Starline

by Imogene Nix

  It was more a matter of when the time was right, and that wasn’t now. Ahead of them lay traveling into a dangerous situation, not to mention time travel. What effects would that have on a growing fetus? And coupled with the unstable nature of their relationship, she knew, deep down, neither was really ready for a child.

  He’d be protective of a child and its mother, she knew that already. But it wouldn’t be a matter of choice. For her, there could be no option of getting rid of it—her background had made sure of that. Besides, she believed children were as long term a commitment as it got. Mellissa closed her eyes, mentally kicking herself for not thinking first before jumping into a physical relationship with Duvall.

  “Negative.” Elara looked at her with the single word.

  Mellissa breathed deeply, trying to calm herself. Her fears that it would put too much pressure on their growing relationship were gone, and she felt devastated.

  “So how would you feel if it had been positive?”

  “It never even crossed my mind, until the possibility was there. Once I knew there was a chance, I wanted it. But now that I know it’s not, I feel…empty.” Mellissa closed her eyes, a feeling of sadness washing over her. “I mean, all my life I was kind of prepared for being alone, without children and family. Then all of a sudden the opportunity could have been there. It sounds odd, I know, but now it’s something I would like. One day. But neither of us is anywhere near ready or settled, and who knows what the future will hold?”

  “That’s not so unusual, you know. I’m guessing you and Duvall haven’t discussed this yet. Is that right?” Elara sat down on the seat opposite her and took her hand.

  “No.” Mellissa rubbed at her aching eyes. “I know we weren’t prepared and that it’s better that way, but still…”

  “I know. It feels like you’ve lost something.”

  Silence stretched and Mellissa dug deep, looking for strength. “We should… Tell me about your suggestion for contraception, please.”

  Elara scanned her face. “Okay then. There’s a few, but for you, I’m thinking a longer term option might be best. Just until things settle down a bit.” She grabbed up one and Mellissa saw a cylindrical capsule, about half the length of her fingernail. “This will be good for six months. I strongly suggest that should you choose to let it run out, you discuss the situation first with Duvall. If you choose not to renew the implant, then we can start discussing options and routines and pregnancy.” Elara grinned at Mellissa, who still felt like bursting into tears.

  Mellissa smiled shakily at her friend. “Yeah, that sounds like the best option.”

  Elara slipped it inside an applicator and held it against her skin. “This will only take a second or two.” She pressed the button. “All done. If you experience any side effects, let me know immediately. Now come on back to my office. I need that coffee.”

  They finished their drinks, sitting at the desk in the ST suite. She didn’t want to talk any further about it and Elara let the conversation lapse.

  Just before she left the suite, Elara made one final point. “Mellissa, I don’t want to pry, but I know Duvall really well. He’s not an open kind of person, and you may have to take that first step yourself. I know it’s scary. Relationships are a gamble, and sometimes you need to make sure your dice is loaded before they can get theirs in place. And Duvall isn’t a great dice player. But what he will do is keep any commitment he gives to you.” She gave Mellissa a hug and left her to ponder the information.

  After the session, Mellissa had a feeling that she needed to take some action toward formalizing the situation with Duvall, but as to what? That still remained a mystery.

  * * * *

  They reached the gate to the slipstream without needing to make a stop at Aenna, and it loomed ominously in Mellissa’s mind. She watched the crew in action from her seat on the bridge. It was truly a marvel to be able to travel like this, she thought.

  “Transmit code.” Duvall’s face was a study of concentration as he monitored the scrolling information on the screen. An overlay of details whirred before them, slightly obscuring her view.

  The data flow stopped briefly while Duvall and Grayson tapped on their desk screens. “Override command beta.” Grayson’s voice filtered through the silent room.

  “Inputting now.” The tap tap of the keys filled the air. “Override command alpha. Status…accepted.” Duvall cleared his throat, and all eyes turned to the viewer.

  A single word flashed onto the screen. Acknowledged. Duvall typed instructions, his hands flying across his keypad.

  “All hands, strap in. We have the go to slipstream.” He toggled the mic and gave the command to his crew. He turned to the navigator. “Good to go.”

  Mellissa was heartened when he winked at her before giving the command to head through the port. When the chimes finally announced the opening of the slipstream, a whine started from the engines. The deck vibrated, but the sound was…harmonious, she thought. Looking around, she noted the rest of the crew strapping in and she followed suit, the heavy canvas sliding over her, and with a clack she secured it within the buckle.

  “It wasn’t so long ago that you didn’t know how to do that.” Elara’s voice echoed amusement, and Mellissa smiled with her.

  Then there was the gathering force, shoving her back in her seat as the Elector roared and finally sped forward, within the gate.

  “The engines sound… I don’t know. Less forced than before?” She turned toward Elara who grinned.

  “Grayson said Raven found some engine issues that needed adjusting. But yes, I think you’re right. It sounds better and seems to have more power than before.”

  “Last time I was here, I didn’t even have a rudimentary knowledge of time travel or slipstream technology. It’s odd, because that was only days ago, yet I feel like… I don’t know. Maybe I feel like I’ve changed. Now that sounds stupid, doesn’t it?”

  “Not at all. The person you were when you joined the Elector was unaware of the great leaps that have been made, both scientific and social. Now that you’re aware, essentially you are a different person.”

  Mellissa mulled over Elara’s words. Turning her attention back to the viewscreen, she watched the information scrolling across. Some of it she understood now, and that filled her with satisfaction. Now through the gates, she slipped her chair back around to marvel at the view from the ports at the side of the bridge. The black of the stream enveloped the ship, and once more, the flying star trails whizzing by caught her attention.

  “Well, as much as I could sit here on the bridge for hours, I have work to do. Don’t suppose you’ll join me in the mess for a coffee?” Elara asked Mellissa.

  Before she could rise and accept Elara’s invitation, Duvall interrupted. “Stay for a while. I need to evaluate what you understood of our maneuvers.”

  She glanced at Elara.

  “That’s okay. I should get back to SurgiTech. I have plenty of work to keep me busy there.” Then she left them.

  Even though the bridge was crowded, it seemed as if they were alone, in their own private world, when Duvall motioned her to take her seat and swiveled his around to face her.

  “So, what did you understand?”

  She explained her rudimentary knowledge. “You have a two-phase key that activates the slipstream. Once they are keyed in, you wait for a ping, then enter the coordinates, which stretches the stream through the time continuum. After that things get a little hazy.”

  His eyes widened. “That’s pretty good. Of course each gate, or door if you will, has its own set of commands or key. Without the correct one, the gate won’t activate. The two-phase passwords are set commands to activate it. Then there is override, and it’s good for one return use only. Then we input that continuum log points.”

  “Wow. Okay, so I remember most of the actual steps.”

  “Yeah, you did really well.” They sat in silence for a moment, then he leaned forward. “What are you…”

>   “I need to get started running through the data files and making sure everything is fine. Then I need to see Raven about generating the required equipment.” Her voice wobbled a little, betraying her nerves. “I really want to get this right.”

  Duvall slid his hand over hers. “You’ll do fine. I better let you go then.”

  For an instant Mellissa was sure she saw a wisp of regret on his face. “Will you join me later? For lunch?”

  He gave a nod and she stood, walking away from the bridge to the small alcove that had been set aside for her use. Settling into the chair, Mellissa logged into the desk screen. A file flashed up at her, and she quickly brought up the information from the messaging system. The first message contained a number of files, which described the social situation of her time. Mellissa opened that one first, quickly losing herself in the descriptions, sometimes amending the information she felt was inaccurate, until she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to find Duvall standing there.

  “Ready for a break?” he asked softly. His tall frame towered over her and made her feel protected and cared for. Not emotions she usually attributed to herself.

  “Sure. Coffee sounds pretty good right now.” She smiled at him.

  He leaned down toward her. “I could even suggest something a little more exciting, but unfortunately there’s such a lot to do, that it will have to suffice…for now.”

  The look on his face turned wolfish, and heat coiled low in her belly. He indicated she should stand up.

  “Grayson has taken control of the bridge, so at least we can sit and talk in the privacy of my office.” He led her toward the stairs. “So, how are our records?” he asked.

  “Some of it is really uncannily accurate, then I find something that makes me laugh because it’s so wrong. I was reading this information about money and banks. It talks about how banks are multiple repositories for blood, money, and even sperm! Honestly, anyone would think you don’t have those in your time.” She looked at him.

  He seemed confused. “We don’t. Is that so wrong?”

  His answer stopped her in her tracks. “Yes. No. I mean your understanding is just a bit off.” She went on to explain the differences between the three types of banks. “What do you use to purchase things with?”

  “We don’t buy things using money. You’re allocated a credit depending on what you do for the Empire. You can amass credit in order to purchase anything you want.”

  She looked at him for a moment. “So you budget and effectively bank your credits until you can afford the item you want.”

  “Sure, we have a budget, but credit shows on our ID accounts. We swipe our wrist IDs, and that’s how we acquire items.”

  “Well, there you go.” She grinned up at him. “No wonder you can afford to buy a girl coffee.”

  “Food items, those of a basic nature, are available as needed. There is no need to utilize your ID. Other items, of a luxury nature, they’re the ones you need your ID for.”

  She let that settle as they moved forward. The door to his office slid open and they stepped inside, then he moved in toward her. Their lips met, and the familiar tingling began as she opened her mouth to allow him access.

  She sighed with pleasure when his hands dropped to her bottom, caressing and kneading. He lifted his mouth only to look into her eyes, then allowed his hands to dip down to her mouth and beyond to her neck then back up again. Slowly, sensuously, he traced her cheeks with his lips, little nips here and there as he reached her chin. He flicked the sensitive flesh with the tip of his tongue.

  Heat simmered between them as Duvall grazed her neck with his lips. She reached up and tangled her hands in his hair, luxuriating in the thick, rich silk.

  Even as Mellissa arched back his hands cupped her breasts, slowly kneading them. Her hands gripped him tighter now, and without conscious thought, she moved her legs slightly to allow him to stand between them as she arched into his kiss and hands. He moaned and lifted his head. The heat in his eyes promised further encounters. Just not now.

  The coil of desire in her belly gnawed, but they eased away from each other, and he rested his forehead against hers as their heartbeats returned to their normal rhythm. The moment passed.

  They stayed like that, neither saying a word for a long moment.

  “Barsha!” Eventually, he moved away from her. “I can’t seem to stay away from you, and yet we have so much to do before we emerge from the slipstream. I didn’t bring you in here to ravish you. But it certainly is an added bonus.” He smiled at her, seeming more relaxed than before.

  The reason for his tension became evident later when he showed her a report from Meredith. Crick Sur Banden had infiltrators throughout the various countries who remained signatories to the United Nations and were using a single human courier. Andurs Feinstein.

  “We haven’t managed to locate any information on him, and I need you to check the historical records. See what there is regarding him, his background, and how he may have come into contact with the Ru’Edan Empire.” He stopped and looked at her. “Can you do that? We need the information quickly. Given the nature of this investigation, I need to keep this between us if possible. I need you to do it, but here on my secured system.” He indicated his personal desk screen.

  She nodded. “Yes, based on what I have been shown, I believe I can find that information, depending on what documentation you have. I may require things such as telephone books and electoral rolls from that timeframe though. Do you think you have access to those?”

  He looked mystified. She wondered what other concepts she would raise that would surprise them both.

  “I honestly don’t know. But if we don’t, what other options are available?” he asked.

  She knew he was floundering, his knowledge of her time weak. Well, I finally have something solid to add to the crew. For all their expertise, this is beyond them.

  “Depending on what equipment you have on the ship, I wonder…is it possible to access the internet?” She quickly continued before he even had time to reply. “Stupid question, you probably can’t do that using the technology you have available and in slipstream, right? Besides which, it’s ancient technology for you and likely none of your machines will even be able to make a connection.” She babbled furiously, angry with herself for the ridiculous question about the ‘net’.

  He looked confused, and she sat behind his desk and tapped a query into the desk screen. Information concerning the internet popped up on the screen. He moved around the desk, behind her, leaning over her shoulder and reading quickly. “Oh, that’s what you mean? I had heard about that. Hang on, I can get the comm officer to take a look. He might have an idea how we can hook you into it.” He toggled the commswitch and quickly paged the officer.

  He arrived, panting a little. “Yes, Captain?”

  “Mellissa needs access to some very old technology called the intranet—”

  The officer looked confused, and Mellissa took pity on him. “The internet. I need to be able to access some historical documents.”

  The man smiled. “I have just the thing.” He left the office at a quick trot, the thud of his boots quickly dying away, only to return some minutes later with a palm unit in hand. “I’ve been working on replicating some of the ancient technologies, particularly this. It’s called a doogle?”

  Mellissa worked hard to keep a straight face. “It’s called a dongle.”

  “Ahh.” He smiled sheepishly. “It’s a sort of hobby. I thought when we were told we’d be moving through the slipstream, that I might have the opportunity to use it.” He handed the palm unit over.

  Mellissa picked it up, turned it on, and watched it scan for a connection. None yet, but she was sure it would work. She grinned at the comm officer. “This looks pretty close to what I’m looking for, but unless it can connect…” She fiddled a little more, touching icons on the screen.

  The comm officer watched her intently, asking questions that she could thankfully answ
er.

  A few minutes later, she looked up and smiled. “Yes, it’s exactly what I need. When we are closer, I’m guessing you should be able to find a way to hook me into a satellite and away we go.”

  “Just say the word and I’ll come down and we can configure it.”

  Finally, she’d found her place, and it felt right.

  * * * *

  Duvall watched the delight in Mellissa’s face and felt a cold emotion, rather like jealousy, sweep through him. Here she was, headed back to her own time. In the short time that had passed, she’d changed and become more…assured?

  But during the by-play with the comm officer she’d unbent and become almost playful. It confused him. Was she drawn to the man? Or was this just her true nature finally breaking free of the confines she seemed to tie herself up with?

  Hell, he still didn’t even know if she wanted to stay. But even if she wanted to remain behind in her time, he couldn’t allow that. The danger to everyone involved was too great. She knew far too much, and that threatened everything his people had fought for. He thrust the thought away before the ache in his chest got larger.

  “That’s one more hurdle cleared away. Now you can check through the records and find Feinstein.”

  “Well, when we get closer, yes. But I’m going to look through the records you have available, just in case I can pick something up there.”

  He watched as she started working, flicking through ancient computerized files, just as he’d requested. He stayed for a minute, just taking in the view of her in his space, at home and relaxed. Comfortable.

  He turned and left her to it.

  Chapter 12

  Mellissa sat at the desk screen, contemplating a summary of her time while they traveled through the slipstream.

  Taking a break for a coffee, she stood and gazed out the portal. The star trails slid by like long strands of light. “I’ve spent a lot of time contemplating since I got here.” Her voice echoed in the silent cabin.

  The most accurate description of her situation at this point was nervously content with the occasional traumatic experience. She laughed out loud at the whimsy of her thought before giving a sigh and swallowing the rest of the rich brew.