Helpless

Posted on Jun 19, 2016 @ 1:58pm by Commander Jacob Crichton
Edited on on Jun 19, 2016 @ 1:59pm

Mission: Fortress: Earth

= Helpless =

(cont’d from “The Honey Pot”)

LOCATION: USS PHOENIX

SCENE: Shuttle Bay 2

STARDATE: [2.16] 0618.2324

When Jake Crichton had finally made it back to his quarters after the marathon brainstorming session with Barton and Maynell, he collapsed immediately into bed. The next thing he knew, four hours had passed and Maynell was trying to contact him from Main Engineering to let him know the fabrication of the dropsuit had been completed.

[[Though I don’t know how we’re supposed to load this thing into a runabout,]] Maynell said. For a moment, Jake wondered if they’d spent all this time and effort on a dropsuit that wouldn’t even fit inside a shuttlecraft interior.

“We’ll figure something out,” Jake said. “Meet me in the shuttlebay in an hour.”

Jake killed the connection, showered, and dressed. He was still tired, but sleep had taken the edge off his fatigue, and two cups of coffee saw him getting back to something like fighting shape. Now, Jake was standing in Shuttle Bay 2, beside the Euphrates-class runabout USS TIGRIS. The runabout’s cargo bay door was open, and Maynell and a team of engineering crewmen were performing a few final checks on the enormous dropsuit.

The suit was almost 8 feet tall, and according to the schematics Jake was inspecting on his PADD, it weighed in at over 180 kilograms. Most of the weight came from the site-to-site transporter array and the propulsion system networked through the dropsuit’s boots, with the layers of heat shielding making up most of the rest. The dropsuit was suspended in a metal frame, the arms of the suit outstretched to either side. Each arm was as thick as a tree trunk, and the legs of the suit were a little thicker still. With the opaque helmet nestled atop the bulky ensemble, the dropsuit reminded Jake of atmospheric diving suits from Earth’s history. Those suits were designed to protect the wearer from extreme pressure and low temperature as they explored the ocean’s depths, and though they were impressive technology for their time, ancient Terran divers never had to worry about being cooked inside them by the heat of reentry.

Though the protective equipment was the main reason for the suit’s bulk, it was actually the proportions of its prospective occupant, James Barton, that called for the suit’s impressive height. There was an opening in the back of the suit for Barton to slip in through, though it was situated on the suit in such a way that the Sec/Tac officer would actually have to step *down* into the suit from above. Once inside, Barton probably would be unable to move until some of the top layers of heat-shielding began to burn away. Once Barton hit planetside (Jake immediately regretted using the word “hit”), enough of the outer layering of the suit should have burned away to allow Barton to move. But if Barton landed in the ocean, say, Barton might have a serious time climbing back *out* of the suit again.

As Maynell’s team was finishing up their inspection, Jake heard footsteps coming up from behind. He turned, and found himself staring into the cornflower-blue eyes of Lt. Byte. The android stared at him impassively, as he always did. Before, Jake wouldn’t have noticed, but now whenever he saw that expression on Byte’s face, he had to wonder what it might be hiding.

{{Commander,}} Byte said. {{Reporting for duty, sir.}}

Jake decided to skip the pleasantries. “The Captain has brought you up to speed?”

{{Yes,}} Byte nodded. {{We are going to examine one of the satellites generating the planetary shield. I understand that first we are delivering Lt. Barton as well.}}

“Bit of a sterile euphemism,” Jake said. “We’re not ‘delivering’ him so much as ‘blowing him out the cargo chamber of our runabout’.”

{{I am confident that you have done everything you can to protect Lt. Barton during his descent,}} Byte said. His tone was flat, lifeless, as always, but Jake thought it sounded patronizing this time.

“Your ‘confidence’...” Jake began, but then Maynell was approaching, all wide eyed exuberance, and Jake didn’t want the young ensign to worry about who his department head was flying off with. “...is appreciated,” Jake finished, cutting his eyes to Maynell. If Byte caught Jake’s momentary hesitation, he didn’t show it.

“Everything checks out, boss,” Maynell said. Then, to Byte. “Good morning, lieutenant.”

{{Ensign Maynell,}} Byte said, nodding.

“Final checks on the TIGRIS are almost finished too,” Maynell said, turning back to Jake. “She’ll be ready to disembark by the time Lt. Barton arrives.”

“Nice work, ensign,” Jake said. “Byte and I can take it from here. Rochemonte’s in charge until I get back, do what you can to back her up.”

“Understood, sir,” Maynell said. He smiled again to Byte - the android took this in with no change in its own expression - and turned to leave. Jake and Byte watched him go. Then, without saying anything to Byte, Jake headed for the lowered cargo ramp of the TIGRIS. He murmured a few hello’s to the crewmen who still buzzed around the dropsuit, and made his way deeper into the runabout, towards the cockpit.

As Jake settled into the pilot’s chair, he was startled to see that Byte had been following him, so closely that Jake actually jumped when he noticed how near at hand the android was, standing just over Jake’s shoulder.

“Holy--!!” Jake started, then shook his head. “Don’t *do* that!”

{{My apologies, commander,}} Byte said. {{It was my understanding that I was to fly this mission, sir.}}

“You’re not wearing your driving gloves,” Jake said, without looking up at the android and without any hint of his usual good humor.

{{Gloves are not a part of the standard uniform for runabout pilot duty,}} Byte said without missing a beat.

Jake stretched his hands out over the runabout’s controls and ordering a round of pre-flight diagnostics. Without looking back at Byte, he said: “I’d feel more comfortable with my hands on the controls, Mr. Byte. It’s a human thing; you wouldn’t understand.”

Byte didn’t reply to this, and even though he knew it wouldn’t make Byte feel in the least bit awkward, Jake was happy to let the silence hang there in the air between them.

It might have hung there forever, if James Barton hadn’t stepped into the cockpit a moment later. Byte turned to nod at the new arrival, who regarded the android with a moment of suspicion before glancing over Byte’s shoulder at Jake.

“Crichton,” he said.

“Barton,” Jake said. “You saw the dropsuit?”

“As I came in,” Barton nodded. “Not sure how the hell I’m supposed to move around inside that thing.”

“You aren’t,” Jake said, giving Barton a half-smile. “Just let the suit do the work, Jim.”

{{Allow me to allay your reservations, lieutenant,}} Byte said. {{Commander Crichton is a decorated officer with over ten years of experience-}}

“Flattery won’t get me out of this seat,” Jake cut in.

Barton’s eyes flicked between Jake and Byte; Jake was very pointedly *not* looking at Byte, and the android was, of course, oblivious to this. Barton remembered his the conversation he’d had with Jake, where they’d shared the mutual suspicions for both Byte and Thomas Varn. Barton thought Jake’s suspicion that Byte might be some kind of sleeper agent was a little far-fetched; it seemed far more likely that Byte was part of some plan that Michael Turlogh Kane was playing close to his chest. Still, Barton knew Jake couldn’t be happy about being ordered to share space with the android. Jake Crichton could be a naive fool, but Barton had decided he was also a stubborn one, and Barton had an idea that it was next to impossible to earn one’s way back into Crichton’s good graces after have lost them.

“Everything’s green for takeoff,” Jake said. “Mr. Byte, tell the boys in back to stand clear, then close the cargo ramp.”

{{Sir, would it not be more prudent for me to assume the co-pilot’s position-}} Byte started.

“Barton can do it,” Jake said. “You have your orders, Pinocchio.”

To its credit, Byte did not hesitate. It nodded a goodbye to Barton and Jake and disappeared through the cockpit door. Barton watched the android go, then settled into the co-pilot’s chair next to Jake.

“You’re being pretty hard on it,” Barton said.

“Don’t worry,” Jake said. “He doesn’t have feelings.”

“Yeah,” Barton nodded. “It just seems like that’s the sort of thing that wouldn’t usually matter to you.”

Jake shrugged. “Well. Things change.”

“Not always for the better,” Barton said. Jake didn’t reply.

A blinking light appeared on the runabout’s pilot console. Jake reached over and activated a control, and a moment later, and a holo image of Byte coalesced above the console.

{{Cargo ramp is clear, sir,}} the android reported. {{Raising cargo ramp now.}}

“Activating engines,” Jake said. The runabout thrummed to life, and a few moments later, the TIGRIS dropped out into the void.

=[/\]=

LOCATION: USS TIGRIS, en route to Barton’s drop point

SCENE: Cargo Bay

It only took them about thirty minutes to reach Barton’s departure point, only a few thousand kilometers above the shimmering aurora of the Aegis shield. Byte had taken over piloting the TIGRIS so that Jake could help Barton into the dropsuit. Even with the suit’s size, Barton was packed in tight, and immediately uncomfortable.

“You couldn’t have made this thing a little looser?” Barton complained as he wedged his arms into the outstretched arms of the dropsuit, still held out to either side by the metal frame.

“I could have,” Jake said. “But it would have thrown off shock absorption and your insides would have liquified on impact.”

After a moment’s consideration, Barton nodded. “Tight’s good.”

“Your ideal trajectory is already programmed into your helmet,” Jake said. “The helmet’s networked through the boosters in your boots. They should get you pointed in the right direction and get you moving fast enough. They’re programmed to detach and self-destruct before you pass through the shield.”

“What happens if they don’t?” Barton asked.

“Let’s proceed on the assumption I *didn’t* screw anything up,” Jake said, waving this objection off. “Things go much smoother when I do that.”

“Right up to the point they don’t,” Barton said glumly.

“What are you going to do when you reach the surface?” Jake asked.

Barton sighed. “Who the hell knows? We know Selyara’s in San Francisco, but that city’s a big place. Even if I *do* manage to find her in time, we’re up against Edgerton’s secret police.”

“If you need backup, I have an old friend you can look up,” Jake said.

Barton raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? Who?”

“You might not like this…” Jake said. “It’s an exocomp.”

Barton stared at him, his expression unreadable.

“An exocomp,” the big man repeated flatly.

“From the CENTURY,” Jake continued. “I know this must sound nuts, but it’s helped us out against the Neo-Essentialists before. It’s… I don’t know, I guess you could say it’s more ‘prescient’ than similar units I’ve worked with. More ‘aware’. I sort of developed a rapport with it.”

“Are you good friends with your toaster too?” Barton asked.

“I left it behind when we fled Earth,” Jake continued. “It’s in Venice, at my wife’s estate. But I upgraded it; it’s got the power and comm range to pick up your signal half a world away, no problem. It just… might take it a while to get to you.”

“Jake, what the hell am I supposed to do with an exocomp?” Barton asked.

“It’s come in handy before,” Jake shrugged. “It’s just a thought, Jim. I programmed an activation code into your helmet computer. Assuming it survives the crash, and you think you need an extra omni-tool, it will home in on your signal.”

“No offense, Jake,” Barton said. “But if we need your pet utility robot to help us turn the tide, I think we’re pretty well fucked.”

“It’s not a pet,” Jake said, sounding a little defensive. He shook his head. “Oh whatever. Shut up. We’re almost at the drop point, any last words?”

“My nose itches,” Barton said, scrunching up his face in a futile attempt to banish the itch.

“Well, now you got something to live for,” Jake said. “Scratching your nose.”

Jake started to lower the helmet down over Barton’s head.

“No, wait, seriously, just scratch it for me-” Barton said quickly, but the helmet settled over his head and onto its moorings on the dropsuit chassis. Barton was now entombed, and immobile, inside the massive bulk of the multilayered dropsuit.

[[I hate you,]] buzzed James Barton’s voice, heavily modulated through the helmet’s internal comms.

“Have a nice trip,” Jake said, as he made his way towards the cargo-bay doors. “See you next fall.”

Jake heard the modulated sound of Barton’s voice asking [[Really?]] as the cargo bay doors hissed shut behind him.

=[/\]=

SCENE: Cockpit

Jake stepped into the cockpit. Byte started to rise from the pilot’s seat automatically, but Jake was already moving towards the co-pilot’s chair,

“Don’t bother,” Jake said. “Time to cargo bay decompression?”

{{60 seconds,}} Byte reported. {[How is Lieutenant Barton feeling before his jump?}}

“How do you think?” Jake said testily. Byte didn’t notice.

{{It seems likely that he is experiencing a rush of adrenaline as his body’s fight-or-flight response is triggered by the extreme nature of his mission-}}

“Shut up,” Jake said. He activated a control on the console. “Crichton to Barton. How you feeling, big man?”

From the comm: [[My nose still itches, you son of a bitch.]]

“It builds character,” Jake said. “40 seconds to decompression, Barton. The suit will take good care of you, you just have to hold on for the ride.”

[[If I die, I’m registering an official complaint against you with Starfleet,]] Barton said.

Jake laughed. “Never gonna be president now, I guess.”

[[Keep an eye on the ship while I’m gone,]] Barton said. [[Kass will probably try to muscle Silsby out as head of security. Don’t you let her.]]

“You try standing between that women and something she wants.”

[[I have,]] Barton grumbled. [[Repeatedly.]]

{{20 seconds until decompression,}} Byte reported from the pilot’s chair.

[[There’s a ‘Check Engine’ light blinking on my helmet HUD,]] Barton said. [[Is that supposed to be there?]]

“I guess Maynell couldn’t help himself,” Jake grinned.

[[Yeah, Maynell,]] Barton said. [[I’m sure it was him.]]

“You take care of yourself down there, big guy,” Jake said. “Don’t take no shit off no fools.”

[[Never have, never will.]]

“Edgerton won’t know what hit him,” Jake said. “See you on the other side of the war, Jim.”

[[I’ll be there,]] Barton said.

{{Decompression... now,}} Byte reported. As he spoke, the android reached out to activate a control on the pilot’s console.

The TIGRIS shook momentarily with the sudden decompression of its cargo bay. Beneath them, James Barton began his insane tumble towards Earth, and an uncertain fate. Jake watched the tiny shape against the shimmering light of the Aegis shield for as long as he was able, until it became too small to see.

“Godspeed, lieutenant,” he said quietly.

{{Setting a new course,}} Byte reported. Predictably, it sounded totally unaffected by Barton’s departure. {{The nearest Aegis Satellite is 1500 kilometers from our current position.}}

“Engage thrusters,” Jake said. “Let’s get this over with.”

The TIGRIS’ engines hummed to life again, and they left James Barton far behind them.

=[/\]=

LOCATION: Space, high orbit above Earth

SCENE: Aegis Satellite

The USS TIGRIS floated behind him, a silvery shape highlighted against a curtain of darkness. Jake Crichton maneuvered his EVA suit closer to the Aegis Satellite. His suit was much easier to move around in than the monstrosity he’d constructed for Barton, but environment suits always had to sacrifice a little mobility in the name of protection. In a sudden flash of karma, Jake realized his own nose was itchy, too.

Clipped to the exterior of his EVA suit was an industrial scanner, similar in principle to a tricorder but built to function more effectively in a vacuum. They were most often used by asteroid miners looking for valuable claims to stake. Jake had grown up on a mining ship, and had been using scanners like this one since his early childhood. He’d modified this one to more effectively scan the specialized alloy of the Aegis Satellite’s external chassis; the idea was that proximity and specialized scanning equipment might reveal a weakness in the satellites that the fleet had so far not been able to detect.

Ahead of him, the shiny curve of Earth interrupted the starfield behind it. The view was not the familiar ocean blue, with whorls of white clouds showing hints of land beneath, that Jake had come to know so well during his career in Starfleet. Instead, the planet lay beneath a shimmering energy field, pulsing with a greenish-purple light. Jake wondered what the shield must look like from the surface. He had a feeling it must ruin the sight of a sunrise.

Silhouetted against the glow from the planet was the large frame of the Aegis satellite. The satellite’s self-contained energy core meant it had no need of the solar-collection fins that one might normally expect. This was often the case with military satellites, as it did no good to have an enemy fleet be able to blast the power cells off your orbital defense platforms in the middle of a siege. The surface of the Aegis satellite was mostly smooth, only a few external sensors poking out at various intervals along its frame. Jake was still too far away to tell, but he guessed that the thing had internal weapons, ready to pop out and open fire on any shuttles or probes that tried to cross its defense grid. Jake tried to reassure himself that he was too small for the satellite’s targeting computers to detect as he angled his EVA suit’s thrusters to bring him closer to the satellite.

His suit’s comm system activated with a short chime.

{{TIGRIS to Commander Crichton,}} came the neutral voice of Lt. Byte from over the comm. {{What is your status?}}

[[Look out the window,]] Jake growled, sounding annoyed.

{{You are outside visual range,}} Byte reported casually. Jake sighed.

[[Closing to 20 kilometers of the Aegis satellite,]] he said. [[Once I’m in range, it will take a few minutes to get a comprehensive scan.]]

{{I am maintaining a transporter lock,}} Byte said. {{Standing by to beam you back to the TIGRIS if complications should arise.}}

[[‘Complications’ meaning I accidentally trigger this thing’s defense systems,]] Jake muttered. [[I hope you’re faster than a phaser beam, Byte.]]

{{Although my reaction time is considerable by human standards, I am afraid it does not approach the speed of light.}}

[[Great time to be humble, Mr. Byte, thank you.]]

{{Apologies, sir,}} Byte said. {{It was an attempt at humor.}}

Jake blinked. [[A joke? Why?]]

There was a pause from the other end of the line. This caught Jake’s attention. Byte wasn’t the sort to hesitate, or equivocate on his opinion; if anything, the android always wore it on his sleeve.

{{With respect, sir,}} Byte said finally. {{I have noticed an increase in tension between us. Whereas before you had always treated me with a familiarity that was rare for most organics, lately I have noticed a marked increase in impatience, avoidance, and outright hostility. Sir.}}

Jake absorbed this in silence. Ahead of him, the Aegis Satellite was getting closer.

[[Does that bother you?]] Jake said finally.

{{Not precisely, Commander,}} Byte replied. {{I lack the emotional awareness necessary to be troubled by the changes I’ve described.}}

Jake grunted. [[Figures.]]

{{But I have the situational awareness necessary to prefer one situation over another,}} Byte continued. {{Objectively, working relationships built on a foundation of camaraderie and trust are preferable to the reserve. As such, I strive to maintain such relationships whenever possible.}}

[[I can’t believe I used to kind of like you,]] Jake sighed. [[Within range of the Aegis satellite now.]]

Jake reached down and unclipped the scanner from his suit. He angled the device in the direction of the satellite, and activated the controls. The scanner’s display winked to life, and Jake input a few last minute parameters before activating the scan.

Byte’s voice cut through the silence once more. {{Permission to speak freely, sir?}}

Jake sighed. [[Granted.]]

{{You say that you ‘used to’ like me,}} Byte said. {{May I infer that this is no longer so?}}

[[You may,]] Jake said. [[I don’t like people who jerk me around, Byte.]]

{{This is related to our conversation in the conference room a few days ago,}} Byte observed. {{Is that correct?}}

[[You’re damn right it is,]] Jake said.

{{With respect, Commander, I have been entirely up front with you on this matter,}} Byte said. {{The inconsistency in my memory was a result of physical degradation of some of my neural pathways, caused by residual radiation from our encounter with the Amaterasu.}}

[[Cut the shit,]] Jake said. [[I dug around in your brain for who knows how long and I didn’t find *anything* like what you’re describing. You’re telling me Kane spotted it and I didn’t? And he just so happened to dismiss me from the room before he did?]]

{{I am sorry, Commander,}} Byte said. {{I can only tell you what I recall.}}

[[Right,]] Jake said, shaking his head (or, at least, doing his best within the confines of his EVA suit). [[What you remember. I guess that’s really the whole problem, isn’t it?]]

{{I am sorry, sir,}} Byte said. {{I do not follow.}}

[[Here’s where we stand,]] Jake said. [[I know for a fact that this story about radiation damage is bullshit. That means one of two things: either you’re lying to me on purpose, or you’re lying to me because you can’t help it. Because Edgerton or Kane or who the hell knows who else has flipped some switch in your head to make it so you *can’t* come clean.]]

The blinking display on his scanner changed. Jake twisted one of the controls to remodulate the frequency of the scan. As he did, he stared absently down at the blue curve of Earth. He’d never really thought of this planet as his home, but he was still human, and Earth was in his very DNA. Seeing it here, now, even with the Aegis Defense Network shield shimmering over it, Jake was as moved by the majesty of Earth as ever.

[[And here’s the damndest part,]] Jake said, almost absently, as he stared down at Earth. [[I don’t know which of those is the better option.]]

For almost a full minute, there was nothing but silence. SIlence, and the scanner, and the silver-blue crescent of Earth, and the shadow of the Aegis satellite… and Jake.

Finally, Byte spoke again: {{I believe I understand, sir.}}

[[I kind of doubt it,]] said Jake,

{{Trust is an important part of any relationship,}} Byte continued. {{And you can no longer trust me.}}

[[Uh…]] Jake said. [[Okay, I stand corrected. Yeah, that’s pretty much it.]]

{{I know this will not be what you want to hear,}} Byte said. {{But my memory is as I have described it. There is no intentional deception on my part. I… value our relationship too much to risk it with a lie, sir.}}

Jake rolled his eyes. [[I’m sure you say that to everyone.]]

{{Not so, sir,}} said Byte. {{Though we have all served together aboard the PHOENIX for more than a year, I have not developed close relationships with anyone aboard the ship. Most of the crew are somewhat… reserved… in my presence. Stand-offish.}}

[[They’re probably afraid you’ll correct their grammar or something,]] Jake said.

{{But you never have been,}} Byte said. {{Our interactions have felt… casual. Friendly, even.}}

[[I like to see the best in people,]] Jake said. [[Until they let me down.]]

More silence filled the comm-line then. Jake adjusted the scanner once more. He had to admit, floating out here in zero-G was kind of relaxing. Even with the threat of the satellite suddenly detecting his presence and deploying its defenses, Jake felt much of the tension of the last few days draining out of his body. He wasn’t sure if it was the weightlessness or the opportunity to have it out with Byte, but he appreciated the sensation nevertheless.

{{I cannot say with certainty if I have let you down,}} Byte said. {{But I can assure you, sir, that I shall strive to never do so again.}}

Jake sighed again. [[I appreciate the sentiment, Byte. But you have to understand that it doesn’t mean a whole lot when you considered you might have just been programmed to say that.]]

{{A fair point, commander,}} Byte said. {{I confess, I do not see an easy solution to this conundrum. I could never sufficiently prove that I had *not* been programmed to deceive you.}}

[[And boy oh boy am I glad we’re hashing this all out while my ass is floating around in space,]] Jake said. [[I hope all this honesty hasn’t chased your finger away from that transporter button.]]

{{Certainly not, sir,}} Byte said. {{Transporter lock is holding at 100%.}}

Jake frowned down at his scanning device. The display had change color and started to blink; Jake didn’t need a close inspection of the readout to know that there’d been some problem in the data collection. Probably some of the satellite’s external armor was throwing off the scan.

[[Scan incomplete,]] Jake reported. [[I’m going to need to get closer.]]

{{I must advise against that course of action, Commander Crichton,}} Byte reported. {{We have incomplete data as to the range of these satellite’s threat-detection grid. Any approach might trigger a hostile reaction.}}

[[If we don’t come back with a complete scan, Kane’s just going to send us right back out again,]] Jake said. [[Our luck’s held so far, I think we can afford to press it a little bit.]]

Trying not to think of what Dahlia would say if she found out, Jake activated his EVA suit’s thrusters. He drifted closer to the satellite, then raised his scanner again and activated it. The readout displayed a senseless jumble of information. Jake frowned, then activated his thrusters again, drifting even closer to the Aegis satellite. This time, the scanner readout blinked to a satisfactory green. Jake nodded, and restarted the scan.

[[Looks like we’re close enough to punch through its outer shell now,]] Jake said. [[Should only be a couple of minutes, then I’ll be ready to come back inside.]]

{{Sir, I am detecting an energy surge from within the satellite,}} Byte said.

Jake’s blood went cold. [[Say again?]]

{{I believe it is your scanner, sir,}} Byte said. {{The satellite has detected the scan, and is activating its defense systems.}}

Jake’s eyes flicked down to the display on the scanner. [[We’re almost there. I only need another few seconds.]]

{{Sir, exterior phasers are coming online,}} Byte reported. {{I am beaming you back to the TIGRIS now.}}

[[No!]] Jake said fiercely. [[Just another second!]]

Ahead of him, lights along the Aegis satellite’s hull suddenly flared to life. They were a menacing red color, and were bright enough to illuminate several hatches opening across the satellite’s surface. Realizing how close he was cutting it, Jake closed his eyes tight, half-expecting his world to end in a searing pulse of orange energy. Instead, from behind his closed eyes, Jake saw several flashes of brilliant light exploding all around him. Jake risked a peek, to see that chaff from the TIGRIS was exploding in space all around him. A second later, a phaser blast from the Aegis satellite, thicker than a tree trunk, sizzled by several hundred kilometers to Jake’s left.

{{Chaff engaged,}} Byte was saying from the other end of the comm. {{The satellite cannot lock on to the scanner’s signal, bit I do not know how long the interference will last.}}

The size of the phaser beam had been enough to change Jake’s mind on the matter of returning to the TIGRIS. [[Beam me back!]] he shouted into the comm.

{{Unable to comply,}} Byte reported. {{The chaff has interrupted the transporter lock. Attempting to re-establish now.}}

Another bright orange blast fired past Jake’s helmet, noticeably closer than the first. Jake activated his thrusters, trying to put some distance between himself and the satellite, but knowing that it would never be enough to make a real difference. He was helpless.

[[Byte!]] Jake shouted again. [[Get me the hell out of here!]]

{{Re-establishing lock,}} Byte reported. {{Sir, the satellite’s targeting computer is compensating for the chaff.}}

Once again, Jake Crichton clenched his eyes tightly shut. Light danced around behind his eyelids, and for a split second Jake worried that if he opened his eyes he’d be looking into that famous tunnel of light that seemed to pop up in so many stories about near-death experiences. But when Jake Crichton did open his eyes, it wasn’t heaven he was looking at… rather, it was the dull gunmetal gray interior of the USS TIGRIS.

From the cockpit, Jake heard Byte call out.

{{Plotting a course away from the satellite now,}} Byte reported. {{I do not believe it has detected us.}}

Jake lay there for a moment on the transporter pad, breathing slowly. When he tried to sit up, the extra weight of his EVA suit caught him off guard, and for one insane moment he was sure that he was paralyzed, that the phaser blast from the satellite had seared through the lower half of his body. Then he felt his toes wiggling frantically from within the EVA suit’s boots, and he started to slowly relax.

{{I was able to re-establish a transporter lock before the satellite defense grid reacquired you,}} Byte continued, his tone as casual as ever. {{Were you able to get a complete scan of the satellite, sir?}}

Jake glanced down at the scanner, still clenched tightly in the glove of his EVA suit. The readout was blinking a satisfactory green.

[[Scan complete,]] Jake said, his voice still modulated from inside the EVA suit helmet. [[Data ready to be uploaded.]]

{{The captain will be pleased, sir,}} Byte said. {{Setting a return course to the PHOENIX.}}

Jake reached up and disconnected the helmet from the rest of his EVA suit, Once it came free, he sucked in a grateful breath of air. His heart was still hammering in his chest, but he thought he could feel it beginning to slow down. He rose on shaky legs and, without removing the rest of his EVA suit, shambled towards the cockpit. He leaned against the door frame and regarded Byte, who was still seated in the pilot’s chair. The android’s full attention seemed to be fixed on the starfield outside the cockpit window.

“Byte,” Jake said finally. The android did not turn around.

{{Yes, commander?}}

“Thanks… for saving my life,” Jake said, almost begrudgingly.

{{Of course, sir,}} Byte said. {{You would do the same for me.}}

=[/\]=

NRPG: Jake’s got the scan of the Aegis satellite… what will it reveal?

ALIX: I’ll put out a Raxl/Selyara post later this week… this one just got a little bit too long for me. ;-)

Shawn Putnam

A.k.a.

Jake Crichton

Chief Engineering Officer

USS PHOENIX