“And the time now?”
“Oh-three twenty-two.”
Sheila was a bit stunned.
The same memory of time I have but a completely different type of substrate.
Sheila meant that whatever had happened had affected both their memories, hardware and wetware, the same. She and the Emmie both suffered from memory loss. Whatever was wrong, it wasn't just Sheila, it was more widespread and affected equipment as well as humans.
But thinking about the Emmie's memory loss brought Sheila back to the question. Where was she?
She would have to see what was beyond the doors. She chose the door near the foot of her bed because she thought it most likely to be the bathroom. It was and though small it looked to be sufficient.
Leaving the bathroom she looked at the remaining door in the room. Wherever she was she would have to go through that door to find out.
She approached the door. She noticed it was different from the bathroom door without an obvious door handle but there was a sensor pad next to it on the wall. The only thing she could think of was to hold the palm of her hand up to the sensor.
Before her hand touched the pad it worked. The door recessed into the wall. It was obviously not a touch sensor but operated optically.
She went through and found herself in a long hall that curved peculiarly upward as one looked into the distance. The door closed behind her. She looked one way and then the other and then turned to walk down the hall.
There were other doors like hers, all on one side of the hall. They each had their pads. She tried a couple but the doors didn't open. As she continued the doors grew further and further apart, obviously the rooms behind them were getting larger but still none opened for her.
Then she came to an open door.
Open but why?
She saw a person's foot in the door but that was all. She hesitated. Forcing herself to look she saw the still form of the man belonging to the foot. Poking her head further into the room she saw other bodies either lying on the floor or collapsed in chairs, both men and women.
Their Emmies lay beside the bodies. Other equipment in the room seemed to be working as there were sounds and lights and images on the screens. As Sheila entered further into the room she was able to turn and see a great wallscreen. The view down a central girder to a large bulk was in stark relief to the dark background. Except it wasn't completely dark, there were lights in the blackness, pinpoints of lights as if viewed from the observatory back in the Centauri Two habitat.
Suddenly Sheila knew where she was from and where she was now. She was from the Centauri System on a fusion ship bound to . . . Where?
2
5.1.2643
It started as a bet. A bet that should have never been made.
Captain Jenkins was betting with his First Officer.
“Mac I'll bet you that we can make it in one jump. I've studied all the reports on this enhanced wormhole drive. They've never been used at full power and still they make forty light-years at a time.”
“Captain, you aren't suggesting that we use full power to make this jump are you?”
“No. We won't need full power. I figure ninety-eight point two-five percent should do it.”
“That's awful close to full power Captain. No one has ever used more than ninety percent. That's recommended, in the book.”
“The book don't make you famous Mac.”
5/13/2643
The Iapyx, which meant northwest wind, was a fourth generation-plus fusion ship outfitted to carry one hundred colonists to the Trilos System forty-seven light-years from Earth or forty-two point seven light-years from the Centauri System from which the Iapyx would launch.
Sheila Jackson would be aboard the Iapyx. Her dual doctorates in Astronomy and Physics would make her the go-to person if any of these disciplines were needed. Until then in the spirit of the expedition, she would be standing watch over the fusion engines. She knew a lot of theory about both the fusion engines and wormhole drive but didn't have a lot of practical experience. The drive techs tried to make that apparent as she trained.
“Now Dr. Jackson,” said tech Harris. “What would happen if the cast of the far wormhole mouth were to fail?”
“The near wormhole mouth that had been enlarged out of the quantum foam would tend to collapse.”
“That's correct Dr. Jackson as far as it goes but don't forget that any link that was being forged in the wormhole dimension would also tend to collapse upon itself.”
“And the resultant pileup,” continued Sheila, “of exotic matter at this end would cause the near wormhole mouth to increase in size.”
“That's correct. And if we aren't careful the size of the wormhole mouth could enlarge enough to swallow the ship.”
“And might cause,” continued Sheila, “a dangerous bounce in the size of the mouth which would also damage the ship.”
“Very good Dr. Jackson. Most theorists aren't well versed on the operational realities of the wormhole drive.”
“Well I like to ground my theory in practical realities.”
Harris shook his head approvingly.
There was a more serious problem with creating a wormhole mouth than a failed cast. The energy required to open and expand a microscopic wormhole out of the vacuum was so great that if misapplied it could cause a breakdown in spacetime. The particle entanglements that led to the emergence of space could be sundered by an intense beam of energy microscopically focused. Such a disruption of spacetime gave rise to an expanding sphere of destruction which fortunately dissipated over distance. The distance of ten astronomical units or ten AU was thought enough for such a disruption caused by a single ship to dissipate, so all ships had to boost to this quarantine limit before using the wormhole drive. It usually took fourteen days at maximum acceleration/deceleration for a fourth generation-plus ship.
It was a busy time for the fusion engineers. Standing continuous watch caused them to be physically exhausted. Dr. Jackson was one of those on the duty roster. Because of the illness of another engineer she had just come off a sixteen-hour watch.
“You must be exhausted Dr. Jackson,” said Harris.
“I am.”
“Well the good news is we are almost there, one more eight-hour shift and we should be at the quarantine limit. You should just get some rest.”
“That's my plan,” said Sheila. “I'll see you on the other side.”
Sheila headed straight for her quarters. She would have a small meal there and go straight to bed. She was still asleep when they made the jump.
5/14/2643
Sheila's first thought after discovering the control room was to figure out the location of the ship. She walked across the room to the consoles. She looked for navigation, the NAV console. Finally figuring out the right console she rolled the limp body of the console's crew member to one side and asked her question of the NAV Em.
“NAV location please.”
A long moment.
“Unable to comply with request.”
It figures, why should anything be working?
“NAV can you tell me why you are unable to comply?”
“NAV database has no reference.”
What in the world? It should be full of references.
“NAV run a diagnostics.”
Another long moment.
“Complete.”
“How many stars are in your star database?”
“None.”
Okay, that's a problem. NAV Em is wiped just like me and my Emmie. I'll need to find the datacube backup.
Sheila thought but couldn't remember where the datacubes were kept.
How strange the things I remember and the things I forget.
She started to look for them but then realized that they would probably be stored behind a sensor padlock just like her door.
The Captain or First Officer would be needed to trigger the pad.
First, she would have to find the datacube locker, then she
would have to find the Captain or First Officer and drag them close enough to the sensor pad to use their palm to open datacube storage.
She had been at it for over an hour looking for a central depository for the datacubes in the command room. She had been around the room several times when she suddenly felt very tired. Bone tired. She collapsed in a corner and began to cry. Asking for someone, anyone to help her. She carried on for several minutes, she prayed and then she stopped.
That makes sense. It would be better than putting them all in one place in case of an accident. Distributed, they would not all be destroyed if the repository was damaged.
She made her way back to the NAV console. Rolling the crew member over near the console she hesitantly grasped her hand and dropped it immediately. The hand was warm, not cold as Sheila expected. She felt for a pulse but couldn't make one out. She wasn't a doctor but surely the body should be cold by now.
After staring at the still form for a minute she continued. When the crew member's palm approached the sensor pad suddenly the console came alive. Apparently from the readout, the datacube was already installed and all she needed to do was tell the NAV Em to restore.
After a few moments, she asked again where the ship was located in relation to the Centauri System. The Em again uncharacteristically hesitated. Finally, it spoke.
“Forty-seven point one light-year distant . . .”
The Em continued giving information but Sheila tuned out.
Forty-seven light years away from any help. We've jumped way beyond the usual limits and who knows what condition the wormhole drive is in?
Sheila felt completely defeated. She had to get back to her quarters if she could.
3
Over the next wake-sleep cycle Sheila got most of command restored. Having to move the inert bodies, which for some unknown reason maintained their warmth even though Sheila couldn't detect any sign of life, either breath or pulse, was a challenge for a person her size.
She had decided to move the bodies from the control room into the infirmary. Even though the artificial gravity of the rotating crew wheel was four-tenths that of Earth it was all she could do to drag the larger bodies. In the infirmary were only the doctor and nurse. Sheila was unable to lift some of the bodies onto the beds or gurneys so she left them on the floor and covered them with sheets. The sight of all those bodies laid out and covered with white was not one she wanted to remember.
Feeling as if she had done all she could for the victims of whatever had befallen the ship Sheila sat in the control room to plan her next steps.
Ideally, she would use the wormhole drive to head back to Centauri. She knew theoretically all the steps required to open a near wormhole mouth and to cast the far wormhole mouth but she had never operated the drive herself. She was more familiar with the fusion engines. So getting the wormhole drive to work would be a challenge.
As a backup plan, she could continue the mission to Trilos which would be closer than Centauri. The system was an anomaly with two Earth-like planets. The shuttle could put her down on one of them automatically but then what?
She would live the rest of her life alone on a strange planet. And how long would a life like that last?
Sheila closed her eyes and shook her head. Every time she tried to think through her situation she always ended up alone. For the rest of her life, alone. She had never thought about it before. But now that it was a possibility it seemed to be the endpoint of all her thoughts.
It had been a long day of hard work. Between the physical exertion and the seeming hopelessness of her situation, she found herself without the stamina to continue for the day. She retired early.
Sheila heard the noise through the closed door of her quarters. She sat up in bed and faced the door. Another bump was heard from the hall. She was sure now she wasn't dreaming.
Sheila jumped out of bed and ran to the door. Opening the door she walked out into the hall and looked. No one was there, she listened. She heard nothing and then far down the hall came another bump like someone was carrying something and had hit one of the walls.
Sheila ran in the direction of the sound.
First she saw the person's feet as the slight curve of the ceiling hid the rest of the body. She wasn't certain but it looked like a man's boots. And he was dragging something. As she got closer he stopped, apparently hearing her coming.
Sheila slowed to a walk. When she could finally see his head she said hello in a raised voice.
“Hello yourself,” said the man. “Aren't you Dr. Jackson?”
“Yes that's right,” said Sheila as she walked up to the man. “I'm sorry I remember your face but not your name.”
“That's understandable,” said the man. “I'm kind of in the background on this trip. I'm Olson MacGregor, chef and repairman.”
“Yes, that must be it. I've seen you in the cafeteria. What is that you're carrying?”
“Oh, this is the meat processor. I thought I was all alone so I was moving it to the coffee shop closer to my apartment for convenience.”
“How long have you been awake?”
“I've been through a couple of sleep cycles I guess.”
“Me too. I wonder how we missed each other?”
“I guess because I've mostly gone the opposite way around the wheel to get to the cafeteria.”
“That would explain it.”
“Speaking of explaining it, can you tell me Dr. Jackson what's happened?”
“I don't know myself, Mr. MacGregor.”
“Olson please.”
“Of course and I'm Sheila, not Dr. Jackson.”
“Very well Sheila. I was just about to prepare a meal would you like to join me.”
“Very much,” said Sheila smiling.
Vat grown steaks, scalloped potatoes, a fresh salad from the aeroponic's garden and a glass of wine made up the meal. Sheila finished her plate and looked at the glass of wine.
“This is the first time since I woke up in this mess that I feel my anxiety subsiding.”
“That's why I became a cook. There is nothing like a good meal to brighten your outlook.”
“Speaking of this mess, what do you think we should do next Olson.”
“You mean after a good night's sleep I assume.”
“Yes,” she said.
“Well we've got enough supplies and provisions to last two people for at least fifty years I figure. So we needn't panic. But I think we've got to figure out what happened to everyone. I don't think they are dead. Have you noticed how the bodies are still warm, maybe not as hot as normal but not cold?”
Sheila nodded.
“It looks like some form of hibernation to me. But how long they can stay that way I don't know. So if we can't figure out how to awaken them then we should try to get back and get some help. What do you think?”
“I think you are right. We need to do all we can for the rest of the crew even if that means going back.”
She paused.
“Only problem is that while I know how the wormhole drive works theoretically, I don't have any practical experience with it. So I'm not sure I can get us back.”
“Don't worry we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Right now I want to secure the ship and see if I can awaken any of the sleepers aboard.”
They talked for a bit longer then Olson walked Sheila back to her quarters and said goodnight. They would meet the next morning in the coffee shop.
4
Sheila woke to the shaking. She looked at her Emmie it was almost oh-five-hundred. She turned her light on and sat up. She wasn't dreaming the ship was undergoing a high-frequency vibration. She guessed a few hundred kilocycles per second.
She dressed and was making her way to control when she noticed a decrease in the artificial gravity and a diminishing of the vibrations. In control, she found MacGregor at the life-support console. He looked up.
“Good morning Sheila. Did the shaking wake you up also?”
“Yes, wh
at is it? What's going on?”
“The crew wheel has developed a vibration. Probably the superconducting magnetic bearing. We are floating on a magnetic field. So something must have gone wrong in that circuit.”
“I noticed a drop in artificial gravity.”
“Yeah I slowed the spin-down until the vibration smoothed out. We have point-three Earth gravity now.”
“I didn't expect you to know so much about the ship's systems.”
“Well cooking was only part of my training. I was also trained as a technician on most of the ship's systems except for the engines which you are the expert on,” he smiled.
“Well I guess this expert will have some breakfast and get to work.”
“Great let's eat.”
After breakfast, they were in the control room at the wormhole drive controls.
“I guess,” said Sheila, “as a first test we should try to open a small communications wormhole and get a message back to Centauri about what has happened and what we are going to do. We can cast it all the way since such a small wormhole takes much less energy. If you'll prepare the communications I'll start the drive sequencing.”
“Aye, aye, we'll get somewhere now,” he said with a smile.
He moved to the communications console and using his Emmie on which he had a duplicate image of the comm officers palm he triggered the sensor and it authenticated and allowed entry. Olson just shook his head, as with most deterrents the sensors only kept out honest people. He began dictating a message.
Sheila had done the same at the drive console and started the wormhole drive. The first check was to see if the isotopic storage unit had enough power to open the wormhole. (Isotopic storage as a technology that used the atomic nucleus to store and release energy, it was thousands of times more compact and powerful than chemical storage.)
Though drained from the long jump there was still enough reserve to open a small wormhole mouth for messaging but for anything else they would have to find a way to recharge the isotopics. That meant orbiting the nearest star for its light and energy.
Sheila looked forward to starting and running the fusion engine about as much as she did the wormhole drive, which was not at all. Still, someone had to do it.
To the Stars V-1 Page 9