Out of Nowhere

OUT OF NOWHERE

CHAPTER ONE

The innovative battleship Colossal voyaged through the quietness of space at warp-one as Captain Winter stepped from the shower and hastily dried off. Knowing his shift started ten minutes ago, he quickly dressed and headed out the door. He was hoping his second in command would not be all irate about his lateness as he took long strides down the corridor towards the lift.

John Winter is a rugged forty-five-year-old handsome man; standing six-three, two-hundred-twenty lbs. with hypnotizing brown eyes and coal-black hair which he kept rather short.

He noticed one of his first lieutenants impatiently shuffling back and forth while he approached the lift, and she was so concerned about running behind that his quick advance went unnoticed. When he gave a cheerful greeting the young woman jumped with fright, then turned to him, and began babbling so fast that her words were almost incoherent.

“I am so, so sorry, Captain; I know I’m late, it will never happen again; I promise.”

        The lift door opened, and he stepped inside as he chuckled his response.

“No worry Lisa; I’m also running a bit behind.”

        He stood staring at the door as they began their journey up to the bridge, but he could almost hear the nervousness resonating from the lieutenant as she stared down at the floor. Glancing over at the five-six, twenty-five-year-old petite redhead, he attempted to console her.

“It’s no biggy, everyone runs late a time or two in their lives.”

         Lisa nodded her head in agreement, but what her shaky voice said next caused his focus to return toward the door, finishing the ride in silence.

“Yes Sir; it is just I can’t remember what we are doing; I mean, are we on a particular mission? I just cannot seem to remember.”

        When they stepped from the lift, both froze in place for a moment scanning the empty bridge in disbelief. John finally snapped-to and barked out an order as he headed for his command chair.

“Take the helm, Lieutenant.”

        She quickly took the seat and began advising him of what little information the screens had to offer as two other crew members exited the lift and headed for their stations with apologies for their tardiness. Real tears leaked from the corners of Lisa’s eyes and slid down her cheeks while timidly making an astonishing confession.

“Sir, I am really confused; I can’t determine where we are.”

        Two more bridge crew came scampering from the lift and ran to their stations as John glanced up at the main screen and gazed out at the stars that dotted across the galaxy, but his next words caused her to look up at the screen herself as a hot surge encompassed her body.

“Keep it together Lieutenant Brags; I’m as lost as you are.”

        The sound of the crew shuffling around at their stations filled the room, then it became completely silent when John asked the question.

“Can anyone tell me where we are?”

        They all glanced around at each other for a moment, then he gave an order while pressing the button that would summon his second in command, Curtis Carter.

“Find out where we are; now.”

        Curtis has the same built as John, but more of a baby-face, with blue eyes and blonde hair. He was enjoying a sound sleep when the loud buzzer interrupted, letting him know the bridge was calling. He slowly rolled over and pushed the answer button, and the aggravation in his tone made it clear he was not a happy camper.

“What the hell do you want, John?”

        He quickly realized this was no social call when John referenced a particular location, he knew this room was a skit for sharing top secret information.

“Meet me in the conference room on deck three; I’m on my way there now.”

        When Curtis walked in, he headed straight for the coffee maker, and by his feral hair it was clear he had not even taken the time to glance in the mirror. While impatiently waiting for his cup to fill, he expressed his frustration toward his captain.

“This better be damn good.”

        John waited until he had taken a seat before starting his investigation, and his first implication caused Curtis to squint his eyes while trying to recall the encounter.

“I know I was running ten minutes late for my shift, but that’s no excuse to leave the bridge unsecured; when I arrived there was not one soul on duty.”

        Curtis instantly countered with the rules of conduct.

“That can’t be, John; you know code requires that I be relieved of duty by you.”

        John stared straight at him and asked the question, which caused Curtis to rise from his seat, then turn and take a few steps away.

“Can you tell me where we are?”

        Curtis slowly turned back and took his seat when John made another request.

“Tell me what you know about this ship.”

        He glanced over at John with a grin, then began detailing the war machine.

“Colossal; the largest and most modern battleship in the galaxy, with five-thousand personnel on board; packing fifty stealth fighters.”

        John held up his hand to bring him to a stop, then made his statement.

“Yet, you can’t tell me where we are.”

        Curtis squinted over at him for a moment then slowly asked a more baffling question, which left them both sitting and staring at each other.

“Can you tell me where we came from?”

        Neither broke eye contact when the buzzer sounded, but Curtis gave his sideways grin as he spoke.

“Seems we are needed on the bridge.”

        John had his communicator out and ready as soon as they exited the skit-room and contacted Lisa.

“What’s up Lieutenant Brags?”

        She seemed to be more in control of her emotions and sounded professional when she responded.

“Yes Captain, any other time I would not bother you with such a thing; but considering we are lightyears from anything, and there are no other ships on our scanners, I feel it’s significant;  we have a small personal ship drifting about one hour away.”

        John and Curtis were racking their brains, attempting to recall just one tiny fragment of their mission as they rode the lift in silence. When the door opened, Lisa immediately started barking out information.

“Unidentified small craft; maybe six crew compacity; adrift with no power and not responding; probably on emergency life support.”

        John sat in his chair staring at the tiny vessel on the main screen, then took a deep breath and slowly exhaled before responding.

“Lock on tracker beam and pull it into security hanger three.”

        His chief of security, Paul Tenner, quickly expressed his disapproval.

“Captain; we don’t know who they are, nor their intentions; hell, for all we know it might be a trap.”

        Paul is a strapping twenty-six-year-old man with coal-black hair and hypnotizing big brown eyes. John turned his seat to where he could see this tall six-four beefed-up man and gave an ultimatum.

“Well Chief; if you can tell me where we are and how we got here, I will turn that little ship into nano particles, and we will be on our way.”

        Paul tilted his head with squinted eyes realizing he had no answers for the captain’s prerequisite. John slowly stood, then gave the crew their orders.

“That’s what I thought; Lieutenant Brags, lock on phaser; if there is a hint of a trap, blast it; Curtis, inform sickbay; tell Susan we need six medics at the bay; Chief Paul, you’re with me.”

        Second in command was speaking to sickbay as the chief followed his captain into the lift to head down into the belly of the beast as Lisa shouted out behind them.

“You have fifteen minutes.”

When the lift began its descent, Paul nervously admitted his disorientation.

“John; I can’t remember; what the hell is going on; I can’t remember what our mission is.”

        John kept his focus on the door as he slapped his friend on the back and replied.

“None of us can, Paul; none of us can; how long have you been assigned to Colossal?”

        Without hesitation, he gave an answer.

“Five years.”

        At that moment the lift door opened, and John concurred as he stepped out.

“Well, at least we remember that much.”

        Susan, along with six medics exited an adjacent lift and quickly followed them in the direction of hanger three.

        Paul had three guards standing ready as everyone paid close attention to the security screen and watched the unknown craft as it was carefully brought into place. Once the bay doors closed and the atmosphere was brought up to par, Paul and his men were the first to enter. Once the guards were in position, John turned and gave Susan an order of safety before going into the bay.

“Wait here for my signal.”

        As soon as he was through the door, he and Paul began to converse.

[John:] “Recognize any of the markings?”

[Paul:] “No sir, nothing I’ve seen before.”

[John:] “Well, let’s open it up and see if anyone is still alive.”

        Paul signaled for the laser-saw while giving his captain a bit of advice.

“Best step back Captain, don’t want you getting burnt.”

        Once the hole was made and a ramp was in place, Paul cautiously leaned in to look inside. After a moment he turned back toward John with his evaluation.

“Two men and two women; unresponsive.”

        John immediately waved for Susan and her crew to enter the bay. They hastened up the ramp and stepped through the newly cutout doorway, then quickly began assessing their guest. John patiently waited at the top of the ramp until Susan reappeared from within the small craft with her analysis.

“They are still alive, barely; another thirty-minutes and we would have been too late.”

        She could see the concern in her best friend’s eyes as he quietly gave his orders.

 “Okay; get them to sickbay; Paul, assign two guards to each one; and Susan, keep them separated.”

        Then he turned and started a slow pace back toward the lift as he finished speaking.

“Let me know when the bay is clear.”

        John pondered his situation as he rode the lift to the bridge. He could recall the names of most of his lieutenants, and how long each one has been assigned to Colossal; yet he could not remember what happened yesterday, or where they are; nor, where they had been; hell, he could not remember where they are headed. When the lift door opened, he quickly shook it off and headed for his chair.

        Curtis waited until the captain was seated before inquiring about the situation, and John took a deep breath then slowly exhaled before replying.

“Two women and two men, unresponsive; lack of oxygen I suppose; I did not recognize the symbols on the craft and have never seen such a ship before; now, has anyone figured out where we are?”

        The bridge fell silent for a moment before Curtis responded.

“Nope, but I have concluded that we are not in our galaxy.”

        John instantly rebuked his second in command.

“Don’t be ridiculous, it would take at least a decade to reach another galaxy.”

        Curtis concurred but stuck by his analysis.

“That’s true; yet here we are.”

        Lisa spoke up and informed John on what little information the bridge crew had found.

“Captain, we have discovered two small solar systems emitting what appears to be signals of communication, about eight light years away.”

        John sat quiet for a moment, then began giving out orders.

“Full stop; Lieutenant Brags, monitor those communications and find out what we are facing; Curtis, make an announcement to all personnel, ask everyone to report what they can remember.”

        Then he stood and faced the rest of the crew on the bridge and finished before heading back toward the lift.

“Find out where the hell we are, and where the hell we came from; we didn’t just appear out of nowhere; Quqwin, you’re with me; let’s go see if we can hack into our visitor’s computer.”

        Quqwin Stiller was assigned to Colossal from day one and has worked hard over the last eight years to gain the rank of commander of communications. She has a youthful appearance, much younger than her thirty-eight-years. Standing five-ten with long wavy blonde hair and sky-blue eyes, along with her charismatic personality and alluring voice, she can capture the attention of anyone.

        When the lift began to move, without looking her way, John inquired about her memory.

“What did you do yesterday?”

        Also keeping her sight forward, she gave a quick direct answer.

“I haven’t a clue, sir.”

With a team of four, Paul was examining the outside of the craft when the two entered the bay and made their way toward the ramp, as John requested an update.

“Well Paul, what do you think?”

        He took a few steps back and stared up at the ship, then scratched the top of his head as he replied.

“Darndest thing; not one weapon system; never seen anything like it; and get this, no anti-matter; why in the hell would someone build a ship that can’t get anywhere?”

        His remarks brought John to a stop at the end of the ramp, and he looked back at his chief of security and disputed his assessment.

“No way Paul, we are eight light years from the nearest solar system that indicates intelligent life.”

        Paul glanced over at him with a simple response.

“Don’t know what to tell you Captain.”

        Quqwin was already sitting behind the console when John stepped through the hole. He scanned around the small room, taking mental notes of the equipment as he conversed with her.

“What do you think, commander?”

        She gave a slight giggle with her reply as she glanced his way.

“It’s like something you would see in an antique magazine. I mean, they are not exact; but these types of systems haven’t been used in two or three hundred years.”

        He moved around and stared down over her shoulder with an inquiry.

“Can you hack into it?”

        She began punching the keyboard and responded with her famous mesmeric giggle.

“Piece of cake.”

        John apprised her of a meeting as he headed back toward the makeshift door.

“I’m going back to the bridge; we will convene at twenty-one-hundred in the main conference room.”

 

OUT OF NOWHERE

CHAPTER TWO

        John and Curtis sat in the conference room deliberating their situation while waiting for the required crew members to arrive. When his second in command finished speaking, John looked away and shook his head.

“Not counting the crew members that are off duty and presently sleeping, but no one has any memory beyond waking up for their shift; It appears we have retained when each of us were assigned to Colossal and remember our relationship’s; but that’s about it.”

        John kept silent for a moment before glancing back his way with a question.

“Personal logs; what about personal logs?”

        Before responding, Curtis rubbed his hands hard against his face indicating just how tired he really was.

“That’s a question for commander Quqwin; but I can tell you that all ships operation logs have been wiped clean; the first thing on the bridge log is when you arrived for your shift.”

        John softly asked himself a question before turning to his second in command and giving him a recommendation.

“Where in the hell are we? I know you must be completely beat, so go get some rest and I will fill you in later.”

        Curtis felt the burn as he leaned back for a moment and closed his eyes, then slowly stood while agreeing.

“Yes sir, John; I really need some sleep; call if anything happens.”

        Quqwin met Curtis at the door, and exchanged pleasantries as they passed, then she took a seat next to her captain. She always enjoyed doing little things to get under John’s skin, so she sat silently ignoring him until he finally shouted; “Well!” then she began to speak.

“Well, John; it seems what ever happened to us, happened to them, but their ship did not fare as well as the Colossal; the operational systems of this ship are well insulated and continued working, but that little ship, what systems weren’t fried where wiped clean. I did find a few handwritten ledgers and manuals, but it’s a language I have never seen.”

 

        John faintly articulated disappointment before requesting more information about the Colossal.

“Damnit all to hell; how about our crew’s personal logs?”

        Quqwin quickly answered, then went on to explain their captured ships condition.

“Nope, all wiped clean; but what ever happened had to of taken place within the last 24 hours; that little ship was not on emergency life support, they were surviving on what oxygen they had when their systems went down.”

        They both glanced toward the door when Susan entered, she took the seat across from John then gave her update.

“Our guest are resting comfortably, and all vital signs are good; but John, they all have some sort of chip implant.”

        These two women he had the upmost respect for, seem to purposely vex him by leaving him hanging on their last words. John leaned back and ogled over at Susan for a few seconds, then irritatingly spoke.

“Well Susan, please do elaborate.”

        She gave a smile of accomplishment while continuing.

“Not sure; it looks as if they have a computer chip implanted in the back of the scull, connected to their brains.”

        Before John could comment, her communicator began to beep, and she quickly responded.

“Yes.”

“Yes Dr. Midcalf, one of the patients is coming around.”

        Instantly she was up and headed for the door with a reply, and John hot on her heels.

“I’m on my way.”

        Quqwin, left deserted at the conference table, laid out the star map she found in the visitor’s ship and began studying the formations. Her concentration was interrupted when Lisa entered the room with a hand-screen.

“Hi Quqwin, I need you to verify something.”

        After a long moment of scanning the device, she reached up and gently gripped Lisa’s arm and pulled her down into the seat beside her.

“Are you saying these people don’t have sub-space communications?”

        Lisa leaned in close so to share what was on the screen.

“That’s how it appears; so, what we are hearing now was broadcasted around eight years ago.”

[Quqwin:] “Damn girl, did we jump back in time?”

[Lisa:] “Don’t be ridiculous; time travel is not a thing.”

[Quqwin:] “Okay, check out this map I found; do you recognize anything?”

        After a long moment of scanning the large black paper with all its little white dots, Lisa expressed her conclusion.

“We are so totally fucked.”

        Quqwin gave her famous mesmerizing giggle as she stood and headed for the door.

“Well, let’s gather as much information as we can before the next meeting.”

        Lisa sat watching the beautiful blonde until she was almost to the door, then quickly spoke up.

“Quqwin, I know our memories have been erased somehow; but I keep having little flashbacks concerning you and me.”

        Quqwin stopped in her tracks, then slowly turned and gazed at the petite redhead.

“Yeah, I didn’t want to say anything; I wasn’t sure you remembered.”

        Lisa stared at her with a smile while making a request.

“My quarters; say, around nine-hundred.”

        Quqwin turned and headed out the door as she giggled her response.

“I will be there.”

        When John and Susan entered sickbay, a woman wailing with fright in a language neither could understand filled the room. Susan quickly demanded an explanation from the head nurse.

“Lieutenant Camron; what the hell is going on here?”

        The young twenty-three-year-old swart woman tossed her long, straight black hair back as she replied with an agitated tone.

“I have no idea, we had to restrain her; and I can’t understand a word she is saying.”

        John immediately moved over beside the hysterical woman with an attempt to console her.

“No one is going to hurt you; do you understand? no one is going to hurt you.”

        His assurance seem to slightly calm the woman as she looked up at him through fearful eyes, then began to babble with jagged breaths between her sobs.

“Yes, I can speak your language; why have I been disconnected? what did I do that was so wrong? am I going to die? why have I been detached?”

        With a soothing voice, Susan slowly started to unfasten the restraints.

“I am Dr. Midcalf, you are in sickbay; I promise no one is going to harm you; now, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and relax, then we can sit you up and have a little chat.”

        The short five-foot-one blonde nodded her head in agreement as she closed her eyes, then responded.

“Okay; my name is Gena Greenwell, but everyone calls me G.G.”

        John stepped across the room to retrieve a glass of water while Susan and her nurse brought Gena into an upright position. He gently handed the terrified woman the water and waited for her to finish drinking it down before starting the interrogation.

[John:] “Tell me Gena, where are you from?”

[Gena:] “I was born in district five.”

[John:] “Where were you and your crew headed?”

[Gena:] “My husband Randy, where is Randy?

[Susan:] “Randy is fine, he is resting in a room just down the hall.”

[Gena:] “I don’t understand these questions; you already have all this information.”

[John:] “We are having some trouble with our computers and can’t access this information.”

[Gena:] “Wait; are you saying there is a problem with Kyx; that’s not possible.”

[John:] “What do you know about Kyx?”

[Gena:] “Kyx is where we get all our directives and access to information; is that why I can’t think straight or concentrate?; did something happen to Kyx?”

        Susan realized what she was so concerned about and instantly interrupted.

“That will be all for now; as soon as Randy wakes up I will let you know; now, I will have nurse Caroline bring you something to eat; so, just relax and rest.”

        The expression on John’s face said he was a long ways from being through, so Susan quickly gave a suggestive nod toward the door so to speak in private. When the door closed behind them, she gripped his arm and quickly pulled him down the hall as she quietly spoke.

“Oh my gosh, do you understand what she is saying?”

[John:] “I don’t understand what the hell you are talking about.”

[Susan:] “Nyx.”

[John:] “Well, I was attempting to find out about that before I was rudely interrupted.”

[Susan:] “John, it’s the computer chip in their brain; their entire society is connected to a main computer system; could you imagine?”

        John gave a concentrated glance her way as fantasies of several female crew members flashed through his psyche, then looked away as he responded.

“Who in hell would even consider such absurdity?”

[Susan:] “You must admit, it would make things go a lot quicker.”

[John:] “You mean, chaotic and controlling; that’s pure insanity.”

[Susan:] “Well, you best tread lightly or Gena and her crew will figure out we are not from this galaxy.”

        John looked up at the ceiling while running his hand across his short black hair, then gave his response while turning and heading for the lift.

“Well Susan, we best come up with a way to explain it to them; we can’t keep something this big a secret.”

        What she said next caused him to freeze in place and glance back her way.

“She remembers where they are from.”

        John responded before continuing down the corridor.

“Get as much information from her as possible before the next meeting.”

 

OUT OF NOWHERE

CHAPTER THREE

        John was glad to see Curtis sitting at the conference table when he walked through the door for the meeting but did not recognize the attractive thirty-year-old, woman with shoulder-length blonde hair sitting next to his chief of security. He glanced her way a couple times while making his way toward his seat at the front and could not help thinking to himself that this beauty exhibited the most exquisite breast for such a petite woman. Once settled in, he made eye contact with each person at the table, then turned his attention toward Paul and began to speak.

“Well Paul, it seems you have brought a guest; so, let’s begin with you.”

Paul: “Yes sir, Captain; I would like to introduce Kimberly Tate, our weapons expert.”

        John stared into her cat-green eyes and struggled to keep his focus from drifting downward as he questioned this captivating female.

“Miss Tate, how long have you been with us?”

        John did a good job at hiding the fact that her mesmerizing smile and alluring voice sent a shockwave to his very core when she replied.

“I was assigned to Colossal six months ago Captain, and that’s all I remember.”

John: “I’m pleased to meet you; now, what have you got for us?”

        He could not peel his eyes away from her perfectly shaped butt when she rose from her seat and headed toward the big screen on the wall while responding.

“I need to show you something.”

        She brought up the image of the shuttle craft they captured and pointed out a few darkened burnt spots on the outer hull, then showed the outer hull of Colossal as she continued speaking.

“I sent a probe to scan the outside of this ship, and here is what I discovered; the entire port side is burnt black, so I took some scraping and analyzed them; I have never seen anything like it before.”

[John:] “Any theories?”

[Kimberly:] “Perhaps we were caught in the direct path of a quasar.”

[John:] “Don’t be ridiculous, if that happened we would be nothing more than space dust.”

[Kimberly:] “In theory; yet here we are.”

[John:] “That’s the million-dollar question; where the hell is here?”

        When Kimberly shrugged her shoulders while heading back toward her seat, Quqwin quickly chimed in.

“Maybe we would have better luck figuring out where we came from; any who, Lisa has determined the two solar systems we are observing doesn’t possess galactic communications.”

        John openhandedly slapped the table hard, then vented his aggravation.

“This is total bullshit; how in the hell can two solar systems, eight light years apart, communicate with each other without galactic communication?”

        Lisa quickly spoke up, countering his question.

“They don’t; in fact, neither know about the other; their wave links are completely different; also, they are sixteen lightyears apart.”

        John instantly rebutted.

“I was told they were eight light years from us.”

        Quqwin let out her infamous giggle while explaining their earlier assessment.

“John; one is eight light years to starboard; the other, to port side; we are almost right in-between the two.”

        He quickly turned toward Susan for clarification.

“So which one is our guest from?”

        Quqwin promptly spoke up.

“I found a star-chart in their shuttle.”

        John barked out an order for the two women before yelling out an order for all that were present.

“You two take the chart to sickbay and find out which one we are dealing with; and figure out where the hell we came from, we didn’t just appear out of nowhere.”

        Kimberly quickly rose and met Quqwin at the door with a request.

“As soon as you find out which one, let me know; I can send a probe, then we can get up-to-date communications.”

 

        John had settled into his captain’s chair, now spending most of his efforts attempting to recall just one fragment about the mission; knowing the massive battleship Colossal never left base without a specific directive. His pondering was interrupted when Quqwin, along with another woman which he did not recognize stepped from the lift, and he quickly rose to his feet and pointed toward the conference room while heading in that direction. Once they had taken their seats, Quqwin spoke as if the he should know the woman which accompanied her.

“John, Teresa discovered something very significant you should know….” She was saying when he interrupted while holding up a hand, signaling her to stop.

“Does Teresa have a last name, and what is her rank?”

        Both women stared with shock, then Quqwin spoke softly and slowly.

“John; do you not remember Teresa Drake, our chief astronomer?; she has been with us for three years.”

        He strained his brain while staring at this unique woman, refusing to believe he could forget such beauty; standing a whopping six-four, weighing one-hundred-sixty lbs. of pure muscle, she was definitely a head turner; but what made her so exceptional was her astonishingly light completion, along with full, long, rich-red hair; not to mention the most atypical, atmospheric sky-blue eyes; and John slightly shook his head as he replied.

“No; I honestly do not remember Teresa; but we will save that discussion for another time, what did you find?”

        The expression on the beauty’s face was more of heartbreak than disappointment, but she pulled it together and gave her report with a mesmerizing, sweet voice.

“Well Captain, the map Quqwin discovered on the shuttle does not match the star systems around us, not even close.”

        Quqwin was astounded to have heard her reference John as Captain and turned toward her with a scolding tone.

“What the hell, Teresa?”

        The tall beauty quickly stood and headed out the door with a loud rebuttal.

“Let it be, Quqwin; just let it be.”

        John sat confused regarding the two women’s actions as Quqwin instantly chased behind while shouting.

“Hell no I won’t let it be, now get your ass back here!”

        When John stepped from the conference room onto the bridge he saw the two women arguing in the lift, and just before the door closed Teresa glanced his way. He shook his head with a chuckle as he took his seat.

        Teresa refused to converse with her best friend concerning what had just taken place and charged toward her quarters, now Quqwin was standing outside Commander Curtis’s door knocking loudly. Disturbed from a sound sleep, he opened the door with an angry expression, ferial hair, and shirtless.

“What the hell, Quqwin?”

        She instantly placed her hand in the center of his massive, hairy chest and walked him backwards with her demand.

“We need to talk; now.”

        Curtis reached for a shirt while glancing at the time, then responded.

“I will be on duty in two hours; it can’t wait till then?

        Knowing how much he loves his coffee, she instantly headed for the small kitchen while speaking.

“No, it can’t; it concerns John and Teresa.”

        While pulling on the shirt, and following her toward the coffee maker, he spouted a joke.

“Lover’s quarrel, or cold feet?”

        She paused for a minute until the brew was complete; then, as she handed him a cup of hot-joe, her answer left him staring at her through squinted eyes.

“John doesn’t remember Teresa.”

        He took a sip before chuckling his reply.

“Come on Quqwin, he is just playing with you two.”

        She poured herself a cup, then leaned against the counter and calmly responded.

“No Curtis, you weren’t there; he honestly does not remember.”

        They sipped their coffee in silence for a few minutes, then he gave in to her accusation.

“Okay; I need a shower, then I will go have a talk with him.”

        She sat her cup on the counter, then gave him a peck on the cheek with her gratitude.

“Thank you, Curtis; Teresa is all shaken up.”

        He sat his cup down and started walking her to the door with assurance.

“I will let you know what happens.”

        Once again, John just got comfortable in his seat when his comm chimed, letting him know sickbay was beckoning.

“What’s up Susan?”

[Susan:] “Randy Greenwell is awake, and I can’t understand a word he is saying.”

[John:] “I’m on my way.”

        When he entered sickbay it was tranquil, so he slowly made his way into Randy’s room to find a man with an angry look and arms crossed. A guard stood on either side with Susan staring back his way, also with crossed arms.

“No luck I take it.”

        Susan let out a huff as she dropped her arms and turned toward the captain with her analysis.

 “Nope; he’s just staring straight ahead.”

        After attempting to communicate with the uncooperative man, John turned and gave Susan an order.

“Bring G.G. in here.”

        Hearing his words, Randy relaxed his arms, and his eyes brighten a bit as Susan left the room.

        When Susan explained to G.G. what was going on, she quickly followed while expressing her annoyance.

“I don’t like this; I can’t detect what he is thinking.”

        Susan addressed her frustration as they walked down the hall, then questioned Randy’s inability to understand their language.

“It’s hectic for us all right now: but why can’t Randy understand what we are saying?”

[Susan:] “I am…in your speech…a linguistic; there is an island, sector 34, where a small population not connected to Nyx speaks your language: nowhere else, just on that island; I have studied their dialect extensively for many years.”

        Their conversation was cut short when they entered Randy’s room and he quickly moved to embrace his wife while speaking in their tongue. Once G.G. assured him she was in good health, and their hosts were respectful and accommodating, he turned to John and spoke. John glanced over at G.G. and shook his head with confusion, causing her to translate.

“Randy wants to speak with the one in charge of this planet.”

        John turned to Susan with a statement and an inquiry.

“I don’t have time for all this: who is our linguistic?”

[Susan:] “I understand, John; Lieutenant Linear is our historian commissioner, I guess she would be the closest thing we got for languages.”

        Duran Linear is forty-five; a short, tiny woman; four-six, ninety-five lbs. with black hair she kept cut one-inch-long, and mysterious dark black eyes.

        John turned to his best friend and explained what he wanted before heading back toward the bridge.

“Here is what I want to happen; get the historian together with G.G. and create a dictionary onto a handheld; also contact Quqwin and figure out a way to connect said handheld to Randy’s implant; keep me updated.”

        John was surprised to see Curtis when the lift door opened, and he stepped aside to give his captain room to enter. John brought him up-to-date on current events while making their journey to the bridge, then when they stepped out of the lift Curtis pointed toward the conference room.

“Personal matter, John.”

        Concerned someone may have filed a complaint against his second in command, John quietly followed him through the door and took his seat. They sat and stared at each other for a moment before Curtis spoke one name.

“Teresa Drake.”

        With raised eyebrows, John lifted his head and replied.

“Shit; I forgot to mention that; Quqwin brought her to a meeting to report that the star-map she found doesn’t match where we are; so, I’m guessing our quest are not from this Galaxy either; how did you hear about that?.”

        Curtis scratched his right ear through squinted eyes as he answered.

“Quqwin told me.”

        Now John was really confused, and indicated what took place.

“Wait: Quqwin came to your quarters to tell you she and this…Teresa woman were arguing about…who in the hell knows.”

        His second in command’s next words left John more lost than ever.

“They were arguing about you, John; she tells me you don’t remember Teresa.”

        John scratched his forehead while trying to make sense of the conversation as he explained his thinking.

“Look Curtis, there are five-thousand personal aboard this ship; two-hundred which I am expected to remember their names and rank; and I admit Teresa is one-of-a-kind, but hell, with everything that’s going on and I don’t remember one person, so Quqwin blows a gasket.”

        Curtis rose from his seat than walked over and poured himself a cup of coffee, then leaned his butt against the counter and casually dropped the bombshell.

“You are saying you don’t remember the woman you are going to marry next month.”       

        John sat with a blank stare for a long moment before standing and heading out the door with his response.

“You have the bridge, Curtis.”

        As he vanished out the door, Curtis quietly replied.

“Dismissed, Captain.”