13 Degrees of Separation

by Hechtl, Chris

  “I think what they have in trade makes it very worth it sir,” Alice replied, sitting up straight.

  There was a squelch of static and then the Captain could be heard muttering something. A hot mike situation, but the flight officer had no intention of pointing that out to the Captain. She didn't need him in a foul mood. “All right, but this better be good,” he said.

  “I assure you sir, it will be,” she replied.

  “Fine, you take care of them,” the Captain replied a moment later. “They come up on the last flight. See too it. Prinz Zir out,” he said.

  “Shuttle one out,” the flight officer said, hanging up the mike. “And we've got passengers,” she said.

  “Gee lucky us,” the copilot griped.

  *****

  “Do you have a lot of baggage?” Alice asked the Gronix family. The Captain had signed off on the trade, but they had been forced to cool their heels in the small customs office and terminal until the shuttle had finished loading. Alice had explained that they had to run the fuel and supplies up now, there was no room for passengers.

  The little girl was still as shy as ever which still amused Alice, though she'd managed to get the girl to wave for the watching cameras. They'd done a bit for a bunch of cameras and reporters, stuff about a new adventure before the camera folk had stepped back, something about getting a good wide angle for the shuttle launch. The little girl had clung to her mom through all the questions. Her parents had a couple trunks and some odds and ends in sacks piled with their trade goods by the cargo hatch. The crew were busy loading things.

  “No, this is it. Never needed more than two outfits anyway. Whatever else we need I'll make on the other side or we'll do without,” Jarod said gruffly. “Thanks for taking us on. We'll work our keep on the ship,” he said.

  “First thing is a shower,” Alice said, wrinkling her nose. She turned to see a tall gangly fellow looking rather melancholy, standing away from the knot of reporters and gawkers who'd stuck around to see the shuttle take off. He was waving a black handkerchief good bye and sniffling. “Who's that?” she asked, nodding her chin to the guy. He was dressed for a funeral, all in black with a cape and top hat.

  Jarod looked and then snorted. “That's just Snidely. My best customer. Guess he'll have to be more careful from here on out,” he said. He nodded to the cargo master who was loading the crates of tipple. There was a D and a lightning bolt branded into the side of the wooden crates. “Careful there boys, it's in glass that's mighty brittle. Glass that's been in use for centuries.”

  “We'll be careful,” the cargo master said. He went into the shuttle and came out with pads. He opened the crate and stuffed the pad in, tucking it around the bottles in an effort to cushion them. “Wouldn't want anything getting broke,” he said.

  “Yeah, that's some powerful stuff you've got there. Could fly to one of the moons and back with half a bottle,” Jarod replied with a snort.

  “Cool,” the cargo master said, closing the lid and then waving his assistant into action. He couldn't wait to try some when he was off duty. He was careful to palm a bottle for his locker for later.

  “What's the hurry anyway?” Jarod asked. “Usually you ships stick around a week or two,” he said.

  “It's um...” the cargo master shrugged. Alice was nearby, she signed off on a tablet and then hustled over.

  “Hi folks,” she said. “Couldn't help but overhear. It's one part we've got a deal someplace else to get to, and a bigger part Hodges's charging us an arm and a leg every minute we're here,” she said, scowling.

  Jarod held up a hand. “Say no more. Fat bastard,” he said spitting. “Wish someone would spit and roast him!” he growled. Alice and the cargo master laughed.

  “This way folks,” Alice said, indicating the boarding ramp. “Ever flown before?” she asked kindly.

  “No, but I heard it's scary,” Loni murmured.

  “It's exciting,” Alice said with a smile. “I'll help you get settled and strapped in before I go to my station, okay?” she asked, looking from the mom to the girl. Loni nodded.

  “Lead the way ma'am,” she said with a smile.

  *****

  After the shuttle docked Alice went back to check on their passengers. Loni was a bit green, but the little girl was all smiles, looking around with interest. The husband was snoring. She nodded to Loni who poked her husband. “Eh? What is it woman?” he growled. Loni silently pointed to Alice who was standing by the hatch. “Oh, we there?” he asked.

  “Sure thing,” Alice said with a smile, carefully breathing through her mouth. She watched as the family unbuckled the straps and got up. The mother seemed to have some difficulty with hers, her husband helped her out. She seemed to smile slightly, some sort of silent byplay was going on, Alice judged.

  Behind her the crew finished and passed her. She looked over her shoulder to see them go and then grimaced. She was left with the hicks. She kept her mask up, smiling and waving for them to follow her through the umbilical and into the ship proper.

  “When we get to the end of this tunnel ask for permission to board,” Alice told them.

  “Why?” Jarod asked, wrinkling his nose. “We're already on board right?”

  “It's tradition,” she said.

  “Oh,” he said quietly and then shrugged. “Can't fault you for that I suppose,” he said. He had an air of arrogance around him, Alice was curious how long it would last. You didn't come onto a ship acting like you owned the place unless you actually did. Space was dangerous, the wrong attitude would get you killed, she thought.

  In more ways than one, she thought as she got to the line and stopped behind it. She held her left arm out to stop the Gronix family from crossing it. “Permission to come aboard?” she asked, straightening and looking at the officer of the deck.

  “Granted,” the OOD said with a curt nod. He looked at her and then to her charges.

  “Family of three, the Gronix from Hazard,” Alice offered. She turned to Jarod. He was slouching but Loni was standing straight and holding her daughter's small hand.

  “Permission to come aboard?” the woman asked quietly. Marcus nodded curtly. He looked at the little girl who put her finger in her mouth and then twisted back and forth. He snorted. His eyes turned to the male.

  “Um, er, permission to come aboard?” Jarod ground out under that intent blue eyed icicle gaze.

  “Granted,” Marcus growled, wrinkling his nose. “You'll show them to their quarters?” he asked, looking at Alice.

  Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly but she nodded. “Sure,” she said glancing at the OOD. “Come on folks, this way,” she said turning to them.

  “What about our things?” Jarod asked. He had left his wife with the bags, he didn't lift a finger. Alice's eyes flickered slightly.

  “Your things will either be delivered to you or stored if there isn't enough space. Cabin space is tiny folks, it's like living in a closet. Space on a starship is at a premium,” she said.

  Loni put her hand on her husband's arm. He shook it off gruffly. She seemed to sigh and look at him in raw unspoken appeal. Finally, almost grudgingly he nodded slightly. “Fine then. Show us the way,” he said waving airily.

  The OOD glared as they left, tapping at the console in front of him. When they were gone he reported in.

  Alice led them through the tight passageways to a small dark cabin door. “Here we are,” she said, thumbing the door open. Jarod entered and scowled. There was barely enough room for one person to stand in the center of the room. “This is a cabin?”

  “As I said, space is a premium,” Alice ground out. Loni nodded. She put her bags in.

  “Well, the little woman can help in your kitchen. She's a good cook, it's why I married her,” he said slapping Loni's flank. Both women winced. “I certainly didn't for her looks!” he laughed and then belched.

  Alice's jaw tightened. She didn't say anything, just nodded. “I'll pass that along, but for now you all have to sta
y in the cabin in the bunks. We'll be breaking orbit soon so you'll hear someone say something over the overhead,” she said pointing to the speaker embedded in the ceiling. The family looked up at it and then to her. “Just follow the directions folks,” she said.

  “Okay,” Loni replied softly.

  “Stay put. I'll, um, someone will come get you in a bit to eat. Head is down the hall here on the right if you need it,” Alice said pointing. “Don't leave this area.”

  “Okay,” Loni said.

  Alice nodded tightly and then pushed the close button. The door shushed closed. She sighed and shook her head and then waved a hand in front of her. “Gah, I need a shower now,” she sighed walking off. “Let them be someone else's problem,” she grumbled.

  *****

  The Captain watched as the helmsman expertly guided the ship out of orbit and on course for the Gaston jump point. They'd be there in 4 standard days. “Our passengers?” he asked to the side.

  The exec looked up. “Settled in Captain.”

  “Assessment I meant,” the Captain asked.

  The exec grimaced. “Not worth the air they breathe according to Alice, no useful skills.”

  “Very well,” the Captain said getting up from his chair. He turned to the navigator. “Lieutenant, you have the bridge,” he said to the small man.

  The navigator looked up and then nodded curtly. “I have the bridge, aye Captain,” he said without missing a beat.

  “I'd like a piece of that apple pie Serius managed to acquire before it's all gone. I'll be in the galley,” the Captain said. He turned to the exec who was getting up. The exec nodded. “Carry on,” the Captain said and exited with the exec on his heels.

  *****

  "And that's how we deal with a planet that we can't bomb from orbit," the Captain said with a self satisfied smirk as he pushed the sticky plate away. The pie had been good, but a little too sweet for his taste. He preferred a tart pie. Eating the pie was his reward for a job well done. Well, the pie and a double scoop of vanilla ice cream, probably the last that mudball would ever produce.

  He had sweated bullets over that cargo and it's handling. He was gratified it was out of his hands... if not at its' original intended destination. Epsilon Triangula would do, after all, it was on their beta list. And the intel about a factory station in Antigua made it too interesting a target now anyway.

  "I thought we were going to do that with Antigua?" The exec asked.

  The Captain shrugged as he sat back and enjoyed his coffee. "We are. We might, but we've got to get another package, and with our latest intel I'm not sure if control will want us to follow through. Or we should be but we only had the one package on hand... and when I got word when we were coming in that Epsilon recently had an upgrade I switched. That damn fleet tender Io something or other did it for them," he said and grimaced.

  The exec nodded, clearly troubled by the ship. She was worth catching, a prize of the first order. And what she was doing was helping them in some ways, but it might cause them grief later on when things picked up. "Cap, something's got to be done about that ship. Can we catch her?"

  The Captain idly toyed with his spoon before he took a sip, not meeting his exec's eyes. "You know how hard it is to generate an intercept even on the best of circumstances. We know where she's headed, we'll pass it on. It's not our job to do that sort of thing."

  The exec grimaced. "Yes sir."

  "That little ship, the Phoenix. A courier, from her lines she was a yacht, but she looks upgraded.”

  “Most likely yes. The corporations were lending or turning over ships during the Xeno war. She was probably someone's tax write off and also incentive to buy a newer model ship.”

  “Heh, with the war on?”

  “I didn't say it happened. Though it could have. You know your history.”

  “Aye Captain,” the exec replied bobbing a nod. The chief engineer grunted but didn't say anything as he ate his sandwich. “She looks like a sweet little ship. Damn near new! Should we inquire? You know call em up and see if the crew is ground side?"

  "Hell no! You want to give us away!" the Captain asked before the chief could put his unwanted two credits worth in. That was all they needed!

  The exec shook his head. "No sir..."

  The Captain's eyes narrowed. Mr. Dillinger was right, but he had to drive the point home. It wasn't their job to do that sort of thing. "Then drop it. If the ship is still there when we check back we might be able to do something about it. But do you want to run double shifts shorthanded as a prize crew?"

  "Ummm..." Slowly the exec sank into his chair and finally shook his head in defeat. They were already shorthanded as it was. The navigator and helmsman were doing double shifts, and he had to stand a shift at the helm one day a week. That wasn't pleasant. Doing double duty?

  "Yeah, that's what I thought," the Captain snorted. He did make a mental note to pass that tip on to higher. And also a request for more crew in case that contingency ever did come up.

  "What's going on?" Mr. Gronix asked. His daughter was hiding behind his legs, his wife behind her. They'd come in for a snack and weren't sure what was going on. Cold eyes looked at the family. Suddenly food was forgotten.

  Thoughts of how much the passengers had heard, and how much they would hear over the coming weeks to their next destination flashed through the Captain and exec's head simultaneously. Of course there was a remedy to that, one they'd used before. They were good cover, but they'd just outlived their usefulness. Pity how things like that happened, he thought looking at the little girl and then away.

  "They are no good to us. Grounders," the exec murmured. "Should we do the usual Captain? The lock?" the exec asked, nodding his head slightly to the passengers. He knew the drill now. It no longer bothered him. He knew as long as he didn't look he wouldn't have a nightmare about the brat.

  "Yeah," the Captain sighed. "Quickly and quietly," he murmured.

  "No problem sir, part of the job," the exec said with a slightly theatrical sigh. He spread his hands apart as he moved to the hatch where the family was standing there frozen. "Come on folks, let me show you around..."

  The end.

  Eternia

  Premise: The adventures of Adam Prince, Teela and crew on Antigua on Eternia island just prior to events in Jethro 2.

  Cast:

  John “Pope Skeletor” Keldor: Wears a skull face mask sometimes. Purple cape with hood, Bandoliers, necklace of Veraxin n T'clock fingers.

  Beast/ape man: Ape man servant of Pope. Real name Biff

  Lynn Evil: Main love interest to Pope. He keeps her at bay and jealous to keep her loyal and off balance. Drug addict.

  Kringer: Green Neotiger 2 year old Orange stripes

  Kittrina: Neocat young love interest to Kringer

  Randor Prince: Father to Adam. Natural leader. Engineer. System manager.

  Marlena Glenn Prince: Wife to Randor, mother of Adam. Shuttle pilot Red head

  Duncan Na: Adopted father to Teela. Security adviser. Experienced soldier and Armorer. Also known as Man at arms

  Teela Na: adopted daughter of Duncan.

  Jane Vinatelli: Teenage cousin to Leo. Incredibly smart, but shy. Hides her work. Has a robot bird.

  Shortly after the ancient freighter Kiev 221 arrived and found Antigua Prime, the Prince family settled on Antigua in an ancient island city called Eternia. Located just south of the equator, Eternia island had been a resort city before the Xeno war. Cosplay fans had come from the core worlds to play or see the sights.

  The company that had set up the island resort had been thorough, they had set up oversized fusion reactors to export power to the surrounding region when power demand was low. The off season was a problem, they added a modern hospital and other things to export to the rest of the planet and the sector.

  When word of the Xeno's attacks had reached the corporation their shareholders had demanded action. The corporation had worked with the Navy and army to set up a network of
planetary defense installations on mountains in strategic locations around the planet. Of course Eternia island was one such location.

  When the Xeno's rampaged through the sector the city's high energy footprint had driven the people living there to abandon the city. The owners of the resort set up an automated security system to protect their interests before they left. The system prevented anyone from using the island until the fusion reactors failed in a storm and went into safe mode.

  By that time centuries had past and the island city had been forgotten. The island city had been largely abandoned for centuries, the city core had been overgrown by thick jungle vegetation from the surrounding forest. The once glittering gold spires had been covered in vines and dangling moss. The area was magnificently beautiful, with waterfalls and beautifully colored flowers and animals. Parts of the gold in the city could still be seen, glittering here and there.

  About two hundred and seventy years ago a ship was blown off course and forced into the island's dilapidated harbor for repairs. Low on fresh food and water, and interested in booty, the crew of the ship explored part of the island before the wild life drove them back to their ship. They returned to Antiguan civilization with tales of a hidden golden city.

  Explorers and treasure seekers sought out the golden city over the years, so much so that the island became a stopping place for ships. Families set up shop in the small wharf fishing town to supply ships and explorers. Many bits of technology were stripped from the outskirts of the city, but much more remained.

  The reactors were found to be restorable, a small crew managed to cut the power to the security system and then run power to the rest of the grid. Restoring twenty percent power to the surrounding region had a Major impact to their economies. Still, the city itself was largely ignored.

  Thirty years ago the Antiguan's had put an end to the senseless looting. The explorers and treasure hunters had stripped the most accessible parts of the city of anything they could carry while doing tremendous damage. Most of the materials had either ended up in the hands of collectors on the planet or sold to passing ships, both situations doing little to help the people of Antigua many realized. The export of such rare material was stopped, but not without forcing the mayors to place a large guard force to protect the city from additional looters.