by Matt Harvell
“It's better than I could have imagined.” Zim beamed, rapidly scouring circular walls, while taking in his new scenery. Each wall alive, brightening, fading, and taking turns ringing out to each other. “There's never been a ship like this in the LOP, right captain?” Zim couldn't keep his eyes off each vibrant console.
“Nope. The Scimitar bodes a new design, a design actually masterminded by one of your crewmates. You met Luke earlier. he’s our chief engineer. I think he's off with PAL checking diagnostics before we head back to the LOP headquarters.” Jack said
“It's so small, for a LOP ship. It reminds me of a transporter shuttle. I can't tell if it’s a good thing or a bad thing. I don't know what we’re gonna be up against, but if it handles as well as it looks, we should be in good shape.” Zim continued scanning the shimmering, chrome-laden infused deck.
“Our Scimitar may be small, but it's armed to the teeth: firepower and defense-wise. An agile freight shuttle should deter a lot of suspicion, while packing one hell of a surprise for whoever wants to test us. Personally, I rather like the compact design. It’s tactically efficient. The technology here on the Scimitar is state-of-the-art, for any ship in the LOP. Damn good disguise for a group of elite forces.” Jack said
“A significantly smaller target than most ships, also.” Sasha chimed in, while replicating a dark, ambrose-colored brewed tea. Pale steam billowed off the brim of her glass. After setting down the piping-hot tea above one of the interfaces, Sasha glanced towards Jack. “Luke’s gonna have to take a look at the replicator again. It's probably set thirty degrees too high, again.”
“Yeah, I'm sure he'll have time when we’re back on Earth. There’s no impending mission, at least to my knowledge. So, there should be some down-time. I don't know what it is with the LOP and their food replicators, but they can't seem to keep them working properly. I would’ve thought they'd perfect their design, at least by now. I'd file a formal complaint, if it'd do any good.” Jack chuckled.
Sasha listened closely as faint footsteps echoed down one of the connecting hallways. Now glancing toward the adjacent hall, she picked up her tea and took a sip, curious who would pop up now. Two figures walking side-by-side appeared in the cockpit: Luke and Pal.
“How come I didn't hear you coming down the hall, Pal? You're usually always clanking up and down the halls”. Sasha said, scanning Pal’s matte black, metallic figure. “Oh, I see, you got some shoes. Did Luke make those for you?” The rubber covers over Pal’s feet looked as if they were melded onto him from creation.
“Yes. Luke and I found some scrap around the launch bay undercarriage when we were down there earlier helping them with one of their ship repairs.” Lifting his foot, Pal removed one of his tar-tainted shoes and gently dropped it to the floor. With a sharp clink, the shoe stood upright from its seven feet drop.
“You hear that? That's an alloy casing inside those. Took some left-over scrap ship alloy they had and we molded a caste of Pal’s foot. Wouldn't have made a sound difference without the rubber, so we shaped some old fastening rubber around it. Should last a while and make him a lot quieter around here.” Luke said.
“If only you were more of a heavy sleeper, a good solution though. I wish I could help myself; sleep seems counterproductive, yet existing, aware at every moment in the day lends a certain unnerving element to a continuous journey. No doubt partly why I read so frequently into the night. Keeps me occupied, sharper, and wakes Luke up on many occasions.” Pal said, while putting his shoe back on.
“They really neglected to tell me what I got into joining this team.” Looking up for the first time, Zim’s eyes jumped up and down Pal’s abnormally huge structure. “A new ship, a reading robot stalking around in the night, and a crew actually committed to results; I've got a lot to live up to.” Zim said.
“You do. If you find yourself obsolete, I will gladly take over in your place.” Pal’s vocal tone shifted upwards, while slowing down his speech movement. Sasha learned all too well Pal’s use of sarcasm; he was on another level than any of the crew. She loved watching others reactions to Pal; there wasn't a robot like him, or one they would want to interact with. It took time getting used to, and she had her fair share of not understanding Pal’s joking manners; now she could observe Zim’s reaction. He was in for a challenge of witty banter with the reading robot.
“That's a pretty good one. Maybe on the way back we can see if the Centurion gang could use some more scrap metal. I don't think they'd like the attitude. You're a bit too dangerous and open-minded for them.” Zim looked deeply into Pal’s faintly lit eyes then burst out laughing. “I didn't mean that, and I have a feeling you didn't mean your words either, Pal. It's just. . .” He paused, looking at each crew member around the circular deck, “it’s all, just so, fascinating. And freeing.”
“Sounds a bit like death, to me, but you’re correct. Nice one. I don't usually count on an equal insult thrown back at me. Always a welcome change of pace. Most who I converse with outside of the LOP resort to asking if the robot is sick, or my favorite: blatantly continuing to speak, as if I am a simple service bot. Even once I have eloquently portrayed myself. In no-way smearing my brethren, but it should be obvious to most my level of self-awareness.”
“I don't know about everyone else, but the Castille natives’ extra sensitive senses help me constantly. Most of my class didn't understand it, outside of me pulling aerial stunts. It extends into every sense, every aspect of my life, influencing each daily thought and interaction. I couldn't feel like I usually do with what you said, Pal, but I heard your tone shift, you slowed down your speech movement. Plus, I highly doubt anyone on this crew is out to get me decommissioned.” Zim looked towards Pal once again, “So, I’m guessing there's more to your name than just a friendly designation.”
“Indeed, there is, PAL stands for: pattern analyzing learning unit. I am the only one of my kind, to my extremely limited knowledge regarding my past. I observe and learn from those around me, and I've been waiting to see your piloting in action. If it's anything similar to your level of social awareness, I should have much to learn.
“I have a feeling I'll have a bit to learn from you too, Pal.” Zim said, then glancing over towards Jack. “When are we heading back? I'm eager to try this flyer out.” He said, finally reaching the cockpit.
“We’ll have to contact headquarters and get the loop setup. Once they get close to opening it, we can leave Castille and head back to Earth. Luke, are we ready to contact headquarters?” Jack said, turning towards Luke.
“Yep. We’re ready. Pal and I just finished diagnostics and made sure Zim’s craft got loaded up. It's a tight fit in there, but you should be able to maneuver in and out easily enough.” Luke said
“I'm used to it, my parents storage wasn't easy to exit out of either. Thanks.”
“No problem.” Luke said, pinning back his shaggy, dirty-blonde locks. His hands were almost always spotless, an unusual trait for a chief engineer, Sasha often thought.
“Well, if anyone needs me, I'll be in my quarters. Let me and Zorann know when we're about to hit the loop.” Sasha said, starting to walk down the corridor towards her room.
“Got it.” Replied Jack, as conversations resumed filling the room after her exit.
Chapter 3
Walking down the short corridor, a shade of light slivered from her and Zorann’s room. Entering her room slowly, she saw Zorann on her bed across the room. Not being able to tell if she was awake or not, Sasha crossed to her right and had started to lay on her bed. Creaking rebounded even with the care she put to lower herself lightly. Before her head could hit the firm pillow beneath her, Zorann popped up from her slumber.
Stretching her gold-tinted arms out, Zorann looked toward Sasha. “Oh, hi Sasha. Do you know what time it is?” She said,
“It's a bit past six, we should be leaving soon. Zim’s inspecting every inch of the cockpit, but they were about to contact headquarters.”
“I can't
believe I slept this late. I just couldn’t bear sleeping in my room anymore, so I came here in the middle of the night. The embassy guards were a bit confused. After showing them my arms, though, they understood.”
“You didn't really have anything to do, I don't see why it would matter.” Sasha’s voice progressively lowered. “Nobody said a word, just busy chatting about the simulation. Akeihl was even quiet too, for the most part.”
“So, how did the simulation go? I hope it went well. I planned on meeting with Jack before you both started, but I must have never set an alarm last night.”
“You could say it went alright, I guess. We ended up eliminating all but one soldier who ended the simulation by reaching Akeihl.”
“I take it you only hit two of your shots.”
“Yeah, I was so close. I just didn't have full concentration; hard to, too, when you're sopping wet, left out on a sloping sediment bed. I almost shot at Zim’s group. Would've rendered the simulation a failure, but he was taking too long.”
“But you didn't shoot, correct?” Zorann arched her spine up from her bed, now lifting herself to the wall behind her.
“I had my finger on the trigger. I planned on sending as many shots as I could. I didn't care where they went or who they hit. I just didn't have any patience left. Jack stopped me, he must have been watching me, since Zim was nowhere to be seen. Made sense later, when Jack explained to us he turned the simulation difficulty up.”
“Ah, I see. Well, it seems to me, you both did an excellent job.” Zorann smiled.
“How do you figure that?” Sasha said, fully turning towards Zorann.
“Tell me this first, what do you think of Zim? From your observations so far.”
“He's pretty nice. I expected him to be cocky yet he was surprisingly polite. I wanted to do more than yell at him when I was involuntarily being drenched. After talking to him, I didn't feel as heated. Probably helped talking to Jack, explaining why the simulation took longer than expected.” She looked down, locking eyes with Zorann. “He's a hell of a pilot, there's no denying that, but so jumpy and unseasoned. I don't doubt Jack’s intuition, just seems like we would have chosen an experienced pilot.”
“You're so bright, Sasha. But, you still have a lot to learn. I agree with your observations, for the most part. I think you may be missing Jack’s point, for choosing an excitable pilot.
“How so?”
“Well, pilots should be jumpy, especially Zim. With his ultra-fine-tuned senses, he's a perfect candidate to be a pilot for the Vanguard. They itch for what comes next, often being a step ahead of their crew, and the enemy whose path intersects with him. He may seem unseasoned to you, though me and Jack can tell from the way he carries himself to the way he handled the upper-level simulation today, he’s integral to this team. I don't believe many people have completed a simulation that high, either.”
“We didn't necessarily complete the simulation. Zim did do everything he possibly could, and he didn't seem irked about the extra time. He might have thought different if he had been in my position.”
“Which brings me to another idea you didn't seem to pick up on.”
“You just love teaching me these lessons, don't you?” Flashing a kidding smile, Sasha sat upwards. “I'm only kidding, too.”
“If me or jack don't, who will?” Zorann sent a grin right back. “I don't think you realized, the simulation wasn't just a test for Zim. It was also a test for you. One you seemed to succeeded at.”
“Damn, should have known Jack was up to something. He always is, just like you.” Sasha laughed, “I don't suppose he would have passed me if I had shot at the large squadron.”
“Maybe not, but you didn't. And that’s all that matters.”
“I would have, though, if he wouldn't have stopped me. Don't suppose almost not following orders is much of a positive sign for his new third-in-command.”
“If you would have denied his orders and still shot, then yes, it probably wouldn't have been a good sign. You heeded his orders, though, pretty much like Jack predicted.”
“He predicted I’d try and shoot them?”
“Not exactly, he figured you'd try and take matters into your own hands once the simulation went on longer than expected. An important quality in a LOP officer is to take things into their own hands, sometimes. Orders supersede personal opinions or feelings, and you showed that today. I'm proud of you, Sasha.”
“Thanks, I wish I could tell you I hit all my shots, and we completed the simulation. I can settle for this.”
“We’ll always be proud of you, especially Jack. I'm sure he’s pleased with both of your performances today. He prides himself in having a crew he can count on, and a crew who trusts their captain. Extremely important to him.”
“Makes sense. I'm glad this was just a simulation, could have turned out much worse. Commander Akeihl didn't seem to mind much, surprisingly.” She paused, once again staring at Zorann’s concave marigold-shaded eyes, “is there a reason he's so worried about us trusting him? We wouldn't have any reason to betray him, or not listen to him. Did one of his previous crews commit mutiny? Not listen to him and end up vaporized in the sewers of Breoul? I have no problem with it, I'm just curious. I couldn’t think of anything we'd done to convince him we didn't have full trust from him.”
“He must have never told you the story, then. Because it explains so much more, than you would understand from observing Jack. He's cool, calm, collected, on the outside. He didn't use to be so assuring.”
“Jack didn't tell me any stories like that. Any story he's told me ended in triumph; sometimes I think he worried about scaring me away from the LOP, but there wouldn't be anything he could say now, or back when he recruited me that would have scared me.” Starting to tap her feet on the metallic deck, “please do tell me, if you don't think he'd mind me knowing.”
“I probably shouldn't have said anything, since he hasn't told you himself. I know Jack, though, he's most likely contemplated telling you. We haven't talked much about it in the first place, I can see the pain emanating from his eyes anytime he's reminded of them.”
“So, are you gonna tell me?”
“Yes, just don't bring it up to him right away, at least. He may not seem too stressed now, but he is every time he has to make first impression.” Heaving a huge Sigh, Zorann continued, “it wasn't a crew who betrayed his orders, his wife did. His distress call to her was too vague, she didn't think the intel Jack sent to her added up, so she kept her and their child on the space station they were stationed on.”
“Why? Why would she not have listened to him? I can't see Jack marrying someone who didn't trust his intuition. There must have been more to it. . .”
Before Zorann could speak, Luke appeared in their doorway.
“Hey, hope I wasn't interrupting anything. Jack wanted me to tell you guys we’re about to head out.”
“No problem, Luke. I was just about to head to the cockpit.” Zorann said.
“Is Zim done ogling the interfaces?” Sasha said, starting to sit up.
“Just a few minutes ago. Jack had to tear him away from PAL and me; he's simply enthralled with the Scimitar.”
“I figured. Hope he's as ‘enthralled’ with flying the ship, than he is with the tech and specs of the ship. He proved himself today, although a simulation is much different than unexpected encounters with a new ship.”
“I trust him. He's extremely intuitive and seems to know his stuff. Even PAL was impressed with the aerial stunts he pulled today and his presence upon a new crew. Not very common for an officer right out of the academy.” Luke said.
“Maybe, I just need more proof than some slick simulation piloting and talking. I trust him, but we haven't encountered anything remotely dangerous, yet. I am glad he’s here, though.”
“Me too. I'm going to head back down to weapons with PAL. The sensors were acting up earlier. Shouldn't be anything to worry about, just don't want the weapon system malfunctioning f
or no reason.”
“Sounds good, we’ll be heading to the cockpit soon. See you later”. Sasha said
Luke nodded toward both and headed back down the hall.
“You seem to be pretty open with him, Sasha.” Zorann’s mouth curled upwards.
“Luke has always been easy to talk to. Much like the rest of the crew. I know I can trust them.”
“That's good. We better get up to the cockpit, before Jack thinks I'm still at the embassy.”
“Yeah, I guess we can pick up our conversation late. . .” Zorann cut through her speech before she could finish.
“He hasn't talked about it in a while, I've probably said more than I should have. Considering, he’s never told you about it.
“I just figured he'd to me in his own time, hasn't stopped my curiosity.”
“Give him some time, he may bring it up himself. I'm sure if you ask him, he won't be offended. Just let him adjust to this new phase.”
“Do you mind if I ask you one more thing before we down?”
“Yes, no problem. What would you like to ask?”
“I was wondering when we were gonna start training on that ability you talked about a few days ago.”
“Oh Sasha, that’s not something you should be worrying about for a while.”
“But it sounds like it could be really helpful. I know we have you, but two would be better than one, right?”
“It would be, though I think you should focus on the beams before entering the minds of your enemies. It’s a very draining ability, one that keeps your body and mind at risk. I figured you wouldn’t be worried about that so soon. You like to be on the frontlines, don’t you?”