“Is it safe to enter?” she asked.
Webb looked up. “Of course, Captain. Please, come in.” He pulled off his latex gloves as Talbot approached the operating table. “I have induced a coma in Mr. Van Zant; the creature’s stinger contained poison. I think I got most of it out of Van Zant’s system. He’s stable, now.”
“Where did he get stung?”
“The back of his neck. The wound itself is small.”
“And what about Tech Specialist Wuland?”
“He received a pretty nasty bite on his arm and some scratches on his head and face. I treated his wounds and gave him a full spectrum antibiotic and universal poison antidote, the same as Mr. Van Zant. I want to keep them both here for the next twenty-four hours.”
“What about the creatures?”
“The survey party brought back the two killed by Wuland; they’re on ice right now. I performed a preliminary observation of the carcasses and I forwarded my notes and images to Lieutenant Commander Mitchell, since he commanded the survey party. I plan on doing a necropsy on both, probably within the next few hours.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Talbot said. “Let me know when either of them wake up.” Webb nodded and turned back to his patients.
Talbot exited the medical lab and moved forward to the Solstice’s command section. Eager to hear Lieutenant Commander Mitchell’s report, she entered the conference room and took her seat at the head of the table. The remaining members of the survey team, Mitchell, Ensign Salomon and Specialist Pandev were there, along with Doctors Orolo and Dabisha. They had all worked steadily for the past ten hours, and the fatigue and stress showed on their faces.
Talbot looked at the text and images glimmering above the conference table. “Let’s get started. Lieutenant Commander Mitchell?”
“Thank you, Captain. As you already know, we found no physical trace of the thirty-two crew members of the Lalande. We found the personal effects of almost everyone on the crew roster.” He gestured and a new set of images appeared over the conference table. “The interior of the Lalande is in a shambles. It looks like there was a struggle, and there was a lot of damage. The crew gave a good fight, it seems. The Lalande's computer was heavily damaged and we have not succeeded in retrieving any data. Something came for them and it may come for us.”
“Reluctantly, I agree,” Talbot said. “We need to set up drones and sensors around the Solstice and Lalande, out to a range of three hundred meters. I have a feeling that whatever is out there is going to pay us a visit. Lieutenant Commander Mitchell, you'll take care of that tonight.”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Tomorrow, meet with the scientific staff and start planning a survey further into the interior of the continent. Take a look at the data we've collected and propose two or three destinations for discussion. We need to find out where the crew of the Lalande are, if we can.”
“And Commander Kessler?” She knew Mitchell was concerned that, as Chief of Survey, he should have been organizing this mission. I'm going to request he be transferred. He's too much of a distraction. “I'm going to send Commander Kessler back out onto the water. We'll discuss everything tomorrow afternoon.” Talbot stood. “All of you get some rest, you've earned it, and we've still got work ahead of us. Dismissed.”
Talbot didn't retreat to her quarters. I need to be alone, away from everything. Instead, and in spite of her own orders, she exited the Solstice on the starboard ramp and walked to the beach. The stellar primary had almost set, and the sky was filled with orange, red, and purple clouds. A flock of flying creatures flew in formation in the distance. As she watched, the flock formed complex patterns: circles within circles and several long rows at first, then starbursts. At times, some of the creatures would dive into the water, then rise again into the sky.
She suddenly realized these were the red gulls that Kessler had spoken about when he contacted the Solstice. The creatures that had attacked them. She watched them carefully, but they kept their distance as they flew in their complex formations.
A thought suddenly occurred to her. Are they trying to communicate?
“There is much more here than meets the eye,” she muttered.
She really wanted to speak with Kessler, and decided to wait up for his return. The primary slid below the horizon, and the gloom grew. She thought it may not be safe, sitting here on the beach, but the growing night seemed peaceful. Clicks, whirs, and chirps sounded in the air. A drone whirred by, paused to scan her, and then continued on its rounds.
Her thoughts wandered to Kessler and their past relationship. When they were young he had been a wild lover. At that time, she just couldn't get enough of him, and during their cadet cruise they would steal away from the Lalande, or hide in a crate in the cargo bay, and make love to each other. But he was stubborn and independent. He drove her nuts when he wouldn't listen to her cares and concerns. And again, on this mission, he had put himself in danger. She had felt a growing sense of anxiety as he relayed the events of the sub survey, but she knew what he would say.
This is my job.
She knew he was right, and had wrestled with requesting that he be transferred off the Solstice. But she knew that would destroy any chance of ...
Chance of what?
She wanted him; she could finally admit that to herself. She had thought of him constantly since seeing him again, all those weeks ago, at the commissioning ceremony for the Solstice.
Restless, she took off her boots, stood, and stepped into the water. It was warm, and she waded in up to her knees. Kessler's face suddenly appeared in front of her. He had the same expression after they had made love, his eyes smiling, that little boy grin.
“My orders came through,” he said.
“Really?”
“After the Lalande, I'm to be posted to the colonial outpost on Kryst.”
“Kryst! I thought you had requested duty on the Sirius!”
“I can't miss this chance, Caroline! I'll get to work with Captain Bandele. Who knows what I will discover!” He turned to her. “Come with me!”
“How could you do this to me?” She sat up and pulled on a t-shirt and panties. “We had it all planned! We were going to be together!”
“We still can be, babe. Come with me.”
“You know I want to command a ship some day! That's why I requested duty on the Sirius! God damn you, Cord Kessler!”
He sat up. “What the hell, Caroline? You say you can't live without me, and now you're choosing career over love?”
“YOU were supposed to follow ME! Remember? You said you would!”
As they argued, she became aware of a presence, off in the distance, an undefined but huge shape above and beyond the dream. Vast and alien, it seemed to scream at her with silence, a void so full of meaning she couldn’t even begin to comprehend it.
She heard the whining sound of a boat motor, and then shook her head. The vision disappeared, scattering like sand in the wind. Instinctively, she exited the surf. Nausea flared in her stomach, and her head throbbed with pain. The lights from the approaching boat hurt her eyes.
“Caroline?” Kessler called from the boat as the lights swept over her.
Talbot held her boots to her chest and shivered despite the warm air. The boat pulled up onto the beach; Kessler leapt out and ran toward her.
“Commander,” she said, coughing.
“Are you okay?” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “You look like you've seen a ghost!”
Talbot saw the others on the beach looking at them. “I'm just tired, Commander.” She shook her head and painted a smile on her face. “Welcome back!” she said, but her attempt at levity fell flat.
Kessler dropped his hands and looked at her. “Okay.” The concern in his eyes was obvious.
She sighed. “Get some rest, Commander. We have a big day tomorrow.”
“My report?”
“I'll hear it tomorrow.”
Her pockcomp chirped. She fumbled at her belt f
or the device. “Yes, Dr. Webb.”
“Van Zant has regained consciousness.”
“And?”
“You wanted me to let you know?” Webb said.
“Of course, Dr. Webb. I'm sorry. I'll be right up.”
“What the hell happened to Van Zant?” Kessler's eyes were wide.
Talbot seemed to have regained her composure. “You weren't the only one who had an adventure, Commander.”
Chapter 7: Subtle Influence
“Oh, Emie.”
Clarice Van Zant lay on the narrow bed, the sheets and blanket filthy. Her eyes were great hollow pits, her cheeks sunken, her skin the color of gray ash, her brown hair damp with sweat. The bitter smell of death hung in the air. The young Emerans Van Zant sat beside her on a metal stool, holding his mother's hand. His younger brother Adrian stood like a statue, his eyes wide with fear.
The adult Emerans stood in the filthy apartment observing the scene. From outside came the sound of clashes in the street: the chanting, the warble of the sonic stunners, the pops and bangs of gas grenades. The world of Olumba's security forces fought the ragged and starving populace, and had been trying to restore order in the capital for months. The dictatorship of Trevor Madungu was in its final days. The economy of the planet had collapsed; people fought over scraps of garbage for food and medical services hadn't existed for months. The situation had finally deteriorated to the point that Consul Nicolas had sent in the Imperial Army to remove the dictator from power and restore order. The move was unprecedented; Olumba was a Senate World, settled early in the interstellar era; the world's domestic concerns were not subject to the power of the Consul. But even the Senate had agreed because of the suffering.
But the young Emerans had yet to learn his homeworld's history. All he knew was his mother was dying, the cancer eating her alive.
His mother coughed. “Emie, you need to take care of your brother.” The cough became a hack, and her body shuddered. She gasped and cried out. “No! No!” Then she lay so still that the young Emerans thought she had died.
But she twitched and turned her head. “I'm sorry you didn't know your father.” Her voice was a hoarse whisper. “I don't know where he is.” She started to cry, a thin stream of tears flowing down her cheeks. “I don't want to leave you alone. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.” Her body shuddered and then she lay still again, her eyes wide open.
Clarice Van Zant was no more.
The tears flowed down the young Emeran's cheeks, but he didn't sob or wail.
That's right, boy. You learned the truth young. The universe is a cruel place.
The young Emerans stood and looked out the window, not down at the street, but up into the gray sky. The adult Emerans suddenly became aware of a vast, alien presence, out beyond the city. He walked forward and stood beside his younger self, looking out of the window. The presence was an undefined but huge shape that seemed to scream at him in dead silence, a black pit of nothingness so full of meaning he couldn't comprehend it.
The young Emerans looked up at the older; his eyes were filled with curiosity, not fear. “What is it?”
“A threat, boy. A threat.”
Emerans coughed and then opened his eyes, the dream blown away like smoke in the wind. Someone stood above him. A man. He looked around, growing more desperate by the second, his arms flailing.
“Calm down,” the man said. “You're in the medbay. Here, drink some water.”
The man stuffed a straw in his mouth, and Emerans realized he was very thirsty. He sucked on the straw greedily. “What's the last thing you remember?” the man asked.
Emerans dared not touch the dream. He concentrated and soon remembered where he was and what had happened. “The Lalande's engineering section; there were creatures in there.” The fear flared but died down just as fast. “Something stung me.”
“Lay back and relax,” Webb said, looking at the console above the bed. “Captain Talbot will want to talk with you.” He stepped away and spoke with Talbot on his pockcomp.
Van Zant had managed to sit up by the time Captain Talbot arrived. He was surprised to see Commander Kessler; he was supposed to be on a long survey.
“How are you feeling, Mr. Van Zant?” Talbot asked.
“There's a threat here, Captain. Something big.”
“Yes, we managed to collect two carcasses of the things that attacked-”
“No, Captain. There's something else. A dark presence, unlike anything else I've ever experienced, and it felt threatening.”
Van Zant expected her to call him nuts, but she looked surprised. She stood there for several moments, her eyes wide and mouth open.
“You've seen it, haven't you?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Kessler asked. He looked at Talbot. “Captain?”
Talbot didn't look at anyone, her eyes lost in thought. “Just before Survey 1 returned on the fast boat, I was standing in the water, on the beach. I ...” She paused.
“You had a memory dream,” Van Zant said. “An episode from your past, but there was something else: a vast and alien presence.”
“Now it's starting to makes sense,” Webb said. He turned to a computer console and tapped a few keys. A holographic projection of a chemical formula appeared above the computer. “I found this in Mr. Van Zant's blood, as well as in the blood and stinger venom of the creatures that attacked him.”
“What is it?” Kessler asked.
“A isomer of dimethyltryptamine.”
“Deimthyl what?”
“Dimethyltryptamine is a psychedelic drug, naturally occurring in many plant and animal species on class 1 and class 2 worlds, including Earth. The Crown and many Senate Worlds classify it as a Schedule 1 drug and ban its use. Many scientists have performed studies of it over the last six hundred years. Subjects who take it report hallucinatory experiences, though a few have reported memory dreams. However, another reported effect is the perception of super-intelligent life forms. Some scientists have even concluded it provides the mind access to hyperspace or other dimensions.”
“The Intelligence Directorate has experimented with it,” Van Zant said. “I should have realized.”
“It's in the water,” Talbot said, still staring off into space. She shook her head, then looked at Kessler. “I experienced a memory dream of us, when we were young.” She blushed furiously, but continued. “I also perceived what Van Zant is talking about: a vast alien presence.”
Van Zant saw Kessler suddenly stand a little straighter. You've seen it, too.
“Weird,” Kessler said. “I think it happened to me, but I'd forgotten. When I dove into the water to inspect the sub's hull, I thought I heard my mother calling to me. But I didn't see any alien presence.”
“The concentration was probably lower in the water around the sub,” Webb said. “Well, one thing we can conclude, if the drug is widespread in the environment, this world is not habitable by Humans or Hominins.”
“Admiral Arinze will be disappointed yet again,” Talbot said.
“Wait a minute,” Van Zant said. “Does this adequately explain the disappearance of the Lalande's crew? Is the alien presence real? If so, is it a threat? Or is the perception of it just a result of the drug?”
“We don't know yet,” Talbot said. Van Zant noticed she seemed to have had regained her command composure, but her skin was pale, and she stooped a little. “The only thing we can do is continue with our investigation. Dr. Webb, I need you to collect more samples, both plant and animal if possible. Also sample both fresh and seawater. We need to know the extent of the contamination. We also need to continue to use the ship's water and recycling, as well as the food stores we brought with us, and keep the ship's environment sealed from the outside.” She pulled out her pockcomp and barked orders to several of the crew.
Talbot looked at Webb. “Treat all samples with care, Doctor, so the ship's environment is not compromised. Anyone moving around outside the ship must wear full biohazard protection.”<
br />
“I agree, Captain,” Webb said. “The drug may be present in water vapor in the atmosphere, so we must take special precautions.”
Talbot looked at her pockcomp. “Tomorrow will be a busy day, gentlemen. Lieutenant Commander Mitchell will present his survey plan tomorrow, and I've got something else in mind for Commander Kessler. Get some sleep.” She turned and strode out of the medbay.
“So, what happened to you?” Kessler asked.
“Some nasty little monkey got the jump on me while I was exploring the Lalande,” Van Zant replied. “Wuland also got it.”
“You? That's hard to believe.”
“I'm not perfect, but I'm close.”
“I can one-up you; I almost got sucked into an island in a strong current.”
“I didn't know we were in a competition.”
Kessler chuckled and exited the medbay.
Van Zant tried to get up, but Webb gently grabbed his arm. “Sorry. Another twelve hours of observation for you; get some more sleep. Would you like a shot?”
Van Zant was too tired to argue. “No, but I'm hungry. I'll sleep again after I eat. How's Wuland doing?”
“Still sleeping like a babe. I'll bring you some food.” He exited the medbay.
Van Zant laid back and sighed. The memory of the alien presence loomed in his mind. He fervently hoped the vision wasn't real, but his gut told him otherwise.
“What the hell?” Wuland rolled over and looked at him.
“Glad to see you're awake,” Van Zant said.
Wuland sat up and rubbed his eyes. “What a trip!”
Chapter 8: Taking Command
Kessler woke to his beeping pockcomp. What the hell? He had been in a deep and dreamless sleep; he grabbed the device and saw that someone was outside his door. He triggered the door camera.
Caroline.
He got out of bed and went to the door. What the hell does she want? Should I open it? She could have just summoned him.
The Dreaming Oceans of San Miguel Page 5
