by Ryk Brown
“Why?” Jessica asked.
“The collapse of civilization on Earth after the bio-digital plague was primarily due to the fact that printed books no longer existed. Knowledge and history were lost for nearly a millennium. Imagine if a library such as this had been maintained back then. Where would Earth civilization be now? How much more advanced would we all be? How much further out into the galaxy, or perhaps even the universe, would we have traveled? All but for the lack of printed books,” he finished, gesturing toward his towering stacks of literature.
“How many books do you have here?” Nathan asked.
“Just over thirty-eight thousand, in this room alone,” Mister Yokimah bragged. “And this room only contains works of fiction. Science, religion, history, philosophy…those are all contained in other rooms…rooms two or three times this size. So far, we have reproduced over two hundred thousand books. Unfortunately, we are running out of material to print.”
“You mean paper?”
“No, I speak of content,” Mister Yokimah corrected. “The original expeditions that escaped the plague and settled this system carried a limited amount of digital content in their data banks. However, I have been able to obtain additional content from other worlds, both in this sector, and neighboring sectors, thanks to the jump drive that you bestowed upon us all.”
Nathan looked around. “Amazing.” He spotted a small practice putting green in one corner. “You play golf?” he asked with surprise. “I didn’t know they had golf out here.”
“Sadly, I have yet to play a real round of golf,” Mister Yokimah admitted as he picked up a remote from a side table and pointed it at the wall. “There are no golf courses in this sector, or in any of the neighboring sectors, that I am aware of. This is the best I can do.”
A portion of the wall slid open, revealing a small side room. It was curved, forming a dome much like the main view screen that wrapped around the Aurora’s bridge. The walls were stark white, and the room was poorly lit, until Mister Yokimah entered, and the projections came alive.
“Wow,” Nathan exclaimed, following their host inside the room. Before them was a golf course, one that appeared as real as he could remember. He could hear the breeze rustling through the distant trees; he could feel it on his face. The sound of birds in the distance. Even people playing neighboring holes.
“What do you think?”
“It looks quite real,” Nathan admitted.
“Have you played, Captain?”
“Not for years,” Nathan confessed. “Ice hockey was always my game. I did play a little golf in college, however, just for fun. Although, I was never very good.”
“I have been trying to teach myself the game using this simulator I had custom-built,” Mister Yokimah explained. “I feel that I have gotten pretty good with my irons, and with my driver, but my short game needs some work. Especially my putting. I feel that on a real course, where the greens are not flat, I would have difficulties.”
“Maybe someday you will be able to play for real,” Nathan encouraged.
“Perhaps we can play a round together?” Mister Yokimah said hopefully. “Perhaps even on Earth?”
“It may be some time before I am free to visit Earth,” Nathan admitted. “In their eyes, I am still deceased.”
Mister Yokimah looked confused. “Then how is it you are in command of the Aurora? Isn’t she an Earth ship?”
“She was,” Nathan replied. “It’s complicated.”
“Of this, I have no doubt.”
“Why don’t you just build a course?” Jessica suggested. “I mean, if you can print a few hundred thousand books, surely you can build a golf course.”
“Alas, Rakuen is a water world,” Mister Yokimah explained. “Land is a very expensive commodity.”
“What about Neramese?”
“The conditions on Neramese would not be conducive to growing and maintaining a real course. The best I can hope to do is to someday build a floating mini-course on Rakuen. I believe they call such courses a ‘pitch and putt?’”
“Surely there are worlds nearby where you could build a course?” Nathan wondered.
“Building in another system would be prohibitively expensive at this time,” Mister Yokimah said, “even for someone with my wealth. I could afford to do so, but there would be no return on the investment, and I cannot justify the expense. Not if I intend to continue operating my Gunyoki racing teams.”
“You have more than one team?” Jessica asked.
Mister Yokimah turned off the golf simulation, leading them back into the main office. “I have eight teams,” he bragged. “A total of twelve Gunyoki racers, including the backup ships. I’m afraid that is where my true passion lies. Until such time as others in the Rogen sector share my interest in golf, playing on a real, tournament-level course shall have to remain a dream.”
Nathan and Jessica continued to follow their host down the length of his office toward his desk at the far end. “I’m surprised you can get any work done at all in here,” Nathan commented. “I’d be too distracted with all these games.”
“There is actually very little for me to do at this point in my career,” Mister Yokimah admitted. “My companies pretty much run themselves. I have one or two meetings each day, and I visit one of my factories at least once per week, but otherwise, my time is mostly my own. This is more my sanctuary than my work space. I spend much of my time either reading, or playing one of these games that I have collected.”
“A tough life,” Jessica commented.
“I have no complaints,” Mister Yokimah admitted, “other than a lack of golf courses, that is.” Mister Yokimah reached his desk, moving around it to take his seat. “But you did not come to Rakuen to play games, did you, Captain Scott?”
“Actually, I came to pick up a few shuttles from the Ranni plant.”
“Really?” Mister Yokimah took his seat. “Why would the Aurora need Ranni shuttles?”
“They are very useful little ships,” Nathan insisted.
“So much so that Deliza Ta’Akar instructed her plant to start producing them for the Karuzari,” Mister Yokimah stated, a pleased expression on his face. “Knowledge is a very powerful tool,” he added, noticing the surprised look on the faces of his guests.
“Or a dangerous one,” Jessica warned, “depending on who has it, and how it is used.”
Mister Yokimah either did not notice the veiled threat, or chose to ignore it. “I simply like to be aware of what is going on…on my world. Nothing sinister about it, I can assure you.”
“I’m sure Lieutenant Commander Nash did not mean to infer otherwise,” Nathan assured him.
Jessica’s expression remained unchanged.
“Of course,” Mister Yokimah agreed. “So tell me, Captain, why do I have the pleasure of your company this day?”
“I was hoping that you’d given further thought to the potential threat the Dusahn pose to your world.” Nathan told him.
“I can’t say that I have, to be honest,” Mister Yokimah replied. “Until a few days ago, that is.”
“What happened a few days ago?” Jessica wondered.
“I was contacted by a Takaran businessman by the name of Jorkar Seeley. It seems he is interested in becoming the sole distributor of Yokimah water purification systems in the Pentaurus cluster. He apparently has the full support of the Dusahn in this venture.”
“Really,” Nathan stated with a suspicious tone.
“It seems that, rather than spread their area of control further out into space, the Dusahn are interested in establishing trade with other worlds for the things they need.”
“I thought you said the Takarans have their own water purification systems,” Jessica reminded him.
“According to Mister Seeley, the primary manufacturing plant in the Takaran system was destroyed during the invasion,” Mister Yokimah stated. “Seems it was too close to one of their surface-to-orbit plasma cannons.”
Nathan looked at
Jessica for confirmation, but got no response. “And this Mister Seeley, he sought you out?” Nathan asked. “How did he get here?”
“In a Ranni shuttle, actually. There are hundreds of them in use by the Takarans. Of course, now they have all been fitted with Dusahn transponders and remote override capabilities.”
“And you are sure this man is who he claims to be?” Jessica asked.
“I have no way to verify his identity, I’m afraid,” Mister Yokimah admitted. “However, I see little risk in doing business with him, as long as the terms he proposes are satisfactory.”
“Then you haven’t done any actual business with him yet,” Nathan surmised.
“Not as of yet, no,” Mister Yokimah confirmed. “We have a meeting later this evening, over dinner. Perhaps you’d like to join us, Captain? Both of you. You can meet him yourself, if you’d like. Who knows, he may even be a good source of intelligence for your little rebellion.”
Nathan looked at Jessica, who nodded discretely. “I think we’d like that.”
“You’ll have to find something else to wear, I’m afraid. The restaurant is rather upscale. I don’t think your uniforms would be appropriate. Shall I send a car for you?”
“That would be appreciated,” Nathan agreed.
“What hotel are you staying in?” Mister Yokimah wondered.
“We have yet to arrange accommodations,” Nathan admitted. “To be honest, we weren’t sure how long we were going to be on Rakuen.”
“Please, allow me. I will have my assistant arrange accommodations for you. My treat, of course,” Mister Yokimah insisted. “How many in your party?”
“Four, thank you,” Nathan replied.
“It is my pleasure, Captain. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I do have some business to attend to this afternoon. I will have someone take you to your hotel.”
“Thank you,” Nathan repeated. “I look forward to our engagement later.”
“Until then, Captain, Lieutenant Commander,” Mister Yokimah said, standing and bowing politely as Nathan and Jessica departed.
“Where the hell are we going to get dinner attire?” Jessica asked under her breath as they made their way back across the massive office.
“I’m sure there are plenty of places to buy clothing here,” Nathan insisted.
“How are we going to pay for it?”
“I have the company credit chip, remember?” Nathan said, tapping his shirt pocket.
* * *
“What the hell?” Josh exclaimed as he stood looking at the Ranni shuttles. “I thought you had a hand in the design of these things?”
“I did,” Loki replied. “What’s wrong?”
“They look like armadillos.”
“Arma-what?”
“Armadillos. An Earth creature. Kind of like the dasypia on Haven.”
“Never heard of them.”
“Well, they’re ugly, just like these shuttles,” Josh insisted. “Didn’t anyone consider that when they were designing these things?”
“Actually, the shape is one of the reasons they are so fuel efficient,” Loki explained. “They are based on the shape of the esani beetle.”
“Great, an ugly bug,” Josh complained as he walked up to the first ship. “Jesus, Loki. Harvesters are better looking than these things. What were you thinking?”
“We were thinking that customers cared more about efficiency and operational costs, than looks.”
“Bean counters think about efficiency and operational costs,” Josh commented. “The people who own them, and fly them, or ride in them want them to look cool.” Josh looked at the shuttle again. “This is not cool.”
“I rather like them,” Loki insisted as he opened the hatch on the nearest shuttle.
“Big surprise there,” Josh muttered, following Loki inside. “Jeez, you didn’t even make them cool-looking on the inside.”
“What are you talking about? They are quite comfortable.”
Josh shook his head. “You just don’t get it, do you?”
“I guess I don’t.”
“You guys have invented the Clarkson Evolution of jump shuttles.”
“What is a Clarkson Evolution?” Loki wondered, certain that he would not care once he found out.
“The first electric car on Earth, after they recovered from the bio-digital plague. They were ugly as hell, but they were very efficient, and very economical to operate.”
“But they were unsuccessful because they didn’t look cool?” Loki surmised, moving forward into the cockpit.
“Actually, they sold millions of them,” Josh said. “Made the Clarkson company the biggest maker of vehicles in the NAU for decades to come.”
“Then there may be a method to our madness, after all,” Loki stated as he sat down in the pilot’s seat.
Josh said nothing as he climbed into the copilot’s seat.
“It never ceases to amaze me how much trivial knowledge you seem to have about Earth,” Loki commented as he began turning on systems.
“I’ve had a lot of downtime the last seven years, remember?” Josh looked the shuttle’s main console over, getting familiar with the layout. “This looks pretty basic.”
“It is, actually. Very intuitive, and very easy to operate. You need almost no flight training to fly it.”
“What are you trying to do? Put us out of our jobs?”
“Hardly,” Loki insisted. “Deliza’s market research shows there is no way anyone can build commercial, passenger transport ships fast enough to meet the growing demand to move both people and goods between systems. The Ranni shuttle is designed to meet that demand. They are inexpensive and quick to build, and easy for the layman to operate. It also allows individuals, or small companies, to run their own shuttle services, making jump transport more affordable for those who cannot afford their own personal shuttles.”
“Like space taxis,” Josh surmised.
“Something like that, yes.”
“These things come in cargo versions?” Josh wondered.
“There is only the one version, but the interior is easily reconfigurable, and the top of the fuselage can be detached to allow easy loading and unloading of cargo that is too large to fit through the main boarding hatch. There is also an escape tunnel from the back of the main cabin that leads to an aft hatch at the bottom of the stern which can be fitted with a conveyor belt to be used for smaller cargo.”
“Single-pilot certified, I assume?”
“Of course,” Loki confirmed. “But it is not recommended unless that single person actually is a pilot.”
Josh sighed. “So, what are we doing, here?”
“I thought I’d go over the basic layout with you, and then you could start the checkout on the second ship,” Loki suggested.
“Are we gonna fly them both at the same time, in formation?”
Loki cast a disapproving glance at Josh. “No. That would be foolish. The initial flights should be done by two qualified pilots.”
“Just so you know, I’m okay sitting second seat on these flights,” Josh told him as his comm-unit beeped. “Seems like a real snooze-fest anyway,” he added, taking his comm-unit out of his pocket to answer it. “You got Josh.”
“You guys can take your time,” Nathan told him over the comm-unit. “We’re probably not going to depart until sometime tomorrow.”
“Why? What’s up?” Josh asked.
“Yokimah invited us to dinner.”
“What about us?” Josh wondered.
“You guys will have to fend for yourselves,” Nathan told him. “The hotel has room service, and the bill is on Yokimah Industries, so enjoy yourselves.”
“Outstanding!” Josh declared gleefully.
“But don’t go crazy,” Nathan added.
Josh rolled his eyes in disappointment. “Wait, what hotel?”
“The Gorsica, on the south side of the center plaza,” Nathan explained.
“I know where it is,” Loki announced.
�
�Where are you guys now?” Josh wondered.
“Shopping,” Nathan replied. “It seems we don’t have the proper attire.”
“We’ll finish the primary checkout, and maybe even get the first flight in before we head to the hotel, Captain,” Loki promised.
“Sounds good. Keep a low profile, and don’t let Josh get into trouble.”
“I’m hurt,” Josh insisted.
“Yes, sir,” Loki acknowledged.
“I’m having dollag steaks, palyama, and a few of those tall ales they serve here,” Josh decided, putting his comm-unit back in his pocket.
“You’re on a planet that is ninety percent water, and you’re ordering dollag steaks?” Loki wondered. “Do you know how expensive that will be?”
“You heard the captain,” Josh said. “Yokimah’s paying for it.”
“He also said not to go crazy,” Loki reminded him.
“It’s not like I’m ordering two steaks,” Josh argued.
“Most people order seafood when on Rakuen,” Loki told him.
“Most stupid people.”
Loki rolled his eyes as he continued his checkout.
* * *
Cameron stepped through the hatch, returning to the intelligence department for the second time today. “Don’t tell me you got an answer already?”
“They must have had a reply already written,” Lieutenant Commander Shinoda commented, handing the data pad to Cameron.
Cameron read the message. “Well, it’s definitely Michael Willard,” she decided as she read. “He answered every test question correctly, and he used the proper encryption algorithm.”
“What does he say?”
“All the ex-Corinari have gone into hiding to avoid arrest,” Cameron told him. “Many of them have formed an underground resistance, but they have been unable to take any action as of yet. They say they could convince most of the Corinari to come out of hiding and join their cause, if Nathan was to show his face on Corinair.”
“Why would he want to do that?”
“It seems that most of the Corinari are not convinced Nathan is still alive.”
“Can you blame them?” Lieutenant Commander Shinoda agreed. “Even I saw him being cremated.”
