Welcome to a Whole New Ball Game

by; Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Kela Carson sat cross legged at her station, her long white hair flowing around her like a cape. Idly she watched the readouts reporting the science probes condition. Slowly she stretched out, her long legs easily reaching the viewport before her, her tail wrapping itself around one leg as she stretched the kinks out of her muscles.

"Another long watch huh?" came a soft voice behind her. She turned slowly, still stretching. Behind her stood her partner Aries Carter. She was holding two cups of warm chocolate, sipping slowly from her own cup she leaned over, studying the readouts. "Nothing new, same old stuff like the computers predicted. I still can't understand why those old scientists classified this as a dangerous mission."

Kela shrugged, reaching out to take the second cup. "I don't know either, but the pay is good and we should be out of here by tomorrow. Computer reports those black holes will really start accelerating rapidly within the hour, another four hours to impact. Then launch the last drone, pick up data, and leave." She sighed, taking in the mellow warmth of thick chocolate. "You still make the best" she mummered.

"Thanks" Aries replied, sliding into her pilots seat. "You sure half a light minute is far enough out? No one really knows what happens when two black holes hit dead on, there could be trouble."

Kela reached out, flipping a switch to bring up a tactical display. "Drives warmed up ready to go. Your escape course is laid in and updated by the computer second by second. Chrome domes declare twelve light seconds as the danger zone with another six as caution." She paused to take another sip of the fragrant drink. "At thirty light seconds we're well into the green zone. Besides, anything headed this way has to hit the probe first. That will give us twenty seconds to react right?"

Aries nodded in agreement. "Plenty of time, if the Universe doesn't decide to play tricks." She activated her private computer, bringing up their economic report. "After this payment we should be in the black, the

last fines from Highpoint Station are covered and we should be able to afford some repairs." She sighed, folding her delicate fingers together and resting her chin on them. "You know, next time I get the idea to mix marshmallow cream with a fire retarding system, hit me ok?"

Kela laughed, leaning back over her chair and throwing her head back. "Well it was fun, at least we didn't have to clean it up." She twisted, landing on the deck feet first. "I'm off for a nap, wake me before impact will you?" she asked. Then she was off to the rear of TOM CLANCY's living quarters and a long awaited nap. Aries closed her eyes, she had a bad feeling about this but nothing she could put a finger too. Setting a small alarm she pulled up the probes feeds, searching for something that would let her abort this mission.

Several hours later she was shocked from her study by the alarms shrill churl. She slapped at it, pressing the intercom at the same time. "Ten minutes to impact, time to rise and shine" she called. There was a muffled complaint from the other end, then a tired acknowledgment. Aries smiled, flipping off the intercom and turning back to the data stream. It seemed like only seconds before she felt warm hands on her back. "Anything?" Kela asked.

"Nothing really unexpected" she answered. "A few strange waveforms but overall nothing they didn't expect." She looked up to see Kela sliding into her seat, pulling restraints around her as she settled in. "Oh yeah" she mummered, reaching behind her to follow suit. If the eggheads were right the next half hour was going to be a rough ride. "Fifty seconds to expected signal loss" she announced. Quietly she woke the slumbering engines. "Mains are on-line, shields at plus thirty, all navigational systems within tolerance."

"Gotcha" Kela replied. "Backups on-line, computer shows green." She tapped a small readout, watching as it tumbled its circuit. "Backup is down again, I'm looking forward to a replacement." She glanced up at Aries, licking her dry lips. "Why do I suddenly feel we're way too close?" she asked, her voice abruptly hollow.

Aries shook her head. "Donno, felt the same since I woke up but I can't find any hard data to back me up." She shook her head. "Whatever it is it'll all be over in a few minutes. Ten seconds to contact." She looked back at her instruments, catching a red flag from the corner of her eye. "Gravity flux, ripple effect. Its not in the program. Backing out now." She slapped the override, feeling CLANCY shudder as the engines roared to life. Slowly the old ship turned, heading away from the stellar demolition derby. Aware she was too close to forces she didn't understand Aries gave the old ship full throttle.

She was late, too late by seconds. Behind her the two ancient black holes touched, flowing together. Imploding in a stellar fyreworks display rarely seen. TOM CLANCY was moving near lightspeed, straining to reach minimum safe warp distance when the trans-light speed wave reached out to enfold the old ship. Shaking like a leaf, her shields imploding, TOM CLANCY flicked and faded from view.

"Lith, what have we got?" the honeysoft voice asked.

"Big? Just how big do you estimate?" Snowaters asked.

Snowaters glanced up at the floating silver ball. "Material? What kind of material.." she started to ask. Alarms screamed as a battered object slipped between the reality waves before the STAR DIAMOND.

<Emergency SOS. We have an SOS. Locking tractors on that ship. I scan two lifeforms. No sentient computer. Stand-by.> Kalith announced. STAR DIAMOND shuddered as her engines fought the reality stream, battling to keep the second ship from slipping away or being drawn in with it to the random fluxes of minor probabilities.

Hours later Snowaters stepped on the bridge of the alien ship. "Two murdie females, about twenty, maybe twenty three years of age." she reported to Kalith. "Both in pretty bad shape, get the ICU ready. No major physical injuries but they have both been out too long not to suspect brain damage. Setting transporter beacons on both." She placed two silver white objects on both women, watching as seconds later they both faded from view.

<Phileana reports she has both. Beginning medical procedures now> Kalith reported.

"Good" Snowaters replied, "Now let's take a look at what's left of this old barge." She looked around at blown panels, shattered screens, and evidence of at least two small fires. "Better send some repair drones over" she ordered. "If the rest of this ship is like the bridge this is going to be a long project."

Kela groaned, slowly opening her eyes in the dim light. There was movement near her, a soft warm hand on her arm. "Aries?" she asked.

“No. Phileana, not Aries" a women's voice answered.

She groaned in pain, closing her eyes again. "Aries? How is she?" she asked. There was a few seconds pause, she could feel the other moving around.

"She's fine" came the answer. "Just a few bruises left, she should wake up in an hour or so."

Kela opened her eyes, looking up into the gentle face of.. a teddy bear??? "Ummm.. where are we?" she asked.

Phileana smiled. "On board the Star Diamond. We rescued you and repaired your ship. Captain Snowaters will see you as soon as both of you are ready. Now just rest until your friend wakes up."

Aries looked around, "How long was I asleep?" she asked.

"Actual or subjective" Phileana asked, then continued before Kela could answer, "In actual time, that experienced by your bodies, about a week. Subjective, from the time of the event until now, seventy centuries." Kela jerked upright, her head swimming.

"Seventy centuries? How." she asked. "I don't quite understand"

Phileana smiled again. "Snowaters will probable be able to explain." She paused. "We cracked your records fours days ago. Apparently you were considered... expendable.

Aries moaned, shifting in her bed. Phileana looked over at her. "Your friend is waking up. I will notify the captain." She turned, leaving the room in a flurry of white silk robes. Kela slid off the bed and stepped to Aries side. Aries shook her head, reaching up to rub her face. Kela watched as her eyes flickered open, settling on her.

"We made it?" Aries asked.

Kela shrugged. "Sorta, its a long story and I think this ships Captain wants to talk with us" she answered. Reaching down she helped Aries to her feet, "Ok" she said. "Lets see the Captain."

Several hours later Snowaters finished explaining the situation to the two Murdie, leaning back in her battered command chair as they conferred between themselves. Finally Kela turned to her. "You say Harry is our best chance?" she asked.

"Yes. The ship he is in will pass this way in a few hours. I have sent him a message to expect you but I warn you again that everyone aboard that ship is half a bubble off center." She grinned. "But after looking at your private files I think you will both fit in just fine." She stretched and yawned. "Sorry ladies, I've been up a couple of days finishing the repairs to your ship. The data I collected more than paid for the cost so I added a little something to help you in this reality. As for yourselves, I think its time you went back to your ship and made ready to dock with the Herbert Starcraft. If you ever need me just ask Harry or your computer. Either one should be able to contact us." She stood slowly, motioning at the girls. Before they could react they felt a tingle. The Star Diamond faded away to be replaced by their own bridge.

"Wow" Aries exclaimed, "That was some trip."

Kela giggled, "I guess when..." She suddenly noticed the chamber. "Oh my, its brand new."

Aries jumped to her station, starting system checks. "Everything works fine, but I don't scan another ship anywhere near us now." They both looked up at the viewscreen where nothing but random star junk showed, the Diamond was gone. "Awful fast, or a hell of a cloak" Aries muttered. "Now what do we do?"

<<Is that a request or a statement>> answered a rich dark/mellow yet sexless voice.

Both women jumped, Kela spun around. "Who are you?" she demanded.

<<Your computer. As for name, sex, and bias this is your decision. I am a gift from the Diamond, as is the package in your quarters.>>

Both girls looked at each other, they had experienced enough of the Star Diamonds AI's to understand what the computer ment, but a package in their quarters? Both turned and ran down the small hall. Skidding to a stop Kela slapped the hatch release. A wave of cold air poured over her, patches of fog wisped by. In front of the two women was a large pallet covered with metal tubs, a sheet of paper was attached to the nearest. Aries reached over her friend, tearing the paper free. "Its a note" she said, 'Thought I'd leave you some goodies. Phileana.'

"Some goodies" gasped Kela. "Its ice cream, about 800 gallons." She paused, picking up two small silver objects from the top of the pile. "And two spoons." Both women looked at each other,

"I think we've been just been zapped" Aries replied.

Kela giggled, "So, what gave you your first clue slimlock?" she answered. There was a second of silence before both broke out in laughter.