Suddenly, without warning, the computer's main alarm sounded. It was a high-pitched whine, which repeated itself until stopped. Knowing that the activated alarm meant danger, Jim tensed and then relaxed. Seated at the main control panel Tony Fraser ran his fingers up and down the keyboard, issuing instructions to the computer. A few seconds elapsed as a refined synthetic voice replied.  'Intruder vessel in Krakor space- sector four- Identification pending.'  In the background, a soft bleeping sound broke the silence, indicating that the ships scanners were still at work.

The flight deck was circular in design, supporting a small balcony, three feet in width, one foot in height, which straddled its perimeter. Both in the center of the ceiling and the floor were large volcano orifices from which a band of light emitted. The light slowly dissolved into a large hologram image of an alien spacecraft, which in turn filled the whole of the circular enclosure. The computer spoke again. 'Vessel identified - Class One Battleship of the Darkainian Empire.'

Jim shook his head as he gazed at the picture before him. The Darkainian sector was located on the other side of the galaxy, a distance that only the police could have travelled. He had been in that sector only once before, on a survey mission, and knew that the planets there were inhabited by races of warriors whose whole existence was to fight and conquer for their empires. A new dark age had been established where militarism and war were the reigning attributes.  As he mulled these thoughts in his mind, he walked slowly towards Fraser.

"Tony - see if the sensors can plot the flight path of that ship," he said.  Tony looked perplexed.  

"There are no readings there at all," he replied.

The positive voice of the computer broke in.

"The Darkainian Battleship is on a collision course with IGC 1 - estimated time ten earth minutes."

Tony shouted out a command to his ACSO.  'Take evasive action immediately.''   The image veered completely off the screen leaving a blank space. As quickly as it disappeared — it reappeared again. This happened several times but still the Darkainian ship came at them.

He spoke to the ACSO again.  'Evasive action negative-opening all communication channels."  

The ACSO answered, "All channels open – no response."

Jim spoke quietly to Tony. "Can we turn and outrun them?"

Tony pressed several buttons and the computer spoke.  "Negative. Both ships have equal sub-space speed." Red lights came into operation on all panels.  

Jim cursed out aloud.  "What the hell's going on?" Everyone turned to the three dimensional image on the screen.

The computer broke into a bedlam of audio and visual alarms.  "Neutron bolts have been fired – Impact three Earth minutes." Neutron bolts were rather old weaponry but very efficient. If the bolts hit the structure there would barely be any damage but everyone on board would die instantly. The explosion was small and the ship bombarded with deadly rays that could penetrate any thickness of metal. Jim had seen many sights of this in various space wars throughout the galaxy.

Tony spoke loudly to Jim above the noise.  "I'm taking manual evasive action."  He then took control of a floating orb, suspended on a ball of light. He placed his hands horizontal upon it and moved it in a hundred and sixty degree motion. IGC 1 completed a spectacular backward loop coming in behind the bolts. Four of the crew rose in the air such was the violence of the maneuver.  It was of little use, wherever the ship moved the neutron bolts followed   locked upon the ship's mass and nothing was going to shake them off. There were five minutes left for decisions. Many thoughts raced through Jim's mind at that moment.  

How had this Darkainian ship reached this sector? It was impossible, at light-speed, it would have taken five hundred years and its fuel source would have run out after fifty.  Only one outlandish explanation was available somehow it had passed through the STW alongside them.  

IGC 1 had enough power to destroy the battleship but then Jim would never find out how and why it had arrived in this sector.  In his code of practice and that of the Police Force, the safety of the ship and its crew came first.  He intuitively knew there was something radically wrong. It was so easy to destroy that ship, too easy.

The computer again broke his thoughts.  'Collision time is one earth minute.' Tony looked at Jim, his face full of anxiety. He was the officer in control of the ship but Jim was the senior officer aboard and had to make the decision.  Jim kept ice cool, not a sign showed on his face, though his mind was racing wildly. He was aboard for a specific reason, to report to Supreme Headquarters for special briefing. It seemed as though someone in the Darkainian Empire was trying to stop him.  

According to the three-dimensional viewing screen, the battleship was at full throttle towards them on a collision course, with two neutron bolts as a forerunner.  

The final computer voice pushed him into action.  "Operate STWD immediately," he shouted at Tony.  Tony and the rest of the crew looked startled but all training made them act without hesitation. "And programme a one hundred and eighty degree trajectory-three second's duration." Tony's fingers moved rapidly across the dials yet again.

Jim turned and faced the crew.  "No time for the cylinders - travel discs on," he stated, quickly placing a small suction disc on his forehead. "And for God's sake don't move an inch from where you are." The crew was not anxious to know that one small step could cause a thousand mile detour into space and death.  

The Space Time Warp machine came to life, flickering through its various colours. The flight deck ceiling disappeared, then the floor and panels, leaving ten men seemingly standing in open space.

Then there was nothing, just the vast void of limitless space as the two neutron bolts passed harmlessly through; onwards into infinity, until their propulsion became exhausted. The whole incident took three seconds as the ship reappeared again, thousands of miles away. Jim had pulled it off - he had avoided destroying the battleship and escaped from its terrifying weaponry at the same time. The computer's voice answered as if on cue.

'Battleship sector four - IGC One sector six.'

Tony shook his head as if in amazement. Never before had he heard of anyone putting a craft into space time warp without the proper precautions for the crew.

(End of excerpt please use browser back link to home page)

 

IGC twenty-four was now in a speed retard phase as it reached the periphery of the Zillihion system, quadrant four/H/three/zero/one. Two solar systems flashed by, their suns casting specs of light on the hologramic area at the centre of the control room.  Speed reduced to a mere hundred miles per second as they moved towards the third sun.  On board was Special Agent Chief Officer Ben Carlton.  He was standing on the mezzanine floor of the flight deck, his hands clasped behind him as he gazed through the large viewing portal.  His visit was of a routine nature, a mere look and listen and inspection, but his thoughts were somewhere quite different.

 

Strange occurrences were happening in the area, of which both he and the Police Federation were completely ignorant.  He needed answers to many unsolved problems, thus the tour of the outer limits of the galaxy.  The portal in front of him reflected a shimmering light from below.  As he gazed downwards, the hologram projector showed in detail a huge circular Space Station and the vocal computer announced their position.

 

“Stand by for embarkation – approaching Station five hundred and one.  Deceleration   complete-on phase two manoeuvring.”   The crew watched intently as a huge portal became visible in the side of the space station and cubic trajectory lines appeared in vision, showing in graphic steps the movement of the IGC into the cavity.  It stopped, leaving half of its volume protruding, and the front of the craft engaged an airtight door on the Station itself.  Several other links occurred at the same time, each one showing on the screen.  Life support systems, fuel, energy and weaponry, all became as one with the giant Space Station.  Galaxy Space Stations were small operative planets ten miles in diameter two miles in depth, generating their own food and life support systems.

 

The large door slid open allowing the occupants of the IGC to enter the Space Station.  First through were two armed space officers who stood on either side of the door, next came Ben Carlton pausing slightly as he stood between them.  A Chief Space Officer moved forward, saluting.

 

Ben Carlton reciprocated.  “I should like to see Solar System Controller Beldan immediately,” he said.

 

“If you would follow me, sir,” replied the Space Officer.  The two men walked onto a moving floor that propelled them down a corridor and into an elevator station.  The two elevator points were of a circular transparent tube design, each linked with the other, being able to move both horizontal and vertical.  The horizontal tube-ways moved in a circular direction spirally to the centre of the Station on each level.  The vertical tube-ways left the horizontal on a by-pass tube at each elevator station.

 

        They both entered the elevator capsule and the CSO set their destination on the wall panel.  The capsule moved at a remarkable speed, and then slowing down entered a by-pass tube and moved swiftly upwards twenty-five floors.  Slowing once again into a by-pass tube, it continued the rest of its journey horizontally into the very centre of the Space Station.  The door opened onto a large circular room; coming towards them was a young woman who bore the rank markings of a CSO.   

       She saluted smartly.  “Chief Space Officer Rivers, sir, I am the controller’s secretary.  Would you follow me?”  Carlton and CSO Rivers walked to the centre of the room as it darkened and a beam of light moved downwards until it reached them.  They moved slowly upwards into the light as an aperture opened, and upon passing through found themselves in a circular control room. At the centre stood a large hologram-viewing machine, encircled by an array of soft furnished seating, interrupted at various intervals by control desks, seating several officers of differing ranks.  On the walls were two large circular orifices.

 

       The woman spoke.  “I’ll leave you here, sir, Controller Beldan is on his way down.”

          Carlton replied as he sat down on one of the comfortable chairs.  “Thank you, CSO.”  Carlton was not on an official visit and was playing a hunch, and nothing was clear in his mind as yet.

 

       The sound of the side doors opening made him turn as George Beldan entered, his deep voice piercing Ben Carltons ears.  “Ben! You old devil, I haven’t seen you in years.”  Carlton, standing up, embraced the slightly smaller man.  “To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?”

 

         Ben smiled, deciding to play official.  “I had a re-direction, George, I was on my way to an outer sector of the galaxy when I was instructed to travel here immediately, to try and rationalise any phenomena or disturbance that might occur.”

 

      “Good heavens, this is one of the quiet parts of the galaxy, nothing ever happens here.”

 

          Beldan laughed out aloud.  “I’m glad to hear it, but orders are orders.  Oh! By the way, Chief Vanders sends his regards and hopes you are well.”

 

        Carlton shrugged his shoulders and laughed.  “Thank you, Ben, please send my regards back.  Now let’s have some refreshment.”

 

        “No, no thank you, I’ve just eaten.”

 

          They both sat down and became serious.  Beldan opened the discourse.  “So basically neither of us knows what we are supposed to witness?”

 

             “Quite, George, quite, what do you suggest?”

 

            “I suggest I inform headquarters of your arrival.”

 

            “That I’ve already done from the IGC.”

            “Good, then there should be some information due at any moment.”

 

            “Correct.”

 

           “Damn, I hate all this sitting and waiting for something that might or might not occur.”

 

            Ben decided to avert the conversation.

 

     “According to my information schedules, weren’t you chosen for the new telescope project about two years ago?”

 

           Beldan raised his eyebrows, “You remembered about that?”

 

         Carlton started laughing.  It amused him that Beldan thought he had a good memory.  “No, George, when I was diverted here I took the opportunity of checking all the files, standard procedure.”

 

        Beldan then became serious as he leaned forward slightly speaking slowly and quietly.  “We’ve had a lot of problems in that area and a couple of deaths.  I suppose when you are pioneering it’s to be expected, but it still hurts.”

 

      The sudden statement from Beldan surprised Carlton and he became intrigued as he waited for an explanation.

 

         Beldon continued.  “As you know, normal telescopes are adequate for viewing a Galaxy from a distance, and even if you were on the edge of it, like we are, you wouldn’t be able to see very far.  The technicians and scientists involved in the project came up with a startling proposal.  We travel down the space-time warp-drive in another dimension, so using the same principle, why not a telescope?”  Carlton blinked, trying to take in the implications as Beldan continued.  “What was finally developed was a viewer here, a transmitter in space-time warp-drive and a scanner wherever you wished it to be.  As you know, the slightest movement in that dimension can throw you thousands of miles in any direction.  The problems were enormous, linking up between two dimensions is not the easiest of tasks, two men moved slightly and were lost forever in deep space.  However, we are now all linked with scanners at four points to the Silus Galaxy where we have pin-pointed a Solar System with three suns!”

 

         Carlton was astonished and rather taken aback that such a telescope was in existence no longer just a theory but actually working.

 

       Beldan sensed his friend’s amazement as S.O Rivers came through on the console in front of them.  “Sir, a standard decoded message for all stations from Krakor.”

 

        Within a few seconds the computer’s voice came through.  “Reports from the Silus Galaxy indicate intense UP activity.  All stations capable to observe.”

 

          Beldan spoke to an operations controller to his left.  “Acknowledge.”  Then he turned to the computer terminal in front of them.  “Augur, activate telescope.”

 

      The lights in the control room dimmed as the power packs began to drain under the enormity of its task, and then Augur spoke.  “Bringing into action the space-time-dimension telescope.” Beldan blinked as the hologram viewer came into life showing a huge three-dimensional picture filling half the room with its vision of the space-time-dimension spiral, slowly pulsating and turning.  The scene gradually dissolved from the spiral into one of many suns and planets, an immense glowing aura of light.   The computer spoke again.  “I am relaying information from central Headquarters and linking it with the telescope.  The present view is one of our own Galaxy from Scanner four, the scanner is now turning in the opposite direction.” The picture slowly moved, showing first the edge of the Galaxy and then emptiness until a lone glowing tiny spot of light appeared and centralised.  The computer resumed.  ‘The Silus Galaxy, two hundred thousand light years in distance.”

 

         The picture transformed as the computer linked from scanner four, five, six and seven, each one enlarging on the other, to scanner eight on the edge of the Silus Galaxy.  In the centre was an eerie glowing light of great brilliance, which seemed to be moving slightly every minute.   Beldan spoke to the computer.  “Augur… Information – is that a Super-Nova?”

 

          The computer replied.  “Negative – it is a UP – unknown phenomenon.  The scanners have been placed on its trajectory so that we can observe its movement and construction."  A large white hole appeared in front of them, brilliant light in the middle, fading towards the edges.  "Fifty miles in diameter, quarter of a mile in depth – everything passing through disappears, this includes life forms but excludes planets or stars.  Its speed is incomprehensible."

 

            The energy form as seen with the naked eye, moved through the galaxy.  

The computer spoke.  “Five power packs now in use.  One on life support only.”  

Beldan spoke.  “Move from its trajectory to a side elevation.”  The picture faded as the computer moved to another scanner showing a small ball of light moving across the hologram screen.

 

       Ben Carlton delivered another instruction. “Go back to the front trajectory camera.”  A small glowing circle of light appeared.  “Magnify!”  The scanner zoomed straight into the centre of the form.  There was a blinding light and then normal space.

 

          Beldan blinked as he looked at Carlton.  “We’ve passed through it!”  Carlton replied, “Or it’s passed through us.”  As he instructed the computer again, “Go back to a long projection at least ten light years.”

 

        The scene changed back to a side projection as Beldan shouted a command, “Augur, I asked for a front projection, not side.”

 

     The computer replied, ‘The energy form has changed course onto our trajectory.’

 

          The message received in a stunned silence as both men sprung to their feet.  “The damned thing’s locked onto us, and its light years away,” said Carlton.

 

       Beldan answered. “Augur, dispatch message to Krakor H.Q as follows, UP locked onto us,  starting immediate evacuation of Station Five Hundred and One.”  He turned to Carlton. “It will take thirty minutes to get everyone off the Station Ben; I suggest you move to one of the exit zones.”

 

           Carlton smiled and sat down as he spoke.  “Only the shuttles will get away, it would take half an hour to get the I.G.C out.”

 

         “It must be hours before it gets here, its light years away”

        “I doubt that, it’s moving too fast, it’s moving faster than our space-time warp-drive.”

 

         “There isn’t anything faster than that.”

 

           “There wasn’t, there is now.”

 

          “Augur, what is the time of impact?”

 

          “Fifteen minutes.”

 

He stopped for a few moments, allowing the dust to settle, trying to gauge the distance he still needed to travel. He was forced to make a decision he did not like. With great effort, he struggled, trying to move his right hand to his waist. His elbow kept jamming into the cavern wall until he found the correct manipulations and finally thrust his fingers around the barrel of the gun. He moved his body to one side, and in one swift movement the weapon was in front of him, pointing forward. He knew the weapon was on its narrowest setting—the small, penetrative surgical beam setting—so he closed his eyes and covered his face with his free hand, then fired into the tunnel ahead.

The small red thermo-beam spread down the passageway, pushing stinging dust particles into his face, hair and the back of his hand. Choking on dust, he forced his eyes to open. Amazingly, he could see a dim light approximately twenty feet ahead; the diminutive beam of energy had punched to the other side. He was through!

Fighting the nausea and head-spinning his elation had brought, he pushed forward in the cramped space, scraping his hands and knees on the rough floor below. The tunnel filled with larger grains of dust now, making breathing difficult, and the thought of suffocation made him feel he would never reach the end. Just when he was convinced he would choke to death, a cool breeze drifted across his face and the hand holding the gun. He slowly opened his fingers and shoved his free hand forward, pushing away a pile of dirt before him that opened into a two-foot-wide hole. Now, he gazed into a large cavern faintly lit no stronger than moonlight.

The idea that a rock fall could bury him forever was now lost in his bliss. He edged forward, perspiration falling, and thrust himself through the collapsed tunnel in a frenzy of anticipation and discovery, pushing with his knees and clawing with his hands toward the now-larger entrance. Grasping with both hands on the inside of the cavern orifice, he hauled himself through headfirst, tumbling three feet onto the cavern floor. He was in. At last, his dreams were reaching fulfilment!

He stood slowly, dusting himself down and staring at the vision revealed. As he had dreamed, the cavern was no mere cave, but a manufactured underground construction of meticulous design. The cavern’s walls were smooth, with one line of hieroglyphics stretching as far as the eye could see. The floor was a richly patterned, multicoloured mosaic, approximately twenty feet in width, and stretched seemingly into infinity on either side of him. “It’s huge,” he muttered as he spun round slowly several times, disoriented.

He stared at the cavern roof for a moment in disbelief. An intense band of light ran centrally in both directions, changing from poor to very bright light along its length. “What kind of light is this?” he said aloud. “How can there be a light that casts no shadows?”

In awe, Notal stumbled a short way down the corridor, staring at the symbols on the wall, his archaeological training telling him they were ten thousand years old or more. A lifetime of study for students of history and archaeology! he thought, and continued walking for ten minutes down the never-ending corridor, touching the wall now and then, admiring its texture while noting a slight curvature.

“The whole complex is circular!” he shouted in realisation. “I’m walking inside a circle!”

It was too much to take in. Suddenly light-headed, he leaned against the wall and slowly slid to the floor. There, he rested and tried to think. Should he inform Dworn? No, he decided. He would tell no one, would investigate quietly down here until he knew more of the secrets of the vast structure.

The cavern had darkened again, and he had the sudden need to keep exploring. Bending his knees and pressing his right hand onto the floor, he forced his body to a standing position. As if in anticipation of his movements, the cavern’s centre light returned to full brilliance. “It saves energy by dimming when there is no movement,” he muttered. “Remarkable.”

He walked along the corridor unaware of time, stopping occasionally to observe the markings on the passage wall. After a while, he wandered back to the entry point. A small bleep emitted from the ring on the little finger of his right hand, and the projected hologram image showed the number eighteen hundred. It was nearing dusk on the planet’s surface. He desperately didn’t want to, but knew that if he failed to return to check in, his absence would be noted.

* * *

He entered his office to find a digital note on the electronic memo pad hanging on the wall. Yana had left work over an hour ago. One of the three messages was from her, another from a supplier. The third was from Dworn, asking for a progress report. If he answered Dworn now, he would be free to explore the new area all night if he so wished.

Facing the holo-camera on the wall, Notal activated the planetary communication system on his desk. “Audio link,” he said, causing a green stream of light to reach out and touch his forehead. “Statesman Dworn, Notal here. I am progressing slowly, hoping to find an entrance soon. I will continue with the excavations.” He terminated the communiqué and began to ponder the lie he had told.

Lies are necessary strategies, he told himself. They only bring dishonour if revealed as untruths. In spite of that reassurance, he knew he had only a limited time in which to act and gain advantage.

The gentle bell tones emanating from the memo pad reminded him of the other two messages. He dismissed the supplier’s, then stared at the one from Yana informing him that she was on holiday with the other members of the team, and would not be back for seven cycles. He had forgotten about the holiday, and the reminder brought him joy. He liked her. She was a good secretary. But he could now explore without interruption from her, Dworn, or anyone else.

 

* * *

 

The next five days were spent frantically surveying the huge site. Even the use of a hover board to negotiate the miles of corridors didn’t speed up the operation. On the sixth day and suffering from lack of food and near exhaustion, Notal found a passageway leading inward. This entry was unlike the others, cylindrical in shape and without internal light. He gazed into it, trying to distinguish any shapes or movement, but there was only a curtain of darkness. Something about the darkness frightened him. It seemed so … dense. No mere shadow, he decided, but a functional darkness. A warning to keep clear.

He moved over to his exploration pack and emptied it on the cavern floor. He could feel himself panting, short of breath, and sweat on his face. He laughed, realising the temperature hadn’t changed. Rather, it was the fear and excitement of a new discovery that was alerting his body, a body that up to now had lived a normal existence with very few surprises.

He grimaced, regretting how much junk he had placed into the bag, but dug in.

“Ouch!”

He withdrew his hand, noting the tiny spot of blood on his index finger. Undeterred, he muttered, “Where is that astro-light?” and plunged his hand back inside. Then, he remembered. He lifted up the bag and saw the small cylinder underneath. He placed the bag aside, picked it up and turned on the beam, knowing that it would draw its energy from its surroundings. A wide beam of intense light emitted, blinding him for a moment.

“Hell, what kind of energy is in here?” he shouted, changed it to a narrow beam, and quickly directed it into the dark tunnel.

Though powerful, the light did not register past the solid curtain of darkness. Notal’s apprehension increased.

What if the atmosphere in there is toxic? he thought. What if there’s no atmosphere at all, and I freeze my bloody arm off? Maybe I should contact Dworn after all. Let him be the first to enter into the darkness.

He dismissed the idea the moment he thought it. Although fearful nearly to the point of shaking, an irrational urge made him plunge his arm into the blackness. It disappeared completely from view.

“What the—?” he shrieked, jerking his arm back.

I could have lost my arm, he thought. But he didn’t. He stared at his now-restored arm and let forth a stream of hysterical laughter.

The realisation that the darkness was nothing more than that—manufactured darkness, life-supporting—released the stress that had built up inside him. All fear left his mind as he feverishly rotated the strong light up and down the dark face of the entrance. No matter how hard he tried from every angle, the strong light beam stopped at the edge of the darkness. “No light can penetrate it,” he said, shaking his head. “This just isn’t normal.”

He switched off the powerful light and pondered his next move. In one more cycle, Yana and the rest of the staff would return to work, robbing him of further exploration. He had to know what was beyond the blackness, and now.

He stared at the contents of the exploration case scattered over the floor, noticing a large coil of rescue fibre. A guide rope. That made his decision easier.

He carefully tied one end of the rope around the heavy case. Taking hold of the other end, he stepped toward the tunnel, pausing at the edge of the black aura only long enough to close his eyes before stepping forward.

Nothing happened.

He let out the coil slowly as he gained six to ten feet in distance, and opened his eyes. The blackness was absolute here, and he shivered with a morbid apprehension. On a normal dark night, the eyes would adjust, showing shapes and tinctures of light. But in this environment, he was blind. It was as though the laws of physical existence were no longer in practice. No sound, not even the background noises from the living world were present. They had disappeared in the blanket of darkness.

“What the hell is this?” he exclaimed, and heard his own voice repeat back to him.

“Well at least I can talk to myself,” he said, laughing at the echo.

He carefully slipped the rope through his left hand. Controlling the tension with his right, he moved forward slowly. The only certainty was the solid floor underneath his feet. Rope coils were usually fifty to sixty feet in length, but he couldn’t calculate in his mind how far he had gone.

“Come on, come on, it’s only darkness,” he whispered aloud, reassured to hear his voice come back to him. “You’re not frightened of a bit of dark, are you? Let the rope out slowly, slowly.… That’s it. Now stretch out your arms. Yes. Now move the rope to your left hand again…. Now stretch again.”

Each hand movement he assessed at approximately three feet as he stepped forward. After a few minutes, he estimated he had traversed forty feet, and was reaching the end of the line. His thoughts were correct; his right hand touched the metal tag at the end of the coil. He held it tight in his left hand and stretched forward with his right, amazed that as he did so, his right arm and head emerged from the darkness.

A great bolt of light energy hit him, seizing every muscle and blinding him. The light, so intense but soothing after the darkness, made him dizzy. No, not just dizzy. The sensation was of floating in a white, shimmering mist. The mist cleared in places, showing views of a large city with huge cylindrical buildings that thrust into the clouds above.

The vision, though out of focus, was one of great beauty and ambience. A short distance away, a high waterfall cascaded into a palette-shaped pool of water. Tall, slender statuettes adorned its perimeter. He heard voices—people laughing and talking in a strange, ethereal way, their voices close, yet distant. Then, through the partings in the mist, he could see them. Some were bathing, others were in groups talking, and some lay asleep on the green textured floor surrounding the pool.

The serene picture made him feel happy, but suddenly weary. The darkness was gone, as was the fear; he was at peace.

Then, like dry ice evaporating, the mood around him began to change. For a brief moment, he felt nothing at all. Then panic replaced the serenity of only a second before as the city began to shift. The people by the pool leapt to their feet with terror on their faces, then tried to run. But they couldn’t, and neither could he.

Notal was alive. He was sure of that. Yet he was imprisoned by life. The combination of hopelessness and never-ending pain was unbearable. “No,” he pleaded with the unseen emotions projected in his mind. “Please take this feeling away. Please. I can’t stand it!”

Screams of anguish and shouts for help echoed through his ears, and the picture of horror was taken away by another blinding white light that erupted suddenly around him.

Then all was silent as the serenity returned, and he found himself still standing in the passageway. The visions were gone. He still heard the voices, not only in the distance but also chanting all around him. It had to be a kind of telepathy, because his ears didn’t receive the sounds, just his mind.

The chanting drew closer. He looked down each corridor, in anticipation of seeing the people responsible, but no one appeared. At that instant, one voice became louder, a hypnotic voice that seemed to glide through his mind. Clear and beautiful, as though someone was gently stroking his hair. It said:

“On entering the sacred portal you will question yourself, your life and your values. The psychic test can build or destroy, but be aware of the danger that lurks inside, a danger unknown to mortal man. Go in peace, my brother, to eternity.”

Notal gazed upward, grateful, certain that the spirit had spoken to him and him alone. Then a terrible pain entered his mind and body. That pain was the last thing he was aware of as he collapsed unconscious on the floor.

 

(End of excerpt please use browser back link to home page)

 

Planet Krakor: Galaxy Police HQ

 

The sun was just rising over Krakor, the Police Federation planet at the centre of the galaxy. Jim moved quickly to the door of his flat within the officers’ quarters.

‘Jim Long 4539 exit,’ he murmured as the door swung open via the voice recognition and he strode out into the corridor. The door closed and locked behind him as he entered the vertical-horizontal elevator.

‘Floor ground level, Space Agent Chief Officer Carlton’s office.’

The elevator slid quickly downward to ground level, stopping for a brief second and then horizontally passing ten exits as it hissed to a halt at its destination. The door slid open onto a long corridor opposite a semi-circular door marked Space Agent Chief Officer Carlton. He moved towards the door as it slid sideways and entered into a small ante-chamber.

 ‘Please state your business,’ said a female voice as Jim identified the small rounded secretarial robot that emerged as an Irma Ten.

 Ha, the Irma Ten and her family of sisters, he thought. Let’s spin your head and have a little fun.

‘Hi Irma, you look as beautiful as ever,’ he said with a grin.

      Her head spun several times, showing an overloading flashing light. ‘Does not compute – state your business.’

        ‘You have a voice opposite to masculine,’ teased Jim. ‘Therefore you are feminine – and being feminine I recognise your beauty.’

     ‘Do not understand,’ she replied, her head spinning even more, her circuits trying to unravel the statement. ‘State your business.’

         ‘My business is recognising your beauty,’ continued Jim, laughing as her head spun crazily. ‘I have an appointment with SACO Carlton,’ he hastily added before her head spun off completely.

         There was a strange groaning sound as her head returned to normal, but her voice was now stuttering and resonated at a slightly higher frequency.

   ‘Pppplease follow me for your apppppointment.’

  The office he entered was laid out like a media studio. Carlton was seated at a console, viewing a hologram picture.

  ‘SSSSpace Agent Long for your apppppointment,’ she stated, sliding backward out of the room.

         ‘What’s wrong with her?’ growled Carlton, turning to Jim with an amazed expression on his face and beckoning him to sit down.

         ‘I have no idea sir,’ he replied, seating himself with an innocent look. ‘Could it be a language problem?’

   ‘We shall have to get her sorted,’ he mumbled, activating another viewer. ‘Do you know anything about the planet Thraeot?’

           ‘A Class Three planet,’ said Jim, trying to recall the emergency worlds list. ‘They have passed the atomic age – nowhere near the light speed age – therefore still a covert listing.’

 ‘Correct, they have become a cause for concern. The Solar System Controller in Space Station Two Five Zero positioned behind their furthest planet has had to take avoiding action because of their space exploration satellites. As you know this is normal procedure at this stage of development and we may have to pull back even further. But on their planet there is a terrifying escalation of religious violence.'

 ‘Is this the same occurrence as on Ranal Five?’ Years ago Ranal Five had car and suicide bombers, thought Jim. At the time there was no sign of peace.

 ‘Yes, but on Ranal they passed this stage and continued on peacefully.’

 ‘Won’t the people of Thraeot do the same?’

 ‘Possibly, except possibly the two leaders of this religion. We know only one – Chief Master Cleric Jel Hal Kinima – who is now obtaining small compact nuclear devices that will destroy cities. However, just before this meeting began I received information that Kinima was a top-performing artiste before he became a cleric. The main problems are on a huge continent called Asurfa. There are twenty countries in that region, some democratic with very little problems; others with dictators and ruling councils. In the latter, where religion fights religion for supremacy, a dark seed of violent hate prevails. We know from experience that this world may outgrow this hate or it may tumble into a bygone age of death and destruction.’

 Carlton activated the holoscreen and a newsreel from the planet was initiated. The picture showed thousands of ranting people shouting death to unbelievers. The commentary told the story of a vast continent on the brink of a religious war. The hatred and venom from the various religious orders were now escalating. The democratic governments were trying to stamp out the atmosphere of terror being created by nameless people who could not be found; the religious factors would not condemn it for fear of damaging their beliefs. The image blurred and stopped as Carlton spun round in his chair.

‘We have to go in, Jim. There’s no other way.’

 ‘As you say, sir, it does look complicated.’

 ‘Complicated – that’s only half the story,’ said Carlton his face grim. ‘The conflicts of the religions they all worship …’ He paused for a second. ‘The Creator.’

 Jim sat back in his chair, searching his mind as he tried to associate the word Creator. It was the religion here on Krakor today. Creator, he nodded thinking. An ancient advanced race – they worshipped the Creator.

‘How can a planet like Thraeot have accessed our religion?’ he blurted out in disbelief.

 ‘That is the problem, they couldn’t,’ observed Carlton. ‘This means they had contact with the ancients at the dawn of their civilisation?’

 ‘I see,’ Jim nodded. What am I getting into here? he thought. It sounds like a nightmare and that is an understatement.

 ‘There are many gods and goddesses throughout the galaxy,’ said Carlton. ‘Single gods, multiple gods, all with different names. But the “Creator” is only associated with our own beliefs through the ancient beings of light. That is our religious heritage from the past. It has been preserved through ancient civilisations passing on the knowledge.’

 ‘How do you want me to proceed?’

 ‘One leader we know lives in the city of Tersa. Somehow he must be led to you. You must then identify the other and stop both of them from destroying the planet and plunging life into the dark ages. To do all this you may have to find a link from the past. I now say this sincerely, Jim: the conditions on this planet make this an almost impossible task.’

 ‘A challenge is a challenge,’ replied Jim, looking deeply into Carlton’s eyes. ‘I’ll resolve it one way or another.’

 Carlton smiled as he left his chair, beckoning Jim towards the door. ‘It is time to see the Professor who will give you as much assistance as possible. I have arranged for SO1’s Farmer and Clark to meet you there. Your covering identity will be given to you by the Professor. Any more questions?’

 ‘I’m on my way, sir.’ He shook his head, quickly saluting and then moving out into the corridor.

 ‘Good luck,’ said Carlton as the door hissed shut.  

 The Professor, Room 500 on the first floor, thought Jim as he stepped into the elevator, issued the command and sped horizontally to the end of the building. This is interesting. I wonder what cover the Professor will choose this time. I was a banker on Primar Three, and an officer in the Canterian Space Corps. His thoughts ceased as he reached his destination and walked into the Professor’s domain. He had entered a medium-sized anteroom with walls that appeared seamless. A scanning device picked him up and a band of orange light moved up and down his body, swiftly turning to green. The walls of the room slowly dissolved, revealing a huge area with several chambers.

 In one section there were rows of costumes and uniforms, in others high-tech props. As he walked through, the walls re-emerged behind.

 ‘Mr Long again, I presume,’ said a voice from behind a large stack of boxes. Jim followed the direction of the voice as he turned the corner, and saw the Professor sitting in a large chair.

 ‘Rupert,’ said Jim with a big smile on his face. ‘Here I am again.’

 ‘So you are,’ replied the Professor, a small grin appearing on his wrinkled face. He stood up and stretched himself to his full height, six feet four, stroking his greying beard with his right hand. ‘There are more little adventures coming your way.’

 ‘That’s life,’ agreed Jim, clasping the Professor’s right hand tightly. ‘What am I to be this time?’

 ‘Ah, all in good time,’ the Professor laughed. ‘I’m saving that till the end.’

 What is he up to? thought Jim, puzzled by Rupert’s stalling. He’s almost enjoying this. His thoughts were interrupted by a small bleeping alarm as the walls faded away, revealing Gail Farmer and Norman Clark. Norman the engineer, chin in his right hand, was gazing at the disappearing wall. Gail stood staring towards Jim and the Professor, her face expressionless as usual.

‘My crew, once again here we are in Aladdin’s Cave,’ Jim welcomed them, bending his head slightly to one side and grinning.

 ‘Aladdin’s Cave? Old Earth folklore,’ replied Gail, raising one eyebrow. ‘I thought this was a briefing.’

 ‘Aladdin’s Cave is indeed from old Earth folklore,’ said Jim. ‘A wondrous cave, filled with riches and magic.’

 The Professor burst into laughter and all three stared at him. ‘You might be closer to the truth than you think,’ he said as he turned, still chuckling. ‘Follow me.’

Reaching a small staging area, the Professor stopped. Hanging from the roof at head height, suspended by four cables, was a hollow circular pot, three foot in diameter, two foot in depth. ‘Would you like to inspect this item?’ he asked Gail.

 ‘Why don’t you use it to cook a meal?’ said Norman, folding his arms in agitation.

 Jim grinned, thinking, this must be so unimpressive to an engineer expecting state-of-the-art appliances on a special mission.

 ‘As usual, your primitive mind gives primitive conclusions,’ replied Gail, her face again expressionless. She had noticed the square plate with small triangular sections on each corner fastened on the base. Where have I seen that before? she thought.

 Her musing was interrupted as the Professor activated the cables and the appliance rested on the ground. They all gazed into the interior of the appliance as the Professor bent down and clenched his fist, rapping his knuckles on the bottom. ‘Completely solid,’ he said, grinning again to Gail. ‘Please step in and hold tightly on to the cables.’

 She lifted her right leg and placed it carefully into the appliance, thankful that she had chosen her trouser uniform. Holding tightly on to two of the cables, she raised the other leg into the pot.

 ‘Now place your hands on each side of the appliance,’ the Professor continued. ‘Keep your legs straight and brace your arms.’ He hoisted the pot up to head height again as Gail hung on tightly. A beam of light filtered from each triangular section to the other as he activated a small handheld monitor. As Gail looked down, the bottom of the pot became gluey, the metal softening as her foot disappeared into it. ‘Now lower your legs slowly through; you should feel a platform below.’ The base of the pot still solid on the outside glowed eerily as she moved down.

‘What the—’ blurted Norman, his mouth wide open, seeing only Gail’s head on view. He knew that the depth of the pot could not hide a full torso.

 ‘Now bend your knees and disappear completely,’ commanded the Professor. Gail raised an eyebrow as she vanished from view. ‘Now stay there.’

 Jim stood with a grin on his face, but inwardly he thought: Where is all this leading? The Professor is creating a picture or illusion.

 The Professor averted all their eyes to a ten foot high cabinet six yards away with closed curtains to the front. ‘And now to reveal all,’ he uttered in dramatic theatrical tones. ‘The curtains part – the trick revealed. How is it done?’

As the curtains opened, Gail could be seen crouching on a small pedestal, above her a metal plate with the conical markings.

 ‘A matter transmitter–receiver,’ was Jim’s answer.

 ‘Correct,’ replied the Professor. ‘Two constant units for the projection of matter, placed wherever you need them.’

 ‘Are they safe?’ prompted Jim, knowing the problems of long-distance beamed units.

 ‘One hundred per cent. To be used within a ten mile diameter only.’

 Gail lowered herself fully into the cabinet and slid off the pedestal as the Professor motioned them to a unit with hundreds of shelves. From one shelf he pulled out two flat sheets of lightweight metal with the small triangular cones on each corner holding one in each hand.

‘That’s all it is,’ he said with admiration. ‘They are small and compact and deadly accurate. One transmits, the other receives.’

 Gail and Norman were each given a unit.

‘Microtechnology,’ murmured Gail. ‘Now I know where I’ve seen it before.’ She turned to Norman. ‘They were experimenting with these aboard Inter-Galactic Craft Ten three months ago. It was all highly secret. Remember, from the flight deck to engineering in two steps?’

 ‘Yes, it would normally take an elevator two minutes to reach engineering,’ replied Norman. ‘Aren’t they installing these aboard the new IGC1A?’

 ‘Correct,’ continued the Professor as he moved to another shelf, taking off what looked like a belt four inches in depth and handing it to Gail. ‘Try this on, Miss Farmer.’

She took the belt and fastened it around her waist with a magnetic metallic clasp, staring hard at the surface which was mottled with tiny balloon-type fixtures.

‘Now, whatever happens, just relax.’

 He moved away and raised his right hand, pointing towards her. Her feet slowly came off the ground, causing a startled expression for a moment as she rose vertically. He moved his arm in various directions, floating Gail to different locations and then steered her into a horizontal position so that she hovered on her stomach. For a moment she was caught off guard as her body bent with gravity, her legs and upper torso flopping downwards, but then she straightened, exerting strong muscle movement to keep level. He finally brought her gently to the ground.

 ‘Is this the gravity belt from the scrutiniser?’ she enquired as her legs took the weight of her body again.

 ‘A lighter and updated version,’ he replied, opening the palm of his hand to reveal a small operating capsule. ‘All controlled with this.’

 ‘Where is all this leading, Rupert?’ asked Jim, staring hard into the Professor’s eyes.

 ‘Are you intrigued by what you have seen?’ he countered, his face breaking into a huge smile.

‘If I wished to make a quick exit or entry, what I have seen would be more than adequate.’

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