End of the beginning

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 question 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 planely.

“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, 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 tiraids 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 suns 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 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 askes, 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 women. 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 !“

“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.