A Paradox in Retrograde (40 page)

Robert watched through the observation portal as an azure glow
built up within the inner chamber. Its light now shined so intensely as to be painful to his eyes. Though it seemed to sear his eyes
he was so enamored by its beauty that he dare not look away.
Soon the ball of light began to expand within the chamber. It took
no more than a mere second for the wave of expanding light to
break free beyond the girdling bonds of the electromagnetic field.
Robert watched as Hector's body vanished from within the chamber. In an instant a pulse of expanding energy passed through
Roberts's body and touched his mind. It had touched and recognized him. Only now did he realize the incredible danger that
faced him. A second later, tendrils of energy reached up from the
core through the portal. In a bright flash he too was consumed.

In the moments leading up to the containment failure, due to the
stresses caused by the surge of power to its matrices, the processors strained to maintain cohesion. What happened next however
was not overtly apparent to those who were there to witness, nor
was it anticipated by the experiment's designers. It could only be
described as a chain reaction. Up until the instantthat data core
reached critical mass there were no external signsof an emergency of any kind. The computer banks continued to hum along as
usual. However, as the live data streams representing the sum of
his and his corresponding entangled thought patterns were
dumped verbatim into its crystalline optic cores, they were somehow augmented by the presence there within of a living consciousness. Through this seemingly simple act of observation its
multidimensional structure was manifest. Growing and expanding
far beyond any of its predetermined parameters, ithad become
something else, something far greater than the sum of its parts.

In the face of the ensuing containment failures the shielded computer core continued unabated to map into its crystal matrix. In
response to the instantaneous and exponential growth of the crystal structure it now began expanding at a frightening rate. The
kinetic heat and radiation released by such unrestrained reaction
caused the steel superstructure within which the experiment resided, to glow cherry red. Within minutes the remainder of which
was brought down in a melting heap of slag. Having already consumed all the available power, there pulsating at its core a rotating halo of light persisted now independent of its structure. Those
who had survived the melt down could barely believe what they
had seen.

When the smoke and fire had abated there within twisted ruins a
glittering structure had grown crystal by crystal from the ashes.
And though more slowly than it had originally done so, it still
was growing. It had by then formed into a crude dome and shimmered in the reflected light. These men however would need for
the time being, to be content with observing this new wonder
from a distance. For these survivors could not go a foot closer as
the radiation levels still read off the charts.

Chapter 17

Emerging from a drug induced haze; Landaus again found he was
awake. Upon opening his eyes, the first thing that he saw there
before him was an intense sphere of white light staring oppressively down at him. He made a feeble attempt to lift up his arms
so to block the light, but they would not budge. The light shining
down through the thin membrane of his eye lids was unavoidable.
Slowly he was growing accustomed to it. There then he began to
sense a seemingly unfamiliar setting forming before him. He was
on a medical procedure table. It was then that the recollection of
the dire nature of their plight had again begun to make itself plain
to him. However the order to these events had remained for the
moment, disjointed. Though still disoriented his instincts would
call him to action. He would make a concerted effort to return
immediately to his station and to his duty. He would have to get
up from the table first. Xora however had just completed a delicate procedure on his wounded arm, and she was keeping a close
eye on her patient. She was acutely aware of his fragile state; so
as his body began to rise up, she was determined tohave none of
it. With all the power she could muster, she threw herself atop his
still restrained body. Somehow she managed to hold him down
just long enough, for his senses to fully return. "Landaus you
must stay still. Though these medical grafts do work quickly,
they do require some time to work. You must keep still for the
time being." Caught off guard by Xora's swift action, he was easily restrained. Resigned now to this temporary captivity he called
out determined to have his answers. "Where are we, and who is
piloting the ship? That's right, we are on a ship. How did I?" His
voice trailed off in confusion. Xora sensing his heightened anxiety strove to sooth his mind.

"Landaus, it is I Xora. You must please listen to me. You sustained a serious injury in the fighting. You lost a lot of blood, so
to repair the damage; I had to administer a pain blocker. So that
should account for your confusion. To answer your question, we
are safe for the moment. Somehow you managed to place the
ship in autopilot before you passed out. We've already escaped
the atmosphere. Right now we're well on our way to Earth." He
turned his head over his shoulder. From there he could see the aft
view screen. There the glowing orb of Nibaru hung heavily; filling the entire screen. "Though I can feel that the ship is indeed
racing away from it at tremendous speed, the planet seems to be
resisting our escape."

"Your eyes are playing tricks on you. Your other senses however
are correct. The last time I checked we were on the correct trajectory and our acceleration is on par to shortly bring us to escape
Nibaru’s gravity field." Her words had seemed to calm his frayed
nerves for his composure had improved dramatically.Even his
sense of humor had peeked from under the blanket offog.

"How is it that you now know all of those fancy high tech
terms?"

"I told you Landaus, I'm a quick learner."
"I'm sure glad that you are, for I think my wound would have
killed me otherwise."

"I can accept very little credit for it. I assure you that my basic
nursing skills could not have saved you without the use of these
medical machines."

"Well if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to thank you just the same."
"I don't mind at all, you are quite welcome."

Confident now that he could be safely released she began to untie
his bonds. "Now if I untie you, will you promise to behave yourself?"

"I promise I will be careful. Well how's the rest of our crew holding up?" She looked around to observe the others. Though there
was silence among them there had been no injuries. Turning back
to Landaus she said.

"Well I'm happy to report that though they are a bit shaken up
perhaps, they are no worse for wear." Despite this somewhat
somber news there upon Xora's face she wore a bright grin and a
sparkle in her eyes. Landaus easily noted this expression on her
face. Though he thought she was most likely unconscious to it.
He could not help but to ask her about it. "Xora you seem to be
enjoying all of this, aren't you?" Her face then grew flush with
embarrassment. After all they had been through; she would not
despite her embarrassment, shy away from a chance to express
herself. "There was something I'd like to say Landaus. This has
been and still is, one hell of an adventure. I've never felt this alive
in all my life. I seriously doubt that after all this excitement that I
will ever again be able to live so cloistered a life as I have until
now."

"That's just silly; who would perform your duties as keeper of the
books while you go about gallivanting? And don't forget you
would have to give up your cliff side home. That would be a
shame, besides I was hoping to perhaps come and visit you on
occasion."
She studied his words carefully and decided that this was some
sort of veiled or ill-conceived flirtation. She pondered if this was
perhaps a side effect of his medication. Either way she would
take full advantage of his playful remarks.

"Why Colonel, do you always cast insults while you're asking a
girl out on a date? Gallivanting, is that what I would do? "

A befuddled Landaus tried to answer as best he could as he
turned three shades of red. "I'm sorry that was a poor choice of
words. I suppose that anything beyond the crystal room would
feel like gallivanting. And I don't have to tell you that the keeper
of the books is an important position."

"So you don't deny that you were asking me out on a date?" Maybe it was the side effects of his medication, but for whatever reason he spoke from his heart.

"No, I do not deny it. I stand behind my ill-chosen words. When
this is all over I would like very much for you to accompany me
to dinner. "

A broad smile came over her face as she responded to this sudden
proposal. "As you may know the doctor patient relationship is a
sacred one. This trust cannot be broken."

"Alright then, after this is all over, you will definitely be fired."

Both of them now wearing wide grins were staring into each other’s eyes when a loud alarm began to sound throughout the ships
cabins. This time Xora did not try to stop him from rising.

Still slightly groggy from the pain blocker he madehis way
through the narrow walkway back into the cockpit. There he
found Grunhuf keeping Landaus's captain chair warm for him. As
Landaus came forward Grunhuf was pleased to be relieved of this
duty and stood from the chair in time to respond to a hail of queries.

"What's our status Grunhuf? Have you got a fix yet on what's
causing those alarms?"

"No on both counts Sir." Landaus by now had taken back his seat
and had begun to visually scan through the sensor grid. "There,
I've found it. Our long range sensors have picked up a radar return. That's what triggered the alarm." On the key board he increased the sensor magnification. There on the monitor it showed
that three ships only moments ago had reached the outer atmosphere and now had plotted an intercept course with their ship. "It
looks as if we have got only three ships on our tail. I suppose
that's good news."

"It's better than a hundred ships. What kind of lead do we have on
them?"

"Perhaps several hours if we are lucky, less if these ships are any
faster than this one. I am confident we will have enough to raise
defenses that will prevent these intruders from gaining a toe hold
on Earth". As they had been preoccupied by the radar contacts
they had not noticed that something truly strange had just happened. Xora back in the procedure room was cleaning up after
herself when she turned towards the aft video screen. She could
barely believe what her own eyes were now telling her. She was
staring into the emptiness where Nibaru had occupied. It quite
literally had vanished before her eyes, slipping off somewhere
into the void.

Xora called out to the others at the far end of the ship, "Landaus
look out toward the aft view something indeed strange was going
on." Landaus again and again checked the circuit and the switches to the video feed all seemed in order except what was not within the view screen. The great orb of Nibaru was gone as if it had
been literally plucked from the universe. All thatwas left in its
wake was a gravitational void and a trio of enemy warships. "I
don't believe it. How can a planet just up and disappear? That
cannot be possible."

Xora who now stood among them in the cockpit triedto give an
answer. "There are many myths and fables associated with the
appearance and disappearance of celestial bodies. None of which
until now had any basis in truth. We may have just been made
witness to the germ of this story." Grunhuf rolled his eyes making little effort to hide how he felt about Xora's theories. Baring a
strained expression upon his face, he rose to face her. Lashing out
at Xora in frustration he said, "What sort of nonsense are you going on about. The planet disappears and you want to give us a
lesson in the history of mythology, you can't be serious? What we
need here now are real answers not lullabies and fairytales." An
angry look contorted upon Xora's face as she moved to respond
in kind. Landaus knew these people well enough so he was quick
to notice that there was about to be a confrontation. Sensing that
the stress there within the cockpit was building like a pressure
cooker about to boil over, he pivoted his body between them to
deflect her approach. He raised his hands up in a gesture as to
capture both of their attentions and said, "Now both of you hold
on just a minute. There's no room in here for these egos and this
hostility. One of them has to leave the room." This seemed to
grab their attention. "Grunhuf, Xora please if you wouldn't mind
having a seat? Look this is for both of you. We all are under a
great deal of stress. Situations such as these can make animosities
arise and tempers flare. So as your captain I'm letting you know
now that I will not tolerate any behavior that will jeopardize this
mission. However because neither of you have had no such previous military training I'm prepared to give you the benefit of the
doubt. "Turning now to Grunhuf's he said, "Now Grunhuf my
friend for what purpose could such rancor possibly serve. I assure
you your condescending tone is wholly unnecessary. Never before in the history of the world have such events as these unfolded. It is my opinion then that it would be unwise therefore to
leave any stone unturned in our search for the truth. Despite these
questions which no doubt will linger on for some time, there are
clear facts to which we can all agree. The planet has vanished.
What it means right now, none of us know. There are however
other more pressing issues at hand. Firstly we have these ships
yet to contend with. We should be pouring all of our energies into
actively pursuing a plan of action, instead of squabbling like children. Can we agree on that at least?" He looked at them knowing
his words had struck home for they shared the same expressions
of shame and resignation. Though he kept it to himself he took a
wee bit of enjoyment of this. "Alright then let's get to work."