Chapter Nine
The
subspace shield was ready...The computer was going to activate the normal-space
shield as soon as the Valiant entered subspace. If they got there, that
is.
Kline
was sitting in his command chair, drumming his fingers on the armrests. In five
minutes, they would be ready to go off into subspace. Unfortunately, the
malfunctions were multiplying. More and more crewmembers of the Valiant were
disappearing and some crewmembers from the
«
Stevenson to bridge, we're ready down here. »
Kline
nodded approvingly, and then turned to Mantion: « Are we ready, commander? » She nodded: « Awaiting your orders,
captain. »
«
Okay. I hope this works. » He took a deep breath, and then said: « Initiate. »
The
Valiant suddenly began disappearing, phasing into a subspace state. The
field which grew from the center of the ship quickly
enveloped the Valiant. Sending it into subspace… As soon as the ship was
totally integrated, the normal-space shield was initiated and the vessel was
now protected from the subspace which was around them.
«
Report… » Kline said, it seemed as if his voice was echoing, although there was
no reason for it to do so. It was probably due to the strange subspace
environment they were in and the shield which kept them safe from its
influence.
«
All systems functioning… » The same voice effect could be heard when Mantion
spoke. « We are now in subspace. »
«
Scan the area for defects in the subspace field. » Kline said.
«
Our sensors are still not working excellently. » Eskina said. « But I'll try. »
The
voice of Chief Robinson came over a commlink: « I'm starting to beam the
defects on board. Let's hope this works. »
Eskina
nodded: « I've connected the sensors and the transporter systems together. That
should speed things up. »
Ten
minutes passed, everyone watched the impressive phenomena on the viewscreen.
Hundreds of thousands of pictures and images of various kinds were flying about
the place. It could render one epileptic if one gazed at it too long. Kline
didn't want to imagine what one could hear when one was inside subspace.
Thirty
minutes later, Robinson said: « Captain, I think I've got everyone. »
«
Excellent. » Kline said. « We need to try to get out of subspace now. »
Stevenson
had come onto the bridge: « Captain. To get out of subspace we need to
establish a subspace funnel that will bring us out of the perimeter of the
subspace pocket contained within the Hydra nebula. »
«
How do we do that? » Kline asked.
«
I'll have to establish a warp field that will distort subspace enough to allow
us to create the funnel. It'll take ten minutes, or so... »
«
We only have fifteen minutes before our normal-space shield fails. » Mantion
reminded.
«
Get moving Stevenson. I'd hate to be stuck here. » Ordered Kline.
Stevenson
rushed to the turbolift and went to Engineering.
Sutter
took a deep breath: « Looks like we're going to make it. »
Kline
nodded: « I hope so. It's going to be a close one. »
Sutter
turned to the viewscreen and said: « It's amazing, a whole new universe, only a
few inches away from our own that defies all laws that exist in ours. »
Kline
smiled: « Subspace...The final frontier. »
Sutter
nodded, also smiling: « Yeah, whatever... »
Chapter Ten
«
Ready, sir. » said Stevenson.
«
One minute. » reported Mantion.
«
Activate the warp field. » said Kline.
On
the viewscreen, subspace began to bend bizarrely.
«
Activating subspace funnel! » said Stevenson.
The
Valiant was pulled into the funnel, and thrown across subspace. As soon
as the Valiant came out of the funnel, Stevenson said: « We need to get
out of subspace before our shield fails, now. »
«
Thirty seconds. » said Mantion.
«
What's your plan, John? » asked Kline.
Kline
expected to hear Stevenson say something, but he didn't.
«
Twenty five... » said Mantion.
« Stevenson?! » Kline exclaimed.
«
I'm thinking! Just give me a second. » Said Stevenson.
«
You mean you don't have a plan? » Sutter asked.
«
Yes I did! I told you before, but it's not working! » Stevenson said.
«
Twenty... » Mantion continued the ominous countdown.
«
The Warp engines are not responding. Something's blocking! » Stevenson suddenly
jumped, he slapped his commbadge and said: « Stevenson to Robinson, beam the
unknown object out of the warp core immediately! »
Robinson,
confused, said: « Aye . »
«
Ten...Nine... » Mantion continued counting.
«
Transport complete! » said Robinson.
«
Six...Five...Four… »
«
Activating the warp engines! » reported Stevenson.
Suddenly,
subspace disappeared in a flash of blinding light. And so did the Valiant...
* * *
«
Kline! »
…
«
Captain Kline! »
…
« Lieutenant, transmit a high frequency sound wave. »
A
high-pitched screeching sound was heard. Kline's eyes opened.
« Captain! » There was an aged face on the
viewscreen, wearing a Starfleet uniform. « Are you all right? »
Kline
pushed himself up, he had been lying on the floor of
the bridge. He looked at the face on the viewscreen, he recognized the man as Captain
Franklin, Kline had met him a few months before. Then, he pulled his stray
thoughts together...And everything came back: The Hydra, the
«
What happened? »
Kline
sighed: « It might take a little while to explain, captain... »
Epilogue
Only
ninety crewmembers, out of the three hundred which served on the
Captain
Kline was standing next to him, and as if reading his thoughts, he said: « It
wasn't your fault, Jack... »
Kline
put his hand on the other captain's shoulder: « You did everything you
could...And then some, you were critical in determining what the hell was going
on in the nebula. »
Kline
smiled: « I'll see you around. I need to get back aboard the Valiant to
put some warning buoys around the Hydra. »
«
Put as much as you can, Alan. » said
Kline
nodded, and then silently exited the room.
* * *
In
cell eight-seven-five, in ward three of the psychiatric hospital, Ensign Samuel
Farsuns was seated on his bunk, his arms crossed, and
his head rocking back and forth. He had a large grin on his face; he looked up
to the ceiling of the cell and said: « Hello. I'm all alone. Help me. What does
it feel like to be dead? Hello. I'm all alone... Help me... »
The End
Star
Trek and all related names are copyright of
Star
Trek S:I and all related stuff is the property of
Agelshaxe Planet.