The Aurora (Aurora Saga, Book 1) by Adrian Fulcher

looked back at the table, the image was once again rotating slowly in its centre.
    James could hear a constant whine emanating from within the lift. The tone changed and a small robot emerged. It had no recognisable front or back, just many articulated arms tucked in neatly around its body, some with what looked like tools attached to them. It hovered above the floor in front of him.
    ‘Meet a micnorit nuronic construction drone,’ Kalrea announced proudly. ‘They’re my arms and legs. Without them I would still be a shell.’
    James walked around admiring it.
    ‘How many are there?’
    ‘I lose track sometimes. I think there’s one hundred and twenty-three at the moment; that’s if they haven’t made any more of themselves in the last forty minutes.’
    James smiled.
    ‘Today the Aurora , tomorrow the Universe,’ he said quietly.
    Kalrea was silent for a few seconds.
    ‘Oh, I see,’ she said, before laughing.
    The drone disappeared back into the lift.
    ‘You said the Aurora was almost finished. What’s missing?’ he enquired.
    ‘There is an element called Plyane needed to complete the hull. Without it we are vulnerable. One laser strike would tear the ship apart. The rocks did enough damage!’
    ‘Kalrea, where can we find this Plyane?’
    ‘There’s only one place. Normia. It’s one hundred and twenty-six thousand light years away in the Thantonia system.’
    A star chart was displayed on the nearest monitor with the Thantonia system highlighted.
    James smiled.
    ‘I’m afraid to ask you how long it’s going to take.’
    ‘We’ll arrive in seven Earth days I’m afraid. We can’t afford to compromise the hull.’
    James was pleasantly surprised. He had expected a lot longer.
    ‘When can we leave?’ he asked, excited.
    ‘That’s up to you. You’re the pilot. Oh and by the way, you’ve left your bag in the Telecan control centre. I imagine you won’t want to leave that behind.’
    ‘Thanks, Kalrea,’ he said appreciatively.
    *****
    James wasted no time in retrieving the bag. He removed the magnogenic canvas of the flowers, which lay on top and then looked at the bare walls of the bridge. It’s going to look a bit lost in here.
    ‘Kalrea, do we have any nails?’
    ‘Nails?’ Kalrea replied. ‘You’re not serious!’
    ‘I mean, I have a painting. I’d like to hang it on the wall.’
    ‘Where would you like it? I’ll get a construction drone to sort it out later. Without the nails!’
    ‘Oh, near the consoles would be good, at about eye level.’
    James placed it on top of the Kimlo table, before removing the pictures of Carol and Lex from the bag and placing them inside the seatra. He then reached into his pocket and took out the red data cartridge.
    ‘Where did you get that cartridge from?’ Kalrea asked.
    ‘It was in the box with the telementor and the other cartridge. Why do you ask?’
    ‘Because it’s not from this ship.’
    James looked at it.
    ‘It’s someone’s diary.’ he said. ‘Carol was very insistent you read it. They were even her last words before she passed away. She seemed very frightened by it.’
    ‘Insert it in the slot to the side of the console; I’ll see what’s on it then,’ Kalrea replied.
    James pushed the cartridge into the slot.
    Without warning, there was an explosion. James was thrown across the floor, and the console erupted in fire. Internal extinguishers smothered them instantly.
    ‘Remove the cartridge, James. Quickly!’
    James jumped to his feet. Startled, he pulled it from the slot.
    ‘Ah, it’s hot!’ He dropped it immediately. ‘What happened?’
    ‘That’s impossible,’ Kalrea said. ‘The cartridge just gave off a massive temporal charge. It’s not in phase with this time.’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘It’s not meant to be here, James. It’s from the future.’
    ‘So our people can travel in time?’
    ‘No James, they can’t. This is impossible. Think what would happen if someone messed with history.’
    ‘But