The lost world, p.10
The Lost World, page 10
“Uh… I don’t know.”
“Do you remember Balron the Traveler?”
“Sure,” Keith said.
“He was small, an energy being,” Valerie said. “Balron had incredible powers. Maybe the thing Riker picked up also had abilities, one of them helping us navigate through underspace.”
“That might be possible,” Keith said.
Valerie studied the uncorroded crystal machine. “Let’s disconnect the crystal device and bring it back to the Kit Carson. We’ll study how it works over there.”
“You need to give me some idea what you’re thinking. Maybe that’s a terrible idea.”
Valerie ignored that as she held out a gloved hand. “Let me see your scanner.”
Keith shrugged, handing it to Valerie.
She stood near the crystal device and manipulated the scanner. She paused and did more scanning, studying the readings.
“Well?” asked Keith. “What did you find?”
“Could the crystals resonate with distortions? What are we? Matter—affected by gravitational forces, too. Maybe the crystal machine is tuned to gravitational forces like a tuning fork to sounds. It wouldn’t need power in the traditional sense. This thing isn’t getting power now, yet it showed something. That’s how it could be possible.”
Valerie adjusted the scanner to a wider frequency range and ran it over the alien machine. The scanner screen flickered, showing faint rhythmic pulses. Could that be because of the Kit Carson outside the ship?
“I don’t think this is dead tech,” Valerie said. “It’s active, but it’s operating on a different principle. Could it sense anomalies… almost like it was mapping them?”
“I’m not tracking you.”
“Maybe this machine tracks gravitational and magnetic fluctuations outside the ship.”
“How would it do that?” Keith asked.
“I just said: like a tuning fork, using resonance. Maybe the aliens used this machine to help them steer a safe path through underspace.”
Keith shook his head. “Don’t you think you’re grasping at straws?”
“We already went over that,” Valerie said. “Yes, I’m plucking at whatever I can. I’m trying to think like Maddox and Ludendorff, outside the box. Maybe the aliens didn’t fight the anomalies as we did—they used them. The machine sensed the distortions and aligned with the paths of least resistance.”
Keith thought about that. “You’re saying the alien ship, through this machine… feels its way through underspace, waiting for the right conditions before moving.”
“It’s a possibility at least. We need to bring this unit back to the Kit Carson. We can’t fully analyze it here, and I’m not willing to try powering up the alien ship until we know how their system works.”
Keith moved closer, examining the alien device. “Looks like it can be detached easily enough. It’s not embedded in the ship’s core systems. We’ll need to disconnect it carefully, though.”
“I agree,” Valerie said. “Let’s get to it.”
Together, they set to work, detaching the alien machine. It didn’t seem to be a computer in the human sense—there were no digital circuits, no wires. It was more like a complex, analog machine, with crystalline structures and metallic threads linking it to the ship.
Valerie used a specialized tool to sever the connections, while Keith monitored the ship to ensure they weren’t triggering any unintended responses.
The crystal device, about the size of an ancient TV set, finally came loose. Valerie cradled it, surprised by its lightness until she remembered it was weightless.
“It’s smaller than I thought it would be,” she said, inspecting the crystalline surfaces.
The machine was still faintly pulsing, possibly responding to gravitational forces even as it lay inert in her arms.
Keith secured it in a containment harness.
“Let’s get it onboard,” Valerie said.
They began floating through the dim corridors of the alien ship, heading back for the Kit Carson.
-23-
Valerie stood over the alien unit on the Kit Carson’s bridge, her eyes fixed on the crystalline structure that pulsed faintly. Beside her, Keith was monitoring the device with a scanner linked to the scout’s computer and AI, his face a mix of concentration and curiosity.
“We’re not going to brute force this,” Valerie said. “It doesn’t seem to work like any tech we’ve seen other than a tuning fork. Maybe it’s more of a tool than a system. We need to approach the testing differently.”
Keith nodded, scanning the device’s surface, watching as the readings shifted subtly. “It’s giving off energy signals, but it’s not responding to any of the inputs we’ve tried.”
“It’s not a machine in the way we think of machines. It reacts to the environment—gravitational and magnetic fields, maybe even something we haven’t detected yet.”
Keith frowned, adjusting the scanner to pick up broader frequencies.
“Let me think,” Valerie said. “Hmm… We believe it’s about tuning into the environment and reacting to it. That means the aliens likely felt their way through underspace.”
Keith stared at the readings. “So, it’s not giving us information like a computer would. It’s sensing the distortions—gravitational anomalies, magnetic fields—and resonating with them. It’s showing us the paths.”
Valerie used a scanner, widening the spectrum. “There. I believe it’s picking up the gravitational anomalies at the edge of the pocket universe. It must be tuned to those distortions in particular.”
Keith looked up. “That’s why it seemed like background noise earlier. It’s been sensing the environment the whole time, but we weren’t interpreting it correctly.”
Valerie smiled. “This is about finding the path of least resistance—what the machine was built to do.”
“How could you possibly know that?”
“I couldn’t,” Valerie said, “not normally, anyway. Is there something about the machine… I don’t know. Maybe it connects with our brains in some manner.”
“Why or how?”
Valerie shook her head. “I don’t know, but you know what they say about looking at a free gift in the mouth. We have this. Let’s figure out how to use it and leave.”
“Roger that,” Keith said.
They spent the next few hours correlating the device’s output with their own sensor data. As the device pulsed, it revealed subtle patterns in the gravitational and magnetic anomalies in the pocket universe.
“My theory is expanding,” Valerie said. “The aliens must have ridden the currents, letting the environment guide them, like a surfer riding a wave.”
“If we follow the resonance patterns, we should be able to find a path through underspace,” Keith said. “Of course, we still don’t know how to travel from underspace to normal space.”
They worked tirelessly, testing different scenarios and adjusting their instruments to match the resonance patterns the alien machine was picking up. Bit by bit, they began to understand how the device interacted with the environment around them.
As the final piece of the puzzle clicked into place, Valerie entered a series of commands into the ship’s navigation system, linking it with the alien device’s output. A holographic map of the pocket universe bloomed on the main display, showing broad pathways.
“That worked,” Keith said with a laugh.
Valerie smiled, with the thrill of discovery coursing through her. “We’ve done it. We’ve discovered the key to navigating underspace.”
Keith’s eyes shone with excitement. “Now we need to do it and then find an exit from underspace into normal space.”
“You’re right,” Valerie said. “We have to figure out how to leave underspace next. That means we’re not going to rush into this. We need more tests. We have to be absolutely sure this works before attempting the voyage from the pocket universe.”
Keith leaned back, the exhaustion of the past hours starting to weigh on him. “I agree. We’ve come this far. No point risking everything when we’re so close. Besides, we still need to pick up Riker if we can.”
“If he’s even still alive,” Valerie said.
“Any ideas how we find out?” asked Keith.
“Not yet,” Valerie said.
They secured the alien navigation unit in the containment field and left the bridge, exhausted. The alien device had revealed some of its secrets, and they had the key to escaping the pocket universe.
Tomorrow, they needed to figure out how to get Riker back aboard the scout and then how to leave underspace back into normal space.
-24-
In the morning, on Riker’s part of the planet, the golden atmosphere of the alien world shimmered around the sergeant as he sprinted through the alien landscape. His breath came in ragged gasps, the metallic tang of the air burning through his mask and into his lungs. Behind him, the guttural cries of hunting Saurians echoed off the crystalline spires, a primal sound that sent shivers down his spine.
Riker’s mind raced as fast as his feet. The shuttle was too far to reach in a single sprint. The ruins he’d spied before were his only hope for survival now. Luckily, they were near the spires.
He had slept for part of the night and endured the dawn light as he remembered sweet, beautiful Emily. He had made it through the jungle to these impressive spires.
As he looked, the Saurians spotted him. He had heard their horns as he fell asleep. Now, horns blared again, this time against him.
Riker darted between the towering crystal structures, their surfaces reflecting distorted images of his pursuers. A quick glance over his shoulder revealed three Saurians in closest pursuit, their powerful legs eating up the distance between them.
As he ran, Riker took in details of his hunters. Their scaled bodies rippled with muscle, built for speed and power. But it was their eyes that unnerved him: intelligent, calculating, filled with a hunger that went beyond mere predatory instinct.
A whistling sound cut through the air. Riker ducked instinctively, feeling a projectile pass above his head. It embedded itself in a nearby structure with a metallic thud. A quick glance revealed a dart-like object, its tip glistening with an unknown substance.
“Great,” Riker muttered. “Now they’re using poison darts.”
He changed direction and dove through a narrow gap between two fallen pillars, barely squeezing through. The move bought him a few precious seconds as the larger Saurians were forced to find an alternate route; they were too large to fit through.
Using the momentary reprieve, Riker assessed his options as he panted. The alien environment played havoc with his rifle’s power cells. His most valuable assets were his mind—and the crystal he’d picked up aboard the Columbus.
As if sensing his thoughts, the crystal pulsed warmly against his chest. For a split second, Riker felt a connection, a flash of insight into the world around him. He saw the ruins not as random debris, but as a complex system, a maze designed with purpose.
For some reason, he seemed to have forgotten that the crystal might be part of the Shardkin and thus the Yon Soths. That was an odd thing for Riker to forget. Undoubtedly, the crystal had something to do with that.
The connection moment passed as quickly as it came. It warred against the information Emily had given him.
Riker was remembering, but that slipped away with a light buzzing in his mind.
The Saurians were closing in again, their hunting calls taking on a triumphant tone. Riker pushed himself harder, ignoring the burning in his muscles. He rounded a corner and found himself in a large open area, dotted with what looked like inactive teleportation pads.
He wasn’t sure where the idea that those were T-pads had come from—probably the crystal.
Yes, the crystal seemed to say in his mind. We must work together. I will help you against the creatures.
“How do I help you?” Riker panted.
I will show you soon. First, let us use the teleportation pads to trick our pursuers.
Riker didn’t see as he had a choice. He leapt onto one of the pads. Nothing happened, but he hadn’t expected it to. The real trick was what came next.
The lead Saurian burst into the clearing, its reptilian eyes locking onto Riker. It raised a sophisticated weapon, far different from the spears and darts he had seen earlier. The incongruity struck Riker—these creatures had access to technology, yet chose to hunt with primitive methods. A cultural choice? Or something else? Or did it have to do with what Emily had told him before?
Don’t worry about that. She regurgitated an old wives’ tale, nothing more.
The Saurian fired his weapon, a bolt of energy sizzling at Riker. He dove off the pad, rolling behind a chunk of fallen masonry. The energy bolt swerved and struck the teleportation pad, and to Riker’s amazement, the pad flickered to life for a brief moment.
See, the crystal told him. We can use this to our advantage. I know how.
The other two Saurians joined the first, spreading out to flank Riker’s position.
The sergeant waited until they were all in position.
Now, you must do it now, the crystal said.
Riker made his move as he broke cover, sprinting for another teleportation pad. As expected, all three Saurians fired at once.
Swerve, the crystal commanded.
Riker changed direction. The energy bolts swerved from him and struck the nearby pad, energizing it. Riker took out the crystal from his vest pocket and touched it against a console as he raced past it.
The effect was immediate and dramatic. The teleportation pad erupted with light, creating a swirling vortex of energy. The nearest Saurian, unable to stop its charge, tumbled into the vortex with a shriek of surprise and vanished.
Riker didn’t wait to see where it had been transported to, if he could. He was already moving, using the confusion to gain ground. The remaining two Saurians recovered quickly, however, resuming the chase with renewed vigor and what Riker could have sworn was a hint of respect in their calls.
He might be new to this world, but he wasn’t anyone’s fool. He was Sergeant Treggason Riker, a seasoned pro.
You are indeed impressive, the crystal spoke in his mind. I’m glad you found me. There is so much we can do together, and it will bring you your greatest joy.
Riker frowned. He wanted Emily, but she was dead.
Maybe not forever dead, the crystal said in his mind.
“What are you saying?” panted Riker.
Do you want to see Emily again?
“With all my heart,” Riker said.
Then keep running, Riker, and do as I say, and you shall.
The idea of that gave Riker an extra burst of stamina. It didn’t seem possible, but this was a pocket universe. Maybe something like that could happen.
A more cynical part of Riker, one buried deep, hoped he wasn’t being a fool and a dupe, believing empty promises. Because if that were the case… he would go berserk on the smooth-talking crystal in his vest pocket and teach it what liars got in the end.
-25-
The pursuit continued— a deadly game of cat and mouse. Riker used every trick—false trails, improvised traps, and misdirection. The Saurians matched him at every turn, their hunting instincts undoubtedly honed by generations in this unforgiving environment.
As he ran, Riker began piecing together more about his pursuers. Their weapons and tools were a bizarre mix of the primitive and the advanced, as if their civilization had developed unevenly or regressed in some areas.
One Saurian managed to flank Riker, cutting off his latest escape route. The seven-foot creature brandished a weapon that looked like a cross between a spear and a high-tech harpoon. With shocking speed, it launched the weapon.
Riker twisted, the harpoon grazing his suit. He felt a sharp pain as it pierced the outer layer, but the inner held.
Riker stumbled, off-balance from the weapon.
The Saurian closed in for the kill.
Riker raised his rifle and fired. An energy blast caught the Saurian in the shoulder, sending it reeling back with a roar of pain and rage.
Using that opening, Riker ran and dove through a half-collapsed doorway. He slithered through, jumped up and found himself in a long corridor lined with strange, pulsing conduits. The crystal in his vest hummed in resonance with the technology around him.
Riker ran deeper into the structure, the sounds of pursuit growing fainter. The corridor began to slope downward, leading him further into the heart of the ruins. At some point he’d left the crystal spires and reached the ruins.
Emergency lighting flickered to life as he passed, responding to his presence—or more likely to the crystal he carried.
Finally, lungs burning and muscles quivering, Riker slowed down to a walk. The pursuit seemed to have fallen behind, at least for now. He leaned against a wall, trying to catch his breath and take stock of the situation.
That’s when he realized the true nature of his predicament. In evading the Saurians, he had been driven deeper into the ruins, far from his original entry point and even further from the shuttle. The corridors around him hummed with dormant energy, the air thick with the weight of ancient secrets.
Riker closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, his expression was one of determination. He might be lost in the bowels of an alien ruin, hunted by creatures he barely understood, but he was far from being defeated. And he might have Emily again. The crystal had better not give him a zombified Emily. That would be worse than her dying the first time.
“All right,” Riker muttered, eyeing the unfamiliar technology surrounding him. “If I can’t get out, I’ll just have to go through.”
Did the crystal he carried laugh silently? It almost seemed so. It had become dormant again. Why would he think the crystal laughed? Wouldn’t that be a weird response?
Riker pushed off from the wall and strode down the corridor. The hunt had evolved into something more—a race to give the crystal what it wanted so that he could have Emily again. But he had to do that before the Saurians caught up with him. Riker did not intend to lose that race.
