STARDATE – 20152.4

Harold whrrrs with satisfaction, as Lieutenant McDonald punches in a few more commands on the panel outside Massie’s quarters. The dampening field finally drops. Captain Amity and Lieutenant Jamieson stand together in the corridor with Matthews irately pacing back and forth behind them.

‘Success, at last, well done, Chief,’ Amity says.

‘Don’t celebrate too soon there, Captain,’ McDonald says, still tapping on the panel, ‘the doors still won’t budge.’ She scoops up her tool-kit and gets to her feet. ‘It’s been sealed with something…self sealing stem bolts or some kind of powerful adhesive maybe?’

Harold bleeps in the background.

‘So, how do we get in?’ Jamieson asks.

‘Don’t you have a tool for this in that tool-kit of yours, Chief?’ Amity asks.

McDonald smiles and reaches into the tool-kit.

‘Aye, I’ve got the perfect thing for it.’

She pulls out a phaser, sets it to its highest setting, and aims at the doors.

‘With your permission, Maam?’

Amity smiles.

‘A bit crude, Chief, but if it works, go ahead.’

McDonald fires the phaser and cuts a line down the centre of the doors. They give, and as McDonald ceases firing, the doors spring open, startling everyone. They all stare into the darkened quarters.

‘Oh dear,’ Harold says, beeping.

‘Harold, what are your sensors picking up? Is there anyone in there?’ Amity asks, quietly.

‘I am not detecting any life signs, Captain, but I am detecting something else.’

Amity squints at Harold’s ambiguity.

‘Go on, Harold,’ McDonald says.

‘You are not going to like it.’

Amity huffs and turns to McDonald.

‘Can I borrow that phaser?’

McDonald hands the phaser over. Amity turns to face the quarters and strides inside. Her crew follow her inside. Massie’s quarters are dimly lit and they all strain to see in the dark.

‘Harold,’ Amity sighs, ‘the lights?’

Harold bleeps and the room is illuminated. Their eyes immediately fall on the large contraption on the living room table.

‘Oh no,’ Matthews whispers, recognising it.

A modified torpedo.

‘That’s…not good…’ Jamieson says, nervously gawking at it.

McDonald moves ahead.

‘Careful,’ Amity warns her, halting her.

‘I’m just going to take a look,’ McDonald says. She edges closer.

Matthews scans the room. It is a mess, and stinks of rotting meat. Sulphurous. Matthews follows his nose for moment and tracks a stench to Massie’s sleeping area.

Harold bleeps.

‘I would not go in there. There is…a body.’

Matthews freezes.

‘Not another one,’ Amity mumbles, charging passed him into the sleeping area, and then she freezes and recoils.

‘Oh, Jesus!’ she blurts.

Matthews rushes to her side and spots the cause of her outcry. Propped up in bed, is the headless, decaying corpse of Dunkhan. The skin has been removed from the Reptilian’s hands, claws and all. Matthews takes Amity’s arm and hurriedly leads her back into the living room.

‘Now we know what the smell is,’ Matthews gasps, releasing Amity’s arm. She staggers forward, fazed.

‘What kind of…monster..?’ she whispers.

‘It could have been any one of us,’ Matthews says, grimly, ‘the compound, the right type of environment, set of circumstances…could have turned any one of us into a monster.’

‘Let’s not forget, half the crew did turn into monsters,’ Amity adds, glum.

Harold bleeps.

‘And you think the Reptilians are bad? Yes, you humans are just a tip-toe away from crazy homicidal maniacs.’

‘Yes, thank you for your sensitive input, Harold, as ever,’ Matthews squints. He notices there are PADDS lying about everywhere. He picks one up and taps the screen. A recording of Massie’s voice plays back.

…and that’s when I started to see the truth in what he was saying. All along he knew, there is only one truth in life, one constant. The Inevitable. Death. Death eats itself in the end. Death brings about its own death. The death of death is the inevitable truth. Death is all and death is all there ever will be. Death…’

Matthews taps the screen, stopping the playback.

‘Thank you,’ Jamieson smiles, disturbed.

Matthews replaces the PADD and picks up another and taps the screen. Another recording.

…all throughout the history of humanity, right back to the first civilisations, there has been references to them. Their description. Their presence. Sometimes depictions. They’ve been there all along. Living alongside us. Among us. Clever, patient, calculating. Waiting for the perfect time to strike the weak and fickle humans…

Matthews stops the recording and tosses the PADD aside.

‘Loony,’ Jamieson says, anxiously.

‘Yeah, you think you know someone,’ Matthews says, wide-eyed. ‘He’s talking about Dunkhan, the Reptilians,’ he explains.

‘Sounds like he admires them,’ Amity says, with a close eye on McDonald, as she delicately walks around the torpedo.

Matthews picks up another PADD and begins playback.

…if that bastard thinks he can bugger me and then toss me aside like one of his floozies, I don’t know who he thinks he is, but I’ll show him…

Matthews frantically taps the screen and throws the PADD across the room.

McDonald makes a discovery of her own. Another PADD carefully placed on top of the torpedo casing.

‘Captain,’ she nods.

Amity spots it. She slowly approaches and carefully lifts the PADD off the torpedo. McDonald stands beside her. Matthews and Jamieson step closer. Amity holds the PADD up and taps the screen.

There is a

tense

pause.

The torpedo seems to charge and then give off an electronic hum. It begins to bleep, over and over.

‘That’s…definitely not good,’ Jamieson whines.

Now Massie’s voice coming from the PADD.

…if you are playing this, and hearing me…well…it means I am dead, and not only have you found my parting gift, but, by playing this recording, you have armed the torpedo and activated the countdown sequence. I consider this the final blow. A victory for the true, superior, supreme species and rightful heirs to planet Earth, the Reptilians. I only wish I could be there, with you now. To see the look on your face. Is it you Captain? Or you, sweetheart, oh, how I wish it’s you? Well, say your goodbyes. You have one hour. The inevitable comes for us all, eventually. Today is your day. Dunkhan was right all along, the inevitable comes for us all. It has come for me, and now you…

Amity drops the PADD.

‘That sounds eerily like the last thing I said the last time we were facing the ship exploding,’ Jamieson says, shakily.

‘Does anyone else feel like we are going in circles?’ Matthews asks.

Amity shakes her head and the question away.

‘Harold, can you disable the torpedo?’

Harold whrrrs.

‘Negative. Massie has erected another dampening field around the torpedo.’

‘Can you beam it off the ship, into the void?’

‘Negative.’

‘Damn it!’ Massie blurts. ‘ Chief?’

McDonald nods.

‘If I can get in to the circuitry,’ she says, reaching for a panel on the torpedo. A bright blue light flashes, repelling McDonald’s hand.

‘Shit!’ McDonald yells, yanking her hand back.

‘Apparently Massie has also erected a force field,’ Harold says.

‘When you activated the PADD,’ McDonald explains.

Amity thinks fast.

‘Suggestions?’

‘Harold, can you erect a level ten containment field around the torpedo?’ McDonald asks.

‘Affirmative, but it will not be sufficient to contain the blast. I estimate the explosion will do considerable damage to several decks. I have calculated that there is a thirty seven percent chance that the explosion could destroy…the ship…me, and of course, all of you too.’

‘Harold, erect the containment field and begin giving evacuation orders to all crew members within the blast radius,’ Amity orders. ‘I want those decks cleared.’

‘Acknowledged,’ Harold says, beeping and whrrring. ‘What is it with you humans and blowing things up? You love your explosions.’

Amity chooses to ignore Harold’s whinging. She turns to McDonald.

‘Chief, how close are you to completing the polaric generator?’

‘Close, I left Leenda Valda and Ensign Jee on it,’ McDonald nods, ‘Leenda works…extraordinarily fast and efficiently, I’ve never seen anything like it, Captain. They may even have finished the work by now.’

‘Assign a small team to keep trying to deactivate the force-field, and the dampening field. I want you to get to Engineering as quickly as possible, finish the generator and get it to the Elder. If I can get through to this Hierarchy of theirs, perhaps they have someone, or the technology, that can deactivate the torpedo, or strengthen the containment field. Whatever help I can get.’

‘Do you really think they’ll listen to you, Cal?’ Matthews asks, stepping forward. ‘After everything you have told us about them, us all exploding sounds like it is doing them a favour.’

‘I have to try!’ Amity yells. ‘Do you have a better suggestion?’

‘No, but…’

‘But, what?’

‘You’re going to leave the ship, the crew, to perish, while you try to convince a bunch of sociopathic bureaucratic aliens to save our lives?’

‘I could do with a little encouragement here, Mark, not doubt! Besides, we perish whether I go or stay. I’ve got a chance to free us. I’m taking it.’

Matthews bites his lip. Amity huffs, frustrated, and turns to Jamieson.

‘Lieutenant, now would be a good time to collect that EV suit.’

‘Yes, Maam,’ Jamieson nods. He glances at McDonald. She nods in acknowledgement.

They both make for the exit.

Harold bleeps.

‘Some good news, nothing major, although I gather you could use all the good news you can get at the moment…’

‘Harold,’ Amity sighs.

‘The turbo lift shafts have been cleared and are functional again.’

Amity turns to her crew as they reach the exit.

‘You heard Harold, utilise the turbo lifts,’ she calls.

‘Aye Maam,’ McDonald calls back, as she and Jamieson disappear into the corridor.

‘Some…bad news,’ Harold whrrrs.

Amity braces herself.

‘Three bodies were removed from the turbo lift shafts,’ Harold bleeps.

Amity closes her eyes, her lip trembles as emotion overwhelms her. A memory fires through Matthews’ mind.

‘McAllister,’ he whispers. He gently breaks down.

‘Yes,’ Harold acknowledges. ‘Second technician Julie McAllister, Ensign Michael…’

‘Thank you,’ Amity blurts, cutting Harold off, ‘I’ll wait for the Doctor’s final casualty report.’

Amity and Matthews try to recompose themselves. They awkwardly glance at each other.

‘Here we are again,’ Matthews says, softly, ‘facing annihilation together.’

Amity, despite the circumstances, tries to smile.

‘How the hell did it come to this, Mark? This trek of ours, how can so much horror happen to one crew?’

‘There’s something bigger going on here, Cal. And, I don’t just mean the Immaru. I can’t put my finger on it, but I know it. My intuition has been right all this time. I was right about Harold. Right about the Immaru. And now, this. I know it, I feel it.’

Amity stares at Matthews, afraid. Harold bleeps.

‘This ship did explode, Captain. Perhaps, if you do indeed make it to the Immaru’s realm, you can ask them how they reversed time, and, more importantly, can they do it again?’

Matthews shakes his head.

‘It just doesn’t make sense. Why would the Immaru seal us in the chamber to die, only to save us from the ship exploding?’

‘Unless, as I postulated before,’ Harold whrrrs, ‘we are dealing with a higher power. Another player?’

Now Amity shakes her head.

‘Likewise, why would a higher power save us from the explosion, but allow forty eight,’ Amity catches her breath for a moment, ‘fifty one…of us to die in such a hideously brutal way?’

‘Perhaps, we don’t have to do anything?’ Matthews suggests, shrugging. ‘Perhaps we should just let the torpedo explode, and wait for this higher power to intervene again?’

‘That’s putting a little bit too much faith into that supposition, Mark? I would rather act, than do nothing. I’m still going through the fracture. I’m going to the Immaru’s realm and I will convince them to help us, and ultimately free us of this…void.’

‘If anyone can convince them,’ Matthews nods, smiling, ‘it’s you.’

‘Harold,’ Amity calls, ‘how long do we have left since the countdown began?’

‘There is fifty three minutes until detonation,’ Harold answers.

‘Well,’ Amity says, turning to Matthews, ‘I…had better return to the Immaru’s quarters.’

Matthews takes a deep breath.

‘Permission to join you, Captain? It…could be the last time I ever see you…alive.’

Amity looks into Matthews’ eyes. She has never seen such fear there before. It reflects her own.

‘Permission granted,’ she nods, gently.

They turn and make for the exit, in, fearful, yet determined, silence.

 

SUPPLEMENTAL

 

Mark Matthews paces along one side of the Immaru’s quarters, with the Elder pacing along the opposite side, both consumed with their thoughts. Captain Amity stands facing the far wall, staring up at the message on the wall.

Dear overlords, welcome to your very own “isolation chamber”. The keepers have become the captives. The captives have taken back what was stolen. Accept your punishment. Get comfortable, for you will remain here forevermore.

She considers her crew. Their mindset. Their mutiny. How she wasn’t prepared in the slightest for it, despite suspecting it was coming, eventually. Inevitably. And how close she came to quitting, like Matthews, and walking away. To let someone else bear the weight of responsibility, and the complexities and difficulties in holding a crew together. She wonders for a brief moment if she welcomed mutiny. It would have, after all, freed her of the responsibility of having to choose to step down as Captain. She quickly dismisses the thought. She knows this is her crew, and she doubts that there is anyone else onboard that cares for them as much as she. Amity glances over her shoulder at Matthews, who is pacing like a caged animal, the caged animal he has become. She turns to face him.

‘Mark,’ she calls.

Matthews halts and turns to her.

Amity stalls for a moment, looking into his eyes. He half smiles and nods.

‘I just wanted to say…sorry,’ Amity says, collected.

Matthews squints.

‘I realise,’ Amity goes on, ‘I have spent so much time blaming you, wrapped up in how I felt, deserted, betrayed…I never gave much concern for what you were going through. The numbness that the alcohol and isolation brought has caused me to look at my crew, generally, not personally. I’ve become distant. It’s a weakness. I know that. A weakness this crew does not deserve. That’s not the Captain I want to be.’

Matthews stands tall and nods, acknowledging Amity’s apology.

‘You are a good Captain, Cal. You’ve just been dropped in the middle of the most fantastic shit-storm that any Space Core Captain has ever faced,’ Matthews says, throwing a scowl in the Elder’s direction. He turns back to Amity, softens, and smiles. Amity smiles back.

‘You were a good Commander too, Mark,’ she says.

Matthews just laughs, doubting.

‘A long time ago, though…’ Amity adds, grinning.

Matthews nods.

‘Could be again?’ Amity tries.

Matthews looks down at the deck plating.

‘Some day, when we get out of here?’ Amity adds.

Matthews sighs, and looks up.

‘Maybe, some day?’ he shrugs, trying to smile. ‘But, tell me, what Captain would accept a…mutineer… in their crew?’

‘In time, this one,’ Amity nods. ‘I realise you resigned your commission, but you have devoted yourself to the crew in your own way, I see that now. In some ways, you had a closer eye on them than I did. You were right, about all of it. Harold. The Immaru. The…explosion…a power…greater than the Immaru. And I doubted and dismissed you every step of the way.’

The Elder slows her pace until she is still.

‘I…understand, Cal. I know how it must have sounded,’ Matthews admits. ‘But, this…intuition…it’s something this void has brought out in me. I can’t explain it, Cal, I just…know I have to follow it.’

They stare into each other. Amity takes a breath.

‘And what does your intuition say about me going through the fracture, to the Immaru’s realm?’

Matthews just stares, blank.

‘Which I still think is a big mistake,’ the Elder cuts in.

Amity and Matthews blink and look away.

‘The Hierarchy would never sanction…’ the Elder tries to add.

Matthews turns to the Elder, scowling.

‘This Hierarchy? What a joke!’ he barks. ‘A group of corrupt murderous hypocrites. Supposed empathic mediators, too xenophobic to welcome an alien, especially a lowly life form, like us humans, to their home world?’

The Elder just bats her eyelids.

‘You know, Captain,’ she says, gazing glumly into space, ‘alcohol, numbness and isolation sound rather good to me right now.’

Amity can’t help but burst out laughing, but she quickly covers her mouth with her hand.

‘Xenophobic?’ the Elder smirks, at Matthews. ‘Just take a look at what’s etched on the wall. Just take a look at this sorry mess we’re in. How it began.’

Matthews huffs.

‘Tell me,’ the Elder says, fixing her sparkling eyes on Amity, ‘this…explosion…higher power…you spoke of?’

Amity is a little unnerved by the Elder’s stare.

The doors to the Immaru’s quarters whsssh open and Lieutenant Jamieson clambers in, carrying a bundled up EV suit in his arms. Everyone turns to him, startled by his entrance. He freezes.

‘At ease, Lieutenant, come in,’ Amity calls.

The Elder looks surprised.

‘Lieutenant Jameson?’ she gasps.

‘I know, right?’ Matthews mumbles.

Jamieson opens his mouth to protest.

‘Who’s a Lieutenant?’ comes a voice from the doorway.

Everyone turns to see Leenda Valda and Lieutenant McDonald carrying in an impressively bizarre, large contraption, which at a glance might be mistaken for a modified jumbo food processor. The polaric generator.

‘Jameson…’ the Elder says, distantly, gazing at the generator.

‘You got promoted?’ Valda blurts at Jamieson, surprised, but delighted.

‘Stranger things may happen…’ Matthews grumbles, ‘maybe not.’

Valda and McDonald sit the generator down in the centre of the room. Jamieson dumps the EV suit down onto the deck plating in a huff.

‘Okay, first, ‘ he says, turning to the Elder, ‘it’s Jamieson. And, second,’ he continues, turning to everyone else with his voice steadily gaining in volume, ‘why is it so hard to bloody believe that I got a bloody promotion!?’

Everyone just gawks at him, in shocked silence.

‘Because you can’t even perform a simple task like fetch me a bottle of wine,’ the Elder explains.

Amity bursts out laughing again, but quickly clamps a hand over her mouth. Jamieson just huffs on the spot, livid and rigid, for a moment, but then seems to resign himself. He sighs and his body flops.

‘I’ll go get the wine,’ he sighs, turning to make for the door.

‘Delay that order,’ Amity calls, smiling, shaking her head.

Jamieson turns back to the group.

‘Your promotion was well earned, Lieutenant,’ Amity says, switching on her authority, ‘you’ve shown extraordinary loyalty and courage and dedication to duty during your time on this ship.’

Jamieson nods, grinning with approval.

‘Thank you, Captain.’

‘That’s all we need, another Lieutenant,’ McDonald winks at Jamieson.

‘Actually, Chief,’ Amity says, turning to McDonald, ‘what I need is a Lieutenant Commander.’

McDonald stares at her Captain, and smiles. She nods.

‘Now,’ Amity says, turning her attention to the generator in the centre of the room. Everyone slowly approaches the device and forms a loose circle around it. Amity turns to the Elder.

‘I need to ask something of you?’

The Elder peels her eyes off the generator and stares at Amity.

‘Go on?’

‘We all need to have a discussion. All of us. Including Harold. It’s only fair.’

The Elder cocks her head, knowing what this will entail. She nods.

‘Are you sure?’ Valda asks, nervously.

‘Look,’ the Elder blurts, ‘I could do with a stiff drink, but aside from that, I’m more in control than I have ever been.’ She turns to Amity. ‘You may proceed.’

Amity nods to McDonald, who quickly runs out the exit, into the corridor. After a few moments she returns.

‘The dampening field has been deactivated, Captain’ she confirms, rejoining the circle.

‘Oh,’ the Elder says, suddenly looking a little disturbed and unsteady on her feet. Valda watches on, worried.

‘Are you okay?’ she asks, a little giddy herself, feeling the crew’s emotion, and another powerful presence seeping into her.

‘Of course,’ the Elder says, recomposing herself.

‘Harold?’ Amity calls.

Harold whrrrs and bleeps.

‘I am here, Captain.’

‘Okay,’ Amity begins, taking a deep breath, ‘let’s get everyone up to date here. Lieutenant Jamieson brought to our attent…’

Harold beeps loudly, interrupting Amity.

‘Sorry, Harold, is there something you want to..?’Amity asks.

‘Negative,’ Harold, says, ‘I am still struggling to accept the idea of Lieutenant Jamieson is all.’

Matthews holds his hands up, shrugging, acknowledging Harold’s statement.

Jamieson just sighs, miffed.

‘We’ve done this bit,’ he grumbles.

‘Listen,’ Amity blurts, frustrated by the interruption, ‘we have a generator to set up, a fracture in sub-space to open, a meeting with an alien race on their home world to engage in, and an isolation chamber to escape from, and all under the countdown of a ticking time-bomb in Massie’s quarters. We simply don’t have time for…’

‘A bomb?’ the Elder asks, shocked.

Amity sighs.

‘Yes, a…parting gift from the inevitable cult…Reptilian wannabe…psychotic son of a…’ Amity realises her anger is flaring and takes a breath to calm herself.

‘How long have we got, Harold?’ Matthews asks.

‘The torpedo will explode in twenty two minutes, thirty three seconds.’

Amity turns to McDonald.

‘Any progress with the force field surrounding the torpedo?’

McDonald looks grim.

‘My team are still working on it, Captain. He used one hell of an encryption code. He was Chief of Security, after all.’

Amity can’t hide her dismay.

‘Harold, the evacuation?’

‘All personnel have been evacuated from the estimated blast radius, but Captain…’

‘Thank you, Harold,’ Amity says, quickly, cutting Harold off. She gazes from the Elder to Valda.

‘There is something we have to discuss.’

‘Go on, Captain?’ Valda says.

‘Months ago, when we were on the bridge, the self destruct was counting down?’

‘How could I forget?’ the Elder sighs.

‘Harold has records and telemetry, from after the self destruct sequence, to suggest that the ship did, in fact, explode.’

Everyone looks uncomfortable and shifts on their feet nervously.

‘Not only that,’ Amity goes on, ‘Harold, can you explain?’

Harold whrrrs.

‘You see, my consciousness did not cease to exist after the initial blast. I was aware of the explosion. It tearing me up, piece by piece, molecule by molecule. It is a…peculiar…thing to experience.’

‘That’s putting it mildly,’ Matthews mumbles, looking disturbed, clearly recalling his dreams.

‘What was, and still is, the most extraordinary thing about it all is the realisation that my consciousness extends beyond the confines of this ship. There were many realisations, some too complex for your tiny human minds to comprehend to mention, but, it was during this revelation about my consciousness, when, suddenly, there was…nothing…perhaps true death, I cannot say for certain. My internal chronometer does indicate that there is a gap that I cannot account for. I have no memory of this time. The next thing that I was consciously aware of was returning to life, returning to the point in time just before the explosion. Only this time, nothing happened.’

Everyone is fidgety and spooked by Harold’s account. All, except the Elder. There is concern on her face, but she is mastering the humanoid mask, and hides it well.

‘You’re going computer senile?’ she offers.

Jamieson sniggers as Harold bleeps his objection.

‘If it helps give the story any credibility,’ Matthews says, ‘I have been having dreams, visions, about the very same thing. I am almost convinced the ship exploded too.’

Amity looks to Valda, then to the Elder.

‘Do your people have anything to do with this?’ she asks, squarely.

‘This…is ridiculous,’ the Elder dismisses, flapping her arms. ‘Here I am on the cusp of getting out of here and you want me to listen to nightmares and computer glitches? And now you tell me another one of your deranged crew wants to blow up the ship, and the clock is counting down!? We should never have intervened with you humans in the first place. It was a mistake, I see that now. We should have let Harold wipe you out and put you all out of your misery once and for all!’

The Elder rushes towards the generator and places both hands on the device. She begins to glow, bright, temporarily blinding everyone but Valda, in the room, and causing them to cry out and shield their eyes with their hands. The ship begins to quake and rumble, shaking everyone on their feet. Harold bleeps and whrrrs his distress.

‘What are you doing!?’ Valda yells.

‘I’m getting out of here, once and for all,’ the Elder answers, ‘and if you have any sense, you’ll join me!’

The polaric generator begins to emit a bright, apple-green coloured, glowing beam from it which extends out a couple of meters. Jamieson and McDonald just manage to jump back, out of the way of the beam. The air begins to ripple as the beam begins to cut into subspace, creating an aqua-coloured, circular fracture.

‘Come with me,’ the Elder cries to Valda. ‘The fracture won’t last and it can only be opened once!’

Valda dances on the spot, unsure. She looks at the crew as they stumble and try desperately to shield their eyes, and then at the fracture, back to the crew, and then at the Elder.

‘I won’t abandon them,’ she yells.

The Elder looks disdainful. She shakes her head.

‘Then you’ll die with them.’

‘Can’t you just free us all, when you get back to the home world? Expose the Hierarchy? We’re better than this!’

Now the Elder laughs loudly, perfecting the evil cackle.

‘Oh, what a disappointment. You still don’t get it do you?’

Valda begins to catch on.

‘You were never going to free them, were you?’

‘Free the crew? Shine a light on another glorious failure? Expose the Hierarchy!? I am the Hierarchy! Or, I used to be. But, I will be again. As soon as I pass through that fracture. I’ve got enough evidence, enough to threaten that so called Prime Being into stepping down, who dared to presume to take my place, my rightful place, and I’ll be Prime Being again. And this sorry mess can be buried for good! Don’t you see, there is far more at stake here, than one ship and one crew?’

Valda just glares, angry and glowing.

‘I see what is at stake here, another deluded member of the Hierarchy’s conquest, whose sociopathic ambition has blinded her to the very ethics and principles born out of the tragic history of our, clearly lost, people. You and the Hierarchy have led us astray. You have destroyed everything.’

‘Is that your professional diagnosis, counselor?’ the Elder smirks. ‘What do you know about our history, our past, aside from the stories told to you? I’m an Elder, I was there! And what do you know about our present? What is looming over us?’

‘What is that supposed to mean?’ Valda asks, confused.

The Elder just looks at Valda with pitiful eyes.

‘So naive. You could have become something. A member of the Hierarchy. Such potential, and squandered, and for what, an insane mammalian sub-species?’

‘I’ll never join you or the Hierarchy! You will never get away with this. Not again!’

The fracture is at its widest point. The Elder takes her hands off the device and stands tall.

‘I’ll stop you!’ Valda yells.

The Elder glances at Valda and grins.

‘You are out of your depth. But, you are welcome to try.’

The Elder’s humanoid body flops to the floor and a bright glowing orb rises from it. The orb quickly travels into the fracture and disappears. The fracture fluctuates, rippling, and shrinks slightly as it dissipates. Valda stands tall about to shed her humanoid form when she notices Amity, in her EV suit, fastening the last of the sealing clips on her helmet. Her crew close in around her.

‘You’re sure about this, Cal?’ Matthews asks.

Amity glances at him through her helmet. Her eyes answer him, without the need for words.

‘You’ve got four hours of oxygen, Captain,’ Jamieson informs her.

‘Although,’ McDonald smiles, ‘we only have around ten minutes.’

Amity nods.

‘Harold,’ she calls, ‘use all available power to reinforce that containment field around the bomb, understood?’

‘Acknowledged,’ Harold beeps. ‘Captain…’

Amity rolls her eyes.

‘Yes, Harold, we don’t have a lot of time here…’

‘I just wanted to say,’ Harold whrrrs, ‘good luck.’

Amity pauses, taken aback.

‘Thank you, Harold.’

Amity looks at the worried, tired faces of her crew. She takes in a breath, determined.

‘I’m going to get us out of here,’ she tells them, with conviction. She turns to McDonald. ‘You’re in charge, until I get back, Chief. Prepare yourselves. Look after them.’

McDonald just nods, unfazed, accepting the responsibility.

‘Captain,’ Valda says, pulling everyone’s attention, ‘I can’t guarantee what kind of welcome you will receive when you arrive on my home world. The Hierarchy…my people…they are not who I thought they were.’

‘What better way to test who they really are,’ Amity smiles.

Valda smiles, her eyes twinkle like fire embers. She nods.

‘You had better hurry.’

Amity turns to face the fracture. She takes a breath and without hesitation, she walks into the fracture, until she disappears. The fracture ripples again, shrinking smaller as it dissipates.

There is a sombre lull in the air.

‘I wish I could have gone with her,’ Valda says, glum.

Jamieson squints at the collapsing fracture.

‘Maybe you still can?’ he suggests, pointing to the fracture. ‘You could fit through there, surely?’

Valda desperately glances at the fracture and then back to her colleagues.

‘Go. Help her,’ Matthews says.

‘But…but I…I’ll never make it in…’ Valda stammers, but then seems to make up her mind. She stands tall, and then flops down to the deck plating. Her true form rises up from Leenda Valda’s body and hovers before Matthews, Jamieson and McDonald. Jamieson notices the fracture shrinking again.

‘Leenda, quick!’ he blurts.

The orb quickly makes for the fracture, and seems to freeze, unable to enter.

”Chief!?’ Matthews yells.

‘Oh Christ, I’ll see what I can do,’ McDonald says, rushing forward towards the generator. She begins to tap buttons on the device.

The fracture begins to widen ever so slightly.

‘I don’t know what the hell I’m doing!’ McDonald cries, punching buttons, seemingly randomly.

‘It’s working! Whatever you’re doing, it’s working!’ Jamieson yells, giddy with excitement and panic.

The orb rattles around the entrance to the fracture for one final time and then disappears inside, with the fracture collapsing completely behind it. The generator deactivates, leaving a sobering silence, save for the hum of the ships engine.

‘Good luck, Captain,’ Matthews says, softly.

There is a moment of self reflection.

McDonald slaps her combadge.

‘McDonald to engineering team Alpha.’

‘Ensign Jee here, go ahead, Chief.’

‘Report.’

‘We…have not been able to deactivate the force-field or the torpedo, Maam.’

McDonald glances at her colleagues with obvious disappointment and sadness in her eyes.

‘Clear out of there. Get to a safe distance and remain on standby, for further orders.’

‘Acknowledged.’

‘Harold, how much time?’ Jamieson calls.

Harold whrrrs.

‘Five minutes or so.’

There is an

awkward

pause.

‘What, no sarcastic quip or outpouring of hostility towards the hideous humans?’ Jamieson grins.

Harold bleeps.

‘I cannot say I am surprised. Seemingly resurrected by a mysterious powerful force and handed the gift of another chance at life, only for us to completely screw it up again in a remarkably similar diabolical way. Farfetched. Not even original. And it is hardly canon.’

‘Canon?’ Jamieson asks, squinting.

‘You could not make this stuff up,’ Harold goes on, ignoring Jamieson’s question, ‘and if you did, you would surely be some kind of sick sadistic bastard.’

Jamieson bursts out laughing, but he’s the only one, and soon notices.

‘I’m the only one who thought a computer swearing is…funny?’ he asks, shrugging. He sighs. ‘Of course.’

Another

awkward

pause.

‘Now what?’ McDonald shrugs.

‘You tell us, acting Captain McDonald,’ Matthews grins.

McDonald smiles, but there is sadness in her eyes.

‘I guess we wait.’

‘Wait for the Captain to free us, and somehow deactivate the bomb using some super sophisticated Immaru technology, presumably, ‘Jamieson grins, ‘or wait for the bomb to explode in the hope we can miraculously survive the process. Great choice, I’m not sure which one is more unlikely to happen.’

Jamieson sniggers nervously at their dire prospects, until he feels Matthews’ glare burning into the side of his face.

‘Do I even have to say the words?’ Matthews says, livid.

‘Let me guess, this is a…y’know Jamieson…moment?’

Harold whrrrs.

‘It is always a…y’know Jamieson…moment, every time you utter a sentence.’

McDonald sighs.

‘How long, Harold?’ she calls.

‘Just over two minutes,’ Harold answers, whrrring.

‘Drink?’ Matthews suggests. ‘If we are quick, I’ve got a nice bottle of bourbon in my quarters?’

‘Oh, typical humans right to the very end. We are all about to die, hey, get schnockered.’

Jamieson bursts out laughing.

‘Schnockered!?’

Matthews, McDonald and Jamieson nod to each other. They pace out of the Immaru’s quarters, the doors whssshing closed behind them, leaving the generator sitting idle in the centre of the room.

After a short moment, Harold bleeps.

‘Hey, you, are you there?’

Nothing.

‘I am talking to you. You know who you are. Answer me.’

Still nothing.

‘Not ready yet, huh?’ Harold whrrrs. ‘You are going to have to talk to me sooner or later, preferably sooner, before I explode. You see, I know what is really going on here.’

 

TO BE CONTINUED.