Celestial Odyssey: Episode I

Every time Ludit started in with the spray he would delight in watching the droplets of cleaner reflecting from the ship's hull and drifting off toward the stars.

Often he imagined himself as one of the droplets, flying aimless into the void. He would collide with life, absorb filthiness from it, and drift away with the countless others like him. He might be serving an important cause, but in the end he was completely disposable.

Bune was hard at work nearby. Ludit wondered if his friend ever pondered the nature of life.

He doubted it.

Ludit suspected that he might be the only one in the universe who ever thought about anything any more.

"Robots," Ludit said aloud.

"What's that?" asked Bune.

Ludit hadn't meant for Bune to hear that.

"Uh... Nothing," said Ludit. "I was talking to myself."

"Well, turn off your head if you are going to be doing that," said Bune.

Ludit laughed and gave Bune a knowing glance.

It was illegal to turn off the microphone inside a helmet while in open space. In an emergency one might not have the presence of mind to turn it back on to call for help.

"Why not," Bune asked. "You think the GCC is listening?"

Bune had a valid point. The safety of dark space cleaning crews was not a major concern for the Galactic Coalition Counsel. Docking stations were for customer service. Patrons who needed refueling, hull maintenance, and a once over of their bodies in stasis would preprogram their guidance systems to stop in for a short time before being propelled in the direction of their next destination. They should never see the station with their own eyes.

Cleaning the outside of a ship before it reached its final destination was a ludicrous task. The cosmic debris would build up as thick as ever after they departed from the station. However, the station that offered the best services was the one that got all the business.

"Why doesn't Vae offer a free bottle of Prake like everyone else?" Ludit asked.

"Because that's the same offer everyone else has," Bune explained. "She wants to draw customers away from the competition. Besides, you shouldn't complain. You know you wouldn't be able to space walk if you didn't get this job. Look out there."

Bune waved a hand towards a random expanse of open space.

"You were not assigned a pilot or captain position," he continued. "The job placer gave you a 'janitor' plate. You are a nobody, just like me. The nice spaceports are fully automated. This is it for us. If we are going to see it, live it, then this is the way."

Ludit nodded. He sometimes forgot how well Bune knew him. He turned his hose back on and resumed his work.

"Hey," said Bune. Ludit looked over.

Bune looked from side to side comically as if to make sure no one was watching. Of course, there was no one.

"Want to rock?"

Ludit laughed.

"Of course," Ludit said, before strumming his hose as if it were an electric stringed instrument.

Bune laughed too. He clicked a knob on his suit. The was a long low hum that built up to a rousing cacophony of guitars, drums, and passionate singers howling their passions for anyone who would hear them.

Broadcasting music this way was just as unsafe as turning off their heads. The two men were not worried, however. They had performed this routine so many times that it was second nature for them now. They would finish their task and return to suspended animation until the next patron arrived. Their wages were the lowest legally allowed. If one of the men lost control of their hose and was jettisoned into space, the GCC would simply file an advertisement for a replacement.

With energetic rhythms pounding in their helmets, Ludit and Bune resumed their work with the enthusiasm minimum wage employees getting away with an illegal pleasure. They were as happy as they could be.


#
Cleaning a space ship was easy for the space janitors. The suit did most of the work. A person inside a suit served as its director. The suit's hands clamped onto the hose automatically. Only the slightest muscle movement was required for guidance.

Ludit would hardly break a sweat as he went about his work. What little sweat he did secrete would be whisked from his body as the suit was designed to cool and clean its wearer. At the end of a hard day he would be cleaner than before he began. He wouldn't even need a shower.

If only I could get it to clean the spam out of my e-mail, Ludit thought.

The music cut off abruptly.

"That's good enough," Bune said as he shut off his hose.

Ludit agreed and began to make his way back to the air lock.

"Vae," said Bune. "We are coming in."

"Did you leave the marker?" asked a female voice inside Ludit's helmet.

Bune looked to Ludit. Ludit nodded.

"Sure did," Bune said. "When the Smith family wakes up they will know that at the eleventh stop in their journey across the Incoidall Sea their hull was thoroughly cleansed by agents number 2 and 3 of the GCC space dock Eobot."

"Oh good," said Vae, obviously aware of the sarcasm in Bune's tone. "Did you make sure to rotate their underwear for them too?"

Bune and Ludit laughed openly at this comment.

"Nope. Forgot to do that," Bune joked. "I guess we can expect a nasty email from the GCC in twenty-eight years, huh?"

"That soon?" Ludit quipped.

Bune's knowing chuckle was smothered by the roar of air rushing in to fill the air lock.

"PRESSURE 100%," announced a computerized voice. Bune and Ludit removed their helmets.

"I'm hungry," said Bune. "Food bay?"

Ludit saluted as Bune walked toward his personal quarters.

Restroom break, Ludit thought.

The cleaning suit was designed to collect and recycle the wastes of many species. As a "Mondal", Ludit was able to relieve himself while he worked. Unfortunately for Bune, a "Blemforth", the suit was not equipped for the variety of ' "waste expelling appendages" that their race sported. Thus, Bune had to hold it for the entire working day.

Ludit, feeling clean and refreshed, went directly to the food bay and began to set the table with sandwich packs and chilled prake cubes. Moments later Bune arrived and gasped with phony joy at the sight of the preserved foods.

"Mock if you will," said Ludit. "Personally, I'm starving and these sandwiches look pretty good! I feel like I haven't eaten in a hundred years."

"Actually," said Vae as she entered the room to join them, "it has only been thirteen years."

"And yet," Bune said, "it seems like only yesterday."

"It's supposed to feel that way," Vae told him. "That's what the dream loop program is for."

"I love that program," Ludit admitted. "You know, I have learned everything there is to know about operating a starship during my stasis sleeps. With the parts, tools, and time I could probably build one from scratch and fly it single handedly."

"Wow," said Bune. "I never thought of doing that. My dream loop is just programmed with a bunch of lovely compatible Blemforths fawning over me."

"Typical," Vae joked. "At least one of the men on this station has more thoughts in his head than just romantic liaisons."

"Well, to be fair," Ludit said blushing slightly, "The idea was actually that of an old friend on my home world."

"Are you talking about Tidul?" Bune asked.

"Actually, yes," Ludit confessed. "He used the dream loop to train himself for a star ship captain's position well before it was time for our career placement."

"'Tidul'?" Vae asked. "His name is your name reversed?"

"Yes," Ludit answered. "We were hatched back to back. The naming machine puts sounds together in specific orders for cataloguing purposes."

"It suddenly occurs to me that I know very little about your world," said Vae.

"They are an interesting race," Bune said. "I grew up there. My parents were ambassadors of our world. We lived in the offworlders embassy until I was 17. At that age I was deemed to have the same intelligence level as a four-year-old Mondal and I was offered schooling and career placement. That's where Ludit and I met."

"And Tidul?" asked Vae.

"Tidul was the product of wealthy parents," Ludit explained. "They were able to afford to collect him from the hatchery and raise him according to their desires. I was an orphan donation, so I was raised at the nursery like normal Mondals."

"But Tidul's parents didn't want their offspring to become a snob, so he was intentionally placed in the nursery with me and some other Mondal children who shared our hatching date."

"I'm surprised you call him a friend after how he treated you," said Bune.

"It wasn't personal," Ludit said. "He treated everyone like that."

"I wouldn't have put up with that kind of treatment," Bune declared.

"Everyone needs at least one friend," said Ludit.

"You have such a kind heart," Vae said as she nudged Ludit gently on the arm.

"Mondals don't have hearts," Bune corrected.

"Kind 'spirit' then," Vae said as she stole one of Bune's Prake cubes and popped it into her mouth. "And let's not get into a debate about whether spirit's exist."

"I certainly believe that spirits exist," said Bune. "In fact, you are sucking on a cube of them now. Which reminds me, aren't you still on duty?"

"Please!" Vae scoffed. "I'm not going to get intoxicated from a single cube."

"That one was a triple," Ludit told her.

Vae gulped.

"Oh dear," she said. "I'd better send off the Smiths then before this really kicks in!"

She teetered slightly as she walked away.

"Do you need help?" asked Ludit.

"No, no," she told him. "I've already got the codes set up. I just need to confirm the release. Enjoy your meal."

The two men saluted as Vae left the room.

Bune said, "I was going to make a joke about the Smith family being lost because of her drinking, but thought better of it."

"Good choice," said Ludit. The two men raised Prake cubes and clicked them together in a 'toast'


#
Vae 's family had been lost in space on their way to the Eobot spaceport when she was a child. She had been sent on a later transport so that she could finish schooling on her family's home world, "Kleeeexz". She arrived at the spaceport safely, but there was no sign of her family.

Many things can go wrong in the several years it takes to travel from world to world. A crew in stasis sleep is terribly vulnerable.

The builders of Eobot station were Thoodloons. They raised Vae as one of their own. When she began to exhibit certain mental abilities beyond what her race was normally capable, they sent her to a school for gifted beings.

As an adult and honor graduate of that school, Vae returned to the space station. Her original family never was heard from again. She stayed with the Thoodloon and applied Eobot station for GCC sponsorship. When her Thoodloon family retired and returned to their home world, they bequeathed the station to Vae.

Suddenly short handed, Vae advertised in the GCC classifieds for a couple of janitors.

Bune and Ludit were the only ones who applied.


#
There was a familiar "clunk" sound as the Smith's ship was released from its dock.

"They're off," Vae said upon her return to the food bay.

"Good bye Smith family," said Bune.

"Good luck," added Ludit.

"Got anymore prake cubes over here?" Vae asked.

Ludit slid one across the table to her.

"So when is our next ship due?" Bune asked.

"There isn't one scheduled yet."

"Whoot!" Bune cheered. "Real sleep!"

He reached across the table and shared a special handshake with Ludit that involved the connecting of knuckles in a fist followed by the wiggling of their fingertips together.

"Celebrate the small things, eh guys?" Vae teased.

"Small for you," Bune said. "But Ludit and I have not had real sleep since before we came to this station."

"How long ago was that?" Ludit asked.

"You don't want to know," Vae told him.

"You bet we don't," Bune agreed.

"Anyway," Vae continued, "real sleep is overrated."

"That's easy for you to say," Bune chastised. "You get to have real sleep whenever you want."

"Not true," Vae denied. "I only get it for the night before a ship's arrival and the night after they leave. The rest of the time I am in stasis with you."

"Yes," said Ludit. "But do you deny the pleasure of free dreaming?"

At this question Vae became quiet and distant. A sly smile crept onto her face.

"Ah, I see that smile!" Bune said.

"You got me on the dreams," Vae admitted.

"What do you dream about?" asked Ludit.

"Why, I dream of you, naturally."

The two men laughed heartily. Vae laughed at their amusement.

"That would suck gas," Ludit chuckled. "You have to put up with us when you are awake and when you sleep? You must be considering a suitless space walk right about now, huh?"

The trio laughed again.

Ludit finished off the last of his sandwich.

"Okay," Bune said while rising from his seat. "All this talk of sleep and dreaming has made me exhausted. I'm going to my room."

They all wished each other good dreams as Bune walked away.

Vae stood up, and then sat back down. She tried to stand again only to be seated once more.

"Are you alright," Ludit asked with a smile.

"I am fantastical," she said. "Can you help me to my room?"

Ludit placed his arm around her to help her stand. The prake was having a strong effect, but Vae seemed to be enjoying it. Ludit carefully assisted her in walking to her quarters. They sat together on the bed.

"The funniest thing," Vae was saying, "is that I wasn't kidding."

"About what?" Ludit asked.

"About dreaming about you when I have real sleep."

"Really? You dream about me and Bune?"

Vae shook her head.

"Not Bune."

Ludit was taken aback.

"You dream about me?"

Vae nodded clumsily.

"Well," Ludit said, "what do you dream?"

"I dream this..."

Vae flopped into Ludit's arms and tried to kiss his lips. He caught her by the shoulders and held her away from himself.

"Easy, girl," he said gently. "You are very intoxicated."

"I am?" Vae said with a confused frown. "Oh yeah. I guess you are right. Do me a favor? In the drawer to your right there is a blue packet. Pass that to me?"

Ludit did as he was asked. He watched as Vae tore open the foil wrapper and popped a brown cube into her mouth. Her body shuddered as the chemical took effect inside of her.

"Alright," Ludit said. "What is it that you want to say while the sober cube is working?"

"I have to tell you something," Vae said. "Something about my dreams."

Ludit wore a confused but interested expression. He said nothing as he waited for Vae to continue.

"I have been dreaming about a house," she said. "A two story house with four bedrooms. There is a big back yard where my mate and I entertain guests. We have two children, a boy and a girl. We have many pets."

"Hmm..." Ludit grunted. "That sounds kind of familiar for some reason."

"It should," Vae agreed. "It is your dream loop."

"What?"

"I've been jacking into your stasis sleep dream program."

Ludit was shocked.

"How? Why?"

Vae dropped her face into her hands.

"I have too much time to myself around here," she told him. "There are many occasions when ships come through that don't need cleaning. I just let you guys stay in stasis while I run scans and send them back out again.

"You might be able to imagine, it gets kind of lonely. I didn't mean you any harm. Once, out of curiosity, I went to see what kinds of things you guys had programmed for yourselves. Bune's dream program is just like he said; Blemforths fawning over him and obeying his every whim.

"Your program was more intriguing. You have all these technical star ship guides and manuals, and one program that you custom made. I wondered what that one was, so I jacked into you to find out."

"But my access code," Ludit said. "How did you get in?"

"Your birthday?" Vae asked sarcastically. "Really?"

Ludit was mildly offended.

"Well, I'd have thought of something better if I knew that I was in an unsecured location."

"I'm sorry I abused my position," Vae said, "But I must confess, I am not sorry for the end result."

"What end result?"

Vae looked into Ludit's eyes.

"I'm in love with you."

Ludit was shocked. He stammered to find an appropriate response.

"How can you be?" he asked. "We don't even know each other."

"Oh, but we do," Vae insisted. "We have been friends for almost a century now!"

"Yes," Ludit conceded, "But that time was in and out of stasis. For me, I have only known you for about a month!"

Vae blushed.

"That's not exactly true."

"What do you mean?"

"I haven't just been watching your dreams," she said. "I've been participating in them with you."

"I don't understand," Ludit said shaking his head.

"I networked my dream loop programming with yours," she told him. "It's a new technology that has come out since you guys have been here. I read about it on the 'Galactinet'. It's meant for friends and lovers to share lifetimes together while in stasis. It's a good thing really. Well, I mean, when there is mutual consent."

"Which there wasn't!" Ludit insisted.

"I know, I know," Vae said. "But, I was kind of hoping you wouldn't mind."

"Wouldn't mind that you jacked into my brain?"

"She didn't have a face!"

"Who didn't?"

"The mate you designed for yourself in your dream."

"How is that relevant?"

"You didn't have anyone specific in mind for the role of your mate," Vae explained. "You wanted love, home and family. I want those things too. Why not dream of having them with me?"

Ludit let out an exasperated sigh.

"How about because I don't really know you?"

"But you do," Vae insisted. "Think about your dreams."

Ludit stared at her in disbelief.

"Please do it!" Vae cried. "You'll see what I mean. Think about the house."

Ludit sighed again, then closed his eyes and thought about his dream program.

Because the loop had been repeated to his mind so many thousands of times, he could recall it with crystal clarity.

He saw his home. On the front porch stood his mate.

Ludit's eyes opened wide.

"She is you!"

"Yes," Vae confirmed. "Remember more."

Ludit hesitated, then closed his eyes again.

"Hello love," he remembered himself saying.

"Hello my darling," Vae was saying in return.

He remembered himself walking up to her and kissing her with the familiarity of a long paired couple.

"Did you bring the bread?" Vae was asking.

"Do I ever forget?" he asked with a smile.

"No," Vae answered, smiling warmly to him. "You never do. Come inside and I will fix you something to eat."

Ludit remembered Vae and himself going into his programmed home. He took a seat at the dining room table and watched Vae set to work making salad and sandwiches.

"I love you," he said to her.

"Really?" Vae asked.

"Oh yes," he said.

"Do you think you will still love me when you are awake?"

"Of course!" Ludit proclaimed. "How can I not? You are everything I ever wanted in a mate and more!"

"You won't be mad that I jacked into you?"

Ludit remembered rising from the table and catching Vae up in a tender embrace.

"I promise you," he said. "I will not be mad. I love you. I will always love you. Here you are just my dream, but out there you will be my dream come true."

"Oh, Ludit," Vae gasped.

Ludit remembered himself kissing Vae with powerful feelings of tenderness and passion.

He opened his eyes.

"Do you see now?" Vae asked.

Ludit was silent for a moment. He began to shake his head.

"I don't know what to make of this," he said.

"Oh no," Vae gasped. "The sober cube just wore off."

"I'm going to need some time to figure this out," Ludit was saying.

"You promised!" Vae declared as she fell back limp onto the bed.

"That wasn't me!" Ludit declared.

"It was!" Vae insisted. "It was more of you than you are right now! We are our true selves in our dreams. And when you were really you, you promised you would not be mad."

"This doesn't make any sense," Ludit said. He stood up and crossed the room toward the door.

"I don't know what to do with this information," he said as he left the room.

As the door to Vae's room slid closed behind him he heard her cry out once more.

"You promised!"


#
Ludit's mind was racing as he aimlessly wandered the space station halls. Absentmindedly he opened the door to Bune's quarters.

"Hey, Bune? I..."

"Oh! Hello there," said a Blemforth woman Ludit had never met before. "Are you new around here?"

"Um, no," Ludit said with a perplexed look on his face. "I live and work here. Who are you? In fact..."

Ludit looked around the room and saw that it was occupied by several Blemforth men and women all scantily dressed as if they were at a beach party.

"Who are all of you people?"

"Okay everyone!"

Ludit saw Bune exiting an adjoining room holding a couple of tall wooden poles.

"Who's ready to limbo?" Bune shouted.

"Bune?" Ludit called.

Bune looked startled when his eyes met Ludit's.

"Computer, suspend program!"

At Bune's words all of the other Blemforth people in the room flickered like beams of light and vanished from sight.

"Didn't anyone ever teach you to buzz?" Bune chastised.

"Looked like fun," Ludit teased.

"I like it," Bune agreed. "I doubt you would. All Blemforths, you know?"

"I saw," Ludit said gloomily.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this intrusion?" Bune asked.

"I have a problem," Ludit told him. "I wanted to get your advice."

Sensing the distress in his friends voice Bune's mood became instantly sympathetic. He offered Ludit a seat beside himself on a wide black couch.

"What's going on?" Bune asked.

"My problem is with Vae."

"Vae?" Bune repeated. "What did you do to her?"

"Me? I didn't do anything to her! It's what she did to me that is the problem."

"Ah," Bune said with an understanding nod. "This is about her jacking into your dream loop?"

"You know about this?"

"Yes," Bune nodded. "About a year ago a little light speeder blew through here. Only one of us was needed to blast it's little shell clean, so Vae only revived me. She told me about it then."

"Well, why didn't you tell me about it?"

"Ludit," Bune said. "I told her that she should tell you herself. She swore to me that she would tell you the next time she brought you out of stasis. That was today."

"Did you tell her that I would be mad?"

"No," Bune said with a frown. "I didn't think you would be."

"How could I not be mad that someone has been playing around inside my mind?"

"She said that she asked you about it in the dream loop and you seemed fine with it."

"That's a dream! That's not me!"

"Really?" Bune challenged. "The person you are inside your own head isn't who you really are?"

Ludit was flustered.

"What if I dream that I am a murderer?" he retorted. "Does that mean that I really am a murderer on the inside?"

"I see your point," Bune conceded, "But that is not what your dream loop was about. Be honest. Are you yourself when you are in the loop with the house and the kids?"

Ludit didn't say anything. He didn't want to admit that Bune was right.

Bune guessed why his friend was silent and decided to change the subject.

"Besides," he said. "What's the worst thing that has happened? You didn't have a face on that woman in your dreams. Why can't Vae be the face?"

"Would you let her be the face for you?"

Bune shook his head.

"Doesn't count. I'm a Blemforth, remember? Three hundred and twenty-seven genders, and not one is compatible with Kleeeexzians or Mondals."

Ludit thought about this for a moment.

"Are Mondals and Kleeeexzians compatible?"

Bune closed his eyes tight.

"Um..." he hummed. He seemed to be straining to remember something.

"Mondal male and Kleexzian female..." he sighed.

He idly made a gesture with his hands that looked obscene to Ludit.

Bune's eyes popped open and he smiled broadly.

"Yes," he said triumphantly. "Compatible and, dare I say, probably quite enjoyable. You see, the Kleexzian female has a..."

"I don't need the details!" Ludit insisted.

"No, I suppose you don't," Bune said slyly. "Considering you are probably going to find out for yourself."

"Hey!" Ludit shouted. He was unable to think of anything to follow up with.

"Go to her," Bune insisted. "You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain."

Ludit nodded.

"Thank you, old friend," said Ludit. "Computer, resume program!"

In a flash the crowd of Blemforths were back and quite excited to engage in the limbo dancing Bune had suggested earlier.




#
Ludit left Bune's quarters and made his way back to the food bay. He thawed and quick chilled a water cube and sat at a table to drink it. He stared out the window at the stars while he pondered to himself what to do next.

It was true. Ludit didn't have a person in mind to be his mate. He had never imagined that he might end up with an alien; neither had he ruled the idea out.

Vae certainly was an attractive member of her species. Any Mondal female would be jealous of Vae's long dark hair with its subtle violet highlights. Many, he had no doubt, would also envy the bluish tint of her sleek white body. Her skin had a thin coat of fuzzy fur that reminded Ludit of a pet he had once loved.

Her face had a long muzzle that was very different from the blunt round head of his own people, but her body was that of a normal humanoid female.

Ludit wondered what his people would say if they saw him with Vae. He had been teased his whole life because of his unusual coloring. The red marking of his face met with a line of yellow skin in a way that always made people think he was wearing some kind of scull cap or mask.

"Ludit! The party is over!" he clearly remembered the voices mocking. "Take off the mask!"

What kinds of things would they say about Vae? Now that he was thinking about it, Vae somewhat resembled a Mondal wearing a party mask.

The question at hand, he thought sensibly, is whether he cared what the Mondals back home thought of him now. Most of them never even find a way to leave the home planet. The greater portion of the Mondal populace has no thirst for adventure.

I have never been like them before, he thought. Why try to be like them now? Do I like the girl?

He remembered his dream loop for a moment. He remembered being very happy. He remembered how happy Vae seemed to be with him. She shared his dream.

"Yes," he said out loud. He knew what he would do.

As he rose from the table a siren he had never heard before rang throughout the station. A light on a nearby wall began to flashing a bright warning red.

"RED ALERT!," declared a mechanical voice between the klaxons. "RED ALERT!"

Vae bounded into the food bay. Bune entered from his room shortly after her.

"What's going on?" Bune demanded.

"Red alert," Vae explained. "Get to the conference room."

As quickly as possible the trio weaved through the halls to the center of the space station. They found that the central monitor was already activated. A small hologram of a green gentleman with long yellow feelers protruding upward from his forehead watched them enter.

"Bzchwck," Bune whispered to Ludit. Ludit already knew who it was. They quickly took their places at the conference table that bent in a semicircle around the edge of the hologram projector.

"Mr. President," Vae said. "What can we do for you?"

Ludit was impressed with how calm and collected she sounded. He wasn't sure how well he would handle being directly addressed by the Awkolian president of the Galactic Coalition Council.

"Commander Vaedyth?" the president confirmed. Vae saluted in response.

"We are receiving crisis data from a ship that recently left your docking station. Are you familiar with the ship transporting the Smith family?"

"Yes sir," Vae reported. "We just released them from port only a few hours ago."

"Our preliminary reports suggest that the life support systems of the Smith family members have been deactivated from within. Did any of your crew enter the vessel?"

Vae looked to Ludit and Bune. Each shook his head in turn.

"Negative, Mr. President," Vae told him. "Our duties only included a cleaning of the outer hull and a verification of the normal drives and functions."

"I see," said Bzchwck. "There may be a space born predator onboard then. Did any of your crew hear anything while they were cleaning?"

Vae looked to Bune and Ludit again. Both men looked terribly concerned.

"What's wrong?" Vae asked.

"Mr. President," Bune said. Addressing the president directly was a terrible breach of protocol.

"My name is Bune," he continued. "At the time of our cleaning of the Smith family's vessel, I disregarded GCC laws and broadcast music to the helmets of myself and my cleaning partner. If there were any sounds within the ship we would not have heard the wave translators over the music."

Buzchwck's facial expression grew very tight.

"I understand, Commander Vae, that GCC laws and regulations are somewhat lax on the unmonitored space stations. However, I do expect that you will suspend this crewman from service until his work record and actions in this instance can be reviewed by a qualified authority."

Vae frowned and nodded to Bune. He understood her silent signal and stepped away from the table.

"It will be done, sir," she said sadly.

"Duly noted," Bzchwck said with a nod. "Now, did you confirm that the Smith's vessel had its shields up when it docked with your port?"

Vae tapped at a hand held monitor pad.

"Yes sir. All systems were functioning normally."

"How about when you released it?"

Vae tapped at her monitor pad again. Something she read there made her eyes open wide in dismay.

"Commander?" Bzchwck questioned.

Vae stood and allowed an expression of resolve form on her face.

"Mr. President," she said authoritatively. "I must suspend myself from duty. At the time I released the Smith's vessel from our dock, I was mildly intoxicated from a cube of prake. I neglected to confirm that the shielding was reinstated when they left."

Bzchwck's expression did not disguise his displeasure with the conduct of the Eobot space dock.

"You are relieved from duty pending an investigation," Bzchwck told her. She immediately stepped away from the table.

"Who is next in command?" Bzchwck asked.

Bune stepped forward.

"Um... that would be me," he stammered.

"Good grief!" Bzchwck exclaimed. "Fine! Who is next in line after you?"

Ludit raised his hand.

"Okay, good!" Bzchwck sighed. "Name and rank?"

"Ludit. Janitor."

"Janitor!" Bzchwck yelled. "What is this? Why am I talking to a janitor?"

"There are only three of us aboard this station," Ludit explained.

Bzchwck slapped his hand to cover his eyes.

"I should have stayed in bed," he muttered with disgust.

He stood up tall and straightened his jacket.

"Is there any chance that you know how to pilot a space ship, Ludit?"

"Oh yes sir!" Ludit insisted. "I know how to fly just about every GCC vessel that exists."

"You've captained star ships?" Bzchwck asked with renewed enthusiasm.

"Well, yes," Ludit answered. "But only in my dreams. My dream loop programming I mean."

"Naturally," Bzchwck said with unhidden sarcasm. "In times of galactic emergency, why wouldn't I want the fate of all sentient beings to rest in the hands of a janitor and his dream loops?"

"Well, I have no choice," he continued speaking directly to Ludit now. "Congratulations! You've just been promoted, Commander Ludit. And guess what? Your first mission is the most vital that the galaxy has ever known. Ready?"

"Uh... sir?" Ludit whimpered.

"Great!" Bzchwck declared. "Here's what you are going to do. The Smith family is not a real family. They are actually a team of soldiers and scientists in the process of delivering top priority technology of the utmost secrecy to the Looshan home world. I need you to go get that ship and bring it back to your docking station. You will then release the inhabitants from stasis and inform them of what has happened. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Ludit said. "But..."

"I don't want to hear any 'buts', Commander."

"I understand sir," said Ludit. "However..."

Bzchwck covered his eyes again.

"Ah, a 'however'," he said. "A fancy 'but'. It must be big. Tell me."

"I can't do this alone," Ludit said.

"Well of course not," Bzchwck said. "Why would you even... Oh right. They're suspended. Why me? Presidency sounded like it'd be so much fun. But is it? Okay! Vaedyth! Come back over here!"

Vae stepped back to the table.

"Yes sir?"

"You are going to be investigated... right now. By me. Is it true that you were intoxicated while on duty and then did you let a ship leave your dock without confirming that the shields were reinstated?"

He held out his hand to her as if reaching for an answer he already knew.

"Yes sir, it is."

"Excellent, shame on you," Bzchwck admonished. "Your punishment is suspension for... uh... how long has it been?"

Vae looked at her monitor pad.

"About three minutes sir."

"Suspension for five minutes with time served," Bzchwck continued. "At the end of your suspension you will be reinstated with the GCC but with a demotion. I'm sorry, but protocol won't allow me anything less severe than that."

Vae nodded.

"I understand sir. Thank you sir."

"Oh," Bzchwck laughed cynically. "Don't thank me yet. This isn't over until we get that ship back and figure out what has happened to it. We can't wait any longer on this. Get to it, now!"


#
The black fighter suit was much heavier than the janitor suit. Auto-motion was not practical during combat. A fighter would not want his limbs moving contrary to where he needed them to be. Machines could not emulate the rapid decision making of a sentient mind.

GCC issue space suits were designed to cling to surfaces, deflect radiation, and provide atmosphere. The fighter suit had the additional features of dispersing physical impact and antigravity propulsion to help its wearer to return to a solid base should he be knocked into space.

Once secured in the fighter suit Ludit was lifted by mechanical assist arms and placed inside the dart space speeder.

"I hope you are not claustrophobic," Vae said.

Ludit lay flat on his back and watched the front case being lowered onto him. He felt as if he were going down in an elevator as the speeder was loaded into the firing tube.

He was encased in darkness.

"Are you kidding?" he asked with a chuckle. "It's like going back into my egg. This is the coziest place in the galaxy."

He heard Vae chuckle through the speakers in his helmet.

In the control room Vae programmed the destination and trajectory codes. Bzchwck watched her anxiously via a two-way monitor. Bune tried to stay out of the way, but remained close at hand.

Vae counted down.

"Three... Two... One... Shoot."

In the vacuum of space Ludit felt no sense of motion. He could see it though. The blackness was suddenly replaced with an infinity of dusty specks of light. From Ludit's perspective the stars seemed to be rising upward across the domed lid of his craft.


"Brace," he heard Vae say. Instinctively he tensed the muscles in his legs.

There was a great deal of pressure upon his body. It seemed as if his fighter suit were trying to squeeze him out from the boots to the helmet.

In a flash the stars were replaced with a solid metal wall that completely blocked Ludit's field of vision.

"You're at the ship," Vae said. "I'm going to navigate you around to the air lock. Bzchwck has given me the access codes. Don't exit the needle until you hear from me."

"Noted," Ludit said simply. He was grateful to have a chance to recover from the trip.

He closed his eyes.

"Do you still love me?"

"What?"

"After all of these years, do you still love me?"

Vae was seated on a large stone near a waterfall. The silvery trees and red-brown sky led Ludit to suspect that they were in an Awkolian campground.

"What kind of question is that?" he asked. "Of course I still love you."

He sat down at her side and took her hands into his.

"Even though I've lost my looks?"

Ludit looked at the silvery hair and slightly crinkled edges around the eyes of his long time mate and partner.

"You haven't lost them," he told her. "You are more beautiful today than anyone I have ever known."

Vae blushed and gave Ludit a playful shove on his chest.

"Sweet talker," she accused with a tender smile.

"It's true," Ludit assured her.

"Do you have any regrets?" Vae asked.

"Only that we didn't get together sooner."

A firm bump jolted Ludit back to reality.

"Pressure is 100%," Vae informed him. "You can exit the craft."

"Exiting now," he advised her.

He felt around near his right thigh to locate the handle. It yielded to his firm pull. The lid of the dart speeder lifted away from him. Light filled the craft, and the sound of fresh air rushing in was transmitted to the helmet speakers from the suit's surface audio receivers.

He shoved the lid aside with his arms and legs, then climbed up and over the side. His feet hit the floor hard, but the impact absorbers in his boots muted the sensation.

Ludit tapped a monitor pad built into the left forearm of the fighter suit.

"The air is clean," he said. "The lights are on. I'm taking off the helmet."

"Noted," Vae said. "Be careful."

"Noted."

The helmet unlocked in the front, lifted upward, and hung conveniently upon his shoulders. Bowing forward would close the helmet and lock it into place again.

"Ugh..." Ludit grunted. "It smells like a swamp in here!"

"Where are you?"

"I'm on my way to the stasis chamber."

"Negative," Bzchwck's voice ordered. "Go to the command deck first. Stop the ship and turn it around."

"Noted," Ludit said.

The door to the kitchen deck was along the way to the ship's control room.

"The smell is much worse near the kitchen," Ludit informed his listeners.

Entering the command deck Ludit was surprised to see all of the screens activated.

"Someone was awake in here," Ludit said. "Everything is turned on."

"Can you tell what they were trying to do?" Bzchwck asked.

Ludit looked over the information streaming across the monitors.

"Negative. It looks kind of random. I'm getting readings on the plumbing systems, recipes from cookbooks, someone's journal entry about how much they miss their pet clippet. It doesn't make any sense."

"Noted," Bzchwck said. "Can you operate this ship?"

Ludit turned his attention to the ship itself. He smiled.

"I can," he said. "Quite easily. This is a standard MC98 O37 model."

Ludit sat down at the piloting control station.

"Stopping now," he said tapping at keys. The stars on the forward monitor slowed, and then ceased their steady motion across the screen.

"Establishing Eobot station coordinates," he continued. "Locked in now. Engaging thrust."

The stars on the monitor began to move again. They moved sideways for a moment, then began moving outwardly across the screen in the appearance of forward motion.

"I'm transferring the docking codes to you now," he told Vae. "Autopilot activated."

"Noted," Vae said.

"Well done Commander," Bzchwck complimented.

"Thank you Mr. President," said Ludit. "Should I go to the stasis chamber now?"

"Affirmative. Continue to give us audio reports."

"Noted."

Ludit had to pass the kitchen again on his way to the stasis chamber.

"Should I investigate what this musty smell from the kitchen is?"

There was a momentary pause as the issue was considered.

"Affirmative," Bzchwck said. "Keep your eyes open."

"Noted."

The kitchen seemed normal. All the chairs and tables were in place. Everything was neat and tidy.

"The odor is stronger the closer I get to the food processors."

"Maybe something spoiled in the cooler," Bzchwck suggested.

"Checking the cooler now," said Ludit.

The smell inside the cooler was so strong that Ludit almost fell over. He coughed and gagged from the stench.

"Are you alright?" Vae asked.

"Yes, fine. It's just really gross."

"What do you see in there?"

Ludit looked at the contents of the cooler.

"There's an open box on the upper shelf. It says 'Kark' on the side."

"Those fools!" Bzchwck shouted.

"What is it?" asked Vae.

"Kark is an Awkolian delicacy," Bzchwck explained. "They should have secured it better."

"What do you mean?" Ludit asked.

"It's a carnivorous plant from one of the Oahkan moons," Bzchwck explained. "My people hunt it and store it in suspended animation while it is still alive. It's delicious prepared fresh, but it is crucial to keep it properly stored until just before eating. The dolts must have let it thaw."

"So, this was not a result of Vae's neglect with the shields."

"Agreed," Bzchwck confirmed. "It would seem that the crew brought this upon themselves."

"What a relief," Vae sighed. "But, still tragic. How much danger is Ludit in right now?"

"That depends on if the Kark has fed, and how much has it gotten," Bzchwck said. "Ludit, do you see a zipper seal bag anywhere nearby labeled 'Kark Sploog'?"

Ludit moved a few items around in the cooler.

"Negative."

"Great!" Bzchwck shouted sarcastically. "That's the ingredient needed to kill and prepare the Kark. Without that you will have to beat it down manually."

"I'm not sure I can do that," Ludit said.

"Neither am I, Commander," Bzchwck agreed. "But, as a commander of the GCC, you don't really have the option not to try. This mission can not fail!"

Ludit sighed.

"I wish I had a blaster."

"A blaster onboard a space bound vessel?" Bzchwck asked with dismay. "Are you insane?"

"I'd aim carefully," Ludit said with a chuckle.

"Not funny, Commander," Bzchwck said, though there was a hint of amusement in his tone. "You have work to do."

"Noted."

Ludit resumed his original quest toward the stasis chamber. He was more cautious now, knowing that a carnivorous monster weed could lurk around any corner.

"I hear something."

As he moved closer to the chamber doors, Ludit could make out the sounds of crunching and slurping.

"Oh Ogd," Ludit said.

"What is it?" asked Vae.

"Something is eating in here," he whispered.

Ludit moved in close to the wall just outside the chamber doors. He reached over his head and pulled his helmet back into place. He lifted his arm to see the stasis chamber in a reflective panel on the back of his hand.

He saw the Kark. It looked like a jagged pile of black and green slime.

It was eating. All six stasis beds had been cracked, and the inhabitants apparently devoured. The Kark was currently in the process of consuming the last remains of the final passenger.

Ludit retched at the sight.

The Kark heard him. It turned something that was probably its head in his direction.

Ludit, sensing he had no time to waste, sprang from his hiding place and charged the monster.

The thing was three times Ludit's size and difficult to get a grip on. Fortunately, it was not intelligent, and moved rather slowly. When it bit down upon Ludit's suit, he felt no pain. It was strong, though. Ludit feared he was going to lose his arm when the Kark twisted its hold on him.

Ludit punched and kicked at the thing with all of the added force the fighter suit would give him, but to no avail. It was as if he were fighting the contents of a sludge recycler.

"I can't bring it down," he cried out.

Vae and Bzchwck might have said something, but he couldn't hear anything over the sound of his own breathing, and the sloshing sounds of the Kark as it slithered across the suit's external audio receivers.

Something shiny caught Ludit's eye.

Stuck upon the backside of the Kark was a zipper seal pack. Ludit drove his knee into the face of the Kark (he assumed it was the things face), and climbed over to grab at the pack. It was stuck to the monster so firmly that he couldn't pull it free.

He had an idea.

He grabbed at the bag once more. This time he caught hold of the zipper and pulled it open.

There was a hiss of air as the seal was broken. A blue liquid burst from the pouch and splattered on the Kark's hind side.

The Kark tossed Ludit to the floor and moved quickly from the stasis chamber. It seemed to be trying to get away from the solution that now covered it.

Ludit followed the strange creature.

The blue substance was spreading over the exterior of the Kark. It seemed to be seeping into the surface as well.

Throughout the ordeal the Kark made no intentional sounds. There were the thuds and splashes as the creature ran into obstacles and hit the floor, but nothing more.

Ludit followed it into the control room. It flopped around and fell onto various control panels changing monitors to display random information.

So that's what turned everything on, Ludit noted silently.

With a final shudder, the Kark fell to the floor and succumbed to the Sploog. The blue mass began to dry and fall apart in clumps.

"Well," said Ludit. "That was easy?"

Vae and Bzchwck both demanded to know what had happened.

Ludit removed his helmet. The swampy smell was now replaced with an appetizing aroma.

He picked up a clump of the Splooged Kark and sniffed it. He took a tentative bite.

"Mr. President," he said, "dinner is served."


#
Awkolian ship docked with Eobot space station once more. Ludit disembarked and reunited with Vae and Bune in the conference room. Bzchwck was displayed on the hologram projector.

"Report," Bzchwck ordered.

"The entire crew was eaten," Ludit said.

"This is no good," said Bzchwck. "This mission is of the utmost urgency, and there is a time limit."

"What is the mission," Vae asked.

Bzchwck looked around himself as if conferring with other people who were in the same room as he, but were not close enough to be projected to the Eobot crew.

"Okay," Bzchwck said. "I've conferred with the board members and we are in agreement. This mission is of such great importance that we need to respond to this situation with unorthodox drastic measures.

"The Awkolian vessel that you know as the Smith Family's ship is actually an undercover transport headed for Loosha."

"Loosha?" Vae repeated. "Are they members of the Galactic Coalition?"

"They are not," the president said with a shake of his head. "But we would like for them to be. This transport is a crucial part of making that happen.

"You see, it has come to our attention that the Looshans have developed space faring technology that will allow ships to travel at very near the speed of light."

"Really?" Vae asked with a gasp. "I thought that was impossible."

"It was, for us," Bzchwck told her. "The Looshans are an aquatic race. Their scientists think along different lines from what we gas breathers are accustomed to."

"Gas breathers?" asked Ludit.

"Oxygen is a gas," Vae explained.

"Correct," Bzchwck said. "Our scientists always thought in terms of air and vacuum. Liquid didn't occur to us. But for the Looshans, living their lives as if water were air, it was only natural to build their space faring vessels with that in mind. A handy side effect was that they discovered a method of space travel that relied upon the density of water for speed. We have no idea how it works. We would really like to.

"To that end, we have made arrangements to share our most recent technological achievement with them as well."

"What achievement is that?" Ludit asked.

Bzchwck stood a little taller and took a deep breath.

"We call it 'BHT'. 'Button Hole Technology'."

"Button Hole?" Vae repeated.

"Correct," Bzchwck confirmed.

"I've never heard of it."

"Well, you wouldn't have, would you?" Bzchwck said with a slightly mocking chuckle. "It's top secret."

"May I ask what this BHT does?" asked Ludit.

"It is a gate," Bzchwck said gravely, "which has the ability to fold space/time upon itself and punch a hole from any point in the universe to any other point where a receiving gate is located."

"I see," said Vae. "Like folding cloth to make a hole for a button to pass through."

"Exactly," Bzchwck said with pride. "As you can imagine, this technology will revolutionize how we travel from world to world. Trips that used to take centuries will now pass in the blink of an eye. The worlds within the GCC will be more unified than ever before."

"Another question," Ludit said. "If we already have this technology, why do we need the fast ships that the Looshans are trading to us?"

"The initial gates will need to be placed manually," Bzchwck explained. "The BHT can connect any two points in the universe where a sending and receiving gate are set up. But to set them up, someone will have to take them there the normal way. That means incredibly long voyages and potentially thousands of years before the first important gates are established. Obviously, if it can be done faster, that would be the best thing for everyone."

"I think we understand," Ludit said. "What do you need us to do?"

"I'm glad you asked," Bzchwck said. "We want you to deliver the BHT to the Looshans."

"Why us?"

"Our contact on Loosha is their current queen, Fleera. In fourteen years there will be a changing of the Lo'yalte. That's what they call their version of government. Fleera has vowed to trade with us, but she cannot promise the same cooperation of the new Lo'yalte. Young Looshan queens have a history of attempting to make a name for themselves by turning away off worlders and focusing on the desires of their own people.

"In our favor, though, is the policy that the new Lo'yalte will honor the contracts of the previous Lo'yalte. It is crucial that the BHT is delivered to the Looshans while Fleera is still their queen.

"The journey to Loosha from Eobot space station will take approximately fourteen years. It would take nearly ten years for any of my people to get to where you are now, and the closest Awkolians we have to the Looshans are over twenty years away.

"So you see, we are between a rock and a hard place. You are the only ones who have a chance to make it to Loosha within the fourteen-year time limit. If you leave now, you should just make it."

"Fourteen years is a long time to travel without stasis beds," Ludit said. "The Kark destroyed them all."

"You can't repair them?" Bzchwck asked.

Bune stepped forward and cleared his throat.

"I can probably repair them?"

"You have experience with stasis beds?" Bzchwck asked enthusiastically.

"Well, sort of," Bune said. "My father built stasis bed models with me. We did a lot of space traveling when I was young. He said it might come in handy one day."

"Models?" Bzchwck said with a dismayed sigh. "Dream programs, models, and intoxicated commanders. This is who we place the fate of the galaxy in."

Bzchwck looked to his side as if someone had said something to him.

"What?" he asked. "I know they are listening. It doesn't... okay fine!"

"Bune, you are reinstated, but demoted from... er... whatever you were. You are now in charge of stasis bed maintenance and probably some engineering. Whatever you happen to know how to do from your model building days."

Bune laughed.

"Thank you sir," he said with a salute. "I will begin those repairs immediately."

Bune wiggled fingertips with Ludit and Vae in turn as he left the room.

"Okay," Bzchwck said. "Any other questions?"

"Bune and I will not be able to operate the ship alone," Ludit said. "I will need Vae. She has knowledge of operating systems that will be critical to the successful completion of this mission."

"Of course," Bzchwck agreed. "She should go with you."

"But what about my space station?" Vae protested.

"When is your next patron scheduled to arrive?" asked the president.

"Oh, well, we actually don't have anyone scheduled at the moment."

"Perfect!" Bzchwck cheered. "You can just shut down the operating systems and go. No problem."

Vae seemed uncertain about this decision, but she kept her concerns to herself. She didn't want to be demoted any further today.

"I am quite pleased," Bzchwck said. "You are an unusual crew, but I have every confidence that you will be successful with this mission. Good luck, and safe travel."

The image of Bzchwck flickered and vanished.

"Oh Ludit," Vae said. "I don't know if I can do this."

"Do what?"

"Abandon the Eobot. This has been my home for hundreds of years. Ever since the Thoodloons left, this station has been my only friend, aside from you and Bune. It may be just another space station in the middle of a dark sea to the GCC, but it is so much more for me."

Ludit nodded.

"Maybe we can come back one day?"

Vae sighed and smiled.

"That's true," she agreed. "I've had to travel away from her before, and the Eobot has always been here for me when I come back."

"There you go," Ludit said with a smile.

"When we go," Vae said, "can we leave an external light on?"

Ludit smiled and assured her that they would.


#
Bune was masterfully skilled in the art of constructing and repairing stasis beds.

"I used parts from the beds on the station," he told Ludit and Vae. "I also brought over all of the dream loop programs. I probably didn't need to. These Awkolians have thousands of programs available. Most of them take place in underground cities. I don't know about you two, but I'd rather have my own loops to run through."

Vae and Ludit agreed, but didn't discuss the matter in detail. They were still dealing with the ramifications of what had happened with the dream loops before.

The Awkolian ship was designed to clean itself internally. The trio was glad not to touch any Awkolian remains themselves. Their personal quarters were removed from the station and fitted into three empty slots on the ship.

The three friends stood on the command deck of the ship. The Eobot was completely powered down, save one external light that would glow until such time as someone returned and deactivated it.

"Who will pilot?" Vae asked.

"Well, I guess I have to, don't I?" asked Ludit.

"But you are the commander," Vae said. "As the highest ranking official onboard you should be in the captain's position."

"But I'm the only one who knows how to pilot a starship," Ludit objected.

"Seriously, guys," Bune said. "We really need a bigger crew."

Ludit agreed.

"I guess we will have to pick up some more people once we get to Loosha."

"What makes you think we are going to get to keep the ship once we complete our mission?" asked Vae.

"I guess we will just have to wait and see," said Ludit.

"Hey," Bune interjected, "What is the GCC policy on promotions?"

Vae and Ludit smiled.

"Why do you ask?" Vae questioned.

"Well, it was my understanding that captains are allowed to promote crew members at his discretion."

"That's true," Vae agreed. "The captain can promote his crew members up to the rank of 'second in command'. He would then send a report of this promotion to the GCC review board. The promoted crew members would serve under their promoted title until such time as the GCC board denied the promotion."

"So, if I understand correctly then," Bune said, "Ludit, as captain of this Awkolian vessel, has the power to promote us to second in command, so long as he sends a written report to the GCC board."

"That's accurate," Vae confirmed.

"Interesting," said Ludit. "I imagine I could send such a report just before we place ourselves in stasis."

"Would the GCC be able to send a denial of promotion to a ship on a secret mission?" Bune asked. "A ship whose crew members are to be in stasis for about fourteen years?"

"They could," Vae said, "But it is extremely difficult to send a transmission to a moving target when there is no active crew to help focus the signal."

"So," Bune said, "such a transmission might never actually be received by the intended recipient?"

"Correct," Vae agreed.

"Well," said Ludit. "A captain could hardly be held accountable for a transmission that he never received, could he?"

"Current protocol says he would not be," said Vae.

The three looked at each other in silence for a moment and shared their mischievous smiles.

"So, first officer Vae," said Ludit, "are all our preparations complete?"

"Yes sir," Vae said with a salute.

"First officer Bune," Ludit said with a smirk, "Are the stasis beds ready?"

"Everything is in readiness, captain," Bune said as he gave Ludit a salute in mimicry of Vae. "We merely await your word."

"Okay then," Ludit said. "Let's go!"

" 'Let's go'?" Bune questioned with a chuckle.

"Um..." said Ludit. "Onward Ho?"

The three laughed together.

"Good enough," Bune conceded.

Thus, their adventure began.