Brannigaan

Surprise

               “Oh, she was devastated, as if losing Kellam wasn’t bad enough.” Valerie Archer sighed. Bernard followed her from the patio to the kitchen. “Valerie program 66,” she said. “Hungry?”

               While a bowl of soup and a sourdough roll appeared in the food replicator, Bernard thought for a moment. “Make it two, that looks good,” he said.

               They carried their meals to their dining table and sat down. They ate together in silence for a few minutes. Bernard waved his spoon at Valerie.

               “So Brannigaan was Kellam and Riaan’s son.  He was an Akalli.” Valerie nodded.

               “Spaceships and extraterrestrials fascinated him, though, and when he learned Archer was not really Akalli he was in on a secret. But as far as I know, they didn’t tell him about her miscarriage. Not something you tell a child. He could have been a big brother.”  They finished up their meals.

               “So, did Archer find the Tellarites?”

               “Not exactly,” Valerie replied.

               “I never knew thulium was so rare,” Archer said into his communicator.

               “It seems there’s great demand for it. Not just medicinal, but primarily for lasers,” Samuels told him. “Mine the sands for thorium; get thulium while you’re at it, two for one bonus.”

               “There’s a financial incentive, then. That makes sense. The Tellarites always seemed to me to be interested in turning a profit.”

               “But I can’t see why they would build reactors just to use electric mine equipment for this, sir. I still think there’s another reason.”

               “Agreed. I’m headed for the shuttle tonight, after Riaan is up and can look after Brannigaan, and herself.”

               “She took the news pretty hard?”

               “Are you and Laskin back in the boarding house or still in the tent?”

               “Actually we moved to a building on the reactor property. It’s easier to stay in contact, and they are back to operating a café. Oil lamps burn each night, lots of people are walking and using konji carts since the transports are dead. Sir, Marandola asked if you are coming back.”

               “Tell her I’m taking care of business at home. Archer out.”

               He slapped his communicator shut and tucked it into a pocket. He and Riaan sat on long legged wooden chairs in the kitchen, around a suitably tall table.

               “Do you think you’ll be okay now or should Brannigaan stay here?”  Archer reached out to her, taking her hand. He wanted to tell her all would be fine. But he couldn’t. The image of his friend, Kellam, kissing her a few days before, and then on the monitor, sentenced to die by Archer himself, appeared each time in his mind. The only way he knew to contain his emotions was to crush them down and stay busy. If he stayed away it would be easier on him, but leaving her alone with such grief seemed inhumane.

               “Yes, Jon, please go. I can take care of myself. Take Branni with you. He’s a good companion and he knows the terrain.  He probably still doesn’t completely believe you.”

               “Are you sure there’s no one I can find for you, to talk to, to come stay?”

               “My brother died years ago, our parents before then. I’d rather be alone a while, anyway.” She touched Jon on the forehead. “You’ll need to do something with that,” she said wryly.

               “Ah, to be or not to be Akalli,” he chuckled.

               “There’s a looking glass in the bedroom.”

               Archer willed his hands to stay at their side so he wouldn't scratch at it, nodded, and left her alone to see if he could make his forehead crest look right again. It was easier to just comb his hair forward over it and let the gash act as a natural explanation. Before he returned to the kitchen, he glanced at the room. Riaan’s spirit was here, as was Kellam’s.  Admiral Archer’s thoughts became clearly defined. Get to the shuttle, contact Starfleet, find the Tellarites, expose this violation and get home.

                Archer and Brannigaan followed the coordinates on Archer’s communicator to locate the shuttle. Eight kilometers wasn’t so far as a landing site, considering he had the entire planet. But knowing the coordinates of the first mission was serendipitous to proximity to Riaan’s new home away from Tammalynnia. Archer wanted to befriend the boy. Two moons lit their way through the tall grasses.

               “You know, Brannigaan,” Jon began, “my father died when I was about your age. I was twelve. It was tough, to say the least, growing up without him.”

               “My father could still be alive. He might just be trapped in the reactor. Or he got out and was lost. I think he’ll be back. Don’t you think so?”

               “That’s a tough one, Branni. The damage was pretty bad. I’m not holding much hope for that.” Archer looked down at the boy who wouldn’t look up, but kept walking looking straight ahead. He was having a little trouble keeping up with Archer’s long stride.

               “Jon, is it much farther?” Branni asked. Jonathan checked the homing signal.

               “Another kilometer. We should see it soon. Large grey box, not as big as a house, but bigger than an omnibus.” They walked a little quicker, wading through tall dry grasses and passing into a grove of thick trees. “I think we’re about there.”

               The shuttle pod was easy to spot even in the dark of night – a square shiny corner poking up from the brush reflected the moonlight. The grass had grown tall around the bottom, the windows obscured by dirt, mud, and rain spots.

               “Oh, wow! You weren’t teasing me! It’s unbelievable! Can we go inside?”

               Archer gave his sidekick a gentle punch in the arm with his fist. He parted some grass near the hatch, pressed a pattern of buttons and stepped back while the hatch opened. Inside was dark, but a moment later small orbs of different colors lit up, and monitor screens came to life. Jon lifted Branni up and deposited him in the shuttle. The boy’s eyes couldn’t get any wider.

               “Jon, wow, what does all this do? This can fly into space? Wow, can you show me?”

               “Hold on, Branni, hold on a minute. Try not to touch anything, but go ahead and look at it all. Nothing’s secret. I have to power up the transceiver.