Volume II

by Ronnie Coleinger

  When Jill sat down on a stack of bagged garden soil, Trish, James and Naomi came over and joined her. The girls needed to discuss what had happened in the security room. The only person on The Empress not traumatized by the intruders attempt to breach The Empress was James, and at his age he had no real reason to even understand what had happened let alone fear the event. The intruders were simply bad men to him. Trish finally spoke and asked Jill how she was doing. Jill looked at her and said, “I believe I will be just fine, how about you Trish, you seemed very upset when the ordeal was over.” Trish said, “I was extremely worried about James and Naomi. I worried what would happen to them if we did not succeed in suppressing the intrusion.” Jill smiled at Trish and said, “Did you see the look on the other attackers faces when you killed the first man with a perfect shot between his eyes?” Trish said, “I was too busy trying to settle my nerves so I could kill the next one. I looked into his eyes just before I squeezed the trigger, and I will never forget the fear I saw.” Jill stood up, Trish stood up, and then they hugged each other. Jill stepped back and hi-fived Trish and said, “Thanks for covering my back partner. I figured those men would surely get to me before I could regain my senses after the grenade went off. I was almost certain of my fate for a few moments until I was able to get the knife from it hiding place in my boot. I stabbed my attacker in the throat to prevent him from knocking me unconscious. I would have killed myself before allowing them to capture me, I knew what those men would have done to me if I could not have killed the one whom teleported into the secure room. Trish, those words are hard for me to speak aloud being a true survivalist, but I could not allow them to do to me, what I knew they would. I had to hope the computer could protect you, Naomi and James.”

  Trish asked Jill if she knew any of the men, especially the one who first transported into the secure room. Jill turned and faced her partner, wondering how Trish had noticed that tiny detail. Jill said, “Yes, I knew the first man the moment I saw him.” Jill turned and began walking towards the living quarters and Trish yelled loudly at her, “Turn yourself back around and talk to me Jill or I swear I will beat you within an inch of your life.” Jill stopped and turned to Trish but did not speak. Trish could see the anger in Jill’s eyes and her hands had formed into fists. Trish said, “Either tell me who the man was, or I will not stop pounding on you until you do. Don’t force me to beat you while Naomi and James watch.” Jill took two steps towards Trish, but suddenly sat down on the floor of the cargo bay and began to cry. Naomi started towards Jill and Trish said, “Naomi, I need to be the one to comfort Jill right now. Could you take James to your room and give Trish and me a few minutes to cry together, then I will come for you.”

  When the cargo bay doors closed, Jill began talking instantly, she obviously had much to tell. She took a deep breath and said, “The man who teleported into the secure room and slid the stun grenade into the slot in the bulletproof glass was the friend of the man who raped my mother. I have now killed both men that came to The Empress the day you were filling their equipment requisition orders. Trish, do you not remember their faces or their voices?”

  Trish shook her head, and Jill realized that Trish had somehow forgotten the men. Trish said, “I did not recognize any of them, but for some reason, I knew that you did. It was as if you were screaming his name into my head while we ran towards the ready room for weapons.” Jill said, “I only carried a grudge against the man who hurt my mother when she was a child, and I thought I would never see his friend again until he teleported into the secure room today. I have no idea why this man returned and attempted the takeover of The Empress. Someone must have paid them well to attempt such a foolish act. What could they have possibly gained by breaching the security of The Empress? The computer would not have allowed them to leave this vessel once they had killed the skipper. The computer would have simply removed the oxygen inside the travel membrane and killed the intruders.” Trish said, “We may never know the answers to those questions, but now we need to go to Naomi and James and stay close to them until they settle. Naomi will wake in the night for years after listening to our stories of today, but she needs to hear them and learn what is involved in defending The Empress and it crew.”

  Trish stood up and offered her hand to Jill. Jill pulled herself up and wrapped her arms around Trish’s neck. When they knocked on Naomi’s door, she quickly opened it and allowed Jill and Trish to join her. Trish put her hands on Naomi’s shoulders and looked into her tear stained eyes. Trish said, “The events of today have been very troubling for everyone and I cannot imagine how frightened you have been for the last few hours. You are part of the crew of The Empress, but unfamiliar with the dangers of this life. I would understand if you wished to return to the safety of your father’s home, but I hope you will stay with us and allow us to train you to protect yourself and those around you.” Naomi slid into Trish’s arms and cried on her shoulder. James came toddling up, wrapped his arms around Naomi’s legs and said, “Naomi not cry.” Naomi kneeled down and picked him up. James wiped a tear from Naomi’s eye and then kissed her cheek. Naomi hugged him and said, “Yuk boy, I think I have neglected your needs. You smell really bad.” Trish spoke to Naomi and said, “This is one job you are not expected to handle aboard The Empress, my child. I will change James dirty diaper.” Naomi said, “I should learn to help James when he has an accident, will you show me what I need to know. I have never changed a diaper before and I may puke.” Jill said, “You will not be the first to puke aboard The Empress Naomi.”

  Chapter 10 – A Supernova Event

  The computer spoke to Jill’s mind and said it had received an emergency message from the IFTT. They were hailing all vessels and all entities in the Milky Way galaxy in Universe Number Two. Jill said, “Computer, please summarize the message over the speakers so Trish, Naomi, and I can hear.” The computer spoke and said, “Trish, Jill and Naomi, I have an emergency alert message being transmitted from the IFTT to all vessels and to the entities of the Milky Way Galaxy in Universe Number Two. They are reporting that a star in Universe Number Two has went supernova and the energy field will strike the Milky Way Galaxy and any vessel in the vicinity within twenty-one minutes from the time the message was transmitted. Trish said, “What the hell else can go wrong this day?” Jill said, “Computer how long do we have before the energy field strikes planet Earth or planet Quantum.” The computer said, “Nine minutes for Earth, seven minutes for Quantum.” Jill said, “Computer, do we have time to rescue Fred from Earth and the girls from Quantum?” The computer said, “No, we need to move immediately or we will also be struck by the energy field and the damage to this vessel could be catastrophic.” Jill spoke again to the computer, “Computer, move us to Universe Number One immediately.” Everyone on The Empress felt a very tiny sensation of movement and both Trish and Jill realized the computer had pushed the speed of The Empress to an incredible level as it raced back to the original speck. Jill felt a series of speed changes and realized they had jumped out of Universe Number Two and were jumping into Universe Number One. The computer spoke over the speakers and said, “We are now in Universe Number One, and I am beginning to receive reports of heavy damage to certain areas of planet Earth and planet Quantum, but Fred, Monica and Frederica are uninjured. The cities they live in and their homes have received only minor damage. All three family members are requesting permission for temporary shelter aboard The Empress. There is no power or water available in the cities and the services may be unavailable for many days.” Jill said, “Computer, do not rush, but take us to planet Earth first since it is the closest, then on to Quantum. Computer, please be aware of travel membranes floating in space without power in their travel computers. Without power, the stranded vessels will not have an electronic signature and The Empress’s guidance systems may not locate them in time to avoid a collision, and we would not want to crash into a stranded vessel.” Jill looked at Trish and Naomi and said, “We will provide sanctuary to our
three family members.” Trish, Jill, Naomi and James were now all standing in the ready room. Jill looked at both Naomi and Trish and said, “Have I missed someone that is family that we need to rescue?” Naomi and Trish both shook their heads, no. Jill looked again at Naomi and said, “Are your mother’s family still alive?” Naomi said, “I do not know the answer to the question, as no one has ever contacted me, and my father has never spoken of Mother’s family. I will ask Father when he teleports to The Empress.” As they spoke, the computer said, “Fred is requesting permission to board The Empress.” Jill said, “Computer, let us clear the ready room and then teleport Fred here.”

  When Fred stabilized in the ready room, four people immediately began hugging him and asking him questions about damage on the planet. Fred seemed unable to let go of Naomi, and soon the tears were running down both of their cheeks as they both talked at the same time. Naomi was terrified that her father had been injured every since Trish had contacted him. Trish had tried to reassure Naomi that Fred was unharmed and would talk to her as soon as he teleported into the ready room. Naomi tried very hard to keep control over her emotions when she realized her father was in peril on the planet and she could do nothing to help him, but she conducted herself as a crewmember and held back her emotions, until now. She now poured out her emotions on her father’s shoulder. Fred calmed his daughter as they sat in the kitchen, Fred wiped Naomi’s eyes and asked if she would prefer to return to the planet and live out her life there instead of on The Empress. Naomi was instantly angry and stepped back from her father. She looked him directly in the eyes and said, “Father, I respectfully am telling you once and for the last time. Do not ever ask that question again. My place in life is here on The Empress and as long as I can fulfill my obligations and commitments to Jill and Trish, I do not intend to leave my new home. I hope you forgive me for my words right now, but your words have angered me more than you will ever know.”

  Naomi stomped out of the kitchen and slammed the door to her room. Fred looked at Jill and said, “I am sorry that I upset Naomi, but I needed to know if she was committed to this venture. It seems that she seldom becomes committed to anything, but this time I believe she has dedicated herself to this way of life and I am so very proud of her.” When Jill looked over Fred’s shoulder, a smile came across her face, Fred said, “Naomi is standing behind me isn’t she.” Jill smiled and when Fred turned around, Naomi was in his arms again telling him she apologized for speaking to her father in such a manner. Fred held her until she calmed herself and then handed her a tissue for her eyes. She smiled and said, “It seems you cannot distance yourself from my tears even in outer space.” Fred said, “Naomi, your tears are the medicine that I need to face the death of your mother. Tears can cleanse our souls and restore our faith in our Gods.” Naomi smiled and said, “Your soul should be squeaky clean by now, I have cried a river of tears on your shoulder.”

  Suddenly the computer was requesting permission for Frederica and Monica to teleport into the ready room. Trish spoke to the computer with her authorization code and two forms began to stabilize in the hallway of the ready room. Trish stepped up to them and realized Monica was holding her left wrist in her right hand. Trish stepped up and looked at the bent arm. Trish said, “Come with me Monica and we will stabilize your arm.” Monica followed Trish as everyone talked to her. Jill had talked to Frederica and she said she was okay, only Monica was injured. She had fallen and landed on her wrist on the front porch. Trish sat Monica down at the kitchen table. Fred stepped up and said, “Jill is there any chance of an x-ray machine here on The Empress?” Jill said, “You jest my kind sir, we have many things but no portable x-ray machines.” Fred looked at Monica’s wrist a few moments and then said, “Jill one more question; do you have any morphine on this vessel?” Jill said, “That I have, and syringes also, but you will have to come to the inventory storage bay with me to identify the items you require. I only fill orders from doctors who give me written prescriptions, as I do not understand the dosages.” Naomi asked if she could put some ice on the arm to stop the swelling and Fred said, “Yes, but lay it on top without moving the arm and put a towel between the ice and her skin.” Naomi nodded to him and began getting the ice from the machine.

  Within a couple minutes, Fred and Jill returned with the medical supplies he needed. When he sat down in front of Monica, he asked, “You are not afraid of needles like Jill are you?” Monica rolled her eyes and said, “As long as there is a place for my head to rest on after I pass out, there is no real problem.” Fred said, “Great, I will get you a towel to rest your forehead because I need to give you some morphine before I set this bone in your wrist.” Monica said, “Do with me as you wish, you gorgeous man.” Trish said, “Talk like that will get your other wrist broken if Jill hears you.” Monica asked, “Is this man the medical man who Jill seems so infatuated with?” Fred said, “I am the medical man she loves and worships, but I will not allow her to break your arm. I will protect you from the wrath of the jealous female time traveler. I am certain you will fall in love with me as you feel the effects of this wonder drug I am about to share with you.” Fred slid the needle into Monica vein and heard her utter a tiny ouch from the prick of the needle and the burn of the morphine as it entered her vein, but within seconds saw a smile form on her face. Monica’s eyes dilated just a little and Fred saw a flush appear on her cheeks. Monica giggled and said, “I now understand why Jill loves you medicine man.”

  Fred said, “Monica, you may not love me as I set your wrist, as it may hurt even with the morphine.” Monica said, “I will try not to puke on you, but I suggest you give me a wastebasket, because pain causes my stomach to revolt.” Fred had Jill help him move Monica to a bed and lay her down on her back. He got her comfortable and then placed a trashcan close to the edge of the bed. He then inserted an IV tube and began giving Monica another drug that allowed her to remain awake so he could talk to her, but she would remember no pain.

  As she relaxed, he picked up her arm, held it in the air and gently began to manipulate the broken bone. With just a few pulls and twists, the arm remained straight. Fred splinted the arm and insured it was stable, then stopped the flow of medicines. Monica slept for about two hours while Fred watched over her. When she woke, he gave her water to drink and then asked Jill and Naomi to take her to the bathroom. When she returned, she sat on the edge of the bed and looked at her splinted and wrapped arm. She said, “It does not hurt at all, you are truly a miracle doctor indeed.” Fred said, “You say that now, but when you try to sleep tonight you will decide you hate me just as much as you hate the pain in your arm.”

  Monica stood up and said, “What I need is a cup of strong coffee and maybe a little food in my stomach.” Fred offered Monica his arm, which she took as they walked to the kitchen. Fred helped her sit in the recliner and Naomi began perking coffee and fixed Monica a very light meal. When she finished eating, she joined in with Frederica and Fred in telling stories about the energy field and the damage it caused to the planets. Trish turned the monitor in the kitchen to an Earth entertainer station that was broadcasting continuous reports of the damage. Then she found a station from Quantum and they began alternating between planets for the latest information.

  As they sat and talked, Monica said, “Naomi, could I use your hand to wipe my butt, mine is damaged?” Naomi did not miss a beat and said, “You may, but I insist we kiss before I perform the deed.” Monica said, “Well instead, maybe you could just help me get to the bathroom and I will figure out how to deal with the situation.” As Monica and Naomi walked to the bathroom, everyone in kitchen heard the two girls giggling and joking. Jill said to Fred, “Naomi may only be a teenager but she fits right in around here and has become a welcome asset to both Trish and I.” Fred said, “I will miss her company around the house, but I am glad that she has found what she wants to do with her life, I am very proud of her as you have heard me say a hundred times now.”

  Jill and Fred had no
w known each other for over a year and Fred found he was struggling with his job at the hospital. The small hospital was having financial troubles as the economy on Earth had done very badly for the last five or six years. The hospital began downsizing their staff as the patient load decreased. Fred had finally had enough of his job and his life, and he was planning to hunt for another hospital to relocate. The job change would require him to sell the home he had lived in even before Naomi’s birth and purchase another in the town where he relocated.

  Fred sent a message to Jill and requested that she call him when she had a few minutes to talk privately. Fred got an almost immediate response. Within two minutes the computer spoke to Jill’s mind and said, “Jill, Fred would like to speak to you if wish to return his call” Jill stepped into the control room and sat down in the pilot’s chair. She pressed a button on the console and said, “Fred, are you there my love.” Fred laughed and said, “Yes, it is he, the man who loves you and is very lonesome to hug you.” Jill said, “If you wish, I could teleport directly to your bedroom and be naked on your bed within five minutes.” Fred said, “You are wasting precious time talking. See you in a few.”

  Jill spoke again to Fred but he had cleared the channel. Jill giggled and said, “I guess I shall make time for my lover right now.” She spoke to the computer and requested approval for teleportation to Fred’s apartment from the Director of Operations. The computer said, “I will request the teleportation in four minutes from the cargo bay floor.” Jill stepped out to the growing gardens and spoke to Trish. Trish giggled and made a remark that Jill hoped Naomi did not hear, then said, “Trish, can this little rendezvous remain our little secret?” Trish smiled and said, “It will remain between us. Did you explain to the computer that your location is private?” Jill spoke to the computer and explained the situation. She heard three chirps from the computer. As Jill talked to the computer, her travel watch beeped once, and then spoke to her, ten seconds…three seconds…two seconds…one second, and Trish found she was now talking to herself. Trish said, “I seem to talk to myself quite a bit lately.”