"Your program is loading Brian."

  "Thanks Alyssa." Brian smiled at Karen and squeezed her hand. She was looking behind him down the corridor and she nodded for him to turn. Coming around the corner was Sandra and her charge. Brian had heard of Mr. Fleetwood offhand but was surprised to find that his description didn't do him justice.

  "...with six levels and specialized rooms for multiple task working. The whole is roughly one hundred and eighty feet in length and accommodates ... sixteen, um ... crewmembers," she looked down, "and a number of spare rooms for guests and dignitaries."

  Brian waved.

  "Hey Sandra. Giving a tour?"

  "Coming to the end of one, yes. Mac, may I introduce our Chief Engineer and our Ship's Navigator, Brian and Karen."

  "How do you do?"

  Brian shook his hand.

  "As well as can be expected. We're just going to spend some time together on the holodeck. Karen thought we should talk about what happened today."

  Sandra put a warm hand on Karen's shoulder.

  "Yeah, I understand. We'll let you guys be."

  "Brian."

  Mac's eyes went wide and he started searching the walls around them.

  "Yes Alyssa?"

  "Your program is loaded, you may enter the holodeck when you're ready."

  "Thank you. Well, see you guys later. Enjoy the rest of your tour Mr. Fleetwood."

  "Please, it's Mac."

  "I'm sure it is." The doors closed behind them and they were gone. Mac turned to Sandra with a question.

  "Who was, uh, who was that voice?"

  "Oh that's Alyssa. Alyssa?"

  Her panel lit back up.

  "Yes Sandra?"

  "Say hello to Mac."

  "Hello Mr. Fleetwood, welcome aboard the Necronomicon."

  "Uh, hello."

  Sandra smiled and began to explain.

  "Alyssa is one of three artificial intelligences, or 'AI's', on board. They help with the ship's functions and generally make life easier for everyone. Just ask them for help and they'll get you what you need; but be careful, they can be goofy sometimes."

  "Thanks, I'll remember that."

  Sandra quickly described the holodeck, some companies on Earth having similar technology, though not nearly as advanced. Mac was fairly impressed. She took him through a few more spots of interest on the middle decks and then walked him to his quarters for the evening.

  "I hope you enjoy your stay with us Mr. Fleetwood."

  "I'm sure I will dear, thank you for the lovely tour."

  "Just ask the on-board computer if you need anything, but don't bug the AI's unless it's absolutely necessary."

  "Of course," he smiled warmly and nodded as she turned away.

  As Sandra walked down the hall his smile slowly faded and he stared at her as she turned the corner. He cocked an eyebrow and looked to see if he was alone. He licked his cracked lips and went into his quarters. As the door closed behind him, the patter of bare feet came down the other end of the hallway.

  Ramirez appeared in her thin nightgown as she bit on her thumbnail; sweat covered her skin as her firm breasts heaved up and down with each deep breath. She was taking quick and short steps, trying to keep her legs together, as she ran to a door across from Mac's. She pressed on the panel next to it and stepped back. After three seconds of waiting, she jumped back and pressed it again. The door slid open and Robert stood there rubbing his eyes.

  "Ramirez? What..."

  She didn't give him a chance to finish; she threw her body against his and planted a kiss on his lips as his eyes went wide. She pushed him backward and the door slid shut.

-     -     -

  Gryphon opened his eyes as the day lighting slowly brought itself up around his room. His hand immediately wrapped itself around his stiff member that had woken up about an hour earlier. He pumped himself into another furious orgasm and slumped back down exhausted. His breathing filled the room and drummed against his ears as he lay there panting. He wiped the wetness that dripped on his hand against the boxers crumpled around his knees as he stood up and rummaged through the piles around his bed. After picking up a small towel, he went into his washroom and turned on the faucet. Warm water filled the basin and he slapped a few drops against his face as he picked up a razor. He was about to run it across his cheek when he brought his finger back up to feel for stubble.

  He looked in the mirror. His chin had a light shade of five o'clock shadow that he always kept, but the rest of his face was bare. And what he did have didn't need any trimming. Gryphon shrugged and turned off the faucet.

  He yawned as he went to his closet to find his dress uniform for Matthew's wake.

-     -     -

  "Computer," the console on Mac's wall beeped and the screen lit up, "you aren't one of those smart computers are you?"

  It sat there unresponsive. He took that as a 'no.'

  "Can you show me ... say, a layout of the ship?"

  The computer beeped again and a wire frame appeared. A menu appeared next to it and he set about searching for what he wanted. He wasn't well versed in computer programming, having spent most of his military academy time learning battle strategy and survival, but it was fairly user-friendly.

  When General Sweet had offered him this undercover assignment, he jumped at the chance. He knew it was a good way to get on his superior's good side and maybe a shot at a few quick promotions. It took him a full year to gain the confidence of the Mining Colony and all of it's members. They were known friends of those on the Necronomicon and after entrenching himself, all he had to do was wait for a chance to present itself.

  And it had.

  Mac made a few quick notes on a piece of paper and slipped them into his pocket.

  "Computer, when is the reception scheduled?"

  The screen beeped and a list of the day's events appeared. It read :

    09:00 - Wake (observation deck)

    10:00 - Reception (galley)

  He looked at the clock.

  "Hmm, wake is almost over." He sat back down on the bed and waited. Knowing he would have his chance all too soon.

-     -     -

  The door to the observation deck slid open and everyone began to quietly shuffle out. David and Sandra stopped next to Robert and smiled appreciatively.

  "Good job on the eulogy Rob. Matthew would have liked it."

  "It wasn't my first choice of what to do with my week. But I'm glad it pleases."

  They walked out into the hallway and Ramirez quickly followed; her mind on other things. Karen and Brian came out next with elbows interlocked. They were chatting with Vanessa and Gus about past memories of their fallen colleague. Kim and Meredith walked alongside George, Meredith was too distraught to try and keep Kim out of her conversation. They were all greeted by the Captain who stood next to the doors patiently; Krista by his side. She cocked an eyebrow and turned slightly as she began to speak to him.

  "Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

  His eyes were glued on Gryphon and he didn't bother to turn to her out of courtesy.

  "Don't start Krista. I know you agree with this as much as I do."

  She nodded and then smiled at Heather as she walked up.

  "How are you feeling?"

  Heather looked up and blinked a few times.

  "Hmm? Oh, I'm fine Commander, thank you. My thoughts are just wandering that's all." A drop of sweat began to slide down her forehead and she caught it with a quick finger. "It is a little hot in here though, I need something to drink."

  "We'll see you in the galley then, okay?"

  "Sure." Heather walked out, Krista took one last look at the Captain and followed her. He stepped in front of the doors and waited. Gryphon was standing towards the center of the Observation Deck as he gazed out among the stars. He visibly fidgeted and undid the cuffs on his dress uniform. He was the last person to leave and he shook his head as his eyes drifted past Matthew's portrait; on top of it was a small X-Wing fighter model that Karen thought Matthew would have liked. As he began to walk out, he stopped in front of the Captain who looked at him with his stoic stare.

  "Captain."

  "You know where you have to be crewman."

  "Oh yes sir, thank you for honoring me with the privilege of being present at such a momentous occasion. I hope I didn't do any dishonor with my presence."

  "Just go to your quarters crewman."

  Gryphon stood there as he chewed on the inside of his cheek. He began to say something but then clenched his teeth and stomped out. The Captain ran his thumbnail over the scar on his face and walked out towards the Galley.

-     -     -

  Mac turned the corner of one of many corridors and shook his head in frustration. He shuffled through the notes he had written earlier and kept rotating his crude maps in hopes of better understanding them.

  "This place is a God damned maze!"

  One of the sheets of paper fell from his hand and he hastily bent down to pick it up. As his ear came close to the ground her heard the hard steps of boots walking along the cold metal of the flooring. He ducked into a small doorway and tried his best to suck in his gut; he was visibly shaking and a warm sweat had broken out over his reddish face. The steps came closer and he felt his teeth chatter; he clenched them to keep the noise muffled. Whoever it was seemed angered for some reason or another. Mac just waited and listened.

  "Son of a bitch. I'll show him; I'll show him and everyone. I didn't do anything wrong."

  Gryphon began to hobble past Mac's position. If he realized he was there, he didn't make any note of it.

  "He's just punishing me because he wants to save face with the rest of the crew. Soon, I'll get back at him soon."

  Gryphon walked out of sight and out of Mac's mind. He breathed a sigh of relief and stepped out of his hiding place.

  "I can't believe I forgot he wouldn't be there. Stupid, stupid...," Mac shuffled through his maps again and continued up the corridor.

-     -     -

On to Page 4

-     -     -

Back to Necronomicon Index