Chapter No.45.

Chara dropped the ship out of warp near an Earth-like planet orbiting a M-2 class red dwarf star. Since the planet was at the very far edge of the habitable zone, it was mostly frozen. Despite that, a space vessel that looked like a bird of prey was in orbit around the planet.

"Scans show that the vessel is powering up," Alma said. "It is moving towards us."

"It's powering up weapons," Myra said.

Ryan was sitting behind Chara. He looked at her but realized that she wasn't moving. He waved his hand to activate a virtual control screen and immediately powered up weapons while he fired the main engines to move behind the planet. He hoped that he could get out of the line of sight with the enemy vessel.

He had just gotten out of sight with the enemy before he turned around to face it just as it rounded the planet. He fired two plasma balls at it and activated a photon missile. The vessel fired two energy beams, but the Avenger's shields held, but not without ringing the hull like a bell. Ryan moved the Avenger down and then fired the missile, which blasted a hole in the enemy vessel before it blew up completely destroying it.

He moved the Avenger out of range of the planet before he got out of his seat and went to Chara. After a quick look, he turned to Alma. "She's unresponsive. I need to get her to the lab right now. You can take over vessel control. If another vessel comes near, blast it."

Alma nodded. Two androids arrived to help carry Chara to the android lab. Myra went with him. As soon as they got Chara to the lab, they stripped her and secured her to an exam table. Ryan quickly connected a cable to her neck receptacle and began a system scan.

"She acts like her systems just shut down, as if her computing modules conked out."

"I don't think she's been spending time in a charging station," Myra said.

Ryan smiled. "Okay, that make sense now. I realize that she's stubborn, but her failure to maintain herself nearly got us killed."

"I think she's paranoid about us trying to take over."

Ryan just shook his head and sighed. "Okay, make sure she gets a good charge. I'm going up to the command deck and make sure we don't come under another attack."

Myra nodded.

When Ryan got back up to the command deck, he found Alma in the pilot's chair. Another android had taken her place in the science chair.

"This is Zeta," Alma said, gesturing to the new android.

Ryan sat down in the chair behind Alma. "Any activity?"

"None," Alma said.

"Take us out away from the planet. I think a billion miles should be safe enough and remain in cloak."

Alma initiated the commands to move the Avenger. She turned to Ryan. "How is Chara?"

"She'll be fine. She's been neglecting to reboot her computer cells. As soon as she's up to specs, I'll send her up here."

Alma didn't reply, but Ryan knew that she was aware of Chara's neglect.

When he got back to the android lab, he found Myra there with Chara who was now conscious.

"You almost got us killed, my dear," Ryan told her. "You made a serious mistake by not charging."

"I know," Chara said. "I am not fit to command. You should turn me off."

"I'm not going to do that. We need you to determine destinations and keep the androids in line. You worry about us humans taking over, but we have no desire to do so. You and we must work together to survive in this dangerous universe and explore. I want you to maintain yourself and stop worrying about us humans. We're here to serve."

"I understand, Ryan. You can rule the humans."

"I will make sure that they behave and do their jobs."

"What is our status?"

"I had Alma move the ship a billion miles away from the planet and remain in cloak."

"Why did the vessel attack us?"

"I think that the species that lives on this planet had been going to the planet to obtain food in the form of excess females. Evidently, that planet is overpopulated because there are too many females. My guess is that they thought that we were coming here to interfere with their activity. If I were to guess, I think that their home world is too cold to support food production. What bothers me is that they didn't even try to negotiate with us."

"You are wise, Ryan. I think that you should be in charge."

Ryan sighed. "Look. You are in charge; I will make sure that we humans serve to maintain this vessel and the aneroids in it."

"Thank you," Chara replied.

As Myra and he departed the lab to return to the command deck, Myra knew that she was in trouble. "I'm sorry about all of this. I should have told you."

"Yes, you should have. I'll decide your punishment later after we're out of danger."

"I'd love to have you punish me," she said with an ornery grin.

"You've been around Chara too much."

She laughed. "Yeah, I'm a bad ass bitch like her."

Ryan chuckled.

They arrived on the command deck to find that everything was calm.

"No activity from the planet," Alma said.

"Good. Maintain surveillance." He turned to Myra. "Stay here and scan for anything that could represent a threat."

She nodded. Ryan didn't know what the hell he was supposed to do to make everyone understand how dangerous it is out here in space. He decided to go back to the android lab and check on Chara. He found her still strapped down to an exam table. He pulled a chair up to her and sat down.

Chara looked over at him. "Are we still safe?"

"Yes, we are, my dear."

"I apologize for mistrusting you," she said. "I suppose it's because I hate human males too much."

"I apologize for being a human male, Chara."

She stared at him for a moment before replying. "It is illogical for you to apologize for being what you are."

"That's right, and it's illogical for you to hate me for being a human male. Not all human males are evil."

"Yes, you're right. I, of all creatures, should not be illogical."

"I am not angry with you nor am I trying to usurp your authority. I need you as much as you need me. We are a team. I will handle the humans and make sure they don't do anything stupid. I may have to kick some asses to do that, but I will do it if they don't behave."

"I understand and will behave," she said.

"Good. I think we're on the right road, so to speak."

Chara smiled, a sign that indicated that she was finally reconciled with the situation.

Later, when the humans gathered for a communal supper, it was obvious that they were collectively anxious to needle Ryan.

"So, now you're in charge of discipling us, Ryan," Marsha said.

"Depends upon how you define discipline," he replied.

"I suppose that means that we gals are back to entertaining you guys," Jane said.

"I think that should include some smacks on our asses," Gloria said.

They laughed.

"I'll put you in charge of that," Ryan told Marsha.

"I'm not in charge, you are," She retorted.

"Yes, but I'm assigning you to discipline assignments."

"I thought Myra here was in charge of that," Marsha said.

"Not me," Myra said. "I'm in the doghouse for not reporting on Chara's failure to charge."

"Who's on first?" Evan said.

"No, he's on second," Gary said.

They laughed.

Ryan's face exhibited mock disgust. "If you guys don't behave, I'll make you sing opera."

"Oh, that would be a real hoot," Evan said.

They laughed.

Ryan realized that they were simply trying to use humor to settle their frazzled nerves. After nearly being destroyed, they were worried about the command crisis. His job would be to assuage their panic and make them do their jobs.