The Coder & The Fixer

By Celesta Thiessen

Two 700-year-old spaceships, a Jesus-follower, and a killer all need help to survive.

Nidal is the coder on the Faithful. He’s brilliant, ruthless and faithless. For him, it was join the Brotherhood or watch his mother die. Now, as part of the Brotherhood, he has taken down ship after ship. The flagship, carrying the president, is their last target.

Azalea is the fixer on the flagship, Reliance. Her creative genius and her faith have kept them operational and one step ahead of the Brotherhood. But, when the Brotherhood hijacks the ship, Azalea must bind herself to the foreign coder in order to save all that remains of humankind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Celesta Thiessen
• Release date: Jan 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311250797

Celesta Thiessen

I live in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada with my husband and two young daughters. We're homeschoolers and entrepreneurs. My husband and I make iOS apps and I write stories. Being a writer is magical - spinning nothing into stories - stories that can light the way to a different world.You can connect with me on Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCelesta

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Prologue

Meeting Transcripts

July 2, 3918

Attendees:

Azalea Sterling – Lead Fixer

Camden Sterling – President

Claire Sterling – Head Teacher

Dietrich Ross – Security Chief

Linx Matheson – Lead Coder

Sunday Liu - Chief of Medicine

Vance Abrams– Lead Horticulturist

Proceedings (8:02)

Camden Sterling: Senior staff, I’ve called this meeting today because, as you all know, in this fight with the rebels, we have been brought to a desperate place. Dietrich has come to me with an idea. He has my support on this but I do want feedback from all of you. Dietrich, please explain your plan.

Dietrich Ross: As you know, there are two rebel ships and only one of us. Our choices are to fight back with everything we’ve got or to let them destroy us.

Linx Matheson: I thought we were already fighting them? Isn’t that why Azalea and I are hardly getting any sleep - because we’re working day and night with you, fighting the rebels, throwing everything we can at them?

Dietrich Ross: But it hasn’t worked. We’ve been only delaying the inevitable. It’s time to get serious. We need to deliver a nuclear explosion and take out one of their ships.

Sunday Liu: But there are so few humans left! Only three ships now! Our forefathers left earth with ten to preserve humanity! If we destroy the Solidarity or the Faithful, we will be erasing perhaps a third of what is left of humankind. If we lose many more people, we will have to start worrying about genetic viability.

Dietrich Ross: But it is by their choice! They are trying to destroy us! Will we just let them murder us and our families? We cannot! We must fight! At this point, it’s either them or us. Which are you going to choose?

Azalea Sterling: Has it really come to that? And what do you mean by ‘a nuclear explosion’?

Dietrich Ross: It has really come to that. We need to modify one of the nuclear reactors and make a nuclear bomb.

Azalea Sterling: I can’t agree to using one of the reactors! The Reliance started out with four nuclear reactors, so that there would be redundancy in case of emergency. Now we only have two. Destroying one of them, even in self-defense, is too risky! What if our last one goes? We would all die. We couldn’t last more than a couple of days without a reactor. We would certainly perish!

Dietrich Ross: This is an emergency! Time to make use of that extra reactor. If we don’t use it, we won’t be able to turn back this onslaught. We’ve already thrown everything else that we have at them. Otherwise, we might as well surrender now. If we do nothing, then we will certainly perish!

Vance Abrams: If it’s the only viable option, then I’m for it. I have young children. We can’t just give up and accept death for all of us. Let’s fight and give it everything we’ve got.

Linx Matheson: Personally, I’m with Azalea. I don’t think it’s a great idea.

Camden Sterling: Sunday, Claire, where do you stand on this?

Sunday Liu: If the choice is to fight back in this way or to let them destroy us, I choose to fight back.

Claire Sterling: I wish there were some other way. There are likely children on the rebels’ ships. There must be. I can’t help thinking about that. Camden, I feel loyalty to you, as my husband; I feel that I should side with you on this but I just can’t. I just can’t say yes. I’m sorry.

Camden Sterling: Thank you, Claire. I want everyone to be honest. This is a very serious decision and I’m glad I was able to hear you all out. As for myself, I cannot just stand by and let them destroy us, and I will not surrender this ship to them. We’ve seen over the last few years, when they hijacked the other ships - there were so many bodies in space…How many people survived? And even though the Promise surrendered, they ended up dismantling that ship and using it for parts. Did any of the people onboard survive? And if any were taken prisoner, what happened to them? With the broadcasts the Faithful sends to us, I shudder to think. It’s better to go down fighting, whatever the cost. We can’t let this ship fall into their hands. As it stands, the vote is four to three so we will proceed with Dietrich’s plan.

Azalea Sterling: I don’t want to be a part of this. Killing them doesn’t feel right. I don’t want to be a part of killing all those people… even if they are trying to kill us.

Camden Sterling: I understand your reservations, sister. I will assign the other three fixers to this task. Do you think they will object as well?

Azalea Sterling: No, I don’t believe so, but, if we have only one reactor, there will be no backup if that reactor fails!

Camden Sterling: You’re the lead fixer. Make sure it doesn’t fail.

Meeting Adjourned

December 11, 3918

Attendees:

Azalea Sterling – Lead Fixer

Camden Sterling – President

Claire Sterling – Head Teacher

Dietrich Ross – Security Chief

Linx Matheson – Lead Coder

Sunday Liu - Chief of Medicine

Vance Abrams– Lead Horticulturist

Proceedings (8:00)

Camden Sterling: This is a meeting of the senior staff to update everyone on the situation with the rebels. Most of you will have heard much of this information already. But, for the official record, Dietrich, please go over the situation with us.

Dietrich Ross: As you know, we were able to modify one of the reactors into a massive nuclear missile. We launched the missile at the Solidarity on August 7 when we were under attack by the rebel ships. The Solidarity was destroyed and we believe the Faithful was also damaged by the blast. The Faithful withdrew and we haven’t seen her since. The rebels must be hiding her on the other side of the Earth.

Camden Sterling: What does this mean for us?

Dietrich Ross: I believe the war is over.

Sunday Liu: Don’t you think that that proclamation is premature? What if they are getting ready for another attack?

Dietrich Ross: That is possible. We’re still watching for them. But it’s been months now.

Linx Matheson: Do you think the other ship might not have made it, since it was damaged too?

Dietrich Ross: It’s possible, though there’s nothing to indicate that’s what happened. I think that would be wishful thinking.

Azalea Sterling: We’re fortunate the Faithful decided to withdraw, since we have nothing left to throw at them.

Dietrich Ross: But they don’t know that. For all they know, we could have another nuke.

Vance Abrams: Looks like we made the right call.

Camden Sterling: I am thankful that our people are safe. Thank you for the update, Dietrich. Please let us know if you gain any further information on the whereabouts of the Faithful.

Dietrich Ross: Of course.

…………………..

Chapter 1 - Azalea

November 1, 3920

Azalea Sterling squinted her brown eyes in concentration and wiped her forehead on her sleeve. Her movements were limited by the cramped space and further hampered by the fact that there was almost no gravity this close to the center of the ship. It was hot too. But someone has to keep this ship going.

One of the wastewater pipes needed sealing. That’s why she and Linx were jammed into this access tube. She cut away foam insulation from around the pipe so she could get at the leak. Thankfully, it was just gray water so the smell wasn’t too bad, a slightly earthy scent like the leaves decomposing on the floor of the arboretum. A strand of her light brown hair floated in front of her face. She pulled it back into her ponytail.

Linx, the lead coder, waited just behind her in the tight space of the maintenance shaft. Pipes and wire conduits lined the rounded walls. Linx was quiet, which was out of character for him, but welcome for the moment, as she needed to concentrate.

Azalea was the lead fixer. Ultimately, she was responsible for the lives of the 1017 people on board. It was a heavy responsibility for someone who was only twenty-two. She wiped her face again, pulled a smaller pair of shears from her belt and continued to cut away the wet foam insulation.

The excessive heat made her think of the cool, clear water in the ship’s pool. She promised herself that she’d go swimming in the recreation area, when she got off shift today. But she’d wait until nine so most of the children would have gone to bed. She liked children, but in controlled doses. Maybe she’d invite Linx along. Nah, they weren’t kids anymore. And things had gotten a little awkward between them. A silver cross floated up into her vision. It was her necklace. She grabbed the pendant and tucked it down under her shirt, out of the way.

She often used nano tech for fixes like this. That’s why Linx was here. Linx had programmed the nanos to do the task of applying the sealant to the hard-to-reach area on the backside of the pipe. The eight-legged nanos, tiny robots each about the size of a grain of rice, were one of the best things that their ancestors had taken from earth 700 years ago. Without the nanos, Azalea was pretty sure that the ship would have been space debris by now.

The sealer they were going to use was one of her own improvisations. She had designed this sealant, years ago, from the Hevea brasiliensis tree growing in the tropical arboretum. It was one of her many inventions and improvements that had propelled her to the position of lead fixer. Azalea pulled back and surveyed her handiwork. The pipes were now exposed, ready for the sealant.

Okay, it’s ready for the nanos.

Linx handed her the metal canister. Here, just open this to release the nanos and we’ll be good. But you know that. I still don’t understand why I had to come down here with you.

She turned to take the container from him. Linx had darker skin than most of those aboard the Reliance. He was skinny, had a fuzzy brown Afro and he was currently sporting a wild look. But he was kind of a crazy coder dude, so it suited him.

Stop complaining. At least I didn’t send you down here alone. Last time I brought your nanos down here, they erased themselves and proved worthless. I had to spend twenty minutes plucking their useless metal husks out of crevices.

You know you couldn’t send me down here alone. No one can find their way around the maintenance area except you. He glanced about furtively as if he thought something else could be down there with them. The inner area of the ship always freaked him out a little.

Maybe I just wanted your company. She smiled at him but then regretted the words as he smiled back, the tension fading from his face. She sighed. It was nice to see him smile but she shouldn’t send him mixed signals, especially since he’d been flirting with her more lately. I enjoy your company as a friend, she clarified, trying to smile in a friendly way. Why do people relationships have to be so complicated? Fixing the ship was easy compared to dealing with people.

He smiled tightly but said nothing. She felt a little sick at hurting his feelings like that but tried to put it out of her mind as she turned back to select the best spot to dump the nanos.

A loud chime rang out.

What’s that? asked Linx.

The chime sounded again. Trouble. That’s an alarm. Back up! We need to get to the junction interface to see why the alarm is sounding.

Back up?

Yes, unless you can turn around in this shaft?

No.

Scoot back, quick!

Linx awkwardly pushed himself backwards in the low grav. Thankfully, they were only a few lengths away from the control panel where a red light was flashing and the alarm was sounding from a speaker there. When they reached it, Azalea tapped deftly at the screen, bringing up the cause for the alarm.

It’s at the other end of the ship, at the core. She gasped. The nuclear reactor! Quick, we need to get out of this access tube into one of the maintenance corridors. She scooted away from him, pushing along the walls to help move herself forwards. Linx’s scuffling became more distant. He was falling behind but she couldn’t stop. She could come back for him later if he didn’t find his way out.

It was her worst nightmare. They couldn’t lose the reactor! She reached the round, heavy, metal access hatch and flung it open. Leaning back, she shouted to Linx, Close this hatch when you get out! Then she took off, propelling herself down the corridor in the low gravity. She executed each stride so that her bound would carry her forward rather than straight up towards the ceiling. She heard the hatch bang behind her. Linx must be catching up. One less thing to worry about. She turned her mind to the problem of the reactor.

When she reached the nuclear reactor, right in the center of the ship, she was weightless. Holding onto a railing, she stopped and stared at the display panel. Horror froze her in place. It was too late. The reactor had already gone critical! It had to be ejected in less than four minutes or the explosion would destroy the ship. But if the reactor were ejected, they would die. It was her worst fear come true, exactly what she had warned Dietrich and Camden about.

Linx careened to a stop just behind her. What is it?

The reactor’s gone critical! It’s going to blow. There’s no way to stop the reaction.

Can’t you eject it? He put a hand on her forearm.

She turned to look at him. Linx, you know this is our last reactor. If we eject it, our ship will die. If the lights go out, the plants will die. We’ll run out of oxygen. But we’ll probably freeze to death first. Adrenaline surged through her body but fight or flight wasn’t going to help her now.

The whites of Linx’s eyes stood out against his dark skin. What are you going to do?

There’s nothing I can do! There’s no way I’m ejecting this reactor. We need it! Anger and fear pounded in her heart. She bowed her head and closed her eyes to calm herself. Then she reached out to God in prayer. Slowly, a feeling of hope flooded her being. She opened her eyes, took a deep breath and smiled. God was going to do something. She could feel it. Everything is not lost. God can save us. He can do miracles. She put her hand against the control panel where she should be frantically tapping to eject the reactor. But instead, she just rested her palm there.

What are you doing? he asked, panic making his voice crack.

Shh…close your eyes and pray with me…God, you hold all things in your hands. You see the situation we’re in now. This isn’t a surprise to you. Nothing is. There are very few left of the human race, just us and the rebels. You know that not everyone aboard is following you. So, if they die now, they won’t come to heaven. She cried out to God with everything she had, pouring out her heart to him. And… I just didn’t see us ending this way. Please, Lord…Please give us more time. Please fix what has broken inside the reactor because there’s nothing I can do for it. But I know that you can. She continued to hold her hand on the panel as tears rolled down her cheeks. God, please save us.

It stopped. The alarm stopped ringing, said Linx.

Azalea opened her eyes and looked up at him. He was right! Silence now surrounded them. She grinned. That’s a good sign. She tapped on the console to check the various systems and components.

Wait… it worked!? What?! Just praying actually worked?! asked Linx.

Of course it did. I thought you were a believer, a Christian?

Well, I am… I mean, Jesus has had my allegiance ever since I was young. You know that. But I’ve never…seen…a miracle before. That was a real miracle, wasn’t it?

Azalea tapped at the screen, checking on the current status of the reactor. Must have been. And that’s not the first time either. When I can’t fix something, I ask for help. Jesus always answers. Don’t you remember what Jesus said? Linx didn’t say anything, and Azalea was distracted by what she was seeing on the panel. She navigated to a different screen to try to make sense of it as she recited a Bible verse by memory: whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son… Oh!!"

What? Linx crowded in to see what she was looking at on the display.

The reactor, according to these readings… it’s…

It’s what? he practically shouted, leaning over her shoulder to see.

It’s like new. It’s like a new reactor! I haven’t seen numbers this good, not even when I was just an apprentice, over ten years ago! Nothing even close. She turned to look at him, her eyes wide with amazement.

It’s a miracle! shouted Linx.

Azalea threw her arms around him in joy. It’s like the Bible says: he is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think!

Linx squeezed her tightly as he lifted her up and then set her down.

She pulled away from him, too overjoyed to feel awkward about their embrace. Let’s thank God for saving us! She closed her eyes and squeezed her hands together. Thank you, God. Thank you so much for saving us! Thank you for giving us more time.

As they made their way back to the leaking pipe in the low gravity, Linx talked almost the entire way, recounting the different stories he had heard about her, which previously he hadn’t believed.

You’re like a legend around here! But, of course, to me, you’re just Azalea, the girl I grew up with, but, to some people, it’s like you’re a savior or something. Some people say that you have, like, a super power for fixing things.

Azalea laughed. I do have a knack for it. But, beyond that, the only supernatural force at work is God. He’s holding this ship together, saving a remnant of humankind.

They crawled back into the maintenance shaft and back to the leaking pipe. Linx released the nanos and the two of them waited for the tiny