DESCRIPTION
"Hindsight" is a science fiction short-story that takes place on planet Pluto. Two astronauts are sent to investigate the source of a mysterious signal from an unknown craft. Their routine mission quickly takes a perilous turn as they encounter the Hinson Rift. As their ship enters the fringes of the Rift, two other ships are detected. All contact with Neptune base is lost as all ships race to the site. The two astronauts find themselves in the midst of a horror unlike anything they have ever experienced. [1,300 words]
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
I live in south Alabama with my wife, four daughters, and four grandchildren. For 12 years, I worked in Florida and Alabama as a mental health counselor. Five years ago, I began work for the State of Alabama as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. My other interests include reading, playing guitar, and serving as a baptist pastor. [July 2003]
Hindsight Johnny Moore
"Alpha five-nine, this is Neptune Station control. Do you copy?"
"Loud and clear, control."
"What is your location and status, five-nine?"
"Current position is mark one-five-seven-nine and stable control. Do you verify?"
"Roger, five-nine. Mark one-five-seven-nine stable, verified. Pluto will be within visual range in ten seconds from...mark."
Captain McBride peers out the forward view port. Like an expanding balloon, Pluto grows as it comes into view. The scanner signals changes to its readings as the spacecraft approaches. The captain notices a new ghostly image forming on the holographic display.
First Officer Sinclair also notices it. The holograph clearly shows Pluto with Alpha five-nine slowly approaching. The new image matches their speed and velocity exactly. Sinclair attempts an ID lock on the image, but is unsuccessful. "Captain," he says. "What do you make of this image?"
"I don�t know. Better contact control and see if they�re getting this."
"Neptune Control, this is Alpha five-nine. We are picking up an image on our scanner that cannot be identified. Can you assist?"
"Affirmative, five-nine. Data processing now."
Several seconds snail by. "Five-nine this is control. We are showing no irregular images or readings. However, sensors do detect the Hinson Temporal Rift approaching your location. It measures 978,562 square kilometers. Copy, five-nine?"
"Roger, base. Be advised we are still picking up the image on our scanners."
A green light on the defense panel pulses, indicating five-nine is being scanned. Sinclair analyzes the data.
"Sir," Sinclair says, "readings indicate we are being scanned on the same frequency as our scanners."
"I see that. What do you make of it?"
"I don�t know, sir. I am not aware of any other craft in this sector."
Sinclair responds to a second green light, indicating another scan on the ship.
"Captain! I don�t understand, but we are being scanned by a second ship!" exclaims Sinclair. "It is behind us and maintaining a velocity synchronous with ours. The data indicate it is holding relative position equal to the distance between us and the ship in front of us."
"Neptune Base, this is Alpha five-nine. We are picking up a second scan source behind us with identical configuration to the one in front. Do you verify?" McBride asked.
"Alpha five-nine, again we show no craft in your area. However, the rift is fast approaching your position. Interference of transmission may be present. We are not reading you clearly. Communications will be interrupted until the rift passes. Estimated time is 2.59 hours. Continue your mission with caution. Over."
"Roger, Neptune base. The mission will proceed as directed."
"Sinclair. I want you to place the scanners on continuous monitoring and recording. When we complete the mission, we will attempt contact."
"Understood, captain." Sinclair�s fingers race across the instrument pad as he enters the codes. "Scanners on continuous record."
McBride then touches the instrument pad in front of him. A command tape plays as an authoritative face appears on the screen. "Two days ago," he says, "Neptune base received unusual readings from Pluto. Indications are that a spacecraft of unknown origin has crashed on the surface. The craft emits continuous variable power readings suggesting a distress signal. The first priority is to expedite the rescue of any survivors. Their intentions are unknown. Therefore, extreme caution is advised upon approach. Good luck on your mission. End of transmission." McBride ponders the coincidence of the two ships appearing just as they themselves approach Pluto. Somebody does not want us getting close to the ship, he thinks.
"Captain," Sinclair says, breaking McBride's concentration. "We are approaching orbit trajectory. Initiating standard orbit sequence . . . now."
McBride looks at the scan matrix and reports. "The craft in front of us is entering standard orbit. Odd. The craft behind us is initiating orbit sequence also. Configurations of both ships are coming into focus, and they appear to be of the same class rescue ship as ours."
McBride began having second thoughts about the mission. They must be from a squadron of ships sent on this mission. But, why the secrecy? Perhaps the communication problem is preventing control from letting them know, he thought. Yes, that�s it. When the Hinson Rift passes by, Neptune base will verify his suspicions.
Sinclair is concerned about the rift. He has never encountered one, but his academy studies included information about encounters by other explorers. The rift seems to disrupt time and space as it travels. Ship logs from previous encounters describe it as a temporal rift much like the mysterious Bermuda Triangle from last century. Christopher Hinson, who discovered the rift, was the first interstellar scientist to propose that the Bermuda Triangle events occurred as a result of the temporal rift entering earth�s atmosphere precisely where the Triangle is located. The solid crust of the earth with the density of the atmosphere and water caused the rift to remain at its location until a massive plasma explosion upset its stability. The rift was then propelled to outer space to continue its journey. Could this rift be similar or the same one?
Sinclair snaps his attention to the flashing light on the instrument panel. They are now within transporter range. "Sir! Readings indicate that two crew members from the craft ahead of us are beaming to the crash site."
"Quick," McBride replies. "Let�s get down there and see what�s going on. Set coordinates to beam to their location."
"Aye, sir," Sinclair answers as he quickly locks in the coordinates.
They enter the transport chambers, put their helmets on, and beam to the location. Upon arrival, they notice the others ahead of them. They are cautiously walking to the crash site just one hundred meters from where they stand. Sinclair and McBride hold their hazard lights steady as they follow the two figures to the site. Rocks and boulders tower about them. The terrain is dark and still. The low gravity makes it easier for them to travel the rough path toward the site.
Ten meters from the wreckage the figures ahead stop. Sinclair and McBride flash their hazard lights as they continue their approach. The figures turn toward them. McBride and Sinclair see that the two strangers are wearing uniforms similar to their own. The strangers look at each other for a moment and then toward the crash site just as beam of light bolts from within the wreckage, punching them backward.
Sinclair and McBride are just a few meters from the fallen men. They stop and turn to see two other figures flashing their lights at them.
Sinclair turns to McBride. "They must think we had something to do with the blast that killed these two," he says anxiously.
"Quick!" McBride urges, "Let�s get to the site and see what happened before they catch up."
They run toward the site as fast as their bulky suits will allow. A light builds with intensity within the hull of the ship as they approach. Looking down at the two men, McBride and Sinclair see them at the same time. There is no time to talk to each other, or to warn the two behind them to stay away. In an instant they both understand. The last thing they see before a blast of searing light slams into them are the mangled faces in the two helmets lying on the ground at their feet. They are familiar. The names on the helmets reveal everything. One figure is the bloody face of Sinclair; the other is the mutilated face of McBride. An instant later, the Hinson Rift, Bermuda Triangle, or whatever it is claims two new victims. The same terrifying event repeats until the temporal rift passes through the sector.
They will never know that after the alien ship crashed, one of the defensive phaser cannons was activated. This caused intermittent power surges which were mistakenly interpreted by Neptune Base as a distress call. This same event will repeat itself until the Hinson Rift, hungry and growing, patiently passes through the Pluto sector to its final destination . . . Earth.
READER'S REVIEWS (4) DISCLAIMER: STORYMANIA DOES NOT PROVIDE AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWS. ALL REVIEWS ARE PROVIDED BY NON-ASSOCIATED VISITORS, REGARDLESS OF THE WAY THEY CALL THEMSELVES.
"The Description begins interestingly enough, but I question how routine it is to be investigating a mysterious signal coming from a mysterious ship. It doesn't sound very routine to me, but I'll need to read the story first to see if these investigators do this kind of thing every second Tuesday. Be back in ten." -- J St. George.
"Beware of fragments, such as this odd sentence �Several seconds snail by.� I know what you mean "Several seconds passed by slowly," but I only know that through experience, other readers may not be so lucky." -- J. St. George.
"This story seemed boring to me. I really didn't get into it. I don't think tracking a distress signal is really intesresting, but it could've been if youd've made it longer. The problem was you threw me right into the story and then you ended it too quickly. But this is your first story, so people can't judge you too harshly" -- Steven.
"Sounds Star-Treky to me. Kept looking for my friends Spock and the "captain" to pop in. I disagree about the fragment. I understood the snail analogy right off and thought it was very picturesque." -- Stephanie Mckinney.
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