Deep Space Horizon

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say.

True, if one is in the actual vacuum of space having ‘out of this world’ sex. However, I am certain the entire crew and passengers aboard the colossal ‘Space Extraverse Adventurer’ or ‘SEA’ definitely heard the screams of pleasure that I, Captain Rene Ambrose, and my Executive Officer Callan Culp just emitted.

******

The SEA launched on November 11, 3011 was to further the 'James Webb Space Telescope' (‘JWST’) findings and conclusions with incredibly impressive images about our expansive Universe.

These mind-altering 13.7-billion-years-ago images finally unfolded, origami-style, and revealed, that the Big Bang was indeed how the Universe exploded and formed.

There was no image of a 13.7-billion-year-old creator, ‘God’ or intelligent architect seen in any of the millions of images sent back to Earth. The Big Bang no longer ended with ‘Theory.’ Finally and irrefutably, The Big Bang was scientifically and astronomically proven to be exactly how our known Universe was created.

Yet, it is inherent within the human mind to wonder and wish for even more knowledge regardless of how overwhelming the process of exploration and discovery of just the seed of a theory may be. We humans are simply compelled to set out and seek more answers to new questions eagerly expanding our current knowledge.

This is the quest of the SEA. We are challenged by the conclusions of the JWST to discover what, if anything, is beyond the astoundingly phenomenal discoveries that prodigious telescope captured and proved. That quest is a craving to explore and assimilate what lies beyond this known Universe. Could this be the ultimate edge from which to fall?

The SEA is the culmination of the JWST. It took 1,000 years just to create a propulsion engine researched and advanced enough for an exploration voyage of this magnitude by humans to the edge of our Universe, or at least what was determined to be the edge by the JWST images and discoveries.

This colossal vessel will be the home to a minimum of three generations of humans currently populated by 10,000 people including crew and various professionals who have special knowledge and reputable degrees on the various aspects of running a biosphere. They are charged with the responsibilities to feed and keep healthy that amount of population for such a vast period which is vital for the success of this quest.

Awe-inspiring in design, the SEA is the size of a small city and includes agricultural areas, food storage facilities, urban areas, hospitals and clinics and last but certainly not least, all the mechanical apparatuses essential to keeping a biosphere of this magnitude operating and then, having back-up systems waiting in case of a catastrophic failure.

My mission over the next forty years will be to bring the SEA to its terminal velocity of roughly 100,000 times the speed of light. At about 70 years-old (in forty years), if I do live to that age, it will be time for me to hand over command to the next generation for the continuation of our search. The quest to discover and unveil what, or if anything, may or may not exist beyond our current known Universe will be successful. That was our promise to the loved ones we left behind on Mother Earth.

******

Callan and I appeared from my living pod and there were stares followed by a quick turning of heads back to the jobs they were assigned to do in this sector of the SEA. We knew they were trying to appear as though they didn’t hear the sounds of pleasure Callan and I had just experienced in my pod. Callan and I just looked at each other and smiled because we have been in similar situations in the living pod sector and almost every other sector of the SEA. The SEA is massive, but is anywhere massive enough not to see or hear lovers in the throes of passion?

Running late for ‘Morning Report,’ we scurried down a pathway to a large circular portal, stepped into it with magnetized boots and began taking the steps counterclockwise until we were upside down at which point, we stepped out and were standing straight up and took our places on the bridge.

I called for the morning reports from all the various sectors via voice command to my holographic computer screen. The reports began appearing and lining up in rows of five until all fifty sectors (five reports across with ten lines down) appeared. Then I noticed line six only had four instead five sectors reporting. It was the Navigation Sector. I spoke to the computer and said, “Sector 30, please complete report.” I waited exactly 60 seconds and still no update appeared. “Communications, contact Navigation Officer of the Day immediately. Verify conditions of Sector 30.”

“Verifying, Captain. Over.”

While waiting, I read all the other ‘Condition Status Reports.’ Some had minor issues which is acceptably normal. A Sector with no report is unusually abnormal. Today was the first time a Sector had a ‘NO REPORT’ status. I felt a chill run up my spine.

“COMMS, update on NAV Sector 30 status.”

“No response, Captain.”

“COMMS, bring up visuals on Sector 30 to my Holoscreen immediately.”

The visual of Sector 30 showed an empty, therefore unattended, massive control room. However, the sounds of multiple alarms and warnings were loudly shrieking in the empty room and the only signs of life were the lights flashing from the alarms.

“COMMS, dispatch a crew to Sector 30 immediately for a live survey. This is not a drill. Repeat, this is NOT a drill.”

“Crew being notified or awakened to dispatch to Navigation Sector 30 for live survey now. They have been alerted ‘THIS IS NOT A DRILL.’

I returned to check my Holoscreen. Using my eyes, I moved reports to rearrange each Sector’s issue according to its severity and impact on the SEA’s ability to function. The lesser problems were moved progressively lower down my screen, and I blinked locking each one in place. There was a possibility this arrangement could change, so I did not lock them in permanently.

The backup Navigation Investigation Crew assembled and made its way via hyper-speed transport tunnels which was a strategical web of tunnels all around the SEA. They were only accessible to highly trained technicians who designed the entire SEA. Only they earned the credentials to be authorized to carry the titanium access key to operate and use these tunnels. They know more about the SEA than I do and that’s saying quite a great deal.

There’s a tunnel stop at the entrance to each of the fifty Sectors which support and sustain the SEA’s very existence.

Fully suited up for any catastrophic emergency or failure, the crew exited the tunnel. The airlock closed behind them but the vehicle in the tunnel remained if needed for a quick escape.

They assessed everything outside the immediate area of NAV Sector 30. Chief Warrant Officer Davis reported “All clear” for any contaminants or air leaks. Staff Sergeant Reynolds reported “All clear, except for us” for any life form within a radius of thirty feet. Chief Petty Officer Harris reported “All clear for explosion hazards within the actual NAV Sector 30 Control Room. I’m verifying if we open the gigantic hatch to its Control Room, an explosion of massive proportions would not destroy the SEA. All systems checked and cleared to open NAV Sector 30 Control Room Hatch, Captain Ambrose. Do I have your permission to proceed? Over.”

“Major Olson, permission granted. Proceed with caution.”

Major Olson approached a series of locks and entered the override code into a keypad lock. The next lock in sequence required insertion of a key card with an override code embedded in it. He inserted the key card, it clicked and the red light turned green. One final key remained… the retinal scan lock. Three Officers on every crew we’re authorized for the retinal locks. Three Officers were deemed necessary because even a slight scratch on their retinae would cause it to remain locked. So, the odds of three Officers all having minute scratches on their retinae at the same time was rare ensuring the last lock would release.

When Major Olson stared into the retinal scan it immediately released the lock. Like magic, the 25 foot high by 15 foot wide door swooshed open with barely a sound. Olson smiled with pride at the smooth, soundless opening. “I designed that! Sexy, right?”

The crew advanced in a triangular formation designed to maximize safety as they deployed their scanners. When the last crew member was 6 foot into the Navigation Control Room, Safety Specialist First Class Harper called out “Clear“ after processing each crew member’s scan. This pattern was repeated until they reached the wall opposite the entrance. Once given an ‘All Clear,’ they started to address the alarms, still lighting up and filling the space with a cacophony of obnoxious sounds.

Eerily, they found absolutely nothing wrong anywhere nor any sign regarding why all the available alarms in NAV Sector 30 had been triggered. They simply had to turn off each alarm and reset them.

However, there was still one very perplexing problem. Where were the Specialists who oversaw this Sector? It was, arguably, the most important of the fifty control rooms on this vessel. If the navigation of the SEA were to fail, it would be catastrophic, and the SEA would be ‘Lost in Space!’ A great title for an incredibly old television series, but, here in real life on the SEA, we’re not able to just walk off a set and go home.

“Captain Ambrose?”

“Live report, Chief Harper? Over.”

“Roger that. All clear. There is no discoverable reason for the alarms to be triggered. They have been turned off and reset. However, no signs of life for the Specialists who are supposed to be working in NAV Sector 30. They are simply gone. Over.”

“Copy. I’m sending a new Navigation Specialists crew there now. Survey the entire Navigation pod and the satellite pods. That includes the Navigation Specialists sleeping, mechanical, food service, and hospital pods. Somebody must know the whereabouts of the entire crew. Check all security cameras and find out who was seen last, and where. Over.”

“Roger that, Captain. All standard precautions will be followed and will report after inspection of each satellite NAV pods as ordered. I don’t know, Captain, but the hairs on the back of my neck are telling me whatever we find, we aren’t going to like. Over.”

“EO Culp, please prepare Command Conference Room 3 and alert all Officers and Doctors involved with ‘Occult Occurrences Strategic Action’ to be in attendance one hour from now promptly at 1500 hours today.”

“Roger. Permission to leave the Bridge, Captain as so ordered.”

“Permission granted, EO Culp. Don’t let this get out until we know with what we are dealing. Rumors can be disastrous on a mission like this. Far too much is at stake.”

******

I was already seated and anxious for the meeting to begin when the Chief Medical Officer, Lyle Austin, took his seat. I clicked a button on the desk and locked the conference room door. I turned to Dr. Austin and started the meeting.

“Dr. Austin, is it possible for humans to disappear?”

“Captain Ambrose, not that I’m aware of.”

“Well, now you are aware because that’s the reason for this meeting.”

“Rene, someone has disappeared? Sorry, that is simply not possible. Where did it supposedly happen?”

“There is no supposition. Here, check the recording in my Holoscreen during our morning report.”

Dr. Austin looked at the recording. His eyes widened when he saw the entire Navigation Control Room was empty and all alarms lit up and shrieking. He slowly looked up at me and was silent for a moment. Then, he said, “Rene, I am concerned, but it doesn’t mean they’ve disappeared.”

“The Navigation pod has been thoroughly searched as well as the five satellite pods for Navigation Sector 30. Both human eyes and life-form detection devices confirmed they are no longer in the SEA.”

“Captain. Lieutenant Shelton Garrison. May I address this issue?”

“Please, proceed Lieutenant Garrison.”

“I just transferred to the SEA when this mission launched. I’ve been on three other smaller missions and occult disappearances occurred in each vessel. We disembarked each vessel without them ever being found.”

I have not read any such reports, have you, Lyle?”

“Yes, I have. Rene, I’ve read many research and occult reports, but I’m a doctor and I need proof. All science requires proof. I need to do some research tests on the equipment and a forensic collection of any possible human remnants like hair, blood, sweat, mucus or anything else which appears to have been deposited in the room. I’ll test them in the medical laboratory in the SEA’s OmniVite Hospital and Medical Sector.

Swabbing all machinery in the Navigation Control Room will be done according to Occult Occurrences Protocol. These specific swabs will be evaluated in a separate Laboratory for non-human study, although we may find some human cells within the swabs. Our goal is to keep machinery-related and human-related pathogens separated for an accurate analysis.

Time is of the essence for collection to prevent further decomposition and/or degradation of tissues. It must done at once. Please have the new crew evacuate the room for me to collect my samples before they contaminate the room any further.

Since, the reportedly missing crew has been replaced, I will also have to get blood and hair samples from them to rule out their hairs or blood being identified as the missing crew’s tissues. Please order them to leave the Navigation room and wait in the anteroom where I will collect what I need from them. I’m messaging nurses and phlebotomists to help me make this as speedy as possible so your Navigation crew may return to their duties.”

“Yes, of course Lyle,” I said, sending a message to the new crew exactly as Lyle instructed me to do.

I checked my Holoscreen and the crew acknowledged instructions and Dr. Austin left the meeting to begin his testing.

“Any other occurrences we need to discuss? Anyone?”

“Yes, Captain. Agriculture Pod Specialist, Shane Wakefield reporting an occult occurrence in the tomato farm.”

“Go ahead, Shane. What’s the problem?

“I don’t know. I realize I shouldn’t be saying that, but the tomatoes are growing sideways. Instead of hanging down, they are hanging to the left.”

“Sideways? How can tomatoes be growing sideways?”

“You’re not going to like my answer, Captain Ambrose, but I don’t know.”

“Lieutenant Garrison, you look concerned. Do you have another issue to discuss?”

“Captain, all of the crews who have disappeared were Navigation Specialists… only Navigation Specialists.”

******

It’s been a week since the NAV Sector 30 officers, specialists and crew literally disappeared. The new crew is now fully operational, but the Occult Occurrences Investigative Branch is still determined to find the answer to the crew disappearance.

Sadly, I don’t believe they will find them or that they are on board the SEA anymore. Too much time has passed for it to be a joke or prank and too much time has passed if it actually is a joke or a prank of this magnitude. It’s not funny anymore.

It’s difficult to accept but there are now other strange or occult occurrences on the SEA. Literally, every day, and sometimes more than once a day, there is a new report in need of investigation. My concern is beginning to make me think about turning the SEA around and heading back to Earth.

“Captain Ambrose? Propulsion Specialist Moreno here. We have a problem. Over.”

“Specialist Moreno. Roger that. Do you need to inform me in private or can you provide full disclosure now?”

“Captain, there is no time for a meeting, it’s happening now. Please come to Propulsion Sector 11, Stat. Over.”

“Moreno… on my way now.”

“Mia what’s happening? The SEA is one problem after the other. It’s highly irregular of you to request my presence down here. What’s the emergency?”

“Captain, I’ve calculated this five times and I simply can’t make sense of this, but I know it’s happening.”

“What’s happening, Mia?”

“It’s the rate of acceleration numbers. They’re off by a factor of ten. What’s worse… that number seems to be increasing. I do not have control of the speed. Furthermore, I cannot get control of our increasing acceleration. It’s not the SEA’s controls. It’s something outside in the Universe, that’s causing us to accelerate above and beyond the SEA’s ability. This increase could literally tear the SEA apart.”

“Keep working on it, Mia. Slow us down. You have whatever and whoever you need. Your mind included, we have the best and the brightest on the SEA.”

Damn, another call? “Captain Ambrose speaking.”

“Rene, it’s Cal. I’m on the Mess deck. You gotta’ see this. Where are you?”

“I’ll be there in five.”

“Rene, come over here with me and look out the window.”

“Yes, Cal. It’s the Universe. It’s breathtaking, isn’t it? What specifically do you want me to see?”

“Look at the trailing edge of that stabilizer.”

“Cal, why is it vibrating? It’s a stabilizer. It should be stabilizing!”

“Now, Rene… look at that glass of water on the table.”

“What the fuck, Cal, the water is vibrating too and I was just with Propulsion Specialist Moreno. The SEA is accelerating ten times faster than we should be. She cannot slow it thus far.”

“Acceleration wouldn’t cause this vibration, Rene. The reason no one can hear a scream in space is also the reason there are no sound waves, thus no vibratory waves.”

“Well, tell me something I don’t know, Cal, like why are all these strange occurrences happening and nobody seems to know why? Here’s what I do know. I’m the Captain of the SEA, I’m responsible for everybody and everything on this ship. So, from this point forward, I’m putting everybody on alert status, even the children. I want everything unusual, even if it’s the color of their pee! I want a report immediately brought to my attention.”

Cal looked at me, smiled and cheered me on with “Now, that’s the Captain I know and love!”

******

“Good morning, Hannah. I’m here to see Dr. Austin for the tests he says are ready.”

“Yes, of course Captain. He’s expecting you. Let me take you to the sterile room to put on a Haz-Mat suit.”

“Great, I’ll do that and I know the way to the lab. Thank you, Hannah.”

“Dr. Austin, tell me something good for a change.”

“Yes, Captain, before we go into the laboratory for the life-form test results, let me tell you the machinery analysis results. There was absolutely nothing malfunctioning with any equipment. No human or other life-form tissue was found, either. Therefore, there was no reason for the alarms to be alerting anything.

However, the life-form test results you’re not going to like or understand because I don’t and I’m a doctor.”

“At this point, Dr. Austin, I’ll believe anything. At least I’ll have more information than I’ve been able to collect so far. So, let’s hear what I’m not going to like or understand.”

“Okay, let’s enter the human and life-form detection lab. Step over here. I want to show you something. No… I NEED to show you something.

These tests are designed to separate human from any other life form. As you can see, there is a plethora of activity in this giant beaker. Unfortunately, none if it is human.”

“What is it, Lyle?”

“When I collected everything, I believed it was human hair, sweat, blood, etc., but once I did numerous tests to determine what this is… my answer right now is I don’t know, Rene. I just do not know.”

“There seems to a lot of ‘I don’t know-ism’ going around on the SEA, but you and I, Lyle, are going to put an end to it. The first thing I must know... Is anything in that beaker a danger to this ship or all its occupants? If you’re about to tell me ‘I don’t know, I know you don’t know, but the next time I hear something from you, I want it to be ‘I know what this is!’”

I looked at Lyle and could tell he wanted to speak. I put my finger to my lips and with a “Shhh,” turned and walked out of the lab.

After tossing my Haz-Mat suit in the incinerator, I walked through a sterilization chamber and then out to main corridor of the OmniVite Lab in the Hospital Sector.

My communication device alerted me again, and it was a call from Mia Moreno in the Propulsion Sector. “Mia, what’s the good news?”

“Captain, I have not been able to slow us down at all. In fact, I know you’re not going to want to hear this, but our rate of acceleration is now 100 times the max acceleration the SEA was built to withstand. We could literally rip apart at any second. I don’t know how or why that hasn’t already happened. What’s also odd is we are not overheating and there is no structural damage that I or all other Mechanical Pod Specialists have noted.”

“So, Mia… you’re telling me ‘You don’t know’ why our acceleration has increased? Exactly my responses from everybody today so I’m used to it. Keep working on it and I’m headed to the Bridge.”

I was almost there when some new fresh hell happened. An enormous shock wave resulted in momentary weightlessness. As we all picked ourselves up of the floor, I called for an immediate status report, and I made my way to the Bridge. By the time I got to the Bridge, all Sectors had reported ‘No Damage.’

“Captain, before our little weightless excursion, Specialist Kowalski asked me to find you because he needs you to see something from the Crow’s Nest. Oh, he also said, ‘Stat.’”

“Cal, if he utters the words ‘I don’t know,’ I’m going to need a new Lookout Officer!”

******

I always love coming up to the Crow’s Nest because the view is indescribably breathtaking. Now, I only fear what I might see given all that has been happening on the SEA in the past two weeks.

The hatch up to the Crow’s Nest automatically opened as I tubed up to it. There it was in all its splendor and mystery. The Universe. Before me and all around me in every direction which had no direction at least as far as I could see. It was an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ Rabbit Hole Universe. Up was down, down was up; nothing made sense but all I could do is watch and let everything happen becoming enchanted by what will overwhelm me next. My eyes tear up every time I see it. It never gets old or boring. How could it? I’m flying past stars and everything is something I’ve never seen before. I’m so lucky to be seeing any of it because very few will.

“Ah, Captain Ambrose, I presume. Lovely view tonight!”

I sighed as Specialist Alek Kowalski broke the spell I was under. “Kowalski, don’t break this magical spell the stars have cast upon me. Tell me everything is working perfectly and you know everything, okay?”

“Affirmative, fair Captain. I checked everything fifteen times before I summoned you.

“I’m beginning to suspect you didn’t call me up here, oh, excuse me… summon me up here to enjoy the beautiful view.”

“We are accelerating towards the edge of the Universe, Cap’n Rene!”

“I know that, Kowalski… that’s why they pay me the big bucks!”

Kowalski laughed uproariously and said, “The idea is to put all the stars behind the ship, ya’ know, and confirm that absolute darkness and absolute zero temperature awaits us ahead.”

“Still with you, Kowalski.”

“Here’s something that might change that. These perfectly working instruments that I checked fifteen times, tell me that we are headed toward a bright light that seems to have no source. It’s everywhere, Captain.”

Kowalski broke the spell I was under. I stared at him unable to speak after what he said and my realization I didn’t even understand what he just said.

Kowalski stared back at me realizing what he had done to me. He inhaled deeply and exhaled, “Ah, I knew it, Captain. I was the same way when I first confirmed it. Speechless.”