REPUBLIC
BETA HYDRI DEFENSE STATION
MISSION DAY: 0 TIME: 12:20
Ty found himself standing in the middle of a tree lined city park filled with people. Out-stretched branches of ancient elms shaded picnicking families and busy people on the sidewalks. Children were chasing one another in play on the park’s manicured grounds. Others intent on their tasks, walked by not noticing him. Overhead the sun shone a friendly bright yellow in a pale blue cloudless sky. A gentle summer breeze blew into his face carrying the scent of flowers mingled with city. The sounds of a thousand conversations inundated him; children squealing in delight, the occasional barking dog plus the distant muted rumble of a large city.
This was the business section. office buildings protruded above the trees tops with their glass and chrome surfaces glinting and sparkling in the sunlight. On the north corner, an ornate red brick and glass bell tower began tolling ten o’clock. In the distance, to the south, he could see the distinctive shapes of shuttles bound for low orbit, lifting off and rising out of sight into the sky.
The longer he stood there the more he could sense. Soon he could hear the quiet conversations of couples whispering, the soft tap of chess pieces being moved, even the sound of birds chirping and insects calling to one another. If he gazed in a direction for more than a few moments, he saw distant blades of grass and leaves waving in the breeze. What he noticed and felt most was the life energy of the people in the park and the city beyond. He felt and experienced the warmth of hands being held and the gentle touch of mothers stroking the backs of their children. This connection left him with a profound feeling of reverence and awe.
He noticed at his feet, a second shadow next to the one cast by the late morning sun. He looked up and saw a bright point of light, like that of a miniature sun. In an instant, it shot down through the sky and over the eastern horizon, shining with such piercing brilliance, he had to close his eyes. The after images of its passing were as a razor straight white rip in the sky.
With everyone else, he looked to the east. A distant line of white appeared on the horizon. As it approached it grew into a wall of white light. The massive shockwave of compressed air was heated to white incandescence, blasting buildings to sand, gravel and fine powdery sawdust as it passed. Before his eyes, every person, every tree, shrub, animal in the park, was atomized instantly into pink and brown mists. It left nothing but scoured rock and foundations.
Overhead the sky grew dark indigo then black as the atmosphere was blown into space behind it. Stars appeared in dazzling brilliance along with the sun.
He looked down at his body and was bewildered when he saw he’d been unaffected by this event. Then he felt a rumbling coming from deep in the ground beneath him. He looked again to the east and saw another approaching shockwave, this one orange and yellow in color. Its passage shattered the ground beneath him. In its wake, the planet’s crust roiled like boiling mud and then disappeared, buried under boiling lava and magma that rose from the depths. Glowing chunks of stone ranging in size from small rocks to small mountains began falling to the ground causing explosions as they slammed into the ravaged surface of the planet around him.
Then they appeared. They were white, wraithlike apparitions of the people he’d seen. They covered the tortured landscape as far as he could see. Turning to him, they pointed their outstretched arms at him. Ty gasped when he saw Lieutenant Commander Andrews and the rest of the people in the command center among them. In unison they called to him in pain laden and accusing tones, “You left us, you could have saved us. Don’t let more die this way.”
He answered back to them, “But I did save you all.”
They wailed back, “No, you let us die. Don’t let more die too.” Ty in that last instant felt the pain and terror they felt as their bodies were destroyed by the shockwave.
He shouted in tormented agony, “NO!!” He held up his hands to shield his eyes from their gaze. Amidst the incessant cries, he pulled his hands away from his face and saw they were covered and dripping in blood. Then the wraiths rushed towards him, their screams rising to a deafening crescendo. He gasped when he saw Amanda among them as they rushed in towards him.
He sat up on the bed, his heart pounding like it would explode out of his chest, the thump-thumping of its beating audible in his ears. Images of the faces appeared in the darkness around him. “Lights,” he croaked. With the coming of the dim lights, the images receded into the dark crevasses of his mind and the shadows of the room. He placed a hand on his chest trying to get control of the pounding. He glanced down and saw no trace of blood. He leaned back on one arm and raised his trembling hand. His forehead wet with sweat.
Stunned, he shook his head and said to the air around him, “That wasn’t just a dream!” The silence of the room was unnerving. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out, saying, “It couldn’t be real.” This did little to convince himself.
He looked at the clock by his bed. It was still a couple of hours before the Congo was scheduled to leave the station. Ty grabbed his ID card and made a call, “Beta Hydri Command Center, this is Ty Weiss.”
Andrews answered, “Hey Ty, glad you called. There’s been a change.”
Ty didn’t say anything, he just sat in silence.
”Is everything ok?”
Ty shook his head no. He looked at his hand again which was still shaking. “I just had a horrific nightmare. It was so real, it has me spooked.”
“Want to talk about it?”
Ty shook his head no. “I want to forget it!” He took a deep breath and felt his heart finally slow down. “I think I’ll be OK. There’s no way I’m sleeping again for a while.”
“With what you’ve just been through, I’m not surprised. But suit yourself, however; you might want to consider talking to a shrink if they persist.”
“Another dream or two like that and I won’t need a therapist. You’ll need a mortician.”
Andrews gave a subdued chuckle, but there was real concern in his voice.
Ty wiped his face with his hand. “So, what’s the change?”
“Congo just got reassigned, flash orders from the fleet. She pushed out a few minutes ago.”
“I really had my heart on seeing a larger ship. I guess that means I get to chill here for a few days?”
“I wouldn’t get too comfortable, fleet said to get you to Nova Terra ASAP some other way, so I’m looking for another ride for you.”
Ty chuckled. He had just the solution. “Relax, I can go in the LightJammer. Remember, it’s my ship now.”
“Heh, I’d forgotten about that. Chief Sanborn was headed to Nova Terra, too. He got bumped as well, got room for him? Like you, his orders say to get to Nova Terra the fastest possible way.”
Ty thought of the back cabin of the LightJammer and how it was configured. He smiled as he shook his head. “There’s room for him. He may not like it, not the way it’s rigged right now.”
“Oh yeah, the smell!” Ty and Andrews both laughed.
“Well, he’s a big boy and a married man. I think he can handle the cabin for a few hours.”
Andrews snickered. “I caught a whiff of that scent. The pheromones in it are sure potent.”
“They are indeed. Let me call Toni and get it set up.”
“Sure thing. Command clear.”
Ty set his ID on the bed beside him and thought about Toni and the LightJammer. He still couldn’t believe her dad had offered him her hand in marriage as a reward for saving the lives of his family. In the end, the old man had given him the LightJammer. Ty felt more like the proverbial dog that caught the car when he thought of owning the sleek hotrod of a ship that was the LightJammer. He decided, this was one way to make that dream more real. He grabbed his ID card and placed a call. “Antonia Belutoni, this is Ty Weiss.”
There was no answer. She didn’t answer until after his third call. “Hi Ty.” Ty could hear loud dance music playing in the back ground and that she was shouting over it.
“I have a charter trip for you.”
“A what?”
Ty spoke louder almost shouting into the card, “I have a charter for you.”
“I still can’t hear you. Just a sec.” He could hear the music continue to play in the background and heard her talking to several other people. From the sound, he could picture her walking somewhere quieter. At last, the music went away. “Ok. I’m in a hush booth,” she said. “We’re you asking about a charter?” There was a trace of disbelief in her voice.
“Yes. I need you to make a quick trip to Nova Terra, carrying two people.”
“How much are you charging? Charter runs aren’t cheap. Transit fees in core systems not to mention operational costs are going to be,” she paused a second. Ty figured she was estimating the cost in her head. “About two thousand credits per person for a round trip.”
“This would be one way for both.”
“Well double it then, because we’d be deadheading the ship back here.”
Ty was surprised. “It costs that much?”
She came back instantly, “It sure does. Transit fees alone are five thousand credits for a core system like Nova Terra. Add to that power costs and the amortization of inspections fees. It adds up quickly.”
Ty shook his head, he was the one in disbelief now. “I guess. Well, the fleet will pick up the cost.”
“Sweet! We usually charge double or more for those runs since there’s so much paperwork and delay between the trip and when they finally pay. Who am I carrying anyway and when do we need to go?”
“Who, is easy, me and Chief Sanborn.”
She laughed a full bellied laugh. “I won my bet!” she shrieked.
“What?”
She took a minute to settle down. “My dad said it would be less than a week and you’d be asking for a ride in the ship. I told him, it would be less than two days. He laid a hundred note on you traveling in a week.” She laughed again. “I doubled down saying it would be in less than two days and doubled that if it was today. So let me guess, you do want to leave right away, right?” He smiled at the less than subtle encouragement in her voice.
“Yeah, actually I do.”
“Woo hoo! You made my day! Tess is docked at level three port two. Grab Sanborn and get there. I’ll arrive in a few minutes myself. We can push as soon as the two of you are aboard.”
“That fast?”
“When that kind of money is on the table, we move quickly to keep our customers happy, plus we haven’t been docked that long, the system will come up pretty fast. And since you’re the owner, I can push off those Persian ice miners. I can get you there and back in less than a day, so I can still carry them. It does mean one of you has to ride in the back.”
“Heh. We’ll have to discuss that. Anyway, I’m getting the Chief. You get the ship ready to go. See you in a few.”
“Remember, level three, port two.”
Ty called back to Andrews. “Command, Ty Weiss.”
“Hi Ty,” said Andrews. “Got a ride?”
“Yes and one for the Chief too. Round him up and send him to level three port two.”
Andrews said, “Ok. By the way, I’ve got something for you.”
“Oh?”
“The REACT made a final sweep through the debris field of the Adventurer while you were sleeping. They found your notebook floating several miles from where the Adventurer was. It has a trace of your DNA on it.”
Ty stopped in mid stride. “My notebook? How can that be?”
“Beats me. The only possible explanation is that someone threw it away from the ship when they realized what was about to happen.”
Ty went back to his last moments on the Adventurer when they opened the emergency evacuation port prior to his leaving the ship. He could clearly see her haggard face towards the end of their ordeal and how tired she must have been. He thought of the tense hours they’d spent trying to save the ship from the Alliance’s relentless pursuit. He was sad for her death, but he felt finally, she was at peace. She was the only other person on the ship who knew how important the information on the notebook was. He was grateful he’d known her. She was a trooper to the very end of her life. "Sir, my guess is chief Anderson threw it away from the ship through an emergency evacuation portal.”
“What’s on a notebook that would be so valuable?”
“It’s a program she and I developed. Can you get it to me?”
“Sure! I’ve got it with me. We’ll just have you gate in here on your way to the LightJammer.”
“Thanks, sir.”
He jogged back to the bathroom and collected his boots and gloves where he’d left them before showering and taking a nap. By the time he had them on, he could hear the gate shimmer to life. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror. Ice blue eyes under crew-cut-short, sandy hair in a face defined by its sharply chiseled chin, looked back at him. There were also rings of fatigue around his eyes. Yet, a lifetime of laboring for his step father a brick maker left him with wiry thin but incredibly strong arms and muscles. He smiled briefly thinking of how many times he’d turned down offers from the fleet to be a model for recruiting posters. He turned to the door and jogged through the sitting area, towards the gate. Andrews stood by the gate holding his notebook in his hand. He took it from him once he got through.
“Level three is actually two hundred feet below us,” explained Andrews. “There’s an elevator down the hall outside the entry to the command center here. It’ll get you to level three. Just follow the signs to the dock. Got it?”
Ty nodded. “I guess this really is it.”
Andrews stuck out his arm, “Good luck.”
“You too, sir,” with that, they shook and Ty headed out the command center towards the elevator. When Ty got to the docking port, he recognized Toni and Chief Sanborn but not the regal looking woman standing next to the chief. She was the Chief’s height, nearly six inches taller than Ty. They were both wiry thin and both had silvered hair. His was short like Ty’s, her’s would’ve been shoulder length, but she’d had it pulled into an intricately braided pony tail.
They were standing with Toni talking and laughing together. Toni saw Ty coming down the hall and waved enthusiastically at him as he approached them. When the chief and the woman turned towards Ty, he noticed they were holding hands. The chief was in a sharply pressed fleet space suit. His gloves were resting on the duffle bag at his feet. She was wearing a light satiny sheer blue colored tunic with iridescent highlights and brown leather high-heal boots. As Ty drew close to them, he could see the Chief’s eyes were grey and hers were aquamarine blue.
“Hi Chief,” said Ty as he stopped in front of them.
The chief, smiled at him and motioned at the woman with his free hand. “Ty, this is my wife, Dottie.” He looked into Dottie’s eyes and said with a smile, “Dots, this is the officer I told you about. The one who stopped the missile attacks.” Her smile lit up enough to illuminate the room. She dropped his hand and reached to give Ty a hug. Instinctively, he returned it. A faint rose and lilac scented perfume washed over him as she did.
She whispered into his ear, “Thanks for saving us all, especially my Jim.” She pulled away from him giving him another warm smile. She grabbed his hands with hers and gave them a gentle squeeze before taking the Chief’s hand again.
“You’re welcome, I ah…” stammered Ty.
Toni laughed softly. “See what I meant, Ty?”
Ty glanced at Toni. She was still wearing the jeans and scoop necked blouse she’d worn when they’d met in Tillies several hours earlier.
In the light of the passenger waiting area of the docking port, Ty could see her hair was actually a dark walnut color. He was wasn’t too surprised to see her hair matched her eyes. She was shorter than she seemed on the ship, her head barely came up to his eyes. She also had the face and figure which would never need the help of a pheromone to get men aroused. What surprised him most was how young she looked. He couldn’t pinpoint what it was about her, but she exuded a vivacious energy.
He conceded her point with a friendly nod. Ty glanced at her and at Dottie then the chief. “Hey, I have an idea, Mrs. Sanborn…”
“Call me Dots please,” she answered.
“Dots?” asked Ty questioningly.
She gave a soft laugh. “My name is Dorothea Annabella Lynn. It’s such a stuffy mouthful, I prefer being called ‘Dots’ by my friends.”
“Very well, Dots. As owner of this fine vessel we’re about to embark on, it would be my pleasure to have you come along with us to Nova Terra. After we’re dropped off, Toni can have you back in a day.” He gestured at Toni invitingly who first looked surprised then pleased with the offer.
“It would be great fun. We can keep each other company on the return trip,” offered Toni.
Jim turned to her, “Come on Dots, it’s just a day. The store will wait.”
She gave him a serious look, but his plaintive expression melted her resolve. The adoring look in her eyes as she looked at the Chief touched Ty. She relaxed a bit then relented. “I guess.” A twinkle came to her eyes. “Sure, why not! That’s a well trained mess down there in the shop. It’ll stay right where I left it.” Everyone laughed.
A mischievous twinkle lit up Toni’s eyes. “Gotta warn ya Dots, the cabin configuration is rather interesting.” Ty immediately thought of the scent and the pheromones and how hard he had to fight its effect to not see Toni as a sex object. He briefly wondered what it would be like to not have to resist its effect and let his desires for his wife Amanda to run unchecked.
“Oh?” The older woman gave her a concerned look but seemed mollified by Toni’s smile.
“You’ll see what I mean in a moment. Let’s get aboard. We’re burning time.”
Ty said, “Lead on.” Toni headed for the portal and tapped a series of numbers in a keypad. The inner door opened revealing the tube to the ship. While Ty knew what to expect when the fragrance and the pheromones hit him, he still found it hard to stay focused. He saw Toni was concentrating too. The Chief and Dots had completely different but reactions Ty expected. The chief dropped his duffel at the hatch and turned to look at Dots, desire written all over his face. She returned the look with an equally intense desire. Soon they were in a close embrace, swaying slowly, rhythmically side to side. Ty felt more than a little pang of jealousy as he watched the chief’s hands slowly, sensuously caress Dot’s thighs, hips and waist.
Dots spoke with a dreamy voice, “Toni, I love this. You guys lock the door. We’ll be fine back here.” Ty and Toni quickly got into the flight deck. The hatch slid closed but not before the sound of Dottie giggling with delicious delight echoed through the small cabin.
Ty and Toni both sat still for a moment grinning at each other, trying to clear their heads of the pheromone’s effect. Toni finally spoke, “Well, that didn’t take long!”
Still grinning, Ty shook his head no, “It sure didn’t.”
“Envious?” asked Toni. She gave him a teasing glance.
Ty shook his head no again. “Well, maybe.” He paused as she gave him a stern, disbelieving look. ”OK, a lot,” he admitted.
Toni gave a wistful sigh. ”Maybe I’ll try that on my honeymoon. Anyway, let’s let them have their fun. I think they’ll be pretty occupied for the trip.”
Ty laughed. “I suppose they will.”
Toni reached in front of him across the console and tapped a couple of commands on the main screen in front of Ty. A checklist appeared on the screen. “Why don’t you help with the preflight, OK? It’ll keep us both preoccupied.”
He pursed his lips and nodded with a faint smile. He had to concentrate to keep from thinking about being in the other cabin with Amanda and appreciated the distraction. “Sure. Thanks,” he said at last.
No comments:
Post a Comment