Kevin Gibson

Future Space: Ascension of Humanity (Chapter Two)

By Kevin Gibson

[This is a novel that will only be available on tumblr.com]

Chapter Two

“Captain Sparkus, request for military search. For who my dear captain?”

“For one Commander Marin C. Cador.” Andrew responded with pride.

“I don’t understand Captain. In your report her hull was reduced to zero and all signals and communications were cut…”

Andrew interrupted, “No. If you properly read my report her hull was reduced to two percent. We also never recovered a wrecked hull identifiable as the Aggressor, and there was a warp signature scanned from a large ship in the immediate area. It is my contention that she escaped.”

“Was this warp signature also, ‘half corrupt or alien in code?’”

Andrew could say nothing, he always filed his reports with utmost care, but this time they had worked against him.

“I don’t know what to tell you captain, this council believes her dead. We don’t have much concern in chasing after ghosts.”

“She could be alive, floating out there, stranded.”

“Captain, we will all miss Cador, she was a great credit to earth military and the lives around her. Do not think that we would like to believe she is dead, but if she is we cannot afford to put search crews in jeopardy at this time. You must understand.”

“Fine, I suggest myself for the position of Commander. As my first mission I would like to begin construction on a new flagship for earth military.”

“You do realize that your former request doesn’t help your chances.”

“I realize. You can go ahead and show me who else you got.”

The men of the council looked around at one and another for a moment while Andrew stood there with a grin on his face.

“I thought so.”

*******

Lt. Josephine Palond didn’t bother to open her eyes until she was up out of her bed.

“Hmm……I’m awake”

“Good morning, Lt. Palond,” the system monitoring her quarters responded. She rubbed her eyes and scratched her head while her room lit up in fluorescent lights. Small whirring noises started and stopped in sequence around her. Water trickled into her coffee machine, eggs tumbled down a tube from her ceiling to a little robotic cooker and the doors to her closet concealing her vast selection of the same uniform folded into their rightful places in the walls.

“Eggs again? Ugh,” she sighed and made her way over to the small island in the middle of her room. Flipping the eggs onto her plate and stirring sugar into her coffee she sat in one of a pair of two chairs. The other chair was hidden away in storage somewhere.

Bing Bong!

A small notification sounded in her room.

“Who is it?” She asked.

“It’s Sparkus,” a voice sounded over her intercom.

“Come in,” before she could finish her security protocol unlocked and opened the door for the captain.

Andrew Sparkus walked into the room in full uniform, as always. “Good morning Josephine.”

“Captain…err Commander,” she replied.

Andrew smiled. Josephine was still in her pajamas, which consisted of flannel pants and a wrinkled tank top. Her hair winged on her right side. She was a smaller woman, looking rather groggy and irritated at her broken slumber.

“You’re looking rather composed today.”

“Do we have days and nights in space?”

“Well……no I suppose we don’t, but the computer seems to think so.”

“Hmmm.”

“Anyways I came to ask if…”

“If I wanted to join you in the gym for cardio today,” She interrupted.

Andrew chuckled, “Well?”

“Well, how many times have you asked me this?”

“At least a million I suppose. I thought today might be my lucky day.”

“Hmmm,” She paused for a minute, sipping her onyx coffee, “I may meet you down there then.”

“Good,” Andrew replied, “Well, I guess I better get going then. It’ll take me about the time it takes for you to get ready to get out of this formal knot they have me dressed in.”

“And yet you wear it even when off-duty.”

“A commander is never off duty,” he replied and turned towards the door but stopped himself before entering the hallway, “You aren’t going to show are you.”

“We’ll see.” She responded with a smirk that she liked to keep from him.

At this he let out a sigh and started into the hallway, the door automatically closing behind him.

Josephine had rarely taken an interest in men. She was too dedicated to her work and never felt there was any time to be wasted on boys.

27 July 2010 ·