Scrapyard Ship by Mark Wayne McGinnis Page B
Authors: Mark Wayne McGinnis
Tags: Science-Fiction
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top front of the ship. It appeared to have a slightly different composition, and an almost dome-like appearance.
“That’s the observatory—if time permits, we’ll see more of that from inside,” the lieutenant answered, pointing to the gangway leading into the rear of the ship.
Once back inside, Lieutenant Perkins was ready to continue the tour. “And here we have the—”
“Excuse me, Lieutenant, would it be possible to continue this tour a bit later? I need to check on my daughter,” Jason said, showing concern.
“Yes, I’m sorry. Thoughtless of me. Let me show you to your cabins.” The young officer led the way, looking back over his shoulder to ensure Jason followed. “We’ll be moving between decks, sir. I need to warn you in advance that our doing so involves a phase-shift process—and the only way to explain it is to show you. But leave it to say, there are no elevators or stairs on this vessel.” Lieutenant Perkins turned towards an adjacent corridor and paused in front of a wider hatchway—which, under closer scrutiny, wasn’t really a hatchway at all. Outlined in a frame of light blue, the opening itself was translucent—almost as if looking through water.
“You’re at mid-Deck Level 1 right now, sir. We’ll be moving to Deck 5 above. Before entering here, what is called a DeckPort, hold up four fingers—like this before entering.”
Lieutenant Perkins held up four fingers, stepped forward, and disappeared out of sight. Jason remembered this process from earlier with Ricket, when first bringing Mollie into the ship. He stepped into the DeckPort and felt the same, not unpleasant, tingle. Jason emerged on what he assumed was Deck 4 to find the lieutenant waiting for him, with a smile on his face. Jason looked around and nodded his head in appreciation.
“And if two people enter the port at the same time—but are going to different decks?”
“It’s not a mechanical process, sir. You’d go to the floor you indicated and they, in turn, would go to theirs.” Jason nodded again, while trying to keep the bewilderment from his expression.
“The truth is, the hand gestures are not actually needed. There are 32 separate and individual DeckPorts on this ship. The Lilly’s AI is highly intuitive and can take you between decks as well as to any ports automatically, once you have been nano-configured—like the rest of the crew have been. We can discuss it later, if you wish.” Jason nodded. He was quickly feeling in over his head. The corridors were somewhat wider on this level. He noticed again the cleanliness of the ship and the fluid-artistic lines of the padded walls, which on this level were a soft tan color. They walked for what seemed a long time before coming to several arched doorways.
“We are at the officers’ quarters section of the ship and, specifically, the captain’s suite,” Lieutenant Perkins said, gesturing towards the widest of the three doorways. “Mollie is already inside.” Lieutenant Perkins stepped forward—just as with the DeckPort, but this time what appeared to be a solid door, disappeared before him allowing access to the captain’s suite beyond.
“Dad! Where have you been?” Mollie asked, admonishing Jason in a motherly tone. She got up from the floor where she had been playing some kind of 3D virtual game—which hung suspended in the air—seemingly waiting for her next move. She ran over and hugged her father, giving a disapproving scowl as she looked up at Jason. He hugged her back and smiled. Taking in the surroundings, Jason was again taken aback by the ship.
Lieutenant Perkins said, “This is the captain’s ready room.” To the left was a hallway, which Jason guessed led to the rest of the suite. The room was divided into two sections: the first was a conference room with an oval table and was configured with multiple large display units placed high up on the curved bulkhead. The adjoining room, more like an office, held a large desk
“That’s the observatory—if time permits, we’ll see more of that from inside,” the lieutenant answered, pointing to the gangway leading into the rear of the ship.
Once back inside, Lieutenant Perkins was ready to continue the tour. “And here we have the—”
“Excuse me, Lieutenant, would it be possible to continue this tour a bit later? I need to check on my daughter,” Jason said, showing concern.
“Yes, I’m sorry. Thoughtless of me. Let me show you to your cabins.” The young officer led the way, looking back over his shoulder to ensure Jason followed. “We’ll be moving between decks, sir. I need to warn you in advance that our doing so involves a phase-shift process—and the only way to explain it is to show you. But leave it to say, there are no elevators or stairs on this vessel.” Lieutenant Perkins turned towards an adjacent corridor and paused in front of a wider hatchway—which, under closer scrutiny, wasn’t really a hatchway at all. Outlined in a frame of light blue, the opening itself was translucent—almost as if looking through water.
“You’re at mid-Deck Level 1 right now, sir. We’ll be moving to Deck 5 above. Before entering here, what is called a DeckPort, hold up four fingers—like this before entering.”
Lieutenant Perkins held up four fingers, stepped forward, and disappeared out of sight. Jason remembered this process from earlier with Ricket, when first bringing Mollie into the ship. He stepped into the DeckPort and felt the same, not unpleasant, tingle. Jason emerged on what he assumed was Deck 4 to find the lieutenant waiting for him, with a smile on his face. Jason looked around and nodded his head in appreciation.
“And if two people enter the port at the same time—but are going to different decks?”
“It’s not a mechanical process, sir. You’d go to the floor you indicated and they, in turn, would go to theirs.” Jason nodded again, while trying to keep the bewilderment from his expression.
“The truth is, the hand gestures are not actually needed. There are 32 separate and individual DeckPorts on this ship. The Lilly’s AI is highly intuitive and can take you between decks as well as to any ports automatically, once you have been nano-configured—like the rest of the crew have been. We can discuss it later, if you wish.” Jason nodded. He was quickly feeling in over his head. The corridors were somewhat wider on this level. He noticed again the cleanliness of the ship and the fluid-artistic lines of the padded walls, which on this level were a soft tan color. They walked for what seemed a long time before coming to several arched doorways.
“We are at the officers’ quarters section of the ship and, specifically, the captain’s suite,” Lieutenant Perkins said, gesturing towards the widest of the three doorways. “Mollie is already inside.” Lieutenant Perkins stepped forward—just as with the DeckPort, but this time what appeared to be a solid door, disappeared before him allowing access to the captain’s suite beyond.
“Dad! Where have you been?” Mollie asked, admonishing Jason in a motherly tone. She got up from the floor where she had been playing some kind of 3D virtual game—which hung suspended in the air—seemingly waiting for her next move. She ran over and hugged her father, giving a disapproving scowl as she looked up at Jason. He hugged her back and smiled. Taking in the surroundings, Jason was again taken aback by the ship.
Lieutenant Perkins said, “This is the captain’s ready room.” To the left was a hallway, which Jason guessed led to the rest of the suite. The room was divided into two sections: the first was a conference room with an oval table and was configured with multiple large display units placed high up on the curved bulkhead. The adjoining room, more like an office, held a large desk
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