Tracking the Trailblazer (Colony Ship Trailblazer Book 1) Read online

  “Agreed!” Jubal laughed. “Even though her AI was trying to send out bogus misinformation, we still are facing the coming failure of Dome 17. We do need an adventurer to go to the Trailblazer. Artificial Intelligence?”

  “Yes, Member Jubal. How may I assist?” the mechanical voice sounded.

  “Confirm that you have disbanded Kovalevsky. None of those lies will be spread?”

  “Yes, Jubal. The artificial intelligence system formerly known as Kovalevsky is no more. None of the messages it was attempting to send out reached any recipient. All records from that AI have been expunged. Additionally, a generic explanation has been offered regarding the demise of Kovalevsky. I doubt there will be any questions, since, in past incidents like this, there were no inquiries.”

  Doctor Larson nodded her head in agreement.

  Jubal looked at Janae. He smiled, and said, “Congratulation. You will be the first solo mission to one of the colony ships. Off you go, tracking the Trailblazer!”

  Janae got into a squat and rocked on her legs, one hand against the wall, she glared at Jubal, and then at Doctor Larson. “How many have you murdered?”

  “My dear, there have been no murders in Dome 17. There have only been tragic suicides,” Doctor Larson answered. “I certainly would hate to see your name as the next one on the official record as a suicide. However, your track record, and the deep relationship you had with Constance, compounded by her own suicide, might well tip you over the edge. The official record would be unquestionable.”

  Janae wanted to slap the wicked grin off Doctor Larson’s face, but glanced again at the stun wand in Jubal’s hand.

  He looked down at her, and moved the stun wand a few centimeters in her direction. “The choice is yours. Will it be the Trailblazer, or not? Your decision must be made right now.”

  “I will go to the Trailblazer,” Janae said, her mind whirling with ways to get even. “At least I will get away from you two, murderous, malicious, micro-mental, Machiavellians.”

  Doctor Larson spit on Janae. “Your delusions are powerful. Perhaps, they will override other considerations. Jubal, should we let nature take its course here, or will you allow her to go to that wrecked colony ship?”

  Jubal’s eyes gleamed with power. “Janae, just so you are clear. Artificial Intelligence will be watching everything you do. Any attempt to spread slanderous lies about me will prove your delusions are too much. You will then be committed to the medical unit for psycho-social evaluation and treatment. Right, Doctor Larson?”

  “Yes, absolutely, she would be my personal patient. My charts already show my deep concern for the budding delusions which Janae is having. Isolation in medical would be indicated, and sadly, there have been suicides right in those medical isolation rooms. Delusional people can be so creative in how they self-terminate. It always surprises me the resourcefulness of people suffering delusions.”

  “I said I will go,” Janae replied. “But I thought those were two-person teams. Maybe, you should not have killed Constance? We could have gone together.”

  Jubal just smiled. Then he said, “Perhaps, I can persuade the Committee to send a solo on that mission. The Trailblazer does have a poor chance of success.” He moved away just a bit and raised his hand. “Artificial Intelligence? Janae would like to make an official request.”

  “Be sure to sound like you mean it,” Doctor Larson urged. “Be a good and compliant client. Sincerity is important in official records. Jubal will then make the request to the Committee, so off you go, all alone.”

  Janae got shakily to her feet. “AI Artificial Intelligence? Do you actually agree with these two?”

  Doctor Larson scowled, but Jubal’s smile never left.

  “I serve at the pleasure of Jubal. I support him unconditionally,” Artificial Intelligence replied. “What is your official request?”

  “I will go to the Trailblazer,” Janae said. “I volunteer. I want to go. I think it will be an adventure, and it will allow me to help save Dome 17.” While she spoke, she glared into Doctor Larson’s eyes. “I am sincere in my application to track down the Trailblazer.”

  “Your request has been submitted to Member Murial and Member Lorna,” Artificial Intelligence relayed. There was only a slight pause. “Your application has been approved.”

  “Now, I will just need to find the right words to convince those other two members to allow a solo mission to the Trailblazer,” Jubal stated. “Doctor Larson, will you assist me in phrasing that?”

  “I would be very happy to aid you however I can,” Doctor Larson replied. “You and I make a good team.”

  Artificial intelligence’s voice spoke out, “There has been another adventurer who has requested to go with Janae. Jubal, I accepted that request on your behalf, as it will eliminate any need for the solo mission request. That other adventurer’s request was also just approved by Member Murial and Member Lorna.”

  “Who would be stupid enough to volunteer for something like that?” Doctor Larson asked. Genuine surprise was on her face.

  5

  Equiped for Tracking

  Janae was no longer trapped in her apartment, but rather she was trapped by circumstance. She stood outside of her threshold and pondered her next move. Replaying Jubal’s words, as well as Doctor Larson’s comments, convinced her that they would kill her if she disobeyed. She nearly did run off and tell everyone, just out of spite, but then she thought about Constance, and decided she wanted to live. There had to be a way to get even, revenge.

  Deciding she had no way of even knowing when the mission would depart, but remembering something about the missions happening rather rapidly, she walked back toward the cafetorium. Her abductors—for that was how she thought of Jubal and Doctor Larson—had not even told her who had volunteered to go to the Trailblazer. Before she reached the cafetorium, she encountered Beth in the hallway.

  “Janae, when I heard you and Ken were going to the Trailblazer, I was very surprised,” Beth stated. “That was when Allen and I decided on the Colony Ship Warren. Our sling launch is right before yours. Some teams have already departed. I must hurry now, but I wish you all the best!” As she walked away, she turned her head and said, “Constance would be so proud of you!”

  Janae waited until Beth was out of earshot, and said, “Ken? This must be some joke. Is Jubal tormenting me again?”

  Artificial Intelligence’s voice came from a nearby speaker which was set into the wall, “Casting aspersions on Jubal’s character is unacceptable. You have been warned.”

  “Just how am I to got to the Trailblazer, if I know nothing about the mission?”

  “Your first stop will be with Murial. You will meet your teammate there. Murial is waiting for you in the small lounge,” Artificial Intelligence stated. “I am listening to all your conversations.”

  “I am aware of that, believe me.”

  “Jubal wants me to remind you of the seriousness of each word you say,” Artificial Intelligence stated.

  “I said I am aware you are listening. I will be your good little puppet.”

  “All sarcasm is reported to Jubal and to Doctor Larson,” Artificial Intelligence replied. “You will not receive another warning.”

  Janae’s hands clenched. She took the closest stairway and then crossed over an open area to reach the lounge. Some of the ten-year-old age-mates were playing a hopping and skipping game in the area. Janae looked at them and hoped they would find a safe home. Her anger still was bubbling about as she considered that Doctor Larson and Jubal might be in positions of power over the children, even if the scheme about recovering a colony ship worked. Shaking her head in sorrow, she looked at the smiling faces, and heard the laughter. Their innocence should be protected, but Janae was unsure how to do that. She knew if she was dead, she could not help at all, so she just tightened her lips and moved on. Yet, if Jubal and Doctor Larson had their way, they would be leading those children, and offering them so-called counseling sessions. For now, the
children were happy playing their games, but what did the future hold?

  The lounge was off the large area, and had several couches, and a wall mural. Still, even deep inside the dome, there was a tan cast to it all. Murial and Ken were the only people present. Ken smiled at her as she walked in, but Janae just turned and spoke to directly to Murial. “I would have rather gone with Constance.”

  Murial’s face softened, “I totally understand that. Your loss is immense, and I think Constance would be pleased you are pressing onward. Good for you, being so brave in the face of all this.”

  “There really was no other choice, but to go,” Janae stated.

  “Indeed, the only hope Dome 17’s people now have been you adventurers,” Murial’s words were now professional, but her tone was unusual. “Shall I explain what all is needed?”

  Janae could not shake a feeling that Murial was hiding something. She blurted out, “Would you have allowed Constance and me to be a team?”

  Murial shook her head ever so slightly. “The Committee insists that each team be one male and one female. Our estimates for these missions show the greatest success when the teams consist of a man and a woman.”

  “Why? Constance and I would have been every bit as qualified, trained, and experienced, as any other pair of people. We would have been better than most.”

  “You are correct, Janae. Constance was highly competent and experienced. Her loss is a detriment to all of us. However, regarding those old colony ships, we do not know what social conditions you will find in the surviving human populations. There may not even be surviving human populations. Having looked to history, we can see that there are advantages which gender roles can play, as well as barriers that gender roles can erect. That being the case, sending a team consisting of both a woman and a man is important.”

  Janae turned to Ken, “Why you?”

  Ken’s lighthearted smile graced his face, “As you said, there was really no other choice.”

  “But why the Trailblazer?” Janae pressed, a bit worried about Ken’s answer. “I know why I picked that ship, but why did you?”

  “My life needs to mean something. These missions…” Ken began, but was interrupted.

  “We must get you two to the right people, and then lastly into the sling bay,” Murial hastened to say. She grabbed Ken by the arm and turned him toward the door. “I am due there to see another team off, so Ken here knows the schedule.” She patted his arm. “I will see you both just before you leave. No time for idle chatter now. Missions are already on the way to the Eschaton, the Conestoga, and in a few minutes to the Vanguard. I want to give my best wishes to each team, and see them off. Goodbye for now.” Murial turned and quickly left.

  Ken looked at Murial as she left. He said, “She is in a hurry, but something else is going on.”

  “Like, why did you decide to go?” Janae queried. “You are one of the last people I expected to sign on, and with me?”

  “The deed is done,” Ken smiled at her. “Our first step is medical where we will receive some of our supplies. I am aware your AI is already shut down, so if we need to, we can use my AI, Rubirosa. My understanding is that our personal AIs will be reassigned to other people after we leave. Did your Kovalevsky get assigned to someone already? Maybe to be of assistance to the missions from this end?”

  Janae hesitated. She could tell Ken was attempting to be friendly, and he had scaled down his flirtations, which struck Janae as rather odd. She wanted to tell him what had happened to her AI, but remembered that Jubal’s Artificial Intelligence was listening. She only said, “Something like that happened. As you said, the deed is done.”

  Ken slapped her gently on the shoulder, “Yes, the decision is made, but the adventure awaits. Onward to track down our medical needs.”

  Janae followed him as he departed from the lounge. He took a circuitous route, which involved a stairwell that she rarely used. As they were walking down those stairs, a man had just started up the stairs.

  “Doctor Chambers? What an unexpected encounter!” Ken said. “They actually do let you out of your office? I thought you were a mythical figure since a person about needs divine intervention to get to meet you.”

  “Hello, Ken. What a fortuitous coincidence,” Doctor Chambers rolled his expressive, kind, light-brown eyes around in response to Ken’s jibe. He was one or two age-mate groups older than Ken, and was dressed in casual clothing. His overall size was a bit taller and broader than Ken, and he was similar in complexion, but perhaps a bit darker, with more laugh lines in his face. His mouth opened as if to make a retort or joke, but then his eyes fell on Janae. He stepped over to her and without a word wrapped his arm around her from the side.

  She melted into his embrace.

  For a moment, or two, they just stood there.

  Finally, Janae, while she continued to hold onto him, said, “We are going to the Trailblazer. Yes, Ken and I.”

  Doctor Chambers’ eyes opened wide, and he tipped his head to the side. Puzzlement crossed his face. He stared right at her, but did not let go of her.

  “It is complicated,” Janae ventured. “We have little time, before our sling launch.” She so desired to spill out everything she had learned from her now disbanded AI. The threats and criminal acts of Jubal and Doctor Larson were right on the tip of her tongue, ready to exploded out into auditory existence. However, she thought of Constance, and how strong Constance had been. If Constance could not prevail against Jubal and Doctor Larson, did the kind and loving Doctor Chambers have a chance? Therefore, she repeated, “We have little time. Sorry.”

  “We have enough time for a quick word of advice,” Ken insisted. “Please, Doctor Chambers, tell us what is the most important thing we need to succeed in our mission.”

  “I do not know anything about being a trailblazer.” He gently squeezed Janae. “You will have to tell me about that when you get back.” Two squeezes came his time. Only Janae could perceive them. “Thus, I can only offer the suggestion that you keep communication between you two open, honest, and sincere. However long, or short your mission, communication is key. Listen more than you talk, but when you do talk, understand that communication can be misunderstood. Before assuming you understand, if there is a question, seek clarifications. Do not forget you each—as does everyone, everywhere—have a filter through which you will be listening and hearing each other. Some ancients called that a worldview. Communication is essential. Not just for this being a trailblazer—whatever that is.” He looked up and around as if he suspected someone else was listening. Janae felt three squeezes. The way he kept emphasizing the word trailblazer, made her think he knew much more than he was saying. “You said time is short, so I will not keep you. When you come back from this mission, I will make sure to fit you into my schedule so you can fill me in on everything.” With that last phrase, Doctor Chambers held on tightly, and it was a reassuring and constant pressure. “Last thing, I am so sorry about Constance. I know you two were very close. It was a tragedy what happened to her. Yes, so very sad, and so similar to the demise of Dave, Roy, and Leann. Simply awful, dreadful, tragedies. I wish I had it in my power to prevent those things.” Several quick squeezes affirmed in Janae’s mind that he was telling her far more than his mere words conveyed. “When we get together again, we will discuss everything. I promise. Be not afraid, for these times will pass.”

  Janae was certain he knew what was happening to her, and perhaps a whole lot more. However, she was also certain he was deliberately limiting his speech, downplaying the word trailblazer to something generic, and being deliberately nebulous. She wondered if he was as trapped as she was.

  They separated, and Doctor Chambers turned to Ken, “Be there for each other. That is what adventurers do best.”

  “I understand,” Ken replied.

  As Janae looked at Ken, then back to Doctor Chambers, she wondered just how much the two of them had planned this allegedly unexpected meeting.

  “Again, I offer
my condolences, and my empathy toward you,” Doctor Chambers stated. “There are situations which cause immense suffering and are totally unfair, and just evil. I know that is true. I must be on my way, but when we meet again, you can tell me all about being a trailblazer.”

  “Thank you,” Ken said. He turned and started away.

  Janae met Doctor Chamber’s eyes and there was a message there. Janae felt some hope, and that surprised her. She stammered out, “Your compassion is appreciated. Take care while we are gone.”

  He nodded, looked down, and then turned and continued on his way.

  Ken was at the bottom of the stairway. He looked at Janae, and gave her a wink.

  Janae wondered again, if somehow Ken had arranged the chance meeting.

  They walked onward to the medical section where they then entered.