The Navigator

First Warp

First Warp

Dr. Fox was directed to sit at one of the auxiliary control consoles, its screens dark. Hubbell jumped into the pilot's seat and began to flick switches and manipulate the holoconsole in front of her.

"I've already checked the hadron conditioner," Emma said, sporting a pout.

"I'm sure you have, Emma, you're very thorough. You know there are some things I always check myself," Hubbell replied without heat.

Hubbell continued her preflight routine as Emma sat down at the station next to Dr. Fox. She shot him a quick smile then withdrew a slender silver cable and attached it to the port in her head. Her eyes closed and then the console in front of her flared to life.

"All systems green. The Falcon is ready for flight," Emma confirmed.

Hubbell engaged the controls and nudged the ship into motion, maneuvering them out of the crowded upper orbit and on a trajectory to leave the planet behind. It felt rather anticlimactic without the g's, as they were dampened by the ship's own g-plates, but he was okay with that, remembering the shuttle ride.

"So Dr. Phil... um, Reese, where are we going?" Dr. Fox asked as casually as he could manage.

She sat down at a data terminal and punched in a few commands. His terminal lit up and he could see several files ready to view.

"There's my preliminary research. To summarize, though, we're looking for the remnants of the civilization known as the Tevari. There are ruins of one of their cities somewhere on the planet Serath, in the Esteros system," she began.

"They were a seemingly primitive culture, yet somehow, I have found remnants of their civilization on more than one planet. Mysteriously, the cities emanate residual energy readings. They have long been disregarded as anomalous noise, but there is a pattern to the energy readings. A pattern that corresponds to the city's age."

"So you're saying the Tevari were technologically advanced? But what about their primitive building techniques and subsistence lifestyle? Is that some sort of... oh, it's a ruse. You think they originated from another system and spread to other planets through the means of this unknown technology?" Dr. Fox responded, unable to mask the excitement in his voice.

If they discovered that a primitive culture was actually a colony of a space faring race, it would be a true achievement. To locate their source, possibly even find them still alive, would be a triumph.

"Good, at least you've got a brain. Maybe I'll make something of you yet," she said without venom, but still her voice had a hard edge.

"Okay, so what are you going to need me to do? I'll help out in whatever way I can."

"Excellent, you're cooperative too," she said smiling. "Have Emma show you the controls for the survey drones. You can be in charge of mapping the city when we arrive," she replied.

"Prepare for the first warp, everyone!" Hubbell cried. "Emma, warp vector please."

"Vector uploaded," she replied pleasantly, curls bouncing.

Damn, she was realistic. It was creeping him out. "So, can you show me the instructions for the drones?"

"After the jump," she answered.

"Three-two-one," Hubbell counted in rapid succession.

Then Dr. Fox's world turned upside down. There was a loud thump sound. It took him a moment to realize it was his head hitting the wall. In fact, gravity was holding him to the wall, resisting his attempts to push away. Then he realized it wasn't the wall, but the floor. And he couldn't get up, his body refused to obey. Hands rolled him over and pried open his half-closed eyelids and snapped fingers in his face.

"Hey, easy there, don't try to move. Just let it pass. That was your first time warping, I take it? I forget you organics are so susceptible to the effects of passing through the rift in spacetime the warp generator creates. Especially the first time," Emma said, chuckling.

"Relax, it'll pass," Hubbell slurred from the command chair.

"Hrrrrmmmnn..." was all he could manage.

Emma's hand touched his forehead as she said, "Just relax, your nervous system will return to normal soon."

Even as she spoke he felt control returning to his limbs. Feeling returned, bringing a throbbing pain in his head. He must have hit the floor hard, he thought. At least that meant he was recovering. How had Hubbell resisted the effects? Was an experienced spacer that much more resilient? It seemed so.

He tried talking again, the words forming this time, "Ugh! That's what jump sickness is like?"

Emma nodded at him, then returned to her console. Rising to a sitting position, he gingerly touched the lump on the side of his head.

"Ow," he said quietly.

Reese walked over to him, still slightly bleary-eyed, and said "Let me see."

Looking at the lump, then into his eyes, she said "You'll live, likely no concussion. I'll get you some ice from the galley."

Reese left the bridge as he hauled himself back into his seat. She returned a short time later with an icepack for his head.

"Sorry to have to tell you this, Chris," Hubbell began. "That was the first of seven jumps we need to take to get to our destination."

He groaned. This was going to be a rough trip.