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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781546235163 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | AuthorHouse |
| Publication date: | 05/17/2018 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 108 |
| File size: | 161 KB |
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CHAPTER 1
HOSPITAL LANDING PAD
We had barely touched down at the hospital landing pad when Captain Milroy pushed open the hatch door and started running. I caught a glimpse of him running from the ship for the hospital door when he almost stumbled - he managed to recover and continued to run for the door. The hospital's sliding doors didn't open fast enough so he crashed into them and kept on going.
Several minutes later we caught up with him in the hallway, looking dazed as someone hurried through a set of sliding doors with the box of medical supplies under his arm.
We stood for a few minutes before Kilo turned to the captain and, said, "Okay, now what?" The Captain looked around at all of us and said, "Come on. Let's go to my brother's place. He said he would meet us there later with news."
Walking back to the space ship I had a small chance to look around at this planet. It was green and brown, with patches of other colors. I could hear birds, insects and something else making noise in the woods. When we were coming down from space I was not able to see the planet because I had been confined to my quarters since the outpost. When we landed I was told by Kilo and Kilos that I was not allowed to be left alone on the space ship until I was either convicted or cleared of what had happened on the outpost. Since they did not want to stay on board, and since I had already been partially cleared of the initial charges, they decided to take me with them to the hospital.
While Kilo and Kilos escorted me to the hospital, I was more interested in what was in that box and if we had been in time. After all, that would also have an impact on my trial. Although I am considered to be tall, walking between these two made me feel like a short story between two bookends.
Curious, I asked the Captain, "Who was that man who disappeared behind the doors?"
"Oh! That's my brother and Fitzroy's father, Gilroy."
"But aren't Kilo, the First officer, and Kilos, the Navigational officer, related to you and Gilroy, too?
"Yes, Kilo and Kilos are my sons and Fitzroy is Gilroy's son."
Well, that was a surprise to me. I had only signed on with this shipping company for a month before the incident. There was no indication that it was a family run operation although some of the crew was more familiar to each other. I was only just beginning to figure out the relationships between the different crewmembers. I still think it wouldn't have made any difference to me — I was a long way from home and needed to earn credit to head home. My name is Joneb and I started out in a space colony on Deneb, the other side of the Milky Way.
Space travel was a way to escape from the everyday humdrum existence on my planet, even if I missed my family, particularly my Mom and my older brother. However, that's another story. I have had a variety of adventures some more exciting than others. My last one was particularly harrowing and I was rather glad to sign on to an interplanetary freighting company that seemed to be fairly routine in its operation, with no surprises, or so I thought.
When I had signed on to the Star Struck, the Captain had mentioned that the crew was close knit and I might have problems fitting in. I was used to being the odd man out since I had often changed jobs I started working on space ships. Captain Milroy thought it through; fortunately, my former Captain from the space ship, Wanderlust, had given me a good recommendation.
"Joneb, I think I will hire you for a six-month contract with the option of a 2-year contract after that. How does that sound to you?"
"Well, that sounds great sir! I certainly look forward to serving with you. You won't regret it."
"I certainly hope not. Now, wind up your affairs and report back here by curfew tonight. I want to leave by first sunrise."
"Yes, Sir!" I strode down the airlock feeling on top of the universe. Finally, a new start, another chance to earn some space credits. I might even be able to start working my way homeward.
After I joined the Star Struck it took the better part of a month to settle in. I had just started feeling comfortable with the crew. Jacson, Upjohn, David and I shared quarters, 4 small bunks in a room with 4 chairs and a table, typical quarters for a small freighter. Upjohn was one of the captain's sons, but David, Jacson and I were the non-family members. David was from the same planet but Jacson hailed from the next planetary system. Fitzroy, Mikeroy and Rojas were brothers and sister. Their father was the Captain's brother, Gilroy. Jonroy, the other female officer was the captain's daughter. Fitzroy, Rojas, Mikeroy and Jonroy also shared quarters. That left Kilos, (also the Captain's son) Roy (another son of Milroy), and Raymond (also from the same planet) for the 3rd crew room. Of course, the captain, Milroy and the first officer, Kilo had their own quarters. Jonroy and Rojas were the only female members of the crew. Although I knew it was crazy, I was beginning to fall in love with Rojas. Who was I kidding I was completely lost — I never knew I could feel this way about anyone. Well, enough about me for now. I was still trying to figure out what had happened and why as we headed for the Star Struck.
The captain walked out of the hospital a bit more slowly. We went back to the spaceport and boarded the Star Struck.
"Ah! Captain?"
"Yes, Joneb."
"Where is your brother's house? Are we going to be able to land the ship there?"
"No. We have to take the shuttle to his house.
On the shuttle, Fitzroy asked. "Captain did you get my father's key card for the door?"
"No. Don't you have yours?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"When I moved out, I gave it back to him. What about the rest of you?", he asked, looking at his brothers and sister.
From the sheepish looks, no one had the necessary key card.
"Oops! I guess we're just going to have to wait outside for him."
We walked to the house in almost total silence. We reached the house, which only took a few minutes.
Both men stopped in front of the door they looked accusingly at one another. As I looked around everyone looked upset at either the Captain or maybe Fitzroy. Then all of a sudden, the Captain started to laugh. First one then another began to laugh or smile as tensions relaxed. As I looked at Rojas, who is the Captain's niece as well as the communication officer, she softened and gave me a soft smile which warmed me and made me blush, I think because I felt hot which was either from that look or the heat or from the hard look I got from the Captain.
I guessed it could be several hours before the captain's brother, Gilroy came home from the hospital but there was no way to tell. I looked around for a chair but all I saw were some three-legged stools.
They had some sort of fabric stretched between the legs. I stood there and watched while one of the crew started to sit down. Then the stool moved. I blinked and looked again at the stool and it moved up to meet the crewmember. It spread out to fit the size of that person. The stool had greenish brown legs with a brownish type of fabric stretched between the legs. We call them "stoolies", the Captain said. "Don't ask. The scientists still haven't figured them out. But they come in handy for sitting.
I turned around and leaned on the railing of the porch. I looked out on a brook coming out from under the house. There were tall trees on both sides of the brook. Some were brown with green leaves while other trees were reddish with purple tinged leaves.
The brook flowed down the hill. With the silence on the porch I could hear the waterfall and the water seemed to go on to the ocean or was it a lake-from this distance I could not really tell.
I stood and stared at the water flowing from under the house tuning out the argument that started up about the box and me.
I watched birds fly around and heard some insects fly around as well. I was watching a bug of some sort crawl along a leaf of a nearby plant.
I am not sure how long I watched the bug move over the leaves and flowers before I noticed a flower that had fringes on the edges of the petals. The bug got stuck on the flower but before I could see what happened next someone touched me and I jumped. I looked around and to my surprise it was Rojas.
"Ah! Hi Rojas." I said.
"Is that all you can say, Hi."
"Ah! No, but I thought we were trying to keep our friendship quiet?" as she stood there the evening sunlight touched her skin. Then I looked into her eyes and lost any and all thoughts of my problems. Those eyes, those beautiful eyes, blue with a trace of green and the iris looks red or orange but with the suns setting it changed the color of her eyes a bit. Her hair was red and gold in the sun, making it hard to think of anything else, except how beautiful she was.
"We are but it looked like you needed some help staying focused on this world and me and not so much on the trial."
"But how, your Uncle has all but convicted me. I know he reinstated me, but it all hangs on the reports from the outpost."
"Things are not always what they seem," Rojas reassured me.
Gilroy arrived and looked around at everyone sitting outside on the porch.
Milroy noticed he had arrived and asked, "How's Dad?"
Gilroy turned and answered. "Father's doing fine now. It was a close call. He is resting quietly."
He looked at us. "Why are you all standing around out here?"
"We don't have a key card," said Milroy.
Gilroy laughed. "Since Fitzroy moved out, I've left the door unlocked. Just in case you or the world were giving him a rough time, he could come home anytime he wanted. I told him I would leave the door unlocked just for that reason."
Both Fitzroy and the Captain were a little red in the face.
Fitzroy turned and said. "Sorry Captain. I forgot."
We followed Gilroy into his house. He sat down and asked "by the way, what took you so long to bring me that box of vaccine? We almost lost Dad."
Milroy looked even redder in the face. "Don't ask me. Ask him. It's all his fault."
"Who?"
"Joneb." He said, as he pointed at me.
Gilroy looked at me and asked. "Okay Joneb. What happened? Why did it take you so long to get that box to me?"
"It wasn't on purpose, it just happened. All I did was hunt all around the station trying to find that box. I nearly got myself killed in the process. The captain sent me after it." I said defensively.
"So brother, why did you send him after it?" inquired Gilroy.
"I was really trying to keep him out of trouble." said Milroy wryly.
"It didn't work did it?" Gilroy laughed.
"No, it didn't." The captain shrugged, "Joneb, you'd better tell him why it took you so long to get that box."
"It's a long story." I said reluctantly.
"Fine. I want to hear all of it and with you being captain, Milroy, it should be very interesting."
"Gilroy, it is a long story." Milroy remarked. "Are you sure you want to hear the whole story?"
"Yes, with all the details."
"Okay, Joneb tell him."
"It all started a little over 12 hours ago ..."
"I had just reported to duty. I said Hi to Rojas. She responded with a 'Hi', back. Then I asked Kilo if there was anything I needed to know, he just grunted as we passed each other. I was coming on duty and he was going off. I knew he didn't like being kept waiting so I was actually a little early. He just liked doing that to aggravate me.
He spoke abruptly over his shoulder as he left the bridge. 'Rojas will fill you in.'"
"Okay, but ... before I could say another word he was gone. I turned to Rojas. What did I do?"
"Nothing. He's been like that for about an hour or so. I think he knows something is wrong and he is a bit upset."
"Rojas, why did we change course? Aren't we supposed to be at Moon Base Alphet in the Dragoon star cluster by now?"
"'Yes, Joneb." she replied. "We were but we received a private transmission for the Captain a few hours ago from Argyle. He took it in his ready room. When he came out he walked over to Kilo and whispered to him. Then Kilo, the First Officer went over to Kilos, the navigational officer, and spoke to him. Then we changed direction. After that, the captain left the bridge,' Rojas said."
A few minutes later the captain walked on the bridge. The crew went silent. 'I want the bridge crew and the junior navigational officer to come to the mess hall in twenty minutes.' he said looking directly at me.
We walked down to the mess hall. As we entered I slipped into a seat in the back. "As you are aware, we have made a course change." the captain said.
"We're going to pick up a box from a remote outpost in the Danube solar system."
He yelled. "Joneb."
"Yes, Sir!" I replied.
"I have a job for you. I need you to pick up that box for me," said the captain.
Sensing by the tone of his voice that there was something wrong, I asked, "What's wrong? What am I picking up?"
"You don't need to know. Just get it or don't come back. Because if you do return without it you'll be floating home!" he snapped.
He turned to Jacson (supply officer) and said, "You should pick up a few other supplies while we are there. We can't afford to spend too much time at the outpost."
Several hours later we docked at the Durban outpost in the Danube solar system. The captain stopped me and shoved an invoice in my hand. "Joneb, Go to the general cargo office. They'll be able to tell you where to get this. Please hurry." He said as he pushed me out the hatch.
"Why?"
"Don't ask, just go."
"Stop, why did you send him instead of one of the family to retrieve the box?" Asked Gilroy.
"If I had sent one of the family, they might not have made it." Said Milroy.
"What do you mean they might not have made it?" I asked.
"We have a slight family problem. So, I sent you instead of one of the family."
"You mean I was expendable?"
"No, you were an unknown crew member and I was hoping that you could get the box and bring it back to me without causing too much suspicion. But maybe I might have been mistaken."
"Oh, it sure seemed like they wanted to kill me or delay my departure."
"There was only a possibility of that."
"But the invoice had the name of the ship and the captain on it."
"Enough of this Joneb, just finish the story", said Gilroy.
Okay ... I looked down at the flimsy plastic and read the description of the box. As close as I could make out it was 12" square with silver bands around it as well as silver handles on both ends. There was also a Red Cross symbol on the top of the box. I also saw some more description but then had to walk quickly to catch up with the rest of the landing party, while looking around for the general cargo office.
I caught up with the landing party just inside the outpost. The general cargo office was in the opposite direction."
"And who was in this landing party?" Asked Gilroy.
"There was Fitzroy, your son, Jacson, the supply officer, Rojas, communication officer, Kilos, the Navigational officer and Upjon, the medical member of the crew.
"And where were you my dear brother?" Gilroy asked questionably.
"I was on the bridge with Kilo waiting for Joneb to get back with the vaccine."
"May I continue?"
"Yes, please."
"I saw Fitzroy ahead of me. So, I tapped him on the shoulder. I told him I had found the cargo office but it was in the opposite direction and I would meet him back at the ship. Then I asked what he was getting? But he wouldn't tell me."
CHAPTER 2THE DURBAN OUTPOST
"As I walked to the General cargo office I looked at the invoice. A box of vaccine – that usually means an epidemic."
"I went in and waited in line. I stood there in a daze not really thinking about much. So, I didn't hear the word 'Next' when it was called out. I did move forward but only after an alien standing behind me growled 'Move'. I really wasn't listening to that alien either. When she pushed me in the direction of the window I got the message."
I put my hands up and spoke, "alright, I'm moving, you don't have to push." As I approached the window, I started to give the invoice to the alien at the steel meshed window. I stopped, staring at what IT was wearing and had a small laugh. I had heard of this species but never encountered one face to face. It looked like a suit of armor, that IT had been poured into. With every movement the suit made a creaking sound. It sounded just like a suit of armor which was going to pop a rivet or two, then fall off. When I did look up at IT, I noticed that IT was waiting for something. I looked curiously at IT. IT pointed at my hand. When I looked down I noticed that I was still holding the invoice. I gave the invoice to IT." (Although I considered myself fairly well traveled, I had not seen that many alien — or rather non-human species. This had to be one of the more bizarre types — I believe IT was a Dillow from the Delta Quadrant.)
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "The Box and My Trouble Getting It"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Bruce B. Tryon.
Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
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