Talosian Chronicles 1: Olympus (35 page)

“Those fuckers on the hill just scanned us. The shield was still up, Boss. There’s no way they could have missed it either,” Sammi reported.

“Fuck me! Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. I’ll give Ian, Elias and Luke an official incident report when all this is over. Are those fuckers sticking around?” Ty asked.

“They seem to be. I think they’re waiting to see what our reaction is going to be. Pretty ballsy considering we could just smoke ‘em from here,” Sammi replied.

“True, but since none of our people were hurt, I’d rather not tip our hand about offensive capabilities. I’d have you scan them, but I don’t feel like being caught in an anti-matter explosion,”

“Maybe I should only scan for any type of anti-matter. That way we’d know if they were hot,” Sammi asked.

“That’s actually a really good idea, but we don’t know what kinds of scans would set it off. It may very well be that any type would be enough to trigger it,” Ty said.

“Maybe you shouldn’t be trying to capture them at all until we can figure out a way to make sure they don’t have a surprise for us,” Sammi suggested.

Sammi could hear Ty’s grin. “I’d agree with you except we have a terrible need for information. Even if we just get to talk to them out here, we could learn something from them. I doubt they’ll detonate prematurely since they need information as well. We’re going to approach in a non-threatening manner, and see if they’ll stick around.”

“Good luck, Boss,” Sammi replied.

Ty grinned and acknowledged Sammi’s comment. He knew there was a risk to what he was trying to do, but he didn’t believe the Caldarians would detonate a tactical anti-matter bomb just to kill four Talosians. Especially as doing so could risk exposing themselves to the general population.

He was wrong about them sticking around for a chat. As Ty and his team got closer, the observers packed up and headed out across the desert, toward the highway. He stood on the hill they had been using and watched as the military issue Hummer turned onto the access road connecting Talos to the main road, and sped away.

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I
an’s ladies were starting to get pretty big, and Cindy, being twice the size of her wives, was having an ‘interesting’ time moving around. That’s why, at fifteen hundred hours, Beth sent a hover-chair for Cindy to bring her in for a check-up. Medbay was much closer to the briefing room where the meeting was to take place, and Beth wanted to fill her wife in on what was about to happen without Talena catching wind of it.

Since they’d been working with the rest of the trainees in Alpha Bay, Talena gave her a kiss and said she’ll see her at home later. There were a few snickers as Cindy got into the chair and sighed in relief. Beth had programmed it so that the occupant was at a quarter earth gravity. At that moment, Cindy thought gravity control was a really, really good idea. Talena smiled lovingly at her as she floated out of the landing bay.

Talena was taken completely by surprise an hour later when she was summoned to the main briefing room by the Commander. Since it was Ian himself that made the page, and Barb had left ‘for a meeting’ it meant that she was being called before the Chiefs. Instead of searching her mind for a list of possible recent infractions for herself and her wing, she was curious and worried that one of her ‘students’ had been hurt or worse.

She ducked into her wing’s ready room to get cleaned up and presentable. Less than ten minutes later, she was getting off the maglev on the command deck freshly showered, and in a clean cover-all. She entered the briefing room, faced the head of the large table and saluted.

“Sir, Cadet-Lieutenant Talena Williams reporting as ordered.”

Ian returned her salute and put her at ease. “Before we begin these proceedings, I’d like to introduce Senior Lieutenant Grossmen and Captain Myers. Chief Grossman is our new Bosun, and George Myers is our new Gunnery officer. Please welcome them to the ship, and introduce yourselves as you get the opportunity.” He nodded to Major Harris. “It’s all yours, John. Ladies?” As Ian stepped away from the table, to take a seat in the small spectator’s area, so did Beth and Jenny. Cindy and her hover-chair were already there sitting beside Janet Laskar.

Talena looked a little apprehensive since Ian and her lovers stepped away from the table. That could only mean that the action to be decided today was serious enough for her family to remove themselves from the vote.

John and the rest of the chiefs saw the look of apprehensiveness on Talena’s face, and let it play out as long as they could. They all seemed to relax as they watched her facial features harden into determination and saw her stiffen in resolve.

John finally took pity on her. “Cadet-Lieutenant Talena Williams, you’ve been called before this assembly this evening because a proposal for your emancipation has been brought to us. This petition is sponsored by the Command and Medical sections; therefore they have excused themselves from this decision.

“It is our understanding that this petition has been brought to us without your knowledge or consent. So, before we proceed any further, we need to know if you agree with the proposal that has been offered on your behalf.”

“I absolutely agree, Sir.” Talena replied proudly.

John nodded. “You have now become the petitioner. Would you and one of your sponsors please take a seat at the table, and we can proceed.”

Talena moved to the indicated chair, as Ian came forward to sit beside her. After they’d taken their chairs, Talena took Ian’s hand under the table, and beamed up at him. He winked at her.

“For the record, would the sponsor please state his name and position, please?” Bill Laskar asked from his chair

“Ian Williams, commanding officer of the Federated Starship Star Dancer, CAV-zero-zero-one-seven.”

“Thank you, Commander,” Bill replied.

“Cadet-Leftenant Williams, if I may ask; why do you wish to be emancipated?” The very pretty, British, Combat Operations Chief, Major Chloe Brighton asked.

Talena turned slightly to face the woman. “That’s complicated, Sir, and has more than one answer. First, but only by a small margin, I feel a duty to this ship, my commander and my crewmates. The best way I can think of to fulfill that duty is to become a combat pilot so I can serve to protect this ship, and my adoptive planet.

“Second, I feel that to be honest, I need to mention the absolute love I feel for the family that adopted me. When they first rescued me from the malfunctioning cryo-pod, I resented them for not letting me die. However, that resentment was quickly replaced by love for my new family.” Talena smiled sardonically.

“That love was quickly replaced too. One by one, I fell in love with each of them. I very much want to bond with them, if they’ll have me.”

Her smile disappeared completely and she looked each of the officers in the eye. “My childhood ended with the death of Starlin, my mother, my friends and the rest of the original crew. I do still miss them, but my life continued without them. I still carry the child I was inside me, but I’m no longer that child.”

John nodded to Janet Laskar. “Counselor Laskar, May we get your professional opinion on this matter?”

Janet stood, and moved up to the table. “I frequently get opportunities to speak with the Cadet since my daughter happens to be in love with her. I find that she is impressive in both maturity and intelligence, and is well balanced mentally and emotionally. She’s quite able to care for herself even if she didn’t have the loving support she already has. Professionally, I see no reason to deny the petition; I feel it would be insulting not to approve it.”

“Counselor, the petitioner just admitted to some pretty rapid emotional changes. That seems at odds with her being mentally well-balanced,” Chief Dommer of engineering asked.

Janet gave him a small smile. “In most cases I’d agree with you, Chief. However in Talena’s case it actually serves to prove my point. Consider this; you’re fourteen years old. Everything you know; mother, girlfriend, and almost everyone you’ve ever met, are gone. In some cases they may have literally died right in front of you. Regardless, you still saw some of the pain-contorted bodies lying around you. Even the place you’ve lived your entire life is no longer safe for you. Any ‘well-adjusted’ adult would become suicidal under those conditions. Talena was no different. Granted the only reason she accepted Commander Zeus’ idea was mostly due to a lack of will to oppose it. She none the less went along with it, thinking that her wish to die would still be granted.

“Then, four and a half millennia later, you awaken on a bed, not a bunk, on a planet, not the ship, and some young ‘clone’ of the man you spoke to only an hour before, a man you watched leave the ship with the rest of the crew, is smiling down at you. To top off all of that, a woman that looks exactly like a blond version of Zeus’ wife, Hera, is there standing beside the exact duplicate of your dead mother wearing a different uniform.”

“I’d’ve thought I actually was dead, that or I’d gone completely, bloody insane!” Major Brighton said softly, but looked down the table to Major Dommer for his opinion.

“I agree.” Major Dommer nodded. “In that instance though, I would have found a way to make sure I was dead. Just that final situation alone would have been more than I could’ve adjusted to, I’m sure. Thank you, Counselor. That certainly put it into perspective for me.”

“Doctor Williams, with the Cadet’s permission can you testify as to her physical condition?” John asked.

Beth moved to stand beside Talena, but Major Dommer quickly got up and pulled out a chair for her. She smiled a thank you to the man. Then turned to Talena for her permission. Talena nodded her agreement.

“Cadet Talena’s physical condition, with regards to her physical maturity is somewhat difficult to report on. Because of the unbelievably long cryo-stasis she’s gone through much about her physiology can’t be considered normal. It appears that her body may have stopped maturing at roughly the age of twelve to thirteen. What affect this will have on her in the long term is difficult, at best, to predict. It’s doubtful she will physically age much more than she already has.

“Be that as it may, I would point out to the panel that most of the mature adults in our society appear quite a bit younger than they actually are. In some cases that difference is quite pronounced,” Beth finished.

Major Reynolds from the Armory looked concerned. “Doctor, since the extended cryo-sleep has stunted her growth, does that mean she won’t be able to have children?”

Smiling sadly to let the woman know that no offence was taken by the question, Beth replied. “I’m sorry, Major, I can’t answer that question. It’s not relevant to this discussion. Only the Cadet will be able to answer your question for you.”

Debbie blushed. “Oops! Sorry Doctor, Cadet. I didn’t even realize I was being nosy.”

“No offense was taken, Major. Once we’re off duty though, you can ask me again,” Talena replied.

No one else had any questions for Beth, so she moved back with her wives and Janet.

John looked to the monitors that Talena now noticed were active. “Councilor Belden?”

Ian’s ears perked up at the title, but figured John was just addressing him as a member of this council.

Luke nodded. “We have decided how to vote on this, Major. However, Councilor Johnson wished to make a statement.”

Ian again caught the title, and wondered why everyone suddenly had different titles. However, this was for Talena, so he put it to the back of his mind for now.

John nodded acceptance. “Is the Councilor ready?”

Before Luke could answer, Laura Johnson appeared as a hologram beside the table. “I am, Major.”

“Thank you, please proceed,” John smiled and nodded in welcome.

Laura clasped her hands in front of her. “I spoke to several people down here that have had interactions with the Cadet. Even though the truth has been revealed to everyone, those who know her refuse to believe that Talena is only fifteen. I feel it’s a relevant point to express the irony that the residents down here will happily accept the fact of faster-than-light travel, aliens, and all that entails, but they have a problem accepting Talena’s real age. They admit when they first saw her, she looked young, but once they got to know her... Well, no one can convince most of them she’s less than eighteen, and in some cases, older. There were no dissenting or derogatory comments or opinions. She is viewed as a member of Commander Williams’ family, as a wife though, not as a daughter. Actually, no one ever really believed the ‘adopted daughter story’, but at the time didn’t want to publicly admit to their real thoughts,” Laura shrugged as she finished. “The opinion of the people of New Talos has been given to Chairman Belden so he may cast the vote for the town.”

“Thank you, Councilor. Dr. Punjab, do you have any questions or comments?” John asked.

“Only a comment, Mr. Chairman. We of the scientific community can prove that age is not a good indicator of maturity: we have found that several members of several governing bodies of State as well as Federal level of most countries are of sufficient age as to be considered to be an adult. However, their actions clearly call that status into question. Miss Williams is proof that the opposite of this phenomenon is also true. What this means is physical age is not a reliably determining factor in gauging maturity. We recommend that Miss Williams’ petition not only be approved, but that she be allowed to run for public office as well.” Amal said with a stone-cold, straight face.

It took a minute before the first giggles and soft chuckles were heard, since no one knew if Amal had been intentionally clever or it was an accident. The silliness of the statement finally got to the group, and everyone was soon laughing. Dr. Punjab was grinning like it was Christmas; it was the first time anyone had heard him make a joke.

When everyone had gotten a good laugh, and calmed down, John called the meeting back to order. “We have only one more witness, folks. Major Dancer?”

The hologram of the ship’s AI appeared beside the table. “Yes Major?”