Chapter 8 (Vanguard, Alice Jones)
The ceremony of becoming a Vanguard was the final stage in the process of learning, and for Alice Jones this was the moment she had waiting for.
Her companion, Samuel Blake, followed her with brisk steps as they approached the opening to their docking bay.
The background noise thrummed as cheers bellowed throughout the entire area. Two individuals stood with their custom-made vehicle behind them, ready for the challenge-race that was about to start in a few minutes.
Alice looked towards her Vanguard partner, filled with excitement. "Are you ready for this? If we succeed in this race, we will earn our gold stars. This will insure our destiny."
She brushed aside her mousy blond hair and picked up a spanner to tighten a loose nut in her vehicle.
"You know I am always ready for this. Most of my life I've been ready." Samuel sounded like he was holding something back, so Alice gave him an encouraging glance.
With his fists clenched tight, he said what was on his mind. "That numbskull Brian has been hindering our progress for months. I know we can beat that son-of-a-bitch."
The artificial air began to blow through the complex and the assembly platform roared up in a din of engine motors and excited chatter. Alice knew the race was about to begin. She made some final modifications to her ship and watched her companion teeter around the area.
"That should do it. Our Van-ship is primed and ready to go. "Did you remember to set up the fuel systems." Alice asked him. "I don't want to lose to the lower contestants."
Samuel seemed even more excited about the race than she was. His strange blue eyes and wild-boy persona heightened the unexpected fascinations he'd always displayed when he entered the cockpit of the vehicle. He waved his hands over the old-style controls and primed all the systems to her request.
"Don't worry Alice. I've arranged everything the way you like it. The fuel cells are fully charged, the hyperspace booster is aligned and we managed to shed some of the extra weight by changing the radiant mix to the new standard."
Alice couldn't hold back the grin that was creeping onto her face. "That hyperspace booster will take us further…" She frowned. "But it was expensive."
Samuel looked down at her. He knew Alice was strapped for credits and the mere mention of it would be touching a delicate subject. Alice flared her nostrils and shoved the tool back into its compartment.
"I know you sacrificed all your savings for this moment. But don't worry; I will help you achieve victory. We will be Vanguards!" He clenched his gloved hand into a fist, symbolising his determination. Alice smiled and stood up.
"C'mon! Let's get this bird started!" She jumped into the pilot seat and strapped herself in before securing her helmet. She gazed at the cockpit readouts in the flickering light from the overhead light.
Samuel transmitted through the suit radio. "You know, I've managed to isolate my telepathic powers now, I can focus on any target I require."
Alice spun around in her enclosed alcove. "You've never told me that. Any other secrets you may wish to tell me?"
"Well, I haven't perfected the technique, but the training school has offered the best studies on the matter. You know how important a telepath is to a Vanguard pilot."
"Hey, you are my best friend. You're always important to me no matter what anyone thinks. Not because of your gift, but the handy work you can do with the engine." Alice returned to her controls and primed the fuel supply. With a loud groan, the van-ship purred like a kitten on a good day and hovered in the air. Attached piping strained from the added torque creating weak points in the seals. Alice could hear the hissing and knew it was time to go.
She detached the air hoses and the two-man vehicle shot off into the depths of the hyperspace city.
Alice clenched the controls of her Van-ship as the vessel careened through the steel structures of the city. Before long, the area was bustling with air traffic and spectators ready to witness the challenge that was about to start.
The flurry of Van-ships grouped themselves into an unorganised pattern as they raced towards the allocation dock. This was the moment everyone was waiting for.
Shouting through the suit radio, Alice heard the sneered words from a common competitor. "Alice Jones… If I may live and breathe, you're finally out and about. This will be an interesting competition."
She gazed to her left and saw Brian's ship flying next to her. "It's 'as I live and breathe' you moron and you're too close. I don't think you have the flight skills to ride beside us!"
Brian laughed. Most men would quail under the sharp icy tone Alice broadcasted, but this individual only smiled and carried on. "Don't worry my sugar-petal, I can show you a few tricks once in a while. After all, you are still young. How old are you? Sixteen?"
Alice sneered at the overdressed and pug-faced individual that appeared to be heading straight into the nearest building. Ha! Looks like that jackass isn't as smart as he thinks he is. With a thoughtful gesture, Alice pointed to the building and Brian followed her guide. Then realising he was in for a hard encounter with the wall, banked right and narrowly missed his death.
After seeing the shocked expression on Brian's face, Alice had to laugh; she could only imagine him urinating his pants. "He's supposed to be a Vanguard with more skills than me, but he failed to spot the building."
Samuel replied flirtatiously, "That's because he was hypnotised by your good looks."
She took note of Samuel's good humour. "Good looks? I am completely stunning, like a young English countryside girl… Lovely!"
Laughing, Samuel broke off the cheerful mood. "Watch it, the fuel regulators are out of phase…" He thumbed around in his cockpit, located behind Alice. "I got it. We will have to replace that device once we get some credits."
"Come on baby, I know you have it in you." Alice cast her prayers into the body of her ship and hoped they could win this test. If they could, they would be regarded as true Vanguards. I can finally do the job I was born for!
Ahead, the allocation platform grew larger and larger as they approached. Huge screens displayed the assignments each pilot could request. If they were successful, they would be allocated the job and then have a limited number of days to deliver the message and receive the confirmation cylinder, which they had to return. If they failed to deliver it in a set number of days, a search team would be dispatched and they will have failed, even if it cost them their lives. Alice concentrated on the postings.
"That one… A priority one message to the Batastar Asteroid Complex, someone called Elvis." She pointed, and the detail of the allocation platform came into focus. People bustled around in awe and excitement at the approaching Van-ships.
"Are you sure you can handle this assignment? I'm not sure they'll give it to us." Deep down Samuel was sure they could handle the job, but he was sceptical that the allocation authorities would allow them to take the message tube.
"It's a four-star danger rating and it should pay good. The complex is in normal space which will make things easier." She sent a data burst through the COM system and within seconds, to her delight, she was allocated the task.
She flew their craft in at a parallel course that should take them under the message cylinder. Prior to the test, they lunged their ship forward to reach the desired speed before grabbing the cylinder that was flung on a hook into their flight path. Alice stretched her hands and grabbed it. Yes! It was a success!
The ship careened through the hyperspace city's domed air and roared towards outer docks located several miles away. Alice looked back to see a steady line of Van-Ships leave the allocation platform on their respective missions. The race had started and now it was the question of who would return first and safely.
"Did you see all the people on that platform?" Samuel said. His voice quivered on the borderline of excitement.
"The only thing they'll see is our exhaust smoke. I floored it past the recommended speed." Alice loved to show off her piloting skills, something valuable in a Vanguard. "But this is important. We must deliver this message and earn our stars. This will give us that chance!"
She held the gold tube that contained a data crystal. She did not know what was on it, but it would contain a massive amount of letters, video messages and transmissions that could never be sent by standard means. If anyone did, the hyperspace cities could be tracked. Alice remembered the news feeds before she became a trainee; the Minbari discovered the transmissions of a distant colony and wiped them out. They were animals.
Samuel brought Alice out of her deep thoughts. "We are approaching the exit hatch."
She looked up, and the gigantic metal airlock hatch opened on the side of the city's dome. Vessels bustled in and out, fighting for a clear route through, but as soon Alice announced her Vanguard identification, they scurried out of her way and allowed her to pass with good grace. She'd never seen huge vessels move so fast. This was the start of a brand new career.