Tennir
I wake up groggy and push myself upright on the couch in my office. I have been sleeping at the lab for four rotations now, ever since I got word about this whole debacle with Rennek. I wait anxiously for his arrival and send prayers to the Goddesses that he makes his journey safely. I rub my hands over my face. I feel responsible for my brother getting mixed up in this dangerous business. I asked him to take this position because I thought it would keep him marginally safer than a career as an enforcer. I also thought it would help to keep him more connected to us, his family. It has seemed the older we get the greater the distance between us gets as well. When I look at my brother, I only see the little boy I grew up playing with back on Mother World. I think though, when he looks at me he only sees all he did not have. The familiar guilt pools in my core.
“Lights.”
The room brightens and I blink to adjust my still tired eyes. I’ve hardly slept. I wonder how our mother and our sister Kahreen are doing, but mostly I think of Rennek. He is a strong male. He can take care of himself, I remind myself. He always could. Even though he is six yets younger than me, it always seemed he and I were on par. He actually pushed me to work harder so I could remain on par. Can’t have my little brother best me physically… I smile at long cherished memories. Distant memories.
“Time for work, I suppose,” I say to no one but myself. I pull on my lab coat over my day old wrinkled attire and grab a protein pack from my desk. Not the healthiest breakfast, but it’ll do for now. I will work to occupy my mind while I wait for word from Rennek and then I’ll eat a real lunch, I promise myself.
I walk from my office down the halls of the lab. We are located in a small, unpopulated sun system comprised of seven planets and twelve moons which had been reserved for scientific endeavors. There is a moon nearby which serves as a dwelling space for all the scientists, engineers and various professionals who work the system. It is fairly advanced, we even have shops and entertainment. It is luxurious compared to the expeditions on back world planets from earlier in my career.
Our lab orbits a recently terraformed planet which we have engineered to populate with creatures from distant systems. There will be many stages of this research project. Partly, we aim to create a rich catalogue of life forms for study and to cross compare with previously discovered life forms. We are using genetic mapping to determine species links across distant sun systems to gain a deeper understanding of the various ways life might have been spread through the galaxy. Our goal is to build a self-sustaining environment and allow the creatures to live in a naturalistic setting so we may study them in the wild. We learned long ago that caging animals for study corrupts research, not to mention the poor ethics of it.
The cultural values across the United Planets dictates we honor the stewardship we have over environments and non-sentient beings. It is important to study these things so we may care for them better. It seems the more sun systems and cultures that join with the United Planets, the more commonalities we see across vast distances of space. It is deeply interesting to consider how and why this is. Obviously, there are many differences as well… but it is the threads that link us which have always held my attention and sparked my interest.
My mind is already beginning to focus on work as I near the main laboratory. I can see the clouded glass windows ahead of me. I am surprised it is still dark within. I thought I had slept in a bit and hoped a warm pot of ceata would be waiting for me. Perhaps I got less sleep than I realized and I am early still. I punch my code into the panel beside the door, it seems to catch a little as it hisses open. I step inside, but the auto lights do not automatically turn on at my entry.
“Computer, activate lights,” I command.
Beep beep.
The sound indicates the computer recognizes my request. I hear some electric whirring noises around me, as if the lights are trying to power on… but nothing happens.
“Computer, engage emergency lighting.”
Beep beep.
Now I hear something like a generator kick on and slowly dim red lighting fills the space. The first thing I see is an overturned chair. I step forward to the workstation it belongs to and right the chair. As I bend to retrieve it, I am startled. Lying on the floor is my friend, Goeta. I run to his side.
“Goeta! Are you alri…” but as I place my hands on my friend I can sense immediately that he is gone. I turn him over and am shocked to see the mark of a laser blast across his chest. I stand and back away in shock and horror--only to trip. I find myself on the ground, eye to eye with another friend and colleague, Tismae. Her eyes stare into mine. Unblinking. She is dead.
I scramble to my feet and the silence in the room finally hits me. The animals are making no sounds. I run to the cages. Even in the dim emergency lighting I can see the crime before me. Slaughtered. A pointless cruelty. Whoever has done this could still be on the station. I need to check on the rest of my team.
“Computer,” I say quietly, “emergency lights out.” I strip off my lab coat and look one last time towards Goeta and Tismae, before I head towards the control room. There is nothing but silence around every corner. My blood pounds in my ears. When I get there, I will scan the station for life signs and determine if there is still a threat aboard. Then I will contact Mother, Rennek and the UPC.
As I journey through the lab station I listen closely for any sounds of life, but there is nothing besides the sound of my own breath. When I finally arrive at my destination I rush inside. The telltale hum of a laser stops me dead in my tracks.
“Looks like we have one last straggler,” a rough voice says.
“Scientists. This one should be as little trouble as the rest,” another voice laughs nearby.
“I won’t be any trouble,” I say turning, my hands in the air. But before they know it, I am trouble. I’m the worst kind of trouble. I swing my leg up into a kick that sends the laser flying out of my attacker’s hand. Without hesitation, I leap towards the other voice in the darkness and I am on him in a moment, smashing his head into a metal control panel. The first male is diving for the gun, but I am faster. I snatch the laser and swing the handle down hard on the back of his neck. He is on the ground and I pin him with my foot, pointing the laser at him.
“How many?”
My prisoner grunts and I press harder on his neck.
“Five! Five, including us,” he growls.
“What are you doing here? Are you bounty hunters?” The male laughs, despite my tight grip. He gurgles a response, but I can’t understand him. I loosen my grip slightly so he may speak.
“Do I look like a bounty hunter to you?” He asks laughing. I take in his uniform for the first time… UPC.
“Who sent you?”
“You and your field team stepped on the wrong toes, scientist. We are just cleaning things up, making sure nobody rocks the boat.”
“The trafficking? UPC has a hand in that?”
“Look scientist, I’d tell you all about it… but I’d rather just kill you.”
At that moment he makes his move and I have to make mine. I need to come out on top, I must warn my brother…