by Knox, Barry
1242—March 8, 2372
“What are you doing, Sipes?” Xia yelled after opening his eyes and looking around.
“I’m reading to you, Gunny,” Joseph answered with a smile.
“You’re what?” Xia barked while he continued to look around. “Am I on the Hawking?”
“Yes, you’re in sick bay,” Joseph said.
“Hey, Doc! Hey, Doc!” Xia yelled, moving as much as he could while looking at all the plastic tubes and electronic sensors placed on and inserted in him.
A few seconds later, the curtain door slid open, and Dr. Pettway walked in. “Keep it down, Gunny,” she said. She walked over to him and began examining the various pieces of medical monitoring equipment surrounding his bed. “I didn’t expect you to wake up so soon. We’ve placed you in a controlled coma while you’re healing.”
“We’ll, I’m awake now, Doc, and this ain’t the first time I’ve been torn up, so give it to me straight. How bad is it?” Xia asked.
“Your shoulder and leg were severely injured, but it’s nothing that we can’t fix here on the ship,” she answered as she continued looking at the monitors. “Are you in any pain?”
“Yeah, but I can take it,” Xia said with a grimace as he tried to sit up a bit. Then his eyes locked on Joseph, who was still sitting there, wearing a smile. “What are you doing here, Sipes?”
“I told you. I was reading to you,” Joseph answered again.
“Get out of my sight, you moron!” Xia barked.
Joseph’s smile vanished as he stood. He walked out with his head hung down like a child who had just been scolded.
“Doc, why did you let that idiot come in here?” Xia yelled again.
“Gunny, if you can take the pain, I won’t put you into another coma. But if you yell once more, I’ll put you out until we get back to Earth,” Dr. Pettway said slowly and firmly.
“Fine, Doc, but why did you let him in here?” he asked, this time without yelling.
“I figured it was therapeutic, and I didn’t think you’d mind,” she answered through clenched teeth. She paused, trying to control her anger, and continued. “If it wasn’t for that idiot, as you refer to him, you, Manelly, and several civilians would be dead.”
Xia didn’t respond; he just stared at the ceiling.
***
As Joseph walked back to his quarters, he felt hurt and was trying to sort out everything that had happened to him since the mission began. He had been in ground combat, something he hadn’t been trained for, and had several dreams about saving people. Although he somehow felt in his heart that what he had done and was going to do was very important, his brain and everyone else seemed to tell him he was doing everything wrong. He was confused and disheartened.
“Joseph, Captain Bowser wants you to report to her in the mission control center as soon as possible,” his Anna said through his implant.
“Okay, I’m on my way,” Joseph said. As he hurried to the MCC, he wondered why the captain wanted to see him. He thought he must’ve done something wrong. It seemed like no matter what he tried to do right, things just never seemed to turn out right. I’m pitiful, he thought. I must be a moron.
Mission Control Center, SRS Stephen Hawking
1305—March 8, 2372
Joseph entered the MCC, and his eyes were immediately drawn to the main holographic display of a planet. He then looked around and saw Mary sitting by Gideon and Dr. Harper at a console in the back of the MCC. He walked over to Mary and reported, “Petty Officer Sipes reporting as ordered.”
Mary returned his salute and said, “At ease, Sipes. Doctor Harper wants to ask you a few questions.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he answered.
“Sipes, take a seat please,” Dr. Harper said as he used a hand to motion him toward an empty seat at an adjacent console.
Joseph sat down.
“Sipes, I want to ask you a few questions about what you saw while performing the hull inspection yesterday,” Dr. Harper began. “I want you to relax and think about my questions for a few seconds before answering. Okay?”
“Yes, sir,” Joseph said as he tried to relax his body.
“Tell me the first thing you saw when you exited the air lock.”
Joseph waited and then answered. “I saw the hull from the ship’s external maintenance lights.”
“When did you look up into space?”
“I always look at the stars when I go outside the ship,” Joseph said. A few seconds later he continued. “I looked up as soon as I double-checked that my safety lanyard was secured to the double-catch system.”
“Can you always see stars with the maintenance lights on?”
“Yes. There are always some bright stars I can see,” Joseph said.
“Did you see anything at all unusual in space? Like flashes of light, trails of light, or bursts of colors?”
“I didn’t see any of those things, but there was something unusual,” Joseph said after a pause.
Excited, Dr. Harper asked, “What…what…what was unusual?”
Joseph looked at Dr. Harper confused, waited a few seconds, and answered slowly. “It was unusual that I didn’t see any stars.”
Gideon couldn’t help but laugh aloud. Mary just smiled, not able to control herself.
“Don’t joke with me!” Dr. Harper almost yelled as he stood. “Don’t you understand that this is a serious matter? Or can’t your simple, dim-witted mind comprehend our situation?”
Gideon immediately stopped laughing and said in a deep, slow voice, “Stand down, Doctor. That’s enough of that. He understands how serious it is, and he was only answering your question.”
***
“Long-range sensors have detected major anomalies. Processing data now and updating the display,” Stephen said over the MCC intercom. The holograph of the planet began to blur again as new data was received, processed, and reported at the bottom of the display.
Dr. Harper, whose attention was now locked on the report, forgot about Joseph, walked closer to the display, and watched.
After a few minutes, the image began to focus, and this time the image was not an infrared display. A light source illuminated the planet.
“What the…?” Dr. Jones paused and continued. “Light is being reflection from the planet’s surface.”
“That’s great! We must be coming out of the time-space dimension. Where’s the planet’s sun?” Dr. Harper said as he walked closer to the display.
“There’s no sun,” Dr. Jones said as she feverishly used her data console to locate the source of the light.
“Stephen, use all the long-range sensors to locate the planet’s sun,” Dr. Harper commanded.
The focusing image of the planet and the data that was being received and processed paused as Stephen used the sensors to search for the planet’s sun. “The planet has no sun, and no stars have been detected. The light has no source,” Stephen reported calmly and then switched the sensors back to the planet and continued to process data from the planet again, focusing on a light-gray ball in a void of black.
“This is all impossible!” Dr. Harper screeched in frustration. “There cannot be an unstructured planet made of liquid water seas and a water vapor atmosphere. And light certainly can’t be emitted from nothing!”
***
Joseph, still sitting in the back of the MCC and listening to Stephen’s report and Dr. Harper’s comments, suddenly remembered something he’d read in his book and then felt a sensation of energy filling his body. A moment later, he felt the warmth of the energy within his chest, and then thoughts and answers appeared in his mind. The energy prompted him to speak, even though he didn’t want to. Joseph eventually knew he had to speak, and then a calm came over him.
“It is not impossible, Doctor.” A deep voice came from the back of the MCC. Everyone turned and saw Joseph standing as he spoke. “Is the science you know so limited that it leaves you without an explanation of what you’re seeing with your own eyes? The beginning of the w
ords of my book detail how Earth was created in the same manner as you’re witnessing.”
Everyone in the MCC looked at Joseph as he spoke. It was as if it wasn’t him speaking but someone else. He spoke with such confidence and authority. Everyone remained quiet, their bodies unable to move, waiting and somehow longing for him to continue speaking.
“You have been chosen to witness creation. Don’t let your intellect dictate what you believe to be true,” Joseph said and walked out of the MCC without being dismissed. Once in the corridor, the energy in Joseph subsided but didn’t completely go away. Joseph knew what he had just said and done, but didn’t really know what it meant. He also knew it didn’t matter if he understood it or not. What was important was that he’d said it. He remained calm and began walking to his quarters.
***
Seconds went by before anyone in the MCC could speak or move.
“Doctors, continue your analysis and contact me if there is something I should know. Lieutenant Klaxton, you’re with me,” Mary said as she headed out of the MCC. Gideon followed.
“What just happened?” Mary asked Gideon as she entered the corridor and began picking up her pace.
“I don’t know, Captain. Why do you think I would know?” Gideon said as he walked faster to keep up with her.
Mary continued walking and said, “No reason other than you’re a genius, and I hoped you might have an idea because I have nothing. Everything I’ve seen for the past few days makes no sense.”
“Well, sir, you must have something in mind, or you wouldn’t be in a hurry,” Gideon said as he continued to follow.
“We’re headed to the Tripe C, where you and I can make some plans. Have your marines meet us there,” Mary said as she continued walking.
“Anna, contact all the marines, with the exception of Gunny, and have them meet me in the Triple C on the double,” Gideon said aloud.
“Anna, have Commander Steward meet me in the Triple C ASAP,” Mary ordered her Anna.
A few seconds later Mary and Gideon entered the Triple C.
“Okay, here’s what I think and what I want to do. It may sound crazy, so I want you to be honest with me and tell me what you think. Is that clear, Lieutenant?” Mary said.
“Yes, sir,” Gideon answered.
“Since no one knows what’s really going on and after my secure message from Admiral Frank, I have to take into account the possibility that what has happened to us, what is happening to us and what might happen to us, could be the result of alien intervention, and we should prepare,” Mary said, waiting for Gideon’s response.
Gideon thought for a few seconds and said, “Sounds logical. What do you have in mind, Captain?”
“Security, Lieutenant. As soon as I brief your marines and Commander Steward, I’m going to order battle stations. I’ll explain to the rest of the crew and scientists that we’re going to battle stations to better cope with our current situation. Per protocol, I want a battle-ready armored marine stationed on the bridge, in engineering, in the Triple C, or wherever we think should be secured at the time. I want to make sure no one or no thing interferes with the operation and my command of the ship,” Mary said.
“What about Stephen?” Gideon asked.
“That includes Stephen, Lieutenant. I’m not sure if Stephen is malfunctioning or not, and until further notice, it can’t be trusted. If Stephen does anything outside his normal operating parameters or disobeys my orders, I want you to shut him down,” Mary said.
“Yes, sir,” Gideon said.
The marines and Commander Steward entered the Triple C a few seconds later. Mary also asked Stephen to join the meeting. Mary told everyone she was ordering the ship to battle stations, and then she told them about the message from Admiral Frank and told them to treat the information as top secret and not to share it with the rest of the crew and scientists.
While the marines and the commander were trying to process what they had just heard, Gideon ordered Manelly, Kindle, and Tidwell to suit up in combat armor when the Captain ordered battle stations. Manelly would be stationed on the bridge, Kindle in the Triple C, and Tidwell in the MCC. Gault asked what he should do, and Gideon told him to armor himself as best he could and report to engineering.
Mary concluded the meeting by ordering Stephen not to permit the ship to be put into motion without a direct order from either her or Commander Steward. Then she asked if there were any questions. No one asked a question. Mary then sat at a console, brought up the ship’s tactical display, and selected battle stations. The ship’s alarms sounded as Stephen used the ship’s intercom and repeated, “Battle stations. Battle stations. Battle stations.”
Everyone scrambled out of the Triple C, leaving Mary and Gideon. The Triple C was their battle station.
SRS Stephen Hawking
0800—March 9, 2372
It had been almost twelve hours since the long-range sensors stopped detecting any changes from the planet being analyzed. The gray-water planet sat in a void, illuminated by light without a source. The scientists took shifts working through the night, reviewing and processing data they had received the previous day, and waited for any new data to be detected. The ship’s crew and marines were at battle stations throughout the ship and would remain there until Mary changed those orders.
Joseph sat at his battle station in the ship’s maintenance area, awaiting orders. As he sat he read his book and recalled the dreams he had had since the beginning of the mission. He still felt the energy within him, and as he read and thought, a lot of things began to make sense. He somehow knew what the day would bring. He was also ready to do whatever the energy within him told him to do.
Dr. Pettway and Corpsman Wong had their hands full with the old widows and children. They tried to assure them they were going to be okay and the ship was at battle stations as a precaution and would most likely return to normal activity soon. On several occasions Gunny Xia tried to get out of bed and report to duty, but his wounds and lack of pain medication, per orders from Dr. Pettway, kept him in bed. He did, however, contact Gideon, and Gideon told him he’d come by and brief him as soon as he could.
***
“Captain, with your permission I’m going to brief Gunny Xia,” Gideon said.
“Go ahead, Lieutenant, and grab something to eat,” Mary said.
Gideon left the Triple C and walked towards sick bay. As he walked, his mind kept playing over and over the event with Joseph in the MCC the day before. He and Mary had talked about it during the evening, and neither could explain what they’d witnessed. It would be easy to believe Joseph had just snapped and started spouting off things that were locked away in his mind, but neither of them could explain why they’d been unable to move their bodies and how they’d been captivated by what Joseph was saying.
“Anna, where is Petty Officer Sipes, and what’s he doing?” Gideon asked as he walked.
“He’s at his battle station in the maintenance area, reading his book,” Anna said, “Do you have a message for him?”
“No, Anna. Thank you,” Gideon said as he thought about what Joseph had said about his book yesterday.
***
“Sir, what is going on?” Xia exclaimed when Gideon entered his curtained area and stood by his bed.
Gideon pulled up a chair, took a seat, and told Xia about the ship’s situation and everything the rest of the marines had been briefed on.
“I’ve always wanted to fight aliens,” Xia said with a smile after Gideon had finished. “Sir, you don’t really think that’s what we might be up against?”
“Gunny, I don’t have a clue what we’re up against, but we can’t rule it out,” Gideon said as he stood to leave.
“Sir, do me a favor.”
“Sure, Gunny.”
“Sir, keep Sipes away from me. He visited me when I was in a coma, and when I woke up, he was reading to me,” Xia said. He paused a second and continued. “I know what he did for me and Manelly on Leonis, but I still do
n’t want him near me.”
Gideon thought for a second and replied, “Okay, Gunny, I’ll order Sipes to stay away from you myself if that’s what you want.”
“Thank you, sir,” Xia said.
Mission Control Center, SRS Stephen Hawking
0835—March 9, 2372
“We’re receiving new sensor data,” Stephen said over the intercom. The gray holographic display of the planet blurred again as the data being received began to be processed.
Dr. Harper almost spilled his coffee as he turned away from talking to Dr. Jones and looked at the display. He said, “Anna, contact Captain Bowser and tell her we are receiving more data from the planet.”
“Yes, Doctor,” his Anna replied and then relayed the message.
A few minutes later Mary and Gideon entered the MCC.
“What’s happening, Doctor?” Mary asked.
“We don’t know yet. New data is being analyzed,” Dr. Harper said.
“Stephen, pipe the planet simulation monitoring display throughout the ship along with audio of everything being said in the MCC,” Mary ordered.
“Yes, Captain,” Stephen said.
“Captain, is that wise?” Dr. Harper asked before Gideon had a chance to ask the very same question.
“Everyone knows our mission and our situation already, Doctor. My officers and crew have requested I keep them up to date, and this is the best way, especially while we’re at battle stations,” Mary said.
Dr. Harper nodded and asked with some hesitation, “Captain, is there a reason…I mean, why is a battle-armored marine in the MCC?”
“Standard battle stations protocol, Doctor. Nothing more,” Mary answered as she sat at a console and brought up a ship’s communication display and selected the ship’s intercom. “This is Captain Bowser. Every ship monitor is now linked to the MCC and can be used to monitor our progress in resolving our current situation. Please continue performing your duties as required and only view the display periodically to get an update of our progress. Captain Bowser out.”