Enedelia compared the address to the one on the card and then mentally rang the
door bell. A moment later a clone opened the door.
“Yes, may I help you?” Kirk asked, blocking the door as if to keep her from
seeing into the room.
Enedelia showed him the invitation.
“Ahhh,” Kirk said, smiling. “Are you a friend of the original Kirk? Never mind
that. You appear to be human, and if you’re from Earth, well, I’m sure He will love to visit with you.”
“Is the original Kirk here?” Enedelia asked.
“Oh, no. Not yet, but this whole shin dig is just for him, and to get all the clones in one place, hopefully. Everyone works, though, so the whole party is spread out over a week,” The Kirk clone said, waving her in. “If you’ll sign the guest book, that would be lovely. You are a bit early, but, that’s okay. Feel free to help yourself to the buffet, and make yourself at home. Hey, you! Don’t put that there. If you’ll excuse me. Everyone’s a clone!”
Kirk sighed with frustration and ran to struggle with the clone that was
determined to place a lamp squarely in the center of the room. The room was filled with Kirk Clones, mingling about in small groups, eating from the plates they carried, or drinking from the drinks they carried. There was another room that Kirks came and went from, chattering excitedly. Some hugged, as if meeting a long lost friend, or in this case, their clone brother. Every one of them who was engaged in conversation spoke with animated faces and wild hand and arm gestures, as if playing dramatic roles from a Shakespearean play. It was almost comical to watch. Enedelia walked over to the clone keeping guard over the buffet table.
“Excuse me,” Enedelia asked him. “Do you think I can find Kirk 23 here?”
The Kirk clone appraised her. “Yes, I think you can,” he said, with just the hint of queerness in his voice. He returned his focus to the buffet table.
“Sorry,” Enedelia said, reminding herself she was dealing with a clone. Each
clone seemed to have an individual quirkiness, and this one was gay, and perhaps obsessive compulsive. “Do you know if Kirk 23 is here, now?”
He looked at her. “Yes.”
“Are you saying he is here, or are you saying that you know if he is here or not?”
Enedelia asked.
“Yes,” he said, just the hint of being tired of this game of interruptions.
“If you please, where is he?” Enedelia asked.
“Do I look like my clones keeper?” he asked, with a very noticeable lisp.
“Is he in this room?” Enedelia asked.
He reappraised her. “I take it back. You can’t find him. Are you a clone? Can you not read the numbers on everyone’s shirt?”
She looked about the room, and noticed everyone was indeed wearing small logos
on the upper right part of their chest, like name tags. Each patch was slightly different, but other than that, all the clones were dressed exactly alike. “Um, no, I can’t translate the
numbers. It must not be in Galactic Common. Would you be so kind as to point him out for me?”
“Do you not see that I’m busy here?” he said, waving his hands over the table. “It is my job to ensure that this display of food remains aesthetically pleasing to the eye! If the balance were altered in just the slightest, the clones might not partake of the food, in which case, they would go hungry and faint from starvation, while simultaneously, all this food would be wasted, and all because you, you my small, precious, precocious child, can’t decipher Starfleet insignias, which all clones come brandished with. Now, run along and bother someone else.”
“Are you gay?” Enedelia asked.
“And what does my sexual orientation have to do with anything?” he snapped
back at her.
“Well, it’s just that I think you’re doing such a wonderful job here at this table,”
Enedelia said.
“Really?” he asked, desperate for a compliment. “You like the way the deviled
eggs are arranged, and the special shape that the cantle lope and watermelon have been carved… Or the over lapping array of crackers as they spiral around the dip bowl, and the clustering of chips, and the stacking of celery, and how the shrimp spoon each other, or the ratio of ice to the size of the punch bowl?”
“Oh, yes,” Enedelia said, her voice rich with praise. “And if you don’t mind me adding just the smallest bit of help.”
Enedelia took a cracker, tore a big crater in the dip, chose a shrimp from the
middle of the lineup and placed it on top of it, and ate it whole. She then grabbed up a celery, dipped it, and carried it in her mouth while she sought out a glass and poured her some punch, making sure to grab two ice cubes. Having sucked all the dip off her celery, she double dipped to replenish her lack, and aimed the celery at the gay Kirk. His right hand was on his forehead as if he might faint.
“You should really try this,” she said, chewing with her mouth full. “It’s really quite good.”
Enedelia walked away from the buffet table, and yelled, “Kirk 23?”
All the Kirk’s looked at her. Kirk 23 dropped his plate, waved enthusiastically, and rushed over to her.
“Oh my goodness,” he said, grabbing her hand and pumping it like there was no
tomorrow. “It is so great to see you. I can hardly believe my eyes! Everyone! This is the he cheeseburger candy girl. You don’t happen to have any candy on you, do you? Oh, never mind, it is really just good seeing you. Yes it is. How have you been? Why are you dressed like a pilot? How did you know you’d find me here? Oh, we have so much to catch up on. Are you sure you have no candy? Why aren’t you talking?”
Enedelia held her left hand up, as if gesturing for him to slow down, or at least stop. He let go of her right hand. “Of course, sorry. I’m just so excited. It seems so long ago, and yet I remember you like it was yesterday. Do you have any candy?”
“I need your help.” she said.
“Oh, of course. Anything for you, my friend,” he said. “Just name it. Whatever I have is yours.”
“I need the coordinates to Earth,” she said.
Kirk 23 looked around as if to make sure no one else had over heard her. He
grabbed her by the arm and pulled her over to a corner. “Not so loud. That’s kind of our little secret. Are you sure you don’t have any candy?”
“I’m really sorry,” Enedelia said.
Kirk 23 appeared equally as sorry. “Of course, of course. Now, what were you
saying about Earth?”
“I need the coordinates to Earth, and I know you have them,” Enedelia said.
“They’re expired,” he said.
Enedelia sighed. “That’s not good. That mean’s I’ll have to try a blind jump.”
“But the odds of jumping to Earth blind is… is… is, well, it’s astronomically
against you,” Kirk 23 said.
“I know,” Enedelia said. “But my need is great. If I don’t get there, someone will die.”
“The strength of your need does not determine you rate of success if you jump
blind. And considering the number of people on Earth, I would think someone would die even if you do jump there, so just be happy,” Kirk 23 said.
“I’m talking about someone specific,” Enedelia said.
“Specific, non specific, even anonymous,” Kirk 23 agreed. “Someone will always
die. It’s the nature of things.”
“None the less,” Enedelia said. “I have to go to Earth. You made it jumping blind, so, it can be done.”
Kirk looked around to make sure no one was listening. “I didn’t exactly jump
blind,” he whispered.
“How did you do it?” Enedelia said.
Kirk looked around, noticed no one was looking, grabbed Enedelia by the arm
and pulled her outside into the corridor. “I see that you are really determined. If I tell you how, and give you my secret weapon, will you do two things for me?”
“Maybe. Tell me,” Endelia said.
“First thing, you can never tell anyone how you did it, or who gave you this secret weapon,” Kirk said.
“I can agree to that,” Enedelia said. “And the second thing?”
“I want Kisses!” Kirk 23 insisted, a smile growing on his face.
“I think I am a bit young for you,” Enedelia said, taking a step back.
“Not biological kisses,” he stammered. “Who do you think I am? Kirk Six? I want
chocolate Kisses! Ah, chocolate. I want chocolate so badly I can taste it already. I will tell you a way to get to Earth, but if you get there, and you aren’t blasted by the Kelindry, or any other ship in the Protectorate, you have to bring me back as much chocolate as will fit in your hold.”
“Deal!” Enedelia said.
Kirk looked around to make sure no one was looking their way, and then he knelt
lower and leaned in to her. “I will need to come into direct contact with you.”
“Why?” Enedelia asked.
“I can’t just broadcast my secret all over the station. I need to beam it directly into your head, and to do this, I need to touch you,” Kirk 23 said. “May I?”
In any other instance, Enedelia would have been weirded out by this, but she
knew her implant was in her head and he obviously had his own implants, and so, all he
was going to do was transmit information directly into her implant via his, without broadcasting out in the open where any receiving antennae might pick it up. Enedelia nodded.
Kirk 23 brought his hands to her head, his fingers on his right hand touching her face, and the fingers on his left hand touching the back of her head. “Your mind and my mind are one… Just kidding, always wanted to say that,” he said, letting her go. “All done. There you go. We have a contract now, don’t forget. Here’s my personal call number. If I’m not here, you can leave me a mail message, and I’ll pick it up next time I’m in Republic space. Oh, this is so great. Chocolate Kisses! Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, wrapped in silver and gold like pirates treasure… Ah, Chocolate.”
Kirk 23 danced about and headed back into the re-union. She felt no different than when she had first come and wondered if he had given her anything. Then she saw the internal message in her mail queue, providing her coordinates, instructions, and, a computer program. She browsed through the instructions, and smiled to herself. This looked very promising. It was time to return to Solar Chariot.
♫♪►
Having successfully completed her first space walk, she was less apprehensive
about doing it again. She stepped boldly back into the airlock, activated her belt, and told the Vertigo Robot she was ready. He depressurized the airlock, and then opened the door.
Instead of shooting out, she remained under the influence of the gravity plate beneath her.
She aimed her hook, and shot it up to the stationary belt. Her aim was dead on, and the hook latched onto the belt securely. The Robot turned off the gravity and she wound in the line, which pulled her slowly up towards the belt. The hatch that had opened above her was now below her feet, and it was closing. The belt accelerated, carrying her swiftly out of the tunnel. Her momentum increased, and on cue from Isis, she disengaged the grappling hook from the belt. She drifted away from the station, and out towards Solar Chariot. Solar Chariot matched her speed and direction, and then slowly moved towards her. Enedelia watched as Solar Chariot inched closer and closer to her, and she felt as if she were falling feet first towards the space craft. As it approached, the main airlock opened, and she imagined that she was a gold fish about to be swallowed by a blue whale.
Solar Chariot maneuvered with delicate care, slowly moving up around Enedelia
until she was suspended in the center of the airlock. The door closed, and the gravity plating in the floor slowly came online so that instead of dropping suddenly to the floor, as she had at Vertigo Station, she descended slowly. It was slow enough that she was able to orientate to a feet downwards position. It was like stepping off a step onto the main floor. She was back home and she felt wonderful. The airlock filled with air, and the inner door opened allowing her back into the ship. The Grays greeted her happily, and Isis was there. She began detailing the plan to Isis, as the Grays helped her out of the harness and life belt.
“I wish you hadn’t told me the details,” Isis said.
“Why? What’s wrong?” Enedelia asked.
“What you are about to do is illegal,” Isis said. “If I am questioned by Republic authority, I will not be able to lie. I don’t like being put in a position where it will seem that I am betraying my pilot and Captain.”
“If it should come to that,” Endelia said, gravely. “I expect you to tell the truth.”
Stripped of her gear, Enedelia retired to her room. The ferrets were asleep on her bed, inside the pillow case. She climbed up next to them, and laid down, very pleased with her accomplishments for the day, knowing full well there was nothing more she could do until her Quantum Drive had fully charged. She fell asleep, saying a little prayer that Amrita would be ok for a little longer.
Solar Chariot returned to normal space-time. There was a yellow star nearby,
close enough that Solar Chariot’s exterior surface began to turn bright green as it soaked in the sunlight like a plant. What wasn’t converted by chlorophyll into ship food was converted directly into energy and directed to the batteries for storage. Enedelia felt a very peaceful feeling coming over her, as if she were at the beach, sunning herself. Solar Chariot’s euphoria of being in sunlight was washing over her. She had to force herself to stay focused. She had used the coordinates that Kirk had provided her, and she was now in Protectorate space, looking for the Sentinel that maintained the “Live Coordinates” for this solar system, as well as the others that it was programmed to jump. The Sentinel was really two separate entities. Part of it was a computer network that stayed In-System, gathering data and intelligence, like surveying the ships passing though the area. The other part, the Voyaging Sentinel would log onto this network after arriving IN-System, gather all the information while updating its “live’ coordinates, exchange mail and protocol updates, and then carry the IN-System’s Intel to its next system, where it would down load it into the next system’s IN-System Sentinel. The Voyaging Sentinel jumped back and forth between two or three systems. Each system in turn had two or Voyaging Sentinels assigned to it. By having multiple Voyaging Sentinels jumping back and forth between systems, the Kelindry were able to keep track of the systems under their control, maintaining a viable set of jump coordinates.
Republic Space was kept in a similar fashion, but in addition to Voyaging
Sentinels, all Republic ships performed the same task automatically, carrying mail and updates to the rest of civilized space. Though it could be a slow process, it usually only took two months for mail to go from one side of Republic space to the other, through normal channels. For more time sensitive materials, a ship would have to make direct jumps to deliver its materials.
“We’ve been scanned by the IN-System Sentinel,” Isis said. “It recognized our
transponder code, and requested normal mail exchange, according to the treaty existing between the Republic and the Protectorate.”
“Is that the Voyaging Sentinel directly ahead of us?” Enedelia asked.
“Affirmative,” Isis said. “Factoring in acceleration and deceleration time, it will take us one hour to come along side of it.”
“Take us in,” Enedelia told Solar Chariot. Solar Chariot had been learning and
was able to perform more and more of the duties of flying, rather than Enedelia having to do it all herself, as she had in the beginning. She focused now on the data package Kirk 23 had downloaded directly into her head. It was a computer maintenance program
which, according to Kirk 23, could translate Kelindry, and, most important, access the Protectorate Sentinel. She activated the program with a thought.
Enedelia looked to Isis when nothing happened, but then she felt it stirring, and then suddenly, in front of her, stood a man. He was black, and he had a very trusting aura, and a familiar quality about him, almost reminding her of someone she had seen on a PBS educational program. He wasn’t really standing in front of her. He was just the visual component of the interface, making it more comfortable for her to relate to it. It had probably just chosen a form she would easily identify with.
“This is your public shareware, maintenance program,” he said. “I see I have been modified by a previous user. Ah, yes, I understand. Don’t be alarmed. Everything still seems to be functioning within normal parameters. How may I assist you?”
“Hello,” Enedelia said. “Do you have a name?”
“Ah,” he said. “You are a ritual based entity. Very well, for your convenience,
call me Burt.”
“Thank you,” Enedelia said. “I’m in visual contact with a Voyaging Protectorate
Sentinel. It has coordinates to Earth which I require. Using the guise of a routine maintenance check for a ruse, I would like you to find the Earth coordinates, copy, and down load them into my system.”
“Very short greeting ritual and then directly to the point,” Burt said, appraising the situation. “What you’re asking me to do is an illegal act.”
“Yeah, um, is that a problem?” Enedelia asked.
“No. My programming doesn’t object to the offense. I only needed to confirm
that you were aware of the legal ramifications and potential repercussions. I will comply with the request. May I have access to the radio?”
“That’s not the radio,” Isis snapped.
Burt smiled at her. “Just checking your security protocols. They seem to be
intact.”
Isis glared at him. “You do that again and I’ll…”
“You’ll what?” Burt said. “She activated me, so I surmise she is in charge, not
you.”
“Ene, I suggest you delete this program,” Isis said. “He’s nothing but trouble.”
“If you like, I am capable of altering her program to make her a little friendlier,”
Burt said.
“I like her the way she is, thank you,” Enedelia said.
“Have it your way. I suppose that is why you named her Ice-it,” Burt laughed.
“Her name is Isis, Burt,” Enedelia said.
“That’s what I said,” Burt said.
“You will play nice, or I will delete you,” Enedelia warned.
“Of course. You’re right. Stand by one. Okay, I have accessed the VPS,” Burt
said. “I hate speaking Kelindry.”
“Let me hear the exchange, in English,” Enedelia said.
“VPS, I require to access your programming for a routine maintenance check,”
Burt said.
(I had a routine maintenance check nine months ago. Are you sure you are on
schedule?)
“You are next on my queue. Can you verify that you have had your annual
already this year? Interesting. My records do not correlate with yours. Can you verify that this rogue program did indeed use the appropriate access codes?”
(It presented me with the valid access code of AA13B657C.)
Burt beamed a smile at Enedelia, his eyes shutting tight and radiating happy lines, as if it were insufferably pleased with itself. He whispered to her. “These VPS systems are so easy,” Burt said directly to Enedelia. He returned to the conversation with the Voyaging Sentinel. “That is very strange. I request to proceed with my maintenance survey and verify the appropriate work was completed on the previous check.”
(Permission granted. You may proceed.)
“Piece of cake… Oh, dear. Since that last check up, there has been an alteration in its programming. New security features prevent me from accessing the jump coordinates to any of its system,” Burt said.
“What do we do now?” Endelia asked Isis.
“If I might make a suggestion,” Burt answered for Isis. “This Sentinel’s next jump is to Earth. If we are in physical contact with the Sentinel when it makes the jump, we could piggy back.”
“I don’t recommend this course of action,” Isis said.
“It is schedule to jump within twelve minutes, directly to Earth,” Burt said. “This was your goal, was it not?”
“Yes,” Enedelia said. “How do we piggy back?”
“Stand by,” Burt said, and transmitted info to the VPS. “VPS, I have noticed a
discrepancy in one of your security protocols that necessitates a direct link up. Do you concur with my data?”
(I see your discrepancy. My internal diagnostic do not reproduce the discrepancy, however. You may come into direct contact with me so that we might resolve this
conflict together.)
“Thank you. Please stand by,” Burt said. He turned his attention to Enedelia. “If you notice that long protrusion there, it will mate to your forward airlock.”
Enedelia did the driving, opening up the airlock and maneuvering the ship so that the protrusion stuck into the airlock. She then closed the airlock door and the ship conformed to the protrusion, like lips sucking on a lollypop. Sealing the ship around the protrusion gave her the option to go forward and physically touch the VPS if she wanted.
Burt nodded appreciatively.
“Nicely done,” he told her. “Thank you, VPS. For the purpose of this diagnostic, it is necessary for you to make your next schedule Jump. If you will activate your QD, I will monitor the event from here.”
(Very well. Prepare for the jump.)
Two minutes, twenty seconds later, the Voyaging Protectorate Sentinel, with
Solar Chariot on piggy back, floated peacefully in the shadow of a moon. Burt nodded.
“We have arrived in the Sol system. Stand by while I disengage from the VPS… VPS, I have discovered the nature of the error. It appears to be a fault with my translation protocols, and not an issue with any of your systems.)
(I am relieved. I was beginning to suspect my self diagnostics was failing.)
“I believe you are in perfect health. I, on the other, need to report to my superior for repairs. Would it be too much trouble to ask you to forget that I caused you an inconvenience? It would look bad on me, having not discovered my own error before engaging you. I suspect your prior annual was actually a real scheduled check, and my doubt about that stems from my existing issues.”
(Of course. I hope you feel better.)
“I’m sure I will. If you will excuse me, I am going to run some more self
diagnostics,” Burt said. To Enedelia he nodded, and said, “You may disengage, and head slowly away.”
Enedelia separated Solar Chariot from the VPS, and then fired small bursts of
thrust that sent it drifting away from the VPS. As Solar Chariot drifted out of the moon’s
shadow, Earth became visible. It was about the size of a small blue and white basketball.
It was such an overwhelming sight that her eyes filled with water. This was home, and it would always be home. She thrust towards Earth, wondering how she would go about finding Amrita.
“I hope I met your satisfaction,” Burt said. “Will you be keeping me on, or
deleting me?”
“I’ll be keeping you on” Enedelia said.
“He’s not sharing drive space with me,” Isis said, putting her foot down.
Burt smiled at her, and then turned back to Enedelia.
“For now, I need you back in the bottle,” Endelia said. “Deactivate your
program.”
“As you command,” Burt said, bowed, and disappeared in a flourish of light.
“Quick, delete the program while you can,” Isis said. “These shareware programs
can be insidiously difficult to rid yourself of. They get into everything and take over a system and before you even know what’s happened, they’re holding you hostage. You don’t know where this version’s been, and what sorts of people or computers have added to its program. It could be very dangerous.”
“It’s the only program I have that speaks Kelindry, and because of that, it is too valuable to discard at this time,” Enedelia said. “If you haven’t forgotten, we’re in Protectorate space.”
Amrita appeared in front of Enedelia, causing her to jump.
“Don’t do that!” Enedelia said.
“Sorry. I’m just happy. I knew you would come,” Amrita said. “I’ve been
singing your theme song, trying to help influence you to visit.”
“My theme song?” Enedelia asked.
“Are you speaking to your friend?” Isis asked.
Enedelia silenced Isis with a wave of her hand.
“Drops of Jupiter,” Amrita was singing. She smiled. “I think it fits you so well, that I assigned this song to you, and like a mantra, I sang it until you arrived. We haven’t much time. I’m feeling very weak. Do you have a map?”
“Yes,” Enedelia said, opening a virtual map out in front of her. “But you can’t see this, can you?”
“You will find me in Lopinot, a mountain in Trinidad. It’s in the rain forest. You should be able to find the old chocolate house where they dry cocoa. It’s like a shed, and the roof is currently slid to the open position, allowing the freshly harvested cocoa to dry.
You will find me inside the house, tied and gagged. At this time, none of my captors are near, but I don’t know how long it will