Dark Vengeance (28 page)

I looked back at space. Somehow the XiTau assassins must have found a way for revenge after all. Defeating even their Gaglion had not been enough. Somewhere the beautiful Electra had lost its first Captain. Crews would be searching. They would never find me. Then, as I stared up at the stars, a thin silver line suddenly appeared. It ran down through the black hole and underneath the ship. Behind and above me it came up from behind making a complete circle around the entire universe. As I watched it brightened and began to widen. Suddenly the universe split into two halves and opened wide like a curtain being drawn.

And there was my stateroom aboard Electra. I was lying in bed staring upward. I jerked myself up, afraid I might lose the vision. Swinging around to sit on the side of the bed, I realized I was again dressed in the gray silk pajamas I had found in a nearby drawer.

It had been a frightening, realistic, lucid dream. A brisk stroll to the kitchen area helped anchor me. I stood at my refrigeration unit and asked for cold water. A small door popped open with a glass of ice and water. I drank on the way back to the bed. The clock read 04:35. As I stared, a communication tone sounded and a display screen rose up out of the night stand. An image of Fantasia appeared on it. She wore a thin veil over her head loosely fastened beneath her chin. She looked alarmed.

“Adrian, I’m so sorry! Are you all right!?”

“What? Where are you?”

“I’m at home. It was my nightmare. I pulled you into it by accident. It can happen sometimes between us. I’m so sorry.”

“You were there?”

“I saw the same things you did. It’s a recurring nightmare I sometimes have. It’s about the man who created me. It’s a long story. You’re sure you’re all right?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry. Are you okay?”

“I’m used to it. But it can be so real it might frighten someone else to death. I’ll have to be more careful.”

“How are things going for you down there? What time is it on Enuro?”

“It’s midnight here. I had just fallen asleep. I’m doing fine. It will be at least two more weeks before I can get away. Is your ship on schedule?”

“Yes. Two more days of training and preparations, then we’ll be going to light.”

“Has there been anymore information on what you’ll be doing when you get back?”

“Nothing we can talk about.”

“I’d like to get up to the ship to see you before you go but it doesn’t look like that will be possible.”

“We’ll stay close just the same.”

“I’d better go. It will be up at sunrise for me tomorrow and a busy day. I love you.”

“Same to you, doll.”

The screen went dark.

There was no regaining sleep. I made a few tosses and turns, got comfortable, then stared at the ceiling trying to get the nightmare out of my mind. At the same time, I found myself trying to analyze it. There was a good chance Fantasia’s creator had not been a very nice man.

When the clock came around to 07:00, it was time to give up. Pama would be whipping her crop early. I headed for the shower and spent more time there than any starship crew member should. Strolling out, naked and working a towel, I balked at the sight of Pama, waiting in the living area with a breakfast cart, staring at me. There was a quick side step and rapid unfurling of the towel and I heard her laugh long and loud for the first time. Apparently the security door for Captain’s quarters was no match for Pama.

But it was to be a much better day than expected. Instead of grueling flowcharts, procedures, and system limitations, today was a day of real life tours. Pama called it ‘resolve day.’ I began meeting key crew personnel; more names than I had any hope of remembering. Name tags were made for people like me.

Pama knew I was anxious to see engineering so she put it off until last. She led me to Human Resources, a stop I considered tedious until the manager showed me the open positions that had to be approved by executive officer or higher. Most of the bridge positions were waiting for names to be filled in. It reminded me that when it came time to yell “lock weapons and fire!” it would be nice to know whose finger was on the trigger. I promised HR in great earnestness to do a serious study of personnel profiles in my quarters and as we left, a rush of fear surged up from the realization of just how much clerical work usually burdens the position of Captain.

Having been duly humbled by Human Resources, I sought redemption by suggesting we visit Custodial, but Pama assured me there would be no one in the office. They were all trying to keep up with the mess from ongoing work.

Nothing about Electra was as it was when had lived aboard her last. During that bad dream tour our problems had begun with a crash of the navigation computer, but now, the new navigation area looked like something from another planet, which in a sense it was. Transparent three-dimensional screens hanging from the ceiling at various points around the room made it look like clouds of stars were actually in the air around us. Even larger screens filled the walls of the oval operations area. Much of the work was being done by personnel with tablets. And, the main operations room was not all there was to see. A new adjoining lab dedicated to stellar cartography was equally astounding.

We pushed on through the weapons control area. It was almost frightening. Electra’s new weapons were beyond anything Earth had previously possessed. I had trouble with the idea that Electra’s primary pulse weapon could be set to stun from orbit, or blast a crater the size of a city block. When a Captain ordered a pulse weapon setting, he needed to know exactly what he was asking for.

Onward to the new sickbay, life support, and too many research labs to list.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                                                 Pama was beginning to wear me down, and she knew it. Finally we walked into main engineering and the feeling of energy in the room was so strong it brought me back to life. One big round control room, with four very large alcoves each containing the massive vertical windowed tube of an antimatter reactor that was dedicated to one of the new Electra light speed stellar drive engines. The place was busy with technicians and engineers. The atmosphere was one of stress and anticipation. I was able to speak to a few of them briefly. They were a bit behind schedule but optimistic for an on-time departure. They were more concerned about tomorrow’s dress rehearsal drills and the time that would be used up by those. I became the doting mother, reassuring them they would get the time they needed. For some curious reason, it brought a wide smile from little Pama.

It was an impressive day with too many astonishing sights to consider. When Pama finally released me at the door to my quarters, I accepted the stack of tablets from her, nodded appreciatively, and escaped inside. I flopped down on the living room couch, accidentally bumping one of the tablets so that the bridge personnel assignment sheet came to life and glared at me, although that worried me far less than making sure I did not look like an idiot during the procedural rehearsals we would perform tomorrow on the bridge.

As I sat pondering my part in the show, Central Computer called to me.

“Captain, there is a message for you from Global Space, if you are ready to receive.”

“Go ahead.”

A main screen on the wall flashed to life. An image of a high-level agency executive by the name of Walter Provose appeared. His graying-brown hair still stuck out on one side and his expression seemed much more solemn than the last time I had spoken with him. There was still that special twinkle of intelligence in the man’s deep brown eyes. I knew him from an onscreen meeting long ago when we were requesting permission to investigate a Japanese research vessel that had appeared to be in distress. But something was different this time. Provose was now in an admiral’s uniform. As I wrinkled my brow in wonder, his message began.

“Captain Tarn, nice to be in contact with you once again. As you can see, both our positions have changed, somewhat unexpectedly. Like you, I’ve been recalled to active duty. Let me begin by saying we’re all very glad on this end that you’ve taken command of Electra on time and are apparently no worse for the wear after the unexpected difficulties on Star Seven. Central Intelligence is working with Enuro security leadership and looking into that matter quite thoroughly as you might expect, but the important thing is, so far we do not see any compromises related to our near future planning.”

“We are presently establishing a new set of hidden subspace relay stations to the Enuro area so our communication capability will be much faster very soon. In the meantime use this channel to reach me when necessary.”

“We know you have many questions, Captain. Please be assured they will all be answered upon your return to Earth. We do not anticipate any hostile or subversive action against you between now and then. We’ve transmitted a flight plan for your return to Earth. It’s attached to this message and has been sent to the folks in navigation, also. It will drop you out of light 4 hours from Earth orbit. You’ll be met by several ships which will act as escorts. Orbital Traffic Control will give you a unique corridor where reception arrangements will be waiting to commemorate the return of Electra. There’ll be quite a bit of video coverage, not your favorite thing I know, Adrian, but it’s for the pride of Earth’s people so I’m sure you’ll be on your best behavior. If you require any changes to the plan please let us know while you are en route and we’ll try to help.”

“Our reports indicate your skeleton crew is working out well, so far. Also attached to this message are the additional crew assignments scheduled to board when you arrive on Earth orbit. That will complete your complement for three shifts. All of these people will have already been simulator trained and should know their jobs well. They are also aware of the seriousness of the upcoming first mission. I expect you may have some additions you would like to make and possible even some vetoes. Let me know when you get time.”

“That’s it for now, Adrian. I know it’s been a rocky ride. Should be a much smoother trip coming back. At your discretion, please have Commander Smith review this transmission and also express our deepest appreciation to him for his brilliant analysis of the crisis on Star Seven. We will be contacting him directly about that affair later but are keeping the number of these secure communications to a minimum at this time. Provose out.”

The screen went briefly to the Global Initiative symbol, went dark, then became the wall once more. I sat back, breathed a long sigh of relief, and wondered again what I had gotten myself into. It occurred to me that Pama had not allowed us lunch. I was starved. I looked at the kitchen but did not feel like cooking.

“Central, can I have dinner delivered to my quarters?”