Orbits - Book 2 - Dangerous Debris

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Major got back on Excelsior where he found Rosalind, Carlos, and his passengers in the galley. Orme and his fellows were all seated at the dining table with Orme seated in the center. They all had their heads bowed. It appeared that Orme was reading from a book leading them in some type of ritual. Rosalind and Carlos were watching the inexplicable scene. Rosalind noticed Major’s entrance and whispered to him, “Major come look at this.”

“How are they doing?”

“Physically they seem to be fine. They recover quickly. But look.”

“What are they doing?”

“I’m not sure. They’re reading something. We got back on the ship and they quickly assembled here,” Rosalind explained.

“I think they’re engaged in some type of religious practice,” Carlos posited.

“Carlos come with me to the bridge. I’m going to undock and I want you to pilot the ship for a bit,” Major said.

“What? Pilot the ship? Where are we going?” “I don’t know yet. Just get us away from the lab

and fly in a circle. I’ve got to do something in my

cabin.”

Carlos and Major left leaving Rosalind alone to watch the strange scene before her. Orme and his people were still engaged in some reverential reading. Orme was reading to them as a teacher explicating some principle. All were in rapt attention. The words Orme was reading could not be heard by Rosalind. She had a certain respect for these individuals and the proceedings to move closer or interrupt them. She kept staring at the book they were using. It was small but dense. It was well used and probably very old. There were tattered edges and pages were torn and missing. There was something familiar about it. Had she seen it before? She thought so. It was not the

type of book that was familiar. But it was that particular book they were using. But how could that be? Orme and his people were concluding. The book was closed, there was one last utterance from the whole crew, and they got up from their chairs. With the proceedings over, Rosalind felt more comfortable approaching Orme for questions.

“Orme I hope you don’t mind; I was watching,” Rosalind said to him.

“All are welcome to hear the words. There is no hearer or non-hearer.”

“That book is very interesting.”

Orme clutched the book in reverence. “It brought the light to my people.”

“May I see it?”

“Yes.” Orme passed the book to Rosalind.

Rosalind took the book in both hands. There was immediate weight to it. She focused on the title. She had to read it twice to make sure she was not

mistaken. It read: THE BIBLE KING JAMES VERSION. It made sense - the reverence of Orme and his men. His allusions also now made sense. But there was more. She quickly turned the volume over examining the front and back covers, its edges, and fanning through its pages. She had seen this book before! The wear and tear were exactly as she had remembered. Could it be possible? She needed confirmation. She quickly and with heart-bursting anticipation thumbed to the inside cover almost dropping the book in the process. It took a few seconds for her eyes to focus as her brain was spinning. But there it was! That unmistakable stamp! She staggered back.

How could it be? She gasped, “OH MY GOD!”

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Meanwhile Major entered his cabin not caring that he left the inexperienced Carlos at the helm at this critical time. What he had to do now was more important. He closed his cabin door, took his seat at his desk, turned on his computer, and began dictating:

Captain’s Log - March 12, 2064

Yesterday we took onboard a group of passengers

- twelve in number - who have escaped enslavement on the Ryugu asteroid operated by the NEO-Mining Corporation. The NEO-Mining Corporation needed these slaves to make their operation profitable. The Chinese Communist Party is all behind this heinous scheme being the majority owner of the company. At the Low Gravity Lab, I learned that these passengers are not only slaves but they were genetically engineered to be so. They were created in that lab being optimized to survive the conditions of space. Commander Fox has a hand in all this. My nemesis was at the lab. She has no doubt alerted her Bosses that their property is under my care. I fully expect to be followed. But to where? Where can I take Orme and his people where they can be safe and . . . free?

Major paused his recording gathering his thoughts. He reflected on his last words, and resumed:

I destroyed the lab where the slaves were created. Hopefully, NEO-Mining will not be able to create any new slaves for some time. And I rescued their latest batch in embryo form. How am I ever to care

for these youngest of lives? I am responsible for them all - Orme, his people,

And looking at the container of embryos beside him:

and now these most innocent ones. I am just a garbage hauler. Where do I find the strength to be much more?

Major stopped recording. Rather than feeling silly after his first Captain’s log entry attempt, he felt a sense of release. He recorded the events, and they were important events. But there was more. Articulating his doubts framed the events into the human landscape. Perhaps Carlos was right. It was important that his thoughts mattered not only to himself but to others who might someday read them though he still shuttered that someone might actually read them. He decided he would continue his Captain’s Log. But he would not tell Carlos. It was not that he didn’t want to give Carlos satisfaction. Rather, he wanted the privacy to act as his inspiration to continue.

His door buzzer brought him back to the immediacy of the ship’s plight.