I had to do a zig-zag maneuver to get to the injector core. I really hate working when emergency protocols are running. All the flashing red lights and warning buzzers really put me on edge, I had to put my HUD on mute. Thankfully the communicator works on a separate module.

“Chief, do you read me?”

“I read you, Bob. What is it?”

“I just reached the Ion Drive’s main power channels. Ready to cut off juice on your mark.”

“Good, stay there on standby. Get the power readings from each channel. Take note of any abnormalities and get back to me if you get anything. Over and out.”

Hmm, nothing yet from Tuck. He must be getting there. I soon reached my destination, the Protoplasma Injection Chamber. I knew some of its old parts needed replacement, it’s just that this time, the brass decided to give the manufacturing contract to a new company on Mars. I have a feeling that it’s one of their bloody cronies. The last batch of parts came from a Swedish manufacturer, who has been our regular supplier for the past 3 years, so it was never hard for me to trust in the quality of their builds. This new company claims to give superior quality for a lower price.

WARNING: WARP PARTICLE LEAKAGE DETECTED!
INITIATING MULLER PROTECTION SEQUENCE

Superior quality my ass.

I’m a warp engineer, so it’s my job to actually keep these kind of systems run smooth like icing on a chiffon cake. Warpgates run on a decade-old technology built upon a newly discovered property of the lithium-6 isotope, also known as Warp Particles.

I remember reading journals of its research back in college. These particles, when interacted with protoplasma, have been found to be capable of creating a wormhole, thus eliminating any distance between two warp systems. However, lithium-6 by itself is lethal; early studies have shown that its radiations are capable of causing nervous tumours in living organisms.

Bob’s dad died of Warp Cancer. The old man was a research assistant at a lab in Florida.

MULLER PROTECTION SEQUENCE COMPLETE
WARP-PARTICLE LEAKAGE STATUS: YELLOW
LIFE-SUPPORT SYSTEMS: ALL GREEN

Thankfully, over the past few years, a layer of protein strands modified from tofu cells have been proven to absorb radiation from Warp Particles, and in turn, uses the energy to sustain itself. This protection material has been adopted by various industries, but the most popular architecture of this protection is called the Muller Protection Module, and has become a mainstay in spacesuit safety protocols.

“Chief, this Tuck. Do you copy?”

“I read you. How does it look like over there?”

“Bad. One of the Warp Particle tanks got a major crack. The leakage is saturating in this sector so I’m waiting outside for a while. Can you cut off the power to this place?”

“Bob, you copy that?”

“Copy that, Chief. Power channels seem normal to me. No software failures, either. I did the checks on all of the power lines, they’re all stable. I’m cutting the power to the tank chambers. The leakage should stabilise in a few minutes.”

“Cut the power to the injection chamber, too.”

“Roger. Over and out.”

I better check on that pulse-control unit. Hmm, the warp particle leakage seems to have gone down. I made my way to the blast door on the chamber, and proceeded to unlock it manually. There was no reponse from door-control unit. I didn’t have a choice, so I pulled out the welding torch. I remembered a fairly large garbage chute tucked behind some crates and made my way there. Sure enough, it was there. Luck for me my torch managed to cut its way through fairly quick. It would take me forever to work on the wretched blast door.

PERSEUS EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS: LEVEL 0
PERSEUS EMERGENCY SEQUENCE END. STATUS IS NORMAL
PERSEUS OPERATION STATUS: STANDBY MODE
AWAITING WARP SEQUENCE REBOOT

I was lucky to be in my suit. I would definitely not want to go through that garbage shaft inhaling the fumes from all the weird things that have passed through it. I found my exit before long, and the sight before my eyes sent chills through my spine.

Blue crystals. Lots of them. At first I thought they were ice, but ambient temperature wasn’t low enough to suggest that. The blue crystals were everywhere. It covered the floors, consoles and walls like a carpet of fine haired crystals, glimmering in the darkness. But more amazingly, these crystals appeared to have grown rapidly, as though it exploded from within the injection core. Sharp blue obelisks protruded from where protoplasma would normally flow.

This has GOT to be Superman’s new apartment or something.

“Tuck here. I welded the leak on that tank shut, now heading back to the EVAM. How’s things over there, Chief? Hey, Chief? Chief, do you copy?”

I was enchanted at the sight of the crystals. I stood there, frozen in fascination and in fear. What *is* this, this, crystal? Why does it grow here? How does it relate to protoplasma and warp particles?

I could only wonder.

Continue to Part III

Previously:

• Part I