Dark Vengeance (25 page)

My first thought was for an escape route. R.J. was glued to me. Out of the crowd, the Lieutenant Commander reappeared. This time I was at least cognizant enough to note his name tag; Pearson. He spoke quickly enough not to be cut off and devious enough to leave me no out.

“Captain, the crew is expecting you to say a few words.”

The Enuro dignitaries were already loading into the shuttle, shaking hands with the Chancellor as they went. I grabbed R.J. by the arm to ensure he would not abandon me, avoided the podium, and found a spot central to the noisy gathering.

“Can we have your attention?” yelled Mr. Pearson.

The room immediately fell silent. All eyes were suddenly on us.

It was a moment that should have been well-prepared for. I had no idea what I was doing. From where the choice of words came, I had not a clue.

“Ladies and Gentleman. Thank you for attending this historic event. The receiving of Earth’s first Galaxy Class starship is indeed an historic moment. I am very aware of the excellence that Enuro engineers and technicians consistently deliver. We salute you, our Enuro friends who have contributed such outstanding work on this great ship. Our thoughts will be with you whenever we fly her. And to our crew personnel from Earth, your devotion and hard work will never be forgotten. Many of you probably know this is not the time for a full briefing. I promise that will come soon enough. For now, it is enough to please take this time to celebrate the extraordinary work you have all done. Commander Smith and I salute you.”

Appropriate cheering and applause broke out. My desperate eulogy seemed adequate. For a moment I felt faint. Lieutenant Commander Pearson came to the rescue. “Captain, I was told to escort you to your quarters, or would you like a tour first?”

“Our quarters would be fine,” I replied.

              Pearson led us to a nearby alcove with three elevators. A small crowd of people already there parted for us. He chose the lift on the left and did not have to wait for the doors to open. As we entered the softly lit, carpeted interior, I managed a quick glance back thinking the silence had meant everyone was departing. To my surprise, they were all still there and every pair of eyes was following us into the elevator.

“Captain’s quarters,” commanded Pearson and he noted my expression of bewilderment.

“You’ll have to forgive them, Captain. They are all well aware of both your… accomplishments, Sir.”

“My accomplishments?”

“May I speak freely, Sir?”

“You may.”

“They all know the story of the Electra and what happened here. Both you and the Commander are held in high esteem, and now, with the rumors of what transpired on the Star Seven, I’m afraid those legends have been circulating even more.”

R.J. stiffened and cut in. “Commander Pearson, exactly what rumors have you heard about the Star Seven?”

Pearson turned to face R.J. “Sir, I hope I haven’t spoken out of turn.”

R.J. persisted, “What have you heard, Mr. Pearson?”

“They are fragments of rumors actually, Commander. Rumors that you solved a murder aboard ship, and another that Captain Tarn singlehandedly battled an alien predator, hand to hand. The story is that you were grievously injured in that battle Captain, but obviously those rumors were greatly exaggerated as they so often are.”

R.J. looked at me and shook his head. “How is it possible?”

I gave Pearson a look that made him understand our conversation was strictly confidential. “I guess gossip is the only thing faster than subspace.”

R.J. continued to shake his head. He turned back to Pearson. “Commander, please do your best to quell those rumors, or at least discourage them, would you?”

“Yes Sir, but since I am at liberty to speak here, let me say everyone here is honored to be serving under you both.”

“I’m sure that will be somewhat tempered the first time we throw someone in the brig,” replied R.J.

I contained my surprise at R.J.’s sudden command stature.

Pearson smirked but caught himself. “I am certain that will not involve me, Commander.”

“A sense of humor! I like that, Mr. Pearson. Perhaps you can keep me abreast of the rumors and we can exchange war stories sometime,” answered R.J.

“I would enjoy that greatly, Commander.”

The doors slid open. I realized I did not even know what deck we were on. A large number 6 on the wall in front of us slowly faded away as we emerged into the corridor. It was a completely unfamiliar hallway, golden in color, gold carpet with tan borders on each side. The walls were thin gold stanchions that formed an arc overhead. Foot lights and overheads continuously illuminated the way. Display panels shoulder-high filled the area between stanchions and below each were dark removable access panels with engraved markings that provided instructions.

Pearson noticed our disorientation. “The captain and department heads are no longer located on deck seven. They are now on deck six to give greater access to the bridge. As you both can see, a map display on the wall follows you along to tell you where you are. They are of course voice recognition so you can ask for directions at anytime. You can also shut them off.”

“Mr. Pearson, is there nothing left of the old captain’s quarters on level seven?” I asked.

“No, Sir. It’s all been redesigned.”

He led us along the corridor to the very first small alcove on the right. A golden door accented with even deeper gold slid open upon arrival. “Captain’s quarters,” was all he said.

The main room was so large and lavish it made me feel overwhelmed and just a little bit guilty. Two large observation windows were filled with a portion of the space dock superstructure outside. Opposite the windows, a long wall covered by various ship system displays. Nearby, a small circular table with four cushioned chairs for discussions.  Beneath the observation windows a long cushioned couch and glass top center table. Padded lounge chairs on either side. Gold carpet with tiny stars embedded on the floor reminded me of the Star Seven. Large overhead oval lamps produced soft illumination.

Beyond the main room on the left was a moderately sized kitchen separated by a movable tinted glass barrier, while on the right another similar barrier separated the sleeping area.

“Two important things I need to show you immediately, Captain,” said Pearson. He led me further inside to a small room near the sleeping area. It was packed with electronics centered around a large, black, padded control seat. In front of it were three good sized viewing screens.

“This is the virtual command bridge, Captain. You take a seat here, and a holographic image of you appears seated on the actual bridge. It mimics all of your movements. In sudden emergencies, you can man the bridge here on a moment’s notice.”

Once again, I was stunned by the elaborate design. I could only stare.

“And here, Captain, behind this ship’s plaque, is your command code safe. The Enuro representatives have placed all of your command codes in there. No one but you can open it. You tap the face of the plaque, and if it likes you it will project instructions for opening that only you can pass. Obviously you will want to study and memorize those codes as soon as possible. Commander Smith, you have a similar safe in your quarters with your own set of codes. Your quarters are next door. You both get the real observation windows. Everyone else across the hall has simulated display screen windows. I suppose that’s a bit trite to be mentioning. Forgive me. It’s just that I love the real windows. I have them presently because I’m temporarily assigned to quarters at the end of the corridor, but one of you will be assigning permanent quarters as you select your department heads. Would you like an abbreviated tour, or should I give you both some privacy?”

“We haven’t had any break at all since the Star Seven, Commander. I think we’d both like some time alone, thank you. I will contact you for further assistance when we’re ready,” I replied.

“Very well, Sir. By the way, the door to your quarters opened when we approached only because you were present. Commander Smith, yours will do the same. The Enuro training staff is already aboard and at your disposal when you are ready. The last estimate I was given was that we would be ready for the tugs to move us out of space dock in three days. You’ll be getting updates on that as the situation develops. The space dock pilot has already visited the bridge and is ready to coordinate the move. And with that, I will stop rambling and take my leave of you.”

Pearson stiffened and saluted. We responded in kind.

“Thank you very much, Commander Pearson,” I said.

“Yes, many thanks, Commander,” added R.J.

Pearson nodded and disappeared out the door.

The stateroom door swished closed. R.J. leaned against a bulkhead with one hand as though he might faint. “Really, what the hell have you gotten us into this time?” he asked.

“Wow! Vulgarity from you? I must say, I completely admired your new image during the ceremony!”

“Don’t push your luck, Adrian. This isn’t funny.”

“We need a drink. I wonder if there’s anything at all around here?”

“I had a great port hidden away but of course that’s gone since they threw us off that ship naked as newborns.”

I gave him a big smile and headed for the kitchen area, pausing long enough to look back and say, “Wine would not be enough.”

There was nothing in the kitchen but the coffee table by the couch looked like a possibility. I tapped a softly lit icon on the table’s glass surface and a door popped open in the base. Steamy cold air escaped.

“Halleluiah! I don’t believe it! Those Enuros never miss a trick!” I drew out a frosted bottle of Blue Culatta and two frosted one-cup glasses and chinked them down on the table top.

R.J. pushed away from the wall, straightened his uniform and chose one of the side seats. He accepted the half-filled glass. I sat on the end of the couch near him and raised my drink in a toast.

R.J. scowled, “If you make some philosophical quip about our sudden rebirth, I won’t toast with you!”

I rethought my salute. “Here’s to the Star Seven. May she be made virgin and sail once more!”

“Okay, I can drink to that.”

We clinked our glasses and found that first sip of Blue Culatta may have been the best thing we ever tasted.

R.J. stared into the distance. “Oh my God, we made it through all that to get to this?”

“To which part do you refer, Sir?”

“We’re supposed to command the first Galaxy Class Starship? My God!”

“There must be an owner’s manual around here somewhere,” I suggested.

R.J. took another sip and began a reluctant admission. “There’s something I need to discuss with you right away, Adrian.”

From the look on his face I decided a much larger sip was called for. “Okay…”

R.J. squirmed. “I’m bringing Elachia along,” he said and he stared me down to see my reaction.

“What was that?”

“Elachia will be staying with me.”

“Where?”

“Aboard Electra.”

I paused and drank more slowly this time. R.J. did likewise and continued to stare.

“Just when I thought I had no surprise left in me,” I answered.

“I’m serious, Adrian.”

“Then the two of you really have linked?”

“No one understands better than you.”

“Rumor has it we’re going to war, my friend.”

“Yes.”

“You really want to bring your heart’s desire into some kind of war?”

“Leaving her behind is not an option.”

“So the one person always harping on me about the evils of technology has now linked with a person who is completely a product of one man’s genetic engineering?” I sipped and watched for his reaction.

He remained undaunted. “I also treasure the original Rembrandt I have at home, along with an original score by Bach, and a sculpture called ‘Psyche’ by Laurent.”

“I don’t see the connection.”

“The technology of paints and brushes were required for Rembrandt to create his masterpieces. The invention of the piano was necessary for Bach to create his symphonies, and the development of bronze metallurgy was necessary for Laurent’s sculpture. I do not fault man for those uses of technology.”

“Could there be some justification going on here?”

He thoughtfully took a sip. “Think about it for a moment. Possibly the foremost geneticist genius in the galaxy spends his life designing the perfect mate. It takes him so long that when he finally achieves his dream he is too old to participate. So how many people in this galaxy will ever meet and have the chance to bond with a master’s life long idea of perfection?”

“I recall a very old story like this about a man who spent a lifetime designing and creating the perfect android mate. And, when he was finally successful, the extraordinarily beautiful android suddenly decided she had her own idea of how things should be and she fried her android brain trying to reconcile the contradictions.”

“That was Requiem for Methuselah, and she was an android designed to live forever. We’re talking about real people.”

“Are we?”