Alone (9 page)

'How is this even possible.' Mark mumbled to himself.

'There's another one.' I said.

'Where?' Asked Mark glancing up at me.

'Down the dark hole. The one with the long ladder into the darkness.'

Mark let out a deep breath and stood back up onto his feet.

'Well we can't do anything about this right now. I need to get the shuttle's main computer and generator back online and get it working in at least a half decent state too. Then hopefully I can access the DRD so we can find out just what the hell's been going on here.'

'DRD?' I said clueless.

'It's a Digital Recording Database. Recorded footage of the entire shuttle.' Said Mark as he pointed over towards various dark places on the ceiling. 'There are cameras in every room and corridor inside the shuttle keeping a digital log of everything that goes on here. Do you understand what I mean?'

I glanced up and all around the dark room.

'No.' I replied. I didn't understand much of what Mark was saying anymore.

'The computer watches everything and records it... What ever we do on this Shuttle the computer sees it.' Continued Mark as he pointed over at the large main metallic box. Someone has been watching me all this time I thought. Did he mean Ian? Was Ian maybe a part of the metallic box! He seemed to know and see everything, but wasn't Ian suppose to be one of the missing crew? I really didn't understand.

'...If I can get it working then I'll show you. There should be hundreds, thousands of hours of footage containing every single bit of action and conversations that have ever took place here since we left... home.' Mark smiled at me now and placed his hand upon my shoulder. 'And I guess it can be your job to rifle through all of the footage since you have nothing better to do with your time and I can get on with trying to fix the shuttle and getting us the hell back home. And who knows Davy boy, it may even help with your memory problem too.' Mark chuckled again as he slapped my shoulder and headed back up towards the large metallic box. I just continued to stare up at the ceiling trying to catch a glimpse of these hidden camera digital things that he was referring too. I couldn't see them though, no matter how hard I tried... but they could see me no doubt and had seen everything since the first time I emerged from my sleeping pod.

***

I didn't know how much time had passed, but it felt like a long time. I was sitting in a crumpled heap in the far corner of the dining area. I hadn't seen Mark for sometime either, of course I'd heard him wandering all over this place, this thing he called 'shuttle.' At times I could hear him down below and other times I could hear him moving about and doing things in the rooms nearby. Anna, I had not seen or spoken too since we'd sedated her and nor did I have any intention of ever seeing or speaking to her again if I could help it. Once or twice I'd heard Mark go to her room and try to speak with her, but I didn't think she ever spoke back ever. He must've brought her water too and maybe some food, but I couldn't say if she consumed it or not. Sometimes I moved about the Shuttle and laid myself down inside one of the other bedrooms, but apart from them and this kitchen and dining area, there wasn't really any other place for me to go. And no matter where I ended up I could never ever escape my thoughts that haunted me now with every conscious moment.

Suddenly all of the lights began to fade and the ship was in darkness. This was a new development I thought. After another few seconds all the lights came surging back on, but bigger and brighter now than ever before which hurt my eyes a lot. It was the quick sudden brightness which effected me more than anything and as I closed my eyes over, shielding them from the light, it triggered something in the back of mind and I remembered... Some old memories returned to me from before my time in the pod.

I was inside the small box room that I had discovered earlier when Ian told me about the double tapping of doors. The one with the up and down leaver inside. I remembered now that this was called a lift and could take me from the main first floor of the shuttle down into the darkness below, of which I remembered now was called the cargo bay. I was in the lift with Anna and we were both laughing and smiling playfully. We were both wearing our grey uniforms, grey shirt and trousers. The lift doors opened and we exited out into a brightly lit cargo bay and as Anna walked out of the lift first I playfully tugged upon the long pony tail she had her hair tied into. Anna yelped out playfully too and turned to slap me on the shoulder, but I was too quick for her and moved out of her reach.

'I'm going to kick you where it really hurts in a minute David.' She said acting cross.

'Go on then?' I cheekily dared her.

Anna turned away from me again, but just as soon as she did I quickly moved up behind her and pulled on her pony tail once more, this time making a train noise.

'Choo! Choo!' I said chuckling. We seemed so happy. Anna laughed out too before turning and pretending to kick me between the legs. I was far too quick for her though and grabbed her leg, holding it off the ground while she desperately tried to balance herself with her other leg.

'You call that a kick sis! That was pathetic.' I said taunting her. I then began casually walking away from Anna while holding her leg, making her hop along with me further into the main cargo bay.

'You are such a big kid David. Jesus.' Continued Anna giggling away and desperately trying to free herself without falling over as I dragged and hopped her along.

'And your thigh is gonna be helluva swollen up like a balloon by the time I've finished hopping you around the shuttle for the rest of your shift.' I said back to her. Suddenly Anna deliberately fell down onto the floor finally wriggling out of my hold before quickly getting back up onto her feet and jumping onto my back to tickle me hard which was almost unbearable as I struggled to throw her off. Suddenly a grumpy looking Ian stepped out from a side room just up ahead of us.

'Come on guys stop acting like a bunch of teenagers for Christ sake. There's plenty of work to be done here.' Said Ian disapprovingly. He seemed to be a completely different person to how I knew him, in the present, was this really the same Ian. Anna stopped tickling me and slid down from my back. We both stood up straight and faced Ian, composing ourselves.

'Sorry Sir, didn't know you were down here. And besides, this lightweight kicking donkey started it.' I said letting out a sly wink and smile in Anna's direction. Anna just nudged me back. So Ian was our leader our captain maybe.

'How you ever became a chief engineer is beyond me boy.' Replied Ian shaking his head while letting out a sly grin.

'He'd be more at home as chief monkey at the Alpha seven zoo.' Said Anna grinning out too. I pretended to chuckle at that, before quickly flicking Anna's ear with my thumb and forefinger. Anna in return kicked me in the shin.

'Owe! That was sore you bitch.' I said rubbing my shin while hopping on one foot.

'What are you down here for anyway.' Said Ian growing impatient with our child like playtime antics.

'Monkey boy's just helping me stock up on some medical supplies before we settle down into our pods for the journey home.'

'Well...' I interrupted, '...Only because all of my duties are well up to scratch sir. I thought I would show a bit of brotherly love and help out my adorable sister for a bit.' Ian began turning away to head back inside the side room again.

'What are you up to anyway sir?' Enquired Anna.

'Ah, just doing some manual checks before we go into sleep mode.'

'Well don't work too hard sir.' I said trying to be smart but sounding more cocky.

'And keep that one on a short leash will you.' Replied Ian frowning back at Anna. I barked playfully out like a dog as Ian frowned and Anna slapped me on the back of my head.

Next I remember being back up on the first floor of the shuttle with Anna again. I was helping her carry some small crates of supplies into the medical room. I placed my crates down onto the floor for her to sort out later. Anna then spoke to me from the other side of the room.

'Thank you so much for your help monkey boy.' Said Anna smiling.

'You're welcome doctor do-little.' I replied. 'Well I'm away to grab a quick shower.'

I turned to leave the medical room when a clean shaven Mark entered looking very cheerful.

'So how's it going gorgeous.' Said Mark glancing over towards Anna.

'I'm good thanks!' I replied rather cheekily, before Anna could get a word in. Both Anna and Mark smiled at that as Mark cuddled up to Anna from behind.

'Hey bud!' Said Mark to me. 'Glad I caught you, do you fancy a quick game of air-hock before we hit the pods.'

'Sure!' I said. 'I'm just gonna grab a quick shower and snack first, I'll be fifteen minutes okay.'

'No worries' Replied Mark. He then turned towards Anna again and wrapped his arms more tightly around her while I delayed my exit. I felt very happy in this particular moment just watching and smiling and being happy for my beautiful sister, knowing that she was so in love with Mark and he was so very much in love with her too. The feelings of joy and happiness swelling up inside me were overwhelming. I was truly, truly happy that my sister had found this... this love and comfort.

'So how are you doing?' Mark asked Anna.

'I'm fine, a little tired that's all, just want to get into those pods and back home already.' Replied Anna as Mark gave her a long and loving kiss upon her cheek. He then began rubbing gently at Anna's stomach.

'And how's our little Mini Doctor.'

'He's about the size of a fat frog.' Said Anna smiling happily. A baby! I thought suddenly. She has a little, living, breathing and growing tiny life form inside her. I couldn't believe I was only remembering this now. Oh Anna... Was this the reason she was feeling sick those times and rubbing her stomach. My sister has a baby inside her... I turned and started to make my way out of the medical room.

'I'll leave you two love birds too it then.' I said as I finally left with a huge grin on my face.

'Bye, bye uncle David.' Replied both Mark and Anna in unison. I was so happy. Everyone was so happy. Where did it all go wrong?

Next I remember coming out of the shower room, but wearing only a towel around my waist. I walked slowly up the corridor towards the dark computer room with the large viewing window, but I remembered it now to be called the 'Main control room.' And it wasn't dark any longer. It was now brightly lit with intact flashing computers and screen dotted all over the place. I paused outside the control room doorway and glanced inside to see Steffi working away hard at one of the computers. She was all alone and so in engrossed in what she was doing. I grinned slyly and sneakily made my way inside so that she wouldn't know that I was there. I was as quiet as I could possibly be. Silently I approached her from behind until finally I grabbed her around the waist giving her the biggest fright I could manage. Steffi jumped a little as she turned to face me now frowning.

'I had a feeling you were going to do that at some point.' She said letting out a wry smile.

'Just trying to give you a cheeky little fright that's all.' I replied also grinning.

'Well I'm a hard girl to shock and please. You should know that by now Davy boy.' Said Steffi as she turned away from me and back to her work.

'How about if I drop the towel, would that shock you?' I said mischievously.

'I prefer my sausage rolls long and meaty David, not short and shrivelled thanks.' Said Steffi grinning out while trying to work again. I pretended to be insulted by letting out a deep sigh before casually dropping my towel onto the control room floor right beside her.

'Jesus Christ David! Ian could walk in at any minute.' Replied Steffi slightly annoyed as she spun around on her chair to face me.

'Relax, he's still down in the cargo bay.'

Steffi quickly climbed off her chair and crouched down to pick up my Towel, wrapping it back around my naked waist.

'Come on Steff! It's not like you haven't seen it before.' I said.

'I told you to cool this shit off now David until we're back home okay.' Replied Steffi clearly angry and annoyed now. 'Okay, okay! I'll hold off, Jesus.' I said as I raised my hands for dramatic effect and backed away. Steffi sat back down on her chair again and turned to concentrate on her computer screen, but I was still feeling in a playful mood and so reached over and began to playfully pull at Steffi's hair.

'Come on David, Please, I'm trying to work here.' She replied becoming more and more agitated.

'So when are you planning on telling him about us anyway?' I asked changing my pulling motion to a gentle stroke through her soft dark blonde hair. Steffi stopped what she was doing and let out a deep sigh before turning back to face me.

'Look David! Let's just leave this for now okay. At least until we're back home. I mean what good is going to come from any of this by bringing it up with Ian now?'

At this point I remembered feeling so hurt and rejected, like the realization had finally hit me that just by listening to her tone of voice and watching her negative body language towards me, I knew now that Steffi would never truly be mine. She'd had her fun with me on this voyage.

'You're not going to leave him when we get back home are you?' I said coldly.

'Just wait until we're back home David okay, please. Let's talk about it then.' Said Steffi sighing out once more.

I crouched down to face Steffi suddenly. I wanted to be eye level with her. I felt that I needed to be serious with her if I wanted to win her over. Maybe she was just tired of my immature playfulness.

'You know I love you don't you?' I said, but Steffi remained silent. 'Do you love me?' I continued. Steffi remained silent for a long moment... finally she spoke.

'Why are you making this so complicated all of a sudden David, why? We had a good thing going on here on this trip didn't we. We fulfilled our needs and desires when we couldn't get them from anyone else. Why do you want to ruin the memory of that?' Said Steffi with callous in her tone.