Asteroid Enterprise Read online

  Asteroid Enterprise

  Chapter One

  One Hell Of A Ride

  I looked to the left and continued to try and spot the lost ship. The new alien recruit proved to perform below average in his trials. All he was supposed to do was collect some minerals from a few asteroids. After a few days we set off to look for him. His signal died somewhere in the section of the asteroid belt.

  If it wasn’t for the good old autopilot maneuvering systems, invented by some prodigy kid centuries ago I wouldn’t be out here. Before his design came about, navigating through asteroid fields was suicide. Now I’m out here trying to find this newbie with ease. The times are always changing.

  I had a bet with a couple of the other veteran pilots if the new recruit would pass his test. There are all sorts of things that can go wrong other than the rarity of a system malfunction. Unfortunately, there are a few sorry souls that had the experience of their ship crashing them into an asteroid. Although the design of the ship's computer system was sophisticated and highly advanced. There were still some slips from time to time.

  I never had anything go wrong with my ship so far. I make my robots do diagnostic rundowns constantly. Before I go out for a pleasure cruise or some kind of mission. I have to make sure all systems are fully operational. Only lazy alcoholics don’t double check their ships' vital functions.

  Still, here I am in my perfectly functional ship searching for some newb because I might lose a bet. I usually bet for the underdog and in this case, but I had a bad feeling. It’s not like I have some gambling addiction and I’m going broke over it. Still, this kid isn’t exactly up to par if you know what I mean. He looks like the weak type that hesitates and fails to make the necessary decisions. Basically, he comes off like some weakling that’s in the wrong field, destined to crash and burn.

  I’ve seen them come and go and let me tell you it never surprises me when they perish. I mean you almost just assume that they’re going to fail to save some grief. It’s better lived this way and I don’t hold myself to any survival superiority. I don’t expect myself to live through these treacherous voyages I’m sent on.

  I’ve been here awhile and seen a thing or two. Most of us that have been around the block don’t take it seriously. I mean it’s a big universe out there and things are bound to go down. There’s plenty of aliens out there scourging around looking for a brain to vaporize. Some of them don’t even want to steal your resources. They just want to wipe your kind out of existence.

  There are too many hate groups to count out here. Depending on whichever of the thousands of news broadcasts you tune into. You can hear tons of stories of rebels, pirates, and cultic organizations that rob and kill for a multitude of reasons. I guess being human isn’t such a bad thing if you have an empathic influence on the universe.

  Some worlds are born into a completely different reality than earth is. We have certain biological features that psychologically make us into a unique culture. There are so many varieties of beliefs in cultivated civilizations it’s insane. Some are even quite similar to mine, which can be bizarre.

  I mean considering I was one of the ones to volunteer to be teleported into the future. It has been a very surreal experience for me. The Asteroid Enterprise likes to time travel to find appropriate candidates for their business. There are certain genetics that make up talented pilots in humans. Some alien forms can be more difficult to decipher and determine if they could be gifted assets to the enterprise. Still some aliens insist on pursuing a career even if they don’t fit the part.

  Sometimes the alien on the outside isn’t the alien that performs. I’ve seen some very fragile sensitive beings turn out to be great. You just never know but most of the time they make mistakes or get unlucky. Whether that be because they get boarded and murdered, or just robbed blind of their shipments. Either one isn’t exactly an ideal day at work.

  Chapter Two

  Try Not To Die On The Job

  After looking for a few hours I decided maybe it was time to give up on the search. The enterprise really didn’t have much of a problem writing off new workers as missing in action. If the pilot was carrying an expensive load they would invest more in investigations. Still all of the loads we transported had a tamper proof packaging. They would know if you even tried to find out what you had.

  Which not knowing is a good thing unless someone on the inside leaks it to pirates to get paid. There were instances where the robbery couldn’t be proved. There wasn’t any evidence that could point towards a leak. Still, ships get hijacked all the time. The thing is that most of the time not even the pirates knew what they were robbing. They could be stealing a shipment of cotton swabs for all they knew.

  So, it was good not to know what you were carrying so you weren’t tempted to steal it. Also so no one else found out and tried to rob you. I’ve heard of expensive shipments being disguised and sent to everyday market loading docks. Like bricks of gold and other valuable materials. This is more of a myth than a proved story. Still you can’t help but wonder if what you’re carrying might spell an easy retirement.

  Breaching a ship and taking control of it was hard but the pirates manage to make off with some of them. I’ve had a few run-ins but I was smart enough to invest in camouflage drones to escort me from a distance. There’s always the anxiety of what if pirates detect my drones and infiltrate my ship. The kind of tech I’m referring to doesn’t exist in theory anyways. There are always new products coming out at the same time to keep a constant fuel to your worry.

  There are nice pirates that don’t actually kill the beings they rob. They might just leave them with a few supplies in a space suit somewhere. With an emergency beacon ready to transmit to the enterprise to pick them up. If they’re caught, they only get charged with burglary and not murder. This lessens their sentence and it’s not like identifying the suspects ever does any good. There are too many beings in the universe to try and match any two.

  So you could be robbed or robbed and killed. It doesn’t really happen that much if you consider all the safe trips. All the successful transports versus the ones end up stolen really isn’t that much. I don’t even worry about it most the time but it always seems to linger in the back of my head. I’m sure it lingers in the back of all the other workers' heads too. Or maybe their alien brain is superior and isn’t susceptible to fear. Either way I just try not to die on the job.

  Chapter Three

  Time Warped Blast From The Past

  The earth I lived on was changed so much into the future I witnessed. The mind-boggling paradox of choices that leave me wondering what if I stayed. If I didn’t choose to work for the Asteroid Enterprise what would it be like? I was told that a single person’s significance is limited by their influence on other people. Yet one change can spiral a completely different set of events or genetics to be born. Most of the time a planet can be limited in affecting outside occurrences.

  It’s strange but when you take a person such as myself out of a certain time. That can cause a multitude of things to transpire. This is because any one person can change the course of history by simply being alive. Every single person can offer some sort of perceptual exchange to alter another person’s choices. Still the time I lived on the planet was limited to affect outside worlds.

  The technology of the time I lived in had a certain potential as far as who was to come along to change it. Yet the more people become aware about time travel the more the culture centers around it. The more our choices seem to be enhanced in free will. It’s a common joke to blame time travelers for things. Saying travelers did it again now we’re stuck in this reality.

  So, when I was removed from the planet, it wasn’t going to build ships or escape its
isolated existence. Therefore, it wouldn’t have such a direct impact on the current reality or outside existences. Plus there are ways to detect changes in time lapses. They can actually fix certain things to make a better outcome. It can become very complex and I don’t know everything about it. In simple terms I’m just not interested in studying time travel and the advanced topics available.

  All that matters is my talent pushes me through my career, like running downhill hill with the wind at my back. Some people don’t realize what sort of talent it takes to achieve certain feats. Piloting a spaceship is one of those things. Most beings won’t think to try to operate a spaceship let alone be gifted in it. You have to have the balls to fly to do what I do.

  I didn’t even know I was gifted but I never flew planes or anything in my old life. I was a simple warehouse worker just living his young life. I mean I was about twenty two when they came and made me an offer. Thing is that no one knows about time travel in the past. If I tried to expose the conspiracy, I would only get so far before society would label me a crazy.

  I really wanted to accept the offer because I thought they might be toying with me. There’s no possible way any such thing could exist, right? I mean I thought it was just some weird guys trying to play a prank on me. I thought what the hell, I’ll play it out. What do I have to lose? I mean what are they going to try to kill me or something? They didn’t exactly come off like the killer types anyways.

  I was a single guy without any kids. Of course, I have parents but I’m an only child. I do love my family but they would understand. I mean that is if they could even believe it. I thought about finding my way back or just going back to contact them. I have to admit there is some regret for me leaving my time. Yet the Asteroid Enterprise offered me such an amazing opportunity here.

  I feel like the Enterprise doesn’t really care about me and they’re using me for my genetics. I mean I have a rare genetic makeup but in my old life I would’ve been a regular guy. I would’ve probably never pursued a career as a pilot. Still I guess I was pretty young maybe I would’ve naturally found a way into the Air Force or something.

  I made my choice and I was told I might not ever be able to go back. There are certain situations where they can send you back to your time. I’ve heard of humans that just go back to their time to retire. Which isn’t a bad idea I mean it’s only human to reminisce on your place of origin and people who loved you. I just had to take them up on this opportunity.

  I mean it’s really bizarre to think that this could even happen. In my old life everything was so enclosed and our culture was so young. Yet it can’t be disturbed to alter the current state of events. They theorize that going back with technology and to merge times is risky. It could potentially cause certain things to change dramatically. I don’t really see what the big issue is though I mean we’ll reach that state eventually.

  The world will evolve as humans do and we will develop into the technology I see before me. They see it as unethical to ruin the process of natural earth. They say it’s disrupting the natural order of things but they make exceptions. The catch was quite strange in fact as to why they chose me.

  I mean my D.N.A. is rare but not that rare. There are several other candidates they could’ve selected. Still apparently, they pick people who will soon pass away. They chose people that have the right genetics but were going to die. So, my life in the timeline of earth would’ve ended anyways. They just pretty much utilized their knowledge to make use of me.

  Of course, I did have a choice but it was more like an ultimatum. They were going to take me regardless of what happened but working for the Enterprise was an offer. They selected me not only to save my life but to use my genetic makeup properly. All of this sort of hurt my brain when they explained everything, but I didn’t have much of a choice.

  The alternative would be to live my life in the future. The one I live in now but without the job offer. So, I might end up with a deadbeat job, or being some regular person anyways. Still I had to take them up on this offer since the pay was promising.

  Still, the only way I can make it back would be illegal. That’s why when I say I heard of people going back to retire or just finding a way back. I wasn’t exactly saying I knew how they would do it. At the same time, I do know that you would have to use some black-market teleporter. Who knows how you would even go about finding the connection to use it? I suppose you have to get involved with some shady individuals.

  All this stuff about time travel makes my mind melt. All these rules and regulations they enforce out here in the future are so complicated. I suppose when you alter the past you can make people disappear if you affect things the right way. It’s kind of like murdering someone if you really think about it. I just don’t think it’s intentional. You were just there altering the moment with your presence somehow.

  Say someone was supposed to be born from a one-night stand. That person might carry genetics to make another person. Say you go back in time and you end up stealing the person's one-night stand. So, they sleep with another person and have your kid or no baby is born. The entire timeline will be screwed up. That’s only an easy way to put how chain reactions can occur. Any more complicated than that and my head might explode.

  I’m only looking to make the best of my situation. Apparently, the night they came and got me I was supposed to die in a car wreck. They took me into the future instead but they still made sure the crash happened. They used a clone that wasn’t even alive. He was basically an imitation body with my D.N.A. and structure. Kind of strange what they can do in the future. I’m here to stay, so I might as well make myself comfortable.

  Chapter Four

  The Lucky Duckling

  I was leaving the area, finally giving up on looking for the lost newbie. When I got a distress signal. The signal was coming from nearby and I knew it was him. He probably got boarded by pirates and needed a ride. I mean who else would be sending an emergency signal out here? It only made sense that it was him.

  I blasted over to where the signal was and saw him. Floating trying not to get hit by an asteroid with his thrusters. Well, at least he’s alive and that means that I won the bet. Still the fact this even happened was rare. It wasn’t so often one of our workers gets robbed.

  I flew in closer and opened up the hatch. He turned on his thrusters and coasted towards the ship. I went down to open the door to let him in. I had to give him some shit about what had happened. I mean, he failed his mission trying to collect the minerals and lost the ship. It’s okay though it’s really not his fault.

  “Well if it isn’t the lucky duckling who didn’t get his head blown off” I said once the door was open. The alien looked back with somewhat sad shook up eyes. I could tell he was upset about what had happened. I would probably look the same if I lost my ship. The Enterprise will give him a new one but he’ll have to retry the mission.

  The alien sat in the copilot seat next to me. “You already know what happened don’t you?” he said. “Well, you don’t spend as much time as me on this job without knowing what to expect” I responded. “I can’t believe I was just robbed on the first day” He muttered. “Tough luck little duckling let’s get you back to home base.” I chirped back with a smile. I fired up the engines and blasted back home.

  The whole trip he just sat there still processing what happened. I mean it’s possible the guy is faking just to get a cut from the ship after it’s sold. Still I don’t think it’s likely on the first day. I mean how many beings would try to pull a stunt like that right off the bat. He probably just had a bad day, but it could’ve been worse. He should feel grateful to even be alive.

  “You look like you could use a beer.” I said as he sat there moping around staring out the side of the window into space. “That sounds just fine” He looked over with a slight smile that signaled he was coming around. He went off to grab a beer. “Shoot, grab me one too while you’re up duckling” I called back. I felt like duckling fit the ne
wcomer just fine. He’s just a little duck in a big universe.

  Truthfully even I was a little bit shook, with all that happened so suddenly. I anticipate newbies to die so it makes it easier to let go. I mean it’s not that hard when you don’t know them, but they can still linger. You just think about the initiation talks you gave them and how they were gone shortly after.

  This guy will probably be just fine considering he might not ever have another run-in like this again. Unless maybe the second time's the charm to get him killed. That would make him a very unlucky duckling in that case.

  We sipped our beers on the way back as the ship auto piloted through the asteroids. “You know that doesn’t happen that often,” I said. “Yeah I really was hoping for an easy mission” the duckling responded. “That’s the way it goes, you know you’re lucky to be here” I said. “Yeah I know I’m still a little shook but I’ll be fine” he said back. What a crazy day it was.

  We arrived at home base where I had to fill out all the necessary paperwork. We just sat there in the lobby with our assigned officer. The officer was just there to take a report and file all the information. They also had to decide if it was worth further investigations. Most of the time when this happened there wasn’t much to be done. They lost a ship and they didn’t want to take it any further than that. It’s just a waste of money to investigate something that might not get solved. They were in touch with the operations of pirates, but they were hard to track. There wasn’t too much they could do most of the time.

  There were a lot of cold cases of workers that died working for the Asteroid Enterprise. Not that they had daily incidents but they seemed to have built up over the years. Sometimes all they find are pieces of the ship just floating through space. They still take appropriate procedures to catch the suspects. Yet it’s hard when they make such a clean getaway.