Chapter 3: Cargo Bay Seven

After breakfast, we went for a swim. The water was crystal clear and warm. Laine wore her skimpy yellow suit, while I wore the same shorts I wore yesterday.

In the water, Laine was unencumbered by her injury. I was glad to see her moving around without pain. She splashed around and seemed to forget our circumstances for a while.

I hung around nearby, but I didn’t swim out of my depth. No sense to create danger when there was plenty of actual danger out there.

While I floated on my back, I thought of Jem. I wondered what they were doing now. I hoped they hadn’t tried a rescue. That orbital station was too dangerous.

My mind wandered to what to do. The obelisk seemed my best choice. With it, we could travel to other worlds in other solar systems. Perhaps one system contained a friendly space-faring race (as long as it wasn’t the Gobers). Anything was possible.

Laine splashed me. I was unprepared because of my daydreams. She giggled as I spluttered.

“Hey Brian, what are you thinking about?” asked Laine.

“I was trying to come up with an amazing plan,” I replied. “Jem and Mina might need rescuing soon.”

“Did you get anywhere?” she asked.

“Not yet. There are several key steps in my amazing plan I need to work out. I don’t know what they are yet, but they will have to be awesome,” I replied.

She smiled.

“I would laugh at you, but I’ve seen you come up with amazing ideas. Just don’t drift out to sea,” she said.

“I won’t. How are you enjoying your swim today?” I asked.

“I feel much better today. The climate and the water are helping my recovery,” she replied.

“I’m glad you are getting better. I’m so sorry you got hurt on the orbital station,” I said.

“It wasn’t your fault they turned on the artificial gravity. Soon I will be completely recovered, so no worry,” replied Laine.

“Would you like to stay in the water a little longer or return to camp?” I asked.

“I can return to camp with you. We can always swim more later,” replied Laine.

I nodded. We hobbled out of the surf until we reached her crutch. I suspected she didn’t need too much support, but she enjoyed holding on to me.

Mina worked in her garden, not too far from Brian’s bench. It now had a shiny plaque on it.

“Attention. I have finished exploring the system,” said Ship.

Mina looked up from her seedlings.

“Did you inform the Commodore? Are we to review the results together?” asked Mina.

“The Commodore is in the lido. She directed me to inform you and let you handle it,” replied Ship.

This was weird. Jem spent almost all her days in the lido recently. Now she was delegating tasks to Mina.

“Ship, what is your report of this system?” asked Mina.

“This system is uninhabited. No life signs on any planet. No vessels detected,” replied Ship.

“So nothing interesting to report,” asked Mina.

“Confirmed,” replied Ship.

“Not even a pirate base or an orbital station?” she asked.

“Confirmed,” replied Ship.

“Am I to select the next system to visit?” asked Mina.

“Confirmed,” replied Ship.

“I’d like to go home, Ship. Please set a course for Ori Major,” said Mina.

“Travel from this system to Ori Major will take about fourteen days, Lieutenant,” replied Ship.

“Yes, I understand. I still want to go there. I have an overdue appointment to drink to the memory of Brian and Laine. Jem might not be ready to honour them, but I am,” said Mina.

“Acknowledged, Lieutenant. Their deaths aboard a derelict orbital station in an uninhabited system was a most unfortunate end. They deserve to be remembered. Before we depart, may I launch a message probe to inform the other AIs?” asked Ship.

“Please do send your message probe. Let them remember the lives of Brian and Laine in their own way,” replied Mina.

“Confirmed. I am recalling probes and launching a message probe. Our next destination is Ori Major,” replied Ship.

The defensive probes returned, and Ship stored them away. Ship launched a message probe, bound for Yastri.

Ship then turned and accelerated until the hyper drive kicked in and they winked out of normal space.

Soon after, in cargo bay seven, the security monitors malfunctioned.

Ship didn’t consider this as serious. Things broke down and needed fixing. Ship dispatched a maintenance bot.

Laine sat at the table in camp, while I fetched two coffees. I sat beside her and we sipped our beverages in relative quiet. It was midmorning, and the warm sun quickly dried our bodies after our swim.

This was a relative paradise. I had the essentials for long-term survival, including company. Yet I felt a growing impulse to return to our vessel. Perhaps they were in danger?

Hadn’t I been wanting to quit only recently? Now I got what I wanted. I could live out my life in this setting. Why spoil it?

“Credit for your thoughts?” asked Laine.

I looked at her.

“I was reflecting on how amazing this place is,” I replied.

“Without the Varech, this place is a fabulous vacation resort,” said Laine.

“Are you content to remain here or are you drawn to return to our vessel?” I asked.

“We’ve only just arrived here. I don’t know yet. Do you sense Jem and Mina are in trouble?” asked Laine.

“I don’t know. I have an uneasy feeling though,” I admitted.

“Well, I could remain here with you OR return with you. It is important to me we stick together. If you stay or you go, I will follow you,” said Laine.

“I don’t have an amazing plan yet. Until then we stay here,” I said.

“You sound like a being waiting for a public ground transport,” she said with a smile. “You expect a miracle to arrive sometime soon.”

“I am often surprised at the amazing things that happen in my life. Not all of them were positive, but it has been quite a ride so far,” I said.

“Since I met up with you, I have enjoyed the ride with you and I intend to continue,” she said.

“Thank you for the vote of confidence, Laine. But I can’t take credit for all the things that happened,” I replied.

“I don’t care. You aren’t getting rid of me,” said Laine.

“I’ll do my best. But understand, each time you take a chance with me it may be your last,” I said. I was thinking of Koluna.

Laine reached out and touched my cheek. “I understand and I accept the risks, Brian.”

Her intimacy made me uncomfortable. I remembered when I upset her before, so I kept quiet and waited. She stared into my eyes, searching for something.

Then the moment passed.

“What is next on today’s agenda?” asked Laine.

“Now that we got survival resolved, I keep thinking I’m missing something,” I replied.

Later, Mina visited the lido. She found Jem relaxing in a hammock.

“Hello, how goes the gardening?” asked Jem.

“Fine, thanks. I thought since you are here most of the time, we might eat dinner here. It’s just the two of us, so we needn’t use the main dining lounge,” replied Mina.

“That would be great. I crave bacon and eggs tonight,” said Jem.

Jem sat up in her hammock and swung her legs out to the side.

“What is that?” asked Mina.

“Bacon and eggs is an Earth dish. Would you like to try it?” asked Jem.

Mina nodded.

Jem walked to the food dispenser in the corner and fetched two plates of bacon and eggs. She put them on the table and got two coffees.

Mina was about to sit down when Jem responded.

“Please don’t sit in that chair! That used to be Brian’s chair,” said Jem.

“Sorry!” replied Mina. She sat in a chair to the left instead.

Jem took a seat, and they ate their dinner together.

“Mmm, bacon and eggs is yummy!” said Mina.

“I’m glad you like it. I haven’t eaten this since before you joined us. Losing Brian triggered the memory, I guess,” said Jem.

Mina took a sip of coffee.

“Our next destination is Ori Major, Ship said it will take about fourteen days,” said Mina.

Jem nodded.

“So we have fourteen days rest or gardening, as you choose,” said Jem.

“I intend to visit Gorn’s and drink to the memory of Brian and Laine, as per Ori custom. You are welcome to attend,” Mina said. She hoped she wasn’t pushing it too far.

Jem looked up from her eggs.

“Thank you. I will attend with you. I suggest full dress uniform,” replied Jem.

She returned to her meal. It tasted so good.

Down in cargo bay seven, the security feed came back online. It showed no activity.

The maintenance bot had completed the repairs, but the maintenance bot itself was missing.

Power consumption in cargo bay seven was slightly higher than usual.

Ship dispatched another maintenance bot to investigate.

Laine and I spent the afternoon enjoying the ocean.

“Hey, you’re getting better at swimming,” said Laine.

“Thank you, I had an excellent teacher,” I countered.

Laine smiled.

“Are there fish out there?” I pointed out into the deeper water.

“I guess so. They don’t come close to shore or they’d be an easy catch,” replied Laine.