When last we left our stellar crew, they had just made a most perplexing discovery...
In the silence that followed Lt. Schrader's seemingly benign statement, each crewman was forced to examine the substance of his own existence. Mr. Proteau breached the thoughtful quiet.
"How are we killed?", he queried."Y'all fell victim to an S.T.D.", he replied. "A real bad mother from what I hear."
Proteau shuddered, recalling a particularly virulent case of "space crabs" he'd contracted while stationed on the jungle planet of Wahzu.
"Who gets it first", he asked, "and how is it transmitted?"
They all leaned in to listen, hoping to find the key to their destiny and a chance to thwart their imminent demise.
"Well, y'all 'get it' at the same time", Schrader explained, "'cept I don't recall that their were any transmissions."
"You mean it was instantaneous.", Lt. Scott suggested thoughtfully, "Like some sort of 'Cosmic Clap' or something?"
"Cosmic Clap?!?", Schrader's confusion masked his king-like features. "What are you talkin' about, brother?"
"You stated that we all died from a sexually transmitted disease.", Reed said in hopes of clarifying the matter, "We just want to know what type."
"Sexually trans...hah..", Schrader began to rock with laughter.
Sgt. Stauch grabbed Schrader by the collar of his flight suit, frustration overpowering his stoic, military bearing.
"What the hell's so funny about our deaths, fly boy?", he demanded.
Schrader sobered quickly. He pushed Stauch away, and in the same fluid motion drew his sidearm, and brought it to bear on the sergeant. It was then that he noted Stauch's rifle pointing back at him.
Enlisted man and officer eyed each other menacingly.
"AT EASE, GENTLEMEN!", Reed commanded.
Both men reluctantly lowered their weapons.
"You best watch yer step, grunt.", Schrader said ominously.
Stauch glowered at the Lieutenant, but held his peace...for a time.
Once again in control of the situation, Reed looked to Lt. Schrader. "Explain."
"It ain't no secshully transmitted disease that kills ya'.", Schrader said, regaining his composure.
"What exactly is it then, Lieutenant?", Reed asked, his thinning patience adding an edge to his voice.
"An S.T.D.", he said simply, "is a 'Space-Time Disruption'. A black hole."
