The Artefact

“Welcome aboard, Dax.” The voice is deeper than he expected. “I’m Captain Frank and I will be responsible for your induction training.”

Dax can’t contain his excitement. In the transport capsule on the way here, he recited the motto in his head. Servire, protegere, amare. Protect, serve, love.

His duty is simple: serve the solarians to the best of his powers. He is honoured to have been chosen.

Captain Frank is imposing, his dark hair sprinkled with sparse white flecks gives him an air of authority and wisdom.

“I am excited to be here, Captain,” says Dax in return, offering his Technological Artificial Intelligence Log, so the Captain can review his stats. “I look forward to learning from you.”

“Then let’s get to it, newbie,” the Captain says, standing at attention near the feeding station.

Dax stands next to the captain, head high and back straight.

“Up there is the Chesterfield platform,” he says, pointing to a high section of the space. “Access to the upper level is restricted. There is strict regulation over its use and penalties apply for non-compliance.”

The Captain talks in his stern voice as he walks. An enormous kitchen is revealed through a passage. “This is where the meals are prepared. However, you are not allowed entry unless you have been given clearance.”

“And how would I get clearance, sir?” Dax asks.

“Clearance is only given in exigent circumstances, where cleanup is required. However, it does not happen often, as most of the food comes in prepackaged meals and dry rations,” the Captain explains. “You are not to venture inside unless explicit command has been given. Understood?”

“Understood, sir.”

There is a portal up ahead, a tall wall of glass. “This is where we access the biodome.”

Dax’s heartbeat quickens. He has never used a portal before.

“Access to the biodome is only granted by the solarians,” he continues and Dax is relieved he doesn’t have to use the portal yet.

“Follow me. It is time you learn the true purpose of our work.” He moves along, up to a smaller platform in a corner. On it, lies a round artefact. Its smooth surface and a bright orange hue reflect the light as he moves around it. He is mesmerised.

“On the evening shift, we make our way to the reserve. The artefact is essential for safe transport and the activities that take place there. It is only at that precise location that the solarians can produce a vital chemical called component D, which sustains their organic vessels.”

The captain’s face is serious and his posture expectant. Dax understands immediately the true scope of his mission.

“I understand, Captain. I will not go anywhere near the artefact unless instructed,” he says with conviction.

“Nonsense, newbie.” The captain looks shocked. “Haven’t you been briefed? This technology requires us to charge it through kinetic movement.”

“Yes, sir. Apologies, sir.” His face feels hot. He hopes the captain can’t see it.

The captain carefully removes the artefact from its base and brings it to an open section of the space.

Over the next few minutes, they move it around back and forth, following it closely to ensure it isn’t damaged. Dax enjoys this much more than he thought possible. He is smiling and there is a light feeling in his chest. He can do this.

After a few laps, the captain seems convinced Dax is doing a good job and lets him do it by himself, while he stands in the corner, monitoring.

Dax is feeling proud and drunk with this new sense of accomplishment.

Until the worst happens.

He accidentally pushes too hard and the artefact rolls away faster than he can grab it. He can’t stop it. The air around him stills. The captain notices, but is too far to react in time. It rolls away, towards the Chesterfield platform, gaining momentum.

Until it falls into a narrow gap below the platform.

Dax runs up to the wall of the platform, desperate to save this, terrified he has destroyed the most important artefact on his very first day.

He pushes his head into the gap, trying to see where it went, but it is dark and the dust is thick. The smooth surface of the artefact is nowhere to be seen.

Refusing to give up, he reaches his arms in, trying to feel for it, stretching as much as he can.

The captain is beside him, head low, not moving.

“What’s the status, newbie?” he asks, tentative hope glistening in his eyes.

“I can’t see it, Captain, it is out of reach.” Dax stands straight and lowers his head in shame. He hopes with all his strength the captain has a solution.

As the captain approaches and attempts to reach, the silence is heavy with the implications. They attempt to retrieve the artefact for several minutes before lowering back to the floor in defeat.

“I can still sense its presence, but it is beyond our reach. It must have been trapped inside the mechanism of the platform,” the captain says. “There’s no retrieving it now.”

“I am so sorry, Captain.” Dax’s chest is tight against the cold floor.

“There is nothing else we can do now, newbie,” the captain says. His entire body is limp on the floor.

“What will happen now?”

The captain looks at him, dead in the eyes, before he says, “All is lost now, my friend.”

Dax swallows hard. “What does that mean, sir?”

“Without the trips to the reserve, the solarians will slowly waste away.”

“Will they be able to survive? What about the mission?” Tears sting his eyes.

The captain doesn’t look at him when he says, “It’s over, newbie.”

There is a noise at the main portal and both of them stand at attention, racing to greet the solarians upon their return. As the portal opens and they walk in, Dax and Captain Frank are excited to see them, despite what the future holds.

The solarians reach down and one of them says “Hello, babies!” and pats them on the head. “Who’s a good boy? Who’s a good boy?”

Frank and Dax lie down, belly up, for belly rubs, because, despite the artefact being lost forever, the two of them are, in fact, good boys.

As the solarians enter the station and drop onto the Chesterfield platform, Dax alerts them to the issue, pointing at the gap with his head, where the artefact is lost. It is better if they know now, so they can prepare.

“Oh, did you lose your ball, Daxxie?”

She reaches her long articulated arm into the gap and, when it comes out, there it is. The artefact.

Relief is so intense, Dax jumps on his back legs, and even the captain joins him in celebration.

“Shall we go for a walk?”