“Something's amiss...”
While the research for a method back to Earth continued, we heard Dale's friend Quin was able to receive visitors at the hospital. Shelby encouraged Dale to visit her in the intensive care facility. When they arrived, Dale proceeded to a greeting room to find out where she was placed.
Dale wiped sweat from his forehead. “Hello. I’m here to see if I can visit Quin.”
The female medical attendant looked up from her work and smiled. “Oh, yes, Dale. You are the Earth person that was with her during the accident.”
He dropped his head. “Yeah, that’s me.”
She spoke calmly. “Quin is recovering slowly, but transitioning quite well from her injuries. The accident caused considerable damage to the cortex, but surgeons are cultivating new cells for her recovery. Some memory could be lost, yet it is her physical ability that doctors are predominantly concerned about. She has been in stasis some time. However, I believe letting you see her may assist in your own recovery.” She looked at Shelby, “You both can visit her.”
They thanked the attendant and then she guided them down to where she lay. As they entered her room, they noticed a few tabs of biomass patches on her head and arms. She lay quiet and motionless. Dale moved close to her bed to talk to her. “Quin can you hear me?” he whispered. There was no response, so he touched her arm to see if she would react somehow. Nothing.
The medical attendant walked over to check one of the monitoring pads, then turned to Dale. “She will not be conscious for a few days, Dale. It is encouraging to know that that damage was not any worse. Any more corruption of brain mass would not have allowed the surgical procedures to continue.”
Dale kept staring at Quin. “You mean she would have died?”
“Yes, most likely.” The assistant stroked Quin's face. “I must return to the greeting room. Stay as long as you wish. You just missed her parents.”
“Thank God,” he whispered. “I don’t think I could have handled that.”
Shelby patted his back. “I really don’t think they would have held anything against you Dale.”
“Yeah, I guess not. But I still feel like an ass anyway.”
They both gazed at Quin's peaceful countenance as she lay still. Dale looked down at a wristband that he had gotten from Quin, and turned it over and over, looking at every stone on the band. After a few minutes of awkward silence a tear welled up in Dales eye. He wiped it away quickly.
Dale turned abruptly. “Let’s go I can’t handle this right now. Thanks for persuading me to come anyway, Shelby.”
“No problem Dale.” She smiled.
As they started for the access, Dale turned suddenly and went to the bed to give Quin a kiss on the forehead. He wiped another tear and moved quickly passed Shelby to the exit.
***
I was glad to see Shelby bring Dale back in one piece. I didn’t know if visiting Quin would send him over the edge or not. I wanted to find out how it went when Tammy caught them passing through the ship.
“Where have you two been?” Tammy inquired.
“None of your business,” Dale responded curtly.
Shelby pulled back with surprise. “Dale. “What’s got into you?”
Dale didn’t slow down to get to his bunk. “I…didn’t mean it. It just came out.”
Tammy squinted with curiosity. “What’s going on, Shelby?”
“Don’t worry about it, Tammy. Just give him a little space.”
Tammy raised her hands and teetered her head. “I guess I’m only furniture, huh?”
It was my cue to get Shelby out of Tammy’s claws. “Shelby, we have some questions on the navigational array, could you help us,” I called out.
Shelby nodded to me. “Sure, Alex. Excuse me, Tammy.”
Shelby stepped next to the consol. I pointed to where I was recalibrating some data. “So is everything all right?” I whispered to her.
“Yes, Dale needs to process a few things. I think he really liked this girl.”
I could feel Tammy’s eyes on us. “Hmm,” I said, pretending to bring up some files. “What would be the ramifications of an Earth/Vlanco relationship?”
Shelby jabbed my ribs. “Don’t even joke about it, Alex. Let’s get back to work.”
***
We had to be crazy, to think we could develop some new alternative propulsion system, but Chip felt confident we would eventually strike gold. We were putting in long hours trying to come up with something…anything. Yet even downloading scientific data from the Vlancos database continued to prove futile. As the days progressed, our problem solving techniques were dwindling. To make matters worse, the Vlanco Advisory Committee had some, not so good, astronomical news to report.
“Greetings Chip,” said the military advisor Stron, in an unusually somber voice.
Chip started to speak but his words came out in English. He motioned for Stron to stay put and went to find me. “Alex, talk to Stron. I misplaced my translator.”
I started back to the consol and glanced back to Chip. “I think I saw it on dining table.” I turned around and stood in front of the imager. “Yes, Stron, how can I help you.”
“Alex, something is amiss outside the solar system and I would like to meet with you to discuss it…as soon as possible.”
“I’ll be there right away.”
Stron didn’t have the usual pep in his voice. I was beginning to enjoy the dynamics of their culture, but for some reason there was a bad feeling in my gut and it wouldn’t go away. When I arrived at the military complex, my gut was right on target. When you see scientists and military personnel in one place, it usually spells trouble. They turned to greet me, but with an unusual somber candor.
Stron spoke up first. “Alex, thank you for coming.” He paused and glanced around at his associates. “I will get to my purpose. My companions have informed me of a large armada of Negritee vessels approaching our solar system. We have been monitoring the movement of for some time but the congregating pattern indicates that it is not a standard expeditionary movement.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. “What do you think it is?”
“We believe they will attack us.”
“Attack? Your defensive weapons are impressive. What are you worried about?”
“Normally, we would not be disturbed. However, a short time ago a notorious criminal named V escaped from the containment satellite Transo. We are concerned that he may have gathered information showing weaknesses in our defense systems.”
“So why did you invite me here? What can I do?”
“It is not what you can do for us Alex. It is what we need to do for you. We believe that if there is a conflict, it might be better for you and your crew to consider leaving our star’s system for safety.”
“Do you think I would leave you guys in a battle after you saved my hide? Besides, where would we go?”
“Anywhere outside our system is safe enough.”
“Are you sure about this attack?”
Spaest stepped forward to voice his opinion. “We did not want to upset your crew needlessly, Alex. My associates have made some previous mistakes in the past on similar conditions and do not wish to error again. The probability of the Negritee conducting expeditions with 90% of their fleet is unlikely.”
“90%?” I coughed. I scratched my temple in thought, and gazed at the Vlanco imager mapping out the Negritee space vessels, then leaned both of my hands on the back side of a chair. “I understand. Thank you, Spaest, Stron, and the rest of you for taking the time to consider our welfare.”
Stron put his hand on my shoulder. “Nevertheless, while we would like you to be aware of the Negritee amassing, we believe it to be prudent to withhold it from your crew, until we contact you further.”
“Why keep a secret with me? You could have told all of us.”
“No, Alex, we could not. There are other factors at play here and only you must know of this. It will be revealed to you all in due time.
“This is getting complicated. I need to tell them something.”
“Nothing is best.”
I sighed heavily and shook my head. “Fine! I don’t get it, but I’ll wait for your direction on this and consult my crew later.”
I strode out of the facility, angry that I had to hide secrets from my crew. Secrets that they really should know about. But I think I was more angry at the Negritee. The Vlancos have a peaceful and considerate society, and an ethic that sacrifices themselves for the lives of strangers like me and my crew.
***
While we continued homebound research for the next couple of days, I received another call from Stron. He gave me the go-ahead to let my crew in on the invasion news. The Onos preeminent was going to make a public speech to the Vlanco system within a few hours, so I suggested my crew meet at the military complex in an hour.
I paced and looked at my wristcam with a frown. “Where is everyone, Dale?”
“I don’t know, maybe they got lost…on the ship we could walk around in, blindfold.”
“Are you guys on your way, or what?” I said into my wristcom.
Tom’s face appeared. “We’re almost there Alex, we had to encrypt a couple of files, before we left.”
I turned back to Dale. “You know, I can’t say how much I enjoy having my best crewmember with me.”
Dale perked up. “Really? Thanks a lot, Alex.”
“Yeah, sure. And since he’s not here, your not so bad yourself.” I glanced at him sideways to see his reaction. I was hoping a little levity would bring some of the old Dale back.
Dales face turned from a smile, to a puzzled and disappointed frown. “Hey, wait a minute...” he started to protest.
“I’m just having fun with you Dale,” I laughed and slapped the side of his shoulder with the back of my hand.
He shuffled with embarrassment, hands in his pockets. The rest of the crew eventually straggled in.
“Where have you guys been, Papa Alex has been worried about everyone...except me,” said Dale.
Tammy skipped up to us. “We tried to get Chip to come with us but he’s so involved with that research. I’d swear he’s on the verge of another personal breakthrough, for mankind of course. And I may be a part of it.” She raised her hand to the imaginary crowd, then bowed.
“I get the picture, Tammy—we’ve still got nothin’ to show, right?” I turned to the others. “Right?” They concurred with shallow, little nods of acknowledgment.
Tammy pouted. “Yeah, but you take all the fun out of ‘nothin.’ Bye the way, does Chip need to be here too?”
I rolled my eyes. “I guess not. You can repeat what I say. We’ll let him stay on the verge of discovery.”
There was a light breeze swirling through the military complex. My crew seemed to be relaxed. Dale told a few puns, and we groaned at them, like usual. I decided that I have stalled them enough, and since they were in a good mood, it would be an appropriate time to tell them about the approaching invasion. When I mentioned the invasion to them, their disposition changed immediately. It was if I let the air out of a handful of balloons.
I tried to give them a positive. “The Vlancos told us we could leave the system and avoid a potential war.”
Tammy shook her head and put her hands on her hips. “Ya know Alex, talk about depressing my excitement, you really know how to flatten it completely.” She scanned the others and perked up suddenly. “Well, let’s get packin.’ Looks like we’ve got another trip ahead of us.”
I brought up my two cents. “Wait a minute, Tammy. They sacrificed their lives to save us. Don’t you think one good turn deserves another?”
“Alex is right. We can‘t just abandon them,” replied Shelby.
Tammy strutted forward. “Abandon them? You make them sound like, little orphans without food. These people have more advanced technology than we do. How in the black hole are we going to help them?”
“Listen Tammy,” said Tom. “Unless we have a way home, we have no where to go. I suggest we use our skills to assist them in this war.”
Tammy balked at the idea. “We don’t even know if it’s going to be a war, Tom?” We smirked at her. “Okay, maybe it is going to be a war, and maybe the Negritee are jerks, and maybe we don’t have a way home...“ she pause briefly. “Good god, I think I just convinced myself to stay.”
“Exactly!” I said. “We really have little choice—stranded in this part of the Galaxy anyway. Chip can stay in the ship and continue the research. As for the rest of us, Tom is right. We might be able to use our skills in their military.”
Shelby raised a hand. “How can we do that if we aren’t familiar with their equipment?”
I raised Tom’s hand, as if he we a prize winner. “Tom has operated one of their spherical ships. The rest of us could be a support team in the Vlanco space force.”
Tom released himself from my grip. “That could work. Their ship was a simple to operate. And I’m sure it wouldn’t take long for the rest of you to pick up their instrumentation.”
Momentum was building…I felt proud of them. We all brainstormed on how our abilities would best be used for the possible conflict against the Negritee. As we were talking, a public announcement came over the monitor in the complex with the leader of the Negritee face showing. He stated that the Negritee’s approaching armada most likely would be destructive.
We wanted to be the first to volunteer our services. To our surprise, when we offered to help, it didn’t go as I thought.
Stron dismissed our ideas as inappropriate. “Alex, we appreciate your offer to assist us in this battle. However, the council of Advisors and the Vlanco population may have to fight this battle differing in methodology than you might be a custom to.”
“I don’t understand.” I was bewildered, and a little dejected. “I’m a pilot, and I have fought in many battles. Tom already can fly your ships, Shelby is a master at navigation, Dale is—”
“Alex,” he said, cutting me off. “There is only one way in which you and your crew will be needed. It is the only way to speed up your abilities. However, I doubt you have the time or inclination to do it,” said the advisor with a squeamish expression.
I stiffened with pride. “Try me.”
He gave a deep sigh, then spotted Shelby over my shoulder like he was up to no good. I looked back at her to see what he was looking at. She cocked her head, puzzled. I turned back to Stron.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Very well Alex, I believe there may be a way to prepare you for this battle. It will not include spacecraft. You will have to trust us in your training. Do you think you can follow our directions without all the explanations?”
“I am a pilot who takes orders from my superiors. I am used to flying sorties without all the explanations.”
“Excellent. Then, friends, my assistant will accompany you for your training. However, I would like you to pay special attention to what your friend Shelby has to say, because I believe she will assist you in ways you can not know.”
I looked back at Shelby. What did she know? What did he mean by that? I’m sure I’d find out soon enough. But if we weren’t going to fly, what would be our job?
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