The Starbird Hunt (1-9) (5)
“Can’t a man regurgitate in peace?!” “Dr. Sane? Are you okay?” “Nu--OOOAAAAAAAAAAH!” The pilot grimaced. “The spider pancakes weren’t *that* bad. “They were excellent! That’s why I’m vomiting, to taste them ag--AAAAAAAAAAGH!” “If you want Luciem to check up on you…” “Oh, no need, Seth,” Luciem said, interrupting. “He spent all of last night looking at the main screen in hyperspace.” “You shouldn’t do that, doctor. It makes you nauseous.” The door slid open. Randy floated into the hallway, his breath short and his face pale. “Really?” Sarcasm coated his words. “Now it all makes sense!” He floated toward his quarters. “Meeting in the conference room in two hours,” he called back. “Be there.” “Yeesh….” Seth headed toward the waste facilities on the other side of the ship. ***** The bell rang. Tor looked up from his study of the half-deleted data that was the only remnant of the Wild Thang. “Come in,” he called. The door slide open and Natasha walked in, smiling. “Hey, Tor.” James stood at attention. “Commander,” he greeted softly. Kira chuckled. “At ease and you don’t have to do that.” The engineer shrugged. “It feels right.” “Well it makes me feel awkward.” “Then I won’t do it,” he said quickly. Natasha smiled. “Good. Luciem, a little privacy please.” “Awww, Commander. What if something horrible happens to you and I can’t tell because my sensors are shut off?” “I’ll take my chances. Bye, Luciem.” The latest computer model grunted in response and that was the last they heard of him. Natasha looked up at the speakers. “He’s really gone, right? He’s not just being silent?” Tor nodded. “Luciem never lies. It’s in his programming.” “If only everyone were born that way.” There was a pause. “So, Tor…” “Oh, I’m sorry, Commander, please sit down.” Tor stepped away from his seat at the desk and grabbed a stool from the corner of the room. He waited until his superior officer thanked him and took the seat to sit down. “Coffee?” he motioned toward his thermos on the desk. “No, thanks. Uh, Tor, I wanted to thank you for saving me from that space ‘coon on the Wild Thang.” “It was nothing, Commander. I *do* have the eyes and all, I figured I’d put them to use.” Natasha ran a hand through her hair and crossed her legs, looking directly at Tor with her blue eyes. “Please don’t call me ‘Commander,’ Tor, I’d like to think we’re on a first name basis.” “Ruh-really? Wuh-well, it’s just that I’ve been trained to…” “Forget that part of the training. I don’t like to be constantly reminded of my ranks. I’m just one of you guys, you know?” “Right.” Tor didn’t focus on Natasha’s face for very long. “Besides, I haven’t earned your respect at all. I mean, I barely know my crew. You’d think after two years, a second-in-command would be more friendly with the people she’s worked with for so long, but I’m sorry to say I’m not.” “Oh, bu-but, it’s per-perfectly understandable, Miss Kira. After all, you’re vuh-very busy.” Commander Kira smiled. “Call me Natasha, Tor. And thanks, but I plan to work on my people skills.” She paused and looked at the desk. “Oh, is this from Dr. Sane’s ship?” Tor nodded. “Very interesting. The majority of it seems to be information on some mythical aviary beast.” He looked at the commander’s blank look. “A big bird.” Natasha shook her head. “It’s all been so wild. Yet you’ve managed to keep calm. I admire that.” “Thu-Thank you.” Tor blushed. “Really. This whole trip you’ve been focused.” “Thu-thu-thanks.” “Cool and collected.” “I appre-appreciate…” “Never distracted by anything.” “Wuh-well, I wouldn’t suh-say so…” “Not even girls.” “What?” “We’ve been on many worlds and cities and not once have you let a female impair your work. That’s more than your friend Seth can say.” The engineer raised a brown eyebrow. “I mean, I’m sure when we get back to Tezenama, girls will throw themselves at you. But I’m sure you’re aware that right now it’d be best to remain…celibate. For the good of this mission. Plus you’re so young, practically a child…” “Excuse me, Natasha, I am 21. And if I’m not mistaken, you’re not but five years older than me.” “I’m so sorry, Tor. But you *are* the youngest here. Yet, you’re very serious and I respect that. I know you won’t pursue some romantic obsession you might pick up…” “I beg your pardon?” No trace of a stutter was in the man’s words. If anything, they showed a hint of anger. “You know, any feelings you may have for a woman, say a crewmember. I trust you not to pursue them.” “Last time I checked there were two women on board, including you. The other is Mrs. Wok.” “And on the off chance, you happen to…” she paused and raised her fingers in the air to signify quotation. “ ‘Fall’ for either of us--” “I’m sorry to interrupt, *Commander* Kira,” Tor’s eyes whirred and narrowed. “But I have never shown distraction from my work and I don’t plan to be distracted by a ‘fall.’ I’m not quite sure who has been telling you what, but I’d suggest you take a good, hard look at your facts before confronting me with any misgivings. I assure you, if I had any of these alleged feelings you’re implying, I would hardly let the affect my importance to this ship and crew.” “No need to get upset, Tor, I just thought--” Natasha sighed and rose from her chair. “So, just to get the record straight…You *don’t* have feelings for me?” “That is such a pointless question, Commander.” “Fine, then.” Kira’s lips tightened, her eyes slightly flaring. “I’m glad we got that settled. Thank you for your time. I’ll see you at the conference. I’m sure you’ll have a lot of input to put into the meeting.” She moved toward the door and muttered just loud enough for Tor to hear. “Seeing as how all you do is work.” “You just said you admired that!” “Well, everyone should leave time apart to socialize.” “Look who’s talking!” “I don’t socialize because of my job. What’s your excuse?” “I have better things to do!” “Well…SO DO I!” “Fine, then!” “FINE!” The commander turned on her heel and headed toward the door again. It opened and before she could walk through, Tor spoke. “Commander!” She looked at him. “Yes, James?” “You do need to work on your people skills, ma’am.” “URGH!” She stormed into the hallway. James stood still for a moment, looking at the door intently. Then he sat down and continued studying the “Starbird” files. ***** When Natasha came into the conference room, everyone else was already seated. The last seat was right between Randy Sane and Tor James. Kira took it, making sure to make no type of contact with the younger man on her left. “Well, Dr. Sane,” Fletcher began. “You wanted us here. What have you to say?” “I just figured you’d want an explanation, that’s all.” Randy sipped the tea in front of him. “Damn fine tea.” “Thank you,” Luciem said, and his voice radiated pride. “See, I know you people,” the doctor continued. This brought on several skeptical looks among the crewmembers. “You’re not the type of people to take me to Takanor, without an explanation.” Juma’s eyes widened. Her husband almost feel out of his seat. “Takanor?!” he yelled. Natasha blinked. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Who said we were going to Takanor?” “I did,” Randy stated simply. “With whose consent?” Seth asked, arms crossed. “Well, mine. It took some convincing, but--” “Doctor,” High Commander Shim interrupted. “We’re on our way to Pasmet on business, and we can’t divert our course with Tezenamian SEA consent.” “Don’t spout bureaucratic hog-crap at me, High Commander. It’s essential I do my own business on Takanor. Besides, I’m sure the Woks would love to return.” Juma leaned forward. “Who said we’ve been there?” Benjamin smiled, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “Give me more credit, Mrs. Wok. I recognize Takanori when I seem them.” He nodded at Faytan. Faytan licked his lips with a black tongue, almost menacingly. “Takanori can be found all over the galaxy, doctor. Who says I was born on Takanor?” “Alright, alright!” Randy rolled his eyes. “I read your bios on the ViperX’s data banks.” There was an uproar among the crewmates. “Who gave him access to the data banks?” Kira screamed. “There are things there my mother doesn’t know about!” Seth groaned. “Captain?” Tor turned to Fletcher, eyes scared and angry at the same time. “Was this authorized?” Fletcher looked down at the engineer with something akin to pity. “Yes.” While the rest screamed in outrage, Tor turned to the old crippled man and saw the same soft look in his eyes. He turned away and sat down, head in his hands. “People, calm down,” Fletcher said. Of course, when people are yelling themselves hoarse with frustration, their ears close a bit, and orders have to be at certain decibel levels to be heard. “CALM DOWN OR I’LL PUT YOU ALL IN THE BRIG!” Silence. Everyone sat down, shooting acid looks at their captain and his guest. Fletcher responded with icy glares of his own. “Now, as a result of our visiting his ship, it was destroyed.” Randy sniffed. The high commander continued. “As was most of his valuable information. I figured we owed it to him to share our own studies with him.” “How would our personal information help him recover his studies?” Faytan growled. Luciem chuckled sheepishly from above. “That would be my fault. Fletcher never specified the level of clearance the doctor had. I just assumed he would have full access. Sorry, guys.” “Some LCM,” Faytan grunted. Luciem whimpered. “Now, now, don’t blame the poor man,” Randy began. “*Man!*” The Takanori stood and began pacing. “I am sick and tired of the computer being referred to as a man! He--IT is a machine. It’s made out of wires, data, and motherboards! It’s purpose is to receive orders and execute them, NOT to make decisions. It is not a crewmember, it is NOT a person!” Faytan’s chest heaved and his teeth were bared. Juma put a hand on his arm, indicating he should sit down. There was an awkward silence following the furry man’s seating. Tor muttered something in defense of the LCM, which no one but Natasha heard. “He’s more of a person than some on this ship.” “Sorry, guys,” Luciem repeated, tearfully. Not that he could cry. “Listen, you’re forgetting the problem here,” Seth said. “This coot is planning to diverge our course.” Randy cleared his throat. “Right. And it’s time for my explanation. Luciem, dim the lights please.” The computer complied and the old man took out a data sphere from a compartment in his chair. He placed it in the receiver of the table and the center lit up, showing a hologram. The transparent figures on the surface were sitting. One was a younger Benjamin Sane, sitting in a comfortable chair that did not float, his legs very obviously in place. Opposite him was a green-skinned man, dressed in vibrant clothing, very obviously meant for show. The two were conversing in a language Natasha didn’t understand. “That’s Rernum Kailey,” Juma said, in awe. “The greatest showman on Takanor.” “A very old friend of mine,” the doctor said. “We were speaking of our favorite topic: legends and myths. In this particular segment, we were speaking of the Starbird.” “The what?” Seth asked. “The creature in your files,” Tor said, softly. “Yes. A creature with powers unimaginable and indescribable by mortal means.” “Powers like what?” Seth leaned in, intrigued. Dr. Sane didn’t respond immediately, letting the hologram fill up the silence. “Um, powers *unimaginable* and *indescribable* by mortal means. Get it?” “Oh.” Urbante grinned, shrugged, and sat back. “For forty years, I’ve been collecting information on this great beast. It’s been my lifelong dream to write a book on it. And I’ve amassed quite enough information and theories from all five galaxies in the Union to do it. But I can’t, not without getting closer to it. Actually seeing it. I need to see it.” Faytan picked a piece of food out of his sharp teeth with a claw. “And what if this creature doesn’t exist?” “Oh, it does. I’m sure it does. I’ve seen too many things over the course of my life to not believe.” Faytan snorted. Seth rolled his eyes. Natasha leaned back, arms crossed. Juma said, “What suddenly makes you want to hurry so much? You seemed happy floating in Sessari by yourself. Why do you want to go to Takanor all of a sudden?” “Because I slipped. I screwed up. I broadcasted to two ships. And the odds of two groups of imbeciles straying that close to a space ‘coon infested asteroid field are astronomical. No, there’s only one man who can track me here and that’s Amos Talna.” Fletcher frowned, while the others steamed inwardly at being called imbeciles. “The war hero from Tekus Central?” “Yes, the very same. I met him when I served in the army, as a medic.” “You’re from Tekus Central?” Natasha inquired. “Yes, born and bred. Wasted nearly fifty years there. At any rate, I befriend Mr. Talna while he was just an outcast soldier. Took pity on him, you understand. He has elf ears.” Faytan gave a raspy chuckle. “Elf ears? What, you mean that as a joke right? He’s probably not completely human.” “Both his parents were humans through and through, I read his bio too.” Sane laughed. “I’m a snoop. No, his ears were bestowed upon him by the fates. He saw it as a destiny. A destiny to find the elves, to find everything the elves once wrote about in the Terra files and the lost files.” “A fanatic,” Juma stated. “No…a believer. But a dangerous one and he’ll let nothing stand in his way when on a hunt. He’s looking for the Starbird too, he and a crew full of Union military. He’s going to Takanor too and he’s going to look for this man.” Randy pointed a thin, frail finger at the hologram of Rernum Kailey. “Rernum knows so much about the universe. But he doesn’t give his knowledge freely, and Talna will not take kindly to that. He used to be a good man. Time changed that, now he’s a ticking time bomb.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “I can read people. You must take me to Takanor.” Tor licked his lips in thought. “Maybe, he’s right. I mean, not about the Starbird, but about this guy, Talna. I mean, SEA would understand if we divert in order to save a man’s life, right?” Seth shook his head. “No offense, doctor, but I think this is all just your overactive imagination at work. This guy is a celebrity, and that makes him safer than the Supreme Councilor himself.” Faytan stroked his hairy chin. “I *would* like to check up on the company. That idiot Moriciz is acting shady on the messages he sends.” Faytan Wok was co-owner of Morciz & Wok, the largest ship manufacturing company in the Orton galaxy. He kept up with the business over frequencies aboard the ship and on other planets, but he hadn’t made a stop on Takanor for the better part of a year. Indeed, the reason Wok signed up for the trip was to spread the reach of M&W across several galaxies, something which he hadn’t been able to achieve. As a result, his relationship with Morciz had deteriorated. “I’ll take that as a vote for yes,” Fletcher said. “Seth, do you say no?” “That’s right.” “Commander Kira?” “I think it’d be best if we continued on to Pasmet. For once, Urbante is right. Mr. Kailey probably has many bodyguards, why would he need us?” Tor said, “I think we should go. We owe it to the doctor.” “Two votes yes, and two no,” Fletcher tallied. Juma tapped the side of her red cheek with a fingernail, her face pensive. “I would like to see my parents again. I vote yes.” “I change my vote,” Faytan said, immediately. His wife jabbed him in the stomach. “Ooompf! I retract my change,” he said hoarsely. “As for myself,” Fletcher began. “I’ve been trained to divert course only under extreme circumstances. As captain, I have the authority to ignore your votes altogether, but I’m fond of the democratic process. And so, I vote no, and that brings us to a tie.” “Doesn’t my vote count for anything?” Randy asked. “No,” the crew, the doctor’s supporters included, responded collectively. “What about me?” came the meek voice from above. “What *about* you?” Faytan growled. “Can I vote? Please?” Fletcher’s eyes widened. Obviously, he had forgotten about the LCM. “Um….” He looked at the faces at the table, each showing an opinion. He looked at Tor, who stared back, intently and cleared his throat. “Yes, Luciem. You may vote.” “I vote yes.” “Whoopee!” Randy’s chair rose in the air and came back down again. He grinned like the lunatic that he was. “Wait,” Fletcher said. “This was a vote to bring it to the attention of the SEA. Doesn’t mean we’ll actually be able to go. Whatever director Gorren says, we’ll do. You’re dismissed.” Randy chuckled as the rest of the crew stood. He gripped the high commander’s strong, beefy hand in his own, frail one. “Thanks, Fletch. You’ll convince those goons on your planet, I know you will. You’re a real pal.” And he floated away.
Copyright © 2002 Phil V Infinite |