Aphelion Ascending

By Christopher Thompson

The long awaited fourth book from sci-fi author, Christopher Thompson is an exciting collection of eight mind-blowing stories into the unknown. Previously unpublished works including, Neutral Ground in which it is possible for people from anywhere in the world to meet through an ageing stasis system. The World That Wasn’t There, a mystery planet threatens the safety of Earth and those who go to investigate its sudden and unexplained appearance. Ghost Ship finds eighteenth century sailors encountering a vessel seemingly crewed by dead men!

Each tale presents an intriguing journey into the realms of science fiction that will appeal to readers of all ages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Oct 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781665581332

Christopher Thompson

Christopher Thompson is a retired IT Support Technician and a disabled veteran. He is the author of a poetry anthology titled "Breakfast Anytime" and his current works in progress are the romantic comedy duology "Saving Throw" and "Saving Throw: Critical Hit", the supernatural horror "Gardener of Eden" trilogy, a second poetry anthology titled "Dancing with Angels and Demons", and a compilations of anecdotes of telemarketer calls gone funny. He has won National Novel Writing Month in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 as well as Script Frenzy 2011 and 2012. His poetry has won several awards and accolades. He is the loving and devoted single father of three wonderful children and their pets - mostly bunnies and has a wonderful girlfriend who puts up with his muse.

Book preview

© 2020 Christopher Thompson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 10/20/2020

ISBN: 978-1-6655-8132-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-8133-2 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Neutral Ground

The World That Wasn’t There

The Derelict

Iceworld

Prisoner

Shadow Lands

Deviants

Ghost Ship

By the same author:

The Io Incident

Yesterday’s Empire

Where Do Robots Go To Cry?

Friendships…decades old and still strong.

To Renny and Richard and Alan.

Neutral Ground

27189.png

Patrick would be fifty years old in just a few days and had often wondered how exactly it was that that had happened whilst he wasn’t looking. Wasn’t it only yesterday that he was playing in the terraced streets with his childhood friend, Lawrence, back in England? It seemed like it sometimes anyway…when he gazed into the middle distance and let his mind wander. He narrowed his eyes into the morning sun and felt the first wave of heat that would gradually make the day less comfortable as it rose higher in the sky. Australia had been the opportunity of a lifetime. He’d made his mark here…married a local girl and found his niche in society, but sometimes he longed to feel the green grass of England beneath his feet and the soft, cool, damp air on his face. His software company had made him a wealthy man…yes; the twenty-fifth century had been good to him. Finishing his coffee he tapped his holopad and waited for the projection of his friend to appear on the table beside him.

Lawrence was walking down the promenade on the North East coast of England. The cold bit into his face as he turned his collar to the wind and breathed deeply. The salty air cleansed his lungs and the distant cries of the seagulls melted into the crashing of the waves. The last glimmers of the sun danced on the water as the day slowly drew to a close. The holopad in his pocket vibrated to demand his attention, Can’t they leave me alone for a minute? he grumbled as he struggled to release the device from its fastener. Patrick’s face was hovering above the unit as if a minute version of him were somehow trapped inside allowing only his head to protrude. Lawrence smiled; it always amused him to see this spectre. He flicked his fingers through the projection and a larger version of his friend appeared, standing on his hand like a puppet. Pat! How’s it goin’ bud?

Oh, you know…can’t complain really. Patrick looked around, You’re on the coast! his face beamed as he remembered the setting, Looks cold.

Yeah, there’s snow forecast for later.

Snow!

Ha, ha…want me to send you some images?

No way…damn…you know how I miss that stuff.

You’re the one that went to the wrong side of the world.

Yeah, yeah…you still on for tonight?

Sure, looking forward to it.

Great…see you later. Think I’ll go for a swim now, the image of Patrick looked at the crashing waves again, don’t think you should though.

Be gone, apparition! Lawrence broke the connection and smiled again as he placed the holopad back into his pocket and turned towards his waiting ground-car.

25843.png

The entrance to the gateway was blocked when Lawrence turned off the highway and offered his security pass to the sentry on the gate. What gives?

Just some TV reporters, sir. Doing a piece on Neutral Ground. You know the kind of thing…they do it every year. Must be a slow news day today or somethin though ‘cos they’re really milking it.

Marvellous, d’you think I’ll be able to park?

Just leave it behind the gatehouse, sir. I’ll park it for you later, Albert winked, when all the fuss dies down.

Thanks. Lawrence smiled at him, Oh, and Albert…

Sir?

…there’s some chocolate here on the dashboard…the dark kind that you like.

Albert beamed and waved him through the gate, noting his arrival in the log.

Chatry Lewanna had pulled at her tweed jacket to shield herself from the bracing wind as she talked to camera and pretended the weather was irrelevant, Two hundred years ago the gateway system was developed to allow world leaders to communicate in safety over the important affairs of state. Many believe that this was the keystone factor in the evolution of global democracy and the single planetary government that ended the wars and the struggle for resources and food. That purpose has not been required for over a century since the global governing system took its present form. Few could argue that Neutral Ground played a major role in securing the lifestyle that we all take for granted now, and yet very few of us ever get the opportunity to make use of it for ourselves. She pushed some hair from her eyes against the wind, tucking it behind her ear. How can it be right that a resource of such significance has become little more than the plaything of the rich and privileged? Her eyes sought out her next unsuspecting victim as she saw the lone figure of Lawrence climbing the steps to the gateway entrance. His blue one-piece travel suit immediately confirmed that he was going into stasis. She pounced with cat-like swiftness, certain she would get her two minutes on the main news program. Lawrence saw her coming and realised his mistake in changing clothes before safely inside the confines of the building. There would be no escape now as she blocked his path to the only entrance. Here we see one of the lucky few about to spend some time with a distant friend or loved one or make face-to-face contact with a business partner or prospective customer. She shoved the microphone in Lawrence’s face and unceremoniously asked, Do you feel any guilt at using so much of our energy reserves for your own amusement?

Lawrence had long-since learned that sometimes a short answer was the best response, No.

And what do you hope to achieve from this visit?

I’m meeting a friend.

What would you say to the viewers at home that can only dream of the lifestyle that you take for granted?

Work hard…I did…and I don’t take it for granted. Excuse me, I’ll be late. Lawrence pushed past her into the sanctuary of the foyer.

She gritted her teeth for a moment at the squandered opportunity and then replaced her anguish with a false smile, With me today is Professor Liam Richardson from the sustainable energy commission. Professor Richardson, how exactly does the gateway system work?

Richardson was in his seventies, tall with broad shoulders and a flop of silver hair, Well, Chatry, as you know the system was originally constructed to permit safe and secure conference between the elected leaders of the independent countries that used to exist as self governing bodies. You’ll no-doubt recall from your schooldays that squabbling and fighting between nations rarely ended well. he smiled briefly and then continued, A stasis field is generated that reaches out into the Neutral Ground allowing the user to journey through the fabric of space into the meeting area. At the same time another user or multiple users from different locations, which could be anywhere on the planet can make the same journey. They are able to share the same space just as you and I do now. When the meeting is over, they return to the point of origin. The transition is instantaneous and practically imperceptible to the traveller.

So Professor Richardson, why can’t we use the device to travel to other parts of the world? After all there are many gateways in every country.

The gateway system is not a transportation device. The stasis field can reach out over a vast distance but it’s rather like pushing a balloon from the inside…no matter how far it is stretched the occupant remains inside and can only exit from the point of entry.

But in Neutral ground the occupants can mingle freely…is that not so?

Yes, but that’s due to a stasis bubble being maintained at the focus point.

Chatry could sense she was losing the upper hand in the conversation, I’m not sure that I really understand the science behind the machinery, but it obviously does work. Why then can we all not make use of it? After all, most of us have friends we would like to catch up with and the opportunity for free trade would be astronomical.

Forgive me, Chatry…I thought we already had free trade.

She laughed casually whilst burning up inside with fury, Why do only a select few get to make use of this marvel of twenty third century technology? Surely after two hundred years we could have developed a way of expanding the network?

The problem, dear lady, is energy. The stasis field consumes vast amounts of power to maintain integrity. Even with the current ability to gather so much of the solar energy from the sun, there simply is not enough for everyone…and Neutral Ground is only so big you know…to put it bluntly…we would not all fit.

You’ve been to Neutral Ground?

Of course. It was necessary as part of my research.

So why can’t I go as part of my research?

You can…if you can pay for it. Nothing is for free…the power must be paid for by the user each time they wish to make use of the system.

Isn’t it true, Professor that the average cost of each journey is more than most people earn in a year?

Yes.

So what would you say to the viewers at home that see the double standards displayed here between the have’s and the have-not’s?

Well perhaps they should take the advice of your last interviewee…and work hard?

Thank you, Professor, she moved away to get him out of camera shot, seething at his responses to her questioning beneath the calm façade of her television face, So for most of us a holopad is the only way we’ll get to see our loved ones for the foreseeable future…unless that is, you win the lottery. Chatry Lewanna, World news, Newcastle, England.

Lawrence hadn’t heard the end of the news reporter’s spot as he entered the cool, calm surroundings of Gateway. The girl behind the desk smiled when she saw him. No need for introductions; so few were their customers that they were all recognised and sent on their way without the formality of identification checks. The portal looked like a heat mirage shimmering across an opening. Shapes and movement could be made out on the other side although no sound ever made it through the energy field. He stepped over the threshold and was instantly greeted by the familiar sounds of the central square. People emerged at intervals from alternate portals all around the clearing…black, white, young, old…from every corner of the world. All wearing the distinctive travel suits. He rubbed the fabric of his sleeve and wondered about the significance of the material. It felt like cotton, but had some weird sciency type name. Patrick had tried to explain it to him once but he’d lost interest when it became obvious that he would never understand…something about fluromasters or something like that. Anyway there was no point in waiting for Patrick here…he’d be in the tavern probably downing his third glass of wine by now just as he always was on these occasions. Lawrence made his way there; nodding hellos to people he’d seen before but never taken the time to get to know. The tavern was built like an old Tudor Ale house on the inside. Blackened wood beams separated roughly hewn plaster walls and creaking floorboards underfoot completed the deception. He loved it here and sought out the snug where he knew his friend would be waiting. Shards of light cut through the wobbly glass in the windows and cast long shadows on the ground. Glasses clinked and the occasional laugh drowned out the general chatter.

Patrick saw him from across the room, Ha! So you made it after all? Thought you frozen your extremities off in the North East wind. He poured another glass of wine and shoved it across the table then stood and opened his arms to embrace his friend, Good to see you.

The hours always passed too quickly whenever they met. One bottle of wine became two, one tall story became countless arguments that always ended in laughter before the next subject was attended to with equal gusto. The android that had come to clear the glasses from the table had interrupted a humorous anecdote right at the punch line in a way that seemed to be the usual preserve of waiters and suchlike at social gatherings all around the world, Would you like anything else, sirs?

Maybe some pizza…I’m kind of hungry now. What about you, Pat?

Why not?

Two pizza’s…not too spicy…you have them here?

Yes, sir. I’ll return in just a moment with your food.

Lawrence looked up and smiled, You always seem to have whatever I ask for. The kitchen must be huge.

There are sufficient provisions to last many lifetimes, sir. Will that be all?

Yes…thank you.

Maybe we should do this more often, Pat drained his glass and looked longingly at the red stain at the bottom, I’m not doing anything tomorrow…want to come back and try another vintage?

Can’t…got a board meeting in the morning so I’d better not have anymore.

Oh come on…you’re not going to make me drink alone are you?

25845.png

Ninety three million miles away, the yellow star at the centre of the solar system was continuing the process of fusing hydrogen into helium in much the same way as it had done for almost five billion years. Every now and then a solar flare of unexpected magnitude would erupt and spew millions of tons of material into space. This time it was one of the biggest eruptions for millennia. No one on Earth had any advanced warning as the charged material traversed space at the speed of light. Communications would be disrupted, power transmitters would be damaged and the holo-network would crash for a while, but life on the whole would continue as it always had. Except that for those on Neutral Ground the consequences would be far more severe.

When the solar flare hit the planet, the magnetic field buckled under the power of the onslaught. The sky dazzled the world with a display of aurora not witnessed before during their lifetimes that bent round the atmosphere as far as the tropics. Communications went down for several hours until the services were eventually resumed and the news