Firmament: Radialloy

by J. Grace Pennington

  I shook my head with a smile, and handed a plate to Lieutenant Howitz, who nodded. There were three more plates, and I gave one to Guilders.

  “Thank you,” he said in his low-pitched voice, with just a hint of a smile.

  I set the other two plates down and started to raise my wristcom to my mouth, when the Captain interrupted me.

  “I already called him, Andi. He’s on his way down.”

  “All right.” I slid into a seat opposite young Lieutenant Howitz and began to eat. He nodded politely at me, but didn’t speak.

  After a taking a few spoonfuls of soup, Commander Howitz wiped his mouth, and stuck his large hand towards me with a broad smile. “Hello. I’m Erasmus Howitz,” he said in a low, gravelly voice.

  I shook his hand. “I’m Andi Lloyd.” His features and hair were much like August’s, but he was much bigger and more imposing. August had more of a shy, polite air. “You’re new here?”

  The Captain looked at me. “Commander Howitz is our new engineer. I’ve heard wonderful things about him.”

  “Good,” was the only thing I could think of to say. Come on, Andi! Talk!

  I turned to Guilders for relief, as I often did. Guilders was a comforting person. The ship’s helmsman since her maiden voyage, he was close to sixty years old, and had been aboard longer than anyone else. His calm, solid face with white, bushy eyebrows seemed as much a part of the ship as the bridge, the thrusters, or the airlocks. “How have things been on the bridge, Mr. Guilders?”

  “Everything has been as usual,” he said, going on with his meal. “You have not visited us there for awhile, Miss Andi.”

  “No,” I apologized. “We’ve been busier than usual.”

  “You don’t work on the bridge, then?” Commander Howitz asked.

  “Oh no. But I do enjoy visiting there.” I flashed a smile at the Captain. Sometimes he even asked me to substitute for some of the bridge positions, which I enjoyed in moderation, though I refused to give in to his suggestions of permanent appointment to any of them. I was only interested in helping the Doctor.

  “Ever visit engineering?” the Commander asked, continuing to eat his soup.

  He seemed nice and friendly—I just wished he didn’t have such a gravelly voice. It made me feel uncomfortable and tongue-tied.

  “No, I’m not supposed to go there.”

  He eyed me quizzically, and I gave a little laugh. “It’s not—I mean, it’s just because I have metal in my kneecap. People with metal implants aren’t supposed to go down to engineering, because of the radiation.”

  “I see.” He didn’t sound interested, and just stared into his soup as I spoke. But when he looked up a moment later, his eyes had an inquisitive glint. “Forgive my curiosity—as a scientist, I’ve always been interested in prosthetics. What metal is it?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know.”

  He nodded, and went back to his food.

  “Eating without me?” I heard the Doctor’s voice say, as he sat down beside me. “I see Almira’s still up to her old tricks.”

  “Tricks?” the Captain asked.

  “A tomato a day keeps the doctor away.”

  I grinned. “That’s apples, Dad.”

  “I don’t mind apples,” he protested. “It’s those squishy red... things.”

  “It’s good,” I coaxed.

  With a sigh, he picked up his spoon.

  “Doctor Lloyd?” Commander Howitz half-stated.

  The Doctor looked up. “I’m Doctor Lloyd. Who are you?”

  “Commander Howitz. My son and I are new here.”

  “Ah, your son of the orthostatic hypotension?” The Doctor whisked a spoonful into his mouth as he nodded at August.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  The Captain’s wristcom beeped just then, and he pushed a button to answer it. “Trent here.”

  “Captain, we’re receiving a mooring request.”

  “I’ll be right there.” He took his finger off the button, and stood up. “Officers to the bridge.”

  August and Guilders stood, but I spoke up quickly. “Captain, Lieutenant Howitz needs his rest.”

  The Captain glanced at the navigator, who said nothing.

  “Very well. Can you substitute?”

  “Yes sir.” I popped a last bite of bread into my mouth, took a quick swig of water, and then stood up, laying a hand on the Doctor’s back affectionately. “I’ll see you later.”

  He nodded, still trying to down the tomato soup, and I followed the Captain and Guilders up to the bridge.

  II

  A short walk and an elevator ride later, we were entering that center of control that I always loved to visit. As the doors slid open, I stepped into the spacious, open room, with windows spanning three walls along the fore and sides. The colors, a pleasing mellow blue and gray, harmonized with the deep green jackets of the three primary officers who had remained in their stations. The data controller and the comm marshal sat at their panels, while the science exec had the captain’s chair.

  He arose as we entered, and faced his captain.

  “Mr. Yanendale marshaled the message, sir.”

  “Identification?” the Captain asked, settling himself in his accustomed seat.

  “None yet, sir. We notified you first.”

  Guilders headed for the helm, and I slid into the navigator’s position just in front and to the right of the Captain’s chair. It had been awhile since I’d filled in here.

  “Request identification,” the Captain ordered.

  “Yes sir.” Mr. Yanendale spoke into his headset. “This is Surveyor, please identify.”

  I looked over my shoulder and watched his face. A broad grin spread over it, and he took off the headset and said, “On speakers, Captain.”

  “What...”

  A voice I knew better than I knew my own came over the speakers. “Repeat, this is Alacrity I, requesting permission to lock on.”

  I couldn’t resist a squeal of delight. The Alacrity I hadn’t been around for almost a year.

  The Captain pressed the intercom button on his chair. “You’re free to come and go as you please, as I’m sure you know, sir.”

  “I thought as much,” the voice returned. “Approaching. Don’t tell Uncle—I want to surprise him.”

  The Captain looked at me, and I nodded.

  “Copy that, Alacrity I.” He switched off his intercom and began to give orders. “Propulsion to zero, Mr. Guilders.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  “Mr. Ralston, standby to lock off life support systems in airlock one.”

  “Life support systems standing by.”

  The Captain spoke into his wristcom. “Commander Howitz, send a mate to operate moorings at port peripheral access one.”

  “Aye sir,” came a gravelly voice from the comm.

  “Engage airlock one, Mr. Ralston.”

  “Airlock one engaged, sir.”

  “Alacrity I is clear to moor,” the Captain directed.

  Mr. Yanendale nodded and relayed the message.

  “Track Alacrity I on scopes, Mr. Whales.”

  “Yes sir.”

  I smiled at Guilders. “So are you two going to have it out this time?”

  His bushy eyebrows didn’t move as he answered pragmatically, “If he doesn’t challenge me, I won’t challenge him.”

  “And if he does?”

  Instead of answering, he turned his attention to the approaching speeder, which had just switched from warp speed to propulsion, and now did a daring three hundred and sixty degree flip as it approached.

  I smiled in pure delight, and the Captain shook his head. “The devil. He knows we’re watching him.”

  Finally, after a few more little showy maneuvers, the speeder zoomed past the port window, and a moment later, the voice came again over the speakers. “The Eagle has Crashed.”

  “Copy that, Alacrity I.”

  I laughed and stood up, straightening my jacket and trying t
o straighten my face as I turned towards the Captain. “Request permission to welcome guest aboard, sir.”

  Shaking his head at me with an exaggerated sigh, the Captain said, “Permission granted,” in an amused tone. Then to Mr. Ralston, “Seal and disengage airlock one. Guilders, tie navigation into the helm until Andi gets back.”

  “Aye, Captain.”

  Gesturing towards the door, the Captain smiled at me. That was the only encouragement I needed to rush off the bridge and into the elevator. “C-Deck,” I indicated, and was moved downwards. From the elevator, I hurried down the corridor until I reached the entrance to airlock one. It was still closed, and I leaned forward as I waited for it to slide open.

  When it did, I beheld thirty-two year old, dark-haired, grinning Eagle Crash, with his arms crossed over his chest in a jaunty attitude. His dark leather jacket and deep red pants and shirt only added to the impression he immediately gave anyone who saw him: adventurer.

  “Greetings, cousin,” were his first words as he stepped from the chamber. I rushed to embrace him.

  “Crash, so good to see you again!”

  He good-naturedly put his arm around my shoulders. “Didn’t tell Uncle, did you?”

  “No. I was on the bridge when you arrived. I heard you.”

  “Ah, then you saw my little stunts?”

  “You know I did!” I laughed. “How do you want to break the news to the Doctor?”

  “Come, come, Andi, don’t talk about it as if we were going to a funeral. Don’t you think my dear uncle will be thrilled to see me?” He offered me his arm.

  Laughing, I took it, and we started towards sickbay. “Thrilled may be a slight overstatement.” I lowered my voice. “But he will be glad to see you. Even if he doesn’t show it.”

  “Oh, don’t worry. I’ve known the old fellow longer than you have; I know his ups and downs like nobody else. But tell me how things have been around the old Surveyor.”

  I began to relate our adventures since he’d last visited. Crash—nobody ever called him Eagle—was like the older brother I’d always wished for. Though I had only been six, I remembered when the Doctor sat me down and told me that his younger sister, whom I had never met but had heard much about, had died. He’d told me about my cousin, Eagle, who was eighteen years old and would be staying with us while he continued his training as a space pilot.

  Four years Crash had stayed with us, and four years didn’t seem long at all with him around. Despite the difference in our ages, and the fact that I wasn’t even related to him, he took an immediate interest in me, and involved me in many of his adventures. Some were good memories; like the time he snuck me into one of his pilot academy classes when I was seven, and let me fly the simulator. Others were not so good, like when the Doctor had caught us draining the lox out of the rocket base fuel tanks. And then there were some that involved a mixture of feelings, like the time he’d taken the Doctor and I on our first space flight. I’d loved it, but the Doctor, to say the least, had not, and made it thoroughly clear that he would never again enter a craft that Crash piloted, if his life depended on it.

  In spite of all this, I’d seen the wistfulness behind the Doctor’s eyes lately whenever we spoke of his nephew. Even a hint of worry—it had been so long since we’d heard from him. But now he was here, and all was well. I couldn’t wait to see the look on the Doctor’s face when his eyes fell on the sturdy form beside me.

  I talked on as we hurried in and out of the elevator and down the halls, and we came in sight of the last bend before sickbay so quickly that I didn’t have time to ask him what he’d been up to. Pulling me against the wall, he whispered, “Go on in and talk to him.”

  “What do you want me to say?” I giggled.

  “Anything that doesn’t have to do with me. I’ll take care of the rest, now scoot!”

  Pushing me out, he winked, and slipped back into his corner. I straightened my jacket, cleared my throat, and walked towards sickbay. “Doctor?

  He came out of the room, rubbing a glob of sanitizer between his hands. “What is it, Andi? I’m busy.”

  “I—wanted to show you something,” I grinned.

  “What?” he asked, with some impatience.

  I waited for Crash to come bouncing out, but I heard nothing. I waited for a moment. Still nothing.

  “Well?” He tapped his foot.

  “I just... thought you might want to see something,” I stammered, turning to look over my shoulder. How long did he expect me to stall?

  “Yes, I would like to see something; I’d like to see you either in there helping me, or up on the bridge helping Captain Trent like he asked you to.”

  I turned back. “But... I really need to show you something.”

  “Well then, show me.” The irritation in his voice was growing.

  I turned back to look over my shoulder again, hoping desperately that Crash would show himself. “Well...”

  “Why do you keep turning your head like that? Is someone back there?” Moving past me, he peered around the corner. “Have you gone crazy?”

  I watched him, puzzled. “No, I just...”

  As he turned back to face me, I saw surprise light up his eyes, then a second of disbelief, followed by another of gladness, and then he managed to compose himself into a half-affectionate, half-stern expression resembling a smile. I didn’t need to ask who was behind me; although how he had gotten there I had no idea at first. After thinking it over for a moment, I realized that Crash had ducked into the sanitation room from the hall and then walked through into sickbay, coming out behind me.

  “Well, Mr. Crash.” He advanced and shook the young man’s hand. Crash winked at me and laughed, and I felt that he was somehow both laughing with me and laughing at me. “How is it that no one mentioned that you were here?”

  “The how of it is, Uncle, that I asked them not to. I wanted to surprise you. You were surprised, weren’t you?”

  “You scoundrel, you know I was. Why I allow myself to be taken in by all your schemes is beyond me, I’ll tell you that much.”

  I grabbed the Doctor’s arm happily. “Isn’t it good to see Crash again, Doctor?”

  He looked at Crash’s handsome, friendly, and slightly impish face and had to say, “Yes I suppose it is.” But in an instant his tone changed, and he grunted, “What business had you to stay away for so long?”

  Crash sobered down. “It’s not why I stayed away that’s important right now; it’s why I came back when I did.”

  His tone was unusually serious, and the Doctor looked even more confused than I felt. He peered at Crash. “What in blazes are you talking about?”

  “Did you hear about Doctor Holmes?”

  I watched as the Doctor’s face registered curiosity mingled with worry. “I haven’t heard from him in months. Is something wrong?”

  Crash hesitated for a moment, then spoke solemnly.

  “He died last month.”

  III

  “Died?” I whispered, surprised. The Doctor laid an arm across my shoulders. I had known Doctor Holmes on Earth—he had been the Doctor’s employer during his medical residency, and the two had remained good friends afterward. I remembered him as a kind, grandfatherly gentleman who always took an interest in Crash and me.

  Now, the Doctor’s brows furrowed and he bit his lower lip, which I understood to indicate sorrow, but he only said, “What does that have to do with you coming here?”

  Shaking his head, Crash gave an odd smile. “I’m not quite sure myself. But I need to talk to you.”

  He didn’t say “in private,” but I understood anyway. The Doctor frowned. “I can’t talk right now. I have a patient in there that needs tending. Tonight.”

  Crash nodded, and the men grasped hands again. “Tonight, then.”

  Abruptly, the Doctor turned to me. “All right, you’ve had your fun. Now go do your job.”

  “Yes sir.” I was looking forward to being present at the confrontation between the mischiev
ous, daring Crash and the practical, cautious Guilders, which was always a source of amusement.

  “Talk to you later, my boy,” said the Doctor brusquely, and he hurried back into sickbay.

  I beamed at Crash. “He must be even more glad to see you than I thought. He hasn’t called you ‘my boy’ since you left on the Alacrity I the first time.”

  “Yes.” There was an absent look in his eyes for a moment that puzzled me, but in an instant it was gone, and a look of fun flashed in its place. “Going up to see the Captain and Guilders, are we?”

  “Don’t be surprised if Guilders doesn’t jump for joy when he sees you.”

  “Hmm, on second thought, we should go visit Almira first. She’ll give me a hug and call me ‘honey’ and get me cheered up to go see the grumps upstairs.”

  “No,” I chuckled, “you’ve already gone against regulations by visiting the Doctor before reporting to the Captain.”

  “Now Andi, have you ever known me to follow regulations?”

  “No time like the present.”

  His only answer was a good-natured laugh. With an exaggerated bow, and a “Lead the way, m’lady,” he followed me up to the bridge.

  When we reached it, Crash stepped out in his usual cocky manner and announced, “Crash on the bridge, sir.”

  The Captain swiveled his chair around. “So I see. It took you long enough to get up here.” He pretended to disapprove, but I could tell that he was just as pleased as any of us to see Crash again. Guilders, however, didn’t even turn around.

  “Yes, Trent, good to see you too.” In five steps Crash was beside the chair and was wringing the Captain’s hand. Turning to wink at me, he looked in Guilders’ direction. I giggled as I slid into the navigator’s seat again. Loudly, he said, “I can see by the way Guilders flew up to greet me that he’s glad I’m here.”

  The Captain’s eyes twinkled.

  Guilders said in a calm voice, “Mr. Crash, I can see you haven’t changed in the last year.”

  Crash knelt beside the helmsman on one knee and wrapped an arm affectionately around his neck. “Yes, I’m happy to say you’re right. You haven’t changed either—just as spontaneous and joyful as ever.”