Icarus (Realm Book 3), page 19
Mykel asked, “How many of these horizontal tunnels did the Automaptics find?”
“Thirty-two.”
The room turned quiet.
“Now, let’s go deeper.” The lines vanished, and a green square near the equator appeared. Subsequently, two more sections appeared: a purple square and a wide black section to the left of the equator. “The green square is what we can call the Nexus.”
“The heart of the Sphere?” commented Anastasia.
“Yep. That’s the bridge. If we get there, we will have access to everything—like environmental systems, engines, navigations, and logs.”
“What about the circular section behind it?” asked Adrian.
“The purple section is the core.”
“From where it spits out fire?” asked Mykel.
“Yes. That is the primary weapon and probably the power source.”
“Okay. What is the black spot?” questioned Anastasia.
Chris appeared jaded and scratched his head. “We don’t know. The doors are locked, preventing Automaptics from scanning this section.”
“That looks big…”
“Yes. It’s around a hundred kilometers wide.”
Everyone exchanged glances.
“What about the rest of the Sphere? What else have you found except the Core and Nexus?” asked Mykel before the astrophysicist could continue.
“The structure has numerous quarters, all the same size, all vacant.”
“Nothing left behind?” asked Adrian.
“They are clean and look unused.”
Adrian nodded.
“On every level are circular rooms, about the same proportions as our conference rooms. But no chairs or tables.”
“Let me guess…they are squeaky clean,” remarked Evan.
“Spot on,” Chris responded. “Level 2 is slightly different. It’s completely devoid of any quarters or rooms. There are eight doors that open outward.”
“Hangar Deck,” concluded Mykel.
“Agreed. But no ships.”
Mykel tapped his fingers on the table. He glanced at Ana, who was gawking at him.
“I think I have also found places to hold cargo.”
Eight sections on the map turned red. Mykel counted six in the upper part of the structure and two in the lower decks.
“The one on Level 184 is the biggest Cargo Bay.”
“Did you detect any life signs?” asked Isaac.
“No.” Chris clamped his hands together and waited.
“Unless we have access to the Nexus, we don’t know if the Sphere can help us get home,” said Mykel.
“Agreed,” remarked Anastasia.
“I suggest we access dark section; it might shed some light on what happened to the Sphere,” said Chris.
All heads shook in agreement.
“We would need two teams. I suggest one from Titan and the other from Prometheus,” said Chris.
“Sounds like a good idea,” Anastasia said, closing this topic on the agenda.
“What about the signals?” asked Mykel continuing the conversation.
“So far, we have detected the signal sixteen times at different locations,” explained Chris.
An image appeared on the monitor and showed the orb in the middle.
“Let's consider the Sphere as a mid-point,” said Chris. Two dots appeared. “These two dots represent our ships.”
Mykel nodded.
“We couldn’t detect a pattern, and believe the signals are generated randomly. But none of these signals have appeared over forty thousand kilometers from the Sphere.”
A circle appeared around the structure.
“We have a range,” said Anastasia.
“Yes. I have narrowed down our search to sixteen grids,” Chris said. “In each grid, the signal has appeared at least once but no more than three times. I recommend we scan them one by one.”
“Sounds like a strategy,” said Anastasia.
Patrick stepped forward. “These types of signals are called periodic signals. They appear for point-two or point-three seconds. We have recorded six of them so far. These are high frequency signals ranging between forty-five hundred to five thousand Hertz.”
“Yeah, literally blew up my eardrum,” said Katia.
“I did not detect any differences between them and ran every filter I could to clear them up. It had no effect. Manipulating the signals or finding a pattern between them seems unlikely. They are no match in the linguistic database. I think these are random signals being sent somewhere.”
“And we might have triggered it,” speculated Mykel.
“Possibly,” answered Patrick.
“Has modifying the sensors helped?” asked Anastasia.
“No. Not really. Unless we do not narrow down the grid, the signals are coming from it is hard to interpret what they mean.”
“Could be an SOS,” said Katia.
“I hope not,” replied Mykel.
Titan, Adrian Quarters, Deck 4
With every minute, Adrian's excitement heightened. He couldn’t wait and kept looking at the 3D map of the Sphere. He wanted to be the first one to step foot on it. Sleep escaped him. He laid on the sofa comfortably with a soft blanket. He had just finished his meal, and the scent of the food still lingered. Putting the mission details away, he worked on his report describing their visit to the asteroid. Living in a spacesuit was not appealing, but in the end, it was worth it. He still felt the after-effects—dizziness, headaches, and nightmares.
Ready for another adventure.
He smiled to himself as the words echoed in his mind. The voice was unforgettable, the face stunning. No one could replace Delta. He left the couch and opened the closet. Reaching for the third draw, he pushed the clothes aside, and picked up a frame. They were a cute bunch: Delta, Argon, Emmeline, Evan, and him. It was taken two years ago. It was one of the best summers of his life. Tears flowed easily. Even the mention of Delta devastated him. He hugged the frame and wished she was still with him.
A bell rang. He hid the photograph and composed himself.
“Enter.”
Evan stepped in with his usual stride. “Hey. What have you been up to?”
“You know,” Adrian answered, attempting to act normal.
“You are obsessed with the Sphere,” Evan said, crashing onto the couch.
Adrian said nothing. Evan studied his face.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
His shoulders sagged. Adrian was tired of hearing it. Was he over Delta’s death? Was it easy to forget someone you loved? Can you? Should Aceline forget her son? What was he supposed to say? “Don’t you have anything else to do?”
“Actually, no. I finished my shift a couple of hours ago. Then I went to Midnight Orchid and had dinner.”
“What about the ghost signals?”
“Like most ghosts… you feel them but do not see them,” mocked Evan.
“They bother me.”
“You and me, pal. You and me,” he said. “Don’t worry. We'll find out if someone is out there.”
Adrian smiled and wished he had the same level of confidence. He relaxed on the couch.
“So, you really want to see the Sphere?” said Evan.
“Yes. Why not? We have seen nothing like it, and this is probably the only opportunity we might get. We could duplicate its technology and use it to jump through portals. You know what that means?”
“No more drilling.”
“Yep.”
“I have to admit, it was fun,” said Evan. “Too bad I won’t have the opportunity to visit the asteroid. I wonder if all of them have identical interiors.”
“Hm, the compartments of the first and second asteroids were slightly different.”
“I am sad that the Sphere destroyed the asteroid,” said Evan. “It was fascinating!”
Adrian smiled. “Something tells me it’s not the last asteroid we will visit. And you shouldn’t fret. You are coming to the Sphere with me.”
“I know. I’m not thrilled about it.”
“Why not?”
“It’s weird.”
“Right. And asteroids with secret compartments that can jump through portals are normal?”
Adrian slept little. He woke up and got ready for his trip. Since he had time, he put his books away, made his bed, cleared his desk, and tidied the living area. Once satisfied that he wouldn’t return to a messy home, he made a cup of tea and peered out into space.
By the time it was 0600, they were all set to go, and he was super excited to lead one of the teams. The length of the mission remained undetermined, but he didn’t care. He stepped out of his quarters and headed for the elevator. Evan caught up with him.
“Morning,” said Evan.
“Morning…ready?”
“Yep.”
Titan, Docking Bay, Deck 10
They stood on the Hangar Deck. The two shuttles were ready to depart. The crew was loading equipment. Evan was excited to join the team, but there was a hiccup. Ingrid stood across from him with her arms folded.
“Why is she here?” he whispered to Adrian.
“If we want to use the Sphere’s technology or extract the frequencies to jump, we need an engineer.”
“Something tells me this is going to be a hassle,” muttered Evan.
Adrian gulped uncomfortably. Evan had made things complicated by saying something stupid to Ingrid. She had punched him in the face, but he had never apologized. Adrian and Anastasia tried to persuade him to talk with Ingrid. But it was no use. He remained stubborn.
It appeared Ingrid was not thrilled about her assignment as well. She was having words with Mykel, who listened patiently. When she was done talking, Mykel said a few inaudible words. She sulked, picked her case, and disappeared into the shuttle. Mykel walked toward the men.
“Okay. Adrian, I think you are in charge of Shuttle 1.”
“Yes, he is,” said Anastasia as she approached the group. She folded her arms and glared at the captain. A wide smile appeared on Mykel’s face, but the commander did not return his smile.
Evan and Adrian exchanged glances.
Oh, please don’t fight. You guys just made up!
“Good luck,” he said looking slightly disappointed. He silently turned and walked away.
The doors slid open, and Isaac entered looking timid. He came to stand beside them, and he regarded the shuttle crafts.
“You okay, doc?” asked Evan.
Isaac’s face contorted. “Are you sure I am needed?”
“You are an exobiologist,” replied Adrian.
“I have only dealt with microbes on a petri dish,” he replied defensively.
“Perhaps you’ll get lucky and find some specimens,” remarked Evan with a wide smile.
Isaac paled. “I hope that is all we find.”
Anastasia cleared her throat. “Remember your mission. You are to reach the Nexus and find the best way to access the frequencies to open the portal. Stick with the plan. Do not take any unnecessary risks? Understood?”
The officers nodded.
“And our success depends on everyone playing their roles professionally. Evan, keep your remarks and opinions to yourself.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“No funny behavior.”
“If you say so.”
Adrian's shoulders slumped.
The commander stepped forward, her face inches away from Evan. “Remember, you are on duty, and Ingrid is your superior officer. I might have overlooked your behavior, but that was the last straw. Do you get it?”
Adrian’s eyes dropped to the floor.
Evan gulped and nodded.
“Are we going to have a problem?”
“No.”
In the next few minutes, Mykel’s team boarded Shuttle 2. Adrian noticed Anastasia watched the craft leave Titan. It was apparent she did not want Mykel to go on the mission. But it was not her call. With her hands clutched behind her back, she left.
“Wow, that was a bit too much,” Evan said as the doors shut close.
“You think?” Adrian remarked, heading to Shuttle 1.
“Come on. It’s not a big deal,” Evan whispered.
“It is a big deal. You insulted Ingrid,” Adrian said, standing at the shuttle’s door.
“No, I didn’t. That was nothing. I’ve done worse,” argued Evan, facing him.
“Okay. Let me ask you this. What did you do to Nick that made him your archenemy?”
Nick was Prometheus’s pilot and in the past, Evan had done something to piss him off. Adrian didn’t know the details, but he was eager to find out.
Evan glared at him. “Adrian, it’s best I don’t share it with you. And before you ask, I am never apologizing to Nick either. It’s not my fault he couldn’t handle the situation.”
Adrian's jaw dropped.
Shuttle 1
Curiosity was killing him, but Adrian had to focus on flying. The Shuttle felt lighter and easier to handle. He was used to flying Titan, which was more complicated. The craft could carry about six people and had four engines, limited weapons, and shields. The pilot and the co-pilot seats faced the board, white, polished dashboard. Flight control was a circular touch screen. Evan was in the co-pilot’s seat, and Ingrid sat in the back silently.
The Shuttle sped away from Titan and turned toward the black Sphere. Adrian’s hand turned cold and clammy. They might have the map, but they still were heading into uncharted territory.
“Fifteen thousand kilometers and closing. No shields. No weapons or engines that we can detect,” said Evan.
They flew toward their destination, and Adrian preferred silence. He was aware if Ingrid wasn’t there, Evan would have been talking non-stop. The Prometheus engineer seemed a little uneasy. But it was good to have her. Ingrid was an experienced engineer and the perfect woman for the job. He also had a sneaking suspicion that the commander had intentionally put Evan and Ingrid on the same team.
I really hope they sort things out.
The shuttle drifted toward the Sphere, and fear clawed through him. The massive structure had no windows, and its outer shell looked cold, unappealing. Shuttle 1 looked like an ant in front of an elephant.
“All right. The hatch is coming up,” said Evan.
Their maps showed that there were four airlocks. Their destination was the command center, and this was the shortest route. Adrian eased the craft as they neared the equator, and the airlock became visible.
“Okay. What’s the plan?” Evan asked.
“Chris thinks these airlocks respond to a code transmission.”
“Do we have the codes?”
Adrian eyed him. He pushed a button. A tiny device left the craft and attached itself to the outer edge of the airlock. It glowed.
“Okay. We decode them.” Evan stated the obvious.
They waited.
Suddenly, a ring of bright light flashed. Adrian almost jumped. But then blue lights glimmered, and the airlock opened.
“The airlock is stable. We can pass through,” said Ingrid.
Adrian gulped and tapped the key. The craft entered, and the doors closed behind them.
Shuttle 2
Mykel was enjoying flying the shuttle. He had missed it. On his ship, he was the commander and flying the ship was not his job. Knowing his responsibilities, his crew were always trying to help ease his life. But it irritated him because they were bent towards protecting him. Even now, his crew didn’t want him to fly. Seiko wanted him to relax in the back seat. He ordered him to stand down. Then it was Katia. She wished to add a security detail to the team. He preferred to take only necessary personnel. He planned to send a bigger team once they had more information. Then there was Ana. She preferred him to stay on the Prometheus. She believed he was taking unnecessary risks, and they had an argument last night.
It was her idea to jump through the portal, and she thinks this is dangerous.
Mykel sulked and recalled their past fights. He had a second chance at this relationship. He had fantasized about being with her. It also meant letting her in. The thought sent a shiver down his spine. Vulnerability was not a virtue he liked.
The shuttle was silent, and Seiko was busy on his console. He was excited to visit the mysterious Sphere, and so was Mykel. The only reluctant person on his team was the exobiologist. But he was necessary. It is possible that they might find remnants of a dead species. Shuttle 1's mission was to gain access to the Nexus to control the portals. His team was going to explore the unknown section of the Sphere. The dark space, where the Automaptics could not reach. The core was the last on their list. The origin of the massive weapon that destroyed the asteroid would be a remarkable study.
Shuttle 1 vanished from the view of Titan and Prometheus. It glided along the immense structure. The Sphere’s surface was smooth and dark gray, creased with horizontal lines. He adjusted their heading, and the craft dipped a little.
“I don’t believe this. It's like a planet,” said Isaac.
Mykel nodded.
“Does it have oxygen?” he asked.
Seiko and Mykel exchange glances.
“We don’t think so,” said Mykel.
“So, I am supposed to wear a suit.”
Mykel did not answer.
Punching a few keys, he brought the shuttle to a halt. Seiko was already busy on his console and in a few minutes, he unlocked the airlock.
“We are good to go, Captain.”
Mykel eased the craft into the Sphere. The two bright beams cut through the darkness. He quickly decreased the speed. The monitor to his left showed him that the path was clear and there was a landing platform about a hundred meters ahead. But he wanted to be cautious.
“Captain, we have cleared the airlock, and it has closed behind us.”
He nodded.
“Closed?” said Isaac. “I hope you can open it again. In case we want to leave.”
Mykel smiled as Seiko glanced over his shoulder. “Yes, doctor. In case of an emergency, I can open the airlock.”
“You better,” muttered Isaac.
Mykel kept a very close eye on their surroundings. There was no sign of life, but he felt something was watching them. Under the bright white light, he spotted the landing platform. Just beyond the platform was a dark tunnel. The shuttle spun and landed. Mykel bent forward and gaped at the tunnel.
