Sergei Lukyanenko - The Genome

“We’ve passed through Monica-3 in three hours,” interrupted Morrison.

“You lucked out.”

“Please, sit down, Puck.” Alex nodded. “You’re probably right. Would you like some wine?”

“Yes, I would, thanks.” Visibly proud of his victory, Generalov sat down next to Paul and quietly noted, “You did a great job, man….”

“You’ve provided interesting energy consumption challenges, sir,” replied Paul, reserved as usual.

Janet poured everyone some wine. She seemed not to mind her impromptu role of hostess.

“Attention, please.” Alex got up. “Fellow crewmembers, I will be informal.”

Generalov smirked, sprawling in his chair. Kim took a sip from her goblet, still glaring at Alex. What was she drinking? Juice or wine?

“This is my first flight as a captain,” said Alex. “And to be completely honest, I became Mirror ’s captain by chance.”

“You lucky…” said Morrison under his breath, although there was no longer any tension in his tone.

“Yes, I am,” agreed Alex. “All thanks to Kim.”

The girl lifted her eyebrows in surprise but said nothing.

“You all are here by chance…”

It would be interesting to catch a glimpse of the Demon now. Would a skeptical grin appear on its little face?

“And we’re all quite different. Janet is from Eben… her knowledge and experience are unique.”

The black woman smiled dryly.

“Paul is only just beginning his astronautical career, which promises to be outstanding.”

The engineer lowered his gaze.

“Puck is the only natural I know who works as a navigator. And he’s great at it.”

The expression of Generalov’s sour face showed that he’d heard such compliments a million times and couldn’t care less—life was a joyless business, after all.

“Kim is probably the youngest… as well as the loveliest fighter-spesh in the universe.”

The girl peered at him searchingly.

“And Xang hesitated so much before signing the contract, it became a matter of pride for me to persuade him.”

Morrison threw up his arms with a deep sigh and left his right arm resting on the back of Kim’s chair.

“Here’s to our crew, which is becoming a real team, a close-knit, happy family!” concluded Alex.

They clinked their glasses.

“Good wine,” reported Morrison, with a knowing air. “You know, I worked on a small ship from the Barton Company for two years. We shipped wines from Earth. Those were the best wines! And half a percent of every shipment was written off as damaged during transportation… but we were a very careful crew, ladies and gentlemen. I don’t know how I managed for two years!”

Janet noted thoughtfully:

“I first tried alcohol when I was thirty. When I was a POW. I didn’t want to live anymore… and I had been convinced that a glass of wine would kill me. On Eben, having alcohol, drugs, or tobacco was considered ruinous to your body, a crime against humanity.”

“Poor things…” sighed Generalov.

“We had many other pleasures in life,” said Janet. “No doubt we were missing out on some things. But that’s inevitable, after all. We all choose to miss out on some things, to have others instead.”

“You should take everything life has to offer!” said Puck with great conviction.

“Really?” Janet slit her eyes quizzically. “Then why don’t you have sex with women?”

“I tried it. Didn’t like it!” hastily replied Generalov.

“Maybe. But you’re missing out, a lot! You’re not taking everything life has to offer.”

Generalov winced, but kept quiet.

“And I simply have to have alcohol,” said Paul. “It’s part of my metabolism, and if I don’t have at least two ounces of pure alcohol every twenty-four hours, I get sick.”

The conversation resembled a weird roll call. Kim was about to say something, but at that very moment, the hidden speakers came alive.

“Captain.” The ship’s service program chose to address Alex alone. “Three life forms are approaching the ship.”

“Our passengers are here… damn!” Morrison waved his hand in the air, holding an empty glass. His other hand was already on Kim’s shoulder, and the girl didn’t seem to notice. “What if they demand an immediate launch?”

“We’re the crew, so we go by the rules.” Alex got up. “Janet, let’s go meet them. The rest of you, relax.”

He should have taken Kim with him. But Alex didn’t want to risk introducing such an unusual fighter-spesh to the passengers at the very first meeting.

They walked out into the cargo bay. Alex hastily straightened his uniform, using the shiny surface of a spacesuit unit as a mirror. Janet stretched her arms toward him, quickly straightening out his collar. Said in a quiet, soothing voice:

“Everything’s all right, Captain. Don’t be nervous.”

Alex smiled in reply. He didn’t have to pretend in her company. He said:

“Computer, open the outer hatch and take in the newcomers.”

The hatch in the floor came open, the ladder slid down. It was already dark outside, and only the intermittent flares of launching ships lit up the figures below.

They stepped onto the platform all at the same time. The ladder started its ascent, drawing them inside.

Two young girls, probably Kim’s age, stood at the front. They were pretty, dark-skinned, and smiling, completely identical twins. Each held a little suitcase.

Behind them towered a tall man. So tall, in fact, that Alex’s own height of over six feet seemed hardly worth mentioning. The man was a Europeoid, his light hair cut very close, and his piercing eyes were a cold, icy blue. His clothes looked civilian but fit like a uniform. His voice was very low and heavy:

“Alex Romanov, captain of the spaceship Mirror .”

It wasn’t a question, it was a statement.

“Yes.” There was no need to repeat what the man had already said.

“Very well.” The man extracted from his pocket a carefully folded sheet of paper. “I am Danila C-the-Third Shustov. You are now at my service.”

Alex took the documents out of his hand without looking at them. Who would have thought! A clone! He glanced sidelong at Janet.

Something was happening to her. Her face was absolutely still, frozen. Dead.

“Let me introduce my wards and fellow travelers,” C-the-Third Shustov continued. “Zei-So and Sey-Zo, our distinguished guests from the Zzygou Swarm.”

Alex unintentionally held his breath for a second, though that was not necessary. These Zzygou did not stink. Had no odor at all. They were just like humans.

“Greetings!” sang out the Zzygou in unison. “Best of luck and health to you, servants!”

Janet stood as still as a statue.

“Show us to our quarters,” said the clone.

Alex turned to Janet, using all his willpower to overcome his own stupor. His heart was pounding.

If the woman from Eben lost it, she would kill both of the Zzygou with her bare hands. And that thuggish bodyguard, as well. At the very least, she’d try.

“Doctor-spesh!”

Janet slowly transferred her gaze onto Alex.

“May I ask you… I order you to start preparing the sick bay for launch, immediately.”

“Sick bay is ready,” said Janet in an even, empty tone of voice.

“Conduct a thorough test of all systems.”

She stood absolutely still for a few more seconds, then nodded and walked out of the cargo bay. One could only rejoice that it was impossible to slam an automatic door.

“There are sick people aboard?” inquired the clone.

Alex heaved a deep breath. Exhaled.

“No, but better safe than sorry. I will show you to your quarters myself.”

“We thank you, servant,” tunefully sang out the Zzygou.