Firmament: Radialloy

by J. Grace Pennington

  “You don’t know that it is him.”

  Crash turned then and saw me, blinking sleepily in the entrance. “Where are you going?” I asked.

  “They’ve bamboozled me into being a scout.”

  I was unaware that anyone could bamboozle him into anything. “A scout?”

  The Doctor moved to my side and put an arm around my shoulders, shaking me slightly to wake me. “Trent and that new Commander decided it would be a good idea to send him ahead with Whales.”

  Whales... Mr. Whales was the scientist. “To test for life?”

  “Yes.”

  I found myself wondering if Guilders had been involved in the decision at all. “Kind of... sudden, isn’t it?” I was still not entirely awake.

  “Trent asked me about it last night,” Crash explained. “But you were already asleep.”

  I wanted to protest that I’d been asleep when he called me, but I resisted. Besides, I knew I would have been mad if I’d awakened and found that he’d left without saying goodbye.

  The Captain strode in, already shaved and uniformed, looking as fresh and energetic as if he’d been up and about for hours.

  “How are preparations going, Mr. Crash?” he asked.

  Mr. Whales appeared behind him, lugging a crate of equipment. Crash caught his eye and jerked his head towards the access of the Alacrity I. Whales nodded and began carrying his load towards the speeder.

  “Almost done,” Crash answered. “Should just be a couple minutes.”

  I was too sleepy for a moment to figure out just how the Alacrity I was going to get there before us. Then I remembered that speeders could travel at higher velocities than starships, because they were built for nothing but speed. The Alacrity I could get there and back in half the time it would take the Surveyor to reach Alpha fifty-four-thirty-three—and not only because of the higher warp factors. Speeders could take more direct routs than larger ships, and there was one other thing. I struggled to recollect it.

  The Captain helped me without meaning to. “I want you to employ warp as long as possible... If memory serves, the Alacrity I is a 4k speeder?”

  Of course. How close a craft could get to an object without having to slow to propulsion. The Surveyor was closer to a 12k.

  Crash’s chest expanded with pride. “3k, sir.”

  “3k?” The Captain’s eyes widened. “I’ve never even heard of a 3k.”

  “Excuse me, Trent, but you have. You’ve heard of the Alacrity I.”

  I giggled, and the Captain had to smile. “I suppose I shall have to concede that.”

  Crash’s eyes went past the Captain, and he smiled. “She can actually get a little closer than that, but to be safe, I say 3k.”

  I turned to look and saw Guilders standing there. Suddenly, I understood, at least partially, why Crash had allowed himself to be talked into this.

  “I don’t think anyone would believe a 2k,” Guilders commented, stepping in.

  Crash sniffed, and turned away. “Are you ready, Mr. Whales?”

  Whales stuck his head out of the access. “I’m ready.”

  “Be careful,” the Captain said. “You should be able to stay in contact with us the whole time.”

  “I think so.” Crash approached me and the Doctor and looked at us with a smile. “I’ll be back in a few days.”

  I nodded, and the Doctor laid a hand on Crash’s shoulder, but said nothing.

  Crash turned to me and opened his arms. I flew to them and hugged him tight, feeling a sudden pang of guilt for blaming my unrest on him.

  “Stay out of trouble while I’m gone,” he joked.

  “I will,” I assured, my voice muffled by his jacket.

  He let me go, and with a last smile, disappeared into the Alacrity I’s access.

  “Clear the airlock,” a technician called through the intercom, and I reluctantly backed out and into the hall, watching the opening of Crash’s speeder until the airlock entrance slid shut with a loud whoosh.

  I felt a strong vibration as the speeder pulled free from her moorings, and zoomed out into open space.

  I caught a glimpse of the Alacrity I through the porthole as it raced away. It was a good idea to send him off; it would help us. It was a logical move for the Captain to make.

  So why was a feeling of unease settling over me?

  VII

  I sighed as Guilders and the Captain retreated down the corridor, discussing the day’s agenda. The Doctor squeezed my shoulders.

  “Can I go to breakfast?” I asked. The lights came on as I said the word “go.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Breakfast? At six in the morning?”

  “Getting up early makes me hungry.”

  “All right. But it doesn’t make me hungry, so I’m going to sickbay.” He paused for a moment, and I turned to look at his face. I found hesitation there. “Meet me there at nine.”

  I stared. I went there every day. Something didn’t sound right, though—“meet” him there? And why nine, why not just when I was ready, casually, like always?

  “Is something wrong?” I asked.

  “I—I don’t know.” He let go of my shoulders. “I want to test you for something.”

  Test me for something? For what?

  “All right. Yes sir.”

  He walked away, and I watched his thin form shuffle off, feeling a little pain in my chest. I loved him so much. I didn’t want anything to happen to him. Crash was just mistaken—the Doctor wasn’t in any danger.

  I loitered into the mess hall, knowing that the main breakfast would not be ready. Snack bar might not even be open yet. But if it wasn’t, I could get myself something.

  The large room was empty as I walked in, and I felt a strange loneliness in the pit of my stomach. Then, as I trotted towards the galley, I saw a solitary form seated at the bar, in a waiting attitude.

  All I could see from behind was that it was a large man, with dark, short brown hair. But when he heard my boot tap on the metal floor, he turned his head. Commander Howitz.

  He smiled when he saw me. “Are you here to open the bar?” he asked.

  “No,” I smiled back, despite the fact that I didn’t feel like smiling just then. “I don’t actually work here. I was just hungry. But I can get you something if you like—Almira won’t mind.”

  “Thank you,” he said, his low, gravelly voice managing to unnerve me once again. “Where do you work, if not here?”

  “Sickbay,” I answered, slipping behind the counter. “I’m the second medical officer.”

  “Ah.”

  Was it just me, or was he uncomfortable around me, too? It was a fleeting impression, and the next moment he smiled a kind smile at me.

  “I heard you had an accident on the bridge.”

  I flipped on the snack bar lights. “Yes. I hurt my knee, but we’re not sure what caused it.”

  “’We’?”

  “Doctor Lloyd—my father and I.”

  “Ah,” he said again. He frowned, and peered at me, his small, black eyes seeming to take in every detail of me, almost hungrily.

  I fidgeted, and then entered my code into the temperature regulator. It beeped and unlocked, and I opened it. “What would you like to eat?”

  “Andi?”

  I turned to look at him and found him still staring at me.

  “Yes?”

  “Let me see your hand.”

  Hesitating, I closed the doors and stepped towards him. I held out my hand slowly, and he didn’t touch it, but looked closely at my palm.

  He frowned more. “Have you ever been tested for Langham’s Disease?”

  Langham’s Disease. I wracked my brain for details, but came up blank. “I don’t think so—what is it?”

  He looked up at my face, and I dropped my hand. “Langham’s Disease is a disorder of the lymphatic system. It’s only been around for about thirty years; I don’t think they know much about it yet. I’m not a doctor, remember, just an engineer. But I’ve seen it before.
Your father’s really never tested you for it?”

  “No.” I quelled the nervousness rising in me. “Is it serious?”

  “Very. It’s fatal. But I don’t suppose you have it. I think it can only be developed during embryogenesis, or else transmitted to the mother during pregnancy. You’ve—” he hesitated “—never been pregnant?”

  “No,” I said, a little indignantly.

  “Then if you had it, you would have died long ago.” He shook his head. “Still, what I heard about your knee and what I saw just now...” he left his sentence unfinished.

  “What did you see? And how would I know for sure?” I asked.

  “I saw a slight swelling on your wrist. That usually means a fluid buildup, which is indicative of a lymphatic deficiency. Sudden, intense joint pains can occur in some cases.” He seemed to anticipate my next question. “I had an employer whose wife was diagnosed once. He shared his research with me.”

  I was silent. I’d never heard of Langham’s Disease—but then, he said it was rare, and little was known about it. I studied my wrist. Was it a little swollen? I thought so.

  He spoke again. “I’m probably wrong. After all, he’s the doctor; you’d think he would have thought to test you.” He sounded doubtful.

  I nodded. “How would I know?”

  “A plasma test would show,” he said. “You’d have to search for the organism—a slow-growing bacteria that eats the lymphatic walls.”

  “Eats the—what?” I gasped.

  “I don’t remember exactly,” he said. “Again, I’m not an expert.”

  I was still staring at him when the light from the galley flashed on behind me. Almira’s clear, comfortable voice rang out. “Andi! How are you this morning, honey?”

  I didn’t answer for a moment, but then I stammered out, “I’m fine.”

  “I was just about to start breakfast. Do you need to eat something now, or can you wait?”

  I turned and tried to smile at her. “I’ll wait,” I said.

  She glanced inquiringly at Commander Howitz as she pulled an apron off a metal peg just inside the door.

  Settling himself more comfortably on his bar stool, he dug an electronic book out of his pocket and set it on the counter. “I’ll wait. Are you going to wait, Miss Andi?”

  I moved around to the front of the bar and seated myself on a bar stool. “Yes. Thank you for your concern.”

  He smiled. “I hope I’m wrong, I truly do.” He turned on his book and began to read, taking no more notice of me.

  I felt dazed as I watched Almira bustle around getting our breakfasts together. This was silly. Of course, if I did have this—this Langham’s Disease, the Doctor would have found out long ago. Commander Howitz wasn’t even a doctor; what did he know?

  I looked at my wrist again. It wasn’t swollen. Was it? I couldn’t deny the knee pains, however. But could a lymphatic deficiency cause something that painful?

  I shuddered. Surely not.

  I started to reach for a napkin and stopped midway, remembering something.

  “Meet me there at nine... I want to test you for something.”

  Could it be the Langham’s Disease that he wanted to test me for? Could he have wondered about my knee pains being related to that?

  If he knew I had some disease, why would he hide it from me? That was ridiculous. Besides, Commander Howitz said that I would have died shortly after birth—

  “What does it matter what he says?” I mumbled.

  “Pardon me?” asked the commander, looking up from his book.

  I felt my cheeks flush as I shook my head. “Nothing.”

  I glanced at a chronometer above the galley door. It wasn’t even seven yet, and I felt strangely uncomfortable about going to sickbay before the appointed time. I wasn’t positive if he’d want me there, silly as I knew the feeling was.

  As Almira served us both, the mess hall began to fill up with hungry crewmembers. The Doctor didn’t come down, I noticed. I ate slowly, trying to fill up the time.

  When I was done with breakfast I lingered for awhile, then helped clear the tables. Time dragged on, and when I’d finished helping Almira clean up, it was still fifteen minutes before nine.

  She noticed my behavior. “Is everything okay, honey? You seem a bit distracted.”

  “I’m all right,” I said, trying to smile. She must have seen it wasn’t true, because she stopped what she was doing to give me a hug. I returned it, but it didn’t make me feel any better.

  I loitered down the corridors for awhile, waiting for nine to come. I had thought of going to ask if I could help on the bridge, but since I only had about ten minutes before my appointment, I didn’t think that was wise.

  My appointment. I squirmed a little, then scolded myself again. Andi Lloyd, I’m ashamed of you! Be sensible and wait to see what the Doctor wants. Stop imagining things. Like most of my self-scoldings, it didn’t help much.

  A couple of minutes before nine, I finally hurried to sickbay, hoping that he wouldn’t mind if I was a couple minutes early. Why should he?

  I found him putting a laser away in the main medical cabinet, and he closed the doors as I stepped into the room. I took in the medical atmosphere gladly, letting the familiarity of it relax me a bit.

  He looked at me as I approached him, and I noted with concern the weariness of his expression. His face was a little pale, and his eyes lacked their usual sparkle of wit.

  “Are you feeling okay?” I asked, frowning.

  He didn’t try to lie. “I’m sorry Andi... thank you for coming, but I’m just so tired. I don’t know what it is.”

  “Did you sleep well last night?” I suggested.

  Shaking his head, he tried to smile. “I guess I’ve been a little worried.”

  “If you want to go rest, I could look after things here,” I offered.

  Before answering, he looked around the room for a moment. “What we need around here is a nurse.”

  I never liked him to suggest nurses. It was so nice with just him and me. “I can take care of it, Dad.”

  He turned back and smiled tiredly. “Thank you.”

  For half a second I forgot why I’d come. Then I saw him start to walk away, and I called, “Wait, Doctor?”

  He faced me. “Yes?”

  “You wanted to test me for something?”

  Sighing, he looked tiredly at me. “Oh yes. Do you mind if we do it later?”

  I wanted to ask him for more information, but he looked so weary that I bit my tongue and shook my head. “That’s okay.”

  He smiled gently, which made me more worried than ever. I’d never known him to be so tired. “Thank you, dear.”

  Nor did he ever call me “dear.” I could only nod and watch him leave the room.

  A small shudder ran through me, and I couldn’t stop it. There were too many strange things happening. Instead of getting better after Crash left, as I’d hoped, they’d only gotten worse, even in the brief few hours he’d been gone.

  My eyes drifted to a hypo sitting on a desk a few yards away, and I walked forward and picked it up, an idea firming to a determination in my mind. Commander Howitz had said that I could find out if I had Langham’s Disease with a plasma test. I might as well set my mind at rest.

  I went to sterilize the hypo.

  VIII

  “Commander?”

  He sat at lunch in the mess hall, eating a sandwich, and looked up when I addressed him. “Hello, Andi! Can I help you?”

  I didn’t like that he called me “Andi.” After all, I’d just met him the day before. But shaking off my feelings, I resolutely held a closed tube out to him. “I need a favor.”

  “Yes?”

  Did he remember our conversation from hours before, I wondered? I’d had to wait until lunch to speak with him, since I couldn’t visit engineering. He was practically a stranger, but I didn’t know who else to ask. And I needed to know the answer to this.

  “I took a blood sample earlier. C
ould you... could you tell me what to test for? For that disease you told me about?”

  He nodded earnestly. “I’d be glad to... though it would be easier for me to test it myself, if you don’t mind.” Again, his small, dark eyes seemed to search me intensely for a moment.

  “I don’t mind... I’d be grateful.” I handed him the tube. “I didn’t think you’d know how.”

  “I can do more than engineering,” he chuckled. “I’m no doctor, but I can manage a few simple things like that. I don’t know if I’ll have time today—Captain Trent wants the attitude control back online quickly.”

  “That’s perfectly all right,” I assured. “Just... whenever you have time.”

  Nodding, I took a couple steps backwards, and then turned. His voice stopped me. “Andi?” he said.

  I closed my eyes and just said it. “Miss Lloyd, please.”

  “Miss Lloyd?” he persisted.

  “Yes sir?”

  “I don’t think you should say anything to your father about this.”

  I bit my lip and turned to face him.

  “I don’t keep secrets from my father, Commander.”

  Nodding, he spoke quickly. “I respect that. But I’m worried that he might—” he hesitated here, and I cut him off.

  “My father wouldn’t hurt me.”

  “Of course not.” Again, that doubtful tone. “But Andi...”

  “Miss Lloyd.”

  “Miss Lloyd, what if you do have it? How could he not have known?”

  I couldn’t figure out how to answer that, so I pretended he hadn’t said it. “Thank you for your help.”

  This time I walked away, and barely heard him call after me, “You’re welcome.”

  As I walked, I looked around again for the Doctor. Surely he was up now.

  A moment’s searching among the full tables proved futile, but close observation showed me that neither the Captain nor Guilders were there either. That gave me a pretty good clue as to where they might be.

  Not feeling hungry, I trotted out of the room, trying to shake off the tension that I’d felt building up during the conversation with Commander Howitz. Not tension between him and myself—tension within me.

  I rode the elevator down to C-Deck, and trotted down the hall to the Captain’s quarters at the end. The door didn’t slide open automatically when I approached it, so I pressed the small white button on the wall just to the right. A muffled chime sounded from within, and the Captain called, “Come in, it’s unlocked.”