THE PLANET THAT LOVED PEOPLE (standard:science fiction, 1582 words) [3/12] show all parts
Author: Danny Raven	Added: Mar 11 2016	Views/Reads: 1634/1163	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
PART 3 - CH 3

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

Blaze frowned. “The last thing I remember was--” 

“Scaring the hell out of me!” Sarah interrupted him. “Jumping on me with
that blue sacking over you.” 

Blaze sniggered but his head started throbbing again and he stopped.
“Where's Muslik?” he asked, looking round. 

“He went to pieces,” Kane told him. 

“Frank!” Sarah snapped. “That's not funny.” 

“Is he dead?” Blaze asked. 

Sarah nodded. “Something happened to him while he was steering the Ship
through the Corridor. We don't know what it was.” 

Blaze bit his lip and looked away and she hugged him again. 

The lights all over the Bridge started flickering more strongly then
stayed on, as did all the monitors and instrument panels. 

“I'm back!” announced the Computer. “Who turned me off!?” 

“We lost all power in the Corridor!” Kane barked. “Damage report and
make it fast!” 

As the Computer ran a damage report on the entire Ship, the Observation
Screen flickered to life. 

“Frank!” Sarah said, pointing at it. 

Kane looked over at it. Although it was definitely on it remained fairly
dark. 

“Damage report result!” announced the Computer. 

Kane waited tensely. 

“The Ship suffered no damage at all travelling through the Corridor!” it
announced. 

Kane breathed a sigh of relief. 

“So we're out!?” Sarah asked. 

“Yes, we have exited the Corridor,” the Computer told her. 

“How far?” Kane asked. 

“We have drifted one space mile.” 

“Can you take a fix on the Corridor entrance?” 

“I have already done that. Co-ordinates logged on the Pilot's console.” 

“Good. Well done.” 

“Let's see how the power is in the Drive,” Sarah said, walking over and
sitting in the Pilot's seat. She studied the monitor then keyed in a 
few commands. “Seems fine,” she told Kane. “Engage Drive,” she ordered 
the Computer.” 

“Engaging Drive,” it replied. 

The Falcon whined to life as the low hum of the Drive kicked in. “Take
us ahead slowly,” Sarah ordered. 

The bobbing movement of the Ship changed and they could feel it starting
to move forwards. 

“Okay. Seems fine. Cut Drive,” Kane ordered. 

Sarah did so and the Ship gradually slowed again. 

Kane stared at the Observation Screen. “Are you sure the forward scanner
is functioning?” he asked the Computer. 

“It is.” 

“Then why is the Screen blank?” 

“Ah, because there doesn't appear to be anything out there.” 

“What, no planets, no stars, nothing?” 

“Nothing.” 

“Scan ahead to maximum and run a maximum thermal scan as well,” he
ordered. 

“Certainly.” 

They stared at the Screen as they waited. Apart from the dark, velvety
blue of space there was nothing. 

“Furthest scan negative, thermal scan negative,” the Computer told them.


“Christ, there must be something out there!” said Kane. 

Sarah looked at him. “Says who? We're the first through the Corridor,
aren't we? Nobody's been here before. We don't know if there is 
anything here.” 

Kane laughed. “Well wouldn't that be wonderful! We travel half-way
across the Universe then through a fucking Corridor in a Black Hole and 
all we find is empty space!” 

“There's time yet,” said Sarah. “We've only just come through.” 

Kane frowned. “Hold on,” he said. “If we came through a Black Hole,
shouldn't we be on the other side of it, still inside its atmosphere?” 

“Yes, we should be,” Sarah agreed 

“Before you ask me, I agree as well,” said the Computer. “But we're not.
The Hole ended at the Corridor exit. Please don't ask me to explain as 
I can't.” 

“So what now, Captain?” Sarah asked. 

Kane grinned at her. “We sit here awhile and recharge everything on the
Ship. Including ourselves. Blaze – disappear down to my cabin and bring 
back the bottle next to my bunk.” 

Despite his throbbing head, Blaze was interested. “A drink!?” he asked.
“Do I get one!?” 

Kane nodded. “One.” 

Blaze vanished. Kane and Sarah went back over to the Bridge couch. There
was time for a brief kiss before Blaze reappeared. 

“I stopped by the Galley and brought some glasses,” he said, smiling. 

“Pour us three stiff drinks, barman!” Kane ordered him. 

Blaze quickly complied and they clinked glasses. 

“Here's to tomorrow,” Kane said and sipped his drink. 

“Tomorrow?” Sarah asked, puzzled. “What happens then?” 

Kane grinned. “That's when we start exploring!” 

***** Three days later they were starting to get tired of exploring.
Three days of running scans and thermal scans and staring at the 
Observation Screen which remained disappointingly blue-black. No 
planets, no stars, no drifting clouds of coloured nebulae, not even any 
racing meteors. 

They were taking it in turn to stay on the Bridge, Blaze permitted to
pilot under the Computer's guidance. 

“He's hardly likely to run into anything, is he?” Kane had muttered. 

He and Sarah became lovers and she moved into his cabin, giggling like a
schoolgirl as they shared the cramped bunk. Blaze seemed happy with 
them being together, hugging them regularly, much to Kane's growing 
irritation. 

On the fourth day, they were all having a meal together in the Galley,
the Computer monitoring the Bridge and relaying any information to 
them. Not that there was much to relay. 

Kane finished eating and poured himself some coffee. He glanced at the
other two. “We're going to have to make a decision soon,” he told them. 


“Regarding what?” Sarah asked. 

“Regarding how long we continue exploring.” He stood up and began pacing
round the Galley. “I still can't believe there's nothing here,” he 
said. “Absolutely nothing!” 

“Agreed,” said Sarah. “It's a bit disappointing.” 

“Disappointing!! It's a complete fucking bummer!!” 

Blaze nodded. “A complete fucking bummer!” he echoed. 

“Blaze!” Sarah snapped. “No swearing in front of ladies.” 

“Sorry,” he said, grinning. 

“So we have to make a decision,” Kane went on. “About how long we
continue exploring. I say another three days which means we'll have 
been here a week. Anyway our stores are starting to run low as well.” 

“So what do we do then?” 

“Go back.” 

“Back through the Corridor!?” 

“We've no choice.” 

“How do we know we can make it back through? What happened to Muslik
could happen to us.” 

“We can pilot the Ship from inside the Safety Cabin with the force-field
on.” 

“And if we make it?” 

“We head for another planet well away from Earth. There are plenty back
there. Just the three of us. Make a new life.” 

“Wow! Sounds great!” said Blaze. 

“What about Tyler?” 

“We have to take the chance that he'll think the Ship didn't make it
through the Corridor. We've had no contact with him for days.” 

“Yeah but what about those clone things?” Blaze asked. 

Kane shrugged. “We've no choice - we'll have to risk that one as well.” 

Sarah poured herself some coffee then stared hard at Kane. “Did you
really mean that about us three? Making a new life together somewhere?” 


“Sure. Just as long as he stops hugging me every five minutes,” he said,
grinning at Blaze. 

“Sit down, Frank.” 

“Sit down? Why, you going to propose?” 

Blaze laughed. 

“No,” Sarah said. “I'm going to tell you about the clones.” 


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