Floxham Island ~ Sinclair V-Log AZ267/M

by Merita King

  “I wish I could tell you everything will be all right,” I told him, “but I can’t. They can surely do tests though to determine whether you are one of the umm, bad ones or not, so once they find out Eddy is the one you may avoid the death penalty. Just be honest with them and tell them everything, like you just told me huh? I can’t make promises but from what you told me, you’re not without hope. They’ll take your family loyalties into consideration. They’re not unfeeling robots buddy okay? Now, do you want some more food?”

  “Yes please,” he sniffed. “Thank you for listening and not judging.”

  “Hey, many folks call me a Merc, which I’m not but I am a good guy sometimes. I do have some redeeming features y’know.” It was like a weight off my shoulders now that I knew the story and I was smiling as I returned to the canteen to get him more food. Baz was there eating breakfast. “Hey buddy, sleep okay?”

  “Not bad thanks,” he said between mouthfuls. “Yourself?

  “Yeah like a log for once.”

  “It’s great how finally getting a mystery slasher finally behind bars can affect one’s sleep huh?

  “It sure is,” I snickered.

  “Oh by the way. Morry and Chip have gone out to the shuttle to check the comms for a signal from the liner; it should be within range now and should get here sometime today or late tonight.”

  “They went by themselves?” I exclaimed.

  “Hell no, they took Luggs and Dex with em just in case.”

  “Okay thanks. I’m looking forward to getting away from here.”

  “I’ll bet you are. They said that if they get in touch with the liner, they’re gonna get the word out to the authorities so this place can be cleaned up and sorted out by the proper people.”

  “Good,” I nodded. “Y’know I’ve been thinking about that and something occurred to me. If the liner comes back today, or even tomorrow and picks us up, you guys are gonna be stuck here by yourselves until help gets here. I don’t like that Baz; I don’t like it at all.”

  “Aww we’ll be okay now the laser net is working again. Don’t worry about us Sam.”

  “Anything could happen and who knows how long it’ll take for help to get here? I’m gonna think on it for a while. I just have to take Kitt some breakfast.”

  Flark and the blue eyed plank returned with Luggs and Dex and all were smiling so I guessed they’d got some good news for us.

  “We are now within range of the Sally B,” Flark grinned, “so we told them everything that’s happened here and asked them to call for an emergency team to get here as quickly as possible.”

  “That’s great,” I nodded. “Any idea how long that’s likely to take?”

  “Well,” he said as he scratched his chin. “The Sally B should be here before nightfall and they’ve asked me to send back everyone from the liner. They will then return in the shuttle with the liner’s security team to help out here until the emergency team arrives.”

  “Well I have to stay here with Nembier, Kitt, and Eddy until someone from the relevant authorities can take over responsibility for them. I have to see the process through or Nembier won’t get a fair trial and Kitt and Eddy could get away on a technicality if I don’t do my job properly.”

  “Captain,” Dex said. “I’d like to stay and help if that’s okay. I’m useful here and I want to help.”

  “Me too,” Luggs cut in. “If that’s okay Captain.”

  “And me,” Cap nodded.

  “I agree guys,” Flark replied. “We’re the best guns here and the Sally B’s security team isn’t trained for this shit. They’re bouncers not soldiers. Chip, I’ll send you back with Marta and the bodies of Meesha, Jena and Ronjo. The rest of us are gonna hold out here. These guys here need us, especially as we don’t know what’s lurking in the accommodation sector and if the laser net should go down again, or if Kitt and Eddy get free and go on the rampage, they’ll be toast.”

  “So we just have to wait for nightfall and then we’ll have some more muscle down here,” I said and Flark nodded. “Maybe they can help us build a few bonfires?”

  “I was wondering whether we should do something,” Luggs said. “The stink is beginning to creep inside here now.”

  “And it’s dangerous,” Dex added. “There’ll be germs and stuff. We could get sick.”

  “Yeah,” I nodded. This had been bothering me ever since we arrived actually but I hadn’t said anything because I wasn’t sure what to do. On the one hand it seems a little unfeeling to just burn all those bodies without some kind of proper service. They’re people after all; husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, sons y’know? On the other hand the stink was getting unbearable and I was thinking about disease too and that’s a real danger. We don’t want to be stuck here with over four hundred sick people all shitting and puking everywhere. “We have to deal with it and when the other guys get down here, I reckon it should be our first job in the morning.”

  “Agreed,” Flark nodded. “When we go to check the comms later on this afternoon, I’ll relay these decisions to Captain Hann and ask him to send the guys down with suitable gear to help us out.”

  “And I suppose that if we’re gonna be here for a few more days, then we could check out the accommodation sector,” Luggs said and Dex nodded. “That’ll make the whole island finally clear of the creatures and we could use some comfortable beds and more bathrooms. There’s room enough for five hundred in that hotel alone. Everyone could have a proper bed and access to a bathroom. If we have to stay here a few more days, at least we’d be comfortable and I won’t have to suffer Dex’s armpits.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with my armpits buddy,” Dex grinned as he lifted an arm and sniffed, “but your farting is rank.” Luggs replied by breaking wind loudly and everyone laughed.

  The rest of that day felt a little flat for me. You’d think we would’ve enjoyed a whole day without having to worry about creatures or mystery slashers but I suppose having spent the past couple of days in such a high stress situation, we all fell a bit flat once we had nothing to do. Some people thrive on stress and others just drift I guess and I’ll admit now that as the day wore on, I was looking forward to the big clean up the next day. One thing was playing on my mind though; I wondered what I should do about Nembier. He was still in custody but having to keep a watch team on him twenty four hours a day was a drag, for him as well as us so I asked him if he’d rather go into a cell down below or remain here with a watch team.

  “It’s up to you,” I said. “If you’d rather stay as you are then you can stay here. If you’d rather be in a cell then you can have that. It’s your choice buddy, I’m not gonna force it on you.”

  “I’d like to stay here if that’s okay but maybe take the cell during the night? A bed to sleep in would be real nice, the floor in here is mighty hard and I’m not a young man anymore.”

  “Sure thing,” I nodded. “No problem at all.” The watch team guys were happy with it too as it meant they wouldn’t have to stay up all night anymore so everyone was happy. At the end of the day, even if Nembier did escape, where the fuck is he gonna go? We spent the rest of the day doing something I’m almost embarrassed to admit to but it was fun. We put on an impromptu concert and anyone who had any kind of an entertaining talent got up and did a turn. It was amazing to see the variety of talent we had too, from singers and dancers to magicians, poets and one huge guy stripped down to his underwear and gave us the most awesome show of the whole day. He stood on his hands, on one hand, balanced on his head and spun around and twisted his body around while only balancing on his hands; it was awesome. There was one guy who was a terrible comedian and had us laughing so hard we cried because he was so bad. Another guy acted parts from famous vidicom movies, only he kept getting the lines wrong and it was funnier than the comedian’s jokes. We then did this story thing that someone suggested and at first I groaned but actually it turned out to be fun and had us all using our brains as well as our creativity. One guy start
ed off by making up the first few lines of a story, then the next guy carried the story on for another few lines, then a third guy carried on and so on. When the time came for the group to head out to the shuttle I knew some real connections had been made between folks and I was sure some friendships made during that experience would last for years to come and it pleased me to know that something really good could come from something so awful.

  “Okay guys,” Flark announced. “It’s time we got out to the shuttle. Can we have some volunteers to carry Meesha, Jena and Ronjo’s bodies? A hundred guys stood immediately and I smiled as I realised just how deep those connections we’d all made during the past couple of days had gone. The blue eyed plank and Marta said their goodbyes and she even gave me a kiss on the cheek and made me blush. I shook hands with Chip and realised he probably didn’t deserve the nickname I’d given him.

  “I haven’t been much help around here Sam,” he smiled, “but I want to thank you for everything you’ve done.”

  “Hey you did your bit buddy,” I replied truthfully. “You kept the place going while we were away at the lab and no one has complained about how you ran things. Not to me anyway. I’ll buy you a drink when I get back up there okay?”

  We set off to the shuttle to see Chip, Marta and the bodies of Meesha, Jena and Ronjo back to the liner and to wait for the security guys to arrive. The journey went without incident and we loaded the bodies onto the shuttle and watched as it lifted off and into the sky. We expected it to return in around an hour, so we settled down to wait it out. Suddenly we all heard a crash from one of the stores buildings a hundred yards to our left and all guns were immediately alert. Another crash, followed by a thud and then the hairy guy Adam appeared with Eve and the newborn Floxy, their arms laden with food. Dex laughed and everyone lowered their guns, whilst the volunteers who’d carried the bodies and not met him before, exclaimed in shock. The three saw us and Adam grunted in that way I’d come to think of as recognition, so I raised a hand and smiled at him and they approached us cautiously.

  “Hey buddy, how are ya huh?” I smiled and he grunted quietly in response. It was good to see them both healthy and happy and I smiled as I looked at Eve. “You’re looking fully recovered now hunny; I’m glad to see you up and around and fit again.” Finally I looked at little Floxy and despite myself, my heart gave a little flip and I couldn’t help but grin. “Aww she’s gorgeous,” I said as I stood on tiptoe trying to see her as she snuggled into Eve’s chest. Without warning Eve walked towards me until she was just a couple of feet in front of me. She reached out and let her hand come to rest on my shoulder and man that choked me up. Not able to resist, I touched little Floxy and she wriggled and yawned. “Hello beautiful,” I said as I tickled her chin.

  “Hello papa,” Luggs said from behind me in a squeaky high pitched voice that sent everyone off into guffaws of laughter.

  Adam grunted softly and looked into my eyes and something passed between us. A moment that I can’t really describe adequately but it was almost as if he was saying, “well buddy, maybe we’re not so ashamed of how you’ve evolved after all,” and I was really happy to know that. Goose pimples rose on my arms as I looked into his huge grey eyes and again saw myself looking back at me, but this time what stared back at me was a friend. The pair and their newborn wandered off and I went back to endure the taunts of the guys while we waited for the shuttle to return.

  The shuttle arrived and fifteen hefty security guys with protective bio hazard suits, breather units and laser rifles joined us. They unloaded crates of spare suits, breather units and cremblocks, which would ensure the bodies burned quickly at a high temperature. By this time the afternoon shadows were lengthening so we made our way smartly back to the Admin block. On the way the guys got their first look at the task that awaited them in the morning and all were more than a little shocked at the number and state of the bodies. A couple vomited on the way, due to the smell and I groaned inwardly and shot a look at Dex who rolled his eyes and shook his head in response. Luggs tried to suppress a grin and almost triumphed. While the new arrivals were settling in and getting themselves a drink and something to eat, I went to the cells to check on Kitt and Eddy.

  “You okay Kitt?” I asked as I approached the cell to find him doing press ups on the floor.

  “Apart from bored out of my skull yeah,” he replied and stood up, breathing hard.

  “Sorry about that,” I shrugged. I didn’t quite know how to reply; I felt sorry for him being locked up all the time and I know I’d go out of my brain if I lost my freedom.

  “It’s not for you to apologise Sam,” he sighed and sat on his bunk. “It’s just that there’s absolutely nothing to do and no one to talk to. Could you perhaps try and find a vidicom unit somewhere. There must be something in one of the offices.”

  “We’re going to check out the accommodation sector tomorrow, just to make sure there are no creatures lurking there so if I come across any I’ll bring you one.”

  “Thank you, that would make it more bearable.”

  “No problem. Now I’ll rustle you both up some food and get you some clean overalls so you can have a wash and change okay? Oh by the way, Nembier will be spending the night in a cell too so you’ll have someone to talk to at least until he falls asleep.”

  “He is?” Kitt frowned.

  “Yeah, I gave him the choice and he said he’d like a bed rather than the floor for the night time so he’ll be spending the nights down here with you. Is that a problem?”

  “No, not at all.”

  “Okay great. Oh, and umm, now the laser net is up and working again, the security vidicom in here is working now too so everything you all say and do is being recorded okay? It’s my duty to tell you that and I’m sorry I forgot when you first came down here.” He nodded and I returned to the canteen and arranged for food and a change of clothes for them both and instructed the guys who volunteered to take it down, that on no circumstances were they to approach the cells other than by the safety drawers. Being seasoned inmates themselves they didn’t need telling twice. It was a surprise to me that Nembier had opted for a cell at night and I wondered if he would be okay with sharing the cell block with Kitt and Eddy but he was fine about it and even expressed the desire to talk to Kitt to try and understand why everything happened the way it did. He was after some sort of personal closure I guess and I can’t blame the guy; I wanted to understand the whole thing too. That’s why I asked Kitt to explain so I can’t blame Nembier for wanting to know. When folks started drifting off to their chosen sleeping places, I escorted Nembier down to the cells and let him pick which one he wanted and to my surprise, he chose the one next door to Kitt. There was an uncomfortable moment of silence as I brought Nembier down and they looked into each other’s eyes. Finally Kitt broke the spell by nodding and giving an embarrassed smile. Nembier nodded back and I installed him within the cell.

  “Enjoy the bed buddy,” I grinned and he nodded.

  “Thanks Sam. I’ll think of you up there on the floor.”

  “You do that,” I snickered, allowing him his moment of one upmanship. “See you guys at breakfast.”

  The following morning we were all up bright and early and after a swift breakfast, we handed out protective suits and breathers to volunteers and set out to our dread task. We decided to begin the clean up at the admin and cell wings, as that was where the heaviest concentration of bodies was. Three hours later we had cleared the Admin Block and Cell Wings and everyone was hot and tired. Each pile was laid out with one of the ten inch square cremblocks at its centre. Once the fuse lines were attached Flark stepped forward and said a few words.

  “All seeing and all knowing universal creator, we ask that you receive the souls of these, your children and lead them into whatever afterlife you deem appropriate for them. We ask forgiveness for what we have to do here today and we ask that you keep us safe as we wait for help to arrive. Amen.” The fuse lines were lit and with a hiss and a whoosh, a
ll the piles of bodies burst into white hot flames.

  After a break for something to eat and drink, we decided our next job should be the workshops and the Accommodation sector. We needed to get them cleared before nightfall and it was already approaching mid day. The volunteers who’d helped haul bodies were sent inside and once the security guys had changed out of their protective gear and re armed themselves, we set off. The workshops were clear so we headed over to the Accommodation Sector. This part of the island consists of ten shared houses for staff and five hundred visitors and other guests in the hotel. We’d found out from the plans that the hotel rooms were a mixture of singles, doubles and family rooms totalling two hundred and ninety four rooms on five floors to be checked for creatures and bodies. We were dreading this job and all of us remembered our first harrowing experience the night we got here and had to clear the Admin Block to make it safe for us. A lump formed in my throat as I remembered clearing the cell wings and how Ronjo lost his life saving me. This was the last thing I wanted to do again but it was necessary so I shook my head and rolled my shoulders around.

  “Okay people, let’s do it.”

  Amazingly, the Accommodation sector’s ten shared staff houses yielded just a dozen bodies and three of the flying creatures. The hotel was clear of bodies and creatures and we actually found a dozen or so people alive and hiding out there, all of whom were terrified at the sight of us and thought we were escaped inmates come to murder them. They came at us with shoes, boots and any other personal items they could find to use as a weapon and one brave gal held a hairbrush in front of her and had a look of steely defiance in her eyes that I would be proud to display. We soon had them calmed down and invited them to join the rest of us in the Admin Block and they were overjoyed to accept. We now knew the whole island was clear of creatures and everyone was very relieved. I kept my promise to Kitt and got a spare vidicom from a vacant room in the hotel and took it down to the cell block in triumph. Nembier had asked me to let him stay in the cell for the day so he can Kitt could talk and they were deep in conversation and Kitt had tears streaming down his cheeks so I guessed some closure was going on. They were happy to see the vidicom and were grateful to be able to sit and watch a stream of mediocre movies until they drifted off to sleep.