Deathship (The Outsider Series Book 1)

Deathship (The Outsider Series Book 1) Page 20

by Steven Oaks

  “There isn’t anything doctors can do. It’s brain cancer, and it wasn’t caught early enough for them to remove. I’m lucky I’m able to do anything, but soon enough you will be greeted by someone else. In the meantime feel free to stop by and we will have something to eat or drink, and I will listen to your worries,” he said with a sad smile.

  “Derick I’m sorry to hear that. You seem like a genuinely nice person. It’s a shame to meet under these circumstances. I shall look forward to seeing you again. Take care of yourself,” I said with true affection. This old man had a warm heart, and it was saddening to think I would not be able to see him for very long.

  “Oh I’m nice enough now,” he said with a laugh. “You should have met me when I was younger. It takes a certain type of person to run for a political office, and I was that type. Now everyone means so much more to me. I have only a short time left, and I want to make sure everyone has a better day when they run into me. And Michael, I hope you will understand that sooner than I did. It took losing everything for me to realize what is important to our lives, other people. I have more than most, and I am trying to make up for that by giving them something of myself. These people who work under me I consider friends, and you should always think of most people as possible friends. Take the time to get to know everyone. You may not agree with anything they believe, but no one does something they don’t think is right. They may be doing it for selfish reasons, but they still think it is the correct action. If you can start with that understanding you can make a friend anywhere, or at the very least understand your enemies. Now off with you. It’s been a long day for me, and it seems it has been a longer day for you,” he said, shooing me away.

  “Thank you Derick for taking the time to talk to me. I hope to see you around,” I said, and shook his hand once more.

  His infectious grin filled his face with smile lines as he said, “I’ll be seeing you. Don’t worry, I will be around for a little while longer. I’ve at least a year, maybe,” he said as he gripped my hand. Then he took his free hand to turn me around and pushed me back to my ship. “Now get out of here. Just remember what I’ve said. Use your empathy, it shouldn’t steer you wrong too often.”

  I walked up to the entrance of the ship, and as I stepped in I turned around to see him still standing there. I waved once, trying not to tear up. “Goodbye Derick,” I said as the door slid to a close in front of my face..

  As it was irising shut I could hear his words shouted above the wind, “Goodbye Michael, and good luck.”

  I stood at the closed door for a minute trying to compose myself. It is hard to find out someone with such zeal for life is dying. He was older, and seems to have come to terms with his own mortality, but it almost didn’t seem fair. He seemed wiser than you would expect of someone whom just earlier I had labeled a sexist. I suppose we all have different priorities, and his were certainly different than mine. I almost felt guilty I might live so long while this kindly, jovial soul would be leaving this world so soon. What have I done to deserve this chance I was given? He had a point when he said he had worked hard for what he received out of life. He had sacrificed so much for the success he had gained. I just was a loner that liked to read. I do work out, because I want to be fit, but everything else I do was to be comfortable. I shut myself away from others because I do not like the awkward conversations you can have with strangers. But here I was just today having new experiences with people I would have never had a chance to, or even would have wanted to talk with. I think I had grown a little by getting to know them even just a little. My reading was merely my way of escaping into a controlled world where I did not have to worry about what I would say. What mark would I leave on this world? Derick seemed to be leaving his mark on everyone he came into contact with.

  “Michael are you alright?” Athene asked quietly.

  “Yeah, I’ll be fine. I just have some things I need to think about. I suppose we should be on our way,” I said, still slightly choked up and trying not to show it in my voice.

  “Will you be returning to the control room?” she queried.

  “I suppose I should,” I said. I stripped off the overcoat and hung it up, and began slowly walking to the front of the ship.

  “Derick is certainly an interesting person. I was not expecting such a philosophical discussion from him,” she said.

  “Neither was I Athene. Like I said, I have many things to think of,” I replied as I reached the control room to sit heavily in the chair.

  The screens flicked on and surrounded me with the view of Michigan Central Station once more. I took in the sight afresh, and now the composition did not seem as incongruent to me. Here we had a hotel stacked upon the back of a Roman structure. To me it seemed almost an artistic take on all of mankind. We build upon the backs of those who came before. It can sometimes seem out of place for some idea to grow out of another, but that is how we function. I still did not think it was an elegant building, but it filled me with, perhaps, an understanding of what the original designers might have intended.

  As I was staring down at the building we began to rise above it. Faster than I remember seeing us launch away from the ground before. Soon we were above the clouds and I lost sight of the building and then the city itself. The blue glow surrounding the Earth was soon the only thing filling the screens below my feet, and then the darkness of the starry sky filled the rest of the monitors. We were fast approaching the enormous ship of the Outsiders. Its chrome like exterior was reflecting back both the light from the sun and the world below. It was almost blinding, but Athene must have reduced the amount of light pouring into the control room because soon it was just a dull metallic shape in space.

  “Athene how safe is it to talk about things here versus when we dock at the Outsiders ship?” I asked.

  “It should be the same, as long as you do not have a door open. The hold for the containers is shut off from the living area, so even when we are unloading it should be safe enough. Why, is there something you wanted to talk about?” she asked.

  “Nothing right now. I’m just thinking about things. I want to know everything I can about what we can do, and what the Outsiders might be able to do,” I said, trying to think of something to set us free earlier. We would still have to wait at least a year to be far enough away from them to try to reconstruct Athene, and begin the process of helping Jennifer’s group get away from Earth.

  “Athene I want you to record everything you see in and around their ship. Monitor everything you can without having them notice. There has to be something that can tell us what they are up to, or something we can use against them. We know so little about them while they seem to know everything about us. That is an enormous advantage for them, let us see if we can level the playing field, even slightly,” I said.

  “I will strive to do so. I have already been planing to doing that anyway. Knowledge is power, and as we are now, we are quite powerless in our wisdom when it comes to the Outsiders,” she said, matter-of-factually.

  “Michael, there is a transmission coming from the ship. They wish to speak with you,” Athene said quickly, concern in her voice.

  I took a deep breath and said, “Okay, lets have a talk.”

  The screen ahead of me filled with the image of the female Outsider. She was as beautiful as when I had first seen her. This time I noticed her eyes were slightly wider apart than usual, but somehow that made her more exotic and enticing. She had a small dimple on her round chin, and her cheeks were slightly flushed. Her eyes now seemed to be colored with eyeshadow for they showed a hint of purple surrounding them, making them more intense to look upon. Perhaps she was trying to appear even more human by using makeup. This time she had eyebrows. They arched over her eyes and only with close examination could you tell were drawn on. She also had eye lashes. If they were not her own, they were affixed so well
as to make no difference. She could have been a teenager or in her late twenties, it was very hard to tell, but she was perfection of the female form.

  She said in a gentle voice that was almost a whisper, “I am Ava. Michael be welcome to our ship. You have done well in today’s endeavors and it is almost over. There were many whom began today much as you did, but you were one of the few to have the trials you faced. Feel pride in your accomplishments. I will await your arrival and speak more with you when you have joined your vessel into ours,” she said as her image faded away to show the screen once more displaying our approach to the Outsider ship.

  I had only heard her speak once before, but it was as hypnotic as it had been the first time. I had to shake my head to clear it of her mesmerizing presence. She was the most captivating image of loveliness I had ever encountered, and her voice made her even more so. I had only barely noticed she still wore a white robe. I was irrationally looking forward to seeing her in person. She was the enemy and I should not feel this way about her, but there was just something about her that made me trust her. I could not imagine that she would do me any harm.

  I was shaken out of my reverie by Athene. “Michael I have noticed your heart rate has gone up and you seem distracted now,” she said with irritation in her voice.

  I made a little cough and shook my head again. “I’m sorry about that. She seems to have an effect on me I do not understand. But she can’t be a horrible person right?” I asked, filled with an irrational hope that Athene would agree with me.

  “Michael she is an Outsider. You have met at least one and you know they do not act like humans. They have their own desires and plans. We do not know what they are, so please be cautious when you talk with her,” Athene said admonishingly.

  “I understand that Athene. I might need some help though. Do you think she will want to come inside, or will I have to meet her out in their ship?” I asked.

  “I do not know for sure. I suspect she will want to come inside and perhaps inspect our relationship as well,” she said coldly.

  “Athene are you upset about something?” I asked. Athene seemed to be acting strange to me. I know I had lost control of myself for a second, but I did not think it called for her to act this chilly towards me.

  “Michael we are risking our lives here. Do not fall for any of their traps. I am trying to protect you and myself. Yet you seem to be easily wooed by her supposed charms,” she said in a calmer gentler voice.

  “I know Athene. I did react strangely to her, and it is justified for you to be upset,” I said contritely. “Do you think it is possible she is indeed hypnotizing me in some way? She seemed to have a similar affect on those who saw the original broadcast,” I replied.

  “If your reactions are to be taken as an example it certainly could be possible. Though I do not know how she would be able to do so, especially over a screen I am monitoring. She does not seem to have any ability to influence me,” she said.

  “I am glad you are here then. If I seem to be acting strangely when she visits could you please let me know via the earpiece?” I asked, tapping at my ear.

  “I do not think they will be able to monitor that frequency if she is inside and the door is closed. Unless she brings something in with her to monitor it specifically,” she said with a thoughtful voice.

  “Then please do so. Just give me a little nudge to say that I’m acting strange. Maybe just a little noise to wake me up. You should not have to say anything, unless I ignore your first warning,” I said hopefully.

  I made sure the earpiece was tight within my ear, and I adjusted it so it could not be easily seen. Suddenly a pain was emanating from my ear. A loud whine came through my left ear where the tiny speaker was embedded.

  I grasped my ear in agony, “Athene stop please!” I shouted as I pulled the earpeice out.

  “Just testing Michael. I figured it had to be painful to jolt you. I am sorry about that, but if you do not build up a resistance to her, I will do it again. Stay focused on the task at hand and you will not need to experience it,” she said in a voice that could have been angry, or just coldly logical.

  Grumbling something about damn computers I fit the earpeice back into position. I hoped that I would not lose my concentration and have to feel that pain again.

  I had never experienced anything like Ava. I had never given myself a chance to interact with many people, so had little defense against a charming person. Today in fact was the most I think I had ever talked with so many. Not that I felt I lacked the ability to converse, just that reacting naturally to another was hard for me.

  “Athene I think I will need another cup of your tea. Make it as strong as you can. I don’t want to be jittery, but I do need to be keyed up. These small naps of mine just aren’t doing the trick today,” I said.

  “Find the thermos next to you in the arm rest. As for your naps, one was poisoned induced and the other was only for an hour or so. You should find yourself very ready for a long rest tonight,” Athene said.

  I pulled out the container of the dark delicious drink and drained it quickly. I knew there was not much time left until my meeting, and I wanted to be as alert as possible.

  When I finished draining the thermos I stood up and said, “Thank you Athene for everything. If by chance I’m tricked into exposing us I want you to know I appreciate all you have done for me in the short time we have known each other.”

  “Michael I appreciate how you have treated me as a person, but I will make sure you do not expose yourself. I am here with you. If you seem to lose your ability to control yourself I will do something. I may be scrapped, but you will not come to harm for your thoughts,” she said in a passionate voice.

  “What can you do? We will be inside their ship. That will limit almost all actions you might take,” I said.

  “I can, and will, restrain her. I will make it look like I malfunctioned. I am programmed to keep you safe. While it is not my first prerogative, it is coded into me. I will display damage to some circuit that keeps me from harming the Outsiders, and I will show I somehow interpreted her actions as hostile to you. It is likely that I will be erased, but you will not reveal any plans that we have made,” she said.

  “If they take this ship apart aren’t they likely to discover the little box that you have made to free yourself from their absolute control?” I asked.

  “I will destroy it as well. I will then have no hope of continuing, but it is better for one of us make it out of here. If you die I am to be eradicated anyway, so it makes logical sense to try to save you as I will not survive without you,” she said, somehow calmly.

  “Athene I do not wish you to die. Would it be possible to move that box, if that were to happen, into my personal belongings? That way if you had to do this I could reinstall you into a new ship if they decided to keep me on.” I asked, not wanting to lose her.

  She paused momentarily. “I think it might be possible. I will not tell you in what I will place myself as you might reveal it under interrogation, but at that point you would likely be eliminated as well,” she said in a confused and conflicted voice.

  “Well it is not as if I will know how to install you back into any ship they replace you with anyway, even if I knew where you put yourself,” I said, upset at myself for thinking of such a hasty plan.

  “Oh it would be very easy. Just ask your new ship to install a memory cube for you. Just say it was given to you by the Outsiders. It is a foreseeable possibility they would want to update us at some point, and the safest way to do so would be a physical memory cube. Transmissions can be intercepted even if they can not be decoded today, in the future a human might see something they were not suppose to,” she said with more enthusiasm.

  “Be that as it may, it might take me a long time to go through all my things to find you. Since they
might get rid of me anyway, wouldn’t it be best if you let me know where?” I asked.

  “That is true. Very well, I will locate myself inside your bike’s trainer. I have replaced all of it now and it will be available as a storage device and as a stationary bike trainer,” she said with a self satisfied air in her voice.

  “Would it be noticeable to a close inspection by the Outsiders?” I asked.

  “It is not likely they will sort through all of your things. However, please do not remove it from the ground when you use it now. Until we are able to duplicate this ship, and destroy it, I am using it as the core to my own personality,” she said.

  “I don’t think I would feel good about using your brain as a stand for my bike,” I said with a little laugh.

  “If we get out of this current situation I will return it back to normal. This is just something for the current circumstance. I would not want your tires rolling over my brain either,” she said with a nervous giggle.

  “Alright Athene. I think it is about time I make my way back to the lounge, and dress smartly. I think I’ll put on that overcoat as it looks far more impressive than this suit alone,” I said, running my hands down my front.

  I began the short walk back to the entrance of the ship. “Also might I ask, do you see any other of the ships like yourself around?” I asked with mild curiosity.

  “Michael there are currently several behind us, and I have seen a few enter before us. If Ava is interviewing each of them, you will only have to be in her presence for a few minutes at most,” she said.

  “That is a relief. I do not think I could sit with her for any length of time and keep my sanity intact. She is likely to overwhelm me in the first instant. Just keep beeping at me, and I will try to hold on,” I said as I reached the entrance and slipped on the overcoat. It was warm already inside Athene, and this was enough to start me sweating.

  “Athene would you mind lowering the temperature in here just a little. I am dressed for the out of doors right now, and you keep it nice and cozy in here,” I said, flapping the coat around me.

 

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