Kara Discovered: Episode 3, Scientist Arrive
One of the scientist disputes Jeffries orders.
Wearing those brutal uniforms, the men waited at parade rest. After twenty minutes of that, Doctor Kenneth Artland, a physical properties scientist arrived. Artland was the oldest man crossing at one thousand and five years old, though he still maintained the body of a twenty-five-year-old. He was the only one of the four that had taken time to find out that Jefferies himself had been a full professor before entering the Legion. Thankfully, the Doctor remained silent and took a stance near the gate. Artland didn’t make conversation; he lectured.
A few minutes later, coming down the hall, Doctor Timothy Titus said, “Why are all these people here? I thought we were only taking two squads.”
It figured. Not only had the scientist not bothered to turn out for the drills, but had misread their briefing about the security. If they even read them, that is.
Lipton answered him. “It’s two squads per scientist, plus the officer in charge of them.”
Doctor Janice Green shrill voice came from further down the hall “I must protest. One or two of these killers each, to act as bodyguard, would be acceptable, barely, but this is not.” As she closed that distance she went on, “I insist you reduce the number to that.”
Jeffries suppressed the glare he wanted to give Lipton. This was his fault for not wanting to demand compliance with the drills. Only Doctor Titus in this group had logged a single hour on an unsettled planet. The other three were classroom and university lab scientists, not field people, though each was brilliant in their own narrow fields.
Jefferies said, “You may, of course, return to your lab and file that request with your department head. In the meantime, my men and I will carry out this mission as ordered. Leave now; or fall in at the back of the line.”
Her face purpled with anger. “How dare you talk to me that way? My university is co-sponsor of your legion being here. I will have you replaced.”
Jefferies laughed, glad for a change that he had an ugly laugh that worried people when they heard it. “Please do. Nothing I’ve tried worked to get me transferred back to protecting people that want protection.”
“Sorry I am late,” said the last to arrive, Doctor Qiu Li, interrupting any response she had been about to make. “I had to stop at the infirmary and have them treat a rather bad abrasion on my calf. Let’s get across that gate before the clothes abrade me further.”
Doctor Artland spoke. “I just hope that they are not too soft over there. Every other easily produced thread I tried was worse or didn’t survive the crossing. Anything nonorganic that you can move in there, is out of the question for something you can wear here. Organics and plastic are, of course, out of the question. But given time and experience, I should be able to find something that works both places.”
Jeffries had watched those experiments while planning the training of his men. Because of watching those experiments he had drilled over and over into his men not to take metals across. They were as soluble in water there as sodium was here, with similar results, as the aluminum container with water in it had shone.
“Ok, let’s get moving. You four scientists are in the rear, just ahead of the six men bringing up the rear.”
“Wait a minute,” demanded Doctor Green. “One of us is supposed to be the first to set foot into the fourth universe.”
“Not going to happen. Only two people are able to decide to abort or not, myself and my Top Sergeant. He has too many other things to do, so I have to go first. This is a hostile environment created by sentient beings. There could be something behind this door ready to shoot me the instant I cross.”
“Guns don’t work there,” she responded in a condescending voice. “The physics is all wrong. That is why you carry those stupid sticks to throw at them.”
“In 10^63 years, they have likely come up with some viable alternative to get the job done. Take your place or get out of the way. We’re moving out as soon as I verify it as safe enough.”