Phasewave

by David Gill

  Jenna looked away, obviously upset. 'Perhaps we'd better stick to the story.'

  'Do you want to take a rest?'

  'No. Let's get it over with.'

  Declan hesitated. Somehow the relationship which had built up between them had broken down, and he had no idea why. He elected to carry on as before until she gave him an opening to reintroduce the subject. 'When Carrick appeared outside the machine was he naked?'

  'No, he was wearing a regulation uniform. Everyone came out of the machine wearing what they went in with. Don't ask me why.'

  Declan paused again before continuing. 'You stopped at the point where you were left in darkness outside the base. Did Ellen help you overcome that situation?'

  'No way,' said Jenna. 'Ellen and Carrick were two of a kind, the kind you wouldn't wish to get involved with, especially if you were stranded outside the base on Bouron with only enough air to last you half an hour. At times like that you need more than help - you need a miracle.'

  'And you got that miracle?'

  'Personally I don't believe in divine intervention, but what took place had to have been the next best thing.'

  ********************************

  Faint lights penetrated the darkness inside Jenna's helmet. She twisted her head from side to side until her vision cleared and the points of light swam into focus - they were the orbiting satellites of Bouron reflecting light from an invisible sun. Jenna tried to move but was unable to feel any sensation of motion, and her body appeared to be weightless. Then she turned her head as far as it would go and realized why - she was lying on her back, imperceptibly sinking into the soft layer of dust. With a tremendous effort Jenna managed to lever the upper half of her body free of the dust and then pull her legs to the surface one at a time until she was able to struggle to her feet. She almost fell, then regained her balance and stood and took stock of the situation, while the relentless dust slowly tightened its grip on her legs. Gradually her eyes became accustomed to the faint starlight and she noticed that all the base lights were extinguished. Carrick must have turned them off, she thought, but the recognition lights on top of the buildings were connected to an external source and always remained illuminated. A total power failure was unheard of, but that was the only way all the lights could have gone out. Had the sub drives failed? What essential services were still available? Air supplies, water, heating? A ray of hope shone through the fog of Jenna's despair – the airlocks were fail-safe, in the event of a power failure the outer doors automatically unlocked, so if she could reach the building before the power was restored she could gain access through any of the entrances.

  Jenna set off back towards the base with renewed energy, struggling against the cloying drag of the soft surface as moisture from her overheated body steamed up the inside of her face plate and distorted her vision. The journey started in one lifetime and ended in another, but the anticipated flare of light did not materialize until, at long last, Jenna found herself on her hands and knees outside an emergency airlock. The heavy door took a huge effort to swing open, then Jenna's ordeal was finally over and she slumped down against the airlock wall and gratefully let the welcome increase in air pressure mould the suit to her body. The inner door eventually opened, and Jenna dragged herself into the storeroom. She tore the helmet from her suit, gulping down cold air and revelling in its drying effect on her skin, then wiped the moisture from her face with the backs of her hands and thanked all the powers that be for her safety.

  As if by way of reply, the lights came on inside the room. Jenna jumped up, expecting to see Carrick's menacing figure bearing down upon her, but the only other human form inside the room was a reflection of herself in the polished steel door of a locker. Jenna stared into the face of a hundred year old woman. Matted hair straggled into her eyes, her skin shone with an unnatural pallor and a ribbon of vomit was congealed around her neck. Jenna turned away in disgust. She discarded the soiled suit and soaked a cloth in the drinking fountain to sponge the grime from her face and neck, feeling better with each cold application of water. What could have gone wrong on the base since she left? The power was back on, so Carrick must have restored it, therefore she could expect him to come looking for her at any time. The base could be internally sealed into individual sections, so even if she hid, it would only be a matter of time before she would be forced out to seek food and water. She had won a reprieve, but now, without a skimmer, there was nowhere to go and soon she would be forced to stand up to Carrick or accept the awful alternative. Jenna caught sight of her grim reflection again. What was she thinking of? She had never fought anyone in her life and Carrick was much stronger than she was. Well, there was no turning back; it was either Carrick or her, and she badly needed an equalizer, anything that could be used as a weapon. The locker before her was packed with mechanical tools. Jenna opened its door, picked out a metal pinning bar and weighed it in her hand. It was better than nothing, but not much use as an attack weapon. She replaced it and searched the other lockers in turn, but it was only when she reached the last one that she found what she needed. A thermic lance! She could have wept with joy. Holding the meter long lance in front of her, she switched it on and saw a jet of white flame spit from its nozzle. Yes, that would stop anyone in their tracks. Jenna deactivated the lance and watched the nozzle change colour until it stabilized at a dull red. So what was she going to do when she made contact with Carrick? Even if he gave in there was nowhere to lock him up. Her hopes began to fade. Then she had a brainwave, a flash of pure inspiration. If she could somehow force Carrick back into Unit Nine and into the machine she could then remove the hand rails. Without the rails, which appeared to be essential for the machine's operation, no-one could enter or leave it. The idea shocked her with its almost perfect simplicity, but she was aware that it would take every bit of courage she possessed to overcome Carrick. She would seek Carrick out immediately, before she had chance to lose her nerve.

  With her lance at the ready, Jenna cautiously entered the deserted control room and detected a familiar smell in the air - ozone. There must have been an electrical discharge in there at some time. Keeping close to the wall, she circled the room, reaching the half-way point before noticing Carrick's body lying prone on the floor, partially concealed behind a workstation. Jenna switched on the lance and warily approached the motionless form. Carrick appeared to be uninjured, so what had happened to him? While Jenna was watching, Carrick let out a quiet groan, but his eyes remained tightly shut. What should she do? Maybe he was faking, waiting for her to come within range so that he could grab hold of her. There was one certain way to find out. Jenna slowly lowered the white hot lance tip towards Carrick's face, but it was only when a strand of smoke began to curl from his hair and he still had not moved that she became convinced. After deactivating the lance Jenna laid it on the floor, and then rolled Carrick onto his back and closely inspected him. There were no visible signs of injury on his body, but the smell of ozone was strong on his clothes. It looked like he had received some kind of electric shock, although she could see nothing in the room that could have produced the amount of current necessary to knock him out.

  Jenna stood up and tried to think what she should do with Carrick. While he was unconscious she could secure him, but what then? And even if she tied him up, she would still have to find somewhere secure to imprison him. Why not stick to the original plan and zap him in the Phasewave? Jenna tried to move Carrick's body, but he was too heavy and she gave up after dragging him only a few meters. The plan was too good to dismiss lightly. Come on, she thought, think laterally. Was there another way? She looked around the room. The emergency repair pack on the wall contained rolls of heavy duty adhesive tape to seal pressurization leaks and in a corner of the room she spotted a mobile chair. Easy! Lash Carrick to the chair and take him over to the Phasewave. Jenna was feeling not a little pleased with herself as she trundled the chair over to Carrick's unconscious body. Things were working out better than expected an
d once Carrick was safely out of the way she could meet up with Vance in the tracker and together they would try to ensure that they would never have to deal with Ellen or Carrick again.

  The fear that Ellen might be waiting for her in Unit Nine caused Jenna a certain amount of trepidation, but when she arrived at the Phasewave there was no sign of anyone inside. Jenna unceremoniously tipped Carrick out of the chair next to the machine and securely taped both his hands to the rails. Then, leaving him slumped on his knees in an attitude of prayer, she walked over to the console and tried to work out how to start the transfer. There was an access pad in front of her, but the only times she had seen the process in operation it had been controlled from inside the machine. A keying sequence had, however, been mentioned, so the pad must have a purpose. Maybe the condition of the keys would give her a clue. It was while she was examining the pad that Carrick gave a loud grunt and tried to move. Jenna looked up sharply and remembered that her thermic lance was still lying on the control room floor. In desperation, she punched in a random set of numbers and waited, but the hoped-for transition did not take place. Several attempts later she was no closer to success and beginning to panic. Carrick raised his head at the sound of the keystrokes and tried to focus his eyes. A jumble of unrecognizable words came from his mouth.

  Again Jenna frantically attempted to input the correct code. 'Come on!' she cried, stabbing desperately at the buttons. Upon hearing Jenna's voice, Carrick located the source of the sound and managed to focus on her.

  'You,' he whispered accusingly. He found himself unable to move, and looked down to discover that his hands had been taped to the machine. For a few moments Carrick stared at the tapes in disbelief then let out a mighty roar and started to struggle violently against the restraints on his wrists.

  'You bitch,' he yelled. 'When I get hold of you I'm going to fucking kill you!'

  Jenna stood, rooted to the spot, and watched in horror as Carrick arched his back and, with a tremendous effort, levered one of the rails from the front of the machine. He slowly turned to Jenna, breathing heavily from his exertions, and held the metal bar, still trailing its connecting wires, triumphantly in the air. The familiar cruel look reappeared on his features.

  'What do you say now, little girl?'

  Jenna could not speak. All her hopes and plans had been cruelly thwarted and despair sapped her ability to act.

  Carrick twisted his arms to release the tapes, but they remained obstinately fastened.

  'Take these off,' said Carrick. 'Right now I'm the only friend you've got, and you can't do anything without me. You're only making things worse for yourself, so undo these tapes before I break this machine to pieces.'

  Despite her all-consuming terror, Jenna felt herself inadvertently move towards Carrick, forced to act against her instincts by the sheer strength of his will.

  'That's right, come closer,' said Carrick. 'From now on you're going to do everything I tell you.'

  At the sound of Carrick's words Jenna felt her body revolt and stop of its own accord. She stood, paralyzed with fear, and watched while Carrick's face turned purple with rage. He let out another snarling roar and arched his back again, poised to break free from his restraints. Jenna inadvertently screamed and the sound of her scream drowned out the humming noise that simultaneously emanated from the Phasewave. All she noticed was the colour drain from Carrick's face, which then turned transparent before disappearing from sight along with the rest of him.

  Jenna slumped against the console, drained of all her strength, but knew that she had to disable the machine before Carrick found a way back. Summoning every last bit of energy, she forced herself over to the broken rails. It was then that she heard and recognized the familiar humming noise when, to her disbelief, another human form started to appear before her. She was too late - Carrick was returning! The body quickly solidified. No, it wasn't Carrick, it was ... Ellen! Jenna jumped away from her, poised to flee for her life again.

  'Please,' said Ellen, holding out her hands in a gesture of supplication. 'I'm not here to hurt you.'

  Something about her appearance, the sadness in her expression and general dejection in her demeanour, checked Jenna's flight from the room. Ellen was taller than she appeared in the hologram and had wide shoulders.

  'If it makes you feel safer, go fetch your lance, you've every reason to be distrustful.'

  Jenna did not reply, only vaguely grasping the fact that when one person entered the machine another could somehow take their place. 'Where's Vance,' she demanded.

  'Vance is fine. There's no need for you to worry about him,' said Ellen wearily. 'Do you mind if I sit down?'

  'Go ahead,' said Jenna and suspiciously watched Ellen sit on the chair to which Carrick had recently been tied.

  Ellen put her head in her hands. 'I'm so sorry,' she said. 'I sincerely apologize for Carrick's behaviour, but he was not responsible for his actions.'

  'He looked as if he knew exactly what he was doing,' said Jenna.

  'You've no idea what we've been through,' said Ellen. 'We've been trapped inside that machine for three months, and Carrick was going insane. He suffers from claustrophobia, and the relief of getting out unhinged his mind.'

  'Trapped inside the machine?' said Jenna. 'You mean you weren't on Vennica?'

  'We thought we were going to die.' Ellen's voice suddenly broke and she lowered her head and started to cry.

  Jenna stood back, unwilling to trust her feelings, but eventually, overcome with relief and pity, went over to Ellen and embraced her.

  Ellen gradually regained her composure and wiped her face with a tissue. 'I must have some water. Will you come with me to the quarters? I don't want to be left on my own.'

  Jenna accompanied Ellen to the mess hall and watched while she sat at a table and drank glass after glass of water, after which she washed her face at the sink and tied back her hair.

  'That's better,' said Ellen. 'I feel almost human again. I guess that's an understatement after being without a body for so long.'

  'I don't understand,' said Jenna.

  Ellen sighed. 'Neither did we when we went inside the machine. You can relax; you have nothing to fear from us anymore. I will tell you everything that happened. I will tell you the whole story from the very beginning, and then you will know as much as I do.'

  *******************************

  Declan was exhausted, but a host of questions had formed a queue and were demanding answers. He got up and slowly paced the room, aware for the first time that every word they spoke was being listened to by others. 'If Scyros Maddoc was a hoax, how did the previous crew come to find themselves inside the Phasewave in the first place and who showed them how to carry out the modifications?'

  'The alien did. It impersonated Scyros Maddoc and explained how they could travel through Phasewave. I know I'm starting to sound crazy, but I can't help it.'

  Declan became gripped by a tremendous excitement. The moment had arrived. 'Tell me about the alien.'

  'I can't tell you very much because it had come and gone by the time I arrived on Bouron.'

  Cold water washed away Declan's excitement. After all the suspense there was nothing in it. He felt deflated and cheated. 'So you never made contact with the alien?'

  'I didn't, but the others did. Before you jump to conclusions, remember that I saw people go in and out of the machine with my own eyes and I saw work done on a Phasewave machine which could not have been dreamt up by any of us. That was proof to me. Oh yes, an alien had been through there all right. Let me tell you what Ellen had to say about how the alien first arrived on Bouron.'

  *******************************

  Ellen squeezed Jenna's hand and tears came to her eyes again. She wiped them away. 'You must think so badly of us. I cannot apologize enough for what happened, but you've no idea what it's like being inside Phasewave.'

  'What were you doing inside the machine?'

  Ellen sighed again. 'The alien trapped us insi
de the machine. It took us all. It destroyed Rogan and Sewell and took our bodies.'

  'What alien?' said Jenna. 'There's no such thing.'

  'You think not? You saw Vance go into the machine and both of us appear out of nowhere, and you think not? Is that something that happens every day? You don't know the half of it.' Ellen looked resignedly into the distance, as if reliving some traumatic event.

  Jenna had to accept that there was a certain amount of logic in what Ellen was saying; she herself had witnessed the impossible, so something inexplicable must have taken place.

  'Let me tell you how we were betrayed by the alien and then you'll believe me. It all started to go wrong after the shutdown when we caught the comet tail.'

  *******************************

  'Shit! It's still there,' said Carrick. 'Take a look.'

  Ellen increased the tracker magnification and saw the last remnants of the debris trail lying across the transmission lane. The comet itself had passed between Vennica and Bouron during the night and was outside the range of the tracker viewfinder.

  'I knew we should have done another sweep at dawn. There's tons of the stuff out there, blocking the lane. Damn it!' Carrick paced agitatedly up and down the control room floor, watched impassively by Ellen. 'Do you realize that in ten minutes time we're going to be hit by the biggest backlog of data ever to be handled by Phasewave, and we were promised that the tail would be clear by this morning? There's no choice; I'm going to cancel the start.'

  'It's not the end of the world,' said Ellen. 'What's the point in cancelling the start when there's only a two-day backlog to clear? What's to be gained by going through this all over again tomorrow?'

  'You know as well as I do that you can't transmit a phased beam through that much debris.'

  'It won't be the end of the world if a few people get fuzzy pictures on their screens.' Ellen watched the tracker image slowly move. 'It's clearing now and will probably be out of the way by the time the first batch gets here.'