Beginning of the end

Forward

The End of the Beginning

No one can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. I thought to myself. And well they say a lot of things. And as I sat here floating in that very vacuum I questioned where it all went wrong. And maybe what I could have done differently. And where it all started. And... “ Oxygen critically low please return to a docking bay immediately. ” The lovely AI voice of Sandra Parks, the Milky Way’s most famous singer and this month's free sample voice on my com.

“Well Sandra, that's gonna be a little difficult. CAUSE WE'RE OUT HERE IN THE FU*KING MIDDLE OF GOD KNOWS WHERE.” I scream, agitated, scared and almost alone except my AI.

“I didn't scream at you Rail. I ask that you treat me the same way” Samanth comes in my ear piece with a hurt parent's tone Samantha continues “ Our distress signal has been pinged and a ship will arrive in the next forty-seven earth minutes.”

“Well, Do i have enough oxygen to last forty-seven minutes?” I respond much calmer. “Was that better?” I throw in with a snort.

In her singing voice she comes back loud and in tune with her new hit song. “NOOOO YOOOUUUUU DOOO NOT. You have thiiiiirty ooooone.” Then in her lovely voice she says “Was that better? “

“Just give me a min.” I exclaimed quickly.

“I'll give you thirty-one.” She replies.

“I'll give you thirty-one.” I mimicked back in a baby-like voice.

I start to lose myself in thoughts again. Where were we? We were on an Empire ship (Now I know what you're thinking, and no it's not the same Empire I saw in those classic movies ). What was it called The Celestial Two War Barge? “Samantha How long was I out?” I exclaim like I just came out of a trance .

“Two and a half hours.” She cheerfully chirps back.

“Damn!” I say mostly under my breath.

“WAIT WHAT SHIP IS COMING TO PICK US UP?” I blurted out having a realization.

“Oh. The Celestial Two War Cruiser. The one you were just ejected from by The Admirals Second.” she chimed back.

Now my mind starts to race. I can feel myself going into a panic. Why would they be coming back? He’s had to of come up with a cover story by now or atleast found a way to pin Bob Crafters murder on me. Then it hit me that I still have the map. I'll be searched, everything will be processed and recorded and decontaminated. Fuc*king space herpes. “I notice a large increase in your heart rate. Which in turn means you are burning more oxygen than calculated and now have twenty-eight minutes of air left.” Samantha cuts into my frantic thoughts.

“Ok you need to calm down. Think of your training. Think of your breath. In. out. In .out.” I state this out loud and after a minute or so Samantha chimes in. “Good to see you've brought your breathing back to acceptable limits. You now have twenty-five minutes of air.”

“Great and how long till the cruiser can get to us now.” I replied

“Forty-four minutes. This should be fun. What was it you said your dad always said to you when you were a kid? Where's the fun Rail? Where's the fun Rail?” She answers far more jolly than I was in the mood for but I answer anyway just like I did every time my dad Said it.

“In the danger. The fun is in the danger.” I say this very un-enthusiastically.

I go back to my thoughts this time with a little more controle. I slow my breathing just like we are taught as children learning to use our suits. I figure I've bought five to six minutes still around ten to twelve short. I sure hope Samantha's math is off. I tell myself to give myself some false hope. But I'm figuring that this false hope is better than none. I go into a brainstorm mode and start shouting out ideas.”What if we turn off the suit's heat? And um.... I hold my breath for thirty or so minutes at a time. I cou..”

Samantha Interupst “ You wouldn't survive long without the heat generators on; they also help to recycle the air and water you use and the oxygen your waist while the heat comes back would be counterproductive. As for holding your breath. Not only would you be amazing if you could hold your breath for thirty minutes at a time. I'd prefer you to do it more often.” She jokes while I'm about to suffocate. “But you may be able to buy some of the time you need .” I figure something is wrong. I'm not thinking clearly. I must still be groggy. But from what? Remember Rail . For heaven's sake remember. BEEP! BEEP! Alarms start going off in my suit.

“What is it now?” I say defeated

“There's a tear in your suit. I've located it behind your left knee. I've already begun the repairs and it should only take a few seconds but the air loss I have not calculated yet..” Sam replies.

I hold my breath for what feels like forever. I suck in another big gulp of air and hold that till I almost pass out. It feels like ten minutes have gone by when Samantha chirps in “You’ll be fine just hold your breath for thirty minutes....... By the way, the suit was repaired and it took longer than expected. And for that I apologize.. “ I let out a huge gasp and suck in air.

“Thanks..” That's all I can think of to say. I sit well, float and wait for the bad news. Then as expected.

“Oxygen remaining three minutes..Sorry Rail.” She Says sounding sad. I don't hear anything else Samantha says. I start to drift off into thoughts about what I maybe could have done differently and where I went wrong.......

Chapter I

“As Stephanos Strayhand or as the star chart would call it NBSW4563 rose from the west. Just the sun here on Dirt 17, named by some jack off two hundred yeas ago on one of the dumb star registry. I am preparing for my journey on The Celestial Two War Barge. When I relize I dont want to do this stupid Fing journal any how.” Railond complained.

“Rail, this was your idea.” Bob stated very plainly.

“And don't you even chime in Sam.. Don’t you Fu....”but before he can finish Sam cuts him off.

“I wasn't gonna say a word, Bob nailed it.”

“Bob nailed it.” Railond mimicked. “You both know where you can shove it,” He continued, “ ETA Sam?”

“The craft should be here in approximately eight minutes and thirty four, thirty three,thirty two...”

“Ya .. Ya.. Ya I got it thank you Sam.” He cut her off, frustrated with her willingness to side with Bob so easily. Bob Crafters is a good mechanic, great soldier, and solid friend. He had some wealth from some family sport thing centuries ago, all around pretty good guy and Railonds good friend. This had been Railonds idea. He had been trying to leave Earth 17 or as he would call it Dirt 17. Railond couldn't believe it, and quite often remarked. “That humans and all the universly, knowledge couldn't come up with another name other than Earth. Not only could they not think of a different name. They couldn't do it seventeen times. To boot it means dirt. FUCKI*G DIRT!” His tirades like this could go on for five to ten minutes if unchecked. The way the morning was shaping up suggested he was due one any time now. And as if that was his que. “And whyThe Fuc* is it required to make a log. We haven't even boarded the ship.

And what? What am I a little baby that needs a little baby diary. I mean you know like those super old didgies.” Railond clears his throat “Um.. Star date One seven two point six five eight. We are about to leave dirt; but let's not get into how I feel about dirt. But once again we are going back into the stars to make a better, happier, and more profitable life for ourselves.” He pauses to take a breath.”Who and what cou...”

“What are you going on about and what's all the swearing about? I'm The Mechanic. Your The Upstanding Citizen.” Bob chimed in, sarcastically. Sending the two into a bout of laughter. The sun's blue light cept into the window of the shared living area making a few critters scramble about. The heat was intense on Earth 17. So much so that the digital thermometers (about every single one ) were programmed to read Five to ten degrees less than the actual temperature. It was said to help you mentaly deal with the heat. And it works, for anyone who doesn’t know this about thermometers. Railond and Bob were not one of those people.

“Sam, what's the current temperature?” Railond asked, feeling the sun's heat creep up his legs.

“The current temperature in fahrenheit. Is one hundred four degrees. According to Weather Seventeen of the Empire news, weather, sports, and of course entertainment. But as you requested. The temperature from the local Bugwug Media is one hundred and twelve degrees. With a small lightning storm coming from the east, might I add.” Samantha replies in her most condescending, wetherly woman voice.

“Yes thank you Tinna Farnino.” Railond says

“The sexiest weather woman. Your compliment is so generous.” She replies. Railond continues to go over his bag and its contents. Making a mental checklist. Having done this hundreds of times before. Socks, underwear, teeth brush, pomade, knife, pants,ect ect. Everything looking in order he turns ro go back to his sleeping quarters to see if he has forgotten anything or overlooked something. He pushes the solid wood door open with a loud

squeak. Dresser, night stand, and bed, nothing fancy about the room at all, the neutral gray color did not help its basicness. The bed was made tight out of habit. Room looking blandly in order he turns back to the shared living area. The living area wasn't any brighter with its gray walls, Forty five inch monitor, table, two chairs and a small window. Very basic living quarters.

Bob walking out of the wash room looks at Railond chuckles, “Mad i wouldn't let you help Hahahahaha”

Railond laughs “F U !“

“He's not in the mood, is he? Hahaha.” Bob's AI Jake stated.

“No he gets like this when he's lost in thought or something.” Bob returns. The two go

through their mental check lists in quiet and finish getting ready. This was routine for the two of them. Always ready to go quickly if needed. Finished, the two look up from what they are doing and give a silent nod. Satisfied they sit and wait.

It's only when Samantha breaks the silence do they come back from whatever thoughts were consuming them. “One minute.” A few moments later a horn blows. The two soldiers

stand and Bob walks out first. Railond stopped quickly only to glance over his shoulder to check they didn't leave anything behind.

Chapter II

The Celestial Two War Barge or the CTB as it was called by the crew, is the eighth biggest ship in the Empire, and the second biggest ship in the Milky Way Galaxy. A city inside a weapon it had been called. The newest Battleship in the fleet. State of the art newest Cabrion shield generators, weapon propulsion cannons, guns, lasers, missiles, the thing even shoots old school bullets on an ancient analog system. Standing roughly two hundred stories from antenna to antenna. Roughly two thousand five hundred feet spanning from stern to bow. It was considered a monstrosity of alien and human technology. Seventy five different self supporting sections that if cut off from the helm could stand and function independently if needed. All capable of travel, life support systems, and defending or attacking. Life support including food, air, water, and simulated gravity. Each of the seventy five sections had further sections of various life support in case they were to take on further damage.

Called a city in a weapon by some. That reason being that in each of the seventy five sections was a city like structure. No two quite the same, all having stores, weapon shops, bars, restaurants, schools, daycares, and even, brothels. And of course a different class of resident in each.

“We will be docking with the Celestial Two in just a moment. Please remain seated till we dock, as to prevent any one from any injury. The Celestial Two is the second largest ship in the fleet. It houses over thirty thousand. Y....” The ship's AI who calls herself Mandy broadcasts her routine docking protocol till the pilot cuts her off.

“Welcome, and thank you for flying Air Snitledorf.”

“Shit...They still let old Danny boy fly?” Railond laughs.

“I thought he was on that...What was the planet called? Oh ya! Droppledorgan or something like that. Chasing the blue haired polymorph.” Bob laughs back. The two shared a laugh then headed for the exit. The overcrowded transport took a while to empty. “You can still smell the new ship smell. HAHA!! God, I remember when you rented that skirter. That newness. Those were the days.” Bob says nostalgically.

“How do you even remember that thing? You were wasted the whole time we were there. You also said it was the ugliest thing ever..” Railond returned.

“Ya!! It was. But that new vehicle smell!!” Bob stated as he slapped him in the back.

The docking bay was abuzz with the coming and going of human and alien alike. The constant announcements of shuttles and ships departures and arrivals was mind numbing. The crowd moved slowly. The decontamination system still had some bugs of its own. The searching of luggage always turned up something interesting and interesting meant longer delays. The novice crew still not having mastered the system didn't help the delays either.

Time in space is very difficult to measure. So Most humans and most of the Empire use Earth's 1’s units of measuring time Some two and a half hours later the two finally made it through the docking bay doors. From disorganization to military organization. The traffic moved slower yet seemed to go faster. Much calmer than the docking bay with no ear numbing voices above calling and pulling every witch way. The two followed the hollow map on their wrist com. The walk through the military section was dull and drab with a direct path of a left a right and a long hall lined with maintenance doors, weapon storage doors, closet doors, some not labeled doors, a few cannon doors, and a bathroom door. At the end was a door labeled E17 and under that scribbled in red marker was the word Carthica.

Chapter III

Carthica was more than a word, it was a name. Named after the first accidental death in area 17. This sad and morbid tradition had been the practice in space for a century and a half. Some data banks say it was started after a young girl Mariarlo was accidentally spaced, on a small mining transport. On the transport's return to the mining vessel The Trojan 22, the governing body decided that it was the girl's fault and offered nothing but a crude apology. That apology explaining the parents' fault in the matter, and a bill for the child's recovery. The other miners heard of this and gathered in secret. A mutiny planned, and very nearly executed. Mariarlo's parents found out and asked that no blood be spilt in their daughter's name. No one actually knows whose idea it was, but it was said to be an eight year old boy who suggested naming the ship after her. By night time or as it is known third shift, the name The Trojan 22 on the bow had been removed and was renamed Mariarlo. Mariarlo's story spread quickly through the galaxies. Within a year, most of the space stations and large trade ships had been renamed, and always after some tragic death.

Like any major plants’ cities there are main hubs, sections of wealth, beauty, and glamor. That also means their are less favorable sections of poverty, crime, and sex. Carthica is one of those in between the two. Though closer to the latter.

On a spaceship almost everything is metal. So cleanliness is a major factor in the distinction of status. The main hub is usually where the captains, admerills, generals, and any higher status crew are located. The most heavily protected area of the ship, busiest, and cleanest. Walls always being polished, floors always being swept, and glass constantly being cleaned. On smaller ships the need for air, food, and water outweighs the need to specifically only have just those jobs.

Carthica was one of three sections to have been named. Clean and no distinctive smells. Due to the fact that this was the Celestial Two’s maiden voyage. Shops and stores line the sides of the open area with bridges and walks above. Above that were screens that would imitate the light of day or the dark of night depending on the ship's shift. The light was obtrusive after being on a planet, even the blue huge of Star Strayhand’s light was more comforting than imi-light. Imi-light was a darkish yellow light , almost orange that somehow you could see in the dark and the light the same but took weeks to adjust to its effects. The light was created to deter criminals and was a cheaper source than any other that showed well on cameras so it became the light in most common areas on big ships. Rummaging through his bag, Railond pulled out his glasses. The light not being so obtrusive through the empire spec ops glasses made to help adjust to areas and situations quicker. Looking back Bob was doing the same. Railond waved over a quad. After a short exchange with the driver and a small credit exchange the two were on their way to their new quarters.

The main hub of Carthica was filled with the different united alien races. With their comings and goings from working to shopping to alcohol consumption. Most races using alcohol to escape the mundane. The only exception to this are the Garthites . Garthites do this with water. A gelatin-like alien race that can take most forms but are most comfortable as a purple blob. From this point in Carthica one can move about quickly to most other areas of the sector. Also one could get quickly lost without a hollow nav map.

Driving by several shops and a few hundred crew, the different grays of the ship started to zoom by, blurring with the different uniforms and alien colors. Turning off the main hub and onto a thinner corridor.....

“SMASH!!” Bags, luggage, and bodies lurched forward as the two quads collided.

“WHAT THE FU..” The driver of the second quad started to yell but was cut short by his passengers' look. Railond got out and retrieved Bob’s and his bags, as did the Shady passenger..There was an awkward silence as the two bent down, never breaking eye contact. The driver of the second quad offered several hundred credits and the other driver accepted without question.

“Fucking quadies.. Let's go... We’re fine.... Let's goooo” Bob barked, breaking the silence. And as if that was the queue he was waiting for. The other driver backed up and pulled away. Railond and the passenger never broke eye contact.

“Something was off with that guy!” Railond said, returning his gaze to Bob. “He kept staring at me.”

“Ya. You two star crossed lovers.. I noticed. I thought you got out to kiss him.” Bob returned

“No, I got that gut feeling from him.” Railond said, looking past Bob. “The same feeling I got on Dirt 4. When that ahhh.. Ahhh.. What was it ? That Mordath stabbed you.” Railond paused. Bob remembered rubbing his left shoulder. “ I said the same thing. Except I was...Looking longingly into her eyes.” Railond said matter of factly. On the next turn the driver slowed, then abruptly stopped and backed up to unit 209.

“Home sweet home. Tip the man James old chap.” Bob said in his most elegant of voices. Walking to the door he waved his hollow in front of the digital pad. The door beeped and opened. Railond paid the driver and before entering the unit he took one more look back then closed the door.

Chapter IV

Sweat dripped from his forehead and into his left eye. He lifted his left hand to wipe it to no avail. The plastic suit and clear bubble around his head that was preventing that. “Ouch!! That stings.” The man mumbled. Another fell to the plastic bubble that was already salt stained. Through that were several different colored wires the man was methodically cutting.

“Stay calm Mark, you got this. Remember to breathe. Your heart rate is rising.” The voice in his helm chimed in.

“Ya know what Jim. Go FUCK off. My heart rate is always rising. It's not this bio weapon, it's YOU. “Mark said. “Your heart rate is rising,” he added mockingly.

“Oh! Baby Mark is having .......” Jim started “Theirs a second ......”

Jim shot up, sweat soaked, and choking for air. He looked at his watch, three twenty three. He lay back down realizing how wet he was. He thought it was just a dream, and not the good wet kind. He let out a nervous giggle. His eyes adjusted to the room quickly due to the implants. The small room was all but empty except for him, his bed roll and pack for a pillow. He lies there for a few moments, reaching in his pac to grab a cigarette. Outlawed in space they were expensive and very hard to come by. He knew that when he opened the door everyone would know he had smoked. Anyone who knew him would also know why. Lighting the cigarette and letting the nicotine do what it does. Dizzying and calming. He holds his breath with each drag. His eyes glaze over and he goes somewhere else, only returning when the cigarette burns down to his fingers. “Dumb fucker!” is all he mutters. He snubs the cigarette out and rolls up his bed roll , clamps it to the bottom of his pack and heads to the lav.

Finishing his morning rituals. He stops and stares a moment in the mirror. Thoughts wandering, his eyes start to gloss over.

BANG!!! BANG!!!! BZZZZZZZZ!! “JIM!! YOU AWAKE?” A voice from the other room yells.

“Ya.. Coming “ Jim replies.

“Quickly we are burned at this location.” The voice returns much softer this time. Jim looks to the door, goes over to his pack and puts his boots on.

“Door open,” he says aloud to no one . Zooom.. The door opens and in walks a tall gentleman.

“Gretcheth said we were picked up at the last checkpoint and followed. They don't know what we were doing. Or where we are exactly, but they are doing a sweep of the area.. So they are close.”

“Thanks Ralph. Let's get the fark out of here.” and then looking up to the sky says “Thanks Gretch.”

"I'll let her know next time I talk to her.” Ralph said, turning to go. “I’ll start the quad.” He added “Oh and what fuck is it with the fark shit again? Who are we trying to impress this time? Let me guess the little fox down at shipping bay 3, and that's not to be confused with the one at shipping bay T H R E E. Oh.. No.. No.. The young lady up at the meds bay.” Ralph says with a roll of his eyes.”Hurry up.!”

Jim quickly takes a small drill out of his pack and removes the screws from the vent cover. Placing it to the side he reaches in his pack and pulls out a small metal box and places it in the vent. Quickly screwing the vent cover back on he drops one of the screws.

“LETS GO MAN!!” Ralph yells from the quad. The quad engine revs. Turning Jim hears the screw skid across the metal floor. He knows he should look for it but he ‘s pressed for time. He searches the ground on his way out, to no avail. Jim jumps up into the passenger seat.

“Sorry I forgot to do something, and to answer your earlier barge of questions. I’m just trying to live my best life Ralph.”he says looking in the side mirror. “ My best life.” He adds with a scoff.

Chapter V