by Boris Mosso
—You’re right. It’s better to try them out now, taking advantage of so much free time we have.
—Did you have visitors?
—No, why do you ask?
—I thought I’d seen someone moving away through the side corridors…
—You know nobody comes up to our door, unless they’re hurting; we don’t have courtesy visits.
—That’s true, while they don’t need us, nobody remembers the doctors.
Ribar then walked away from her.
After Dirva’s shift ended some hours later, she went towards the infirmary’s exit. She began her resting schedule and decided to approach the beautiful and broad transparent side corridor, one of her favorite spots in the spaceship.
She chose to walk, figuring that it would take her about seven minutes to get there. She felt lonely, coinciding with Ribar in the little contact with other crewmen during her regular shift.
When she first stepped into the inside of the wide and high side corridor, she was overwhelmed by the outer space’s deep darkness; some little light spots could scarcely be seen. Not more than five stars could be seen at a glance. But her eyes found someone sitting inside, at about thirty meters away from the entrance. Despite the semi darkness, she was able to recognize him while her stomach tightened due to her excitement.
9 - Dirva and Gander
The day after taking off, Gander saw Doctor Dirva for the third time. He met her head on at the terrestrial robotics’ device launching exit’s section; the Special Forces Captain’s domains. She walked towards the infirmary when he appeared rushing through the huge hatches. He excused himself for almost bumping into her, but he was forced to look at her again, leaving him speechless. Dirva was a beautiful woman and had a slender figure which was defined by her Spacian fleet’s tight medical service white uniform; she smiled satisfied, upon seeing the bewilderment on the Terrestrial Forces Officer’s face.
The spaceship was very big and had broad areas for such a small crew. Several of those rooms were designed for the crew’s relaxation during long journeys; as well as a lounge for sensorial virtual landscapes’ reproduction, which had a huge swimming pool in the last floor, with the outer space panoramic view on the ceiling; or this viewing corridor at triple height which flanked the Vector, occupying three levels and completing twelve meters in height. There were some self-adjustable couches in some of these wide and extensive areas for those who would want to rest and observe the outer space shown for a while, becoming hyperspace leaps every so often.
Gander used to sneak into that part of the Vector once his duties allowed him to, which weren’t too many while the spaceships were traveling through space amongst galaxies. Upon reaching a planet or satellite on which to descend, his real job would begin.
The days after the mission’s coordination meeting and when they had accelerated the Astral Galaxy’s drastic distance, Gander focused on reviewing all the RMOD’s systems and their weapons. Doing so, he kept his Officers busy until everything was ready. They also carried the basic landing equipment in both exploration spaceships.
They practiced in simulators constantly, which mimicked multiple virtual conflicts and reconnaissance sceneries in the huge vault located on the side of the Terrestrial Forces hangar.
He spoke to Borlan almost daily, the other Vector’s STF’s Captain, to coordinate the exercises and perfect the protocols from the maneuvers to be performed together, when the moment arose.
After the first days of travel, the idle times grew extensive and boring.
Now, the STF’s leader was sitting with his back straight and his legs crossed in one of those cozy and big couches. He would soon retreat to his room to sleep. He drank a refreshing Espacian red fruit juice, rich in antioxidants, called Frambas.
Peacefully sitting down, he took the moment to review for the umpteenth time, the brief and bizarre meeting with Admiral Tronius; the mysterious incursions’ assignment and the petition from the Admiral for his unknown daughter. Bad feelings crafted in his mind about this whole thing without being able to stop it.
The expedition itself was very risky and not clear in the objective’s accomplishment. The incredible and overwhelming figures mentioned on the bridge during the meeting with the scientists, still had him somewhat dismayed.
He reasoned secretly, that the Systemic Council had behaved too lightly, by sending both Vectors in a mission which seemed to have little fundamentals already from the beginning; but in his inner self, he reinforced his commitment to respond to the expeditions’ command unconditionally. He decided he would go with Lena to Lumina and bring her back sound and safe, even if his life depended on it.
Immersed in those thoughts, he didn’t see young Doctor Dirva approaching without making the slightest noise.
—Captain Gander, it seems you’re navigating in another galaxy.
—Dirva, Doctor Dirva…
—Don’t get up, captain. I’m pleased to know you also remember my name. May I sit next to you?
—Yes, of course… May I get you something to drink?
She looked dazzling with her white suit on. Her smooth and bright blond hair rested on her delicate rounded shoulders, while her crystalline eyes stared at him, showing innocence and naughtiness, at the same time. However, the simplicity dealing with her and the transparent and guileless gaze, attracted him more.
—Is it Frambas juice?
—Yes, it is.
—That would be perfect.
Gander slid his hand on the side of the couch calling out Dirva’s order. A droid appeared immediately levitating a tray. Gander took it and gave it to the Doctor. Then, the droid disappeared through the wall as fast as it emerged.
She took a long sip, while shifting her gaze into space; Gander seized the moment to delight himself watching her delicate face’s contour. Her serene expression relieved his worries and without wanting to, his thoughts disappeared, and he concentrated entirely at admiring her. The young doctor’s tone of voice, shook his inner deep foundations, increasing his warm and tense desires.
—Captain Gander, when passing by I saw you by yourself here and I thought about joining you for a while, do you mind?
—No, doctor… on the contrary.
—One can feel isolated in these journeys. Specially in such a dangerous and uncertain trip as this one. Nobody says it openly, but there’s fear in the atmosphere.
—I haven’t noticed anything…
—It might be my imagination, I spend too many hours by myself.
—It’s a big spaceship.
—Yes, a big spaceship for so few people. There are days in which I only see doctor Ribar. I bump into some other crewmembers in the dining room, or into you…
She took a drink again, this time watching Gander with her eyes halfway closed. The hardened STF sensed the change of tone and that, agitated his pulse without being able to avoid it. He tried to say something to hide it, but his jaw barely moved.
—Gander, speaking about that, I’ve been bumping into you everywhere for days, which has made me believe you’re following me.
—No, I… it’s been all coincidence only.
—Too bad. I thought you were indeed following me.
Gander didn’t know what to say, but remained without taking his eyes off her, it was something captivating.
—You know Gander? I’m not very good with words, I’ve never been…
—Neither have I.
Without looking at him, she placed the Espacian fruit juice glass on a little table which with a subtle movement, she ordered to emerge; then she approached Gander closer and grabbed his cheeks with her thin and pale hands. That STF stirred, but before completely losing his poise, Dirva, determined, got close to him and gave him a tender and appalling kiss.
At that moment, two of his subordinates were approaching through the hallway coming from the bridge: Dantori and Chan; they used to find him resting around that part of the spaceship and upon seeing the scene, they silently wen
t back from where they were coming.
They parted their lips and after opening his eyelids, he got lost into Dirva’s eyes and in her delicate beauty; then she began talking:
—I’ve been wanting to do this ever since we took off. If we weren’t in a constant danger situation which threatens us and not knowing if we’ll live one more day, I would have never dared to kiss you.
—Hope something good comes out of this damn war.
She burst into laughter and then kissed him again, but more profoundly this time. She wrapped her arms behind his neck and pressed him on her chest. Gander thought going crazy upon feeling the warmth of the young doctor’s trembling lips and her anxious breathing, pressing and loosing up her body against his chest; then, Dirva stood up and gave him a little gadget.
—You’ll find my rooms with it, I’ll be waiting for you in half an hour, when the night shift begins.
—Fine… I’ll be there.
She walked away, turning to smile mischievously one more time at him; she disappeared through the long corridor within a minute. Gander placed the gadget in the palm of his hand and immediately, a three-dimensional spaceship’s layout appeared, a blinking light showed the location of Dirva’s berth. A bright line indicated the shortest way to access it. Gander smiled and drank his juice all at once.
10 - Lesir
Completing their ninth days travelling, Professor Trivian decided to go out for dinner in the spaceships’ communal areas, hoping to stretch out his legs a little.
The dining room remained lit with indirect dim lights, allowing the diners to enjoy the marvelous view of space through the transparent screens which surrounded the room. Several individual tables and other bigger ones were arranged in an extensive and comfortable space.
When entering he recognized Chan, who was seated close to the entrance. He greeted him respectfully when he went by. Besides the STF, the only ones that dined in one of those tables at that time, were Dantori and Elenda; who kept on talking and didn’t pay the slightest attention to Trivian’s appearance.
The old geneticist identified another STF by his green uniform, who was isolated in the furthest corner of the premises.
Driven by a feeling, he approached the Espacian soldier, who, sitting with his back turned, seemed submerged in the cosmos’ depths. He recognized him just as he got next to him, it was Lesir; when he saw him next to him, he didn’t even make the least effort to stand up.
The soldier looked at him with glassy eyes. Trivian immediately noticed that the Officer drank some type of alcoholic beverage, and apparently had exceeded its intake.
There was a transparent and almost empty bottle set on the table. The small amount of liquid left gave away the cloudy golden color from a bad quality Driac.
He looked around the room worried, to see if anybody else was seeing the STF’s inappropriate drunk state. When finding the only three present ones ignoring the scene, he sat beside Lesir, speaking to him in a low voice:
—Are you okay, Lesir?
The STF greeted him smiling sarcastically, rushing down the rest of the contents left in the glass before answering him.
—I’m doing very well, Mr. Trivian.
—Are you here with someone else?
—No, why do you ask?
—It’s none of my business, but it’s not usual to see an STF getting drunk in public and much less being a fleets spaceship’s Commissioner in a mission.
—Apparently, you know a lot of procedures and military duties.
—I know some.
—But of course, Professor… Weren’t you wandering through space during decades in the fleet’s spaceships?
—More than forty years in total.
—Well, it’s a long time, even for you… From what I’ve heard, people die in all your journeys.
—Long spatial exploration journeys always involve dangerous situations, and occasionally accidents do happen. Bad luck lurks long journeys.
—Is it bad luck then, that in your journeys those accidents ended up normally with destroyed spaceships and horrendously deceased crewmen …?
Trivian was really feeling uncomfortable.
—For your peace, I won’t say anything about your condition. Each one of us finds the way to confront their fears the best way they can.
Lesir shot a tough and piercing gaze at the old man before answering, while remaining in a threatening way. Trivian waited for his answer without even moving a millimeter from his sitting position.
—Then I’m drinking to appease my fear? You don’t have the slightest idea of who I am… or of what I’m capable of. I’m going to ask you a question, Professor… Is it because of you that we’re here? In this expedition?
Trivian stood up while answering the question.
—No, Espacia’s Systemic Council has commissioned us to find…
—Professor stop the rigmarole… you found that capsule four centuries ago and then now, you convinced half the Solarian System that the magic object could save us; you’ve always been obsessed about that object. All your life, you have pressured to have some unwary ones be sent to Lumina, until you achieved it. Isn’t that true? Having the incredible luck to come in your expedition myself. It’s because of you that we’re here.
—If that’s what you want to think… Where would you rather be? Why are you so angry at me?
—I’m not angry at you, I’m just fed up with my stupid luck. I’ve dreamt all my life with fighting to defend Espacia, you know?... and when the most important battle in the Astral’s history is beginning, it happens that I must escort you to the damn Lumina Galaxy, in opposite directions.
—This voyage could be the most important that has been performed, to revert the galactic conflict’s luck.
Lesir took three steps away from the elderly man and stopped on his tracks, surprisingly without big difficulties. After a couple of seconds and without looking at Trivian, he talked to him again after taking a drink, emptying the rest of the liqueur in his mouth once and for all.
—It must be as you say, Professor… Either way we were all going to die in this filthy war. It must not be important for the Espacian Council that my bones rot on the frozen asteroids or on an anonymous planet’s crust, in the depths of the universe…. I would never be able to see my ancestors personally when it crosses the parallel universe. They probably won’t even see me arrive.
Lesir walked away without showing his drunkenness until he disappeared through the dining rooms arc’s entrance, which for Trivian, evidenced the frequency of such situation. He saw him get away with a mixture of uneasiness and sadness.
Not wanting to eat much at that point, he moved to dine in one of the room’s middle tables.
The dining room had a comfortable place, softly lit by two and three-dimensional holographic screens which showed different landscapes. At that instant, a holographic image showed the Espacian tower from outer space, on the side of the table chosen by Trivian.
The few crewmen in the spaceship, could eat their food in groups or in individual comfortable seats in the dining room. Nobody judged the ones who preferred to dine alone badly, and the entire crew wasn’t there at the same time, due to the different working shifts.
After fifteen minutes, he kept on thinking about the uncomfortable feeling from the rough and unexpected dialogue held with the Special Forces Officer.
His thoughts stopped when he saw Doctor Zenda approaching. She sat in front of him without asking him anything. A droid appeared instantly carrying a tray with the food chosen by the linguist. She began to eat, while the professor had almost finished his.
—Are you okay, Trivian? I haven’t seen you for days and you look somewhat pale.
—I feel fine.
—You should visit Doctor Ribar.
—I’ll think about it.
—Trivian, do you think we’ll find System X and the object? The crew didn’t take the missions fundamentals too well.
—I’ve already noticed. Don’t wo
rry, we’re going to find it, I’m sure.
—I don’t know why you’re so sure; even though I know you’re hiding something. I’m not an idiot, Trivian. Before being assigned by the Espacian Council to come in this journey, I worked on the writings along with the rest of the linguists, by which I suspect you haven’t told me everything. I know that you and your friends from the Systemic Council and from the Espacian Intelligence, have plotted something… and I’ve always suspected that there’s another story hidden behind this issue.
—If you were an idiot, Doctor Zenda, you wouldn’t be on board of this spaceship.
—Whatever, Professor. You’re the genius after all.
Trivian made a silent displeased smirk, he cleaned his mouth and began to walk away from the table when Doctor Zenda interrupted him:
—Tell me, what are you going to do with the genetic cylinder?
—I still don’t know.
—That should have been left with the evacuation fleet, although it’s the result of your labor. It took hundreds of years to achieve that impressing and marvelous creation.
—I shouldn’t have told you anything.
—But you did, Trivian; this is not the place for that devise, you should understand it. It’s very selfish from your part, to have brought it with you; it belongs to Espacia. If the Councilors knew that it travels with us…
—But they don’t know it.
—They should have it and safeguard it. I’m sure your friend De Kraun, looked away when you took the cylinder from the Central Councils’ spaceship’s labs.
—No, Zenda… the furthest it’s from Espacia and the fleets, the better it is; see you later.
The Professor withdrew quickly, while some engineer technicians led by Officer Estrader, came into the room; they were Iko, Bajir and Lagras among them also.
Trivian decided that it would be the first and last time he would dine in those premises.
11 - The Blue Sun
Thirteen days had gone by since the expedition members took off.
