Tales from the Void: A Space Fantasy Anthology

by Chris Fox

  Next to her was a blond woman wearing a dark blue jumpsuit, seeming to be around Dr. Fox’s age. Her hair was cut shoulder length and coiled into curls at the ends. She had alabaster skin and rosy cheeks. She smiled warmly at him.

  “Hello Chris,” Reese said, no heat in her voice now. “Welcome aboard the Falcon. This is Hubbell, she handles security and piloting. This is Emma, my resident computational resource.”

  Hubbell nodded at him and Emma smiled, turning her head and pointing to the small silver port in her temple.

  “Yes, I am an artificial. Pleased to meet you, Chris,” Emma said, extending her hand.

  He took her hand and shook it, the flesh surprisingly realistic, even warm to the touch.

  “Hubbell, can you help with all these bags? Emma, prep the ship for departure, it’s time to get out of here,” Reese barked.

  “Sure, I’ll help with the lady’s luggage,” she said sarcastically, a broad smile playing across her face.

  He hustled aboard, dragging as many of his bags as he could handle in one trip.

  “Just don’t get in my way, okay. Welcome aboard,” Hubbell finished.

  3

  First Warp

  Dr. Fox was directed to sit at one of the auxiliary control consoles, its screens dark. Hubbell jumped into the pilot’s seat and began to flick switches and manipulate the holoconsole in front of her.

  “I’ve already checked the hadron conditioner,” Emma said, sporting a pout.

  “I’m sure you have, Emma, you’re very thorough. You know there are some things I always check myself,” Hubbell replied without heat.

  Hubbell continued her preflight routine as Emma sat down at the station next to Dr. Fox. She shot him a quick smile then withdrew a slender silver cable and attached it to the port in her head. Her eyes closed and then the console in front of her flared to life.

  “All systems green. The Falcon is ready for flight,” Emma confirmed.

  Hubbell engaged the controls and nudged the ship into motion, maneuvering them out of the crowded upper orbit and on a trajectory to leave the planet behind. It felt rather anticlimactic without the g’s, as they were dampened by the ship’s own g-plates, but he was okay with that, remembering the shuttle ride.

  “So Dr. Phil… um, Reese, where are we going?” Dr. Fox asked as casually as he could manage.

  She sat down at a data terminal and punched in a few commands. His terminal lit up and he could see several files ready to view.

  “There’s my preliminary research. To summarize, though, we’re looking for the remnants of the a civilization known as the Tevari. There are ruins of one of their cities somewhere on the planet Serath, in the Esteros system,” she began.

  “They were a seemingly primitive culture, yet somehow I have found remnants of their civilization on more than one planet. Mysteriously, the cities emanate residual energy readings. They have long been disregarded as anomalous noise, but there is a pattern to the energy readings. A pattern that corresponds to the city’s age.”

  “So you’re saying the Tevari were technologically advanced? But what about their primitive building techniques and subsistence lifestyle? Is that some sort of… oh, it’s a ruse. You think they originated from another system and spread to other planets through the means of this unknown technology?” Dr. Fox responded, unable to mask the excitement in his voice.

  If they discovered that a primitive culture was actually a colony of a space faring race, it would be a true achievement. To locate their source, possibly even find them still alive, would be a triumph.

  “Good, at least you’ve got a brain. Maybe I’ll make something of you yet,” she said without venom, but still her voice had a hard edge.

  “Okay, so what are you going to need me to do? I’ll help out in whatever way I can.”

  “Excellent, you’re cooperative too,” she said smiling. “Have Emma show you the controls for the survey drones. You can be in charge of mapping the city when we arrive,” she replied.

  “Prepare for the first warp, everyone!” Hubbell cried. “Emma, warp vector please.”

  “Vector uploaded,” she replied pleasantly, curls bouncing.

  Damn, she was realistic. It was creeping him out. “So, can you show me the instructions for the drones?”

  “After the jump,” she answered.

  “Three-two-one,” Hubbell counted in rapid succession.

  Then Dr. Fox’s world turned upside down. There was a loud thump sound. It took him a moment to realize it was his head hitting the wall. In fact, gravity was holding him to the wall, resisting his attempts to push away. Then he realized it wasn’t the wall, but the floor. And he couldn’t get up, his body refused to obey. Hands rolled him over and pried open his half-closed eyelids and snapped fingers in his face.

  “Hey, easy there, don’t try to move. Just let it pass. That was your first time warping, I take it? I forget you organics are so susceptible to the effects of passing through the rift in spacetime the warp generator creates. Especially the first time,” Emma said, chuckling.

  “Relax, it’ll pass,” Hubbell slurred from the command chair.

  “Hrrrrmmmnn…” was all he could manage.

  Emma’s hand touched his forehead as she said, “Just relax, your nervous system will return to normal soon.”

  Even as she spoke he felt control returning to his limbs. Feeling returned, bringing a throbbing pain in his head. He must have hit the floor hard, he thought. At least that meant he was recovering. How had Hubbell resisted the effects? Was an experienced spacer that much more resilient? It seemed so.

  He tried talking again, the words forming this time, “Ugh! That’s what jump sickness is like?”

  Emma nodded at him, then returned to her console. Rising to a sitting position, he gingerly touched the lump on the side of his head.

  “Ow,” he said quietly.

  Reese walked over to him, still slightly bleary-eyed, and said, “Let me see.”

  Looking at the lump, then into his eyes, she said, “You’ll live, likely no concussion. I’ll get you some ice from the galley.”

  Reese left the bridge as he hauled himself back into his seat. She returned a short time later with an icepack for his head.

  “Sorry to have to tell you this, Chris,” Hubbell began. “That was the first of seven jumps we need to take to get to our destination.”

  He groaned. This was going to be a rough trip.

  4

  Numen

  “Prepare for final warp, everyone!” Hubbell called out.

  Dr. Fox scrambled for his seat and buckled in, dreading what was coming. He had withstood six jumps, each slightly easier, physically anyway. But each was harder psychologically. It must be the anticipation that made it worse, he surmised.

  The warp hit and he went limp, head lolling. He felt drool dribble from the corner of his mouth. Gah! This was so humiliating. Everyone else was already beginning to come around and he was still slobbering like a baby. Focusing, he willed his head to raise.

  His hand responded as well, although more forcefully than he had intended. Instead of wiping away the slobber, he smacked himself roughly. Willing his body to respond, he tried again, this time finding the mark and wiping away an embarrassing amount of drool.

  “Scanning system,” Emma informed them. “It seems we may have compa…”

  She was cut off by an ear-splitting screech followed by static. The broadcast silenced as Emma closed her eyes.

  “We’ve been jammed. Just before I lost sensors, I picked up a weapons lock,” she said gravely.

  “Shit!” Hubbell cried, working the ship’s controls.

  “Communication coming through,” Emma interrupted.

  “On screen, Emma,” Reese instructed.

  An image flickered into view on the main screen. A lizard-like face greeted them, its green scales glistening in a dim light. The reptilian Thevars were one of the many brutish races that made up the Crevak Tribes. While only a former sha
dow of their power during the Millennium Wars, they were still formidable foes.

  “We are the Grishnosh of the Crevak Tribes, and we claim your valuables!” the creature exclaimed, growling at the end.

  “Hahaha,” Hubbell bellowed sarcastically. “Hello Numen. I’m surprised to find you here. I guess the heat was too much for you. Had to flee Consortium space, did you? Like a coward, eh?”

  “Hubbell,” was his growled reply.

  “Aren’t you happy to see me, old buddy?” she taunted.

  Dr. Fox had to admit that he was terrified. They had just reached their destination and already they were in danger. Boy would his mother be upset if she knew.

  “Doodaloodooloo,” his QET rang.

  What?! His mother was calling now? It rang again and Hubbell glared at him. He tried to silence it but accidentally answered.

  “Hi bubbala, how’s your trip? Are you there yet? Is Dr. Phillips pretty?”

  “Mother, not now! I’m kind of busy,” he replied in a loud whisper.

  “So, Hubbell, what’s it going to be?” Numen said menacingly. “Are you going to let me in to claim my prize or do I have to reduce you to debris?”

  “You can try to do either, but you’ll get the same result as the last time we tangled,” she said hotly.

  “What’s going on, bubbala? Sounds like arguing. Is everything ok?” his mother said, concern coloring her voice.

  “It’s okay mother, everything is fine,” he lied. “I have to go now.”

  “That’s nice dear. I saved the leftovers for you. I made moldova steak, I know it’s your favorite,” she went on as if she hadn’t heard him.

  “Listen Numen, you’ve got two choices. One, fuck off.” She held up her fist and extended her thumb. “Or two, be disintegrated,” she continued, extending her middle finger. “Your choice.” She finished, steel edging her voice.

  She hit a button and the screen went dark.

  “We need a weapon,” Hubbell exclaimed. “Or at least the appearance of one. Reese? Any ideas?”

  “Emma, open the core on the hadronic generator. Increase output to max and reroute the exhaust through the maneuvering jets. Equal distribution so we don’t change course,” Reese replied quickly.

  Emma responded a moment later. “The output signature now mimics a proton torpedo, Reese.”

  “So, bubbala, how is the trip so far?” his mother asked. He had almost forgotten she was there.

  “Mother, I have to go. We’re really busy here,” he whispered.

  “Why are you whispering?” she whispered back.

  Hubbell flicked the button and Numen’s image reappeared. He snarled and said, “Don’t ever put me on hold again, Hubbell. The only reason I didn’t blast you to pieces was so I could see your face while I…”

  A garbled, guttural language sounded behind Numen. He spun on one of his crew at a nearby station. “What?! They have proton torpedoes?”

  The brutish ogre behind him spoke again. Numen’s face darkened.

  “Yes, Numen. We’ve got one ready to fire. We picked up your coordinates prior to your jamming. We’re locked on, you asshole,” Hubbell said triumphantly, winking at Reese.

  “No way, you can’t have any weapons, that’s a civilian-class starship. Completely unarmed.”

  “What are they talking about, bubbala, what’s that about unarmed starships?” his mother cut in.

  “Mother, I said I’ve got to go,” he urged.

  He knew he couldn’t tell her what was really going on. She’d have a coronary if she only knew. Hell, he was terrified himself. He reached for the disconnect button but pulled back. He knew if he hung up on her she would just continue to call back until he picked up again. She was persistent and tenacious like that.

  Numen glared and grimaced, revealing a mouth full of sharp, needle-like teeth.

  “Mutually assured destruction, buddy,” Hubbell taunted. “You piss off or we fire, understood?”

  “Next time, Hubbell. Next time you won’t be so lucky. I’m going to feast on your flesh, while you still live,” Numen snarled, killing the communications feed.

  “Sensors restored, enemy ship has warped away,” Emma informed them.

  “Okay, mother, bye,” he said, hoping she would acquiesce.

  “Okay, bubbala, be safe,” she finished, her hologram fading out.

  5

  Planet Serath

  The ship approached the planet, the green and blue orb hovering in the blackness of space. He watched the viewscreen in awe as the planet loomed large, the instructions for the drones long forgotten.

  “What do you know about this world?” Hubbell asked Reese.

  “Gravity is human-normal, but the day and night cycle is accelerated due to the planet’s faster rotation. It’s a warm, jungle planet, with several known species of large predators,” she replied, and Hubbell’s hand dropped reflexively to her pistol. Dr. Fox felt a twinge of fear creep in. Oh hell, I didn’t sign up for alien predators, he thought. He was thankful though, that Hubbell was a part of the expedition.

  She exuded confidence. She had kept her cool throughout the pirate encounter. He found it surprising that she and Reese were friends; they couldn’t be more dissimilar, Hubbell with her military background and Reese the academic. But somehow, the two shared some sort of bond.

  “Emma, are you picking up any energy signals?” Reese asked apprehensively.

  “Yes ma’am, we’ve got a big fat signal originating there.” As Emma spoke, a red dot appeared on the planet’s image, signaling the location.

  “Great! Hubbell…” Reese began.

  “On approach,” she answered.

  The ship wheeled and spun as Hubbell lined up with the approach vector illuminated on her screen.

  “Sixteen minutes to atmospheric entry,” Emma informed them.

  “Everyone strap in,” she instructed, and Dr. Fox was quick to obey. “The reentry is going to get a little jouncy.”

  “Jouncy, is that a technical term?” Hubbell asked wryly.

  Emma grinned back. Dr. Fox waited in anticipation, not sure what it would be like. As Emma had calculated, sixteen minutes later the exterior of the ship began to glow orange hot. The brightness grew until it whited out the screens.

  “Sensors work, but visuals are lost as we enter a planet’s atmosphere,” Emma explained.

  After several minutes the screens cleared and Dr. Fox could see a massive continent carpeted in a forest of green, dotted by the blue of lakes and rivers here and there. He had to admit it was a magnificent view. The red dot of the energy signature turned into a red line connecting the ship to the point. Statistics read out next to the line, indicating ETA, speed, and angle of approach.

  The ship rocketed along as Hubbell dropped their altitude. Soon he could see the treetops. Damn she was flying low. Was she a little crazy? Maybe, he decided, but she seemed to have things under control.

  “Approaching the city now,” Hubbell informed Reese.

  “Let’s make a pass around it and see if we spot anything from the air.”

  The ship began a wide arc, circling the jungle-covered city below. He could see remnants of stone structures, long overgrown by the jungle. Sticking up from the sea of green were several crumbling step pyramids.

  “Emma, what’s our energy reading,” Reese questioned.

  Displaying some graphs and readouts on the viewscreen, she replied, “As you can see, the readings are the strongest we’ve ever encountered, by a lot.”

  “Okay, see if you can triangulate the source.”

  “Hey, Reese, how does that clearing look?” Hubbell called out. “I think I can fit her in there.”

  “Go for it!” Reese said excitedly, then promptly regained her composure.

  The ship descended and touched down with a thunk that he felt through the deck. He could also feel the rumble of the engines cease as Hubbell cut power.

  “Okay, folks, we don’t know what’s out there so everybody stay alert. Let
me know ASAP if there is anything unusual,” Hubbell instructed them as she made her way to the airlock.

  “Emma, you stay with the ship and keep a monitor on sensors, please,” Reese said, patting the artificial on her shoulder.

  “Aw, mom, I want to go outside and play,” she whined theatrically.

  Damn was her programming impeccable. Humor had not been what Dr. Fox was expecting. He had done some programming with machine learning at the academy and so understood some of the complexities involved. At least her creators had made her pleasant, as unnerving as that was.

  As they reached the airlock, Hubbell drew her pistol and said, “Go to the cargo bay and do your stuff. I’ll have a look around and let you know when it’s clear to open the big door.”

  “Be careful,” Reese said as she disappeared out the airlock. “C’mon, Chris, let’s go get the drones ready and prep the gear.”

  They reached the small cargo bay, the walls lined with racks of gear and specimens. He desperately wanted to look around and browse the contents of Dr. Phillips, dammit, Reese’s, ship. He realized he resented her use of his first name. He was trying to be taken more seriously by going by his honorific. Just because the illustrious Dr. Reese Phillips, PhD. insisted on going by her first name, didn’t mean everyone else wanted to, he thought.

  “Okay, that crate there has the drones, go ahead and prep them. Coordinate ranges will be pulled from the ship’s computer. Check with Emma if you have any trouble.” Reese said while starting to unpack and arrange equipment.

  The drones were contained in a large, black plastic case four feet long by two feet wide and tall. Dr. Fox unlatched it and lifted the lid. The case was full of fist-sized silver spheres. Resting on top was the control tablet. As he picked up the tablet it flickered to life. Quickly figuring out how to download the coordinates from the ship’s computer, he began to program in a search grid.