It’s been one thousand years since the “War to Preserve Civilization” was successful. Civilization has been preserved. Preserved like day old caf in the chiller. Most everyone lives without ever noticing it, but a few of us see the horror of it all. The whites a little to white. The air so clean you feel the sanitizer in your lungs. They say that the Conclave is the “Light of the Universe”. That their words are Truth. Their rule, Supreme, and that the Janissari are the proof. I was taught, long ago, that the only true light comes from within us. Some of us recognize this light. Some of us embrace it. Others suppress it. And still there are those who don’t know it dwells within in them and are, unknown to them, waiting for the moment the light bursts through, like water when the dam breaks…
The bridge of the Felix is very functional. Large panels of switches and dials. Displays illuminating the surrounding metal with their halos of multi-colored light. A very large viewport peering deep into the nothingness of space, filled with the light of stars light-years away. There are two large chairs, obviously worn with much use, not the best looking seats in the galaxy, but maybe the most comfortable, as far as star ship seats go, at least. Sitting in those two seats are two of the galaxy’s many residents; one a human, the other a Thoru. Two races who once swore to destroy one other, but things have changed.
“They’re late.” Says the blue skinned Thoru, bald head crinkling with stress.
“No, you just think they are.” Replies the human.
“They are totally late,” Insists the Thoru, his voice growing more agitated.
“Leo, relax,” says the human, “you’re going to go all murdery on us. Put your feet up.”
“Maybe you’re right Jensen.” says Leo. “Time does vary on different planets.”
”There you go pal, thinking on the bright side.” Smiles Jensen.
”What does the moon have to do with this?”Leo asks, turning his blue head toward Jensen in complete seriousness.
”What?!?”” says Jensen incredulously.
”You know, bright side, dark side, it has two sides.” Explains Leo.
”No no, thinking on the bright side of things - Being Positive.” teaches Jensen.
“Oh. . .right.” Leo says sheepishly.
“ Why is it that when I get abstract you always go concrete?” asks Jensen, “Is it a Thoru thing?”
“No, I think it’s a me thing.” Leo responds, sadly matter of fact. “I have trouble with the abstract it always eludes me.”
”But aren’t you being abstract right now?” points out Jensen.
“Sorry,” Leo begins, “I don’t follow. . .”
“What you just said, about having trouble with the abstract and it eluding you.” Interrupts Jensen, “That is an abstract thought.”
“Is it?” amazes Leo.
”YES!” Jensen screams.
”I don’t know,” Leo states questionably, “is it like there not being air in space?”
“No, that’s. . .”
“Cause if there isn’t any air, how can there be sound?” defends Leo.
“There isn’t sound in space.” Says Jensen flatly.
“But we’re in space.”
“Yes, but. . .”
“And I can hear you.” says the navigator.
“I know, however. .” Jensen starts.
”So there must be sound in space.” Leo says staring Jensen square in the face, unblinking.
”Amazing use of logic, Leo.” Jensen says conceding the argument.
Leo smiles with delight, his bright red tongue sticking out in joy. ”Thank you very much, and they’re late.”
“Yes, they are.” Says Jensen checking the sensors with concern.
”Do you think?”
”Don’t do that!”yells Jensen.
”Do what?”
”You know what you were doing there!”
”I was just sayin’. . .” starts Leo.
”You were trying to bring bad luck here.” Acuses Jensen, very seriously. “Look, like I’ve always said:”
”If you bring it up, it always comes down.” They both say in unison, Jensen much more seriously than Leo.
”Exactly!” emphasizes Jensen.
”So, do we have a backup plan?” asks Leo.
”Well, if it goes south, then we can just dump ‘em. . .” begins Jensen.
Sudden the proximity alarm blares to life. The panels begin to light up like fireworks. Two explosions rock the ship, knocking it down hard to the right, the internal gravity takes a moment to compensate, sending the two men bouncing in their seats. Leo and Jensen both cry out, “WOAH!”
“What the?!” begins Leo.
“Full power to shields!” yells Jensen, “NOW!”
Leo’s hands move over the panels, pressing various buttons and dials, changing screens, and executing many tasks with the precision that only muscle memory can perform.
“Laying in an escape vector.” Calmly announces the Thoru.
The small vessel springs to life, the engines taking the deeper hue of hyperspace travel. The Felix takes a quick “S” maneuver dodging several ordinances, but takes a direct hit to the aft. Jensen throws himself to the rear of the cabin. Punching buttons and shifting digital screens he takes an assessment of the damage. . . AFT BREACH-SEALED, AFT LANDING GEAR-DISENGAGED, CRITICAL SYSTEMS-FULL POWER.
“Come on baby, just hang on,” he whispers to himself. He quickly redirects his aft shields and jumps back into his seat. “How could they have been on to us?” he asks as he redirects power to the aft shields.
“Tracking device?” suggests Leo.
“Who would bug us?” asks Jensen.
“Ten seconds to vector lock.” Leo states
“Let’s see if they can hit us on manual.” Says Jensen.
“Like the good ol’ days, boss!” cheers Leo releasing some of the stress that had been building in his chest.
The Felix begins to take seemingly erratic movements in space, dodging missiles and laser fire. Whoever the gunner firing upon them may be must be either astounded or impressed, perhaps both. Jensen smiled to himself cheating death is always a thrill. As they bank, another barrage of laser fire erupts from the above their ship.
“Another destroyer! We have to recalculate. . . fifteen seconds till vector lock!” yells Leo.
“You had to bring up the negative, Leo, you had too!” accuses Jensen.
“It’s not my fault they could hear my through space!” reacts Leo.
“Maybe they did!” retorts Jensen.
“Hah! So you admit it! There is sound in space!” cheers Leo, suddenly a green light on the consol burns bright along with a chime. “Sudden lock! PUNCH IT!”
Jensen reaches for the consol in front of him, flips the cover, and mashes the button. The stars in the viewport elongate as if they are being pulled through water, and then suddenly disappear all together.
Someone once said traveling at faster than light speeds was like traveling through death. You can see nothing, you can sense nothing. The computer tells you on occasion where your course should be taking you, but it is only making educated guesses. You are everywhere and nowhere all at once. Most spacers tend to sleep or at least close their viewports during FTL. Jensen didn’t. He liked to look long and deep into the darkness.
Leo took a deep breath and sat back in his chair. He was reading the screen to see what had caused the sudden lock, it did happen on occasion, but Leo didn’t leave things up to luck like Jensen. He wanted to know why. “I’m going to have to dig through all this code.” He groaned.
“What the hell. . .”Jensen said staring out the viewport, staring into nothingness.
“I just really want to know how the sudden lock happened. If I can do that, then we could shorten the lock every time. Maybe even sell that! Think of it Jensen, we could be rich! On the up and up too! The Conclave offers a big reward for tech breakthroughs. . .”
“The Conclave is going to be offering a big reward for information on this ship, Leo.” said Jensen pensively, “but I wasn’t questioning you. I was questioning why what just happened, happened. We were running completely dark, as agreed in the contract. We told no one of this job. We were running a randomly plotted course to keep any strangers off our backs and away from anyone else for that matter. “
“Coincidence?” suggested Leo, “Right place, right time?”
“I thought you didn’t believe in luck?”
“Coincidence isn’t luck, random occurrences do happen, especially when humans are involved.” defends Leo.
“I don’t think so.” Jensen said quietly “I think there is only one thing in the universe that could have found us.”
Leo’s large eyes widened as his blue flesh turned to a pale-ish blue green. “Why would they be after us? No smuggling gig should pop up on their radar, not even a little bit.” whispered the Thoru.
Jensen turned to exit the cockpit. “I think it’s time we started asking some questions of our guests.”
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