Search & Rescue (11.2)

Chris and Laurie hurried back to Dirin City. Their months of training had taught them skill and endurance with mile-eating jogs. They were both very physically fit, but the round trip left them a bit winded.

It was 7:30 as they walked onto the main deck of the Star Traveler to find it just about put back together and cleaned up from Dr. Smith and Eli's maintenance check. Everyone was gathered on the main deck going over their checklists one last time. Captain Mitchell, Dr. Kingston, and Gorioshi turned around as Laurie threw a short salute to the captain.

"I hear there was some concern but, a good soldier is never late," Laurie quoted with a smile.

"Well," Eli said, looking up as Dr. Smith bolted the last panel back into place, "Now that Laurie is here ‒he smiled at his daughter—"it looks like everything is ship-shape and ready for our rescue mission."

"I guess I should say good-bye now," Chris mumbled.

Laurie spun around to wrap her arms around his neck in a quick embrace.

"Hopefully this mission won't take too long, I'll keep in touch Chris!" Laurie held him at arm's length, fighting hard to keep her voice from cracking with emotion.

"Me too," Chis assured her and nodded before heading towards the entry ramp.

Laurie saw him wave one last time before he headed outside.

Captain Mitchell cleared his throat softly.

"Systems check," he announced.

Laurie headed to the co-pilot seat to check the statuses on her own console.

"Weapons Systems are 'go flight,' I just hope we won't need them," Eli said, giving a 'thumbs up' to his daughter.

"Life support is 'go flight'. I agree, but you never know," Dr. Kingston announced looking down at the touch screen as she continued to manage her part of bringing systems on line as she signaled a 'thumbs up'.

"Cargo bay secure; computer shows ramp still open and down," Dr. Smith noted.

"Entry ramp condition acknowledged, Engines 'Go Flight'-- system overall 'Go flight' Captain," Laurie answered.

"Computer will begin Auto Lift-off sequence once the entry ramp is secure," Captain Mitchell stated, typing the proper commands into the Star Traveler's main computer.

The Star Traveler's engines came to life with a low hum.

"All right crew, shall we go wave goodbye from the entry ramp?" Captain Mitchell suggested, with a slight smile.

The crew walked down the left-hand corridor to stand in the doorway of the Star Traveler's exit ramp and wave farewell. While the ramp slowly began to lift to its closed position and a small beanbag flew into the Star Traveler. As it hit the floor it emitted a thin cloud of condensed air that went unnoticed by the crew. Turning from the closing bay, Capitan Mitchel saw the ball. Thinking it a toy, he smiled and picked it up weighing it for a toss. Laurie swung into action.

She unhooked her tegar and shook it once. It extended to half its length. Using it like a bat she smacked the ball in mid-air, just as it left Captain Mitchell's hand. It went sailing back through the remaining gap in the exit and down to the crowd below. The ramp closed, and the exit hatch hydraulically sealed itself.

"Auto liftoff sequence commencing," a computerized voice intoned.

As the Star Traveler lifted into the black sky the crew laughed and patted Laurie on the back.

"Good hit!" Eli exclaimed.

Laurie smiled.

"You should go to your quarters now, dear," Dr. Kingston said with a warm smile, "you've had a long night. Go get some rest, and perhaps something warm to drink."

"I will, Mom," Laurie answered, as the rest of the crew dispersed to take up the first day aboard ship.

Captain Mitchell went back to the main deck to enter the coordinates for their first destination into the computer. From there, they would try to pick up the trail of the missing Exandra colony ship. Their mission was to find the EC ship and provide any assistance needed. Unfortunately, they had no idea what they are going to find, if anything.

Laurie removed her utility belt from around her waist and placed it on her dresser. As she did, her MTD gave off a few low tones in sequence. She unclipped it from her belt and sat down on her bed, wondering how many more things she'd have to deal with today. She was feeling so very tired. She opened the MTD and pressed a few buttons; Chris' face appeared on the screen.

"Hey," Laurie said. "Is something wrong? We've only just left."

"I have to talk fast; you don't have much time!" Chris exclaimed.

Laurie's face contorted in confusion and concern.

"The ball you batted out of the Star Traveler, Tarpin caught it and went to go find its owner. There was a puff of smoke from the ball—and Tarpin just fell on the ground--"

Laurie didn't hear any more. Suddenly, what energy remained left her and she fainted.

*****

"Did you reach Laurie?" David asked.

"I tried to warn her Dad, but before I finished, she had collapsed."

"I've already tried Laurie's parents, Gorioshi, Captain Mitchell, and Dr. Smith. None of them answered."

"Something is definitely going on," Chris stated frowning.

"I don't know son, you may be overreacting. It looked like a perfectly normal beanbag. Matter of fact some of the parents sometimes fill them with herbs instead of beans for their children. Perhaps there is a plant here on Exandra that creates a sleeping powder when crushed; someone may have used some unawares of its affects."

"Maybe. I don't know. Something just doesn't feel right. I think I'll go ask around to see if anyone saw anything."

"Okay, but be back home by noon; your Mom will want you home for lunch by then."

"I won't be late, Dad!" Chris answered, heading off in search of someone who had a sharp pair of eyes and knowledge of local plants.

Chris had only gone a few houses down the road from Central Station when he found who he was looking for: an elderly lady, sitting on the porch of a yellow, single- story house. This house was one of the original houses built in Dirin City.

"Hello, Mrs. Aster!" Chris called, walking up to the porch.

"Why hello, Chris," Mrs. Aster exclaimed, in an accent slightly tinged with her Irish heritage. "It is quite strange, you know, seeing ya' wit out your friend, Laurie."

"Yeah, I guess. I was just wondering whether you'd seen anything else strange today."

"Aye, well now, let me see," Mrs. Aster said. "Little Sara didn't come with her Ma to the liftoff this morning, but she did have the sniffles yesterday. Hmm, there was also a messily-dressed lady I'd never seen before. She probably got out of bed late and dressed fast to make it to the launch; she was the first creature I've seen 'ere though, wearing clothes. Mmm… your ECOP friend fell asleep in the middle o' the crowd this morning-- 'twas a bit odd, wasn't it?"

"Yes, Mrs. Aster, which is part of what I'm working on. The rumpled looking lady; what made you think she was a creature?"

"Well, I could see her green tail sticking out of her dress."

Chris' froze in mid step— why would one of the Exandrian creatures wear human clothes? Unless…

"Mrs. Aster, did you get a good look at the creature? Can you tell me any more about it?"

"Hmm, well it wore a long sleeve dress; quite odd, it is rather warm out."

"Could you tell what species the creature was?"

"Not really; she seemed rather preoccupied, but judging by the look of her tail, she was reptilian‒ it wasn't like the tail of your iguana friend the ECOP though..."

Why would a creature here feel the need to dress like a human? Chris thought, to blend in perhaps? That still leaves the question of why? All of the creatures know they are welcome to go in and out of Dirin City freely, there is no reason for them to need to camouflage. Really, the Platonians are the only ones we are watching out for…Hmm, and it was occupied with something, eh? I'll have to see what Whirlp thinks."

"Did you happen to see what it was occupied with?" Chris questioned further, emerging from his musings.

"It looked like a small hand bag. Why?"

"I'm trying to piece a puzzle together, that's all. Well thank you Mrs. Aster, you may have given me just the information I needed. I ought to go home though; I have some more things to do."

"You're certainly welcome Chris. Talk to ya later," Mrs. Aster said with a smile, waving as Chris turned and walked home.

"Did you find anything?" David asked his son at lunch.

"A bit; I would like to talk to Whirlp, though. I should wait 'til Tarpin wakes up and ask him if he will help me find him."

*****

Laurie woke with a start; confused as to why she fell asleep with her shoes on. She suddenly remembered that Chris was trying to tell her something.

I can't remember. I must have fallen asleep, she thought. That's odd. I was tired, but I wasn't THAT tired.

Laurie picked up her MTD from where it lay, down by her knees, and opened it. The time and date shone on the screen in the bottom right hand corner. Laurie frowned.

I couldn't have been asleep for four days…and what was it that Chris had said... something about us being in trouble?

I'll go get my parents, Dr. Smith, and Captain Mitchell. If we are in trouble, they should know about it. I'll call Chris once I've found everyone, and he can tell all of us. She grabbed her utility belt off her dresser, put it on, and clipped her MTD back onto it.

She walked down the ship's hall checking each room. Laurie found her parents in the mess hall asleep at the table, their breakfast untouched and stone cold. Laurie tried to wake them, to no avail.

After a quick look in the Launch Bay, Laurie decided that the best place to look for Dr. Smith was the ship's lab. Walking down the hallway on the opposite side of the Star Traveler, Laurie found Dr. Smith slumped over onto a desk covered with test tubes and a Bunsen burner. Unable to wake him, either, Laurie left, more puzzled than before.

Laurie went back to the Star Traveler's main deck, looking for Captain Mitchell. Sure enough, he had collapsed across the ship's main computer console. Like the others, he would not stir. Laurie pressed a few buttons at his console to transfer control of the ship to the co-pilot's console before taking her seat. She queried the navigation system, trying to figure out the Star Traveler's position.

"Calculation error‒ computer virus detected in Star Chart memory bank," the computer stated, after her repeated tries to type in the request for the ship's coordinates.

Laurie put her hands on the side of her head and closed her eyes, trying to think around the problem. Suddenly, she felt a jolt and turned to look behind her. The deck began vibrating and shaking. She pressed a button on the console to bring the outside view onto the Star Traveler's main screen. Laurie looked up as the picture flickered to full resolution.

*****