“You are sounding more and more like Nona. She is good for you.”
“Yes, I think she is. Mom is good, but Nona has a life’s worth of experience with the Sight. Are you going to tell me what is wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong. What makes you ask that?”
“Because I know you. I can see it in your posture. I can hear it in your voice. I can feel it in your connection. I can see your pulse is quicker than normal. Now tell me, what is bugging you?”
She wrapped the towel around her hair and sat next to Corb. He felt her warmth from the shower.
“Two things. What am I going to do without you? Michelle, I know they love me and will take care of me, but they are not you. I am lonely without you.”
“Corb Levi Johnson, are you feeling sorry for yourself? Son of a bitch. Where is that cocky cowboy who almost drove off the road staring at my legs?”
“As I remember, you let that sundress ride high in the wind.”
“Maybe, but you weren’t afraid then. What changed?”
“Everything changed. Why did this happen to me?”
“You are feeling sorry for yourself! Listen, mister, you better snap out of this funk. We are depending on you.”
Reaching up, like it was when they were in his Waxahachie apartment, Michelle gently turned his face to hers.
“I am depending on you and our daughter is depending on you.”
Placing his hand on her belly, Corb felt the baby move. Beaming, he realized Michelle was correct. Feeling the change in her life’s love, Michelle continued.
“What is the second question?”
“First, are we ever going to be together again?”
“Do we have to talk about this now? I do not know. Nona and Mom think the tradition is there for a reason. It has something to do with protecting the Sight. Find a good man, have a baby, then live the life of knowing the future. Possible futures. One future. Who knows?
“Corb, if I give you an answer now, then it is no. You will have your life, I will have my life, and we will intersect for our daughter. Who knows?”
Sitting in silence, without tears, the adults understood change was inevitable.
“Besides, bozo, that Jirmina is all about you. Are you hitting that?”
“What?! No! Michelle, that is the last …”
Michelle was bubbling with delight at making the man she loved uncomfortable. “It is okay, I understand. I give you my blessing to find a companion.”
“Michelle …”
“Corb, I love you and you love me, and we will love our daughter together. It is time for you to go be the Enlightened One. It is your destiny. Accept it and move on. Can you do that? Can you do it for me and our daughter?”
Looking into Michelle’s eyes, unblinking, for a long moment, Corb’s reply was a simple nod and soft words. “I can do it, for you and for our daughter.”
“Good. What was the second question?”
“Are you going to be able to help Davinder?”
“Yes, of course. The ministry runs itself. I will take time when the baby comes. Why do you ask?”
“The Sight. He is going to need all the help he can get. He is not a politician. He will need you.”
“Yes, of course. Are you asking me to promise to help Davinder? Because if you thought I wasn’t going to help him, I will punch you.
“But that is not the question, is it?”
“No, it is not really the question.”
Standing, pulling the towel away, and grabbing a hairbrush from the bureau, Michelle stood, waiting until Corb confessed.
“There never were any Overlords.”
“It is about time you figured that out.”
“What? How did you know?”
“I realized the connection when we figured out the star-portal and correlated it to the time displacement theory. Powerful beings who never seemed to age, who could appear at will, they would seem like gods or Overlords to an emerging species. The question you have to ask yourself is a little scary.”
Corb soft response was nuanced. “Yeah, it is a ton of scary.
“It is time for breakfast.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
ᚴᚼᛅᛒᛏᛁᚱ•ᛏᚼᛁᚱᛏᚢ-ᚠᚬᚢᚱ
“I'm not planning to jump off a bridge with no bungee.”
Norah Jones
“That is the last order of business. In summary, Captain Turner will assume permanent command of the Gungnir. Justin Nguyen is promoted to Lieutenant Commander and will captain the Marissa. Colonel Himari will accompany Captains Turner and Nguyen to K’an, Plentari, and Kripkeni and will be the chief negotiator in the trade discussions.
“Colonel Jyrode and the Ajawlil battlegroup will remain in the Sol system and report to the TCCC. Our engineers will continue to work on retrofitting an Ajawlil fighter for a human pilot.
“If the retrofit is successful, we will negotiate a trade with the Ajawlil or the Plentari for advanced fighters.”
“Michelle, it will be your role to accelerate the global acceptance of alien cultures. As we expand our trading partners, we can expect more alien species to arrive here in Sol. We need defined contact and conduct protocols. We do not need protest riots in the streets.
“Before I bang this gavel and make it final, I am going to ask again, for confirmation. The TCCC is a civilian organization that functions with a military precision. I want verbal confirmation from each of the military personnel.
“Colonel Raitt, is it your intention to remain captain of the Jaguar and will you continue to report status to the TCCC?”
“Yes, Colonel Khatter.”
“Lieutenant Commander D …”
“Yes, Colonel Khatter. Where the Jaguar goes, I go.”
Unflustered by Nick’s interruption, the newly appointed chairman of the TCCC continued.
“Commander Jensen, is it your intention to remain in the position of first officer aboard the Jaguar?”
“Yes, Colonel Khatter.”
Looking up with pride, the colonel scrutinized the civilian crew.
“NT, you will remain as chief of the boat?”
“Davinder, I’m in.”
“Janish, you will remain with the crew?”
“Yes, Colonel Khatter.”
“Cassandra, cultural advisor?”
“Yes, Davinder. Where else is there so much to learn?”
The group realized she was poking fun at herself and chuckled with warm camaraderie.
“Corb, what are you going to do? Where are you going to go? What is next for the Coterie?”
“Davinder, you have accomplished a lot over the past ten days. We feel better knowing you are chairman of the TCCC. Now, however, I need to keep the Jaguar’s mission quiet.
“We were unwittingly manipulated into defending Earth from a madman. A madman who did not exist until he was promised something we waded into without an understanding of the consequences. I am not going to let that happen again.
“We must ensure Earth is defended. Himari will bring home trade agreements. Michelle and the ministry will spread the word. Humans will hear the message.
“Not all aliens are an enemy.”
Corb paused, and Davinder looked around before he banged his gavel.
“That’s it, then, meeting adjourned.”
The TCCC members began to file out of the assembly hall. The Coterie remained seated until the doors closed and Corb announced it was time to move.
“Now, I am going to get some barbecue and relax. Tomorrow, the Jaguar will depart.”
Michelle was the only one who understood that Corb’s confidence masked a fear of the unknown.
“Nona’s been cooking all day.”
“You mean she has been telling the cooks what to do and hovering around to make sure everything is ready.”
“Yes, Corb, that is what I mean, but if anyone asks, it is Nona’s cooking!”
“Why is it always so damned hot in Texas? It is fall, for crying out loud.”
The Coterie was in Nona’s backyard eating Texas barbecue, drinking Shiner Beer, and loving life. Jirmina broke away from chatting privately with Michelle to answer Nick’s question.
“This location’s proximity to the planet’s equatorial plane ensures a temperate climate.”
Just drunk enough, NT piled on. “Yeah, what she said! Don’t you know anything, computer boy? The Earth rotates in axial precession. The precession continues as the planet orbits the sun. The sun waits for just the right time, then WHAM! It beams ultraviolet rays onto your fair complexion. Voilà! Ninety-four degrees in the fall and a sunburned Limey!”
An immensely pleased Nona added to the revelry from her seat on the gazebo. “Lucinda, take that boy’s beer away. He’s making sense and no one wants common sense at a party.”
NT hugged his beer bottle tighter and feigned indignation. Jirxena spoke softly from the edge of the gathering.
“Nona, you are wise and see much. Thank you for allowing us to share your family.”
Turning slightly to face the alien, Nona was beaming.
“This thing really works. I heard Jirmina and I heard Jirxena. It even gives each their own accent. Jirxena, Jirmina, you are always welcome in my home. Thank you for bringing my baby’s baby back to me.
“You have a question, though. If you ask, I will answer.”
“Miss Nona, will humans accept aliens?”
“Yes, of course. It will take time. Some never adjust. Their foolishness will never leave. But most will accept the truth. We are one race among many races of peoples. What choice do they have? The evidence is here, speaking with me.
“But, honey, that is not the question, is it?”
Jirxena had picked up a very human habit of sipping her beer to buy time before responding.
“No, it is not the question. You are wise and see much. The Plentari revere those with the Sight. They are few among the Plentari, and they are well respected.”
“Honey, you are avoiding the question.”
The group was silent, the music seemingly fading away, while they waited for Jirxena’s reaction.
“There are two questions, if I am permitted?”
“Of course. Step closer so I can see you better.”
Jirxena moved from the fringe of the gathering to a spot directly in front of the gazebo.
“Have you seen … will Michelle become a spiritual leader? Will she be able to teach? Will she be an advisor to governments and religions?”
“You are asking because you know the alternative is Earth’s destruction.”
Jirxena refused to answer, stood still, and waited.
“Yes, I have seen the ministry, under Michelle’s guidance, lead the change. Not all. No. Not all will change and accept the new world.
“Yes, Michelle’s guidance will change our people.”
Nona’s wry smile, before continuing, reminded everyone of their friend Michelle.
“The other question?”
“Will the Enlightened One help us?”
“Yes, honey, he will help you. But you have not yet asked. Why have you not yet asked the most important question your people have ever considered?”
“Wise one, we are unsure. We do not want to be wrong.”
Looking over her shoulder, Jirxena spied Michelle and Jirmina standing behind the group, whispering. Michelle was beaming with obvious pride.
“Do you see, wise one, the solution? Is it the correct path?”
“Yes, it is the correct path.”
Raising her index finger to emphasize the point, Nona shocked Jirxena, Jirmina, and Michelle. Nobody else understood the reference, but they remained silent.
“It is one correct path. There are three other paths to consider. Why do you think they were brought to you?”
“That was a good party. That is the correct phrase, a good party. The Plentari have forgotten the joy in finding a simple happiness. When we return to Plentari, I will insist on a party with Jima and whiskey.”
Jirxena was speaking to everyone and no one in the galley of the Jaguar. Nursing hangovers, excited for the next adventure, and longing for the simpler life, the Coterie were waiting for Corb’s pronouncement.
The Jaguar was moored to the orbital docking platform. The crew was in their now-customary galley seating at the long table. On one side of the table, Ragnar sat next to Cass. Cass sat next to Janish. Janish sat next to Nick. Jirmina next to Nick. On the other side of the table, Corb sat in the center flanked by NT and Lucinda, Jirxena on the outside of NT.
“Yes, Jirxena, that was a brilliant party. But what was all that about questions and the correct path?”
Before Jirxena could respond, Landry interrupted.
“Lucinda, there is a communication request from Colonel Khatter.”
“Put him on the screens.”
“Captain Raitt, thank you for taking my call.”
“Of course, Davinder. Jan, Himari, good morning and it is good to see you too. What’s up?”
“Two things, Lucinda. First, we are sending an updated flight profile for the Marissa and Gungnir. It seems Landry has been working overtime, and with good results.”
“Oh, how so?”
“Let me link in Captain Turner and Captain Nguyen.”
Lucinda’s voice carried well despite being a little raspy from the whiskey and the singing at the party.
“Josh, Justin, good to see you.”
They both nodded and waited. Davinder resumed the discussion.
“It seems your Landry updated the flight controls on the Marissa and the Gungnir while we were reforming the TCCC and planning the next missions. Captain Nguyen?”
“Yes, of course. LC?”
The image switched from Captain Nguyen to Lieutenant Commander Miko Tanaka. Looking formal and nervous, the lieutenant commander reported, “When we entered the flight parameters, the navigation and command computers refused to accept the inputs. When we figured out how to make the flight computer accept the new mission profile, the results were unbelievable.
“We had them checked. The scientists are unsure. The math is beyond their comprehension. According to the navigation computer, the FTL speed for the Marissa will increase by a factor of two-point-seven. The Gungnir will increase by a factor of three.”
Lucinda cut off the LC. “Landry, what did you do?”
“While the crews were on the surface, I accessed the Marissa and Gungnir’s control and command computers. I applied new algorithms. The new process controls will improve the matter-antimatter ratio efficiency. They will also increase the FTL velocity significantly. Both ships should be able to enter the slipstream at point-five-two c.”
“You made them faster and more efficient. That is good. Where did you get the information on the upgrades and who gave you permission to make the improvements?”
“No one gave me permission. Is permission required to improve the Marissa’s flight performance by eighteen percent? The Gungnir’ s flight performance by twenty-two percent? Also, the targeting algorithms have been upgraded on both ships. The math came from the Xjaal data pods. There is a complete dossier on flight performance parameters for interstellar spacecraft.”
The resulting silence was broken by Corb.
“Landry, I want a complete list of every change you made to any ship. The Marissa, the Gungnir, and the Jaguar. A complete list for each, and I want it in three seconds.”
“Yes, Corb. The lists are ready.”
“Send the lists to the captains, the scientists, and the TCCC leadership.”
“Done.”
“Corb, the Jaguar?”
“Yes, Davinder, the Jaguar too. It seems Landry got bored and decided to meddle with the ships.”
“I was not bored. I do not get bored. I made the appropriate adjustments to improve the vessel’s performance and reliability.”
“Without permission. How did you derive the knowledge? How do you know the changes will work correctly?”
�
��Correct, Lucinda, I did not seek permission. I analyzed the Triad’s use of the star-portal and its effect on time displacement. Factoring in the math from the data pod dossier, the mass of each vessel, and each vessel’s propulsion profile, I surmised improvements were possible.
“The upgrades will function correctly. I ran each vessel’s upgrades through a simulator.”
“Running the changes through a simulator is not sufficient to test significant upgrades. How long will it require to reverse the upgrades?”
“Lucinda, I did not perform the simulation tests once. I performed the tests until there were no errors or anomalies noted. Then I ran the tests again.”
“How many times did you run the simulations?”
“The tests were run, without fail, sixty-four thousand times. Twenty thousand for each vessel and an additional four thousand for the Jaguar.”
Everyone was mute, looking to Davinder for direction.
“Any objections to accepting the upgrades, provided they are well documented, and the respective crews can test the new profiles?”
After pausing and receiving only silence, he continued.
“The upgrades stay. Corb, I expect you to teach your friend Landry about protocols and procedures. If he does something like this again without permission, I will order Lucinda to unplug him with a plasma laser.”
“Understood.”
“Any questions for us?”
After pausing and again receiving silence, he continued.
“Safe travels. Q’eqchi out.”
The monitors reverted to the exterior views. Everyone in the galley turned to Landry’s avatar, in its usual position, standing on the sideboard. No one spoke, waiting for Landry.
The avatar raised both palms in a very humanoid gesture of what? Lucinda put on her metaphorical captain’s hat.
“Pftt! Landry put up a clock. Everyone make ready. We are blowing this pop stand.”
Time to Entry: 13:31:13.
Time to K’an: (4D) 14:48:14.
Chapter Thirty-Five
ᚴᚼᛅᛒᛏᛁᚱ•ᛏᚼᛁᚱᛏᚢ-ᚠᛁᚢᛁ
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
BairnGefa- The Akashic Expedition Page 27
