The Threshold

So I have decided to embark on a new venture. Trying my hand at fiction writing again after more than a decade of ignoring it. The Threshold is my first foray back into it, and at this stage the storyboard is rough, I have a solid idea of where this story is heading.

As always, I welcome comments.

Chapter 1

Hunter Griffin lay next to a small river. This was supposed to be his relaxation time, but he couldn’t relax. The pleasant green environment surrounding him did as little as the quiet chirping of birds. As the faint perfume of flowers reached his nose his muscles tensed refusing to relax. He opened his eyes and looked to his left. A small bilby scratched at the ground with its front paws.

For a small moment Hunter looked relaxed, but instead his arm swung out and snatched up the bilby with lightning reflexes. He focused all his pent up anger and began squeezing the poor mammal.

“Computer end simulation.” A voice commanded.

The river, the greenery and the bilby disappeared. Hunter continued to squeeze, drawing blood from his hands.

“This is ‘sposed to be relaxation time, not suppressed anger relief time.” Hunter just stared at the guard. “Still not talking huh Griffin? If you keep that up, protest or no protest, you’ll end up in a cleansing institute.”

Hunter lead the way back to his cell. He waited at the barred door on the right. “Wrong way Griffin.”The guard stated. I’ve been told to give you time out of your cell. I’ve decided  that if you can’t relax, we’re gonna work some of that aggression out in the exercise yard. There’s no one out there at the moment, so I’ll spot you with the weights.”

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

“He’s quite intelligent, isn’t he?” The deputy warden of the prison eyed the woman before him as she flicked through the file of Hunter Griffin. The woman was in her mid-twenties, with dark curly hair hanging just below her shoulders, approximately 180 centimeters tall. A slight difference in pigmentation showed that she had recently been in an accident where she had required part of her lower jaw to be regenerated, but her striking appearance was enough to make you overlook the small blemish.

“Ms Sands, Mr Griffin is in the exercise yard at the moment. If you’ll just follow me.” The deputy warden gestured a side passage.

“That’s upstairs. I thought the exercise yard was on the ground level.” Lynia Sands looked at the map she had been provided with.

“Upstairs is the Viewing Deck. We can safely see if Mr Griffin is what you’re after.”

“I can’t properly evaluate Mr Griffin unless I meet him face to face.” Lynia nudged him with her mind. Something she rarely did, she didn’t want people knowing she was one of the different ones. “I’d also like to meet him privately, if you read my profile you’d know I am more than capable of dealing with any situation which may arise.”

Not knowing why, the deputy allowed the interview. “I’ve already read your profile Ms Sands; I can’t see it being a problem. Although, I don’t think you’ll get a lot out of him he hasn’t spoken to anyone for a while.”

“That’s not a concern.” Lynia replied plainly.

“Arrange for Mr Griffin and Ms Sands to have the private simulation room to meet in.” The  Deputy Warden commanded one of the accompanying guards. He turned back to Lynia. “Are you sure you don’t want a guard in the room with you?”

“There is no need.” Lynia replied coolly. “Also I would like this environment in the room. The contents of this drive are private, and I will require it back undamaged. There is a destruct mechanism on it if any one should try to copy it, which sends a powerful charge not only through the disk destroying the information on it, but also the parts of the computer and surrounding area which are conductive. There is extremely sensitive material on this disk and I am holding you personally responsible for it’s safe guarding until its return to me.”

Lynia held the disk out to the Warden, he hesitated, not touching it, then nodded to one of the guards to take it. The guard took the drive and lead Lynia away.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Hunter entered the simulation room, as the doors closed behind him the simulation began.

“Welcome Mr Griffin.” Hunter looked over to a woman sitting in a comfortably padded chair. “This is the bridge of the ‘Pioneer.’ Please take a seat.”

Lynia gesture a seat in front of a console. “My name is Lynia Sands, and I have a proposal to offer.” Hunter sat down.

“Hunter…Can I call you Hunter?” Lynia tried to nudge an answer out of him.

“There is no need to push an answer out of me, you can’t prompt me. I answer because I choose to answer.” He looked her square in the eyes. “Yes, you may call me Hunter. Now, your proposal?”

“I am from a company called Melltech. We are currently working on a project that will revolutionize space travel as we know it. We have a position on our team which we would like you to fill.”

“Let me guess, I get a commuted sentence if I do?” Hunter asked.

“No.” Lynia stood and walked around the bridge. “I want you to understand that my superiors have pulled a lot of strings and called in a lot of favors to allow this meeting, I was not intending on having you turn me down, so I covered myself.”

“What is your bargaining chip then?” Hunter leant over and looked at the panel in front of him.

“Your freedom…in exchange for your services of course.” Lynia looked at him for an immediate answer.

“What if I said no.” Hunter stood and looked at Lynia with the same stare.

“My people will destroy the evidence which proves your innocence.” Lynia sat down in the captain’s chair completing her circuit of the bridge.

“Do I have to like you?” Hunter asked with scorn.

“I’d prefer you to. But if you’re convincing enough, that’ll do.” She smiled at him, and he wasn’t quite sure what happened, but something told him he needed to take the offer.

“Obviously I have no choice but to say yes, but before I do, fill me in on what I am signing up for.”

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

“Captain Brune!” The captain stopped at the sound of his name.

“As your commanding officer I just wanted to wish you luck.” Brune looked at the man he had worked under for the past thirty years. “And I wanted to give you this, it’s a small token of my appreciation for your work under me.”

Brune nodded his appreciation and tucked the wooden box under his arm, he saluted his superior for the last time then left the compound.

There was a vehicle awaiting him, courtesy of his new employer. He nodded to the driver who eyed the well built dark haired soldier warily, and offered to take the luggage while his passenger climbed into the back seat of the limousine. The phone rang, Brune hesitated then answered.

“Mr Brune?” The voice spoke out. “This is Ms Talin’s assistant, I’m ringing to ask if you’d mind sharing your ride with another individual that you will be working with?”

“My name is just Brune.” He replied, then added “Who?”

“The new commander Mr Brakus.”

“I have no problem with that.” With that he hung up, not considering the rudeness of the act.

The driver remained silent until arriving at a large house. “Mr Brakus’ home, sir.”

Brune climbed out of the limousine and stood waiting with the door open.

Romald B. Brakus emerged from the front door of his large home. Brune noted that he similar in stature, and build to himself, but with what could only be described as a mane of red hair with a light peppering of silver, he kissed his wife and child good-bye. The driver walked up to the front door and retrieved the luggage waiting for him.

Romald approached the limousine.

“Commander Brakus!” Brune stood at attention.

“Arm down soldier!” Romald ordered, then leant in close and said in a personal manner, “You’re a civilian now, you call me Romald.”

“Uh…Brune” He took the hand that was extended to him and shook.

“First time out of the service huh? I was in the service, I used it to get myself an education, used the money I made to set myself up here.” He offered to let Brune climb into the vehicle first. “I read your record, you were in the service for thirty years, not bad for someone who only looks twenty-five.”

“Being born in a tank, does have its advantages.” Brune spoke in a tone that let Romald know that it was a topic he didn’t want to discuss.

“You would have quite a bit of funds set aside.”

“Yes sir.” Brune received a look from Romald that told him he didn’t like being referred to as his superior.

“Can I ask you a personal question?” Romald helped himself to the bar in the side panel of the vehicle, and offered to Brune.

“If I may ask one also?” Romald nodded to allow him to go first. “Was the loss of your hand the reason why you left the armed forces?”

Romald lifted his right arm and pulled the sleeve back to reveal a hard-light projector. “No, this was a car accident three days after I left. How did you know?”

“The way you poured your drinks, you obviously prefer your right hand but are as equally skilled with your left, which you would have used while trying to get aquainted with your new hand.” Brune took a small mouthful of bourbon. “How come you got to keep your hard-light hand after they were banned.”

“I under went examinations that declared I wasn’t likely to use it maliciously as a weapon.” Romald smiled. “Although I do use it to make dinner, a knife to cut meat, a corkscrew for wine. It’s better than a Swiss army knife.”

“Your question?” Brune jogged Romald’s memory.

“Yes, why didn’t you leave the forces after your compulsory twenty years?”

“I had nothing else, my life had always been my career. The only reason I left was because my superior told me I’d be crazy to miss an opportunity, and when I still refused, he ordered me to.” Brune lifted his glass and looked at the brownish liquid it contained, swirling it around with the ice.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never had bourbon before? You and me are going to have to go out some time, I’m going to teach you how real people live.” Romald realized what he had said when Brune’s face screwed up. “However you take that last remark I want you to know one thing, I was teasing you because of your commitment to an ordered life that you lived before. Not because you were born in a tank. And furthermore, if you feel you are being singled out because of who you are, I want you to inform me right away. I’ll have none of that on my ship.”

Without trying Romald had killed the conversation. After a few minutes, Romald turned up the music to remove the awkward feeling in the air.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Hunter sat in the Prisoner transporter and listened to the soothing music that played in all unmanned prison transports. There was a small tinted window at the front of the vehicle, too small to escape via, through which Hunter viewed the city he had lived in for the past 3 years. He made observations as he moved through Dalping City. The suburbs were designed around USA, Earth, in the 1950’s, with designers going to great extents to hide the present technological devices and keep the 1950’s feel, of homes with green grass yards and white picket fences.

However, as you moved deeper into the city, approaching the CBD, the building designs and technology in the street were very much modern in appearance. The serenity and harmony of the 1950’s and the advances of the eras since complimented each other, giving Dalping City a balanced feel.

Hunter turned on the console in front of himself and viewed the reports on the project that would be his life for the next few years. Project Threshold. There wasn’t a lot of information in the report as a majority was confidential, but mostly it related to research into a new type of engine for travelling between star systems.

The screen shut off and the calming music ceased, an automated voice then spoke. “The destination is less than eight minutes away. Please attach restraints. You have five minutes to comply before action is taken.”

A small panel slid open and Hunter removed the shackles and attached them to his wrists and ankles. The restraints then self-tightened and locked.

“Thank you for complying.” The voice sounded.

The vehicle slowed and entered a compound which was clearly a departure location from Delping into orbit.

As the vehicle stopped Hunter heard Lynia speak to him directly inside his head. ‘I will be right there.’

Hunter waited a little while until the door to his transport opened.  There stood Lynia with two guards, all dressed in Melltech uniforms, green and blue respectively. The uniform was made of a flame retardant polymer which looked and felt similar to cotton, which had a thicker material underneath which served as insulation. It was made of two pieces; the lower, which came up to the chest at the front and just above the buttocks at the rear, and the top, which covered the upper portion of the body. The uniform had a black seal that joined the top and bottom pieces and ran up the centre of the front to the collar of the upper piece.

The two guards assisted Hunter out of the transport and guided him towards the entrance, the transports door closed and it departed.

‘I apologise about the restraints, they are just until we are aboard the vessel.’ Lynia spoke to Hunter’s mind as they traveled quickly through jet tunnels installed within the complex. ‘I take it from your lack of response you can’t respond mentally?’

Hunter shook his head.

‘I promise I’ll teach you how.’ She smiled a warm smile. Hunter instinctively wanted to smile back but suppressed it.

“We are currently taking you to the transport shuttle, Everest.”Lynia spoke aloud this time. “There you will be transported to the station in orbit around this planet, from where you will be flown to the research station, which as present I cannot inform you of the location.” The small group stopped, and Hunter waited while his restraints were removed. “Any questions?”

“What’s the in-flight movie?” Hunter smirked. There was no answer given as he was placed into his seat, and the new restraints were set.

‘When you awake, you’ll be there.’ Lynia said softly before closing his module and sending him to sleep.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Jessica Talin sighed, today was the day she was checking out of Davidson’s Cleansing Institute. It would be an under statement to say she was nervous. She had been dreading the day she would become an out patient, mainly because she was going straight back into the work that had killed her husband.

Jessica had told herself that she had to see their work finished, they had worked together on it their whole lives.  She remembered the day that her husband came home as excited as a school boy over the fact he had got a sponsor for their work. She was even more surprised to find out that it was Melltech, a corporation that dealt in high quality products.

For approximately two and a half years the husband and wife team of Dan and Jessica Talin achieved their minor goals for the overall project ahead of schedule. All the while maintaining secrecy for the sake of Corporate sponsorship (as Dan had signed a ten year contract allowing Melltech exclusive use of the technology from the date of the projects conclusion).

As she emerged from the clinic she spotted a luxury Melltech transport awaiting her in the parking bay. It reversed out and parked in font of her. A tall gentleman got out of the driver’s seat and opened the rear door for her.

“This way Mrs Talin.” The driver had an accent she couldn’t place, it was a combination of several of the planets for this region, she knew that much, but she couldn’t place the dominant portion of it.

“The name is MS Talin thank you.” She climbed into the back of the vehicle with out uttering another sound.

As she had expected there was a message on the console in front of her. Melltech wanted her back on the project she had suspended over a year ago. She had been advised by her councilors not to go back into work straight away, but felt it was something she needed to do.

She switched off the console, and reclined back into her seat. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a small parcel. Hesitantly she opened it. Inside was a Melltech uniform.

Jessica set the windows to mirror and changed into her uniform. She looked at her reflection, her time at the institute had allowed her to grow back her dark hair to her shoulders, and allowed time outdoors to help hide the colour differences in her skin from healing, but the obvious line down her upper left leg, where it was clear the regeneration had taken place, didn’t really get afforded much time to get a lot of sun and colour like the the rest of her had.

Jessica recalled the day the incident happened, the more she thought about it, the more she was certain it was sabotage. She was positive that was why Lynia had insisted on a new crew. She regretted not being able to participate in the selection process of the new crew, but Lynia had an uncanny way of selecting the right people, and had Jessica’s complete trust. The only members from the original crew were herself and Lynia.

She called up a screen listing to view the new crewmembers. As she looked down the list, several of the applicants were some of her recommendations for the original commencement of the project. The senior team, though, were completely foreign to her.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Upon Jessica’s arrival on the ship, Lynia met her. It was late according to ship time and Jessica hadn’t expected anyone to be waiting for her, but was still glad that she didn’t have someone unfamiliar escort her around her ship.

“Hey Jessica, how are you doing?” Jessica knew what Lynia was really saying, she had never been the friendly type, and Lynia was more business orientated in her relationships.

“I’m out aren’t I? I’m anxious to get back to work. I take it that this ship is up to the stages that we were at previously? And that all current data is in my console in my room?” Jessica met Lynia’s eyes.

“Your computer is up to speed, but the ship won’t be ready for another 36 hrs, but this will give you the opportunity to aquaint yourself with the senior team.” Lynia programmed Jessica’s pin, which carried her rank, to Jessica’s door

Jessica gave Lynia a questioning look regarding the pin.

“New technology, it’s like a tag, it allows us to know where everyone on the ship is and it also carries your privileges and access. Doors and terminals react according to your pin.”

“Anything else happened while I was away?” Jessica said more than she intended to.

“Well, I did get promoted, and although I’m your superior now I was adamant about you having complete control over this program and this ship, so I’m still your 1^st officer. Anyway, you’ve got to get used to ship time and you’ve only got two days still we start on a schedule which I did but you need to approve … I’m over loading you, I’ll just say goodnight.” With that Lynia gave Jessica a light push into her room and headed off.

“Lights.” The room brightened and the door closed behind Jessica. The layout was different to the previous ship. Everything, in Jessica’s opinion, had been updated. She also noted that she had a private ensuite, where as previously she and her husband had shared with Lynia and her various company.

There had obviously been an increase in funding, there was plush furniture in the blue and green colours of Melltech. She looked over to the console on her desk. For a moment She thought about turning it on and working, but looking through into the bedroom she decided that perhaps going to bed now would be a good idea. Although she’d be getting up at 6am, ship time, it would be three hours earlier than her previous time zone.

She commanded the lights to change to their lowest setting of one and headed into her bedroom to sleep.