Author's note: First episode of Don't Say You Love Me... a series

Tear in Your Hand

 

 

"Ms. Davenport is going over general interspecies communications, isn't she?"  Goddard asked, walking into the Lounge. A few students looked up from the circular couch.

 

"Yeah, so?"  Bova responded.  Goddard cocked his head, but did not chastise him.

 

"So, Suzee told me earlier this week that she needed some new power couplings.  You kids would benefit from some real experience in an interstellar marketplace."  Goddard leaned against the wall and crossed his powerful arms.

 

"Come on, Commander."  Harlan scoffed.  "Everyone's been to those ones off the coast of Saturn."

 

"Those aren't anything like the ones you'll be dealing with as a STARDOG, Mr. Band. The rarest species you'll find on The Saturn Diskus is an Andromedan."

 

"That's because marketplaces in the Sol System are relatively safe."  Radu interjected softly but meaningfully.  "The ones along the Outer Rim aren't."

 

"Just relatively?"  Rosie asked skeptically.  She couldn't fathom there being problems at the Saturn Diskus. The UPP regulations didn't even allow weapons on their stations.

 

"Yes."  Radu and Goddard confirmed in unison.  Goddard shook his head.

 

"People can be disappointing, Rosie."  He explained.  "And you being unaware of the dangers in our home system is what I'm talking about.  I just think you'd learn better through practical application.  Don't worry.  It'll be fun getting off the ship for a little while."

 

"Fun.  Right."  Harlan muttered.

 

"Radu, pick us a good planetside marketplace.  Rosie, you can surf the Spacenet for ads."

 

"Yes, Commander."  She said moving towards the middle of the room.  "Does anybody have a preference?"

 

"Anywhere but Neon."  Bova said.  Harlan laughed.

 

"Yeah, and nothing in Spungland."

 

Rosie looked alarmed.  "How will I know?  They don't put that kind of thing on the pages."

 

"Don't worry, Rosie."  Radu said.  "I'll check whatever you pick in the NavChat.  They'll know."

 

Goddard turned to Radu.  "You go there."

 

"Um, yeah."  His ears flushed a bit.  "They think I'm... well... much older."

 

"From what I heard it was built by a group of Spacenet hackers?"

 

"Yeah, that's true.  They don't allow an exchange of personal information, so you can understand their mistake.  They usually kick people out if they try to speculate."

 

"Good."  Goddard chuckled suddenly.  "And they think you're some 20 something navigator, huh?"

 

"Um, I- I guess."  Radu smiled shyly.  "They'll help though.  Because I gave them the coordinates of MA's domain."

 

"That's kewl."  Harlan remarked.  "Starve her."

 

Bova grinned.  "I bet she loves that.  Go for it, Rosie."

 

"Okay."  Rosie sat down at the little Spacenet station.  "I'm glad you and Suzee set up this access panel."

 

"Where is Suzee?"  Goddard asked suddenly.

 

"She's looking at the engines."  Harlan answered.

 

"Yeah," Bova added.  "She's trying to figure out what went wrong the last time she reconfigured the engines."

 

"Right." Goddard rubbed his temple.  "What went wrong the last time?"

 

"She almost killed me and Radu."

 

Goddard frowned.

 

"Actually, I almost killed Bova and Radu.  Suzee made the engines so fast that they couldn't handle the fuel requirements or friction."  Harlan clarified.

 

"Interesting."  Goddard remarked.  Harlan shrugged when the Commander offered no further comment and sipped a blue soda.

 

"Found them, Radu."  Rosie called cheerfully.

 

"You're getting pretty fast at that."  Harlan said.

 

"Well, she's been working with Ms. Davenport.  What would you expect?"  Radu said smiling.  The Mercurian beamed.  He slowly stood and went over to the console where Rosie was working and leaned over her.  "I'll send a Spacemail on the listserv."  Radu said.  Goddard regarded him.

 

"You're on the listserv already?  When did you start going?"

 

"Shortly after we met Stuart and Aie."  Radu's brow creased in concentration, and Harlan snorted at Radu's deliberate mispronunciation of the shrill name.

 

The screen swirled on to reveal the computer-generated image of a Rigelian.

 

"Long time no see, Quatre.  I suppose your duties are keeping you busy.  As they should!  That in mind I'll get right to it.  If it's still there, Korinth on P4 of the Condrona system is the safest market.  The others are pretty Spung infested, if that worries you, which generally makes them unsafe.  Toriyama Outpost in the Troy system is Spung free, but it's rough going there, and you remember the nasty stories we've all heard about the outposts down there.  Plus you have to navigate through the Quarton system, which is just the pits.  Most Sincerely, Mr. Spock."

 

"Quatre? Spock?"  Harlan said in disbelief.  Radu shrugged.

 

"Quatre Winner.  It's the name of some Earther cartoon character.  I don't know where Spock comes from."

 

"Quatre's also French for four."  Goddard muttered.  "Go ahead and plot a course to Korinth.  That sounds best."

 

Goddard turned and left the Teamroom.

 

"Hmm."  Radu studied the screen, which now displayed a complicated navigational map. Rosie blinked in confusion as Radu traced his index finger over imaginary lines, endeavoring to plot the best course.  "I wonder why it might not be there."

 

"Blackhole sun."  Bova suggested flatly.

 

"No, I think I found it."  Radu said firmly.  "Let's go to the ComPost."

 

"Got it, Navman."  Harlan said hopping into a jumptube.  "You know, I can't believe the Commander thinks this will be fun.  I mean, Ms. Davenport is just going to make us work the whole time."

 

"Probably."  Bova said.

 

"Well, at least we get to go planetside.  We can practice landing without crashing."  Radu said jokingly.  Harlan mock punched his arm.

 

Soon the kids had slid into the Command Post, and Radu and Harlan went directly to their stations.

 

"Setting a course."  Radu said, sitting down stiffly.  Harlan nodded.

 

"How's it going?" Rosie asked. 

 

"We're on our way.  The planet is in sight."  Harlan replied.  Radu suddenly drew in a breath.

 

"No, it's not.  It just disappeared."

 

"What?  Are you sure you're reading it right?"

 

"Yes, Harlan."  Radu answered almost indignantly.  "Thelma?"

 

Thelma popped up beside him.  "Yes, Radu?"

 

"What happened to the object that was just at these coordinates?"

 

"It's gone."  Thelma said smiling. Radu narrowed his eyes.

 

"I know that, Thelma.  But what do the sensors say happened to it?  Where do the readings leave off?"

 

"The readings do confirm the presence of a planet-like object, but they do not move or fade away.  They simply disappear."