The Phoenix Project

by Kris Powers

  “Even when I’m bathing?” she asked.

  “Yes, we will give you a crystalline implant. It will see just the same as a regular eye. The procedure is short and non—invasive.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Through future surgeries we will be able to show you just how much can be accomplished,” he said and attempted a reassuring smile.

  “Thank—you Doctor.”

  He looked once at her and walked from the room, only briefly regarding the metal plate hiding her face from his sight. For the first time Maria was thankful for the metal being there. The doctor never saw the tears on the other side of her face.

  “The Ferine delegates are holding a diplomatic function tonight and would be delighted if you attended,” Joshua read from a link in disgust.

  “Why are you reading this to me?” Nadine asked, regarding Joshua’s pained expression.

  “Probably because Elliot knew I wouldn’t want to.”

  She smiled at the accusation. “He is incorrigible, isn’t he?”

  “More than I realized.”

  “Tell the Admiral and the cats that I would be delighted to attend. Where is it?” she asked.

  “Their quarters.”

  “Their quarters? Why not a more public area?” she asked.

  “They said it has something to do with their traditions.”

  “Is there anything else?”

  “It’s formal, like non—military formal. No uniforms,” Joshua replied.

  “I believe I’m prepared for that.”

  Joshua left with the metal doors closing behind him. She turned around and regarded the empty room. “I’m glad I packed a dress.”

  Nadine made sure to arrive early for the party. She was pleasantly surprised to find herself as the first guest.

  “Nadine, welcome,” Ranik said after the doors parted. “Please wait outside,” he said to the guard.

  “I have my orders,” the guard replied.

  “This is considered Ferine soil, isn’t it?”

  “I guess so, Sir.”

  “Then wait outside,” Ranik said. The guard issued the aliens an obedient nod and took up a position outside the entrance.

  “Thank—you, Ranik,” Nadine whispered in gratitude.

  “You look wonderful,” Lathiel interjected.

  She was glad of the compliment. Nadine had only one evening gown packed with the other things that had been brought to her quarters. The vibrant silky blue gown accentuated her curves and hung down past her knees in one line. It came over her shoulders without a low back to guarantee she would not feel exposed in it.

  Lathiel handed her a glass of red liquid which seemed to reflect the light giving the drink the appearance of a warm glow. Nadine cautiously inhaled its scent to find the drink had a strangely sweet and inviting aroma.

  “What is this?”

  “It’s called Ruby Brandy. It’s the favored drink of our race.”

  She took a small sip of the brandy and found its warmth spreading outward from her mouth. A bittersweet flavor filled her taste buds.

  “How is it?” Ranik asked.

  “It’s delicious!” she exclaimed with a surprised expression.

  “I’m glad you like it. Now come and sit with me, Nadine. Tell me of your Coalition,” Ranik said. He led her to a soft couch of burgundy against one chocolate wall of the Ferine’s living room.

  “Ah,” Nadine responded with slight hesitation, “alright.”

  Ranik slyly indicated one side of a loveseat and took the other end once she had seated herself.

  “To be honest with you Ranik, I’m curious about the structure of your organization. I noticed Lathiel refer to his crew more as friends than subordinates.”

  “That’s because they’re not subordinates,” Ranik said. She noticed for the first time a slight cloudiness indicative of age over his slit eyes.

  “How can the crew function without a leader?”

  “We are more of a cooperative,” the word sent a momentary shiver down her spine. “There is no single leader so much as something like a department head.”

  “And that’s you?”

  “No,” Ranik said, shaking his high—eared head, “that’s Lathiel. He’s the captain of the ship.”

  “That’s fascinating. Tell me,” Nadine began before Ranik raised a thickly nailed hand.

  “Enough of us, I would like to hear more about you.”

  Nadine suppressed a brief hint of embarrassment at the attention with an uncomfortable laugh.

  “Is that a problem?” Lathiel asked as he sat down on a corner of the couch nearest to hers.

  “No, of course not. What would you like to know?”

  “Start with your entrance into this intrepid organization of yours,” Ranik advised in interest.

  “Well, yes I suppose that is a good story,” she said. As surprised as she was, Nadine felt comfortable in the cozy room, aided by the warm brandy and soothing company. Before she realized it, she had already spent twenty minutes speaking of her entrance into the Coalition military after a record three years in the academy followed by her quick rise through the lower ranks. She didn’t realize that after fifteen minutes, she had slipped off her uncomfortable shoes and brought her legs up in a more comfortable position underneath her.

  Nadine was part way into a rousing story of how she attained the rank of Captain when Lathiel excused himself from the conversation. Nadine nodded to him briefly and continued to speak to Ranik’s engrossed expression.

  Lathiel rose from the couch and crossed to answer the beep at the door, which Nadine hadn’t heard. He smiled to the three senior Alliance officers aboard the Endeavour.

  “Hello Lathiel,” Elliot said to Lathiel’s broad grin. A small black bag hung from his hand.

  “Come in. The rest of our guests are already here,” Lathiel said.

  “Are we late?” Madison asked from her place in the hallway.

  “She was early.”

  “Early bird gets the worm, I guess,” Joshua said.

  “We don’t mind. It gave us a chance to get to know her better,” Lathiel said.

  “I brought something for the party,” Elliot said once the trio crossed the threshold. He produced a bottle from the small bag he carried and handed it to Lathiel.

  “That’s very generous of you. We only have one case of Ruby Brandy on the ship and we were worried we might run out,” Lathiel said.

  “I think I’m starting to like these guys,” Joshua said. A broad grin crossed his face. “We just need a poker table.”

  Elliot ignored the comment and continued. “I hope you like it.”

  “Rye Whiskey,” Lathiel said, reading the label on the bottle. To their surprise, he twisted off the cap and took a good swig of the spirit. He eyed the bottle in appreciation. “Brilliant taste! Can we trade?”

  “Trade?” Madison asked in confusion.

  “Yes, I will give Elliot something in exchange for his Rye Whiskey,” Lathiel said.

  “Well, I meant it as a gift,” Elliot said.

  “Oh no, I insist. I do have Ruby Brandy,” Lathiel said.

  “It’s really not necessary.”

  “He’ll take it,” Madison said and shrugged to his disapproving look. “It’s Ferine tradition.”

  “You just want some,” Elliot said.

  Lathiel roared his cat laugh. “There’s plenty for everyone. As I have said, Nadine is already here. Would you like to join the conversation?”

  “That’s why we’re here,” Madison said.

  They looked over to the open—ended square of couches and saw their Coalition representative.

  “My God!” Madison exclaimed when she saw the elegant lady, comfortably sitting on the farthest couch enthralled in conversation with Ranik.

  “She does look quite lovely tonight, doesn’t she?” Lathiel said.

  “Oh!” Nadine exclaimed as she reentered Human reality. She put her feet back onto the floor and began fiddling with her s
hoes in an effort to put them back on.

  “I am sorry, I,” she began.

  “No, no, no,” Elliot said, wide eyed at the entirely different woman before him. He raised his hands in a placating gesture. “It’s alright, it is a party. We were just surprised. You look really good, General. Please, relax and enjoy yourself.”

  “Thank—you Admiral,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “I suppose I should relax if our guests wish better relations among all of us.”

  “Yes,” Ranik said to the intrusion. “Nadine was telling me of a great experience she had. I’d like to hear the end of the story.”

  “Another time,” Nadine said.

  “I understand,” Ranik replied in sympathy. “Does anyone else have a good story?” he asked, as the rest of the group seated themselves. Madison and Joshua occupied one couch in silence. Elliot and Lathiel also said nothing from the other couch.

  “How about cards?” Ranik asked.

  “They don’t know our games Ranik, and I doubt they’d like them. I’ll get the three of you some drinks,” he directed to the new arrivals and left for the kitchen.

  “Joshua can play only the games involving a poker table anyway,” Madison said.

  “Poker?” Ranik asked.

  “It’s a game some Humans play. It involves a set of fifty—two cards that you bet money on,” Elliot explained.

  “You bet money in this game?” Ranik asked.

  “Most people don’t understand the reason why. I can see why you wouldn’t get it either,” Elliot replied.

  “Your people gamble?”

  “I’m sure it seems primitive to you,” Elliot said.

  “Do you play?” Ranik asked.

  “Well, ah,” Elliot sputtered, “sometimes.”

  “Can you teach me this game?”

  Elliot was muted by the surprising question.

  “I can!” Josh exclaimed.

  “Oh God, what are we doing to these people?” Madison mumbled to herself.

  “Great!” Ranik exclaimed. He stood up and consumed his drink in one gulp. “Show me.”

  “You asked for it.”

  Ranik and Joshua walked towards the table in the eating area next to the kitchenette. Lathiel emerged with a small tray with three glasses of Ruby Brandy sitting on it, emitting a soft glow.

  “You’re just in time Lathiel,” Ranik said, and removed two of the glasses. He handed one to Joshua.

  “To your health,” Joshua said, with a brief gesture of the brandy. Both of them inhaled the glass of liquor in one drink. “We need cards.”

  “I saw something like that in a drawer of the kitchen,” Ranik said and put an arm across Joshua’s shoulder. The two entered the kitchen with one final audible comment from the Ferine. “You remind me of a friend of mine.”

  Lathiel regarded the remaining drink on his tray and looked to Elliot and Madison’s empty hands. “I’ll be right back,” he said and returned to the occupied kitchen.

  “I’d better go in there to make sure Josh doesn’t swindle Ranik and cause a diplomatic incident,” Elliot said, and left the couch.

  “Well, I guess I should make myself comfortable,” Madison said. She got up from the couch and sat next to Nadine. Lathiel reappeared and gave a drink to Madison. “Thanks,” she said to the offered brandy.

  “I’d better make sure Ranik doesn’t take all of his money,” Lathiel whispered to the two, and turned to the eating area housing an obsidian table and four chairs. Ranik and Joshua went back into the eating area with a deck of cards and a tray of poker chips. They both sat down and were joined by Elliot and Lathiel.

  “Come on, Madi,” Joshua said, waving her to the table.

  “Not for me, thanks,” Madison replied.

  “Nadine, join us for a game. You’ll bring me luck,” Ranik said.

  “No, me neither. Maybe later,” Nadine said and readied herself for a quiet evening by herself.

  “So how is the Coalition doing?” Madison asked as a buzz of conversation came from the poker game.

  “Excuse me?”

  “I’m just kidding, General,” she said with a warm grin. “Breaking the ice?”

  “This is really good,” they heard Elliot say of the Ruby Brandy.

  “Ah,” Nadine said and took a sip from her glass. Madison took a sip from hers and issued a sound of approval.

  “I think Eli’s right about that. Whatever’s in this stuff, it is good. Have you noticed how it seems to shine?”

  “Yes,” Nadine said quietly and looked into the glass, “it’s pretty.”

  “Pretty?”

  “You don’t think so?” Nadine asked with a harder edge to her voice.

  “No, it is. You just don’t seem the type of person to use the word pretty.”

  “Now the gloves are off,” Joshua said, having just lost twenty dollars to Ranik.

  “Will that make you play any better?” Ranik returned.

  “I guess your husband isn’t doing so well,” Nadine said.

  “Oh Honey, he never does well in poker. Why do you think we’re both senior officers and don’t have any money?” The comment brought a small smile to Nadine’s lips. “I was hoping I could wrestle a smile out of you. I wanted an actual laugh more though.”

  “Well, it’s not easy being here.”

  “A nice hearty, belly laugh would have been nice,” Madison said with a light hearted chuckle.

  “I don’t know if that’s going to happen.”

  “I know and I know it’s not easy for you here. There are a lot of Alliance officers, commissioned or not, who have hatred for anyone in the Coalition,” Madison said.

  “The feeling is mutual.”

  “Not for me. I hope those two over there will bring us peace,” Madison said, “finally.”

  Nadine raised an eyebrow.

  “The Ferine delegates, not Josh and Eli.”

  “I know,” Nadine said with a sigh. “Yeah, I know.”

  “Can we start here?”

  “What?” Nadine asked.

  “Peace or at least a truce?”

  “I suppose so.”

  “Good enough for me. Cheers to that,” Madison said, raising her glass. Nadine revealed teeth in a warmer smile and clinked her glass with Madison’s. “Now, how much do you think my husband’s lost by now?”

  “I think he’s the one being swindled.”

  “Want to see an Alliance officer lose his shirt?” Madison asked.

  “That doesn’t sound too bad,” Nadine said. She left the couch with Madison and entered the dining area.

  Having ambassadors assigned to a fleet vessel in the Alliance was, at first, a temporary measure of necessity to transport them to Earth. However, the changing political landscape planet side warranted the need to have a mobile platform for the off—world delegates. Given the requirement to attend hearings and the need for security against any civilian who may take their own measures to punish the defendants, it was necessary to have a hostel in space. The most prudent measure was to house them on a military vessel full of human beings trained to obey orders.

  Many have debated the wisdom of keeping them on an Alliance vessel rather than a Coalition ship.

  The First Contact Hearings

  by Anne Forrest

  Chapter IX

  The Alliance officers retired late at night and allowed themselves the luxury of an extra hour’s sleep. Ranik and Lathiel, they learned, required only a few hours of rest a night. Joshua, Madison, and Elliot had stayed until midnight and left knowing they could sleep until eight am at the latest. Joshua was smiling despite his loss of nearly one hundred dollars which Ranik accepted, although he could think of little use for their money.

  The two alien hosts retained Nadine as their charge with the guard continuing his assignment outside the door. She continued her conversation with them for a couple more hours having moved from the temporary poker table and back into the living room. Nadine sipped the warmth of the Ruby Brandy as Ranik regaled
her with tales of the unique beauty of their home world and the ferocity of their approaching enemy. With a genuine sadness, Nadine excused herself from the room at two in the morning shaking both her host’s hands. She slipped her uncomfortable shoes back on and exited their quarters to find a new guard ready to follow her back to her quarters, having changed shifts with his predecessor.

  Nadine greeted him with a smile from the warm buzz of the Ferine’s liquor and sauntered back to her quarters a ways down the hallway. For the first time in years she had felt truly at ease with someone. Both Ranik and Lathiel were gentlemen, “Gentlecats” she thought as a correction. The new moniker made her release a slight giggle as she approached her quarters. The guard’s eyebrows were raised as she walked through the doorway.

  “Night Ma’am,” the armed guard said with an appreciative smile of her formfitting dress.

  “Goodnight, Major,” she replied as the doors closed behind her.

  She slipped off her dress and lay in bed. Nadine closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep, unmarred by nightmares for the first time in years. She was torn from her long awaited, sound sleep two hours early by the chirping of her communications console. The one embedded in the wall was dark, and as silent as it had been since the moment she had arrived. It was far too likely it may have some hidden device that would allow the bridge to monitor her communications with the Coalition. A mobile console provided by her nation glowed on the kitchen table as it beeped an incoming signal. She lazily got out of bed and walked to the machine. She punched in her confirmation code and waited as a blue light in the top corner of the breadbox sized module lit up and scanned her. The light disappeared and written instructions popped out of its top on a programmable link to be destroyed as soon as she read it.

  She pulled the link from the slot of the black machine once it finished programming the paper thin technology. She read the orders carefully and felt her shoulders balk from the weight of the instructions.

  And things were going so well.

  Within a short time Elliot would receive the same information and see the whole of last night’s experience in their quarters as a ruse to lull them into complacency. She erased the link, crumpled it up, and threw it to the ground.