Starship Genesis

by Linda M. Miller

  “Have you seen that bear skeleton at the National Museum?” I yell. “It’s about this size.”

  “It’s a Cave Bear!” Ray calls.

  “They’re supposed to be extinct!” I yell.

  “Try telling that to the bear!” Ray replies. “Well, what are we going to do now?” I ask.

  “Our slugs are just going to tickle this guy,” Mark yells. “Try a grenade.”

  “If you’ve ever seen a bear’s skull, it is thick and heavily constructed, like armor.”

  The killer Yorkie approaches the bear and barks.

  “That’s one aggressive pup!” Ray says. “Need a watch dog?”

  “Whoa!!” Lightfoot says. “Okay, this is a new experience for me guys.” Lightfoot pulls out his .50 caliber pistol and shoots. Every other round is an armor piercing round. He holds back as the team advances, firing at the bear. But the bear still keeps advancing on the team. Lightfoot then takes a bead on the bear as it looks his way and fires. The round hits the bear between the eyes and it finally collapses to the ground. The bear is covered with wounds from the other rounds. We inspect the bear.

  “It’s still alive. The round has just stunned it!”

  Lightfoot then holds his pistol up to the eye of the bear and fires again. The bear quits breathing and dies. The bear’s muzzle alone is the size of a large microwave! Its paws are 12 inches across!

  “It must weigh close to 4500 lbs.” He gawks. “4500 lbs. of pure muscle and attitude staring us in the face.”

  Everyone is glad to have Lightfoot around: at least he knows something about bears. With the bear dead, we return to the inside of the craft to gaze at the shimmering blue air. Leesa joins us to take pictures.

  “This is interesting.” Mark notes. “You can clearly see the bulkhead of the wall through the light. Yet, the bear came through it.”

  “But where did the bear come from?” Ray asks.

  “Get some physicists here pronto!!” Mark calls. “And get a biologist up here as well!”

  “Do you think the bio generators created him? Are there more like him?” I get curious and throw a rock at the light field. A strange shimmer occurs when the rock intercepts the light. And there’s no sound of the rock hitting the bulkhead behind the blue ray!

  “That rock went somewhere!” I comment.

  Mark adds, ”We have a possible portal here! But to where?”

  “No.” I clarify. “Not where. When?” We stare at the shimmering ray of light. Others gather around us, curious as to where the bear came from.

  Others gather around the bear.

  “Man, I’m starting to feel like I’m in a Sci-Fi.” Dwayne jeers. “This is cool!”

  Leesa takes pictures of the blue light, bear and everything around the ship. She answers Dwayne. “Try telling me that again the next time we’re attacked by something like the ice wraiths.”

  “No Leesa, it’s like a gate to somewhere else!” He speculates. “Listen to them in there!”

  An hour later, another V-22 makes it up to the saddle and drops off more supplies, including Cliff Gray.

  “Heard you needed a biologist.” he says. He then looks at the size of the bear and shakes his head. “A Cave Bear! I’ve only seen one like this, and he was in a museum.”

  Mark shows Cliff the portal next.

  “I wonder if there’s any potential with this discovery, Cliff.”

  “Let’s run tests to analyze it. It could be a door to another dimension or another world.”

  Cliff arranges with base to have the bear carcass hauled down to camp for preservation and study.

  Lightfoot has been studying the bear briefly and grows concerned. “Gentlemen. This bear has been going back and forth through this portal for some time! This is not a first time incident.”

  “Are you saying that it’s a time portal?” Mark asks.

  “This bear knew what it was doing. He was after something. So what was he after?” Lightfoot discusses it further with Cliff.

  “If it’s a portal and a bear that size can come through it, it must be large enough for one of us?” Cliff replies.

  “Could it be dangerous to humans?” Ray asks. “I mean we don’t know what’s on the other side.”

  “Interesting observation, Ray.” Lightfoot replies. “We need to set up a security perimeter around the barracks area. After that, we need to have a team check out the area for other wildlife! That bear came through the portal for a reason, and I am sure it was not expecting us! So we need to learn why it was going back and forth.”

  “We need to find the critters before they find us!”

  The teams spread out in three’s to scout the area around the ship. But there is very little soil. Most of the ground is largely gravel, ice and rock. Some of the area is sandy.

  Further observation shows the bear entered this horizon, and went in a specific direction. But it did not waste time exploring the area. A couple of hours later Lightfoot and the team come back.

  “All we’ve found are a couple of paths made by the bear going into the cave and down the mountain. It appears the paths were used on a regular basis, however. At least every other day.”

  “So that confirms that this bear had a regular habit of coming through the portal.”

  “What is it Lightfoot?” Cliff asks.

  “Sir, it’s like the bear lives on this side of the portal. Probably the cave. And he’s getting his food from the other side. Not this one.”

  “That would explain the element of his surprise to see us.” Cliff answers.

  “Go on, Lightfoot,” Mark relays.

  “Sir, even if it’s a time portal, it could be the same location on the other side as it is now, just another time and possibly even another season on the other side. That would make it worth the bear’s time to go back and forth through the portal because it lengthens his hunting season. I mean there’s nothing to hunt on this side of the portal unless he wants fish this time of the year. Either that, or he’s feeding off something else.”

  “That makes sense.” Cliff answers.

  The physicist approaches Mark and Cliff. “There’s no radiation in the portal or anywhere around the ship that I can detect. If it’s radiation you’re concerned about, there isn’t any.”

  “Any suggestions?” Mark asks.

  The physicist replies, “Well, yeah, aren’t you curious what’s on the other side? I am.”

  “How can we test it?” Mark asks.

  Leesa suggests. “The Terrier would make a good test subject. There was a ball in his cage. Send the ball through the portal and see if he returns.”

  Mark laughs. “Leesa, you’re brilliant! You know that?”

  She smiles. “I know dogs. Make sure you give him a treat for his trouble.” Mark turns to one of the men. “Why don’t you go get the doggie’s ball.” The SOAR man returns with the dog and his ball.

  “Ready everyone? Throw the ball for Rover.”

  Ray throws the ball and the little dog dives through the blue shimmering light and disappears completely. We wait for the dog’s return. Five minutes passes and everyone becomes concerned whether the little dog will make it back. Suddenly, he springs back through the light with the ball in his mouth and tail wagging.

  Everyone cheers. “This dog is going to be our mascot.” Dwayne carries on.

  Cliff speaks up, “Okay, everyone. Pass the word. We’re reassembling over in the new compound in 15 minutes.” Everyone filters into a little room about the size of a bedroom.

  “Gentlemen, I’ve asked Dr. Martin, our physicist, to give us an assessment.”

  Dr. Martin begins. “We’re confident we have a portal of some type. And my colleague and I have assessed that the starship has an engine which could potentially travel at 1000 times the speed of light. That is...it might not travel in space, but actually travel through space! However, due to the crash, the technology has somehow modified itself. It’s still operational.

  My suspicion is that it could link
to time travel.”

  “How is that possible?” Mark asks.

  “Are any of you familiar with a super collider?” Dr. Martin asks.

  “You mean that great big collider they experiment with up in Switzerland?” Cliff asks.

  “Exactly. It can destroy atoms. And when you smash an atom, you get a particulate trail which can appear and disappear. Theoretically, some of these trails are due to faster than light particles that are slowed by the event. And then they regain their velocity and disappear!

  “In English, please.” Mark says.

  Dr. Martin tries to contain his enthusiasm. “Well, time and space are tied together and have a relationship...which at this time we do not fully understand. We can use a broadband spectrum analyzer like a poor man’s cyclotron to assess the portal. With that we can develop a means to interface with the particles. It won’t give us a full picture of what is happening. But if it emits sub-light emissions, we can interface with the particle’s energy field. “It’s the Golden Fleece, the Holy Grail! We could develop faster-than-light technology. Your team has opened the door for us right here!”

  “What would happen if we try to move it?” Mark asks.

  Dr. Martin shirks as he responds. “It might not work anymore. We should leave it here intact so we can study it and find out more about it.”

  “Doc, there’s supposed to be a recovery here and an end to this mission.”

  “Fortunately, I have a broadband spectrum analyzer down at the base camp.”

  “Even with that, it’s going to take a lot more funding and politics to sustain this type of a mission.” Mark continues.

  “Believe me, it’s worth it.” Dr. Martin adds.

  “We need to know where that portal leads to, Doc. Is it safe enough to test it?” Mark asks.

  “I would say so. Yes.” He answers.

  “That’s all I need to know for the moment. Let’s test it.”

  ANOTHER WORLD

  Mark is beside himself. “This project is beginning to look endless and even more dangerous. I’ll have to contact the Peruvian government and keep them informed, but on a limited basis.” He states. A V-22 arrives transporting equipment to the site. All items identified around the crash site by SAT/SAR are soon recovered and loaded onto the V-22.

  My team works efficiently and our first assignment is almost completed.

  “Matt, given the opportunity afforded by the gate, I’m asking you and your crew to stay on. No one knows more about the history of this place than your people.”

  “Given the level of technology we’ve observed, I’m not sure we understand your requirements.” I respond.

  “I mean we need your expertise of the past if we go through the portal.” He clarifies.

  “The inside of the ship has been cleaned up. But what do you intend to do with the Inca remains?” I ask.

  “We’ll just turn them over to the government once we’ve concluded all of this. They’ll probably go to a museum.”

  “That’ll work.” I reply.

  “Matt, I’ve assembled a special exploration team. I want it to include you, Ray, Dwayne, Peter, Mark, to work with SGT Lightfoot. I’ll include more SOAR men as well.”

  “What’s the next step?” I ask.

  “Well, it’s uncertain if the gate can be detected from the other side. The first procedure will be to test the gate for that capability. One of our SOAR men has volunteered. It’s about to happen right now.”

  “You may proceed.” Mark advises the SOAR man.

  The SOAR man walks through the gate and looks back. He is able to see the ship and the blue stream of light. He then steps back through the portal to the side he came from.

  “How long was I gone?” he asks.

  “About five minutes.” Mark advises.

  “All I did was walk through and look back. I saw the ship and I saw the blue stream light. But I couldn’t see you. Then I walked back into the portal again.”

  “What did you see on the other side?” Mark asks.

  “I didn’t look around much. But it felt warmer on the other side than it is here. And I think I saw the cave. It’s about 40 feet away.”

  “Fantastic!” Mark says. “Let’s plan the next stage.”

  The Away Team assembles in the compound at 17:00—ten SOAR men, Ray, Peter, and myself. Mark has the lead.

  “It looks like there is some kind of time delay from the other side of the portal. SOAR man Walker, you said you passed through, barely looked around and then immediately returned through the portal. But to us you were gone for five minutes.”

  “There was also a delay on the dog’s return as well. So we need to keep in mind on this side that there will be a similar delay. We may only be gone 30 minutes. But it could be as much as an hour from this side, or even longer.”

  Mark continues, “Our first phase of Operation “Star Gate”...thank you Peter for naming it thus...is to explore the cave and the surrounding area up here around the ship only. We’ll watch our time span on the other side and return in one hour. This will give us time to further test the delay. Cliff, we’ll need someone to record each officer’s departure time so as to assess the delay. Any questions?” Silence. “We leave in 45 minutes.”

  One of the SOAR men steps up to Mark. “Sir, you have a phone call on the secure line. It’s your associate, Talon.”

  Mark picks up the line from the conference room table. “Talon. How is everything?”

  “Mark, just checking in with you. I sat in on the briefing over VTC and heard you were going through the portal. Do you think that’s wise?”

  “We’ve already tested the portal, Talon. Everything seems to be working fine. There is a small delay on returning. But we can deal with that. Also, we are analyzing to see if we can change the portal to control what time period we enter.”

  “That would be interesting. Wish I could be there.” He responds.

  TALONS LAMENT

  Finally, I feel the excitement of the mission. I still haven’t shared my past with Mark because I always knew he would never believe me.

  “I’ll keep you up on it Talon. I know how you feel about this project.”

  “Does he?” I think to myself. “He has no idea.” I consider everything. If they are truly able to dial into a given time, the mission could turn into a rescue mission for the Genesis crew. But I think of my new life. I am hesitant to risk my new found happiness again with another risk for failure. I think tearfully of Deonna. I will always miss her. But I now have children to think about.

  Besides, there would be an adjustment on this world no matter what time period the crew has entered. “However, they’d all be alive,” I think. And Mark would find a place for everyone. I want to continue to monitor the project; but it still haunts me. Am I willing to give up my current life to save the Genesis crew?”

  “It would probably change time and history,” I tell myself. I’m up on World History and Civilization. I have since realized the important role Korban, Noah, and I have played in the history of Peru and Egypt; having taught them how to build with stone, gardening, irrigation canals, etc. I wonder if the pyramids would still be there if we rescue the crew. How would that change today’s outcome? Would today be different?”

  I contemplate that for a while and decide against rescuing the Genesis Crew. It might be a selfish attempt and too risky against everything I stand for. Man was meant to struggle and work things out for himself, I believe. All the same, I have a feeling this. I’m catching the next flight to Peru.

  THE FLIGHT FROM CORIANTUMUR

  Cassie and I make it back to the compound after returning from the Genesis for more equipment we can use. We’ve been gone for twelve hours. We enter the compound. To our horror, we see a mass blood bath.

  “Oh...Korban! Noooo! No, no, no.” She collapses. “We should have been here. We could have saved them!” I hold Cassie close. We weep together.

  “I can’t take this anymore. We’ve lost Talon and Deonna.
And now we’ve lost Noah and his family.” She succumbs and falls to the ground in tears.

  “Cassie, maybe we’d better get away from here. They might still be in the area.”

  “Korban, they need a proper burial. But how?” Something stirs outside.

  “Shhhh.” We hide in one of the quarters. Coriantumr’s men enter and search the area. They leave. We wait for a long time to make sure they’ve left the area.