Alpha One - Chris Burton [110]
Winterburn waited for this moment for a long time. A very long time. He knew this event would happen. He manufactured it. Now was his time and the true meaning for the Collective’s existence was about to reveal itself. After fifty years of meticulous planning, they were ready. The Collective participants were gathering and soon they would all ‘collectively’ play their part.
* * * *
Carla also had waited for this moment for some time. After two weeks of travel she entered the Tri-Star system and joined the other members of the Collective. Her journey was uncomfortable, and she spent most of the time wondering what she was doing.
Two days before she was due to return to the Academy from her parent’s home in Australia, Carla first felt someone summoning her. To begin with, it was just a feeling, but over the next 24 hours, it grew into an almost unstoppable force compelling her to seek out the Collective. She knew it was Winterburn and that he applied his special ‘powers’ to make her feel that nothing else was important. She felt as she had when first in his presence: powerless and absolutely enthralled, almost breathless in her eager anticipation to be with him once more.
She felt compelled to head for the nearest space port. There she joined others who boarded a charted space cruiser bound for Titan. Two days later, she boarded a shuttle, which carried her and five other people to join the Collective in the Tri-Star system. She didn’t try to understand; her thoughts were only for Winterburn, and that she must be with him.
She allowed herself to make contact with Jake, the Academy and her parents, but this was merely a means to an end. She divulged the minimum, and blamed her enforced absence on the need to seek out her sister once again. Over the following days, once she was on board the shuttle, the force guiding her waned. She could allow herself to be distracted by other issues. She contacted Jake again and explained she was okay, but most specifically that he should not follow her. She didn’t know why. She wanted Jake with her but her instincts said that this was not about Jake. He would be putting his life in grave danger should he join her. Yet somehow she knew Jake would come. She knew he would not let Winterburn take her.
By the time the shuttle reached the Tri-Star system, the force Winterburn held over Carla and the others diminished. They began to question why they were here. Their questions remained unanswered. The shuttle pilots were instructed to deliver their passengers, come what may, and under no circumstances should they be persuaded to return them to Earth. The pilots were also under Winterburn’s influence and his control over them had not diminished. Carla was trapped; she needed Jake more than ever.
* * * *
Dr. Cameron and his team were pleased. The first wormhole began to open, some thirty seconds after the sonic pulse equipment completed its initial cycle. The view was spectacular. At first a small circular void opened from within the gaseous membrane that had stood silent for an eternity. It was composed of a plasma/iron composite, which began to swirl, forming circular patterns in the darkness.
As the wormhole opened it formed a vortex, spiraling into a void of nothingness. Then, once it achieved its desired density, it spread. The void grew, and the membrane thickened.
Finally, the wormhole was open once more. A gateway to another region of space became reality, and the first major step towards the creation of the blue wormhole was taken.
Winterburn stood alone watching the spectacle. He, too, waited for this moment for a long time. His secret, the one he held alone for so many years, was about to be unveiled. The truth behind his beliefs, the reason for the Collective’s existence and the justification for his long ‘battle’ against those who tried to open the wormholes. Soon, the truth would be out. Winterburn couldn’t help but raise an uncharacteristic smile. His time was coming.
* * * *
Cameron was satisfied that a complete and fully functioning wormhole stood in front