Off Course

by Doug Farren

  When they separated, her face was flushed and her breath uneven. Sitting back in her chair she looked him in the eye and said, “I do have a wild side,” she said.

  “I've noticed,” AJ smiled.

  “It's not something I'm proud of,” she told him, the tone of her voice telling him to be quiet and listen. “And it's the reason I never considered joining the merchant marines. I've always had a lot of energy and a knack for getting into trouble. I am incredibly lucky that my parents are wealthy. Their money and influence kept me out of jail. My father tried to direct my energies toward useful goals but I didn't have the sense to listen to him. My mother passed away when I was six and he simply didn't know how to raise a girl.

  “He taught me how to fly as well as how to run a multinational company. Even though I love him with all my heart I didn't listen to him. By the time I was 16, I was a full-fledged member of the party scene. One day, I took one of my father's sports cars so my friends and I could be the hit of this big party up on snob hill. I was in the back seat with one of my boyfriends. His roommate was driving.”

  Heather paused and took a few sips of her water. AJ could tell that she was having a hard time telling him this story and patiently waited until she had regained her composure. “The guy driving the car asked me if I knew how fast it could go. I got cocky and told him the only way to know for sure was to find out.”

  Heather dropped her eyes and stared at the table. AJ reached out and put his hand on hers. “What happened?” he quietly asked.

  “I remember hearing the roar of the engine and feeling the car speed up. I have no memory of the crash. I woke up in the hospital with three broken ribs, a punctured spleen, and a broken arm. The driver lingered on for two days before he died. My boyfriend was ejected from the car and broke his neck. He's still alive but he’ll never walk again. He blames me for the accident.”

  “I'm so sorry,” AJ said trying to ease the pain that was still evident.

  “That crash changed my life,” Heather continued. “I joined a monastery in an attempt to control my wild urges. I learned the martial arts and studied under a Zen master. But I can't live a sedentary life. I needed to find a job where I could work hard and play harder. I had a long talk with my father and he got me a job as a deck hand in his company. I love the work, I get to party when we’re in port, and I've been learning how to enjoy the quiet times while we’re in space.”

  “Wait a minute,” AJ suddenly realized something. “Your dad got you a job in his company? Who’s your dad?”

  Heather smiled as she said, “Contreras is not my last name – it's my middle name. My father and I thought it best I use it to keep people from asking too many questions. I've learned an awful lot about the company doing this kind of work.”

  AJ couldn't stand the suspense. Looking her intently in the eye, he pointedly said, “Who – is – your – dad?”

  “My last name is Santho. My father is Rafael Santho, President and CEO of Trans-Stellar Cargo.”

  AJ laid his forehead in his palms and said, “I'm so screwed.”

  Heather put her thumb under his chin and forced his head up. “My father has already given his approval.”

  “He WHAT?” AJ exclaimed, jerking his head up and slapping his hands on the table.

  Heather was grinning from ear to ear. She clasped his hand and said, “I told him some time ago that I had fallen for an officer, but the lucky man didn't know it yet. I was worried about getting you in trouble. My father told me that, although it’s discouraged, there are no laws or rules preventing us from having a relationship. He was very happy to learn I’d finally found someone with whom I wanted to settle down.”

  The sound of footsteps coming up the cargo ramp halted all further conversation. Scott appeared in the doorway and quickly came to a full stop. His eyes were wide and kept flicking back and forth between Heather and AJ. It took a few seconds before AJ realized he was still holding Heather's hands.

  “Did you learn anything?” AJ asked, standing up.

  “We found what looks like a memory crystal that seems to be undamaged. The Keldans have agreed to let me try to read it when the Star-Pulse arrives,” Scott replied trying to avoid looking at Heather.

  “Excuse me!” Thomas gently pushed Scott further into the room.

  Scott shot Heather a scornful look as he passed her on the way to the kitchen. She looked back at him and smiled, daring him to say something.

  “The Keldans are going to take a few minutes to grab something to eat in their cafeteria before returning to the shuttle,” Thomas reported. “Goeglict asked that we head back as soon as they arrive.”

  “Very well,” AJ said. “Get yourself something to eat and then prep the shuttle for departure. I'll be in the cockpit – I want to update the Star-Pulse on what we’ve found here.”

  Chapter 16

  AJ had just finishing transmitting his update to the Star-Pulse when Thomas entered the cockpit and sat down in the pilot's chair. His fingers fell naturally on the controls and began their well-practiced dance as he prepared the ship for launch.

  “It's about time,” Thomas said after a short silence.

  AJ turned his head and found Thomas looking at him with a grin on his face. “I'm not sure I know what you're talking about,” he replied crossing his arms in mock defiance.

  Thomas glanced at his console, keyed in another sequence before saying, “You and Heather make a good couple.” Seeing that AJ was about to comment, Thomas held up his hand and quickly added, “Before you get all defensive – I approve. Heather's got a good head on her shoulders and you need someone who will drag you away from this ship when we're in port.”

  “I think Scott might have a problem with our relationship,” AJ said, looking out the window.

  “He'll get over it. He's young and his hormones are still running the show. I'll bet he's just jealous.”

  “I hope that's all it is,” AJ replied, standing up to get a better view. “I don't want to cause any issues with the crew.”

  Thomas responded to a warning on his console then replied, “Don't let the crew ruin a good thing. You're the captain, but that doesn't mean you have to isolate yourself from the rest of human society. We're ready for launch.”

  “I think I see our passengers heading this way now,” AJ replied.

  “I'd like to get their permission to fly over the other remains, especially that radioactive section,” Thomas said.

  “I'll see if they'll allow it,” AJ replied. “Do you know where they’re located?”

  “Thumis should.”

  On his way to the cargo bay, he found Scott and Heather sitting across from each other in the passenger compartment. He experienced a momentary wave of jealousy which quickly passed when Heather looked up and smiled at him.

  She reached out and took his hand as he passed stopping him from going any farther. “I've explained things to Scott,” she said. “Apparently, he also had eyes on me and was a bit disappointed when he saw us holding hands. But, after I told him of a little place I know of near the company spaceport where he can meet people closer to his own age, he seems to have changed his attitude.”

  AJ didn't quite know what to say. Heather seemed to be taking the lead in announcing the fact that she was now the captain's girlfriend. Seeing the look on his face, Heather stood and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. “Hope you don't mind.”

  AJ looked at Heather then at Scott, then back to Heather. “I'm okay with it,” Scott replied, rescuing AJ from what was quickly becoming an uncomfortable situation. “Besides,” Scott added, “she's ten years my senior – I doubt she could keep up with me.”

  Heather's arm snaked around AJ's waist as she kissed him once more on the cheek. “I have all I need and more right here. Shall we pay a visit to our passengers?”

  The Captain was still trying to analyze what had just happened as they stepped into the cargo bay. The three Keldans were standing together apparently deep in private conversation
. Upon seeing the Captain, Councilman Goeglict broke free and approached.

  “I have good news for you Captain. The senior architect in charge of the construction of our escape fleet is en-route to the base. He should arrive tomorrow. He is eager to see what help we can provide in repairing your ship.”

  “That’s good news,” AJ replied. “I’ll have the latest damage assessments made available for his review. Before we depart, would it be possible for us to fly over the other wreckage sites?”

  Goeglict thought about the request for a few seconds then said, “I don't see any harm in doing so. Thumis will have to direct your pilot. She can monitor his progress using the bridge monitor you have so graciously allowed us to set up.”

  There was a bit of shuffling as people changed positions and a short conversation followed to confirm that Thomas would understand Thumis' directions. A moment later, the shuttle lifted into the sky and began moving slowly across the desert.

  “I've been meaning to ask you about your colony ships,” AJ began. “You can't possibly hope to rescue your entire population. I was curious as to how you planned to select those to be aboard when the time comes for them to leave.”

  Goeglict's feeders began to writhe but this time AJ didn't flinch. It was obvious the question had struck a raw nerve with the Councilman.

  “It has not been easy,” he finally replied. “Considering the scope of the disaster, we have had precious little time to prepare. Unless the information you have given us allows us to change our plan, we’ll be able to save only a tiny fraction of our population. Those to be saved will be chosen by an impartial computer program which will select the best people available based upon many factors when we’re ready to depart.”

  Vevicty, who had been patiently waiting off to the side, spoke up, “I’ve been in contact with the researchers going over the plans you provided us. Your AI has been most helpful in answering all of our questions. We have already demonstrated, on a small scale, the ability to make the superconducting material that is called for in the plans. We are designing a plant to manufacture it on a larger scale.”

  “That was quick – I'm impressed,” AJ replied. “Might I suggest that you concentrate on understanding and building prototypes of the gravity generator. Much of our technology is based on the ability to manipulate gravitational fields.”

  “We are working on that right now,” Vevicty replied. “We also have a group working on understanding the principles behind your stardrive. It’s imperative for us to find out if the drive system can be adapted for use on our current ships.”

  “I might be able to answer that question,” Scott announced his presence. He had just entered the cargo bay and had overheard Vevicty's statement. “The shape and size of the drive field is a function of the placement of the emitter pylons. Your ships are globular and, as such, will require a different configuration than what is employed on the Star-Pulse. I'm sure we can design an appropriate emitter array.”

  “Are you sure they should use their current ships?” AJ asked.

  “Why not?” Scott said, perplexed that the Captain would even ask such a question.

  “Well, the current design is based on them being a multi-generational ship. I would imagine that they’ve had to make tradeoffs made between passenger capacity and the need to support them for many generations. Adapting the ships to use hyperjump and field-drive propulsion as well as replacing the fission reactors with fusion power systems would require a huge amount of redesign. And, since the ships would no longer be spending centuries in space, room could be made for many more passengers. The entire ship would have to be redesigned. It might be simpler to scrap their current ships and build new ones.”

  AJ immediately realized he had suggested something he feared the Keldan's might consider and that he himself had once thought to be a bad idea. But the Keldans had shown themselves to be very quick at understanding human technology.

  “We will have to discuss all this with Piranta in the morning,” Goeglict said.

  “Piranta?” Scott asked.

  “He’s the senior architect in charge of the design and construction of our ships,” Vevicty replied. “He’s been involved in the project since the beginning and will know how best to proceed.”

  “We are approaching the site we believe to be the engineering section of the Akuta ship,” Thumis announced.

  AJ excused himself and made his way to the cockpit. Thomas had tilted the shuttle slightly to allow for a better view of the wreckage below. It was immediately obvious that the crash site was many hundreds of years old. Sand had piled up on one side, partially obscuring about half of the buried ship. Four complete structural support rings lay against a fifth which jutted out of the sand at a sharp angle.

  Thomas did not look up from his console as he expertly held the shuttle in position. Indicating a display by tilting his head, he said, “Radiation levels down there are pretty high. If you want to get closer we'll have to engage the shield.”

  AJ sat down in the copilot's chair and activated several monitors. “The shield won't be as effective in the atmosphere,” he said. “But if you think you can learn anything from a closer inspection, then let's give it a try.”

  AJ ran his hands over the controls and, after a moment, reported, “Radiation shield is up.”

  “Your shuttle has a force-field?” Thumis asked through the open link that had been set up.

  “Not really,” AJ explained, allowing Thomas to concentrate on the tricky flying. “Instead of relying on heavy structural materials to shield our ships from cosmic radiation, we generate a protective bubble around the ship that deflects most of the radiation. We still need physical shielding but not as much. It doesn't work well in an atmosphere but it will allow us to get a little bit closer.”

  One of AJ's screens displayed a yellow warning. “Just picked up a high radiation level alarm,” he told Thomas.

  “Well, that's about as close as we can get. Would you be so kind as to start the scan?”

  AJ saw that one of the command consoles located between the pilot and copilot had been set up to run a full scan. Touching the activate button on the touchscreen, AJ said, “Full scan initiated. Hold her steady for a few more seconds.”

  Sweat was beginning to break out on Thomas' forehead as he kept the ship oriented in its awkward position above the ship. One hand gripped the control yoke while the other danced across the auxiliary panel normally used only for maneuvering in space.

  “That's about all we're going to get,” Thomas finally said, leveling out the shuttle as he took them higher. “This thing was not meant to be balanced this way and the rad levels are starting to climb.”

  They visited four other areas where debris had fallen before heading back to the island base. All appeared to be the remains of large internal or external components and not part of the ship itself. AJ remained in the cockpit during most of the return trip.

  “We will be landing in a few minutes,” he announced as he entered the cargo bay. Heather was talking to Thumis and from the discussion appeared to be trying to learn the Keldan language. Scott, as usual, was deeply involved in a highly technical discussion with Vevicty scribbling complex calculations on a touch-pad set on a table. Goeglict had been watching the video feed of the cockpit but turned away when AJ appeared.

  “You have an amazing ship,” Goeglict said. “I look forward to seeing how our engineers adapt your technology for our use.”

  “They seem to be up to the task,” AJ replied.

  “You seem to be more comfortable in our presence,” Goeglict observed.

  AJ thought about it for a moment and realized that it was true. He no longer felt the panic and fear that had once tried to overtake him every time a Keldan appeared. “You're right. I hope you were not offended by my phobia. It wasn't something I could easily control.”

  “Not at all. I’m curious though to see an example of the species from your planet that caused you so much fear.”

 
; “Certainly. Computer, display the image of a tarantula on one of the bridge monitors.”

  The councilman manipulated the controls on the camera in the cockpit zooming in on one of the displays. He studied the display for a moment then said, “Amazing! We do share a remarkable resemblance. How large are these creatures?”

  AJ formed his hand into a make believe spider. “Tarantulas can get to be larger than my hand,” he explained. Holding up his hand, he positioned his thumb and forefinger until they were about a centimeter apart. “Most, however, are quite small.”

  Goeglict looked at AJ's hand, then, as if his eyes had a built-in tape measure, looked AJ over from head to toe. The Councilman then looked back at AJ's hand and began laughing. The Keldan's laugh was similar enough to a human's to be recognizable.

  Embarrassed, AJ quickly pointed out, “All spiders are poisonous. They build sticky webs to catch insects so they can eat them alive. They're creepy little bugs.”

  “You must forgive me,” Goeglict said after regaining control. “You are so much larger than a spider that it’s hard to imagine how you could be afraid of it.”

  “I’ve never been able to explain it either,” AJ replied.

  There was a soft jolt, like what one feels in an elevator as it slows to a halt, followed by Thomas' voice, “We’ve landed. The cargo hatch can be opened any time you're ready.”

  AJ walked over to the hatch controls and triggered the sequence. The doors opened and bright sunlight streamed in. A car approached and stopped not far away. As the group descended the ramp Heather pointed to a new structure that had appeared next to their shelter. “Is that a shower?” she practically shouted.

  “I hope it’s been built properly,” Goeglict replied.

  “I'll let you know,” Heather said, elbowing her way past the others. “Ladies first!”

  Chapter 17

  “My God that felt good!” AJ announced as he entered the shelter. He had just finished his shower and was dressed in a pair of shorts and a tank-top. “How on earth did they manage to build it so quickly?”