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Chapter 14

Sean sat in the XO chair and waited. Robin sat in the Commander’s chair, back straight, flush to the rest. She keyed in..."

2025-01-27T06:59:17Z

Created page with "{{TplDistantRealityChapter|title=Chapter 14|chapter text=Sometimes, goals get in the way of feelings and a person sometimes forgets what was originally important. It is a point of view whether it is true or not true. Paradigms come in all flavors. If you don’t like one, pick another. Chapter 14 Sean sat in the XO chair and waited. Robin sat in the Commander’s chair, back straight, flush to the rest. She keyed in..."

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{{TplDistantRealityChapter|title=Chapter 14|chapter text=Sometimes, goals get in the way of feelings and a person sometimes forgets what was originally important. It is a point of view whether it is true or not true. Paradigms come in all flavors. If you don’t like one, pick another. 
 
Chapter 14 
 
Sean sat in the XO chair and waited. Robin sat in the Commander’s chair, back straight, flush to the rest. She keyed in a command and looked up. Dr. Loggar sat in the observer chair that was over to the left corner of the bridge. 
“Dr. Loggar” Robin said. “We’re within real-time communication range. The Lightstar set up a GRID comm. line for communication. Shall we contact the base?” 
Loggar thought for a bit, “Captain, we can try. What time is it down there?” 
Robin glanced at Mr. Kirkland. 
Kirkland keyed in a command to the Lightstar. “It is six bells first watch, 2300 hours base time, ma’am.” 
Robin looked toward Loggar. 
“Let’s see, Herb should be doing watch about now. Okay Captain, can we do voice?” 
“Kirkland,” Robin began, “Give me a tight beam to the Lightstar and relay it to the base. Voice to voice.” 
“Aye, ma’am.” 
After a second, Robin said, “Necron base, this is the GRID ship Johnson, Captain Spaarin speaking. We have Dr. Loggar with us. Requesting voice communication, over.” 
They waited. 
 
Herb sat down at the main computer console. He had been trying to find proof about his hunch. Ted Randals he knew would always be a lap dog and an anal retentive mamma’s boy. He had been Loggar’s favorite from the start. He hadn’t really figured out why. He knew they weren’t ‘doing’ each other. Maybe it was this mother-son thing that Loggar was going through. He knew she would snap out of it eventually and see Randals for the dumb shit he really was. It was just a matter of time. 
“Okay, Mr. Computer, let’s see what you’ve found today?” Herb said out loud to himself. It was 2300 hours and he was basically alone in the main core. Most of the admin-types were asleep as well as the head staff members of each department. Occasionally a tech-type would find his way into the main core looking to query the computer about something. They would make small talk for a bit then they would leave, off to do their tech stuff. Herb only really liked two people. Loggar his boss, and Milkens in electronics, the only true genius beside himself. He typed in a command. The computer sat for a minute and responded with ‘negative.’ 
“Shit.” Herb exclaimed. “Goddamn piece of crap, give you a zettabyte of memory and what do you get? A system that forgets . . .” 
Just then . . . 
“Necron base, this is the GRID ship Johnson, Captain Spaarin speaking. We have Dr. Loggar with us. Requesting voice communication, over.”
Different voice, Herb thought, He sat just for a moment. ‘Let them think we’re busy down here,’ he thought. He sat back and entered a new command. This time it would not only trace the power feed into the new chamber, but it will send a carrier pulse on the signal enabling him to do a query on voltage spikes. 
“Necron base, this is the GRID Ship Johnson, Captain Spaarin speaking. We have Dr. Loggar with us. Requesting voice communication, over for the second time.” 
Herb waited three seconds. “Hello, GRID Ship Johnson, this is Necron base. Herb speaking. In a brief form of an old Earth greeting dating back to the 20th century, ‘Howdy, Y’all!’ 
 
Robin listened to the, ‘Howdy, Y’all’ and turned to Loggar. 
Loggar shrugged and said, “It’s Herb, kind of a different personality, brilliant mind, but a loose stereotypical nerd. You’d have to get to know him to really like him. May I?” 
Robin nodded at Kirkland. 
Kirkland keyed in the command for channel opened and nodded back. 
Robin silently worded ‘okay’ to Loggar. 
“Herb, is that you?” 
“Hey, Dr. Loggar, nice to hear from you. We got a lot of new things to show you. Your boy, I mean, Randals has been running things surprisingly smooth down here. When you arriving?” 
Loggar looked at Robin who looked at Sean who looked at Foster. 
Foster said, “Two hours ten minutes.” 
“Got that Herb?” 
“Two hours ten minutes?” 
“But I think an eleven o’clock arrival would be best. If you can, send all new information to us. Do it via the Lightstar.” 
The sound of clicking was heard. “Done, Doc. I think you ought to read paragraph five line twelve page four, first. I talked to Randals about it, but you know how that can be.” Herb chuckled. 
Loggar smiled. “Well, maybe. But do let him know and give the rest a quick heads up on my arrival.” 
“Of course, Doc.” 
“Then I’ll see you in 12 hours?” 
“Twelve hours.” 
The communication line went dead. 
There was an awkward silence for about a second. 
“Well, Dr. Loggar. When we establish orbit in about two hours. Ten hours from then we’ll shuttle down to the base. Would you like any specific personnel or equipment?” 
Loggar thought, “Beside, Cmdr. Blakemore? You . . .” 
“Me?” 
“Yes, Captain. You’re also required. It won’t take too much of your time, maybe a few days, but I assure you, it’ll be worth it.” 
“Okay, anything, or anyone else.” 
Loggar smiled, got up. “No, nothing I can think of at this particular moment. Your crew . . .” 
Sean stiffened and the bridge chatter stopped. 
Loggar caught her mistake. She cleared her throat, “The crew has been most helpful, thank you. I’ll see you in . . . how long will it take to reach the surface by shuttle?” 
Robin looked at Sean. 
Sean, blank faced, said, “One hour.” 
Loggar continued, “I’ll see you in ten hours then.” 
Robin nodded. 
Loggar got up, gave a quick glance at Sean. He went military faced on her and it was unreadable. She entered the elevator. The doors closed and she was gone. 
Robin got up. “Mr. Foster, take conn for a moment.” 
“Aye, ma’am.” 
She turned to Sean, “Commander, please accompany me into the ready room.” 
Sean nodded, got up and followed Robin. 
 
Herb sat for a moment typing a global message to all personnel. Standard procedure was to log on every start shift and check messages, requests, and assignments. Herb knew that most of the staff would do just that. It was the other small percentile he was banking on that wouldn’t. He typed in the last word and pressed the send button. Sitting back he grinned wide that Randals, the buffoon and office oaf that he was wouldn’t get the word until the last hour. His grin turned into a laugh. 
 
In the ready room, Sean stared at Robin. 
“Commander . . . Sean, be careful . . .” 
“Is the Captain asking me to be careful for a specific reason?” 
Robin paused in thought. “Yes.” 
Several seconds went by. 
“And?” Sean asked. 
“Just be careful. Dr. Loggar believes you personally can help . . .” 
“I don’t see how, but is that why the concern?” 
Robin sighed. She definitely had feelings for Sean, and that was not in the program. “I . . . I just have a feeling Sean. Sometimes, goals get in the way of feelings and a person sometimes forgets what was originally important.” 
Sean stared at Robin for an intense second. He heard what she had said, but he wasn’t sure what she had said. He opened his mouth then shut it. Opened it again and shut it for a second time. He sat and thought what Robin was trying to say. He had a softer feeling toward her since Kathy had entered his life. Maybe that was the thing that was needed, someone to enter his dismal existence and give it meaning. Kathy surely did. Sean visibly relaxed. 
“Okay,” then added, “Okay Robin, I will. But tell me why the concern.” 
Robin leaned back into her chair and thought, Sean would ask that question. “Sean, do you know what Wicca is?” 
“Wicca? You mean witchcraft? Witches?” 
“Yes, I most certainly do.” 
 
Loggar sat in a dark room for several moments. She had a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. She made the mistake of addressing the crew as Robin’s and that made her feel bad. She hoped Sean could forgive the mistake and then cursed herself for such a stupid feeling. Sean was way above trivial things like a small mistake. Technically, it was Robin’s ship. Unofficially it was Sean Blakemore’s, commander of the Reginald Johnson for four years, up for a commendation, delayed because of personal problems and the bad mark against him. A mark she was indirectly responsible for. ‘Damn!’ She hated all this happenstance. She sat in the dark for at least an hour, uncertain.
The chime rang. 
“Yes?” She asked. 
“Kathy, it’s me.” The disembodied voice of Sean’s came through. 
“Enter, please.” She spoke. 
The door slide opened. Sean stepped through. It was dark in the room and Sean strained to see the figure sitting on the couch. “Kathy, are you okay?” 
“Lights on.” Kathy said. 
Sean stood just inside the doorway. His brows furrowed. “I had a talk with Robin. She told me some things . . .” He let the pause hang in the air. 
“Sean, what did she tell you?” 
He stepped closer. “Are you a witch?” 
Kathy held her breath. That was the one thing she thought Sean would never ask. She had it worked out, that she would show him the dig site, then the statue and then she would explain the symbols and what they found. After that she would breach the subject of witchcraft and Wicca. “She told you that?” 
He nodded. She reached out and touched his cheek. 
Sean almost jumped back, but caught himself. It didn’t matter what Kathy did or what Robin told him, at least he told himself that. “Kathy, I’m confused. You tell me what a witch is.” 
Kathy guided Sean to the sofa, they sank in. “Sean, I have a religious preference that is different from most other humans. I practice a form of religion that was thought to have disappeared a century ago. People still remember it today because of Vids, Streams, and old video recordings that never captured the true meaning of witchdom. Most of what you grew up with was fanciful tales.” 
“What is a witch then?” 
Kathy sighed deeply and said, “I’ll tell you what a witch is not. A witch is not some wrinkled, long nosed crank stooped over some huge pot boiling disgusting ingredients to perform some non-realistic wish.” 
Sean chuckled. 
“A witch, male or female, is someone with a belief in the Goddess. Not just a God, but a Goddess as well. It’s not too different from Hinduism if you really want to split hairs. We see things differently from most other religions. We’re nature based, and most importantly, we’re old. We were before Christ, or Judas. The Greeks and Romans borrowed extensively from us. In a way, we were the first true well thought out religion.” 
Sean stared, 
“I had hoped that I would slowly introduce you to the notion of Wicca, backed with the findings on Necron.” 
“Necron? You mean that planet has something to do with witchcraft?” 
“Well, yes and no. We found a lot of Wicca symbols and a lot of procedures for doing certain tasks ritual like in nature. A small percentage of us think that Earthlings long witnessed the rituals of an advanced species and tried to copy them. Wicca may have formed from this copying.” 
Sean thought. 
“You see, this planet gives validations to a religion that was crowded in a lot of wrong perceptions. This planet is vindication.” 
Sean looked up. “What’s my part?” 
Kathy moved close to Sean and placed her arms around him. 
Sean didn’t resist. “Am I some type of puppet?” 
“Absolutely not! You are the most important thing, person, needed for us and you’re the most important thing in my life. I love you, Sean. Those are not just words I mean it. I need you as well as all of Wicca. Trust me please.” 
Sean leaned into Kathy and gave her a hug. At this point in his life he didn’t care if his life was in danger. Sometime during one’s lifetime a person loses hope. Sean lost hope years ago. Consciously he blamed Robin for the situation, subconsciously, he knew the truth. He was not the person he had wished, should have been. He was flawed and that hurt. Ultimately, he just wanted to be loved, if not by himself then by someone else. Kathy gave it to him and all was okay. 
 
It was six bells morning watch. Dawn was in the mess hall drinking a cup of coffee. She stared out the view port. Johnson sported two mess halls, Officer’s watch and Starboard’s Bow. The Officer’s watch, of course, catered to warrant and commissioned officers. Starboard’s Bow to everyone else. Thing was, the Commander and Dawn enjoyed visiting the Bow every now and then. It was a way to get a feel for the crew. A way to know what Johnson was thinking. Dawn sat by the view port and just let her thoughts wander. She had another hour before her shift began. She was going to take the Forenoon watch. Captain would be there, no doubt. She didn’t think that bitch, Spaarin ever slept. She sipped a mouthful of Cookie’s coffee and felt someone sit next to her. 
 
Sean walked into Starboard’s Bow looking for Dawn. He knew her routine and was pretty sure she hadn’t changed it. They had been through a lot and he hoped they would be through many more. He saw her there, sitting, staring out the port. He walked up and sat next to her. 
 
Dawn looked over her shoulder. “Hey Commander, how’s it going?” 
Sean smiled, “Okay I guess. The company I’m keeping is pretty cool. Any interesting scuttlebutt?” 
Dawn laughed. “Interesting? And How!” 
“Really?” 
She nodded and took a swallow of coffee. “Yep, some damn good stuff, too. You want to hear it?” 
Sean raised an eyebrow, “You know I always like a good spin of the yarn. Give me the big juicy stuff. Skip the small stuff.” 
She took another sip of coffee. “You’re whipped three sides to Sunday.” 
Sean laughed out loud. He caught himself after a second, cleared his throat, and said, “Really? Took the crew long enough to see it.” 
Dawn smiled. “Two hours after Doctor Loggar came aboard the ship started a pool.” 
Sean smiled, “Who won?” 
“Mason in Engineering, I got second. I’ll buy you a dinner the next time we get leave. Damn good second place, two weeks’ pay.” 
Sean whistled out loud. “That was a good pool.” 
Dawn nodded and smiled. 
Sean pressed his lips together. “You’re gonna have to tell me when and what the next big pool is about.” 
She turned to him and looked Sean straight in the eyes. “It’s when you’ll kick Captain Spaarin off Top Deck.” 

 
}}

Distant Reality Chapter Fourteen - Revision history