by Kyle Pratt
She shouted, “Yes!”
“Huh?” Naomi sat up.
Justin ran to Mara’s side and peered at the readings. There was something out there. Quickly he directed the sensor data to the holographic display and watched. “Two? There’s two objects.”
Mara, smiled. “I’ll have a course plotted in moments. Slowing to 35,000 KPH.”
As they approached, it became clear that both a derelict ship and a jump gate slowly orbited the Lagrange point. The steel ring, just visible at that distance, but big enough for a warship to pass through, formed the gate. The power source, a fusion reactor, glowed at the end of a long shaft extending from the circle.
“The gate has power, but I don’t detect any power sources on the ship. Why do you think it was left here?” Naomi asked.
He shrugged. Maybe the crew died there when the gate didn’t work—just like we might. Images of some future explorer finding the jump gate with two ships nearby, blazed through his mind.
“We’re on approach. ETA, 20 minutes.”
As they drew closer Naomi’s gaze fixed on the sensor readouts. “The ship is a frigate. Very old design.” She paused, looked up at Justin, and continued. “Probably from the Titanomachy War. The FTL engines are gone, but I can still see missile launchers and particle weapons.”
Justin watched the image as it grew slowly larger. “We should see if the gate responds. Send the activation sequence.”
Mara nodded.
“When you’re ready go ahead and send it.”
She turned. Worry etched her face. “I already did.”
Everyone watched the main screen while nothing happened.
That confirms it. The gate doesn’t work. He sighed.
“What are we going to do?” Naomi asked.
Justin waved his hand for her to stop. “I’m thinking.” Anti-matter fuel is all but exhausted so we can’t jump to another system. We can try to fix the gate. Surfeit has a skiff. He shook his head. No spacesuits—we can’t fix it.
The objects ahead now filled the main screen. “Mara, reduce the display magnification.”
“Display magnification set to normal and reducing approach velocity to 10,000 KPH.”
As Mara continued to slow their approach, Justin attempted to come up with a workable plan and failed. He glanced at both of them, but not wanting them to see the worry that he felt, avoided eye contact. He walked to the food table and, while nibbling on anything that presented itself, he continued to formulate plans in vain.
“Why is it warm?” Naomi asked.
Confused, Justin turned and saw Naomi holding her pendant in her hands.
“Because it’s been against your skin,” Mara sneered.
Naomi rolled her eyes. “No. It is warmer than that.” She cupped it in her hands and stared down at it. Her head popped up. “Surfeit lights, off.” Again she looked down into her cupped hands and, for a moment, her face was illuminated by a golden glow. Slowly she pulled her fingers away revealing the pulsating pendant.
Justin watched. Not only was it pulsating, it grew brighter with each pulse. He returned the lights to normal.
Mara’s eyes went from Justin to Naomi, “What is that thing?”
“I don’t know. Dr. Galen gave it to me and empathically told me to keep it.” Naomi took it from her neck and laid it on her lap.
Justin stared at the glowing orb. “We can be sure of two things: Dr. Galen gave it to you for a reason, and somehow it’s connected with this gate.” He walked about the bridge, deep in thought, then stopped and watched the pendant for several moments. “It pulsates every two seconds.”
Mara gave him a perplexed look. “So?”
With a shrug he continued his walk about the bridge. Why would it start warming and pulsating only when we got here?
Mara turned to Justin, “We’re about as close to the gate as I want to get.”
Without pausing his slow walk about the bridge he mumbled, “Put us in orbit around the point.”
Seconds later Mara announced, “Forward momentum zero. Thrusters at station-keeping.”
He finished another unhurried lap around the bridge as a smile spread slowly. “How many ways can you send energy from one place to another?”
Both women shrugged.
He waved his hand toward the pendant. “Less than an hour ago we thought it was just jewelry, but it’s not. Energy, in some form, has activated it.”
Mara leaned back in her chair. “You’re thinking either the gate or ship is sending it power?”
“Yes. I’m sure Dr. Galen knew the pendant would activate when they approached….”
“Look!” Naomi pointed to the screen, her eyes wide. Lights flashed on the derelict.
“Sensors indicate environmental systems are turning on,” Mara declared. “I’m detecting infrared radiation.”
As the derelict’s docking bay opened. The lights of the ship and the pendant now pulsated in unison. “Apparently someone wants us to pay them a visit.”
Chapter 11
Mara pulled Justin aside before he entered the skiff’s airlock. “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”
He sighed and stepped inside the hatch. “We already talked about it. I thought we should take the pendant to the ship and Naomi insisted she go with it.”
“No, not that…well really more than that.” She paused. “Is going over there a good idea?”
He smiled weakly. “It’s a lot better than sitting here until our food and fuel runs out.” But I wish I had a weapon for this trip. He squeezed her hand. “We’ll be back in minutes.”
Mara handed him a commlink. “I’m going to reconnect to the ship—just in case we need to move fast.”
He nodded. But, where can we go?
She smiled weakly and shut the airlock hatch.
From the pilot seat, Naomi looked over her shoulder as he entered the rear of the skiff. The low light of the control panel and the glow from the pendant dangling outside her blouse, softly illuminated her face. For a moment Justin drank the pleasing picture.
She smiled. “You need to seal the hatch.”
“Oh, yes.” He turned and did so. “Can you fly this thing?”
“Yes. I am a good pilot.”
He looked at the six, empty, passenger seats in the cramped compartment and smiled, “Should I sit back here?”
She gestured toward the co-pilot seat, “We should get started.”
As the skiff glided toward the frigate, Justin was glad he sat up front. The cockpit window provided a panoramic view. Instantly he observed a counter clockwise swirl on the planet before him. It was a storm disrupting the crimson, orange, brown and white bands that otherwise encircled the giant world. Off the starboard bow, two icy silver moons slid by in the endless sashay of the solar system, while off the port side the arc of the encircling rings dipped below his view. A host of stars served as the backdrop for the grand vista.
“Usually we see this as a hologram or an image on a screen,” he said, still focused on the spectacle. “I’ve never seen anything like this before in real life.”
Naomi glanced at him and smiled, “In the Earth system there is a planet called Saturn that is very similar.” She returned to the ship controls. “ETA at the derelict two minutes.”
Slowly he scanned the view. “I want to remember this and paint it someday.”
The skiff touched down in the bay and air filled the compartment. As she exited the craft Naomi crossed her arms. “This ship is cold.”
His smiled at her frosty breath and nodded.
“Which way should we go?”
The etching wobbled back and forth. “Look at your pendant.”
She took the chain from her neck and held it in her hand like a compass. After a moment, she pointed to the other side of the skiff toward the bow of the ship.
Walking briskly in the cold they came to the far side of the craft. Painted high on the bulkhead before them was a double helix shield with crossed swords.
Justin stared at the emblem, but raised the commlink to his lips. “Mara, we’re onboard. It’s a Titan ship.”
“Get out, now! We’ll come up with some other plan.”
Fear tempted him.
Naomi shook her head. “Whoever created this pendant and left the ship here wanted people to find this place and there could be food and fuel onboard.”
He agreed. “Let’s be quick.”
Several minutes later, as they trotted down a passageway, Naomi peered down at the orb and pointed ahead.
Justin glanced at the pendant. The golden glow was now constant. The etching stood out in sharp contrast. “I think we’re close.”
Breathing heavily, they approached an entryway with two sliding doors. The same two intersecting arcs that created the simple outline of a fish on Naomi’s pendant were etched on one side while on the other was the double helix coat of arms.
Justin continued toward the doors.
Naomi stopped five meters from them.
They did not open.
Glancing down at the glowing orb she said, “Our path is through that door.”
The commlink crackled. “Justin, come in.” Tension sprang from Mara’s voice.
“What’s the problem?” He continued to look for a way to open the hatch.
“Two ships just entered normal space at the edge of the system.”
“Can you identify?”
“Not at this distance.”
“Well don’t worry. They could be anybody, miners, explorers, researchers. They could be lost. Who knows why they’re here.” He didn’t believe that, but it almost sounded plausible. “Have they seen us?”
“I don’t think so. We’re using minimal power so we’re not much of a sensor target.”
“Okay. Let me know when you have more information.”
Justin continued to look for a switch, knob, or lever, that would allow them to pass. After several moments he glanced back at Naomi still standing several meters behind. “Is something wrong?”
Naomi didn’t move. “The ships…. It is probably Ferren, and others, looking for us.”
Continuing to search along the wall he nodded in agreement.
“The gate may not work…”
He gestured toward the door. “It might if we get inside.”
“I need to say something—just in case.”
Frustrated, he slowly turned and without emotion asked, “What?”
The radio crackled again. “Justin, come in.”
“What?” He didn’t attempt to hide his annoyance.
“They’re broadcasting an order for us to surrender. It’s Ferren’s ship, the Acheron, and a police cruiser.”
“How much fuel do we have?”
“Not enough to get away. What do we do?”
Justin leaned against the bulkhead. “Are they on an approach vector?”
“No, they’re in a search pattern.”
He shook his head. “They haven’t found us.” Yet. “But if we activate the gate you can bet they’ll jump right on top of us.”
Looking at Naomi, he asked, “What were you saying?”
“Never mind,” She said coolly. “Let’s figure out how to open that door.” For the first time she moved right in front. It slid open.
Justin swept the small room with his eyes. Consoles and displays lined the bulkheads. A terminal stood in the middle.
Naomi stepped into the compartment.
Immediately the doors moved to close. Justin leapt through as they did, landing with a thud on the deck. He picked himself up as the holographic image of a man in uniform appeared.
“Greetings. I am the sentinel for this gate. If you wish to pass through come forward and be identified.” The man gestured toward the panel in front of him.
Justin followed his motion. Located at the center of the controls was the contoured depression in the shape of a left hand. Before he could say anything, Naomi placed her hand in it.
“Ouch! It pricked my finger,” she said rubbing it.
The sentinel’s eyes fixed on Naomi standing at the console. He seemed to ponder something about her. Then text streamed down the screen beside him.
Justin stepped closer attempting to read it, but it wasn’t words, merely long strings of letters that rapidly scrolled down.
“My DNA?” Naomi said, staring at the screen.
When the cascade of letters stopped the display ended with two lines of text.
Subject: Female.
I noticed.
DNA sequence: 84-11. Specialty: Mobile Infantry Pilot.
A slight smile spread across the face of the hologram. “Welcome, sister Titan. What is your rank?”
“Sister?” She looked at Justin. “Rank?”
He shrugged.
“Lieutenant?”
He nodded. “There is another person on the bridge. Come forward and be identified.”
Justin placed his hand in the outline and felt the sting at the end of his index finger.
Again the letters flowed in rapid succession.
Subject: Male
DNA sequence: 133-37. Specialty: Naval Line Officer.
“Welcome, brother Titan. What is your rank?”
In some corner of his mind, he had held out hope that it was all some misunderstanding, that he was not a Titan, and could explain what had happened to Ferren and resume his ordinary norm life. But that last thread of hope had been consumed by the words “Welcome, brother Titan.”
He glanced at Naomi and was thankful that if he must travel down this frightful road he had her and Mara’s companionship.
“What is your rank, brother Titan?”
Brother Titan? His eyes darted from the sentinel to Naomi. He had no desire to be outranked by her so, with a wry smile in her direction, said, “Admiral.”
The sentinel saluted. A holographic display of the system appeared. Turning toward it he pointed, “There are three ships in the solar system, please identify friend and foe.”
Justin quickly did so.
“Do you wish me to engage the enemy?”
“We need to return to our ship and jump. Provide covering fire as we do.”
“Yes, Admiral.” Again the sentinel gestured to a console. “Please insert the key.”
“Key?” Naomi asked.
Justin pointed to the chain in her hand. “Your pendant.”
She placed the golden orb in a slot on the terminal.
“Coordinates entered…Destination locked…Activating gate…You may remove the key.”
Naomi retrieved her pendant, but her eyes remained fixed on the sentinel.
“Justin,” Mara shouted over the commlink, “The gate! A wormhole is forming!”
“We’re coming,” Justin shouted into the commlink. “Be ready to jump.” He ran toward the door, but stopped short when it did not open. He looked back at Naomi.
She had not moved.
“We’ve got to go.”
“Of course.” Her gaze slid from the silent sentinel to Justin. “It all makes sense now. “Dr. Galen knew I was made from Titan DNA and figured they would hide me.” Her mouth hung agape. “The Titans must be on the other side of the gate.”
“Ferren and the police are on this side.”
She remained fixed like a statue.
He breathed deeply. “What chance do we have here?” He walked up to her and gently took her hand. “Ferren and the police will kill us.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “The Titans…”
“Didn’t kill other Titans.” He moved quickly to her and pulled her close. “Please, come with me. Whatever is on the other side we’ll face it together.” The door opened as they stepped forward. He urged her on as raced down the passageway, through the ship, and across the docking bay. The whoosh of missile launches and the crackle of particle beams greeted them as they ran up the ramp and into the skiff.
Chapter 12
Explosive flashes and searing beams of light illuminated what, minutes ago, ha
d been a tranquil scene.
Naomi eased the skiff out of the bay. Her eyes darted from the sensor console to the cockpit window. “Where is Surfeit?”
Quickly Justin scanned from port to starboard. He cursed and grabbed the commlink.
Hiding.
With Mara’s single word echoing somehow in his head he knew the location of Surfeit as if he had moved the skiff. He turned to Naomi.
She nodded. “I heard her,” and threw the craft into a high-speed 90-degree turn over the central portion of the frigate.
Justin struggled to clip his belt as Naomi, hugging the Titan ship, passed through a dip in the superstructure to the port side. Surfeit, illuminated by the reflected light of the planet, hovered close alongside.
As they approached, Surfeit rolled over, revealing the open docking bay.
Deftly, Naomi aligned the skiff with the mother ship.
A loud clank told Justin the docking clamps had locked in place. Go! Through the gate—now.
Thrusters roared.
Inertia flung Justin hard against the seat. Within moments came the flash and familiar sickness that signaled the event horizon.
Without a word, Naomi stood and hurried out.
He guessed why she rushed out and followed, hoping the queasiness in his stomach would soon pass.
Stepping onto the bridge Naomi shouted, “You communicated with us. You are telepathic.” She stepped closer. “You are one of them—a Titan.”
Mara pulled a knife and pointed it at her. “So are you,” she sneered.
“What are you doing, Mara! Put that away.”
She lowered the knife, but kept it out.
Justin stepped between them and lifted his arms to fend them off. “Apparently we have a Titan family reunion on this ship.”
“It makes sense now.” Naomi smirked. “You were both on that ship as children. It must have been a Titan ship.”
“You told her about that?”
“Sort of.” Quickly he mulled Naomi’s assertion. It seemed logical. If he were a Titan, Mara would probably be also. What use would the Titans have for norms? Facing her he asked, “How long have you known?”
She blinked and wiped her eyes, but the knife remained pointed in their direction. “I didn’t know—for sure. Occasionally something strange would happen. I’d hear someone’s thought…feel what they felt. But I dismissed it—until that night.”