Carpathia IV: Episode 252 - Nightcap
NCCS Shadowdancer-A
Aire spent longer than he anticipated, much longer, in sick bay. A couple of hours, at least, though he wasn't sure as he didn't keep track of the time. Of course, the first task was to get his throat fixed, which Dr. Teagan did with her usual skill. Then came the Aptaras Gigas, and he could not pass up a chance to see that scanned on one of the bio beds. Everything about the book, from its size to its materials, was unique. Weight, 63 kilograms. 34cm thick. 55cm tall and 48cm wide. The age was too much for even the Shadowdancer's computer to calculate, but it estimated 8,950 years old. Also, the computer, indeed, confirmed that it was made almost entirely of bat parts. With that size and weight, indeed, only Phobos could have carried it.
The cover, which Aire never had a chance to look at until now, had a relief of a creature on the cover that resembled a wolf's head somehow, mouth open and teeth bared, though further inspection told him that this was probably a bat, and it surely was. With great care, Sorchae opened the book and at least one of the reasons for its vast size became evident quickly, for most of the pages bore illustrations, a few of which were grotesque drawings of aptarans dying in a variety of ways. There was text as well, red, and in a large font, but nobody could read it. Ryuu would be able to help them with that. Perhaps Kit as well, depending on how much info he could gather for the universal translator.
Eventually, Aire managed to pull himself away. He instructed Phobos to take the book to secure storage when they finished scans and then headed for his ready room. Though the lift would take him directly to his front door, he thought he would pass through the bridge first to see how things were going. The lift doors opened and he stepped out finding, to his surprise, Amenaru in the command chair.
Aire: Ah, I expected you would be going to the planet, Amenaru.
Amenaru jumped out of his chair with a spin and stood up straight.
Amenaru: Ah, Captain. Nalma elected to go. I thought it would be best if I didn't. I feel like I'd be much more useful up here.
A good decision, Aire thought, that spoke to his growing maturity. With a mental note to add that to his log, Aire moved to the next piece of business.
Aire: Any word on when the shuttle will return?
Sylvar: We just got word from the surface that they're packing the ATV into it now. They should be here in around an hour and a half, give or take.
Aire gave the bridge a quick look-around to see who Amenaru put in the chairs. To his surprise, he spotted Darius in the comm chair.
Aire: Darius. I see Amenaru has you working comms.
Darius: Yes, Captain! Lieutenant Pendergast thought it would be good to have experience outside of sick bay.
Amenaru: That is so, Captain. I figured it would be fine for a few hours while the transfer is in progress.
Darius: It's nice to do something different for awhile.
Aire: In that case, as you were, Cadet.
Amenaru: Now that Captain Yoshida has returned to his ship, will you be taking the bridge, Captain?
Aire: As you were too, Amenaru. I will be in my ready room with Admiral Zhang.
Aire managed two steps towards the stairs to his ready room before Sylvar stopped him.
Sylvar: One more thing, Captain. The gravity eddies around this region of space have largely dissipated. We theorized before that Aionaptara might have had something to do with that. It seems likely that he did.
Aire: I would tend to agree. I suspect a lot of scientists are going to be quite pleased with all the stellar data they get to study.
Amenaru: It will, at least, make our exit easier.
Aire: And a good hiding spot too, should we ever need it.
Once again, Aire made for the stairs and grumbled under his breath when he was stopped again, this time, by Amenaru.
Amenaru: And Captain... we're glad you all made it back safely.
Aire felt a little pang of guilt at his irritation mere seconds ago, even though nobody else would have noticed it. He turned and gave a glance around the bridge at all the nodding heads smiling back at him.
Aire: Thank you, Lieutenant. As you were.
Aire's heart lightened a little as he ascended the stairs. Part of him thought he should sound the chime, but it was his ready room after all and Admiral Zhang would expect him to come there eventually. He tapped at the control and the door slid open revealing Admiral Zhang, hard at work at his desk.
Admiral Zhang: Almost done, Aire. I'll have your desk back to you in just a minute. Have a seat. I took the liberty of transferring command codes back to you.
Aire stepped inside and to one of the guest chairs in front of his desk. As soon he settled in, he realized that he'd never sat in the guest chairs before. It was a little intimidating there, if he had to be honest with himself.
When Admiral Zhang said one minute, she really meant it, as Aire barely had time to get used to this new view. Admiral Zhang leaned back in Aire's chair and sighed heavily.
Admiral Zhang: After I finish my report, I think I'm going to take a little break and enjoy the cruise back to Polaris Deep. Shall we chat in your lounge?
Aire: In a moment, Admiral. I would like to check a couple of things first.
Admiral Zhang stood and then paused a moment, raising her hand to her chest and giving it two hearty pats. Aire detected a heavily suppressed burp.
Admiral Zhang: Pardon me, Aire. While you work, I'll fix a nightcap.
Aire: Thank you, Admiral. I won't be long.
While Admiral Zhang moved to the lounge area, Aire rounded the desk and took a seat. He logged himself into his console and started skimming the status reports from while they were away. All of it was pretty bog standard, which he expected. Systems reports. Minor orbital corrections. Everything ran smoothly while he was gone, as was normal for his crew.
What was not normal was the sound from the lounge of a glass landing with a thunk on the carpeted floor, a sound he'd heard a few times himself when he dropped his own glass. This was quickly followed by a retching sound that sent Aire jumping out of his seat and rushing around to the back to see what was wrong. There, he found Admiral Zhang hunched over the sink.
Aire: Admiral!
Admiral Zhang held up her hand while she took several deep breaths and turned on the water, washing the sludge down the drain. Aire gently placed his hands on her shoulders and helped her straighten up.
Aire: Admiral, you sit down. I'll clean up. Perhaps some water?
Admiral Zhang: Yes, I think that would be preferable to alcohol at this time.
Aire grabbed a towel from the wet bar and guided Admiral Zhang to the chair. Once he got her comfortably seated, he left her with the towel to fetch her a new glass with some ice and water.With the glass full, Aire brought it to her just as she finished wiping her face with the towel. He handed her the glass and she gave him the towel.
Admiral Zhang: Thank you.
Admiral Zhang downed the glass of water in two goes while Aire went back to the sink, picking up the glass on the floor along the way and putting it on the counter. While he stooped to open the cabinet for the cleaning supplies, Admiral Zhang apologized.
Admiral Zhang: I'm so sorry, Aire. Really, considering what you went through down there, it should be you sitting here with a glass of water. You had it much worse than I did.
Aire turned on the tap and started splashing water around the sink.
Aire: Nonsense, Admiral. This wasn't a who had it worse competition. All our stomachs were doing backflips down there.
With most of the sludge down the drain, Aire spritzed the sink a few times and started wiping the remainder.
Admiral Zhang: Nevertheless, as Admiral, I must set an example. I apologize that you had to witness this.
Aire set aside the towel and the cleaner. He fetched two more glasses and filled them with water.
Aire: You're too hard on yourself, Admiral. That may be why your stomach had a weak moment.
Aire brought one of the glasses to Admiral Zhang and, keeping the other for himself, took a seat in the next chair.
Admiral Zhang: You're probably right. Listen, someday, you might get an offer of promotion to Admiral. Don't say yes right away, even if you're sure. I miss the days when I was Captain of the Olympia and I only had to answer to Admiral Heitala most of the time. Now, too much of my days are spent dealing with irascible and, frankly, stupid politicians.
Aire: If it's any consolation, you are good at your job.
Admiral Zhang: I appreciate that, but I so wish I could spend my days out here exploring. You may have noticed that I take any chance I can get to board a ship these days.
Aire: Would you like for me to call Dr. Teagan? I think she should be able to give you something to settle your stomach and help you sleep tonight.
Admiral Zhang: I will, but later. You took longer than I expected getting up here. Mind telling me what you were doing?
Aire first told getting healed, which didn't take very long. Then, he worked backwards to the shuttle bay, when Sorchae accidentally scanned the Aptaras Gigas and all that they learned from there.
Aire: I look forward to seeing the translation. I expect at least some of it will be quite dark, but based on our meeting with him, I don't think it will be the pure evil that we might have expected such a thing to be.
Admiral Zhang: Agreed. It will also be a fine addition to the Ramewet History Museum. I believe it might be the oldest known book in existence.
Aire: Why don't you have a look yourself? You can get some medicine while you're down there.
Admiral Zhang: I would like that.
Aire stood and took Admiral Zhang's now-empty second glass and placed both it and his own on the counter. Admiral Zhang grunted herself out of her chair and, together with Aire, plodded out the door, the Deck 1 door that took them directly to the lift, bypassing the bridge.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
Falke2009
