Deep Space Intelligence : Complete Series

by Gary Weston

  Chapter 278

  ‘So,’ said Warner. ‘All I need to do is learn a completely alien language, ask it if it’s friendly or hates us, then decide if it’s lying to us, and maybe let it out the airlock to kill us all.’

  ‘Or we could flip a coin,’ said Shorty.

  ‘Flip a what?’ said Millet.

  ‘A coin. People used them for…never mind. We have a fifty-fifty on this one. That’s what I’m saying.’

  Warner said, ‘That makes it easier?’

  ‘It might. All I can say is, thank goodness we have a scientist to sort it out.’

  ‘Shorty. Were you being facetious?’

  ‘If I knew what that meant, I’d give you a rhetorical answer. What’s rhetorical mean?’

  ‘Exactly,’ said Warner.

  Millet sighed. ‘I’m going for a lie down. Shorty. You are coming with me.’

  ‘I usually do,’ said Shorty, with a cheeky grin.

  ‘Hrrmm! Warner. Give that creature some water. Then…do science stuff.’

  ‘Yes, Sir.’

  Warner returned to the inner airlock door. No new acid was dribbling down and the camera was in place. Fortunately, it hadn’t been dissolved. He went to the terminal and looked in on the stowaway. The creature had not moved from its original position. He was no expert, but it didn’t look healthy. From one wall, he unrolled a simple water hose. It was used for decontaminating anything that stepped into the airlock from alien planets.

  It was a calculated guess, but, remembering where the creature was lying, he forced the nozzle into the hole Cratchet had drilled and turned on the water. He let it run for a full minute, then he turned it off. Jamming the camera back in the hole, he went to the terminal and turned it on. The creature had moved, lapping up the water.

  ‘You’re welcome,’ said Warner.

  The creature drank its fill, then it sat in the corner, its head slumped over its chest. This creature didn’t look menacing. It looked lost and lonely. Warner started to feel compassion for it. But was that pity misguided? Learning another language would take too long. The creature would be dead by then. A radical thought went through Warner’s mind. He went to the airlock door and stood before it, gathering his thoughts and resolve.

  ‘Computer. Open the inner airlock door.’ The door opened and he stepped inside. ‘Computer. Close the airlock door.’ The door closed silently behind him. Warner sat on the wet floor, his back to the wall. The creature raised its head and opened its eyes to stare at Warner. ‘Hi. My name is Troy Warner.’

  It was a cross between a growl and a groan. Warner didn’t feel threatened. From one aspect he saw a magnificent new sentient being. He couldn’t get that word out of his mind. Sentient. This was an intelligent being. Regardless of which species it belonged to, it was capable of putting down its ideas into a written form. This was no simple primate just developing the survival capability of being invisible. They had survived for perhaps millions of years and this was the highpoint of its evolution.

  Disposing of it into deep space would be an easy option. Death would be fast out in the vacuum of space. An easy cop-out for the humans on the ship. One of these creatures sprayed acid on two young human beings, right? Open the outer airlock door and eject it. What more was there to think about?

  But there was more to think about. Much more. Suppose that during the evacuation from that planet, the two creatures were fighting each other? Maybe one giving the humans time to escape. And in those frantic, crazy last seconds, one had stumbled into the airlock, perhaps even then still fighting off one of its own enemy, and by default, helping the humans to escape. Then, finding itself in the airlock, on a ship flashing through the cosmos, its air was almost spent. So. It had used up the last of its acid from the glands under its chin to open up the slightest air supply to survive.

  ‘Or!’ Warner said out-loud. ‘You really hate me and wouldn’t hesitate in killing me, given the chance. Which is it, stranger? Friend or foe?’

  The huge creature in front of Warner groaned. It looked up at him, saliva dripping from its jaws. It held out a clawed hand. There was something in the creatures eyes, or its expression. Warner didn’t know which, exactly.

  ‘Ok. This is where it could all go horribly wrong. Damn. I hate that cliché. Right. Here we go. Here’s my hand. Please don’t rip it off.’

  Chapter 279

  The huge alien hand grasped Warner’s hand. Warner could feel the restrained power in that grip. This being could easily crush the bones in its hands should it wish to do so, even in its weakened state. They stared into each others eyes. Warner didn’t see hate in those eyes. With its free hand, it pointed to its mouth.

  ‘Yes,’ said Warner. ‘I bet you’re starving. I have no idea what you eat. I’m hoping human isn’t on your grocery list. I’d say we would be fairly safe with anything green. Don’t go away. I’ll be right back.’

  Warner left the airlock, closing the door behind him. He raided the galley stores for fresh vegetables and was carrying them back to the airlock when Tilly Jordan stopped him.

  ‘You went in there?’

  ‘And I’m still alive to talk about it. Care to join me?’

  In her job as a D S I agent, she was no stranger to danger. ‘Ok. Computer open airlock.’

  They both stepped inside, Tilly staying back a few yards. Warner crouched down and offered the food to the being on the floor. It took the raw cabbage, sniffed it, then slowly started to eat it.

  ‘How do you intend to communicate with it?’ Tilly asked.

  Warner said, ‘I’ve been thinking about that. Both the invisible creatures have developed a writing skill. They can put their thoughts into words. I intend to use pictures. Just basic stuff.’

  ‘We can use the walls. I’ll go get something to write with. You keep Joe company.’

  ‘Joe?’

  Tilly shrugged. ‘We have to call him something. Joe. Josephine. There’s nothing much feminine looking about him, so Joe. I’ll be right back.’

  Leaving the airlock, she almost bumped into General Millet and Shorty.

  ‘You’ve been in there?’ said Millet.

  ‘Yes, General. Troy Warner is still in there.’

  ‘But you went in unarmed,’ said an incredulous Shorty.

  Tilly said, ‘Shooting a weapon on a ship would be suicide. Besides. Lasers weren’t much use before.’

  ‘True,’ said Shorty. ‘Is it friendly?’

  ‘Joe isn’t unfriendly. He’s eating at the moment. That’s a good sign.’

  Millet said, ‘It would be a better sign if Joe wasn’t on this ship.’

  ‘Probably,’ said Tilly. ‘I’m off to get a few markers to draw with. Warner and I are going to attempt to communicate with Joe.’

  ‘Ok,’ said Millet. ‘We need to establish if we can trust this creature, before we reach Home. Has it turned invisible lately?’

  ‘Not lately. He may be too weak. I’d suggest our paramedic take a look at him, but he wouldn’t know where to start.’

  ‘Maybe later,’ said Millet. ‘You carry on and I’ll update Boss. Let me know if you get anywhere.’

  * * *

  ‘I finally get a call during normal office hours,’ said Boss. ‘Good news, I hope?’

  Millet said, ‘So far. We have made contact with the creature in the airlock. Joe…Oh. Tilly Jordan named it that by the way. Anyway, Joe is remaining visible to us. Not sure if that’s by choice or not. Warner is feeding Joe vegetables. He and Tilly are going to try communicating with Joe by drawing pictures on the walls of the airlock. Boss. We don’t have a lot of time left. Until we learn more about him, we’ll need to contain him. Could you and Commander Gordon rig up something that can hold him when we reach Home? A large cage or something should do it.’

  ‘I’ll go see Felix about it. Joe is pretty strong, would you say?’

  ‘When he’s recovered his strength, I would say so. He’s about twice my size, if that’s anything to go by.’

  Bo
ss said, ‘That’s pretty big, then. I’ll be over Felix’s place for the next couple of hours. Call us there if you make more progress.’

  ‘I will. Thanks, Boss.’

  Chapter 280

  Joe had eaten most of the vegetables, leaving only the carrots.

  ‘Joe’s looking much improved,’ said Tilly.

  ‘Not starving tends to have that effect,’ said Warner. ‘Are you ready to start?’

  ‘I found a couple of marker pens. Ok, Joe. Pay attention. This is a woman. Woman. Much better looking than men. This joker claims to be one of those, by the way. So, this is a woman, and this is a man.’

  ‘Anatomically correct, I see. Wishful thinking in certain aspects.’

  ‘You or me?’

  ‘Both.’

  Tilly ignored Warner and pointed at Joe. ‘Now. I’m not a great artist…’

  ‘You can say that again,’ said Warner.

  ‘…So, don’t take offence, but this is you, Joe.’

  The much larger shape had Joe scratching his bald head. It was impossible to know if the drawings were recognisable to Joe. Tilly continued with two circles, one either side of the three figures.

  ‘This is our planet. This one is your planet. We were here, but now we are going there. Here, there. Your planet, our planet.’

  ‘I think our friend has nodded off.’

  ‘Hmm! He clearly doesn’t find my artistic endeavours very stimulating.’

  Warner said, ‘I could do with a feed. Come on. Let sleeping ugly rest.’

  Warner whispered to the computer to let them out and they left Joe in the closed airlock. After a light lunch, they returned to the airlock. They found two things not there before from when they had left the sleeping Joe. One neat ablution in one corner. Even beings with the ability to become invisible have to go eventually, so not entirely unexpected. Most of the walls covered in hieroglyphics and drawings came as more of a surprise.

  ‘Wow!’ said Warner. ‘Finally some real artwork.’

  ‘Damn, he’s been busy. He must have just pretended to be sleeping.’

  Warner looked at Joe, back sitting on the floor, with new found respect. ‘Now all we have to do is to interpret what all this means.’

  They studied a large circle Joe had drawn. Next to the circle was a much better detailed picture of himself. Next to him, one of the other invisible creatures. It was smaller than Joe, but not by much. The extended facial features of the other being that the humans had seen for a few seconds when using the red dye. The drawing was crude but realistic enough to envisage what the other creature had looked like, something they would never forget. There was a cruder drawing of the two species fighting. To the side of the enemy of Joe and his kind were a series of dots. To the side of “Joe” were just five dots.

  Warner said, ‘I think the dots symbolises the number of each species there are. Joe and his kind are much fewer in number. This is an interesting picture. Joe lying down. But the other one is standing upright. The enemy alive, Joe or his kind dead.’

  Tilly Jordan said, ‘More of those dots by the side of them. A lot more for the other one than Joe.’

  Warner said, ‘Here’s one of those hieroglyphic symbols. I know that one. It means “One”. No. US. It means US. I read it so many times I remember what the symbols mean. What I don’t know is if US in this picture means US Joe’s lot or US the other lot.’

  As they worked their way around the airlock walls, they became aware of a low groaning sound behind them.

  Tilly said, ‘Joe. Look at him, Warner. Something isn’t right with him.’

  Joe was rolling around on the floor, holding his belly. White foam was oozing from his mouth. His eyes were rolling around unable to focus.

  Tilly crouched down and touched his head. ‘I could boil water on this. Troy. Joe is really sick.’

  ‘Perhaps the food I gave him did it. I gave him what I thought was best.’

  It was as if Joe understood. He reached out and grasped Tilly’s hand and tried to stand.

  ‘Help me, Troy,’ said Tilly.

  It was hard work getting Joe to his feet, and the two of them had to support him to stop him falling back down. With their help, he shuffled slowly to the wall, all the time groaning in pain.

  ‘Joe. What’s wrong?’ Tilly asked.

  Joe almost fell against the wall, but stopped himself falling with one hand. He pointed to the picture he had drawn of himself then tapped his own chest.

  ‘Right. That’s you,’ said Warner. ‘We get that.’

  Joe pointed at the dead version of his kind, then at himself.

  Tilly said, ‘Joe? Are you telling us you are dying?’

  Joe pointed at the upright “him” and the few dots next to them. The dots, then himself. The dots then himself.

  ‘His kind are dying out,’ said Warner. ‘I can’t see any other meaning. It wasn’t being in here or the food I gave him. He was sick before. All his kind are.’

  Joe groaned again and fell heavily to the floor.

  Chapter 281

  Lieutenant Croxfort was it. The man with the medical box. Doubling up as the first-aid officer.

  ‘And I do what with this, exactly?’

  ‘Whatever you can, lieutenant,’ snapped Tilly Jordan. ‘This is a friend of ours. Look after him.’

  Croxfort was well aware of the authority of this woman. She could override General Millet any time she wanted to. If his career didn’t want to go in reverse in a hurry, he had to listen to this woman.

  ‘Right. This place stinks. We need to get him to sickbay. Grab a limb each and get him on this trolley.’

  Tilly, Warner, Millet and Croxfort each grabbed a limb. Joe was on the trolley and the creature was whisked through the casual observers, to the minuscule space which served as the medical room.

  ‘Ok. Right,’ said Croxfort. ‘This thing…’

  It was a blood freezing glare from Tilly Jordan. ‘His name is Joe. He was fighting on our side. He is a friend.’ She jabbed Croxfort in the ribs. ‘Pull your head in and treat this friend with the utmost respect. Have I made myself understood?’

  ‘Abundantly. But I have no idea what to do with him. Anything I do could be the wrong thing and make him worse.’

  Millet said, ‘Just keep him alive until we get home. They will be able to all the tests on him to be able to treat him.’

  Croxfort said, ‘I have some distilled water here. That shouldn’t harm him.’

  Tilly raised up Joe’s head and Croxfort poured a little onto Joe’s lips. A purple tongue flicked out and the lieutenant poured a few more drops into Joe’s mouth. Joe drank almost the entire bottle of water and appeared slightly improved from before. He reached out and gently took Tilly’s hand. He looked up into her eyes and said something, which could have meant thank you.

  ‘Joe,’ said Tilly. ‘We want to help you, but we don’t know what to do.’

  More strange words from Joe.

  Tilly felt Joe’s head. ‘Still hot. Joe. Try to rest. We can help you more when we get to our planet, Home. Troy. Make a recording of Joe and we’ll send that to Boss. Any information we can get to the hospital, the more prepared they can be.’

  Warner did that and Tilly took the recording to the flight-deck where she called Boss.

  ‘Tilly. How’s everything going?’

  ‘We’re all ok, but Joe, our sometimes invisible friend, is seriously ill. Lieutenant Croxfort is out of his depth with this one. Troy Warner made a recording of Joe which I’ll send to you. If you let the hospital have it, they might have some ideas on how to treat him.’

  ‘I’ll do that. Tilly. Whatever Joe has could be contagious. Anyone feeling ill?’

  ‘Nothing yet, Boss. Warner and I have spent most time with him and we’re both ok.’

  ‘Good. But you’ll all have to go into quarantine for check-ups to make sure. Advise General Millet of that fact. If anybody falls ill, call me right away.’ Boss paused. ‘You seem sure Joe is friendly to human
s?’

  ‘He’s a gentle giant. Warner and I think his species are in trouble. If we can find a way to help Joe, perhaps we can help the others.’

  ‘We’ll cross each bridge in turn. We’ll talk again later.’

  Tilly transmitted the recording Warner had made and ended the call.

  Chapter 282

  The rest of the flight and the landing itself was uneventful. Boss had gotten everything organised. Originally, a strong cage had been considered, but with a creature apparently close to death, a contagious disease containment vehicle with four masked and suited paramedics in attendance pulled up at the side of the fighter. All those on-board were instructed to stay put. All the others having no contact with “Joe” were allowed to leave their ships.

  Raven, on hand to greet people, was also suited up. With a baby at home, he was taking no chance in contracting an alien disease to take back. Without getting too close, he had a quick look at Joe. Then the vehicle went off to the isolation ward of the hospital. Millet stood on the edge of the airlock.

  Boss said, ‘Frank. Sorry about this, but you all know it’s for the best.’

  Millet sighed. ‘We do, Boss. We’re not exactly delighted about it, but we do understand. How long for?’

  ‘I leave that to the doctors, but they’ll do blood tests and once the results are through, you’ll be free to go home. We have a larger vehicle coming to take you all to the hospital.’

  Millet nodded. ‘Ok. Boss. Thank you for your support. I feel devastated about losing those two young people.’

  Boss said, ‘We’ll have a proper talk, just you and I. But let the doctors do their thing.’ Millet turned to return to the ship and his people, when Boss said, ‘Frank. One more thing before you go, though. I don’t want the D S I to lose the best General they ever had. Think about that until I see you.’

  Millet nodded. ‘Thanks, Boss.’

  The inner airlock door opened and Millet entered, the door closing behind him.

  Chapter 283

  ‘Our problem is, Boss, we have nothing to compare him with.’ Senior Surgeon, Doctor Stephen Winters, called Raven as soon as the five hour stint in the operating theatre had ended. ‘For now, all we can do is to keep him hydrated and feed him a sterilised mix of nutrients and hope we don’t finish him off. We are still running tests on his blood. The X-rays are the oddest I have ever seen. Peculiar organs all over the place. Two huge glands in his neck with large muscle groups to excrete the acid. Damn, that stuff stinks.’