Freedom

by Maureen Toonkel

  “Take a seat, Lieutenant Commander,” said Stoner. “That’s an order.”

  Dennis Pearson opened the Conference Room door and walked out. The room was silent. Now everyone was watching Captain Stoner and waiting for him to say something.

  “Let’s regroup in two hours. Dave, have Ensign Saad idle the Gladiator until we decide if we are headed to Lexter or back to Brisula.”

  “Diane, where is Denny?” Josh asked when Lieutenant Pearson opened the door to the Pearsons’ living quarters and invited the Captain in. He had quickly glanced around the double-wide cabin but did not see his chief engineer.

  “He stormed in here a little bit ago in a grumpy mood and grabbed his sweats. He said he was going to the gym to work out. He wouldn’t tell me what was wrong. Do you know?” Diane looked up at Josh obviously hoping that he would tell her what was bothering her husband. She was on her lunch break and was now becoming rather concerned by Dennis’ unusual behavior.

  “I’ll go talk to him,” said Josh. Turning to leave he felt bad ignoring Diane’s question. He turned back. “Don’t worry, Diane, it is nothing serious. It’s something I would rather that he tell you himself before I make a ship-wide announcement.”

  Josh headed for the ship’s gymnasium on Deck Eight where he found Dennis Pearson smashing his fists into a life-sized punching bag.

  “Is that Dr. Berg you’re punching or me?” asked Josh with a chuckle.

  “Neither,” replied Dennis not stopping his thrusting arms that were repeatedly smacking the dummy’s head. “It’s Paul Loring.”

  “Oh.”

  Dennis stopped and lowered his arms to his sides. He looked at Captain Stoner.

  “I am sorry, sir, for walking out of the meeting. I will accept whatever reprimand you deem appropriate. It was just that I was caught off guard, and well, I just wasn’t expecting a demotion.”

  “Denny, this isn’t a demotion based on performance. You know that. Dr. Berg has never served on a spaceship before. All of her prior service has been on space stations. She actually has very little if any command experience. As you are aware UGC has a clause that on small vessels with crews of 150 or less all personnel including medical staff rank in the line of command. That means that even though Dr. Berg is a medical officer her service rank compels her to command when called upon. I have no choice in the matter.”

  “I know that, sir,” said Pearson. “It just took a bit for it to sink in. You know me. I can get pretty hot-headed.”

  Josh laughed. “You hot-headed? Really?”

  Dennis laughed also.

  “You do have other options. You are an excellent engineer and a very good leader. You can apply for a transfer to another ship or a space station where you could be a second or even first officer. You certainly have the qualifications and I would give you the highest recommendation.”

  “Thank you, sir. That is very kind. But Diane and I would not want to be separated. She loves her work here on the Gladiator, and she adores working for you. So if you were hoping to pawn me off to some other captain, I’m afraid you are stuck with me.”

  “All spaceship captains should be so lucky!” Josh laughed again. “Seriously, Denny,” said Josh. “I am sorry that you had to find out about the change the way you did. It is my fault. I had planned to tell you last night but it got late and then I didn’t get to it before today’s meeting. Those are not acceptable excuses. So, I was delinquent in informing you of your change of status, which impacted on your behavior when you disobeyed a direct order and walked out of the meeting. How about if we say that these two infractions cancel each other out and we call it even? Deal?”

  “Deal.” The two officers shook hands.

  “We are reconvening at 1500. I would like you at the meeting. Oh and Denny, please tell Diane about your rank before I make the official announcement.”

  “Yes, sir.” Denny turned back to the dummy. “I’m going to take a few more swipes at Dr. Loring.”

  “Take a few for me,” said Josh.

  “OK,” began Josh. “We have a very crucial decision to make. It is my belief that Lieutenant Shasta is in trouble back on Brisula. We are unable to establish contact with him or with anyone else including Captain Torgenson or the Naval Architectural Engineering Team. I have made the decision to head back immediately to Brisula. For that to occur both Commander Andrews and Dr. Berg must be in agreement with my order.” Josh turned to Dave Andrews sitting on his right side. “Dave, your thoughts?”

  Dave Andrews closed his eyes briefly and then quickly opened them. He glanced at the Captain before speaking.

  “The last call from Lieutenant Shasta was disturbing. It sounded like he had been attacked. I find it troubling that we have lost contact with the planet. Captain, if you feel that we should return to Brisula, I will support your decision.”

  “Thank you, Commander.” Josh looked across the table at Marlana Berg. “Doctor?”

  “I’m afraid that I cannot agree,” started out Dr. Berg shaking her head. “It seems like a hasty decision. We don’t know what caused Mr. Shasta to scream out. Can you really justify turning the ship around based on a single scream?”

  “It was more than a single scream, doctor,” responded Josh raising his voice. “Wayne has been quite agitated the past couple of days. He has been trying to tell me that something isn’t right on Brisula.”

  “But he really couldn’t tell you what was wrong,” said Dr. Berg. “Obviously he is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder which is manifested in delusions or hallucinations of continued torture and depravation.”

  “She has a point, Josh,” agreed Dave Andrews.

  “So, you are changing your vote?” asked Josh.

  “I didn’t say that,” answered Dave. “I was merely pointing out that what Dr. Berg said is certainly a possibility that should be considered.”

  “Keith, you know Wayne better than the rest of us,” said Captain Stoner addressing Lieutenant Hampton who was sitting at the far end of the table. “How do you think he has been functioning?”

  Keith heard his name and immediately came to attention. His mind had been elsewhere. He was surprised when Diane Pearson called the Laundry and told him to report to the Conference Room. His first thought was that, as usual he had done something wrong and was going to be chewed out. Then when he saw that Beverly was also in the meeting he had relaxed a bit. However, when the Captain said that he had lost contact with the Architectural Engineering Team, Beverly appeared to have become distressed. Keith could not understand why that was worrying her.

  “Lieutenant Hampton?” prompted the Captain.

  Keith swallowed hard. “Sir, I haven’t heard the calls from Lieutenant Shasta, but I can say that Wayne was very excited to be staying behind on Brisula and helping to free the slaves. I had spoken to him a couple of times before we departed, and he was enjoying his assignment. He was not having any regrets on his decision to remain behind.”

  “Lieutenant Hampton,” said Dr. Berg, “did Mr. Shasta ever mention having flashbacks or nightmares about being in captivity?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “Have you experienced flashbacks or nightmares?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “None?

  “None, ma’am.”

  “Do you think we should return to Brisula?”

  “Well, ma’am, if Wayne is in trouble and if Captain Stoner believes that we should go back, then yes I think we should.”

  Dr. Berg turned her attention away from Keith Hampton and focused on Dennis Pearson.

  “Mr. Pearson, do you still back Captain Stoner’s decision to turn the ship around?”

  “Absolutely!” stated Dennis.

  “Well, Captain,” sighed Dr. Berg, “you seem to have a very loyal staff. They are willing to fully back you even when they have very little evidence to go on.” She raised both of her hands above her head, shaking them from side to side. “Isn’t this all unnecessary anyway? Shouldn’t we just
call United Galaxy Command and ask Admiral Wilcox what we should do?”

  “No. Not at all,” said Josh. “If we ask Wilcox and he says no, then we must do as he says or disobey a direct order and take the consequences, which will be quite steep. If we never ask, we will not be told no, so we will not be disobeying a direct order. We most likely will be given a warning never to repeat that behavior again.”

  “That doesn’t sound quite honest,” said Dr. Berg looking straight into Josh Stoner’s eyes. Is he, too, suffering from PTSD, she thought, or is he just an unscrupulous leader? Whichever it was, she could not go along with making such a huge decision without prior consent from UGC.

  “It’s not being dishonest. It’s just being practical. Getting a message to UGC and waiting for an answer can take a day or more. If it’s not the answer we want, and we have to make an appeal, that can take another day or even longer. Meanwhile we are losing precious time. I would rather do what I think needs to be done and explain it to UGC afterward.”

  “Even if it means putting your career on the line?”

  “In this case, with Wayne Shasta’s life in jeopardy, yes.”

  “But, Captain, you have no way to really know that Mr. Shasta is in any trouble at all.”

  “I have a gut feeling.”

  Marlana Berg looked out at everyone seated around the wooden table. “Are you all willing to go with the Captain’s gut feeling and proceed back to Brisula without prior approval from UGC?”

  Slowly heads began to nod in the affirmative: Dave Andrews, Dennis Pearson, Jackson Greene, Keith Hampton, and Beverly Glenna.

  Marlana was stunned. Either they were all fools or somehow Stoner was misusing his authority to control his crew for his own narcissistic benefits.

  “I will delay giving you my decision until after I have conducted the psychological evaluations,” concluded Dr. Berg.

  “But that will take another week!” exclaimed Josh. “We cannot wait that long.”

  “That is my decision.”

  “Listen, doctor, I told you that I wasn’t going to take your psychological tests anyway, so let’s just get on with things and turn this ship around.”

  “And I informed you that until you complete the evaluation and are cleared by me, you have restrictions on your command decisions. That is a reality that you cannot brush away.”

  “Josh,” cut in Dave Andrews, “I know how you feel about the eval, but may I suggest that you just bite the bullet and get it over with?”

  Josh looked at Dave and sighed. Then he looked back at Dr. Berg.

  “OK,” he said, “but under two conditions. First we turn the ship around immediately and start heading back to Brisula. That way when you restore my full command we will already be back to the planet. And second you speed up and rush the evals.”

  “Fine,” replied Dr. Berg. “We can begin right now.”

  Josh turned on his satellite phone. “Ensign Saad, please plot a course back to Brisula and proceed at fifty aeroknots.”

  “Beverly, wait up,” shouted Keith trotting down the hall. The Conference Room had cleared out quickly. He had hoped to have a moment with Bev but she had dashed out with the crowd.

  Ensign Glenna stopped and turned her head around. I suppose I can’t keep avoiding him forever, she sighed. She waited for Keith to catch up to her.

  “How about having a cup of coffee before going back to work?” asked Keith.

  “Sure,” answered Beverly softly.

  They walked silently to the elevator and took it to the Messdeck. Keith purchased two cups of coffee and chocolate chip cookies. He led them over to a secluded table in the back of the cafeteria. For a while they sipped the coffee and nibbled on the cookies without speaking. Ultimately Keith broke the ice.

  “How is it working in the Galley?” asked Keith.

  “It’s not so bad,” said Bev. “I’m just glad it’s temporary.”

  “Same here,” agreed Keith. He took another sip of coffee. “I noticed that you seemed worried when the Captain mentioned that we lost contact with the Architectural Engineering Team.”

  “Oh. Um. I know someone on that team. That’s all.”

  “I see. I’m sure the team’s all right. It’s probably just poor reception.” Keith gazed lovingly at Beverly. She looked away obviously feeling uncomfortable. Why, Keith thought. “Bev, have I done something to upset you?”

  “No, Keith, it is not you,” Bev answered, still not looking at him.

  “Then what?”

  “It’s me,” she said and now she looked right at him. “I can’t be with you any longer.”

  “Why not?”

  “I just can’t.” Beverly looked away.

  “But why?” Keith reached over and placed his hand on Bev’s arm.

  “Please, Keith,” she said. “Don’t make this any harder than it has to be. We just can’t see each other any longer.”

  Keith could not believe what he was hearing. He had fallen head over heels in love with Beverly, and he was sure she had felt the same about him. What could possibly have happened to change things?

  “Beverly, I don’t understand what you’re saying. Why can’t we see each other any more?” Keith put his hands on the sides of Beverly’s face and gently turned her head to face him. “I love you,” he murmured.

  “Keith, I don’t love you.” She removed his hands from her face. “I never did.” Beverly got up from the table and walked away leaving a stunned Keith Hampton behind.

  Captain Stoner stood up and stretched his arms and shrugged his shoulders. He was stiff from sitting hunched over a desk in Dr. Berg’s office for the past four hours taking tests. Some were written tests others were on the computer and still others were oral exams. Dr, Berg had also conducted a personal interview. Josh had gone into the session determined not to reveal much private information about himself, but the doctor had a very empathic manner about herself that made the Captain very comfortable. To Josh’s surprise he found himself disclosing personal details about his life, his ambitions, and his fears.

  “We are almost done, Captain,” said Dr. Berg. “I just need to have you sign off on some release forms allowing me to send my report to UGC. I will be right back. I left the forms on Nurse Rugan’s desk.”

  Josh eyed the doctor as she strode toward the office door, pulled it open, and exited. She was quite lovely. Her hips swayed smoothly, and she had a sexy gait.

  Now get a hold of yourself, Josh told himself. Remember she’s the one who’s bumped Paul and Denny.

  “What the hell?” Josh exclaimed jumping to the side. Something had brushed against his leg. He looked down and saw a grey long-haired cat staring up at him. He bent down and tentatively reached out his hand. The cat raised its head to meet Josh’s hand. He petted it and gently scratched its ears, and it began purring loudly.

  “I see you have met Penelope,” said Dr. Berg re-entering the office.

  “There was some scuttlebutt going around that you had something alive in your luggage,” said Josh straightening up.

  “Oh, didn’t you get the orders that I was bringing Penelope aboard?”

  “Um, no.”

  “Well, I do have permission. She is sanctioned as a therapy cat. I believe she will be good for staff morale if she is given free rein of the ship. Penelope is very friendly, very well trained, and very obedient.”

  “OK. I am willing to give her a tryout,” said Josh. “Now, Dr. Berg, how about that tour?”

  CHAPTER THREE

  June 19 — June 22

  The time seemed to drag over the next week as the Gladiator made its way back to Brisula. Captain Stoner spent his days completing endless forms justifying all the decisions he made regarding the Brisula affair. He approved all the actions that his crew made in their attempt to rescue him and the others, and he claimed full responsibility for any violations or infractions that occurred including any charges of treason. He spent his evenings working out in the gym, playing cards with Dave and Denny,
or just relaxing alone in his quarters. He resisted the temptation to visit Paul Loring. He had heard that Dr. Loring was almost well enough to be released from Sick Bay only to be transferred to the Brig. The image of Paul in a jail cell was unsettling. The night before they were to arrive at Brisula, the Captain arranged a banquet to officially welcome Marlana Berg, Tobias Carter, and Penelope to the Gladiator. He also used the occasion to inform the crew of the ship’s reason for returning to Brisula, which was to respond to a distress call from Lieutenant Wayne Shasta.

  Penelope was a big hit with the crew. Dr. Berg was quite right, the cat was a fantastic morale booster. After a couple of days of exploring the Gladiator and getting acquainted with the personnel, the grey feline had taken a special liking to the Captain, developing a ritual of following Josh around the ship. Penelope had a sixth sense when it came to Josh. She could sense where he was at any time. No matter where he was on the huge ship, the cat could ferret him out instantly. She was constantly under foot and he had to be super careful not to trip over her. Often when he was sitting in the captain’s chair on the Bridge or in the easy chair in his quarters, Penelope would rub against his legs asking to be petted. And while he was growing fond of the cat, her obsessive affection for him was getting out of hand. He mentioned this issue to Dr. Berg on a few occasions and she promised to look into the matter.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  June 23, 0500 Hours

  It was 0500 and Josh had already been up for a couple of hours. He was too pumped up to sleep. A whole week had gone by without any further contact from Wayne Shasta. Diane had been unable to make contact with Captain Torgenson or the Architectural Engineering Team. A call had come in from Admiral Wilcox and Josh had told Diane that he would take the call in his office. He told Wilcox that something had come up that was causing some interference with their assignment on Lexter and as a result the repair work was going to be delayed. It was not exactly a lie. Luckily the Admiral did not ask for any specifics and Josh was relieved not to have to make up a bigger lie.