The Galactic Federation Ship of the "Verteidiger"-class. A Frigate of the middle class, with a crew of about 36 people. Its Mission is to transport a "Science Officer" to an automated Black Hole Observatory.
"Status?" asked Captain Nikolai Gusman.
"Communications-Systems optimal"
"Engines optimal"
"Shields and Weapons optimal"
…
The crew answered Captain Gusman like a well-oiled engine one after another until the bridge door opened and a boy entered who was about 2 years old ….
"Food sub-optimal, when do you guys get new Food Replicators or let me tweak them a little? This body needs good and nutritious Food."
Captain Gusman started frowning and answered the voice behind him. "Ensign Wagner, you know as well as I do, that I won't let you anywhere near the ships systems. Aside from the Incident on the 'Heimdall' where your "little tweaking" turned the Holodeck into an inescapable hellscape and caused half the crew of the 'Heimdall' to suffer from PTSD to this day. In your most recent experiment you transferred your mind into a clone of yourself, killed your main body in the process, just to test the effects of your new nanites on a young body. My poor little brother had to change your diapers for almost a year and …
"Fine! But I'm still technically your Superior, so I order you to give me access to the replicators!"
Some of the bridge crew couldn't hold it anymore and started laughing out loud. While a tall figure grabbed the boy on his scruff and lifted him up so that he could look into the boy's eyes. It was the first mate.
"No, you are not. The Federation had to demote you, in fact you are lucky you are still an ensign and not a kindergartner. We can't have a Science Division Leader who is 2 years old, can we now? What would the rest of the Federation Members think?"
"Enough, Mikael! Osman, you have to live your life as an Ensign until you are of age. That's your punishment for your unsanctioned experiments. Also, we are almost at our destination now, so get ready and board the jumper."
"Fine…." Answered Ensign Wagner.
"And just to be safe. The quantum network array of the observatory is presumed to be damaged, since it's sending us Data that makes no sense. Your mission is to retrieve the data from the observatory and check on the quantum array, and nothing else. The jumper will take about an hour but due to the time dilation your flight will feel like 5 hours. The flight is completely automated and our scanners indicate that life support on the observatory is fully functional. When you are done just signal us using the jumper's communications. "
"And why is it that I have to this and not one of the engineers?"
"Because you can do with a little bit of lost time. Now stop annoying me and of you go!"
Ensign Wagner saluted and left crumbling for the jumper bay.
---------------------------------------
As Ensign Wagner entered the Jumper he thought:" AI, connect me with the jumper's neural interface"
*Yes, Master. Connecting… *
*Connection Failed. Commence hacking of onboard AI, Master? *
"Ye..."
In that moment a video feed of the captain appeared on the onboard screen.
"I think I told you that the ship is fully automated and that I won't tolerate any more of your shenanigans? If you try to do that again I'll blow up that ship with you in it, are we understood?"
"Yes, Sir!" answered Ensign Wagner with a scowl, while thinking to himself:" Fuck! I'll get him back for that. Just cause I was trying to have some fun, but I'll have to keep my head down or the old geezers in the federation will rip me a new one. Better stick to the mission for now."
*AI, change Outfit to Space-Suit MK III*
*Yes, Master. Remaining Energy of Nanites will be at 90% and total amount of nanites in your body will be at 70% after rearranging, commence? *
"Yes"
The Ensign-Uniform transformed from fine cloth to a hard but flexible composite armor with a life support system while a helmet including an interface wrapped around his face.
"Captain Gusman start the jumper, please…."
With a Humming noise the Jumper started to slowly float while the Hangar doors opened. An energy field kept the air in the Hangar.
The Jumper started to advance to his goal through space.
6 hours later.
"Docking successful. Life support fully operational on the station. Opening Hatch"
"Strange… That took longer than expected."
As Osman entered the station the lights in the corridor flared up, he looked around and said "AI, Scan the atmosphere just in case."
*Scanning… No contaminants found. Atmosphere breathable. *
"Sigh, better safe than sorry. Show me the way to the nearest interface"
*Displaying on Helmet Interface*
Osman made his way to the nearest interface and started operating it. "Ok, Neural interface is enabled. AI, connect to it and download the Black Hole Data. Check the Status of the comms array while you are at it."
*Connecting…*
*Downloading… Estimated Time 4 seconds*
*Download Complete*
*Status of the Quantum Communications Array: 100%. No Malfunction registered. *
"That's strange. Compare the Data with the one we received."
*Analysis complete. Data 100% identical*
"Strange are the sensors malfunctioning? The Data we received was indicating exotic matter that can't exist…"
*All System are 100% Operational*
"Intriguing… but still that can't be… or could it?"
*Master, the sensors are registering another flare up of the exotic matter. It's Amount this time is 10 times higher than anything the sensors measured before. *
Alarms started blaring. "High Concentration of unknown matter in the Anti-Gravitation-engines are detected. Engines are Failing. Leaving the safe Orbit and nearing the Black Hole. Please Evacuate as soon as possible."
"Fuck!" Osman started running as fast as possible back to the ship. "Shit I'm to fucking slow. As expected of a 2y old body. AI, activate thrusters. Let's fly as fast as we can back to the jumper."
*Thrusters Activated. Please be careful flying in enclosed spaces is dangerous. *
Osman smirked. "No worries, that's not my first time! Fastest route to the jumper?"
*100meters then a left turn, 200 meters ahead and then 150 meters right turn*
Osman made his way in a breakneck speed through the corridors and arrived safely at the jumper.
"Start the Jumper!"
"Awaiting Permission from Captain Gusman…"
"Godammit, that would take at least 5 hours. AI Hack the Jumper and depart!"
*Hacking… Attempt Unsuccessful*
*Hacking… Attempt Unsuccessful*
*Hacking… Attempt Unsuccessful*
*Hacking… Success. Commence Departure. Alert! Jumper engines are unable to escape current gravitational pull of the Black Hole*
"Fuck, Try it anyway. I don't want to die here!"
*Engines are overheating… estimated time until reaching critical temperature 5 seconds…"
*4 seconds remaining*
*3 seconds remaining*
*2 seconds remaining*
*1 seconds remaining*
*0, Engines failed*
Then the jumper turned instantly to the Black Hole.
"Sigh… I wonder if I should be thankful that the Inertia-dampeners worked so well or not. What's worse death trough broken neck or black hole?"
*registering incredible energy radiation of unknown type right in front of us. *
At that Osman looked up and saw a Dark Blue Disk appearing out of nowhere and Osman could not believe his eyes as a Human in an embroidered Robe of unknown design stepped out of that Disk.
At first the Human looked Happy. Then his Eyes started bulging. Then grabbed his neck. Then he was run through by the jumper which continued on through the blue Disk.
Osman blacked out.