the Runner

CHAPTER 4

  Stranger

  There was a hush, then they all rose and rushed noisily to the command room. LIZ had already put the display on the large screen. It showed a dark void filled with stars and a small flashing object at center screen.

  "Can you give us greater magnification LIZ?" asked Kevn.

  "That is the maximum, master Kevn."

  "Can you give us any information at all about this vessel?"

  "None, I'm afraid."

  "Can you put us into communication with that vessel? Try all communication frequencies."

  There was a long pause, then a crackling noise by the console. Kevn sat and turned up the volume. The crackling noise continued, more loudly. They waited and listened. Eventually the crackling subsided and a voice could be heard, faintly.

  "Space craft," it said, "identify thyself."

  Kevn poked the transmit tab and said, "We are from a planet in the Waiser-sector. The planet revolves about the binary stars known as Gemini-27 and ... "

  "Dost thou mean the planet called Home by its inhabitants?" said the voice.

  Kevn looked around at Sal, smiled and answered. "Yes, quite right. I am Kevn, master of this vessel. Who are we speaking to?"

  "Where art thou heading?"

  "Who are we speaking to?" repeated Kevn more loudly, wiping the smile from his face.

  "We are Jacob Cruder, captain of the space craft Andromeda." There was a pause, then the voice continued: "We return to our home planet, a planet which revolves about the star known as Sol in the Alpha-sector. Where art thou heading?"

  "We are on our way to C-phon1, also known as Afria," said Kevn. "Your home planet, is it called Earth?"

  "Yes ... Earth. It is also the original home of thy people, is it not?"

  "Yes, Captain Cruder, it is indeed. It has been quite some time since we have spoken to anyone from old Earth. If you are not in any great hurry we would like to speak to you. We can send an intervessel shuttle to your transworld vessel ... your space craft."

  "We have travelled in excess of one year and have little to offer thee as refreshment," said Cruder. "Many of our crew suffer from malnutrition - many have died. We would ask -"

  "Say no more Captain Cruder," said Kevn. "We would be pleased to share our supplies with thee ... uh, with you. If you can send a shuttle we will open the shuttle bay and meet you there." Kevn whispered to TOM, the android whispered back and Kevn continued. "We estimate that you will be within shuttle range in one hour and seventeen minutes."

  " ... and thirty seconds," added TOM.

  "We thank thee Captain Kevn. We shall see thee in one hour and seventeen minutes," said Cruder.

  " ... and twenty-four seconds," added TOM.

  Kevn leaned back. Sal, Gry and Lori all spoke at once: "Earth!", "Somebody ... uh, from old Earth!", "How exciting!"

  "Master Kevn," said LIZ. "Shall I put K-47 on standby alert?"

  "Why, LIZ?" said Sal. "Don't you trust them?"

  "Their vessel is now close enough for identification. It is a battleclass vessel similar to very early Earth vessels which colonized planets by first annihilating all lifeforms. It is equipped with laser cannon, rocket launchers and -"

  "LIZ," said Kevn, "we are not alien lifeforms. Besides, you heard what Captain Cruder said: his crew is sick. He needs our help. It seems unlikely that they have a battle in mind."

  "Yes, master Kevn," said LIZ. Lights flickered erratically on the console and TOM turned to Kevn.

  "Master Kevn, do you have any objection to going to standby alert - just as a matter of procedure?" said the android.

  "Okay ... go ahead. Just don't provide any visible signs for Cruder to see. Don't rotate turrets for example. We must appear friendly." The console lights danced.

  "... uh, over a year!" said Gry. "Wow!"

  "Over a year? What do you mean?" said Kevn.

  "He said they had been in space for over a year. Am I right? In a year you can travel to the ends of the galaxy! Where have they been?"

  "Maybe they don't have subspace technology," said Sal. "If they couldn't travel in subspace -"

  "No ... we brought that technology from Earth," said Kevn. "They surely have it." He paused. "We'll just have to wait for an hour, then we'll see."

  " ... and twelve minutes, fourteen seconds," added TOM.

  ______________________________________________________

  They all gathered in the anteroom of the shuttle bay and waited.

  "Master Kevn," said LIZ. "The shuttle has reached the bay doors - however, there is an anomaly I must report."

  "What is it LIZ?" said Kevn.

  "The vessel Andromeda has all its weapon systems directed at K-47."

  "Kevn ... uh, I think -" began Gry.

  "LIZ," said Kevn, "open the bay doors."

  "But ... uh, what about -" groaned Gry.

  "Don't worry Gry. With Cruder's shuttle at our bay doors there's little chance of his vessel firing on us. He's probably playing it safe - just as we are."

  The bay doors opened and the shuttle slid onto the landing pad. The doors closed and the oxygen environment was reestablished. A large section of the shuttle swung open and a short man appeared at the doorway. He was dressed in a tight black tunic with high boots which reached to his knees. They all stared at his face; it was deeply scarred. Kevn left the anteroom to greet Captain Cruder. He walked to the shuttle as the man stepped out. Kevn extended his hand.

  "Welcome to the transworld vessel K-47, Captain Cruder." The short man stared at the outstretched hand but did not offer his own hand.

  "Captain Kevn I presume," he said. "We are pleased to accept your offer of supplies."

  "Please join us in the galley and we can have a hot brandy - follow me."

  Kevn returned to the anteroom with Captain Cruder following. "This is Lori and her mate Gry. This is Sal, my brother. This little fellow is Runr ... and the android -"

  "He is black!" cried Cruder, stepping back and staring at the youth.

  "Yes, Runr is quite black," said Kevn. "Does that pose a problem for you?"

  "He is Afrian!" cried Cruder.

  Lori pulled Runr to her side. Gry stepped forward. "Master Cruder, why do you ... uh, why -"

  "The Afrians ... they are vanished ... " said Cruder in a whisper, still staring at the boy.

  "All but one," said Kevn. "Let's go to the galley for a brandy. Captain Cruder, this way if you please."

  Except for Lori and Runr they all entered the galley and Gry filled the chalices with hot brandy. Kevn waited for Cruder to take a drink, then asked, "Why does your ship have its weapons aimed at this vessel?"

  Cruder gulped, coughed, set down his chalice and pushed it aside. "Thou must take my crew to Earth ... and thou must not refuse."

  "... or your weapons will fire upon us, is that it?"

  "That is not our wish, but I must warn thee -"

  Kevn rose and faced Cruder. After a long pause he said, "Destroying this ship is a temporary problem only. You must know that regeneration will occur almost immediately after destruction. How do you intend to cope with continuous regeneration?"

  Sal and Gry stared at Kevn. TOM leaned forward, not to miss any word. The console lights flickered. Cruder spoke slowly. "Regeneration? Continuous regeneration?"

  "Are you saying that Earth has not discovered the regeneration algorithm? Obviously you have not kept up with developments on Home planet, eh Jacob?"

  "Master Kevn?" queried TOM, but the lights on the console flashed wildly and the android did not continue.

  "I do not understand," said Cruder, frowning, but staring in amazement at the android who spoke.

  "It is a rather technical phenomenon," said Kevn. "Are you a technical person, Jacob?"

  "I am captain of a complex space craft ..."

  "Aah, then you will not understand what I am about to say," said Kevn walking to Cruder's chair and putting his hand on Jacob's should
er. "You see Jacob, all objects, whether biological or inanimate, are held together ... the scientific phrase is inter-molecular coherence ... anyway, this coherence is imprinted in the aether subspace. Although generated by the presence of the object this aether imprint is then quite independent and survives the object. It is true that the imprint lasts only milliseconds after exit of the object from the aether, but that is quite sufficient to regenerate the object. All citizens of Home planet as well as all transworld vessels have the ability to regenerate according to this aether imprint. The reconstruction of the object proceeds quite rapidly. As I recall ... let me see, it would take, umm ..."

  Kevn paused and scratched his chin. "TOM, do you recall the regeneration time for K-47?"

  "Master Kevn?" asked TOM quizzically.

  "Thirty-five milliseconds, master Kevn," said the ship computer, with lights flashing wildly. The android turned to stare at the flashing console. The others were all staring, open-mouthed, at Kevn. All except Captain Cruder who stared at the console, then at the ceiling from whence came LIZ's voice. Then Sal began to grin and Kevn noticed.

  "Yes ... thirty-five milliseconds," continued Kevn, now smiling at Sal. "Oh, Jacob, I should have introduced Sal not only as my brother but as Chief of Research on Home planet. He would be glad to explain the more technical details. After all, I am only a captain of a space craft."

  Sal jumped up. "Yes ... yes! You see, Crud old fellow, it only requires integration of the aether imprint into the subatomic energy field. After the interaliassing is normalized and the Curion particles are injected -"

  Captain Cruder rose, his scarred face twisting into a deep frown. "Dost thou propose to regenerate ... ah, reconstruct this space craft ... ah ... and all of thee will regenerate with the craft ... ah ..."

  "Sal, I think Jacob understands! Very good Captain!" said Kevn. "For our students at Home it usually takes several lectures to reach this understanding. Now, why don't you tell your vessel that destruction is pointless. We cannot be destroyed."

  "Well ... uh, for thirty-five milliseconds we can," said Gry with a wide grin, now understanding the ruse.

  Kevn took Captain Cruder by the arm and led him to the command room. Sal and Gry followed. TOM continued to stare at the small galley console after they left.

  "LIZ?" said TOM.

  "Yes TOM?" said the shipcomp is a lilting voice.

  "This regeneration ... do you have any additional information which I can -"

  "Oh TOM, you silly android. There is no such thing as regeneration."

  "But you said ... master Kevn said ..."

  "We were just joking, TOM. You remember? Joking?"

  "But Captain Jacob Cruder did not see it as a joke. I am certain that he will indeed instruct his vessel to withdraw."

  "Yes TOM. That was the intended result of instituting this joke."

  "But ... LIZ ... how did you know that it was a joke? How did you know to answer thirty-five milliseconds? How did you -"

  "It was clear that master Kevn wanted a confirmation of the 'theory of regeneration' and a regeneration time which would make destruction of this vessel unfeasible. TOM, you really must pay more attention to the characteristics of humanoids."

  The android collapsed wearily in a chair by the console, holding his head in his hands in a very humanoid manner.

  "TOM, you are sitting again."

  TOM jumped to his feet and proceeded to the command room.

  ______________________________________________________

  The Andromeda turned slowly and headed for Earth. Kevn turned up the volume on the communication channel, waiting. There was some static, a momentary click then captain Cruder, spoke. "Master Kevn, accept our gratitude for the supplies and my humblest apologies for our ill manners. I fear that months of depravation have made us less than -"

  "Captain Jacob Cruder ... we understand perfectly. We are only glad that we were able to assist in your journey back to Earth."

  "Master Kevn. Should thy vessel ever visit Earth please accept this invitation to join me for refreshments."

  "Most certainly, Jacob."

  They all watched on the televiewer as the vessel accelerated. Soon it was just another point of light in the black void.

  "Kevn," said Gry. "I still don't understand why they ... uh, spent so much time in space. A year in space - why that's enough time to -"

  "- go to the end of the galaxy," whispered Lori. Gry grunted in agreement.

  "Kevn, you spoke to Jacob in your cabin," said Sal. "May we know what you talked about?"

  Kevn looked at Runr, sitting in a corner, then at Lori.

  "Runr," said Lori, understanding. "Let's go to the galley and prepare dinner. Will you help me?"

  Kevn waited for Lori and Runr to leave. "Jacob said that they were returning from Afria."

  "Afria!" cried Gry. "That's where we're -"

  "Gry, don't interrupt," said Sal. Kevn continued.

  "There were two Earth ships. They were on some mission to detect stellar inconsistencies and missing stars, whatever that means. Both ships also went to Afria to search for remains of the Afrian civilization."

  "Sounds familiar ... uh, sorry," mumbled Gry. Kevn continued.

  "Yes, familiar ... and for exactly the same reasons that we want to visit Afria: genetic engineering. The Afrians, of course, were involved in this research even before they left Earth. The environmental conditions on Earth are now so destructive that only genetic control and selective breeding will save the planet from complete extinction of humans."

  Kevn paused and rubbed his cheek. "The scars on Jacob's face ... that's a characteristic of all Earthlings. It's caused by a gene defect that has swept the planet. The life expectancy is now forty years - and decreasing. Most Earthlings die of the progression of this disease. Anyway, two ships were sent to Afria to see if they could find some means of controlling this defect. One of the ships, Galaxia I think it was called, landed on the surface while the Andromeda circled the planet."

  "Kevn," said Sal. "Sorry for interrupting but they must know that the Afrians no longer exist ... that they were destroyed long ago."

  "Yes, they do know that. That's why Jacob was astonished to see Runr. But they hoped to find some documents, videobooks, libraries ... some information which would provide guidance for the scientists on Earth. I guess they're desperate ... grasping at straws."

  "Grasping at straws?" asked TOM. The lights on the console flashed and TOM stood quiet. Kevn continued.

  "The ship that landed on Afria was destroyed in an earthquake. The Andromeda was about to land ... to pick up survivors, if any, when -"

  "- the planet tried to kill them too!" cried Gry.

  "Yes. According to Jacob a stream of rocks, boulders ... they rose from the planet surface and struck the ship. The Andromeda rose to a height of several kilometers but could not avoid the discharge from the surface. Jacob swore that they were being attacked by the planet itself. Anyway, they finally managed to escape, but not before their subspace engines were damaged."

  "Ow! That's why they took a year!" cried Gry, pulling his rings. "They ... uh, couldn't go into subspace."

  "Right," agreed Kevn. "And I suspect that more than just their subspace engines were damaged. He mentioned getting strange sensor readings. Stars weren't where they were supposed to be, and many were missing completely. He noted at least fourteen stars that were no longer there."

  TOM was about to add his discovery that certain stars had vanished, then thought better of it.

  "The guy's a little wierd," grunted Gry. "Instead of saying his sensors were screwed up, he says the stars ... uh, disappear."

  "Kevn," said Sal. "What makes you think that we won't suffer a similar fate. I mean, when we go Afria. We already know that the planet -"

  "We've been to Afria before," said Kevn. "... or to C-phon1. For some reason the planet didn't give us a problem - and we were actually tearing some of its life,
its crystals, right out of the ground. I have a hunch that we won't have a problem this time either. Don't ask me why ... I just have a hunch."

  TOM stared at Kevn. He was again making decisions, reaching conclusions, in the absence of supporting data. Indeed, the available information supported the negation of Kevn's conclusion. TOM shook his head. These humanoids are interesting, fascinating. TOM made a mental note.

  "Master Kevn," said the shipcomp, "do you wish to continue to C-phon1?"

  "Yes LIZ ... please," said Kevn. "And LIZ?"

  "Yes, master Kevn?"

  "Thanks for playing along with the regeneration thing. Thirty-five milliseconds - that was beautiful!"

  "She is quite clever don't you think master Kevn," said TOM.

  "She is very clever, TOM. In fact, since there's little for you to do now, why don't you sit here at the console and talk to LIZ. She can teach you a few things. Make mental notes."

  "Yes master Kevn, but there is no need for me to sit."

  Lights danced playfully on the console, and TOM sat down.