Ancient Birthright (33 page)

“Push the left actiplate.”

Beldon complied and slightly cooler fresh water sprayed forth, rinsing the soap onto the floor.

There is no drain in here. The water is absorbed directly through the textured floor.

“What does the right actiplate do?” Beldon asked.

“Press it and see.”

The water stopped, and warm air engulfed them. Dantee climbed to Cindy’s shoulder and spun in circles holding her arms out so the air could dry her entire body. “Towels for hair are inside the panel over the hand pool.”

Beldon looked beyond the shower stall and noticed a wall-mounted sink or hand pool as Dantee called it. About three feet from the opposite wall was a pedestal with an oval bowl attached to the top. Its rim was approximately eighteen inches above the floor. It held no water but when Beldon leaned over to look inside water began flowing from under the rim and down through a hole in the center. He looked to Dantee for confirmation of his guess at its use.

“Body droppings go here.” Dantee reached up and pulled a handful of fibers from the wall next to the toilet and dropped them into the running water.

Beldon pulled off some of the fibrous matting growing on the wall. It looked like coconut husks, “It has the texture of cotton and the feel of soft doe-skin leather.” He handed his sample to Cindy while he tried to locate the storage niche holding the towels. He had to press several places above the sink before he located a slightly darker spot in the wall that activated a sliding panel that moved up revealing a stack of woven towels in a neutral brown gray tone. Beldon pulled the top one from the stack and handed it to Cindy. She used it on her hair, which had grown to the middle of her back since leaving Earth.

“Where are the robes stored?” Cindy asked Dantee.

“In the bedroom.” She pointed to the closed hatch across from the refresh unit. “You don’t need them unless you would feel better covered.”

Beldon watched Cindy cross the cabin and search for the actiplate that retracted the hatch. Before she found it, the main cabin entrance slid open, and a female luzzon walked in carrying a large case. The case had a graphic embossed into its surface. The symbol was of a tree branch with berries hanging in a cluster beneath the leaves.

Cindy looked to Beldon, as if she wanted to bolt and find a hiding place.

“She’s a doctor. She came to make sure we’re all okay and don’t have stinky bugs that make others sick,” Dantee explained.

“Dantee, you want to get your exam first?” asked the doctor.

“Cindy, Beldon, this is Doctor Marra Feuua, my geemama.” Dantee emitted a loud happy squeal as she took off in long jumping strides in the low gravity. She stopped short when Doctor Feuua held up a hand.

“I need to do an exam first. Then, if everything is okay, we can say hello.”

Cindy slipped back across the cabin to hide behind Beldon while they watched the process of a luzzon medical exam. Dantee freely submitted to having multiple small instruments attached to her body in various locations. Nothing seemed to involve the use of needles or the removal of blood or other bodily fluids. The exam finished with a close inspection of every square inch of the patient’s body.

Doctor Feuua studied the instrument screens, recorded the results and dictated her observations in a handheld recorder before she turned to Dantee and held out her arms. The two nuzzled and nibbled in ways that Beldon had learned were a show of luzzon affection.

The doctor asked, “Who wants to be next?”

Beldon looked at Cindy and saw her cringe as she slipped back into the bathroom.

“Looks like I’m your next patient,” answered Beldon stepping forward, totally naked.

I’m going to have to get used to the notion of clothes being optional. I just hope Cindy can handle the idea.

Beldon submitted to the exam.

That was the easiest full medical exam I’ve ever had. Several patches on my arms itch a little, almost as if a scratchy wool sweater irritated them. Other than that, I didn’t feel anything.

“Are these scars from an accident or are they ritualistic?” asked Doctor Feuua.

How do I answer that question? I don’t dare tell her some of my species think it’s acceptable to inflict injury on others as long as they are bigger, stronger or have the power of numbers.

“They’re from an incident that Cindy and I were involved with. Ritualistic scarring is not normal for our culture.”

“In general, you’re in good shape, other than residual long-term healing from a head injury, loss of muscle mass and some reduction in bone density. I want you to eat at least one white cake a day. They’re high in calcium and the nutrients your body needs to rebuild strength.”

“Thank you, doctor. I hope we don’t pose a threat to your ship and crew.”

“I haven’t found anything our normal immune systems can’t handle. You all have hair parasites, but the regular use of a refresh unit will take care of them.”

“I’ll get Cindy,” Dantee said.

Cindy slowly shuffled out of the bathroom holding Dantee in her arms.

Dantee was pressed against her chest and whispering in her ear. Beldon moved aside as Dantee got Cindy to yield to her grandmother’s examination.

“The process is painless, honey. She won’t hurt you,” Beldon told Cindy.

“I know it in my head, but subconsciously the months I spent in the hospital are still having an effect on me.”

“I’ll complete my examination as quickly as I can,” Doctor Feuua said.

Cindy seemed to relax as the probing ended.

“Your physical condition is similar to Beldon’s with muscle and bone loss due to months in a weightless environment. You are approximately three and a half months pregnant and as far as I can tell the baby is developing normally. I will need to take several more readings from the other females to confirm that the changes in your body are pregnancy related. We have two other mammalian species on the
Universe Explorer
, so some of my observations use them as a baseline,” Doctor Feuua said.

“We’re going to have a baby,” Beldon exclaimed as his face broke into a grin. He grabbed Cindy and twirled her around, forgetting about the low gravity. “We’re having a baby!” They’d completed four revolutions before touching down on the floor again.

“Your hormonal readings are in line with a pregnancy two months further along than those of Doctor Jollye.”

“My God, Becca’s pregnant, too. Does Striker know?”

Chapter-38

“NORAD you’re linked to the NRAO array. We’re sending you the current coordinates and track of the alien craft,” Wilkins said over his headset.

Duane watched from his desk as Wilkins winked at him and pumped his fist in the air. “Hey Dumas, the President just authorized the launch of the two modified ICBM’s to intercept the aliens ship. We’ll see how your buddies out there deal with some good old American hardware.”

Duane ignored Wilkins and logged into the computer on his desk. He clicked an icon that launched a small program, and then erased itself and all traces of the original program.

“There is something you haven’t realized, Wilkins,” Duane paused to get Wilkins undivided attention. “You know too much to remain healthy. When this is done, you’ll be as much of a threat to the President and his supporters as the rest of us. Hooker and his crew will be paying you and your family a visit along with everyone else. I just hope they save you for last, so you get to watch as they put a bullet in your wife and son’s brains.” With that parting shot, Duane stood and walked out of the NRAO maintenance office. An Air Force airman first class fell into step beside him and escorted him to the Dumas family quarters on the fifth floor of the admin building. Both men entered the apartment.

Duane joined Linda in the living room while Airman Jimmy Clark walked over and entered the bathroom, the only room in the two bedroom apartment that didn’t have video and audio surveillance. Beldon’s eighteen-year-old sister, Terrie, slipped into the bathroom and joined him.

Duane picked up the TV remote, turned up the volume to an uncomfortable level, and then whispered to Linda, “The President ordered the ICBM’s launched to intercept the
Universe Explorer
. We need to initiate our escape plan. Hooker and crew could be coming for us any time now. I’ll get word to General Norwell to let him know we’re leaving.”

“Is Jimmy coming with us?” Linda asked.

“I don’t think we can pry Terrie out of his arms. He’d give up his life to protect her. Since Jimmy and Terrie met, I expected to hear wedding bells or the announcement of a grandchild on the way.”

“Admit it, you like Airman Clark. He’s polite, and he treats Terrie like a lady,” Linda said.

“Yeah, I like him. He’d make a damn fine son-in-law and take care of our baby girl.”

“Do you think we’ll get help from any of the others stationed here at NRAO?”

“I don’t think so. Anyone who helps us will end up on Hookers hit list. I need to get a final message to the
Universe Explorer
to let them know about the missiles coming their way. Do you think I should tell Beldon and Cindy we need to disappear?” Duane asked her.

“The warning will be enough of an explanation. The kids will understand the implication of the President’s actions. We’re the only real threat to the President’s criminal activities. If the
Universe Explorer
disappears, he’ll need to make sure no one is left that can testify against him and his friend’s illegal actions. Why don’t you send your message while Terrie and I quietly get a few things together and warn Cindy’s family we need to leave.”

#

An hour and a half later, three Air Force SUV’s with darkly tinted windows rolled through the front gates and disappeared toward Socorro. Five minutes after that, the video surveillance system in the administration building, and the external cameras at all intersections and gates stopped recording. A technician discovered a tripped circuit breaker that supplied power to the recording equipment during a routine check later that day.

Agent Hooker and his team arrived the next day and demanded that all “guests” be turned over to them. An Air Force security detail accompanied the DHS team to the administration building, and discovered the empty apartments. Hookers review of the security recordings showed the three vehicles leaving about the time the families disappeared.

Hooker called in all available DHS agents and blanketed the area around Socorro and southern New Mexico looking for traces of the three vehicles. Reports of individual vehicles matching the description flooded in and suggested the fleeing families had split up and were heading in different directions.

The last person to admit having contact with any member of the missing families was Larry Wilkins. Hooker ordered a violently protesting Larry Wilkins removed from NRAO in handcuffs. The following day anonymously delivered copies of site security surveillance camera footage of Mr. Wilkins removal by DHS agents appeared at the offices of local law enforcement, the FBI, and at DHS HQ. The footage was also posted on an Internet video site with links to the blogs of several well-known astronomy magazines.

Two FBI Special Agents sent to check on Larry Wilkins whereabouts found the front door of the family home standing open. The home was empty, and thoroughly ransacked. Mrs. Wilkins, Danny Wilkins and the family housekeeper had disappeared along with Larry. Neighbors reported seeing four black government vehicles parked at the residence about the time the family disappeared.

Chapter-39

Universe Explorer
: Transjump plus 6 years, 270 days:

Beldon followed Saigg through the hatch and entered the bridge of the
Universe Explorer
. Command Prime Garuu occupied the command couch while four others worked the various stations.

“Beldon, Saigg, welcome to the bridge,” Command Prime Garuu said as he stood and waved the two over to him. “Beldon, this is your first visit. Let me give you a quick overview of the bridge. This is navigation or astrogation as your science fiction likes to call it.” He indicated the designated position with a sweeping gesture. “Lead Navigator Bintz is handling navigation and tracking duties this shift.”

Beldon waved back when the three-foot tall male Casroo nodded at him before turning back to his displays and controls. Beldon watched the nimble four-fingered hands of Navigator Bintz fly over the input pads when he called up additional information, and added plot lines to the main bridge display.

The Casroo were a mottled green. They walked upright on long powerful legs that ended with three claw tipped toes on the front of the foot, and a single appendage to the rear much like a chicken foot. Their general body design reminded him of a miniature velociraptor as popularized on the
Jurassic Park
movies. The members of the Casroo species he’d met since his arrival had impressed him with their curiosity and knowledge about anything mechanical or manufactured. Saigg told him that the Casroo were the first species on Earth to develop the use of tools and a written language.

“Department Leader Remoo has recycling systems duty.” Command Prime indicated the appropriate station. “Saigg can explain the intricate details of waste-recy if you’re interested. He received intensive training on the system a few years ago,” Command Prime Garuu explained with a chuckle.

Beldon turned to Saigg for enlightenment. “I’ll tell you about it later. It was the ultimate humiliation of my misspent youth,” Saigg whispered to Beldon as he worked to get the blotchy pink stain of embarrassment to leave his face.