Chapter 21: Closing the Loop

My head was spinning.

Ship travelled through hyperspace again, to a destination where we would send a probe back in time.

If we don’t send the probe, an energy-based entity will take over Jem and kill the crew. Who knows what other damage it would cause with control of a Baglogi dreadnaught?

We already received the message, so we already sent the probe back in time. But then, how did we originally discover the cosmic string??

“Ship, I need to lie down,” I said.

“Confirmed,” replied Ship.

I left the main bridge and returned to my cabin. Mina was there waiting for me.

“Weren’t you going to your lab,” I said.

“Changed my mind,” she said.

“I need to rest, and I can’t talk about it,” I said.

“Understood, Captain,” she replied. She dimmed the lights, and we lay down together.

She held me close, and we slept.

When I awoke later, Mina was sleeping beside me with an arm around me. I felt better for her company.

I got up without waking her, did my usual routine and took a coffee up to the main bridge.

“Hello, Ship. Any update?” I asked.

“Captain, we will arrive at the designated location soon. The probe is ready,” replied Ship.

“I’m nervous about changing history,” I said.

“The evidence suggests we already changed the timeline,” replied Ship.

“That doesn’t reassure me. I agree the evidence shows we already did. Jem died about three days ago, and I am rewriting history to bring her back. I’m unwinding events throughout the universe,” I said.

“We’re deep into theory, Captain. I don’t have a simple answer,” said Ship.

“How so?” I asked.

“You might create a parallel timeline, while this one continues,” said Ship.

“So, I’d still be Captain, and Jem will still be dead?” I asked.

“Confirmed. But in another timeline, you’d be a Commander and Jem will be alive,” replied Ship.

“Wow, so in this timeline, I might remain Captain?” I asked.

“Confirmed. Each probe we send back could spawn another parallel timeline,” replied Ship.

“What is the alternative?” I asked.

“Theoretically, this timeline might cease to be. The revised time line would replace it,” replied Ship.

“Because these events never happened,” I said.

“Confirmed. We don’t know until we do it,” said Ship.

“Do you see the awesome responsibility we have? Our actions will change history,” I asked.

“Or we will create an alternate history,” replied Ship.

I sighed.

“Whatever happens, the evidence is that we already did it before,” I said.

“Confirmed,” said Ship.

“I don’t really have a choice,” I said.

“Captain, you had a choice, and you already made it,” said Ship.

“Right!” I said. My head was still spinning.

Later, our hyper drive went offline as we arrived at our destination, somewhere in deep space, far from any star system. The view ahead was dark. Normally there was a star ahead of us.

I hadn’t told the others, so it was just me on the main bridge. I didn’t want them involved with the whole time travel thing. This was on my shoulders. I didn’t want them responsible and feel guilt for what I was about to do.

I also didn’t want to give them the chance to stop me.

“We have arrived, Captain. The cosmic string is directly ahead,” said Ship.

On the tactical display, there was a red area ahead, representing the cosmic string.

“Thank you, Ship. Deploy the probe according to the instructions,” I replied.

“Confirmed. Deploying probe now,” replied Ship.

On the tactical display, a blue dot accelerated towards the red area ahead and then disappeared.

“Ship, how will we know if it worked?” I asked.

“Unknown, Captain,” replied Ship.

About three and a half days earlier, our hyper drive went offline as we arrived at our next destination. Ship timed it so we emerged from hyperspace at the edge of the system.

“We are approaching the Epsilon Theta system. I am deploying probes to explore the system and report back,” said Ship.

“Thank you, Ship,” replied Jem.

Our tactical display slowly populated with data on the system. I could see the usual blue dots of our probes moving out as they explored. This system had a white dwarf star with several planets and an asteroid belt.

“Ship, any sign of other vessels in the system?” I asked.

“The system appears uninhabited, Commander,” replied Ship.

“This is my first visit to an uninhabited system,” said Saria.

“Our standard procedure is to wait here and use probes to figure out if there’s a reason to enter the system,” explained Jem.

“A wise precaution, Commodore,” replied Saria.

We waited while the probes scoured the system for anything of interest. It took a little over an hour.

I had an uneasy feeling that I couldn’t explain.

“Attention, Commodore,” said Ship.

“Go ahead, Ship,” replied Jem.

“The fourth planet appears inhabitable, though void of any signs of life,” replied Ship.

“So, nothing of interest?” asked Jem.

“Energy signatures in the asteroid belt suggest energy crystals are present,” replied Ship.

“Ah! So something of interest to you,” said Jem.

“Confirmed,” said Ship.

“What are energy crystals?” asked Laine.

“We use them to build Baglogi power generators. They are fairly rare,” replied Jem.

“Oh,” replied Laine. “So when we find a source, we should stock up on them?” asked Laine.

“Yes. Ship, take us in to the asteroid belt. Prepare a probe with mining bots to harvest the energy crystals,” said Jem.

“Confirmed,” replied Ship.

Our sub-light engines kicked in, and we entered the system.

Jem turned to me.

“Brian, you take the first watch. I’ll be in the lido,” said Jem.

“Yes, Commodore,” I said.

Jem stood and left the main bridge. A moment later, Laine and Mina followed.

Saria came over to the sofa and sat beside me. She smiled at me and turned to watch the action on the tactical display.

Roughly an hour later, we approached the asteroid belt. It was between the orbits of the fourth and fifth planets.

“Ship, have you found the energy crystals?” I asked.

“The highest concentrations of the energy signatures are directly ahead, Commander,” replied Ship.

The tactical display showed the view ahead, featuring several of the larger asteroids.

“Are you ready to find your energy crystals, Ship?” I asked.

“Confirmed. Deploying probe now,” replied Ship.

On the tactical display, a blue dot left Ship and accelerated towards the asteroids.

“Ship, what’s happening? Your probe is going too fast. It will crash into the asteroid,” I asked.

Ship didn’t respond.

The probe crashed into a large asteroid, resulting in a modest explosion.

“Attention, no remaining energy signatures detected,” said Ship.

“That looked like a torpedo,” said Saria.

“Ship, what happened?” asked Jem.

“Commodore, the answer is classified, and restricted to you and the Commander,” replied Ship.

Jem looked at me with wide eyes.

“Laine, Mina, Saria, please clear the main bridge,” I said.

Saria saluted. I guess because of her training. We waited while they left.

“Go ahead, Ship. Explain your actions,” said Jem.

“I was following orders from Captain Brian from the future,” replied Ship.

Jem looked at me. I shrugged.

“Brian isn’t a Captain,” said Jem.

“Confirmed. His credentials show he was promoted to Captain about three days from now, following your untimely death,” said Ship.

“And why did this Captain Brian order you to destroy an asteroid?” asked Jem.

“The asteroid posed a threat to this vessel and crew,” replied Ship.

“Wow!” said Jem.

“So, your actions changed history?” I asked.

“Confirmed. There are two remaining actions required to complete the loop,” replied Ship.

“What are these two actions?” asked Jem.

“Promote the Commander to rank of Captain and send a probe back in time,” replied Ship.

“How can we possibly send a probe back in time?” asked Jem.

“That information will be available at our next destination, in just over three days from now,” replied Ship.

“Wow!” said Jem.

“This time travel stuff is amazing,” I said.

“We had better do what Ship says,” said Jem.

“Agreed, Commodore,” I said.

Jem faced me.

“Commander Brian, for actions above and beyond the laws of physics, and for actions that saved this vessel and crew, I now promote you to the rank of Captain,” said Jem.

“Thank you, Commodore,” I said.

“Ship, is that satisfactory?” asked Jem.

“Confirmed,” replied Ship.

“Captain, please work with Ship to complete the loop,” said Jem.

“Will do, Commodore,” I replied.

Jem gave me a hug. Then she left the main bridge.

“Ship, prepare the probe with the relevant protocols and messages,” I said.

“Confirmed,” replied Ship.

“Take us to our next destination,” I ordered.

“Confirmed. The next destination is the Helburia system. Arrival will be in three days,” replied Ship.

“Thank you, Ship. I have no memory of what we did, but I couldn’t have done it without you,” I said.