MYSTober 2024

31 vignettes based on single-word prompts. One story.

8. Desperation

"Captain, we have a problem."

"What's wrong, Williams?"

"The helm isn't responding."

Captain Balter crossed the bridge in three large steps to stand beside his first mate. "Explain."

"I tried to adjust ten degrees to starboard towards the next port of call, but nothing happened."

"Did you call down to the engine room?"

"I did. They said everything's good down there."

"So the systems are functional, but the bridge can't communicate with them?"

"That's what she said."

"Well, we can't very well take these people into open water. We promised them a cruise. Cut power to one third until we get this sorted out."

The first mate pushed some buttons on the helm and pulled back on the speed lever. Balter waited to feel the hull shift back as it slowed. He waited some more.

"Propellers are unresponsive," announced Williams.

Balter slammed his open hand down on the helm. "This is insane. Ring up the engine room."

Williams pulled a handset from the wall and handed it to the Captain. "You're on with engines."

"Miller, what's going on down there? Why don't we have engine control from the bridge?"

"I don't know, sir. Everything's green down here."

Balter sighed heavily. This was supposed to be his retirement job. "Cut power to one third, turn us to starboard until I say we're on course."

"Aye, captain." The ship maintained its course and speed. "Systems are unresponsive, captain."

"I thought you said everything was fine down there?"

"I did, sir. Systems read normal, but we're locked out."

"Williams: radio shore, inform them of our situation. Miller, can you reboot the system?"

"This isn't a laptop, sir. Rebooting engineering means turning off power to the whole ship."

"I understand. We need to regain control. Do it. I'll figure out what to tell the passengers."

The first mate tapped him on the shoulder. "Radio isn't working."

"Power systems are unresponsive," came Miller's voice through the handset.

Balter swallowed his heart.

MYSTober 2024

Table of Contents

8. Desperation