Stowaway Read online

  “Thanks for what you did for us down there.” Samix said motioning towards the planet. Clearly it wasn’t what she had in mind, but she couldn’t seem to force herself to say what was bothering her.

  “No problem, you guys were my ride home, couldn’t let anything happen to you.” Zade replied trying to lighten the mood.

  With that joke, Zade could see a solitary green tear roll down Samix’s face. Samix couldn’t figure out how to break the news to Zade that there was no way they could get him back home. After being freed from the top of the ship, Samix immediately headed to the command deck to try and recover any navigational data on earth. Hoping that, against all odds, somehow navigational data had been stored on the ship. The hope was for naught, after hours of scrubbing through system logs, she couldn’t find any information on earth.

  After finding that there was no navigational data, a deep sense of leader’s guilt settled on Samix. In her mind she had, although unknowingly, changed Zade’s life and she was therefore responsible for his wellbeing. As happens to any leader forced to witness misfortune befall those in their charge, a myriad of “what if’s” began flying through Samix’s mind. What if she had grabbed the location of earth before the ship jumped? What if she had overridden the evasive jump protocol? What if she had done a better sensor scan prior to landing? Realizing that beating herself up over past actions would not make the situation better Samix began to craft options. The first being, keeping Zade aboard as the head of the robotics and security chief. She had looked through his file and was impressed by his academic prowess. Finding out that Zade had completed training as a mechanical engineer with a focus on robotics from his people’s Military Academy. Further highlighting his mental acumen, he was able to complete the program, usually taking four years, in half the time. Samix had no reservations about Zade’s ability to work the lab in the ship. As for the security position, prior to planet fall Samix had already found that Zade was unknowingly an applicant for some clandestine military program on earth, meaning that he was one of the best warriors on his planet. An assessment solidified by his actions to defend both her and Jorloss when they had been attacked by the beasts during the repair stop.

  Only once in her life had Samix seen a warrior best such opposition. It was at the Carlas, gladiatorial games, of planet Xi’Ga. Xi’Ga was the home world and namesake of Samix’s species, and the planet of her upbringing. As a child her father would take her to the games, where she would dream about one day becoming a great warrior like the individuals performing for the crowd. The games, brought to mind by Zade’s actions, happened on her 90th birthday. Just out of adolescence her father took her to the games to celebrate her acceptance into the command program at the Unity Standard Military Academe. The competitor, a Marlog, had bested five ultra-aggressive, four hundred pound, poisonous, armored amphibious creatures from Jorloss’ planet, Lassf, while completely unarmed. The Marlog were renowned across the Unity as the best warriors alive. A large bipedal species that dwarfed the Xi’Ga, the Marlog were a dark grey with black armor plates covering their vital organs. Although the Xi’Ga regularly outfitted the Marlog with the latest weapons, and utilized them as mercenary protective forces, the Marlog were capable of unarmed combat thanks to a retractable claw that ran the length of their forearms. Few warriors could measure up to the Marlog, those who had the physical prowess to best one, lacked the mental agility to adjust their tactics while in combat. Those with the mental agility often lacked the physical prowess. After watching him work planet side Samix had no doubt that Zade embodied the right balance, and would have fit perfectly into the Marlog society, meaning he could greatly augment the survivability of the ship.

  The second option she had come up with was the possibility of returning Zade to a planet like his own. Looking through the profile data of the planets found prior to the incident on earth. Samix found one that’s atmosphere would support Zade, and it had a species similar in both looks and development as humans. Given the right backstory and timing, Zade had the potential to live out a long fulfilling life amongst the people of the planet. With options at the ready, she had to tell Zade that he would never again be able to go home, resume his old life, or see his people.

  “We were able to identify all of the damage the ship sustained from the solar flare. The data drone we had on earth was dislodged from its mounts.” Samix said. She then began to explain what the drones were used for and why they were a main piece of equipment on exploration vessels. She went on to explain that the only information pertaining to earth was Zade’s medical file, which was kept in a separate system to prevent corruption or ship wide power outages from disallowing the medical staff access. Deciding to just come out with it, she closed with,

  “The chance of us running across the signal bubble from your planet is almost zero. There is no way for us to get back to earth, I’m sorry.”

  Even after deciding that he wanted to stay aboard and help, the news hit Zade like punch in the gut. Not wanting to go back was far different from not being able to go back, the latter being significantly worse. For Zade desire was a choice, but ability was not, meaning that any limitation based on ability made him feel helpless, a feeling that he hadn’t known since basic training. Zade stood next to Samix in silence stunned by the revelation.

  After letting the news sink in for a bit Samix began again, “You do have a couple of options. First, I would really like for you to stay on as a crewmember. I have already lost a crewmember to hostilities, and we need someone like you to organize security. Option two is that we can drop you off at a planet whose species closely resembles your own. From there you could do as you like. I know it’s a hard choice, we will stay in orbit until you come to a decision.”

  Samix headed out, leaving Zade on the command deck for the first time by himself, where he sat staring out at the stars. Sleep finally came for Zade with its warm inviting embrace and he headed to his quarters. For two days Zade retreated into the structured recognizable safety of his own mind, where he mulled over his situation, leaving only to get food from the galley which he carried back to his room to eat in quiet isolation. Finally, the despair and disbelief gave way to anticipation and curiosity, and Zade realized that his vacation in the stars had become his destiny. So, he headed out of his quarters with a new outlook and an answer for Samix.

  To his surprise sitting at the table in the galley was a figure he had never seen before. This miniscule individual, too short to even touch the ground while seated, had rich dark reddish brown skin covered partially in course thin hair. Atop his head sat two swiveling ears, half as long as his body. Approaching carefully Zade gave the being a wide birth as he moved to grab a cup of sloop. Turning towards the table Zade was startled by what he saw where the being’s face should have been. Sitting where his eyes should have been, were two deep pits, and in place of a mouth was what appeared to be two solid stone plates.

  “Unless we picked up another hitchhiker, I’m guessing you’re another crew member.” Zade said as he sat at the end of the table

  “The name’s Axis. Just got out of my quarters, was pretty under the weather. You must be Zade, the only hitchhiker we have picked up.” Axis replied.

  “Yup, was told that you guys couldn’t get me home. Just heading up to the command deck to talk to Samix about what I want to do.”

  “Wouldn’t mind seeing you around if half of what Samix has said was true. This ship is full of scientists and thinkers. After the incident with Farn and the incident you were involved in, it wouldn’t hurt to have someone defending us. My thoughts at least, pleasure meeting you.” With that Axis jumped down from his chair and headed to his room.

  ∆∆∆

  Zade later learned that Axis was part of a species, who call themselves the settlers, that evolved on a planet which was far too small to support a large population. Because of this the species first evolved to use as little energy as possible and second to survive in the harshest conditions. As their home planet
became more crowded and stressed, the settlers began genetically modifying their population to reduce demand. The first stage of modifications reduced their size substantially which in turn reduced the amount of resources they required. Although the modification prolonged the life of the planet, it wasn’t enough, and the settlers had to resort to more extreme changes. In a second attempt to prolong the survival of the species, the settlers changed their genetic code, so their eyes were replaced by infrared sensing pits. The pits still allowed them to sense predators, but by removing their optic equipment they again reduced their energy demands by fifteen percent. Realizing that the planet was still dying the settlers began searching for answers away from their home world. The settlers began developing terraforming technology so they could colonize the asteroids surrounding their planet, an exodus that gave rise to the species name. As a final attempt to save the species one final genetic modification was made in the group bred to colonize the asteroids. This generation would have the systems to gain nutrition directly from the minerals and ores of their planet, the cause of the strange mouth that Zade noticed. As an unintended benefit, as the settlers ate the local ores their skin changed color to match, giving them natural adaptive camouflage.

  Upon first arrival to the newly terraformed asteroids, the genetic modifications paid off, as the atmosphere and ecology were still too weak to support the settler’s earlier bodies. Understanding that they were running out of time, the new settlers began to tinker with the terraforming equipment to expedite the process. In addition to learning the inner workings of the terraforming machinery, the Settlers had hundreds of different asteroids being terraformed at the same time, allowing them to refine the process, increase the number of applicable planets, and increase the success rate of the terraforming process from ten to nearly ninety-nine percent. By keeping the terraforming techniques and methods secret this once doomed, and nearly extinct species became one of the most powerful factions in the Unity. Providing services to any species looking to expand their habitable region, for the right price.

  ∆∆∆

  After finishing his drink, Zade headed for the command deck to talk to Samix. Upon his arrival Samix was nowhere to be found, and only Mur was present. Mur was sitting in the captain’s chair and said nothing as Zade entered the command deck. As Zade turned to leave he could have sworn that usually stone-faced Mur was wearing a frown. Zade’s next stop was the medical bay where he found Jorloss engrossed in his work. Sparing only the briefest moment to inform Zade that Samix was in her quarters. Zade walked across the hall and knocked on the door to the captain’s quarters. After hearing movement inside the door slid open revealing that it paid to be the captain. The captain’s quarters consisted of a sleeping area with a full bed, a marked improvement from the twins that were in the rest of the crew quarters. Just past the sleeping area was a small living area complete with a couch, desk and two bookshelves, packed to bursting with different literature. Like the crew quarters the captain’s room had the utilitarian bathroom area with the addition of a set of linins instead of the air dryers. Samix was sitting at the desk reading a book from one of the bookshelves. As Samix turned to face him Zade announced his decision.

  “Even if you had the navigation data, I couldn’t go back to earth. I would most likely spend the rest of my life confined. And I don’t want to be dropped on the next habitable rock like some errant stowaway. I want to stay aboard as part of the crew.”

  Almost as if overcome with happiness, Samix hustled over and gave Zade a hug. Obviously, he had chosen right in her mind. Leading him over to the couch to sit Samix began explaining, in detail, the operations of the ship and how Zade would fit in, the excitement in her voice now obvious. The XES01 followed a strict three phase process while exploring. First the ship would warp to interstellar space where it would conduct a deep space scan. This scan would identify anomalies and unique planets based on spectrometry and other sensor readings. After the scan data was compiled all unique items and planets of interest were identified, and Mur would plot the most efficient warp path to examine each. As the ship arrived at a planet it would maintain high orbit where the first orbit would completely map the topography of the planet, the second and third orbits were used to collect the composition of the atmosphere and planet respectively. The last orbit would catalog any plant or animal life on the planet. Viewing the data, the scientists aboard would decide whether or not a they needed to land and collect more information. If a spot of interest was identified, the ship would move into a geosynchronous orbit, staying directly above the point of interest while the crew prepared to land.

  These landing parties were going to be led by Zade. As the new security expert aboard, it would be his job to identify any threats, make and outfit the SSILF, then provide security for the scientists doing data collection. After explaining the main method of exploration Samix stood motioning for Zade to do the same and head for the door.

  “Now we’re going to head down one deck and I will show you your lab.” Samix said leading Zade out of her quarters and towards the rear of the ship. Walking past the galley, Samix pointed to a row of innocuous doors explaining that they led to each scientist’s office. The one closest to the outer hull was unclaimed and Zade could use it if he chose. Pointing to a door across from the offices, Samix noted that it was to the ship’s ready room, where all mission briefings and debriefings would take place. Walking past the ready room Samix led Zade down the rear stairs to the cargo bay. Turning back towards the front of the ship, Zade could see a standard man door set in the center of the wall with two enormous rolling doors on either side of it. Samix informed that the left rolling door opened to Axis’ terraforming lab, and the right opened to the robotics lab. Walking through the man door, Zade could see four doors down the hallway two to the left and two to the right. Stopping at the first door on the right Zade could see the placard, it read “Robotics and Fabrication.” Identifying the other three labs before entering robotics Samix informed Zade that the front left was the anthropology lab, front right was the biology lab and as stated before the rear left was the terraforming lab.

  The inside of the robotics lab was a sight to behold. The walls were covered with different blueprints and design sketches. Against the far wall four different SSILF, all clearly different variants were lined up. Directly in front of Zade, in the corner by the robots there was a small workstation, complete with six displays; three on each wall. Turning clockwise Zade could see tables in the center of the room, one of which had the burnt remains of his army equipment piled on it. His visual inspection finished with the wall closest to the center of the ship. It had different manufacturing equipment lined up against it from where he was standing to the rolling door at the rear of the lab. Samix explained that the three cylindrical manufacturing machines towards the rear of the lab were for fabrication. They were capable of fabricating any piece of equipment that the ship needed to include fully functional SSILF. The machine next to the tubes was a disassembler, which Zade could use to replicate any equipment not in the lab database. All he had to do was place the device into the machine where it would be broken down and mapped. After all the required information about the workings and material of the device was logged it would be reassembled. Next to the disassembler was a smaller fabrication machine used to make smaller more delicate parts for the ship. The last piece of equipment in the row was a modification machine. It was used to improve or modify any already existing piece of equipment.

  Walking to the computer station Samix explained that anything that Zade could draw or design on the workstation could be created in the lab. Zade provided the ideas, and the ships material reclamation system provided the materials. Further explaining that after Zade went to see Jorloss he wouldn’t even need to be in the lab to create things. The cerebral linkage created by the nanites would link him to the design systems.

  Upon hearing about the nanites Zade asked, “Speaking of nanites, now that I am a full member of the crew
will you be lifting the kill order you programmed into them?”

  Convinced that Zade was mistaken, Samix assured him that she had ordered no such thing. Undeterred, Zade explained how during the fight, when he picked up the railgun, he could hear Mur’s voice informing him that his aggressive actions would be met with termination, and how a thirty second timer appeared in his right field of vision. Disgusted by the very idea of executing Zade for taking action to protect the crew, Samix assured him that she would look into it after she finished showing him how the lab worked. Walking to the pile of his old equipment, Zade could see exactly how much damage he actually took as his body broke atmosphere trapped on the side of the ship. The side of his IBA not trapped against the side outside of the hull was completely burnt away, leaving only the material protected by his SAPI plate. The M4 that had been strapped against his chest had clearly taken enough heat damage to warp the barrel, and the rounds in the magazine had cooked off leaving only a twisted hunk of metal where the front of the lower receiver should have been.

  Not everything was a loss though. When he got pinned, his leg must have been turned enough to protect his 1911 because the only damage it sustained was a large gouge in the slide. Everything in his butt pack survived as well. Sliding the kit towards him as he flipped it over, Zade unzipped the pack. As soon as he opened it a wolfish grin spread across his face. Explaining to Samix what each item was as he took it out and placed it on the table. Inside was two hockey puck demo charges, two extra magazines for both his sidearm and his primary, and most importantly his iPod. Things were starting to look up, now at least he could continue his pre-mission ritual of listing to his combat playlist. Turning it on he flipped to his favorite song and stuck the earbuds in, after noticing Samix inquisitively looking at him, he handed her one of the earbuds so she could listen. Clearly not impressed by the “Horrible Angry Noise” Samix tossed the earbud back to Zade. Chuckling to himself Zade wrapped up the iPod and pocketed it, anticipating going back to his quarters so he could listen to it. To end the tour Samix asked Zade which weapon was his favorite.