The Continuing Story of Deep Space 2: Page 81
Ariving on Starchild's bridge less than 30 minutes later, everyone
else likewise present for their next alternity, Frances took her
rightful place in her command chair there as Maccs announced his
readiness to take them beyond their current situation - his
readiness to leave the Eternal Hub.
"Very good, Maccs", Frances did nod: "Follow the homing signal
they're sending at quarter light speed until further orders"
Yes, Ma'am", Maccs agreed, the blank white space of the Eternal Hub
soon giving way to more and more colour beyond his main viewer --
the ribbons of colour beyond his outer hull growing more vivid in
tone and hue as he traveled farther away from the E-hub's center --
Maccs entering one of the cosmic tunnels branching off to his
starboard side leading now out of the hub back to the Commonwealth. And as he navigated his sleek, avian form down each of the tunnels
branching off from the one before it -- knowing which "fork in the
road" to go down each time around by the homing signal guiding his
way -- Maccs made it known to all concerned that they were already
almost 2/3rds of the way out of the E-Hub behind them. their arrival
back in the Commonwealth only a few moments away. when a sudden bolt
of energy rocked him from bow to stern.
"What was that??", Frances called out, sounding more angry than
anything else; the ribbons of colour streaming by the starship all
around her growing more frantic in their tireless motion this time
around.
"Not sure, Ma'am", Maccs was quick to inform his bewildered (if not
ticked-off) C.O., knocked somehow off course now by a bolt of
invisible energy -- its source originating not from beyond his outer
hull but inside his very being.
"It's Sarah's tears!!!", Maccs learned soon enough, scanning his
internal confines the moment he determined the problem wasn't coming
from anywhere outside him.
"Somehow the tears are diverting our course", he continued on,
sounding no less perplexed than those aboard him -- the Tears of
Esiden glowing now a brilliant crystalline blue.
"Just lost all sensor contact with the homing signal from back in
the Commonwealth", he was all-the-same loath to admit.
"But how?" Lt. Katz couldn't' help but ask, Karn making his own way
over to the navigations console on the other side of the bridge...
his vain hope being to somehow get Maccs Starchild back on course.
And no sooner had Elayna asked her question above when Sarah
answered her almost straightaway, receiving as she did the answer to
Elayna's from Ernie himself -- Ernie relaying it to her by the
telepathic link they (Ewok and bat) shared -- Erne receiving his
knowledge in poetic form from sources unknown.
"And two shall seek out the next,
Three seeking yet more,
Tear drawing tear to itself,
With a force one can't ignore".
And hearing Sarah say this Karn realized at once what she was
getting at, speaking out from his assumed post at navigations.
"I think what Sarah's trying to say is that the Tears of Esiden are
drawn to each other like a magnet once you have at least two, or
more".
However, before anyone could make further reply in response to
Karn's simple assertion, the wild rainbow display of frantic colour
vanished from Maccs Starchild's main viewer -- he and his crew
finding themselves soon enough back in "normal space".
But where???
Nor as it long after arriving in this new alternity that Maccs
picked up on both his long and short range scanners a goodly-sized
space station some several thousand kilometers off his port bow --
two other celestial bodies nearby of a more natural nature. small
worlds beyond the alien space station ahead.
"I'm picking up life signs both Human and alien", Maccs Starchild
informed everyone of his findings, scanning the artificial, woman-
made space station head.
"Weapons, Maccs?"
"Yes.. Weapons are present, but seem to be powered down. My guess is
that they are on standby, waiting for us to make the first move. As
it is I detect shields raised, probably scanning us as well"
"May I suggest Admiral we open communications with whoever's there",
Karn was next to suggest. "Let them know we aren't hostile. After
our sudden arrival in their reality, I'm sure they're more than just
a little bit suspicious."
"Agreed", Frances nodded, ordering Maccs to open a com-link to the
alien base ahead.
Almost immediately after a bright light seemed to explode into life
several thousand kilometers away sensors aboard Deep Space 2 picked
up as well an unknown vessel appearing it seemed out of nowhere - a
ship not much larger than an old Constitution Class Federation
starship, its outer hull composed of a gleaming white titanium
alloy, its design almost that of a Klingon warbird but sleeker in
design. more refined in appearance.
And called from his office upon the new ship's very arrival, Admiral
Arthur arrived on Deep Space 2's own bridge just in time to learn
that the new arrival was already hailing them -- a woman's voice
addressing whoever might be listening.
"This is Fleet Admiral Frances Miriam Straker of the Colonial Terran
starship, Starchild. We come in peace, our arrival in your space an
unintended mishap. Over."