THE ENDLESS DARK OCEAN_A space epic that will change the history of the universe

by Boris Mosso

  Suddenly, he saw a third person coming from the bow. Unfortunately, the three shadows stopped very close to him, beginning a disturbing conversation. After thirty seconds went by, he regretted having stayed listening, after identifying the crew members and understanding the dialogue tone.

  —Well gentlemen, you summoned me here. Speak.

  —Officer Pranus, we have been talking with Officer Lesir about some concerns in common, reason why we called you to interchange certain points of view.

  —And what would those concerns be that involve me about? And besides, that it seems to be exposed in a spaceship’s lonely and dark corner?

  Rastias saw two of them there, settling nervously in their positions before Estrader began talking.

  —We want to know where you stand regarding the search of the object which motivated this expedition, first Officer.

  —Are there any stances on the matter? That’s new. I believe that all three of us here are the fleet’s and Espacian Terrestrial Forces’ members.

  Mister Pranus, could you at least acknowledge that the basic foundations of the venture are beyond belief… to say the least.

  —Common Officer, this is a child’s fairytale! And it becomes more ridiculous and dangerous each time!

  —Lesir, it’s not our place to question the reasons for this incursion, not even Captain Lena could do it.

  —Well, that’s exactly who we wanted to talk to you about.

  In the shadows Rastias sensed, despite the lack of light, that all three of the crewmembers were taking more rigid body postures. Their tone of voice was also tougher. The young command bridge Officer began to look to the sides, searching for a nook to sneak out of there.

  On the other hand, Estrader made great efforts to not tell them about what really happened to Iko and about Renar’s secret identity. The fleet’s guidelines about helping and protecting the Espacian Intelligence agents, were strict and unavoidable.

  —Why? Do you have something to say about Lena?

  —Pranus, we want to let you know that, if at any time things get ugly and the inexperience and stubbornness of the Captain threatens the safety of the Vector’s crew, you can count with our support… do you understand?

  —What do you mean?

  —You already noticed that without even still remotely having a sign of System X yet, and still needing some one thousand light years to get to Luminas’ edge, we’ve already suffered a loss. Pranus, this search is a ridiculous farce for a desperate attempt to save the Astral. We should take part in the Vintar Constellation’s fleet.

  —Speak clearly, Estrader.

  —Pranus, if the Captain couldn’t continue commanding for any reason at all, you’re next on the list. As first Officer, you would be promoted to Captain automatically … nobody could question that.

  —Enough, I don’t want to keep listening. I’ll only remind you that both the Captain and I, expect the best from you to be successful with our journey’s purpose.

  —Very well, I just ask you to remember this conversation. Things could be very different a little later and it’s better to know who we can trust now.

  —I’ll say the same thing to you both. See you later.

  Rastias watched Pranus going back from where he came from. After a few seconds, Estrader and Lesir left from the opposite side.

  When he assured he was alone in that place, he headed nervously towards one of the sides exits. He suddenly had enormous desires, to lay down and sleep in his berth.

  19 - The Reprimand

  After twenty-four days travelling, and when Luminas’ galactic disc occupied almost all the spaceship’s front field view, the STF’s adjusted the procedures and checked their robotic soldiers once again.

  Gander compared the reaction parameters of the three hundred RMODs, since some of them were reacting slower to mental orders.

  The STF’s Captain searched for answers along with Chan and Kovolaris in the Terrestrial Forces’ hangars. The three hundred artificial soldiers remained undeterred in square formation in a huge courtyard. The three soldiers worked sitting on their levitator seats, in front of some holographic dashboards, deploying all the obtained information from the tests performed in real time. Dantori and Blesten, led by Rombar, were available between the RMODs and communicating with Gander.

  Lesir suddenly appeared. When Gander saw him, he told the other soldiers to leave; Kovolaris and Chan left without complaining. Gander spoke to Lesir then without beating around the bush:

  —Lesir, how long have you been under my command?

  —Eight years, sir.

  —Eight years, three months and five days. Lesir, you have never disappointed me during that time.

  You’re one of the best STF’s I’ve known in my career. There are few that can overcome you one against the other in combat, almost nobody; however, you have a couple of things you need to correct and the sooner the better for you, for the STF’s Force and for me, in latter case.

  Do you know what I’m talking about?

  Gander stood up, right in front of him. Lesir felt pierced by his leader’s dark blue eyes.

  —Are you talking about my fondness for the Driac, Sir?

  —Let’s begin from there. The other night you got drunk in the reception that Captain Lena offered us. Your comrades took you out of the rooms quickly when you began speaking nonsense. Doing that, they were able to prevent huge embarrassment to all of the STF’s gathered there, saving you by the way, from a harsh subsequent punishment, if someone else noticed. I know it’s not the first time you drink alcohol in public during this journey. If you want to get drunk in your quarters, by yourself and in your free time, that’s your problem, I don’t like it, but you have the right to. However, if I see you, or find out you have drunk in public or you have bothered someone being drunk again, I’m going to suspend you, just like you did with Professor Trivian three weeks ago and from then on, you’ll perform administrative tasks for as long as this incursion lasts, and if we go back to Espacia, I’m going to discharge you. Do you understand? You’ll never go into a Terrestrial Force army ever again.

  —Yes, sir.

  —I come first and then Rombar, you are the third Officer of greater rank here between us. Remember what that represents. You can’t disappoint Blesten and Kivolaris either, not after what you’ve been through together. The younger ones like Dantori, Chan or Betinia, are always looking at us. Upon arriving to this unit, they already knew about you; you were a life legend for them. Try to remember that daily.

  —If I let a few things pass by, it’s not because I don’t know about them. It’s because I’ve allowed you more than I allow the others, and you know it. It shouldn’t be that way, but I can’t forget we fought five years ago together in the hostages’ rescue in the declining Trodian System, which unfortunately, ended up in a pitched battle. I can’t ignore the fact that ever since then, I owe my life to you; but I’m finished with giving you credit for it, Lesir. This mission is extremely important, and our situation is very fragile. For the same reason, I’m not going to put up with anymore shit. Is it clear?

  —Yes, sir.

  —Fine, withdraw now. Report to Rombar in the formation platform.

  —At your service, Captain Gander.

  Chapter III

  THE NEW REALITY

  1 - A Glimmer of Hope

  The light faded away and Lena’s ears unplugged. She’d already lost count of the hyperspace leaps’ number; it took hundreds of maneuvers to cross between galaxies.

  It had taken them four weeks to reach the Lumina’s edge and three more days to surround the arch’s one hundred thousand light years section with shorter quantum leaps, from one thousand to one thousand five hundred light years each, until getting closer to the area with many more possibilities for limited maneuvers, specified by the scientists from there: from two to one hundred light years each.

  It took them three days to investigate a couple of solar systems previously chosen, but without posi
tive results. In total by then, they had been traveling thirty-four days uninterrupted.

  They then notified Lena that the next star breakdown would be made on the third chosen solar system’s edge.

  She felt annoyance emerging and finding dead planets only and without civilization traces from both previous incursions, while the crew still resented Iko’s tragic death.

  After the hyperspace leap, Lena and the navigators watched the astronomy and navigation gauges at the command bridge. The coming of solar particles increased quickly, and the microscopic particles coming from outer space into the system was hardly registered, since the heliosphere repelled them. A clear sign of transit through the heliopause.

  They will soon be officially inside the new system, but still very far away from its center. To the point that the sun could be seen in plain sight as a larger star.

  Suddenly, she notices her crew members working diligently on the bridge, although evidently showing lack of enthusiasm on their faces.

  What occurred was, that the anxiety of not knowing about the Espacian war fleet’s fate in the Atirov System, gave place, with the passing of days and weeks, to sad resignation and general weakness. She didn’t find peace during the day either, or even when she slept. The nightmares were more detailed each time, tormenting her even during the work shift. Nightmares which magnified her intensity to delve deeper into Lumina without any explanation at all. In those confusing and smothering dreams, she floated adrift space, numb with cold and in a desperate immobility and anguish state. She watched the impenetrable outer space and the stars from a spiral galaxy at a distance, in that state; suddenly, a light blinded her and then extinguished, leaving her surrounded only by darkness.

  She sensed something there, something moving controllably from side to side; approaching her, stalking her.

  She felt intensely observed, while the creature or whatever it was, was getting so close to her that it almost touched her; she was already in panic then.

  She heard a voice whispering in her head again, although not understanding what it said; then she woke up raving. Then after a few minutes she was able to appease her unrest, even when the dreamlike images returned during the day as hallucinations.

  Two days ago, something still more disturbing happened. It happened like always, when she returned from a leap to consciousness, while the dark and overwhelming feelings from the nightmare still filled her. But this time, after descending from the levitation state and sitting on her bed in her half-dark bedroom, she saw an elongated shadow moving imperceptibly in the adjoining room’s back, at several dozens of meters away from where she was. Filled with concerns, she walked up to it sideways while she completely woke up.

  She grabbed a shock waves’ gun from the weapons wall which lit dimly and then turned off immediately. As soon as she went into the main room, she saw it again. Now the wispy presence seemed with its back turned and looking through the transparent screens into space. Lena rubbed her eyes, as the image tended to vibrate and fade amidst the half-darkness. Lena’s impression was that the presence, of considerable height was spinning around until it was facing her, even so, she couldn’t distinguish either a face nor the fussy body’s details that stood there.

  She felt being watched when she found a couple of bright spots looking like light gleams, in two big dark pupils.

  She could barely gulp when lifting her gun; however, the shadow began to fade away and its contours separated into small pieces; it appeared to dissolve, dragged by a non-existent breeze. At Lena’s mental order, the lights turned on and once they did, nothing was there. She got closer, looking everywhere until she plopped on one of the comfortable levitator couches in the huge reception room.

  She regretted not having cameras in her rooms; it was optional. An exclusive decision of each spaceship’s Captain. Her head was also hurting, and she decided to take some medicine to sleep better and to prevent hallucinations also, caused by tiredness.

  An android crossed the last meters to the Captain’s seat giving her a glass of water and then left. That was enough to remind her that she was in the command bridge.

  While she drank it, she found Professor Trivian sitting in a comfortable floating anatomical couch. Lena still doubted if the Professor was indeed the age he officially was.

  The old man was engrossed in his thoughts looking at the outside with his legs crossed. He had a container in his hand with some type of hot drink.

  Following an impulse, she decided to approach him. She stood up with the glass of water in her hand and walked towards him, while she unconsciously scanned the command bridge, searching for Renar.

  —How are you, Professor? Am I interrupting you?

  The first response was a slight jolt. Trivian performed a warm gesture of getting up forcing a smile.

  —Please, don’t stand up. I’ll sit by you, am I disturbing you?

  —No, not at all. I was watching our closeness to this new solar system.

  —I see you’re drinking something.

  —It’s an ancient concoction… someone introduced it to me when I was very young, and I got into the habit. At my age, you don’t get rid of old habits. Besides, it helps me with my bones and anxiety; it’s called Hirbia.

  —I see. I might try it one of these days also.

  —It’s very relaxing. You wouldn’t be the first one who I introduce to this hobby… to this concoction, I mean.

  —Someone I know?

  —Director Umbaga… he tasted it once, and now, he’s never without a cup by his side. He says it’s the only thing that calms him in stressing moments.

  —Do you know the Espacian Intelligence Director, Professor?

  —Well, without me being a great celebrity nor an important government Officer, far less than that, I’ve been lucky to interact with a lot of interesting people throughout my live.

  Pranus approached and told him something to his ear, he nodded without looking at him; the first Officer remained there, waiting for his response. Doctor Ribar also appeared, joining the group and calmly waiting for his turn to speak.

  —And powerful… Do you know Knonenbel also?

  —Torban Knonenbel? The Espacian Intelligence Assistant Director?

  —Same one.

  —Not really, I don’t even know if someone has ever seen his face. He’s well known as being very quiet and having a gloomy mysterious aura around him.

  —They say that he’s a complete creep… cold and brutal.

  —I’ve heard some very disturbing stories about Kronenbel. Oh well, I don’t know much about him anyways.

  —I can see that… Doctor Ribar, do you need anything?

  —Captain, excuse me, after seeing Professor Trivian here at the bridge, I found it proper to remind him that we are still waiting for him in the infirmary for his medical checkup. Doctor Dirva is impatient to determine your body’s cellular and functioning state.

  —Doctor Ribar, I’m grateful for your concern, I’ll go later.

  —Very well, thanks. I’m leaving now, Captain.

  —Pranus, you can also withdraw. Notify me before the last leap.

  —At your command.

  The first Officer left, while Ribar was disappearing from the big control room.

  —Professor, going back to the matter that brings us together, we haven’t had the opportunity to have a talk, and honestly, at this point it’s important to answer some questions about the plot behind this incursion. We have pending answers for mysteries since our departure, and now it’s the moment to reveal them.

  Trivian swallowed hard, understanding where the issue was going.

  —Yes, Captain.

  —Professor, as you may imagine, I’ve read the logs related to your old and secret voyages and your personal files also, and for my surprise, I found some information gaps, some very strange and suspicious about your origin, your jobs and investigations. Also about your activities and personal relationships. Because of all this, I gathered that you’re a very i
mportant figure in this story’s plot, and maybe in others also; besides being the one that found the famous capsule floating in the void space between galaxies.

  The Intelligence and the Systemic Council agencies don’t erase lengthy passages from anybody’s life from their identification and Espacian registry files, which has not or has been the key in the things they exclusively handle in the shadows… The ordinary Espacians know of certain rugged situations or dramatic passages omitted from our own history, Professor, therefore, what is not said about you, you will tell me what I need to know. You are someone very powerful, despite showing the opposite appearance and having powerful friends, just as you yourself have told me some minutes ago. Someone, contrary from what you just said, moving discretely in the Solarian System’s high political and scientific spheres; besides, I sense that you have done it for centuries…

  Trivian had a hard time keeping the friendly smile until then.

  —Finally, concluding that you know all the answers that I need; so, I’ll go straight to the point. What does this object do? How can an expedition of this size be justified with such difficult times and based on what was found centuries ago in an archaic capsule? There’s something else there, other motivations… This seems to be a desperate act, and the only logic explanation, the only thing that could justify our presence in another galaxy, is that the object is an extremely powerful and crucial weapon, something much more advanced than our military technology. That’s everyone’s expectation in this spaceship and I agree with it.

  Between us, Professor, there shouldn’t be information barriers. I’m going to be very honest with you, to me, all this matter seems implausible; it has always seemed to me since the beginning. Understand my efforts to make sense out of the imponderable.

  —You’ve had access to a lot of information, Captain… the First Councilor in person gave you the expedition’s and search guidelines; that’s a very unusual honor.