by Kip Hartzell
“Well, that adds to the difficulty,” Asa said, looking about the massive room.
Pillars of metal tubes, and miles of conduit ran all through the cathedral. Gasses spewed out from place to place like well-timed geysers. A low humming noise was prevalent all through the area.
“Jonah, over here,” Samari-A said, from around a corner.
Jonah and Asa arrived at the same time. “I have an internal and external sensor console.”
“Can we control the engines from here?” Asa asked.
“No, but the reason there are no afflicted here, is because of safety protocols. No indication of fire, and low O2 levels, the area was flooded with oxygen, thus, driving them off.”
“Good, now maybe we can work in peace.”
Samari-A moved the controls around and said, “We are coming up on Terrah.” She studied the readouts. “Oh, no, there is an OEG warship inbound, no doubt to stop us. Their trajectory will make it too late to stop Icarus from reaching the Terrahnian system.”
“Can we get external communications from down here?” Jonah asked.
“That was destroyed with the control panel,” Asa replied.
“Damn!”
Asa started moving through the schematics of the ship from the console as fast as he could. “I have some good news, and bad news. I found the redundant control system.” He looked up and pointed, “Up there.” They all spotted a console at the top of a tall column with a three-story ladder leading to the top. “The navigation console is over there.” Asa pointed to another three-story column a hundred feet away from the original.
“What kind of stupid design-”
“Probably an OEG design,” Samari-A said, without thinking.
Jonah groaned. “Asa, you go for the navigation, I will go for the engine controls.”
“You cannot even climb a flight of stairs. How are you going to climb a ladder?”
Jonah thought for a second. “Can we disengage the artificial gravity long enough for me to get up there?”
“That is a safety protocol. It would take the Captain’s override code to disable. I think the Captain was the leader we saw in the ballroom. All we can do is marginally slow down, and turn. I can’t even shut the engines down,” Asa informed the two.
“I will do it,” Samari-A said, somewhat unsure.
Asa and Jonah turned to her.
She took a deep breath. “I can handle the engine controls, but we must move now, Terrah is coming up fast, and I’m picking up numerous afflicted heading this way.”
Jonah knew it was the only option. “Can we get ship wide intercom?”
“Intra-ship communication, yes.”
“Put me on,” Jonah said. “Please listen, those of you who are still human, we are going to attempt to slow the ship. Make your way to an emergency escape pod. This will be your only chance. Good luck.”
“Jonah, what should we do, once we get partial control of the ship?” Asa asked.
“Perhaps put in orbit around Solest, until a solution can be found.”
“The transformed are designed to survive the harshest conditions,” Samari-A explained, “If just one gets to a population center...we will not be able to stop it.”
“Once we slow down to escape pod exit speed, the whole solar system will be at risk.” Jonah added, “Can we overload the engines and destroy the ship?”
“That too, would require the Captain and First officer’s security codes. No, I know what to do. We are going to put Icarus on a collision course with Solest.”
“There will not be enough time for you two to get to the escape pods.”
“Not if we have you slowing us down. Take my family to the shuttle, when we slow down, we’ll have Icarus set on course, we will escape in a pod, and then you can come and pick us up, simple.”
“Asa, that is cutting things very close.”
“Trust me.”
Jonah half smiled.
Samari-A butted in, “The afflicted are gathering near the engine room. The elevators are clear back to the shuttle.”
“Ari-A, take Aether and go with Jonah, he will protect you. Go now.”
Ari-a looked at him, then at Samari-A. “I see you have found someone who can keep up with you, and your dreams. I’m happy for you.” She reached up and kissed him. “Do not be late.”
“Understood.”
“Father, no,” Aether said as he ran to his father. “Don’t leave us, again.”
“I’m sorry, Son. Sometimes in life you have to make difficult decisions. When you’re older, you will understand. You too, will have to make hard choices, choose wisely, with your heart, and your brain. Now, go with Jonah, he will not betray you.” He kissed the boy on the forehead and gave him a hug.
Ari-A took him in her arms and started for the exit. Jonah held out his hand. “Be cautious, and good luck my friend.”
“Keep my family safe is all I ask,”
“I will. Samari-A...” he gave her a hug, “thank you. You are a good person. Good luck to you both.” Jonah moved as quickly as he could to the exit that held the elevator.
After the others, had left, Asa and Samari-A moved to the engine control column.
“Now, wait for my signal-”
“I know what to do,” Samari-A nervously said.
Asa just smiled back as she kissed him, and then started up the ladder.
Jonah, with Ari-A’s help, had to reroute the elevator several times in order to reach their destination. The doors slid open, Ari-A helped Jonah to the air lock. He gave Aether the code and he quickly fingered it on the keypad. The door slid open to screaming people.
They quieted down when they realized who it was. A dozen women and children quietly stared at them as they made their way through to the flight deck. Jonah pointed to a chair, occupied by the young small girl with the rare blonde hair that he thought he had recognized before. She quickly moved, and Jonah sat down.
“Ari-A, could you get me the pain killers out of that cabinet.” He pointed across the flight deck.
She did so with a nod.
“Are we going to die?” the little blue-green eyed girl asked.
“No, my dear, not today.” He looked at her again in familiarity. “Do I know you?”
“I was told not to reveal my name to strangers.”
“Alright,” he held out his hand, “I am Agent Jonah-Athain of the OEG. Now, we are no longer strangers.”
She took his hand. “I am Rizz-Anna, daughter of Vice Councilor Nikolaos-Anna.”
“Yes, now, I remember seeing you on the news feeds. How in the universe did you get here?” he asked, as the pain inhibitors took effect, and he began his pre-flight start up.
“My parents sent me home early from our emissary duties on the outlying colonies, so I could attend school on time. Sadly, Shawn-A was the only escort to survive, trying to protect me.”
“I am sorry, but that is what adults do, we protect our young,” Jonah looked over at Aether. “Do not feel guilty. Now, go secure yourself a place. This might get bumpy.”
The little girl smiled, and went to the crowd. Jonah found piloting difficult and even worse with one hand. “Aether, could you come here?”
The young boy entered, and was immediately transfixed on the instrument panel.
“Have you ever been in your father’s ship?”
“His old ones, but not this one.”
“Has he taught you to fly, yet?”
Ari-A answered for him. “Asa, used to take him along on deliveries, but nothing this sophisticated.”
“My new computer simulators are like this, why?”
“I need your help.”
Excitement streaked across his face, then fear, and finally, anger. “Why would I help an OEG spy?”
“Aether!” his mother responded.
“It is alright, Ari-A. Aether, you do not have to like me, but I need your help. I cannot fly this ship in my condition. Sometimes in life, we all have to do things we dislike in orde
r to protect the ones we love. You’ll understand this when you’re older.”
“I understand it perfectly.” He looked over at his mother. “Very well, but I don’t see what help I can be.”
“You’re an Avion, flying is in your blood, the blood of your father. I have faith in him, and now I have faith in you. Follow your instincts is all I ask.”
Asa was sweating by the time he reached the top of the column. He looked across, and saw Samari-A almost to the top of her control column. He began switching control of the navigational systems to his console. He put his comm/scanner on the console and opened all the channels.
Samari-A was gasping for breath, while she took out her scanner, and placed it on the console. After a few moments, she too, began reconfiguring the control unit. Both took a few moments to transfer control due to their unfamiliarity with the system, but by the time they were ready, Jonah called, and told them, they were ready.
The open channeled handhelds allowed them to communicate without yelling. Asa looked over at Samari-A and instructed, “We need to do this quickly, and get to the escape pod. Are you ready?”
She shook her head, yes, and began manually controlling the ship. Acceleration decreased near the gas giant, Scepter. Asa steered the lumbering giant ship toward Solest and away from Terrah. “We are still not slow enough.”
Samari-A began decreasing speed. “If I slow us too fast, the ship will break apart.”
“Push it to its limits.”
Icarus began to shake and groan under the stress. It slowly began to turn toward the sun.
Launch sequences came over Jonah’s console. The shaking was becoming more violent as he pushed the jettison button. Queasiness came over everyone, except Aether, as the gravity compensators struggled to adjust. The ship tumbled out of control. Aether’s little hands began pummeling the controls into his submission, and the shuttle righted itself and set course back to Icarus.
Icarus was shaking itself apart as Asa did a fireman slid down the ladder. Samari-A was much slower as her inexperience showed. Asa made it through falling debris and got to the base of the ladder, and began cheering her on. The ship tilted and almost flung her off of the ladder. Asa held his breathe as she regained control and slid the rest of the way down, a little too fast. She drove Asa, and herself, to the floor.
He helped her up, and they took off toward the exit, only to stumbled through a hatch, and into a four-way intersection. They moved to go to the corridor containing the escape pod, but two creatures stood in their way. Quickly turning down another corridor, it too, had creatures slowly approaching. In seconds, they were completely surrounded.
At least a hundred escape pods dispersed from the ship like spores in a high wind. Jonah manipulated the console so he could get a reading of Asa’s pod. Aether zipped in and out of the pods like a professional, he stared at his instruments, and chewed on his lower lip.
“We must go faster,” Jonah called out, “We are near Solest’s gravitational threshold. If we go past it, she will pull us in, too.”
“I can’t go any faster, and miss the pods.”
“Do your best.” Jonah hit the console. “Where are you. I can’t find the pod.”
“Jo...Jo...Jonah,” came Asa’s scratchy voice over the comm.
“Asa, get out of there.”
Solest was becoming brighter and bigger as the two ships raced to meet her.
“Too...too late. We are surrounded. Keep my family safe. Goodbye.”
“No!”
“Aether cleared the pods and accelerated. Jonah did some quick calculations. A strange calm came over him, as he made the hard decision. He had no more choices. “Aether, we are only seconds away from the threshold-we must break off.”
“No, I can do this.”
Jonah wanted to believe him. He tapped the controls and took over as Aether raised his hands up in confusion at losing control. Jonah banked the ship to the left of its position, and fired all power sources, including the emergency thruster’s rockets. The G-forces set them back in their chairs, as the people on the floor lay flat. The shuttle shook and sparks blew from terminals and relays. Loose, small objects bashed them as they flew by. Icarus disappeared into the light, as the tiny ship retreated.
Asa helped Samari-A up, while watching the creatures become scared of the unknown. They slinked away from the violence going on around them, but found no solace. Asa pushed hair out of her bruised face and looked her in the eyes. “I am sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry for bringing this down upon you. I should be the only one to pay for my arrogance.”
“Maybe something good will come from all this, but for now, I’m glad to be with you.” They embraced and kissed.
Both felt a presence, and looked at a small pin light that grew larger and larger. Soon, it formed a bipedal human like form. Not bright enough to blind, but felt warm and inviting. Several lighter people formed and began placing a duller device on the floor. The one nearest the two humans held out an inviting bright hand with three fingers and a thumb. The ship vibrated and explosions could be heard from down the corridor. They both simultaneously reached out to the light creature. They vanished leaving only the small device.
“He is gone,” Ari-A said, from an observer seat behind the First Officer’s chair.
“Yes,” Jonah said, blinking away a tear.
The small ship stabilized, and everyone breathed easier. Aether sulked as his mother tried to console him.
“What’s going on?” Jonah said to himself, while looking out of the forward screen. He saw small explosions appear, and disappear as he closed in. He waved his hands over the console to bring up a clearer picture. “Great Creator, what are they doing?” Jonah ran his hands over the console again. “The warship is firing on the escape pods.” Jonah quickly identified the ship and began hailing it. “Terrahnian warship Vanguard, cease fire, cease fire. I’m Agent Jonah-Athain of the Special Assignment Council, verify code, Agent Zeta Blue Fire. Cease fire.”
There was a long pause, as more pods exploded.
“Agent Athain, this is Captain Joaquin-Augustus. Stay clear of the Vanguard, or you too, will be destroyed, by order of the Chief Councilor.”
“I am invoking order two-one-two-alpha paragraph six-zero-one, I am now lead investigator, and therefore in command. Cease fire.”
“Agent Athain, this is a military action, you have no jurisdiction.”
“Damn,” Jonah said, trying to think of something else to save lives. He looked back to see the little blonde girl helping people who had been injured. “Captain Augustus, check the manifest of the Icarus. The Vice Councilor’s daughter is on one of those pods. Check the manifest, so you can explain why you murdered his daughter,” Jonah bluffed.
The destruction stopped almost immediately. The shuttle took up a position near the Vanguard’s hanger doors. “Captain, open the hangar doors, so we can start the rescue operation.”
“I can’t allow this kind of contamination on my ship.”
“I have the vaccine, Captain, but I need to synthesize more.”
“Agent Athain, I cannot-” his transmission was cut.
Soon, the hangar doors parted and he was given clearance.
Jonah stood in the hangar bay, being examined by a physician in a decontamination suit. He took his blood, and his research pyramid. After about thirty minutes, he removed his suit. Several of the pods had already been retrieved, and placed in isolation force fields. More were coming in, as the vaccine was synthesized and distributed.
Jonah was helping with the vaccinations, when the Captain arrived. He was young for a Captain, but big and intimidating. His short cropped black hair and blue eyes showed no signs of emotion as he approached.
“Agent Athain, which pod is the Vice Councilor’s daughter in?”
“Oh, she’s right over there. Sorry, in all the confusion, I forgot she was on board. Funny how that happened.”
The Captain didn’t look amused. “Funny, yes.�
� He turned, went to her, and then led her away.
Jonah’s arm and ribs had been repaired by the time they coasted into orbit around Terrah. All the escape pods had been recovered. The quarantine was still in effect, as they went pod by pod, releasing the uninfected. Several pods had the afflicted onboard. They were disintegrated on the spot. Those who appeared to be in transition, were taken to an isolation lab to be studied.
Jonah stood on the bridge of the Vanguard, and finished speaking to his wife at the comm station. He waved the console off with a smile, and then approached Captain Augustus. “When will I be able to transport down to Terrah to give a follow-up to my report?”
“You are not going to Terrah, Agent Athain.”
“Then, where?”
Captain Augustus turned toward the large view screen. “There.”
Jonah looked at a space station growing larger in the screen. It was round, like a wheel, and well lit. Ships were dwarfed by its size.
Augustus turned back to Jonah, who couldn’t stop staring at it. “Oh, in all the confusion, I must have forgotten to tell you. We were ordered to deliver you to Space Station Atlantis for your debrief. Funny, how that happened.” Augustus cracked a slight smile.
“Yes, funny,” Jonah said, as he looked back at Atlantis. “I have never been there.”
“She just underwent a ten-year expansion and renovation plan. She may be old, but she has a new breath of life. We will be docking at the twentieth hour. You are to report to your boss soon thereafter. Now, Agent Athain, get off my bridge.”
Jonah smiled. “Aye, Aye, Sir.” And quickly exited.
Two full solar days went by, as Jonah nervously paced the floor of the outer office. An assistant soon arrived, and led him into a very large Council chamber. He looked around at the people sitting, mumbling, waving their hands over computers, and sending data pads around to one another. This was a full-blown Council meeting, the Chief Councilor, Vice Chief Councilor, and all the department Councilors were present, including his own boss.