by S. V. Brown
During these times, Fin often opened her heart to her brother, expressing her fears of being both rescued, and abandoned. Thon had no answers but would hold her gloved hand or sit close by so that she could physically lean on him.
In Fin, he found a loyal friend. He confided in her many times and dreaded her ever finding out his secret. It would devastate her, but the risk was too great and he did not want to involve her in the event that he and his friends were discovered.
The First Clue
{[JOIRAN CLUSTER] [Pteraspis] [On route to Skorpios]
[917117/2583/152/space]}
Ever since the Trimador delegations had provided the Cluster with the report on new tested speeds some six revolutions ago, Donaven found it hard to keep up. He left more and more of the Verging to the newly promoted senior captain. He felt useless and disliked the feeling immensely, even though the voyage was an important factor in finding the girl.
Experts had made the point that the quicker they could travel the higher the chances of her survival. The Trimadorian Nest had provided a further three ships to the search but answered only to their superiors. They had been provided with a plan by Chen Sorance to ensure they didn’t double up efforts. During the debriefing Chen had been about to say something about their disinterest in the plan of the Search and Rescue Coordination Unit but the Trimador commander had interrupted sternly, addressing his crew that it was the wisest action to follow the arrangement. Chen had accepted the interruption but Donaven was suspicious.
What could not be disputed was the dedication that the Trimadorians had shown to work tirelessly on the acceleration and deceleration procedures and had improved them by adjusting the Metamorphic Shields to accommodate the new velocities.
Donaven was wishing he was OnPlanet. Six revolutions into the S&R and he had only six holidays. There was more and more Verging now that they could travel faster, which meant they could investigate more planets. To date there was still no sign or word of the girl.
He sat in his quarters, alone.
Realization had come to him far too late. He wasn’t a popular man. Not that people's opinion mattered to him but it did effect the work environment. He loved being in space, and that was why he tried to get up as many space missions as possible. But the promotions kept coming. The higher the promotion, the less time in space. He hated to think of what that implication meant.
He weighed up his options.
Time was of no importance. He had some land and a cabin on Parlin; he could settle down there for a while. He could even go into the private shipping business. He could also take up a new major. He already had eight majors. It was coming up to his eighth hundredth year and every hundred years a celebration was held. He didn’t think anyone would know on the ship of his upcoming eighth. He was born in the seventh hundredth year on Behemoth. His parents had been born from the first scientists. They had witnessed the Third Hostility and said they’d never forget the day that the Elysians led an army of animals. He loved listening to those stories full of pride that his parents had not been slaughtered. His parents continually told him that they were guests in the Joiran Cluster and could continue to make it their home so long as they respected the planets and animals. New planets were colonized.
He was twenty-one when Pakad was founded. The next planet had been Apis and he’d been two hundred and ninety-seven. He and his wife had decided to colonize the next planet, which he still regretted. Parlin became an agricultural planet and the people it attracted were originally open and honest, but gradually they became influenced by seedy higher powers who only remained in line with Joiran standards because of their fear of the Elysians. It was the only planet to date where a desire for power was openly expressed and it caused problems within the cluster. The issue was being addressed by the Coalition.
His wife had loved it there but Donaven had hated it. After two hundred years he left. His wife agreed to have their bond annulled because she refused to give up her powerful position to leave with him. He’d hoped that the Parlin government would stabilize after their initial rise to power but it didn’t happen. His wife had been in her position for over two hundred years, and that was one hundred years too long according to EO standards. He knew the Parlinese overcame such restrictions by slyly altering position titles and felt that the investigations were far too slow. He believed the reports to be projecting falsified results rather than presenting accurate ones in all areas of business, sustainability and trade. What they couldn't hide through satellite imaging was that they had dropped below the fifty percent mark of flora and fauna. It also had been noticed that the Elysians increased their activity on that planet. At first the Parlinese officials had claimed it was because of the positive state of the planet.
Everyone on the planet was looked after, no one could dispute that, but some were simply cared for more than others. Parlin was now under investigation to the displeasure of the arrogant Parlinese leaders and its torpid inhabitants.
He leaned back in his chair, musing. Maybe that’s why he wasn’t popular … the Parlinese superciliousness had rubbed off on him and yet he couldn't even convince himself of that; he knew why he wasn’t liked. It had started with the visit from Sorance over six years ago. During Chen's stay a Junior Captain continually made solid decisions while he had been floundering. Since then there had been discreet talks between himself and the junior captain who had been very nervous about pointing out Donaven's deficiencies, specifically with his attitude and work. He had taken it on board and, while not agreeing with everything, had tried to improve. Years later he had promoted the junior captain and was surprised to overhear people were staggered that he had done so. This annoyed and hurt him. He had never recalled the fact that anyone had said he was unfair. Demanding of perfection, yes. Pedantic, maybe. The new captain had once mentioned that praise was necessary to keep the crew motivated and happy. Why wouldn’t they be happy? Donaven just didn’t understand. Praise always felt awkward to him. If they completed their assigned duties, then they were only fulfilling what they had been employed for. Why praise someone for doing what they were supposed to do? If someone exceeded their duties, yes, then he could see that praise may be in order.
The first time, after some signals from the captain, he praised someone for what he personally considered an ordinary achievement; the person had been red-faced, and bracing for chastisement. Donaven blurted out the praise and felt heat rise to his own face; he shuffled his feet and looked everywhere except at the shipmate. At least his dark skin would have hidden most of the pink. The captain had saved the moment by drawing the astounded person away, reinforcing the compliment and distracting the other onlookers somehow. Donaven had been too busy escaping to see what was done. He still grimaced over the memory.
The meetings continued. He should become more hands on. He should trust the crew and not look over their shoulders. He should give up some of his assigned duties such as fire warden, first aid officer, evacuation chief, verging leader and so on. He countered some of the suggestions with what he considered his good contributions, such as continually putting out procedures and messages to help the crew but this was countered with him being labelled “draconian.” The then-junior captain squirmed in her chair as she said this, to which Donaven promptly told her squirming wasn’t appropriate for a soon-to-be senior captain.
Even after this last conversation Donaven had still felt himself to be in the right. That was until a minor blunder a few months back. That was when he fully realized that he did have a problem. In every Major he had studied previously and worked, he had always been right. For the first time he had been blundering around but he still had the attitude of someone faultless. It made him look and feel like an idiot. It was not an emotion he liked.
The decision was easy once he put his mind to it. It was time to move on to the next thing.
They were on route for Skorpios, and it would be his first visit to that Galaxy. But he decided that it would be a visit of some time
. He didn't want to go back to Parlin after refreshing his unpleasant memories. They had been re-routed to Leda, one of the planets of Skorpios, only forty-five years founded. They would be rendezvousing with a space ship at Nuffi’s Patch. Donaven had heard the spaceport was exceptionally beautiful and the planet was Tribal Based. Because the planet and its inhabitants were only new, only two percent of the population were a part of the Conglomerate Games. There would be no exporting of resources for at least another one hundred and twenty-three years until they were properly established.
He shouldn’t have any problems getting permission to stay. They were always grateful for experienced people, and he certainly had the experience in colonizing a new planet. He dreamed of helping a planet obtain one hundred percent flora and fauna ratings. Taya, the other founded planet in Skorpios, had a rating of ninety-five percent, the best in the Joiran Cluster. Leda was currently on eighty-six percent. Room for improvement.
He waited no longer and filled in the resignation papers. He called the captain and asked her to witness his signature. She looked at the document in surprise.
He held up a hand to stall any comment from her, “Don’t bother. We both know I don’t belong here and am not needed. Just sign the documents. I’ll need to change accommodation as well, so please arrange that for me.”
“Yes, sir.” She signed the documents with a lump in her throat. She left him whistling away as he began to pack up his gear.
Within a few days, he was installed into his new, smaller cabin. He liked it. He made himself useful and surprised many people by turning up to improve things before he left. Suddenly he found he was once again making things right and therefore made himself happier, if not necessarily popular. Crewmates did, however, treat him differently, not quite with respect but an improvement on the previous attitudes.
On one shift, Donaven was going through the old reports when something interesting caught his eye. He had three reports opened up simultaneously to investigate the reporters displayed on his back wall monitor. He was standing in front of it, making notations using his stylus to highlight the errors. Once again they hadn’t filled in the information out correctly. As he was studying the margin formatting on one of the documents, a centimeter out, a mention of the Elysians caught his eye. He instantly saw the huge creatures in his mind, as both described by his parents and his own encounters with the rarely seen spatial animals. He read further, this time ignoring the layout problems.
The report next to it held similar accounts. He paused for a moment and then immediately set up a new document on his well-lit wall monitor. He brought up five more documents. He began tapping away at the screen, making notations and references. Very quickly, he discovered something crucial.
He sent a call for the captain. Amir or not, none questioned his authoritative voice and the captain came down to his humble abode. Afterwards, an urgent message was sent, not only to the Council but to all ships. Donaven made the suggestion and the captain agreed. There was a special note for the Science Vessel the girl’s parents were on, the Sordes, and the vessel seemed to be concentrating around the center of the Octant. This would certainly be of interest to them. He had to be careful too, and he mulled over if he should warn them. Angrily he added in his warning. Angry because accusations about his pedantic ways had hurt. But better for them to consider him pedantic than to allow his emotions to impair his judgement.
Correlations in Unexpected Places
{[JOIRAN CLUSTER] [Science Vessel, Sordes] [Oriri]
[917233/2583/268/space]}
It had been such a long time now since they had seen Serafina that Robin and William were used to the schism in their lives. The horror of that before and after sequence wracked them at different periods. The council had tried to encourage them back to Saxe but the couple had refused. Everything had changed and they lived and breathed the search. Robin was sure she had a hole in her heart and was constantly trying to imagine what Feena was doing. William, on the other hand, spent his time going over and over why she had been kidnapped and all the possible scenarios as to who would benefit and who had the technology and resources to carry on the project. He refused to think that someone would simply sabotage the project out of spite. If they knew enough to kidnap her and the samples, they knew just how important she was. The scientists were equally as zealous for their samples and some individually said quiet goodbyes to the girl. None liked to think it but they had been worried at the test results when she was still with them. She was not what they had anticipated, not physically, emotionally, intellectually or mentally.
When Mal Peroza asked Robin and William personally if they wanted to go back to Saxe, they had both simultaneously blurted out a “no.” But just recently Robin had discovered she was pregnant. Now, they had another crossroad to consider. Many families brought their children up on board and all ships, aside from ships called Squirts, had ample ways to meet the needs of the children. The only requirement was that a period of ten years of the child’s life at some stage had to be lived on planet.
Feena would be now be twelve. Robin stroked the old teddy of her daughter’s. As far as Robin was concerned Feena may have been her maternal child. Robin had been a part of the project from the time Feena was developed to the time she was transferred to her womb. Both Robin and William fully understood the hopes the Genetic Council put on the success of the project and both of them had stipulated that in the event Serafina did not meet the criteria that she would never know her origins and would become the rightful daughter of R&W Rushton.
Robin wept, feeling the loss as clearly as that first day. She curled up around the teddy, rocking back and forth, hoping to ease the pain. She knew she had to pull herself together for her unborn baby. Continued grief would make her pregnancy difficult and she worried about the effects on the embryo. How Feena loved this teddy she had called Mr. Pollocks.
Robin felt hands touch her. In her grief, she did not hear William come in. He sat on the single bunk and rubbed her arm.
“We’ll give Mr. Pollocks to our baby, and when our baby is big enough we’ll share our love for Feena.”
Will was so reluctant to give the bear away, even to his next child, he chose not to share his reticence with his wife. He would allow his wife her time to grieve and find another solution. “Until we find her.”
She never even noticed his quiet enigmatic words.
William returned to the labs where they had been monitoring some unusual activity at the Oriri. The Elysians were seen to be entering and leaving there more frequently. It was a unanimous decision to go there and investigate.
There had been spasmodic reports of Elysian activity but no one could answer the question as to what was making the orcas unrestful. William wondered, as many did, if this was the sign that the Fourth Hostility was coming. They all felt nervous and sick.
Overhead William heard the clear announcement.
“All stop.”
Just five days ago, the announcement had been made that the deceleration sequence had been activated. The quick times still astounded everyone on board.
Back in the cabin, on the bed, a quieter Robin lay still.
“We are on the Verge.”
She lay there still trying to define any tiniest sensation that they were being coded into their home dimension. She sighed; she felt nothing.
“We have crossed the bridge. De-animate Attite Armor. Please refer to the flight plan on your computers for the next Verging and travel session.”
Robin relaxed. Another announcement came through clearly, unexpectedly.
“Could the Rushton’s please come to Boomerang.”
She jumped up and the teddy fell to the ground. Unable to stop herself, she grabbed it and put it back on the bunk before flying out of the cabin. Feena would have expected nothing less of her.
At that same moment William had jumped up from his desk and dashed outside the laboratory. When he arrived at Boomerang, a small, darkened room lit with all kind
s of communications equipment, Robin was already there with eyes still red and puffy. He put his arm around her.
“Data transmission packaged up by Donaven and left for the Rushtons.”
“Amir Donaven?”
“Not anymore. He resigned and has been working on other projects aboard the Pteraspis.”
The tech was reading a separate package. “This one goes to you and this one to the captain. Excuse me.” He strode out via the hatchway, closing it behind him.
Robin and William cringed, having forgotten to close the hatch. They inserted the Blazer into the nearest free terminal, not even bothering to go to the privacy of their cabin. There was the usual brisk greeting from Donaven, and then the message leapt into a methodical report of what he had found since the time of Serafina’s abduction. They watched as documents appeared on the screen, with Donaven using some highlighting feature to support his findings. The Elysians had reacted, not in one or two areas, but on every planet, at the same time. Readings revealed movements and energy emitted, from their form of communication, increased. There were other incidents that only someone with Donaven’s experience and expertise could find and detail accurately. He noted the synced spikes only occurred after Serafina’s birth. He had pieced together over seven years of information, some of which had simply been archived without going to the Coalition.
The report went on in Donaven style as he continued to mention other irrelevant problems he had discovered, but that was typical of him. He signed off, saying he was going to move to Leda and that he would continue to monitor and report any findings. But it was his warning to use and share the information cautiously that made them think. “Finding her must be your top priority; just be aware that it may also be others. I suggest you begin a comparison.”
