If Jove Stray: Constant Stars, #5

By Jae Shanks

Earth. Light years away, and yet now that some on the base were born there, it seems so...close. As communication with the mother planet seems more and more likely, Dylan and Alcott have to wonder if Earth really has anything to offer to their world. Is Earth and its customs obsolete or will those traditions save the their society from crumbling apart? 
More importantly, does Dashiell Turner have his new world's interests at heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jae Shanks
• Release date: Mar 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386708810

Jae Shanks

A sound designer currently living in Kansas City, Jae Shanks has been writing since she was in middle school. Although originally from Austin, Texas. She's quite at home here in the Midwest with its tempestuous weather and religion of coffee. When not in the theatre or writing, she is constantly cooking something new with local ingredients.

Book preview

Chapter One

Everything was different now. People had been murdered a week ago, and no one mentioned it because Earth.

We all knew of the planet, but to me it had always seemed like one of the distant stars in the sky. Dashiell and Libba had told stories, and of course Levi had his books, but now we knew. The data stream was slow, but there was a celebration every buoy that sent back data. Earth was close. The Canary/Aeneid conflict were distant memories as we all were denizens of Alpha Kepler, first human space colony. People found pride in unity.

I was fearful of the change.

I was afraid that Earth would assume some control, which was moonshy of course. They were light-years away from us, and who knew what kind of state they were in. We knew our world and we were doing fine without them. I didn’t have to be on congress to know that Dashiell wanted to return us to the Earth way of running a government, and that Libba and Val were trying to bring back Earth fashion and mannerisms. Titus found himself on congress without a single vote cast. I worried, but I stayed in my quiet office in environmental, reading CO2 levels from bacteria and staying out of politics.

When the people in charge decided that Earth couldn’t be replicated here, people like my papa and Anatoly would be taken seriously. But until then, I could focus on breathable air without base interference or petty debates.

Someone knocked on my door and I stood up from my desk, sliding open the door to see Levi.

Lunch? he suggested, holding a box in one hand. You left this morning before I could suggest it.

I have a meeting soon, I told him.

When his smile faded, I sighed, letting him into the office.

We have a half hour.

Levi kissed me on the cheek and moved to sit on my desk with a grin. He opened the box, handed me a wrapped triangle.

I made sandwiches, he said. Apparently I knew you were in a hurry.

I managed a smile and took the sandwich from him. It had been a week since house arrest, and I still hadn’t moved back home yet. I had stayed the night last night, but it had been the first. I couldn’t explain it, though many people had asked. I didn’t want to be around people yet, even Levi. Conversations were exhausting, and I never knew what would bring the tears back. I needed all of my stability to handle my meetings, and I had none to spare, even for my partner.

Alcott has another check up this afternoon, Levi told me. She still hasn’t started printing anything; I was thinking about getting the group together, pitching in so she doesn’t have to worry about it. There are certain staples she’s going to need. I just don’t want her to worry if she doesn’t have to. Oh, and the plums are ripe now. Try this, Dylan. They’re amazing.

He held out a dark round fruit and I took it, biting through the smooth skin and nodding my approval. Levi beamed.

They may be my new favorite, he confided. Alcott says I call every new food my favorite, so I might be biased. I only bought two; they are so expensive. But worth it.

Levi needed another haircut, I noted. He hadn’t cut it since I had the day before Landing Day and his blonde hair was falling into his eyes. I reached over to comb his hair back and he made a face.

You and Alcott. She’s threatening me with the pruning shears at work. I told her I’d start growing out my beard if she did.

You don’t have a beard, I pointed out.

I could, Levi informed me. I’ll never know until I try. And shaving is tedious. Esperanza is letting Lully grow his facial hair out.

I tried to imagine Lully with a beard and grimaced. I had no idea what he would look like. Esperanza had once said Lully took enough time in the bathroom without having more hair on his head. I could only imagine what he was like now.

Levi craned his head to look at the time on my holo-rib.

I shouldn’t stay much longer, he remarked. Where is your meeting?

Research, I said. Edison and I are meeting with Ibsen to talk about expanding the lake. He thinks it’s being fed by an underground spring, and if so, we might be able to use that and solar energy to make a power station. Then we could start a second base.

Really? So close?

It’s three kilometers away, I countered. And it would be for research. They need the room, and environ could uproot one of our tertiary systems to support them.

I wouldn’t mind living closer to the lake, Levi mused. Could be fun.

I finished my sandwich and plum, and rose from my chair. Levi stood with me.

I can walk you there, he offered. And then be on my way.

I would have rather he didn’t, but instead I nodded, walking alongside Levi down the corridor. I also though that living by the lake would be preferable to the base, but I doubted my work would let me.

Message me if you’re coming over, he said, once we reached research. I have to get more tea if that’s the case; you’ve drank it all.

I like tea, I admitted.

Levi smiled and I watched him head out of the bay and back to his own work. I didn’t know if I would be going over there tonight; it depended on how this meeting went.

Edison arrived a moment later and we entered Ibsen’s office together. Ibsen gave a grin.

We’ve been reviewing our maps and samples Lincoln’s team brought in, he explained, gesturing at the screen that made up the table. I think that lake is a lot deeper than we thought it was. There’s clearly something, he circled the area in question. That’s making the ground swell. Three kilometers isn’t so far to pump water.

It’s far enough, Edison warned. We’d have to finish between earthstorms, work around the clock.

We’d have to do that for any project out there, Ibsen pointed out. Which is why I’m about to propose something rotated.

Go on, Edison said.

I think we should fix up the Aeneid for one more journey, he said. We know it can withstand an earthstorm. We know it has the capability for life support and has all the necessary rooms and needs a satellite base would have.

You must be out of your venting mind, Edison shot back.

We don’t have to put it in the air, it has wheels, or we could use the hovers. But if we can’t move it on one go, we know it can stay out there without further damage. If we don’t finish a new base, it will all be blown to pieces. We don’t have the resources to try twice.

Ibsen sighed. It’s not ideal. But our poor ship should have some use and we need to expand. I have enough people that I can task them with assessment and estimates for the repair before we ever try to move it. And then Dylan can have the life support built into the ship and we’re not making guesses about how much air we need. We have all the Aeneid numbers. We still have people who lived on it.

We do, Edison agreed. And we do need more people.

And a place to house them, Ibsen said. We can set the intrepid out to the lake and branch out from there. Dylan? Thoughts?

Is there any other resources by the lake? I asked. Minerals, ores? It’s a lot of work for just water.

Silicon, he replied. We can do a lot with it and it will stave off our present iron crisis. I bring this up now because we can’t move until the storm is over. This means we have a couple weeks to run simulations and test and mark up charts and maps. We can involve the whole base if we want, but I wanted to start with materials and air because this would affect you the most.

I nodded. Edison stared at the map, though he had complained about the expense nearly as much as I had expected. He gave Ibsen and I a rare smile.

We can talk about it, he said. I’ll get some rough estimates based on what we know the Aeneid is lacking and we can reconvene in a couple days? Seasons willing we don’t have any massive damage.

Agreed, Ibsen and I replied.

Alcott yawned, wishing little Marcus would sleep through the night instead of the day. She ducked into Levi’s office to say goodbye before her meeting.

How was lunch? she asked. You got back before I did.

I can’t tell, he admitted. She was distant as usual. Had a meeting right after. I need to remember that I have to plan things with her instead of just showing up like I used to. He shrugged. I tried. We spoke some. I’m going to label it a small victory and not look at it so closely. I’m pushing too hard, I know.

So long as you are taking care of yourself, Alcott told him. So you had lunch with Dylan, what are your plans for dinner?

He shrugged. Depends if Dylan comes over or not.

Let’s assume that she’s not, and say that you’re coming to my place and helping me eat all the cauliflower I talked myself into. Alcott replied. Bring some cookies.

You’re going to eat them all and leave me with the cauliflower, he pointed out.

So long as you know. I have my appointment now, but I’ll expect you after work or send me a message. Got it?

Oui ma’am, Levi remarked.

Alcott smiled and headed out of botany. She would have set these appointments afterhours, but Anatoly insisted and Alcott wasn’t in a position to argue.

Blair was patching up Joan who looked like she had bumped her head. Both of them smiled at Alcott, which made her feel a pang of guilt. Everyone assumed that O’Keefe had shot Lincoln, when in fact, Alcott had been the one with the gun.

What happened to you? she inquired.

Joan grimaced. Alcott didn’t know the woman well, only that she was Lincoln’s former partner. Alcott wondered how she was holding up, but was a little afraid to ask. She was probably the wrong person to inquire.

I was just here to say hello to Harper, Joan explained. And Blair decided I needed stitches.

"You were still bleeding when you walked in, Blair scoffed. Is everyone in builds as bad as you and Harper? We need you to take better care of yourselves."

It’s not my fault, called Harper from another room.

If you pulled your stitches yelling it will be, Esperanza retorted, walking out of another room. Madison’s in her office, Alcott.

Alcott nodded and rounded the corner, knocking lightly. When she heard Madison’s voice, she entered the room. To her surprise, Dashiell was also there. He rose when she entered, but did not leave.

How are you doing? Madison inquired, seemingly unperturbed by the captain’s presence.

Fine, I think, Alcott said. He just wants to be more awake than I do in the early hours of the morning, but we’re learning to compromise. Um... She glanced at Dashiell hoping for an explanation.

He sat beside her and gave a smile that was supposed to be reassuring.

I have a proposal for you, he said. I didn’t mean to corner you like this, we just happened to overlap appointments. I want to pay for everything to make sure your child is cared for. It’s unfortunate that your partner was killed and we don’t have anything in place to help you.

My parents will help, Alcott replied. And Levi has offered to assist as well. I’m not worried. Why are you offering? What is this proposal?

Dashiell sighed.

There’s no delicate way to say this, so I’ll just come out with it. You match with Titus’s son in cryo.

I’m not in the registry anymore, Alcott retorted, not needing time to think about such a decision. Merci, but non.

Please hear me out, Dashiell pressed. He’s their only son. He doesn’t have a match in cryo or on base besides you.

That’s nice; I’m not available, she snapped. "Madison, I should not be on any list."

You weren’t, Madison promised. Dashiell asked me to expand the search when we couldn’t find anyone.

Then look again, Alcott said. I don’t need this. I don’t want this. I’m sorry he doesn’t have a match, but I had a partner. I don’t want another.

Then what do I do? Dashiell questioned, a sharp edge to his voice. "What do I tell his parents? I woke them up to solve a murder, damning the consequences to their family. I know the feeling, my daughter is still in cryo."

Dashiell, Madison warned.

He ran his fingers through his hair, sitting back. He had leaned forward towards Alcott and she did understand why he felt so strongly. Even thinking about Marcus brought tears to her eyes.

Alcott, how much do you know about the genetics testing we do here? Madison inquired.

As much as anyone else, I guess, she answered.

Everyone shares the majority of DNA with each other, she explained. It’s only a very small percentage of our genetic material that is different from person to person.

Okay, Alcott said, uncertain what this had to do with her.

Potential partners are what we have defined as genetic strangers, Madison continued. Even with the Canary and the people in cryo, our pool of people becomes smaller and smaller and genetic strangers are more and more rare. Dashiell had me expand the definition and many people have a lot more options. We can wake Tyson and others without ill effects on the population.

Congress knows I want to wake this young man, and so any bill I propose will be taken, he paused; negatively. But we will have contact with Earth. We can use gene therapy; we’ll probably have more ships coming this way. We’re not totally alone anymore. I just need you two to be partners until he can’t be put back into cryo. Then, when I get this proposal agreed upon, he has several options and you will no longer have anything to do with him. He smiled. It is not so unreasonable, is it?

Are you altering our genetic program for one person? Alcott questioned.

Dashiell shook his head. I will admit I started looking into it for Mia’s sake. But she and Ty are hardly anomalies. Both ships have been losing their diversity as the years go on and trying to maintain a perfect genetic balance is impossible. We have to compromise and we have to do it while we still have options.

Alcott turned to Madison. Is this true?

Yes, Madison sighed. I’ve been running the stimulations that Shelley built. We can sustain this for twenty more years, but we’re going to be putting a lot of people in cryo. On the ship that was one thing, there was a reward for cryo; you could wake on the planet. But here, people have families, lives here. People would rather stay. A new definition of genetic strangers, say, half as strict, makes that possible.

And this person...

Ty is the one person that I need to pull from cryo before that can happen, Dashiell explained. I just need a week of your time. I will keep you informed the moment I can get congress to vote. I promise. And in return, I’ll make sure your maternity leave will be covered for as long as you’d like. 

Alcott fidgeted with her hands, not certain how to respond. She hadn’t expected this and there definitely was a bit of her that was upset about being cornered in this appointment.

How long do I have to decide? she inquired.

As long as you need, Madison promised. I don’t know that time will make it easier; you’re going to lose your extra bedroom soon.

She nodded, not saying anything. Dashiell got up from his chair and headed to the door.

Thank you, Alcott, for listening. I’m sorry about all of this, I really am.

When he left, Madison sighed.

He was not supposed to stay, she told Alcott. We were supposed to have a real conversation about your baby and then set up a meeting with Dashiell. He’s a very impatient man.

She managed a laugh, but Alcott couldn’t manage to say anything for a long moment. She looked up from her hands and finally gave a smile.

Okay, she said. I’ll message you an answer tomorrow. 

Cameron tried to visit Harper every chance she got, but with work and meetings she was having a hard time staying long.

You know, you wouldn’t be in the medical bay if you’d just let yourself sleep and heal, she told him. Stop trying to leave, stop being difficult.

Babe, let me have my holo-rib, he pleaded. I’m going crazy in here. I don’t sleep normally, you’re asking me to sleep all the time.

Not all the time, she replied, putting her hands on her hips. Please. I’m tired of lecturing you.

He had no idea how bad he looked. Harper’s skin was still so pale that even his grey eyes seemed dark. He had bruising around his broken collarbone and femur; he was bandaged and had a thick sling for his arm. They had finally had to put his leg in a hard cast because he kept fidgeting. Madison had threatened to sedate him several times.

If I promise to sleep, will you tell Esperanza to give me back my holo-rib? he countered. "Or let me go home? I’d rather