The Ambassador Calls Twice (A Federation Story)

by E J Randolph

  I fell into the ritual I Am Most Grateful.

  The master completed his end of the interaction.

  I followed Ms Lee out the door. She brought me to the embassy, and I commo’d Ricardo. “It’s already happening. Come get me.”

  Ms Lee sniffed. “Now maybe life can get back to normal around here.” She marched to her office with a stiff back.

  I hopped up the stairs. A hot wind blew across my body. Maybe this would work. Within minutes the sleek form of the flier swooshed to a stop on the landing zone on the embassy roof. I got in and grinned at Ricardo.

  “Work out?”

  “Better than I expected.”

  A few minutes later we arrived at Miss A, and I showed another hologram to the guys.

  It finished and they said nothing.

  I looked around. “Well?”

  Dan put his hands on his thighs. “I like it. The aliens will feel sick. They won’t want to stay.” He didn’t sound enthusiastic or sincere.

  I looked at John.

  He shrugged. “Might work. Of course, I hope it does. But in any event, Ricardo and I will be strapped in. Three minutes after the telepaths go to work, we’ll take off.”

  I thrust my palms toward them. “Stop! Maybe you can wait until they try some other concept if this one doesn’t work out.”

  “We have one chance, and this attempt might at least knock the mind suckers off balance enough to give us a little extra edge.”

  “You don’t think this will work, do you?”

  He shrugged. “Let’s say I’m not convinced. No offense. And we don't have time to experiment.”

  Maybe he was right. Feeling nauseous might not be potent enough to make the aliens leave. Would I leave some place because I felt like vomiting? Maybe not. Oh no! What now? The guys might be right. This might be no solution at all. And all our lives and the future of this planet and perhaps the Federation itself might depend on a nearly hopeless effort on the part of John and Ricardo to take out the alien ships' power supplies.

  I had no other ideas. I crumpled into my chair and stared into the distance. What else could I do?

  Sometime later Nick walked to the food fabricator and ordered what at first seemed a simple bacon sandwich. Within moments, he ordered toppings of ketchup, peanut butter, salad dressing, and walnuts. No way! He arranged slices of radishes on top.

  We stopped what we were doing and watched Nick.

  He took a big bite.

  Ricardo clasped his stomach. “I feel sick.”

  We laughed, and the tension in the room eased for a while.

  ~ ~ ~

  The next day everyone on Miss A woke long before dawn. We verified we were all on the same time. John and Ricardo ran through their checklists and started the countdown. The atmosphere was thick with tension. Dan, Nick, and I ate a hurried breakfast, and I fed Shebang sardines.

  I put Shebang in a little backpack cat carrier with a screened-in top that allowed her to watch the goings-on. She liked it fine. For me her purring was like wearing a back vibrator.

  It was time for Dan, Nick, and me to leave. My stomach clenched. We shouldn’t be leaving John and Ricardo behind. I felt torn in two. The team was being split. So wrong! John and Ricardo should not have to face extreme danger by themselves.

  Dan, Nick, and I stopped at the control room hatch on our way out.

  Dan’s hands dangled at his sides. “Uh, good luck, guys.”

  Ricardo grinned. “Who needs luck when we have the best pilot in known space.”

  John smiled. “And the smartest strategist since Alexander the Great was a buck private.”

  Only half of Dan’s mouth smiled. “Then there’s no doubt how it will turn out.” He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Well, we’re off.”

  “Only idiots would stay.”

  “I would rather be an idiot any day than leave.”

  John straightened into his command pose. “You will leave and take Nick and Kate with you. They would never survive our acceleration. It’s up to you.”

  Dan ducked his head. “Alright.” He turned toward the hatch.

  I made a little wave. “Bye, guys.” Words formed a lump in my throat.

  “Go with Dan. And keep a commo channel open.”

  I nodded and followed Dan out. Nick was right behind me. We got into a waiting robotaxi. Dan gave the vehicle directions, and we drove off. I glanced at Miss A barely visible in the starlight and clasped my hands. This must not be the last time I see her.

  We moved through silent streets and past darkened houses until the robotaxi pulled up in front of the Soul's Journey Institute. We entered and sat in the back.

  Black robed figures of the masters entered the building. They sat cross-legged.

  Oh, please, make this work! Please! I scanned the masters as if I could discern their capacities and infuse them with my hopes.

  The first rays of the sun spread across the sky and were visible through the clear domed roof. Many of the telepaths chanted. I didn’t think of myself as psychic, but a powerful force pushed me back almost like a strong wind.

  The voices rose, chanting in unison.

  I looked at Dan and mouthed, “Do you think?”

  He shrugged his shoulders.

  After a few minutes the chanting subsided.

  I walked outside with my two companions and stood on one side of the path. The masters filed out in silence, their heads bowed under their black hoods.

  Did they accomplish their purpose? I tilted my head to the sky. Were the aliens gone? Or were John and Ricardo up there right now? I stared at my communicator willing its open channel to fill with John's voice. I ground my teeth. Now! I stared at the sky, and tears welled. Were John and Ricardo still alive?

  I pictured them flying skyward toward the alien ships. Would they survive the g forces? Or had they blacked out somewhere, floated off in space, perhaps lost for all time? Or had the aliens beamed them? I choked. I’d lost my friends! Tears coursed down my cheeks. It was all over. My knees buckled.

  The communicator crackled. “The mind suckers have left.” John’s voice came loud and clear over the open channel. “I hope they got a good case of stomach flu.”

  I let out a loud whoop, and Dan rocked back on his feet with a big smile.

  Nick’s jaw dropped. He stared at the passing masters. “Potent fellows. Who would have thought something other than a machine could have so much power?”

  Dan waved at us. “Come on, let’s get to Miss A. I think all of us – the whole team – needs to be together and celebrate.”

  I raised my wrist computer to my mouth. “We’ll be right there.”

  We hailed a robotaxi. At Miss A we rushed the gangway. Nick's long legs put him in the lead, Dan followed, and I brought up the rear, trying not to bounce Shebang too much as I ran.

  We hurried into the commons. A strong tomato and cheese aroma met our noses. John stood at the food fabricator with a big grin on his face and pieces of pizza. Within seconds we each held a big savory piece with the works. Amazing! Nick ate his slice as it was given to him without adding anything additional. We talked about the last few hours with excited voices and big smiles.

  I looked around. “The team is together. We survived. We did it.”

  We formed a circle and high-fived each other in a loud clapping of hands.

  I raised my arms. “Yay! We got through this. We beat those aliens. I got the cooperation of the masters. It all worked out.”

  Ricardo slapped my hand. “We saved humanity. We’re the best!”

  I shook my head. “We were merely the message bearers. Once I learned how to talk to the masters and meditators. They did the heavy lifting, the real work.”

  Ricardo raised a fist. “To the masters and meditators!”

  We cheered.

  A little while later the level of excitement lowered, and Ricardo turned to me. “Do you still want to quit your job?”

  I shook my head. “My career. At le
ast this time I was able to do good while pursuing my career. Perhaps the conundrum of my career is over. At least for now.” I looked around. “Maybe I can stay a diplomat.”

  “That's good.” John’s voice was dry. “I’m not interested in breaking in a new one.

  “But there are still some things I need to have a heart-to-heart talk with Really Big about.”

  John nodded. “I think we’re all in agreement there.”

  I smiled. “And... I think we need and deserve a real vacation.”

  The guys erupted in wild cheering.

  “No more postings pretending to be vacations.”

  More cheering.

  We were a team and needed to stay that way. “I can't quit. The team has to stay together.” That reality was bittersweet for me. I’d found a home with this team. It would tear a big hole in my heart and life to leave these guys I’d grown to know and like.

  Ricardo walked to the food fabricator. “This calls for a round.”

  John took his glass and raised it. “To the team. May we stay together.”

  We cheered and threw our drinks down.

  ~ ~ ~

  I was bone tired, having not slept well in days. I staggered to my quarters and sat on the edge of my bunk.

  “I’m so glad it all worked out.” The soft, feminine voice came from the overhead.

  “Me, too.”

  “But I don’t get pizza.”

  “We should do something else for you.”

  She laughed softly. “What could that be?”

  “We need to include you by talking to you when we celebrate.”

  “That’s what you’re doing now.”

  I smiled. “You’re right. I’m including you in my mood of celebration.”

  “Thank you.”

  My head hit my pillow, and I fell sound asleep.

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