Behemoth: Rise Of Mankind Book 1 (15 page)

              Lines of code flew across Olly’s screen, the twenty-third attempt to run the revival program without errors. It ran through each command, checking them for errors and corruption. The whole process took less than a minute but each second felt like eternity. He willed it to go faster, wishing for an instantaneous option.

              The environmental suit was becoming beyond uncomfortable. Yes, the atmosphere in the ship stated it would sustain human life but none of them wanted to trust it. They remained safe in their protective gear so no one had to worry about a sudden change in temperature, oxygen or even compression.

             
I can’t wait to get back aboard the Behemoth
.

              From what Olly could tell, Paul did a fine job filling in for him. As the fourth shift guy, he proved himself big time. Would Olly have caught the radiation burst weapon? Probably not but the question would be asked in a postmortem analysis of the situation. Every decision, every action needed to be examined, justified and explained.

              Unfortunately, the spirit of improving processes felt an awful lot like persecution but most of it would fall on Captain Atwell and Commander Everly. They always seemed prepared for such trials and knew how to play the games. Maybe they took a class he didn’t know about in the academy, something specific for command structure.

              Bureaucracy 107, how to survive a full evaluation after a major engagement or mission. Even his made up class sounded boring as all get out.

              Olly’s heart raced when the it finally finished, pausing for validation. He tapped his leg and bobbed his head, impatient for the results. Would he have to start again? He allowed a little hope to drift into his heart but deep down, he figured it would fail. A pessimistic side of him suggested the system was too far gone to fix and that he wasted his time.

             
Don’t give into that crap, Darnell! You’ve got this!

             
He stiffened when the final line came back green…the code recompiled successfully. It ran without an error.
Success?
He double checked the final log file and nearly whooped like the marines had earlier
Dear God…it
is
a success!

              “Guys! I did it!” Olly called into his com. “I got the revival program operational!”

              “Are you kidding?” Cathleen joined him. “I can’t even believe it. That code was seriously hosed.”

              “I know, right?” Olly shook his head. “Do we have access to the personnel database?”

              “Let me look…” Cathleen paused to look over her own findings. She cleaned up a lot of data without even looking at the results. Now, she went back through and sent a link to Olly’s tablet. “It looks like we’re in luck. Personnel, specialty
and
, the part you need…pod number.”

              “Fantastic!” Olly got the list of names and started scanning their specialties. Most of them were not military. Artisans, corporate workers, home makers, some children…normal citizens. The people meant to crew the Silver Star came up toward the end. Five naval soldiers and before them, a dozen ground troops. He picked the highest ranking officer. “How about this guy?”

              Sid translated his title to
Captain
.

              Cathleen nodded. “Yeah, he’d have access to all systems, right?”

              “You are correct, Ensign Brooks. Captain Andu Paltein does have full security rights to the ship.”

              “Can he give us Protocol Seven?” Olly asked.

              “Affirmative. He does have access to such sensitive data.”

              “Okay, I’m going to start the revival process.” Olly turned to the marines. “Be on the lookout for activity from one of the pods! I’m waking someone up who can help us!”

              The soldiers went on high alert but Olly ignored them, going back to the application. It took several moments for it to initiate the process but once it did, they started to hear it in action. First, a hissing sound from a pod near the center of the room. The globe behind it throbbed, growing brighter before dimming. It repeated the behavior over and over as Olly’s console gave him a status update.

              The person’s heart rate climbed and their vital organs essentially woke up. Respiration returned to normal levels and the body temperature rose to only slightly higher than a human. Before five minutes ran out, Captain Paltein entered regular sleep state. The suspended animation ended.

              “How do we open the pod?” Cathleen asked. Just as she finished, the top melted away into the body, revealing a humanoid male with blue-black hair, smooth, slightly golden skin and several days of beard. He wore a skintight, blue suit that covered his feet but left his hands free.

              The others gathered around him with Olly standing in the back. Marines held their guns at the ready, seemingly prepared for an attack. They waited quietly until the Captain gasped and arched his back. At first it looked as though he were in pain but they quickly realized he was simply stretching.

              “Captain Paltein?” Olly asked. “Can you hear me?”

              Sid translated automatically, issuing a series of odd syllables that made Olly’s tongue ache just thinking about trying to speak them. The man blinked, peering up at them through bright, teal eyes. They widened and he struggled to move but hadn’t fully recovered yet. He settled into the chamber, terrified but unable to leave.

              Olly held up his hands. “We’re here to help…”
Damn, the helmet!
He really didn’t want to take it off but it might be the only way to get the guy to calm down. He disengaged the safety locks and twisted it to the right before pulling it off. “See? I’m a human…humanoid…like you. We just want to help. Your ship found the friendly culture it was looking for.”

              Sid continued speaking, giving the Captain the words as quickly as Olly spoke them. It did not visibly sooth Captain Paltein but he did reply in his language, mostly mumbling a response. When he finished, Sid paused a moment before translating.

              “He says he doesn’t know what you’re talking about and asks how he got here. He also wonders if you have kidnapped him.”

              Olly sighed. “Sid, please let him know that we’ve woken him up from the suspended animation pod. Tell him we’re here to help.”

              Cathleen tapped him on the shoulder. “The physical trauma of the suspended animation has affected his brain. I did a scan. I’m not medical track, but the tablet states he’s suffering from a form of amnesia. Must be a side effect of the process.”

              “No!” Olly shook his head. “The program
worked
! I got it fixed. This…this shouldn’t have happened.”

              “It is not the programs fault,” Sid stated. “This suspended animation technique was untested. Our people only just perfected it to not kill the inhabitant of the pod.”

              “What do we do?” Cathleen asked. “I don’t think we’re equipped to help him.”

              Olly stepped away, head bowed in thought. The Silver Star must’ve had a medical bay but then, they might’ve been standing in it. He could wake up a doctor but if they experienced a side effect as well, they’d have two people to care for instead of one. No, they needed a doctor to take care of this. None of his tecks could do anything for the captain.

              “We have to get him back to the Behemoth.” Olly stepped over to the console. “Sid, can you download to a device? Something so Captain Paltein has a translator?”

              “Affirmative. Please see the shelf to your right.”

              Olly turned just in time to see a part of the ship melt away, revealing small, flat devices neatly lined up. He pulled one out. “Is this a tablet of some kind?”

              “A mobile processing device. Your people call them computers and tablets. Simply place it near the console and I will transfer a copy of myself to the device.”

              “It’s not network capable, is it?” Cathleen warned. “I like Sid and all, but I think people would go nuts if he copied himself over to the Behemoth computers.”

              “I will not ingratiate myself on your computer devices, Ensign Brooks. You have nothing to worry about.”

              Olly did as he asked and shrugged at Cathleen. “Not that we have a lot of choices here. We can’t speak to the guy and if he ends up on our ship, he has to talk, you know? Besides, I trust Sid. He hasn’t screwed us over yet and I don’t see why he would now. We’re saving these people after all.”

              Cathleen held up her hands. “You don’t have to convince me.”

              Olly tapped his com and brought up Captain Hoffner. “Sir, we have revived one of the crew but he requires medical attention. I’d like to get him to the Behemoth as soon as possible.”

              “What’s wrong with him?” Hoffner asked.

              “Amnesia brought on by untested suspended animation,” Olly replied. “Plus, we’re pretty sure he needs to be checked over. This was experimental for them and God knows what else it did to him.”

              “I trust he doesn’t speak English like the AI?”

              “No, but we have a translation device he can take with him which will allow our staff to communicate with him.”

              “Escort him to the hangar,” Hoffner replied. “I’ll get the Behemoth to send over a medical shuttle ASAP.”

              “Sounds good.” Olly turned to Captain Paltein. “Sir, we need to get you to the medical bay.”

              Sid’s translation seemed to make the man nervous but he agreed in his language.

              “I don’t think he should walk,” Olly said. “Do you have a gurney or anything here, Sid?”

              “Affirmative. Please check in the back of the room. I have opened the storage room where some medical supplies are stored. Sadly, the perishables have lost their seal and are no longer good but the gurney will be quite sufficient to transport Captain Paltein to your vessel.”

              “Cathleen, grab a gurney while I tell the Behemoth what’s going on.” Olly stepped away and let out a deep breath. “I’m pretty sure they’re going to have a thing or two to say about this.”

***

              Everly tapped Gray’s arm. “Captain, I’ve got Olly on the line. He says they’ve woken up the Captain of the Silver Star. Apparently, he’s suffering from side effects of suspended animation. Hoffner just requested a medical shuttle. They’d like to bring this person to our sick bay.”

              Gray nodded once. “Make it happen.”

              Clea stood. “I’d like to meet them in the hangar if you don’t mind.”

              “Think you can help?” Gray asked.

              “Most definitely. An alien being who likely does not speak our language might feel a little better if someone else stands out with him.”

              “Good thought.” Gray gestured for the door. “Let us know what you find out right away.”

              “Sir,” Paul spoke up as Clea left the room. “Getting a shuttle over here won’t exactly be easy. I mean, we’ve got full shields up, not to mention the enemy close enough to spit at.”

              Redding huffed. “If they were that close, I’d be blasting the hell out of them.”

              Paul rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean. We start sending shuttles around, we’re asking for trouble.”

              “The decision’s been made, Paul,” Gray replied. “Focus on your duties. Everly, give the shuttle a fighter escort. I’m sure they won’t need it but better to be safe than sorry.”

              “On it.”

              “Okay, let’s see what this guy has to offer.” Gray settled back in his chair and watched the view screen.
This could be the break we’ve been waiting for or a total red herring. Let’s hope fate feels generous. She’s been pretty fickle most of the day
.

***

              Captain Paltein clung to his translation device as if his life depended on it. He rode the gurney staring straight up with wide, frightened eyes. Two marines walked him down to the hangar with Olly in tow. The latter spoke to him the whole way, offering as much comfort as he could muster.

              When they arrived, Olly asked Sid to open the hangar bay doors. The green of the shield lit up the room and they saw fighters flying around outside, patrolling the area. Far off, beyond their vision to the left, the enemy gathered waiting for their opportunity to strike. Whatever damage their ships sustained seemed to be enough to keep them away.

             
Just stay away a little longer
, Olly’s hopeful thought made his body tense.
This guy’s been through enough without you stampeding in to give him a heart attack
.