Stormhaven Rising (Atlas and the Winds Book 1) (21 page)

“And risk sounding like we are selling out the world?” President Mito said, looking back out at the water. “The truth is, what the Americans are doing is noble.”

“But no one knows it, and if we did pull out, they could not smear us anyway.” The ESA director sat back thinking out loud. “They are very sure they don’t want this to go public.”

“I have to say I doubt they’d be so gung-ho if it wasn’t coming down in their own backyard,” the Australian said. “Wouldn’t harm their American sensibilities one bit if it were slamming into the Outback.”

“It would do serious environmental damage regardless of where it hit,” Mito said, surprised at the vitriolic tone of his colleague. “In actuality I am not proposing pulling out. I was only suggesting that the threat of doing so might be enough to make them reconsider.”

“I doubt that it would have any impact on them,” the German sighed at his own grim pun. “Apologies. A poor choice of words.”

“I think withdrawing is exactly what we should do,” Merrill said. “We all have limited resources and we need to consider what we’re going to do with what we’ve got.”

“You cannot be suggesting that we undertake our own mitigation project?” Takao stared at him, intrigued by the idea, but at the same time recognizing the improbability of being able to develop and deploy the technologies in time.

“None of us have the nukes to get the job done. Excepting you folks,” he added, nodding at the Indian Director. “I’m also sure, after seeing Lange’s reaction to the Chinese tantrum, that they don’t want any of us in there spoiling the broth.”

“You would think,” Takao said, “they would welcome the possibility of having more than one nation trying. More chances of success.”

“Not at all,” Schmidt said. “The possibility exists for any of the mitigation attempts to accidentally eliminate the other missions. Unless there is a coordinated effort, a Chinese missile could easily invalidate the US project."

“So if that is not your intent, what is it that you are considering?” the Japanese Director asked the Australian.

“I don’t know exactly,” Merrill said, some of his enthusiasm fading now that the time had come to offer an idea. “We all have to be realistic about this. Anything we can do will be limited by our economic fortitude. I just think our money could be more effectively put in the pursuit of other options."

“Unless you have some breakthrough technology you wish to share with us,” Fahmi Sidra, the Indian Director said, “I think we are trapped in this situation right along with the rest of the world.”

“Dunno,” Merrill said, shrugging. “There was a news report this morning about an American corporation that plans to launch a commercial space fleet in the next few months. Maybe we need to look at what they’ve got?”

“Preposterous,” Wilhelm said, dismissing the possibility with a wave of his hand. “Another American arrogance.”

“Maybe,” the Australian said, leaning back in his seat. “but they announced that they’re going make their first launch next week.”

“Surely the US didn’t authorize this?” Sidra said. “It would be a violation of international treaty.”

“The article said that the US opposes the launch, but they’re planning to go ahead anyway,” Merrill said.

“Even we aren’t strong enough to oppose the will of the American Government,” Schmidt said.

“Apparently Stormhaven thinks it is,” he said.

“Ahhh. I met Colton Taylor several years ago at a Robotics Engineering Symposium,” Mito offered. “A most interesting individual. If anyone were able to do this, he would be the one on whom I’d wager."

***

Stormhaven:

The afternoon had been as frustrating as any he’d ever spent. It reminded him of his first launch in an Orion with its countless built in holds before the engines fired up.

He’d promised Viki that he’d meet her for dinner, so he had a time limit, and in the three hours he’d been on the
Dancing Star
he hadn’t been able to do the one thing he’d really wanted to do. Fly.

When they’d started the engines on the immense craft the Harmonic Feedback Controller had failed. Not that Dave knew what a Harmonic Feedback Controller was. To him it felt disconcertingly like trying to drive a car with the drive shaft missing. He could hit the gas pedal but it just revved up and went nowhere fast.

Cole sat beside him throughout the whole process and they’d immediately called in the expert. Sophia Warner then spent most of the rest of the time swearing like a sailor while Colton, to his credit, kept up almost as prolific a string of encouragement.

After an hour of watching, he’d taken the rest of the time familiarizing himself with every square foot on all three decks of the fore and aft hull sections, as well as most of the interconnecting crawlspaces. It hadn’t been a waste of time, no matter how he looked at it, but it had definitely been a test of patience.

Calling it a day, he managed to get by his apartment to grab a quick shower, and still found himself standing on Viki’s balcony three minutes early.

Tapping the doorbell he heard her holler from somewhere inside, “It’s open.” He touched the latch and the door swung in, revealing the living room.

Each of the apartments in the community started out the same, although the interior walls were modular so the layout could be modified to fit the occupant. Instead of being a living room with a kitchenette and a bedroom-bathroom area like he had, Viki’s apartment opened into a single greatroom, with the bedroom raised on a platform and a computer console nested in a nearly hidden alcove beneath. One entire wall was lined with shelves covered in antique leather bound books and intricate, impressionistic art adorned almost everything else.

He stood examining one of the paintings, appreciating the somewhat erotic style of the work, while he waited for her to appear from wherever she was hiding. Not that there were many places she could be.

She walked up behind him, drying her long, black hair on a fluffy towel. “You like it?” She asked, startling him with her sudden presence.

“Yeah. It’s interesting.” He continued to stare at it. “Strangely erotic and I can’t really explain why.”

“Thanks. That was my intent.” She squeezed his arm. “It’s called
Entwined
.”

“So you did this?” He glanced at her and decided he should be looking at the art instead. Other than the towel she was wrapping around her hair, she was completely nude.

“Oh my,” he said, his voice threatening to fail. “It’s definitely an erotic thought ... I mean piece.” He blushed.

She laughed. “Oops, I didn’t mean to embarrass you.” She turned and headed back up the steps to the bedroom platform. “Nudity’s sort of a non-issue to me.”

“It’s not a problem if I know what to expect. It was just shocking,” he said, trying to recover his composure and glancing in the direction of her room.

“So you’re saying I scare you. Thanks, I didn’t think I looked that bad.” She walked back over to the edge of the platform grinning at him, but still undressed.

Forcing himself to not look away, he shook his head and said, “No. You’re beautiful. I’m just not used to gorgeous women being so ... naked."

“Nice recovery.” She winked at him, pulling one of the jumpsuits over her bare skin. The process of seeing her shimmy into the tight fabric was more erotic than the art around him. Watching, he could see the jumpsuit loosen up as if it relaxed intentionally to a more natural fit.

Recognizing his curious stare she explained, “The jumpsuits are a polymer fabric that expands when it’s heated to body temperature. When you put it on against bare skin it relaxes to fit.”

“That’s pretty amazing,” he said. “Smart clothes.”

“They also have a micro-generator that provides heat when you’re outside so you don’t need to worry about the cold.” She slipped into a pair of sandals and bounced off the side of the platform.

“So when it heats up does it get loose?” he asked, as she pulled him toward the door.

“No it doesn’t, but that’s a good question, and I don’t know why,” she said. “Ask Cole, I think he was part of the team that came up with them.”

They strolled casually across the Biome toward the cafeteria. It was the first time he’d really had a chance to look around and not feel like he was getting a formal tour. The evening atmosphere of Stormhaven was far more casual, almost to the point of being a little intoxicating. There were people scattered in groups, laughing and playing, there were even kids running around in an open field in front of a stage, throwing some oddly shaped flying gizmo that he’d never seen before. He watched them for a few minutes trying to figure out the rules to their game, but Viki tugged on his arm and they walked on. Everything was so different feeling than anywhere he’d ever been, that he almost convinced himself it was a dream.

“Carlos is playing tonight,” Viki said, when they passed across the front if the amphitheater stage. Several musicians were setting up gear, and she waved at one of them. “Looks like Colton will be jamming with them too.” She pointed at a beat up guitar case sitting off to the side. “That’s his.”

“So Cole’s a musician too?” he asked. “Is there anything he doesn’t do?”

“Sleep,” she said, a shadow of something he couldn’t read flashed over her face, but she smiled to cover it quickly. “One of the benefits of living here, is that when you need to find a different outlet for your creativity you can. Music seems to be one of the most popular, that and painting.”

“I used to sing for a rock band a million years ago,” he offered.

“You are such a pup,” she said. “If you’re that old I’ll be losing my cougar license.”

Once they got to the dining room, they ran the real gauntlet of people who wanted to meet the new guy. They sat down at one of the smaller tables along the edge of the room.

Within minutes, Sophia walked in looking tired and frazzled, but beaming. She spotted them, and angled in their direction. “We’ve got it running,” she announced, “and we made sure that it wasn’t going to drift again. Cole wants you to test her out in the morning.”

“You’re sure the gremlins aren’t going to eat it during the night?” he asked, grinning at her enthusiasm.

“Absolutely. We managed to zero it, and there’s no way it’s going to migrate.”

“Ok, whatever that means.” He shrugged.

“It means we get to party tonight,” she said. She shimmied and made a little dancestep in joy. Watching her move Dave realized that her coverall was open a bit further than when she was working, and his eyes drifted along the flap for a brief exploration of her exposed flesh. He blinked, pulling his gaze back to a more modest destination.

“I was planning on showing Dave the East Springs later,” Viki said.

“Ah, going swimming are you?” she said, winking and grinning even bigger if that was possible.

“I don’t have anything to wear,” he said,” unless there are official Stormhaven swim suits too.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Viki said, patting his arm. “It won’t be an issue."

Sophie smiled. “I guess I’ll see a
lot
more of you later.” She turned and headed over to the buffet.

Dave watched her go. “Since this seems to be the land of the bluntly spoken, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure. Anything,” she said.

“Why does it feel like everybody here is so...” he paused, looking into her eyes and struggling to find a diplomatic way to put it.

“Open minded?” she suggested.

“Yeah that’s one way of putting it.” He nodded.
"Uninhibited
was the word I was thinking.”

She sat back thinking for a minute. “I read something once that said people who were exceptionally gifted, or driven, usually had unique sexual appetites as well, but I don’t know if it was a legit study.”

He shrugged but said nothing.

“It could also be that you’re a sexy guy, and since you’re the new meat in town, every woman in the place is watching you."

He looked around suddenly self-conscious. “Damn you. That’s not funny. I was serious.” It was obvious to him that she considered it another non-issue.

“There might be some reasons. Pressure can cause people to react strangely, and God knows we’re all a bit stressed lately. Maybe you just got here at the right time to catch a wave of erotic potential. Are you complaining?”

“Not really. I mean it’s been quite a while since ...” He stopped himself and looked down at his food realizing he’d said more than he wanted her to know.

She winked and said, “Don’t sweat it.”

“Maybe I’ve been out of the social scene for a while, but I thought Sophie was pretty clearly sending signals there,” he said. “Wasn’t she?”

“Yeah, so?”

“She’s married isn’t she?” he asked, trying to understand her apparent lack of comprehension. “Wouldn’t her husband come unglued?”

“They’re poly,” she said.”

“I don’t follow?” he said.

“They’re non-monogamous,” she said, standing up to walk over and drop off her tray. “She and Glen have a relationship where they can have other partners.”

He stood there looking at her like she was speaking Korean.