CHAPTER THREE - BRIAN The anticipation is actually worse, then the actual event. Kevin’s instructor at the academy had always repeated as if it were some kind of holy advice. In this case he was right, the anticipation was killing him. But in this case, the actual event would be a hell of a lot worse. Kevin’s breathing was slow and even, he could vaguely make out the shadow of A.J, who was on the other side of the door, waiting. The cold was also killing him as well, it was much colder in here then out there, Kevin felt his joint lock up and he silently swore. But a sound made him freeze. TEET!………….TEET!……….TEET!…………TEET! “It’s just waiting for us!” A.J. whispered. Kevin agreed with the man, it did seem as if it were waiting, as if it had all the time in the world. They would either freeze to death, or be forced to come out. It won either way. “D-d-damn it!” Kevin whispered, his teeth chattering. “Sssssssssshhhhhhh!” Nick suddenly hissed out from behind his hiding place. Everyone fell silent, holding their breaths as they listened. Absolute silence. “It’s leaving.” Nick whispered, all emotion in his voice gone. Kevin listened as hard as he could, the tapping was gone, the moaning and screaming was as well. But it didn’t mean that it was gone. “Do you really think it’s gone?” A.J. whispered. “I have no idea.” Kevin answered sounding honestly uncertain. They waited for a minute, just listening, finally Kevin spoke out loud, but still softly. “I think it is gone.” Everyone let out sighs if relief, A.J. climbed to his feet as Howie rose up from behind one of the Cryogenic Pods. He hugged himself. Kevin climbed to his feet with difficulty, his muscles sore. He rubbed his back and nodded at the door, though no one could really see it. “A.J., dose this have a lock?” “Yeah, sort of. It doesn’t exactly have a lock, but the door won’t open unless you go through a retinal scan, a fingerprint scan, a voice code scan, you have to have a code………” “I! Think we get the point!” Kevin quickly interrupted before A.J could launch into the full lecture of what you had to go through to get in here. “Can you turn on the lights?” “And turn up the temperature?” Nick said crawling out from behind the pod and struggling to get to his feet. “Hold on.” A.J pressed his hand against the wall and walked forward uneasily, Kevin stepped out of his way as he passed. Running his hand over the wall, A.J walked to a consol where lights blinked, his hands trailing over other buttons as he passed. Feeling around on the consol, A.J’s hand bumped against something. Opening his hand, the tube shot out and connected with the computer, A.J. straightened up and stared off far off, searching through the system. Kevin waited patiently until the lights suddenly turned on, blinding him for a second. Blinking Kevin raised his hands over his face, Howie quickly covered his eyes at the sudden burst of brightness, Nick just blinked and looked around. He was standing in between two of five Cryogenic Pods that had coverings over the glass, they were connected with a tower that had other computer components on it. The floor was polished and shinny, A.J. stood in front of a computer consol that was off to the side of the door. Other computers dotted the wall, the buttons flashing and blinking, looking up Kevin saw huge monitors above and off to the sides of the tower that were blank. “Working on the temperature!” A.J called over, his gaze still far off. “Why is it so cold in here in the first place?” Kevin inquired lowering his hand, but still blinking. “When they take people out of the Cryogenic Pods, there bodies have adapted to the freezing temperatures inside, the doctor’s don’t want them to have a relapse or something at the sudden shock of coming out into a warm temperature.” A.J. said distractedly. “Ah!” Howie said rubbing his arms, he looked around. “Wait a minute!” Kevin suddenly said looking around. “If the powers out, why is the computers here working?” Everyone fell silent thinking that over, that hadn’t occurred to them. “The power must not be completely out then.” Nick said. “No! It is! Or was!” A.J. protested, his even though his eyes were looking at Nick, they seemed to be looking through him. “When I woke up, I was still linked into the system, trust me. It was completely off.” “Well then, maybe Nick’s earlier theory was right,” Howie suggested, “Maybe the power is coming back on.” “No way,” Kevin said firmly, “Power can’t just turn back on by itself. Have you ever seen a light switch, switch on by itself?” “Maybe it missed this place.” Nick muttered. “Yeah, maybe.” Kevin wasn’t convinced of that though, this didn’t feel right. In the following silence Kevin suddenly heard a faint noise, turning slightly, he looked at the door. CHEETOOM! CHEETOOM! CHEETOOM! Kevin’s eyes widened, it was the slow steady sound of something approaching. He whirled around. “Guys! Someone’s coming!” He hissed. “What!?” Howie squealed. “But-but…..” CHEETOOM! CHEETOOM! CHEETOOM! CHEETOOM! The sound was closer, it sounded mechanical, but it was still coming, and fast. Even the others could then hear it faintly. Nick’s eyes widened, and Howie’s face twisted into a panicked expression. “Shit!” Howie whispered. “A.J.!” Kevin barked, “Get the lights off!” Instantly everyone leaped into action, Kevin backed into his original position by the door with the gun ready, Nick and Howie crouched down behind the pods again, while the lights Flickered off again, the tube slid back into A.J’s hand and he ducked behind the consol. Everyone waited, ready for whatever was coming. CHEETOOM! CHEETOOM! CHEETOOM! The sound stopped abruptly right outside the door. Kevin tensed. Click! The door slid open, everyone held their breaths. CHEETOOM! CHEETOOM! Something walked in and pressed the button right beside Kevin, closing the door and turning on the lights, Kevin leaped forward with a roar. The robot turned slightly in surprise when Kevin knocked it over sending it sprawling onto the metallic floor. )))Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh((( The robot screamed in fright, its clawed metal hands flew up to its flat blank face. Kevin pointed the gun at it. It was a blue plated robot that was only five feet tall, its face was a flat screen that was now rapidly spitting out green glowing information on it. Just gibberish to Kevin, but the thing stayed where it was, nervously tapping its metal finger together. )))Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!(((It wailed in a robotic voice, timidly shrinking back, its fingers clicking together faster. “What the hell?” Nick exclaimed standing back up, staring at the robot in confusion. Howie came around as A.J. peeked over the consol. Looking down at the machine Howie raised his eyebrows. Kevin kept his weapon aimed at it as he glanced at him. “It’s a working unit!” Howie said in a tone of “that’s it?”. “It’s a what?” Kevin asked. )))Tactical working unit number 4!(((The robot suddenly piped up pleasantly. Kevin gave it a weird look and it shrank back. )))Please don’t shoot me!((( It added. “You can put that down.” Howie assured, referring to the gun. “Working units or bots are just programmed to do specific tasks aboard a ship like make sure to run certain computers, or check projects and regulate stuff. They won’t harm anything unless programmed to.” Kevin slowly lowered the gun, the robot didn’t relax though, it clicked its fingers together puzzled. A thought suddenly struck Kevin. “Are you the one who has been keeping the power on here?” He demanded. The robot’s face moved from Kevin to Howie, back to Kevin again, the gears making little dull noises. Though it didn’t look like it had eyes, it had sensors to detect objects. It tapped its fingers again. “)))Yes.(((It finally said. “Why?” Howie asked this time. )))It is my function.(((It answered simply. “Well, what I meant was………….” “Do you know what happened here?” Kevin interrupted. )))Just now?((( “Do you know what happened to the crew you stupid computer!?” Kevin shouted, irritated, sick and tired of playing games. It shrank back a little bit more. )))Yes.(((It said meekly. “Then why didn’t you contact someone?” Howie asked, Kevin looked at him and he quickly explained. “If an emergency like an outbreak of a virus or the crew having to abandon the ship or something, the working units are automatically programmed to send a transmission explaining what happened.” Kevin looked back at the robot with an expression of “well?”. The robot clicked its fingers again. )))I was programmed not to!((( “Excuse me?” Nick piped up. )))After the creature broke out and over powered the station, all working and security units were shut down, not that they could have done anything anyway, but I was brought on line and programmed not to contact anyone. I was to merely come here every hour and run the computers and make sure the Cryogenic pod was functioning properly.((( “By who?” Kevin demanded, who wouldn’t want to contact someone to come and help? They would have to be insane not to! )))Ah, can’t tell you that.((( “Why not?” Kevin asked irked. “Wait a minute!” A.J. called over, everyone looked at him. “What pod?” Everyone was silent for a second. “Why are you only programmed to take care of only one pod?” A.J. asked, hitting the million-dollar question. “Hey yeah!” Howie said, “Why only one? How come not the rest?” )))There’s no one in the others.(((The robot answered simply. “But what’s so special about the one?” Kevin asked. “I mean, what is so damn special, that someone would program you not to contact anyone for help, and just take care of it?” The robot clicked its fingers, a gesture that was beginning to annoy Kevin thoroughly. )))I don’t know, I was just programmed to do that.((( “By who?” Howie demanded. )))Can’t tell you.((( “The hell you can’t!” Kevin snapped aiming the gun at the robot again, it squealed and fell back again in panic. “Now, if there’s someone else on this station, I want to know who and why they programmed you that way!” )))But I really can’t tell you! I was programmed not to!((( The robot wailed. Kevin sighed and lowered the weapon, Howie looked disappointed. “Well this just keeps getting more clearer!” Nick said sarcastically rolling his eyes. )))If you look through the computer files you might find out something.(((The robot suggested. “What?” Kevin demanded, the robot yet again, clicked its fingers. )))Ah, well, I can’t tell you anything about much of anything, but I can’t stop you from searching the files and trying to find answers there.((( It offered. Everyone stared at it, Howie stared laughing. “I love loop holes!” He said grinning as he turned around. “Why are you telling us this?” Kevin asked suspiciously. )))Cause you’re the one who has the gun!((( It exclaimed. Sighing Kevin stepped back and gestured at the robot. “Get up.” It clomped to its booted feet and stood up obediently as Kevin turned to A.J. “Can you access the files?” He asked. “Should be able to.” A.J. assured looking back down at the consol. Flipping open the panel on his arm, A.J. hit a few buttons and a tube came out of his shoulder, connecting with the computer, A.J. held out his hand, the tube came out again. Pressing his other hand against a panel, it sank a few inches into the computer. Clicking and beeping came out and A.J. blinked, his eyes turning bright, neon green. Howie, who was now standing in front of the consol, widened his eyes when he saw that. “Powering terminal.” The computerized voice said, coming out of A.J.’s mouth. “That is really weird.” Nick said also staring when the flashes of light from above caught his eye, looking up, Nick saw the monitors lit up and information flash by. “Searching files.” A.J. or rather the computer said through him. Kevin slowly walked around one of the pods while keeping his gaze up at the screens, the robot moved timidly towards A.J. “Which pod is occupied?” A.J. asked it in his voice. )))Oh! Uh, Cryogenic Pod three.((( It said uneasily. “Searching, patient list, cryogenic pod three.” Kevin waited as a list appeared on the screen. Nick whistled, “Lotta people were in there.” He commented watching the list as it went down. “Yeah, and a lot of people never made it back out.” Kevin said sadly and Nick nodded thoughtful. They waited for a minute, the robot looking longingly at the door every few seconds. “Patient found, file open.”” A.J said. Kevin and Nick watched as a file blinked and opened up. A picture of the man inside was even provided, he looked like he was in his early twenties, with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes, Kevin was suddenly struck with a sudden sense of familiarity. “Brian Littrell.” Kevin read and did a double take, that really sounded familure. “Level three,” Nick read, he looked at Kevin puzzled. “What dose that mean?” “Level three!” A.J quickly said before Kevin could answer. “It’s a status for the project, he was in the survival one. It was the same one Kevin was in.” Everyone looked at him surprised as he continued. “What level three means, he was put in The Labyrinth three times, each time getting even more difficult. And three times he made it out.” Kevin whistled as Howie’s jaw fell open. “Wow!” He said, “Me and Kev have been there man, and I saw that thing that they put in there. That must have been quite some task!” “Yeah, that’s why they transferred him to another one.” A.J. replied. “What one?” Kevin asked looking back up, Nick was starring at the screen puzzled. “Just a second,” A.J.’s eyes moved from side to side as he searched. ZEEEEEEEEEEET! “AK!” A.J. yelped, suddenly his eyes flashed their normal color before going back to the neon green. “What?” Howie asked. “Damn it!” A.J snapped. “It’s a locking program!” “A what?” Kevin asked totally confused. Howie answered for A.J, “A locking program is a program that someone sets up if they don’t want someone to access it. It’s completely encrypted and has thousands of locks you have to go through if your trying to hack into it. In order to open it you need the key program.” “Well how long dose it take to hack into it?” Kevin asked. Howie turned around and rested his head on his arms. “Bout ten thousand years per lock. Give or take a few more.” “There’s government issue for you.” Kevin said dryly looking up once more. “Forget trying to find what experiment he was transferred to, when did they bring him here?” “Um, six years ago.” A.J. replied. The file slide down a little to arrival date, as Kevin’s eyes traveled over the rest of it Nick suddenly snapped his fingers. “That’s where I’ve seen him!” He cried. “What?” “Him! I’ve seen him before! In the Med Bay!” Nick said excitedly. “What!?” Kevin asked in disbelief. “In the med bay! He was there a few weeks ago!” Nick said pointing up at the picture. “What for!?” “I don’t know, I think he was there for surgery or something, we only talked for a minute.” Nick said trying to remember. “Yep! Here it is!” A.J. called over as the file slid down more. “Admitted three weeks ago for open heart surgery to correct a defect. Heart murmur.” He read. “History of heart problems.” Kevin suddenly reeled back, his mind in a whirl. “Oh my god!” He gasped. Nick looked at him. “What!?” “I know him to!” Kevin breathed in disbelief, his eyes had widened. “From where!?” Howie demanded lifting his head. “Jesus Christ!” Kevin muttered walking around the cryogenic pod. He couldn’t believe it, this was a one in a 5.5 billion chance of happening. This just couldn’t be real. “How do you know him?” Nick asked, puzzled at the Major’s response. “Yeah?” A.J. asked, Kevin’s reaction hadn’t gone unnoticed, even by him. “How do you know him?” “I don’t just know him A.J.,” Kevin said, disbelief laced thick in his voice. He looked at Nick with wide, uncomprehending eyes. “I’m related to him!” Everyone was silent as they registered that, they all stared at Kevin, even A.J. had shifted his gaze over to look at him. “What?” Howie finally asked shrilly. Kevin nodded still in denial. “How!?” Nick asked, also in disbelief. “He-he’s my cousin.” Kevin answered. “A-a six years ago, he disappeared, I took a leave of absence from the academy to help look for him. But he was just gone, we never knew what happened to him, people thought he had just ran away.” A.J. snorted, “Guess not.” “Yeah,” Howie said, “Guess he’s family on the father’s side?” Kevin nodded looking down trying to fully process this information. He remembered his younger cousin as being a very out going person, though he hadn’t really taken the time to get to know him really well. His visits to Earth had always been kind of short, and the other times he had visited, it hadn’t been to visit family, just regular vacation time. Plus, even though Brian had tried to get to know him, Kevin had always felt awkward around his fathers family, he had had the feeling that they hadn’t liked him to well because he was half Neoshian. Brian had tried to be friends, god knows that he had really tried, even though Kevin had tried to avoid everybody, Brain had always followed him around, maybe just because it got his older brother to stop picking on him, but he at lest tried. Kevin felt guilty for slighting the guy now. He jolted when Nick’s hand landed on his shoulder. Nick instantly jumped back. “Sorry!” Kevin yelped. “I was….ah….thinking maybe we should let him out?” Nick suggested hesitantly. “Let him out?” Kevin echoed. “Yes! Yes! Out! Right,! A.J.,” Kevin whirled around to the glowing, green-eyed man. “Can you get the system to release the lock?” )))Wait a minute!((( The robot protested. )))You can’t do that! I’m supposed to make sure the pod he’s in is functioning alright! I can’t do that with him out!((( Kevin eyed the blue machine, “Are you programmed to stop anybody who dose let him out?” He asked in a deadly calm voice. The robot hesitated, )))Well no.((( It admitted. “Are you programmed to keep him in there?” )))No.((( Kevin glared at it, “Then what’s your problem?” The robot could tell that this man wasn’t going to take no for an answer, and if it continued to protest, this man might just use that gun to make it stop. It clicked its fingers. )))Nothing. No problem.((( The robot said in a small voice. Howie grinned at the robot as Kevin nodded and looked at A.J. “Can you?” “Sure, if there’s not a locking program.” He said nodding. “Cool! Do it!” Howie urged, happy to add another person onto their unofficial team. A.J.’s gaze returned onto something far off, his mind searched through the computer system for the releasing instructions needed. BACK NEXT |
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