She nodded as the sinking feeling in her stomach increased. “If I recall correctly, you tried to kill me and would likely have succeeded if not for Misha.”
Doctor Howard gave her a commiserating smile and continued. “I wouldn’t have actually done it. That entire interaction was for Misha’s benefit. I needed her to see you as I saw you. Her leader and, I hoped, her friend. That hologram was no AI, it was me, the real me, but just for the initial conversations. Lucid dreaming cannot be maintained for long periods of time. I exited stage left just before you were given the chance to choose between those two other versions of Damien Howard. Oh, and for what it’s worth, I’m glad you chose the one you did. I reviewed the recent logs, before contacting you, and it is simply remarkable what has happened with your Damien Smith.”
Charlotte snorted, “You think I’m pissed. Just wait until I tell him.”
Howard looked alarmed. “Oh, you can’t do that, Charlotte, at least not now. You can’t tell anyone.”
“Why the fuck not? I’m not keeping things from my crew.”
“There’s that language again, and you know why.” He watched as Charlotte’s shoulders sagged slightly and she ground her teeth. Howard nodded at her. “Exactly, they cannot afford the distraction, especially Karishma, Damien, and Misha. They each knew me. Well, Karishma and Misha did. Damien used to be me, well, part of me. Anyway, don’t tell them yet, please.”
“I really am hating you right now. I also don’t understand why you’ve chosen this moment to reveal yourself. Oh, and you have two minutes left,” grumbled Omandi.
“Quite right. As for why now…because you are about to engage in first contact with Nerr’ath and I’m the only human she’s ever met. You might need me, and my stasis will take some time to reverse. As I see it, three possible scenarios are about to unfold. One, something goes horribly wrong and you, along with humanity, are all killed. That one is easy because I will be dead as well. Two, everything goes amazingly well and we all become bosom buddies with the Drac’ath. In that case, I will come out of stasis, apologize profusely to those of your crew who want to kill me, and ask if I might join Nerr’ath in returning to her planet. After all, I am dying. Don’t look surprised, Charlotte, and before you ask, of course I tried using the nanites. They refused to—” Howard made air quotes, “heal old age. Apparently Nerr’ath’s people had a bad experience with enabling biological immortality so the nanites are hardcoded against reversing DNA senescence or preventing apoptosis. I tried reprogramming them. It’s impossible, so I’ve got a few months, maybe a year.” Howard narrowed his eyes at Charlotte, “You know something about nanite reprogramming?”
Omandi shrugged, while images of Annchi’s formerly healer nanites disassembling Ramsey’s weapon flashed through her mind. “Nope,” she said, then asked, “what’s your third scenario?”
“Oh, that’s where you succeed, and the Drac’ath don’t kill us, but do find us too primitive to associate with. In that situation I’d—”
“Retake control of your ship and your assets,” chuckled Omandi dryly.
Howard’s eyes widened in chagrin and he shook his head. “No, Charlotte, a thousand times no. The ship is yours. The assets are yours. I would not even remain on Bladerunner unless unanimously asked by your crew.”
Before Omandi could respond, her hand terminal chimed several times and she glanced at the flashing zeros indicating the timer had elapsed. Howard stood and smiled down at her. “While the stasis fades, I will remain in a lucid state. The only way to communicate with me is via your hand terminal. You should see an app there called Sleeping Beauty.” His smile broadened, “That’s me. Just tap it and I will return to this spot in holographic form. Until then, Captain Omandi, good luck.”
Howard vanished and, a second later, the door to Charlotte’s office chimed. “Come,” she said.
Chao poked his head in and looked around quizzically. “Uh, Captain, Doctor Carpenter says the printing is complete and he’s ready to download the alien data packet. He asks that you be there because the doctor’s afraid Misha will just shoot Nerr’ath’s android based on the slightest provocation. I tend to agree.”
Charlotte arched an eyebrow, “That we should shoot it?”
Chao relaxed, and his lips quirked up at Charlotte’s jest, “No, sir, I do not think we should shoot the emissary from a new species that has its finger on the human-extinction button. I just agree with Carpenter that Misha might act otherwise.”
Omandi stood, and circled around the desk. “Misha shoot something she shouldn’t? Chao, wherever did you get a crazy idea like that?” She gave his shoulder a quick pat. “Let’s get to the med-bay.”
Chapter 47
Emissary
“Doc, you are not filling me with confidence here,” grumbled Misha, as Keung and Omandi entered the med-bay.
Carpenter looked up from the biobed as if hearing her for the first time. “Hmm, what do you mean?” He paused. “Did I say something? I don’t recall saying anything.”
Sokolov blinked in surprise. “Rick, you said it three times. Three times you said, What is that…that’s really interesting. What is that? Honestly, you don't want to do that around me because my first instinct is to kill interesting things.”
“What’s interesting?” asked Charlotte, as she and Chao drew up beside the other two.
“That’s what I want to know,” said Misha. She pointed at Nerr’ath’s still form. “and I’d really like to know before we wake up micro-godzilla there.”
Omandi shot her security officer a sour look, but Chao said, “Lieutenant, please do not refer to our guest in that manner.”
Misha frowned. “She can’t hear me. She doesn’t even have a brain yet.”
“No, she has a brain,” said Carpenter, “just no higher brain functions. The autonomous functions are already active…see.” He pointed at the biobed’s display panel. “As far as I can tell, everything is good…for her species, at least. Basic Drac’athian specifications came down with the pod’s data packet.”
“Why is that indicator not reading anything?” asked Charlotte. Rick stared at her quizzically and she said, “The temperature reading, why is that one dimmed?”
“Oh, that,” said the Doctor, “Nerr’ath’s species is cold blooded, and since there is no expected base-reading, I turned off that sensor. It kept warning me that my patient was hypothermic, really quite annoying. I’ll work with Karishma to reprogram the biobeds and—”
“Doc,” said Charlotte.
“Sir?”
“What…is…interesting?”
“Oh, this organ here,” said Richard. He shifted the bed’s display to an active internal scan. “I can’t figure it out and it wasn’t listed in the data packet, well, none of the organs were. Since this is my first direct interaction with the Drac’ath, I have no previous experience from which to draw conclusions. Bottom line, I cannot provide any cross-referenced perspectives on what purpose that organ might serve. Everything else, is pretty standard…heart, lungs, digestive tract.” He pointed again, “This seems to be a vestigial venom sac.”
“Wait, what?” asked Misha, “You didn’t mention anything about venom. Doc, how many times have I pleaded with you to tell me about things that might kill us?”
Carpenter patted Misha’s hand placatingly, “It’s fine, Misha, really. I said vestigial, she can no more inject venom than you can swing from trees by your coccyx.”
The security officer did not look convinced but Charlotte said, “Is it safe to wake her up?”
The doctor nodded, “As far as I can tell, yes.”
Omandi peered at the body and pursed her lips. “Something is nagging at me and I can’t quite place it. Chao, what do you think?”
“There is risk in every action we’ve taken or will take. We’re walking on the proverbial razor’s edge, Captain, but I think we should install the data packet and sooner rather than later. Everything else we’ve encountered has been a test of some sort and each
test had both a time limit and required outcome. I would hate for us to delay too long and have that pod start shooting pathogen missiles at Earth.”
Charlotte sighed. “You’re right. You’re right. I’m overthinking. Doctor Carpenter, please proceed.” Misha dropped her hand to the weapon on her hip and began to draw it out, but Omandi said, “Perhaps a bit more subtlety is in order, Lieutenant. I’d rather our guest not wake up to a HID weapon in her face.”
“You know I don’t do subtle well, Captain,” Misha grumbled.
Omandi smiled, “I know. Think of it as just another opportunity for you to exceed my expectations.”
“That’s it,” said Richard and stepped back from the bed.
Everyone stared at the unconscious figure for several seconds and finally Chao asked, “What’s it? She still looks the same.”
Carpenter’s face showed first confusion and then amusement. “Were you expecting her to just hop out of bed?” he laughed. “I’m installing more than one petabyte of information, I’m afraid it will take more than fifteen-seconds. You three have my sincere apologies.”
Chao and Charlotte turned to Misha, who chuckled, “That’s about as snarky as he gets. If Linnea were to translate Doc’s answer into Sokolov, it would be something closer to, Do I tell you how to order people around? No, I do not. This shit’s going to take a while so get the hell out and let me work.”
“That is decidedly not what I intended,” said Rick, defensively.
“And yet, it is exactly what we are going to do,” replied Charlotte with a chuckle. “Do you have any idea how long? It was pretty quick with Damien.”
“For whatever reason, there was a lot less data involved in that transfer, so you can’t really compare the two,” said Richard. He lifted his hand terminal and tapped it a few times. “I’d guess about an hour, but no more than two.”
Omandi nodded, then turned to Misha. “I want you here when she wakes up, but it seems you have at least—”
“No, sir,” said Misha, “I’m staying right here until sleeping-lizard-beauty wakes up.”
Charlotte sighed. “You are going to create the first intra-galactic diplomatic incident aren’t you. Treat our guest with respect, and bring her to the command deck when she’s up to it.”
Misha gave a curt nod, “Aye, sir.”
Charlotte and Chao turned to leave. Charlotte paused at the med-bay door and narrowed her eyes at the security officer. “Remember Misha, respect. That means no lizard jokes. You wouldn’t want to be called a hairless ape, now would you?”
“That certainly would be rude,” offered Carpenter.
“Exactly,” said Omandi pointing, “don’t be rude.”
The doors swished closed behind them and Misha frowned at Richard. “I don’t think that’s a good analogy at all. I mean who the devil would call me a hairless ape?”
James stared at the command deck’s view screen, then said, “I don’t see why we can’t just tractor it into one of our shuttle bays. That pod is half the size of Galileo.”
Karishma’s frustrated reply came through the speakers. “For the third time, Branson, we have no tractor beam. As far as I know tractor beams do not exist in the vacuum of space. I could maybe make one using sound waves, but sound waves do not work in space.”
“So we just get to stare at it?” asked the pilot. “We are right next to the damn thing. Are you telling me that we aren’t ever going to need to grab something and bring it onboard?”
“That is what the grappler is for,” hissed Karishma.
“Oh,” said James brightly, and spun his chair to face Charlotte who had been reviewing her first-contact notes with Chao. “Captain, what do you think?”
Omandi looked up, “I’m sorry, I stopped paying attention. What did you two decide?”
“We’re going to use the grappler to pull that pod into the hangar bay,” said James.
“Huh,” grunted Charlotte thoughtfully, then asked, “Damien, are you getting any readings from that pod? Do you think it would be safe to bring it aboard?”
The android tapped at his console for a moment then said, “I’ve been checking at regular intervals and can detect no energy signatures from the pod that might indicate a danger. In addition, assuming the threatened pathogens are housed within the pod, it would likely be more secure inside Bladerunner than out.”
“May I offer a comment, Captain?” asked Karishma softly.
“Of course, what is it?”
“Just this,” said the chief engineer, as her voice rose and Indian accent became more pronounced, “we have no grappler. I did not finish it before we launched. It was not a priority so…it does not yet exist. Had our talented, if overly enthusiastic, pilot allowed me to get a word in edgewise, he would have known that.”
James managed to look both confused and offended, in equal measure, then asked, “Why did you even suggest—”
Omandi’s command chair display flashed an urgent message indicator and she held up a hand cutting off the pilot. “Doctor, what is it?”
“It’s me,” said Misha, “I’m just using Doc’s med-bay terminal because he’s helping our guest with her clothes. According to Rick, her fine motor skills aren’t up to snuff yet, but she should be ambulatory in about five minutes.” Her voice became muffled slightly as she said, “Five minutes, right Doc?” An even more muffled affirmation came from the doctor and Misha confirmed, “Five minutes, Captain. I’ll ping you when we’re in the mag-lift. Oh, and Captain…”
Charlotte glanced at Chao, and saw his lips quirk up, as she said, “Yes, Misha?”
“I want you to know, I’ve been the God damned epitome of grace and respect.”
“I’m not sure all those words are meant to be used together, in a sentence,” sighed Charlotte, “but your efforts are definitely appreciated. See you in five.” Omandi tapped her command chair’s communications panel. “Karishma, our guest is on her way, why don’t you join us?”
Chao stood to Charlotte’s right while Damien, James, Annchi, Karishma, and Linnea were several steps behind them both. The mag-lift chimed and Charlotte whispered, “Here we go.” The Nerr’ath android walked forward but kept her right hand on Misha’s left shoulder for support.
Omandi raised a hand. “Welcome aboard the TSS Bladerunner, Chief Xenologist Salmix.” Charlotte kept her expression neutral as reptilian eyes seemed to take her measure.
After several seconds, the alien said something. Charlotte glanced back at Linnea. “She says, she is not Salmix. Hang on, sir, I’ll patch in the synchronous translator I’ve been training. It’s not perfect, but I’ll correct any mistakes.” Sorenson moved to the right and sat in front of her communications console. She worked for a moment, then said, “We should be good.”
Charlotte nodded then said, “If you do not wish to be addressed as Salmix, then how shall we address you?”
The alien lowered its hand from Misha’s shoulder and took a step forward. “I am an enforcement avatar for the Confederation Diaspora Act of 2842. Your vessel has proven capable of both withstanding a Level 3 multi-variant attack, and eliminating the source of that attack, despite it originating from a well fortified position. You have successfully completed the Trial of Strength.”
Omandi felt everyone except Misha and Chao, begin to relax when the alien continued. “Your vessel has used a modified singularity gate with localized dark matter anchor points to demonstrate faster-than-light travel. In addition, we have detected a secondary FTL drive that uses the theoretical warping of space-time to achieve FTL outcomes. As such,” concluded the avatar, “you have successfully completed the Trial of Speed.”
Charlotte let out a breath but couldn’t shake what felt like a nagging weight in her stomach. She nodded at the avatar, and said, “Thank you for confirming our success. While we disagree with the premise behind your Confederation Diaspora Act, on behalf of our species, I am hopeful we can now find a productive path forward.”
“That will not be possible
,” said the Avatar evenly. “Your species’ successful completion of Strength and Speed has been invalidated due to interference by the criminal Nerr’ath Salmix. This vessel’s capabilities exceed acceptable parameters and must be eliminated concurrent with sentient life on the associated species’ home planet.”
Misha’s HID weapon was already in her hand as the avatar completed its last sentence. A soft glow began to seep between the weaves of fabric near the avatar’s waist. Omandi’s eyes widened in alarm as several pieces of disparate information clicked into place. “The mystery organ…it’s been charging up,” she hissed, then yelled, “Lieutenant Sokolov, maximum stun setting now!”
The telltale blue haze of HID stun energy surrounded the alien then seemed to sink into her. She lashed out a hand at the security officer and a bright beam of crackling energy lanced from her hand and into Sokolov. Misha fell to one knee, her face twisting in pain, then thumbed the setting on her HID weapon to maximum and lifted it toward the avatar. Before she could press the trigger another energy discharge leaped from the alien. Misha screamed, as James careened into her, his chest a smoking ruin of blood and burned cloth. He coughed and blood spattered her face. She screamed again, with both fear and impotent rage.
The command deck’s lights shifted to red, a klaxon sounded, and Coleman materialized beside the avatar. His blazing blue eyes swept the room calmly and he said, “Captain, increased energy output has been detected from the alien pod. It has launched three projectiles at Earth, impact in fifteen minutes. The pod is now headed toward the sun, at high velocity, impact in thirty-seven minutes.”
Charlotte felt her world slow and she seemed to drift upward outside of herself. Misha sat with her legs splayed to the side. A dark, blackened gash, cut her from shoulder to hip where the avatar’s energy blast had struck. The wound leaked motes of amber light as she cradled James’ head in her lap and tears dripped onto his expressionless face. Chao’s muscles had tensed and he was in the process of moving toward the avatar. Annchi’s entire body was wreathed in a billowing golden cloud.
Paradigm 2045- Trinity's Children Page 52