It's Complicated

Obsidian Arrows

Time of our Lord Creatos 1539, Sunday the 3rd of Malibu

It’s Complicated

We made it through the commercial lanes without seeing a sole.  Its as if the whole planet was grieving the loss of Trent.  Or at least that’s how it was perceived aboard the Defiant. Tarinnish and the T model A.I where making final preparations to enter the restricted military space above the Quiver. It would take at least three orbits to shed the final speed and lower their orbit for the rondeau.  

On the Hōkūle‘a, Clarish watched as the Defiant made each pass.  Fear and anger rose up in her each time.  How could he?  Why? This was her ultimate dream and he… He just didn’t understand.  A tear rolled down her cheek.  She wiped it away.  She was the captain now and had no use for these emotions.  She was going to deal with this shit once and for all.  As the Defiant made its way past the quiver on the third run, Clarish ready herself.  She put on a dress, not her uniform.  It was uncomfortable as it barely fit over the baby in her womb.  She needed to fulfill her duty as a wife, first.  She didn’t quite know why, but it felt right.  Maybe it was things that her mother had modeled for her.  She had made a commitment and even though she was mad as hell at him, she was still his wife.  

There was no one else on the ship, they would be alone.  She had not made any crew decisions as Tarinnish was unsure of his decision.  She recalled his words, that he needed to see the crewmen face to face.  Shake their hand and hear their words, not from a tape, but face to face.  Clarish balked at first, but then realized her husband and first officer, put a lot of stock in reading people. A trait she failed at, over and over again.  She took people at face value and put little stock in the emotional parts.  It’s probably why she had little to no friends and Tarinnish was the only man to make it past her walls.  He was patient and… She stopped herself.  He was the reason they were at odds right now.  Duty, she would do her duty as a wife and nothing more.  No, she was the captain and he was the subordinate.  She was going to have to establish this up front.  

Coming out of their quarters she went to the ready room.  Looking at the chronometer she wondered if she should meet him at the docking port.  He had to go there first to let Ashley disembark.  She was to be placed in custody and then go before the board of inquiry.  They would determine her fate.  Most likely she would be stripped of her rank and released.  The fact that Trent was her lover and that they had a child together would be factored into their decision.  Their mistake was done and the price was horrific.  What more could they heap on her.  If she was lucky they would transfer some of her experience and credits to civilian entities so she could find work, but they didn’t have to do that.  

Clarish looked at the chronometer again.  They would be docking soon.  She decided to stay. She didn’t want to see Ashley drug away in restraints.  She also didn’t want anyone to see her in a dress.  Especially since it looked horribly disfigured with the baby bump.  It’s a hundred times harder to act like a stoic captain when your stomach stuck out so far and half the time you didn’t know whether to cry or scream.  She thought about the fact that this child was her idea.  She had to talk Tarinnish into doing this, now she was unsure. 

“Crap!” Clarish said out loud.  “Quit wallowing.  You’re the captain now.” She might as well have said it to the walls.  She didn’t feel like a captain.  Sure, she had a ship, but there was no one else here.  Then she skoled herself again, Trent would not let these emotions wash over him.  She shouldn’t either.  She pushed it all back into the box it came from and closed it in her mind.  She had a mission tonight and that was to put things into order.  Her marriage and her position as captain.  Not necessarily in that order.  She looked at the chronometer.  It had only been a few moments.  It would take another ten of so, for the Defiant to maneuver its way home.  She poured some fruit juice in a cup and drank it.  Then filled the cup again.  She thought of her life just a few alunars ago.  The circus, as Tarinnish put it.  The ceremony was like a dream.  The people, the flowers and all the fan fair.  It was a circus, but a woman could not have had a better wedding.  She had never allowed herself to dream of such a day and yet, she had just lived it.  She remembered how sharp Tarinnish looked and laughed at the alterations to his face.  She wanted those periods back.  They just had each other and nothing else mattered.  She thought about watching the vid to pass the time, but then she would have to admit that she missed Tarinnish and that would weaken her position. And she was not about to do that. It just wasn’t fair.  If she were a man, this would not be an issue.  She would go. She would be the Captain and that was final. If she were not married, then there would be no issue at all.  Suddenly she heard the proximity alarm going off in the cockpit.  The Defiant was close.  For just a second Clarish was excited, Tarinnish was back.  She lifted her swollen body off the couch and headed to the port hatch.  She would meet him on the ramp.  As the Captain should.  

The Defiant landed on the far end of the dock as the Gate was still being assembled and took up the area next to the Hōkūle‘a.  She watched at both Tarinnish and the T model A.I. They disembarked and headed towards the mother ship.  Tarinnish saw her waiting.  In a dress and so big.  He couldn’t take his eyes off of her.  She was going to be the mother of their child and despite all that has happened, his wife.  

Clarish watched as they made their way past all the creates and construction.  She was paying particular attention to the A.I. but snuck a glimpse or two at Tarinnish.  She loved him, but he was the enemy right now.  Tarinnish had taken the lead as the path through the creates had shrunk.  They were about ten meters from the ramp.  Tarinnish thought it strange, but Claish seemed more interested in the A.I. then him.  He turned, but the T model only seemed interested in going back to command to recharge.  

Clarish made eye contact with the A.I. as it approached.  The A.I. shook her head no and then looked away.  That was her signal.  Tarinnish had remained faithful, even though she had given him permission.  He didn’t.  She hated him as much as she loved him.  Why didn’t he.  It would make this easier.  

Tarinnish walked up the ramp as the A.I. turned to leave.  He turned back and said, “Thanks for coming out and helping me get home.” 

“Your welcome sir.” Was all she said and then turned to leave.  

Tarinnish waited for the A.I. to be well away before he walked up the ramp.  He didn’t want anyone to see what might happen next.  This was for him and Clarish to work out.  He walked up the ramp to her.  He saluted first and then went to hug her.  It was awkward as she had become so pregnant since the last time, he saw her.  He didn’t want the hurt the child, so he leaned in to hug her being careful not to touch her stomach.  

She chuckled, “You won’t hurt him.  

“I just...Well.” He stammered. He then looked into her eyes, “I missed you.” He said with such emotion.  

She didn’t return the comment.  To herself she admitted that she missed him. She so wanted him, but this was a battle and she had to win.  Problem was, he wasn’t putting up much of a fight.  This perplexed her.  She then turned, “I made us some dinner.”

“Captain?” Tarinnish didn’t understand.  

“Let’s leave that for later.” Clarish said and turned to enter the ship.  Tarinnish followed and sure enough there was a table set for two and enough food, for both of them setting in bowls.  Tarinnish helped Clarish to her chair and then took his.  They ate the food but did not talk much.  It was strange to be here with her and feel like they were still apart.  

After dinner Clarish cleared the table.  Tarinnish wanted to help, but she told him that she would get it.  He didn’t argue.  She came back and pulled the table away from where Tarinnish was sitting.  She then sat on it and spread her legs enough for him to see her. Tarinnish stood up.  He looked her in the eyes.

“What?” Clarish said with a smirk on her face.

“Shouldn’t we talk first.” Tarinnish asked.

“About?” Clarish pulled up her dress.

“Well..Like how this is going to work.” Tarinnish couldn’t help himself, he looked at her.  He wanted her.

“We are man and wife.. Or wife and husband.” Clarish pulled up the dress a little more. 

“I thought you.” Tarinnish started.

“Oh shut up and kiss me.” Clarish wanted him to give in.  She wanted to be in charge, make him weak.  

“I can’t.” Tarinnish hated the words that came out of his mouth.  He wanted what she was offering, but it wasn’t right, not yet.  Not until they talked.  He needed to know if this was just a fling or that she still wanted to be his wife.  “We need to let the air out of this ship and work out how we are going to go…” He didn’t finish.

Clarish closed her legs and stood. “Run this ship.” She almost shouted.

Tarinnish drew back.  He didn’t know this person. “We will run this ship like we have been trained to.  With you as the captain and me as the first officer.” he realized she was still stuck on his words about wanting her to come with him on the Defiant.  That if she stayed on the Hōkūle‘a she would be killed. “I’m your first officer. I will obey any lawful order you give.” 

Clarish was now off guard.  She had been rehearsing her argument of how she was the captain and he was the subordinate.  That she was going to call the shots and he was to obey them.  She had spent the last three sevenths mulling this over and over in her mind.  She had to win.  But now there was no battle of wills.  Her wiles were not needed to win him over.  He submitted.  Her emotions swung from delight to discussed.  How could he give up so easily?  What was his game? 

Tarinnish saw the confusion in her eyes.  “I’m your husband, not your captain. But in both rolls I’m here to support you.” He kept her gaze.  He meant every word he said.  

She couldn’t deny the tone.  The look in his eyes.  He meant what he said. “But the vision? And the fact that you wanted me to travel with you on the scouts?”  She wanted him to fight, but she didn’t know why.  She was getting what she wanted.

Tarinnish, “I have been praying and asking God for an answer.” 

Clarish asked, “And did He give you one.”

 Tarinnish hung his head and said, “Not really.”

Clarish asked impatiently, “What does that mean.”

Tarinnish looked into her beautiful brown eyes, “Only that I’m to go with you.” 

“That’s not an answer.” Clarish said still wondering if there was any fight in him. So she decided to provoke him, “How does this God know the future anyway? Or is he just making this up to confuse us?”

“That’s a bit off the subject don’t you think.” Tarinnish didn’t want to fight or give her something that she could tear apart. 

“Well, you want me to believe in this God, so tell me how this vision thing works.” Clarish demand.

Tarinnish thought for a second then let his thoughts go, “You know that we are linear beings.  We have a beginning and an end.  We also have all the steps in between but only one moment at a time.” He looked at Clarish to see if she was following.

Clarish nodded her head that she understood.

“Our God is not linear.  He exists in today, yesterday and in the future, all at the same time.  And on occasion he gives us a glimpse of this future, or an understanding of the past and if we are fortunate, a picture of how good it is to be in our present.” Tarinnish said in a s soft a tone as he could.  It’s a bold concept and not everyone grasps it.

“So were just puppets.” Clarish asked.

“No.” Tarinnish knew this was a difficult thing to understand.  It took him years to get it. 

“But if he knows what we are going to do, what’s the point?” Clarish asked.

“The point is that we get to understand how to be like him.” Tarinnish said.

“Like him?” Clarish was not following this.

“Well not the nonlinear thing, but the… No, we..” He stopped; this was going in the wrong direction. “No, we need to learn to trust him.  To lean on his wisdom and follow his plan.” Tarinnish was pulling this conversation back to where it belonged.

“So, he doesn’t want us to go.” Clarish asked.

“No, we are going.” Tarinnish said.

“But I’m going to die.” Clarish asked for clarification.

“I don’t know.” Tarinnish said.

“You said I was dead.” Clarish wanted to push this line.

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean that will be the outcome.  It might happen, but it does not necessarily mean that it will happen.” Tarinnish was losing ground.

“But if your God is nonlinear and he said that I was going to die, how does that not happen?” Clarish asked.

“Some visions are a warning.  In his books, he warned his people many times of what would happen if they didn’t follow his will.” Tarinnish was trying to draw on books he read a decade ago.  He needed his wife to understand that God wanted to keep them safe and that the vision was for their benefit.  Not to keep them from something they wanted, but to keep them from dying prematurely.

“Then why not give me the vision?” She asked.

“I don’t know.” Tarinnish said. He did know, but he was not sharing.  It had taken him decades to discern whether a word, vision or understanding was from his God of just his imagination.  Even if she was given the vision, would she understand it or just write it off as jitters.  

“So, Just so I’m straight.  We are going. I’m the Captain and you’re alright with all this.” Clarish wanted to sum up the evening.

“Yep.” Tarinnish said.  “All I need to know is.  Do you still love me and need me to be your husband?” 

Clarish thought about that.  She had no problem with having a husband and partner.  She just didn’t want to miss out on her dream. She thought about that again.  Was her dream worth giving up this?  A man that was her partner despite what might happen. Or a dream of glory.  Of going off and discovering a new place in the universe that man can exploit for their own gain. What was actually more important?  

Suddenly the baby kicked her, hard.  As if to say.  “I’m here, think of me.”  Clarish jumped.  

Tarinnish saw her and asked, “What? What happened?”

Claish said, “The baby kick. Hard.” 

Tarinnish asked, “That’s normal right?” 

Clarish looked at him, “Yeah, but not that hard.”

“Maybe he didn’t like you yelling.” Tarinnish said.

“Maybe.” Clarish said.  

Tarinnish stepped forward and held out his hand.  Clarish took it and guided it to her stomach where the baby was running his foot back and forth. Tarinnish knelt down and put his mouth close to her stomach, “Hey boy, I’m your dad.” 

Clarish watched as this man held her and talked to his son.  Tears started streaming down her face.  She couldn’t help it. She loved him.  She wanted him and even though she was the captain, she needed him.  All she had to do is admit it.  All she had to do was to tell her husband what she was feeling.  But she didn’t.  She just stood there. Watching him hold her and their son.  Suddenly a tear rolled off her cheek and hit him on the head.  

He looked up.  He too had tears in his eyes. 

She pulled him up and held him, his hands moved up to her face as he took it and kissed her.  Tears still flowing, they kissed and held each other.  By the time they hit the bedroom neither one of them had clothes on and they spent that evening and most of the next day in their room.  She was lying on her side with pillows supporting arms, head and even had one between her knees.  Being pregnant was no fun and she couldn’t remember the last time she was comfortable, but having Tarinnish at her back, spooning her with his heavy arm wrapped around her was as close to heaven as she hand been since their honeymoon. 

She fell asleep and dreamed.  Dreamed of new planets and strange stars.  She dreamed of her son as a young man.  But for some reason she was not in the picture. She was looking at things, but she was not there.  Tarinnish was but she wasn’t.  Did this mean something?  And would she remember it when she woke? 

End of Chapter 9

            Next Chapter 10

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"  

Enjoy and please leave a comment and follow this blog.   

Book 1 is available in paperback or kindle The Grey Abyss

R.A. Legg

R.A. Legg © 2016. All Rights Reserved.

Total Failure

Obsidian Arrows

Time of our Lord Creatos 1539, Sunday the 20th of Jubali

Total Failure

To everyone’s displeasure the gate had failed its test.  How or why, the lab coats wouldn’t tell us.  All we knew was that it failed just two periods prior to installing it in our hold.  We had no recourse but to rebuild another one.  From scratch.  The captain was furious.  He was storming around the dock.  He had been waiting a decade for this.  Now he would have to wait at least one more cycle before we could leave.

          That night at dinner, everyone was quiet.  No one knew how to console their captain.  He ate most of his meal in silence then at the end he snapped back into Captain Trent.  “Tarinnish.  Tomorrow, You and Stone prepare the gate for its send off.” He looked up.  The pain was gone, and a new determination had taken its place. “Marisa there is no reason for you to use that surrogate, I want you to go home.” 

 Marisa was going to protest, but the look in Trent’s eyes stopped her.  She would have nothing to do while the new gate was being built.  It just made sense for her to leave as the bulk of the work would be split between the BL units and the more intricate G units.  Trent would oversee it but have little to do but watch.  Test each phase and ensure that they would not have another delay.  

 Trent started passing out orders, “Stone.” He did not use her pet name, “Get the dock ready for the delivery.” looking at Tarinnish, “Tarinnish, I want you to get the coffin ready and prepare for the gate’s disposal.” 

 Everyone responded in turn.  There would be no consoling him.  Not at this time.  He would have to grieve the loss and move on.  

 The next to periods were slow and painful.  The coffin was readied, and the gate was placed in it as if it were a priceless object.  Once secured, the coffin’s nuclear device was set.  Stone and Tarinnish were to pull it out to the demolition site.  Which was an old mining site on a large asteroid.  It would take about two and a half alunars to complete the trip.  At which point Tarinnish would join Marisa on the planet until their son was born.  Tarinnish was glad the Marisa had left.  The mood on the ship was solemn.  Trent never smiled. Nor did he sleep with Stone.  He had a cot down on the dock near the new gate.  

Tarinnish was in the scout ship and was doing the pre-flight checks.  Their cargo was secured, and the primary reactors were at eighty percent. He was going through the electrical grid when Lt. Stone boarded.  She was upset.  

          Tarinnish wanted to ignore it, but they were going to be on this little ship for two and a half alunars.  If there was a problem, he needed to know what it was and if he could do something to fix it.  He let her settle in.  She took the sleeping quarters as Tarinnish had put his stuff in the common’s room.  They would both sleep in the bed, just not at the same time.  One had to be on duty at all times.  They had decided on four watches.  Five hours on, five off.  That would be the rotation for the entire trip.  No A.I.s on this trip.  

          They cleared the docking ports and had settled in on a .25 g acceleration.  The scouts didn’t have the acceleration power of the Hōkūle‘a, but it will do for this mission.  Once the course was set and the controls locked, Lt Stone left the cockpit.  It was Tarinnish’s watch.  He would have to stand station for at least two more hours as the Defiant, which was the name of his scout ship, made its way through the shipping lanes and out into open space.  It was a frivolous precaution as the nearest ship was some sixteen thousand kilometers away and had a vector that was taking them away from the Defiant. Nonetheless he would man his post until the nearest ship was over a million kilometers away.

 Just before the end of watch Tarinnish got up and headed for the commons.  He wanted to talk to Ashley before she started her watch.  He was captain here and she was his subordinate.  If there was going to be an issue, he needed to know about it, and if necessary, deal with it.

          He found Ashley in her room, he approached but waited, he could hear her crying.  Had she been doing this the entire time?  He knocked.

          After a few sniffles she said, “enter.” 

          Tarinnish saw her on the bed crumpled, with her face reddened from crying. So, she had been back here the entire time, crying.

          “What happened?” Tarinnish asked.

 She didn't look up, she just grabbed a used tissue from the bed and brought it to her nose, “He blames me.” 

 “For what?” Tarinnish could not understand how the Lt could be responsible.

 “For distracting him.” She explained.

 “That’s absurd.” Tarinnish dismissed the notion.

“He does.” She insisted.

“Did he tell you that?” Tarinnish asked.

“Well no…” She sputtered, “But.”

“But what?” Tarinnish responded not letting her continue down this pity party.  “No. He’s a grown man and we all watched the assemble.  We double checked every part and piece prior to installation.  There had to be a flaw in the commoners.  One that wasn’t detected until they melded.“ Tarinnish wanted to put a nail in this conversation, “Something on the nanite level.”  

She met his gaze and Tarinnish said, “We could not have known this was going to happen and even if we did, we certainly couldn’t fix it.” Tarinnish took a step in, “The captain is mad.  At himself, at his luck, but he will recover.  You’ll see.  We will get back and everything will be as they were.  Just give him some space.”  Tarinnish really hoped his words were prophetic and that the captain would be his normal self after they returned.  But he was acting quite strange before their departure and he just might have created a huge chasm between him and the Ashley.  Either way this was going to be a long trip.

On the third seventh, Tarinnish’s second watch, he was able to get a signal to Marisa.  She settled into her old room at her parents' place and had visited the doctor at least twice.  Everything was going well, and she was just one seventh from being half way through the gestation of their child.  The doctor did indicate that the child could be tipping the scales at 4.5 kilograms.  Marisa seemed upset by this.  

Tarinnish just answer, “Wow.” then thought about it. “Oh!”

“Yeah.” Marisa responded

Tarinnish did not have an answer for that, but he did the next best thing, “I’m going to be there with you.” 

“I got a better Idea…” She paused then let it fly, “You have this kid and I’ll fly around the universe.”

“Doesn’t work that way, they tried.” Tarinnish shot back.

“The concept is sound.  It’s just that men are such whooshes and they can’t handle it.” Marisa said with a smile. 

“If you want to make up a T-shirt that says that, I’ll wear it.” Tarinnish said laughing.

Tarinnish didn’t want to end the comm, but they had talked out what they needed to say.  The rest of the time they just sat at two ends of their universe and listened to each other breathing.  

Suddenly Tarinnish’s dream snapped into full view.  He remembered her lying on the debris with the shard driven through her body and all the blood.  She was dead.  Tarinnish chased away the memory and made an excuse to shut down their call.  He didn’t want to tell her what he saw.  He didn’t want to see it again himself.  Every fiber of his will said that this will not happen, but in his vision it did.  And his love was dead.  

Marisa asked, “What happened?”

“Oh. Nothing.” Tarinnish tried to come up with a good excuse for his shocked inhale of breath. “Ashley keeps turning up the environmental systems, complains she’s always cold.” He lied, but he just didn’t want her to know of the vision.  Then he had a thought, “Hey, next time you talk to Trent ask him if we can run in the scout together instead of Ashely and I.  This way we can rendezvous as few times out there in the wild new universe and him and Ashley can have the Hōkūle‘a.

There was an awkward silence.   

It took Tarinnish a few seconds to ask, “What?”

“The investigation on the malfunction of the gate came back.” Clarish said quietly.

“Oh?” Tarinnish said as if to say continue.

“It was Trent’s fault.” Clarish said.

“What?” Tarinnish just about jumped out of his seat.

“Its worse.” Clarish continued.

“What could be worse than that?” The hair on his neck started to rise. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know the rest.

“She signed off.” Clarish said.

“Who signed off?” Tarinnish just wanted a straight answer and it was so unlike Clarish to be evasive.

“When Trent installed the secondary nanite infusion he didn’t follow the decon procedure and they were contaminated.” Clarish paused for a moment and then delivered the final blow, “Ashley signed off on the transfer.”

“Shiiittttt.” Tarinnish said.

“The court martial starts tomorrow.” Clarish delivered the final blow.

“Are you saying the Hōkūle‘a is without a captain right now?” Tarinnish asked.

“No.” was all Clarish said.

“So, who is our new captain?” Tarinnish already knew the answer.  And if he was right, there was no way to get her off the ship.  There was no way to keep her alive if his vision came true.

“I am.” Clarish said.

The alarm bells were screaming in his head.  He could not save her. He didn’t even hear her next sentence.

“Your the first officer.  Congratulations Lieutenant Commander.” She said with a sense of pride. 

She didn’t understand why he wasn’t excited.  He was now second in command of the mission and had authority in matters of interviewing new crew members.  He would also be in charge of all the scout missions, crew shifts and assignments.  It was a small crew, but a big responsibility.  

There was some small talk then Clarish asked, “Do you think we should bring three others with us.  Or stick with the A.I.s?” 

“A.I.s” Tarinnish said.  In the back of his mind he thought that if this mission was going to fail, at least the A.I. won’t feel the pain of death.

Captain Clarish asked, “What aren’t you saying here.” 

“It’s just a feeling.” Tarinnish said realizing that he was going to have to tell her something, it might as well be the truth.

 “Feelings are based on emotions and emotions are real, but not tangible.” Clarish was using her infallible logic.

Tarinnish went for broke, “If you stay on the Hōkūle‘a, you will die.” 

The silence was cold and the distance between them grew by a billion kilometers.  

“So, what is it.  You want command.” Clarish didn’t understand where his comment came from.

“No!” Tarinnish said.

“I have trained my whole life for this.  Everything I’ve done since middle school is for this.  And now it’s going to be better than I ever imagined as I’m not just a crew member.  I’m going to be the captain.” The hurt in her voice was clear, “You…” She paused not quite sure how she was going to say this. “You might be my husband, but this is what.. I live for.” 

And then she let if fly, “And no god in this universe is going to stop me. Not yours, my mother’s.  Not even Creatos.”  she was crying now.  

She was hurt and did not understand why he would say such a thing.  He was supposed to be on her side.  He was supposed to support her.

“I’m sorry.” was all Tarinnish could say.

There was no answer.

After a minute of silence Clarish said in a cold voice, “I will send you a copy of all the applicants, please review and send me your recommendations, Lieutenant Commander.

What else could he say.  He was four hundred and ninety seven million kilometers away. “Yes, Captain.”  

“Send your response to the quiver.  I’ll be aboard the Hōkūle‘a and supervising the construction of the gate.”  It was just a matter of statement not meant for comment.

But Tarinnish could not help himself, “And our child?”

“He will be born up there.” She said. 

That was it.  Other than official communications, there were no more personal calls between Commander Tarinnish and Captain Clarish.  

Ashley’s last official duty was to detonate the nuclear device that was attached to the coffin, as the procedure required two officers to complete the detonation.  Then she was relieved of duty.  This made it difficult for Tarinnish as she was not allowed at the controls.  Now he wished they had brought an A.I.

What was even more difficult was that Ashely was placed on suicide watch after being told of the Trent’s Death. Apparently, Captain Trent could not deal with the disgrace of being dismissed so close to a mission.  He committed suicide just one seventh after being discharged.  Tarinnish was hoping that someone would be nearby and could take Ashley back, but the only ship near them was going in the wrong direction.  So, they would have to stay the course and he hoped that he would not have to stop her from taking her life.  She mostly just stayed in her room.  She did wonder out once, completely naked.  She went and took a shower and then returned to her room.  The fact that she took a shower was good, but that she didn’t bother to cloth herself, well that wasn’t.  Tarinnish stayed in the cockpit and watched on the monitors.  She was still under suicide watch and he was obligated to keep an eye on her.  Even though he hated to see her like this.

About three and a half alunars Tarinnish received a message.  He had fallen asleep in the cockpit again when the message alert went off.  It was from a probe that was approaching from the stern.  It was to rendezvous with them. Apparently, Captain Clarish felt sorry for him and sent an A.I. to assist with the final leg of the mission.  Tarinnish responded and calculated that the probe would be off his starboard side in less than sixteen hours. 

The probe was attached to the starboard access port and the A.I. climbed out.  She introduced herself as T446877.  Tarinnish told her to link in and get the mission spects before taking her watch.  She complied and then reported to the bridge.  Once there, she said, “I have a personal message from the Captain.” 

Tarinnish thought it odd that a message would be relayed through this A.I.  

The A.I turned on the message.  Her voice turned into Clarish’s. “I know it’s been a while. So if you need to, please feel free to have relations with the T-model.  It’s why I sent this model instead of the G model.”  The voice stopped and the T446877 said, “Any instructions before I take the watch?”

“No.” Tarinnish was not sure how to take the message.  Was this Clarish’s way of saying that their marriage was over.  Or was she just looking out for him.  Maybe she was worried that Ashley would want such services from him.  No matter how you slice this one, it was awkward and was void of any messages of affection.  

“Please take the con.  I need some rest in a real bed.” Tarinnish got up and went to the commons.  He laid down and was asleep in seconds.  It was a restless sleep as so many issues were flying around in his head as he drifted off.  His marriage, the mission, his vision, and his wife’s declaration that she was going on this mission even if she had to defy God himself.

Ashley only came out one more time, again naked and again to take a shower and return to her room.  On the bright side, things weren’t getting worse, but nor were they getting better.  Tarinnish kept himself busy with some maintenance activities that went undone when he was the only crew member on board.  But even that only took a couple of periods to accomplish and he was back to being bored and worried about what was coming next.  

Tarinnish still debated on whether to tell Clarish, the captain about his vision and that he was convinced that it was a premonition of the future.  A future in which she is dead and if he interpreted the situation correctly, he would be stranded thousands of light years from anything.  That thought was sobering.  The idea of slowly dying as your food and water ran out.  No, that was not the way to die.

One question perplexed Tarinnish.  If he was given the vision as a warning, then he failed.  But if God had the ability to know the future, then he could not stop it.  So, why the warning.  If this nonlinear God had knowledge of all time and he was just a pawn, then why bother.  But if God is merciful then there should be a way to alter that reality to a more favorable outcome.  In the long run, whether it was a warning or a reality of their future, Tarinnish decided that he was going to be with her, wherever that was.  They would be together.  And in the interim he would beg for a solution to prevent the vision.   Truly that seemed to be his only choice he had.  He had made a vow to honor her and support her.  Anything else would undermine her and destroy what they had.  

With this new determination, Tarinnish started to fast and pray.  Pray for their mission to be cancelled or altered so they his vision would not come to pass.  This did not bring him peace.  It was obviously the wrong prayer.  He then switched to prayers of protection.  Again, no peace.  He pulled the small section of bible from his personal bag.  He would have to seek the ancient knowledge on what to pray. 

End of Chapter 8

Next Chapter 9

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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