End Of The Beginning

Chapter 35 - Strangers

Allen opened his eyes, he didn't know how long he was unconscious.

" NOVA, what happened ? " he asked

" You were unconscious for 15 hours and 43 minutes, captain. The portal opened while you were unconscious, and the ship went through it. " NOVA replied

" What ??? I went through the portal ? Where are we now ? " asked Allen

" I don't know captain, we landed in the middle of the sea. There is no network I can access to determine our exact location. " said NOVA

" Contact FIESTAA " said Allen

" Negative captain. I can't connect. I can't connect to any satellites or networks. " said NOVA

Allen walked up to the cockpit and looked around. It was water everywhere, nothing else to see. He sat there not knowing what to do next.

" Who was that ? That old woman ? " asked Allen

" I don't know captain. The ship was rebooting, so I couldn't see who it was. " NOVA replied

" She knew things about me that I hadn't told anyone else. " Allen said in a lower voice.

" There is something else captain. " said NOVA

" What is it ? " aske Allen

" It is unclear what happened between the time we entered the portal and the time we landed here. I have a 37 minute gap in my database "  said NOVA

" Must be some sort of malfunction related to the portal. It's not what important now. "

" You have drones, right ? " he asked NOVA

" Yes. What do you want to do with them ? " asked NOVA

" How many drones are in the ship ?" asked Allen

" 20 " NOVA replied

" All operational ? " asked Allen

" Yes captian " NOVA replied

" Please send a drone to each of the four directions. " said Allen

" What's the objective captain ? " asked NOVA

" Land. I want them to search for land. "

" Without satellites or internet, how can they scan and inform us ? " asked Allen

" The ship have it's own network. " NOVA replied.

" Inform me when they find land. The ship can fly, right ? " asked Allen

" Yes captain. " NOVA replied

Later

" Captain, there is land on the west side. " NOVA informed Allen

" Give me a live feed " said Allen

He saw land from the feed. It was about 500 meters away from where the drone was positioned.

" Get closer, let's find out where we are. " said Allen

" Alright captain. " NOVA replied

Suddenly they heard a sound, and the drone went offline.

" What happened ? " asked Allen

" I don't know captain. The drone is not responding. " said NOVA

" Show me the video again, the last 30 seconds. " said Allen

At 24 seconds into the video, he saw something quickly flying in front of the camera, but it wasn't clear what it was