26 May 2012
I gaze up at the crimson-coloured lights above me. Smells of rust and oil waft through my mind as I turn in the tepid, ventilated air, arching my back to massage the part that hit the floor. My helmet has dislodged itself from it's hold, and is rolling around by my rescuer's feet. I can make out a pair of vacuum-grade black flight boots, concealing airtight orange dungarees, and a tired stance, as I look up into the visage of my saviour. "your skin-", I begin, but she waves it away with a simple "yes, I know," I try to find somewhere else to look, so I can gather my questions, but she cuts in again: "what in the name of cream crackers were you doing out there in a meteor storm? You could have killed yourself! What were you thinking?" My brain feels numb. I need sugar, and water, and sleep. "my orchard...", I groan, pressing myself off the floor. "here, let me help you" she says, lifting my arm for me, and hoisting me to my feet.
My head buzzes with questions, and my heart dies a little with each extra thought of my tree, floating off into space.
"how did you get here? did you wake up?" I ask, whilst we step out of the airlock. I stumble a little as she helps me across the hatchway, grabbing for the corregated hatchings of metal embedded in the walls.
"No, not quite," she exhales, walking me swiftly down the corridor, "I came here on a special ship, from earth."
"Earth died centuries ago, lady. I've been in cryo for at least a thousand years and I know that in that time planet earth has been rendered uninhabitable. We left with everything," I say, but my knowledge is shaken by the turn of events. "did you leave just after us?" I enquire,
"Nope, I left yesterday." She retorts, an aloofness in her voice.
"look, I don't mean to be disrespectful, but... That's impossible. We're at least a thousand year's travel from what remains of earth. You can't have left yesterday. With the power we had when we blasted off, you'd only be at Jupiter by now."
She looks at me quizzically, stopping in mid-stride. Her eyes are piercing, and she gives a short, sharp laugh before looking at me seriously again. "where do you think we are?" She asks.
I think. Could this be a trick? I doubt it, given our situation.
"we should be well on our way to alpha centurai. Why?"
She stares into my eyes again for a good two seconds, thinking. Deciding.
"may I speak to your A.I? "
She finally spurts out, as we reach the control room, our feet ringing loud on the metal grating below us.
"right in here," I gesture, "miss... "
"McCanister" She replies, clunking the door open. "Gella McCanister," And with a wave of her green hand, I follow her in.
The Orchard Part 4 • Opuss № I