Joshua

by Frank Carey

  Letain gave Royce an eye roll.

  "Aye, My Prince. He's up to it."

  "Good. Nothing seals a deal better than a good meal."

  "Is that one of your smuggler's rules, Ambassador?" Alex asked.

  "It is now."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  After stopping off at Felicity's quarters for a quick change into field uniforms. She and her two charges made their way to field nine in a solar powered utility vehicle. "So what's he like?" Nayla asked.

  "Who, Josh? Great guy. So not the geek his books say he is." Felicity replied.

  "Books?" Gloria asked.

  "Yeah, books. Main memory banks are full of text books and references for us neo-geeks to use with our new training. Did you know he wrote a text on bioengineered enhancements for agriculture equipment? Fascinating stuff..." She saw Gloria gaping at her. "What, a girl's got to have a hobby!"

  "Have you talked to him about this?" Nayla asked.

  "Not yet, but I plan on it. I think his head is currently wrapped around getting to know his wife and getting those damn strawberries in the ground." Felicity stopped and wrinkled her nose before leaning over and sniffing Nayla.

  "Excuse me?" the young Sokuhl asked.

  "Do Sokuhl use perfume?"

  "No. We all have a natural scent which seems to clash with everything.”

  "And these scents are unique to the person?"

  "Yes, except for twins. Tayla and I both have a natural scent similar to Earth's honeysuckle. Why all the questions?"

  "Does the scent ever change?"

  "For males, no. For females, only if there are changes in hormone levels..."

  "Hormone levels... Shit!" Felicity exclaimed as she abruptly sat back in her seat, fixing her sight on a spot ahead of the vehicle. "Hormone levels. Damn..."

  Gloria and Nayla looked at each other, then back at Felicity. "Well? Are you going to let us in on what the hell is going on?" Gloria asked.

  "Did you know that my people have a phenomenal sense of smell? Some of the finest perfumers in the League are Katalans?"

  "No, can't say I do. What has this got to do with the Hardy sisters' scents?" Gloria asked.

  "Tayla used to smell like honeysuckle. Now, she has the distinct scent of cinnamon."

  "That's not possible," Nayla said.

  "Oh my," Gloria said. "When did things change?"

  "Shortly after she and Josh got back from saving the planet, about five days ago."

  "The only way my sister's scent would differ from mine would be if one of us were pregnant... Oh my." Nayla said as she looked at Gloria. "I'm going to be an aunt!"

  Gloria nodded and smiled. "I wonder if Tayla knows."

  "I haven't had a chance to talk to her," Felicity said. "Things have been a little busy around here."

  "I doubt she's even noticed," Tayla explained. "My species is noted for being able to go into battle in the morning, then give birth in the afternoon. We have one of the highest rates of successful pregnancies in the League."

  "Wow, the first birth on the planet in ten thousand years will be from the joining of a Sokuhl and a two-hundred-year-old Earth human," Felicity said as the vehicle approached field nine. "And I thought this trip would be boring."

  ###

  The three ladies climbed out of the vehicle and walked over to a large tree shading a table covered with food and drink for those working in the field. In the distance, they could see a group of workers. "There's Tayla," Nayla said.

  "I'll take you over, then I'll find Josh. The two of them are never far apart," Felicity said. "Coming, Doctor?"

  "I think I'll wait here. I'm not real good with plants or living things like insects."

  "Suit yourself. I'll bring Josh back as soon as I find him," she said before she and Nayla headed off into the field, leaving Gloria to her own devices.

  Gloria looked around and marveled at how primitive things were. People hand-planting, a nearby cart filled with some kind of fertilizer, and a stack of pipes destined to become an irrigation system. "How can people want to live like this?" she asked herself as she grabbed a bottle of iced tea from a cooler. She sat down at the table and sipped her drink while she waited.

  A truck drove up and parked next to the vehicle. A young human male exited it and ran to the back where he disappeared. Soon, he reappeared with a hand truck loaded with four more coolers, which he brought over to the table. Gloria saw they were filled with more cold drinks and foodstuffs. Getting up, she walked over and offered to help him.

  "Thanks," he said. Soon, the truck emptied as they filled the table with refreshments for the other workers. Finished, he stuck out his hand. "Josh Gray. I thought I knew all the colonists, but I don't recognize you."

  Gloria froze in place; staring at his hand in disbelief.

  "Hello? Earth to pretty elf woman. Do you copy? Over."

  Gloria shook off the shock and took his hand. "Gloria Aymar-Taggart. I'm part of the calvary from the League that arrived a few hours ago."

  It was Josh's turn to freeze, but only for a moment. "The Dr. Gloria Aymar-Taggart? The woman who helped resolve the Martok Incident? The Leagues leading expert in biocybernetics? My God, what an honor it is to meet you. I've read all your books..."

  "My turn," she said as she read off his credentials. They looked at each other and laughed. "So, you're a farmer now," she said.

  "Yeah. After duking it out with the BORIS units, I realized I didn't have the stomach to design more machines of death. Strawberries make people happy. Plus, a man's got to feed his family. It's a twenty-first century Earth-guy thing."

  "Family?"

  He held out his left hand. He was wearing a ring and a stylized bracelet. "I recognize the wedding ring. Is that a sohush?"

  "Yep, it's Tayla's. We got hitched just after she checked me into the infirmary. Vasily gave me the ring."

  "Vasily?"

  "Vasily Krumb. Storen pick-pocket."

  "So, you two are married? That's wonderful!"

  "Yep. We hope we can have kids. I like kids."

  Gloria smiled, but said nothing. "You know, my company's primary business is rescue equipment. For example, we have a BORIS-like suit called a Minotaur which was originally designed to free victims from rubble..."

  "Big suit with a bull's head and a weight lifter's body?"

  "You've seen one?"

  "Tayla used one to get me out of a jam. Why machine guns?"

  "We've found that victims sometimes need saved in war zones. Josh, you have a knack for building this stuff. Have you thought about possibly working for my company? I could really use you."

  "Well, we do have off-time... I just don't want to leave here."

  "You won't have to. Telecommuting is the in-thing now..." Her comm beeped. "Excuse me..." she said as she walked off.

  "Plant strawberries and build telepresence suits. I must have done something right in a previous life." He looked over and saw Tayla running over at an impressive speed. Arriving moments later, she started talking at an impossible rate, her words interspersed with gasps. He handed her a bottle of water while taking her hand in an attempt at calming her. "Hey, you need to slow down. I'm still trying to learn Sokuhl..."

  She handed him a medical scanner from one of the first aid kits while taking a long draw from the bottle. He got worried. "Are you hurt?" She pointed to the display. He looked down and saw a diagnosis of pregnancy. "Oh, you're pregnant... He dropped the device. "We're pregnant!"

  She nodded and kissed him. "Yes, you fool. We are very pregnant." She stopped and looked at him with concern. "You're OK with that, aren't you?"

  He picked her up and spun her around. "Am I OK? I am so beyond OK, I could scream. We have to tell everyone!"

  Gloria walked over and patted him on the shoulder. "Congratulations! You and the rest of your crew need to get back to town and change into your party clothes. The whole town has been invited to a celebration shindig."

  "Hey, Gloria," Tayla said. "A celeb
ration for what?"

  "It seems that Lucien and Alex have brokered a treaty between the League, Zexx, Jarria, the Nordicans, and Alyson. The universe just got a whole lot bigger.”

  ###

  Josh walked Tayla out into the town's central square where the party was in full swing. People from the three cruisers and the station mixed it up with town's folk, Zexx, Jarrions, and Nordicans as appetizers from around the League were served in an endless flow from the kitchens of the residence, the Valera, and every house in town. Added to that were gallons of drinks ranging from water to Unicorn Farts served in lead-cored goblets. "Wow. This reminds me of one the university’s fundraiser functions I had to attend back in the day."

  She held tightly onto his arm. "None of this bothers you?"

  "Naw. Remember, we know most of these people. See over there? The tall Katalan in the bitchin dress? That's Quint."

  Tayla's jaw dropped. "Damn, she cleans up real good."

  "And over there, the guy in the bowler hat talking to one of the Nordicans? That's Vasily Crumb. Now, back in my time, seeing a tall, bipedal otter in a bowler hat would be a sign that one had one too many drinks."

  She stifled a chuckle, then stopped. "Look, I think he's trying to lift that guy's wallet."

  "Wait for it," Josh said as Vasily tried to pocket his treasure. Suddenly, the Nordican grabbed Vasily's wrist in one hand while waggling the index finger of his other hand at the Storen. Vasily shrugged as he gave the wallet back. "There was a tech at A51 who tried doing that for a year. She was good, but every mark she tried seemed to have eyes in their arms. One should never try to pick a fellow pick pocket."

  "You're loving this, aren't you?"

  "What's there not to love? I always wondered what it would be like to fly into space. Now, I live there, work there, and am madly in love with a woman from there."

  She kissed him.

  "Oh, by the way. Gloria offered me a job with Elven Industries. She said I could work from here. I assume I would need to build a lab. I don't think it would interfere with the farm or the family. What do you think?"

  "Have you always been an overachiever?

  "No, but I learned fast."

  "Of course it’s all right with me. I think it's great. Maybe some of the others can help you."

  "I hope so. I'll talk to Alex in the morning and get his thoughts, but first I have to tell Gloria my decision."

  "Tell me what?" Gloria asked as she walked over with a tall, dark-haired elf in tow.

  "That I accept your offer. I'd love to work for you at Elven Industries."

  "Work for me? No, we'll be working together!"

  "Careful, Doctor," the tall elf said, "She'll work you to the bone, then use the bones as structural supports."

  Gloria cuffed him. "Ignore him. Dr. Joshua Gray, let me introduce Prince Lucien Irithyl, Ventos Prime's Ambassador at Large. Lucien, I would like you to meet Dr. Joshua Gray, retired Head of Bioengineering at Area 51."

  The two shook hands. "Sir, do you prefer My Prince, Your Majesty, or Ambassador?" Josh asked.

  "Lucien; just Lucien."

  "Then call me Josh, Lucien. I assume you know my wife, Tayla?"

  "For many years now," he said as he kissed the back of her hand. "I hear congratulations are in order."

  Tayla curtsied. "Yes, My Prince, I am with child!"

  He hugged her. "New planet and a new life. All is well with the universe."

  "Lucien," Josh said, "about the Adrestia elves..."

  "Worried about your friends, Josh?"

  "Yes, sir, very."

  "Then stop; they're fine. I've pardoned all of them. Even offered to put them in witness protection. They all refused. Something about planting crops."

  "My Prince, why?" Tayla asked

  Lucien nodded at Josh. "Humans with sociopathic tendencies are tough nuts to crack. Elves, on the other hand, are easy. You just need to find the right buttons to push. For me, it was the thought of Gloria and five thousand of her friends dying in excruciating pain. For the Adrestia elves, it was you, Josh. You returned from the dead and immediately showed them a great kindness. That goes far in our world."

  "Lucien, what the hell are you talking about?" Gloria asked.

  "Remember when we met in the hospital at the Cube?"

  "Yeah, you were different."

  "Several months prior to that, I was hauling a Goranthi decimator destined for use on the Cube. Only problem was the client forgot to tell me what I was hauling. I remembered you worked there and the shock initiated my...cure. Like I said, for elves, it's all about the buttons."

  "Who knows about this?"

  "It doesn't matter. What matters is that the Adrestia elves have been given a second chance, and they have accepted. They have found redemption."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  After the planting was finished...

  Sporting a brand spanking new human-form body courtesy of Elven Industries, Ltd., Kylie Gray activated the final system, bringing her son's lab fully on-lime. Around her, hundreds of status lights and gauges announced the labs readiness to begin work. "Now, that's what I'm talking about," she said quietly.

  "Nice," Jenna said as she entered the room. Like Kylie, Jenna was sporting a new suit. Unlike Kylie, hers was far from human-form. She opted for something hexapodal.

  "Four arms? Really?" Kylie said.

  "Yeah. Gloria built a few of these based on a Martok remote-unit design. I am one of the few non-Martok able to drive it."

  "Are we ever going to tell them what we really are?"

  "Eventually. I know Josh cares less what you are, but the others? We'll just need to wait and see. So, need some help?"

  "Always. Gloria's mind works on levels I have never seen before," Kylie observed. "Thank the creator that Josh seems to be able to keep up with her."

  There was a knock at the door.

  "Come in," Kylie said.

  The door opened and a dozen people walked in, including Trent and Falan. "Your ragtag group reporting for duty, ma'am," Vasily said as he emerged from the group.

  A door at the back of the lab opened followed by one of Jenna's smaller mobiles walking in carrying a stack of notebooks. "Hello," she said as she handed out the folders. "My name is Senta. I look forward to working with all of you."

  "Senta?" Trent asked. "Wasn't she..."

  "Yeah, she was," Jenna said. "Kylie worked her magic, convincing our princess to give up her evil ways and join our cause, right Kylie?"

  "Yeah, that works. Anyway, let Senta know if you need anything, right girlfriend?"

  Senta gave a thumbs up. "Right on, girlfriend."

  "How the hell did you pull it off?" Vasily whispered to Jenna.

  "We used an emergency AI rescue system unit stored in the shuttle. We transferred her consciousness just before Kylie blew the BORIS unit to hell. Kylie thinks that, given time, she can bring Senta back to sanity."

  "What do the Jarrions think about this?" Falan asked.

  "Who?" Kylie replied.

  "Anyway, we have a lot to do. As you all know, the Nordicans have decided to make Alyson their home, but they still want to mine nisium," Jenna explained. She shook her head at Trent's embarrassed look. "Unfortunately, there are some nasty waste products associated with it. The League is also interested in getting their hands on it. Luckily, there are vast deposits of it in the asteroid belt. We have been tasked to develop a new remote telepresence suit based on the ones used for volcano mining on Tralaska. We need to adapt the Tralaskan models for vacuum and zero-G use."

  "Why go to the trouble?" Vasily asked as he eyed Falan. "Sapients have been mining asteroids for years in spacesuits. Hell, my grandpappy even did it." He reached over and ran a light touch over her arm while raising an eyebrow.

  She cuffed him. "Because nisium is highly volatile, especially in a vacuum. It is best that distance be put between the miner and the substance being mined."

  "I love it when you talk all safety like," Vasily said with a se
cond raised eyebrow. Trent suppressed a chuckle.

  "Knock it off, furball," Jenna said. "She's right. This stays a remote operation until we work out the particulars. If things work as planned, we'll set up an automated station. until then, we use remote suits. Any other questions?"

  "Where's Josh?" Trent asked.

  "He'll be here shortly. Now, let's get to work."

  Joshua cleaned up the breakfast dishes as Tayla sat outside sipping coffee. It was a beautiful spring day and she was enjoying the sunshine. Finished, he came outside and sat down next to her. "Well, I'm off to work. Can I get you anything before I go?"

  "Nope, I'm fine. Do all humans dote on their pregnant mates like this?"

  "Not nearly enough, I'm afraid. What do you have planned for the day?"

  "Check the fields then meet with the mining crew to discuss our next moves."

  "Ah, the life of a mining engineer. Maybe we can do lunch?"

  "I'll see what I can arrange." She got up and kissed him goodbye. "Be safe, My Love."

  "You too," he replied as he headed out.

  She looked down at her still-bumpless belly. "Come on, kiddo, we have a world to tame and an empire to build."

  Her offspring had nothing to add.

  <<<<>>>>

  About Frank Carey

  Frank Carey has been formally writing and publishing works of science fiction since late 2013. Over the years prior, he had dabbled in various forms of writing including haiku poetry, but that all changed when he and his wife, Jo, decided to try their hand at writing and self-publishing. All his work, to date, has been in the science fiction genre.

  Most of his stories take place about two centuries in the future when Earth joins the League of Planetary Systems. Many of his protagonists are strong females. He is an inveterate pantser who believes the story will go where the story wants to go.

  Frank’s background includes degrees in physics and extensive work as a scientific programmer and technologist.

  Frank and his wife produce a podcast—Xtreme Self-Publishing—which details their self-publishing efforts.