... and they are us
Page 4
“Twelve hundred and eighty seven light years to Thal’ark Station for refueling and rearming, and then on to QX’an tril Station; a mere three thousand eight hundred more light years.”
Even Zed was stunned at the enormous distances involved. “I recommend that we all get a good meal, and I’ll tell you all a little story of how I came to be here. This is an absolutely amazing ship.” He murmured as he led the group out of the door and down the corridor toward the Dining Hall.
CHAPTER 3
Survivors:
Helen Sutherland looked up as the door hissed open, and gave Zed a warm smile. “I haven’t seen this much gooseflesh in years.” The eight members of the Tiāntǐ fēng crew were wrapped in blankets, sitting at the scattered tables in the small conference room drinking tea or coffee or hot chocolate. On the tables, in small piles sat their personal belongings. The air didn’t quite smell of fear, but it was close. At Zed’s furrowed brows, she smiled. “There was a hydrazine leak on the Tiāntǐ fēng, and their EVA suits had become contaminated.”
“And the rest of the survivors?”
“Scared, mostly. They can’t believe that they will live to see tomorrow. One scientist is pregnant. Both she and her daughter are doing well.”
“And you, doctor?” Zed looked at Helen Sutherland closely, noting the deep circles under her still red eyes. “When is the last time you slept?”
The older woman looked chagrined. “Ahhhhhh…”
“Lola.” Zed said calmly into the air. Please ensure that Doctor Sutherland is IN BED in thirty minutes. She is NOT to be disturbed for a full eight hours.”
“As you wish Captain.” Lola’s tone held nothing but approval.
“But you can’t…” Helen protested.
“I already did.” Zed gave her a smile before turning to the American Flight Crew. “Lola will provide you all with clothing, and show you to your rooms. I’ll have a general meeting sometime in the next few days.”
Major DeThomaso gave him a tentative smile. “That sounds fine, Captain. Thank you.”
Zed nodded politely, before he turned and left the room.
Images of the vast bulk of Jupiter swam in the viewscreen as Zed sat relaxed in the command chair and stared. It had been two weeks since the rescue of the researchers from Europa Base, but still he couldn’t cut the ties with his home system, and take that last step into the dark unknown, yet he knew in his heart that he couldn’t put it off any longer.
“Lola, please take us out of the system and put us on course for Thal’ark Station.”
“Yes Captain.” The view of Jupiter slid off the main screen, to be replaced with the cold stark clarity of space. There was a small gasp from the far side of the bridge. “You have company, Captain.”
Zed stood, a smile creeping across his face as he turned. “I’ve been expecting you, Miss Johansen. It’s good to see you up and about.”
A young woman stepped out of the shadows. Her face was still pale, her clean and shining red hair hanging in a thick braid across her left shoulder. Her features were drawn and serious, and her clear green eyes dark and intent. “I understand that I have you to thank for being alive at all, and please Captain Yates; my name is Katherine. I prefer Kat, if you will.” Her voice was surprisingly deep for a young woman, hovering between mezzo-soprano and contralto right now, but hinting at deeper and richer tones in the future as she grew older.
Zed chuckled. “Fair enough, if you call me Zed.”
“You’ve got a deal.” She returned his smile, stepping further into the lighted bridge. “It’s so beautiful.” She whispered, gazing at the screen.
“I’ve always thought so.” Zed replied slowly. He waved to the seat next to, although slightly below his, and Lola conveniently lit it with a low light. “Why don’t you sit here? I don’t think that my First Officer will mind.”
“If you don’t mind.” She brushed by him, and Zed noticed that she was wearing an unadorned shipboard uniform, very much like his. She noticed his look and grinned.
“Lola offered me these clothes to replace my old ones. It took me a minute to figure out the static fasteners, but after I did, I found the clothes quite comfortable. Lola offered me a skirt, but I’ve never liked skirts much.”
Zed used his imagination. “You’d look good in a skirt, Kat. You have nice legs, from what I can see.” He looked up, surprised and mortified at what he’d said. “Sorry. I don’t know why I said that. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“You don’t have children, do you?” She asked slowly, and then flushed herself. “God—now I’m putting my foot into my mouth too.”
Zed laughed. “No I don’t have kids, or a wife or a pet. All I have is a starship, although she’s more a friend than anything else.”
“Why… thank you Zed.” A surprised Lola said from the air about them. “No one has ever called me friend before.” Her sentence trailed off into a little humming melody that very slowly faded. “We should be coming up on Saturn shortly, if you would observe the main screen.”
Kat looked at the main screen in wonder, and then at the console before her. “I don’t see any controls here, Zed. How does the First Officer control the ship? All I see is information screens.”
“Lola actually flies the ship. The bridge staff tell Lola what to do.”
“Doesn’t that get awfully noisy with all those people chatting away?”
Zed thought about it for a moment. “Please don’t tell anyone else, but all the members of the flight crew have neural implants that allow them to speak to Lola with their minds.”
Kat’s eyes went wide. “And you’re the only member of the flight crew right now?”
Zed sighed. “Yup. Captain, Flight Engineer, Head Cook and Bottle Washer. That’s me.”
“You forgot babysitter.” Kat laughed. He thought that it was very good to hear her laugh.
“Oh no!” He replied slowly, giving her a smirk. “That’s your job.”
“But I can’t be a babysitter, uncle Zed.” Came her playful reply. “I don’t have a Doctorate in Child Psychology yet, just Astrophysics.”
Zed felt his jaw hang open. “You have a PHD in Astrophysics?”
She looked down. “Yeah. I was working on a PHD in Exobiology when everything fell apart.”
He looked hard at the poised young woman sitting next to him. “I’m very sorry about your parents, Kat.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.”
He saw tears in her eyes when she looked at him. “Thank you Zed. I think I would like to come in here, from time to time, to watch the stars. I won’t touch anything.”
Zed just nodded, more than aware himself of the need to stare into the great vast depths of space. “Lola, please give Katherine Johansen unescorted bridge access any time she desires.”
“Yes Captain.” Lola replied formally. “Access granted to Katherine Johansen.” Zed saw the young woman swallow, and wipe tears from her eyes. He pretended not to see.
“You are the only one on this ship, except maybe the doctor, who doesn’t treat me as a child.” She stood up quickly and gave him a little kiss on his cheek. “I think I have to go now.”
Zed watched the retreating back as a myriad of unfamiliar emotions whirled through him.
Lola said softly in his thoughts.
“Engaging supra-light engines in fifteen seconds.” Lola’s voice echoed hollowly in the almost empty bridge. “You have a visitor, Zed.”
He didn’t bother looking. “I’m glad you could make it, Kat.” He heard her laugh.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. We’ll be the first humans to exit our solar system. Think of it.”
He glanced over as she sat—and grinned. “I told you that you would look good in a skirt, and you do.” Her legs were long, well-toned and shapely. He saw a quick flush of crimson on her cheeks as she passed, and a small pleased smile.
“Thanks. I…”
Lola interrupted anything Kat was about to say. “Engaging supra-light drive in four… three… two… one.” The stars in the forward screen blurred momentarily, and then began to visibly crawl past the ship. “Supra-light drive engaged at sixty five percent. We should exit supra-light drive at three astronomical units from Thal’ark Station in ten weeks.”
Kat frowned. “Couldn’t we get there sooner if we went faster Lola?”
“Yes, Miss Johansen, however we are operating under certain fuel constraints and we have the time available to arrive with a sufficient safety margin.”
“Please call me Kat, Lola.”
There was a light laugh in the air. “As you wish.”
Zed stood on the small podium and studied the faces before him. Some were happy, some worried, and a few downright hostile. About half the people were wearing unadorned uniforms, including all the former American spacecrew.
“I called you all here to announce that the Rose of the Dawn has now left the Solar System, and is well under way to our destination of Thal’ark Station. We really are going where no man has gone before.” There were a few tentative smiles, but no laughter.
“When we go home?” A big man stood up, hands on his hips, his whole attitude confrontational. He had dark curly hair and dark eyes, with biceps as big as Zed’s thighs.
Zed smiled. “And you are?”
“Dimitri Galygin, Commander of Russian contingent.” His dark eyes glared around the room.
“I’m sorry for the loss of your wife, Dimitri, but the soonest the Rose of the Dawn will return to Earth is several years. The longest…” He just shrugged. “Who knows?”
“Unacceptable.” The big man rumbled, stepping forward. “You will take us home now!”
Zed’s voice was as cold as space. “This ship will not deviate from its course, however, I will make airlock three available to you and you can walk home, with or without a spacesuit. Your choice.” He stepped down from the podium, hands crossed behind his back and regarded Dimitri calmly.
Purple faced, Dimitri roared and charged, his haymaker already in motion. The ham-sized fist struck Zeds jaw, and the smaller man’s head snapped back a few centimeters. He smiled at the bigger man.
“Would you like to try that again?” Except for the Russian’s panting, there was dead silence in the room. Dimitri pounded a quick half-dozen trip-hammer blows to Zed’s stomach, followed by a backfist to his temple. Zed looked on the big man with pity. “Are you getting tired yet?” Dimitri’s spinning back hooking kick to Zed’s head would have done any martial artist proud. Zed caught the foot seven centimeters from his face and held it up, forcing Dimitri to balance spread-legged on one wobbling foot. He looked down at the big man’s red face. “From this position I could guarantee that you would never have children, or desire women again.” He said very quietly. Dimitri’s face went pale.
“No…” The big man gasped, getting the point almost immediately.
Zed dropped Dimitri’s foot and calmly, without any seeming effort, slapped the big man across his face. The big Russian dropped at Zed’s feet as if poleaxed. Zed knelt and touched Dimitri’s neck, then looked at the stunned faces in the room. “He only has a broken jaw. In a couple of weeks he will be back to his same loveable self.” There were a number of outright laughs this time. “What I said to Dimitri was correct. This ship is on a programmed course that cannot be changed or modified by myself or anyone on board.” He stared at each of the surrounding faces. “You all volunteered for a multi-year mission to Europa. Instead you are now on a multi-year mission to the depths of our galaxy. Scientists on Earth would kill for the opportunity that is available to you. This ship has many instruments and sensors available to us, but what it doesn’t have is a crew. I need technicians to man the bridge and science teams to explore new worlds. I need pilots to fly assorted auxiliary craft, like the smaller saucer, and the fighters you saw parked in the hanger as you arrived. I need Security teams to guard us from whatever we may find on distant planets. I need your help, but most importantly I need your cooperation and your teamwork. I desperately need someone to run the Hydroponic Section. While the food in the dining hall is good, fresh vegetables would be a nice change.” There were a number of smiles at that. “Think about it.”
An average looking woman with shoulder length brown hair and dark circles under her eyes from the recent strain, stood up. “In the last meeting you said that your name was Zed. Who are you, really?”
Zed chuckled grimly. “You can call me Hendrick Van Der Decken.” The woman frowned, but there was bright laughter from the back of the room. Zed squinted and noticed a blushing Katherine standing at the back of the crowd, hands clutched to her mouth.
“I don’t recognize the name.” The woman frowned. Zed nailed Kat with a glare.
“Hendrick Van Der Decken,” Kats soft voice began from the back of the room. Heads turned to regard her. “was the Captain of the Flying Dutchman.”
“Let me or let Lola know what positions you’re qualified for, and what space and equipment you’ll need for your continued research.” He turned to leave and then stopped, turning back. “Remember this, ladies and gentlemen.” The murmurs and talk died down. “The Rose of the Dawn is a warship. The very name implies that we will be going in harm’s way. I need men and women to man the weapons systems. Who knows what we’ll find when we arrive at our destination. Your quick thinking could save all our lives.” His eye caught the brown haired woman. “You can still call me Zed, and like Van Der Decken, I’m the Captain of this ship.”
He didn’t realize that five weeks could be so long. Zed, during quiet night shifts, had walked the ship from one end to the other, dozens of times. Sometimes Kat accompanied him, but most often not.
Now, he was sitting in the silent bridge, feet propped up, watching the magnificent stars crawl by. Grinning at the screen, he recalled the day, two weeks back, when Dimitri Galygin and the other four surviving members of the Russian contingent came by the bridge. First thing in the morning, he worried for a moment when he saw them. He hadn’t needed to. The last of the holdouts from the Europa Base, the Russians had come seeking jobs, led by a rather sheepish looking Dimitri. The big man was more than surprised when Zed informed him that the Russians, unless they had another preference, would provide onboard and offboard security. He’d even provided them with weapons: small holster-worn pistols that could be set to either daze or kill. Dimitri, unsurprisingly, had chosen a heavy slugthrowing handgun. Zed hadn’t mentioned the fact that all the pistols, including the antique slugthrower, had IFF detection, and would not fire on crewmembers. Since then the Russian s had spent their days blazing away at targets in the small
shooting range the ship boasted.
< Certainly, Zed. I have several books on tactics written by our greatest tacticians.>
Zed smiled.
< It’s just a book, Lola. Do you have them or don’t you?>
< It figures.> Zed muttered.
He chuckled.
He just shrugged.
Zed swung his feet down and leaned back.
His growling stomach woke him up. The room swirled when he sat up and slowly steadied. Looking around the bridge, Zed no longer felt the total stranger. No longer did he just know the names of things, he knew what they did and how to use them.