"MAELSTORM"
Part 1 - Vendetta
“Can I assist you on your self examination, Doctor?”
A voice warbled its way into Doctor Andrew Hale’s
groggy head. As his eyes began to focus, black became
peach and silver that slowly formed into the face of
the android known as “Brother.” His silver
eyes were the only obvious feature of Brother that distinguished
him as being anything other than human. Brother smiled
a soft, oddly friendly smile as he cocked his head slightly
to the side as he patiently awaited a response.
Dr. Hale shook his head trying to chase away the fog
that cluttered his mind from the years of being in suspended
animation in the cryo-chamber. Humans had nearly perfected
the art of cryo-stasis for the several years that trips
through space took at near light speeds.
The key word being “nearly.”
There was a risk for anyone going into a cryo-chamber
and because of that risk, the doctor was always the
first to be awakened.
“I’m fine, thank-you, Brother,” Dr.
Hale said as he felt sensation returning to his limbs
and stepped weakly from the chamber. This had been his
first experience in cryogenic sleep and despite his
thorough training, the odd, tingling feeling in his
muscles was still a surprise. Artificial stimulation
of the muscles through electrical impulses that was
used to prevent atrophy had a feeling similar to that
of when your hand or leg “falls asleep.”
Brother smiled and stood up straight and offered his
arm for support. Dr. Hale took the arm and shook each
of his limbs. “You can begin the sequence on Captain
Moore now, I’m fine,” the doctor stated.
“Captain Moore’s sequence was initiated
17 minutes and 37 seconds ago, Doctor,” Brother
replied, looking over the doctor as if recording his
vital signs and double-checking his claim to be “fine.”
“That’s quite efficient of you,”
the doctor said sarcastically. The android missed the
tone in the doctor’s voice and smiled softly as
if it had been complimented.
“It is my goal to be efficient and productive,
Doctor Hale,” Brother replied.
“What if something had gone wrong with my awakening
or with the sequence? I don’t think it is wise
to try overlapping something of this magnitude. People’s
lives are at stake,” the doctor chided the android.
“The safety of the crew is my number one priority.
Had something gone wrong, the first 22 minutes of the
sequence is reversible without harm. We are still well
within the safe limit to return the Captain to complete
Cryo-stasis if that were needed. As well, I am fully
programmed for all medical and emergency procedures,”
the android said as it stepped away from the doctor,
seeing he was now capable of standing under his own
power.
The doctor nodded. There was no point in arguing with
an android anyway. “Gather my equipment to the
Captain’s cryo-chamber. I’m going to take
a quick shower if anything goes wrong.” The android
nodded again and watched as the doctor walked toward
the crew quarters.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It had been a day and a half since he had come out
of suspended animation and Captain Sylvan Moore was
finally starting to feel himself again. He was sitting
comfortably in the pilot’s chair on the bridge
of his ship, The Maelstrom. To his right sat Lieutenant
Jameson Young, ecology specialist, geologist, anthropologist
and all around know-it-all. Young was the only person
Moore had known prior to the assignment of the crew
to this mission and Sylvan wasn’t exactly thrilled
with his presence. To Sylvan, Jameson Young was too
much of a “company man” who put the wishes
of the fleet ahead of a crew. But the Global Space Command
would not allow the mission if one of their own was
not on the crew. The thing that bothered him the most
was that Dr. Susan Zenkami, a stellar navigations expert
and android specialist was also from command and, in
fact, was the team leader.
“And that is the 50,000 kilometer mark.”
Jameson stated as if Sylvan were not paying attention
to his instrument panels. Jameson stared at Sylvan for
a minute. “Aren’t you going to adjust the
vector of The Maelstrom for ‘gradual orbital acceptance?’”
he asked. To Sylvan Moore, however, it was not a question.
“G.O.A. is a waste of time…” Sylvan
began.
“Gradual Orbital Acceptance is a command procedure
for all…” Jameson cut him off but was himself
interrupted in return.
“This is NOT a GSC ship. I am the Captain and
The Maelstrom’s course will be determined by me!”
Sylvan snapped. Jameson didn’t reply but sat upright
in his chair staring at Sylvan, his eyes boring a hole
into the side of the Captain’s head.
It almost made Sylvan laugh. He wondered where the
sudden hostility had come from. He wasn’t normally
like that. But there was just something about Jameson
that irked him. There was nothing wrong with “gradual
orbital acceptance” but it certainly wasn’t
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