Lena and Davis left together on the first shuttle outbound for the far side of the planet. Their destination was a small resort community on the coast where they hoped to see the ocean and try some surfing and a little fishing. They weren’t an item, but had similar interests and frequently took leave together. Lena gave Rayne a quick hug before they left.
“You take care of yourself, girl. Stay out of trouble, okay?”
Rayne nodded back. She didn’t completely understand why Lena was leaving her, and she was a little apprehensive to be without her calming influence. Abena was nice, but she wasn’t Lena and if she lost it, Rayne worried how she could keep it together. Lena had simply said it was necessary, without giving any further explanation. That had been cryptic and Rayne began to worry that something more was going on than just a little shore leave and she had to admit, she was a little jealous about not getting to see and play in the ocean.
She watched the two marines board their shuttle, as well as several more of the group. Callahan and Jefferson both went their separate ways to deal with whatever family issues they had, while Jackson and Sgt. Weber left for some of the uninhabited zones for hunting, fishing and camping. Again, Rayne was jealous of their choice of destinations and longed to go with them, wondering again why she was being left behind.
Before leaving, Sgt. Weber approached and spoke briefly with Abena and Taft.
“You know your jobs. Get it done. I’m relying on you two.” With that he slapped them on the back, said goodbye to Rayne and boarded his flight. Henderson was the only one left besides them and she would be leaving last. She had friends in a number of the cities that sprawled beneath them and would be spending her time jumping from one to another. Transport for military personnel was free, so she could travel as much as she liked.
The next shuttle settled into dock and the three waited outside the doors to enter. The doors slid open and they had to step aside for a woman and her entourage sweeping through. She stalked out with a purpose and quickly disappeared into the crowd, which parted for her passing. The marines entered the shuttle and settled in their seats, waiting for the rest of the shuttle to fill. Rayne hadn’t yet been told where they were going and so leaned over and asked Abena quietly.
“Capital City for the Festival of the Dead.” It was a yearly event to commemorate the dead for the population’s variety of different beliefs and traditions. Alpha Centauri was one of the first systems colonized after the human population began leaving earth to colonize space. Rather than celebrate festivals and holidays on a now irrelevant earth calendar, it was decided to lump everything in to one and celebrate it during the same week. Far from being a mournful event, it was seven days of carnivals, festivals, and fireworks. The planet’s Catholics were the most solemn of the group, with their observance of All Saints Day, but joined in on the festivities as Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and every other religion and culture celebrated the dead in their own way. It was quite a spectacle and the perfect place to get lost. Even when those wanting Rayne began to search, finding them amidst the million or so people in attendance would be nearly impossible.
***
Dr. Miller was giddy with excitement. In a few short hours she would be embarking on a research project with one of the premier scientists in any system. She felt she was as prepared as she could be and felt confident at being able to make a good first impression. She had her few possessions packed, and held tightly to her data pad containing the sum total of her research so far. The first order of business would be contacting Dr. Gault to notify her of her arrival, find out where the research facilities were and what the housing arrangements would be. Of course, all of that could wait while they transferred their test subject to whatever facility awaited them. She figured on nearly living in the lab for the next few weeks anyway, but having housing either in the complex or nearby would be convenient. Initially, there wouldn’t be time for anything but the lab work, but eventually she would garner the information she needed to publish, and then planned on touring the conference circuit. She was getting ahead of herself, though. There was so much work to be done. She had a list of tests and procedures a page long and hoped they would fit in with Dr. Gault’s own research and that they wouldn’t come to cross purposes. She would start first with re-doing all the scans on whatever latest technology they had available. Then she planned on running the full Sarodian Stress Test to its conclusion. Following those, she hoped to administer a whole battery of psychological tests. She was excited and couldn’t wait to get to work.
After the ship docked she made her way quickly to the station entrance. She hadn’t gotten any word as to whether she would be met by someone or if she was responsible for making her own way to the facility. Since she had no idea what facility the research was being conducted at, she assumed someone would be there to meet her. So as she left the ship, Dr. Miller looked around for someone official who looked like they were waiting. She didn’t see anyone immediately, so she took a seat on some nearby benches and waited. It was a big station after all and it would take time for someone to arrive. She decided to wait for an hour and if someone hadn’t arrived by then, she would contact Dr. Gault.
As she waited she saw the ship marines walk by, exiting from a small, secondary exit. They had formed a loose formation around her subject as they made their way through the station and the crowds of people and equipment. Good, she thought. The marines were escorting her test subject to the new facility. She wondered briefly if she should accompany them, but decided against it. It wasn’t her responsibility to escort dangerous test subjects and she would just be in the way. Besides, she didn’t want to ride in a secure transport locked up with a bunch of marines and her test subject. She’d wait for her ride and the more comfortable transport when it got there.
She rubbed her sore neck and head. She was still feeling the effects of a fall she’d taken several days ago. She wasn’t sure how she’d ended up down by the marine barracks, but it must have been some fall judging by the size of the lump on her head. She couldn’t remember exactly how it happened, but the marines had been very helpful and even escorted her personally to med tech despite her assurances that she was fine.
She waited for approximately an hour and was just about to start making calls, when she saw Dr. Gault and her entourage making their way down to the loading dock. The doctor stalked purposefully and a number of other people followed in her wake as they tried to keep pace. Other scientists and security types from the looks of it. Dr. Miller stood to greet her.
“Dr. Gault. I’m Doctor Miller. I can’t tell you how pleased I am to meet you.” And she meant it too. The doctor was one of the premier scientists in her field after all. Just hanging onto her coat tails would do wonders to further her career and push her in the limelight. Just the mention of Dr. Gault’s name on her resume would be a big boost.
Dr. Gault stopped short and took the preferred hand.
“Likewise, Ms. Miller.”
Dr. Miller rankled at the omission of her title, but didn’t correct it.
“I see that you’ve made it here without mishap. I hope you’re not too upset by having been relocated? The facilities and resources available on Athena are without compare and I couldn’t in good conscience do it any other way.”
Dr. Miller nodded her agreement.
“No trouble at all, doctor. I quite understand and am actually happy to be back planet-side again. Station life can become tedious.”
Having got the niceties out of the way, Dr. Gault got straight to the point.
“Where’s our test subject?”
Dr. Miller responded, somewhat confused.
“She was just escorted from the ship by the marines. I assumed she was being transferred to the research facility at your request.”
Dr. Gault frowned.
“How long ago did they leave?”
“About an hour ago. They went that way.
” Dr. Miller’s hopes of making a good impression were quickly melting away.
Dr. Gault motioned quickly to the two men she’d assumed were security. Without a word being exchanged they moved hurriedly back toward the shuttle births from which they’d come.
“Ms. Miller, I would have expected a professional such as yourself to have a better handle on things than this. I hope this isn’t the kind of incompetence I can expect in the future.” She gave Dr. Miller a withering glare.
Dr. Miller stuttered her response.
“It’s not my fault, doctor. Honestly…I…I..I’ve had no control over the subject since the station…the captain.” She latched on to her scapegoat like a drowning swimmer. “The captain pulled her from station med tech control after…” she paused for the right words, “…several incidents. He decided the station was ill-equipped to deal with her and he would be seeking other treatment options.” She hoped she didn’t look too desperate while the doctor pondered this information.
“Other treatment options, huh? We’ll see about that. Let’s go see this captain of yours so I can show him which way this world spins.” She motioned for Dr. Miller to lead the way.
***
Captain Gault recognized the staccato snap of her heels as they came up the corridor. He pretended to scan his data screen as she entered without knocking and didn’t look up as she came to a stop in front of his desk. He was going to enjoy this. Without even looking at her, he could tell she was fit to burst. Pushing her buttons would be easy. When they were married, he’d done it in ignorance. Now, he intended to do it on purpose. It wasn’t like she could divorce him again.
“I might have known.” She’d struck a commanding pose with both hands on her hips as she looked down on him. She wore a tan, knee-length skirt and a white button-down shirt that hugged her slim figure.
He looked up and remembered she was quite an attractive woman. Don’t get distracted, he told himself. She’s a viper and no one knows better than you. He didn’t smile as he replied.
“Lizzy, how can I help you?” He remained seated, giving her only half his attention as he pretended to scan his data console. He knew she hated it when he failed to give her his undivided attention.
“Don’t Lizzy me. You know damn good and well why I’m here.”
Cpt. Gault finally looked up from his console and rested his arms on the desk.
“Actually, no. Is it you I have to thank for relocating my entire ship and its crew ten light years across space?”
Dr. Miller stood to the rear, looking back and forth between the two with some confusion. She obviously wanted to speak and ask how the two knew each other, but didn’t dare. Their last names were the same, but she’d assumed it was just coincidence. Were they related?
Dr. Gault didn’t answer the question, getting straight to the point.
“Where’s my test subject?”
It was time to play stupid. The captain had to hold back a grin as he replied.
“What on God’s green earth are you talking about?” He could see she was about to hit critical mass and he waited for the top to blow. His ex was generally diplomatic and cool-headed, but when people started interfering with her research, she could become downright volcanic.
“Don’t play dumb with me. You know who I’m talking about. The girl.”
“The girl?” He managed a look of confusion. It was actually pretty good he thought. He’d had dreams of becoming an actor when he was younger, until all things military had taken over.
“Yes, the girl. What’s her name?” She turned slightly toward Dr. Miller.
“Um…” Dr. Miller fumbled through her data pad looking for the test subject’s name.
“I’ve got a number of females on my crew. You’re really going to have to be more specific.” He tried for a look of sincere innocence. Not as good as his confused look, but still pretty good.
“Don’t get cute with me, Jason. She is my test subject and I want her right now.”
“Rayne. It’s Rayne,” Dr. Miller blurted as she finally found the correct data file.
“Give her over, Jason. She’s mine.”
“That sounds an awful lot like a claim to ownership, Lizzy. I’m not sure I care for that tone when speaking about a member of my crew.” He didn’t have to fake the look of annoyance that crossed his face. This was an old argument between them and one that had never been resolved. Dr. Gault felt what she was doing was for the greater good, and treating them like anything other than a test subject polluted the scientific process. He’d argued that a person’s humanity should never be forgotten which she then countered that any emotional attachment to the test subject got in the way of objectivity and the difficult decisions that sometimes needed to be made.
“Don’t get snippy with me. You know what I mean.”
“In point of fact…Dr. Gault. She is not ‘yours’ in any sense of the word.”
“What?” She threw the word out like a whip.
He maintained a calm, cool demeanor as he continued.
“My orders were to bring myself and my crew to this station. Here I am.” He spread his arms wide. “There is nothing in those orders directing me to hand over a member of my crew.” He knew this next part would irritate the hell out of her. “Procedure dictates…”
“To hell with you and your procedures. You’ll never change, will you, Jason?” She threw her hands up and pointed a long elegant finger toward him.
“It’s what maintains order as you’ve heard me say many times before.”
She made a face.
“Until I was so sick I wanted to vomit, but okay. We’ll play your game.” She tapped the small black dot sticking to the skin behind her ear and made a call. “Admiral Ricks.” She smiled and spoke sweetly to the person whose image appeared on her retinal viewer. “I’ve hit a bit of a snag in my procurement and was hoping you could push some paperwork for me. Yes, thank you. Name?” She motioned frantically at Dr. Miller.
“Rayne.” She prompted.
“The subject’s name is Rayne. No. No other identifiers. Will that be enough? Great. Thank you so much.” She cast a sideways grin at the captain and continued her conversation. “I’ll see you at next week’s conference, won’t I? Great. See you there. Thanks again.” She hung up with a raised eyebrow and smug look.
Cpt. Gault knew she was capable of what had just occurred. He’d merely pushed the point for the sake of being annoying. Besides, it would have been out of character for him to do otherwise. He sat at his desk, waiting quietly as an uncomfortable silence settled on the group. He and his ex traded stares. Her retinal viewer flashed that she’d received a data package and she quickly pushed her procurement orders to the captain’s data console. He read through it slowly, not to ensure its authenticity, but to make her wait as long as possible.
“Any day, Jason. Now where is my test subject?”
“Rayne. Her name is Rayne. Try and remember it, will you?”
“Whatever. Where is she?”
“No idea.”
“What?”
“You heard me. No idea.”
“You just made me go through all that, just to tell me you don’t know where she is?” She said exasperated.
“It’s procedure, Lizzy. I’m not allowed to…”
“Don’t quote regulations to me or so help me I’ll throw something at your head.” It wouldn’t be the first time she’d thrown something at him. Fortunately, she was a horrible aim and had never connected. Although, she’d broken that ugly antique vase they’d gotten as a wedding present from her mother. That was worth the argument. The thing was hideous.
“That would be unwise,” he said with a stern look on his face.
“Do tell.” She cocked a hip and raised an eyebrow.
He tried to maintain eye contact, instead of the soft curve of her hip.
“As captain of this ship
, I am the final legal authority for any crimes committed thereon. If you choose to assault me, you’ll be sitting in my brig until…”
She cut him off.
“Don’t threaten me.”
“You threatened me first. I was merely informing you of the pertinent sections from the military code of justice. I can give you the title and section if you like.” And he could too. While having her arrested would be immensely satisfying, her political clout would get her cleared and him before a review board.
“I’ll pass, thank you.” She was calming back down, which the captain took as a warning sign. She was at her most dangerous when she became this way. Cool, calculating and absolutely ruthless. He needed to mind his step or she’d eat him for lunch.
“Tell me where she is. Dr. Miller says she left with your contingent of marines. Why wasn’t she kept here for my arrival?”
The captain winced inwardly. That was a stroke of bad luck. He was hoping for a little more time before they started that avenue of investigation.
“My orders gave no direction regarding the girl. The marines, along with the rest of the crew were dismissed and Rayne apparently chose to leave with them.”