(Aaand, after eight months. . . . . . the conclusion! This is the plot twist I came up with that inspired me to write the whole story.
And Serris, the plot of the new story involves one of our number disappearing, and the other's effort to get him back. As this story and Schroedinger's Prisoners took the "defensive" theme of the original RP, my new one follows the spirit of DS 2, putting our characters as the attackers.)
James slowly got up, and reached into the pocket. He withdrew the first name. “This person gets the furthest shield room from the bridge.” He unfolded the slip. “Myself.”
He drew another. “This person gets the shield room to the left. Kagetora.”
He drew another. “This person gets the shield room to the right. Vic.”
He drew the last slip. “This person gets the closest. Lockdoó”
“Wait,” interrupted Seska. “Let me be the last one!”
“That’s not fair,” protested James. “You weren’t picked, so it can’t be you!”
“I actually didn’t put a slip for her in there,” said Shelton.
“Well, I nominate myself,” Seska said, folding her arms. “I want to stay here with you!”
“Seska, we need you to go to Earth.”
“James,” said Zachary, “Earth might not be the best thing for her. There have been many attempts in Earth’s history to ingratiate primitive people into a more technologically advanced society. It rarely works.”
“Let me stay here, James. Please,” Seska pleaded.
James was torn.
“We now have ten minutes,” Shelton reminded him.
“Okay, fine!” James relented. “But you get the closest one, so jump through when you have to!”
“Okay,” she said.
“Those who are going!” He ordered. “You all have five minutes to get packed. In five, I want every shield room occupied, and the rest in the bridge room!”
“James,” said Snow, trotting up. “Wait up. I have something to ask of you.”
“Is it important?” asked James, irritated.
“Neku and I aren’t returning to Earth.”
“You’re not?”
“We have no future there. Hawkeye had agreed to provide passage for us away from this planet once you have all left.”
James didn’t really care at that point. “That’s your decision. Regardless, get packed.”
And he left the room.
____________________________________________________________________
“James, this is Shelton. Do you copy?”
“Yes,” said James, from the far shield room.
“Are you in position?”
He was crouched over the generator, holding a credit-card sized rectangle of shiny metal in the path of a thin chute leading into and through the wall. “Yes.”
“All four of you are. I’ll be turning on the bridge in thirty seconds.”
“Understood.”
“Three of the four remaining radios are with you, Vic, and Kagetora, and I’ll give this one to Seska soon, so you four will be able to communicate right up to…I mean, for as long as…uh…”
“I understand, Shelton. Thanks.”
“Okay. Good luck, James.”
“You too. We’ll get you and the others home, don’t worry.”
“I won’t. Powering on the bridge, this place’ll get a little shaky.”
Tremors ripped through the walls and ceiling around James. Dust filled the air.
“We’ll tell Earth about you, James. See you soon.” The radio cut out.
Another rumble hit the room. James kept the metal steady, waiting for the pulse to shoot out.
“This is Vic. Do you all hear me?”
“Yes,” Kagetora radioed in.
“Hey guys,” said James. “It’s been an honor serving with you.”
“And you, James.”
A third rumble tore through the walls. Cracks started forming.
“Keep those cards steady,” said Vic. “The others should be about a third of the way through,”
“When will the power levels set off the pulse?” asked Kagetora.
“We don’t know. Be ready for any timeó”
There was a flash of light, and a jolt of orange-yellow light shot from the shaking machine. It crashed into James’ hand, sending every bone in his arm rattling, then rebounded back, crashing repeatedly back into his hand almost as quickly as it had left.
There was a cry across the radio. “Kagetora! Vic! Was that you?”
“Not me. I’m still holding,” replied Kagetora.
“Me too,” said Vic, in a strained voice.
“Seska! Are you there? Say something! Seska!”
“I take it we lost the first energy pulse?” asked Kagetora.
Seska may be injured; I don’t know if she can get to the bridge!”
“Go check on her James,” said Vic.
“I’ll lose my pulse! It’ll only be you guys!”
“We can hold. Just do it.”
James dropped the metal card. The pulse shot through the wall. “Seska? I’m coming, just hold on!”
“Ow…” he heard through the radio. “Ow, ow, ow…”
“Seska! Hold on!” He was tearing down hallways, making for the bridge room.
“My arm is tiring,” Vic panted through the radio. “Is it possible to switch arms?”
“No,” responded Kagetora. “You must find your inner strength.”
The base shook again. “I lost it!” Vic cried. “My concentration slipped!”
James burst into the other shield room. Seska lay on the ground, cradling her right arm.
“Seska, get up.” James helped her to her feet, and with his support, started walking her out of the room. “I’m going to try to get Seska back to Gaman! Kagetora, can you hold on that long?”
“I will not let go,” he responded. His teeth sounded gritted.
In the bridge room, James dropped Seska in front of the bridge, and hurried to the controls. “Switching coordinates to Gaman!” he yelled.
“Don’t forget to lower the t-coordinate, or else you’ll reemerge in the future, after Gaman’s destruction,” reminded Vic over the radio. “Kagetora, I’m coming to assist you.”
“There is no need,” Kagetora replied.
“Then I’ll keep you company.”
The bridge flared to life. “It’s open,” James reported. He helped Seska up. “Ready? 1…2…”
The bridge died.
“What happened? Kagetora!”
“I did not let go. The pulse dissipated.”
“The shields have run out,” Vic said gravely. “The base is out of power, and we are now being flooded with radiation.”
All of a sudden the bridge flared to life.
“What happened now?” asked James.
A fourth voice came over the radio. “This is Hawkeye. I am diverting power from my engines to the bridge. James, take Seska and go!”
James grabbed her and dove through the bridge.
He tumbled out the other side, Seska beside him, as the bridge dissipated in seconds.
He got to his feet. The sun shone directly above him, high noon. Its rays cast an orange glow upon miles and miles of rock, dirt, and lichen.
Beside him, Seska stood up. “Where are we?”
“We’re back on Gaman.”
“We are?”
“We went too far. I don’t think human life has even evolved yet.”
“James,” said Seska, undoing a bag tied around her arm. She handed it to him.
He opened it. Inside was the copy of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.
“You brought Shakespeare?”
“Not Shakespeare. Sapaar.”
“Sapaar…Shakespeare? Sapaar is Shakespeare?”
“Time can do things to a name,” she said.
He looked around. “Then where is…” he stopped. Stared at the miles of empty lifeless world around him. Stared at the book. Stared at her.
“I’m Gamas, aren’t I?”