by Gary Weston
‘I’d love one. It’s been years since I had one of those.’
Freeman poured two good measures and added ice, then he handed one to Saltoe. ‘Cheers.’
‘Cheers. Sir. I hope this isn’t an imposition, me having to stay on the ship?’
‘Not at all. I already had a word with Boss that you would be accompanying me on this trip. We both agreed it would be good experience for you. Have you been to Varlindra before?’
‘No, Sir.’
‘Then you are in for a treat. Look. I don’t know about you, but I’d be much more comfortable if you call me Clifford. All day long I get Sir, or Councillor Freeman. Even I forget my name is Clifford, sometimes.’
‘Only if you call me Maj.’
‘Maj it is. Well. Only a few days before we get there. There’s always a lot of work to do, but I’m sure I can find time to show you the sights.’
‘I look forward to it, Sir…I mean, Clifford. I’ve a favour to ask.’
‘Go on.’
‘I’d like to make a couple of calls. Sooner rather than later.’
‘Of course. I’ll arrange it with Captain Chimes. But, if you don’t mind, we’ll eat, first. Get to know each other a little more.’
‘I’d like that.’
‘I hope you like fish. I had a few for the freezer from Mars when I was there. I’ve a domestic preparing it at this moment. It shouldn’t take much longer.’
‘Lovely,’ said Saltoe. It was like being on a “proper” date. She couldn’t believe she was actually with Councillor Clifford Freeman, on Transporter One, engaging in small talk, having a meal cooked for her. This was a life she could get used to.
Chapter 321
The domestic was a neat, middle-aged woman named Martha Moore. She cooked then served the meal in Freeman’s private quarters. The wine was delicate in flavour and Saltoe imagined it was quite expensive. The quarters were furnished to Freeman’s own taste, the walls a subtle cream colour and pictures of country scenes were here and there.
‘This isn’t like any ship I’ve ever been in,’ said Saltoe.
‘Good. That was what I was going for. I seem to spend half my life on this bird, so I insisted I had it looking more like a home than a ship.’
‘It looks very nice. Obviously a man’s place.’
‘You don’t like it?’
Saltoe said, ‘It’s more you than me. But you know women. We do like frilly and fancy.
They chatted casually as they dined, then Saltoe said, ‘I’d really like to make those calls if I could. I won’t sleep if I don’t.’
‘Sounds important. ‘Anything I can help with?’
Saltoe got up to go. ‘Only as a last resort.’
‘I’ll escort you to the flight-deck.’
Captain Chimes smiled as they entered, and Chimes said, ‘You wish to make two calls?’
‘Please. I wish to call Boss. Any idea of the time there?’
‘About three in the afternoon. Let’s see if Boss is in his office.’ A few minutes later, Boss Raven’s face flickered on the screen.
‘Miss Saltoe. My. Don’t you look pretty today.’
‘Thank you, kind sir. Are you coping without me?’
‘No,’ said Raven, truthfully.
‘Good. Boss. I’ve a huge favour. The freighter that brought me here. Captain Goodwind. She and her daughters are taking a load to Tryzon. Thanks to my detour, they’ll be slapped with a hefty penalty that could send them under. Any way you can do something about it?’
Boss said, ‘You know I could never get involved with anything commercial. I have to remain impartial and not show favouritism.’
‘But it was D S I business that stuffed things up for them.’
‘Sorry. Councillor Freeman. Hi. Tell Miss Saltoe I’m right.’
Freeman said, ‘He’s right, Maj. He can’t get involved. Same for me, before you ask.’
‘Right, Clifford,’ said Saltoe. ‘There might be another way. Is Agent Tilly Jordan around?’
‘Tilly? She’s at her place. What has it to do with Tilly?’
Saltoe said, ‘It’s her father the load is going to. I was hoping she might have a word with him.’
‘One minute. I’ll have a word with her then I’ll transfer you. Good luck.’ Boss called Jordan.
‘Tagg?’
‘Hi. Miss Saltoe would like a word. You free at the moment?’
‘Sure. I thought she was with the Councillor.’
‘She is. Would you believe they’re already on first name terms.’
‘I didn’t even know he had a first name. Good for Maj. Patch her through, Tagg. Wow, Maj Saltoe. You look hot, girlfriend.’
‘I know,’ said Saltoe with a pout and a flutter of her eyelashes. ‘Tilly. The freighter I came out on, is taking a load to your father on Tryzon. The new ski-lift.’
‘I know. He was on about nothing else when I called him last. What about it?’
‘Your father’s slapping a late delivery penalty on the captain of the freighter. It’ll kill the business she’s built up for twenty years. Probably leave her with a mountain of debt.’
Tilly said, ‘Typical of him. Anything to make or save a credit or two. But a contract is a contract, Maj.’
‘Tilly. It was me having them detour which caused the problem. That’s D S I business. I feel really bad about it.’
‘I’ll talk to Mom.’
‘But it’s your father calling the shots.’
Tilly chuckled. ‘Not as far as Mom is concerned. I’ll do what I can. At least get Dad to compromise a little. Leave it with me. Hi, Councillor Freeman. Nice for you to have a little feminine company for a change, other than your crew, of course.’
‘Very nice indeed,’ said Freeman. ‘We’ll try to mix business with pleasure.’
Tilly said, ‘Sounds like fun. Maj. I’ll see if I can get this sorted. I’ll give my parents a call right now. I’m sure we can sort something out.’
‘Thanks, Tilly.’
‘Right,’ said Freeman. ‘Maj and I have a half finished bottle of brandy waiting for us.’
‘Have a pleasant evening, you two. Over.’
Freeman and Saltoe returned to Freeman’s private quarters and they relaxed with soft music and brandy.
‘I hope Agent Jordan can talk her father round, Maj.’
‘So do I. Well, I did all I could.’
‘Look. I’m sorry neither Boss or I could get involved. As Boss’s P A you would be aware of that.’
Saltoe sipped her brandy and nodded. ‘Of course I knew, but I hoped on this occasion an exception could be made.’
‘Sorry. Protocol. I admire the way you went to bat for the Goodwinds.’
‘The least I could do. She’s a remarkable woman, is Captain Goodwind. She’s been on her own since her idiot husband ran out on her, leaving her to run a business and raise her children. And her kids are fine young women. A credit to her.’
Freeman twirled his ice around. ‘It’s a tough life out there. I’m sure…’
They were interrupted by Captain Chimes’ voice. ‘Sir. I have General Millet wishing to talk with you urgently.’
‘We’re on our way. Come on, Maj.’
Chapter 322
‘General Millet. Something urgent for me?’
‘Yes, Councillor. This is the edited version put together by Frogmorten and Cracker. You should be sitting down for this.’
Saltoe and Freeman sat, wondering what was coming.
‘Jackie Cracker will narrate what we think is going on, Sir,’ said Millet.
‘We’re ready, General,’ said Freeman.
As the images appeared on the screen, Cracker told her story. ‘This goes back to Twenty One nineteen. About fifty-eight years into Scortrax’s journey. The data prior is interesting, but mostly just stuff about the planets it passed. Atmosphere, mass, that kind of thing. Ok. Now, this is where it gets interesting.’
‘Wow. What the hell is that?’ Saltoe asked.
‘For want of a better term,’ said Cracker, ‘Aristotle and I call it a split. A crack in space.’
Captain Chimes said, ‘I’ve never seen anything like it. It…it looks like pure energy. How big is it?’
Frogmorten said, ‘Our best estimation is about three and half million miles long, by about one million wide at the widest point. It has a strong enough pull to suck in anything getting too close. Entire planets could get sucked into it. Scortrax certainly was.’
‘And it survived going through that?’ said Freeman.
‘Yes, Sir,’ said Cracker. ‘Ok. Not much happened for a couple of years on the other side of that split, until this happened.’
‘A fancy looking ship,’ said Chimes. ‘They’re at war by the look of things.’
‘Were,’ said Freeman. ‘This was a few decades ago.’
Saltoe knew her history. ‘There was no war going on in twenty-one nineteen. Years before that time, Humans, Graggons and Varlindrans were fighting all over the place. Lucky for us, the Graggons were on our side.’
‘That isn’t Graggons they’re fighting,’ Chimes said, ‘Those ships are none I’ve seen before.’
Cracker said, ‘This transmission was picked up by the probe.’
A tiny humanoid face appeared. ‘We need your help.’
‘Damn. He speaks English,’ said Saltoe.
Frogmorten said, ‘As do Varlindrans and Graggons here. The adopted second language of the Interplanetary Council. ‘Listen to this.’
‘We are under attack from The Novlandins who tried to enslave us. We have been all but destroyed. We are just a few. Two hundred, perhaps. They have been sent to a planet where they might be safe, and a token few are fighting off the enemy ships, to give our people a chance to escape. People of Earth. Please help our people. Here are the coordinates of our new home. We cannot hold on much…’
There came a flash and an explosion, the sound of people screaming in pain. Then nothing.
‘What happened?’ Saltoe asked.
Freeman gathered his words. ‘That ship was blown up. They’re dead.’
‘That’s impossible,’ said Chimes. ‘Apart from the drixolate war, there has been no fighting, Varlindrans, Graggons and us getting along pretty well, considering.’
Freeman said, ‘Cracker. Anything else?’
‘Not for some time. Then this again.’
‘It’s that split,’ said Freeman.
The data recording faltered as it approached the split again, went out completely then returned, the probe continuing its journey. General Millet was on the screen.
‘Sir. I honestly have no idea what any of this means. Are you aware of any hostilities in twenty-one nineteen with anybody, because I’m not.’
Cracker said, ‘What you saw wasn’t in twenty-one nineteen. It was just a few months ago.’
‘Impossible,’ said Millet. ‘I think as D S I Military General, I might just have heard of wars going on. Councillor Freeman. To the best of your knowledge, is there any possibility of us becoming involved in any hostilities?’
‘To the best of my knowledge, no. But…’
‘Sir. Is there something we need to know?’
Freeman said, ‘Not at this time.’
‘You do know something.’
‘General Millet. Continue your journey to Home. I’ll contact you soon. End of transmission.’
‘Councillor Freeman,’ snapped Millet. ‘I really must protest…’
‘End of transmission, General,’ said Freeman, tapping the sensor so the screen went dead. ‘Captain Chimes. I do not want to be disturbed under any circumstances. Miss Saltoe. Come with me, please.’
Chapter 323
Back in Freeman’s quarters, the Councillor poured two measures of brandy and passed one to Saltoe.
‘Why were you so rude to General Millet?’ Saltoe asked.
‘Because I needed time to think. But Frank Millet is correct. I do know something. At least I think I do.’
Freeman went to a large painting that took up much of one wall and pressed the corner of the ornate golden frame. The painting opened like a door. Behind it was a sensor, and a retinal scanner. The scanner checked Freeman’s right eye, then he pressed his thumb on the sensor and a steel panel slid open. Freeman removed a large, battered yellow case and placed that on the table. Flicking the catches, he looked seriously at Saltoe before opening the case.
‘Maj. This is about as confidential as it gets. We need to be clear about that.’
‘Understood.’
Freeman opened the case and selected three parts, a ring, a cube and a cone. Carefully, he precisely arranged those on the table, then he opened a metal box and removed a smaller cone.
‘What is all that stuff?’
‘Varlindran technology. Something of an antique, being over a hundred years old.’ Freeman closed and removed the case leaving the objects in place on the table. ‘Ok. Sit down and watch the show. But remember…’
‘Confidential. Got that.’
‘Actually, I’m surprised Frank Millet hasn’t figured it out. I’m thinking he’ll have a Eureka moment any time soon. Before I start, does the name Cragg mean anything to you?’
‘Dixon Cragg? A story teller, wasn’t he?’
Freeman chuckled. ‘Something of a hero of mine, actually. These days, people read his stories of battles in space, his many exploits, but what they don’t usually get, is the stories are actually true. Craggy, as his friends called him, was a true hero. Sure, he did jazz up his adventures a little, but by and large, they were all true. I have his complete recordings. Anyway, putting that aside, there was a thing called the Blackness. The Varlindrans used her to travel vast distances much faster than light speed, by energising her with their laser cannon. They didn’t realise, she was a sentient being. They thought she was just a freaky anomaly. Dixon Cragg was the first to realise she was a sentient being. The Varlindrans took some convincing, but they understood in the end. They didn’t realise it, but what they had been doing, was torturing her.’
‘I read the Craggy books. They were compulsory reading in school. I remember about the Blackness. That actually happened?’
‘Pretty much. It seems that the Blackness wanted what we all want. To fall in love with someone, have a family and live happily ever after. She agreed to work with the Varlindrans, Humans and Graggons as long as they didn’t hurt her again. As they crossed the galaxy with her, she was always seeking her mate.’
‘That is so sad. Tell me she found her mate.’
‘She did. But not in our universe.’
‘What? But we only have one universe.’
Freeman said, ‘Not true. This cone was passed on through my family. This copy belonged to my great, great grandfather, Lance Dillow.’
‘He was the one they called the giant in the Craggy books. He ate concrete for breakfast.’
‘I suspect a slight exaggeration. He was on the one and only trip on a ship to that other universe. His Daughter, Fawn was there and also the legendary Craggy.’
‘I remember in the book. The Blackness visited Craggy on Mars. It’s all coming back to me.’
‘Lance Dillow was in charge of what I suppose was the forerunner of the D S I Military. Ok. Here we go.’
Freeman inserted the old Varlindran cone and pressed the tip of the larger cone. All three parts lit up and a three dimensional holographic image appeared.
Saltoe said, ‘That’s the same as we just saw. The split.’
‘Correct. That is a hole into that other dimension or universe. The one the probe entered then came back through again. See that?’
‘That’s the Blackness.’
Freeman said, ‘Yes. But not the one from our universe. That one became the mate of our blackness.’
‘They’re magnificent.’
‘Yes. Amazing creatures. See that?’
Saltoe said, ‘No. That can’t be Earth.’
‘According to the legend passed down to me, Earth was not d
estroyed there, as ours Earth was. Mars, on the other hand, was not terraformed as our Mars is. Ok. This is where they land on Earth. This cracks me up whenever I see it. They got together in a group. See the big one?’
‘Which one? There’s two of them. They….they’re identical.’
‘The one on the right is my ancestor. The one standing next to him was his dopple. His other him. Their daughters, Fawn, and that…’
‘That…those are Craggy. Such a little man to have done so much.’
Freeman said, ‘Size isn’t everything, I’m reliably informed. Those women are Craggy’s wives.’
‘Misty Rivers. One of my favourites.’
‘Right. Now. There were Graggons and Varlindrans there, as here. Some of our then friendly Varlindrans and Graggons went through. Humans and Graggons were fighting each other in this other universe. Our Graggons had a chat with their Graggons, and peace and happiness blossomed all over their universe. At least it did at the time.’
Saltoe said, ‘So this what was discovered on the probe are two different races in the other universe fighting each other?’
‘That would be my take on it. And something happened to our probe as it came back into our universe. Our scientists first thought, logically, the original glimpse at the new races was from many decades ago in our sector seven. What we saw is happening now.’
‘Oh,’ said Saltoe. ‘Those tiny people being killed that way. Clifford. We have to go in there and help them.’
‘See? Exactly the sort of knee-jerk reaction I’d expect from General Millet. Which is why I didn’t tell him what I have just shown you.’
Saltoe snapped, ‘Clifford. ‘You can’t refuse to help those poor people. Come on.’
‘This isn’t our fight, Maj. We have no idea what we would be up against and, it isn’t even happening in our universe.’
Saltoe got up, her hands on her hips. ‘That’s it? We do nothing?’
‘I didn’t say that, Maj.’
‘Don’t you Maj me. You need to get a plan together and go save those poor little people.’
Freeman said, ‘Which is exactly why I intend to talk to Boss Raven.’
Saltoe zipped up her top, hiding the main prize. ‘You see that you do, Councillor Freeman. Then depending on what you and Boss Raven decide, will have a very real outcome on where you and I go from here. Got that?’
