Distant Reality Chapter Seven
GRID Traveler Trinity: Distant Reality
Author: J Carrell Jones
Table of Content
Chapter 7
Jealousy is an animal that roams freely and with many disguises. Its true form can be a complete contradiction of its perceived form. Jealousy, fear, anger, wonderment, amusement, all part of the same family tree. Different roots from the tree but part of the same family.
Chapter 7
Robin looked at the display readout for the third time. It said the same thing it did when she looked at it the two previous times. She sighed and looked at her timepiece. Sean and Dr. Loggar had missed dinner. Robin thought about calling them - to see if they had forgotten, but thought better of it. Suppose they were indisposed? She stared at the display a fourth time. Same thing, nothing.
“Computer?” She called out.
“Yes, Captain Spaarin?”
“Is it possible to check on Commander Blakemore and Dr. Loggar without them being notified?”
“Is this a priority override request, Captain?”
Robin paused and reflected for a bit. “No, I suppose not. Maybe they’re still talking?”
“Unable to speculate without further inquiring.”
“No, I suppose not. Forget I asked about checking on them Computer.”
The computer beeped an acknowledgment.
Robin sat and wondered. This is what she had hoped for, wasn’t it? The Doctor did specifically ask for him. Robin subconsciously bit the side of her middle finger. Years of such biting created a thick layer of skin. ‘Am I jealous?’ was the thought that rang through her mind. ‘I liked Sean, but I made my decision. But then again, do I feel guilty?’ Robin sighed, pursed her lips, got up and straightened out her uniform. She purposefully walked out the room.
Sean lay on the couch with a glass of colored liquid on his chest. Dr. Loggar was hunched over a CRT gazing intensely at some readout.
“Sean,” She called out, “is this to mean that the power output is proportionate to the mass?”
“Yeap.” He got up and walked over to Loggar. Her glass was empty. “Shall I?”
She looked up and caught Sean smiling at her. A forgotten feeling almost welled up. “Oh, my beer. Please.”
Sean took their glasses over to the tap. “Computer, Beer, please.” When her glass was full, he drained his and filled it up. “Beer.” He said handing the glass to her.
Loggar took a sip. “Is that why the ship transverses roughly the first hour?”
Sean looked at the readout and smiled, and whistled softly. “I never had a student like you before. No wonder GRID Command listens to you when you speak.”
She shrugged, “Sometimes, sometimes not. I’m a little fortunate, though. Picking a field that is just starting to make some waves.” She stared Sean in the eyes for a long time. The thing that amazed her was that he was staring back. His eyes were warm and delightful, if not a bit out of focus from the adult beverage.
Sean couldn’t believe he was falling for a scientist, especially a scientist as renowned as Dr. Loggar. He stirred a little and reluctantly moved his gaze over to the read out. He nodded, “Doc, you’re right, that’s why it’s bumpy the first time . . . the first hour.”
Robin stood outside the door to Dr. Loggar’s room. She listened, nothing. She pressed the chime button and waited.
The chime rang.
“Who could that be?” Loggar mused.
“Oops, I bet it’s the Captain. We didn’t exactly excuse ourselves from dinner. It’s my fault.”
“Dr. Loggar, Cmdr. Blakemore?” Robin’s disembodied voice called out.
“Enter.” Sean spoke and straightened himself for the stare. “I’m sorry Captain. I should have . . .”
Loggar interrupted, “Sean, I should be the one to apologize.”
Robin silently worded, ‘Sean.’
“It is my fault Captain, you see, when I get interested in something, I become obsessed . . .”
Robin leaned forward.
Loggar’s statement struck Robin as both amusing and disturbing. Loggar was obsessed with Sean. She wondered when she would tell him. She wondered if she would if either of them ever asked. “. . . I was just very interested. I hope I didn’t get the Commander in trouble?”
“No, not at all Doctor. I did relieve Commander Blakemore from his temporary duties to help you. I should have reminded you about dinner.”
“Is it too late? Dinner I mean.” Loggar asked.
Sean replied, “No, we could have it in here or in the galley, The Johnson has 24-hour service.”
Dr. Loggar ran her hand across her stomach. “I am a bit hungry and I suppose I should put something in my stomach besides adult beverage.” She turned to Sean, “Commander, I don’t suppose you could show me to the galley. I’m sure the food is much much better than from a Cargonaught.”
Sean nodded, “Beggin’ your Captain’s permission,” and enjoyed Robin’s slight discomfort. He had a feeling that this particular exchange of words and set of happenstances was not boding well with her.
Robin nodded once, and watched as Loggar followed Sean down the corridor. The Doctor had used the word obsessed. Robin thought, ‘Sean heard, I heard it, and the Doctor realized we both understood. Loggar is someone you should watch out for.’
They faded off in the distance giggling. Robin had never known Sean to giggle! The door hissed closed.
Robin turned to the CRT Dr. Loggar had been looking at. It displayed advanced formulas of GRID jumping and power conduction equations. She noticed two equations that didn’t belong to GRID calculating. Several symbols were foreign, but don’t scientists often invent new ways of saying the same thing?
Robin said, “Computer?”
“Yes, Captain Spaarin?”
“Copy Dr. Loggar’s ‘text’ from this CRT to primary TEMP region.”
“Done Captain, anything else?”
“No . . . yes! Priority override. Mask my request to copy Loggar’s text to primary TEMP region.”
The computer beeped an acknowledgment.
Robin looked around and noted the near full glass of beer and no-doubt Sean’s glass of toxins he liked to drink. She walked out and the door hissed closed shutting out a scene that made Robin feel guilty, upset, angry, and scared.