Gaea

Chapter 9

by Baybelletrist

On board Ranger One

7/30/2098, 2098, 0732

Doc stepped into the cockpit and settled into the copilot's seat. He looked over at Zachary from the corner of his eye and caught Zach looking at him. Doc smiled uneasily.

"I guess this thing has us both a little on edge," Zachary said.

"Well, gee, Captain, I can't imagine why," Doc answered. "We've just uncovered evidence of a black ops project that someone's apparently willing to kill over and we're on our way back to Earth to try and expose it. What's to be nervous about?"

Zach shook his head. "I just hope we're doing the right thing."

"Amen to that," Doc agreed, his voice unwontedly serious. Zachary turned back to his screen, his brows lowering in thought.

They traveled in silence for a while, watching the stars flow silently past the hull of their ship. Doc's mind drifted to projects he had in progress, ran through the conversation he'd had with Q-Ball a few weeks ago about AI neuroses, and settled finally on the matter of Goose's recent behavior.

It was no mystery to Doc just where the younger Ranger had been snooping; when you knew, logically, what someone might be looking for and were a better hacker to boot, whatever dirty laundry there was inevitably got aired, if only on the screen of your own terminal. Doc, no stranger to ugly deals and uglier cover-ups, had shaken his head in sympathetic dismay over the things he'd found, but Goose's reactions had caused him more than a little concern. Not cool, my Goose man, he thought. The smoldering rage Goose had tried unsuccessfully to conceal from his teammates had nearly landed them all in a major heap of unhappy, especially once Commander Walsh had gotten involved.

Not that I blame him. I'd be pissed off, too, if someone was treating me and my relatives like disposable people.

Zach shifted in his seat, and Doc turned to find his commanding officer watching him.

"This case is upsetting Goose," Zachary said. "You have any thoughts you want to share?"

"What about, Zach?" Doc asked. "I have thoughts about all kinds of stuff." As a warning look appeared on his captain's face, he hastily added, "This bugs me too. I think the whole Supertrooper angle gets to him."

"You believe her story?" Zach asked, obviously trying for an even tone.

"Well..." Doc temporized. "It's true she has no records at all. It's obviously true she's got some funky abilities. And she sure seems scared. Plus there's those three men Goose intercepted. It all stacks up to something pretty suspicious, Captain. If you don't buy what she says, what do you think is the truth?"

"I don't know, Doc, but I aim to find out," Zach answered, and at the stubborn set of his chin Doc had to hold back a smile.

The hatch opened and Niko stepped through. As it closed behind her, she leaned back against it and pressed a hand to her face with a sigh, datapad held against her body like a tiny shield.

Zach came half out of his seat. "Niko...?" he asked, his face filling with anxiety. Doc rose and stepped aside.

"I'm okay, just tired." Niko stepped forward and sank into the seat Doc had just vacated with a grateful smile in his direction. "Zach, that young woman needs our help. Badly."

"What have you got for me?" Zach asked.

She tapped the handheld and ticked down the screen. "Telepathy, psychokinesis, limited self-healing, possibly clairvoyance on an noncontrolled, subconscious level, and whatever it was she did to Louis Tulley's video camera." She took a deep breath and looked up at him. "And someone has tampered with her mind. She's psychologically unstable, Zachary. She needs help."

"Great." Doc groaned. "Just what we need. A psychologically unstable Supertrooper with big-time psi powers."

Zach frowned at him. "Recommendations, Niko?"

"I don't think she's dangerous. Remember that she lived in hiding for two years on Mars without causing any trouble. It wasn't until someone attacked her that she used her abilities. And Goose seems to have developed a rapport with her. He's been able to help her calm herself on more than one occasion. I'd recommend letting that continue. She seems to have had very few positive relationships in her life."

Zach bowed his head thoughtfully. "Did you record the interview?"

"GV, play record, pilot's auxiliary screen."

The three teammates watched in silence as Niko's interview with Gaea played itself out. Doc winced in sympathy more than once, unable to stop himself from shaking his head.

Oh man, someone has really done a number on that kid.

The record ended, and Zachary sat back in his seat. "You saw evidence of mental conditioning, Niko—like some kind of programming? You're sure?"

Niko rubbed her forehead lightly. "It seemed to have happened a long time ago, but it's there, Zachary. I'm sure of it."

"Sir," GV announced quietly, "we have reached our jump point."

Zach touched a few keys and ordered, "Announce the jump and go to warp, GV."

"Yes, sir!" The intercom clicked, and GV's voice sounded through the ship. "All hands prepare for warp in five seconds, four—"

The countdown ended. They felt the infinitesimal shiver through the skin of the ship that told them Ranger One had just gone into warp, and outside the stars vanished, to be replaced by the red streaks of hyperspace. An eyeblink later, the stars reappeared in slightly different positions as their ship warped back out into outer Earthspace.

The hatch cycled again, and Goose stepped into the cockpit.

"You wanted to talk to me, Captain?"

Doc groaned inwardly as the tension level rose a notch. "Yes," Zach said. "Doc, Niko, would you please head back to the Nav Bay to keep an eye on our... guest?"

Niko stood again, and she and Doc turned to go.

Goose stood at parade rest as his teammates quietly left the bridge. Zach watched him for a moment, leaning against the back of his seat, arms folded, considering.

"You've been tense lately, Gooseman. What's on your mind?"

Goose held quite still, but Zach could see his mind racing behind the calm mask of his face. "Nothing work related, Captain," he answered finally.

"Well, maybe not, but when it starts affecting your work, I start getting concerned. And judging from what I've seen on this mission, I think it may be time to get concerned."

Goose stiffened slightly. "I don't know what you're talking about, Zach."

Damn stubborn—

Zachary resisted the urge to grind his teeth. "Gooseman, I know you don't like what we're doing. Your objections have been noted—and now I expect you to do your job."

The blond man stiffened again. "This stinks, Captain!" he snapped, voice rising at every word. "We're all full of talk, but you know damn well we can't do a damn thing about it if they decide to walk up and just take Gaea wherever the hell they feel like!" He finished at a shout, green eyes blazing in rage.

Zachary stood very tall and looked levelly at his youngest team member with cold blue eyes.

"Are you done, Ranger Gooseman?"

Zachary barely got his arm up in time. The force of Goose's fist as Zachary caught it in the palm of his bionic hand rocked Zach's entire frame. Gently he lowered the younger man's unresisting arm to his side and let go.

"You're taking this personally, aren't you?" he asked quietly, and nearly winced at the stricken look in Goose's eyes.

"Sit down," he said gently.

Goose sat.

"Look, Goose," Zach said, sinking into his own chair, "you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. But I need you to do your job and do it right. I need to know I can trust you and that you trust me. The day we don't trust one another is the day we might as well turn in our badges." He reached out a hand to gently clasp Goose's forearm. "I don't pretend to understand what this case means to you. But I'm asking you as your commanding officer and your friend to set aside your personal feelings and do what we've got to do."

Elbows on knees, Goose leaned his forehead on the heels of his hands and dug his fingers into his hair as he stared at the floor.

"I don't—I can't—" he said, his voice barely audible, and stopped.

"We'll be close to Earth soon, Goose," Zachary said quietly. "Go sit by yourself for a bit."

Goose rose and turned to go. "Captain, I—" he started, pausing with his back to Zach. The hatch opened.

"It's all right, Gooseman. Go on."

Zach watched Goose as he stepped through the opening, body tense and head bowed, and strode away down the corridor. The hatch slid shut, and Zach sighed and toggled the comm.

"Doc, please return to the cockpit for the approach to Earth."

"Aye, Captain."

Zachary Foxx stared down at his hands on the control board and leaned back in his seat, eyes closing in weariness. Heavy case, and no one to share the weight.

Eliza... I miss you.

Gaea - Chapter 09

From Betamountain.org

Gaea

Chapter 9

by Baybelletrist