by Dennis Young
“Everyone else safe? The crew below?”
“Yes, sir, no other attacks or injuries.”
“Have those below ascend to your location. Get everyone together. Find a way to the hangar deck and prepare to disembark.”
Hamilton paused before she answered. “Understood, sir, but I recommend we stay to complete this shift. In the meantime, I’ll have Chief Abol and his E-Tech work through the problem of getting to the hangar. The crew needs to stay busy. Tension is getting a bit thick.”
“Very well. And if you’ll look out the windows, you’ll see two assault shuttles in place. If need arises, we can take out the viewports and get everyone out that way.”
“I saw them earlier, sir. I hope it doesn’t come to that, but this station is beginning to show signs of a very inquisitive AI. And my opinion is, it will continue to test us as long as we’re here.”
“Agreed. Proceed, Commander, and check back in thirty minutes.”
“Aye, sir. Hamilton out.” She clicked the switch and sighed. Their investigation had just become a bit more urgent, and knowing the captain, he wouldn’t hesitate to get them out in whatever way necessary.
* * *
EAS Agincourt…
Westermann called Sickbay again, Dr. Kamisori having not responded to his previous call. One of the nurses answered.
“The doctor was off-duty, sir. She stood three watches in a row. Apologies for not getting back to you sooner.”
“Why was the doctor on duty for eighteen hours?”
“We’re getting cases in of… well, motion sickness. General dizziness, nausea, ringing in the ears, that sort of thing.”
“How many?”
“About thirty, sir, and they’re all coming from the outer areas of the ship. Dr. Kamisori is of the opinion the time-flow issues may be causing them.”
Westermann bit back a rebuke. And she didn’t think it important to tell me, with the landing party on the ship? He counted to ten before continuing. “Where is the doctor now?”
A pause on the intercom, then Kamisori’s voice came through. “Yes, Captain, what can I do for you?”
“Review the recent records from the party onboard the station. I need your expertise as to how long they can hold up under these circumstances.” Then you and I will have a talk about respect for command, he thought.
“Captain, I scanned them as they came in just now. If you’re asking about psychological issues regarding the time-flow, I have no idea. We’ve never encountered anything like this and there is nothing in Earthfleet or Alliance records I can find. But you heard my nurse tell you about concerns for the crew and the physical issues they are manifesting.” She paused. “You do understand the implications, correct?”
Westermann began to speak, then shook his head. “Explain, Doctor, we may not have a lot of time.”
“I’m not a physicist, but as it was explained to me by one of my nurses who is a hobbyist, since the time-flow is the reverse of ours, this station may be waiting for the planet to return to its formation. However long that may be.”
“Commander Xiaoli reported the planet is over three billion years old, Doctor.”
“Yes, I attended the briefing remotely. So the station may be designed to stay until the planet, in the station’s time frame, returns to its formative state.”
Westermann conceded. “No, it was not discussed. Why would this occur to your nurse?”
Kamisori chuckled. “She’s a hobbyist, like I said. Sometimes those with less formal training see things differently. It’s just a theory. But it has other implications.”
“Go on.”
“It implies the station was assembled at some point back in time as we know it. How long ago, there is likely no way to determine.”
“So… the station could disassemble itself at some time in… our future. Soon?”
“Again, a theory, Captain. She’s been talking about this since we arrived.”
“And what might alert us to this?”
Again, Kamisori laughed. “If the station starts taking itself apart, it’s probably a bad sign.”
Westermann closed his eyes, wishing his social skills were better with the recalcitrant doctor. “Very well. Give my thanks to your nurse for her insight. Westermann out.” He snapped the switch savagely, glaring at the screen. Dammit. Dammit!
* * *
The Station…
The S-Techs and security ensign appeared through the floor hatchway with no delays. Hamilton reasoned it had been the brandished side arm that set off the station’s defense programming, and ordered all weapons holstered and powered-down. Chief Abol had traced the circuitry keeping the hatch to the hangar locked and confirmed he could override it, with a bit of luck.
“Luck?” Hamilton grinned at the engineer. “I thought it was the ‘passion of the hunt’ that the Arneci used as explanation of success. Now it’s luck?”
Abol nodded slowly, his dark eyes nearly invisible behind the helmet visor. “Too much time around humans, Commander, and I have learned poor habits. My apologies.” He grinned.
“Prepare immediately, so we can get out of here. I’m sure Captain Westermann is anxious to get us all back aboard Agincourt.”
“Yes, Commander.” He moved to the hatch once more, where he was joined by Sh'zaoqoq.
“Not a situation we were expecting,” she said, moving closer.
Abol watched his scanner for a moment, then turned to face her. “We will return safely, once this hatch is unsealed.” He watched her face carefully. “You appear pale. Speak of it.”
She looked away. Perspiration grew on her forehead, and her eyes were half-closed. “Truly, I am very tired. I worry, too…”
“For the child?” Abol raised his face. “Commander, there is a problem!”
Hamilton came to his side immediately. Thevoss leaned against her, knees sagging. “Lay her down, quickly. Xiaoli, your medical scanner please.”
Xiaoli knelt and passed the scanner over Thevoss’s prone figure. “Heart rate elevated, temperature as well, brain activity below optimum and slowing.”
“What does this mean?” Abol took his bondmate’s hand and looked to the science officer.
“Unknown, but not a good sign. I recommend immediate return to Agincourt, Commander.”
Hamilton touched the intercom button on her suit sleeve. “Agincourt, Hamilton. Medical emergency, get Doctor Kamisori on the line!”
They waited as Xiaoli scanned Thevoss once again. “Stable, but not strong. Medical attention is needed.”
“Stay strong,” said Abol to Thevoss in Arneci. “This will pass, and you will be stronger for it.”
“Kamisori here. What’s the problem, Commander?”
Hamilton nodded to Xiaoli, who repeated her findings. There was a pause as they waited for the ship to respond.
“Alright, it’s likely something to do with the time-flow and her pregnancy. Get her back to the ship as quickly as possible. You’re all wearing stasis gear, correct?”
“Affirmative, Doctor,” replied Xiaoli, before Hamilton could answer.”
“Good. Put her in immediate suspension. That will stop any further degeneration and give us time.”
“Do it,” Hamilton ordered.
Xiaoli watched the scanner for a moment. “Commander Sh'zaoqoq, please relax in a more comfortable position, legs straight and arms at your side.”
The Arneci woman moved her legs, nearly gasping for strength. Xiaoli changed several settings on Thevoss’s suit. The deep-blue shimmer brightened, and the suit became an abstract mirror laying before them.
“Time for what, Doctor?” asked Abol, now looking with deep concern to Thevoss’s unmoving form.
Again, there was a pause from the ship. “It’s possible there is enough ‘leakage’, so to speak, to affect the fetus and its development. Any reverse time-flow effects might cause… miscarriage.”
“No…” Abol shook his head, almost violently.
“At ease, Commander
,” said Hamilton, laying a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll do everything we can as quickly as we can.” She looked to the hatch and the power-panel beside it. “Get that hatch opened and we’ll do this. Doctor, prepare for our arrival within fifteen minutes. Hamilton out.”
Abol stood, scanned the panel once again, and pressed several buttons on his PADD with trembling hands. Nothing happened. He reset the instrument, tried again. Nothing. He swore in Arneci and turned away.
Hamilton stood and took him aside. “Look at me, Abol! We need you now! Your passion is real and understood, but right now we need the Chief Engineer. Stay with me. Do your duty.”
“My bondmate is ill and our child dying! And you ask for duty!”
“Yes.” Hamilton put her hands to Abol’s shoulders and looked him in the eye. “Stay with me. We will find a way together. Trust.”
“Commander!” Butler’s shout drew Hamilton’s attention. She looked to the hatch. It was slowly swinging open.
* * *
The station observed with fascination. Something was obviously wrong with one of the dark-skinned creatures, nearly collapsing against the pink-skinned one it had determined to be the leader. Communications flowed between the leader and the larger vessel, now very close to the station. Nearly too close. The station had not enough processing power available to decipher the information, and it would not likely have made any sense, considering the time-flow issues. Yet the creature now on the floor was in obvious distress.
Should the station allow them to leave, would they return? What if the station did not allow them passage to their small craft? Would they attempt to force the hatch? Their weapons likely didn’t have enough power to burn through the hatch, but they could do considerable damage to the controls, and possibly force the lock.
Fascinating. The station had not considered such an event. Might it be a trick? The station’s sensors could not penetrate the stasis fields, but optical scanners showed definite physical anxiety and changes in color. There were beads of… something emerging from within the affected creature’s forehead. The optical interfaces on the front of the affected creature’s head were dull and nearly unresponsive. Yes, this was no trick, and now the station had a decision to make. Release the creatures, with no certainty they would return, or keep them here, attending their fallen comrade.
The station considered. These creatures had shown care with their investigations. While their probing equipment had found many of the station’s abilities, nothing critical or confidential had been breached. The trade of information gleaned from the larger vessel was certainly worth what small secrets the station had given up.
At the last, the station decided; it would allow the creatures their exit, if that was what they desired. The station understood the importance of life and keeping it fit. As one intelligent entity to another, it would certainly not deny the chance to live.
* * *
EAS Agincourt…
Hamilton contacted the captain, filling him in on events and advising him of her conversation with Dr. Kamisori as the shuttle entered the hangar deck.
“I had a similar one myself,” said Westermann from the Bridge. “We’ll discuss later, but the priority is to get Commander Sh'zaoqoq to Sickbay. When she’s stabilized and Chief Abol is with her, report to my ready room. We have other pressing issues.”
“Aye, sir. We’re all glad to be back on board.” Hamilton closed the contact and watched as Sh’zaoqoq was wheeled from the shuttle down the corridor to the turbolift. Abol followed, speaking quietly in Arneci to his bondmate, even though she was frozen in time with the stasis unit running.
Hamilton followed with the rest of the landing party, but there was no room for them in the lift car with the gurney. They waited as the doors closed, looking to one another. At last the First Officer’s eyes stayed with Xiaoli’s.
“Assessment, Commander? How intelligent is the station, and was releasing us a cognizant choice or just an automatic response of a safety protocol?”
The science officer pondered for moments as the others watched and waited. “If I were to assign odds, I would say perhaps seventy percent the AI was aware of Commander Sh’zaoqoq’s distress.” She almost showed a smile. “If I were to assign odds.”
“Commander,” said Butler, looking to each of the women, “you’re saying the station is alive? AI, I can understand, but to recognize a medical issue of an alien species requires awareness of a high order. The ability to comprehend another being’s pain or discomfort, and act in a manner to assist…” His voice trailed as he shook his head.
“Not necessarily,” continued Xiaoli. “The station has obvious optical receptors, auditory receivers, and an enormous amount of computing power. In nearly every sentient species we have encountered, there are certain common traits regarding illness or pain. To observe one of us exhibiting behavior not seen, and the others of the party moving to assist, should be a simple problem to calculate and draw conclusion from.”
“True sentience, though,” replied Butler, “would mean life, wouldn’t it? Feelings? Emotions?”
Xiaoli raised an eyebrow and traded glances with Hamilton, who only grinned and spoke. “Sounds like you have a pupil, Commander. Perhaps when this emergency is over, you can assist the Lieutenant in some of your experiments with AI’s and their thought processes.”
Butler began to speak, but the lift doors opened, and they crowded in together. “Sickbay,” said Hamilton, pressing the intercom button. “We’ll all see Commander Sh’zaoqoq is settled and Chief Abol is with her, then I need your reports in the next couple of hours. Technically, none of you are on ship’s duty, but the captain is expecting our review to determine whether or not we’re returning to the station.”
“I hope he’ll allow us to,” said Xiaoli. “It’s a fascinating artifact and deserves further study.”
“I agree, Commander, but at the same time, we can’t be sure what the continued exposure to the reverse time-flow might be. If it can affect Thevoss, there is no guarantee it won’t show others harm… however unintentional.”
The lift door opened. They hurried down the corridor to Sickbay. Hamilton followed more slowly, thinking of what else might be on the captain’s mind, and wary of his last words.
* * *
Hamilton stopped by her quarters long enough for a quick sonic shower and a change of uniform after leaving Sickbay. She longed for a real shower, or maybe lounging in a hot tub, but the captain was waiting, and Earthfleet Long Range Explorers were not blessed with such niceties as hot tubs.
She entered the Bridge, nodded to the officers at their stations, and buzzed the ready room.
Westermann stood as she entered. “Welcome back, Commander.” He motioned to the desk. “I ordered tea for us. Take a moment and tell me about your experiences.”
Hamilton poured tea, sweetened it with honey, and sipped, thinking. “Commander Sh’zaoqoq is out of stasis and stable. Dr. Kamisori says she’ll be fine. Everyone in the party is terribly dehydrated and Sickbay had them all hooked up to IV’s when I left. The environmental suits do that, you know.”
Westermann nodded, watching his first officer carefully. “Give me a quick summary so we can decide how best to proceed. I’ve already gotten a call from Xiaoli, almost begging a chance to return to the station. I need your advice.”
Hamilton stared into her cup. “Captain, we’ve never encountered anything like this. We have the run of a completely alien artifact with no interference at all to learn its secrets.”
“Not exactly true, Lori. The station itself has shown the ability to test us. I can’t believe that won’t continue. At what point does it become seriously dangerous? How will the station know what’s lethal and what’s only a bump on the head?”
Hamilton considered. “No, sir, I can’t believe that now. Even with my natural caution, as you’ve called it, I don’t believe the station will purposely harm us. Test us, yes, because that’s likely what it’s programmed to do. Harm… I just do
n’t see it, after what we went through.”
“So your official recommendation is that we return?”
Hamilton paused, then grinned. “You realize we’ve switched places here? You’re being cautious while I’m all gung-ho?” She laughed. After a moment, Westermann joined her.
“Very well, Commander. Who do you want to replace the Chief and his bondmate?”
“I’ll take one of the younger E-Techs. It’s a good exercise. Butler is proving to be a good foil for the science officer. I’ve suggested they work together after this mission is over.”
Westermann nodded. “We have a couple of other issues to talk about. The first being Dr. Kamisori.”
Hamilton sighed. “Yes, sir. I know you requested her for Agincourt, but she just doesn’t seem to have the temperament for shipboard life. She actually snapped at Abol when we brought Thevoss into Sickbay. It’s a concern, yes.”
“The other issue is, where are the Qoearc? And if we’re only a couple of light years from a Stiz outpost, should we be worrying about them as well?”
“Yet no sign of either, right?”
“Tactical and Sciences find no trace… yet. But for some reason, I can’t shake the feeling we’re not out of this. Someone will always show up to make it… interesting.”
Hamilton pondered for a moment as she refilled their teacups. “Agincourt is a match for anything the Qoearc have, sir, as long as we’re not blind and without countermeasures. As for the Stiz, their only advantage is their energy field system. Their ships aren’t much more than assault shuttles with better weapons.”
“And this star system isn’t likely something they’d be interested in, except for the station itself. Regardless, we’ve got to stay alert.” Westermann thought as he drained his cup. “Plan on returning to the station in twenty-four hours. That will give everyone time to rest and recuperate. No more than three days, Lori. We’re pushing our luck here now. And you know the concerns from Dr. Kamisori’s ‘hobbyist’ regarding what might happen to this station due to the time-flow difference.”
