The Chronicles of Aallandranon - Episode One - Ant-Lion (4 page)

“
Were you the first man she ever slept
with?
”

“
No,
but
–

“
Humans have sex. It
’
s silly that our society
is primarily run by these hormones, but that
’
s what and who we are.
Are you surprised that your relationship is over?
She
’
s
never going to see you again. You should want her to be happy by
letting you go.
”

“
Easier said than done.
”
Chance said.

“
True, but this is the way it is. You
’
ve got a job to do, and
a life to live. You
’
ll be okay?
”

“
Don
’
t worry. I know how to handle a breakup, but nothing anyone
can say can make it not hurt.
”

“
I
know. I just wanted to help. Go grab something to eat in the
cafeteria. Get out of this office and let Sam or William take a
shift.
”
Jonathan said.

Making his way back to his room, he saw Stephanie Rawi in
the Primary Life Support Hall.
“
Congratulations on
this so-far successful mission, Doctor Tabith.
”

“
Thank you. I think we
’
ll all rest easier when
we
’
re
out of this cloud of comets.
”
Jonathan said.

“
Absolutely. William Mason said he was looking for you. He
was headed toward the efficiencies.
”

“
Great, that
’
s where I
’
m going. Thank you, Doctor
Rawi.
”
Jonathan said and made his way to the stairs leading to the
living quarters.

William Mason was just leaving his room and coming down the
hall when Jonathan found him.
“
Ah,
finally.
”
William breathed a sigh of relief. He was a tall man with
brown eyes, black-rimmed glasses and short brown
hair.

“
Is
everything okay? Everything with Engineering is
fine?
”
Jonathan asked.

“
Of
course,
”
William looked taken aback at the question.
“
It
’
s something else.
”

“
It
’
s Chance isn
’
t it. I
’
ve just spoken with him
so you shouldn
’
t have to worry.
”

“
It
’
s not that either. It
’
s, I
don
’
t
know,
”
he looked over his shoulder to make sure the hall was
clear. After assuring no one would overhear them, he turned back to
Jonathan.
“
Ever since we left, I
’
ve been having the most
bizarre dreams.
”

“
What kind of dreams?
”

“
Dreams about places I
’
ve never been, people
I
’
ve
never met. I generally don
’
t dream, even in space,
but being aboard this ship has caused me to
start.
”

“
It
’s stress.
You’
ve slept in space before,
but we
’
re in a high stress situation. No one has ever risked what
we
’
re
doing here today, not with this much on the
line.
”

“
You
don
’
t
understand, Doctor Tabith. It
’
s not stress. In one of
the dreams, a little girl told me I was the key to saving all
mankind. When I asked her how, she said,
‘
You
’
ll
see.
’
.
They were more than just dreams.
”

“
I’
ve had quite a few
dreams that I felt were important, messages of
sorts
–

“
Not
like this,
”
interrupted William.
“
Trust me.
I
’
ll
keep you updated on the things I dream.
”

“
I
don
’
t
think that will be necessary, William.
”

“
Just humor me.
”

Jonathan sighed.
“
Fine. If you think
it
’
s
that important then keep a dream diary. The computer will help you
there. I
’
ll look over it in the evening.
”

“
Thanks. I appreciate it. Have a good night,
Jonathan.
”
William nodded.

Jonathan made his way back to his room where
Elizabeth was naked and reading a book in his bed with the comets
tracing across the black backdrop of space beyond the window next
to her. She wore a pair of black glasses and had tied her hair into
a knot behind her head.

“
I
built the ship correctly, but it
’
s the crew
that
’
s
starting to get a little rocky.
”

“
People are still getting used to this life. It will pass.
They
’
ll figure out how to cope, or the doctor will prescribe
them the meds to help them.
”
Elizabeth said.

“
We
shouldn
’
t need meds to cope with what we don
’t understand.”
Jonathan
said, standing before the window to view the Oort
Cloud.

“
Some people do.
”
She shrugged, watching him undress.
She took off her glasses and relaxed into her pillow while yawning.
After Jonathan finished washing his face, they made love before
passing into sleep.

6

The next few days went by quickly. As the
electromagnetic radiation weathered the shields, communication with
Earth began to become delayed. They had cleared the Oort Cloud and
entered the Bow Shock: the last hurdle before they reached the
Interstellar Medium. The solar winds had already ceased and clouds
of radiated plasma drifted through space.

Jonathan entered the cafeteria and sat next to Ryan
Thompson who was engaged in a conversation with George Freeman.
Both of them had unkempt facial hair. Most of the men aboard the
ship had stopped shaving.
“
If
you
’
ve
never had Korean Bulgogi before, then you
’
re missing
out.
”
Ryan said, picking up some of the stringy meat on his plate
with his chopsticks.

“
It
’
s just barbecued meat. I
’
ve had plenty of that,
living in Texas when I was a kid.
”
George took a bite out of his
hamburger.

“
It
’
s not the same.
”
Ryan said.

“
I’
ll take a nice
hamburger over a pile of pulled meat any day.
”
George
said.

The
bartender, a woman with long black hair, walked by and Jonathan
ordered a beer.
“
How
’
s steering this big girl going for you?
”
Jonathan asked
Ryan.

“
Just inputting numbers all day. It
’
s difficult. Until
we
’
re
out of this mess, I
’
m not allowed to drink, which is just shitty. What
else can I do to calm my nerves?
”

“
Meditate. Juan Langston teaches meditation every day from
three to six, and on weekends from nine to twelve in the evening.
It will steady your hand and do what you think alcohol does for you
but better.
”
Jonathan said.

“
I’
ve heard all about how
important meditation is for us, but it
’
s simply not something
that
’s for me. I’
d rather kick back a few beers and relax over sitting
up for hours while my knees hate me for the rest of the
day.
”
Ryan laughed. George, to his left, smiled and nodded with a
mouthful of hamburger.

“
You
should meditate like your head
’
s on
fire,
”
said Jonathan.
“
You
’
re the one who
’
s complaining that he can
’
t relax without alcohol.
Since that
’
s not possible for you, I
’
m merely offering a
solution to your problem.
”

“
Think I
’
d rather just go to bed early.
”
Ryan pushed his seat
out.

“
Suit yourself.
”
Jonathan said as Ryan made his way toward the
lift. Jonathan glanced at George Freeman.
“
Did you like
working for Cameron Co?
”

“
It
taught me a lot, but
‘
like
’
isn
’
t the word I
’
d use. Mining asteroids
is a dangerous business no matter which seat you
’
re sitting in; good
money, though. My manager offered me a pay raise to pass up the
Enigma.
”

“
Why
didn
’
t
you take it?
”
Jonathan asked.

George narrowed his brown eyes on
Jonathan
’
s.
“
Maybe not everybody
sees what you
’
re doing here, Doctor Tabith, but I
wouldn
’
t miss being part of this ride for the
world.
”
He ate the last of his hamburger in two bites.
“
Gotta get back to the Bridge.
”

“
You
’
ve already pulled your shift today. Let Liam handle
it.
”
Jonathan said. Making sure the key players of the crew were
well-rested and happy was as important as maintaining the basic
functions of the ship.

“
I
know I did.
”
George wiped his face.
“
I just like doing it.
Call it a hobby.
”

“
If
you get tired, call me. I
’
ll come down to the
Bridge and take over.
”

“
Thanks. You
’
re a good man, Jonathan. Just because
you
’
re
wealthy doesn
’
t mean you stopped knowing what hard work
is.
”

“
I
never did anything I did to become wealthy.
”
Jonathan said.
“
I’
m probably the poorest
person on this boat now.
”

George gave Jonathan a casual salute before
heading off to the Bridge.

“
So
you built this thing all on your own?
”
The bartender asked
from behind the counter as she wiped water off a recently cleaned
glass.

“
I
designed and built a lot on my own, but not all of it. Building
this thing would have taken me two-hundred years by myself, and
then I wouldn
’
t have the crew to fly it.
”
He noticed her watching him
interestedly. Her black hair was tied into a ponytail. Jonathan
studied the rings of tattoos climbing from her wrists to her
sleeves.
“
What made you want to give up life on Earth to
bartend on the Enigma?
”