In Hyperspace

© 2019 by Walter Reimer



Thumbnail art by  rabbi-tom



Hyperspace is essentially a boundary between our universe and another. We know nothing of that other universe apart from several hundred years of theories and abstruse equations, all of which may be wildly off the mark. Suffice it to say that it is there, and there is a boundary between it and our own. Navigating along that boundary, even from one system to another, without the aid of a computer and established beacons can be lethal.

Exploration and colony ships went first, feeling their way around gravity wells and other features of the ‘terrain.’ Careful records were kept and waypoint buoys were sown in the ships’ wakes. The more well-traveled the route, then, the better.

The main monitor in the Kiss Me in the Dark’s command cabin showed a series of straight lines from waypoint to waypoint, but in reality the path twisted, curved, and even doubled back on itself more than once. Making certain that nothing happened depended on the helmsfur’s training and expertise.

“Waypoint reached, twenty twenty-one,” Meredith said aloud, noting the time on her log recorder before glancing at the two engineers. “Elroy, how are things?”

The beagle glanced at Ginny, who nodded. “Hyperdrive’s at seventy-two percent, gravity’s still Terra normal, life support’s good.” The palomino looked over her shoulder at Kwinton.

“Good.” He got out of his chair and stretched. “I’ll be in my quarters if anything happens,” he said, in a tone that implied that nothing had better dare happen. Pausing at the doorway he added, “Good night,” and walked out.

Meredith sat back. The chairs were comfortable, at least.

The monitor directly in front of her showed the ship’s course, naturally, along with virtual velocity and a few of the more important data points such as engine output and power utilization. More detailed data was on the two smaller screens to either side. Elroy and Ginny, being the ship’s engineers, had far more detailed information on their consoles.

The palomino mare briefly considered opening up her current game module, and dropped the idea almost as quickly. It was her first day on the job and the crew’s first trip; better to wait until they were surer of the Kiss Me in the Dark and each other before taking her eyes off the controls.

“Meredith?”

She looked to her right. “Yes, Ginny?”

“You from This Far? Born there, I mean.” The mare nodded and the rabbit doe got an almost wistful look. “I was born on a passenger ship. My mother was an engineer, and I didn’t feel solid ground under my feet until I was ten.”

“Really? And when you did?”

The doe’s ears dipped. “Scared me to death, I’ll tell you,” and she chuckled nervously. “I was terrified that the gravity would quit and there’d be no ceiling to grab onto.” She grinned. “There were some pluses to being space-born, though.”

“Yeah?”

“Uh-huh. I knew about as much about engines as my instructors when Mama put me in school.”

“Your mother still around?” Elroy asked.

Ginny nodded. “She is. She’s living on Point Mu Station.”

“Point Mu?” the beagle echoed. “That’s halfway across the Sphere from here. You’ve seen a lot, for someone so young.”

She stuck her tongue out at him. “I’m twenty-five, old man, and yes I have seen a lot of Terran space.” Elroy laughed; he was forty. “But you, I hear,” she said to Meredith, “you’ve been across the border.”

The palomino nodded. “What are the shlani like?” Elroy asked.

“What he said,” Ginny said.

Meredith chuckled, glanced at the monitor (waypoint reached, course adjusted, everything smooth) and replied, “Have either of you been to Downtime Station?” They shook their heads. “First thing you’ll notice is their . . . scent.” She caught herself before saying ‘smell.’

“Bad?” Al-Najar asked.

“No, Elroy, just different. Sort of . . . musky,” Meredith said.

Ginny said, “You know, I noticed that the first time I went groundside. I almost threw up.” Her ears dipped. “I know better now.”

Elroy and Meredith chuckled. “What else?” the beagle prompted.

“They’re taller, of course, and the Empire’s a lot older than the Confed.” The mare held up a finger. “But just because their scent’s a bit strong doesn’t mean we smell like flowers to them.”

Elroy’s ears hiked a bit. “Yeah?”

Meredith nodded. “I got called ‘smelly’ quite a few times when I first got aboard, but after a while I got used to them, and they got used to me.” She spared the monitor another glance.

Ginny noticed. “Expecting trouble?”

“All the time, especially since this is the first time piloting this ship.”