The Ship Finder

by John Bluck

  "Let it all out. It's okay." Kamara handed Lena a box of tissues. Lena took out a few at once and buried her face in the softness of them.

  Wilson motioned with his hand to get Kamara's attention. "Doctor, may I speak?"

  Kamara nodded.

  "Lena is a well-known scientist who studies plants here and on other worlds. She does have worth."

  Lena took the tissues away from her face and cleared her throat. "I lied, Bill," she said. "Yes, I did have a flower shop. Yes, I did travel to remote places on this planet, on Triod, and on Earth to gather new plants. But I never studied at a university or college. I don't have a degree in anything except sex. I was Raven's toy until he discarded me, set up my flower shop, and let me collect plants on missions so he could feel good."

  Kamara shifted in her chair. "This doesn't surprise me, Lena. But you must realize that you are somebody. You made discoveries that the High Scientific Board recognizes. I know that because my hobby is botany, and I've read some of your papers. You are a remarkable scientist, even if you didn't earn a degree. That's why you are well-known."

  Lena wiped a tear from her face and seemed less sad.

  I would have never thought that she doesn't have a degree, Wilson thought. At least she has a smile on her face now. "It doesn't matter that you don't have a diploma," Wilson said. "You're a scientist, even if you're self-taught."

  "Thank you," Lena said.

  Kamara opened a drawer, took out a plastic pill box, and handed it to Lena. "These are anti-depressant pills," Kamara said. "I suggest that you take one a day with food for the next month. I'd like to see you once a day for short sessions so we can work to help you cope with depression and other issues you may have while The Black Widow is on this mission. After that, I can recommend a therapist or two to you, if you still need counseling. If for some reason you go to Earth in the near future, I will conduct inter-dimensional video-cons with you to provide remote therapy. Let me stress that I think you'll get better."

  "Thank you, doctor," Lena said.

  "You're welcome, Lena. Now, I'd like to talk with Dr. Wilson alone for a short time to give him some tips on how he can help you and also to work through any issues he may have."

  "Okay," said Lena. She stood and shook hands with Dr. Kamara. "When shall I see you again?"

  "Tomorrow at 10 a.m. for a half hour," Kamara said.

  "I'll see you then," said Lena. She walked to the door and left.

  Kamara sat down again. "Dr. Wilson, I decided to talk with you apart from Lena because I want to explain reactive attachment disorder (RAD), from which Lena suffers. It is a common condition that often afflicts clones and orphans."

  "I've heard orphans sometimes have problems," Wilson said.

  "Their problems occur because they don't have a primary caretaker. I don't know what things she does that result from RAD, but I'll give you a list of signs to look for. She may exhibit just a few or many symptoms. I sent her away because I don't want her to become more depressed. If she heard this, she might start to look for signs of her condition and obsess about them. Do you follow me?"

  "Yes, I can look out for some of these things, but I would never have guessed that she lied about a college degree, for example. So I might not be aware of everything."

  "You're right, Dr. Wilson. She may hide things not only from you and others, but from herself."

  "What should I look for?"

  "One of the first things you have to remember is that she was trained to be a sex worker. That seems harsh, but it's true. She's more like a high class escort. Because she had attachment problems when she was a child, she probably is very quick to think someone is a friend even if that person is someone she has just met. Because she has been trained to satisfy any man to whom she is assigned, you can see that she may be fickle. She could drop you in an instant."

  "She's already dropped me, but it was because I have a thing going with another clone, Rachel, who looks just like her."

  Kamara held up her hand. "Let me stop you right there. I know the history of all three of you. General Black asked me to look over your dossiers. Rachel was a spy for the other side, and she tempted you because she was ordered to check your loyalty to the Great Leader, right?"

  "Yes, but Rachel did switch sides and join the revolution. I was just as much at fault because I got involved with her. Yeah, Lena was in jail at that time, but I should have been loyal to her anyway. I hurt her because I was fickle." Wilson sighed.

  "Lena might think you're just a passing fancy."

  Wilson said, "I hope Lena can still be a friend, but not a lover. The war, the revolution, changed her. She morphed into a different person before my eyes. Now that Rachel and I have become very close, I feel guilty because not long ago I was infatuated with Lena, and she loved me and may still love me for all I know."

  "The trials and pain of love, and the loss of it, can be tough, but most of us live through them. You're the kind of person who will do so, even if it's hard. But you must make sure Lena doesn't become suicidal. She's at risk. Now, let me list a few more things to look for."

  "Okay."

  "Too much alcohol. Use of drugs. Small lies. Loss of emotional control. Not appreciative of how her actions may affect others. Inability to form long term attachments with others. Stealing. I'll give you a printed list of more symptoms, too."

  "If I see some of these things, what should I do?"

  "Tell me or another counselor so we can help her sort out her problems. Wherever you and she end up, I believe you both should sign up for counseling."

  "That brings up a question," said Wilson. "General Black said you could recommend that Lena and I go to Earth maybe today or tomorrow, if you think that is wise."

  "Lena should not see any more bodies and destruction. That could put her over the edge. I'll suggest to the general that you both go to Earth today, if he can arrange it. I'll set up inter-dimensional video links for both of you so you can have sessions with me from anywhere in any parallel world."

  "Thank you, doctor. And I'll do my best to monitor her behavior," Wilson said.

  "You may save her. Remember you both can live a long time. Time and therapy can heal your emotional wounds. I think that you and she must go to Earth to heal and to be insulated from the war and its aftermath on Triod and Sunev." She got up. Wilson also rose, shook her hand, and then left.

  Chapter 37 – The Journey Home

  An alarm echoed throughout the ship, and the vessel jerked and then tilted severely to starboard. The abrupt movement had almost thrown Wilson off his feet, forcing him to grab the railing in the hallway to avoid a fall.

  What the hell was that about? Wilson wondered. He hurried to the bridge, where he found General Black and Lena both staring out of a window.

  "What happened?" Wilson asked Lena.

  "We took evasive action. A heat-seeking missile just missed us," she said. "Our auto guard system killed it with a particle beam."

  "Fire when ready," Black barked into a microphone. Within seconds The Black Widow's ray weapons fired at the enemy on the ground.

  "I thought the war was over," said Wilson.

  "There are still pockets of fighters," Black said as he grabbed a pair of binoculars and began to look down at the enemy troops. "Some government units did not surrender."

  "How widespread is the resistance?" Wilson asked.

  "I don't know yet," Black said. "I ordered our ships to drop millions of Bumblebee drones across the planet. Grapefruit communication satellites will relay the Bumblebee pictures to us, and we'll find out how strong the enemy is."

  "I never heard of Bumblebee drones."

  "They're small robots that look like bees and can fly anywhere," said Black.

  "Do we have to keep fighting?" asked Wilson.

  "Our troops will have to mop up, but The Black Widow will go back to Triod today," said Black. "The Ruling Council ordered me to return and work with them."

  "I guess that means there's no cha
nce Lena and I could go to Earth anytime soon," said Wilson.

  "It's just the opposite," Black answered. "We'll send you and Lena to Earth today in a small D-jumper capsule. Dr. Kamara called before the attack and said that you both need to go to your planet to mend."

  "Thank you," Lena said. "Did Dr. Kamara say anything about my therapy?"

  "She said she would continue your treatment by using telemedicine," Black replied. "I've instructed the supply sergeant to issue you tele-dimensional communicators so you both can stay in contact with Dr. Kamara."

  "That was very thoughtful of her," Lena said. She paused and asked, "Can Art Terac come with us?"

  Black set his binoculars on top of the controls console. "I didn't know that Art wanted to go to Earth."

  "He told me he feels like he's about to break down," Lena explained.

  After a short pause Black said, "Sure, he can go, though I'll hate to lose him. He's done a lot for the revolution just like you have. I'll have to approve another diamond shipment, though."

  "Diamond shipment?" Lena asked.

  "I wanted to surprise you and Bill when you got into the capsule transport," Black said. "The Ruling Council has awarded each of you the equivalent of ten million dollars in cut diamonds and created new identities, if you want them. We'll get another set of diamonds for Terac."

  "Thank you, Ramon," Lena said. "On Earth we'll need money. The diamonds will be a lot of help."

  "You deserve it, Lena. So do Bill and Art," said Black.

  "I thank you, too," said Wilson.

  Black nodded. "Oh, and Bill, I'll be talking with you after the situation on Sunev stabilizes. I know you're interested in nano medicine, and the Ruling Council of Triod wants to partner with you to do more research."

  "Please thank them for me," Wilson replied. "I'm looking forward to investigating nano medicine."

  "Lena, could I have a word with Bill for a moment?" Black asked. "I need to discuss something about how he might use nano meds on Earth."

  "Certainly, Ramon," said Lena. She left the room.

  "I've been in touch with Rachel McCoy, and we've vetted her," Black said. "She's quite supportive of the revolution. I've agreed to transport you to see Rachel and vice versa when the postwar situation is under control. Does that suit you?"

  "Yes, it does," said Wilson. "When do you think that can happen?"

  "I'm hoping soon," said Black. "By the way, Rachel sends her love from Triod."

  "Thanks for that message," Wilson said. He smiled broadly and shook Black's hand.

  Wilson wondered, maybe I can convince Rachel to stay on Earth? With all its faults, it's still better than this place.

  Chapter 38 – The Future

  Lena, Terac, and Wilson sat in the Sailors' Saloon in the Florida Keys drinking beer. Silent for the moment, the trio listened as an old song played on the dollar disk player

  Wilson had just returned from Bermuda. There he had rented three big safe deposit boxes in the Bank of Hamilton to store their $30 million in diamonds. He had also set up secret accounts so the three of them could deposit cash as they gradually sold their diamonds.

  Made of rough-hewn wood, the Sailors' Saloon was a converted barn. It sat away from the other local businesses. Rays of late afternoon sunlight shone through the rough bamboo screen that divided the inside from the covered, wooden porch. Dust specks floated in the sunlit air. Wilson felt good. He was a little drunk and warm inside, relaxed after the war.

  He considered, should I keep my medical practice in Northern California, or go elsewhere? Thanks to nano medicine, I've got a long life ahead of me.

  He put his hand in his right hip pocket and fingered a recent love letter from Rachel. A member of a Triodian research team on Earth had posted it by U.S. Mail for her. I can't wait until Black can send a capsule to Earth with her aboard it.

  He and Rachel had not seen each other since the war had ended almost a month ago. Even so, he felt her presence just by touching her letter, which smelled of perfume.

  He hadn't told Lena anything about Rachel's handwritten messages. Lena sat on the bar stool next to his, and he gazed at her and smiled, but his thoughts were of Rachel. A halo of low-angled rays of sunlight highlighted Lena's hair.

  "Art, I hate to break the spell of the music," Lena said. "But I'd like to speak alone with Bill about something."

  "Sure," Art said, and his mouth curled in a smile that he tried to block. He got up and opened the front screen door. His boots slapped the planks of the wooden steps that led to the street. The sound of crunching gravel faded as he left. The sun was hot, and the air was steamy.

  Wilson wondered why Lena seemed ill at ease. A tear dripped from her left eye, and she wiped it away.

  "What's the matter?" he asked.

  "You don't have a clue, do you?" She shook her head. "I heard that Ramon has arranged for Rachel to visit you on Earth."

  "She just wants to get as far away from the wreckage of war as she can," Wilson said. "She needs to be here just like we do."

  Lena began to sob. "I've been with Art a lot lately, but he just knows war," she said. "He doesn't know what to do with himself. Maybe I'll leave him. That's what my Inner One is telling me."

  "I believe you'll know what's best when the time comes," Wilson said.

  A last few tears rolled down her cheeks, and she mumbled, "I would have told you sooner about how I felt, but the war was still underway. You needed to focus, and so did I. Then the conflict was over, but I still couldn't tell you."

  Wilson felt her emotion and his at the same time. He gulped a big swig of beer to fight back his own tears. Maybe the alcohol will help, he thought.

  "You don't love me anymore?" she asked. Her voice was unsteady.

  "I still care for you, Lena," he said. "The thing between Rachel and me just happened all of a sudden."

  "What are you going to do?" she asked. She didn't want to hear him, but she had to know.

  "Rachel and I will meet to see if she wants to live on Earth," he said.

  "Can we still be friends?"

  "You'll always be dear to me," he replied.

  He hugged her, but her return embrace was weak. She released him, got up from her bar stool, and kissed his cheek. It was wet with his tears.

  "I'm leaving now," she said. "Art's outside in the car. We're going to fly to Brazil. He wants to buy a hacienda."

  She hugged him again, now with a stronger embrace.

  It won't last, Wilson thought. There's something about Terac that bothers me, but I can't put my finger on it.

  She let go of Wilson, turned, and walked to the screen door. She paused, looked over her shoulder, and left. The door banged shut behind her.

  He thought, maybe I'll never see her again. He felt more tears form in his eyes, and he wished his Inner One would help him understand true love.

  Epilogue

  Wilson exchanged letters every day with Rachel through the U.S. Postal System and the Triodian fleet of ships. It's true. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, he thought.

  Once in a while Wilson also thought about Lena. There was one thing Wilson and Lena still had in common – hatred of war. Nano medicine had granted them what seemed like never ending life. They had struggled through war, killing, and injuries, physical and mental.

  He recalled, we started out as lovers and played like children. Then we parted, and I learned how potent a drug love is. War scarred our minds, ripped us from each other, and changed us.

  Maybe ants fight each other like human beings do. But few animals are as vicious to their own kind as people are.

  Five weeks after Wilson had returned to Earth, General Black sent Wilson a message, inviting him to visit Rachel on Triod.

  If I'm lucky, she'll agree to come to Earth with me, and maybe we'll marry, he thought. But he couldn't but help but wonder, did Black invite Lena and Terac to visit Triod, too? My Inner One tells me something significant is about to happen, but it's too early to say if it's more goo
d than bad.

  The End

  About the Author

  John G. Bluck retired from NASA in 2008 as a public affairs officer. Previously, he was the Chief of Imaging Technology at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.

  Before that, he worked at NASA Lewis (now Glenn) Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio, where he produced numerous NASA documentaries for television.

  Earlier in his career he was a broadcast engineer for the ABC radio network at WMAL-AM/FM, Washington, D.C. At WMAL-TV (now WJLA-TV) in Washington, he was a news film cameraman who covered local and national news, crime, sports, and politics, including Watergate.

  In 1976 he was named the National Press Photographer Association runner-up cameraman of the year in the Northeast. In addition, he was a member of the White House News Photographers' Association.

  During the Vietnam War he was an Army journalist at Ft. Lewis, Washington.

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