PERIL (6 page)

“I guess all’s not forgiven.
”

“You should focus on getting better
,” Tyler responds.

“That’s right
, soldier, because you’ve got a mission to complete.” Reed says.

Vanessa smiles aw
kwardly and Tyler frowns.

“C’mon
, Reed, a blind Captain can’t command a mission,” Vanessa says sadly.

“Thi
s
i
s
temporary, Bains. You’re a fighter, besides I think you’ve got more pressing matters to attend to,” Reed quips referring to her marriage.

“I’ll stop by later and de
brief you on the mission’s status.” Reed adds.

Reed exits the room w
ithout saying a word to Tyler. “He’s as charming as ever I see,” Tyler remarks.

“You know Reed
,” Vanessa says awkwardly.

“Yeah a man of few words like most jar heads
,” Tyler replies with a ring of discontentment.

“C’mon
, Tyler, his being here speaks volumes; he cares.”

“
Yeah, about this mission especially and so do you.”

“Tyler I
want to apologize about not talking to you about the abortion. I should have at least discussed it with you before hand.”

“Don’t go there right now. We both know you would do it again
, in a heartbeat, to go on this mission.”

Tyler gets up from the edge of the bed.

“Look, I didn’t come here to fight with you. I’m glad you’re okay, but we both know it’s over between us. Vanessa, I’ve filed for a divorce.”

Vanessa is numb. She knew her choice would end her marriage, but hearing Tyler
say the words made it real. There was such finality in his tone. She feels like she has been punched in the gut.

Tyler exits
the room, leaving her with two words, “Good-bye, Captain.”

Vanessa weeps
holding her hands against the bandages across her eyes wishing she could see his face one last time.

Its 2:00 AM and Dr. Todd Remis is in his lab working late as usual. A few hours earlier he stopped by to visit Vanessa in her room. They talked for a while, but he co
uld sense that she wasn’t up for a long visit. So he decided to stay at Ares Corp. and work late deciphering the symbols on the fragments he discovered. He thought that if he could come up with some new data it would distract Vanessa from her problems. Perhaps he could even get her to work with him, just like old times. Todd has been secretly in love with Vanessa for years, but he knows he doesn’t stand a chance with Tyler in the picture. Now that she and Tyler have split maybe, just maybe, he has a chance.

Todd i
s working feverishly trying to decode the symbols. It seems hopeless. There is no point of reference and too few symbols. Frustrated, he decides to take a break and sits at his desk staring at the fragment lying under the scope.

“This is pointless!” he yells as he slams his fist onto the desk.

He accidentally cut his hand on an examination tool. Tiny amounts of blood splatter across the table and onto the fragment.

“OUCH
!”

Noticing the blood he quickly searches for something to clean it up with.

“Oh shit!” He rants hoping he didn’t contaminate the object.

He ra
n several chemical tests on it and this could set his research back. Suddenly, detecting and analyzing the bloodstained fragment the computer alerts Todd.

“New element composition detected…
Analyzing. Standby,” the computer announces.

Todd takes notice and slowly approaches the scope.

“Activate monitor,” Todd orders the computer.

A holographic display emerges above the
scope highlighting the microscopic metamorphosis.

“Magnify,” Todd urges.

The image zooms in revealing a barely noticeable shape.

“Again!”

The image zooms in further.

“Maximum magnification,” Todd yells excitedly.

The scope zooms in to its maximum magnification and Todd is stunned by the image. His blood and the symbols begin to coalesce forming new symbols. Then multiple symbols quickly flash on the monitor.

“Record image!”

Soon a pattern emerges from the images. Then multiple patterns! Then in an instant the symphony of images stop. Todd looks for more, but there is nothing else. He recalls the recorded images on the computer.

The patterns seem to have a rh
ythmic formation. From the data he can only decipher three phrases, “Cities in ruin,” “Home among these stars” and “Children follow not our path.” The rest of the pattern is an enigma. Todd runs the data through a program he designed. It’s a long shot, but he thinks these patterns can be interpreted as frequencies. As he suspects, these frequencies are identical to the sound waves or pulsars that stars emit.

Todd begins scrutinizing the data in disbelief. Genomic Seti research had long since been abandoned. The idea that a code or message could have been imprinted on primordial human DNA and pa
ssed down through generations is plausible, but it is seemingly unlikely. Who or what could posses the technology to do it and where is the conclusive evidence to support this activity? Yet, a message from the past is staring him right in the face, in his own DNA. Todd has many questions. Todd’s scientific curiosity compels him to run more tests and gather more information.

“The answer is within us. I need more DNA,” Todd says aloud.

Todd’s journey on discovery is leading him down a slippery slope. He knows that his lab is under surveillance by The Seeyer. All of his research, the lab and computer logs are closely monitored. Any findings or unsanctioned research could easily be deemed heresy against doctrine if it clashes with Fathomism. He doesn’t want to wind up on an asteroid colony or worse. Still, it is a chance he has to take. This enigma begs for study; the implications cannot be ignored.

Todd enters an encryption code into the computer locking out the central computer. He then takes the l
ab’s monitors offline. He sets the holographic chronometer for twenty minutes. He figures he has twenty minutes before The Seeyer’s uplink to the lab will detect the disruption in communication. He moves quickly over to Dr. Pierce’s station in the lab. He locates a locked cabinet with the MV5 mission crew’s DNA samples. He then enters his security code and unlocks the cabinet. His hands tremble as he lifts the tray containing the samples from their shelf.

“This
is crazy,” he thinks.

Nervously, he scampers back to his station with the tray in hand. The timer indicates that he has seven
teen minutes before his activities are discovered. Todd reaches for a vile labeled “Captain V. Bains” then stops mid-motion and decides to test Lieutenant Ricardo Cruise’s DNA.

“Uh, on second thought we can’t have the discovery of the century based on the DNA of a mode
rn-day Neanderthal,” Todd jeers.

He put Cruise’s v
ile back on the tray and glances at the holographic chronometer.

“TICK-TOCK
, TICK-TOCK,” he nervously jokes as he picks up another vile.

He turns the vile around to see whose name is on the label.

The vile is labeled Dr. Daniel Pierce.

“Well my good friend and colleague you will be the lucky candidate.”

The thought fills him with joy. Though they respect each other’s work, he and Dr. Pierce are fierce competitors in scientific academia. Their love-hate relationship actually furthers their work. Each challenges the other’s theories, but hold equal fame. Todd is about to tip the scale in an ironic fashion. His plan is twisted and brilliant.

He mixes Dr. Pierce’s DNA with a solution and pours it onto the fragment. The scope boots up.

“New composition detected…Initiating scan, standby,” the computer, instructs.

Todd looks over at the ch
ronometer; five minutes remain. Sitting on the stool in front of the station, Todd’s right leg shakes anxiously as he taps his index finger on the glass desktop.

“Come on,” he urges the computer.

A bead of sweat slowly rolls down his cheek as his forehead becomes soaked with perspiration. He can taste the salty liquid as he licks his lips. He loosens his tie and waits for a response. 

“New dat
a found,” the computer announces.

The computer projects new holographic symbols in front of Todd.

“Cross compare the new data with the previous findings,” Todd directs the computer.

“Comparison complete
.”

“Analysis?”

“Incomplete.”

“Extrapolate,” Todd insists.

“Unknown symbols...Insufficient reference material to draw a logical conclusion.”

“Translate using frequency models!” Todd snaps.

“Standby…New data found.”

“Well don’t keep me suspense,” Todd says anxiously.

Suddenly, the computer projects a star chart and a pulsating frequency. The chart appears to be searching through a stellar map seeking a matching point of reference, a location. Todd’s eyes widens in anticipation as he waits for the Holy Grail-like answer to be revealed. His excitement would be cut short. Time runs out. The scope immediately shuts down and the holographic image vanishes. The Seeyer is on to his activity. The lab’s communication disruption had been discovered.

The doors to his lab fling o
pen and two armed guards enter the lab. One of the guards scans his workstation with a device that reveals Todd’s activity. However, the encryption code Todd activated hides the nature of his activity.  The guard looks at Todd then at the video monitor. The guard then confiscates the fragment.

“Confirmed,” the guard says
to The Seeyer.

Without hesitation he grabs Todd’s arm. The guards usher him out of the room.

Todd is very nervous as they make their way down the hall. He shakes uncontrollably as their pace quickens. The three men get onto an elevator. One of the guards presses the elevator button for level fifteen.

Todd’s eyes widen. He knows level fifteen is the floor that The Seeyer’s mai
nframe is on. No one he knows within the company ever goes to that floor. There were rumors that anyone taken there was never heard from again.

“I was only completing necessary work…for the mission,” Todd lies to the guards nervously.

The men don’t respond. The elevator buzzes as they pass each floor descending to the lower levels of the complex. Todd tenses up as they pass level fourteen. The sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach worsens.

Suddenly, the elevator stops
and an automated voice address them, “Level fifteen…enter security clearance and prepare for retina identification.”

O
ne of the guards enters his security clearance into the panel and he lifts his visor allowing a quick eye scan of his retinas. The doors to the elevator open abruptly. The corridor is dimly lit. He can hear a faint hum being produced by the complex’s generators. Plasma discharges can also be heard in the distance followed by a woman’s screams. The guard with the lifted visor gives Todd a menacing grin. In vain, Todd struggles refusing to exit the elevator. The guards grab his arms and drag him out of the elevator. Another plasma discharge rings out and again the woman screams out in pain. The horrifying sounds grow louder as they approach a room at the end of the corridor.

Todd can see luminescent light flashes emanating from the room that briefly lights up the corridor with each plasma blast. He struggles harder, but the guards are too strong. They lift his thin body off the ground and carry him further toward the room. Todd is so overwhelmed with fear that he begins to urinate on himself.

“Oh dear, God,” he mumbles.

They arrive at the room and throw Todd in. He lands face down.

“Dr. Todd Remis,” The Seeyer says loudly.

Todd slowly looks up and sees a swirling mass of energy brilliantly lit with what could only be described as stars floating within it. The mass seems to be floating in space. Its mass makes no contact with the walls or the floor in the room. He is so amazed by what he sees he barely notices the woman floating within it.

Suddenly the woman’s body is ejected from the mass and she lands on the floor in front of Todd. It is the Nun from the moon colony. Her limp body rests helplessly on the floor as she moans in agony.

“Take this heretic back to Holding Cell C and await further instruction
s,” The Seeyer commands the guards.

They grab the Nun by the arms and drag her towards the door of the room.

“MV5 is a death trap. The beginning of our end,” the Nun moans to Todd.

“C’mon old woman,” one of the guards gripes as they fight to get a tight grip on her frail body.

Still lying flat on the floor, Todd watches as she is dragged away. He puts his head down daring not to look upon The Seeyer again.