The Amelioration Expedition
Chapter 7
Back aboard the Spero, Dr. Oriana began packing the things they would need for their expedition. They would be leaving in twelve hours. She probably wouldn't get much sleep. She was both excited and anxious about the expedition. Donte and Marlin were working together. That part was exciting. What she felt anxious about was what they obviously sensed on Opus. She had seen movement on that mesa. Something was down there and they both knew it. It was unlikely that they knew what it was, though. If Donte felt danger, she was certain he would have told them. More than likely, they were both focused more on the interaction with each other than the specifics of what was moving on the mesa. Donte was right. There was life on Opus. If there were plants and trees, then evolution probably provided animals as well.
Captain McKillum had been instructed to give Donte what he wanted, but the request was unnecessary. Captain McKillum was obviously in awe of Donte. If only a little of that would rub off on Marlin, the expedition might be more enjoyable.
Being around Donte for an extended period of time, Dr. Oriana was inclined to agree with Marlin. Donte wasn't completely human. It wasn't his lack of response – at least she didn't think so. It was things like the way he flew the airship today, and his casual reference to the genetic engineering that gave him superhuman abilities. Experience and practice made a person a better pilot, but personal aptitude was also a factor. Donte went beyond that. He'd probably had a lot of practice when he was in the service, but that was thirty years ago. The airships of Oriel were more advanced than the older airships of Purlieu, yet it had taken only a few minutes for Donte to adjust. The mascots of Purlieu had been created to protect and guide the colonists for hundreds of years. Those were good things, but what if there were more Mascots than colonists? What if they turned on the colonists of Purlieu and seized the planet? She trusted Donte and believed that trust was not misplaced, but every Mascot wasn't like Donte. Then again, every Mascot she had met had been protective toward the colonists. According to Donte, that wasn't always the case. There were men like Farasi and Chait. Farasi was the king Donte killed after he went insane and turned on the colonists. Chait wasn't insane, but he had tried to murder Donte. On second thought, how sane could that be? The Mascots weren't machines. They had personalities – like humans and animals. Donte believed the colonists could rule as well as the Mascots. Apparently, there were Mascots who didn't agree. Wasn't that a conflict in the making? Marlin might have the right idea. Let the Mascots die off naturally. Would that happen or would they mutate?
Dr. Oriana had thought the court decision to let the Mascots and the people of Purlieu govern themselves was a good idea. No doubt Donte and his family were convincing factors, but was the analysis that Mascots were humans accurate? Even Donte didn't agree with that. There had never been a point on Oriel at which there was a question about which animals were human – or that the human was the highest life form. Now there was a question in her mind. Even if the Mascots were not human, they were definitely a higher life form. Was that why she feared they might become a threat? Was that why Captain Pacilio had wanted to annihilate the Mascots? Did humans protect other humans because they were the most important animal on the planet, or because they were like species? What if they were forced to choose between humans and a higher life form? It was a disturbing thought.
***
Marlin had mixed feelings about their mission in the morning. What had they seen moving on the mesa? Did Donte know what it was? Her gut feeling told her that Donte could be trusted, and it was usually right. Still, she could be wrong. What if Purlieu wanted the planet? They had been using it. Was Dr. Oriana's faith in Donte misplaced?
Maybe she was simply experiencing last minute jitters. Everyone else probably had some concerns about the expedition as well. Once they landed, they would be in a strange environment with unknown dangers. If Donte could sense things around them, it would give them at least some warning – more than they would have had without him. After their flight in the airship, she was beginning to believe Donte's powers were beyond psychic. Frankly, she was hoping that was the case.
Dr. Oriana had been surprised by Donte's skill in piloting the airship. She obviously didn't know Donte as well as she thought she did. That part was no surprise to Marlin - merely confirmation. Captain McKillum was wrong. Getting to know Donte hadn't convinced her that he was human - quite the contrary. He obviously wasn't human. Even Donte knew he wasn't human. What getting to know Donte had done was give her confidence about his leadership abilities. That should have come as no surprise either. After all, Donte had been leading people for over thirty years. He was good at it – and not merely because he was a Mascot. If being around Donte had taught her anything, it was that he cared about people. Whether that was typical of Mascots was up for debate. He was the only Mascot she had ever met.
This expedition belonged to Oriel, not the Mascots or Purlieu. While she could now understand Purlieu's infatuation with Donte and acknowledged the extent that he could assist them, she still believed that the presence of Mascots during the colonization of the planet wasn't conducive to normal progress. Unlike Purlieu, Opus wasn't an experiment. It was serious colonization and Oriel would probably welcome any assistance they could get. In this case, Donte would have no more experience to share than any of the colonists on Purlieu. No one on Purlieu was old enough to remember the colonization, though Donte had apparently researched the subject thoroughly. When they met for meals, people always had questions and he always had answers that sounded logical. They had no way of knowing if it was fact – except their belief in his integrity. Nothing Marlin had observed had made her feel that he didn't know what he was talking about. He was certainly quick to say he didn't know some things. He seemed genuinely embarrassed when people praised him. To him, he was simply Donte – a Mascot.
When they woke, the shuttle was loaded and ready. It didn't take much time to get ready. Marlin started the day with morning sickness. She grabbed her back pack and went in search of Donte. She found him with a hot drink in hand talking to Captain McKillum in the dining area.
He glanced at her when she walked into the room and his attention returned to Captain McKillum. They were standing in the middle of the room, so there was no way to get close to him without interrupting them. She pulled out a chair and sat at the table, her backpack still on, and rested her forehead on her hands. She should be over the morning sickness by now. This pregnancy was going to torture her in every way possible. It simply wasn't fair. It was robbing her of the opportunity of a lifetime.
She was near tears when a gentle hand touched her back. She lifted her head as Donte pulled a chair out beside her and set his cup on the table. Settling into the chair, his concerned gaze searched her face.
"Are you feeling ill this morning?"
She glanced around and saw Captain McKillum walking out of the room. Shifting her attention back to Donte, she grimaced.
"I'm feeling nauseous. I'm not too sick to go on the expedition."
His eyes expressed humor that never reached his lips. "I wouldn't think so. It would be a shame to miss all the fun, wouldn't it?"
She met his gaze with a sober expression. "I've waited all my life for this opportunity. I won't let a little nausea stop me."
The humor left his eyes. He brushed her hair back from an eye and tucked it behind her ear. "Stay close to me. It will help."
She nodded. "I know."
He picked up his cup and leaned back in his chair. "Do you feel well enough to hike?"
"Of course I do. I wouldn't hamper the expedition."
He sipped his drink. "How far along are you?"
She frowned. "No one has filled you in on all the details?"
His gaze traveled over her face, but he didn't respond.
She sighed. "Seven months." When he continued to watch her without responding she heaved another sigh. "You want to know why they would let a pregnant woman on the expedition."
He met her gaze, but still didn't respond. The nausea was fading, but her anxiety was mounting. "I didn't know I was pregnant when I got on the team."
"I see," he said.
"I doubt it," she said in a dry tone. "I was raped."
His gaze fixed on hers. "Did they punish him?"
She looked away. "No. I didn't tell anyone."
"Why not?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
They were both silent for a few minutes. Finally, she looked up at him. "How do they punish rapists on Purlieu?"
He shrugged. "It depends on the circumstances and the colony."
She glared at him. "Meaning if she asked for it, nothing was done."
He shook his head. "Women don't ask to be raped, Marlin. If she wants it to happen, it isn't rape."
"Do you think I wanted it to happen?"
His neck turned red. "I don't know what happened. I don't understand the legal system in Oriel. All I know is that if you didn't want it to happen, it shouldn't have happened. I'm sorry it happened and I'm sorry I intruded." He stood. "Hand me your back pack and I'll carry it."
"I can carry my own back pack. You just worry about yours." She pushed her chair back and stood.
His expression was stern as he held out a hand. "I didn't ask you if you wanted me to carry it. I told you to hand it to me and I will carry it."
"Who are you to be telling me to do anything?"
His attention was intent on her face. "I'm not going to argue about this. Either do it or I will request Dr. Oriana to leave you here."
She gaped at him in disbelief. Would he actually do that? She clamped her jaw shut and gave him a withering look. "She wouldn't do that. My father would have her job."
It was his turn to stare in disbelief. "Are you telling me that you would run to your daddy and ask him to punish her?"
Heat surged up her neck in a painful rush. "No, but… You have no right to order me around."
He nodded. "Maybe so, but you don't realize how much that backpack can slow you down. It's wild country out there."
She rolled her eyes. "Of course I know. Hiking in the wilderness was one of my favorite pastimes on Oriel." Of course, she had never done it while she was seven months pregnant. "Where's your backpack?"
"I don't carry a backpack. I will have extra clothes on the shuttle and it will join us every evening."
"Then why should you have to carry mine?"
He frowned. "I don't have to carry yours, but I'm going to."
Why was she fighting it? She pushed the straps off her shoulders and shoved the back pack into his hands. "Here. But I don't want to hear anyone say I'm not doing my part."
He slipped his arms into the straps and hefted it onto his back. "I don't think they will, but if they do, I'll talk to them about it."
She groaned. "Has anyone ever told you that you are exasperating?"
He smiled. "Yes, as a matter of fact they have - and stubborn, as well as a few other unattractive names."
As frustrated as she was with the way he was ordering her around, his smile was infectious. She shook her head and smiled. "I don't doubt that."
Captain McKillum walked back into the room, Dr. Oriana and the rest of the team following him. He noted the backpack on Donte's back, glanced at Marlin and announced that the shuttle was ready for them to board. Dr. Oriana was going to be the pilot. He shoved some papers into Donte's hands.
"You're going to be the navigator, scout and guide."
Captain McKillum had no right to tell Donte what to do either, but Donte didn't question his orders. He merely accepted the map and followed the others to the shuttle. There he sat in the seat beside Marlin and helped her buckle the safety belt. Apparently, she had a body guard whether she wanted him or not. She didn't want to be treated any differently than anyone else on the team, but she had a feeling arguing about it would be futile. She certainly could have had a worse companion.
Dr. Oriana landed the shuttle in one of the areas Donte had suggested and they all got out. Captain McKillum had sent one of his crew along to stay with the shuttle and meet them every evening. Marlin elected to leave her backpack on the shuttle. There wasn't anything in it that she would need until that evening. David and Chandler both chose to carry the backpacks with the equipment in them. Everyone carried a pouch with a long strap over their shoulders containing a water purifying straw, a canteen and some sustenance bars. Donte and Dr. Oriana each had a communications medallion pinned to their shirts.
"Wait here," Donte said and walked away from the group. He distanced them and stood still for a while.
Traci looked at Dr. Oriana. "What's he doing?"
"Sensing, I think - trying to decide if there is any life form near us."
After a few minutes Donte returned to them. He looked perplexed. "No aves…birds," was all he said.
As Captain McKillum had dictated, Donte was scouting for them. He proceeded to guide them across an open area and into the forest. Hopefully they wouldn't get lost or run into a dangerous animal. None of them was carrying a weapon.
They had gone only a short distance when Donte paused. He motioned to Traci and she joined him. He pointed.
"Something is right over there. It's small, but I don't know what it is. Do you see it?"
Traci lifted binoculars from her chest and studied the area he had indicated. She caught her breath. "I see it. I don't know what…It looks like some kind of…primitive bird – flightless."
Donte knelt, examining a plant. "This looks like a plant we have on Purlieu that we use to treat fever."
David was instantly at his side, examining the plant. He pulled a pair of gloves from his pocket and set his backpack on the ground. "I'm going to collect a sample to take back to the lab."
When they looked at Traci, she had a tablet and pencil in her hand, sketching the animal she had observed. Chandler had his camera out, focusing the telescopic lens on the animal.
That was how they spent the day. They didn't travel very far, but they gathered a lot of samples. A few times Donte spotted hair and Traci collected it for examination at the lab. It didn't take long to realize that Donte was a valuable member of the team. Marlin was surprised that the leader of a colony was so at home in the wilderness. He actually appeared to enjoy it.
As far as Marlin knew, Donte never looked at the maps, and yet with all the wandering to collect samples, he led them to their first camp site without hesitation. It was as if he knew the country. Donte contacted the shuttle pilot and within minutes, it joined them.
They all worked together to set up the camp. They erected a tent next to the shuttle, with an opening in the front and one at the back that allowed them access to the inside of the shuttle. They cooked on a camp stove rather than building a fire. They hadn't identified the trees and they had no way of knowing if the leaves, wood or smoke might harm them.
That night, some of them slept in the shuttle and some inside the tent. Donte tossed his bedroll down inside the tent and removed his boots. Marlin shook out her bedroll a short distance from him. He did tell her to stay close to him and she was looking forward to waking in the morning without nausea for the first time.
He looked at her. "Don't get close to the side of the tent. Put your bedroll over here on the other side of me."
She eyed the distance between his bedroll and Traci's. "There isn't room."
He smiled. "Sure there is. I won't bite. Put it right here beside mine."
Traci slid hers over a little more. "There. Is that enough room?"
Warmth flooded Marlin's cheeks. She was making a fuss over nothing. It wasn't as if Donte was going to do anything inappropriate with all these people around him.
"It's fine," she said, tossing her bedroll down beside Donte. "Why do you want to sleep so far from the side of the tent?"
"We don't know what might be out there and the tent isn't much protection. You don't want to roll up against it in the night."
She hadn't thought about it before, but having the thin wall of material between them and the outside only meant that they couldn't see what was coming and the animal could maul them while they were in the tent. It wasn't the first time she had camped, but it was the first time she had camped in an area where she was unfamiliar with the wildlife.
Donte smiled. "Don't worry. If anything approaches us, I'll know."
Soft Science Fiction
