Just a heads up. This chapter deals with the Charkgin. So there's a lot of new thins being thrown at you. Oh also! The history of Universe 378 is WAY different than 201 and it's discussed a little bit in this chapter, so keep an open mind. Read on!
Universe 378
A week passed with nothing really happening. Hapsha was waking from her slumber without hassle and Jane was making herself known to the new crew mates; some more friendly than others. The only interesting thing that happened was a call from Shafter. After talking to it for a good solid hour it finally told her why it was calling.
"We have arrived earlier than expected to our meeting point Jane, our mission to Ujent going smoother than we had anticipated." Jane frowned.
"Konif says we are a few more days out from getting there. However…" Jane turned on her Omnicuff, looking at a galactic map. "Well we are a day away from your solar system Shafter." It hummed in thought.
"I would have to speak with my superior. But I think we can arrange to meet on my home world, Shni, instead of the vast emptiness of space." Jane snorted at the Charkgin. She watched as the background behind Shafter's face moved as it walked down a hallway. The interaction of it and its superior fascinating her like always. Jane didn't understand what they were talking about, the Charkgin using body language and facial expressions to talk instead of using its voice to speak. Shafter turned towards Jane, two eyes closed the third open; pleased.
"They say that that will work out." Its voice hummed back at her, now speaking in Human tongue.
Jane had called Konif and told her there was a changed in plans. They are heading towards the Charkgin star system; to say Konif was excited would be an understatement. She rolled her shoulders as she walked down Wing D just coming from the ships gardens when she heard something coming from the very end of the hallway, where the starboard observation deck was. As she got closer she realized it was music and not just any type of music, but it sounded old, classical.
She slowly turned in the open door way. Book's where piled up all along the floor, the chairs, tables and there where bookshelves pushed against the walls that didn't have windows on them. Jane hesitantly walked in, the music much louder now. The air was cool and had a musky odor to it, as if all these books were just pulled out of storage. She took another step in, looking at all the different volumes that sat everywhere. Jane had seen books before but never this many in one place. They were hard to come by back on Earth, printing them had been banned in the 2100's. You had to go to settled worlds in order to obtain one. Jane always made sure to pick one up for her mother whenever she traveled.
"Captain Rizzoli!" said a high pitched voice from behind her. She spun around, Omnicuff raised. The top of it slid open and a sonic pistol extended out of it, making an eeee sound as it charged ready to fire on Jane's muscle command. But she had it pointed at nothing until someone cleared their throat and Jane looked down. There stood a little man, no taller than 5'3''. His head was bolding and his face showed the lines of old age. He had an odd piece of metal on his face, resting on his hooked nose, light glinted off of it and as Jane looked closer she notice pieces of glass sat in them. She quickly lowered her cuff, taking a step back, trying to seem less threatening.
"Hello. I don't think we've had the chance to meet." The music switched tunes into something slower, Jane's ear's picked up the sound of a piano. Her mother had forced her to learn the ancient instrument when she was younger, so proud that her Janie could play such a huge thing.
"Ah, no, no, no, I don't think we have. I am Professor Alex Palmer." His voice had an English accent to it. She raised her eyebrows as the man did an awkward little bow at her.
"Uh… Nice to meet you Professor Palmer," she said as he stretched out to his full height again, looking up at her. He smiled at her, his teeth yellowed with age, eyes squinting with his cheeks pressing against them. He stepped around her, dumping books onto a chair, saying, "I truly hope you don't mind that I take over this room. There simply isn't enough floor space in my bedroom to permit all of my things to rest there."
"No, that's OK. No one comes down here anyways, it being Wing D and all…." She trailed off, her finger fiddling with a spine of a purple book.
"Ah, yes I've noticed that there is nothing really down here. Save the gardens and a few rooms." He smiled at her again, pleased with his observation.
"It's more of a storage Wing anyways." She looked out the window, resting her hands behind her back, standing at attention. "Professor, what are you doing aboard the Hapsha? "Jane deadpanned.
"I do suppose you have the right to ask that, being the Captain and all." Jane stared blankly at him; he shrugged at her, pushing the object on his face up. "Dr. Charles hired me, hoping my expertise in history would help him in fully understanding our neighboring parallel Universe 201."
"And why is he so fascinated with this particular Universe?" The man picked up a hefty volume and climbed up a stepping stool, placing it on a shelf.
"He says it's because it's the only one that's closest to our own; the only one that has successful human life on Earth."
Jane turned her gaze away from him and looked at the towering bookshelves. She felt the Professors eyes on her as she peered at the rows upon rows of different spines. A dark green spine with gold lettering on it caught her eye.
"May I?" Her hand already reaching out to grab it.
"Of course of course!" Professor Palmer shouted, thrilled that someone was taking interest in some of his books. She pulled at the book and then gave it another tug when it came out rather reluctantly. She stared at the cover, only understanding some of the words that were on it.
"Professor, what is this called? I can only make out some of the words that are on it…" He came bustling over and grabbed the book. He narrowed his eyes and moved the novel back and forth trying to get his eyes to focus on it.
"Ahhh, no wonder you can't. It's in one of the first forms of the language we speak today, ancient Deutsch." Jane raised her eyebrows and looked down at the cover in his small hands. "The rise of the great Nazi party; is what it's called. A rather fascinating book if I do say so myself; it gives one a whole new understanding as to how Germany won World War II."
"You mean to tell me that this book was written in the late 1900's?!" She gapped at the little man.
"Bravo Captain! You seem to know your history. And no I don't think this was writing in the 1900's, hold on a minute would you." He opened the book and flipped through the pages until he found what he was looking for. "Ah yes, it was written in 2035 by a Mr. Arnulf Schmidt." He smiled up at Jane who was still gaping. "Captain, are you alright?"
"Yes I am. It's just… How did you come by something so… so old?" Professor Palmer let out a wheezy laugh and handed the book back to her.
"My dear, when you grow as old as I am, old things tend to find you." She looked down at it and carefully put it back on the shelf, not wanting to damage it. He looked at her and rubbed the scruff on his chin. "If I may Captain…" He trailed off and scurried across the room, stepping onto a ladder this time. He climbed all the way to the top and stretched his arm out, grasping at a smaller paper back. When he was back on the floor he handed it to her.
"The Great Gatsby?" she asked out loud.
"A lovely story about the American dream." Jane knitted her eyebrows together in confusion the name barely stirring something in her memory. "I do suppose America is now called "The United Nations of The West." Stupid name if I do say so." Jane chuckled at the man's bluntness. "This book was written in 1925-" Jane quickly put it back into his hands.
"That thing is 500 years old!" She protested. He laughed out loud at Jane's stunned face.
"My dear! You mistook me. If this was the original version it would be in English and neither one of use could read it! It was re-written in 2379." He placed it back into her hands. "I think you would enjoy it Captain. That is if you're a reader."
"I am actually. But I barley get to read anything on paper." He smiled at her.
"Well, just make sure you don't read it next to any open flames. That would be very troublesome indeed." He laughed at his own joke, pushing at the object on his face again. Jane's curiosity peeked.
"Professor, what are you wearing on your face?"
"They are called glasses. They stopped making them a few hundred years back; lens implants all the new thing. But I'm not very fond of the idea of someone cutting my eye open with a heat laser and then placing a metal piece into it, all the while I am awake." Jane shuddered at the memory of undergoing the same thing having to in order to become a Captain. Just then Jane's Omnicuff blinked, Professor Palmer walked away busing himself with moving books about.
"Konif, what's up?"
"We're just outside the Charkgin's star system." Jane could hear the excitement in her voice.
"How far out are we?" She glanced over her shoulder at Alex roaming around.
"We should be there in twenty minutes or so… Jane?" She turned her attention back to the Holoscreen.
"Yeah?"
"Where the hell are you?" Konif could see the books and hear music playing in the background.
"I'll tell you about it later. I'll be up in a bit." She quickly turned off the transmission before Konif could get another word in. She fiddled with the book in her hand.
"I'll get this back to you when I'm done? I should have some down time coming up…" Jane noticed that her guard had come down while talking to this strange man.
"Yes! And if you'd like I can pick out another one for you to read when you're done with that?" Jane started to walk backwards, needing to make her way up to the H.C.C.
"Yeah, sure, I'll see you later then Professor Palmer?"
"I'm sure you will Captain." He smiled at her as she disappeared out into the hallway.
Jane walked into her room and set the book down on her desk. They had moved everything out of her locker and brought it up here a few days ago so she took off her clothes, leaving her clad only in her glitchy Simitu Suit. She walked over to her closet, typing in the code for her armor. Grunting she locked in her chest plate with her back plate, having a little trouble with the latch because she was alone. She swiped her Omnicuff, turning on the Holoscreen that controlled her armor. Clicking a few buttons she held her arms out and widened her step. Her chest and back plate expanded covering her whole body in black metal that had a shine to it. The metal stopped expanding at her elbows and neck, but the metal roamed over her boots until it got to her ankles locking into place.
She grabbed her gloves and pulled them on, her right one shorter than her left, her Omnicuff in the way. She placed the fabric next to her cuff and fiddled with some buttons. Both ends of the cuff extended metal until it locked into place with her glove and chest plate extension. She grabbed her helmet making sure everything was in place. The air on Shni was toxic to humans, not to mention the heat from there star. Tucking her helmet under her arm Jane called a fellow officer, that she knew she could trust, asking him to join her onto Shni; she also called Officer Umlinth who jumped at the chance to visit the Charkgin home world.
Jane's boots thudded as she stepped off of the elevator and onto a very active H.C.C., everyone running around trying to get everything in order for the Charkgin's when they arrive. People saluted her as she walked by, her X.O. walked in step with her.
"Captain Rizzoli, are you planning on exiting Hapsha and going on the Charkgin home world?" Jane glanced at her.
"Yes Commander Jacobs. Why are you asking me?" Jane stopped, turning to face the Commander. Jacobs dark eyes were cold, revealing nothing.
"Oh well, I just wanted to know if you were or not." Jane took a step forward narrowing her eyes.
"I do not need to run things by you Jacobs, this is my ship not yours. Is that clear?" Jacobs schooled her features and stood at attention, saluting Jane.
"Yes Ma'am. Sorry Ma'am." Jane looked at her for a second longer before dismissing her.
"Remind me why I promoted Jacobs." Jane asked as she walked up to Konif's chair. She swirled around to face her best friend as Jane sat down on the edge of one of the panels setting her helmet next to her.
"If I remember correctly you said something like, 'Damn, she has a nice ass.'" Jane punched Konif in the arm.
"I did not." Konif raised her eyebrows letting out an "Mmmhmm." As she turned her attention back to the Holoscreen's moving Hapsha easily through the outer asteroid belt that surrounded the Charkgin solar system.
"Hey, do you have a hair tie? I forgot to put my hair up." Konif snapped one off her wrist and handed it to Jane. As she put her hair up she watched the large windows that sat at the front of the H.C.C. Tiny planetoids flew past the ship, leaving large gas giants to loom on the horizon.
"Damn!" Konif said as the large super giant's light flashed into the H.C.C. nearly blinding everyone. Jane heard the slam as the window cover's locked into place followed by a beeping as the Holoscreen's came up where the window's used to be, showing everything now without the stars light shining through.
"We really need to talk to the Charkgin about fixing that blasted star of theirs. I forget how bright it is every time we come here," Konif grumbled, rubbing her eyes.
"Yeah tell me about it. I hope the tint on my helmets glass can handle that. It didn't last time."
"I think it will. That's what I did to mine last time I was here." Just then Umlinth and Zaq Carlson walked up, dressed similar as she was; Umlinth's armor different than hers to match his body and Carlson's a red instead of black. Jane smiled at them, her most trusted Officers.
"There it is." The red head's voice drew her attention back to the front of the H.C.C. there coming into view was a large blue planet. Earth looked like a golf ball if placed next to it. Konif's hands skillfully went over the Holoscreen's that covered her desk, shutting off Hapsha's back thrusters and turned on the forward ones, slowing the massive ship down until it came to a complete stop. They floated around Shni, ships zipping by them and larger ones floated around their planet. One of Konif's Holoscreen's flashed and she opened the transmission. As soon as they realized that it was Humans they were talking to they wrote to them instead of talking.
Human vessel, Hapsha. Konif was quick with a reply.
Hapsha, Captain Jane Rizzoli, Human Orion Fleet, wave 3, asking permission to land on Shni to allow aligned Charkgin to join Hapsha's mission.
Pending….. Permission granted. Safe descent.
Thank you, Hapsha out.
As soon as they got the green light Jane turned to go saying,
"I'll let you know when we are coming back up Konif." The red woman jumped out of her chair and faced Jane saluting her. Jane returned the gesture before extending her arms, Konif hugged Jane quickly.
"Stay safe." They both new that traveling into a planets atmosphere was always sketchy even if they thought they could handle it, anything could go wrong.
"See you in a bit." Jane nodded her head at Umlinth and Carlson for them to follow her. As they stepped onto the elevator she heard Andi say,
"Captain Rizzoli exiting Hapsha, X.O. Commander Jacobs has the deck." The door's closed and Jane heard Carlson and Umlinth putting on there helmet's. Slipping her ponytail in first Jane did the same. Making sure the clips where locked in, making her suit air tight. There came a small blast of cool air against her face as her oxygen tank turned on. Lights clicked on the glass, showing her her supply of air, shield energy and a small black box in the top right corner, if in the middle of a transmission, would provide her with the face of the person that she was talking to. There came a crackle in her ear, followed by a deep voice.
"Officer Zaq Carlson, Unit A1, C. Rizzoli." Followed by Umlinth's strange voice.
"Officer Shvanistlar Umlinth, Unit A1, C. Rizzoli." Jane's raspy voice finally joined them.
"Captain Jane Rizzoli, leader of Unit A1, ship Hapsha." Andi's voice spoke back to them.
"Logged; Officer Carlson, Officer Umlinth, Captain Rizzoli, Unit A1, Hapsha."
The elevator doors opened, showing them to the docking bay. Fighter's sat around, followed by searchers and then fighting transporters. Jane walked towards the smaller F.T.'s; Carlson and Umlinth flanking her. All three had sonic rifles attached to their backs, magnets holding them into place. Weapons weren't needed on this trip to the home world of a peaceful race, but they never wanted to take a chance. They strapped themselves in as the ship took off, heading out the open bay doors and down to Shni.
They were rocked back and forth as they entered the atmosphere of the planet. After a few minutes they stilled and Jane unblocked herself, walking into the cockpit looking out the front window, watching their descent. Water stretched out almost as far as the eye could see, but off in the distance showed green; the promise of land. Jane connected with Shafter's cuff, it picked up right away. It's face appearing in the top right screen in her helmet.
"Jane, I hope this call means that you are on your way?"
"We just reached the surface; heading towards your military base right now." Shafter hummed, closing its third eye and allowing the other two to fill up with blue; happy.
"I am looking forward to seeing my dearest friends again after such a long time." Jane smiled at Shafter talking with it for a few more minutes as they got closer.
Jane made sure to turn up the tint on her visor not wanting to return to Hapsha with her face sun burnt, again. They stepped off of the F.T., Jane quickly turned up the coolness of her Simitu suit, sweating instantly in the intense heat. She heard Carlson and Umlinth do the same thing. Her boots crunched against the rocky ground, she wobbled a bit, not anticipating the sudden pull of a heavy gravity. She took a few steps, allowing her legs to get used to the pull. She waved at Carlson and Umlinth to follow her. They walked over to a stone path, as ships flew over head, making the trees off in the distance wave back and forth with the backlash of air behind them. Jane swirled her head around taking in the view. Ocean off to her left and high mountains to her right, the sky a dark blue, darker than Earths and the sun impossible bright. Something shiny ran across the path in front of them and she watched it scurry off to the forest. They walked up to a building the doors opening for them. As they stepped in they were greeted with an enthusiastic rather small Charkgin.
"Captain Rizzoli be you?" Jane didn't respond for a second, schooling her face at this Charkgin's broken speech.
"Yes. We are expected." Her voice sounded odd coming out of the speaker that was in her helmet.
"Hapsha. Yes. Follow?" It turned walking away without an answer Jane, Carlson and Umlinth following. They passed sculptors of things, What the fuck is that? Jane thought. The roof of the room was impossible tall, allowing the seven foot Charkgin's to walk with ease. Their escort grabbed Jane's hand and shook it vigorously, holding a door open with its other. The room was large over a hundred Charkgin stood there talking among themselves. There came a loud shout followed by Jane being hugged. She could hear Shafter's hum rubble out of it, very happy to see its friend again.
"Jane!"
"You've been hanging out with Konif to much Shafter." Jane joked as she hugged it back just as fiercely. Shafter stepped back, still humming although now she could call it a purring for how loud it was. She looked up at it, turning down the tint in her visor so Shafter could see her face. Its own face reflecting happiness; third eye closed, the other two solid blue.
"Indeed I have, although I am not sorry for showing such signs of affection towards you. After all it is acceptable in the human coulter to hug a friend after such a long period." Jane laughed out loud, missing Shafter's odd ways. A lighter green Charkgin walked up and Shafter step aside, allowing the other Charkgin to talk to Jane through it.
"Jane this is what you would call our Admiral, it has yet to obtain a human name. I will translate."
"Thank you Shafter. It's nice to meet you Admiral." Jane barley noticed the movement in Shafter and the Admiral.
"The pleasure is all mine Captain Rizzoli. Shafter speaks very highly of you, and I would like to thank you for allowing the Charkgin passage on your ship Hapsha."
"Don't even think about it Admiral, I am looking forward to working alongside the Charkgin again. It has been way to long." Going on twenty years. Jane thought. She looked over at Shafter and smiled, its purr grew louder again still happy.
"Captain as I understand it you are to be expected at…." Shafter trailed off not knowing the human word, all three of its eyes closed; confusion, un-sure.
"Black hole or NGC 7968." Jane shot it helping Shafter out.
"…expected at NGC 7968 in a few weeks?"
"Yes, our Pilot plans to have us there by then. The Charkgin want to study the black hole right? Seeing how it's so close to your system?"
"We have been making visits to it for a few hundred years now; making sure it's staying well away. But we hopped on the chance to work alongside our fellow friends with observing this black hole as you call it. Also the thought of viewing a parallel Universe peeks the interest of our scientist."
"Thank you. I can tell you that my crew is very excited to work along the Charkgin again." They continued to talk, getting everything cleared away. Near the end of their conversation the Admiral excused itself to address the waiting Charkgin, wishing them luck and allowing them to start boarding their transporters and start their journey to Hapsha. Jane made sure to call the docking bay telling them to anticipate the sudden arrival of a few ships. She also sent a quick message to Konif as promised. The admiral turned back towards Jane. She was stunned when it stuck out its hand. Shafter quickly shot in.
"I told it the custom sign of Human thank you, goodbyes, and greetings." Jane let out a soft 'Oh' Before gripping the Admiral's webbed hand and shaking it. It bowed low and left her standing there with Shafter.
"Jane there is something I wish to tell you." Blue filled up all three eyes and it squinted two of them; Honor and honesty.
"What's up?"
"Gaining a Human name has become sort of a rite of passage with my people." Jane grinned.
"You're shitting me?"
"No I am not 'shitting' you." Slight squint in all three eyes; humor. "After coming back to my home world I reveled to them that your people had given me a name, unable to pronounce my true one. Let's just say that word got around fast. My people are truly fascinated with yours. You know that we have the ability to speak but choose not to, that is until the Humans came into our lives. It's a nice change." Jane looked over her shoulder; Carlson had a huge grin on his face while Umlinth threw in.
"The same goes with my people Captain. Although you can pronounce our name, my people will look at me with great respect for working alongside Humans." Jane laughed out loud, thinking of all the Human jackass's she has dealt with in her life.
"Well we will make sure to give all of the Charkgin that are aboard this mission a human name." Shafter closed two eyes leaving the third open; pleased. "Come on Shafter. I know Konif is dying to see you again."
"And I her. But Jane, I already have my things aboard my own transporter. I will see you in a little bit?"
"SHAFTER!" Someone yelled from across the first floor of the H.C.C. Jane and Shafter had come up the elevator to great Konif; the rest of the Charkgin just arriving on the docking bay. Jane had ordered Carlson and Umlinth to stay behind, helping out their new crewmates, both were eager to obey. Jane jumped out of the way as a flash of red darted passed her, slamming into the alien. It wasn't anticipating Konif and they both fell to the ground, Jane could hear Shafter's purring growing louder again, having yet to stop all together.
"Olga. It is great to see you again." People on the first floor glanced at the two bodies on the ground, Jane cracking up.
"Kloonichtshvetinealort?" Konif asked quickly. The holes in Shafter's neck vibrated with what Jane could call the closest thing to laughter from the alien. Two of its eyes closed leaving the third open; pleased.
"You are getting better Olga." Jane helped her two friends up saying.
"Come on you two, let's go up to my quarters, we have a lot of catching up to do." Shafter threw its long arms around Jane and Konif's shoulder's, hugging them close to itself, humming.
"Yes we do. I can't wait until I tell you about my mate." Both Jane and Konif yelled,
"WHAT?!" Shafter squinted all three of its eyes; humor.
"I'm kidding! I'm only 400, still a child in the Charkgin people." Jane scowled and Konif burst out laughing as they got onto the elevator.
"Only 400 hundred it says."
Sorry it took me so long to update, I havn't been feeling up to snuff as of late. It takes a lot to write this story because I have to think up a lot of things and make sure I don't miss anything.
Ahh, the joys of describing something that doesn't exist. . I hope that I'm doing it justice though.
So... I really like Shafter. Not gunna lie. Please tell me what you think of it? I really want to make it a main character next to Jane and Konif.
Also,
Are you guys liking 378? Because this story can go both ways really. So the true question is,
201 or 378?!
Next update should be soon. Thanks to all that read and review it's nice checking my email and there's like ten new notifications and they are all review's, it really makes my day.
ENOUGH BLABBER.
Take care. -FTP