/ Duel Universe
/ Author: The Cowboy of Oklahoma
/ Ch 13: Failure Surprise pt2
/ word count: 2090
Washington Platform:
"Get it! It ran this way! Does anyone have a shot?! Man it's fast! It ducked into a side compartment! Seal it! Seal it!!"
By closing the door, it guaranteed the thing couldn't get out. It was the only door into or out of that compartment, except..
"This is Sergeant Major Ackles," he radioed the command deck, "we have it contained in compartment 6F, close all ventilation ducts and seal this compartment 100%!!"
The chase of the unknown object or creature lasted for nearly two hours. Some whirling and mechanical things echoed, then command radioed back.
"6F, sealed. Motion sensors aren't picking up anything moving in the room." Command reported.
"Try the cameras and filter through different spectrums." Doctor Malone, could be heard over the radio. "There has to be something in there!" She sounded almost desperate.
The monitors on the command deck filtered through spectrum after spectrum, and came up with nothing. It appeared as if whatever it is, it wasn't visible outside of normal human view range, but even the cameras themselves didn't see it.
"Wait, wait, I have a radical idea!" Malone said. "Try adding filter program De2 to the camera, we maybe able to pick something up then." She suggested.
"Doctor," Bensen said with no small amount of disdain in his voice, "what is filter De2?"
Malone turned to explain, "Duel Energy squared. We found we could actually visibly see the energy signature of what we've been using to create the components and crystals. It gives off a unique rainbow like spectrum that only the De2 program can see."
The monitor lit up like a Christmas tree, grabbing everyone's attention.
"Yes!" Malone celebrated. "Okay, now where are you…?"
The signature seemed to be slowly decaying and the monitor was becoming dull with just the room.
"Wait, no that can't be right."
"What is it doctor?" General Marcellus asked over the comms.
"The signature is decaying, disappearing. That would only happen if…!" She grabbed a mic. "Ackles! That thing has already gotten out of the room! It may be in the vents already!"
"What!? It could be anywhere by now!!"
"Agreed." She was about to say something, but turned and looked at Bensen first. "May I suggest something Major Bensen?" She asked flatly.
"What is it doctor?" He responded.
"A deck by deck search, with De2 filters. That way we can potentially follow exactly where that thing has gone to."
Bensen gritted his teeth to have been suggested he do a routine search procedure from this woman. "And just where are we supposed to get enough scanners with that program filter attached?"
"From the science deck. And it's already in the system, so we can use the overhead cameras to do much of the searching for us." She said.
"Very well Doctor!" He turned to address the crew directly. "Have three squads go to the science deck to retrieve these De2 filter programs. Then do a deck by deck search and find that thing!" He ordered.
The Baddeck:
The strange noise that had to have come from the object or creature, was an unfamiliar sound, and yet, it seemed to trigger a memory in my head. Where had I heard that noise before?
"Baddeck, this is the America, have you made any further progress with your finding?" They asked.
I reached for the comm, "Negative America, all we're getting from the audio file is what we sent to you. General Marcellus, may I speak with you privately sir?" I responded.
"Wait a moment Baddeck. Securing private channel."
"In my cabin." I told the radio officer.
"Aye sir."
"You have the Con XO." I ordered.
"Aye sir." Shelly confirmed.
I moved to my cabin and turned on a monitor.
"Captain, what is it?" Marcellus asked.
"General, you may find this strange, but I know that sound from somewhere." I said.
"Where!?" Marcellus questioned.
"I think it was back on Earth sir. I can't explain it fully, but I am almost positive that I've heard that exact sound before!"
"Doctor Malone thinks it has something to do with her duel energy research. They're using a De2 program, a 'duel energy filter' she called it, to search for it. It's escaped from the decks it was on and now maybe anywhere on the ship." He said.
"Sir, may I suggest that the men stop firing their weapons at it. If it has something to do with the energies we used to help escape Earth, it may not be a good idea to try and kill it." I suggested.
"Good point captain. I'll tell them now."
The signal cut out and I made my way back to the bridge.
Washington Platform:
The cameras with the new filters began showing that the thing was moving through several decks, and command was slowly figuring out everywhere it had been and had yet to go. Soldiers and sailors moved from deck to deck and confirmed it wasn't where they were. So far, the thing wasn't heading for any of the civilian populace or the hypersleep containers. But it was estimated to be moving towards the engine room and science deck.
"Why the science deck and engineering?" Malone asked openly.
"Maybe it's being drawn to the energy source you've been working with?" Bensen said nonchalantly.
Malone's eyes went wide and she turned to him with a look of shock and horror.
"Of course!! Oh no!! Then it might..!!" She turned to the console and grabbed the mic. "All units!! Head to science deck 13b and main engineering IMMEDIATELY!!"
"What is it doctor?" Bensen asked, genuinely curious.
"It's as you said, those are where we've been doing duel energy research and have some of the strongest components we've ever created!"
His eyes went wide with surprise, tensing up, he wasn't expecting that response. He was merely just trying to be a dick with her again.
"Baddeck to Washington, request permission to dock. Captain Ka'an wished to board and help with the unknown creature." Came over the comm.
"Baddeck, why would your captain want to help with this situation?" Bensen asked.
"The captain says he has a theory for capturing it, and a possible idea as to what exactly it may be."
"Care to elaborate?" Bensen questioned.
"This is Captain Freeman, I'll explain once I'm aboard. This should not be said on an open channel." I explained.
Malone gestured to Bensen to allow it.
"Permission granted Captain. Come aboard and head straight to the science deck once you're able." Bensen said.
"Understood Washington." The comms went silent.
"Docking procedure underway sir." Brier reported. "Baddeck is docked." She said as the two ships were connected.
"Have a squad escort the Captain to the science deck." Turning to the doctor, "would you mind going down there and meeting up with him, so he can discuss whatever's on his mind?" He asked, secretly hoping she would leave.
"On my way Major." Malone answered, while she turned and headed off the command deck.
A few minutes later, she met up with me just outside the science deck.
"Captain, what's this idea of yours?" Malone asked.
"I may know what the creature is, but I wanted to see it for myself first." He gave her a data pad and then asked, "Have you heard this yet?"
She hit the recording and heard the faint excited noise come from the device.
"KURI, KURI!"
"What was that?" She asked.
"That was the creature." I said. "I heard it vaguely when it happened just after the initial contact. I had my techs wash it thoroughly and remove all known sounds. This was one of the only sounds left, and the only one we couldn't identify ourselves immediately. Then as I continued listening to it, it began to sound more and more familiar."
"Okay, so what do you think it is?" She asked.
"This." I held up a duel monsters card of a small purple creature with a rainbow on its forehead.
"A..a..a duel monster?"
"Well, we are using duel energy to power our ships now and we used duel energy to push back the goo safely so people could escape." I pointed out. "Seems to me a pattern has evolved from all that's happened these past few years."
Malone thought for a moment, trying to analyze the information.
"So, this thing may have somehow come to life because of us?"
"Something like that." I said. "Now, why don't we go inside and see if I'm right." I motioned to the door. "The rest of you stay out here. Let's not have any firing in the labs. Just stay put unless we call for you."
"What if there's trouble!?" One of them asked.
"As much as safety may be an important thing for this ship, even just one of you coming in here guns blazing and you will ruin years of research and development!" Malone said. "So do as the Captain orders and stay put!" She turned to open the door with her pass.
The console beeped and the door slid open. We stepped inside and let the door close behind us. Then we slowly moved forward and checked every corner we came across. I motioned for the doctor to remain behind me, and I took the data pad back and told her to be silent. I pressed the play button icon and let the sound echo in the room.
"Kuri, kuri!"
We waited, motionless, silent, then there was a clatter of glass in another part of the room. I pressed it again.
"Kuri, kuri!"
There was a noise from behind us. Malone turned to look and saw nothing. Then the sound happened again from in front of us.
"Kuri, kuri."
"I think that's enough Captain. We don't want to anger it further."
I turned my head to look at her from the corner of my eye. "That wasn't me."
Her eyes went wide as she stared at mine. I turned my head forward and was being stared at by a small wide eyed purple creature with a rainbow on its forehead. Malone peeked over my shoulder at the little creature in front of us. I slowly pulled the card I showed earlier from my pocket to look at it, holding it up so Malone could see it again too. It was here, this exact card, living, breathing, and moving on its own.
"Kuri, kuri.."
It seemed to give a questioning look and sound. Then I turned the card to face the creature, it looked at it almost questioning, but began to bob up and down and making more noises very excitedly.
"Uh, what's it doing?" Malone asked.
"He appears quite interested in this card of himself." I answered.
"Kuri, kuri!"
The little guy suddenly tapped the card with its face, nose? I'm unsure which. Then it began to glow and grow brighter.
"Ugh! It's too bright!" Malone yelled.
"Grrr!" I gritted my teeth and closed my eyes.
Then the room suddenly felt really weird, almost as if it was shifting underfoot. Malone leaned into my back and grabbed my uniform tightly screaming.
"Aaaaaahhahahaaahahaaa!"
The feeling of being pulled away from where I was to someplace I couldn't explain was a feeling that gave me a little feeling of fear. The light was too blinding to open our eyes, but the noise of rushing wind was present and the feeling as if we were flying at speeds nobody could survive on their own.
"Kuri, kuri!"
The noise it made almost begged me to open my eyes.
"Kuri, kuri!"
It was a persistent little fella.
Then Malone grabbed my shoulders. "Ka'an! Look!"
My eyes cracked open and saw a sight I don't think I will ever forget. Stars, millions of stars whizzing past us. We weren't onboard the Washington anymore, but we were inside something keeping us safe. Looking forward, the star field had a rainbow like hue to it.
"It..it's beautiful." Malone noted.
"It sure is something. But where are we going? Where's it taking us?" I said, and was answered by the creature.
"Kuri, kuri!"
We looked forward and saw a small point of light different from the rest coming towards us.
"What's that!?" Malone questioned.
"If I had to hazard a guess, our destinati..!" My words got cut off as I finally saw just what we were heading towards, and it shocked even me.
"Is..that..Earth!?" Malone asked. "The goo has covered it entirely, even the land masses were unrecognizable from this distance. Why's it bringing us here!?"