Under a Starless Sky novel Chapter 61

The ship initially powered away on hidden engines, no sails. There was a fuss about the mast and rigging not being right, but once the sails were deployed and the wind took over, they were off like a shot, tacking into the wind. There was a respectful quiet as their minds took in the arrangement and started doing math, following the angles and curves of the boat. TL performed her miracle medical procedures on the wounded. Yaffa was last to be sorted due to triage, even after TL solicited ‘ghost’ helpers. Yaffa asked for the bullets she had removed and TL gave them to her. All the while, TL piloted the ship. She could pilot it from anywhere on the ship. So could Shen, as there was an AI simulator on the ship that he could interface with him through his Uniform. She found Shen easily enough, at the helm, monitoring the wheel that moved itself. She liked seeing him at the helm, the instrument cluster holding his attention. They didn’t have a magnetic compass, but they had gyros and bearing, and semi reasonable world map that was uploading the newly found clarity they brought as they tracked through the world. Depth gages measured the distance to the floor, and counted life forms. Surveys were available for review, numbers changing in real time.

The ship was essentially a Pereni Navy, E-Volution sloop-rigged sailing yacht, 64 meters, extended exterior deck/living space. The ship was space age, sleek, and with the technology available through Space Force- environmentally friendly. No petroleum fuel. The sails were both canvas for wind, but also solar collectors that collected energy for all ships function, saving energy in a bank of capacitors that delivered energy on demand and stored better than any previous battery design.

“People are resting,” TL told him.

Shen nodded. He had been following her work. He had intentionally stayed out of her way, knowing if she needed him, she would call him- even to the point of possessing his body to have more hands. He simply waited, available, waiting to be called. He bothered by the deaths, but less so than the death that had happened when he and Orton fought. He was sorting how angry he had been, knowing had TL green lighted his thoughts while angry, he would have taken out both islands. He wondered how far he would have gone with that. Would he had stopped before kill all the men? He probably wouldn’t have killed all the women. He wondered what the Kirk solution would have been? Destroy their tech so they would have to wage war by hand to hand combat. If their resurrection technology was destroyed, would they cease fighting?

Shen touched the helm, wanting to be present in this moment and place, not in his head.

“What should we christen her?” TL asked.

“The Sloop John B,” Shen said.

“Because of the misadventures we have been having?” TL asked. “Anything brighter?”

“Dawn Treader?” Shen asked.

“No,” TL said. “This doesn’t feel like a pleasant frolic through Narnia.”

“You were carrying a ship around in your purse; what do you call it?” Shen asked.

“Calypso,” TL said.

“There it is,” Shen said.

“Sing it, and it will be so forever, and this will set the tone for all that is to come,” TL said.

Shen looked at her as if she were crazy but saw the truth of it and smiled. “I love you.”

“I love you,” TL said.

Shen turned to face the bow, extended his hands. There was a guitar sounding, invisible, loud, and solo- then a bell sounding, then a full orchestra. Everyone on deck came to him. Everyone below deck came up. Flying fish took to the air. Dolphins danced in ship’s wake. The waters stilled and they shot through a space that was transparently clear it was if they were flying in air. Sea turtles, sting rays, octopi, a million types of fish. The floor descended, the water became green, and blue, but still crystal clear, and then they were back into the black and the waves began kicking back up, and they in turned and went with the wind. The song was perfect. The light was perfect. It felt wrong having everything this perfect after experiencing death.

“Is this heaven?” Erico asked.

TL touched Shen. “Take the helm, I will show our guest how to use our ship.”

TL provided the 50 cent tour. Laughter came from below and he inquired through the suit; he discovered they were fascinated by the toilet and the shower. It was made Viking tough. The Calypso was Viking tough, with bed spaces that could accommodate the tallest of them reasonably well. They would have to sleep in shifts, or make campsites about the ship. The women shared quarters. Shen and Arne were assigned private quarters.

Arne withdrew from the group and came up to the helm to visit with Shen.

“Captain Shen,” Arne said.

“Captain Arne,” Shen said.

“No more,” Arne said. “You are superior to me.”

“No,” Shen said. “I am just older. Read a lot more books than you. Saw way more movies than you. Heard more songs. You are superior to me in many ways.”

“Name one,” Arne said.