Messinants

by S. H. Jucha

  “And say what, Jessie? I mean, how good is your alien speak?”

  “Don’t look at me!” Jessie exclaimed in pretended horror. “I’m counting on them to carry the metal. They’re the technologically advanced individuals.”

  “Who’s going with you?” Harbour asked.

  “That’s an easy one,” Jessie replied. “You remember the aliens’ first visit? The second female, the one with the brown crown and the muted gold face, ran over to the console. She was there for a while. I’m betting that she downloaded imagery recorded by the console after the dome was activated. This type of structure is too important not to have some sort of monitoring capability. I think the aliens have already seen us, and they’re fully aware that we’re the technological newbies. That’s probably why we’re receiving the invitation.

  “Then, I take it your plan will be to imitate them, and the same team will accompany you that they saw in the recordings, if that’s what they pulled from the console,” Harbour supposed.

  “Yes. It should demonstrate that we received their message and are replying in kind.”

  “I would say that’s an appropriate and intelligent response, unless they capture you and haul you back to wherever they come from,” Harbour replied, her eyes narrowing at Jessie.

  “I’ll be taking Rules,” Jessie replied.

  “I expected that,” Harbour replied simply. “No telling how an empath might be valuable.”

  “Do you think she can affect them as an empath?” Jessie asked. He wanted to take Aurelia because she was one of the original team, but he hadn’t considered her role as a powerful empath.

  “Jessie, they’re bipedal, four-limbed, and symmetrical, and they’re obviously intelligent creatures, which means they think. The method of their invitation displays sensitivity to creatures, namely us, that they’ve probably never encountered, which tells me they have emotions. Assuming all that, Aurelia might be a tremendous asset.”

  “On another note, I don’t want to delay our launch,” Jessie said, getting to the practicalities of tomorrow, which made him more comfortable. “You can bet that the rumor mill is cranking. There’s going to be a tremendous number of questions from Pyreans with few answers. Once our ships are underway, I would advise you to broadcast the recording.”

  “But not speak about where the Annie is going,” Harbour supposed, “although the JOS will recognize the ship’s trajectory soon enough.”

  They sipped on their brandy, mulling over their thoughts.

  Jessie set his empty glass on the table, examining the reflected light in the brilliant crystal, and said, “I’ll talk to Aurelia before I leave, and I’ll transfer her to the Annie tonight.”

  “Do you think that’s wise?” Harbour asked, concerned that security might arrest her.

  “I’ll make it a ship-to-ship transfer. We won’t step foot on the terminal arms,” Jessie assured her. He couldn’t think of anything else to say, though he was loath to leave. Prior to the announcement of the aliens’ arrival, he’d been enjoying himself. He couldn’t recall when he’d felt so relaxed in the company of a woman for a dinner date.

  Jessie stood up, extended his hand, and said, “Fill the Belle, Harbour. I’ll be along shortly.”

  “See that you do, Jessie,” Harbour said, shaking Jessie’s hand. Her hope for an intimate dinner had been turned on its head. More critical matters had intruded, and it made her desires feel trivial. However, deep inside, she was unwilling to place her hopes aside. At the door, Harbour said, “One more thing, Jessie.”

  Jessie turned toward Harbour, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a deep, passionate kiss on him. “If you want more of those, see that you make it to Emperion,”’ she said, her voice husky.

  -16-

  We’re Coming

  Jessie left Harbour’s quarters in a bit of a daze. It wasn’t just the kiss. Along with it, he’d received Harbour’s intense feelings of concern for him. The many times that Aurelia had shared her emotions with him, the crew had felt slightly clinical. Harbour’s emotions were nothing like that. They were deep, complex layers of desire, hope, and fear for another.

  As Jessie walked the corridors, his mind slowly lost the effect of that sending. He had a desire to turn around, kiss Harbour, and ask for more. When he kept walking, he thought, You’re a bigger fool, Jessie Cinders, than I ever considered.

  Jessie wasn’t allowed to dwell on the subject much longer. His path was suddenly blocked by Aurelia.

  “I heard the aliens are back. You’re going, aren’t you?” Aurelia demanded.

  “You guessing or you know?” Jessie asked.

  “Know,” Aurelia replied. “When I mentioned aliens, I read a mix of excitement and trepidation from you. I translate that as what you’re feeling about meeting the aliens.”

  “Yes, I’m going,” Jessie admitted.

  “Then I’m going too,” Aurelia said, as if it was a foregone conclusion.

  “Rules, you wait for the Captain’s invitation,” Jessie replied, exerting his command authority.

  “Maybe we should ask the Annie’s crew if they want to sail without me, especially when they learn the ship’s headed to Triton,” Aurelia replied hotly.

  “That sounds like a threat, Rules. Captains don’t like threats from their crew members. It creates distrust.”

  “You trust me, Captain,” Aurelia replied, confident of her words. “Maybe you’re afraid to take me into dangerous circumstances.”

  Jessie smiled at Aurelia, reminding himself that he was talking to a teenager. “Harbour and I have already discussed you. You’re going. Just wait for the captain’s invitation,” Jessie said, cuffing her lightly upside the head. “Get into your vac suit. We’re taking the Spryte’s shuttle and docking aboard my ship so that we don’t enter the terminal arm. Meet me at the bay. We’ll be aboard the Spryte about an hour or so before we transfer to the Annie.”

  “Aye, aye, Captain,” Aurelia replied, with a broad grin. She fairly skipped away, and Jessie shook his head in amazement. Two years ago, he couldn’t have imagined having any dealings with empaths. Now, two of them had become entwined in his life, and they couldn’t be more different. Yet, he dearly didn’t want to return to the past.

  Jessie and Aurelia had the company of Spryte crew, as they returned to the ship. Following spacer protocol, they were all closed in their vac suits. It allowed Jessie to communicate privately with Aurelia, who sat beside him. He tapped Aurelia’s leg and signaled with his fingers the comm channel she should select.

  “Yes, Captain,” Aurelia replied, after she switched from the ship’s general channel.

  Jessie heard the calm, crew-member voice that Aurelia exuded. Gone was the teenager from the Belle. In her place was the spacer role Aurelia had adopted with a will.

  “Not a word to anyone about my intention to sail the Annie to Triton, Rules,” Jessie said, using the name that the spacers were fond of calling her. “That’s an announcement for the captains to make to their crews.”

  “But, if you’re aboard the —”

  “Hook on, spacer,” Jessie growled.

  “Aye, latched on, Captain,” Aurelia replied. She reminded herself that much of what Jessie and Harbour intended to do was over her head. She satisfied herself with the thought that she wasn’t going to be left out of the trip to Triton. Get your head on straight, spacer, she thought.

  Once aboard the Spryte, Jessie retired immediately to his cabin. That Aurelia was among those who got off the shuttle tweaked the crew’s interest, but they couldn’t seem to engage her in conversation, which piqued their curiosity even more.

  Jessie hooked his comm unit to his desk monitor, thumbed open the device, and accessed his Dissemination of Assets, which was filed with security. The record directed security how to disperse his company, coin, and possessions in the event of his death.

  In Jessie’s last iteration, he’d left his company to Yohlin, Leonard, and Ituau, who would be promoted to captain
of the Spryte. Any of his possessions aboard the Spryte would become the property of Ituau. The Miner’s Pit would be left to Maggie. His belongings in his JOS cabin would be sold off and the coin added to his personal account. No one owned a cabin aboard the station, they were all rented. Space was too precious to allow people to hoard empty cabins.

  Jessie made one important change to his record. Now, his personal account would be transferred to the Belle’s general fund. A smile crossed Jessie’s face, as he recalled Harbour’s kiss. Yeah, I’d like more of those, he thought and chuckled.

  “Ituau, if you’re still awake, and, even if you’re not, get your lazy butt to my cabin,” Jessie called over his comm unit.

  Several minutes later, Ituau rapped on the cabin door before entering. “You wanted to see my large self?” she asked, grinning. The entire crew was in a good mood for several reasons. Their personal accounts were generously inflated by the recent payouts, and they were going back to Emperion for a third run. And, Rules was aboard. While she might not be talking about why she was there, she was broadcasting good cheer.

  “Sit down, Ituau,” Jessie said, indicating the small table centered in the main cabin.

  “You’ll be taking the Spryte to Emperion. As of this moment, you’re promoted to acting captain.” Jessie had to raise a hand to forestall Ituau’s questions. “Keep your ship’s crew busy and work with Yohlin and Leonard to get the Belle filled as quickly as possible. I estimate that we’ll have two more good hauls of slush, little more than a year, before I think competitors will be dropping in at Emperion. Plus, at this rate, I think we’ll be keeping the YIPS tanks full, and that will allow them to catch up with demand. Then, you know what that means.”

  “There goes our bonus and the price of slush,” Ituau replied. She burned to ask questions, but Jessie was intent on rolling out what he had to say in his own good time.

  “One more thing, Ituau. I’ve reviewed my Dissemination of Assets and wanted you to know what I’ve recorded.”

  “Captain, now you’re scaring me. Word has it the aliens are back. This is what this is all about, isn’t it? You’re going to Triton.”

  “Announcements on that subject will be forthcoming, Ituau. Let me return to my Dissemination of Assets. On the report of my death, you’ll be elevated to captain and will have a third share of the company with Captains Erring and Hastings.”

  Ituau stared at Jessie, tears in her eyes. Jessie felt uncomfortable with Ituau’s emotions. She was his hard-bitten, first mate, his right hand.

  “That’s all,” Jessie said, as if the dismissal would end the conversation.

  Instead, Ituau stood, crossed the meter of intervening space, and grabbed Jessie in a hug. Her size and strength blew the breath out of Jessie. He heard her harsh, choked whisper in his ear. She said, “You get your butt to Emperion, when you’re done with the aliens, Captain. I don’t want the Spryte that way.”

  Ituau left before Jessie could say a word, leaving him alone with his thoughts. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt so vulnerable. “See what happens when you start trying to live,” he muttered. “Life gets better, and then it gets precious.”

  “Nate, conference call with my captains,” Jessie said, over a call to the bridge.

  Nate had a quick glimpse of Ituau, when she passed by. Years ago, a disagreement between the two of them was settled by fisticuffs. He was assured that he could take a woman, and she’d disabused him of that notion. After that altercation, he’d become her greatest supporter. To see her emotionally unsettled disturbed him, and, like Ituau, he had questions for the captain but no opportunity to ask them.

  “Captains Hastings and Erring on the line, Captain,” Nate reported and switched the call from the bridge comm to Jessie’s device.

  “Slight change of plans for tomorrow’s launch,” Jessie said, without preamble. “Same time, but different order of business. Leonard, you’ll make for Emperion with the Belle and the Spryte. I’ve made Ituau acting captain. I’m transferring to the Annie with Rules. We’ll be headed for —”

  “Triton,” Yohlin finished for Jessie.

  “Going to say hello to those visitors?” Leonard asked.

  When Yohlin heard Leonard’s chuckle, she retorted, “What’s so funny?”

  “Don’t get your skins in a twist, Yohlin,” Leonard replied. “I’d be happy to change captaincies with you.”

  “And have two men advising each other what to say and do with the aliens? Not on your life, Leonard. There needs to be a woman along to bring some common sense to this fool’s errand.”

  “I believe you just called our illustrious company owner a fool, Yohlin,” Leonard remarked.

  After a pregnant pause, indicating Yohlin was reconsidering her hasty remarks, the two men broke out in laughter.

  “Enough, you two,” Yohlin declared. “I’m taking Jessie to Triton, and that’s that.”

  “What’s the plan at Triton?” Leonard asked.

  “Harbour and I discussed this in detail,” Jessie replied. “Tomorrow, you’ll see a broadcast from the Belle after the ship launches. It’ll show the aliens’ initial hours in the dome. It’s clear they’re trying to entice us there, and many subtle actions they’ve taken signal a nonaggressive stance. My intent is to respond in kind. I believe they have vid of us after the dome activated. To imitate their gestures, I’ll take the original crew down with me.”

  “You’ll need a shelter and a search rover downside,” Yohlin remarked.

  “Minimum footprint,” Jessie replied.

  “What about contamination?” Leonard asked.

  “Good question, Leonard. I’ve been giving that some thought, and I’ve a theory. We know now that this dome is a gate, as the engineers call it, to another world or satellite circling a faraway star. We’ve seen two body types on the deck before these little aliens removed them. My thinking is that we’ve discovered a network of these gates. The real question is: Who built them?”

  “I’m confused, Jessie. How does this side trip into the origin of the gates answer the question of contamination?” Yohlin asked.

  “I thought you said a woman would add balance to the expedition, Yohlin,” Leonard commented. “If you’ve not the patience to listen, how are you supposed to help?”

  Yohlin could hear Leonard chuckling. “Smart mouth,” she muttered.

  “While I don’t know the answer to the question,” Jessie continued, “I think whoever built the domes already thought through this problem and many other issues. Think about it. Hamoi’s DNA sample triggered the egress-ingress function. How was that accomplished? Unknown. But, it indicates a heck of a lot of forethought and detailed execution. This is stuff that’s so far past our capabilities that I can’t even begin to imagine how it was accomplished.”

  “You’re willing to risk your life on those suppositions, Jessie?” Yohlin asked.

  “Think of the alternatives,” Jessie replied.

  “The alternative is that we don’t go. The aliens get bored, and then they go home,” Yohlin shot back.

  “I think what Jessie means, Yohlin, is what will the aliens do if we don’t go to Triton?” Leonard asked.

  “I was hoping they’d go home, but I’m pretty sure that’s wishful thinking,” Yohlin replied.

  “In time, I think the aliens could transport enough workers and supplies to create something that would impact us … a shuttle or a weapon. Recall the crater on Triton. I don’t think we want to wait to find out if these aliens aren’t peaceful. Better to discover that now.”

  “Why does it have to be you, Jessie?” Yohlin asked.

  “Time’s a wasting, Yohlin. The sooner we get there, the better, and we’ve got the experience. Besides, who else would make the trip? The commandant?”

  At the mention of Emerson’s name, Yohlin and Leonard laughed outright.

  “Point taken,” Yohlin replied. “When do you transfer, Jessie?” she asked. “And do you want to speak to your volunteers when you arrive?
”

  “After this call, I’m coming over, Yohlin. It’s a shuttle transfer in order to stay out of the terminal arms. Precious cargo.”

  “The crew will be happy to see Rules,” Yohlin noted.

  “Everyone is happy to see Rules,” Leonard commented.

  “Isn’t that the truth?” Jessie added. “Yohlin, have the four crew members standing by. I’ll talk to them in your quarters.”

  Jessie ended the call, packed a bag, and signaled Aurelia to meet him at the vac suit room. He made his way around the gravity wheel to the bridge. Nate was in a discussion with Ituau. It was obvious that Nate was frustrated by the lack of answers forthcoming from the first mate.

  “Nate, Ituau is acting captain. Follow her orders, as you would mine. You’re headed for Emperion. Get the Belle loaded with slush.”

  Jessie’s intense stare allowed Nate only one reply, which he gave, “Aye, aye, Captain.”

  “Ituau, I need a shuttle transfer to the Annie, two passengers,” Jessie said.

  “Understood, Captain,” Ituau replied.

  As Jessie walked away, he could hear Ituau.

  “Don’t stare at me like the captain lost his mind, Nate,” Ituau said. “Jump to it. Get that shuttle prepped and get him a pilot.”

  Jessie grinned, as he worked his way around to the vac suit room. Aurelia was already wearing hers, except for the helmet, and she helped him don his suit.

  In short order, they were reversing the process, hanging up their suits in the Annie’s vac suit room. Jessie received nods and appropriate comments, as he made his way to Yohlin’s quarters.

  In contrast to the crew’s reaction to him, Jessie could hear the warm greetings delivered to Aurelia. Within moments, he could feel Aurelia’s uplifting broadcast. The girl couldn’t help it. Her entire childhood life was spent in a nicely furnished cage, with minimal interaction with others, except for her mother and her sister. To be so graciously accepted by these roughly worn spacers was a treat to her, and it was one that she repaid every minute afforded her.

  At the captain’s quarters, Jessie said to Aurelia, “No more sending until this conversation is over.”