by Неизвестный
He was still talking. "I keep thinking about what we talked about last time. You know if I wore a respirator, I could come visit you. We could even meet in the bar... we wouldn't have to dance."
Surprise filled her; Ganth hated the respirator. It filtered out the pheromones required for attachment but eliminated all other odors as well. He'd told her the air smelled bland inside the mask. Ganth's dad really should get him back to Gaia so he could find his future wife. Ganth's offer to wear a respirator was a symptom of how ship-bound he was, but the unwelcome idea of him whispering to another woman turned her stomach to ice.
Ruthlessly, she suppressed her reaction. He was her friend, she should be happy he would have someone to love.
"We talked about this. I like not knowing what you look like. After all, if I met you I couldn't imagine you looking like Bret Skylar, could I?"Ammi named the current holovid heartthrob, but the truth be known, seeing Bret never thrilled her the way Ganth's voice did.
"Well, I'd be willing to give up my hopes of you looking like Marilyn Mantra."Ganth countered with Bret's feminine counterpart, a buxom blonde with terrific legs.
Ammi glanced at what passed for her body. Better Marilyn than the real Ammi. She kept her voice light. "No, Ganth. I can't possibly give up my illusions. Stay on your ship and we'll keep the visuals off."
* * *
"Haven't you ever wanted to do more, go places, see things?"They'd finished their game for the night and now Ammi listened to the eagerness in Ganth's voice. "It can't really be enough to sit third shift on a station comm."
"Oh, sure, sometimes. There are lots of things I'd like to see."She thought about it for a moment. "Trees for one, big trees."
"Yeah, big trees, big enough to climb. I'd show you, Ammi. We have great trees for climbing on Gaia."
Climbing trees on Gaia, like that would happen. But they were dreaming here, why spoil it with reality. "I'd like to climb a tree."
Ganth's voice was wistful. "I used to climb to the top of the one outside my bedroom and watch the stars at night. If you were with me, I'd pull you to the top of any tree you liked."
Wouldn't she love to sit in a tree-top with Ganth. Or anywhere with Ganth for that matter.
"Ammi, the communication center has a window. Go look outside."
Hitting the switch to open the shutters, she took in the view full of stars. "How do you know about the window?"
"I looked it up on the station schematics."
"Those are classified, aren't they?"
He laughed. "Gaians are born knowing how to break into computer systems, Ammi. But that's not important right now. Look at how so many stars are bunched together, but some are so alone. I've always felt like that, a single star in the universe."
She stared at the individual points of light. "I know what you mean."
"You don't have anyone, do you? Family? I mean, you never talk about them."
"No. My mom died a long time ago. My dad...she didn't say much about him."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry."
"You didn't."She rested one elbow on the console, one hand cradling her chin. "I guess you could say I'm a lone star, too."
"We don't have to be, Ammi. Two stars alone, maybe we should pair up, become twins."
Her heartbeat picked up; this dreaming stuff was getting out of hand. "Stars don't pick their partners, Ganth. And you won't always be alone; your mate waits for you. Someday you'll meet her."
She heard his deep sigh. "I went to two marriage meets last year, met over two hundred women. Not one did more than raise one of my eyebrows, much less...well, anything else. I just wasn't interested. My dad might not like it, but I don't think I'm going to find my wife on Gaia."
Ammi's heart pounded harder. What he was implying was impossible. She'd read up on Gaia's history. A long time ago the Gaians had suffered a major loss, a third of their young women killed by war, leaving thousands of men without wives. They'd solved the problem by importing carefully selected Earth women, chosen to meet the Gaians' strict ideas of what made a suitable woman for mating.
A girl in a box would not have been acceptable either then or now. "I don't think you should be talking to me like this. You don't know enough about me."
"Believe me, Ammi, I know everything I need to know. Let me come over there, and I'll prove it to you."
At the certainty in his voice, her heart felt like it would break. "Ganth, it's getting late. I think I better sign off for a while."
* * *
"It's your move, Ganth."The astrochess game was in full swing and for once Ammi was winning. She grinned in anticipation.
"Fighter Five to Mothership Seven."His disembodied voice sounded more disconnected than usual, a slight rasping sound in the background.
Frowning, Ammi watched the tiny ships change positions on the holographic board. "What is this, Ganth? That's a terrible move. At this rate I'll have your planet blockaded in five turns. Aren't you paying attention?"
A startled tone came into his voice. "Oh, yeah. Sorry. Couldn't see the board for a moment."
There was no reason he couldn't see the board. Her monitor showed their holographic images in perfect sync with each other, hers in the station comm center, his on the bridge of his ship. The only way he could not see the board--would be if he wasn't on his ship!
All of a sudden the rasping sound took on special significance. "You aren't wearing a respirator, are you?"
The breathing sound got louder and his voice tinnier than ever. "Respirator? Why would I be wearing a respirator?"His outright lie rang in her ears.
"Ganth! Where are you?"
"Just a few more minutes, Ammi and you'll see for yourself."He sounded smug.
Ganth was coming! After all the warnings she'd given, he'd broken out of his ship and was on his way to the station's comm center. If he saw her, he wouldn't have anything to do with her anymore. Panicked, Ammi stared around the room. There was only one exit, no back way out.
The only possibility was to hide in the center. Behind the dark consoles lay a narrow storage cabinet. It was small, but even with the box she'd fit, plus she could lock it from the inside. Moving as fast as the box allowed her, Ammi glided to the cabinet, shoved the contents about to make room and slid inside. She finished setting the lock just as she heard the door to the corridor slide open.
"Ammi?"The respirator mask muffled Ganth's voice; the hissing rasp of the filters even more obvious as he moved around the room. The cabinet door jiggled and Ammi blessed her stars for the lock. "Are you hiding from me?"His voice was soft, hurt.
"Ganth!"A man's voice came over the station's comm unit, commanding, imperious. "Where are you? Did you leave the ship?"Whoever the man was, he sounded angry.
Resignation colored Ganth's voice. "Yeah, Dad. I left the ship. I wanted to visit a friend. I'm wearing my respirator."A touch of defiance was in that last sentence.
"That isn't fool-proof! Say good-bye and get back here!"
"Dad, I'm a grown man--you can't tell me what to do."He sighed deeply. "Besides, I can't find her."
"HER?"Ganth's dad broadcasted fury over the comm. Ammi shuddered in her cabinet.
"Yeah, Dad, her. Female. I have a female friend. Her name is Ammi..."
"Who she is isn't important. You get back here now before I come..."
There was a click and the tirade from the ship cut out. A moment of silence reigned then she heard Ganth's quiet voice. "I guess you meant it when you said you didn't want to meet me in person. I'm sure you can hear me, so I'll just say that I'm sorry I tried to force it."The silence stretched longer. "I also want you to know that talking with you has been the best thing that ever happened to me. Ammi, you're my friend, now and always. I wish it could be more..."His voice trailed off, wistful. "But wishes don't always come true, do they?"
The door to the corridor swished open and closed and the rasp of the respirator ended. When she was certain he was gone, Ammi unlocked the cabinet and wheeled into the room.
On her console sat a narrow bracelet, made of some kind of lightweight metal polymer. A pair of twin stars engraved into the band was the only decoration. It reminded her of what Ganth had told her, about how he'd always felt like a lone star until he'd met her. No, wishes didn't always come true. Tears flooded her eyes as she fastened the simple band around her wrist.
* * *
"Hey, Ammi. You know the folks on the Noble Cause, don't you?"Jacky, the second shift comm officer, stared at his terminal, the numbers flooding across the screen having meaning for him if no one else.
"Yes, that's the Gaian ship. What about it?"
"You wouldn't know which Gaians are on board, would you?"
"It's a father and son. I talk to the son sometimes."Not in the last couple of days. The Noble Cause had left dock the day after Ganth had tried to visit her and hadn't returned. She still wore the bracelet he'd left.
Jacky tore his gaze from the screen. "That's not just any Gaian father and son. The dad is General Garran Doranth himself, former leader of the Gaians. His battle plans had allowed the Gaians to win their war of independence from Earth. He stepped down from active duty a few years ago, but has maintained a healthy interest in interplanetary politics."Jacky returned to his screen. "Trouble is, someone else is taking a unhealthy interest in his activities. I really admire the man, I'm not partial to seeing him hurt."
Ammi wheeled over to his screen. "What are you seeing?"
He pointed to a few of the numbers. "Here, and here. Someone has been downloading information about when and where the Noble Cause has docked at Station Blue. If I had to make a guess, I'd say someone intends to have a surprise party for them when they get back."
"An ambush?"Ammi gnawed on her lower lip. "By who? How can we warn them?"
"Who would have it in for General Garran? Oh, just about anyone from the military, Earthforce. Warning them would be your job. They wouldn't listen to someone like me, but you know them, you could tell them something was up."Jacky looked at the numbers again. "They are due back today. You're off duty, you could meet their ship as soon as they dock."
Go to their ship? She'd have to admit who she was, and Ganth would know about her. Then again, maybe not. Ganth's father would never let her on board with an unattached male present. He'd likely have his son stay in his quarters and she wouldn't have to see Ganth.
At 1600 hours she waited anxiously outside the docking slip assigned to the Noble Cause. She'd had Jacky call them, tell them about a surprise inspection of the bridge and heard the general growl his acceptance. When the door to the ship opened, she stared in surprise at the big man filling the doorway. In his mid-fifties, General Garran was impressive, broad shouldered, his dark hair shot through with gray, particularly around the temples.
When he spoke she heard the same deep gravelly voice that had yelled at his son that night. "Comm said that there was an inspection due?"He eyed her rolling box. "You're the inspector?"
She summoned her flagging courage and held up her e-tab. "Yes sir. This needs to be done on the bridge."
He didn't look like he believed her, but he stepped aside and allowed her to wheel into the ship. Fortunately there were no ladders between the bridge and the entryway and as she predicted, Ganth was nowhere to be seen. Ammi glanced around the bridge of the Noble Cause, at the clean lines and uncluttered consoles. It looked more like a military vessel than a freighter. She rested one hand on the comm unit chair, restraining herself from stroking the fabric covering. This was where Ganth sat when he talked to her.
The general turned and sealed the entry behind them, then cut the power to the comm units. Crossing his arms, he glared down at her. "Very well, that's as secure as I can make us. What do you have to tell me?"
In answer she handed him the e-tab. It held the information that Jacky had uncovered. The general looked though it, noting the dates and individuals who'd been spying on him. A fierce dark-blue stare pierced her. "You believe this information?"
"I believe Jacky. He's got no reason to lie to you or me. He's rather an admirer of yours, General Garran."
A little of the fierceness faded away and a smile hovered around his lips. "Just Garran, please. It's good to know I have a few fans. Who are you, if you don't mind my asking?"
"Amirilla Asteras. I've got third comm watch on the station."
"Ammi?"His voice had turned sharp again and his eyes raked over her, lingering on the box that replaced her feet. "You wouldn't by any chance know my son?"
His disapproving stare was just what she'd hoped to avoid. A sob threatened to expose itself. "Yes sir, I know your son. No, he doesn't know about...this."She pointed to the box. "I don't intend to tell him, either. There's no reason for it; we're friends, he and I, nothing more."
Agitated, she grabbed the e-tab from Garran's hand and her cuff pulled back from her wrist to reveal her bracelet. Garran's eyes widened. He snatched her hand, pulling her wrist closer. Silently he stared at the engraving. "And you got this where?"
For a moment it was hard to find her voice. "Ganth left it, the night he tried to see me."
He dropped her hand like it had burned him. "You don't know what that is, do you?"He pulled up his own sleeve, revealing a similar band, but decorated with a small bird with long legs. "It's a stork, the emblem my wife chose. She wears mine, with a crescent moon. They're marriage bands."
He sat down, heavily. "You are not just my son's friend, Ammi. Surely you can see that."
Stunned, she fingered the narrow bracelet. "All we've done is talk. We haven't even seen each other. He was wearing a respirator..."
"Which he'd probably intended to remove as soon as he found you so he could attach to you and force a marriage. He even had a band made."Garran's laugh was bitter. "I know my son. It's been months since he last asked about going home for the next marriage meet. Instead, he kept a close watch on when we'd be putting into the station... it wasn't hard for me to guess he was attracted to someone here. Clearly someone I wouldn't be happy about."Again he stared at her box.
That was enough; Ammi reassembled her tattered pride. "I might not be what you want, General Garran. I might not even be what your son wants given that he doesn't know about my condition. But there's a lot more to me than a pair of misshapen legs. I came here to warn you--someone is after you and they may very well strike anytime now. As for this..."She removed the band from her wrist and held it briefly before handing it to him. "Tell your son that space monkeys don't like to be forced into anything."
She glanced over her shoulder once before wheeling back to the station. It was worth it to see the odd look on the general's face. The man almost looked impressed.
* * *
"Noble Cause to Station Blue. Ammi, are you there?"She rested her head on her hand and ignored the call. "Ammi, it's Ganth. Please talk to me."
Now he was saying please. He didn't say please when he was trying to force a wedding with her. No sir, not a "please"then. How could he leave her that bracelet and make her think it was just a present, not a marriage proposal? Miserably, she rubbed the place where the band had rested. She missed it.
"All right Ammi, if you won't talk to me, then I'll just have to talk to you and hope you listen. First, I'm sorry about not being up front about the visit the other night. I really wanted to see you and you kept putting me off, so I decided to surprise you. And, yes, I had a marriage band with me, but I wasn't going to force you to marry me. I couldn't even if I wanted to, you'd have to agree. I just wanted to be prepared. I thought you might be happy about it. I mean, I love you Ammi, and I think you love me. Why shouldn't I want to attach to you? Why shouldn't I want to marry the woman I love?"
His dad must not have told him. She flipped on the switch. "I told you before, Ganth, you don't know enough about me. There is something I need to tell you..."
"Ammi! Sweet Gaia, you're there. Look, I know we need to talk. I want to do it face to face. Please, I promise I'll keep the respirator on, let me come over."
; Let him see for himself what she really looked like. It probably was the only way. But to watch his face as he learned the truth... Would he be like his dad, dismiss her as unworthy? Would he pity her, be angry, or just run as fast as he could? Whatever it was, best to get it over with. She opened her mouth to invite him.
A loud squeal from the proximity alarm stopped her.
"What was that?"Ganth asked as she opened the console viewscreen and pointed the imager to the space outside the station. Something was coming in, fast, on a collision course.
She opened a cross-station hailing, the alarms blaring, probably dragging everyone from whatever cozy hole he or she had retired to. She answered the frantic queries as they poured in.
"We have an incoming tanker pod, a runaway, collision in two minutes, location..."she did the math, figured out the trajectory. Stared at the point of impact, redid the calculations. The pod wasn't aimed at the station, it was directed at the Noble Cause!
Ammi flung herself at the still open line. "Ganth, your ship is the target! Break docking locks and get out of here. You have one minute, forty-five seconds to clear."
He didn't falter. She heard his frantic muttering as he prepared for emergency undocking. Thirty seconds past, then forty-five. Less than one minute left. With less than thirty seconds to spare she heard the Noble Cause's engines go online and a gentle tug on the station as the ship broke the locks.
The station's normal roll took a new direction from the momentum of the ship blasting free. The turn caused a change to Ammi's calculations and she desperately tried to catch up, feeding the information to the station at large while doing so. "Station, new impact coordinates, section zero, three, seven..."
Abruptly her voice faded. Ammi raised her head and stared at the room around her for the last two seconds before the incoming pod hit the station outer hull a mere twenty meters away.