Adrift (Dawson's Star Book 1)

by J. P. Larson

  She paused, looking into space for a moment.

  “As for deeper thoughts – I’ll go with Mother’s answer. If I’m actually going to probe you, I tell you first and make sure it tickles.”

  “Can either of you do a deep probe without my knowing it?”

  “Both of us can, Alexander,” Elizabeth told him. “But it’s rude and we wouldn’t do it.”

  “Can all the women here?”

  “Not hardly,” said Pamela. “Wearing my necklace, someone of my strength and training might be able to probe you, but you will definitely know it. And if I’m trying, I can block it.”

  “Alexander, Pamela’s strength is in the top one percent. Of that one percent, her training puts her in the top ten percent. Which means one out of a thousand women could probe you, but you would know it, and Pamela can block it. If she concentrates on it.”

  “Alex, you need to understand. Mother’s the top psion on the planet. And she has limits.”

  “But to give you a fair answer, you are moving in rather rarified circles here,” Elizabeth explained. “You can’t assume that only one out of a thousand women that enter this house are that strong. The ratio is significantly higher due to who I am. However, if someone is coming who I do not trust to stay out of your head and has the ability to get in, then I will make sure you aren’t here when they are. That is my responsibility, and I take it seriously.”

  “By the way, Alex. Without my necklace, Kari can probe you without your knowing it. But you know that. Kari represents about ten percent.”

  “Last thing. Elizabeth, under what circumstances would you lie to me?”

  “Alex!”

  Alex didn’t say anything, but continued to regard his mother-in-law, who looked back, contemplating.

  “I don’t know, Alexander,” she said finally. “It would have to be rather extraordinary. I have never lied to you yet.”

  “Assuming that I didn’t do anything to justify the behavior, would you throw me to the wolves for your career?”

  “No.”

  “For the good of the planet?”

  “Yes. But it would have to be something very, very big, and I would be crying to you when I told you what I was doing. Alexander, I would never stab you in the back, if you don’t stab me first. As a military officer, you understand there are circumstances whereby I might have to stab you in the front.”

  Alex sat quietly for a few moments, thinking. Elizabeth and Pamela let him. Finally, he looked at them and smiled.

  “I’ve been very rude and forward. I’m not going to apologize. Does anyone want to change any of their answers regarding when and where I’m welcome or what they would like to do?”

  Pamela shook her head while Elizabeth said, “Not a word.”

  “Does anyone want to return the grilling before I make a suggestion? Or maybe it’s asking Pamela what she thinks of an idea. Whatever.”

  “I have a few questions, Alexander. Under what circumstances would you lie to Pamela or me? Or, for that matter, withhold information we might think is important.”

  “In the performance of any military duties or to save your lives. Of course, I would have to believe that the lies or omissions are important to the success of these efforts.”

  “Have you ever lied to me, Alex?” Pamela asked him.

  “I don’t think so. But I’ve omitted. You already know that.” Alex looked at Elizabeth in hopes she would head this part of the conversation to safer ground.

  “Have you been omitting lately? Since coming home from the hospital?”

  Alex thought for a moment. “Yes. I’ve been doing some work as part of my duties as security officer for Grey Ghost. There are things I have been doing that I would rather you didn’t know.”

  “Mother?” Pamela said, looking at Elizabeth.

  “My advice is to let him do his job unhindered, until such time that you determine he isn’t your security officer.”

  “Who knows about the stuff you’re doing, Alex?”

  “The people who need to know.”

  “You’re being evasive.”

  “Yes, I am. I am going to continue to be evasive until you take your mother’s advice or tell me flat out you’re not going to.”

  “Why don’t you want me to know about this?”

  “Answering that question may undermine the entire reason for not telling you in the first place.”

  “If I told you to stop being evasive and answer my questions properly, what would you do?”

  “Answering that question may undermine…”

  “Okay, Alex. Can I assume you’re operating in the best interests of Grey Ghost and its crew.”

  “Yes.”

  “Mother, were you done?” Elizabeth nodded. “Alex, you were going to make a suggestion. Or ask how I felt about something.”

  “How do you feel if we set up residences on both planets? We’ll use whichever is convenient. I’ll want to see my parents, after all.”

  “Do you mean a new place on Dawson’s Star, or here with mother.”

  “Right here.”

  “Alex, do you think you can stand up?” Pamela got out of her chair and stood in front of him. Alex nodded, set his feet on the ground, and Pamela helped him stand. She then gave him a huge bear hug.

  “I think it’s a wonderful idea.”

  Pamela hugged him a bit more, then kissed him quickly. She supported him while he looked at Elizabeth. At a gesture, she got up and gave Alex a hug, too.

  “I love you, Pamela. Thank you, Elizabeth. From the bottom of my heart.”

  “Alex,” she said. “I think you can call me ‘Liz’, if you like. If you’re used to the full name, that’s okay, too.”

  “Alex,” said Pamela. “When do we start sleeping together.”

  “Oh, Lord, I have to sit down again!” The two women laughed as they lowered him to his chair.

  “Pamela, remember all those little security officer secrets I’m keeping from you? I understand I won’t be keeping them from you once we start, um, sleeping together.”

  “I am not going to live in a celibate marriage!”

  “Alex,” said Elizabeth. “She has a point.”

  “I know she does, Liz. I don’t know what to do. Do you have any suggestions?”

  “It’s been a night of discovery. Maybe we should continue in that vein.”

  “All those questions I asked about people being able to probe me. How do they apply to Pamela.”

  “Similar answers.”

  “And the distance?”

  “The size of this house. It’s a big house.”

  “But she would know?”

  “I might, and I say might, be able to probe her without her knowledge, if I were well rested and concentrating very, very hard. I’m her mother. No one else could.”

  “But a number of people could probe with her knowledge?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m not comfortable with this.”

  “Tell her something to mollify her.”

  “Pamela, I’m sorry. For the safety of the crew, until I have worked out the kinks in the security measures aboard the Ghost, I can not let you know about the sneakier measures. However, I have a definite end period in mind. I should be able to feel free to tell you everything you want to know after we return here after our first trip or maybe, maybe it’ll take the second trip.”

  “Can we at least move in together?”

  “Your place or mine?”

  “My normal room is upstairs. Your place, until you’re up to the stairs.”

  Salutation

  Elizabeth arrived to help Alex walk to dinner. “Your turn today, huh?”

  “Yep. Ready?”

  “Any word from my father?”

  “Not yet. Lots of time.”

  “Alex rolled to the door and grabbed his cane. He stood up slowly and began shuffling down the hall. Elizabeth followed with the wheel chair.

  Alex got to the corner and made the right turn, then pau
sed. He took a few breaths, then continued. He got halfway down the hallway and stopped to catch his breath. Elizabeth followed along quietly.

  Three more steps, and he had to stop again.

  One more.

  “Alex, enough. That’s far enough today.”

  Alex looked over his shoulder for a moment, then turned back, leaning heavily on the cane. The doorway was still ten steps away.

  Step. Breathe. One more step, and his knees were shaking.

  “Enough, Alex! Enough! Don’t you dare fall, you stubborn man! If you fall, who will save my daughter?”

  Alex looked at her, nodded, and collapsed into the chair. He turned to look at the doorway, still eight steps away. His coin was on the floor right next to the door frame.

  He looked over his shoulder at Elizabeth, tears starting to spill out of his eyes.

  “Oh, hey. Alex, it’s not that bad.” She bent down and held him while he cried on her shoulder. “Hush. It’s okay. Yesterday, you were running on anger. Today, you’re all worn out from the anger yesterday. It’s okay, Alex. You’ll get there.”

  After a few minutes, the tears slowed. Alex leaned back. “I’m sorry, Liz. I cried on your silk jacket.”

  “That’s okay, Alex. All better?”

  He nodded. “Would you move the coin for me, Liz?”

  “Yes, Alex.”

  * * *

  Alex and Pamela stood in the doctor’s office at the hospital. “The drugs are still a problem, Mr. Grey,” the doctor said. “Can you do your ship’s duties if you are still taking them?”

  “Most of them, Doctor, but not the most critical ones. I couldn’t trust my judgment or reaction time.”

  “When are you scheduled to leave, Ms. Grey?”

  “Five weeks. I can make it six if I need to.”

  The doctor pressed her lips but didn’t say anything.

  “Can you get me off them in that time frame, Doctor?”

  “It won’t be pleasant, Mr. Grey. Ms. Grey, I believe you should find another officer for your first trip. Your husband can be ready for the second one.”

 

  “I can handle ‘unpleasant’, Doctor.”

  She looked at Alex, then turned to Pamela and raised an eyebrow.

  “I need this officer, Doctor. Do I need to sign anything?”

 

 

 

 

  “I’m going to put together a schedule. A very strict schedule, Mr. Grey. If you follow it to the letter, with none of your annoying back talk, you will be free of the drugs several days before you ship out. Your physical therapy will continue. I do not expect you to have a very enjoyable month. Will you follow my direction to the letter? Otherwise, I’m not going to bother.”

  “Yes, Doctor. As long as we both have the same goal, I will do whatever you suggest.”

  She looked at him funny for a moment.

  “I know, Doctor,” Pamela said. “Polite and agreeable. It’s quite a shock. It seems to happen when he thinks he’s won what he wants. I try to let him think that as often as possible – it makes him so much easier to manage.”

  The doctor laughed. “Quite. Shall we head to therapy? I’ll send the schedule over this afternoon.”

  * * *

  Pamela and Elizabeth both came to get him for dinner. “Are you up to it, Alex?”

  “Yes. And I’ll walk.”

  “You don’t have to, you know.”

  “Yes, I do. But Pamela, no quick little peeks, okay?”

  “No, Alex.”

  Alex rolled to the door, grabbed his cane, and got out of the chair. He gasped once, then started off down the hall. He turned right and kept going without pausing. He arrived at his coin and looked down at it. Next to his large silver coin was a small, copper one.

  Alex paused, then looked over his shoulder. Pamela stepped to his side to steady him, and Elizabeth approached with the chair. Alex shook his head at her, but leaned briefly on his wife. Then he straightened, and started walking.

  He made it to the doorway and leaned against it. Again, Pamela was beside him, and Elizabeth approached with the chair. Alex looked at her.

  “Liz, I’m good for about another step and a half. I won’t make it to two. But I can get through this door and sit down. If you’re waiting, and Pamela steadies me, I won’t fall.”

  Elizabeth nodded and moved through the doorway, then pulled the chair to the side so it would be ready as soon as Alex stepped through. “Take the other side of the door, Pam.”

  Alex followed his wife through the doorway, took a baby step towards her, and sunk into the chair that Elizabeth thrust underneath him.

  He breathed heavily for a minute. Pamela held his hand, and Elizabeth reached around the chair and hugged him.

  “Thank you,” he told them. “Can someone move my coin?”

  * * *

  For the next three days, he made it to the doorway, but not through it.

  On the fourth, Elizabeth came to his room alone.

  “I asked Pamela to wait at Your Door, Alex. I have a note from your father.” She handed him the dispatch, and he quickly read it.

  “Grey Ghost will be here in another two weeks. Dad’s sending the people I asked for. He had to make a few changes, but included the roster. I’ve worked with all of them, Liz. They’re top notch. Some are better than me.” He paused and looked down. “Okay, they all are. Some are better than I was. Officially, the people are on extended leave. This is not a military operation. Exactly what I asked for. He says when they heard I was asking for them, they all volunteered without question.”

  “It’s nice to have good people who respect you, isn’t it, Alex?”

  “Yes, Liz. It is.” He read further, then smiled. “Prime Minister, I need that Letter of Marque. Mother has rescinded my old one. Seems they don’t trust me.”

  Elizabeth looked at him. “There’s a problem, Alex. I’m working on it. In fact, I think I pretty much have all the problems worked out. You may not like my solution. Give me a week.”

  “Prime Minister, without that Letter, I won’t bother taking prisoners.”

  She blanched.

  “I’ll secure the Ghost. Any ship docked to us I will blow to kingdom come.”

  “Do not threaten me, Commander.”

  “Liz, I would never threaten you. But why should my people take the slightest risk without the potential for reward? I take the ship intact, someone might get hurt. Now, I think I can take it without that, but I know I can destroy it.”

  “How would you do that?”

  “Dear Old Dad. He’s not very sneaky, but he sure does know how to be direct.”

  “Alex, I told you. I’ll get you a Letter of Marque. But I have to make sure it’s legal. I won’t let you get back here and face charges of piracy due to a legal loophole.”

  “Oh. I’m sorry I was a snot.” He paused. “Liz, these people that are coming need to be paid. What Pamela is paying them for their shipboard duties isn’t even close to what they’re owed. They’re not on a military operation, so they’re not getting military pay. I’ll take care of it, but I have no funds in system.”

  “You will not take care of it. I will pay them. The very suggestion is offensive, Alex.” She smiled to indicate she wasn’t truly offended.

  “I thought about that, Liz. I think it would be a bad idea if there were a paper trail linking a bunch of foreign military officers to the Prime Minister.”

  “Are they arriving on military passports or a military vessel?”

  “I told Dad to make sure they all came as civilians. And he’s going to get all their little toys aboard ship without going through security. Liz, your customs people can not inspect the Ghost!”

  “I’ll take care of it. How
do you suggest we pay them?”

  “I pay them. Can you get my money from StarInc Station accounts? Heck, am I allowed to have money?”

  She smiled again. “Yes, Alex. Just no real estate or military cutters. It would be difficult to obtain those funds, but I could do it. Do you know the balance? I could loan you that exact amount, and you could repay me when you can. Or at least that’s the official story. Will you have enough for what you’re doing?”

  “If not, I’ll tell you.”

  “Then we’re settled? Pamela is waiting.”

  Alex grabbed his cane, got up, and walked to his wife, who was leaning in the doorway to the main house. Alex noticed several of the staff bustling around the house, too, glancing in his direction. Time to do everyone proud.

  He walked to his wife, then briefly gave her a one armed hug.

  “Liz? After you, if you don’t mind. You give such great pep talks, I’ve got another four or five steps left in me. Pamela, if you’ll stay close, please…”

  Liz cleared through the door, then turned to watch Alex. Pamela steadied him for a moment after he released the hug, then he stepped through the doorway and turned towards the dining room. Four steps later, and he suddenly was reaching for Pamela. She grabbed him, and Liz was right there with the chair.

  “Sorry,” he said after a moment. “One too far.”

  “What kind of pep talk did you give him, Mother?” Pamela asked.

  “Letter from home is all. He seems very pleased to hear from his parents.”

  He looked around. “I’m in the middle of the room. Where are we going to leave my coin? If we set it here, someone’s going to kick it walking past. Heck, I’ll slip on it tomorrow night.”

  “It’s covered, Alex. We were just waiting for you to get here.” Elizabeth reached into her jacket pocket and retrieved a coin identical to the one Alex had been using. “Random Walk. Same denomination. Same year. Even the same mint.”

  “Why two?”

  “Pamela, if you’ll fetch the other one, I believe he’ll like our solution. It’s quite simple.”

  Pamela ran for the other coin. She returned and immediately walked to the wall on the far side of Alex. Elizabeth walked to the near side wall. The women positioned themselves so they had to look over Alex to see each other.