Carpathia IV: Episode 308 - Wormhole
Dragon Ship
Kuro knew of the destruction of the Blood Agony. She saw it on her screen, but she did not look up. Her attention was affixed to only one thing, Lazmaedia. Especially now, when the time that she would make a mistake would be highest.
And that's exactly what she did.
Lazmaedia's back was turned when Carpathia delivered the killing blow to the Blood Agony, but she could not miss the bright, red light of destruction that filled the entire sector. She turned, no longer interested in the dragon fight, to see that the Blood Agony was no longer there, replaced with nothing. Kuro seized the opportunity.
Kuro: Everyone dogpile her now!
Half of the dragons were already streaking toward Lazmaedia and the other half were just starting to go. During the fight earlier, the white dragons were lucky if they could get just a few milliseconds of physical contact to drain her demigod powers. Now, full seconds. Multiple seconds.
Finally, she teleported away, but, surprisingly, not very far, and the dragons caught up with her quickly for another round of power-draining. Kuro watched her screen with great interest. The initial dogpile must have drained a lot, for she seemed weaker and, perhaps dangerously, more desperate.
Bridge, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
Shadowdancer emerged from the shrinking singularity shaken, but intact. The ride smoothed as the ship soared farther away from the remains of the Blood Agony. Aire would have given anything for a long rest, but there was still work to do.
Ryuu: How are the dragons doing?
Two questions. Engage the remaining vashta ships or help the dragons. There was merit in both options, Aire thought, but he needed to see what the dragon situation was.
Aire: Can we get Lazmaedia on viewer?
Shep: I think so, Captain. One moment.
Shep did not take long and an image of Lazmaedia appeared on the screen. At least, Aire guessed that Lazmaedia must be in the viewer somewhere but it was hard to tell under the giant dragon pile. Suddenly, the dragon pile collapsed and the viewer automatically shifted to Lazmaedia's new teleported position.
Ryuu: Oh, they got her really good that time! She can't teleport as far as she used to!
With that comment, Aire started leaning toward helping the dragons, but he wanted more opinions.
Aire: Joust, the rest of the vashta fleet or Lazmaedia?
Joust: When Lazmaedia dies, we win, no matter how many vashta ships are left. They are in disarray now so this would be a good opportunity.
Ryuu: She's weakening fast. We should push our advantage.
Aire heard all he needed. All three were in agreement.
Aire: Teek, set course to the dragon ship. We'll coordinate with Kuro there.
Meanwhile, Lazmaedia continued trying to teleport away from the dragons with each attempt worse than the last and the crew watched it all on the viewer. Finally, she gave up teleporting and simply flew away from them. This turned out to be more effective for she could still fly faster than the dragons' rocket packs could carry them.
As she flew away, she took out a device of some kind. Black. Lights. Triangle-shaped. Indeterminant function, but Aire thought he should ask anyway.
Aire: Anyone know what that is?
Ryuu: No idea, but we should watch that carefully.
And watch carefully they did. Still too far away for such a precision scan, all they could do was observe as Lazmaedia attached the device to her chest. Right away, something began to happen not far from her.
Shep: Some kind of anomaly is growing near Lazmaedia.
Amenaru: Readings are consistent with a wormhole.
Aire heard this and a horrible realization dawned upon him. Lazmaedia was fleeing, perhaps back to her home world. She was already making tracks to the rapidly-opening wormhole.
Aire: Teek, full induction. Follow her!
Teek: Yes, Captain!
Joust: Captain, is this wise?
Aire's reply was curt.
Aire: You really want to let her go so that she can do all this shit again?
Joust: No, Captain. Just being devil's advocate.
As he should, as First Officer. Apologies would have to come later, for Lazmaedia was already entering the wormhole and Aire could only hope that it didn't close before they got there.
Aire: Bridge to engineering! We are entering a wormhole that Lazmaedia created. Keep an eye on any discharges that could affect the engines!
Ramei held his ear close to Engineering's communications console, making sure he picked up as much as he could from the still-shaky comm system. Something about entering a wormhole... Something about Lazmaedia... Something about watching out for discharges... It was enough to go on, for now.
Ramei: Understood, Captain!
But his voice didn't sound right. It was just him. Usually he could hear more, his voice stereofying through both his mouth and the speakers, but it was only him. It sounded like he wasn't getting through at all. Before he could attempt to tinker with the system, Sylvar ran up behind him.
Sylvar: Did he say we're following Lazmaedia into a wormhole?
Ramei: I think so.
Sylvar: We need to call them back!
Ramei needed and wanted to get back to work. Though he didn't ask, he could tell it was important and wanted to get this finished quickly so he could go back to his engines.
Ramei: Engineering to bridge!
Again, same problem. Comms were dead. Sylvar tapdanced between his two feet impatiently.
Ramei: We can't get through. Sorry, but I have to...
Before Ramei could finish, Sylvar darted for the engineering doors, but turned at the last moment, still running, only backwards.
Sylvar: If you get comms back, tell them to stay out of the calm spots!
Wormhole
Teek: It's rough in here!
A gross understatement, like calling a bed of nails slightly uncomfortable. The Shadowdancer shuddered and slammed as though it were plowing straight through a densely-packed junkyard, hitting every single derelict ship along the way. Aire and everyone else hung onto their chairs for dear life.
Aire: Can we slow down?
Teek: Negative! I have no throttle control. I can only steer. The wormhole is pulling us at its own pace.
Joust: Can you steer us on a less turbulent track?
Teek: This is the less turbulent track.
Baal: I'm reading a calm area near the wall of the wormhole. Sending trajectory.
Aire: Teek, head for that. At least we can have a little respite.
Teek: Got it! Adjusting course.
Lift, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
Sylvar paced around the lift in little circles, wringing his hands together. Pacing, at least, as well as he could, for it was hard to keep his footing with all the turbulence. More often than not, he had to brace himself against the wall to keep himself from tumbling around. Then, suddenly, everything was calm. Sylvar knew what this meant and the sweat on his palms intensified.
Panic set in, then fleeting relief as the lift slowed to a halt, his nose already pressed up against the doors when they opened. Sylvar burst onto the bridge with only Shep taking notice, as was his job.
Sylvar: Teek! Stay out of the calm spots!
Every eye on the bridge, except Teek's, swung around to Sylvar. Aire's brain worked at lightning speed. Sylvar. The only person on the ship who might have any idea what to expect in this wormhole. Worse, he was in a panic. Without further hesitation, he called out.
Aire: Alter course!
Teek put the yoke hard over as he responded.
Teek: Helm hard over! This is going to get bumpy!
An understatement. As the Shadowdancer re-entered the more turbulent part of the wormhole, the ship heaved hard, throwing the nose up and then back down. The bridge crew, safely fastened into their chairs or stools, suffered some seatbelt strain, but Sylvar was launched into the air, catapulted over the security console. He landed between Aire and Joust, a sickening crack coming from Sylvar's shoulder. Joust unbuckled his seatbelt and went to him. Joust found the problem quickly, but found himself surprised by another issue, that Sylvar didn't behave as though he was in much pain.
Joust: Doesn't that hurt?
The previously calm area suddenly erupted into an explosion of plasma fires and lightning, covering every inch of where they just were. Shadowdancer lurched to the side, not enough to throw anyone around again, but Joust kept hold of Sylvar to keep him from sliding across the floor.
Sylvar: A lot, but I've had worse. Many times. Anyway, the Mistresses, like Ksenva... They talk, you know. I heard a story once about three Vashta ships that went through a wormhole. One went for a calm spot and was tossed out when it exploded. Nobody ever heard from it again. Nobody knows where they ended up.
Aire: You made it here just in time. Kit, call the doctor.
Kit: Yes, Captain.
Joust: Hang in there for a bit. The doctor will need some time getting here with all this rocking and rolling we're doing.
Sylvar: I'll live. Just get us out of here in one piece.
Aire: Teek, keep us in... I guess the not so calm but not so turbulent areas. Baal, analyze that plasma discharge and see if you can predict future occurrences.
Baal: Already on it, Captain.
Shep: I'll share scans, but it won't be much. We can't scan too far ahead in this mess. We can't even see Lazmaedia anymore.
Aire: Understood. Just do your best to keep us out of trouble.
Ten more minutes passed in the wormhole and the ride gradually improved as Teek learned to read the turbulence and ride the waves. In that time, Tamati arrived from the lift, his usual perfect hair now disheveled, and with two nurses in tow.
Tamati: Captain.
Aire: Sylvar. We think he broke his shoulder.
Tamati rushed to Sylvar and began his scans.
Tamati: Broken is an understatement. More like shattered. Sylvar, how are you not passed out right now?
Sylvar: This is better than a vashta pain stick.
Tamati: Not something I'd want to learn about first hand, I should think. Nurses, get him on a stretcher. I don't want this arm moving around too much.
The nurses moved quickly, laying out the stretcher, deftly scooping Sylvar onto it, and then carrying him away. All efficiently executed in just a few seconds.
Aire: How are things down there, Tamati?
Tamati: We're managing. Not too many life-threatening injuries since that infiltration, so we're getting through it.
Aire: That's good to hear.
Tamati: We'll get those vashta bodies cleared away as soon as we can spare some people.
Aire: Thanks. You may return to your post.
With a nod, Tamati disappeared into the lift. Another 20 minutes passed in the wormhole, still sending the ship into shakes and shudders, but nothing like before.
Trex: Captain, we're approaching the exit.
Seconds later, the Shadowdancer returned to clear space, all shuddering stopped. Before them, a planet with two moons loomed in front of them.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Colourbrand
Falke2009
