The Amelioration Expedition
Chapter 3
When Marlin had heard that Dr. Oriana accepted the position of head of their expedition, she had been excited – but only for a few minutes. Dr. Oriana was renowned throughout the GEL. It was the condition Dr. Oriana made that infuriated Marlin.
Dr. Oriana's condition was that Donte – the Mascot who had killed her grandfather and caused the separation of her parents - be added to their expedition. No one on the expedition expressed opposition and even her father, who knew how she felt about Donte, had given final approval. Everyone seemed to like the idea of having Donte on the expedition. Had they all lost their collective minds? Donte was at least 60 years old. To be fair, being a Mascot wasn't his fault, but he certainly wasn't the peacemaker the history books made him out to be. Apparently, his wife had left him and for some reason he was no longer the ruler of Bergen. Even his own colony must have had their eyes opened to what he really was. Marlin had no wish to see the man – if he could be called that - much less be his subordinate on an expedition.
It shouldn't have surprised her that her father supported Dr. Oriana's request. Arlo Delaney had turned against his own father-in-law when he agreed with the courts twenty years ago that Donte didn't commit murder. How could they say it wasn't murder? Even after Captain Pacilio had surrendered his weapon, Donte had brutally beat him. Donte had fired a laser weapon, causing her grandfather to fall off a cliff. Laser weapons were not permitted on Oriel for private use, but since Donte was the representative for Purlieu, they had not charged him with a crime. Everyone had been influenced by his strong pheromones. Fontalo had created that dilemma by designing the beasts so that their subjects in the colonies wouldn't turn on them.
Even the captain of the Spero had supported Dr. Oriana's request, agreeing that Donte would guarantee a degree of protection for the expedition team. Marlin was aghast at their expectations and skeptical about Donte's superpowers, as they called them. Donte was supposed to have the power to detect life forms before they could get close enough to do harm. Marlin could accept that. After all, he was part animal. He could probably smell them. It was stretching things a bit far to say that Donte understood their intent. That wasn't something Fontalo had designed them to do. In any case, it had not yet been determined if there were any life forms on Opus other than plants.
As if all that wasn't enough, she had been over two weeks late on her period. She had bought a home pregnancy test because she wanted the assurance of privacy. The reading had been positive. One time and she was pregnant. She had been chaste for all those years, saving herself until after marriage for that one man. Doctors had encouraged her to take birth control pills, but abstinence was the healthiest and most certain method. A woman shouldn't have to take birth control for protection in case she was raped.
Thinking the Spero would have a doctor, she had planned to have the termination performed there – once they were far enough away from Oriel that they wouldn't want to turn back, of course. She had purchased some loose-fitting clothes to take with her. If they noticed anything they would probably attribute it to weight gain. She thought one month out should be sufficient.
That was three months ago. As it turned out, they wouldn't pick up Dr. Oriana for another two months. They had a medic on the Spero, but not a real surgeon like Dr. Oriana. It would be another two months before they reached the Taurus. From there it was another month to Purlieu and Opus was three weeks beyond that. If something wasn't done soon, she would be over seven months pregnant when they reached Opus. It was as if fate was doing everything it could to destroy the mission for her.
Marlin glanced up as Captain McKillum walked into the dining room. He said something to the woman behind the food bar and turned toward Marlin. She couldn't blame him for the fact that his father defended Donte in that historic trial, but she found his admiration of Donte annoying. She could relate to Hew McKillum in a way. He was also a child from a broken marriage. Unlike Marlin's mother, Hew's mother had agreed with his father about the independence of Oriel and the innocence of Donte.
Captain McKillum stopped beside her table. "Would you mind if I joined you?"
Hew McKillum was tall, dark and handsome. Under other circumstances she might have welcomed his attention, but pregnancy had provided nothing but nausea so far. She felt bloated and cranky. As much as possible, she kept to herself so no one would guess the cause.
She shrugged. "If you can stand it, I guess I can."
He laughed and plopped into the chair opposite her. If only she had that kind of confidence.
He leaned back in the chair. "You know what I like about being in space?"
She placed her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her palms looking at him as though she actually cared. "No. Tell me."
"There are no rainy days."
For a moment she stared at him. "Neither are there sunny days."
He glanced up as a waiter placed a cup of coffee in front of him. He thanked her and she left. He looked at Marlin. "I was being facetious. Why the long face?"
She lowered her hands and examined them. "I wasn't aware that I had a long face."
"You've been…sad…ever since you boarded the Spero. You don't associate with the other members of the expedition. I wonder if you've been sent on this mission as a form of punishment."
She frowned. "Of course not. It was my idea to come. I've always wanted to do this."
"You just don't like the company?"
"I'm a loner." The minute the words escaped her mouth she knew it was a mistake. "I can work well with other people, though."
He didn't respond, but the humor in his eyes indicated he knew she was trying to reconcile. He often treated her as if she were a teen. He couldn't be more than a few years older than she was.
He shrugged. "I gather you're not happy about Donte joining the team."
"I'm mystified. He hasn't ever been on Opus either. I don't see how he can help."
He sipped his coffee. "I can see how Dr. Oriana thinks he could help, but I suppose the more important question is; what do you think it could hurt?"
"I didn't say it would hurt."
"Then why do you object?"
"I didn't say I objected."
He laughed and leaned forward, setting his cup on the table. "That's true. You didn't say that."
"I'm entitled to my personal opinion."
"And what would that be?"
"He isn't a peacemaker, you know. That's a myth."
"Why do you say that?
She rolled her eyes. "Look at the people he has killed."
His brows shot up. "You mean your grandfather?"
She frowned. "No, I mean on Purlieu. Read his history. He killed a bunch of Captain Pacilio's men on Purlieu. I even heard he killed a King – another Mascot."
Captain McKillum nodded, his gaze searching her face. "Captain Pacilio was attacking Donte's colony. I don't know about the King. I suspect Donte had good cause…." He cleared his throat. "I suspect your real objection is that he killed one of his own kind – a Mascot. You still don't believe he's human, do you?"
She looked him in the eye. "He's not completely human. Even he knows that. He's a mutant, but that isn't his fault."
"Then you think Fontalo had a right to do with the mascots as they chose? Kill them, as if they were a nuisance animal?"
"No, but Fontalo did own the Mascots. They made them."
"Illegally."
"They were trying to create a superior human – and they did. Everyone admits that now – and they want to make more of them. Now suddenly no one objects."
He shook his head. "No, they don't want to make more of them. They want to give them back the ability to propagate."
She snorted. "Propagate. You talk like they are plants. At least I admit they are part human. They shouldn't be reproducing. They aren't a product of evolution. They are aberrations. Fontalo shouldn't have made them, but they did. Now they should let them die out naturally."
He watched her with a reflective expression. He finished his coffee and stood. "Maybe you're right, but I suspect you'll change your mind when you meet Donte."
She scowled at him. "Have you met him?"
He shook his head and smiled. "No. It will be interesting to see which of us is correct."
Marlin watched him walk away. It didn't matter which of them was correct about the fate of the Mascots. The expedition wasn't about Mascots. It was about colonizing a new planet. That was her objection – the drift from the original plan. That was what had happened with Purlieu. That was where Fontalo went wrong.
Shortly after Doctor Oriana boarded the Spero, Marlin met with her privately and requested a termination of her pregnancy. Dr. Oriana didn't respond one way or another until she made a complete examination. At that point she told Marlin that she didn't do that kind of thing, and in any case, it was too late.
Marlin glared at her. "Then why did you examine me?"
"I wanted to know if there was just cause. The baby is healthy, though. There is no reason to terminate the pregnancy."
"I don't want the baby. It's a product of rape. You have to do something. Legally it's my decision, not yours."
Dr. Oriana's smile was tolerant. "Yes, according to law, you have that choice. As a doctor, I also have a choice."
"What do you expect me to do? You're the only doctor available."
Dr. Oriana shrugged. "You can have the baby and give it up for adoption."
Marlin grimaced. "Why should I bring another unwanted person into this world when there are so many already? That's just cruel and irresponsible."
Dr. Oriana frowned. "Young lady, you have already brought a person into this world. It is in your womb right now, but it is very much alive."
"It isn't a person until it breathes on its own. Right now it's just a fetus."
Dr. Oriana reached for a book on her shelf. "Would you like to see a picture of what it looks like right now?"
"No." Marlin stood. "It wouldn't make any difference." She marched out the door and slammed it shut. She felt close to panic. Now what was she going to do? She went directly to her room and shut the door. She was doomed to have a baby she didn't want and to suffer until that time. She gave the box of clothes under her bed a vicious kick. She wouldn't be able to wear them. She had brought them to wear after the termination. It wasn't fair. She hadn't done anything wrong and yet she was the one who was being punished.
She was certain that Dr. Oriana didn't believe her about the rape. If she had, she would have asked questions about who and when. She would have shown some kind of compassion for her circumstance. Like Captain McKillum, Dr. Oriana was responding as if she was a rebellious teen. She was alone in this. There was no one she could turn to for comfort or even understanding. She felt overwhelmed by life-altering decisions. She should have had the termination done before she left Oriel. Now she was faced with something even worse. If a person didn't want to be a responsible parent, they shouldn't have any children at all. They shouldn't pawn the child off on someone else. Having a child had not been her decision. It had been forced on her.
The opportunity of a lifetime was being ruined – first by her assailant and then by a doctor. As if all that wasn't bad enough, she would have to work with the man who robbed her of a grandfather and one parent. She was alone in this.
Well, they could force her to work with Donte, but they couldn't force her to like him. At least she still had control over that much.
Marlin tried to avoid everyone, but Dr. Oriana wouldn't let her. When Marlin didn't show up in the lab or at the dining table, Dr. Oriana came to her door. Marlin probably wouldn't have let her in if it were not for the fact that Dr. Oriana could have taken her off the expedition team. To her credit, Dr. Oriana didn't say that. Maybe she felt guilty for not performing the termination.
"I want to apologize for my insensitive response to your dilemma," Dr. Oriana began as soon as the door was shut behind her. "I can't imagine what you are going through right now."
"I should have had it done before I got on the ship."
Dr. Oriana didn't agree or disagree about that part. "Well, you didn't, and that's what we have to deal with now. If you decide to adopt the baby out, I'm sure someone on Purlieu would love her and give her a good home. Maybe Petra…."
"Her?" Marlin interrupted.
"Yes, it's a girl."
It was information Marlin didn't want. Before, it was a fetus. Now it was a girl. What next? Was Dr. Oriana trying to make her feel guilty?
Dr. Oriana patted Marlin's arm. "You have plenty of time to decide. In the meantime, you could stay on Purlieu until the baby is born and join us later."
Marlin had started to turn away, but she swung back to face Dr. Oriana. "I'm not going to give up my place on the expedition. I've waited too long to do this and it will probably be my only opportunity. You can't kick me out because I'm pregnant."
Dr. Oriana looked surprised. "I wouldn't have thought…I thought you would want to…." She shook her head. "Of course I wouldn't kick you off the expedition. I don't even think I have the authority to do that."
Hopefully Marlin hadn't given her any ideas. Whatever the case, it was time to notify her father before someone else told him. Dr. Oriana had requested Donte's participation because she believed he would ensure the safety of the expedition. Hopefully Donte wouldn't refuse to let her join the expedition on Opus. Could he do that? What was his position?
***
Lori didn't know what to think about Marlin. She had been quiet and reserved during their meetings in the lab and rarely had meals with them. It was clear that she and Dr. Oriana were not getting along. Lori had never observed the two arguing, and Marlin was never disrespectful toward Dr. Oriana. It occurred to Lori that Marlin didn't want to be on the expedition, but her father forced her to go. That didn't appear to be the case before they left Oriel. Marlin had participated in the meetings, coming up with what sounded like excellent ideas to Lori.
Marlin's attitude had changed suddenly the week of their departure. It was possible that the addition of either Dr. Oriana or Donte might have triggered the change. The only thing Lori could say for certain was that Marlin was an unhappy woman.
For Lori, the opposite was true. She couldn't have been more pleased about being selected for the expedition. The comradery of so many like-minded people made the time pass faster. Captain McKillum was a pleasant surprise. Lori had always thought of spaceship captains as being aloof. She had only met a few, but they were definitely cool toward her. Not so, Captain McKillum. He always appeared to be relaxed and confident. He usually joined them at meal time and listened attentively to all of them.
Hopefully Marlin would adjust soon and join them. They could use her input. If she continued the way she was acting, she would be of little use to the team.
When Lori talked to David Long about it, he was perplexed by Marlin's attitude as well.
"She was so pumped about the expedition during the meetings. Since she boarded the Spero – especially since Dr. Oriana arrived – she has been distant, even aloof." He hesitated and glanced around, obviously wanting to confide in Lori, but unsure if he should. "The way she's acting reminds me of the way my wife acted before she…took her life. I didn't recognize the symptoms of depression back then. I've been plagued by the idea that if I had, I would have been able to prevent it. I didn't do anything then, but...I'm not sure I have the right to interfere with Marlin. I'm not a psychologist."
Lori hadn't thought about that possibility. "I thought maybe she was having trouble adjusting to life on a spaceship."
David nodded. "She spends a lot of time in the exercise room, alone and working as if her life depended on fitness." He shrugged. "I'm fit enough from hiking, but I certainly hope I don't have to run from any wild animals."
"What's this about running from wild animals?" Traci said as she joined them at the table. "Surely it couldn't get any wilder than life on Oriel. Personally, I'm looking forward to spending my days hiking and exploring – and nights camping in the bliss of a pristine environment. No frantic commutes and…well, let's just say that sometimes those who hold the highest claim to civilization can be the least compassionate."
Lori laughed. "I can't deny that, but this isn't going to be a vacation, either."
Traci scooted her chair up to the table and sighed. "I know, but I can still hardly wait to get there – and to Purlieu. I'm looking forward to meeting Donte. I can't imagine how Dr. Oriana convinced him to join the expedition. He's ruled a colony for over thirty years. He's bound to have some relevant information about colonizing a planet. We'll have three weeks to pick his brain before we get there."
David looked at Lori. "I wonder how Marlin is going to react to him."
Traci sighed. "What is that girl's problem? She has money, good looks, influence and just about everything a person could want, yet she mopes around as if she had been forced to be with us. She sleeps until noon and acts like the rest of us aren't fit company. Why Dr. Oriana puts up with that is beyond my comprehension."
Lori met David's gaze, but said nothing. No doubt Marlin was anxious about meeting Donte. Hopefully she would get her act together before they landed on Opus.
Soft Science Fiction
