Emergency Meeting
1055 Words
Jorman, Valor and I follow Tiger out of the cafeteria, to a raiser, and then back to command central.
Tiger barely enters the room before he blurts, "Captain James, I request an emergency meeting."
Captain James turns around, shock evident in his eyes. "Captain's ready room, now!" He orders with a snap in his voice.
Tiger goes to a door off to the side. Captain James meets him there, and enters first. Tiger follows, then me, the space twins behind me.
"Explain!" Captain James orders.
Tiger clears his throat. "In half a day I've learned just how unprepared we, and our technology are for encountering other species, not to mention plant life, and Creator knows what else."
Captain James nods his head. "I understand there was a near tragedy in the cafeteria."
Tiger nods his head. "The kitchen staff mistakenly thought they could replace ginger root with Kinga root, because they look and smell similar. If not for Vlon..."
He can't finish his sentence.
"Besides, I just found my space twin." Valor exclaims, "I can't go back to just being me."
Captain James glares at Valor as Jorman whispers, "That's not how being a space twin works."
Tiger ignores them, and turns to me. "Show him your language."
I turn off the translator. "I can help you get some things done, but you're going to need more crew members who know the area, if you want to survive."
Captain James stares at me.
I turn the translator back on, and repeat my statement.
"I found it odd that you speak the same language as us." Captain James admits.
"I think Vlon and Jorman should be the first added to our population, and our crew." Tiger states seriously, "Not only are they proving to have valuable skills and knowledge; they're half Nyrarian, and have the empathic gene. They can literally help us with choosing any future population, and crew."
Captain James looks at me. "Do you know what our mission is?"
I look at Tiger. We haven't exactly talked about it. I sense apprehension emanating from him. I turn back to Captain James and answer, "Kiki referred to you as an explorer ship."
"That's partially accurate." Captain James informs me. "We are exploring, to find a planet we can colonize."
I promptly ask, "What are your standards for colonization?"
"Comparable atmosphere to our home planet, capable of supporting a wide variety of life, preferably without sentient life. We don't want to take over another species planet." Captain James answers.
"When we find a planet." Tiger states, "Captain James will be taking a skeleton crew back to our planet, to get more of our people. There's three other ships who will leave as soon as we tell them where to go."
"Your home planet is dying." Jorman exclaims.
Tiger nods his head and informs us, "I will be staying on the planet, in command, until someone more appropriate arrives."
The unsaid request fills the vibrations in the room. I turn to Jorman. "We can decide later who will stay on the planet, and who will make the trip."
Captain James looks shocked. "I thought you have to stay together."
"We have to join the same ship's population." I clarify, "What we do after that is up to us."
Captain James looks at me. "Is there anything else I should know?"
I nod my head and pull out the medallion pin Captain Ton gave me. I look down at it before placing it on Captain James' desk. "This is a crew medallion from our home ship. I never officially joined the crew, but my Captain gave this to me as I left. It symbolizes that I was a part of the crew, even though I never took the title."
"I don't understand." Tiger admits.
"Just because you're population, doesn't make you crew." Jorman offers, "Often there's different rules, and expectations, for each."
I nod my head. "It is tradition, in most cultures, to wear your crew history, if you have one. So, if you have me join your crew: I will wear your crew markings, the same as your crew, but I will also wear this medallion, somewhere on my clothing, to be able to show where I've been."
Captain James nods his head.
I pick up the Phennox medallion, and pin it to the top of my pants, so my shirt can hang over it, but I can easily reveal it, if appropriate.
Captain James goes to a box in the corner, which is made of stronger material than the rest of the room. He puts in a code, and presses his thumb on a spot. A small door opens. He pulls out two crew medallions for the Maiden Explorer. Then he turns around and explains, "I don't know what position to give you, but I welcome you to our population, and crew."
Jorman jumps up with excitement and declares, "Our brother is an Odd-man on the space dock. We see no shame in being the same for you."
"Odd-man?" Tiger (or should I now call him Tenate Blaze?) Asks, looking between Jorman and I.
I explain, "It's a position given to someone who has some skills in multiple areas, but not enough in any one area to be put there full time. Or, sometimes the crew member gets uncomfortable if they stay in the same job for too long, and need to be rotated for their own good."
Captain James points to me. "Since you're older, it's only right that you be Odd-man one." Then he gives me my medallion, by pinning it to my sleeve.
He hands the other medallion to Tenate Tiger Blaze, who turns and walks up to Jorman. "That makes you Odd-man two." He then places Jorman's medallion on his right sleeve.
"For now the position won't hold rank, but that could change over time." Captain James states as he takes his seat, "Meeting dismissed, I now have file work to do."
Valor gives Jorman a quick embrace. "What should we do to celebrate?"
"Let's go to the space dock, so I can show off my crew medallion." Jorman answers.
Tiger and I chuckle. "Sounds good." We reply together.
I suddenly realize that the longer I'm around Tiger, the more we're on the same wave length. I hope this doesn't cause problems.
- Writer
