CHAPTER THREE (PART THREE) - BRIAN As their laughter died off, Brian opened his mouth to ask something but hesitated. He frowned then decided to ask. “So ah, Nick. What happened here? I’ve been here long enough to know something was up when you guys let me out.” Nick sighed and shrugged. “It’s a long story,” He warned. “I’m not going anywhere.” “Got that right,” Nick muttered then looked up again and started to explain the entire deal. While he and Brian talked A.J. broke through the final code. Closing the computer he reached inside and pressed his hand against something. It let out a almost musical clicking, but nothing happened. He tired again, and again nothing. Disappointment flowed through him. “Damn it!” He swore under his breath, but Kevin heard him and moved over. “What’s wrong?” He asked, not loud enough for everyone else to hear. “The A.I must be completely off line.” He said disappointed, quickly he stared puling out and rewiring some circuits. He pulled out some wires out of his arm, and a cord, he began plugging them into the power unit. “Uh, A.J, we already established that already.” Kevin reminded him. “No! I mean, I didn’t think it was totally off line, I thought that some of its functions that were automated were still running, like the power in the cryogenic room, the A.I. should have been automatically been running those systems, that meant power was still running a little. I thought that then I could transfer the automated systems to the power unit to turn the unit on and that would immediately send power through the entire A.I., in essence walking it up.” “And you can’t?” Kevin asked also disappointed. A.J. felt utterly disappointed, here he had gone on about how he could do something incredibly useful with out mentioning the slight fact that he might not have been able to do it in the first place, and he had built up their hopes only to let them down. Great A.J.! He scolded himself, the people always said here that my exaggerating would be my down fall. Shit. “Well it can’t be totally off line,” Kevin said thinking. “What do you mean?” “Well it occurs to me now that the power must not be completely off, because some of the regular systems are working. The oxygen running through here is still going, you need power to do that.” “And the temperature!” Howie called over, ease dropping on the conversation. “Its normal, that means climate control, if the power were completely off then that would be off to, meaning that it would be a hell of a lot colder in here like it is in space. Some of these things have to be run by the A.I. shouldn’t it?” “Yeah,” A.J. thoughtfully, “Yeah, it should.” His mind raced through that information. “Maybe it’s the power unit backing up the automated systems. And that’s why you can’t turn it on.” Kevin suggested, not sounding happy about that option. “No!” A.J. said quickly, “That’s not how the system works.” Suddenly, while he had been talking, A.J. plugged in the cord into the panel and something sparked to life. An outline holographic map lit up, hovering in the air above the open circuitry, it was a green out line of the station. “Alright!” A.J. declared, “Lets get inside this sucker shall we?” A.J. reached down inside and touched something, the map blinked and enlarged, flashing it changed to a map of the deck they were on. A.J. pointed to another spot. “See this place? This is right were we are.” He touched it and it flashed to the section where they were standing. He pointed to the small out lined panel next to the very door they were by. “This is the power unit,” He touched the tiny lines and it completely focused on that. Showing the inside and outside side views. Kevin looked down fascinated. “This these wires?” He asked gesturing with his one free hand to a jumble of lines. Kevin nodded. “If what you suggested was really happening, then these would be glowing.” “Wonderful,” Kevin muttered, thinking. An idea hit him suddenly. “A.J., do you think that maybe its just this power until that’s not working?” “Broken?” A.J. asked, he thought for a moment, and shrugged. “Well, its not impossible, but I really doubt that’ the problem.” “Well then what is the problem?” Kevin asked irritated. “I don’t speak computer A.J., give us the cliff notes version.” “Well, I can’t power the unit with out transferring some power to turn it on. That thing must have done something weird to the computer cause normally it would be powered separately. But its off, I thought I could reroute the automated A.I. systems into it to power it and turn it on.” “Killing two birds with one stone.” Howie said. “Exactly! But something is wrong with the computer cause I can’t reroute power to the unit. Hence it not being able to turn on.” “Well maybe it is broken,” Howie said shrugging. “Yeah man but look!” A.J. said pointing to the outline. “This map shows that there’s nothing wrong with it.” “Well something’s wrong,” Kevin said. “Yeah,” A.J. looked at the outline thoughtfully, and sighed. “Well we mine as well go to another one. This ones not working.” Kevin passed his hand through the outline making it waver and disappear into the original map of the station. “Where is the closest one?” He asked. A.J. reached inside and tapped a deck, the map split in two, showing the inside from a side view. A.J touched one of the decks and it blinked and enlargened. “This one,” He said. He touched one of the rooms and it enlarged. “This here is what you would call a safe house. It’s the room where the doctors go to relax or whatever, its litterly and completely cut off cause you have to go through decontamination and stuff like that. Inside is a hidden power unit, we can stay there until we get rescued. That thing can’t get to us, guaranteed!” Kevin nodded relieved, “Alright, how far up is it?” “Just the next deck up actually.” “Great! That means we only have a little ways to go.” Kevin said relieved. “Which just leaves us with another problem.” “Our human fuzzed friend out there.” A.J. finished and Kevin nodded, A.J. thought for a second then snapped his fingers. “I think I can access some of the cameras that they kept running here, if it’s by one I might be able to see it!” Kevin perked up and grinned. “Do it!” he said and A.J. instantly opened the mini computer. Howie grinned and turned his attention back to the hallway, he sighed and leaned against a wall when suddenly a voice rang out. “Is someone out there?” A desperate voice cried, Howie slowly straightened up, not quite sure he had heard right. “Please! Somebody help us!” “Kevin!” Howie snapped turning around, Kevin looked over at him, Nick and Brian, who had been talking quietly also looked at up. “Listen.” Howie said. “Oh please! Somebody help us!” The man cried out from somewhere distant. Kevin looked around and called out, “Somebody out there!?” He shouted, his voice echoing out through the hall. “Yes! Oh thank god! Please help us! My friend is hurt real bad! I-I can’t walk either! Please help us! I don’t want to die!” The man wailed. Kevin quickly glanced over at A.J., “You got the cameras working?” “Not yet.” “Where are you!?” Howie shouted this time. “I-I don’t know! Its just dark all over! Please! Please! Help us!” Kevin shifted uneasily, and looked at everybody, Nick was leaning over to look further down the hall. He looked at Kevin. “We have to help them!” He said, and Kevin fully agreed, the only problem was, he had a feeling that thing was near by. But he couldn’t leave someone who was out there hurt and helpless, a free snack for that awful thing. He nodded taking a deep breath. “Alright,” He said. “I’ll go.” Everyone looked at him sharply. “No sense in more then one of us get killed if that creature is out there.” He said. “What!?” Howie said laughing in disbelief, “You’re going to go out there!?” He pointed, “Alone! In the dark, with that thing undoubtedly still here! What the hell are you!? Dense!?” He said aghast. “A.J.’s right! Some training! That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard! You don’t just go off into a dark and dead space station looking for someone, that’s suicide!” “He’s right.” Nick said. Kevin glared at them, “So what the hell do you want to do huh? Leave them out there?” He snapped. “Please! Please don’t leave us out here!” The man cried again, making everyone look over again. “Listen, I’ll take R2 here,” Kevin said annoyed, gesturing to the robot. It clicked its fingers in surprise. )))You will!?((( It squeaked. “That settles it, you’re as good as dead.” Nick said sarcastically, Brian snorted as the robot straightened, knowing that that was in insult. “Well what do you suggest we do?” Kevin asked. Howie shifted looking over his shoulder at the darkened hallway, he made a quick decision. “I’ll go!” he announced surprising everyone. “What!?” A.J. said looking up for the first time. “I said I’ll go,” Howie said patiently, “Kevin is the only one here who knows what to really do, I just have engineer training and with A.J. here that’s kinda redundant in itself cause he can just go into the system and fix it. I can go out.” “You make it sound like we should just drop the person here with the lest training!” Nick said. “Well I just meant that I can go out, with out you having to worry about losing any big skills.” As soon as that was out of his mouth, Howie realized that that hadn’t come out right. Everyone was starring at him appalled. “I-I meant-“ Howie stuttered. “That’s great Howard, just perfect.” Kevin said sarcastically, “When you put it that way, why not? I mean, lets send you out there cause your so obviously the most useless one here! Look who’s dense now!” Kevin said shouting the last words. “I didn’t mean it that way! I meant that…….” Howie wasn’t how sure how to phrase what he was trying to say. He hadn’t meant it to come out that way! The robot chose this moment to pipe in. ))) I think he means that you are the better choice to stay here because you can think quick in situations where pressure is extreme, and can probably make better choices then he who has no experience in the field of leading.((( It said. Howie held out his hands to it, “Yes!” he cried, “Thank you! That’s what I meant!” Kevin glared at him for a moment before deciding that that was what he really had meant to say. He also looked like he wasn’t going to back down on the issue. “Come on!” Howie persisted, “You know I’m right.” That was the problem, he did know he was right. Kevin took a deep breath for a second, and nodded reluctantly. Howie didn’t look overly thrilled that he had agreed, then again Kevin knew he wasn’t overly thrilled with the entire situation of having to go out in the first place, he was just doing what he had to do. Kevin held out the gun. “Take it with you.” He ordered, he wasn’t going to back down on this issue. If Howie was going out into that maze, he was going to be armed, he had to have a some kind of advantage. Howie took the gun with out question and nodded. “I’ll go to!” Nick suddenly said, scrambling to his feet. “No way!” Kevin and Howie both said at the same time. Nick nodded determined, “I’m the only one here with something the resembles medical training, you heard that guy, him and his friend are hurt. I can help, and beside Howie, you said it yourself, going out there alone is suicide. I can help to.” Howie and Kevin exchanged glances, Nick looked just as determined as Howie had earlier. Brian quietly watched their conversation, he was amazed at how quickly these guys would risk their lives for strangers, but then again, Brian would have to, he wouldn’t have been able to turn and walk away, leaving someone alone in the dark, hurt and dying and crying for help. God, he felt so useless not being able to do anything, he couldn’t even walk with out help for gods sake! He shuddered and hugged the blanket that they had taken out with them. Howie sighed and rolled his eyes, knowing Nick was right. “Alright.” He said turning and beginning to walk away, “Come on.” Nick nodded and followed after him. “Move it R2!” Kevin snapped at the robot, who jumped and clicked its fingers. )))Oh! I thought, that since you weren’t going that I was now staying!((( It said, pointing to the ground. “Get. Going.” Kevin growled in a low and dangerous voice. )))Oooooooooookay!((( It quickly began to run after the two men. Kevin looked down at Brian. “You okay?” He asked. “Yeah, just, try and get the cameras up.” Brian said. “Working on it!” A.J. called over. Howie and Nick walked down the hall a little ways, Howie slowed though to shout out. “Where are you?” He called. “I told you! I don’t know! It’s just dark! Please hurry!” “Well that narrows it down, to, just about everywhere!” Nick said exasperated. The man voice didn’t really seem to be coming from anywhere specific, it seemed to be coming from every direction. Howie bit his lip and randomly chose a direction. He pointed ahead. “Lets try that way.” Nick nodded and the two men walked forward into the darkness, the robot obediently following them. Kevin and Brian watched as they all disappeared into the thick blackness, their footsteps and the robots mechanical sound slowly fading. Kevin sighed and turned back to the power unit. “Good luck.” He muttered. “Their gonna need it.” Brian muttered, “And after hearing what our situation is, we might need it to.” Howie and Nick were walking nervously down the hall, the silence screamed at them, Howie called out again. “Say something! I need to know what direction your in!” He hollered. “I’m over here! Here!” The man shouted, still, it didn’t seem to be coming from a defiant direction, so Howie yet again chose a direction to turn in. Turning left, they walked. The robots fingers clicking all the way. It echoed making an eerie sound. On they walked in the darkness, with only the faint strange blue light, calling out more and randomly choosing directions, they walked for a total of three minutes, until stopping, they stood in a section that split up in three different ways. The hall continued ahead, but off to the right, diagonally a little ways ahead was a pitch black hallway, and next to them, was another hall. Howie looked at both directions. “Say something!” He shouted, his voice echoed. Nothing. Howie then panicked slightly, fearing that they had totally gone off in the wrong direction. But then- “Over here!” Howie licked his lips, it didn’t sound as if they were getting any closer, or any further either. He quickly made a decision, knowing that he was going to probably regret it. “Alright,” He said, turning to Nick and the robot. He pointed to the robot, “R2, you go that way.” He pointed to the diagonal hall. “I’ll go in that one.” The one next to them. Nick stared at him wide eyed. “Were going to split up!” He asked horrified at the very notion. Howie nodded. “Were only going to go a little ways, I don’t see any other choice man.” Howie said, honestly out of options. Nick looked extremely uneasy about the plan, Howie couldn’t really blame him either. “What do I do?” He finally asked. “Stay here.” “WHAT!?” Nick yelped. “Are you insane!” “Nick, if that thing is down either hallway, you will at lest have a running chance.” Howie said patiently. “Well what if it comes down this way!” Nick demanded. Howie paused, “Do you really want to go in there?” He asked pointing to the hallway he was planning to go in. Nick looked over at it and bit his lip. Not really, either way, he was still going to either be alone, or going into a damp dark place with someone, but it would still be twice as scary. Nick sighed. “Alright, I’ll stay here.” He relented. Howie nodded satisfied, if he was going to go walking into his death, at lest Nick had a chance. Nick quickly held up his hand though. “You keep the gun.” He warned. Howie looked at the weapon, he wished he had another one, This sharing thing was not going to work out. He looked at the hallway he was going to go in. He looked back at Nick and opened his mouth to say something. “Howie, I’m not usually this brave, so when I offer you to take the only thing here that can slow that thing down, you might want to take it, because if you argue, this mode isn’t going to last very long and I will take it.” Nick said and Howie laughed. “Well, when you put it that way.” He noticed that Nick still looked scared, hell, Howie was twice as scared as he was, and he wasn’t sure how long this bravery thing was going to last either. He felt uneasy leaving his friend with out something, but really didn’t have a choice. A thought suddenly struck him and he reached into his pocket, pulling out the bottle of liquor he had taken, he grinned and held it out to Nick. “Here, if your going to stay here, you mine as well be happy!” He chirped. Nick gave him a weird look but took the drink, “Great, that thing comes and I’ll be to drunk to notice it.” He muttered, and Howie laughed as he turned around. “Say something if you hear anything.” He warned heading toward the hall. “Oh I will!” Nick assured making him laugh again. Howie shook his head as he began to walk into the hallway. The robot clicked its fingers before turning to the way it was supposed to go. )))Okay, this is odd.((( It said to itself out loud as it walked away from Nick, who watched it go. As the two disappeared into the hallways, Nick gulped and leaned against the wall, toying with the cap of the bottle, alone in the dark and empty hallway, he was reminded of how he had been helpless in the med bay. It wasn’t a good feeling. The robot was humming as it walked into the hallway, the only sound aside from the footsteps. Nick took a deep, shaky breath and waited. Howie slowly walked into the hall, the gun feeling alien in his hands. Even though it was cold, he was sweating nervously, he called out again. “Are you here?” “Yes!” The voice of the man called out happily, “Yes! I can tell your getting closer! Please! Hurry!” Howie walked a little faster, but not much, he was approaching a dead end, where the hall way split left and right. Kevin was pacing, every minute the two men were away were gnawing at him, they shouldn’t be out there, but they couldn’t leave those people. “Shit!” He muttered. A.J. was typing on the computer, he felt scared for Nick and Howie, and couldn’t shake the feeling that he would never see them again, even though he only technically knew them for a couple hours, he didn’t want them to die. Finally, mercilessly, he saw the words that told him some of the cameras were up. Almost laughing hysterically, he quickly hit a button and felt himself being pulled into the camera system, his vision was split into five different views of this deck on the station, it was all dark but still he could see some things. Quickly, with his mind, A.J. pushed through each frame, examining them carefully and quickly, on the last one he froze, his mind went into shock. “Oh my god!” He said horrified. “Please! Hurry!” The man cried, “Your getting closer!” Howie continued down the hall. “SHIT!” A.J. shrieked startling Kevin and Brian, Kevin instantly jumped over as A.J. wildly pulled out of the camera system and began typing on the computer fast and furious. “What is it!?” Kevin demanded. “Crap! Hold on! I think I can access a part of the COM system!” He cried as he began pulling on wires, not hearing his question. Kevin’s heart began beating furiously as he watched A.J., this wasn’t good. “Hurry! Your so close!” The man cried. “I’m coming!” Howie called. “Hurry!” The man’s voice had turned from desperate, to annoyed. Howie felt insulted, isn’t it enough that I’m coming for you! He thought, then felt a little guilty for that. A.J. franticly hit buttons, Kevin was waiting impatiently. What the hell was going on? He felt frightened as A.J. worked furiously, something obviously wrong. A.J. slammed his hand into the panel’s circuitry, the tube coming out and connecting into it. His eyes, suddenly flashed neon green a little as he tried to get into the com system, and only managing to do so a little, the connection was bad, but it was enough to warn Howie. “Come on!” The man cried, sounding really annoyed. “Hurry up!” “I’m coming!” Howie snapped back, not caring anymore how rude he sounded, this guy was really starting to annoy him, and he no longer felt guilty about thinking that! Okay, he was wounded, but the guy could at lest be a little grateful! As he walked toward the halls end, something behind him lit up suddenly and a voice rang out, through static. “D!” A.J. cried his face appearing then fading away in the snow. Howie jumped and whirled around, his heart pounding as he stared wide eyed at the little screen that was snowy. How the hell did that turn on? He wondered nervously, not sure he had heard right. Suddenly, A.J.’s face broke through again. “D!” He cried as he faded a little once more, Howie’s eyes widened even more. “Holy shit! A.J.?” He cried surprised staring at the screen. A.J. broke through again. “Howie!” He shouted sounding frightened, he broke up again. Howie suddenly realized that A.J. couldn’t hear him unless he pressed the answer button, he quickly rushed for the com link. “Hurry up!” The man cried. “Just one goddamn minute!” Howie shouted back pressing the button. “A.J.?” He said hopefully, not sure if he could even hear through the snow, but A.J. broke thorough again. “D!” He cried happily, “Thank……..I…….bad…..” A.J.’s voice faded in and out so bad Howie couldn’t put together a sentence. He pressed the button again. “What!?” He shouted, “I can’t hear you! The connections bad!” A.J. roared in fury that he couldn’t warn him, using his mind, he forced the gaps in the system to come to him, using his mind as a branch to fill them, it took a lot of energy, but he had to warn Howie. A.J.s face broke through, though still fuzzy, you could see him, he was somewhere unfamiliar, a metallic purple back round was behind him. “D!” he cried clearly this time. “Okay, I can hear you now.” Howie said after pressing the button. “What is with you! Come on!” The man yelled angrily. Howie turned to scream at him, but A.J. heard him. “NO!” He cried, grabbing Howie’s attention again. “Howie! Listen to me! Don’t go any closer to him! Do you hear? Don’t go any further!” “Why?” Howie asked confused, okay, granted, the man was annoying but he was still hurt and helpless. Wasn’t he? “Because! That’s not a man D!” A.J. said desperately. “What!?” BACK NEXT |
| Science And Madness |