Chameleon 7

The infirmary glowed with light but certainly not from outside lighting. In fact, being at the center of the station, it didn’t have any windows that offered a view of the stars. Dr. Scott Gregory’s private room, bright but not stark, seemed more the like bridge of the Maria Mitchell than a hospital room. Quiet signals and faint, colored lights kept track of the patient’s vital statistics from sensors under the gel pad.

“They told me I could find you here,” came a woman’s voice. Jackson turned to the voice, then stood up.

“Melinda!” He strode up to the woman he’d known for twenty years and pulled her into a friendly hug. “I’m glad I got to see you before I shipped out again.”

“I don’t know whether I’m glad to see you or maybe I should knock you on your ass.”

“Mel?”

 “No more long space assignments with you. Do you know how many birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays he’s missed?” She pushed him away and stepped up to the bed. Jackson had a hundred replies but he’d learned from painful experience not to rattle off a list of facts when a female was expressing emotions. Facts like, ‘well no one forced him to come along’, and ‘accidents happen’. All kinds of accidents. She’d been invited to come along, but she was not a space happy astronomer like Scott. She had her own job, and before that, someone had to stay on Earth with the children.

“He told me this was his last mission. That he missed you.”

“It may very well be his last mission,” she challenged. He put his hand on her shoulder, both staring at Scott while he slept.

“He’s going to get well.”

“I spoke with the doctors. I spoke with Adams, too. Don’t bullshit me, Tom.”

He’d not expected her venom at this moment. Her fear had turned to anger and he was the nearest target. The station’s chief medical officer entered the room.

“Good afternoon. We’re going to initiate a change today, now that you’re here, Ms. Gregory. In anticipation of your arrival we’ve been tapering off his medication with the expectation that you will be the trigger to bring him out and keep him out.”

“When?”

“We’ve decided that early tomorrow morning will give us a full day with a well-rested staff. We have quarters for you outside the ward, if you’d like to get some rest?”

“I’ve just got off a seventeen-week flight. I’m ready to walk, eat real food, and see if I’m bringing my husband home anytime soon. I don’t need to rest.”

“Mel, would you have dinner with me and Rianya, tonight? We’re leaving soon. I have a lot to tell you.”

“You were supposed to be his friend.”

“I am his friend. I’m also his captain.”

“And I’m his wife.”

Jackson refused to let her anguish drag him into an argument, or maybe even a fist fight.

“Ms. Gregory, I’ll have your baggage taken to a hospital guest room and please feel free to stay here with Dr. Gregory as long as you like,” the doctor said.

“I’ll, um, let you be alone, and just call me when you need anything. I’m on the ship.” Jackson turned to go as Rianya came into the room.

“Here you are,” she said, then hesitated, looking at the other people in the room.

“Melinda, this is my wife, Rianya. Ri, Dr. Gregory’s wife, Melinda.”

“I’m sad that we meet under these circumstances,” Rianya said, putting out her hand. “But I’m delighted to meet you.” Melinda took the proffered hand and her body softened.

“You are so beautiful,” she almost whispered. “I see what Tom sees in you, but I’m not sure what you see in him.” Rianya turned to Tom for a translation.

“I certainly got the better deal,” he said, agreeing with her, defeating her insult, if that was the woman’s sub context.

“Excuse me, but Cerebrus has asked to speak with you,” she told him. “Aboard the ship. I’m sorry.”

“I was just leaving,” he told her. “Mel, I mean it. Call me if you need anything, a bottle of rye or a shoulder, whatever you need, come aboard, or ask the admin here to contact me. We’ll be here one more day.”

“Okay, Tom. It was nice to meet you, Rianya.” Melinda’s avarice morphed into despair as she sat on the side of Scott’s bed, holding his hand, her back to Tom and Rianya. Tom wrapped his arm around Rianya’s shoulder and ushered her out.

“My goodness,” she said when they had reached the corridor.

“My goodness, indeed.”

þ

“Can we please see the space station?”

“Zalara, your papa said no, and for good reason. You could get lost, get hurt, they’re all kinds of aliens.”

“We’ll be good,” the child promised.

“I’ll take you on the station,” Tom said. “But you absolutely cannot stray one meter from my side.”

“Or mine,” Rianya told their daughter and her temporary big sister, Honey. The two of them jumped up and giggled.

“Now? Can we go now?”

“After breakfast,” Tom promised. The two scrambled out of the bedroom flashing blond and chestnut drapes of hair with ribbon streamers fluttering behind them.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“We’ll never here the end of it if we don’t let them see what the station looks like.”

“You can’t say no to her, can you?” Rianya poked him in the arm and got up. “Coffee?”

“No. Why would I want coffee?” She looked at him, startled. “Yes, thanks, Love, coffee is great.”

“Don’t scare me like that,” she chuckled, placing a hand on her chest.

“You have to know by now that I’m joking with you. Didn’t you ever tell jokes before you met me?” She threw a robe over her shoulders and twisted the tie.

“Yes. We laughed about you.” She reached out with both hands and instead of cradling his face she grabbed his ears and tugged on them. “These are the funniest things on the planet.” He watched the sway of her hips like waves on a lake, gently shifting as she walked away.

He carried his coffee to the bridge and immediately stood in the nadir. Ensign Rougeau programed the route to Tau Ceti into the computer. On his other side, Lieutenant Lee checked off items on his pre-launch list.

“Chief Petty Officer Watson, call Cerebrus to the bridge. Now that we’re ready to go I want him to learn your stations so he can relieve you all. Can’t put the entire burden on Lieutenant May.”

“Aye, Captain, with pleasure.”

“I’ll be on the station if you need me. I have business to finish. Lieutenant Lee, you have the bridge.”

“Aye, sir,” he said and changed seats from the left helm to the captain’s post. “I’ll keep it warm for you.”

Jackson led his party of three, er, three and half, onto the Family Deck, a newly remodeled area that was off limits not only to shops that catered to adults, massage parlors to hookah lounges, but also the assorted people associated with them. Jackson wasn’t one to pass judgement on anyone, but he didn’t want to face a barrage of queries from two little girls. Or his wife. Last time he’d been down there, he attracted the attention of too many eyes.

“You girls hold my hands and don’t try to get away. I’ve got you like glue,” Rianya warned.

“Mama, you’re hurting me,” Zalara said.

“Better that than lost.”

“Or kidnapped,” Tom uttered.

“Something to eat?” she asked.

“You take the girls, I have several loose ends to tie a knot in.”

“I expect you back in an hour.”

“Ninety minutes, Love. Promise.” He put his fingers to his lips and passed an invisible kiss to her.

Jackson took himself to the Earth Embassy and waited for the Space Admin ambassador to meet with him. The bright lighting, enhanced with natural starlight from fiber optics, lifted his mood. He wasn’t looking forward to the upcoming mission, the changes in personnel, the Astronomite, leaving his friend, and the mummy, behind. And then there was Honey.

“Captain Jackson, I’m sorry we didn’t talk earlier,” the woman said. “I’m Ambassador Denali.” She was human; she held out her hand. “How can I help you? I know you’re taking an Astronomite. Is he working out all right?”

“So far, yes, it was a little awkward at first. We’ll get used to him.”

“You’ve never had a droid on board?”

“I prefer brains to qubits. Someone once told me they could train a chimp to do almost anything, but when the results were not within expectations, the chimp didn’t know what to do. I need brain power, not train power.”

“I think Astronomite will surprise you. He’s not electro, he’s optical. No moving parts, that is, other than what is supposed to move. He’s entirely DNA encoded. His memory has yet to reach maximum.”

“I’m just an old-fashioned kind of captain, I suppose,” he told her. “I wanted to make sure my astrophysicist is well cared for. Also, my mummy is in cool dry, storage, under lock and security, as well as the ship we found with him.”

“I had my assistant put everything on a chip for you.” She pulled a five square millimeter chip from her pocket and handed it to him. “Old technology,” she grinned.

“And are we certain Huntington York has no kin?”

“Hunting York? Oh, is that your orphaned girl? I’ll double check if you can wait a minute.” He nodded and the woman dashed off. Jackson ticked off his list in his head. Scott, Honey, Vaughn, Cerebrus, the time ship. And one more thing. He glanced around the lobby but no one was in sight.

“Captain Jackson, I’m sorry but there’s nothing new regarding the York child.”

“I understand. There’s one more thing. The cargo we’re taking to Tau Ceti is aboard but my yeoman-quartermaster didn’t receive any bill of lading.”

“I’ll contact the docking bureau and make sure you have one before you depart.”

“All is good, then.”  He put his hat on his head and held out his hand. “I wish all government operations ran as efficiently as this one.”

“I have a confession,” she said. “My assistant is an AI Droid. She’s not an Astronomite. She’s an Escritoire; Friday Escritoire. I give her a lot of the credit. You can always talk to her if I’m not available.” Jackson flushed after complimenting the work of a droid after insulting their ability just minutes before.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Gives me hope about Cerebrus.”

Jackson made one last stop before hunting for Rianya. He strolled into the infirmary as if he were aboard Maria Mitchell and marched back to Scott’s room. He peered in to see if Melinda was there, or a nurse, or some other person he didn’t want to talk to. The coast was clear.

He cast his hat on a table and walked up to the bed. The readings had changed since yesterday. All the numbers were green, all over the readout.

“Oh, Scott, this is looking good.”

“I know you, don’t I?” the patient said as he opened his grey eyes.

“Scott! Geeze! You scared the crap out of me!” Tom placed his hands on Scott’s shoulders and looked into his face, making sure he hadn’t imagined it. “You look downright alive, buddy!”

Scott scowled and shut his eyes. Tom backed away.

“I… I wish I could remember your name but I just don’t. I’m sorry. We work together, right? At, um…”

“Tom.”

“Tom Jackson! We’re friends. My wife said we’re friends. I remember now.” Tom wasn’t quite sure he did. “Is she here?”

“She just stepped out. She’ll be back. Boy, you gave us all a helluva scare.” Tom perched on the edge of Scott’s bed. “How long have you been awake?”

“A day?”

“You’ve been in and out of consciousness for months. You, uh, hit your head during an EVA.” He didn’t disclose all the ugly details.

“Doc came by earlier. I think it was today. He told me.”

“You sound good, buddy. I feel better knowing you’re okay, and Melinda’s here.”

“Who?”

“Your wife, Melinda.”

“Melinda? Her name is Cat. Catherine.”

Tom’s suddenly stone heart dropped into his stomach with a bang.

“No, uh, there’s no Cat. Her name’s Melinda. Melinda.” Scott frowned as he tried to access his memory. “You have two kids.” The man sighed and scrubbed his face with his hands.

“I’m really tired, but I want to get up. They won’t let me.”

“Do what they tell you, Scott.”

“I’m sorry; I don’t really remember you. I recognize you, but I don’t remember you.” Tom pushed his own need aside.

“You will, buddy, don’t worry. I’m going to Tau Ceti—”

“I know that! A beautiful, G type star, planets, two inhabited, C and D. I’ve been there.” The man’s face brightened and filled with color. Where am I?”

“We’re on Novissimus, in the Omicron system.”

“Omicron’s a red giant star. All its planets are uninhabited. There’s a space station around one of them.”

“I’m sorry, Scott, I have to go now. I’ll see you when I get back.” Tom couldn’t stand seeing his old friend, a brilliant scientist, struggling with everything but the stars in his head. At least he had that.

“It’s a long way to Tau Ceti from Omicron.”

“I’ll see you again, either here or on Earth.”

“Okay, thanks, Tom. Bye.” He waved. Tom waved back, smiled, grabbed his hat, and hurried out. The darkness had become twilight, soon to become the dawn of a long rehabilitation.