Return to Dakistee (17 page)

"It's a lot more serious than that, Doctor. We have an entire cavern full of these stasis chambers. I don't know how many are occupied, but we could suddenly find ourselves awash in nineteen thousand, four hundred year olds."

"If that's true, I'm going to need a
lot
more help. Four doctors and eight nurses can't handle a cavern full of patients."

"I can't say it's going to happen right away. The awakening process with this individual was an accident. I was trying to determine how the control console worked. But it's possible I could have started a chain reaction of awakenings."

"If that happens, we're going to need transportation to take some of them to the hospital facilities at North Pendleton." Looking around, he added, "This entire medical facility can't handle more than a hundred patients at a time."

"We have a full floor of dormitories above this level. There are no medical facilities on that floor, but it's capable of housing about twelve thousand."

"Twelve thousand? Then they must have planned for a mass awakening."

"Or it was to provide housing for people waiting to undergo the process."

"What about food?" the doctor asked. "How much do you have down here?"

"None, as far as I know."

"Then you'd better lay in what supplies you can, just in case those others begin to awaken."

Turning to Carmoody, Christa said, "Gracie, you'd better see to that. We want to be prepared— just in case."

"Right away, Ma'am."

"Doctor!" the nurse shouted.

The shout brought the Doctor's attention back to the stasis chamber. The top had split down the middle and the two halves were sliding down into the base.

"Masks," Johannes shouted. "Everyone!"

A nurse, having already donned a full-face mask, hurried over with masks for Christa and the doctor.

"The patient also," Johannes shouted.

A nurse reached into the chamber and pulled a mask onto the woman as Doctor Johannes and Christa hurried over. Another nurse began sweeping the area around and over the chamber with some kind of electronic device.

The Dakistian was improving by the second. Her eyes seemed able to focus as she stared up at the people surrounding her. "Who are you?" she mumbled in ancient Nordakian. The masks picked up the voice of the wearer and broadcast it clearly through tiny speakers on either side, but Christa was the only one who understood the words.

"You're among friends," Christa replied. You've just awakened from a very long sleep."

"Am I the first to awaken?"

"Yes."

"Good. That is as it was intended. Who are you?"

The nurse with the electronic device said, "I'm not picking up the presence of any dangerous, airborne pathogens. The sensor in the patient's mask gives the same clean readings."

"Everyone can remove their masks," the doctor said. "What's the patient saying, Commander?

"She wanted to know who we are," Christa said after removing her mask, "and if she was the first to awaken. I said she was among friends and that she was the first."

"Ask her if she feels any pain."

"Do you feel any pain?" Christa asked the woman.

"What language were you just speaking?"

"It's called Amer. It's the defacto standard in this part of the Galaxy now."

"But you also speak Dakistian?"

"Yes. Although my words may sound a little strange to you. The language has changed somewhat during the many annuals you've slept. I've studied the differences, but before now I haven't had an opportunity to practice with someone from your time."

"My time? How long have I slept?"

"A very long time."

"
How
long?"

Christa remembered the shock Jenetta felt when she was told she had been asleep for ten years, but this woman would have to be told at some point.

"You've been asleep for about nineteen thousand, four hundred annuals."

"Nineteen thousand annuals? It has taken this long to find a cure for the sterility?"

"A cure was never found for the sterility problem."

"And you just let us sleep for a hundred ninety-four centuries?"

"Uh, no, not—
us
."

"Commander," the Doctor said, "I understand her desperate desire for information, but shouldn't we tend to her basic medical condition first? Please."

"Yes, Doctor." Turning back to the woman, she said, "I'll be happy to answer all your questions a little later. Right now the medical people are very concerned for your well being. First, how do you feel?"

"Can I remove this mask?" the woman asked.

Christa relayed the request to Johannes.

"Not just yet. Although we believe she can't infect us, she's at risk from germs we're carrying. We need to make sure her immune system is functioning and that she has been properly inoculated first."

With Christa translating, the basic medical examination was completely quickly. The woman felt fine and seemed to be in excellent shape. When the initial questions were answered, she was helped out of the sleep chamber so a physical exam could be completed. Unlike a stasis bed occupant, the patient was not debilitated in any way and was able to stand erect without assistance.

"She's in excellent condition," the doctor said when he was finished. "In fact, she appears healthier than most of the civilians I've examined on this planet. She can remove the mask now. I've administered the vaccinations she needs."

Christa made a motion to the woman that she could remove the mask. The patient understood immediately and pulled the mask off.

"Thank you, Doctor," Christa said." If you have no objections, I'd like to take her to get some clothes and perhaps something to eat. I know I'd be a little hungry after twenty thousand years without a meal."

"Commander, this woman has just awakened from a sleep that lasted almost two hundred centuries. I can't allow her to leave yet. She must be watched constantly until we know her condition is stable."

"You said she's in perfect health, so it shouldn't be a problem if we don't leave the facility. Perhaps one of the nurses can tag along? A female nurse would be best."

"Very well." Turning towards the group of medical personnel that was hanging on every word, the doctor said, "Nurse Racceht, would you accompany the Commander and the patient, please?"

"Of course, Doctor Johannes."

To Christa, the doctor said, "After you've completed your tasks, please bring her back here. We'll establish a twenty-four-hour watch over her."

"Of course, Doctor. Now, if you'll excuse us?"

The doctor stepped out of the way and Christa escorted the woman from the Medical Center, with Nurse Racceht close behind.

"My name is Christa Carver," she said to the Dakistian. "What's your name?"

"I am Madu Ptellewqku. I am the Director of this institute. You said the sterility was never cured? How were you created? Are you a descendent of the people who left the planet?

"It's a very long story. Why don't we go up to one of the dormitories. I'll send for some clothing and then we can talk."

"I have clothes in my office."

"They've probably turned to dust by now."

"We anticipated a long sleep, although certainly not two hundred centuries. Our clothing has all been stored in vacuum containers after being thoroughly irradiated to destroy any organisms. It should be fine, although a bit out of style. Are you wearing a military uniform?"

"Yes, I am."

"That's a relief. If that was the current style among civilians, I would be most unhappy."

Christa smiled. "A fashion expert once said, 'If you're unhappy with today's fashion, just wait a week.' That's how often fashion changes these solars. As a result, there is no
real
fashion trend anymore. If you visit any space station, you'll see people wearing every fashion from the last hundred annuals."

"Space station? You mean like off-planet stations?"

"Yes. Most inhabited planets have at least one station in orbit to facilitate freight and passenger traffic."

"Inhabited planets? People travel between planets?"

The trio had reached the elevator and, as they stepped inside, Director Ptellewqku said, "Administrative level." The trip took just four seconds. As they stepped out, the Director activated the lighting and turned to the left. Christa let her lead the way.

"The galaxy has changed tremendously during the past two hundred centuries. Some of the changes are going to be quite a shock. People no longer think in planet-centric terms. At its widest point, the Galactic Alliance stretches more than three thousand light-annuals across."

Director Ptellewqku stopped walking and stared wide-eyed at Christa. "Three thousand
light-annuals
?"

"Yes."

"How is that possible? It must take tens of thousands of annuals to traverse that distance."

"No anymore. It can be done in months now."

"We have faster-than-light speed? But our scientists have always said nothing can travel faster than light."

"Yes, that was the prevalent thinking. Then, a few hundred annuals ago scientists reported that they had discovered neutrinos traveling faster than light. It began a whole new investigation into the accepted theories of the time."

"Neutrinos?"

"Subatomic particles. Anyway, the old thinking about nothing traveling faster than light was eventually discarded and scientists began looking at FTL in a whole new way. FTL travel has been common for a very long time."

"And now you can travel thousands of light-annuals in mere months?"

"Yes."

"I think it will take time for me to become accustomed to this new world."

"New universe."

"Yes, new universe. Ah, here's my office."

Director Ptellewqku led the way through a large outer office and into her inner office. As she pressed her hand against a plate on the wall, a panel slid out of the way to reveal a large, walk-in closet. She disappeared inside while Christa and the nurse took seats to wait.

Several minutes later the director appeared again still wearing the simple terrycloth gown. "The water in my bathroom doesn't flow."

"That was to be expected," Christa said. "After so many centuries, the pipes will probably have to be flushed."

"I see. Well, I'll make do," the director said as she disappeared into the closet again.

When she again emerged from the walk-in closet, the director was dressed in a stylish skirt suit that resembled a Terran fashion of a decade ago. There was only so much that could be done with clothes and it had all been done a thousand times already.

"Very attractive outfit, Madame Director," Christa said.

"Thank you, but please call me Madu."

"I will, Madu, if you will call me Christa."

"It's a deal." Looking at the other officer dressed in hospital whites, Madu said, "And your name is?"

The nurse just looked at her questioningly.

Christa interrupted with, "I doubt if the nurse speaks either Dakistian or Nordakian."

"Nordakian?"

"When the religious dissidents left this planet twenty-thousand annuals ago, they eventually found a planet they could colonize. They named it Nordakia."

"I see. And that is where you're from?"

"Uh, no. Actually I was born here on Dakistee, but my lineage is Terran."

"Terran?"

"Yes. We're called either Terrans or Humans. We originally come from a planet called Earth, which is located about one hundred light-annuals from here. Our physiology is very close to yours, but there are some slight differences. There has been a lot of speculation about our two races having a common origin but nothing conclusive as yet."

"I see," Madu said slowly. "I did notice that your complexion was lighter than my race, and your hair color is definitely different."

"That's not all," Christa said, pulling back the hair that covered her ears.

Madu was clearly shocked. "I saw those on the males in the medical center. Do all your people have those appendages?"

"Yes. We call them ears."

"And you say you were born here on Dakistee. What's the percentage of Dakistians to Terrans?"

"As far as anyone knew, your race died out nineteen thousand four hundred annuals ago, give or take a few decades."

"Died out?"

"This facility was buried under the rubble of a decaying city. Archeologists discovered it less than an annual ago. I was summoned to see if I could gain access because of my knowledge of Nordakian and ancient Nordakian, or rather Dakistian."

"
Ancient Nordakian
?"

"As I've mentioned, the dissidents named their new home world Nordakia and the language became known as Nordakian. The changes that have crept into the spoken language over two hundred centuries have resulted in some people calling your language Ancient Nordakian, while others call it Dakistian because of the different character graphics. My sisters and I have studied the Dakistian language and written books about your people, so we're considered the foremost experts on your race. The archeologists who uncovered this facility were unable to open it, so they asked my sister to come here. She was unavailable, so she sent me."

"You said you were born here. Do your people now inhabit this planet, or have our descendents returned?"

"Uh, that's a complex question. It will take some time to fully explain everything."

Over the next couple of hours, Christa related the history of the past twenty years as best she could, as well as a brief history of the Galactic Alliance. She was summing up when she was interrupted by a call from Carmoody. She held up her hand and looked away as a signal to Madu that she was pausing their conversation.

"Commander, are you receiving me," Christa heard.

She responded with, "Yes, Gracie. You got the new communications unit set up, I see."

"Yes, ma'am. We're still having trouble communicating with the surface, but internal communications seem to be working fine. The Marines are going to set up a couple of repeaters— one in the tunnel about halfway to the surface, and one at the entrance of the tunnel that will relay from Fort Carver where they have the satellite uplink."