Six weeks later they reached the end of
their journey. As they exited the tunnel they were presented with a
sight even more breathtaking than the slip. The ring they came out of
was just one of over twenty rings stationed around Transit station
E3. Just beyond T.S.E.3 was a planet. The number of ships, space
stations, satellites and other advanced technology through out the
area was incalculable. Both Rusty and Toll's chins sat firmly on the
floor.
“Unidentified shuttle, this is
Transit Command, please identify yourself, or you will be detained.”
The man's voice seemed to come from every possible place on the
ship, and it knocked Toll out of his stupor. He flipped a switch to
open an unsecured channel.
“This is reclamation pilot Theta five
niner. Civilian name, Toll. I have a passenger aboard my shuttle, he
goes by Rusty...Where are we?” there was silence for a moment and
the response came over the channel this time.
“Rodger that Theta five niner, looks
like you're a long, long, long way from home. Dock in Bay two, I'm
sure we have just as many questions for you as you do for us.” The
man seemed pleasant enough.
“Affirmative, soon as you direct me
to bay two I'm as good as docked.” Toll responded. A trail of
lights on the Transit Station lit up and crawled around the outside
of the hull leading Toll to bay two. He took the ship around the far
side of the station and waited where the lights stopped for the bay
door to open. Once he had clearance he docked the ship and the doors
closed. A red beam of light scanned the entire ship. It was followed
by a blue beam of light. Once the blue beam had passed through the
entire ship there was a three second pause and the sound of pressure
releasing.
“You may exit your ship now
gentlemen.” The man informed them. Toll and Rusty stood, stretched
and headed for the ship's exit. As they headed for the airlock door
Rusty stopped Toll.
“They seem awfully calm about this
don't you think?” He whispered. Toll shrugged his shoulders.
“They're human, we're human. It's not
like we're invading aliens or something. Why wouldn't they be calm?”
He whispered back and headed for the door again, but Rusty stopped
him.
“Because we lost contact with them
over a hundred years ago and chose as a society to shut off the slip
ring. What if we're considered traitors? or worse what if they do
think we're invading?” Toll wrenched his sleeve out of Rusty's
grip.
“Would you calm down? Everything will
be fine!” He said as the docking bay door exploded open and armed
soldiers came pouring into the bay. Rusty threw his hands in the air
and Toll sheepishly turned to face the four soldiers.
“DON'T MOVE!” The soldiers yelled.
A fifth woman stepped into the bay. She wore a crisp gray uniform
with a barcode over her left pocket. She smiled at them.
“I do apologize for the theatrics
gentlemen but protocol is protocol. Now Toll, Rusty, why don't we
head over to one of our debriefing offices and get this mess cleared
up so we can make sure everything is as it should be.” her
inauthentic smile was pasted on her face with all the skill of a
professional predator. Rusty glared at Toll.
“You heard the Lady, Toll. After
you.” Toll and Rusty exited the bay under armed guard.
