Around Jane her co-workers chatted, laughed, and socialized. Mandy – a beautiful blue-skinned Hoya who sat alongside Jane – kept chortling as she talked loudly about everything other than work.
“You should have seen what he said to those new recruits,” she laughed, her lips spreading wide as her very large eyes sparkled.
“Well, I suppose the rookies weren't expecting a lesson from a professional,” noted Tarta. He came from an insect-like race, and spread his pincers as he chuckled wildly.
Jane knew who they were talking about, because there was only one person they ever talked about: Lucas Stone. The shining star of the Security Division of the Galactic Force. When he’d been a student, a rookie, he’d once thwarted an attack on the Galactic Union Senate. That same rookie had once single-handedly saved an entire battle cruiser, by heroically plugging an engine leak with his own armor. He was also the man who had practically rewritten the book on security procedures throughout the Galactic Force. Most importantly, he was the guy everybody knew would be picked to lead the new expedition to the outer rim. In fact, it felt like when it came to the Galactic Force, he was the only one anybody ever talked about or acknowledged. The legendary Lucas Stone.
As for Jane – she was just plain. She was also getting seriously bored; the strain of focusing so hard was giving her a headache.
“I heard from one of the med students that they are just going to give the new expedition to him. They're going to let him pick whatever ship he wants, and whatever crew he wants too,” Mandy continued, her long tail flicking around as she gesticulated with it.
Tarta nodded soberly. “Of course, that makes perfect sense. Lucas is the best we’ve got. He will know how to make that mission a success.”
Jane fought against the urge to close her eyes, but couldn't quite manage it. Everything was just so terribly boring. People always accused her of being boring. Fair enough, she hadn’t gone out last night to see Lucas Stone give an impromptu lesson to a couple of first-year security students on how to save the Galaxy. She’d stayed at home. Yet while she had, her mind had not. Jane had traveled the Galaxy, she’d pretended she was an ambassador, someone special, someone unique, someone with incredible power, someone who a crafty and malevolent ancient race had wanted to kidnap. Then, in the nick of time, a daring hero had come to her rescue. Last night her hero had been a xeno biologist; capable, kind, willing to go up against an entire squadron of robots in order to save her and the Galaxy.
But now she was here again – back at work. While she was fighting it, her mind was starting to wander. She’d heard about the dreams that humans had. She’d even learned about something called day-dreaming. Well Jane now knew she was a day-dreamer. A serious, serious day-dreamer. It was no doubt a quirk of her alien DNA.
Again she valiantly tried to open her eyes but found herself closing them languidly.
She could feel her cheek bunch up against her hand, her mouth being pulled open in a probably highly unattractive manner as her head nodded forward again, her muscles relaxing as her body succumbed to the boredom and transported her to dreamland.
....
Just as her head nodded forward again, someone jabbed her hard in the back.
She spluttered, making a choking, startled noise halfway between a hiccup and a yelp.
“Wake up, Plain Jane,” Mandy whipped her tail in front of Jane's face, probably the very same tail that had poked Jane in the first place. “We've got company.”
Jane blinked as her eyes looked up to the door on the other side of the room. It was still hard to focus but....
Wow.
Talk of the devil.
It was Lucas Stone.
He was standing just inside the doorway, one of his trademark smiles on his trademark face. The head of the Administrative Division was standing next to him.
It was such a surreal scene that Jane thought she had accidentally wandered off into a daydream after all. All of her colleagues were on their feet, eyes sparkling. How absolutely wonderful it was for a living legend to pop in before morning break to parley with them.
But why exactly was Mr. Universe taking time off from saving the Galaxy to come see the admin staff?
Was he just walking into the room so he could get a glass of water from the sustenance terminal on the other side? Or did he perhaps like to play this kind of game all over the city? Occasionally pop into random offices, workstations, schools even, flash that amazing smile of his then wait for his adoring fans to cheer?
Jane blinked heavily but remained seated, even though most of her colleagues had been standing from the moment he appeared in the doorway. It was a peculiar thing, but usually she wasn't all that cynical. Plain, yes, boring, yes, but cynical, no. She was the kind of person who preferred to see the better side of somebody, and who didn't like to say anything unless what she had to say was positive. Which was another thing her colleagues, especially Mandy, liked to point out: Jane was too innocent. She wasn't interesting in any way and didn't appear to have any depth to her opinions or beliefs because she hadn't been anywhere or done anything or been challenged by anyone or any event.
Then there was Lucas Stone. When it came to Jane, he was different – he got on her nerves. Perhaps it was the fact that whenever anybody concluded she was boring, they would always contrast her with Lucas. Look at Lucas Stone, they would say, how interesting, how handsome, how accomplished. He saves the world on Tuesday, teaches the next generation on Wednesday, and woos the daughter of Senator Cooper on Thursday. A busy boy, a perfect boy, an immensely interesting boy. Then there was Jane. Who went home every single night and stared up at exactly the same night sky and dreamed about adventures but never of course had one.
So while it went against most of her personality, she had a bone to pick with Mr. Stone. Though she’d only technically met him once and was sure he wouldn’t remember it. She’d run into him on his very first day at the Galactic Force. It had been her first day as well, but unlike Lucas, she had not gone on to rule the universe. Now how had they met again? Had she done something clumsy, stupid, and incredibly embarrassing in front of him? Had she fallen from one of the transports only to be caught by Lucas at the last moment? Had she tripped over one of the cleaning robots only to smack right into his chest? Had she slipped in the mud? Nope, because she was plain Jane. Those were the types of amusing, if not embarrassing, things that happened to interesting people. He’d simply asked for directions.
Nothing amazing, nothing spectacularly klutzy.
They had crossed paths several times in the corridors over the years, and each time Lucas would have a different colored stripe down the arms of his armor or uniform, indicating that once again he’d been promoted or had acquired some new, incredible skill. A couple of times he’d asked what the time was, or perhaps where the nearest sustenance receptacle was. On another occasion, he’d even asked her where the bathroom was. That was the total sum of their interactions. Jane had absolutely no question in her mind that Lucas did not even know who she was. Yet she didn't mind one bit. She was sick of being compared to the very best the Galaxy had to offer.
“Don't do anything embarrassing,” Mandy hissed from her side.
While her colleague's tone was curt, Jane didn't pay any attention to it; when it came to rationalizing or making excuses for other people's behavior, she was well trained. Unless it came to Lucas Stone, that was.
Jane waited silently for whatever would happen to hurry up so she could return to her task – trying not to daydream at her desk while avoiding work.
The general manager of the division suddenly clapped his hands together, his green scaly flesh glinting under the light. “I have some very exciting news,” he smiled broadly. Though he was from a race who did not usually show emotion through facial movements – preferring instead to communicate solely with their hands – apparently even he had to crack a grin around Lucas Stone. “Now, Lucas here needs no introduction.”
There was a smattering
of almost overjoyed laughter in the room, a smattering that Jane did not join in with.
“I have some incredible news,” the general manager continued, his green skin now turning purple indicating just how excited he was about it, “but perhaps I should now step aside to let the man of the moment fill you in.”
The general manager actually bowed out as he gestured for Lucas to step forward.
Lucas stood there for a moment, smiling heartily, his teeth practically glittering. He didn’t have his armor on today, he was in his dress uniform. As with everything he wore, he looked damn near perfect in it. Or at least some version of perfect, a version of perfect that Jane did not quite share. While she did go home every single night and dream up little romantic fantasies for herself, the likes of Lucas Stone were never included in them. Her romantic leads weren't anything like Lucas; they were kind, bashful, capable but dignified. They had flaws, fears and limitations, with a great sense of humor. And most importantly, they always displayed modesty and humility. In other words, they were light years away from Mr. Universe, Lucas Stone.
Still smiling, Jane could see that Lucas took a big breath, his chest puffing out against the white, black, and gold of his dress uniform. “I am sure you have all heard about the upcoming mission to the outer rim,” he kept on smiling, but now there was a glint in his eye, a glint that appeared to suggest that there was nothing more important in the world to him. “I do not need to tell you that no Galactic ship has traveled through Hell's Gate for almost one hundred years. The scientific and technological discoveries to be made could redefine our generation, and pave the way for a brighter future for all of the races of the Galaxy.”
Everyone in the room gave a smattering of applause, even a mumbling of approval. Of course they’d all heard about the mission, and everyone knew that nobody had passed through Hell's Gate in over one hundred years.
“If we pull this mission off, we will be the first people to cross beyond the Pillars and to come back again. The scientific data we can gather by studying the unique singularities throughout Hell's Gate could advance our current understanding of quantum field theory by decades ...”
Jane started to tune out. She could still hear Lucas speaking of course, but she began to pay less and less attention to him. Instead she let her gaze wander to her left, until it settled on the view outside of the huge flex windows. She could see the other buildings of the Galactic Force, even see the rest of the city stretching out behind, and especially the sky above. She did like the sky; it was always so big and inviting, and quite frankly non-judgmental. The sky didn't seem to care that Jane was boring. The sky had not once called her plain.
As always happened when Jane started to get distracted by the view, her mind began to wander. She liked to plan her little night-time fantasies in advance. Right now, she imagined a dignified, capable, handsome, accomplished galactic adventurer, someone a little bit like Lucas Stone but without that personality. Someone who didn't command the limelight, but shunned it instead. Someone who wouldn't ever consider her plain, because they wouldn't ever consider anyone plain. They would look beyond the appearances – they would see the beautiful dynamism and creativity inherent in everything. Perhaps he would have sandy blond hair, perhaps he would be half human and half Elurian, his eyes a glowing electric blue. But most of all, he would not judge her.
It was while Jane was engaged in her daydream, twisting her long mousy brown hair around her fingers, that she missed something very important.
It was also when Mandy whipped out with her tail, poking Jane hard in the back.
Jane gave a splutter, falling forward right into the holographic display of her terminal.
Of course everyone turned to look at her, because the sound she'd made was a very loud, awkward, and disrespectful noise considering present company.
Rather than stop to admonish her in front of her colleagues, Lucas didn't appear to notice. He might have glanced her way once, but that was it.
In fact, he seemed to be finished. Everyone was now back up on their feet clapping.
Jane had absolutely no idea what they were clapping about, as she had fazed out through the entire thing only to tune back in from a tail poking her in the back.
He gave a bow, turning on his heel as he immediately left the room. Leaving them in peace. Well, not peace apparently, because the second he left, was the second the entire room erupted in happy chatter.
Mandy turned immediately to Tarta, her face absolutely lit up with interest. “By the Lord of Yarla, can you believe it?”
Tarta nodded his head simply. “I have never been wrong about that man; he has, as the humans say, a head on his shoulders.”
Jane wanted to point out she had a head on her shoulders too – having such a feature didn't mean a great deal. Instead she turned back to her holo terminal in order to get on with her work. Though she didn't want to know what Lucas had said, she couldn't help herself from overhearing everyone in the room. You would think that Lucas had come in offering everybody signed autographs or perhaps a personal dinner with him that very night. Nope, it was nowhere near that grand. He hadn't offered anybody a role in the team for his up-coming mission, but he had, apparently, said that their division would be involved in the administrative side of putting the team together from the very best, most promising recruits and seniors at the Galactic Force. By the way everybody else was talking though, you would have thought they’d all won the Galactic lottery – not been assigned extra work that they wouldn't get paid anything more for. Ordinarily Jane didn't think too much about money. She certainly did not gripe about how much she was paid, but for some reason the very thought that Lucas Stone was trying to give them more work made her want a small moon in return, and maybe even a large planet too.
It was unusual for her to be in a bad mood because, as Mandy would point out, she was far too boring to have an emotional reaction as interesting as anger. Yet Jane wasn't exactly pleased at the moment. So she sat there, pursed her lips, and returned to her work. The administrative unit she worked for was responsible for the data collection, consolidation, and maintenance of all results, enrollments, and related tasks that went on throughout the Galactic Force. It was a fairly simple job, and didn't require a great deal of skill or training, but Jane liked to think she was at least okay at it, if that was something worthy to admit on the same day that the great Lucas Stone had popped his head in the door.
The best and the brightest, apparently that was what Lucas wanted on his trip. Fair enough, everyone always wanted the best and brightest, nobody ever wanted the slightly okay and the moderately interesting. Well, nobody but Jane that was.
…
Jane worked until late that night. With the hullabaloo over Stone's visit, everyone else had been far too busy talking about his heroic mission to bother getting any more work done. So Jane, being Jane, had offered to stay late and do what was needed. Plus, she always liked working late anyway; if she had her preference, she would work alone. It wasn't because she shunned human company, or alien company, for that matter. Jane wasn't antisocial; she was just awkward, quiet, and apparently far too innocent. Whenever she espoused her “sugar-coated, candy-style views of the universe', Mandy or others always told her that she simply didn't know what she was talking about. That was another reason why Jane never bothered to go out. Whenever people started to talk about the current state of the Galactic Senate, as they always did, she would always put forth her rather happy, optimistic views, only to be shot down and told she was thinking like a child.
Yet she didn't hate her co-workers, far from it; Jane held them in high esteem and valued each and every one of them. She just knew she was different. Very different. Different in a way that everybody else would assume made her ordinary, but she knew it went beyond that. She knew there was more to her, and that if people bothered, if they tried, if they suspended their views and judgments for just long enough to get to know her, they would see what was on the inside. All the advent
ures, all the romance, all the life.
Jane knew she did not fit in. She knew that she’d never fitted in. Even as a child, she’d been different. After all, she wasn't a human but she had grown up on Earth. Not that you could tell without a thorough physical exam, of course, but Jane was technically an alien. She wasn't an interesting alien: she wasn't like an Elurian mercenary or a Hirean sprinter, or anything like that. Jane's alien DNA was, fittingly, quite plain. She had the full appearance of a human, but she wasn't quite as strong, quick, or attractive. As one of her colleagues had once joked, Jane managed to do human duller than the humans did. She didn't have any pincers, any tails, no third eye, no incredible strength and agility, nothing to set her aside from the crowd. Which pretty much summed up Jane perfectly: there was not a thing in her history, schooling, ability, or her appearance that could possibly set her apart from the crowd. In fact, all of her features did exactly the opposite: they embedded her so far into the realm of normalcy that she became just too normal, so normal, in fact, that there was zero point in talking to her or looking her way.
She planned on working for at least the next two hours, and then taking the late transport back home. She would have all tomorrow morning off because of the overtime, so she could spend most of the night sitting up on the window ledge gazing at the stars. One peculiarity about Jane's physiology, and possibly the most interesting thing about her, was that she didn’t sleep. To a normal person, that would seem like an incredible feat, and pave the way for an enormous increase in productivity, but it did not have that effect on Jane. She spent the time when everyone else would be sleeping, staring at the sky and imagining instead. She knew it was a regenerative process for her body – she always got cranky if she wasn’t given time to dream – yet she did not lose consciousness while she did it. It was almost as if her brain never wanted to lose control of her body.
The Crucible: Leap of Faith Page 15