Orbits - Book 2 - Dangerous Debris

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Major and Rosalind sat on the bridge stunned by what they had just seen. How could one make sense of beings so different from any human beings ever seen? Had the crew discovered some new species of hominoids? Most disturbing of all was could it be that the NEO-Mining Company had simply dumped these beings in its garbage container to dispose of them just like its mining debris? Such a notion was repulsive to both Major and Rosalind. Their silent stare into each other’s eyes expressed the horror of what they could be dealing with.

“Ros, we have to find out why they were on that container,” Major said with conviction.

“I know. And something tells me that NEO-Mining is not going to tell us,” Rosalind replied.

“Agreed. What could they mean, ‘No Earth,’ and what did he say,? ‘Crushed.’”

“I don’t know Major,” Rosalind was just as perplexed as Major.

“How were the injuries to that Orme fellow? He appears to be somewhat of their leader,” Major asked.

“He looked mostly untouched,” Rosalind answered.

“He’s our best start. Let’s get him up here.”

“I’m not sure of either their cognitive or language abilities,” Rosalind interposed.

“We’ve got to try. Who’s your friend on the Low Gravity Lab?”

“Mark Matthews. We went to school together. Really smart. He’s a gene therapist researcher.”

“Alright. Contact him. Get the coordinates of the lab and let’s get there. I don’t want to start getting dizzy.” Major reached for the intercom and called, “Carlos would you bring Orme up to the bridge?”

“Ok Captain.”

Carlos had finished getting the unusual passengers water and he dressed some of their wounds. The strangers were just as curious about Carlos as he was about them. They seemed to be impressed with Carlos’ unrestricted movement around the ship getting water, and bandages, and doing as he willed without oversight from anyone. He motioned to Orme to follow him with a universal arm gesture, and Orme followed.

When they got to the bridge Orme was amazed by the slew of electronics, dials, switches, knobs, display screens, and of course the view out the view window. It was obvious that Orme had never been in such an environment. Major gestured for Orme to sit in one of the bridge chairs. Orme understood but it was as if he was completely unfamiliar with positioning his body to sit in a chair like the bridge chair.

After he had finally adjusted his body, Major addressed him, “Orme we are going to take you . . .”

“No Earth! No Earth!. Crushed!” Orme was emphatic.

Major had to calm him, “No Earth Orme. No Earth. We will not take you to Earth. We are going to take you to a medical facility. Your people are injured.

They need medical help.”

“We get better quick. Don’t need help. We need free. Moses promised new rock. Weak will be strong. Weak will be strong. New rock. It promised.” The jumble of words and phrases obviously had deep meaning for Orme. But their full meaning escaped Major and Rosalind for the moment.

“The medical facility will heal your wounds and the carbon dioxide on this ship will return to normal…,” Major had to adjust his vocabulary, “the air on this ship will soon be bad.”

“Don’t need air. Need new rock. No medical. Rock boss there. New rock please,” Orme pleaded with desperation. Orme looked to Rosalind to intercede on his behalf as he thought the feminine form would be more understanding.

The timbre of Rosalind’s voice was always calming and she knew how to use it to great effect. “Orme

I know you care about your people. They are hurt very badly. We want to help. The best way to do that right now is to take you to the medical facility. I have a friend there. He is good and he will help.”

As was always the case, Rosalind had the effect of instilling trust. Orme softened and his desperation lessened. In a questioning tone rather than a demand he replied, “No Earth?”

“No Earth Orme, I promise,” Rosalind responded as she simultaneously reached out and took Orme’s hand. Orme stared down at the hold that took him and he was overcome by the warmth and softness of Rosalind’s touch. He had never felt anything so reassuring. He was not sure it was real. Surely she had applied some type of spell to her hands for it to have its effect. For Rosalind’s part, she did not have to look at Orme’s hand to know that it had been brutalized with callouses, cracks, scabs, and cold dryness. Yet she felt a strength under its muscles and tendons.

She had won him over. “We go medical place. New rock after. We careful. Rock boss everywhere. Not like you. Not going back.”

Major still was wanting to know precisely how Orme’s people came to be on the container. He asked him, “Orme why were you on the container?”

“We are nobody. But our cries were heard. We are nobody, but promised weak will be strong.” Orme paused then continued, “Back to my people. Time for book.”

Orme’s response was obviously unsatisfying to Major. But he understood Orme wanted to get back to his people. They were in bad shape, and they had undergone some unknowable trauma. For now, the focus must be to get them to the Low Gravity Lab. The carbon dioxide levels were still going up. Full answers would come in time.

“Rosalind take Orme back to his people. Orme we have to get to the lab fast. Our air will soon be poisonous. Get some rest.”

Rosalind escorted Orme off the bridge and back to his people. Carlos had taken the passengers to the galley where the surroundings were cleaner and more comfortable. When Orme stepped into the galley he removed a small book from a pocket,

huddled his people around him, and began reading it to his people.

While alone on the bridge, Major glanced at the carbon dioxide levels. They continued to rise, and they would become critical shortly. He throttled up the engines and set course for the lab. Major’s thoughts were not on the course, however. They were solely on the additional souls he now had responsibility for. He was consciously aware that he had thought of the word soul. But what exactly kind of souls did these unusual beings have?

Were they fully human? Were they human at all? They had a modicum of language and intelligence. Orme was clearly exercising choice. And Major saw the look in Orme’s eye when he received the comfort of Rosalind’s touch. That look was full of a depth of longing that somehow told Major that these beings, simple though they were, just might be more human than anyone could believe possible.