Alien Shore Chapter Five
GRID Traveler Trinity: Alien Shores
Author: J Carrell Jones
Table of Content
Chapter 5
Lay aft, is the cry, to the break of the Poop to my way haye, blow the man down, or I’ll help you along with the toe of my boot! Give me some time to blow the man down!
- (Blow the Man Down, After 1818 maybe derived from an African-American Song, Knock a Man Down)
- (Blow the Man Down, After 1818 maybe derived from an African-American Song, Knock a Man Down)
Chapter 5
Tony Desella, Maria Albright, Gordon Ross, Myra Lincoln, Dennis Hinckley and Ashley Bush sat in chairs around a large table. They stared at Sean for a few moments.
Sean hadn’t really decided what to do, but he figured if he had the six unknowns in one place they couldn’t send off a message to Robin.
“Why are we here again?” This was from Gordon.
Sean said nothing. He sat and stared back. Collins was on his right and Quock stood at the doorway. She had unsnapped her holster. Her gun was now free.
Gordon said to no one in particular, “I see no reason to hold us hostage.”
Sean looked at his timepiece. Twenty minutes to go. He pulled out a CSD and turned it on. It was about the size of his palm. A tiny screen flicked on. He typed in a code of numbers from the tiny keyboard.
Dawn’s face appeared and she said though tiny speakers. “Yes, Captain.”
“Dawn, have the Johnson moved to the opposite side of Necron and send out some scout ships. I want to know when the Webster enters ‘Now’ space. I got a gut feeling we have to cut this visit short.”
Dawn repeated the orders.
“Dawn?”
“Yes, sir?” She replied.
“What pools are circulating?”
Dawn smiled, “Well, the one who would scream first and loudest was a surprise. Who really knew Quock and Collins as thrill junkies? Only Clinton in Armory guessed that Collins and Quock would enjoy the ride. That was a good one. A month’s pay! The latest one is whether the Webster will catch us with our pants down. Oh, and there is a small one about us getting into a fire fight with the Webster.”
“Hmmm, can you put me in the fire-fight one, you know, give me a random spot . . . it’s on when we fight not if, correct?
Dawn’s attention was diverted for a moment. “You’re in, sir. You want to know your spot?”
Sean shook his head, “Nope, can’t have the crew thinking their Captain is a cheat.”
Dawn’s tiny image smiled. She nodded approvingly. “Captain, scout ships deployed and Johnson is moving to the far side of Necron.”
“Thanks, Dawn. We’ll be coming aboard in about three-zero minutes. I’m gonna run the shuttle hot. Captain out.” Sean cut the connection. He wondered what type of pool his statement ‘running the shuttle hot’ would generate.
Collins and Quock smiled.
Quock said from the doorway, “Captain, there is a way to automatically place you in a pool.”
Sean looked up, “Really?”
Quock nodded, “When we get to the ship I’ll ask Mr. Kirkland to set you up with an account. He’s got some really sophisticated programming and some nice AI algorithm . . .”
Gordon took the opportunity to ask, “Why are we here, again?”
Sean stared at him for a second. “Continue Quock.”
“He’s got it worked out that you can input specific parameters and the system will only place you in the pools you want or think you’d be interested in. You can even set aside your max pay in for each pool.”
Sean smiled, “Nice.”
Gordon frowned and said, “Look you. I don’t know what is going on here, but I’d like some answers.”
Sean yawned but said nothing. He was, however, feeling a bit hungry. “Are you two hungry?”
Collins and Quock nodded.
Gordon slammed his fist down on the table.
Some of the others started to speak up.
Sean wondered if he really could still do Magick. He thought of the dukufa fruit Adruqu had produced months before. Then he uttered, ”Tolas, kolas, yuhonki, ye ohtgi dukufa. Tock, Tock.” Three dukufas appeared. Sean tossed one to Collins and Quock each. Everyone stared slack jaw at Sean. He sat back and said, “Dukufa lup aba ca na dabra.” The fruit split in a half dozen pieces. “Collins and Quock, you’ll have to peel yours the old fashion way.” He put a slice in his mouth and savored the taste. “Mr. Ross, is it?”
“No, it’s Doctor Ross.”
Sean laughed and placed another slice in his mouth. “What do you do here?”
“I don’t have to answer you.” Gordon huffed, “I’m the one asking you for answers.”
Sean thought for a second and pointed his hand at Gordon. He then lifted his arm upward and Gordon floated up out of his chair. “And I don’t have to gently put you back on the ground . . . what do you do here?”
Gordon looked down and broke out in a sweat. He was afraid of heights but never told anyone. “I’m a linguist.”
Sean smiled, “Na ficha ponija ka?”
Gordon stammered, “I didn’t understand you?”
Sean raised his arm higher and said, “You’re not a very good linguist.”
“Okay, okay, I didn’t send the message. It was Tony!”
Tony jumped to his feet and yelled out, “That is a lie. You bastard!”
Sean closed his eyes and said “Ruogka!”
Tony had a gag around his mouth and his hands were tied by rope. He jumped and slammed into the table. He nearly panicked but caught himself.”
“Shut up and let him finish.” Sean said at Tony.
Tony sat.
Sean looked up to Gordon and raised him higher. He dropped him a foot and shook him a bit. “You have more to tell me.”
Gordon’s heart pounded. He wished this were not happening. He swallowed hard. “We are working for GRID Command. As investigators.”
Sean lowered him to a chair. “Ruogka!” He said and Gordon was gagged and bound in thick rope. Sean’s CSD went off. He touched the screen and Dawn’s face appeared.
“Captain, Webster has entered normal space. It’s about four-zero minutes away.”
“Thanks Dawn.”
“You want a fighter escort?”
“Have one waiting in launch tubes just in case.”
“Aye, aye. Fighter escort in tubes on the ready.”
“Thanks. Captain out.” Sean closed his eyes again. “Ruogka!” Maria, Ashley, Dennis, and Myra were bound and gagged. He placed Gordon back in his chair bound and gagged. Sean finished his fruit, got up and walked toward the door. Quock and Collins finished their fruit as well.
Collins said, “Wish I could do that.” And smiled.
Quock nodded.
Sean smiled back, “Maybe one day you will.”