Singularity: Book Two of the StarCruiser Brilliant Series

by Rick Lakin

  “Jennifer, Stephen, Jake mark this down as a success,” Dr. Ami said. “The mini projectors render at a much higher resolution than building projectors. With a bit of practice, I’ll be able to perform at a higher level of dexterity than before.”

  “Good,” Stephen said, “what is our timeline?”

  “I know that you have a lot on the table. Let’s plan to hire staff to complete a prototype and a spare in six months.” Jennifer said. “The virtuals will be a step forward in medicine. Now, get that nasty robot out of here.”

  “Should we take the mini-projectors?”

  Jennifer thought for a moment and looked at Dr. Ami.

  Ami looked back and gave an almost imperceptible nod.

  “Leave one here on Brilliant,” Jennifer said. “Congratulations, everyone. Let’s adjourn to the Galley. I hear Maiara sent lunch over from the Executive Dining Room.”

  18

  On Thursday morning of the Air Show Week, the crew of StarCruiser Brilliant gathered for a seven a.m. breakfast in the Executive Dining Room. Each person was wearing the cerulean uniform of Brilliant.

  “Today, you will show off our Brilliant to the public for the first time,” Navvy said. “No need to cloak on departure. Your updated flight plan with SoCal TRACON will cover the whole trip and TRACON will direct you throughout the flight. As soon as you're ten miles from land, you may accelerate to Mach Two for the six-minute transit to feet dry over Torrey Pines State Beach. You'll join the traffic pattern on course zero-six-zero south of the runways and Miramar Tower.”

  “Are we fixed wing or vertical-take-off-and-landing?” Jennifer asked.

  “Miramar Tower will bring you in as VTOL,” Navvy said. “There will be city and military VIPs for the welcome so expect the tower to direct a low pass over the field. David, a slow barrel roll will work for that.”

  “Aye, sir,” David said.

  “Smoke, Navvy?” Riley asked.

  “Go ahead and drop a smoke trail on the pass. No special effects until Sunday.”

  “Aye, sir,” Riley said.

  “We arrive at 0900, and there will be a short welcome ceremony, and then we’ll conduct tours of the ship. At 1030, the Blue Angels will give rides to the Star Squad. Anthen and Kalinda will get a ride on Fat Albert,” Navvy said. “David and Jennifer, don't break the pretty blue airplanes.”

  They laughed. David and Jennifer then glanced at each other with a serious look.

  “At 1230, there will be a VIP lunch in the new F-52 hangar. I’ll give a speech on the Brilliant as a future weapons system. Our friend, Senator Curtwell will give the keynote.”

  “Why did we have to study the tutorial on Navy Military Courtesies?” Tayla asked.

  “That dates back to when Brilliant arrived here over forty years ago,” Navvy said. “A small number of people in the government and military were made aware of StarCruiser Brilliant. The President offered, and I accepted, an offer to make Brilliant a commissioned reserve vessel in the Navy. It was a pretty tight secret. We have been activated only in case of emergencies that require our specialized capabilities. The president promised to keep us out of international conflicts. Jack's a four-striper Captain, and I'm a Rear Admiral in the reserves.”

  “What about us?” Tayla asked.

  “When in uniform, you, Riley, and David hold the rank of Navy Lieutenant.”

  “And me?” Jennifer asked.

  “As First Officer, you hold the rank of Lieutenant Commander.”

  “Cool,” Jennifer said. “Hey, Dad, I outrank you.”

  “Nay, nay, moose breath,” Anthen said. “My time-in-service gave me a bump to full Commander.”

  “As are Dr. Ami and Ani,” Navvy said.

  “What about me?” Kalinda asked.

  “Let me see…As an Admiral, I can give battlefield promotions,” Navvy said. “Kalinda, I hereby appoint you Honorary Ensign.”

  Kalinda beamed. “Cool, what rank are you, Auntie?”

  Maiara Hanare set some sticky buns on the table.

  “I'm the Chief of the Ship and First Lieutenant so I outrank all of you. Remember, I feed you.”

  “So, do we have to salute?” Tayla asked.

  “They know we’re all civilians but when you are covered, wearing your beret, it's expected that you return military honors and it's a courtesy to render a salute to a senior officer,” Navvy said. “Did you all practice your salute?”

  The crew of Brilliant stood and snapped proper military salutes in unison.

  “Each of you is representing Tovar Studios, StarCruiser Brilliant, and Jack and I, so what's the standard?”

  “Brilliant,” they shouted together.

  “After we land there will be some walkthroughs. Jack and I will handle the senior officers and dignitaries, David and Jennifer will take the pilots and plane crews through, and Riley and Tayla will take civilian and military visitors.”

  “What about me?” Kalinda asked.

  “There will be military dependents and schoolchildren there. Can you take them through the ship?”

  “Yes, tal’pa. May I take them into the Captain’s ready room?”

  “I suppose. There's not much to see there.”

  Kalinda looked at Jennifer.

  “Yes, K’da. But if anyone loses their lunch, you have to clean it up.”

  “Yes, sister.”

  “I’m confused. What have you done with my ship?” Navvy said.

  “Grandpa, Ani and I wired the Artificial Gravity to simulate different G-forces in the Ready Room so I could simulate high Gs on the flight simulator,” Jennifer said. “Kalinda and I created a surfing, tennis, and battle simulator and she has been working out at high and low Gs.”

  Navvy smirked. “I’ve created a playground for precocious preteens. Maiara, you will be passing out logo M&Ms and challenge coins. Do we have enough?”

  “I made as many as you asked, but Brilliant may not be able to get off the ground.”

  “I think it will make it. That covers everything. Jack?”

  “Keep your uniforms spiffy. Represent Brilliant with pride and please don’t run into anything, David. Let’s get aboard and show off.”

  The fifteen-minute flight from Tovar to Miramar was uneventful. Tayla was adept at handling air traffic communications. Brilliant flew just off the San Diego's North County approaching Torrey Pines State Beach. “TRACON, Brilliant. Request approach to Miramar two-four left with a low pass over the beach.”

  “Brilliant, turn left to one-two-zero. Descend and maintain eight hundred feet.”

  Unsurprisingly, surfers and spectators covered the beach. They were surprised when Brilliant passed over. “Captain?” David asked. May I roll the ship?”

  “Roll the ship at feet dry, pilot.”

  Artificial gravity prevented the crew from feeling the movement. As Brilliant got there, the people on the beach waved. David performed a soft roll, and the watchers screamed with glee.

  “Brilliant, climb to two thousand at two-hundred-fifty knots,” TRACON said.

  “Two thousand at 250. StarCruiser Brilliant,” Tayla responded.

  They passed over I-5, University City, and I-805.

  “Turn left to zero-six-zero. Contact Miramar Tower on 135.2. Welcome to San Diego.”

  “135.2. Good day,” Tayla responded. She depressed a preset on her panel. “Miramar tower, StarCruiser Brilliant heading zero-six-zero at two thousand. Request clearance to land on two-four left.”

  “Brilliant, Miramar, welcome. You’ve got permission for a low pass over the runway centerline. Turn left to two-four-zero at the eastern apron and descend to two hundred fifty. After the pass, turn left to three-three-zero and follow the beam to the flight line. You’ve got clearance to land.”

  “StarCruiser Brilliant.”

  “Eastern apron on my port side,” David said. “Starting my turn.”

  The drivers in morning traffic along I-15 got a good look at Brilliant.

  “Nice slow barrel roll, Da
vid.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  David lined up Brilliant with the centerline at four hundred feet.

  “Engineer, smoke on,” Jack said. David performed a smooth barrel roll before the spectators and dignitaries. At show right, he snap-rolled 270 degrees to the right and began his left turn to return to the center of the flight line.

  “I’ve got the beacon,” David said. He brought the starship slowly to the flight line and dropped softly onto the tarmac. The displays showed the crew that the spectators were giving them a standing ovation.

  “Engineer put the ship in ground standby,” Jack said. “Ani, configure the interior for unclassified tours.”

  Two voices acknowledged.

  Navvy and Jack walked down the ramp of the Brilliant between side boys to the sound of the Navy Band. Nearby, the seven F-52s of the Blue Angels were lined up in a precise military line. Salutes were exchanged. Navvy, who built and designed Brilliant, and Jack, her captain, were escorted to the reviewing stand. A uniformed sailor escorted the rest of the crew to seats in the bleachers near the pilots who were wearing a slightly different shade of blue.

  Jennifer greeted the pilot who acted as her liaison with the Blues. “It's certainly a beautiful craft,” Major Kendra Boyington said.

  “Thanks, we’re proud of our Brilliant, Major,” Jennifer said.

  “On the flight line, we address each other by call sign. I'm Fifi”

  “Call me Jendroid,” Jennifer said. “This is my dad, Anthen, his daughter Kalinda, our pilot, David, call sign StarPilot, Riley, our engineer, call sign Stardancer and our communicator, Tayla, call sign Ayiiia.”

  At the podium, the admiral who acted as San Diego's Navy Mayor welcomed the crew. The Mayor of San Diego presented Navvy the key to the city and the Commanding General welcomed them to Miramar.

  “Mayor Lopez, Admiral Lindstrom, General Williams, I’d like to present each of you with an artifact from Cancri-C, forty light years from earth,” Navvy said. “We think these objects came from a civilization that existed over a million years ago.”

  “Thank you, Admiral Kelrithian,” the Mayor said. “It looks like pure gold.”

  “It's eighty-seven percent Rhodium,” Navvy said.

  Jennifer was sitting next to Maiara. “Where does he keep those, Maiara?”

  “He has a ton of trinkets like that in a bin in Storage Three.”

  “Are they valuable?”

  “A small bag full would destabilize the precious metal markets.”

  There were several welcoming speeches given and the troops passed in review.

  “Admiral, would you like to visit the ship?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  The formalities complete, the crew took their stations to give tours of StarCruiser Brilliant.

  Kalinda was on her third and final group of six dependents and schoolchildren.

  As they passed through the lower decks, one of the kids was explaining to others in detail the components that Kalinda pointed out. As they were going up the ladder, Kalinda caught up with him. “What’s your name?”

  “Jeff Rodriguez.”

  “You know a lot about the ship.”

  “I’ve seen all the movies. I read the first three volumes of the Tech Manual. I'm a brillian.”

  “I've heard that word,” Kalinda said. “What's a brillian?”

  “We’re fans of the movies and of Brilliant. We study the manuals and collect memorabilia,” Jeff said. “My dad bought me a ball cap worn by Captain Jack on a mission to Sirius.”

  We don’t wear ball caps, Kalinda thought.

  “We went to a 'Welcome Home, Brilliant' party after they brought David home. Before that, we all knew that Brilliant was real. Aren’t you a brillian? You got an actual ride on Brilliant.”

  “I guess I am. Enjoy the tour.” He’s kind of cool.

  Kalinda hurried the group through the lower decks. Near the galley, the girls ahead of Kalinda stopped.

  “He’s such a pretty kitty.” It was a girl who introduced herself as Harlow. She sat on the deck and stroked Dandy behind the head “What’s his name?”

  “Harlow, meet Dandy Lion,” Kalinda said. “Dandy is the ship’s cat.”

  “So cute,” Harlow said.

  Dandy jumped into Harlow’s lap. He looked directly at Kalinda. Tell the story.

  Kalinda tilted her head. Did you just talk to me, Dandy?

  Of course, I did, Dandy thought. Are you deaf like most humans?

  Harlow looked at Dandy and then looked at Kalinda.

  I am not, Kalinda thought. What story?

  About how I saved Jennifer.

  “Are you two communicating?” Harlow asked.

  “Yes. Dandy wants me to tell the story about how he became the ship’s cat,” Kalinda said. “One day, Jennifer was visiting Dandy, and a meteor came out of the sky and blew up Dandy's home. Jennifer picked up Dandy, ran away, and saved him.”

  Dandy’s head popped up. He growled and pawed at the air toward Kalinda.

  Jeff interrupted. “Actually, it was Dandy who saved Jennifer.”

  The kids laughed, and Kalinda looked a bit embarrassed.

  Better? Kalinda thought.

  You may continue your tour. Dandy jumped off Harlow’s lap and went to his pillow in the galley.

  “Let’s go up to the top deck and take a quick tour of the bridge,” Kalinda said. “Then we can see the Captain’s Ready Room.”

  Kalinda noticed that a blonde-haired boy with a StarCruiser Brilliant t-shirt held on to the safety rails and had trouble with the ladders. His mother accompanied him close by. They got to their final stop.

  “When underway, this is the captain's ready room. There are two bunks, an office, and a conference room,” Kalinda said.

  “I want to go back and see the bridge some more,” Jeff said.

  “You’ve read the Brilliant Tech Manual. You know she has surprises.”

  “So, surprise me.” He crossed his arms and stood the wide stance of a fighter.

  Kalinda winked, Jeff melted, and Kalinda turned back to the group.

  “When Brilliant is on the ground, I use it for something else,” Kalinda said. “Ani, configure simulation: Battle Room One.”

  “Commencing Battle Simulation,” Ani announced in her most dramatic computer voice.

  The children felt the room begin to shake as it converted from an office into a large empty space with four large geometric solids spread around.

  “Woah, this is way cool,” Jeff said.

  “Grab a thruster hanging on the wall behind you.”

  “Thrusters?” several children said.

  The mother of the blonde boy came up to Kalinda.

  “My son, Steve, has cerebral palsy. Will this activity be safe for him?”

  “Ma'am, all solid objects in here have a force field surrounding them,” Kalinda said. “Before the tour, we made sure that it would be safe for kids with special needs. Why don't you grab a thruster? I guarantee you will both have fun.”

  She opened her mouth to say something; then she looked at her son. “Please?” he said. His mother walked back to the wall and grabbed two thrusters and gave one to Steve.

  “Please hold on to your breakfast. Ani set gravity to zero.”

  “Commencing Zero Gravity,” Ani announced.

  Everyone screamed as their feet lost contact with the floor. Vertical became an abstract concept as many of the kids turned upside down. Steven let go of his mother's hands and floated free. The screams turned to laughter.

  Kalinda shouted as her eyes danced with glee. “Hey, everybody; watch me.” Kalinda pointed her thruster toward the middle of the room. She pressed the trigger and slowly moved toward the wall. Kalinda turned so that her feet faced the wall. On contact, she pushed off and sailed quickly across to one of the solids. Again, she pushed off in another direction and flew to the wall and made a soft landing.

  All of a sudden, small bodies were moving in every direc
tion through the space.

  “Cool,” Jeff said. He pointed his thruster, sailed to the wall and gracefully kicked off to the blue solid. Again, he rotated and kicked off towards the wall.

  He’s got skills, Kalinda thought.

  Steve quickly became accustomed to zero gravity and began navigating as well as the other kids.

  Jeff met Kalinda at the yellow solid. “So, why do they call this the battle room?”

  “Hang on,” Kalinda spoke louder to the whole group. “May I have everyone's attention? We've got three minutes left. Starting now, your thrusters have lasers. When you hit a target, it will light up. So, take cover.

  “Yay,” the kids cheered.

  “Ani, commence Battle Mode.”

  All of a sudden kids and lasers were flying through the air, light splashing on the walls, and kids' bodies lighting up. The laughter and the noise became deafening. Kalinda smiled when she saw Steve's mother firing on her son from behind the red solid.

  “Thirty seconds to normal gravity,” Ani announced.

  “Aww,” the kids said in unison.

  Slowly the kids returned to the floor. For a few seconds, they were bouncing in moon gravity. Finally, they were all vertical at normal earth gravity.

  There was applause and cheering from the kids. Steve’s mom had tears in her eyes.

  As Kalinda led the tour to the ramp and stood next to Jeff, “You moved nicely in zero gravity,” Kalinda said. “Where’d you get your moves?”

  “I’ve studied martial arts for five years.”

  “I studied something like that…where I came from.”

  “I have a brown belt in Aikido.”

  “I’ve got a blue belt that holds up my jeans,” Kalinda said.

  They both laughed. “Who doesn’t give out belts?”

  Kalinda hesitated. She was apprehensive about sharing too much information. “I serve Tal'qid.”

  They reached the crowd line.

  “Never heard of that. Where is your dojo?”

  “Dojo?” Jeff asked.

  “Where do you practice? Who’s your sensei?”

  “My dad set up a room at our Malibu beach house. My mom taught me before…” She looked away. “My sister and I set up a simulation on Brilliant.”