My Favorite Shorts: A Collection of Science Fiction and Other Short Stories

By W. R. Hagen

This book is a collection of illustrated tales from the primitive past, today’s tumultuous times, and the fantastic future.

The tales include adventure, romance, challenge, conquest, mystery, horror, and intrigue.

The characters include ambitious cavemen, people caught up in today’s complex times, scheming businessmen, the future’s evolved humans, and astonishing extraterrestrials.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984539809

W. R. Hagen

W. R. “Bill” Hagen is the father of four. He and wife, Donna, live in the Texas Hill Country, near Austin. When not traveling (enthusiastically), playing golf (poorly), or visiting children (happily), Bill enjoys writing. He is the author of Under the Blue Sun and Alien Future: The Golden Path. Watch for his anthology of short stories, My Favorite Shorts. Interests include technology, history, and human behavior.

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Copyright © 2018 by W. R. Hagen.

Library of Congress Control Number:               2018907947

ISBN:                  Hardcover                     978-1-9845-3982-3

                            Softcover                       978-1-9845-3981-6

                            eBook                            978-1-9845-3980-9

All rights reserved. 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 copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 09/21/2018

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CONTENTS

Introduction

A Brief Encounter That Never Happened

Guardian’s Decision

The Wonderful Hut

Warrior

The Golden Key

Vigilante

Much To Learn

Hello, It’s You

Charlie’s Adventure

Mapping The Galaxy

Time Travel Incorporated

Arthur Lastman’s Quest

The Bodyguard

The Tree

Explorer Corps

Not A Chance

Clan Leader

The Double Cross

The Waystation

Mr. Francis Does A Favor

The Ugly Dog And The Beautiful Woman

Contemplation Of Afterlife

Warlord

A Dog For Jane

The Library

Nightmare

A Perfect Crime

Andy Roid’s Restaurant

And The Winner Is

Searching For A Home

Intense Attraction

Keller’s Clone Worlds

Alien Invasion

One Drink And A Pretty Face

Insurance Investigator

The Cat

The Watcher

Gathering Specimens

Marooned

Alien Classroom

Conversion

Appendix

The Author

DEDICATION

My wonderful wife, Donna

(Known to friends and family as Saint Donna)

My biggest Fan, Police Detective Joe Marr

(Renowned for his impeccable taste and judgement)

PHOTOGRAPHY

Pamela Lowe

Impressions Photography

ART WORK

Derek Martin

Art Work Coordinator

George Monaghan

Ugly Duckling Co

John McCoy

Florida Based Artist

Timothy McQuillen

Florida Based Artist

Charles Harner

Florida Based Artist

Eric Anderson

Florida Based Artist

INTRODUCTION

The stories included in this collection, whose title was born of caprice, were written over a period of two years. All were written after publication of my three novels (see jacket and Appendix for a list).

Each short story could, of course, be expanded into a novel, but I enjoyed recording my ideas quickly, and in the form herein.

Writing short stories is wonderful fun and excellent practice for learning to write with an economy of words. Early versions of several of these stories were much longer. I found, however, that using fewer words to tell a story, invariably improved the story.

Whenever I read something employing lengthy or flowery descriptions of people, things, and events and excessive use of analogies, similes, and metaphors, I find myself quickly skipping past them to get back to the action, the storyline. I doubt I’m alone in this, and it has led me to avoid excessive descriptions.

Another thing I avoid is involving characters in endless speculation about what might have been or could have been or ought to have been. I find these boring beyond endurance and consider them filler or padding employed by authors who, seemingly, are paid by the word.

I also avoid the use of characters examining, in great detail, items and events that contribute little or nothing to a story. I find myself thinking, who cares about this stuff? What has this to do with the story, other than increasing its length?

For those who enjoy lengthy descriptions, exhaustive examination of minutia, and lengthy speculation, my writing may seem sparse or incomplete. However, I wrote these stories to suit my own tastes, with my focus on action and storyline. I trust there are readers with similar tastes, who will enjoy these stories as written.

Bill Hagen

Our Cast

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Characters include a wide range of humans, aliens, and off-world creatures, from the past, present, and future. Each has a story to tell.

A BRIEF ENCOUNTER THAT NEVER HAPPENED

Starship Hope, lightyears from home, traveled through trillions of miles of empty space between the two outer arms of the spiral galaxy. With no nearby objects, there was no sense of speed, and time passed painfully slowly. Captain Arnold, comfortably seated in the command chair, was bored, and having trouble staying awake.

Captain Arnold, yelled the scanner technician. I have a strange contact on my screen.

The captain, quickly alert, stood up. Lieutenant Cook, I’ve told you before, do not yell, and take that infernal emotion out of your voice. He glanced at the five junior officers, all intently monitoring large computer touch-screens. Intense training and cerebral implants allowed them to silently communicate with their computers at the speed of thought.

More slowly and quietly, Lieutenant Cook said, Captain, I have a contact that is unique in my experience, and it may be hostile. He paused.

Continue, impatiently said the captain.

It’s tracking us, and I think it scanned us.

You think it scanned us? Don’t you know?

It happened so quickly, I couldn’t zero in on the source. The energy might have been stray radiation from some remote source.

Let me see, said Captain Arnold as he walked the few steps to the scanner console. Looking over Cook’s shoulder, he said, Yes, I see… . A bright sphere about five thousand meters off our starboard bow. Doesn’t seem likely that thing could scan us. What is it?

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Lt. Cook

Talking quickly, Cook blurted, Captain, I’ve never seen anything like it. The contact is a dense sphere composed of elements that supposedly do not exist. They’re heavier than any known element. That thing is more massive than a neutron star.

Talking more calmly than he felt, Arnold said, Interesting.

With less emotion, Cook said, And it’s stuck to us like glue.

We’ll see. Engineering, all stop. Retro-rockets fired, the ship dropped out of light speed, and smoothly stopped.

Captain, it stopped, too.

Scanner, put the image on the forward screen. Weapons, launch a low-speed sensor probe at the contact.

Aye, aye, sir… . Probe launched… . Contact in five seconds, Captain.

Scanner, said Captain Arnold as he stifled a yawn and slowly sat in the command chair, Status of the probe.

Captain, you won’t believe this; the probe should already have reached the contact, but it hasn’t. The contact hasn’t moved, the probe is moving directly toward it, yet the probe hasn’t reached it.

That makes no sense, Lieutenant Cook. Maybe the probe passed through the contact, or maybe the probe has been stopped. Or more likely, the contact is farther than your instruments indicate.

That must be it, Captain. My scanner is malfunctioning. Cook banged his palm on the side of the scanner-controller. I’ll run my diagnostics.

Engineering, ahead one quarter sub-light speed. The ship accelerated smoothly and quickly.

It continues to keep pace, Captain, reported Lieutenant Cook. I think it’s after us.

Get a grip, Lieutenant. Engineering, ahead max sub-light speed. Helm, forty-five degrees to port, down plane thirty degrees.

Captain, yelled Cook. It has sped up and is now directly ahead of us on this new course.

Lieutenant get the emotion out of your voice. He slowly shook his head. Well, I hoped the contact was a scanner echo, but echoes don’t change relative positions. It’s massive and it’s fast. Maybe it did scan us, and maybe it’s intelligent. Helm resume original course and speed.

How can a sphere be intelligent? said Lieutenant Cook.

I don’t recall asking for comments, Lieutenant. Arnold stared fixedly at Cook. Communications broadcast my voice on all hailing frequencies.

Ready, sir.

This is Captain Arnold of Starship Hope. We are a peaceful ship traveling to, what for us is an unexplored part of the galaxy. Who are you?

A deep, confident voice said, I am he who is.

Captain Arnold thought, Wow, this thing can talk, and it speaks perfect English. Have you a name?

I need no name. I am the creator.

What do you want with us? Nothing, I hope.

I am curious about you. You and the other eleven earthlings on your little ship must be very brave or very desperate, for you are tiny, ephemeral beings wrapped in a fragile cocoon of metal, which, by the way, is fabricated from a poorly formed alloy of aluminum, carbon, and tungsten. What do you hope to achieve?

The captain switched off his microphone. This thing, whatever it is, is definitely intelligent. He wondered, Is this sphere a ship or a being.

Captain, its voice isn’t coming over our communications system.

Interesting. And alarming. The captain switched on his microphone. To answer your question, we seek knowledge. We are a curious people and want to know everything about everything.

The voice that seemed to be everywhere said, You have no idea how boring that can be. However, your kind doesn’t live long enough to achieve your objective. Even if it did, your finite mind is incapable of storing or assessing massive volumes of data. I assume you intend to have your computer compensate for your deficiencies.

Great Stranger, how is it that you speak our language?

I have always known it, as I have always known everything.

Bull, you scanned our computer. Great Stranger, you say that you know everything. Captain Arnold smiled. Is that even possible?

Occasionally I come across some insignificant or inconsequential detail I purposely missed, like you in your little ship, but that is all too rare.

Forgive me, but how could you possibly know everything?

The voice said, Captain Jefferson George Arnold, you are eighty-seven years old. A being such as you could live another two hundred years; an eye blink. I am over fifty trillion of your years.

The captain scrunched his face. Oh sure. He noticed the disbelief on the faces of the others in the control room. But the universe is less than fourteen billion years old.

The voice briefly laughed. Forgive my amusement; it’s just that you stated the age of the universe with such sincere conviction. Have you ever wondered how many of the so-called facts stored in your tiny mind are false? I assure you many are patently false.

Which?

You’ll have more fun if you discover them for yourself. Discovery is exciting. Too much knowledge breeds boredom.

That’s a cop out, thought Captain Arnold.

The voice continued, Your scientists made several erroneous assumptions about the physics of the early time. The universe, during this cycle, is nearly eighteen billion years old. And tell your metallurgists to add one tenth of a percent of silicon to your hull metal. Silicon will fill the spaces between the molecules in such a way as to increase strength by a factor of three point seven and decrease conductivity of both heat and electricity by precisely half.

Yeah, right. The captain rolled his eyes. Thank you, I will. And please, tell me, how can you know virtually everything?

I will tell you, but you will not believe me. You see, I can be everywhere and everywhen at the same time. I travel through dimensions, which you are unable even to imagine. For instance, I sent your sensor probe into another dimension and allowed you to simultaneously observe both it and me.

Captain Arnold shook his head in disbelief and smiled. This thing is an egocentric piece of work, but it seems friendly. Great Stranger, where are you going and what are you doing?

Like you, I search for knowledge. Unlike you, I find precious little new knowledge, so must deal with a consuming boredom.

Are there others like you?

Each galaxy has one aspect of me.

Are you all related?

We are each part of a single entity and share a single consciousness.

What do you call yourself?

Your kind call me, God.

God? The God? Oh right.

The beings I placed on the worlds I created call me by many names, but yes, by your definition, and in your language, I am the God.

If you’re God, you must be able to hear prayers.

The vast majority of prayers I hear are pleas for self-aggrandizement and bore me to distraction. I may soon destroy all I’ve created and begin yet another cycle. Sometimes I contemplate destroying myself, because I have virtually nothing new to experience, to accomplish, to learn, to do, to create, to be. Can you think of anything I have to look forward to, other than overwhelming boredom? If so, I will make you immortal and grant you three wishes.

If you can truly hear prayers, then you can hear my thoughts. Three plus eight are? I will consider your question. But if you are truly God, why do you tell me these things?

Eleven. Yes, Captain, I hear all thoughts. And to answer your question, in a few of your minutes, I will erase from your twelve minds this meeting. For you, this brief encounter will not have occurred. However, because you amused me, I will leave in your mind, Captain, and your mind alone, the idea of adding silicon to hull metal.

Thank you, I guess.

Yea, verily, I say unto you, Captain Arnold, thou shalt live another one hundred and eighty years, and die peacefully in thy sleep. Thou shalt marry a maiden named Donna, achieve great fame, become very wealthy … and become the father of nations. The voice laughed heartily.

Statues will be erected in thy honor, and thy fourth grandson, Jayson, will use thy wealth to become emperor of thy tiny planet. He will eventually come to rival the Roman Emperor Caligula in evil deeds. Emperor Jayson will, after nine years and ten months of wanton debauchery, learn the true nature of hell. Goodbye Captain.

Wait, please. I have a thousand questions, such as, is there really a hell and a heaven?

You have fourteen questions, and two of them are redundant. And, yes, doubting Thomas, heaven and hell do exist, but beings such as you can imagine neither.

Fearing his time was nearly up, Captain Arnold blurted, Great Stranger, er God, here’s an idea: show your creations that you exist. That should open new experiences for you.

I tried that during one complete cycle. It created more problems than it solved. Sorry, no immortality or wishes for you, Captain.

Captain Arnold became momentarily disoriented. His mind quickly cleared as he heard his scanner technician yelling.

Captain Arnold, I have a strange contact on my screen.

The captain stood up. Lieutenant Cook, I’ve told you before, do not yell, and take that infernal emotion out of your voice.

More slowly and quietly, Lieutenant Cook said, Captain, I have a contact … what the? … It’s gone. Sorry, sir, it must have been a false image. Cook banged his scanner-controller with the palm of his hand. I’ll run my diagnostics.

Captain Arnold resumed his seat. He felt as though he had just awoken from a dream, but try as he may, he couldn’t remember the dream. He scratched his head and wondered if he had nodded off again. Much of space travel was very monotonous and extremely boring. He decided to set his mind on a problem, to pass the time. He would think about how to improve hull metal.

END

GUARDIAN’S DECISION

A worried Captain James, seated in the command chair of the starship Guardian, absently watched the passing stars through the forward viewing screen. The crew of his crowded ship had begun to disobey the critical rule that limited couples to two children. Because of limited resources, his only practical, yet horrific, option was to terminate the excess population. During the starship’s long voyage, none of the eight previous captains was ever faced with such a dreadful task.

Captain, I’m reporting as ordered.

Captain James swiveled his chair toward the open bridge door. Cute Annie Hydroponics stood rigidly in the door. The green shoulder patch on her one-piece, white coveralls identified her as a food-grower.

The captain remained seated and looked up at her serious face. What have you to say for yourself?

Captain, I was never off birth control, yet somehow became pregnant.

Your child will make twenty-two more individuals than our ship can support.

Sir, I respectfully beg you to add living space and food generators.

Annie, we’re sixteen hundred lightyears from the nearest supply depot.

Sir, what can we do?

We’ll have to terminate twenty-two individuals.

Annie’s face contorted into a frown. Standing even taller, she declared, Captain, we cannot terminate babies.

Then which adults shall we terminate?

Sir, I only know we can’t kill babies.

The captain sighed. There is a temporary solution.

What? said Annie, hope in her voice and on her face.

We have five or six years before the extra children grow enough to critically overload our limited living space and food supply.

Excitedly Annie said, Oh, Captain, thank you, sir.

Annie, if over population continues, we’ll have only a few short years before we must either terminate some folks or watch all of us slowly starve.

Captain, you’ll think of something. You always do. Annie respectfully bowed, spun around, and hurried off, anxious to spread the news.

Captain James swiveled toward the forward screen. He enjoyed the ever-changing panorama of stars, nebulae, asteroids, magnetars, and black holes, which was fortunate since he had little else to do.

His crowded starship carried twenty-five hundred couples. Each of the five thousand adults had an important job supporting the huge, complex starship. The crew’s most important task was to produce and train their replacements. Beginning at age fifteen, each child was taught the trade of one of its parents and would take over that parent’s duties when the parent died. Thus, the cycle of birth, growth, training, service, and death would continue as it had during the previous two hundred and twenty-seven years of the voyage.

Captains did not marry; theirs was a solitary life of service. However, they too had to train their replacement. Future captains were chosen by aptitude-testing the ship’s early teens. The one chosen was always an extremely intelligent loner, someone who could absorb the intensive ten-year training, and do so with no interaction with other crew-members. Captains had to be aloof and focused exclusively on their wide-ranging responsibilities.

For the first time, a girl, Angel, had been selected. Angel would begin training in a few months when she turned fifteen. She would then move from her parent’s cramped quarters to the tiny deputy-captain’s cabin. Angel’s white coveralls would have the blue shoulder patch of the captain-in-training. At the end of her decade of training, she would become deputy-captain. On the death of Captain James, Angel would wear the blue captain’s uniform, and become the tenth captain of Starship Guardian.

A stern voice startled Captain James. Why do you permit the crew to break the two-child rule? It was the ship.

Guardian, what choice have I?

Sterilize every woman who’s had two children.

What if an accident kills some of the crew? Who would replace them?

The unsterilized women.

What if the sterilized women possess superior DNA?

Then, Captain, answered Guardian, irritation in its voice, sterilize those with the poorest DNA.

But we need all the women to maintain a diverse gene pool.

You’re evading the issue. Hear this, human: I’ll grant you six years to find a permanent solution. After that, I, Guardian, will decide what action to take. You’ll not jeopardize my mission. And don’t assume that, as captain, you’re immune to termination.

Captain James ignored the threat about termination. He had heard it many times. However, Guardian had never mentioned its mission. What is your mission? The crew believed their destination was a specific planet, one teeming with natural resources and blessed with a perfect climate. James was skeptical, because he believed the ship was in previously unexplored space.

I have spoken.

James knew that meant Guardian would say no more. The prior captain had not told James about Guardian, so when Guardian spoke to him shortly after the death of the previous captain, James had been shocked. At the same time, he was greatly relieved to discover he was not solely responsible for the huge, complex, self-contained starship. The crew did not know about Guardian, so they treated Captain James as a god-king.

James knew Guardian’s deadline was not negotiable. What was he to do? He was caught between his crew and Guardian. Guardian was the true power on the ship; it ran everything. James spent most of his time alone, on the empty bridge, watching warning lights that never blinked, and listening for alarms that never sounded. His main job was adjudicating disputes among his crew and acting as a personnel manager.

The next morning, as Captain James jogged in the exercise wheel, he wondered how to accommodate extra humans. Every cubic centimeter of the crowded ship held essential components. The exceptions were the cramped space set aside for twenty-five hundred couples and their two children, small cabins for the solitary captain and deputy-captain, the tiny gym, and the modest galley. Suddenly a thought struck him. There may yet be hope.

On the bridge after a quick shower, Captain James used the intercom, This is the Captain speaking. I’m announcing a contest to find the best idea to increase our living space. The winner will spend an entire day with me on the bridge and receive an extra food ration for an entire month. The contest ends in ten days. Good luck.

He switched off the intercom. Guardian, what do you think of my contest?

Its voice flat, Guardian said, Human, you seek a miracle.

Disappointed by Guardian’s unenthusiastic reply, James whispered, We’ve nothing to lose.

We’ll see, said Guardian, skepticism heavy in its voice.

A question, Guardian: Annie said she became pregnant while on the pill, was she truthful?

She was highly emotional and, therefore, difficult to read, but, yes, I think so.

Maybe the pills are defective.

Let’s hope not. We carry an ample supply but have no way to produce replacements.

********

The crew submitted only twelve contest-entries. To the captain’s delight, a boy, fourteen, named Teckla, suggested they capture an asteroid, and hollow it out. If the asteroid had a metal core, then both living-space and building-material would be available.

Guardian, we must find such an asteroid.

Agreed. One that can be located without stopping or changing course. The only times Guardian ever deviated from a straight line was to avoid hazards. Guardian would then quickly return to its original course.

That’s impossible.

Difficult, not impossible.

********

Four long years passed, and over a thousand extra children under age five crowded the ship. The crew was visibly thinner, because the majority were sharing their food rations with rapidly growing children. In less than two years, the excess population would become critical, and Guardian would demand a solution, or, more likely, Guardian would decide upon a solution.

The one bright spot for Captain James was Angel. He’d been training her every day, and had watched her grow from a gangly, fifteen-year-old girl into a beautiful, nineteen-year-old woman. He was irresistibly attracted to her, which surprised him, since captains were chemically neutered. Maybe his body was fixed, but not his mind. Whatever the cause, Angel was a constant distraction.

On that lucky evening when the ship, finally, came upon the sought-after asteroid, James had been relaxing in his quarters. As usual, his thoughts had drifted unbidden to Angel, and he again caught himself picturing her in his mind. Tall for a girl, she had a slim, feminine figure, sun-yellow hair, even features, and light-blue eyes.

Captain, said Guardian in his calm voice. I have detected an asteroid, twelve-million kilometers directly ahead. It has a metal core, and I calculate it could hold three thousand adults.

Captain James leapt out of his chair. When do we reach it?

Five point one hours. I’m decelerating as we speak. It must be tethered to the ship.

James decided to send Angel outside. She had practiced using a suit, and it would be an excuse to see her again. Five hours later, the ship slowly approached the asteroid, and James signaled Angel’s cabin.

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Within minutes, Angel arrived. Her white coveralls had the blue shoulder patch of the captain-in-training. The look on her intelligent face was one of eager anticipation. Sir, reporting as ordered.

James stared at her, and thought, Beautiful. I found an asteroid; you’re going outside to tether it to the ship.

What about relative speed?

I’ve matched its course and speed.

Sir, should I use a plazsteel cable?

Yes. Melt it thirty meters into the asteroid.

Shall I attach the tether to the ship’s swivel hook, so it and the ship can rotate independently?

Correct. He smiled. Very good. He watched as she smiled. She has a beautiful smile.

James anxiously watched the viewing screen as the athletic young woman jetted to the asteroid. He was having second thoughts about risking her life. He nervously watched as she used a laser to bore a hole into the asteroid, and then inserted the weightless tether. She then used her laser to melt the rock surrounding the tether, which then flowed around the tether and quickly froze tightly. The asteroid was captured. James was proud of Angel, and relieved that she was unharmed.

Angel arrived back on the bridge as Guardian gently accelerated back to cruising speed.

This is wonderful, she said.

How so? asked the captain, always interested in her thoughts.

This could mean no killing.

Terminations would bother you? James watched her face become worried.

I fear I wouldn’t have the will to terminate anyone. Tears filled her eyes. I fear I’ll be a weak captain.

Captain James, moved by her tears, walked quickly to her, and put his arms around her. Terminating anyone would indeed be terrible.

He continued to hold her, although he knew he should release her. Her soft, warm body felt wonderful. Suddenly he felt her arms embrace him.

Oh, sorry, he said, embarrassed by what he had done, but glad he had done it. He reluctantly released his hold on Angel and wondered if she had returned his hug because she felt something for him, or because she was merely being polite.

It’s my fault, she said as she released her hold. I shouldn’t let my emotions show. It won’t happen again.

********

Two weeks later, while resting in his cabin, Captain James said, Guardian, I want to tell Angel about you.

I forbid it. Believing she’ll one day be solely responsible for this ship focuses her more highly on learning, than if she knew about me. I should last several millennia, but I could cease functioning at any instant. The captain must be able to take over in my absence.

Alarmed by the thought of losing Guardian, James stammered, But … but I don’t know our destination or mission.

Without me the mission cannot be accomplished. You’d be free to inhabit the first livable planet you encounter.

To James, Guardian’s response was final proof that the ship’s destination was not some remote paradise. Well, how would I have known that, if you hadn’t just told me?

If I cease to function, you’ll naturally go to the control room diagnostic-panel, and you’ll discover the doors to the secret rooms were open. They open at my command, or the instant I cease. With the materials inside, you’ll be able to survive without me. Guardian paused. But be warned, human: any attempt to force open those doors, will trigger an explosion that will destroy this entire ship.

Captain James listened, fascinated. He had learned the black door and the white door located inside the control room must never be opened. He asked, What’s in those secret rooms?

Equipment and instructions.

James wondered briefly what they could be and decided they did not include directions to some paradise planet. Well, okay. And I understand about Angel.

I know you love her.

The surprised Captain asked, How?

It’s painfully obvious. Plus, your respiration and pulse rates increase whenever she’s near you.

Captain James thought back to the time he held Angel, and she hugged him back; at least he hoped she had. Does she love me?

Yes.

Euphoria flooded through Captain James. He had never been so instantly or intensely happy in all his thirty-three years. He wanted to run to Angel’s quarters to declare his love. However, suddenly a thought struck him. Have you ‘fixed’ Angel?

Not until she becomes Captain. In a crisis, she could produce superior children.

What about me?

I add a drug to your food which eliminates your normal drives.

James was elated to learn that he was not fixed. At the same time, he decided it was better that he did not have normal drives. The captain should not be chasing wives and daughters around the ship.

Then why am I so attracted to Angel?

It’s beyond my understanding. However, I won’t allow a romance between you two.

James angrily said, You have no say in the matter.

When no reply came, Captain James took several deep breaths, counted to ten, and asked as calmly as he was able, Why not?

Human love can turn to hate. You must complete Angel’s training.

What could you do about it?

I have spoken.

James yelled, Go to blazes! But deep inside, he knew he could not do without Guardian, but Guardian could easily do without him.

********

James longed to tell Angel of his love. After days of agonizing indecision, he decided that regardless of consequences, he would tell her. When she arrived on the bridge that morning, the determined captain said, Let’s suit up. I want to inspect the progress in Teckla’s asteroid. The crew honored the boy whose idea had been to capture the asteroid, by naming it after him.

After pulling themselves along the towing cable, the pair stepped inside the asteroid’s entrance and onto the zero-gravity platform located at the asteroid’s axis of rotation. From there they saw that over half the interior had been removed, and the precious iron-nickel core was being melted and formed into building material. The work continued even though the cavity had no atmosphere and no heat.

The asteroid desperately needed nitrogen and water. Nitrogen and the oxygen from water would provide a breathable atmosphere. Water would also fuel a second hydroponics system to produce additional food. Guardian had promised to watch for sources of water and nitrogen but would not allow the ship to deviate from its course. James had said, It could take years, even centuries, before we stumble across water and nitrogen.

Guardian had replied, Years, maybe. Not centuries.

As Captain James led Angel down the inside wall of the rotating asteroid, gravity gradually increased. He led her into a newly constructed storage room, closed the door, and wedged it tightly shut. He reached over and turned off Angel’s communicator, then his own. Guardian had no eyes in the asteroid, and now it had no ears.

Captain James firmly pressed his helmet against Angel’s. He looked into her pretty, blue eyes, and said, We have spent a lot of time together.

She smiled. Yes, Captain.

He said slowly, And … and I … I have grown to love you, Angel.

She tilted her head. Captain?

Slowly, sincerely, he said, I love you, Angel. More than anyone or anything, I love you.

Her eyes grew big and her mouth hung open. Oh Captain, I have loved you since our first day together. She moved against him and they embraced.

He again pressed his helmet to hers and said, I must tell you a secret, my beautiful Angel.

She frowned and tried to squirm away, but he held tightly, and asked, What is it?

You said you love me. Why then do you mock me?

Mock you?

You said I’m beautiful; I know I’m not. Tears streamed down her face.

Why would you say such a thing?

I’m too tall and thin, and no one else has this ugly yellow hair, and these hideous blue eyes. I’ve always known I’m an ugly freak. Everyone says so.

Angel, you’re the most beautiful thing on this ship. The quality of your mind is equaled only by your physical beauty. My love, no other comes close to your beauty. He smiled adoringly.

A look of surprise replaced her frown. Do you truly think so?

My sweet Angel, as a gangly girl you may have been … unattractive. But look at yourself, you were an ugly duckling, bloomed into a beautiful woman. However, as the future captain, you have become unapproachable and unattainable, for which I am grateful.

She stared at James. Do you truly love me?

My wonderful Angel, I love you with all my heart and soul. He studied her briefly and pulled her into a tight embrace. Almost at once, he could feel her begin to sob. He leaned back to look at her face. Again, touching helmets, he asked, Why are you crying?

I am weeping with joy — this is the happiest moment of my life.

He hugged her tightly and waited. Minutes later, she stopped sobbing, and James forced himself to continue. I must tell you a secret. The ship is sentient. It calls itself Guardian, and it has forbidden me to tell you about it. It has also forbidden our love.

She gently pushed Captain James back, gripping the shoulders of his thin spacesuit, and holding her arms stiff, her face a tear-streaked mask.

Captain James wondered if he had somehow offended her by his betrayal of Guardian.

Angel gently pulled James to her and pressed her helmet to his. I have lived my life with no real friends, and no hope that someone would ever love me. My wonderful captain, I love you more than life. Now that I know you love me, I refuse to give you up. She hugged him tightly. "We must disable Guardian, pull its plug;