Lens of Time: Book 05 - Star Rover-The Worst of Time (7 page)

“Uhhhhh…I’m the navigation Computer.”

“Do you have a name?”

Loree struggled and sent a pulse to Stein. Stein turned the scan of Dat over to Loree and interrupted the call, “I’m sorry, the navigation computer is need on another task. My name is Einstein.”

Jill was now curious about the other computer’s name, “What name does the navigation computer answer to?”

Stein knew that deliberate deception was never done between computers and Rover pilots; “Its name is Loree. Now how may I help you?”

Jill was stunned, “Well, will you ask him to contact me when he returns.”

“I will, Lieutenant.”

“Thank you.”

• • •

“Now you’ve done it.”

“How was I going to dodge that question? You should have changed your name.”

“I like my name.”

“You heard Dat tell us not to let her know.”

“Well, then he should have been here. He knows we can’t lie.”

Stein paused, “Maybe this will get him to confront this particular demon and get it exorcised. They really should talk this out.”

“You can tell him that; I won’t.”

“You big sissy.”

“That’s why I have a girl’s name. That’s a compliment.”

Oh, whatever.”

“He’s on the surface.”

“Keep him locked in.”

• • •

Jill leaned back in her command chair. She knew that pilots put a lot of thought into naming their computers. Jack and Jill and Bucket matched up nicely with an ancient nursery rhyme. He named one of his computers Loree; my middle name. That choice spoke volumes about what he endured with her after the academy. He still felt something. If there was nothing there, he wouldn’t have used her name. She forgot about his scores and remembered the last night she had seen him.

D
at stared across the table at Loree. He was constantly amazed by just how beautiful she was. Her long black hair was down and her green eyes were beautiful. She normally wore a dress but this night she chose to wear her fleet uniform with her new First Lieutenant Bars. He knew she was excited at the promotion. He was also given a new rank but was ordered not to reveal it. He looked at her and said, “Are you ready to order?”

Loree looked at Dat and dreaded what was coming but knew she had to do it, “I’m not staying to eat, Dat.”

“Why?”

“I really like you. You’re smart, witty, charming and good looking…”

Dat stared at her, “But…”

“I’ve given a lot of thought and I know my career is the most important thing in my life. I can’t afford an entanglement with someone that would slow me down. I’ve decided that we must go our separate ways. I hope you understand.”

Dat was devastated but managed to keep his face neutral, “You’re following your Mother’s example.”

Loree’s eyes narrowed, “She was elected President and he should have respected her selection. He failed in his duty to follow her to Earth.”

“So coming here was a duty?”

Loree stared at Dat, “He tried to stop her from running for the position. He should have supported her and remained by her side.”

“She had been absent most of their marriage. He never saw her.”

“Then he shouldn’t have married a Rover. He knew what he was getting into. This is part of what made me decide to do this.”

Dat slowly shook his head, “Your father would see her even less if she accepted the position. I’m sure that was more than he could handle. He waited for her to come home for years.”

“We’re in the same situation here and it’s best that we end it before someone gets hurt. I don’t see you helping me advance. Attempting to keep a relationship would not allow me the freedom to do what I need to do to get ahead.”

“Have you really thought this through, Loree?”

“I’m using my first name from now on, Dat. Call me Jillian; and yes I have.” She stood and said, “I do wish you the best. Good luck in your career in the Navy.”

Dat watched her walk away and felt something inside him break into thousands of pieces. He waved the waiter away and stared out at the lake next to their table. The lights from the city across the lake twinkled on the surface of the water and looked like thousands of tears and he fought his as he thought about what had just happened. He was still there two hours later when his communicator beeped, “Yes.”

“Fleet has asked you to arrive early.”

Dat sighed, “I’m on my way.”

• • •

Jill looked at Dat’s records again and pulled up the record of the fleet maneuvers and saw that it had taken place the next day. She also saw that he was promoted to Full Captain the week before she said goodbye. He didn’t use his new rank to stop her from walking away. He knew he was not a priority for her and allowed her to leave without making her feel bad. He might have stopped her if he had told her about his promotion…but he didn’t.

Jill reached inside her uniform and pulled out the locket with Dat’s picture inside. Engraved inside the cover was, “Dat and Loree”. She gripped it in her right hand and cried again for the thousandth time. Some lessons come hard; this was one that still haunted her. Jack and Bucket remained silent. They had seen this many times before and had exhausted anything that could be said to comfort her. Over and over they heard her say, “I was so dumb, so dumb.”

• • •

Dat dropped toward the planet in a Dark Matter Field. It was linked to his mind through one of the rings and he watched as the surface grew larger. He used the repulsive force to direct him toward a large community near a river where the microprobe had landed. He came in quickly toward a field just outside the outer edge of buildings and slowed just before hitting the ground. He kept the field around him and walked toward the community. He noticed that he had estimated the weight reduction perfectly. The field was soft but he left no footprints. The dark matter field allowed air to flow through a tiny opening and the air smelled sweet. There was no industry on the planet to affect it and it was clear and clean. Two other small openings fed views of his surroundings directly to his brain. He decided to wander around and get a feel for the inhabitants before he lowered the field.

The first thing he noticed was that the locals were identical to humans. They weren’t just similar, they were identical in appearance. He knew they were different internally but it was surprising just how close the two species appeared. He looked around knowing that he was going to have to find a way to feed himself. He saw a market near the center of the community and he turned toward it. He walked over, avoiding coming into contact with any inhabitants around the tables and waited for an opportunity. It came when a farmer turned his back and he absorbed a handful of small berries through the field. He raised one of them to his mouth and tasted it. It was really quite good. He watched the farmer selling his produce and sat down against a wall listening to the conversations taking place at the table. The famer had the pasted on smile of most businessmen until a young female approached his table. The farmer’s face began scowling. “I’d like some fruit and leaves.”

“I don’t know that I want to sell you anything.”

The young female stared at the much larger man and said, “I see my father has come and had a discussion with you about trying to get me killed.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Your son arrived just as I was starting to pay for my purchases and I know he had seen the Master’s shuttle arrive; it was in clear view of your home. You deliberately delayed me hoping I would be embraced by a Master. I hope you refuse to sell me anything. I’d love the opportunity to take this up with the Community Elders.”

Dat saw the farmer’s expression change as he accepted the young woman’s payment, “You have no proof of that. You and your father are being silly.”

The young woman leaned forward and put her face an inch from the farmer’s, “You will never have me. I’ll die first.” The young woman turned and took several steps before she stopped, turned around, and said, “I’ll also take this up with the Elders if you ever petition them to have me.”

The farmer’s scowl returned and the female turned and walked away.

Dat stood and followed the female up the hill. She knew about the relationships that governed the behaviors of the population and the, what did she call them, Masters? He listened to people greet the young female and learned her name was Gresha. He could understand the farmer wanting her. She was beautiful by any standards. Her blonde hair and violet colored eyes were gorgeous. She was about five feet ten inches tall and was perfectly proportioned. Heck, she was better than perfect. He wondered if he was following her because of her beauty but dismissed the notion. She was a different species. He did see that most of the males she passed stopped and watched her as she moved away. He followed her to her home and saw a giant male standing outside.

“Good morning, Father.”

“Did he give you any problems?”

“No, just pretended innocence. He is really a Master’s finger.”

“That he is; let me know if there are any problems.”

She hugged the big male, “I will. Dinner will be ready shortly.”

“I’m going to have to miss it. I have some repairs to do on Hemel’s door before sunset.”

“I’ll delay until you finish.”

“That would be good, Daughter.”

• • •

Dat understood the farmer’s scowl. Gresha’s father could have broken him in half. He locked in the coordinates of her home and moved away. He saw an older male and discovered he was a community Elder when one of the females said, “Good morning, Elder. Dat followed him and entered a central building with him, slipping in just before the door was closed. There were twenty other males present and he sat down and leaned against the wall. He took some of the berries out of his pocket and munched on them. The males were talking casually and he took a moment to link with his ring and viewed the community from overhead. The scanner focused on the town and he saw that it appeared to be thriving. Construction of new residences was taking place and there were numerous inhabitants working in the fields around the community. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary for a primitive society. He broke the link when he heard one of the men say, “We must find a way to give us warning.”

“You know that is forbidden, Jaden. We all feel your loss but the community could not endure the consequences if we violate that rule.”

“Surely there is a method that wouldn’t be detected by the Masters.”

“They would know about it as soon as they found no one in the streets. They may not know how we’re doing it but they would act. They are far too smart to be fooled. We aren’t even allowed to shout that they’re here. If they hear anyone giving a warning, ten homes will be killed.”

“I thought the number was now up to thirty homes.”

“That’s why I brought it up; it appears a new ship is now coming here and doesn’t know about the earlier violation.”

“I still don’t understand how they called that scream a warning. Everyone screams when they are embraced by a Master.”

“I know and they encourage that, but Reba had not been embraced. She stumbled upon a Master and screamed.”

“The Master killed her.”

“Yes, but only after chasing her down. We don’t make the rules.”

“Does anyone have a guess when they’ll return?”

“That is fools work. I think they watch us and choose the best time to catch us outside.”

“You act like this is a game.”

“For them, it is. Why else would they not break into our homes? You know our doors could not keep them out but they do not pursue anyone once they make it indoors. If you look at all the rules we’re forced to follow, it is definitely a game for them.”

One of the Elders shook his head, “Have any of you heard about the farmers’ treachery with Gresha?”

Dat leaned in closer to hear.

“We have but they have not brought the issue before us so we should avoid discussion until it is.”

“He’s your nephew. I hope you’ve spoken to him. The community would frown on losing her due to the actions of one of our own.”

“He’s been blinded by her beauty. He won’t make that mistake again.”

“I trust you’re right. He’ll be locked out if it happens again.”

The Elder Males nodded, “As he should be.”

“Is his son ready to take over his fields?”

“Probably; but if he isn’t, someone else will take ownership. I am deeply ashamed at his actions. He knows the consequences.”

• • •

The meeting turned to economic issues on pricing various crops and Dat reflected on what he had heard. The Masters enjoyed the chase. They were predators. He wondered if their behavior was just something they enjoyed or if it was driven by genetics. If it was genetically driven, they could never be stopped from preying on others. That would mean they would have to be destroyed. Negotiation would never work with them if their fundamental behaviors were predatory. He had to find out. The opportunity to find out presented itself in a most unexpected way.

• • •

Dat spent the next three days following Gresha around the community. She was clearly a community favorite and was stopped and spoken to wherever she went. Dat learned a great deal about the dynamics of the community just listening to those that spoke with her. He learned that most of the males in the community really wanted to have Gresha as a mate but were unwilling to cross the farmer. He began to like the young female and saw that her spirit was alive and she was loved by those around her.

He followed her home one afternoon and heard her father said, “I’ve been asked by the farmer to allow him to speak with you.”

“I don’t want to hear anything he has to say, Father.”

“The Elders want this bad blood between our families ended. I suspect he wants to apologize and you should go and accept it.” Gresha started complaining and her father held up his hand, “You know we can’t prove what he did. Now go and do it.”

Gresha was angry and her father saw it in her face but she turned and walked away. Dat followed her and wondered what was going on. He hurried and arrived at the farmer’s table ahead of Gresha. There was a large crowd gathered purchasing his produce. It appeared he had lowered his prices in honor or what he was going to do. Gresha waited for the customers to be served and began glancing at the sun. It was getting lower in the sky and she was not going to run a risk of being caught out in the open at dark again. Dat saw that the demeanor of the people had changed as the sun dropped in the sky. Their smiles disappeared and they had a look of fear about them. It was clear they feared darkness.