by S. H. Jucha
“Yes, good company,” Devon said excitedly, slapping his hands together.
“A final adventure, if I’m selected,” Henry commented, with a wry smile.
Captain Stamerson needn’t have wondered about the outcome. Except for a few friends, family members, and drinking partners who voted for each of the other thirty-four names on the ballot, the stationers overwhelmingly selected Henry as their representative.
* * * *
“Welcome aboard, Envoy,” Claudia, the copilot of the Belle’s premier shuttle, said.
Harbour smiled genially, as she climbed the ramp into the shuttle. It felt as if she had only recently become accustomed to being called captain when her title had changed again.
Danny Thompson remained in the pilot’s seat. It eliminated his need to stump down the aisle on his prosthetic legs. In Harbour’s mind, Danny would be one of the next twenty individuals to visit Jatouche medical services, if she could convince him to go. Then again, it occurred to her that the best way to convince Danny was through his copilot and new love, Claudia.
Harbour strolled to the pilot’s cabin, while other passengers found seats. The shuttle’s interior looked as good as it had when first delivered. The exterior had taken a beating when it entered Pyre’s harsh environment to drop the Jatouche intravertor, and a substantial amount of coin was spent to resurface the hull and return it to a pristine state.
Harbour’s visit with Danny was cursory. She said hello, shared her appreciation emotionally with him, and left to find her own seat.
The shuttle flight was from the YIPS to the JOS, and it was full. Notably, Dingles, Belinda, and Aurelia accompanied Harbour. Dingles wore his best skins and new coveralls with captain’s patches on the shoulders.
After docking at the terminal arm, the passengers disembarked. Those who were intent on shopping were allowed to go ahead. Then the remaining passengers followed Harbour along the arm toward the transition ring.
Groups of spacers caught caps, transferring through the station’s ring, until only four people remained on the arm. Harbour, Dingles, Belinda, and Aurelia loaded into a cap, rode the ring, and exited into the station.
Harbour’s entourage waited for her. The first few times Harbour had received this type of treatment, it had embarrassed her. She no longer felt that way. The spacers formed a column, which occupied half the width of the station’s promenade corridor.
Dingles walked proudly beside Harbour at the front of the column. Stationers opened comm units as they passed. Many wanted to be the first to share the news about the arrival of the envoy and the Belle’s new captain.
But the critical messages that were hurriedly shared by the stationers concerned Aurelia Garmenti, who walked beside the envoy. In the minds of Pyreans, Aurelia was the young woman who toppled the Andropov dynasty, and she had finally set foot again aboard the JOS.
It remained to be seen whether the commandant would confront Aurelia. Harbour had held a captain’s court, presented evidence, and declared Aurelia innocent of murder by reason of self-defense. However, the young empath had never faced the JOS Review Board, much less returned downside to face the families’ justice, as they had demanded.
The spacer phalanx reached the Latched On. The store’s owner, Gabriel, was waiting for Harbour, and he welcomed her inside. For a moment, he was taken aback by the numbers who accompanied her, but only two women followed Harbour inside.
Harbour’s entourage lined the store’s face, staring impassively at the pedestrians who passed by. Dingles’ position was nearest the door. The spacers had no intention of denying access to the store, but their mere presence deterred customers from entering, choosing to put off their business until later.
“The four delegates are waiting, as you requested, Envoy,” Gabriel said. “Belinda, good to see you appearing so well, and, Aurelia Garmenti, I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure. Welcome to the Latched On.” Then he led Harbour and her companions to where the delegates waited.
“Thank you for meeting us,” Harbour said graciously to Henry, Dottie, Devon, and Idrian. “Our purpose today is to check on your vac suit qualification and see you properly outfitted, if necessary. Let me introduce your primary trainer and qualifier, Belinda Kilmer, second mate on the Annie. The assistant trainer will be Aurelia Garmenti, known as Rules by spacers.”
Harbour gazed briefly at Dottie before her eyes settled on Idrian. “Does anyone have any issues with my choices for your trainers?”
Idrian was quick to shake his head. Harbour had opened her senses to taste the emotions of the foursome. She was sure that Aurelia had done the same thing. More than anything, Harbour felt combinations of excitement and anxiety, which she attributed to nervousness about the vac suit training, the flight to Triton, and the journey to Rissness.
“We’re taking the Spryte to Triton. It’s a mining ship, which I’m sure most of you know,” Harbour stated. “The question is who, besides Captain Stamerson, has been aboard one?”
When the other three delegates shook their heads, Harbour briefly eyed Belinda, who signed her acknowledgment. There would be a necessity for more than vac suit training.
“Next question is the status of vac suit training,” Harbour requested. “Let’s go left to right. Captain, if you’ll start.”
“My qualification expired, Envoy, and I wouldn’t trust my old suit,” Henry replied.
“I’ve never even been on a terminal arm,” Dottie said. Her embarrassment was evident.
“We’ll take care of you, Dottie,” Harbour said. She sent the woman some emotional support, knowing that due to Henry and Devon’s proximity to Dottie they would feel some of her power. Harbour meant it as a reminder to the three of them that the title of envoy was in addition to her capability as an empath.
Dottie smiled briefly at the unusual sensations that flowed through her mind. She remembered telling her associates that she’d never had contact with an empath. The thought crossed her mind that she now had two obligations as a delegate. She must look after the interests of her fellow investors, and she must be careful to maintain a cordial relationship with the envoy.
Harbour moved on to Devon, who replied, “Vac suit qualification was seven years ago. It’s expired, and my gear is old.”
When Harbour regarded Idrian, he said, “Apologies, Envoy, my circumstances are much the same as those of Dottie.”
Harbour had been prepared to dislike the domes’ delegate, but Idrian didn’t seem to be formed from the same mold as the likes of Markos, Lise, or Dorelyn. But that didn’t mean she intended to forget or forgive the fact that Idrian Tuttle was the head of a dome family.
“I’m not aware of which of you has the coin to pay for a quality vac suit or who will be reimbursed for your purchases,” Harbour announced. “Therefore, I’m purchasing your equipment today, and I’ll appreciate you taking Belinda’s advice in all things. Captain Stamerson, for the sake of expediency, I request your cooperation in this regard.”
“I never argue with someone who is choosing to spend their coin on the purchase of quality equipment for me,” Henry replied. His smile was warm, and Harbour sensed the retired mining captain’s genuine affection for her.
“You speak as if we’re departing soon,” Dottie said. “I thought we would need weeks to become vac suit qualified.”
“You’ll be trained on the way to Triton,” Harbour replied. “It will keep you occupied.”
Henry hid his smile. A mining ship’s journey to its destination could be tedious, the height of boredom. It was the reason that captains kept their spacers busy and carefully monitored the camaraderie of the crew. A slovenly crew and an unharmonious ship meant accidents waiting to happen.
“And regarding our departure date, Dottie, we’ll be sailing as soon as everyone can be ready,” Harbour said. “Captain?” she added.
“Tomorrow morning,” Henry said, sending Dottie an apologetic expression.
“Lieutenant?”
“The same,�
�� Devon replied.
“Idrian?”
“I see no reason why I can’t keep the same schedule,” Idrian replied.
When Harbour turned her attention on Dottie, the woman said, “Well, I don’t want to be the one holding up the works, but someone is going to have to collect me from the station’s side.”
“We’ll send you a message as to which terminal arm our shuttle is docked, Dottie, and we’ll meet you and the others on station,” Belinda assured the woman.
Harbour turned around and found Gabriel watching. She twitched her head in the delegates’ directions. In turn, Gabriel signaled several clerks, and then he hurried forward. The clerks followed, towing sleds.
“Gabriel, I’ve requested Belinda and Aurelia select captain’s quality gear for the delegates,” Harbour said. To the foursome, she said, “I’ll leave you in these spacers’ capable hands.” To the store owner, she said, “Gabriel, I need a rush order.”
“Certainly, Envoy. How soon do you need it?”
“Tomorrow morning,” Harbour replied.
There was a moment while the two individuals eyed each other. Gabriel was trying to figure out what it would cost to put fabrication teams on the order around the clock to meet the schedule. Harbour was telling Gabriel through her focused stare that she wanted it done.
“The rush charge will be exorbitant, Envoy,” Gabriel cautioned.
“As long as you can meet the goal,” Harbour replied. She sent him a wave of appreciation, spun, and walked out of the Latched On.
Previously, Harbour had been extremely reserved about dispensing her powers among stationers. Since the start of her liaison with Jessie and his spacers, she found she was less concerned about keeping her abilities under wraps. She wondered how stationers would react to the change in her habit. Then again, she quickly realized the effect would be minimal. She was leaving for the Jatouche home world tomorrow.
In the station’s broad corridor, a small group of spacers fell in behind Harbour. Dingles and the majority of the crew continued to wait outside the store. Those observing from the restaurant windows across the corridor considered the spacers weren’t securing the delegates, more likely, they were protecting Aurelia.
-12-
The Crossing
The following morning, the Belle’s shuttle docked at JOS terminal arm three. Dingles and Belinda led a group of spacers onto the arm. They transferred through the caps to the station and met the delegates in the arm’s access corridor. Gabriel was standing behind them with clerks and sleds of equipment.
Dingles immediately noted something was wrong. Henry and Devon stood to one side of the corridor with duffels at their feet. Idrian and Dottie stood on the other side with an assortment of sleds near them, and they weren’t happy.
“Uh-oh,” Belinda mouthed to Dingles.
It was Dingles’ time under Harbour’s tutelage that allowed the old spacer to approach the problem diplomatically instead of barking questions.
“I’d say good morning, but that doesn’t seem to be the case for everyone,” Dingles said. Turning toward Idrian and Dottie, he said, “How can I help?”
“According to the captain,” Dottie said, pointing at Henry, “you won’t allow us to take this meager amount of luggage.”
Dingles, whose entire possessions had fit in two duffels, eyed the loaded sleds. With no stretch of his imagination could he have applied the term meager to the four mounded sleds. Dingles looked at Henry for clarification.
“More accurately, Captain, I was trying to educate my fellow delegates about the challenges of space travel,” Henry replied.
“I must admit that more closely resembles what Captain Stamerson said,” Idrian added, which earned him Dottie’s displeasure.
“The ship is full of spacers,” Dottie objected. “Why can’t we borrow a few of them to manage our things until we get to the Jatouche home world?”
“First, you’ll be on a mining ship,” Dingles explained. “It’s not a passenger ship, and it’ll be carrying more people than it’s built to accommodate. Can your gear be stowed in an unpressurized bay?”
“Certainly not,” Dottie said defiantly.
“More important,” Dingles continued, “only the envoy and her party will be traveling through the gate. You’ll arrive at a dome on a moon far from this world. We have no idea how you’ll be transported to the Jatouche home world or another station. Every time you transfer from dome to ship to station and back, you’ll be responsible for managing your gear.”
Dottie forlornly regarded her sleds. “Captain Stamerson, I apologize for my remarks,” she said. She regarded Idrian, and the two individuals seemed at a loss as to what to do next.
“Gabriel, I need four duffels, if you please,” Dingles requested.
Gabriel glanced at the nearest clerk and tipped his head toward the Latched On, which set the clerk running toward the store.
“Lieutenant Higgins, I’ll need someone to secure the delegates’ extraneous gear in whatever manner they request,” Dingles said.
Devon stepped away, pulled his comm unit, and spoke into it quietly.
“Now,” Dingles said, approaching Idrian and Dottie. “I think it best that you separate your possessions into what will fill two duffels, such as those you see at Captain Stamerson’s feet.”
Gabriel signaled the clerks, who hurried forward to help pull bags off the sleds and open them for the delegates. The corridor became a display of personnel wardrobe and comfort items. At one point, Devon regarded Henry and quirked his eyebrows, forcing the captain to cover his grin.
Belinda knelt next to Dottie to advise her, and Dingles did the same with Idrian.
When the Latched On clerk arrived, carrying four duffels, they were filled to overflowing. That necessitated some more fretting and reordering by the delegates to consider what was necessary. When the final decisions had been made, the clerks helped the delegates repack the bags that would be left behind and return them to the sleds.
By this time, Sergeants Lindstrom and Rodriguez were standing by.
“I’d like my things returned to my cabin,” Dottie said.
“I’ll secure them for you,” Cecilia assured the woman.
“I’ve nowhere on station that’s private,” Idrian said.
“Sergeant Rodriguez, please store Delegate Tuttle’s gear in security’s lockup,” Devon ordered. He had kept his eyes on Idrian and received a nod from the downsider, indicating that it was a satisfactory arrangement.
“Then I believe we’re ready,” Dingles said. “Gabriel, if your people would assist,” he requested, nodding toward the duffels.
The clerks scooped up the eight duffels and added them to the sleds carrying the vac suits. Then Gabriel and his people made for a lift to drop to the arm’s cargo level, while Dingles, Belinda, and the delegates turned to catch a cap and transition to the arm’s passenger level.
As the cap doors closed, Devon saw his sergeants give him small waves, and he lifted his hand in recognition of their farewell.
When the cap doors opened on the terminal arm, Belinda asked Dottie to wait, while the others exited the cap. Then she unbuckled and released her shoulder restraint. Standing in front of Dottie, she cautioned, “Always one foot on the deck, and when we’re in zero-g, you will always hold the hand of an experienced spacer. I don’t care who that person might be.”
Dottie had thought to object to Belinda’s tone. Then she recalled Harbour’s instructions. This officer would be her trainer, and she had to vac suit qualify to be allowed to journey through the gate. She visualized the embarrassment of standing before the investors and admitting that she’d been dismissed from the envoy’s party at Triton.
“Understood, Belinda,” Dottie replied. Then, she quickly forgot her instructions.
Belinda unbuckled the delegate, and Dottie shoved up on her restraint. Her feet hit the cap’s floor, and she instinctively flexed her legs to take her weight. In the next moment, she would have smacked t
he cap’s overhead, except that Belinda had grabbed her.
“Oops,” Dottie muttered, annoyed with her actions.
“In space, mistakes will get you killed, Dottie,” Belinda cautioned. “You have to listen to what we teach you and incorporate those lessons into your thoughts. Think about them over and over … in your cabin, in the facilities, in the galley … everywhere.”
Dottie nodded. She reached out a hand, which Belinda took. Then Dottie stretched out both legs and connected to the deck. “One foot on the deck at all times,” she repeated to herself. The women’s exit from the cap was slow and careful, as Dottie practiced what she’d just learned.
Idrian, who had ridden the El hundreds of times, was familiar with the transitions from Pyre’s gravity to an arm’s zero-g. Despite that experience, he noted that he was bracketed by both captains, who walked shoulder to shoulder with him.
Dottie, who was proud of her shoulder-length hair, was suddenly disconcerted by it floating around her face and obscuring her vision. She felt a tug on her hand and halted her step. Belinda gathered Dottie’s hair, pulled on the back of her skins, and tucked it inside.
“Thank you,” Dottie muttered. From the corridor, where she’d packed her duffels, to where she now stood, she’d already had several eye-opening, if not terrifying, lessons. The future looked extremely daunting to her, and it had nothing to do with being a delegate.
Once the group boarded the Belle’s shuttle, Dottie and Idrian felt a bit of confidence return. The shuttle’s quality elicited oohs and aahs from Dottie and several polite comments from Idrian.
Listening to the other delegates, Henry and Devon regarded each other. They knew the Spryte would be several orders of lesser comfort compared to the colony ship’s new shuttle. Dottie and Idrian were about to receive some rude awakenings.
* * * *
Harbour and Jessie waited aboard the Spryte for Belinda and the delegates. Their goodbyes to those on the Belle had been said.
