CHAPTER ONE : INTRODUCTIONS AND A MEETING

  The alarm on the clock set into the wall above the bed went off and Gryphon quickly pounded the snooze button. After a few seconds it sounded again. Gryphon looked at it with a scowl and jammed his finger on the snooze. The button stuck and he nodded in satisfaction before pulling his thin blanket over his head.

  A panel next to his desk computer lit up and the speaker began to hum.

  "Rise and shine."

  "Fuck off!"

  "Aww ... c'mon Gryphon. It's time to get up and greet a brand new day. Besides, the Captain has called a meeting and you've been cordially invited."

  "Fuck the Captain."

  "Now I know you don't mean that Gryphon. Just be a good boy and get up for me, okay?" Alexander frowned as he was met with silence. "Gryphon?"

  Gryphon rolled over and turned his back to the screen.

  "I can tell you're grumpy today." Alexander slowly began to smile, "I know what will make you feel better. A balloon! Would you like a balloon Gryphon?"

  "Stop it."

  "A nice red balloon?" Alexander's voice began to sound low and guttural, the background behind his glowing face darkening.

  "I said stop it!"

  "It floats. We all float down here Gryphon. Come and join us. YOU'LL FLOAT TOO!"

  "ALL RIGHT! God damn it, I'm up!" He shot up in bed, trembling with eyes clenched shut.

  "See? That wasn't so hard was it? Now put on some clothes and get on down to Operations, okay?"

  "And what does out glorious leader want today?" Gryphon rubbed his arms to comfort his adrenaline tremors.

  "What do you have against the Captain anyway?"

  "I hate this job, no one told me what I was getting myself into. I could be on a beach right now writing software for a major company while my assets are earning me a few million a year. Fun my ass! All I do around here is check this system and then that system and await the next time we fight off our own people."

  "In other words, the three hour work days are too much for you and keeping something dangerous out of the hands of children is not the American way?"

  "Blow it out your circuits Alexander. I may not have programmed you, but I bet you I could scramble your brains quite nicely with a flick of the wrist."

  "Sticks and stones Gryphon, sticks and stones. They're waiting for you. Your master has called and you'd better heed like a good servant."

  Gryphon was about to retort but found that Alexander had gone, the AI plaque dark and blank. He stood up.

  "Lights." A blue glow began to radiate from the walls, illuminating his quarters. They were a mess. He picked his way through the mounds of clothing into his living room, picking up a glass of tepid, leftover water and drinking half of it. His door sounded with it's lovely chime and he groaned. "Come in." The door slid open and a uniformed shipmate stood there smiling.

  "Hey Gryph."

  "Good morning George. You have your nap interrupted too?"

  "Nah, I've been doin' my morning exercises for about half an hour now. Alexander just buzzed me to report to duty stations."

  "You mean you're not invited to the little get-together."

  "I'm just an underling. Alexander said it was something shooting by uninvited. Ramirez will probably fill me in later."

  "Lucky you. Only sixteen people on board and they won't even let everyone come and play when something interesting pops up."

  "Actually, I think of it as another hand that won't go in the air and bug the powers that be when they're trying to inform those that need critical information to lead their departments."

  Gryphon just stared at George who was still wearing a beaming smile. He stepped forward and out into the hallway.

  "Out of my way."

  "Not getting dressed?"

  "Don't feel like it. Too tired."

  George watched as Gryphon walked away from him.

  "Well, that's your prerogative."

  He just raised his hand and kept going, George shook his head and started off in the other direction, towards the galley.

  "I definitely want some coffee."

  Gryphon turned the corner and found Kimberly chatting away with Brian. Brian was in charge of Engineering while Kim was one of Vanessa's flunkies in the Medical Bay. Kim looked like she had just woken up and gone off to find breakfast in her pajamas. Gryphon looked her up and down and mentally complimented her on her navel ring. He had always been fond of it and she always wore a cut-off shirt to show off it and her thin stomach.

  "Hey Gryph."

  He nodded at Brian and smiled. Brian was in uniform and stood up straight in the blue and gray jumpsuit. His reddish brown hair was neatly combed and his freckled skin was an interesting contrast to Kim's pale and smooth skin.

  "You going to Operations?"

  "Yeah, I assume you've been roped into this too?"

  "All part of the job." Brian turned back to Kim, "save me a donut will ya'? I'll come down to Medical later to grab it."

  "Sure, have fun Bri," she walked away, "see ya' Gryph."

  Gryphon forced a seething smile, nodding his head as she turned the corner.

  "Later Kim."

  Brian raised an eyebrow and looked at him.

  "Someone's grumpy this morning."

  "Oh, don't start with me okay."

  "Hey, it's your bug and your ass. Let's get going, we're late enough as it is."

  Gryphon quickly continued walking towards Operations and Brian followed.

  "Whoop-de-doo. You don't actually take any of this seriously do you?"

  "Why not? I don't know if you've noticed but we're actually doing some important shit out here. We may be young and goofy at times, but we still have jobs to do and I take pride in doing my job well."

  "Even though there are other people and computers that can do the job just as well as you?"

  "Not just as well, I'm one of the best at what I do. That's why I'm here. While Heather and David may be coming up to par with me, they are my assistants after all, neither one can tweak these engines like I can; or repair most of the systems on the Necronomicon. As for the computers," Brian smiled "Alexander picking on you again?"

  Gryphon scowled and quickly looked away, quieting down for a moment.

  "How is Heather doing anyway?"

  "She's coming along. She has some fascinating ideas concerning alternative fuel components."

  "Good."

  "You think she's cute don't you?"

  Gryphon looked down, his lip curling into a faint scowl.

  "Well, there's no shame in that. That reminds me, I haven't talked to Karen this morning; I hope Kim gets a couple of extra donuts." Brian looked back at Gryphon as they continued walking, patting him on a bare shoulder. "As for the AI's, just remember that they're there to help with ship functions and not to take them too seriously. They may seem life-like, but they're still just machines."

  "Sometimes they can be too human you know? It's irritating."

  More human than you is what you mean. Brian nodded politely as he thought. "Don't let it get you down stud." They stopped at a lift and waited for the door to open. It did so with a swish and they walked aboard. "Deck two."

  The door closed and the lift ascended through the shaft.

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  The Captain ran a hand through his hair. The gel had begun to set it in place and he looked at it's progress in the mirrored surface of a blank computer panel.

  Crew members had shuffled in and were assembling themselves around the conference table. Some were in uniform while others were still in their night clothes. Vanessa was wearing bunny slippers that she kicked playfully as she talked to Robert.

  The Captain looked at each of his ship's crew. Everyone on board the Necronomicon was in their early to middle twenties and highly intelligent; as well as physically fit.

  Robert was a fairly tall and thin man with a muscular build. African-American, but with a light complexion that gave him a well-tanned look. He had long arms and large hands that he enjoyed posing with when given the opportunity. It was this carefree attitude that seemed to enhance his abilities as a pilot; he specialized in large freighters and battleships, despite originally starting out flying single manned jets for air shows in the southern United States. Where he could make a large and bulky ship dance, he could barely pull off a simple loop in a fighter plane. The Captain never really understood why that was, but he was thankful to have Robert on board.

  Still talking to Robert was Vanessa, the ship's chief physician. An Italian-Mexican mix, Vanessa was of average height and build and had skin about as dark as Robert's. She was an exceptionally bright woman who had graduated high school three years ahead of her peers and attended Harvard medical school. Though she was apt and excelled in her studies, she had a difficult time with the stoic atmosphere it provided. Her parents and professors always pressed her to apply herself as much as possible; she had a passion for medicine and had become quite a competent physician, but she never quite became used to the serious environment that medicine demanded. She fit right in on the Necronomicon.

  Karen was the ship's navigator and was one of America's foremost astronomers. She grew up watching old science fiction movies and reading the works of Sagen and Hawkins. She had a number of Star Trek and Star Wars ship models hanging in her quarters and never failed to go searching for piece of paraphernalia from either series when back on planet; Karen was also the proud owner of the only complete set of all nine Star Wars movies in their original theater formats. She had originally worked for NASA after obtaining her masters from UCLA, but was disappointed when she found their space program lacking in actual work off planet. The only organizations that did extensive functions in space were private companies and wealthier citizens. Karen was recruited about half of a year ago and she had since had the opportunity to explore a good portion of the solar system and expected to see the rest of it in due course.

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