Tapping the tablet, Amanda landed on a picture of a guy with dark intense eyes, an aquiline nose, and sharp cheeks. “My second pick is Carter Wright. He just came into the assistant’s position to Jimbo in engineering. He’s really smart and quite attractive in a geeky way, but he’s shy and doesn’t talk much…unless you ask him about the ship’s power system. Then he talks more about jump engines and anti-matter than a girl wants to know.” Here, she paused and added, “But right now, that might interest the Captain.”
“Hmmm.” Trajan leaned closer for a better look. Jacob noticed his arm casually brush the side of one of her tits. However, Amanda didn’t appear to notice how close they were or that his arm touched her there.
Jacob straightened up and took a sip of tea, staring at the two.
Jennie tapped his arm. “Care for another biscuit?”
He blinked at her, confused. “Ah, yes, thanks.”
“Who do you think is best so far?” Jennie eyed him across the rim of her cup.
She’s trying to distract me.
Trajan leaned back and stretched his muscled arms above his head. He rubbed his shoulders. “Let’s see the others before we decide.” He rocked back onto two legs of the chair and surveyed the group, a grin on his face.
Amanda nodded. “So,” She tapped the tablet, bringing up a face with prominent ears, a wide smile and military short hair. “Ed Blakey isn’t drop dead gorgeous, but he’s a people person. He knows how to converse, dresses well, and has admitted to me in private that he has a huge crush on the Captain. He works with Sarah Landsdale at Human Resources. She took on Elizabeth’s old job there.” Amanda’s sea-green eyes watered. “Too many good people died from that awful disease. Elizabeth was one.”
All four paused in silence, saddened by the memory of all those deaths.
In a croaking voice, Amanda continued, “Ed is in a high enough position that no one would say the captain was dating beneath her station.”
A frown creased Trajan’s brow at the comment but quickly disappeared when Amanda glanced at him.
Amanda sipped her tea and nibbled a biscuit as she tapped on the final selection. “My last choice is Hank Grant. Hank is a party boy hunk.” An image of an extremely handsome blond grinned out at them. “He dresses impeccably, is very sexy, and wouldn’t mind a strictly physical relationship. While he isn’t data smart, he is ship smart and knows all the best places to go for a good time. A fun companion, he has lots of girlfriends. However, since she’s the captain, he would probably ditch them and favor her if things turned serious.”
Trajan slanted his head at her. “Are you considered one of his girlfriends?”
Amanda coughed quietly into a fist. “We go out when I want to have fun with someone who will take care of me properly.”
Trajan leaned forward as the front legs of his chair hit the floor with a thud. He bent closer to study the picture. “You prefer blond hunky playboys?”
The females in the room exchanged glances. Jennie giggled.
A prim expression settled on Amanda’s face. “I have a wide range of taste in men, but I believe we are discussing the captain preferences, not mine.”
“Harrumph.” Trajan sipped tea and evaluated the four faces. “I can easily get the Captain to arrange a meeting with Brad Cameron. She should meet the new administrator, anyway.” He rubbed his face. “We plan to make a jump soon, so she might want to talk to Carter Wright, too.” He exhaled. “Let’s start there and see where things lead. I don’t want to overwhelm her.”
Amanda nodded and closed her tablet. “I think that you and I should interview them together in person first, just to make sure they’re acceptable.”
A thoughtful expression passed over Trajan’s face. “I think that’s a good idea. I’ll pick you up next shift around six. I shouldn’t have trouble getting us an appointment with Administer Cameron. Maybe during our chat, in a subtle way, you can alert him to our true intentions. Then, afterward over dinner, we can discuss further arrangements.”
Amanda brushed back a golden lock. “Sounds perfect.”
Jacob wasn’t sure whether the further arrangements Trajan talked about included Brad or were meant solely for Amanda and him.
Trajan stood up and spilled a handful of coins along with paper money onto the table. He regarded Jacob. “As usual, big fella, you more than delivered the goods, and in addition, surprised me.”
“What about me?” Jennie pouted.
Trajan grinned. “You are an amazement and a treasure beyond compare. Truly a wonder.”
She faced him. “See, Jacob. That’s how you talk to a girl.”
A lesson learned.
Chapter 21
Dating Service
Elise watched as Trajan entered the bridge, looking entirely too smug.
“What are you up to?” she asked in a suspicious voice. A few heads swiveled.
“Just following orders, Captain.”
She squinted at him. “Whose orders?”
He looked startled. Edging closer to her, he lowered his voice. “Yours, of course. In accordance with your instructions, I have selected two names. The first is Brad Cameron, our new ship’s administrator. You could suggest a few candidates for several job openings he has and help him re-organize the ship’s sections.”
Her mouth went sour. “The last meeting I had with our ship administrator left a bad taste for repeating the experience.”
“That shouldn’t be the case here.” He grinned a very un-Trajan like expression.
She tried to interpret his behavior, and then it dawned on her. She beckoned him closer and almost whispered. “He’s a candidate for a companion?”
“He’s definitely worth checking out.” Trajan put up a finger. “And there’s also a Carter Wright in engineering who knows a lot about jump engines and anti-matter that you might want to revisit over a nice dinner. With those two to distract you, you won’t be pining after the absent Dr. Luttrell.” He backed up, very satisfied with himself.
Narrowing her brows, she retorted, “I don’t pine, especially where he’s concerned.”
A cough came from the comm station. She cast a glare toward Jazz who swiveled around. Her green eyes twinkling at the comment.
“Stop,” Elise ordered. “Don’t you dare say a word.”
Trajan leaned forward. “Both should provide, ah, excellent companionship and conversation.”
She eyed him. “I hope these aren’t picks of a thirteen-year-old boy. He wouldn’t have a clue as to what I want.”
“No, Jacob is pretty clueless about females, I agree. These are not his selections, although he and Jennie do approve.”
“Hmmmm.”
“And, before you comment on my relationship skills, I didn’t find these men either. But I think you should give them a chance.”
He pulled out a tablet and opened a web page. Flipping around the device, he handed it to her. She saw two masculine faces that didn’t look bad. No, not bad at all. She made a humming noise.
A snicker came from the helm.
“Mind your own business, Tango. I’ll have no smart ass comments from you either.”
Tango swung his seat around. “Maybe I should chaperone you and that Carter Wright fellow. It would provide an opportunity for me to learn more about jump engines.”
Encouraged by his action, Jazz swiveled back to face her. “If you’re not interested, I’ve been dying to meet Brad Cameron. I’ve heard about him from all over the ship. They say he’s quite the ladies’ man.”
“Now listen, you two, I’ll have no more comments. However, Jazz, get Brad Cameron’s office on the line and see if you can schedule a working dinner with him.”
“Copy that, Captain,” Jazz’s voice trilled. She winked at Tango.
Elise caught the wink. “Don’t act so daft, the two of you.” She pointed at them. “Trajan is right to say I need to take a bigger part in the ship’s reorganization. Perhaps, I can help with the re-sectioning project.”
She pulled a stiff face and raised her chin. “Regardless of any dating possibilities, I need to talk to Carter Wright and refresh jump procedure. So, Jazz, schedule a lunch or dinner with him too.”
Suddenly, she felt excited by the prospect of meeting two interesting men while assuaging her conscience that it was all for the ship’s benefit.
***
In her stateroom, as she listened to Carter Wright, Elise felt like a dummy who only needed to nod its head up and down in the appropriate places while her companion burbled on about shift equations and jump engine alignment. However, he presented timely data she needed to know if she was going to jump her ship.
Upon first entering her room, the shy, geeky Carter Wright could hardly speak. In person, he was quite handsome and also thoughtful, pulling out a chair for her as they sat at a small table in her captain’s quarters. His pale face contrasted against black eyelashes that framed intelligent eyes. These eyes shifted around the room while he wiped the palms of his hands nervously down his pants.
At first, she acted like it was an official meeting. However, the plush chairs and superior wine soon relaxed them into informality. After some preliminary small talk, she introduced the topic of power systems and merely sat back to listen.
“When there is this large a flotilla, timing and communications are critical.” He tapped the table for emphasis. “I’m not sure all engineering departments are experienced enough, nor am I confident that all the fleet’s pilots know what to do in jump.”
Slanting her head in question, she asked, “Hasn’t Reardon called a meeting of pilots?”
“He’s mostly left it up to the captains to make sure their ships are jump-ready.”
Elise rubbed the rim of her glass, thinking. “Can I offer your expertise to anyone who needs to know technical information about power systems?”
Carter shrugged. “Sure…if Jimbo will let me take the time to leave engineering for meetings.”
“I’ll have a word with him and Commander Reardon, too.” She glanced at the clock, surprised at the lateness of the hour.
“Now I must end a lovely dinner.” She paused, wondering if he would make a pass.
“I appreciate your delightful company, Captain.” He stretched and gazed around the room. “Not many give much attention to such a vital part of the ship.”
As he stood up awkwardly, she realized that he wouldn’t ever regard her as more than his captain. Such a pity. But she’d heard all that she needed about power systems and didn’t think he could extend the discussion to much else. She shook his hand with an extra squeeze that caused a surprised look on his face.
Then, she fell into bed, regretfully alone.
***
With Brad Cameron, she decided to request a small private dinner in her stateroom. Several hand-picked helpers served them drinks and dinner while they discussed a reorganization of the ship’s sections to accommodate recent personnel losses. Brad was a good conversationalist who soon moved on to other wider-ranging topics, discovering similar interests in wine, art, and low gravity calisthenics.
One young person, who acted as their server, was an extremely attractive blonde with sea-green eyes. Every time she entered to inquire if they needed anything, Brad’s eyes would follow her around. After a few times of this, Elise felt affronted by the attention.
Still, after the young woman left, his gaze would return to her, and Elise found his smile charming. She regarded his handsome face and easy manner and decided she was an idiot to be jealous.
“Any suggestion for positions in agriculture, husbandry or food services, let me know.” He leaned in, putting a hand over hers. “I’m excited to be working with you and hope we can do this again soon.”
She gave him a smile, and sipped her drink. “That would be lovely,” she heard herself gush. She felt like a teenager. Inside she laughed at herself, but he definitely made her feel giddy, and she liked it.
Next shift, she found herself back on the bridge but more lighthearted. “Do you want me to take the ship through jump?” she leaned forward.
Tango swiveled around and frowned. “I’ve taken this ship through jump before.”
“And look where we are. Does anyone know?”
An annoyed expression flashed across his face. “The circumstances were stressful. Ships started jumping, navigation shouted out coordinates, and the engine room indicated they were ready. So, I jumped and followed The Explorer. Then other ships followed us.”
“Still…”
“Your boyfriend, Carter, harried Commander Reardon to call a conference for pilots, astrogators, and any involved with jump. After Carter’s extensive review, the Commander put together a plan with detailed instructions for everyone.” Tango heaved a sigh. “You need to trust me as your helm, Captain.”
She studied him, deciding he had a point. “I do. Just thought I’d ask. Only Carter isn’t my boyfriend. I just met with him to refresh my knowledge…”
At navigation, Jensen coughed into his fist.
Tango snorted. “Captain. Seriously? Please understand that your bridge has no problem if you have boyfriends. In fact, we encourage it.”
Pressing her lips together, she replied, “It was ship’s business, but definitely none of bridge’s.”
Jazz pivoted around in her chair. “I think you should reconsider. Cameron’s hot.”
“I think bridge needs to get back to work and out of my personal life. We jump at next shift, and you better be ready.”
Chapter 22
Jump
“Wormhole activated!” Commander Reardon barked, his voice tense. “Commence jump sequence.”
“Tango?” She looked at her helm.
“Tight in the queue, Captain. “We’re number twenty-four.”
In the pit of her stomach, Elise felt a gnawing fear with the exit too far away to communicate. Ships on the same side could communicate fine, but the vast distance crossed to reach the other side made contact out of range to those who had completed their jump. The fleet would be jumping blind.
Slowly and carefully, ships maneuvered into a question mark pattern as The New World opened a wormhole and disappeared into the dot.
“Jump complete.”
“The Pilgrim’s Pride in place for number two.” Elise recognized Naomi’s unsteady voice.
Gathering a deep breath, Elise turned on her ship-wide intercom. “Attention all ship personnel, jump operations have begun. We are currently holding at the number twenty-four position. Please secure yourself and all items in preparation for jump. Ship’s power will be diverted to drive engines so do not be alarmed if equipment stops temporarily or reboots. Remain secured until I announce the All Clear as there may be turbulence afterward. I will repeat this announcement immediately preceding jump. For now, make yourself safe and stand by for further instructions. Captain Fujeint out.”
Her attention returned to the bridge, and she listened as each ship announced its approach to the wormhole. She watched the overhead display as they disappeared, one by one, into the swirling maw.
Tension rose as the line of ships dwindled. Finally, she saw the ship ahead of her flash with bright light and vanish into the roaring cyclone that would carry it light-years through space.
She keyed her mic and announced hoarsely, “Attention all ship personnel. Attention. Prepare for immediate jump. I repeat, we are executing jump sequence now.”
Signaling Tango, she said, “Initiate jump.”
“Jump initiated,” he replied, and the ship leaped forward, sucked into a maelstrom of whirling energies.
As they entered, she felt the hair all over her body rise and tingle as the interior of the wormhole surrounded the ship and enveloped it in nonspace. The actual jump was nothing like the simulation. She scanned the bridge barely able to see through a vibrating haze. Noise from voices on the bridge and in her headset floated in atonal wave patterns, hardly resembling words at all.
Colors shifted and blurred. Jensen split into two people, reversed, and fused back into a whole. Jazz appeared as a stop-action film, each action imprinting on her brain in a series that looked like a deck of cards riffled outward.
The ship existed in a part of the universe that defied the normal laws of physics. Time distorted and twisted, stretched and shrank around her as the ship hurtled forward through the wormhole and across the vast distance.
***
Sternward and below the bridge, Jacob lay next to Jennie, terrified. His shaking fingers strapped them in, and at the Captain’s announcement, the world turned hazy and insubstantial around him. As he reached to touch Jennie’s arm, his hand fell through it as if she was some freakin’ ghost. The air felt tingly and objects appeared to soften and distort into a fog. He shivered.
Next to him, Jennie attempted to pat his arm, but her hand passed through him. “Close your eyes and just listen to me breathe,” she suggested. Her words, even close to his ear, stuttered and stretched.
He focused on her breathing like a drowning man clinging to a wooden plank in a restless sea. An eternity passed, filled with terror and nightmare, until the atmosphere abruptly changed.
Jennie jabbed him in the ribs, startling him. “We’re out.”
Her words sounded clear, and the small room around them solidified. He pinched an arm, feeling pain. “You peeked.”
“Guilty as charged.”
Both exhaled a sigh of relief. He stretched, glad to be alive.
Surprised to be alive.
***
On the bridge, Elise also felt the atmosphere change as the wormhole, after jostling and bouncing the big ship around, spit it out.
She heaved a sigh of relief and raised her eyes to the forward monitor.
“Holy shit!” Tango’s sharp exclamation cut into her attention. Ahead of her, she glimpsed looming danger as a tumbling asteroid swelled larger and larger within her forward view screen. The ship swayed left.
“Watch your course, Tango!” she ordered, fearful of other ships in the area. Her head swiveled to check all monitors.
“Asteroid ahead!”
A World Too Far (Terran Trilogy Book 1) Page 11
