Children of the Old Stars

by David Lee Summers

  * * * *

  On Titan, Manuel Raton and Suki Ellis were surprised that they were placed into the same cell. A force field at the front of the cell held back Titan's cold, toxic atmosphere. In the cell was an Earth-like atmosphere. Their environment suits had been taken from them. “Too bad the only one who knows where we are is Old Man Coffin. I'm guessing he won't be mounting a jailbreak anytime soon,” quipped Raton.

  Fire sighed and shook her head at the comment.

  Teklar, matriarch of the Titans, ambled up to the cell. She showed teeth capable of ripping huge chunks of ice and introduced herself. A second Titan appeared behind, but kept its distance. “I'm sorry to have kept you waiting all day,” said Teklar.

  Manuel's mouth fell open at the unexpected greeting. Fire pushed him aside. “I'm pleased to make your acquaintance,” said Fire. “I'm sorry that we created a situation that has inconvenienced you."

  "No time remains for pleasantries,” stated Teklar bluntly. “You know our secrets with regard to the Cluster."

  Fire's brow creased. “They are secrets you could not have kept hidden. Why didn't you reveal what you knew about the Cluster?"

  "We were afraid,” explained Teklar with a great heave of silver-gray shoulders. “We were slaves. We were afraid that the Cluster would just take us back into their fold and the galaxy would fall."

  "The races of the galaxy could come together to help you,” offered Fire.

  Teklar fell back onto her haunches. “The other races in the galaxy might be candidate appendages; candidate slaves. The Cluster cannot be destroyed. An en masse action would simply attract attention. The Cluster might stay forever. Surgery was required.” Teklar paused, apparently reluctant to tell more.

  "Surgery?” pressed Fire. “What kind of surgery have you been doing?"

  "Your son, John Mark Ellis, has a certain passion for your species and a certain ability to relate to all species,” began Teklar. It was time for Fire's mouth to hang open. “There was evidence that he had communicated with the Cluster and it did not take him as an appendage. We hoped he would be able to communicate with the Cluster, convey the sacredness of life and the Cluster would leave us alone."

  "Does he know?” Fire's voice was a harsh whisper.

  "No,” said Teklar. “Though he might suspect. We've been monitoring his progress."

  Manuel Raton stepped forward. “It's wrong to lie to the other beings in the galaxy. You can't let them die while you cowardly skulk away and hide from the Cluster."

  "What would you have us do,” growled Teklar.

  "Tell the truth,” growled Manuel in response.

  "We would all be doomed.” Teklar turned her head.

  "Arrogant and selfish is what you are,” said Manuel.

  Fire waved him down. “Scared is what she is,” she said quietly. Fire folded her arms. “What do you do if John Mark fails? What if the Cluster decides that they do want him as an appendage? How do you rescue my son who you've been using as a pawn?"

  "G'Liat is with him. He is the most powerful Rd'dyggian warrior. He will keep Ellis safe.” Teklar turned to face Fire again.

  "But what if he fails!” called Fire. “You said the Cluster cannot be destroyed. Will my son be lost forever?” Fire's voice rose to a shout.

  Manuel stepped behind her and gripped her shoulders, rubbing tension away. “She is right, you need a new plan. You, at least, need a backup plan.” Manuel looked into Teklar's vast black eyes. “Even if everything fails, you need to let the rest of the galaxy know what may happen so they can prepare.” Manuel's voice dropped almost to a whisper. “To do otherwise would be wrong."

  Teklar was silent for a long time. “We would have to present this information slowly, carefully to avoid panic."

  "However you decide. Do it,” urged Fire.

  "I will consider it.” With that Teklar and her assistant turned and lumbered from the holding area.

  * * * *

  John Mark Ellis returned to his quarters aboard the Sanson for the evening to find a flower sitting on his table. Cautiously, as though it might attack him, the captain approached the flower and saw that it included a note. Gingerly, he unfolded and read the note. It requested that he come down to the ship's garden. Rather than maintain air tanks, as many Navy ships did, Sanson maintained a garden to produce fresh air. The garden also produced a fresh supply of vegetables for the ship's kitchen. At first, Ellis thought about ignoring the note and going to bed. However, his curiosity got the better of him.

  Stepping out of his cabin, Ellis saw G'Liat coming down the corridor. “How are things?” asked Ellis.

  "You look much better,” said G'Liat, congenially.

  Ellis nodded. Something seemed wrong about the warrior. “You seem worried, though."

  "I'm beginning to wonder if it was wise to invite McClintlock along with us.” G'Liat looked around. “Were you headed out?"

  "I was,” said Ellis. “But I've got a minute, if you want to talk.” The two stepped back into Ellis’ cabin. “Haven't you been able to learn anything from McClintlock's encounter with the Cluster?"

  "Not much,” admitted the warrior. “The problem is that he's overlaid so much of his religious fervor over his own mental images that I can't really see what happened. Today, he seems more agitated than ever."

  "He seemed fine, this morning.” Ellis shrugged.

  "I'll let you get on your way,” said G'Liat, almost absentmindedly, after a moment's pause. “I think I'm getting old. I've almost forgotten how dangerous fanatics can be."

  "I'll watch my back,” said Ellis with a grin.

  "That is probably good advice.” With feline grace, the warrior stood and left the room silently.

  Ellis sat for a moment and thought about the morning. He wondered if anything he had said would have set the evangelist on edge. The captain suddenly remembered that he had told McClintlock about the thirty million-year globular cluster orbits. Turning his attention to the flower on the table, Ellis shook his head. Clyde McClintlock might be a loon, thought the captain, but he can't be so far gone as to let a thing like that worry him. He carefully retrieved the note and flower. Eyebrows furrowed, the captain examined the note. The writing seemed feminine. Momentarily, he wondered if it could be McClintlock's despite the appearance. Doubting a trap, he put the flower in his lapel button and stepped back out into the corridor.

  As Ellis rode down the elevator, he wondered who might have left the flower for him. He thought of Natalie Papadraxis who had looked disappointed that he had shaved off his beard. However, she did not seem like the type who would ask for some kind of clandestine meeting below decks. The same was true of Laura Peters. The captain wondered if he would ever understand women. His heart skipped a beat as the elevator stopped.

  Stepping off the elevator, Ellis saw that the lights in the garden were dim. It was twilight cycle and soon would be night. Instantly on alert, the captain's eyes darted around the room. At first, the captain did not see anyone. Within a few minutes, his eyes adjusted to the semi-darkness. Looking toward a patch of ferns, he saw a short, broadly built person standing alone, wearing a flower much like the type he had. “Ms. Smart!” exclaimed the captain.

  He stepped onto the soft bed of grass and walked through a row of beans over to where she stood. She looked at him with a nervous smile. “Are you terribly surprised?” Her voice was hushed and a little cautious.

  "Am I surprised that you're in love with me?” asked Ellis, wide-eyed.

  "I'm not in love with you,” she laughed lightly. Ellis’ shoulders dropped. He felt ridiculous at having made the assumption. “At least, I don't know whether or not I'm in love with you.” She stepped closer to him and put strong hands on his elbows. “All I know is that I want you, at least once. You're an attractive man. Much more so, now that I see the real you."

  The captain sighed. “It's the old story, I've shaved my beard and you can see what I was hiding, right?"

  "Hardly,” said Smart, shaking her
head. “The beard was part of the real you.” She took a step closer. Reflexively Ellis stepped back. “When you came aboard you were playing captain. Now that you've lowered your defenses, I see the man who gave up a career for a principal. That's attractive."

  The captain swallowed hard. “So, now you want to have an affair? Would that be proper?"

  "Propriety be damned,” she said and moved her hands to take his. “Your palms are sweating,” she observed. “Is the Navy man afraid of the corporate officer?"

  "The Navy man's only been propositioned once before,” he said. “That ended with him lying flat on his ass in the street."

  Taking Ellis by the hand, Smart led him to a makeshift bench that had been set up. Ellis looked nervously at the elevator. “Don't worry,” she said. “I changed the access codes so that only you and I can be here tonight.” The two sat down and Smart put her hand on the captain's leg. She felt him tense. She moved her hands to his shoulders and began rubbing out tension. “The fact of the matter is, as far as I'm concerned we live in a sick society. People are afraid of intimacy in any form. I'm sure you've seen it."

  "Why shouldn't people be afraid of intimacy?” asked Ellis defensively. “After all, Earth is overcrowded. Babies mean that many more mouths to feed. I won't even get into all the acquired immune disorders."

  "There are risks,” said Smart, gently. “However, I want you to relax and enjoy this night. You are the first man I've known strong enough to stand up to me in a long time. I'm only a little disappointed to know that you bent to my request to shave.” She felt his shoulders relax some.

  Ellis took several deep breaths. Though he did not find Kirsten Smart especially attractive, he began to sense that she was a kindred spirit; a person he could trust. Much as he had found Adkins on the Firebrandt attractive, he never could bring himself to approach her any way other than professionally. Smart offered him release that only an exotic dancer on Earth had offered before. In a way, the very offer made Smart seem much more desirable.

  The captain found himself kissing Smart's full lips and looking into deep brown eyes. He did not resist as she unbuttoned his trousers and pulled them down to his ankles. Ellis finished removing his trousers. Then he reached over and helped the corporate officer remove her blouse. Ellis turned his attention to Smart's trousers.

  Kirsten Smart lay back in the soft grass. Ellis knelt beside her and nervously took her right nipple in his mouth. He suckled her for a few minutes, then reached down to lightly touch the hair between her legs. Retracting his hand a little too quickly, he took a deep breath and gently explored her entire body with both of his hands. In response, she moved her hands along his body.

  A low moan escaped Smart's lips as she steered Ellis’ hips around. Gently, she guided him inside her and he lay for a moment, savoring the feeling. The two began a coordinated symphony of motion that Ellis did not think was possible. Soon, Smart shuddered, biting her lower lip. After a moment, she sighed lightly, her body exhausted. “I haven't felt this good in a long time,” she whispered.

  The two lay quietly on the grass. Ellis, for the first time since Sufiro, slept without dreaming of the Cluster.

  * * * *

  Unable to rest, G'Liat walked the corridors of the ship. He allowed his natural loping gait to take over from time to time. It felt good to let muscles relax. At intervals, he let his massive hands strike out at the air. The warrior took a deep breath when he found himself in front of one of the ship's cartography labs. Straightening and resuming his leonine presence, he stepped into the room.

  It barely fazed him to find himself standing in apparently empty vacuum—the stars of the entire galaxy surrounding him like a vast whirlpool. Across the room, Quincy Marcovitz looked up from notes he was writing.

  "Working late?” asked G'Liat in deliberately conversational tones.

  "Sleepless night,” said Quincy. “You should have sounded the door buzzer. I would have restored the view so you could see the floor."

  "No problem,” said G'Liat. “I'm used to the chart tanks.” With that, the warrior crossed the room to Quincy.

  "I was bugged by something I saw earlier today.” Quincy hit a button on his remote pad. Numerous blue spheres dotted themselves around the galaxy. “These are the charted positions of the strong deep space node we're scheduled to intersect tomorrow.” Pressing another button showed a number of yellow spheres. “These are the positions of Cluster appearances. Note how closely correlated they are."

  G'Liat imitated a nod. “Closer than I would expect from coincidence. I'm afraid your result doesn't surprise me."

  "What's it mean?” asked Quincy.

  "It means the search is nearly over."

  * * * *

  Ellis awoke about six in the morning, ship's time. Kirsten Smart was snoring on the ground next to him. He stretched and looked at her lovingly. He could not help but wonder about her emotions. She said she did not, in fact, love him. However, she gave herself to him as no woman had before.

  Sitting in the grass, the captain contemplated her words. She said that people were afraid of intimacy. He knew he had been so afraid of getting close to others that he never asked a woman to go to dinner with him. Most people around the Earth avoided real sex. The risk of infection and the fear of real closeness on an over-crowded Earth were simply too great. Men simply went to clinics and deposited sperm while women who wanted babies went to have it implanted. So, the population continued to increase.

  Ellis, with his roots in the sands of Nantucket and the pioneer world of Sufiro, was glad to have shared a special moment with a real human being. Whether love existed or not, Ellis knew that their relationship would never again be purely professional.

  Smart opened one eyelid and noticed Ellis was awake. She sat up and put her hand on the captain's shoulder. “Awake already?"

  "We have to get to work soon,” muttered Ellis. “The cooks will want to get down here in a couple of hours to get their veggies for the day.” He reached over and kissed her. She returned the kiss with relish. “Perhaps we can get together again soon,” he said.

  She winked. “That's an interesting way to put it. Don't you think the crew will get suspicious if the captain and the boss are sleeping together routinely?"

  "Do you care?” asked Ellis.

  "Images don't impress me.” She shook her head. “Your cabin or mine?” The two embraced again, then, business-like, they put on their clothes and went their separate ways.

  * * * *

  Mark Ellis hummed all through his shower. The captain stepped out and dressed in a well-pressed white shirt and brown woolen trousers. When the knock came at the door, he expected McClintlock with breakfast. He was surprised when G'Liat stepped in, instead.

  "You're up early,” commented Ellis. In point of fact, Ellis had no idea what time the warrior normally arose. “Where's Clyde?"

  "I don't know,” said the Rd'dyggian, his accent thick. “He was not in his quarters last night.” He turned to face the captain. “Neither were you."

  "Must I be where you can find me at all times?” Ellis looked smug as he punched the command for coffee into his wall panel.

  "We are approaching the time of the trial,” said G'Liat sternly. “Our next jump is going to carry this ship near the strongest of the deep space nodes."

  Ellis moved to the table with his coffee and sat down. “You suspect that node is the one that leads to the Cluster's home?"

  "Most likely,” said G'Liat. “I'm not sure we're ready. I let you waste a lot of time on that sensory equipment."

  "You could have told me it was a waste of time,” chided Ellis. He sipped his coffee.

  "Maybe it wasn't a waste. It did put Smart on the trail of the nodes.” Before Ellis could react, G'Liat asked, “Why do you associate the color green with the Cluster?"

  Ellis, taken aback, sat his mug on the table. “The eyes of the woman in the Cluster vision. They were green."

  "What else have you sensed in the beyond?�
� G'Liat folded his hands. “I believe you mentioned teddy bears at one point."

  Ellis’ brow creased. “I did."

  "Stuffed toys that happen to look a lot like the Titans,” commented the warrior. “What about your research?"

  "I think you knew what I'd find,” said Ellis dryly.

  "Indeed,” said G'Liat, sitting back. “Do you sense the convergence of ideas?"

  "I do.” Ellis nodded. “But what do I do with those ideas? You haven't given Clyde or me much training."

  "You probably need training least of all. This morning, I see a man ready to face destiny.” G'Liat stood and began to pace. Ellis had known enough Rd'dyggians to know that showing nervousness was an extremely dangerous sign. “It's Clyde I've wanted to learn from and prepare. I am afraid of what will happen when he confronts the reality of the Cluster."

  "I don't like the sound of that.” Ellis took another sip of coffee. “You are afraid?"

  "I want to see what's in his mind before we see the Cluster. I need your help, he's been reluctant to let me try."

  A knock sounded at the door. It was Clyde McClintlock with a plate of steaming pancakes for Ellis. “Ah, G'Liat, if I'd known you were going to be here, I would have brought something for you.” He turned his attention to Ellis. “Captain, my assistant Morganna tells me someone was rolling around down in the vegetable garden last night."

  Ellis felt his cheeks warm. “Well, I'm sure no permanent damage was done,” he muttered into his coffee. After a moment, he looked up. “Clyde, G'Liat needs your help."

  "He wants to look into my mind,” said McClintlock bitterly. He dropped the tray of pancakes to the table. “The vision is mine and mine alone. You should never have let him desecrate your mind, either."

  "It's the only way he can help us understand,” pleaded Ellis.

  "You keep speaking of understanding, Mark.” McClintlock shook his head. “All we need to understand is in the book of Ezekiel. Yesterday you spoke of the Cluster returning. I agree with that. What I disagree with is the timing. I believe it was here six thousand years ago, not thirty million years. Hell, that was before man even walked the Earth."