by Lane, Terri
***
“How is the patient, Doctor Hanson?” the Commander asked striding into the med bay.
“I am fine,” Tessa said, trying to beat the Doctor to the punch.
“She is okay and if she takes care of herself she may be back on her feet in a day or so,” the Doctor said shooting a look at her. Tessa sighed.
“Okay, I am working on being fine. I feel much better Commander. Really. It just grazed me,” Tessa told her. The Commander nodded but cocked her head studying Tessa.
“Uh huh. I have been grazed by one of those little pocket blasters. Are you sure you are even okay?” she asked. Tessa blushed slightly remembering the pain.
“I am now. I will admit it hurt more than anything I have ever felt, but now, well, the Doctor is good at what he does,” she finished lamely and embarrassed.
“At least someone recognizes my brilliance” The doctor grumbled. He was a stocky, bald man in blue scrubs with glasses.
“I have heard your report Tessa, and I must say I am changing my opinion,” the Commander said, ignoring the doctor.
“From what to what?” Tessa could not help asking.
“Well I initially thought you may be in some danger. I want to append that to definitely in danger,” she said and Tessa stared at her for a moment and then cracked up, appreciating her timing. Lindesty was sitting on the other side of the room. She stood and approached with a slight smile.
“I am glad to see we are all up to speed Commander,” she said. She had caught even less of the blast then Tessa and had been patched up as well.
“Miss Harwood, you are okay also?” the Commander asked her.
“She is fine,” the Doctor said for her. Lindesty chuckled and nodded.
“Good to hear. I am going to put you both in protective custody on recommendation of Security Chief McDonald,” the Commander said and Tessa frowned.
“But Commander, I have an appointment for tonight,” Tessa said.
“Are you sure you want to go through with that? I admit it will be heavily guarded but it is still riskier than keeping you in safe quarters. Both of you actually,” she said with a glance at Lindesty. Tessa’s friend nodded.
“I understand Commander. Except all things considered and if Tessa is willing, going to the appreciation dinner might be a good idea,” Lindesty said. Tessa was surprised and felt her eyebrows raise.
“How so?” the Commander asked curiously.
“Well ma’am, I learned in school that if your adversary expects you to do one thing, then it is best to do something else. I don’t like the idea of Tess being in danger, but like you said, there is going to be security all over the place. It will be hard for anyone to get close to either of us. Not that I think I am in much danger. I am just a passerby so to speak,” she finished.
“I don’t like the idea,” the Doctor injected. The Commander looked at him with a slight smile.
“Noted, Doctor. I don’t like it either, truth be told. It is however a good idea and strategically sound. You are a political science major Miss Harwood?” She asked Lindesty.
“Yes, I was,” she answered. The Commander nodded.
“Politics and battle have similar rules. Very well, I agree with your plan. Until that time, you both have been invited to stay in the Alien Quarter. It would not be good for us to refuse that invitation. I think you can be assured of your safety. Can you think of any reason why your previous customer would try and lead you down the corridor Tessa?” The Commander said and Tessa blinked. She hadn’t thought of that possibility.
“I um, I don’t know. I sold him some perfume and that was it. Are we sure he did lead me? It could have been a coincidence,” Tessa asked. The Commander frowned.
“To quote Chief McDonald, “I don’t believe in coincidence,” Until I know otherwise I am going on the assumption that it is not a coincidence. The Chief is looking into it and trying to find him now. It is a big station and finding Mr. Lockley could take some time. You just sold him perfume?” She asked. Tessa sighed. She had gone over this with the security team when she awoke.
“Yeah. He wanted several cases of Misty River. I sold him all I had. Ninety-two phials of it. He said he was shipping it home to his mother on Earth,” she said. The Commander’s eyebrows went up in surprise the same way Tessa’s had earlier.
“Interesting. I just read a report on all we have about Jonathon Lockley. He was an orphan and does not have a mother on Earth,” she said. Tessa felt a rush of fear again. She seemed to be teetering between fear and excitement these days.
“Misty River did you say? That is harmful to several alien species on the station. That could be dangerous in that quantity,” the doctor said.
“Well it is considered safe to sell, besides what is he going to do, throw the phials at aliens as they pass?” Lindesty piped in. Then it hit Tessa what the plan was. It was the only thing that made sense.
“Oh shit,” she said. Everyone turned and looked at her, waiting.
“They were trying to access the aliens’ computer ports. Those control everything right?” she asked. The Commander nodded.
“Even the air filtration system?” She asked in a lower voice. Everyone was startled.
“Oh shit!” the Commander swore. She turned and left the med bay shouting for someone. Tessa sat there with Lindesty and the doctor looking at each other with fear in their eyes. Ninety-two phials of the perfume pumped into the aliens’ air system could conceivably kill a lot of them!
The dinner started well and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Tessa’s nerves were frayed, but she had managed to get a moment off to the side by the drink table. She had been thanked by no less than fourteen ambassadors and received at least that many regrets from those who could not attend. Lindesty was off networking and that made Tessa smile.
“You won’t be a dancer much longer my space sister,” she said to herself. It was one bright spot in the day. Tessa was feeling overwhelmed with all of the praise she had been receiving. She understood why she was being celebrated. At least she thought she did. Her parents had been low-level blue collar workers and she was the first member of her family to go to school. They had been disappointed when she took off for the stars and she hadn’t spoken to them since. She did not even know if they had heard any news from Station One. She was finding she missed them and made a mental note to make a call to Earth as soon as she could afford it. She sighed again and went to get another drink. She received a wave from the Gorgon Ambassador who was talking with Commander Earhart, Jobol, the Nartock Ambassador and the Lantel Ambassador. She could only imagine what they were talking about. She felt someone step up to her and put a smile on her face. It was Jindal and her smile became big and honest for the first time in a while. His hand brushed hers and his eyes sparkled with happiness. She felt a similar feeling deep inside.
“Good evening Jindal. I hope you are enjoying yourself,” she said formally. She understood that considering the company they were in they could not give a more substantial greeting. Tessa really wanted a hug.
“It is going well. I would prefer a less crowded room. Maybe some candle light and a good bottle of wine. This stuff is fine for the occasion but there is better to be had,” he said with a grin. Tessa returned it.
“I hope you do not mind me saying that all I want right now is to jump way up there and wrap my arms around your neck for a hug,” Tessa told him. The shining compassion in his eyes made her melt a little inside.
“I understand. You are under siege my dear. No one is making much of it, but everyone here recognizes the bravery you are showing by being present. As much as it was a good idea politically, I was not for it. Neither was the Ambassador,” Jindal said. They both smiled at people passing by and continued their conversation as if there was nothing wrong in the galaxy. Tessa was surprised she could keep it up as well as she had so far.
“He wasn’t?” She asked surprised. Of the two, Jobol seemed much more business-minded. Jindal shook his
head no and greeted a passing Nartock. When the Nartock was gone he glanced at her.
“Not in the slightest. When we received word that you had been shot along with your friend he was ready to start the next galaxy wide war. I can’t blame him, I felt much the same Tessa dear,” he said the last softly. Tessa was touched and felt a lessening of tension in her gut. So they feel about me like I do about them, she said to herself silently.
“You guys are sweet. I want nothing more than some quiet time with the both of you to figure out what we have. Unfortunately, the universe is getting in the way,” Tessa complained. He laughed softly.
“Ah but it was the universe that brought us together. When it comes to the motivation of the universe I find it is best to wait and see,” he told her and took a sip of his drink. Tessa nodded.
“Probably, but I hate waiting,” she told him and he agreed.
“It does, as your people say, suck,” he said and Tessa began laughing and several people glance over and smiled at her mirth. A little more tension seemed to dissipate from within and her smile became more natural when she looked at others.
“May I also say you look exhilaratingly beautiful this evening,” he said and Tessa blushed a little, but giggled.
“Lindesty insisted it was worth the money. She is much better at picking out the right clothes for any occasion that I ever will be,” she told Jindal. She was wearing a sparkling blue gown. Modestly cut, it hugged her curves, yet was elegant. Lindesty was in a skirt suit that suited her perfectly. Grey with a light pink trim and blouse.
“So how is she doing?” Tessa asked her boyfriend. Yes, that was how he thought of Jindal, and Jobol. It seemed that she had two boyfriends now and she was not even trying to figure out how that happened yet.
“Your friend Lindesty has everyone she talks to eating out of her palm. She was discussing political science with the Gorgon Ambassador and he was quite impressed. That is hard to do,” he said with a chuckle. Tessa nodded, happy for her friend. She was glad that after Tessa had got her into this mess at least she may be able to get some good from it.
“I am glad, she is my best friend and I don’t want her to have to come to any more harm on my account,” Tessa said.
“Stop that Tess,” Jindal began softly. Tessa looked up surprised by the firmness of his tone. “You are not to blame for any of this. The people responsible would have done what they did whether you were here or not. You, and now Lindesty are helping make a bad situation better. If you two were not in the middle of this now many in the Alien Quarter would be on the verge of walking away from Station One as a means to peace. It is obvious that humans are behind these plots. Between you two and the command staff here, things are being handled as diplomatically as possible and that is all to the good. I hope you understand this. You ought not blame yourself,” he said. The caring in his eyes made Tessa nod and look away. She had to fight the moisture she began feeling in her eyes.
“Thank you Jindal. You are so good to me and we barely know each other,” she said softly.
“After the other day my dear, we know everything about each other, can’t you feel it?” he asked. Tessa blushed. She had thought those feelings were just her being silly. She nodded and cleared her throat. He smiled slightly and greeted Security Chief McDonald as he approached them. Tessa quickly pulled herself together. The universe was intruding again.
“Hello Chief, how can we help you?” Jindal asked the tall gaunt man.
“It is time to call this a night Jindal. Something has come up and we need to get everyone safely away,” he said and he looked grim.
“What happened now?” Tessa asked and hated the fear in her voice. The hard man softened for a brief moment, looking down at her, then he sighed.
“The prisoners who attacked you have committed suicide in their cells. The doctor is trying to find out how, since we had them scanned before they went in. The choices are to stay here or get everyone to safety. It might be safer for everyone to stay here, but many of the Ambassadors will protest that,” he said as the Gorgon Security Officer Killgeer came over with Lindesty in tow.
“I understand Chief. Just point the way,” Jindal said as several Jindal security officers made their way over. Lindesty stood next to Tessa and took her hand. Tessa squeezed Lindesty’s hand in return. Here we go, she thought, wondering what else could go wrong.
***
When the first bomb went off Tessa was walking between Jindal and Jobol with the Commander right behind them. She did not know how but the Kindar shielded her half a second before the blast. She could feel a wave of heat as the Commander shouted.
“Move damn it move!” the Commander cried. They moved. They were just entering the Alien Quarter and guards surrounded them as they ran. She heard another distant blast and the floor seemed to shake followed by the worst sound you can hear in space. A klaxon horn.
Hull Breach.
Tessa felt fear like she had never felt. It was easy to forget when living in space that you were surrounded by the cold dark of a vacuum. She heard screams and the floor shook again as they rounded a corner. She could see the Kindar offices ahead. They rushed in and the doors closed behind them cutting off most of the noise. Tessa turned and saw that only Jobol, Jindal, and the Commander were in the office with her. She thought the guards must have stayed outside. Then she realized something else terrifying.
“Where is Lindesty! Lindesty!” she screamed and ran towards the door.
Her Kindar friends stopped her while the Commander watched with a hand to her ear.
“The Gorgon Security and Norton got her down a safe corridor. She will be okay Tessa; your friend is okay!” The Commander shouted at her struggling in the alien’s arms. She gasped and felt the panic recede a little and stopped struggling.
“Thank you Commander,” she said softly. She received a nod and the Commander closed her eyes.
“Okay damn it, talk to me. What the hell is going on? Damage report now!” snapped the Commander into her communicator. She sounded vicious and rightly so. Tessa felt her own energy seem to die and she staggered. Jindal and Jobol helped her to a chair.
“It will be alright Tessa, take a deep breath,” Jobol told her, she looked at him in her fear.
“How do you know?” She asked.
“Because if I believed anything else I would not be of any help for anyone. Have hope,” he said kindly and Tessa nodded, taking a few deep breaths. To her surprise it actually helped. The Ambassador went to a communication board on his desk and began trying to find out was going on. The Commander was pacing and barking orders into her communicator that was built into her earpiece. Tessa gasped and got to her feet.
“Commander you are injured,” Tessa said. Jindal looked over and said something in Kindalese that sounded like a curse. There was a piece of metal sticking out of the Commander’s back to the left, below her shoulder blade. The woman turned and frowned.
“You caught some shrapnel Commander Earhart,” Jobol said putting his communication handset down and coming around from the desk. The Commander scowled at him and then tilted her head down.
“How could you hear that? I can barely hear what you are saying,” she said into the communicator. Then she turned and tried looking over her shoulder at the wall mirror and grimaced in pain. Jobol opened a wall panel and took out a first aid kit, then from that he grabbed a scanner.
“We are going to have to remove it Commander,” Jobol said after a quick scan. The Commander was moving too much for him to get a good scan. Tessa went forward toward the Commander. Jindal dragged a chair from its place along the wall to the center of the room and gestured the Commander in it. She did so without appearing to think about it.
“Look, don’t worry about me. As the Doc said, I am okay and will be fine. No, goddamn it. The people on this station are more important than I am. They are under my care and when I come back online I better hear some good news!” she shouted and then pulled the earpiece out and tossed it aside i
n disgust. She shifted position and grunted in pain.
“How the hell did I miss that?” she asked to no one in particular. Tessa knelt in front of her. Jobol and Jindal stood behind her scanning and getting some tools from the med kit ready.
“Do you know what you are doing?” the Commander asked quietly. Tessa realized the noise from outside was gone and it was quiet in the office. Was the hull breach sealed? Tessa wondered. She didn’t want to bring it up yet though.
“I know what needs to be done, Julia,” Jobol answered using her first name. She just nodded. Tessa knelt in front of her and took her hands. The Commander looked startled. Tessa shrugged in reply.
“I know I would want someone to hold my hand. This is going to hurt. Maybe not pocket blaster hurt, but you know,” Tessa said trying humor. The Commander smiled and chuckle dryly.
“I’ll let you know,” she said.
“Alright Julia I am going to pull it out. Immediately after that Jindal will be wiping it clean and then applying a local pain killer and wound sealer. You will have to hold still,” Jobol told the Commander. She just nodded and Tessa met her eyes and held her gaze. They squeezed each other’s hands. When Jobol pulled the shrapnel out the Commander gasped and stiffened. Tessa’s hands were being squeezed and she had to keep from gasping herself. Tessa just looked into the woman’s eyes as she endured the pain.
“Hurry Jindal, she is losing a lot of blood,” Jobol told his aide.
“I am Ambassador. Here we go, this should do it,” Tessa heard the sound of a spray and then the tightness in the Commanders face relaxed and her grip stopped trying to squash Tessa’s hands.
“Now Commander, that is all we can do from here. I would suggest, when you can get the doctor to look at that. As I said, I knew it needed to be done, I just never have done it before,” he said. Jindal went to wash his hands that had the Commander’s blood on it and Jobol got her a tall glass of water. The Commander sat up slowly and released Tessa’s hands.
