The Beginning ~ (Part 1 of 2)

The Beginning ~ (Part 1 of 2)

There was I.

Alone, stuck here … for ever as far as I knew.

Money was tight … it had always been so. I knew exactly what was needed to change the situation and whose responsibility it was to act as a catalyst. 

I began to plan. I planned for the day when I would have the opportunity to rattle the corporate cage and break free. 

I worked hard and squeezed in my time on the net, and finally the day that I had planned for arrived. 

I took all the money I could lay my hands on, then I relocated … fast

……………

2108 AD - Earth Space

I am twenty-six years old and I’ve been to Space seven times and actually been out onto the lunar surface on three of those occasions. now I realise that that doesn't make me one of Earth's greatest explorers or come to think of it, even put me up there with an Ice miner out in Jovian Space, but the desire was the same...

I didn't want to eke out my existence in my own little plot, seeing similar down-trodden people in similar down-trodden places. I just couldn't see me foisting my own little sarcastic sense of humour on anybody for their whole life. I wanted desperately to explore, to see things with my own eyes and to do things that others simply hadn't had the opportunity to do.

It was this desire that had left me going nowhere. I had no knowledge of my real parents, they either did not want me or could not afford to keep me - it didn't matter, compared to some, I had indeed been blessed. I had been recognised as an intelligent child (whatever that meant) and been pushed into the correct educational facilities by my foster parents for most of my life, all of which, I had vivid memories.

……………

I was half-laying in the chair as I flipped the white plastic cup sideways out of my hand, it spat globules of light brown liquid into the air like raindrops as it clattered into the dark grey plastic bin that stood a couple of yards away.

 

I had finished my third cup of sugarless, strong tea, I didn’t recognise any special flavouring, just traditional boring tea, not some disgusting Earl Grey, and was anxious to get on with the task in hand - I only had the rest of the week to see out and PDT Kravitz was out of my short life. I had little doubt that memories of his persistent shouting would haunt me for some time, perhaps forever.

I turned round, sat up and verbally logged on.

"Hireson, John." The computer in front replied quietly, sounding very laid back. (nonchalantly)

”Hello, what can I do for you?"

"Job Search please?"

"Thank you." pause  "Begin when requested please.  I wish..."

…………… 

None of us were searching for a profound answer to life's mysteries when we had agreed on our plan. Alright, that's not precise enough, I certainly wasn't searching for an answer - and all of my three friends had spoken to me at great length on the subject of life and the Universe. I suppose we all had reasons/questions, but no answers.

 

In this day and age, I find it highly amusing that we still send snail-mail, but, it is relatively quick, even by todays standards and it's certainly safer than any form of electronic mail. And so that's how we had confirmed our agreement on the final rendezvous.

Any Wednesday, (July to September) - Alexandria Base - Griffin's Bar - 20:00 hours.

 

Bink !

The red light came on ...

The CPU had been given instructions to run it's program on some random occasion within a three year time-span. That random moment was now... The program had begun...

In the eerie near-vacuum of Space, the program had a start date of the fourth February 2108. It's eyes and ears began to look and listen, to separate the cacophony of sounds and to assess the vast number of images that passed within it's range. It was searching

... searching ...searching ... calculating ... re-calculating ... searching. It was hunting for it's prey ...

……………

Earth Space - Tuesday February 8th - 11:05 GMT - 2108

On board Commercial Orbital Transfer Lander “Lutter”, approaching Alexandria Base - just south of Julius Caesar Watch Station on the Moon, marginally east of the Sea of Tranquility.

……………

"What's that Shelt?"  

"What?"

" That ? What is that ? " said Jim.

Amidst a huge array of blinking lights on the headsets, something nagged.

" Uh ? "

" Shelt ? What the hell is it ? "

" Christ knows ? " Replied Shelt glaring into the headset.

" Shelt ... call it in. That blue one shouldn't be there ! "

" I know, but Jim ... what about the time ? "

" Sod the time. Call it in ! "

" Jim ... ? " I queried his obvious fear.

" No ... No sodding about. I want it called in ! "

" We don't know what it is. "

" Precisely Shelt. I'll do it myself if I have to. “ Said Jim impatiently.

" OK., OK.. I haven't a clue what I'm gonna tell’ em though. "

" Tell them what you damn well want ! But for Christ's sake tell’ em ! "

" Delta Five ... Delta Five. This is COTL Lutter. We have a problem. Possible bogey. I repeat, Possible bogey. Please check our sector. "

A small crackle of officialdom replied. " Affirmative. Sector check for Commercial OTL Lutter - await our comments please. "

" Shelt ... help them to find it ... we don't want no nasty surprises do we ? "

" What are you ... my mother ? Said Shelt, they’ll find it and it will be some pile of space junk. Just you wait and see. "

" You hope ! " My thoughts were elsewhere.

I was more concerned about the time. Another poxy hold-up. I hated the work and nothing ever seems to go with the schedule nowadays. I'd promised the girls that I wouldn't put up with any shit like last time - but here we are, fourteen hours late already, we'd had a hold-up at Troy Transfer Station waiting for some Earth government officials - any more hold-ups and the base would want strip-searches again, which would really set the girls off. I'd told them that we'd be straight out, minimum stop-over at Alex, then dock the Lutter back at Troy, hey presto, then a quick return home to Houston via a shuttle. Unfortunately, there had been all sorts of wild reports coming out from the ‘Belt’ about various craft and different issues, etc, etc.

" Shelt. I'm sorry to keep on, but what about the girls ? "

“ Christ ... he's a nightmare. “, thought Shelt,  “ OK, OK. I'll tell them. OK. Just give Julius Caesar a chance to sort it. I'll give them four or five minutes OK ? “

……………

“Well Jenny. What do you think ? "

" He's OK. He's not exactly my cup of tea, but ... " Charlotte broke in, she always did. " Yeah, yeah. But do you think it's worth a try ? " giggled Charlotte.

" Look Charlotte - he's probably married or homosexual. " My mind added - or simply uninterested in your dark locks, Charlotte dear ...

……………

I hoped that Charlotte gave me my drink and not Jennifer. Jenny was certainly attractive, her medium length, shaggy blonde hair and her general demeanour were pleasant enough, but I think she had probably eyed-up everyone aboard, including the women, and that sort of girl wasn't for me - short-term or otherwise. Now Charlotte was a different matter. She too was attractive, but her smiles seemed more genuine.

She also had beautiful shiny, dark hair, cut short and an arse I would sing for.

……………

" Wish me luck Jenny, eh ? " beamed Charlotte.

Jennifer’s answer was a smiling quip as she strode from the galley. " No chance, he's the only decent looking guy on board. " I realised that I didn't actually know that, we only serviced section's A and B, the rear and the centre. Section C was off-limits to us stewardesses. Section C at the front of this lander, was probably full of government lackeys, civil servants and their ilk. Who cared. She had momentarily depressed me, for every man I'd met, Jenny had met ten. God knows, she'd probably slept with most of them as well. I was split, sort of jealous and sort of glad. Jealous of her luck ... alright ... charm, I understood it, but didn't like it nonetheless. And glad that I wasn't such a tart. I was just about her closest friend and obviously I been told all the tedious details. That wasn't fair - it might have got tedious at times, but I had enjoyed hearing about them ... My, my, my, we have had some laughs, I thought.

My earpiece cackled. " Charlie, everything OK ? " Poor old Shelt. He hated these trips, but he had to put in another few months to get his pension.

" Charlie ... One last run with the drinks OK. We've got to be down in thirty-five minutes. OK Charlie ? "

" No problem Shelt. I'll do section B and Jenny has already started on A. “ 

…………… 

As I opened my eyes, the sight that enveloped my vision was exactly what I had expected to see. I had never tired of the view to Earth from an Orbital Transfer Vehicle. This elegant blue and white orb has a special place in my heart - of course it was home, but I felt something deeper, stronger, more profound, the reason was - natural environmental safety. For all humans, Earth was special, it was the only planet with a breathable atmosphere - or to be precise, the only one at the moment - Mars was down for terra-forming and the search for others was taking place out there in deep Space. I had become a frequent visitor to various parts of Earth Space and I returned to the gracious gentle environment of earth as often as time allowed. I believed that although an Earthman and despite the fragility of humankind, I was born to travel into Space. My mind wandered back over  years in a moment. I could remember being fourteen years old with the clarity of a book being slammed down in front of me. 

……………

Slammmmm !!! went the book hitting the desktop.

" What's up Hireson ! You can't recall, can you ? Think boy, think hard and then think again ! Get that memory into gear will you ! "

The present bane of my life ... Mr 'blasted' Kravitz ! Tall, thin, bespectacled, moustached, grey-haired PD Teacher. PD officially meant Personal Development, but we all called our Personal Development Teachers, Permanent Dimmer Twats. Obvious reasons really, One; they were always there. Two; they have the universal effect upon us of lessening the light. And finally, three; they were unpleasant and stupid, apparently incapable of having coherent thoughts.

 

Magically, the alarm bell rang, hence saving me from further embarrassment.

" OK Hireson, you're off the hook. Tomorrow's session will be easy. That is, for me. You've been jamming in the work for six or seven weeks now, so we are going to throw you in the deep end and see just how bloody gifted you are, or not, as the case may be. Tomorrow's session will be a lengthy essay on you ! We would like a minimum of five thousand words on what path you wish to take with your life. It will be entitled " I wish. ". Don't bring any materials or books with you, you won't need them. You will have the whole days session to produce this piece of work and must present it by 16:30 hours. OK Any questions ?

My mind leapt, the fools ... the careless fools - a walk in the park.

……………

My mind skipped the short sequence before the next day and rammed into fast forward.

To me, it was just like a dream sequence from a movie. PDT standing in front of me, watch face being keenly studied. A word emanated from PDT Kravitz's mouth, " Begin! ". I began to hit the keyboard.

“ I wish. “

“ I wish to be able to dream. I ... “

(To be Continued)

Copyright John Abbott