Are You Brave Enough

By Anna L. Walls

Are you brave enough to make a drastic change in your life, to take that step into the unknown? And if you do,what will you do?

Only you can answer that question.

In this collection of short stories, the theme is the same - they were brave enough.

Brave enough to escape a bad situation and make a better future.

Brave enough to find another way.

Brave enough to try.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anna L. Walls
• Release date: Apr 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463429006

Anna L. Walls

I grew up a rancher's daughter hoping to inherit the ranch and run a riding school for city kids. However, my brother bought the ranch from our parents in order to avoid an inheritance tax and I ended up joining the army, marrying my fisherman husband and moving to the wilderness of Alaska where I raised two wonderful boys. One of them gave me an old laptop computer and now I'm a published author. Go figure.

Book preview

The Litany against Fear

I will not fear.

Fear is the mind-killer.

I will face my fear.

I will let it pass through me.

When the fear has gone,

there shall be nothing.

Only I will remain.

Dune

ARE YOU

BRAVE

ENOUGH

Only you can say for sure

A collection of short stories

by Anna L. Walls

© Pending

Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 (five) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

Names, characters, and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

Cover by: KDP

System Nautilus

Secrets of the Mind

The Forces of Darkness

Learn What Was Lost

The Box Opens – Living in a World of Silence

Follow a Dream

Arthur

Sara’s Diary

From Out There

About Me

More of my Books

SYSTEM NAUTILUS

When the hardware required to run a ship’s automated systems became too bulky for the desired size of the ship, the ship builders turned to a more biological source. Successful use of a cat’s brain was the first breakthrough. Just as any brain manages its body, having a brain manage a ship’s functions was much more efficient than its mechanical counterpart, but they soon discovered that a cat’s brain lacked endurance. They were, however, the cause for the hunter-class scout ships coming into being during the Space Wars over the control of Earth’s skies. The cat-like reflexes were very quick. The small, one-man ships were able to circumvent many detection systems, and they were capable of short furious fights where the need for agility was paramount.

The next logical step was the use of the dog’s brain. It too worked well, but it lacked complexity. The dog-class ships were best suited for freighters where the crew turned in at night. The dog-class fighters – larger two-man ships – were fierce and agile too, but even though they had more endurance, they were no match for the hunter-class.

Chimp brains were the next evolution. They had the desired endurance and complexity. They even had a good lifespan, and they worked very well for many years as the development of long-term spacing evolved, but as the ships grew more complex, they, too, were left behind. Using multiple brains extended their usefulness a few more years, but compatibility problems arose with that system all too easily. It wasn’t long before it became obvious that something better had to be developed.

The human mind proved to be the best solution, and there were many people available who suffered from some injury or illness that deprived them of the use of their bodies. They were the perfect choice, and they were well paid in return. Nearly all those ships survived far beyond a normal human lifespan. The problem arose when there were more ships being built than there were such invalids willing to have their brains wired into them, and the first disaster directly resulting from the use of a criminal mind told them they couldn’t safely go that route.

In the year 3817, cloning was authorized strictly for this purpose. It took six to eight years to build an M-class star ship, and a clone was born on the same day the plans for it came off the drawing board. The young brain was wired into place as soon as there were enough systems to connect to. At that point the two grew up together. With clones, there was a biological body included in the package, but as far as the brain was concerned, its body was the ship. There was no identity beyond that. If you were to ask a ship’s system to move its right hand, you’d get movement of a fin, or perhaps attitude thrusters, depending on the ship’s design. Tell him to kick his left foot, and you’d get a boosted spin that would turn the ship to the right. It was all quite natural to the system, then again, the terms ‘hand’ and ‘foot’ would never have been used.

It was discovered very early on that, though it was the brain that was of use, maintaining its health was nearly impossible without the body to go along with it, so the body was hooked up to monitors and apparatuses designed to maintain its health at an optimum level. Electrodes were attached to each muscle, and tiny shocks were administered during every ‘waking’ moment to ensure good muscle tone. With good muscle tone came a healthy cardiovascular system. A perfectly balanced nutritional food was injected directly into the esophagus, and the waste products were drawn off directly from the lower intestines. The air was free of pollutants, and the oxygen content was slightly elevated to enhance alertness. Lastly, to prevent possible problems, the system was subjected to all the common childhood diseases, and received all the normal shots and immunizations any other person received.

Typically, by the time the ship had reached its tenth birthday, it was ready for out-of-system travel. Nautilus was no different. His captain was exacting, but he saw that Nautilus got the best care and maintenance in return. The slightest indication from the ship’s doctor of Nautilus’s fatigue, and he would be announcing over the intercom that systems were being shut down so Nautilus could rest. Such things as gravity and lighting in the common areas were among the first things to go. Gravity was also shut down in the many hallways though lighting was maintained at a dim red glow. Power systems within quarters were also curtailed. Sometimes it was easier for the occupants to sleep through these down times than it was to juggle what the allotment would allow them to do. Sufficient lighting and gravity to play a card game had to be weighed against the desire to watch the newest movie on the vid, unless you wanted to pay a stiff fee for the extra power to do both, something the captain seldom allowed.

Nautilus, however, was a very normal boy. He didn’t always devote this quiet time to sleep. It wasn’t uncommon for him to interact with members of the crew or explore the confines of his body/ship. None of this interaction was, however, physical, but he would speak to people or play games with them.

He enjoyed games, and played anything from a simple game of hearts with a chatty old woman to war games with the bridge crew. He also enjoyed long debates with the ship’s engineer, and he could often be found reading stories to children whenever they were among the passengers.

On one particularly long trip to the frontier, Nautilus discovered a pretty girl traveling with her parents. They were moving to a new colony as were the rest of their passengers on this trip. He was sixteen now, and for the first time, he was shy about speaking to someone. He pointed her out to the engineer, and the man just laughed and told him to talk to her.

He did. I see you. I am Nautilus. What is your name? His computerized voice sounded just as square as it appeared on the screen that printed out his words, but the rise in his body temperature and heart rate resulting from when she looked up caused a drug to be released into his body that lulled him to sleep. If she answered his simple question, he didn’t hear it.

The next morning, after the doctor had read the report on the anomaly, he gave Nautilus a thorough physical. Finding absolutely nothing wrong, he forgot the incident.

Nautilus, however, didn’t forget. The emotional turmoil kept him distracted, and there were noticeable delays in some operating systems, though nothing went completely amiss. Under questioning, Nautilus confessed to the source of his confusion, and after a fatherly talking-to by the doctor, who pointed out the illogic of the whole thing, systems returned to normal.

Nautilus still watched the girl though. In fact, she seemed to be everywhere he looked. He had to use the ship’s manifest to learn her name, but there were two other women in her family, so he had to use her thumbprint to confirm it. Sasha Bender. He liked her name.

As a paid passenger, her thumbprint let her into many places aboard the ship, but she was a slippery one. She managed to sneak into several places normally restricted to the crew. She was politely escorted back to the passengers’ section whenever she was discovered, but it became a game. It was an interesting diversion for Nautilus too, as she showed up in some rather sensitive places from time to time. It was inevitable that she would find her way to his door.

I see you. You should not be here, said Nautilus when her tantalizing hand touched the print pad at his door.

Is this where you are? she asked.

I am Nautilus. Only the doctor may pass this door, said Nautilus.

I’ve read all about people like you. I’ve been trying to find you. I wanted to see you, to meet you. Why didn’t you speak to me again? I’ve learned that you sometimes visit people. Why didn’t you come visit me?

You will be leaving. I will never see you again, said Nautilus as he searched for the controls that would be injecting the drug into his body soon.

Other people have left, she persisted.

Yes.

How many of them have you seen again – don’t count the crew.

None, he admitted – there, it was disabled.

Can’t we be friends?

Nautilus gasped, and struggled to steady himself. If the captain discovered his distraction, the doctor would come. No.

What do you look like? I want to see you.

Nautilus was beginning to panic. I am Nautilus. It was the only answer he could come up with. He didn’t have a ‘look’ the way she meant it.

Open the door, please. I want to see. When he hesitated, she persisted. Please open the door. I know you can.

The captain’s voice interrupted. We’re shutting down for the night, Nautilus. Get some sleep. You seem under the weather. If you’re not better by morning, I’ll have the doctor check you again.

Yes, Captain.

And Nautilus, Mr. Bender says his daughter is missing again. When you locate her, please inform security.

Of course, Captain. As the ship calmed its way to night watch, Nautilus returned his attention to his visitor. Your father is looking for you.

Let me see you first, then I’ll go back quietly. I promise. You won’t get into trouble.

Nautilus sighed. It was an odd sound computerized, and printed out only as a series of ;,;,;,;,;, but the door clicked open.

Sasha tentatively pushed open the door to see a large room webbed with white tubes and black cables. In the center was a coffin-like black cocoon. The lighting came from various computer screens displaying assorted flickering readouts, but it was enough to show the gloss on the coffin. She stepped in, being very careful not to touch anything.

Sasha? Where did you go? I cannot see you. Nautilus’ disembodied voice sounded from a point near the center of the web, and another computer screen blinked to life with a display.

I’m here, Nautilus. I’m just inside the door. Is all this … you?

I am Nautilus. Nautilus is what I am. He was so confused, and so thrilled, and so frightened, and so excited – he thought he might explode.

Sasha crept towards the cocoon. Detailed information about ship’s systems and their evolution was available for anyone who searched for it, but aside from diagrams and descriptions, there was little to prepare her for what she saw. The expanse of the reality was mind-boggling and fascinating at the same time.

She found the catch and opened the cocoon. Inside, she saw a well-muscled young man. His dark brown hair was cut very short, and dark eyelashes rested on pale cheeks. He also had dozens of wires attached to him all over his body, two thick tubes – one disappearing into his throat and one below his navel, and a black mask covered his nose and mouth.

Sasha, where are you? Speak to me.

I’m right here, she said as she touched his forehead – the only part of him that was unobstructed.

Nautilus gasped. He’d been touched before, many times, but never by her hand. And her voice, sounding directly in his ear rather than through the communications systems, was thrilling.

Open your eyes, she whispered in his ear. Look at me with your eyes.

He had eyes. He had eyes all over the ship, inside and out. He had looked at her in a hundred different ways at a hundred different times from a hundred different vantage points, but he knew what she meant. I can’t – I don’t ... know how.

Careful to avoid all the tubes and wires, she carefully cradled his face in her hands and touched his closed eyes with her thumbs. "Here, these are your eyes. Open them and look at me. See me with your eyes." She caressed his cheekbones and brushed his eyelashes while he puzzled out the sensations.

He didn’t remember ever opening these eyes. If he had, there had been nothing to tell him so, and he had many other eyes to satisfy his desire to see. He found the right sensations. He felt muscles move against her warm thumbs. Unfocused light stabbed into the back of his head, pulling at other muscles that had never seen firsthand use, but he saw her. She was nothing but a colorful blur, but the colors were in all the right places. I see you, he said.

Sirens went off all over the ship including here. "Abandon ship! Abandon ship! All passengers get to your lifeboats immediately. This is not a drill. This is not a drill. Nautilus, I need more maneuvering thrusters. Can you help?"

Sasha watched as the body of Nautilus stiffened in alarm, his eyes drifting shut – forgotten. Leg muscles bunched, and hands strained to reach for something the arms did not guide them towards. Neck muscles strained, and what she could see of the pale face twisted into a grimace.

His hands stopped their straining and began to twitch. It’s no good, Captain. I can’t move far enough fast enough, and I can’t break it up enough. Get away. I’m not going to make it.

What? said Sasha. What’s going on?

I’ll miss you, kid. It’s been good shipping with you, said the captain, and the flight deck jettisoned followed quickly by any occupied guest and crew quarters. There were lifeboats, too, but they were generally reserved for those caught away from their quarters. Thanks to the hour, there were only two such people, and they too made it away.

Moments later, there was a grinding crunch that knocked Sasha from her feet and caused the body of Nautilus to arch up from its resting place. A scream, muffled by the black mask, echoed around the vast chamber as the many computer screens flickered and went dark one by one.

Sasha scrambled up and rushed back to Nautilus. Another rending crash followed by many smaller zinging sounds echoed through the ship, and Nautilus screamed again and jerked violently, unable to make his flesh and blood body cringe and coil, just as he was unable to make his ship body twist out of danger.

Sasha saw a printout on the screen that had been printing up Nautilus’ words. It read: System error. Life-support error. Propulsion error. Disconnecting system Nautilus. All the wires jerked loose leaving behind small spots of blood and a gasping trembling body, and then new alarm sounded and the screen had something new to say. System error. Self-containment error. Jettison error. Then everything was too quiet. There was no more crashing or zinging, no more sirens, no more engines, and no gravity. All Sasha could hear was the ragged gasping of Nautilus through the mask on his face.

What do I do? asked Sasha. She was terrified and confused.

"You should not have come here," said a muffled voice from behind the mask.

Sasha lifted the mask away. What did you say?

You should not have come here. Asteroids have killed me. Everything is gone, and I cannot get you away.

Tell me what to do. What can I do? Sasha asked, but she got no response. Nautilus had fainted. Sasha was a smart girl; she knew her way around most any computer she had managed to get her hands on. She turned to the bank of computer screens and typed in, system self-containment error/manual containment.

Her first try produced the results she was hoping for. Printed out for her, were the systematic instructions for the emergency manual disconnection of system Nautilus. Within minutes, she had his pod freed and floating loose from its moorings – the worst part had been unplugging the bulky plug from the back of his skull, but she did it, and he was free.

Thankful for the weightless environment, she began to maneuver the unwieldy coffin through the halls and stairwells. Emergency runner lights still guided nonexistent feet towards available lifeboats, and Sasha followed them.

As they drifted away from the once shiny bulk of the ship that had been taking them to a new life in the colonies, she wondered where her family was. With the wreckage in front of her, it was impossible to tell how many people might have died, but it looked as if Nautilus had been able to pitch and yaw enough to keep the bulk of the damage to the belly and engines rather than in the side where the living quarters and the escape pods we're located.

There was no communication other than the emergency beacon just as there was no propulsion other than what was needed to keep them in the shipping lane. They were a bit far out there, but it was an established shipping lane. Someone would pick them up as soon as they could reach them.

Sasha spared one final look at the rapidly disappearing husk, and then went back to look in on her inadvertent companion. Well now, what shall we call you now? You’re sure not Nautilus any more.

Everything is gone. I am dead, whispered Nautilus.

No you’re not, said Sasha as she found the blankets and covered him. She had to use two to go around the tubes that still protruded from his torso, connecting him to the case he lay in. Open your eyes and see the truth of what I say.

He struggled with the unfamiliar muscles, and then squinted when he succeeded. I can’t see, he whispered. The sudden and complete absence of sensation coming so hard on the heels of the all-encompassing pain had him near panicking, and it was a sensation he was totally unfamiliar with.

Sasha petted and caressed his face and shoulders. She pulled his hands up and held them tightly. You can see. You saw me before; you can do it again.

He clutched at the touch of her hands. The focus is malfunctioning. Where are you?

She smiled. I’m right here. We’ll be picked up soon. You should rest. You’re in shock, I think. It’s all right. I’ll stay right here. You sleep now.

Yes, he was tired, but he had never been so alone before. He clutched at her hands. He struggled to hear her breathing. Where is everyone?

Everyone got away. Everyone is just fine. Someone will come pick us all up soon. You rest now. Everyone is just fine. Sasha had no concept of how intimately attached these people were to their ships. She should have known when he couldn’t differentiate himself from his ship. Now that he had no ship, she was beginning to understand. She didn’t know what to do.

Ultimately, it was just over four weeks before they were found. The rudimentary navigational system and thrusters had kept them in the shipping lanes, but they were still tiny specks in a vast nothingness.

Sasha and Nautilus spent their time learning. Sasha learned how to take care of Nautilus, and Nautilus learned what it meant to be human. They learned how to disconnect him completely from his pod, and for short periods of time Nautilus could move around the lifeboat. There wasn’t a lot of room, but it had been designed to hold six people, so there was plenty for the two of them.

Having been kept in top physical shape, all Nautilus needed to do was learn, and he could walk around the pod. His eyes quickly learned how to focus, and he was able to navigate the one obstacle dominating the middle of the floor. That obstacle was the console that was their entertainment center and table.

Nautilus had never had to manipulate a computer before, and the two of them spent a lot of time figuring out how to use it and exploring its offerings. He found manipulating the controls to be more fascinating than any of the things he found within the programs; he already knew all that stuff. When they lost interest in the entertainment center, they explored each other. It didn’t take Nautilus very long at all to learn the sweeter delights of being human.

Though Nautilus seemed to flourish under the newness of it all, he wasn’t designed for this type of existence. Nautilus, and all the others like him, were specially designed. They were designed to run large passenger ships and massive military cruisers. They were designed to monitor and care for hundreds of people; this solitary existence was too all-confining.

Two weeks into their drift, he began to have problems sleeping. Physical exercise, not all of which involved sit-ups and push-ups, helped, as did the curiosity of learning this new existence, but by the time another week had passed, he was forced to remain in his pod as his health deteriorated.

With Nautilus near delirious, Sasha was ecstatic to hear their radio come to life as a rescue vessel informed the occupants to prepare for pick-up. There was no way she could respond, but they would know she was alive in here. She prayed they would send a doctor to make sure.

She met them at the hatch. He’s sick. He’s so sick, she said frantically.

We know, miss, said the soldier who was first. The doctor is waiting. We’ll take him directly to the infirmary.

They had known of two life forms on board, and they had known that one of them was ill, but they had no reason to expect to find system Nautilus.

We’ve been searching for him. How’d you get him in here? asked the soldier, as they hustled Nautilus out of the lifeboat.

We were talking when we were hit. The jettison system failed. With the gravity gone, I was able to float him in here. Will he be all right?

The soldier gave her an odd look, but he didn’t question her any more. As soon as they were in the halls, he said, Arleigh, inform the doctor that we have system Nautilus here. He’s not in very good shape.

There was a short pause. The doctor has been informed, said a calm male voice. He’s making the necessary adjustments as we speak.

Will he be all right? asked Sasha.

The doctor will do everything he can, said Arleigh, the disembodied voice of the ship.

An under officer found them a few moments later. What is your name, Miss? We’re still looking for lifeboats. We’ll need your name for the survivor’s lists.

Sasha waved the man away as the infirmary came into view, and the soldiers carried Nautilus’ pod inside. She paced and wiped at tears while Nautilus was subjected to a physical examination as well as a computerized examination.

System Nautilus is failing, Doctor, said Arleigh. I have retrieved as much information as I can from the memory chamber of his pod.

Failing! He can’t be failing. He was doing so well. You said you would help him. You have to help him. Sasha was inconsolable.

The doctor looked at her alarmed. What do you mean, ‘he was doing so well?

He was walking and playing games on the computer. He could see me. He was healthy, he said so, but he got sick. You have to help him.

This might help. The doctor turned Nautilus’ head to the side and brushed aside the month’s growth of hair to plug in a massive plug like the one she’d removed when she’d taken him from the ship. Do what you can for him, Arleigh. He turned back to Sasha. Now explain to me what you have been doing. It’s very important that I know every detail.

She told him everything, and watched him wince and cringe at every one of her transgressions.

He tried to explain. He has been genetically enhanced to cope with the requirements of running a ship. Existing without his ship is possible for a short period of time in an emergency like this, but he cannot survive only within himself. He has been disconnected for nearly five weeks. He’s dying, and there’s nothing we can do about it. He tried very hard to be gentle. It was obvious to him that this girl had formed an attachment to the handsome young man who lay in the pod.

Sasha knew in her heart that Nautilus had been dying, but she wanted to believe he could be saved. She went to him. Nautilus? Can you hear me, Nautilus? She touched his cheek.

He sighed and opened his eyes causing alarm lights to light up on a console nearby. I see you, he whispered and reached a hand up to touch the tears on her face.

Failure of system Nautilus, imminent, said Arleigh.

Do you understand what is happening? she asked.

I am dying, he replied softly. Why is your face wet?

I don’t want you to die, said Sasha.

It’s all right. I got to live a lifetime with you. I got to live with you. Now I can die. I can die happy. I am happy.

Don’t die, Nautilus. Don’t die. I don’t want you to die.

Soft alarms sounded as Nautilus’ eyes drifted closed. System failure, said Arleigh. System Nautilus has failed.

Sasha sobbed and the doctor pulled her away. I killed him, didn’t I? I could see it in your face before. All the things we did – I killed him.

No you didn’t. He wasn’t designed to live without a ship. If we could have inserted him into another ship sooner, before he started to get sick, we could have saved him, but it’s been too long. In fact I think he lived much longer than he would have, had he been jettisoned normally. I think what he said was true. You gave him a lifetime. Something he never had before, and never would’ve had if you hadn’t come along. I’ll have to review the recordings closer, but I strongly suspect he fell in love with you, and watching you, tells me you fell in love with him too.

Sasha ran from the room sobbing, and the doctor watched her go. He turned back to the form of Nautilus and saw the limp hand dangling over its edge twitch. Full life support, Arleigh, he said. He replaced the mask over Nautilus’ face and inserted an electrode in next to his heart. After almost an hour, Nautilus began to stabilize. Up the oxygen content.

What do you hope to accomplish, Doctor? System Nautilus has failed. You know it has been too long.

I have to try. For her – for him – you’d want me to try for you, wouldn’t you?

Yes.

Wake him. Start feeding him memories of her.

Moments later, it became obvious which memories Arleigh had chosen. They were the most intense, the most compelling, the most fascinating, and the climax left him gasping and clutching. The doctor began calling his name, imploring him to fight, telling him how, mentioning her name as often as he could work it in.

Ultimately, it was three days before Nautilus stopped having failures, and many more days before he began to function close to normal.

System Arlington kept him occupied. At a hundred and seventy six, Arleigh had worked with thousands of men and women, and though he had never worked with another system like this, he treated the young Nautilus like any other trooper.

Two months after the asteroid smashed the Nautilus to scrap, the Arlington delivered the survivors to their destination. All the passengers and crew were accounted for – all of them had escaped the ship, but not all of them had escaped the asteroid and its accompanying trash. Eighty percent of the ships passengers had survived, as had fifty percent of the crew – statistics Arleigh told Nautilus he could be proud of.

Seven months later, Sasha gave birth to a boy with dark Brown Eyes and straight brown hair. Much to her father’s dismay, she refused to say who the father was, and she refused to marry another man.

A year later, with a small child to raise, Sasha stayed in her father’s home and kept the family business books balanced. She was doing this one warm day outside while the son she named Tilus played on the grass. His stack of blocks included some rocks, and he was immersed in making the stack higher than six blocks so he could knock them down again.

A trooper stepped around the corner of the house pulling his helmet off. Expecting a smiling reunion with the girl that haunted his dreams, he was stunned to see the small child.

Tilus saw him first and froze with a block in each hand.

The child’s sudden inactivity caught the attention of his mother who turned to see. It only took a moment for her to recognize who was standing there.

For several heart-thumping moments, she stared at him. He was darker. He was dressed in an armored spacesuit. She rose numbly to her feet and walked over to him. Nautilus? she whispered, scarcely hoping it might be true, and not believing it was possible.

I’m called Naut now, he said still staring at the child. His heart was slowly breaking. A child meant she had married. A child meant she was lost to him forever more.

Sasha looked back at her child. He was playing with a ball now. He’s your son, she said. She watched as his eyes widened though some color came back into his cheeks.

I didn’t know… I didn’t think… I didn’t think I could…

I thought you were dead, she said still studying his face for the familiar contours.

His hand twitched, and she took it up allowing him to clutch. I was. System failure, remember? I heard you leave. He pulled her close and held her tight. The doctor wouldn’t let me go. I don’t remember much, but now, I’m just another pilot. I have to hook up about every three days, and I can’t eat solid food. Arleigh says that’ll never change, but I’m not really a system anymore. He takes a day off whenever I hook up. He’s getting old.

Oh god, breathed Sasha. You’re real. You’re really real. Tilus came over and pulled at Sasha’s pant leg. She broke her grip with Nautilus – Naut – long enough to pick him up. Nautilus, I would like you to meet Tilus. Tilus, honey, this is your daddy.

Neither of them knew what to do with the other, but Naut smiled as a wash of pride and wonder flooded through him. That was enough for Tilus, he reached to be held, and Naut complied.

It wasn’t long before they were laughing and talking, and by dark, Naut was asking the captain’s permission to take on a family.

Sasha’s father was happy. He loved his daughters very much, but he worried that Sasha would never marry, that she would never be able to marry. Sasha’s mother was thrilled. Her daughter would be going away, but there would be more grandchildren, and his tour would bring them back every year. The family business would be losing a valuable member, but the family would be expanding.

There were four more children born to Naut and Sasha before Arlington died of old age and Naut took his place. With his cocoon more of a chair than a bed, his life, though physically curtailed, could continue with his family.

Nautilus outlived his youngest daughter by a hundred and fifty years, which meant he got to know several of his great, great grandchildren, all of whom were prominent in the spacing industry, and considered geniuses in the fields of ship manufacturing, system genetics, and integration matrixes.

The story of Nautilus and Sasha was a closely guarded secret known only to the closest family members. Only those personnel aboard the ship with the highest security clearance were told, and they swore to keep the secret from anyone – anyone – beyond the ship. Records of the transition between system Arlington and Naut were obscured. Nautilus had died, and there was no record of the service of a young pilot named Naut. The family went by the name of Bender.

There was, however, one other source. Arlington had seen value in the memories of the young Nautilus’ awakening, and had made a recording. He encoded it and saw it inserted into every system currently in operation. He also ensured that it was automatically integrated into new systems upon construction. Its presence was unknown, unsanctioned, and undetected – designed to activate only if a ship is destroyed and the system survived. His reasoning: if a system could be made to survive and function until an older system died, much loss could be averted both in machinery and in lives.

Secrets

of the

Mind

He hung there in what could have been a doorway if it weren’t standing in the middle of the room. His wrists were cinched to the two upper corners until his feet were suspended off the floor, and his feet were tied tightly to the bottom two corners so he couldn’t kick or twist away from the whip or the brand, both of which, and other things, had been working on him for a long time now.

There was a voice there too, but the pain was so all-consuming he couldn’t assemble the words into any coherent form. The voice was asking him questions, but he couldn’t remember the words by the time the end of the question was reached. He couldn’t remember the answers. He couldn’t remember anything. A hand wrenched his head back by his hair, and a needle burned its way into his neck. Its contents slowly washed his body away, but not the pain.

The voice was still there. It still asked its questions that still made no sense. He still couldn’t remember the answers. He couldn’t even remember his name. He could ... remember ... nothing.

When next some vague tendrils of awareness returned he was sprawled on his stomach on a rough mattress. Another voice spoke. It was gentle—a woman—he opened his eyes and tried to find her. He felt a straw in his mouth, and he sucked on it finding, oh, so sweet water. His relief was interrupted by the woman’s voice again.

Time had passed. She yelled at him, her words unintelligible. She struck his face … it was a fist ... and then he was shocked by a gush of cold water being dumped onto his flayed back.

He was back on the door-like rack. The shrieking pain down his back told him the rude awakening had been with the whip. There was a face in front of him, but still he couldn’t understand what he wanted, he couldn’t remember anything. The needle slid into his neck again.

There was some kind of commotion outside the door. The face was gone. There were loud noises—shots—and then it was quiet.

A hand pulled his face up, and he focused on another face, a face with brown eyes and black hair. He didn’t know this face either. Cut him down, said the Brown Eyes.

Jesus, Brenner, you gotta see this, said another voice from over his shoulder.

Brown Eyes … Brenner … disappeared from in front of him, and his head sagged again. Something cold seared itself onto his back—a coat—as his feet came free. Then a powerful arm wrapped around his waist as the lead weight of his arms dropped away with the rest of him.

He was face down on a mattress again, only this time, it was smooth under his cheek. That didn’t offset the pain much though. Gentle hands were spreading something cold down his back. He groaned and swallowed. Someone brushed his hair from his eyes. Brown Eyes again ... no, but the eyes were brown ... set in the round face of a woman. She had a bit of gray at her temple. You’re awake now. Would you like some water?

More questions. He swallowed again. He couldn’t remember. He couldn’t answer. The straw was put in his mouth and he sipped.

He heard another voice farther away. We got him out of there, sir. … No sir, he’s in real bad shape. Maria said he just woke up … Yes sir, I’ll ask him, hold on. He came in just as round face … Maria … laid a large bandage across his back, and then pulled heavy covers up over them. It was warm … not cold. He had been expecting cold; he couldn’t remember why. Todd, Todd, can you understand me?

He thought about it … He puzzled the words all the way through. Yes, he whispered.

Todd, I need to know if you told them anything. Todd? Did you hear me? Did you tell them anything?

Don’t … remember, he whispered. Couldn’t … understand … what … they … wanted.

That’s enough, Brenner, he’s barely coherent. Give him a chance to recover before you grill him. … Maria said that. He could stop trying to