Embarkment 2577 Read online

  Jia’Lyn’s snakes yawned, but she seemed alert and ready, even in her robe. I felt a sting of bad conscience for wearing most of her uniform. Oh well, she didn’t seem to mind.

  She pulled up an image on one of the screens and waved to me. “Alex, I need you to help me with something. Keep an eye on these meters for me. If they go outside the green area, call for me.”

  Seemed easy enough. Maybe she fabricated a task just to keep me busy, but having something to do made me feel better.

  Adam roamed around the room, giving out encouraging comments and squeezing people’s shoulders. All the younger officers must’ve been part of the usual night shift; they seemed used to working together. This man who wasn’t really a man took care of me, kept me company, and brought me breakfast every morning. He was also their boss, a leader who made decisions about the welfare of the entire ship, or why not whole planetary systems, every day.

  One of the meters moved a little, but stayed in the green area. What was I monitoring anyway? Warp containment field? That sounded important, I should probably pay more attention to it.

  A few minutes later, I heard Adam and Jia’Lyn talk behind me. I didn’t try to listen, but it was hard not to hear them. She asked, “How are you doing, Commander?”

  I could almost see him shrug. “I’m fine.”

  “Are you really? It’s stressful to have to worry for people you care about.” After just a short pause, she added, “It must be hard to be so close and not be able to show it.”

  For someone rarely showing emotions, he sounded exasperated when he answered, “I’m fine. It’s not important, especially not right now.”

  “Of course it’s important.”

  Silence hung thick between them and I watched my meters. Jia’Lyn said, “Maybe you should just tell her. What are you so afraid of?”

  Adam sounded dismissive. “This isn’t the time. Drop it.”

  “It’s not like a blind man can’t see you love her.”

  Footsteps approached me and I kept my eyes on the meters. Curiosity fought jealousy; if Adam loved someone, I needed it to be me.

  Jia’Lyn rested her hand on my shoulder. “I’m going down to Engineering. Thank you for keeping an eye on my babies.”

  Crap. Now what would I do? “Do you need anything else?”

  She flashed a smile. “Sure. Keep thinking outside the box. We need you today.”

  My time for coming up with plans was over. Without an immediate threat facing me, the question of who Adam might love would take over my mind.

  *****

  My android friend crouched down next to me. He smiled and handed me a cup of coffee.

  Blake walked by. “Normally that’d be a breach of protocol, but I won’t complain about it today. Just don’t spill on the consoles.”

  Clutching my mug, I vowed to stay far away from anything I could destroy. It was a bit difficult to see the Captain as intimidating when dressed in a striped pyjama.

  I took a big gulp of the hot brew to keep any dumb questions from popping out of my mouth. Blake headed for the middle of the room. “Good job, everyone. Now, I don’t have to tell you how serious the situation is. We’re in control of our ship. We’re fast and well-armed, but it will take more than that to get our people back unharmed.”

  As much as I tried to pay attention, I zoned out. Ima’s tail whacked me on the back of my head and brought me back to reality. “Oww.”

  The Captain frowned and looked our way. “Ladies, do you have something to add?”

  I intended to shake my head, I really did. My mouth had other plans. “It’s not gonna work. You need a ploy. Fool them into thinking you’re friendly, so you can get close enough to take out main systems without having to destroy the ships.”

  One of the ensigns muttered, “She’s been lucky, but let the trained people take over now.”

  Adam crossed his arms and stared at the young woman until she looked at the floor. Once the little insubordinance was dealt with, he smiled and encouraged me. “Go on, Alex. What do you have in mind?”

  I didn’t have anything in mind, not even a trace of a plan. Admitting my lack of imagination was out of the question. “Eh… I don’t know. Maybe you can pretend to run away with the ship, and then turn back, and…”

  What would people on TV have done? “Send a transmission with the Logg suite on, or make the computer fake a video feed. Tell them there was a rebellion and it has been overpowered. You’re returning to transfer the rest of the prisoners.”

  I shrugged and added in a mousy voice, “Or something.”

  Worst plan ever. Why couldn’t a convenient hole open in the floor and swallow me whole?

  Ima’s tail wagged slowly from side to side. “You are perfectly devious. I like it.”

  Blake nodded, and managed to look authoritative even in his ridiculous outfit. “Fine. That’s what we’ll do. Alex, you need your suit, you’ve been talented in dealing with the Logg this far. I want you to talk to them.”

  No way. I was not going out there. Gambling the lives of all the captives on my debatable acting skills was… crazy.

  No time to object. Blake was already moving for his chair. “Alright people, let’s get to work. We need to figure out the best route for the ship so we can attack where they’re the most vulnerable. I want to hit life-support and get a quick surrender.”

  People manned stations all around the room, and I was surprised to see Ima take the helm. I didn’t expect her to be able to fly, but everyone seemed trained to fill in where needed. Except me…

  This time, I felt the ship take off. Ima made our escape look good.

  Adam squeezed my shoulder. “I’ll go get the suit. I’ll be right back.”

  Didn’t they expect me to go? I didn’t want to, but I assumed it was my task.

  He said in a mild voice, “You don’t need to go out there again. Think of what you’re going to tell them instead. Besides, it’ll be much faster if I go get it, and I don’t need to breathe.”

  I wanted to cry, hug him, and say thank you. “Be careful.”

  He nodded and winked at me.

  The ensign who criticized me earlier took a long route around me when going towards a science station. Her big blond curls and green eyes were much too pretty. Hopefully, her aversion to me wasn’t personal.

  Adam returned within minutes, carrying all the fur under one arm. Putting the suit back on appalled me. Why couldn’t I keep my mouth shut, just for once? They would have thought of something else.

  He helped me pull it on, and a moment later, I had turned into a Logg once more. “Are you ready?”

  I shrugged and took a seat in the Captain’s chair. Ima flung the ship into a steep U-turn, and I held on to the armrests.

  When the ship straightened up again, everyone cleared the floor. Adam nodded to me; the connection was open.

  A face projected in front of me. It hung in mid-air, larger than life. The Logg was old and ugly, and stared at me with barely restrained loathing. If my image was this big on the other side, he would have to be blind not to see I was a human in disguise.

  “What are you useless fools doing over there? Stop playing with the ship and get your furry claws back here!”

  The thundering voice made me shrink in the chair. How might a Logg act in front of a superior? I acted on instinct and slumped in the chair, trying to look properly chastised. Furry claws had to be an insult. “But sir…”

  “Be quiet, worm, and grovel before me!”

  Did he mean that literally? Probably. I slid down from the chair and grovelled the best I could. How humiliating. Everyone else must be laughing their butts off.

  When I peeked up again, the Logg made a dismissive gesture. “Alright, alright. Take a seat and tell me what you pathetic idiots are doing.”

  This time, I remembered I had a tail. “I was wounded in a fight with a human. They smell so bad.”

  I mentioned the rebellion, and exaggerated the Logg bravery in dealing with it.
Overstating seemed to be in their line of thinking. The old Logg laughed. He was pleased with me.

  “I see a grand future for you, young one. Contact me when you’re back in transporter range, and we’ll finish the transfers. I will make sure to deal with the one who wounded you personally.”

  The hologram disappeared and I slumped in the chair. Too much action for one day.

  People scurried back to their stations, and someone reported, “We’ll be in weapon’s range in two point zero four minutes. They are dropping their shields.”

  Blake looked at me. “Well done, Alex. Now, get out of my chair.”

  I laughed, in spite of all. At least I could take the suit off now… I piled fake fur on one of the guest seats and sat on it.

  “Weapons locked, Captain.” Adam sounded emotionless as always.

  Blake said, “Fire,” and the ship rocked as she destroyed the Logg’s defence systems and life support.

  Chapter Twelve

  We won, through brute force and a strategy based on too much TV. There were still complications, of course. The Bell was filled with unconscious crewmembers and intruders, the Logg ship needed to be evacuated, and dealing with thousands of furry prisoners would be a challenge both regarding time and logistics. Luckily, none of these things were my responsibility. I sat as quietly as I could and hoped everyone would forget about me. The army, or navy, or boy scouts, or whatever they were could deal with this on their own.

  I wished I could sneak out unseen and go home, but moving would draw attention to me. It was too late anyway; Adam crouched by my chair. “I want you to go with Ima to sickbay. Help her the best you can, okay?”

  Given a choice, the infirmary wouldn’t be on top of my list of volunteer work. I wasn’t particularly queasy, but I lacked medical skills. Besides, Adam represented safety. Staying with him would’ve been… better.

  “Please, Alex. Just assist her the best you can.”

  It was impossible to say no. “Okay.”

  Ima needed help, we weren’t in immediate danger, and he had things to do. Things where he couldn’t have me cling to him.

  Adam rewarded me with a smile, and I pulled on my scuba visor and ventured into the Bell’s endless corridors.

  It wasn’t all that bad at first. People came in with minor wounds and bruises, and Ima showed me what to do. Then, two men came carrying a third. He was unconscious and sported a gushing head wound. Right behind them staggered a young woman with a complexion white as paper and a cut in her arm that almost reached the bone. There was blood everywhere.

  “Alex, lay her down on the bed over there. Feet high. Hold her arm up and apply pressure. Cut the sleeve off if you can. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  As captives came back to our ship, some of the regular sickbay staff showed up, and necessity turned me into a decent assistant. I learned to use the medical scanner, and to interpret some basic values. I learned how to patch superficial wounds and some basic first aid. Both the day and the number of patients seemed never ending.

  Finally, other Confederacy ships arrived. One of the doctors said more ships headed for the mines where we were intended to serve as hard labour. We had accidentally solved a great mystery of disappearing ships and people.

  When sickbay was fully staffed with experienced doctors and nurses, Ima nodded to me. “C’mon, let’s go wash up. Blake’s getting us dinner.”

  I so wanted to go home and curl up in bed for a good long nap, but turning down a dinner invitation from the Captain was out of the question. I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to become a little more orderly, and followed her.

  We met up with Adam and Jia’Lyn in the lift. Even her usually perky snakes slumped, and a few had their eyes closed. Were they sleeping? Did they all have minds of their own, or were they controlled by her? I wanted to ask, but now wasn’t the best of times.

  Adam stood next to me in his usual pose; back straight, arms crossed, and not showing even a trace of stress or fatigue. “How are you doing, Alex?”

  “Okay. I’m okay.”

  “I found the Logg in your closet.”

  I almost forgot about that. “Thank you.”

  Ima and Jia’Lyn walked side by side down the corridor. They were almost exactly the same height, but one wagged her tail from side to side and the other her hair. We were so different and still so much alike. I was privileged to have them in my life.

  The door opened with a scent of food, and my stomach grumbled. I couldn’t even remember the last time I saw food. Was it at that restaurant with Adam? More than a day earlier, no wonder I was hungry.

  Ima swept in through the door and kissed her husband. Jia’Lyn followed, grinning with approval as she eyed all the food.

  Adam paused just outside the door and glanced into my eyes. It was just because I was so tired, of course, but at that moment he seemed very tall. A smile tugged at his lips. “You’ve become famous. The rumour of the fantastic girl who singlehandedly defeated the Logg-fleet has spread all over.”

  That wasn’t what I expected him to say. “Ridiculous.”

  He winked and nodded towards the door. Anya waited on the other side, and I threw my arms around her. “I’ve been so worried for you.”

  “No one thought of activating my mobile unit.”

  The little group was uncharacteristically quiet; everyone except for Adam and Anya were exhausted. It was still nice to be together. I had found a new family of humans, aliens, and artificial life forms. It was a varied group, but we belonged together.

  At dessert, Ima yawned and my eyes wanted to fall shut. Adam said, “Come on, I’ll walk you home.”

  It wasn’t far, just to the lift, down a couple of floors, and maybe twenty yards through the corridor. I could have gone on my own just fine, but after a day like this, company was good. I tucked my hands around his arm and he teased, “Do you want me to carry you?”

  “Nah. Thanks, though.”

  He seemed thoughtful, and paused by a bench. “I know you’re tired, but I need to talk to you.”

  That cured my fatigue. In my experience, a person saying they need to talk to you is rarely a good thing. A little voice in my mind insisted running away might be a good solution. He couldn’t give me bad news if I wasn’t there.

  I sat down anyway and he took my hand, looking at it as if it was an interesting object. It relieved my worst fears, so I pulled my feet up under me and rested my head against his shoulder.

  “Don’t fall asleep on me, okay.”

  “I won’t.”

  He sat quiet for a few long moments, looking at my hand. When he spoke, his voice was so quiet I had to struggle to hear him. “I know I’m a machine and not human. I know my maker isn’t my mother, but that’s still how I think of her. Does that make any sense?”

  What a curious statement. “Yeah, I think so.”

  “She’s brilliant, and not entirely sane. Thus far, no one else has managed to make androids the way she can. I’m modelled after her husband. She built me when he left her, thinking I would replace him.”

  Wow. No pressure…

  “I saw her as a mother and not a spouse. It revolted me. When she realized she made an error somewhere and reprogramming me didn’t fix it, she built me a partner modelled after her. The idea was that we would rule the universe or something idiotic like that.”

  I lifted my head to stare at him, and he laughed joylessly. “I saw Eve as a sister, and decided to run away while I still could. That might have been cowardice, I don’t know.”

  It couldn’t be an easy way to enter the world. How much was he like this man he was built to replace? I leaned on his shoulder again and squeezed his hand. “It sounds terrible. I’m sorry.”

  “They might still be looking for me, I don’t know. Sometimes I wonder if those ladies will show up here one day and claim me. Maybe she just built a new one.”

  Why was he telling me this? Knowing his past would help me understand him better, but the timing was a bit str
ange.

  “I don’t know if my feelings are the same as a human’s, they’re all I’ve ever known. I usually keep them suppressed… maybe I should say turned off… They’re difficult to cope with and they disturb my judgment.”

  What clarity of perception. My emotions probably disturbed my judgment all the time, I just didn’t notice. This was turning into a much too deep conversation for the late hour. No one could really know what someone else felt, or how it felt to that person, I just never thought about it before.

  “I sometimes forget I’m a machine. Especially here; people don’t treat me like one. It’s still what I am.”

  “I don’t…”

  “It’s what I am. I have a perfect memory. I remember everything I’m exposed to. Everything, including emotions. Does that make any sense?”

  I nodded. I couldn’t imagine having that kind of memory, but I understood what he wanted to say. My imagination painted out images of someone very lonely, not belonging to any species anywhere. “Adam, why are you telling me this?”

  He sighed. “You need to know me. You’ve asked what you are to me, and I’ve avoided answering. I don’t want to influence you. Whoever you want to be or whatever you want to do should be your decision. It’s bad enough you’re here because of me, we’re not even the same species.”

  I sat up straight. “Wait a minute, that’s not fair. If you want me to make my own decisions you have to give me the facts.”

  No matter what happened between us back in my time, good or bad, I wanted to know.

  Adam made a pacifying gesture. “You’re right. I’ve been wrong. That’s why I’m telling you all this.”

  Fair enough. I snuggled down against him again.

  “I told you I crashed and you brought me home. It took some time for us to figure out how to contact the Bell, for them to adapt a shuttle, and to find the perfect spot in the anomaly. I was in your world, living in your house for 187 days. I wanted to forward all the information I gathered. So much about your time has been lost, and now I knew. I was going to give them a memory circuit, and let them know I’d be staying with you.”

  “Say what?” I thought he might have been in my time for three days or a week. This was over six months. And he intended to stay there? With me? The world swayed around me.