by J. N. Chaney
“Let me guess,” I said. “He survived because he’s an Eternal, so his body stopped the bleeding.”
“More or less,” said Octavia. “Although, there’s a bit more to it than that.”
Fumi shifted in the pod, cracking his eyes. It took him a few seconds to realize there was a crowd gathered around. He stiffened when he finally saw us, eventually relaxing. “W-what is it?” he asked.
“Hello there, Fumi,” said Abigail with a smile. “We came by to check on you.”
“I-I’m okay,” he said, shyly.
“Do you mind if we have a look at your hand?” asked Octavia.
He nodded. “Okay.”
Octavia reached down to his side and took the bandage, unwrapping it slowly. It took nearly two minutes as we stood there in silence. I felt for the kid, but I wasn’t sure what the big deal was about a severed hand. Sure, it was awful for a kid this young to deal with something so terrible, but what purpose did it serve to show me this?
The last of the bandage slipped off of the boy’s wrist, revealing a stump of pink flesh.
I looked at Octavia. “Are you just showing me this to emphasize how bad the injuries are for these kids or something?”
“Not at all,” she replied. “You’ll recall how quickly Lex’s hands healed while we were traveling on your ship, correct?”
“Sure,” I answered. “Is that what’s happening here? The end of his wrist is sealing the exposed flesh?”
Octavia showed a hint of a smile. “That’s the least of the situation,” she explained, turning to the monitor attached to the pod. She pulled an image up, motioning for me to look closer. It was Fumi, lying in the pod the same way he was right now, except something was missing on him—an even larger section of his arm. “When he was first brought in, the appendage had been severed six centimeters below the elbow. Now, nearly one day later, it has grown 7.29 centimeters. That’s staggering. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
I blinked, staring at the image. I looked back at Fumi, who was watching all of this unfold with some curiosity.
“It’s the fastest growth rate we’ve seen so far,” inserted Abigail. “Even faster than the adults.”
A light materialized nearby as Athena popped into existence. Before any of us to react, she said, “It is quite interesting.”
Hitchens and Freddie both flinched. “Goodness!” exclaimed the Professor, clutching his chest.
“Every time,” muttered Freddie, breathing quickly.
“There you are,” I said, casually turning to the Cognitive. “Is this normal? Is the limb just gonna keep growing? How does it know when to stop?”
“As I previously explained to Ms. Brie,” said Athena, nodding to Octavia, “the Eternals of my time could regrow their limbs as well, but this is at a much faster rate. It is most impressive.”
Octavia crossed her arms. “It’s been two thousand years since then, so it’s possible something might have happened to their biology. A natural mutation. Possibly intentional manipulation. None of the Eternals can say with any certainty.”
“Leif told me that the war claimed most of their records,” explained Hitchens. “What little remains are sparse on detail.”
“If that’s true, then how did they know where the slip tunnel was?” I asked.
“Major events are often referenced many times across a multitude of records and logs. There was enough information for them to know the location, but not enough to tell them that the tunnel could not be activated from their side.” Hitchens frowned. “Had they known, I doubt very much that events would have unfolded the way that they did.”
I thought back to the conversations I’d had with Leif since his arrival. He’d explained as much as he could about his experiences on the other side of the tunnel, so far from Earth, but it had mostly been about how dangerous the Celestials were and why we should shut down the gate.
Not much that I could use, really. None of these people had ever seen a Celestial up close, and only a few had survived a direct encounter with one of their ships. What little info I’d gleaned had come in the form of vague warnings and stories of life on the station before it came crashing into our world.
“Yes, it is most surprising,” continued Athena, breaking my focus. “While these Eternals are technologically less advanced than their ancestors, they are decidedly more biologically capable.”
“They’re survivors,” said Abigail, looking at Fumi and smiling.
He smiled back.
“Right down to their cells, the same as Lex,” she finished.
I heard Petra move her synthetic arm behind me, the metal alloy beneath the fake muscle and skin creating an almost mechanical sound. She clenched her hand, cupping her other palm around the fingers. I returned my eyes to the boy and his growing arm. It had to be hard for Petra to see this, knowing that she could never have abilities like this. I wondered how strong her jealousy was in this moment. If she was angry at the world, even at the boy, I couldn’t say I blamed her. She was still in mourning, and it would still take time to heal.
“How long before it grows back?” I asked, having difficulty making out the end of his arm and leaning closer to examine him. The pod had covered it with a hard-light construct in order to assist in the healing process.
“We think a few days, based on what we’ve observed so far,” said Octavia. “Of course, nothing is certain.”
“I wonder,” began Hitchens, stroking his cheek.
A few of us looked at him, curiously, but he only stood there in silence. “Oh?” asked Abigail, trying to prompt him to continue. “What do you wonder?”
“Hm?” He blinked, glancing at her. “Ah, did I say that out loud? Goodness!”
“He tends to do that,” commented Octavia.
“Still, I’d like to hear it,” said Abigail.
He beamed. “Of course, Ms. Pryar. I was only wondering if—and this is quite hypothetical, mind you all—but I was curious if it might be possible to examine the boy’s DNA. It might allow Athena here to better evolve her medical practices if you like.”
“Would that actually help?” asked Freddie, looking at Athena.
“Indeed, Mr. Tabernacle. In fact, I have already processed nearly two hundred individual samples with plans for further testing. I simply lack the necessary equipment at this time. Once we transfer the material to Titan, a better analysis can be performed.”
“You’ve been taking samples?” asked Abigail. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I apologize if my actions were presumptuous. I simply did so as a precaution, given the unknown nature of their biology. In order to better serve, I require additional biological information. As I stated, these Eternals are different from those I have on record. Rest assured, however, that I had no plans to proceed without the Captain’s approval.”
“No, that makes sense,” assured Abigail. “It’s better for everyone if you can figure out how they came to be this way.”
I heard a sudden click in my ear. “Sir, pardon the interruption,” said Sigmond. “The drones are nearly finished. I believe we will have an open path to the control room in less than an hour.”
Three
I left the medical floor as soon as I could, telling Sigmond to have Alphonse meet me at the landing pad with his team. I’d had him waiting on standby for the last few hours, so they’d already be there before I arrived.
Freddie and Petra both asked if they could join me, to which I agreed. I didn’t really need their help, but I knew Petra was itching to get out in the field again and this seemed like an easy job to get her feet wet.
I grabbed a sandwich from the cafeteria, along with a fresh, steaming cup of coffee, since I wouldn’t get another chance to eat until later in the day.
I stowed the food in a small bag and held onto the cup as I walked, making my way towards the shuttle bay at a quick pace. As I neared the transport, I spotted Alphonse and a few crewmates as they loaded some supplies into the ship. He ga
ve me a swift nod, and I raised my cup at him. “Fancy day there, Constable,” I said as I neared. “What’s with all the cargo? You planning a move?”
“Computer equipment from Titan,” he explained. “We have no idea how damaged Gaia’s systems are, so Sigmond suggested we come prepared. This is the fourth ship we’ve loaded so far today. The others are en route as we speak.”
“You expect to find the control room under a pile of bricks?” I asked.
“Given the size of that crash, I wouldn’t be surprised,” admitted Alphonse.
I waited for his team to move the last crate inside the ship before I climbed aboard, grabbing the passenger’s seat in the front.
Alphonse followed but then paused beside my chair. He looked at the empty pilot’s seat before glancing back at me. “Aren’t you flying, Captain?”
“Not today,” I said, unwrapping my sandwich and setting my coffee on the dash. “You’re taking the stick on this one.”
“If you insist,” he said, settling into the other chair and strapping in. He placed his hand on the control pad, illuminating his tattoos with a soft, blue glow.
Seeing that reminded me of the new Eternals, none of whom had tattoos. It had limited their ability to access certain areas or interact with specific equipment, but I hoped to rectify that in the coming days and weeks. Just like the other colonists we’d brought from the Deadlands, they’d eventually be fully integrated into our group and given the same access as everyone else, but like so many other things on our priority list, it would take time to get there. We still had to deal with the slip tunnel, the clean-up from the crash, and the many wounded Eternals still sitting in our makeshift med-bay.
The strike ship lifted off the platform and started moving toward the horizon, accelerating at a comfortable pace. Before I knew it, the land faded into a blue sea, steady waves crashing in the morning light.
I eased back in my seat, chowing down on the rest of my sandwich. The bread was fresh enough that I didn’t mind the dry meat, but I would give anything right now for a steak. I thought about the diner on Taurus Station, wondering if the food was still what I remembered. Maybe I could convince the owner to move his operation to Earth, maybe incentivize him with a few hundred regular customers and the promise of being the only restaurant in the system. I wagered an offer like that would be hard to turn down.
I took my coffee and kicked my feet up on the dash, easing back in my seat and taking a swig. The brew was fresh and went down smooth. It wasn’t the best, but it was relaxing all the same.
“Feeling comfortable, Captain?” asked Alphonse.
“Just making plans, Al,” I told him.
“What kind of plans?” he asked. “Do they have anything to do with the new domes? MaryAnn mentioned some interesting finds at the Alpha site.”
I waved a dismissive hand at him. “Sure, sure. Something like that.”
“I believe that is a lie,” interjected Sigmond, appearing on the holo display. His golden head appeared to hover slightly above the dash, an easy smile on him.
Alphonse snickered. “I gathered that much.”
“If I were to guess, given the look on his face at the time, I’d say the Captain was likely thinking about food,” said Sigmond.
“Oh? And just what do you know, Siggy?” I asked. “Don’t think for a second you get how my head works.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, sir,” said the Cognitive.
I took another sip of my coffee. “Somehow, I have a hard time believing that.”
* * *
We reached the chasm before I had a chance to nod off. From there, it was a long drop to the center of the planet.
Thankfully, we’d already gone through the trouble of mapping it all out, allowing Alphonse to navigate with absolute precision as we accelerated to full thrust.
What had taken us nearly a day to explore on our first excursion now only required about two hours. In other words, just enough time for a short nap.
And a short nap it was, thanks to the call we received when we had gone about halfway down the tunnel. It was Dressler, having already arrived at the Core. “You’re running late,” she announced, forcing me to sit up. “Is there a problem?”
“What’s the hurry, Doc?” I asked, stretching my legs and arms. I looked at the time, which indicated we still had ten minutes before the drones would complete their work, finally giving us access to the inner chamber. “It’s not like it would move any faster if we were there.”
“It’s going to take time to unload your supplies, which means you should arrive earlier than the estimated completion time. It is more efficient.”
“More efficient? You in a hurry or something? What difference do a few minutes make?” I asked.
“In case you’ve forgotten, Captain, my team and I are in the middle of a very important research project. Every second I spend away from my work is progress lost.”
“If that’s true, then why’d you bother coming all the way down here?” I asked.
She glared at me. “While I would prefer to remain at the Alpha site, I promised Alphonse that I would join you for the shutdown sequence.”
“I felt it would be wise to have someone with her engineering background present,” explained Alphonse.
I snickered and looked at Dressler. “Sounds like Al’s trying to find any excuse to have you around, Doc.”
She started to say something, but paused, almost like she was choking on the words. “J-just get down here quickly. We have work to do.”
Before either of us could say anything, the holo cut off, and she disappeared.
I turned to Alphonse. “Well, would you look at that. It’s not every day you see that woman flustered.”
* * *
We arrived, and the progress the drones had already made shocked me. They’d cleared most of the crash site of debris, but it would take some time to remove everything. There had been dozens of towers here before the slip tunnel had opened, but now only their ruined foundations remained. In time, we’d clear all of that away as well, but it would take weeks, if not longer. The biggest priority, for now, was clearing a path to Gaia’s chamber and recovering her system, all the while shutting down the slip tunnel indefinitely.
I tossed on a breathing mask—necessary because of the lingering dust in the air. Sigmond had a plan to bring in some filters over the next day, but that would have to wait until after we cleared the major wreckage. I hoped to set up a permanent station down here eventually, maybe even use this city as a research center. Considering how much tech the Eternals had left here, it stood to reason we had plenty to find.
One thing at a time, I had to remind myself as I disembarked from the ship.
I grabbed hold of one of the crates, helping Alphonse and his crew unload the equipment and haul it to the edge of the platform.
Three figures appeared from the distant tunnel, one of them waving at us as they approached. It didn’t take me long to recognize them—Dressler, Karin, and Leif.
“How’s it looking in there?” I asked before any of them could say a word.
“The path is mostly clear,” said Dressler.
I glanced at Leif, a little surprised to see him here. “Do your people know you’re down here?”
He nodded. “I sincerely apologize if I’ve overstepped, but I am only here to ensure the—”
“The slip tunnel gets shut down,” I finished. “I hope after all of this is done, you find something else to feel that passionate about.” I smacked Alphonse on the back of his shoulder. “Let’s see about that Cognitive. What do you say, Al? Doc?”
“Of course,” said Dressler. “We were waiting on you to arrive with that cargo.”
I glanced back at the crates. “Let’s get this shit inside, then. What say you, boys?”
“Yes, sir,” replied a few of the crew. They each grabbed hold of the handles, hoisting the boxes.
I took one by the hand, motioning for Alphonse to take the other end. I shot
a quick glance at Leif and Dressler. “You two planning on pitching in?”
Dressler raised her brow, like I’d insulted her, and turned around, heading back to the corridor.
“Guess she’s out,” I said. “Leif, if you’re sticking around, you’d best pitch in.”
The Eternal gave a swift nod without argument, taking the last remaining crate. He struggled to lift it, quickly dropping the box on the ground.
“Are you alright?” asked Karin, quickly shuffling to his side. “Please, don’t try to do that by yourself.”
I motioned with my head for Alphonse to follow me, and we left Karin and Leif to figure out the crate on their own time.
We reached the tunnel, which was now partially filled with fallen slabs of metal debris. A few people were working on the other end, slowly removing various pieces and setting them in a large pile. The drones would be responsible for hauling all of that to the surface, once the workers had collected enough, but that would take some time.
The inner atrium was mostly still intact, so long as you didn’t look at the far wall. I was surprised to see the corner ceiling collapsed, blocking the exit that led to the former holding area and shutoff switch for the trilobites.
“Let’s hope we don’t have to use that again anytime soon,” I said, setting down the crate with a hard thud.
Dressler stood beside Gaia’s Capsule unit, which seemed to be largely untouched, and plugged Sigmond’s thumb drive into it. “Sigmond, if you wouldn’t mind,” she began. “Let’s wait before we reactivate the Cognitive. I want her systems fully analyzed and repaired.”
“Understood, Doctor,” replied Sigmond’s disembodied voice.
“In the meantime,” continued Dressler, looking at both Alphonse and me. “The rest of us will need to get to work on repairs.”
I watched Alphonse bend down and pop the lock on the crate. He removed a large device from the cushioned safety of the box, setting it firmly on the floor and unfurling the attached wires.
Dressler must have seen the question forming in my eyes because what followed was another explanation. “The power to this part of the facility is in dire need of repair, so to compensate, we’ll be using several generators.”
