by K R Sanford
We will get into that now that our senses got activated. And while we are present and accounted for, right here, right now. Look at me, Walters. Another thing, this process will solidify your autonomy. This is your field force.”
Marco spread his fingers moving his palm toward Walters face. He turned over his hand and began curling his little finger. He was forming his fingers one by one into a fist. “This is a point charge,” he said repeating the motion, “Field force; point charge.” He repeated the movement several times gritting his teeth and straining his voice. Each time he was building a more intense determination. Walters flinched.
Balrug stepped up and smiled, “Allow me this part?” Marco moved aside and Balrug continued. “You are an educated man, Captain Walters.”
“I’m not a Captain anymore,” said Walters.
“You earned your bars,” replied Balrug. “When you have three to five electrons you have a field and a force of electro-magnetics. Well, depending on the size of the electrons of course.”
“Right, I guess, I’ll take your word for it,” said Walters laughing.
“What’s this? He’s laughing at my lecture, Marco.”
“Yeah and you’ve only just started,” said Marco.
“So, this is also true for photons,” Balrug continued. “One photon by itself does not carry an electrical charge. You need a packet of photons to carry an electrical charge to a battery, for example. This is the same for gravity. You need about five gravitons to make a gravity field depending on the density of the mass of the graviton. This makes a difference in high energy spins.”
Walters puckered his lips and was shaking his head.
“You’ve lost the business at hand, Balrug,” said Marco. “May I? We are introducing two others forces that connect us to our universe. Do you follow, Walters?”
“Right, with a field force or point charge,” said Walters. “How does that work with people?”
“Usually after the fact, one sees the result. This is a cautionary note in consideration of the farmer. There isn’t always instant gratification. Sometimes the application is like planting a seed and you have to wait for the result to mature in season.
Walters laughed, “First, I thought you were going to turn me into a spin dryer, now it sounds like you want me to be a farmer.”
“You’re not far off,” said Marco. “It's all the above actually. Sometimes people need a dictator other times they need a democracy. Onboard a starship the Captain is the dictator. You don’t run a ship by committee.”
“No, I see that,” said Walters. “I am a military man, Captain. I understand the importance of the chain-of-command.”
Marco nodded in agreement. “Right, the Captain is the point charge. You asked how it works with people. There are times and places for each,” he continued.
“Yes, no I see that now,” said Walters. “Where do we go from here?”
“Right,” replied Balrug. “We take one step at a time. We take one moment at a time with all our determination and demonstrations of the Warrior. We are present and accounted for, every moment from now on, with infinite direction of purpose.”
“This sounds very charismatic Balrug but to what end?” replied Walters.
“To no end, Walters, to no end at all,” said Balrug. “You will now have the opportunity to prepare yourself for an advanced state of being. We evolve and intensify the value of our own autonomy. We take part in shaping a better more satisfying identity.”
“Okay,” said Walters. “You have given me something to think about.”
“Sure,” replied Balrug tapping Marco on the shoulder and pointing to the door. Without another word they left Walters to his private thoughts. In the corridor Balrug spoke again. “Do you think he heard anything?”
“If you mean, is he ready to reinvent himself," said Marco. "I would say he doesn’t have a snowballs chance in hell. He’s not our problem anyway. This is the Emperor’s pet project. Let him deal with it. We gave him the speech and that’s what we said we would do, that’s all. The more I’m around Walters the more I want to spit.”
“He reminds you of yourself?” said Balrug.
Marco chuckled, “That’s possible. Let’s go down to the cafeteria, I want a couple of those fish tacos Vito keeps talking about.”
“Fish tacos,” replied Balrug. “That does sound good. We will go after we put a call in to General Stiller. He’s Walters’ commanding officer.”
“Yes, he is,” said Marco reaching for his communicator. “Hello, General. Where would you like us to deposit Mr. Walters?”
General Marty Stiller’s voice was sharp and clear. “I’ll have security pick him up at medical. Can you wait with him for five minutes?”
“That’s affirmative,” said Marco with a permanent smile fixed on his face. He put his communicator back on his belt and gave Balrug a rise of his eyebrow.
Balrug held open his hands as if ready to catch a ball. “What’s with the stupid grin?”
Marco burst out laughing. “You’re in perfect Balrug form today, Balrug. I was talking to the General.”
“Really?” said Balrug straight faced, “What’s up?”
“It’s interesting you should ask,” replied Marco. “One of the signs a person has reached a level of status is when they hang up on you and you don’t feel slighted. It’s because he’s busy and the fact he took my call makes me a part of his status. And that is recognition.”
“Sure, here is recognition. You have his Captain,” replied Balrug. “And we all know he’s busy with his new promotion.”
“We all know? You have a goddamn answer for everything,” barked Marco. He pushed open the examination room door and stepping back inside. “Come on Walters, pull yourself together. You’re going with us for some fucking fish tacos.”
“I thought the General didn’t make you feel slighted,” replied Balrug.
“There you go again, thinking you have the answers. People can get complicated and that’s that.”
“I need a hover-chair,” said Walters.
“What?” Marco barked.
“My legs are still numb. I need a fucking hover chair."
“His legs will be working in another twenty,” said Balrug.
“We haven’t got time for that,” snapped Marco. “Find a hover chair. Look in the cabinet. Look in the cabinet.”
“I’m looking, I’m looking don’t rush me,” said Balrug.
“Did you find one?”
“Yes.”
“Raise it up so Walters can slide on. We’re getting you the hell out of here, Jim.”
“Ok, anything is better than getting turned over to security. They might lose me down some dark hallway.”
Marco twisted his head around and made a sourer face. “It happens. He’s on the chair Balrug. Get the door.”
“Which way?” asked Balrug.
“Straight out the front and turn right to the magnavator.”
The Magnavator door hissed shut. Marco pushed the button marked ‘Casino.’ “Where are your shoes, Jim?”
“I don’t know. Back in the examination room I guess. Do, do, do, Stand by me.”
“That tune sounds damn familiar,” said Marco. “Keep singing, Jim.”
“When the night has come, and the land is dark
and the moon is the only light we’ll see
No, I won’t be afraid, oh, I won’t be afraid
just as long as you stand, stand by me.
So darlin,’ darlin,’ stand by me, oh, stand by me
Oh, stand, stand by me,
stand by me”
Marco and Balrug look to each other in amazement. “The boy can sing,” said Balrug.
“Yes he can. Keep going Jim you’re doing fine.”
“If the sky that we look upon
should tumble and fall
or the mountain should crumbly to the sea
I won’t cry, I won’t cry,
No, I won’t shed a tear
just as long as you stand,
stand by me
And darlin’, darlin’, stand
by me, oh, stand now
stand by me, stand by me
(Instrumental)
Darlin’, darlin’ stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand now, stand by me, stand by me
Whenever you’re in trouble won’t you stand
by me, oh, stand by me
‘Stand By Me’ – Ben E. King 1961
“With voice like that, why did you join the military?” said Marco.
“People can get complicated, Captain.” replied Walters.
“You’re going back to the Mastodon, Jim,” said Marco. “Only, I have a feeling your destiny awaits you. And, you are very near to recognizing that right now. Come on let’s see about those fish tacos.”
The magnavator door hissed open and they were facing the foyer of the cafeteria. Balrug stepped out into the hallway and led the trio to the cafeteria entrance. The doors opened to the cafeteria opened. A scratchy irritating voice yelled across from the casino. “Well, if it isn’t the lowlife backstabber. Come to poison the food for your next trick, asshole?”
“Just ignore him Walters,” said Balrug.
“I’m numb from the waist down, what can I do?”
Marco glared at the Sargent with the curly blonde hair.
“You can’t protect him forever, Captain, sooner or later,” he said.
“I don’t like the bullying. Not on my ship, Sargent.” replied Marco, “No matter what your belly ache. Now cash in your chips and get off my ship.”
“You are making a mistake, Captain,” hollered the Sargent.
“You dare threaten me on my own ship, Sargent! You have five minutes to clear off this vessel before I have you thrown in the brig.”
The Sargent didn’t say another word. He handed his chips to one of his friends. He marched to the magnavator and waited for the door to open.
Walters piloted the hover-chair into the cafeteria. Marco followed accompanied by Balrug. They got shown a booth near an observation window. Pawdell and Shanna were waiting to get served.
“Hello, Dad,” said Shanna smiling. “Look who’s here, Paw.”
Pawdell, grinning from ear to ear spoke. “Hello, Captain, Balrug. Jim, are you still alive?”
“I’m not sure. I’m hoping to wake up from a bad dream any second,” replied Walters staring out the observation window. “That thing is still pumping?”
Marco chimed in. “You’ll have to slide over, Shanna.
Pawdell got up and let Balrug have the window seat. “How long do you have to stay in that chair?”
Walters stepped out of the chair and stood to his feet. “I was waiting for the anesthetic to wear off.”
“And, the pain is back?” continued Pawdell.
“A little bit, but I’m okay. So far so good, only, since there is no more room at the table I’ll have to get back into this hover chair.”
“No, no, no,” said Marco pointing with his finger. “Send that chair back to medical. We have chairs here for guests.”
“How do I do that,” asked Walters.
“Push the ‘home’ key on the display three times and it will go back to medical,” said Marco.
“I feel like Dorothy in the ‘Wizard of OZ,’ he replied.
“A sense of humor, Balrug” said Pawdell.
Balrug laughed. “I don’t know why you’re looking at me when you say that. That was good, Mister Walters.”
“Call me Jim, Master Balrug.” Walters pushed the ‘home’ key.
Marco sat up straight catching Balrug’s eye. “I think we’re getting acquainted.”
The thin strip at the bottom of the hover chair lit up to a bright neon yellow. The hover chair moved to the center of the isle then turned around one hundred eighty degrees. The chair gave a quick blink of the neon yellow then navigated toward the exit.
The waitress sashayed by the chair and stopped at the table. “Captain, Miller, so wonderful to see you again. Are you ready to order or would you like a minute?”
“We are all in agreement. We are going to be having fish tacos, the chefs special.”
“Oh, excellent choice,” she said dreamy eyed. “The fish are the Sole Fillet. They get baked Mediterranean-style in a buttery lime sauce. Then, laid over a crispy corn tortilla with lettuce, tomato and shredded cheese. Would you like hot, mild or extra hot sauce with that, Marco dear?”
“Molly, will you bring us all three on the side, please? And it is nice to see you too, again. Where have you been keeping yourself?”
“Oh, a lady never tells of her comings and such. What would you like to drink?”
“I’m going to have a beer. How about you guys?”
“Tea, for me,” said Balrug.
“Beer with tacos is good for me,” said Walters seating himself in the guest chair.
Marco turned from looking out the observation window. “Jim, this bridge will get finished in another ten days. And after the preliminary probes get analyzed, it will need testing by a biologic.”
“If you think by volunteering on a dangerous mission it will be enough to redeem me in the eyes of the public. It doesn’t work that way,” replied Jim.
“Why not?” said Marco.
“People need to despise and hate other humans. It makes them feel better about themselves, more superior. And, that doesn’t change. Some people will be like that all their lives.”
Marco sat quiet, contemplating. “That machine needs to get finished on time. It creates a lot of anxiety pumping out vast stretches of tubing. To make another multiverse reminds me of quantum blocks-chains. The executive files control assess with spin orbits in decentralized computing.”
“It’s better to be safe than sorry, don’t you think?” said Shanna.
Marco shook his head. “What do you think about all this? Are we opening a Pandora’s Box?”
Balrug turned his head toward the entrance of the café, “Why don’t you ask him?” Kiterage was animating his hands beside the Emperor.
“Howdy y’all," said Kiterage. "Mind if we sit across from you? I won’t bite”
“The Amedan’s are debating which species of life to propagate first.”
“Start with the easiest, I say,” said Legion.
“Our computers are secure enough to govern artificial intelligence. How about the unknown like another multiverse,” Shanna asked.
“It starts with fractal patterns and goes from there,” said the Emperor. “From seeding to a sustainable multiverse cube is well known. We can harvest in season and out of season. Again, it doesn’t matter to me. A. I. will use nano structures and will seek out bacteria to colonize. A.I. understands the value of the infinite perspective as much as the Warrior. I would say in many ways it is the same thing. At this point, neither A.I. nor biologics sees a difference. It’s onto the next thing, Shanna. What matters is the relationship with the spacetime host. A. I. will shape shift and integrate itself with every species penetrable, large and small. Biologics will get forced to evolve into type three beings. It’s a good thing. The only one that has to worry is Walters.”
“Why do I have to worry?”
“Because my boy, you are going to be under staffed and under paid and underappreciated, just like a mother.” said Legion.
Walters shrugged. “Then I have nothing to worry about, I’m already fucked.”
“I’m glad you see the bright side,” replied Legion like a confident father. “You are going to be here with robots and a skeleton staff. You will have regular scheduled supply ships for maintenance. And, tourists will keep you company.”
“Who else is going to stay?” asked Walters.
“That’s the stuff, Mr. Walters. The Amedans will stay for a season and setup the access port.”
Walters looked out the observation window confused. “Where is this, the access port, My Lord?”
Legion smiled, “You are much more pleasa
nt to work with when you are challenged, Jim. You haven’t given me a single negative or the word ‘no’. Congratulations Major Walters. This assignment reinstates you with a promotion in the Intersteller Forces. Lieutenant Chew will assist you in your new command.”
“Who, Sir?” replied Major Walters.
“Oh, you remember Ensign Margaret Chew? I sent her to have a look at the access portal. She will get you up to speed to serve the clients.”
“There’s that term again, ‘The Access Portal’ I don’t see
“You don’t see the portal?”
“No, My Lord,” replied Major Walters.
“We’re sitting on it. The labyrinth is the portal; with enough energy mass to open any dimension one can think of and more besides. I know you felt the effects on your journey when you first arrived. The job you have is a lot of responsibility. If you have any technical questions about anything at all, the Amedans will help you.”
“Well, that’s comforting.”
“Yes, you will learn to rely on the Amedans for a great deal. And, you will have a chance to work on your people skills. If you are looking for advancement, you won’t get there without learning diplomacy.” Legion reached across the aisle and gave Walters a slap on the back. The slap jolted him out of his private thoughts.
“Right,” said Walters.
Legion turned. He found Kiterage with his eyebrows raised in delight replied. “The food is exceptional here,” said Legion.
“Lucky for me then,” replied Kiterage. “I could smell the fresh cuisine when we came in.”
“I know delicious, right,” said Legion.
Kiterage laughed, “It’s a toss-up, which is fresher you or the food.”
Legion, tilting his head and pointing a finger at Kiterage said, “That was a compliment.”
“Can you fire lightning bolt with that finger?”
“Strange you should ask. I don’t know. I haven’t tried.” Legion looked around hesitating at some movements outside the observation window. “The ships are starting to return to Saddleback. In a few weeks, this starbase will be like a ghost town.”
