Deep Space Rescue 911

By P.G. Henck

Ned was one of a kind in the Kuoma Super Cluster, being half Alurolan and half Human. It was the human part, though, that made him stand out. His dad had been snatched from Earth by someone or something years back, and ended up here, the most civilized part of the universe. At least that was what the League of Worlds thought. They pretty much ran the interactions among the many thousands of intelligent species that lived on the millions of worlds supporting life in the Kuoma Super Cluster. Before Ned’s dad, no one here had ever heard of a human from Earth, or even had the slightest idea where this planet was located in the rest of the universe. His dad’s unique biology and never told stories made survival in this new reality possible, but now his dad was gone, and Ned had invested everything on the only dream that remained.

The rescue of lost and missing ships in the Kuoma Super Cluster was handled by its member worlds, and everyone usually looked after their own. With their form of quick space travel, proximity was more or less irrelevant. It was the time it took to go someplace that mattered, both for the crew, and the rest of the universe. This decided where you could and couldn’t go. And no one wanted to go to deep space, where the travel options were far and few between. And besides that, there were some races out there that the worlds with the largest rescue fleets didn’t think were worth rescuing.
Ned didn’t agree with the status quo, hoping to change things for the better. And as luck would have it, he was able to find a skilled, dedicated, and resourceful bunch of outcasts to follow his dream of providing rescue services to all races and places. Join this band of unlikely heroes as they learn that their original calling is not as simple as they thought, and as they rescue those in need within the confines of deep space, and beyond.

The author wishes to notify readers that Deep Space Rescue 911 may have language and scenes that some may find unsuitable for readers less than 18 years of age.

• Language: English
• Publisher: P.G. Henck
• Release date: Sep 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781951251161

P.G. Henck

About P.G. HenckP.G. Henck has written several science fiction and fantasy stories with more on the way. His first novel, ‘Beyond The Providers’, was self published in 2019 after many years in development. His next two novels, ‘Elementary Science 101’ and ‘Elementary Science 201’, entered the humorous side of science fiction, where many of his works now reside. The ‘Deep Space Rescue 911’ series has begun with two novellas, and may end with a novel in order to complete the whole story. The ‘Captain Mike’ series will eventually consist of three novellas, each with a different set of circumstances and characters, except for Captain Mike of course. Both series are comedies and follow P.G.’s favorite storyline of an unusual group of individuals making their way through space. The published short stories ‘Distant Neighbors’ and ‘Alien Vacation Invasion’ had parts inspired by real events, which P.G. thinks can be pretty funny in themselves at times. The next short story, ‘Bigfoot Dance Party’, relies on characters from ‘Elementary Science 201’. Being published in the fall of 2021 are the fantasy / science fiction novellas ‘Bring it Alien B’ and ‘Super Absorption’. Both go for the funny bone as well as presenting new interesting characters. Additional short stories and novellas are planned in the next few years along with another novel called Time Minds, which is expected to give readers a heavy dose of fictionalized history made possible through science fiction.P.G. Henck was born in Michigan, and lived in the Great Lakes region for a good part of his life with his wife, the girl next door. The couple then moved to southern Utah to experience the spectacular scenery and endless trails it provides. Though he spent most of his career as an accountant and financial administrator, P.G. Henck’s outside interest lay heavily in the sciences, space exploration, and history. Also a lover of science fiction and fantasy over the years, he has gone out of his way to see every movie and TV show available, both good and bad. His many other interests besides writing include hiking, travel, photography, and website development, along with designing and producing his own book covers.Please go to the author’s website at www.pghenck.com for more information and special deals on purchasing his books.

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Deep Space Rescue 911

By P.G. Henck

Copyright 2021 P.G. Henck Publishing

Second Edition, eBook, March 2021

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 your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

To my one and only everything.

Cover artwork by Steve Bidmead - Bedfordshire, England

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Chapter One - The Doctor Is In

Chapter Two - And Four Makes Six

Chapter Three - Waiting for Something

Chapter Four - Dealing With Others

Chapter Five - Finding Stromplers

Chapter Six - Doubtful Returns

Chapter Seven - Pirates and Thieves

Chapter Eight - Searching for the Quest

Chapter Nine - Reconciliations

Chapter Ten - When Julllterrry Smiles

Chapter Eleven - The Eighth

Glossary

About P.G. Henck

Other Works by P.G. Henck

Contact with P.G. Henck

Warning: The following has been translated into Earth English - American Dialect 2000. All time, measurement, and language references have been changed to reflect this to the closest correlation possible. Any mistakes or errors are the sole responsibility of the reader, and cannot be held against the translator for any harm or loss created.

Chapter One - The Doctor Is In

Ned had a very busy week. He bought a ship, started needed repairs, and ordered all the supplies a crew of six would need for two months in deep space. The credits he needed to do this came from selling everything else he owned. If this idea of his fell through, he would lose it all. Actually, it was much more than just an idea. It had been his dream for some time, ever since his father died. Such dreams, however, take a lot of credits to be successful, and it had been a long hard struggle to get this far. While an original dream may be quick and cheap, bringing it to life is usually a much longer and expensive road to travel. And this long road had only just begun.

With his money pretty much spent, all he needed to do now was attract a crew, and with what he had left to pay them, he wasn’t sure who or what he would end up finding. The hardest position to fill would be the doctor. Very few of them wanted to work in deep space, fewer still wanted to work for an independent, and probably none would work for what he was offering. He had already tried several medical schools, figuring only a rookie would be desperate enough to take his job. The laughter, stink eyes, and hours of waiting for no one to show up were beginning to convince him that maybe this most critical position would end up going unfilled. Ned had received a fair amount of medical training for short term care, but on his planned long journeys to deep space, they needed a real doctor.

The day was about gone, and so was his hope to find someone. The last school on his list gave him the same reactions all the others had. When his time was finally over and he was leaving, an old Chuzunchin professor came up to him. The Chuzunchin typically were around five feet tall and about 300 pounds in weight. Ned’s father had told him they looked a little like bipedal hippos back on Earth, except their heads, although big and fat too, were more Human-like. The professor laid a data card in front of Ned and said, There is one person who left right before they graduated, that you might be interested in. Their proficiency marks were among the highest we ever had, though their training was riddled with disciplinary actions that eventually led to their expulsion.

What did they do? Ned asked with a fair amount of uncertainty in his voice.

They blew up a chemistry lab to call attention to some of the safety concerns they had about it, the professor said with a somber look. They were the only Trubacile in our program, and never really adjusted to our ways of strict discipline and devotion to the calling of medicine.

At least it was now obvious to Ned why this person was never referred to as a he or a she, since Trubaciles were both. In order to mate they still needed two of them to tangle, and each Trubacile had two sets of plumbing, both in and out. Other species rarely mated with them because their normal body temperature was 120º F and could rise to 150º F when engaged in strenuous activity, which of course included mating.

BdGiLaDfIkCeHjMnrCeHjDfIkNnQsVx usually goes by BG when dealing with species that cannot pronounce a Trubacile name, which is most of the others, the professor said with a smug look on his fat Chuzunchin face.

Yes, I should be able to handle BG, Ned said slowly, while wondering if he could even accommodate such a species on his ship.

Where BG now works is on that data card, the professor said, with a little bit of a smile. BG may not even be interested in medicine anymore. The parting with us was not a pleasant one.

Ned thanked the professor for the lead, and left on his new quest, with one last hope that he would find what he was looking for. While this BG person wasn’t a certified doctor, could severely burn most of the patients put in front of them, and seemed to be a bit of a trouble maker, the professor said BG had skills, and Ned had no other place to go. Beggars weren’t choosers, so if he was lucky, BG would be in the same situation he was. Ned finally found the location where BG worked. It was a Revelry Retreat. He knew what they were, though he had never been in one before. His dad had warned him that they weren’t the best places to hang out. Lots of fights and excessive consumption of anything any species would want. His dad also reminisced once that on Earth they had something similar called strip clubs, but in the League of Worlds, an Earth strip club would have been closer to a daycare than a Revelry Retreat.

There were only four rules in these Revelry Retreats, and these rules were strictly enforced. First, no weapons of any kind or enhanced body parts were allowed to be used. If you snuck something in and used it even to only threaten another patron, you could be killed by security dead on the spot depending on the circumstances. Most patrons just left them home rather than take that risk. So it wasn’t unusual to see a patron here and there missing an arm, or leg, or whatever. The second rule said a patron could hit or take a swing at least once at anyone standing, but if they didn’t swing back, it was over. Luckily, most of the patrons who wanted to fight didn’t want it to be over in just one punch, so lightweights like Ned were rarely picked on. Third on the list was no robbery of any kind. If you broke that rule, the first two would be waived to make good the capture and restitution of the thief. The fourth and most important rule in all Revelry Retreats was that absolutely no patrons were allowed on stage. If you purposely broke that rule, all retreats had the legal right to make you disappear for good, and all their patrons knew it. Now, if somebody threw you onto the stage, you would just be thrown out. These places of course weren’t immune to the overriding League rules, which were intended to unite all races under the common umbrella of civilization.

Ned walked in as cool as he could appear, while still being scared shitless inside. After receiving a few side-glances, most of the brawlers went on about their business. He made his way carefully to the nearest bar and asked the tender if BG was there. He grunted and pointed at stage three. Mecos weren’t much at conversation, but at over 10 feet high and 400 pounds, most beings Ned’s size were fine with that. He walked over to stage three and took a seat while the dancer’s back was turned.

When she spun around, Ned was stunned with her beauty. Because of their looks, most other beings saw Trubaciles as female, even though they were both sexes. Her large dark eyes and long black hair were highlighted by dark red skin, and she wasn’t wearing a lot of clothes to hide it. Just boots for the most part. The only ugly thing on a Trubacile was their feet, which is why they usually kept them covered. Some species even loved that part too, but since her feet were covered during this performance, none of those species must have been in the audience. Most of the other beings around Ned were cheering like she was the star of the place, and she acted like she was feeding on every hoot, howl, chirp, and growl thrown her way.

When BG smiled at the crowd and her admirers, Ned’s heart fluttered, she was so pretty. But when her eyes fell on him, her expression changed completely, going first to disbelief, and then to curiosity. Within a second, though, she was back to her smile as the cheers continued, along with the shower of credit chips being thrown at her feet. When her dance was complete, BG waved to the crowd as she turned to leave the stage. Ned stood up, not quite sure what to do, since the fourth rule was quite intimidating. She gave him a direct look as she was leaving, so he followed her toward the rear stage door, which was now open. A Meco standing near the door started moving toward him.

It’s OK Skippy 2, BG said quickly. This one is with me.

Skippy 2 gave Ned a long look as he passed by, one designed to inspire good behavior backstage. Ned followed her down a hall and then into a spacious dressing room. Apparently all of the dancers had their own.

Take a seat, BG said, as she put on a robe.

Ned picked a comfortable easy chair from the many available.

BG then brought a lighter chair right in front of him and straddled the back of it with her bare legs. So, what kind of species are you, and why are you here? she asked with seductive intensity.

I’m half Alurolan and half Human, Ned said, knowing the second half would probably bring a question. It did, but it wasn’t the one he expected.

Human? BG asked with a thoughtful look. I haven’t heard that one in a while. Was your father’s name Willy? this time with some kindness in her voice.

It was William Blue, Ned replied in a questioning tone.

I always called him Uncle Willy. I heard he ended up with an Alurolan after my family dispersed. And of course dispersal means no contact, so we never saw each other again. Now you show up, his lost and forgotten son, looking to dig up what you can about your father and his past shady life with Trubaciles.

Ah, no, Ned replied, with even more question in his voice. I lived my whole life with my dad until he passed. It’s my mother I don’t know much about, or really care to for what it matters.

Now it was BG with the confused look on her face. So what is your full name? she asked slowly.

It’s Ned Blue, he answered, wondering where this was going.

So is that your full birth name, or just what you go by? she asked with a skeptical voice.

Feeling like he was now in an interrogation, Ned replied with his arms folded, Nedrathendull William Blue is my birth name.

BG first looked at him with disbelief, and then broke out in uncontrolled laughter. Finally she gathered herself enough to say, Uncle Willy was always very clever, and only he could figure out a way to get you from your mother’s Alurolan family.

Ned had heard this type of laughter before after his full name was given. That is why he never used it or talked about it with anyone other than his dad. Yes, my dad always tried to be clever, Ned said, wondering why she thought his dad was her Uncle. Being the only human in the Kuoma Super Cluster, he needed to always use his wits just to survive. As for me, everyone knew he didn’t have enough credits to wage the legal war the Alurolans would fight to have sole custody of me, so his offer to sign me over to my mother’s family without a fight made perfect sense to those logically thinking Alurolans. And the simple request to name me written into the contract also seemed reasonable at the time. Until he chose that name so repugnant to the Alurolans that they refuse to say it out loud. Ned then chuckled, more to himself. The Alurolans’ hands were tied, so they turned me over to my dad. And from what I’ve seen of the Alurolans I’ve met, I’ve been thankful every day that he was so clever.

I agree with you whole-heartedly on that one, BG said, now with a gentle warmness in her voice. Alurolans are cold, snobby, opinionated race bigots who follow the law to the letter no matter who it hurts. Your father on the other hand, was a warm, accepting, loving person, and I’m glad I knew him for the short time I did. Actually, he was more like a second father to me, than an uncle.

Then why did he never mention your family to me? Ned asked, thinking this whole story seemed a little farfetched.

In my culture, as you probably know, BG started with some sadness, when a family disperses they can never have contact with each other again. It is one of the few and most sacred rules we have. I’m sure your father loved and respected my family too much to break that rule. Now in retrospect, that might be why he ended up in the arms of a cold Alurolan, since besides us, they are the closest species to Humans. He didn’t want to go through the pain of dispersal again. Even though the Alurolans would have given him some visitations, you would have been raised to be just like them, and end up rejecting him just like your mother did. He already lost us, and I’m sure your father’s heart could not endure losing you, too.

That sounds like my dad, Ned said with bittersweet reflection. He had a heart bigger than this galaxy. And now that you mention it, a few times over the years we went by a Trubacile school on Raccumbarra. That’s when he first told me about your dispersal custom. We always hid, because he said he knew one of the teachers and she would be disgraced if he let her see him. Having already learned the joys of being disgraced by my mother, I never questioned the importance of that action. And skulking around in the shadows was kind of exciting for a kid anyway.

My parents were never teachers. They always worked in a Retreat like this. I, however, went to the one and only Trubacile school on Raccumbarra after I was dispersed, BG said with a clearly visible tear coming from her eye. He would have never done anything to hurt me, but like you said, he had a heart the size of a galaxy.

BG just sat there acting like her thoughts had taken this conversation over, so Ned tried to make things better by saying, I guess in terms of mates, my father didn’t have it easy in this new world. Ned’s words didn’t seem to help much, as they both just sat there in silence. He then figured this day of disappointments and sad memories couldn’t get much worse, so he might as well bring up why he was here. The original reason I came here is that I am putting together a crew for a rescue ship, and I was going to ask you to be my doctor. But since it now seems that we are family of sorts, I assume I probably need to turn tail and forget that I ever saw you to respect your traditions?

Since my family dispersed before you were born, BG said slowly, and we have no DNA in common, we are not obligated to follow that rule. But I’m not a certified doctor, so I can’t join your crew even if I wanted to.

I am an independent, Ned said back with pride. I don’t have to follow world rules, only the League’s.

There are no independents with rescue, BG said with a scowl. The only independents out there deal with after the fact salvage.

We will be the first, Ned replied with some hesitation, So world rules like that do not apply to us. But we are required to be licensed as a League salvage ship, so those are the rules we follow. And they say I am permitted to hire anyone I want to practice medicine in emergency situations. I guess my dad’s cleverness didn’t die with him, Ned said with a little bit of a smile.

BG smiled back half heartedly, but then asked, You know of course all worlds in the League only use their own rescue ships for the most part, with their certified doctors? Would we ever get a job? she questioned like an older sister.

I’ve done a lot of record research on this, he said back defensively. They try to cover it up for the most part, but some worlds are letting rescues fall through the cracks and some of these almost seem to be deliberate. Salvage is starting to find more and more bodies out there, and with the nonaffiliated worlds, they are even sometimes finding survivors, at least initially. A good number of them don’t make it back alive since salvage ships aren’t equipped to handle that sort of thing. And the deeper into space you go, the worse it gets.

Oh great, BG said with about as much sarcasm as she could muster. "Not only an independent ship that