Dark Vengeance (26 page)

“You realize I’m debating this with someone who has already done exactly the same thing I have.”

“Touché.”

“If Fantasia had not needed to take care of business would you have left her behind?”

“To be honest with you, I was glad not to have been forced to figure that out.”

“There’s at least one upside to all this, you know.”

“What are you thinking?”

“Elachia is a wizard at managing people. As a counselor or something similar she’ll care for this crew better than anyone could.”

“I agree.”

“You know, is it possible you’re actually a little envious since Fantasia is not here?”

“May be…”

R.J. took another sip. “There’s a reason I have mentioned this at this particular time.”

“I suspected that.”

“Her shuttle is arriving in the shuttle bay as we speak.”

“And you know that because you are linked to her and she’s telling you that.”

“Yes.”

Suddenly an intercom from somewhere in the room sounded. “Main hanger to Captain Tarn.”

I saw no indicator lights flashing anywhere and no other controls to activate, so I took a chance and called out. “Go ahead.”

“Captain, this is shuttle bay coordinator Lieutenant Arnes. The shuttlecraft Archimedes is arriving. They have an unscheduled passenger requesting to come aboard. The only identification is Elachia.”

“Welcome her aboard, Lieutenant. Sorry for the surprise notice. Tell her Commander Smith is on his way to meet her.”

“Aye, Sir.”

R.J. put down his drink and stood. “Thanks,” he said.

I nodded and smiled, and watched him hurry out.

Chapter 16

Another half glass of Blue Culatta was necessary to consider R.J.’s argument. I looked inward for Fantasia and found her checking in at headquarters on the surface of Enuro. She would have three days of debriefing before taking a hovercraft to her castle home where an elaborate reception was being planned. She wished me well, with love.

No, I could not have left her behind.

Glass in hand, I went to my virtual bridge room and faced the ship’s emblem concealing the command code safe in the wall. It recognized my face, switched on, and the well-decorated wall emblem slid aside. A small display screen wanted my hand print. It liked it.

A female voice cooed at me. “Please count backward from ten. …Voice analysis confirmed. Stand perfectly still for eye scan. …Eye scan confirmed.”

I began to fear it would ask to see notable scars.

“Have you ever served aboard the Electra before?”

“Yes.”

“Correct. What was your rank?”

“Chief Security Officer.”

“Correct. When visiting Enuro, what is your favorite drink?”

That one had to be someone’s idea of a joke.

“Blue Culatta.”

“Correct.”

And the safe popped open.

There were two mean-looking little gold-trimmed tablets inside along with a new wrist communicator almost too large for my liking. It had no less than two display screens apparently for wrist conference calls. I turned to take my treasures back to the couch and the female voice threatened, “Safe will not close until tablets are returned.”

I placed the wrist communicator and tablet displaying a large “2”
on the table and began to study. Tablet 1 opened to a description of the ship’s new computer control system. It was somewhat alarming. There were 15 major computer systems, each of which could be verbally accessed either separately, or through the central computer system by use of the command term: Central. On a whim I looked up and called out, “Central…”

“Yes, Captain?”

The voice was soft, male, and brisk, similar to the legendary HAL 9000 series computer depicted by Kubrick, but with less passivity. This voice sounded more alert and prepared.

“Cancel.” I replied.

Every individual computer system onboard had an access command name. They all needed to be committed to memory for quick direct access to that system in an emergency. Environmental was: Envi. Artificial gravity was: Gravi, and so on. When accessing a specific system, Central still automatically engaged to monitor the exchange.

Needless to say, within tablet 2, there were sixteen Captain’s pass codes, the sixteenth being for autodestruct. That last one took me by surprise. I had never served aboard a ship that I could destroy with a mere voice command. The pass codes were long, so long the requirement for memorization worried me. The codes were critical to quickly alter settings within each of the individual systems, a privilege reserved for the Captain only, or in his absence the Executive officer. I resigned myself to the task.

After an hour of playing very serious memory games, I looked up and for the first time realized just how much my situation had improved since the Star Seven magical mystery tour. There was a spike of gratitude to Providence followed by a spell of wonder at my luxurious surroundings. Returning to twenty-four hour days was making the time pass more quickly. I resumed testing myself and when the mind finally refused any further discipline, I leaned back and called out. “Central…”

“Yes, Captain?”

“Are there any scheduled duties I am required to complete at this time?”

“No, Captain. The previously approved duty roster and scheduled work operations will remain in effect for the next three days unless you intercede. Do you require a readout of those schedules?”

“Central, is Commander Smith in his quarters?”

“Yes, Captain. He is with guest Elachia. Human resources will require additional security data concerning Elachia at her earliest possible convenience.”

“I’ll make certain that information is provided. Is work on Electra still on schedule for our departure?”

“All operational milestones for separation from space dock are six hours ahead of schedule, Captain. Operations schedules do not include crew readiness, however.”

“What variables presently affect crew readiness?”

“Permanent leadership assignments have not yet been submitted. When that requirement has been completed, crew readiness evaluations will be performed.”

“And those assignments are up to me?”

“The Captain or others designated by the Captain are responsible for crew assignments.”

“But you do have profiles on every crew member, correct?”

“Yes, Captain. Individual personnel profiles are updated hourly.”

“Central, is there anything else I should be doing right now that I am not?”

“Captain, social service directives suggest you should sleep.”

It made me laugh. I looked over at my bedroom area. It looked very inviting. I paused for a moment to again consider where I was. The pleasantness of my surroundings was beginning to win me over. It seemed like R.J. and I had gone from a death sentence to Shangri-la, at least for now. The last time I was aboard Electra that trip had also become a nightmare. Now it felt like Electra was welcoming me back and thanking me. There was a sudden, momentary flush of pure joy, something long overdue. I took my drink to the bed and placed it on the simulated mahogany night stand. I rolled onto the soft gold colored quilt and stared at the indirect lighting as it automatically dimmed. I did not want to sleep. I fought it. I did not want this moment to end. Sleep persevered.

I awoke hours later with Fantasia wrapped around me. Her left arm was across my chest and her left leg thrown across mine. A lock of her hair tickled my cheek. Her perfume was mesmerizing. She was dreaming that we were riding horses on her estate. We were racing up a hillside. At the top was a view overlooking the lake. Her deep eyes suddenly fluttered open and she smiled at me and love making began. It was a very slow, methodical bonding that climaxed seemingly forever. I tipped my head up to find she was not really there. She smiled at me from within, hooked the arm and leg over again and we both went back to sleep.

The word ‘breakfast’ awakened me. Had someone asked me if I wanted breakfast? I turned my head and saw R.J.’s face staring back at me on my wrist communicator on the night stand.

“Well? Breakfast in thirty minutes since you’re not even up yet?”

“What?”

“Breakfast. We neglected to eat at all yesterday, busy as we were. Food, hot, possibly poultry-related.”

“Your place or mine?”

“How about the Captain’s dining room since they’ve gone to all that trouble to install one.”

“Captain’s dining room?”

“Follow your nose. See you in thirty.”

I sat on the end of the bed and realized I had slept in my formal-occasion uniform. It was well branded. The shower booth was easy to find. There did not seem to be any water restriction warnings. There were mirrored doors for the closet on one wall, but no dresser drawers to be found anywhere within the dark wood grain that covered everything. I wondered if it was too much to hope that casual apparel might be waiting for me in the closet. The mirrored door slid open to reveal six more formal uniforms, a dozen different one-piece zip-up flight coveralls, and an assortment of civilian clothes. Then I noticed drawers had suddenly lit up in the wood grain panel next to the closet. Next to them, a panel abruptly slid out. It was a clothes hopper. I dared to wonder if there could be underclothes. A light tap on the top drawer caused it to open. There were all underclothes necessary. For outer-wear I chose the gray coveralls with the least obvious captain’s designations.

The Captain’s mess was easy to find. It was now on level five, adjacent to the Officer’s mess, which was adjacent to the general mess. Captain’s mess was a starkly formal, somewhat narrow room with a long oak table surrounded by plaque-covered walls. R.J. and Elachia were seated at the far end of the well-decorated place-settings, watching me as I entered. It reminded me of a scene from the Mad Hatter.

I avoided the head of the table and sat next to Elachia hoping it would help assure her there were no misgivings about her presence on the Electra. I expected a certain amount of awkwardness but the two of them were having none of it. They were exuding genuine joviality.

“Have you met Muro and Pama?” asked R.J. and he pushed a cup of coffee across the table to me.

“Good morning, you two. No, I can’t say I’ve had the pleasure.”

R.J. leaned forward and spoke as though he were telling gossip. “They are our tutors for Electra. I get Muro …mostly. You get Pama. He’s meeting me and Elachia in my quarters to begin going over the new Electra when we finish here. Can you believe what they’ve done to this ship?”

“Is there a food dispenser around here or something?”

Elachia answered. “A Yeoman came in as soon as we entered. We ordered the breakfast special for you. She’ll be right back.”

“They start with the new deck layouts, Adrian,” continued R.J. “It’s so different you and I would be lost without the wall maps. Elachia is going to take the instruction with me so she’ll be more useful aboard ship.”

A door behind me slid open and an attractive young Yeoman smiled when our eyes met. She placed a huge helping of Earth breakfast in front of me, then served R.J. and Elachia.

“Some of that training will be classified, R.J. I’m sure you know that, Elachia.”

“Of course. I shall make myself scarce for such sessions,” said Elachia.

“You know, on a personal note, could there be a problem here. I mean with the intuitive connections the four of us share.”

“I understand your concerns,” replied Elachia. “Don’t worry. The only information I can receive from Rowland is that which he consciously and deliberately wishes me to know. It is no different than if he went to an associate and verbally gave them the information. And, it’s the same for you and Fantasia.”

“And you’re certain?”

“Of course, and you’ll learn these things yourself with experience.”

We chomped down on our food. It was so good no further discussions could detract us. There was some curly thing on my plate that resembled bacon but was not, but tasted even better. I was eating real eggs, not powdered. It made me wonder what species of eggs they were, but again they were so good there was no stopping.

“So, Elachia and I are headed back to our quarters for schooling. Where’s your next stop, Adrian?” asked R.J.

“Bridge.”

“Ah, yes. I should have guessed that. In your travels you will find the ship to be a jewel.”

“So you’re aboard Earth’s new flagship and you’re an exec to boot, R.J. It sounds as though you’ve been assimilated.” I said.

“Yes, resistance was futile, even though I’m not well suited for it.”

“Oh, I beg to differ. You seemed quite adept at showing the temperament of a Number One when we arrived.”

“Regardless, I have never agreed with Milton. I’d prefer to serve in heaven.”

“Well, to be fair, you should tell Elachia about the time you did serve as Captain.”