Indigo Space

By William Welton

Explore Indigo Space. Encounter Pirates, Smugglers, Wizards and Seers through kidnappings, escapes and rescues all at the speed of thought. Meet Kat with a K as you explore new dimensions of time and space. Experience the Cosmic Garden Dome and all that grows and lives inside. Use Tarot cards for Astro-navigation. Enjoy Nano Tech projects entangled with Qtouch music and Qbot creations in the new science fiction, fantasy novel - Indigo Space.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 19, 2018
• ISBN: 9780359096992

Book preview

Indigo Space

Indigo Space

William Welton

1. Trouble in Space

David Hunter, engineer, inventor, and musician, sipped his JoPow as he inspected the latest Nano Tech creation. Since the viewing ports were open today in his lab, he noticed the unusual foot traffic hurrying down the main connecting passageway.

Disapproving eyes darted glances into the lab, but he gave them no attention. He was more interested in the mood of the crowd streaming down to the Grand Ballroom. Tension and fear seemed to increase as the throng drew closer to their destination.  It was some kind of rally or protest regarding conditions aboard the Golden Dragon.

The agitated group that hurried down the passageway was composed of the unemployed and underfed passengers seeking some kind of reassurance that things were not as bad as they seemed. Many had clenched fists and raised heartbeats as they increased their speed toward the possible source of redemption.  Most passengers had spent their life savings, as well as their children’s, to gain passage to a promised land that many now feared might not be attainable.  So many had been relieved when the ship set sail leaving the chaos of Earth behind. A New Earth would be waiting for them at the end of a three-year luxury cruise.

All their needs and concerns would be taken care of. Two months into the journey, things were very different. Their expectations gave way to fear, as the reality of life aboard the Golden Dragon was not so golden.

The rumor was that there had been an accident aboard the Golden Dragon and much of her fuel and supplies were lost. No official announcement had been made, but there was a general feeling that something was very wrong. The passengers had organized a rally on their own and wanted answers. Many thought that they still had the power and status that they had on Earth. Others realized they were at the mercy of the situation. At the very least, they wanted to hear that all was well, and the problems with food and fuel would be fixed. As it turned out, the fuel and supplies were never there to be lost. The Golden Dragon’s Captain had other plans for most of the human cargo. They wouldn’t require food or supplies from the ship.

David Hunter had traded some of his Nano Technology and expertise for passage. He was bored with the stagnant tech on Earth. All they did anymore was continue to repair things that didn't work well in the first place. With the proper programming and resources, he could create almost any required spare part. The Nano Tech worked at the molecular level and would chain together to create necessary parts of virtually any size and shape. He wanted a new start and a New Earth would be just that. The Golden Dragon was his ticket there. He could handle the three-year trip as long as he had his Nano Lab and music to keep him busy.

The Dragon was an old Stellar Class Space Cruise Ship. She was the grand old dame of a forgotten era. The Dragon had been a work of art in its day. Hand-crafted luxury with the latest technology at the time, but times had been hard on the ship. She had been used to transport troops during some resource war battles. A new coat of paint may have covered the blood from when she had been a hospital ship, but there was little comfort or convenience to be had anymore.  The most they could say was that she might have three years left in her with his Nano Tech spares production operating at full speed.

Hunter was growing spare parts as fast as the Nano Tech could gobble the resources. The three-year journey to New Earth had just started and he wondered if his Tech would be able to keep up with the disturbing amount of neglect that the Golden Dragon had seemed to sustain.

David heard a loud clang followed by a thump in the overhead air ventilation system. He glanced up and was surprised to see a small black paw sticking through the grate. An impatient rattle echoed down the air vent. David chuckled to himself as he climbed a step stool so he might inspect the vent cover and the intruder. He looked through the vent and saw two orange cat eyes blinking back at him.

Hello, there, David said. Let me see if I can help.An embarrassed paw was waving out of the air vent in response.

He released the vent cover grating and a small black cat tumbled down onto his shoulder. Immediately the cat jumped to the nearest worktable scattering work orders, sending tools flying and, knocking empty JoPow cups to the floor. The light gravity aboard ship kept everything from shattering, but that didn’t stop the cat from creating a mess.

Relax, cat, said David, there is no danger here. As Hunter tried to calm the cat, Jennifer, a young passenger, slipped unnoticed into the lab.

Excuse me, sir, Jennifer said to a seemingly empty lab. She had not seen Hunter who was still up the stepladder. Two visitors in one day. He was going to need a receptionist.

After restoring the air vent cover, Hunter climbed down the ladder to the lab floor. Can I help you, Miss?

Oh, sorry to bother you. I am trying to find something, said a flustered Jennifer. She was a young strawberry blonde not quite twenty, Hunter guessed. Though he was never good at guessing ages. She seemed very much a little lost girl wearing the black jump suit provided for the passengers. Not only did she look lost in the sense of direction, but also she was lost in the suit that was much too big for her. The pant legs and sleeves were rolled up and she had made a belt out of colorful scarves to keep the suit in place. Her hair was a mess and her hands were covered with dust and smeared with grease.

What would that be? Hunter asked avoiding eye contact.

Jennifer hesitated with a pained expression on her face, and then burst out explaining, Well, we aren’t allowed to have them, but you see, I snuck her on board. I thought I could hide her in my cabin. I don't know what I was thinking. I just couldn't leave her behind. She's all I... At the sound of her voice, Kat jumped onto the worktable next to Jennifer. Oh, Kat you’re alright. Jennifer hugged Kat.

You can't wander off like that it is not safe, she scolded. Kat purred and Hunter saw that her eyes were yellow not orange like he thought.

You have a cat named Cat? smiled David.

Oh no, she is special. It is Kat with a K, Jennifer explained.

Yes, we’ve met, he said as he started to pick up the trash scattered on the floor. Hi, Kat my name is Hunter. Hunter looked over at Jennifer still holding Kat, hoping for her name in return.

Oh, my name is Jennifer. I am just a passenger. Nice to meet you. Thank you for rescuing my cat.

She seems to be quite independent, said David Hunter.

Suddenly, Jennifer and Hunter saw Security Officer Brian Randy hurrying down the corridor with his two Marine henchmen. He and his men were checking air vents along the corridor and heading straight to the Nano Lab. He was a short squat of a man wearing a pale blue uniform with too many silver stars on his lapels and a broad brim hat. To complete the uniform, he was wearing knee-high silver boots with pointed toes and highly raised heels. If he was trying to look taller, it really wasn't working for him. Instead, it just made him look like a fat thumbtack. His henchmen hadn’t been walking upright for more than a few days, and were waving Stun-Batons as they hurried to keep up with the determined Security Officer.

I'll watch Kat, you go out the back door, Hunter whispered. Jennifer quickly hurried out just as the security team entered the lab. She left Kat in David’s care and headed back to her cabin to clean up and change clothes. She was filthy trying to follow Kat down the ventilation system. Kat was out-of-sight somewhere in the lab.

Security Officer Brian Randy, un-affectionately known by the passengers and crew as SOB, was seeking the source of a disturbance in the air ventilation system. He had his men inspect the air vent, look under the tables, behind tanks and generally making a mess of everything that Kat hadn't already disrupted.

Can I help you? Hunter finally asked hoping they would stop before they found Kat. He knew to say as little as possible to SOB and was glad that Kat seemed to be good at hiding.

You stay right where you are, Hunter, barked SOB. Why is this step ladder under the air vent?

It is also under the defective glow lamp that I had to replace, answered Hunter. He was always good at thinking fast and making up alternative possibilities.

SOB tried to stare Hunter down into confessing a great conspiracy that involved the air vent and trying to overthrow the government. Hunter ignored him.

The security guards kept searching the same easy to reach places, until SOB noticed the crowd streaming down the corridor. He declared that everything was under control and led his men out after the crowd.

Glad, I could help, mumbled Hunter once was the lab was empty again. He really needed a lock on the door, or maybe a sign that said danger toxic environment would scare some people away.

Security, report to Main Ballroom, ASAP, squawked the overhead speakers.

He sighed and started to straighten up the lab. David Hunter was keeping his options open. Some of his Nano Tech projects were unrelated to the ship's welfare. Hunter accessed the HUD, or Heads Up Display, on his wrist holo-tablet. The holographic screen gave him a handy overview of everything he was running in the lab. Everything was okay and progressing on track. He could have used his projects as an excuse to stop what he was doing to fix something. Instead, he chose to clean up the mess in his lab. When he had more time, he could build a clean-bot that would help keep the lab organized. A normal ship clean-bot just pushes dirt around and makes a lot of noise. He wanted his lab to be a quiet relaxing place of technology contemplation. His Nano Lab had never been this noisy or busy before. Maybe he could sell tickets and keep visitors behind glass walls. He preferred the ivory tower and mad scientist approach for his work area. He never did well with authority, unless they earned his respect.

He pulled up a second HUD, just for his music library and searched through the latest projects. He checked the status of his current music creation and found that it was ready. Sometimes the files would get stuck rendering, and he would have to give them a nudge.

Kat finally appeared from nowhere, but she was still clearly spooked. She paced across a worktable with her tail snapping back and forth. David was a Q-Engineer, a Nano Tech expert and a loner. He didn’t always deal well with people, but he could always relate to a cat. He envied their independence and indifference. He selected some music to calm Kat down. Currently, she seemed panicked by the noise from the security search and unfamiliar gadgets in the Nano Lab.

Note to Q, play ambient music for meditation, instructed Hunter. The music played softly in the overhead speakers throughout the lab. Kat responded by finding a chair to lie in. Q was the name of his voice activated wrist holo-tablet (Tab) and virtual mainframe. He would say, Note to Q to activate it with his voice or use a holographic virtual keyboard that would appear when he touched his wrist.

The tablet had been highly modified and contained more memory than Hunter could even remember installing. Besides using it to wirelessly program his Nano Tech projects, it contained the music creation software, audio samples, software synthesizers, and all of the music files he had created over the last few years. He was constantly multitasking with ideas and melodies running through his subconscious. He would hum a tune or record an idea or intention into the Tab while overseeing the Nano Projects. He thrived on that balance of distraction and creativity.

David Hunter had a gift for intentional listening. He could focus his whole being on a sound or vibration. It was also a curse. He was only able to truly hear one thing at a time. If more than one thing was happening that made any noise, he would choose the one sound he liked best and the others simple wouldn't exist for him. This selective focus made growing up, school, and just about any relationship rather difficult.

He was often alone listening to his own thoughts and dreams. He learned to choose his experience of life by selecting what he listened to. Music became his world. It filled his thoughts almost all of the time. He probably never would have learned Nano Tech if a teacher hadn't taken a special interest in him. His instructor could sense that David Hunter was smart, but not well adjusted for school. Then the teacher discovered his interest in sound and music. He explained that everything sound, music, and even pure energy were just different vibrations. Now, when he programmed Nano Tech, he was speaking to it in vibrations. This concept made everything click for him. He could hear and feel the vibrations in everything. He often wondered if he was the only one who could hear what he heard.

Just as the lab was restored to its quiet normal mode, Lieutenant Alyssa Brogen, the navigator aboard the Golden Dragon, entered. Alyssa was a tall woman with dark hair. She was wearing a tailored ship’s officer’s uniform of dark blue with silver trim. Her military experience was driving her crazy in this undisciplined commercial environment. She was constantly trying to make everything work together in the never-ending downward spiral that the ship’s ancient technology and systems had become. She wouldn’t give up and kept working to make things run more efficiently.

Excuse me, sir, said Alyssa looking around at the messy lab. David cringed at the word, ‘sir’. 

Yes, Navigator Brogen, said Hunter. He recognized her from the staff meetings with the Captain when the crew would prioritize the repair parts needed.

Uh, I was wondering if you have a spare Q-compass? asked Brogen.

Is there a problem with the ships Astro-navigation system? David asked not answering her question.

No, I don’t think so, but I am just not comfortable with some of the readings I am getting. We seem to be drifting slightly. She blushed faintly and recovered. "Nothing to worry about, but I just want to double check the system calibration. It is hard to tell this early in the journey, as the course vector angle is so small. It’s just a