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– Commander King here will be your new captain, and, by seniority, you’ll become his new First Officer. It’s only right that you should be present for your own promotion.” Benjamin smiled, but the other two found it difficult.

  They exited the powerlift together and entered the medical ward, where Dr. Tucker was examining the latest set of readings from Benjamin’s brain.

  “Good morning,” said Tucker. “I’m just completing my analysis from last night. You might as well make yourself comfortable – you’re going to be here all day.”

  “So will we,” said King. “Lieutenant Beck and I will be staying to the end.” He closed his eyes, regretting the words even as they came out of his mouth. “What I mean is, we’re staying to see the process through – to keep the captain company while he completes this transition.”

  “It’s okay, Ioban,” said Benjamin, clapping him on the shoulder. “I know what you meant.”

  “So,” said Beck. “How shall we pass the time?”

  “How you pass the time won’t matter much to me,” said Tucker, “as long as the captain stays hooked up to these monitors.” Tucker placed several stick-on probes on Benjamin. “They’re wireless, so you are free to move about the medical ward – but you need to stay in the ward so you’re always in range. I need to have a constant reading.”

  “Understood,” said Benjamin. “So – anybody up for a game of cards?”

  Four hours and eleven games of hearts later, Benjamin tossed his cards down onto the table. “Alright – how ‘bout something to eat?”

  “Sounds good – shall we order in some pizza from the galley?” asked Beck.

  “Hmm,” said Benjamin. “Considering you won nine out of eleven games, you should probably get to choose. But I’m just not sure if pizza is a fitting last meal.”

  “First off,” said King, “quit talking like that – Sir. This won’t be your last meal. Second, we can order the galley to make you whatever you want.”

  Benjamin sat back. “I think I’ll just have a salad. And a ribeye steak. And a baked potato. And chocolate cake. With fudge.”

  “Coming right up,” said Beck. She went over to a console and got on the intercom to place the order. “What about you, Ioban?”

  “I’ll just have some couscous, thanks.”

  While Beck finished placing her own order, and then went to find Tucker to see if he wanted anything, King leaned over to Benjamin and spoke in a low voice.

  “Beck has feelings for you, Johnny.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Just thought you’d like to know that,” said King.

  “Now, why would I want to know that?”

  “Because you feel the same way.”

  “I’ve never told you that.”

  “You didn’t have to. I know you too well.”

  “It shows? Great. I suppose everybody else knows, too, and that I’m the laughingstock of the ship.”

  “No – nobody else knows, at least I don’t think so. You hide it very well – I’ve just known you too many years to not know what you’re thinking.”

  Benjamin rolled his eyes and sighed. “So, how long have you known?”

  “Oh, about two years.”

  “Two years? That’s as long as Beck’s been posted here.”

  “Yep. You wanted her the moment you laid eyes on her. Just admit it.”

  “All right. Guilty as charged. Not that it matters – not that there’s anything I can do about it. She’s a junior officer – it’d be totally inappropriate to pursue anything.”

  “True. Of course, she could always get promoted,” King smiled.

  “Well, in a few hours, that just might happen,” said Benjamin. “Of course, then I won’t be around, so that won’t help much, will it?”

  Beck came back in and the two men abruptly sat back in their chairs and stopped whispering.

  “What’s going on here,” Beck asked playfully. “Are you two plotting a way to beat me at hearts? You’re wasting your time conspiring, boys.”

  “You caught us,” said Benjamin. “I’m thinking we should try playing something else.”

  “Or we could just talk,” said Beck. “There’s lots that we don’t know about each other.”

  Benjamin yearned for the opportunity to get to know Sariah Beck on a more personal level. But inside, he was torn, knowing that it could all be in vain if he were to disappear in the next few hours. He looked over at King, who seemed to know what he was thinking, and gave him a gentle, friendly nod.

  “You’re right,” Benjamin said. “Let’s just talk.”

  “Well, for starters,” said Beck, “did you know I was born on Mars?”

  “You’re a Martian?” asked King. “I did not know that.”

  “I did,” said Benjamin. He’d reviewed every detail of Beck’s personnel file on more than one occasion. “New Washington province, right?”

  “Right! So, where are you from, originally?”

  “I’m from Oregon, on Earth,” said Benjamin. “I grew up on the coast in a little town called Brookings.”

  “Wow,” said Beck, “I’ve never seen the ocean. Always wanted to.”

  After a while, lunch arrived, and the conversation continued, growing deeper and deeper. As the evening approached, Dr. Tucker entered the room.

  “Captain, I have some news for you.”

  “Well?” said Benjamin.

  “According to my latest scans, the mutation should be complete within the next ten minutes.”

  “Any indication of what will happen?” asked King.

  “I still can’t tell,” said Tucker. “The final stage of your brain’s mutation will involve the claustrum and superior colliculus – which includes your consciousness, and how you’ll be able to cope with perception once you’re fully transformed. We’ll know very soon what the final result will be, one way or another.”

  “Ioban,” said Benjamin. “If I phase out, I want you to deliver this for me.” He handed him a data sphere. “It has a message on it for my family – what’s left of them.”

  “Of course,” said King.

  “I’m not one for long goodbyes, so if I don’t survive this, I’ll let you address the ship as her new captain. I’m now going to transfer command protocols to you, just in case,” said Benjamin. “If everything turns out, I’ll just take them back. If not, tell the crew that I enjoyed serving with them.”

  He stepped to a console and placed his palm on the reader, then recited his authorization code.

  The previously robust personal conversation between the three ship mates dwindled to an uncomfortable silence as the last few minutes ticked away.

  Tucker stood scrutinizing a display screen. A smile split his normally stoic face. “Captain! You are in the clear. The mutation is complete, and you’re still with us.”

  “It worked!” cried King. “The chemical shunt worked! Now take those command protocols back, Johnny – it’s going to be a long while before I’m captain of anything.”

  Benjamin, King and Beck spontaneously met in a three way hug. They separated, and Benjamin breathed a big sigh of relief.

  “Well, all right, then,” he said. “Looks like I’ll be sticking around.”

  “Captain, I will want to run some additional tests,” said Tucker. “I want to get a complete physical scan and test your abilities.”

  “Whatever you say, doc,” said Benjamin, grinning.

  The ship’s lights blinked out and emergency lighting came on its place.

  The captain strode to the intercom. “Benjamin to the bridge – what’s going on?”

  “We’re under attack, Sir – it’s a Gravani pirate ship!” said Vrosky through the intercom.

  “We’ll be right there. Come on,” he said to Beck and King. “Let’s go.”

  Benjamin dashed to the powerlift, faster than the human eye could see.

  ۞

  By the time Benjamin, K
ing and Beck arrived on the bridge, the ship was in a state of mayhem.

  “Report,” said Benjamin, appearing in his command chair before anyone even saw him step out of the powerlift.

  “The pirates have sent out four of their skiffs and latched onto our hull – it’s a cross-hair attack – fore and aft, port and starboard incursions,” said Vrosky.

  “Response?” asked Benjamin.

  “Sammons has four teams dispatched to the attack sites, we’re standing by for a status update.”

  “Ioban, I want you to go assist Sammons,” said Benjamin. “You’re one of the few officers with a Pauser pistol.”

  “Aye, Sir,” said King, drawing his weapon and checking the settings as he left the bridge.

  “Shall I go too, Sir?” asked Beck.

  “No, I need you on tactical with Vrosky.”

  “Aye.”

  “Why didn’t we see this coming?” asked Benjamin, the anger evident in his voice.

  “They came out of nowhere, Sir,” said Beck, reviewing the recent sensor logs. “There was nothing on long-range scans, and then suddenly the Gravani appeared right behind us.”

  “Well, we’ve been here before – you know what to do. Deploy the Pauser.”

  “Pauser activated and standing by, Sir,” said Vrosky.

  “Fire!”

  The massive Gravani ship continued to move forward.

  “No effect, Sir!” said Vrosky. “I don’t understand.”

  “Sir, the Gravani are hailing us,” said Beck.

  “Put them on the main viewer,” said Benjamin.

  A yellow-haired, copper-skinned, black-eyed Gravani with a huge scar across his jaw appeared. “Captain John C. Benjamin,” the pirate snarled. Even through the translation matrix, his voice dripped with contempt.

  “That’s right,” said Benjamin. “And who the slick are you?”

  “You may call me, Revenge.”

  “Okay,” said Benjamin, “whatever. Nobody told me you pirates were a bunch of drama queens.”

  “You will listen!” boomed the ferocious Gravani. “Your time-stopping weapons will have no effect on us this time. Our ships all relay a constant data stream to a central hub. We analyzed your attack on the Kr’itz-Charl and developed a singularity countermeasure based on that data. Any attempts to ‘pause’ us will be deflected – as you just witnessed – and in a matter of minutes, my boarding parties will have completed their mission.”

  Benjamin motioned with his hand for the transmission to be cut. The Gravani captain’s image was replaced by a view of the pirate ship.

  “Beck, get me a status update from Sammons. Vrosky – target the pirate ship’s power converters with our conventional weapons, and lay down a barrage.”

  As Vrosky aimed a shower of laser blasts at the Gravani, Beck received a report from Sammons.

  “Sir,” she said, “Sammons reports that all four teams have successfully repulsed the intruders. The Gravani are retreating, returning to their skiffs and disengaging from the hull.”

  “Good,” said Benjamin.

  “However, there’s bad news,” Beck added.

  Benjamin just looked at Beck, raising his eyebrows as if to say, Well?

  “Sammons reports that his weapon was stolen – the Gravani took his Pauser pistol.”

  Benjamin guffawed in frustration and slapped his arm rest.

  “He also reports that – wait. Sammons, confirm that report!”

  Benjamin waited anxiously as Beck listened intently to Sammons on her earpiece.

  “Sir,” she finally said, “it’s Ioban – he’s been captured.”

  Benjamin gritted his teeth and slammed his armrest with his fist. His fist moved so fast, he broke the armrest.

  “Hail them!” he growled.

  The grotesque Gravani captain appeared on the viewer once more, his face contorted into a sickly grin.

  “Yes?” he said.

  “What do you want?” asked Benjamin. “Just tell me what you want, and we’ll make an exchange.”

  “I have what I want, Captain,” said the pirate. “Well, in a few minutes I will. Like I told you – my name is Revenge.”

  Two hulking Gravani pulled King into view. He’d already been beaten severely, but shrugged off their grips and stood on his own.

  “Did you really think,” continued the Gravani captain, “that you could capture one of our ships, and not pay a price? Today, I teach a lesson – and provide a warning. But I will not use mere words to do so.”

  The pirate then stood and faced King. He drew Sammons’ Pauser pistol and took aim at King. He pulled the trigger, and King promptly froze. He hadn’t been moving much before, other than some labored breathing – perhaps the result of cracked ribs – but now it was clear that he had been paused. Then, with one fluid motion, the captain drew a traditional Gravani scimitar, swung it in a wide circle parallel to the floor, and lopped off King’s head.

  “Nooooooo!” cried Benjamin, leaping to his feet.

  King’s head spun in the air several times before bouncing off his shoulders to the floor. His statue-like body remained standing, headless before the self-satisfied pirate.

  “I believe I have made myself clear,” said the pirate captain, turning back to the viewer. “Do not forget this.” He cut the transmission.

  Beck doubled over and vomited on the floor next to her console. Vrosky announced, in a shaky voice, that the Gravani ship was moving away. Benjamin’s brain felt like soup, and everything around him seemed to echo. He quickly pulled himself together.

  “Lay in a pursuit course,” he said, glaring at the image of the retreating pirate ship. “Maximum speed.”

  The Raptor’s Shadow raced after the Gravani vessel.

  “We can’t keep up,” Vrosky said. “They’re losing us.”

  Benjamin just stared at the viewer.

  “Orders, Captain?” asked Vrosky.

  Benjamin stood. “Maintain course and speed. I’m going to go for a little space walk.”

  “Sir?” asked Beck. But it was too late – Benjamin had left the bridge in a flash.

  ۞

  “I’ll remain on intercom,” said Benjamin as he secured his environmental suit’s helmet.

  “Sir, as tactical officer, it’s my duty to point out that this is an unnecessary risk,” said Sammons.

  “Duly noted,” said Benjamin. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

  Beck and Sammons stepped out of the skiff hangar and into the hangar’s control booth, leaving their captain alone.

  “Open the bay doors,” said Benjamin.

  The fore-facing doors parted to reveal a star-speckled expanse with a blob at the center – the rapidly escaping Gravani ship. Without another word, Benjamin seemed to disappear. What he had done was run at full speed out of the hangar and leapt toward the Gravani ship. His movement was so fast, it looked like he had simply vanished.

  “You know, I feel awful about King,” said Sammons to Beck. “If they hadn’t managed to disarm me and steal my Pauser – ”

  “It’s not your fault, Karl,” said Beck. “They would’ve killed Ioban either way. I just – ”

  “I know,” said Sammons. “The two of you had become friends. I admit I never cared much for the guy. But I never wanted to see him dead. I feel I’ve failed in my duty.”

  “We all fail, sometimes,” said Beck, pushing away a tear.

  They stood without saying anything for a few moments, then a voice cut the silence.

  “I’m on the hull of the pirate ship,” said Benjamin through the intercom.

  “That’s incredible!” said Beck.

  “Well, when I move in super-time, it’s like the rest of the universe is just standing still. I’ll report back when my mission is complete. Benjamin out.”

  ۞

  Benjamin crawled into the pirate ship through a plasma exhaust port, moving in super-time to avoid a poorly timed exhaust flare and also to evade
detection. Scurrying through the bowels of the ship faster than a mouse, he emerged near the bridge, taking two Gravani pirates by surprise as he seemed to appear out of nowhere. He was able to knock them both out in a split second, then moved like lightning onto the bridge.

  One moment the man who called himself “Revenge” was happily watching the stars on his viewer – the next, he was staring into the cold blue eyes of Captain John Benjamin.

  “What the – ”

  Benjamin went invisible again, as he circled the bridge in no time, disabling every pirate in the room. He returned to his former position in front of Revenge, but this time, he held the pirate’s own blood-stained ceremonial blade in his hand.

  Confused, but still belligerent, the Gravani captain said, “I thought I warned you! I thought I taught you stupid human a lesson!”

  “I never could sit through a lecture,” said Benjamin. “Besides, I’m collecting these pirate ships. This one will do nicely for my collection. Oh, and the man you murdered – he was my best friend.”

  “Revenge” lifted his arm to take a swipe at Benjamin with a dagger that he’d palmed, but immediately found himself skewered to his chair, the hilt of his own sword sticking out of his chest. Golden blood gurgled from the side of his mouth as his eyes glazed over.

  Benjamin stared for a moment at “Revenge,” then quickly got to work shutting down the ship’s propulsion system, and got on the comm. “Benjamin here. Mission complete. Let’s tow this sucker home.”

  ۞

  Benjamin and Beck stood side by side in the bright sunshine. As the other funeral attendees started to go their separate ways in silence, Benjamin ran his finger around the inside of his collar, pulling the restrictive dress uniform away from his neck. He leaned slightly toward Beck, keeping his eyes on the grave of his best friend, and speaking in a soft voice.

  “You hear what the Association did?”

  Benjamin was referring to the Association of Star Systems, the governing body for the region of space that included Earth.

  “Banned Pauser technology,” Beck said.

  “Too dangerous, they say.”

  “I don’t know if I agree with that,” said Beck. “All weapons are dangerous – it’s the nature of the beast.”

  “Now I’m their new weapon,” said Benjamin. “Do you think I’m dangerous, Sariah?”

  Beck just gazed at the fresh grave. “I think our enemies are dangerous, and we need whatever edge we can get. I’m glad they’ve put you on the case.”

  Benjamin had been given a special operations assignment. It took him off the Raptor’s Shadow, basically a solo gig, but with a logistical support team led by Commander Vrosky – so Benjamin could use his super-time abilities on special missions, the way he did against the Gravani.

  “You’re just glad they tapped you for captain, now that you have seniority on the Raptor.”

  “You know that’s not true,” said Beck. “I’d rather be working alongside my friends. With you and Ioban gone, there’s – I’m going to feel pretty alone out there.”

  Benjamin nodded toward the grave and slowly shook his head. “I’m going to miss that man – he wasn’t just my right hand, he was like part of my brain – or maybe my heart. I know everyone said it during the funeral, but it’s true – he was a good man.”

  Beck took a breath, and turned to Benjamin.

  “He told me something about you once,” said Beck. “He told me that you would be glad to know that I wasn’t interested in Sammons – he didn’t mean to tell me, but he let it slip.”

  “Well, he always did pay attention to the details,” said Benjamin.

  They stood in silence for a few moments, the soft wind gently tossing Beck’s light brown hair. Faster than lightning, Benjamin reached out and took Beck’s hand, and together, they turned and walked away.

  THE END

  © 2011 Michael D. Britton, Intelligent Life Books

  All rights reserved.

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