Infinite Reef (41 page)

The scene was so surreal that Alex wondered if he was dreaming. “What happened?” he asked.

Mary smiled. “You fell asleep.”

Alex surveyed the area, scratching his head in confusion “Something was happening …” he began. But he found himself unable to complete his thought. “… but I can’t remember what it was.”

Mary walked to his side and smiled as she looked down at him. “Then it couldn’t have been that important. Come on. Let’s go back to the house.”

Alex got to his feet and brushed leaves and grass cuttings from his coveralls. Surveying the area once more didn’t clear his confusion. “Which way?”

Mary pointed toward the far end of the cylinder. “It’s a bit of a walk.”

It took a while for them got reach their house. When they arrived Mary took Alex’s hand and led him quickly inside. Inky was waiting for them inside the door and followed them as Mary continued to lead Alex to their bedroom sphere. “Get inside,” she said. “We have to talk.”

4
“I love you, Alex Rose,” Mary said, sitting down on their foam bed.

“That’s right,” he said. “We were going to have sex.”

“Not now,” she replied, pensively. “It’s better if we talk.”

Mary’s grave tone frightened Alex. “What’s wrong?”

Mary didn’t answer immediately. She seemed to be collecting her thoughts. “Do you remember the
Ulysses
?” she asked.

Suddenly Alex remembered the ship that had intercepted the
Goddard
. Then he began to recall other details. “Yes,” he answered.

“Johnny’s daughter’s aboard.”

“Do you remember how we got here?”

“Of course. Why are you asking me this?” Alex searched his recollection for other details but all he could recall was the arrival of the boarding party and their sudden departure. What he couldn’t recall was why they had hurriedly left the scene.

“You remember the boarding party, right?”

Alex nodded.

“They have a sensor with them,” Mary said. “Do you remember that?”

“A sensor? Like you?”

“Not exactly. It’s a man.”

“Is it a problem? You seem troubled.” Alex tried hard to dredge up other details of the last few hours but couldn’t. “Do you know him?”

Mary relaxed and climbed into bed. She undid the front of her flight suit as she climbed on top of him and pressed her body against his. “Get undressed,” she breathed.

Mary’s charms overwhelmed Alex almost instantly. Whatever concerns were growing within him suddenly gave way to pure passion and they made love as if it was their first time together. When they finished Alex fell deeply asleep.

He awoke with Inky sitting on his chest and purring happily as he watched Alex’s eyes open. Mary lay next to him, curled up and sound asleep. Alex stroked the cat’s black fur gently and its purring grew louder. “Hi boy,” said Alex. “Happy to see you, too. What’s new in the world?”

His words woke Mary. “What’s new? Who are you talking to?” Mary pulled the sheets up and wrapped them around herself as she sat up.

Inky jumped off Alex’s chest and began rubbing against her. “I was talking to your cat,” replied Alex. “I think he was going to answer, but you broke his concentration.”

Mary laughed. “I think the computer would be more informative.”

“Perhaps you’re right,” Alex said, as he lifted his eyes to the overhead dome. “Computer,” he said assertively. “What is the status of the boarding party?”

Instead of the computer voice there was a beep signaling an incoming call. “A call? From whom?”

This time the computer voice answered. “
Commander Baltadonis.”

“No image transmission, computer,” Alex demanded. “Put the call through to our dome.”

“Alex,” said Johnny, his voice sounding cold and detached. “What happened to you? You disappeared from the meeting.”

“We’re right here, Commander,” replied Alex. “Is there a problem?”

There was a brief pause, then Johnny spoke again. “Not at all. My daughter wants to see you. After all, for her it’s been many years since we were all together on Mars. Can you join us in my quarters?”

Alex looked at Mary. She raised an eyebrow and shrugged, but said nothing. He thought for a moment and then replied. “Sure, that would be great.” He looked at Mary for approval. But again she only shrugged.

“That’s fine,” said the Commander. “Can you come over now?”

“We’ll be right over.”

A soft bell sounded the disconnect and Alex took and deep breath, then got out of bed and began to dress in his coveralls. Mary hesitated for a moment, then she too got up and went to their clothes closet. Neither of them spoke as they dressed. Mary put on a white pants suit and began combing her white hair thoughtfully. Finally she looked at Alex and asked, “How do I look?”

“Perfect, as always,” he said. “Then he went to her and took her in his arms. “Whatever happens … we’ll be all right. Don’t worry.”

“Is my … am I showing?” She stepped back and looked at her belly. “Do you think they’ll be able to tell that I’m …?”

“No. But if you’re worried wear something more … loose.”

Mary scrutinized her image in the mirror again, then turned and left their bedroom. “I guess we’d better get going.”

Johnny’s house was a few doors away from theirs, halfway up the street toward Master Control.

As they the Commander’s door it opened and out stepped two armed security officers still dressed in space gear. One of them held up his hand. “Commander’s orders, Mr And Mrs Rose,” he said. “We’ll need to check for weapons.”

Alex and Mary didn’t protest when the young officer, a sandy haired oriental, waved a sensor wand at them. He did it twice, then nodded. “You’re clear. Please go inside.”

The inside of the Commander’s quarters were similar to their own, with bare white walls and foam furniture. Alex and Mary followed the two security officers up a short flight of stairs to Johnny’s com room. The Commander was waiting for them at the door.

Alex was pleased to see a broad smile on Johnny’s face. “Alex. Mary. Please come in. Christine’s here.”

Commander Sutherland stood with her back to the picture window that had been activated to show a Mars landscape instead of the view of the park outside. She smiled when she saw them enter and stepped forward, offering a hand to Alex. “Great to see you,” he said. “Long time … as they say.”

Christine shook his hand warmly. She was wearing a white pants suit very similar to Mary’s. “Good to see you too,” she said, looking at Mary as she shook Alex’s hand. Then she offered her hand to Mary. “I can’t get over the … time thing. It must be strange for you, too.”

“You look wonderful, Commander,” said Mary, trying her best to sound sincere. “The years have been good to you.”

Christine laughed. “And so have the CosMeds. I’m grateful I could afford their skills.”

Mary smiled. “Try interstellar travel, next time,” she joked. “I’m sure it’s less painful.”

Christine stepped back and looked them over. “Amazing,” she said. “You look just the same as when we met on Mars.”

Alex pointed to the window. “I notice you’re playing Johnny’s MarsHolo. Is that for your benefit or Johnny’s? I can’t believe you’re nostalgic for that dust bowl.”

Christine glanced back at the picture window. “Oh. Yes. He was showing me some of the recorded scenes. I bet they helped during the trip.”

Alex grinned. “Well, it hasn’t been that long … for us. We hardly used ours at all. I prefer the one of the Grand Canyon myself.”

“Please sit down, everyone,” Johnny said cheerfully. “Christine was nice enough to bring along some Martian Ale just for her old dad. Will you have some?”

“Sure,” said Alex.

Mary shook her head. “Thanks, but I think I’ll have some
Goddard
green tea.” They took a seat, side-by-side, on Johnny’s long foam sofa while Johnny got the drinks from the service panel on the opposite wall. Christine poured a glass of ale from a large decanter on the dining table by the window. She handed it to Alex and sat down beside them.

Alex took a sip and smiled. “Dingers,” he said. “This is strong stuff.”

“It’s good, Mary, I’m surprised you don’t want some,” urged Christine.

“Actually, I never liked the stuff,” Mary said as she accepted the cup of tea from Johnny. “But thanks anyway. It was very thoughtful of you to bring it.”

Commander Sutherland nodded. “My crew likes it. Prefer it, actually, to the geebrew they make.”

“Is there any Gannybrew?” asked Alex. “I’m sure Captain Wysor would love some.”

“Those Gannys,” Christine quipped. “They have queer tastes, don’t they?”

Alex shrugged. “They like their beer.”

“How did you like living on Ganymede?” Christine asked, looking at Mary. “I heard you had a pet shop there.”

“They were nice to us, there,” Mary replied. “Good people. Yes, I miss the shop. And I wonder if it’s still there.”

“I wouldn’t know. A lot has changed since you left.”

“Because of the war?” Alex asked.

Sutherland looked surprised. “You know about that?”

“Just guessing,” he replied. “It was brewing when we left.” He raised his cup. “No pun intended.”

Commander Sutherland smiled politely. “You’re referring to the Atlantic conflict, I assume?”

“Have there been others?” asked Johnny, taking a seat near the sofa. “My God, it’s only been twenty years.”

Christine looked down. “A lot can happen in twenty years.”

“Care to fill us in?” asked Mary.

“There’s plenty of time for that. And I’m no historian. My job is to escort
Goddard
to Titan.”

“And why the escort?” asked Johnny. “Not that it isn’t appreciated.”

“You’ve contacted … aliens.”

Johnny nodded and looked at Alex. “They received our transmissions. “

“What do you think? How did we do as emissaries from Earth?”

“That’s not for me to decide.” Christine looked at Johnny. “How do you feel you did?”

“I’m not sure,” replied Johnny. “There were certainly some misadventures. It didn’t help that on our first dive we crashed and had to do a rescue mission.”

“Quite a first contact,” remarked Christine.

“I’m curious,” said Mary. “I sent a few transmissions myself. Do you know if they were received?”

Commander Sutherland shrugged her shoulders. “We have a sensor on board. You should ask them when you meet.”

“Another Mary series?” Mary asked. She already knew the answer but didn’t want to reveal it.

“No. As far as I know the Mary series has been … retired.”

The words struck Mary in the heart. But she forced herself to remain calm. “Retired?”

Christine smiled. “It must be nice to know you won’t have any competition.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Mary said pleasantly. “My sisters didn’t compete with one another.”

“Sisters,” the Commander noted with amusement. “Yes, of course.”

Mary managed to suppress her anger. “Is the Mary compound still there … on Mars?”

“Actually I don’t know.” Christine thought for a minute. “At any rate there is a new series of sensor … all male. We have one on board, as a matter of fact.”

“You do?” Mary tried to look surprised. “I’d like to meet him. Where is he?”

“At the moment Alex is assigned to Master Control.”

“Alex?” Alex sat up straight. “His name is Alex?”

Christine laughed. “Yes. Named after you in fact. You’re a pretty famous couple. I guess that’s why they chose the name. Are you offended?”

Alex looked at Mary, then took a deep breath. “I … I’m not sure.”

Mary maintained her composure admirably, even forcing a smile. “I suppose it makes sense.” She stood up and walked to the window. The holographic image there changed perspective as she approached it, revealing more of the landscape of the red planet. The view was of the plains of Isidis, an area not far from where her sisters had established an isolated compound. In the foreground was the surface tubeway. Her eyes lifted to the violet cloudless sky. Then she turned to face the others. “I’d like to meet this … Alex. But I do hope he doesn’t look like my Alex.”

Christine looked at Alex. “No. He’s got black hair and is quite a bit taller. Quite handsome, of course.”

While the conversation had been going on Johnny had remained silent, as if marking every word that was said. But now, as the room went quiet, he spoke up. “All in due time,” he said. “Right now we have other things to discuss.”

“Yes,” said Commander Sutherland. “I’m sure you all have many questions. But first things first. “ She faced Mary. “From what we saw from the Lalande transmissions, it was you who seemed to have the most luck in contacting the general.”

“The general?” Mary asked.

“Isn’t that what you called the alien that visited this ship?”

Mary looked down. “Yes. I almost forgot.”

“We would all like to know if you actually spoke to him, or perhaps I should say ‘it’.”

“No. “

Commander Sutherland’s eyes narrowed. “No?”

“I guess I intuited what it wanted. There were no words. There was not conversation.”

“It wanted the Jovians, the so-called clicker men.” prompted Christine.

“That was my guess at the time.”

Christine’s smile returned. “That was a good guess, don’t you think?”

“Mary wasn’t alone in that assumption,” offered Commander Baltadonis. “Many of us thought the same thing, including me. It was obvious from its behavior.” He went to the table and refilled his cup with Martian ale, then held up the bottle. “More refreshments, anyone?”

“I’d like Mary to elaborate a bit more on the Lalandians. Any revelations would be helpful. Frankly the actions of the aliens have us stumped.”

Johnny laughed. “Isn’t it just like an alien, to do that.”

Christine looked at her father darkly. Then her attention returned to Mary. “Mary?”

“I think the Lalandian was curious about me because I’m … different.”

“You mean because of your sensor abilities?”

“Probably.” Mary nodded. “For all I know it somehow saw my internal circuitry.”

Commander Sutherland looked at Alex. “Anything to add, Alex?”

“Not really. For all I could tell they were just intelligent bugs.”