The Begining (The Navigator Book 1) (7 page)

Becka had been looking over his shoulder and saw how quickly he worked through the plot, and the ruling the computer gave it.

“Holy Shit! How in hell did you get past the gravity equations that fast?” She asked, amazed.

“I didn't. The trick to heavy gravity is in the temporal equation and exit vector. If you calculate the gravity at the specific point and vector of our exit, at the time of our exit, the rest of it just falls into place and there is harmony,” he explained.

“So what's the verdict, Becka? Is it a good nav?” Shana asked.

“The computer says it's perfect,” Becka said. “Calculated flight time is in the nano seconds. Other than the fact that's supposed to be impossible, it should work."

“Wadda ya think? Should we try it?” Shana asked.

Becka bit her lower lip. “No, we shouldn't. If we did, Jarad would know exactly how good Joe is. Also, Jarad was the one that told everyone that direct navs to the Citadel were impossible to calculate because of the gravity calculations.

“You would lose your ticket for jumping a nav from an untrained navigator. Not to mention that, in the case this nav is wrong, which I doubt, we'd end up in one of the stars. Finally, if we jumped right now, we wouldn't get one more day with you!”

“I can definitely agree with that!” Joe said. “Besides, I was just trying out a hunch anyway. I really don't want to see you get in trouble, Shana."

“Nah, I might get a reprimand, but that's about it,” Shana explained. “However, Becka does have a point about Jarad and the others discovering what you just did. I mean, enough eyebrows are going to be raised simply because Becka got the nav under an hour.”

“I don't get that, I mean if she had gotten the nav time plotted for less than travel time, I could see people wondering. But this?” Joe shook his head. “I don't mean to take away from the achievement for you Becka, but this should be the rule, not the exception.”

Becka nodded her understanding. “Well, that's what they're trying to do at the Citadel with all the training we undergo. However, a less-than-travel-time plot is impossible. It would force a paradox event.”

“No, it wouldn't. Time has its own rules. I bet if we input the plot and set the transit time, instead of letting the equations dictate it, we could get a form of resonance harmony,” Joe explained.

“What are you talking about; what's a resonance harmony?” Shana asked.

“Joe's H-Space sensitivity is aural. He believes he can hear how to plot the course,” Becka explained. She looked at Joe. “Am I right?”

“Exactly right. Wow, beautiful and brilliant!” Joe said.

Shana stuck her tongue out at him. “Suck up!”

“Let's wait to test out your theory on one of the practice terminals. If it works, maybe we can get a drone to test it out. If we did it now, Shana'd be more tempted to do it!” Becka said, winking at the pilot.

“That reminds me, I wanted to ask, how can you jump without having a Navigator on board?” Joe asked.

“Simple, I get the plot from the station’s Navigator,” Shana said. “There simply aren't enough of you to spare for supply runs.”

“That just sounds wrong to me, I mean, how can a remote Navigator plot a course they can't feel?”

Becka looked at him funny. “Joe, I don't feel anything different when I plot a course. Just the normal warping of space-time.”

Joe nodded. “But when you start the plot, you have either an upset tummy, or you are really uncomfortable in some way. I saw you when you were plotting this jump remember. As the solution got clearer, you began to feel better. I bet this time, you actually felt really good when you finished, didn't you?”

“Well, yeah, but I was horny as hell, too. As far as my being uncomfortable, I don't like plotting jumps. I know I'm not that good at it, so I'm always afraid I'm gonna mess up. But once I get focused on the equation and not on my insecurities, I suppose I do feel better, for a time,” Becka explained.

Joe grinned. “I'd bet my next paycheck, what you're feeling isn't anxiety; it's hyperspace talking to you.” 

Becka shrugged. “What do you say we table this discussion for the Citadel, get something to eat, and get back to our games?”

Shana grinned. “Like you'll get an argument outta me!”

Joe let it drop too, he could see Becka was thinking about what he said and it disturbed her. He decided it might be better to wait until they were either alone, or in a better place to talk.

Shana had gotten everyone out of bed, and back into their clothes with minutes to spare. However, just before they arrived at the Citadel, Joe grabbed his head in pain. “Jesus Christ!”

“What's wrong, Joe?” Becka asked, concerned.

“It feels like someone just drove a spike through my brain! How can you stand this?”

Becka was wondering why Joe's nano's hadn't fixed the problem yet when they felt the ship nudge the airlock. “We're here. We'll get you to the med section right away.”

“I think I know what you were saying about a Navigator feeling hyperspace,” Shana said. “I'm not a Navigator, and I can't wait to get the hell away from this place. What's it sound like?”

Joe swallowed past the bile in his throat. “Hell. It sounds like I would imagine Hell sounds. I hope you don't except your return nav from here?”

Shana shook her head. “No, I get it from the orbital at BC IV. Jarad would never allow such a mundane task be performed here.”

“Good, because there's no way any working plot will be coming out of this place. I don't understand how they can even teach in this environment!” Joe said, blinking his eyes in an attempt to clear the spots.

“Becka, I can't stay here. It's too loud!” he said and squeezed his eyes shut. "Shana get me out of here! Please Hurry!” Joe said and stumbled back into the shuttle. When he reached the companion way, he collapsed.

“Becka! Get back here!” Shana ordered. “Leave the gear in the airlock, we're leaving!” She slammed the airlock closed on the surprised faces of the dock crew, and ran for the bridge.

She jumped into her chair, and flipped all the switches that brought the ship back to life. “Citadel control, this is shuttle four-niner-one-one. Requesting emergency departure clearance!”

“State the nature of your emergency, four-niner-one-one,” a calm voice said from the speakers.

“Medical emergency with a Navigator, caused by proximity to the Citadel. Patient is currently unconscious and was complaining of a severe headache. We need to be gone ASAP.”

“Shuttle four-niner-one-one, open your airlock to allow medical personnel on board. Disposition of patient will be decided then,” Control ordered.

“Bullshit! I'll let your medic on, but we are leaving here right after that; with or without your clearance,” Shana said and thumbed the airlock control. On one of her screens, she saw three medics run aboard.

Shana immediately shut the airlock and sealed it, then lifted away from the landing platform. Turning, she applied full power to the thrusters to put as much distance between her ship and the Citadel as she could.

Toggling through the stored navs, she selected the course for the BC VI orbital and locked it in. She engaged the magnetic shields, got up and left the cockpit to see how Joe was doing.

She didn't have far to go. The medics and Becka had gotten Joe up on the table in the common room. His shirt was missing, and he had several electrodes placed on his chest and head.

“How is he?” Shana asked.

“What the fuck?” one of the medics said. “Lenny, can you check this?”

Becka came over to Shana so talking wouldn't interfere with the medics. “They said the nano's shut him down to prevent a massive stroke. They reported that his inter-cranial blood pressure was almost twice the safe limit.”

“Do they know what the hell caused it?” Shana asked.

Becka snorted. “They have no idea, but it had to be the 'noise' of the Citadel. What I don't get though, is it should have affected him the closer we got to the place, and it didn't seem to.”

“Excuse me, Ladies,” the head medic said. “The nano's report that his blood pressure has returned to normal. I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. You're right on both counts, Navigator. But now the question becomes, what made the situation change so radically, so quickly? As you said, we are still very close to the Citadel, so if that were the cause, then he should still be in danger.”

“I have no idea what it could be. We were putting along just fine, then just before docking, he grabbed his head and swore,” Becka said.

Shana looked at her sharply. “How much before we docked?”

“Just a few moments really,” Becka said. “Do you have an idea?”

“The ship's shields. I turned them off just before docking, and then I turned them on again just before I came back out here,” Shana said.

“What kind of shields?” the medic asked.

“Broad-spectrum, electromagnetic fields. They keep us from getting cooked by all the radiation outside,” Shana explained.

“I'm Doctor Lenard Symms. I've been doing some research into how to protect Navigators as well as others from the effects of hyperspace exposure. We've always been trying different metal alloys. It simply didn't occur to any of us that a normal magnetic shield would work. May I ask what our current course is?”

“BC IV orbital first, then dirt-side. The only reason I was going to the Citadel was to drop off these two. The rest of my cargo is for the planet,” Shana replied.

“I'd like to use your sub-link if I may, Captain. I'd like to see if I can help this man, but I'll need to take him down to my lab.”

“Certainly, Doctor. It's in the cupboard right beside the replicator,” Shana replied, pointing.

After a few minutes on the comm, Dr. Symms had permission to transport Joe down to his lab on the planet. However, Shana still had to stop at BC IV orbital for an inspection and transfer permission.

Since Joe was still unconscious, she had been hoping to be given clearance without stopping, but even the doctor agreed the stop was necessary. Becka, however, was getting frustrated with the seemingly slow progress. Joe was still out, but the doctors assured her he was stable now.

Once she was docked at the station, Shana took her cargo manifest and met the inspectors at the airlock. Right behind them was a messenger with a note for Becka.

To: Rebecca White, Navigator Third Class, Junior Grade.

From: Harold Hargrave, Personnel Director. Navigational Instruction, Citadel.

MSG begins:

By the order of the Prime, you are to report to the Citadel ASAP for additional training. At present, you are listed as AWOL and are currently subject to censure and/or possible downgrade of ranking within our guild. Report immediately, before further action is required.

MSG Ends.

Once Becky read the missive, she started swearing a blue streak and even surprised some of the dock workers with her creative and imaginative use of expletives; all without actually using the word 'fuck'.

Shana, alerted that her friend was very... agitated, approached her to find out what was wrong. Becka simply handed her the message and stood, fighting to get control of her anger.

“I thought the Admiral was in charge? Since when is Jarad's title 'Prime'?” Shana asked.

Becka was still furious, but had it under control for the moment. “He gave himself that title and the Admiral is still in charge; at least he was when we left Earth.”

“So call him. Get the order verified and report Jarad's usurping his authority. At least then the Admiral will know what's going on,” Shana suggested reasonably.

So Becka took her friend's advice and called the Admiral. She had to tell his aide that it was about Joe, but she did finally get through to him.

“What's going on with the Major, Rebecca?” Hawklings asked when he got on the line.

“The medics said the nanos shut him down to avoid a major stroke. Anyway, Dr. Symms was waiting at the Citadel for a ride back to the planet. When Joe collapsed, he and his team attended him. Long story short, they're taking him back to Dr. Symms’ lab on planet to try and help him," Becka explained.

“Damn! I hope he pulls through this,” the Admiral said. “I thought the nanos where supposed to prevent things like this?"

Dr. Symms was sitting in one of the chairs and couldn't help but listen to the conversation. He thought to step in, to help the pretty young woman.

“Admiral, this is Dr. Symms. My apologies for butting in, but I couldn't help but overhear. You are correct in that the nanos are supposed to defend against situations such as this. However, as we all know, Navigators are neurologically different than normals are.

“Major Anderson was subjected to trauma due to severe hyperspace distortion caused by unshielded proximity to the Citadel. I have already gotten clearance to take him down to my lab. I think I might be able to help him and, by extension, all Navigators.”

“I see, please do you best, Doctor. I have a feeling we're going to need that man very soon,” the Admiral replied.