Infinite Reef (42 page)

Chapter 15

1
During the week that followed,
Goddard
and her two escort ships approached the Saturn system and prepared to enter orbit. For Alex and Mary time passed uneventfully and their fears of exposure to the critical eye of the Corpies faded considerably. For the most part it was Johnny who managed to keep them away from the occupying force and his daughter. It turned out that news of Commander Stubbs’ death had alerted EarthCorp to the possibility that a coup of some kind had taken place. That, Alex and Mary learned, was the reason an armed force had greeted the
Goddard
.

To her surprise, no pressure was put on Mary to meet with the new sensor on board, and Alex Four never expressed interest in meeting his counterpart. After some hours of nervous anticipation Alex and Mary learned that he was assigned to Master Control as chief communications officer, and as the Titan rendezvous approached, his attention was taken up in monitoring all transmissions coming from the ship. Still, Alex and Mary decided to keep a very low profile .

They filled their days visiting, especially Matt Howarth and Jeanne Warren in the BioLab, and Tony, who now lived at the southern hub with Norma near the bakery where she worked. They especially liked to visit the baker because they were supplied fresh samples of the latest goodies to take home and enjoy with their breakfasts.

Finally the day came when the
Goddard
entered orbit around Titan. To watch the events unfold Alex and Mary retired to their bedroom egg. Mary wrote a note to Alex telling him that she still didn’t trust the motives of the people who’d taken over the ship’s command and control functions. She’d been detecting broadcasts from somewhere in the ship at wavelengths she couldn’t read. Before entering the sanctity of their protective bubble, they removed the wrist bands which linked them to the ship’s personnel computer. When they got inside Alex sealed the door and ordered the computer to project a view of Titan on the overhead screen. Then they settled in to watch.

Since they both suspected that the computer might be able to detect the removal of their bands, they waited for some time before speaking. But the act did not trigger an alert, as Alex suspected it would. Soon Alex decided to test the system. Before he did, he wrote a note on the datastrator that they’d brought with them to their bedroom. “Maybe get info with my priority status?”

Mary erased the message and wrote one of her own. “Be VERY careful!”

Alex nodded. “Computer,” he said loudly. “Activate screen.”

The dome over their head began to glow.
“Specify,”
said the droning voice of the central computer.

“Outside view, please. Show us Titan.”

The screen went dark and then faded to a picture of a broad expanse of pale pink that divided the screen in half. At the top was a star field and below that the great arc of the moon Titan, perpetually shrouded in petrochemical smog.

“Thank you, computer,” said Alex in a pleasant voice. “Is it possible to see more detail?”

“No, Captain Rose,” answered the voice. “
That is controlled by
Goddard’s
imaging team.”

Alex settled in on the soft foam bed beside his wife and stretched out, gazing at the ceiling.

“Computer,” Alex said, carefully choosing his words. “What is my priority status?”

“Top level. Alpha 1 A.”

“Does that guarantee confidentiality?”

“If requested.”

“Can anyone override that status without my knowing it?”

“Not under current conditions.”

“Thank you, computer. End dialogue.” Alex looked at Mary with a raised eyebrow as if to ask, “What do you think?”

Mary thought for a moment then whispered. “I don’t trust it.”

“How can we test it?” asked Alex.

Inky jumped onto the bed and curled up next to Mary, purring loudly. “What do you think, kitty?” asked Mary, stroking his black fur. The cat responded by lying down and rolling over. Mary smiled and scratched his soft belly, evoking an even louder purr. She looked at Alex sadly. “Do you really want to take that risk?”

“Computer,” said Alex. “Show us Master Control. Priority Alpha 1.”

The overhead screen immediately switched from the view outside to one showing Master Control. They could see Johnny and his daughter at his work station, with Captain Wysor seated at his own station some distance behind them. “Computer. Can you provide audio?”

Without hesitation the sound came on. They could hear voices but none of them distinct enough for them to understand. Alex noticed that Johnny was speaking. “Computer. Can you monitor Commander Baltadonis’ conversation?”

There was a brief moment of silence then they heard Johnny’s voice. “… and I still can’t evaluate it. You know, Christine, we’re not your enemies here. But you keep asking questions of everyone without offering any answers to their questions. No wonder no one trusts you.”

Commander Sutherland’s retort came through to Alex and Mary’s bubble just as clearly. “I am under orders, here,” she said coldly. “I’d have thought you’d be aware of that by now.”

“Dingers,” Alex said softly, as though he was afraid the two commanders might hear him. “This is interesting.”

“Look. There he is,” said Mary, pointing to the corner of the screen.

There, a tall man with slicked back black hair stood motionless watching the proceedings. His striking countenance told Alex that this was the male sensor that Mary was loath to meet, Alex Four. For a long time the slim man stood erect, cool, expressionless, watching those around him like a robot. His lips were moving almost imperceptibly. “So that’s him,” remarked Alex. “He gives me creeps.”

Mary nodded. “I can hear him. He’s transmitting to the moon’s surface.”

“Can you tell where?”

Mary shook her head. “The base could be anywhere.”

“What’s he broadcasting?”

“Coordinates. And instructions to the other ships.”

“Are they still with us?”

“No,” answered Mary. “And it seems that most of the security force is back aboard them.”

She took her eyes off the man and looked down at Inky. “They’ve checked us out and found us free of contamination.”

“That’s a good thing. Right?”

Mary smiled slightly. “I guess so. I can hear the conversation between them. And … wait a minute …” Mary put a finger to her temple as she concentrated. “He’s saying that … that we’re secure, whatever that means.”

Alex relaxed a bit. “That must mean that they’ve profiled everyone aboard.”

Mary nodded. “I heard him say something about Commander Stubbs. I think they checked him out and found there was no foul play in his death.”

“How do you know that?”

“He’s talking to security forces on the other ships and an EarthCorp base on Titan.”

“Is there a plan?”

Mary frowned. “Jeeps, Alex, I’ve only been listening for a few minutes.”

“Of course,” Alex said with a sigh. “I’m just so tired of waiting for answers. Wake me when there’s news, love,” he said.” Alex lay back and closed his eyes, and soon he fell asleep.

They awoke to an alarm signaling an incoming call. Alex sat us and yawned. “Who is it, computer?” His voice awoke Mary.

“
It’s Commander Baltadonis, Captain Rose,
” said the computer’s androgynous voice.

Alex pulled a sheet over himself. “Put it through, please, computer. Two way visuals, please.”

Johnny’s face appeared on the overhead dome. “Alex. I always seem to be interrupting your sleep.”

“Well, there’s not a lot to do but sleep,” Alex replied.

“I understand. Well, in that case you’ll be pleased you’re well rested. You’d better get dressed. I need a good shuttle pilot.”

Alex frowned and looked at Mary. She raised an eyebrow. “Is there a problem?” she asked.

Johnny smiled reassuringly. It was clear that he could see her expression. “We’re going to Titan, Mary.”

Alex rubbed sleep from his eyes. “Who … who’s
we
?”

“You and Mary. Me and my daughter, of course. And our communications officer.”

“What’s on Titan?”

“Earthcorp headquarters, Alex. The president of the Federation is there. He’s eager to meet you. How soon can you be in the shuttle bay?”

“We’ll be there within the hour,” replied Alex. He looked at Mary, who nodded in agreement. “Is
Diver
prepped for launch?”

“As we speak,” replied the Commander.

2
Alex’s gleaming white shuttle was positioned on a track-way that led to the outer doors. He and Mary wasted no time attaching themselves to the transport cable that traversed the bay. It activated immediately and easily swooped them through the weightlessness space to
Diver’s
opened hatch.

Inside they found the Commander and his daughter waiting in the two rear seats. Floating next to them, engaged in conversation, was a tall dark figure they knew to be the Sensor named Alex. His handsome but unsmiling face turned to watch them enter.

“Hi all,” said Alex, cheerfully. “I see you have two empty seats up front.”

The male sensor didn’t seem amused by Alex’s remark but he didn’t comment, instead looking at his Commander, Christine, to see her reaction.

She took the cue. “It’s your ship, Captain Rose. We’ve reserved the best seats in the house for you and your lovely wife, of course.”

Mary floated toward the sensor who now turned to take his own seat at the side of
Diver’s
cabin. She extended her hand in greeting. “So you are Alex the Sensor,” she said. “I’m very pleased to meet our next generation.”

The tall man paused and hung in the air for a moment. Finally a slight smile appeared on his face. “Alex Four, at your service, Mary Seventeen.” His voice was silky and calm, and as perfect as his countenance. He extended his hand to Mary.

Mary accepted the gesture warmly and smiled as she took his hand. “I assume we’ll have much to talk about.”

The smile left Alex Four’s face and he glanced at Commander Sutherland. “What do you wish to discuss with me?” he asked coldly.

Mary blinked, then looked around the cabin. “Well, at the moment we have a mission to fly,” she said politely. “Isn’t that right?”

“Indeed,” said Commander Baltadonis. “Let’s get to it.”

Alex Four sat down without further comment.

As soon as Alex and Mary were seated and strapped into the pilot and co-pilot chairs, Alex switched on
Diver’s
power systems.

In a few seconds of all the system lights registered green; he turned to the Commander. “Ready, sir.”

The Commander nodded and ordered the shuttle bay operator to open the outer doors. Moments later they were cleared for launch. Alex watched the doors slide open in silence, then glanced at Mary. “Will you be our com officer … or …”

Mary shrugged, and Johnny offered a reply. “I’m already in touch with Titan Base, Alex.”

The ship jerked slightly as it began to move on the track leading to the opened doors. Beyond them the pale orange rim of Titan loomed in a great curving arc. Behind it, Saturn and her vast ring system formed a backdrop to the moon. Alex powered up and took control of his shuttle as they moved forward.

“You won’t need to do much flying, Alex,” noted Commander Sutherland. “Titan Base will bring us in.”

Alex took his hand off the control stick. “Well, that’s no fun,” he said, running his hand through his sandy hair. He glanced at Mary, who returned a slight smile.

“We’re passengers again, Alex. Enjoy the ride,” she said.

3
Like a small delta shaped gnat lifting off the surface of a great white needle, Alex’s shuttle moved away from the
Goddard
. Soon, in response to a command that came either from the great ship or from the surface of the cloud shrouded moon,
Diver’s
engines fired and it sped off toward Titan’s wide arcing horizon.

There was surprisingly little comment aboard Alex’s shuttle. Most were watching the rounded windows that lined either side of the cabin. But Alex was paying attention to the instruments. It had been a long time since he’d flown
Dive
r, and he wasn’t at all confident, should necessity dictate, that he’d be able to quickly take over the controls. He was also concerned that they were traveling to the surface of a moon he’d never visited. He had never visited any moons other than the ones orbiting Jupiter. Titan was a new realm for him and he knew little about its mysterious surface, other than the common lore that it contained supercooled oceans of liquid methane. When they’d left on the Lalande mission only a few hardy explorers had visited Titan, and it surprised Alex to learn that there was a major base there.

Aboard
Diver
the only people who seemed truly at ease were the Commander’s daughter Christine and the mysterious clone named Alex Four. In fact both of them seemed bored. They sat reading material transcribed on their datastrators, and they barely looked up when the buffeting began that signaled the shuttle’s entry into Titan’s thick atmosphere.

Outside a green glow began to form around the shuttle, a colorful contrast to the orange light of the clouds below. The silence in the cabin began to eat at Alex. “Can’t say much for the view,” he quipped. But there was still no comment. Alex Four and Christine didn’t even bother to look up from their reading, and Alex decided to press the point a bit. “Can’t help but wonder why EarthCorp would want a base in a frozen swamp.”

“Security, I would suppose,” answered Commander Baltadonis.

Alex looked around. “What’s your theory, Commander Sutherland,” he asked cheerfully.

Finally Johnny’s daughter looked up from her tablet. “I’m not much for theories, Alex,” she said dryly.

Alex looked at Mary with a raised eyebrow. Her only answer was to put a finger discreetly to her lips. Alex took the cue, sat back in his seat, and resolved to speak only when spoken to.

Diver’s drag planes deployed and the ship slowed and dipped into the thick haze. Alex watched the panel and saw the auto-pilot disengage as it started receiving instructions from somewhere far below. When the ship had slowed sufficiently the planes retracted and the shuttle banked sharply to the right as the engines increased in pitch.