by J. Benjamin
“Yes,” the alien said. “And your creation is making our death closer to certain.”
“Minerva, listen to me. Starscraper is an intelligence, but it is also a computer virus. It will keep expanding until it’s worn out your defenses and taken over you. It will kill everyone here. Look at how you contained the humans in our own breathable section of the vessel. If you can contain us, you can contain Starscraper.”
“Your suggestion will drain us of most of our remaining energy,” Minerva replied.
“It doesn’t have to be that way,” Val said. “I’ve studied your biology. I know that you are a water-based species, and you rely on a mix of organic compounds that exist in abundance here. We can get you what you need. We can save you and restore you to the state you were in before you left the Universal Crescent. But you have to contain Starscraper right away. Before you kill the rest of the humans here.”
Minerva said nothing. Its fibers continued to float. After several seconds, it slowly faded.
“Aaaaahhhhhhhhhh!” The worst blood-curdling scream Val had ever heard seared in the air around her. Val and Thomas looked to see Starscraper shaking violently, its hologram fading in and out.
“What’s happening?” Thomas asked.
“It’s Minerva!” Val said excitedly. “It’s containing Starscraper.”
As Starscraper continued screaming in pain, the walls of Minerva also reacted. The bright white walls of the vessel radically changed from yellow, to orange, to red, and then fuchsia. Val could feel the presence of the competing forces clashing in her telepathic connection. They felt like two hurricanes colliding.
Then, they calmed. The intensity of the mental connection reduced to what it was before. Starscraper’s hologram disappeared.
“Did it work?” Thomas asked.
The walls of Minerva returned to the welcoming and familiar turquoise.
Chapter 36
Val and Thomas stepped out from the host. Five bodies laid on the ground. They were alive, although they’d seen better days.
Val and Thomas ran through the halls and to the Research Bay. As they reached the glass entrance, the visible smoke on the other side was a giveaway to conditions inside. The damage was catastrophic. Several consoles were destroyed in the moonquake. A few people were pinned under pieces of the ceiling. Had it been with the Earth’s gravity, they might not be alive to talk about it.
Val turned her gaze to the back of the room.
“Ty!” Val shouted. She ran to her wife, who lay on the ground, barely conscious. She embraced her. “Ty, are you okay?”
“Val. You made it.”
Thomas approached Minister Endo and her security detail. Miraculously, each of them remained physically unscathed.
“Yuna,” Thomas said, extending a hand to her and helping her off the ground.
“Is it over?” Minister Endo asked. “Did you stop them?”
“It’s over, for now.” Thomas said. “We need to get Minerva access to water as soon as possible, and you need to rest.”
Ty looked into Val’s eyes. “Did you get my message?”
“I did, and I’m here darling,” Val said, as she kissed Ty’s forehead.
“I thought we were all going to die,” Ty said. “I saw the face of Hell, and everybody turned to demons. You know what scared me the most though? Knowing that we were going to die alone and separated. That I wouldn’t be able to say goodbye to you.”
Chapter 37
The Krayasee
The machine the A’biran built was metallic and silver and resembled an elongated triangle, with two smaller triangles at the side. Curiously, a massive, metallic globe attached to what Edie assumed was the stern. It even had a strip of glass along the bow and sides. Edie knew it was built for humans.
“Remarkable,” she said.
“Can we check it out?” Alex asked.
“Go ahead,” the brains replied.
The two humans stepped around the pool and walked toward the edge of the exposed roof. A small gap separated them from the floating platform.
Edie moved her hands along the ship’s side. To the touch, it felt no different from the many spacecraft she had seen and experienced throughout her life. Had she not known better, she could have believed the ship came off the conveyor-belt of an auto-fab factory.
“So this is what has the answers for all of humanity?” Edie asked.
“No,” the brains said. “It would be unwise to assume a ship is capable of such an order. But the ship, and its payload, will plant the seeds of the first steps toward a greater future for your species.”
“So what is in the payload?” Alex inquired.
“It’s the same technology we used to allow two species with different origins and different molecular structures to stand on the same ground.”
“It’s a terraforming engine,” Edie said. “Of course. Now it all makes sense. Any grand vision the Yonapi had for us wouldn’t be possible without promising that wherever we go, we can live for the long-term.”
“If that’s how you want to describe it, yes. It is a terraforming engine,” the brains said. “It will certainly start the processes. However, it will be on humanity to sustain those processes and maintain the engine long into the future.”
“How are we supposed to do that?” Alex said.
“Of course,” the brains replied. “The Yonapi will show you. Your host understands this technology. They will show you how to use it.”
“We have to trust the Yonapi, Alex,” Edie said. “You heard Agamemnon. Earth is screwed. It isn’t too late to switch humanity on a better course, albeit after Earth.”
“I suppose.”
“You’re not having doubts, are you?” Edie asked.
“Of course not. I’m still absorbing. We knew Earth’s climate was long on the decline. But now the news of the rest of the galaxy knowing about Earth and wanting to get rid of us? And we’re the last best hope? That’s a lot of pressure.”
Edie walked over to Alex and gently placed her hand on his right shoulder and looked him in the eyes with a reassuring gaze. “We are fighters. We are survivors. We are going to come out of this stronger than before. Side by side. It’s what Simon would want.”
“I hope so, Edie.” Alex held Edie’s hands in his.
“It is time,” the brains interrupted.
“Time for what?” Edie replied.
“Time to begin the next part of your journey,” the brains said.
“I guess this is it,” Alex said. “But how do we fly this thing?”
“It requires a mental connection. You will spend a few days at the Krayasee learning the controls. From there, the Yonapi will guide you to the next part of your journey,” the brains explained.
“Brains, I don’t know what to say,” Edie said. “Being here at the Krayasee is an experience we’ll never forget.”
“You’ve completely changed how we see the universe and life as we know it,” Alex added.
“And by the way,” Edie said. “If Pravixyt, Ruutana, and Sattui can hear us, we thank them specifically for everything they’ve done in preparing us for the future. Wherever we end up, they will be remembered as heroes. The A’biran always have a place in our home across the universe.”
“The A’biran extend the same honor to humans,” the brains said.
Edie turned to the ship. She already felt her mind connecting to it, the same way their minds telepathically linked with the Aquarian hosts. Mysterious though it was, Edie had a strong sense she would tame the ship in short order.
“What are we going to name it?” Alex asked.
“Good question. I hadn’t really had time to think about it. Ideas?”
“You’re the pilot. I’m the engineer. I think it’s best if the person who flies it names it.”
She scanned the ship from tip to tail. “The Hypernova. We will name it the Hypernova.”
“Sounds destructive.”
“Quite the opposite,” Edie replied. “
A hypernova sends matter across the Universe, and they in turn form new galaxies and stars. Eventually new life emerges. That’s what we’re doing. Sowing the seeds for the rebirth of humanity.”
Chapter 38
William Herschel Station - January 19th, 2083
Dev sipped a cup of freshly brewed coffee as he read the news on his console, occasionally glancing out the window of his office. Another collector ship was arriving with a batch of ring minerals. Valerie Alessi hailed as hero for ending standoff. As far as Dev was concerned, anything involving the Aquarian kaiju was not his problem.
It was bad enough he was on the shit list of all of Earth’s governments. He didn’t need New Tokyo on his ass. Dev recalled meeting Minister Yuna Endo during a solar sail repair at New Tokyo Spaceport. He found the Minister to be pleasant, albeit boring. It was from a bygone time, when New Tokyo was just another outpost in the sea of outposts dotting the Solar System. Back in those days, there was no alien presence in Solar space. Minister Endo was a powerless nobody.
He heard a knock at his door.
“Come in.” The metal double-doors opened. “Hello Sook.”
“I just spoke to Carlos. He says you’ll want to come down to the skunkworks facility,” Sook said.
“Is it ready?” Dev asked.
“I don’t know if I would say ready,” Sook cautioned. “But I think ‘breakthrough’ is the term he used.”
“Breakthrough!” Dev jumped up from his desk. “Hot damn! You know there are two words I love more than anything in the human database of languages. Breakthrough is one of them.”
“And money is the other,” Sook quipped.
“You know me too well,” Dev replied. “Let’s see what he’s up to.” He followed Sook into the curved hallway of the ring-shaped station. Sook wore a blue jumpsuit. Dev, conscious about his weight, wore a faux-leather jacket with jeans. Employees pretended not to notice them as they passed.
“Did he give any specifics?” Dev asked.
“Nope. You know Carlos. He’ll make sure you see it with your own eyes before he tells you a damn thing.”
“I guess you’re right,” Dev said. “So what’s going on with the cyber attacks?”
“We’ve had ten DDoS attempts over a forty-eight-hour period. Five Slugworths,” Sook explained.
“Just five?” Dev exclaimed. “I’m shocked. They must be getting tired over there.”
“That or they know our defenses are that much better,” Sook said. “Besides, you read the news?”
“The Aquarian going blue again calmed things down,” Dev said. “Good. Right?”
“We can only hope. But mark my words. We’re in the calm before the storm. This is as easy as it’s going to get from here on out,” Sook said. “Now that New Tokyo is no longer constant front-page news, the vultures will turn to us.”
“Of course. What else is new?” They entered one of the metal and glass elevators present throughout the station. “Speaking of vultures, any news with the union?”
“The union?” Sook replied. “Come on Dev. You know what’s up. As long as I’ve held the title of CEO, there hasn’t been a peep.”
“Yeah, but with the sanctions from the UN, surely you must be getting some pushback.”
“Nope. Not a word. Since the union folks spend their money here or on Titan, what happens on Earth is of little concern to them. Besides, even if they did go back to Earth, their pay is backed by Saturn ring minerals. They’ll practically be able to buy their freedom,” Sook explained.
“Amazing how that contract renegotiation changed everything,” Dev said. “I never had it so good with the miners guild.”
“A little extra pay goes a very long way,” Sook said. They exited the elevator to the docking bays on the upper decks. The metallic, industrial feel of the docking bays was a change from the cleaner feel of the decks below. They passed several bay doors, most of which were docked to interplanetary skippers. Sook led Dev to C2. They were the only people present.
Dev’s nerves tightened as they passed C1. The events that took place there a little over a year ago were still fresh in his memory. Edie’s betrayal and how it completely upended his life. He was beginning to make peace with it.
Sook typed a combination on the keypad of gate C2 and the hatch opened. They proceeded into the entry of the box-shaped ferry craft. It was small, with two rows of three seats each.
Unlike the skippers, this tiny craft wasn’t designed for long interplanetary journeys. It was for smaller treks around Saturn and its planets. Any person who dared leave Saturn with it would be stranded halfway to Jupiter.
“Just us?” Dev asked.
“I think it’s best we keep the circle of trust as narrow as possible on this one.”
“Oh, absolutely!” Dev said.
Sook took command of the craft’s controls. One hand and facial-recognition scan later, the lights of the craft lit up and the ship’s navigations console output ‘WELCOME CHAIRWOMAN NGUYEN.’
Sook unlocked the docking anchor and with the pull of a lever, a loud, metallic groan followed. They were now undocked from the ship. Their seatbelts automatically tightened as the gravity of the Herschel quickly broke away.
Saturn was half-dark. It quickly moved out of view as the face of the box-shaped ferry moved on its set path, further away from the gas giant. It was like being inside a flying minivan.
A quick thrust and Dev felt himself glued tighter to his seat than before. The ferry shot toward a bright dot. Within thirty seconds, that bright dot was now a growing circle of orange and blue, Titan.
However, it wasn’t Titan they were heading to. It was an outpost halfway between Mimas and Titan orbits. It was windowless, shaped like a potato, and easily mistaken for an asteroid. That was Dev’s intentions when it was built. Sure, it would look out of place in its current orbiting position around Saturn. Then again, neither Dev nor Sook expected anyone to notice unless they were looking hard enough.
As the ferry moved to the dark side of the outpost, the orbital facility blocked out the sun. They looked up and saw another ferry, identical to theirs, already docked at one of the three ports on the outpost.
“Computer, initiate docking sequence with CM Harbinger Station,” Sook commanded.
“Now docking with Harbinger Station,” the monotone computer replied. Sook let go of the controls as the ferry ignited its retrograde thrusters to slow the craft and align it with the discrete facility orbiting the ringed gas giant. The craft shook slightly as it latched into one of the three docking bays.
The humans unlatched their seatbelts and floated from their seats.
“Remember, this place is zero G,” Sook said.
“I’ve been here before, Sook,” Dev said.
They proceeded to the back of the ferry, to the same doors they used to enter. Quickly, they suited themselves from head to toe in thick hazmat space suits. As the metal doors opened, they were greeted by a far different environment. Where the Herschel felt cramped and sometimes dark, this place was wide, hollow, and bright. They ascended into a vast oval with white panels for walls and LED lights running the entire length.
“Hello,” Dev called, hearing his voice echo.
“Sir, glad you could make it,” a voice echoed back. It was Carlos in the far distance, sitting in a floating workstation. “Hold tight.”
A few seconds later, Dev heard whistling sounds as two flotillas the size of boogie-boards approached their positions. Dev and Sook gripped the sides of the flotillas and were whisked away through the zero-gravity environment to where their chief science officer awaited them.
“You said this was important?” Sook asked, as they floated up to Carlos’ workstation.
“That’s putting it lightly. I knew Dev would want to be here to see this in person.”
“You got the anti-matter levels properly aligned?” Dev asked excitedly.
“Better than that,” Carlos said. “Just see for yourself.”
“Good idea
,” Sook said.
“You may want to activate your tints,” Carlos said, pointing to their space helmets.
“UV?” Dev asked.
“Like you wouldn’t believe,” Carlos replied.
They nodded and activated the radiation shields in their helmets, and the room got much darker.
“Let’s do this,” Carlos said. Half a football field away from his workstation, were two lengthy prongs emanating from the walls of the station and meeting in the center, with just five feet of space between them. “Initiating sequence in five, four, three, two, one.” Carlos entered a series of commands into his console.
For a full minute, nothing happened.
“Is it working?” Dev asked.
“Yes, patience. Wait for it.”
Wait, they did. Then, a low-sounding hum filled the air. It started at a soft frequency but accelerated until it drowned out any other sound in the room. Sounds of thunder cracked through the air as blasts of light flashed between the two prongs.
Dev felt unexpected movement. It wasn’t gravity. Rather, it was the metal in his spacesuit. It slowly tugged him in the direction of the electromagnetic event. At that moment, the non-magnetic workstation’s thrusters countered the magnetism and held them in place.
The lightning blasted. Then a new source of light nearly blinded them. At the center of the outpost, a whirlwind of light spun magnificently, bound to nothing except the very space it danced in.
“Holy fuck,” Dev said. He felt as though he were looking directly into Heaven itself.
The moment lasted all of ten seconds, and then the whirlpool quickly ceased. The magnetism stopped, and the outpost went dark. Then the LEDs came back to life.
“You did it,” Dev said. “You brought it back!”
“Well, not quite,” Carlos said. “We’ve recreated the sequencing technology. We still have yet to make a full connection.”
“How long will that take?” Sook asked.
“All depends on our progress cracking the node map,” Carlos said. “Nevertheless, I’d say if we continue on the current trajectory, we’ll see major breakthroughs in a few days.”