SWNOVELS Chapter Chapter Seven
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“Mark, how have you been?” Rosalind addressed her friend.
“Rosalind it is so good to hear from you. I’ve been good. Work at the lab here is so interesting. We have some of the best minds here. Gosh, how long has it been?” Mark answered his long-lost friend. The two had studied at the University of Austin, an institution known for its rigor and free inquiry. They were study buddies. Rosalind brought the books and pencils. Mark brought the snacks. They spent many a long night deep within the bowels of the library along with a few other classmates. After long nights Rosalind and Mark would always walk back to their dorm together along the silent paths bleary-eyed and frazzled.
Once after a midnight cram session with a final exam the next day Rosalind arrived for the exam only to find Mark nowhere in sight. She knew that he must have overslept. She sprinted back to the dorm, rousted him out of bed, and dragged him to the exam. Rosalind got an A on that exam. Mark
got an A-. Mark would be forever grateful to Rosalind for saving his grade.
“I guess it has been about seven years Mark. You got our message that we have somewhat of an emergency?”
“Yes. How many people need medical attention?”
“We have twelve. We should be at the lab in fifteen to twenty minutes.”
“We have a triage area all set up Ros. Don’t worry we’ll take care of you.”
“Thanks so much Mark. Bless you. I’ll see you soon.”
“Ok Ros. Out.”
Major heard the conversation between Rosalind and Mark and the deep affection the two had for each other. Why was it so easy to be friends with Rosalind? She was just one of those people who was always on your side.
Approaching the lab, Major called, “Excelsior requests permission to dock.”
“Excelsior you have permission. Triage team is standing by,” came the response from the lab’s control deck.
Major sighted the lab’s docking port and smoothly connected the two vessels. Carlos and Rosalind were already near the airlock to assist the wounded beings onto the lab. When the airlock door opened and the wounded beings began hobbling into the lab assisted by Rosalind and Carlos, the triage team stepped back in mystified horror. What were they looking at? Strange creatures they were. Were they diseased? Could they be at risk of some unknown off-world infectious agent? They did not know how to proceed. Mark stepped through the triage team, saw their hesitation, and ordered, “Help these people! Get them to the exam rooms.”
The triage team complied and started loading the patients onto medi-carts. Rosalind, who was supporting one of the creatures, caught Mark’s eye and mouthed “Thank you,” to him.
By this time Major had made his way onto the lab and recognized Mark Matthews by his attitude of his authority. He stepped toward him and introduced himself, “Mr. Matthews, I’m Thomas Major Captain of the Excelsior. Thank you for helping us.”
“Welcome aboard Major. We’ll do the best we can for your passengers.”
“I hate to trouble you for more help, but would your lab happen to have any spare carbon dioxide scrubbers. My ship cannot handle so many passengers simultaneously. After they receive treatment, I’m taking them back on Excelsior.”
“Yeah, I think we can help you out.” Matthews turned to an associate, “Bhavesh can you help these people out?” Carlos followed the man away from the airlock area. “Where are you taking them?” Matthews continued.
“I don’t know that yet. We don’t even know who they are or what they are yet,” Major explained.
“Well, it seems like you have a very interesting business Mr. Major.”
“It gets more interesting every day,” was Major’s reply.
“I’m going to assist the triage team. Ros, you remember where the lounge is. Why don’t you relax while we tend to your passengers.” With that Matthews walked away.
Major and Rosalind proceed to the lab’s lounge. Rosalind had been at the lab twice before, once to visit Mark and once when her husband’s ship made a supply run to the lab delivering lab and medical supplies. Rosalind and Major walked down a central corridor boarded by lab rooms, experiment stations, and medical carts. Scientists and lab techs were milling about carrying recording tablets. Test subjects could be seen with various monitors attached to every conceivable body part. Everything was pristine and a buzz of activity gave the impression that at any moment a major breakthrough in orbital biology could be made. This was not Major’s world. Major dealt with the low end of the spectrum of the orbital economy. This was the high end where major minds solved major problems of space travel. The lab had made most of the major advancements in human survivability
making long-term space habitation possible. Major felt self-conscious in his garbage work suit. He wondered if his presence could somehow contaminate the hygienic experimentation taking place.
They found the lounge which had a viewport looking down upon the docked Excelsior.
On Excelsior Carlos was finishing up installing the additional carbon dioxide scrubbers with the help of Bhavesh. “Well, I hope that does it. Having twelve additional passengers will be a challenge. Thanks for your help Bhavesh.
“Sure. Exactly who were those passengers?” Bhavesh asked.
“As soon as I find out, I’ll let you know. Say is there anywhere to get something to eat on the lab? I’m really hungry.”
“Yes. I’ll walk you over to the cafeteria.”
A few moments later Carlos walked into the cafeteria and surveyed the food offerings. He thought to himself, “these scientists are too
healthy.” There were no burgers and fries. No pizza. No sugary drinks. Everything looked like a herbivorous salad. Carlos sighed; he would find nothing satisfying here. Nevertheless, he needed something to eat; he was famished. He grabbed a plate of some green and orange mass and a dull stainless steel flask of plain water. He took a seat at an empty table and stared at his depressing victuals. He picked up a fork full up and into his mouth, he looked up, and he gulped hard. It was not the disgusting taste of the food which caused him to involuntarily heave. It was what he saw not more than twenty-five feet in front of him looking right at him. It was the infamous, devious Commander Fox! The fork fell from Carlos’ hand making a ringing clang on the stainless steel table. The Commander gave him a wink and a wicked smile. Carlos pushed his chair back losing all his appetite which turned into a queasy fear. He took out his communicator, “Captain can you come down to the cafeteria? There is something you should see.”