The Space Traveler (The Space Traveler Saga Book 1)

by Devon Shubin

  The space-station's computer voice continued repeating, “Weapon fully charged. Ready for fire.”

  “Yes Captain.”

  Flying toward the hallway he could see an opening that led to the lower section. It had to be twenty feet in circumference to allow the Fequians in. The hole was dark. Flying in without hesitation he pointed his head down and rocketed into the next lower room where a large flat energy source was pulsating. The room was circular and the ceiling was only twenty feet tall if that. It was indeed a crawl space for the Fequians.

  “Captain, the ship’s thrusters are pointed at the space station.”

  “Good. Set to low and thrust once!” he said as he navigated his way toward the large energy source. There was large web like wires running across the cold metal floors and toward the walls where panels lined the room. He reached out for one of the wires and felt the knock that moved the ship but he remained stationary. That is what happens when you're floating in zero gravity. The walls came quickly at him and he covered his face as the wall hit him, pushing him outwards floating and spinning in circles.

  He could hear the loud grunt of the Fequian Astronaut upstairs. Then he could hear him move around.

  “Computer, get out of here,” the Space Traveler said in his mouthpiece.

  The ships computer responded, “Protocol will not allow us to abandon you Captain.”

  “Just circle around. That may buy us enough time so I can shut the power source off.”

  “Yes Captain.”

  Upstairs, the disoriented Fequian grabbed on to the control panel and looked back out at the space ship which had taken off. The thrusters again emitting a blue beam that shot into the hallway and into the bridge. He looked down at his suite and some of it was now melted. Ignoring his melted suite, he went back to the weapon controls.

  The alarm continued and the voice repeated, “Weapon fully charged. Ready for fire.”

  Downstairs our Space Traveler finally stopped spinning, by thrusting his boots, stabilizing him in mid- air. “Computer,” he called. But there was no response. “They must be out of range. Darn it. You’re on your own S.T.” he said to himself and then boosted his thrusters lightly, flying toward one of the wall panels. He brushed alongside the wall and held on to it. He was now stable.

  Pressing on his left forearm of his suite, a retractable mechanical flat head screw driver device emerged. “This ought to do the trick,” he said and then moved his arm toward the panel. The tip slid into the screw opening and he pressed another button on his right forearm keypad. The screwdriver spun counter clockwise and the screw came out. He did the same with the next screw. Upstairs he felt a jolt, no doubt from the Fequian astronaut trying to maneuver the space station back towards a position aiming at Goff.

  “Come on, hurry S.T,” he said to himself as he unscrewed the third screw, then the forth and the panel was free. It floated off the wall and he pushed it aside, it floated off. Another jolt of the ship and he then had to reset his boosters to stabilize him back to the wall, he was drifting. The panel lid now removed, he could see dozens of wires, red, blue, green, purple and yellow. Some large wires and some small wires, slithering through one another.

  “You need a laser weapon man!” He said to himself as he extracted the screwdriver which then opened to a claw. Another jolt and the claw moved towards a larger wire and was momentarily stuck between two wires.

  “Come on!” he yelled and then moved his arm left freeing the claw. “Now let’s cut this sucker!” The claw grabbed hold of a red wire and he hit his keypad. Closing, the claw cut through the red wire. Sparks emitted and then the interior lights flickered. He looked up toward the ceiling, waiting. Another jolt shook him and he knew that one severed wire would not shut down the power to the space station. He tried another wire, a blue one. A snap from the claw and the blue wire was separated. Still, the power was on. “I guess I’m gonna’ have to take a more aggressive approach with you serpents,” he said to the inanimate objects.

  Hitting a few key strokes on his right arm keypad and the claw retracted. Then another device appeared, it was a saw. One final tap on his keypad and the saw blade began spinning. Bringing his arm across the right side of his body he then swung left taking out the first layer of wires. The spinning blade sawed through the next layer as sparks were flying across his face shield. The lights in the ship's flickered. Then, some of the overhead lights went out. The computer voice came over the sound system, “Warning. Loss of power.” It repeated this like an alarm.

  He stopped his sawing and waited. Then he heard the large astronaut upstairs moan. He remembered he had his translator device off and so he turned it back on so he could understand what the Fequian was grumbling about. Perhaps that had shut down the power controls. He retracted the device including the saw blade back into his left forearm and turned himself around. He waited. Then he set his boosters on and gently floated toward the opening.

  The Fequian was grumbling, “Turn power back on computer. Use emergency power systems.”

  That was not good the Space Traveler thought to himself. He floated up the shaft opening to spy on what the Fequian was doing. As he peeked over the floor, to his horror the Fequian had reached down to grab him. The three large fingers tucked tightly in the glove came for him and he jetted backwards, hit the shaft wall and released the device saw blade from his forearm. He swung down and around and it began slicing through the Fequians glove.

  “What did you do?” The Fequian asked him as he pulled back his hand and watched as oxygen was spewing out. He held the glove with his other hand trying to stop the air from releasing.

  “I’ve shut down the power Fequian. I will not allow you to destroy your solar system.”

  “This is the destiny of the Yudians, and you little creature have no business here. Leave now or I will crush you.”

  The Space Traveler looked the large being in his one eye, center of his stomach and replied, “I don't think so.”

  The Fequian yelled. Then, ignoring the severe in his glove, he lunged out at the floor toward the Space Traveler who quickly hovered down into the shaft. The long arm of the Fequian chased him. Down the shaft and into the lower level his double-jointed elbows maneuvered his hand down and struck him. This knock, spun the Space Traveler in circles, floating around as his boosters were still firing. Faster and faster he spun. Smacking into the floor and wall simultaneously he bounced up then floated back toward the ceiling. In his rotation, he could see the large arm and hand fumble around the lower level trying to grab him. It looked like a kid, trying to find a toy under his bed.

  Hitting his keypad, a couple of strokes and the Space Travelers elbows released two new boosters to help stabilize him from his orbit. After a few boosts, he was now upright. The Fequian was sliding his large body down the shaft, coming for him. What he didn’t realize is that this section was more of a crawl, and not a standing area for him. The Fequians had not used this space station in over two hundred years, who knows if this Astronaut was even born then.

  Frantic, the Space Traveler looked around the room for something to use against the giant. He could see sparks still emitting from the panel board he cut. He turned himself around and floated toward it. He released the saw blade from his left arm and went to finish the job. Cutting through the second layer of wires the ship jolted. He knew it was not due to him, it must have been the jets from his space ship. With the sparks flying at his helmet, the large Fequian Astronaut coming for him, time was not on his side.

  “Stop!” The Fequian demanded him as his large body was now in the lower section. He reached out as the saw blade cut through the wires and then...the lights went out. The only light emitting in the pitch-black room were due to the white fire sparks coming from the electrical wiring. “Stop!” The Fequian commanded him again, but we know that our Space Traveler is not going to do that. Instead, like a gremlin to an airplane in 1941, he went sawing through the space station power source.

  “Too bad
for your buddy,” he chastised, “Your rotten plans are over.”

  The space station released a loud rumble and the computer's voice faded. Everything was dark except for a few sparks popping in the electrical panel. His blade ceased in the darkness. The Fequian grabbed him and this startled our Space Traveler, so he did what anyone of us would do in that situation, he turned the blade back on and began sawing through the Fequian’s glove. Oxygen sprayed out hissing like a helium balloon farting around a room.

  “I will crush you little thing!” The Fequian threatened.

  The squeezing began and the Space Traveler could feel the crushing he was promised. “I didn't know you had a crush on me...Fequian...I’m flattered.”

  Now, when the word ‘crush’ in this context is translated in Fequian, it literally means as ‘husband and wife.’ So, you can imagine this had a profound effect on the Fequian because he had a wife. So, he was perplexed.

  “What are you saying little one? I am not your wife and you are not my husband. I am a husband but you are not my wife.”

  The Space Traveler, being squeezed now like jelly out of a packet responded the only way he knew how, “You said you had a crush on me. Where I’m from that means romantically. Are you in love with me like you said Fequian?” He grunted at the end of his sentence.

  In the darkness, he could not see the large eye of the Fequian, but he could imagine it was red with anger now. “I said no such thing….you,” the oxygen emitting from both gloves had lowered his level to critical. The saw blade was now cutting through the wrist area of the Fequians spacesuit, but it did not matter anymore.

  The Fequian was gasping for air. He then began softening his grip on our Space Traveler. This allowed him to breath, while the Fequian was losing consciousness due a lack of oxygen. “I...I am...not your wi….fe” The giant said as he passed out. His hand opened completely releasing the Space Traveler who wasted no time retracted his saw after it ceased and jetted his boosters around the Fequian. Flying up the shaft, squeezing around the body and then the legs that lay on top of the first level floor. He watched as the legs were floating in space now. The Fequian was indeed, dead. Strange he thought, he had never killed a being before. He was just an Inspector, not a warrior.

  “Computer,” he called out, “come in.”

  The voice crackled over his earpiece, “Captain, we are glad you are with us.”

  “Well, I’m not dead yet. Prepare the hatch and loading dock, I’m coming in.”

  He boosted himself down the open tunnel into space as the hundreds of bright stars decorated the black background of the universe. His ship was waiting for him. Smiling he said to himself, “What a sight for sore eyes.”

  “I will alert the medic to your injury to your eyes Captain.” The computer said over his earpiece.

  “No, no,” he replied as he flew towards them, “I’m fine computer. I was just talking to myself.”

  “Then I will alert the physiatrist Captain.”

  He shook his head in his helmet and then smiled.

  After he had docked, went through decompression, he was back in his cockpit. 41-A wheeled up behind him, “Captain, the Fequian Space Station is inoperable.”

  “Good,” he said as he took a bite of some weird looking fruit bar. “We need to move the space-station into Goff, destroying it for good.”

  “Captain, I believe that will cause a chain reaction that could affect the solar system and give the Fequians what they wanted.”

  “How’s that?” He inquired as he then kicked his bare feet, no toes remember, up on the console and continued eating his fruit bar.

  “Captain, the energy source from the weapon is like a nuclear reactor. If it interacts with the star Goff it will explode.”

  “So, what do we do with it? Send it out into deep space.”

  “That is an option Captain.”

  He thought about it for a moment and then decided he did not have the right to make this decision. “Let’s patch in headquarters on Hibot’s. I’ll ask my boss what I should do with it. Computer, call in.”

  The computer sent a transmission to headquarters on Hibot’s. The screen on console powered on and Chancellor Kwela Kur appeared. The purple fat being was decorated with dull jewelry like ornaments over his head and around his face draping like a beard.

  “Boss, we have had a setback with the Fequians.”

  “What kind of setback Inspector?” Chancellor Kwela Kur asked as he rubbed his two chins.

  “Oh, just the kind where they tried to imprison me and then use their space-station to blow up their primary star Goff.”

  “That is more of a catastrophe Inspector, not a setback.”

  He continued chewing his granola bar and agreed, “Yeah, that’s true boss, but it’s a setback because of the problem they have with dlom. Its controlling their thinking abilities. I recommend sending in a specialized team to covertly eradicate the dlom and repair the source.”

  “What are the levels of spore count?” The Chancellor asked.

  He chuckled, “I didn’t get the chance to inspect Chancellor, not with the save the day mission and all. Hey, what do we do about their space station with the weapon, should I send it back to Fequ? I thought Goff could destroy it but 41 here, she says that would explode and destroy the solar system.”

  The Chancellor thought for a moment and then replied, “That is not for us to decide Inspector. Come in, we will need you to brief us at once.”

  “No problem boss,” he said with a mouthful, “O-er and ou-” in other words, over and out.

  The screen disappeared and 41-A held the Space Traveler’s shoulder and then asked, “Shall we warp to Hibot’s now Captain?”

  “That’s the Chancellor's orders. Computer, set the ship for warp. We’re going home.”

  Travel 3 - Hibot’s detour

  Hibot’s is a large planet with many assorted colors and rings around it. It’s a beautiful planet from the light of space. On the surface of the planet, the ground cascades every color of the rainbow. The sand, soil and rocks are all distinct colors of red, blue, purple, green, yellow, pink, and orange. The water on this planet is clear, even the many oceans that surround large continents have visibility two hundred feet in depth. The landscape is so vibrant with color that it reflects from the light of space giving it a rainbow-like appearance. The rings of Hibot’s are made of these colored rocks and that is why it is called the rainbow planet.

  Now, as for the beings on this planet, they are unique and different as well. It is a planet of refugees from worlds that were either destroyed during the great intergalactic war or their planet was dying and they took refuge here. There are twenty different species of intelligent beings and hundreds of thousands of domestic and off world animals and insects which Hibot’s has adopted as home.

  Now, earlier in the last chapter I mentioned the Huffrans who did not play nice with others. Even though there is relative peace on the planet, there is still some conflict. That conflict is with the native Duradusks who warmly welcomed them a couple thousand years ago, and the Huffrans. The real problem many believe is entitlement issues with the Huffrans who never felt comfortable with the planet Hibot’s. They had a very difficult time adapting to the landscape, colors, foods, animals and culture of the other three species who lived here.

  The United Systems debated for many decades on the possibility of relocating the Huffrans their own planet, but they have been unable to find a planet capable to sustain life for them. The last thing they wanted to do is pawn them off on another habitable planet. They were trying to keep universal peace not destroy it. Our Space Traveler was aware of this history, he had to understand if he was to understand the dynamics of their relationship. Also, he did inspect Hibot’s facilities where many Huffrans worked and he would have plenty of dealings with them.

  So, you may be wondering, what do the Huffrans look like? I want to see them. Too bad, use your reading imagination because we didn’t provide any details of them.
Perhaps in the movie, one or two may appear, but honestly this story is not going to include much of any Huffrans in this story. The reason this is being mentioned is because of what I mentioned in chapter two and this sets up the planet Hibot’s.

  Anyways, the planet is must attain a peaceful atmosphere, since it is the headquarters of the Universal Safety and Health Administration (USHA). The Chancellor waited for the Inspector in his office. Two of his key staff was on each side of him, sitting in chairs behind his desk. It looked quite Presidential. The Space Traveler walked in to Chancellor Kwela Kur’s office and blurted, “Lookin’ good boss man.”

  “Inspector!” the Chancellor sung, “Please, sit down.” He pointed to the chair facing the opposite direction of his desk and the Space Traveler plopped his purple body down. The two associates stared hard at him as he kicked his feet (no toes remember) on the Chancellor’s desk and started sucking on a lollipop. When he released the lollipop from his mouth, a long string of saliva connected his lip to the reddish pop. It grossed the two associates out and they both looked at each other with frowns. The Chancellor was all too familiar with the antics of the Space Traveler, even though he disapproved of his renegade-like style.

  “Inspector, I want a full report on the condition and situation on Fequ.” The Chancellor demanded. “Now, explain yourself!”

  The lollipop went back into the Space Travelers mouth and he said, ‘ah-ight. It will sipple...the Fe-hughs got a lotta’ pob-ums.” The lollipop came back out, long saliva and all, “but I basically saved the day with a giant laser space-station.” He smiled and put the lollipop back into his mouth.