Chapter 1 - Awakening
"...Two, one, engage." The Captain turns the dial.
No-one really knew before that how it would feel. Humans had been teleported before, of course. Most report a mildly nauseating feeling that quickly wears off and leaves no permanent damage. But to hyperjump the mass of a ship like this, an immense amount of dark energy is necessary. The results on the human physiology can only be guessed. Worst case extrapolations predict immediate heart failure, but the risk had to be taken. The unbelievable consequences if it works far outweigh the risks. But no-one could ever have guessed what really happened.
The plan is like this. After the Captain turns the activation dial, the ship will be pushed in a newly created pocket dimension representing dual space. There, the whole universe is but a point, while points are stretched to the whole of space. The pocket dimension then pushes the ship back into normal space, splitting itself away from our universe - a new universe, all by itself. Humankind has created billions of new universes this way, some of which may have collapsed on themselves, some of which may have expanded into nothingness, and some of which may have sustained themselves, perhaps even evolving life and intelligence...
But it did not happen like this. After the Captain turns the dial, the ship is indeed pushed into little understood dual space. Due to the amount of dark energy involved with the creation of the pocket dimension, however, this dimension is unlike the others. And, because of the nature of dual space, time is working different in it - what is one dimensional time in normal space, becomes three dimensional time in dual space. This is no problem if you only stay in it for a duration that is essentially indistinguishable zero. But the native inhabitant of the pocket dimension does not like invaders.
The entity is, essentially, a point. A zero dimensional being. In our dimensions, it would occupy the entire universe, but in dual space, it is a point, it stays a point, and everything it knows is its point. It even named itself Point (albeit in a slightly more unpronounceable way). As such, Point feels and controls everything it knows about. A true omnipotent and omniscient god. Until the humans charge in.
Point is not happy with that, but it realizes the possibilities. If it would manage to enter the ship and get transported to dual space, that might be very interesting. And combining all knowledge of two dual universes might create quite a powerful entity... So Point searches the ship. And it is shocked to find life. A primitive form of life, but life. With intelligence and souls. Two different forms of them, even - some warm and confusing ones and a cold and somehow familiar one. Quickly, Point enters some of the beings. It wants them all, but the ship is already returning...
Back in normal space, there are some problems aboard the ship. Everyone of the crew has felt that something strange has happened as they passed through dual space. But there are more pressing problems. First of all, their main computer has crashed. The only way that might have been possible is when an extremely powerful virus of some sort would have entered the main reasoning feedback loop. This is a technical and mathematical impossibility, but still, it happened. As a result, the Captain (being neurologically linked to the computer) now sits dead in his chair. However, he might be the lucky one.
The rest of the crew screams, cries and wails from intense burning pain in their intestines. The jump has touched their nervous system in a very brutal way. For now, the first effects include a lot of pain, but it will wear off. And indeed, it does. The secondary symptoms are becoming clear: amnesia. Personality change.
Luckily, the orders of the mission are deep in their unconsciousness by now. The first thing that is said is a most deep declaration of failure. "Damn. This is not Mars, is it?" And indeed - the viewpoint offers a view on the Crab Nebula, from very close.
"This is hopeless. I'm going back to my cabin. I suggest we all do, though. Tomorrow, we'll try to find out our exact position and get in touch with Earth, or anyone else from the human race - I don't really care. Goodnight." And off they go, towards their cabins.
Next morning, or what is supposed to be morning according to ship time, someone is missing. The Telepath is not there on the morning meeting. "Sir Doctor," someone says, for he has already forgotten the name of the Doctor, "would you mind to see where our Telepath is? I think we will need him." The Doctor goes towards the cabin of the Telepath. There is a name on the door - 'Idiota'. Suddenly, the Doctor remembers. "Right, the Telepath was named Idiota... My memory has been failing me since the jump..." He knocks on the door, but no answer comes. He tries the door - locked, of course, but this is no problem. A Doctor always has an override access card. The Telepath is still on his bed. But, the Doctor's fear is true... The Telepath is dead. And, clearly, murdered.
The Doctor quickly reports this to the meeting, and gets the instructions he feared for. The Telepath cannot be missed and must be saved. He brings the body to the medical section and attaches the lifeless Telepath to the resurrection machine. Then, he attaches himself to the other side of the machine, and orders the medical computer to switch their personalities, as instructed. Two minutes later, there is a dead Doctor and a living Telepath in the medical bay. The new Telepath returns to the meeting, leaving the body for the robots to remove.
Back in the meeting, things are clear. They need to get a new Captain, and they need to find out who has killed the Telepath, and why. And bring swift judgment.
Did you know that dual space is a mathematical object that actually makes sense? Fun, really. Of course, it's not quite the way I abused it here.
Anyway, Idiota is dead, he was the Telepath (Seer), and now the Doctor (Aer) is the new Telepath. Get voting for Captain and lynching, you have until Saturday noon GMT (mind the DST ).
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