Free Constellations by Marco Palmieri Page B

the air. In one fluid motion, he swung his tricorder behind him. His left hand was already grasping his phaser as he hurried toward the smaller room.
    Sulu skidded to a stop when he saw the same energy fill the doorway, felt the rising heat that barred him from reaching the geologist. He could, however, see seven metallic arms snake out of secret places in the wall, ceiling, and floor. They reflected the orange light as they writhed, curling around her wrists and ankles. Manprasad stopped screaming, but he could hear her heavy breathing as she struggled against the tightening tendrils. At the end of each one were five pincer-like devices that she was trying to pry loose, but with each passing second, she was losing the struggle.
    â€œLindstrom! Where are you?”
    Sulu heard a gurgle and the scratch of boot heels skidding in the dirt covering the slick floor. He took a few steps for a better view and saw that Lindstrom was doing his level best to avoid getting himself ensnared by another set of these obvious security devices. Without the energy field as a factor, Sulu took a calculated risk, leveled his phaser, checked the setting, and fired a quick burst. The crimson beam lashed across the room and struck the nearest tendril’s base, causing some sparks but mainly being deflected in another direction. He placed the pistol back on his belt and reached around for his tricorder, desperately needing to know what they were dealing with.
    â€œManprasad! Are you okay?”
    â€œI wouldn’t call it okay,” she shouted back. “I can’t move! I’m totally immobilized.”
    â€œWe’ll get you free,” he said to reassure her, even though he didn’t actually believe his words. Some commander he was, lying to his team. “Lindstrom, where are you?”
    â€œBack near the exit,” the sociologist called.
    â€œReach into our gear and set the emergency beacon. We need help!” Sulu disliked the volume and tone of his voice, and vowed to modulate it lower next time in order to sound the part of the commander even if he didn’t feel it.
    Sulu quickly swiveled his head around from one side to the other, searching for more of the tendrils. The ones that had tried for Lindstrom had retracted back into their wall pockets, sealed behind what had looked like wall decorations.
    His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of panels opening, and sure enough, a set of coordinated tendrils reached for him from the floor, tearing through what appeared to be a small bush. Sulu ran forward, cracking an elbow against a console. Still free, he leapt away from the security system, closer to the sociologist. As he got farther away, the tendrils stopped at their limit, paused, and then began to retract.
    Sulu watched briefly as Lindstrom reached their gear and started assembling the tripod to hold the beacon. Satisfied that he was in good shape, Sulu returned his attention to Manprasad. Carefully, he approached her room, now more like a prison cell. She was suspended several feet off the ground, spread-eagle. She gave a shake to once more test the strength of the metal confines. They didn’t even quiver.
    â€œThey hurt?”
    â€œDamn uncomfortable,” she said, and gave him a small, reassuring smile. He should be the one reassuring her.
    â€œThere were more out here, but we seemed to avoid them.”
    â€œLucky you.”
    â€œAny clue what these smaller rooms are?”
    She gave him a look indicating she thought he was mad, asking about something so mundane. “I only stepped into this one, but I’d say it’s a monitoring post for a specific set of systems. Other than lights, nothing else went live.”
    â€œGot it. Once we figure out more about this place, we’ll likely find a way to free you.”
    â€œWell, I’ll be right here.”
    He chuckled at that and then turned his attention to a sound over his head. A series of panels were retracting