Orbits - Book 2 - Dangerous Debris

…………………………………………………………… “Come in.” Major remained seated at his desk.

The buzzer rang again. “Come in,” Major repeated.

“Thomas?” Major heard Rosalind’s voice through the door.

“Yes.”

“It’s Rosalind and Orme.”

Major wondered why Rosalind simply did not come in when he beckoned. It was unusual behavior for her. Something unusual must be happening. He made sure he turned off his computer so they would not see his log displayed. He rose from his set and walked the short distance to his door. He pushed his door button and it slid open. There stood Rosalind and Orme side by side. Rosalind’s face was pallid as if she had seen a ghost. She looked shaken and unsteady. His concern level instantly rose.

“Thomas, can we come in?

“Of course Rosalind,” Major assured her.

They entered and Rosalind began pacing in the small room. Orme stood by silently. Major was witnessing Rosalind’s agitated state and just waited for her to open up. “We have something to show you Thomas. I can’t explain it. It’s not possible.”

“Ok,” Major tried to use a soothing voice.

Rosalind looked over to Orme. Orme stepped forward and handed the book to Major. Major took the book and saw its title. He did not know what reaction he should be having. It was true that he had not seen a copy of the Bible in quite some time. He did not know anyone who carried a copy around. And here in space? What an oddity and an unnecessity. Still, he did not see why these peculiars should provoke such an unusual reaction in Rosalind. “It’s a Bible.”

“Thomas this is my husband’s Bible,” Rosalind informed him.

“What?”

“This particular book is the Bible he kept with him always. I don’t know how it is possible but I would know it by sight anywhere.” She then took the book from Major’s hands, opened up the front cover, and returned it to Major. There it was. It was the unmistakable personal stamp of Rosalind’s husband:

“I don’t understand. John didn’t give you this and you just forgot?”

“No,” Rosalind explained. “Orme and his people have been using it.”

Major looked to Orme. Orme had a peaceful demeanor and uttered, “We learn all from book. We learn to be free, obey the law, forgive, and life forever. My people were weak before book. Now getting strong each orbit.”

Major’s admiration for Orme increased immeasurably as he heard the simple, beautiful lessons the book imported to this disfavored group. But hasn’t this always been the case?

Rosalind needed answers to the question that filled the room. He guided her into his desk chair before commencing his interrogation. He was fearful for Rosalind’s sake what answers would unfold.

“Orme where did you get this book?” Major asked.

“Ship Survivor come Ryugu rock. Mining boss buys supplies,” Orme answered.

Upon hearing the name of her husband’s ship Survivor, Rosalind jumped, “My God, that’s my

husband’s ship! I didn’t know his ship was at Ryugu. When could that be? They were heading to Mars.”

Major turned to Orme, “Orme this is very important. When was the Survivor at Ryugu?”

“When Earth was conjoined with Ryugu last.”

“He must mean when Earth was in conjunction with Ryugu. Major let me use your computer,” Rosalind said.

“Sure, that makes sense,” Major responded. “Orme, did a man named John give you this book?”

“Yes, John. The man John. Give book. He argue with boss. He said he come back and do something. But not then. He give book and said learn.”

While Orme was speaking, Rosalind was pulling up the orbital charts of Earth, Ryugu, and Mars. She needed to determine if it was possible whether the Survivor could stop off at Ryugu on the way to Mars. She knew the range of the

Survivor and its path to Mars. If Orme was correct this would be the first clue to the whereabouts of her husband’s ship since contact was lost with it.

Rosalind took out her trusted writing pad to help with her calculations.

Major sought more information from Orme, “Orme why did John argue with your mining boss?”

“Man John see my people. Get angry. He told boss was wrong. Must stop. Boss warn man John.”

Major then walked Orme over to where he had laid the container of embryos down. He said to Orme, “Orme, these are more of your people.

They were created at the lab. Probably where you were created too. I am entrusting this container to your care until will can figure out what to do.”

Orme stared down at the container. Even with his simple mind, he could understand that here before him was his beginning. His hand reached out to the container wanting to touch it and the beings within. His hand caressed the entire container - its edges, its tops, even the underside as best he could hoping somehow that the beings

within could feel his presence. He wanted them to know they were loved and belonged. As he did so, his eyes watered and soon he openly wept.

Orme no longer looked like some unusual sub- human form to Major. No. Orme’s appearance rose in stature to the highest, most developed of life forms - that which cares for its own most innocent lives. Major moved closer to him readying to comfort him. Orme felt Major’s presence and quickly whirled to him and belted, “We must go back to Ryugu!”

“What? Why? You just escaped from Ryugu,” Major responded.

“The Eves still there. We go first and go back to get them when we find new rock.”

“There are women of your kind on Ryugu?” “Yes.”

“How many?”

“Same as we. Plus two more of us to protect,” Orme explained.

Major was now confronted with an additional burden to confront. Not only did he have to find a new home for Orme’s people and somehow care for twelve embryonic would-be slaves, but he had to go back to Ryugu where he might run into the Chinese communists and put Orme’s people back at risk. But the women on Ryugu presented the solution to one of his problems. Rosalind had finished her calculations.

“Captain, four months and seven days ago Ryugu was within only one hundred kilometers of Survivor’s path to Mars. It would be nothing for Survivor to slightly deviate from its course to supply the mining operation.”

“It looks like we have to go back to Ryugu to get some answers and some more passengers,” Major stated. Going to the intercom, Major said, “Carlos, I’m coming back to the bridge. We are altering course. And I’m giving you an assignment.”

“Aye, Aye, Captain. Everything is under control up here,” Carlos replied.

Major turned to Orme, “Orme we are going to try to find you a new home. I don’t know where that is

going to be yet. But we will try our best. Your mining bosses may come after us. They want you back. We won’t let that happen if I can help it.”

“We trust you Major. The book promises that the weak will be made strong and the strong will be made weak. We believe. The promise is soon here.”

Major gave Orme a firm acknowledged nod. Orme reciprocated. A bond had developed between the two men that can only exist between two men. Both men were men of principle willing to take action to protect and preserve those principles. Both men also saw themselves as protectors of those under their charge. Not much more needed to be said between the two leaders. There was now an implicit understanding between the two as to what course of action lay before them and the risks this implied. Orme left Major’s cabin with the container and returned to his people.

Major was about to follow when Rosalind grabbed him by the elbow, “Thomas this is the first piece of information I’ve had about John since he went missing. My heart can’t stop racing. Something

happened there on Ryugu! I feel it. Something happened there which caused Survivor to go missing.”

Rosalind was trembling unable to control both her newfound hope and dread. Major took hold of her by her two hands to import his comfort and strength. “Rosalind, we will get some answers on Ryugu. I think you’re right. Something happened on Ryugu which John was a part of. Let’s get there as soon as we can.”