by David Smith
Chowdhury was becoming nervous and shouted for Kanesh to stop, but she was too wrapped up in trying to track down this ghostly life-sign and ignored the security specialist. The sun was getting very low in the sky and they were at least an hour from the camp.
Just a few more minutes, thought Kanesh.
The life-sign moved and as it did she swerved to her left, failing to see a large rock protruding above the scrub. It caught the front pad of her flyskee, tearing it off and sending Shruthi cart-wheeling through the air. She landed with a thump and felt something in her arm snap.
She screamed out loud and rolled over, landing face up so she was staring into the indigo sky above. Stars of pain sparkled before her eyes and she looked down to see a sharp white splinter protruding from a jagged wound in the side of her forearm.
She lay gasping and thought she was going to pass out. A face appeared above her and in the gloom it took her a moment to recognise Kareena Chowdhury’s beautiful features.
Chowdhury had come equipped for trouble, but didn’t need a tricorder to spot Kanesh’s badly broken arm. She took out a hypo-spray to inject a pain-killer into Kanesh, but froze as something rustled through the nearby undergrowth.
Kanesh was just vaguely aware that Chowdhury looked worried, but didn’t really take in what the security woman said. ‘We’re in trouble Shruthi. I think the wildlife you were looking for has found us.’
Kanesh felt a sharp pressure on her upper arm and closed her eyes but still heard Chowdhury’s voice say ‘You’ve got a compound fracture of your lower left arm. Your flyskee is totalled so we’ll have to make an emergency medical transport.’
She heard the other woman open up her communicator and make a connection to the ship. ‘Chowdhury to Tiger, come in Tiger . . . ‘
Before the crew aboard the ship could reply, there was a rustle in the grass and something huge and black exploded out of the undergrowth, slamming into Chowdhury like a black thunderbolt.
Chowdhury was saved by her extraordinary reflexes.
She caught the movement out of the corner of one eye and was already rolling away from Kanesh when the beast hit her. Scythe-like claws flashed out at her, slicing through her tunic but only just scratching the flesh beneath.
Chowdhury continued her roll and reached to her hip to snatch her phaser, aiming and firing in one smooth motion. The beam hit the dark shape square on and there was a howl of pain, but the beast was undeterred and lashed out at the phaser, its claws carving through the flesh of her arm.
She screamed and the phaser was knocked from her grasp, but as the beast leapt at her again Chowdhury had the presence of mind to throw herself to the ground, letting the predator sail over the top of her.
She was up in an instant and dived for where the phaser had landed, but fell short as something grabbed at her leg.
Kanesh was still stunned, watching in complete detachment as Chowdhury fought for both their lives and the communicator burbled away to itself: ‘Chowdhury this is Tiger. Come in Chowdhury . . . ’
Chowdhury screamed as claws dug into her calf, but she kicked out with her other foot, bringing another howl of pain and buying herself another precious second. She leapt forward again as best her damaged leg would allow and fumbled in the grass, desperately searching for the lost phaser.
Her hand found metal and she rolled and lifted the phaser just as the beast sprang and landed on her. Her savaged arm and leg were burning with agony but she forced her arm to move, trying to hold the furious beast at bay.
Its black visage was outlined by the light of the phaser’s blast but it still bore down upon her, its maw opening to reveal rank up rank of jagged, dagger-like teeth.
With a super-human effort she lifted the beasts head away from her, screaming in pain and determination as she forced her shredded arm to obey her will. She felt searing agony as the beasts claws raked desperately at her ribs and shoulders. It slavered over her hungrily, and she had to close her eyes as its foetid breath swept over her.
She could only manage the effort of holding the beast at bay for a fraction of a second, but that was enough. She shot the beast with her phaser again, then as it writhed in agony, she managed to dial up the power setting to shoot it again. Still the beast howled and struggled in pain and as it reared up above her, she managed one last shot before the pain became too great and she passed out.
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Skye L’Amour stood looking at the corpse of the predator.
It was elegant and frightening in equal measure. The long lean body was of the same reptilian / amphibian nature as the smaller animal they’d found, but the body form was more reminiscent of one of Earth’s big cats. The size of a leopard, the black creature was sleek and powerful, but their examination had revealed some surprises.
The biologists had concluded that the creature was on the borderline of starvation, and could have grown to twice its size if food had been more plentiful. It seemed that the species had been so successful that they’d decimated their own food supply. By the end the few surviving predators had had to dig into the ground to find rodents, expending huge amounts of effort for scant reward.
Lieutenant-Commander O’Mara arrived in the lab, and oddly the mathematician Sarah Cumbers was trailing in behind her.
‘Hey Skye, what have you found out?’
‘Not a lot. We’ve just confirmed our theories really. For some reason an evolutionary step change in the predators unbalanced the ecosystem. They over-predated their primary food source and hunted them into extinction. By that time they were too specialised to adapt. It was probably this poor bugger that dug up that rats nest we found near the shore, but it’s clearly not got claws or fore-legs suitable for trying to dig.’
She shook her head sadly. ‘We’ve even found marks on other skeletal remains that suggest things got so desperate the predators turned to cannibalism.’
‘And we turn up and killed the very last one’ sighed O’Mara.
‘Don’t feel bad about it’ said Skye. ‘It wouldn’t have survived much longer anyway. It had eaten just about every lump of meat on the island, and I guess that was why it was desperate enough to attack Kanesh and Chowdhury. I think it was literally mad with hunger. If we hadn’t turned up it would have starved to death within days anyway.’
O’Mara wiped a tear from her eye. ‘It’s just never nice to see such an amazing creature go extinct.’
Skye put a comforting arm around her senior officer. As an ecologist she knew better than most that nature showed no mercy. ‘That’s the balance of nature. It’s the end for this species, but that just creates a new niche for another species to evolve in to. In a million years the descendents of those little rat things will have evolved into new species of both herbivore and predator. Life goes on.’
O’Mara nodded. ‘I guess. I suppose it’s just an astonishing coincidence that we happened to arrive to see that happen.’
L’Amour agreed. ‘Yeah, that literally wouldn’t happen again in a million years.’
Cumbers pushed her glasses back and looked away, blushing furiously.
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Kanesh sat on her bed pretending to be unconscious as the Doctor discussed Chowdhury with the Captain.
‘The wounds should be healing, but the creature’s claws secreted some kind of venom into them.’
‘Is there no anti-venom available?’ asked the Captain.
‘No’ replied the Doctor bluntly. ‘We don’t even know where to begin. It’s not actually a venom at all, but some kind of chemical that’s acting at the level of her DNA. Every time her body tries to repair itself, something in there is breaking down the DNA of the repair structures. We’ve tried a variety of stabilising agents normally used for anti-radiation treatments, we’ve tried filtering her blood to remove the chemical and we’ve even tried nano-structure repairs just to try to close the wounds to prevent further infection, but nothing seems to work.’
Kanesh could hear the ang
uish in the Captains voice. ‘There must be something we can do for her!’
The Doctor sighed. ‘Her body is breaking down at the cellular level and there is nothing we can do to save her.’
There was a deep pause before the Doctor added ‘In strictest confidence I should add that the fact the she is alive isn’t as much of a miracle as we initially thought.’
The Captain sounded confused. ‘How so?’
‘Crewman Chowdhury is not what she appears. Her medical file lists her age as twenty-eight, but close examination of her body suggests that she’s probably twice that age.’
‘What??’
The Doctor continued. ‘Whilst she’s been undergoing treatment I’ve also noted that that her blood is capable of carrying far more nutrients and oxygen than yours or mine, her nerve impulses travel significantly faster, her eyesight and hearing are far superior and her muscle structure indicates that she’s probably much stronger than anyone else aboard this ship.’
‘How is that possible?’
‘She’s an artificial genetic construct. Over ninety-nine percent human, but key genetic structures have clearly been augmented with DNA from other sources. From looking at her genetic coding I would suggest that even the human part is assembled from multiple sources.’
There was another awkward pause before the Captain asked ‘The eugenic wars?’
Kanesh opened her eyes to see the Doctor nodding. ‘Undoubtedly, although I would guess from the stability of the genetic structures that Chowdhury is a ninth or tenth generation product.’
The Captain scratched his head. ‘I guess that explains why she volunteered to come to USS Tiger: she’s probably hiding out.’
The Doctor sounded surprised. ‘It’s hardly her fault that she’s a result of genetic experimentation. I do not believe the legislation prohibiting such work could be used against her.’
‘No it couldn’t. But can you imagine the uproar if it’s discovered that genetic supermen are still wandering among the public at large?’
The Doctor said nothing.
The Captain continued. ‘At best she’d have become a freak show to be poked and prodded by the authorities. At worst she’d have been the target of public witch-hunts.’
The Doctor understood. ‘So she hid aboard USS Tiger . . . ‘
‘Among a load of other people who didn’t quite fit with society’ concluded the Captain.
‘Unfortunately, it is a moot point. I cannot save her’ added the Doctor, sounding genuinely upset.
Kanesh felt her conscience pricking at her. It was her fault. She should have listened when Chowdhury suggested they turn back. She should have been more careful riding that damned flyskee.
The Captain took a deep breath. ‘There’s no point in digging in the dirt. I suggest this goes no further than ourselves. We’ll accord her full military honours and I’ll make a recommendation that she receives a posthumous bravery award. How long does she have?’
Kanesh couldn’t stand it any longer. ‘We can save her.’
The Doctor and Captain both looked around to her. The Captain eyed her warily, obviously wondering how much she’d heard. ‘What do you mean?’
Kanesh sat up on her bed. ‘There’s an advanced genetic engineering facility not that far from here. They’ll be able to save her.’
The Captain and Doctor looked at each other in confusion.
Kanesh knew she needed to explain. ‘I’m here on USS Tiger because I couldn’t get a job in the private sector after doing time for creating illegal genetic structures. The colleague I was working with at the time came out here about three years ago to set up a lab with funding from a couple of big hitters in the commercial gene-tech marketplace. It’s all legal and above board, although the fact that they’ve chosen such a remote site suggests that they’re up to no good.’
‘And you think they can help Chowdhury?’
‘I know they’ll be very interested in Chowdhury. I’ve suspected for a long time that she’s a genetic construct: she’s physically too perfect to be an ordinary human.’
The Captain looked uneasy. ‘And that’s why they’d be keen to help her?’
Kanesh nodded ‘Yes. She represents the result of a period of brilliant genetic experimentation. The sort of experimentation that’s been banned ever since. She’ll be a treasure trove for them.’
The Doctor pulled herself up straight. ‘I’m not comfortable with accepting help from people who are possibly conducting illegal medical research.’
The Captain sighed, and after a long pause said ‘Neither am I, Doctor, but I can’t willingly let a member of the crew die. It’s my call and I say we go.’
The Doctor nodded. ‘Very well. Due to the sensitive nature of this issue, I will not make my complaint a matter of record, but I feel obliged to make my feelings known.’
‘Noted, Doctor, but we’re still going. Kanesh, please give the co-ordinates to the navigator. We leave immediately.’
Chapter 12: ‘Send in the Clones’
Science Officers Log: Lieutenant-Commander O’Mara
Star Date 9549.4
I’m not sure what’s going on. Our away-team mission to study the indigenous life-forms on SEKSI has been cancelled abruptly, even though we’d barely got started.
We’ve diverting to a small system that is so remote it has no official record at all, only a designation from an astronomical survey carried out a hundred years ago.
We have no record of any planets in the Sigma Epsilon Omicron Nine system, and no clue what we’re likely to find. Why that takes priority over our mission to study the eco-system on SEKSI is beyond me.
The Captain is being evasive, but it seems to revolve around the incident on SEKSI. I’ve broached the subject with Shruthi Kanesh but she just tells me to talk to the Captain.
It’s bugging me enough that I’ve done a little research. I’m not normally one to dig into my teams past - I’ve always understood that joining Starfleet is a fresh start – but in this case I found I couldn’t help myself.
What I found disturbed me a little. Prior to signing up, Shruthi Kanesh spent time in a prison complex for breaking laws concerning genetic experimentation. I haven’t been able to get the detail yet but it seems she was part of a team tinkering with human DNA to provide enhanced intelligence.
I know that’s a really grey area legally speaking. It’s a fine line between using genetic modifications to eradicate congenital issues and doing the same for aesthetic or physical benefit, but the fact that Kanesh served three years and lost her license to practice tells me her transgression was a serious one.
I guess all will become clear. I trust the Captain in that respect. However, this has irked my curiosity and my curiosity has always been my best quality and my worst. It drives me on, makes me work hard and solve problems. It also distracts me, makes me waste time and can stop me from focusing on other tasks in hand.
I’m not sure which side of that balance is greater, but just now, I’m finding I can’t concentrate on my work. I had no interest in the place the Captain is taking us, but now I find I can’t wait to get there.
I need to know.
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Tiger drifted into a high orbit around a small, barren, undesignated planet.
Hollins looked at the data streaming in and then uncertainly at Petty Officer Shruthi Kanesh. ‘Are you sure this is the place?’
Kanesh was sat at the Mission Operations Console and nodded. ‘Yeah. It’s here somewhere. She sent me the co-ordinates as soon as I got out of . . . uh, it was a long time ago, but it’s here. I know it is.’
The Captain paused. ‘Anyone?’
Lieutenant Shearer said ‘There’s norra peep owta comms, liek. Naw signels on any o’ the commun freekwensies.’
There was another awkward silence before ASBeau ventured ‘Nothing apparent on the tactical sensors either. If there’s anything on the surface of this planet it’s very well hidden.’
Hollins wat
ched Kanesh, who seemed to hesitate before re-affirming her assertion. ‘I didn’t say it would be on the surface. But it’s here. Somewhere.’
There was a general shrugging of shoulders and everyone tried again. Time passed as Tiger swept around the planet, her sensors scanning the surface and below into the crust of the planet. They swept and scanned, they scanned as they swept. They completed an orbit and then another, and another.
Hollins slouched in his chair, about ready to give up when someone finally found something. To his surprise it was his Communications Officer, Lieutenant Sharon Shearer.
‘Why aye, tha’s funny. Ah’m gettin’ sum dead weird intahfeerens on ma incumen channels, liek.’
As always, Hollins struggled to extract meaning from the incomprehensible cocktail of colloquialism and thick Geordie accent. ‘Sorry Shearer? What was that?’
A frown wrinkled her beautiful brow. ‘Ah have all mannah o’ nonsense al ovah the key comms freekwencies liek.’
‘Ah! Ah’ve gannen lost it now! Mine yew, ah recawded sum of et liek.’ There was a hiss as she played back the interference, her face contorted by a frown of concentration.
She altered settings and tweaked controls while the rest of the Bridge crew sat in silence. Eventually she sat back smiling and shaking her head at herself. ‘Haway, ya dopey moo! It’s a signel Cap’n. Sumwan is usen a vera vera high freekwensie an’ beamen owt a hevely enkripted direkshunnel comm signel along this bearin, liek.’
Something popped up on the main view-screen and Dave turned to see a line projecting from the planet’s surface. The scale zoomed out and out, but there was nothing obvious in its path.
Some of the Bridge crew seemed to understand her, even if the Captain didn’t. ASBeau scratched his chin. ‘An encrypted directional comm signal, eh? I’d bet you long odds there’ll be a ship or a space-station somewhere along that path to collect whatever data is being transmitted.’
Hollins adjusted the scale back down to focus on the source of the signal on the planet. ‘More importantly, that means there’s definitely someone hiding down there sending the signal, and the most likely place to find them would be the signal’s source. Shearer, get your team to working on decrypting the signal. ASBeau, Dolplop, O’Mara, as we come around the planet, I want every scanner and sensor we’ve got focused on that spot and whatever is beneath it.’