"How embarrassing! Me of all people to faint like a little girl. If my Dad were to hear of this he would never speak to me again; an F.B.I. agent who faints!" Katie considered what she had been through over the last twenty four hours. "Hang on, what am I so ashamed off?! In one day I've been captured and nearly gassed to death by a lunatic made of metal, then fought in a gun fight from the thirty first century. I've been shot at by cars armed with lasers, then rode in a car that flies only to be attacked by spaceships that talk to you, giant faces keep jumping out in front of me and now some huge thing tries to chop my head off! No wonder I passed out. Look at me, my nerves are shot to hell." She held out a very shaky hand and quickly retracted it. "If you haven't noticed by now I'm have a very bad day. To top it all off, I'm dead and it's all your fault!" She shoved Ryan away as far as she could.
"I am sorry about what happed, I wish I could do something to make up for all the trouble I've caused?"
"Give me my life back and let me see my family."
"You know I can't do that."
"Can you at least stop scaring me, my heart can't take it anymore."
"I promise, no more sudden shocks." He put his hand on his heart and stuck three fingers in the air in a traditional boyscout solute.
"I feel so much better." She said sarcastically. "Speaking of shocks, what happened to the psycho with the sword? Did you kill him?"
"No, he is standing right behind you."
"WHAT?!!"
"It's okay, it's okay, he won't harm you. Little John wouldn't harm a fly."
"Little John?"
"I'll introduce you."
Carefully she looked around to behold two large feet. Her eyes went up and up and up, until she finally beheld the biggest, meanest robot she had ever seen. "This is Little John?"
"Pleased to meet you Katie, I am very sorry about scaring you." His gold coloured, metallic skin rippled over his strong jaw as he articulated his words while his eye sockets possessed two passive blue orbs that contradicted his threatening appearance. Apart from the loaded scabbard that was strapped to his hip, he appeared to be unarmed, although the two long horns upon his head looked to be more than decoration.
The longer she stared at him, the less fearsome he appeared. "Don't mention it, everyone else has had a go today, why not you?"
Ryan bent over to help Katie to her feet, but she pushed him away. "Don't touch me, I don't need your help." When she got up, Katie discovered that she just reached Little John's waist. "Ryan, I think you have been feeding him too many steroids."
"Little John is a gentle giant, except when he comes across a Warrian."
"Since when do I look like a Warrian?"
"Beg your pardon? But I thought you were attempting to break into the Neuro Centre." Said the mighty framed Little John.
"Little John has been posted as guard when more important duties are not in order. Since the rebellion, it has been necessary to keep all vital functions of Intersect under regular guard."
"Is there anything in this ship that isn't big and scary?"
"Come this way, Little John will stay and guard the door." They continued their passage down the access tube until they reached the end, before them was an unusual door with a number of bazaar impressions on its surface. Ryan placed his hands on two of them and pushed. The circular impressions moved into the door until all of his forearms were engulfed in the door. He removed his hands and waited. The door separated down the middle to reveal another door behind it and it separated horizontally to reveal another door which in turn separated diagonally to reveal a small, dimly lit room. They walked into the room and stopped as the opposite door remained closed. A beam of light passed from the roof to the floor then disappeared returning the room to its former darkness.
A loud booming voice violated the silence. "Unauthorised entity in verification room, will terminate entity in five seconds, four, three, two...."
"Override, I grant authorisation." Ryan ordered.
A second beam passed over Ryan only and the same monotone voice spoke again." Authorisation cleared on Admiral's command, you may proceed to the Neuro Centre."
The door on the opposite side opened and Ryan led Katie to the central chamber. Katie gasped at the fabulous light display that filled the room as energy surges passed from node to node in a seemingly random choice of the thousands that lined the Neuro Centre.
Ryan's voice echoed across the vast chamber. "This is the heart of the Endeavour and the central program of Intersect. This is what makes the ship and every function of the organisation, run to maximum efficiency. You are standing in the Master Access Computer."
"This is Mac?"
"This is his Neuro Centre or more commonly known as his brain."
Katie gazed across the football field size room and began to conceive the colossal power of the computer affectionately called Mac. She slowly walked down to where the central control station was situated and sat on the futuristic chair while she gazed about in awe. "He is enormous!"
"He is a marvellous creation."
"Does he know we are here?"
"He knows where everyone is."
The activity of the energy surges increased as his powerful voice spoke. "You have made a fine choice Admiral, she will be perfect for the job."
Katie was confused. "What is he talking about?"
"This will be your new office."
"What do you mean by office?"
"Everybody who joins Intersect is given a certain task to perform that is complimentary of their natural skills."
"In here! What on Earth could I do in here?"
"Intersect needs a security officer and who better than someone who has already found a loophole in our security. Admittedly you had some help, but your ingenuity did the real work and that skill will be useful in making Intersect far more secure."
"But I know nothing of this technology, how could I ever understand enough to be of any use?"
"I will teach you what you need to know." Said Mac.
"I know only of twentieth century technology Mac, your brain is far greater than mine. There is nothing that I could help you with."
"You have initiative, ingenuity and better still, the mind of a detective. You see things in a different light to others, you study a mystery and solve it. I am only as great as those who teach me and you can teach me so much."
"Do you really think I can do it?"
Mac replied. "I have the greatest confidence in you."
Ryan turned to Katie. "Don't be afraid of the technology you see. Ten years ago I knew nothing about Mac or of building a battleship and yet I made all of this. You will be fine, believe me."
"It's not as if I have much of a choice. What can I say...." Katie gazed around again at the mighty spectacle"....I'll give it my best."
Ryan smiled. "Welcome aboard." He extended his hand to Katie and she grasped it firmly as the deal was consummated.
********************
They left the neuro centre and returned to the transporter. Ryan asked Katie if she had seen enough of the Endeavour and she replied with a prompt nod. He chose their next destination which was the senior officer quarters. They exited the transporter and Ryan guided them to one of the many rooms that were available.
"Put your hand on the pad beside the door, say memory lock and then your name." Ryan instructed.
She did so and a voice replied, "Voice and palm print scan complete, you may enter." The door opened before them.
"This is your private quarters and only you can now enter. Next time, all you need to do is place your hand on the pad and the door will open." They entered the room and Katie's eyes went straight to the view from the window. They were on the starboard side and about the mid-section of the vessel. Across the top of the scene stretched the starboard landing superstructure and below the serene Earth.
"Great view, does everybody get one like this?"
"Not everybody."
To the left were two lounge chairs, dinnin
g setting and an entertainment system and to her immediate right was a doorway that Katie assumed led to the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. How these rooms had evolved over the past thousand years would be interesting.
"I'll give you a quick guided tour, as you can see this is the lounge and dining room, through here is the kitchen..." He walked through the doorway and Katie followed. Along one side was a bench and opposite were a number of cupboards and a large appliance that was labelled, Superchef. "...This is the Superchef cooking unit, all you have to do is press this button ask for what you want."
"I'd love a coffee." Katie said with a sigh.
"Please be more specific." Said the unit with a French accent.
"Caffeine free, white and no sugar."
"Please select a brand?" Replied the unit.
"Moccona."
Within the unit a bright light flashed, leaving a steaming cup of coffee behind. Ryan opened the door and handed it to Katie, after a quick taste she replied. "Not Bad."
"This way to the bathroom..."
They walked through the adjacent doorway and turned left down a short hall. Half way down was a door and when Ryan placed his hand on the sensor pad next to it, the door slid into the wall and revealed a rather spacious bathroom. To Katie's surprise it looked the same as a twentieth century facility.
"There are easy to follow instructions attached to each unit and don't be fooled by their appearance, there are some major differences to the ones that you are used too. At the end of the hall is the bedroom." They passed through a door similar to that to the bathroom and entered another spacious room with a large double bed next to a window. The bed was remarkably similar to its twentieth century counterpart only that it had no legs, instead it hovered above the floor.
Katie carefully sat on the bed as she was unsure that it would stay up. It bounced slightly but apart from that, it stayed firm. She laid back on the bed to test its comfort level and found that it was better than her bed back home. "This is one comfortable bed!"
Ryan began to feel rather uncomfortable. Because of how he felt about her, it became difficult to keep his thoughts on the professional level while they were in the bedroom. "I better be going, if you need anything just ask Mac."
"Can he see and hear everything in my own room?" Katie said with great concern.
"Only if you call out his name. Otherwise he sees and hears nothing."
"Then how can he hear me in the first place?"
"The only word that he can hear is his own name. After that, the higher mental functions take over and you will have his full attention. It's like selected deafness."
"I'll try not to call out his name in the shower."
"Besides, no one can monitor Mac's scanner system without my direct order and even then it would have to be a very good reason. One's privacy is very important." Ryan became uncomfortable again. "If that is all, I better be going."
Ryan was about to leave when Katie called him back. "Ryan!"
"Yes."
"There something I have been meaning to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Why did you come and get me? You risked so much to save one life, why didn't you just leave me where I was?"
"I couldn't leave you in the hands of that lunatic, I had to come for you."
Katie could see that she had struck a sensitive nerve. This fearless, intrepid leader of thousands whose feelings were always concealed within an iron shell was becoming nervous. His answer wasn't the true reason for his daring rescue and she desperately needed to find out. "That isn't a good enough reason to risk the future of the Earth?"
"The reason is personal, I doubt if it would concern you."
"Try me."
"You’re persistent aren't you?"
"It's my job, well at least it was. I want to know why the Admiral risked everything to save me. Besides, your reason could be a security risk to the organisation." Katie did not mean what she said, but it seemed to work.
Ryan shouted. “You’re smart, you figure it out. Besides I thought it was obvious!" The conversation had become an interrogation and was getting very close to the truth. He couldn't tell her how he really felt after what he had done. His only solution was to walk away.
"Ryan, tell me. I need to know why?!" She went after Ryan and grabbed his arm, then spun him around. "I need to know!" Pressed Katie.
Something snapped inside him and a flood of emotion came pouring out. "I LOVE YOU OKAY, I love you! I've always loved you!" Quickly he turned around and continued his exit.
His words stunned her, why didn't she realise it before? She was so caught up in her anger that she had overlooked the obvious. Her anger was the scapegoat that kept her sanity. While the anger lasted, the true feelings for Ryan were buried. How could she love the man that had taken away her family? It was inconceivable and foolish. For all those years she had protected herself from people like him and in just a few hours he shattered that impenetrable barrier. Now what she feared most had come to pass - to love the enemy. She was furious that it happened so quickly, so completely. Furious at Ryan as well as herself. To her he was a greater villain that Bane or the Warrant. He had taken away all that was dear to her, her life and her strength. She must push him away, protect her tender heart from this monster's talons, but those three simple words ate at her hardened soul. They repeatedly rang in her mind like a mighty bell; crushing the anger, destroying her last defence against him. Deep within her soul she yearned to hear these words from his lips and in reaction her heart exulted. The anger in her mind and the love within her heart battled for the supremacy of her soul. The clash was a vice that squeezed tighter and tighter until the pressure was unbearable. "STOP!" She shouted.
Ryan was almost at the front door when he stopped dead in his tracks. He turned around and saw Katie at the end of the hall with two tears flowing down her soft cheeks. "Why did it have to be you, of all people why you?" Her face began to contort as the emotions of loss, anger and love swirled around in her head like a whirlpool. "I should hate you for what you've done, why did I have to fall in love with you? Of all people, why you?" Under the emotional pressure her knees gave way as two powerful arms took hold and hugged her trembling body. Two teary eyes looked into his, "I love you Ryan Williams..." She thumped him in the chest with her fists"....Damn you!" Her tears turned to sobs as Ryan held her tight. In the midst of the emotional turmoil, the strange and powerful emotion called love pulled their lips together and created a warm tender kiss.
Katie's tears ceased as her heart skipped a beat and the warmth of his body soothed her distressed soul. The dormant passion they possessed for each other erupted in a storm of lust. Ryan drank from her soft lips like a man with a desperate thirst and Katie wilfully quenched his need as well as her own. The fire between their souls grew to boiling point as clothes came off to appease the flames. Soon their naked bodies made it to the bed where their passion reached a mutual climax. The caresses continued throughout the night until the physical fatigue was too great and they collapsed into a peaceful slumber.
Two subconscious minds dreamt of peaceful and tender fantasies while about them, the world of the Endeavour prepared for the imminent battle.
CHAPTER NINE - CONFLICT
DATE - APRIL 12TH 1995 TIME - 11.36 AM
LOCATION - THE BATTLESHIP ENDEAVOUR
Katie's eyes fluttered open to behold Ryan's chest, slowly rising and falling, with the breath of slumber. How long had they been asleep she had no idea, for amongst all this superior technology there was a distinct lack of clocks. She closed her eyes again as her mind wondered away from the question of time and confronted the issue of the joining of their mind and bodies. Amongst the emotional turmoil she had given into her heart and allowed Ryan to conquer her totally. The anger that possessed her was extinguished by their joining and finally she had found peace in the arms of her love. Subconsciously, the anguish from the loss of her family was pushed to the back of her mind so she could regain her strength; for t
here was no doubt that she would have to confront this trauma again. For now, peace was what she needed most and the warmth of Ryan's body provided all the harmony her mind needed.
The dream state of Ryan's mind faded away as consciousness returned. He opened his eyes to envisage a lush flow of blond hair across his torso and placed his hand upon the precious head that made it, then caressed her long tassels. An angelic face turned to face him and presented a warm smile. "Sleep well?"
"Yes. It's been a long time since I've dreamt of home."
"What was home like?"
"Carillia was a beautiful planet with two bright suns and a single moon similar to Earth's. My father and I lived in the city Carillon, where the leading minds in space travel combined their theories to further the Federation's technology." Ryan visualised his home town and a smile appeared on his face. "It was a wonderful city; at night the sky would be dotted with coloured lights from the spaceships coming and going. It was a sight to behold."
"Sounds wonderful, I wish I could have seen it."
Ryan's expression quickly changed from delight to remorse. "I really miss my father."
Katie looked into his eyes and realised how much more he had lost. His family, friends and his entire home planet. His eyes had witnessed the destruction of the human race and such a sight would devastate the hardest of souls. Katie hugged him tight to help soothe the pain of his loss. They were all members of a lost race with no home or family to return to and the one that brought them all together had lost the most of all. The one who had lost everything, the one who clung to his this new race like a baby to its mother for support and comfort and he was the only one who could deliver the Earth from their own fate. To give its inhabitants the one vital possession that they all longed for - a home.
Ryan redirected his thoughts from his past tragedy to the situation at hand. "Time." He said to a set of unseen ears.
"Eleven forty two Eastern Standard Time." Said a synthesised voice.
Katie was startled by the reply and covered her nakedness with the bed sheets. "Who was that?"
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