Thetis Intergalatic

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Earth News Network One at Central Station reporting live, four persons including TI President Veronica Wolfe have entered the gateway onto Providence. Our technical advisers report massive internal issues causing the gateway to collapse in excess of eight minutes. Our sources report that Mrs. Wolfe and her crew are unharmed, but we've yet to receive transmission straight from Providence. One TI computer science technician may have the full story. Tune in tonight at eleven.

xxx

Alex could hardly concentrate, her every nerve and sensor alight after the nearly catastrophic incident and also fear that some might question her story. Veronica had since left the room, shouting almost into her phone. She'd almost died – which warranted an extreme reaction, Alex thought as she took several deep, unnecessary breaths. It calmed her, breathing, made her feel human for but a fleeting moment.

She couldn't take her eyes off Sullivan and Frank. Sully leaned against one of the tables, massaging his temples. Frank showed no outward pain and instead paced the room, his eyes distant. They'd yet to say a word, but she couldn't imagine the ship without them. She'd be promoted, Alex realized suddenly. Dwelling for a moment on hypotheticals, Captain Church had a ring to it but made her suddenly uneasy.

“What in God's name just happened?” Sully croaked. In the distance, they could hear Veronica shouting incomprehensibly into her phone. Alex dramatically collapsed into a chair, pretending she too had narrowly escaped asphyxiation. She groaned and rested her head in her hands.

“Is this what it feels like when you get black out drunk?” she asked the first officer, feigning ignorance.

He laughed briefly. “Keep being funny, Lexxy, and we'll see who can best operate the airlock.” She grimaced; she'd always hated the name, but thankfully he never called her that in front of the crew.

Alex almost jumped from her seat when a voice spoke from her arm brace.

“Hello?” Julia called. “Is anyone there?” Another word and Julia might expose her. Alex stod quickly and walked further from Frank and Sully; both, however, were suddenly interested in Alex's caller.

“Who is this?” Alex asked; she grimaced, thinking she couldn't possibly sound convincing.

“Um … it's Julia, sir.” She sounded very confused. Alex cursed internally, realizing how much she'd have to explain later. Surely, there couldn't be many explanations for how she hadn't passed out within thirty seconds of arriving. Beneath her synthetic skin ran coolant, petroleum, and hydrolic fluids instead of red, hot blood.

“Right and who are you?” Alex repeated. She ran her fingers through her short, red hair.

“A technician, sir.”

Alex looked up at Sully and Frank. Her conversation seemed to have piqued their interest. She too feigned surprise. “Could you explain what just happened?”

“Um, well, uh – “ Julia stuttered. 

“We haven't all day.”

The tech tried to speak again. “There was a systems crash. I took remote control of the system to turn on your life support. You four collapsed because there was no oxygen – “ 

Alex cut her off again. “Thank you. Tell everyone we're alive.”

“Yes – “

The second officer cut off the transmission before the tech could reveal any incriminating details. Silence descended on the three crewmen who exchanged pained glances. Of course, it was the first officer who spoke first.