"We're all ready here, Doctor," Nathan said.
"The ships are almost loaded," Dr. Ranon said. "We're making sure that we can all survive out there. While in space, we can only move between ships by docking them, but the process is slow and should not be needed unless there is an emergency. The Atlas has a one-man transporter system, but should only be used at slow speeds."
Professor Farrell came up.
"The ships are ready," he said.
"Then let's go," Nathan said.
The three men went over to the others. They examined the ships. The Atlas was waiting outside, while Professor Farrell's ships were ready and powered up inside the large shed.
There were actually ten ships inside the shed, but only three were working. The other three were damaged in some way or other. Farrell's first successful design, the Model 6 had a few different parts from the first five. Models 7 and 8 didn't have the necessary parts, but Model 9 hit the jackpot. Since then, the Model 10 was developed, enhancing the power of the Model 9.
"Right," Dr. Ranon said. "This is it. Ben, you're with me in the Atlas. I've worked out a solution to your dilemma. Christine, you take Jenny and Sally in the Model 10. Nathan and James will be in the Model 9, and Professor Farrell will be in the Model 6 with Rachel and Daniel. Okay?"
"Okay," Christine said. "Let's go."
They all boarded their respective ships.
"Atlas to all ships," Dr. Ranon said, pressing a button. "Systems report."
"Ship 10," Christine said. "Powered up and standing by."
"Ship 9," Nathan's voice came, "all's clear."
"Ship 6," Professor Farrell reported, "we're ready."
"Then prepare for take off," Dr. Ranon said. "Set course, heading 259 mark 226. Maximum speed."
"Ship 10 ready."
"Ship 9 ready."
"Ship 6, now ready."
"Good. Take-off sequence, engage."
The four ships lifted off the ground. The shed roof opened, and Professor Farrell's three ships came out.
"Ships 9 and 10," Dr. Ranon said, "engage tractor beams on anti-ships."
The two ships fired their own beams onto the two anti-ships lying on the ground beneath them. Inside them were the two captured guards, tied up.
"Ship 10, tractor beam engaged and holding."
"Ship 9, tractor beam on."
The Atlas came up and led the way into the sky. The other three ships followed.
"Adjust course, on heading," Dr. Ranon said.
The Atlas turned and sped up, followed closely by the other three ships.
"All ships on course," Professor Farrell said.
"Good," Dr. Ranon said. "Now we'll keep in radio communication all the time. The Atlas will go ahead, and catch up with the anti-ship. It will take three days for ship 6 to get to the rupture. In the meantime, we'll try to stop the anti-ship and retrieve Anna. Good luck to all. Atlas out."

"So," Nathan said to James, "how are you feeling now?"
"I'm okay."
"No, you're not. Look, we'll get Anna back. Don't you worry about that."
"Sure."
Nathan put the ship on automatic. He stood up and went over to James.
"Now I know this might sound a little overly hopeful, but I know that some how, everything will work out here. That's the difference between this dimension and the antimatter one. Don't worry. It'll work out, in one way or another. Once we make it happen."
James looked up and smiled.

"They even have acetaldehyde infusion devices for child discipline," Ben said to Dr. Ranon.
"Sounds pretty bad," Dr. Ranon replied.
"And those are only the small things. Everything there is built on the basis of aggression as a directive for all people to survive. Yet there are those of us who disagree with this idea and are beginning to build up a defence against this.
"Unfortunately, we've only just begun, and things aren't going very well. So a lot of us have become fugitives, whenever possible."
"Like you," Dr. Ranon said.
"Yes."
"You really want to stay here, don't you?"
"Are you kidding? What do you think I've been saying?"
"Okay. Anyway, it's all ready. We'll be using refraction of an electromagnetic wave to transform your antimatter particles into normal matter, through antiphoton-weakon contact."
"Right. I'm not sure I understood all that, but it sounds promising."
"Still sure you want to go through with this?"
"I'm sure. This means a lot to me."

"I'm hungry, mum," Jenny said.
"Well get something to eat then."
"But I can't find anything to eat!"
Christine sighed. She looked over at Sally. "Can you take over for a while?"
"Of course," Sally said. She went over to Christine.
Christine stood up and let Sally sit down in her seat. She went over to Jenny.
"Look." She showed Jenny a machine in the wall. "This is where the food will be from." She pressed a button. Immediately a sandwich appeared out of nowhere.
"How did you do that?" Jenny asked, puzzled.
"Don't ask me. There are only certain things which can come from this machine. There's a list here." She pointed at a piece of paper on the wall.
"Not much variety," Jenny remarked.
"It'll have to do," Christine said. "Now, let's get back to work." She took the sandwich and went back to her seat.

"Everything's now set up," Dr. Ranon said.
"The anti-ship's arriving," Ben said, "and ship 10 is close behind."
"We'd better hurry up then. Get into the transporter."
Ben stood up and went into the transporter.
"Ready," he said.
"Good," Dr. Ranon said. "Computer, begin emission of electromagnetic wave, bearing 219 mark 198."
The Atlas' systems fired an electromagnetic beam towards the rupture. The beam made contact with the spatial rupture, then refracted back towards the Atlas. It entered the shuttle's systems and went to the transporter system.
"Transporter energising, now!" Dr. Ranon said.
Standing in the transporter, Ben appeared to disappear in a column of light, but then the light became brighter. There was a flash, followed by the light slowly fading away.
Ben stepped down from the transporter.
"How do you feel?" Dr. Ranon said.
"Fine," Ben said. "But strange."
Just then there was a siren sounded throughout the ship.
"Warning," the computer said, "antimatter ship approaching. Manoeuvring evaluation: identified Atlas, coming to attack."
"Computer," Dr. Ranon said, "raise shields, battle alert."
The Atlas' shields and weapons systems activated.
Suddenly, the anti-ship fired its own weapons on the Atlas. The shuttle rocked from the impact.
"Return fire!" Dr. Ranon said.
The Atlas' computer engaged the shuttle's weapons. They fired towards the anti-ship and hit it.

"Okay, we're coming up to the rupture," Christine said. "Sally, work that tractor beam to put the anti-ship 10, which we have in tow, through the rupture as soon as possible."
"I'm ready," Sally replied.
"Good. Stand by... now!"
Sally worked the tractor beam and released the anti-ship 10 towards the rupture. Its inertia made it drift onwards and into the rupture.
Just then the tractor beam, while still on, pulled the anti-ship 9 towards it.
"Tractor beam's attracting the other anti-ship," Sally said. "It's pulling it towards the rupture."
"Better disengage the beam, Sally," Christine said. "Anna's still over there."
"Okay," Sally said.
Ship 10's tractor beam turned off, and the anti-ship recovered. It fired again on the Atlas.
"Inertial damping field's been knocked out," Dr. Ranon said. "Computer, take over weapons, go to evasive action. Ben, Brace for impact!"
Ben and Dr. Ranon went to their seats and held on tight.
"We have to locate Anna and get her out of there," Dr. Ranon said.
The anti-ship fired again. The impact made the shuttle spin out of control. Inside, Dr. Ranon console burst into flames. He went flying out of his seat and hit the floor behind him. Ben stood up and went over to him.
"Computer, emergency fire control!" The computer engaged its automatic fire extinguishing system.
"Doctor? Are you okay?"
"Operate the controls," Dr. Ranon said slowly, "get Anna back."
Ben went back to the controls and tried to work the transporter, but he couldn't get a fix on Anna's location.
"Computer," he said, "lock on to matter located in antimatter ship and transport over."
"Unable to comply," the computer said. "strong electromagnetic interference from the rupture is distorting signals from the antimatter ship."
"Damn!" Ben said.
He watched helplessly as the anti-ship drifted into the rupture and vanished.
"Ben?" Christine's voice came through the communications systems. "Are you there?"
Ben hesitated for a moment, then spoke slowly. "Christine, you'd better come over here. We have a medical emergency."

A few minutes later, the Atlas and ship 10 were docked to each other. Christine rushed through the airlock and over to the form of Dr. Ranon.
"There isn't a lot I can do," Christine said. "His condition is severe."
"The shuttle's medical facilities aren't working," Ben said. "And I don't think I can get them working again. But I'll try anyway." He left, just as Jenny approached.
"How's Sally?" Christine asked her.
"She's fine," Jenny replied. "Apparently she's used to this happening, but never anyone so close to her. Although her mum has to leave her for long periods of time, and now Sally hardly ever sees her."
"Oh. Poor kid. It makes this all that much harder on her."
"But she's strong," Jenny said. "She's not giving up yet. She's still even working. She's found out that the rupture has since increased its strength since the ships have gone through."
"Well then, I guess all we can do is wait."

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