The intercom blared, "Captain Saberhagen to the bridge. Incoming call for you from Ralph Brunner."
"Well, I'm being paged. I hope Ralph isn't in trouble. Take care of your trainees. Good luck to you all. Listen to your chiefs well," Richard said. He was already walking away as he said his last words.
Shelly gritted her teeth at seeing herself saddled with two women she considered less than desirable. She viewed Amanda as a slut and disliked Sheila for denying her the chance to be on Richard's lane when she bowled the other night.
"What made you give up running the bowling alley?" Shelly asked.
"I saw a chance to do some good. Bowling is fun, but it doesn't stimulate the brain," Sheila answered.
"What about you, Amanda?" Shelly asked.
"Well, I, uh . . . I just think that there's a need for rescue in space. I hope to help make a difference," Amanda answered.
"And you, Irving?" Shelly asked.
"It was this or the galley. At least here I'll be making a difference and giving myself some promotion opportunities," Irving answered.
"I hope that's all of your gear. If so, grab it and follow me. I'll show you your quarters," Shelly said.
***
After having the incoming call switched to his quarters, Richard went to them and closed the door, locking it for the first time in his life. "Okay Ralph, I can talk openly now and I'll tell you what I know. I expect you to keep this in strictest confidence. Understood?"
"That depends on what you tell me. I'm pissed off right now to find that you're somehow involved in Gene's death," Ralph replied.
"I didn't know that I was until now, Ralph. How am I involved?" Richard asked.
"Daniel Brump told me that you were responsible for injuring his brother, Jerrod. Were you? Did you break his jaw?" Ralph asked.
"Yes, I kicked him in the teeth while preventing him from raping Shelly. He was the man who grabbed her in the corridor and subdued her with an injection. He had her in his room on his bed with her clothing almost off when I happened by. I caught a glimpse of what was going on through the doorway of his room. I forced my way in, whipped his ass, and took Shelly out into the corridor after making sure he was alive. Then I left when someone spotted me in the corridor with Shelly so I wouldn't be removed from the team. When he later fingered Chief Dickson as his assailant, I warned Jerrod to drop the charges or I'd kick his balls halfway up his body to meet his teeth that I kicked in. Other than that, I had no involvement with him or his brother."
"I don't understand why he couldn't recognize you then and picked on Gene instead."
"Probably because he never got a good look at me. The first time we fought, we had a door between us for a moment before I got in. I didn't give him much of a chance to see anything. I went in from out of the dark corridor and I wanted that fight over with quickly for Shelly's sake. The second time I encountered him, I threw his blanket over his head while he was sleeping before I woke him up to deliver my warning. I threatened to mop up his room with him then if he so much as peeked from under the covers before I left the room. I guess he believed me."
"And that's all there is to it?" asked Ralph.
"I swear it is. I never would have harmed Jerrod except for the fact that he was trying to rape Shelly and later incriminated the wrong man for injuring him."
"I believe you, Richard. I've never known you to lie. What you've just said checks with what I remember of those incidents. So, Jerrod was Shelly's attacker? In that case, I'll be paying him back for her, too. And Chief Dickson. I won't tell anyone else of this, Richard. I'm sorry I got pissed off at you. It's not your fault that Gene was attacked."
"I should have gone to Venus," Richard mumbled.
"No, you couldn't and you know it. You were needed on the ship. No one knew that Jerrod was waiting for you. You didn't, did you?"
"No, I didn't know he was waiting in ambush."
"Then it's not your fault. Now it's my job to tend to. You might ask the others to remember me in their prayers. I've already got Daniel right now. Hopefully, he'll tell me where to find Jerrod," Ralph said.
"Please turn them into the authorities. Don't become a murderer, Ralph."
"I'll give it some thought, Richard. Otherwise, I'm not promising anything."
"If you're concerned about the authorities not acting, I have some pull with them. Besides, they'll be anxious to solve Gene's attack and give you justice."
"You might have some pull, but I can't trust them here. I don't even think they have a court system yet."
"I'm sure they do. If you want, I'll find out for you. Just don't do anything rash that can't be settled in your favor. You're too good a man to throw your life away."
"Mine is already gone, Richard. The bastards took away our only opportunity for the family to continue when they hurt Gene. You see, I was already naturally sterile when I volunteered for space rescue. Gene was the only male in the bloodline who could continue it. I shouldn't have let him come with me to Venus after all. At least it would have kept him alive a bit longer. If nothing else, I can do my best to make sure that justice is really done."
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Ralph. Okay, you have my best wishes. Try not to get yourself killed."
"I'll be careful, Richard. I guess we never knew how much you were doing for us or we might have appreciated you more before now. Thanks for being honest and a friend," Ralph replied.
***
Seguma looked at Bea, then swore, "I promise that I won't try to kill myself. Satisfied?"
"Hardly, but it'll have to do. The last thing I want now is to call your sister on the station and tell her that you offed yourself. You know she talks about you incessantly. You're her hero and idol. She's always telling people that you're going to solve the FTL problem, whatever that is," Bea answered.
"I might have already solved it."
"What is it or am I being too nosy?" asked Bea.
Seguma explained, "FTL means faster than light. If we solve the problem of how to fly through space faster than light, we can colonize worlds beyond our solar system. If not, then we'll be stuck in this system for a long time before anyone ever reaches another star, let alone thinks about colonizing some other world in another star system."
"You've solved the problem?" Bea asked.
"I think so. Right now, I'm rehashing my figures to make sure I'm not wrong. As bad as I feel about being crippled right now, being wrong is worse to me."
"You were wrong about the Corporate Responsibility Tax."
"That's different. That was politics. I can accept being wrong about something like that. I'm talking about using numbers to arrive at solutions. That's what I excel in. To put out something that's wrong in what I excel is to cripple my reputation. I'll not stand for that since I can control what happens to it. The only thing holding me up after that is this fucking war. If I release my findings now, some asshole will try to use it to make a weapon."
***
"Well, we're glad to have you on the team. You'll buddy up with me for now until you learn the ropes. You appear to be about Gene Brunner's size. I'll try to find out if we can have his armored suit for you to use when one is needed. Your flex suit should be sufficient for now. Unless I give you instructions, I don't want you rushing out to do something that you don't have enough training for. Is that understood?" Isaac asked.
Ceriga answered, "Yes, I understand."
"Okay, you'll take Shelly's old quarters which are next to mine. If you have any questions or problems, you only need come next door or knock on the bulkhead to get my attention. Listen to what the other team members have to teach you. They're old hands and they won't lead you astray. One other thing, if you don't know Captain Saberhagen's background, then you better listen up to this carefully. The man's been through hell more than once and back. He's one of us and we'll go the same distance for him. Up until we found out, he suffered from nightmares that kept him from sleeping. Once we found that out and discovered how to keep
him from having those nightmares, we've been doing what we feel is necessary to help him. It's only right considering that he's saved most of our lives more than once. Chief Shelly Laumer is not to be bothered or condemned if you see her spending the night in the Captain's quarters. We're already aware that she's sleeping in his bed with him. She's the one who discovered that someone lying beside him at night is all he needs. Anyway, it's a small price to pay and I will not tolerate anyone who feels otherwise. Out here, we live by the golden rule. Do you know the golden rule?" Isaac asked.
"Yes, Chief. I know it. You'll have my support on this. Do you want me to quote the rule?" Ceriga replied.
Isaac answered, "Please do, just so I'm sure we're talking about the same golden rule."
"Shipmates need each other to survive in space."
"Good, then you do know the rule. I've heard it quoted differently before, but the meaning is always the same. If you live by the golden rule, you'll always find us in your corner. Have you any questions?" Isaac asked.
Ceriga answered, "Well, I do have one, Chief. Is it possible for me to send an e-mail to my brother, Seguma, to tell him about my new job?"
Isaac smiled. "Sure, I think that's possible. We're not holding any war secrets here. Soon as you're settled in, I'll take you to meet the rest of the team. Jimmy can probably get you on the net to send your e-mail."
"Thanks, Chief. I could have made the call from the station with Amanda's help, but I didn't because I wanted to be sure I really made it this far before I told my brother," Ceriga replied.
***
Shelly looked at Amanda with jealousy in her eyes as Amanda talked about her bowling with Richard.
"I told him about the alley and we really hit it off. I've never known anyone just like him and he's built, too!" Amanda exclaimed.
"Got him in bed to find out how he's built, huh?" Irving asked.
"No, I found out when we went strip bowling. We got him naked there. He's right impressive looking. I'd like to get him in bed, though. Looks like he's built to please. I'd sure like to be pleased," Amanda replied.
"Amen to that. You don't know how hard it was for me to keep my hands off him that night. I wanted to say the hell with the bowling balls," Sheila said.
"I think you all better get settled in. Then we'll meet with the other team members. Each of you will be paired with one of us at all times while you're undergoing training," Shelly said.
"I was hoping that I'd get the team that Richard is leading," Amanda said.
"Captain Saberhagen was in charge of this team until I became chief. Now that I'm in charge of this team, he's free to put all his efforts into running the ship. He is the Captain, after all. For now, your main mission is to learn how to be a rescue technician. We are strictly the backup team until you are ready. I'm the one who will decide whether you pass or fail and when you are ready if you do pass," Shelly said.
***
Shelly entered Richard's quarters. She was surprised to see him still up with a glass in his hand and the bottle from off the shelf. "Are you going to pour me one, too? Or do you intend to feel sorry for yourself all alone?"
"I'm not feeling sorry for myself. I was thinking of drinking a toast to Gene's memory. If you want, you're welcome to join me," Richard replied.
She exclaimed, "A toast? Why on earth for? It's not that I'm trying to be sarcastic, but why now?"
"I just found out that he was hurt because he was mistaken for me. Ralph caught up with one of the two men and forced that much of an admission from him."
"I guess I understand. Perhaps homage is in order. Of course I'll toast Gene's memory with you."
"Your robe is slipping," he said as he broke the seal on the bottle.
"I won't be wearing it much longer anyway. Besides, we're alone. Nudity doesn't bother you that much, does it?"
"Sometimes it does."
"You sure didn't react that way the other night at the strip bowling. You actually looked for a while like you were having fun."
Richard explained, "I thought I'd found another way to relieve the stress I'm under. The strip bowling was a complete surprise to me. At the time, it was either join in or forget bowling for the night. Afterwards, I realized that it was poor judgment on my part."
"I didn't think that of you. Really, I was glad to see you having some fun. It seemed to me that you were finally letting your hair down, so to speak, and becoming human. You shouldn't worry about things like that. If anything, you should get out more often. If you want, I'll go out with you to things like that so you'll have someone in your corner if things get tense."
"Thanks. Here's your drink. To Gene."
"To Gene," she replied before slugging down the shot of bourbon.
"Well, what do you think of the replacements?"
"I'm not very impressed by the three I have. They have a long way to go before they're qualified rescue technicians," Shelly answered.
"You're right. However, they're available and better than nothing. I'll try not to put them into anything too risky too soon."
"That's good to know, though I expected as much. You care too much to send someone into any place they're not ready for," Shelly said.
"I'm relying on you and Isaac to keep me informed of their progress," Richard said.
"I think I can speak for Isaac on that. We'll do just that, Richard."
"Fine, I figured you both would."
She asked, "Ready for bed?"
"Eager to see me naked, huh?" he asked.
"I see you every night, just about. Oh, one more thing, Richard. I might become tied up in training. I don't want to hear about any trouble from you if someone else takes my place some night."
"Someone else? What do you mean by someone else?"
"You heard me straight. There's not a person on this ship as far as I know who doesn't know what's going on. Until now, I've turned down some offers to take my place so I could have a night off. I really didn't mind. Now you've gone and promoted me to where that could become necessary. When some other woman comes here to sleep beside you, don't you dare give her any trouble or you'll answer to me. You got that, Richard?"
"Yes, Chief. I promise I'll be a good boy and let whoever she is crawl into my bed. Satisfied?"
"Yes, I am. Now are you ready for bed?" Shelly asked.
"I guess so. It's better than being verbally beaten by you."
"That isn't the half of what you'll get from me, Richard, if you misbehave. Get undressed now and slip into those sheets while I get my robe off."
***
Ralph shouted, "Where is your brother? I'm through being patient!"
Daniel cried, "I don't know where he is. He said something about trying to get Venus into the Earth war. He was talking about using sabotage to force them into acting. I don't know if he'll really do that or not. Believe me! Please!"
Ralph kicked Daniel between the legs. Daniel clutched himself with his tied hands. As he did so, Ralph took aim at Daniel and pulled the trigger. Daniel slumped back onto the floor, a hole burnt into his head by the laser that Ralph's gun spat out. Ralph stepped over the body to Daniel's computer. He logged on once more and wrote an e-mail with an urgent flag upon it, addressing it to several people he knew. Ralph hoped that they would take it seriously, especially if he failed to find Jerrod soon.
Chapter 19
"That's wonderful! It really sounds wonderful that your sister is on Space Rescue One! Aren't you proud of her?" Bea exclaimed.
"I guess so. It's just that she's not qualified to be a rescue technician. Doesn't she realize that it's dangerous out there?" Seguma replied.
"I'm sure she does. She's been in space over a year now. Now don't tell me that you're going to play big brother again like you did the first time when she stated her intentions of going out there?" Bea answered.
"I didn't keep her from going into space."
"No, you failed at keeping her home. Now leave her alone and let her find out if she's cut out for the work
or not. She'll never find out if she doesn't try. Now tell me, how's your work coming along? You know, that FTD formula?"
"It's not FTD. It's FTL."
"Whatever. So, how's it coming?" Bea asked.
"Almost completely checked out."
"Is it correct?" she asked.
"Well, so far it is."
***
"I like this job," Ceriga said.
"Of course you do. You made the first team," Amanda replied.
"Well, she's had more time in space than we have," Sheila said.
"Well, if it's any consolation to you, I'm not allowed to go out on any calls yet. I have to stay by my trainer if we have any to make," Ceriga said.
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