True to his word, Professor Wanner returned twenty minutes later. He had a tray of food and Seki in tow, and they were having an animated conversation. So much for 'all business' Seki.
'I brought a good meal for you. I know you'll be hungry after burning all that brainpower,' he said.
'Thank you, Doctor,' I responded solemnly. Seki, who was all smiles when she came through the door, saw my expression.
'What has happened?' she asked. I looked at Professor Wanner and then Seki.
'We're expected to run,' I said.
'What? I don't understand.'
'The Tama Maru is a colony ship. They knew about their existence since the Marathon incident.'
Professor Wanner put the food on the desk and retrieved a chair for Seki. He placed it next to mine. A confused Seki sat down without a word.
'What do you mean 'They knew about their existence since the Marathon incident'?' she asked after a delay.
I turned to Professor Wanner. 'You know the details, right?'
'Yes,' he said.
'Why me?' I asked.
'Why? Because you are a hero, and this crew will follow you anywhere.'
'Professor, you know my history? Why would they give such a monumental project to a washed-up has-been?'
He smiled at me but didn't reply.
'It's not worth the risk,' I said.
He knitted his fingers together and leaned forward. 'Captain, I beg to differ. From what I've been told, you were able to piece together everything, by yourself.' He turned to Seki 'Am I correct, Commander Hosuzu?'
'That is true,' she said, still confused about the situation.
'And your recent incident showed our vulnerability to enemy tactics.'
'And nearly got me killed.'
' That may be, but what would have happened if we did not discover the risk?'
'But...'
'But nothing, there's no better man for this time than you.'
God, not another one.
'Oh, get over yourself,' snapped Seki. I gave her a death stare. Wanner glanced back and forth at both of us. Then she caught herself and looked sheepish. 'Sorry,' she apologized.
'What just happened?' he asked. I did a double-faced palm.
'Why don't you explain it, XO.'
'I'd rather not,' she said, and looked at the floor.
'The XO can read my mind.'
The Wanner gave me a vacant look. 'You mean metaphorically?'
'No, Professor, I mean literally. We have supporting medical evidence. But that is beside the point. Let's get back to the subject at hand.'
'Ah, yes. You understand the situation. They chose you because the crew would follow you without question.'
I was about to protest when Seki spoke up. 'Uh, what exactly are we discussing?'
'Oh, right, about seven years ago we had a first contact situation. The higher-ups knew about it, but kept it a secret. They repurposed the Tama Maru as humanity's last option for survival should -they- turn out to be hostile.'
Seki gave me a vacant look. 'But it's never aliens,' she said, her voice edged with panic.
'Well, it is this time, XO. Isn't that right, Professor?'
'It would appear so,' he said. Seki looked at me, then at the professor.
'What do we do now?' She asked, her voice resigned.
What do we do now? Admiral Craskell and others already did all the work. All I need to do is follow the plan.
'We follow the plan and adjust as we go, XO. However, we need all the crew awake before we break this to them.'
'So you want to delay informing them?'
'Yes, XO, I need all the crew to be available if we are going to pull this off. To do that, I need the current, awake crew to be focused on their jobs. They won't be able to deal with this additional bombshell. Do you agree, Professor?'
'Yes, that would probably be best,' Wanner said as he rubbed his chin.
'Okay, so we all agree with this?' Neither of them said anything. Not that it really mattered, it was my burden to bear.
'XO?'
'Ah? Yeah, sure.' said a flustered Seki.
'Professor, you will see Alice ASAP, correct?'
'Of course, Captain. The sooner, the better. I think.'
'I agree. Alice?' I called. Her portrait appeared in my visual. 'You are to have a session with Professor Wanner... excuse me. Dr Wanner, can you see her right now?'
'Sure, if that is your wish.'
' I do. Alice, you are to have a therapy session with Professor Wanner now.'
'Understood,' she said, and shimmered into view.
'Professor Wanner, Alice. We will leave you two to it. I am free to leave with this?' I pointed to the case.
'Yes, yes, it is now yours to deal with.'
'Thank you, Professor.' I took up the case. 'I'll take this as well.' I retrieved the food tray and gave it to Seki.
'Alice, we're going to need you now more than ever. Consider what recently happened as gone, and I want you to be frank with Professor Wanner. He is here to help you. Do you understand?'
'Yes, I do, Captain,' Alice said meekly.
'XO, you and I have work to do. Let's go. Excuse us.' I said, and marched out of the Professor's office with a confused Seki in tow.