by E. P. Wyck
“Thank you for having us. I am Ryn and this my research crew,” Ryn said.
“Nice to meet you. If you will follow me, I’ll show you to your quarters.” The commander of the ship escorted them a short way down the hall until they entered a large open area with bunk beds and storage lockers. “This is your home for the voyage. Please let me know if you need anything. I’ll leave you to get settled in.”
“Thank you. I would like to go over some of the finer details before we get underway,” Ryn said.
“I thought as much. We have a few hours before we are scheduled to depart. I will send someone to escort you to our bridge in say,” she paused for a moment, “half an hour?”
“That should work. Thank you,” Ryn said.
The ship’s commander departed, and the crew began to settle in. “I got bottom!” Nikon shouted.
“I get bottom too!” Kali said, “Short Seraphim need preference for the lower bunks Ryn!”
Ryn giggled and said, “Alright. If you’re over a meter 75, you can’t sleep on bottom.”
“You’re discriminating against me because of my height?” Nikon asked.
“That’s hardly discrimination. Besides, it’s not like you’re going to get to spend much time here. You’re going to be on watch the whole time,” Ryn said
“On watch?” Nikon asked.
“Yes, watching our instrumentation and collecting data. Should be riveting,” Ryn said.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Nikon said.
“Not even a little,” Ryn said and smiled.
“At least let me pick a watch partner,” Nikon said.
“Can’t. We’re stretched too thin to have two people per station. You’re going to be alone. So are the rest of you. We knew this would be the case. It only comes to a surprise to Nikon because he never listens,” Ryn said.
“That’s the truth,” Lia agreed.
“Everyone, get your stuff secured in your lockers and prepare to depart,” Ryn ordered.
“Ryn,” Kali said. “A word?”
“Sure,” Ryn said.
“Not here, let's step outside.” Kali lead him out of the berthing and into the hall.
“What is it?”
“I have a bad feeling about this. The commander is a female. I worry gendercide fanaticism could come into play aboard their ship.”
“I doubt it. They’re a Razian crew; they’re not going to let petty dogmatism deter them from their sworn duties.”
“I know you think that, but a lot of the Seraphim I encountered during my,” Kali thought for the right word, “my ventures for retaliation, were Razian.”
“Really? The news reports that primarily Ascendant Seraphim are supporting the gendercide,” Ryn said.
“Does that make sense to you?” Kali asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Who does the Ascendant’s killing for them?”
“Razers.” Ryn realized her point, “I see what you mean.”
“We’ll be careful. I believe we’re in safe hands and besides, I have you, and you have, well you know.”
“I think if push came to shove they’d send us all out the nearest airlock and I am not sure I know how my secret would do in that scenario.”
“Good point. Just to be safe, you should come along with me to the bridge.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Kali said.
_ _ _
Ryn and Kali followed their escort to the bridge. Aleksandra, the commander of the ship, sent a male Dominion to escort them.
“What do you do here?” Ryn asked the escort.
“I work in logistics. Making sure we have what we need when we need it. Most of the time while we’re away I don’t have much to do. Probably why Aleks sent me,” he said.
“So your work comes and goes depending on the ship coming and going?” Ryn asked.
“Exactly. We’re going to be at this black hole for maybe a year you think?” the escort asked.
“Well, we’re not exactly sure. The time compression is tough to measure without being right there to measure it. We gave the recommendation to have your crew stock supplies for three years,” Ryn said.
“That may be a problem,” the escort said.
“Why’s that?” Ryn asked.
“We brought supplies for a year. They don’t exactly give us the best funding. We don’t really have the backing of a lot of people in the Trinity Alliance.”
“Any particular reason why?” Kali asked.
“They don’t think we’re necessary. There haven’t been any conflicts since we started exploring space and they don’t think we’re worth the funding.”
“They think no other life has made it off their planet yet?” Kali asked.
“Basically. I can’t see that would be a logical reason to de-fund you,” Ryn said.
“Regardless, I’ve heard talks. A lot of talks. We need to be prepared. They’re just not willing to spend the metal on it because their lives aren’t at stake,” the escort said.
“I know what you mean. I am under quite a bit of pressure to deliver on this experiment, but they don’t realize that science isn’t exact. Something may be different than predictive models,” Ryn said.
“Well, it has been nice chatting, but once you go through that door you’ll be at the mercy of Commander Aleksandra,” the escort said.
Ryn and Kali entered the bridge of the Dawnbreaker. The commander sat in a central chair flanked by two stations. In front of her six stations formed a half-circle.
“Ryn, how may I help you?” Aleksandra asked.
“I was hoping we could talk someplace a little more private,” Ryn said.
“Anything you have to say to me; chances are they’re going to hear about it.”
“Ok, so I wanted to talk with you about our experiment. I have done as precise calculations as possible but the chances are something seemingly minute could vastly change the way the time shift works,” Ryn said.
“What are you getting at?” Aleksandra asked.
“I am saying that chances are our trip may be much longer on the outside than on the inside. Once inside we won’t be able to leave,” Ryn said.
“Inside? Like inside the black hole?” Aleksandra asked.
“No. We’re going to use gravitational projectors to redirect the gravity from the black hole. Instead of pulling matter towards it, these projectors will push matter away. I mean, once we’re inside the gravitational shift you won’t be able to cross it without tearing yourself apart.” Ryn explained.
“I see. So, do you have any idea how long this is going to take?” Aleksandra asked.
“Depending on how quickly the black hole entropies it could be months or years. We’re prepared for the long haul. I provided recommendations that your crew came prepared as well.”
“We can self-sustain for a year, maybe a year and a half on our current provisions,” Aleksandra said.
“It is likely that is going to be sufficient but it doesn’t provide for any margin of error,” Ryn said.
“I work with what I am given. Just know that as long as your people don’t get in the way of my people, we shouldn’t have any problems,” Aleksandra said.
“I trust that you’re aware of the gendercide?” Ryn asked.
“Why are you bringing that up?”
“Because our team recently lost someone to the gendercide and I’ve been personally attacked. I want to make sure there won’t be any problems with anyone on your crew,” Ryn said.
“I don’t like that implication. I trust my crew with my life, and I’d expect you to do the same while you’re living on my ship,” Aleksandra said.
“No implication. We just want to enjoy an easy relationship during our voyage. You could agree?” Ryn said.
“I might believe you if you didn’t have her with you,” Aleksandra said, looking at Kali.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kali said.
“I think you know, little bird. Take
a walk. There is more fight in here than you can handle,” Aleksandra said.
“I’ll have you know…” Kali said.
Before she could finish Ryn cut her off, “I think that’ll be all Commander, thank you. Let’s go, Kali.” Ryn grabbed her by the shoulders, turning her around and all but pushing her off the bridge.
“Why’d you do that?” she shouted.
“Not here,” Ryn whispered.
“If not here, then where? It is their ship, if they want to find out what we’re talking about I am pretty sure they can. They probably put surveillance in our quarters,” Kali said.
“You cannot pick a fight with our host. They’re accommodating us,” Ryn said.
“How do you figure?” Kali said.
“Because we’re staying on their ship.”
“Well, if I am not mistaken. The TriMax ordered them to provide us with security. They were ordered to go with us and keep us safe. Does any of that sound like they’re accommodating us?”
“I suppose you could be on to something. But still, we need to be as tactful as possible,” Ryn said.
“Oh, I think I get it now. They’re Razian, and you’re Ascendant, and you’re afraid of them.”
Ryn hesitated, “No, that’s not it at all.”
“Didn’t your mother teach you not to lie?”
“Of course.”
“Because you’re bad at it. Like, really, bad.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know you’re scared of the barbarians; the brutes, the killers.”
“I’ll have you know I have plenty of Razian friends.”
“Name one.”
“Well, there’s...” Ryn paused to think. Several seconds passed.
“See. You’re afraid.”
“I am not.”
“Yes, you are. Don’t worry, though. I am here to protect you from the big bad brutes.”
“You’re what? Not even a meter and half. Maybe 40 Kilos, soaking wet, with rocks in your pockets,” Ryn said.
“I’ll have you know I am a meter 52 and 46 Kilograms.”
“Oh so frightening,” Ryn taunted.
“Yet here I am keeping you safe.”
“Good point.”
“So you trust her?”
“Who?”
“Aleksandra. Who else?” Kali said.
“I don’t know yet. I mean there aren’t many destroyers in space. She must be up to the task.”
“Up to what task? Watching a bunch of scientists get sucked into a black hole, I hardly think that is a hard task,” Kali said.
“You are becoming quite a handful.”
“I’d hate to pad your ego anymore, but I think you’re responsible for this.”
“Responsible?” Ryn asked.
“Exactly. You’re the one who domesticated me.”
“Domesticated. I never really thought of it that way.”
“You tamed the beast. I know I still have a long way to go, but before I met you, you couldn’t have pulled me out of that room. Someone would have been hurt.”
“I think you’re right. I am glad you’re getting re-integrated with society. It’ll be good for you.”
“Good for me? What are you my doctor now?”
“I’ll have you know that I am fully qualified to be your doctor. I’ve been to medical school, among several other disciplines.”
“Like what?”
“A bunch of different sciences; physics, chemistry, biology... Most of the things that wouldn’t interest you.”
“Are you saying I lack the aptitude?”
“Of course not. You just haven’t shown the interest.”
“I’ll have you know when I was still in school I did very well, despite my ‘unfortunate situation.' At least that’s what they said.”
“What situation?”
“Oh, you know. Being born of a Razian and Ascendant. Mixed breed. Tainted because of my parents.”
“Who said that?”
“Pretty much everybody. You have to realize that everything around the signing of the treaty was very tumultuous.”
“I suppose you're right. What I don’t get about that is Razers are nothing but Ascendants who focus on war instead of knowledge.”
“I think it is about ideology. They’re brought up different. You have two sides of the same thing, but they can’t see the middle ground they’re both standing on.”
“If only you knew the level of wisdom in what you just said,” Ryn told Kali.
Chapter 16
“The trip to our research site will take about seven months. We’re going to use stasis to conserve resources. A small crew will keep watch on the ship and wake us when we arrive,” Ryn explained.
“How do we know they’re taking us to the right place?” Nikon asked.
“They’re professionals. They have been exploring space for longer than you, trust them,” Ryn said. “We’re going to get underway. Once we’ve fasted for 12 hours, we will report for stasis.”
“So you want us to sleep before sleeping?” Kali asked.
“You don’t have to sleep, but you’re not going to eat. Usually, the easiest way to do that is sleep.” Ryn said.
“I think I will take my chances,” Nikon said.
“Suit yourself. I’d like everyone to stay in the quarters until further notice. I know the crew of the Dawnbreaker is probably busy ensuring we’re ready to travel.” Ryn said.
“Ryn, I think you should let me stay out of stasis,” Kali said.
“Why is that?”
“Because how am I supposed to protect you if I am in stasis?” Kali asked.
“I think it’ll be ok,” Ryn said.
“Imagine if whoever they leave on watch is a gendercide fanatic and they start shutting off stasis pods,” Kali said.
“I think you’re being paranoid,” Ryn said.
“Since when is diligence paranoid?” Kali said.
“I don’t know about you, but I think she is right,” Nikon said. “I don’t want to wake up dead.”
“You don’t wake up dead,” Ryn said.
Frustrated with the change in subject, Kali walked out of the berthing and down a hallway. She continued for several minutes before she saw a window with a view of Trinity.
Kali leaned against a window looking at all the space craft maneuvering around Trinity. The sounds of approaching footsteps caused her to turn around.
“Enjoy the view while you can,” Lia said.
“I am. I can’t believe so much time will pass while we are gone.”
“I know what you mean. I am not looking forward to those awkward reunions. Anyway, I came to tell you after we spook Ryn wants everyone to get ready for stasis,” Lia said.
“What do you mean ‘spook?’ ” Kali asked.
Lia approached the window next to Kali and pointed before saying, “Do you see that?”
“The new space station?”
“No, not that. Look further away from the planet.”
Kali cocked her head to look around Lia and said, “Oh, that?”
“Yes. That is the Starway Station. It uses quantum entanglement to transport ships across vast distances.”
Kali watched as a large transport vessel approached the station. Her eyes widened when the station emitted the quantum entanglement field and she momentarily saw that ship’s destination before the ship disappeared.
“That is spooky!” Kali said.
“Hence, the term ‘spook.’ They have a whole network of them. Most ships spook several times before getting to their destination,“ said Lia.
“How many times will we spook?”
“I am not sure. I do know that we will go to the furthest station then travel over 200 lightyears before we get to our destination.”
“That sounds like it’ll take forever,” Kali said.
“I believe the Dawnbreaker and her sister ship, the Dawnslayer, are rated to travel 32 times the speed of light. So, it’ll take us seven mon
ths,” Lia said.
_ _ _
With faster than light, or superluminal, travel underway the research crew and the crew of the Dawnbreaker prepared to enter stasis for seven months.
“Ryn, I still think you need to petition for me to stay awake during this trip. I know I am being paranoid, but it isn’t just you I am looking after. There are other males who will be in stasis,” Kali pleaded.
“I can’t ask that. You know how it’ll come across to someone like Aleksandra,” Ryn said.
“I think she would welcome it. Someone to keep her company while the ship travels,” Kali said.
“I don’t think she is the type who likes company, let alone someone who isn’t from her crew.”
“How do you know? You just met her.”
“I would like to think you could agree on this. I have a knack for reading people,” Ryn said.
“I don’t know why you think I’d agree.”
“I was right about you, wasn’t I?”
“You mean you convinced me to let my vendetta go?”
“Something like that.”
“I hardly think that means you have a knack for reading people.”
“I don’t think you understand the seriousness of the situation.”
“Why do you think that?”
“You’re young. What 130-something years old? I am almost 5,000 years old. I have had a lot longer to learn about how people behave and what they expect.”
“So?” Kali said.
“So, I am telling you it’ll blow up in your face if you decide to bring it up to Aleksandra that you want to stay out of stasis for this trip. But, I am not going to stop you, so go ahead.”
“Really?” Kali asked.
“Really, knock yourself out, kid.”
“Don’t call me kid,” Kali warned turning and walking toward the bridge.
When Kali arrived at the door to the bridge, she could not enter. She pressed the intercom and waited for a reply.
“Yes?” Someone responded via the intercom.
“I would like to talk with Aleksandra.”
“Why?”
“It is about stasis.”
“What about it?”
“I don’t want to be in stasis.”
“The stasis rosters have already been finalized: no exceptions.”
