Slipstream Dream
Episode 4 of 4
Cecil seemed as if he was trying desperately
to hold back tears as he spoke to Free and Stryker. He walked through the cargo
hold of the Red Eagle, pointing out the seven hundred or so cryogenic caskets
stacked in columns—taking as little space as possible. He rattled off the cargo
information in a business-like manner, but every once in a while his voice
would waiver.
“You can speak
freely here,” Free said. “I don’t sense any potential problems.”
“I ran a
technology sweep thirty seconds ago,” Stryker said. “We are good.”
Cecil wiped a
tear from his eye. “I worked hard on this project for months, but I never
thought that we—you could pull it off.”
“This was a team
effort,” Free said.
“I daresay that
you are the only agents that could have done it. If you need anything, just let
me know. I will be here on earth or the
other occupied planets.”
“I do have one
request,” Stryker said. “My family. I left them to escape. If I could just find
them….”
“Say no more,”
Cecil said. “I have your DNA markers on file. It will take some time, but I can
find all of your relatives.”
“Thank you.”
“And you, Free?”
“The resistance
is my family.”
“Understood.”
Cecil shook his head and wiped his face. “I paid off a few androids. You will
have safe passage off the planet, but unless you have slipstream capabilities,
it will take years for you to reach the delta quadrant. I suspect that you are
opposed to using an organic brain as a component to your ship. But I can steal
a component from a Droid ship. After all—”
Free held up his
hand. “No. It’s not necessary.”
“Don’t worry
about us; we will have our brothers and sisters in the delta quadrant in two
days’ time,” Stryker said.
Cecil smiled. “I
see. You are using an ancient method to traverse the slipstream. That would
explain all of the coffee. But it is very dangerous, which one of you is the
pilot?”
“We both are,” Stryker
said. “Free has the natural sixth sense that the Droids covet—”
“But that is no
different than using an organic brain. The damage that it will do to his mind!
Please, I can find another way.”
“Not necessary. Unlike
most slipstream drives, Free only maps out the path. He doesn’t have to direct
the ship’s control. For him it is like dreaming,” Stryker said. “I pilot the
ship manually. For me it is like a fun nightmare.”
“Ah, I see, so
it is a hybrid of the ancient ways and modern ways,” Cecil said. “Human
ingenuity.” He shook his head. “Still dangerous. If you make a mistake….no, if
anyone can do it, you can.” He extended both of his hands. Stryker and Free
took his hands and shook them. “Peace be with you.”
“As with you,”
Free said.
***
Just past Pluto,
Stryker saw a blip on his monitor. It faded away like an electronic ghost. “You
see that?”
“Yes,” Free said
over the intercom. He lay in his navigational tube. “It seems that Cecil didn’t
pay off the right androids.”
“Or free Organics,”
Stryker said.
“Don’t even want
to consider that,” Free said.
Stryker glanced
at his weapon’s control. “If we didn’t have our cargo….”
“We are far
enough to jump, let’s just get out of here. No need to take chances.”
Stryker downed a
can of coffee. “Yeah. Initiating slip drive.” He pushed the slipstream clutch down;
a gravimetric ball of energy fired and distorted space in front of them. A
vortex opened up, its gravity pulling the ship helplessly in. Stryker reversed
the engines and placed his right hand on the drive shift. The screen changed
from actual space to a virtual version—Free’s mind. His dreamscape. The ship
slipped into the virtual tube. Stryker gripped his controller, prepared to
navigate the unpredictable thrill ride and smiled. “Sweet dreams, Free.”
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