Longer Goodbye

“Ma’am we've located the distress signals,” Ensign Jacob reported to Captain Ellis. “They originated from two spacesuits floating approximately 225 feet apart on slightly divergent courses. There is debris from what we assume to be their ship a few hundred kilometers away.” “That’s odd. Are there any life signs?” Captain Ellis asked. “One of the suits is decompressed, and the best we can tell the mass inside is about one third what it should be. The other suit is still intact but appears to contain only slight mass in the helmet,” the ensign replied. “And according to the beacon when was the distress signal initiated?” The Captain asked, hoping her assumption was wrong. “One hundred and ten days, 9 hours and 13 minutes ago.” “Shit! feeder bugs,” the Captain responded as she got out of her chair and headed for the door. “What did you say ma’am?” The ensign inquired as he struggled to keep pace. “When will we rendezvous with the suits?” The Captain asked. “In a half an hour ma’am.” “Con Dr. Steen,” the captain called out. A voice responded almost immediately, “Yes ma’am.” “Bring a neural sustenance chamber to the airlocks and prepare the bio-feedback paraphernalia and a regeneration tank. I’ll meet you there.” “Yes ma’am,” Dr. Steen signed out without further questions. Captain Jane Ellis finally got to the ensign's question. “Feeder bugs are nanos used mostly in asteroid mining operations. With a reservoir of raw materials it allows the wearer to stay in the suit indefinitely. The Feeder bugs make what the person needs from waste or from the reservoir. One side effect of the bugs is that they start using the owner’s own flesh to nourish his brain once the preferred material is exhausted. “ “So you believe that suit we are about to bring on board contains a live brain?” The ensign asked. “The circumstances seem to rule out all other scenarios unless it’s an elaborate hoax, and being that we are more than a week away from any inhabited systems that option isn’t

working for me. That reminds me, run a complete test on the nano detection and deactivation system before we send the recovery team out.” “Yes ma’am.” The ship that Jane Ellis has commanded for the past three years, the Sol Confederated Ship (SCS) Hermes, was a small lightly armed vessel with a crew of eighteen. Like the god it was named after it's purpose was to get important things to other places as quickly as possible; therefore it is not equipped with a full hospital like a battle carrier. Luckily, everything needed to regenerate the victim is standard on military crafts, and even high end civilian vessels. Captain Ellis, Dr. Steen, and the two crew members whose task is to complete the reclamation stood outside the airlock and formed a plan. “How much time do we have to put the brain in the container once the bugs have been deactivated,” the captain asked. “The transfer must be completed within 4 minutes to ensure no further damage is incurred,” answered the doctor. “And how long do you believe the transfer from the suit to the container will take?” The captain continued her line of inquiry. “That depends on how much of the head is intact. The brain must be free of the skull to be put into the solution. If the head is complete we must extract it first. That process could take fifteen minutes. On the other hand if the brain is exposed then the transfer shouldn’t take longer than three minutes,” answered the Doctor. “OK doctor, suit up I need you inside the airlock to inspect the suit and head. Once you have access to the brain we will kill the bugs,” Ellis said. Jane watched the process from her personal hologram display projected in front of her eyes. The team broke up and each recovered a suit. Once in the airlock the doctor examined and decompressed the intact suit. Removing the helmet he reported to the captain that more than two thirds of the head was consumed and the brain was readily accessible. With that word the captain gave the order to deactivate the nanos and complete the transfer. Within minutes the brain had a new home. "The brain still appears to be viable," the doctor said, "at least the lower level functions are present."

Once in the sick bay Captain Ellis watched as the doctor prepared the interfaces which would allow the poor soul to once again see, hear and communicate while his body was being grown. “We need to proceed very carefully at this point, to determine if any higher level brain functions are still present,” Dr. Steen explained. “But couldn’t you just use the brain bugs to repair any psychological damaged?” asked Jane starring raptly at the brain floating in the solution.. “If we were to introduce the neural repair nanos into a brain that had only limited capabilities,” the doctor said, “they would not be able to recover the old personality, and would in essence create a new one. So although he would have the same memories he, I’m assuming the brain to be male judging from the haircut and shape of what was left of the forehead, he would not be the same person that went into this suit over 100 days ago.“ “OK, how will you proceed then?” The captain asked. "We need to hook up his senses and see what if we can communicate," the doctor replied. "I'm activating auditory, optical and vocal interfaces now," the doctor said as he programmed the sensors to start receiving input. Immediately upon activation the room was filled with an ear piercing inhuman howl followed by a noise that sounded like a mixture of manic laughter and soul wrenching sobs, as if the pressure had been building since the last time his mind had contact with the world, and the doctor had just removed the lid. "Sir my name is Dr. Anthony Steen of the SCS Hermes. Can you Understand me?" The doctor asked trying to be heard over the cacophony. "Override. Damn it. Override. Override... Override god damn it... Nadia... no no... I can't..." Captain. Ellis and Dr. Steen looked on as the stream of conscious rant went on trying to put the pieces into a coherent picture. "Well he is definitely psychotic," the doctor declared, " but after being isolated and expecting death for so long that is to be expected. At least his thoughts, although not coherent, are presented linguistically. We may be able to bring him back from the void, but it won't be quick." The victim did not appear to notice that other people were talking, or even that he had regained his senses. He just continued rambling over it all.

“Since we are unable to communicate with him directly, I believe it wouldn't be unethical to use a memory transverser to see exactly why these two where drifting in deep space while their ship is in rubble behind them. It could help us treat him,” Dr. Steen proposed. “We have one of those on board." Jane asked. "I thought they were only authorized to full blown hospital ships with psych departments?” “Seeing as how our ship goes to the most exotic settlements in the confederation, and that I have friends in ‘supply’,” the doctor flashed a nervous smile to the captain, “I made a few deals to obtain one,“. Eying the doctor suspiciously Captain Ellis determined not to inquire anymore about the transverser, at least until they solved this mystery. “So are we really going to see everything that happened through his eyes,” Jane asked, excited about actually getting the see a memory transverser in action. “Just sit back and see for yourself,” the doctor replied as he prepared the apparatus. "I am putting a sedative into his solution. You could imagine how you would feel if you were watching strangers rummage through your memories, even if you were stable; plus he's had enough misery the past few months, he doesn't need to relive it. At least not just yet." Dr. Streen finished the connection and stepped back beside the captain. Looking at her, he waited for the order to proceed. The captain looked at the container then gazed back at the doctor and nodded. "Transverser, index memories," Dr. Steen spoke the command. "Memory index commencing, the machine responded, "completion in approximately one minute forty-three seconds." ....... "Indexing complete," the transverser said breaking the silence of anticipation. "OK," the doctor said, "first let's see who we are dealing with. Transverser, show the most recent mirror shot." Almost as soon as the doctor had completed his command a man stood in front of them. He was slightly taller than average with a muscular build. Most people would probably say he was handsome with his olive skin and full nose. If Jane were to guess she would say he was quite middle aged. If pressed she would guess he was eighty. Even though his eyes still had the vitality of a youth, she could tell that those years had not been spent sitting behind a desk, but in some pretty harsh environments. "Transverser, give us name, birth date and place, occupation, and family information," the doctor requested.

"The subject's name is Tarik Langer, born October 19, 2264 in New Anchorage, Europa. He was the owner of a mining firm which harvested asteroids in the Kuiper belt until he sold the firm on July 15, 2338. For the past 18 months he has been retired and touring the settlements with his first and only wife Nadia. They have two children, Michelle, 30, and Brendan, 28," The machine responded. "Wow, married to the same woman all that time," stated the doctor. "That's one for the record books!" "That's either true love or total insecurity," the captain said. Reflecting on her three marriages the longest lasting four years, just about the right amount of time to share a life with one person, or so was the common belief. "OK, now we know the preliminaries let's find out why these soul mates where walking in space while there craft is in rubble," the doctor said. Jane threw him a disapproving glance for making light of this poor man's situation, but reconsidering she smiled and said, "proceed doctor." "Transverser, access 110 days 14 hours ago, compress to significant conversations and events," the doctor said. "Accessing," the transverser responded.. # "Come here," Tarik grinned at Nadia as he watched her confirming the course to Talon, a major tourist planet near the crab nebula. "You know this ship doesn't fly itself. You might try giving me a hand if you want it to make it to Talon at all," Nadia said not looking up from the controls. Tarik crossed the bridge and, embracing her from behind, whispered in her ear, "We don't need to go to Talon, I would float in deep space with you forever." Then he started kissing her on the neck. Nadia stopped what she was doing and smiled, "You're not forty anymore all this physical activity you've been getting lately could be dangerous, old man." Turning her around and placing his hand between her breasts he said, "If I am to die, right here is where I want it to be." Rolling her eyes Nadia asked, "have you been reading those twentieth century romance novels we found at that flee market on Troy?" Tarik just gave a crooked 'who me' grin and shrugged."

Why can't you just read technical manuals on gravitational drives like other men?" Nadia teased. "Oh, those paperbacks are technical manuals. Do you want me to give you another lesson?" Tarik said using his most seductive voice. "Well maybe a little refresher course would pass the time," Nadia said as Tarik used the controls to change the captain's chair into a bed. "You will not even know time exists," Tarik promised her as he kissed her and laid her down on the newly converted bed. As she removed her suit, Tarik looked at Nadia's lean soft body and black shoulder length hair like it was the first time. When he was younger he never would have believed that he could be happy with one woman for over fifty years, but Nadia was so much a part of him now. It's not like the old cliché that they are one person; they each still have very different personalities; she is the worrier, the planner, the one who made most things happen, while he is the take it as it comes and lets see what happens type. They know each other so well that most of their arguments were none verbal. Each knowing the other's positions as to anticipate the response to all posed points. A third party observer to one of their disagreements would see Tarik and Nadia making intense eye contact for 10 seconds followed by a concession nod by the loser and finally, if they were want to let the outsider in on it, the announcement of the decision. “So now what do you to say about those books,” Tarik asked lifting himself up on his elbow and looking down at his wife. Nadia rubbed Tarik's hairy chest and smiled, “How many more books do you have?” “I have only just begun, baby. I have....” The impact cut Tarik short, and rattled Nadia out of her revere, she scrambled to the controls to evaluate the damage. "It was a particle blast a direct hit on the engine, Nadia explained. "Whoever it is knows what they are doing. There is no other damage and the engines can be repaired within five hours if they have a good engineer." "I'm sure they do,” Tarik said as he tried to dress. “Ship, initiate self destruct two hours, silent, status - remainder plus three hours, with false cancellation confirmation." “Initiated,” the ship responded. They heard the metallic thunk of the aggressors ship docking. Tarik and Nadia grabbed their stunners and ran to the airlock They took cover around opposite corners and waited.

They could hear the pirates working on the door controls when, quicker than they could believe, the door cracked open and a hand appeared getting ready the throw something. Tarik had been aiming at that point and fired as soon as the hand presented itself. He hit the optical grenade before the pirate could throw it. A brilliant white flash illuminated the hallway. Although he was still conscious, Tarik had no control over his body. He lie helpless watching the battle continue without him. Nadia who had still been around the corner, was not affected by the blast. Nadia fired a couple of quick shots around the corner and then braved a peak. She saw the man Tarik had hit, and took pleasure in noticing that he was going to need most of his left arm regenerated. Then she saw three others looking like flies with their flash goggles and nano particle filters covering their faces. She quickly fired a shot at the closest one. He went down, but the other two immediately targeted her. She duct around the corner barely avoiding the volley of fire. Tarik could see Nadia backing down the corridor trying to find cover before the men could catch up. As she was feeling along to wall for the entrance to the toilet an arm appeared around the corner, threw another grenade and disappeared again. She dove into the toilet just before the flash. Tarik saw the two men reached the door almost simultaneously. He heard a shot and the first man fell backwards, the other one fired. For an eternal instant there was silence. The man dragged Nadia's limp body out of the toilet and called to his ship. “The owners have been neutralized. Send over a couple of men to collect our wounded, and start a recon on the ship” ordered the man who was obviously the leader. “Drag her over here next to him,” the leader said pointing at Tarik, “and bind them before they get control of their bodies.” The leader paced up and down the hallway waiting for Tarik to be able to communicate. “Let's make this quick,” he said as soon as he saw that Tarik had regained some of his motor skills. “I assume you activated the self destruct so we are on the clock. My name is Viper, and I am now the owner of this ship. Since I get very upset when things of mine blow up, especially when I am in the vicinity,” pointing his stunner at the head of Nadia's still limp form, “let's see where we stand here. Please ask the computer to give us the status.” “Give my wife the shuttle and 10 days of supplies and I will do whatever you want,” Tarik said. “That is a negotiation, I don't do negotiations,” Viper replied. “Now if I have to ask you one more time your wife is going to get a point blank stunner blast to the head. Have you ever seen the results?” Viper paused. “No, well if she is lucky she will die, but in any

circumstance she will never be the same again.” Tapping Nadia's head with the muzzle of the stunner Viper said, “So, the status please.” Glaring at Viper Tarik turned his gaze to Nadia and lowered his head in defeat. “Ship, destruct status.” “Self Destruct to be executed in four hours twenty-eight minutes and nine seconds,” the ship replied. “You set the sequence for five hours!” Viper said. “You don't have much faith in my engineers.” A defiant smile came across Tarik's pursed lips as he said, “not at all, but since the self destruct system is isolated from the main computer with its own power supply; so you can't find it and you can't turn it off, I figured that I would give myself plenty of time to kill you.” Viper gave a genuine burst of laughter, “I have to say you are nothing like our previous – business associates – I think you and I could have worked well together under different circumstances.” Turning suddenly serious Viper continued, “however in these circumstances I have the stunner to your wife's head and I am going to count to three. I would suggest you abort the sequence before then. One...” Tarik's eye well up with tears as his frustration showed itself through clinched teeth. “Two...” “If you kill her you will have to kill me and you will lose this ship,” Tarik blurted out, “promise you will let my wife and I go.” Viper stood stock still for a few seconds shook his head and replied, “this is getting tedious. Put them in their spacesuits,” he ordered. Trying to keep his voice even Tarik asked “What are you going to do?” Viper fired a shot at each of his prisoners, then he leaned down in front of Tarik and said, “I'm going to give you exactly what you asked for. I'm going to let you go.” One of Viper's crew, who looked as if he were trying to figure out the square root of a big number, asked, “Wattabout the self destruct.” “We have four hours and the best engineers money can buy,” replied Viper. “We can find and disarm the system in half the time. Get them and yourselves in suits and take them to the shuttle bay.”

Opening the shuttle bay to the coldness of space Viper spaced the men five feet apart and explained on open frequency what he wanted them to do. "When I give the signal I want you two to push these two straight out on parallel courses so they can gaze into each others eyes for the rest of their shortened lives. Ready... Set..." Tarik managed to get control of his voice just before he was pushed into the void of space. "I will kill you," he said weakly. With a malicious grin viper replied, “If wishes could kill me I would indeed have died many times. Three.” Nadia and Tarik were launched from the ship. "Nadia," Tarik screamed and convulsed aimlessly trying to alter his course enough to bring them together, but it was futile. Just as the trajectory of a diver is set as soon as his feet leaves the board no matter how much twisting and flipping is involved so will they float just out of arms reach through the dark void. "Nadia are you alright... Nadia!" After a few minutes Nadia regained her functions and croaked to a nearly inconsolable Tarik, "OK now." "Nadia, after the sunrise is a few minutes activate your distress signal," Tarik announced more lucidly than anything he has yet said in their floating exile. Grasping his meaning Nadia turned her head towards their old ship and waited. The crew member who was assigned the task of monitoring the couples conversions for any such divulgence, made a general announcement. The captain noticing that everything had stopped and all heads were turned towards him clearly and strongly said, "Disable that device, either he is bluffing in hopes we were listening in on them or the ship's status was rigged and running to our ship won't save us." The engineers tore down the wall with a new urgency. Scarcely two minutes elapsed before Nadia and Tarik witnessed the bright energy of the explosion envelop the two ships, soundlessly exterminating the vermin inside. Initially a non-rational elation swept over them for the justice they had delivered. As the blast slowly dimmed so did their joy replaced by the true emptiness that surrounded them. Tarik heard Nadia activated her distress signal first and followed suit. "I guess we should jus..."

The hologram Jane and Tony had been absorbed in disappeared briefly, causing Captain Ellis and Dr. Steen to look at each other with confusion. Before either could state their opinion of what occurred like a curtain opening on a dark stage the hologram reappeared. Opening his eyes Tarik had a moment of vertigo seeing only empty space in front of him. Suddenly the recent events flooded back to him making his already brittle head seem to burst. The realization of what was missing made his chest constrict painfully and his heart almost burst. "Nadia," Tarik tried to yell, but what came out was more of a low croak. "Tarik, you're alive! I'm behind you I fine. You were hit by what I assume was a small piece of our ship after the explosion. I couldn't see it, but all the sudden your head jerked and you started slowly rotating." Flushed with relief and wanting just to hear her voice in lieu of seeing her face he asked, "I how long have I been out?" "About three hours," replied Nadia. "I thought you were dead! I have been waiting for each rotation to see your face. It takes you 11 minutes 38 seconds to make one complete revolution, and I will be rising on your right in three minutes five seconds; in case you were curious. How is your suit's integrity?" "It seems fine," Tarik replied. "The seal is obliviously still in tact and I still have my heads up display. Let me do a systems check." "Suite, complete functions test," Tarik said as he switch the output to display across his display and not audibly. He deciphered the results through his double vision as well as he could. Integrity

OK

Live Support

OK

Nano Control

OK

Safety Systems

OK

Emergency Systems

Not Responding

"Tar, what's the status? Is everything OK?" Nadia asked concerned by the extended silence.

"Ya every-thing's great, the junk must have just been big enough to leave me with this headache," Tarik lied. "I wouldn't doubt if it was a piece of the captain himself trying to get his revenge." Not convinced by his story Nadia said, "Well... only cat naps for you for the next 24 hours. I'll be damned if I'm hitchhiking out here with a comatose hubby. I did enough of that when we were younger." Tarik laughed and immediately regretted it, "Oh, what I recall was me always trying to steer a limp body to the taxi stand." "Of course you don't recall the rest, but I bet you remember the following mornings," Nadia said as Tarik's profile came into view revealing a smile of revere. “My Luna shines upon me once again," Tarik said catching site of her again.