Log 1 Matter | Antimatter Read Online Free PDF

while Marc chatted
amicably about life on board the Repco.
    “Did you like the greeting in the Ritz?”
    Jamie drew a blank for just a moment and then
snorted. “Did I want to eject?”
    Marc laughed. “That’s it. A nice little
welcome from me. We all get one and now it’s your turn for the next
newbie. I’ll send you the list so you can see who’s next in
line.”
    Jamie nodded. Pranks were encouraged in the
cadets but he didn’t think it was a great idea on board a ranger.
What if Levan had been female and Jamie had decided he’d rather
eject than stay on board? He hid his grin. After they returned
their trays, Marc led him to the rear of the ranger and up a few
decks. Jamie had been surprised that Marc was just over six foot
and considering how much the male had eaten he was lean. Marc
sauntered around while Jamie strode. Around the walls were stripes
of orange with closed hatches along the way with numbers and room
idents.
    He followed Marc to the end of the
companionway and a large hatch lay open. “If this is closed, don’t
enter. It means the top tiered officers are in here or there’s
something on that’s not an emergency. If there is an emergency the
big arse light will flash on and you’ll be deafened by the array of
sirens. Had those yet?”
    “Yeah.” Jamie’s eyes opened appreciatively at
the assorted equipment, the sparring stations, the roster for
classes, the sectioned off rooms for squash and other sports.
    “You can sign up for any teams; they’ll want
to check you out. There’s a nutrition bay and fat monitor.” Marc
was pointing around the massive area. “Not that you need that.”
    “I like to keep under five percent.”
    Marc eyed him off and raised a dark eyebrow
at Jamie’s brisk tone. “Okay.”
    They walked around the area and Jamie signed
up for some teams, and he booked various equipment and machines for
over a week. He sent the information to the Ritz.
    “You’re jumping on a bike now?” Marc gave him
a surprised look.
    “Is that a problem?”
    “No.” Marc changed the screen to his account
and “ moved” his bike
next to Jamie’s. It seemed like Jamie was to have more of Marc’s
company. They changed into some standard sports shorts and tank
tops, took towels and cleaning gear. Jamie set the bike for warm up
and then random hill climbs. Marc set his for speed after the warm
up. As they sat and began their programs, Marc chatted.
    Jamie almost asked him to let him have some
peace but Marc raised an interesting topic. “Heard of Dark Matter
Beings?”
    “Ah, no.” Yes, but Jamie kept his knowledge
guarded behind several neural ramparts. It surprised him how
quickly his current mission abutted his real mission.
    “You will. There are also Energy-matter and
Antimatter Beings and they want to embrace us, the Matter-matter
Beings, with their loving arms that will zap us, dim us or cancel
us out.”
    For a moment Jamie thought Marc was
bullshitting, but beneath the humor were grains of truth. He
laughed anyway.
    “It’s my job to acquaint you with the Three
Empires and Grands.”
    Jamie almost broke his pedal stride but
resumed. He glanced across at the male, who was now pedaling
faster. “Okay.” After a few moments Jamie asked, “And?”
    “And, not now. I’m busy.”
    Jamie had to laugh at the grin that appeared
on Marc’s face. “Later then?” The program clicked and he rode
uphill.
    “Later.”
     

Sub-Log III
     
    “Later” proved to be six shifts later, in a secure
part of the clean, white lab. Jamie was staring at the bizarre
chemical structure that hovered in front of him. Marc joined him
and leaned in close. “Now, just pretend we’re chatting about the
image in front of you. You look properly puzzled, which is good.
The Three E&Gs are structured civilizations complete with
import and export laws, visitation policies, and interbeing
relations. Oh, before you ask, the Empire is the place, the Grands
are the people.”
    “I’d imagine