I said, "secure the hatch, prepare to depart."
Gripper, "aye, aye, sir."
I went to the bridge in a fast pace and got us on our way. With the help of some spice dew, I worked my magic on the gate and we were gone.
After a short time Gripper came to the bridge and said, "we have another 13, that's 30 in all sir."
I asked him to sit down and told him that was fine work back there. He said thank you. Then I asked him why they call him a Gripper.
He said, "well my birth name includes 30 generations of names and it just takes too long for most conversations. They call me Mr. Gripper because of my grip. When I first started to work cargo on my home planet, I had an accident that tore off both of my arms. We have some of the best doctors in the sector and they gave me new arms, bionic ones, and a support frame across my back and chest. I can rip a hatch off its hinges or snap a cargo lock with one hand. So they just call me Gripper, sir."
I said, "well remind me never to arm wrestle you. Tell me, why do you think some of the workers would not come?"
Gripper, "Sir, I think it is because they think we are going to get caught and sent to jail, or spaced to teach the others a lesson."
I said, "so if we make it, next time they may take the chance to be free."
Gripper, "yes sir, that's the way I see it."
The CM will make up stories about our capture or destruction. We will need to counter their propaganda, with voice notes and transmissions about how we are doing. Tell them you have been swimming and working on your tan while eating fruit right of the trees.
Gripper, "yes sir, that sounds like a very good idea sir."
I said, "listen Gripper, you're going to have to cut down on the calling me sir all the time."
Gripper, "I'm sorry sir, would you prefer Captain?"
I said, "I am your captain on this trip, but you are not enlisted on this ship. Try to feel like a passenger."
Gripper, "yes sir, I mean Captain. But I would feel more at home and relaxed if I was in your service, at least for this trip."
I said, "okay Mr. Gripper. I hereby give you a field commission of first mate during this trip. Your pay shall be transportation as well as all you can eat or drink."
Gripper, "aye, aye sir, thank you Captain."
I said, "now for your first duty, see to the comfort of the men. There are 20 rooms below, with a number of beds in each of them for the ones that need rest. The one just under us is mine, use any other."
Gripper went to see to the men as I wondered how long the ships behind me could keep up the jamming. If a ship from station three went to station two they could scare away the jammers and station one would be waiting for us. We already knew there may be a CM ship there, though there was a plan to draw it away. But if it knew about the freedom ship, it may not fall for it. And even if the decoy works, as soon as the workers get on my ship the station will alert the CM and it could be after us. I would just have to fly in there as if there was nothing to fear, and hope they don't blast us. Then wait for the decoy to make my move.
I was not sure how far it was between station one and two, as I sleep part of the way, and I wondered if I would see the black ship again. Maybe it will show up just before the gate.
I tried to think of the fastest way to get in and out the dock. By the time Gripper came back, I had an idea.
Gripper, "Sir, all the workers have been taken care of, and the same five men stand ready to rush the station and give the call to freedom."
I said, "good, but I will need you on the bridge at the next station. You are going to fly the ship."
Gripper, "me sir? I thought you would do that."
I said, "this ship has only one weapon, me. With my telekinetic abilities, I can be of some help. However, I can't fly and fight at the same time. You will also need to pick one man to stand ready at the hatch. As soon as the last man is a board he must close the hatch, and blow the locking seal. This will show up on your screen here. At that time, you must hit the locking clamp release. Then back us out and take us to the gate. After the gate opens you take us through, it's all draw and tap, do you understand?"
Gripper, "yes sir, it's a very easy system to use. I have flown much harder and less responsive ships."
I said, "good, then pick your crew to hit the dock and a man that's going to stand by the hatch, then come back here. You will have control the moment we come out of Hyperspace and approach the station."
Gripper, "you want me to dock as well sir?"
I said, "you got a problem with that first mate?"
Gripper, "no sir, I’ll tell my men to be ready and be right back sir."
And so Gripper went to brief his men as I sat there half in and out of sleep for a moment. So I started using the fire powder to become more awake. I knew it might be just a split second that made the difference between whether or not I could save us. It was starting to take a toll on my body. My heart was pumping and my hands were not steady, but we were going into battle and I would be ready.
I took off my cloak and stood in the middle of the room, looking out into hyperspace.
With my Elvin ware of silver and gold from neck to boots, I look like a knight standing there ready for battle.
When Gripper came back, he stood at the door for a moment and said, "Sir?" As if he was not sure who he was addressing.
I looked over my shoulder and said, "take the controls Mr. Gripper."
Gripper, "yes sir."
I said, "I may not speak to you again until we are away from the station and back through the gate again. Do you understand?"
Gripper, "yes sir. The men stand ready as do I."
I said, "very good, steady as she goes and forward to freedom."
I took a sip of the spice dew just to get my senses ready, then another. My third drink would give me an extended time and reach. I had not seen the black ship but I felt we were getting close to the gate. Then we were there, the ship came through the gate, and I could see the station.
I said, "dock us on the far right side Mr. Gripper, you have the com."
He said, "aye, aye, sir." As I took another drink of spice dew.
There were five ships at the dock, plus a CM enforcer class control ship on the far left side with an extended dock to it.
All five of the small ships left dock just as we pulled in. Then one fired at the extended dock to the CM ship. It all came loose with a flash of light. Another ship fired at the big ships communications array and flew off as one more ship fired at the station’s antenna. Both then join the other ships that were moving off.
The big ship slowly moved out and after them.
By this time we were dock and men were running to get on board. I took another drink and sent my mind after the big ship. I went on her bridge and destroyed the computer chips to its navigation and weapons control. When I was pulled back I saw we were leaving the dock. As we headed toward the gate the other ships were firing upon the enforcer ship over and over again. Then it blew apart from the back end and again in the middle. I took a drink of the spice and opened the gate, our ship went through.
In my mind I stood there at the gate, and watched as the other ships keep firing at the parts of the CM ship, as if it was just too much fun to stop. Then my mind started racing across hyperspace to catch up with my body, what a rush.
I turned around and said, "report."
Gripper, "steady on course, next beacon locked on, no one in pursuit. Should I see to the men and sir?"
I said, "please do Mr. Gripper."
Then the black ship was back, darting back and forth in front of us, but just far enough away that I could not get a good look at her. Soon it was gone again. Was he trying to say good work or was it like a fish that plays with a ship just because it is in its waters?
Anyway I felt we were safe for the time being. The only ship that may be after us would have to come from station three. I just hoped it was far enough behind us that I could get us home safely, without
any more fighting. “It's not over yet,” I told myself as I sat down for a smoke and a drink, then went right for the rum.
I was feeling so very tired I just wanted to go to sleep until we got home. But I knew I had to hang on until we got there. I had to be sure there was no other ships out there after us. You could never be sure in hyperspace, because you could not see another ship until they were
right on top of you. It's an easy place to lose things in, including yourself, if you don't keep a lock on a start gate beacon.
I rested my eyes, knowing Gripper would be back in a little while. I must've nodded off, I'm not sure how long. But next thing I knew Gripper was saying, "the black ship is back sir."
I open my eyes trying to see. Gripper was next to me at the controls.
"The black ship is back sir," he said, "are we near the gate?"
I said, "I don't know." As I tried to focus my eyes on the ship ahead of us. I had no fear of it anymore, but I wished I knew more. I figured the ship would be gone in a few moments and we would be out the last gate.
I asked, "how many from the last station?"
Gripper, "20 sir, that makes 50 in all."
I said, "50, that’s a lot of men to relocate."
Gripper, "they are all very glad to be here sir."
“Gray play”
Then a large ship passed right over us, it was a CM enforcer, and dropped right down in front of us. I only had one good drink of spice dew left, I hoped it would be enough. But then the black ship side bumped the enforcer, knocking it out of our way. The black ship then went after it again, knocking it farther off course.
My ship went through the gate and dropped out of hyperspace. I was not quite sure what just happened. We were alone and I set course for our new home at best speed.
I walked around the bridge a bit, expecting the CM ship to show up at any moment, then I finally sat down.
Gripper said, "do you think the enforcer will be back sir?"
I said, "I don't know, I hope not."
Each moment that went by seemed to take longer than it should, as we got closer to the planet. When the planet was in view I showed Mr. Gripper the home button to push when we got there.
Then the black ship came out of nowhere, and was on our side keeping pace. A holographic transmission was then sent to our bridge. It was the gray I had seen before.
He said, "ship with robot men fun to play with but it broke. Me fix and give back?"
I said, "no fix, bad ship. Bad men make us slaves."
The Gray said, "slaves no good, you break bad ships."
I said, "our ship no weapons, your ship better."
He said, "yes, my ship better to smash bad robot ships. I have another, I sell her to you?"
I said, "yes, I would like to buy one of your ships, how much?"
He said, "your planet, many crystals, trade weight of ship in crystals."
I said, "that's a lot of crystals."
He said, "ship no much weight. I come with you, show how much."
I said, "yes, you come with us down to the planet."
We then turned the home course program on as his transmission ended. I could see his ship match every move ours did as we went down to the spot we took off from. I told Mr. Gripper to keep the men inside until I had dealt with our gray friend.
Day 10
“Trade for a liven ship”
I then went outside to meet with him face to face. As I open the hatch, I could see the gray standing next to his ship looking around.
I walked up and said, "thank you again for playing with other ship. "
He said, telepathically to me, "robot men fun to play with."
I said, "I can hear you without my translator."
He said, "and I you before you speak, you trade crystals?"
I said, "how much?"
He said, "what this ship can eat."
Glancing over at his ship I noticed that it was not as big as I first thought it was and said, "that's about six cargo containers full?"
He said, "yes, this much for sister ship. I call her now."
He looked at his ship, and it sort of made a quiver, then another ship came out of nowhere and sat next to it. She was the same size, maybe a bit bigger. And though it had no real shape except maybe oblong it seemed very beautiful, shimmering black against the sand.
He said, "you like?"
I said, "yes I like."
He said, "go to her, see how she like you."
I walked over and ran my hand along her side, it was like powder on skin. Then the side opened just in front of me.
The Gray said, "that means she will stay for you."
I said, "thank you."
He said, "May my ship eat your crystals now?"
I said yes, and his ship went over to the side of the mountain where I had been digging and started to eat the crystals. When he said eat, I thought he meant load up. But the ship was truly eating. It was taking big bites faster than a loader could dig them out.
The Gray said, "ship happy, no eat crystals in long time."
Before I knew it the ship was done, and the hole was no bigger than if I had pulled out six containers worth.
The Gray said, "thank you, have fun playing with robot ships."
Then he got in his ship and left. It had all happened so fast, that if it was not for the fact that the sister ship was still there, I would of thought it a dream. But there she was, maybe 50 feet long and 30 feet high and wide. Just waiting to take me anywhere I wanted to go.
I went back to the men and told them where we were. I said that after we had secured the big ship we would go to the other side of the mountain. With their help, it did not take long to pull the chips and put them in the safe. We then gather what we were taking with us and got aboard my new ship.
For some reason, it seemed bigger inside than it did outside. Maybe it was because there was no inner walls, no crew quarters or engineering room. It was just a large black room.
Before the hatch closed I walked to the front of the ship, I think, and it opened a portal so I could see out. Then without me saying a word we flew over the mountain in a flash, and were at the green meadow by the lake.
It landed by my old ship and we all got out. A number of men ran to the water, the rest of us followed slowly. I watched as the men played in the water, then I walked over to a fruit tree nearby and started to toss some to a few of them.
Sitting down I ate some fruit myself, as Gripper sat with me and said, "so what do we do next sir?"
I said, "well I fingered the men could use a few days to rest up, and get some of their health back. Then we can start to take them to the city so they can find jobs or transportation someplace else."
By the look of the sun, I could tell it was afternoon. I asked Gripper if any of the men were in need of a doctor.
He said, "I don't think so, but I will look them over and ask around."
Despite my exhaustion I went with him. I told them it was free and he was nearby. However, none of them wanted to go. Although by the looks of a view of them they could use some vitamin shots. I told them to rest up, that there was going to be a party for them tonight. Then I told Gripper to watch over them, that I was going to make preparations for their stay and I would be back soon.
I then dragged myself home to see if Owsee was there. But no one was home or in the barn, and the transport was gone. So I walked over to the doctors and told him about the men. I said none of them felt they needed to see him, but I would appreciate it if he could spare the time to look them over. He grabbed his bag to go see the men while I went into town.
I stopped off to see Kitty to let her know I was all right and would be taking care of the men for a few days. She said she understood and would be home at dark. I then went over to the bank and put the 13.5 million in my account, they were very pleased to see me. After that I headed to the store and bought as much bread and cheese as I could carry and took it to the man.
They may have eaten
on the ship but I was sure that could not have been much. The doctor was still looking them over when I got there. He said there were signs of dehydration and borderline malnutrition, but nothing lots of rest and good food could not cure. He gave some of them vitamins to take, and told them not to drink too much water at first. I thanked him and went up to the cave to see Goo da wa. I told him about the men and that I wanted to give them a freedom party. I handed him a chip with a thousand credits on it to get things started. He said that should take care of it quite nicely, and that he would start on the preparations. He also said I looked as tired as a man that just got back from battle, and asked if he could get me anything. I said, “time to sleep, but that will have to wait just a little bit longer.”
TheTraveler - book 1 Page 27