 |
| A scene from Hybrid. |
Pages 155-158
Captain
Elswick grabbed his orders and closed the door behind him. His visit with Major Reni had shaken
him. What she’d ask was a serious breach of Alfiniaian law. They both could be
court-martialed. He glanced down at his watch. He was ten minutes late for his
briefing with his crew. This would be their last meeting before departure.
The
chatter stopped as Captain Elswick entered the briefing room.
“Good
evening,” he said, half smiling. He made no apologies why he was late. He hoped
no one had seen Major Reni leave his quarters.
“We
have exactly four hours before lift off. Let’s run through the schedule. Dr.
Romas, let’s start with you.”
Dr.
Romas, a short, robust man, stood up. He was a twenty-five-year veteran as an
embryologist. Once the eggs were harvested his primary responsibility were the
freezer tanks. Dr. Romas spread opened his briefcase, placed his report
in front of him, and cleared his throat.
“All
calculation, accurate, Captain. I’ve double-checked the liquid nitrogen. Full
capacity, Sir. The embryology lab, sterile and ready.”
“Excellent,”
the Captain answered. “Good work.”
The
Captain leaned forward and pushed a red button. A six by six hologram screen
burst to life, illuminating the entire room.
“This
mission to Earth will be more of a challenge,” he said, pointing to the lower
half of the screen. “We’ve been monitoring E/421 for several months. Its
drifting path is dead center of our exit point, which could be a real problem
for us.”
From
the back of the room, Navigator Blaine raised his hand and cleared his throat.
“Sir, I checked E/421 less than an hour ago. It's closer than originally
recorded. We may have to delay our lift off time.”
Lt.
Warnock’s jaw muscle knotted up. He was the crew’s rebel. He didn’t get along
with anyone, but as a trained physicist he knew his stuff when it came to
traversable wormholes. He interrupted Lt. Blaine. “Sir, the portal’s opening
has its own time clock. There’s no variance with its window of 24 hours.”
“Why
not use our new LD prototype, Captain?” asked Lt. Skyler. “Its beam could shift
the E/421 asteroid to either side of the exit point. We only need a five mile
clearance to exit safely.” Skyler was twenty-four, the youngest of Captain
Elswick’s crew. He’d just graduated from Alfinia’s Royal Officers Academy with
a degree in Quantum Mechanics.
“Good
point, Lt. Skyler,” the Captain answered.
Captain
Elswick had received a report on the new LD prototype, but it wasn’t scheduled
for release for six months. “Lt. Blaine, get with Lt. Skyler after the
briefing. Run the numbers. I’ll contact General Dalmar to request an earlier
release.”
Lt.
Blaine nodded. “Consider it done, Sir.”
During
the last few minutes of the briefing, Captain Elswick eyes shifted to the
darkened balcony. The door stood half opened with an outlined of body. He
quickly recognized the female frame. Major Reni had joined their briefing. He
hesitated, unsure of what to say or do. He braced himself.
“Major
Reni,” his voice finally spit out. “Please, want you join our briefing.”
Major
Reni stepped into the light. Her auburn hair fell in loose curls, framing her
ivory face. She was stunning. Any male would have to be blind not to recognize
her beauty. She maneuvered her body down the stairs with care, replicating
the grace of her mother, the Queen. Major Reni no doubt was one confident and
resourceful woman. She had carved out a superior career for herself.
The
Captain’s crew stood and bowed. After all, not only was Major Reni a major in
the Elite Army, she was a Princess.
“Thank
you, Captain,” she answered. She sat down in the chair next to Skyler and
motioned for the crew to return to their seats.
Skyler
eased down into his seat and wiped the sweat from his brow. He’d never been
that close to a Princess before. He closed his eyes, breathing in her lavender
scent.
Major
Reni’s slender fingers brushed her curls from her eyes.
“If
I may, Captain,” she said, pointing to the screen. “This E/421 is the same
asteroid my crew and I confronted six weeks ago. It’s big and it’s tough. Our
systems calculated that something caused Jupiter’s gravitational pull to kick
this particular asteroid
out of the belt. It’s running wild. It’s been hard to monitor or even get a
handled on where its heading. We’d installed the new LD prototype in my ship,
but had never had the call to use it until then. We shot the beam into its lower south
side. Luckily, our calculations were right. It nudged it just enough for us to
accelerate our thrusters into jump drive, and we cleared an impact. It’s an
extraordinary tool to have aboard you ship. I just wished we’d had it eight
centuries ago. Get clearance for its installation, Captain. You’ll need it.”
For
a moment, a frozen expression spread across the Captain’s face. He wasn’t aware
that the new probe had been approved, installed or even tested.
“Thank
you, Major Reni,” the Captain replied. “We appreciate your info.”
Major
Reni stood and strolled across the room.
Captain
Elswick eyes followed her. He swallowed hard. He’d never had his own
female partner. His alliance to Alfinia ranked first priority.
Leaving
a trail of lavender scent behind her, the crew jumped to attention like
frighten rabbits as Major Reni passed.
Captain
Elswick coughed, grabbing back his crew’s mental attention.
“Remember,
no wine before the launch. If there’s nothing else, you’re dismissed.”
“Sir,
there’s just one more thing,” Navigator Blaine said, standing up. “Do our
orders still include Major Reni’s daughter?”
Captain
Elswick’s composure wilted.
epita, a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present the Christ Child at Christmas Eve Services. As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy. I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes," said Pedro consolingly.
