by C H Gideon
“We are aliens,” Flower said. “Come up to our nest.” She swarmed up the vine and disappeared above the lower branches.
Maddox, Ka’nak, and Jiya exchanged looks. “Uh, Flower of the Viank? I’m not sure we can get up there.”
A rope ladder dropped from the closest tree. Jiya gave it a tug. “Seems sturdy. I’m game.” She climbed the thick rungs. Slightly sticky sap on the vines provided surprisingly good traction. When she reached a broad branch, she swung up and looked at her companions. “Are you coming?”
“I’m not sure it will hold me,” Ka’nak said. “And I prefer to keep my feet on the ground. I will stand guard here.”
Maddox took another gulp from his canteen and splashed some water on his face. “I’m coming.” He climbed slowly, testing each rung as he ascended. At the top, he struggled onto the branch next to Jiya, then turned to look.
He nearly fell off in surprise. Interwoven tree branches created wide bridges between the trunks. Vines had been strung as handrails along some of the narrower branches, and small platforms made from the living wood provided living spaces. Flower beckoned them to cross the broad branch to the nearest platform.
Clinging to the vines, Jiya and Maddox made their way across the swaying bridge. On the far side, branches had been bent into steps, allowing them to climb to the living space. Brightly colored cushions dotted the platform, and a small table held woven bowls of fruits. Flower sank gracefully to one of the cushions and gestured to the others. “Please, sit.”
Jiya and Maddox sat. Two other aliens brought more bowls and trays with food and beverages, then retreated. Maddox glanced at the offerings and grimaced. “If you don’t mind, I’ll stick with my water,” he said, holding up his canteen.
“I understand,” Flower replied. “Since I don’t know your dietary requirements or digestive capabilities, I am offering a little of everything. Please don’t feel you must try any of it. In your place, I would be careful, too. You are welcome to take samples back to your labs for testing.”
“No offense,” Jiya said, “but you don’t sound like most of the aliens we’ve met.”
“No sense picking a fight with fellow aliens. Peace, love, and hugs, I always say.” Flower tilted her head back and forth in what could have been a combination grin and chuckle.
“If you’re not from here, where are you from?” Jiya asked.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
In the Athena’s single brig cell, the skinny alien blinked wide eyes at Takal. The old scientist stared back, noting the lightning-quick movements as the creature scrambled into the farthest corner. It clutched the thin blanket Athena had provided in front of its torso.
“What happened, little guy?” he asked. “Bachelor party?”
The alien’s eyes went wider. It cleared its throat. “Uh, where are my pants?
Takal’s grin widened. “You didn’t have any when we found you.”
“Shit.” The alien wrapped the blanket around its waist like a towel, draping and folding it to leave its arms and legs free. “Never again,” it said. “I’m too old for this shit.”
“I’m Takal. You’re in orbit around the planet we refer to as Margaritaville. Your leader told us to lock you up and throw away the key, but I’m more inclined to be lenient if you’ll answer a few questions. How’d you get on our ship?”
“I’m Headstrong Pine,” the alien said, rubbing its head. “Or at least I was. Who knows what they’ll call me after this fiasco? You can call me Pine. Do you have any water? Like a gallon?”
Takal nodded. He wasn’t sure what a gallon was, but the alien’s gestures made it clear it wanted a lot. When this mission was finished, he’d have a talk with Comm about including archaic words in the translator. “Hang on,” he said, then chuckled, wondering how that phrase might translate to a simian like Pine. He filled a paper cup and slid it through the opening in the bottom of the door.
“Keep ‘em coming,” Pine said, grabbing the cup and chugging.
When Pine’s thirst was finally sated, Takal found a pair of gym shorts and passed them through. The alien yanked them up over its hips and tied the string.
Takal settled down on the bench outside the cell. “You wanna tell me what happened?”
Pine made a side-to-side wave-like motion with its whole body. Probable shrug, Takal’s experimental body language translator whispered through his comm implant.
“You know how it is,” Pine said. “You get together with some friends and one of them brings some booze, and next thing you know, you wake up in an alien ship without your pants.”
Takal narrowed his eyes. “I need a little more than that if you want out of there,” he said. “How did you get onto the Reynolds?”
“I thought you said this was the Athena?” Pine said.
“When did I say that?” Takal asked, reviewing their brief conversation in his head. He hadn’t said it. He’d thought it, though. Surely this alien couldn’t read his mind? More evidence was required. He thought about the atomic mass of potassium.
“Maybe it wasn’t you.” Pine did the wave thing again. “Someone said they were taking me to the Athena. Oh! I was on the Reynolds, now I’m not.” It looked around the cell and nodded. “That first ship was so big. Huge!”
Takal stopped thinking about 39.0983. “I’ll ask you one last time. How did you get on the Reynolds?”
Pine looked Takal over. “You must have some kind of visual cortex enhancement,” it said. “Or your ocular system is more advanced than the others on the crew.”
Takal nodded slowly. “Yes, I can see you if that’s what you’re asking.” He wasn’t going to tell this creature how.
“But your undoubtedly sophisticated equipment didn’t detect me entering your ship,” Pine said. “So, I’m betting on the former. You realized I’d boarded and developed technology to find me. Very resourceful.”
Takal stood. “Look at me, I’m smart,” he said, sourly, swinging his arms in an ape-like fashion. “You haven’t answered my question, so I will leave you to enjoy your luxurious accommodations in solitude.” He turned to the door. He’d done enough time in President Lemaire’s prison to know how solitary confinement could wear on a social creature. Based on Jiya’s report, this species was definitely social.
“No, sorry, don’t go!” Pine said, running the few steps to the clear wall fronting the cell. “I’m a scientist. You—this—it’s all fascinating to me. I’ll tell you how I got on board: I walked. You weren’t scanning for my wavelength. You were busy watching the crew leaving the ship, so I just slipped in.”
Takal turned back. “Thank you for cooperating. Now the big question: why did you sneak in?”
Pine leaped up and hooked an arm around the conduits that ran just below the ceiling. Swinging across the room (probable pacing, Takal’s translator whispered) and back, Pine told its story.
“We are from a planet known as Jewel of the Ascedies. Jewel is one of three inhabited planets in our system, and all are getting crowded. We’ve taken to the stars to find a new world. This world—what did you call it? Margaritaville?”
Takal nodded.
“Margaritaville is perfect for us,” Pine continued. “Trees that support our lifestyle, pleasant gravity, plenty of clean water, clear air, edible foods. We found it about forty-three years ago.”
“Local years, or standard years?” Takal interrupted.
“Local years,” Pine said. “About ten of our years. I’m not sure how that translates to yours.” It dropped to the floor and sat cross-legged on the blanket. “I was barely finished with my advanced studies. We, my crewmates and I, were on the Exploratory Vessel Allure of the Stars. Unfortunately, Allure was old and decrepit. A real rust-bucket. I helped the Engineering crew keep her vacuum-tight and running, but it was a losing battle. Finally, we found this planet. We were aiming for the same valley you landed in.”
“It is the best location to drop a ship of any size,” Takal agreed. “Nice, wide valley with those vine-like trees to s
often the landing.”
“Exactly,” Pine said, pleating and straightening the edge of its blanket. “But we didn’t quite make it. Had to evacuate. The lifeboats landed just off the coast. The ship burned on reentry. I’m surprised you didn’t see evidence of it when you scanned. Some of it must have survived, and the escape pods are littered over the ocean floor.”
“Did your ship have the same elements that make you, uh, visually negligible?” Takal asked.
“Oh, yeah, I guess it does.” Pine bared its teeth in an attempt to mirror Takal’s grin. “It’s ubiquitous. In fact, when I realized you couldn’t see us, it took me a while to work out that was the cause. You don’t have any volentinus, at all. Crazy. How did you survive? Volentinus is a prime agent in camouflaging flora and fauna from predators. All of us tasty-looking creatures have it.”
“Volentinus,” Takal repeated. “We’ve seen it on a number of planets in this galaxy, but it’s non-existent in our own.”
“You learned how to compensate for that, though,” Pine said. “Well done.”
“Thanks,” Takal said. “So, you’ve been here a while...” he prompted.
“Yeah. Great lifestyle, if you like relaxing and drinking.” The little simian paused. “Then you showed up, and we were right in the middle of a rager of a party. The rest is history.”
Takal got to his feet. “Thanks for the information.”
“Are you going to leave me in here?” Pine asked. “I told you everything you asked. I promise not to get into any more trouble.”
Takal shook his head. This alien reminded him of someone, but he couldn’t put a finger on it. “Come on, let’s find you a shirt. And some food. It’s past lunchtime.”
On the bridge of the Athena, Reynolds sat in the tiny command chair, fingers tapping incessantly. Although XO’s stutter was an obvious indication of problems, the extent of the fungus infestation worried him. He hated not knowing how it might have impacted the ship’s operations and the rest of his personalities’ abilities.
Asya ran scans on the ship, noting temperature, infestation density, and energy signatures throughout the ship. “Temperature is down to one hundred Kelvin. Orbital boosters firing in nominal range. Spore-count readings indicate a standard logarithmic death rate.”
“Based on that data, the ship should be clear in thirty-seven more hours,” Geroux said.
“So, we can go back in one and a half Earth-normal days?” Asya asked.
Geroux shook her head. “We need to go another ten hours for safety. Then slowly warm the ship back to near freezing, wait, then scan again. Probably four and half days, minimum for the entire process with slack built in to cover any contingencies. We can’t risk getting this wrong.”
“This would be easier if we could use the Pods,” Asya said. “Then we wouldn’t be stuck up here. No offense, Athena, but my back is killing me.”
“None taken, Asya,” Athena answered. “Your body was not built for such petite accommodations.”
Did she just try to body-shame me? Asya asked Geroux through the comm.
She’s jealous, Geroux said.
“My balls are freezing over here!” Tactical called through the speakers. “And it’s boring with no meatbags to watch. You’ve spoiled me for solo cruises.”
“We love you too, Tactical,” Geroux said.
“Helm, you’re drifting off the optimal orbit,” Ria called to the ship. “Recommend firing a zero-point-two burst on the number seven attitude control thruster.”
“I’m not reading any drift,” Navigation replied. “We are in the green.”
“No, you’re not,” Ria said. “You’re in the yellow. Sending recalibration data now.” She turned to Reynolds. “The lag is getting worse. He should have noticed that before I did.”
“Acknowledged,” Reynolds replied. “Geroux, any idea why Navigation isn’t seeing the data?”
Geroux shook her head sadly. “He’s seeing it. Or at least, the data is there. He’s not looking. Or it’s not registering. The scans show infestations on some of the pathways he uses. Even though we cooled the ship as quickly as possible, there was a huge burst of growth as it passed through the germination range. I’m hoping the damage isn’t permanent.”
Reynolds shook his head. “Should we have waited until we got back to High Tortuga to do this? Surely those sections would have stayed warm enough to prevent infestation.”
“We’ve been over this before,” Geroux said. “It was the right decision. Waiting put the ship in greater danger.” She glanced at Reynolds, then pulled a face at Asya. He doesn’t usually second-guess himself like this.
How much do you know about how he’s connected to the ship? Asya asked. Could he be impacted by the fungus remotely?
Takal and I don’t think so, Geroux replied. We looked at that while developing the plan. Reynolds assured us his connections weren’t vulnerable since he’s biological. I think it’s worry over his counterparts.
“Trajectory is in the green again,” Ria reported. “Attitude control executed perfectly. Well done, Helm.”
“Your praise is overwhelming,” Helm replied.
“Shut up, Helm,” Reynolds said. “She’s doing her job. You aren’t.”
“Come over here and say that,” Helm snarled. “Sitting all cozy in your new ship with your meatbag friends.”
Reynolds looked stunned, furious, and resigned in quick succession. “We’ll be back together soon enough,” he said, trying to take the sting out of the words. They weren’t joking in their sarcasm, and as much as it grated on him, it was the window to see the greater issue. With their inhibitions removed by the fungus, Reynolds was seeing the real picture of what his individual personalities had become. “Where’s Takal?”
“I’m here!” Takal’s voice came through the speakers. “It sounds like the fungus has impacted the emotional circuits, assuming you have such. I wish I knew more about your physiology. It’s amazing how much I learned to build your body, and yet, what a tiny fraction of the whole it was.”
“Is there any way to fix it?” Reynolds asked, a hint of despair in his voice. The crew winced in sympathy.
“We have to ride it out,” Takal said. “Once the fungus is gone, we can replace damaged circuits. That should help. But in the meantime, we just have to wait.”
“If it would help, I might have spare circuits,” Athena offered.
“I’m not sure they’d be compatible,” Geroux said.
“I’ll show you, and you can take them if they’re useful,” Athena said. “It’s the least I can do after all you’ve done for me.”
Geroux felt a shiver down her spine. “Thank you, that’s very kind. Where do you keep them?”
“In Engineering,” Athena said. “I’ll show you.”
Geroux glanced at Reynolds, but he was distracted. Probably talking to XO or one of his other personalities. “I’ll come look, thanks,” she told the ship.
“Helm, you’re drifting again,” Ria said. She muted the connection. “Can I just take over from here? He doesn’t even realize it’s happening.”
Reynolds nodded. “Reroute control to your console.”
That gives Athena access to the ship! Geroux said to Reynolds through the comm.
I have assessed the threat, and I can override anything she tries to do, Reynolds replied. I take full responsibility.
Sir, you aren’t thinking clearly, Geroux said. She could—
Geroux, you have circuits to look at, Reynolds said, glaring at her. I suggest you go do that.
Geroux held eye contact with Reynolds for a few seconds longer than she would normally dare after being dismissed. When he looked away, she bolted for the door.
Takal, Geroux called, running along the corridor. Meet me in Engineering. Now.
“Make a hole!” she cried, shoving through the crowded spaces near the mess hall.
I’m already here, Takal said. What’s the problem?
As she hurried through the ship, Geroux rec
ounted her exchange with Reynolds. If Athena takes control, she could do anything. Crash the ship into the moon. Put in an Easter egg and vent us all after we go back.
I trust Reynolds, Takal said.
You didn’t see him just now, Geroux said.
No, but I know him. And I know Ria and Asya. And I have a team monitoring communications with the ship, Takal said. Athena would have to sneak something by all of them. And us.
If you say so. She rounded the last corner, not feeling any better. She burst through the door, then stopped. “Who? What?”
“This is Pine,” Takal said. “It’s an engineer from Ascedies. Pine, this is my niece, Geroux. She’s a genius with computers.”
“The spare circuits are in the top cabinet on the left,” Athena said.
Geroux’s eyes grew round at the reminder the AI could hear everything on the ship. She can’t tap into our comm system, can she?
No, we’re shielded and encrypted, Takal answered. Even if she snags the signal, she couldn’t understand it.
“Hello, Geroux,” Pine said. “What circuits is the ship talking about?”
“Athena has spares she offered to let us use on the Reynolds,” Geroux replied. “I don’t think they’ll work, but it doesn’t hurt to check.” She opened the cupboard and pulled out two nondescript boxes. “They don’t look like anything I’ve seen before,” Geroux said, turning the flimsy hexagonal chips in her hands. “Can you show me some of these in place, Athena?”
“Certainly,” Athena replied. “There is an unused bank of circuits in this wall. The access panel is near your feet.”
Geroux crouched and popped the panel out of the wall. “It looks like there’s some damage here,” she said. “Do you want me to replace these?”
“Thank you,” Athena said, “but no. I don’t need that section, and the connections are not good. But you can see how they fit into the system. Feel free to experiment with the spares if you wish.”
Geroux, Takal, and Pine sat on the floor in a circle around the open panel. I just wish I knew what she was up to, Geroux said.
