The first day, p.10
The First Day, page 10
part #1 of Vanguard Series
“Yeah, don’t you mean a week of drinking and debauchery?” Tori quipped.
“Something like that.” He grinned.
“Well, let me just take the time to remind you not to get as wasted as that time you went to Mynacos. You know how that worked out for you,” McKay added.
“Yeah, three days drinking, and poor old Jonesy ends up offending a whole planet,” Raxs laughed.
“Got three months in the slammer, too.”
“Not for the first time,” Tori stated.
“True, but that first time doesn’t count,” he said, waving his hand nonchalantly.
“What about the second time?” Raxs grinned knowingly.
“Fuck, that was worth it,” Jones replied, toasting the memory.
“What was the charge, tampering with sacred artefacts was it?” Tori began.
“Actually, it was unintentional vandalism,” he corrected. “But how was I to know the tree was sacred?”
“Didn't you get the orientation brief when you arrived?” McKay asked.
“I err, missed it, more important matter required my attention,” he replied.
“Woman or drink?” Raxs asked, taking the stick from his mouth.
“Both,” Jones replied.
“So how did you offend them, anyway?” Williams asked.
“The sacred tree, I kinda pissed on it,” he replied.
“How do you kind of do something?”
“Ever tried Haldarean Firewater?”
“No, never even heard of the stuff.”
“Well when you've tried some, you'll have your answer,” Jones laughed in reply.
“I wouldn't,” Tori began. “Sweetest drink you'll ever have, with a little kick.”
“Little kick,” Jones started. “A kick like a Voraxon Buffalo with its nuts caught in a blender, more like.”
“Sounds like fun,” Williams said. “Think I'll give it a miss.”
“Well after about a bottle of that you get a little, how shall I put it?”
“Scuntered?” Raxs suggested.
“Precisely, and I was on my fourth.” He grinned, pausing for a drink. “I got up to take a piss, and the next thing I knew the whole town was trying to kill me.”
“I get that.” Raxs grinned.
“I tell you, I’ve never sobered up so quickly as when a crazed horde is chasing you.” He paused, taking another drink. “I got out of town, but the bastards continued chased me around the whole area for two days before I could get out,” he grumbled. “Ruined my itinerary, so it did.”
“Two days you evaded an entire security force?” Williams asked.
“Yup, thanks to my drill master, old Brosnak.”
“Ha, Jimmy’s not old,” McKay stated. “He's only about twenty years older than me.”
“Shit, he must be ancient then,” Tori joked in her playful manner.
“So, if you got away, how did you get locked up?”
“They sent the footage to Command demanding justice.” He paused. “So after a brief skirmish, the MP’s arrested me.”
“Brief skirmish, it was a brawl,” Tori said.
“Semantics,” Jones replied.
“If the Colonel hadn’t gone to bat for you, though, you’d have got longer.”
“True, but it worked out well in the end.” He paused. “Still, even with the jailtime, it was a better weekend than poor old Harbrooks had,” he laughed.
“Why, what happened to him?” Williams asked.
“Oh, he spent his time balls deep in one of the natives.”
“Nice.”
“I’m sure it was, problem was he left with a gift.” Jones laughed, linking his fingers together and clapping the heels of his hands together, a marine gesture for an S.T.I.
“Cockrot, poor bastard.” Williams winced.
“It was his own fuckin fault, should’ve taken his meds before.”
“Yeah, true. They don’t hand them out for the taste, that’s for sure,” Tori added.
“When was all this?” Williams asked. “I don’t remember it happening.”
“Oh yeah, you weren’t here then. It was after that shitshow on Setlen two, you’ll have been in rehab growing a new leg.”
“Yeah, that sucked,” Williams stated.
“I’ll bet,” Tori added.
“Better than a prosthetic,” McKay said.
“True, very true.” Williams nodded.
“Ain’t you about due leave soon?” Jones asked.
“Yeah, but I deferred it til the wife’s back,” Williams replied.
“That’s right, she’s on a Galactic survey, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, the Mauritok in Canis Major, only another four weeks to wait.”
“Got anything planned for her return?” Tori asked.
“Yeah, two weeks in Zum, Zum.”
“Zumpeohea?” Tori ventured.
“That’s the place,” Williams replied.
“Nice,” Jones stated.
“Costs a packet, but it’ll be worth it.” They all became aware of a commotion outside the barracks that drew closer. After a few seconds they could recognise drunken singing. Seconds later three people entered. It was Simpson and gunner Jhales, a Voraxon. They were holding an incredibly drunk Naules.
“We won, wahey!” Naules drunkenly shouted.
“No shit,” Raxs laughed.
“Fucking champions!” Naules again cheered as Simpson and Jhales poured him into a chair at the table.
“Good game?” McKay asked Jhales.
“Oh, it was a corker,” he replied. “End to end stuff.” He paused. “Raiders were three two up with five minutes to go. We made two interchanges and boom, goal. And then in the dying seconds, a wonder shot from the young Alvarez snatched the win.”
“Sweet,” Williams said. “So, the Shades finally won the Laniakea Championship.”
“We sure have,” Jhales replied. “Epic stuff.”
“Let’s party!” Naules shouted, his eyes barely open.
“Think your party’s about over,” Tori said, grinning at Naules.
“I’m ripped off my tits and I know it,” he replied, steadying himself with the table.
“Fuck LT, I love it when your hammered,” Raxs laughed.
“I’ll let you into a little secret; so do I,” Naules giggled.
“Drink?” Jones said, offering Jhales a bottle.
“Not for me thanks, I’ve already had enough for one night,” he replied. “I should already be in bed, but couldn’t leave Darnell in this state.”
“Simmo,” Jones said, offering him the bottle.
“Fuck yeah, could use it. We was so close.”
“Ah, there’s always next year,” Raxs said.
“Has he been hammering it all night?” McKay asked.
“Not really, but after that final whistle, he went nutty,” Simpson said.
“Ha, suppose we can let him off,” McKay said, noticing Naules had fallen asleep. “After all, it’s been thirty odd years since the shades last won anything.”
“He’s got the right plan,” Jhales yawned.
“You get heading then, I’ll make sure the LT gets to bed.”
“Thanks, Sarnt Major.” He paused. “Well goodnight all, enjoy what remains of your night,” he added with another yawn.
“Night.”
“Well I'd better get the LT stowed, and then think I’ll turn in myself. Gotta early training planned for our shineys,” McKay said, draining the last of his drink.
“Hold it Sarnt, I’ll give you a hand with the LT,” Simpson added.
“Good man, grab his legs.” He paused. “Now, don't you kids stay up drinking all night,” McKay added.
“I'm on a rec day tomorrow, Sarge. I'm free and clear,” Jones said.
“Me too,” added Tori.
“Lucky bastards,” Williams said as he stood up. “I’m gonna head too, could really do with something to munch.”
“That sounds like a damn fine idea, I think I’ll join you,” Raxs added.
“Have fun you two,” Williams said as he and Raxs left, heading to the mess hall.
“Well, what should we do now?” Jones said.
“I suppose we could keep drinking, or play some more cards, or if you don't want to you could always just do me,” she said, staring in a lustful way at him.
“You read my mind,” he grinned.
“I do have psychic powers when I've been drinking,” she said, sliding across the table. Straddling him, she began to kiss him.
“Let’s take this somewhere a bit quieter,” he said between kisses, standing up holding her. “Your quarters are closest.” She replied kissing him, and putting her feet back on the floor, began pushing him towards the door.
On the bridge Lieutenant Commander Hixx was in charge. As a cybernetically augmented humanoid, she was able to continue for several days without rest. Whilst they continued the search pattern, there was little to do other than wait patiently. Taking advantage of the quiet, Hixx was sat in the Captain’s chair reading one of the latest science journals. Like many in the fleet, Hixx had a yearning to explore and discover, a scientist at heart. She was currently reading an article about sustained energy displacement, a tedious subject, but one Hixx found enthralling.
“Fascinating,” Hixx stated, forgetting she was not alone.
“What is?” Vanessa asked.
“Oh, em, this article I’m reading.”
“Well yeah, figured that bit,” Vanessa replied with a cheeky smirk. “What’s it about?”
“Sorry, it’s the latest developments in sustained energy displacement. I know, sad right?”
“Not at all,” Vanessa replied. “I find the subject very compelling.”
“Really? I’d no idea you were interested.”
“But of course, I am,” she replied. “Sustained energy displacement could potentially lead to more powerful weaponry.”
“I should’ve known you would be looking at the military aspect of it, rather than the countless other possibilities it could open.”
“Hey, I recognise that it could lead to many other things too, but I’m a warship. Naturally, I’d be drawn to its military applications first.”
“True enough,” Hixx added. “Imagine the possibilities; much faster ships with ten time the range we have now.”
“You’re still such a dreamer, Amie.” Vanessa smiled. “So, what new insights have they found?” she asked.
“Well according to this study from the Centari institute, they may have found a way to control the polaric particle reversion factor.”
“How?”
“A new frequency algorithm that’s been developed from the Troidacian calculations.” Hixx paused. “So far it has been eighty percent successful in lab testing.”
“Huh, so after thirty years of being on the verge of solving the problem, they may finally be there.” Vanessa grinned. “I won’t hold my breath though.”
“Commander, sorry to interrupt.”
“Yes, Comms, what is it?” Hixx asked.
“We’ve just received a runner carrying a message from Captain Eluititaeya.” He paused. “They are on their way back now.” He paused a moment, reading the message further. “The Captain estimates it’ll be about twenty hours until the group’s back.”
“Thank you, ensign, acknowledge the message please and update them on our latest course.”
“Aye, sir,” the young comm officer replied.
“Bet there’s a few sore heads on that ship,” Vanessa stated.
“Oh, for sure.” Hixx nodded in agreement. “Don’t envy them with that flight back.”
“Me either, fifty of them on a launch for twenty odd hours, and most probably hungover, no thanks.”
“There’s always a price to pay for enjoyment,” Hixx stated. “Still, so long as they had a good time, then it’s worth it.”
“Absolutely,” Vanessa agreed. “One thing is for certain; they’ll have had more fun than we have tonight.” She sighed.
“Take a break if you want,” Hixx stated. “No sense in us both being here waiting for something to turn up.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah no problem, and if anything turns up, I’ll give you a shout.”
“See you shortly,” Vanessa said as she left the bridge and headed into one of the ship’s elevators. As the doors closed behind her, she pressed the button for deck twenty-two. She watched the numbers as they rapidly counted away on the display, and as she did, she loosened her hair from being pinned up, her red locks dropping to her shoulders. The elevator slowed to a stop and the doors opened.
Now, Deck Twenty-two was a strange sight to see on a spaceship. The entire deck from bow to stern had been crafted into one great forest. A remarkable collaboration between engineers and botanists as they had so expertly woven the organic and inorganic together. Not only had they created a stunningly beautiful place, but also one that was highly necessary for the ship’s functioning, as this deck was a critical part of the environmental systems aboard. The forest was full of trees great and small, bushes, flowers and a wide variety of other plant life. The floor was a mixture of grass, soil and stones. There was even a small stream that wound its way through the trees, culminating in a shallow pool located in a large grassy opening in the centre of the forest. Vanessa stepped in and walked towards the pool, down the stony trackway. She loved nature and spent a lot of her 'off-time' here, disconnecting from the clamour of the ship to just have her own thoughts. Walking along the path, she brushed her hand against the bark of a tree and noticed the sappy morning smell as overhead the intricate lighting system began to simulate the first light of a new day. As she entered the clearing, she stopped next to some bushes to take her boots off. She giggled to herself, remembering the first time she met Jones she was stood here. He had made a quip about needing to trim her bush. It had made her laugh, as she shared his crude and dark sense of humour. She enjoyed the banter they had between them. She would insult him as being descended from an ape, Jones would reply by comparing her to a toaster or some other early form of technology. She stepped off the path onto the grass. Walking barefoot through the grass, she still marvelled at the simple sensations organic beings long ago stopped noticing; the touch of grass and soil on bare skin.
Approaching the pool, she stopped. From a patch that grew nearby, she picked one of her favourite flowers, a Ulderian Jhasmin, an exquisite flower with jade coloured petals that have a faint neon glow under moonlight, with a sweet soothing scent. She held the flower up to her nose, inhaling deeply the wondrous scent of the Jhasmin. Its effects were not solely limited to organics, as the soothing scent even worked on Vanessa’s artificial mind. She placed the flower in her hair behind her right ear and walked to the pool. She sat down at the edge of the pool, rolled up the legs of her suit and dipped her feet into the cool waters. She sat there swinging her legs gently through the water watching the ripples she made radiate away from her until they dwindled in the pool’s natural flow. Presently she became aware someone else was there, as her sensitive hearing picked up the sound of footsteps nearby and someone softly singing. Vanessa sat listening to the gentle song. It was a song of loss and hope and love. She'd never heard it before. As the singing drew closer, Vanessa noticed a figure walking on the other side of the pool. Oblivious to all around except her song, she looked up. It was Frost. She was a new friend, and Vanessa loved making new friends; learning about different people, their experiences, hopes, fears etc.
“Oh, I'm sorry, Vanessa. I didn't mean to disturb you.”
“That was beautiful, Alice,” she replied. “I didn't realise you could sing like that.”
“Thanks,” she smiled somewhat bashfully. “I don't tend to sing much around others,” she added.
“I've never heard that song before,” Vanessa said.
“It’s an old song my mother used to sing,” Frost replied.
“Well, I hope you'll sing it again sometime for me.” She smiled.
“Perhaps,” she replied.
“Good. Well, come sit,” she said, patting the ground next to her. “So, what has you up at this time of the morning?”
“It’s not too early. I've got first watch today and was just finishing my morning walk.”
“Ah, of course you are.”
“It's good to have a place like this to unwind, especially after yesterday’s discovery.”
“Yes, somewhat unexpected yesterday, wasn't it?” She paused. “How are you coping with it?”
“I don't know,” Frost replied. “It's been puzzling me what could've happened down there.”
“It is a bit of an enigma, isn't it?” Vanessa replied. “But mysteries are all part of the great space adventure.”
“I suppose, but I'd prefer to know on this one.”
“Me too, but there’s little we can do for now until some new evidence or clue surfaces. Sometimes you just to be patient and know that not all questions have answers.”
“You’re right, of course,” Frost replied. “Can't help curiosity can you; otherwise, none of us would be out here I suppose.”
“How very true, curiosity and the need to understand is what drives us all.”
“Indeed,” Frost said with a distant look in her eye, as if she was thinking intently upon something.
“So, have you got any plans for the anniversary?” Vanessa asked, changing the topic of the discussion.
“Um, the anniversary,” she replied. “Um, no. I don't think so.”
“Oh, that’s a shame. No family or friends or lovers you want to be with?”
“No,” she replied a hint of sadness in the tone. “Both parents are dead and no siblings.” She paused. “Most of my academy friends are dispersed across the galaxies.” Pausing again, she looked at Vanessa. “And as for lovers, that would be no.”
“Alice, you poor girl. That has to be about the saddest thing I've heard. You shouldn't be alone, no one should.”
“It’s ok, I like it that way.”
“Sure, we all enjoy our own company, but to isolate yourself from those around you is dangerous.”
“I don't isolate myself,” Frost retorted.
“You do, Alice, without even realising it you do.” She paused. “You've been so focussed upon living up to your father's reputation that you've let your career overwhelm your life and dictate its direction.” She looked at Frost. “You’re even doing it now. I bet you’re still thinking about yesterday, aren't you?”
