Seventh prime (original) (raw)

Jeremy Blitz was Captain of the Research ship Xanadu, on the planet named for the ship, deep in the Omicron Eridani system. At the moment, Captain Blitz was on the verge of panic. He'd faced crises during his tenure as a ship captain before, but nothing quite like this.

The warning klaxons were relentless, a constant high-pitched droning broken only by the periodic computer reports, repeating, "Unauthorized depressurization of Medical Station A14. Security breach reported in Engineering Station H11 on pod 12."

"Can someone please put together a coherent report of what is going on on this ship?!" demanded Captain Blitz.

"It looks like a crew insurrection, sir," reported Lieutenant Rothchild.

"I know that," snapped the Captain. "But why?"

The lieutenant shrugged her shoulders helplessly.

Jeremy scanned his bridge for someone he could berate into giving him useful information. The bridge was in a state of chaos, everyone bent over their terminals, checking and double checking air locks and security protocols, struggling to throw up new protocols before the insurrectionists could continue their destructive rampage. 3 stations depressurized already; 13 deaths reported.

The captain spotted Chief Security Officer Newbanks speed-walking toward him. "Newbanks!" called the captain, and he rushed to meet his officer half-way. "What news from the security detail?"

Newbanks was pale, biting his bottom lip. He refused to meet Captain Blitz's eyes. "I directed a full, armed detail to Pod 12, as per your orders, sir. However, en route, it appears that the Officer in charge, um, Petty Officer Feng, stopped by the air lock, and..." Newbanks trailed off. He looked antsy.

"Get to it, Newbanks," Jeremy said gravely.

"Captain!" came a report from the ensign manning aft internal systems, but it was cut off by the computer's monotone:

"Unauthorized depressurization of Sector 8H."

Newbanks was staring up at the speakers for the computer notification system. "That was them, Captain. That was the security detail. From what I can tell, he used his security clearance to seal the doors of the walkway, then forcibly depressurised the whole sector."

"While he was in it?"

"While the whole detail was in it. Himself included."

"What the hell is getting into people?" shouted the Captain. Several crewmembers looked up from their stations at the disruption, but only briefly.

There was a beat of relative quiet, where the emergency klaxon dominated bridge, then Newbanks said, in a soft voice, "I think I know."

Captain Blitz regarded his Security Chief for a moment. There was something going on with him, something besides the loss of a full security detail. He looked scared. No, he looked... eager. "You'll have to speak up, Carlos," said the Captain, addressing Newbanks by his first name. The captain reached for his side-arm, covertly.

The Security Chief raised his voice, and he said, "I know what's happening, and believe me," Newbank's sidearm was in his hand, and he was holding it to the Captain's chest. "It's for the--"

Captain Blitz reacted instantly, twisting away from his officer's gun, grabbing his arm and pinning it behind his back.

"What is this?!" shouted the captain. The other bridge crew were on their feet, scrambling. "What is happening on my ship?"

"NO DON'T LEAVE ME!" shrieked Carlos Newbanks, and then whole body went limp. The captain yanked the gun out of his limp hand, then lowered him to the floor and checked his pulse.

Everyone on the bridge stood silently, watching this surreal event. Red light pulsed, klaxons sounded, and the captain seemed, for a moment, dumbfounded. When he finally spoke, though, his voice regained full authority and confidence. "Summon a medic. His heart has stopped. Find out if he's ingested some kind of poison capsule or if we can get his heart going again. If not, I want him on ice immediately. And for God's sake, SOMEONE SHUT OFF THAT ALARM!"