Chapter 15

“Okay, show it to me one more time.” Alex moved the ice pack away from his eye so he could see more clearly but kept it pressed against his bruised cheek.

Evan pointed to a point in space. "You see this blip here?" Evan stepped into the display and pointed at the little red dot. "I found a trail from this unexplored small planet, to Earth, then Arian III, Ionie, Cryian, and the others in sequence, in precisely the same pattern as the plague spread. First Earth, but not her moon or the other planets nearby. Then Arian III, but neither of her five moons. Then Ionie, Cryian, and on down the list. The planets only, not the moons, orbiting stations or even passing ships. But he doesn't land. The ship flies through the mid-atmosphere, from pole to pole, then moves on to the next planet.”

Alex’s eyebrows knit together as he tried to comprehend what Evan had apparently figured out already. “How do we know this isn’t just some really strange coincidence, if this ship never landed?”

Evan shut off the display and sat in a chair facing Alex. “The odds of that happening by accident is too astronomical.”

“So . . . how exactly does this explain the plague?”

Evan touched the display’s remote again and the images moved, shifting and magnifying until a section of unexplored space was prominently enveloping the living room. “I’ve tracked his movements back this far.”

Alex watched as a small white planet came into view. It was one he’d never seen before, one of billions still unmapped and unexplored by humans in the mind-bending expanse of space. And it was beautiful. Just a single, lone planet orbiting a small sun.

“So that could be where this plague actually started?”

Evan shrugged. “All I can say is, this ship went to there, then visited each planet in order, skipping all moons and stations. Whoever spread this either picked it up there by accident, and had no idea he was spreading it, or knew it was there and went to get it.”

Alex blinked as he stared at the Sha’erah. “And you figured all of this out when?”

“While you were with your mother.” Evan turned off the display, retrieved the discarded ice pack and carried it back to the galley. “I used the military access codes to download all the data I needed while I was following you to her apartment, then reviewed and investigated it while you were inside.”

Alex wanted to believe it, and he did believe it, but the reminder that he’d been shadowed while off the ship tweaked the irritated little boy in his head. “I’m not sure it’s enough to jump on right away.”

Evan put both hands on the galley counter and looked at Alex, one eyebrow raised slightly. “This from a man who sees a tiny glob of static on a long-range probe of a distant nebula and is convinced it’s something that needs to be investigated?”

Alex lowered his eyelids as Evan continued.

“You were so convinced, you went out of your way to finance a trip based on the idea that you could find Turbidium, and kept your route secret to the point of being dangerous, in the hopes that you could look at that glob of static before anyone else saw it.”

“That glob turned out to be an alien vessel.” Alex pointed a scolding finger at Evan.

“You didn’t know that at the time. Neither did anyone else.”

Even the irritated little boy in Alex’s head couldn’t argue that point. “I spent months studying that static. You’ve had what, an hour?”

“Three hours. And you spent months searching for a backer for your trip.” Evan crossed his arms and stared back at Alex. “But according to your records, the day you first received that scan and saw the static, you began making plans to travel to it.”

Nothing irritated Alex more than being faced with the truth when he was trying to have an argument. But try as he might, he couldn’t think of a come back. And he really wanted Evan to be right. They’d been back in the Scotian system for mere hours, so to be this far into the investigation already was incredible. Alex had always known his own instincts were pretty damn incredible when it came to discoveries, even factoring in luck. If Evan was right, and on his first try, there was really no telling where the two of them could go. Once this was all over, anyway.

“How long will it take for us to reach this planet?” Alex stood and walked to the communications panel in their quarters.

“Approximately five days using the new drive. I can calculate it more precisely, but that’s a rough guess.”

Alex stopped reaching for the communication button and blinked. “Five days. Damn.” He turned to Evan. “Can you imagine the exploring we could have done with an engine like this? God, we could basically map out the entire galaxy in a matter of years. The whole universe in mere generations.” It really wasn’t worth thinking about, seeing as how until now there was nothing he could have done about it in the past. But the idea of being able to explore that much space in so little time was too good to ignore.

“We might be doing just that. Or at least starting. Finding the source of the plague is only half the battle.”

Alex nodded and turned back to the communications panel. “Finding a new home for humanity is the other trick.” He pressed a call button and informed the Bridge Chief, Navigational Officer and Chief Engineer they were to meet in the upper level observation deck ASAP. He didn’t have to gather opinions on their next move, or open up any theories to debate, but he did have to inform the command staff where they were going and why.

In the observation deck, with the entire room filled by the multi-dimensional display running data from the past six months, the command staff found themselves just as baffled as their captain had been.

“How could a human being do something like this on purpose?” Riddick shook his head as he watched the playback again. “How come no one else has reported this? We’re not the first ones to look at this data replayed, are we?”

Alex shrugged. “Maybe we are. At least we may be the first to have been looking outside the system for a ship coming in. A regular, human-piloted ship. Reese, I want a course plotted to this planet right away.”

“Aye, sir. I can have us ready in under an hour.” Reese saluted and left.

“Spelling, how long do you estimate it’ll take us to get there?”

The engineer rubbed his chin for a moment. “I’d say five days, tops. I’ll try for four.” He saluted and grinned slightly. “I’d relish the chance to see how these engines push, sir.”

Alex nodded and turned to Chief Riddick. “Send a communication to the Admiral, tell him where we’re going and that we’ll keep him posted.”

“Aye, sir.” Riddick glanced at the frozen display. “Do you want me to explain why we’re going all the way out there?”

Alex bristled. “That won’t be necessary, Chief. The admiral trusts my experience.” He met Riddick’s gaze as the Bridge Chief stared at him a moment, clearly aware of the rank distinction Alex had made. “Any more questions?”

Riddick’s jaw clenched, then he shook his head and saluted. “No, sir.”

Alex returned the salute casually and watched the man leave the room. “I seem to be having bad luck with bridge chiefs lately.”

Evan switched off the display and shrugged. “He’s no more skeptical than you are.”

“I’m not skeptical.” Alex started for the door.

“You didn’t sound very convinced when I was explaining it to you.”

“Yeah, well . . . You convinced me.” Alex pressed the button to call the lift back. “If you’re right, and this plague was picked up or found there, we could be in over our heads.” They stepped into the lift and began descending to the bridge deck. “We have no idea who was flying that ship.”

“This plague is definitely outside the realm of anyone’s experience,” Evan agreed. “But then so was the Pendulum Nebula, until we began exploring it.”

“That’s different.” Alex blinked, suddenly realizing what the Sha’erah had said. “You said we. ”

“I was with you each time you explored it,” Evan’s reply was matter-of-fact.

Alex could smell another of their famous arguments coming. “But you usually say I. ”

The lift doors opened on the bridge deck level and they stepped out. “You did.”

“Along with you.”

The walk from the lift to the bridge was a short one, and both the corridor and main bridge deck were bustling with activity prior to launch.

“Of course.” Evan headed toward the navigational station to the right of the captain’s command section. “You explored it, I was with you.”

“But you said we explored it.” Alex tried to keep his voice low so the crew would recognize a private conversation and not take notice, but the bridge was too small to get away with much. “You almost never include yourself when we’re talking about things.”

Evan shrugged as they stopped at the command station. “I didn’t feel the need to state the obvious.” He winked and turned, continuing to the navigation panels.

Alex stood there, mouth open, for nearly a full minute. Or at least it felt like it once he realized two crewmen were looking at him funny. He forced his mouth closed and sat down, calling up an open communication line as he tried to recover some vestige of authority.

A voice answering his call broke him out of the confused stupor.

“Scotian Medical Laboratory. May I help you?”

“This is Captain Marcase of the Davion fleet ship Defiant. I need to contact Doctor Zane.”

“One moment please.”

There was no visual to the communication, but Alex clearly detected a tired edge to the doctor’s voice when he answered.

“Hey, doc, Evan’s found something in quadrant 02.1457 so we’re going to check it out. I need to know if we can detect this plague with a probe.”

“Ah, yes, actually just this week we’ve managed to clear that hurdle. Have Evan download my database and he’ll find the chemical markers we’ve identified. If you sample the atmosphere, these markers will be present in sufficient quantity not to go unnoticed. But you’ll also have to sacrifice that probe, Alex. The contamination risk will be far too great.”

Alex noticed a flashing icon on the computer screen set in his command consol. The words “I’m downloading it now” flashed twice, then was replaced with “I’ve got it.” He glanced at Evan and saw that the Sha’erah’s eyes were unfocused, his palm resting on the computer terminal.

That was a first. Multi-tasking? Alex arched an eyebrow then turned his attention back to Doctor Zane. “We’ve got it doc, thanks. Now, will this work in other atmospheres? We have no idea what we’re in for, but I can’t risk sending anyone down if there’s any question.”

“No, Alex, please don’t take any chances. Even our best environmental suits can’t keep this plague out.” Zane paused. “We haven’t found any evidence of the virus on our moons or the sheltered colonies on hostile worlds, but I would expect if the plague is present where you’re heading, your probes should pick it up. We’re not sure yet if the virus only attacked worlds with our breathable atmosphere, or if it simply cannot survive in any other. Until we can safely deal with the virus, we can’t even run tests.”

“Well doc, I can’t promise much, but we’re on the case. We’ll keep you posted on what we find.”

“Good luck, Alex. And be careful.”

“You know me, doc, I’m always careful.” Alex signed off, looking up in time to see the skeptical expression on Evan’s face. Before he could say anything, Chief Riddick approached.

“Sir, we’re receiving a response from Admiral Rickover.”

“Put it through.” Alex sat back and looked up at the screen to view the Admiral’s recorded reply.

“Got your message, Captain Marcase, and I must say I’m hopeful. I knew I picked the right man for this job! We’ve had success in locating the Marimore and the Seacourt’s Vision. Both Captain Elliot and Captain Rawlings agreed to helm two of my ships and are exploring nearby space for a possible new home for survivors. If nothing else, your planet Serenity is proving a good source of fresh water. It’s possible our scientists can make the soil fertile someday. Let us know the minute you learn something out there. Davion out.”

The helmsman turned to face Alex. “Sir, we have clearance to leave the base.”

Alex nodded. “Take us out.” The screen switched from the frozen smile of Admiral Rickover to a live view off the Defiant’s bow. Evan moved from the navigational consol to stand beside his Keeper as they watched their ship back out of the Scotian space port.

“Five days.” Alex shook his head and looked at Evan, keeping his voice low enough not to involve the crew. “It’s still hard to believe we were inside the Pendulum Nebula only three days ago.”

“Spelling thinks we might make it there in four. The engines have never been tested to their maximum.”

Alex watched the space station drop away as the Defiant got clear and turned herself toward their goal. “I want this ship.”

“You have this ship,” Evan replied with a slight questioning tone.

“No,” Alex shook his head. “I mean when this -- all of this -- is finally over. I want this ship in trade for the Ascalon.”

“Then consider it yours. The admiral agreed to exactly that, if you decided you wanted it when the time came.”

Alex laughed slightly and continued to watch the screen. Riddick announced they were entering string drive and the ship momentarily shuddered, then the stars in the view screen stretched from pinpoints to long streaks of light as the Defiant charged away from Scotian space.

“I love your simple view of things.” Alex grinned at Evan, then stood and faced the bridge chief. “Riddick, I’ll be in my quarters.”

“Aye, sir.”

Evan followed his Keeper from the bridge and into the lift. “It’s not a simple view, it’s simply a realistic view.”

“Realism is rarely simple.” Alex folded his arms and looked up at the Sha’erah. “You’re real, and there isn’t anything simple about you.”

Evan rolled his eyes. “You just try too hard to see people in a complicated way.”

The lift stopped and Alex stepped out. “Saves time.”

“Assuming the worst?” Evan followed his Keeper back to their quarters.

“If I’d done that on Serenity, I wouldn’t have been so shocked when Ian jumped.” Alex pulled off his jacket and tossed it to the couch. “You saw it coming.”

“That’s because it was very simple,” Evan shrugged. “No one needed him any more.”

He spun around, glaring at the Sha’erah. “Humanity needed him!” The tone of his own voice startled Alex. He hadn’t meant to sound so heated. He hadn’t meant to bring up the subject of Ian at all, let alone feel so angry about it. “Do you realize what he could have done to help everyone? He could find what people needed.”

Evan was listening to him dutifully, not interrupting or injecting a single word or opinion. That attitude fueled Alex’s unexpected burst of anger.

“We need to find answers. We need to find the source of this plague. We need to find a cure! We need to find out who spread it, and why.” Alex turned to pace away a few feet in an attempt to cool down. “He could have done that. He could have found what we needed.”

“What is this really about? Are you doubting what I think we’ve found?”

Alex stopped his pacing and turned to face Evan. “No, I don’t doubt you for a minute.” He shook his head and started turning the ring around his finger as he resumed his pacing at a slower rate.

“Are you doubting yourself?” Evan crossed his arms and leaned against the galley counter. “If you are, you’re the only one who is.”

Alex laughed. He was passing a chair, so he stopped pacing and let himself fall into the cushioned seat, propping both feet up on the low table in front of him. “My mother isn’t totally sane anymore.” He leaned his head back against the chair cushions and looked over at Evan.

The Sha’erah didn’t even blink at the odd change in topics. “I wondered why you hadn’t told her you were leaving again so soon.”

Alex shrugged. “I don’t think she remembers I was there today.” He sighed heavily, realizing the true source of his outburst. “None of this meant much to me until I saw what it did to her.”

“It’s less personal, imagining most of humanity wiped out, than it is to see the effect it has on one person you know.”

Alex laughed shortly, staring at the ceiling. “And I’m supposed to find all the answers, save humanity and restore order to the universe.”

“You told Riddick the admiral trusts your experience.” Evan pushed away from the galley counter and walked to the center of the room. “The admiral himself said he’d clearly found the right man for the job.”

Alex huffed and rolled his head slightly to the right so he could see the Sha’erah. “So we find it, then what? What in the hell can we possibly do that’s going to save humanity?”

“We found an alien ship, the source of all Sha’erah, and an unlimited supply of Turbidium.” Evan shrugged. “Saving humanity should be a piece of cake.” He moved to the couch and picked up the remote that controlled the room’s multi-dimensional display.

Alex fought the grin trying to spread sideways across his face. “You’ve become quite the smart ass, you know that?”

Evan turned on the display and began adjusting the view. “Sha’erah are infinitely adaptable to their surroundings. It helps us become exactly what our Keeper needs at any given time.”

Now that -- Alex knew -- was complete bullshit. Evan wasn’t saying what his Keeper needed to hear, he was saying what he felt. He’d taken a completely frustrating morning, turned it upside down, and after a few hard shakes, set it back upright again. It was exactly that dizzying, confused, obsessive state that helped Alex keep his head on straight. Whether Evan was controlling that, or had simply learned well how to ride the wave, Alex wasn’t sure. And he wasn’t sure he cared.

There was nothing left to do but toss a couch pillow at the Sha’erah’s head.

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