by Steven Oaks
I made an exception on my ban of taking coffee with the facility mangers, and we sat facing each other over his large desk, taking sips as we discussed our lives.
“It has been some time since you have come to see me. I began to worry you might have been one of those that quit,” he said smiling, causing lines to deepen around his eyes.
Jacob was an older man with thin white hair, and a large white mustache that would flap in the breeze if the wind were blowing with any force. He had told me that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer, and there was little they could do for him. He was aware of his mortality and this caused him to try to make every moment count. He used his time to spread as much goodwill and joy around him, hence his continually smiling face.
“Not I. I think I shall be working for them until they have no need for me. I'm glad I was finally able to make my way out to see you again,” I said, feeling relieved that I was not too late.
I had taken him for a chauvinist when I first met him, as he had not allowed any women to handle the dead. But he simply had an archaic chivalrous code that he lived by. By the time I had left him last time I had come to see him in a different light, though we had only shared a few words.
“Are you able to talk about why you and the others stopped coming by? Certainly even if several had quit you would still be made to collect so as not to have us filled up again as we currently are,” he said, showing concern on his lined face.
“I am unsure why they grounded us. Perhaps they felt it would burn us out, and waited until they were back to full capacity so we would not have these long days more often. When I first met you I thought that would be my longest day, but here I am again,” I said with a chuckle.
“Have you given any thought to what I said to you when you left the first time?” he asked.
I thought for a moment, and could not recall what exactly he was talking about. “What part are you referring to?” I asked.
“Have you made any friends? I know it would be hard as you have become ostracized much like myself. You should be trying though. Remember, people are what make life livable, even though sometimes they can also make it miserable,” he said smiling.
“I've not much opportunity to do so. I have been with Athene since I left you last. I've had no chance to go out and meet anyone, save facility managers much like yourself,” I said, matching his smile.
“Well that is a shame. A sharp mind like yours would do well with many friends,” he said as his smile slipped from his face.
“Derick I count you as a friend. So maybe I have gained one,” I said, trying to smile. Even though the thought of losing this wise person caused me sadness.
“I'm glad to count you among my friends. But you know I won't be around forever. You need someone that will be with you for a long time. It is a lonely life to lead without companionship,” he said.
“I have done well enough without them. I've kept to myself the majority of my life, and felt no loss at not having them,” I said.
“You may not have felt it before, but as you grow older you will realize that having no one around leaves you empty. Sure you are able to do things that those of us who are tied down to people can't, but you have nothing to share with another. What is the point of gaining anything if you can't show off?” he said with a laugh.
“Derick, don't worry about me. I have a very close friend who is always with me. She may not be like anyone else, but I call her friend,” I said, thinking of Athene.
“Oh do you now? I would like to meet this person. Any friend of yours should be a friend of mine,” he said, slapping his belly. Until that moment I had not noticed it had grown smaller in the month since last we had spoken.
“I'm sure she would be glad to meet you, but I am unsure if that would be something that I can arrange. While she is always nearby, it might cause awkwardness with the Outsiders. Just take it that anything I know about you, she also knows. She is as fond of you as I am,” I said with a smile.
“I am an old man, but to be spoken of fondly by two woman is something that brightens a man's day,” he said with a wink.
“I enjoy our conversations, and you have a unique outlook on life that I haven't experienced before. I try to learn from people such as yourself. You might find many to be fond of you if you were to go out perusing,” I said with a chuckle.
“Oh the ladies here tolerate me well enough, and we all have a good laugh together as the days go by. I'm far too old, and near the end to let it affect me, but it still brings a smile to my face,” he said grinning widely.
“Michael, I hate to interrupt, but the ship is now loaded,” Athene whispered in my ear.
“Derick, I hate to leave, but I have just been notified we have completed loading. I hope to see you again the next time,” I said, standing up and putting my hand out to shake his.
“Well if you take as long as you did last time, this may be it. Now don't look sad, all things must end, and I have had an enjoyable life, especially these last few years. I wish you well, and I hope you are able to go out and till those fields like you want,” he said with the largest grin he had shown yet.
Feeling my emotions begin to overwhelm me I walked around the desk to embrace him in a tight hug.
“I'll miss you Derick. Thank you for talking with me. It has been a pleasure to enjoy your company,” I said through tears.
He returned my hug, but soon patted my back and said, “Now off with you darling. A bright future awaits you, and I want you to live it well. Now don't let me see a sad face, let me see you smile,” he said as we parted.
I tried my best, and managed a small smile while tears ran down my cheeks.
“That's better,” he said reaching over to touch my face to wipe away a few tears with his thumb.
“Now get going, no reason to be late to anything,” he said smiling as a his eyes filled up with a few tears of his own.
“Yes Derick. Thank you sir,” I said bowing slightly, and walked myself back to Athene.
Once my day was over, and all the bodies had been unloaded into the repaired Outsider ship, Athene and I returned to the hangar. Our hopes for an early reprieve from our near constant confinement came to naught as we were locked away for months. The only times we were allowed to go out was to collect the dead from facilities that were getting near capacity.
That first day back was the last time I ever saw Derick. Returning to his facility later, I was greeted by a nice woman who informed me of his passing. She had been his assistant he had spoken of during our first meeting. That last day we had spoken he must have known would be his last. His assistant told me he had died later that evening sitting in his office. As kind as she was, she was not Derick, and I did not linger long in conversation with her. I would miss him and his joviality. He was the first friend I had ever lost, and I still grow sad thinking about him.
It was not until the first colony ships were completed and set out with their first load of colonists were we allowed a bit more freedom. They had been constructed far faster than Athene and myself had anticipated. It seems the Outsiders had help speed along the process, and were in many ways anxious to have humanity spread out among the stars. Within six months from my first day, they were now ready to have people venture out and colonize.
I had gotten a few chances to talk with Jennifer and we had devised contingency plans. She had agreed we should leave behind some of her members so the human race would not just become a flock of sheep, but take enough to start colonies at whatever planet I wound up going to.
They would split up their group to wait in several key locations, and if I were able to get to them, I would pick up who I could.
There were several within populous cities that I would visit as my last hurrah on Earth. One was in a wooded area that Athene picked for me to ride my bike on a trail through. Another was even a location underneath one of the dead storage facilities as a back up in case I was completely unable to get away.
The first colony
ship had been sent out several days before I was given the assignment to follow and store the dead for them. It made sense to use me as I was one of the few of the original pilots they had left. Even without the ships being destroyed it seemed some of the newer recruits had quit. They had been replaced at a steady rate, but it seemed no one was as good as I with my solitude. Or perhaps they had not tried to grow closer to their ship's A.I. and had not found the companionship that I had.
None of us had been allowed to fly the ships around freely except during training, and each time they had gone out I had noticed Adam was always with them except during pick up runs. These newest pilots never got to experience the freedom Athene and I had felt by flying around the world, and basically doing as we pleased. Certainly we had pissed off a few countries, and they had even set their fighter jets against us, but luckily we had gotten away before they were anywhere near us. How that had not come back to us, I just do not know. I suspect the Outsiders covered for us, but I at least had expected to get yelled at by Adam as that seemed to be his only pastime.
There was also the possibility that the new ships simply were not programmed as thoroughly as Athene had been to match their prospective companion. As we were all confined to our ships I never got to know any of the others. We were supposedly of a solitary mindset, but perhaps this second string of individuals were not ideal, as they had to fill these spots quickly so as not to bring notice to the fact that several ships had been destroyed, or that even the main ship had been damaged.
I was reading a book in the library as had been my habit these last several months when Athene announced, “Michael, Adam is approaching us.”
I launched myself out of the comfortable couch and unintentionally shouted, “How soon is he going to be here?”
“I suspect momentarily if he continues on his current path,” Athene said.
As I had not been given an assigned task that day I had decided to take it easy. I had ridden my bike earlier, but had not showered after, and I did not find myself presentable.
“Athene, quick shower, new clothes, can we do it before he gets here?” I yelled as I raced towards the bathroom.
“Yes, but you may find it a bit rough,” she said nervously.
“What do you mean rough?” I said as I finished stripping and jumping into the shower.
Suddenly the room was filled with steam as powerful jets of water hit me from every side. I nearly inhaled several gallons of water. Luckily I had the good sense to close my mouth as soon as the water had turned on preventing myself from drowning. Moments later the water shut off and I was this time assailed with fiery hot air from every direction. As my skin was nearly set ablaze, the air cooled once more and arms rose up from the ground and walls in all directions. They held a hair brush, and all the articles of clothing I would wear to a meeting. I was lifted off the ground and I had to stifle a shout as I was forcibly clothed and groomed. Finally I was set down in front of a mirror to inspect myself and a glass of blue liquid was forced into my hand. I took it as mouth wash and gargled the contents. I swished around the azure liquid for just a moment and spit it away down the sink. I glanced at myself in the mirror and found the image reflected to be presentable.
I rushed through the ship to the entry room, and just as I reached its luxurious confines the wall was irising open to reveal a calm faced Adam.
“Thanks Athene, but we may have to talk about some of what was just done,” I whispered to the room at large.
“Of course Michael,” I heard her corresponding whisper in my ear. I still had not taken the earpiece out. It was so comfortable I rarely noticed it, and I just then started thinking about the waxy buildup that must be happening behind its embedded location.
Adams face broke into a smile as he strode into Athene. His outstretched right hand extended for a handshake. “Ah Michael, it is good to see you looking well,” he said as he grasped my hand with his powerful fingers squeezing mine nearly to pulp.
“It is nice to see you as well Adam,” I said, simply out of habit. I did not like Adam, his anger always was irrationally out of proportion to the situation at hand. I was always left feeling tired after dealing with him for any length of time.
“Are you aware of the prize you are being awarded?” He glanced at me, and when I did not respond immediately he continued, “Why you are to be the first ship pilot to help collect on the new colony world. You have shown great promise, and have even thrived in the environment of your job. I can see you have even gained some muscle tone. You must be working out all the time,” he said while hooking his arm through mine to guide me around the room, as if he was confiding in me some secret knowledge.
“There isn't much else to do but read and exercise. So I keep myself busy with the two,” I said, trying to figure out what he wanted me to say.
“You keep yourself busy. Good good. Well would you say you are ready to be the first conscious person to make the trip out among the stars? As you know the colony ships run on automatic, and the colonists themselves are frozen. You get to watch as all the stars pass you by. How wonderful is that?” he said, trying to get me excited.
I was excited, but not just at the chance to be out among the heavens. I was mostly excited about the prospect of picking up my compatriots who would stand against Adam and the Outsiders. I did not have to fake enthusiasm, nor did I have to simulate an elevated heart rate as the rapid transition from dirty to clean Athene had given me had set my blood pumping.
“Adam thank you so much for choosing me for this. I am very excited, and I can't wait to be able to fly out amongst the stars,” I said rapidly, trying to show how excited I was.
“Good good,” he said with enthusiasm while slapping me on my back. “You shall be heading out tomorrow morning. If you have anything you want to do here on Earth you better make use of the time you have left,” he said winking at me.
“You mean I can go out and get new books, or ride my bike on a trail?” I asked, choosing my words carefully. I did not want my requests and interests to sound out of place.
“If that is your wish. You have shown yourself to be a true help to the cause the Outsiders have set us. You have helped us in multiple ways since you have arrived. Your dealing with the ones who took over at the Fort Hayes facility, and even your suggestion on how to deal with the terrorist strike against the Outsiders ship have been of some assistance. Things seemed to have smoothed out since then in no small part thanks to you. Certainly we would have found a way around such trivialities without you, but your input has been of value nonetheless,” he said in a jovial tone.
I was glad he put in that last part saying they would have done something even without me as I did feel guilty about helping them. However I knew they were powerful enough, and spread out enough, that it was likely he was speaking the truth.
“Now do not let me keep you, you have the world to explore. Let see, you have until 8 A.M tomorrow morning so it is best if you head out now. There is not much time for a person such as yourself to enjoy the bounty this world has to offer,” he said, chuckling and smacking my back once more.
He turned away to leave, but when the doorway once more irised open he paused to look back at me and said, “This time on your adventure try to avoid inciting another government. It was not fun trying to explain things to France after they had scrambled their jets.”
Once more he turned away, and made a little over the back wave as he walked off. It seemed as though he was in a good mood as his steps where nearly a dance as he made his way to the warehouse vehicle that he must have arrived in.
Athene closed the opening, and I said, “Athene, we are free to move about. How many places do you think we can hit before 8 A.M. tomorrow morning?”
“Since it is nearly noon now, it would be possible to hit all spots, however that would arouse suspicion. As the plan was to pick up from only three spots, I think we should hit the two you mentioned to Adam first. The one near a bookstore, and the one out by the trail
where people will be hidden under a tarp. As for the third I am unsure which would be the least obvious,” she said.
“We will of course hit two cities. One for books, and another for random food that I am unlikely to experience with you,” I said.
“Michael you know very well I can make anything you desire. Even fast-food is not difficult for me to simulate, and it would be better for you. The Outsiders would know this as well, as they are the ones who originally programmed me this way,” she replied.
“I am aware of that, I just can't think of another reason why I might fly to two cities. I don't like them, and really the only reason I would go out of my home before was for books, food, and bike trails or for hiking. Though I would love to return to Japan, not one of our pick up points are there. We have no reason to believe that we can signal the group to gather at a new location before we get them. We will just have to rely on something coming up. Are there any anime conventions near any of the cities they will be at?” I asked.
“Not today. While April is within the convention season, this weekend they had nothing set up for us to take advantage of,” she said after a pause, which I assumed meant she was looking it up.
“Well let us not waste anymore time and get out of here. As I have been cleaned in a most expedient, if slightly uncomfortable, manner, I am ready to meet the world,” I said.
“I do apologize for the rushed manner you were, shall we say, bathed, but you requested it,” Athene said sounding sorrowful for her actions.
“It's fine, but let's not do that again unless for some reason I deem it necessary. Now let's head to Indianapolis. Since that is in my home state I don't think they'll scrutinize us too closely for going there. I'll want to hit a couple of used book stores, and hope to find something fantastic,” I said getting in the mood to add to my collection.
“I have had a thought. I just searched for signed copies of books written by Robert A. Heinlein. There are a few located near cities for pickups. You have been collecting payment for your position with the Outsiders, but have not used any of the money yet. Since you have been locked away with me, and I supply all your needs, you have collected a rather healthy sum of money. How about you spend it on interesting knickknacks?” she said.
