Cynthia- Empress of the Stars

by James Patrick Warner

  I had goose bumps joining the red ant welts which Caryn noticed.

  We were still holding each other. We began to loosen our clench. She was smiling at me.

  I looked across and smiled. The rush of feelings for her had not completely dissipated. Of course she could not guess I was her sister. Here sister was dead, so she was told.

  “My name is Cynthia. Since I have a synthetic body it seemed appropriate.”

  “That’s a nice name. Cynthia was my sister’s name. What a coincidence. She died when we were children.”

  “I am your sister.”

  “Well, yes we’ve been close for years, but…”

  “CARYN! I am your really sister. My brain, inside your starship, was your sister’s brain.

  “How? My sister died when she was 11.”

  “That’s what you were meant to believe. Sassy was called a brainship for a reason. It was my brain inside her and I have been with you all these years. I was implanted into the Silver Hornet. I didn’t know it before either, but I’ve always been your sister – brain wise.”

  “You are the brain from the Silver Hornet? The Silver Hornet has always been a brainship… I don’t believe you. You don’t have her brain inside your body now, do you?”

  “No, that’s right. The Parents downloaded me – all of me – into this body. I know a lot more about gun emplacements than being a girl. But thanks to you and your memories I am learning fast.”

  “My memories? All of them? Shit! All right, so you’re a girl. Woman, actually. How can you prove to me that you were the Silver Hornet – my Sassy?

  “Oh, that’s easy. The afternoon your first 1st Mate arrived aboard, you seduced him and screwed his brains out all night and most of the next morning until we had to launch which you delayed twice while having seconds with him. For a new brainship that was one heck of a biological lesson. I was still only eleven years old. I was so surprised, I had no idea humans could mate like that.”

  As we walked across the grassy field toward the shelter I grabbed Caryn’s hand and we walked hand-in-hand, bumping together and laughing about this, that, and the other thing. I loved my big sister. When we got to the tent (and some clothes for me to borrow) she pulled me up and stood facing me in the doorway, face to face and belly to belly.

  “I love you Cynthia. Let’s get dressed and find a ship to replace you.” She kissed me a sisterly kiss and we went to her clothing trunk.

  Chapter 5.

  Getting to Know Me

  We spent several days together, just the two of us, no Parent voices, no other sentient interference. She showed me everything she could think of about being a woman. Since I had her memories, I was often startled to tell her about a time from her past that she had forgotten, for better or worse. I noticed immediately that I had much faster recall of my distant past than she did. And I never forgot anything she told me. So in a few short days, she felt that we were ready to face the world.

  During the time we were getting to know each other better, the Silver Hornet was being fitted with an innocuous computer control system and the fuel factory on Caryna 5 was being prepared for operations. When it became time for me to choose a new ship, we packed up the shelter and waited for an alien egg shaped pod.

  I spoke to the Hornet for Caryn and she, of course, listened in. I was so fast, she didn’t pick up anything from my thoughts except some sort of mental blur. But of course! I could think in binary or machine language!

  The repaired lander from the Hornet appeared in front of us and we both got in. Caryn had loaned me a spare pair of slippers to wear until we could get to her clothes in the Hornet. We were some sight - goddesses from the past and future.

  In the meantime, events did not stand still. There were apparently a few ships from the Admiralty headed our way, as Caren had been warned by Station 3. The Hornet was picking them up on Meph’s equipment. I wandered about the ship in a state of constant animation, asking the Hornet this and that, enjoying, I suppose, this new look at the ship from the outside of the inside, if you know what I mean.

  We went to Station 142 to pick up our new ship, since none of the ships at Caryna were operational. Caryn and I had several lengthy discussions about what type of ship we should take. I reminded her that the ship would have to serve as a normal scout, as well as a home away from home for us. We touched on that a little bit, as I knew she was not going to be staying with me for the next two hundred years. But it was a touchy subject and neither of us was prepared to confront separating right after making such a great friendship. So we concentrated on the task of choosing a starship.

  At Station 142 the choice was more limited, but still plentiful. Some of the ships previously not available had been made operational and it was hard deciding. Caryn was leaning toward a smaller ship due to the advantages of stealth should we get in a jam. But with the possibility of three (or more?) people on board, a ship the size of the Hornet would not be big enough for a lengthy stay. And a Scoutship Captain was dedicated to a very lengthy stay with his/her ship.

  Also, we wanted to be sure that our new ship was technologically up to par. Caryn wasn’t knowledgeable enough yet to make the decision in that area, but I certainly was. I knew the specifications of every starship in the Admiralty as well as those I had studied here when in dry dock. So she bowed to my wisdom.

  What we finally decided on was a very interesting ship. Very long and slender, it was designed for atmospheric penetration at near light speed. It was narrower, but three times as long as the Hornet and thus had slightly more room inside. It was a military-type craft fully armed with a wide variety of weapons. I told Caryn she could easily install Meph’s devices with the help of Station 142 into the new ship and that otherwise it was much more powerful than the Hornet. And Caryn had to admit it was impressive to look at. It reminded me of one of the Admiralty’s light cruisers. And of course, it was dark gray, like all the Parents’ starships.

  We supervised, as much as we were allowed to, the modification of the interior. There had to be quarters for three and a guest, a bio-lab, a second bridge, chairs and Meph’s equipment and knick-knacks he had left, anticipating a return to Caryn’s command, no doubt. She was pleased that he left so many things with me. In the middle of all this, the Admiralty’s fleet arrived at Caryna and we were millions of miles away. So, the Hornet being properly gutted, with most of Meph’s equipment transferred to our new ship, we prepared a “gift” message and sent her back to Caryna to be “discovered” orbiting Caryna 3, just before the Admiralty’s fleet got within detector range of the orbit we had chosen. She was sad to see the Hornet go, knowing we would never see her whole again. But surprisingly for her, I was not sad at all.

  “Do you feel any loss, sis?”

  “No Caryn. I thought I might, but aside from a brief pang, it seems that it’s more like a snake shedding its old skin than loss of anything significant. I do miss the sensors, but through my implant I can pick up pretty much the same thing once this ship is finished. By the way, what do you want to call her?”

  “Now that’s a very good question. Since you and I are going to be her first passengers, I was thinking something, well, feminine might be appropriate. But I can’t think of anything. I’m still missing the Hornet.”

  “Well, we have a culture memory of witches and magic and this ship will seem like magic to many people, what name seems to fit?”

  “Right!” she exclaimed, interest pulling her from the possibility of a blue mood from the loss of the Hornet. “Witchcraft, oh. Witchcraft! That’s it! Witch Craft. Get it?”

  I laughed my throaty laugh which would someday soon (I hoped) get men into serious trouble. “Yes, Caryn! I do get it. That’s a great idea!”

  So the new ship became Witchcraft. It seemed to be very appropriate. The ship even had the look of magic. And there was a cloaking device, which as she had recently told Meph, was thought to be popular only in science fiction.

  I kept our technological edge, my si
ster, and plenty of toys for Meph. So now it was time to return to Caryna and face the Admiralty’s wrath. Witchcraft had been monitoring happenings and my communication had been found and relayed back to HQ. It was time for us to make our entrance.

  A quick check showed that Witchcraft was ready for space. We had power for 1000 years and enough weapons to blow the entire Admiralty fleet out of space. And Caren had her gut feeling that we would never have to use even half the capabilities of this ship. She told me it was a very warm, comfortable, secure kind of gut feeling.

  I took over the First Mate’s desk, Caryn sat in her old comfortable Captain’s chair, brought over from the Hornet, and we left Station 142 for Caryna. Caryn finished her required survey of Caryna thanks to Sassy and Witchcraft and still had a month left on her year’s sabbatical. She intended to fill it with adventure. I was sure the Admiralty would be happy to oblige. But there was a nagging thought almost buried in the back of Caryn’s mind that I picked up on: where is Meph?

  Chapter 6.

  The Hostile Fleet

  We scanned the “fleet” as we faded in at the Caryna System. We decided not to go in cloaked, as that would be a nice trump card to save. I had to give the group Vice-Admiral credit, only five seconds after we appeared on their scanners, they all had their screens up and were battle ready. Pretty good reaction.

  Since the Witchcraft’s screens were not visible to the Admiralty’s ships, she left them up, while appearing to be in a peaceful mode. We opened communications at once, not wanting to start a firefight.

  “Shit.” Someone in the fleet let go on an open comm line.

  “This is the unregistered starship Witchcraft, Captain Caryn McDowell in command. Your group has entered my system option claim. Please state your name and purpose, Vice-Admiral.”

  “Ah, Captain McDowell. How kind of you to drop in. This is Vice-Admiral Smythe, commanding the Frigate Epsilon III. Let’s not beat about the bush. We are here to secure your Scoutship Silver Hornet for study at the Admiralty’s star base Beta 32. My orders are to make whatever arrangements are required to accomplish this transfer of ownership. We are prepared to offer you a replacement ship of your choice from the fleet shipyards at Oberon.”

  “Thank you, Vice-Admiral Smythe. Let’s go aboard the Hornet and discuss this further. I will bring my witness and you may bring whomever you please who will fit in the dining room.” With that, Cynthia and I called the pod from the Hornet and boarded it for the short ride back. I also instructed the Witchcraft to stay out of trouble and to allow no boarders except us. I was hoping this was not going to be too difficult.

  We faded into the Hornet’s docking bay a few minutes before the Vice-Admiral’s shuttle docked, so we had time to get ready. The Hornet was a stranger to Caryn now, although I knew her very well indeed. They conversed on our internal comm link while I made a space for the meeting in the galley.

  When the Vice-Admiral’s shuttle had docked, his entourage was rubbernecking like mad. None of them had ever seen this ship before and Caryn’s reputation and stories about the lavish money she spent renovating had surely preceded her. She waited by the corridor entrance, letting them get their eyes full. Two of the five-man entourage walked over to the pod and brushed it with great awe. I knew what they were thinking: here was a working Ancient Artifact.

  The Vice-Admiral spotted Caryn and, calling his men to him walked over. “Captain McDowell. I read the reports and all your mission information, but it’s still difficult to assimilate all this,” he stated as he waived generally to the engine bulkhead and the pod.

  Perhaps this wasn’t going to be as difficult as we had thought.

  “Captain,” the Witchcraft called Caryn. “There is a large fleet of ships, count forty-three, approaching the system in hyperspace. I estimate their arrival in ten minutes. I am monitoring them and will tell you if there is a problem. At present the ships here are forming a loose globe around me. Your position is not threatened. I can handle these, but from Cynthia’s comments I presume you will want to avoid a direct confrontation at this time. Therefore I have dispatched another pod to the Hornet for you, should you wish to make an escape.”

  “Thank you Witchcraft.”

  ‘Well, well, well. All this politeness is a pretense, after all,’ I thought.

  “Cynthia,” Caryn called on our mental comm line, “we don’t have many forces operational yet and the only way I can be sure to protect things here is to lead these guys on a wild goose chase. Let’s leave as soon as possible and return to the Witchcraft to make our exit.”

  “I was just thinking the same thing, Caryn.”

  I kept the four attachés occupied with stories of the Hornet’s conversion and specifications. Caryn sat with the Vice-Admiral and signed over the Hornet with a clear conscience. She knew and he didn’t, that all the vital information on the Hornet had already been placed in public domain at the Galactic University Library that would keep the Admiralty from the information blackout they would so covetously desire.

  We had prepared the Hornet for a quick escape. All we had to do was tell her that magic word TREASON and all the lights would go out. Caryn’s and my eyes could easily make out the way back to the hangar and the Witchcraft’s pod. From there we would be safe.

  The moment Caryn had completed signing the transfer documents, the Vice-Admiral’s men pulled their guns on us.

  “Captain McDowell, you are being detained until we can ascertain the purpose of the alien ship you arrived in,” Smyth informed her. What a joke!

  “TREASON,” we yelled. The lights went out, Caryn and I each kneed one of the men blocking the doorway and out we ran, down the hall to the pod awaiting us.

  We jumped into the pod, a slightly larger version of the Hornet’s pod and it vanished from the bay, appearing a moment later aboard the Witchcraft’s docking bay. At that moment, as we were running to the bridge twenty feet down the aisle, the Witchcraft rocked gently from someone’s trigger happy reflexes. Sure enough, the view screens showed that we were indeed under fire. Nothing serious, just tentative needle jabs from one of the Vice-Admiral’s ships to see if we were indeed vulnerable. The fact that the needle jabs were bounding back at the firing ships took a few moments to register on their fire control officers before they broke off their attack.

  We watched the Vice-Admiral’s shuttle scurry back to his Frigate, leaving the Hornet for the moment out of things.

  “Good bye, Silver Hornet,” I said.

  “Hornet, you are no longer under my command. You will take your orders from Vice-Admiral Smythe or whomever he turns command over to in the future.”

  “Aye, aye, Captain McDowell,” she said. A tear dropped from Caryn’s blue eye. I wasn’t so emotionally attached. The Hornet moved over toward the Vice-Admiral’s ship.

  Meanwhile he was calling Caryn. Had a lot of balls, that guy did.

  I automatically took control of the Witchcraft’s weapons system and she proceeded to play politics. I opened the channel to His Outrageousness.

  “Vice-Admiral, your hostile activities have placed you in a state of war with me as sole proprietor of this star system. I suggest you cease hostilities at once and call the approaching fleet off before I get pissed.”

  “Captain McDowell! What are you saying? What fleet?”

  “Please don’t play me for the fool Smythe. Your additional ships will be exiting hyperspace in the orbit of my fifth planet in 27 seconds. Shall we wait for them?”

  Smythe sputtered for a moment, then glared hatefully at us. He made some gesture I couldn’t see in the video and one of his other ships fired at us again, this time an atomic. I just didn’t understand what his game was, then all of a sudden it hit me. He didn’t know Caryn had already finalized her claim here. He thought, as probably some did in the Admiralty, that if they could finish us now, before her year was up, the claim would become invalid. What an evil SOB!

  “Cynthia, disable that ship that fired at us. But don’t destroy it.” Ou
r superior weapons cut right through their shields and put a gaping hole in their engine compartment. Sensors indicated that they were immediately dead in space, without any casualties.

  “Good shooting, Cynthia!”

  “Caryn, I’ve been doing this all my life, you know.”

  “Of course, I forgot. I love you, sis.”

  “And I you, sis.”

  Smythe wanted to talk again, as his fleet emerged from hyperspace exactly where and when Caryn had told him they would. He was still on the screen, although I had blacked our end when the shooting started. She decided to give him one more chance to be human, as he was a superior officer in the Admiralty.