“Not sure, our scanners can’t penetrate inside,” said Gerry. “I thought Drix’s improved sensors would be able to penetrate it.”
“Maybe we should get Drix up here to tweak the sensors some more,” said Sandoval.
“Good idea,” said Julie.
Down in Central, John and Kevin were getting situated in Smitty’s Pub. They found an empty booth in the far corner of the pub. After the owner got their orders and served them their drinks, the pair settled into their seats.
“Thanks for the beer,” said Kevin as he took a long drink of his dark ale.
“Sure, looks like you could use it,” said John as he took a sip of his cranberry vodka. John never acquired the taste of beer and had no interest in any of Smitty’s vast selection of ales.
There was a long silence between the two, Kevin not sure how to start and John not sure what to say.
“Look,” said John. “I’m not going to pretend like I know what you’re going through. I can’t. I can only imagine what you must have thought after finding out about the sneak inside you.”
“I always felt sorry for those people whose genes had been tainted by nuclear radiation,” said Kevin. “Not being able to live on Luna or Mars, unable to serve in the military… I couldn’t imagine that, especially how much my father pushed me to enroll in TERRA.”
“Was your father an officer?” asked John. He already knew the answer from reading Kevin’s biographical file, but he was trying to make conversation.
“No,” said Kevin. “Dad never qualified to enter the Academy. He said he didn’t score high enough on the aptitude tests, but now I wonder.”
“Hey, you can’t think he had something to do with this.”
“What else am I supposed to think?” said Kevin. “My dad was obsessed with TERRA, he believed it was the only career that was worth having. If you weren’t in TERRA, you were nothing. If he couldn’t get in because he was a mute then maybe he thought of a way to get his son in.”
“The sneak,” said John.
“It makes sense. He had to be responsible.”
“Your dad was that obsessed with TERRA?”
“You don’t understand, he lived and breathed TERRA,” said Kevin. “He went to every graduation at the Academy, knew the specs of all the capital ships, and memorized the entire organizational structure. Hell, he even made sure his engineering consulting job worked on TERRA military projects. It was everything to him, and there was no way his son was going to do anything but enter the service.”
Although it sounded over the top, John was a little jealous that Kevin had a parent who dotted over him. John could only imagine his parents’ reaction if they were alive to see him go to the Academy. “What about your mom?”
Kevin sighed. “I think mom would have preferred to never have a kid. She had no interest in me at all.”
“I’m sorry.” John’s parents never had the opportunity to see him grow up and see him work hard to fulfill his dream of a life in space. He liked to think that they would have supported him. To have one parent uninterested in you and another making career choices for you, John couldn’t imagine living under such conditions.
“Are you sorry you entered TERRA?” asked John.
“No,” replied Kevin without hesitation. “It’s a huge accomplishment being an officer, one I wouldn’t trade for anything. I thought my dad would ease up after I became an officer, but he got worse. He was dictating how my career should develop and where I should serve. I couldn’t put up with it anymore. I cut all ties and haven’t spoken to them in years. It wouldn’t bother me if I never see them again.”
“Maybe they’ve changed,” said John. “Maybe they realized they took you for granted.”
“Maybe, but I can’t forgive them for the sneak,” said Kevin. “They should have told me.”
“I can’t advise you on that, or say what they did was right or wrong. That’s something you’ll have to figure out for yourself, and the only way to do that is to ask them.”
“At least I’ll have some time to think about it,” said Kevin as he finished his beer. “It’s not like we’re getting back to Earth anytime soon.”
“Olson to Captain Roberts,” said Julie over John and Kevin’s pips, interrupting their conversation.
“Go ahead, commander,” said John.
“We’re getting ready to analyze the gaseous compound in the cylinder,” said Julie. “The scientists figured out how to penetrate it and are going to segment the gas into smaller amounts for detailed analysis.”
“Thank you, commander,” said John. “But unless something critical comes up, I’m not interested in any further status reports. I’ll read up on it in your report when the analysis has been completed. I have complete faith that you can handle this on your own.”
“Understood, captain. Sorry for bothering you. Olson out.” John looked at Kevin. “Where were we?”
“Captain,” said Kevin. “I appreciate you taking the time to listen to me. You didn’t have to.”
“Yes I did, one of my officers was in distress. As I said before, we’ll keep this between you, me, and Doctor Myers.”
“Thank you,” said Kevin.
Back in science lab one, Julie was watching the scientists prepare for their analysis of the gaseous cloud as Sandoval as his security team stood by. Drix was still working on the sensors in the lab, but so far he wasn’t able to alter them to penetrate the cylinder.
There was something about the gas that intrigued Julie, something she couldn’t put her finger on. She wasn’t an expert, but the gas seemed unusually active. Maybe once the scientists determined what it was composed of it would explain its dynamic behavior.
“We should be ready to begin extraction in a few moments,” said Gerry.
“Proceed at your own pace,” said Julie, her eyes not moving from the gas cloud. Was she seeing things, or did it appear that minor flashes of light were popping up in different parts of the cloud? The longer she looked, the more convinced she was that she was seeing lights. It was like a choreographed dance.
“Activating drill,” said Gerry. A long, needle-like device descended from the science lab ceiling, heading towards the cylinder. As it did, the diamond composed drill bit began spinning.
The sound of the drill didn’t disturb Julie as her attention was still on the cloud. There was something to the lights, something familiar.
“Oh my god,” she whispered. “Stop the drill.”
“What?” said Gerry.
“I said stop the drill!” almost yelling the order.
Sandoval jumped to attention, grabbing his pulse gun. “What? What is it?”
“The cloud,” said Julie. “It’s alive!”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Science lab one was locked down after John arrived. He received a frantic call from Julie, saying the gas cloud housed in the cylinder was a sentient life form. John had told her not to bother him unless it was critical: this qualified as critical. John left Kevin at Smitty’s and ran to the science lab.
Sandoval had already locked down the lab, wanting to minimize the risk of exposure if the cloud escaped. The security chief still questioned whether it was truly a life form. He observed the cloud and couldn’t see anything to indicate it was alive.
For once, John appreciated the chief’s proactive approach to secure the lab. The captain never considered they would encounter a life form that wasn’t organic in nature, and was worried about the sort of damage a gas-based alien could do if it got loose on the ship.
“How do you know it’s sentient?” asked John as he approached his executive officer.
“The alien began emitting small light flashes,” explained Julie. “I recognized the patterns as standard Morse code for S.O.S.”
“We reviewed the video log and the computer confirmed the light patterns were an S.O.S. call sequence,” said Gerry.
“How the hell would it know how to say S.O.S.?” said John.
“I don’
t know,” said Gerry. “But while we were getting ready for our analysis the lab’s computer went down for a few moments. We didn’t think much of it before, but now…”
John looked at Drix. “Do you have any knowledge of gaseous based life-forms?”
“No, John Captain,” said Drix. “I checked my ship’s database and there is no information of such life-forms being encountered by my people.”
“Has it communicated anything else?” said John.
“No,” said Julie. “Once we halted the extraction process it stopped issuing the S.O.S.”
John looked at the cloud in the cylinder. “It has no physical shape, so it can’t verbally communicate with us.”
“I was thinking we could put a keyboard by the cylinder, erect a force field around the containment area, and let it out and see what it does with the keyboard,” said Julie.
“You can’t let that thing out,” said Sandoval.
“I can’t help but think the cloud is imprisoned in that cylinder,” said John.
“And maybe for good reason,” said Sandoval. “For all we know it’s own kind put it in there as criminal punishment.”
“You don’t know that,” said Julie.
“Captain,” said Gerry. “What Commander Olson proposes is of little risk to us. If the cloud poses a threat we can create a vacuum within the containment area and eject it into space.”
“Then I say let’s proceed,” said John.
“Sandoval to security. Security Team Four to science lab one.” The chief looked at the captain. “If we’re doing this, I want additional security here.”
“Fine,” said John. “Roberts to Thresha. Please report to science lab one.”
“One my way, captain,” said Thresha.
“Why do we need her?” asked Sandoval.
“Thresha may be able to pick up if the cloud is sentient,” said John.
A few minutes later they were ready to break open the cylinder. A console was moved into the containment area with a keyboard layout on the display, additional security officers were both inside and outside the lab, and Thresha joined the group. After explaining to her and going over with everyone what the plan was, Gerry activated the drill.
They watched as it descended and began cutting open the cylinder. Despite the drill being made of diamond, it still had difficulty drilling into the device.
“Captain,” said Thresha. “I’m sensing something from the alien.”
“What is it?” asked John.
Thresha closed her eyes, trying to discern what she was sensing. “I am not sure, but I think I am detecting fear.”
“Captain, look,” said Julie.
They watched as the cloud moved to the bottom of the cylinder, away from the top where the drill was cutting. Soon, the cylinder was opened and they watched the cloud waste no time escaping the container. It went directly to the mobile console and enveloped it. A few moments later, words began appearing on the display on the science station they were huddled around.
Julie read the words on the display. “You have freed me from my captivity. What are your intentions towards me?”
“I knew it was a criminal,” said Sandoval.
“Don’t jump to conclusions,” said Julie.
“Captain,” said Thresha. “The sensation I was feeling before is gone. What I sense now is subdued, tamed. I believe the alien is relieved to be free.”
“Yes,” popped up more words on the screen. “I have been held captive for a long time.”
“It can hear us?” said Julie.
“The containment field isn’t soundproof,” said Gerry.
“Yeah, but for it to be able to hear us without any physical form to discern sound waves…,” said John.
“My kind has always been able to converse with other races, although we have chosen not to do so,” said the alien through the keyboard.
“How can you understand our verbal language and be able to type English?” asked John.
“I have limited psionic abilities,” explained the alien. “I utilized the last of my strength to access your computer database and learn all about your people and your history.”
“That must explain what happened when the computer went down for a few moments,” said Julie.
“Captain John Roberts,” said the alien. “In order to facilitate a relationship between us and to prove I mean no harm to you or those on this vessel, the ones who trapped me are the same ones you seek, the Screen.”
The statement caught everyone off-guard.
“Captain,” whispered Gerry. “I just finished analyzing the alien. Its gas composition doesn’t contain anything lethal to humans, Cresorians, or Aldarians.”
“Are…, are your people at war with the Screen?” asked John.
“No, my race does not initiate contact with others,” said the alien. “I chose to leave our world to explore the stars. During my travels I encountered the Screen. I was captured, subjected to scientific examinations, then encased in the container and left on a moon they were passing at the time.”
If the gas alien spent any length of time with the Screen, then John could only imagine the wealth of information it had about them. It was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
“I’m happy that we found your container and freed you,” said John. “Although our primary mission is to locate the Screen and end the threat they pose to my race, we’re also out here to learn about other races and co-exist in peace.”
“Yes,” said the alien. “Your actions support your words. Your aid to Cresorian Drix and the Aldarian people reflect your desire to live with others who are different. I am in your debt. You may ask anything of me, I only request that you return me to my homeworld and to my people, the Ni.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
It was amazing, simply amazing. That’s all John could think of as he read the various reports of the crew’s interactions with the gaseous alien. After much debate, it was decided to release the alien from the containment field. Gerry volunteered to remain in the science lab, to confirm that the Ni was not harmful. After weighing the pros and cons, John agreed. It was a tense moment when the containment field was dropped. The alien flew over to Gerry and swirled around him, and nothing happened. He suffered no ill effects from his contact with the Ni.
Over the next few days various crew members volunteered to spend time with the alien as PHOENIX headed towards the coordinates of the Ni homeworld. Although John gave permission for the alien to explore the ship, it declined and remained in the science lab. It knew that its presence created apprehension among the crew and it did not want to increase their worries by wandering around the ship, even under military escort.
Unfortunately, the alien provided little new information about the Screen. Apparently, they kept it in one location on board their ship during its captivity and isolated it in such a manner that it couldn’t learn anything its captors.
John was on his way to the science lab to give the alien an update on the ship’s arrival time to its homeworld. Drix was able to rig a device that could translate the alien’s light emitting abilities into verbal language. The device was tied to the lab’s speakers.
John entered the science lab and found Chris Anne sitting at the science station reading a book to the alien, who was hovering nearby. Chris was in one of his dresses, accentuated by the blond wig he was wearing with the hair down.
“How’s it going?” asked John as he approached the pair.
“Chris has been reading one of your world’s most celebrated novels,” said the alien, the computer voice pipping though the speakers.
“Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein,” said Chris, showing John the book. John thought it was an odd choice, but didn’t comment on it.
“I thought I’d give you a break here,” said John.
“I’m not tired, captain,” said Chris.
“I checked the log, you’ve been here six hours,” said John. “Go on, get some rest.”
Chris didn’t
protest, which proved to John how tired he was. The singer got up and stretched himself. “If you need anything, let me know.” He looked at the alien. “It was nice getting to know you.”
“Thank you Chris. It was nice spending time with you.” John couldn’t get over how human the alien seemed to act. It was weird that it was gaseous and not humanoid.
John waited until Chris was out of the lab before speaking. “If you want some time alone, I’d understand. I know someone’s been in here with you constantly since we freed you.”
“I was alone for too long.,” said the alien. “The presence of others has been a welcomed change for me.”
“Sometimes one needs time for themselves. I certainly do.” John took a seat at the computer station as the alien floated around the lab. “You know, it would make things easier if you had a name we could call you.”
“I finally understand your concept of identifiers you use to distinguish one another,” said the alien. “However, it has no place with my race. The Ni exist as one, each part a member of the whole. To provide a name to any one of us diminishes the importance of the whole.”
“I had to give it a shot,” said John. “It’s just that calling you ‘it’ is considered rude in our culture.”
“You need not worry of offending me with your neutral terms,” said the alien.
John nodded. “We’re less than ten hours from your star system.” The alien seemed to shimmer, as if it was excited hearing the news. “I wanted to check if there’s anything else we need to do when we arrive.”
“I have communicated all necessary protocols to you,” said the alien. “Your ship must hold position outside the Ni star system. Under no circumstances is your vessel to enter Ni space. My people are xenophobic in nature and do not welcome outsiders.”
“Is that why you left your homeworld?” asked John.
“Among my kind I was considered what you call an outsider,” said the alien. “The whole has no interest in interacting with other species, of learning what the universe has to offer. During my entire existence I could not help but look at the stars and wonder what was out there. My desires became too great to ignore and I eventually found the strength to leave.”
Phoenix Among The Stars (Exodus) Page 22