Sergei Lukyanenko - The Genome

“Yes, Captain.”

The young engineer was obviously not a chatty type. Or had been brought up in the spirit of strict subordination.

“Where is the reactor on this ship?”

“Aft, Captain.”

Alex grinned.

“What about the engines? Are you sure that they and the gluon reactor all fit in the rear of Mirror ?”

“The reactor module is located aft on this ship, Captain.” Paul shyly returned the captain’s smile. “In between the engines. We have a tandem gluon reactor called Niagara , the newest technology available to the civilian fleet. Radiation screening is done entirely by a force field, with no hard shield. It’s really beautiful, Captain, even in the parts of the spectrum that can be seen by a non-specialist.”

“Paul, you must have had great teachers!”

“Thank you, Captain. I am also grateful to my academy. But this isn’t a typical ship. The thing is, I’ve already flown on it.”

“Flown on it?”

“Then it was called The Intrepid . I don’t know why anyone would change a ship’s name. Granted, the original one didn’t fit very well.”

“Paul, are you sure?”

The engineer blushed.

“Captain, my quarters were second on the port side. There is this tradition, you see…”

Alex walked quickly to the quarters that Janet would be occupying. Put his hand on the lock.

“Open. Captain’s orders.”

The right for inviolable private space was recognized even on military ships. The identity chip under his collarbone pulsated, confirming Alex’s special authority.

The door slid into the wall.

Alex entered the cabin—the usual furnishings, comfortable and functional, like a solitary prison cell. Well, maybe the info terminal was too large for a prison.

The bathroom unit was really tiny. Alex silently sat on the toilet lid, turned his face to the wall.

The small inscription, carved into the plastic with a pocketknife, was not particularly original.

“Tested and approved. Paul Lourier, engineer-spesh.”

Alex looked up. Janet, Kim, and Paul were in the room, staring at him. Paul looked embarrassed, and Janet smiled a barely perceptible smile. Kim didn’t understand a thing. Had he now taken his pants down and started doing what people normally do on the toilet, she would probably have taken it for some kind of elaborate space ritual.

“There’s a penalty for this kind of thing, Engineer.”

“Yes, Captain. Already received it, Captain. Tradition, Captain.”

Why were the greenhorns always such sticklers for tradition?

Alex got up, and the damned toilet behind him rumbled softly, starting the self-cleaning cycle, just in case. Damn those simple electronics!

Kim snickered.

“Janet, would you mind if Paul took these quarters, and you took the third on the port side? I suspect this is his only chance to avoid getting another penalty.”

“As you wish, Captain.”

Alex looked at the engineer next.

“Paul Lourier, I need to see you tonight in my quarters. I will have a few questions for you.”

“Aye-aye, Captain.”

“Now you may get settled in here… or go inspect your work station.”

“Aye-aye, Captain. I’ll check the reactor.”

“Janet.” Alex nodded to the doctor. “I have a special request for you. Do you know where the sick bay is?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Thank God. According to the schematics, it’s right before the recreation lounge.” He shifted his gaze to Kim. “You’re coming with us.”

While Janet was inspecting the sick bay facilities, Alex and Kim sat on an examination table. The doctor-spesh didn’t need any assistance, although Alex had some idea about the equipment around them. A universal regeneration unit, a folding surgical table, anabiosis capsules attached lengthwise to the wall—after all, if you’re dying, what do you care whether you sleep standing up or lying down? Sick bay was painted a range of soothing green-blue tones, and light—a calming yellow sunshine—was flowing down from the entire ceiling.

“Was I right to behave the way I did with the navigator?” asked Kim quietly.

“Yes.” Alex nodded. “Strange as it seems, it was the right thing to do.”

“What’s so strange about it?”

“Well, you humiliated him. In front of the whole crew. After that, we could expect anything.”

“But instead he…”

“Yes. Stopped doubting you, and that’s great. Did you expect this reaction from the start?”

“Of course.”

“Why of course?”

“He’s used to flaunting his deficiency.” Kim lifted her eyebrows. “He’s even proud of it. And if a spesh demonstrates something that a natural simply can’t do, Generalov doesn’t get offended, not in the least. Quite the opposite, he’ll find a chance to demonstrate his navigation mastery, and then he’ll be proud of himself. That would make him our equal, you see?”

“Interesting.” Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I can certainly see that happening. But you didn’t have enough information for a conclusion like that. I hadn’t told you anything about him, really…”

“For me, it was enough.”

“Impressive,” said Alex.

Janet finished inspecting the regeneration unit and walked up to them.

“Captain, I am more than happy. A good ship, and an excellent sick bay. This isn’t the newest equipment, but all these models have been proved absolutely reliable.”

She really did look happy—maybe she had still been worried about the “sick bay/galley” combination.

“I hope we won’t have to use any of this equipment.”

“Of course, Captain. Permission to look at the rest of the ship?”

“Wait a minute, Janet. I have a request for you… a personal favor to ask.”

Janet looked thoughtfully at him, then at Kim.

“All right, Captain.”

“Could you do a genetic test on Kim?”

“Depends on what kind of test…” A look of surprise appeared briefly on her face. “A test of your mutual compatibility?”

Kim snorted.

“No.” Alex strained to keep his cool. The thought that he was planning to start reproducing with a fourteen-year-old girl was a bit much. But the favor he was about to ask her was just as strange. “Janet, I’d like to make sure that Kim really is a fighter-spesh.”

“Captain?”

He sighed.

“The situation is rather strange, Janet…”

“I think I’m beginning to get the picture.” Janet was talking to him, but all her attention was concentrated on Kim.

“Kim had her metamorphosis the night before last.”

“Really…”

Janet leaned on the table next to Kim. Authoritatively took her by the chin, turned her face to take a closer look. Alex had no idea what she must have seen. But the look of slight mistrust left her eyes.

“It’s not in the traditions of the Empire to take aboard speshes immediately after transformation.”

“Of course,” agreed Alex. “But there is no direct rule against it, either.”

“I believe you. But what does genetic analysis have to do with it?” Kim herself had been silent, allowing them to discuss her fate. Alex suspected her silence wouldn’t last much longer.

“She does not have a fighter-spesh certificate.”

“I can issue that without any tests,” said Janet calmly. “Her ID has all her medical information. Specialization type, altered genes, and the probable somatic profile.”

“She doesn’t have an ID. She’s… lost it.”

Janet was silent for a minute. Then she said firmly:

“Captain, any person, spesh or natural, who loses an ID can go to the nearest clinic. After a genotype analysis, the central databank will release the information on their identity.”