The Arwen Book two: Manifest Destiny

by Timothy P. Callahan

  “This is correct,” Hans replied through Karla.

  “I could die in twenty years and you, Hans, you will remember me and you’ll remember what I did to help. You, your crew, anyone else I meet, they’ll all remember the strange Earthling who helped rebuild the Handlers Home world and that could make a difference.”

  Once the translation was finished Hans lay on the ground quietly. A small cloud of something which smelled like vanilla pudding floated through the room. Karla said, “He’s thinking.”

  “That’s what I figured.” Marjorie replied. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure,” Karla replied.

  “Why aren’t you dead yet? I can see you’re growing about as fast as Ann, but by the time she was your age she was near death.”

  Karla looked uncomfortable as she answered, “Ann was a rushed clone. They didn’t have the time to fix her DNA. My DNA is fixed but it’s not a perfect fix. I’ll be dead soon as well, maybe within the week, but the repairs have given me a few extra days to live.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Marjorie said. “I feel responsible.”

  For the first time since she’s had contact with Karla she saw a slight smile cross her face. It reminded her of Ann, and of old pictures she would see of herself, and her mother and even a little bit of her father. “It’s okay, it’s just how it is.”

  Hans started tapping on the ground, snapping the smirk of Karla’s face. “He said that you may come if you want. Bring some supplies, they’ll need to figure out if they can feed you that might take a while so bring as much as you can. He can’t promise you anything except he will try to get you an audience with someone in charge. They could kill you on the spot, or they could listen to what you have to say.”

  “All I ask for is a chance.” Marjorie replied standing from her chair. “I’ll get myself together and we’ll meet at the hanger in two hours. Thank you, Hans, I have a very good feeling about this.”

  *******

  Juliet stood on one leg and one crutch. The doctor asked her not to leave but she told him where he could take his advice and asked for the crutches, there would be no way she wasn’t going to be here to say good bye to the Captain. . .to Marjorie Cook.

  So she waited and watched the door. When it did open the first person she saw was Karla, she had grown so much in the past week it was scary. Behind her was the Handler, Hans. Seeing him always sent a strange sensation through Juliet’s body. It was hard not to forget the first time she encountered the Handlers, when her and Professor Ricter made that life changing trip to through the first Wormhole.

  Walking behind both of them was Marjorie. She no longer wore her uniform so it was odd to see her without it. She carried with her a bag which she slung over her shoulder. It reminded Juliet of the time she and the Professor saw her on Planet Ricter. She seemed happy back then willing to let it all go. She had that same look in her eyes now. She was ready to start a new life and to leave this one behind.

  They approached and Juliet nodded to Karla and Hans. Karla nodded back and walked up the ramp, Hans followed. She saluted when Marjorie approached her and stopped. “At ease, Captain. I should be saluting you.”

  “No, you’ll always be my superior.”

  Marjorie laughed. “Is the shuttle loaded?”

  “Yes, filled to the brim with supplies. They say you have about five years of food to work with, should give you plenty of time.”

  “I hope,” she replied. The two stood there in silence. Marjorie looking at the shuttle. “Are the other Handler’s ready?”

  “Yes,” Juliet replied happy there was a break in the silence. “They left on a shuttle a few hours ago. We watched them touch down on the planet where they were met with open antenna.”

  “Devastation has a way of making enemies friends when the goal is the same,” Marjorie replied. “Well, I guess I’m ready. When you see the Professor hand him this,” Marjorie held out an envelope. “He would appreciate the hand written note.”

  “That he would,” Juliet said talking the note. “I need to ask this one more time: are you sure this is what you want?”

  “I’m not saying I don’t have my doubts this will work but yes, I think the reward outweighs the risk.” Marjorie stood at attention and gave Captain Monrow a stiff salute. Juliet returned the salute, laughed and gave Marjorie a hug.

  As Marjorie Cook walked up the ramp Juliet watched and tried to remember every moment of it. This would be the last time the Arwen saw her Captain. The hero of so many wars was leaving to start a new adventure. It was a bittersweet moment that could change the galaxy forever.

  Epilogue

  Professor Ricter lowered the note after reading it and made damn sure Juliet didn’t see the tears which were welling up in his eyes. “Very nice, thank you.” He said to her and placed the note on his desk.

  “That’s it?” Juliet asked. “Just thank you?”

  “Did you want more? Do you want me to tell you what she said? No, I don’t think I’ll be doing that. What she wrote will always be between me and her but, just to satisfy your curiosity she didn’t give any last minute devotions of love or anything like that.”

  “That’s not what I was thinking,” Juliet replied bitterly. “But, that’s good to know. Guess I’m the only one who’s ever really loved you.”

  “That would be correct.”

  Juliet laughed and sat in the chair across from him. “I bet you’re just so proud of yourself, aren’t you? Closing the wormhole, saving the Corps, maybe even saving the galaxy.”

  “Yes, it really is very overwhelming, even for me. My research and dedication made it possible. All the awards, the parades, the speaking engagements, I can’t wait for them to be over.”

  “Right, cause you hate all the attention,” the sarcasm made even the Professor smile.

  “I want to get back to the research, to finding ways of dealing with our next visit from the Handlers should they not be friendly. The Captain will do her best I’m sure and there could be a chance they’ll be friendly but I don’t think the Corps is going to take the chance.”

  “I hear they’re going to search for other Water Planet’s and try to plunge them into suns as well, seal that method of travel for good.”

  “Yes, I’m leading the research on that project as well, it’s more of a side project for now. I think the one we did put into the sun will flood Wormhole Beta space for a very long time but it would be nice to have backups ready. What about you? How is your leg?”

  Juliet knocked on her metallic leg. “Good as new. Shame they couldn’t save my other one. I still say if they had just attached it when it was fresh the nanobots would have fixed it.”

  “I don’t doubt that,” Professor Ricter replied. “I don’t think I want to test it anytime soon, but you’re probably right. Are they giving you the Arwen?”

  “As soon as they upgrade the computers. I need to pick a second, which is harder than I thought it would be, there are so many good people to choose from.”

  “I’m sure you’ll make a good choice.” He stood from his chair. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, Captain, I have some work to do. I thank you for giving me the note and I wish you all the luck in the world. Try to keep in touch. I do enjoy hearing from you.”

  “Right,” Juliet replied standing. “Professor, good day.” She turned and walked out of his office.

  Once she left the Professor sat back down and looked at the note. He read it one more time before placing it back into the envelop and then into his desk drawer.

  ******

  Juliet sat in the Captain’s chair and squirmed. “Feels weird,” she said.

  “Do you need another chair?” Arwen asked. The bridge crew chuckled at the question. They seemed to be a loose bunch, new recruits that needed to be whipped into shape.

  “No, Arwen, sorry. I mean it just feels strange to be sitting here. I’m the first new Captain of the Arwen in over 30 years, that’s saying something.”

  “I see what
you mean,” Arwen replied. “You’ll grow comfortable in the seat.”

  “I’m sure I will. Okay, now, let’s get down to business. We have a new mission, we’re supposed to go the Ulliam system and observe the activity there. From what I was told the partially build Dyson sphere took heavy damage.”

  “According to our scans and scouts the entire structure was destroyed.”

  “Right, and we’re supposed to keep it that way so, Helm let’s get moving.”

  She felt the engine come to life. Captain Cook told her that sound always made her feel at home, as if the ship were welcoming her back with a hug. The sound and vibration of the engines signaled a new mission, a new adventure, another chance to make history. You never really knew what was on the other end of the wormhole and Juliet looked forward to finding out.