by Sarah Noffke
“Yes, and I’d prefer to keep my brain intact,” Jack stated, continuing to chuckle.
“So it would serve us to find this gate,” Hatch concluded.
“Did you say you had a general location?” Bailey asked.
Hatch nodded. “I inferred it from the five points on DJ’s drawing. If a pilot would be willing to go to those coordinates and look around, I think that person would be able to locate the precise location of the gate.”
Bailey smiled. “I can definitely take a Q-Ship out to explore.” She looked to Lewis. “You up for some investigative work?”
Before he could answer, Harley barked loudly, gaining everyone’s attention.
Lewis smiled at the dog, thinking how handsome and intelligent the creature had become, having benefited from a full enhancement after being injured in an accident.
“Why yes, and I daresay we could use Harley’s keen eyes.”
Chapter Three
Q-Ship, Cacama System
“So what am I looking for, again?” Lewis asked, pushing back in his seat, his hand gripping it tight as they sped out into the star-filled space.
Bailey knew he still wasn’t comfortable with her flying, and she covered her grin. “A gate is virtually invisible, but it becomes visible and changes colors when viewed from different angles, turning blue, green, red, or whatever.”
“That’s going to be hard to find,” Lewis stated, staring out the bow windows.
Bailey knew what he meant. The Precious galaxy was unlike any place she’d ever been. Space wasn’t black punctuated with stars here. Pink, blue, green and purple gas wove around the sparkling stars. This place is named appropriately.
“You two keep your eyes out,” she encouraged, throwing a look back at Harley, who was dutifully staring around.
She wasn’t sure why the canine had requested to come along, but she enjoyed having him present. She’d grown up with dogs at her grandmother’s cottage. They didn’t judge her and, better than that, even made her relax a bit. When the dogs were around, she was never so eager to ‘get up and do things’, as her sisters called it. Instead, she’d lounge with the long-haired shepherds, dozing in the grass.
“We’re approaching the area where the energy spike was recorded,” she reported.
She pulled back on the controls and abruptly arranged her face into a startled look of surprise, shooting her eyes down at the gauges. She caught Lewis tense up beside her; he was watching her. Of course he is. He’s always watching everyone.
“What is it?” he asked, leaning forward.
“The energy spike has affected the engines,” Bailey lied. “They’re stalling.”
“You know what to do, though, right?” Lewis asked, gripping the armrest harder.
Bailey gave him an incredulous look. “I’ve been flying for all of two minutes. Of course I don’t know what to do!”
She let the Q-Ship tumble, enjoying the way the momentum made her stomach turn. That was always when the adrenaline released, pushing her harder.
“Pip?” Lewis asked, pushing back even further into his seat, his face drained of color. “Are you there? Can you help?”
“I’m here,” Pip answered, sounding bored. “Help with what?”
“The engines! They’ve stalled!” Lewis yelled.
The ship spiraled now through infinite space, tumbling end over end.
“I show that the engines are fine,” Pip stated. “And that the lieutenant is full of bullshit.”
Bailey pulled back on the controls, steadying the ship once again. She cracked a smile. “Oh, that’s right. The engines are fine—I was reading the wrong gauge. Silly me.”
Lewis sat up straighter, casting an evil glare at Bailey. “You were messing with me? Why?”
She allowed a laugh to fall out of her mouth. “To encourage you to have a little faith in my piloting skills. I might be new to this, but I was born to fly. You don’t have to be so nervous.”
Lewis shook his head, letting out a heavy breath. “You’re brand new to this, and even if you’re good at flying, a small mistake would cost us big.”
“Cost you big,” Bailey joked. “I’d die doing what I love.”
“Very funny—”
Harley’s abrupt barking cut Lewis off, and the detective’s eyes followed the dog’s to the port side of the ship.
“Do you see something?” Bailey asked, looking back at the dog.
He barked again, more adamantly.
She changed the course of the ship.
“I think I see it, too.” He pointed. “Head over there.”
“I don’t see anything,” Bailey admitted.
“You have to look at it just right,” he explained, his voice tight from the angle of his head. “Continue going forward.”
“Like this?” she asked, blinking ahead at the strange bluish-green space.
“Veer to port side,” Lewis ordered.
Bailey did as he directed.
Harley barked in the back.
Lewis turned to him, nodding his head. “Yeah, I know.”
“You know what?” Bailey asked desperately. “What is it?”
Lewis lifted his head up. “What happens when you go through a gate?”
Bailey thought for a moment. “Well, you transport to wherever it leads.”
“Okay,” Lewis said with a smile. “Get ready for that. We’re going through.”
It suddenly felt like the ship had been swallowed up and spit down a drain. It spiraled, the force causing Bailey to grip the controls tighter. It wasn’t like the feeling she’d get when the ship jumped or was transported. This was an inside out feeling. It must have been a result of the type of gate Vance created which was different than Federation protocol.
Bailey blinked, and the pastel skies were replaced with the blackness of space she’d always seen when flying.
She let out a breath, suddenly realizing she was holding it. “We’ve gone through a gate? This is the Pan galaxy?”
Lewis peered down at the nav computer. “Yes, I believe so.”
“I can confirm that this is the Pan galaxy,” Pip chimed in overhead.
Bailey checked her instruments. Thankfully, everything seemed to be in working order. “Pip, will you please record the coordinates for that gate location?”
“It’s already been done, Ms. Manners,” Pip said. “No wonder Hatch likes you.”
Lewis laughed, looking all around the space, which was so different from Precious. “He likes her because she’s pretty.”
Bailey’s eyes reflexively widened. She whipped around and shot an accusatory look at Lewis. “That’s not true.”
Lewis shrank back, a horrified look on his face. “I didn’t mean I think you’re pretty. I was only saying—”
“I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks,” Bailey nearly yelled. “But don’t you ever say that I get favors or lose them based on my looks. If Hatch likes me, it’s because I’m a damn good soldier and have earned that respect.”
Lewis studied her for a moment, seeming to regain his composure. He nodded, sitting taller. “Yeah, of course. I’m sorry. I was only joking.”
Bailey shrugged him off, turning back to the controls.
All her life, it had been the same. She was either penalized for being pretty, or treated better for it. Not that she was complaining that her features were considered attractive, but it was a hell of game trying to be a respected soldier when her commanding officer called her ‘princess’, or thought she wasn’t tough enough for an assignment.
“Shall we go back through, so we can return and give Hatch the good news?” Lewis asked, his tone cautious.
“Yeah, sure.” Bailey turned the ship around, enjoying how smoothly it moved.
“And you can collect your gold star,” Pip teased.
Bailey shook her head. “Harley found the gate, and Lewis directed me to it.”
“It was a team effort,” Lewis said proudly.
The ship slipped throug
h the gate, and everything around them was covered in solid darkness for a moment. It was strange not to see distant stars of the Pan galaxy or the pastel gases of Precious. The space inside the gate was the in-between.
“Cloaks are down,” Pip stated.
Bailey scanned her instruments. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, it’s only that maintaining the cloaks is not advisable after gating multiple times,” he informed her.
Bailey shook off the nausea that always accompanied gating. Most thought that pilots didn’t get sick from flying…that wasn’t true. They only recovered quicker than most.
A bright light covered the ship as it shot out into the Precious galaxy. Bailey took back the controls and overcompensated for the vibrations they were experiencing after exiting of the gate.
A blast of red spilled across the starboard of the ship.
“What was that?” Bailey asked, her eyes darting down to the radar. Three ships were headed toward them.
“They are unidentified, but appear to be hostile,” Pip stated. “Enemy fire approaching.”
“ ‘Appear to be hostile’?” Lewis said sarcastically. Thankfully he didn’t look as nervous as before.
“Can you establish a link to one of the ships?” Bailey asked.
“I’m afraid that they have communications blocked,” Pip said.
Bailey let out an annoyed breath. “So they don’t want to chat. They only want to try and shoot up our ship. Big mistake, assholes.”
Bailey spun the ship around to face the approaching enemies. Their spacecraft were unlike anything she’d seen before. They resembled dragonflies, with the bow appearing as an insect’s head, and the port and starboard extended out like long wings. The stern was long and narrow, and the entire ship was a reflective blue and green, patterned like butterfly wings.
“Whoa,” Lewis said, homing in on the three ships. “What are they? Where are they from?”
“I’m searching for an answer to that question,” Pip stated.
“How about you take over the guns instead,” Bailey suggested. “I’m going to call these guys’ bluff. If they think I’m going to tuck tail, they’re absolutely wrong.”
Harley sounded an irritated bark from the back.
“Sorry, buddy. I meant we’re not a bunch of scaredy cats,” Bailey joked.
Harley barked again, this one full of excitement.
“Okay, I’ll take over the guns, but just so you know, I’m sort of a Rambo,” Pip stated.
“Give ‘em hell.”
Bailey banked the ship, coming in between the enemy craft. Pip released a barrage of fire, knocking out the first ship with decisive hits. It exploded on impact, bits of the wings flying out in all directions.
Bailey pitched the ship twenty-six degrees. The other two enemies were apparently taking the attack on their friend personally, and were flying after her with a vengeance.
“Oh, they wanted to play until you stood up and they realized you were taller,” Lewis said with a triumphant laugh.
Bailey darted out of the line of the ship’s fire, quickly swerving back and forth. “Pip, are you going to help me out?”
“I was waiting for you to give me a clear shot,” Pip stated. “I can’t do much when you’re fleeing.”
“Fine.”
She slowed the thrusters, nearly halting the ship. The enemy aircraft shot in front on either side, not having anticipated the change. The Q-ship released two missiles, which quickly found their targets. With the close proximity, the dragonfly ships didn’t have a chance to respond, and they exploded.
“Nice job!” Lewis praised, looking at Bailey victoriously.
Harley barked excitedly in the back.
Letting out a relieved breath, Bailey set the ship on course for Ricky Bobby. “Yeah, that move worked out better than I thought.”
“Now I wonder who we blew up,” Lewis mused, the glowing debris from the ships reflecting in his eyes.
Chapter Four
Jack Renfro’s Office, Ricky Bobby, Cacama System
A heavy expression had settled on Jack’s face. His hands were steepled in front of his mouth, and his fingers nervously tapped together. Lewis had expected a sort of kudos for finding the gate and taking down the enemy ships. Instead, Jack had called he and Bailey into his office, and remained quite serious as they sat in silence.
“I’ve found the information you requested,” Ricky Bobby stated overhead, interrupting Jack’s constant tapping.
He looked up, relieved. “Very good. Who were the attackers?”
“The ships belong to the Tuetians,” Ricky Bobby said.
An audible sigh fell from Jack’s mouth as he dropped his hands to the surface of the desk. “Okay, thanks. I suspected as much. I can take it from here. Will you pull up the visual?”
“Yes, of course,” the AI stated, and an image popped up onto the screen behind Jack’s desk.
Onscreen was an alien that had many insect attributes. The creature’s face was rounded and smooth, as if it were wearing a mask. Its huge, faceted eyes bulged from both sides of its face. At the back of the head, shoulders and legs there were sharp angles like curved claws. It wore armor on its torso and legs, the latter of which were divided into multiple tarsomeres.
“Something about this alien species bugs me,” Lewis said, earning an annoyed glance from Bailey.
Jack laughed softly. “The Tuetians do bear an odd resemblance to insects. We know a little about them, however, we have no intel on why they would have attacked your ship unprovoked.”
“Could there be territorial laws in this system we’re unaware of?” Bailey asked.
Jack shook his head. “That’s the thing. This system—the whole galaxy, for that matter—is mostly uncharted. Information on populations are unclear, but habitable planets are fairly scarce. I’m guessing that is precisely the reason that Vance chose this location for the databases. There’s still more questions than answers at this point, though. That’s why I need you two to do more investigating.”
Lewis leaned forward, his interest piqued. “We need to hunt around and find out where Vance has been, and if there’s been any unusual activity in those places.”
Jack nodded. “Exactly. And I’ve found where I’d like you to start.”
An image popped up on the screen of a planet featuring green terrain, with blue oceans streaking around the masses of land.
“This is a small planet in the Cacama system,” Jack began. “It has warm climates year-round, but steady rainfall and a stable atmosphere with breathable air.”
“Sounds like paradise. You think it’s the most viable location in this system for one of the databases to be housed?” Lewis asked his uncle.
“Yes, and I’ve determined where the most populated area is. Most of the planet is covered in farmland, but there is a hub where government buildings and other, more advanced facilities are located.”
Lewis knew many ways to determine if someone was lying. Jack wasn’t displaying any of the signs; his behavior was subtler, but the way his eyes darted side to side and his body changed movements halfway through indicated that he was hesitant about something.
“So what is it about this planet that has you concerned?” Lewis asked.
Bailey shot him a look of surprise. Maybe she hadn’t picked up on Jack’s tells, but Lewis was a master at observing that which a person was trying to hide.
Jack’s eyes dropped to the surface of his desk, where a file lay closed. “This planet is known as Tueti.”
Bailey’s eyes closed briefly as the realization came to her. “And its natives would be known as the Tuetians.”
Jack nodded solemnly.
“As in the insect-aliens who attacked us without provocation?” Lewis asked, a laugh in his voice.
Jack continued nodding.
“So we have to go make nice with the natives that we blew out of the sky?” Bailey summated.
The tension that had been gripping Jack since he’d l
earned the identity of the enemy loosened, and he gave a slight smile. “Exactly. That shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
Lewis looked at Bailey. “Maybe we start with an apology?”
She scoffed. “They fired on us first. Let’s go down there and find out why they are so hostile, and then see what they know about Monstre Corp.”
“I suspect the two might be connected,” Lewis mused.
Chapter Five
Hatch’s Lab, Ricky Bobby, Cacama System
Various objects flew out from behind the shelves at the back of the lab. Dejoure cringed when a mysterious electronic item skidded to a halt beside her feet.
“If you’re not prepared to conduct your tests on me, we can postpone,” she offered, conscious that her voice was shaking.
Hatch turned around, his eyes peering at her from behind a shelf. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m simply getting all the equipment together.”
“Oh, okay. Is this going to hurt?” Dejoure asked.
“Probably not,” he muttered, continuing to toss random electronics overhead. Many of them smashed in various places. “Wait, are you a wimp? If so, this will hurt.”
“I’m tough,” Dejoure said, sticking out her chest and wishing her voice didn’t sound like it was wavering. “I pulled out all my teeth on my own.”
Again Hatch’s wide eyes blinked back at her from behind strange objects on the shelf. “I’m not sure that makes you tough so much as stupid.”
“It should be noted,” Pip interjected, “that human children lose their first set of teeth, and then grow adult ones.”
From where she stood, Dejoure noticed Hatch’s cheeks puff slightly. “I’m well aware of the stages of human development.”
“Oh…okay,” Pip stated. “Well, just so you know, when you make my body, I want to be a mature human. No baby teeth.”
“ ‘Mature’? As in middle-aged or senior?” Hatch asked, making a ton of noise as he continued to sort.
“ ‘Mature’ as in a six-pack for abs,” Pip said.
Dejoure giggled. She hadn’t ever met an AI, so she had no idea they had such colorful personalities. No one on Ricky Bobby was anything like the hollow shells of people at SB. Those people wouldn’t know a joke if it tied their shoes together and slapped them in the face. However, the crewmembers of Ricky Bobby were each different and unique and, in her opinion, completely awesome.