Quest for the Conestoga (Colony Ship Conestoga Book 1) (12 page)

“We would not want that kind of talk.  We just cannot have people saying I was playing with Willie’s blaster,” Cammarry said.  “So now we go to medical.  Thanks Willie.”

“Yes, scurry over to medical and get the rest of the things you need.  There is not much time, and I am counting on you two to find me a new home.”  Willie gestured with his one arm as the left.

As they walked past the everyday places of Dome 17, Jerome was tempted to yell out to the general population and explain that they had only one-hundred and twenty days left, but he was torn.  Certainly, the Committee objected to the news being made public, and Jerome was not one to be a slave to convention, yet to incite panic and fear was something he just could not do.  For a moment, he empathized with the dilemma the Committee Members faced.  If one of the missions worked, then the people would be saved, if all the missions failed, there was no hope, so why terrify the people now? 

“Nothing in life is to be feared.  It is only to be understood,” Jerome said.  “I read that from some ancient world scientist.”

“Well, I understand more about the mission now after speaking to Willie.  We have supplies, and now we need what medical can give us,” Cammarry replied.  “At least your idiom this time did not involve some animal.”

“Oh I have one.  Obstacles and fear are like wild animals.  They are cowards but they will bluff you into terror if they can.”

“You should have asked John about that one,” Cammarry grinned as they walked along.  “I wonder if there will be wild animals.”

They turned a corner and entered the medical unit. 

“Doctor Carolyn? We are to report to you,” Cammarry said as they walked in. 

Doctor Carolyn, who was five years older than Jerome and Cammarry, being that her age group was the one just before theirs, stood near the desk.  Her shoulder length blond hair and blue eyes were not the most common coloring in the dome, as most people were darker skin toned, and had brown hair.  Of her age-mates, only three had blonde hair.   She turned to them as they entered. 

“Excellent.  You see Daniel, the next team did make it here.  Now I will administer what they need, but please review what I am doing so the subsequent teams can get the same treatments and supplies.  That patient simply insists that I come to the senior unit immediately, the nurses have summoned me twice in the last few minutes, and I am afraid she will not comply unless I do.  These new mission teams can easily be equipped by you for their quests.”  Doctor Carolyn was very stressed and hurried. 

“Why so rushed?”  Cammarry asked.  “You must understand the gravity of this situation.”

“Indeed I do.  However, I also know Agnes, and she is likely to rip apart the bone stimulator as well as the entire senior unit if I fail to give her my bedside presence.  She may scare poor old Aiden to death, and at one-hundred-fourteen years old, I do not want to have him pass in that manner.  This will only take a moment.”

Dr. Carolyn handed them each a glass of liquid and a purplish gel capsule.  “Take this and drink the entire glassful.  It is a broad pathogen prophylactic which will prepare you for….  Your mission.” 

Both Jerome and Cammarry took the capsule and drank.  They had missed the fact that Doctor Carolyn had looked away as she explained what they were consuming.

“These two medical kits are yours as well.  One for each of you. Inside are diagnostics and treatments for all the old diseases in the archives.”

She quickly handed them the small rectangular boxes.  Each was about two fingers thick and roughly hand size. Inside were numerous blue packets, and wires and probes. There were dispensing ports on the sides and bottom.  “As I said, these kits are designed to cure any diseases in our database.  Even the ones from hundreds of years ago before the Great Event. Just attach these probes here,” She pulled a small wire from the end.  “Place them near the injured area interfacing with the flesh and the med kit will run a diagnostic.  It will then customize treatments for that condition, be it illness or injury.  Sometimes an injection, gel, or oral medication will be dispensed here.  Additionally, multipurpose medical gel packets are stored here.  Those can be used in emergencies or if the medical kit is lost.  But do not lose it.  Where you are going….”  Doctor Carolyn stopped and looked at Daniel.  Then in a more authoritative voice she said, “Daniel, those are the basics for these missions.  I really must leave now.”

She looked distressed and worried for a moment, but then just turned and walked toward the door of the medical unit.  There she stopped, and looked back.  “I wish you every possible luck.”

The nurse Daniel looked long at the door after it closed.  Then he spoke.  “Please forgive her abruptness.  She is very close to Agnes, and Doctor Carolyn also had to do the post mortems on LeeAnn, Roy, Dave, and Constance.  So many suicides all in one day. I know I am worried that when Vihaan and Estrella make it back there will be more problems, not that Doctor Larsen would even care about that, but Doctor Carolyn certainly does.  With all that is happening anyone could get short and irritated.”

The mention of the adventurers who had died reminded both Jerome and Cammarry of the utter seriousness of the quest for the Conestoga.  It showed on their faces. 

Daniel saw that and smoothly segued into a more supportive style of communication. “Well, for what it is worth from me, I am glad you are going to explore some place as a team.  Another dome location again?”

“We are always a team,” Cammarry replied with a forced smile, but she held back from telling him more.  

“A monkey never watches his own tail; he watches his neighbor’s,” Jerome quipped.  When neither Daniel nor Cammarry seemed to know what he meant he added, “Two in distress makes sorrow less.” 

“Right,” Daniel replied.  “So is there anything else I can do for you?”

“Thank you Daniel, but I think we have everything and we are on a tight schedule,” Jerome said.

Cammarry and Jerome left medical. After they departed, Daniel pondered long and hard all that he had seen and heard.  He thought about it all the while he was setting up the next set of treatments and supplies.  “A total of seven sets adventurer couples.  Missions going out in team of two each.  It used to be three to a team, then singles, and now pairs. I wonder what is really happening and where they actually are going?” 

The sling bay was on the opposite side of the dome, and down several levels.  Cammarry and Jerome walked along the elevated pathway which followed the perimeter of the dome.  The old monorail which would have taken people to the upper levels of the dome was parked on its unneeded track system.  Had Dome 17 had its full population of 10,000 people that system would have been needed and used, but as it was with less than 1,500 people now occupying the dome, it had never been put into service.

As they passed the occasional clear permalloy viewing port, they could see the tan wasteland which was just outside.  The dust, dirt, and winds were unchanged and continuously swirled around in their tan tinted dances of death.  Jerome knew from the old records he had read that the Dome 17 location had once been a beautiful nature preserve, but now it was just tan and lifeless. 

Reaching the far side, they went down several flights of stairs to reach the sling bay.  The final hallway which led to an auxiliary egress point for the sling bay.  Its walls were blue in color with elongated tubes which provided bright overhead lighting.  The rounded hatch at the end of the hallway opened to the sling bay. 

“Cammarry?  Are you certain this is what you want to do?”  Jerome asked.  “I will support you in whatever decision you make.”

“It is hard.  I openly confess that.  We will never see most of the other adventurers again, even when we succeed.  But what is a dozen people compared to the whole population of Dome 17?  We must take this chance and go on this quest.”

“I agree.  It is essential.  The hard times do not make heroes,” Jerome answered.  “We are in this together.  Jerome and Cammarry, heroes into the unknown.”

“So poetic.  The only heroes will be those who succeed in making the teleportation contact back to here,” Cammarry said. “Just one team will succeed.”

Jerome pulled her close and held her under the bluish light in front of the door to the sling bay.  “You will always be my hero.”

Jerome activated the door which swung open.  “After you my dear hero.”

They passed through a small doorway which opened into the large sling launch bay. The tan coloration even in the sling bay was ubiquitous.  The place was abuzz with various activities.  Technological equipment and engineering devices were everywhere.  The team of technicians working for Chief Engineer Brink was resetting the launch.  There were smiles on many faces and comments were passed around about the success of the first launch.  A technician came up to them and took the medical kits to add to the other supplies, backpacks, pistols and everything else which was being methodically loaded into the faster-than-light scout ship. 

Brink was in the sling bay preparing the ship for departure.  “Good, you already have the flight suits on,” he called down.  “That will save a bit of time.  I must thank Willie for that.”

The FTL ship carried two people, only barely, and the quarters were tight.  The ship was roughly cone shaped.  Jerome immediately thought of a bullet, perhaps from all the reading he did of old books, but also perhaps because of Willie mentioning old-style weapons.  The cabin’s two seats were visible under the nosecone of clear permalloy.  That section covered about a third of the front end of the scout.  The clear permalloy was as rugged as the rest of the craft.  Permalloy was spun into whatever shape was desired, and, when solidified, it was extremely strong, tough and light weight.  However, the scout ship did have a tan overshadowing of color.  Like so much in and around the dome, the opaque permalloy took on a cast of beige.

“What is outside will always seep in, no matter how good the seal,” Jerome said as he looked at the FTL scout ship. 

Brink looked over and gave a tiny nod.  “Yes, eventually every seal fails.  Today, our then first sling launch was a confirmed success.  Optimal orbit was reached and faster-than-light travel initiated.  The first team is on the way.”

“Jamie and Michael?”  Cammarry asked.

“Yes, to the Eschaton,” Brink replied.  He was a tall and muscular man with a quiet voice, and graying hair.  He was universally respected for his brilliant mind, and was called Chief Engineer or Master Engineer out of respect, but he preferred to be called just simply Brink.  He had personally developed and implemented the advanced technology systems they would be using.  Both the teleportation and the faster-than-light technologies had been brainchildren of Brink. A few people in the dome understood the basic principles used, especially the very advanced mathematics, but only Brink comprehended the whole big picture.  He did all his work without being haughty or arrogant.  “Now let me orient you two to the new machines.”

Brink walked over and tapped the side of the FTL scout ship.  The access door opened.  “Jerome?  Cammarry?  Here is where you will enter the craft.  We have about twenty minutes or so before the launch window.  May I introduce the third person in your crew?”

“Third person?”  Cammarry asked.

“Yes.  Sandie?  The team is here; will you welcome them?”  Brink said. 

A mechanical voice came from the interior of the scout ship.  “Hi there!  I am Sandie.  I am your new artificial intelligence system.  I am very happy to make your acquaintance and I am thrilled about our quest to the Conestoga!  Our mission is to successfully place a teleportation receiving pad in a suitable location on board the Colony Ship Conestoga.  Completion of this mission is the highest priority, and is essential for Dome 17 survival.  I am thrilled to be of service in this great quest of ours.”

“She is perky,” Jerome said.  “Not at all like Faraday.”

Brink frowned.  “I heard what happened with Faraday and Winchell.  I will personally resurrect them after the sling launches take place.  Jubal was wrong.” 

Cammarry and Jerome both looked very surprised at Brink’s comment and especially his negative facial expression.  He was known for being very positive, quiet, and non-confrontational.  He also was known for his love of artificial intelligences.