by Yunker, Todd
Alec flipped some switches, and the view of the Snowflake changed.
Dancer keyed in some commands. “I’ll send in a probe.” Dancer launched a probe toward the Snowflake. He then flipped a switch, and the view of the screen changed again to the probe’s point of view. The image of the Snowflake grew larger as the probe hurtled toward its target. A blast of an energy beam lanced space near the probe but left it unaffected.
Alec asked, “Dancer, you said there were some coordinates and other things along with that data O gave us — right?”
Dancer stared back at Alec. “I’m so stupid. Yes, there are, and I’ll compare them to the structure.” Dancer went to work creating a model of the Heavenly Snowflake structure. He then analyzed the data O had provided, looking for correlation and possibly the key to the structure.
Alec approved. “You do that.” He asked Electra, “What would have made your ancestors leave Earth? Did any of that information come down to you?”
Electra said, “There was a revolt in the Empire that, from what we learned about it, included assassinations of many in the royal line. When the military regained control, they came to our world to retrieve the last surviving royal of the dynasty.”
Dancer manipulated his console, and an overlay of the coordinates appeared over the 3D model of the Heavenly Snowflake. It spun and turned, trying out the different locations on the surface, looking for a topographical match to their information. “Go on.”
Electra told the story with delight. “He loved our world, Alec — Earth. So he ordered his home on our world taken to the royal gardens, which were in the final phases of construction at the time. He gave everyone the opportunity to join the Empire. Most did.”
Alec downed his drink. “They just moved everyone from Earth for the Emperor?”
Electra stood up. “We have prospered until now. We have more room and living space than we could possibly use.”
Dancer observed, “Somewhat extravagant, but he was the Emperor. Enough said. The military, I am sure, was looking to stabilize things as quickly as possible, and this must have been just a small matter.”
Electra’s demeanor changed and became anxious. “It is our people who failed my world, not the technology. Over time, a group we refer to as ‘the Rovers’ wanted to leave our new home and explore other worlds.” She looked at Alec earnestly. “News of war and the factions the Empire had been split into shocked us all. Our world would be highly prized by any one of the factions.” Electra stood and paced the floor. “It was decided that no one could leave if it meant the secret of our location getting out. The Rovers believed it was all government propaganda to control the population.” She stopped and turned to Alec. “The Rovers left anyway, and, ever since they did, we have been fearful of an invasion fleet arriving at our doorstep.”
Alec asked, “If they are so concerned, will my people be welcome?”
“Yes. Alec, I have no doubt in my mind your people will be welcome.”
*
The Quest returned to the Snowflake in a very slow and deliberate fashion. They came upon a great, very black, object the size of a moon and energy readings at levels that could power hundreds of ships. The object was artificial, with a disk-like impression in the surface pointing at the Snowflake. The energy systems of the Quest were dimmed as it passed the moon. The Quest’s sensors had trouble detecting the artificial moon physically even at this close range. It was primarily a great sphere in space with a dish-like structure pointed toward the Heavenly Snowflake. Now that they knew what to look for, they sent three probes to look for these objects and found a network of them in orbit around the Snowflake. They were energy absorbers that transmitted what they had collected to the Snowflake.
Electra stood over Dancer. The ship’s systems were dim. Electra pointed out the moons. “Those collectors absorb the energy of these stars and beam it to the Snowflake. We counted more than a hundred such energy moons.”
The systems came back on as Alec looked at the forward screen. Alec queried, “Anything else we need to know?”
Electra shook her head. She said, “I have told you all we were able to find out. We were able to send search parties to the Snowflake more times than I remember. We lost due to the inevitable attrition we experienced. We were doomed to fail. It was only when we few who survived were down to our last ship. We caught a part of a beam for the third time, and we were done. We put out a distress call and were captured by slavers.”
Dancer’s tentacles moved quickly over the keys in front of him. Dancer completed the work. “I have input the data coordinates into the navigation computer. It can’t be automated.”
Alec replied, “I never asked if it could. Fly by the seat of our pants, then.”
Electra looked confused. “Our pants?”
Alec acknowledged, “Earth saying. Sorry.”
Dancer gave it to him straight. “You must be perfect. There is a small gap in the system — the smallest deviation, and we are free-floating atoms looking for a nebula to join up with to become reborn as stars. Oh, and it’s timed. You have six minutes, 35 seconds to reach the chamber, or we’re not leaving — ever.”
Alec shook it off. “Don’t count us out yet.”
The overlay clicked into place on the 3D model. It also provided the interior structure of the machine. “A nightmare on an epic scale” was the best way to describe the structure. The huge selenite crystal columns, artificially grown to a scale they could not have grown naturally, were easily seen from the exterior of the device. They continued internally to its core. Selenite, Satin Spar, Desert Rose, and Gypsum Flower created a hodgepodge of shapes and color on the surface. The crystals, artificially grown, had also been moved into place.
The Snowflake was extremely porous, riddled with passages that allowed entry into or exit out of the interior of the sphere. These passages were the pathways of the energy beams leaving the interior. Anyone who entered the sphere could do so at any time, but the path they took could just as easily be the pathway for an energy beam exiting. The magnitude of the beam’s energy would free the atoms of anything they touched from their current state and configuration, returning them to very small bits and pieces floating in space.
The route that needed to be taken into the interior of the Snowflake gave the crew pause. The display showed that the point of entry into the Snowflake was the North Pole. A chamber was concealed 17 kilometers under the Pole. Dancer flexed his limbs all the way down to his tentacles, shaking out any kinks, and made ready for the ordeal. Alec turned to Electra. “Let’s get you buckled up.”
Electra was about to protest when she saw the seriousness in his face. “Thanks.” She sat at the engineer’s station, dug for the strap ends, and pulled them out to full length.
Alec helped get her straps aligned. “I wish there was somewhere to drop you off before we try this.”
She held his gaze. “You are not going to try this without me. I have been inside a few times myself — nearly flash-baked a time or two by one of those energy beams — so do not go weak in the knees for my sake.” She pulled his face close to hers and whispered, “You are not going to get rid of me that easily. I have responsibilities, too, you know.” Electra gave him a kiss on the lips with all the passion she felt for him.
Alec drew himself away and said, “I want you in a safe place.”
“I know, but I want to be with you.”
“With confidence like that, how can I fail?”
Dancer grunted, “How about you getting back up here and strapping yourself in, or do you want me to belt you in with a kiss, too?”
Electra’s eyes sparkled, and Alec returned to his seat. Alec strapped himself in place. This would be a bumpy ride.
Alec watched as the display showed they were nearing the North Pole, the entry point indicated by the data overlay, “Hold on. Just found the front door, and we’re going in.”
“Remember, six minutes, 35 seconds to make the 17 kilometers when the columns ris
e.”
“What columns rise?” asked Alec.
“It says you will know them when you see it,” replied Dancer.
“Okay, I’ll take her in, and you watch for anything crazier than diving into a black hole.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
The Quest banked left and slowly rolled toward the shaft, nearly completely hidden, and plummeted downward. The entrance of the shaft measured 125 meters across. The Quest had reduced speed nearly to a stop, ready to enter the Snowflake. Columns of energy sprang from the ground outside the shaft, completely enclosing their position and disappearing above them. It was the start of the cycle. The Quest fired its thrusters at full power into the Snowflake like an Olympic champion Luge slider.
The ship penetrated the Snowflake structure. The beam paths from the depths were not a straight line. Like the light released from the core of a star, the light ricocheted its way out of the Snowflake. At first, Alec had ample time to confirm that the course through the crystal was genuine; the runs were longer and turns broader. The Quest bumped the crystal columns damaging them some, but they remained in place. “Time. 2:06,” read Dancer. They weaved a course through the crystal columns and rosettes 20 times the size of the Quest. From time to time, the entire region lit up as beams passed by. “Time, 3:37,” said Dancer. A beam struck a crystal next to them and split to continue its upward path; the shields flared from the proximity of the energy spike. “Time, 4:57,” read Dancer aloud. The Quest swung wide in a dogleg-left maneuver and hit a giant column, slowing their descent. “Time, 5:41,” said Dancer. The Quest continued deeper and deeper into the crystalline structure.
*
Alec glanced sideways at Dancer. He was one with the Quest, but he knew that that may not be enough. “Distance and time?”
Dancer replied, “Just about there — half a kilometer and 45 seconds.”
The alarms blared from the panels as he missed a turn. The Quest plunged into a shaft with a straight line to the chamber. “Time 6:27,” read Dancer. The light at end of the shaft started to brighten. Alec made adjustments to the course and hammered the thrusters to full power, adding in all the reserves.
Dancer read the clock aloud, “Five, four, three, two, one.”
The Quest entered the chamber through a shaft as a beam erupted and entered the same shaft they had just exited. The energy beams came from devices surrounding the top half of a sphere on the floor of the chamber.
The hemispherical device looked like an active star in miniature form. The luminosity of this star would not blind. The star’s surface had — in miniature — torrents of boiling granulation, prominences, sunspots, and solar flares. The hemisphere’s pole had an area that was alive with polar plumes surrounding an object lying flat and nearly invisible near the pole. The Quest maintained some distance and height above all the heat and static discharge to survey the chamber for a landing zone. The builders of this chamber/vault had made it as hard as possible to retrieve this item.
*
Dancer looked from the screen to Alec. Dancer observed, “It’s supposed to be at the pole. We have no place to land the Quest. You remember the time we grabbed that box of supplies back from the Jiree?”
Alec nodded. “Yep. Considering the climate out there, it’s my turn.”
Alec unbuckled himself and got up.
Dancer agreed, “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Electra freed herself from her straps. “Where are you going?” She looked out the port, as if seeing the dangers with her own eyes was going to change the situation.
“I am going to retrieve the package from out there,” he started out the door. “You’ll be here with Dancer, watching out for me.” He left the command deck.
Electra called after him, “Dancer will pilot the Quest, and I am coming with you.” She caught up with Alec in the galley and reached for him.
Alec intercepted her hand. He drew her close by putting her arm around his waist. “Electra, this is my ship. What I have to do is a one-person job. If you want to be there for me, then be my support team.” He kissed her forehead.
She searched his face for a clue as to how dangerous this was truly going to be. She buried her head in his chest. “I will hurt you if anything happens to you.” She held him tight.
*
Alec wore his fully protective spacesuit for this extreme environment. The non-conductive fabric and fittings would protect Alec from the heat and radiation, up to a point. Electra held onto a carbon filament recovery cable.
“Hook me up.” Alec knelt down to allow Electra access to the ring built into the spacesuit between his shoulders. She clipped the line’s hook onto on the ring and tightened the lock-down ring.
Electra yanked on it a couple of times and checked to make sure it was secure. “There, you’re attached.”
Alec stood. “The ring is connected to a safety harness woven into the suit with a carbon fiber mesh.” He tried to pick up the helmet.
Electra stood between him and the object of his attention. He said, “Electra, the longer we stay here, the more dangerous it is for all of us. There’s no other way.”
Electra picked up the helmet. “You will come back safely.”
Alec smiled, “Of course.”
Electra held up his helmet. Their eyes met, and they embraced instead. They kissed, hesitantly at first, and then with intense passion. Electra broke the moment.
Electra said matter-of-factly, “They ran a lottery among us volunteers to select the crew of my ship. Fate brought us together. You have a destiny you have not fulfilled… yet.”
Alec replied, “You have my helmet.” She helped him with the helmet this time and locked it into place. “Check, check. You hear me, Dancer?” asked Alec.
“Read you, Alec. Should be a snap,” said Dancer.
“You really think so?” asked Alec.
“No, but it sounded good, didn’t it?”
The airlock’s outer door slid aside; the force field kept the atmosphere within the ship. They both went to look upon the hellish star they were orbiting.
He turned to Electra as she put on a communication earpiece. “Keep the line from tangling, and pull me in when I tell you. That’s all I ask.” Alec stood at the landing and then stepped out into the hellish environment of the chamber as the line played out. Alec drifted back and below the Quest as they circled their target. His position drifted back more than 150 meters as the line was let out.
The Quest was circling the cavern in a slow, wide arc, keeping as far as possible from the miniature star without smashing Alec into a wall. Alec was in a prone position behind the Quest. He checked the communication system. “Can anyone hear me?”
Electra’s voice came from his helmet. “We hear you.” Alec could hear the stress in her response.
“Dancer — ready when you are, buddy. Just don’t keep me tanning too long. I forgot my sunscreen.”
“You might as well be walkin’ on the sun,” returned Dancer.
The Quest turned itself toward the mini-star and dove as Alec extended the cable and distance between him and the ship. Alec’s face contorted as he passed through material sent flinging from the mini-star’s surface in a solar flare. The intense heat was affecting the spacesuit’s performance.
The Quest abruptly stopped in front of him, but, with his momentum, Alec continued his flight past the hull, toward the pole of the mini-star. His suit had trouble with the heat, and the mini-coronal mass ejections burned the exterior of his suit. He had to get it right on the first try. His helmet display showed him his flight trajectory. The third inscription piece must be here. It was very close to where he needed to be, but this mini-star was a complete unknown. How was the object able to maintain a position near the pole? Was there a solid surface? The intense heat Alec felt said “No.” That meant he had to grab and go, without touching down.
“Dancer,” said Alec as he sailed toward what was possibly his doom.
“Yes, Alec,” came Dance
r’s reply.
“I am going in on the premise that there is no solid surface to stand on. If I hit, I will go in,” said Alec.
“I have made the calculations for the next step,” said Dancer’s voice from the communicator.
“I would have not expected anything else. Just saying. May all your calculations be correct.”
“Ready yourself.”
Alec continued toward the mini-star’s polar region in the prone position. The Quest, which was now behind him, started moving forward and up, away from the mini-star, taking up the slack in the cable. Alec could feel the intense heat throughout his spacesuit. He could see something as he closed the distance to the pole. A cycle of polar plumes erupted around the object just discernible at the pole. He could see it better now. The object seemed to have straps that looped up and out from each end. The protective material that made up his gloves broke down in the extreme heat.
Alec was within ten meters of the surface. The mini-star’s granules boiled from below; arcs of magnetic forces swung wildly, ejecting polar plumes of material. The cable came to an end as Alec put out his arms, wrapped them through straps around what turned out to be a box. And, for a split second, the heat of the mini-star cooked Alec. The material the box was made of provided enough shielding that it protected most of Alec’s upper body.
Then he felt the spine-wrenching yank of the cable, as the safety line tied to the Quest demanded he left the vicinity. The straps he had woven his arms through now nearly yanked his arms from him, the suit’s carbon fiber mesh holding him together. The agency that had protected the box for thousands of cycles gave in and allowed him to leave.
The pain he was enduring was greater than he had ever experienced. A spasm shook him as the searing flesh of his feet caused him to try to pull his boots away from the heat. Had time slowed to a standstill? The mini-star filled his visor as the distance grew between him, the heat, and the pain. Alec felt the box in his arms, but it did not seem to matter anymore. The question he could not answer came to mind. Did I make a difference? Were the contents of the box the third inscription pieces? Numbness had overcome him in a tidal wave; Alec’s mind was not focusing well on anything.