BETH
“So we are going to spend the next three months together?” Claire said, grabbing her crutches.
Beth sighed, Captain Samuels didn’t trust her with the maintenance and Claire needed to take the first months with her for her leg to heal properly. Hibernation sleep screwed with tissue healing, Beth had stood on the same side as Claire in the matter. At least it was not Leopold, that story-sharing-machine. Beth shared something with Claire, they were women and they had both been toppled by combat suits.
“You almost sound excited, Claire?” Beth said. “You are not afraid of Tern? And with these quiet hallways. Could scare even the most hardened engineered, even the ones like you who has seen and participated in real battle.”
“Ahh. You know what? Diego asked me just the same thing. You should have seen his face when he went into the hibernation pod. He is still afraid of Tern,” Claire said. “It is actually hilarious.”
“So, you are not afraid of him?” Beth said.
“Nah. Tern has been nothing but kind since his stay with us. There is no reason to fear him. I tried to talk mister Rubalcava away from his irrational fear about Tern, but I failed,” Claire said, following her through the corridor using the crutches.
Beth nodded. “Impressive. But not everyone can be convinced. They see something they don’t understand and that triggers all the alarms in their heads. As long as they don’t try to harm Tern, I am alright with that.”
“Me like this one.” Tern bumped into Claire.
“Wow. Your surface is mildly warm, I always thought it would be cold,” Claire said.
Beth smiled. “Tern says: ‘Me likes you.’”
“He does?” Claire asked, smiling. “I have never been liked by an alien being before. But Tern is my first and only encounter with one. Thank you, Tern, me like you too.”
Beth laughed and it felt good, she could not remember the last time she had laughed as good. Maybe this time with Claire and Tern was just what she needed, after all that had happened the last few weeks.
“I want to show you my rig,” Claire said, taking off into the corridor on her crutches. “You need to see her. I have shown her to nobody yet.”
“Rig? Her?” Beth mumbled.
Claire waved with her crutches. “Just come on, slowpoke.”
Tern sped after the engineer, leaving the hesitant Beth behind. Damn, Claire moved fast with those crutches.
“I am coming,” Beth said.
The door to Claire’s workshop was already open. Beth heard the sounds of mechanical movements and contracting motor muscles the moments before stepping over the threshold. A combat suit, slimmer than Captain Samuels’ hulking rig stepped in front of her. Dashes of red and black were colored across the grey metal. The weapons attached to its arms and gauntlets were far smaller and shorter than Captain Samuels’ rig. Everything about this suit spoke of agility.
“What do you think?” Claire said, holding up the suit’s right arm and showing of its sword, which gleamed in the light. “Tell me your honest thoughts. Hold nothing back, a woman to a woman.”
“I...” Beth started.
“Fashion and speed turned destruction.” Tern floated up to Beth.
“It is great. Really. I have plowed through quite a number of these combat suits, but this is the first one that looks cool,” Beth said.
Claire stepped forward with the suit. “You sure? I want your honest opinion. Are the colors off putting? Or should I have gone with the usual big, hulking design? I just wanted to create something that reflected me and something that felt better moving in, at least for me.”
“You don’t have to second guess yourself. This is amazing,” Beth said.
“Thank you. Thank you so much!” Claire said. “Actually the colors I have thrown onto the plating have function, it is an experiment to throw off automatic target locking. My initial tests have shown promise, but I will never be able to convince the Capt’n about adding something like this.”
Beth placed a hand on the rig’s cold armor plating. “It looks great. Fashion and speed turned into a tool of destruction.”
“Exactly!” Claire said. “I will be going out with you the next time there is battle. The Capt’n has accepted my participation, he thinks I am ready.”
The rig’s surface was cold against her hand. “It will be an honor standing beside you in battle, beside this dashing suit of armor. Tern holds the same opinion.”
-
Time passed quickly when you had fun. Beth had heard that statement many times in the past, but had never experienced it before. Not in this fashion, at least. The first two months of just the three of them being awake ran away. Claire’s leg healed nicely and quickly, the Doc had done a wonderful job of grasping the synthetic tissue to the damaged area. Maybe he worked better when it was his girlfriend on the operating table? Raised stakes did that to people.
Claire held Captain Samuels’ coffee thermos underneath the coffee makers nozzle and opened the channel, making the black aromatic liquid pour into it. “You should have been there when Dr. Birgitta asked me about material science to solve the problem with the design of your mace,” Claire said, then proceeded trying to mimic Birgitta’s deeper voice. “I want to bond this handle to this giant, big lump of rock and metal. Fuse them together so strong that they can never be parted, even when struck against the hull of a starship with the force of an angry Beth.”
“She used those exact words?” Beth said, sitting down on one of the mess hall’s benches.
“Yeah,” Claire said.
“Dr. Birgitta likes getting to the point quickly, so she can continue doing her research. I understand that,” Beth said.
Claire stopped the coffee maker and tightened the lid on the thermos, ready for a day of work. She sat on the bench opposite Beth.
“You left the crutches in your room today?” Beth asked.
“It was time. I need to start regaining muscle tissue on the broken leg,” Claire said. “By Diego’s orders and schedule.”
“Good work, then it is soon time for your hibernation sleep,” Beth said, knowing it would be difficult to part with her friend.
“Leo is next in the rotation,” Claire said.
Beth looked away. “I know.”
“You just have to be firm with him or else his stories will get the better of you. After the years I have spent on this ship and with this crew, I have learned how it works. His stories will grow more and more dramatic and impossible when you ignore him, but you just have to stay strong. There is a tipping point. He will surrender. I promise,” Claire said.
Beth nodded. “Thank you.”
“If nobody had told me, I would never have figured out that you and Milo were siblings,” Claire said. “You are just too different, even though he has changed a lot since the Capt’n contracted him.”
“Well, some days I have to remind myself about it. Especially after the disaster at the meeting planet,” Beth said.
Tern floated up and on the table, in between them.
“I know, Tern,” Beth said. “Shit happens.”
“Shit happens more often than anybody would like. It doesn’t help that we are isolated in deep space, being hunted by Saif’s forces and looking to challenge alien clans for gaining a potential ally. Much is happening and it is straining on all of us. If the Capt’n was here, he would be ready with a big speech.”
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Beth looked away.
“Sorry, I forgot about the disagreement between you two. He has a way of getting to one’s nerves, doesn’t he?” Claire said. “But in the end he just wants the best for us. Maybe our present situation is getting to him?”
“Not maybe. It is,” Beth said. “Okay, let’s get to work. We are scheduled to do a check up with the reactor core. You will have to show me the ropes.”
Claire smiled. “Oh yes. I will show you its true beauty.”
-
Beth stood by Claire’s hibernation pod, the engineer had been asleep for a full five minutes. Her chest moved in a stable rhythm, which confirmed that the process had been a success. There was always potential for troubles when going under, but this time it had gone smoothly. Beth placed a hand on Claire’s pod.
“Sleep well, friend,” Beth said.
She walked across the row of hibernation pods. Passing Captain Samuels without throwing a glance at him, but she stopped a moment by Milo’s. Her brother slept well, the readings on the pod’s display were solid and his face was relaxed.
“Happy dreams, brother,” Beth said.
She arrived at Leopold’s pod. Smoke was already billowing out through the growing seam between the lid and the pod, the warm up process had ignited the moment Claire had gone under.
Beth sighed. The next three months would be long, very long.
Tern bumped into her. “Idea. Build modules? With me.”
Beth lit up, something constructive and productive to spend her time with. Science, instead of being bored by Leopold’s array of increasing impossible stories.
“Yes, yes!” Beth said. “I would like that very much.”
“Morning,” Leo said, sitting up in the hibernation pod. “Could you for a brief moment be less happy and also less noisy. My head is killing me.”
“Shh, quiet, I am talking with Tern,” Beth said. “Tern, how would we proceed?”
Leo muttered from the pod. “Just try to keep it down, at least.”
Beth waved at him and pulled at Tern, taking them away from the row of hibernation pods. They exited into the corridor.
“We need to inventory the ship’s stocks of raw materials and equipment. Then we can determine what we could make. Focus on the process, for you to learn,” Tern said.
Beth felt a glee inside her stomach, as if she was a little girl again. She had a project, a science project. A project that was awesomely exciting. Birgitta would be struck with envy.
Leo stumbled out into the corridor, zipping his crew uniform and popping a pill into his mouth. He looked tired and older, possibly more than he had done before going inside the pod.
“You are talking to that ball, are you not?” Leopold asked.
Beth bit down on her teeth. “That is rude of you, Leopold.”
“Leo. You can call me Leo,” Leo said. “Sorry, my niceness is still asleep. Tern of Devou Clan, was it not? These long sleeps messes with my memory, too. It is not easy being my age and serving a crew, and in our present situation.”
Beth nodded. “I cannot relate, but it is alright. I have said some weirdly offensive things too in the past.”
“I heard you threw Milo across the hangar bay,” Leo said. “That is quite offensive.”
Beth looked away. “He deserved it.”
“Whatever,” Leo said, walking past them.
Beth stepped in front of him, putting a hand on his uniform. “Something is wrong. You are not trying to tell us a story. Are you sick?”
“No,” Leo said.
“Is the story part of you still dormant?” Beth asked.
“No,” Leo said.
Beth stepped back. “Then what is it? Just tell me, man. We are crew.”
“You are obviously not interested in a story, or even spending time with me. Even though we will stay awake together for the next three months,” Leo said. “My ears are still keen, even directly awakened from hibernation.”
“Oh. I am sorry. You were not meant to hear that,” Beth said.
Leo frowned. “Why would that make me feel better? I caught you expressing your true feelings for me. I know how the others in the crew feel for my stories, but sometimes those stories carry valuable meaning. That some of them truly would need. They just reject them based on the face value of being a story, thinking that they are not important. But in reality they are all designed for the listener to learn something new, and provide a new perspective on life. Don’t patronize me.”
Beth stepped to the side, letting the pilot walk past her. “I am sorry, I really am. You actually seem more interested in telling your stories than to actually fly the ship sometimes. Now I know why. Why not try to write some of them down, instead of leveraging your life in the line of the service? It is too late now, but you have served for many years. You had your opportunity to leave and do something else.”
Leo stopped, but didn’t turn around. “The comradery, the crew, the family. I flew in the Navy for thirty years before even coming to this crew and I have flown this boat for twenty years. I have been here since the first day Captain Samuels got the Captaincy. What would the Capt’n do without me? If I stop flying this boat, you will all die. Have you seen the Captain’s flying skills? They are horrible.”
“I understand that,” Beth said. “I am going with Tern, he is going to teach me how to build modules. I would love to hear your stories while feeling dumbstruck by alien physics. It would be reassuring, Leo.”
Leo turned around. “You sure?”
Beth nodded. “Bring a thermos. Coffee would be perfect.”
“I will just need to take a shower first and activate some health routines from the helm, cannot have the old lady miss her maintenance checks. Where should we meet? Birgitta’s lab or Claire’s workshop?”
Tern bumped into her.
“The lab.” Beth relaying the words placed in her mind.
Tern floated first, leading the way to Birgitta’s lab. They would need to clear a space big enough and then they would need to scrounge through Claire’s workshop for proper equipment. But they had a purpose, she had a purpose. This would be their new grind, like Milo always said. There was always a grind, cogwheels that needed churning. Round and round, the days would grind away.
-
“Our reactor core had gone dark and we were floating away from these hunting American gunships,” Leo said. “The terror that went through your bones when their railgun shot went just wide of our hull, or when their lasers scored a hit, making the life support struggle to keep us alive. Without the core, there was no dodging to be done, I could not make the boat fly in any pattern. Pray to whatever god you believe in and hope for the best, that was the Captain’s orders. Many turned religious during those long days, as I used the little moment we had to find somewhere to hide and await reinforcement. I even think Captain Samuels’ bones shook during that time. Everybody was on edge. But we survived by making the correct decisions and not fret, we used patience as a weapon. Those Americans were too rash, too shortsighted to find us.”
Beth held the power tool steady, just an inch away from the alien circuit board that lay on the table in front of her. Stripping down a module and then putting it back together was the first step to understanding their composition, thus Tern had offered one of his least important ones.
“Stay frosty,” Tern placed in her mind. “As me said. Me like Leo.”
“But you were not scared?” Beth asked.
“The Capt’n tells me that in those moments when all hope is thrown out the window and we are on live-or-die decision making, that is when I thrive the most,” Leo said. “Just like you should, don’t place that tool too close to that component. Remember what Tern said?”
Beth mumbled, with sucking down sweetness her hands turned more steady and she was able in finding the correct component for removal.
“Great work! Its so tiny, you would not believe that it was able to take the crazy amount of energy from Tern’s core and turn it down,” Leo said.
“Tern’s kind is able to create extremely small things. Think in the size of atoms. If you were able to go down into that detail, you would see the magic that fits inside this component,” Beth said. “This will be perfect for Claire’s project. Tern, do you think we can duplicate this component and make it interface between Milo’s lightning and Captain Samuels’ rig?”
“Yes,” Tern placed in her mind.
Design schematics were dropped into her mind, showing the details of a similar component, but which would have the input of lightning and the output into a combat suit. That would work. She placed Tern’s own component on the bench and went after the needed stuff to construct the new one.
“You are planning on putting alien tech into the Captain’s rig. If he didn’t already hate you, he will now,” Leo said.
Beth nodded.
“I am not telling him,” Leo said.
“He will just have to find out the hard way,” Beth said.
Minutes passed in silence, as she worked with Tern to reverse engineer the component’s function. She almost forgot that Leo was in the lab with them, until he shattered the silence.
“My three month shift is nearing its end. I just wanted to say that I am glad for the time spent with you. This will be difficult for me to say,” Leo said. “But, I have enjoyed this time a lot more than the time I have spent with the Capt’n lately. We had this huge argument. He berated me for hesitating, for feeling doubts. But who would not in our situation?”
Beth tinkered with the new component, following Tern’s schematics. “To doubt is human, to flaw is human.”
“Thank you,” Leo said. “You know, Milo is up for the next rotation. Maybe you can try to get along with him?”
Beth put the tools down and sighed. “I would much rather keep to the lab and this project. He has changed for the worse. You should have heard the big speech that the Captain and Diego gave me when I confronted them with Milo’s addition. ’We can’t have him stop now. We need him to hit hard.’ All that kind of bullshit. I said it would backfire on them and lo and behold, what happened on the meeting planet?”
Leo shrugged. “Sometimes even the high and mighty are wrong, I guess. It is hard for me to judge, I am just the pilot.”
“That is what I am getting to. Captain Samuels might not suit as captain any longer. Our situation is unprecedented and I think it has gotten to him,” Beth sai.
Leo leaned back. “Wow, wow. I will just forget what you said just now. That is treason and I am not hearing more of it.”
Beth shook her head and grabbed the tools again.
“Just try to get along with him. Please? Deep down, I think Milo would have liked that,” Leo said
“I will try,” Beth said.