by G. P. Moss
His stupid speed button still intact, he gives it a quick tap and BOOM! he is away.
Mr Whistler gives the order.
"Pedro, give chase. Take the snivelling little blighter down!"
"Yes, Sir, oh honourable master!"
Nothing happens. Nothing much anyway.
"Sir, there's no acceleration! My fighter has a big hole in it somewhere!"
Whistler is now absolutely livid. Never in his life has he felt such rage. At least since a few minutes ago.
"FORGET IT! Dock with fighter 5; we shall drag your piece of space garbage back home. Leave Damien to his ridiculous and lonely life in exile. Good riddance to a bad, really rubbish attitude!"
Whistler feels his chest. He is so stressed, he starts to hyperventilate. As he calms, he gives the order.
"Stupid speed, everyone!"
Fighter 5 is confused but follows the order. Pedro has not docked yet.
Pedro is left to glide the galaxy on very little power.
Mr Whistler emerges at the edge of the dust cloud.
He realises he has only 3 escort fighters now, all of them damaged.
"Ronnie, did you bring Pedro?"
A nervous Ronnie squeaks his reply.
"No Sir, you said 'stupid speed' so I went. Without him."
Mr Whistler is too tired to argue. He realises he cannot afford to upset any more of his military personnel, even though he is in charge.
"Okay, let's go home, everyone. All 3 of you."
*
StarTapped Beta Command (moving away from the time warp)
Nicholls has a dilemma.
He knows the civilians on board the cruisers understand they will have to wait, maybe years, for the exploration ships to locate a suitable planet. He also knows they cannot wait forever.
This time warp is too dangerous for him to consider.
On the other side, he believes, is a military so powerful, they can eject intruders swiftly, and at will.
He will not put lives at risk.
Another plan, however, is forming in his mind. Mr Whistler, of planet Whistler, location Whistling Way, has just suffered a major defeat. What if StarTapped Beta Command were to finish him off?
What if the planet Whistler is suitable for human life?
What if he invaded and colonised?
Important Captain Nicholls could be the greatest space conqueror of all time!
They will build statues.
And name libraries and universities.
Towns, streets and cities. But not necessarily in that order.
Nicholls straightens his collar and checks his close cropped hair. He is looking good.
He will make an announcement.
People will applaud.
"Everyone, listen up!"
Nice, bold, assertive start.
"I have a plan. We will go after Mr Whistler, finish his depleted military and claim the planet Whistler as a human colony!"
There is no applause.
There is, however, stunned silence.
"Jeremy, I thought you, at least, would relish the prospect. You are such an adventurer!"
"Sir, I would, normally but, as you said when I volunteered to travel the hole, we have civilians on board. I can hear dissent already."
"Jeremy, this is supposed to be a cockpit only transmission."
"Sorry, Sir, must have left the party line on."
7 switches are quickly turned to cockpit only.
Beta 9 does not need to switch. Lady H is awesome in her professionalism.
"Bravo, Important Captain! We are the champions!"
Gobby Johnny is as excited as he has ever been. If StarTapped Beta Command can conquer without harm or inconvenience, he will find a desk job and rise the ranks of lofty power. This Spacie will rule the universe!
He reads the manuals.
His time will come.
He reckons.
Chapter Seventeen
Minstrels galaxy (just outside the time warp)
Ariel concentrates on keeping Beta 2 on a nice, steady course. Now she's not rolling, ducking, and diving, piloting the cruiser requires more skill.
She's getting used to it.
Which is just as well considering there is no Harry.
"Stevie, can you get her fixed?"
"I'm checking her circuit boards for damage. I may take a while. If I need to reprogram code, it will be much longer. This AI was custom built."
Ariel lets out a long breath.
"Don't I know it. The sarkiest AI in history and right now, we need her. It's risky entering the middle planet atmosphere without her up to date readings."
"We could ask Captain DuPont if his AI could give us a hand."
"Ask him, will you, Stevie? Until I get used to these controls, I dare not risk a delicate conversation too; multi tasking and all that."
"Sure, I'll talk to him, Ariel. Poppy is just docking now."
Stevie steels himself to speak to the leader of the French-Welsh Alliance.
He is steeled.
"Captain DuPont, this is First Officer Stevie Lo on Beta 2. We request assistance from your AI to test the atmosphere prior to entering middle planet airspace."
"Negative, Stevie. I have many worried civilians waiting on Frelsh, not yet knowing the outcome of our battle with the intruders. We need to get back to them, pronto quick."
*
It isn't the answer they want.
"Captain DuPont, it is too risky for us to enter an unknown, untested atmosphere without analysis."
Ariel gives Stevie a thumbs up.
Beta 2 lurches to the left.
She won't do thumbs up again.
"Stevie Lo, I have a suggestion. Follow us in and land on Frelsh. I am happy to offer my hospitality while you repair your AI."
Ariel shakes her head. Vigorously.
Beta 2 lurches to the right.
She wants Harry back.
"I know Captain Ariel is shaking her pretty petit head but it's the best decision. While you rest and repair, your helper droids can assist with building our temporary shelters."
Ariel bristles. 'Pretty petit head'?
"Stevie, I never knew we had helper droids!"
"Yes, they're still packed away; every cruiser has them. I'd have thought your dad would have told you."
"He probably did and I just forgot. What do you think, Stevie; can we trust them? The French-Welsh, I mean, not the droids."
"You speak to him Ariel while I take the controls. DuPont will end up making me growl. We don't want that."
"Use the arrow keys."
"Yes, I've had some training. Unofficial, when top brass wasn't looking."
Ariel smooths her hair.
Why?
She ruffles it, makes it proper messy.
"Francoise, this is Captain Ariel Hope, aboard Beta 2. I accept your kind invitation on the strict understanding there will be no funny business, no hanky panky ranky spanky of any kind, significant or otherwise."
"Of course, Captain Ariel."
"Furthermore, Beta 2 and Poppy's fighter shall be given diplomatic protection along with leave to leave any time we choose. May I have your assurance?"
"Certainly, Madame Captain."
"Francoise, I am not married. Please do not call me 'madame'."
"Of course, mademoiselle."
"Or that."
*
Beta 2 follows the 5 other cruisers as they blast through the Frelsh atmosphere.
Captain Ariel Hope's knuckles are white. The advanced heat shields have done their job but entry has had an adverse effect on the crew.
Except for Poppy.
Nothing bothers this cool Whistler Warrior.
Ex Whistler Warrior.
Stevie retreats to a cupboard far away as he fights to resist the negative forces on his body.
It's too much for him as he become the wolf he loves and fears in equal measure.
There's a time and a place for Shifting and this isn
't it. The wolf lays on the floor, calms down and waits to return to his role as First Officer.
As the planet takes on its unique characteristic of hundreds of islands, the cruisers hone in on the crowds of civilians waiting and waving on a huge grass field, surrounded by hills and mysterious-looking caves.
The people look relieved.
As Ariel glides in to land, a little way apart from the rest, the first thing she notices is scores of people emerging from neighbouring bushes.
As the cry of 'Battle Stations' rang out, nobody had thought or had time, to unload the toilet paper.
During the soon to be historical battle of Minstrels Gate, the new civilian population felt extremely uncomfortable indeed.
The 5 landed cruisers look like alien spacecraft from a Science Fiction movie.
Especially Beta 2, as it has a Whistler fighter attached to its rear end.
It's the beginning of a new beginning for Frelsh but for Ariel, Stevie, and Poppy, the need to repair their cheeky, sarky, but, well, loveable they will now admit, AI, trumps all other priorities.
As Ariel steps onto terra firma, the stress seems to evaporate from her tightly wound body, unwinding her like an unwinding tightish spring.
She does not spin though.
Captain Ariel Hope is not only a war hero; this last space cadet is a class act.
*
Stevie has Harry's manual laid out.
It is complicated but he has been stripping computers since he was 5 years old.
Okay, he often could not put them back together again but let us not let that small side issue distract us.
Poppy has set up one of the helper droids to assist her fixing her battled scarred fighter.
"Ma'am, these droids are amazing. It reads the code and tech drawings and just, well, gets to work."
Ariel is impressed.
"What about materials it might need; replacement parts and so on?"
"It tells me on the screen if there is a part it needs. If I cannot supply it, it looks for anything suitable in its immediate environment. It adapts; perfect for survival situations."
Poppy is distracted while talking to Ariel.
Sandy Hoare screams at her.
"Get that droid away from my cruiser!"
"Sorry, Captain Hoare."
Poppy runs across to Beta 4, steering the droid away from one of the cruiser's heat panels.
The heat panel it was trying to rip off, to patch up the fighter.
She addresses it, sternly.
"No, you must NOT take things from allied craft! Do you understand?"
The droid speaks.
This was NOT expected.
"I understand, ma'am."
Ariel laughs but Poppy feels embarrassed.
"Only Captain Ariel is to be addressed as 'ma'am'. You may call me Miss Poppy."
"It's fine, Poppy. I don't mind at all," Ariel says, still highly amused by the droid.
Poppy looks to the droid. "Miss Poppy, from now on please. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Miss Poppy. I am sorry for trying to salvage from Beta 4. I did not know its Captain is an ally; he does not seem very friendly."
Sandy Hoare listens from behind an engine port.
Ariel finds this hilarious.
"Do not worry. Even Sandy is confused as to where his alliances are."
Sandy cannot bear it any longer.
"May I remind you, you young pup, self-promoted fake Captain, that you are here due to the generosity of the French-Welsh Alliance. I suggest you keep your fake news and opinions to yourself!"
Ariel ignores the 'fake Captain' jibe.
"And may I remind you, Hoare, you bailed out on your military unit, StarTapped Beta Command."
"I did NOT bail out! I claimed asylum with French-Welsh due to the gross negligence of Nicholls, about to lead us into heck knows what using untested stupid speed."
Ariel is aware of her own voice rising but presses her point home.
"Beta cruisers are military exploration ships. Exploring uncharted territory is the whole point!"
Francoise DuPont glides between them, his diplomatic hat squarely placed.
"Enough, please," he says, quietly and with a sincere smile.
"Water under the bridges, all of it."
"Bridge."
"Pardon, Captain Ariel?"
Sandy Hoare snorts.
Ariel ignores the preposterous man.
"Bridge. It's singular. You said 'bridges'."
Chapter Eighteen
Planet Frelsh (a cultural exchange and a case of biting off more than you can chew)
Ariel looks at Stevie with longing.
She is longing for him to hurry up and fix Harry.
"Sorry, Ariel. Some of the code is, well, unusual."
"That's probably because a crazy dude programmed her."
"I think the programmer was a girl."
"Dudette, then."
Francoise hops over.
"I have an idea, la la la la la! One of our AIs could probably restore the code. If it's been damaged, rather than erased. The best bet would be Beta 4 but Captain Hoare is still sulking."
Stevie looks relieved. He looks to Ariel. She nods.
"It's worth a try, thank you Captain DuPont."
As Francoise connects the 2 AIs, the surrounding area looks strangely deserted.
The civilians have wandered off towards nearby caves.
*
Ariel, Poppy and Stevie sit in Beta 2's cockpit, watching the blank screen.
It flickers once.
It goes blank again.
"Sorry, that wasn't it. Still trying!"
Ariel is grateful someone is trying to help.
The screen flickers, brightens and fills with the face of Harry!
"Bravo, Francoise! Thank you!" Ariel cries. "Welcome back, Harry."
"Bonjour mademoiselle Ariel. Est-ce que je vous ai manqué?"
Ariel looks deflated.
She's quite slim so it's a difficult look to pull off.
"Speak English, please!"
Harry just shrugs her shoulders and pouts. She is being serious, this is no joke. Not a whiff of a beret, string of onions, blue and white striped fisherman's shirt, or bulb of garlic anywhere. She really is proper French.
Stevie looks amused.
"Don't worry, Ariel, I'll put a translator card into her system. Thanks, Captain DuPont; it's great to have her back, even the continental version."
"My pleasure entirely; we shall have you all speaking French in no time!"
*
Ariel is staring at the caves.
"What is everyone doing over there?"
Raucous laughter can be heard, echoing from the nearest cave mouth.
Poppy looks worried.
"I hope it is not the jelly leaf they have found."
"What's a jelly leaf?"
"It is a green, squishy leaf. When chewed, it has a highly addictive effect on the chewer. It makes one giggle and laugh hysterically, even at nothing. It is not good. Once addicted, the chewer's brain will eventually turn jellyish."
Ariel is all 2 ears.
"How long before addiction occurs, Poppy?"
She looks seriously at Ariel.
"Immediately, ma'am."
Now Ariel looks shocked, as she should be.
"But almost everyone has gone to those caves. Diplomats, scientists, doctors, politicians."
"Ma'am, we should go to look, find out if jelly leaves are growing there."
At the mouth of the first cave, well dressed, important looking people stagger and giggle. It is not looking good.
Poppy finds an offending plant.
"Do not touch it, ma'am. It can enter through the skin."
"So, it's confirmed?"
"I am afraid so, ma'am."
Ariel leaves the cave, shouts over to the cruisers.
"Francoise, we have a problem."
*
Captain DuPont removes his sentimental Legionnair
e's hat, wipes his sweaty brow and mumbles. Composing himself as he remembers who he is, he shouts behind him for Beta 4's Captain to come and take a look at the unravelling catastrophe.
Instead of the expected response from the rear, a glassy-eyed, staggering and deliriously cheerful Sandy Hoare appears from an adjacent cave mouth.
Francoise's right shoulder judders in an involuntary display of extreme bewilderment.
"Non, non!" he cries. "All our finest men and women, gone to potty! Our military, everyone! How can this be?"
Poppy looks at Francoise, speaks with empathy and a sprinkle of sympathy.
"I am sorry, Captain DuPont. I have seen it before, close to the Sparkling Minerals mine on Whistler. It claims its victims very quickly."
"Victims? They all look like they haven't a care in the universe!"
"They, alas, do not care about anything, any longer. Except, of course, consuming their next jelly leaf."
Francoise is indignant.
"Then we shall destroy this most dastardly plant!"
"Captain, if you do this, the people will suffer. It is too late to reverse the process but at least we can leave them alone. They are no longer any use."
A sing-song female voice calls from behind.
"Captain Dupont, I am still here! It is Yvette, Sir."
"Thank goodness, Yvette! Are any more military personnel left?"
"All our pilots are here, Sir, along with a few engineers.”
*
Ariel looks on in dismay as the entire military contingent of Beta 4 staggers behind Sandy Hoare, giggling, pointing at random stuff, and choking with mirth at their own hilarity.
"Francoise, do you have enough staff left to crew Beta 4?"
"Alas, no, Captain Ariel. There are only 4 trained pilots, including myself."
Stevie raises his hand.
It's not really necessary at his age.
"I will pilot Beta 4. If you could grant me an assistant, Captain DuPont, that would be even better."
"Stevie, Beta 4 belongs to French-Welsh Alliance now; it is our property, not some hire cruiser available to anyone."
Stevie does not back down.
"Then you have a crewless ship, Captain."
Ariel speaks calmly, a statesman-like bearing about her.
"Francoise, Beta 4 is StarTapped property. It should be returned."
"But, Captain Ariel, you fly under your own flag. You are no longer with StarTapped!"
Ariel bristles but keeps her cool; correctly chilled cucumber cool.