you’re a High Genetic.”
Ian nodded.
Violet smiled and said, “I knew there was something I liked about you,” and released the barrier she had held in place for many years. E and Ian saw the huge electrical activity in her brain. Ian said, “You’re a Genetic too?”
Violet nodded, “I guess it takes one to know one.”
“How have you been hiding it?”
“I’ve learned a way to impose a barrier. That barrier prevented me from seeing your mind. We’ll work on teaching you how to form the barrier on the way out right after we work on something else.”
“What is that?”
Violet proceeded to show him.
Chapter Five
V iolet entered the bridge the next morning and found Ian sitting in the command chair staring at a computer display repeating words over and over. “What are you doing?”
Ian looked up, smiled, and said, “I’m trying to activate E’s weapons.”
Violet looked startled, “Do you mean to say this ship isn’t armed?”
“No, it has a weapon’s system but it’s not activated. We had to make a fast escape from Euclid and didn’t have the opportunity to turn them on. There’s a one word code that must be repeated five times in order to bring them on line.”
“That’s an impossible task. You won’t live long enough to go through all the possible words.”
Ian shrugged, “We do have information about the one that supplied the code word and that at least gives me a place to start.”
Violet shook her head, “Just let the ship’s computer do it. It should have it figured out in no time.”
E said, “I am programmed to not look for it. My builders didn’t want a ship to have that much autonomy.”
Violet thought a moment, “What are you trying?”
Ian shook his head, “I know the Lead Scientist on Euclid provided the code. I think the code is a name, at least that’s what I’d use.”
Violet nodded, “So would I.”
“I’ve looked up the Lead Scientist’s information and I’ve gone through his parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and any other relative and came up empty. I’ve now started going through the Royal Family’s names thinking he might have gone there.”
Violet looked at Ian, “Would you have gone there?”
Ian thought a moment and shook his head, “No, that would be too obvious. I’d choose a name that most people wouldn’t know about.”
“So would he. I notice you didn’t mention a wife or children.”
“He never married. I find that surprising because he was one of the warmest, kindest people I’ve ever met although he did get cranky when on task.”
“So you have to ask why he didn’t. What would cause a person that by all accounts should have married, choose not to?”
Ian stared at Violet, “I’m not sure what you’re saying.”
“If he was a loving person, he had to love someone. You find that person and you’ll find the name.”
Ian sat back in his chair, “You sound pretty certain about that.”
“Have you ever been in love?”
“Not really.”
Violet did a double take, “And you wonder about me. How could that happen?”
“I’m not allowed to choose who I marry. My wife is selected by the Genetic Council.”
“Oh?”
“The intent is to produce superior children to lead the Union.”
“Has your wife been…selected?”
“Yes, but she was killed defending my parents when the Nebula attacked.”
“I’m sorry.”
“She fought with a bravery that was remarkable, Violet. She really surprised me but I didn’t know her. I think we would have found happiness but love is not used to select who I marry.”
“Then it makes sense why you would have never loved anyone.”
“Why is that?”
“You fall in love only to have to leave them for another. That kind of pain would be unbearable for you and the other.”
Ian sighed, “I know.”
Violet’s expression was subtle but Ian couldn’t tell what she was thinking. “So let’s assume the Lead Scientist loved someone along the way. How do we find
Ian nodded.
Violet smiled and said, “I knew there was something I liked about you,” and released the barrier she had held in place for many years. E and Ian saw the huge electrical activity in her brain. Ian said, “You’re a Genetic too?”
Violet nodded, “I guess it takes one to know one.”
“How have you been hiding it?”
“I’ve learned a way to impose a barrier. That barrier prevented me from seeing your mind. We’ll work on teaching you how to form the barrier on the way out right after we work on something else.”
“What is that?”
Violet proceeded to show him.
Chapter Five
V iolet entered the bridge the next morning and found Ian sitting in the command chair staring at a computer display repeating words over and over. “What are you doing?”
Ian looked up, smiled, and said, “I’m trying to activate E’s weapons.”
Violet looked startled, “Do you mean to say this ship isn’t armed?”
“No, it has a weapon’s system but it’s not activated. We had to make a fast escape from Euclid and didn’t have the opportunity to turn them on. There’s a one word code that must be repeated five times in order to bring them on line.”
“That’s an impossible task. You won’t live long enough to go through all the possible words.”
Ian shrugged, “We do have information about the one that supplied the code word and that at least gives me a place to start.”
Violet shook her head, “Just let the ship’s computer do it. It should have it figured out in no time.”
E said, “I am programmed to not look for it. My builders didn’t want a ship to have that much autonomy.”
Violet thought a moment, “What are you trying?”
Ian shook his head, “I know the Lead Scientist on Euclid provided the code. I think the code is a name, at least that’s what I’d use.”
Violet nodded, “So would I.”
“I’ve looked up the Lead Scientist’s information and I’ve gone through his parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and any other relative and came up empty. I’ve now started going through the Royal Family’s names thinking he might have gone there.”
Violet looked at Ian, “Would you have gone there?”
Ian thought a moment and shook his head, “No, that would be too obvious. I’d choose a name that most people wouldn’t know about.”
“So would he. I notice you didn’t mention a wife or children.”
“He never married. I find that surprising because he was one of the warmest, kindest people I’ve ever met although he did get cranky when on task.”
“So you have to ask why he didn’t. What would cause a person that by all accounts should have married, choose not to?”
Ian stared at Violet, “I’m not sure what you’re saying.”
“If he was a loving person, he had to love someone. You find that person and you’ll find the name.”
Ian sat back in his chair, “You sound pretty certain about that.”
“Have you ever been in love?”
“Not really.”
Violet did a double take, “And you wonder about me. How could that happen?”
“I’m not allowed to choose who I marry. My wife is selected by the Genetic Council.”
“Oh?”
“The intent is to produce superior children to lead the Union.”
“Has your wife been…selected?”
“Yes, but she was killed defending my parents when the Nebula attacked.”
“I’m sorry.”
“She fought with a bravery that was remarkable, Violet. She really surprised me but I didn’t know her. I think we would have found happiness but love is not used to select who I marry.”
“Then it makes sense why you would have never loved anyone.”
“Why is that?”
“You fall in love only to have to leave them for another. That kind of pain would be unbearable for you and the other.”
Ian sighed, “I know.”
Violet’s expression was subtle but Ian couldn’t tell what she was thinking. “So let’s assume the Lead Scientist loved someone along the way. How do we find
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