City of Twilight Part III: The New Dawn (The Vanguard Chronicles Book 3)

by Donald Stephenson III

  ​“I was chosen to accompany this ship because it was so remote. Some thought the colony would be more protected with a Vanguard making the decisions.”

  ​“What makes Vanguards so special,” Michael asked. Isaac seemed taken aback by the question. He thought for a moment.

  ​“Well, nothing really.” Isaac said, “I’m just a regular person. I’ve just chosen to devote my life to the defense of the colonies, and have been rewarded with this rank. Vanguards live their lives in service, sacrificing themselves if need be for the safety of everyone else.” Michael nodded, understanding. Callista watched them, then turned her eyes to Charlotte. Charlotte was watching Isaac, very focused on what he was saying. Something occurred to Callista, and she spoke up.

  ​“Can Vanguards get married?” Callista said. Isaac turned to her and smiled.

  ​“Yes,” Isaac said, “although they don’t have the authority to wed others.” He glanced to his side slightly. “Captains, judges, and priests are among the individuals who do have that authority.” He turned back to Callista, “but we’re chasing rabbits now.” Michael nodded, glancing at his sister.

  ​“Seriously,” Michael said as he elbowed Callista slightly, “how did we get on that subject?” She elbowed him back, and ignored his question.

  ​There was a slight beep coming from an intercom in the ceiling. The sound of Carl Smith’s voice could be heard from the speaker.

  ​“Isaac,” Carl said over the intercom, “could I speak to you for a moment on the bridge?” Isaac rolled his eyes slightly as he glanced at Charlotte. Charlotte walked over to the twins and put a hand on each of their shoulders.

  ​“You two stay here and study the navigational charts,” Charlotte said. “I have no doubt you both will understand them in a very short time. I’m going with Isaac to see what this is about.” Callista and Michael both nodded silently. Isaac was already at the door, and Charlotte followed, closing it behind her. The metal moved silently, making a slight beep indicating it was closed. Michael walked over to the main data screen under the holograms. He tapped a few times and several different displays began flashing. It looked as though he was fast-forwarding through the charts.

  ​“Have you seen all this?” he said to Callista. She stayed where she was.

  ​“Yes,” she said, “I didn’t want to tell them, but I’ve already studied all the charts. I think I have just about all the maps memorized.” Michael tapped the screen once more, and the maps disappeared from the hologram projector.

  ​“So have I,” he said, “I was bored last night.” They stood silent for a moment, and then looked up at once.

  ​“I think,” Callista said with a slight pause, “I’d like to know what they’re talking about.” Michael grinned at her mischievously.

  ​“Me too.” They approached one of the data screens at a terminal on the wall. Michael began typing on it, his hands moving quickly across the display. Callista watched him, making sure he was doing everything correctly.

  ​“You sure you want to do that?” she asked. “We need to make sure they don’t know we’re watching.” He shook his head at her while keeping his eyes on the screen.

  ​“You’re kidding me, right?” he said. “I could do this type of stuff in my sleep.” He tapped the screen a little slower. "You see, if I do this then we just enter the backdoor of the system, and I can tap into all the security feeds. I could access any part of the ship this way.” She nodded. He stopped as a diagram of the entire ship came up on the hologram in the center of the room above the hologram projector. He tapped it a little further and the image turned three dimensional. Their view zoomed to the bridge, where the walls of the ship became transparent in the image. They could now see a real time three-dimensional image of Charlotte, Isaac, and Carl on the bridge through the hologram. Charlotte looked annoyed, but Carl and Isaac both stood with their arms crossed.

  ​“So where do you think they came from?” Charlotte said. Isaac shook his head for a moment.

  ​“I honestly don’t know,” he said, “the universe is a big place. For all we know, they’re not even from this galaxy. Or they could be a science experiment from a rogue lab somewhere on the outer rim.”

  ​“Isaac,” Charlotte said, “sometimes there are miracles. Things that can’t be explained. How did we manage to find them floating inside that rock in the vastness of space where they should have been lost forever?” He shook his head again.

  ​“Once again,” he said, “I don’t know.” They were quiet for a moment. Isaac was pacing slowly across the bridge. Charlotte was seated. For such a large ship, it was a small room. It could seat three people, which was all that was really required to actively run the ship. Most of the time it was on auto-pilot. It was, however, supposedly the most secure part of the ship. People weren’t supposed to know about the backdoor into all the systems that Michael had discovered, almost by accident.

  ​“Have you found out anything," Isaac said to Carl, “about the rock we found them in?”

  ​“That’s why I called you in here,” Carl said. "I wanted to tell you what I’ve found. It’s some sort of crystal, but the molecular make-up is similar to the ones used in our crystal fusion cells. The crystal contained them, protecting them from the outer elements of space in a gel that evaporated once it was exposed to air.”

  ​“So,” Isaac said, “we can’t figure out what it was that caused them to stay in a stasis sleep in this gel.”

  ​“It was some sort of biotechnology,” Carl said, “something we’ve never seen before. What’s even more amazing than that is their growth and development. In three weeks they grew from infants to preteens. Talking to them now, you’d think they were adults.”

  ​“I know,” Isaac said, “maybe they are miracles.” He glanced at Charlotte.

  ​“Did you hear what Randy said we should do with them?” Charlotte asked..

  ​“What?”

  ​“He thinks we should put them into stasis until we reach Cirrus. Then let everyone else decide what to do with them.”

  ​“Randy’s a coward,” Isaac said. “He's letting his fear make his mouth say stupid things.”

  ​“There’s more,” Charlotte said. "This morning I went to the reactor to empty the waste tanks of the dreg.” Isaac was listening closely.

  ​“And?”

  ​“There wasn’t any in one of them,” Charlotte said. "It had already been emptied. I’ve been with Rachel all morning, and I know you’ve been in the cartography room for the last few days. Carl has been logged in at the lab, and the security feed shows him there the entire time.” Carl nodded as she spoke. "That only leaves Randy.”

  ​“Then, he emptied it,” Isaac said. Charlotte shook her head.

  ​“Just one tank?” Charlotte said. "I checked the incinerators. They haven’t been used in a week.” Isaac’s face turned serious.

  ​“Do you understand what you’re implying?" he asked. She nodded. He paced a little more furiously.

  ​“The last thing we need is a dreg head aboard this ship,” Isaac said. “I’m going to make sure the medical bay is locked tight, cut off his access to any of the other supplies he would need.”

  ​“You sure that’s enough?” Charlotte said. "He's become increasingly erratic since the twins have shown up. I’m worried he might try to harm them.”

  ​“If I have to, I’ll lock him in his room,” Isaac said. They were quiet for a moment. He walked over to her, and put his hand on her shoulder.

  ​“I guess I’m worried about them, though,” Charlotte said. She turned to Carl. "What are you headed to do?”

  ​“Well, I was about to work some more in the lab, but I think I’ll take a look at the security feeds of the reactors. I’ll let you both know what I find.” He took a data screen and left the room in a rush, with a look of concern on his face. As the door closed behind Carl, Isaac wrapped his arms around Charlotte, embracing her.

  ​“Everything will be fine,” he
said, “now, let’s talk about something good. When do you want to tell everyone the news?” They both sat down, his arm still around her.

  ​“I think we should wait until we reach Cirrus,” Charlotte said, “before we tell people that the Vanguard secretly married the logistics and navigation advisor.” He nodded slowly as he nudged his forehead against hers. Their lips met, and they started to embrace. At that moment, the hologram shut off.

  ​“Hey,” Michael protested, “what’re you doing?"

  ​“Giving them some privacy,” Callista said, “and you will too.”

  ​“I guess, we should start watching ourselves around Randy,” Michael said. Callista nodded her head.

  ​“Can I persuade you to stay out of the lower decks,” she said, “and stay up here where it’s safer?”

  ​“Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. I can take care of myself.” He reset the cartography system, and in a moment the stars flashed back up on the hologram. A faint blue light filled the room as stars circled it. They played around with the map system for about ten more minutes, until Isaac and Charlotte returned. They began to instruct the twins on how to read star maps, unaware that the children not only already know how, but were trying to plot a course for Cirrus that would be faster and more efficient than the one that was already set up.

  88

  ​Although it didn’t make any difference in the outer rims of space, the crew of the White Dirge held to an hourly timer that told them what time of day it was. Callista could see that the routine was useful on a ship. It was now evening and the crew had gathered in the small mess hall for dinner.

  ​The rectangular room was big enough to fit all of them comfortably, with an oval dining table taking up a third of the room. The other half contained the kitchen, although there wasn’t much to it.

  ​All of the meals on the ship consisted of flavored freeze-dried powders. When heated with water, it became a sort of porridge. It was never too great, but it was necessary for their survival. It was the standard food used for space travel.

  ​As the crew ate with the twins, not a word was spoken. There was a slight amount of tension in the air, and Callista was trying to figure out where it was coming from. It seemed to be coming from Randy. Either Isaac had talked to him about the dreg, or Randy was just apprehensive towards her and her brother. He’s always apprehensive towards us, she thought as she stared down at her porridge.

  ​Isaac sat across from Randy, both of them on opposite ends of the oval table. Charlotte sat next to Isaac on one side, with Callista and Michael next to her. Rachel and Carl sat on the other side, across from the twins and Charlotte. Callista watched everyone silently as she started to eat. She could tell her brother was watching everyone also.

  ​Everyone was wearing the standard outfits worn around ships. Either pants and shirts, or jumpsuits with shoes that seemed more like slippers. The outfits were easy to repair, replace, and clean. They also insulated well, special materials that were designed for space travel.

  ​The twins didn’t see Rachel too often, nor Randy. The two of them were both in maintenance, usually working with the engines or the stasis chambers. Randy was very stout with shortly cropped hair that was a sandy blonde. To the average person, he looked normal. When Callista had awakened her mind’s eye, however, it was who he actually was that scared her. At this moment she could tell something was not quite right with him. She couldn’t place what it was, so she felt like she would have to just wait and see.

  ​Rachel was plain, and in her mid-thirties. Her hair was a nondescript brown, in a short ponytail most of the time. She looked like the kind of person that wasn’t concerned too much about her looks, but if she were she would look very pretty. Rachel was quiet, although Callista knew she was friends with Randy.

  ​Carl was quiet, although at this moment simply because he sensed the tension in the room. Normally he was very chatty. He talked and joked a lot, but in a friendly way that made him well-liked. He was in his fifties, and had a complexion like he might have had severe acne when he was a child, and now had the scarring to show for it. He was a kind person, though, and had always treated the twins well. Rachel and Randy were less talkative to her, and tended to avoid both her and Michael as much as possible. It was no surprise to them to learn what Randy’s opinion of them was.

  ​Callista glanced at her brother, who was also prodding his porridge with a spoon, obviously bored. He looked at Isaac in a sideways glance.

  ​“I think I might have found a better way to Cirrus,” Michael said. Everyone looked up, startled that he was the one to speak first.

  ​“Oh,” Isaac said, “how so?”

  ​“Well,” Michael said, “Callista and I were analyzing your route, and I think we were able fix what we saw as an inefficiency.” Randy snickered a little without actually looking up. The others ignored him.

  ​“Well,” Charlotte said, “after dinner why don’t we take a look at it.” Michael smiled a little.

  ​“If it works out,” Isaac said, “then maybe we could try it.” Randy loudly dropped his spoon into his bowl.

  ​“Please tell me you’re joking,” Randy said, “that you’re just humoring them.” Isaac looked at him and shook his head slightly.

  ​“You haven’t seen their scores,” Isaac said. "They could probably run this ship without us.” Both Michael and Callista’s faces flushed red from the compliment. The didn’t need their mind’s eye to know Isaac meant it.

  ​“They’d probably fly us into a sun,” Randy said, “or a black hole. How can you even let them walk freely around the ship? They could have been sent here to kill us.” Charlotte laughed sarcastically at him.

  ​“I highly doubt that,” Charlotte said, “the fact that they’re alive is a miracle.”

  ​“Yeah,” Randy said, “if you call being a freak a miracle.” He stood and picked up his bowl. He started to walk to the small sink, and he tripped over the edge of the bench. He fell flat on his chest, the porridge spilled out of the bowl as it fell. The bowl rolled right next to Callista’s foot, leaning against her ankle on the floor. She bent down and picked it up. She turned to Randy as he was pulling himself up from the floor.

  ​“Here,” she said softly, “here’s your bowl.” He was on his feet now, and he looked at her holding the bowl up to him. An indignant rage filled his eyes, and she could feel it with her mind’s eye. He swatted the bowl out of her hands.

  ​“Don’t you ever touch me,” Randy said, “you freak.” He looked like he was about to hit her, but Isaac was out of his seat in a moment. In less time than that he was holding Randy up against the wall, one arm against Randy’s throat; pinning him. Isaac stared at Randy for a moment, and anger flared in his own eyes.

  ​“Your eyes are dilated,” Isaac said. “You're high right now, aren’t you?” Randy tried to forcibly get out of Isaac’s grip, but the Vanguard was too strong for him.

  ​“Why are you protecting them?" Randy choked out.

  ​“Because the only one here that’s dangerous is you," Isaac said. “Now you’re going to go to your room to sleep this off, and tomorrow we’re going to have a little talk. That or I take you to the brig and you’ll sleep on the floor.” Randy hesitated for a moment, and finally showed resignation in his face.

  ​Isaac released the man, and they both turned and left the room. Callista watched with her mind’s eye as Isaac escorted Randy to his room. After Randy entered, Isaac closed the automatic door and activated the lock. Callista realized her pulse was racing, and she looked around. The others were also on edge from the scene. Michael was looking at her, concerned.

  ​“Callie,” Michael asked her through his mind, “are you all right?”

  ​“Yeah,” she said back to him telepathically, “I’m fine. I’m a little surprised, though. I thought for a moment he was going to hit me.”

  ​“Don’t worry,” he said in her mind, “I wouldn’t have let him.” They both looked at the others in
the room, feeling very much alone except for each other.

  89

  ​Callista saw nothing but darkness. She could sense the others on the ship, but they were very hazy...out of focus. Rapid movements and emotions circled her. She suddenly saw light, then nothing. Then there was pain. Great pain. It started physically, then it became emotional torment. It was pain from more than one person. They all felt familiar though, their auras. They all hurt. Three lights. One went out in blaze of suffering. The other two dwindled. One seemed numb; the other in a great emotional torment of its own. A short time passed, and then the numb light vanished. The tormented light remained, alone and scared in a way she couldn’t understand.

  ​Callista sat up from bed, sweating and panting from the dream she just had. The room was dark, with a small amount of light coming from the panel on the wall. She put her hand on her chest for a moment, trying to calm herself down. Her t-shirt and shorts were damp. She ran a hand through her blond hair, which was matted down with sweat. She pulled it back into a ponytail, grabbing a small tie off her night stand. It was tied up in a moment. She exhaled loudly.

  ​“You’re awake,” Michael said. His voice startled her, but she saw him instantly using her mind’s eye. He was there, sitting at the small table next to her bed in the room. He was wearing shorts and a t-shirt also, and was barefoot. Seeing him with her mind’s eye surprised her. He seemed different. She couldn’t detect how he was feeling, what emotions he was carrying.