CHAPTER TEN
Senses
Two months.
Some wanted an anniversary, but Tag and Ezra felt it was a little too eccentric to be celebrating every month. Marriages were special, but sure...
Last night was special though, as well as the past few nights, even though the crew had little to do other than be themselves, train, and maintain the ongoing drama of the ship.
Tesh Ashton was up early this morning and in the simulators again, schooling the dreaders on tactics as, for some reason, he felt like taking on the entire squadrons of Alpha, Beta, and Gamma at once, in a Kilratu vanguard. Meia was happy to oblige, as well as Misty. Surprisingly enough, Tesh was doing well on his own in the asteroid field map.
When asked, Dureo had only one explanation: "He's worried about something."
"Is that why he's....well..." Meia had asked in the simulator room.
"It's because of the degree of worry. His flight-or-fight instincts have been heightened." Dureo hypothesized, complete with small shrug.
Shin Matsenuga had been inviting Barnette Orangello over for more and more occasions in his cabin- turning into sleepovers as the night went on. When asked what they did, Shin only offered "Sharing tactical maneuvers." To any earth born man of a previous millennia, the truth would have been plain, but this passed over the heads of the other Tarak save Tag, who wasn't present to translate.
Not that he would- after all he was busy training with the bridge staff. Though he was still the Vanguard designated Sniper, his graduation to parenthood would mean less time out there and more time in safe surroundings. Many were sad to see him go, but many were also proud to slap the 'Tarak First Father' award on Tag Hours. He deserved it, especially since he is (or will be) the first father of a naturally conceived Tarak-Mejere child in nearly three generations.
Tag was proud of this honor, but as always wasn't boisterous about it. In fact, something had been bothering him at night. In the hallway one night, Tag elaborated this to Shin when he was confronted.
"It's Ezra," He replied, "Something's wrong."
Shin backed a little at this, leaning in the doorway to the residential unit lavatory, but then came back, "Does she need to see Dureo? Pregnancy-"
"It's not that," Tag replied, looking into the eyes of his commander with sheer concern, "And it's not just her..."
Shin tilted his head.
"It's the dreams..." Tag replied, shaking his head and looking down, "We've talked about it," He looked at his commander again, "We're having the same dream."
Something clicked in Shin's mind and Tag could see it in the commander's eyes, but Shin wasn't one to just follow up on a hunch without something more solid. Crossing his arms, Shin asked, "What kind of dream?"
"I think you know." Tag said, turning his head, "Tesh shows it. So do you."
"What do you mean?"
"You confide in Barnette don't you? You're bothered also."
Shin lowered his head, nodding on it's way down, before saying as his head bobbed, "The table."
"The game." Tag said, leaning forward to continue, "It's called Risk. Armies taking territories by the result of dice. Whoever has the most territories gets more results."
"Red was loosing."
"Red was on Mejere." Tag said, "Yellow was scattered, and Blue was Everywhere. It wasn't a conventional map, Shin, it was a map of the universe. I've seen it before."
Shin looked up with a wince, "How-"
"It's a modified star map that I have." Tag said, "I'm an archivist remember? I've seen and held that very map with my hands. Earth was dominated by blue."
"What are you suggesting?" Asked Shin, wincing, and then shook his head, "I'm not superstitious Tag."
"Neither am I," Tag replied and leaned a little closer, "But the Pexis is an unknown. I've done some reading up on it here, from what I've been able to dig up."
"And?"
"And I guess everyone underestimated it." Tag said, then leaned forward, "It's alive."
"We know that-" Shin said louder.
Tag cut him off, "Not just that- it's sentient." He leaned forward again, "I didn't think about it until I thought about the dream. Why Blue?"
Shin also did some thinking, blinked, and said, "The Pexis."
"The girl?"
Shin shook his head, "Tag... It's getting late. How much reading did you do?"
"Probably not enough," Tag replied, then went on, "This is scaring Ezra, sir, and me. I'm trying to find a solution to the problem."
"Are you saying the Pexis Progma is the problem? Tag....we've been aboard this ship how long?"
Tag hours shook his head, "The pexis has been here longer, sir, and has moved on it's own before. I dunno," He rubbed his eyes, "Ezra was putting Kahlua to bed... I need to go."
"Sleep easy Tag." Shin said in passing, even though both men knew this might prove a difficult task...
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Leaving the bridge empty was a dangerous, dangerous proposition. It was nearly unthinkable to do so, for to leave the stations vacant, the captain gone, and the cameras off could lead to dastardly destruction on the social structure of the Nirvana.
For, with the bridge vacated, Operator B was busy necking with Tarak Operator H. He was thoroughly enjoying himself too, finally going through with the guts to make out with His Girl on the bridge of Their Ship. He was succeeding and would have many stories to tell afterward were it not for two things.
The first was that the other operators were going on shift, and Celtic arrived just then with Amarone as they were sharing a common joke. They turned and noticed the blond Beldevere Coco leaning backwards as Horse was smothering her with affection close to where Beldevere usually sat.
Secondly, the Baldest man on the ship decided to vacate the helm sphere by way of the manhole for reasons all of humankind must suffer: the urge to use the bathroom. And since he got there before everyone else, he had assumed he still had an hour left before everyone went on shift. So, when he emerged, he emerged in Tarak Boxers.
"Ah Yess," Was the first thing Bart hissed before the situation exploded in the largest social scandal bomb to be dropped ever since the small war between Dita and Misty years ago.
Horse needed only a second to realize that comment did not come from his head, and his eyes snapped open as his tongue was playing with Beldevere's. Likewise she jumped at the sound, but not just from Bart's remark. Laughter also made her jump- as for the past fifteen minutes the couple had been enjoying the musical silence of space and bridge noises.
Operator A and C pointed and screamed in the general direction of forward. Operator A was screaming and pointing because Bart Garsus was on the bridge with only a pair of shorts on (Fortunate he found out about the existence of Boxers, otherwise he would have still sported Tarak Loincloths...). Operator C was screaming with fists clenched before her small chest because it was inconceivable for her at that very moment for a man to be that intimate with a girl.
Both situations were more or less within five degrees of each other from the vantage point of Operators A and C- which was fortunate since Operator A's hand could be judged to be pointing at either of them.
After the scream, Bart Panicked and ran for His Life. He needed to relieve himself, suddenly in a very bad way, and a pair of screaming girls now blocked the only casual exit out of the place. The easiest way out was also the most fatal- the plunge over the lip didn't look to comfortable even with all that friendly green beneath them. So he did the next best thing.
Also screaming, Bart ran the other direction for the small elevator shaft just under the ramp from the Commander's quarters. The door closed on him with a satisfactory hiss.
Operator C and Operator H, on the other hand, parted immediately and turned beat red. Both stared at the other operators.
This is when Amarone screamed something incomprehensible, perhaps at Bart. Celtic's exclamation was much more understandable, "GROSS!"
Beldevere suddenly became very conscious of herself, and so did Horse.
Just then Tex entered with the small bag of metalwork he had. He blinked as all eyes turned to him, and winced as he asked, "Did I miss something? Why was Bart running screaming down the hallway?"
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Jinn Tosei held his face with his hand and sighed into it. Gascogne, on the other hand, held a small black token pinched between her fingers as she studied the board.
...what was he doing here?
Before them was a board game called Go. It was simple really- players had to control space. That was all, the exact implementation of the rules had changed over time, and there was a Tarak and Mejere version. They were playing the Mejere one, since there was an abundance of them. It was also Gascogne who selected the game... or was it? Jinn couldn't remember. All he could remember was that they were Tired of Cards.
Jinn looked at the board. Not good- Gascogne was controlling more space.
He was trying not explicitly to think of what the two did last night, otherwise he'd be talking funny. Sometimes he lost his cool when he was nervous, and his entire support team noticed. It had become something noticeable ever since Gascogne entered the life of Jinn Tosei. Never, however, was there any more of a time when he would be more nervous.
Gascogne on the other hand was pondering weather or not Misty would be disappointed.
She placed her White Token. A liberty had been taken from one of Jinn's spaces. He considered his own options.
Just as he picked up his token, the sunniest man on the ship arrived. Hibiki Tokai was on fire with the desire to challenge someone- anyone- at cards. His traditional opponent was always Gascogne, for some reason lost to abstract time. He barged in, proclaiming, "Today is the day, I can smell a-" He stopped to look at the strange setup on the space where cards were usually arrayed, and asked, "What the heck is this?"
"Go." Jinn said.
"What?"
"Go." Gascogne replied.
"What? Hey, I'm not leaving until we play some hands," Tokai said, rubbing his own.
"GO!" Called Jinn, "The game! It's my turn."
Tokai blinked at this. The game was called Go... and yet, it was just a bunch of little dots on a grid. 'Go' made him think of something with long tracks and to see how fast someone went. "huh?"
Jinn, at that moment, wanted to throw his piece at Hibiki for his incompetence. Instead he palmed it and said, "We got tired of cards, so we moved to board games."
"Oh, I see." Hibiki said, pulling up a chair to watch, "Can I get next game?"
Jinn just looked up at Gascogne, and the other sighed. Jinn placed his token, and at that moment noticed the pattern in the board. It flashed before his eyes for a moment, and when he focused on them the pattern disolved in the detail. He leaned back, staring at the board.
Gascogne noticed and palmed her piece, "Something wrong Jinn?"
"...No..." Replied Jinn and waved a hand, "Just a headache."
"You wouldn't have those if you didn't work yourself over," Gascogne replied while she studied the board. Jinn examined it again and could see the same lines, and vanished as he focused on the pieces. He looked to Hibiki.
"What are you staring at?" Hibiki asked when he noticed the quartermaster's gaze.
"Nothing," Jinn said and waved it off, catching the Kanji in the board again. Gascogne placed her piece.
They were playing on a 24x24 board- a big board- and had been playing this game for some eight hours now. The lines Jinn saw in the grid were the ones only the higher classes would recognize- the kanji texts differed between classes on Tarak.
"Danger" was written on the board.
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Meia had genuine concern on her face. Years ago, Dureo McFile didn't think he'd ever see this sight. Meia was without her head ornament, with concern on her face. Dureo was here in answer of a house call.
"I'm glad you could come Doctor," She said, her voice also conveying that concern as she stepped aside to let Dureo into Hiro's room. Dureo looked down at the bedridden pilot, wincing, and asking, "This happen this morning?"
Meia nodded, "He felt sick this morning so I made him stay in bed. He threw up a few times just under an hour ago."
"Hmm..." Said Dureo and opened the small medical pack he had on him to put on a mask. A moment later he was examining Hiro.
Just outside Hiro's door was Paiway, with another medicine bag in her two hands. Beside her was Shin Matsenuga, responding to the call with his hands on his hips.
Dureo finished his examination and stood up. "Something disagreed with him. He's just showing signs of a stomach flu." Dureo winced, and his eyes turned to Meia, "Has he eaten anything last night that normally didn't?"
Meia shrugged, "I wouldn't know."
"No," Replied Shin from the door, then looked at Dureo, "the boys and I decided to throw a celebration last night. Jinn cooked... you can ask him if he put anything special in."
"I suppose I'll have to." Replied Dureo and took a blood sample.
"Uhhh..." Muttered the feverish Hiro.
Meia shook her head, "I've never seen him sick before. Not this bad- Hiro's usually real good about his health."
"That's what's got me worried," Dureo replied, fingering the vial of Hiro's Blood, "I may have to analyze this... just to be sure."
"Quarantine then?" Shin asked from the door, while a panicked Paiway covered her nose and mouth with one of her gloved hands.
"If it was contagious to a dangerous degree then we would have come down with it already. No... I want everyone here to check with me in two hours. If it spreads then we'll see, but I think he just has the stomach flu, nothing else."
"Got it." Said Shin and looked over at Hiro on his bunk, "Well the guys will miss him being out there, but I think Tesh can handle the load. Keep me posted doc."
"Will do." Dureo replied as Shin walked off.
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Tesh Ashton was under heavy attack.
Dreads- interstellar space knives, were raining down all around him. The only thing standing between him and virtual oblivion was his Vanguard- the machine about him decked out with the best weaponry from the Mejere system.
He cut down another Dread with wild eyes and wild attention. Had Dureo attached electrodes, he would have noticed Tesh's reaction time had shortened by a noticeable degree. He was in a panic- using all the monitors instead of just the forward one.
It was hot in his pod- an ambient temperature of 84 degrees. He had also been in there for ten hours without a break for a drink or food.
Misty was showing concern when Shin showed up. "What's the problem?" Asked Shin.
"It's Tesh," Misty replied, turning the controls at the station overlooking the simulator pod farm. The screens were showing the bio signs and internal cockpit of Tesh's simulator pod. Other screens were displaying the activity in cyberspace.
"What about him?" Shin asked.
"Well," Misty said as she looked at the screens, "He's been in there for ten hours straight... He's supposed to take breaks isn't he?"
"Yes, Tesh of all people should know that..." Shin said, leaning forward to look at the simulator summary. This was battle five, and already Tesh's profile had racked up an additional 47 kills. Normally that was only against limited-grade AI opponents- not a veteran Dread team. What was going on?
Shin leaned back and crossed his arms and watched Tesh's reactions. He was wild in the cockpit, almost feral if such a thing was possible. His jacket was long discarded and his shirt would soon be also- the temperature was as hot in there as it was on a Tarak summer day in the Northern Hemisphere. Instruments were also telling him it was humid in there- consistent with one gaming THAT hard in the simulators.
The battle ended with Tesh's defeat. Shin was already on his way downstairs, and arrived as some of the girls were bailing from the pods. He walked up next to shin's and hammered on the side three times.
"Huh?" Tesh's voice asked from within.
"It's Shin. Open." Commanded the Vanguard leader.
It took a moment before the pod cracked open and revealed Tesh Ashton. He was wet with perspiration, and his shirt was moist. He blinked in the bright light and rubbed his eyes while he leaned against the pod.
Shin noticed some of the girls stopping to listen and waved them on, before re-planting his hands on his hips and waiting for his tactician to have his eyes cleared. Finally Tesh blinked it off and looked at Shin, "Commander... what's up?"
"Tesh, why are you gaming in here ten hours straight?" Shin asked frankly. He held his gaze even as Tesh turned his head away.
"Um..." Tesh said, trying to think of an answer.
"Tesh," Shin said after a three-second pause, "You of all people know what stress can do to a person. TEN hours?" Shin called, emphasis on the last part, "What are you doing to yourself? Are you on some kind of high?"
"...You can call it that..." Tesh said. Shin crossed his arms, demanding a deeper explanation. Tesh just shrugged, "I just wanna work out some aggression that's all."
"I see. And where does this 'aggression' come from?" Shin asked. Tesh muttered a response. "Say again?" Shin asked.
"Sir it's....well..." He scratched his head, still looking down.
Shin sighed, "Tesh, answer me clearly or I'll suspend you from the simulators for a week."
"What?" Tesh barked, looking up at Shin's face. The young man sighed and looked away, saying, "It's....dreams...sir..."
The memory of Tag's earlier comment returned to Shin, who now asked, "What kind of dreams?"
"It's.... Weird.... Sir..." Tesh said, shaking his head and looking at his commander from under the blue bangs, "I don't remember them all the way.... Just looking..." he shook his head and cast his gaze to the back wall, "I'm sitting on some sort of..." he shook his head again, trying to find the word for it, "A long chair... a couch I guess, sitting on the back with my feet on the cushions. Everyone's there... and...." He winced as he tried to recall the memory, "And I'm looking across a board... a table... and seeing all the girls there on the other side. They're all frozen or underwater...or something..."
Tesh shook his head and clasped it with both hands as he sat against part of the hatch, "It's freaking me out. Whenever I wake up I feel like I need to protect someone... like I need to fight for something against something... fight for the girls... and the ship. I tried to keep it to myself for a while, but then I started getting into the sims...y'know, to sharpen my skills."
"And you just got carried away..." Shin said, trailing off.
Tesh blinked, staring at his commander, before shaking his head and saying a little louder, "It's not like I'm addicted to it or anything-"
"No, I don't think you are," Shin said and walked to the Simulator pod to lean against the casing and stare in the direction of the doorway. Both men sighed in that moment, the hot air of Tesh's sim pod bleeding past them and into the cooler room.
Shin bowed his head to speak a little lower, "Tag's been talking about the same dream."
Tesh's eyes widened a little further, "Then you know wha-"
"I can guess." Shin replied shaking his head. He looked up at Tesh with a sharp glare, "Keep it to yourself, and to us. I think something wrong is happening."
Tesh adjusted his position on the simulator pod and leaned forward, "Did he say anything?"
Shin just nodded, and waved a hand down, "Just keep quiet about it for now, okay? And try not to flip out the girls by becoming a sim zombie."
"Yes sir," Tesh grumbled. As Shin walked away, Tesh's stomach began to protest. This is how Shin was smiling as he walked out of the simulators.
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When all the drama had ended around the bridge, lunchtime was crowned by the emergence of the Captain of the Ship. Rebecca, all healed from the ordeals close to the beginning of her jounrey, yawned as the seat trucked it's way down to the place where Magano Vivian had resided during the Nirvana's first journey. Amarone, Celtic, and Tex were all in their stations. Horse and Beldevere were conspicuously absent, perhaps due to the events of this morning.
Rebecca wasn't in the know, however, and asked, "Where's the other two?"
Amarone and Tex exchanged glances. "You tell her." Said Tex.
"No, you." Amarone said.
"I wasn't there." Replied Tex, "You were."
Celtic sighed.
Bart entered then, dressed in uniform, "Hi all! Reporting for duty!" The women gave him dirty looks. At this, the bald man froze and asked, "What?"
"Thanks to you," Amarone said, "Celtic is scarred for life."
"I am?" Celtic asked as Bart rose to defend himself.
"Hey!" He declared, "It's not my fault everyone started to show up early! I thought I had the bridge to myself!"
Rebecca watched the tennis match of an argument flow across the bridge, until she noticed Tex was concentrated on his instruments. She was about to ask when he turned calling out, "Captain! Sensor contact!"
The operators resumed their stations and Bart ran for the helm hole and dove in as Rebecca commanded, "Report!"
Amarone was all over her sensor board, but was wincing at the results. "It's from a system...off our course... I can't make it out clearly."
Rebecca just winced and asked, "You can't make out what clearly?"
Celtic chimed, "It appears to be some kind of ship Captain... Design and configuration are unknown..."
Rebecca leaned back in the seat, "Let me see it."
The screen materialized to show a very fuzzy image, with a dark shape just visible in the spiraling static. Rebecca reached out to touch a button, "Shin, are you busy?"
Shin's face appeared on a window, "Not at the moment, why?"
"Get up here. It looks like we might have come across something interesting..."
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Huh.
New directions...