Stowaway

by Z D Dean

  We only survived because the crew occasionally took pity on us and threw us their food scraps. During the journey the slavers decided to attack a merchant ship which was putting out a distress beacon. The slavers docked and boarded the distressed vessel to find that it was actually a Unity military bait ship. All I can remember from that day was the noise. The Unity troopers thoroughly smashed the slavers, but not before one could try to scuttle the slave ship. The troopers managed to rescue us before the slave ship was destroyed. After they rescued us, they tried to find out where we came from, but none of us was old enough to know the navigational data of our home planet.

  The combat ship I was rescued by headed back to the core worlds to resupply. As a last effort to get us survivors to some safety, the ship landed at planets who’s predominate species matched the children they rescued. They left me for adoption on Xi’Ga. The Unity used my situation as a rally cry to build up the military, and because of the publicity I was adopted by a wealthy family. The family couldn’t have children of their own, so I was the miracle daughter that made them whole. The day I was rescued was the day I decided that I would join the Academe. I wanted to help people like the troopers who helped me.

  The family that took me in was wonderful. They treated me like one of their own and sent me to the best schools. As soon as I became eligible, I joined the Academe hoping to earn a slot in the Trooper program. Because of my entrance exams however, I was given orders to attend the, more prestigious, command program. The Academe was easy for me, while my classmates were studying or practicing, I researched the outer rim planets trying to find out where I came from. I couldn’t find anything on my home. After I came to terms with never being able to be a trooper, I decided that I wanted to command a combat ship. That dream was crushed like my dreams of becoming a trooper, my high marks earned me an assignment in the exploration corps. The combination of my stellar performance during training and my family’s standing within the Unity earned me this command as my first.

  ∆∆∆

  “Sorry to hear about your parents.” Zade said, although the condolence seemed empty to him.

  “Thank you, but I think I have come to terms with it.”

  “It explains why you always look so sad when I talk about never being able to get home.”

  “You see that? Most people on this boat have the personal skills of a rock. No one has ever picked up on what I was feeling, before you that is.”

  “You have to admit it’s weird.”

  “What’s weird?” Samix asked.

  “We have so much in common. Both unable to get home. Both searching for some kind of meaning in life. Both boned by our respective governments repeatedly. You have to admit it’s weird that out of all the ships in your fleet, and all of the people on earth, you picked me up.”

  “That is kind of weird.” Samix said, a smile creeping across her face as she thought about just how chance the encounter was.

  As the two sat in silence waiting for the sensor to complete its scan, Zade saw an alarmed look on Samix’s face. The sensor had output a warning directly to her interface. The sensor was complete with the scan, but at some point, an extremely large lifeform had developed an interest in it. After Samix informed Zade of the situation, he looked down with his thermals, and could see the faintest pink glow of some kind of enormous fish circling just below them under the ice.

  “Sam, I think it’s time to go. I would love to add some kind of watery death machine to my list of conquered foes, but you didn’t let me bring my tools.”

  Agreeing completely, Samix began pulling in the sensor while Zade broke down the shack and loaded up his suit’s carrying rack. With everything in place Zade waited on Samix to get the sensor out of the water. As the sensor hit the three-hundred-foot mark, the point at which it was out of the water, the team felt a deep thud against the ice.

  “You know, I have all of the readings, I think I’m just going to leave this for our new friend.” Samix said as she released the line, she was using to tow the sensor to the surface.

  “That isn’t the worst idea. Close up the sensor box and throw it on top of the others.”

  The trek back to the ship was done quietly, as not to attract any unwanted attention from the local wildlife. Zade repeatedly looked back with his thermals but after the team had departed the observation site, he could not see anything under the ice. After hearing each other’s stories’, the teammates had a newfound respect for one another. Zade was happy to have visited another planet, even if it was covered in ice, where nothing tried to kill him or his new friends.

  Chapter 9

  After the two boarded the ship, Samix immediately initiated the orbital protocol. The two chatted as Zade took off the protective suit and stowed it. As he finished securing it in its storage container Zade could feel the ship lift off. Samix headed to the command deck to release the data drone and Zade followed, wanting to see how it was done. Once on the command deck Samix oriented the ship so the drone could be viewed through the windows as it dropped into warp.

  Zade watched in silence as Samix downloaded the navigational data for the planet, a habit she picked up since the incident on earth. After validating the drone’s destination and reviewing the data which it carried, Samix released it. Zade peered into the space surrounding the command deck and could only identify the drone by its one orange marker light. After the drone oriented itself it disappeared with a bright purple and blue flash. The flash was so bright that it left an afterimage dancing around Zade’s vision. Samix then started the protocol to move the ship to the last planet of interest.

  “Well, we’re done here. Do you want to grab some chow in the galley?” Samix asked as she looked at Zade.

  “I could eat.”

  The two headed to the galley, where they chatted and ate. Zade learned that the trip would take around 36 hours, time he could use to get to know the crew better. After the two finished eating both Samix and Zade headed to their respective quarters for showers and sleep. As Zade entered his quarters he started playing one of his favorite songs from his music collection. Samix on the other hand couldn’t stop thinking about Zade and his situation. She now understood, Zade was not the threat that she feared.

  After a quick nap Zade decided to start making the ship his home. The first thing he had to do was talk to Samix about using some of the space in the cargo bay. His goal was to create some kind of weight room or training area he could use to pass the time. After getting the OK from Samix, Zade headed to the robotics and fabrication lab to create some free weights and other gym equipment. Initially he worried that the equipment might move around while the ship was in flight but Samix ensured him that the ships gravity drives would keep everything in place. After clearing an area he could use, Zade headed to the fabrication lab and started the fabrication machines on creating workout equipment.

  While the fabrication machines worked, Zade headed to the galley to grab a cup of sloop. There he met, an extremely talkative, Axis. The two talked as Axis finished his meal. When Axis finished, he tossed his tray and headed to his room. He soon emerged carrying a small board, which he explained was a strategy game favored by his family. He quickly explained how the game was played and badgered Zade into playing quick game with him. Zade learned that the game was very similar to chess and, as an army officer, felt he would be quite good at it. Axis explained that throughout the trip he couldn’t get any other crewmember to play with him, because nobody could beat him at it. Zade would be the first person he played since early in the trip.

  The first round, as suspected, was a loss for Zade. He was still learning the game and made multiple rookie mistakes. Dissatisfied with his performance, Zade demanded a rematch; a rematch in which he beat Axis. Impressed that the human could beat him Axis, himself, demanded a rematch. As axis set up the board for round three, as he did so Zade received a notification on his interface saying that the fabrication machines were complete.

  “I would love to go
another round, but the project I’m working on in the lab just finish. Maybe next time?”

  Axis began to protest saying that Zade, the only person to beat him, couldn’t just leave after a loss. Zade assured him that he enjoyed the game and would play again after he get his work done. The small alien continued to protest, and as Zade left the galley he could still hear Axis demanding a chance to redeem himself. Zade headed to the lab, to find it full of new gym equipment. Zade had instructed the fabrication machines to create a set of dumbbells, a large punching bag and some rubber mats for the floor. Zade spent the next 2 hours setting up his gym in the cargo bay. He thought to himself, it wasn’t the same as the gyms he had used on post but, it was probably the best he was going to get on a spaceship.

  The new gym, although small, would be perfect for Zade to pass time and learn how to use his new strength. The first thing he wanted to do, was to measure his performance against a known standard. The known standard he lived by his whole life, was the army physical fitness test. He was unable to do the run but knew the standards for pushups and sit-ups. In order to max the physical fitness test Zade would have to do 77 pushups and 82 situps in 2 minutes. Although he was never truly out of shape, Zade always found it difficult to max his APFT. Zade set the timer in his interface for 2 minutes and assume the pushups position. Once he started the timer, he began knocking out pushups as fast as he could, to his surprise when the timer stopped it he had done 160 pushups. Pleased with himself he reset the timer, stuck his feet under a dumbbell, and began doing situps. Like with the pushups Zade destroyed the standards doing just over 200 in the allotted 2 minutes. Just a Zade was finishing up his sit-ups, Axis entered the cargo bay to see what had drawn him away from their game.

  “You know, with the nanites, you don’t have to work out to keep your body in top physical condition.” Axis said.

  “I know. I enjoy working out to pass time. Plus, the only way I can truly be able to utilize my new strength and modifications from the nanites, is to train.”

  Axis walk out of the cargo bay, obviously confused, as a scientist and social elite the idea of physical training was lost on him. Zade, not even winded, sat on the floor and thought about the potential his gym had. The first thing he will work on would be larger weights such as a squat rack and a bench. He didn’t include them initially because he was unsure of how the fabrication machines would complete them. Now, regardless of how well they built them, Zade knew he needed the equipment. The only thing missing from the gym was visual and audio motivation. He had the audio motivation he needed, the music’s Samix had salvage from his iPod, what he needed was posters to put around the gym. The gym was right underneath the second floor platform of the cargo bay. Dumbbell stacked against the cargo bay wall, a 40 by 40-foot area to work out in, and the punching bag hung from the stair supports closest to the cargo bay door. There would be plenty of room to include a new equipment. Zade headed back into the robotics and fabrication lab through the large rolling door he had used to bring the equipment into the cargo bay. After entering, as he sat down, Zade imagined what a squat rack and bench looked like and sent the images to the large fabrication machine for processing. To the smaller fabrication machine Zade said specs for the plate weights and bars he would need on the equipment.

  As the machines worked Zade headed back into the cargo bay to do a quick work out. It wasn’t anything extravagant, as the gym was still pretty small, but he did serve its purpose of killing time it took to fabricate the squat rack and bench. Zade move the new equipment rack, bench, weights, and bars into the workout room. The new equipment made the gym look complete. Now excited about completing a real workout, Zade headed to his room to change into workout clothes. Samix caught him just before he entered his quarters.

  “Axis said he saw you in the cargo bay, and said you seemed agitated. Is everything okay?” She asked.

  “Everything is fine. Just finished a workout area and am getting ready the change and try it out. Want to get a quick lift in?”

  “You know you don’t…” Samix started but was cut off by Zade.

  “I know I don’t have to work out, but I enjoy it and it passes the time.”

  “I have some things to do, but I might catch you down there later.”

  Samix, now confident Zade wasn’t upset, headed back to the command deck. Zade walked into his room, took off his uniform, and changing to a pair of shorts he created for sleeping. Now in gym attire, Zade headed back to his new creation. As he walked towards the cargo bay Zade sorted through his music in his interface to find the workout mix he had used when deployed. As angry heavy metal started blasting his head, Zade began loading up the squat rack. Leg routines were Zade’s favorite, and as such would be the first workout he did in space. After loading the bar Zade got into position and started his first set. His new nanites improvements meant that Zade had not created enough free weights to challenge himself. Knowing that creating enough free weights to be challenging would use up the ship’s resources, Zade sat on the bench and tried to think up a way to fix the problem. As he sat contemplating his dilemma, Samix walked in. She had changed into athletic shoes, and lime green tank top and a pair of matching green running shorts.

  “It looks great. I saw what you’re doing on the internal cams and changed and appropriate clothing. Why the deep thought?”

  “I created enough weight to challenge me before the nanite improvements, but now it isn’t even enough to make me sweat.”

  Unsure how to help, Samix just stood there and shrugged. Zade showed her around the small workout area, explaining what each piece of equipment did. He explained that the punching bag was used to practice striking, the padded floor could be used for sparring, and the weights were used for strength training. As he finished that gym’s walkthrough an idea struck him.

  “You said that the weights would be held in place by the gravity drive, right? Is it adjustable?” he asked.

  “Sure, you just have to bring up the room controls on your interface. Why?”

  “I just realized instead of creating more weight, I can just increase the gravity to make all lifts harder.”

  “Not a bad idea. All of the storage crates in the bay should be able to handle the extra G’s.”

  Zade was excited to try the increased gravity but was unsure if Samix could handle it. Samix headed over to the punching bag and took a few swings. As she did the punching bag began to swing wildly, at one point swinging high enough to hit the railing above. Zade remembered that earlier in the trip Samix backhanded him out of his seat without even trying, meaning she was strong enough to handle the higher gravity levels. Zade walked over to hold the punching bag as Samix hammered away on it. As he did, Zade brought up the room controls in his interface and increase the gravity to three times normal.

  The new gravity level was noticeable to both crewmembers in the gym. Zade immediately noticed how heavy his limbs felt and how sluggish as movements were. The increased gravity would really help him get a handle on his new physical capabilities. Zade could see Samix notice the change as well but seem to be handling it better than him. For a split second, her movements seemed uncoordinated and slow, but she quickly adjusted. Samix hammered on the bag for a few minutes to warm up, then suggested that Zade and her spar. Zade explained that he had not yet made gloves for sparring, but if Samix wanted to, he could have the fabrication machines make a couple pairs. Samix in turn, explained that she was not interested in striking but rather grappling. Further explaining that she was the ship wide grappling champ during her on ship exploration training.

  Zade nervously laughed as he began clearing the mats of the weights he had been using previously. He knew he matched her in strength but feared he may out match her in technique. If she did her on-ship training with an exploration vessel, it meant her fellow crewmates were all scientists. If the scientists she bested to earn her title were anything like the scientists on this ship, she didn’t need much skill to beat them. While Zade finished clea
ning off the mats he explained that although he wasn’t professional, he was pretty well versed in hand to hand combat. Samix assured him that she could handle herself.

  Zade walked toward the center of the mats and began stretching. Straightening up after hamstring stretch, still unsure Samix’s abilities, Zade was surprised to see Samix already in motion. Sometime while Zade was stretching Samix decided that it was time to begin and was flying towards him feet first. Zade only had a moment to brace himself before Samix’s feet connected squarely with his sternum. In triple gravity, it felt as if he had been hit by a truck. Although he had tried to brace himself, the impact took him off his feet. Zade landed flat on his back with Samix spryly perched atop him. Now realizing that he wasn’t going to destroy her, Zade went on the offensive. Hooking one of her ankles Zade rolled, trying to both knock Samix off balance, and regain a more favorable position. Samix, as if she knew what was coming, quickly spread her feet, and landed in the full mount position.

  “Told you I could hold my own ponyboy.” She said as she rained down blows on Zade’s head and neck.

  What…How…Did she just quote a movie from the 80’s?

  The increased gravity meant that Zade felt like he was being pinned by a small family sedan. Zade could feel her long firm legs pressing into his sides to hold him in place. Usually Zade would take the time to appreciate having a beautiful woman sitting on top of him, but after having his pride hurt, he could only think about one thing, winning. Zade bucked twice to no avail. The third buck disrupted Samix, who lost her balance and fell forward planting her hands on either side of his head. Grabbing her left arm, and hooking her left leg with his foot, Zade planted a hard left hook to her ribs, rolled his hips, and slid out of her mount to his left.