Ancient Birthright (3 page)

“Navigator, do you have your course plotted?” Command Prime Garuu asked as he wiped tears from his eyes and straightened his position on the command couch. His color had returned to the normal blended greens and blues of a concentrating luzzon male.

“Yes, sir. Course plotted and entered,” she replied with a bubble of laughter. Her main VH screen filled much of the left wall of the bridge with star charts and course lines. A flashing circle around a tiny point of light indicated their home planet, Treterra. The chronometer in the lower left corner of the display ticked down: One-hundred demibeats to the truebeat and 2000 truebeats to the home-planet revolution, 300 home-planet revolutions to the star cycle, eight full home-planet star cycles to reach Treterra.

“Very well, Helmsman, correct the ship’s attitude to the displayed angles. When your datum aligns, engage main engines. Set power to build to one hundred percent for the initial thrust, and then reduce to best fuel consumption settings when the course is stabilized.”

“Commencing ship alignment, engines will engage in forty-two point two demibeats,” the helmsman responded as his fingers danced over the pads on his sculpted control console. The main VH display in front of the command prime’s couch showed the star field’s slow rotation as the spaceship slowly maneuvered under the helmsman’s control.

Just under a truebeat later, Saigg felt the slight push of the main engines. He knew that, with the enormous mass of a colony ship, it was impossible to build engines large enough to build up speed quickly. The first leg of the trip had taken 126.8 home-planet star cycles in real time. However, they traversed that portion of the journey as data riding on photons traveling at light speed. To the perception of those on the ship, it had only taken an instant. It would take them almost eight planet star cycles of real time to make the remainder of the trip to Treterra.

Eight-star cycles to hang with my friends and enjoy freedom from responsibilities. Eight-star cycles to impress the perfect female as a mate, Saigg thought.

“Passenger Saigg Garuu, report to Command Prime,” ordered Ops Prime Caraa Garuu when she saw him. The deep purple-red of anger replaced the green and yellow shades of laughter on her face.

Saigg stepped in front of the command prime’s couch and noticed his father’s eyes widened at his appearance. His yellow shirt-vest with torn sleeve and one soft boot hanging open, because of the missing lace, was not the normal attire for a visit to the bridge. Saigg’s face faded to the mottled pinks of embarrassment.

“Passenger Saigg Garuu reporting as requested.”

Command Prime straightened on his couch. “Passenger Saigg Garuu, you are charged with willful failure to answer an ‘all-souls roll-call’ and failure to maintain an orderly and safe living environment per ship’s orders. Do you wish to present information you feel will mitigate these charges? I urge you to think very carefully before answering that question. Your punishment hinges on the answer you give.”

Petuua snot! It wasn’t my fault, he thought. But, if I say that, he’ll throw the book at me.

Saigg
rocked from foot to foot as he tried to come up with an answer to placate his father.

Avoiding his mother’s demands to keep his room clean, and get rid of the uneaten food had become a test, a way to demonstrate to his friends that he was an adult, a leader, and he didn’t have to follow her instructions.

Time to do the ‘I’m-sorry-it-won’t-happen-again’ routine.

“Sorry sir, I literally got tied up and couldn’t answer the all-souls-roll-call. It won’t happen again, sir.” The pink coloration of embarrassment faded to the blue-gray of insincerity.

“Yes...I saw how tied up you were. Your ‘tied up’ condition seemed to be a direct result of charge number two. Don’t you agree?” Prime Garuu said, leaning forward to confront his son.

Just shut up and say, “Yes, sir.”
Anything else and he’s going to unload.

“Yes, sir.”

“Due to the seriousness of the charges, I feel a punishment commensurate with the infraction is in order. You will report to waste-recycling Department Lead, Vadd Remoo, at the beginning of each daylight cycle for the next three, thirty-cycles. You will complete all duties assigned without complaint and to the best of your abilities. Department Lead Vadd Remoo will be at your cabin tomorrow at cycle change to inspect your cabin to ensure it meets ship’s standards. Do you have any questions?”

“Can I still see my friends when Department Lead Remoo releases me?”

Command Prime Garuu just stared at him in answer. “Have you met Department Lead Remoo?”

“No, sir,” Saigg said with a sinking feeling.

“Department Lead Remoo, please step forward.”

Remoo stepped up beside him and snapped to attention. Saigg took a step sideways to put a little space between them. DL Remoo was the most squared-away soul he had ever seen. His color even matched the starched olive-green sash and razor-crease pressed uniform equipment-pouch shorts he had on.

“What motto do you have on your crew’s work uniforms, DL Remoo?”

“Recycling, the life of the ship, sir,” DL Remoo said as he pushed out the sash so Saigg could see the embossed motto.

“Passenger Saigg Garuu, embrace that motto and learn its true meaning. DL Remoo, passenger Saigg is yours at the start of daylight cycle tomorrow and for the next three thirty-cycles. Inspect his living quarters to ensure compliance with ship’s standards. Deal with infractions as you see fit.”

“Yes, sir,” Remoo answered with a grin as his coloration transitioned to the deep blue green of anticipation.

“Passenger Saigg Garuu, you will, of course, continue to attend all classes and required staff meetings. When not in class, you will check with DL Remoo to see if he has additional duties for you.”

“But, sir…” Saigg stopped when he saw a deep purple-red hue color the frown on his father’s face. “Yes, sir, I understand.”

“Passenger Garuu you are dismissed from the bridge. I expect to see you at the bridge crew staff meeting in one hundred-truebeats.” Command Prime Garuu flicked his right hand and snapped of his tail at the exit.

Not another staff meeting, he thought to himself. I’ve had to attend these things since we left Danuaa 3, and I’m sick of it. When’s he going to realize I don’t want to be Command Prime of a spaceship?

Saigg stumbled from the bridge, his thoughts swirling, trying to grasp what had just happened to his life.

#

Saigg returned for the staff meeting. He’d found a clean shirt without a tear and replaced the cut lace in his boot. He walked in and took a seat along the wall directly behind his father’s couch as he’d done so many times before.

“Command Prime, I have the dropout report from the survey in fuel stores.” Caraa handed her husband a reportpad she’d just finished reading as a deep blue-black color spread across her face.

His eyes widened at getting the report this soon and from the color of concern displayed by his mate. After reading for several truebeats, his face also shifted color. He handed the report pad to Saigg. Saigg began to read it as Command Prime Garuu continued the meeting.

Command Prime glanced around the table making eye contact with each individual. “The report, that Ops Prime handed me, has significant consequences for every crewmember and passenger on this ship. We have suffered a seventeen percent dropout in the aluminum catalyst reserves. That means, unless we find more aluminum on our inbound track to our planet, we will be unable to establish orbit when we reach home.

“Engineering Division Lead Daroo, you will form a team to study the problem and present recommendations at the next scheduled staff meeting.”

“Immediately,” Daroo answered.

“You all know what this means. If we don’t find a way to replace the missing catalyst we’ll continue on our current course until all ships supplies are expended. The colony on Danuaa 3 and the souls on the
Universe Explorer
will all perish because we cannot complete our mission.”

#

The morning after Saigg’s sentencing, Department Leader Remoo walked into his room right at cycle change.

Saigg straightened to attention, a smug smile quivering on his lips. He had spent three truebeats last night cleaning. Everything looked good. Remoo couldn’t have any complaints.

“Passenger Garuu, I see you have engaged a personal assistant to make your bed, and that soul is late this morning. Is that the case?”

“Ah...No, I generally don’t make my bed. I just pull up the covers when I climb in.”

“I assume you are intelligent enough to figure out how to make a bed?”

“I can make it. I just don’t want, too.”

“Ship’s policy states that, ‘Quarters will be maintained in a clean and orderly state to eliminate the potential for vermin infestation or disease.’ Since you are ignoring ship’s policy and endangering every soul on board, it is my duty to bring this infraction to Command Prime, so that more drastic action can be taken.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll make the stupid bed,” Saigg said as he yanked the blankets and sheets into place.

Remoo waited until he’d finished before stripping it again. “Now make it properly with
clean
bedding. If you need instructions on how to properly make a bed, I will be happy to demonstrate.”

Saigg grabbed the soiled bedding and left the room to find clean sheets and blankets. When he’d returned and started to make the bed, Remoo began pulling open the built-in drawers and closet doors. Saigg soon found out his idea of clean did not come from the same galaxy as that of DL Remoo.

Remoo was making gagging noises as he opened drawers and slammed them shut again when the smell from the contents reached his nose.

Why’s he so upset? They’re my clothes. Who cares if I store them in a wad rather than folded, and who cares if I’ve spilled a little food on them. They’re not “really” dirty.

Maybe the skinks scrambling out of the drawers when he opened them scared him a little. He’s a big boy. He needs to get over it.

Remoo turned and just stared at Saigg.

Saigg surrendered, walked to the drawers, and began pulling out clothes so he could put them into piles for cleaning.

I might as well wash everything. He’s not going to be satisfied until I do.

Chapter-4

Socorro, New Mexico: Transjump plus 0 years, 7 days:

“Beldon, wait up—Bel!” Terrie’s voice rose in pitch and volume as she ran to catch her older brother.

“Sure, with the day I’ve had. I’m going to wait for you and let Billy catch me. Thank you, Lord, for making this the last day of school here in wonderful Podunk, New Mexico,” Bel mumbled as he leaned further into his backpack straps and kicked his speed up a notch.

His younger sister continued to call after him as she trotted faster to catch him. He only had to make it one more block, and he was outside of Billy’s normal hunting grounds. Avoiding the class Neanderthal had become a daily occurrence. William Thadford Breathsword III, aka Billy, had been bullying him since they were twelve. What a perfect name. The idiot son of a U.S. Senator and the richest man in town was a budding strong-arm extortionist and delighted in making anyone younger or smaller his victims.

Beldon turned around and walked backward as he called to his sister. “Terrie, will you shut up? If Billy is around and hears you calling me, I’m in big trouble.” Beldon spun around and drew a bead on the street corner. He put on a burst of speed, twenty feet to safety—and the world ended. Billy appeared on the corner waiting for him, smacking one clenched fist into his open palm. They were in the same grade, but Billy outweighed him by sixty pounds and had at least two inches in height on him. He’d managed to avoid the thug all week until today.

Oh shit, Oh crap, how am I going to get out of this? If I can just get past him, maybe I can make it home before he catches me, or maybe I can bluff.

“There you are Billy. I’ve been looking for you all week to give you that homework you wanted. Where’ve you been hiding?” asked Beldon as he tried to step away from Billy’s ham-fisted lunge.

Billy grabbed Beldon by the front of his shirt and shoved him into the hedge growing along the sidewalk as he used his other hand to rip the pack from Beldon’s shoulders.

“Stuff it, Dumbass. I know you’ve been hiding from me. If I don’t get that homework turned in by three, I’m going to be in summer school, and it’ll be
your
fault.”

“How many times do I have to tell you, my name is Dumas, Beldon Thomas Dumas?”

“That’s what I said Bel-don Tom-ass Dumb-ass. Now where’s my homework?”

Beldon could feel trickles of blood running down his back from where the hedge branches ripped his skin.

“I left it with, Mrs. Thornbloom. I told her it was for you, and that you insisted I get it to her before the end of the day. I was very polite and told her I’d been especially neat and careful when I did it so you’d get a good grade. All you have to do is stop in her room and sign your name at the top of each page.”

Billy looked at him for a minute. “You know, Dumbass...you’re not so bad. I thought you were trying to stiff me on our deal. I’ll swing by the school and sign the homework on my way to meet my dad at the country club. Maybe we can do business next week, too.” He released his hold on Beldon after one last shove. Billy unzipped the backpack and dumped the contents on the sidewalk. He kicked at the pile of books that spilled to the ground. He giggled to himself as he managed to rip the cover off one of the books before heading down the street toward Terrie and the school.

Beldon stumbled as he pushed out of the hedge keeping a wary eye on Billy.
He’s dumber than a dead stump and meaner than a junkyard dog. I’m sure he’ll go a long way in politics just like his daddy. I better call the President tonight and let him know I found his next Secretary of State. I’ll bet he doesn’t even know this was the last day of school.

He skipped so often, that it’s a miracle he’s still enrolled. I wished I could see his face when he finds out I didn’t do his stupid homework.