Bodhi Four Earthstar

By Christopher Charles

Where was the Purple One, her Greater Part? She did not understand why he had deserted her? She was terrified running from the dark beast. The narrow tunnel she was following had dissipated. There was no longer any place to go except straight ahead into the nothingness.
She had been led into this void in space where only the cold prevailed. Not even a star existed here. It felt old, cold and alien.
“Don’t leave me! Don’t leave me!” She screamed.
The dark beast was trying to circle her and cut off her escape. He was quickly filling the dark void around her and closed down.
Feeling her mind panicking, she shifted her focus away slightly. She could see the dark energy field about to engulf her essence, but she also detected something more beyond the dark beast. It lasted only an instant, and then she lost it in the black morass surrounding her. “The dark beast was going to meld with her like George. It would not be pleasant. Instead, it would be brutal and cruel.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christopher Charles
• Release date: Jul 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781950901159

Book preview

Prologue

When Admiral Hood was rescued from his disabled Battlestar, he and his crew were taken aboard the asteroid.

Ana and her crew saved the asteroid from destruction by aliens, but it cost them. Upon entering the asteroid, Ana’s Starship was boarded by Captain Craine. All of the crew including Mr. Henderson were taken off the ship except for Ana sleeping in the psych tank. The EM machine had been automatically activated, and the Starship was ejected from the asteroid.

When Ana awoke one month later, she found the ship empty, and herself outside the body (universe). She survived an encounter with a Dark Blue entity and found herself in a no time zone. There she discovered the pre-asteroid and Alexious who removed the alien portion of her wave she picked up from the Dark Blue entity’s meld attempt. She also interfered with melding of her wave causing her wave to be altered.

Returning to the body (universe) one month later, she discovered the Asteroid again and rescued her crew from Admiral Hood and his men inside.

Now she is in a psych tank recovering from losing a portion of her wave during her earlier meld attempt. She has been inside a year, but nothing seems to help her.

1 Melding Reviewed

Ana heard voices trying to break through the thick fog she was floating in. One of them was Doctor Parker. He was talking. She seems to be okay physically. It is her mind I am worried about. The shock of coming out of the psych tank and finding no other Human ‘Beings’ had to have its effect.

Mr. Cornwall's voice was next. No, it is much more than that. Something happened to her wave, something very profound. She seems to have lost her identity.

Mr. Henderson broke in, What do you mean? She knows who we are.

Much deeper, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Cornwall continued. Her wave is confused. She will function normally in this dimension, but her inter essence is a catastrophe. It needs anchorage. It needs it now. She could easily cease to exist.

You mean she could drop dead at any time? Mr. Henderson asked in a worried voice.

I think I indicated that, Mr. Cornwall said, But much more. Unless she becomes stabilized, she will be absorbed.

Doctor Parker, listening, said, I'm not buying the absorption bit, but I can tell you she sends every psych probe I place on her off the scales. I cannot keep her in the psych tank. It is not doing her any good.

What would you two suggest? Mr. Henderson asked.

It is out of my league, Doctor Parker put in, But I would make her as comfortable as possible and let nature take its course. Of course, I don't have Mr. Cornwall's laboratory. He gave Mr. Cornwall a hard look, saying he didn't like all the secrecy inside of it.

Okay, anything to add? Mr. Henderson asked, turning to Mr. Cornwall.

I don't think we can wait, he said, Her wave needs anchorage now, or everything she is will be lost.

I understand the urgency, Mr. Cornwall, but how do we give her anchorage?

We send her back to her roots. To the creator of her ‘being’.

What are you talking about, Cornwall? Parker asked. Send her where?

To Earth where she will find the roots of her soul, he said.

Earth? Doctor Parker gasped, Are you crazy? She can't go back to Earth. They would put her in a psych tank the rest of her life.

Would we be doing anything different here? Mr. Cornwall asked.

No, but there has to be another way.

Mr. Henderson broke in, I think Mr. Cornwall is right. Other things need to be considered. We have people here who need to return home. We cannot keep them contained unless they know we are doing everything in our power to obtain that for them.

That's quite an accurate diagnosis Mr. Henderson, Mr. Cornwall said, You do surprise me at times.

Hold it here, Doctor Parker interjected. Taking her back solves your major problem, but does it really solve hers?

Oh my yes, Mr. Cornwall replied. The obvious advantage is for both, her and us, but she must go regardless. Of course, the decision will have to be yours.

Bring her back, Parker, Mr. Henderson said. Let’s ask her.

Sick people rarely know what is best for them, Mr. Cornwall added.

Doctor Parker looked at him, Stuff it Cornwall! We'll ask her. I carry enough guilt where she is concern. He began the button sequence to bring her back. The psych box slid out from the bulkhead. He knew she had been listening. He hoped she would not let on.

Ana noticed the haze slowly leaving her head. She knew immediately where she was. She hated the psych tank. Her anger quickly surfaced. She forced herself to sit up. She looked at Parker trying to avoid her eyes.

Sorry, Doctor Parker said, But you left us no choice.

There is always a choice, Doctor! This is not one of them, she said angrily.

The only other choice is a return trip to Earth, Mr. Henderson said to take Doctor Parker off the hook. Mr. Cornwall here believes you need to seek your roots, something about your wave being reabsorbed.

She glared back at Parker, What do you say?

We were only able to save you this time by placing you in the psych tank, he said softly. The future holds more of the same until you are forced to remain in one.

She slowly worked her legs over the edge and stood. Feeling wobbly, she held the drawer for support. Then, looking up, she said, I am not going to spend the rest of my life in a psych tank. You get that, Gentlemen! No psych tank!

Even if we are successful in reaching Earth, it doesn't mean they won't place you back in a psych tank, Mr. Henderson replied.

And if they don't, and I am allowed to find this anchorage Mr. Cornwall speaks of?

They will never allow you into space again, Mr. Henderson said. That, you can be sure of. Are you ready to spend the rest of your days on Earth?

It is slightly bigger than the psych tank, she said sarcastically. She placed her full weight on her legs and felt them wanting to grumble. Determined, she managed to remain standing. We go, Gentlemen! If you could help me into the no gravity area, I would appreciate it.

Mr. Henderson quickly took one arm. Holding her, he turned back to Doctor Parker, saying, Turn the gravity off!

Parker hesitated a moment. She needs to toughen up those legs before she reaches Earth's gravity, or she will be an invalid. We're only at half gravity now.

Cut it, Doctor! Mr. Henderson said, She can adjust on the way.

Thank you, but I will decide what I do. You two have been taking too many liberties on my behalf. She turned to check the date on the computer screen over the psych tank.

Yes ma’am, Mr. Cornwall said after he noticed the shock on her face. You have been in the tank as you call it for twelve months. It is little wonder your legs are having difficulty.

Startled, Twelve months! She turned to Parker yelling, You kept me in that box for twelve months?

Doctor Parker apologetically said, You were in no condition to bring back out. Maybe now that you are awake, we can use stimulation to keep you alert.

He means to keep you in your body, ma’am, Mr. Cornwall put in.

Mr. Henderson gently took her arm again, Maybe they are right, ma’am. Lean on me until we reach the Bridge.

Ana allowed herself to be helped. After they moved out into the passageway she turned to Mr. Henderson. Maybe we better go to the torpedo launch instead. I may change my mind about being placed in a Life Box later.

What do you mean, Life Box? We will be taking the ship back to Earth.

She shook her head, No, I will not risk the ship, or you on this adventure.

Ma’am, I am still in command of this ship until you are cleared by the medical officer. I will say where this ship goes.

The asteroid has been moving that direction for two months, Mr. Cornwall said.

We are not inside the rock? Ana asked.

No, we took you out a few days ago. Your Mr. Henderson wanted to test a few improvements we had placed on your ship. He glanced at Mr. Henderson, I hope they were satisfactory.

You know they were.

What do we have here, Mr. Henderson? She asked.

You will see when we reach the Bridge.

They entered the lift and started up. Ana smiled at Mr. Henderson, So this mercy trip to Earth is not all for my benefit, is it, Gentlemen?

A…Well it will be a good place to test it, Mr. Henderson replied.

The lift hatch opened. Ana looked out at the new Bridge. This isn't my ship, Mr. Henderson. Where are we?

Very little of the old ship remains. It was a wonder you managed to bring it back. Everything grumbled when we touched it. Seems the metal had fatigue beyond use. We could not trust any part of it to work property.

Ana walked out on the Bridge and looked around slowly. Judy was standing by what looked like the helm with a big grin on her face. Ralph was to the right of this setting behind a console full of new buttons.

The first thing she noticed was the absence of the EM board, and the outside ring. Remarkable, Mr. Henderson, you decided we could do without the EM Unit?

You will find we still have it, but in another format.

I don’t see the board.

It’s in the console. The electromagnetic charge is applied to the hull. It is more efficient this way. We don’t need the ring. Something Mr. Cornwall had installed for us. We now have the same capabilities as the Starships from the positive dimension.

Does that include our acceleration potential?

Mr. Henderson smiled, We have the regular drive of course made after the other dimension’s Starship to give us equal potential

And?

Well, you actually did it first, Mr. Henderson said. We simply took it from the computer. In fact, you did it twice.

Did what?

Create an inter-star drive or inter-galaxy drive. We don’t know the potential, but you might. Though seeing how your body has reacted to the flight, I am not so sure we should try it.

I think you had better explain, Mr. Henderson.

I was hoping you would. The ship’s computer indicated it traveled someplace where the universe possessed no stars or galaxies.

Maybe you could enlighten us on that, ma’am, Doctor Parker put in. It might help us figure out what happened to you.

Ana slowly looked around, silence filled the Bridge. Everyone was looking at her waiting. Maybe you had better tell me what the computer analyzed. It is all very hazy. I will try to fill in the blanks.

Mr. Henderson nodded to Ralph to put the print out on the big screen. The screen immediately came alive revealing empty space. Take it back a bit further, Ralph, Mr. Henderson said.

Ay, Ay, sir, Suddenly the screen filled with static.

There! Mr. Henderson said, Note the EM unit is on. You are moving through something that has a charge.

The static intensified obliterating the screen.

Now you are moving through something very thick, Mr. Henderson continued. Do you have any idea what that might be?

I think the ship is passing through the energy field surrounding our universe.

Mr. Cornwall, observing the screen, said, We have always believed the skin surrounding our universe possessed an intense barrier of energy.

Watch it here, Mr. Henderson said. The screen suddenly went blank. Now, we thought at first the computer was affected by the high intensity field, but this proved not to be the case. There simply was nothing for the computer to pick up. Unfortunately, the long-range sensor was pointing forward. We have no idea what you were leaving. He looked at her questionably waiting for her input.

Ana looked around slowly, then she shrugged her shoulders, I don’t know. This is what I saw on the screen when I crawled out of the psych tank. I had no idea where I was. She turned to Parker, It’s not a very pleasant feeling.

Feeling a bit guilty, Parker responded, Your present psychosis is not from your stay in the psych tank. By the looks of things, it probably saved your life when you passed through the barrier.

We are not finished, Mr. Henderson said. The computer has more to show us. He nodded to Ralph, Move the recorder forward, and stop when the sensors pick up the energy mass.

Ralph pressed a few buttons and sped up the device. When the screen revealed a huge energy field, he reduced the speed to normal.

Yes, there! Do you remember this, ma’am? Mr. Henderson asked.

Of course, it was the only energy in the field of darkness.

What was it? Mr. Cornwall asked.

She picked up the past tense, turned to him, Then you know it no longer exist.

We are not sure what happened, Mr. Henderson said. He turned to Ralph, Speed it up again until we are past it.

Yes sir! Ralph replied. The screen continued to show the energy mass approaching.

Watch it here! Mr. Henderson said, You did not enter the field at first. Your sensors could barely pick up its mass, yet it indicated it was huge.

Your sensors are crude, Mr. Cornwall put in, Not all energy possesses a charge.

We are aware, Mr. Cornwall, Mr. Henderson said. You and I have been over this many times. We are only guessing what it is. You were there, ma’am. Can you enlighten us?

An energy mass of sorts. It…It doesn’t exist anymore. The images were bringing up memories she did not want.

We assumed as much when this other energy field flooded the ship. Move it up to that point, Ralph.

Ralph responded, the screen revealed a field of static.

Everything in the ship was affected by this energy. I assumed you were too, Mr. Henderson said.

Yes, I was affected, she replied in a soft voice. I almost lost my soul to the beast.

Can you tell us more? Mr. Cornwall asked. We only wish to help here. We have spent the year putting this log together. Many parts are missing. We were able to salvage only a fraction of the raw material. The rest is computer enhancement.

Ana looked around for a place to sit. Her legs were about to buckle. She did not want to embarrass herself by falling. Could I sit this out, people? She stumbled to the chair beside Judy.

Here, let me help, ma’am, Judy said, quickly taking her arm. She looked back at the others in a defiant matter, Maybe you ought to wait a few days before you put her through this.

We may not have a few days, Parker snapped. She needs help now, but we don’t know what’s wrong with her.

Ana took the chair, eased herself into it, It’s okay if you will give me a minute. Anything is better than the tank.

They watched her adjust her chair and waited for her to continue. Judy remained standing beside her daring anyone to be unkind.

Raising her hand slowly, she indicated she was ready to talk some more.

Mr. Henderson nodded for her to go ahead.

The foreign energy attacked the ship. It almost pulled me out of my body.

The energy was able to pierce the skin of the ship? Mr. Henderson asked.

Quite easily I might add, but the first mass of energy you saw on the screen attacked the ship first.

The bridge became very quiet. Ana waited a moment, then, she continued, The energy you see there absorbed him and passed through the ship. It was a mass of greater force and power.

The static on the screen says it must have carried a charge or the sensors would not have been affected.

It did come in very fast.

How did it affect you, ma’am? Parker asked.

I don’t know the lasting effects. I was unconscious when it moved through the ship.

Where did the energy wave go after it withdrew from the ship? Mr. Henderson asked.

I am not sure, when I woke, the sensors showed only empty space.

That checks, Ralph confirmed. The log shows the energy moved off very rapidly after passing through the ship.

The wave must have affected the molecular structure of the ship, Mr. Cornwall said. I am sure it brought it to critical.

Our terms! Parker requested.

The ship could have gone into fission as you call it, Mr. Cornwall said. The energy wave interrupted the integrity of the ship’s molecular structure. It was fortunate to recover.

I didn’t think it did, Parker corrected