Children of the Old Star (33 page)

Coffin climbed out of bed and looked around in the dimness. There were shutters over his bed. He threw the shutters open and was greeted by the sight of open ocean. He had to grab onto a beam in the wall to keep from stumbling during another lurch. He looked around the room. He was in the after cabin of an old wooden sailing vessel. Charts were laid out on a table. A black coat and pants hung over a chair. Almost involuntarily, he scratched himself and felt the surprising roughness of wool. There was a pounding at the door.

"Come in,” said Coffin, softly, almost reverently. The pounding came again. “Come in,” Coffin growled loudly.

A young boy, barely into his teens opened the creaky wooden door. “The mate's compliments, sir,” said the boy. “He would like to know what course to make."

Coffin rubbed the stubble on his chin. He stepped over to the charts. There were not only antique charts of the oceans of the Earth, but star charts as well. The universe had opened up to Coffin. He could see anything he wanted to see; go anywhere he wanted to go. “My God,” muttered Coffin. “What has happened? Have I gone crazy?"

He was reassured by a soft feminine voice, almost in his head, but not quite, as though it echoed from outside. The sense was strong enough for him to know that he was not imagining this. “This galaxy is new to us. Take us to any place, any time."

"Sir?” asked the boy standing in the doorway.

"Damn it, boy! The mate can wait while I get my bearings. Get me some coffee and let me review these charts!” The boy ran from the room, practically slamming the door in his haste to leave. Coffin took a deep breath and smiled. Not only the oceans of the Earth, but the entire galaxy, were his to explore. “Where do we begin?” he whispered.

Aboard the
Nicholas Sanson
, Natalie Papadraxis screamed. Laura Peters rushed to her side. “What's the matter?"

"The Earth!” Natalie cried. “The Earth has just gone silent!"

Laura held onto Natalie, attempting to quiet her sobbing.

In the
Sanson's
launch on the way to Alpha Coma Berenices, Ellis explained that his great grandmother was Lord Admiral Barbara Firebrandt, famous for virtually eliminating space piracy in the galaxy.

"Her husband was president of Alpha Coma, wasn't he?” asked Smart.

"Her second husband,” clarified Ellis. “Her first husband was Bradbury Firebrandt, my great grandfather. Story is she married him for his name."

"Bradbury Firebrandt was a powerful man then?” asked Kirsten.

"No,” sighed Ellis. “She just thought it was a great name."

Kirsten Smart rolled her eyes. While Ellis somewhat drunkenly piloted the shuttle to the surface, Kirsten looked up the location of Barbara Firebrandt's grave. She punched the coordinates into the little shipboard computer and heaved a sigh of relief when Ellis relinquished control of the launch to the computer.

The captain took another sip of whiskey and offered the bottle to Smart. She shook her head. “If I drink anymore, I'll upchuck."

Ellis nodded, realizing he'd better not drink very much more himself. The communication's light snapped on the launch's console. “Laura Peters calling Captain Ellis or Ms. Smart.” The voice was calm and professional.

Ellis turned off the audio with an irritated flick of the wrist.

"Why'd you do that?” asked Kirsten.

"If it were really important, Natalie would be calling. I'm sure Laura's just got some matter of procedure for us to look at. Let's let Simon do his job."

Kirsten somewhat unhappily nodded agreement.

Within half an hour, the shuttle settled in a small landing field an hour's walk from the cemetery where Admiral Barbara Firebrandt was interred. The lights of Alpha Coma's capital city, Shangri La, twinkled in the distance. The time was about three hours before local dawn. Ellis and Smart held hands as they made the quiet walk to the cemetery. Like children who didn't belong, they helped each other clamber over the wall surrounding the cemetery. By the wan light of Alpha Coma's moon, they searched for the grave of Barbara Firebrandt.

They found the grave behind a locked gate. Tourists could stand and view the grave through the gate. To the side was a palm scanner. A plaque explained that only those descended from Barbara Firebrandt could actually enter.

"It must have identifications on file,” mused Kirsten.

"Must it?” asked Ellis, still somewhat wobbly from the whiskey. “It could be a genetic scanner."

"Try it,” encouraged Smart.

Ellis put his hand to the scanner. Both gasped as the gate swung open. “Bingo,” said Ellis, shaking his head slowly.

The captain crept forward and knelt reverently in front of the marble monolith that was Barbara Firebrandt's tomb. He read the words that recounted the highlights of her seventy-year career. The captain frowned in contemplation. “How I wish I could have known you."

"Dad said she was a bitch.” Ellis caught his breath and turned at the sound of his mother's voice. She stood at the gate alongside Manuel Raton. Suki Firebrandt Ellis stepped through the gate and embraced her son. She turned and shook Kirsten Smart's hand. “You must be Kirsten.” Fire grinned. “Glad to meet you."

Smart inclined her head. “Who are you?"

Ellis introduced his mother and Manuel to Kirsten Smart, then turned to face her again. “Mom, it's good to see you, but what the hell are you doing here? Last I knew you were returning to Earth to see what you could learn about the Titans. How did you get here?"

"I'm not exactly sure. The Titans brought us here. Somehow they knew exactly where you would be. As to the Titans’ origin, I learned more than I bargained for,” explained Fire. She told her son what she had learned, carefully leaving out details about how she actually learned it.

"Then it's true,” gasped Ellis. “The Clusters are searching for the Titans.” Ellis told his mother about his encounter in space.

Fire took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She turned away. “Mark, do you realize what this means?"

Mark Ellis stepped to his mother's side. “They might decide that humans are more interesting than the original appendages.” Ellis hugged himself. “What exactly was the nature of the symbiotic relationship between the Titans and the Cluster?"

Fire shook her head. “I'm not exactly sure. The Cluster is immortal and only has limited capacity to change and grow on its own. It relies on the appendages for purpose somehow."

Manuel had stepped out of the tomb and was looking up at the stars. “You know, such a relationship wouldn't be all bad. Imagine all that you could learn from something as old as the Cluster."

Kirsten was pacing next to the tomb. “That's the trade off. The appendages gain knowledge."

Ellis let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. “But what would happen to the beings that gained all of that knowledge all at once?"

Kirsten stopped pacing and looked Ellis in the eye. “All that power; all that ability gained all at once could be devastating."

Fire nodded, remembering her research. “There's no evidence the Titans have evolved since they escaped the Cluster."

"Being a symbiont of the Cluster means the end of evolution,” said Ellis hugging himself.

"Might mean,” corrected Manuel, holding his finger up. “We don't know for sure."

"I'm not sure we want to find out,” said Kirsten.

All turned at the soft swishing of footsteps rustling through the grass of the cemetery. A clean-cut man in a business suit was approaching. Only tired eyes visible in the moonlight betrayed that he had been awaken early. He examined the open gate and looked at the assembled group. “I presume we must be cousins,” he said.

Suki Ellis walked up to the man. She studied his red hair turning gray and chiseled features similar to her father's. “Maybe,” she said cautiously. “I'm Suki Firebrandt Ellis and this is my son, John Mark.” She held her hand out and the captain took it.

"Then it's true. My grandmother did have another family.” The man nodded as if finally believing something he'd never dared before. He held out his hand. “I'm Herbert Firebrandt. I'm a Senator here on Alpha Coma."

Fire and Mark shook the new arrival's hand in turn. They introduced Kirsten and Manuel. “What brings you out here at this early hour?” asked Mark.

"Something terrible has happened,” explained Firebrandt. “Don't ask me how I knew, but somehow I felt I would find the answer if I came out here tonight."

"Answer?” asked Fire.

"What happened?” asked Kirsten.

"The Earth has gone silent,” explained Herbert Firebrandt. “About an hour ago, several Clusters appeared around both the Earth and Titan. We lost all communication."

"How can we help?” asked Manuel.

Herbert Firebrandt shivered in the cold. “Come to my office and we'll see what we can do."

Herbert Firebrandt had an expansive office in the Alpha Coma senate building in Shangri La. On the walk back, Firebrandt explained that his grandmother once mentioned a mysterious third son who was on Sufiro. “She seemed embarrassed about him,” Firebrandt said.

"I don't think Ellison Firebrandt is exactly the kind of son that an aspiring politician wants to admit to,” said Mark, almost under his breath.

Entering the Senate building was like entering a beehive, abuzz with activity. Senators and aides rushed to and fro, exchanging information and worried glances. Firebrandt was stopped several times on the way to the office. The Senator introduced one man as his aide. “Bobby, make sure we're not disturbed,” he ordered.

Herbert Firebrandt offered seats and coffee to everyone. Manuel and Kirsten declined, deciding to watch the sun rise over the city through the windows in the high-rise office building. Ellis, mostly sober, nursed his cup. Fire slowly sipped from hers. Herbert activated his holographic console and called up records.

"John Mark Ellis,” muttered Herbert. “I knew the name was familiar. Little did I know we were related.” The image of Ellis, bald and completely shaved, hovered over Herbert Firebrandt's desk. “You were a commander in the Confederate Navy before you resigned."

"Tell me something I don't know,” said Ellis, just a little grumpily.

"There's still no contact with Earth or Titan. It's as though they've completely vanished—how's that for something new?” Firebrandt forced a smile. His look turned somber. “Rd'dyggia, Zahar, and Tzrn are getting nervous. They're afraid the Cluster is going to come for them. Someone needs to find out what's happened before the galaxy panics."

Fire snorted. “You know, I never really thought the people of Alpha Coma gave a damn for people back on Earth."

Herbert Firebrandt shook his head sadly. “Earth's the mother planet of humanity. What happens if she's destroyed? Will the Cluster come after us next?” The Senator turned his attention back to Ellis. “Who better to help us than the man who has the most experience with the Cluster."

"I don't see how I can help, I'm just one man,” Ellis shook his head and put the coffee down on his desk.

Firebrandt smiled. “It's within my power to reactivate your commission, Mr. Ellis. Or, should I say Captain Ellis?"

Ellis’ jaw dropped. He stammered for a moment, retrieved the coffee momentarily then set it back on the desk. In a whisper, he asked, “Do you have the authority to confirm my posting?"

"No,” said Firebrandt bluntly. As Ellis was about to interrupt, Firebrandt held up his hand. “However, I can call in favors. The Admiralty of Alpha Coma can appoint you a Captain in our fleet."

"I'm a captain without a ship,” said Ellis, shaking his head, somewhat overwhelmed.

Kirsten Smart stepped up behind Ellis and put her arms around his neck. “The
Nicholas Sanson
is at your disposal, Captain."

Ellis turned his face toward Kirsten's. “I know you don't have that authority."

"I'm the most senior officer who can speak for TransGalactic at present. My word's law in this matter."

Ellis wriggled out of Kirsten's arms and took her hands but looked at the Senator. “Surely the Alpha Coma Navy could provide a ship."

Herbert Firebrandt nodded vigorously. “I'm sure we can."

Manuel Raton stepped away from the window. He poured a cup of coffee for himself and then sat in the chair that Ellis had abandoned. “But the Cluster may not take kindly to a war ship showing up,” he said. “They may destroy a war ship to prevent you interfering with their plans."

"Exactly,” said Kirsten with resolve.

"Why wouldn't they destroy the
Sanson
?” asked Ellis.

"Just another civilian ship with more humans, more potential symbionts,” said Kirsten, grimly. She pulled John Mark Ellis close.

"Why would you do this, Kirsten?” Ellis’ voice trembled.

"Mark, I want to evolve with you one day at a time; not overnight.” Kirsten Smart's eyes were bright and a single tear threatened to escape.

Ellis gave her a squeeze then turned to face Herbert Firebrandt. “Is the plan acceptable, Senator?"

"It sounds good to me, Captain Ellis,” said Firebrandt. “Report to me when you're ready to depart for Earth.” The senator pulled more data up on his computer. “I see that the
Sanson
needs a few more days of repair. Rest assured that all of Alpha Coma's resources are at your disposal."

"Let's hope we regain contact with Earth before these next few days are up,” said Ellis.

"Amen to that,” said Firebrandt. “Godspeed, Captain Ellis."

Ellis saluted the Senator. He stepped from the office along with Fire, Manuel and Kirsten. They walked back to the shuttle, discussing the future and speculating about what had happened to the Earth. For the most part, Ellis was silent, lost in his own thoughts. He was a captain in the Navy again. A few weeks ago, it was what he had wanted. Now, he wasn't sure he wanted the responsibility of saving the Earth. However, the job was his and he wasn't about to back down.

At the shuttle, Ellis hugged his mother then took her hands. “I guess this is good-bye again."

"What do you mean?” she asked, shaking hair from her eyes. “Manuel and I are coming with you.” Ellis inclined his head. “Well, it's not like we have a ride to Earth any other way and it is home after all. We're not going to sit here and let you have all the fun."