by G. E. Stills
She smiled at his term for the capsule. “Mil’ort or capsule, Nolan, not coffin. It sounds so morbid to call it a coffin when the person inside is not dead. Anyway we’ll find a woman similar to me.”
“One that looks like you? With powers like yours? Geez, I don’t know if I can take another you? I don’t know if the world, can take another you.”
She jabbed him in the ribs. “She won’t look exactly like me. As for powers, I’m certain she’ll have some, but I have no idea what they’ll be. Our creator’s were not forthcoming about their alterations to us and the abilities they surgically implanted. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
While they conversed, the Seeker converged with the red dot. She pressed a speaker button that connected the room to the bridge. “Captain Parker, we’re there. Begin circling us in this location.”
“Yes ma’am, he answered immediately.” They heard him relay the orders to one of the crewmembers with him. “Stop forward progress and begin circling, Willie.”
“Yes sir.” The crewman answered.
Kat activated another piece of equipment and began scanning the ocean floor below. Hours later, Jar’san announced, “I’ve located it. We need to send a signal down, activate her Mil’ort and bring it to the surface.”
Crossing the room and standing before another electronic piece, she pressed enter on the keyboard. “It’s been located. Time to go on deck and watch for it,” she said, over her shoulder to Nolan.
“Captain, we’ve found it. Send a couple of crewmembers to the winch.”
“Yes ma’am.” In the background, they heard him say, “Hold this position, Willie.”
With Nolan beside her, they went up on deck to watch and wait. Together, along with the two crewmembers, they scanned the waves.
“There it is,” one of the crewmen, shouted.
“Where, Aden?” she hollered.
“Off the port bow, ma’am.”
She followed Aden’s point and soon spotted the copper colored capsule, bobbing on the waves.
“Skipper…” she started.
“On it, ma’am. We’ll be alongside in a few.”
Already the Seeker was turning toward it. “Aden, get the winch ready.”
“Right away, ma’am.”
Captain Parker brought the ship to a stop alongside the capsule and Aden swung the boom from the lift out over it. Slowly, Aden lowered the winch cable and slipped its straps under the capsule. Once secured, he raised it from the water. Kat and Nolan dashed down the stairs leading below deck and entered a dark space. A flip of a switch illuminated the cargo room. She pressed a button and the large cargo doors above cycled open. Moments later, the boom, with the capsule suspended below it, appeared overhead.
Snatching a transceiver from its wall mount, she spoke to Aden. “Okay, begin lowering the capsule slowly.”
“Lowering,” Aden, replied.
The suspended capsule inched down into the hold. When it was low enough to grasp, Nolan raced forward and guided it into place. It settled to the deck and the suspension cable started to become slack.
“Hold it right there, Aden,” she said.
“Holding, ma’am.”
Dashing forward, she helped Nolan release the straps attached to the case.
“Okay its free, you can raise the cable now, Aden.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The cable and straps wound upwards. When clear, she pressed the button again. The doors above clam-shelled closed.
“Ma’am that thing looked much like a coffin,” Aden wearily said, from the transceiver.
She chuckled. “It’s not, Aden. Don’t worry, we’re not raising the dead.”
Stooping beside the case, she pressed a button. It rose and hovered about six inches above the deck.
She placed her hand on it and with Nolan walking beside her, guided it down the hallway to a room specially built for Mil’ort’s. There, she pressed the button again and capsule lowered to the floor.
“Well here goes.” She pressed another button and there was a hiss when the seal broke around the lid. It swung open.
“Oh shit.” Nolan quickly looked away.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Nolan’s face turn bright red.
“Damn, I think I better wait in another room. She’s so…so naked.” He turned to leave but halted when she put her hand on his shoulder.
“You might as well get used to this. We’re all revived with no clothes on. In the closet over there are some clothes. Be a dear and get them for me.”
Nolan paced toward the closet and she turned her attention to the sleeping woman. Her long blond locks, eyelashes and eyebrows contrasted with her ebony skin. The LCD readouts showed her body functions as normal for one asleep. Earphones covered the woman’s ears.
“I recognize her. Her name is Em’sle. Why hasn’t she wakened? Has something gone wrong?” she asked Jar’san.
“No. She’s fine. Unlike you, she doesn’t have an AI like me embedded in her. She must be brought to consciousness by you.”
“I don’t understand. Why doesn’t she have an implant?”
“To my knowledge, only you have one. You’re the leader of this mission. Em’sle and the others are here to assist you. Wake her.”
Reaching out, Kat placed her hand lightly on Em’sle’s arm. With physical contact established, her mind was immediately filled by a jumble of thoughts and emotions not her own.
“Ah.” Jar’san gave a mental nod of satisfaction. “We have the ability to communicate with her non-verbally by contact.”
She sensed Jar’san reach out through the physical connection and enter Em’sle’s nerve receptors. Em’sle started to rouse to awareness. Scattered, random thoughts became focused and began to pour into her through their physical connection.
“Who? Where am I? What is happening?” Em’sle questioned.
Her eyes rolled under her eyelids and then opened. Her beautiful sky-blue orbs gazed up at Kat. Verbally she asked, “Kat’sar?”
“Yes, it’s me Em’sle. Welcome to the new world. I’m known as Kat here and your name from now on will be Emma. Now open your mind and let me provide the information I’ve gained.” Reaching down, she removed Emma’s headphones.
The two closed their eyes and with Jar’san’s help, the transference began. Minutes ticked past and finally they opened their eyes once more. Kat assisted Emma when she clambered from the capsule to stand for the first time in millennia. Still supporting Emma, she watched the woman’s attention shift to Nolan. Unabashed by her nakedness, she let her gaze rove over him from head to toe.
From the corner of her eye, Kat saw that Nolan’s return scrutiny was far from unabashed. Stepping forward, his eyes averted to the floor, and he held out the panties, blouse and shorts he had in his hand.
“A human?” Emma asked through their physical contact. “Nice looking.”
“Yes. And mine.” Kat answered the mental question and warned. She went on to explain her relationship with Nolan.
“Why is he so red?”
Kat laughed mentally. “He’s embarrassed. Other than the power crystal in your navel, you’re completely naked. People from this time are not comfortable with nudity. At least not in front of strangers. Take the clothes he is offering and get dressed.”
“Do I get one? A boyfriend, I mean. Isn’t that what you call them? I like. I like a lot.”
Kat suppressed a giggle. “You don’t just have one assigned to you, Emma. You don’t just pick one out and stake a claim for him either. There’s a process involved. A ritual of sorts and your boyfriend must be mutually attracted to you. I will explain more later. There are other humans on this ship. There’s an entire world of them. I’m sure that eventually you’ll find one. But not this one! He’s spoken for.”
“I understand. He’s str
ictly hands off.”
Reaching out, Emma took the clothes from Nolan’s hand and started to dress.
CHAPTER NINE
Nolan shuffled uncomfortably. When the woman took the clothes, he turned his back. God almighty, was each woman Kat awakened to join them going to be so damn curvy? So flawlessly, radiantly beautiful?
Kat had explained their creator’s abilities of gene manipulation and so he answered his own question. Yes.
Behind him, he heard the rustle of clothes being put on. Moments later, Kat spoke. “Nolan, you can turn around now. She’s dressed. I want to make introductions.”
Doing an about face, Nolan once again faced her. Now that she had dressed he was much more comfortable.
“Nolan, this is Emma, Emma, Nolan.”
Without thinking, he stuck out his hand and Emma just stared at it.
“It’s a form of greeting Emma,” Kat explained. “Take his hand in yours and give it a slight pump.”
“Oh,” Emma grasped his hand and smiled. “Sorry, I’ll learn the customs of these times. Nice to meet you, Nolan.”
“Shall we?” Kat indicated the door. “I’ll show you to your room, then we can go meet the others.” Taking Emma by the hand she led her forward.
Over her shoulder, she said to Nolan, “I hope you don’t mind following. The hallway isn’t wide enough for us to walk three abreast and I need to show her around.”
“I don’t mind at all.” He brought up the rear, which suited him just fine. “I’ll just enjoy the view,” he whispered to himself.
****
Of course she heard him even though he spoke in a whisper. She did not need to have extrasensory abilities either to feel his gaze travel up and down their backsides. Grinning she glanced to the side at the half-top and thigh length shorts Emma was wearing. They were much the same as her own.
Jar’san felt it too. “Kat, Nolan is checking you and Emma out.”
“I know. I intend to have a discussion with him later.”
“What you’re feeling is called jealousy, Kat.”
“Humph,” she cleared her throat audibly. “Shut-up, Jar’san.”
Jar’san’s chuckle vibrated in her mind.
Proceeding aft, they climbed another set of stairs to the deck above and came out onto a walkway on the starboard side of the bridge structure. They entered through a side door, into a narrow hall.
“The two doors on your left are the Captain’s cabin and the one Nolan and I share.”
Midway down, another hall opened to the right. This wider hall led toward the front of the ship.
“The five doors on each side lead into individual rooms. Each member of the crew has his own. At the end is the galley, but I’ll show you that later.”
She swung open the first door on the port side. Bright sunlight streamed through the porthole imparting shifting patterns on the room with the gentle rolling of the ship.
“This is your room,” Kat said, when they entered it. The room contained a bunk, a small couch, dresser, a desk with chair and a small closet. On the desk was a computer monitor.
“Two bathrooms, one on each side, along with showers, are located at the bow end of the hall before you reach the galley. You’re free to access all the information stored on the computer.”
“So judging from the number of doors, I trust there will be others joining me?” Emma asked.
“Yes.”
“From the information you’ve given me, I know of the tragedy that befell Tran’ort. Besides the two of us, how many others survived?”
Kat grimaced. “I’m afraid only four.”
“Only four! That’s really sad to think about.”
Clearing her throat, Kat pointed out the dresser. There’s clothing in there and more hanging in the closet. I didn’t know what sizes to get so I purchased a verity of clothing. I’m certain you’ll find things that will fit.”
The three of them moved down the hallway. “Ladies bath and showers on the left, and men’s on the right,” she said, pointing them out.
“Why separate showers for men and women?” Emma asked.
“It’s a custom of the human’s, just like the nudity issue.”
“Oh.”
Next, she showed Emma the galley. Several tables and chairs sat in the center of the room, with food prep facilities along two walls.
“We eat our meals here. Normally, all but those on duty eat at the same time.”
The tour continued. Going to the deck located above the galley, they stepped into the pilothouse and she introduced Willie and Captain Parker.
“This is where the ship controls are located and the Seeker is steered,” she told Emma.
“We’re underway once more and headed for the next location, ma’am,” The Captain reported.
“Thanks, Captain. Keep me posted.”
Turning to Emma, she continued. “Next we go below deck again.” Once there, they headed aft and entered the engine room. A veritable mountain of a man, of Hawaiian decent, stood to face them. With his six and a half foot height, he towered over them all. “Emma, this is Kimo. Kimo, Emma.”
The two shook hands while she continued. “Although fully automatic and controlled from the pilothouse above, Kimo here keeps a close watch on the engines just in case. Isn’t that right, Kimo?”
“Yes ma’am,” he answered in a deep bass and somewhat gruff voice.
“See you later, Kimo.” She smiled and led the way up to the deck above.
“Only two more crewmembers to meet and they’re up here on deck.”
“I noticed everyone calls you ma’am. From what I’ve learned from you, that is a term of respect. I also trust it to mean you’re in charge?” Emma stated.
“Yes, I’m in charge. The ‘ma’am’ is their idea and at their insistence. I’d be perfectly satisfied for them to call me Kat.”
As they conversed, they strolled across the deck and approached two men. Stopping before them, Kat began her introductions.
“Keita, I’d like you to meet, Emma. Emma, this is Keita.”
“Glad to meet you Keita.” Emma stuck out her hand. Keita wiped grease from his hand on a rag but was not able to remove it all and hesitated. Emma reached out with her other and grasped his. “Go ahead. I don’t mind. Dirt and grease won’t hurt me.”
Keita smiled, and shook it gratefully.
“It’s nice to see that I’m not the only one here with a dark complexion,” Emma stated, with unabashed candor.
The two of them exchanged smiles. Next, their attention focused on the final crewmember. “Emma, this is Aden.”
Without hesitation, Aden thrust out his hand. “Happy to meet you, Emma.”
From the corner of his mouth, he addressed Kat. Not once did his eyes leave Emma, nor did he release her hand. “So she was in the casket we fished from the sea, ma’am?”
“Not a casket. A capsule,” Kat reminded.
From beside her, Nolan snickered.
“So ya keep remindin’ me, ma’am, but it shor looks like one to me.”
Kat studied Aden. Wavy brown hair covered his ears. Broad shoulders led into muscular arms. Though she was certain his skin had once been fair, long years of going without a shirt and wearing nothing but shorts and shoes, like he did now, changed it to a deep bronze. The gaze of his piercing green eyes was fixed on Emma. Dark curly hair nearly covered his wide chest. His torso narrowed into a flat stomach and narrow hips, only to flare again into a brawny pair of legs. From her research of the crew, she knew that Aden had been born in the States and seldom slipped into Irish slang unless he was highly emotional.
“I’ve been fishin’ for most of me life, but not once have I hauled a fair thing like her from the water.”
“So I’m a thing?” Emma asked, bristling.
“He means pr
etty in his Irish slang.” Kat supplied.
“Oh.” Emma’s frown changed to a smile.
Palpable sparks of attraction leapt from Emma’s blue eyes to his green ones and back again.
“So,” she said. “That concludes the tour. Shall we go to the galley and get something to drink?”
The trance broken, Emma shifted her gaze and attention to her. “That will be fine.”
“I want to talk to Tom. I’ll join you in a while,” Nolan said, and strode away.
With Emma beside her, she strolled away from Keita and Aden.
“See you soon Em,” Aden, called after them.
“I’m positive you will. It’s a small ship,” Emma returned and chuckled softly. Then in a whisper, Emma continued to her. “You can count on it. And I won’t mind that in the least. He is very…”
“Yummy, as in attractive?” she suggested.
“Immensely. Immensely yummy.”
“I’m so in love with Nolan I think I over did it when I instructed you about relationships between men and women.”
“Oh no you didn’t. I want to know more. He’s hot.” Emma laughed.
“And he’s already shortened your name to Em. I think he likes you as well. In fact I’m certain of it.”
“Aden is the one I want for a boyfriend. I claim him as mine.”
“Whoa. Remember what I said Em. There’s a process involved. Judging from the way he scoped you out though, I think he finds you attractive, so you’re well on your way.”
“I want him.”
Kat shook her head.
****
Nolan rejoined them in the galley and after all of them visited for some time, Emma excused herself.
“Don’t forget Emma, we eat at six. There’s a clock in your stateroom.”
“I’ll be back then.” With quick and graceful strides, Emma left the room.
Nolan’s hand was resting on the table. She covered it with hers, squeezed hard and dug her nails into it.
“Ow! What’s that for?” he protested trying to pull it away.
“I felt your eyes all over us when you were following behind, and I heard your whispered comment. You think she’s pretty good looking don’t you?”
