ISO- Beyond the solar system

by Travis Sande

  "I appreciate that, I resented the treatment surrounding the membrane. We can handle this, sir. I was just thinking out loud. I didn't mean to offend anyone." Yanna’s words were welcomed by Derrick. He appreciated that she seemed to be a little more empathetic.

  The room acknowledged Yanna's apology by unanimous acceptance. Derrick was also thinking of the same issue she voiced, and he was sure many others were too. A hush embraced the room following Yanna's troubling words.

  "Let me clarify, the belief still remains that it was a natural occurrence. The investigation is just in place to explore all possibilities." Lorn clearly wanted to put an end to the speculation. “The investigation will be conducted back home, not here.”

  "Genetic abnormalities are unlikely in our cloning process but not impossible." Eilik said. “The membrane specific to this vessel was created on Earth. That may have increased the possibility of mutation.”

  "In any event, we have the best crew ever assembled. Even if this was sabotage, we detected and quarantined it in less than a day. We have completely incinerated it in just over two weeks. Every one of you deserves credit for how we have handled this situation. The day-to-day life of the vessel went nearly unchanged during a week where we had lost an entire section due to infection risk. I think most of us have overlooked how serious the last two weeks were simply because of how well we dealt with it. You are all exceptionally capable and mentally strong. Don't underestimate yourselves or each other." Lorn’s ability to command and unite the crew was never so evident. Derrick could instantly feel a sense of pride fill him. Lorn was right, they did handle the entire situation exceptionally well. Derrick hoped that a similar feeling would permeate the rest of the crew and restore morale.

  "If someone is trying to sabotage us, they messed with the wrong crew." Hank barked.

  "Exactly. I think it goes without saying that anything said in this room does not get repeated in personal messages." Lorn said. "I want everything to be business as usual. You can check updates as they happen but leave the investigation to the Triumvirate and Setu. I will forward any developments in that regard to your CCDs. Are there any other questions or concerns before I end the meeting?"

  "I still have several frozen samples of the membrane. Would you like me to destroy those also?" Ben asked.

  "Yes, they were quite clear that all infected material was to be destroyed." Lorn nodded at Ben.

  "Understood." Ben smiled when he heard the news. He was the only one that may have been as happy as Derrick about this moment. The membrane had occupied nearly all of Ben’s time.

  "I just wanted to thank Nik for aiding me in the physics lab all morning. We were able to get everything back on schedule." Yanna nodded at Nik, smiling.

  "That's great, I hope we can get back into a functional routine from here on out." Lorn continued. “Great work.”

  "Anytime, Yanna." Nik smiled and returned the nod Yanna.

  "Oh, one more thing. The crew development program will now be taking place in the rec area going forward." Lorn was bringing the meeting to a close. “If the investigation concludes that the membrane was sabotaged, I am certain the culprit was not a member of this crew. I have complete faith in every one of you.”

  After a brief pause, the room looked around at each other. Derrick could tell everyone was satisfied and looking to be dismissed. Personally, he had something on his mind, but he couldn't remember exactly what it was. He decided if he thought of it he could just raise the issue privately.

  "With that, you are all dismissed. Go enjoy that rec area." Lorn said as he stood from the table.

  Chapter 8

  Unstable

  Six months had passed since the opening of the joint investigation, and by now, it had become public. Very little new information had arisen aside from conspiracy theories. Some of the more intricate ones had become topics of discussion onboard the ISO. Most of the crew would check the updates every morning and discuss anything they found. Yanna and Hank were more inclined to dive deeper into the conspiracies. Some even involved the Marsul syndicate and Jorun Firk. Derrick dismissed most of the discussions, as he believed they were too far-fetched for anyone to believe. It was just a fun mental exercise to debate the validity.

  The ship had fallen into a stable routine. Everyone went about their day and accomplished their respective tasks. Derrick had managed to turn the small sprouting garden into a thriving ecosystem. The sustainability week had gone off without a single complication and Ben was able to submit multiple reports for future missions.

  The greenhouse was now a lush environment that Derrick loved tending to. His daily chore quickly evolved into something he took great pride in. With the membrane gone, the bio lab restrictions were less stringent. This allowed the crew to visit and see the product of all Derrick’s hard work. The garden had become an attraction of sorts as each crew member would make time to pay him visits.

  As he did most days, Derrick was spending his afternoon tending to it. Now that Ben's experimental cycle was complete, they had started supplementing their diet with vegetables from the garden.

  Derrick moved around the room picking ripe vegetables for the day. A few summer squashes and some carrots would make the cut. He filled a container and carried it out of the lab. Ben's presence in the lab was less frequent lately, as his experiments required less micromanaging this far into the trip. Derrick moved to the lower deck and down into the galley.

  "What do we have today?" Ben asked. He was seated with Nik at one of the tables.

  "A summer squash and some carrots." Derrick said as he set the container down on the kitchen countertop.

  "I love squash days." Nik’s eyes lit up, standing to get a closer look.

  "Where is everyone?" Derrick looked around, surprised that the galley was so empty in the afternoon.

  "Yanna had a few things to get done in the lab. I helped her in the morning, but she didn't need me anymore. Hank, I am not sure but he's probably with Luke up in the rec area. The commander, Eilik, and Sian are all on the bridge. Kim is joining us here in a few minutes. She's just sending her weekly reports." Nik filled Derrick in.

  "Why are they on the bridge?" Derrick unpacked the vegetables from the container.

  "I think there is a message coming through later today regarding the investigation." Ben joined Derrick at the counter to peruse the produce. Ben pushed the carrots around on the table, looking for the best ones.

  "Well, hopefully Yanna and Hank will have some closure for their theories." Derrick sometimes enjoyed their enthusiastic theories but was glad to hear they might finally be over.

  "I think it's just a joke to them at this point to see who can come up with the most outlandish motives." Ben found a couple carrots he liked and grabbed them.

  "I might head up to the bridge and see what's going on." Derrick continued through the galley toward the bridge.

  "Sounds good." Ben said. “Talk to you in a bit.”

  Derrick left down the corridor to the bridge. Once there he attempted to access the door but was refused. Puzzled by the restriction, he requested permission to enter via his CCD. Lorn granted it and he entered.

  "What's with the restriction on bridge access?" Derrick was confused as it was never restricted to him in the past. Even when Eilik was being quarantined, Derrick had ease of access.

  "Eilik detected some unusual readings in the rift matrix. He requested that I restrict the bridge to limit distractions. The readings have subsided, and I forgot to lift the restriction." Lorn was standing beside Eilik at his station.

  "What were the readings?" Derrick asked, curious what they could mean.

  "There was a temporary fluctuation that I couldn't identify. It is gone now. I will be monitoring it closely for the next several days." Eilik was using his interface panel at a pace Derrick had not witnessed before. The entire situation began to feel tense.

  Feeling the tension in the room, Derrick wanted to put his mind at ease. “Is it anything serious?�
� He asked, attempting to establish the severity of the issue.

  "We don't know, I've called Luke to come assist Eilik in combing the data we recorded during the episode." Lorn stood back from Eilik’s panel to face Derrick. "If the fluctuations return, or strengthen, we may need to consider shutting down the matrix."

  "That would completely cut us off from home, and Setu." Derrick felt an immediate sense of dread at the prospect.

  "The alternative is risking a collapse. An unplanned collapse or event closure would release energy sufficient to compromise this vessel." Eilik’s translator outlined their dire circumstances with an apathetic tone.

  "Even if we were able to survive the event closure, it’s likely that it would compromise the hull. There’s no way we would survive the energy currently stored within the RIP bubble surrounding us." Lorn continued. "Eilik said fluctuations like this aren't all that uncommon. It's like turbulence within an atmosphere."

  "That is correct, rift fluctuations are prevalent. The distinguishing factor here was my inability to identify a cause." Eilik continued working furiously on the panel. His alien fingers were deceptively quick and accurate.

  Luke entered the bridge behind Derrick and began heading toward the group at Eilik's station. Derrick could feel a sense of claustrophobia surround him. The concept of being totally cut off from all other forms of life was a horrifying reality. The ISO had always felt like a home, connected in daily activity to all the crew around them. Being able to see daily news feeds from the Triumvirate had limited the sense of solitude. With the possibility of losing that on the horizon, Derrick suddenly felt the true impact of just how alone they really were.

  "So, if we close the rift, won't that classify as an 'event closure'." Derrick did air quotes to accentuate his point. "Leading to our uneventful deaths? If not, then why don't we just prepare for a rift collapse so if it happens we just close it instead?"

  "An unplanned collapse of the rift occurs instantly. When we do a planned shutdown, it is a slow and methodical process to limit energy spikes." Luke said as he hopped up next to Derrick.

  "Correct." Eilik added.

  "What happens if the fluctuations worsen while in shut down procedure? At what point would it be too late?" Derrick asked, starting to understand the reason for Eilik’s presence onboard.

  “It’s difficult to ascertain when too late is, fluctuations are unpredictable. That’s why it’s so imperative that we find the source if we experience them again. Shut down sequence will be at Eilik’s discretion.” Lorn said. “Derrick, Sian, I think it would be best if Luke and Eilik were left to focus on the data. You are dismissed until further notice.”

  “Yes, sir.” Sian said from the opposite side of the bridge, Derrick hadn’t even noticed her amidst the troubling news.

  “Right behind you.” Derrick respected the commander’s orders and got in line behind Sian, prepared to exit.

  The two of them left the bridge with concern in the air. Derrick wasn’t sure what to think, everything had been so smooth for the last few months. Shutting down the rift would cut them off completely from home. The chilling sense of claustrophobia gripped his chest once more as he struggled to fight it back.

  “I don’t know what to think about that, Sian. I can’t imagine being cut off out here.” Derrick said as the two of them left the bridge.

  “We have our destination locked in and although it may be difficult, we would still manage.” Sian seemed to be handling the situation far more professionally than Derrick was himself. “We are on schedule and they are expecting us. Even with minimal or no communications I believe we would be safe. Eilik discussed this possibility with Lorn and I earlier. Numerous shutdowns have safely occurred in Vryl history.”

  “Hopefully the fluctuations don’t return.” Derrick threw his hands up, frustrated at the sudden elevation in stress.

  “That would be the preferred circumstance, yes.” Sian said.

  Entering the dining area, they found Yanna there. She was discussing something at one of the tables with Hank. She appeared concerned or upset. As they got closer, Derrick was able to pick up some of what she was saying.

  “Nothing, I don’t know.” Yanna finished.

  “Everything alright?” Derrick asked.

  “Well, I’m not sure.” Yanna began. “I detected some strange oscillations a few moments ago. It was enough of a disturbance to void some results in my lab. I ignored it and continued gathering information. Once I was done, I came down here. Now Hank tells me that Luke had been called to the bridge, I’m a little concerned.”

  “You are correct, the ship did experience some fluctuations earlier. I was on the bridge when they occurred. Whether it’s related to your experience, I don’t know. Eilik is currently monitoring it with Luke and Commander Lorn.” Sian replied.

  “What was it?” Yanna asked.

  “They don’t know, to put it frankly. Eilik couldn’t discover the source before it ceased. Luke is there now helping comb through the data he collected. Eilik said if the fluctuations return we may have to shut down the rift matrix. It sounds pretty serious.” Derrick relayed the information he had just received on the bridge. He felt the crew deserved to know every detail of a matter so serious. He didn’t know if the commander would appreciate that, but he wasn’t ordered to avoid the topic.

  “That would cut us off completely from everyone back home. I better go send some messages home just in case.” Yanna immediately got up and left the room.

  “She’s right, if we might lose the ability to message home, I should probably warn everyone.” Hank got up and took off to his quarters.

  “I will be in my quarters if you need me Derrick. I believe it is wise to prepare loved ones for the possibility of a blackout in communication.” Sian proceeded through the galley.

  Derrick didn’t have any real connections to home, and he had only received three messages since the mission had started. Two were from his eldest cousin and one was from an old girlfriend. His eldest cousin was interested in Derrick’s possessions while he was gone, and his ex-girlfriend had simply seen a profile done on Derrick regarding the mission. He hadn’t responded in either case.

  “Yeah, I better go sort things out as well.” He lied to avoid an awkward conversation and went to his room.

  The more he thought about it, the more he wanted the matrix shut down. If an event closure can be so sudden and catastrophic he questioned why they had it at all. He didn’t understand it, but he knew that Eilik did. There was no reason to worry about something that he didn’t even fully comprehend. His faith in Eilik combined with his ignorance provided a worthy sedative for his neurosis.

  With a clear head he started to think about home. Everyone was racing to warn loved ones or get affairs in order before a blackout. Here Derrick was, no one to message and no affairs to manage. He felt a compounding solitude he hadn’t before, either through subconscious avoidance or honest neglect. He had no one close to him. The reality of that suddenly hit him. It wasn’t upsetting or depressing, it just was. Refusing to dwell on it he decided to continue working his way through the entertainment library.

  “The Marsul Syndicate, this should be good.” Derrick said out-loud to himself as he selected the movie. Based on a tumultuous time on Marsul before Firk’s election, it depicted a crime-filled underbelly on Mars. Derrick remembered the controversy surrounding its release years ago. With nothing planned for the next few hours he settled in to watch it.

  Before the opening sequence of his show could finish, Derrick felt something. It was strange; he hadn't felt anything like it before. He shut off the movie and got up from his desk. He felt it again, a slight vibration. He hoped it was something internal, maybe the venting of his quarters acting up. "The RIP bubble should be protecting us." He thought as he moved to the exit of his room. Just then the emergency intercom system came on.

  "All personnel to the bridge. All personnel to the bridge." It was commander Lorn and it sounded urgent. It was
the first time the emergency system had been implemented.

  Derrick ran to the bridge as fast as he could, meeting up with several other members of the crew along the way. Everyone was pouring out of their quarters. Derrick saw Hank exit the corridor on the far side as the group pushed into the galley. They all rushed down the corridor and through the open doors of the bridge.

  "Everyone get to your stations, we are shutting down the matrix. Luke and Eilik are in the process already. I need diagnostics immediately." Lorn’s urgency was evident as the crew rushed to take their positions.

  Derrick moved to his pilot seat and began looking at their course. He noticed a change; the ship was rerouting. "Sir, we are changing our trajectory."

  "What do you mean, it’s changing? Eilik, check RIP status, Luke can you handle rift shutdown?" Lorn ordered.

  "Yes, we have initiated the automated shutdown, I am merely monitoring at this point." Luke said.

  Eilik moved quickly to the panel behind him. "Derrick is right, we are adjusting course."

  "Sir, the matrix is destabilizing faster than we are shutting it down." Luke said in a panicked voice. "It looks like we have three minutes until shutdown and if the fluctuations persist we might not last that long."

  "We need to provide a physical catalyst to the shutdown sequence. I need someone to assist me in the aft section of the ship." Eilik’s oddly shaped alien body began maneuvering its way toward the bridge corridor.

  "Derrick, go! Luke, I need you to keep an eye on that. Update Eilik and Derrick through the intercom." Lorn was doing his best to stay on top of the situation.

  Derrick jumped into action with no hesitation. Accompanying Eilik through the ship as they rushed to the aft engineering section. He had never seen a Vryl run before; he was surprised at how agile Eilik was when he needed to be. Lifting his mid-section off the ground and running purely with his arms, Eilik was just ahead of Derrick as he left the bridge. While quicker than he expected, Derrick was still faster and soon surpassed Eilik. He reached the engineering door a few seconds before and was able to open it. Lorn must have already given him access to the area.