by Michael Berg
“It is going to get real Miss Candice.” Bobby felt for her yet at times felt like a board all stiff and awkward. This was his melee of mind creeping into him as he dealt with the growing feelings he felt for her. He was almost taken with becoming anxious – a trait never considered a facet of space command. “Knowing each other now and onward however long it may be, is the reward for our individual allowances as we maintain our mind, our thoughts. We are not prone to the misgivings of others…and this is no sense of ego, but a realization of authentic place. I have felt this destiny within me ever since we met and had coffee at Mister Wills’ Coffee House. So far back in time Mister Bobby, yet it was almost yesterday. See how this is working for all of us?”
“Our leap through time has indeed sparked a fire desiring to burn brightly Miss Candice.”
“Like your street lamps Mister Weston.”
“Why yes Miss Candice. What a fine analogy.”
“You brought light into the darkness. It is in your heart Mister Weston.”
“I agree there and I think Bobby would too. I notice how your eyes widen each time you learned something new during training. I can see your passion Mister Weston.”
“Aye, you’re right Jonathon. Your help in traversing time together was adept Mister Weston. It was then I knew you would take to something like this mission.”
“I am most flattered gentlemen. Your words are kind and I respect your views. May I reciprocate from my end and say we will stick it to these Vindors.”
“I propose a toast then to all of us and to the future.”
“Well said Mister Livingston.”
“Thank you Mister Weston.”
After drinks, Miss Candice urged them all to awaken early and meet at the space view window before breakfast or for breakfast if they desired. She said her goodnight to them all, leaving Bobby until last.
“Is it alright if I call you just Bobby? I would like to say Mister Bobby during our mission, but I…”
“Of course…Candice?”
“Yes. Please can we spend time alone? I don’t want to speak out of place…Bobby, but in my feelings, I am finding you there.”
“I feel as you do. I spent last night lying awake for an hour with visions of you.”
“I hope they were toward visions.”
He could smell her natural sweet essence. She affected him on more levels than he could think of or feel. There was a sub-conscious connection building and her essence played a part as much as any. “They were lovely visions.”
“I am glad Bobby. I will lie awake and think of you tonight. Since you arrived in my life, my fire has awakened so much more than I could have imaged or desired. I didn’t know of the existence of such ways to feel before.”
“Then I won’t douse your flames Candice. In spirit we are kindred. I know this and feel it.”
“Me too. I must kiss you goodnight now. It is time I retired so I can think of you.” She leaned in to kiss him briefly on the cheek with poise and form. He let her into his inner space without hesitation, feeling her soft lips just momentarily on his skin. They tingled his senses like an electric charge coursing throughout his entire body…from such a brief meaningful contact. In a second she was gone and smiling at him before turning to her own room and closing the door behind her.
Bobby fell into slumber within minutes of going to bed – he was awake in his dreams, in places where Candice and the others ignited his visions. Situations on the bridge of the rocket, a view to space though a portal, the warmth of the first tendrils of love, attacks by silvery Vindor spheres piloted by cloned copies of Beth and Valeena – the only two Vindors he had ever seen face to face, all mixed deep in his sleep.
He awoke minutes before his alarm. His sense of body clock for making duty call times and his propensity to be an early riser to start the day, never failed in avoiding him being woken by the irritating device, no matter how apparently serene its sounds would be. His first instance of each day was to rise and stretch. Afterwards he drank a glass of water and then made his way to the space window. Candice was there, as was Jonathon. They both sat softly saying whatever their still waking minds could put together for the moment there with a full view to Earth.
“Good morning Mister Bobby.”
“Good morning Miss Candice. Good morning Jonathon. Nice view today.”
“Yeah. Good morning. We’re looking at the Pacific. Such a large expanse of sea makes it show up real blue.”
“It is splendid Mister Bobby.”
“Good morning all.”
“Good morning sleepy Mister Weston.”
“Miss Candice, I did oversleep didn’t I.”
“By no means a measure of character good sir.”
“The view is nice.”
“We were just saying how blue it is. There is barely any cloud across the entire Pacific.”
“A most splendid view. How immersive to see our home this way.”
“It does draw you in. Wait until to see the other planets for real. Your breath will be taken…”
“A long way away I imagine Mister Bobby. What are our plans for today? The officers gave us no news about the next item on our schedule.”
“They want us to relax and do some research about our mission. They feel it suitable for us to approach our duties personally away from the rigors of operations. It gives us the scope to appreciate ourselves as we develop as people in parallel with our duties.”
“I will show you to a computer station you have not seen yet.” Mister Weston’s eye immediately lit up as Bobby had predicted they would earlier on his way to the viewing window. “It will give us the means to do our research away from the main operatives here.”
“Shall we go then to breakfast or shall we bring some back here?”
“I think I would like to eat well. My vote is the eating hall rather than bring food back here.”
“I’ll second the notion Jonathon.”
“And me third Mister Livingston. Miss Candice?”
“Me fourth.”
After eating, Mister Weston took to the new computer array without uttering much more than a request of how to access the system. Bobby gave him the directions and left him to his own devices - seeing him so eager meant he was sure to spend a good part of the day at the machine. Miss Candice and Jonathon were shown how the system worked, where the main elements of information were retrievable from, and how to relate cross referencing to their roles aboard a rocket space craft.
Jonathon decided to start with the history of rocketry. The first holographic image emitted from the large wound coil projector atop an elongated pyramidal spike, showed the first buildings of the rocket development division during the opening decade of the twentieth century. Technology had emerged rapidly after the first physics and energy discoveries in the late eighteen hundreds, leading to officials to see it as a benefit for all human kind. Those first installations for rocket building were tall spires featuring large wound coils for power transference and were the first of the type of buildings now dominating the skylines of most cities on Earth.
Miss Candice took to studying the operations of the rocket ships in order she feel confident when events presented issues requiring immediate decisions she could make in the time without hesitation. Bobby helped her along whenever she found something she could not sequence and find the proper order of understanding, offering her a stable patience in coming to know the computer and the information it gave in her way. He felt at ease being close to her again, and felt the urge to be less formal. He knew better than to make this apparent to Mister Weston and Jonathon, so he relaxed and let time take its course. His own studies were required anyway. Special operations and contingencies were to be studied and considered for operations to fly a new type of craft equipped with gold based audio time distortion vortex technology he was required to know inside out before they departed.
Chapter 7
Arthren took Valeena and Beth into town promising nothing. He knew the unde
rlying motivation Valeena sought yet was not expressing. There was more to her quest than just gold – she was onto something he could also feel and thus sense as perception or precognition.
He knocked on the locked old wooden door to the non-descript warehouse at the wharves servicing Masquerdon. Vindor relied heavily on shipping across the planet as the vast population sought to move goods between its cities to ensure almost all people could be part of the pride of Vindor manufacturing and achievement. Transport by water was efficient aboard great vessels carrying more than any flying craft could hold.
It took enough time for the party of three to speculate nobody would answer before someone came to the door asking them what they wanted. Arthren replied they were in search of Brador.
“How do you know Brador?”
“He and I have some history.”
“If you have history, then you must know of his whereabouts. People who share history normally do so because of a common cause.”
“We had a common cause…still do. I have not been able to maintain contact. You know how he is.”
“Do I? Do you think I know Brador?”
“I was told not so long ago of this being the place to find him.”
“Then you have been told wrong. Go now and you won’t be killed.”
“There could be significant reward for you if you help us.”
“Why do I need reward? My life is good here.”
“It could be better. Perhaps if you allow us in to talk. Maybe we could come to an arrangement.”
“You are still thinking I know of Brador’s whereabouts. I do not.”
“Then you know of him then.”
“I did not say any such thing.”
“You said his name as if you did.”
“So? What if I do? There is nothing you can offer me.”
“Gold? We can obtain significant quantities but only if we talk to Brador. Naturally you would get a cut. Think of never needing currency again. How does it sound?”
“Tempting, but I think you have said such things before. How can you guarantee?”
“I can pay you now. I have some gold.”
“How do I know it is not fool’s gold?”
“You don’t yet, but if you let us in and tell us what we want to know, then you will soon see it is genuine gold.”
“Show me your weapons. I can see through this peep hole.”
“We have none. We all came in good faith thinking there would be no need…”
“You should know better than to travel the streets of Masquerdon unarmed…Arthren.”
“If you know my name then you must also know I know how to handle situations.”
He shuffled with the lock and then opened the door just enough to see Arthren, Valeena, and Beth in full.
“You have two women with you. You should have told me.” He opened the door indicating they should come inside. Before closing and locking it behind them, he took a look around to survey the scene to ensure nobody was watching. He gave Valeena and Beth a look showing his unkempt yellow teeth through a smile bereft of anything other than to show his sexual taunting and deep seated malice. “Fine women too. I think today is a good day.”
“Only if you help us.”
“Yes, and you will certainly be able to help me.”
“You are disgusting,” Beth said as she looked him over noticing his dirty clothes and unwashed hands. “There is nothing…”
“Do not be so sure woman. There might be something you can help me with.”
He ushered them to follow him through a maze of small rooms and hallways lined with industrial piping and electrical lines, before they arrived at a room central to the entire building. Nobody else was present to the dismay of Valeena – she thought they were being led directly to Brador.
“Your disappointment is obvious woman. You do not think Brador was here in this building. How comical.”
“Where is he?”
“In time Arthren, in time. First I need to appraise the offer of payment for me helping you.”
“I have three specks of gold. They alone will last you at least one Vindor year.” Arthren reached into his pocket, removed a small bag, and then emptied the gold into the palm of his hand.
“Don’t touch,” he said stopping the man from reaching out to him. “You will need to give us something before you get your hands on this gold.
“Is it Vindor gold or Earth gold?”
“Does it make a difference?”
“If I am to tell others of its source it does. Earth or Vindor?”
“It is Vindor gold.”
“Then its purity is just a little less than Earth gold. I accept your offer of three specks for information relating to Brador. First, I will fix us a drink. It is not such an easy thing to explain Brador’s location without first celebrating with a drink.
“What is there to celebrate?”
“The fact someone is looking for him meaning there could be trouble ahead for the authorities and I like it when the authorities find themselves displaced.”
“Then pour us each a drink. What is your name?”
“Graegen. Now sour mash whiskey anyone? I find it one of the best things to come from our war with Earth.”
“Yes thanks…Graegen. Three sour mash.”
“You like it do you woman?”
“Beth and I like it yes.”
“I have a large bottle. Perhaps you and Beth here would like to stay long enough to finish it with me.”
“Only if required.”
“Now don’t be so harsh…Beth. I am just a man and men have needs.”
“Yes, but I am not here to meet yours.”
“You must want gold and without me your chances are not very good.”
“Look Graegen, these women are not some easy meal for you to indulge just because you have a need. We all have needs of some type. If you give us what we need, then you will have enough gold to purchase the services of any woman here on the streets of Masquerdon.”
“Indeed, but none of the women are so fine like these two Arthren.”
“Let’s just start with the whiskey for now.”
“As you wish, but there is a large bottle and it is a strong drink.”
Over the course of half a bottle of Kentucky sour mash whiskey, Graegen took his time telling Arthren, Valeena, and Beth what they wanted to hear. Brador was in Masquerdon and was expected to contact Graegen the next Vindor day.
“Return here tomorrow in the evening. I will tell him you want to see him. Now, would you two women like to stay? I am sure Arthren has other business to attend.”
“My business is with them Graegen. We will be back tomorrow.”
Valeena decided to forget their needs for the remainder of the day taking Beth, and by consequence Arthren, to the city’s oldest section for some food and entertainment. This section of Masquerdon was a gathering place for entertainers who were far from the accepted norms of entertainment found in most of Vindor society. She felt safe with him accompanying them – the old town area was also the most crime ridden in the city.
Arthren stood at six feet six inches in Earth measurement carrying a robust application of self confidence ensuring he was never placed in a predicament. People turned to see who was coming when they felt his presence prior to any vision of this tall athletic man, and he never allowed himself daunted by anyone despite conveying no menace. He was astute in his thinking and had the strength to support his motives being a sensitive person who allowed compassion into his heart.
Valeena and Beth came to rely on his virtues long before they ever anticipated they were placing themselves in danger. Gold was a rare commodity searched for, killed for, and the subject of deceit for many. Their assailant tracked them covertly to the docks staying almost half a block behind to maintain both cover as he watched them move. He followed them along the most direct route to the main entertainment area of Masquerdon. With evening approaching, he was sure they would spend their time eati
ng, drinking, and being entertained and this gave him considerable opportunity to spy and gather information for his superior.
“We are being followed Valeena…Beth. Keep your eyes forward and don’t change our stance or direction. I want to find out who this person is and what they are doing.”
“They probably work for someone who doesn’t like you.”
“Most likely Beth. I need to find out who it might be.”
“And then what? Will they stop us getting gold…?”
“Don’t say it aloud. People will hear and immediately assume we can be deceived into helping them. You have to watch everyone in these parts. They will kill without hesitation, even for small fragments.”
As they sat drinking before eating, Arthren noticed the man as at a bar opposite slowly sipping a drink. From the corner of his eye, Arthren could see him glance their way now and then trying to remain inconspicuous but doing a poor job.
“I will test the waters so to speak,” he announced to Valeena and Beth when they had finished their meal. “He has been watching us all this time and now as we leave, I am going to interrupt his following us.”
“You would think he could do a better job.”
“Indeed Valeena, but as you know, there is a lot of desperation around here and this interferes with the clarity and tactical approach of those who seek to intrude upon others.”
Arthren was onto him before he had any knowledge those whom he assailed knew he was watching them. Without any violence, Arthren had him covered - his only choice was to speak.
“I know you are following us and I know what it potentially means here in Masquerdon. It is talk or be killed, otherwise…”
“Otherwise what? You won’t kill me Arthren. I know enough to make me valuable to you.”
“I think you are bluffing. You know very little in fact. Your boss has seen me about and simply ordered you to follow. He knows I know about precious substances many here would love to acquire.” Arthren had him cornered with no avenue to escape from telling the truth.
“I was sent to follow you and find out what I could.”
“I assume no more for we ourselves know very little. Tell your boss of the high price he will pay if he comes after me or these two lovely women.”