by Colin Weldon
They moved down the hallway of the alien ship and turned into a large open plan common area with tables and chairs and flat panelled screens on walls. It was possible to make the wall translucent and see the stars outside, or to project many other images such as a warm Earth-like forest, the former being currently displayed with crystal clarity. New clothing was being replicated to meet whatever requirements or tastes the colonists had. The replication technology had presented a flurry of excitement amongst some of the younger members with some wild fashions being paraded through the hallways. Carrie remembered the first time she had seen the run-down space stations and the conditions that they had been living in. It was nice to see the freedom of expression that access to the alien technology had provided them. It was hard to believe that this was all that was left of the human race. On some level, she had felt that they had failed them. That it had been their fault that a time differential had caused a thousand years to pass for those left behind on the space stations. She reminded herself that the stakes were now far higher than anyone on board could have realised. They had decided to keep the knowledge of the Targlagdu threat limited to only a few key personnel. There was already enough panic and uncertainty amongst the people without telling them the whole galaxy was about to be destroyed.
The common area was full of people talking and chatting. Some were looking at the projected forest and were peacefully lost in thought while others played games and ate. A wave caught her attention from the far side of the room. It was India Walder. Her shaved head and muscular build was easy to spot among the crowd. Carrie liked India. She reminded her of Chase Meridian, a battle hardened, and more muscular Chase Meridian. She had been cold when they had first met on the stations and was still somewhat defensive, but she liked her straight up attitude. She never had to read India’s mind to tell what she was thinking. It was always just a few seconds away from coming straight out of her mouth no matter who she offended. She had a dry wit about her and Carrie trusted her. You didn’t have to be telepathic to tell how she felt about Aron either. An unrequited love was the source of much of India’s pain. That, and years of service to Arturo Verge. Carrie moved over towards India, passing a group of onlookers who had begun whispering to themselves.
“Look at his eyes,” said a small girl sitting with what looked like a stuffed toy to her mother.
“Don’t stare,” came her mother’s muffled response as she pulled the young girl’s face away from looking at Tyrell.
Tyrell didn’t react. He quietly followed Carrie as she made her way over to where India was standing. India gave her a smile but let it drop when she saw Tyrell standing beside her.
“Hi Carrie,” said India.
“Hello, India, I was looking for Aron,” replied Carrie.
“He’s in his quarters with Maya, but I am sure you can knock on his door if you like,” said India.
She turned and looked at Tyrell, “What’s up black eyes?”
Carrie glanced at Tyrell who simply lifted one of his eyebrows. There was a definite tension in India’s coy greeting of Tyrell. Carrie understood the suspicion given how ominous his new seemingly permanent appearance was. India turned her attention back to Carrie.
“That’s some outfit,” India said smiling.
Carrie had gotten used to the black skin-tight space suit that Jack had given her, but she had noticed that it was certainly turning the heads of the male contingent. She made a mental note to change into something a little less conspicuous when she had a chance.
“That it is,” she said looking down at her legs and smiling, “Doesn’t leave much to the imagination, does it?” Carrie replied giving her a grin, “So how is everyone doing up here?”
“As well as can be expected,” India replied, “We seem to have our every whim catered for by our new hosts. I would be lying if I said most people weren’t scared out of their minds, but having lived in that kind of fear our entire lives, they have adapted quickly. The food and medication has helped. Not to mention the clothing.”
India pointed to a little girl wearing a pink dress with flowers dangling out of it on thin strings of thread.
“It’s proven to be popular with the young ones,” India said smiling.
Carrie looked at the little girl. She was suddenly struck by the image of the star chart shown to her by Jack. It had shown her millions of the killer mechanical planets scattered throughout the galaxy and she suddenly wondered if the little girl would ever have the chance to grow up.
“We’re going to have to talk about next steps soon Carrie, some of the colonists are getting worried,” India suddenly said.
“We will, India, I think that conversation is best had when you are all settled on a planet,” replied Carrie.
“I don’t see what difference that makes. From what you have told us so far, we won’t be able to settle anywhere for very long anyway,” India replied.
“Maybe not, but don’t you think these people deserve even a glimmer of what a normal life can look like before we take that all away again?” Carrie replied.
India frowned.
“Seems cruel,” India said, “they deserve to know, Carrie.”
Carrie studied India.
“And they will, India, just give it some time, will you? Our hosts are concerned about creating a mass panic on their ship. I can’t say I really blame them. This is a delicate situation,” said Carrie.
Carrie suddenly sensed anger coming from India. Frustration.
“Why do I get the feeling we have replaced one overlord with an even more powerful one?” India said.
Carrie didn’t answer. She drew in a breath and looked at Tyrell. He remained silent as Oliver Stone suddenly interrupted them.
“Morning ladies,” he said as he slapped India on the shoulder.
India ignored him and looked coldly at Carrie. She had made her point. Carrie saw India take a breath to calm herself. This was not the time or place to be having this conversation. The other colonists were already beginning to stare.
“Hello Oliver,” Carrie said keeping her gaze on India.
She turned her eyes to meet Oliver. The large muscular man smiled at her through his thick black beard.
“You were outside for a walk then, yeah?” he said looking at her form-fitted suit.
She smiled, starting to feel self-conscious.
“I certainly was, Oliver, if you will excuse me, I need to speak to Aron. I’ll catch up with you later,” she said turning to leave.
“Don’t go on my account,” Oliver replied.
“Oh, put your tongue back in your mouth, you big oaf,” India said slapping him in the stomach.
“Ouch! Easy there, man-woman, you’re stronger than you look,” Oliver said holding his sides mockingly.
Carrie turned back and smiled at him as she left. Tyrell followed suit. Carrie felt India’s eyes on her as she walked out of the common area. She was right of course. They would have to tell the others, but there was something in the smile of the little girl as she played with her friends and ran around the alien ship in her new dress that told her they needed to wait. Maybe forever.
ARON’S QUARTERS
Aron Elstone ran the bristles of the brush slowly through his daughter’s hair. She stared blankly at her own reflection in the mirror. He looked at her and smiled. Her expressionless face just stared on.
“You’re going to have to learn to do this yourself one day you know, I was never great at doing hair. Your mother would never let me near hers. It was her pride and joy. She spent more time on it than she did getting dressed,” he said smiling at her.
Her blank expression didn’t respond.
“But I must admit, she always looked great. She was almost as beautiful as you,” he said pulling back her hair and tying it into a ponytail.
He took a small hair clip and slid it into place. With her
hair up, he could just see the scars from where the tubes and cables were attached to the base of her skull. A soft indentation was a permanent reminder of how she had spent the first part of her life. Cocooned in a glass pod, being used to help power the systems on board the Earth One space station.
“There, how’s that?” he asked.
Maya turned her head slightly and regarded her reflection. She met his eyes and then turned them back on herself. Her blank expression held. Aron stood up from the table and walked over to the large bed where Maya’s clothes were laid out. The room was simple, but still more luxurious than anything he had been accustomed to living in. Even on board his now destroyed little ship, The Unity, or the space stations. He was still getting used to the level of technology available to the colony. He had tried to decorate the plain white walls with carvings and other mementos from his old quarters, but it was still alien to him. The calm ocean visuals currently being displayed on the back wall behind the bed were his favourite of the holographic offerings that these alien beings had given them access to. He reached over to the clothing and picked up a dark sweater. He brought it over to Maya and rolled it up from the base.
“Arms up,” he said to her.
She looked at him and frowned.
“Arms... Up!” he said thrusting his arms above his head.
She slowly raised her arms into the air. He gently slipped the sweater over her head and threaded her hands and fingers through the arm holes. It dropped down and covered her, leaving her head stuck just under the top of it. He pulled it apart so that her head could fit and slid it over her face. He pulled her hair through and fixed it so that it sat neatly behind her. She stayed looking at her reflection with her arms still raised above her head.
“Okay, honey, you can put your arms down now,” he said gently placing his hands on her shoulders and pushing them down by her sides again.
He regarded her through the mirror.
“Look how pretty you are,” he said to her kissing the top of her head.
She didn’t respond. He sighed and turned her chair, which swivelled on its base. He looked into her vacant eyes and hunched down on his knees.
“You in there, Maya?” he said to her, “Do you know who I am yet?”
She moved her eyes around his face as if trying to figure out what it was that was looking at her. She suddenly raised a hand and placed it on his cheek. She followed the contours of his face with one of her fingers before returning her hand to her lap.
“I am your father. Come on, Maya, you can say that. Follow my lips,” he said pointing to his mouth, “F... A... TH... ER.”
She looked lost. A sudden chime broke the moment. Aron kept his gaze on Maya.
“Come in,” he shouted into the air.
The wall behind him became translucent and Carrie and Tyrell entered. They stood behind him while the wall solidified.
“Hello Aron,” said Carrie.
Aron turned on the balls of his feet and stood to greet her. He fixed his hair without realising it and looked at the beautiful young woman. He was unprepared for the attraction he would feel for the saviour of humanity. He was instantly struck by her beauty from the moment the air lock had opened. Over the last several weeks of getting to know her, he had also found her to be decisive and kind. While most of his time was spent trying to rehabilitate his daughter, her daily visits had grown more frequent. They had talked a lot about his life on board the space stations, growing up in the colony, and what The Agathon and its crew had discovered. She was a scientist, but more than that, she had become a friend to both Aron and Maya. She was telepathic and had tried on several occasions to tap into Maya’s thoughts trying to reach her confused mind. A bond had formed between the two, one that was becoming inescapable. Tyrell, on the other hand, was a different story. While Carrie had vouched for his presence on board the alien vessel, he had been surrounded by suspicion. Maya reacted badly to his presence, but more than that, Aron simply didn’t trust the man, or alien, or whatever the hell he was.
“Hello Carrie,” he said to her ignoring Tyrell.
He couldn’t help but notice how good she looked in her alien space suit. It was hard to ignore. He figured his feelings were no secret to the telepath and he noted that she maintained a respected distance from him so as not to give him the wrong idea. It made him feel foolish and off balance when she was around him. While he had no idea if his feelings were being reciprocated there were times when he would catch a glance, a lingering look that told him maybe.
“How are we all doing today?” she said looking past him towards Maya.
“Good,” Aron replied placing a hand on Maya’s shoulder.
“Excellent. Hello, Maya,” Carrie said regarding her.
Aron looked at Carrie’s eyes and wondered if she was contacting Maya telepathically. He looked over at Maya and thought he saw a resemblance of a smile.
“You look like you’ve been busy,” said Aron smiling at Carrie.
“Yes, well, you can’t give them any points for fashion can you, but it does the job,” Carrie replied.
Carrie moved towards Maya and knelt in front of her.
“I thought that I would try to connect with her a little this morning if you had no objections?” Carrie said looking up at Aron.
“None whatsoever,” Aron said looking up at Tyrell as he stood silently at the entranceway.
Carrie turned back to Tyrell.
“Can you wait outside, Tyrell, this won’t take long,” Carrie said.
“We have a busy schedule, Carrie,” Tyrell replied.
Aron frowned at the man with the black eyes.
“Ten minutes, Tyrell,” Carrie said.
Tyrell nodded and looked at Aron. He turned and placed his hand on the wall turning the solid surface into a rippling porous one and walked through it. The wall turned solid leaving the three alone.
“That guy gives me the creeps,” Aron said to Carrie.
“Yeah, he has that effect on most people, but we need him, Aron. Don’t worry about him. I have him under control,” Carrie replied looking up at him.
“Can I get you a drink?” Aron asked.
“A water would be great,” said Carrie looking at Maya.
Aron walked over to a nook in the corner of the room and placed his fingers above a small outcropping.
“Water,” he said into thin air.
A glass of cold water suddenly materialised out of nowhere. He took it, and walked back over to Carrie and Maya and placed the glass on a table.
“Still got nothing to say, ay, Maya?” said Carrie watching the young girl’s eyes.
“You’re the only person to seem to be able to get a smile out of her,” said Aron, “I know she hears me, but she just won’t speak.”
Carrie smiled at Maya.
“She will, Aron, just give her time,” Carrie replied still considering her eyes.
“What do you see?” Aron asked her.
“I am trying not to be too intrusive. I don’t want her mind more confused than it already is. Just bits and pieces to be honest. Her mind is trying to process a huge amount of new sensory information, not to mention a disjointed sense of reality,” Carrie replied taking Maya’s hand.
“We’ll get there, Maya, you are safe here. You have nothing to worry about,” said Carrie.
Maya tilted her hand and raised her right hand bringing it up to meet Carrie’s face. Aron’s eyes widened as he watched her reacting to Carrie’s presence. She touched a strand of Carrie’s hair with her fingers and let it run through her hands as if sampling the texture.
“Maya?” Aron said to her.
She didn’t respond. She let Carrie’s hair fall against her face before returning her hand back to her lap.
“Okay, she’s never done that before,” Aron said shocked.
“It’s a good s
tart,” said Carrie, “You like my hair, Maya? It’s the same colour as yours you know. I like your ponytail, it’s cool.”
