The Pathfinder Trilogy

by Todd Stockert

  *

  Evening found Kaufield in the Livestock wing near one of the newly constructed barns. Off in the distance he could see Mary out horseback riding – Joseph was sitting behind her and clinging tightly to her waist. The beautiful brown and white horse paused, whinnied, and then continued trotting happily around the empty fenced-off field. Next to the barn were a series of benches and he could see Adam, Noriana and Thomas seated casually together. A half empty pitcher of lemonade sat next to Adam and the ice cubes in it tinkled lightly as he noticed the Captain’s approach and quickly poured him a cup.

  “I see that Mary has made good on her promise to go riding,” Dennis grinned, sitting down next to them and taking a sip of the lemonade. He looked first at the cup and then at Adam. “Just out of curiosity, where did you manage to get cold beverages?”

  “There’s a small refrigerator back in the barn,” Adam said, waving a hand over his shoulder. “There are some other choices also, if you want something a little bit stronger.”

  “No thanks,” Kaufield decided. “If today proved anything it’s that you never know when something weird and unexpected is going to rear its ugly head. I’d better keep control of my faculties, at least for the time being.” He glanced casually back at the barn and noticed a large brown dog in front, lying on his side and sleeping heavily in the simulated sunlight. It was a very relaxing scene, to say the least. “But there will come a day…”

  “There are always holidays and other special occasions that you can look forward to,” Nori decided cheerfully as they clinked their plastic cups together in a mock toast. Her curly, cinnamon-frosted hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail and Dennis grinned at her freckled expression as he carefully patted her swelling belly.

  “How is our junior pilot doing?” he asked.

  “He’s very well, actually,” grinned Nori. “And we’re not the only happy couple as it turns out. Dr. Simmons commented that there are at least two dozen other expectant mothers currently on board the Pathfinder.”

  “Two dozen?” Kaufield gasped. “Holy Hannah… I knew lots of people had made the decision to start a family but that’s a lot of kids! This ship is going to be a floating kindergarten before too long!” He sat back and watched Nori and Joseph continue with their horseback ride. The trail that they were using was, for the most part, circular. It wasn’t the lengthiest riding trail he had ever seen but it was sufficient for the handsome steed to alternate between a prance and a full gallop. He listened to the sound of the horse’s hooves and Joseph’s laughter with pure delight, extremely grateful that it had been within his power to keep his son and the rest of the people on board the ship safe.

  “Thomas, would you like another round?” offered Adam politely, holding up the frosted pitcher of lemonade. He waved it back and forth, noticing that his younger brother was sitting very quietly lost in thought. “Hey Thomas, are you in there?” he asked a little more loudly.

  “Hmm?” asked Thomas, glancing uncomfortably at his brother.

  “What’s up with you today?” inquired Adam. “You’ve been all quiet and creepy. Is there something going on in that head of yours that we should know about?”

  “Nothing really,” Thomas insisted, smiling politely. “Just trying to figure out how we’re going to generate a stable singularity while inside Poseidon’s grasp, that’s all.” He glanced down at the dirt, frustrated. “There’s just too much matter in here… light, dark, you name it.”

  “This is our relaxation time… emphasis on the word relaxation. You’re not supposed to be thinking about work,” commented Adam. “Smell the fresh air or bask in the fake sunlight. But say something once in a while – you’re making me nervous.” He watched Thomas smile weakly and begin to blush. He continued to wonder just what his kid brother was spending so much time thinking about, then remembered how well he knew Thomas and decided there was a 90 percent chance that it had something to do with Kari.

  “Thanks for picking up Joseph after school,” Dennis said to Adam and Nori. “One of my Lieutenants is ill, so I had to stay a little longer than normal and help cover the next shift.”

  “It’s no problem at all,” responded Nori. “Your son is welcome to join us any time we’re off-shift. He told me this afternoon that he can’t wait to hold our baby when he arrives.”

  “Well, for that matter… neither can I!” Kaufield grinned. “For all the progress we’ve made and all the galaxies we’ve charted, there’s still nothing more miraculous than our children. I love watching them observe us, imitate us, and repeat everything that they shouldn’t.”

  The horse pulled up next to the fence in front of them, and Mary waved as she and Joseph climbed down from the saddle. “That was great Mary!” Joseph said gleefully. “Thanks a lot!”

  “You’ve got riding in your blood, young man,” Mary said, patting him on the shoulder. “I think you should talk to Jeff about taking lessons. They have some older horses in one of the other barns… they’re very gentle and just right for new riders.” Joseph came over and accepted a cup of lemonade from Adam. He quickly drained his glass, obviously thirsty from the activity.

  “Are you ready to go, kid?” Dennis asked, standing up and tossing his plastic cup in a nearby wastebasket. “I don’t know about you, but I could use some supper.”

  “Yeah, I’m hungry too,” Joseph replied happily. “Can we eat in the Asian restaurant on deck three? They have great food.”

  “And they also have video games,” Kaufield commented idly, winking at Adam. “You and your friend Ryan aren’t satisfied unless you both ring up all the high scores – are you?” He thought the matter over for a moment. “Sure, Joseph – let’s eat out tonight. But then we go straight back to our quarters so you can get your homework done. Horseback riding was a nice middle of the week treat, but don’t get too used to it now that the new school season is starting.”

  “I know, I know,” he said, running ahead on the walking path toward the exits. He turned and waved cheerfully. “Thanks Adam, Nori and Thomas. And thank you thank you Mary!”

  “You’re most welcome, Joseph,” she replied as she began unhooking the saddle from the horse. She stroked the animal softly along his white furry mane and the horse snorted, playfully pawing at the ground with his hooves. She smiled warmly, watching Dennis slowly following his son for a few moments, then grabbed the animal by the collar and carefully led it toward the barn.

  He didn’t know exactly what time in the early a.m. it was, but Dennis woke up the next morning with the distinct feeling something was not quite right. He tossed aside the blankets on his bed and got up, moving toward the bedroom doorway. He stepped out into the main living area of the quarters that he shared with his son and checked Joseph’s bedroom. The kid’s door was slightly ajar and he could see his son inside, curled up and safely asleep on the bed. As usual, the kid had taken the pillow and was sleeping with his head at the foot of the bed and his feet stretched out toward the headboard. Kaufield had no idea why Joseph did this, but the boy had been sleeping backwards that way since he was a small child.

  The Captain walked slowly across the living room in his pajamas and into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and poured himself a glass of chilled water. The feeling that something was not totally right persisted and he sat down on a barstool next to his kitchen countertop, deep in thought. That was when he noticed the image of his dead wife Elizabeth sitting quietly on the sofa in the living room area. She hadn’t changed at all… still the gorgeous blonde with the beautifully long hair and not a curl to be seen. A petite woman, she was barely over 5 foot 2 inches but still a powerful presence to him. She sat comfortably and was wearing a lovely white cotton dress with colored flowers on it – the same dress that she had on in the family picture that sat on his desk.

  “Hello Dennis,” she said softly, glancing up at him with her beautiful blue eyes. “I’ve really missed being with you and Joseph these past years. But even when you can’t see me, I’m here.
I’ll always be a part of your life.”

  “I see,” Kaufield replied, glancing curiously at his hand where he had held the fuel ore stones early in the morning of the previous day. There was a soft red blotch on his palm, almost undetectable, but definitely present. “Again our quarantine has been compromised, this time by someone who claims to be the walking, talking solution to religious extremism.”

  “You don’t have to worry, Dennis. The Mirzion your Doctor has prescribed is working perfectly. The reason you’re having a reaction is simply a result of the direct exposure you had. You’re in absolutely no danger.”

  “I hope you don’t mind if I confirm that,” Dennis decided as he sat down by the work station on his desk. He typed up a quick E-Note to Dr. Simmons and let her know that he was having hallucinogenic symptoms and ended the communiqué with a query as to whether he needed to stop by for a booster shot of Mirzion. They already knew the unknown bio-agent was non-life threatening, so he saw no immediate need to use the Comm-link and wake her.

  “You’re thinking about going back there aren’t you?”

  “Pardon me?” he said, swiveling in his seat to gaze – somewhat in disbelief – at the image of his long dead wife.

  “Your conversation yesterday morning with Mr. Dandridge – it sparked the thirst for revenge in you, too. You’re considering a return to Earth, so you can try and be a hero,” she said. “I know you, and that’s exactly what part of you wants to do. Go back and try and help the survivors – if there are any.” She paused, folding her hands neatly on her lap. “That Brotherhood attack was hideous… you’ve seen the video footage and know that they are too powerful. You’re simply going to get yourself and everyone who comes with you killed. Can’t you see that?”

  He looked at her with more than a little intensity. “We have been working with Patrick Warren to find new ways of identifying and dealing with them. If we can build weapons that will beat them then I most certainly will consider going back and knocking them off their damned hill. What are we supposed to do now that humanity is defeated – let their bloodthirsty nature turn on each other while what’s left of our people get caught in the crossfire?” He shook his head in disbelief. “A society that only knows how to kill will look for new enemies… and if they don’t find any they’ll turn on each other. Who knows,” he snapped furiously. “Maybe they’ll even start a civil war and begin destroying four or five stars per year in our galaxy just so they can keep their opponents off balance.”

  “You cannot control what the Brotherhood or strange, alien races do any more than you can control what people like Jack Dandridge do,” she pointed out. “There will always be people who think and believe differently, who value life less than we do, or who simply are bloodthirsty and like to kill. Our civilization has been many things, but it has never been perfect.”

  “The Brotherhood will find out that running our society efficiently will be much more difficult than conquering it,” predicted Kaufield.

  “So let them figure that out for themselves. Leave it alone. You don’t have to try and play a part in that battle any more, Dennis. For God’s sake you have our son to think about.”

  “Our son deserves his home,” snarled Dennis angrily. “He deserves his grandparents around him and his Mother to turn to for advice. He deserves a lot more than he’s going to get in life. All parents want things to be better for their children than it was for them.”

  “Our son deserves a home,” Elizabeth said, correcting his statement. “You’ve found plenty of places out here that are suitable for colonization already – and with the Pathfinder’s technology you’ve also managed to put the Brotherhood threat permanently out of reach. You’ve already beaten them Dennis – there’s no need to go back.”

  “They took our homes,” Dennis said, tears running from the corners of his eyes. “And they killed our families. Our families!”

  “And if you go back they’ll kill you too,” she insisted softly. “Where does that leave Joseph? He adores you and you’re all he has left.”

  “I am the commander of the Pathfinder Project and a Naval officer,” Dennis said fiercely. “It is my sworn duty to safeguard my people and fight back against our enemies… whoever they may be.”

  “Your duty as a father overrides everything else,” she protested. “I’m not around any longer to remind you, but if I was still by your side I think you know how I’d react to your suggestion of fighting back against the entire Brotherhood military. All you’re looking for is the same kind of revenge you accused Jack Dandridge of.”

  “You’re damn right I am,” Kaufield said, standing up and wiping the tears from his eyes. He took a tentative step toward the couch. “Beth…” he pleaded softly.

  “Take those angry feelings and put them aside,” his wife said firmly. “They won’t help Joseph and they’ll only tear you apart emotionally. Be a father Dennis. Be a good Dad. If you do that then you will have already beaten the Brotherhood because they can no longer touch you, or any of the families on this crew. Nothing is more important than keeping the children on this ship safe and the future of humanity intact. You have the power in your grasp to guarantee the survival of the human race. Isn’t that more important than fighting back?”

  “Right now I’m not in a position to guarantee anything,” Kaufield growled. “We’re floating in the middle of a huge gravity river and I don’t think we’re going to be able to make it out of here in one transit. It’s quite possible that we have a very long journey ahead of us – Joseph could be a kid without a real home for a very long time.”

  “Perhaps I can help with that,” said a voice from behind him.

  Kaufield spun around quickly and noticed an elderly man standing behind his kitchen counter. The newcomer was thin, had a wrinkled face and friendly smile along with wispy curls of hair so gray they appeared almost white. He was dressed in a dark blue sweater and gray slacks. As the Captain watched he walked out of the kitchen and crossed the room to stand next to the sofa. “Who are you?” Dennis asked cautiously. “I know hallucinations have at times become commonplace on the Pathfinder, but for the most part people generally see someone they know. As far as I can recall, I’ve never met you before.”

  “No you most certainly have not,” the man agreed, smiling warmly. “You’ll pardon me for not introducing myself sooner, but I’ve never seen a man have a conversation with a couch before so I wanted to observe you a little bit.”

  “As far as I know, this time I’m having a conversation with my kitchen,” Dennis said, feeling a little bit ridiculous. “The only difference is that now I see two imaginary people instead of one.”

  “Do you?” the man asked carefully, raising an eyebrow. He turned and glanced toward his left, and Kaufield noticed that a very sleepy-eyed Joseph had walked out of his bedroom and was staring at him very oddly.

  “Dad… Dad who are you talking to?” Joseph asked, rubbing sleep out of his eyes. “It’s kind of early in the morning to be having people over, isn’t it?”

  “There’s no one here Joseph,” the Captain responded. “I’m just thinking out loud. Dr. Simmons refers to it as a duel between the right-and left-brain halves of our subconscious. We see imaginary people and can even interact with them if we choose to… but in reality we’re simply visualizing a conversation that’s occurring inside the brain. I touched some mineral rocks this morning and they must have…”

  “Who’s the old guy?” Joseph interrupted, pointing at the wizened, smiling newcomer. Kaufield stopped in mid-sentence and stared at his son.

  “You can see him too?” he asked.

  “Yeah, he’s standing right there in front of you,” Joseph said, sounding a bit more alert than when he had first walked into the room. “Can’t you?”

  “Sure I can, but he’s not supposed to…” On impulse Kaufield stepped forward and reached out a hand to Elizabeth. Her image had faded a little bit but he could still see her and she also reached out her hand toward his.


  “Take care of our son Dennis,” she said. “I love you both so very much.” She nodded warmly at her husband and then looked lovingly toward her twelve year old son as if grateful to admire him one last time. Kaufield reached out carefully and his hand passed right through her. He waved it back and forth to be sure, but she was definitely one of the bacteria-induced hallucinations that the crew had been reporting since their visit to the ‘Atomic Nightmare’ star system. The interaction with Joseph had helped awaken his own sleepy subconscious and he watched her fade completely away. The older gentleman, however, continued to stand next to the sofa with a big smile on his face.

  “Welcome to my home Captain Kaufield,” the man said pleasantly, stepping forward and offering his hand in friendship. “I know a lot about you and I plan for you to know me as well. My name is Noah and I sincerely hope that you and your Council will welcome a delegation from my world aboard your starship.” Dennis stood where he was in complete shock for a moment before carefully holding out his own hand. As he had done with Elizabeth, he cautiously reached forward and was completely astonished when his hand unexpectedly touched warm human flesh. Stunned, he shook hands with the man while Joseph stood giggling in the background.

  “Noah,” Kaufield said carefully. “It’s nice to meet you, Noah. I don’t mean to be rude, but I hope you’ll understand and humor me by telling me just who you are and what you’re doing on board the Pathfinder.”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Joseph asked, continuing to laugh with delight. “That’s the guy who sent us the mystery picture, Dad.”