The Lost Aria (Earth Song Book 3) Page 45

  Aaron cleared his throat and Minu braced herself. “I need to say this. Minu, I lo-”

  “Minu, you there?” came a miniature of Ted's voice from her radio on the floor.

  She craned over the side of the bed and snatched the radio up. “I'm a little busy here, what's up?”

  “Come to medical. Pip is awake.”

  “Be right there,” she said and jumped from the bed. In less than a minute she was dressed and out the door without looking back.

  “I love you,” Aaron said to the door once it closed, lying alone in the bed. After a diplomatic pause, he got up and dressed as well. The computer watched it all in silence.

  Minu raced into the reduced waiting room, not sure what to expect, but glad for the opportune interruption. In her heart she'd known what Aaron was about to say, both fearing and anticipating hearing him say it. This time, fear won out. Fear and the need to see to an old friend. Then as she'd raced down to medical she'd become annoyed that the computer didn't notify her, as she'd instructed it. Then the thought occurred to her that a computer smart enough to raise the lights when she woke from a bad dream was smart enough to leave her alone when she was having sex. The next logical conclusion was the damn thing had been watching her gratuitously screwing an old friend, a teammate, her long time secret love. Was that what he was? She wondered as the door closed behind her. Everyone was there except Aaron of course, all standing in a line about a meter from the only bed. Var'at and his team were off to one side, though they felt a need to be here, he also knew that this event was his fault in some way, and he had no intention of avoiding it. As soon as she'd arrived they parted to make room for her. There was Pip, sitting up, his legs over the side, staring off into space with a confused look on his face like he couldn't understand some obscure joke.

  “Has he said anything?” Minu asked the assemblage.

  “No,” Ted spoke first, “the computer just informed me that he was up five minutes ago. I called everyone else.”

  “Why you?” she asked, puzzled.

  “I think I was the only one awake.”

  “I was awake,” Bjorn said, “but I ignored the damned computer. I woke up a couple hours ago and was trying to figure out how to get physical access into the engineering section.” Minu spared him a glance, it looked like he hadn't slept in days, and she wondered if he'd disobeyed her order. Of course he out ranked her, so it was an order with no teeth. For herself, Minu hoped she didn't look like a girl who'd just gotten laid. No sooner had the thought formed than Aaron came in. He glanced around the group, letting his eyes rest on Minu's face for just a second longer than the others. He looked...expectant, with a healthy dose of nervousness thrown in. Minu just gave Aaron a nearly imperceptible nod before turning to the issue at hand.

  Their greeting hadn't gone unnoticed. Off to one side Cherise looked from Aaron to Minu as he'd come in and in that instant, her reliable women’s intuition told her that it had finally happened. An 'it' she'd been dreading for years, ever since she'd first admitted to herself that she was in love with her red haired best friend, and that Aaron was her chief rival for Minu’s affections. Christian was nothing more than a test drive, a somewhat safe way for her to take a swim in the river of love. Sure it left some scars, but Cherise had known if she interfered or played her cards at that time it would have come down bad.

  In the village of Naomi, while Minu recovered, Cherise almost told her again. But it was just too idyllic, too natural to be sharing the same bed in her old home. She didn't want to risk it all then, there would be a better time. Then came this mission, and those fearful moments on Sunshine when they were all beginning to think it could be the end. Cherise bared her soul to Minu because it seemed like there wouldn't be another chance, and she couldn't face going to the next world not having shared her deepest feeling with the one she loved. Minu didn't shun her, but neither did she welcome the affection.

  Now here they were on an alien ship, their longtime friend recovering from brain surgery, and Minu chose that moment to jump in bed with Aaron. She suppressed the surge of white hot rage that threatened to engulf her. It would serve no purpose anyway. Even when they were lovers, Cherise had known that Minu's heart wasn't in it. She was one of those girls who was very naturally heterosexual, while Cherise was just as naturally bisexual. It all felt good, so who cared? She found just as much pleasure in a woman’s arms as a man’s. The rage turned to disappointment, and a wish that Minu would understand and maybe be more like her. It was a fool’s thought. And still, for a pair of new lovers there was very little of that indefinable energy that usually ran between them. Cherise grasped at the tiny branch of hope and held on for all she was worth.

  Ted had been talking for a few seconds and she quickly tuned in on the words. “-was sitting there, just like you see him. He shook his head once, as if not understanding something.”

  “Thanks,” Minu said and then spoke to the room. “Computer, how long has he been conscious?”

  “The patient regained consciousness eleven minutes after the medically induced coma was removed. Sensors remain linked with his mind.”

  Minu cocked her head. Did the Medical Intelligence sound different? The voice held a change she couldn’t quantify. “How are you linked with him? I thought the procedure was done.”

  “The repairs necessitated additions to his biological elements. Prostheses were needed.”

  “You gave him an implant?” Cherise asked and glanced at Minu again who was caught in a glance at Aaron. Her friend looked away from the man with a visible effort, a small smile on her face. A tiny spear of anguish and loss tore through her heart. Why did she have to realize what was in front of her for all those years now? The two emotions battled each other until settling into an unsteady truce. Whatever had happened between Minu and Aaron, it somehow wasn't a settled thing. She burned with curiosity, her female side needed to know with a passion if what she thought occurred, had actually transpired.

  “His damaged brain centers were enhanced with neural sub-processors and modified cranial implants. Seventy two cranial implants of varying utility were combined to bring his brain back to a configuration approximating normality for your species. The repairs were deemed sufficient in lieu of a trained medical officer.”

  “Oh shit,” Aaron said as he struggled to completely understand what the computerized doctor had done to his friend. “Did they turn him into some kind of walking computer?”

  “I’d always thought he already was a walking computer,” Minu said. “How much of his personality remains?” Minu asked the Medical Intelligence.

  “That remains to be ascertained.”

  “I can hear you perfectly well, you know?”

  Everyone jumped at his voice; Cherise actually screamed and covered her face like she'd been surprised at a horror movie. She stomped her foot and cursed at her jumpiness.

  “Pip,” Minu said and approached the bed. “Pip, how do you feel?”

  “I don't know,” he said and turned to face her. She swallowed when she saw his gleaming dualloy skull plate again. To make it even worse, the skull cap was not contoured with the rest of his head, instead it was more flattened, and giving the impression a heavy weight had crushed his skull. He focused on her, his eyes looking her over like a machine gathering data. “You look older.”

  “I am older,” she admitted.

  “Three stars.” She glanced at her cuffs and nodded. “How long?”

  “Over three years,” she told him.

  “I remember being shot, or rather the gun pointing at my head. He looked over a Var'at where he stood with his men. They'd been so quiet that Minu almost forgot they were there. “It was a Rasa soldier who shot me.” His head cocked a little and he looked curious, the first change in facial expressions Minu had seen. “I am surprised to see them here.”

  “We're allies of a sort,” she explained, then spent a few minutes telling him what happened after he was wounded.

  “Ah, I unders
tand. What do the civilians think of having thousands of former invaders living on Bellatrix?”

  “They don't know, for the most part. We've had to keep it a secret. Jacob decided it was for the better, and he's probably right for once.”

  He simply nodded this time and looked down at himself, clothed in a basic white robe provided by the Medical Intelligence. He held out an arm, it was very thin and almost as white as the robe. “I look like shit.” He looked at her, then at all those waiting nearby, then back to her. “So, are you and Aaron married?” Minu blanched, choking on her own words. Outside Aaron turned bright red and actually looked away.

  “Pip, really!”

  He looked at her, curiosity again. “What's wrong? It’s just a question.”

  “I don't even have a boyfriend,” she told him, getting control of herself.

  “I wish we had made love that night,” he told her. Minu's eyes bugged out and she took a step back. “I'm afraid that was a mistake.”

  “Computer, is he okay?”

  “He is coming to grips with his implants. Some social interactions are liable to be incorrect. It is a normal adjustment period.” Minu desperately wished he'd come to grips a lot faster.

  “He always was right to the point,” Bjorn said.

  Minu coughed and tried a different tack, desperate to change the subject and terrified that everyone in the room now knew she and Aaron had slept together. And now they knew she'd almost given it to Pip, too. They must think me a slut! “Can you stand?”

  “I don't see why not.” He let himself slide off the bed to his feet, and if it wasn't for Minu's fast reflexes, he would have continued on to the floor. “I guess I'm weaker than I thought.”

  “Muscular stimulators have been installed in key areas of his body,” the Medical Intelligence told them, “they will aid in his recovery to normal strength.”

  “Won't that make it hard for him to walk and stuff?” Aaron wondered.

  “Their preprogrammed routine will monitor his actions and avoid conflicts. There will be no side effects beyond extended fatigue.”

  “That will help,” Pip said. Minu put one of his arms around her shoulder and helped him take a few tentative steps. His hand rested against the side of her breast, but he had no reaction. The old Pip would have probably turned red and got all bug-eyed. Minu swallowed and felt a deep sense of loss begin to grow. This wasn't quite the same Pip, regardless of how he looked or sounded. She walked him the few meters to the others. “Hey guys, miss me?”

  In a second they were all moving in close, touching him, laughing, crying. The girls did enough crying for everyone, especially Cherise, but the men all had shiny eyes as well. The greeting between Bjorn and Pip was particularly poignant, and revealing. “Hi uncle,” he said, and Bjorn took him in his arms.

  “What?” gasped almost everyone at the same time.

  “I thought you didn't want to let anyone know,” Bjorn said to him after the hug. Minu noticed that Bjorn did all the real hugging; Pip just seemed to be going through the motions.

  “It really doesn't matter, does it?”

  “I guess not. Not now, anyway.”

  “Do you want anything?” Ted asked his old pupil.

  “I'm actually a little hungry.”

  “Well let’s find some food for you!”

  He looked around as they helped him dress. A uniform had been packed in his support pod, four silver stars on the cuff. It fit him like a garbage bag. “What is this place?” he asked as Aaron, Bjorn and Ted helped him into his clothes. The girls all moved away to preserve whatever dignity their friend wished for.

  “That's the fun part,” Bjorn told his nephew, “you are in a starship!”

  “I see,” was the simple reply. Minu struggled with her emotions as she waited for them to finish.

  Chapter 2

  January 17th, 522 AE

  Firebase, Enigma Star System, Galactic Frontier

  The first shuttle with Singh aboard landed on the fire base and disgorged its troops. They quickly spread throughout the promenade and secured it while verifying there was no sign of the invaders. The pilot, Sally, came out and pointed for him to where the alien transport had been, locked into one of the antechambers off a docking bay. A quick examination showed it was now gone. Singh was no technician, but he knew enough to understand the implications.

  One of the other scientists came over and spoke with the technician. They were both quite excited about some fact that had come to light. “Tell me,” he snapped at them, making both females jump.

  “There is DNA residue next to the third Promenade exit, down there,” Sally said and pointed with one tentacle. “It is Rasa and some other, unidentified species.”

  “Probably those nasty Traaga,” Singh said and made a face, recalling the smell of the insect-like species during his one and only encounter. Sally started to speak to inform him it was probably from the humans who were actually in charge of the invasion, but Singh was already turning his mind to other things. You didn't live long under the powerful leaders of her species without learning that they didn't like having their conclusions second guessed, or worse, simply disproved. ”There must be some way to force entrance. We have all the firepower we could need.”

  “Records show that when this system was discovered, scientists tried using force to gain access to the transports off the Promenade. Not only did the attempt utterly fail, but the entire team was slaughtered to the last member, and no evidence as to how it happened was ever found. Since then the Technology Nest Master has forbidden any-”

  “Yes, yes, I know the protocols under which you operate, do not presume to lecture me or you may find yourself less necessary than you believe you are.”

  “Of course, commander,” Sally bowed her eyestalks against her head in supplication.

  “So these Rasa betrayers have gotten through the locks your caste has failed to break in a thousand years and are now loose somewhere in the station.” She didn't respond, knowing it wasn't a question. “The tubes are transparent, aren't they?” This time she hissed in agreement. “Very well.” Singh activated his radio link to the three shuttles waiting out in space. “Pilots, proceed to search the connection tubes. Look for any signs of a group of Rasa loose inside them.”

  He replaced his radio after they'd acknowledged the order and turned to look at the stubbornly locked Promenade doors. Once the traitorous dregs were located, it would be a small cost to use one of the salvaged shuttles to shatter the connecting tube, spilling the occupants into space. The station would surely destroy the shuttle, but that was a cost he was willing to pay. Small drops of venom dripped from his rows of fangs as he contemplated what was to follow. There would be a world to conquer.

  The simple mess hall was located, a single table surrounded by chairs mated to the floor, each with an opening where the back met the base. When nourishment was requested, the table would open a trapdoor and food arrived rather like an elevator. It was simple fare, a spicy soup tasting of potatoes, and slabs of a material with the consistency of chicken, but tasting more like corn. They couldn't agree if it was animal or vegetable. Bjorn secreted a small piece into a specimen vial, promising a report later. Meanwhile everyone shared around their own personal stashes of spices, soon rendering each dish unique and more to their tastes.

  Of them all, the Rasa were the least pleased with the fare. They were generally strict carnivores who liked to dabble in some sweet fruits and juices. A meal tasting entirely like vegetables left them unsatisfied. Var'at solved that when one of his men left and returned with a package of preserved mutton which they also shared with their human cohorts.

  Pip ate sparingly, but then he'd always been that way as Minu recalled. He sampled each item before settling on the soup as a favorite, eating about half a bowl. He drank several cups of the ice cold water provided by the ship, and chose to forgo the mutton entirely.

  When the meal was finished they piled all the dishes and cups in the center of t
he table which obliged them by lowering it into the center and closing once more, presumably to be cleaned and recycled for later use. “I'd like one of these in my apartment,” Aaron smiled and they all chuckled, except the Rasa who lacked the cultural understanding, and Pip, who seemed indifferent. Minu was about to suggest they take Pip to his quarters when he headed her off.

  “I'd like to see the bridge, or wherever everything is run from.”

  “The CIC isn't far from here,” she told him. “But are you sure you're up to it?”

  “I believe I've had quite enough sleep the last three years.”

  “That's my boy,” Bjorn said and patted him on the shoulder, “we could certainly use you to figure out a few telling problems.” Minu shot him a dirty look which as usual went right over the elderly scientist’s head. She'd hoped to push him into resting for a while. So much for that plan.

  “So let’s go,” Pip said and stood. Already he was much surer on his feet. Regardless of the evidence, Aaron and Cherise escorted him, a hand gently resting on each arm just in case.

  They rode the jump tube to the central deck, Pip commenting that it was a much more sensible design than the ones found on most worlds, then down the hall and into the CIC. He didn't seem either surprised or flustered by the gravity free environment, or walking on invisible floors. “Just makes sense,” he said as he walked around. As soon as they'd entered, the control stations the team spent all their time working on reappeared like magic. Pip moved over to one and examined it. “Just a holographic representation,” he noted.

  “Backed up by hoverfield projectors,” Ted told him, “hundreds of them all throughout the CIC.”

  After a few minutes of examining each station Pip rendered his opinion. “Just improvising,” he said. “If this was how you flew this ship, there would already have been stations like these.”

  Bjorn nodded his head then shrugged. “There was supposed to be a computer program to tie it all together. We, Ted and I, believe that if that program was there, you could just sort of 'plug in' to the system and make the ship do whatever you want it to. Maybe with hand gestures, or movements of your eyes. Who knows?”