Unwrapping Miss Milky Way

by Candace Sams

  He momentarily averted his gaze from the shrewd, older woman’s direct stare. “Instinct told me Charlie wasn’t a security risk. She’s too easy to read. And she has too much experience to have work-related issues.”

  “Is that what we’re to call her…Charlie?” Electra pointedly asked, as she studied Datron.

  “Since that’s how she introduced herself, I don’t see why not.” He took Electra by the elbow and led her farther away from the others. “To get to the point…your story is that you, as a visiting dignitary, are being asked to take a test-flight on the Hyperion. You’re giving your opinion concerning its usefulness as an ambassadorial shuttle. I’m telling Charlie this particular vessel will be of particular value in impressing Earth’s touring dignitaries. Other planets maintain these vintage craft for the same purpose. They’re viewed as flying museums where receptions and parties are held.”

  “And your crew aboard the Valiant…what will they think of your absence?”

  “As of late last night, the king let it be known that Gilla, Clitus, and I have been ordered to work on a special civilian project. My crew was led to believe we were still involved with pageant matters.” He nodded toward Charlie. “As far as she’s concerned, my story will seem plausible. At least I think it does.” He gazed down at Electra hopefully. “What do you think?”

  “Well…the king left you in charge concerning certain specifics. Getting the ship ready for touring ambassadors and dignitaries, with me being used as a sort of advance critic, will certainly hold water. In fact I have to hand it to you, Datron. I don’t think anyone will suspect we’re taking off for one of Lucent’s moons. Our flight path will suggest we’re headed into deep space to test our systems. But there’s just one thing you haven’t covered.”

  “And that is?”

  “As the mechanic, Charlie would naturally want to come on the test flight as well. She’d have more right to be on the ship than I do.”

  He sighed heavily. “I know. I’ll just have to make up some other lie that disallows her presence. I just haven’t thought of one yet.”

  “You might want to hurry since the king wants us en route sooner.”

  “Excuse me?” Datron blurted.

  “You mean you don’t know?”

  “Know what, Electra?”

  “Good God! Kryllian contacted me personally this morning. We’re to take off in what amounts to twenty-two hours, Earth time.”

  “And he didn’t consider this news worth mentioning to the mission captain?” Datron asked as he put his hands on his hips.

  “I’m not sure what’s going on, my dear. It might be he found it easier to contact me at my hotel room, where I was obviously alone, than to transmit a message to you, in your quarters on the Valiant. Or through the airfield communication system where it might be overheard.”

  He sighed and shook his head in wonder. “There are other ways he could have notified me. He didn’t have any trouble sending a special messenger to the ship when doing so would surely cause comment.”

  “I don’t pretend to know what’s on his mind.” She patted her hair and shook her head. “He’s not a covert operative. He’s a politician. His clandestine operation experience extends to what happened on Earth two years ago and what’s happening now. The man relies on his own instincts when he can’t, for obvious reasons, consult his advisors. He’s making himself solely responsible if the mission goes wrong. So cut him some slack. He is your ruler after all.” She pulled at the sleeves of her jumpsuit. “You’re certainly at liberty to contact him and find out what happened. You needn’t take my word for anything.”

  “I believe you, Electra.” He briefly tilted his head back and silently prayed for this mission to be over. “I get that the king doesn’t want his personal staff to know the details. But this is threatening the security of the mission. Taking off, so fast, in an old ship that’s supposed to be used for entertainment only, hardly dispels curiosity. I have to file another flight plan.”

  “Datron, Lucent’s ambassador may have sent a message wanting the schedule moved up,” Electra offered as she lifted her hands in a supplicating gesture. “If that’s the case, the king had no choice. And contacting me seems practical. I’m a celebrity. No one would question the monarch contacting a pageant judge right after its conclusion.”

  “I suppose sending another messenger to me aboard the Valiant might have been far too conspicuous. Especially since it’s so rarely done,” Datron reluctantly admitted.

  “The king knows I’d be one of the first people to see you this morning. I’d naturally relay the information as soon as I possibly could. It wouldn’t have been safe or prudent for me to attempt to contact you last night as my celebrity status would have also fueled airfield gossip.”

  “Creator’s blood! I don’t like this. I don’t like it at all,” he muttered, then let out a string of Valkyrian-phrased curses that, had they been uttered in Earth English, would have shocked even the experienced undercover Earth Protectorate operative at his side. Thankfully, Electra didn’t speak fluent Valkyrian. At least she’d never admitted she did.

  He passed a weary hand over his face, shook his head, and gazed at his mechanic again. “I’ll have to tell Charlie. But the woman is amazingly perceptive. She won’t see why the simple test flight of an ambassadorial shuttle would be so urgent.”

  Electra patted him on the shoulder. “That’s why you’re a captain. The king trusts you to cover these details while he hides what we’re doing from the rest of the enforcement corps and members of his own governing body.”

  Datron gazed at the pavement beneath his booted feet and briefly closed his eyes in frustration. For the hundredth time, he wished he’d never heard of the Lucent Stones or their mind controlling properties.

  “Oh…just for the sake of reiterating how you ignored procedure…thank you for spontaneously hiring that girl. Charlie, as you call her, did pass all her background checks. I can officially go on the record now as having told you so.”

  “I know…I know,” he apologized. “I should’ve contacted the rest of you and discussed it. But you should hear her when she talks about engines, Electra. The woman really knows her stuff! And I’d stake my reputation on her discretion. It’s not as though she knows anyone on the airfield to gossip with.” He briefly paused. “Besides, what would she talk about? For her, this is just a lucrative contract to top off her Miss Milky Way gig. It’s as though she fell into our laps at exactly the right time.”

  “It’s just as well you took the initiative,” Electra smilingly placated. “As it happens, your actions saved us a lot of time.” She picked up her gear. “As to the rest…you’d better be right about what this girl knows. She’ll have to be exceedingly good to get the ship’s engine space-worthy, depending on its original condition. The outside looks fantastic but mothballing these relics can do them a lot of harm.”

  “I know the specs on other such vessels. This one was the best available. Especially since we can’t use any ship outside the security of this base. We don’t want any hearsay from any outside source.” He crossed his arms over his chest and tried to stem the sudden surge of pounding behind his left eye. “Charlie will just have to do her best.”

  He squared his shoulders and noted his little mechanic-engineer was staring sharply at the newcomer—the only other female in their midst. There wasn’t any time to lose.

  Before her sharp brain could put odd facts together, he had to relay his lies and hope they held up to scrutiny.

  He strode toward her before the quizzical look on Charlie’s pretty face resulted in questions he couldn’t answer. Though she had a right to ask them, those queries could compromise their mission.

  When he stood before her, he did the best he could at affecting an unconcerned countenance and tone.

  “I guess you know Electra?” he casually asked.

  “Who doesn’t? We’ve spoken briefly in a beauty pageant environment, but what in hell is she doing in an Oceanus P
rotectorate hangar, wearing a flight suit? I know enough to recognize this is in an extremely secure part of the airfield. Even she doesn’t rank admittance here. Not unless there are extenuating circumstances.”

  And there it was.

  Charlie’s brain didn’t miss a thing. And where another mechanic might have let the issue drop in lieu of the enormous amount of pay, she didn’t operate like that. She did what she did for the love of her work. He’d seen the glow of interest in her eyes when she’d spoken about the engine problems aboard the Valiant. Money wasn’t what motivated her, and she was too honest to do anything she believed unscrupulous.

  He hated lying to her. She’d see through the ruse, and he’d have to act as though everything was all right. It left a bad taste in his mouth, and she’d be angry with him. But it had to be done.

  “Look, the powers that be want to turn this vessel out for dignitaries and their entourage. Oceanus’ High Council will be using the Hyperion for certain trade negotiations, especially with on-going talks involving Earth ministers. To make sure the craft will be appropriate, Electra was asked to go on the test flight and vet the amenities,” he quickly explained. “She’s the only Earth dignitary Oceanus could get a hold of on such short notice, and she’s known for her blunt opinions and her extravagant tastes.”

  Charlie’s left brow rose in suspicion. “And I suppose she was subjected to a background check also?”

  “Yes,” he further lied. “Regardless of her wealth and political influence as the owner of the Mr. Interstellar Feller franchise, we follow strict rules where security is concerned. You were both screened and found acceptable or you wouldn’t be here. Your job, however, involves this vessel’s safe operation, not matters of security. Leave that to me.” He used a soft but no-nonsense tone, meaning to silence her without sounding harsh.

  She simply stood there staring up at him with a look of utter disbelief on her pretty face.

  He took a deep breath and fed her the rest. “There’s something else, Charlie.”

  “I figured there would be.”

  He cleared his throat and continued as quickly as he could and still sound dignified. “Electra has just informed me that officials want the vessel ready in twenty-two Earth hours, not three days.”

  “Ohhhh…really?” she drawled as she put her hands on her waist. “My contract gave me three days.”

  “I apologize,” he honestly offered. “I’ll work round the clock with you if necessary. I might even be able to negotiate a much higher—”

  “This isn’t about the money! I’ll get the job done no matter what stipulations you put on the deal. I signed the contract, and I’ll hold up my end. I’m just wondering why your superiors didn’t inform the captain of the schedule change.”

  He kept silent, hoping her anger and her keen suspicion would fade in light of the new schedule.

  “So why in hell does a beauty pageant promoter get more deference than the ship’s captain?”

  “Electra has friends in high places. On Oceanus she’s idolized. If she says my superiors informed her of a time change, I believe her.” He shrugged. “Perhaps those enforcers we’re to relieve in deep space have had a turn of good luck and are on their way home. It’s only a test flight, and I’m just a captain. I do what I’m told.”

  “Right. And the moon is made of cheese.”

  “There’s no place here for sarcasm, Charlie. I thought you more professional than that.”

  She moved much closer to him and spoke softly. “People lying to me has that effect. I guess professionalism is a matter of perspective.”

  “I’m sorry you feel that way. The situation cannot be changed.”

  She sighed and shook her head. “Can I use Clitus and Gilla at my discretion?”

  “Of course. They’ll happily help in any way they can.”

  She rolled up her sleeves and finally quit glaring at him.

  He shouldn’t have reprimanded her about her professionalism. She knew something was wrong and had every right to question the strange changes in what should have been a very normal test schedule.

  “Well I guess those contact codes to your private quarters are useless. You’ll be taking off before tomorrow morning.”

  He lifted one brow. “You’re sure? You haven’t even inspected the vessel’s systems?”

  “Just stay out of my way. All right?”

  Datron watched her walk to her tool chest. Instinct told him she wasn’t as angry about the schedule change as she was about the excuses he’d made. Apparently, his ability to lie convincingly needed work.

  He’d have to repair the damage done to their burgeoning relationship. Perhaps this was one of those arguments where making up afterward would prove delightful. But somehow, he just didn’t see any scenario where Charlie would let this go.

  She was as tenacious and as in touch with her instincts as she was beautiful. And because she wasn’t gullible, he desired her even more.

  He was used to women who complied with his wishes. Despite her diminutive size, Charlie stood up and talked back when she thought there was good reason. She’d never be anyone’s dupe.

  As he stood there contemplating the perplexing makeup of his mechanic, Charlie tugged on a tool belt loaded with micro infusion gauges, turbo insulation wrenches, and phase inhibitor forceps trimmed with mass spectrum digital couplers. The more professional she acted, the more he felt the need to pick her up and hug her. The fricking belt she wore probably weighed almost as much as she did.

  It took massive control to haul his focus back on the job at hand. Recovering and destroying those Lucent Stones was dangerous business, even if Lucent’s constabulary had the thieving Ussarian raiders cornered. When one dealt with a conniving race, anything could be expected, nothing assumed.

  When he put all the mission information together, he still concluded something wasn’t right. Although, he greatly respected the king as both a highly equitable ruler and a friend, royal personages could be fooled just as easily as anyone else. Especially when they had no one to advise them on a matter that had to remain secret.

  No matter how stringently he took all the case elements into consideration, Datron knew he’d regret it if he didn’t listen to his gut. But as a starship captain his orders were clear. Despite misgivings he couldn’t articulate, he would put the mission first.

  Charlie would be there when the Hyperion returned. They could settle matters between them then. He’d do well to keep his mind on his job.

  The change in schedule meant someone on Lucent’s moon was desperate. He conjectured the Ussarian fleet was moving faster than first assumed. If they got there before the Hyperion, then the stolen crates of Lucent Stones might disappear into the Ussarian Empire. If that happened, no one would be safe. No bureaucrat could be trusted, and no law enforcement agency could contain the damage.

  Anyone in the universe could be controlled by breathing in the dust of those crushed stones. Entire sectors of space might go to war simply on some Ussarian pirate’s whim. All it would take is guiding the minds of key politicians on various planets.

  He hated even thinking about the results. Ussarians were raiders, cutthroats, liars, and brigands of the worst sort. They warred with each other and attacked every planet or mining colony unable to defend itself. That was why Lucent was no longer secure.

  He gazed up at the Hyperion and wished he could have taken the Valiant into what was sure to be a very hostile situation. Yet, the secrecy of their mission didn’t mean they had to land on Lucent’s moon to confront dangerous criminals with an unarmed ship. There were ways to go about arming oneself, without creating a diplomatic nightmare. The only problem was how did one go about such a thing in the presence of a very astute mechanic who just wouldn’t look the other way?

  Chapter Eleven

  Charlie never worked so hard in her life. Right after ordering the Hyperion’s systems turned on so she could see what still worked and what didn’t, everything on the old interplanetary
shuttle seemed to shut down by sections.

  First, the electrical system almost caught fire. If it wasn’t for Clitus’ quick thinking with an extinguisher, the adjacent systems would have fried. Then the artificial gravity and life support systems would only operate randomly. But she kept going, barking orders like a general when Clitus, Gilla, or Electra asked what else they could do.

  Wing man, was busy operating a refueling system that would deliver the proper mixture of gases necessary to operate the vessel.

  Luckily she found every part available for the repairs—neatly located in steel bins on either side of the massive hangar. Food protein containers were also ready to place on board which, along with the water, would be loaded last. Uniform codes stated any vessel going into space must have provisions for at least a month.

  Since the Hyperion came from a class of older antique shuttles, the vessel didn’t have a running water system. Hygiene for the crew would only be available in the form of sonic-dry cleansing cubicles and sonic-wash basins.

  A final weight check would be made so fuel consumption rates could be adjusted, and that meant everything had to be loaded first. Thinking about that part of the job gave her a crazy idea. If she accounted for her own weight when figuring the ship’s fuel consumption, then left a crate of fresh linens behind, there’d be no way to tell she was aboard, not unless Datron or someone else turned on the biologic scanning device. And they probably wouldn’t do that on a ship this size, not for a test flight. There’d be no reason to unless someone thought there was something aboard that shouldn’t be there. As she worked, her idea seemed more and more ridiculous. Why in the world would she commit what amounted to a criminal act and risk losing her freedom?

  Any unauthorized person found aboard a vessel—even a dignitary vessel bound for a test flight—could be arrested. This was standard law on just about any planet on which she’d landed. Even school children knew one simply didn’t hide away on transports. And no one had authorized her to be aboard for the flight, even though she was the mechanic and should have had every right to inspect the systems from deep space.