by Gini Koch
“Then let’s do this thing.”
Two Real Naked Apes back and ready for action on board, we got the rest of our flock settled in and accounted for. Miraculously, everyone was where they were supposed to be. It was easy for Christopher to verify since everyone who wasn’t assigned to the command deck was in the Observation Lounge, getting ready to watch us take off.
I assigned Kreaving and Grentix to the command deck because I’d seen enough Star Trek to know that you wanted your Science Officers close at hand so they could share pithy info at just the right time.
Drax had done a long commune with Mother and somehow convinced her that, with him not being on the ship, she needed to break down and let Brian fly her. For whatever reason, she acquiesced. Per Mossy, easily. Decided that as the Many Mysteries of Mother went, this one could be deciphered later.
Brian had insisted on being on the command deck, and he’d actually won the argument with Mother about who was going to be the Commander for this part of the mission. Well, sort of. Tim was still the Top Man as far as Mother was concerned, but Brian was going to be allowed to sit in the Commander’s seat. It was a small victory, but we took it.
Tito was also allowed to be relieved of duty, though not allowed to leave the command deck. Jeff and I, however, were required to sit our butts in our assigned seats and do our Mother-assigned jobs, thank you very much. Ignored Kreaving and Grentix asking those not at posts why we were all allowing our AI to order us around, but the sarcasm from the guys’ replies was at least a twelve on the one-to-ten scale.
Brian, Hughes, Walker, me, Jeff, and Randy were at the controls, with Tim, Joe, Tito, Jerry, Chuckie, and Reader assigned as our respective backups.
Drax, being the genius designer he was, had added on standing restraints for those doing backup as well as those just hanging out on the command deck. This had only taken him a short time while we were docked thanks to some supplies from the space station and having Dazzlers On Duty do the speedy lifting.
So, everyone strapped in. In addition to the twelve of us flying or backing up flying the ship and our two Real Naked Apes, Mossy and Wruck were here strapped in as well. Lilith was with us, too, but she needed no harness.
Managed not to mention that this was a crowded command deck, because I didn’t want Mother to demand that the others head for the crash couches and I just knew she would if I complained in any way.
Might have been the hardest landing, so to speak, but the departure was by far the easiest we’d ever had. Some probably due to the fact that Brian was finally getting to do his job, but mostly because we were floating in space and therefore had no escape velocity to worry about.
Once we were well away from the space station and I’d said our good-byes to Apata Mission Control, Chuckie had me pull out the picture of our final destination. Really hoped that my thinking of it that way wasn’t going to mean we were trying to escape inevitable death in a bad movie sort of thing. Actively chose not to say this aloud.
The picture was studied and Mother overlaid our known maps. After some discussion, it was determined that, galactically speaking, we weren’t all that far away, and it would be much safer if we went around the galactic perimeter, versus trying to get through the more crowded center.
“It’s definitely on its way to Andromeda,” Chuckie said finally. “Not that they have a prayer of getting there before their sun dies.”
“Is their sun dying?”
“Hard to tell from this picture, Kitty, but the space between galaxies makes the actual galaxies look tiny. Even the youngest star would be likely to burn out before a solar system floating through space were to reach the next galaxy. And, based on what we’ve looked at, this system’s sun is not young.”
“Two billion years from now, give or take, they’ll hit Andromeda, or get smashed between Andromeda and the Milky Way, because our two galaxies are heading for each other,” Grentix said. “So, it’s very safe to say that this system will not survive the journey.”
“I have a question sure to be unpopular,” Brian said. “But why are we bothering?”
This got the room’s attention. “Excuse me?” Jeff asked.
“I want to know why we’re doing this,” Brian repeated. “Trying to get to this particular solar system.”
“Um, because we were asked to help?”
“Yeah, I get that, Kitty. But we’ve had a lot of people ask for help over the course of time, and by ‘we’ I mean the United States. We don’t help everyone.”
“Because it’s impossible to,” Reader pointed out.
“My point,” Brian agreed. “This is looking impossible. We already know we can’t evacuate all the inhabitants, unless we’re looking at the least populated system in the galaxy.”
“Brian’s not wrong,” Chuckie said. “It’s a dangerous proposition.”
“Thanks, Chuck. Kitty, it’s dangerous even before I mention that we have to be going even faster than normal to escape the galaxy’s gravitational pull.”
“We have to try,” Jeff said calmly. “They need us.”
“We think they need us,” Brian countered. “We have zero proof that they do. We don’t know that this is Ixtha’s system. I agree, Kitty’s guesses are normally correct. But if she’s wrong, this is going to be a much more dangerous situation than we’ve ever been in, and I say this knowing that most of you on this deck were all superbeing exterminators before. But I’m the only trained astronaut here, and I’m telling you, this is the most dangerous thing you’ve ever suggested.”
“As dangerous as going into a sun?” I asked.
“Maybe,” Brian said. “Maybe more so. This could be some elaborate trap. Or we could die merely trying to get there. Or trying to get back.”
“Elaborate traps are our enemies’ go-to move,” Reader said. “And Brian could have a point. Though we face death all the time and we’re kind of used to it.”
“You all talked to Ixtha in the DreamScape,” I pointed out.
“We did,” Brian said. “But you, Jeff, Tito, and Tim didn’t. Maybe that’s why Mother kept you awake—so you wouldn’t be fooled.”
“I talked to Ixtha before all this started.” And, more importantly, I’d talked to Algar, ACE, Sandy, and Naomi. And everyone seemed very certain that this solar system mattered a hell of a lot. Galaxy Ending Event was the phrase most tossed about by the Powers That Be. Meaning we had to do whatever we could think of, crazy, dangerous, or not, to get to Ixtha and save her day in some way.
Though, reality did nudge in and mention that while I thought this was Ixtha’s system, I hadn’t bothered to try to reach Ixtha to find out for sure. But I was sure, and that had normally been enough.
“And you dismissed her,” Reader said. “You told us. I think Brian’s concerns need to be addressed now, before we risk everyone on what could be a trap or just a suicide mission. We owe it to ourselves and to the solar systems waiting for us to come back.”
“Well, short of my taking a nap, how would you like me to prove that we’re headed to the right place?”
“I could put you into sleep,” Mother said. “Right here, if necessary.”
That caused us all to stop bickering. “Would that be safe?” Jeff asked.
“Absolutely,” Mother said.
“No,” Tim said calmly.
“What?” Jeff asked.
“I said no.” Hadn’t remembered that Tim had a Commander Voice, but he did and it was on Full right now. “I’m the Commander of this mission, isn’t that correct, Mother?”
“Yes, Tim, it is. Your word is the final word on the ship.”
“Good. Then, as Commander, I’m telling you, Brian, that we’re doing what Kitty wants. Period.”
“Without confirmation?” Brian asked.
“Correct. The only confirmation we need is that Kitty thinks this is what we need to do. Y
ou haven’t worked with her like I have. She may be wrong, but if she is, then she’ll still be right and this system is going to need us. That’s our job, in case you weren’t clear—to save people. It always has been. And, as far as I can tell, it always will be. So, we go, and we go now.”
Everyone was quiet for a few moments. “It’s always a good feeling when you see someone really grow up and into the role they were always meant to have,” Tito said. “I’m with Tim. We do what Kitty wants.”
“Thanks, Tito,” Tim said in his regular tone. “And unless you want me to relieve you of duty, Brian,” he added, Commander Voice back on Full, “you’ll get us underway immediately.”
Brian nodded. “Yes, sir, Commander.” Though he still looked worried, he had zero irony in his tone.
“My Megalomaniac Lad’s all grown up.”
Tim made eye contact with me—hard to do with me in a helmet, but he managed it—and winked. “Team Maverick forever.”
As I laughed, heard Lilith in my mind. This is why Mother made Tim the Commander. For this one decision. Because she knew that, no matter what, Tim would always back you.
Not that I mind him having the authority, but why not just make me the Commander, then?
Because you need to be on Communications. You are who makes the connections, the person who creates the allegiances, and you do it with your words as well as your actions.
Okay, I guess I see it. So, why Jeff on Weapons?
He’s the one who will fire if necessary, but only if necessary, and he’ll wait until the last moment to fire. If anyone else had been at the controls when you arrived at Cradus, that system would be at war with us now.
Huh. And Tito?
The man who never panics? The man who saved a life before he was even out of medical school, when the A-Cs couldn’t? There is no situation that Tito feels he cannot overcome—rightly. Every command crew needs someone who will never look at a situation as anything other than something to be solved.
Chuckie’s backup because he’s the smartest guy on the ship?
And one of the bravest, yes. James is backup for the same reasons. The others are all qualified, all brave, and all loyal to you.
So Brian’s the only holdout?
She laughed. Brian’s relationship with you is different than all the others’. He will always see you as his first real girlfriend before he sees you as anything else. And that leads to exactly what just happened. There is nothing wrong with him questioning your authority or assumptions, but, in this case, time is more of the essence than any of you can comprehend. We have very little time before, no matter what we do, that system will be lost to the blackness between galaxies forever.
Just in case Bri’s right to be worried, could you verify if the system we’re headed for is the right one? I haven’t confirmed anything other than that I just know we have to go there.
It’s as dangerous for me to leave the galaxy as it is for you. I’m willing to leave with you, but not alone. You would have difficulty finding me and bringing me back if things went wrong.
Then we go together. I refuse to ask you to risk more than the rest of us. I’m still hella grateful that you showed up when you did and are still with us.
This is the thing that sets you apart, makes you who you are, and gives those who are more powerful than you reason to respect and even fear you. That you will never ask anyone else to risk more than you yourself do. And that you care, about everyone, even those who are or were once your enemies.
“So, we’re back to risking our lives?” Mossy asked, bringing me out of my head and back into the current situation. Realized that my conversation with Lilith had taken far less time than it had felt like. “I just want to be sure.”
“Yes. We’re going with my gut, my feminine intuition, and whatever else we want to call it. Full speed ahead to get out of the galaxy. Sort of thing.”
“One suicide mission coming up,” Reader said ruefully. “I have to be honest—there was a part of me hoping that Brian would win the argument.”
“Look, I get it. It’s dangerous. You guys can stop whining, though. Lilith, John, and I went into the middle of a freaking sun. With a rabbit. Let’s talk danger and suicide missions, shall we?”
“I still don’t know how you managed that,” Brian said.
Had a thought and dug into my purse. Sure enough, the Z’porrah power cube was still there. And the knowledge of how to work it—how to really work it—was still inside my brain parts. “Wow. Have I got an idea for all of you.”
CHAPTER 94
“I CAN’T BELIEVE WE’RE DOING THIS,” Jeff said.
“This is riskiest for Lilith,” I pointed out. Jerry had taken my place and I was enjoying not having the helmet on. My purse was over my neck, so I was prepared for anything.
“No,” Chuckie countered, “we’re all at risk in a big way. But this does seem safer. Somehow.”
My idea was simple—use the power cube to move the Distant Voyager to Ixtha. But in order to do that, whoever was touching the cube had to be touching everything and everyone in the ship.
So Lilith had expanded herself to cover the entire ship and everyone in it, like the biggest Cradi Moon Suit imaginable.
“If this doesn’t work, you’re going to be floating in space, Kitty,” Brian said, sounding as worried as the rest of the guys looked.
“And I can think of this ship and this exact spot in less time than it takes to blink, let alone try to breathe, or freeze to death, so I’m good.”
“If this works,” Kreaving said, “it solves the biggest issues we have—getting out of and back into the galaxy. And if it doesn’t, hopefully we lose nothing.”
“Remember that the ship will be moving if you have to get back fast,” Reader said.
“Dudes, the Earth is moving all the time when we use these cubes. The Z’porrah freaking move their fleets with these puppies. We will be fine. Fine.”
“I’m not worried,” Wruck said calmly. “As Kitty said earlier, this seems less terrifying than going to the center of a sun. If you’d prefer that only Kitty, Lilith, and I go, we’ll all understand.”
“Hilarious,” Jeff growled. “No, we’re all going.”
“Good to know.” Pulled out my phone and earbuds. Earbuds into my ears, phone into my back pocket. Hit play on my music. “Alright” by Lit came on. Good—Algar approved of my plan.
“Really?” Jeff asked.
“You want me calm or you want me freaked out? I wore this setup into the star, okay?”
“Yes, and it was totally the bravest thing ever and only you, John, Lilith, and a rabbit did it,” Chuckie said. “And we’re going to be hearing about it for the rest of our lives.”
There was a moment of stunned silence on the deck that I tried to draw out and couldn’t—the Inner Hyena appreciated Chuckie’s sense of humor too much.
Once I started laughing my butt off, everyone else did, too. “Thanks, dude, we all needed that.” Chuckie grinned at me. “And, for the last time, Jeff in particular, everyone has their process. This is mine. When a mission fails because I’m listening to music? Then I’ll stop. Until that time, however, if I’m going, I’m going with tunes.”
“I’m ready,” Lilith said. It sounded like I was hearing it in my mind and through my ears at the same time. Could tell that everyone else was hearing it the same way.
“That’s freaky but cool. So, everyone, let’s do this thing.”
I stared at the picture of the system. We were in a spaceship so I didn’t need to know anything about any of the planets, other than that I wanted to be somewhere outside of them. Also wanted to avoid their gigantic asteroid belt, because landing in that would not be healthy for the Distant Voyager or her crew.
Manipulated the cube to account for a full ship and crew. The Z’porrah didn’t need a Lilith because they had one o
f these in each of their ships, tied to their navigation systems. For those of us using them in this fashion, however, the Lilith Approach was going to be necessary, or at least the safest option.
The music changed to “Ready, Steady, Go” by Meices, meaning it was time.
Focused on the space around the big blue planet, then chose a spot that seemed clear in the space around it. Took the proverbial deep breath and triggered the cube.
Traveling by cube was always the way to go.
Felt the movement, probably because of our leaving the galaxy or due to our using the Lilith Method, though it was gentle and nothing like using a gate, more like a gentle tug moving us from one place to another. However, I was still inside the ship and so was everyone else. And we were in a solar system that looked very much like the picture. Only a lot bigger.
The sun was huge and red. The blue planet was easily four times larger than Earth, and I was prepared for someone to share that it was larger even than that. We were far enough away from the blue planet that we could make out the asteroid belt—which up close was even bigger than the picture had shown—and the slightly smaller but still huge red planet. The moons and dwarf planets were all present and accounted for, too, and then some. This solar system was littered with asteroids of all shapes and sizes. It was like some giant solar beanbag chair made of rocks instead of tiny beans had exploded.
The guys at the controls instantly started doing things that I was happily able to ignore. “Shields on full,” Brian said. “Weapons loaded, just in case. Scan the system.”
“Do I start hailing?” Jerry asked.
“Kitty?” Brian asked. “That’s your area.”
“Um, you know . . . I have no idea, really. But I’d think Lilith could condense now.”
“Belay that,” Hughes said sharply. “We have projectiles coming at us from the red planet.”
“Of course we do,” Brian muttered.
“I heard that. Do we want me to use the cube and skedaddle out of here, or are you going to try evasive maneuvers?”
“Doing that now, Kitty,” Hughes said, sarcasm knob at six, easy. “Thanks for the tip.”