The Man Who Found Birds Among the Stars, Part Seven: Fifth Island in the River

By Lorinda J Taylor

The Phenix Project for Interstellar Flight has launched its first mission – a flight to the star system called Epsilon Eridani, 10.5 light years away. Capt. Robbin Nikalishin is finally achieving his dream, although the recent breakup with his wife Fedaylia High Feather can’t help but sour the pleasure a little. However, the mission begins on a positive note and its first half is marred only by some personnel conflicts and serious injuries. Meanwhile, the Chief Engineer Ian Glencrosse continues to believe a demonic space entity has doomed the mission and this entity will relent only if provided with a sacrifice – the death of Ian himself.
The ship IS Ariana arrives at Epsilon Eri and deploys the Mission Specialists’ life-seeking probe on a young planet that may harbor nascent life. They are on the verge of retrieving the probe when a series of disasters puts the mission in jeopardy. Will Ian’s self-sacrifice come in time, or will the ship run out of oxygen before the Dauntless can come to its rescue?
Meanwhile, it seems Earthers are not the only interstellar travelers voyaging in the vicinity ...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lorinda J Taylor
• Release date: Mar 9, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463531662

Lorinda J Taylor

A former catalogue librarian, Lorinda J. Taylor was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and worked in several different academic libraries before returning to the place of her birth, where she now lives. She has written fantasy and science fiction for years but has only recently begun to publish. Her main goal is to write entertaining and compelling fiction that leaves her readers with something to think about at the end of each story.

Book preview

THE MAN WHO FOUND BIRDS

AMONG THE STARS

A Biographical Novel

PART SEVEN

FIFTH ISLAND IN THE RIVER

By

Lorinda J. Taylor

This is a work of fiction. All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. However, the person presenting this book does not guarantee that such characters and events will not come into existence at some time in the future.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Cover illustration by Lorinda J. Taylor

Copyright ©2020 by Lorinda J. Taylor

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Synopsis

Facsimile

Navigating the River

Chapter 1: Launch

Chapter 2: Alone in the Void

Chapter 3: The King of Birds

Chapter 4: From King Garuda to King Wren

Chapter 5: Disaster Drill

Chapter 6: Ian Tries to Explain Himself

Chapter 7: Truth Will Out

Chapter 8: The Impulsive Ens. Tampakis

Chapter 9: Repercussions

Chapter 10: Not Such a Bad Fellow After All …

Chapter 11: The Captain Plans a Wedding

Chapter 12: Capt. Nikalishin’s Space

Wedding Protocol

Chapter 13: The Wedding Feast

Chapter 14: Disaster Strikes

Chapter 15: A Debt Is Paid

Chapter 16: The Goal Is in Sight

Exploring the Island

Chapter 17: Meanwhile, Back on Earth …

Chapter 18: The Epsilon Eri System

Chapter 19: So Many New Things to Learn

Chapter 20: The LifeSeeker Probe Touches Down

Chapter 21: Meteoroid Strike

Chapter 22: Decaying Orbit

Chapter 23: Desperate Alternatives

Chapter 24: Papa Bear to the Rescue

Meeting the Natives

Chapter 25: Aboard the Firebrand

Chapter 26: Any Port in a Storm

Chapter 27: Damn the Engine – It Won’t Work!

Chapter 28: Marooned

Chapter 29: An Alien Frequency

Chapter 30: Impending Disaster

Chapter 31: Capt. Nikalishin Breaks the Bad News

Chapter 32: Confronting Death in Your Own Way

Chapter 33: Forbidden Planet

Chapter 34: First Contact

Chapter 35: Garuda Comes!

Appendix One: Alien Languages

Appendix Two: Mythmaker Precepts

Synopsis

Parts One through Six

Born in 2729, Robbin Nikalishin spends the first 31 years of his life dreaming of flying to the stars. After he is recruited for the nascent interstellar program, he is given command of his own ship, backed up by his childhood friend Kolm MaGilligoody as his Chief Engineer. His dreams are on the brink of being fulfilled when a new Commanding Officer forces the crew to risk their lives in a meaningless experiment. The result is a catastrophe; the ship becomes interdimensionally fused with an asteroid and Kolm dies pinned in the wreckage. [Part One]

Wounded physically and mentally, Capt. Nikalishin struggles to overcome the aftereffects of the Darter Disaster and to find fulfillment in a life where his dream of star-travel has been lost. He returns to interplanetary flight and achieves success as the Captain of a Mars ship, but he remains lonely and dissatisfied. When the woman of his dreams abruptly reappears, he woos and weds her, hoping to find a soul mate to assuage his loneliness. However, Fedaylia High Feather turns out to be a controlling and manipulative woman incapable of the understanding that the Captain needs. [Parts Two and Three]

Fedaylia finally reveals her true colors and Robbin Nikalishin’s life falls apart. However, he finds a way to dig deep inside himself and turn his life around. With much help from loyal friends, his dream of the stars reemerges, but all is not smooth sailing when his estranged wife reappears and commits the ultimate betrayal immediately before the launch of the Big Mission. [Parts Four, Five, and Six]

Facsimile

of the 29th-Century Title Page

THE MAN WHO FOUND BIRDS

AMONG THE STARS

A Biographical Fiction

Issued in the year 2849 as

Part of the Commemoration

of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Death of

Capt. Robbin Haysus Nikalishin

(10 May 2799)

Part Seven

Fifth Island in the River

by Tania Barden

Fellow, Brassnose/Queens’ College

Oxkam University

Published by

The Midammeriken Publishing Link

New Washinten, 2849

Navigating the River

Chapter 1

Launch

15 February, 2769 (Jump 1)

On the 15th day of February in 2769, the interstellar ships Ariana and Dauntless launched together according to plan and all of Earth watched them vanish from human perception. At the end of the launch feed Adm. Malakoff appeared on the link. "Now the sense of anticlimax sets in, my friends of the local star system. Too bad it has to be that way, isn’t it? All we can do is wait. We will hold news briefings but not every day – more likely once a week, and even then there may often be nothing to report. We’ll cover the return of the Dauntless on the 21st, and as soon as Capt. Norman and his officers have been debriefed, we’ll hold a news conference. Beyond that, all we can do is show you the wall port in the Control Room, where the planned route of the Ariana will be displayed. We can point to the position where the ship is supposed to be, but we will have no way of knowing if that’s where it’s actually located."

And the Admiral added, smiling whimsically beneath his moustache, It’s as if the whole mission is metaphorical. All that you good people of Earth can do is get on with your daily lives, chew your metaphorical nails, and wait to see how the story ends.

*****

The many friends of Capt. Nikalishin were watching the launch feed, as they had done so many times in the past. Pres. Sarkisian had decreed a global holiday; schools and businesses shut down and people were encouraged to mount launch parties.

With the event taking place at 1800h in their part of the globe, the Murchys staged a family get-together, with as many people as their little house could hold. Wilda maintained a genial demeanor, but inwardly she couldn’t help being anxious. Robbie’s encounter with Fedaylia had really upset her, especially since she couldn’t talk to Dickon about it, and now she waited nervously to see how Capt. Robbie appeared during the launch, which was fed live from the Bridge’s vidcom hookup. And he seemed perfectly in control, if a bit more gruff and taciturn than usual. That could easily be attributed to the seriousness of the undertaking, but August and Julian were disappointed that he didn’t produce any catchy phrase that could be printed on a sweater and proudly displayed.

Dickon misinterpreted his wife’s obvious emotion as fear that Robbie might never return, and he gave her a squeeze as the countdown neared its conclusion. Don’t worry, lovey, Capt. Robbie’s going to get back just fine.

Oh, I know he is, Dickon. It’s only that … well, never mind. I just hope he’ll always be all right in every way.

In Eira, the MaGilligoody clan had gathered at Mat and Joanna’s house. At one point Joanna looked around and said, Where’s our Dana? I thought she was comin’ over.

Well, said Fiona, she said she’s got some nannies about to drop their kids and she thought it best if she stayed to home. She said she’d catch a little of the shindig on her own port. But you know what, Mum? I think she wanted to be alone so she could cry hard and nobody would be lookin’ to rally her.

*****

Meanwhile, on board the interstellar ships the Big Mission did not seem the least bit metaphorical. The countdown proceeded smoothly, with both vessels rising effortlessly from the launchers and entering orbit around Luna. The ships would jump in quick succession, with the Dauntless going first. Capt. Norman gave the order to initialize the pod and the rescue ship disappeared from view. The Ariana’s countdown was holding at one minute.

With all the links of Earth picking up the Bridge feed, Robbie had considered what words he ought to say, but he decided to stick to business on this go-’round, thus unintentionally disappointing the Murchy twins. He figured he had said everything he needed to say during his speech four days ago, and he wasn’t feeling jovial or witty. So he simply gave the order to resume the count and in the blink of an eye the Ariana set out on its historic interdimensional trek across light years of space.

By late evening Grenich time, the diagnostics had been run and the engines put on standby. Robbie turned the Bridge over to Capt. Kibwana and headed for the Mess. The regular dining schedule – two major meals served at 10 and 19 hours into the pod interval and a breakfast buffet set up during the latter half of the inter-jump – would not begin until the second pod. In the meantime, Ops Officer Das had worked up a series of short shift changes that would help biological clocks to adjust.

So the first meal of the Big Mission was a simple buffet – boxed chicken/romaine salads prepared back on Earth, a pot of rice and vegetables for the Asiens, a citrus medley consisting of sugared orange and grapefruit segments and sliced kumquats, whole-wheat rolls, and vanilla ice cream with almond wafers. Robbie remarked, Emmie, I thought this was supposed to be a stop-gap – you know, a little something to tide us over until we get the schedule going.

"Eh bien, but it is! P.O. Bonnet protested. You do not see the pineapple, do you, Captain? That will come at the big meal tomorrow! And all the food is very light – best for before one goes to sleep!"

All right, if you say so, said Robbie. He picked up a tray of salad, roll, and fruit and went to sit with Dr. Souray, Cmdr. Smallguard, and Ruthanne Grant.

I was starving, said Wally apologetically. Since Kibby has the Bridge, I thought Lea could handle the watch.

I’m sure she could even without Kibby, said Robbie, poking a morsel of tender chicken into his mouth and chasing it with a bite of the roll’s exquisite buttery crust.

How are you doing, Robbie? ask the doctor, surveying him.

All right. I must say, any food this ship’s cook prepares is calculated to bring a man out of the deepest of funks.

Are you in a funk, Robbie? asked Wally. I noticed you didn’t seem … well …

My usual light-hearted and trivializing self? Yeah. But it’ll pass.

Robbie had decided to talk about Fedaylia’s severance of their contract, because he didn’t want people puzzling about his unusual moodiness. He figured that if a few people knew what was going on with him, the rumor mill would take care of the rest.

So now he said, The problem is, right after all the hoopla in New Washinten, my wife decided to file for a contract severance. I don’t know why I should be upset, because the marriage in effect ended a long time ago, but … He shrugged.

Wally made appropriately sympathetic noises, and Ruthie said, Aw, Robbie, that’s too bad. I did notice you weren’t wearing your wedding ring. Down in Engineering, you stood there fiddling with your finger as if something was wrong with it.

"Oh, I did? Yeah, I guess I have been doing that. He stared at his left hand. It feels sort of naked … But I decided it was silly to keep wearing the ring when I’m not – not married any longer, so I left it back on Earth."

Were you hoping to get back with your wife someday? Ruthanne asked softly.

He hesitated and then said, "Well, no, not really, but it was kind of a shock, coming out of the blue the way it did. So bear with me – I’m going to cheer up quick, I promise you. What we’ve just begun is way too much fun to worry about love affairs gone wrong." And he glanced at Dr. Souray, who simply nodded understandingly.

Presently Robbie went to get a few hours sleep before relieving Kibby, and as he was surveying the three icons that were mounted on the wall of his cabin, there was a tap at his door. For a minute, he panicked, and then he thought, You idiot, it can’t be Fedaylia – she’s back on Earth. Don’t you go having flashbacks of that miserable night.

It turned out to be Linna. "I’ve been wondering about you, Robbie. I could tell you were feeling sort of down, but I didn’t know why. Then I heard some people talking about how you’d severed with your wife. I wish you’d told me.

Sheepishly, Robbie said, Oh, well, yeah … I just didn’t feel like talking about it, but I thought the crew deserved to know why I’m so grouchy.

You weren’t really grouchy, just kind of – silent and …

Lacking my usual scintillating sense of humor.

That, too. When did this happen?

She contacted me the night in the hotel.

Really? How did she manage that?

Now Robbie was growing a little impatient. She’s on the Prairie House com staff, you know, so she had access …

Oh, she’s not in ESC any longer?

She didn’t re-enlist. Linna, I don’t really want to talk about her.

Aw, I’m sorry. I don’t suppose you want to … either …

Not in this interval, if you don’t mind. I’m still pulling myself together.

Sure, I understand. It’s a long voyage – we’ll have lots of time. Good night, Captain sweetie. And she stretched to buss him on the end of his nose before retreating.

After the door closed, Robbie stood ruefully rubbing his nose. Why couldn’t Fedaylia have been more like Linna? Or, frankly, why couldn’t she have been more like almost any other woman who has ever breathed?

Then he thought, Why didn’t I tell Linna right away about the severance? She deserved to know more than anyone else does. But then it occurred to him that maybe he feared Linna would make more demands on him, knowing he was free.

Nah, I don’t think Linna is like that at all.

But how would you know? he admonished himself. You’re no judge of women, remember? Don’t ever jump to conclusions about any of ’em. And that disillusionment with himself tended to inhibit his relationship with Linna during the whole mission. Their comfortable situation became yet another casualty of Fedaylia’s depredations.

*****

It likely would surprise no one that during the first night following Fedaylia’s scavenging adventure Robbie had dreamed the baby dream, with this significant alteration: It was Fedaylia on the birthing bed, and when Robbie took the knife in his hand to cut the cord, he plunged it into Fedaylia’s belly instead.

Now, after the exchange with Linna, Robbie decided he didn’t want to risk a bad sleep experience during his first nap of the Big Mission. Since MedBay was right across the corridor from his cabin, he dashed over in his bathrobe to see if Dr. Souray would give him half a dose of tonomine, just enough to relax him.

He nearly bumped into Ian Glencrosse coming out of the doctor’s office. You all right, Robbie? asked the Chief Engineer, taking in the Captain’s state of undress.

Damn. Yeah. I decided I needed a little sleeping pill. What are you doing here?

Same reason, as it happens! Ruthie told me about the severance, Robbie. I don’t know that I have as good an excuse to need a sedative.

The first PI went as smooth as cream. How are things with you these days?

Ian gestured dismissively. Oh, like I’ve said, I’ve got it all under control. Don’t worry about a thing, Captain.

Robbie yawned, grinned, clapped his Engineer on the shoulder, and disappeared into MedBay. Ian made his way back to his own cabin on the deck below, clutching the vial with the pair of tonomine tablets inside it.

Ian’s resolve to save the mission by sacrificing his own life had not wavered during the time between leaving his father’s house and this encounter with his Captain. Not even the joyful experience of spending his first weeks of marriage with a woman he loved dearly had altered his intention. However, as the launch approached, the euphoria he had experienced immediately after making his decision had begun to wane. At times, usually in a half-somnolent state in the middle of the night, he would see himself as if from a distance and think, What is this I’m about to do? Surely it’s total insanity for me to believe that killing myself can influence fate. The problem was, after that night in the forest cabin, the vision of the god in the pod had deserted him, no longer haunting his days and his nights. He had interpreted this as meaning that the entity was satisfied with his decision, but lately he had been wondering if it only meant that his brain chemistry was adjusting – moving him back toward the center and away from the fringes of unreality.

However, as doubt that he had arrived at the perfect solution began to nag, the phantasm reappeared. Even during the launch sequence that very day, as he set about engaging the interface, Ian saw out of the corner of his vision a shadowy form with glittering eyes hulking in an angle of the Engineering Bay. Then he knew he daren’t falter in his purpose.

And even as the ship was slipping into the alternate dimension, he was addressing the entity in his mind …

Give me a way out, you – don’t force me to do this by my own hand. Kill me, take my life – would that be so difficult for you? Let me die by some accident – that’s all I ask of you – so nobody need ever know what I was planning.

When the shadow disappeared, Ian took that as a sign his plea had been accepted, or at least acknowledged.

But there were no guarantees, so Ian had given much thought to the best method of suicide. And he had decided that the most painless and effective way (and the least traumatic for those doomed to find his body) was with a drug overdose. He had researched his own medications and determined the smallest lethal dosage of the two drugs available to him. Then he began skipping doses occasionally and hoarding the pills; in six weeks, he had managed to accumulate 18 capsules of serenhance and six tonomine pills, including the ones Dr. Souray had just given him. The sedative would hasten the effect of the psychotropic and ease his passage. He figured that 12 more serenhance capsules would give him a dose large enough to put him beyond resuscitation in a matter of moments. It would be a painless death, but that part didn’t bother him. What filled him with sadness was the loss of the happy life that his future might have held if the space god had not demanded a sacrifice to ensure that the people Ian loved would live.

On that very day, Ruthanne happened to be talking to Maddie Souray, who had become confidante to the entire crew. And as they spoke of the quick wedding trip the newlyweds had squeezed in, Ruthie said, You know, Ian mystifies me sometimes. He’s so intense these days. I mean, we’ve always had good sex but lately he’s so passionate – it’s as if every time we have sex, we were never going to do it again. And of course I’ve warmed up to that – how could I not? I feel so good about myself, Maddie! – knowing that a man as attractive and smart and wonderful as Ian Glencrosse could want to commit himself to somebody like me for his whole life. I’m the most fortunate woman in the universe!

And so the Ariana and its human cargo continued to move serenely across the dimensions, unaware of the dark design lurking in the psyche of the ship’s Chief Engineer.

Chapter 2

Alone in the Void

16-25 February, 2769 (Jumps 2-9)

The first five jump days of the Big Mission felt like just another training exercise; in fact they were more relaxing than a training exercise because there were no complex practice calculations to perform, no disaster drills to endure, and no abandon-ship scenarios to rehearse. The ship functioned flawlessly. Some crewmembers began to grouse about how they spent at least 18 hours out of the 28-hour day with nothing to do. Robbie grinned to himself, thinking how people were never satisfied.

Emmie outdid herself with the mission’s first official meal. The young tradition of serving pineapple at that meal was honored with edible centerpieces made out of fresh pineapples – boats filled with berries, citrus, and melon and adorned with mint leaves. We will not have such perishable fruit for long during this voyage, she declared, "so we should eat well of it while we can, non?" The rest of the meal consisted of onion soup, filet de boeuf en croûte dressed with the Istrian truffles that were the IJE’s gift to the mission, asparagus with lemon-butter, roasted potatoes, a salad of baby greens and tomatoes, and for dessert mousse au caramel.

My goodness, Emmie! said Nani Das as she surveyed the spread. You’ve used up all the food supplies for this first meal!

Yeah! said Robbie. It’ll be peepums before we’re halfway to Epsilon Eri!

No, no, no! retorted the Galley Master, gesturing extravagantly. I plan well, sirs! Not every meal will be so luxurious, but I promise you shall never eat unpleasant food!

A routine quickly established itself. The Bridge officers were so compatible and so confident in one another’s abilities that sharing duties was never a problem. Robbie and Capt. Kibwana alternated PI shifts, as did Wally and Lt. Cmdr. Lea Register. Similarly, Avi Oman and Simone Running toggled watches at the com console. And with so much time on the crew’s hands, no ship was ever so thoroughly maintained. The people with the most to do were the Crewmen and Specialists, who were charged with keeping the ship clean and tidy. Enlisted personnel and Junior Officers were responsible for the upkeep of their own digs, while the Senior Officers were granted the perk of having their cabins cleaned for them. Lt. Cmdr. Das and Quartermaster Otis made frequent snap inspections of quarters, heads, showers, Galley, and even the MedBay and storage areas. Sometimes the Captain accompanied them, but he also made a habit of popping up without warning at any time and any place, which helped to keep the crewmembers on their toes.

The only activity in MedBay was an experiment being conducted by the BioTech Lt. Vic Tancredo to determine whether biological organisms would reproduce normally while jumping in and out of a temporal quantum state. He had brought along a pair of hamsters named the Squeaker and Alice, who were fast becoming everybody’s pets. Robbie remarked that guinea pigs had cuter babies, but Tancredo reminded him that guinea pigs had too long a gestation period; he had needed something that could breed, gestate, produce young, and raise them to maturity, all during the course of one mission.

Robbie asked in some alarm, You’re not planning to dissect these things, are you?

Vic looked pained. Well, not the parents, but the babies – at least one or two of them. After all, Captain, it’s a science experiment. The hamsters aren’t our mascots.

And Robbie had to agree, but he said, Well, you may have to delay the murders until we get back to Earth. I don’t want a mutiny on my hands.

As it turned out, the hamsters were responsible for the most exciting thing that happened during the first five days of the mission. The energetic little Squeaker escaped Lt. Tancredo’s clutches and dashed out onto the Bridge. Robbie heard the ruckus and emerged from his office to see Vic, MedTech Barascu, and Security Chief Gatling falling over each other as they tried to corral the rodent. The Captain laughed so hard he, too, almost fell over, although afterward he felt constrained to give the medical staff a bit of a dressing down about keeping their charges under better control.

The Rec Room and Gym were heavily utilized during off-times; Sgt. Okazaki was kept busy throughout the voyage monitoring use of the exercise equipment and conducting classes in the Niponese martial art called jukara. But as ever on a long flight gossip provided another good way to pass the time. Lea Register and Iggy Delrey still remained romantically involved but had signed no contract. The Crewmen Dom MakDougal and Becki Zirnitis had broken up; Dom was now spending his off-duty hours with Spec. Tucker, his fellow Engineering aide. Becki moped a bit at first but then appeared to be setting her sights on Ens. Howie Brokenbow, the GravTech.

As for the relationship between the Ensigns Markos Tampakis and Kaya Malope, its ambiguity had returned now that they were back on board ship. Kaya was kept busy with her dual roles as ComTech and as a Technical Aide to the Mission Specialists. Mark was frequently seen languishing by himself in the Mess or the Rec Room.

Full ship’s logs had been maintained during all the training missions, with Bridge activity being automatically recorded. In Engineering the official logs were the responsibility of Commanders Glencrosse and Rail. There were also medical logs, Ops logs, Quartermaster’s logs, Supply Chiefs’ logs, and a whole slew of daily reports. The records for every mission were so complete that Robbie had been entering only a few brief remarks in the Captain’s log, but now that the Big Mission was underway, he planned to produce a more detailed record, both official and personal.

During the third jump he recorded this exchange: Today I noticed that Oman’s jowls were looking decidedly unshaven. When I asked him about that, he gave me a sheepish look and said he had made up his mind to grow a beard while he was out here in this alien dimension. I said that ought to make the Rabbis happy – and I’d better explain for posterity that Avi is a Jue and the Judish people think their god is partial to bearded men – but I wondered how his little Captain would feel about that. And he said that Mercedes knew about his intentions and had blessed his effort even though she wasn’t particularly keen on beards. I told him, oh, that must be why she never took to me! We had a nice exchange of banter, and then I said, he could always shave it off when he got home. But he said he expected to keep it. It was time, he said, for him to look like a man.

Odd how different cultures have different ideas about what makes you a man.

The Mission Specialists had their own work to do. When the ship was in real time during the second inter-jump, Robbie stuck his head into the Astrometrics Lab to see Prf. Damien hunched over his console. Robbie hardly recognized the astrophysicist, having never before seen the man’s awkward frame clad in the Mission’s regulation jump suit.

"Professor, is that you? All alone in here? Where’s your compadre?"

The Brit squinted uncomprehendingly over his shoulder.

I mean your cohort, Asc. Brooke.

Ah. Damien grunted. Working on probe. Took Ens. Malope with him. Could use her here. Programming problems – interface with ship’s power. Understand astrometric programming, but unfamiliar with the power interfaces.

Oh. You want me to order her to come up here?

No, no. Will ask Trevor presently to send her.

Yeah, after all, you’re Trevor’s boss. You ought to have first dibs on the help.

Well, probe is important, too, but its utilization is necessarily delayed till later. Right now, more important to get astrometric scans operational.

Prf. Lara told me Trevor gave his probe a name. I was going to tease him a little bit about that. ‘LifeSeeker One,’ we’re supposed to call it.

Damien nodded sourly and Robbie said, You haven’t found your space bundles yet? Are the Com Officers being cooperative about opening and closing the vid ports for you?

Damien made impatient noises. Presume they will, as previously. Can’t do any scanning until software malfunctions are rectified. Moreover, not far enough out yet. Told you before, Captain. Orts debris would suck up such ephemeral structures in this sector.

Oh, yeah, I remember. So how are things going – personally, I mean? Are you getting comfortable with the routine of this kind of flight?

Will endure, Captain. The Professor set his sometimes slack jaw pugnaciously.

Of course. Well, I hope you’ll come to the Mess once in a while. A little companionship only makes Emmie’s good food taste better.

Captain, all the companionship one could want is available. And with this rather cryptic remark Prf. Damien set his back to the Captain and returned to his work, apparently determined to rid himself of annoying social interaction.

Chuckling to himself, Robbie bid the eccentric Professor good day and went his way.

At dinner that day, Prf. Damien didn’t appear, but Asc. Brooke did. Taking a break from his work, he brought Ens. Malope with him to the Mess. When she entered, her eyes made a darting survey of the room, like a scared antelope, but Ens. Tampakis wasn’t there. She and Trevor sat down at a table with some other people. The Associate maintained his familiar jovial manner and dinner proceeded as usual.

*****

Another reason the first five jumps felt like a training exercise was that the Ariana was not alone; during each inter-jump the flagship was able to communicate with the Dauntless. Once the two ships had birthed safely and determined no threatening space debris loomed, they would signal each other and in a few moments the face of an officer would materialize on the port screens of the respective Bridges. Usually it was the Com Officer Lt. Nesterenko who patched through to the Ariana, with the grinning mug of the Pilot, Lt. Fuyushiba, peering from near her left elbow. Then Capt. Norman or Cmdr. Zetterberg would appear. Geff would solicitously inquire into the Ariana’s well-being and potential need for assistance, while Toni would report in her abrupt, no-nonsense style their coordinates and distance from their sister ship and offer a quick report on the Dauntless’s status.

However, the completion of the first five segments of the mission marked the time when the Dauntless would return to Earth and leave the Ariana to proceed alone. Lt. Cmdr. Skipper flew over in the rescue flyer, bringing additional supplies to replenish what the crew had already consumed. Geff came along to make his farewells in person. He and Kibby and Robbie sequestered themselves in the Captain’s office.

The occasion couldn’t help but be emotional, although Robbie tried to lighten things by grimacing exasperatedly at Norman. Geff, why is it every time you’ve made contact with us during this mission, you’ve been so anxious that we might need assistance? You weren’t such a mother hen during the training flights. Have you been hoping something would go wrong?

No, sir, Captain! Geff responded vigorously. I suppose I simply feel responsible for you all as long as we’re jumping together. It’s a rescue ship I’m commanding here, after all.

That’s touching, but I’m afraid your opportunities to practice rescue techniques have come to an end. It’s time for you to go home and twiddle your thumbs while we earn the glory.

You’re going to be alone, too, Geff, as you jump back, said Kibby. How are you feeling about that?

Aw, she’ll be apples! I’ve done it a few times before by myself, you remember.

And then Robbie engulfed the Ossie Darter survivor in one of his bear hugs. Apples she’ll be! You’ve turned into a fair dinkum command officer, mate! For once in my life, I made a good judgment call when I recruited you for Phenix.

Then it was Kibby’s turn to embrace Geff, saying, Goodbye and good luck, Capt. Norman. And, uh – if you happen to see my wife, tell her I haven’t forgotten her yet. Or my children, either.

Geff stood back, grinning at Kibwana. I’ll tell ’em you’re pining away – you can’t do your job for thinking about ’em.

Kibby laughed shakily. You won’t be far from wrong.

Geff turned back to Robbie. "Captain, the Dauntless will be out here looking for you on the 1st of June, at these very same coordinates, 1.5 light years from Earth. It’s everybody’s hope we won’t have to wait too long for that beacon of yours to register on our sensors, but if there’s a delay and you haven’t appeared by that worst-case scenario date, 5 July … "

Then you’ll get to practice those rescue scenarios again. I know, Captain, I know. Robbie nodded his head compulsively. Then he added, There’s always a chance we might be even a little later than that. With these extra supplies you brought us, we actually have enough food for five days more than the 140 we planned and then we can ration if necessary. So don’t give up hope of finding us alive even if we’re not back by 5 July.

Captain, nobody on Earth will give up hope until – until we find – evidence … Geff’s face screwed up and he coughed into his fist.

Kibby said, We’ll be sending back logs and personal messages during every inter-jump, you know.

But after the next jump you’ll be 1.8 light years from Earth. So even the very first message you send won’t get to us for almost two years.

Robbie said, "And if we make it all the way to Epsilon Eridani only to perish out there, there’s no telling whether we’ll ever be found, and then nobody will know our sad story for over ten years. But at least, if we keep transmitting, one day the mystery of our fate will be resolved."

Small comfort that is, I’m afraid, said a somber Geffry Norman.

Then Robbie clapped Geff on the shoulder so suddenly that he jumped. Enough of this gloomy prattle! Come on – the Ops staff has arranged a shindig in the Rec Room so the whole crew can tell you goodbye! Let’s go down and let you have one last taste of Chief Bonnet’s fancy French ‘apper-teefs’ as she calls ’em!

So they did that. And then Norman returned to his own ship and jumped back toward Earth, and the Ariana headed in the opposite direction, into the hollows of interstellar space, toward the Fifth Island in the River.

How truly alone they were, however, didn’t fully sink in until the sixth birthing had been completed. Everybody sat staring at the stars glittering on the port screen, waiting in vain for the cheerful faces of the Dauntless’s officers to obscure them. Furthermore, the farthest they had ever gone before was 1.65 light years, so they had entered unknown territory. They had passed beyond the Orts and were now operating within true interstellar space. They did not expect to encounter any objects associated with a star system until they were at least one light year from Epsilon Eridani.

Later, as Robbie was preparing to transmit his logs back to Earth, Kibby remarked, Right about now, I’ll wager you’re thinking of our last conversation with Geff.

And Robbie responded gruffly, You’d better believe it.

*****

The next two jumps were plagued with a series of small glitches, but no comet leaped out to threaten the ship and nothing happened to deter its ability to jump or to maneuver in real time. The most inconvenient malfunction concerned a twitchy pump in the water distribution system, which caused inconsistency in flow pressure for the showers and lavatories. The plumbing had to be shut down for eight hours while the Environmental Systems Engineer, Lt. Sophie Chay, aided by Spec. Tucker, installed a new pump.

In addition, those pesky com nodes continued to cause trouble. When Robbie discovered that the Bridge was without a Com Officer, leaving Lea Register to do double duty, he said to Kibby, What’s up with that? I thought we’d agreed one of the Com Officers was to be on the Bridge at all times to handle intra-ship communications.

Kibby looked apologetic. Oman and Running are troubleshooting a malfunctioning com node. Brooke made a fuss about releasing Ens. Malope, and I confess I was uncertain as to whether the Mission Specialists are supposed to get preferential …

Robbie wagged his head. Just for the record, no, they’re not! The physical well-being of the ship always takes priority and I’d …

From the door of MedBay, Dr. Souray interrupted. There’s a second com node out, Captain. It must control the ports in both my quarters and Linna’s, because neither one is working. I’d appreciate …

Robbie rolled his eyes. Let me get Lt. Oman on his personal com. And where’s my Ops Officer?

Scheduled off-duty shift, Captain, said Kibby.

Oh, sure. … AO! This is the Captain! Where are you?

Avi’s voice sounded in Robbie’s ear. The top half of my body is inside an access shaft on the port side of Auxiliary Engineering …

Well, pull it out and get the lower half to bring it up here to staff the Bridge. Where’s Lt. Running?

Standing right behind me, sir. Do you want to speak … ?

No, just send her to MedBay – our Medical Officer also has a defective com node and that’s more important than one hidden in the Auxiliary Bay. Captain out.

Turning to an unflappably amused Kibby, Robbie said, I’m going to go fetch Ens. Malope personally. Lt. Register, track down Ens. Tampakis and send him down to Auxiliary Engineering to assist. And he disappeared into the lift.

In the Bay, Robbie stuck his head into Astrometrics, where Brooke, Damien, and Kaya were all working. I have something to say, said the Captain, and I’m addressing myself to the Professor and the Associate! When the Duty Officer on the Bridge or Lt. Cmdr. Das – or needless to say, myself, whether I’m on duty or not – requires the services of Ens. Malope, you’re to dispatch her without a second’s hesitation. Is that clear?

Damien looked flustered. Of course, Captain. Just arrived … wasn’t aware …

Brooke had bristled slightly. Captain, the Ensign is right in the middle of a delicate calibration of the …

I don’t care if she’s on the brink of discovering how to transmute lead into gold. Her primary role on board this ship is to maintain the com system. For you to use her help is a privilege, not a right.

Kaya was gathering herself together. Sorry, sir. I didn’t mean …

There’s a malfunctioning com node in Auxiliary Engineering, Ensign – port side. Oman and Running have been working on it, but they’re needed elsewhere. I’d like you to go down and have a look at it.

Yes, sir! Kaya made off in a hurry.

Captain, all this interruption could jeopardize …

Back off, Trevor, said Damien. Sorry to monopolize the Ensign’s time, Captain. More compliant in the future, assure you.

Robbie departed from Astrometrics a bit surprised to have found Damien so much more cooperative than Brooke. As he passed through the Engineering Bay on his way to Deck D, Linna grabbed him and started to talk about her own non-functioning port, then Cmdr. Rail intercepted him in order to explain some adjustments they were making to boost power processing efficiency in the plasma/ion engines. Robbie made it to the hold in time to catch Ens. Tampakis emerging from a stairwell. He looked slightly alarmed when he saw the Captain seemingly lying in wait for him.

Ensign, I want you to go back to Auxiliary and help Malope fix a com node.

Mark brightened noticeably. Yes, sir! I’d be delighted, sir!

Robbie grinned. I thought you might be.

Seems like I never see her when we’re on board ship, sir, offered Mark as he strode off across the hangar bay. Robbie chuckled and headed off to relieve Kibby.

In Auxiliary Engineering Mark came up behind Ens. Malope and said, Hey, Kaya! Look who’s here!

She started up with a shriek and banged her head on the hatch cover. Ouch! Mark, what are you doing here? Pulling out of the access shaft, she glared at her boyfriend, rubbing her head.

Oh, sorry – did you hurt yourself? The Captain asked me to come give you a hand with that repair. And I did think you might be glad to see me.

Oh – sure I am, Mark. But I’m working now.

Well, so am I! Does that mean we can’t be civil to each other? What’s the matter with you, anyway? Ever since this mission started, it’s like you’ve been trying to avoid me.

Oh, Mark, it’s nothing. I’m sorry. It’s just … well, I’ve got too much to do. The Mission Specialists want to dominate my time, and then I’ve got my regular work, too. It’s just too much.

To his alarm, Mark thought Kaya was going to cry. Aw, I’m sorry – I forget you’re pulling double duty. I wish I could help.

Kaya took a deep breath, shaking herself. Well, you can – right now, anyway. She turned her back to him and stuck her head into the shaft again. You can hand stuff up to me. I need a no. 3 laser probe from the tool kit down there. And here, put this no. 4 back – it’s too large. Plug the new one into the test port and hand it back up.

Yes, sir! … How about dinner in the Mess with me later?

Uh-h-h … We’re on a different shift schedule – I’ll be asleep then.

Rot. I forgot. How about breakfast brunch during the inter-jump?

Uh … don’t plan on it. I’ll probably be working with Asc. Brooke. Why don’t you go to Supply and ask Angelo to dig up a C-series com node? The circuits in this one are hopelessly fused.

Mark muttered impatiently in Griek and stumped off to do his love’s bidding.

*****

Shortly after this incident, while Robbie was taking his shift on the Bridge, something occurred to him. He called Nani Das into his office to discuss Ens. Malope’s involvement with the Mission Specialists and then he said, I fancy morale’s a bit down. We’ve jumped nine times with nothing much of interest happening and now we’re getting a series of little irritations. Damien has had no luck spying out his hypothetical gas bundles and Brooke must have fine-tuned his probe a dozen times. And then the water was off for eight hours, the com system is starting to act up again, and Vic is yelling at people because they feed bits of their salad to his hamsters and mess up their controlled diet. We’re needing a bit of diversion, wouldn’t you agree?

Nani tittered discreetly. What kind of diversion did you have in mind?

Do you remember promising to tell the story of your funny bird-man god Garuda?

Oh! Now Nani looked slightly embarrassed. I’d sort of hoped you’d forgotten about that, Captain! But I did bone up a bit – I even talked to my grandmother when I was home to be sure I got things right, in case you didn’t forget.

Good for you! And I’m going to ask around – maybe some of the other crewmembers know some interesting bird tales. After all, we’ve got people on board from a lot of different regions of the Earth and a lot of different cultural backgrounds.

Then I wouldn’t have to be the solo attraction! That would be a relief! I’m not the world’s greatest performer, Captain.

Robbie grinned. Aw, I have no doubt you’ll do fine. Why don’t you talk to Bonnet and Otis about setting up a buffet in the Rec Room so most everybody can gather at once? We can have an old-fashioned sit-around-the-campfire-and-tell-tales sort of thing. Too bad I didn’t allow beer on board.

Well … Nani eyed the Captain mischievously. There’s always that supply of cooking wine that Emmie keeps locked up down in the Galley. Nah, I wouldn’t deprive our French chef of her secret ingredient for anything! And never mind what I said about the beer. We mustn’t ever forget why we’re out here. Robbie had begun to chuckle. You know, Prf. Lara always got annoyed if I’d say I was planning to have fun on a mission.

Well, we won’t tell her we had fun, Captain!

You got it, Lt. Commander! Is the main meal of the next pod too soon to get all this engineered?

Uh … oh, I just remembered! Tomorrow is Cmdr. Rail’s birthday – the 26th of February – and Emmie is planning something special anyway, so the timing is perfect!

So Robbie began spreading the word among the crewmembers and inquiring about their knowledge of folklore. Although most confessed to ignorance, enough pronounced themselves capable of making a presentation, and plans for the entertainment proceeded apace.

Chapter 3

The King of Birds

26 February, 2769 (Jump 10)

The buffet that Emmie set up for the first meal of the 10th pod interval complied with Cmdr. Rail’s birthday requests. Ed had grown up on a Misipp River catfish farm in Old Arkans, but he didn’t want fish, saying he had eaten too much of it as a boy. Instead, he opted for barbecued pork ribs, maize muffins, and gumby, a concoction made with an exotic vegetable called okra and served over rice.. Amazingly, Emmie had heard of both okra and gumby – "ah, oui, like the French Kadgins in Old Loosiana! What a shame that part of Midammerik is all under water now!"

Ed responded, Yes, my mother’s ancestors were Old Loosianan Kadgins who migrated upriver as the sea level rose. My father’s ancestors came from Central Ammerik but that was several centuries back, so the only thing Spainish about me is that dumb ‘o’ stuck on the end of ‘Edwardo.’ That spelling remained a family tradition.

As people began to gather in the Rec Room, Robbie went down to Engineering to check up on Ian. He found his Chief Engineer engaged in an argument with Linna and members of his staff. Linna turned to the Captain as he approached.

Robbie, give this stubborn man an order to go recreate!

The Captain regarded Ian with a questioning lift of the eyebrows. Looking uncomfortable, Ian responded, I really should stay here. I have too much work. I’ll let the other Interstellar people go, and then maybe pop up later to grab a bite to eat.

Aw, Ian, I’d like for us to enjoy this together, said Ruthanne.

Lt. Cmdr. Mortimer said, Commander, nothin’s goin’ on right now. Why don’t you and Cmdr. Grant and Lt. Du go and let Lt. Peat and me stay and monitor the reactor? Partway along, after a couple of ye come back, we’ll head up.

From the back of the Bay, Moosie Jaballa called, Iggy and I are going to be here first-shift, too, Cmdr. Glencrosse. Clancy and Petey won’t be alone in the Bay.

It may look like I’m pulling rank, said Ed with a broad grin, but I have to go up first since I’m the birthday boy!

Come on, Ian, said Robbie, scrutinizing his somber-faced Chief Engineer. The Bay will survive without you for a couple of hours. Don’t make me give you that order Linna suggested, Mister.

So Ian reluctantly agreed to comply, saying he and Ruthanne would come along in a few minutes after they had briefed Clancy on some on-going tasks. On the way upstairs, Robbie