Eternalize

ETERNALIZE

PATRICK ULLMER



Illustration by the author

This book is humbly dedicated to my mother who encouraged me from the beginning.

Copyright 2020 Patrick Ullmer,

All rights reserved.

Published in eBook format by Free Flying Press

Converted by http://www.eBookIt.com

ISBN-978-1-4566-3502-2

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

Table of Contents

Prologue - At a Happier Time

Chapter 1- Awakening

Chapter 2 - Time

Chapter 3 - Loss

Chapter 4 - Alien

Chapter 5 - Pirates

Chapter 6 - Manifestation

Chapter 7 - Conspiracy

Chapter 8 - Conquerors

Chapter 9 - Nanotechnology

Chapter 10 - Leaving

Chapter 11 - Moon

Chapter 12 - Soulless

Chapter 13 - Pamela

Chapter 14 - Escape

Chapter 15 - Agreement

Chapter 16 - Escape

Chapter 17 - Monster

Chapter 18 - Weak

Chapter 19 - Misinformed

Chapter 20 - Human

Chapter 21 - Anomaly

Chapter 22 - Aurora

Chapter 23 - Hostage

Chapter 24 - Eternalize

Chapter 25 - Discovery

Chapter 26 - Sale

Chapter 27 - Battle

Chapter 28 - Arrival

Prologue - At a Happier Time

Stars.

Millions upon millions of stars.

Everywhere.

In the sky, beyond this world, everywhere.

An old man stared into the morning sky, watching the stars within the dark sky. A young boy followed suit, staring into the sky as well, trying to see what exactly his grandfather was seeing.

Try as he might, he could not.

He looked at his grandfather, who stared further into the night which was now becoming morning. He sat still in his bench on the porch of their house, like a statue.

What do you see? the boy asked.

His grandfather was silent, but he smiled as if he himself did not know.

Finally, he answered.

The promised land, he replied.

The boy understood immediately what his grandfather was implying. He had learned in his private schooling earlier that week. The Promised Land was the land which the prophet Moses could see into but would never be allowed to enter- to understand fully.

It was his punishment for being overzealous with the privileges given to him from higher powers.

The promised land.

The land which could be seen, but never traveled. They were perceived, but never understood fully.

Vastness.

Mystery.

Ambition.

The boy did not understand what his grandfather was thinking, nor could understand what there was to be found in the vastness of this place.

Not at first.

Not for a long time.

But Eventually.

It would only take a little over 750 years for him to finally be able do this.

Chapter 1- Awakening

There were twelve peaceful dreamers aboard the cargo spaceship Encounter as it coursed lazily and aimlessly through the vast cosmos of Space. These dreamers slept in singular pods, lining the halls of this spacecraft in two rows of six. Each pod faced the opposite straight across from it. All was peaceful and well, or so it would seem.

Depending upon the age or demographic of the reader presented with this new information, I believe there is much to be explained. The year is 2886. The planet formerly known as Earth is in great turmoil and an expedition into the far reaches of space had been conducted 750 years into the past. A peaceful place had been the intent of such a journey becoming financed. Peace was found after a great war had taken over the world from which they had left. Though this new peace had been found not under the most convenient of circumstances.

You must also understand by this point that those in question who I had described as dreamers were not dreamers at this time. Centuries ago, they had been dreamers, as well as in sleep. But now they were neither. Perhaps it is due mainly to the fact that they were suspended in their chambers, kept in stasis with the anti-aging fluid known as Incorruptibellum. Another reason they were not dreaming at this time, would also stem from the fact that at this time, eleven were dead, and the last remaining one was not dreaming, but was in deep sleep.

There then came a loud grinding noise from within. The drifting ship slowly began chortling and trembling and then it straightened and became resolved, functioning like a working ship. Its control crystals within needed to warm, but they had been activated and were now working. For not functioning for 750 years, it finally came alive and began functioning properly as it had been meant to.

As this happened, the only sleeper that was still alive awoke.

He was me. I was awakened and yet filled with such a torrent of unresolving sensations that I was uncertain what to do at first. That bout of persistent neutrality was only the beginning of a long and trying journey for me. I would be forced to face the demons from within while discovering what I was again. I thought I was Bruno Redding, young doctor aboard the USS Encounter. I was wrong. This was the time in which I began to awaken- physically.

To better explain my position at this time, I will have to ask you to use your mind for a moment. Imagine you’re fast asleep- deeper than you’ve ever been. Your heart is beating so slow that if it weren’t, there would be no difference between you and a corpse. Your body is unmoving but still alive. You are suspended within a tank of green fluid, called incorruptelam possidebit (just let that name roll off the tongue, it sounds cool when you say it aloud). First designed in 2136 for space cargo preservation, this fluid is like an anti-aging cream. If immersed in it, you never age, you just simply, and intrinsically, remain the same (physically that is). Were it not for the oxygen mask with its life sustaining cords attached to your face, you would have drowned in your sleep a long time ago. You are frozen, and yet not frozen. You do not dream and are simply and intrinsically asleep. You are not in a state of life or death but in a state of near nonexistence.

Now, imagine being that way for 750 years in a cruising interstellar vessel, making its way lazily through the solar system.

I was suspended in a cryo-sleep capsule with the rest of the crew also taking part in this in the other capsules that lined the walls.

And as you have seen, I was the only one to wake up.

Ever have that unfortunate morning where you wake up with a headache that won’t go away? You don’t feel like getting up but at the same time you’re too cramped to spend another moment in bed? You move and every single muscle and fiber of your being is numb and when it is not numb, it feels like cold ice melting against your flesh?

Multiply that by 10 and you might get an understanding of what I’m talking about.

I awoke like this, like a frozen meal being thawed.

The first thing I ever saw upon waking up was a bright light and the first thing I thought was, What’s going on? I raised a stiff arm to shield the light’s irksome gaze upon me. Then I heard a sharp voice speaking. It was the voice of an emotionless but intelligent being. It was the kind of voice you can picture a teacher using while calling out spelling words for the students to write down. It was the voice of the ship’s computer.

Good morning Mr. Bruno Redding, spoke the voice of the supercomputer in control of the craft, You are needed on the bridge.

I opened my eyes and the air burned them. I squeezed my eyes shut immediately and then opened them again. I saw nothing, only blackness. 750 years of your eyes being closed in cryo-sleep will throw off your vision for the first several weeks, if not blind you temporarily for that time.

Believe me, I learned the hard way.

I felt an icy atmosphere surround me. If you had ever been showered with water and then thrown into a walk-in freezer for a few minutes, you may understand where I’m coming from. I was unsure of whether I would rather remain feeling numb or in cold.

I can barely see, I said aloud. I gasped, breath finally entering my lungs from my mouth and nose instead of being pumped into via cords. The air felt hot like fire and I shuddered as I became used to this.

Oh! I grunted, Oh, this really hurts! Oh!

It was the only sensation I could feel, and then it was gone. The rest of me was unfeeling. The computer spoke to me.

I can understand your struggle, clothing can be found in the crew’s cabinets to your left end of the hall.

‘Can you now?’ I thought to myself at the first calculation of the computer.

I pulled off my breathing mask and struggled with the black straps that kept me suspended in midair. The goo that had preserved me all these years was spilled out all over the iron floor in front of the pod. The pod’s glass door had been turned open and stood ajar above me.

Overconfident and with a splitting headache, I undid the straps that kept me above and placed my feet on the floor. I took one step, and every single muscle in my limbs were fast asleep still, feeling as if pins were sticking out of them. I fell forward, slipping on the goo and falling to my knees. A rushing pain rocketed through my knees and I felt myself a bit more awake by this time.

I could hear the supercomputer’s voice through the halls.

Scanning for damage, a showering green light shown upon me from above, turning my skin green for a moment as it did. That is one color I could make out at this time.

There is no fracture or breakage of bone or ligament. Feel free to walk about the craft at your own safety.

I pulled myself up, limping into the quarters of the ship. All the lights were on and were shining. I stumbled into my quarters and saw it to be a perfectly pure white room, with a white cot and a white window frame surrounding the window in the wall, looking out into the deep reaches of space.

It was the colors of the wall and floor that I could decipher next. These colors slowly formed into my eyes and became still. The colors of the walls were blue with a white floor, the colors of the ship’s doctor. As I walked forward to the restroom, I felt my head clearing. The first thing I needed to do would be to clear all this gunk off me and out of my system. I started up a hot shower in the restroom and cleansed myself under it. I was disappointed that I could not feel the hot water on my skin.

After the shower, I put on the ship’s uniform which consisted of the white shoes and pants with the matching white shirt. I looked at myself in the mirror. I had not aged a day. But I was very, very deathly pale. There was no color in my skin, and I hoped that sometime sooner than later, I would have my normal skin color as well as any sensation of feeling, back.

I put on a blue jacket over my white uniform and walked into the halls.

Computer, I stated, Where is the rest of the crew?

Without a hesitation, or emotion, the computer stated the terrible news.

They are all deceased.

I froze like a statue, and my face was a bevy of emotions. Panic, shock, confusion, disbelief…

Questions.

What?

How?

Why?

Those were questions not even the computer could answer at this time.

My mind then began to fill with the memories of the time I went to sleep. I looked around the room, and saw in the projections of my mind replay the event I could last remember of our fateful journey into death before our journey began…

2136 A.D

750 Years Prior

The Encounter drifted silently out of the space dock orbiting Earth. The big blue Earth loomed large, and peaceful within the distance- quite unlike what was happening within it. The Encounter was a huge space craft, built solid and strong, with gray iron and metal. It was like a heavily built battleship, in the sea of stars, only half the size. The crew within were preparing for what Captain Logan Brinks, an avid fan of the classic films starring Actor Humphrey Bogart called, ‘The Big Sleep.’ He was one of the only members of the crew who knew that film existed. The only other one was Bruno Redding, the ship’s young doctor.

The captain was over at the far end of the room, looking over the ship’s charted course. He pressed a couple of buttons on the ship’s keyboard and locked in a chip in the ship’s board. He clicked a few buttons on the ship’s keyboard and the supercomputer appeared. It was like large snaky neck with a large head. It slid out of the wall ahead of them by the large window that looked out straight into the far endless destinations of space.

Yes, Captain Brinks? the supercomputer asked.

In an estimated tally of 20 years this ship will be at the iron planet of Nebakkur. Activate the awakening effect so that we can awaken at that time.

Understood and agreed, the computer’s snaky head replied.

Captain Brinks walked into the main hall where people were getting ready to enter into the cryo-chamber. One of the men, Ozzie Chester cocked his black rifle though it wasn’t loaded. It was a weapon he was proud of.

You think you’ll find some wild game on a planet known best for its desolate and inhospitable habitat due to its Cambrian geological state? Captain Brinks asked.

I like to be prepared, Chester said, there might be aliens out there.

Chester slung his firearm over his shoulder and walked proudly off. The scientist Mr. Herbert Gobb walked forward. He had blonde hair that was cut so short that at first glimpse one could mistake him for being a bald person.

I think it’s so silly, he said, coming up and shaking his head as he watched Chester walk off, That half the people here are new and have no experience with interstellar travel! Not to mention them bringing stuffed animals, and guns, you think they’d mistake this for a field trip!

After this mission they won’t be inexperienced anymore, Captain Brinks said, Besides, there’s no law against anyone bringing a trinket with. I have a shark tooth necklace I picked up from the Caribbean when I was just a kid. Not to mention, you brought your robot which you claim is from an ancient alien civilization.

A highly advanced sentient being who just so happens to be made of metal. Trust me, when he is on, he is a genius. Besides, he can help the supercomputer with our destination while we’re asleep.

A sad look came over Herbert’s face and he became silent. Brinks noticed this. He reached out and grabbed Herbert’s shoulder.

Look at me, he said, We all lose someone, it’s part of the price we pay in this travel. We all knew the risks and are open to their consequences. But we can’t keep looking back, we need to look forward.

A pained look came over Herbert, but he straightened up and said, You’re right. My daughter may have been claimed by the universe, but my metal child will outlive us all.

There you are, Brinks said, That’s the spirit. You bring your other child?

Herbert tapped his pocket. I always carry her with me.

See, now you’ll never leave her.

Any troubles with the destinations? Herbert said, shifting the discussion.

A little now that you mentioned it, Brinks replied, With every multinational trying to stake a claim on the mines of Nebakkur, it’s become like another space race.

I guess it’s a good thing we got the drop on them and are taking off first. Not to mention the talk of war back home, that will definitely give us the advantage.

Hopefully, this ends my career on a high note, Brinks said.

Don’t tell me you’re planning on retiring? Herbert said.

Yeah, I selected many of the personnel working here. It will be their first as well as my last.

It will be the second for me, Herbert said, Hopefully this sequel is better than the first.

I’m certain it will be, but as for me, as one of my favorite actors said, ‘If you want a happy ending, that all depends, of course on where you stop your story.’

Who was that, Van Johnson?

Orson Welles, Brinks corrected.

Herbert smiled. Well, maybe someday my robot will make a good captain.

Brinks smiled and walked forward. Over my dead body.

He will outlast us all you know, Herbert repeated drolly.

Brinks chuckled, but then realized that Herbert was not joking.

It was the Cryo-sleep activity that the crew, all twelve members, would be entering soon. Nobody seemed more optimistic for this action than the ship’s first mate, Dianna Strauch. She was putting on some formfitting clothing, a blue wetsuit that was two pieces- a shirt and a pair of thin shorts. She was blonde and had a little more talent of looking forward to things than any of her companions. Among her other talents included her knack for organization. She was very good at organizing stores and cargo, at pigeonholing carton A in storage container 22.

She had just put on this suit and had taken a small spherical object out of her locker. It was a red stress ball. She began squeezing it in a repetitive pace. Dr. Herbert Gobb began walking by. He looked over at her.

Dianna noticed him and her grip on the stress ball stopped. She walked towards the good doctor.

I’m so sorry about your loss, Dianna said.

I’m sure you are, Herbert replied. He walked onwards as passively as if she had vanished in his reply to her statement. Dianna watched him go.

Cryo-sleep was engineer Thomas Philby’s least part of the voyage. Part of it would be because he would be parted from his glasses, but most of it would be because this was his first-time journeying into Space, and he could get very claustrophobic at times. He was wearing similar attire as Dianna was, only his shorts were much baggier and white. Dr. Bruno Redding stood by, injecting the sedative into his arm before he would enter his pod. Philby was trembling uncontrollably and staring ahead without any expression.

This will soothe your nerves, Bruno said as he removed the needle and dabbed the area with a damp patch of cotton ball. The liquid on the cotton ball cleaned out the injection.

Hey, Bruno said, Relax. Let the sedative do its work. Think about something happy, that should help.

Philby looked to Redding.

I’m just afraid of not waking up, Philby said, taking off his glasses and handing them over to Redding, I’ve heard of these things having nasty side-effects on people.

First time for you? Bruno asked, attaching a heal-pad to the injection he had just made in Philby’s arm.

Philby felt ashamed of this answer. Yes, he replied.

Don’t worry about it, Bruno said, It’s like falling asleep at night, only far less stressful.

My sleep is never stressful, Philby stated as Bruno attached the cords from the ceiling to the securing harness around Philby’s waist.

Bruno pulled up a face mask, it looked to Philby like that of a scuba-diver’s mask.

This will help you breathe, Bruno said, It will keep you very much alive and in perfect hibernation while the submerging goop covers you up. Think of it like an anti-aging cream. In lapsed time, of 30 years, its effects will have prevented such age defects to take place. You will have aged only 30 days physically.

That’s some serious stuff, Philby said, I sure hope you’re right, I’d hate to wake up a wrinkly old pigskin.

Dick Barry and Harris Halton, the ship’s mechanics stood by, laughing as they gathered in their separate pods. Likewise, Barry said, Imagine all 12 of us, 100 years old trying to pilot this thing.

Or if we all went under and never came out, Halton agreed. They were both smiling and were clearly goofing off. It was what they specialized in aside from fixing things. Barry and Halton moved along and Philby watched them go in nervousness. He then looked to Bruno for support.

Ignore them, Bruno said, You’ll be fine.

Easy for you to say, Philby said, I have a family who asked me to contact them about my whereabouts when I wake up. I’m afraid of not, I’m afraid of waking up to find I don’t have a family.

No sooner had he said this then Philby realized he had said a little too much. Bruno seemed to stiffen, as if he had been reprimanded for something he didn’t do, or something he did- it was hard to tell. He looked aside, and then downwards. Then he looked back to Philby, his eyes like a musty mirror- dead inside.

I’m sorry Bruno, Philby said, I didn’t mean…

Of course, you didn’t, Bruno said with a sigh, Don’t worry, you’ll wake up when we get to our destination, contact the family, find out they’re alright and know that you had nothing to worry about.

Philby exhaled, seemingly growing calm. But then he returned to form.

Have you done this before, gone into hyper-sleep? Philby asked.

This will be the first. Bruno stated as he stepped away from the pod.

Philby gasped in horror and Bruno smiled, closing the screen door which came down and sealed into the floor.

Bruno took off his jacket, shoes, and shirt, placing them all in his white and blue quarters. He walked back and strapped himself in his own personal pod. He strapped himself in the black harness that went around his back and chest. It was draped down, hanging loose on him. Everyone else was in their pods.

Captain Brinks was wearing a pair of black shorts and a white t-shirt as he strapped his harness on as well. Dianna entered her pod and began strapping herself in. Then she looked down at the stress ball but then unstrapped herself. She ran out of the pod and placed the stress ball back into her locker.

Dianna, you ready? Captain Brink’s voice came over the intercom in the ship’s hall.

Just a second, Dianna said. She climbed back into the pod and strapped herself back in, ready for the sleep cycle to be activated. The glass shield slid down and closed her in.

Everyone all set? Brinks asked again.

Everyone within their pods nodded or gave him the thumbs up to his pod. Philby was strapped, but not ready for anything that would happen.

Alright, the captain said. His voice could be heard in each individual pod through intercom, Attach your masks now.

Everyone did so, except for Philby. In his individual pod, Herbert hesitantly placed on his breathing mask. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small photograph. He held it up and looked at it. Tears welled in his eyes.

I’m sorry, he muttered in his mask. He then looked up from the photograph and looked to Bruno in his pod ahead of him. Behind his mask, he drew a smile.

Philby had not put his breathing mask on. He looked around nervously.

Suddenly, the floor began to fill up with a bluish syrupy liquid. It was strangely warm and thick.

What is this stuff? he asked frantically.

It’s that gack I was telling you about, Bruno’s voice came through the telecommunication speaker above his head.

It’s called incorruptelam possidebit. Captain Brinks explained from his pod, Cool name, right?

The fluid all came into these pods. It was up to everyone’s waists now. Philby was still staring at the growing liquid which was now growing up to his lower ribs. He still hadn’t put his mask on.

Philby, put on your mask now! Bruno shouted through his speaker. Philby gasped and obeyed immediately. He strapped the black mask onto his face.

You don’t want to be embalmed alive, do you? Bruno’s voice came again. Philby had the mask on and began breathing heavily through it.

Breathe slower, Bruno’s voice came again, Inhale for five seconds and then exhale for five seconds.

Sorry, I get claustrophobic.

Hey, easy there, you’re going to be okay. When you wake up, we’ll be at Nebakkur.

If you say so.

Hey, you’re gonna live, trust me.

The fluid covered up the pods from the inside and everyone fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.

That was all I could remember and my memories of this faded. I now stood alone within the dark hallways, staring ahead at the closed pods of dead dreamers. The computer’s robotic head lowered and drifted alongside me. I must have aged physically only under 3 years. I did feel like I was 750 years old though.

Their vital signs are unresponsive. They are deceased. I am sorry, it explained.

I stood in the hall upon hearing the news again. I was unsure how to respond. Supercomputers had no sense of humor and I doubted this was a joke. My hands at my sides twitched and then clenched into fists. Painfully- if they could feel anything.

Are you sure of your calculations? I asked.

For a voice that expressed no emotion it seemed angered by my doubts of its precisions.

MY calculations are correct, came the voice of the supercomputer. The measurements of their pulses are at a stoppage. The measurements of their heartbeats are at a stoppage. Their vitals are stiffened as are the rest of their bodies. They are deceased.

All of them? I asked, needing to be sure.

"You are the only living member of the crew of the Encounter."

That was a statement that I would be told a few times by this machine in the days to come.

How can you be sure? I asked. My fists were twitching. My knuckles were white, whiter than the rest of me. Check again.

Immediately, a showering green light shown upon me from above. I stood still, cold as if frozen.

The light went off after a while.

Pulse increased…Heartbeat increased…Vitals all in order…Your physical condition is at normal functioning level.

I still could not believe that I was the only one. I could not run this ship! I was a doctor, not a captain!

No, no, they’re all alive! I exclaimed, finally breaking free from my cool. Then doubts began to cloud me again, Aren’t they?

Scanning… came the human voice of the metallic entity that was the ship’s supercomputer.

Apologies for the unfortunate news. They are all deceased.

A flood of dread overcame me, and I found myself running back to the hyper-sleep hallway. I ran past each member of the crew, all drifting peacefully in their pods. They all were stiff, un-aging, incorruptible.

Embalmed.

Then I passed Philby’s pod. My words came back to haunt me.

Philby, put on your mask! You don’t want to be embalmed alive.

Breathe slower…

Hey, easy there, you’re going to be okay. When you wake up, you’ll be at Nebakkur.

Hey, you’re gonna live, trust me.

No, no, no! I kept saying to the sleeping form of Philby in the pod, You’re going to live!

I pressed the combination of buttons on the combination nearby. It lit up but did nothing. I pressed it again. It did not open the pod as I had intended it to.

Computer, I ordered, Open the pod.

I would not advise your present decision.

Do it now, I said.

With all due respect sir, the computer said, You will be unable to revive him.

I knew I could convince the computer into compliance somehow, but I was not going to waste another second trying to do that. I sprinted to the emergency fire ax cabinet and smashed through the glass with my fists.

I would not advise- came the computer’s voice.

Shut up! I shouted back. I seized the ax and ran to Philby’s pod. I chopped at the glass pod’s door with all my strength. The ax bounced off as if it were rubber. I swung again.

Mr. Redding, my calculations indicate that there is no chance of physical restoration for this person.

Well mine do! I shouted. On my third swing, the ax finally took hold. The blade wedged itself into the smooth glass plane of the pod. I wrenched it out with great difficulty and swung again. And again. By this time, the pod’s sealed glass door was cracking wider and the fluid within was seeping out.

Sir, I am able to-

Not now! I shouted. I was tired of this machine’s calculations. Someone’s life was on the line. I swung the ax and chopped and chopped at the door. Finally, the pod’s glass door broke apart and the fluid and glass fell apart, pouring out upon the metal hallway floor. I leapt aside just in time. Philby’s masked and harnessed body fell forward, suspended by the cords. I rushed in and undid the straps and mask on him. I heaved Philby’s body out of the pod. It was very stiff.

Against my better judgment and denying the obvious facts, I carried Philby into the medical room. I lay him on the operating table. I did CPR on his chest, pushing down upon his chest, doing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and repeat. There was no response. I then cut open Philby’s shirt and grabbed the defibrillator pack out of the wall. They were off.

Computer, I shouted, Activate the defibrillators!

Immediately they powered on. I applied them to Philby’s chest. The electric shock went out and Philby’s body was stiff as a statue. No movement.

C’mon, I said, gritting my teeth, You’re not dying on me! It’s not happening!

I tried again and again…it was no use. Then I tried the one thing I would only use on very, VERY dire circumstances.

The Molecular Medical Nanotechnology within this table, it could surely revive him, couldn’t