Space Hoppers - Dance of the Guinea Pigs

by Jayne Bartholomew

  Xander had stopped trying to work out how much sleep he wasn’t having and opened his eyes in answer to the shrill ringing with extreme reluctance.

  “Speak.”

  “I think there’s something you should be aware of,” said the doctor as his voice came over the intercom. “I don’t know how relevant it is but I’d rather discuss it with you in person. Can you come to Med-crew as soon as possible?”

  “On my way.” He went over to the counter to fix a very strong mug of black coffee before leaving the pod. When I get the leave I’m due I’m going to look for a more predictable line of work, he thought. Like crocodile dentistry.

  “Well, that was strange,” Garet mused as he and Sarah headed into the bar.

  “You think?” Sarah shot back. “First time in ages I feel all relaxed and peaceful and the weirdness starts. Obviously Sornath and I could communicate without words but he was a Cadovoan. Humans can’t. Um…” A memory tried to surface.

  “Um? Um? No wonder you were winning at cards! Remind me not to play with you again. Must be something to do with the thing with Sornath. I wonder if we could actually use that in other card games and…”

  “Absolutely not! Urgh!” she said in exasperation. “Honestly, sometimes everything seems so clear, so obvious and then other times, like at the table, they really don’t, and you know the worst of it? Not having done space travel before I have no idea what’s normal and what isn’t. It’s so frustrating!”

  “Have you told Xander about this?”

  “About what?”

  “The whole mind-reading thing.”

  “I know I was going to see him about something but I can’t remember what it was now. I don’t think I will, I’ll wait to see if it was a one-off.” She suddenly became aware of her surroundings. “Are we drinking again?”

  “Everyone needs a hobby. Anyway, just the one and we’ll call it a night. I’ll even pay since you had to give everyone their money back.”

  The barman put down his cloth and turned to face Sarah. “What would you like?”

  She stared at the bottles, trying to make up her mind. “I would like… I would like to get very drunk.”

  “Coming right up.”

  Xander entered the calm efficiency of Med-crew and moved over to where the new arrival was sitting up in a bed. He was dressed in black slacks and a white shirt, was clean shaven and his blond hair was combed and neat. The man looked completely different from when they had picked him up. He tried to rise to meet Xander but lacked the strength. Xander spoke first.

  “Welcome aboard.” He extended a hand and it was met with a firm handshake with good eye contact. “I’m Xander Mantac, Leader-One on this ship. I’m glad to see you’re looking better.”

  “I believe you’re to thank for that.” He smiled. Xander waved off his thanks and sat down on a chair by the bed. “My name is Simon Couns. I was picked up from Earth about a year ago for research, I think.” Xander raised his eyebrows but made no comment. “After only a few days the ship I was on was picked off by the Pirates and we were taken away. They killed my captors but I don’t think they’d seen a human before so they kept me alive in some filthy corner of the ship where I was pretty much forgotten. A week ago they landed for more fuel and traded me for something with one of the local tribes. By sheer fluke I managed to escape and came across your ship. Thank you so much, I just can’t express…”

  Again Xander waved off his thanks as Simon’s eyes filled up with tears.

  “You’re safe now. Amazingly we have another Earthling on board, a female called Sarah. I’ll ask her to come and see you, maybe it will help your rehabilitation. Currently we are on a course for the planet Kaor which is where we are based but Sarah will be going back to Earth on the next ship heading that way. You are welcome to go back with her if you wish.”

  “That’s just… that would be…” Simon put a shaking hand over his eyes and his shoulders started to shudder with emotion.

  “Not a problem. Rest and get your health back. When you feel up to it you could help me by giving me any information you have on the Pirates. Anything you remember, no matter how small, could be useful”. He rose and put his hand on Simon’s shoulder. “You’re safe here,” he repeated.

  “Anything I can do just let me know. I don’t know how helpful I can be though, I was pretty much kept in isolation but I’ll try and think.”

  As Xander left his bedside his face was dark. Pirates again, and in this sector. He paused before heading to the doctor’s office to see what he wanted to discuss.

  Rayine sat in her bed hugging her knees. It had been over ten years since she’d had a conversation with another living being. At work she’d learned to communicate by pointing and prodding with spatulas but it wasn’t the same. She had willed Sarah to hear more but the shock of hearing her had somehow stopped the communication flow. But it could happen again, she thought. As she reached to turn off the warm glow of the lamp by the side of her bed to go to sleep, for the first time since the Pirates had laughingly ripped off half her face she no longer felt so alone.

  In Faith’s pod, an interestingly coloured cushion moved off the sofa and made its way into the food hatch towards the kitchens.

  Seven

  Simon had been allocated pod three as soon as he was well enough to leave Med-crew and Sarah made her way over to see him, deep in thought.

  When Xander told Sarah that another human had been picked up, her first reaction had been anger. Not surprise or delight but a seething fury at being reminded of her ties to just one planet. The sensation passed as swiftly as it had come but it shocked her how quickly her sense of belonging had shifted. Sustained anger did not sit well with Sarah and by the time she was ready to visit the newcomer she had convinced herself that she would like him and they would get on like a house on fire.

  Giving the door what she hoped was a cheerful knock she noticed that a bulb had gone out in one of the discrete ceiling lights. She was looking up when Simon opened the door.

  “Hello?” Simon’s hair flopped over his brow and when he quickly brushed it back his green eyes took her in. He grinned.

  “Hi, I’m Sarah. The other one from Earth. Um, I thought I’d pop by and see how you were settling in.”

  “Well hello!” Simon stood still, looking at her. She smiled and held her gloved hand out but he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly. Much to her surprise.

  “Let’s not be formal about this,” he said into her hair. “It’s just so great to see someone from Earth after all this time.” She was powerless to do anything but submit and pat him on the back. As she pulled away he held her at arm’s length to get another look.

  “You know, I never thought I’d actually meet another Earthling again! Where are you from? How did you get caught up in this? Are you sure they’re going to let you go?”

  Sarah stared at him, feeling slightly dazed. “Which question would you like me to answer first?”

  “Are you seeing anyone right now?”

  “Am I what?”

  Simon laughed, breaking the increasing tension between them. “Sorry, three years of not seeing a woman without excessive facial hair and I turn into a drivelling idiot!”

  Sarah smiled cautiously. “Not much fun on that planet then?”

  “You could say that. Any chance of showing me around this thing? I fancy stretching my legs a bit.”

  As Sarah walked with Simon down a corridor Lingor ran screaming past them. A guinea pig was hanging on to his back.

  Two of the security crew ran after Lingor.

  Sarah and Simon stared after them.

  She turned to Simon and said, “We’re having a few problems with uninvited guests.”

  “What was that?”

  “Would you believe me if I said it was a guinea pig? Does it feel cold in here to you?”

  “I was just thinking how warm it was but I don’t think my body thermostat has adjusted to being on this ship yet.
Guinea pigs have certainly evolved, haven’t they? If you’re cold do you need to go back to your pod for a warmer top?”

  “No, I’ll be fine thanks. I guess we could go down to the crew lounge if you like, it’s on level four with the other entertainment areas.”

  “Sounds great. Looks like I picked a well equipped ship to be rescued by! Still, I’ve always said that I was born under a lucky star.” He smiled again.

  “How does being kidnapped by the Pirates count as a good thing?”

  “If I hadn’t been kidnapped I wouldn’t be here now and have the pleasure of your company.”

  “Have those cheesy lines of yours ever worked with any species from any planet, including Earth?”

  “No, but that’s fine because I’ve had years to think up whole new cheesy chat-up lines!” As Sarah gave a theatrical groan Simon laughed and put his arm lightly over her shoulders. She didn’t ask him to remove it.

  Three guinea pigs crept stealthily out of their hiding place behind boxes in Garet’s office and, hugging the walls, darted down the corridor into the open door of Booker’s quarters. There were a few muted squeaks as they carried out a thorough search of the area.

  One located a ship’s map and dragged it by its teeth out of the pod, the other took up position behind a sofa and the third took the book of codes needed to activate the buses and ran off. The one that was left behind had a long dart that it dipped into a solution carried on its hip. As the dart tip made contact with the liquid there was a hissing sound and a small release of smoke. The guinea pig dropped down on all fours and retreated further behind the sofa.

  And waited.

  “Oh my …!”

  Sarah had got hopelessly lost trying to go from pod three to the crew lounge and had somehow managed to lead the two of them into Martyn’s Visitor holding room.

  They walked into a triangular holding area which had cages and various-sized tanks stacked everywhere. From floor to ceiling there were secure containers with strong chains to keep them in place. In the middle of the room were cages containing life forms.

  “This can’t be possible!” breathed Sarah. “It’s like something from a horror movie!”

  Simon walked over to one wall and took off an axe that had been hung up. His face was black. “I saw something like this when I was with the Pirates; they keep life forms caged up and then either feed off them or use them for experimentation. I’m not going to stand for this again. Are you going to help me?” As Simon approached a cage the creature inside it cowered away.

  “I think maybe we should ask someone first, we could be making a mistake, you know.”

  “Look how scared this one is, do you think that’s a normal reaction?”

  “Well, you are standing over it with an axe…”

  “Sarah!”

  “I’m not sure about this…” But her voice was hesitant.

  “We’ll just unlock the cages and let them make the decision, OK? We just can’t leave them like this!”

  “I suppose so.”

  Monty woke up from another nap and found himself alone in the pod. His canine brain was receiving signals that sleep was a priority, rest was important. He got off the blanket and stretched comfortably. His canine stomach was also sending a powerful message that food was important too. Looking around briefly he made his way over to the door and jumped up at the controls, knocking them as he had seen Sarah do, and padded out of the pod.

  Having decided not to go straight to his pod after doing a tour of the electrical circuits, Booker met Xander. “Ah, just the person I’ve been looking for.” The engineer held up a bottle “I come in peace.”

  Xander smiled. “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea, Booker, we’re supposed to be setting a good example to the crew and I strongly suspect that at least half of them are alcoholics.”

  “Only half?”

  “Come on in.” Xander used his key card to open the door.

  “We need to talk and afterwards you may need a drink.”

  “I hate those kinds of talks. All right, go and have a seat, the corkscrew is in the second cabinet to the left.” He brought out two engraved glasses from a compartment in the side of the sofa. “I don’t like how things are on this trip, Booker, and that’s the truth. Nothing is going the way it should.”

  “We’re getting by,” Booker said, pouring a thick dark brown liquid from the bottle.

  “Just. Look at the crew we’ve been assigned. Does it occur to you that we haven’t exactly been allocated our fair share of intellectual heavyweights on this voyage? This was supposed to be one of the most important missions documented but I keep having this feeling that somewhere up the line of command someone didn’t want this to be easy for us. The Pirates are closing in and someone must have given them information about our location. What do you think?”

  Booker swirled the liquid around in his glass and leaned back. “It had occurred to me that certain members of the crew were an unusual choice but I think we’ve just had a series of bad experiences. The sabotage was carried out by the guinea pig that’s been killed, the Pirates could have been tracking us and your problems with the landing parties were just unlucky. I’ll grant you that the current infestation of guinea pigs was unexpected but we seem to be dealing with it quite well. We have some liquid poison to put down that would put out an army. If you think about it, things could be worse.”

  “Worse? Exactly how do you think things could get worse? Look around you, Booker, we’re not exactly having a pleasure cruise right now!”

  “You don’t think you may be going a bit over the top, do you?” He said, refilling Xander’s relatively untouched glass. “The Gralic mission, I grant you, could be seen as bad, but this trip? A visit to a flower festival in comparison.” He took a deep drink and smiled comfortably.

  “I thought we said we were never going to talk about that again?”

  “The flower festival?”

  “The Gralic mission.”

  Booker looked steadily at Xander. “You and I both know that how we live our lives now is directly because of what happened back then. I pretend I don’t know what you’re involved in and you let me do whatever I want with the ship’s engineering.”

  “And how exactly could I stop you doing that anyway? Every time I look around there’s some kind of new contraption that no one but you knows how to work. If you ever left, the ship would probably have to be scrapped! Light only knows what the Pirates would make of the electrics if they took over.”

  “They wouldn’t be on the ship for long, I can promise you that.”

  “You’ve booby-trapped my ship?”

  “Made appropriate security measures.”

  “We do have a Security team you know.” Booker met his eyes and Xander grinned. “I know, I know, a bunch of complete incompetents.”

  “And may I say how impressed I am that you found so many of them.”

  “They’re a well-meaning bunch and they’re honest. What they lack in terms of IQ, talent and skill they more than make up for in effort.”

  “Like that time on the Yamresor planet?”

  “In fairness, they had only just learned those ninja moves and if someone hadn’t doodled on their instruction books things would have turned out very differently.”

  “You mean if they’d performed the Stance of the Killing Panther rather than the Lure of the Rampant Monkey?”

  “Well, so what if we have let that incident affect how we run things? Why not learn from our mistakes rather than try and repeat them?” said Xander defensively. “And incidentally, we could have been a lot more thorough in our search for the person who changed the pictures on those books. Just be grateful I turned the matter over to the security team.”

  “I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. Another?” He waved the bottle at Xander who shook his head. “I’ve just been noticing things that reminded me of how it was before everything kicked off last time. The crew are starting to think they see movement when nothing’s t
here and they’re also beginning to get on each other’s nerves.”

  “We’ve been away from home a long time, Booker, those things happen when you’re stuck in a confined space. Even in a space as big as the ship. Try encouraging them to take more exercise.” Xander got up and moved over to the window. “Something doesn’t sit right on this trip. There was no way that the location of the Gathering should have got out. I had the information with me, on my person, the entire time.”

  “No one’s said anything.”

  “Maybe not on board but they’ll be saying plenty back on Kaor.”

  “Could they have used mind-touch?”

  “The Cadovoans are with us.”

  “There are others,” said Booker darkly. “Don’t beat yourself up, lad. If someone wanted to find something out badly enough there are a thousand ways. What if they’ve taken the fight to further outposts? Their numbers are dwindling here so it would make sense.” He took a drink. “A battle between the Cadovoans and the outsiders is one that I would gladly skip; we don’t know what either are capable of.”

  “It’s possible, I suppose. As soon as we get back I’ll be mind-searched which, will prove I’m not a traitor, but there will always be rumours now. I’m not naïve.” He returned to his seat and picked up his glass, swirling the amber liquid around. “The other consideration is the crew.”

  “What about them?”

  “We are agreed that if someone had gone through the records to specifically pick out a crew with the worst record of incompetence, they would choose the one we’re with. Which leaves me wondering about us.”

  Booker grinned. “Not much to wonder about with that one, is there? You led the Gralic mission and whatever anyone might say about it we lost crew. That’s the bottom line. They can give you as many medals and commendations they can think of for bravery but when you lead the idea is that you count ‘em all out and you count ‘em all in again. As for me, I have problems with people in authority. Always have, always will. Not a team player.”