Bodhi Three Asteroid

By Christopher Charles

Ana and her crew exited the black hole to discover their ship had been left listing in the EM Unit. Upon entering their ship, they discovered it be filled with people from Space Station Twelve and explosive charges set to explode.
Upon securing their ship and rescuing the people, they moved on to the space station to pick up life boxes. There they found another quad of P-torpedoes ready to explode set my Captain Craine.
He escaped in the shuttle leaving Ana with his life box. She managed to work her way inside as Mr. Henderson used the EM machine to move the exploding space station into another dimension taking Ana in her life box with it. Ana punched the thrusters to maximum hoping to outdistance the exploding proton bomb behind her until her fuel was exhausted.
She saw an asteroid ahead of her approaching rapidly. She was on a straight collision course. Behind her was the exploding bomb, and ahead of her was the asteroid she will crash into.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christopher Charles
• Release date: Jul 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781950901135

Book preview

Prologue One

Ana and her crew exited the black hole to discover their ship had been left listing in the EM Unit. Upon entering their ship, they discovered it be filled with people from Space Station Twelve and explosive charges set to explode.

Upon securing their ship and rescuing the people, they moved on to the space station to pick up life boxes. There they found another quad of P-torpedoes ready to explode set my Captain Craine.

He escaped in the shuttle leaving Ana with his life box. She managed to work her way inside as Mr. Henderson used the EM machine to move the exploding space station into another dimension taking Ana in her life box with it. Ana punched the thrusters to maximum hoping to out distance the exploding proton bomb behind her until her fuel was exhausted.

She saw an asteroid ahead of her approaching rapidly. She was on a straight collision course. Behind her was the exploding bomb, and ahead of her was the asteroid she will crash into.

Prologue Two

Coming closer, she could see the black slate rock covering the surface. The asteroid had to be twenty or more kilometers in diameter. These thoughts kept coming. She was going to crash on the asteroid or be consumed by the proton core. She visualized the box melting around her body. She knew there was no way to turn. The asteroid was too big. She was out of fuel.

What a wimpy box. Monzor called this a life box. The new improved model, he said. She could give them a few clues. It was obvious none of them ever depended on it. Probably the one who tested it was part of a proton glow. They never did get his comments. I have some! You hear me Monzor! I have some! The rock was coming fast. She was not able to take her eyes off the screen or turn the panel off.

Suddenly the end of the asteroid closer to her opened. A huge mouth, big enough to swallow an entire space station, opened and engulfed her. The heat was gone. She found herself in total darkness when the door closed.

No, this was only a rock. She saw it! She was going to crash any second! She felt herself being thrown against the view screen. She stopped! See she stopped! Something was holding her! She didn't crash! Something…Something was holding her. The box animation wanted to take over. It was hard to concentrate. She felt herself drifting off. Reaching up she pressed the off button, but she was too late to stop the total effect. She was going to be out for a while. She knew it, but she felt safe. She was inside something big. It would protect her.

1 Mr. Stone:

She was awake! How long had she been out? Looking at her timepiece, it read thirty minutes. Now, where was she? She tried to remember. Confused, she turned to see the screen. A dim light was on. It came from a ceiling somewhere. She saw a huge metal claw coming down towards her. No…It…It has her! She could feel it lifting the Life Box. It was taking her somewhere!

She was moving towards a tube of sorts. Suddenly she felt herself falling. She hit something hard, then she heard a scraping noise. The claw had dropped her into a tunnel. She was sliding through it. Why the scrapping noise? Unless...Unless she was in gravity! Her box continued to slide on down the tube.

Suddenly the scrapping stopped. She was in free fall a few seconds until she hit something hard. It jarred her against the view screen. Recovering a second, she was tilting on something. Then she felt herself sliding. Moving slowly at first, she picked up speed until she came to an abrupt stop.

Her feet were pressed against the bottom of the box. Gravity all right, She thought, A whole lot of gravity. It was something like you would find on a big planet like Earth.

She needed the control panel of the box to check the outside conditions. Where there was gravity, there was bound to be air, but what kind of air? Working her suit, she found the inside of her box was secure. The seams held. She could open her suit.

Unzipping, she allowed her spacesuit to fall to the bottom of the box. Standing on it, she reached the panel in the box and managed the view screen. Slowly she moved the camera. All she could see was junk. They looked like pieces of metal and debris. She was on a pile of junk!

Checking the air, the computer said breathable, but on the high end of the carbon content. Her mind was thinking smog. She didn't need her suit or the box.

She tried to analysis her situation. Looking at her time piece again, she knew the ship would wait the three plus hours or so for the space wrap to come back to normal. If she was in it, she would be rescued. Of course, the explosion may have distorted things a bit. Maybe there was no space wrap left.

No, stop thinking that way, Mr. Henderson would figure out something. She just had to be in that location when he did. That's three hours twenty minutes now, to get out of this rock, and back to the space station’s orbit.

Fuel, yes, her thrusters have almost a full fuel pack. It should be compatible to the Life Box. Certainly, they would have made it standard.

Okay, now to get this box back outside, she thought. She couldn't do anything about it in here. She needed out. She pressed the open button. Nothing happened! Panicking, she braced herself against the panel. She pressed the button and pushed out with her legs. This time the box opened.

Slowly she pulled herself out and climbed up on the end. She eased the door down and checked the box over. The edges of the box were melted. She touched the sides. They were still extremely hot. The heat made her move off the box.

Standing, she looked around. Yes, she was on a scrap heap of metal and debris. Above her she saw the huge tunnel she had come through. A metal door closed it off. Even open there was no way she was going to be able to drag her box back up through it. Especially when it weighs three hundred pounds in full gravity, she thought. There had to be another way.

She, and the box were about half way down a two hundred-foot pile of trash. She had a good view of the area. She was in a city of sorts, but it appeared old and broken down. It reminded her of old New York in the bad slum period. She didn't see any indication of life forms, but her nose smelled the decay. The tall structures were gutted with parts in the process of falling down. A good earthquake would probably knock down most of it. The street below was impassible by anything except foot traffic.

She tried to make out where the sunlight was coming from. Must be a ceiling somewhere, she thought. She didn't see one, but she knew there had to be one. She knew the asteroid didn't have a sun.

She heard something in the distance. Dim at first then it became louder. Her mind registered thrusters. That meant hovercraft! They knew she was here. Fear taking over, she quickly slid down the rest of the pile. Running hard, she managed to find an open duct in the pavement. She crawled in seconds before the thrusters were overhead.

She didn't see them, but she knew what they were doing. They are taking her box! She heard the thrusters’ circle a few minutes before moving off. They were probably searching the area with heat sensors, she thought. She wanted to jump out and shoot the craft down with her laser. She would have her box, but then what?

No, it was enough to know whoever that was had wanted her and the box. Perhaps if she was lucky, they might be intelligent enough to understand she needed to be back in the space warp in less than four hours. She was also relieved that she didn't stay in the box. This way she would make her presence known on her terms. She has seen how they treated their guest. Besides, the hovercraft did not mean living ‘beings’. The craft could be robot control like the big jaws that put her here.

Hearing the craft thrusters fading off, she felt safe. Slowly she emerged from her hiding place. The area smelled bad. She was probably in an old sewer duct. Standing, she could see her box dangling from the saucer like hovercraft. It moved higher above the buildings and further into the city. Quickly she picked up some land marks knowing she needed to follow it.

Maybe she made a mistake here. Now she was separated from her box and her spacesuit. Her life line out of here, her mind shouted. Yes, she should have tried for control of the craft.

She heard herself breathing heavy. She was not used to this much gravity. Her legs felt like lead. Yes, she was going to have leg cramps later. She needed transportation, especially if three plus hours was the time frame.

The tall buildings around her looked strange and ominous. Walking, her feet sounded loud. She tried to stay in the middle of the street though she had to go around the broken pieces of concrete and steel. At least it appeared to be steel. Being rusted in a red oxide mass made it difficult to distinguish. The street was of concrete judging by what little she could see of it.

Suddenly she stopped. Someone was watching her from the deep shadows of the buildings. Turning back to the street, she started walking faster. Could be her imagination working over time, but she kept her distance with one hand on her blaster. It worked in gravity. You had to be closer to have the same effect, but the laser was out of the question. She didn't want to kill life forms here, especially the ones flying the hovercraft.

She came to an intersection where another road half the size of the one she was on intersected it. Tall buildings continued to shadow the street on both sides. She checked her landmarks. Yes, she would have to go down the narrow road. The wide street seemed to veer left away from the hovercraft direction.

She walked about two hundred feet and stopped. She thought she heard something. Maybe the wider road was better. She started to back up when she heard another noise behind her.

Whirling around, she was face to face with a tall lean man wearing a black leather jacket, tight pants, and boots. His hair was black, wavy, and hung to his shoulders. He had deep inset eyes above a protruding nose and drawn face. Ana didn't move. They stared at each other a moment.

The man clicked his fingers, twenty figures came out of the shadows around her. Slowly they moved toward her. They seemed to be Human ‘Beings’, but the similarities drop quickly. Most of them were old and wrinkled. Their skin sagged over sharp bones covered with decaying clothes of the nineteen eighties. Some wore only a single piece of clothing allowing their leathery skin to hang out over it.

She saw all of this in her peripheral vision while she continued to stare at the man in front of her. Then reacting, she quickly stepped back drawing her blaster in one motion. You let them approach another step, and I'll make it their last one!

The tall man raised his hand, the motley crowd stopped, but they didn't retreat. They remained threatening ready to lunge themselves at her.

Better tell them to back off since you obviously understand English. I still feel crowded.

He nodded their direction. They backed off a few paces.

Good, I'm glad we understand each other.

You may put your weapon up. We mean you no harm. His voice came out strong and deep.

I'll keep it, if it's all the same to you.

Whatever pleases you, but we wish you no harm. They approach you out of curiosity. These are the peaceable ones.

You mean you have people here who are not.

Oh my, yes! We must get you off the street. I'm sure the hovercraft attracted others. He looked up at the old ones. See, what did I tell you. She is from the outside.

A murmur went up approvingly. Then a loud screech came from a man standing in a tall building next to them. The people quickly disappeared into the shadows. They were obviously frightened.

The tall one, calm, continued to stand in front of Ana. I would suggest following their example, he said in an even voice.

Ana looked around quickly. Okay, I'll follow you!

The tall man smiled, turned, and ran for the building the loud screech came from with Ana behind him. In seconds they were climbing stairs.

Ana made two flights before she stopped and raised her hand. That's all I can do! My legs are not used to all of this gravity. She could barely see him in the dim light coming from a broken window. At first, she thought he was going to desert her. When he turned and came back, a wave of fear swept through her. He was going to attack, but she was too tired to put up a fight.

She thought about firing her blaster when she felt his arms go under her. He was carrying her higher. After five more levels he opened the door and dropped her in the hall like so much baggage. She watched him enter the open room.

She heard the sound of the hovercraft outside. After slowly regaining her feet, she walked to the broken-out window inside the room. The vibrating noise from the returning hovercraft became louder. She started to peer out the window when a strong arm of the tall man pushed her to one side.

You can get killed that way! He shouted.

Sorry, what's going on?

That's Mr. Cornwall. He's looking for you.

So? If he knows the way out of here, Ana said seeking more information.

I'm not sure what he knows, but he's the hired dog of whoever runs this place. By the way, the name's Mark Stone. You've heard of Stone's Merchant Space Fleet?

Can't say that I have, but it's nice to meet you Mark. My name is…

Interrupting her, I know who you are! Captain Mc Clure! What I don't know is how you got here?

I'm that easy?

Your insignia says Captain! You wear a Star Fleet uniform. You're black and a woman. How many people fit that description? Now, how did you get here?

Where am I? She asked quickly changing the subject. She didn't want to give up too much information.

That's a good question. I've been trying to find out for a month.

You've been here that long?

Since this thing picked me up. What's left of my ship is on the other side of that pile you came in on.

Any others?

No, my other two crew mates were killed when the electromagnetic coiled ship attacked, he said in a hard voice.

Electromagnetic ship?

It looked like an electric motor with a Starship inside. You know anything about that?

Possibly? What happened?

Not quite sure, their lasers worked us over. The bastards killed Karla and Neil, then reduced my ship to junk. I managed a spacesuit before the life support failed. Then thinking a proton bomb was next, I decided to abandon ship. I was in the airlock when I saw their ship disappear.

What? She asked trying to act surprised.

The ship, it flickered, then disappeared. Then this monster appears, opens its mouth, and drops me in here. When I crawl out, I meet this Mr. Cornwall.

Mr. Cornwall, he's the one in the hovercraft?

Yes, they wanted information I couldn't give them. They attached this device to my head and asked me questions until my brain wanted to jump out of my skull. Finally satisfied, they set me loose in the New City. It has taken me three weeks to get back here.

Why here?

My spaceship's here! If I can fix it, I can get out of here.

And go where?

Star Base Twelve, he said confidently.

That's been destroyed. I'm part of what's left of it.

He looked at her hard. What's going on?

Before she could answer, the hovercraft started up the side of the building. Its outside speaker came on. Mark! Mark Stone! Give her up! We do not want another session, do we?

Mark reached into his coat bringing out a large laser gun.

Ana, startled, wondered why she didn't see the bulge of such a weapon.

Mark moved towards the window. I can bring the hovercraft down for you.

If you can do it without destroying it. He has something that belongs to me.

Maybe that can be done. He lined up his small cannon on the windshield of the hover craft as it moved closer to them.

Mr. Stone, you know I can always find you, Came from the hovercraft.

Suddenly the laser beam placed a hole through the windshield, and part of the controls. The craft immediately descended to the ground smoking. Mr. Cornwall leaped from the craft and disappeared into their building. They could hear his footsteps coming up.

Mark turned from the window. I think I made him mad.

Then it's time to leave.

Mark started for the door when he saw her climb out of the window. You going to jump? This is heavy gravity, remember?

Come on! I have a wire glove! She raised her right hand showing a glove with a wide wrist band. Standard issue in the weapons belt.

Not quite understanding he moved to the window. He looked down, then back at her. How?

Pointing her arm at a piece of steel protruding from the building, she released the projectile inside the glove. It sent the wire inside the glove flying out. The projectile pierced the beam. Its steel wedges snapped out securing it. She looked up at him. You must support your own weight, she said moving her arm towards him. Here, hang onto my gloved hand.

He hesitated a second.

You want to fight it out with this Mr. Cornwall on the stairs? She asked

And miss this, he said with a slight smile. He took her hand allowing his body to swing into her. Then using his left arm, he pulled her close. This is nice!

Don't get used to it! She said pressing the release. The two of them descended quickly to the street below.

They struck the pavement hard. The force knocked them apart allowing Ana to roll to her feet. Disconnecting the wire, she stripped the glove off. She ignored the sharp pain in her back. She probably pulled some of her bandage loose in the landing. She also knew the anesthetic was wearing off. She would have to be more careful.

Mark, standing, said, Nice piece of equipment they give you. Hard landing, but the ride down was worth it.

She ignored him running for the hovercraft. Her mind wondered where his weapon went. Thinking he left it behind, she pushed it aside.

Entering the craft, she turned to see the weapon in his hand. Puzzled, where did he keep it? She didn't feel it coming down.

Mark, coming through the hatch, ducked below the control board. He began putting filaments together.

Ana, watching, You seem to know this craft.

Ought to, I manufacture them. This one's mine. Cornwall took it from me. It's no good in space though if you're thinking that.

I think I can tell the difference between a hovercraft and a space shuttle, but you better move it. I hear the previous owner coming down the stairs.

He twisted a few more filaments together. Then coming out from below the console, he smiled, The Captain will be pleased, he said pushing the starter button. The craft immediately came to life.

Taking it up, he quickly swung it back towards the main street, turned the corner just ahead of a laser beam. He glanced back at Ana. He got that from me too!

Speaking of toys, where's that cannon of yours?

I have it put away. It came from my ship. I converted it over to a hand gun. Now, how would you like to see a little bit of New York?

I've seen enough of that! If we can get my box back your Mr. Cornwall hauled away within the next three hours, we might have a chance outside."

What's out there?

My ship saying the proton wave didn't distort things too much.

I'm not quite sure what you are saying, but the New City is on the other side of this lake.

Lake? She asked looking down. All she could see was the water. Where's the city?

Back there! He said turning his head slightly. It's not all that big, about three square kilometers. The lake here is about fifteen kilometers this direction, length, I'm not sure.

Is it water?

Salt water, he said, Built a boat to cross it earlier. There's a wind draft going the length of it.

You sailed across?

Not all that difficult, he said with some confidence in his voice.

What's above?

Don't know! I haven't been that high!

Let's go!

He looked at her. Okay! Not sure of the oxygen content, or the winds up there. We have a ten-centimeter hole in our windshield.

I can handle it!

He nodded and took the craft straight up. At two kilometers he slowed and leveled out.

Ana leaned forward looking up, It appears to be lighted rock.

Thought so! We're in a huge cave!

More like a hollowed-out asteroid, Ana said sitting back. Okay, I've seen it! Let's go get my box!

Aye, Aye, Captain!

Suddenly a gust of wind struck the craft.

Fighting for control, Mark dropped the craft at an angle until it was almost in the water below. Turning abruptly, he had them skimming over the water with the strong current above them.

Ana, relaxing her grip, I'm impressed! I say you know the craft. How did you know there would be no wind down here?

Stone smiled, Sailed it, remember. The wind stops three meters from the surface during the day. It keeps the water from forming waves. Then in the evening the wind lowers and starts the wave action.

Ana standing, saw land coming up fast. Is that the other side?

Don't think so! We haven't gone that far.

Think we should check it out.

Good idea! It will give me time to fix the filaments better. That last little maneuver shook some of them loose. He brought the craft to a floating position and landed on the water. Their momentum took them forward onto the sandy beach.

She opened the hatch and stepped out on the sand. Feels warm. Reaching down, she touched the water. Warm too.

Mark yelled through the open hatch. I'm going to be awhile. Probably twenty minutes. Why don't you see if there are any life forms here?

She looked back at the hovercraft. Her better judgment said not to leave, but then he needed her, right? She turned and started up the beach. It was hot, and similar to the tropics where the air didn't move. This didn't bother her. Actually, she liked it. Moving closer to the trees, she spotted some long track marks in the sand. Turtles, she said aloud. She recalled similar marks from old Earth magazines.

She looked around slowly and took in the beauty. She appreciated the care someone had gone to creating this. Actually, the island was rather flat. If she could stand on a fifteen-foot ladder, she probably could see across it. The only high spot was the pile of rocks at the far end of the beach.

She started to follow the tracks toward the undergrowth when she heard the sound of a hovercraft. All in one motion with fear driving she drew her laser, turned, and fired. She caught part of the hovercraft when it made its turn around the point of rocks.

She heard it sputter, but it didn't go down. Slowly the sound faded. She was alone on the sandy beach feeling stupid and trapped.

Looking at the time, she had three hours and five minutes before the hole closed. Yes, she did it this time. Sure, she could put something together, she thought, Make a boat of sorts in three or four days, but then what?

She turned and looked out across the water. In the distance she could see whales spouting. Birds rose above the water to catch the wind. Suddenly they dove. They struck the water hard and disappeared. A moment later they popped up with a fish in their beaks. No, she was not going to be hungry. Maybe bored, she thought. Yes, she would be bored.

She started to walk along the beach when she felt someone watching her. Falling and rolling simultaneously, she came up with her blaster aimed at an old man. He was dressed in loose fitting cloths that hid his leathery skin. His long white hair covered his skeleton appearance, but it was his large deep blue eyes that troubled her the most. They seemed too pierced straight to her soul.

Neither of them moved until the old man spoke, "Are you going to shoot me, or