Inversion 1
Beginnings
Extract #15
The entire planet was encircled by savage storms. Clouds of swirling orange dust ravaged the surface. Rare pockets of stillness, the eyes of biblical hurricanes, afforded us glimpses of white poles and vast expanses of desert. Instruments predicted no life, but gave me twenty-three possible landing sites where death was least likely. Where the hell had I brought us?
For want of a better idea, I chose a location with a latitude closest to my home on Earth. Home! How I missed my island, my beautiful island, where, as fate would have it, the greatest scientific mind in history was born. That fluke of nature had given us the edge, had kept us in front. When the killing stopped, she was dead and the Earth was dead, but the war was won - her terrible genius had won it for us. And so here we were. Here I was. Running from the destruction to start life again. How much we owe to fate and how little to our own efforts.
'Computer, you have the co-ordinates?'
'Yes.'
'Then let's do this.' I glanced at the tall blonde standing patiently on my right. 'Erica?'
'Yes, Captain?'
'Get everyone into stasis. I'll need only two crew to help me. Choose for me. Get them to report to me as soon as possible.'
'Carmel and I have volunteered...'
'No! Not you. You're second in command. If anything happens to me, the crew will need you alive. I'll take Carmel and one other.'
'Captain, I...'
'That's an order. Do it!' I softened my voice and winked. 'I can barely wait till we land. Therapy never felt so good.'
She coloured slightly, smiled wistfully and saluted.
'Aye, aye, Captain.'
The bridge slowly emptied and soon I was alone. Instruments flickered. Stasis pods were filling. One thousand nine hundred. And fifty. And eighty. Two thousand. And twenty. Thirty. Five. Six. Seven...
'Carmel and Jane reporting for duty, Sir.'
I looked over my shoulder at the two volunteers. Regulation orange overalls couldn't hide the fact they were both very attractive women. Petite and feminine, they each stood about five feet four tall in their black plimsolls. Jane's unruly red hair was tied back, while Carmel's orange spikes needed no such taming. Their faces were very different, yet equally pretty; their eyes intense and intelligent. Both were around twenty years of age. Despite their youth, their conduct since waking from stasis told me they were tough and dependable, perfect for the job. In that endearing way of hers, Carmel wrinkled her freckled nose before speaking.
'Stasis Deck is ready. Eighteen hundred pods already activated. Two hundred and thirty-nine sedated, awaiting activation.'
'Thank you. Computer?'
'Yes, Captain?'
'Activate stasis in the newly-filled pods.'
'Activated.'
Jane addressed me.
'What are our duties, Captain?'
'Initially, I simply want you to talk.'
'Talk?'
She was incredulous.
'Yes. Talk to the computer. Keep her focussed. Keep her occupied. I believe that will give Maxi less chance to break through. Once we land, wake the Wakers. Start with Erica. If anything happens to me, she will take command. Now strap yourselves in, girls. It's going to be a bumpy ride.'
The women nodded, shared worried looks then installed themselves on the black padded seats on either side of me. They buckled up and got to work.
Inversion 1, a sexy sci-fi novel, will be published soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment