Waves: The Collapsing Universe

by Thomas Edward Savage

  “You might have given me a bit more time to work with.” Nari replied as she manipulated the controls.”

  “Had to give it best guess.” Henry admitted. “I trust in your skills.”

  Nari just nodded, deeply focused on the terrain, getting updates from the computer on conditions and reminding her of things that were ahead. She was used to relying on a navigator to monitor everything and keep the pilot up to date on anything that might get in the way. Henry helped as he could, the blast behind them starting to slow.

  “The explosion is slowing.” Henry said in an excited tone. “We might survive this yet.”

  “Well the storm is getting worse.” Nari replied. “And it appears we have company.”

  Henry pulled up the rear camera and indeed saw a ship closing in from behind, skirting the edge of the diminishing blast wave and closing on the ship.

  “It has to be Kuromoto.” Henry replied, he had no way of knowing it was him but he did not need confirmation to be sure it was him nonetheless.”

  The perusing ship launched some sort of blast, narrowly missing the vessel and causing the systems to fluctuate.

  “He used some sort of pulse!” Nari shouted to Henry as she swerved to dodge a large piece of rock that barred her path. The ship was moving at breakneck speed and the viability as near nothing. It was Nari’s instincts and the sensors that were keeping the craft intact.” “We can’t afford to get hit by one of those.”

  “I agree.” Henry nodded. “I can’t bring up the field or jump controls, the near hit scrambled a lot. Weapons are offline.”

  “How can we beat him if we cat fight or jump?” Nari asked as she fought to keep her distance from the ship closing in behind her?”

  “I have a plan.” Henry offered as he pulled up some systems. “But you are going to have to evade him down here with the terrain.”

  “What did you have in mind?” Nari asked. “I will do my best to buy you as much time as you need and stay out of his crosshairs.”

  “He undoubtedly has his ship systems protected.” Henry explained. “But that ship has a jump drive. I think I can get into his jump NAV and make him jump.”

  “Can you jump from an atmosphere to space?” Nari asked. “I thought that has never been truly tested.”

  “It hasn’t” Henry admitted. “But I am already working to disable the safeties and we will very soon find out.”

  “Let’s do it.” Nari said in a bold tone. “Either way I would not want to be him in a few moments.”

  “M either.” Henry replied. “I also think I can distract him a little if I call him. Might buy you a little wiggle room.”

  The ship shot forward, striding close to the rocks and gaining staying ahead of the pursuing vessel. Kuromoto strained to inch closer, knowing that he had committed to the pursuit even if it was growing increasingly dangerous. It seemed that Kuromoto was assuming that Nari would soon slip up, making a mistake that would either lead to him catching the ship or it being destroyed, ether idea seemingly a good ending for his agenda. Kuromoto began to gain on the ship, and started to power up the pulse weapon. Nari threw the controls open, gaining speed for a massive push. As Kuromoto fired his weapon it hit where the ship was, the pulse missing and cracking against a cliffside nearby. Before Kuromoto even had time to react, Nari was a hundred meters ahead and facing nothing but open terrain

  They both knew that Kuromoto was behind them and, they knew that he would stop at nothing to take them out if he got a chance.

  “Kuromoto.” Henry said calmly. “You have lost. I took out your facility and crippled your launch base. Quit while you still have your life and maybe we can find a peaceful end to this yet.”

  “You would have the GALL to try and ask for me to stand down?” Kuromoto replied in an outraged tone. “I would chase you to the end of the universe to kill you now. My desire to kill you has infinitely outweighed your use to me.”

  “Well I would indeed take death over helping you now that that is on the table.” Henry replied as he manipulated his console, continuing to break into the ships jump drive. “Though I fear that you are in no position to be uttering threats.”

  With the increasing violence of the storm, combined with the discussion with Henry, it seemed that Kuromoto had to focus on piloting and not shooting another pulse. This served Nari well as she knew that if she lost her lead on the pursuing vessel that she would not be able to get it back. The only chance was to keep Kuromoto at a distance where anything he did would be too risky. Nari said nothing, seeming to know that if she focused behind her too much she would lose sight of things ahead. Though Kuromoto was arguably the most dangerous thing they were dealing with, it was not safe to underestimate the terrain. There was a series of tight turns and jagged rocks, they would give Kuromoto a chance to close into primal firing range if she slowed so she would have to enter it at top speed, giving herself but fractions of a second to make the turns and maneuvers not to crash onto the terrain. Ideally anyone going through would have to go slow, but she knew death was hot on her tail and this was a time to be bold or give up. She opened up the controls, taking the cavernous terrain at top speed, using her instincts and great skill to persevere. Henry did his best to distract Kuromoto as he worked to activate the jump drive. There were so many factors at work that could mean certain death, Kuromoto was tight behind her, gaining slowly, almost within range to take a shot with whatever kind of pulse he was using to disable the ship.

  “Let me ask you a question Kuromoto.” Henry asked. “To gain the power that you want to make your new universe what lengths would you go to?”

  “Do you mean who would I kill to get what I want?” Kuromoto challenged. “Because my answer is anyone and everyone.”

  “I was asking if you would face the unknown for it?” Henry asked. “It is a terrifying thing that I look into all the time…are you willing to do it yourself.”

  “Anything.” Kuromoto said with mania in his voice. “I can never turn back.”

  “Confirmed.” Henry replied as he finished his programming. “Enjoy non-existence.”

  One second the pursuing ship was there and another it was not. There was no fire, no crash, it was just gone.”

  “Where did you send him?” Nari asked as she risked a glance to Henry. “Can he get back.”

  “I don’t have the NAV system open.” Henry admitted. “I sent him to some recent co-ordinates I happen to remember fully.”

  “Which ones were those?” Nari asked.

  “Back to the center of the universe and the initial antimatter event.” Henry replied.

  “Does his ship have a field to protect against it?” Nari asked.

  “It most certainly does not.” Henry admitted, allowing himself a small smile.

  Nari nodded then focused on flying the ship. The storm had grown so bad that going down was no longer an option. She fought the powerful wind sheers and freeing conditions, using the speed the ship had gathered to add to breakaway speed. The ship groaned, the engines taxing themselves to their limits as she ship climbed. Within moments that felt like an eternity, the ship broke over the storm and soon pushed its way out of Titan’s atmosphere. Both Henry and Nari sighed in relief as they reached open space.

  “Henry is that you?” Basta said over the come. “We detected an explosion on the surface, are you ok?”

  “Surprisingly so.” Henry replied. “There is a lot to explain, but we are momentarily out of danger and I have the remedy to the jump computer. I will be on board shortly. We have a lot of work to do.”

  “We always do.” Basta replied with a laugh. “See you soon.”

  “So, we should probably get married.” Henry said as he turned to Nari.

  “That is very sudden.” Nari replied as she turned to Henry. “What brought that on?”

  “Back there, when Kuromoto had the gun on you something occurred to me.” Henry explained.

  “And what is that?” Nari asked in a confused tone.

&nb
sp; “That despite all the space and ships and planets in this near infinite universe…” Henry began. “You are the one thing I can most definitely not live without.”

  “Fair point.” Nari replied. “I have felt the same for some time. Let’s do it.”

  “Excellent.” Henry replied. “Though we have a lot to do first.”

  “Well hopefully we can squeeze it in soon.” Nari replied. “We did just cripple the pirate organization and send its leader into oblivion.”

  “Very true.” Henry admitted.

  -

  Twelve

  Nearly a year later Henry took a moment to realise that it had been another period of unprecedented change. The act against Kuromoto had subjectively crippled the pirate’s entire organization. As it turned out there were many under the yoke of the pirates that wanted change and after it came calling at the hands of allied forces they were more than happy to accept it. The colony on Venus went from a fringe trading post filled with outlaws and illegality and became the second official colony in the milky way for humanity. Brave experienced colony builders from mars, trained by Dr. Winter herself flocked to the small moon, working hard to turn it into a place where people wanted not to hide, but to live. Henry had no doubt that in the coming years it would experience the prosperity that the Martian colony had enjoyed.

  Six months ago, he had fulfilled his promise and married Nari. There was a ceremony and celebration on Atlas and half the planet had come out to give them their best. Henry knew that was not really that many people, all considering but really enjoyed the idea of it nontheless. Henry had never really attached himself to things. He had his youth in having nothing and never really learned how to imprint himself on such trappings. He laughed when he remembered his lavish apartment on earth that he had indeed never gone back to. He eventually gave it away, allowing those that would need and enjoy it more to take it over. Nari was the only person he could feel as someone to draw him back, both family and home in one and it was something he did not know he needed till he had all he wanted. They were happy together and wherever they went in the entire universe they knew they could feel as though they were home.

  There were now several ships like the Endeavor, all capable of deep space exploration and ready to continue the task of unravelling the secrets of the universe. With the pirates gone, Henry was able to give greater access to the ever-growing map. It was not completely freed, but getting closer every day. Henry wanted to make sure that humanity as a whole was ready for the blueprints to the universe and they grew ever closer every day. Soon humanity would have access to all the universe had to offer and had learned very well that such things had value and what it was worth to have them. Henry thought back to what Kuromoto had said about greed and agreed that part of it was true. Humans were designed by evolution to always want more, to always need to see what was to be had ahead of them. However, this was not something to be forcefully controlled it was something to be nurtured and encouraged. It was not about what one person could get, it was about realising what one could do for many, what many could do for all. Humanity was in a massive universe but had the ability to shape it for themselves as long as they never lost sight of why they were doing it.

  Soon the Endeavor found itself at another frontier. Jumped the furthest any ship had ever jumped and it waited on the precipice for a last jump. On the bridge Henry smiled as he saw Basta at his command chair as he always was, Mancoff going over ship ops, Winter joining in on the science station for this discovery, Haverstain was doublechecking tech specs and reassuringly, Nari at the controls, ensuring the ship was where it needed to be.”

  “Are we on point and prepared?” Basta asked.

  “Precisely.” Nari replied. “We are in the sector agreed to be called the outer shell of the universe.”

  “This is monumental.” Winter added. “We are literally near the end of the big bang, the wave of the forming universe and beyond it we have no clue.”

  “That is our job is it not?” Mancoff asked. “To stair straight a the unknown and ask it to tell us what it is?”

  “It so very much is.” Henry admitted. “We will now strive to answer yet another seemingly unanswerable question…what lies beyond.”

  Basta laughed. “You know at the beginning of all this I used to think that we might be crazy. Unlimited clean energy? Space travel? New worlds? The center of the universe. However, I am always reminded that we are not crazy, we are bold and the secrets of the universe are less so.”

  “You ever imagine that we would be at the edge of our universe Henry?” Winter asked. “Trying to find out what comes next, what lies beyond. We were once working in a small lab, with recycled equipment we begged borrowed and stole. Now we are here.”

  “I once looked in a storefront and imagined what it would be like to have a guarantee to food everyday.” Henry admitted. “I once had a very small world where that kind of thing was all that I could look to imagine. You opened my eyes to the possibilities of the infinite. We gave humanity the gift of this technology, you gave me the gift of infinite imagination.”

  “It was my pleasure.” Winter admitted. “I helped us take the first step. We are here now because of you.”

  “This is your accomplishment.” Basta added. “You should say something before we make the next jump.”

  “Is both mine, yours, and all of humanities accomplishment.” Henry replied. “As I said it was Winter that started this path and motivated me and countless others though both her initial vision and contribution to other worlds and the people who live on them. It was you Basta that wanted to grasp the stars and became our fearless leader and pathfinder. Whatever I was able to discover, you are the one who took me there and protected me to find the ever-next thing. Haverstain…we met in the middle of unfortunate circumstance but you proved that you were indispensable at a time we needed you. The crew of this ship…Mancoff, Chalice, those who are still with us and those who are not. We are a sample of the greatness of the human spirit and we all contributed more to it than we ever could admit. Those on Earth, those on Mars, Titan and Atlas, pilgrims, explores, worldbuilders, and even those who just strive to go ever forward…it is also theirs. Though if I may be selfish I want to thank Nari above all.”

  “I just fly the ship.” Nari said with a laugh. “I don’t see how I can stand above all of that you just said.”

  “One time I was pushed to exhaustion and wondered if I could truly do the things that I sought to do.” Henry explained. “You literally walked out from nowhere, encouraged me, challenged me, and won my heart far before I knew it had been one. Any time after that I ever doubted myself, the missions, or my resolve, all I had to do was think of you and my heart and head went back on track.”

  Nari laughed. “You did not make it exactly hard to believe in you.”

  “Well thank you Nari.” Henry replied. “Thank you to you all.”

  “Well said.” Basta replied. “A good speech in a series of good speeches. I suppose I better do the captain thing and set us back on schedule. As always I must ask what we might expect to find.”

  “No clue.” Henry replied. “I could not even wager a guess on this one. However, the one thing I am universally certain, is that whatever we do find beyond the veil of the end of our universe…we are both ready to explore it, combat it, and discover it…together.”

  “We are ready for anything ass long as we are in it together.” Haverstain added. “I am honoured to be here and am assured we are ready.”

  “Then let’s do it.” Basta replied. “Nari do you have the jump coordinates?”

  “Totally not.” Nari replied. “There literally are no co-ordinates for where we are going. That being said…I am absolutely ready to make the jump.”

  “Then let’s do it.” Basta replied. “Let’s make another jump into the unknown.”

  “See you all on the other side.” Henry replied with a smile.

  One moment the ship was there then the next it was gone, off t
o a place that no human had ever gone and to make the universe just a little less mysterious.

  -

  Thirteen

  The ship disappeared for longer than it had ever done before, the jump that was usually instantaneous or near instantaneous taking what seemed like an eternity. It was rare that Henry was aware of the time in jumps, it was like a frozen moment where there was thought but time did not seem to move. Before the moments of worry could set in the ship became tangible again returning to corporeal time as intended.

  “That was unsettling.” Basta replied. “Though we seem to have come out the other side. What do we have?”

  “The wave scanners are having difficulty getting bearings.” Henry replied. “Though we very much are still in the vacuum of space.”

  “I am sensing very low levels of naturally occurring space radiation.” Nari added. “Also, I am not detecting many stars.”

  “Define not many?” Basta asked.

  “I would estimate perhaps ten percent of the stars visible and present in any part of the know galaxy we jumped from. Also, those stars that are visible seem to be on the edge of decay, all very late in their lifespan and near collapse or supernova.”

  “How long do we have until the expansion gets to us?” Basta asked. “Are we in danger of it reaching us?”

  “Not for several hours.” Nari replied. “The specific jump co-ordinates were specifically chosen to give us a lot of time.”

  “Good.” Basta said as he stood up and walked toward the screen, mystified by the dark display in front of him. “Is this another galaxy?”

  “Hard to say yet?” Henry replied. “Though the wave mapping system has just started, I am sure there are no trackable places that link us to where we were. We are definitely somewhere else but we are not sure were.”