near human races of the Accord are descended from the same base stock. That is pretty clear. We all believe an unknown race, now probably extinct, seeded a number of worlds with humans so long ago that there are no records of it happening. They’re usually referred to as the Forerunners. It’s generally assumed, for a number of reasons, that the base stock is of Earth origin. The primary reason, of course, is that you guys have all the pre-human fossils. Hard to argue with that.”
She looked thoughtful for a moment. “All of the Accord worlds are pretty isolationist when you get right down to it. I imagine planet-bound populations don’t even think about the possibility of mating with people from other worlds. I’ve been space-threading for thirty years and it never occurred to me. My life-mate was a Cardin native just like I am. Sorry, that was a long-winded answer to a simple question.”
She gave Lexi a minute to absorb that, before segueing to another topic. “I can’t tell what you already know, Lexi, and what is going to be news to you. In addition to registering the new partnership, I’ll make arrangements to turn over the Rose once we get to Cardin. They’ll be a validation process before we can collect our commission,” Geena said between bites. “It should be about a twenty-three day trip once we’re in hyper. We’re actually closer to Ackalon, but going straight there would be a huge violation of protocol. We may all want to shower while we still have gravity. I know we all need one. Ron has twigs in his hair and you look like you’ve been rolling around in the dirt.”
Urania, cut in, saying, “The coverings sealing your wounds are waterproof. Just don’t pick at them.”
Geena said, “Right. Thank you. We also need to store the supplies I picked up. I didn’t have time to put them all away.”
“I’ll take care of it Mom,” Ron volunteered.
Geena nodded. “Thank you, darling. Anyway, Cardin, or rather, Cardin’s Paradise, is where the insurance company’s office is. I’ll also pick up an updated list of missing items for us to review.” She paused thoughtfully while she ate some chips. “The Rose is ours until we hand it over.” She reached out and touched it. Nothing copied into her head. “It is a beautiful jewel. The hologram I’ve seen doesn’t due it justice. Analyze it to your heart’s content, darling, but please don’t damage it. What are you expecting Urania to find out, Lexi?”
“And what did she mean about the Rose in your head, kiddo?” Ron asked. “I’ve been wondering about that since she said it.”
“The Rose of Light is more than just a pretty crystal,” Lexi replied. “It’s a device. Jameson was using it to coerce women into doing what he wanted. That reminds me. I need to apologize to you Geena. I made a decision how to handle that piece of filth without consulting with either you or Ron. Urania knew, but she’s a novice at this partnership thing too.”
Ron said, “As Lexi explained to me, Jameson was a serial rapist whom the law couldn’t touch. I told her I was fine with her decision and that I expected you would be too.
“He also explained why what I did was wrong because I didn’t inform you ahead of time. I won’t screw up like that again.”
“What did you do, Lexi?” Geena asked.
“Can we talk about it tomorrow? I’ve had enough pain and suffering for one day.”
Geena looked steadily at her, finally saying, “Tomorrow is soon enough.”
Lexi took a breath. “When we busted into his office, he was victimizing another woman. I used the Rose the same way he does to suggest she go somewhere else. It doesn’t feel like that is what it was designed for, though. His use of it, or perhaps the way he was using it, is probably what generated the energy emissions that brought it to your attention in the first place. My guess is it enhances, well, let’s say it affects the mental powers Akalonians are purported to possess. Although what he was doing with it goes way beyond empathy. I would call it mind-control. I’m curious about how it works, what it is really intended for and whether it is natural or manufactured. If it turns out that the filigree is integral to its functioning and not just decorative, that implies that someone made it.”
She took a long swallow of her beer and reached for a few more chips. “When I picked it up from Jameson’s desk, I looked into it. It’s very nearly transparent and even more intricate on the inside than it is on the outside. There is a pattern in there, part of the crystal I think, which copied into my head. I don’t feel any different for it, but it’s in there. I can almost see it if I concentrate. I would really like to know ahead of time what, if anything, is going to come of that.”
“I am unable to answer that, Lexi,” Urania, always present, said. “I am able see what you are referring to in the crystal now that it’s out of the box. It appears to be no more than natural stress patterns within the crystalline matrix itself. Microscopic fibers extrude from some of the external metallic embellishments penetrate through the surface and deep into the interior. Some are of a composition that I do not recognize. Nor can I analyze those further without a sample which I cannot obtain without causing damage.”
All three of the team where listening intently. “The interactions I’m able to observe suggest that the filigree serves as circuitry. The stressed crystal is generating a very high-frequency energy signal. That’s actual
ly common in many naturally occurring crystals. The filigree serves to shape and amplify the signal. The case acts as shielding. It was manufactured, Lexi.”
Her voice paused momentarily. “I’m still running analysis on it, of course. I may have something more by tomorrow morning. I’m not hopeful about that though. It might be worthwhile to examine it with the med-bay scanners. What I’d like to do as a next step is scan you on the surgical bed. The cabin sensors are not fine enough to do more than allow me tell that your brain has changed. I wouldn’t have noticed at all if I hadn’t spent so much time watching you while you were taking the rubrics. It’s subtle.”
“OK, I’m game,” Lexi said. “Geena, I saw you limping and you’re still holding your arm. Do you need the med-bay?”
“I don’t think so. Just sprains, I’m sure. The painkiller is already helping.”
Urania spoke up, saying, “Let’s check you out anyway. I still feel really inadequate for not telling you about the damage those medications you were on were doing.” She sounded chagrined as she added, “I’m also aware I should have volunteered the information before you rushed out there that a second starship landed outside of the barn. I’m working on that.”
In the small compartment housing the sick bay, Urania verified Geena’s self-diagnosis and wrapped her badly sprained and bruised wrist. When she was done, Lexi hopped up on the single bed. “Naked please,” Urania instructed.
“I don’t have to be naked to have my head scanned,” Lexi protested.
“True,” Urania said. “I’m glad to see the medical rubric took so well. I’ll be doing a complete body scan. As part of my crew, we should have a full medical file on you anyway, especially if you’re planning on dosing yourself with the anti-geriatrics. Besides, the extra distraction will do Ron good while he’s standing around looking concerned.”
Ron smiled, nodding his agreement. Geena said, “Me too.”
As she undressed, Lexi muttered under her breath, “Unbelievable.” Then in a normal voice said, “In that case, we’re going to remodel the shower so both of you can scrub my back. I’ve been noticing the misuse of space around here. We’ll have room for a much nicer shower if we remove some of the interior partitions. Once we can afford it, I think we should do that. If no one is opposed to a remodel, start drawing up plans for that will you please Urania?”
“Of course, dear. May I be allowed in too?”
“Ah ha, the ship is a voyeur. Sure, put a scanner in there. We’ll be just one big happy naked family.” Lying back on the bed, she added, “I kinda wish I hadn’t made those jokes about eating brains. In retrospect, they weren’t that funny anyway.”
Urania’s voice admonished, “Be still.” The scan only took a few minutes. Then Urania announced, “Got it. Let me start the analysis and I should have something in the morning. Why don’t you three go take that shower? I’ll hold off on the hyper-drive until you’re done. You should all fit, if only just barely, so be careful with the elbows. Then go to bed. I’m not sure what’s going on with you people, but before anyone asks, I’m sorry, there’s no way to convert the bed to a triple. I’ll work on that with the shower plans, shall I? I’ll wake you if anything urgent shows up on the scans. You may as well bring the Rose in here. I think the cabin sensors are good enough to analyze a rock, but let’s be thorough. Apparently it’s a special rock.”
Geena followed Lexi into the shower. “Ms. Samue, you're trying to seduce me, aren't you?” Lexi said. “I was kind of kidding about all three of us getting in together.” Then she shrugged, careful of her elbow, and said, “But since you’re here...” She slid her good arm up and around the taller woman’s neck and pulled her toward her, finding Geena’s mouth with hers. Unexpectedly, she found she enjoyed kissing Geena almost as much as kissing Ron.
Who knew? This day keeps getting more and more interesting, or at least weirder and weirder. Ron, who didn’t seem to mind what was going on in the shower, attempted to squeeze in with them and she had to kick him out. “Yes, sweetie, you will probably fit but we will be packed in so tightly that no one will be able to breathe, much less move. Go find something to play with and when Geena gets off, I mean gets out, you can have a turn.”
Chapter 23
Running On Empty
Urania parked in n-space at the hyper-limit. Her crew decided to spend another night with the artificial gravity on, have an actual breakfast of something other than breakfast bars, another hot shower without having to wear nose appliances in the morning, and a couple of pots of Ron’s coffee. The delay wouldn’t significantly impact their arrival at Ackalon. Urania didn’t mind. In the final analysis, she was still a starship.
With her three friends strapped into the chairs in the command bay, Urania activated the hyper-generator. “This is a little weird,” she said. She laughed. “One of you used to always say, ‘Ship, take us home.’ Now, I’ve got you all just sitting here waiting for me to know to do it.” She laughed again. “Are we ready?”
“Yes, darling, take us home, please,” Geena said, smiling.
Urania shuddered. A warning beep could be heard coming from the rear of the ship.
“Ah, Urania,” Ron asked, “what was that? Are we there yet?”
“Emergency shutdown of the hyper-drive. That’s never happened to me before. Ron, can you take Lexi to the back and see what’s what? I’m not getting any internal warning signals to explain it. Geena, while they’re doing that, would you take manual control on the panels and get us back into n-space. I don’t want to touch anything. Something’s wrong. I can’t be sure it isn’t me.”
From the back of the ship, it was no more than ten minutes before Ron reported, “The sensor units on the reactor are reporting we have more helium three in the tank than there really is. We’re pretty much bone-dry. The reactor switched to the backup tank. Enough to keep us functioning for three weeks in normal space, but not enough for a three week stint on the hyper-drive.”
Lexi punched Ron in the shoulder. “You take a girl on a date to go star-hopping and you run out of gas? If we were on Earth, you just lost your chance at a second date, buddy.”
Looking and sounding concerned, Ron said, “Ah, since we’re not on Earth?”
Lexi smiled at him and patted his shoulder where she hit him. It hadn’t been a very hard hit. “Well, since we’re already sleeping together, I guess I can overlook it this time. Don’t let it happen again, though.”
Urania’s voice came over the speakers, “My indicators show we’re almost out, but what we have should be plenty to get us to Cardin’s Paradise.”
“Confirmed,” Geena said. “My panel is showing the same. You guys may as well come back up here while we figure out what to do.”
As they walked back to the front Ron said, “We definitely need maintenance. We should have known how low the fuel was before we left Earth. It must have been close, though, since the cut-outs lets us use the drive the first time.”
Urania said, “I jumped to hyper without first plotting the destination. The drive was already active before I did. Normally it wouldn’t have made any difference.”
Urania was picking up all of their voices and piping them throughout the ship. Geena agreed. “It’s a good thing we turned back to get the Rose. Yes, it burned extra fuel, but based on this I don’t think we had enough to get all of the way to Cardin anyway. We would have wound up stranded somewhere in deep space.”
Once they were all seated again, Lexi said, “OK, so we ran out of gas. We clearly need a larger standby tank. Other than that, what do we do?”
Ron grunted. “We might be able to buy some He3 from the Helgans if their ship is still in the vicinity. I’m not sure we have enough left in the account to cover it, though. Believe me, they won’t be extending us credit. Then, too, while they’re honor bound not destroy us, they’re still going to be holding a grudge. If we’re more or less derelict, they can just come on board and take what they want. They’d probably take us to Cardin with them
, it’s the honorable thing to do, but they’d have possession of the Rose. I think it’s even legal.” He paused. “Their ship might be large enough to tow Urania. Maybe not.”
Lexi frowned. “You said the Accord monitors Earth. Can we call for help?”
“Yes, darling,” Geena said. “Monitoring is via an automated station. The closest ship is bound to be the Helgan. We run into the same issue as trying to reach the Helgan ship directly. They’ll claim salvage rights. Like Ron said, it would even be legal.”
“In that case, we’re on our own, right?” Lexi asked.
Urania, Geena and Ron all said at the same time, “Yes.”
Lexi closed her eyes and shook her head, but she still smiled at that.
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