Space Rescue One (14 page)

***

With the morning shift, Richard reported to the temporary office that was his until his light duty was over. He took over as a radio dispatcher, assisting in the movement and tracking of ships en route to Mars, Venus, Earth, and the Moon. Most dutifully stopped at the station for inspection. A few, such as space liners, didn't have to stop at the station. There wasn't any room for that many passengers to loiter about while an inspection took place, especially if they were only on a cruise. After all, the passengers wouldn't do more than view the planets from space. They wouldn't set foot on any other world except in an emergency.

      Immigrants were a different matter. Passports were checked, ensuring that no one was carrying anything contagious, among other things. Richard knew that he'd be involved in checking out passengers because of his rating as a Rescue Technician. However, there weren't any ships carrying immigrants scheduled for another week yet.

      "This is
Space Rescue One.
We're on location. The
Taurean Princess
is not at this location."

      Richard glanced over to see that the communications were being recorded. He replied, "I understand you to say that the
Taurean Princess
is not there. Please confirm."

      "That's affirmative. Please recheck telemetry on
Taurean Princess
and advise us of their last known course."

      Richard responded, "Wilco."

      Richard toggled the supervisor's pager, getting his attention a few seconds later. The supervisor walked over to Richard and bent down close so their conversation wouldn't disturb any other radio operators.

      "What's the problem?"

      "SRO states that the
Taurean Princess
isn't at the projected location. They're requesting a telemetry recheck and last known course," Richard said.

      "Okay. I'll authorize a recheck. The information will be on your monitor in a minute or two. Tell them to hold on while we get the figures."

      Richard radioed, "Space
Rescue One,
this is
Earth Station One.
Telemetry recheck is being performed at present. Last known course was 220A29. I say again, 220A29."

      "Roger. I copy 220A29 for last known course."

      "Affirmative copy. Hold for telemetry recheck," Richard said.

      The supervisor nodded before returning to his own panel.

      Richard stared at his monitor for a few moments while waiting for the telemetry recheck to display. The screen changed and gave no information. For a moment, Richard stared at it before he realized that it was a negative report. The
Taurean Princess
wasn't located by the station's telemetry.

      "SRO, this is
ESO.
We have no telemetry lock on the
Taurean Princess
anymore. I say again, we have no telemetry lock on the
Taurean Princess,"
Richard said.

      Without having to signal the supervisor, Richard felt his presence behind him. The supervisor said, "Tell them we recommend they contact
Mars Station
One
and
Venus Station One.
It's possible they might be able to get a telemetry lock on the
Princess."

      Richard replied, "Right.
SRO,
recommend you request a telemetry check from
Mars Station One
and
Venus Station One."

***

Rescue Team One entered the bar. Their somber faces showed the disappointment in not finding any trace of the
Taurean Princess.
Behind them, Rescue Team Two entered appearing much the same. Both teams pushed several tables together before sitting down to order.

      Richard noticed them from his usual seat in the shadows at the end of the bar. He wasn't exactly sure why he did, but he stood up and walked over to them.

      Alex muttered, "Why don't you go back to your drink? We're already depressed enough without you hanging around us." 

      Chief Dickson quickly said, "Shut up, Alex. What do you want, Richard?"

      "For what it's worth, I'm sorry you didn't find the
Princess.
I hope they're all right. Good night."

      "Thanks, Richard. That's kind of you to say. Sit with us and have a drink," Chief Dickson said.

      "No thanks, Chief," Richard replied.

      "Why? Aren't we miserable enough to suit you?" Alex asked.

      Isaac turned to Alex. "Shut up, Alex. You're not making any of us feel better, either. I don't want a fight in the bar. Now I'm ordering the first round so we can all drink to the safety of the
Taurean Princess
and all who sailed on her, wherever she is now. That includes you, Richard."

      Minutes later, Richard felt the burning, smooth taste of liquor hit his tongue just before flowing down his throat. It wasn't a taste he liked, but enough of the potion helped him sleep before. That was the only reason he ever liked drinking. After the toast, he left part of his drink in his glass, then left the table to be alone. He didn't want to make friends. Friends got killed. Dead friends caused pain. Richard felt he had enough pain to deal with.

      "See, he didn't want to be with us anyway," Alex said.

      "Alex, you're not making things any better for the rest of us. Maybe I should find some extra duty for you unless you want to try sitting with Richard at the bar," Isaac said.

***

Richard glanced up from the bar at the monitor showing the Internet news. On it, a spokesman from one of the colonies was speaking, ". . . we did not have anything to do with the disappearance of that ship or its passengers. Personally, I'd like to know what happened to it since my cousin was on board as a crewman. I just hope that he and the others are alive and safe. My prayers go out to them and their relatives, wherever they may live."

      Alex said, "Well, Jimmy? What's that do to your rebellion theory? The colonists say they didn't steal the ship."

      "It doesn't change my mind in the least. We're still going to see a major political upheaval concerning the colonies. I still say it only needs a major incident to set it off. This wasn't the right kind because it didn't favor the colonists. That's all there is to this," Technician Jimmy Clarke replied as he placed his drink upon the bar.

      "You still believe in the Theory of Critical Population Mass?" Richard asked to their surprise.

      "Absolutely. The numbers are there according to historical precedent. Add to that the political and economic imbalances, you get an explosive combination. The colonies are ready to declare their independence," Jimmy replied.

      "Well, I still don't see it. All I see is a booming economy for everyone. The colonists are ordering goods by the shiploads and paying for them without hollering. They're charging prices just as high for the surplus farm goods they're producing. They're even importing luxury foods to supplement what they produce. I don't see that as an imbalance," Richard said.

      "Their taxes are out of line with what everyone else pays. How would you like it if the bartender sold us these drinks and charged you three times the amount I pay for the same drink? You wouldn't like it one bit," Jimmy said.

      "Of course, I wouldn't. However, I'd take it to court and get some justice," Alex said.

      "Not likely. Not if you had to go to Earth to get a court hearing. Then it would cost you more to do that than the amount you stood to recover. That's what's happening to the colonists," Jimmy said.

***

Shelly caught up to Richard as he left the bar. "Richard, why didn't you stay and drink some more with us?"

      "You didn't need to be made more miserable than you already were. I was just voicing my sympathies to the team."

      She exclaimed, "Why you two-faced, arrogant, hypocritical bastard! How dare you!"

      "What?" asked Richard.

      "It's not okay for us to express our feelings to you, to extend friendship even. But for you, it's different! When are you going to get off your high horse and be human, Richard? Why did I even bother going to bed with you? You didn't deserve me, I'm discovering now."

      "No, it's not like that at all, Shelly."

      "Prove it."

      "I can't. I don't know how."

      "You don't want to. Why don't you admit that?" she asked.

***

Isaac exclaimed, "You did what? You got mad at Richard? Why, Shelly? I thought you were trying to help me rehabilitate him."

      "Yeah, I guess I blew it big time. I lost my temper. I'm sorry, Chief," Shelly said as she sat back down at the table.

      "Sometimes, you're as impossible to figure out as he is."

      "That's not fair, Chief."

      He asked, "No? Why not? Tell me, Shelly."

      "Well, it was just his hypocrisy about things that caught me off guard. It's okay for him to express thanks or sympathy, but for others."

      "That's not exactly true. He doesn't mind anyone expressing themselves to others. Only to him. It's almost as if he might have to face something he dreads. I thought we were trying to help him. You put so much of yourself into the effort. I just don't understand why you let your temper get loose and tear up so much of our work."

      Shelly said, "I said I'm sorry, Chief. I'll do what I can to repair the damage. Okay?"

      "Yeah, okay. I'm not going to ask how, either."

***

Shelly knocked softly on the cabin door. There wasn't an answer. She knocked softly a second time.

      "Looking to give me some more of your mind?" asked Richard as he returned from the wash area.

      Startled, Shelly turned to face Richard. Taking time to think before speaking, she said, "No, I came to apologize for losing my temper. I should have noticed that you were trying to break out of your shell when you expressed your sympathies to us. I really had no right to jump on you the way I did. I thought that perhaps we could finally have a date together sometime. That is, if you're willing."

      "A date? You'd date a bastard like me?" he asked.

      She said softly, "Okay, I deserve that. Yes, I'd even date a bastard like you. Do we have a date or must I crawl?"

      "You should never crawl, especially not for me. What night would suit you best? And what time?"

      She answered, "Uh, well, I thought you would set those. You are saying you'll accept the date, aren't you?"

      "Absolutely. I'll gladly go out on a date with you. Just name the time and place."

      "How about now?"

***

Richard barely felt the tears roll down his cheeks as Shelly got up and ran for the exit. The intercom announcement continued to blare out another scramble alert for
Space Rescue One.
As soon as the crowd was out of the bar, he made his way to the end of the bar to sit in the shadows.

      "Rough timing, huh?" asked Damon.

      Richard answered, "Yeah, you could say that."

      "I don't really have to. Your face says it all. I wish I could help you, Richard, but it's really all up to you."

      "I know it is. I just hope I can get up the nerve to ask her out."

      "Didn't you ask her?" asked Damon.

      Richard answered, "No, she asked me."

      "Really? Well, that's a point in your favor. She must like you or something if she did the asking."

      Richard brightened up, "Do you really think so? I thought she was just trying to apologize to me with a date for losing her temper the other day."

      "Do you really believe that, Richard? Think about it, man. She was looking for an excuse to go out on a date with you. I've seen that ploy a thousand times."

      "Are you sure? Do you really think she got mad just so she could apologize and ask me out?"

      Damon answered, "Sure, I do. Like I've said, I've seen that ploy a thousand times. She really likes you. I'm sure of it. I think you've struck it rich. Not only is she good looking, she's bright, healthy, and nice."

      "Well, I'll agree with those virtues of hers. I can name others, too."

      "I'm sure you can and that she has them, too. I think you've picked a great woman to fall in love with."

      "Love? Am I in love?" asked Richard.

      "Sure, you are. Can't you tell?"

      "I can't really be in love. Not with her. It can't be!" he said.

      Damon asked, "Richard, why not?" as Richard left abruptly.

***

For once, Richard faced his fears while awake. For once, the voices and faces that went with them were faintly visible to his conscious mind. Without a cabin to return to for the night, he had little choice but to use one of the temporary rooms available on the station. Still, he didn't go to one of those immediately, either. Instead, he walked a circuit of the circular station's outer ring. In his mind replayed the events that shook him to his soul years before. Once more, he felt the flames touch him. More than once that night, he walked the circuit until fatigue finally forced him to retire.

***

Space Rescue One
returned in the morning from a false alarm. The spirits of the men and women on board her were somewhat lifted by the mission. At least they found the ship only to discover that her sensors were malfunctioning. Without an emergency to attend to, they returned much more relaxed than they left.