Merker's Outpost

by I. Christie

  "M'dearie, now pay attention. This is very important," he admonished her.

  But Alexandra continued to look for the source of the chanting.

  "Alright then, Alexandra," he nodded at his distracted granddaughter, "listen to the music, but focus on the sound in here, m'dearie," a finger touched her below her navel, at her dan tien. An ice-cold energy vibrated through her and up her spine, and then shot out through her head. It took her breath away as a clear vision of what was around her suffused every cell in her body and all things in and around her. She was…alive and…more than just…herself.

  "Breathe deep, m'dearie. Ya need to breathe deep." His fingertip touched another point above her navel, her chest, her throat, and forehead and then rested his palm gently on her head. A painfully bright light flashed between her eyes, while a loud pop sounded in her ears. Beneath her, the earth moved and she lost her balance.

  Harriet awoke instantly, throwing her arms out on both sides to stop the fall. The room light brightened as her bios changed from sleep to a highly awakened state. Disorientated, she lay with her arms splayed at her sides and body firmly pressed into the bed. The loud humming in her body receded to a tingling in her fingers and the bottoms of her feet. As awareness of surroundings penetrated through her sleep-fogged mind, she remembered she was on Merker's Outpost. Rising on one elbow, she glanced at her timepiece. A little over eight stan hours had passed. This was the longest she had slept in ages!

  Slept! Helga's Moon! I'm on a strange planet…alone!…and I went to sleep! I'm lucky I didn't wake up to a weapon stuck up my nose.

  M'dearie, give yerself a break. Ya hardly could pin one lid back while ya let the other droop, now could ya? Yer eye balls would have rolled back inside yer head.

  True, Harry, I would not have been able to stay awake…but…"

  M'dearie, why are ya second-guessing yerself? Don't ya think ya deserve some sleep in a nice comfortable bed? Would ya rather have slept on the couch?

  A thin smile formed on her lips at that thought. Reluctantly, she let the self-recriminations go. Stretching, muscles absorbed the rush of blood, giving her a charge of energy. Lying still for a few moments, she let fragments of her dreams from the previous night turn over in her conscious mind. She sighed and closed her eyes.

  What is the lesson this time?

  Sometimes she could not make any sense of what she did remember. 'Patience, m'dearie,' her grandfather's voice had reassured her. 'Yer time is not yet.'

  Time. I'm not so sure I want it to be my time, Harry. Portentous news like that can be likened to a siren's howl.

  Ahh, yes, m'dearie. The question for the wary: is it a warnin' or a cry of what has already come about? There is no harm in yer wantin' ta know the full picture. No harm indeed.

  Well, at least I'm off the Spinner's Tale.

  Good riddance. That place was like havin' a flock of them carcass birds studin' ya. And with ya not getting' enough restful sleep…it did not do yer soul a bit of good, m'dearie.

  And no remembered dreams, Harry. For me that's unusual. She sighed. However, with the likes of the ones from last night…maybe I was better off. Oh, yeah. Now I remember the type of dreams I started to have on the Ziggy. Wonder what set them off again? If they were of just one subject... Helgas Moon! I'm gonna have to talk to a shri. I don't want to go back to a counselor...too much work.

  Dreams, m'dearie, are like a maze. A guide is handy if ya can find the right one. So, what's yer plan fer taday?

  A maze? Like the labyrinth, huh, Harry? What sort of monster is at the center? Myself…that was the answer we were taught. I'm not so sure, Harry. I don't see myself wearing any horn between my eyes in this life. Euh? Yet...the characters in my dreamscape are supposed to represent different aspects of me. Gawds! I don't even want to go there. And that's about what a counselor is going to point out, Harry. Now a shri, they usually just give ya the short version of what needs to be done, and that's it. Either ya do it or not. No difference to them. Harry, I'm rattling on here like a brainless twit. Gotta get up and moving.

  She rolled out of bed and glanced around her sleeping area for a place to begin her morning exercises. Looks like there's enough room to do some warm-ups and see just what three months of inactivity has done to my response time and stamina.

  "Store the bed," she ordered aloud. As an after thought, "open the bathing room door." It would be nice to smell the healthy vegetation as she did her morning workout.

  With the bed retracted into its wall space, she had plenty of space to move. Standing very still, she centered herself with her breathing. When ready she opened her eyes and started to move slowly into the first pose, greeting the spirit of T'ai. She was half way through the QiQuong breathing meditation when she felt another's presence…it wasn't something solid that she could put her finger on. Was it next to her? No, it was all around her. Sensing no danger, she accepted it's light touch. The consciousness had the feeling of…constant flux … chaos …and dimly she was aware that it monitored, maintained and… It was the consciousness of the planet! She chuckled to herself. She had not done this for a long time. Too long. Breathing in deep, she let her surprise settle into a passive observation, realizing that her own need to reconnect with her home planet may have triggered this connection. A species compellation that she had been ignoring for years.

  The light touch left as Harriet moved her arms and legs into the next stance breathing in and out; focusing on her breath as it moved to her dan tien, then directed it out through the top of her head. She did this for a while then focused on it rising from her feet, to her dan tien, and then out through her head. Then she cleaned each charka, mentally picturing the spinning channels of energy and their colors.

  The ending of her meditation, her prayer mantra, vibrated her sternum, and took a lot of will power not to rub it, because it tickled. For five breaths, she remained still, letting the peaceful feeling absorb her, something she had missed for more than three months. Slowly, she opened her eyes to the jungle that was the bathing room. Again, she breathed in the heavy smell of the moist dirt and the blooms that she remembered were hanging from a trellis and growing from dozens of pots hanging from the ceiling and lining the walls.

  This is sooo, very nice, she chuckled to herself. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone sharing their bathing facilities with their arboretum, but I guess in limited space… Alright, lieutenant, you have got to get into gear.

  For the next standard hour and a half, in a more rigorous workout that called for strikes, kicks and spins in the air, she tested her stamina, balance and flexibility, moving from one degree of kata to another. She was disappointed that before she got to the eighth degree, she was feeling breathless.

  "Oh, joy!" she bent over panting. Three months and I've fallen behind. Commander Neilson will have me running with the new recruits.

  However, she was happy at working out again…and happy about the space…and the bathing facilities and not having to be on Spinner's Tale.

  She used the toilet faculties, took a quick shower and planned what she needed to do.

  Okay, clothes and food. Then I will check this place out closer. I need to find out who runs this nice hotel and thank her, him, or them. Then…find out just what Spinner's Tale is doing here. It can't be legal. And Helgas Bloody Moon, I have got to contact my CO and let her know I'm not AWOL but that I've been…kidnapped, and then crash-landed on a deserted outpost, and don't know when I can get back. I bet she never heard of that excuse. And if she asks if I can bear up under the hardships of living on the deserted outpost until a ship arrives, do I tell her that my quarters are the equivalent of a luxury room in a seven bud rated hotel? Naww. Best to leave that part out. She chuckled aloud, grateful she did not have anyone to explain what she was mumbling about.

  Ald handed her a towel as she stepped out of the shower.

  Back in the bedroom, she pat herself dry while eyeing the apparel the butler held up for her.

  "So, that
's what all the sizing me up for was about, huh buddy? I sure hope you only did it for clothing and not for a tree-suit or any other unpleasant surprises that I might find confining."

  She reached for the gray top and pants so sheer she thought they would tear if she did not handle them carefully.

  "This is called a Second Skin and is to be worn while you are here on Merker's Outpost," the butler explained in a soothing genderless voice. "It will act as an emergency blanket until help arrives, should you encounter a breach without wearing an outer suit."

  "How do you know this is going to work for me?" she asked suspiciously. "I just got here and you already have something…" she held up the pants gingerly, letting the light shine through it, "that is tailored for me? Some tailor."

  "The faulty equipment you discarded was analyzed and your bios have been monitored and anatomized since your arrival. This is a bioengineered suit made for you. Breaches are a possibility; therefore all guests are issued a suit of their own until they depart the outpost."

  Breaches are serious anywhere where the exterior environment is alien to one's own. I certainly agree with that precaution. Hmm. And they want it back. Souvenirs limited to tooth brushes and slippers…if they have any. What was this place before its closure? Gotta love this bot service!

  M'dearie, if this place has guidelines that entail insurin' yer safety with a nice bit of whatever that is, best take it. No sense in fussin' over how or what it's made of.

  Harry, you can say that because you are not putting this close to your skin.

  Aie. This is not my version of an adventure.

  Harriet chuckled at what her grandfather's version of an adventure would be. It would entail an excursion into an unexplored wine cellar or walks among vines heavy with grapes meant to be eventually bottled. Yeah, I can see me trying to walk down the vineyard trenches. I would probably slip on some rotten grapes and hurt my butt!

  She thrust her foot into the second skin and wiggled her toes into the slots provided for them. It was amazing that the skin just bent around her toes as if it were liquid. When she had the skin on, her body picked up energy.

  Wow!

  The sounds and smells around her became pronounced.

  "Second skin, huh?"

  Regarding herself in the mirror, she was not pleased to see that her three months stay on the Spinner's Tale left her looking too slim for her normal active life. But then again, their menu was sadly lacking in her choice of palatable nourishment so she had eaten little. Damp orange hair curled around her face emphasizing her dark green eyes. She would not have known she was wearing the skin looking at herself in the mirror, aside from not seeing her bright orange pubic hairs.

  "I sure hope it's not going to be a hassle when I have to relieve myself," she muttered to the waiting butler.

  "Your biological waste is recycled by the suit, thus sustaining your energy without food supplements for a standard day; however, it is not advised to wear the suit uninterrupted for more than a standard week at a time. It is better that the body not rely too much on artificial means of regulating itself. Your species and gender experiences a monthly cycle of menstruating; when that time comes, the suit will absorb the discharge of old tissue and also recycle it into energy. At that time, you should be feeling more energtic than normal due to the excess of energy; however, it is recommended to not over-tax yourself. Remember to adhere to your species observances of this time."

  Lt. Montran harrumphed, and then chuckled. "Women of my species that spend a lot of time in space don't ovulate much." Then she frowned. Her ability to have children had been taken from her a long time ago. She shook her head to rid herself of any images that may make an appearance, loosening a few tears as she did.

  "It is strongly suggested when you travel about the city you wear this suit," the butler finished.

  "City." So, I'm in a city. That means there is a lot more to this place than the hall I walked down. Duh, leutanant.

  She took the dark green two-piece suit with boots that the butler held for her. The pant legs fit snuggly into the boots. The ankles were reinforced, the top of the boot was tough and the heel was hard enough to hurt someone if she kicked back. Nice boots, she thought smugly.

  Her growling stomach told her that the second skin did not take care of everything. Checking her sidearm, she carried it with her into the kitchenette. A bowl of various recognizable fruits, a steaming smaller bowl of cereal, and a warm aromatic beverage waited for her.

  Her stomach growled again. Beside the table, Bach produced a chair for her.

  "Is the breakfast selection suitable?"

  "Yes, quite. Thank you." She laid her weapon on the table within easy reach.

  Now, how did they know what my eating preference is? Should I get nervous that someone may have a profile on me? While thinking about this, she mechanically cut up some of the soft fruit and added it to her cereal. She ate quickly, as was her habit, keeping her eyes moving around the area, searching for anything that would indicate she was being monitored, though without a HR, it would be difficult to really know. When she finished, Bach removed the empty dishes. Picking up her tea, Harriet decided to give a closer inspection of her quarters before she ventured out into the rest of the structure. From the bedroom she retrieved the HR and starting with the furthest corner of the room that was the private library, she started there.

  Real books!

  She pulled out one and turned the pages. She wondered what the thin material was that created the pages and how long its life span was. She felt the cover with sensitive fingers and even sniffed it. They reminded her of her uncle's library that contained information from all over the galaxy on tapes, discs, books, and in holographs. His books did not smell like this one. Nor did the pages feel as fragile. Sliding the book back onto the shelf, she perused the titles. A wide variety of subjects from authors with opposing views filled the shelves. The collection offered a compelling study for someone with a lot of time on her or his hands. She started to laugh to herself. What if she could not leave this place until she gave a summary of them all?

  Pausing at the coffee table, she admired the detail. Beneath its see-through top, the base was a carving of a wilderness scene, surrounding a small village. There were small grass huts that blended in with the landscape, and a scene right out of a primitive village composed of seven different types of species, working and playing together. In reality, those seven species were contentious when in close proximity of each other. It had to do with their biological makeup.

  Someone is really dreaming.

  In one corner sat the detailed porcelain statue of Quan in her meditative state. With both palms open, one held what was termed the holy measures and the other empty, representing another dimension. She sat with her eyes lidded, sitting upon the holy flower of pa. The holy flower rode on ocean waves, surrounded by the twelve holy leaders in the time of Ges. It was unusual to see her depicted with her eyes partially opened. Her clothing was detailed in its exact portrayal of the ritual way each piece of clothing was worn, down to the knotted sash and the way it was tied.

  Harriet's eyes moved to a painting on her right of a sunrise, with the rising sun setting the tops of trees and mountaintops ablaze with its light. Quickly she glanced around at the other art pieces. Even the animals in the art were depicting serenity. She sighed, thinking how nice it would be to have time to gaze at the works and enjoy them for their aesthetic qualities. However, she had work to do. She settled in front of the computer, lying the HR on the table. The device did not give off any readings that she was being monitored.

  Hm… Let's see what information it's willing to impart.

  The chair adjusted its shape to fit her form, and when the chair and her were comfortable, the viewing screen came on.

  "Your request?" a neutral voice asked her. No hologram appeared beside her, which she noted by the icons that were on the screen, the option was turned off. Usually room coms were personalized to suit the resident.r />
  "Show me the history of this workstations use." Nothing. Someone had cleaned the files. Okay. Something more to the point. Hm. Where do I start? "Where are there other life forms, such as myself?"

  "In New Century City. Would you care to contact anyone there?"

  "NO!" That would certainly ruin my stay here. But, I do need to find out more information about what they're up to and where exactly on this planet they are.

  "Pinpoint their location in yellow and mine in green."

  A planet appeared with hexagon shapes overlapping the globe, which quickly faded. Then on one side of the sphere, a yellow light flashed and then revolved around until a blinking green light appeared.