LINKS
____________
The Christa Affair
Chapter Ten
"What made you think of ultrasonics?" Jashi asked. All but Rang were gathered around the control room table; the \Klondike\ was in high planetary orbit around Ultazari-Seven, her deflector screens on full. Jashi's left arm was in a sling.
"I didn't... Lito did," Mowii responded. "She read an article..."
"...That told about their radar, and how ultrasonics seemed to scramble their nervous system," Jashi finished. "Me too... She just remembered better. We owe somebody a big thank-you." He made a mental note to learn the identity of the writer, while reflecting on the wisdom of the boat's designer in including the powerful sonic projectors as standard equipment.
"Agreed!" said Mowii. She continued her story, "After I took the hit on my first pass, I took the landingcraft straight up to thirty-five hundred. From there, I figured I could find you guys with the video scanner if you weren't still in the smoke. Then the long-range video went out too."
"Must have been when the second firefight started," interjected Jashi.
"Something funny about their energy beams," mused Toko. "There's always interference during a firefight, but nothing like \this\. I can't believe it took out the video -- that's closed circuit! And the hyperphone's still out with us in high orbit!" Repeated calls to Federation HQ had brought no response in the three hours since their rescue.
"I didn't know anything could scramble hyperspace transmissions," observed Suu. She wore a cast on both legs; three days of treatments in the tissue regenerator and both she and Jashi would be as good as new.
"Can't," said Jashi. "At least not anything known to the Federation. I remember Dad working on one of their projects... They wanted a way to isolate a planet if necessary. Nothing touched it."
"Well \something\ did," said Toko, "and still is... Want me to try HQ again?"
"No need," answered Jashi. "The SOS has been going since all this started. I'm sure we'll hear them yelling their heads off as soon as the static clears."
"Will you guys let me finish?" snapped Mowii. "I want to get back to the infirmary!" Rang was there, hooked up to a monitor; his condition was unchanged. Because of the unusually high brain-wave, Suu was hesitant to treat him until they contacted HQ, and Jashi concurred. All his vital signs were stable, and he seemed to be in no immediate danger.
"Sorry," said Jashi.
"Anyway," continued Mowii, "after the video quit, I went back down twice to see if I could see anything. Both times, the sniper cut loose, and I took another hit on the second pass... So I just went back up and stayed put, hoping Lito would spot me and use a comm laser. I knew she'd be in contact with Roi... We need laser transmitters on the landingcraft!" she added.
"You'll get it -- next port." promised Jashi, "and a few other things too. It's not safe out here anymore!"
"I'd never have found you if you hadn't used the thrusters," said Lito. "They showed thru the static just enough to clue me where to look. I found you with the glasses."
"You used hydrofusion at that altitude?!" Jashi demanded. "Roi, check the badges! See how much radiation we took."
(.... "Easy Darling ...."). Karli spoke aloud. "I already checked while you were in the fresher. Well within tolerance on all of us." Jashi was visibly relieved. Roi sat back down; he was bare from the waist up, his back and shoulders covered with Plastiskin.
"Begging the Captain's pardon," retorted Mowii sarcastically, "but you'd all be dead if I hadn't. And so would I! I'll swap you a direct hit for a little radiation anytime... Screw regulations! Log \that\ for the military." She got up from the table and made a rude gesture as she stormed from the room.
(.... Disgust .... "Way to go, big shot. Some thanks for saving our tacos! ....") Karli cut the contact like the snap of a switch and followed Mowii from the bridge.
"Sorry, guys," said Jashi sheepishly. "Guess I sorta stuck my foot in it, huh? Lito, will you finish, please?"
"You know the rest," said Lito, shrugging. "I gave her your position and situation from Roi's picture. She poured on the white noise till it knocked out the hoppers, then landed and got you out."
Jashi thought it best not to mention her disregard of his order to up-ship.
Silence settled over the bridge of the \Klondike\. At last Jashi spoke, "Lito, you have the conn. I suggest we get some rest while we wait for the hyperband to clear. Kill the SOS. Beam HQ with databurst every ten minutes; call me when they answer. Deflectors on full between calls." As he reached the door he added, "Wake me up in four hours if you haven't made contact."
*********
On the way to his cabin, Jashi stopped by the infirmary to check on Rang. Mowii was asleep in a chair beside Rang's bed; she wakened as the door closed behind him. "How is he?" Jashi asked softly.
"No change," she responded in a whisper. Her lip trembled as she got to her feet. "Oh Jashi, what's wrong with him?" She started to cry quietly.
Jashi crossed to his brother's bedside and put his arm around Mowii. "I don't know, Sis," he answered helplessly. "I don't have any answers for anything that's happened to us since we grounded on this crazy planet. I'm beginning to think somebody's repealed a few of the natural laws of the universe."
They stood for a long moment, staring down at the still form lying on the bed, then Mowii pulled away and went to the sink. "Sorry, Jashi," she said as she splashed cold water on her face.
"No sweat, Sis," he replied. "I didn't mean to jump you. You did a good job out there." After a moment, he continued, "You need some sleep."
Mowii started to protest; Jashi cut her off in mid-sentence. "Sleep here." He indicated the bed next to Rang's. "I'll set the monitor to wake you if there's any change... Wait a minute! I thought you said no change? The brain-scan's down four points."
They both crossed to the hard-copy console. The printout showed a straight line for all vital signs except one -- the trace of the brain-wave activity showed a slight decline. Four points represented only about two percent of the abnormally high activity -- but it was a change, and in the right direction. Mowii almost smiled for the first time since Rang had been discovered missing. "I was watching \him\, not the monitor." Suddenly, she sounded very tired. "Maybe I \will\ catch a little nap... Promise you'll wake me in an hour?"
"Make it four," answered Jashi. "Sooner if anything happens." He stepped into the passageway and keyed the door closed behind him before she could protest. As he walked briskly down the passageway toward his cabin, Jashi began to systematically clear his mind in preparation for sleep.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
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