Wrath of the Void Strider (7 page)

Forming a bridge between the command module and aft module, a wide junction supported moorings for six enormous cargo modules, three to a side.  Its upper deck led to a secondary bridge crowned with aerials, as well as several operators’ compartments.  A dimly lit passage ran beneath them, dotted with portholes.

At the far end of the starship, massive thrusters framed the crew module.  From both flanks, three rows of portholes gently glowed.  “02” had been painted on the surfaces of two well lit, enormous hangar doors embedded in the forward facing portion of the vaulted bottom deck.  Gravity keels ran the length of the forward and aft modules’ underbellies, distorting the light around them in rings and waves.

“She’s magnificent,” whispered Gavin.

Takeo nodded almost imperceptibly.  “So she is.”

Taryn faced Zerki.  “How long have you had her?”

“Almost five years.  She’s the
Sanguine Shadow
,” declared her proud captain.  “Most people spend their whole lives planetside.  Very few ever get the chance to see a starship in her natural element with their own eyes.”  For a moment, her gaze was very far away.  “It’s something you never will forget.”

A moment passed in silence, and Zerki at last said, “Anyway, thanks for coming.  I wanted you guys to see her before we landed.  You can go back to your rooms, if you like.  We’ll have our meeting after we’ve docked.”

“Do you mind if I stay?” asked Takeo.

Zerki regarded him warmly.  “Not at all.”

Taryn asked, “Is it okay if I stay too?”

With a chuckle, Zerki answered, “Of course it is.”  She glanced toward Valerie and nodded.

Turning to Gavin, Valerie asked, “Can we talk for a bit?”

“Sure!”  He took in her full height.  “Wow, you’re really tall.”

Amused, she answered, “I’m Afskyan.  Of course I’m tall.”

Gavin laughed and nodded.  “So’s my mom.  She’s almost as tall as you.  What’s on your mind?”

“Actually, can we do this somewhere else?  Maybe your shuttle cabin?”

Gavin cleared his throat.  “Of course!”  He did his best to ignore Taryn’s crossed arms and suspicious glare.  Before she could comment, Gavin led Valerie away.

When they were gone, Zerki urged Krane to resume his approach.  Slowly, the shuttle eased into motion and closed the remaining distance to the
Sanguine Shadow
.  The aft hangar doors pulled away ponderously, and warning lights flashed.

Taryn huffed and marched back to her cabin as Takeo lost himself in the view.

“We’re here,” said Gavin.  His door slid open, and Valerie gestured for him to enter.  “What’s up?”

She followed him inside and tapped the door closed.  “It’s pretty big, Gavin.  Actually, it’s huge.”  She crossed her arms as she pondered.  “Unfortunately, it’s like being told the monster under your bed was real the whole time, so I don’t expect you’ll believe anything I have to say.”  Nodding toward his bunk, Gavin took her cue and eased himself down to sit.  “I’m Valerie Sawyer, by the way.”  She thrust forth her hand.

He took her grip, and his heart pounded.  He felt intoxicated. 
My god, you’re beautiful
, he thought,
and you smell
really
nice
!  He mentally whistled as he gazed into her ice blue eyes.  At last, he replied, “Gavin Santiago, but I guess you already knew that.”
 

“It’s still nice to meet you,” she teased.  “Wait, Santiago…  S-Town?” 

He laughed and nodded.  “All three of us.  Takeo Sato, Taryn Sikes and me.  You too?”

Valerie nodded and plopped down next to him.  “Yeah.  Lived there pretty much my whole life, until Captain hired me.  Whose bright idea was it to alphabetize the citizen zones, anyway?”  She chuckled quietly.  “Not that I’m complaining.  Not really.”  She glanced at him sidelong.  “I’m surprised I never had any classes or extracurriculars with any of you.”

“Well, there’s a lot of us S-types.”  He felt his pulse racing as he looked upon her, and he exhaled as steadily as he could manage.  “What part?”

She glanced to her boots.  “Montag, over by Fort Clark.”

“That’s not the safest neighborhood.”

Valerie shook her head, her expression distant.  “Not really.”

A quiet moment shambled awkwardly by.

Finally, Gavin asked, “So what about this monster under my bed?  What did you want to tell me?”

“I think you’re a latent Navigator.”

He frowned.  “I already told your captain, I don’t even have my pilot’s license.  I wouldn’t know the first thing about navigation, let alone astrogation.”

“No, the kind with the capital N,” she replied.  “You know, strap into a jump rig, and
whoa
!”  Quickly, she interlocked her fingers and pulled them away.  “Welcome to the other side of the galaxy.”  She watched his bemused expression.  “Starseers?”

Recognition flashed across his eyes.  He nodded and said, “Oh, sure.  I know what you’re talking about.”  He furrowed his brow.  “I think they screen for them in utero, don’t they?”

“They do, but you’re more than just a Navigator, so you must have different genetic markers.”

He warily regarded her.  “Clearly.” 

She insisted, “I’m not joking.  You can also make gravity bridges.”

“Come on, is this some kind of setup?  Is there a hidden camera somewhere?”

Exasperated, Valerie rolled her eyes and growled.  “No, we already went over this!  Look, I saw you in our jump rig.  I know you can do this, but you have to know it, too.  You have to accept that you’re a starseer, and I don’t have any idea how I’m supposed to get you to do that.”

“You’ve got me mixed up with someone else.  I’m sure there’s a lot of Navigators who look like me.”  He slumped somewhat.  “Sometimes images get cross-linked on these employment sites.  Trust me—you’ve got the wrong guy.”

“I wasn’t using an agency.”  She tapped the side of her head.  “Gavin, I’m a psychic.  I get prophetic visions sometimes, and the last one I had showed you lying down in our jump rig.  I mean, I literally
saw
you there.  Not someone on an image search or a job site.”  Leaning closer, she added, “You.”

He quietly coughed.  “I don’t know what to say.  I’ve never experienced anything like starsight.  I don’t know how I can help you.”

Valerie nodded.  “That’s okay, Captain is working on a couple things.  She thinks there might be a combination of images, alpha waves and sounds that can trigger it.  It’s ancient military stuff, but she said it’s how they used to verify Navigators a long time ago.”  She hunched over her knees.  “Would you be willing to undergo some tests to find out if you’ve got the gift?”

“Will it hurt?”

With a kind laugh, Valerie answered, “Not badly.”

He thought for a moment.  “Sure, I’m in.  Besides, you guys seem to be in a terrible rush, and I’d hate to make you late.”  He sat up straight.  “What’s involved?”

She shrugged.  “I don’t know yet.  Actually, Captain just wanted me to get to know you, to create some personal investment in your success, but it felt wrong after I walked in with you.”  A loud thud sounded from underfoot, and the groan of metal echoed through the shuttle.  Valerie glanced upward, wearing a slight smile.  “We’re docked.  A couple more minutes, and the pressure should be equalized.”  She looked to Gavin.  “Your ears are going to pop a lot, and it might hurt for a while, but you’ll be alright.”

“Thanks,” he said.  “Hey, what’s a gravity bridge?”

Suddenly giddy, Valerie as quickly found her calm.  “I should let Captain explain it.”  She embraced him tightly and pulled away.  “I’d better go make sure everything’s ready.  Thanks a ton for your willingness to help,” she added and got to her feet.

“No problem,” he said and stood as she stepped away.

Valerie paused in the doorway, turning just enough to regard him.  “It’s sandalwood.” 

“What?”

“Why I smell
really
nice.  It’s sandalwood oil.”  She winked playfully.  “And thanks for the compliment.  Not everyone thinks I’m oh-my-god beautiful.  It’s nice to know you do.  When you’re done rebounding, maybe we can share a cup of coffee.”

She vanished into the corridor, and Gavin tapped his door closed.  He was dumbfounded.  “She’s good.”  He eased onto his bunk and stared at the ceiling awhile.

Chapter 06

Seated within his shuttle cabin, Gavin’s ears began to feel clogged.  He popped them repeatedly, until he no longer felt the urge to do so.  From the other side of the door, he heard Takeo knock and ask, “You coming?”

“I’m right behind you.”  Takeo’s footsteps faded away as Gavin straightened, stretched and tapped open his door.  He felt lighter than he was used to, and there was much more spring in his step than he was comfortable with.  After taking a moment to get a sense of the starship’s reduced gravity, he stepped out into the corridor.  Form around the corner in the cargo hold, he heard the fading sounds of conversation.  Except for a constant, quiet thrumming noise, it was otherwise quiet.

Taryn stood near the bridge with an awkward smile.  “Feels weird, huh?”

With a pensive nod, he answered, “It’ll take some getting used to.”

“Everyone else has gone on ahead, by the way.”

“Thanks for waiting.”  He smiled gratefully and approached.

“How’d it go with the tall one?”

“Valerie?”

Taryn shrugged.  “If that’s her name.”

He regarded her, amused.  “It is.  Taryn, is that jealousy I’m hearing?”

“No!”  She crossed her arms.  “I just don’t trust her.  It’s something in her eyes, the way she looks at us.  Like she’s studying us.”

“She’s psychic.  She’s probably reading our minds.”

Taryn shivered.  “Ugh!  That’s even worse.”

“You should give her a chance.  She’s nice.”

“So is her figure.”

He frowned.  “Please, just give her a chance.”

“I’ll think about it.”  She let her arms fall to her sides as she rolled her eyes.  “Fine, I’ll give her a chance, as long as she stays out of my thoughts.  I don’t need anyone poking around in there.”

“Fair enough.”  He nodded toward the side bulkhead.  “Shall we?”  Taryn followed Gavin as he stepped through the doorway.

A haggard fellow was waiting for them in the cargo hold.  “I’m Buck Fenton,” he said, and he extended his hand.  Gavin and Taryn exchanged handshakes and introduced themselves.  “Please follow me.”  He led them down the loading ramp, where Takeo joined the group.

Surrounding them was a cavernous steel expanse, with crates of salvage arranged in stacks, grouped by type and size.  Wide yellow stripes and alphanumeric characters demarked the shuttle’s landing spot.  Bright lamps shone up from the moorings, and reflective warning placards glinted in the light.  The interior was dim, its air cool and dry.  Buck led them toward the back of the hangar.

Taryn whispered, “This is amazing.  I’ve never been inside an actual starship before.”

“It’s much like the inside of any other apartment neighborhood,” Takeo replied.  “Overcrowded and rich with all the fine smells you’d expect of so many people sharing the same space.”

“You ever consider writing travel brochures?” Gavin chuckled.  “Because, wow… I’m sold.  When do we move in?”

Takeo smiled wryly.  “I’ve found my calling.”

Buck raised his hand, stopping them short.  “Show some respect,” he grumbled.  “You’re the captain’s guests, so try not to piss all over her back yard, got it?”

Admonished, Takeo replied, “I beg your forgiveness, Master Fenton.  I was out of line.”

Buck frowned, but his expression quickly softened.  “Sure, whatever.  Just try to show some gratitude.”  He faced forward, resuming the march.

Taryn regarded Takeo, taking note of the red in his cheeks and ears.  “You okay?”

“I’ll be fine.”  He lowered his eyes.  “I’m ashamed of my actions, but I’ll be fine.”

Gavin whispered, “By the way, they think I can make gravity bridges.  It’s got Valerie pretty excited, near as I can tell.”

“What’s a gravity bridge?” asked Taryn.

“I have no idea,” answered Gavin.  “I was hoping one of you might know.”

Takeo pondered.  “Isn’t that another name for a black hole?”

“You’re thinking of a gravitational singularity,” offered Buck.  He laughed ironically.  “And if your friend could make those, we’d all be dead!”

“Do
you
know what a gravity bridge is?” asked Taryn.

With a shrug, Buck answered, “A wormhole, maybe?  Not really sure.  Never heard the term before today.”

The conversation died as they reached the lift.

“This place is enormous,” said Taryn.  “Is the rest of the starship this big?”

“Nope.  This is the biggest place on the
Shadow
,” Buck answered.  “Parts shop, storage, maintenance, and main hangar bay.”

Gavin nodded.  “Good to know.”

Buck tapped the elevator call button, and the door slid open to reveal a brightly lit rectangular compartment.  One by one, they stepped inside and faced the selection panel.  Numbered one through three, a trio of circular pads softly glowed.  Buck jammed his finger against the number “3” button, and the doors promptly closed.

Seconds later, the doors opened again into the confines of the starship’s observation deck.  Somewhat spacious in its design, a few occupied chairs lined the far wall.  Windows reached up from the floor to the ceiling, offering an unfettered view of the starry expanse.

Zerki and D’Arro were waiting for them.  She had clipped her hair into a short ponytail.  “Glad you could make it,” she said with a wink.  “You guys ready?”

Gavin nodded.  “Sure.”

Gesturing for them to follow, Zerki said, “Right this way.”  A number of crewmen turned to regard the newcomers as they stepped off the lift and fell in behind her.  D’Arro and Buck followed at a distance.

Taryn asked, “What’s a gravity bridge?”

“I’ll get to that at the meeting.”  Zerki led her visitors to a central corridor with two port hatches on the left, one starboard hatch on their right, and a sealed bulkhead directly across from them.  Its overhead jamb was labeled, “CARGO JUNCTION,” and it was a shade darker than the other hatches they passed.  “How do you like the inside of the
Shadow
?  What you’ve seen of her, anyway.”