Chapter 20: Hostage

It was several hours since we’d left the system where we’d picked up our unwanted guest.

I sat patiently on the sofa in the main bridge. Jem stood watching the display. I was all but forgotten.

Finally, she turned and fixed her glowing eyes on me.

“We are travelling between the stars?” she asked.

“Yes,” I replied.

“How long does it take?” she asked.

“It varies. Usually several days. Didn’t you learn that from Jem?” I asked.

“No. This being is resisting me,” she replied.

“You invaded her body. A hostile act that triggers resistance. I would expect no less from her,” I said.

“It is my body now. In time her knowledge will be mine,” she said.

I sighed.

“Ship, how long until our next destination?” I asked.

“We will arrive in just over three days,” replied Ship.

I looked back at Jem.

“This body is feeling weak,” said Jem.

“You have stood there for hours. We need to refuel our bodies and we need rest,” I replied.

“It has been millennia since I had a corporeal body. You will bring me food at once,” she said.

By the way she pointed a finger in my direction, I knew the consequences for non-compliance.

I stood and walked to the food dispenser. I ordered a plate of food and returned.

“This is suitable food,” I said. I handed the plate to her.

She just looked at me suspiciously.

“You wouldn’t try to poison this body?” she asked.

“I would not poison my friend’s body. I could get another plate and eat with you,” I replied.

“Do it,” she said.

I returned to the food dispenser and got a second plate of food. It was identical to the first one. I took it back to Jem.

“We usually sit to eat. Would you care to sit and eat with me?” I asked.

She kept her glowing eyes on me as we sat together on the sofa. She watched as I started eating, then she did the same.

Meanwhile, the others were plotting in Mina’s lab.

“I don’t think the entity will leave willingly,” said Saria.

“That reminds me of the old stories of possession by evil spirits,” said Mina.

“That’s not far off the mark. The entity is the spirit of a long dead alien. It survived on the energy crystals in the asteroids, but that’s no longer an option,” said Laine.

“So you’re saying that the entity has no choice but to occupy her?” asked Saria.

“Yes,” replied Laine.

“Then, if we expel the entity from Jem, we’d kill it,” said Saria.

“The alternative is that we let the entity kill Jem, and possibly us eventually,” said Laine.

“Brian suggested using the energy absorbing material,” reminded Mina.

“If we can extract the entity, the energy absorbing material would absorb it,” said Laine.

“What if we just put the material near Jem? It might draw the entity out of her body,” suggested Saria.

“That sounds dangerous. It might kill Jem too,” replied Mina.

“As long as she doesn’t come into physical contact with the material she’ll be safe,” said Saria.

“Ship, can you place a sample of the material inside a thermal insulated container? The container to have a lid I can open and close. Under the lid, include a grating to prevent any physical contact,” asked Laine.

“Confirmed. I can build such a device. It remains untested, with significant risk to both the Commodore and yourselves,” replied Ship.

“Please build the device,” said Mina.

“Confirmed,” replied Ship.

“Ooh! Ship, please put a label on the outside of the box Baglogi Delight,” said Laine.

“Confirmed,” replied Ship.

“What’s Baglogi Delight?” asked Saria.

“Well, it would be delightful if we could get our Commodore back. But if asked, just say it’s a Baglogi food. Something unique,” replied Laine.

“That’s devious,” said Saria.

“We don’t know if it will save her. Once ready, we need to deliver the device to the entity,” said Mina.

“I’ll do it,” said Laine.

Later, I sat and watched the tactical display in the main bridge. Jem sat beside me. Only it wasn’t Jem, it was the entity that now occupied her body.

On a normal trip, we’d be in the lido resting. I might visit the garden. Now I sat and waited for an opportunity to get Jem back.

A while later, the elevator opened. Laine stepped out, carrying a large box. Her face told me she had something planned.

She walked up and delivered the box to the entity.

“What is this?” asked the entity.

“It’s a Baglogi delicacy. I was told to bring it directly to you,” replied Laine.

The glowing eyes looked suspiciously at Laine before turning back to me.

“Our leader would partake of this during such trips. She never shared it with subordinates,” I offered with a shrug.

Laine stood about a pace back from the box, facing the entity.

The entity placed the box on the sofa, near where I sat.

She looked at the box, then studied me. I tried to appear nonchalant. It seemed the entity didn’t have Jem’s ability to read me.

“Laine, perhaps you should take it back,” I said.

The entity raised a hand.

“No! It has been long since I tasted such things,” she said.

The entity opened the lid of the box.

At once, the temperature in the main bridge dropped.

“WHAT IS THIS?!“ screamed the entity.

I saw Jem’s body convulse. Then a glowing light was literally drawn out of her. It soon disappeared into the box.

A moment later, it was over. Frost covered the sofa and all around the box. Jem’s body collapsed on the floor in front of the box.

The temperature was so cold I was numb. I didn’t know if I could move.

Then Laine walked around the back of the sofa and slammed the lid of the box shut.

“Attention, increasing the ambient temperature,” said Ship.

Warm air surrounded me. It took a few minutes before I could feel my extremities.

“We did it!” exclaimed Laine.

“Confirmed, the entity has gone,” replied Ship.

I looked down at Jem. She lay face down on the floor.

“Ship, scan the Commodore,” I muttered.

“The Commodore is dead, Commander,” replied Ship.

I picked up Jem’s body and rushed to the elevator. Laine followed me and we hurried down to the sick bay. I placed Jem on a medical bed.

“Ship, do something! We need to resuscitate the Commodore,” I said anxiously.

Lots of lights flickered and the display on the wall nearby showed the scan results.

“Commander, she’s dead,” replied Ship.

Laine looked at Jem’s body and then at me.

“She has to be in there. Can’t you jump start her brain?” I asked.

“I already tried. No response,” replied Ship.

“This can’t be right! I left the message. She wasn’t supposed to die!” I yelled.

Laine put her hand on my shoulder.

“It’s likely that when the entity departed, it took her consciousness with it,” said Ship.

“So her body is intact, but without her mind?” I asked.

“Confirmed. That would be an accurate description,” replied Ship.

“Crap! Ship, if you’re right and the entity took her consciousness, where is it now?” I asked.

“It transferred the energy to the other universe. It would have dissipated by now,” replied Ship.

“So no chance of recovery?” I asked.

“None, Commander,” replied Ship.

“Ship, please set up a stasis capsule and put her body into stasis. I need time to think,” I said.

“Confirmed,” replied Ship.

“Brian, what did you mean when you said you left a message?” asked Laine.

I turned to Laine. She didn’t know about the message.

I sighed.

“I can’t tell you right now. The energy absorbing material should have stopped the entity. I didn’t know it would kill Jem,” I replied.

“Oh! Perhaps we should have used it differently?” asked Laine.

At least she didn’t press me about the message.

“I can’t do any more here. We best go find the others,” I said.

We returned to Mina and Saria in the botany lab. They smiled when we entered. I didn’t feel like smiling.

“How did it go?” asked Mina.

“We got rid of the entity,” I replied.

“And how is Jem?” asked Mina.

“Jem is dead,” I replied.

“We took her to the sick bay. Ship said she had no brain activity,” added Laine.

“When the entity left, it took her consciousness with it,” I said.

“So, how do we save her?” asked Saria with a half-smile.

They all looked at me. Their confidence that I could work a miracle caused more stress for me.

“I don’t know if it’s possible to save her. Ship is putting her body in stasis to give us time to think,” I replied.

“Attention, Commander,” said Ship.

“Go ahead, Ship,” I replied.

“On the death of the Commodore, Baglogi protocols state that the highest ranking officer takes command. I hereby promote you to the rank of Captain,” said Ship.

“Congratulations, Captain Brian!” said Laine.

“I never wanted a promotion this way. I still haven’t given up on getting her back,” I said.

Laine stopped her excitement. Mina put her arm on my shoulder.

“We understand, Brian. But we also need a leader,” said Mina.

“Then I will consider this a temporary promotion, until we get her back,” I said.

They all nodded.

“I need time alone to think about our next move,” I said.