After a short pause, Portia answered, "There is no data to suggest that we can combat the unknown entity."
"Try anyway," I told her agitatedly. This alternate universe fucker was pissing me off. If there was any way we could kick its ass, the time had come.
There wasn't much to do pilot-wise for a while, but I needed to stay at my post, just in case. Once we were clear of the heavier traffic lanes and lined up with our nav-hole, I'd be free to move around the ship. Take a nap. Grab dinner. Maybe play a holo-game. There was one that was based on saving old Earth from an alien invasion that I really enjoyed. It was eerily similar to the starship virtual reality game that the Thesphilians had provided us. That was where I first met Delilah. An alien that I will never forget.
Our ship was brand new, constructed just a month or so ago. All the technology was proven and thoroughly tested, but there were some new designs to dozens of components. Some of those did not perform exactly as planned. Reading performance reports on those units and others that they interacted with would be a big part of my job in the weeks ahead.
The computer compensated for most variances and adjusted settings where possible. Thirteen mechanical tweaks were recommended. Eleven of those would need to be made in the engine room, and only eight could be done while the engines were powered up. Portia had the list and was eager to get started. Maybe eager wasn't the right word. Due to her nature, she was never hesitant to perform any duties asked of her. I told her to wait a couple hours so I could join her in the task.
Lin and Nancy took turns grabbing food and using the bathroom. Nobody was ready for an extended break yet. Still, things quieted down a good bit. It was almost two hours after my suggestion that Portia provided me with an update on her project.
"There is no data to suggest that these will work," the beautiful android informed me. "A trial-and-error approach will be needed."
"What are you talking about?"
"The entity from beyond is barely detectable by our sensors," Portia said. "We can use similar and conflicting sound frequencies in our next encounter with the life form and record the results. There are also light patterns that may have an effect. We can test each method and adjust with every new encounter."
"How many times are we planning on dealing with this creature?" Lin asked.
"I have a feeling that he won't be going away anytime soon," I muttered. Unless we can successfully exterminate him.
Portia turned to us and said, "We might as well name him Freddy,"
"What?"
"If we are going to assume that the entity was created and is a male of its species, we could also assume that its name is Freddy. Or Frederico. Or Frederifious the great traveler of parallel planes."
I stared at her in shock for a moment before asking, "Have we offended you in some way?"
"Not in the least," she answered in her usual tone of voice. "Would you like to test my theories on Freddy?"
"Okay, sure. But how do we do that?"
"The ship can resonate sound waves and produce light patterns in every chamber," she explained to me. "I can program it to do so when the sensors trigger a visit from Freddy. I am able to produce the same effect myself should I be present. Additionally, your wrist communicators can be adapted for the purpose."
"How long will all that take?" I asked, suddenly looking forward to seeing how well this method would work.
"Three minutes for the ship. Another two minutes for the communicators."
"And for you?"
"I am already capable of producing the first series of effects."
"Excellent," I said as I stood up. "Get everything programmed and I'll have Nancy come back to the command room. Her and Lin will remain here while you and I do some investigating. Are we still reading something in the cargo bay?"
"Yes, we are. However, there is no indication that the source is Freddy."
"Do we really have to call him Freddy?" Lin asked. No one bothered to respond. A nickname was a good idea instead bouncing around between calling it the shadow monster, the creature from the beyond, and the few other ways that we used to describe the life form. It was just unreal that Portia would suggest Freddy.
Five minutes later Portia and I headed out of the control room and down the hall that looped around the entire upper level of the ship. Galley and restrooms were inside the circle. Quarters and medical bay were outside, along the exterior walls. The command center was front and center. Rear and center were the lift and stairs to the lower level.
I was more than a little nervous about meeting the shadow monster again. However, the chill down my spine was not all that icy this time. Either I was getting used to it, our my power was not yet engaging. I tried to sense the presence of the intruder, but I could not. I wasn’t sure that I ever could, despite the connection that I felt with it last time.
We were halfway down the center aisle on the cargo level when Portia announced that it was definitely not Freddy.
"The readings are gone?"
"No," Portia replied. "But I can now conclude without a shadow monster of a doubt that the stowaway is not Freddy."
"How can
