“I know you will… but do not let my life jeopardize the restoration of the timeline.”
Glenda broke in announcing that the ship’s brig was calling for the Captain.
“Put them on audio,” Jhahnahkan ordered.
“Sir, there is something you should see down here,” the brig’s sergeant said.
“We are a little busy up here at the moment… can it wait?” Jhahnahkan asked.
“No, sir,” was the reply, “I think you better come down here… now.”
Jhahnahkan stood and passed command to Lanatek, “Maintain orbit and continue searching for any life signs.”
He made his way down to the brig in a rather irritated gate not understanding what could possibly be so important that he had to come right at this minute.
He sped up his gate slightly in hopes that he could be done with this quickly and return to the main task at hand.
The doors to the brig were sealed. Usually if there were no prisoners, the doors would be open.
He thought to himself, that was a little strange when he confronted the duty sergeant who so urgently brought him down to inspect something.
“What is so important that you had to call me off the bridge of my ship?” Jhahnahkan barked with obvious impatience.
The sergeant got up from his post and unlocked the cell door by pressing a few buttons on the console. The door swooshed open exposing the interior of the cell that his brother had occupied.
Jhahnahkan entered the cell causing the lights to brighten. He looked over on the cell floor behind the force shielding that had been activated and saw lying on the floor next to the sole bench in the room was his brother.
“Jhovahkan!” Jhahnahkan exclaimed as he knelt down nearly coming in contact with the force shielding causing sparks to jump from the shield that was active.
“Terminate the shielding… he is hurt!” he ordered the brig crew. “Message medical bay… send for the doctor immediately.”
The shielding dropped exposing himself to his brother. Jhahnahkan moved closer to his brother and slowly rolled him over as he coddled him in his arms. His eyes were still sunken in but his skin was not the ashen color nor was his hair white.
“Tamika…” Jhovahkan said with tiredness in his voice. “Our sister… she has done something very terrible…” he struggled to say as he passed out.
* * *
Chapter 7
A Matter of Trust
Leif Erikson Medical Bay
Year: 2983
Jhovahkan lay motionless on the medical bay table. His brother and Dr. Collins stood over his body as the on-board computer scanned his body from top to bottom and then back up again. The blue colored laser beam passed over every inch of Jhovahkan’s body.
Deep within Jhovahkan’s mind were the images of his experience with his sister. He saw images of Tamika and himself searching for a red crystal. The images faded to himself holding a large brilliantly colored red crystal. It glistened and illuminated the ceiling of the crystal cavern. Then he saw images of his sister holding her master power crystal, which had an evil yellowish glow that pulsated. She pressed the tip of her crystal to the side of his new crystal.
He watched as Tamika’s crystal passed a thick yellowy substance into his crystal. The yellow substance began to illuminate from inside the red crystal and began to change to an orange glow as the yellow substance worked its way throughout his crystal.
The images again faded to the two searching the crystal caverns for a very particular crystal field… together he watched, as if he was standing from a distance, infuse the Rune material into the crystals they had discovered that would be the very field their descendants would choose from.
He tossed and turned in his mind as he continued to watch and remember the scenes of what had happened only hours ago. He desperately fought the Rune infection knowing that what Tamika was trying to accomplish was even beyond what he was capable of doing. He simply couldn’t succumb to the power the Rune had on his mind, but the temptation of limitless power was difficult to fight.
With the scan now completed on Jhovahkan, Sam instructed the computer to read the test results.
“Physically,” the computer began, “every scan is normal with one exception.”
“Explain,” Jhahnahkan said.
“There is a foreign substance within his blood stream with a concentration formed around his lower region of his brain.”
The computer put the images of the scans on a screen at the side of the table. They examined the images to determine what this was flowing through his blood stream and the foreign body at the base of his brain. Worst yet, how do they remove it?”
“I’ve never seen anything like it back on Earth!” Sam exclaimed with wonder.
“Computer,” Jhahnahkan ordered, “construct a stasis field around the patient.”
The computer complied and erected a field to prevent Jhovahkan from moving.
“He has been with Tamika…” Jhahnahkan said with concern. “This must be the Rune infection. We must be cautious on how we proceed.”
“Understood,” the doctor said adamantly.
“Wake him.”
“That could be risky since we don’t understand how this infection works or how to combat it.”
“I’m aware of the risks doctor,” he interrupted. “Do it anyway… we need to find out what happened.”
Sam reached for a syringe of medicine to inject into Jhovahkan. He pressed the needle close to his neck preparing to make the injection. “Computer raise stasis field surrounding the injection site.”
“Doctor,” the computer said, “I can inject him with the required medicine with the precise dose to allow him to be awake enough to converse without the need for an evasive method such as what you are about to perform.”
Sam withdrew the needle and set it on the tray next to the table. “This I gotta see.” he said with glee. “Computer, proceed. This computer seems to always amaze me at what it is capable of performing.”
The computer injected a serum into the air of the stasis field. The medicine was quickly absorbed by his skin and lungs.
Jhovahkan slowly opened his eyes and looked around at his surroundings. Unable to move, he began to fight and tug against the stasis field that held him flat on the table.
“What is going on here?” he sleepily asked.
Jhahnahkan leaned down close to his brother so he could see him. “Relax my brother… you are on board my ship the Leif Erikson.”
“I know…” he answered, just a bit more alert. “Tamika… Tamika…” he began to say under his breath.
“What did she do to you?” Sam asked.
“She has done something very terrible… terrible…” he said now fading back into a coma.
“Computer, wake him again… he isn’t keeping consciousness…”
The computer complied and Jhovahkan stirred again and looked into his brother’s eyes.
“I would not trust me if I were you.” Jhovahkan chuckled slightly. “She infected me… I am hopeless to the Rune.”
“I don’t believe you are lost to the Rune my brother, we’ll find a way to cure you.”
“This is an incredible opportunity,” the doctor said. “If I can get a sample, we could study this thing and understand what it is.”
“Doctor,” the computer began, “would you mind if I attempted a procedure?”
“We need to understand what it is before we try to treat it,” Sam responded.
“There is a seventy two percent probability that the infection present in the patient’s body is a living organism.”
“Of course it’s living,” Sam argued, “it looks like a viral infection, but nothing I have ever seen.”
“I am referring to a sentient life form doctor.”
“It’s intelligent?”
“Based on its behavior it is using the patient as a host in order to carry out its desires,” the computer responded.
“Do you think you c
an remove whatever this is inside him?” Jhahnahkan asked.
“I only give the procedure a twelve percent probability that the organism will be completely removed.”
“That’s good enough for me,” the doctor said, looking at Jhahnahkan. “If I can obtain even the smallest particle, I can use some of these sophisticated instruments on board.”
“I agree.” Jhahnahkan said. “We must discover what this is so we can combat it.”
“Wait a minute…” Jhovahkan said trying to control his whimsical laughter, “Don’t I get a say in this?”
Sam and Jhahnahkan both looked at Jhovahkan and said “No” together.
“Computer, please explain your procedure,” the doctor inquired.
“After I completed the analysis I determined that the organism has positioned itself by the cerebellum. This part of the brain is responsible for motor control. Not movement but rather coordination. More importantly in this case, however, the cerebellum is used for cognitive functions as well as fear and pleasure.”
“Your point?” Sam asked.
“The patient is expressing both pleasure and fear. The uncontrollable laughter and displays of a panic look on his face when we said we were going to try and remove the substance. This life form is sending its own cognitive thought to the patient’s thoughts and enforces the host to carry out its instruction by giving them the feeling of pleasure when they willingly carry out the instruction. If they fight the instructions, it uses fear to persuade the host to change their mind and then again rewards them when they comply.”
“It seems to be using emotion as a powerful tool,” the doctor said.
“I will use the Cerebellum Quasiinducer beam,” the computer continued, “this will send signals to block the instructions that the organism is sending. While the signal is being blocked I will attempt to remove the organism with my Phased Sanitizer.”
“Proceed,” Sam instructed.
The computer began the detailed configuration of the Quasiinducer and targeted the main spot where the substance was. When the beam was engaged, Jhovahkan immediately convulsed as if he was in a seizure. His blood pressure dropped and his heart rate climbed to nearly two hundred beats per minute.
“Computer, stop!” Sam shouted. “You’re hurting him.”
“One moment, doctor,” the computer said in a calm manner, “I have injected some medication to counteract these symptom… his vitals should return to normal in a moment.”
The two watched as Jhovahkan slowly returned to normal and the computer resumed the extraction procedure.
“Now that I have blocked the thought signals, I will attempt to remove the substance with the phased sanitizer. My theory is that once the connection is disrupted the organism is no longer able to hold onto its host and extraction should be fairly simple.”
A thick yellowish liquid began to ooze out of the right side of Jhovahkan’s ear and formed a pool on the table below his head.
Sam grabbed a Petri dish and carefully collected the substance while the computer held the beam to keep it from attacking its host again.
He placed the dish on the exam table and the computer erected a field to isolate the substance from coming in contact with anyone else.
The computer rescanned Jhovahkan to compare with the first results to see what the success rate was from the procedure.
“I have completed my second analysis,” the computer reported. “I have removed eighty two percent of the organism from the cerebellum.
The remaining amount is less than five percent of the original mass. The remaining thirteen percent is what is flowing through his blood stream.”
“I would call that a success,” Sam interjected. “What is your recommendation for the remaining particles?”
“I will provide instruction for a collar to be constructed that can be worn around the neck. The collar, if worn at all times, will emit the quasiinducer signal beam which will prevent any further hostile takeover of the host.”
“And if the device fails or is removed?” Jhahnahkan asked.
“The patient will fall victim to the Rune infection once again with the remaining particles and we will have to perform the procedure a second time.”
“Why can’t we just run the thing a few more times to get it all out?” Sam asked as he turned and began to examine the substance under a microscope.
“Additional attempts by invading the phased sanitizer on the patient’s cerebellum could cause irreparable damage to unprotected grey matter.”
“Will you take a look at this?” Sam exclaimed as he switched the image of the microscope to the view screen. “This stuff is moving around within itself. It’s as if it’s crawling around trying to get out.”
“Come on guys…” Jhovahkan said slowly as he began to wake up from the meds he was given. “Let me up… I am getting claustrophobic here.”
No one paid attention to his words and continued to investigate this mysterious substance.
“I have also completed a secondary analysis on the substance’s DNA and have compared those results to that of the patient.”
The two turned and looked at Jhovahkan as he began to fight against the stasis field while they listened to the computer’s results.
The computer displayed the two results and then overlaid them to show what the next problem was. The DNA of the Rune had begun to alter and change Jhovahkan’s DNA while the Rune substance also began to take on Jhovahkan’s DNA.
“What do you make of this?” Jhahnahkan asked, stroking his chin and glancing over at his brother who was getting very agitated by this time.
“The substance seems to have the ability to alter itself, and its host, to better connect and pass instructions.” The computer offered.
“What does that mean for my brother?”
“I am confident that the metamorphosis has stopped and will remain in control as long as the Quasiinducer beam is in place.”
“Sam,” Jhahnahkan instructed, “have the engineering team build a dozen of these collars and bring them to the medical bay… continue your analysis of this sample to learn as much as you can. I need to get to the bridge and set our course to find my grandfather in the outer rim.”
Jhovahkan interrupted his brother. “You need me, my brother.”
“What could I possibly need from you?”
“You need a passage to the outer rim don’t you?” he smiled back at his brother. “You need a power crystal for that… to be able to teleport this ship and all her crew… you need me…”
“I don’t trust you. I will get there on my own…” then he paused a moment to contemplate what he was trying to say, “Are you saying what I think you are saying?”
“That I have a power crystal? Why yes… yes I do have one… you cannot take it for yourself and use it either… it’s infected… you cannot risk coming in contact with my crystal or you could fall prey to the same affliction that I have.”
“Go on…” Jhahnahkan said now with his hands on his hips listening to his brother.
“Now that the Rune infection has been subsided, I am thinking more clearly my brother… I am still infected… but I am able to control it instead of it controlling me.”
“How can I be sure you won’t turn on us if I release you?”
“You will have to trust me my brother…” Jhovahkan said with a big smile while controlling his laughter.
“Convince me that I should trust you my brother… after everything that has happened… you wish for me to trust you…” Jhahnahkan said shaking his head in disbelief.
“You simply must trust me my brother,” he replied nodding his head the best he could.
“Tell me everything that happened… I know you were with Tamika…”
“You have to trust me,” he repeated, “Tamika… we have to stop her.”
“What did she do? Tell me!” he shouted in exasperation.
“She has infused the power crystals… not just any of your garden variety power crystals…
” he laughed, and then regained his composure, “You see… I am under complete control…” he said with a nod.
“Go on…”
“These crystals are the very crystals our ancestors first selected… you see… she took me off the transport ship… she took me to the crystal caverns at the base of the Rune… one thousand years earlier, save one… she needed my help to discover the right field to infuse… she tried before and it just was not very effective.”
“That would explain why things seemed to be worse with this timeline’s crystal infection.” Jhahnahkan said now with interest.
“Well…” Jhovahkan continued, “things just got a lot worse than you know.”
“You targeted our ancestor’s crystal fields in order to corrupt them and follow the Rune… the Rune requires hosts to carry out its mission… which seems to be the desire to conquer whatever it can.
“Precisely,” Jhovahkan mused quietly. “You need to get that mind of yours unlocked so we can stop our sister from spreading the Rune to the rest of the solar system or Galaxy for that matter.”
“How do you know about my mind needing unlocking?”
“Tamika knows…” He interrupted, “She has your master crystal and I know… our crystals communed… she knows what you know and I know what she knows… My brother, She did a memory transference with me… and I now understand what you were trying to tell me… I know about the time fracture… we must correct this, my brother… at all costs.”
“You leave me little choice, my brother,” Jhahnahkan said with hesitation.
“No…” Jhovahkan said with a glib tone. “I really do not… do I.”
“Engineering team,” he said as he addressed the com system, “How soon before you have the quasiinducer collars ready?”
The com channel came alive with the sound of the chief engineer, “I will have the first prototype ready for testing in two hours, sir.”
“Very well,” he replied, “bring it to the medical bay when you are ready… Sam, call me back down when it arrives.”
“What about releasing me?” Jhovahkan said with panic in his voice.
“You need to stay right there… if the computer’s analysis is accurate, you would be taken back over by the Rune infection unless the collar is worn or you remain in stasis so the computer can monitor you,” Jhahnahkan said as he walked toward the exit.
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