Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR
FIRST SIGNS

1139 HOURS GMT
NOVEMBER 14^th 2232
APPROX 951.6 MILLION KM FROM EARTH

CAPTAIN’S LOG
DAY TEN

I have much to report since my last fateful incident four days ago. It has been a profusely surreal experience for me; upon hearing the recent events subsequent to me apparently falling unconscious, I was more than stunned. My range of words cannot truly captivate how I feel about the subject. Therefore, whatever I may claim to be my reaction, it will have to be amplified a million more times to match how I truly did feel.

On November 10^th 2232, four days before today, at approximately 1930 HOURS, I began to feel unbearable recurring pain until I collapsed. The crew, as I have been told, rushed into the room, surrounding me immediately. Consequently, the entire medical crew was summoned, and I was, with much haste, brought into the medical bay for treatment. Doctor Erin Baker, after close analysis of my status, diagnosed me with Bavorn’s Mutation Phenomena. It is a highly rare condition experienced during long-distance space flights, and has not been fully identified due to its spontaneous-like demeanor and scarce occurrences. Basically, the heart is mutated, resulting in the pumped blood becoming ‘contaminated’ with bacteria that slowly kills every organ. As the body cannot find an efficient way to reverse this, the amount of infected blood only mounts, inevitably destroying our organs, and, in turn, leading to the victim’s death.

There is only one known cure for this: the replacing of the majority of my blood, and a heart transplant. I was more than shocked to hear that someone had volunteered to offer their own to save my life. The notion of this drives me insane. I simply cannot believe someone would do such a thing for me.

I survived the operation, and albeit at first it felt rather odd with another one’s heart within me, I am in recovery and soon, with much hope, will be healed soon. As of now, all major decisions will be relayed through Executive Officer Luke Hunter, until I am back on my feet.

But I must take the time to mention Doctor Emmaline Yellow. She had saved my life. It is a very bittersweet thought as... Emma was a very important factor to my lif—to the ship and the crew. She was, without doubt, one of the best medical specialists I know, and should have been Medical Chief if she only had more experience. I will personally see to it she receives the proper funeral she deserves.

Anyway, we must not also overlook those who graciously donated their blood for the blood transfusion. The list is as follows:

MEDICAL NURSE Chaowei Fan
MEDICAL NURSE Timothy Mills
BRIDGE CREW Sarah Watcher
NAVIGATOR Luke Hunter
ENGINEER Surev Salvatore
ENGINEER Eric Phou
SCIENTIST Doctor Bill Skelton
SCIENTIST Justine Scaler

I will also look to it that they will receive appropriate awards. This includes the Medical Staff which performed against odds and succeeded. I am once more proud to say that my crew is highly dependable and extremely professional and skilled. One could not hope for a better group of specialists.

We remain en route for Earth at our maximum speed of 50% engine power, and will arrive in approximately fifty days. All attempts at communicating with Earth have all resulted in constant failure.

It has been a very hectic time. As aforementioned, we only have fifty days left, and I am sure we will go through it devoid of any major accidents.

But nothing’s perfect.

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2230 HOURS GMT
NOVEMBER 14^th 2232
APPROX 928.8 MILLION KM FROM EARTH

CAPTAIN’S LOG
DAY ELEVEN

This early morning Doctor Erin Baker evaluated my condition, and, through the voluntary use of our acceleration drug, she had estimated my recovery time to be approximately seven days. Therefore, I decided to use the one of the two ship’s reserve wheelchairs, as I harbored the urge to examine the ship. At about 1210 HOURS, I set out to do so. At first, I struggled to resist the sheer difficulty of balancing after days of remaining stagnant, but inevitably I managed.

To begin with, I inspected the bridge. Both the crew and navigational systems were all operational, however Navigator Creed Scranton is in for therapy treatment, regarding the death of Dr. Hamesh Patel.

Nevertheless, proceeding, I examined the Research Facility. Despite the complete abrupt turn of events, practically cancelling every preparation these men have done, every scientist is conducting their own independent research, particularly Normandy, who seemed excessively jubilant to receive my former heart for study. I can only hope he is searching for a cure. I will have to return for scrutinizing, to ensure that his research is somewhat ethical.

Following the Research Facility, I visited the Engineering Bay. Engineer Dwight Bobblee has replaced Ilya Pirunov as Chief Engineer, and I do have confidence he will be competent under the title. However, I am still very aware of the crew’s sensitivity to Ilya’s death, whose body we do not even have. Advancing, I requested a status report on the engines, which are ‘perfectly operational’, according to Mr. Bobblee. We remain at the same velocity, and our comm-systems are still, apparently, working as they should be, despite unable to connect with Ground Control.

My last destination was the Medical Facility. The medical staff was, albeit visibly joyful to see me, quite agitated that I was pushing my recovery stage—without the acceleration drug, my recuperation would be more than two months. For the first time I asked about my former heart, and Dr. Baker indicated they had transferred it to the Research Facility for study, specifically for an alternate cure.

Furthermore, I had also requested to see Dr. Emmaline Yellow’s body…for personal reasons.

I am relieved to say that we suffered no losses today, and hopefully this will continue to weave a pattern of much needed serenity.

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SAME DAY
2011 HOURS

Chief Scientist PhD. Edward “Normandy” Scott grinned widely as his eyes focused through the microscope’s lenses. With much pleasure, he observed as black cells spontaneously appeared and obliterated surrounding cells. Of course, the infection had already set in, so there was little chance of discovering how it had occurred in the first place, but at least he could find a method to somehow reverse the mutation; a cure.

But then he paused, another grin widening.

Or a deadly virus.