Freedom

by Maureen Toonkel

  “Bev, are you OK?” Colin asked with some alarm in his voice. He placed his hand on her shoulder and slightly shook her.

  Beverly opened her eyes and realized some tears had trickled down her cheeks. She reached up and wiped them away. “I’m fine,” she answered. “I am just worried about Captain Stoner and Dr. Berg. They should have checked in by now.”

  “I am sure they are fine, Ms. Glenna,” said the Commodore. “They probably just got disorientated in the tunnels.”

  “If they got captured and placed back in the Cages—”

  “Now, now. Let’s not panic. No one is being captured anymore. The slaves are being treated humanely. Captain Torgenson has all of that under control.” Naper shifted his attention to Colin Evans. “Let’s try working some more on the communications board in the space pod.”

  The Commodore and Lieutenant Evans headed into the James K leaving Beverly alone with her thoughts. She smiled as she recalled the wild lovemaking session she and Colin had enjoyed in the spacecraft earlier in the day. It was fun and exciting. She was hoping they could do it again soon. But then the images in her mind changed to the cage down below. She was lying on the hay-strewn floor with Keith’s arms wrapped around her. He was gently stroking her hair, kissing her on the forehead, and whispering in her ear that everything was going to be all right. And she had wanted to remain in his arms forever. She still did. She shook her head as if by doing so she could permanently remove the images from her brain. The Captain didn’t need to apologize. I am a slut.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  June 23, 2100 Hours

  It seemed like the entire day had slipped away and they had gotten nowhere. Dennis was growing quite frustrated. He was exhausted. He was becoming irritable with people, a trait in himself that he hated. It popped out at times and afterward he was always embarrassed by it. Diane was constantly after him. She must have told him a thousand times. “Denny, you’ll never get to be a captain if you cannot control your temper.” But he didn’t see it as having a temper. He was just overly excitable and the kind of person that said what was on his mind. He didn’t mean to offend people, and he was truly sorry if anyone was hurt by how he phrased his comments. Working aboard the Gladiator with Captain Stoner had been a huge help. Josh seemed to have an understanding of Dennis’ personality and was able to collaborate with him in such a manner that rarely resulted in Dennis becoming short-tempered. As a result, other than his and Andrews’ dislike for each other, he got along well with everyone aboard the ship.

  However, it had now been twelve hours since the landing party departed for Brisula and there had been no contact. All communications between the ship and Brisula were cut off. There was a mysterious metal shield surrounding the planet, preventing them from sending down a search party. And United Galaxy Command had no idea where the Gladiator actually was. If Dennis Pearson was becoming irritable and short-tempered, he had every right to do so.

  “Lieutenant Pearson,” snapped Dennis. “Ask Mr. Greene how he’s coming on the shield project.” He turned around in the captain’s chair so he was facing his wife. He looked longingly at her bright red curls. To heck with all of this, he thought. It’s bedtime.

  Diane worked the controls on her station and then responded. “Should I put it on audio, sir?”

  “Yes,” sighed Dennis wiping thoughts of bedtime out of his mind.

  “Officer Greene, here.”

  “How are you coming along?” asked Dennis. “Have you found the melting point?”

  “Almost sir,” crackled Jackson Greene’s voice over the Bridge’s intercom speaker. “We need to run a couple of more tests just to be certain. It looks like it should be 3,785 degrees Celsius.”

  “Wow. That’s mighty hot.”

  “Yep. Have you figured out a way that we can heat up the shield?”

  “I am wondering if we can somehow use the lightning rods that the ship is equipped with. Perhaps we can raise the rods and heat them so that they can melt the metal.”

  “That just might work. What source would you use to heat them?”

  “I am thinking we could use liquid jilcojack. It’s highly flammable, can reach extremely high temperatures, and we have a huge supply aboard the Gladiator.”

  “There’s only one problem with jilcojack. It’s toxic. It would contaminate the liquid.”

  “But you said the liquid would evaporate before it reached Brisula.”

  “Yes, most of it should, but some might not. We wouldn’t want to take that chance.”

  “I see. OK. Let me think on that some more. Meanwhile keep working on the melting point.”

  Dennis got up and began pacing aimlessly around the Bridge, lost in thought. There must be a way to melt the metal without contaminating the liquid it turns into.

  “Denny.”

  Pearson stopped short momentarily forgetting where he was. Then he walked over to Diane.

  “Yes, Lieutenant?”

  “There is a call coming in from Admiral Wilcox. Shall I put it on audio?”

  “No. I’ll take it in the captain’s office.” And with that Dennis summoned the elevator.

  The pain in her back was becoming unbearable. How long have they been chained up here? Will anyone be coming to rescue them? This is not what she had in mind when she signed up for duty aboard a spaceship. Marlana Berg had grown up in New York City. Both of her parents were medical doctors as were all of her grandparents. So it was all but certain that she and her brother would also become doctors. Even in early childhood, she was a very serious and intellectual youngster, preferring to sit on the couch or under a tree reading a book rather than play silly mindless games with other children. Due to her intelligence, she was skipped ahead several grades, making her much younger than her classmates. She entered college at the age of thirteen. In grade school she was a loner. In college and medical school other students sought her out because of her brilliancy. As a doctor she was very popular due to her vast knowledge, efficient work ethics, exceptional competency, and impeccable reputation. But if she was asked to name her friends she would have to be honest and admit that she only had two real friends, her childhood girlfriend Lorraine and her brother Russell. After completing her third residency Marlana examined her life. Most of her colleagues were married or had significant others including Lorraine and Russell. Basically she was living a boring life. She utterly surprised her parents and Russell when she announced that she had enlisted in the U.S. Navy’s Space Program and was going to be assigned to work on a space station. After several promotions and several years on the space station she was ready for a new challenge and requested a transfer to a spaceship. However, being chained up in an abandoned construction site was not exactly the adventure she had anticipated.

  “Captain, what is your plan to get us out of this situation?” asked Marlana turning her head as far as she could to face Josh Stoner.

  The Captain stared at her for several seconds before answering sarcastically. “Doctor, I did not plan for us to be in this situation, so therefore, I do not have a plan for us to get out of this situation.”

  “Well, you still should have some plan on how to get us out of here. After all you are the Captain.”

  “I may be the Captain, but I am not a magician or a miracle worker.”

  Marlana shook her head. “I must say, I am quite disappointed. I expected much more from you.”

  Now Josh was getting annoyed. What exactly was Dr. Berg expecting? They were alone in a vast abandoned construction lot. They both were shackled with chains to solid iron bolts tightly secured into the ground. He had been tugging on the chains constantly for the past few hours with no results other than managing to scrap the skin raw on his wrists from persistent rubbing.

  Easy now, he told himself. She’s new to space travel and she’s scared.

  “Dr. Berg, the best we can do right now is to remain calm. Andrews and Hampton will come looking for us. Or if not them, others from the Gladiator. Lieutenant Shasta may co
me and free us. Or eventually, Captain Torgenson will come for us. He would be a fool to murder a fellow UGC captain.” Josh looked straight into the doctor’s eyes. “So you need to be patient and just wait.” He gave her a smile. “Do you know any good jokes? Dr. Loring could entertain us for hours with his humor.”

  Dr. Berg closed her eyes and turned her head away from Josh Stoner.

  Penelope scampered down the 7 Passageway. Andrews and Hampton hurried behind her trying to keep up while also trying to stay out of the sight of guards or the Brisulans. As it was now nighttime, the Brisulan citizens were confined to their apartments, thus there were very few guards patrolling the tunnels. Penelope took a left turn down the Traffic Corridor. She picked up speed and began racing down the tunnel so quickly that the two officers soon lost sight of her.

  “Lieutenant, do you know what is up ahead?” asked Dave Andrews.

  “Yes, sir. There is a construction site to the south, and there is a greenhouse to the north.”

  “Do you think Penelope is on the Captain’s trail or just exploring?”

  “I am not sure, sir,” answered Keith. “Neither of those locations seem like a likely place for the Captain to be held. However, the Lake is to the north of the Greenhouse.”

  “Very well, let’s keep going. We need to retrieve the cat anyway. I am sure Dr. Berg would not appreciate it if we left her pet behind.”

  As they came to the 11 Passageway intersection they saw Penelope on the far side patiently waiting for them. She was perched on a green leather desk chair with rolling wheels, which was parked haphazardly in the middle of the crosswalk against a chain link fence that was running across the Traffic Corridor and the J Lane. Upon seeing the two Gladiator officers Penelope jumped down and promptly scurried into a hole that was under the fence. She emerged out the other side.

  “Well, sir,” said Keith. “I guess we will need to go under the fence. I believe this is the hole that Captain Stoner and Joban dug. I can go first.” He removed the two backpacks he was wearing. Lying down on his back he maneuvered himself through the hole and under the fence. Dave Andrews tossed the backpacks over the fence to Keith and then followed suit under the fence. Penelope was several yards ahead of them waiting at the edge of the Construction Site. She rose to her feet, leaped onto the fence, climbed to the top, and jumped down onto the rough surface below. She took off running, and once again she disappeared from their sight.

  Keith opened the gate and he and Dave Andrews gingerly made their way forward across the rocky terrain.

  “Good evening, Nurse Rugan. You’re working late this evening,” greeted Seaman Chase.

  “Yes,” answered Amanda. “Dr. Carter has me working some extra shifts.”

  “How lucky for you,” he laughed. “You get to call on your favorite patient. Right this way.” He motioned for her to follow him. He led her down a narrow hallway to a small door with a large Plexiglas window. He entered a code on a panel mounted on the wall and the door slid open.

  “Take your time,” he told her.

  Amanda entered the cell and the door slid closed behind her.

  Paul Loring was lying on the cot, smiling up at her. He was quite pleased with himself. His plan had worked perfectly. Earlier that day when he had been transferred to the Brig, Dr. Carter had mentioned that Nurse Rugan would be on duty during the night. Paul told Seaman Chase that he had a throbbing headache. After the confrontation that occurred that evening, he was sure that Dr. Carter would send Amanda down to wait on him hoping to give her a chance to make amends. And sure enough, here she was.

  “You have a headache?” asked Amanda, holding out two aspirins and a glass of water.

  “Um, yes,” answered Paul taking the water and aspirins from her. He set them on the small nightstand alongside the bed. “It is so good to see you again. I can’t believe how much I miss you.”

  “I miss you too,” answered Amanda.

  “You do?” said Paul. “I am glad to hear that. I was scared that maybe you had forgotten all about me by now.”

  “I have been trying to forget you, but—” Amanda turned away. Tears began rolling down her cheeks. Paul stood up and went over to her. He put his arms on her shoulders and turned her around. Then he gently wiped away her tears. He lowered his head, looked deeply into her eyes, and placed his lips on hers. She didn’t resist. They stood for a while with their arms wrapped around each other savoring the moment; Amanda, ecstatic that she had just achieved her lifelong dream, to be in the arms of the man she loved, and Paul finally able to allow himself to release his emotions and not be afraid. They turned around and looked at each other, and reality set in. Paul steered Amanda over to the bed.

  “Paul, what is going to happen to you once you leave the Gladiator?”

  “I am afraid, I am destined to be locked away for a very long time.” He ran his hand over her short blonde hair. “It is unlikely that we will ever see each other again.”

  “I do not know how I am going to go on without you in my life.” She looked into his face, the tears again building up in her eyes.

  “We will just need to make the best of the time we have left,” said Paul. “It seems like I’ve suddenly developed a case of persistent headaches. So you will need to bring me daily aspirins.”

  “Of course, doctor,” laughed Amanda. She leaned her head on Paul’s cushiony shoulder. He tucked his arms around her waist. For Paul and Amanda time seemed to stand still as they just sat quietly on the prison cot absorbing this special moment.

  Amanda’s satellite phone beeped and she pressed the answer button.

  “Nurse Rugan,” blared Dr. Carter’s voice through the phone. “Is there a problem with Dr. Loring?”

  “No, Dr. Carter,” answered Amanda.

  “Well, then, how long does it take to dispense two aspirins? You have been gone almost an hour.”

  “I am sorry. I will be right there.” She closed the satellite phone. Paul gave her a kiss on the forehead, and she buzzed for Seaman Chase.

  Dennis Pearson stepped off the elevator onto the Bridge. He was quite disturbed by his conversation with Admiral Wilcox. Once again he was deceptive with the Admiral. He did not let on that they were not at Lexter. United Galaxy Command had commissioned a small cargo vessel with a shipment of three doses of Xanthommatin to Brisula to test the Brisulan air quality on the long range effectiveness of the drug. The vessel had turned up missing. The telescope on Lexter needed to be fixed so that the camera could be examined to see where the vessel was or what happened to it. The shipment had been dispatched when the Gladiator relayed its first report that Brisula was suitable for human life. Now Dennis had a major decision to make. Should the Gladiator remain here and search for the Captain and the others, or should they return to Lexter and fix the telescope?

  Pearson walked over to the captain’s chair and saw Dr. Tobias Carter sitting in the seat. The doctor was waiting for him.

  “Sir, I need to file another misconduct report.” The doctor handed him his tablet with the report on the screen. Dennis quickly scanned it.

  This is silly, he thought. I am sure Amanda and Paul were just talking and time slipped away. No harm was done.

  “Were there patients in need of help at the time?” asked Dennis.

  “No, but that’s beside the point,” stated Tobias.

  “I understand,” said Dennis. “File your report. I will speak with her.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “What was that all about?” Diane asked after the doctor left the Bridge.

  Dennis sighed, “I am afraid that Dr. Carter needs to learn that working on a spaceship is more like working with your family and not like a job where you go home every night. Here you have to live with your co-workers twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. You need to give people some leeway. Reporting minor infractions will only result in making hostile working environments.”

  And that, Dennis concluded to himself, seals it. The Captain and the others are family.
We cannot leave them here. No. We are staying here until we find them. That’s that.

  “What in blazes?” shouted Josh. Something rough was rubbing his cheek. He opened his eyes. It was Penelope. She was stroking her tongue across his face.

  “How did you get here?” he asked gently. “I can’t pet you with my hands tied behind my back.” He leaned his head down and patted Penelope on her forehead.

  “Are you talking to yourself, Captain?” asked Dr. Berg. She slowly turned her head around and Penelope leaped onto her lap. “Penelope. Oh, my stars. You should not be down here. I thought Ensign Glenna was supposed to be watching after you.” Penelope licked Marlana’s face and then ran back to Josh. “Captain, Penelope could have been killed falling down that hole. Ms. Glenna should have been more careful and—”

  “Doctor,” interrupted Josh. “We do not know how Penelope got down here and until we do let’s not jump to conclusions. Besides, she doesn’t appear to be hurt.”

  “But, I think—”

  “Quiet,” snapped Josh. “I think I hear footsteps.” Josh thought he heard the distant sound of boots stepping on the jagged stones lying haphazardly across the ground of the Construction Site. The way they were chained up he could not see in the direction in which the sounds were coming from. Suddenly Penelope took off heading toward the footsteps.

  “Penelope. Come back,” shouted Marlana.”

  “Quiet,” whispered the Captain. “We don’t know who is out there.”

  The footsteps got closer and then stopped. A flashlight beamed into Josh’s eyes.