Children of the Old Star (32 page)

"I don't much like the sound of that,” said Smart, looking toward the far wall. “I never liked biology. Now I know why.” She looked back at Ellis. “What are they looking for?"

"The Clusters call themselves the intelligence. The others are the appendages. I think we call the appendages, Titans,” said Ellis, slowly.

"The Titans are part of the Cluster?” asked Yermakov, wide-eyed. “How can that be? They're on our side."

"I think they still are,” said Ellis. “Look at it this way, my hand could be considered my brain's slave. It's pretty rare when a liberated slave wants to return to its master.” The captain stood, stepping out of the suit. Yermakov handed him his shirt and trousers. Ellis dressed, then looked from Smart to Yermakov. “Let's go home."

Ellis, Smart, and Yermakov stepped out onto the command deck of the
Sanson
. The captain sat down in the command chair and activated the holographic interface. He pulled up reports of engineering readiness and checked them over. “Ms. Peters,” called the captain. “Are we ready to jump?"

"At your command, Captain. We are maintaining position relative to the jump point,” reported the pilot.

Ellis watched as Yermakov took his station and Smart made her way back to the office. “Sound jump warning,” ordered the captain.

Klaxons sounded around the ship. Ellis gripped the armrests of his chair tightly. “Everyone's as ready as they're going to be,” said Natalie with some tension in her voice.

For a moment, Ellis was tempted to ask if the communicator had sensed anything while he was out with the Clusters. Instead, he shook his head and looked at Laura Peters. “Jump,” he said almost inaudibly.

Once again, the
Sanson
rocked and tumbled its way through fourth dimensional reality at speeds that seemed impossible. Ellis fought to maintain consciousness. For a while he did. Streaks of red, green, blue, and violet seemed to dance by the ship. Was it a coincidence, wondered Ellis, that the women of the Cluster all had eyes in the colors of the rainbow? Did the Clusters just pass the
Sanson
in the beyond? After a few moments of watching the colors swirl in front of him, the captain passed out.

Ellis opened one eye and looked around. Sparks flashed from the pilot's console. The captain opened both eyes and forced himself out of his seat. He pulled the unconscious form of Laura Peters away from her arcing station. In a daze, the captain searched the manual controls for the power shutoff. After a moment, he found it. The arcs of electricity settled out and the captain fell back into the pilot's chair.

Natalie rolled her head and blinked her eyes open at the captain. “You're not Laura,” she said, groggily.

"Not last I looked,” said the captain with a sheepish grin. “Any idea where we are?"

Natalie activated her station. “According to this, we're on the outskirts of the Alpha Coma Berenices system."

Ellis let out a long sigh of relief. “See if you can find us some open repair facilities."

"With pleasure,” said Natalie. The communicator put her hand to her head and called out with the chip implant.

Looking over, Ellis noticed that Laura Peters was stirring. The captain helped her to her feet. “Think you can get the ship into dock?"

The pilot blinked a few times. “I should be able to manage it, sir, presuming the ship hasn't been too badly damaged,” she said. “Where are we?"

"Alpha Coma,” said the captain. “A good place to take a well-deserved rest, I think."

"It's about time, Skipper,” said Yermakov, just coming around. The first mate sniffed and rubbed his nose on his sleeve.

As the
Nicholas Sanson
began limping toward Alpha Coma Bereneces, John Mark Ellis made his way to his quarters to wash up. Once done he put on clean clothes and sat down at the table in his quarters. Activating the computer interface, he dictated a short message to his mother. He told her what he thought he knew about the Cluster and the Titans and asked if she had learned anything. He finished the message with a word about his feelings for a woman that he met recently.

The letter home done, Ellis rapped his fingers on the tabletop and looked out the window over his bunk. Finally, with some resolve, he decided to see how G'Liat was doing.

The captain found the warrior sitting alone in his cabin. African drums played and pungent incense burned, filling the room with potent vapors. The captain sat down opposite the warrior. “How are you doing?"

"I am caged,” said the warrior. “I want out."

"There's no guard on the door,” said the captain. “I haven't decided if I'm going to press charges."

"My sense of honor prevents me from leaving,” said G'Liat, simply.

"Why did you kill McClintlock?” asked Ellis. “You could have subdued him. It would have been very simple for you."

"We are all specist, Captain. Have you ever longed to hunt whales as your ancestors did? Be honest.” G'Liat leaned forward.

Ellis swallowed hard. “I've thought about it."

"When you sort out your feelings on this matter, you will be a better warrior,” explained G'Liat. “Once you've done that, you are welcome to return to Rd'dyggia. I will teach you more."

"I'm not sure I want to learn what you have to teach,” said Ellis, looking at the floor.

"This is not the Captain Ellis speaking who sought me out.” G'Liat leaned back revealing the deep cut left by McClintlock.

"No,” said Ellis, simply. “The universe seems to have changed for me."

"That is, as it should be. The offer still stands,” said G'Liat. The warrior stood and looked out the window over his bunk. “I saw you with the Clusters. Did you succeed in talking to them?"

Ellis remained silent for several minutes. “I succeeded in hearing what they had to say."

G'Liat turned, his hands folded. “Nine tenths of communication is listening. May I look into your mind? I would like to hear what they said."

Ellis shook his head slowly. “No, not this time. My thoughts are my own. They always have been. I realize now that's why you couldn't see the second Cluster vision. It's personal and I didn't want you to see."

"Indeed, your ability to block me is strong, perhaps unique.” G'Liat looked toward the floor. “You hadn't known me long at that time. You certainly had no reason to trust me. Does our friendship mean nothing? I helped you learn the origin of the Cluster. Can't you let me see what you learned?"

Ellis looked into the warrior's large, black eyes. After a moment, the captain held his hand open toward the chair opposite. “Sit and I'll tell you the tale."

On Titan, Teklar again appeared at the cell of Manuel Raton and Suki Ellis. As she lumbered up to the force field, the environment suits materialized in the cell. “Ellis has met the Cluster. He has either succeeded or failed. Only time will tell.” A computer disk materialized in the cell. “Ellis sent this message to you on Earth. We intercepted it. You may read it before you leave."

"We are free to go then?” asked Fire.

"Yes,” said Teklar simply. “However, I ask that you speak to no one of your break-in here. It might prompt others to follow in your footsteps."

"Will you continue to tell the galaxy of the Cluster?” asked Manuel.

"The process has begun.” Teklar inclined her head.

"Then we will be silent,” Fire agreed.

"Where would you like to go?” asked Teklar.

Fire raised an eyebrow. She thought for a moment. “I'd like to see my son."

"It will be arranged."

That afternoon, Ellis returned to his own cabin on the
Sanson
. On his table he found a cigar tied with a ribbon. The captain untied the ribbon, bit off the end of the cigar and lit it. Sitting back in the chair the captain savored the fragrant smoke and realized how much he had missed his cache of cigars.

There was a knock at the door. “Come in,” called the captain.

Kirsten Smart stepped in and sat down in the chair opposite the captain. “How do you like it?” she asked, pointing to the cigar.

"One of the best I've had.” While Ellis had tasted better cigars, this one was special. “Where did you find it?"

"Isaac Aubrey found a box listed in ship's stores. He brought it to my attention. I have no idea how it got there,” she said with a grin. “Still, I thought you would appreciate them."

Ellis lightly chewed the cigar as his eyes narrowed. “Thank you,” he said.

Smart looked toward the floor. “I suppose once we get to Alpha Coma, you'll want to contact the Navy and see if they will give you your old job back. After all, you've found evidence that the Cluster may be more of a threat than you previously thought."

Ellis sucked the cigar for several moments and contemplated her words. “I'm not sure they'd believe me any more now than they did a few months ago.” The captain took a draw on the cigar and exhaled slowly. “Besides, I've been thinking these civilian clothes are a lot more comfortable than a navy uniform ever was."

"Are you saying you want to remain captain of this crew of misfits and undisciplined louts?” asked Smart with a wink.

"I think this crew could use me,” chided Ellis.

"What makes you think we'll have you?” she asked, playfully.

Ellis shifted the cigar to the side of his mouth with his tongue and grinned wickedly. “If I left, you could always promote Simon to the captaincy."

Smart nodded concession. “I think I'm beginning to love you."

On Saturn's moon, Titan, Teklar was reading a human parable. She paused to contemplate the words, “And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry."

She wondered if the Intelligence would feel that way if her people were to return to serve them. Would they rejoice if they offered help? She wondered if the Intelligence had stagnated as her people had. If so, she wondered whether the two could work together to become something greater. She closed the book she was reading and snorted, hating herself for even contemplating leading her people back to slavery.

Accessing the net, she looked over the reports from
Sanson
. The home of the Intelligence would be accessible off and on for about thirty years. Much as she hated thoughts of slavery, the leader of the Titans knew they could not hide forever.

SILENT EARTH

Repairs to the
Nicholas Sanson
proceeded under the supervision of the mostly-recovered Chief Engineer Mahuk. Space-suited repair crews swarmed about the ship like gnats around a light post. Many people on the repair crew shook their heads at what they perceived to be an amateurish job of rerouting the conduits. Many commented that it was a miracle that the ship had not simply vaporized upon leaping into the fourth dimension of spacetime. It would take nearly two weeks for the crews to return
Sanson
to her former grandeur.

John Mark Ellis, weary from his encounter with the Cluster talked Kirsten Smart into not pressing charges against G'Liat. “Under one condition,” said Smart. “Tell him to go to Rd'dyggia immediately. I never want to see his face again."

Ellis proposed the terms to G'Liat. “I will go to Rd'dyggia soon, then,” said G'Liat. “The planet is in grave danger if what you told me of your vision is correct.” The warrior paused for a moment, thoughtful. “But what will you do if our paths cross again?"

Ellis bit his lower lip and considered the answer to the question. “I think that depends on what the Cluster does,” answered the captain. With that he turned and left the cabin.

The captain arranged a military funeral for Clyde McClintlock aboard the ship. Only Laura Peters, Kirsten Smart and the captain himself attended.

"Lieutenant in the Gaean Navy, Colonel of the Tejan Army and Pastor of the Cluster's flock,” eulogized Ellis. “One could argue that he was misguided. But Clyde McClintlock always did what he thought was right. May someone be able to say that of us all when we pass down the long dark road."

"Amen,” said Laura Peters, somberly.

With that, John Mark Ellis consigned the body of Clyde McClintlock to space.

Later that afternoon, Ellis and Smart sat in her office trying to find words to explain their encounter with the Cluster for the official report. They struggled to rationalize two tragic deaths, serious damage to the ship and the discharge of G'Liat without pressing charges.

They took a break and stepped out to the command deck. In the hologram floated a three dimensional representation of the
Sanson.
Captain and Owner's representative stepped into the hologram and evaluated the progress of the repairs. They watched as a segment of conduit was lifted from the ship. Soon a new segment was brought in to replace the old. Satisfied, they returned to Smart's office to continue the report.

Two hours later, after reading and re-reading the report, both Ellis and Smart had raging headaches. Wordlessly, Ellis stood and walked to his office. He returned a moment later with a bottle of whiskey. Without explanation, he handed the bottle to Smart. She opened the bottle and took a deep swig then handed the bottle back to Ellis. He gulped a shot of whiskey, wiped his mouth on his sleeve, then took another gulp.

"When they read this report, we'll either be heroes or unemployed,” stuttered Ellis.

"Or imprisoned,” said Smart with a smirk.

The two held hands across the desk for a moment. Then, Kirsten Smart pushed the button that sent the report back to TransGalactic Corporation on Earth.

"Let's get the hell out of here,” said Ellis, then took another drink of whiskey.

"Where to?” Smart's eyes were limpid pools of exhaustion. “We can't just up and leave the ship."

"Why not?” asked the captain defiantly. “Mahuk is supervising the repairs and everything is in order. As to where, there's someplace on Alpha Coma I've always wanted to go."

Old Man Coffin awoke to a swaying followed by a lurch. He blinked in filtered twilight, but not the filtered twilight of his room in the Ellis house. His nose was invaded by the smell of wet wood mingled with humanity. There was a pungent undertone. “Whale oil?” he half whispered. Wood creaked loudly and he lurched again. He looked at his hands. They looked like the hands of a man thirty years his junior.