Solar Star

He stood back with his hands on his hips and admired her. She wasn’t the most beautiful space ship in the universe, he acknowledged; a bit like a shark out of water but she was half his and he was proud of her. Her matt black sides towered above him and only the silver script on her flank broke her sleek lines. Her name was ‘Solar Star’ and it shone brightly where he’d finished painting it.

“Looks kind of small, Ty”, a familiar voice said behind and Ty Kelsey grinned and turned to greet his best friend and the other half owner.

“Small it may be, Maclyn but it suits her, don’t you think?”

Maclyn’s face was the picture of concentration, his blue eyes all but disappeared under his frown and his brown untidy hair flopped onto his forehead. After what seemed like an age he replied,

“I guess,” he said and smiled, making his face change completely.

Ty shook his head and a small smile flittered over his symmetrical features.

“I’m glad you approve buddy,” he said and turned back to study their pride and joy again.

They stood together in companionable silence and marvelled at the ship that was both their home and livelihood. They’d come a long way from the old ranch house in Colorado to this spacecraft and from cowboys to traders. Maclyn sighed; it was never in his life game plan to be working in space, he would be happy living on the ranch, but somehow Ty had persuaded him to join him at Space corp where they learnt their trade. After their training they had served together on the United Planet Corporation ship ‘Endeavour’ patrolling the trade routes between the colonies on the moon, Mars, Europa and Earth. It was routine and repetitive work but instructive, that is until the new global government decided to take it over. Then it all changed and not for the better. So, when the chance to buy an old ship, ‘The Maybe’ came along, Kelsey had jumped at it. Maclyn couldn’t remember if Ty had even asked if he was going to join him; as usual he assumed he would. Suddenly, they were part owners of an ageing spacecraft in need of a lot of repairs and upgrades. It had taken four months just to get her ready for her first commercial flight. Now, five years down the line, she was finally exactly as they wanted her and she was renamed as ‘The Solar Star’ equipped with the latest weapons and technology plus a few of Ty’s own inventions and ready to go. The crew were re-assembling slowly after shore leave and in two days their time in space dock would be up and he wasn’t sure if they had a contract to fill. If they didn’t then finances were going to be a problem as all this refurbishment didn’t come cheap and as ship’s First Officer and Accountant, he knew just how low the kitty was.

“Where we heading then Ty?” he asked.

Ty didn’t answer immediately, which made Maclyn suspicious.

“We did get that contract didn’t we?” he probed.

Ty sighed and Maclyn groaned.

“What went wrong? It was all but sown up when I left.”

Ty looked at his friend and had the grace to look at least a little sheepish.

“Well, yes and no,” he said.

Maclyn glared at him.

“Which is it Ty? Yes or No?”

Ty almost grinned but stopped himself just in time when he realised Maclyn wasn’t at all amused.

“Well...No” he said.

“What the hell went wrong?” Maclyn exclaimed.

“There was a certain condition, which if you were here, I’m sure you would have rejected too” Ty said hastily.

“What condition?”

“He demanded command of the ship” Ty said indignantly.

Maclyn sighed and waited for more as he was sure there would be and he was right.

“That was enough in it’s self but he was lying about what he was up to. I could feel it. Bad news Maclyn; really dark.”

Ty looked down at him and Maclyn nodded as Ty’s sixth sense had saved them many times before so if he felt the man was evil than he probably was. But he wasn’t happy about loosing that contract but it was typical of his cousin not to worry about that.. They had known each other all of their lives, growing up together like brothers and yet were complete opposites. Ty was charismatic, sometimes reckless, with an action-packed personality and love of life. Whereas, Maclyn was quiet, thoughtful, organised and dependable but together, they worked well. Maclyn tempered Ty and Ty inspired Maclyn. They knew each other so well that Maclyn didn’t need to ask any more questions. Ty was the Captain and nothing short of death would change that and it was the perfect place for him as he was a born leader and had a great military brain, more suited to war than peace. The routine and tedium of patrolling and diplomacy were more in Maclyn’s line and he was the one who got them work and talked to the principles and he also smoothed the way and organised the schedules. He thought he’d done so this time; when he left to visit his parents he expected to return to no problems. All Ty had to do was meet Nirak and tell him when they’d finished the repairs and be ready to transport the cargo to Europa. It was going to be their most profitable transaction yet; a step up into the big time but Ty, as usual, had blown it.

Maclyn sighed.

“What do we do now, for funds I mean?”

Ty looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

“That’s your department” he said and walked to the loading ramp, leaving Maclyn fuming.

“My problem” he muttered under his breath. “My problem, huh.”

He walked up and down with his hands behind his back looking at the floor and thinking hard and was so distracted that he didn’t hear them approach.

Colonel Nye stared hard at her frightened informant. Her ice-blue eyes bore holes through her that even over the video link she felt the full force of her venomous loathing.

“But when are they going?” she demanded.

The spy shivered as she sweated under the grilling she was receiving.

“It hasn’t been decided yet but Sarrin has left the community.”

Nye narrowed her eyes and leant forward, her blonde, immaculately bobbed hair swung onto her face.

“That alien” she snorted, her pretty face distorted in disgust. “Where is he?”

“I don’t know. O’realian isn’t saying.”

“Then find out and when you do, you tell me.”

With that she snapped off the communicator, sat back and muttered.

“I’ll get you yet O’realian; don’t you think you can get away from me.”

Kassina stopped suddenly and stared at the massive ship in front of them.

“This is the one they spoke of?” Sarrin asked.

She nodded.

“Yes there’s its name.”

She pointed to the lettering on the side.

“Then that must be this Tyron Kelsey we need to speak to.”

Sarrin pointed to a tiny figure walking up and down, lost in thought, by the ramp, which disappeared into the cavernous hold of the vessel.

She frowned.

“I’m not sure; they said he was blond and wearing a black jump-suit.”

But it was clear even from this distance that this man had brown hair and was dressed in blue jeans and a denim jacket.

“Perhaps he will know this Kelsey” Sarrin added.

She nodded vaguely.

“Perhaps” she replied and they started on again.

As they got closer they heard him muttering.

“My problem: Why is it my problem? I set it up and he gets on his high horse and bang, it all goes to hell and back.” He shook his head and as he turned back towards them he became aware that he was no longer alone.

He looked up to see a slim, slight girl and a tall, blond man coming towards him but he didn’t recognise them and hoped they hadn’t overheard what he’d been saying. He placed a smile on his face and as the woman stopped before him, he looked her in the eye and waited for her to speak.

Kassina wavered under his frank gaze and swallowed hard.

“Are you Tyron Kelsey?” she said in a pleasant, soft voice.

He shook his head.

“No, Maclyn Jones. I’m this ship’s First Officer; can I help you?”

She glanced at Sarrin before replying and he nodded for her to carry on.

“They said this ship may be free at the moment.”

Maclyn almost laughed.

“You could say that” he said with more than a hint of irony.

She frowned and didn’t quite know what to say next and he realised he hadn’t made himself very clear.

“What I mean is, we haven’t a contract at the moment but we are looking for one” he added hopefully.

He saw her relax and smile at the man who so far hadn’t taken any part in the conversation.

“That’s good” she said to no one in particular.

‘It maybe for you, but for us it’s a disaster’ Maclyn thought but refrained from saying so.

At this particular stage of the negotiations he didn’t want to appear too desperate or the price he was offered would fall.

“Are you looking for cargo space?” he asked.

“Well, yes and no” she replied hesitantly.

He frowned.

“What are you looking for?”

She sighed; they had tried many other ships at the facility, but none of them were right for one reason or the other and then someone said they should try Kelsey on the newly renamed ’Solar Star.” As soon as Sarrin heard his name, he wanted to meet him; although there had been a larger ship available but Sarrin said the Captain was untrustworthy and would turn them in if he could make some profit out if it. Kassina didn’t bother arguing with him, as he was the telepath so he should know whom they could trust and that seemed to be Tyron Kelsey. She was very tired, cold and scared and as she looked up at Maclyn, she couldn’t stop the tears from welling up in her eyes. He saw her about to cry and crying women confused him, so he’d do anything to prevent it.

“Oh please don’t cry” he said quickly, trying to think how to stop her. “Look, come on board and I’ll get you a coffee and you can tell me what you are looking for. I’m sure I can help” he said gently, guiding them up the ramp into one of the cargo areas on Solar Star’s lowest levels.

The way across the bay was lit by tiny lights set into the floor, which Maclyn always thought created an almost fairy like path to the large set of red metal doors in the centre of the space. Maclyn pressed a switch and they parted smoothly to reveal a tall, wide elevator with walls of metal, painted a deep blood red. He waited for his guests to gingerly step aboard before he joined them and closed the doors.

“Deck four” he said and the elevator began to move gently upwards until the number displayed reached ‘4’. There was a tiny jolt as it stopped and the doors parted. Kassina walked out onto a much brighter corridor. The colours here were warm tones of gold, brown and muted red, all blended together in graceful patterns and it wasn’t at all what she was expecting.

Maclyn grinned at her surprise and was pleased to see she had recovered her composure; the tears, for now, were on hold. It was Ty who was good at dealing with women; he had the practise where as Maclyn knew his limitations. He was so often overshadowed by his more flamboyant and attractive cousin that he tended to get the short straw or no straw at all where women were concerned. Still, the crisis, for now had been averted and perhaps he could prevent another one arising.

He stepped out into the corridor and turned left; making sure his visitors followed him. It was a short walk to the main crew lounge, the door of which opened on their approach revealing a large room filled with light. The walls were painted in tones of blue with silver trims and highlights and the couches were also in different shades of blue and made of leather. Everything was arranged in small areas so that, although the room was large, the feeling of intimacy, even cosiness wasn’t lost. Maclyn stood silently watching the girl wander around the room, looking at the artwork on the walls and the plants used as living wall dividers. The lounge was cleverly constructed on several different levels to give it depth and texture and making it easier to separate areas without the need for solid walls. There was a small alcove where drinks and food could be prepared by crewmembers but most of the time everyone ate in the Mess hall as this was more of a coffee bar. Maclyn started to prepare the coffee whilst his guests explored and he watched them out of the corner of his eye.

Kassina ran her hand over the cool leather chairs and had to admit she liked what she saw and the colours were very soothing also the large windows came like a revelation. Somehow, she had envisaged a space ship to be grey, cold and sterile; purely functional and not very nice but this wasn’t like that at all. In fact, if she didn’t know better, she’d have said this could be part of a hotel complex, although she had been in very few. She explored the different levels and opened the built-in but cleverly concealed, cupboards, finding games like chess, cards and hand held games machines hidden there. Sarrin joined her and she smiled at him.

“This is nice” she said.

He nodded.

“It is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.”

She giggled and he was taken aback as he could not remember hearing her laugh before and was about to ask if he had said something incorrect when she patted his arm.

“I am sorry Sarrin; it’s just that you can be so proper. It’s funny.”

She shrugged and turned back to find their host. Sarrin frowned and asked himself why being proper was funny but came to no conclusion, so he joined them at a table by the window.

Maclyn set down the tray and waited for his guests to sit before doing so himself.

“I hope you both drink coffee?” he asked looking nervously at the girl who smiled encouragingly.

“I do but I’m not sure if Sarrin does.”

“I do not but please do not concern yourself. I am quite well.”

Maclyn frowned at the odd way he spoke but decided to leave it be.

“Okay” he said and poured out two cups of his favourite blend of coffee.

“I take it black” she said, before he had a chance to ask her.

He nodded and handed her a cup before drinking some of his own. The black liquid smoothly trickled down his throat and it was an experience he always savoured. Coffee was expensive but he didn’t care, there was no way he could do without it and from her expression, the girl totally agreed.

“This is good” she said and seemed to relax for the first time since they’d met.

Maclyn leaned forward.

“I’m glad you like it…… Ahh?”

He stopped only just realising he didn’t even know her name.

“Kassina” she told him, “and this is Sarrin. I should have introduced ourselves earlier but I’m afraid I ’m too distracted to remember my manners…Sorry.”

She sighed and put down her empty cup.

Maclyn smiled at her confession and refilled her cup before he asked what he might do to help them. Kassina took a deep breath.

“Well, I don’t know if anyone can help us but we need to leave Earth as soon as possible.”

“Why?”

“Because of the inventory.”

Maclyn grunted.

“Oh that” he said and a look of disgust appeared on his face.

“So you aren’t in favour of it?” she asked.

She was hoping that his attitude to its enforcement was as negative as her own as if it were, maybe he would help them escape.

“No way. None of us are.”

“But how are you going to avoid it?” Sarrin asked him.

Maclyn shrugged.

“I don’t know. It scares the hell out of me but Ty says something will turn up and he’s usually right.”

“Ty?” Kassina queried.

“Tyron Kelsey; he and I own this heap of junk but I run it.” He added, “Anyway, so you want passage to Mars?”

Kassina glanced again at Sarrin.

“Not exactly” she said.

A feeling of apprehension crept up Maclyn’s spine.

“Where exactly do you want to go?”

“To a planet called Ieesha.”

“Ieesha? Where the hell’s that?”

“It’s in the Andromeda system.”

“Andromeda system?” he exclaimed. “No one from Earth has ever been that far. How do you even know about it?”

Kassina turned to Sarrin who said.

“Because I am from there.”

Maclyn nearly dropped his cup.

“But that means you are a.....”

He stopped, unable to carry on.

“Yes I’m an alien.”

“Good God.” was all Maclyn could think of to say.

After he recovered from the shock of meeting his first alien, he wanted to know more. Kassina let Sarrin tell him how his people made contact with her father O’realian and the Sakkara community and their offer of a place to start again.

“So, why didn’t your people send ships for them then?”

“We had intended to but a change brought upon us by outside forces has precipitated a change of plan and a need to make alternative arrangements.”

Maclyn raised an eyebrow and glanced at Kassina who had to smile as she understood his bemusement; she often felt the same herself after a talk with the Andromedan.

“Can you translate that into English for me?” he asked her.

She nodded.

“Somehow Colonel Nye ....”

She saw his face change into a grimace at the mention of her name.

“You know her?” she asked.

“Oh yes, she’s evil and very dangerous.”

“I can’t disagree there.”

She paused.

“Anyway, somehow she’s heard we are planning to leave and she’s planning to stop us. For some reason she hates the community and particularly O’realian.”

“O’realian?” Maclyn queried.

“My father and head of Sakkara” Kassina informed him.

“Oh, so why does she hate him?”

“I wish I knew but time is running out and if we don’t find transport to Ieesha very soon, she will sweep down on us and we will not submit. So ...”

She gulped trying not to cry but the tears rolled down her cheeks anyway. Maclyn squirmed uncomfortably in his chair and passed her his handkerchief.

“Yes I see” he said uneasily. “So, how many people are we talking about here?” he asked, trying to get her away from the painful subject making her cry.

Sarrin decided he should continue, as Kassina was too upset.

“There are 153 members in the community” he said.

Maclyn blew out his cheeks and rolled his eyes.

“We can’t take that many. The most we could fit on here would be between 80 and 100.”

Sarrin nodded but he could tell that this man really wanted to help them and he was trying to find a way to do so. Kassina opened her mouth to speak but Sarrin touched her elbow and indicated she should wait.

She frowned and glanced from her companion to Maclyn, who seemed deep in thought. She sighed and wished she were more telepathic then maybe she’d be able to tell what he really thought of their plans and if it really would be possible to escape.

The day was dying and O’realian moved from the window back to a small table where he had been making lists of what they would need to take with them and what could be left behind. He sighed and thought back to a time when life was much simpler and he had no responsibility except for himself. He remembered endless summers of warmth, beauty and spiritual growth, when lessons were learnt in peace and gentleness. He smiled at the memories of running through a flower filled meadow with a small blonde-haired girl who had a laugh that sounded like trickling water. But times had changed and now threatened to overwhelm them. The terrible thing was that someone in the community had betrayed them; who or why this person had done this, he didn’t know nor understand. But it had happened and now he knew they had only a few days to make preparations before the Colonel would be here at their door. He was prepared to die, not that he believed you ever die, just left the physical behind but what he didn’t want was for the community to cease to exist. So much had been accomplished here; the souls who had joined were evolving and becoming what he believed humans could be; compassionate, enlightened, loving and balanced. This evolution had to continue and their only chance to do this was to leave Earth and go to Ieesha. He picked up the papers and began to read them when someone approached him so he folded them quickly and pushed them into his pocket before turning to face the intruder. A young red haired woman approached him reverently, something he detested and discouraged, yet this woman insisted on it.

“Yes Tranya?” he asked sharply.

“I wondered if I could help you?” she asked quietly.

He sighed; there was something about her he didn’t like however hard he tried to banish such thoughts, he just didn’t trust her.

“No thank you, I’m just trying to work out what crops we should plant this season” he said trying his hardest to be pleasant.

She smiled and bowed again before retreating and he sighed once more, asking for help to understand his loathing of this woman.

‘I suppose she shows me I’m far from perfect myself’ he thought.

It is said that it is the people whom we do not like who are the mirrors we need to look into as in them we see what faults we still have to overcome in ourselves. He smiled as it was a lesson he knew he still had to fully master but was it just her personality he didn’t like or was it something deeper? Was she trustworthy or was she the spy?

“I wish Sarrin were here then maybe he’d be able to tell me who I can really trust.”

He pulled out the papers again and began the task of appointing jobs for his most trusted friends to carry out. This must be done quietly without raising suspicions of the one who wished to betray them.

“Can we pull this off?” he asked himself for the millionth time.

He sighed and rubbed his aching forehead. He knew that all they could do was trust in the Creator and the visions he and some of the other elders had been shown and hope that the beautiful planet called Ieesha really is their promised land and not just a pipe dream.