Avenger

In the vacuum of space, no one can hear you scream; or so it seemed…

The starship, Avenger, was on its voyage into the stars to explore new worlds. Its brave crew was about to experiment with the warning about being able to scream in space…

The Crew:

Captain John Casey; bold and brilliant, a man of action.

Chief Medical Officer Riley Sheppard; Data analysis, Chef, Doctor. Copilot.

"Gunny" Andres Scott; Grunt and weapons specialist, pilot. Youthful and dependable.

Dr. Renard Scalan; leading astronomer, cosmonaut. Smart; but conniving. Very much a dreamer, he can be stubborn...

STAR DATE LOG 01: NOVEMBER 1ST, 2050

The AVENGER floated through the galaxy at a cruising speed. It was moving just slowly enough to scout for new worlds; exactly the mission of its crew.

Captain John Casey had left his home what felt like years ago; left behind his parents, his sister, and his twin children. His late-wife would have understood his mission into the depths of space; between the two of them, they had funded the mission. She had even helped him pick the crew. However, the longer that the ship went on trying to pick up new planets to chart, the more pointless the endeavor had seemed. John had loved Lisa Thoren-Casey; loved her with all that he was worth. But she could be a dreamer at times; and she could be stubborn.

The door to the space shuttle's cockpit opened once more, prompting Captain Casey back to the present time. He almost audibly groaned at the sight greeting him. In speaking of stubborn dreamers. Dr. Renard Scalan, Russia's foremost cosmonaut and a renowned astrologist, entered the bridge and swept a steely, ice-blue eyed gaze around the proceedings. Dr. Scalan's expertise in certain matters was world-renowned, the crew was still under Captain Casey's jurisdiction. An unspoken power play ever since lift-off from Earth two weeks (or so many centuries) ago was the result. Sure enough, Dr. Scalan interposed himself in between the captain's chair and the pilot seats. Furthermore, the aging cosmonaut's gaze had fallen on Doctor Riley Sheppard. She knew that they were all professionals aboard the ship and Doctor Scalan, in particular, shared the commonality with her of being a doctor; the effect of his steely gaze focused on her still gave her chills.

"You there, young woman!" Doctor Scalan spat. "Are any previously unexplored worlds on your scanners yet?"

Captain Casey had heard enough out of the one non-North American member of their crew lately and it was time for him to speak up.

"Doctor Sheppard would know of an unexplored world when the Avenger's sophisticated equipment can find one, Doctor Scalan." The mission's flight commander spoke up.

From her seat, Dr. Sheppard beamed with pride. Captain John Casey had recognized her credentials! It meant nothing deeper to her than a compliment from the ship's captain; but his credentials to hand out compliments to his crew were air-tight. That; and, while Dr. Scalan's own expertise was equally noteworthy, the captain had been the one to recognize her abilities.

Suddenly, the ship's instruments began to chirp and twin buttons began to flash. One button glistened blue; the other, red. Two worlds did appear on the monitors.

"We've found them; two previously unexplored worlds!" Andres Scott piped up from the copilot's chair.

"Bravo; well done, Gunnery Sergeant Scott!" Dr. Scalan declared.

Inside, Dr. Sheppard seethed. The copilot, and the youngest, least experienced of the crew, had been recognized by his title!

"...These new worlds, young man; what are they called?" Dr. Scalan continued.

Suddenly, Andres Scott's face registered panic. He had very much enjoyed the kudos from the older crew members; now, he was presented with a question above his pay grade. Beside him, Dr. Sheppard typed into a computer keyboard.

"The blue planet is called Braveworld; it is a world that will allow us to experience a future Earth!" she declared. "The red world is called Lostworld; we can revisit a moment in the past there; but it will not allow us any controls as to which moment to land in."

"If either planet will allow us to see a past or future Earth, then they must both be safe for colonizing!" Captain Casey piped up. "Well done, crew!"

""Yes, yes; good show, the lot of us!" Dr. Scalan answered. "We will land on this Lostworld, of course. Press the red button to record our course, Mr. Scott."

"Lostworld?" Andres asked.

"Red; really, Doctor?" Doctor Sheppard asked.

Captain Casey cleared his throat.

"With all due respect, Doctor, these data readouts would indicate that Braveworld would give us the best glimpse of future colonies and advancements built upon our history and our present." he declared. "This Lostworld would only bring us reliving a past; a past occurrence that we can't even choose. We must further consider the ramifications of our choices."

Dr. Scalan's face colored and he whirled on the captain. Captain Casey instinctively backed further into his Captain's Chair.

"Commander, we could go back and be the ones to cure cancer!" he raved.

Of course that was the logic behind Dr. Scalan's impulsiveness. He had lost a daughter to fatal cancer; just as Captain John Casey had lost his wife. It wasn't as though the doctor's latest bout of stubbornness was from a selfish place...

The captain's face and demeanor softened. Nevertheless, his words stood resolute.

"I understand your reasoning, Renard." he answered, delicately. "But we could land on Braveworld and discover a future where someone else has cured it as well. It will be in memory of our loved ones and others."

"Hm; perhaps then." Dr. Scalan answered, pacing the bridge. "If I were to take the Skimmer to inspect this Braveworld on behalf of the crew before we should chart our automatic course, would it be possible to return to The Avenger unscathed?"

Captain Casey scratched his chin in thought.

"Perhaps." he answered. "I appreciate the show of incentive to the team, Renard, crew; but, as commander, perhaps I should take the Skimmer to make the journey."

"Oh, of course, Commander; very wise, Commander." Dr. Scalan answered.

Andres saluted the leader's decision quietly.

"Be safe." Dr. Sheppard added, warmly.

Captain Casey could only smile back.

"Thank you; I will be." he answered for the crew.

With that, he left the bridge and boarded The Skimmer. Doctor Scalan had even followed to the loading docks and saluted him one last time. Captain Casey was perplexed by his behavior. Nonetheless, he saluted him right back before activating the mini-ship's engines. He then casually reached for the flashing Blue button aboard The Skimmer. Suddenly, however, the Red button activated itself and Captain Casey found himself locked in the automatically piloted ship.

As the mini-ship jettisoned on its journey, Captain John Casey banged against the glass cockpit and his lips formed a scream. Sure enough, even aboard The Avenger, Dr. Renard Scalan hadn't heard a thing. He did, however, smile sadistically and waltzed back to the bridge.

Dr. Sheppard and "Gunny" Scott watched in horror as the runaway Skimmer detached and jettisoned with no way to bring it back. Before Dr. Sheppard could even reach for the radio, however, she felt a laser pistol placed against her head.

"Well now," Doctor Scalan declared, "I heard the good Captain Casey say something about exploring this Braveworld. The blue button if you please, young lady."

Dr. Sheppard and Gunny Scott glanced to one another and saw no other choice. One way or the other, the crew was exploring both new worlds; one of them to be abandoned alone, and two of the other noble explorers to be coerced by the conniving villain...