The Colony Ship Eschaton: The entire ten book series, page 160
Jamie had not thought of the pups for a while, and she missed seeing them. But this mission was so important, as it seemed the entire ship was threatened, so she took comfort in knowing she was working to protect not only herself, and Michael, but everyone else as well.
They passed several bulkhead doors which appeared to have been blasted open in some distant time. Then beyond those was a long ramp which descended at a fairly steep incline. The lighting on the ramp was in the side walls, and there were no doors or cross corridors off the ramp anywhere. At the bottom of the ramp, the yellow automacube 1117, plugged into a wall section, and a swiveling doorway was revealed. The automacube plunged into the darkness and was lost from sight. Jamie pulled out a fusion pack and turned on the light. The passage beyond the swiveling door was illuminated in the beam of light, and the back of the automacube was observed as it moved away.
Jamie and Michael rushed to follow, being careful of the overhead ductwork which was sometimes fairly low and necessitated ducking. The automacube stopped at a cabinet with ESRC written across it. The appendage on the top of the automacube tapped on the door near the faded white letters, ESRC. The ‘Proceed’ button on the back of the automacube was flashing its color.
“Okay, we open that up,” Jamie said. “And this time no one is shooting at us, or throwing rocks, right?”
“Does our guide, 1117, feel we need some additional tools for the installation?” Michael wondered out loud.
“I imagine that is why we have stopped here. We have fusion packs, and cutting torches, but not too many precision tools.” Jamie said as she figured out the release mechanism for the ESRC door. When it opened she replied, “But here they are!”
Inside the ESRC was a polymer case filled with testing, installing, and repairing types of tools. There was also another vibration saw, a small first aid kit, a canister of some kind of substance marked, ‘Pressure Leak Sealant’ and a unpowered handheld computer.
Jamie picked up the handheld computer. She attached the fusion pack to it, but could not get the computer to register anything. “This is an antique style, but the fusion pack should be modifying the energy to match. I wonder why this does not work?”
“We can take it back for Willie to play with,” Michael said. “It is not too big. Your pack or mine?”
“Mine, you get to carry the tool kit,” Jamie said and picked up the tool case and handed it to Michael who was packing in everything else that he could.
As soon as she picked up the polymer tool case, the light on the automacube quit flashing, and the machine spun its wheels and they continued on the journey. They followed as the automacube rolled along. Michael dug some of the food out of his backpack and shared it with Jamie.
“I could use a nap,” Michael said. “But we better press on.”
“I have been pondering message from Ares. Do you think it is legitimate?” Jamie asked. “I mean, something coming in from outside? Outside the ship?”
They went down a stairway that gently curved in an arc. The outside of each stair was wider than the inside, which made for an unusual pattern in walking. The automacube easily rolling down with its six wheels each independently moving as needed, while Jamie and Michael ate, talked, and walked down the stairs. The lights were located on the outer course of the stairs.
“Jamie, we came from outside the Eschaton when we arrived in the FTL scout,” Michael stated. “Remember the scout and the probe sent before were hit by weapon’s fire. Did Ares control that? Did Ares try to kill us? Are we the invaders Ares identified? We came from outside, and we entered the hull. Is Ares just reporting on our initial arrival here?”
“We did lose the FTL scout ship. The Voice has tried to kill us, I know that is right. But I am not sure who or what caused the destruction of the scout or the probe. I guess I thought of it as an automated defense system, or a trap. Like the trap the legionnaires and I found in engineering that first time there.”
“But Jamie, what if Ares is The Voice?” Michael said in a whisper. “What if it has been trying to kill us all along?
“Then we might be walking into a trap. It is logical, in a sort of twisted sense, if The Voice is Ares,” Jamie was thoughtful.
“How do we know Edgar and Roxanne arranged this? We are getting further and further away from locations we know about,” Michael replied. “All on the word of Ares, a system we know nothing much about.”
By now they had reached the bottom of the stairway and it opened into a large area which had flickering lights in the ceiling. There were several hallways which branched off from where they stood, along with some doors which were all closed. There were no lights down any of the corridors. The yellow 1117 automacube rolled ahead and jacked a cable into a port near a door. The door slid open, and inside the lights came on.
“A gravity conduit,” Jamie stated.
It was a hexagonal shaped platform of sorts, about knee high and a bit wider than a chair. The lights on the side of it showed various symbols which they knew to be a means of operation. Jamie touched one of the symbols. The top of the platform dilated to reveal the inside. There was a floor inside the conduit which was just below the lip of where the top had been. Michael pressed on that floor and it seemed to be floating in the conduit. It felt like pushing down on a soft mattress.
“Just like the last one,” Michael said. “But no riding in it, I hope.”
The floor inside the conduit withdrew and revealed a compartment beneath it. There sat a box in that compartment. The box slowly rose on the gravity manipulation forces until it was just above where the floor had been. The floor then slid in under it and the box rested on the floor of the platform as gravity manipulation was again applied.
The box was about a half meter square and made from some durable materials. On the outside of the box was written, ‘For Jamie and Michael from Edgar.’
“I think we found our spare parts,” Jamie said.
“Or a clever trap,” Michael added.
The automacube rolled over and used its upper appendage to tap on the box.
“I am opening it. The Voice always announces some game or things like that.” Jamie reached for the box.
“The Chroniclers do not warn us. They have attacked before,” Michael said in a brooding manner. “I guess we have no real choice.”
Jamie unlatched the top of the box, and it folded open. On one side were the two macroactinide capacitor enhancers, each seated in a molded form fitting exactly their complex shape. On the other side were two small rectangular boxes which Jamie and Michael immediately recognized.
“A com system!” Michael said in glee as he picked one up. It was about the size of his palm, and was identical to ones he had used in Dome 17. Jamie picked up the other.
“These are like the ones we used as children,” Jamie said. “Back when the age-mates were learning about the dome. I have not seen one of these for, what twenty years?”
“This proves it came from Edgar, or Roxanne. They are the only ones who would know what this was. But why not data sticks?” Michael said.
“This is Edgar,” said a voice from the combox. “The data stick problem has yet to be resolved. I have been unable to duplicate the process by which I was able to come about. The ship’s logs and records of that event are currently lost, except for the outside observations made by those present. These audio communication sets can help us until the data stick problem is resolved. I have the Reproduction and Fabrication facilities restored in part of Savannah.”
“Edgar! It is wonderful to hear you!” Jamie cried out.
“Yes, Edgar, this is such an improvement. But let me ask you a confirmation question. What were the names of the people on the Committee in Dome 17 when we left?” Michael asked.
“This is Edgar. The Dome 17 Committee when you left was Murial, Jubal, and Lorna. Do you want more details on them?”
“No, just checking to make sure it is really you and not The Voice. Edgar, is Ares The Voice?” Michael asked.
“This is Edgar. The entity designated The Voice does not seem to be the same as the artificial intelligence system Ares. The Voice has done sophisticated impersonations and has malignant traits. However, in my best estimation, Ares and the Voice are separate entities.”
“So now that we can speak directly to you, tell us, where do we install these macroactinide capacitor enhancers?” Jamie asked as she folded up the case. “And we did get the tools you had the automacube lead us toward.”
“This is Edgar. The yellow automacube will lead you to the locations. We will talk more then. These transmissions may not be secure. I am reading possible interception. I will track your position and contact you when you reach Exterior Repair Station 197.”
The power went off at the gravity conduit. The automacube sat there with the light on its display again flashing ‘Proceed.'
Jamie hooked the combox on her belt and reached out and touched the ‘Proceed’ button. The machine rolled away. As it did, the ceiling lights on one of the corridors lit up. They were not all working, but many were. Michael pocketed his combox and followed along. He felt immensely better being able to contact Edgar, even for just a brief period of time.
At the end of the corridor was a door. The automacube jacked into the port near the door and a weak blue light came on showing the words, ‘Exterior Repair Station 197' as well as lighting up a square next to the door. Both areas had been bare permalloy before the automacube had connected.
The square was a touch pad of nine different colors.
“This looks like the place we found the spacesuit,” Jamie said with some dread in her voice. “Do you think the repairs will be outside the ship? I certainly hope not.”
The door to Exterior Repair Station 197 slid sideways and lights came on inside. They stepped in. They were in a small room with levers, buttons, switches, and all sorts of controls set before a large chair. It was nearly identical to the one they had visited previously. On the wall opposite the entry door, was a large display. On the other two walls were doors similar to the entry door.
“This chair seemed to be powered,” Jamie said. She sat down in the chair and thus activated the large display screen. ‘Non functional for exterior viewing’ scrolled across the display screen.
“Well it did not explode,” Michael said as he opened the door on the one side of the room. It was a storage room, but it was completely empty. Not a spacesuit anywhere. “If this is an external repair, I do not think I can hold my breath long enough.”
“Not to mention it would be bad for your hair,” Jamie teased him.
“There is an airlock here, just like the other one. The controls are similar, but not exactly the same,” Michael said. There were two buttons by that door which read, ‘Depressurize’ in blue color and ‘Pressurize’ in rust color.
“So any idea where the macroactinide capacitor enhancers are installed? We are supposed to replace them, and I have no idea where they are located.”
“This is Edgar,” came the words from Jamie’s combox on her belt. “Inside the airlock is the location for the macroactinide capacitor enhancer. Please be sure to only enter the airlock when it is pressurized.”
“Thanks Edgar, I would not have thought of that,” Jamie said sarcastically. “So are we sure the exterior hatch is actually sealed and secure?”
“This is Edgar. I have no way of assessing the status of that exterior door. That is why I cautioned you about it. You will be unable to enter the airlock unless it is pressurized.”
Michael looked closer at the door. “Neither button here is illuminated. I cannot tell if the lock is pressurized. Can you get any readings from the chair and display?”
Jamie tried again to enter into the old style menu system on the display, but all that was there was the recurring message, ‘Non functional for exterior viewing’ which kept scrolling across. Jamie got up from the chair, and the screen went dark. When she sat on it again, the same scrolling error message came back. She tried the levers, knobs, and buttons on the chair and beside it, but nothing happened. She connected in the fusion pack, but again, nothing changed.
“Edgar, we have no way of knowing if the lock is pressurized. Do the other AIs on the lattice have any suggestions? Perhaps Ares can tell us?” Michael asked as he took out his combox.
“This is Edgar. I will consult with others. Please wait.”
A few moments passed.
“This is Edgar. Ares related that the Eschaton’s safety protocols state that airlock interior doors will not open when the airlock is depressurized. That is in an ideal situation of an undamaged system. We know the system there is damaged, and that there have been other failures of safety protocols. Roxanne and I have studied this situation and we believe it is safe, but cannot rule out potential risk. I suggest you first initiate the ‘Pressurize’ button then attempt to open the door. Conjecture is that that will be safe.”
“Jamie, you go out in the hall, shut that door,” Michael said. “Then I will try this airlock door. If it opens safely, you come back in and together we install the macroactinide capacitor enhancer.”
“Michael, no,” Jamie said.
“Jamie, no sense in both of us trying this. You took the spacewalk, because you fit the suit. You were even pregnant then…. I had to stay behind. This time, you stay behind, and I take the risk.” Michael walked over and hugged Jamie. “Besides, I think this will be easy compared to what we have already done. This is one door and situation we cannot just cut through.”
“Okay.” Jamie returned the hug and held tight. She then walked out of the room and sealed the door to the hallway.
“Edgar, I pushing the ‘Pressurize’ button and opening the interior door of the airlock,” Michael said.
There was a loud and echoing series of clanging noices. Then sounds of air rushing and blowing. It was louder than Michael remembered from the last time they had used an airlock. The ‘Pressurize’ button flashed and then remained lit. Michael placed his hand in the slot and pulled at the door. It slid open.
There was a flashing orange light in the airlock. It cast an eerie glow on everything and made seeing any differences in color tough. Everything was alternating from orange shades, to black and back again as the light flashed. The airlock was pressurized and sealed, but inside of it were spacesuits piled in front of the door and scattered about the floor. Michael used the combox and spoke to Edgar, “The airlock is open and safe. There are a bunch of spacesuits in there.” Then he looked closer and realized what he was seeing. Peering at the bubble helmet of the nearest spacesuit Michael stated, “Edgar! They are not empty suits. They have bodies in them!”
“This is Edgar. I will instruct you on the replacement of the macroactinide capacitor enhancer.”
“Edgar! I said there are bodies in the spacesuits.”
“This is Edgar. I heard you. Jamie has been informed of the safe operation of the airlock. She is coming to assist in the installation of the replacement part.”
Jamie opened the door from the hall and rushed in. She looked at the open airlock door and saw the pile of spacesuits. “Were there people in those?”
Michael stood at the edge of the door looking at the bodies. Inside each bubble helmet was a face contorted in terror and agony. “It looks like they suffocated inside the suits. Someone locked them out here. Jamie that could have been you!” He looked up at her and tears were running down his face.
“I know,” she mumbled.
“This is Edgar. Please proceed to install the replacement parts. The old macroactinide capacitor enhancer is located approximately three meters inside the airlock on your left, behind a panel marked TVK766. The panel can be removed by using the 11 mm wrench from the tool kit you have.”
“Michael, we are blocking open that door, before anyone goes into that airlock,” she removed the tool kit and set it in the track of the door, next to the wall. “I am not sure this would stop the door from closing, but it might. You will not be trapped in there. I will not allow it.”
“Okay.” He opened the kit and removed the appropriate wrench. “I will find that panel and remove the broken part. Is the replacement specific to this location, or will either one work?”
Jamie dug through their supplies and removed the case with the replacement parts.
“This is Edgar. The macroactinide capacitor enhancers are identical, but serve different purposes. This location will allow for a partial restoration of exterior visual apparatus to Ares. So you can insert either one here. The other location will restore partial external communications.”
Michael grabbed one of the macroactinide capacitor enhancers. He entered the airlock carefully and stepped around the bodies in their spacesuits. As he did he realized they probably had fallen where they were. Gravity manipulation was negated when the airlock was depressurized he recalled.
