Do-it-yourself sexy sci-fi. Inversion 1, excerpt 10

Hi
I reckon that, if I post a thousand words of Inversion 1 every day whilst at the same time writing five hundred more, by early May 2019 - if I haven't died/run out of ideas/thought of an ending (ah! I actually have an ending: it's the bit before the end that bothers me) - you, good Blog Reader (if you exist at all, a sad possibility I am beginning to suspect), should have just about caught me up. Hopefully by then, you'll know enough about the characters to be able to finish it for me, while I take a well-earned rest. With that happy thought in mind, I offer you episode 10 from chapter 1 (Beginnings) and trust you will enjoy. You'd better - it could soon be your baby!

Inversion 1
Beginnings
Extract # 10

'Captain!'

Erica hailed me across Hold 2. Her face was ashen. I waited till I was beside her then spoke quietly.

'Is it as the computer predicted?'

An unreadable thought flickered across her taut lips.

'There are no female casualties...'

'None?' She nodded. 'Thank God! And the men?'

Her face darkened.

'Holds 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 have no survivors. They've all been dead for a long time.'

I shook my head in disbelief.

'How many? How many survived?'

'Including yourself, forty-two.'

It made me incredibly uncomfortable to do so, but I had to immediately reduce them to data.

'Is there a pattern?'

'None that I can see. Three from your hold. Two each from Holds 12, 14 and 16; thirty-three from Hold 20. Two in Hold 14 were very recent deaths. The rest...'

It was her turn to shake her head. We were silent for an age.

'You've done a good job, Erica. How is Carmel?'

'Not good. She and her brother were very close. I gave her time...'

'And the other Wakers? How have they coped?'

'Forty-seven had partners or male kin on board. None of their men have survived. A handful have insisted on working. The others are being looked after.'

There was another lengthy pause. We stood together, exchanging much but saying nothing. Around us, small groups of women - all clad in tight stasis greys - spoke urgently then split and strode purposefully between the rows. Erica gave instructions to a petite young woman with long red hair, who nodded and took off for another hold. I watched her trim figure turn the corner and vanish from view. 

'I know her. Who was that?'

Erica's frown was unreadable.

'Jane.'

'Jane?'

'No further nomenclature. There's only one Jane on board.'

'Ah, yes. Astrophysicist. I read her application. She's brilliant.'

'Most of the crew are experts in their fields.'

I recognised a hint of irritation in Erica's voice and decided against adding to it.

'Of course.'

'What now, Captain?'

'Autopsies. Choose two from each hold. It's less than regulations stipulate, but we have few medical staff and too little time. Suit up and apply the strictest quarantine conditions. Erica?'

Her eyes had glazed over and all colour had left her face. I placed my hand on her upper arm and she jumped as though I had woken her. It took a moment for my words to sink in.

'Sorry, Captain.' She smiled weakly. 'I'll see to it. Have you any thoughts on what killed them?'

'Yes. Asphyxiation.'

'You think they suffocated?' I nodded. She was incredulous. 'How do you know?'

'Because I almost succumbed myself. And I... I've had a chat with the computer.'

I raised an eyebrow, though the movement was lost on her.

'And the others? What shall we do with the others?'

'We won't even open their pods. Eject them intact. A lot of work, I know, but less than the cleaning and sterilising. And we won't be needing those pods now, will we?'

'No, Captain.'

'Clear Shuttle Deck and assemble the affected pods there, where they can be easily ejected. Transfer will take some time, but we have vehicles suited to the job. How long do you think it will take?'

Her response was almost immediate.

'At least thirty-six hours. We will have to work on a plan first - nothing on this scale was ever considered.'

'Have you enough bodies...' I instantly regretted my choice of words, 'er, enough manpower...' and those, 'without waking another hold?'

'We will cope. The fewer who have to witness this the better.'

'Agreed. You have worked brilliantly today, Erica. I won't forget it.'

She smiled a sad twisted smile.

'There will be a service for the dead?'

'Of course. After the autopsies and the clean up, and once all the crew have been woken we will be able to say our goodbyes.'

'Aye aye, Captain.'

There was much planning to do. I suddenly felt drained and needed time alone.

'If you need me, I'll be in my quarters.'

Inversion 1, a sexy sci-fi novel, will be published soon.