CHAPTER 17: LET'S TALK
Now, young Bart Garsuss. Open yourself to me again.
"If you say so, Pegasus."
Bart closed his eyes and saw a flurry of colours (primarily blue) speed past him. He felt that he was growing and shrinking at the same time, assimilating with the universe in general. It was scary the first time, but with experience he became more and more intrigued by what was until recently, just the ship's power plant. His body felt like it was floating, avoiding the stream of time altogether and defying all laws of physics.
This is when the Lunar Colonials found us, after our planet exploded.
Bart saw a sequence of images, ships gathering white rock and other materials.
They thought we were some sort of power source. But the Colonials weren't the only ones to find us, Bart.
"Who is 'us'?"
WE are, or used to be a linked society. Linked on all levels, psychic to physical. You could call me a small part of a greater energy. A life force just as old as the universe we live in. But back to the story. The Colonials all left after rescuing part of us from the cluster they called 'Pegasus', but their pursuers also came to the nebula. The ships of Earth came and took everyone else. I know this because I was already given to the ship of their ancestors- this ship. I can hear what every other portion of 'Pegasus' has been changed into. Sadly, I may be the only one from the early days left.
"But…if there are other Pegasus units like you, why do you say you're alone?"
I am complete and have a will of my own. I cannot say the same for the 'yellow' Pegasus used by the Lunar Colonials, which is merely a servant (and therefore most receptive ) to them with no instinct. I do not know if there are any more complete units like me. But at least this yellow Pegasus here gives me company.
A yellow blob came alongside Bart, changing into a smiley face. Bart had already met it, learning that it was from the canister Ed brought along with him when he was 'thawed' out. In the real world, the canister sat next to the Pegasus reactor, glowing with the same eerie light.
"Why can't the other Pegasus affected people on this ship be here as well?"
I have tried to contact them, even the transgendered baby. But you are the only one that can hear me, young Bart. It must be something in your genes, because not only am I talking to you like this, but you have assimilated yourself in such a way that you CONTROL me at times. Tell me, are you a product of birth or engineering?
"On Talark, we can only reproduce by means of genetic engineering. I always felt complete that way, until Ezra told us she was pregnant. Now I feel like…"
Like you want your other, missing half? Interesting.
"I guess my genes are spliced from my father and grandfather. Good old Gramps, I miss him already. He's on the Seven Old Men council, you know."
So you are LITERALLY your father's son. And the others have no relation to you at all?
"Nope."
Hibiki Tokai . I vaguely remember him, but that was over 100 years ago. That young boy CANNOT be him, since I recall almost all the cold sleep pods failed. One that survived was named Samuel, not Hibiki.
"How do we know Samuel isn't Hibiki?"
He was a full-grown man when he escaped. Hibiki is a mere boy.
"Can I ask you something?"
Yes?
"How much do you know about women?"
I was there before they segregated the planets.
"Well, I want to ask about a particular woman. You probably know who I'm talking about."
Your vice captain? Come on, young Garsuss! I cannot read minds, despite being able to invade yours!
"That's a first , right there. But yes. Tell me about Bosom. She doesn't seem…the same as the others, no matter how I try to place her."
You are in love with her. Confusion is an inevitable consequence.
"It's not that. For one, she's always sitting here at her station, doing what she says is telemetry. She's too calm, too reasonable. On board, though. When we were on Lunar 21…she was completely different. We were drinking and gambling, and then there was that night… my question is, are all women like that? I mean, Magno isn’t…"
Magno is a member of the first generation. She has lived 108 years and has the experience to match. But your vice-captain is another case. Like I have said, I cannot read minds OR hearts. I have looked over BC. Her body does not seem like she was born in it. Her voice sounds like it is coming from in FRONT of her, rather from her lungs. I know it sounds strange to you, but the mind inside seems to act more like…like a man.
"A man…? I've seen her, Pegasus. She looks nothing like a man."
Seen…?
"I've seen her naked. That night in Lunar? We were so drunk that we…."
Consummated your love ?I did not know she felt the same for you.
"Yes. We slept together in an unnamed location. I tell you, she looks nothing like a man!"
Perhaps she has some experience with men. Military intelligence? Forbidden experimentation? Steroids? Drugs? Wait, YOU slept with her?
"I don't recall anything like that. And my family's up there, and I mean up there. You might say some of my uncles have unusual companions. People call them 'flawed', but I never saw them for myself."
You had better not tell of this to anyone. I will attempt to expand into her mind in her sleep. Frankly, her presence is odd to me as well. But keep your gaping mouth open, young Garsuss! You are the only one who can communicate with me, so keep me informed! Listen well…I have a feeling…that BC will betray us.
Bart instantly turned the connection off. BC's face was on a monitor in front of him, stern but caring at the same time. He stared into her eyes, remembering the last words he heard.
"Do you want a break, Bart? We've reached the electromagnetic storm that has our planets on the opposite side. I suggest you take it. It's a big storm." She smiled.
Bart nodded, his eyes fixated on BC. "Yes," he dryly replied.
"Talk to me, Jura! What are you doing?" Barnett demanded to know.
Jura was fiddling around with a computer keyboard, trying to install it into the monitor, unaware that she was plugging the monitor into itself. The contraption looked out of place in her quarters, a, eggplant-like screen jiggling about as the wires were crossed and uncrossed by the blonde bombshell.
"I'm trying to send a message to Lunar 21. Maybe that guy will answer?"
"He is light years away, Jura Elde!" Barnett slammed the monitor window down. "Why are you so intent on finding him?"
"Baby!" she answered, hugging a pillow. "He seemed pretty interested. "
"Oh, switch on!" Barnett harrumphed. "You have to stop thinking of this baby crap! We're almost at Mejale , so you'd better be thinking of home!
"Home? What's the point of home?" Jura lowered her gaze, "We'd be arrested on the spot. And Talark will shoot on sight. I want to think of better things, like children."
Barnett sat beside Jura, grabbing a pillow herself and burying her chin in it. She sighed, moving her eyes towards Jura.
"You know, you're much better when you're serious, " she mumbled.
"I am, huh?" Jura sighed as well, "well, you know me best."
Barnett looked at a photo of her and Jura together, back in the old pirate days. They looked inseparable , from their wardrobe to their identical smiles. She longed for those days again, wiping the glass with her thumb. She looked at the present-day Jura, confident in her piloting abilities and feelings. She could be a bit ditzy at times, but Jura was her closest friend and Barnett could wish for no other.
"Indeed I do, Jura."
"Look at me, B," Jura used her old nickname.
Barnett turned towards Jura, who sat close enough to clasp her hands and look right into her eyes.
"I know this baby thing is upsetting you, but I really want my own child. And I respect that you don't want to be my Ouma. But I want a baby, B. It'll be our baby, as well as the father's . You remember what Ed said to us back then?"
"You have to fall in love with someone first?"
"Yes. But I've already done that, B." Jura looked deep into Barnett's eyes.
Barnett looked away, unable to meet Jura' s glance. She got up and paced around the room.
"What's wrong?" asked Jura.
"If it's me, you'd better abandon the baby altogether…because…because I can't live without you!" she broke down in tears.
Jura rushed to support her, holding her close.
"Nothing can break us up… not a man, not a child!"
"You don't understand!" Barnett sobbed, "It's already broken us up! You aren't the same anymore! You never come over to my quarters or call me up! I'm practically begging for your attention! And it hurts…" she cried on Jura' s shoulder.
Jura, tears running down her own cheeks held Barnett to her chest.
"I'm sorry…sorry for everything, B."
"Just…just call me sometimes, 'kay?" Barnett tried to smile, hugging Jura.
"I'm sorry…I guess I'm just fooling myself with this baby thing. I know it's possible…I mean it's not fair! What is wrong with men? How can people like Bart and the Vice Captain, Meia and Ed as well as the doctor and Parfait do it? They're so comfortable with each other that they could ask for a child anytime. But me? I get interested in one guy…and he makes passes at my best friend!"
"You knew?"
"Of course I knew. You were always better looking than me…I mean, these are not real, " she motioned towards her breasts, "and I've had…other surgery. But you haven't done anything to yourself…and I'm the one that ended up hitting on you!"
Barnett blushed." I don't want to think about that…a man? Jura, we're Mejale…that is just weird. Then again, you're weird."
"Think so?" Jura giggled, "then take this!"
Barnett had no time to react as a feather pillow struck her straight in the face. She grabbed a pillow and struck back, laughing twice as loud. But a rogue thought entered her mind.
A man…? What…what if? Goddess, what am I thinking?
Next Chapter