Distant Reality Chapter Ten
GRID Traveler Trinity: Distant Reality
Author: J Carrell Jones
Table of Content
Chapter 10
“My enemy is not always the enemy of my friend.” An enemy is not necessarily an adversary that pits one against a moral or ethical dilemma. Enemies come in many guises. Some are actually saints, survivors and saviors.
Chapter 10
Robin arose early, got dressed and headed for Top Deck. Sean was already there. A habit he developed early in his career.
Sean turned toward the sound of the elevator door opening, “Captain.” He said smiling.
Smiling? Sean is smiling she told herself. Maybe the dream was only that, just a dream. Maybe Sean is not a pawn? She dismissed the idea. He didn’t know the truth or was oblivious to the end result of the truth. Robin decided she would be extremely careful around Dr. Loggar, period.
Robin nodded to Sean, “Just making early rounds, Commander.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He said.
“How’s your pupil, Dr. Loggar?”
“Fine, Captain, just fine. Dr. Loggar is currently sleeping, but we have another session scheduled at two bells.”
Robin stared for a second at Sean, looking to see what he really meant.
“Very well, Commander. I’ll stroll the decks then, continue the command until 10 minutes before two bells.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He said and redirected his attention to his CRT.
Robin backed out into the elevator. The elevator door closed. “Personnel deck,” Robin said.
The elevator started.
Robin allowed her thoughts to wander about nothing in particular. She just let them flow into her. Some disturbing - Loggar as the Most High or up there in the inner circle. She heard the scuttlebutt that Loggar was The Most High Goddess. She also heard she was vying for the position. The elevator stopped. Robin walked out and down the corridor. She stopped in front of the Commander’s room. She touched the chime and waited. Several seconds later a voice came through.
“Yes?” Said the disembodied voice of Loggar.
Robin cleared her throat, “Doctor Loggar, this is Captain Spaarin, may I have a word with you?”
Loggar said, “One moment, please.” She scrambled out of bed. Her dress lay crumpled on the floor. It had a spot on it. Loggar bit her lip and declared, “I can’t wear this in public.” She asked the computer, “Does Sean have anything I can wear suitable to receive a guest?”
The computer beeped and replied, “Dresser, top drawer, second layer, an old pull over shirt, length to your mid-thigh.”
Loggar hurried to the dresser and followed the computers instructions. Yes, a tan pull over shirt that would fit perfectly. As Loggar put it on she realized that the pull over shirt was not meant for Sean. She walked over to the door and hit the open button. The moment the door opened and she saw the look on Robin’s face she realized who the shirt’s owner was.
Robin’s face contorted, stunned for a second.
In the opened doorway both women stared into each other’s eyes for a full two heartbeats. Loggar looked down, “Captain . . . please come in.”
Robin stepped in. The situation was obviously awkward. “Doctor . . .”
“Captain . . .”
They both paused. The door slid shut.
A second ticked by, then another one. A full five seconds ticked along. Loggar was the first speak.
“Captain, I am sorry, I didn’t realize the shirt belonged to you.
Robin swallowed. “No need to be sorry. It was something we didn’t exactly advertise. I am surprised Sean kept the damn thing,” then, “it does look good on you.”
Loggar blushed and motioned Robin to the couch.
They both sat.
“Captain . . .”
Robin interrupted, “Might as well call me ‘Robin’, we have two things in common.”
Loggar relaxed a bit and smiled slightly. “Okay, Robin. And, of course you may call me by my first name – private and public.” She cleared her throat, “as you might have guessed Sean and I slept together.”
Robin listened. Loggar admitting that she and Sean spent some time together stirred emotions she had thought buried long ago.
Loggar looked Robin in her eyes, “You still care for him? Don’t you?”
Robin held her breath and counted to five before answering. “Maybe, our breakup was a bit awkward.”
Loggar said, “Those following the court-martial had mixed feelings over it.”
Robin shook herself at Loggar’s statement. “Pardon me?”
Loggar repeated, “Those following the court-martial had mixed feelings over it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Admiral Quail has family members in the Most High Goddess.”
Robin thought a moment about that declaration. Quail had been disgraced by her and Sean disobeying orders. He was an old Admiral who should have retired a decade earlier. During the trial Quail talked to himself, slept and seemed to not be totally together. It was a tense and sometimes embarrassing scene. In the end it had puzzled her why she got the promotion and Sean didn’t. He was senior to her by two years. It was Sean’s watch that executed the rescue and open defiance. She felt uneasy during the entire proceedings. Sean’s lawyers skillfully maneuvered the Prosecution in admitting that the Admiral had killed innocent personnel and endangered several more. It was strange that the judge dismissed the jury before the closing statements were made, but in GRID law a judge has the authority to excuse the jury if said judge thought the defendant may receive unfair sentencing. It was to everyone’s astounding disbelief that the judge declared that justice had to be served and that a jury decision was not in the interest of justice. The judge went on about the sanctimony of duty and loyalty and trust and honor and responsibility. He went on that even though Robin had first disobeyed the order it was Sean’s act that excused her from the ultimate responsibility of her actions. It was his watch. The courtroom exploded in shouts and exclamations. The judge warned that another outburst would bring a contempt of court to all people identified. The room fell silent. Then the judge went on about Robin and Sean saving lives, but they had also disobeyed an order. Justice had to be served. Because Sean had assumed full responsibility he had to be made the example. So, the court ruled that Robin was innocent, under extraordinary circumstances and Sean was guilty, under the same extraordinary circumstances. The courtroom went wild and the contempt of court order fell on many heads. A week later, the judge quietly retired, the day before the Admiral retired. Robin was transferred and Sean was given a month suspension – no pay and that the decision would be a permanent part of his record.
Robin thought about what Loggar said. ‘Admiral Quail has family members in the Most High Goddess.’ That statement alone had more weight and depth than everything Robin could have fathomed in a lifetime. She was saved because she belonged to an Elite group. She was part of a conspiracy.
Several seconds ticked by. Robin’s mind raced, ‘My Goddess! I am part of this.’ “
“Kathy,” Robin started, “Sean hates me.”
Loggar was taken aback. “Really?”
“Really.” Robin’s shoulders drooped. She nodded, “Yes, he hates me because I had distanced myself from him during the trials. And I did. My lawyer told me that it would be in my best interest to not associate myself with him.”
Loggar cursed herself. ‘What had I done?’ It was on Loggar’s word that Robin got away clean. To tell Robin or to shut up was the decision now. Her mind raced. ‘If Sean ever found out I would lose him.’ She cleared her throat. “Robin, you mustn’t be too hard on yourself. The Most High Council agreed with the court. Unfortunately, I didn’t know Sean; otherwise I would have tried my best to help him.” And that was true, but during the proceedings Loggar was told that Robin was a Most High member and the other was not. Sean’s name was never mentioned. The Most High takes care of their own; outsiders are left to fend for what they can.
After several seconds of silence Robin said, “I’m sorry to have disturbed you High Goddess . . . Kathy, I just wanted to know.”
Loggar squeezed Robin in a strong embrace and whispered in her ear, “I care for Sean, believe me, and from now on I will do what I can to make things right.” She then kissed Robin on the cheek and briefly, if a bit firmly, on the lips, pulled away and stared her in the eyes. “Sean will be okay.”
Robin nodded and her eyes welled with tears, but she held them from flowing and told herself that she was not gonna cry. She got up and straightened her uniform.
She said her goodbye and left.
Loggar sat on the couch for a moment, deep in thought. She got up and walked over to the desk. She sat down and pressed the Comm. button. “Is this . . . Top Deck?”
A disembodied voice replied, “Yes, ma’am, this is Mr. Devian speaking. How may I help you?”
Loggar smiled. She cleared her throat briefly, “Could you send a message, top priority, standard encryption, multiple addresses?”
“Yes, ma’am. Just type the message at your desk console, enter the addresses or names of the individuals to receive the message and tap on the Comm. Deck icon. I’ll get it and give it immediate attention.”
“How long will it take to reach Earth?”
“I’ll have to tight beam it to the nearest beacon, one moment please.”
Loggar held her breath and waited.
“About six hours. Any faster would possibly degrade the signal a bit.”
“Thank you Mr. Devian. Expect my message in a few minutes.”
“Yes, ma’am. Anything else I may be able to help you with?”
“Not at the moment. Thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome, ma’am.” The channeled clicked off.
Loggar sat at the console and tapped the screen a few times. She entered a one-line message and tapped the Comm. Deck icon.
She sat back pleased with herself. She told Robin ‘Sean will be okay.’ She meant it and this was part of it.
Loggar heard an audible beep on the console. She tapped the Comm. Receive button. “Yes?”
“Ma’am, it’s me Mr. Devian. Message has been sent. Would you like me to signal you when a reply comes in?”
Loggar almost giggled, “Yes, please!”
“Very well, ma’am. I’ll let you know a reply is waiting in your console Inbox as soon as it comes in. You’ll have to enter you service number to read the message.” He stressed ‘your inbox.’
“Thank you so much, Mr. Devian. I wasn’t quite thinking you know. Was it okay that I sent it from the Commander’s desk?”
“Absolutely, ma’am. You’re VIP. Trust me. I would know if it was not okay.”
“Thank you again. Oh, one last question.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know who Gaia is?”
There was a two second pause, then, “Yes, High Goddess, I do.”
Loggar smiled and tears nearly welled up in her eyes. “Thank you Mr. Devian.”
“You’re welcome, ma’am.” The channel closed.
Loggar walked to the couch and sat. “Computer? Do you have the transcript to the Admiral Quail, Blakemore, and Spaarin Trial?”
The computer beeped. “Replay of the entire trial or the condensed narrative form?”
“How long are they?”
“The entire trial recording is 17,283 minutes 37 seconds. The condensed form is 35 minutes.”
“Dim the lights and play the condensed form.”
The lights dimmed and Loggar relaxed on the couch.
The computer read and she listened to it. She smiled to herself thinking that what she did was going to, hopefully, set a few things right.
Within the half hour, the crew had two additional pools circulating.