by Darrell Bain
“It is my name, Mr. Passing. I am a fully realized artificial intelligence. Jeannie Bostick will give you specifics concerning the initiation of my awareness should you desire them."
Passing blinked. He glanced at Captain Hawkins, wondering if he was being played with. His glance met only a bland countenance. He turned back to the computer. “Big Boy, I have some questions for you,"
“Proceed, sir."
Passing hesitated a moment then bulled ahead. “I understand that the gravity generators have been installed and will be functional shortly. Is that correct?"
“It is."
“How do they work? That is, are they necessary for faster than light travel?"
“Not per se, sir. However, they are necessary in order to maintain the integrity of the ship while in FTL mode."
“I think I see: they are necessary for humans to endure FTL travel."
“Essentially, yes, but the generators will also be convenient when not in flight, at a much-reduced level, of course."
The statement confirmed Passing's suspicions: not only was the FTL technology necessary, but the secret of the gravity generators would also have to be stolen, if not the ship itself.
“What makes you think they will work?’ He asked. “As I understand it, the Altairians developed the concept during their voyage here, but lacked the necessary materials to construct them."
“The gravity generators are not solely an Altairian development, sir. Early in this century, some of the theoretical aspects were discovered during research with the largest particle collider on earth. As you may be aware, only one of its type was ever built, and its operation was abandoned during the consolidation of earth's population into the present day Enclaves. The research records were kept, however, and perusal of those records has provided us with a solid theoretical support for the Altairian engineering specifications provided by Mr. Da Cruz. They will work."
“Hm. Given that that is true, I still have problems understanding how a material object can pass the speed of light."
Big Boy's image captured the ghost of a smile. “It can't"
Passing frowned, forehead wrinkles emphasizing his over-large nose. “Explain, then. You can't have it both ways!"
“Simply put, sir, without reference to the very obscure mathematical language required for true understanding, the ship will not exceed the speed of light; rather, we will slow the rest of the universe down."
Passing blinked in confusion. “That really doesn't tell me much. Can you relate the mathematical theory in equation form forme? Perhaps some of my cohorts may understand them."
“That is not yet possible. The mathematical theory, or equations as you put it, is inherent in the engineering specifications for the time stress generators given to Mr. Da Cruz. Until we actually test the ship from another reference point in the Galaxy, the math cannot be discussed sensibly."
“Then how do you know they will work?"
“I have already run numerous simulations, from points within the solar system, our own galaxy, and even from other galaxies. The simulations agree with the specifications."
Passing recognized a stall when he saw one, but he concealed his exasperation. It had been worth a try. He turned to Captain Hawkins. “I think that's all I need to see here. Let's get on with the rest of the tour."
“Big Boy can provide accurate simulations right here, if you wish,” Hawkins said.
“No doubt, but I prefer to see everything with my own eyes,"
“As you wish. Thank you, Big Boy."
“You're welcome, Captain, Big Boy on standby."
* * * *
Hawkins’ dark face and kinky gray hair materialized in Jeannie's computer alcove. “Attention, all personnel. Gravity generator test will begin in five minutes. I intend to test at 20% earth normal. Secure all loose objects, and stand by. Take-off will follow in three hours."
“He doesn't leave any room for doubt, does he?” Jamie said, disengaging himself from Kristi. Why couldn't he have waited a few minutes'?
“We'll still have three hours,” Jeannie reminded him. “Twenty percent G should be almost as much fun as zero G."
“If we don't just disappear,” Jamie said. He felt his heartbeat increase, knowing that if anything went wrong, it could probably be traced to his own mistakes in transferring knowledge from the Altairian thought disk.
A deep humming noise swept through the ship, as if a hive of bees had taken up residence somewhere within, and he felt a slight tug of gravity. It increased rapidly then held steady. The humming noise faded, then ceased completely. His feet met the floor comfortably as the image of the Captain appeared again.
“Gravity generators are now functioning normally. We will maintain the present settings throughout our voyage. Our first destination will be to the orbit of Saturn, where we propose to explore the Altairian ship. Estimated time of arrival is approximately twenty hours from take-off. Exploration party will consist of personnel selected by Captain Masters. You will be notified shortly. Take-off in two hours, fifty-five minutes. Engineers and astrogators remain at stations. All other personnel please remain in your compartments until we are under way. Thank you."
The ship moved out exactly on schedule. The passengers felt nothing unusual. For Jamie, Jeannie and Kristi, the time passed without them even noticing. They were occupied.
* * * *
Jamie had just finished getting back into his clothes when Masters announced his presence from his adjoining stateroom. He told the door to let him enter after waiting a moment for the women to finish dressing. They seemed in no hurry. He shrugged as the ranger captain entered while they were still clad only in the barest of briefs. Masters didn't seem to care either. He settled into one of the cushioned chairs while Jeannie was still pulling on her coveralls. Kristi left hers alone, for reasons known only to her. “So who's going?” She asked, adjusting her brief halter to accommodate her large, firm breasts. It covered her nipples, but just barely, leaving the tops of the areoles visible.
Masters raised an eyebrow at her, then grinned, turning his lined face into boyish crinkles. “You know you're going, of course. Our dogs. Smith and Corsair, and their dogs. And Jamie."
“Jamie!” Jeannie exclaimed. “Why him? He’ s not a ranger!"
Masters grinned inwardly. Jeannie was less adventuresome than any of them. Also, she had the idea that Jamie couldn't take care of himself when he was absent from her. It had almost gotten her killed before, but she had already conveniently forgotten the result of her last episode of trying to protect him.
“Sorry, but I want Jamie along. That thought disk he carries might be useful. It has the only real knowledge we have about the Altairians, even if most of it is engineering specifications."
“He'll get hurt, just like last time,” Jeannie said darkly.
“No,” Woggly and Conan said at the same time. “We protect him, keep the varmints away."
“Just eat the varmints,” Fuzzy Britches suggested.
“Let’ s see what we find, first, Fuzz,” Masters said, amused. Fuzzy Britches had a unique mind, in his opinion. He was certainly one of the smartest enhanced animal he knew of. “And you're not going Woggly, or Conan, either. Only Ranger dogs."
“What am I supposed to do?” Jamie asked. He wasn't the adventuresome type, although it seemed to him that he was constantly getting involved in escapades that he would as soon have skipped, this one included. It wasn't fear; he didn't think he could ever be scared as badly as he had been on the expedition into the wilds from the Houston Enclave. It was more a sense of still just wanting to do research without being constantly called upon to interrupt it for higher callings as he had been for the last year.
Kristi patted his thigh. “Just follow along, dear, and watch out for boogers. I can't imagine anything worse than those rats we fought with on earth."
“I can't either,” Jamie said, privately imagining all kinds of monsters laying in wait for them in the alien ship.
&n
bsp; * * * *
One of the Landers had been modified for interspace operations. The pilot was the assistant astrogator whom Fuzzy Britches had befriended. She was short, plump and competent, and insisted on being called Iris, rather than Irene, her given name. She and Masters conferred as they approached the alien ship.
“Damn, I thought our ship was big, but look at this baby.” She said. The Altairian ship had apparently been constructed from the shell of a large asteroid. It was unevenly lumpy in places, indicating possible airlocks or entrances. She and Masters agreed on a point as it revolved slowly before them and she maneuvered the modified lander into juxtaposition.
The raised lump did prove to be an airlock. Iris donned a spacesuit, since she was the only one aboard familiar with EVA, and attempted to open it. Several hours later, she returned and doffed her helmet.
“Nogo, Captain, but we were prepared for the possibility. I'm going to have to rig a block to hold the air then set off an implosion charge to open her up."
“Go ahead,” Masters told her. “We'll get into our suits and be ready."
Jamie struggled with the unfamiliar garment, a modified spacesuit designed only to protect from contamination and very brief exposure to vacuum. He wasn't at all enthusiastic about any part of the operation. The dogs waited in reserve, back of the Lander's airlock. No garments had been designed to fit them.
The explosion reverberated through the lander, and Jamie held his breath apprehensively, expecting any moment to feel the whoosh of escaping air, but it didn't come. Iris had fitted the explosive device well.
“OK, let's go,” Masters said. “Smith and me first, to test the air, then Kristi, Corsair and the dogs next. Jamie you wait til I tell you it's OK."
“I'll wait,” Jamie said enthusiastically.
* * * *
Masters had expected the air to be breathable, since the Altairians had survived for some weeks on earth, although he knew that the reverse was not necessarily true. He checked his suit gauge carefully before breaking the seal of his suit. A stench assaulted his nostrils, as if rotten broccoli and mildewed leather had been festering for weeks in the passageway. He coughed, and quickly inserted nose filters to block out the worst of the smell, then cautiously passed from the blasted inner door into the bowels of the alien ship. The other rangers followed, then the dogs, wrinkling their noses in disgust. Jamie brought up the rear.
Lights were on within the ship, reddish and dim, illuminating a short passage that became larger as they progressed. The slowly spinning ship provided only a minimum of centrifugal gravity as they bounced slowly and cautiously forward. The passage split, opening into two larger compartments. A reddish green scum clung to the walls. There was movement within it, tiny skittering life forms with faceted eyes and clinging tentacles that burrowed into the scum as they passed.
Masters arbitrarily chose the passage running to the right and it in turn enlarged, burgeoning into a huge dome. Here, growth hung from the ceiling in strands. The smell became worse, as if they were entering a huge garbage dump. A strange chittering sound arose, then died out, from a source not readily apparent. Masters stopped their progress when he detected movement at the opposite end of the cavern, where the dome descended and closed off further progress. Strands of vegetation were visible around an entrance that had closed over it automatically when Iris’ explosion went off. His years in the wilds were warning him to be cautious. An eerie silence pervaded the cavern, hanging heavily on his senses, like the stillness before a Kansas tornado. Again, a chittering noise broke the stillness, then died out as before. He waited, then led his troops forward a few more steps.
The barely discerned movement at the far end of the dome had distracted him. Jamie, tagging along at the rear was the one who caught the movement overhead. “Captain! Watch out!” He shouted.
A myriad of short-legged monsters descended from the ceiling, propelled by tufts of gas. His warning was almost too late. One of the apparitions landed on Masters’ arm; another missed but clutched at his feet with short, clawed legs. Faceted eyes gleamed in the reddish hazy light as they tore at his suit. Kristi whirled, knife in hand, and stabbed at the animal ripping at his arm. Masters kicked at another one digging at his legs with insane fury. It clung until he stooped and peeled it off, crushing it with a booted foot. Others dropped among the rangers and dogs. Three of the creatures pulled Smith down to the floor. His dog tore furiously at them, growling in rage.
“Back!” Masters shouted. He fired his lasergun at point-blank range, splattering another of the ravaging animals into pieces, then bent to help Smith to his feet. Smith's dog was buried under clawed bodies, where they had turned to meet his attack. Kristi and Corsair fired discretely, unable to use their guns effectively at such close range. They swatted at more of the monsters, trying to retreat.
Jamie was horrified, but he was in the best position to help. From the rear, he picked off enough of the swarm to break the others free, then retreated with them. Smith's dog was dead, and the ranger was crying in anguish, unable to use any weapon in revenge. Both his arms had been mangled while trying to save his pet and it was all he could do to move.
They finally fought free at the rear of the dome where the narrowed passage tunnel gave them room to enfilade their fire, but it was only a temporary reprieve. The chittering had grown to a nerve chilling cacophony of screams, and now it was coming from behind them as well.
“Run!” Masters screamed. “Get back to the air lock!"
They ran, pausing to fire behind them for only the briefest of moments. Where the first passage had split, they were overrun again. This time, it was Kristi who went down under the onslaught. Lady tore into her attackers with no thought of her own safety, and Jamie bulled Masters aside without even thinking, using his knife and gun recklessly, intent only on rescuing her. Green gore spattered him from his laser and rocket assisted slugs tearing apart the alien animals. He yanked Kristi to her feet and into the final passage back to the airlock. Wolfgang tore into the last of the alien demons as Masters assisted him, firing coolly now that their back was protected. Corsair was the last to break free, one arm mangled, and then it was over. All that was left to do was make certain that the new lock was sealed behind them.
Blood spilled from Masters’ hair, bright against the whiteness of his locks. He rubbed it from his eyes, gun still in his hand. Everyone except Jamie was wounded to some extent, but Smith's dog was the only casualty. He was still sobbing over his death, but gradually getting himself under control. Corsair was cursing in a continuous monotone.
“Close the lock,” Masters commanded. “Let's get out of here. There's nothing we can do with this ship. It's all gone to hell. It would take a major expedition to explore it now."
Jamie barely heard him. He was still shaking with reaction and trying to examine Kristi's wounds. They were minor, but he wasn't expert enough to judge. Kristi knew she wasn't hurt badly, and she was more concerned with the blood still pouring from Masters’ scalp. The lock opened behind them, and Terrili, the darkly pretty oriental vice-captain opened her eyes wide in amazement. She wasn't used to blood or violence. Masters calmed her quickly.
“Let's get these people to an autodoc,” he said. “We'll talk later."
We sure will,” Jamie thought. Just as soon as I get my voice back.
* * *
CHAPTER ELEVEN
After sending Jamie back to reassure Jeannie that neither he nor Kristi had been seriously hurt, Masters called the captain from where they were both being attended by adjoining Autodocs.
“There's nothing more we can do there, Captain,” he told Hawkins. “According to Jamie's thought disks, and from what we saw, there can't be any Altairians left alive there. It looks as if the life support systems of the ship have just exploded into chaos after all the Altairians died, and the only way I know of to explore the ship would be a complete sterilization. I doubt that any of our scientists would go along with that, at least not yet, anyway. I re
commend that we abandon any further attempt for now and try for the Altairian system to see what's left there from the dust cloud."
Captain Hawkins surprised him with his answer. “I think we will make that our next destination, but we may be surprised. Some of the Moon City scientists brought a couple of the old telescopes back on line, and they cannot see any evidence of a dust cloud there."
“No? I thought that's what Jamie's original thought disk said was going on. Did he misinterpret it?"
“We don't think so,” Captain Hawkins said. “There's something amiss, though, and the only way is to go see. Once out of the solar system, it won't take long, anyway, and after all, the prime reason the Altairians sent their lander to earth was supposedly so that we would try to rescue whatever population remains there. Besides, it's as good a destination as any, since you say we can't do anything with their ship now."
“OK,” Masters agreed. Anything was better than trying to suppress an ecology gone wild in a huge ship with only six rangers and five dogs. He did wonder, though, why Moon city scientists with their telescopes hadn't picked up on that bit of information. Or had they? He decided it might be wise to stay alert while the spacemen were aboard.
“So,” Kristi said from the adjoining Autodoc. “On to new frontiers."
“So it seems,” Masters said. His autodoc beeped and disconnected then gave him some unwanted advice about taking it easy for a few hours.
“Wait for me,” Kristi said. Masters did so, and she was also finished a few moments later. They walked under the easy gravity back towards the staterooms together. The entrance to Masters’ stateroom opened at his presence, keyed by his body computer. He turned to tell Kristi that he would see her later, but she was already past him, and into his room.
Kristi immediately shucked herself out of her coveralls and began taking off her briefs. She turned, prettily naked. “The autodoc does a good cure,” she said, “but they don't get you clean. Come wash my back for me."
