Henry laughed. “Well I would imagine that is literally a sea of antimatter. The creation of our universe as I mentioned before was a massive amount of mater meeting a massive amount of antimatter. Think of it as two universes that are literally the opposite of each other in every way. As matter met antimatter they could not coexist and canceled each other out in explosive energy that we would not have any way to begin to scale. As the antimatter ran out there was slightly more antimatter left and it was what formed this universe. All matter, all energy, all of anything we can see or perceive was made from the matter that was left over when those two forces interacted. However, what we are seeing here…If I were to guess is the literal last part of the antimatter universe. It is like a bag where the inside and the outside are fighting to be seen. Though the inside won and was pulled inside out, the other side cannot un-exist. This is the last remnants of the antimatter universe. Unable to exist, yet unable to be destroyed.”
“So, this is literally something here and not here?” Nari asked.
“As counterintuitive as it sounds, yes.” Henry replied. “This is literally nothing at all and everything that ever was for an entire universe.”
“That makes little sense.” Basta admitted. “But yet here I am staring at it.”
“Have you ever heard of Schrodinger’s cat?” Henry asked.
“The theory about a cat locked in a box?” Basta confirmed. “That the cat inside is both alive and dead, existing simultaneously until it is observed?”
“Precisely.” Henry replied. “An event such as the creation of our universe cannot be undone despite the force of the powers created. It is both the beginning and the end, existence and non-existence. The only issue is that it can not be neither and it cannot be both. So, it will forever be as it is even if we observe it and study it.”
“What would happen if we went closer?” Nari asked. “Or if the field failed?”
“We would cease to exist.” Henry replied. “Though the monumental forces of physics and uncertainty protect this aperture from disappearing this is something that the ship would be very subject to. We would literally unravel into nothingness if we got much closer or lost the field.”
“The field is holding, right?” Basta confirmed. “Just to be sure?”
“It is holding well.” Henry replied. “We are safe here.”
“How much will we be able to learn from it?” Basta replied. “The ship is in kind of rough shape from the sabotage and we might not want to stay here any longer than we need to.”
“To be honest I have gotten the magnetic wave sensors to go over what they can.” Henry replied. “It will take a long time for it to compile a working model and until then there is not much more that we can determine.”
“Then should we return to Atlas?” Basta replied. “Repair, restock, and catalogue what has happened and what we have learned.”
“I think so.” Henry agreed. “We have enough to pour over for months. I know after what just happened we could use a little safety.”
“Are we jump capable?” Basta asked to Nari. “Can we jump right back to Atlas?”
“Affirmative.” Nari replied. “I have co-ordinates for Atlas standing by.”
“Do it.” Basta said with a nod.” Take us back to home.
Nari nodded, putting in the orders and causing the ship to jump. Everyone on the bridge had a certain apprehension after the last jump but his one as both instantaneous and smooth, the ship not even creaking with the effort. However, as the view screen kicked back in they were not in orbit of Atlas, instead a completely different planet altogether.
“Is that…Saturn?” Basta asked. “How did this happen?”
“The pirates.” Henry replied as he fought with his console. “They hid a program on the NAV computer that locked it into these co-ordinates.”
“Can you get rid of it?” Basta asked. “Can we jump again to Atlas, or anywhere?”
“If we jump again we will just end up here again.” Nari replied. “It seems the jump controls are locked.”
“I have told the computer to isolate and remove the algorithm that is changing it but it will take time.”
“How much time?” Basta asked.
“Six hours.” Henry replied. “Give or take.”
“Ok.” Basta said with a nod. “We have to assume that this is an advantageous location for the pirates and we can’t afford to be captured. Put us on the dark side of the Saturn moon Titan. Not even wave sensors should be able to find us there so easily.”
“Right away.” Nari said, manipulating the controls and causing the ship to head toward the small near earth sized moon. “Titan orbit in thirty seconds.”
Henry was not immune to this feeling of concern and helplessness. Even with his boldness and passion he could feel the oppressive power of the unknown from those who would hurt others
“Do we have anything?” Basta asked. “Any sign of pirate activity?”
“Nothing on Saturn.” Mancoff replied. “We are detecting signals on Titan however.”
“Signals?” Basta asked. “Like a colony?”
“Titan is one of the most optimal places for a colony.” Henry replied. “It was something considered before Mars was decided on. There is comparable gravity on Titan, though the planet’s atmosphere is made of methane the conditions are favorable and within the tolerances of our technology. However, the idea to settle the place was passed upon by the Earth government.”
“I would imagine that money changed hands to make that happen.” Mancoff added. “There is definitely something down there. Colony domes, several of them.”
“We are getting a signal.” Henry broke in. “They are asking to speak to the captain.”
“Route it to speakers.” Basta replied.
“Welcome to Free Titan.” A voice said over the line. “Call me control, and we are detecting a ship in the vicinity but cannot pinpoint you.”
“I am a shipper of…unregulated goods.” Basta replied, seemingly doing his best bluff. “Small ship we stole from the united force. We were told that there are those here that would offer us…a free market.
“You have heard correctly.” Control replied. “If you wish I can offer you telemetry to land on the surface.”
“I would prefer that as few questions are asked as possible.” Basta replied. “You see I have a certain…arrangement with people in united and would not like to be outed as a thief or smuggler.”
“This is a place of few asked questions.” Control replied. “I am sending docking telemetry and you and your ship can come down once you are ready.”
“Thank you.” Basta replied. “We look forward to doing business with you.”
Henry cut off the communicator and looked to Basta. “That was one hell of a bluff.”
Basta shrugged. “I have been talking with United intelligence and they have long heard of a port hidden somewhere in our solar system of a free market that might be run or used by the pirates. I just used what I had heard and hoped for the best.”
Kuromoto and Haverstain entered the bridge. Haverstain nodded to Henry. “The computer is trying to expel the errant algorithm, it will take some time though. It is worse than you thought, it is even into the other drives such as the ship in the hold. We might be in a bit of trouble.”
“We know.” Henry replied. “It seems that we are in orbit of Titan and in contact with a free colony on the surface.”
“It is likely the escape telemetry for the saboteur if they had made it away with the prototype ship.” Kuromoto replied.
“Can we not just limp home with the normal engines?” Mancoff asked. “We are not so far from Earth and Mars.”
“We would be sitting ducks.” Basta replied. “Any pirate ship that can jump in solar system could be on us before we could even hope to defend ourselves.”
“It is pirate technology.” Kuromoto replied. “It may seem primitive compared to ours but it is powerful. Perhaps we can find a programmer down there
that might help us isolate and break it faster.”
“They have invited us down.” Mancoff added.
“I don’t think it is a good idea to take the ship or any of our marked shuttles down.” Basta replied. “They would know in a second.”
“We could use the prototype ship.” Henry offered. “It is unmarked and unknown. As far as they will be concerned it is just a normal custom shipping vessel.”
“This is your call.” Basta replied. “My place is on the ship and if things go wrong it is my place to protect it.”
“I will go down.” Henry replied. “I will leave Haverstain here to work on the computer.”
“I would like to volunteer to go with you.” Kuromoto offered. “I am sure that I could determine the kind of tech we are looking for.”
“Good idea.” Henry replied. “I also would like to take Nari and that guard I worked with in the last crisis.”
“Affirmative.” Basta agreed. “We are counting on you. If you can find the Pirate base of operations and If we can get out of here safely with the information on what is down there we might be able to strike a blow the pirates might not soon recover from.”
“I will do my best.” Henry nodded as he left the bridge with his associates and made his way down to the shuttle bay. Waiting for him was the guard he worked with previous.
“I must apologise I never got your name.” Henry said with a nod.
“Such things can sometimes get caught up during intense situations.” The guard admitted. “I am Lieutenant Chalice.”
“Glad to have to on board this mission Chalice.” Henry replied. “Though this one might be a bit crazier than the last.”
“I have no doubt.” Chalice replied. “Let’s get started.”
Henry was not as fond of re-entry as he was on the other parts of space travel. Though the ship was more than capable of entering an atmosphere and returning, the smallest thing forgotten could mean disaster. Though he was not the pilot, not the captain, what he did know was preparation. Everyone had to be in their place, all the checks and the double-checks needed to be done before the ship could go down. He had all manner of gear and a portable reactor on him. He thought to the time with the creatures on Atlas and how he had manipulated the technology for their survival. He did not know if he was still up to the task, if he still had the same luck. However, he had to believe in himself as much as he ever had. As the ship descended into the atmosphere of Titan, Henry knew one thing…of all the things that could go wrong…not being ready…would not be the cause.
The ship moved through the atmosphere, causing friction with the differential environment and lighting up the bottom of the ship. Compared to earth, Titan’s atmosphere was far thinner and for all those on board it seemed like a smoother ride then when they had left earth.
Nari guided the ship deeper into the atmosphere of the massive planet. After breaking through the ship moved through the air, open terrain of mountains appearing and leading to open areas beyond. Nari was an excellent pilot, trained on earth using cutting edge military vessels and was one of the first to fly ships of this classification. The weather seemed opportune for travel and there was little to do except watch the strange unfamiliar landscape open up around them.
“We are two minutes from the area that the telemetry provided directed us too.” Nari explained. “I will set us down and we can get to work.”
“I just can’t get over the beauty of this place.” Kuromoto replied. “It is a paradise.”
“It is a den of vipers.” Chalice replied. “They may claim to be free, but they are under the pirate’s shadows nonetheless.”
Shortly the trio landed and was inside one of the habitat domes on the surface of Titan. It looked very similar to those on Mars other than the distinctly different sky. The looking vision of Saturn could be seen and its massive rings seemed like they were about to collide with the tiny planetoid. The group left the landing area and walked through a massive door into a large port area. It was filled with people from all over, each having their own reason from hiding so far from civilized space. It was easy for people like Henry to assume there was nothing out here but there were indeed some people who would use such danger and isolation for their own privacy. He was shocked to the scope and size of the place. There was all manner of illegal and contraband goods and weaponry for sale, vast auctions going on for stolen gear and even ships. There was gambling where vast fortunes changed hands and all manner of pleasure, legal and illegal could be bought as simply as the other goods.
The group was dressed as inconspicuously as possible, Henry was dressed as a trader, Kuromoto like a mechanic and Nari and Chalice dressed to look like his guards. No one seemed to pay much notice as the small group moved through the busy crowd. Everyone had their own agenda and few seemed to care about anyone else’s…that was until a strange man with a scar over one of his eyes stepped out.
“Excuse me sir.” The man said. “I think we should talk.”
Henry looked at him with a curious expression. “I think you have me mistaken with someone else.”
“No need for subterfuge.” The man replied. “You may call me Dutch and I have information that would be of great use to you but you must come inside. It is dangerous to speak of such things outside.”
Henry decided that the man did seem to know much he could not have easily known and joined him in his little shop, which seemed to sell curiosities and other pieces of rare collectables.
“What can you tell me of this place?” Henry asked. “It seems to be unreal how big it is…especially with no records of anything actually being out here.”
“That is what they want.” Dutch responded. “You would be surprised just how many people in the civilized systems know it is here. Only the most corrupt, rich and powerful can afford to come here and much money is spent to keep it a secret. There are governors of nations here, military officials and others that desire no one to think this lace was anything more than a rumor. This was once just a small research station but a man who calls himself the Revolutionary found it on a self-imposed exile of civilized space. He used it as his base and built it up more and more until it had become what you now see. He is a dangerous man and someone that you do not want to mess with.”
“What is his name?” Chalice asked. “How could he amass so much so quickly.”
“No one knows his name.” Dutch replied. “Nor do we even know his face. He rules from a secret habitat dome hidden in the mountains beyond this colony.”
Henry nodded. “How do you know about me? How do you know who I am?”
“There are few that don’t know you…I just recognised your face.” Dutch explained. “I know you have come here after going to the center of the universe.”
“How could you possibly know that?” Henry asked. “We have just arrived here.”
“I know.” Dutch responded. “I am a collector of information and my searches gained too much attention. I am not a resident here, I am a prisoner. I cannot leave but I can be of help to you. I fear however, that the Revolutionary wants the map to the universe and I would much prefer you get out of here before he finds you. Those who run the satellite network on Titan fell for your ruse but I am not sure ow long it will hold up. The pirates will grow wise of it if they have not already. We have little time.”
“Ok, I’m listening.” Henry agreed. “Tell me what you know.”
“At great cost, there was an algorithm meant to lock your ships controls to this area.” Dutch explained. “I heard it from the programmer and was able to get a look at it. I have here a drive that contains a way to isolate it.”
“Are you sure that we can trust this man?” Kuromoto asked. “This seems awfully convenient to me.”
“I have seen much in my search for information.” Dutch explained. “The fact that you would likely end up here was my only real chance. I prepared what I prepared and watched the satellite network. I knew you were coming down as soon as your craft breached atmosphe
re.”
“We need all the help we can get.” Henry replied. “Worst case, we scan the drive and find it useless, best case it does exactly what we want it to. My biggest question however is just what you would want in return.”
“I seek a fall of the revolutionary and his regime.” Dutch replied. “I made a mistake and helped him with technology in the past. That is why he keeps me here, his men putting a racking device in my skull. Should you and the united forces topple him, my freedom will be procured. The revolutionary is dangerous and your NAV map cannot fall into his hands or he completes his own map.”
“I can imagine what the so-called Revolutionary wants it for.” Henry agreed. “How close is he?”
“Not as close as you.” Dutch replied. “Whereas you are using your vast explorations and planning he is using resources and trial and error. He is setting up ships with long range capability and trying to find it by luck and force. Though your way is more efficient, he will eventually get a workable map and I wish to preserve your head start. Take the drive and get back to your ship. Get out of here and tell them what is going on out here…for not just my sake but all that he might hurt with his resources hidden here.”
“Thank you.” Henry said as he accepted the drive. “We will do our best to stop him and set you free.”
“Protect the knowledge of how our universe works.” Dutch responded. “Use it to clean up this area and get rid of this accursed place.”
“I will do it.” Henry agreed. “I will no longer allow the pirates to hurt humanity in space.”
“Thank you.” Dutch agreed. “But go now…I am sure he knows you are here with me by now.”
The group hastily left the shop and saw a group of armed marching toward the shop. Henry and the others ducked behind a nearby vehicle.
“Nari, can you help me get this thing running?” Henry asked.
“Shouldn’t be too hard.” Nari replied. She went to work, using her tools in a blur and firing up the engine. She might not have been an engineer, but her knowledge of hotwiring seemed top notch.
“I can go distract them to get you time to head out.” Dutch offered. “They would not be stupid enough to shoot me…I am known to be worth too much alive.”
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