by Doug Farren
“It is,” was Scott's simple reply.
Vevicty was about to probe deeper but Councilman Geoglict stopped him. “I’m sure you two can talk at length later. The Captain asked us to meet with him and I assume he had a purpose in doing so.”
AJ suddenly found himself the center of attention. It was a very uncomfortable feeling having two Keldans intently staring at him. “The Star-Pulse is on its way but won't arrive for several more days,” he said. “In the meantime, you should look over the data we’ve been transmitting to see if you are capable of building what we’ve given you. It should help prove our good intentions before we begin discussing our own needs.”
“Concerning your needs,” Goeglict said, “The council would like to know how large your mothership is and how many are aboard.”
“If you measure her at the greatest dimensions she is 941-meters long, 512-meters wide, and 266-meters tall,” AJ instantly replied.
“She?” Vevicty asked.
“It’s a common practice for us to refer to ships as if they were female,” Heather explained.
“A curious practice,” Goeglict said after digesting that tidbit of cultural information. “Is your society dominated by females?”
AJ smiled and chuckled. Looking at Heather he said, “We’re all equal, but our women have more power than we men care to admit.”
Goeglict had no idea what AJ was talking about but now was not the time to discuss how another species' society was structured. “And your crew compliment?” Goeglict brought the discussion back on track.
“Including those who are here – sixteen.”
“Sixteen! For such a large vessel? Incredible!” Vevicty exploded.
“The ship is highly automated and most of its bulk is for cargo,” Scott told him.
“We're getting a bit off-track,” AJ said. “What really concerns me at the moment is the Akuta. If they’re still out there, they represent a threat not only to your people, but to every inhabited planet they may be able to reach. Do you have any idea at all where they came from?”
“Legend consistently points to a single star,” Goeglict replied looking up as if he could see the star through the hull of the ship in broad daylight. “We call it the demon's eye. It's a star much like our own located a little over six light years from here.”
“What do you know about them?”
“We’ve found a small number of artifacts scattered about our world as well as the remains of a crashed ship. We know very little about them. We are fairly certain however, of a few of their physical attributes.”
Looking at Scott, Goeglict continued, “The earliest, and most reliable, records say the Akuta walked on two legs, had two arms, and had very dark, nearly black, skin.”
“That explains the stares I've been getting,” Scott said, squirming in his seat.
Turning his attention back to AJ, Goeglict went on. “We also know they must have done some horrible things to our ancestors since nearly every culture, no matter how remote, on this planet, has a story of the demons from the sky.”
“You don't know why they left or why they haven't returned?”
“All accounts say they left suddenly. It’s been speculated that a war broke out and they all left to defend their home planet. But there are no facts to back that up.”
“I would like to see this crashed ship with my own eyes,” AJ said. “Perhaps we can help shed some light on its possible origin.”
“It’s located in the deep desert on our largest continent several thousand kilometers from here,” Goeglict explained.
“We can take the shuttle,” Thomas offered. “The Keldans can ride in the cargo bay.”
“I’ll have to discuss this with the rest of the council first,” Goeglict said.
“We should get some Keldan furniture in here as well,” Heather added.
AJ rubbed his chin in thought. “Do you think we could arrange to leave tomorrow morning?” he asked.
“I believe so,” Goeglict replied. “There’s something else I need to discuss with you,” he went on, his feeders beginning to twitch. “We’ve completed our analysis of the data from the drone that crashed into your ship. We believe your ship's propulsion system may have been partially responsible for the incident. Vevicty will explain.”
Before Vevicty had a chance to say anything, Scott spoke up, “May I ask a couple of questions first? It might save us some time.”
“Of course,” Vevicty replied.
“Your drones are controlled by coded radio transmissions, correct?”
“They are.”
“What type of signal modulation do you use?”
“It’s a combination of phase and frequency modulation.”
Scott smiled knowingly then said, “The drive field surrounding our ship produces a slight distortion of spacetime during operation. The- - -”
“Your drive affects spacetime?” Vevicty interrupted, practically dancing in place with excitement.
Scott smiled. “It does. The effect is very local and drops off exponentially the farther you get from the drive units. This distortion can easily interfere with radio signals that traverse the drive field. Your drone got too close.”
“We did notice that the drone's interface seemed to be degrading as it approached your ship,” Vevicty said. “We also noticed that its internal control system seemed to be experiencing difficulty with the problems being more prevalent on the side of the drone closest to your ship.”
“Exactly!” Scott excitedly replied. “The drive field would also affect any electronic signals inside the drone. Fiber-optic communications would also be slightly affected unless the transceivers are designed to compensate for the shift in frequency and transmission speed.”
“Councilman,” AJ interrupted. “I suspect the discussion is about to become highly technical. I suggest you leave so you can make arrangements for tomorrow's trip. As far as I'm concerned, the crash was an accident and nothing further need be said.”
Goeglict was relieved. He had feared that revealing the cause of the crash would make it look like they were trying to blame the humans. “I agree,” he replied turning to leave.
“I would like to stay,” Vevicty pleaded.
“As long as it’s okay with the Captain, you may remain here for as long as you like,” the Councilman told him.
“I have no objections,” AJ replied.
Goeglict departed and AJ headed for the kitchenette to get himself some lunch. Heather tagged behind. As soon as they were out of earshot of the others she said, “You did very well back there Captain. I think you’re conquering your fear of the Keldans.”
“It's getting easier,” he admitted, pulling a prepackaged sandwich from one of the bins. “Hungry?”
Instead of answering, Heather reached over his shoulder and plucked a sandwich from the same bin. He felt the soft crush of one of her breasts against his arm as she leaned into him. “Excuse me,” she said nonchalantly, backing away and taking a seat at one of the tiny tables.
AJ sat across from her and pealed back the wrapper. “They call this a sandwich?” he complained holding up a limp wrap of meat and cheese.
“At least it's food,” she said, taking a bite, then wrinkling her nose. “Well, I think it's food.”
After quickly downing the less than substantial meal, AJ and Heather returned to the cargo pod and, with the help of two of the shuttle's robots, erected one of the large shelters. The shelter came packaged as a large cube. After moving it to a clear area, AJ pulled a cord to begin the automatic process.
Two chemicals reacted inside the shelter's double walls creating an insulating foam. The pressure generated by the expanding foam pushed the walls into the shape of a large shelter. In a matter of minutes, the foam had set and the shelter was nearly ready for use. A much smaller package contained a door which was quickly expanded and then hung on the integral hinges.
It required another hour of difficult labor in the heat to furnish the shelter and su
pply it with cool air. To prevent from overheating, AJ had stripped off his shirt and used a knife to turn his pants into shorts. Heather was already dressed for the warm weather and didn't have to make any modifications to her clothing.
It didn't take long for AJ and Heather to discover that they worked very well together as a team. Heather had to watch how much she used her injured arm and they both had to take frequent breaks inside the shuttle to cool down and rehydrate. When the last piece of furniture had finally been assembled, AJ stretched out on one of the inflatable mattresses and let out a long sigh of relief.
“This sure beats those cramped, lumpy cots in the shuttle,” he said.
“I wonder if we could get the Keldans to build us a shower?” Heather asked. She had removed her sweat-soaked shirt and now stood with her back to him dressed in her bra and shorts in front of the air vent trying to cool down.
Turning his head, AJ allowed himself the luxury of appreciating her beauty. He could clearly see how smooth her perfectly tanned skin was. She could easily have become a model or an actress had she desired. Why would such a beautiful woman choose a career as a deck ape, AJ idly wondered.
Heather turned her head and caught AJ admiring her. She, smiled, then slowly turned around and put both hands on her hips. Embarrassed, AJ looked toward the ceiling and closed his eyes. “I'll ask the Councilman if he can arrange for us to have a shower and running water,” he said, trying to keep his voice even.
Heather took several steps toward AJ and stopped at the edge of the mattress. “You may as well have a look at the entire package,” she said after a moment.
Against his better judgment, AJ opened his eyes and looked. Heather had somehow managed to remove the rest of her clothes and stood completely naked at the foot of the mattress. “Well?” she asked after allowing him enough time to look her over from top to bottom. “Do I pass inspection?”
For a few seconds, AJ was unable to reply. His mind was filled with very unprofessional thoughts. “You are an incredibly beautiful woman,” he heard himself say.
“It's about time you noticed,” Heather smiled. “I was beginning to wonder if I would ever be able to break through that shell of yours.”
AJ suddenly realized where things were heading and quickly averted his eyes. “This really isn't a good idea Heather,” he told her.
The mattress bounced slightly as Heather moved closer. Sitting on his legs facing him, she said, “There are no regulations or company rules against it, Besides,” she continued, “from the looks of things you seem to enjoy what I have to offer.”
“Heather,” AJ opened his eyes and looked into hers, “there’s not a single man anywhere in the known universe who would not enjoy your company. Believe me – I’m tempted, but- - -”
“But nothing,” Heather interrupted. “The door’s locked if that's what you're worried about.”
“Why me?” AJ asked, still trying to resist. “Why not one of the younger members of the crew?”
“Because I have no interest in anyone else,” she explained. Her hand moved up an inch and began to undo his belt as she continued. “Of all the people I've met, I've never met anyone else who’s captured my interest as much as you have. I don't want anyone else. I want you.”
AJ knew he could no longer resist but there was one more question he had to ask. “For lust or for love?”
Heather straddled him and as she slowly lowered herself she replied, “Both.”
Chapter 14
“I’m convinced the humans are not Akuta,” Vevicty vehemently declared raising his voice.
“Why?” Commander Toonpin asked. “Because they have given us access to advanced technology that will take us months if not years to understand?” Waving his arm toward the ceiling he continued, “One of their ships is heading this way! For all we know, that ship is an advanced scout for a larger invasion force.”
Toonpin's hairs were standing on end causing Vevicty to crouch in anticipation of a physical attack. “Enough!” Councilman Goeglict shouted. “You will both conduct yourselves as professional members of this council or you will be asked to leave. Am I clear?”
Toonpin forced himself to calm down, bowing his head and saying, “I apologize for the outburst.”
“As do I,” Vevicty said. Turning to Toonpin, Vevicty went on in a much calmer voice, “I’ve spoken to the human engineer named Scott for several hours. I’ve seen their technology. Scott has been completely open and honest with me, answering all of my questions without hesitation. Would the Akuta do this?”
“It’s entirely possible,” Thumis, the historian, replied, “that the technology we’ve been given, as advanced as it seems, is nowhere near what is available to the Akuta. If they are Akuta, this could be an elaborate ploy to gain our confidence until their invasion force arrives. I advise caution.”
Vevicty's anger almost burst through his control. Closing his eyes and willing himself to remain calm he said, “Please consider your response very carefully. The technology freely given to us by the humans will enable us to save our entire race from certain annihilation. If they are not Akuta and we do anything to cause them to distrust us or, worse yet, preemptively attack them, we will be condemning most of our population to a horrible and certain death.”
“I understand all of your positions,” Goeglict said. “This is a very delicate situation and one we must absolutely deal with in a proper manner. I must admit that after talking to the humans, I too am inclined to believe they are not Akuta. But, as a councilman charged with the well-being of our planet, I cannot let my personal feelings sway my judgment.”
Goeglict looked at each of the others as he said, “We will continue to act as if we believe the humans. I will also order all ships and surface weapons to target both the human shuttle and the approaching mothership as soon as it is in range. We will use manual targeting so as not to alert them. But, and I cannot stress this strongly enough, no action is to be taken unless the humans initiate hostilities first. Is this agreeable to everyone?”
“I agree,” Toonpin said with a smile.
“I also agree, although reluctantly,” Vevicty replied.
“I believe you have taken the correct approach,” Thumis said, then added, “It’s wise to be cautious, but we must also consider the fact that if the humans are being honest they’ve given us the chance to save our entire population.”
“Then we are agreed,” Goeglict announced. “The humans are expecting us. It’s time to go.”
* * * * *
“Ten minutes!” Thomas said through AJ's ear-bud. The shuttle had just completed a quick sub-orbital flight nearly half-way around the planet.
AJ relayed the message to their Keldan passengers. Councilman Goeglict nodded his head in a very human-like gesture. The three Keldans were laying (or would it be more appropriate to refer to it as sitting) on raised cushions that supported their bodies. Their six legs hung on either side of the cushions.
Vevicty had been carrying on a steady, private, highly complex, technical conversation with Scott since coming aboard. Yesterday evening, along with the suggested furniture, the Keldans had brought a large video screen that was now set up in the cargo bay. Since it was nearly impossible for the Keldans to get to the cockpit, two cameras provided a clear view of that area.
Councilman Goeglict and Thumis watched in rapt fascination as Thomas flew the shuttle to their destination. This arrangement suited AJ just fine since it relieved him of the need to engage the Keldans in conversation, allowing him to spend most of the trip in the copilot's chair, away from his passengers. He’d gone back aft a few minutes before their arrival. Heather seemed content to sit and read.
AJ excused himself and made his way to the cockpit. On his way through the passenger section, he stopped to give Heather a kiss. The others had noticed a change in the dynamics between their captain and Heather but had chosen not to say anything. The day before, she had made it crystal clear how she felt about him. AJ was still trying to
sort through his own mixed bag of emotions.
Thomas glanced at AJ as he settled into the copilot's position. The shuttle was descending straight down to their destination. A seemingly unending expanse of sand could be seen out the windows. A dark spot on the otherwise featureless landscape quickly resolved itself into a tight collection of buildings next to a large excavation.
It soon became evident that the excavation had uncovered the skeletal remains of what had once been a huge ship. Thomas altered their course and made a slow circle around the crash-site. From above, the ship looked like a twisted mass of steel girders with the exception of several black rings sticking out of the sand. Most of the hull was missing.
“They say that ship crashed over a thousand years ago,” AJ remarked, his nose glued to the window so he could get a view of the wreckage. “It's remarkable that it's still recognizable.”
“The dry desert environment has probably kept it preserved,” Thomas replied, concentrating on flying the shuttle. “Sure doesn't look like there's much left of the inside – just an empty shell down there.”
“The Keldan's may have recovered most of it,” AJ replied.
“Possibly,” Thomas said as they leveled out and began their final descent.
The landing was barely noticeable. Thomas quickly secured the ship, putting the reactor into a low-power standby mode. Unbuckling, he swung himself out of the seat and said, “All secure. Let's go see this Akuta ship.”
AJ pushed the button to open the rear cargo doors as he got out of the copilot’s seat. In the kitchen, Thomas stopped and said, “I'll meet you in the cargo bay.”
AJ grunted an acknowledgement and kept going. The ramp was still extending when he arrived. The heat coming through the open doors was almost unbearable.
“How hot is it out there?” AJ asked when Thomas reappeared.
“Just over 52 degrees C,” Thomas replied holding up a backpack. “I wouldn't recommend staying outside for very long. I grabbed a couple of bottles of water for each of us.”
Scott and Vevicty joined the group. Scott had a portable scanner slung over his shoulder. “The buildings are cooled,” Thumis told them.
