by S V Hurn
“Hey lady, when you have been out here as long as we have then maybe your opinion will matter, but now I think, not so much.” He threw back his vodka and slammed his glass onto the table as he got up. He peered down at her. “You know something? You are not as smart as you believe yourself to be. You are here, with us, after all.”
She watched him leave the room. His comment hit home; she was here with them. She had an overwhelming grasp that it was her arrogance that had landed her here. She was in the depths of space and time, only a mere speck in the universe. The void she occupied was endless and she thought she could control it, manipulate it and bend it to her wishes. She was stricken by its ability to prove her wrong. She thought, how dare I try and command such an immeasurable power? She sat alone with her thoughts and her glass.
Magnus had taken the ship into orbit and came to sit beside her. “You were stupendous out there, and we owe you our lives.”
Dorathy tried to shake off her regrets. “You would have done the same for me.”
“Certainly, but you handled yourself out there with a forceful spirit I have not seen in very many women. Considering your circumstances, I would say you are adjusting very well. I am happy you joined us.” Dorathy thought a moment about his words and sighed, thinking of her old life. Magnus knew what she was feeling. “I know this life was not your choice but how many of us get a second chance at something truly remarkable?”
Magnus winked, feeling an attraction to Dorathy. “Henry is being tended to and will heal quickly; he asked for you.” Dorathy slugged the last of her drink and headed to the med lab.
She entered the med lab and saw Brenda closing the last of Henry’s wounds. “Hey Dora,” he called, “shit, I knew you could hold your own, but where the hell did that come from? Remind me never to piss you off! You gave those bastards a real ass-kicking; hell of a woman.”
Dorathy sat beside him, laughing the stress away. “Well a girl’s gotta do what she’s gotta do and it looked like you guys needed a tad bit of help. Besides, who the hell was going to fly this thing if something happened to you?”
Brenda giggled. “Sure as hell wasn’t going to be me. I’ll leave you two warriors to compare battle scars.” Brenda slapped a bandage on the back of Dorathy’s shoulder on her way out.
Dorathy craned her neck to see where she had been bleeding. Henry was enthralled by her. “I once knew someone a lot like you . . . back in the days of the Naval Academy.” His voice trailed off as he thought of Rebecca. “It was bad timing,” he said with some regret lingering in his voice, knowing timing had nothing to do with him throwing in the towel on their relationship. It was his compelling need for advancing his career that took precedence. And for what?
Dorathy winced in pain and couldn’t tell if it was her injury or the longing to have Alex by her side. She missed him desperately.
Henry patted her knee. “I get some comfort knowing that the ones we loved are long gone, even though it seems as if it were a short time ago. They are gone, a long time dead and here we are trying to find . . . the back door . . . I think that’s how you put it once.”
Dorathy looked around the ship and thought about the possibilities. “You know, if someone, had told me a couple of years ago that I was going to end up here with you, in this ship, in this situation, I would have thought they were out of their minds. Yet, here I am, sitting here in this spaceship, talking to you . . . I just don’t assume anything anymore . . . kind of surreal.”
“Yeah, I guess it is.” Henry reached over and brushed the bangs out of her face. “Well, we have work to do before we meet Jobar at our next destination. You should get some rest.”
Dorathy watched as he left the room. “Absorbing what Henry had just said, she felt guilty for having the feelings she was having for him at that moment. She brushed it off as stress to her unpredictable and incredible, circumstances.
CHAPTER 32
As he did every morning, Magnus sat at the console with his hot tea, reviewing messages from their ‘business associates’—smugglers, fellow portal hunters—typical morning banter. “Jobar and Coolie are meeting us at an old mining outpost. He sent the coordinates: ‘You will know it when we see it’ was his only message.”
Dimitri started in with his usual annoyances. “That midget better not be wasting my time with another one of his wild chicken chases.”
“Goose . . . goose chases. Get it right, will ya?” Brenda whacked him on the back of his head.
Henry often wondered how his band of misfits ever made it this far. Taking a deep breath, he said, “Coolie and Jobar have in their possession an extremely rare, old map. They have not been able to ascertain its origin, but by the sounds of it, whatever is down there has been there for many centuries and it is all that remains of this ancient civilization. Apparently, the folklore of this place says there is an inaccessible cave with walls covered with writing that has never been deciphered. The place is uninhabited, and no one has been able to gain access to this ancient city.”
After what the group had just been through, uninhabited sounded very good. Dorathy was energized at the thought of seeing something this spectacular. “You know, I might be of some help down there. I spent a lot of time in the ‘Degraded Section’ back on Earth. My father taught me how to read some of the ancient hieroglyphics buried deep in the old tombs. There might be some similarities considering that the code buried in our own DNA resembles language from that era.”
Dimitri shook his head. “No, I disagree. Any chance that we may come across ancient text that is remotely recognizable is very slim. Yes, the code resembles language; some of my colleagues saw a mathematical equation to the pattern, arranging letters to form a word; this is very different.”
“So you’re saying, Dorathy continued, whoever buried the code in our DNA wrote it to be read as a language in its simplest form—mathematics. A map of sorts, I guess not much different than the map we put on Voyager so many decades ago.”
Dimitri pondered Dorathy’s input for a moment. “So, your theory is whoever wrote the code must have left a similar form of language along the way? Perhaps, he said cocking his head in thought. Then, if that is the case, I may be able to decipher it.”
Dorathy smiled. It must have taken a lot for Dimitri to acknowledge she might have a point. “Well two heads are better than one,” she said, before Magnus proceeded to share his thoughts.
“If I may, we are all assuming that because the word ancient is being used that ancient, the way we perceive it, is what we will find. We must assume whoever wrote the code was indeed far advanced, thus their perception might be a bit different from ours.”
The group fell silent for a moment. Henry ran his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, I see where you’re going with this, ‘ancient’ is irrelevant, it could mean far more advanced than our comprehension, but still ancient to whoever wrote it.”
Henry sat back in his chair. “Guess we’ll figure it out once we get down there.”
Magnus leaned in. “Not to worry old chap. If the text is written in some type of code, it may well be written in binary.” Magnus now wore a confident smile. “If so, then I’m the guy to read it.”
Brenda sat with her arms crossed. “Well aren’t you a collection of smart assholes . . . did it ever occur to you that maybe it’s a bunch of stick figures painted on a wall?”
“They burst out in laughter. Henry clapped his hands. “Okay let’s get down to the outpost and collect our friends. We can get to the bottom of this map and hopefully find some clues.”
Henry guided the ship down in a remote landing area where they could see Jobar and Coolie waiting—Jobar handing an old timer a bag of credits and watched as he mounted his trusty ride of scales, long matted fur and hooves, shoving the payment into his saddle bag, and trotted off with a yank of the rains. The ship came in slowly for a landing; Jobar and Coolie pulled their coat collars up over their faces as it stirred the dust up around them. Jobar and Coolie had been patientl
y waiting for their arrival on this cold desert planet.
Henry went to the hatch to greet them, watching Jobar approach with heavy packs in hand, they boarded the ship with a bit of a stumble. “Good of you to join us,” Jobar said, raising a bottle of some homegrown spirits. “Thought we would come early and take care of some logistics first, before we go off on this little quest of ours. But let’s get down to our first order of business—were you able to get the shipment of poppies we wanted?” Jobar and Coolie noted Henry’s face and arms. “Looking at your injuries,” Jobar said, “I would say you made a valiant attempt.”
“Yeah, those sons of bitches gave us a bit of hassle, but we filled your order. I just hope we don’t have to go there again any time soon.”
“I promised a fair price. We would get the poppies ourselves, but there are too many legalities to contend with. You know the inconsistencies with the laws in our sector—some deem it legal for medicinal purposes, others see it as an illegal substance. At any rate, I don’t need the hassle, so here are the credits I promised you,” Jobar said as he handed Henry a bag.
“You want me to bring them over now?”
“No, best we leave them on board. Can’t trust the locals around these parts. It took a handsome price just for us to park our ship here for a couple of days.”
Henry had to laugh. “You guys are always buying yourselves out of trouble. Got to say Jobar, it’s always a pleasure; and Coolie, it escapes me why you’re always hanging out with this loser.”
Jobar smirked, “Well, you will think more highly of me when I show you what we have in our possession.”
Dorathy, Magnus, Brenda, and Dimitri welcomed them aboard. Brenda, wearing her usual smile said, “Hi baby. Long time no see. How ya doin’?”
Jobar gave her a hug around her waist. “If I weren’t so old, we could run away together.”
Brenda laughed. “Why you little devil, I would take you up on that to get away from these assholes I been hanging out with!”
Jobar turned his attentions to Dorathy. “Well, hello my dear, so nice of you to join this ragtag gang of derelicts.”
Dorathy was enthralled by Jobar and Coolie, and she was at a loss for words during her first intelligent alien encounter. Jobar held out a scaly hand with its three well-manicured fingers and after a momentary hesitation Dorathy took it in friendship. Not knowing exactly what to say, she said, “I have waited all of my life for this moment.”
“Well, my dear, I hope we don’t disappoint.”
Coolie saw the effect that they had on Dorathy and held out his bottle. “Here take a swig.”
Dorathy obliged and took a mouthful of the concoction, swallowing with a cringe. “Oh wow, that’s some strong stuff you got there.”
Coolie laughed. “I make it in my yard at home. It’s highly illegal in our sector, so we can just keep that our secret.”
“Absolutely,” Dorathy said, grinning from ear to ear, already feeling the effects of the fermentation.
After stowing their gear, they gathered around the table to look over the map they had had newly acquired. Jobar pointed to the old crumpled map he had won in a recent game of chance. Jobar said with a huge smile, “The poor fool I collected this map from did not have a clue what he had in his possession; of course, I played the sore loser as I relieved him of it.” Coolie and Jobar smiled at each other and as Jobar pointed to the map he said, “We have faith that you hold the secrets to this map. Since the day we met so many years ago, I have had a gut feeling about you. Your ship is just one of the missing links that we have been searching for all these years.”
Henry looked at the map more closely, “Looks like it’s a trail map, but where is it?”
Jobar said, “It is at the center of the planet we are now going to. If what I think is true from stories I have heard about this place, your ship will allow us to gain access where others have failed.”
The group passed the map around the table and listened to the tales of its possible origin. Jobar continued with his tales, as if he were telling ghost stories around a campfire. The others listened and felt in the depths of their existence that maybe they were right, perhaps they were closer to their goal than ever before. Henry sighed deeply, saying, “No one wants to get to the bottom of this mystery more than all of us do, so let’s get moving. I’m anxious to see what’s out there.” Henry and Magnus moved to the cockpit, adjusted the controls, and departed for yet another adventure.
As the ship approached the cold rocky planet, the crew was amazed at the constantly moving ice below. It made Everest Khumbu Icefall pale in comparison. Mountains of ice pushing upwards from the pressure, creating crevasses that seemed to fall away into a black abyss.
Dorathy peered into the cockpit while Henry guided the ship towards the south pole, his mind connected to the mainframe. They were now one; his commands were being carried out as the ship read his thoughts.
Dorathy gingerly stepped into the cockpit and took a seat. She was perplexed at the sight ahead, and said, “How could this planet have ever supported life?”
Magnus sat in his seat to the right of Henry. “My readings show a hot molten core at its center.” He continued to scan for any variable that seemed out of place.
Magnus’s voice trembled with excitement. “I think I have something! There! He pointed to starboard. “A huge crevasse . . . wait, no . . . my readings show an entrance . . . definitely not natural.” The ship turned and hovered for a moment while Magnus took readings for size and depth. “Okay Henry, we can proceed.”
The ship abruptly turned in a back flip and dove into the darkness. Dorathy was holding on to the restraints that held her firmly in place. She was in awe of the ship’s capabilities and apparently the rest of the crew and their guests shared her opinion. It seemed to be capable of a vast array of actions; even more emerging since Dorathy’s arrival.
The tunnel they were now traveling through seemed to have been cut through the ice and rock with such accuracy that its surface was left smooth as glass. Downward they went into the blackness, with only the glow of their exterior lights reflecting off the curved mirrored walls.
Down they went, the exterior temperature reading started to climb. Magnus smiled. “It’s a balmy eighty-two degrees. Simply lovely. Another hundred meters and we will be in the clear.”
Henry slowed their approach. “Okay gang, coming in for a landing.” The ship’s exterior lights shone bright in all directions so they could get a good look at their surroundings.
Jobar and Coolie were celebrating their arrival. “We were right. Your ship has the ability to enter where none in the past have been able to gain access.”
It was an enormous cavern that seemed to extend endlessly; the light of the ship could only illuminate so far into the distance. Below them was an ancient city that had lain in ruin for several millennia. Dorathy had been rendered almost speechless, her mind desperately trying to assimilate what her eyes were showing her. “Oh my God! In my wildest dreams I never would have thought a place like this could exist.”
It was an ecosystem completely detached from the planet above. There were mountains of rock that climbed into the ceiling. Waterfalls were cascading, melted from the ice that came from above. Tropical forests grew without restraint, the air thick with the fragrance of sweet flowers.
“How can this be? she asked. “How can all this be here underground, how can all this even exist?”
Just then there was a light that slowly grew brighter as if dawn was approaching. Growing in brightness, it came from all directions, slowly illuminating everything as far as the eye could see. The group, mouths gaping, faces pressed against the transparent shield of the forward cockpit, looked on in amazement as the ship slowly traversed the middle of this immense cavern.
Magnus pointed. “Over there I see a clearing near that lake. We can land there.” The ship spun around and landed in a grassy area on the banks of a crystal-clear lake being fed by water cascading from the sloped, roc
ky incline above.
Henry disconnected from the ship and slowly got up after releasing his restraints. “Okay gang; let’s go see what we can dig up around here.”
They hauled out their gear and sat along the bank of the underground lake in its remarkable, untouched environment. Henry looked around and could not ascertain from where the light originated. Jobar looked around in amazement. “This place is much more than it appears. Whoever built this lost city had the technology to capture the light from its distant star and direct it and magnify it as a means of sustaining life deep within.”
Each member of the group all had the same question, “How is this possible?”
Jobar raised his three-fingered hand. “We passed through an undetectable force field that protects this underground paradise from the vacuum of space. That is why I requested we take your ship. My hunch was correct—your ship would have access, as I believe somehow you are tied to this ancient city.”
Henry gasped, “And what if your hunch was wrong? We would have slammed into the force field and crashed!”
Jobar looked at Coolie. “I don’t believe your ship would have attempted entry if it sensed it would not be able to gain access through the forcefield. For this reason, not many have attempted to come here; fewer still want to come this far off the beaten track. Many believe this place to be cursed.”
Dimitri laughed. “Cursed? Look around, it’s paradise.”
Coolie shook his head. “No, my friend, don’t let its appearance fool you, many have died trying to find the key to the Otherlings. But this secret map will take us to the cave. With what we find in the cave and your ship capable of making the journey to the other side, together we can find the Otherlings. I am certain of that.”
The group packed supplies of food and water for three days, a portable shelter, ropes and climbing gear, and they departed.
Jobar, holding the map he had acquired only weeks ago said, “We were much younger, and early on in our quest when we heard of this cave. To make the trip now, so many years later, gives me hope that you hold the key to the encryptions and will make all the years waiting worth the effort.”
