Chrono Virus

Chapter 7

The captain's body was still warm. Ken knew Hubbard couldn't have been dead for long as he heaved the body onto the second examination table a few feet from Watts's covered body. The silent medical station now served as a morgue for the Raven, holding two-thirds of its crew. Ken stared at the captain's relaxed face and frowned.

"I'm sorry I don't know what religion you subscribed to, Hubs," he spoke softly. "I... I guess I'll go with the old standby."

Ken spread his feet shoulder-length apart, placed his right hand over his heart, and bowed his head. He began reciting the ship's prayer.

"Higher One, take this soul and watch over him. Take Bill Hubbard into your care. Comfort him in this time of confusion. Guide him in this time of disorientation. Bless him with eternal life amongst the stars. For he shall live forever in the ever-expanding universe. It has been said, it has been done."

He let out a deep breath and blinked away the beginning of some tears that hadn't finished forming. He'd known those words for years yet never needed to recite them. Now the two people he needed the most had left him to say them alone. Ken pulled a sheet out from the storage bin and draped it over Hubbard. He turned to leave but stopped and placed a hand on the captain's chest.

"Thank you, Hubs. It was a great ride."

Ken gave two gentle pats and exited the medical station.

Back on the bridge Ken stood at the edge of the deck watching the stars fly by. If he stood close enough to the armored glass it felt like he was floating through space and wasn't on a ship at all. It was a fun trick, but it was also relaxing watching the serene landscape of stars. He tried to shake the image of Hubbard lying motionless on the deck . The permanent look of fear on the captain's face was one he'd never get out of his mind. Ken inhaled a long breath and moved to the captain's seat on the bridge. Pulling up the Raven's manifest, he couldn't say he was surprised to see the record of Bill Hubbard already marked as deceased from a fire on the Oceania years ago.

"God, Hubs. I hope it was quick and you didn't feel anything," Ken pinched his brow.

What was he going to do?

The haze had taken them out with ease, and Ken knew it was only a matter of time before he was sent back to his own hell. It was one in which he'd likely not return a second time. He couldn't let the Raven infect another ship coming to help, not that any were even close enough to assist. Ken paused, looked around the well-traveled bridge of the Raven, and clicked on the automated distress signal.

"To whoever gets this signal, this is Ken Mallory on board the Raven. This ship has been infected by a deadly virus that has temporal capabilities. It was picked up within the Galeen system and there should be no attempts to cross this area without all vents placed in the closed positions. I've set this message to relay throughout the system as I have abandoned ship. This message will likely reach you first, before the distress signal of my escape pod. Please know I am waiting to be picked up and require assistance. This message will repeat."

Ken released the switch and the recording stopped. A small green light shined indicating the ship was ready for distress mode. He keyed in his authorization code and the signal began transmitting on all frequencies. Ken calculated the relay buoys would pick it up in three days and relay it on a repeating basis for a couple of weeks. While the Raven was a good ship, he couldn't let it infect another ship. The escape pod was his only choice to ensure a quarantine from the haze. It was also necessary to survive once the self-destruct sequence he was about to initiate completed.

The instant Ken confirmed the Raven's self destruct, the entire feel of the ship changed. A piercing announcement rang throughout the Raven, alerting that the self destruct had been activated. All overhead lights dimmed as red flood lights came on. The entire ship was thrown into a shadowy darkness covered by the red hue. The automated message finished, the final word echoing down the corridors into infinity.