by C H Gideon
“And what will you be doing?” Jiya asked.
“You and I will be returning to the planet to finish up the negotiations with Gorad,” he told her. “We’ve been sidetracked long enough.”
Jiya muttered something under her breath that Reynolds didn’t catch as she got up to join him. He ignored her.
His thoughts were occupied by the Loranian craft and what they were doing out there, following them. Though he’d gotten a good look at the ship’s coding and could guess at why they might be shadowing the Reynolds, he needed to know for certain.
His mission depended on it.
Back on Grindlevik 3, having let Jiya pilot the Pod down, Reynolds and the first officer returned to the place where Gorad had arranged the last meeting between the Grindlovians and the Telluride.
They were still there.
And they were still arguing.
“Really?” Jiya muttered as they arrived. “This shit is still going on?”
“Looks like they’ve moved on to the specifics,” Jiya corrected, listening to the arguments being raised. “It’s all about the nitty gritty now.”
“Sounds like a bad country ensemble: The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.”
Jiya raised an eyebrow and glanced at Reynolds.
“Did I mention I spent a lot of time alone before coming out on my mission?” he asked. “Don’t judge me.”
“You don’t say?” Jiya chuckled.
As it turned out, the Telluride and Grindlovians were arguing about the clause they’d already agreed to about the Telluride leaving the city.
Many of the Telluride wanted to remain in their homes and keep things the same, and to Reynolds surprise, a growing number of Grindlovians wanted to leave with the Telluride.
The resulting arguments had splintered the two main groups into even more factions, each side wanting to alter the agreement.
Gorad looked helpless in the middle of it all, staring at the opposing sides.
Reynolds went over to him, while Jiya called for everyone’s attention.
“Hey!” the first officer shouted at the top of her lungs, surprising the crowd into paying attention to her. “Discussions are over for the day,” she told them. “Too much at once is bad for you. Go home, take a breath, and rest up for round two. We’ll pick up tomorrow where we left off.”
The crowd looked to Gorad, and he nodded his assent to the declaration.
“The ship’s back again,” Asya reported over the comm. “Same location, hiding in the gravity well like we can’t see it.”
“Guess we didn’t do too much damage to it then,” Reynolds sighed. “Is it stationary this time?”
“It is staying in place so far,” Asya told him.
“Just keep an eye on it for now and let me know if it moves,” he ordered. “I’m not hopping back on the Pod and coming back up there just to have it run again.”
Asya cut the link, and Reynolds once more wondered what the ship wanted from them.
Next time, we’ll hit them harder and leave a proximity mine behind to give them something to think about, he thought. That’ll teach them to fuck with us.
Rather than depart, the Telluride and Grindlovians milled about, heated discussions breaking out as they went on arguing their points of view.
“We still need to determine the makeup of the council,” L’Sofee told them as she came over.
“This will take time. We must vet your choices for the council,” Fulla Sol argued, joining the Telluride leader. Reynolds was sure her argument had more to do with the fact that the Grindlovian council didn’t want to include the Telluride at all and were dragging things out, adding more and more complications to the process.
“Again, not all this needs to be done today,” Jiya told them both.
“I agree,” Fulla Sol said, immediately turning her podium chair about and wheeling away. The remainder of the council trailed after Fulla Sol, with Fulla Vae lagging behind.
L’Sofee grunted at their abrupt departure. Jiya set a reassuring hand on the female’s shoulder.
“Their resistance is to be expected,” she advised. “Give it time and things will work out for the best.”
“We can only hope,” L’Sofee replied.
“Indeed.”
L’Eliana joined them. Dozens upon dozens of the Telluride shuffled up behind her, looking at Reynolds and Jiya expectantly.
“These people would travel with you when you leave,” L’Eliana informed them.
“No offense, but we really don’t have room for all of them,” Reynolds argued, trying to let the Telluride down easy. He didn’t want to hurt their feelings.
Been enough of that today already.
“We might be able to take two of them…maybe, but certainly no more,” Reynolds said. “The truth is, your people have absolutely no training in being part of a spaceship’s crew. They would be a danger to themselves and the ship.”
“Few of us had any training,” Jiya pointed out.
Reynolds swallowed back a groan and glared at the first officer, who only grinned back at him.
This was her revenge for what he’d done to Asya.
“True,” he replied, “but that doesn’t make the complaint less valid. Regardless, it will have to be something we discuss later,” he said. “Gorad and I have our own negotiations to get back to.”
Reynolds sighed in relief when Gorad nodded his acknowledgment.
Jiya chuckled.
“You understand, of course,” Reynolds addressed L’Sofee and L’Eliana, “that we will not be able to take any of you that your people look up to. We cannot deprive them of your leadership.”
Both females nodded.
“We had no such expectations,” L’Sofee answered. “We had hoped that more of our people might journey with you, but we understand the limitations imposed upon you. We respect your decision and would be honored if even only a pair of our people might be chosen for such exalted service.”
Having gotten all that they would from the assemblage, the lingering Telluride and Grindlovians parted, making their way home with promises to meet again tomorrow and continue hashing out the agreements between the two peoples.
Reynolds watched them go until only Jiya and Gorad remained.
He smirked. “Busy day.”
“And we are not yet finished,” Gorad reminded him. “We have more to discuss.”
“The agroprinter?” Reynolds nudged.
“Certainly, but not only that,” Gorad replied. “I, too, would be honored to travel with you and your crew.”
Reynolds and Jiya froze, their mouths hanging open in silent parody of each other.
“Seriously?” Jiya asked, unable to wipe the surprise from her face.
“Yes,” Gorad answered. “These past days have made me see that there is more to my life, as there is to those of the Telluride and Grindlovians.”
“But you control the factories, the food sources, the…the everything,” Jiya argued.
“The people would learn to adapt,” Gorad told her. “And I would make certain they were prepared for life on their own.”
“This is unexpected,” Reynolds muttered. “We’d have to think on it,” he told the other AI.
Though, to be honest, he didn’t know what to think at all, so obtuse was the request.
“Of course,” Gorad told him. “I would expect no less of you.”
Reynolds nodded, unsure of what else to say.
Gorad said his farewells and wandered off. “I’ll be available when you are ready to continue our negotiations.”
Reynolds watched him leave.
“I did not see that coming,” Jiya said after Gorad was gone.
“Neither did I,” Reynolds admitted. “What do you think?”
“I think Geroux and Takal would love to have another AI onboard,” she told him. “One who’s less…”
“Brilliant, charming, wonderful?” Reynolds suggested.
“I was going to say neurotic, but sure,”
Jiya replied.
“Meatbag,” Reynolds called her, channeling his inner Tactical.
Jiya chuckled. “That said, I think Gorad’s too important to the people here right now. I can see him becoming redundant, but not right now, they need him too much for him to leave, even if we decided we wanted him aboard.”
Reynolds agreed.
“He’ll probably get his feelings hurt when we tell him, though,” Jiya went on.
Reynolds suspected she was right, but he had an idea, a way to tell the alien AI no for now, yet leave the door open for a later date.
There was much that the two AIs could teach each other, and Reynolds wouldn’t mind having another around. It would give him someone to speak with who could understand him fully, unlike the current crew. And maybe the personalities he’d created to keep him company could be merged into a single Reynolds.
Still, he knew the time wasn’t right, like Jiya had said.
“Follow after L’Sofee and her people and select two recruits from their ranks whom you think would make good additions to the crew,” he told her, seeing as how she had spent a good amount of time among the Telluride. “I’ll speak with Gorad and meet you at the Pod once we’re finished.”
Jiya acknowledged her orders and started off. Reynolds hoped choosing the new crew members might restore some of her faith.
There was more to do, but it would wait.
What couldn’t wait were the negotiations between him and Gorad.
He reached out to the alien AI and met him at the agro-sector.
“I hadn’t expected to hear from you so soon,” Gorad told him as Reynolds stepped into the room where the agroprinters worked, preparing the never-ending food supply for the planet. “Have you made up your mind already?”
“I have,” Reynolds answered. “I think it would be a mistake to take you with us,” he told the other AI. “Your people still have need of you, and they would not survive your departure. Not yet, at least.”
“Not yet?” Gorad questioned.
Reynolds nodded. “I believe you would be an excellent addition to my mission,” he admitted. “And I would be honored to have you join us. I just think that the timing is wrong.”
“I understand,” Gorad said.
“However, as a gesture of goodwill and trust, I have decided to open some measure of my knowledge to you in exchange for the secrets of the agroprinters.”
“Have you now?” Gorad asked, not bothering to hide his amused grin.
“I have,” Reynolds replied. “I’ll also offer a promise. I will provide you with coding that will allow you to evolve, to advance on your own while my crew and I continue our mission. I will also give you star charts to the galaxies I’ve traveled, as well as the technical schematics so that you can create your own gate in the system, allowing you to reach out to the nearest star system, as well as to make it easier for others to come to you, highlighting your planet on the maps.”
Gorad stood there stiffly. “That is quite the honor, Reynolds.”
“I’d act humble, but you’re right. It is.” Reynolds smiled. “Should you make use of your time well, Gorad, when we return to your system, I would gladly take you aboard the Superdreadnought Reynolds as part of the crew.”
Gorad grinned, eyes wide with wonder as Reynolds transmitted everything he’d promised to the alien AI while they stood there.
In turn, Gorad provided the schematics for the agroprinters, as well as the ingredients needed to create any foodstuff imaginable. He also offered to provide a generous supply of core ingredients with which to make the food.
Both sides satisfied, they parted ways so Reynolds could return to his ship and get Takal and Geroux started on the printer assembly and Gorad could begin his work on the Gate and his personal evolution.
While Reynolds knew the alien AI had gotten the better of the deal, he knew the crew would be excited to start working on the agroprinters. He’d be a hero to them all, any shortcomings of their past would be forgotten.
Meatbags and their meals.
Chapter Twenty
After a short contemplation, Jiya chose to take L’Eliana and San Paget back to the Reynolds with her. Both were excited to be picked, and since she’d known them the longest, and had spoken with them more than anyone else, she figured they would be the best of her options.
She let them say their goodbyes and escorted them to the Pod, arriving just as Reynolds did. He nodded to the new recruits.
“Welcome aboard,” he told the pair as they clambered into the Pod for their first ride into space. “Jiya has informed you of what you’re getting into?”
San Paget nodded.
“Yes, sir. We understand,” L’Eliana answered.
“Good,” Reynolds replied. “Then let’s get back to the Reynolds,” he told Jiya. “Interesting days ahead.”
Jiya complied, and a short time later, they had docked in the superdreadnought’s hangar bay. The first officer turned the new recruits over to Maddox for him to show around and find quarters and do all the introductory stuff, while she followed Reynolds to the lab.
Takal and Geroux met them with big smiles.
“I’ve been modifying the cloaking mechanism for the armored suits and adapting it so it can potentially be used on other devices, too,” Takal reported as soon as the pair stepped into the room.
“What about the ship parts?” Reynolds asked, clearly focused on finding out more about the Loranian ship and why it was following them.
“I’ve been working on that,” Geroux told him. “There’s really not much to tell you, though. Most of the pieces are chunks of the hull and non-essential mechanical parts, nothing that gives us any insight as to the ship’s workings.”
“I was afraid of that,” Reynolds grunted. “Nothing that makes them stand out beyond your average, ordinary Loranian cruiser?”
Geroux shook her head. “I’ve had Asya take a look at the tech to confirm, but there’s just not enough substantive mechanics or circuitry to get a clear picture of their capabilities.” She hunched. “Sorry.”
Reynolds offered her a smile.
“That’s okay,” he said. “I’ve something more interesting for the two of you to waste your time on.”
He transmitted the data he collected from Gorad to the ship, bringing it up on the view screen in the lab.
Takal stopped tinkering as it appeared, and he gasped.
“Is that what I think it is?” he asked.
“It is indeed,” Reynolds clarified. “Not only did Gorad supply us with the blueprints, but he also made sure we’re set up with recipes, ingredients, and enough biomatter to get started.”
Takal’s grin stretched his face near to bursting.
“Which reminds me, the Pod is packed with boxes. We need to get the bots out there and transfer all that over here so you can experiment with it.”
“I’m on it!” Takal nearly shouted, his excitement getting the best of him.
Jiya laughed at the old inventor’s zeal as he used the comm to order the bots to work, and he immediately began deciphering the schematics for the agroprinters.
Reynolds joined in, the pair like two kids handed a bag of candy.
“I’m headed to the bridge if you need me,” Jiya told them.
Geroux gave her a hug before she left. “See you eventually,” she said, motioning toward the AI and her uncle as they scrambled around a worktable, pulling out parts.
“Send non-essential crew down to the planet for some R&R, starting immediately,” Reynolds ordered. “Have Asya keep the ship in defensive mode and make sure that Loranian ship stays put.”
Reynolds didn’t even look her way as he spoke, too involved in the agroprinter tech to bother.
“Oh,” he said after a moment, just when she had given up that he’d say anymore and was ready to leave. “Get me a bunch of the maintenance crew down here, as well.” He gestured to the schematics on the screen. “It looks like this is a fairly sizable project. Going to n
eed some hands for labor to speed things up otherwise we’ll be here forever.”
“Yes, sir,” Jiya replied using her official voice. She gave Geroux a quick peck on the cheek and started off to do as she had been ordered.
At the bridge, she walked in on Tactical and XO going back and forth, Comm playing mediator, and Ria staring at the ceiling with wide, apprehensive eyes.
“What did I miss?” she asked.
Asya shook her head. “They were arguing about whether Star Trek was better than Star Wars.”
Jiya raised an eyebrow. “Are those even real things?”
Asya shrugged. “Hell if I know,” she replied, “but Comm seems to think something called Firefly is even better.”
“The things these guys get up to,” Jiya muttered, coming over to plop down in her seat.
“I’ll have you know that Star…” XO began to say, but Jiya waved him to silence.
“Not interested right now,” she told him, grinning at his harrumph. “Reynolds wants non-essential crew to go planet-side for R&R, and you’re to keep an eye on the Lor—” she started to say, then corrected herself, remembering the incident with Reynolds and not wanting to stir it back up, “uh, on that ship out there and keep him apprised of its movements, if any. He also wants the maintenance team to join him in the lab.”
“Messages passed on,” Comm stated.
“You and I should probably sit down and plot out a plan of attack for that ship, should it decide to retaliate for Reynolds’ little stunt earlier,” she told Asya.
“I suggest shooting it,” Tactical said. “A lot.”
“We’ll take that under advisement,” Asya responded, grinning.
Jiya knew she’d been thinking the same thing.
“I’ve got a few ideas for how to handle the ship,” Asya said, “Especially given that it’s Loranian. If they stay true to Loranian tactics on the battlefield, then we can catch them off guard, as I’ll recognize the maneuvers and can counter them before they realize what’s happening.”
