Transformation Protocol

by David M. Kelly

  Several of the signal processors on the Casimir controls had blown and needed replacing. The only parts that could handle the load were the ones on the remaining railgun. I suppose I should have checked with Logan, but I didn't want to bother him with more decisions. Besides, without the Casimir generators, we couldn't get home—unless we wanted to send our corpses back in a few million years' time.

  It took several hours to disassemble the weapons system and pull the components. I was working on automatic, thinking about McDole and Dan. I tended to trust McDole—she'd always seemed to be on the level with me, but I couldn't say the same for Dan, and there were all those missing pieces in his personal jigsaw puzzle. But was that a valid assessment? I turned it around, working from the position that McDole was lying and Dan was genuine, but that made no sense either. And why was Dan in such a healthy state compared to the way his brother had been several years ago? It could be chance, but it bothered me.

  After gathering the parts I needed, switching them over to the drive controls was time-consuming but routine. When all the self-check lights turned green, I headed back up to make sure my patching had worked. I grabbed a coffee and an intact meal pack on the way.

  The control room was deserted. When I checked, it was well past midnight ship's time. I wasn't feeling my freshest and gulped half the coffee before opening the food. The sandwich was terrible, and I'd have thrown it in the garbage, but we couldn't afford to waste food now.

  I dropped into the pilot's chair and opened the Jump controls. The system was slow responding, which wasn't too surprising considering the amount of bypassing I'd had to do. Some of the components I'd swapped in weren't exact matches on performance, but at least it worked and the Jump system was online again.

  I stretched and yawned, satisfied that we could get home and switched the main screen to an exterior view. There was nothing to see—a scattering of distant stars but none close. I activated the starmap and checked something that had been bothering me since my conversation with Logan. I was right— there were sixteen stars within Jump radius of Learmonth. That made it extremely unlikely that the AF-11s had guessed where we were headed. Somehow those ships had done the impossible—they'd been able to detect our Jump destination.

  *

  "Joe?"

  I stirred and rubbed my face then opened my eyes. There was half a tube of cold coffee in my hand, and the remnants of the sandwich were on the floor where they deserved to be. My shoulders felt like I'd taken a pounding from BRUCE, and when I sat up, my spine seemed to lock into place in multiple stages.

  Logan stared down at me. "You okay?"

  "Yeah." My neck creaked as I looked up. "Must have fallen asleep."

  "It was a long day." He looked down, a shadow seeming to drift over his features.

  Aurore clambered in through the door holding several coffee tubes and several of the Atoll rations. "Breakfast," she said, sounding far too cheerful.

  The supplies were welcome, and I squeezed the heating tab. A minute later, it popped open to reveal a delicious-smelling toasted scrambled egg sandwich. I picked half out and waved it at her. "You're a lifesaver."

  "I try my best."

  I took a bite then panted several times to stop it from burning my mouth. "The Jump drive is back online."

  "Now who's the lifesaver?" Aurore said.

  "I try my best." I swallowed a smaller piece of sandwich. "What's the plan?"

  Logan sipped his coffee. "We've done our job. We found the ship. Hopefully the recorder will tell us what happened to her, but I think we already know."

  "Did McDole tell you about the AF-11s?"

  He nodded. "The Corporates could trigger a war pretty easily if we don't get this information back to Earth. There's enough tension on all sides."

  Aurore was working at her console. "Guys... there's something out there." She switched to a secondary display "Not sure what, but it's big."

  Logan dropped into his seat. "They followed us again?"

  "It's possible. That last time wasn't a lucky guess." I looked over at Logan. "There were over a dozen systems we could have Jumped to from Learmonth, and they happened to pick the right one?"

  I brought up the local navigation map on the main display and added in an overlay of the main sensor data. It took a few seconds for the data feeds to build up a picture on the screen, but when they finished, the object was a giant blob a little under nine-hundred thousand kilometers away.

  "That's a planet," Aurore said.

  "I thought we were in the middle of nowhere." Logan stared at the display as if he thought the planet might vanish at any moment.

  "Rogue planets exist," Aurore said. "They spotted the first ones back in the early twenty-first. Some theories suggest they aren't especially uncommon, though they're difficult to detect."

  I brought up a visual image of the planet on the screen. There wasn't much to see. Without a sun to illuminate it, the planet was a barely visible circle blotting out the stars, the rim dimly lit by the ghostly light of the Milky Way. I threw in some augmentation filters and there it was, a real-life exoplanet, and we were undoubtedly the first humans to see it.

  I took a breath. There was something incredibly exciting about being the discoverers of an alien world, though it wasn't exactly a thrilling sight. I read off the data—approximate diameter nine-thousand kilometers, making it slightly smaller than Neptune. According to the sensors, it had a solid surface composed of rock and ice. There was no detectable magnetic field, and it didn't appear to be spinning. Even with augmentation, the surface was dark and looked unwelcoming with a predicted surface temperature of minus one hundred and fifty degrees. Prime real-estate if you happened to be a Frost Giant, but even an outpost would be challenging for us with our available technology.

  "We should check it out." Aurore broke the silence. "We could run a survey while we're waiting for the generators to recharge."

  "This isn't a research mission," I said, still transfixed by the planet.

  Logan's dark eyes gleamed as he stared at the display.

  "Am I reading that right?" he said. "Does that thing have an ocean?"

  "Out here?" I looked closer at the data.

  Aurore changed the sensor filters, and the screen rippled through different color changes before taking on a deep blue appearance.

  "An ocean of hydrogen," she said. "Picked up from interstellar space. Judging by the depth, it looks like this thing has been out here a long time. There could even be a water ocean underneath that."

  It was theoretically possible—the hydrogen would act as a buffer and keep the water from boiling away in the vacuum of space. According to specialists, the planet's internal heat could even keep the water warm enough to support life, though that seemed like a long shot to me. And even if possible, there was undoubtedly much more welcoming and accessible places to live.

  No matter how interesting it was, it didn't make me want to delay our Jump. While the idea of charting an undiscovered planet was appealing, scientific endeavors would have to wait. All I wanted was to get back to Earth, preferably before the mystery AF-11s attacked us again. "We're one Jump from home. Considering the shape we're in, we should head back before our luck runs out."

  Logan nodded. "Record its location. Maybe they'll call it Planet Aurore." He smiled at her. "Set up a Jump for Earth, Joe. Take us home."

  Aurore stood up. "Don't I get a say in this?"

  Logan took a deep breath, as if expecting an argument, then let it out slowly. "Sure. You're involved as much as anyone."

  Aurore turned away, staring at the instruments. The planet was undoubtedly as much of a pull for her as space was for me. If things were different, I'd have been happy to go along with the idea of exploring it. But the grim reality was all too evident in the smoke-stained panels and burned carpeting.

  After several minutes, she turned back. She stared at Logan for a moment, the challenge clear in her eyes, then whispered, "Make the Jump, Joe."

 
; I took a breath. "Before I do that, there's something more important I need to do."

  "There is?" Logan's eyebrows lifted.

  "I'm adding you and Aurore to the ship's biometric security." I switched the controls over. "My selfish paranoia nearly got everyone killed."

  "Damn." Logan whistled. "You're growing up."

  "Thanks... I think." I finished adding their biogenetic information to the security database. "Okay, you're in."

  "Now, I feel like a Captain." Logan laughed.

  "You want to take care of the Jump?"

  "Good grief, no." He grinned. "You're still the taxi driver."

  I began setting up the Jump settings. I thought about what Dan had said the day before. Everyone lies. I looked at my friends—Logan was deep in thought, and Aurore was monitoring my programming. My throat felt dry and itchy, and I coughed.

  "Before we left Earth, I had a visit from Gabriella." A flush of anger and guilt prickled my skin. "She came onboard the Shokasta."

  Logan's face hardened. "And you didn't tell me?"

  "There's not much to tell. I thought she was one of the engineering crew until she took off her helmet."

  "What did she want?" Aurore didn't sound any happier than Logan.

  "She's been playing a game that she wants me for a long time. I've told her several times I'm not interested."

  "Was that it?" Logan narrowed his eyes.

  "She claimed she was looking for work. Wanted my help." I paused. "She also said that the mission wasn't what I thought it was."

  Logan rubbed his jaw. "What does that mean?"

  "Don't ask me. I figured it was more of her crap. But now I'm wondering if she knew something specific."

  Aurore turned away from her console to face us. "She's an assassin, isn't she? So who's she out to kill?"

  "Assassin is a part of it. She does anything that pays well," I said. "The dirtier the job, the better she likes it. She said something about a transformation protocol."

  Aurore shook her head. "That could mean anything. She was working for SecOps when you went to meet the Ananta, wasn't she?"

  "She was," said Logan. "But that ended when she went into business on her own and tried to steal the ship data. She was supposed to go on trial alongside Delacort. That never happened. I don't know why."

  "Sounds like she has low friends in high places," Aurore said. "Could she still be working for SecOps?"

  "It's possible." Logan screwed up his face, his hand unconsciously sliding up to his chest. "If she is, no one told me."

  "One thing I'm sure of—Gabriella isn't driven by altruism."

  "Do you think she knows something?" Aurore said.

  "Ask me another." I completed the Jump programming and locked in the settings.

  "Gabriella could be working for the Corporates," said Logan. "It would suit her. They don't ask many questions as long as things get done the way they want. But if she is, why would she try to tip you off?"

  "I've no idea." I started the Jump countdown. "But I'd love to find out."

  Chapter Twenty

  "Prepare to Jump in forty-five minutes. We're going home," I announced ship-wide.

  As the countdown ticked down, I wondered what was happening back on Earth. We'd only been gone a few weeks, but it seemed longer somehow. Maybe the All-Parties Conference was over and humanity was now one big happy family working together. But it was more likely that the world was once again deeply engaged in its favorite international sport—warfare.

  My thoughts returned to Dollie. Despite everything, she was never far from my mind. I wasn't angry anymore. I only hoped that whatever life she'd chosen, she could find happiness once again. Sure, I'd give my good arm to be with her, but somewhere along the line I'd become resigned to the fact that it was too late for us. Anyway, who was I kidding? It wasn't exactly my choice.

  The Jump counter seemed to tick down as fast as an insurance company processing a claim, and I mentally urged it on to distract myself from my thoughts.

  "Were you able to get anything from the flight recorder?" I said to Aurore. She'd hooked it up to a test harness to try and pull some information from it.

  "No time." She shrugged. "The MilSec techs will do it easily when we get back. They have all the right gear.

  "I'm curious." I checked the counter again. "How did the Sacagawea handle those long Jumps?"

  Aurore nodded. "They must have hopped into deep space, like we did."

  "I guess so."

  "Joe, you have a lump of suspicion inside you as big as an asteroid. You can stop digging now," Logan said softly. "The job's done."

  He looked in a bad way. I guessed he’d been working hard to hold things together, but now we were heading home, his grief seemed to be swallowing him. At least I had the comfort of knowing Dollie was alive and could pointlessly fantasize about getting back together with her. But Logan had to face his family and tell them Begay was lost. We didn't even have a body to take back. He was right, though—our mission was over.

  I reached over and clapped my hand on his shoulder. "You doing okay, old friend?"

  Logan was still for several minutes. Long enough that Aurore looked around to check on him. Finally, he sighed and wiped his hand across his eyes. I couldn't remember seeing Logan cry before.

  "I'll be okay," he said quietly.

  The timer clicked over, and I opened the comm. "Jump in thirty seconds."

  The power built up to maximum, and a sickly twist churned my stomach.

  "Are we home?" Aurore whispered.

  According to the navigation system, everything was in the right place. The closest planet was Saturn, and I brought it up on the screen. We were over two A.U.s away, so it looked more like a large smudged star, but when I threw in some magnification we were treated to a beautiful shot of the crescent limb of the planet and the glorious rings backlit by the sun.

  Nobody spoke for several minutes as we sat there gawking at the sight. Then a series of beeps interrupted the moment. I checked my screens. We were receiving all kinds of in-system transmissions. It had been quiet for so long that now I felt like a man lost in a desert when he first spied an oasis.

  "We're home. At least, there are no apes on the broadcasts..." I said. "It'll take some time to filter through the garble, though."

  "Anything from SecOps Central?" Logan said.

  I ran a quick search. "You'll have to get your supersecret code ring out. It's all encrypted."

  He nodded. "I better do that in my quarters."

  "One thing." I studied the communication list. "They changed the All-Parties Conference location. It's going to be held on the Marduk Atoll instead of Luna."

  "Somehow that doesn't surprise me," muttered Logan. "Atollers always want the advantage if they can get it. Anything else?"

  "Personal transmissions keyed to individuals and lots of routine traffic information."

  "How long until Earth?" Aurore asked. "My Oprallé shoes will be missing me."

  "At this distance"—I glanced at the controls—"about fourteen days."

  "Can we Jump closer?" Logan said.

  "Once the generators regenerate. That last Jump was a long one, and we're running on fumes."

  "Okay. Do it as soon as you can." He dragged himself to his feet. "I should check the coded transmissions."

  They disappeared into the corridor, leaving me alone. I felt deflated and cold. We'd searched for the ship and apparently cleared up one mystery, but so much more seemed unanswered. We didn't really know what had happened to the Sacagawea, or Wright Atoll for that matter. The AF-11s may have been the ghost ships, or perhaps the ghosts were something else entirely. Then there was Gabriella's visit and Dan's strange behavior. I felt like something must tie it all together, but it was as much of a mystery as the inside of a woman's purse.

  I heard footsteps and looked around. McDole was climbing up from the corridor. She looked tired but smiled as she clambered out. She was back in her uniform, something she hadn't worn sin
ce the day she'd first come onboard.

  "That was an inspiring image of Saturn," she said. "Did you arrange it specially?"

  "Sure, the great Ballen knows no bounds and arranges planetary systems on request. Eclipses done to special order—only a small extra surcharge applies."

  "May I join you?" She was carrying a number of drinking tubes, and judging by the color, they weren't coffee.

  I hesitated, not knowing if I wanted company or not. The future seemed so uncertain. I gestured at the spare seat. "Why not."

  She sat down and offered me a tube. "It's the Cabernet Sauvignon you refused before."

  The contents of the tube looked like blood through the plastic skin, and it even moved like it in our low gravity. I hadn't touched a drop since we left Earth and realized I didn't need it anymore. It didn't appall me or make me feel ill to think of drinking, but I no longer had that burning deep down inside me to use it to find oblivion.

  "Sure. Thanks." I took the tube and put the nipple to my lips squeezing it and sucking. The fruity liquid danced over my taste buds and slid gently down, warming my throat as it did. "Wow."

  "It doesn't travel well, I'm afraid," McDole said. "I think it's a little bruised."

  "Aren't we all?"

  McDole nodded and looked around. "You seem at home here. What will you do now?"

  That was a big question. I couldn't keep hold of the Shokasta forever, even if I wanted to. For one thing, I was sure that SecOps would lock me up on Earth again if I tried, and secondly, now I'd given security access to Logan, I didn't think he'd let me.

  "Look for an engineering job I guess. I'm not cut out to play the hero—I like breathing too much." I lifted the tube of wine in a toast. "I'm better leaving that to the professionals."

  "Your record doesn't support that."

  I shrugged. "I have a good publicist."

  She laughed. "Would you like to join the Atolls? I'm sure I could arrange it."