Ghost Fleet

by Isaac Stone

  She nearly startled me when I opened the door to her room. Precious came up behind me and wrapped her small arms around my chest. I froze and enjoyed the feel of her body.

  “We lost Dredge and her crew,” I told Precious that night as we held each other. I wasn’t supposed to say anything, but I’m certain she suspected it. In addition, Captain would tell everyone the next morning.

  “The jump,” she spoke. "That explains the jump.” I nodded and told her in brief what happened.

  Then we went back to making love.

  As I drifted into sleep that night, I realized the crew could still merge as one mind. I’d only done it a few times during the evening shift when most of us were asleep. Tonight, there would be more packmates awake. Captain would want a full support crew in the bridge in light of what happened before we jumped. Still, there were enough of us asleep late at night to accomplish what I had in mind. I needed to wait until most of the crew was in a deep sleep. The stress we’d undergone made it difficult and I was forced to wait awhile.

  Once I was certain, I sent my mind through the ship and made contact with all the packmates who were receptive. Most of them were. Captain, I left alone, as I didn’t quite understand the strange relationship she had with her unborn child. I was afraid anything I might do with them would be fatal.

  Then I began to create the group awareness that I needed. It was slow at first, Precious and a few people in the rooms near ours. I reached out and found more people who would join in our sombuelistic quest. There were plenty of them, all I had to do was spell out what I had in mind and they agreed to help. I didn’t think many of them would remember, but at this phase, I didn’t care.

  Together we shared the thoughts all of us had over our lives. I was aware of what took place and tried to shield my own best as I could. Anyone could still look inside; all they need to know was the right closet. There were many such closets and hiding places in our minds, but it wasn’t the point of a group consciousness. What I needed them all for was the heightened awareness that came with a collective effort. Together we had many times the power to process and store information. We could make contact with the Fundamental Unity of All Things called by billions of different names by billions of different humans. It all led to the same source, we had a way to make contact with the Blind Clockmaker of the Universe.

  Higher our minds soared until we were beyond everything that I’d witnessed before. Words cannot spell out with any precision things that are experienced beyond the five senses.

  I found myself on a blank sheet of glass overlooking a mountain of black granite. Beyond it was a pillar fire that flamed in the heavens of a green planet. I stood there and waited for something to approach.

  Then it came up to me.

  It was tall and made of several colors that did not exist on the spectrum of which our eyes can see. The only words I had for the color salmon green, but the color before me was primary in a universe that possessed more primary colors than did ours.

  The being in front of me had parts of several different animals and plants. It resembled a flying cactus, if such a thing was possible. Large wings unfolded and retracted as the bat cactus looked me over.

  “This better not be about universal peace,” I said to the bat cactus. "We’re in some real trouble down there and need help.”

  “No," It replied in a voice which sent harmonic pulses through my body. “It's not about infinite love either. Now what seems to be your problem?”

  I described it as best I could while the souls of my packmates listened to the dialogue. The bat cactus placed one thorny wing up in the air as a sign to stop.

  “I've heard this story too many times,” it sighed. “Let your captain handle it. She knows the drill. That thing is a mere demiurge; it can’t do a lot, although it thinks it’s owed your reality.”

  “That's it?” I said to it. "Nothing more. I expected a few secrets of eternal life. This is visually stimulating and all, but I'm honestly a little underwhelmed. It all seems kinda simple.”

  “Now you're starting to get it kid," winked the creature as it flapped its wings, causing my entire perception to swirl into chaos with the beat of the wings.

  The landscape swirled and I found myself back in bed with Precious, who slept soundly by my side. I dreamed no more that night.

  The next morning it was quiet in the mess hall. Precious sat with Amarin and I as we waited for Captain to come forth and make her announcements. I didn’t know who was aware of what happened to the former pirates, but word spread since last night. There was no reason to hide what happened when they tried to penetrate the dark matter barrier. What bothered me most was how they might have succeeded. Somehow, the demiurge, as the bat cactus described it, laid a trap for Dredge and her women. All the work I’d done to fix the damage done to them was gone. I tried not to think about the horrors I’d seen in their minds. At least I’d helped Precious and she was still here.

  “Many of you already know what happened to the Rhapsody Danger yesterday,” Captain spoke to us all. "We’ve lost Captain Dredge and the women who pledged into the pack with her. At least we’re still here, thanks to their swift and selfless sacrifice. More such things, these ghostly space hulks, have come rampaging into real space. I’ve talked to the UDF Council and two more systems have suffered greatly. They’re putting everything they have on it, and I have commanded those Order ships available to converge on the space hulks to help destroy them, so we can’t expect much help from them.”

  There was a brief memorial proceeded in which Precious spoke for the absent women who perished with Dredge. Memorial services I’ve always dreaded. Too many of them remind you of what you’re up against.

  “I've decided on another plan of action,” Captain resumed after the service was over. "It’s one that I can’t speak about very much, but it won’t involve the whole pack.” She adjusted her uniform. It was a large one, meant for a man. She’d adapted for her pregnancy.

  “Most of you will have to transfer to the Atrogon colony,” she explained. A disappointed murmur rose from the pack. Atrogon was a retirement colony for Order members who'd aged out of active duty. Plenty of repair work was performed at it, but it had a reputation of a place where former packmates sat around a bar all day and talked about their glory days. Most of the crew on the Hard Rain was far too young to consider a trip to it. I was one of the older packmates and didn’t even think about the place, Shelly was the closest we had to a retiree candidate. Why was she taking us to this location?”

  “It's the closest and most secure place for everyone,” Captain explained. "I have to think about the future of this pack. We don’t have one if we lose our children and ability to make babies. I’ll let everyone know who will stay in the ship for what I have in mind.”

  A hand went up. It was Cherish.

  “Captain, why are you going on this mission when you’re in an advanced state of pregnancy?” she asked. "If you’re so concerned about the children and future of the pack, why do you put your unborn child in harm’s way?”

  “Because it's necessary,” Captain snapped back. "I'm still in charge of this ship. And, in case any of you want to know, I’ve resigned the marshal position after giving my final order. I’m back to being a regular ship captain.”

  More gasps from the assembled pack.

  Another hand went up. This time it was Elysian.

  “Captain,” she started, "No one still knows who the father is of your baby. It can’t be that hard to determine. Who is the lucky man on this ship?” There were more than a few grins.

  “All of them,” Captain spoke, "You’ve wanted to know, so now you do. Every man of age on this ship shares in the fatherhood of my child. Are you happy to know?’

  “I didn't mean figuratively,” Ely replied. “You slept with all the men in a row. One of them provided the DNA. We all want to know which one so we can congratulate him.”

  “I said all the men on this ship are my baby’s father, and
that is exactly what I meant," smiled Captain Sophia as she looked out at the assembly, "Just as all of them are my husbands. I will answer no more questions on this matter. Everyone get to work, there is a lot to be done before we arrive at Atrogon.” She turned and left the podium.

  “At least she didn't ask her about why the baby grows so fast,” I heard Tank mutter.

  There was plenty that needed to be accomplished, as Captain pointed out. She didn’t publish a list of who was going down to the colony and who would accompany her. This made everyone work that much harder in hopes they’d be one of the lucky few to join her. I didn’t ask if she’d cleared whatever she had in mine with the navy, as things had evolved far beyond the UDF.

  “Is anyone taking a bet on who the dad is for Captain’s baby?” I asked Indigo one night in her quarters. I was with her and Shaunice, as the imbalance still was a factor between the men and women members of the pack. I’d finished pleasing Shaunice and still needed to satisfy Indigo. Shaunice suggested a position that allowed Indigo to lean back on the edge of the bed, since she was a bit tired after inventory in one of the storage rooms.

  “You can lean on me if it helps,” she'd offered to Indigo. "I'm bigger than you are and can help. I’ve had plenty of women help me through these triads too, so don’t worry.”

  No one had complained. This was a surprise as the subject was in front of everyone’s mind.

  I didn’t know how the roster would work once we reached Atrogon. Surely, they had some way down there to keep everyone happy.

  When we arrive in orbit around the planet, another ship from the Orders was there to help us. I was surprised to see the Mary Sue from the Amazon Order, but grateful for any help they could lend us. The Amazon mothership stood guard in case the ghost ships made an appearance. Captain Athena told us later that the Tom Finland from another order was posted further out in the solar system of the star that Atrogon orbited while we made ready for the transfer.

  The day of the transfer came and Captain didn’t post the list of who would accompany her on whatever offense she planned against the demiurge. We all assembled into the mess hall to find out what she had in mind. Everyone assumed Captain would make the announcement that morning.

  I sat there with Amarin as Captain approached the podium. We stood with everyone else when she opened her folder. Today was different and everyone could feel it in the air.

  “As soon as I’ve concluded this presentation,” she began, "The Hard Rain will begin to transfer material down to the surface. Captain Athena of the Mary Sue informs me that there is no ghost ship activity in the area, so we should not expect to encounter any hostilities during the process. The transfer shuttle, and FAS ships, will be used to take people and items down to the surface. Governor Hesspont is on hand to deal with any issues that might result from the transfer.”

  “Now, I know you are all wondering who will accompany me in the Hard Rain for the plan I want to put into operation. I can tell your right now. Corwin, Amarin, and Orlando will accompany me on this mission.

  The silence was audible in the room.

  “Only four?” Cherish spoke without raising her hand. “How are you going to steer this ship with just four people?”

  “The ship's AI will handle most of the routine operations,” she announced. "I only need a few people to take it from here on out. I need Corwin and Orlando because I’ll have one FAS on board. The other one will remain on the surface of Atrogon with the colony. You may need it if and when the ghost ships make an appearance. Now please prepare for the transfer. Alyx, I want the children to go down there first and you to supervise them.”

  It wasn’t over by a long distance. Captain stepped out from behind the podium and hugged everyone. This wasn’t easy to do with her advance state of pregnancy, but she managed. All questions about her condition were forgotten as everyone broke out in tears. Other than us, the rest of the pack worried they’d never see Captain again.

  “Don't worry about my child and me,” she told the last members of the crew, “I'm here to do a job for which I was chosen a long time ago.” As she embraced Tank, I pondered over the words. Tank and I had said our good-byes to each other. I promised to do everything I could to look after Captain.

  16

  With the small crew, the Hard Rain broke orbit and went to the nearest transfer point to make a jump to its next destination. Captain still wouldn’t tell us where she intended to take the ship or what she intended to do. I remember her bulge in the stomach area and the look of determination on her face as we came out of the jump through the Insubstantia.

  We were all on the bridge. Before us on the main screen was an enlarged image of the dark matter barrier around the Spear Cluster. I didn’t know exactly where Captain planned to take us, but I suspected it was close to where we’d been before. I turned out to be right.

  “The dark matter field hasn’t expanded since we left,” Captain announced. "I need the ship taken to the location where Dredge’s ship was before it was destroyed by that monster ghost ship.”

  The AI acknowledged and began to make course adjustments for the new location. With the reduced weight, it anticipated a quick transit to the point.

  I sat still in my station chair and wondered what she had in mind. The thing inside the cluster, what the cactus bat referred to as the demiurge, was still there. I could feel its presence. It knew we were there. I didn’t know what it would do when we arrived at that location. Nor could I understand what Captain wanted to accomplish.

  “Status orbit around the outer spear cluster achieved,” the AI informed us. So far, we’d done very little, other than to give Captain an update on our progress.

  “I suppose you all want to know what happens next,” Captain told us. We nodded.

  “The tunnel from which the ghost ship emerged will open very soon,” Captain told us. "Another one of those monster ghost ships will issue forth from it. However, this time I intend to make the jump straight into the heart of the cluster while it happens. The monster ship won’t have a chance to destroy us, as it roars out, because I’ll have made that jump own the tunnel."

  “And we will accompany you, Captain?" Orlando asked. We were all ready to follow Captain into the gates of hell if required.

  “No," she replied. "You will leave the ship and I will guide it straight for the demiurge, that thing Dredge called Yaldabaoth. I’ll strike it in the heart and it will be gone. I want you to leave now. It’s why I brought Corwin and you along. Men, please escort Amarin to the FAS. You need to get out of here before that monster ghost ship comes forth. Don’t worry about the jump back, I’ll kill the beast and the universe will be freed.”

  We stood up and hugged Captain for the last time. I looked down.

  “Your child....” I tried to say.

  “The child of all of us, a true Cosmic Seed,” she explained. “I knew it had to be done this way.”

  We lined up against the wall that faced Captain. She couldn't move very much in her condition. I was told a few days earlier that she was close to term, strange, as that might seem. Cherish informed me that Captain's baby was healthy.

  “Funny thing," Cherish told me, “I tried to check the DNA to find out who was the father, and I couldn't get a clear reading. It's like all of you contributed something and it overrode the DNA for any one man. Doesn't make sense, but the child has no signs of damage, which is what you would expect in a chromosomal break.”

  “We won't leave, Captain,” Amarin told her. “There were people on the ship who were willing to do anything to trade places with us and we refused. No way in hell will we stay here and leave you to die alone."

  And then Captain's eyes began to glow. Not the faint luminescent of a radium sample or some phosphorescent material, but the bring light of a search lantern. The eyes were so bright we couldn't stand to look at them. All of us turned our heads to avoid her gaze.

  “I have no death in me!" Captain spoke with unearthly power in her voice, “Thi
s is what I was meant to do from the day I was born. There is one way to stop the demiurge from taking control of the universe, one weapon to save us, and that very weapon grows within me now. Life is our weapon my loves.”

  I felt the rest of the pack in my head. Everyone could see the same things I saw. They ceased work and froze to watch what would happen next.

  “But our child...” Orlando tried to speak, “I can't let you destroy the child." I could hear the desperation in his voice.

  “In the cluster we shall transcend life and death,” she spoke.

  Her entire body began to glow. We could see the organs through the light and the unborn child merge with her. It is impossible to speak about what I saw at that minute. I no longer talked to one person, but a vast conglomeration of united minds. We began to back up into the hall. Amarin grabbed my hand and I grabbed Orlando's.

  The entire control room bridge was filled with a blinding light that cast strange shadows on the wall of the corridor.

  “She's not human any longer," Amarin spoke to me.

  “Maybe," I agreed, “But she's the only hope for humanity. We need to get the hell out of here. “

  “There's a ghost ship about to come out of that tunnel," Orlando spoke, his eyes staring out. “Bigger than anyone we've ever seen. She'll send the Hard Rain past it with a jump and right to the other end of the tunnel. “

  “How can she do that?" Amarin asked. “Those tunnel's Insubstantia relay points have to be preset. You can’t set them to where ever you want to go."

  “She can," Orlando spoke in an awed tone, "I watched her change them, her hands were on the controls just for show, a small mercy to us, a bit of theatre,“She controls the Insubstantia fragments and everything else."

  The three of us travelled down the corridors to the ready room.

  “She's set the nearest jump point to take us back to where we started," he spoke between breaths, as our boots thudded on the floor. “We'll have to strap in tight and use the rail gun to get us out of here faster than ever before. Once that thing comes out of the tunnel, she'll begin.”