The New Frontier jerked sideways to avoid being hit, and the action set up a counter motion as the moon tugged back.
“I’m getting a wobble,” James shouted, his voice took on a frantic tone.
“Gads, stop rocking the baby,” yelled Elija. “You’ll tear the ships apart.”
Elise felt her ship tugged to and fro as the moon started to oscillate, a giant ball yanking toy like ships around until her teeth chattered. She checked the monitors and before they got torn apart, she ordered, “Release all tractor beams now.”
With relief, they watched the small moon tumble away and fall toward the sun.
Chapter 4
Space Station
Back in her headquarters, Elise heard someone at the entrance and looked up from her desk.
Carter Wright stood staring at her, dark eyes full of sorrow. “Carter,” she exclaimed as an array of emotions poured through her: grief, despair, concern, but overriding all of them, delight at seeing him. She fought to keep a neutral expression, not knowing what would prove to be the correct response. She finally settled on, “How are you?”
He stood, shoulders sagging, curly dark hair streaked with silver and disarrayed. “I need to work. If I don’t keep busy, I’ll go crazy with grief. I miss Elise.”
He looked like he had aged twenty years and lost his favorite pet, only it was the love of his life who was now dead. They’d lost so much over the many years and millions of miles… too much. Sixty ships had started the trek. Twenty-eight now survived. Four hundred per ship. Eleven thousand two hundred in total with half still in cryo. The numbers made her want to weep.
“I understand.” She rose from behind her desk and went to give him a hug. The yearning on his face worried her. She could not afford her original’s lover to misinterpret her simple action of caring. Still too close to the first Elise’s death, as her clone, she needed to play this carefully for all their sakes. Being a clone sometimes became difficult, especially when your mother/sister/self had commanded the entire fleet and developed complicated relationships in the process. She pasted a smile on her face as she pulled back from him.
“Elise,” he murmured, hoarse with emotion. Tears brimmed his eyes as he warred with conflicting feelings.
She rubbed his shoulder in agitation. “I’m glad to see you, Carter, but you know I’m Lisi, not your Elise. She’s dead, and I will never be able to replace her. I am not that Elise. A whole different set of life experiences have influenced me; besides, I’m forty years younger than you. I’m merely her clone.”
“You look just like her… auburn hair, lavender eyes, delicate hands … but even more beautiful, and so young.”
She stepped away, dismay on her face. “Maybe we shouldn’t work together. I don’t want to upset you.”
“No, no. I need to work and,” he gazed away, “I’m used to maintaining a proper distance as far as Elise was concerned. But toward the end, we became close....”
“I know.” Inside, she also felt the burning loss of their previous commander but on a more personal scale. Now the burden of command was hers, and she didn’t know if she could ever live up to the other’s reputation.
She was glad, then, that Elise had acknowledged her feelings for him, but she realized it made her presence even more painful. She was afraid he saw in her the cutting off of a promised future… a loss rather than a gain. “I’ll let it be your decision but understand that we need you badly. You’re the electronic wizard, and Jimbo is the engineering king. You two working together could straighten out this heap of junk and make it fit to live in.”
A wan smile emerged. He rubbed his hands together. “I think I’d like that.” His smile brightened. “When do we start?”
“Would you like me to show you the station first?”
Merek rolled casually around to appear at the entrance as if he had been on the other side listening, which she expected was the case. He gave Carter an acknowledging nod. “That Alysian, Deuce, has the transit cars running. You want to tour now?”
Carter glanced at Elise who shrugged. “Sure, I happen to have a little free time right now.”
Merek signaled someone in a white hazmat suit. “Hey, Deuce, can you show Carter Wright, the commander, and me around the station in one of those rail cars? You were bragging how smooth and efficient they were.”
Elise detected a bit of contempt, but mechanical was Carter’s wheelhouse, and Merek knew about well-constructed machines because of Carter’s many creations around the fleet.
“My pleasure.” The suit bowed. Elise squinted and tried to see through the faceplate. She made out merry brown eyes and frizzled brown hair jammed into the helmet. A wide smile in a narrow face peered out. She felt she should get better acquainted with those Alysians who commonly frequented the station. At the very least, she needed to recognize their faces and know their names.
“Do we need suits?” she asked.
Deuce twisted around. “Might be a good idea. The station isn’t completely operational. Parts don’t have air.”
After finding suits in Elise’s room and donning them, the group trudged over to the waiting cars.
Excited, Deuce waved the group inside. “All aboard.”
They wedged themselves into the tight open cars, reminding Elise of a virtual roller-coaster ride she had once experienced in a ship video.
“Away we go,” Deuce shouted with enthusiasm.
Nothing.
He cleared his throat and banged on the starter.
The transit car coughed and sparks spit out from underneath the carriage.
“Fracking, frigging, freaking toy train.” Deuce stumbled out and rolled the car back and forth. A grinding noise emitted from the meeting of track and wheel or possibly engine bearings complaining.
Mechanical was definitely not her strong point, so Elise sat quiet. She grabbed on a handhold as the car jerked back and forth, noticing Carter cringing next to her. He leaned over the edge and studied the contraption, returning upright with a shake of his head and a roll of his eyes.
“That should do her.” Deuce legged back in and pushed the start button. “She just needs a bit of grease when we get back.”
Carter’s eyes widened in disbelief behind his faceplate.
She patted his arm.
A grumble rose to a roar, and the car lurched forward as all its passengers grabbed for their hold bars.
“We have seventy-five habitats around the station, which can be divided into living quarters, housing at least fourteen hundred people.” Deuce waved an arm to the right as the car roared around a curve, and several corridors flashed by in a dizzy array.
“Whoa, can we slow down?” Carter pleaded.
“Oh, sorry.” Their speed decreased. “Now, farther out from the habitats, on the rim, we’ve constructed the vats and farming units. We put them near the outer ring where the gravity is heavier. Better for plants and animals… when we get them. The station hasn’t been used much lately, so it’s pretty empty, but plans were in place to activate it. A number of people below became frantic to get off the planet, but you guys fixed that problem.” Deuce grinned. “So, it’s all yours now.”
When they didn’t respond, he said, “Right,” and continued, “Outside that circle are the water tanks. Water protects against radiation. The problem of radiation increases the farther out you are from the protection of the planet’s magnetosphere.”
Elise nodded politely, but Carter practically crossed his eyes at Deuce’s assumption of their ignorance.
The car took a track and angled outward then merged onto a parallel track further out. They passed enormous metal containers, each attached to large tubes that ran in all directions. Next came sealed locked doors, which led to a hydroponic garden and husbandry units. The car curved around some more and dove inward.
Deuce continued his tour. “Work area and rec areas are on my left but not used very often. The car swung further inward and began an upward climb.
�
��Kitchens and engineering are on opposite poles.” Deuce pointed up and down, then pulled out a walkie-talkie.
He held a brief discussion as the car continued to climb, passing the kitchen area. “Up top is the Operations Center and the observation dome. I just warned them we were coming.”
Elise was surprised to learn Alysians were on board the station. The car stopped, letting her catch her breath.
With a quick step, Deuce bounded out and extended a hand to her. “The view from the observation deck is the best part of my tour.”
Merek offered the elder Carter an arm.
Tapping in a code, Deuce opened a panel, motioning for them to climb upward on metal stairs. At the top, a panel slid open to reveal a compact room stuffed with electronic equipment. Large windows circled the area. Inside, four Alysians sat or stood, manning boards that held an array of computers on all sides. Elise was curious to study Alysians who were not covered up by bulky white suits.
Deuce pulled off his helmet, and an amazing head of springy brown hair exploded out and circled his head like a dusty cloud. Bright brown eyes laughed at them as he indicated they should remove their helmets too.
All four station operators turned and bowed a welcome. Dressed in various shades of blue casual pants and tops, they loomed larger than most Terrans with different skin tones ranging from a tea color to a paler cream. Their eyes slanted upward more but revealed a variety of colors from brown to blue to green. Physically, they were slender with soft hands that reflected their work with computers rather than pick-axes. But for the most part, they looked very much like a larger version of Earth humans. Not having an extra finger, middle eye, or antenna, they appeared frighteningly normal. Elise ditched her shape-shifter theory as the rest in her group removed their helmets too.
After receiving intense scrutiny from the Alysians, the Terrans moved closer to the large observation platform.
Deuce chatted at them as they made room for the three Terrans to peer out the large transparent windows. Occasional sideways glances punctuated his discourse.
Curious, Elise observed the awe-inspiring world revolving beneath them. Blue-brown water, interspersed with green and brown vegetation turned under cinnamon-tinted clouds. Dust storms swept over open plains and deserts. A hurricane raged over an immense ocean and headed inward toward a ragged coastline. White polar ice caps peeked out beneath dark, dirt-laden clouds. Just south of the most northern section of the planet in a land covered in snow, a large ugly hole splashed out and marked its surroundings with debris. Farther off, smaller pock-marked indentations peppered the landscape.
Gazing out, Elise felt elation at finally seeing a world, beautiful in the glory of life, and then despair washed over her at the destruction that had been rained down upon it.
Deuce put a finger on the window. “There’s where the largest chunk hit.” His voice trailed off as he stared, transfixed by memories and a new reality.
The world kept revolving below, showing her wounds.
Deuce blinked and resumed his discourse, “A large amount of debris hit along the northern edge of the Ching T’Karre. Once fertile, that land’s becoming a desert.” Deuce shook his head. “Lives are changing.”
Elise could only imagine the comet’s influence on the natives. She said, “Director Steele indicated that the impact knocked the planet several degrees over on its axis.”
“Yes. More than the impact damage, weather is causing the worst problems. People are having to cope with climate changes that affect their livelihood.”
Alysia circled beneath them, still moving forward, struggling to support life despite her extensive damage.
“Luckily, the larger populated areas escaped the greatest impact. And now, thanks to you,” Deuce turned awkwardly in the white suit, “we can begin to cure our world, rather than experience its destruction.”
He turned to the four Alysians and spoke. There was an intake of breath, and they murmured words that Elise translated as “thank you.” They bowed, then waved.
She bowed back and nudged Carter who bowed. In the Alysian language, she said, “Thank you for inviting us to observe. Your world is beautiful and will become even more beautiful with time.”
“We should go.” Deuce motioned them out and jammed on his helmet. The rest in her party did the same.
Before he started the car, Deuce turned to her. “Now that you’ve toured our station, maybe I could tour your ship.”
Elise stiffened. The thought made her uncomfortable. Aliens tramping through my ship? I don’t think so.
“I would worry about exposing you to some sort of alien contamination.”
She wanted to see if the paranoia that kept her people on station would work to keep the Alysians out of her ship.
“Ah, I’d wear this fashionable suit.” Deuce ran a bulky glove over his ridiculous marshmallow-like apparel. He inclined his head. “While I’m all dressed up, there’s no time like the present. How about a return tour of your ship for me?”
Elise appeared to consider the matter, all the while feeling Carter and Merek exchanging panicked glances. She should let them off the hook, but she decided to draw it out a bit.
Shifting in his seat, Carter chimed in, “Commander, you have to…” He frantically tried to think of something.
“You need to select the candidates to board the station first,” Merek offered. “They want to start tomorrow.”
“And oversee the cleanup.” Carter added, “We haven’t gotten everything ready yet.”
They both sat back and peered at her expectantly.
“Oh, right.” She turned to Deuce. “Maybe another time.”
She raised her shoulders, hard to do in the bulky suit, and turned her gloves palms up as the two other Terrans collapsed in relief.
“How disappointing,” was all Deuce could choke out before they returned to her headquarters.
Chapter 5
A Spy Among Us
“Come in. What do you have for me?”
Deuce Card entered. “Not as much as I’d hoped.”
Gracefully, Deuce slid into a seat in front of Trace Walker, recently appointed Director of I.N.Sys. The Information Network System had been established long ago to protect the Democratic Union from enemies both inside and outside the country. New to the Directorship, Trace worked closely with President Thomas Armstrong, who was also his father, on national and international threats. However, this was the first time he’d worked on an intergalactic scale.
Brushing ineffectually at brown hair that formed a springy cloud around his head, Deuce’s mocha tan hand dropped to slide a report across the desk toward Trace and fingered a heavy belt laced with communications gear.
“Hmm.” Trace’s prominent black eyebrows creased the center of his brow, and his black curly hair fell forward as he reached for the report with a well-manicured hand. He eyed Deuce’s latest fashion item of an iridescent shirt.
“I attempted to parlay the tour into a reciprocal visit to her ship, but from their reactions, you’d have thought I’d asked her to strip naked. Still, I’ll try again.” Deuce gave a hopeful grin.
Trace waved his hand at him, indicating that he shouldn’t worry. “Obviously, the ships possess technology beyond anything we’ve developed. I’m sure that includes faster-than-light drives. We saw them out by Janos and thought they wouldn’t arrive for annuals. Then, presto, they were circling our moon. Braden Steele is beside himself to get a look at their propulsion systems. He’s putting pressure on brother Richard. He says next to theirs, his ship looks like a child’s toy.”
“Ah… Richard. Has he anything interesting to offer?”
Trace swung around and squinted out the window. “Our dear friend Richard appears to have fallen under the alien commander’s spell.”
Deuce tapped fingernails on the desk and nodded. “Well, we have our own secrets… especially concerning the ability of Talents. I worry about what he may say.”
“Are you suggesting that he�
��s becoming unreliable?”
“More likely gullible. He’s unmarried, looking for a wife, and appears attracted to her. I see it in how often he glances at her. I’ll give he’s a man and certainly not comatose. She’s attractive and commands a frigging fleet. Also, he never goes for the ordinary and easy, does he?”
“No, I believe he likes the challenge of something unusual… always has.” Trace shook a finger at Deuce. “Don’t forget that it was Richard who got her to reveal their ability to move the moon.” Trace ran a hand through his unruly hair. “Fate, that man has a knack for being at the right place at the right time. Saved us, Deuce. Fragging saved our world.”
“What do you want me to do up there?” Deuce slumped in his seat. “She doesn’t trust me as much as him.”
Trace pushed aside the report and folded his hands on the desk to stare fixedly at his informant. “Keep trying to find out anything you can… their social order, their technology. Have you seen any children? Babies? Pets? What foods do they eat? The more we know, the better prepared we’ll be when they announce they can move moons or something worse.”
“They know I’m telekinetic. That bodyguard of hers had either binoculars or incredible vision. I didn’t realize they were paying such close attention. And then, your friend Richard, let the krell out of the bag when her bodyguard questioned what I did. Outed me without a twitch.”
Trace rubbed his forehead. “It wouldn’t hurt to have them be a little bit wary that we might have unexpected abilities, but I’d rather not show all our cards too early.” He looked up. “No pun intended.”
“Ha!” Deuce stretched out long gangly legs and gave him one of those I don’t believe you looks.
“Have you considered changing your name?”
“Thousands of times. It’s too much trouble. Besides, it would disrespect my parent’s fine choice. Because of their inspiration, I’m thinking of naming my first son Ace.”
Trace snorted. “What do you plan next?”
“From this point on, I’m going to be more careful with revealing my Talents. I did manage to plant a listening device in her office recently. There’s a transcript with notes on everything that’s been recorded so far.” Deuce leaned back and crossed his arms. “One conversation is puzzling. That fellow, Carter, was upset over a woman’s recent death. It might have been the commander’s mother or possibly her sister. She made a point of telling him that she wasn’t that dead woman. Something sounded funny about the whole conversation. Another thing, Elise doesn’t appear concerned about contamination or pathogens on an alien space station or world.”
Somewhat Alien: The Station (Terran Trilogy Book 2) Page 3
