H.O.M.E. 24
by
Fin
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~100 Earth Years Ago
The Icarus I blinked into existence above a foreign world on the other side of The Rift.
"We're through!" called out science officer Wesley East.
"I want a full report immediately," ordered mission leader Reginold Kyrce. "We have 10 minutes before we have to get back home!"
"Might want to recheck that one boss," said Lieutenant Commander Samuel Blade from his station. "The Rift's maintaining our exit energy far longer than hypothesized. We might be able to take our time."
"Might be able to take our time?" questioned Kyrce sarcastically. "I want answers people! Not conjecture. The clock is set to less than 10 minutes unless we know for sure!"
The cramped cabin of the Icarus I was a flurry of activity as the soldiers inside checked and rechecked every last instrument their science vessel contained several times over.
"I can confirm we are in orbit above some kind of small asteroid, Sir. There is also no gravity signature of any stars nearby. If we are going to make the return trip, we are going to want to make that 10 minutes."
"Good to know East. I want to know everything about that rock next!" commanded the mission leader. "Blade, what's new on The Rift?"
"Working on it Sir. I'm having some trouble with the readouts though."
"Let me see it!" ordered Kyrce as he lumbered into the rear cabin to view the data screen.
The man's face scrunched into confusion.
"This can't be right," Kyrce said while pointing at the monitor. "These particles are all traveling way too slow."
"That's the thing Sir," responded Samuel Blade. "They speed up once they reach this side of The Rift."
Wesley East darted into view as he listened to the conversation.
"That would mean that...." started their science officer.
"Yes, East. Out with it!"
"The velocity of electromagnetic waves in a void is fixed Sir! If they are moving slower in the Home Dimension... then time itself is passing slower there!"
"Is that even possible?" asked Kyrce incredulously.
"I think it is," said Sam from his chair. "And look, it would explain why The Rift is maintaining our energy too."
"Without a gravity well to reach exit velocity again, we are going to need that energy to return home Blade. If The Rift closes we are stuck here!"
"I know Sir. But that is what the instruments are saying," said the lieutenant commander once more.
"Alright. How much time does it say we have then?" asked the mission leader.
"It'll be about 8 hours until The Rift fully dissipates the energy from the breach," answered the blonde soldier.
"Then I say we make the most of it!" said Kyrce with a sudden grin. "East! It looks like we are staying awhile longer. Tell me what you know on that asteroid!"
"Uh... I think you're going to want to take a look at this Sir," called out the science officer whom had returned to his chair.
"What is it soldier?" asked Kyrce as he walked toward The Icarus I other ops station.
"I'm getting a lot of radio signatures from that rock Sir," said Wesley as he held up his headset to the man.
Placing it over his ears, Captain Reginold Kyrce was immediately assaulted with a cacophony of bizarre music and speech.
Stunned the man slowly removed the audio device from his head.
"Are... are you sure that's an asteroid?"
"No actually. It's rather odd in shape too," said the science officer mystified. "I am getting a new signal though... its broadcast key is a bit off... but it's definitely one of ours."
"Did you say one of ours?" asked Samuel Blade from his station. "East. We are in an entirely different dimension."
"Yeah I know Sam. But that's what it says."
Silence filled the cabin of The Icarus I as more questions than answers arose by the second. Their mission was to acquire and return with as much data about this new dimension as possible. But now with their exit window extended by several hours by the time shift, they had been given room to explore this universe somewhat. And the first new orders given by Kyrce were to find out how the hell it was possible that a Galactic Fleet beacon was transmitting a signal from this side of The Rift.
Taking his seat at the helm of the craft, Captain Kyrce navigated The Icarus I toward the tiny ovoid world before them, the source of the mysterious human broadcast. But as the crew of the science vessel flew closer to the asteroid, the asteroid became anything but. Warped and disfigured by the extreme heat of which it had been created, none of the humans had ever seen an object like it. And what was even more incredible, the mash of radio waves they had received could be explained by the signs of habitation scattered across its surface. Not only had this strange rock been blasted into its current charred remnant state, but it also held life!
The boys back home were going to love this!
Gliding the craft over a barren ridge and into a canyon, before sending it nose diving into a vast crevice, Kyrce maintained his target lock on the radio beacon. Wherever it was located, the emitter seemed to be deep within this molten rocky ball, and The Icarus I would have to do some fancy flying in order to reach it. Slowly steering the vehicle along the sharp stone walls, careful not to damage it, the mission leader guided the craft ever downward into The Core, until at last they found some sort of underground facility built into the rock, deep down in the darkness.
Expecting to have discover its secrets all on their own, the humans of Earth however were shocked to find a greeting party waiting for them as they disembarked The Icarus I. And within minutes the crew was not searching through an abandoned space station, oxygen tanks heavily monitored and in tow, but instead lounging at a dining table, eating the most foreign of delicacies, while being introduced to the most foriegn of beings.
It was not every day that the human race encountered its first aliens. And even with their limited schedule, the three humans made time to honor their gracious hosts, the leaders of some sort of city on the surface.
This odd assortment of creatures were not without an agenda of their own however, and soon the men were given a demonstration of the supremely hurried kind.
This "world" it seemed held its own fair share of secrets. Not the least of which were the tales of the wildly advanced dead civilization with its treasure trove of technology just waiting to be looted. The only hitch however, such artifacts required a member of this original species in order to activate them.
And that's why these aliens had put on such a rushed show. Never before had any of them seen such a copy of these long lost ancestors as these humans of Earth now standing before them. And with a match of The Icarus I's ID signal to that of the facility, these beasts were ready to try a go with the actual visitors next.
Asking for some time to discuss the issue with themselves, the humans huddled over their table.
"If what these gentlefolk say is true," said Kyrce his eyes wide in excitement. "We could end all suffering on Earth with what they've found!"
Samuel Blade however was a bit less enthusiastic.
"I don't like it. They say there's some sort of risk," said the blonde soldier to his squad. "I think we need to play it safe. Let's get back in The Icarus and get back through The Rift while we can. We can always come back if we need."
But their science officer was also as equally starry eyed as their captain.
"We could go home as explorers," explained Wesley. "Or we can go home as heroes! I'm for it too Sir!"
In the end the vote was 2:1. Wesley had volunteered to be the first trial. And Kyrce ordered Sam to be the next to test if need be, ignoring the soldier's vote to leave.
If the procedure was as quick and painless as their new friends said however, the science officer would be back with his colleagues in no time, and the lieutenant commander would not have to be analyzed himself at all.
"You come back to us quickly Wesley, you hear?" called out Sam to his friend as the man left the room, an escort of alien observers in tow. The boy still had a bad feeling about all of this this, and being separated from his teammate certainly did not help any in the slightest.
But as the minutes slowly turned into hours and still the science officer had not returned, Sam began to have his own suspicions that something was wrong. Trying to act casual however, the blonde lad did not want to alert his hosts quite yet. But when the aliens whom had left with East returned without him, only to animatedly talk with Kyrce at the side of the banquet room, the soldier knew he had to intervene.
"What's going on Sir?" asked Sam as he appraoched his commanding officer.
"Ah. Just who I wanted to talk to," said Kyrce. "It seems like its your turn next Blade."
"But where's East? He hasn't even returned yet," questioned the lieutenant commander.
"Wesley's just felt a bit ill. That's all," explained the mission leader with a smile. "Why don't you go with these nice fellows now Blade? Everyone is very anxious to see if this will work."
Not wanting to disobey his commanding officer without sufficient reason, Sam hesitantly agreed.
But while walking with his own host of unusual aliens deeper into the foreign facility, the soldiers heart began to beat out of his chest. He was in danger. The lad knew it! Everything about this situation seemed so wrong.
And when Sam next spied one of the creatures holding Wesley's pulse monitor, the one that should be attached to the man's chest beneath his suit, the one that should be blinking with a signal sent straight from the man's arteries, the boy knew he had to act.
Turning on his heel, Lieuenant Commander Blade raced through the metal hallways of the alien facility, tracing his route back in his mind to reach the hangar with Icarus I. The lad did not stop for anything, including the sound of his hosts barking at him to halt in a variety of languages he did not understand.
Climbing into the cockpit of the science craft, Sam was shocked to see a message from Kyrce already sent to Earth.
After watching its brief content, and seeing the hangar start to fill with aliens on the hunt for the missing human, Sam recorded a message for home himself.
"I have taken command. Belay last transmission. Send rescue immediately. Highest Priority."