Orbits - Book 2 - Dangerous Debris

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Rosalind was now clear-headed. She switched on an alarm for Major’s and Carlos’ cabin. She also turned on the intercom and summoned them, “Major, Carlos report to bridge! All crew to the bridge! Repeat! All crew to the bridge!”

A groggy Major responded, “Rosalind what’s going on?”

“You better get to the bridge Thomas. We have a situation in the cargo bay.”

“On my way.”

Rosalind turned her head back to the carbon dioxide indicators and watched them like a hawk until Major arrived. Major and Carlos entered the bridge together two minutes later. Rosalind had turned down the volume on the alarm but it was still audible and the flashing alarm light was obvious. “Rosalind, what’s the situation?” Major asked.

“Take a look at this. The carbon dioxide levels are rapidly rising in the cargo bay. They are not dangerous yet. But they soon will be. They are also rising less slowly throughout the ship,” Rosalind informed him.

Major looked at the indicators. He then walked over to the panel controlling the carbon dioxide scrubbers. They appeared to be working perfectly. “We better get to the cargo bay and see what is going on. Carlos get to ship stores and get the portable scrubbers.”

“Aye, Aye Captain.”

They all left the bridge in a mixed state of fear and resolve. Major had experienced a carbon dioxide situation once before. He was a crewman on the Prometheus supplying the habitation pods for Moon Colony Three. On their return trip to Earth, their scrubbers had failed. They lost two crew members before they could be relieved. If the carbon dioxide scrubbers were working, what could be causing the increased levels, Major wondered.

Major and Rosalind entered the cargo bay and the air in the bay was indeed stale. Carlos quickly followed in and he immediately set to work setting up the scrubbers. Major and Rosalind circled the debris container looking for anything unusual. “What’s that?” Rosalind asked. They both heard a metallic clanging. Given the echo in the bay, it was hard to localize the source of the noise. It repeated and increased in intensity. Major was mystified. He knew every noise his ship could possibly make. There was nothing mechanical in the bay that could be causing that sound. They all looked around as the sound continued increasing with every second. There was a certain frantic frequency of the cacophony, a desperation in its rhythm. Finally, Carlos said, “It’s coming from inside the container.”

“He’s right,” Rosalind agreed.

They all converged on a particular section on the side of the container where the noise apparently was originating from. As they listened, they discovered, however, that the sound was actually coming from multiple sources inside the container. They all looked at each other in bewilderment.

There was obviously something in the container other than mining debris.

“Well, I guess we have to open the container,” Major remarked.

“Are we sure we want to do that Captain? It might be some type of space monster,” Carlos sounded frightened.

“Space monsters Carlos? You watch too many old sci-fi movies. Those CO2 levels are still going up. We have to find out what is going on. Come on help me with the locking brackets,” Major ordered Carlos.

Major took the right bracket and Carlos the left. They grabbed the handles and the brackets released easily. The container doors swung open and what spilled out was the most astounding and disturbing spectacle that one could imagine. The mining debris of rock, slurry, and dust flowed out in a heap onto the floor. But completely mixed within the mush of rubble were humanoid forms of the most peculiar form. First, it was impossible to tell precisely how many creatures there were. They were all entangled with each other; limbs and

torsos indistinguishable from the grayness of the dusty rubble. Material kept spilling out until half the cargo bay floor was covered. When the pile finally settled, movement started with the creatures’ limbs. Some individuals, if that was what they were, had to dig themselves out of the mound. Soon torsos and legs were able to erect themselves and find a footing on the floor.

A count of the organisms began by the crew. There was one, three, six, eight, nine, and then ten. These ten had freed themselves and shook off the dirt. They looked around at their surroundings and at each other. They turned and began pawing at the pile. They dug out two more individuals so that there were a total of twelve individuals now standing in the cargo bay looking at the awestruck crew of the Excelsior.

The description of these creatures could only be characterized as bizarre and otherworldly. First, it was notable that they were smaller than the average human. They were all male. Their heads were larger and more elongated. Hair was thinner and patchy. Limbs were wiry with very little musculature. They almost appeared to be bent at wrong angles or at least they could move at

unnatural angles. Their skin tone was a bluish- grey. The creatures began milling about and their gait had a hunch to it. Their fingers were long and it appeared that this was the strongest part of their bodies. The question that silently and naturally occurred to each of the crew was were these beings human, an offshoot of humans, or some other creature from some yet unknown world?

The tallest of the creatures then stepped forward, apparently to engage in communication with the crew. Major stepped forward to match the creature’s action and addressed him, “My name is Thomas Major. I am the pilot and captain of this vessel. You are on board the Excelsior.”

The creature looked back at his confederates and then back at Major and mouthed in stuttering tones, “Orme. I Orme.”

Sensing that the creature had limited command of the English language, Major pointed to the container behind them and asked slowly, “How did you get in the box?”

“We put in. We look for free. We look for free.” The repeated phrase was said with such poignancy that it stung the crew.

Major wanted to get more information quickly. He knew the carbon dioxide levels continued to rise. Rosalind, the compassionate person she was, noticed that most of the beings were bleeding and otherwise seriously injured. She stepped forward and addressed Orme, “You are injured.” Without hesitation or concern for her own safety, Rosalind walked amongst the beings assessing their injuries.

Carlos turned to Major and advised him, “Captain whatever these beings are, they are exhaling carbon dioxide. That’s why the levels are going up. Excelsior wasn’t designed to have this many people on board for long. The portable scrubbers will buy us some time but …”

“Yes. We have to get them off the ship soon,” Major acknowledged.

Major addressed Orme and said, “Orme if you are looking to go back to Earth, we can ferry you there.”

Orme along with his fellows immediately objected emphatically saying, “No! No! No Earth! Crushed. We crushed. No Earth!”

“Where is it you want to go?”

Rosalind had completed her survey and interrupted Major, “Thomas these people need immediate medical attention. There are serious fractures, lacerations, and I think some have internal bleeding.”

“Are we sure these are even people?” Major responded.

Rosalind looked back at the strange strangers and said, “I’m not sure what they are but they need our help.”

“We have to get them off the ship soon. They are causing the carbon dioxide levels to go up. We don’t have time to get a medical response crew here. You know how long that takes.”

“I know.” Rosalind paused and thought.

The strangers who up to this point had all been standing now began to falter. Some had collapsed to the ground. Others began moaning in obvious agony. The look of desperation in the creatures’ eyes was searing.

Rosalind came up with an answer, “Major there is the Low Gravity Medical Research Lab in orbit.

They have a full medical staff and surgical suites. They have plenty of oxygen and extra scrubbers. I have a friend there. I’m sure he would help. We could get them there before the carbon dioxide becomes dangerous.”

“That appears to be our only option. Carlos get them some water and do your best to take care of them. Ros let’s get to the bridge and set course.” Major looked upon his passengers with pity, concern, and perplexity. To himself and then to his crew he said, “Why were they on that container?”