It was an easy job, one which few envied, but those who had it enjoyed it. Nor was it a glamorous job, but it paid well and with computers running the ship, easier than eating. Since the invention of faster than light travel, flight times were cut from weeks to hours so space taxi captains benefited greatly. Indeed even inter-planetary flight times were now listed in hours. The Captain waited for his three passengers while thinking of taking his family on a well-deserved vacation upon his return. It was a short flight too. Only 4 hours each way, counting the slow part through the heavy space traffic of the 12 inhabited planet system. Soon his ship would be back in space dock, and he would be headed for relaxing fun.
When his passengers were comfortable in their seats, the Captain turned to the console to begin the departure sequence. “Such an easy job”, he thought as final computer checks and clearances were completed and received. “I don’t know why a Captain even goes any more,” he almost said out loud. “He spoke to the computer, “Begin journey and calculate hyperspace course.” A soft, almost sexy, female voice replied, “Beginning departure Captain. Hyperspace calculations complete.” Hyperspace always bothered him a little. Being in no place and in no time made him wonder if he was in “no reality.” Shaking off the uneasiness, the Captain watched the lights of planets and other ships move away as they headed for open space. The passengers had a beautiful view as they moved by each planet. Clouds of red, yellow, and violet swirled around one planet making a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns. Rings of ice and stone shimmered like a veil around another. Space stations slowly revolved like giant tops, lights sparkling against the blackness of space. The Captain sat in quiet thought while his passengers enjoyed the last views of their home world until they returned. Leaving home always leaves a small hole in your heart, never filled unless you return. These passengers were no exception.
The jump to hyperspace took place with only a soft computer voice saying, “Commencing hyperspace velocity”. The usual queasiness washed over everyone, even the seasoned Captain. In all the years of faster than light travel, no one had discovered a way to prevent it. Regular travelers were so used to it they seldom noticed. For first timers, a move to the disposal chute was common. Then embarrassed and ill, they sat red faced and quiet until the feelings passed. This group was all well traveled. Their conversation did not even hesitate when the jump happened. Just another trip on board a space taxi had begun. With the jump to hyperspace complete, the Captain joined his passengers in the cabin and left the ship to the computer. The Captain learned his three passengers were going to a conference on history and primitive life. One passenger was a college professor who taught ancient cultures at the national university. Another lived on a communal farm and published a magazine about simple living. The third passenger, and lone female, was a medical doctor at a major hospital. The conversation ranged over many topics. Each individual was eager to share knowledge and learn new things from the others, making the trip pleasant and short. In the middle of a sentence, the computer interrupted the Captain. “Captain”, the soft voice said without emotion, “We have a problem.” Irritated, the Captain said, “Fix it then. You’re the computer.” The computer waited a few seconds then in the still unemotional voice replied, “Unable to complete task, insufficient time.” Surprised now, the Captain started toward the console. On the way he asked, “ What could be so bad you cannot fix it?” Again in a soft unemotional voice the computer replied, “A micro-singularity has emerged from hyperspace in our path. There is insufficient time to avoid it.” Running now, the Captain yelled, “Everyone strap your selves in. This is going to be a rough ride. Computer, Shields up! SHIELDS!” Even before the echo of the Captain’s last words were gone, there was a violent crash. The spaceship tumbled wildly. Objects not attached were thrown around. Small items were torn from the walls and joined the hoard of flying debris. Over the noise the passengers could hear the Captain yelling commands to the computer and the computer replying softly it could not comply. “Stabilizers”, yelled the Captain. “Stabilizers inoperative”, replied the computer. “Take us out of hyperspace then! Slow this thing down!” yelled the Captain. Again the computer replied, “Engine control off line.” Fighting to get to the console, the Captain bounced around the cabin. After what seemed like an eternity, he fell into his seat and strapped himself in tightly. Pushing buttons like a mad man, the computer repeated a warning over and over. “Hull failure in 60 seconds,” was the first warning, followed by additional warnings each 10 seconds. The passengers held on to their seats and listened to the computer count down the last seconds of their lives. Just as the computer countdown reached 10 seconds, the Captain yelled “Computer, shut up.” Soon after the sound of engines shutting down was heard. Slowly the shaking and tumbling space ship slowed. “All stop,” the Captain said. This time everyone was relieved to hear the computer reply, “All stop, Captain.” Everyone sat in their seats, alone with their thoughts, as they considered what had just happened. No one spoke for several seconds. Somehow the silence of space seemed comforting. Finally the Captain broke the silence. “Everyone OK?” he asked. Each passenger began to check for injuries and all replied everything was fine. Amazingly there were a few cuts and scrapes from the flying debris, but no serious injuries. With a doctor on board, and a well-stocked medical kit, the injuries were soon treated. “Status report” demanded the Captain. “We hit a micro-singularity with the port engine, Captain” replied the computer. “I know that”, replied the Captain, “What is the ship’s status?” After a few blinking lights the passengers took to be diagnostic checks, the computer replied “Port engine damaged and non functional. Starboard engine operational at 90%. Minor hull damage. Life support fully functional.” The now excited Captain exuberantly said “Great! Take us home.” To everyone’s startled surprise the computer said, “Cannot plot course. Unknown star system.”
Racing to unstrap from their seats and look out, the Captain and his passengers hurried to a window. What they saw no one had seen before. The Captain turned asked “Where are we?” The computer chillingly explained “We are 10.35 parsects from our previous position. Looks of disbelief and horror showed on each face. “How long to travel to our previous position?” asked the Captain. Again everyone was startled to hear “Approximately 36,400 years.” For the first time the Captain showed his fear. In a hoarse voice he asked, “With hyperspace travel, why so long.” Coolly, the computer explained, “With no star charts, hyperspace travel is impossible due to the strong possibility we would strike a space object. Therefore we must travel at maximum sub-light speed, and on one engine.” With his face wrinkled with deep thought the Captain quietly asked, “How long until we are close enough to call for help?” The computer sat silent several seconds, long enough for the Captain to look up at the screen. Impatient, the Captain asked again, “Well computer, how long to communications range?” Still eerily silent, the computer finally seemed to awake. “Captain”, said the soft voice, “with hyperspace capability, we would be in communications range in approximately 2 weeks, but now not in several of your lifetimes. And there is another problem.” The Captain gave a surprised look toward the screen. In an annoyed voice he asked, “I thought you told me only the engine was a problem? What else is there?” Again the computer sat in a silence of several seconds. Just before the captain was going to yell at it again, the computer began to speak. “Captain my chronometer indicates we are not in the now we were.” “Then when the heck are we?” said the Captain with more emotion than he should. These silent periods waiting for the computer to answer were getting unbearable. Each passenger sat with terrifying thoughts of the events which had just happened. Finally the computer spoke. It seems we are neither now or then. My time chronometer is functioning normally but the date keeps changing.” That statement seemed to freeze everyone in mid-thought. No one could understand the meaning. The computer added, “It seems the micro-singularity has jolted time. It should stabilize in a few hours. I will be able to tell you more then.” After much thought the Captain said, “Computer, scan for the nearest habitable planet with food, plot the course, and take us there at maximum velocity.” As the computer was saying its compliance, the Captain turned to his passengers. “Whenever the date settles down, we will be ready to decide our actions.” he said, “Until then we need food and water. This is a taxi not a cruise ship. We have little food and water on board for the short trips we take.” As the Captain finished his last sentence, the computer spoke, “Planet located and course plotted. Arrival in 45.65 hours at maximum velocity.” Everyone sat back to await their arrival.
From orbit the computer continuously spit out information. “Atmosphere, climate, and geology within acceptable limits. Water plentiful and safe. Animal life and vegetation acceptable and capable of supplying food.” drooled the computer in its soft voice almost putting everyone asleep. Then almost like an afterthought the computer expelled two more facts, one unexpected. “No intelligent life detected”, said the computer, “but there is a large energy reading just below the surface.” The Captain sat upright in his chair. “Source and type?” he asked, the surprise showing in his voice. “The source is a cave in the equatorial region below us now.” The type is unknown,” said the computer with its usual mater-of-factness. “Put us down as near the source as you can, computer” said the Captain, “We will find out what that energy source is and get something to eat at the same time.” When the spaceship touched the ground, the computer stated, “We have landed approximately one kilometer from the energy source. And the date on my chronometer has stabilized.” The three passengers sat there not knowing what to say, or if they should say anything. The Captain looked up and without haste asked, “OK then when are we?” The computer related, “My chronometer has stabilized, but the date is not available. I have checked and there is no malfunction. I am afraid I do not know if we are present, past, or future.” “Well my stomach says it is now time for eating. Let’s go everyone”, said the Captain, “The atmosphere is safe and there’s food on the vegetation. Let’s eat!” The fruits and vegetables were very palatable and all soon ate their fill. After which they began their journey to find the source of the energy reading the computer had discovered. Using a hand held scanner, the Captain led the way through the brush and trees without any problems. It also seemed the animals there were not interested in the strangers among them. After a brief hike, there appeared before them a cave entrance. It appeared natural but older than the surrounding features. No sound came from the entrance, though they waited and listened for several minutes. Scans revealed no animals inhabited the cave so they decided to go inside to investigate the energy source which the scanner indicated was inside. Surprisingly the cave was only about 100 feet deep. It ended in a rock wall which looked like it could have been formed by digging, but it looked natural too. Silently they explored the cave searching for the energy source which the scanner indicated was in that room. They pushed against the walls, threw rocks against the floor, and did scan upon scan, all to no avail. After half an hour of fruitless investigation, the Captain turned to the others and said, “I give up. The scanner says it’s here, but we can’t find it.” Then almost thinking out loud the Captain said to himself, “I wonder what it does.” Everyone was startled by a booming voice which filled the room like rolling thunder. “I am your doorway,” boomed a voice so loud the Doctor put her hands over her ears. Surprised, but not shaken, the Captain responded, “Doorway to where?” Again the room was filled with the thunderous voice. “I am your doorway to any past where and when you request”, it said. Unflustered, the Captain replied, “Send us home then.” The back of the cave wall rippled and seemed to turn into liquid. It wavered like heat rising on a hot summer day, yet it still looked solid. Again the voice boomed, “When would you like to be there?” Looking at each other the Professor asked whispering, “Just before we left? Then this would not happen because none of us will go.” The voice roared before any of the others could answer. “All will be the same if you return to that where and when. You will not remember this.” it said. The Captain was again the first to respond, “You mean this will happen over and over again because we can’t remember it happening before?” A thundering “YES!” echoed around the rocky room. “What if we go different places?” asked the Publisher. “Then a new timeline begins and this does not repeat.” came the rapid answer. Conferring among themselves, each made the decision to pick their own destiny. “I will go home to my family on the day I left” requested the Captain. “I will go with him,” added the Professor. “Begin your journey,” thundered the voice, “Walk into your home, Captain, and into your classroom, Professor.” The Captain and Professor said their farewells to their friends knowing they would never meet again. With a little sadness but with more anticipation, the Captain and Professor walked through the rock wall and were gone. “We can’t go back with them?” asked the Doctor. “I have answered that question.” came the unemotional answer. “Where and when would you like to go?” The two remaining passengers looked at each other and said together “We will stay here.” “As you wish” came the answer, and the voice fell silent. Knowing the timeline was now safe, the two travelers walked from the cave to begin the adventure awaiting them. The Publisher looked back over his shoulder and said “One more question. What is this place called?” As they stepped through the cave entrance and back into the daylight they heard the echo of the thunderous voice say, “It will be called Earth.”
Copyright ©2002 o. dell