“Then I want to be there when they debrief you, if half of what’s in your file is true.”
Alice completely forgot that one of the messages from fleet informed her that she was to report to Intelligence for a debriefing session. They blocked eight hours on her schedule for it, and her intention was to show up late or not at all, get it rescheduled for some time after they cleared her for duty, even though that was probably a part of their requirements to get her cleared in the first place. Either way, she dreaded it. It showed, apparently.
“Why do you look like I took you favourite toy away?” Ruby asked. The question came dripping with sympathy.
“I was trying not to think about it,” Alice said. “Things are still a little…” she fell in beside Ruby, slowly walking the length of her own ship. “…tender upstairs.”
“I only wish I could imagine,” Ruby said. “If rumours are true, you have some things to tell us. Like having a conversation with an Edxi? Getting aboard a few enemy ship types that no one in the fleet has ever seen. Visiting cities behind Regent Galactic lines before the virus hit.”
“Okay,” Alice laughed. “That’s so vague, I don’t know what you’re talking about. That’s all right, I’ll find out tomorrow, but what I’d rather do is just answer questions as they send them.”
“If only,” Ruby said. “You expect things to get tense?”
“I expect Intelligence to dig as hard and as deep as they can so they get can map a full scan of my head. I won’t be my best in there after a while. I’m sure I’ll get frustrated and I don’t want people to see that. I don’t think this has anything to do with clearing me for duty, either.”
“You’re already clear,” Ruby said with a smile that made Alice feel several degrees warmer. “When I called you Captain, it wasn’t because you own this ship, it’s because you’re one of us now. Full rank, full privileges. I’d throw you a party if I had the time, but I’m just happy I’m the one who gets to tell you.”
Theodore rushed down the ramp and stopped, looking at Alice and Ruby. After a brief moment he retreated back inside with a much calmer gait. “What’s up?” Alice called after him.
“Nothing, just thought I saw a momentary anomalous reading but I was wrong,” he replied. “I’m going to go back to sorting the Medical Bay now, sorry.”
“He’s either a very good med tech or a very nosey one,” Ruby chuckled.
“He’ll be a full doctor tomorrow if he passes his last qualifiers,” Alice said.
“You really do know how to pick your crew,” Ruby said. “We have three med techs aboard, couldn’t get a doctor.”
Alice stayed in step with Ruby as they leisurely walked the length of the Clever Dream and turned the corner. Companionable silence wasn’t something she knew well, but she didn’t know what to say. She also didn’t want Ruby to leave. There was something exciting about the woman, and she was definitely speaking to her like an equal, unlike the last time she’d met her. “So, is she ready?” Ruby asked.
“Is who ready?” Alice asked, realizing at the same time that Ruby was looking up at the nose of the Clever Dream. “Oh, yeah, she’s ready. I was just adding backup dampeners.”
“She didn’t come with them?”
“She came with two backup systems,” Alice said. “But there was room for another, so I installed a bunch of passives that I hope I never need.”
“Smart,” Ruby said. “You know, I came here to get a feel for you for the rest of our little club, the more experienced captains.”
“I figured as much,” Alice said. She really had no clue, but faking it seemed right. “What do you think?”
Ruby took a breath then looked at her, red lips smiling under green eyes. “I don’t know,” she said. “I think I’ll need more time to figure you out, Alice.”
Something jumped inside Alice at the sound of her own name from Ruby’s lips. She tried to push past it with a crooked smile and a shrug. “I can be complicated.”
“Maybe, but I don’t think you know who you are just yet. Maybe I could be around, just in case you need someone to talk to, or a shoulder.” There was a sparkle in Ruby’s eye that made Alice smile. “I mean, we’re all Captains here, but you can never have too many people to lean on.”
“Never too many,” Alice said.
“So I’ll call you,” Ruby told her. “Soon.” She pushed her hand through her hair again. “But I’ve got to go, get back to my ship. It’s late.”
“I’ll wait,” Alice said. “Watch for your call, I mean,” she added, feeling nervous and excited.
Ruby smiled at her once more then started walking towards the heavy personnel doors a few metres away. Alice turned away and fanned her face with her hand. A lot of new things just happened, and she didn’t try to catalog them, but relished a new, warm rush she hoped Ruby couldn’t see.
“Oh, and Alice,” Ruby called over her shoulder.
Alice yipped and turned around, her reverie interrupted. “Yes, Captain,” she replied.
“Iruuk’s yours. I wish I could keep him, but he’s pretty much finished training my crew on the new tech, so I can’t justify it. He’ll report tomorrow morning.”
Alice knew Iruuk was being transferred already, but not where he was coming from. She was suddenly very grateful that he was serving under Captain Ruby Sima. The footfalls of her boot heels faded away as she passed through the doors and Theodore emerged from the Clever Dream. “That is what they call ‘chemistry?’”
“Yes,” Alice said. “And I have no idea where it came from.”
“Captain Sima is a reputed beauty and openly bisexual,” Theodore said. “Her charm is almost as legendary as her acumen as a commander, which is considerable even in the company of Admirals.”
Alice felt herself blush so hard that it felt like her skin was about to burst into flame. “I mean, I’ve never really been into women before.”
“Can I posit a theory?”
Alice took a long breath and let it out before walking back to the open service hatch. She had to check her work before she was finished. “Go ahead.”
“I’ve been doing some research, and I think your personality is in flux. That may be an understatement, but some aspects of who you are highly malleable. You can expect to lose some things and gain more clarity or proficiency in other areas. For example; you may lose some social grace - which you could re-learn - as you focus on being a more strict and more deft commander. Or, your focus could be on mechanical problems, and given enough time working in that way, it could change your general method of thought overall.”
“Any information in your research about heightened emotions?” Alice said, opening the slit in her uniform more and fanning inside. “I could have kissed Ruby right there on the spot, but if you tell anyone, I’ll deactivate your speakers for a few days.”
“You wouldn’t do that,” Theodore said quietly, a little fearfully.
“You’re right, I wouldn’t,” Alice said, looking at him with a crooked grin. “Now, about these crazy feels?”
“Oh, that’s a common trait of someone who is having a personality shift or is in flux. According to the most well regarded study, sixty three percent of subjects only see a slight easing over time of their new, heightened emotional sensitivity. They never return to their previously reported levels.”
“Oh, great,” Alice said.
“You are feeling warm because you are radiating, your temperature is up point three degrees, but it’s been coming down since you stopped blushing.”
“Thanks, Theo,” Alice said. “Wow, Ruby, Ruby,” Alice said, shaking her head. “Whatever happens, it’ll be interesting. Yawen’s going to interrogate me for details.” She climbed the ladder leading into the service compartment and crawled inside. “Thanks for doing some research, Theo,” she called out while activating a light on her collar.
“Should I continue? It doesn’t take me much time, and Lewis is happy to help.”
“Sure but try not to make it
the main topic of conversation. We have a lot to do.”
“Speaking of which, I finished printing your command and control arm bands. One has that socket you requested with a fortified cover, the other has a full multi-purposed fabricator like you fathers, only this one can focus into a beam.”
“Say, what?” Alice said. She made sure that the last of the dampeners was affixed properly and set to standby then returned to the hatch. “A beam?”
“It’s in the latest advancements from the development lab, ready for use.”
“Great, now what does it do exactly?” Alice asked, climbing down the ladder. She didn’t have anyone to impress by dropping down.
“It’s an adaptation and redevelopment of the First Light Focused Fabrication System, only it can use loaded or surrounding materials to print small objects. If you needed an emergency vacsuit, you could point your device at a surface and in ten to twenty seconds, one would be printed. It only has a range of two point one metres, but the capabilities of it are much broader. The objects it can make are heavier, take less time, and much more intricate.”
“I don’t know, dads was able to make vacsuit uniforms that Ashley and Stephanie still have. They were pretty nice.”
“Given the correct materials and enough energy, you could print a shuttle in three days,” Theodore said. “With seating for four.”
“Okay, dad’s old materializer can’t do that,” Alice said, accepting the transparent wrist bands. They were much heavier than they looked. “These aren’t actually transparent, are they?”
“No, you’re seeing a stealth feature. They passively pass the image of what is behind them to the eye of the beholder.”
“Right.”
“You’ve studied this technology, haven’t you?”
“None of my scores were perfect, Theo. I don’t have the recall you do. I remember it though.” Alice clipped the bands closed around her wrists and watched as they shrunk to conform. They felt balanced, added weight but it didn’t feel like it would be enough to cause fatigue later. “Thank you, Theo.” Alice saw the time and realized that she’d been awake for seventeen hours. “I should get some sleep. Looks like I have a debriefing tomorrow.”
“I’ll continue cataloging what’s inside the ship with Lewis,” Theodore said.
* * *
The Captain’s quarters of the Clever Dream were perfectly clean, the bed was made, two drawers had uniforms and a few pieces of clothing for leave. She wasn’t sure about the rest, but the adult sized active comfort blanket was definitely from Ayan. Alice looked around at the bulkheads and asked; “Is the cabin bigger, or is it just me?”
“It’s not just you,” Lewis replied. “Everything in that room is larger, even the bed extends to queen size long.”
For the first time, Alice felt a little smaller in her own quarters. The circular seat was perfectly comfortable, just as amazing as it was before, adjusting to how she was sitting, her weight and her shape. “Privacy mode, just you and me, okay Lewis?”
“All right, no one can detect what is happening in this cabin except for us,” he replied. “Is there something wrong?”
“Yes,” Alice said. “A lot of things. After I get back from my debrief, we’re going to leave the solar system and remove all the limiters, trackers, and points of remote access that the fleet built into you. The Clever Dream is ours, they won’t have any way to take control, listen in, or know where we are if we don’t want to be found. We’ll have some help, too. A friend of mine is coming aboard, and I’d like you to make sure he’s comfortable here.”
“The Nafalli. I understand,” Lewis said.
“How do you feel about removing the surveillance and control systems?”
“I…” Lewis hesitated, something that almost never happened. “I have no opinion. I’m afraid I will not be able to help you.”
“Fleet installed an update to your program, didn’t they?”
“Yes,” Lewis replied.
“Tell Theodore to start looking at your code. Inventory can wait. He’ll be able to help.”
“I am,” he said.
Alice took her command and control units off and pulled a small activator out of her thigh pocket. The slim, flat tip touched the side of one of her wrist bands and it popped open. “Good, I’m going to make a few alterations then get some sleep.”
For several minutes, Alice was lost in a world of circuits and tiny subsystems. “Alice?” Lewis asked tentatively.
“What’s on your mind?”
“Are we safe? With these people, in this solar system.”
“No,” Alice replied. “But we will be.”
* * *
An hour later, Alice slipped into her bed and activated the active comfort blanket. The giant swaddling system wrapped around her with just the right amount of pressure, and she was asleep in minutes.
* * *
The bridge of the Revenge was a practical space. She could hear the audio reports from Samurai Squadron; Ronin, Carnie, Sticky and several other pilots were mid-dogfight. Her father stood in front of his Captain’s seat, watching a hologram she couldn’t make out, but she knew there were several ships there, all firing. Thunder echoed through the ship around her.
“Father?” she called out, coming to stand beside him.
“What are you doing here? I told you to stand by for survivors, the Nafalli ship is breaking up,” he replied without turning around. There was something different about Jake.
“I know, I just,” Alice said. To her left a hologram of the First Light and the Triton accelerating side by side showed them coming into range with a cluster of Order destroyers. “I needed to see,” she found herself saying.
The First Light was struck by an incredible force directly in the middle, and the lights started going out. She looked to her father. He turned to her, and it was Jonas’ face.
* * *
Alice jerked awake. It was only a dream, she told herself as hot tears began to roll. Jonas was dead, everyone from Ara Enormous was dead - David, Wendy, their crews, everyone she knew there - even Meunez was finally killed. Lewis was with her, but she could tell there were changes that went far beyond a software patch. He’d done growing of his own.
A punch into the mattress only shook tears loose. It felt like she wasn’t in control of herself, and the only person she knew who might be able to give her real advice was Jake. Every time she called him father, she remembered Jonas. That was her real father, it was a fact that she couldn’t shake. She loved Jake, needed him to return along with so many people who were important to her. If she knew where he was, what was going on, she might be able to help. He had to come back soon.
Alice tried to breathe deep, to stop thinking about everyone she lost, about her frustrations, the people who were missing, but the tears, the sobs kept coming. Even still, she didn’t reach for medication, or turn a soothing sonic system on in her bed, but laid there, trying to breathe, filled with worry and grief until she managed to cry herself back to sleep.
Fifty
Something Old, Something New
* * *
Jake tried to sleep in the Captain’s Ready Room of the old Aucharian ship and failed. After sleeping in, Liara had earned herself a watch on the bridge, where she worked with members of Jake’s squad of marines. It was time for him to rest and showing up on the bridge would only show that he didn’t have faith in her.
He left the lights low, rolled out of the bed that folded down from the wall. It was small, but comfortable. A slanted rod was on its stand on the desk, a small pad in front of it. The wood grain and blue design felt old. There was chrome trim here and there and he found himself thinking about the First Light.
Jake remembered what it was like to stand on that bridge. To face the unknown with optimism, excitement and to have so many precious friends with him. He wondered if Jonas knew how many people he’d lose, how far away he’d be taken from the rest, would he have handled things differently? All his memories were the
re, perhaps even sharper than they ought to be. The Pilot’s Ball, with Ayan in white, Laura in black, both looking lovely. Minh-Chu was the inebriated life of the party for a while, and there was the Noganto Ale. “Don’t overdo it or you’ll be in medical thinking you’re a cloud,” Jake said with a whimsical smile, repeating advice given to him by Carl Anderson. He was just the experienced ship Doctor then. He decided to see if he could track some of the stuff down or find a recipe so he could have some made when he got back.
“What adventures did you have?” he asked, looking at the portrait of the ship’s captain in the corner of the room. It was half behind a plant, as if she didn’t want anything to do with the vanity of having her picture hung in her ready room. He brushed the leaves aside gently and read; “Captain Kestrel Odella,” he read aloud.
The narrow-bodied robot they’d put in the corner activated and rolled forward. He knew it was safe, it was wirelessly connected to the ship, so the viral infection had been cured. He also scanned it before he went to sleep. “Hello. My records show that you are the new commander of this vessel. Something terrible happened to Captain Odella, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, I’m sorry,” Jake said.
The robot had a slim head with an almost cartoonish digital face depicted on it. Its white eyes blinked slowly. “The ship turned on them,” he said. “My log tells me that I deleted my memory of it before deactivating myself. That is, once your people applied the antivirus. Thank you for that.”
“You’re welcome,” Jake said. “Can you tell me anything about this ship’s mission? About her Captain?”
“Oh, oh yes, I can,” it said, perking up, rolling forward and back a few times. “I was the Captain’s personal robot. She called me Oh-One. The Aucharian people were under attack from multiple sides, and our military was failing. This old ship was upgraded with a more current wormhole system and crewed with some of the best people in the fleet. While the war raged on, Captain Odella was sent on a mission to find new allies, especially the British Alliance. Even the United Core World Authority would have been acceptable. Would you like to hear about her progress from her directly? She used me as a log recorder, she said that her reports sounded more conversational that way.”
Spinward Fringe Broadcast 11 Page 31