Children of the Old Star (28 page)

"Perhaps you're right,” said G'Liat, folding his arms.

"Of course I'm right,” said Ellis, smugly. He took another two bites from his stack of pancakes. “You've been so busy playing warrior teacher that you haven't been thinking."

"And you have?” asked G'Liat, sounding incensed. “You've been more obsessed than any of us. If it weren't for me, you'd still be wallowing in self pity back on Earth."

"You're probably right.” Finishing his pancakes, Ellis wiped his mouth. “So, you plan to collect data on this node, right?"

"Ms. Smart ordered it,” said the warrior, seeming less glum.

"Would you let me see that data right after the jump?” asked Ellis hopefully.

"You will get to see it at the same time as Ms. Smart,” said G'Liat bowing slightly. “I just hope that data proves more useful than Clyde McClintlock."

THE CHASE

John Mark Ellis walked the decks of his ship with hands clasped tightly behind his back. As he walked, the whispers of the crew followed. He could never quite hear what they said, but he sensed a tension, not unlike the tension he was feeling up until a few days before.

He reached the second deck and walked into the kitchen finding everything spotless. The knives, hanging on the wall, sparkled. The cooks were beginning preparations for the next morning's breakfast. To the captain, it seemed like they were giving the food extra special attention.

Moving on, Ellis went to the infirmary. The place always felt too quiet to the captain. Two clean medicine cabinets, adorned with red crosses, stood silent vigil on one wall. A stretcher was strapped to another. Bottles of oxygen were strapped to a third wall. There were no doctors aboard
Sanson
. Instead, three members of the crew were trained as emergency medical technicians. Since
Sanson
was never designed for battle, the only real reason for an infirmary was in case a member of the crew got sick or hurt on a piece of equipment.

Stepping quickly out, Ellis came to the ship's stern and the central engineering section. This was the section run by Mahuk—the most devout Moslem Ellis had met in ages. For years, he had worked on Earth, designing mapping vessels. He only went into space himself when his wife died and his children were grown. “How is it with you, this fine evening?” said Mahuk, in a vaguely weary voice.

Ellis looked at the consoles and displays. “Better than I have been in a long time,” said Ellis, conversationally. “How is it with you?"

"My engines are in good shape given how long they have been out in space without maintenance,” sighed the engineer.

The captain turned his attention from the consoles to Mahuk. “Are you saying we need work on the engines?"

"We always need work on the engines. These drives are finely tuned to the subtleties of the universe. They don't run indefinitely.” The engineer shrugged.

Ellis tried to decide if he should press the issue further. Instinctively, he went to rub his beard and felt vaguely disturbed to find that it was not there. Shrugging, he turned to step out of engineering control. “Good night, Mahuk,” he called.

"May Allah go with you,” said the engineer, turning back to his duties. Ellis thought he heard the engineer whisper, “May Allah go with us all."

The captain returned to his quarters. Stepping in, he found his pipe and tobacco on the table. Methodically, he rubbed out the tobacco and packed his pipe. After several minutes’ work, he sat back and lit it. Smoke billowed around him and he let his mind float. Tomorrow morning, the
Nicholas Sanson
would jump near the node G'Liat suspected could take them to the Cluster's home. To the captain, it felt like the night before a battle. However, he was aboard a ship with no guns and no armor. Captain John Mark Ellis felt strangely exhilarated.

The door whispered open and Kirsten Smart stepped in, inclining her head. “Must you smoke that thing?” She reached behind and entered her code, locking the door.

"It helps me think,” said the captain. “It gives my thoughts an order they wouldn't have otherwise."

Smart moved to the table and sat down. “What is there to think about, tonight?"

"We jump first thing in the morning. I'm worried about the ship.” Ellis took a defiant puff of the pipe, then set it on the table. His stomach lurched as the ship listed gently to one side.

"Have you toured the ship?” asked Smart raising her eyebrows.

"Everything's in good shape,” reported the captain.

Smart smiled and unbuttoned her jacket halfway. “I have some equipment that needs the captain's personal attention,” she grinned as she pulled back the coat just far enough to reveal a tantalizing amount of cleavage. Ellis grinned while the corporate officer slowly continued to unbutton the leather jacket.

A knock sounded at the door. Ellis’ shoulders dropped, but Smart shrugged and smiled. She pulled her jacket from one shoulder then the other. The knock sounded again. Ellis started to stand, but Smart shook her head. “Who says you have to answer it?” she whispered. Smart stood up and moved around the table and massaged the captain's shoulders.

Just as Ellis began to relax, G'Liat strode into the room. The warrior's black eyes first fell to Smart's naked chest, then to Ellis who stood and grabbed her jacket.

"I am sorry for the intrusion,” said G'Liat. His voice was sincere, but urgent. “However, I have to talk to you for a moment."

Ellis returned the jacket to Smart, then sighed and closed his eyes. Opening them again, he retrieved the pipe and sat down. Re-lighting it, he looked up at Smart, who was buttoning her jacket. “Would you excuse us for just a moment?” he asked.

"No,” said Smart simply. She sat down at the third chair. “If this affects the ship's operation in any way, I want to be here."

"G'Liat?” asked the captain. He returned the pipe to his mouth and sat expectantly.

The warrior stood silent for half a minute then sat. “All I wanted to do was ask you to keep your mind as open as possible during the jump tomorrow. I've been thinking about what Clyde has said. An open mind might be as effective as sensors."

"An open mind may be as good at what?” asked Smart, pointedly.

"At detecting deep space nodes,” said Ellis around the pipe. “Is that all, G'Liat?"

The warrior nodded and stood. “For now,” he said. G'Liat stepped from the cabin.

Smart stood and entered a different code into the door combination. She looked at the locking mechanism for a few minutes as if trying to figure out how G'Liat broke the code. Finally she turned back to the captain. “Deep space nodes?” she asked. “Why would you be interested?"

"Shouldn't I be interested?” asked Ellis. He took a deep draw on the pipe. “Look, G'Liat's a friend. He wants to understand these nodes and sometimes he has weird notions about how to sense them."

Smart put her hands on her hips. “It's so important that he breaks in here to tell you that?” She shook her head and moved back to the table. “I've heard the stories the cooks tell about the Cluster and how you can sense it in deep space. This has nothing to do with the nodes does it?"

"It is about the nodes,” said Ellis defensively. She stood abruptly and turned her back. He removed the pipe from his mouth. “But it's about the Cluster, as well."

Smart turned around slowly and inclined her head. “We've talked about this obsession. I thought you were over it."

"The Cluster killed my father. That's not something that's easy to get over."

"There's more to it than that, isn't there?” She sat down again, putting her elbows on the table. “What would happen if we met the Cluster?"

He returned the pipe to his mouth and chewed lightly on the pipe stem. He puffed a few more times then returned the pipe to the table. “I want to talk to it, try to understand it,” he said slowly. “There's more to it than malevolence. There's a whole lot more."

Smart watched the captain wide-eyed. Her eyes narrowed and lips pursed. After a moment, she let out a slow breath. “Talk to it?"

Ellis explained all he knew about the Cluster. He told her about Sufiro and what he and McClintlock had sensed there.

"But what about the incident with the
Martha's Vineyard
?” she asked, uncertainly.

"To be honest, I'm not sure whether it was my fault or not,” admitted Ellis, shaking his head. “I won't let what happened at 1E1919+0427 happen to the
Sanson
, though. I promise."

Smart glared at the captain. “Why? That sounds awfully cowardly for a Navy man?"

Ellis’ jaw dropped. His mind swam through a sea of excuses. Finally, he realized the truth. “I could never let anything harm you."

"Did you destroy the
Vineyard
?” she asked. Ellis shook his head and opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off. “In fact, it sounds to me like you did the one thing that might have worked to keep the
Vineyard
from being destroyed."

"That's what I thought at the time,” said Ellis, looking down at the deck.

Smart drew the captain's attention back by unbuttoning her jacket again. “I think you were right. You are under orders to protect this ship using every power at your disposal if we encounter the Cluster.” She flung the jacket away. “Do I make myself perfectly clear?"

Ellis shook his head, lightly. “Perfectly, sir."

Smart looked down at her chest then back to the captain. “You've been in the Navy too long. Do I look like a ‘sir’ to you?"

Suki Ellis and Manuel Raton awoke in separate bunks in their cell on Titan. A hot breakfast sat on the table, waiting. Fire yawned and stretched. She poured a cup of coffee and helped herself to a piece of toast. Manuel stepped into a small alcove and relieved himself then joined Suki at the table.

"Good morning,” came Teklar's voice from behind the force field.

Manuel and Fire turned in unison. “How long are you going to keep us here?” asked Manuel, coming to his feet.

"Until we determine whether John Mark Ellis succeeds or fails,” answered Teklar.

Manuel's shoulders sank. Fire stood next to him. “What about informing the rest of the galaxy about the Cluster?"

"The first announcement was last night. It doesn't tell all we know, but it is the first, carefully planned, step.” With that, Teklar turned and left.

John Mark Ellis arrived on the
Sanson's
command deck the next morning. Taking the chair next to Yermakov, he felt certain this was the day he was going to find the Cluster. He tried to analyze his emotions to figure out why he felt so positive. The reasons eluded him. Perhaps, it was nothing more than Smart's reassurance that she would back Ellis in whatever course he followed.

"I think we're ready to go, Skipper,” said Yermakov. “Ms. Smart was in a little late this morning, but that's not surprising given the morning news."

The elevator opened and G'Liat stepped onto the command deck and moved to a position behind Ellis. “You should be at your jump station,” snarled the captain.

"I'm performing some last minute calibrations. I'll be done in a few minutes,” explained the warrior. G'Liat leaned close to the captain's ear. “Did you see the news this morning?"

"No,” said Ellis. He tugged on his collar. “I was preoccupied."

"I'm not surprised,” said G'Liat dryly. “The Titans made a rather remarkable announcement last night. I recorded the broadcast. You should take a look while I finish up."

Ellis nodded and excused himself. Entering his office, he started the recording. A hologram of a gray-coated ursine animal appeared over his desk. The Titan spoke heavily accented Generic. Ellis knew the creature as Teklar, leader of the Confederation. As often happened, Ellis couldn't look at Teklar without being reminded of his favorite teddy bear from childhood. He sat down at the desk, folded his hands and listened.

"For over a thousand years we have maintained that the way to keep peace in the galaxy is by the rule of Titan law. I think you will agree that our rule has been benevolent. However, beneficent as we have been, we have differed little from dictators. I propose that over the next year our rule be phased out and democratic elections be phased in.” The recording ended at that point. Ellis guessed that G'Liat had chopped out all news commentary. The time scale proposed by Teklar was a long one. One Titan year was nearly thirty years on Earth. Still, thirty years to change a system of government that had lasted for thousands was incredible.

Ellis looked up to see G'Liat standing before him. “What do you think?” asked the warrior.

"It's incredible,” gasped Ellis. “While many of my people have asked for this very thing, this is going to scare the wits out of many of the other peoples of the galaxy. What do you think?"

"I think it sounds like damage control,” commented the warrior.

"Damage control?” asked Ellis, eyebrows lifted.

"They know the truth is about to come out,” said the warrior. “Truth can be like a tidal wave. The Titans don't want to be swept under.” G'Liat moved toward the door. “My calibrations are finished. We should jump soon."

Ellis nodded and stood, slowly. Back on the command deck, the captain sat down next to the first mate. “I see what you meant about the news.” The captain took a deep breath then composed his thoughts. “However, what's been said doesn't affect this mission. Ms. Peters, are we ready to jump?"

"Yes, sir!” she called smartly.

"Then what are we waiting for?” asked the captain. “Let's do it."

Before Ellis completely registered the fact that Peters had activated controls, the universe seemed to contort itself and Ellis found himself floating outside reality. After the first long jump, he was better able to control the nausea that resulted from the disorienting effects. Even so, this was almost the worst of the jumps. More than any time before, it felt as though the ship was falling along a steep incline. The captain struggled desperately to keep his mind clear though he felt he was falling out of his chair. In front of him, the two women were gone. To the side, Yermakov seemed to vanish in a puff of smoke. The universe filled with a loud yellow.

In the midst of the yellow void was something. Ellis forced himself to concentrate on whatever it was. He felt, more than saw, orbs upon orbs in a spherical red symmetry. Red, his mind screamed, not silver; not green.