by William Wood
On a small table in the back corner, sat a strange looking device, which could only be one thing.
“There it is,” Calvin said. “The fifth segment.” He felt a surge of excitement. Astra followed him across the room. It was a round spherical object, with small spikes protruding from its center. First Calvin touched it, and then he picked it up. It was heavy. Calvin held it up so Astra could look at it. They shared a smile.
“Finally,” Calvin said. “We might actually be able to do this.”
“You sound surprised,” Astra said. “Now we have half of the segments. Of course we can do this. We’re going to do this!”
“Let’s celebrate later,” Calvin said. “Once we’re back on the Frost. Let’s get out of here.” They all started walking towards the door. Calvin struggled with the segment. It didn’t feel like it was going to be a problem for him at first, but the longer he held it, the heavier it felt.
“I can carry that sir,” one of the robots said, walking up to Calvin and putting his arms out.
Calvin felt a twinge of anxiety. It was something in the robot’s tone. For some strange reason, Calvin didn’t trust the robot. He didn’t know why. But reluctantly, he handed the device to the robot, who took it as if it didn’t weigh anything.
“Wait,” Astra said, examining the computers. “We need to look around first. I want to find out what these computers are doing.”
“OK,” Calvin said. “But please hurry. We’ll look around and see if we can find anything else worth taking.”
“I won’t be long,” Astra said, sitting down in a chair and studying the screens around her. Calvin stood behind her, watching. Dev and Wexton walked around the room slowly. They opened desk drawers, cabinets and looked under tables. Petori and Freks were still by the main door, staring down the corridor with their guns out.
“There’s a program running,” Astra said. “I don’t know what it is, but it’s big.”
“I don’t understand,” Calvin admitted. “I thought the station’s power was depleted.”
“It is. This is running off a separate power supply. I think when the previous occupants left, they shut it down, but when we arrived it started up again.”
“Is it dangerous?” Calvin asked, trying to read the screens, but not understanding any of them.
“I’m not sure, but there is a tremendous amount of energy building up right now in the main reactor. I think we triggered it when we entered the lab.” She pressed a few buttons, changing the view on the monitor.
“Is it a self-destruct?” Calvin asked, suddenly afraid. When he heard the words self-destruct, Dev stopped what he was doing and walked over.
“I don’t think so,” Astra said. “I think it’s an experiment. It was meant to be a computer model only, a simulation, but look, for some reason the code is corrupted and the computer, well, it’s actually happening.”
“What’s it doing?”
Astra’s face went white, and her eyes opened wide with fear. She turned in her chair and looked at Calvin. “It’s trying to create a black hole.” Everyone heard what she said, and stared at her.
“What?” They all said at once.
“Where?” Calvin asked.
“Here, right here,” she stuttered. “In that room.” She pointed at the round room through the window.
“What?” Dev said. “That’s impossible. You can’t create a black hole in a lab. That’s crazy.”
“I don’t see anything,” Wexton said.
“No,” Astra said. “Right now it’s happening at a subatomic level, but when the power builds up enough, it will create a black hole; trust me.”
“Then turn it off,” Dev said. “Hurry.”
“I can’t!” Astra shouted. “I already tried!”
“It’s time to leave,” Calvin said. “Now.”
“No!” Astra said strongly. “There’re files in these computers that could be valuable, especially ones regarding this experiment. I have to download them!”
“Do we even have time for that?” Wexton asked.
Astra looked at the screen. “According to this, we have thirty minutes. Please Calvin, let me do this.”
“OK Astra, but hurry,” Calvin said. Astra took a tiny portable computer device out of one of her pockets and plugged it into the computer. Her hands were shaking as she moved.
Dev moved up behind Calvin and whispered in his ear, “Calvin, what about the Goremog?”
“I know,” Calvin said. He turned and looked at Dev. “I’ve learned to trust her. If she thinks it’s important, it is. Did you guys find anything else in here worth taking?”
“A couple of things,” Dev said, holding up two small black boxes.
“Good, this is what I want,” Calvin said loudly. “Dev, take the robots and the segment back to the Frost and secure it with the others.”
“Are you sure?” Dev asked.
“Yes, it’s very important that we secure the segment,” Calvin said. “And I need you to take care of it. The Goremog are coming. Take Petori and Freks with you in case you run into them. I don’t want the segment to get caught in a fire fight, so hurry.”
“Yes sir,” Dev said.
“Sir,” Sierra One said. “My primary purpose is to protect Princess Astra. I must not leave.”
“Your primary purpose is to obey orders,” Calvin said, not wanting to argue with him. “Make sure the segment gets back to Azure Frost. As soon as it’s safe on board, you can come back and get us.”
Sierra One looked at Astra.
“Do what he says,” Astra said.
“Yes ma’am.”
Dev and the robots hurried out of the room. On their way, Calvin heard Dev on the comm, “Ion, I’m on my way back to the Frost with the segment.”
“What about me?” Wexton asked.
“The Goremog will be here very soon,” Calvin said. “I want you to help us get back to the ship.” He didn’t say it, but he didn’t trust Petori or Freks. Wexton nodded, understanding.
“Got it,” Wexton said, “I’ll watch the door.” He turned and walked to the door, his weapon up and ready.
“How’s it going, Astra?” Calvin asked.
“I’m hurrying,” she said. “Fifty percent.” Calvin paced the room. They were almost out of time, he could feel it. If they didn’t get moving soon, the situation would quickly turn into a nightmare.
“Master Calvin,” Ion said. “A second Goremog assault shuttle has arrived. I highly recommend you stop what you’re doing and hurry back to the ship immediately.”
“Hold on, Ion,” Calvin snapped.
“Seventy-five percent,” Astra said loudly. Suddenly a bright electric charge shot across the room. Calvin and Astra instinctively ducked down.
“The power levels are spiking!” Astra shouted. “Oh no!”
“What?” Calvin asked.
“The black hole is forming!”
Calvin suppressed his fear and desire to yank her away from the computer. “How much longer?” He asked quickly.
“Ninety percent,” Astra said. “Almost there!” Three more bolts of electricity shot across the room, Calvin could feel his hair standing up. He ran to the window and looked into the round chamber. The lens emitters were pouring blue light into the center of the chamber, where a small dark ball was forming.
“Astra,” Calvin said. “We have to get out of here now!”
“I know!”
“No, I mean right now!”
She turned and looked, just as the window was ripped out of the door and sucked into the newly formed black hole. It was small, only the size of an apple, but the small black spot was growing quickly and Calvin could feel the gravity in the room change, pulling him towards it. Astra quickly unplugged her portable device from the computer and put it back in her front vest pocket. Calvin took her by the hand and they ran towards the door.
They didn’t make it. There was a deafening pop, and a sudden rush of air. Calvin fought the urge to look back. He focu
sed all of his attention on getting to the door and grabbing onto the handle. The pressure was intense, and getting stronger by the second. He barely made it. Astra tried, but missed. Then, as if a massive hand reached out and grabbed both of them, the gravity intensified and dragged them back. Astra desperately tried to grab onto something, but managed to grasp Calvin’s foot, barely. One of Calvin’s laser pistols came lose and was sucked into the tiny black hole.
Calvin held on for dear life, but could feel his grip loosening. There was nothing he could do. He realized with grim certainty there was no way he was going to be able to open the door because it opened outward. He would have to push the door forward but everything was being pulled in the opposite direction. He thought he could feel Wexton banging on the door from the other side. Desperation! What was he supposed to do? Just as his strength was about to give out, something amazing happened. There was a sudden flare-up from the black hole. For a moment, gravity shifted forward causing Calvin and Astra to fall to the floor. Calvin quickly stood up and pushed on the door with all his strength. He grabbed Astra and helped her out of the room. As soon as they crossed the threshold, gravity reversed itself again. The door slammed shut behind them, nearly crushing them in the process.
“Was that a black hole?” Wexton asked, incredulously.
“Not yet,” Astra said, gasping for breath. “But one is forming. We have to get out of here now!”
“That’s what I’ve been saying!” Calvin said. They ran out of the main lab. Calvin closed the door behind them.
“That door can’t hold back what’s coming,” Astra said as they ran down a corridor and into the stairwell. They reached the bottom of the stairs, and Calvin became aware of something on the edge of his vision, distracting him. His heart almost stopped when he looked at it. The map was covered with clumps of red dots.
“Oh no!” She said, loudly. “Calvin, look at the scanner!”
“I see it,” Calvin said. “The Goremog are in the base.”
“Where are they?” Wexton asked. “I see red dots everywhere!”
Calvin studied his map carefully. The situation was about to get intense. The last time he’d been pursued by Goremog attack robots, he was with Jax, and he was unarmed; this time was different. Calvin gripped his laser riffle tightly. He was about to find out what the upgraded Alerian weapons could do.
“They’re moving incredibly fast,” Astra said. “I can’t count them. Wait, there they are. There are twenty-five on the docking level. No, more than that. They’re spreading out. What should we do?”
“If they’re spreading out we won’t have to fight them all at once.” Wexton said. “If we go directly back to the ship, we can slip through them and only have to fight a few. But we have to move fast, or they’ll converge on us from all sides.”
“Well, I don’t think,” Calvin began to say but was interrupted by a loud smashing sound coming from behind them.
“The lab is being sucked into the black hole. This whole place is going to implode,” Astra said. “We don’t have time to discuss it!”
“Ok, go!” Calvin said.
Wexton charged up the stairs, with Calvin and Astra close behind. The frantic run to the top was long and exhausting, but Calvin ignored the pain and pushed himself on. The stairs crisscrossed back and forth, higher and higher, Calvin’s leg’s burned, his heart pounded and breathing became very difficult.
An ear-piercing explosion, followed by a dozen smaller blasts rocked the base. Calvin felt a breeze on his face. At the top of the stairs, they stopped for a moment. Calvin looked at the various sensor readings in all directions of his peripheral vision. It was hard to sort through the cacophony of warnings and flashing red lights.
“The station is venting atmosphere,” Astra said, fighting for each breath. “That’s why it’s getting hard to breathe. The base’s shields are trying to protect us, but the air is leaking out into space. Our suits should switch to internal oxygen soon, I hope”
Wexton opened the door. “Come on!” He shouted. “Why are we stopping?” They started running again, but halfway down a long hallway a massive detonation shook the station. The entire base shifted hard and fast, and the three were smashed into a wall. Calvin felt a wave of nausea and pain spreading through his side. He collapsed onto the floor next to Astra.
“What was that?” Calvin asked, struggling to his feet. He felt a stab of pain in his shoulder. He helped Astra stand up.
“Several bulkheads have collapsed,” she said. “The station is disintegrating.” Calvin saw an image of his suit appear just to the right of his vision. A blue force field enveloped his suit and some of the red lights changed to green. Breathing became much easier. He barely had time to catch his breath when the door at the far end of the corridor exploded. Three monstrous attack robots, bristling with weapons emerged though the smoke and debris, firing as they ran.
He had no time to think about what he was going to do or how scared he was. Calvin dropped down to one knee and leveled his riffle. Astra pressed herself against the wall behind him. Calvin’s Helcomp locked onto the advancing robots and quickly analyzed the trajectory of their weapons, the impact on Calvin’s shields and armor. Other lines showed their direction and rate of advance, while light colored shadows predicted where they would move and shoot next. Bright colored dots showed exact points on the enemy robots that Calvin should target; their weak points!
Astra was behind Calvin, peaking around him and firing wildly. Calvin didn’t move for fear of exposing her to incoming fire; instead he let the blasts hit him; which were absorbed by his shields effortlessly. Calvin aimed carefully at the weak spot on the first robot and pulled the trigger rapidly. Their combined fire created a laser storm. The fast moving robots were hard to hit; he kept missing. Finally one of his shots hit the first robot’s knee, blowing its leg clear off. The robot crashed to the floor. Calvin smiled and aimed at the second robot.
He was hit by three more shots; two in the chest, and one in the face. He was blinded for a second, and his shields flickered. Intense pain spread from his head to his neck. He stopped firing, and waited for his vision to return.
Calvin sat still, afraid to move. Two more blasts hit him in the chest; the stinging spread all the way back to his spine. His shields wouldn’t last much longer. After a few moments, his sight came back but everything was slightly blurry.
Knowing they were still in great danger, he tried to focus on the second robot when Wexton jumped out in front of them, blocking his view.
Wexton, what’re you doing? Calvin tried to shout, but nothing came out. Calvin tried to find a target, to provide cover fire, but all he could see was Wexton running down the hallway at full speed, directly toward the other two enemy robots. Calvin tried to stand, but another explosion rocked the base. Debris fell down on Calvin and Astra. A large piece of concrete smashed into the floor right in front of them. He forced himself to stand. Then he pulled Astra up and forward with him.
They only made it ten feet when another explosion knocked them off their feet, Calvin landed on his stomach and Astra on her side. Small pieces of the ceiling rained down on them. The sound of grinding metal gave Calvin all the energy and motivation he needed. He helped Astra to her feet again and looked ahead for Wexton.
But what he saw filled him with icy fear. Two Goremog robots were standing five feet away with their weapons pointed at them.
Calvin froze. Was this it? Was this the end? No, he would not go out this way. He gripped his weapon and prepared to fire, ready to go down fighting.
Suddenly both robots exploded with a bright flash of light. Fortunately the Helcomp protected his eyes, automatically diming the flash. The walls on both sides were heavily damaged, and fire engulfed the damaged area and was rapidly spreading. Sierra One and Wexton were slowly walking forward.
“Don’t just stand there, “Wexton shouted. “Come on!” He turned back and ran the other way.
Calvin and Astra ran to catch up. At the end
of the corridor they saw the remains of four charred Goremog robots on the ground, still smoking. From there was a straight shot back to the ship.
By the time they reached the Azure Frost, a thin layer of smoke filled the air. Sierra Two and Three were guarding the door. It could have been Calvin’s imagination, or simply a reflection of his own stress, but the robots looked nervous. The door was open, and Dev was standing between them.
“Everything secure?” Calvin asked.
“No, did you see Petori and Freks?” Dev asked, clearly worried.
“No,” Wexton said. “Did they go back out?”
“Yeah, they said they were going back for you,” Dev said. “But they seemed very anxious to get out there and fight the Goremog.”
“No!” Wexton hit the wall. “We can’t leave them here, can we?” He asked angrily.
“I knew they were going to do this,” Calvin said. Part of him wanted to leave them. Now they were a liability. “Why didn’t I listen to myself?”
“We don’t have time for this!” Astra shouted. “The black hole is going to destroy the base any minute.”
“I’ll get ‘em,” Wexton said angrily. “I’d like to take Sierra Two and Three with me.”
“Go,” Calvin said. “And hurry. We’ll give you a couple of minutes, but if it looks like you can’t find them, get back here fast! Wexton, I don’t want to leave you behind.”
“I understand,” Wexton said, and then to Sierra Two and Three he said, “Let’s go.” They ran off, vanishing into the smoke.
“Calvin, let’s get to the bridge,” Astra said.
“OK,” Calvin said simply.
“I will watch the door,” Sierra One said.
Calvin and Astra ran as fast as they could to the bridge. Once there, Calvin took off his vest and helmet and put them on the floor by his chair. Astra did the same and they hastily sat down and put their seatbelts on.
Time seemed to slow. Astra worked at her computer, but Calvin had nothing to do but sit and watch the scanner. The black hole was growing, consuming the interior of the base. Red dots on the screen were disappearing one at a time. If nothing else, Petori and Freks were very effective in taking out the enemy. But such uncontrolled fury wasn’t good for anyone. They were putting the mission at risk. If they didn’t leave very soon, they would all die. Calvin was getting impatient and angry. This could not be allowed to happen again. He looked at the docking controls. All he had to do was disconnect the clamps and go full throttle. If Wexton wasn’t out there, he might have done it. But, he didn’t. He would wait. Finally, he could wait no longer.
