Q-Gates
Page 20
Luther placed the cube on the new platform, and Kasie confidently sent the cube on its way.
Minimalist recovered the cube and played it. Kasie’s face projected above a secondary panel. She smiled and said, “Greetings.”
Unexpectedly, Minimalist found himself wrapped tightly in Pia’s slender arms.
The individuals on the outpost and the ships celebrated. They were one step closer to creating domes in new locations for instantaneous journeying between the stars.
20: Commander’s Quandary
Jess chuckled. They might have been communicating via implants, but that didn’t stop Ophelia from applying her considerable acumen.
Ophelia could detect the relief and satisfaction in Jess’s thoughts. The relief most likely was felt for his sister’s safety. The satisfaction would be from solving a critical need of alliance space.
Jess sent.
Ophelia sighed slowly, careful not to communicate it to Jess. What he’d said was fair, but that wasn’t what she wanted to hear.
Jess waited for Ophelia to say more, but she remained quiet.
“Good call with Ophelia?” Lucia asked, tongue in cheek. She’d recently stepped from the refresher and was drying her short hair, while she talked to Jess.
Jess, of course, was momentarily distracted by Lucia’s lack of dress, which he knew to be her intention.
“I was happier fighting the Colony,” Jess complained.
“And I was happier fighting ships,” Lucia retorted, “but those occupations could have gotten us killed. Now we’re administrators. So, let’s talk about what you’ve encountered.”
“Okay, but put some clothes on first, or we won’t be able to have a discussion,” Jess answered.
Lucia laughed, threw the drying cloth over her shoulder, and deliberately swayed her hips as she returned to the sleeping quarters.
When Lucia returned, Jess explained the dilemma.
“Then you’re supposing that the present circumstances with Pyre will result in difficult questions from Tsargit members,” Lucia surmised.
“It’s logical,” Jess replied. “I imagine them asking me about the thoughts of the Pyrean president concerning the addition of Triton gates. Then I’ll update them about Lillian’s condition, which they may not know, and they’ll request Ophelia’s opinion. I’ll be forced to tell them that she’s declined to answer until we resolve the question of financial considerations.”
“That’s if we choose to charge,” Lucia pointed out.
“True. Regardless, the representatives are sure to pursue the question, and I won’t have an answer,” Jess said. “To which they’ll probably reply that I should contact them in the future when I have the answer about fees.”
“If you’ve made a trip to Hyronzy Station to make your announcement about new gates, and you fail to have a complete presentation, they’ll be miffed that you disturbed their schedules,” Lucia concluded.
Jess leaned back in the chair, and the nanites cradled his neck and head. “Alex, Renée, and Julien always planned their meetings with the Tsargit so carefully and craftily,” Jess grumbled. “They never missed achieving their goals.”
“Not true,” Lucia replied. “They did approach the representatives with options in their favor. It gave them the edge when objections were raised.” She slid over Jess’s lap. “So, how do we get you into a better negotiating position?”
“You’re in a good position right now,” Jess smiled.
“Answer the question,” Lucia said. Her tone was tough, but she cushioned it by kissing his forehead.
“I need to talk to Alex,” Jess replied.
“Communicate via messages or request a face-to-face conversation?” Lucia asked.
“This is too complex to resolve through messages,” Jess replied.
“Then ask him to come here,” Ophelia said. She stared into Jess’s eyes to emphasize her recommendation.
“Just like that?” Jess asked. “Ask Alex Racine, a major owner of Omnia Ships, to drop everything and sail here?” It seemed absurd to him.
“Alex lives to solve complicated problems such as this one,” Lucia explained. “Who knows? His fleet could be stationed at Omnia, and he could be bored.”
“Doubtful,” Jess retorted.
Je
ss received a message from Lucia. It was a polite request addressed to Alex, notifying him of their success with the gates and of their dilemma. It asked Renée, Julien, and him to sail to Pyre to resolve a complex problem.
Lucia gave Jess a little time to consider the message. Then she asked, “Did you send it?” When Jess frowned, she stated definitively, “Send it, or I will.”
“Done,” Jess said, after connecting with the controller and releasing the message.
“Good,” Lucia said. “Happy now?”
“Not really,” Jess grumbled. Despite thinking that the request to Alex was needed, he wasn’t comfortable with the presumption that he could ask for that.
“Then let me help you with that too,” Lucia said, bending down to kiss Jess slowly and deeply.
* * * * *
Miriam sent a message. It was broadcast to the outpost, the dome, and the ships, and it announced the arrival of twin Tridents, which carried the investigative teams.
When the teams exited their travelers aboard outpost bays, they were enthusiastically greeted by humans, SADEs, and all manner of aliens.
Kasie managed to amp the audience’s emotion levels by her sendings. The more she was hugged and patted, the stronger her beaming.
Jess sent his sister a warning, as he approached her bay. He could see the loopy expressions on many faces.
Jess and Lucia hung back, enjoying the celebration from a distance.
Pia’s arms hung tightly around Mickey’s neck, and her feet remained off the deck, as her partner slowly swung her in a circle.
Jess sent Luther and Minimalist a private request, and the SADEs made their way through the throng to reach him.
“Your kind continues to impress me,” Jess said to the SADEs.
“Much credit should be given to the humans. They supplied inspiration, which guided us,” Minimalist replied.
“Your analysis and support of the technical details was impressive,” Jess said, with a smile. “That wasn’t what I referenced.”
“You’re most welcome,” Luther said, tipping his head to the side. “We were honored to be of service.” He signaled Minimalist, and the two SADEs made way for the crowd that headed Jess and Lucia’s way.
Minimalist reviewed his time with the teams. The images passed in ticks of time, and he separated those that weren’t specifically associated with the work on the console, lower levels, tool storeroom, or laser pointers.
Minimalist replied.
Luther replied. His interactions with Minimalist during the investigation had led to a decision to adopt the other SADE. Intimate times with humans had taught Luther of the need to help other SADEs become more proficient in understanding the ways of biologicals.
Minimalist considered the conversation with Luther. In retrospect, the commander’s comments didn’t appear as opaque as he’d originally thought. In the immediate need to evacuate at speed, he’d hoisted both Pia and Jodlyne to gain a headstart. In the corridor, he handed off one human to prepare for the exit from the tunnels.
As Minimalist reviewed his actions, he considered everything that he’d done was to maximize an efficient escape from the dome. Until this conversation with Luther, he hadn’t examined his motivation. This was what Luther was indicating. He’d enjoyed the interactions with Pia and Jodlyne. In a time of crisis, he chose to preserve them for future exchanges.
Swiftly, Minimalist adjusted quantities of codes. He gave the impetus he’d analyzed a greater presence within his kernel. Then he sent,
Miriam responded with one word,
As the celebrating individuals approached Jess and Lucia, they flowed around the pair like water in a stream encountering boulders. The greeters left, smiling and grinning, with Edmas and Jodlyne in their wake.
Kasie was still sending. Although, it was more attenuated than when she’d first met the cheering crowd.
At this point, neither Jess nor Lucia felt like chiding her. Jess fiercely hugged his sister.
In reply, Jess kissed his sister’s forehead, hugged her again, and sent,
After a series of hugs and congratulations, Lucia entreated, “Mickey, please put Pia down so the rest of us can hug her too.”
Mickey grinned and reluctantly set Pia on the deck. However, she clung to him, which meant Jess and Lucia slipped under the other arm to embrace her.
As Mickey and Pia headed down the corridor, Jess sent,
The only thing Jess received by way of a reply was Mickey’s roar of laughter.
Chronometers chimed for Jess and Lucia. “Midday meal for those of you who have just arrived and are hungry,” Jess called after the retreating throng. “I hear they’re serving paste.”
That was one of the few times that others dared boo the commander of Outpost One: Resistance.
21: Tech Dilemma
“Apparently, your presence was required,” Julien said to Alex.
The message from Jess Cinders was received mere minutes before Hector’s fleet exited its transit into Crimsa space.
Having been updated by Julien on the outpost’s gate accomplishment, the safe arrival of the Tripper, and the detonation of the moon without loss of life, Alex leaned into the couch and expressed a self-satisfied smile.
The others, which included Renée de Guirnon and Tatia Tachenko, knew Alex was presenting a façade.
Before reaching Omnia from the World of Lights, Alex began experiencing headaches. Medical cleared him of any physiological problems. That left only one influence — his dreams.
Renée shared with Julien and Tatia that she wasn’t receiving images, as she usually did, while Alex and she slept.
Nonetheless, Alex’s headaches worsened. He became irritable and unable to rest unless given a soporific.
One evening, Renée noticed that Alex had entered the refresher nearly a half hour ago. She found him sitting on the floor, and he wa
s staring into space.
“I’ve seen horrible things,” Alex whispered. “Humans and SADEs are in trouble. A ship is lost. A moon or planet explodes.”
“Our fleets are safe, my love. Where are these events going to happen or have they already taken place?” Renée asked gently, kneeling beside him.
“I think they’re in alliance space,” Alex replied quietly. His stare didn’t shift, as if he was visualizing them.
Renée left Alex in the fresher. She urgently sent for Julien and Cordelia, who came on the run.
“We’re transferring from the Freedom to the Our People, and Hector’s fleet will be making for Pyre,” Renée ordered.
“Alex?” Julien inquired.
“Yes,” Renée responded, with a hand slash. She wasn’t prepared to supply details.
“Who transfers?” Cordelia asked.
“Alex, Julien, Tatia, Z, Miranda, and me,” Renée replied quickly. “We transfer in a quarter hour. Make arrangements, Cordelia.”
A traveler shot from the Freedom to the Our People to deliver its six passengers. Immediately, the two fleets separated. Cordelia led Alex’s fleet onward to Omnia, where the Freedom would undergo extensive repairs at the Sardi-Tallen Orbital Platform. Then Hector’s fleet changed course and sailed for Pyre.
Just before the exit into Pyrean space, Tatia regarded Alex and his contented smile, “Julien, have the events that plagued Alex already happened?” she asked.
Julien knew the admiral wanted a timeline comparison between the start of Alex’s headaches and whether the horrendous visions had actually taken place. The SADE regarded Alex, who nodded his assent, which indicated he wanted to know too.
“We transferred to this city-ship before the Tripper would have made Pyre,” Julien replied. “I must search the freighter’s log to determine the time difference. However, we were well on our way here when the dome’s auxiliary power supply destroyed the moon.”
“Then it’s more likely that these are prescient visions and not something else,” Tatia remarked.