Benjamin Eubank

Chapter 1

 

 

62,819 B.C

 

          Darkness, and feverish despair.  These were Arvats’ primary thoughts as she was thrown against the bulkhead.  The star-ship tilted around her, and an accompanying BOOM blossomed painfully against her ears.  She fell heavily, head bouncing, coming to rest on the cold, gray, ribbed steel of the deck.  Something was pressing painfully into her side as she lay there, momentarily stunned.  Forcing the pain away and the air back into her lungs, Arvat blinked the closing blackness, which was gathering in the corners of her vision, away.   

          It was all going so wrong. 

          Groaning, and slowly pulling herself to her feet, she felt tendons popping in her back.  Sweat was running down her face, mixing with the soot and ash, creating streaks of black which contrasted sharply on her alabaster skin.  She blinked her second eyelids rapidly, clearing away the debris threating to fall into her eyes.  Reaching to her waist, and popping open the dark green holster with a red warning symbol on it, Arvat pulled a hypo-stim needle free and jammed it into her leg.  A rush of adrenaline filled her and she felt her two hearts speed up, clearing away the last bits of fog still shrouding her mind.  Her pupil slits dilated momentarily then retracted back to their normal ovals, set inside seas of glittering topaz.  Arvats’ hair, which was usually wrapped up in a severe bun, had been knocked loose; her flowing grey trestles now lay tangled and matted, plastered to her head. 

          Arvat suddenly realized that the ringing in her ears had turned from a high pitch monotone to an insistent trilling.  It was her earpiece informing her that someone was trying to reach her.

          Reaching up, Arvat tapped her earpiece, which had somehow miraculously not been dislodged in her fall.

          “Go ahead”

          For a moment all she could hear was what sounded like hurried shouting, and orders being given, while the sound of Klaxons’ went off in the background.  Then a voice came on.

          “Arvat, can you hear me?”

          “Yes” responded Arvat.  “I... There was an explosion.  Larish, is that you?  I’m having some trouble hearing.”

          “Yeah it’s me.” Larish responded, the relief evident in his voice.  “Are you OK?” 

          “I’m fine”, said Arvat.  “What’s the situation up there?”

          “The captain commed me and says Bellareats not going to hold together much longer.  Were both to report to the command deck immediately!”

          “That’s where I was headed for when the explosion hit   Larish ...  I think I’ve done it!  I’m on my way!   Arvat out.”

          Arvat tapped on her earpiece before Larish could ask any questions.  They were running out of time.  She reoriented herself, finding the correct direction and began to race up the twisting corridor.  As she ran, Arvat saw signs all around her of the toll the battle was taking on the ship. Exposed cabling snaked all around, flashing and arcing.  Detritus littered the deck, and smoke filled the air.  With only emergency lighting, the world around her was suffused with an eerie, pulsating red glow.  Wall plates were buckled, warped doors hung limply in their frames, and the deck had an uneven keel to it. Several times she almost fell, only the stim she had taken earlier keeping her from doing so.  She thought furiously of all the things that had gone wrong.  This mission was so vital, so important.  They could not fail.  To do so would be to doom them all.  

          As lead scientist on this mission, the heaviest burden had been placed on her shoulders, and she knew deep within her hearts, that if they could just survive a small time longer, then maybe, just maybe, she could die with honor.  Arvat was no fool.   She knew the only way for this mission to end, successfully or not, was the death of her and all aboard the Bellareat;  But not now, not just yet.  To be so close to completion and fail would be unacceptable.  All aboard had known this inevitable outcome, yet when the call had been made, the Emdring had rose as one to the call; they had had to turn away ten times the number needed from the volunteers that had applied for this mission. 

          Her thought slowed on the matter as she came before the hatch that led into command.  She slowed to a stop and palmed the scanner for entry.  Nothing.  It was the standard ship hatch, a large circle 3 meters high, made of a heavy composite metal and air tight.  She grimaced, but was undeterred.  Quickly reaching for the emergency lever she cranked it a few times.  With a pop, the hatch irised open slightly.  She released the lever, and, grabbing hold of inner side of the hatch, pulled with all her might.  For a brief moment nothing happened, then with a grind the hatch opened fully, and Arvat stepped inside the command center.  Chaos enveloped the room.  Apparently the blast that had thrown her against the bulkhead had done much more damage up here.  Exposed wires crackled and popped, while a faint smell of ionized ozone permeated the room.  Consoles were overturned, and people lay everywhere, some, so still, she knew that they could only be dead.  Others were groaning, torn and gashed flesh oozing golden fluid, bones clearly broken, writhing in pain. Several had horrific burns, their clothes still smoldering.  Yet no one was giving them aid.  Everyone still able to stand, or at least hold a control pad in their hand, was furiously trying to keep Belareat stable.

          As her eyes flowed over the tableau of death and destruction, they finally came to rest on a singular sight.  A being, taller than average, standing at over 2.5 meters tall was scanning damage reports on a personal reader.  His skin, once deep blue, now fading to grey, and his shock of black hair starting to turn amber marked him as just entering the prime of his life.  He seemed to sense her staring at him, and abruptly looked up.  Even now, even in this situation, his deep yellow eyes, a rarity in their species, send a rush of warmth through her.  Besides what appeared to be a small gash above his left eye, Larish seemed remarkably fine given the situation.  He gave her a quick, sad smile and came to her.

          “Larish!”  She exclaimed quickly embracing him.  She stepped back, and tried to wipe away the golden blood from his forehead, but it had already dried.  He reached up frowning.

          “I didn’t realize I was injured.”  Then he laughed, filling the air with a sound; part irony, and part sadness.  “Not that it matters,” he said quietly.

          “No.” Arvat replied with the same somberness.

          “Come, the Captain said the Commander is waiting for us”, Larish stated, his voice back to normal.

          Larish reached for her hand, and Arvat took it.   He began pulling her deeper into the command center, stepping quickly over the bodies, and leading her towards the forward section of the ship.  The hatch on this side of the command center was apparently still working, as Larish palmed the door scanner and it opened silently.  As they hurried towards the Commanders’ meditation sphere, Larish asked,

          “Do you have it?  Did you finish the capsule?”

          “Yes, my love, but I fear it may be too late.”

He stopped, and grabbed her by her shoulders, spinning her so that she was directly facing him.  He looked deep inter her eyes, and she into his. 

          “It’s only too late if we stop trying”.  He smiled at her with genuine warmth and for the briefest of moments she saw the man she had known for so long, the man she loved. He leaned in and kissed her.  “This is good news Arvat.  You have finished the capsule, correct?” Larish nodded her head.  “Then we must be quick.  The planet is within range.  We must launch soon!”