Final Frontier by F.J. Hansen

Author:F.J. Hansen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: futuristic, time travel, dinosaurs, alien invasion, spaceships, space aliens, space adventure, father and son, science ficion, alien robots
Publisher: F.J. Hansen

PART IV:

RENDEZVOUS

CHAPTER 20

Ship Calendar: 17 March 2105 A.D.

KEN’S WEIGHT returned as exclamations and thumps sounded around the bridge. Lights and consoles flickered back to life. Anderson was getting good at this—it was mere moments ago that they jolted back into normal space. It felt like mere moments, at least. “De Seleaux, can you determine where we are?” Ken asked as he refreshed the deck status screen.

“The navigation computer is working,” de Seleaux said. The minutes seemed to drag on. “Still working, which is promising. The computer recognizes stars and is calculating our position.”

“So, we’re back in our time, or within a century of it,” Stoner said.

“I have something,” de Seleaux said. “The navigation computer has calculated our position. I think. It appears we are somewhere in the range of sixty thousand light-years from Earth.”

Before Ken could react to the news, the communications console beeped for Gross’ attention. “It’s Doctor Misra,” she said. “She’s got a patient demanding to see you.”

Ken could only nod before stepping up to the operations deck. “Tell Anderson to concentrate on bringing the warp reactor back to full power. Clark, as soon as ion engines are working, put some distance between us and that vortex.”

*

Ellen checked her suit. Everything sealed as far as she could tell. She and Krishnik had cleared them all of the defects that were partly responsible for Mandrel’s death, but she worried they might have missed something. She took a deep breath and opened the airlock to the outer chamber. She went down the short flight of stairs and along the catwalk to the still-open hatch of the inner chamber. From there, she saw a piece of paneling removed from the port conduit. She approached the opening...and took a reflexive step back, her heart skipping a beat, as a giant bug crawled out. It paused, turning dark, compound eyes toward her. She managed to repress a gasp, turning it into a gulp instead. She cleared her throat. “Good. You’re okay.”

“You may close that,” Qeebix said through his translator when he was clear. “You worry?”

Ellen hesitated for a moment, then forced herself forward. She found the loose panel on the deck near her feet. She picked it up and placed it over the opening, slapping down until it was secure. “Yes. Worried I was going to have to clean you out of there. Why did you stay?”

“I not like leave work not complete.”

Ellen smiled and nodded her understanding. Well, that was one thing they had in common. Then, her helmet com-link beeped. “Lieutenant, message from the bridge. The commander wants us to bring warp drive to full power.”

“Thank you, Tomar. Unfortunately, Qeebix, looks like we’ll have to complete this particular work later.” Ellen turned to leave. She heard a hum, then felt something land on her right shoulder. Her left arm twitched as she turned to see the giant wasp. A shiver ran down her spine, but she managed to resist the urge to slap at it or brush it off. This is a sentient alien, she told herself.

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