"Not again!" Christine said, after examining Nathan. He seemed to be fine, and was even able to talk, but could hardly move around.
"So what do we do now?" James said.
"Well," Christine said, "first we wait for the last ship, then we work out something to do."
"What can we do?" Jenny asked.
"Well, it's like I always say, `It's not over until it's over.' And in cases like this, it may not be over even when it seems to be. So don't give up just yet."
"Since when have you been saying that?" Nathan asked.
"Since now," she answered, smiling. "But you'd better get some rest."
Ben came up. "I might need your help, James," he said.
"Of course," James said, and he followed him out.

"Ship 6 now arriving," James said. "Luckily, there's not much which can go wrong now."
"I hope you're right," Christine said.
"Well what could happen?" James asked.
"You never know," Christine said.
"We're ready to dock," Rachel's voice came through the communications. "Beginning docking procedures, now."
Ship 6 slowly approached the other three ships. It came closer, and closer.
"Careful," Ben warned. "Docking procedures are very delicate."
"Don't worry," Rachel said. "Daniel and the professor can manage."
Ship 6 finally touched ship 9, and attached to it, side by side.
"Lock on mooring beams," Professor Farrell said.
"Ship is locked," Daniel reported. "Airlock pressurised."
"Let's go," Professor Farrell said. "Open the airlock."
Daniel pressed a button, and a door opened on the side of the ship. The three of them went though it and to the other ships.
"Nathan's doing well," Christine said, approaching them, "but Thomas isn't so well, and we couldn't get Anna back. What are we going to do?"
After they had all recovered from those grave facts, they decided on a plan.
"We can operate the time warp mechanism," Professor Farrell said, "and go back to the time when the rupture first opened, and then close it, so that it remains closed. We will then come back here, and hope that we will be able to get Anna, and Dr. Ranon is alright."
"Sounds confusing," Rachel said.
"Believe me, it is," Professor Farrell said. "I'm not sure exactly how it will work, but something will turn out."
"James and I will try to find the right point in time," Ben said. "Okay, James?"
"Fine with me." James and Ben left and went to the Atlas.
"Sally," Christine said, "do you know how to work the time travel thing?"
"I think so," Sally replied.
"Can you show us?"
"Sure."
They all went over to the Atlas. On the way, Professor Farrell talked to Christine.
"Under the circumstances," he said, "I think that you are the best qualified to take over operational command."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, you are familiar with the operational of aeronautical craft. And the shuttle is quite like an aeroplane."
"Actually I just work at the airport control tower."
"Same thing, isn't it?"
"I suppose you could put it that way. So, what do I do?"
"Just make the primary decisions for the shuttle's operation. Course trajectories, velocities and that sort of thing."
"I don't know if I can do that. Can't you do it?"
"You'll be better than me. I work mainly on theories."
"Okay then. But don't expect me to know everything."
They came up to the control room where Ben and James were working on the time warp machine.
"It's not hard really," Sally explained. "First we need to gain some gravitational potential energy, from a spatial object. Then we redirect the energy to the propulsion systems. We engage the engines and add onto the propulsion energy, then convert the propulsion kinetic energy to the time warp mechanism in a pre- calculated amount.
"The warp component propels the shuttle through a hyper-dimensional time continuum, and then brings it back at another point within our dimension. I think," she added.
"Well, we'll have to leave today," Professor Farrell said. "Before the next eruption occurs."
Just then, Ben came over to them.
"We've located the first eruption in time, and also have calculated the amount of energy required for the mechanism."
"Good work," Christine said. "Well, we might as well start now."
"There's only one problem. After the time warp, the shuttle will need a lot of recharging."
"Where could we recharge?"
"There's enough power left for the time warp. After that we could head back to Earth, and find somewhere to recharge. The shuttle's recharging system requires solar radiation. I'm sure there's an uninhabited and hot place on Earth."
"Okay. Recalculate energy requirement for a few days before the eruption, give us enough time to go to Earth, recharge and get back."
"Right." He went back to the control room.
"Let's get ready then."
The rest went after Ben and took their seats.
"I hope this works," James said nervously.
"I have one thing to say," Christine said, looking around at the others. "This mission, if you can call it that, is vital not only to us, but to the whole of the entire universe we know. Sure, for us, except Sally, nothing major will happen, and this is far beyond our capabilities. But in four centuries' time, everything will reflect back on us. This entire universe is depending on us, and we have to do our best to save it. We are the link between two possible futures, and we have to make sure that the right one comes out. As such, we are the vitality of the future, we will give it life, we are the sustenance of the future. Everything depends on us."
"I'm ready," James said.
"Everyone else ready?" Christine said. They all acknowledged their preparation. "Then let's go. Professor, if you will, take the manoeuvring controls. Ben, Sally, stand by on the time warp systems. James, take that console and adjust energy routing as per Sally's specifications. Rachel, take the navigational controls, and help the professor on his course. Daniel, make sure that the deflector systems are working. Jenny, go help your father and make sure he's all right."
Jenny went to the back of the shuttle and attended to her father. The others took their stations.
"Do all of you know what to do?" Christine asked. They all responded affirmatively.
"Hopefully this will restore Dr. Ranon's health," she muttered. Out loud she said, "All stations, report."
"Navigational systems operational," Rachel said. "We're ready. Course for gravitational energy transfer set, we're going for a small asteroid off the starboard side."
"Piloting systems are in working order," Professor Farrell said. "And the docking systems are ready to get away."
"Deflectors are all fully operational," Daniel reported.
"Energy control station is ready," James said.
"Time warp systems are standing by," Ben said. "Energy conduits ready to receive redirection. Destination time, 15th of October, 1582."
"Then let's do it," Christine said. "Begin release of docking systems."
Professor Farrell slowly turned off the docking clamps and moorings. He steered the shuttle away from the other three ships, and accelerated it.
"Alter course, from Rachel's navigational console," Christine said.
"Acknowledged," Professor Farrell said, "altering course."
"So far so good," Christine murmured. "Although I've never commanded a ship before."
The shuttle turned and headed for a rendez-vous with an asteroid. Slowly the shuttle gained speed and approached the asteroid.
"Begin time warp manoeuvres," Christine said.
Professor Farrell steered the shuttle around the asteroid, gaining energy from it as it passed. As it came around the other side, the shuttle sped up.
"Gravitational energy obtained," Ben reported.
Christine turned to James. "It's your turn now, James," she said.
James used the computer to transfer the gravitational energy to the propulsion systems.
"Energy transferred," he reported.
"Professor," Christine said, "engage engines, maximum possible speed."
The shuttle went into hyperspace, leaving behind it a burst of Cerenkov radiation.
"We've reached maximum speed," Professor Farrell shouted. There was now more noise coming from the shuttle, obligating them to speak louder.
"Ben, Sally," Christine said loudly, "begin time warp. James, transfer all propulsion energy to the time warp mechanism on Sally's signal. All hands, brace for impact!"
After a few seconds, Ben and Sally had the time warp systems ready.
"Now!" Sally shouted.
James pressed a series of buttons. Ben and Sally then activated the warp mechanism.
Suddenly, the shuttle rapidly decreased its speed, but in doing so, triggered another burst of Cerenkov radiation. And then the shuttle disappeared from the entire known universe.

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