Carefully, we brought Frank’s body down to the lower levels of the ship. Hutchie jumped into the life pod and opened one of the panels. From it, he removed a black, plastic sheet which he lay out. We wrapped Frank in it and zipped it up. He stood for a bit, not quite sure whether one of us should say something profound. We didn’t bother in the end but just simply climbed out of the pod and closed it up again.
Hutchie decided to stay down in the lower decks while I returned up to the bridge. Sarah was waiting for me and she seemed to be in a slightly more composed state but still visibly distressed. I asked her how Aaron was. She said he was, understandably, very quiet and has gone to his quarters to be alone for awhile. I asked if she had informed her superiors at the Aldrin yet. She hadn’t as she wanted to get the facts all sorted out before reporting it in. I told her just to tell them a crew member has died suddenly of unknown causes and please advise. She then left to contact them.
I remained on the bridge and just confirmed our flight path and co-ordinates. Luckily Frank had kept us right on track before he died. I just hope Aaron will be able to carry on for the rest of the journey. It’s a skeleton crew as it is and we need him. That makes me sound cold but we have six people still alive on this ship who need to pull together.
Log 0027
19:10 Saturday 17 January 2178
Sarah came back from the comms room after several hours. She informed her superiors and they told her to hold for further instructions. When they did come back to her they simply told her they would arrange a conference meeting with the crew in the next day or two. Even Sarah herself seemed taken back that they had her hanging on for so long to simply tell her they’ll call back later.
It will be interesting to see what they want us to do now. They didn’t want us to return when they found out we had a bomb on the ship, will they want us now that we have a dead crew member on board?
Log 0028
00:07 Sunday 18 January 2178
Sarah has just told me there’s been an all crew meeting arranged for midday. Just under twelve hours. It will be interesting. I was thinking of getting a beer but decided against it.
Log 0029
14:02 Sunday 18 January 2178
The six of us all waited in the meeting room for the message. Aaron seemed a bit brighter but remained at the back of the room, not wishing to really engage with anyone. He did offer at the start to keep an eye on the bridge during the meeting but I said I’d rather he be there with us. I told him the meeting shouldn’t take that long and the ship should be alright for that length of time.
At midday on the dot, the official I spoke to a few days ago appeared on the screen. He greeted us and then gave his condolences to Aaron who politely nodded.
After that brief show of humanity it was all back to business. We were informed that the Clarke are aware of the situation aboard our ship and are prepared for our arrival. He asked Sarah about the body and she confirmed that Frank’s remains are currently stored in an appropriate manner. I glanced over to see Aaron’s reaction but he seemed to be fine, although I did wonder if maybe I should have let him sit in the bridge instead.
The official, who still had not given his name to us, then called on Lloyd. He asked him if he had been analysing the contents of a drink Frank was consuming. Lloyd said that he had but hadn’t detected anything suspicious. He continued by saying that despite his age and good health, Frank may have died of normal causes. The official, in a move that I was all too familiar with, leaned towards someone out of view of the camera. He returned into shot and told us that an autopsy would be performed on the Clarke when they arrive. He then told us that we should continue to be vigilant and if any issues should arise then inform Sarah who in turn, would inform him. He then asked if anyone had any questions. I looked around and nobody looked interested in even being in the meeting, let alone asking any questions.
He waited and when he saw that nobody had any questions, he signed off without saying a word. Sarah gathered her files up and said she’d be working in her quarters for a bit. She left without saying anything else, clearly frustrated.
Hutchie, Malcolm, Aaron and Lloyd all looked at each other, slowly got up and walked out of the room. As he passed me, Lloyd whispered to see him later.
Log 0030
17:22 Sunday 18 January 2178
There’s a sombre mood amongst the crew of the ship. People are pretty much keeping to themselves. I can’t say I blame them, especially Aaron. None of us could possibly imagine how he must feel. I’m sure being out in space with his brother’s body below is the last place he wants to be. Tempted to get myself a beer but I think I should speak to Lloyd first and see what he wants to see me about.
Log 0031
18:43 Sunday 18 January 2178
Damn it. How come whenever I speak to Lloyd it’s always bad news?
I really want to turn this ship right around and head back. I don’t care if they throw me in a cell for the rest of my life for it. It’s not worth what we’re up against. The only thing that is stopping me is knowing the rest of the crew are going to go down for it as well. We’ll all be thrown in the brig for some sort of mutiny charge.
I probably should throw out all the beer onboard. I need to keep my head straight but God knows I could use a drink now.
Log 0032
05:41 Monday 19 January 2178
I had that drink in the end. Two in fact. Lucky Karen isn’t here or I’d never hear the end of it. I guess I needed a little help sleeping after speaking to Lloyd yesterday.
I had gone down to his lab yesterday to see what it was he had to tell me. Surprisingly, Lloyd told me had lied to the government official when he said there was nothing wrong with Frank’s drink. In fact, Lloyd was near one hundred percent sure that he was poisoned. I asked why he lied. He said he thought it would be best if we played our cards close to our chests. Whoever poisoned Frank is onboard the ship and it might be easier to catch them if we pretend we don’t know. I asked him if it was possible the beer was contaminated long before we set off for our journey. Lloyd had thought that at first but pointed out that I had drunk quite a few already and hadn’t dropped dead. He quickly added that he ran a sample check on some of the other beer bottles and they came out all clear.
I asked if he had any idea how and when he was poisoned. Lloyd handed me a small specimen tube containing what I assume was a sample of Frank’s drink. He couldn’t identify what the poison was but he thinks somebody brought Frank a drink and dropped it into the bottle. I looked closely at the tube. Lloyd advised me not to accidentally drink it because whatever it is, it’s quite a strong poison. I went to hand it back but Lloyd told me to hold on to it. It’s evidence of foul play and he thought it might be best if I kept a sample of it in case something happened to him.
I placed the specimen tube in my pocket and asked him how safe our food supplies are. He thought for a moment and said the food should be safe but it’s the liquids that could be potentially dangerous. He suggested that everyone prepares their own meals and drinks, even adding that we should all eat together and watch each other carefully. However, he was well aware that if we start doing that, then whoever it is would know that we were on to them.
This sounds a lot like what I was warning Malcolm about doing a few days ago. The last thing we need is everyone suspecting everyone else. But now I think we’ve got good cause.
I thanked Lloyd for his work and told him I’d speak to him later when I’ve got my head straight. I’ve slept for a few hours since then but I’m still not sure what the best course of action is.
Log 0033
15:51 Monday 19 January 2178
I went straight down to Lloyd’s lab after I recorded my last log. He wasn’t there so I checked his quarters. He didn’t seem quite so happy to see me since I disturbed his sleep, but I think he was prepared to overlook that considering the situation.
Even though Malcolm told me in confidence, I told Lloyd why he was being sent to the
Clarke. He listened with great interest as I told him about this new laser to defend against rouge asteroids and how it used technology he developed on the Aldrin.
I’m not sure why I told Lloyd everything. I guess I was hoping if Lloyd knew what I knew then maybe he might help throw a new perceptive on things. I asked him if he thought Malcolm was telling me the truth about everything.
Lloyd thought for a moment. The laser is highly probable and he wouldn’t be surprised if that is what it actually was. However he felt the reason, to blow up dangerously close asteroids doesn’t seem quite right. If that was the reason then there would be a combined effort from the majority of the world governments due to it affecting everyone and, like I suspected, it would be anything but a secret. It would be a positive story of humanity coming together, hardly worth covering up.
I asked if the laser could be used as a weapon. To be used to maybe fire at cities or even countries on Earth? Lloyd thought again and said he would have to see this device for himself to see if it was actually feasible. In theory, it’s possible, although the accuracy of firing at Earth from such a distance would seriously come into question. Hitting the Earth would be one thing, but an actual specific area would another.
Whatever the target, we both don’t think it’s the asteroid reason that Malcolm gave me. Before I returned back to my quarters, Lloyd promised that he would not say to Malcolm that he knows about his purpose on the Clarke. Hopefully the old man will let something slip out and give us an idea what the truth is. Or if things get much worse, then we can always beat it out of him.
Log 0034
06:51 Tuesday 19 January 2178
I finally managed to sit down alone with Aaron yesterday and offer my condolences. He seems to be holding it together quite well but it’s always difficult telling what’s going on underneath. I told him if he needs anything just to give me a shout but he seems intent on throwing himself full swing into work. I just hope he doesn’t push himself too hard. I also noticed his limp is getting worse.
Malcolm and Sarah were both in their respective quarters for most of the day so I didn’t get much of a chance to speak to them. I did manage to speak with Hutchie though. He told me that he suspected that Frank was poisoned and that Lloyd had either failed to detect it or was covering it up. I told him that he was right about the poison and right about Lloyd keeping quiet about it.
Hutchie told me that he had started to use the tap water in his quarters to drink and had opened one of the supply crates for the Clarke. He had taken a stash of food parcels and hid them in his quarters in case our own supplies on board were contaminated. It seems like a good idea. I might suggest everyone else on board doing the same and keeping their quarters locked at all times. Hutchie also said he was checking to see if the water storage tanks had been tampered with. So far they’re fine but it might be worth keeping an eye on them.
Before I left him, I asked him on a purely confidential, off the record basis, if there was anyone who he thought needed to be watched more closely. He thought carefully and asked if I meant who of us on board is Frank’s killer. Hutchie said he didn’t think any of us were murders but he did suggest another possibility. One that I had never thought of.
Could there be somebody else on board apart from the seven of us?
Log 0035
12:32 Tuesday 19 January 2178
I called everyone to the meeting room and suggested everyone head to the cargo bays and take several food parcels to store in their quarters. Sarah did question whether it was a good idea as it is essentially stealing government supplies. It was a fair point, but I told her that they probably wouldn’t notice it missing considering there’s only six of us and there’s enough to last twenty people almost half a year.
It was agreed and together everyone went down to the cargo bays. Hutchie cheekily told me what a good idea that was. Luckily he didn’t seem offended about me stealing his idea and to be honest, I think he was secretly pleased. Malcolm did ask what exactly the purpose of this was but I simply brushed him off by saying it was an extra precaution I was taking.
We split up the contents of the crate that Hutchie had already opened. There’s enough to keep each of us well fed until we reach the Clarke. I told everyone to keep the parcels stored safely in their rooms and never leave the doors unlocked. I reminded them to prepare their own meals just to be safe as well.
Sarah was the last to pick up her supply. She said to me if Lloyd had changed his mind regarding Frank’s cause of death. I just told her what I told Malcolm, that it was an extra safety measure. She wasn’t happy with my answer and demanded that I level with her. I hadn’t seen her look so assertive since the trouble on board had started and was in a way, glad to see her back to her normal self.
I told her that Lloyd had confirmed Frank was poisoned. I also told her about the theory that there might be more than just us aboard. She looked at me as if I was mad, saying that was impossible. I pointed out that considering the size of the ship, and how few of us there are, that it’s entirely possible. Especially considering the ship is a larger model than the ones I’m familiar with.
I must have been a little harsh when I told her because she began to look quite frightened. I apologised and said I’d escort her to her quarters. She made a joke about the boogeyman attacking her if she was alone. It wasn’t particularly funny but I pretended to laugh.
I took her back and as we parted I told her that we should do a patrol in groups of the ship later on. She agreed and said we should probably do it sooner rather than later. I told her it was just a theory I had and it probably was stupid anyway.
Well, I hope it is.
Log 0036
14:12 Tuesday 19 January 2178
This isn’t good. This isn’t good at all. I need to keep my head clear.
Log 0037
23:08 Tuesday 19 January 2178
It happened sometime after everyone had picked up their own personal food supplies. I was just leaving my quarters when the emergency alarm went off. From what the alarm was telling me over the speakers, it was on the top floor of the ship which meant it was the bridge, the meeting room or the communication room.
It turned out it was the comms room. The place was on fire and the smoke was starting to fill the rest of the floor. Hutchie came charging down the corridor with a fire extinguisher in each hand. He handed one to me and together we filled the place with foam. Fortunately we put the fire out before it spread to anywhere else in the ship. Unfortunately, the comms room was completely destroyed.
Hutchie slumped down to his knees, coughing and spluttering. He breathed in quite a bit of the smoke and the massive dash that he did with the fire extinguishers probably didn’t help either.
Malcolm and Lloyd came along. Lloyd checked to see if Hutchie was alright while Malcolm looked into the comms room to survey the damage. He asked me how this was going to affect us. I told him he’d be better asking Sarah that.
I was about to ask where she was, when I heard her call me from the bridge. We rushed in to find her standing over Aaron, who was slumped in his chair with blood running down his face. At first I feared the worst but as I approached them I could see that Aaron was alive, despite being disorientated. A broken glass bottle lay by his chair. I asked Lloyd if he would take Aaron down to the lab and see what he can do about the bleeding. Hutchie had gotten back on his feet but was still wheezing. I told him to go down with them also. He protested he was fine so I told him to go down anyway and help with Aaron’s wound.
That left me with Sarah and Malcolm. Malcolm asked Sarah the question he asked me, how does this affect us now. Sarah shook her head and told us she really didn’t know. She hoped that maybe when Lloyd and Hutchie came back then the two of them together might be able to fix the comms room. I told her to take a good look next door because there’s no way the two of them, despite being damn good at what they do, are going to be able to fix that.
Malcolm asked if I was thinking of still carryin
g on to the Clarke or to return to the Aldrin. I thought about it and maybe it was time we went back before anybody else gets killed. I looked to see Sarah’s reaction but she kept her head down and said nothing. We were barely through the journey and already we’ve had death and sabotage. At this rate, we’ll all be dead before we reach the Clarke. I think she understood my decision to head back to the Aldrin.
I suggested we wait in the bridge for the others to return. Malcolm did say he wanted to return to his quarters but I said until we figure out why the comms room decided to spontaneously combust I wasn’t happy about people being separated at the moment. Thankfully, he understood and agreed to wait on the bridge with Sarah and I until Hutchie, Lloyd and Aaron returned.
They came back after what must have been an hour. Aaron had a bandage wrapped around his head but seemed more coherent than earlier. He also seemed quite keen to get back to work as well but I told him nobody was expecting him to. I asked if he could remember what happened to him but he drew a blank. He was sitting at his chair and then the next he knew blood was flowing from his head and everybody was standing around him. Sarah said she and Hutchie arrived after they heard the alarm and found Aaron unconscious.
The Martian Journal Page 4
