The Hōkūle‘a

Obsidian Arrows

Chapter 2

Photographer: Bryson Hoe

Year of our Lord Creatos 1536, Tuesday of the Second Seventh

The Hōkūle‘a

Tarinnish was getting ready to take shore leave when a messenger stopped him in the corridor. “Lieutenant, the flight commandant wants to see you in her office.” 

Tarinnish acknowledged that he understood and headed down to wing command section. It’s not where he wanted to go right now, but orders are orders. 

“Good morning Lieutenant.” Said the Tiffany. She was the android assistant at the front desk. Most locations would not use one, but here. Here we use these remarkable things for all sorts of tasks. They are discrete and powerful and the “T” models are quite attractive. 

“Good Morning.” Tarinnish said not paying much attention to the machine, but more to who else was in the room and behind the front desk. And there on the right of the office, which was more like an open space with desks lined up in neat rows, was Captain Trent. The placard to the left of the door said, “Commandant.”

This could be really good or really bad. Suddenly Tarinnich realized that the receptionist was talking to him. 

“Sir, please sign the registry and have a seat.” Tiffany was holding the pad and stylist. She obviously had said this a few times because she had an irritated look on her face. 

          “Sure.” Tarinnish said as he took the pad and, without the stylist, scribbled his signature with his finger. 

“Thank-you, sir. Please take a seat and I will inform the party you are to meet, that you have arrived.” Tiffany put the pad down and started to speak to her computer. 

Tarinnish barely sat down when Tiffany called him. “Lieutenant Tarinnish, your party will see you now.” 

Tarinnish stood back up and followed Tiffany to a desk. He thought this strange as the messenger said that the commandant wanted to see him. Instead a bald haired man with a slight frame and a uniform that looked like it was about two sizes too big was looking up at him. “Have a seat Lieutenant.” 

Tarinnish did. “What is this about?” He asked hoping for good news.

“We need to go over a few things prior to your discharge.” Was the man’s response. He did not look up. His attention was on the computer. 

“My discharge?” Tarinnish was surprised. He was sure he would get another assignment. He was good at his job and held certifications in six fields of study. No one else on this platform had that. No, this was a mistake. 

“Yes, I’m afraid you have failed your last evaluation and the Obsidian Arrows no longer has a position to offer you.” Said this.. This sorry excuse for a man. 

Tarinnish was still in shock from this news. His view of this sloppy little man went from bad to worse. This was going to be his last day on the station and he was not prepared to do anything else. 

“Lieutenant!” Said the little man.

“I’m sorry.” Tarinnish said once he snapped out of his panic. “Discharge?”

“Yes, we have been over that part.” Said the man.

“I never requested a discharge.” Tarinnish was trying to get some control of the situation. How could he be discharged so quickly.

“It says right here. You failed to keep your assignment and without an assignment you will be discharged from the order and sent back to New Africa. Once there your transition to civilian life will be accomplished.” He looked up at the young lieutenant, “It’s all quite clear.” 

“No.” Tarinnish had to speak to someone in charge. He had to fix this. Eight cycles and for what. Nothing. Rejection. Discharge? 

“Lieutenant, there is no reason to get upset. This...happens.” Said the little man.

“You don’t understand. I’m working on a new assignment. I will have a ship…. I’m sure of it.” Tarinnish was in a complete panic. He was sure his interview with Captain Trent went well. But now he wasn’t sure of anything. Tarinnish looked at the commandant’s office. Why was Captain Trent here? Tarinnish looked around at the empty desks around him. To himself, “How many more ships were being built. He closed his eyes and envisioned the station. Three other ships were being built at this time. 

“That’s not how it works young man.” Said the little, squeekly voice. “We are the ones that assign you to a ship.” 

Tarinnish looked around. He needed and advocate to speak to this little man. To make him understand that he could not be discharged. He had to get off the planet with so many people on it. Tarinnish’s gaze fell on the commandant’s office, “Let me speak to the commandant. 

“I’m afraid that won’t help. She’s the one that signed the order.” The little man said with a note of finality.

It was like a laser had been fired into Tarinnish’s heart. He couldn’t think. He was doomed to go back to that overcrowded city that they plucked him from. 

“Think of it this way. You have had the best training in the galaxy. You will find work… On a freighter or something. “Said the weasel. 

“No!” 

“Young man. You need to settle down or I will call security and have you restrained.” Now the little voice had some bite in it. He was done being civil. 

The next thirty minutes were grueling. He had to turn in his security badge and sign about a dozen non disclosure forms that were intended to cover the Obsidian Arrows information and procedures after you leave. Most of which Tarinnish did not want to understand. He knew that he could not disclose where he had been for the last eight cycles. He could not even confirm that such and order existed. All of his certifications would be passed to civilian agencies and there would be no record of him being here.  The order was no secret.  But how they did things was.

“Just a few more forms and we’ll be done.” The little man said.

“What am I going to do?” Tarinnish was devastated. 

“You are going to get on the shuttle and start the rest of your life.” Said the man. This statement was so bold. 

Ding went the computer. Tarinnish thought it was quite loud. His life was over in a ding. But the little man started typing again. There was another ding. Then a third. The man was confused. “What the hell?” he muttered. “No.” 

The door to the commandant’s office opened. A short stocky woman stepped out. Her uniform was the jump suits that most of the officers wear here on the station. “Lieutenant Tarinnish, please step into my office.” 

The next few minutes seemed surreal. The commandant was not happy, but she usually followed the wishes of her captains. And Captain Trent wanted him on the Hōkūle‘a. Apparently, Ensign Copeland was dismissed. He had an argument with some 2nd lieutenant and struck her. So, a position was now available. He was chosen. He was not going to be discharged. 

The commandant explained the situation in detail, because he was headed to a ship with issues and he himself was just about dismissed. “Lieutenant. In the interest of full disclosure.” The commandant’s tone indicated that he should listen closely, “These little ships annoy me. There is no redundancy. No safeties. You make it or die. Unlike the bigger ones where you have two or three that can perform the tasks. These little ships don’t have that luxury. They are dependent of the A.I.s for things that we should be doing.” heavy emphasis on “we.” She continued. “I just wanted to you know what you were signing up for. The ensign.

A Mr. Copeland, was a member of one of the Families. His Uncle convinced us to take him and make an officer of him.” She looked away, “It’s what they do with their… extra kids.” 

Tarinnish did not understand and his face betrayed that.

The commandant elaborated, “They get rid of them by sending them to the military.” Looking away again, “It’s our duty to make them officers and then put them somewhere… difficult.” 

“Why are you telling me this?” Tarinnish asked.

“What you saw on the deck last alunar was… that wasn’t really how they are. You need to go back there look again. Be very sure this is where you want to go and who you want to be with.” She paused again then in a softer tone, “They will be all you have once you get to the other side.” The commandant was finished. Her speech was delivered and now it was up to him to see what this crew was like. Because the show he watched earlier was not real. They wanted Ensign Copeland to quit. And they were playing their parts to make that happen. 

Tarinnish went through the process of getting his clearance back. The little man was less than enthusiastic about reinstating the man he was one stroke away from removing from the system. It was a lot of work and he just doubled it all by putting Tarinnish back in the system.

That being done Tarinnish did not know what to do next. Should he report. It was already the dinner period. He decided to wait until morning. He wanted to be fresh and right now he was mentally exhausted. 
He passed Tiffany at the reception desk and headed for the door. Not as a civilian, but as a member of a crew.

Tarinnish came up short as he left the office. Tall and Dark was standing there. Waiting for him. She introduced herself, “I’m Second Lieutenant Ashley Stone.” Her voice was soft and inviting. Not at all the sexually aggressive person he had met a few sevenths ago. There was an awkward moment where neither spoke, then Ashley said, “The captain wants you to have dinner with us tonight.”

“Us?”

“The crew of the Hōkūle‘a.” She paused and then said, “No pretenses or pretending. The real crew.” Ashley stepped aside and put out her hand to indicated for Tarinnish to go first. 

“Where are we headed?” Ask Tarinnish just to be sure.

“To the ship. We always eat the evening meal together.” Ashley said.

Tarinnish knew that was more to be said, but let it go. He would soon learn what he needed to know once they were all together. He just hoped it wasn’t one of those freakish orgie things he had heard of. He didn’t want any part of that. He was a private person and intimacy was not just an act like the vids portrayed. Not to him. It went much deeper. 

He dismissed this train of thought when Ashley said, “You know, birth 12A.”

End of Chapter 2
Next Chapter 3

If you have enjoyed the final chapter and want to start at the beginning of this book, click the link below. This is an unedited book of the Remnant Series. Book 4

Beginning of Obsidian Arrows

Book 3 is call Graham Heights and starts here: "We Gotta Go"  

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Book 1 is available in paperback or kindle The Grey Abyss

R.A. Legg

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