Steve's SciFi Shorts – Volume 1
Steve's SciFi Shorts – Volume 1
By: Steve Simons
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2009 → 2011 Steve Simons
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Most of the stories in this book come under the category of Parental Guidance (G-PG =Parental Guidance). The exceptions are shown below with a <G-U =Universal suitable for all> marking.
Introduction
1. The R4C Rescue ( 30 Mins ) <Rated U>
2. Better To Travel in Hope (19 Mins )
3 Angel Without A Name ( 35 Mins )
4. Be Careful What You Wish for ( 30 Mins )
5. Testing, Testing 1,2,0 ( 12 Mins ) <Rated U>
6 Life, at what cost ( 30 Mins )
7. This Little Piggy ( 30 Mins )
8. Something isn't Right here ( 24 Mins )
9. Ulayia ( 28 Mins )
10. To See or Not to See ( 11 Mins )
11. What About Max ( 46 Mins ) <Rated U>
12. Re-Birth ( 68 Mins )
Introduction
This first collection of Steve's Short Stories brings a mixture of the darker side of Science and what man is probably capable of achieving, whilst also bringing some humour. These short stories have allowed Steve the luxury to make a study of a particular topic that has reared its head in the world of science or technology and is currently being discussed. Steve through use of his imagination and word processor, has explored where such developments could take human kind. There is even a story that could be a ghost story, or is it about a ghost? To round things off Steve even glimpses into the domain of romance. Something for everyone? Maybe, we'll leave it for you to decide.
This book represents about 6 hours of entertainment (of course the exact time depends how fast or slow a reader you are, but this estimate is based on the Audio Book version of this book). The book took two years in the making, is supplied FREE of charge.
1. R4C Rescue
A door opens, nothing unusual in that, doors open all the time. What is unusual, is the reaction of those around the door, as the silver haired man emerges from the dark corridor into the brilliant light. The people around stop and stare at him. Not quite what he was hoping for. After all he had taken particular care to ensure that the clothes they were wearing would enable them to blend in. He wonders if it has anything to do with his companion, but as he quickly turns to check, the young man following him, appears no different from normal.
The silver haired man whispers to his younger companion, "It would appear Bob, that somehow our cover has been blown."
"It would appear to be the case Professor. The map and message, indicated that this warehouse was not being used and that it was in a particularly quiet district. We have landed in the right time frame haven't we?"
"Yes, absolutely, I checked the co-ordinates twice." replies the silver haired professor.
"If you remember, I did suggest the other door might be a better choice." replies Bob, shading his eyes from the very bright sun.
"Never mind, we will just walk on as if we expected to emerge into this square, with all these citizens staring at us." The Professor walks on confidently, watched by all those around him.
Bob on the other hand is more aware of the staring faces and does a superb impression of an underling trying to keep up with his master. The latter doing his utmost to get away from this place as quickly as possible. Whilst the former struggles to keep up and also avoid eye contact with the locals.
The hotel, an unassuming building, that merges easily into its surroundings. The lobby looks much more appealing than the exterior. It is quite luxuriously decorated and furnished, a pleasant surprise after the somewhat stark exterior.
The desk clerk seems quite friendly and greets the Professor and Bob by name, without asking for any form of identification. He asks Bob to press a finger on a pad, then informs the two gentlemen that their rooms are ready, 693 and 694. He looks first at the Professor, then at Bob, as he announces the numbers. The clerk then points towards a shiny indentation in the wall opposite. The Professor strides towards it confidently, as if he has done this many times before. Bob, however,is not so sure about this.
When the Professor disappears in front of his eyes he is even more unsure that this is the right thing to do. Bob looks nervously back towards the clerk, who indicates that Bob should also walk into the indentation, he indicates that it will take him up to his room. Bob nervously steps in. He feels a bit strange, a queezy feeling in the pit of his stomach. The shiny surface in front of him fades away to be replaced by a corridor, with doors leading off of it. Bob is relieved that to the left of him is the Professor.
"Most strange way to travel eh?" asks the Professor as he walks towards Bob, then continues, "You'll be fine in a moment."
Bob asks, "How did the clerk know our names?"
The Professor smiles as he replies, "The e-dentities that I asked you to set up before we left the TOPITAS. Their proximity reader picked up our e-dentities as soon as we walked through the hotel door."
The pair approach Bob's bedroom door, it slides open, revealing an empty room.
Bob exclaims, "The clerk appears to have allocated me the wrong room, it is empty."
The Professor replies, "Well you wouldn't be wanting to share it with another lifeform surely?"
"But Professor, it is completely and utterly empty, no furniture or anything." Bob looks quite dismayed at the prospect of trying to sleep in such a room.
The Professor whips out a device from his pocket and starts tapping rapidly at it. Shortly he announces, "Ah I have it, e-rooms, these are e-rooms. The guest can design their own living space, using a panel just inside the door. Here it is!" The professor taps a screen on the wall and it instantly comes to life, showing various options that are available for the guest to choose.
The Professor retires in the direction of his room, he gets halfway, when a thought suddenly occurs to him, he says, "Oh, don't go in the room, stay in the lobby area Bob!"
"Too late." comes a rather subdued reply.
The Professor runs back to the open doorway and peers in, to see that Bob now has more legs than he had before, 6 to be precise! Four of which are quite ornate carved wooden ones. In fact bob appears to be part of a chair.
"Stay where you are Bob, I have an idea to solve your problem." The Professor sets off towards the indentation in the corridor.
Bob, sounding particularly worried, replies, "Please, whatever you are planning to do, make it quick as I am feeling particularly strange, I just hope its not a case of woodworm setting in."
"I will be as quick as I can." The Professor walks into the indentation and disappears.
The Professor is glad to see that there is no-one by the reception clerk, he walks briskly straight up to the desk, "I wonder if you could help me, I am in need of assistance to transport a rather valuable chair to a local warehouse."
The Clerk is rather confused, as he recalls no deliveries coming for the professor before or since his arrival, but being used to unusual requests he says, "Yes certainly Myster More. I will get one of our porters and a levi trolley. When would you like them?"
"Oh thank you, now would be most opportune if that could be arranged." The professor smiles and confident that the clerk will do as asked, turns and disappears into the indentation again.
Bob is quite relieved to see the Professor return so quickly. He is somewhat more dubious however, when the Professor is quickly followed by some character with what appears to be a floating sledge, with a handle on it.
The Professor waves at the porter and indicates the open door to Bob's room, "In here."
The porter issues a stifled laugh when he first sees Bobchair.
The Professor and porter attempt to lift Bobchair onto trolley, but like all inanimate objects it does not remain still and it is difficult to lift. After some stern talking and guidance to Bobchair from the Professor, the pair manage to at last get Bobchair onto the trolley.
The porter is amused at the fact that the professor had spent his time talking to the object to try and convince it to stay still, but it seemed to work. Perhaps this visitor is a chair whisperer. Well you hear about such things.
The Professor asks if they would need to strap the chair to the trolley for safety. The porter assures him that the micro suction pads should hold it securely.
Bob says, "You can't take me through the streets like this. Everyone will notice us."
The professor mumbles, "Should have thought about that before getting merged with a chair!"
The porter is shocked to hear the chair speak. Until now it has appeared to be merely a rather strange chair. As he pieces together the words that the professor had mumbled, he realises what has happened. He attempts to offer a plan that is alternative to the one the professor is pursuing, but the professor just holds up his hand and says, "Not now we must get this chair to the warehouse."
Bob asks if they have a sheet to cover him with.
The professor replies, "Not got time, the quicker we get there, the quicker we can get this sorted out."
They set off for the reception.
Typical that when you least want an audience, you get one. The reception is heaving with guests, who can't believe their eyes when they see the human chair, it looks like some legendary creature.
Bob is extremely embarrassed about all this, but somehow manages to smile. This makes the guests even more curious.
The Professor says to the porter, "Its OK I can take the trolley from here, on my own, it looks easy enough to use, I'll get it back to you very quickly."
The porter objects, saying that he cannot let hotel property out of his sight. The professor argues that with all these guests, the porter will have enough on his hands. The porter reluctantly produces some device out of a pocket of his uniform and asks the professor to leave a deposit.
Fingerprint having been recorded, the professor finds himself walking at rapid pace and heading out of the hotel, pushing the trolley.
The square was is as packed as before, so before anyone has the slightest chance to spot them, the professor takes a diversion, heading for the second entrance to the warehouse. They soon find themselves inside. Although it is quite dark, they can clearly see themselves by the entrance to the large craft that is their craft, the TOPITAS. The other Bob is pacing up and down whilst the Professor is calmly seated on a chair, the very chair that Bob is currently merged with.
The Professor exclaims, "See my idea worked!"
Bob, the other Bob, the one that was pacing up and down, has stopped. He is staring at himself as Bobchair, he can't believe how ridiculous he looked.
The two professors and human Bob, quickly but carefully, remove Bobchair and get him aboard the TOPITAS. They bid farewell, the Professor closes the TOPITAS door and sets about his urgent task, whilst Bob, the human Bob, pushes the levi trolley back to the hotel with the chair and the professor on it.
There is a cheer in the reception, as the guests believe that the whole human chair thing was a magic act or a publicity stunt.
The professor stands and bows, to create even more applause. Bob wonders which was worse being Bobchair or suffering this, but he falls in line with the act, smiles and waves.
~~~~~~~~
Bob's door alerter sounds. He is taking a shower. As he expects the visitor to be the professor, he presses door open button.
There's a rather attractive young lady standing outside, looking straight at him. She asks, "Do you always greet your visitors this way? I have been sent to fetch you Professor.
Bob grabs a towel and covers himself, then realises that it is getting wet as the shower is still running. He stabs the shower off button. "Do come in. Sorry I thought you'd be..."
"Older or a man?" The lady asks.
"The latter actually. I thought you'd be the professor."
Two girls pass by the open door one says, "Nice room." The other gigles.
The lady says, "Oh, please forgive me, I thought you were the professor, only they told me on the desk that...."
"I am his assistant, he is next door. Probably also taking a shower if I know him." Bob replies, still feeling rather awkward at the fact that he is still standing in the shower naked with the door wide open.
"I thought you did know him? You said you were his assistant?" the lady looks somewhat puzzled.
"Yes I am and do, I merely meant, that is what he would normally do."
The lady enters the room.
Bob is both, somewhat relieved that he will be able to close the door, but also still rather embarrassed that the lady is approaching him. He presses the door close button, and is quite relieved when the lady takes a seat in a chair facing away from the shower. Bob quickly slips out of the shower dispensing with the wet towel and replaces it with a dry one. He quickly locates his clothes and starts to get dressed. He now wonders why he had placed the shower in line with door.
As Bob walks behind the shower, towards the chair that the lady is in, he slips on some shower gel on the floor and ends up flat on his face on the floor in front of her.
The lady exclaims, "Where do you come from? Your people have some mighty strange habits and rituals. There I go again, my boss keeps telling me to watch what I say, I didn't mean any offence."
Bob realising that the embarrassment focus has shifted from him to her now, takes pity on her and says, "No problem, none taken. I forgot I was in a hotel and that the shower was in line with the door." Bob picks himself up off of the floor, the lady makes no movement. As Bob rises in front of her, he notes although her clothes are quite plain, they have a certain flair. Which makes him wonder what she does for a job. perhaps she is in the tourist line and hence the reason she has been sent to collect the professor.
"Right." the lady says, sounding rather dubious.
Bob thinks back to the reason for her utterance and remembers he was explaining the shower. She continues, "I am Mia. I work with Richard Glaceons, I believe you have worked with him before."
Ah so she is something to do with the person who had sent the message to the professor, that prompted their visit here, in the first place. Bob replies, "Not me, but the Professor has."
"Oh Yes, Professor Moretime?" asks Mia.
"Actually it is just More." says Bob
"I could have sworn that it was Moretime, not professor Just More." says Mia.
"Its not either." corrects Bob.
"Now I am confused." replies Mia.
Bob notices how pretty Mia is, she has long auburn hair, which kind of curls under, to touch her neck, it bounces up and down as she speaks. The dark makeup around her eyes accentuates her blue eyes. Bob notices that she is staring at him and he remembers that he owes her some sort of explanation, explanation of what, oh that's it. Bob replies, "His name is Professor More. If you like we can go and fetch him, he's next door."
They are soon standing in front of the professor's door and Bob presses the door alerter. The door slides open. The Professor is naked in the shower with his back to them.
Bob says, "We'll come back later."
"Oh what on the moons of Jedhaed have you been merged with now!" exclaims the somewhat exasperated professor.
"Nothing!" replies Bob, equally annoyed at the accusation that he would want to repeat the experience being merged with something else, let alone be that stupid. "I have Mia with me."
"You have your what?" The professor, still somewhat terse.
Bob calmly replies, "Mia is from Richard."
"He's sending gifts now is he? I have told you before we can't take pets."
"Mia is not a pet, she is part of Richard's team." Bob smiles apologetically at Mia, but she is not looking at him, but instead looking straight at the professor.
The Professor turns round to see Mia standing beside Bob. She looks the Professor up and down and exclaims, "Nice top hat."
The Professor smiles, the door slides shut just as the professor says, "See you in the reception. Nice to see you too Mia."
~~~~~~~~
"Just one question Professor?" asks Mia.
"Yes?" The professor smiling like a Cheshire cat.
Mia not quite sure whether to ask the question or not now, clears her throat then asks, "Why the top hat?"
"Oh, I didn't want to get my hair wet." the professor replies quite nonchalantly.
"But a top hat?" asks Mia.
"Very distinguished, I have been told." replies the professor, then continues, in a quieter voice, "So where is Richard?"
Mia looks about to see that no one is watching them. Having assured herself that there is no-one around, she replies, "I will take you to him."
~~~~~~~~
As they enter the safe house, yet another plain looking building, a rather tall and stocky gent stands and holds out his hand, he says, "Glad you were able to help us out. I am at my wits end, we have tried everything, hence my call to you. Hotel alright?"
"Just a slight mix up with a chair, but all sorted now." replies the professor.
Richard decides that as the professor's comment sounds complicated, he will avoid seeking an explanation of that one. Richard goes on to say "I hope my message was clear."
"Perfectly, once Bob had decoded it. Oh this is my assistant Bob by the way."
"Pleased to meet you Mr Byetheway."
Bob says, "What is it with this planet, can't get people's names right. You have e-dentity devices yet you still can't get it right. I am Bob Martin."
"Well I was confused when the dwelling reported that there was a BUM approaching." richard replies.
"Those are my initials, Bob Ulysees Martin." corrects Bob, most indignantly.
"Have there been any further developments?" asks the Professor.
"What in Bob's name?" asks Richard.
"No, in the case you are working on. Any further leads as to where your brother has been taken?" The professor asks.
"Oh I see. None as yet. We are still unable to find out where they are keeping Edward." Richard sits and indicates chairs for Bob and the Professor.
"Alright, we can probably help out if you can let us have details of Edward's e-dentity and when he arrived, that would be helpful."
Richard hands the professor an e-reader, "It is all on here, thought that might be your first approach."
The professor hands the e-reader to Bob and says, "Could you run this through CITOS and see if you can find any residual traces on any planetary LANS, sometimes people accidentally reactivate the e-dentity units and even if momentarily the local net would pick it up."
"Good thinking professor." Bob accepts the device.
"Hey...." Mia calls out to Bob, when he looks back at her, she continues, "Mind if I tag along?"
Richard looks at Mia quite disapprovingly.
"No harm, I suppose," the professor says, "Mia may be helpful to you Bob." The professor completely misses Bob's, please don't lumber me with an assistant, look. The professor just dismissively waves him off.
Mia seems quite happy at the prospect of finding out how these visitors will tackle the problem.
The professor says, "Oh Can you bring a force field detector when you come back”
Bob doesn't ask why, but his face does. There is no reply forthcoming however, as the professor turns his attention back to Richard.
~~~~~~~~
The vehicle seems somewhat crowded and come to that hot. The people inside, have been waiting in it for some time now. The fact that all the lights are off adds to the sense of unease and discomfort. The street itself is dark and empty.
They wait, the tension mounting.
Suddenly several devices beep in the darkness. A distinctive voice exclaims, "We have go." It is Richard's voice. The people who have been cooped up in this smallish vehicle all pile out through every possible exit. They spill out onto the street, nervously advancing up, it towards the even darker building up ahead.
The fresh air is welcome.
Richard asks in somewhat of a whisper, "Right what do we have to do professor?"
"Just walk this box around the target building and bring it back to me." The professor shivers slightly as the night air, so much colder than the interior of the vehicle, hits him. He wishes he had done some research on the expected night time temperatures and dressed in somewhat warmer clothes now.
Richard suggests to one of his operatives that they get some coats for Bob and the professor. The operative, somewhat reluctantly heads back to the vehicle and returns with two coats, holding them out for the two visitors.
The wait for the box to return, seems like an age, but it is only ten minutes or so. The professor, gratefully receives the box, glad that now he has something productive to do. He taps away at it for a while then calls Richard over to look at the screen. The professor says, "There are two force fields in use, one here and other here. Your brother could be held in either."
Richard lifts his arm and speaks into his cuff, "OK we are go for power."
There is suddenly a loud crashing sound a couple of streets away, as a magnetic grab releases some metallic girders. There are voices and someone asks if someone else had paid the energy bill.
Richard calls some of his operatives over to look at the professor's screen, he points to the locations of the force fields.
Shortly afterwards there is a lot of activity as Richard's people mount their attack on the building to release his brother Edward.
Richard paces up and down as he nervously awaits the outcome.
A report comes in that someone has been spotted leaving the building. Richard instructs them to go in pursuit and arranges back-up.
After several nerve wrecking minutes, there is a report that the building has been sweeped, three people have been taken captive, but Edward is not amongst them.
The operatives that were in pursuit of the person who had escaped the building, before the raid, report that they have lost the person.
Richard throws his hands up and exclaims, "If only he knew, it is our people after him!"
The professor asks, "You are sure it is him then?"
"It has to be, where else is he?" Richard is frustrated, having come so close. "The problem is, he had such good instincts when he was in the service, that he is likely to go to ground now and the chances of either this lot or us finding him are pretty remote. He was good, very good."
The professor is silent for a while, then asks, "Does he have an M.O. that would only be known to you, as his brother?"
"The only thing that I can think of, is getting to something historic, it is what we always used to do; but the nearest historic structures that I know of are the temples of Jedhaed. Without access to e-dentity and funds he won't be able to leave the planet, let alone get to the temples." replies Richard.
"Are you sure there isn't anything on this planet that could be remotely classed as historic? There must be something surely?" the professor asks.
Richard is silent for a while then says, "Well there is.... no even that has been redeveloped and there's nothing left of the original."
"What?" the professor asks in a somewhat dis-paring voice.
"The trading hall.... is built on the site where markets have been held for centuries, but there's nothing left now of the original structures."
The professor asks, "Is this a well known fact, that markets had been held on the same site?"
"Well to history buffs that have some knowledge of the planet, I suppose."
"Does Edward come into that category?" the professor, not waiting for a reply goes on to say, "After all you knew."
Richard smiles, as he replies, "True, he probably does, he may have read something on the flight here. After all, that's how I found out about it." Richard instructs the agents to make their way to the trading hall and see if they can find the person they were pursuing.
The wait is painful.
When a call finally comes in, Richard is surprised that it is a request for back-up. Surely if it was his brother, once Richard's people have identified themselves, he would put himself into their care? So why do they need back-up?
The caller is insistent that the situation is disparate and they don't know how long they can hold their attackers off.
Richard orders the back-up support, then turns to the professor and says, "That obviously was not Edward, it has to be one of this lot. Looks like we have even more work ahead of us. I was so convinced that we had cracked it."
The professor says nothing.
Richard gets another call, at the conclusion of which, Richard tells the Professor, "The news is not good, our agents now need even more back-up. Apparently there is a massive disturbance in the trading hall, so much so, that the authorities are now involved. This was supposed to be such a simple low key operation, now it is turning into war!"
"You do have a problem on your hands." the professor suggests.
Richard protests, "Hey what happened to team work professor? We have the problem, it was your efforts that brought us here, to this building. Probably best if we adjourn to the trading hall and see if we can rescue this situation."
"Sorry, I merely meant....", the professor quickly re-thinks what he was going to say and instead says, "You are right, a sound suggestion."
The journey does not take long. The trading hall is a massive building, its exterior is quite impressive it has carvings that represent that fact that trading has taken place on this site for centuries. The interior is heaving with people. There is a disturbance in the right hand corner of the large ground floor area, there are raised voices.
Richard leads the way, closely followed by the remainder of his people and of course the professor and Bob.
As they get nearer to the mass of people shouting, Richard catches brief sight of someone he thinks he recognises. He turns, points to his people and indicates they try and sort out the confusion ahead. Whilst to the professor and Bob, he indicates they follow him, in pursuit of the person he has just spotted.
The person that Richard, the professor and Bob are now pursuing, is dressed in a long flowing robe that covers their face, quite normal clothing for some clans on this planet. Which is precisely why Richard is determined to keep the individual in his sights. Richard just hopes that the professor and Bob can keep up, he dare not take his eyes of of the individual.
Suddenly there is a flash of the side of the person's face, it is almost as if someone had given Richard and electric shock as he realises it is his brother Edward. He just hopes that Edward recognises him and stops. They are still too far apart though for Edward to even register that he is being followed let alone recognise his brother in the crowd around him. He seems to be doggedly concentrating on his escape. It is then that Richard realises that Edward is not alone, someone is leading him away. Is this a friend or foe?
The person with Edward turns their head and looks straight at Richard.
Richard stops instantly and pretends to be interested in some article on a nearby stall.
The professor complains, "Ow! What are you doing?", as he collides with Richard.
"Professor!" Bob protests as he in turn bumps into the professor, not knowing, that actually Richard was to blame.
Richard in low voice says, "Its my brother, I think he's being kidnapped again, there's someone with him." Richard, picks up the article and comments on its workmanship.
Bob picks up the intent immediately and joins in the praise.
The Professor rubbing bruises on his arm, protests, "If it is your brother, why are you messing about with that?"
Richard looks across towards his brother and the other man. They are still heading away, but in a new direction, at even greater speed.
"If only I could catch Edward's eye." Richard whispers.
"Well you aren't going to achieve that messing about with that thing." The professor complains, then heads off in pursuit again.
Richard puts out a hand and grabs the professor's arm. The professor protests, "Do you mind! You have already injured me once, do you want to catch up or not?"
Richard hands the article he is holding, to Bob, then he says to the professor, "Sorry, but I think we can head them off if we head over there."
The two men head off at speed in the direction indicated, leaving Bob holding the article. Bob tries to put the item down, but the stall owner, fearing loss of a sale, is now engaging him in conversation about the article. Bob fearing that this discussion will become quite protracted and he will lose the professor and Richard is forced to buy the item, just to get away. The transaction completed, Bob heads off at speed after the professor and Richard.
The person with Edward appears to be quite concerned that they can no longer see the small group, their head scanning the crowd quickly, trying to pick out faces. Richard has already spotted what is going on and has turned and is heading in a new direction and he has also slowed down. He waits a reasonable time before turning to check if it is safe to resume their original path. Richard is pleased to see that Edward and the person with him, appear to be assured that they are no longer being followed. Richard asks, "No sign of bob, can you see him?"
The professor looks about himself and replies, "No, I do hope he's alright." the professor nods in the direction of Edward and the person with him, "Are they still onto us."
"No they appear to believe we've gone." Richard replies, then picks up speed in an effort to achieve their objective. The distance between them closing by the second.
Suddenly the person with Edward appears to be rather edgy again and changes direction.
Richard exclaims, "Oh heck it's Bob, they have spotted him heading towards them."
"Where is he?" asks the professor.
"Behind us to the left. Just wish he was better at disguising the fact that he's pursing them. Ah this could work in our favour, he's changed direction."
Richard and the professor double their efforts and are soon ahead of Edward and the person with him.
Edward looks straight at Richard. Richard takes best advantage of this opportunity, turns and faces Edward full on, so there's no mistaking who he is. He also signs that the professor and Bob are with him.
Edward appears to be relieved, he heads straight for Richard, ignoring the person that he is with. They are concentrating on Bob in any case.
Richard hugs his brother and aware that they haven't a lot of time to play with takes him by the arm, the group head for the nearest exit. The professor just has time to sign to Bob that he should meet up with them at the TOPITAS.
Bob meanwhile spots that there's a further group of people who appear to have interest in Edward's former companion. Their interest is so definite that the person is no longer looking at Bob. Bob takes advantage of the fact that heat is off him and he briskly heads off towards the exit nearest him.
~~~~~~~~
Richard enthusiastically shakes the professor's and Bob's hands, "I really cannot thank you enough for your help here. It is so good to have Edward back."
The professor replies, "Our pleasure, glad we could be of help." Then he turns to Bob and asks, "Just what have you got there Bob?"
Bob smiles, "I don't know professor, but I just wish that Richard had picked something smaller and lighter. It was not easy to run with this thing. At least it is kind of decorative, it will add to the TOPITAS's decore."
"Not exactly my taste, I have to admit, unless you are that attached to it, why don't you just leave it here?" suggests the professor.
Bob takes one last look at the object as if making up his mind, then puts it on the floor.
The four men say their farewells. Bob and the professor step aboard their craft, giving one last wave before the door closes.
"Do we need to move further away" asks Edward.
"No need." replies Edward.
The large craft noiselessly fades and disappears, leaving the two brothers in the now almost empty warehouse. It would be empty if it were not for them and the item that Bob had left behind.
<The End>
2. Better To Travel In Hope
It was Christopher's first flight, let alone, first change of home. Christopher was 6, yes the ripe old age of 6, he was into his second year at school. He quite liked school, there was lots to do and find out about. He had been quite looking forward to becoming an astronaut, heading out into deep space and a new home. Mum and Dad had been looking at the information with Christopher, he almost felt like he had been living at his new home for the last couple of months. He knew what their new house looked like, what the shopping mall contained, the local play centre and even his school looked like. He had visited these places virtually several times already. Apart from not actually setting foot in the rooms, Christopher knew their layouts well. His Mum thought it would make him feel more secure about the move. The only thing that Christopher was not too happy about was the fact that Nanna and Gramps weren't also coming with them, but mum had said he could keep in regular touch with them. It just didn't feel right that they wouldn't be able to give him a hug again for some time to come. Dad said the flights cost so much that it would take several years before they would be able to afford to come back.
The day had come at last and here they were at the space port waiting to be called to board the craft that will be their home for the next three months, yes three months. Mum had said it would seem like a long holiday. Christopher had not seen so many people in one place before. Quite a few were of alien race, of all shapes and sizes. Christopher could not help but stare at some of them, they looked so... so..... strange. His Dad had told him that it was rude to stare. However, as Christopher noticed many of the aliens were equally intrigued and staring at the humans, he felt it just evened things up.
There was this one alien family that seemed quite interesting. The youngest of the family seemed quite fascinated by Christopher and his little game, which involved dragging his suitcase around the departure lounge and pretending to check it in. The alien father chats to his child and suggests that she ask the child's name and introduce herself. The girl moves over to Christopher, gliding easily on her rippling lower limbs that move her along like a caterpillar's multiple legs. It was almost like moving on smooth tracks. Her three eyes blinked rapidly, something her race did, to attract attention to themselves and to show that they are interested in someone else. Christopher not knowing their body language and customs, thinks that she means him or his suitcase some harm. The father says something and the girl slows right down and stops blinking. This makes Christopher feel more at ease. He smiles at the girl, as a sign of friendship. She turns and starts to retreat at speed until once again her father speaks to her, obviously explaining that the human child means her no harm. She turns and approaches again. Once she has reached what she considers a safe distance, she speaks to Christopher. Christopher looks over to his Mum and Dad in the hope that they can help out with the communication, as he hasn't a clue what she is trying to say. Her front upper limbs are pointing to herself and she issues forth some rather melodious sounds. Christopher's Mother has joined them now and she says, “That's a lovely name isn't it Christopher? She is asking your name now.”
Christopher notices that the upper limbs are now pointing at him. He is glad that his Mum had explained this, otherwise he would have run a mile. He points to himself and says, “Christopher.”
The girl makes an attempt to repeat “Christopher” then advances slowly and before long the pair of them are playing nicely together. Whilst the parents exchange pleasantries, including why they are making this flight. Turns out that ooos-low-fack, for that is the girl's name, has never seen her grandmother and they were on their way home. They have been living on Klesti for some years and had just managed to save up for the flight home. The alien father comments that having Christopher on the journey was bound to be lucky, after all wasn't it a tradition that earth travellers often carried a Saint Christopher token with them hen travelling as it was supposed to bring luck and ensure a safe journey.
The announcement that everyone has been waiting for, is made. It is at the same time a relief and also a disturbance to the friendships that have been struck up. Everyone gathers up their luggage and en-mass they set off for the area called the gate, two doors leading to a narrow corridor which takes them all to the craft itself. As they progress down the corridor, they come to some windows, through which is the large craft, which is to become their home for the next 3 months. Christopher's father stops and excitedly points out the view of the craft to Christopher. The man behind them is rather impatient and complains about the delay. Christopher's Dad points out that this was an important moment for Christopher as he won't be able to see the exterior of the craft until they get to the other end.
The impatient man, says that if they don't get a move on they won't get to the other end.
Christopher looks quickly at the craft, but as he can only see a small part of it, he's not as excited as his father is, it just looks like another bit of the space port to him. Christopher moves on to catch up with his Mum, much to the delight of the rather rude and impatient man, who remarks, looks like your son has more sense that you. Christopher's father is really mad with the man by now, but doesn't want to show himself up in the crowd, so decides to also move on.
Soon they are being greeted by the cabin crew, who are robotoids, capable of conversing in 63 languages. This is the first time that Christopher has seen a robotoid up close, he is fascinated. The nearest robotoid detects the e-ticket that Christopher's Mum is carrying and it speaks to her in English, it directs her to a lower deck, displays a map that suggests that they miss the first lift and go on round to the next. The explanation issued by the robotoid is that there are bound to be long queues. There are lots of people milling around in the narrow corridors ahead of them. Christopher wonders if they are all going to fit onto the craft. He hopes that the corridors aren't always so crowded as it won't be much fun trying to explore and get around the craft over the next 3 months. Christopher's dad catches up with them, he was having trouble with one of the cases, it got stuck on the ridge that joined the space station and craft walkways. The person behind him, was getting impatient again and had barged past. Their partner protested that they did not have to be so rude all the time. A sentiment that Christopher's Dad definitely agreed with. He hoped that this lot were on a different level to them and that he does not keep running into them.
Christopher is concerned that Dad is lost, but his look of concern turns to a smile when he sees that his Dad is now catching up. He barges past Mr Rude, who almost falls over, much to the amusement of his partner and Christopher.
The robotoid had been right about the queues, the queue leading to the first lift is horrendously long, Christopher and family are glad to be walking on to the next lift. There are people wondering around in a daze, trying to find their cabins, first travelling in the direction of the flow and then trying to move against the flow. Christopher is worried that he will get lost in all this confusion. Eventually they reach the next lift queue and are glad it is quite short. The lift doors open and the people pile in, as if it will be the last lift ever. It is a tight squeeze, but luckily the ride does not take long. The doors open and the people rush forward. Christopher's Mum holds his had tight and says in a loud voice that this is not their floor and they need to get back in the lift. When sufficient number of people have left the lift, Christopher's Mum pushes their way back into it. Dad is still outside as the doors start to slide shut. The alien family that Christopher and his family had been conversing with are near the lift controls, the father reaches out and touches the door open button, before the lift has a chance to resume its journey. Christopher and his Mum smile at him and nod their thank you's. The doors open, revealing a relieved Dad, who quickly steps back aboard. The doors close and the lift resumes its journey. The doors soon open again revealing a nearly empty corridor. Christopher's Dad exclaims, “Now this is more like it.” The alien father also agrees. Christopher's Mum consults the display in front of them and it shows where their cabin is. The Alien family do the same. They soon depart in opposite directions.
Christopher is really glad when they arrive at their cabin. The door slides open as they approach. They enter, expecting to see the interior immediately, instead they appear to be in some sort of lobby area. There is a speaker somewhere announcing that they may store their cases and outer garments in this area. An inner door opens as the outer one closes. Christopher breaks free from his Mum's grasp. He is delighted at the sight that greets him, it looks like a regular cosy lounge and food area. There is even a toy box for Christopher to keep his toys in. Christopher excitedly runs from item to item in the room. His Dad deposits the cases in one corner of the room, whilst his Mum darts off to inspect the bedrooms. Christopher's Dad checks out the workstation and entertainment facilities.
They all end up sitting down and expressing their pleasure in that what they have is very good and will “meet their needs nicely.”
The remainder of the journey passes well and Christopher and his family make friends with other passengers, passing many hours in contented conversations, games and enjoying the entertainments that are laid on by crew and the more talented passengers alike.
Then one day Christopher wakes up and senses that something is wrong. The craft does not seem to have its usual sounds and the room is very cold, there are no lights on apart from a handful of little twinkling points of light dotted throughout the cabin. As Christopher emerges from his room, he finds his Mum and Dad trying to get the workstation to operate, but they appear to be having no luck. Christopher's Dad remarks, “Oh no Christopher is up now, what are we going to do.”
Christopher's Mum suggests that he go back to bed as it is very cold and they don't want him to get ill. Christopher is far to interested to know what is going on and refuses to go back to bed. His Dad announces that he is going to go out and try and find out what the problem is. He gets fully dressed, then heads for the lobby, then suddenly remembers that there is no power, so the doors will not open.
Suddenly there is a rather muffled announcement over the speaker system, it conveys that there appears to have been some sort of power failure and that the crew an Captain are working to try and fix the problem, in the meantime they urge passengers not to panic and to stay in their cabins.
Mum decides to fix some breakfast, but then remembers that without power the food generator will not work. It is at times like this when she wished that she had packed some emergency ration food packs. They decide that as it is so cold, they will all huddle in the main bedroom, to share warmth. The time seems to drag by, and Christopher, whilst initially keeping his parents entertained with his play, soon gets bored. They resort to some old style games that Christopher's Mum remembers from her childhood.. Then there's that muffled sound again, Christopher's Dad asks them to be quiet as the announcement could be important. They do not catch the whole announcement, but the bits they catch, indicate that they had actually arrived at their destination, but something was wrong on the planet and whatever it was had also affected their craft and as a consequence they were now adrift in space and without power. They were unable to contact anyone, there appeared to be no-one alive on the planet. They had tried to contact it long before they arrived and had lost power. Despite best attempts the captain and crew had been unable to restore power. They had also been unable to summon any other form of help. They were now hoping that a freighter scheduled to visit soon, would be able to rescue them. In the meantime, they were trying to get passengers out of their cabins. The announcement dies out, the lights flicker and some go out.
Christopher's Dad says that the chances of the crew attempting to release them in the near future was pretty remote, after all they will concentrate on first and second class passengers first, the third class ones would come last on the list. Christopher wonders what all this means to him, will they never get out of here and as his stomach growls, it reminds him, will they ever get anything to eat again?
Dad searches around for anything to attack the door with. He takes some of the trim off of the wall but finds that as it is made with soft lightweight material it is useless for his purposes. He next starts attacking the furniture. Christopher's Mum, is quite concerned that they will get into trouble with the space liner company for damaging the cabin. Then Dad points out the ridiculousness of her concerns and that if they don't get out of the cabin, they will not survive and the space liner company wouldn't be able to do anything to them anyway. Mum still protests, pointing out that the freighter was on its way. Dad points out that they hoped it was on its way and in any case whatever had affected their craft may affect the freighter too. He resumes his attack on the furniture.
All this makes Christopher most uneasy. Their nice lounge will no longer be nice. They will have nowhere comfortable to sit upon, now that Dad has broken it.
Dad next turns his attention to the door. It takes some time and a great deal of effort, before he manages to break the shielding panel, giving him access to the edge of the door. Christopher offers a number of times to help out, but his dad is reluctant to let him have a go. Eventually Dad manages to slide the door open. When it slides back, the air is suddenly refreshed a bit, as the fresh oxygen rushes in. Dad takes a moment to get his breath back, then starts attacking the panel on the outer door. This one seems to give in faster, either it is thinner or Dad has perfected his technique.
Soon the outer door is sliding open, once its initial resistance is overcome. They all leave the cabin and head off to their alien friend's cabin on the other side of the deck. The door is still sealed shut. Dad attacks the panel to one side with gusto, but finds it harder to damage it. He takes a rest and can hear knocking coming from within the cabin, this renews his determination to open the door. Eventually he manages to break the panel enough to be able to lever the door open. To his relief they find their alien friends had managed to open the inner door. They all head for the nearest stairs, knowing that the lifts will not work. The stairs are hard work, but they manage to rise up to the leisure deck, there a few people milling around looking somewhat dazed and confused. The captain, can be seen some way off surrounded by a large group of people. He is trying as best he can to communicate something to the masses, but being of Trulliox descent, he is finding this difficult as there are not a lot of races who understand Trullioxian. Christopher's Dad gets as close as he can to the captain and strains to hear what is being said. Ooos-low-fack's father has joined him. Christopher's Dad catches a few words, but not enough to make sense of what is being said. When the captain has finished a large group of people break away and appear quite disappointed. Christopher's Dad, ooos-low-fack's father and another get together and try and make sense out of what they have between them caught of the announcement. When they rejoin their families, their faces cannot conceal the bad news. They tell of the fate that awaits them.
Apparently the planet had been attacked, all energy generation capability had been destroyed, the atmosphere polluted, here was some form of reaction taking place in the planet's core which was building up to the extent that in a few hours the planet and anything in its vicinity will be ripped apart. Whatever had affected the planet's ability to generate power had also affected their craft. It also transpired that the scheduled freighter had also arrived and was likewise trapped here helpless in space.
Ooos-low-fack's father remarks, I don't even think Saint Christopher will be able to get us out of this fix.
The two children play together quite happily, unaware that their very existence was about to end. But perhaps it is better to travel in hope than to arrive.
<The End>
3. The Angel Without A Name
Why the desperation to leave that place so quickly, when he does not even know what or where it is? Come to that, he doesn't even know who he is. The need for a sense of identity, of belonging to somewhere, there it is again. He had felt this before. Now when was it, that he had this desperate sense of needing to know who he was? It was in that, that place, with its tubular structures and so much white, he had never seen so much white, apart from those things that were attached to him, they broke up the white, but not by much, they were only small, leading to that grey box that made those noises. Just what were those noises? They were so annoying, to the extent that he just had to get out of that place. What was it about the obsession with white, even down to the garments he wore? He knew that he did not normally wear these garments, but just what did he wear? Who was he? There, that question again, just suppress it for the time being, it got him nowhere to think about that one again. He had gone from the place, where he found himself, into the one next to it. Where a man lay sleeping, the kind of sleep he imagined he had been in until he had awoken.
Out of desperation he hunted this place for anything that he could wear, that was not this awful white. On searching the box like thing, beside the thing that the man was lying upon, he found some garments that were not white, imagine it, not white. He could hardly contain himself, what was that feeling that had come over him. The search for another name, but none came forth, so he satisfied himself with the fact that he now had garments that thankfully fitted and looked so much better than the white. At first he had trouble figuring out just how to put these garments on, then an image came to mind, just how he knew not, but it clearly showed how these things were to be worn. The image was of a man wearing such garments. Once dressed, he turned his attention to getting out of this place.
The man lying down, stirred out of his sleep and spoke. Knowing not what the man was saying nor the meaning behind it, he understood only that the man was in need of some soothing noises, so he made what he thought were appropriate noises and was rewarded as the man smiled and went back into the comfort and safety of his sleep again. Whilst he turned his attention back to escaping that place, that was the concept he was searching for, escape. He headed through the door and towards the light at the end of this, this box like structure, with see through panels either side and entrances similar to the one he had come through. Towards the light, he must go towards the light. Just what drove him on, he knew not, but towards the light he confidently headed, avoiding those beings that got in his path. He was not challenged in any way. The latter fact had surprised him.
Now he finds himself sitting here on this hard surface, watching, watching these beings, these, people, as they go about their doings, not doings, but business. How does that happen? I think something, then something within me corrects me, tells me what things should be called, what their proper name is. If I know, why can't I think it right first time?
What is that woman up to over there? Unlike the rest, all rushing around without a second to spare, she sits alone, watching, just watching, just like me. She looks, what is the word? She looks sad and lonely, but what is this? She smiles, but why this change? The thought 'He was an angel' comes to me, but who and why? I understand. A man had given this lady a piece of paper that gave her the power to buy some food and a drink, this had happened before now, last night, is when it took place. If only she had not used it all, she would not be hungry now. The lady is touched by that man's kindness again as she remembers what he had done. Angel, the name echoes in my mind. Like a bolt of lightening, it strikes me, that is what I am, I want to be like that man, to help people like this lady, that is my task, my purpose, I feel it in my core, my very being. At last I have found out who I am, I am Angel. Rather than just sit here watching, I should take part, do my best to help those in need of my support.
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