Signaling

Something strange was happening. Warning lights had begun to flash from the main navigation panel, and the cabin’s hololights were alternately dimming and brightening. Adventurer’s readings had all been normal until now. Something was coming. She could feel it. But what was it? This configuration of readings was completely new. She had never seen them before or learned about anything like them in the academy. They seemed to be indicating the approach of something from all directions at once, which made no sense. Likewise, she was seeing something completely new in her internal emotional registers. She instinctively shifted herself over into Zone Eight to heighten her sensitivity and cool her thinking.
She began signaling with her fingers and her breath, in order to bring herself and her ship into an integrated synchrony with Universal Intelligence. Within seconds she received a verbal warning from Alpha II. “DSA commander, change course at once. Set bearings for grid position 32-714-3500 immediately. A second anomaly has just been detected in your vicinity, and it appears to be on an intersection course with A-421. Situation dangerous, status unclear. Take evasive action at once.” Had Sunanda been aboard, the two would have been able to respond in time. However, the astronaut was alone. Even in her state of self-generated serenity, she knew she was in grave danger.
Before she could take any action, the normally low hum of the Adventurer’s command cabin was suddenly interrupted by a loud cracking sound. A violent explosion of sound and light erupted simultaneously as she saw her beloved ship fly apart at the seams. Within milliseconds, she found herself surrounded by the blackness and silence of space. Now engulfed in total silence, she was able only to watch helplessly as the remains of her former ship scattered in all directions. As she began to feel the severe cold pierce her thin nanoskin suit, she knew that she would be dead within thirty seconds in the ruthless vacuum of space.
The instant she realized that, however, she felt a hot sensation arise from within her second neuronexus, two inches below her navel. For the first and last time in her short life, she realized that the homing biocapsule implant had activated! She watched with fascination from inside her Zone Eight state as the membrane expanded first forward, then outward, like the opening of an umbrella, and finally blossomed, with a spherical movement, up, below, and all around her. The biocapsule sealed itself into an equilibrium state that resembled a glossy, transparent balloon ten feet in diameter. She could see that she was attached to one wall by a thin thread extending out from her navel. She was effectively dangling freely in its center. She immediately heard the rising whisper of air compression and was able to breathe again. Warmth permeated the new atmosphere. Feeling overwhelming relief, she almost laughed as she realized that the technology had actually worked!
She did not have much time to think about what had happened, however. Within a few seconds, she began to feel a sensation of acceleration. The feeling became more and more intense. Through the translucent membrane she could see the stars beginning to blur and streak, giving her the impression that she was moving faster and faster through space. Oddly, the stars seemed to be receding in all directions at once. She did not have time to ponder this either.
Time stopped as everything went black.
* * * * * * *
At some point, she became conscious. After briefly going through the ritual of taking stock of her body’s internal state, she opened her eyes. She was lying on her back, on a firm surface that felt like earth. Above her was a blue sky filled with puffy clouds. Rising beside her was some kind of plant-like creature. An oak tree. She felt a warm breeze blowing across her face and through her hair. Placing her hands on the ground to either side, she felt grass. She was home again, on Earth! This was a miracle.
With great care, after assuring herself that her body was uninjured, she gently pulled herself into a seated position. She began to look out at her surroundings. She seemed to be alone. She was on top of a large hill, and she could see a city in the distance below. She heard humans talking behind her, and she turned her head to look over her shoulder. Two people—a man and a woman—were walking in her direction, looking at her inquisitively. They appeared to be middle-aged, probably in their seventies or eighties. Their dress was quaint and old-fashioned, like something she had seen before somewhere that she could not quite place. They sounded like they were talking to each other. No, they were talking to her. The language form sounded archaic. The word English popped into her mind. Without knowing how she knew this, she realized that she was listening to a form of English that dated from the ancient period that had called itself “modernity.” How she knew this she did not know, although she did recognize that her understanding was cognihanced. Try as she might, she could not make out what they were saying to her.
The couple stopped a few paces from her—looks of both hesitation and concern showing on their faces. After several seconds, they looked at each other, turned around, and began to walk away. She suddenly realized she could not remember what had happened and had no idea where she was. All she could remember was her name, which seemed to cling to her consciousness like a bright light. She was now beginning to feel exhaustion creeping into her body and was becoming alarmed. She had to make a quick decision.
In a flash, she recognized that these people were friends. In the same instant, the words came to her. She called out: “My name is Samantha. Can you tell me where I am?”