Chapter II: Homecoming
"-Colonel Young, I came as fast as I could. What about the dial that occurred while we were in statis. Have you learned something?
-Yes Scott. And it is good news it seems.
-Did earth sent some people on the ship?
-Not that good though.
-Oh. What is it then?
-Look for yourself."
Clohe pressed few buttons. The record begins.
"-Fast forward it a bit please. Yeah, that's it.
Eli is closing in on the gatebridge. He can hear people talk. That's a good sign. No doubt they are humans.
"-Hello, Hello. After few whispers someone shouts again. Is there anyone? We are destiny's crew offspring.
Releaved, Eli answers:
-Yes there is! I am here.
-Oh! Eli. It is good to see you. Where is everyone?
-It's a long story Samara. But we have no time. The sip is about to shutdown the life support.
-but wh...
-No time to explain. It's a matter of seconds now. We have to leave. Fast! Dial the gate while I upload the kino footage to a console.
-Okay Eli."
Eli is uploading the video to the database hoping someone will find the video. It's done. The vortex soon establishes.
Everyone gather and go through the gate.
On Destiny's bridge, Scott is happy.
"-Yes! He made it out the destiny. He might still be alive!
-I knew he wasn't dead said Clohe.
-Yes but now, how will he be able do get back aboard the destiny. We're too far away now. Sais Youg.
Clohe turns toward Rush
-I'm sure you can think of something.
-Perhaps. But it doesnt matter. Only Eli can find his way back on the destiny. Plus, I want to remind you that where he is, it's full of drones. There are very little chances that he survived that much time in such hostile environment.
-Rush, leave hope to us said Young.
-Of course.
-Still it is good news right? Asked Scott.
-Yes, we've been able to clear Destiny for hostile hitchikers. They all left, with Eli. Unfortunately, Eli hadn't time to tell us where he went. So Rush is right. He'll have to come back on Destiny without our help.
-°Yes, I'm right. We cannont dial out to the other galaxy. The drone might pick up the subspace burst produced by an establishing wormhole on their end and trace is back to the Destiny. We have to lay low."
Youing looks at Clohe. Scott too. She doesn't look very enthousiastic.
"-Don't worry Clohe. I'm sure Eli's fine. We just have to wait. It must be a matter of time.
-I hope you're right Colonel."
Rush. Camila, I must talk to you about a new strategy of survival. I don't wanna us to make the same mistakes twice. We cannot afford to encounter new threats. Not yet. We must be very carefull about the decisions we make. About the way we fly Destiny. Meet me in my quarters in ten hours."
"-In ten hours. Said Rush.
-Sure, answered Camila."
Meanwhile, everyone is putting on things. Seeds are planted. Fluids are brewed. Food is coocked. Meals are swallowed. Quarters are clean. People have showered. It's amazing to see how quick everyone back to their self. Minds are cooling down. There is no immediate threat nor danger. Life isn't so bad after all.
In Young's quarters, Camila is waiting Rush with Colonel young. He is late. He comes in finally.
"-Sorry, I had to finish calculation prior to come to this meeting.
-Thank you rush. Now that everyone's here. I'd like to submit you my modifications. First. We stop jumping out of FTL. We do so only when the ship wants us to. Each time we influenced Destiny's course we found trouble.
-Colonel! interrupted Rush.
-Let me finish Rush. I was saying. We don't influence Destiny's course. We go pickup some goods when we run out food or water. No touristic excursions. That's it.
-Colonel, do you realise what you're asking.
-Yes Rush I do. But my job is to garanty the safety of this crew. And I won't allow to put the crew in deliberate danger anymore. We tried this before and have seen the result. We've done more damage to the ship in two years than it did itself in millenia.
-But we have to explore.
-No we don't. As you told me, the goal of destiny is to unravel the mistery about that cosmologic signal.
-The cosmic microwave background radiation yes.
-Whatever. We will do just that and be safe as much as possible. The matter of going back home is out our hands. You told me there were no Icarus planets in the ship's database. So there's no need of exploring. I want you to focus on everything you want that do not involve dropping out of FTL. Is that clear Rush?
-Colonel..
-Is that clear?
-Yes. I think.
-Alright then. Camila, do you agree?
-Not entirely. People need to go out sometimes. We already put too much pressure on them.
-I know. But we have no choice for now. Prior to authorize vacation time I want the ship shields defenses and weaons repeared at full capability. We need to be ready in case of trouble. And I mean fully prepared.
-I guess that is okay. At that moment, the ship drops out of FTL. Young grabs his radio.
-Scott, what's happening?
-It looks like we have an incoming wormhole Sir. Someone is dialing Destiny's address.
-Gosh I hope it's a good sign.
-Me too Sir. I already sent a team to the gate.
-I'm on my way. Young out.
On the gatebridge, young arrives. Scott, Greer are armed and ready. Riley is at the console. The vortex connects. Riley rises the shield:
"-We have incoming radio transmission.
-patch me through.
-Hi guys!
-Eli?
-Yes, that's me!
-What happended are you okay?
-Would you mind lowering the shield. I could come through and explain it all to you. By the way, I'm not alone.
-Is he friendly?
-Yes she is.
-Of course Eli. Riley, lower the shield.
Eli comes through the gate. He harbors a news T-Shirt. He is thinner.
-Well you look good Eli. Welcome back aboard. A moment after a girl comes out the vortex.
-Hehe, yes I guess you noticed. Thank you. It's good to be back and see that you made it through the void. Let me present you the person that made my visit to you possible. Colonel, this is Samara.
-Nice to meet you Samra.
-Nice to meet you too Everett. I'm honored to meet you in person. I'm sorry. I've read so much about you that you look familiar. You d'ont mind I call you Everett?
-No. It's okay. Eli, Samara. Come this way! I think there are people that would like to see you.
Clohe ran into the gatebridge:
-Eliiiii!I can't believe it. You're alive. And this purple color suits you!
-Thank you Clohe. It's good to see you too.
-Aahhh, and that's Samara! How are you Samara?
-I'm great thank you clohe. And you?
-Yeah, I'm good. Tank you. Why did you came aboard the Destiny?
-Well, She's my...
-Girlfriend? Asked clohe while smilling.
-Wife, actually.
-Oh, it's wonderfull. You must tell me. Please tell me!
-Later if you don't mind. I've got important matters to discuss with Camila, the Colonel and Rush.
-Oh, of crouse Eli. Sure.
-Colonel, could you call Rush, and Camila please?
-Sure Eli. What is it about.
-I'll tell you in private. Clohe, could you please take care of Samara while I finish this?
-Of course Ely. Come Samara, we'll catch up. You must tell me everything! The two of them go happily and chatting like crazy, laughing etc.. Girls...
Rush, Camila Young and Eli are all gathered. Eli annouces the good news:
-We found a way to get ridd of the drones! And we did!
-That sounds great Eli said Camila.
-Indeed! Said Colonel.
-How did you do that Eli asked Rush?
-It all started because I couldn't fix the pod. Samara and some friends boarded the destiny. We haven't much time so we had to left the ship fast. We wandered for days on a planet. Eventually we encountered drones. We were able to get ridd of them. For months we hide. Then I came up with an idea to get ridd of them. Well, it wasn't easy but I found a way to upload a sort of virus into their subspace communications. You remember we managed to change their program for few minutes when they attacked us.
-Yes, said Rush.
-Well I did almost the same thing but at a higher sphere. I used a drone to upload the virus. But this time I made sure the signal went through vast distances, galaxy wide, so that all the drone at the same time go dark, for good. The tricky part was to corrupt a mothership in the way so that the virus could access higher functions but we made it! The virus made them commit suicide. Every drone of the galaxy crashed in a star.
-Great! I can see how you managed to survive then said Young.
-Yeah, I had good moments while you were all sleeping! I got married with Samara.
-Congratulations Eli said Camila.
-My best wishes said young.
-Wonderful sarcasticly said Rush.
-What Rush? It's great!
-Eli, I wonder. How did you managed to dial Destiny from another galaxy? It requires large amount of energy. Even more than that. Could you enlight us?
-I've been able over time to savage parts from many dormant drones. Hundreds of them actually. With these I was able to create enough power to dial destiny. That's why I could'nt dial in as soon as Destiny jumped out of FTL. But it's not all...
-You got better news? asked Camila.
-Sort of. I also programmed the virus to steal hyperdrive scheme designs. I also used the drone subspace network to locate our offspring ship in the void. We've been able to establish contact with them and transfert them the technology. With the update made on their propulsions, they should arrive on destination centuries in advance on the schedule. In fact, they will finish their journey in a week!
-That's fantastic Eli. You managed to save not only yourself but our legacy as well. I'm very proud of you Eli.
-Thank you colonel. But I wouldn't have been able to do so without Samara. She helped me a lot and gave me great support.
-Is that all? Asked Rush?
-Yeah laughed Eli. Isn't it enough for you?
-Yeah yeah. It doesn't change our situation so if you excuse me, I've got some matters that require my attention.
-He hasn't changed a bit.
-Unlike you, we slept for three years argued Camila.
-That's right. I forgot about that. For you nothing happened during those three years. But Rush is missing the point here. I came to tell you that if you want, you can come back with us.
-Pardon? Said Camila.
-Yes, come with us. There's a way out of Destiny. We could all live with the others and help rebuild their society. Our society! Now there are no drones we could be safe and happy there.
-That matter will require further discussions. We have to think about it Eli. Though I'm sure everyone would agree with you I prefer not to rush and make the wrong decision.
-I don't see what's wrong about that. That creepy ship is like hell.
-Yes but understand Eli, I don't wan't to make a mistake. Not this time. Plus, Destiny could be the only way for us to go back on earth.
-Sure, anyway there's time. I'll go back there in a week.
-How do you wanna do that? Dial another galaxy requires a tremendous amount of power.
-It does but we can dial inside a star.
-Remember what happened last time? Rush was the only survivor. And, we disrupted the course of time.
-I know, but I had plenty of time to tihnk about it. We just have to find the appropriate star. Last time we were in a hurry. This time we can pick the good one up. We've got to find a star with low flare activity, hence, low amount of sunspots. The best would be none of course. This way we can make sure that the vortex won't intersect with a solar flare. We don't need much more energy than Destinys capabilities. It won't be as dangerous as dialing earth trust me.
-Does that mean we could also dial earth?
-I'm afraid it's too dangerous. The impredictible thing about dialing earth is precisly the solar flares in-between. Across two galaxies the chances are great. But to make it to the earth, we got to be very, very lucky. We're talking of a chance in a billion'th. Each galaxy conceals trillions of stars. Over millions, even billions galaxy it would be suicidal. The vortex will surely pass close to billions of stars, perhaps more. Let's say that 10% of stars have an active CME or solar flare. Chances are very slim.
-I'll have rush work with you on that.
-I understand Sir. Sure.
-Well, after all these good news, I think we all need some time to process. Camila, I let you tink about that. I also leave you the responsiility to annonces that we could go off Destiny to people. But please, wait a bit. Don't rush.