Dark as Daylight Ch. 04

"I wasn't thinking about Janet; I was thinking about Gordon."

"No Captain, he has enough trouble on his hands right now. I'm not going to disturb him."

"Captain Franklin you are with me."

We left the bridge, and walked the few short steps to the ready room. I said, "Elizabeth, once you enter this room you will not leave it, until you are relieved by me, or by the other person that is in this room. I am not going in there with you, and there is no man inside. Enjoy your day, just as you told my daughter-in-law to do, before she started bleeding. These two security agents will make sure nobody disturbs you, and make sure you don't try to leave without authorization."

"Who's in there, Captain?"

"Your worst nightmare, or your best friend. Go inside and find out."

Elizabeth opened the door, and saw a woman lying down on the conference table. She could not make out who it was, until she got closer.

"It's about time that old windbag let you in here. What did he do, read 'The History of the Earth: Part 1 to you, from memory?"

"I don't want to do this Nurse Miles; it hurts too much."

"Girl, your life has been a dream compared to some of the women I have counseled, during my time. Tell me where you want to begin, and I will bring up names, places, acts, and dates that will make you want to vomit. The only reason I can do this now, is because we will never see those people again, and I am free of the confidentiality agreement."

"Why do I have to pick over those old bones, when I know what happened to my step-sisters, and the way their lives were ruined by that man and those boys."

"The reason is simple; you never came to terms with those old bones. You were the 'Lucky One', you were too young to be molested, when the police rescued you from that evil place.

Then you went to a place you thought you were safe, but were molested in a way you never realized, until you were older. That was the reason you ran away, when you were 13 years old, and graduated high school. If you were so safe, why did you run away, but had the foresight to steal your cousin's Social Security card, so you could find employment? We have a lot of ground to cover Elizabeth. Tell me where you want to start and we will go from there. Oh, I don't want to hear about you being a lesbian. That is a personal choice, and it is fine with me."

"Does everyone know that I am fucked up inside?"

"You are not fucked up inside. Like most of us, you are highly compartmentalized. When you are working, or busy doing something you enjoy that compartment is closed tighter than a bank vault. It only opens up when you are resting or bored. That's when these feelings of self-pity jump out, and bite your tits. They make you feel sorry for yourself, and the others you watched suffer."

"I don't want to talk about those times, Hannah. They cut my heart open and I see my sisters being raped, and sodomized. I told the Social Worker so many times what was happening, and he never did anything about it. Our 'Caregiver' told the older girls they would be dead, before the police got there to help them."

"How old were you when you did this?"

"Four."

"Do you realize how brave you were trying to help the other girls?"

"I wasn't being brave. One of my sisters was seven, and they were raping her daily. Soon, that was going to be me. It was a case of self-preservation."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

{Two hours thirty-seven minutes later.}

"Bridge, this is nuclear engineer Gordon Luck."

"What do you want 'Little Turd."

"Monty?"

"That is Captain Jamison to you, mister."

"Holy shit, you have a last name."

"When you are up to your usual self, I want a piece of you in the gym, Mr. Luck."

"It will be my pleasure, Marie."

"Your death warrant is on my desk waiting for my signature."

"Give me a few weeks to get my strength back and we will dance."

"Did you bother me for a reason 'Little Turd?"

"Yes Captain, the nuclear fusion engine is inside the ship, and locked down tight. However, it is my recommendation we never leave it outside for that length of time again. Although the interior sections of the electrical cables were not compromised, the exterior protective coverings barely held together. If I had rushed the process of bringing the cables in faster than 9 in./m, and heated them at 1800 degrees, to reestablish the cohesion of the carbon fibers, as they were entering the nuclear containment chamber, they would have cracked, and we would have had no way to repair them."

"There would have been one way 'Little Turd.' I would send him you in there with a large container of blue resin, to fill in the gaps. When you completed your task, I would open the rear hatch, and watch you float away, like the piece of flotsam you are."

"There would be no one on this ship who would be able to beat the crap out of you, on a regular basis, Captain? Janet told me she did it already, and she was only my student."

"It was a draw. She didn't beat me."

"You will have to speak to Captain Janet Dover about that technicality. Now might be a good time to do it, Captain Jamison."

"You are still the rotten sneaky bastard I have ever known. I'll talk to you later."

"Bridge to Captain Dover."

"Captain Dover here."

"Janet, a Captain Jamison would like to schedule a match for this afternoon, at 19:30 hours, if you are available."

"I am available, but I don't know a Captain Jamison."

"She is a new trainee as of earlier today. Captain Even Luck put her on the position a little while ago. She says she has never been beaten by anyone. She looks older, and probably slower than you are. I don't see any problems for you."

"This should be fun. I will meet her and beat her to a pulp."

"She doesn't know what she is asking for, the dummy."

"She will surely find out quickly."

"I am betting on you."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

"Bridge to Engineering."

"Engineering, Colonel Daniels."

"Colonel tell Gordon the match is on for 1730 hours."

"Do I smell a mongoose and a cobra?"

"Something like that. Are you ready for tomorrow?"

"What's to get ready? Wake up, make love to my bride, shower, shave, put my best duds on, walk her onto the stage at 1400 hours, in the auditorium. Say, "I Do, Forever and Ever." Take my bride back to our room and screw her for the remainder of our day."

"You are such a romantic Jack. Don't forget to tell Gordon."

"Will do."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Gray said, "Captain, I am going to start the process of reducing our speed to sub-light."

"I see it here on the action sheet, Dr. Thyme, but as you do it, would you explain how it's done."

"Absolutely Captain. Engineering reduce Nuclear Engine to 9%."

"Nuclear Engine to 9%."

"Putting the engine at 9% gives us all the power we need, plus a 10% margin of error, to run all the systems in the ship. Now we look for an asteroid of sufficient mass and moving at a sufficient speed to use as an anchor. Newton's Law of Motion says, "An object in motion will stay in motion, unless an opposing object interferes with it. That is what we are looking for now. If we were in a position to do this the other day, when Elizabeth dodged 'Rhode Island,' we could have slowed to sub-light in less than a week.

If we run into Texas, and it is moving at 150,000 mph, we could slow to sub-light in a day. We, also, have to make sure we don't put too much stress on the ship, because we don't want to tear it apart. That would not be a good thing."

"That is all well and good doctor, but HOW do you slow us down?"

Delicious said, "You use my engines in reverse."

Gray ran to her, and gave her a kiss. "You are not supposed to be out of bed. You were operated on last night, or have you forgotten already?"

"Be nice to me baldy, I was told I had to walk around. When I left our room, my ears started burning, and I knew someone was messing with my engines. Monty, why are you in the Captain's chair?"

"Captain Jamison at your service, ma'am."

"What is this world coming to?"

"You should hear what Gordon and I just pulled off on Janet."

"I am already afraid for her well-being."

"As you should be."

"Captain, long range scan indicates two object on parallel course, speed 110,000 mph. 2.6 light years ahead, bearing 348 degrees, heading 245 degrees, angle of ascension 2.5 percent. They are no threat to us."

"Dr. Thyme, do either of these have the mass you need to use as a brake pedal?"

"No, but if we can get close enough behind them, I could use both of them to slow us down."

"Very cute darling, I am going to continue my walk."

"Good girl; is Teddy talking to the babies yet?"

"It's like a giggle zoo in there now. I think they take after me. Teddy has already reprimanded them. "No Bad Words." I laughed so hard my stitches hurt. The baby sitters are a great help, and they love how small the twins are."

"If you two are finished, I have to know if we are going after these two objects or not?"

"Yes Captain we are."

"Helm, turn slowly right, new hiding 145°. I don't want a glass of water to know we turned."

Gray yelled, "Monty you are going the wrong way."

"Watch and learn doctor."

I said, "Is it okay if I learn along with you, Monty?"

"The bridge is yours captain."

"Oh no, Captain, you started this maneuver, I want to see if you are right or wrong."

"It's really very simple mathematically."

"Prove it to me."

"I don't like you."

"I gave you my 4-year-old son."

"A lot of good that did us."

"He has his moments."

"Have you spoken to him about the cables?"

"Yes, I left engineering moments ago. I wanted to tell him what was going on with Elizabeth this morning, and no you are not allowed to ask. Just forget this morning ever happened, or I will post a picture of Captain Jamison all over this ship."

"That boy has no control over his mouth."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

One hour later, Captain Jamison asked, "Navigation, do you still have those 2 objects located?"

"Yes Captain, bearing 345°, heading remains constant at 245°, angle of ascension 2.5°.

"Helm turn slowly left heading 065°, climb at 1° angle of ascension."

I realized what she was doing, patted her on the back. "You sneaky devil."

"Thank you Captain."

"Navigation, I want to know how far apart those 2 objects are."

"At this distance Captain, my best guess would be a few hundred miles."

"Thank you."

"Doctor Thyme may I see you for a moment?"

"You're not supposed to ask me Monty. You are the Captain, tell me to come over."

"In a few minutes I'm going to be the helmsman again. I don't want to get anyone angry with me."

"What can I do for you Captain?"

"My original plan was to come up behind these 2 objects so you could begin your braking maneuver. Since each has too little mass for you to do that, I want to come in from the starboard side of the larger object, and push it towards the little one, with an extremely short burst of power from the forward engines. We can do it that way, or we can use the engines and drag the little object towards the big one. It's like shooting the eight-ball into the side pocket, or bringing the side pocket to the eight-ball."

"I love your scientific terms Monty; they should be written down for posterity."

"As your wife said to you a moment ago, 'Be nice to me baldy."

"I should kill Hannah for this."

"Sometimes you get the bear, other times the bear gets you. How do you think we should do this?"

"You get Gordon up here to solve this problem. I'll ask Callie. Then we will compare notes."

"This should be a blast."

"Gordon Luck, to the bridge immediately. Gordon Luck to the bridge immediately."

Zoey showed up first. Before she realized Monty was sitting in the Captain's chair she started apologizing for Gordon being late to work this morning.

"It was my fault. I turned off his alarm at 5 o'clock. I just wanted to look at him. We've been apart for so... Monty, why are you sitting there?"

"I am the temporary Captain Zoey. Everyone knows it was your fault this morning, and Gordon has been forgiven. Everything is fine, go back to your room and rest."

"Who was it that yelled at me this morning?"

"A 17-year-old girl who had a problem. It's being taken care of now. Just forget about this morning, and go back to bed with your baby."

"Have you seen her, blonde hair and green eyes, her grandfather wants to know who the father is."

"Don't you?"

"That's not funny Monty, I know who the father is."

"Why do you care what your father-in-law says about it? He is just yanking your chain."

"When I'm feeling better, I think I'll yank his, good and hard."

"You better speak to Jennifer about that. If he's out of commission for a long time, she may have a problem with you."

"I understand what you're saying, and I will get her blessing before I do anything."

"That's very smart of you little girl."

"Can I ask you a very personal question?"

"As long as I don't have to answer it, you can."

"Since I was 12, all I could think about was sex. I never did anything about it, until I met Gordon. Now I can't do without it. Gordon's known you, since he was 4 years old. I've known you for the past 2 years. I know you've never had a boyfriend or girlfriend. How do you go without sex?"

"That is a question for my next lifetime young one. Only 3 other people know that answer and that's the way I like it."

"I'm sorry, I did not mean to intrude into an area I was not supposed to trespass into."

"There was no way for you to know that, unless you asked the question. Don't worry your little head over it."

"Gordon says I have a big head."

"Gordon has a big mouth." She said it loud enough for him to hear as he walked onto the bridge.

"What are you doing here Zoey?"

"We are discussing knitting patterns dummy."

"What did I do wrong this time? You were the one that turned off my alarm."

"You were the one to put the alarm on my side of the bed."

"I put the alarm where the outlet is. You chose that side of the bed."

"That will be enough Mister Luck. Zoey go back to bed and rest. Men have no idea what it's like to carry a baby for 9 months, and then deliver it through an orifice so small, only a lemon can fit through it."

"If I hear that story one more time, I'm going to have a vasectomy. That way we can't have any more children."

Zoey said, "I will stand by Doctor Finch and watch him cut you, just to make sure he doesn't miss anything."

"Mrs. Luck that's fine with me. You were the one that wanted a large family. I just wanted you."

Zoey began to cry.

"What the hell did I do wrong this time?"

"Take your wife back to your room, and get back here in a hurry Mister Luck. You can figure out what you did wrong later."

"Yes Captain."

Gray walked over to Monty and handed her Callie's answer."

The computer was against both options.

Callie concluded: attempting to push the larger object towards the smaller one could cause a collision between the two objects. This would change their headings, angles of declination, or ascension, and cause them to spin on all axis. The result could cause the destruction of both objects, or one, and leave a large debris field.

Attempting to pull the smaller object towards the larger one would require several maneuvers by the spacecraft, which it could not do at one time, because of its speed. It could take three or more passes to accomplish, and some of these maneuvers would be so delicate, it put the ship in danger.

Considering the options, the safest way to slow the spacecraft down was to approach the objects from the rear, as originally planned, slow as much as possible, circle the objects, and do it again and again, until sub- light speed was attained."

Naturally, after he read the computer's opinion, Gordon's answer to its' hypothesis was, "BULLSHIT!"

"Monty call out the troops and find Newton for me. If there is a young female missing, find her too. They are together."

Monty said, "This is going to be fun."

"Attention all security agents. Find Newton Thyme, he is needed on the bridge immediately. If there is a young female missing from school, babysitting or other activity, and her parents cannot account for her whereabouts, they are together. Bring the female to her parents for a lecture on where she is supposed to be at this time of day, and bring the male to the bridge now."

Monty's communicator chimed instantly.

"Monty that was the evilest thing I have ever heard, and I have done many evil things myself."

"Thanks Even, I'm doing my best to emulate you on one of your good days."

"Keep it up Captain, you will surpass me by the end of the day."

"You can't leave me here all day, I'll kill someone."

"Are you talking about my son?"

"He is standing in front of me."

"Why does he need Newton?"

"One brain is better than none?"

"There you go Monty; I can't wait for you to get into high gear."

"I'm working on that now."

"Don't tell me, because I don't want to know. If we bump into anything, then you can tell me.

"You are too much Even."

"Newton has just arrived on the bridge. If I say so myself, he does not look very happy."

"Let me speak to him."

"Hello grandpa."

"At Eleven thirty in the morning, who the hell keeps your schedule?"

"I have a laptop grandpa. As many girlfriends as my mother believes I have, and as much sex as she thinks I'm having, she is well and truly overstating it."

"I'm very happy to hear that Newton. However, this morning you are needed. I'm not sure why, but Gordon requested you personally."

"Gordon needs my help?"

"No I don't need your help; I need you to hold a string."

"Grandpa, can I kill him please. I was making out with Jennifer, not having sex, just making out, and this doofus needs me to hold string."

"Killing Gordon has become a national pastime. You will have to wait in line. Ask Monty what place you are in. I'll talk to you later Newton. Goodbye."

"Goodbye grandpa."

"Captain Monty, my grandfather told me to ask you what place I would be in to kill my uncle."

Monty laughed. "Would you like me to go by name, or just give you the total?"

"Would you just give me the total number of the people on our ship."

"Nine."

"Nine, that's one per month, since we've taken off."

"Truthfully, he accumulated seven of those in the first month. He kept telling people they were doing things wrong, and they were not happy with him.

Even though he was correct in his assessment of what they were doing wrong, Gordon was slightly more abrasive than steel on a belt sander at times."

"You mean like today."

"No that was me."

Gordon said, "Come with me Newton, we have work to do in engineering."

"If all I have to do is hold a string, why can't I do it here?"

"Would I ask for you specifically, if all I needed was someone to hold the string?"

"You mean we are actually going to work together?"

"How much time before the next turn Monty?"

"Forty-three minutes, but I can stretch it by ten minutes if you need it."

"Let us know five minutes prior to the next turn."

"Move your ass Gordon, you don't have much time."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

As the two of them ran to engineering, Monty said, "Navigation, let me know as soon as we come abeam of those 2 objects."

"Roger Captain."

When Jack saw them burst into his domain he shouted, "What are you two criminals doing down here?"

Gordon replied, "I'm hiding him from his second, third, fourth, and auxiliary girlfriends, who are on the warpath."