BEHOLDER
STARDATE 07.27.26
OLDE KINGDOM
INVERSE SPACE
“Captain, we’re approaching the Well of Souls.”
Captain Vishanarayama stared at the View Screen. The stars flew past as the Beholder closed in on its destination. But the small area of space ahead was completely devoid of stars. it was a dense region filled with an unknown substance. All the usual characteristics of space were missing there. Except for something the Yurei, the first Keeper Deep Space Scout to explore the area, reported hearing on subspace. Very, very faint cries of terror. The Yurei and her entire crew were subsequently lost without explanation.
Captain Vishanarayama’s third eye looked off to his side at his Communications Officer. His other two eyes kept staring at the View Screen.
“Mabel, continuously monitor all channels for any sounds in the Well of Souls. I want confirmation of these ‘cries of terror.’ Gather as much data as you can on them. Number of cries, male, female, and age of the voices, origin of the cries, what exactly they are saying, any kind of pattern to the cries.”
“Yes, Captain,” responded the petite woman with a short tail monitoring all communications. She was an Agothan, a species whose hearing and smell was as acute as a canine.
“Bolto, anything on our two probes?”
The all black Science Officer with white stripes all over his body replied, “Negative, Captain. They are still missing with no return transmissions. We launched them over an hour ago.”
Not good, Captain Vishanarayama thought to himself. Over the course of my years of Captainhood, I’ve learned to trust my instincts. And my instincts right now are telling me to turn around and run from this place as fast as possible. But when the Yurei went missing, the Keepers sent a second Deep Space Scout, the Beholder, to investigate. Like it or not, this is our job. And I will fulfill that mission.
“Captain, we’ve entered the Well of Souls,” the Beholder’s Helmsman announced. He was a jittery furry creature wth six limbs. “Speed appears to be dragged down to a quarter for some reason. I’m detecting a Planet at the center of this region of space. Its presence appears to be masked unless you actually enter the Well of Souls. Shall I proceed to the planet?”
A planet? Captain Vishanarayama questioned in his mind. How could anything exist in this barren place? Perhaps the planet would provide the answers he has been seeking. Maybe the Yurei crash landed on the planet…
“Yes, Robba, proceed toward the planet. Cautiously.”
The eerie planet slowly grew on the Beholder’s View Screen until finally, the Beholder was in orbit.
“What’s down there?” Captain Vishanarayama asked.
The Beholder’s Science Officer, Teko, stared into a binocular-like device. “Never before have i seen the like…Captain…you have see this for yourself.”
Captain Vishanarayama’s interest was piqued. He braced himself for the explanation.
Teko activated the long range viewers which showed a magnified view of the planet’s surface. It was a desolate, black world with clouds full of constant thunder, rain, and lightning. Across every continent, for miles and miles and miles, lay tombstones, mausoleums, crypts, tombs, and sepulchers. There was not a single living being.
“THE ENTIRE PLANET IS ONE IMMENSE GRAVE.”
