Chapter Ten
Repairs went smoothly. Thankfully, other than the missile tubes, no critical systems were severely damaged. Koenig had asked Bellerson if the alien ship could follow them. Bellerson said he did not believe so. At least, they could never track a ship once it left normal space. But, he also told Koenig that if the alien ship were pursuing them, they wouldn't know it until they were back in normal space.
Their destination now was Moonbase Alpha. From the planet were they found the Alphans, their journey would take three days. During that time, the Alphans were given tours of the Yorktown. Bellerson gave the details of their mission to Koenig and his staff.
When inquiring what Earth was like, Helena had said, "We heard the Earth was uninhabitable due to pollution."
"At one point, yes," replied Bellerson. "But Earth has been mending itself. It's quite nice now."
"And what about neutrino transmission and being able to beam people great distances?" she asked.
Bellerson shook his head. "Unfortunately, that technology existed on in one place - Texas City which was destroyed in a massive earthquake. All data on it was lost. We haven't been able to duplicate it since."
Instead of trying to answer all their questions, Bellerson gave them access to the ship's historical records. He hoped they would find their answers there.
On the second day of their journey, Bellerson arranged to have a reception honoring the Alphans. Any crewmembers not on duty were encouraged to gather in the recreation room to meet the Alphans.
Tapping his glass, Bellerson prepared to make a toast. The crowd quieted down and Bellerson said, "Here's to living history. To the brave men and women of Moonbase Alpha. May this be their final adventure."
"Here, here's" came from everyone, the loudest ones from the Alphans.
Moonbase Alpha was a wreck. The base looked just like they had left it. "They", in this case, were referring to both the Alphans and the Yorktown crew. Except, now, the mysterious power that had come on while the Yorktown crew was there seemed to have been shut off - the base was dark.
The decision had been made to take as many Alphans and Yorktown crew down to the base that were required to get Bergman's force field up and running. This required the usage of all four of the Yorktown's shuttles and the Eagle. It was only fitting that the Eagle should be involved - it was going home.
On board the Eagle, Bellerson sat in the passenger module with Koenig, Helena, Maya, and Bergman. In their midst was also the Arkadian device. Flying the Eagle were Captain and Lt. Carter.
On the view screens, they could see Moonbase Alpha. The destruction was as bad as Koenig remembered it.
"Can she be repaired?" he asked.
"We can mend torn buildings," replied Bellerson, "but I'm concerned about getting the nuclear generators back on-line. We may not have the material to do that."
"We might be able to use some of the nuclear waste," offered Maya.
"There's still some left?" asked Bellerson, surprised.
Maya shrugged. "There might be."
"Did anyone see that?" asked Helena, pointing to a monitor.
Everyone looked to where she was pointing. The image was one of the ruined buildings. Yet, something seemed to be moving. Maya touched a control and the camera zoomed in. The side of the building had been torn open by an explosion so long ago. But, now, sparkles of light were dancing along the edges of the torn metal. Then the metal began to move. It twisted in on itself until the wall was made whole. The lights continued to move along the crack in the wall that had formed where the pieces joined. After a few moments, the lights vanished and the crack was gone.
"John, are you seeing this?" asked Carter's voice over the intercom.
"Yes, we are, Alan," replied Koenig.
"The whole base is repairing itself!" Carter said excitedly.
The passengers looked at each other and Maya touched a control that caused the camera to zoom out. Carter was right. All of the base there were the sparkling lights and torn buildings were repairing themselves.
"Zoom in on Main Mission," said Koenig.
The camera zoomed in to show the once-grand heart of Alpha. The walls had just finished repairing themselves. Then the roof, which had been completely blown off, seemed to grow back into place.
Within minutes, Moonbase Alpha was whole again.
The passengers in the Eagle looked at each other. Confusion, astonishment, and joy were all on their faces. Then, after the last of the sparkling lights faded, lights came on all over the base. The base had been repaired and the power had been restored.
"Alpha's back!" Carter shouted over the intercom.
The passengers laughed and hugged each other. They couldn't understand what had just happened or contain the joy they were feeling. Their home, their faithful friend, had been restored anew.
Koenig looked over Helena's shoulder as she was hugging him. "Arra?" he asked Bellerson.
Bellerson shrugged. "As good an explanation as any."
Main Mission was complete. The horseshoe of consoles, the computer station in the center, the computer banks lining the walls, the observation platform, the commander's office - it was all there.
As they walked in, Helena spun around with her arms out.
"John, this is incredible!" she exclaimed.
All Koenig could do was smile as he headed up the steps to his desk. He settled into his chair and ran a finger across the surface of his desk. Then he sighed. It was good to be home.
Maya had only seen pictures of Main Mission. She was amazed at how spacious it was.
"This is a wonderful facility," she said. "Why did you ever abandon it?"
"Command Center was safer," said Carter. Then he smiled. "But this, this, was the true heart of Alpha."
Bergman went over to the computer station. He put his hands on the chair. He actually seemed sad. Turning around, he looked up at Koenig. "What happened to David and Paul?" he asked. "I should've liked to have seen them again."
"They were killed when their Eagle crashed," was the reply. But it wasn't Koenig who answered. It was a female voice coming from behind him. Bergman turned around to see Sandra Benes entering Main Mission. "We miss them. I especially miss Paul."
Bergman nodded. "They were good men and I know you were close to Paul."
Bellerson cleared his throat. "I don't want to be a kill-joy, but we have work to do."
"Right," said Bergman as he slid into the computer station's chair. He punched a few keys on the console and a slip of paper appeared. He tore it off and read it. "My original specifications are still in the memory banks."
Suddenly, an alert klaxon sounded and anther slip of paper printed out. Bergman tore it off. "It's a collision alarm. Something is heading towards us."
Bellerson touched his wrist communicator. "Yorktown, are you picking up anything heading towards Alpha?"
"Yes, we are," replied Johnson. "An asteroid just shot past us. According to sensors, it is on a direct collision course with Main Mission."
"Can you intercept it?"
After a pause, Johnson said, "No sir. It's moving too fast. Collision in thirty seconds."
"What's the point of all this if we're going to be destroyed by an asteroid?" asked an exasperated Helena. She felt a hand on her should and looked up to see Koenig. She snuggled tight against him.
"At least we got to see Alpha one more time," he said looking down at her. Looking up, he said, "Victor, can you put the asteroid on the big screen?"
The asteroid appeared on the big screen. It got closer and closer and then...
"Captain," called Johnson over the communicator, "the asteroid is changing course."
"Yes, we see that," said an astonished Bellerson.
On the screen they watched as the asteroid began veering away. Then there was a shudder as it passed dangerously close.
"Track it," said Koenig.
The camera angle shifted to show the retreating asteroid. It continued its flight and Bergman adjusted the zoom to keep it on the screen. Then it seemed to become distorted and it vanished. It didn't go out of ranged of the camera - it simply vanished.
"Computer," said Bergman, "scan the area ahead of us where the asteroid vanished."
After a moment, the familiar, monotone, female voice of the computer spoke. "Gravitational forces increasing. It is a black hole. One hundred percent certainty. It is your duty to report..."
Bergman switched off the voice synthesis. "Uh, yes, we've been through that before," he muttered.
"Seems we found our black hole," said Koenig.
"Black hole?" asked a terrified Sandra. The last time they encountered such a phenomenon, she lost someone very close to her.
Koenig quickly told Sandra their plan. "Don't worry," he said. "We will be fine."
Bergman touched a control on the console. "Computer, what are the odds of us surviving the black hole with the Bergman force field in place?"
"Zero percent," replied the computer.
"I should have known better than to ask you," he muttered. Moving the desk around to face the others, he said, "I guess we better get started."
On the command conference table sat a model of Moonbase Alpha. On top of the eight antigravity towers sat a round plastic dome that represented Bergman's force field.
"The principle is the same," he said. "The closer we get to the black hole, the stronger the shield will become."
"It's ingenious," remarked Bellerson.
Helena looked at him and smiled. "I said that the first time I saw it." She then looked at Bergman. "And I believe your response was, 'It's insane.'".
Bergman smiled and shrugged. "Who knew it would actually work!"
"Where do you want it?" came a voice from within Main Mission.
They turned to see that Alan and Sam Carter had arrived with the Arkadian device.
"Anywhere is fine, Alan," said Bergman.
They moved it to the spot between the Main Mission consoles and the steps leading up to the commander's office. Reducing the anti-grav units' power, they let it settle to the floor.
Joining the others at the command table, Alan Carter said, "So, we're going through another black hole, eh?"
Helena looked at him and smiled. "Actually, Alan, this will be our first trip."
Carter returned the smile. "True."
Even though Bergman was sure the shield would hold just like it did last time, he still wanted to test it.
"All right, Yorktown," Bellerson was saying into his communicator, "send down the missile."
"But, sir, if the shield doesn't hold..." protested Johnson.
"Then none of this will mean a thing," replied Bellerson. "If it can't protect us from a missile, it's not going to protect us from the black hole."
Johnson, while not happy about it, conceded. "Very well, sir. Missile on its way."
Inside Main Mission, the lights were dim and the computer was shut down. They left just enough of the computer systems running to operate the force field. The heating had also been reduced enough so they could see their breath.
"I still think it looks like fish scales," Sandra had commented when the field was turned on.
Bellerson looked down at his communicator. "Impact in five, four, three, two, one."
Main Mission shook slightly and that was it. Everyone in Main Mission looked at each other and smiled.
"Thanks, Yorktown," said Bellerson. "That was great."
"Glad you're still in one piece," said Johnson. "ETA to event horizon is six hours."
"Are all non-essential personnel back on board?" asked Bellerson.
"Yes, sir, they are," Johnson replied.
"Good," said Bellerson. "I'm staying here."
"What?" protested Johnson. "If the moon survives the black hole, we won't know where you will be."
"I've thought of that possibility, but I want to see this thing completely through. You have your orders. Keep the Yorktown at a safe distance."
"Aye, sir," was the reluctant reply.
"Six hours," he said to the rest of them.
"Do you suppose we'll have the same experience?" Bergman asked Koenig.
Koenig shrugged. "Who knows."
"Too bad I don't have a cigar!" smiled Bergman.
Koenig chuckled.
Bellerson was going to ask them more about what they were talking about, but decided not to. Whatever the experience was going to be, he wanted to experience anew.
Bergman had explained that the black hole would drain their power and they would need all they had left to operate the force field. So, it began to get cold. Eventually someone fetched some space suits and they all donned them.
As time passed, the group broke up into pairs. Alan and Sam Carter settled into a couch in the commander's office and talked, no doubt, about flying. Koenig and Helena went up to the observation deck.
"Did you ever think we would see Alpha again, John?" she asked as the two sat, snuggling with each other.
"Never," he said. "But it's good to be back."
She turned to look at him. "If we make it through this, do you want to go back to Earth?"
He turned to look at her, taking her hands in his. "I enjoy our life on our New Earth. It's been a struggle, but it's our world now. How would we fit in on Earth as it is today? I think if Earth can give us the proper supplies, we can build a wonder civilization."
"But, we're old, John," said Helena.
Koenig smiled. "Then we'll get Earth to send some young colonists and let them do the work."
She returned the smile and put her head on his chest.
Bergman was still seated at the computer station. Maya came up to him and half sat on the console.
"I've heard so much about your, Professor," she said.
Bergman looked up and smiled. "I know nothing about you. How is it, though, that you're so young and the rest..." He didn't want to finish the thought.
"Are so old?" Maya finished, smiling. "We Psychons age much slower."
"Tell me about yourself and your world, Maya," said Bergman.
So, she began telling him about her father, her world, how the Alphans found her, and so many other things.
Bellerson saw that Sandra was sitting by herself at one of the consoles. He went over to join her.
"This is my old station," she said as she saw him approaching.
"It must have been a fantastic experience," he said, taking the chair next to her.
"It was," she replied. "We saw so many wonderful things and many horrible things, too."
"In my travels, I have as well," he said. "But, for you, to have made it on a rogue moon that you couldn't control, is a testament to your ability to survive."
"The commander believed, as did most of us, that someone, or some thing, was watching over us. That's the only explanation. We should have all been killed when the nuclear waste dumps exploded."
Bellerson put an arm around her. "But you weren't. And, when this is over, your destiny, according to Arra, will have been fulfilled."
She looked up at him. "I hope so, because I want to go home - to Earth." She leaned into him and started to cry.
"Raise the shield," said Koenig. It was nearly time for the moon to enter the event horizon.
Bergman pressed a few controls and, on the big screen, they saw the shield come to life. "Power levels are holding," he said.
"All right," replied Koenig. "Shut everything down."
Bergman pressed a few more buttons and the big screen went dark. The lights on the computer banks went out, as did those on the consoles.
"Well, we have to think for ourselves," he muttered, repeating something he had said so long ago.
On the Yorktown, Johnson and the bridge crew watched the moon nearing the event horizon.
"Good luck," he said.
"Commander Johnson," said Mukata, "I'm picking up a contact just entering sensor range."
Johnson swiveled to see him. "What is it?"
"It's our friends," he replied.
"They just don't give up, do they?" asked Johnson. He swiveled back around. "Raise shields. Battle stations."
"Sir, the alien ship is not on an intercept course," said Mukata.
"What?" asked a surprised Johnson. "Where are they going?"
"They are heading towards the black hole, but well away from us," replied Mukata.
"On screen," said Johnson.
The alien ship appeared on the screen as it headed towards the black hole. Once it reached a similar distance that the Yorktown was holding, it stopped.
Raising an eyebrow, Johnson said, "Perhaps they are here to see what happens. Maybe they are giving up."
"We might know shortly," said Mukata, "The moon is entering the black hole."
All those in Main mission were gathered on the steps leading up to the commander's office. As the moon entered the black hole, images became obscured. Bellerson likened it to looking through some sort of colored gauze. He looked up at the rest and was shocked. They all looked ancient. Even the beautiful Maya looked as ancient as the rest. He looked down at his own hand and saw it wrinkled with age.
"It is good to see you again," said a female voice. The voice seemed to come from nowhere yet everywhere.
"It has been a long time," said Koenig, yet his lips did not move.
"Yes, it has," replied the voice.
"Who are you?" asked Bergman and his lips did not move either.
Bellerson looked around for the others and noticed they were gone. They only ones in Main Mission were the three men. At first he started to panic, but then he realized that everything he was seeing could very well be an illusion.
"You do not need to know everything, Victor Bergman," said the voice. "There are many things in this universe that you will never understand."
"The last time we were here, did you help us survive and did you bring our friends back to us?" asked Koenig.
"So many questions, but no and yes," said the voice. "But now your journey is at an end."
"Are we to die?" asked Bergman.
"Death is just another state of being," replied the voice. "The time has come for you to fulfill your destiny."
In an instant, Bergman was standing at the Arkadian device. His aged hand touched the panel and it opened. He reached in and touched the screen.
"Behold," said the voice, "the power of the Arkadians and the power of light!"
The dome on the device began to spin. Slowly at first and then faster and faster until it was a blur. Then the dome opened and an impossibly brilliant shaft of light sprang forth and out into the black hole.
The Yorktown was still holding its position, as was the alien ship. The black hole was on the view screen. But, then, there was a flicker of light from within it.
Johnson sat straight up. "Did anyone see that?" he asked.
"A flicker of light, sir?" asked the helmsman.
"Yes," said Johnson.
Then there was another flicker and another. Then the light became a small, solid ball. Then it started growing and growing. And then it exploded. Brilliant light spilled onto the bridge from the view screen. The crewmen shielded their eyes just as the camera burned out.
"Bring up secondary cameras, optical shielding," ordered Johnson.
The main screen came back to life to show the black, white, hole. It looked like a brilliant white disc hovering in space. It wasn't a star - just a disc of white light. No one seemed to notice, however, that every star in the galaxy seemed to glow a little brighter.
"Sir, the alien ship..." began Mukata.
"On screen," he ordered.
The image shifted to the alien ship. It was bathed in the white light and it was clearly in agony. It was reacting similarly to the way it did at Arkadia. This time, however, it seemed much worse.
Its children were in agony and some were dying. The pain it felt at Arkadia was nothing compared to this. The wave that had touched it ship was... purity - that was the only way it could describe it.
Through its pain, the god asked the ship for a damage analysis. The ship was not damaged. However, its Second Space engine was not functioning. The ship could find nothing wrong with it - it simply did not work. Without it, it would take decades to reach any star system. And, without it, they could not power their weapons of destructions.
So, thought the god as the pain began to subside, this was their great plan. All this to disable one ship. No matter. I have many others.
It contacted the one nearing Earth and, to its horror, learned that it had suffered the same fate. Its Second Space engine was not functioning. When asked what happened, the leader of that vessel reported that Earth's sun had suddenly grown brighter, yet not hotter. When it did, a wave of something washed over them. Purity. The leader of the vessel agreed.
The remainder of its fleet, some two hundred ships, had entered the galaxy not long ago. It contacted each of them and each ship was in the same shape. None could jump into Second Space.
Even as the pain and the lighted diminished, the Second Space engine would not activate. This galaxy had become poison to them. The only hope was for it to order all of its children to leave the galaxy. All except for the ship near Earth. It knew that the ship would long be dead before it ever reached the edge of the galaxy. It ordered that ship to fly into Earth's sun.
All of its children would eventually die, it knew. Most would not make it to the edge of the galaxy - it would take to long. All of them were vulnerable to attack as well.
It had failed. Its mission, handed down from generation to generation starting with their creator, was to destroy galaxies. Destruction was their sustenance. Without it, they would perish. Eons of perfect destruction were stopped in a matter of moments.
I am not god, it thought. I am just a leader that failed.
The twisted pillar in its chamber began to vibrate. It then began to twist as if it were a huge cloth being wrung out. Tighter and tighter it twisted until it finally exploded in a shower of foul matter. In its place stood a human male, unclothed. It surveyed the vast chamber. It then turned around to reveal that the face it wore was that of Captain John Bellerson of the Earth vessel Yorktown.