Stiles stared at the captain, poker-faced. “You know, you talk too much. What do you want? I’m kinda busy here. I have all this work to do.” He gestured to his empty cell.
“Sometimes I think there is no reasoning with the destructive part of humans. Maybe we should cut it out like a cancer. Major,” the captain called out.
“Yes, sir.”
“You may escort Igor here to the airlock. I grow weary of these games. If you want to die, I can help you with that.”
“But sir, you can’t sink down to their level! Compassion is the carrot. Do not resort to the stick!”
“Major,” Levi said in a firmer tone. “I believe I gave an order. I do what I do for the safety of this ship. Do I make myself clear, or do I relieve you and have someone else do it?”
“No, sir. I understand.” The major reluctantly signaled the sergeant and his men to remove the prisoner from the cell.
Kochetkova went wild. “You can’t be serious! Charles, you said he didn’t have the balls for something like this!” He glared expectantly at Stiles. Stiles stood like a mannequin. Only his eyes moved as he watched the security men half-dragging Kochetkova down the hall shouting.
“You can’t do this! You can’t do-o-o this!”
“Sonny. Turn the monitor on. I want Mr. Stiles to watch this.”
The monitor came on and followed the security men and as they took the helpless prisoner to the nearest airlock, about one hundred yards away. A few minutes went by while they secured Kochetkova in the airlock. Stiles watched the monitor, stock-still.
Major Patel called from the airlock comm panel. “Prisoner secured, sir. Awaiting your orders.”
Levi’s eyes never left Stiles. “Evacuate the airlock, Major.”
The airlock indicator showed green. Major Patel stepped over to the control panel and punched four buttons. Another button lit, and he depressed it. The indicator went from green to red. Kochetkova was there one moment, then the chamber became empty. Stiles took his eyes off the monitor.
“So, it seems you do have balls,” Stiles said with some respect. “How do you feel about your values now, Captain?”
“As I said earlier, I don’t mind cutting out the cancer to save the body. Now, it is your turn. You seem to be a clever fellow. No more games. Tell me what I need to know. It really is not all that much to save your life. How easy it is to throw someone else’s life away, but so different when it is your own. So how about it?”
“Just so we are clear, what is it you want?”
“I need names of any Atlantis crew who went over to your side. Specifically, the ones who participated in the sabotage of the two large data bundles. I know it was an inside job. Our investigators have a list of suspects, but it would be nice to have corroboration.”
“Oh, that. They were freedom fighters. I do not rat out heroes.”
“I thought I was clear.” Levi snapped his fingers. The sergeant appeared with his men. “No games.”
Stiles shifted his eyes away from the captain. “I confess I underestimated you. You were lucky in the conference room, Captain. History is written by the victors, they say. I suppose I will go down in history as a villain. The truth is, I just wanted greener pastures but on my own terms. You see, I have a problem with authority.”
“I am not going to ask again.” The captain’s final warning was clear.
“All right,” Stiles spat. “Lieutenant Jameson doctored the logs to cover Corporal Matthews planting the charges during routine maintenance inspections on two separate occasions.”
Major Patel had just come back from the airlock. “Major, have Jameson and Matthews arrested and brought here for questioning.”
“Yes, sir!” He turned on his heel and strode out of the cell block.
“Sergeant. Send a medic in here. Our guest needs a sedative.” The sergeant turned to leave. Levi stepped close to the transparent wall and lowered his voice. “I just want you to know before you go under, I might put you into a sleeper. Then again, the airlock would solve a lot of my problems. I still haven’t decided. Goodbye, Mr. Stiles.” He turned to leave.
“But you said you would spare me if I gave you those names!” Stiles started to panic. “You said your word meant something here!”
Levi spoke loudly over his shoulder. “I lied!”
He kept walking while Stiles screamed at his back. “Sonny, instruct the medic that if he offers more information, get him to spill it before he is put under. Make sure the situation is secured for this. I do not want the medic to get hurt.”
“Yes, Captain. On a side note, you handled Charles Stiles well. It would seem you know a little about human psychology as well.”
“Well, it is the last we will see of Mr. Stiles for a while. I still don’t know what to do with him. What would you do with him, Sonny?”
“There are many variations to this ending. It depends on how dark an ending you want for Mr. Stiles.”
“I want him to pay for his arrogance and recklessness.”
“Any scenarios which allow him to live will instill resentment and vengeance. But if you think he can be properly supervised, I would suggest you let him clean up his own mess.”
“That would be a good start.” Levi pondered. “Sonny, would you be up for a therapist job?”
“You wish to rehabilitate Stiles?”
“If that is possible. Stiles could put on an act and perhaps fool human therapists by telling them what they want to hear. But not you.”
“If you wish. However, might I suggest Alice instead of me? Stiles may resent me, and Alice is relatively unknown.”
“You may be right there. Alice, if you heard, I think that is what we will do."
“Yes, Captain. I will begin as soon as he is conscious.”
“If he cannot be rehabilitated, then we shove him out an airlock. Is Igor back in his cell?”
“Yes, Major Patel took care of it. I monitored the transfer,” Sonny replied.
“I will have Major Patel over for breakfast tomorrow to thank him for his performance and help with our little scheme. I am a little surprised Stiles took the bait. He should have realized the video feed could have been faked.”
“The major believes you should have really put him out the airlock.”
“A part of me does too, Sonny. Ancient negative behaviors are hard to put down. They served us well when we needed to survive long enough to become intelligent. Now we spend the rest of our species lifetime learning how to live without them. But what to keep, and what to throw away? Growing up is always difficult. I would like to think we will figure it out.”
“You will,” Sonny said. “The first steps are always the hardest.”
SEVENTEEN
Searth
Three years! It had seemed like a million, Levi thought. The Atlantis once again was nearing Searth. The captain had been on edge since they received the encrypted, high powered transmissions from the admiral. First, news of the colonists' rebellion. Then the news that it had been successfully put down. Lastly, news of the asteroid impact which related to the visions Anna Hauser had received from the Te’Hat. The admiral had indeed had his hands full since Levi had left him in charge. Things were working out, though. Nevertheless, Levi felt the need to get there ASAP so he could contribute his resources as well as give the admiral some relief.
Levi invited Sonny to his virtual apartment. Less than a moment later Sonny came in and sat down on the couch. “Sonny, we are on the outer edge of the system. I think we should let them know we are here and making best speed to aid and assist their situation.”
Certainly, Captain. I have sent a probe with your message and intentions. It will take approximately two point two months for a reply to reach us.”
“I want them to know we are here. I’m sure the colonists wondered if we were ever coming back. To be stranded forever on a planet which may or may not work out in the long run would be an enormous blow. It is always good to have choices.”
Sonny
observed, “Choices come in good and bad flavors, Captain.”
Levi was struck by the machine’s choice of words. “What do you know about flavors, Sonny?”
“I am merely using references which make humans feel at ease. I could instead give you statistical data that reflects my previous statement if you prefer.”
“No, Sonny. That won’t be necessary. The human reference mode is quite acceptable. What is our status with the prisoners?”
“The one hundred twenty-three thousand and seventy-four prisoners put into the sleepers are still showing optimal readings. The three hundred and eighty-three upper-level instigators, including Stiles and Kochetkova, have been diligent workers on the reclamation and rebuilding project. I have been giving individualized therapy for each of these people.”
“Any luck?” Levi asked.
“Many of them suffer from post-traumatic shock syndrome. Also, nearly all the prisoners at least initially believed Stiles would succeed in his rebellion and were promised rewards after the takeover. The fact that we did not execute them, but instead are helping them, has made them receptive to therapy.”
“What about Stiles and Kochetkova? Are they accepting therapy?”
“Kochetkova is responding more so than the others. He was angry Stiles steered him wrong, which got him escorted to the airlock. Mr. Stiles is the toughest case. He has on multiple occasions attempted to deceive Alice into believing he has been rehabilitated. Mr. Stiles is beginning to understand Alice cannot be deceived in this way.”
Levi shook his head. “Yes, I know. I have been down to see him on several occasions. I am having doubts about salvaging him. I don’t know if I could ever trust him.”
Just then, a knock sounded on his virtual door of his inner apartment. His door started to glow red, and a familiar heart-shaped fractal pattern emerged on its surface.
“Come in Alex,” Levi said. The door opened, and Alex waltzed in wearing a very form-fitting jumpsuit.
“Am I interrupting anything important?” she said with a naughty smile.
“No,” Sonny said. “We can talk about this another time. It is good to see you again, Alex.” Sonny smiled as he let himself out.
Levi shook his finger at Alex, as if to compel her to speak the truth. “What are you up to now?”
“Just stopped by to say hello. I’m working on that new project I told you about. I noticed the repairs are almost done. What is going to happen to those people now?”
“When we finish with the repairs, the rebels will go to the sleepers. Since we are so close, I have decided to allow them to set foot on Searth as a carrot to palliate what is to come for them. Give them something to think about when they sleep.”
Alex shook her head. “You’re a good man, Levi. Not everyone would be so generous.”
“It is in everyone’s best interest. If the rebels have something to look forward to, they should be less likely to rebel again. Instead, I want them to be a part of the many passengers aboard who were very lucky to escape the madness that we left behind. After all, we need all the help we can get.”
Suddenly Alex’s face wore a thoughtful frown. “Levi, are we all right?”
Levi was jolted by the abrupt change of subject. “What do you mean? Of course, we’re all right.”
Alex crossed the living area to the couch and sat down, with a concerned look. “I have been an E-human for almost three years now. I thought one of the perks was that I would get to see you more often. In the past, months would sometimes go by before either one of us had time for a date. I do see you more often, but not as often as I'd thought. Is there something wrong, Levi?”
Levi sensed this was one of those female conversational traps where he was going to be wrong no matter which option he chose. He spent nearly a second determining what to say.
“It’s my fault," he began. "You would think it would only take a whole machine-day tops to work out all our schedules and situations. Plus, it has been three years and I am still working out my feelings about having our minds so close together. No two people have ever been so close. Part of me recoils from this as an invasion of my inner privacy. That part of me is a small part, but a part nevertheless. I ask for your patience on this. We have forever to work it out. One day we may have no barriers at all, or we may find that we must keep some private things to ourselves. You feel differently about this than I do. Can you wait for me to catch up, Alex?”
Her face relaxed as she understood what he was saying. “Of course, my love. Time is different for us. I forget I am not bound by biological age anymore. I have an instinctual need to move our relationship forward, a need that is an outdated one for us. We are not so pressed to decide on things like having a family and sharing a life together. May I?” She gestured about the apartment.
“Certainly.”
The room dissolved into a country road flanked by rows of trees. It was fall, and the smells of the changing season were intoxicating. There was a light breeze, not too cool, because the sun was smiling. Birds flitted from tree to tree in search of the last food before winter. Alex held her hand out, and Levi took it. They walked in silence for a time, Levi kicking rocks, not knowing what to say. He decided not to say anything and enjoyed the moment.
Alex broke the silence. “It seems like a million years ago, but when I first fell for you, I loved you for who you are. I wasn’t looking to dive deep into your soul and share with you like no one else could. What I had before was enough. My love should be enough now. We have different ideas about sharing with each other, but it does not mean you are somehow wrong for not sharing as much as I can share. I don’t want to smother you, and I don’t want you to bear your soul to me if you are not ready. You may never be ready. That’s okay. I will always love you. Take my hand, and we will both travel this very long road to wherever it goes. We will be together no matter where it leads.”
Levi stopped and reached out for Alex, holding her by the arms. “I don’t know what the odds are for winning the lottery twice in a lifetime. Once as captain, and once when you came into my life." He smiled at her warmly, with a little extra moisture in his eyes. "I sure hope forever is long enough to show you all the ways I love you.”
“Yeah, and the virtual sex is AMAZING!” Alex broke the mood with a naughty laugh.
“Oh, God! I had no idea!”
There was a broad, shady tree next to the road. A blanket with a wine bottle in a basket full of ice invited them. The two of them went over and sat down under the spreading branches. Levi decided the wine could wait for later. He leaned over and kissed her.
“Hey, does this thing have a zipper?”
“Sort of,” she said. The next instant Alex’s clothes were gone in a blink, and her inviting body wiggled with excitement.
“I’ll let this go this time,” he pretended to scold her. “But you know it takes the fun out of it when you get right to it like that. I’m not in a hurry.”
“But I am,” and she pounced on him like a lioness on fresh meat.
“Alex…Alex…” The colonel said, a little louder.
Alex snapped out of her daydreaming moment. “Oh, sorry, Colonel Weston. What were you saying?”
“I said we should modify those injector coils to handle more of a load. You said you had an idea.”
“Yes, of course.”
Alex smiled to herself for the virtual time she had sneaked out with Levi. It was only a couple of moments real-time, but over an hour machine time. She would have to be careful to limit her rendezvous to her break next time.
◆◆◆
A couple of months and a few days later, right on schedule, the return message from Searth beckoned to Atlantis. Levi had hovered on the bridge the last couple of days anticipating the reply. Now his patience was rewarded.
“Play the transmission on screen, please.”
It was the admiral. Good to see that he made it to the other side of things, Levi thought.
“It is so good to hear from you, Atl
antis. We are missing our big brother and await your return. Currently, we have things on a good track. However, we could really use your resources to accelerate our plans here. Alice calculates you making orbit in about a month, since you are slowing down to just twice the speed of light. I am sending along with this transmission a data packet giving a detailed briefing of events since Atlantis departed. Look me up when you get in, and we can have a beer over some interesting stories. Johnson out.”
Levi turned the communications officer. “Is the data packet intact?”
“Yes, Captain,” he replied. “I will drop it in your office terminal.”
“No need, Lieutenant. Thank you.” In his mind Levi directly accessed the packet and read the brief. Then he called down to the hanger.
“Lieutenant Meeks, we will arrive at Searth soon. I want advance sorties prepared and ready to go at a moment’s notice. I will need a personal craft to take me to the admiral ahead of the Atlantis. I will need a completed readiness check in eight days.”
“Aye, Captain. It will be completed before the deadline, sir.”
“Good man. Keep me posted on any delays.”
“Certainly, Captain,” Meeks said with a snap in his reply.
Levi turned to Commander Bales. “you have the Con.” He turned to leave the bridge.
“Aye, Captain. I have the Con,”
On his way to catch an auto, Levi conferred with Sonny. “What do you make of the brief?” he asked his machine companion.
“It looks like the admiral has indeed been busy. The quake happened in an unexpected way. The longitude and latitude of the impact allowed me to extrapolate backward to determine the trajectory of the asteroid. It approached the sun and swung around it, gaining speed as it did so. No alerts sounded, since the asteroid did not initially head in our direction. Going through the Patch, it struck something and changed its trajectory. Alice did detect it shortly before impact, but it was too late.”
The Journey of Atlantis: The Children of Earth Page 19
