Freedom

by Maureen Toonkel

  “You know Captain,” inserted Dr. Berg. “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

  “Was there ever any truth to that?”

  “Actually, yes. There are some antioxidants in apples that can help with the prevention of cancer and strokes. But, of course, now on Earth and on most celestial bodies that are members of the Amalgamation of United Planets and Solar Systems, we use vaccinations against those conditions,” responded Marlana. “I think it is very compassionate of Captain Torgenson to be so concerned about the health of the people here on Brisula. And to even include the slaves is quite humane.”

  “I do need to go to work in a few minutes,” said Colonel Flax looking at the watch on his wrist. “Do you have any other questions I might be able to answer quickly?”

  Josh looked over at his officers and then faced the Colonel.

  “Yes. Has anyone seen General Platt since the day of the slave uprising?”

  “No.” Flax shook his head. “At least not that I am aware of.”

  “Could he have left the city?”

  “The only way out would be through the Boulder Entrance or the Lake. Your people would have found him by now if he had used either of those exits.”

  “Is he in hiding somewhere in the city?”

  “It’s possible. Torgenson had searched Brisula thoroughly after you left looking for escaped slaves. He is now searching everywhere again, looking for you.”

  “Platt must live somewhere in the city.”

  “Yes, he does. I know where his apartment is.”

  “Great. Can you take us there?”

  “OK. First I must finish helping my family get ready for the day. My children have been ill the past few days and unable to go to school. There is a lot of sickness in Brisula right now. Some sort of virus I am told. The Hospital is overcrowded so we are doing what we can for them at home.”

  “Sir,” said Josh. “Marlana Berg is our chief medical officer. With your permission she can tend to your children.”

  Colonel Flax nodded his agreement. They all followed him out the office door and across the hallway into a bedroom with bunk beds. On the bottom bunk was a young girl with auburn hair braided into two long braids that reached down to her waist. She looked pale and tired as she eyed the group of strangers that walked into her room. On the top bunk was a boy, apparently the same age as the girl. He had the same dark black hair as his father. He was shivering even though he had a thick blanket pulled up all the way under his chin. A pretty middle-aged woman with short straight auburn hair was standing at the foot of the beds.

  “Gina,” Colonel Flax said, addressing his wife. “These are Salton and Joban’s friends. Marlana Berg is a doctor and I would like to have her examine Tossie and Tommie.” Although she looked suspiciously at the Gladiator officers, Gina nodded her consent.

  “Fine,” the Colonel said to his wife. “Then you and I can go to work. I will have Salton stay in here with Dr. Berg and the children.” He turned to Josh and added. “I will need to check in at the Zoo first, otherwise there may be suspicion if I do not show up for work. I will make up an excuse to leave and will come back here to get you.”

  “Sure,” agreed Josh. Once the Colonel and Mrs. Flax departed, he turned to address his officers. “Dave, you stay here with Dr. Berg. Keith and I will wait in the foyer for Colonel Flax and then accompany him to Platt’s apartment.”

  “Too bad we can’t go to the Zoo. I was hoping to see that great big snake,” kidded Dave.

  Keith snickered, whereas Josh grinned at his two crewmates. He was about to say something when Marlana blurted out, “Captain, my medical bag was confiscated by Victor Torgenson.”

  “Dr. Berg, from everything I’ve been told by Commander Andrews, you are a brilliant physician. I have no doubt that you can treat these patients without your medical gadgets.” Josh formed a smirk with his lips and slightly tilted his head.

  Keith tried not to snicker again. Dave looked away, staring instead at a painting of some circus elephants on the wall above the top bunk bed.

  That was certainly uncalled for, Marlana said to herself. I am going to file a complaint when we get back to the ship. Yes I am.

  Colin Evans shook the sleep out of his eyes. He looked over at Beverly lying next to him on the floor of the James T. Kirk space pod. Her naked body was partially covered with a navy blue woolen UGC issued blanket. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but something was different about Beverly. Was it just that they had been apart for a while? But they had been apart before and it never affected their relationship. Being in the space program they knew that there was going to be long periods of time when they would not have contact with each other. They had discussed that many times and they were fully prepared to deal with it. So it wasn’t that. Bev almost seemed nervous around him. But that sounded silly. Probably just his imagination. She had no reason to be scared of him. He had to admit that he was bothered by the fact that she had not told anyone besides the doctor that she was engaged. Her explanation seemed weak. Why wouldn’t she want her crewmates to know? And why were they so surprised to find out that she was engaged? And then there was that Hampton guy. He was visibly upset when he found them together. Was Bev’s reaction just embarrassment? If she was really so embarrassed would she then run after Hampton? Or was it something else? And lastly why hadn’t he received any email or phone calls from Beverly once she had boarded the Gladiator. He had sent her messages, and she had not responded. He had assumed she was on a restricted assignment or in an area that had no reception. Yesterday when he asked her about it she told him that she was on an assignment that kept her too busy to do anything else. He remembered that she also had said that she was on a mission with Hampton. Was that what was keeping her busy?

  Evans threw the covers back, got up, and dressed. He went over to the computer console at the front of the space pod and tried signing on to the data banks. The communications systems were out of commission, but the data banks were still working. He brought up the U.S.S. Gladiator and keyed in Summary Reports for Recent Missions. A document entitled Brisula Project: Transcript of Briefing by Captain Joshua Stoner popped up.

  “Your report is inadequate for the amount of time you spent with the patient last night.” Tobias Carter stood looking down at Amanda Rugan who was sitting at her desk in the Sick Bay medical lobby. “You were gone for almost an hour, but your report is only one paragraph long, stating that Dr. Loring had a headache, with migraine-like symptoms.”

  Amanda stared up at the doctor and appeared flustered. Oh dear. What can I say? My dream has finally come true. Paul had held me in his arms, kissed me, and said he wanted me. Even if we can never really have each other, that one moment will last a lifetime for me.

  “I am waiting for an explanation, Ms. Rugan,” demanded Dr. Carter impatiently.

  “Um, yes, sir. I, um, well,” began Amanda. “I gave Paul some tablets for his headache and waited to see if the medication worked.”

  “That was totally unnecessary. Proper protocol would be to call down to the Brig to check on his progress.” Dr. Carter slammed his fist onto the top of Amanda’s computer monitor. “I have no choice but to submit another infraction report.” He turned on his heels and quickly walked away leaving Amanda alone with her thoughts. She smiled to herself. Having Paul’s arms wrapped around me, well that was worth being written up for.

  She heard the bell on the main Sick Bay door sound, and as she rose from her desk, Lieutenant Commander Pearson poked his head through her cubicle doorway.

  “Good morning,” he announced. “You look chipper this morning.”

  “I am feeling quite good, thank you,” she replied with a wide smile across her face. “Although I probably shouldn’t. Dr. Carter is in his office writing up another report on me.”

  Dennis frowned. “What’d you do this time?”

  “I was too attentive to Dr. Loring.”

  “Oh?” Dennis nodded. “Would that have anything to do with that big smi
le on your face?”

  Amanda could feel her cheeks turning red. She quickly changed the subject. “Um, what can I do for you, sir?”

  Dennis nodded again. “I have an awful headache.”

  “You and Paul.”

  “Mine is from lack of sleep,” said Dennis. “I doubt that is what is causing Loring’s headache.”

  “No, of course not. Please wait here in my office and I will bring you some headache tablets.”

  Dennis looked aimlessly around Amanda’s cubbyhole office as he waited for her to return. Glancing at a small bulletin board above her desk he noticed a picture of Paul Loring. It was his official UGC photo. Apparently Amanda had printed it off from his service log and tacked it up on her board. Although Dennis felt nothing but contempt for Paul Loring, he understood that Amanda once had deep feelings for the doctor, and that those feelings do not go away that easily.

  “Here you go, sir,” said Amanda as she re-entered her office. She handed Dennis a small white paper cup containing two tablets. “These should relieve your headache. The pills take about fifteen to twenty minutes to kick in.”

  “Thank you, Amanda,” said Pearson. “Oh and don’t worry about the reports that Dr. Carter is writing up.”

  “OK. I’ll try not to.”

  “Can I say one more thing?”

  “Sure.”

  “You do know that Dr. Loring is going to be executed for treason or at least locked up for the rest of his life?” Amanda nodded. “There is no future for you with him.”

  Amanda nodded again. “I know,” she said, “but there is a present.” She looked at Dennis and smiled.

  “Well, enjoy it while you can.” Dennis walked out of the office.

  Colonel Flax and his wife, Gina, had departed about an hour ago. Josh spent the time pacing back and forth along the perimeter of the small foyer. Had he made a mistake trusting the Colonel? Was he really going to come back and take them to Platt’s apartment? Or was he going to come back with a posse? No, Josh told himself, Flax wouldn’t have left his children with us if he intended to bring Torgenson back, which most likely could result in a possible struggle and put his kids in danger. I am banking on his honesty. There is something about him that seems genuine. I hope I am right. If I am not, I have led us all into a trap.

  “Captain,” Keith Hampton whispered. “Someone is approaching from outside.” Josh signaled for Keith to be quiet and to stand flat against the wall alongside the entranceway. The door opened and Colonel Flax walked in alone. He turned around and his face registered surprise to see the two Gladiator officers flattened against the wall.

  “You can trust me, gentlemen. I am on your side.” He smiled and held out his hands. “Here put these on over your shirts.” Flax gave them some torn t-shirts with numbers written on the front. “It was the best I could come up with under the short notice.” He held open the front door. “Come let us hurry.”

  Josh and Keith donned the shirts and quickly left the apartment. The Colonel told them General Platt lived in apartment J-1000. He felt the safest way for them to travel would be to take the Traffic Corridor, as it was busy during this time of day, so they would draw less attention to themselves than if they took the J Lane.

  The three men left the apartment complex, crossed the J Lane, and headed east on the Traffic Corridor. As they headed north across the J Lane at the 11 Passageway, a Brisulan waved down the Colonel. He was dressed in a bright green uniform.

  “Colonel, what are you doing down here?” asked the man.

  “Mox,” said Colonel Flax. “I am escorting these slaves to Deliveries. They will be working there today.”

  “I can take them there for you sir,” offered Mox. “I am headed there.”

  “Very well,” said Flax. “By the way, I am calling a strategy meeting in my office at the Zoo in two hours. Please report there at that time.”

  “Yes, sir,” said Mox.

  “1266 D, please give me the bag you are carrying for me,” said Flax looking at Keith Hampton.

  For a moment Keith did not realize that Flax was referring to him but then it hit him, and he removed his backpack and handed it over to the Colonel.

  Flax turned his back to Mox and the Gladiator officers and walked away down the J Lane.

  Mox drew out a cattle prod from his belt pack. “Let’s go. Straight ahead. Don’t make me have to use this.”

  Josh and Keith looked at one another and then started walking north along the 11 Passageway. They passed the Greenhouses and eventually arrived at Deliveries where they were put to work boxing up sheets of silver to be shipped out to Imp.

  Dr. Berg ran her hands over the forehead of the young girl. She was obviously running a high fever. She touched the girl’s lips. They were parched. When she questioned Salton, he had told her that both children had complained of nausea and were having difficulty keeping their food down. Aches and pains seemed to be the order of the day. Tossie in particular was having abdominal cramps while Tommie was suffering with chills and cold sweats. Marlana removed the blanket from Tossie and gently lifted the girl’s pajama top exposing her bare body. Not having her Bio-Scan, the doctor placed her hands on the girl’s chest and slowly applied pressure as she softly moved her hands down the length of her torso checking the organs below her epidermis.

  “Oh my gosh!” remarked the doctor.

  “Is something wrong, doctor?” asked a startled Dave Andrews. The doctor’s sudden outburst sounded quite serious.

  “Um. No. Nothing to be concerned about,” said Marlana. “I think I know what is wrong with the children.” She pulled down Tossie’s top and covered her back up with the blanket. “They have indigestion. Probably from overeating or eating too fast. All the vomiting has caused them to be dehydrated. They need to drink a lot of clear liquids. Salton, can you bring the children some water and then make them some clear broth?”

  Salton returned with a pitcher of water, some glasses, and some straws. Andrews and Marlana assisted the children in drinking small gulps of water. Just sitting up and drawing water through straws was draining for the twins, and they quickly needed to lie back down again.

  “Commander Andrews, may I have a word with you?” asked the doctor. She beckoned him to follow her outside into the hallway. She checked to make sure that Salton was not coming back yet with the broth. “Commander, I fear that the Captain and Lieutenant Hampton may have walked into a trap.”

  “A trap?” asked Andrews clearly puzzled.

  “Sir, the children are Tradians.”

  “What?” exclaimed Dave. “Are you sure? How do you know?”

  “I am quite positive. When I was checking the girl’s organs, I am quite certain that I could feel her stomach on the right side of her body.”

  Dave stared at the doctor for a few seconds, nodded slowly, and said, “The children are the spitting images of their parents, which means they are not adopted, therefore, making it fairly unmistakable that their parents are also Tradians. Which indeed means that the Captain may be in very deep trouble.”

  “A reasonable deduction,” agreed Marlana. “Furthermore, the children are suffering from much more than indigestion. They have—”

  At that moment Salton appeared in the hallway carrying a tray with two bowls of steaming vegetable broth.

  “That looks delicious, Salton,” said Andrews. “After the children have eaten would you mind answering some questions?”

  “Not at all.” True to his word, Salton led them to the kitchen after the children consumed as much broth as they could manage to keep down.

  Commander Andrews wasted no time. He took a seat at the small kitchen table and immediately began firing questions at Salton.

  “Why does Colonel Flax wear a multicolored uniform?” he asked.

  “It is because he holds the rank of colonel in both the Brisulan Military Guard and the Tradian Galactic Army. The multicolor signifies dual representation.”

  “Does he have allegiance to one over the oth
er?”

  “No, of course he can’t. But he is a Brisulan.”

  “Is he?”

  “Yes, he and his family are native Brisulans.”

  Dave Andrews looked at Dr. Berg and shrugged his shoulders. Obviously Salton was in the dark about his Master. Dave wondered if the twins themselves even knew that they were Tradians. Somehow he doubted it.

  “Dr. Berg, I think you and I are done here. The children are doing better. It is time for us to go,” announced Dave. He pushed back the kitchen chair and stood up.

  “Go where?” asked Salton.

  “I think we need to look for the Captain. I have a hunch that he may need our help,” answered Dave. “Come Dr. Berg.”

  Marlana called for Penelope who came running when she heard her name. She scooped her up and stuffed her into her backpack. Dave assisted Marlana in getting the pack onto her back and they headed for the front door.

  “Thank you very much for helping the children,” said Salton. “Here let me get the door for you.” He grabbed the handle and tugged open the wooden apartment door. Standing outside the door with his gun drawn was Lieutenant Shasta and two bulky Brisulan guards. Behind them was Gina Flax.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  June 24, 1100 Hours

  Jackson Greene had napped for four hours and was back on the job. By 1100 he had pinpointed the exact melting point of the metal, 3,793 degrees Celsius. He was now testing the potential toxicity of the metal in its liquid form and the results he was getting were disturbing. If what he was seeing was true, their plans to break through the force field by liquefying the shield might not be a viable plan after all.

  The Science Center door slid open and Bonnie Shea tiptoed in.

  “Good morning, Lieutenant Shea,” greeted Jackson.

  “How did you know it was me?” Bonnie asked.

  “I can smell your cologne, Daisies Won’t Tell. Furthermore, who else would be sneaking in two hours late?”