Chapter 34
Jason was back on the bridge, Ricket still busy at the forward-most console. His fingers stopped moving and he turned toward Jason.
“Captain. I’ve been studying their wormhole travel technology. It is far more advanced than anything I’ve come across on The Lilly. It’s actually not a technology specifically located aboard the Caldurian ship,” Ricket explained.
“Then how does it work?”
“I have been trying to decipher that for several hours now, sir. From the little I’ve been able to unravel, it’s more like an interstellar communications transmission.” Ricket retrieved his baseball cap from the console, climbed down from his seat, and walked back to Jason. “Captain, prior to this vessel moving through space, actually bending space via a wormhole, it sends out a massive amount of information. It uses a communications protocol I’m unfamiliar with, and the corresponding response is the generation of the wormhole.”
“Why can’t we simply send the same communications request they do?” Jason asked.
“That’s the beauty of this. Every time a new communication—a new request—is sent, it’s totally unique. As if it’s a code issued to the universe—one that is atypical and ultimately undecipherable.”
“If you’re talking about some kind of God code, I don’t buy it,” Jason said.
“I don’t believe spirituality has anything to do with this. With that said, someone has figured out a formula. If it were strictly mathematical, that would be one thing, but this is based on something else, as well.”
“So you’re talking about what? Some kind of secret formula, a way to speak directly to the universe in a way that can alter the nature of physics itself?”
“It may be something far simpler, as well as far more complex, than that. I don’t know.”
Jason nodded, realizing whatever it was, right now the Craing were searching miles beneath the surface of Earth for the answer.
It was becoming more and more evident the Caldurian’s home world was in fact Earth, and not some far-off planet thousands of light-years away. Perhaps these cave people beneath the Chihuahuan desert were in fact original Caldurians descendants? Descendants that still hold ancient secrets to communicate directly with the universe?
“Unfortunately, the Caldurian vessel, this Crystal City, is not capable of FDL travel. We will not get to Earth within twenty-four hours as long as we are moored here.”
“Can you secure this vessel against intrusion? Leave the shields up?” Jason asked.
“Yes, the raiders, or anyone else for that matter, will not be able to board this vessel. In fact, only another Caldurian vessel would be able to land here, such as we have.”
“Good, then the decision’s made. We’ll come back here after we’ve dealt with the Emperor’s Guard.”
* * *
Jason was tired, not having had a break since before Admiral Cramer’s militia took control of the outpost, then the arduous trek across HAB 12, destroying the Loop on Halimar, the pirates, and most recently the discovery of the Crystal City with its populace all found dead. They’d lifted off from the courtyard and were heading out into open space. Almost immediately, The Lilly reconfigured its bridge back to normal. They needed to reach Earth, fast. Even at FDL, it would take them almost twenty-four hours. Now, with Perkins back in the command chair, Jason left the bridge.
He had received a NanoText from Mollie several hours earlier. Kids and texting. She had requested he drop by the Zoo; she had something she wanted to show him.
Jason found the Zoo empty, at least of people. He walked to the first habitat across the isle and waited for his favorite creature, the Drapple, to appear. A moment later there it was, seemingly inches from his face, big and powerful, yet agile, as it positioned itself through the water in front of Jason. Jason wondered what was it about this strange creature that evoked such a strong kinship. Being worm-like and not actually having a head made finding the Drapple’s face sometimes a challenge. Then he noticed his smile and then the warm, kind eyes looking back at him. He reached his hand out and placed it on the habitat’s window. The Drapple turned slightly in the water and let his bulk press against the same spot. An unspoken connection.
“Dad! I’m waiting for you. What are you doing?”
Jason turned to see Mollie standing in front of HAB 4. When he turned back, the Drapple was gone.
“I’m just reconnecting with a friend. Where were you?” Jason asked.
“In here, come on before the window times out and I have to get Jack again. I want to show you something,” she said.
Jason jogged over, and he and Mollie entered Habitat 4. The first thing that struck Jason was the humidity. Green and lush, the jungle was alive with sounds and movement. Mollie pulled Jason’s arm towards a makeshift wooden fence. Raja and three other large Indian elephants stood together. Raja’s trunk curled and rose high above its head, as if trumpeting Jason’s arrival. Up close, Jason gave each of the elephants a pat. Jack was nearby, scattering branches with thick green leaves at their feet. Off in the distance, sitting on the fence with her nose in a paperback, was Nan. She looked up and waved, then was back engrossed in her book.
“We’re not here to play with the elephants, Dad. Stand there. This is what I wanted to show you,” Mollie said, then scurried ten yards down the dirt path.
“Alice. Command five. Alice, command five.” Mollie smiled over at her father and then became serious again.
There was rustling off in the distance, deep in the overgrown foliage. Closer now, Jason recognized the sound, the odd gait of the running dog-like creature with its six legs. It broke from the trees, big blue tongue hanging from its mouth. Excited, it headed right for Jason.
“Command five, Alice, Command Five.”
Alice changed course and veered toward Mollie. Once close, she slowed to a walk and then stopped in front of her. She gathered her feet beneath her, crouched low, then sprang into the air and over Mollie’s head. She landed, turned, crouched and sprang again. Once seated in front of Mollie, Alice waited patiently, her eyes never leaving Mollie’s. Mollie waited a moment, then knelt down.
“Good girl, Alice, good girl.” Mollie kissed the creature’s head, then enfolded her in her arms—Alice’s tail wagged and her big tongue licked at Mollie’s face.
“Pretty cool, huh, Dad?”
“Very cool!” Jason replied, excitedly. “How did you do that? Teach her how to do that?”
“She’s really smart. I’ve taught her other things, too. Each trick has a different command number. She’s really good at fetching things. Watch this! Alice, command eight, shoe. Command eight, shoe.”
Alice ran off and disappeared into the trees again, only to return moments later with something in her mouth. She ran until she reached Mollie and dropped an old shoe at her feet. Again, Mollie praised and hugged the animal.
“I’m impressed. And it looks like you’ve made a friend,” Jason said.
“She’s the best friend in the world. I just feel sorry that she doesn’t have other drogs to play with.”
“Drogs?”
“Yeah, that’s what I’ve named her species. Do you like it?” Mollie asked, looking up at her father.
The parallel wasn’t lost on Jason. Mollie too needed to be with other kids. Have a more normal life.
“Alice is a fine drog. I’m going to say hi to your mom. I’ll watch you from over there.”
Mollie was off and running with Alice before Jason finished talking.
As he approach, Nan laid the book down on the wooden fence and looked up at Jason. The sun was low and amber in the sky, and her long chestnut hair fell free around her shoulders. She was wearing jeans and a white button down shirt, and as always, her cleavage caught his eye.
“Sit down next to me for a minute,” she said, smiling.
“You know, I’ve never been in here. It’s nice. Relaxing.”
“It’s one of the few Earth habitats. Whenever I’m homesick, I come sit here on this fence for a while.”
She looked at him, as if studying his face. “What are we doing, Jason?”
He didn’t know how to answer. Things had gotten complicated. After being pushed away for so long, he didn’t know if he could put his heart out there again. And then there was Dira.
“You look beautiful. More beautiful than the day I met you.”
“I bet you say that to all—” She stopped mid sentence. Tears welled up in her eyes and she looked away.
Jason touched her face and gently turned her to look at him. He kissed her softly. Her arms came up and encircled his neck. She kissed him back, just as softly, her eyes open and locked on his.
“I’ve made so many mistakes. I don’t blame you, you know.”
“Blame me for what?” he asked.
“For giving up on me. And for finding someone else. Dira.”
Jason didn’t know how to respond. His feelings for Dira were so new, so undefined. What he had with Nan was the real thing. But he’d been hurt. Numerous times.
“I want to make you a proposition,” she said, leaning away from him, serious and still looking in his eyes.
“A proposition, huh? What kind of proposition?” he asked, equally as serious.
“If you can make me a promise. A very simple one. I propose that you keep on doing what you’re doing. Continue to explore things with Dira. She’s amazing, young, beautiful—”
“Which you are all the above yourself, I might add,” Jason interjected.
“Let me finish. See where it goes. But don’t give up on us either. On me. Maybe it took the cataclysmic events of the last few months, or maybe being chased around the captain’s suite by that pirate thug, but I know you’re the only man I want in my life. But I want you to return to me only after you know for sure what you want. As I now do. I love you, Jason. I’m so sorry I’ve waited so long to do this.” The tears now ran freely down her cheeks, her eyes still locked on his. Jason pulled her in close and wrapped his arms around her.