A World Too Far (Terran Trilogy Book 1)

by Sheron Wood McCartha

  “Grab my backpack while I reel us in.”

  “I can’t see. I’m blind.”

  “Feel your way around, but don’t let go.”

  Stunned silence echoed in his helmet. All of a sudden, everyone started to give advice.”

  “Pull yourself back in slowly.”

  “Breathe normally.”

  “Don’t let go your tether.”

  The babble of voices distracted Jacob until he shouted, “Quiet everyone and let me concentrate.”

  Abrupt silence.

  Trajan wedged a hand under the backpack as he began to wind the tether into his pouch. Slowly the ship grew larger. “We’re almost there. Get ready.”

  “Ready.” Trajan’s voice grated.

  They bumped up against the ship.

  Jacob guided Trajan’s glove to an eyebolt. Magnetic boots attached to a flat place on the hull. He attached Trajan’s tether onto the ship and rolled up the excess, so it wouldn’t entangle them.

  “Now,” Jacob tried to breathe. “Listen. We’re five feet from the airlock. This part is relatively flat. Take a step, and I’ll guide your hand to a clutch bar.”

  Inch by inch, Jacob guided Trajan to the airlock.

  “We have medical on standby on the ship side of the airlock,” Captain Fujeint’s voice informed them.

  “Open outside airlock,” Jacob requested.

  Before him, the hatch opened. He heaved Trajan forward and the big man tumbled in. With a grunt, Jacob followed. The hatch shut and air pressure rose. Finally, a green light blinked.

  The inner door opened and a stampede of people crowded into the airlock as he unlocked and lifted off his helmet. Jennie flung herself at him, almost knocking him over.

  “You made it,” she gasped.

  “Appears so.” He smiled at her.

  Trajan fumbled his helmet off. “Something’s stinging my eyes and blinding me.” Tea-colored tears streamed down his cheeks.

  Captain Fujeint’s voice sounded from his helmet. “Get a sample so we can find out what it is.”

  Beth, from the Medlab, leaned in and sucked the liquid through a syringe. “Stand still, Trajan, let me clean it off.” She peered into his face and began wiping the guard’s face.

  “Thank the stars, I can see. Ah, Amanda, how glad I am to see you.” The young woman who had been standing patiently by, now took his arm and smiled.

  Beth stepped back. Both men lumbered toward the decontamination area where benches afforded a place to sit while hands helped remove their suits.

  ***

  Elise arrived at the entrance to the decontamination chamber to watch as the men wiggled out of their cumbersome suits. Amanda immediately embraced Trajan while the young girl, Jennie, fussed over Jacob.

  Desperate to hide her emotions, Elise stepped back, a spectator separated by the captain’s tabs she wore. She fought back tears. As Captain, she needed to portray an image of control. After all, this was a happy event. Love had found its way onto her ship, even if she stood on the sidelines…alone…apart.

  A hand clamped down on her shoulder.

  “So, Captain Fujeint, it’s about time I show you something amazing.”

  She blinked and stared up into the twinkling blue eyes of Dr. John Luttrell.

  Chapter 27

  New Life

  As John guided her into a back section of the Medlab, she heard a strange cheeping noise.

  “What’s that sound?”

  His face held a wide, annoying grin. “You’ll see.”

  He took her to a large cabinet with a five-foot-wide drawer that was four feet deep and opened it with a flourish. She peered in and observed a mound of yellow fluff that sorted itself out to be a crop of baby chicks.

  Reaching in, he placed one in the palm of her hands.

  “Baby chicks! How in the world?” She raised her head to give him a quizzical look.

  His fingers brushed the sturdy incubator. “The magic of science. Already, I have trained half the fleet’s medical personnel in the cloning procedure.” He waved a hand at two nearby incubators. “In there, I’ve got pygmy goats. They will be decanted four shifts from now. Andy Hawthorne is over the moon…well, not actually the moon...too far away. Let’s just say that he’s ecstatic about the possibilities.”

  “They’re absolutely amazing.”

  The soft down tickled her hand. A squawk of protest erupted from the small bird at the indignity of its capture. “I knew you were busy, but I never dreamed you were thawing out embryos.”

  “These are not thawed. They were created from stem cells from our two healthy chickens.” His hand tightened on her arm. Then he took the chick and placed it back with its noisy siblings, gazing after it with a proud expression on his face.

  “You haven’t seen the best part.” He took her to a heavy metal door and placed his hand over a plate. He leaned in and placed his eye in front of a camera. The door clicked open.

  She pulled back a bit, but he tugged her forward as excited as a kid at Christmas.

  They entered a small room that felt warm and moist. Five large incubators lined the back wall. Through glass observation panes, she saw curled fetuses of some sort of animal.

  “What’s that?” She moved closer to get a clearer view.

  He tapped the nearest incubator. “This one is you.”

  It took her a few minutes to process his words. What in the world has he done now?

  “Or rather your clone.”

  She felt him study her reaction.

  Shocked at the invasion of her privacy, yet amazed at the science that could accomplish such a deed, she stood speechless, trying to sort out her feelings.

  She’d heard of cloned animals on Earth before they’d left in the ship, but she hadn’t been aware of any successful attempts at cloned humans.

  “The second tank is me.” His eyes twinkled. “I know, I know…the horror of more than one John Luttrell in the universe is hard to fathom, but this way we can replenish the ships and provide colonists for the future. You and I will eventually grow old and die. After reviewing medical records, I suspect that our current crew and settlers have become sterile. This provides a solution. We will need a larger population if we want to survive on an alien planet.” He gazed down. “Not a perfect solution, but until I perfect the process, or reverse our sterility, it’ll have to do.”

  When she still couldn’t find the words to speak, he prattled on. “We’ll build a nursery with carefully selected individuals to run it. Naturally, psychological testing will be required as part of the selection protocol.” He nodded to himself. “But we’ll be a family…you and me. You did say you wanted someone to occupy your free time, didn’t you?”

  He gestured at the bobbing embryo. “Well, here you are.”

  She was both flabbergasted and amazed. This could save the mission. They could now create enough humans to sustain a colony. In a sense, a piece of her might get to see a new world, even if she was cruelly denied the promise. But what kind of humans might they become?

  Watching the strange creature, it yawned at her and flexed a hand … almost like a wave.

  Not exactly what she’d had in mind when she’d asked for a companion.

  ***

  “They’re coming,” Jazz hissed from her station.

  Tango nodded at her and started to plug in helm controls.

  “Captain,” Jazz swiveled around in her seat. Elise looked up. “How about a cup of hot coffee? Hard to stay awake staring at all the black out there.” Jazz tilted her head and waited for a reply.

  Elise narrowed her eyes. Jazz seldom offered to get anyone coffee. She wondered what the girl had in mind. “Can’t I just summon a robot?”

  Jazz shrugged, then smiled. “I had a certain drink in mind. Sometimes humans give it that special touch. I’m off shift soon, anyway.”

  “If you need a short break, I can take the helm.” Tango leaned back and twisted in his seat to gaze over a shoulder at her. His wide grin furthe
r confirmed her suspicion that something was up.

  She eyed Jensen, who appeared oblivious to the conspiracy. Totally absorbed in a screen that displayed their targeted solar system, he wasn’t a part of whatever was going on.

  “Sure. Could use a break.” Elise unplugged and stretched, curious to see what would happen. She caught the edge of Jazz’s smirk and Tango’s wink. She rubbed a stiff shoulder and waited, curious. “First officer has the helm,” she said.

  “I have the helm,” Tango sang out much too cheerfully.

  A commotion stirred at the entrance to the bridge and John strode in, followed by Brad Cameron, Trajan and Jacob. She sat up, wondering what this impromptu gathering was all about.

  Mika pulled in a suddenly shy Amanda, who carried a cake while Jacob gestured a young girl forward. The infamous Jennie Trent, she noted. Jacob and Jennie gazed wide-eyed around the bridge, transfixed by the array of blinking electronics.

  “Happy Birthday,” John shouted with a clap of his hands.

  A wave of surprise and happiness swept over her. She hadn’t expected him to remember.

  “We’re coming too.” Carter and Jimbo yelled from the corridor. Don’t sing until we get there.”

  Laughing, they forced Elise to endure a badly sung rendition of the ancient birthday tune while John plopped a wrapped pink blanket into her lap.

  “Be careful,” he warned as she abruptly realized that she held a newborn infant. She stared down into bright lavender eyes rimmed by dark lashes. A small perfectly chiseled face blinked up at her. A tiny, pudgy hand flailed the air at her and grabbed her forefinger.

  Amanda cut the cake while Jacob and Jennie handed out slices to everyone.

  Amidst all the commotion, Jensen suddenly noticed the bundle. “Is that a baby?” he gasped. He hastily put aside his electronic tablet. “I didn’t hear that anyone was pregnant. Whose kid is that?”

  “The Captain’s,” John answered proudly.

  Now Jensen looked totally perplexed. “I didn’t know the Captain was pregnant. When did that happen?” He shot a puzzled stare toward her midriff.

  John signaled to Jazz.

  She drifted up to him. “All right, Tango. You have to turn helm over to me, now,” she said.

  “What?”

  “I have the helm.” Jazz started helping Tango unplug as she butt-bumped him out of his seat before settling in.

  “What are you doing?” he asked bewildered.

  John motioned Beth into the suddenly very crowded bridge. “You’ve all heard rumors about my clone project, and now I can confirm that it’s both real and a success.” He took a blue bundle from her and turned to Tango. “A very merry unbirthday to you,” he said, handing Tango the blue-blanketed bundle.

  “Oh my God!” Tango stared down at the wiggling creature shoved into his arms as the blanket started slipping off. Hastily catching the edge and rewrapping the child, he lifted his head to John. “Is it mine?”

  “All yours. It’s most definitely you. Stars help us all.”

  “Damn. I’m going to have to find me a wife.”

  At his words, the child let out a squawk and started fussing, which caused everyone to chuckle.

  Tango hastily handed the baby back to Beth. “He needs to get used to me first.”

  She put a hand to his shoulder. “Everyone on this ship is still trying to get used to you.”

  Laughter erupted all over the bridge.

  Stunned, Elise felt the warm, small body in her arms as John leaned and kissed the top of her head. He straightened but continued to pat her arm.

  Amanda bent to lift the child out and trade it for a large piece of cake. As Elise bit into the cake, Amanda juggled the baby, pure bliss on her face, not unnoticed by Trajan. He placed an arm lightly around her waist.

  Watching Amanda and the baby, Elise saw a perfect picture of mother and child.

  “I think you need one of your own,” John commented to Amanda.

  “I should be married first,” she murmured, brushing at a lock of downy soft hair on the baby’s forehead.

  Darting a glance at Trajan, John responded, “Maybe someone will ask you. If someone can ever find the nerve.”

  “If Trajan doesn’t ask her soon, I’ll ask her myself,” Brad shouted from where he stood next to Jazz at the comm panel. He winked at her.

  “I didn’t plan to ask her in the middle of the bridge with a crowd of people around,” the trapped guard protested.

  “Ask me what, Trajan?” Amanda smiled sweetly at him.

  Abashed, Trajan scanned the eager faces, a man caught in a predicament. “I, I, I …”

  “You what?” Amanda handed the baby back to Elise who took it, saying, “What were you going to ask her?”

  Panicked, the big man husked, “To marry me.”

  “If you intend to ask, then do it properly,” Elise commanded.

  So she watched her favorite, brawny and muscled guard go down on one knee and faintly ask the woman he loved to marry him. The big man who did danger well, panicked in the face of romance.

  Amanda answered gracefully, “I will.”

  His face a portrait of relief, Trajan jumped to his feet and gathered her into his arms.

  John demanded Trajan kiss the accepting lady, which he promptly did to the cheers of all.

  The noise upset the babies who were returned to the nursery.

  “I’ll hand around a list of those who qualify to be cloned,” John informed them. “They can then give their permission.”

  “An excellent idea. People need to give you permission before you clone them.”

  “What? This could save the ships,” Luttrell protested. “It could save our whole endeavor.”

  “A clone takes getting used to, and from now on, get permission from the original first,” Elise ordered. “Still, I agree it could be the answer to saving us.”

  Luttrell wiggled an index finger at Trajan. “You and Amanda should give cloning some serious consideration.”

  “One thing at a time,” Trajan protested. “I just got engaged.”

  Everyone finished their cake, Tango took back the helm, and Jazz snagged Brad, and suggested that they go for drinks since she was now officially off duty.

  As Jazz left, arm in arm with Brad, Elise watched Carter approach her. He patted her hand to wish her a happy birthday, but she insisted on a hug, and maybe a kiss, being her birthday and all.

  John rolled his eyes at her.

  Carter willingly obliged until John pulled him away when it went too long, much to the amusement of her crew. Everyone trooped by with congratulations as the bridge cleared out, which left her alone with John, Tango and a flummoxed Jensen. He was still trying to figure out how he had missed the pregnancy.

  John turned to him. “The kid was cloned, Jensen. Having a child can be accomplished without pregnancy. All you need is a DNA sample and a doctor who’s smart enough to know how to make a clone.” He paused. “And I happen to be one.”

  Chapter 28

  Slingshot

  For five years, the fleet worked to build back its resources adding clones into the population, which caused an overabundance of babies and young children. The older population would eventually die out, and these new additions would provide the much needed manpower to operate the ships and establish a colony on a new world.

  Carter’s robots became integrated into the daily routine while clone experiments with livestock enabled wider food diversity. The fleet overcame many internal problems, but still struggled with the dangers of space itself. The vast distance to the nearest solar system with any habitable worlds proved to be a major hurdle.

  In her stateroom, Elise opened her monitor and saw her commander’s face.

  “We have a situation,” he said.

  Not comforting words. Elise sat up straighter, aware that she was present at the virtual table on the flagship New World as a holograph, and this was a serious meeting of captains.

  With a sharp nod, Commander Rea
rdon gazed around at the images. “We have analyzed our speed and concluded we are going faster than is warranted.”

  “That’s a problem?” Captain James Bradley voiced his confusion at the statement. “Lord, we need to go faster if any of us plan to reach our destination.”

  Commander Reardon leaned forward and slammed a fist into his palm. “While this sounds like good news, our scientists have concluded that the increase in speed is a result of the gravitational pull of a black hole lying directly in our path.”

  Dead silence permeated the chamber.

  “How far away?” Charles Dance finally asked, a quaver in his voice.

  “Not far enough. However, we may be able to turn this situation into a positive and increase our speed substantially, while conserving our fuel supply.”

  “What would be the problems involved with a higher velocity?” Captain Sam Spenser unconsciously rubbed his nose and lowered bushy eyebrows.

  The Commander looked down with a frown. “We don’t know. Only, at our current rate, it will take more than a fifty years to reach the system we’ve selected. Getting there sooner might be one of the better consequences. However, I’m led to believe there could be others not quite so favorable.”

  Clearing his throat, Charles Dance asked, “So how dangerous is such a maneuver?”

  A grimace flashed across Commander Reardon’s pale face. “The maneuver is not without risk. Radiation levels around a black hole are high, so that’s a big concern. Being sucked in by the immense pull of its gravity is also a danger. That would not be a good outcome for anyone so unfortunate.”

  That’s when Elise deduced who the new face at the table was. He was a scientist who had an idea of how to increase the fleet’s speed, using the centrifugal force of a black hole. She noticed the long slender fingers that unconsciously clutched an electronic notebook and intense brown eyes in a tan face that roved the table as he analyzed the captains’ reactions.

  “Dr. Nanjoo Singh,” the Commander nodded in the newcomer’s direction, “has come up with a plan.” He waved a hand at the man.

  Dressed in a simple blue, closed-collared shirt, the stranger cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. “Hello, just call me Joe. Currently, we’re working on the fleet’s speed and distance problem. We can jump across a vast distance, but only so often and only so far. The danger lies in using up valuable proton molecules necessary for the antimatter reaction that provides power to propel our jumps. We need to pick up the pace on our current course, adding more jumps to get there sooner. However, a looming black hole blocks our path to the targeted system, and, of course, we don’t want to jump into it or anywhere near the event horizon.”