We had rigged up a weak transmitter of sorts, but in the end did not really need it. Within four hours, an Earth ship rendezvoused with Electra, dispatched by central command. They hadn’t been expecting anyone.
I did not get to hear the exchange between our com officer on duty and the other ship’s crew, but was told it was an excited rambling of everything that had happened, dispensed in too few fragmented, unconnected phrases, in far too little time, ending with the poor woman running out of breath and nearly fainting.
As information began to flow, tugs were dispatched to tow Electra. We were immediately declared a quarantined vessel. A special medical ship was dispatched to meet us on the inbound journey. Containment of the unknowns was considered an absolute priority. Because there were no outposts or stations large enough to handle her crew under such alarming circumstances, a large escort to Earth orbit was arranged.
I have never seen such a lack of discipline on any ship as I saw on Electra in those days of towing. As acting captain, I prided myself on not caring, but the truth is it made my heart glad. It was like the Adrian Tarn mentality had taken over, like running naked on the beach without a care. There were parties on every level. The clean room in Life Sciences had confetti all over it with pieces of dried cake on the floor. On one occasion, an elevator opened to a pile of clothes at my feet and two naked people kissing. I let the doors close and waited for the next one.
Perk was allowed to sit with his left arm in a sling. He and I drank apple juice with the sickbay doors open and watched the absurd party go past the door at too frequent intervals.
Partway through the trip, the medical ship showed up complete with tiger teams intended to contain the alien threat. They all wore complete environmental hazard suits and set up an isolation area in Data Analysis. They created their own little airlock and atmosphere control to protect themselves from the threat of infection. The absurdity of the situation became even more pronounced as the parties and celebration went on around the funny people in the white plastic suits trying to evaluate, document and secure the ship.
We were brought to a synchronous Earth orbit, and because of quarantine and the fact there were no orbiting stations or shipyard facilities prepared to take us all, a series of isolation shuttles were diverted to bring everyone down. To my relief, there was no chance for a ship-wide meeting, which meant I did not have to get up in front of everyone and try to sum it all up in some meaningful way. I will always thank God for that.
They sent special recovery crews to take over Electra, the people trained to go into an area where there has been a bad crash. Despite their specialized training, there was no way to prepare them for a storage area of transformed humans, and one ugly little alien man in suspension who had a certain mind-control power if he became conscious. I escorted them to the appropriate areas, briefing them as best as I could, and witnessed their nervousness as they called in for additional instructions, not having a procedure for such unusual circumstances.
Eventually, RJ and I reached the point where we were no longer needed. It was time to go. Except for the recovery teams, we were the last. A special Security shuttle was waiting at the main airlock. They were not about to turn us loose. Interviews had to be conducted, reports filed, information assessed. Accommodations would be prepared for us in the central office in Washington until our debriefings and medical clearance could be completed. Decisions had to be made, and then perhaps we would be released on our own cognizance.
I asked RJ to wait for me at the airlock. There was a last thing I needed to check. As his elevator left, I headed for the Captain’s quarters. At the entrance, I scanned the maintenance panel. The recovery crews had not been here yet. I entered and closed the doors behind me.
The door to the Emissary’s quarters was open. She was nowhere to be seen, nor did I feel her. I slowly entered her former domain. It was the most sparsely furnished quarters I had ever seen. In the center of the room was a waist-high pedestal. On it was a small crystal ball, about the size of a walnut. It was there for me, a present from a friend. I picked it up and felt static electricity within it. It was changing color within and without so subtly that you wouldn’t notice unless you stared at it for a few minutes. I squeezed it and thought, “Thank you,” then turned and left.
At the airlock, RJ was waiting. We turned and looked back at Electra. Not understanding why there was remorse at leaving her. There shouldn't have been. It had been the worst nightmare imaginable. Why such affection for a ship that had just returned from hell?
I knew only to thank her. I choked and swallowed to hide it. I would follow her progress and keep track of her. She had been my ship, and would always be.
Chapter 30
We sat on Cocoa Beach in flimsy lawn chairs, Perk, RJ, and I, watching two of Florida’s finest go by in tiny swimsuits that tested the limits of local law. We balanced our drinks on the narrow armrests so as not to lose any from the passing distraction.
Perk took a swallow from his bottle and calmly announced, “Incoming, nine o’clock.”
We turned in unison to watch Nira bouncing down the ramp from the pier, carrying a bucket with ice and bottles. Her bikini was sky blue with clouds. She made it look like the best bikini I'd ever seen. She strode up to our appreciative gazes and plunked the bucket down between us.
“I’m heading for the water, you land lovers.” She turned and trotted along the sand toward the waves.
RJ began to sing in a low tone, “Mmm, I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now, da da da da….”
I interrupted, “I can’t believe they made you guys Bridge-level.”
RJ took issue, “Hey, look who’s talking!”
“Damn right,” Perk agreed, and he and RJ clinked bottles.
I raised my bottle. “Point taken.”
RJ brushed sand off his e-reader. “By the way, Adrian, it was physicians.”
“What was?”
“Ten letter word for givers of pain and pleasure: physicians.”
“Damn, I should have gotten that.”
“So, you goin’ back up any time soon?”
Perk cut in, “I am.”
RJ admonished him, “You? You’re a wreck. I’m supposed to keep an eye on you.”
Perk was defiant. “I’m pretty much all healed up.”
“What’d you mean? You still got that big patch on your chest.”
“I’m all healed up under there. That’s just some kind’a medication patch. The Doc said I can go in the water with it and everything.”
RJ turned back to me. “So what about you? Are you going back up?”
“No way, RJ. I’ve got enough bonus credits now to last me a good while. That was my plan from the beginning.”
RJ became distracted. “Perk, that girl just waved at you.”
“What?”
“Yeah, see the two talking to Nira? The one in the pink just looked over and waved at you.”
“Really? I better go see if Nira needs a drink or anything.”
With that Perk climbed up and shuffled toward the threesome.
RJ looked over at me. “I'd better go with him. I’m supposed to keep an eye on him. He’s not supposed to exert himself.”
I gave a wave, and off he went.
The noon sun beat down on my almost-healed, still-bruised chest. It felt good. The tide was coming in drawing lines in the sand in front of me. There was so much to sort out. I knew it would take a long time. I thought of the Emissary.
In my bag, in a small cotton satchel, I found the round crystal she had left me. I held it in my hand and felt the strange power it possessed. I could feel a message within it but was having trouble translating. It was something like, ‘unexpected future’. I tried to imagine what ‘unexpected future’ could mean. I opened my hand and looked down at it once more. It had changed to black and was ful
l of stars.
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