“Of course, sir. But any device would still pick up your end of the conversation,” Elisher responded.
Kol walked through the quarters Elisher had reassigned him to, opening and closing doors as he got a feel for the layout of the place. The quarters also included two bedrooms, each with their own private bathroom. “Why are there two bedrooms?” Kol asked.
“In case you had a family to bring with you while you’re assigned to our station. There’s also a kitchenette if you or your family wanted to prepare your own meals here.”
“A kitchenette?” Kol asked.
“Yes. A small area where you could prepare food if you chose to.”
“I have no family here.”
“The rooms could also be used if you traveled with your own attache’ and want them nearby.”
“Attache’?” Kol asked.
“Yes, sir. Professional support people, translators, etcetera.”
“I understand. Are you not my attache’?”
“I am, sir.”
“And where are you quartered?” Kol asked.
“I have a room in the vicinity of the first quarters they assigned to you.”
“Then why did you bring me here?”
“They put you in a small cramped room without a private bath, and without any amenities at all in order to try to make you more uncomfortable so that you’d be anxious to leave here,” Elisher said.
Kol chuckled. “I am a warrior. I’ve spent months in battle with no facilities, no amenities and no bed. I’d have survived.”
“Yes, but why should you if it’s not necessary. These will be your quarters, and I’ll come to you each evening to work out your schedule for the next day. Each morning I’ll be here so that we can begin that schedule.”
Kol nodded looking around his quarters. “Thank you, Elisher.”
“You are very welcome, sir. I’ll leave you now so that you may attend to anything requiring your attention. If you need me, simply lift this communicator and press the number 333. It will ring my device and I’ll be immediately back in touch. I will return later this evening to escort you to evening meal and address any other issues that may have arisen. Here is your key. It is to lock and unlock your door as you leave and return. It works both the door knob and the deadbolt, which is the lock at the top.”
“Very good. Thank you,” Kol replied.
Kol watched as Elisher left and pulled the door closed behind himself. Kol walked over and manually locked the door. This was a strange feeling for him. He was accustomed to automatic doors, voice controlled computer responses, and simply requesting someone’s presence and having them arrive via the instructions of the computer to that individual. Here, the doors were all manual, the communicators were either small handheld devices or tablets, and he was guessing the computer system was run through those devices as well.
“Computer?” he called aloud, glancing toward the ceiling of his new quarters. There was no response. He walked over to the small table placed between the two sofas and looked down at the communicator sitting there. He smoothed his fingertips over the screen and it lit up. He pressed 333.
The device gave out a blast of white noise before he heard a familiar voice. “This is Elisher, sir. Am I needed?”
“No. Not particularly. I am familiarizing myself with these antiquated devices.”
“I’m sure you’re accustomed to much more refined machinery and programming, sir. But these will work just fine.”
“Very well,” Kol answered and swiped his hand across the screen again before selecting the option to end the communication.
He made himself comfortable on the sofa and reached for his own personal handheld he’d previously synced with his battle cruiser. He set it on the small table in front of the largest sofa and spoke aloud. “Computer?”
“Yes, Elite Commander?” his ship’s computer responded via his handheld unit.
“Please contact Chairman Bartholomew.” He waited no more than a few moments before Bart’s voice was filling the room and his picture was projected as a holovid just above Kol’s handheld.
“Kol, I’ve been awaiting your call,” Bart said.
“This is the first chance I’ve had to reach out. Who thought it a good idea to sentence me to service to this planet for three years?!” Kol demanded.
Bart smiled. “Well, we could have just allowed them to incarcerate you on landing. Then you would have been shot as a suspected pirate and smuggler, or you could have been jailed for as long as the highest ranking Consul of your sector determined was appropriate. Or, you could have given me time to arrange a visit and things would not have developed as they have!” Bart finished.
Kol scowled, realizing that Bart had done the best he could with little to no notice. “Base 28? Is this not a punishment?”
“It’s simply the only position available at the moment. You had a need, the position needed to be filled, you fit.”
“You realize that this base appears to have more than its share of illegal, or at the very least, questionable individuals?” Kol asked.
“I do. And perhaps you’ll decide to look into that as well since it is what you’re being paid for,” Bart answered.
“I’m being paid?” Kol asked.
“You are.”
“This base is antiquated. Most functions are manual. Why have they never been updated?” Kol asked.
“It’s an outer base, a satellite location. It is rarely frequented by governing bodies greater than those currently housed there. The need has not arisen,” Bart explained. “Most of our rural bases have not been upgraded. They do function as is so the need is more convenience than anything. We’ve focused most of our expenditures and updates on the larger cities and populations. We will eventually get to the smaller outposts, it just won’t be any time soon.”
“I see.”
“Have you seen or made contact with your Ehlealah?” Bart asked.
“No, not yet. And that is one reason I’m calling. I advised Consul Diskastes that my purpose here was to oversee the repatriation program of the females being returned to Earth since the last elected government took office.”
“Oh, really?” Bart asked, grinning.
“Yes. And I need you to confirm that it is my primary function so that he will give me access to the records I need to trace her and find her location,” Kol said.
“He’s already called. I avoided his call until I’d had a chance to speak with you. I will confirm the story you’ve already told him. But Kol, you are there for three years. It is your assignment to review all things you find fault with at your home base.”
Kol’s brows came down low over his eyes. “My focus is to find Ada Jane and bring her home.”
“I’m aware. Your focus is to also make a thorough auditing of Base 28 and report any findings that seem out of the ordinary. We’ve received murmurings of things going on there that are not as they should be. I’m trusting you to search out these problems and report them back to me, Kol,” Bart said, his hologram looking intently at Kol.
“Why?!” Kol finally burst out, flabbergasted by the fact that he was it appeared, being pushed into the actual roll of diplomat.
“Several reasons! Need I remind you, you brought this on yourself when you flew off half-cocked to Earth without preparation or plan. In addition, though you may not be happy with the way things have come about, I saved your ass, and have set you up to be able to locate your Ehlealah, and you owe me. Finally, because you are a good male, Kol. You have integrity and honor. The people who fall under the rule of Base 28 are being taken advantage of and prevented from receiving any subsidies that are meant for them, at the very least. Of that I have no doubt, but our political inquiries are met with subtle blockades. I need someone there who is strong enough to stand up to Consul Diskastes and not afraid to do what has to be done to get me the information and the proof I need to remove him and his people from the surface of my home planet.”
Kol kept his mout
h shut and listened to Bart rather than objecting or interrupting him.
“You put yourself in my path when you flew off to Earth. You needed me. Now I need you. And I have no doubt your heart wouldn’t allow you to witness what is happening and not put it to rights.”
Kol remained quiet thinking of the things Bart had just told him.
“Am I wrong to believe you are the male for this, Kol?” Bart asked.
Kol pressed his full, dark blue lips together and sighed. “No. You are not,” he said begrudgingly.
“Thank you. And so you know, I had Elisher assigned to you as an assistant. He is very well versed in the political circles you’ll need to navigate. He is a trusted contact.”
“I was impressed with his presence. I did like the male, though he is somewhat effeminate,” Kol said.
“He can be trusted. Please let me know if you need anything at all. I’m sending my private contact information to this device… it’s your handheld, yes?” Bart asked.
“It is.”
“If you need me at any time, contact me. I’ll answer right away.”
“Can you give me any information on my Ada Jane? Has there been any word?” Kol asked.
“She arrived at the repatriation center in Washington D.C. She has not yet been released from their care, but I see that she has applied for return of her family’s land. She is apparently alive and demanding what is rightfully hers through the proper channels, so someone is guiding her through the processes. She is well, Kol, do not worry.”
“I need to go to her immediately,” Kol insisted.
“And barge right in and have the authorities determine you a threat to not only her but all you come in contact with when your Psi emerges?” Bart asked.
“What can I do? I must see her!” Kol burst out, getting to his feet and beginning to pace back and forth.
“Call her, Kol. Reach out to her via your handheld. Washington D.C. can accommodate the technology in your handheld. Place a call to her and speak to her over the connection as you are me right now. Start there. Let her know how to reach you. Let her know you’re on Earth and will be for the next three years. Ask her if you can see her. If she resists, let her know you are always available to her and will be checking in with her regularly.”
Kol looked at Bart like he’d lost his mind. One did not ask an Ehlealah for permission to visit with them. One claimed their Ehlealah in proud Cruestaci form and showed her value to them while also displaying their ability to protect her.
“This is not Cruestace, Kol. This is not even Command Warship 1. This is Earth, and things are not done the way you are accustomed to. Trust me, Kol. Take your time. She will come to see you as an ally, which is what you need to happen.”
“I do not like this.”
“Didn’t say you had to.”
Kol huffed out his irritation. “Very well.”
“Reach out to Vivi if you need to, she can guide you if you prefer. You don’t want to make Ada Jane afraid of you.”
“You are correct. I do not want her to fear me,” Kol agreed.
“So, we’re done here?” Bart asked.
“For today. What else should I request access to when I next meet with Diskastes?”
“Everything. Tell him your assignment has been revised. You are to do a complete audit of Base 28 and all its operations. You will be granted access to all its records, electronic and hard copy.”
“I will tell him.”
“Excellent. I’ll send you Ada’s information along with mine. Do not mix them up. I do not want to receive love letters of longing while she is receiving the evaluations of Base 28.”
“I am not stupid! I will not mix them up!” Kol snapped.
“Didn’t think you would. Just trying to make you smile, Kol. Loosen up. You’re actually in a very good position. And you get paid!”
“I do not get paid enough,” Kol answered, plopping back on the sofa.
“You don’t even know what you’re paid.”
“It does not matter, it is not enough.”
“Bye, Blue Dude,” Bart said, smiling and waving before the holovid cut out.
Kol smiled to himself. “End com,” he instructed his handheld.
He looked around his quarters and shook his head. “I shall be here for a while,” he said aloud. He got up and went into the kitchenette, leaving his handheld on the coffee table. He looked at what were obviously appliances, opening and closing each one. He pulled on the door to a large one and when it opened was surprised to find that it was cold inside. The shelves were lined with bottles of beverages, and he thought about trying one, but didn’t know a thing about any of them.
His device pinged with a soft, soothing tone. “Kol?” the computer asked.
“Missy! How are you, Missy?” he asked, still looking into the cold box where the beverages were kept.
“I am well. Your cruiser advised that you wished for me to be implemented in its place.”
Kol paused in his perusal of the bottles of beverages and thought about it. He remembered complaining to himself about wishing Missy was programmed into his cruiser. “I suppose I did. I didn’t expect the computer to react by actually carrying out the change, but, I am glad it did.”
“How may I be of service?” Missy asked.
“Has Bart sent communication details on himself and on my Ehlealah?” Kol asked.
“He has.”
“Excellent. Before I contact Ada Jane, do you know anything about Earth beverages?”
“I may be able to ascertain details. Can you show me the beverages?”
Kol walked back over to the small table between the couches and picked up his handheld device. He brought it with him into the small kitchenette and held it so that it could send images back to Missy of the contents of the cold box.
“One moment, please, Kol,” Missy said.
Kol waited, lifting first one bottle then another, sniffing them, much like a puppy would do with something new it had never seen before. Disappointed that he couldn’t smell anything from inside the bottle, he put them back and just waited.
“Kol?” Missy asked.
“Yes, Missy.”
“Sirena Vivi says that the orange ones are her favorite. They are all fruit flavored except for the black one. That one is called cola and is an Earth favorite.”
“Thank you, Missy. Please thank Vivi for me. I’ll be in touch soon.”
“You are welcome, and I will pass along your thanks,” Missy responded. “Is there anything further you need at this time?”
“No, I do not. You may end communication.”
“I am on standby should you need guidance while on Earth.”
“Thank you, Missy,” he said, taking an orange colored beverage from the cold box. “End com,” he said aloud and shoved his handheld into the pocket of his trousers before he went to explore his quarters a bit more.
Chapter 5
Ada Jane sat across the desk from the legal clerk who’d been assigned to her request for return of her family’s land.
“And what year was it you left Earth?” the clerk asked.
Ada Jane smiled tightly and answered the question, for the third time. “It was 1986. And I did not leave, I was taken.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the girl said, typing busily away on her computer’s keyboard.
“And the state you lived in again…” the girl asked.
“Ms. Andersen has answered your questions twice already. Is there a problem?” Jason asked, getting irritated on Ada Jane’s behalf.
“No, sir. Just a different page with some of the same questions.”
“Nebraska,” Ada answered. “I lived in Nebraska.”
“Thank you,” the girl answered. She typed some more, then reached for her mouse and clicked a few times. “Are you sure the name was Andersen with an ‘E’?”
Ada Jane closed her eyes and prayed for patience. “Yes. I am. I know my name. I do not have any ID because I was stolen one-hundred-thirty-
five years ago! I want my family’s land back. I want my rights reinstated. I want to have my death certificate nullified and to be declared alive. Why is that so hard to understand? Surely, I’m not the first!” Ada Jane exclaimed.
“Oh! You were declared dead? I was looking in the wrong place. Give me just a minute…” the girl answered. She typed and clicked for a while before sitting back and smiling. “There you are! Ada Jane Andersen. Abducted January 1986, declared dead seventeen years later in 2003.”
Ada Jane just sat there stunned. Her eyes began to fill with tears, though she fought allowing them to spill over.
“Ada Jane?” Jason said, reaching for her hand.
Ada shook her head. “They waited seventeen years for me. They kept waiting and waiting.”
“They must have held out hope. Most laws want the declaration of death to be filed at the seven year point. They must have fought to have you listed as a missing person for longer than the standard seven years,” Jason said.
“I can begin the process of having your death certificate nullified and replaced with a proof of life addendum, after we receive confirmation of the doctor’s signature on your most recent physical,” the clerk explained. “It’s so funny to be talking to somebody that’s been dead for so long!” the clerk said, giggling.
“Yes, it’s hilarious,” Ada Jane snapped.
“I’m Dr. Cavanaugh. What is the best way to confirm my signature on the documents?” Jason asked.
“What?” the clerk asked.
“The proof of life addendum… the most recent physical? I’m Dr. Cavanaugh, I performed the physical and I signed the documentation. How do I prove my signature?” Jason asked.
“Oh, well, I’m not sure. We’ve never had a doctor accompany a claimant to the office before. Let me go find out. I’ll be right back.”
As the clerk left the small cubicle enclosed office, Ada Jane turned to Jason. “I thought you said it was nothing unusual for the attending physician to accompany the person petitioning for a proof of life addendum to the meetings,” Ada said.
Jason shrugged and smiled sheepishly. “I’m not honestly sure. All I know is that I didn’t want you to have to deal with all the red tape alone. Who better to attest that you are indeed alive than the doctor that examined you?”
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