Authors: Scott McElhaney
“
Truly,” Sir Lancelot added, “Alpha would have inflicted far more damage than necessary. I believe you are better off without him. Now, let’s get started.”
“
Wait, how are we going to swordfight with a ghost or a hologram or whatever you are?” Bravo asked, “And why are we learning sword fighting? Are we going to a planet full of aliens or something?”
“
Many questions, and all are pertinent. But I’m only permitted to answer certain ones,” Lancelot smiled, then started pacing the room, “Yes, I am presented to you as a holographic figure and cannot actually sword fight with you. I can however train you to be as good as me if you agree to pay attention and do as I say. And why are you learning this skill? Call it a precaution. No, there are no aliens or deadly creatures that we know of on Hydrus or any other planet in the Beta Hydri System.”
“
You’re very specific in your wording, just like the computers of our era,” Declan said, “Why the precaution? Are there aliens
around
the Hydri System? If I recall correctly, anytime there is a star labeled ‘Beta’, then there’s also most likely an ‘Alpha’ star in the system.”
“
No, there are no known intelligent alien species whatsoever in the entire universe,” Lancelot replied, “How’s that for an answer, Foxtrot? Yes, we’ve discovered alien plant-life, bacterium, and more recently, small animals and fish. We are not preparing you for any planned battles. Now can we please continue with the course?”
Declan still felt uncomfortable with the whole situation, but decided it would be best just to go along with the rest of the class.
5
They were led to a cafeteria of some sort after almost two hours of training. Ensign Rowe was waiting for them as they filed in, showing them to the glass-fronted machines loaded with nearly fifty prepackaged food choices. None of the food choices were recognizable to the Indentures, but a few of them had similarities to sandwiches of the 21
st
century.
The ensign selected two food items and a beverage, then took a seat at one of three long tables. Declan was one of the last to make his food selection behind two of the female Indentures. He tapped Lima’s arm as they stood before the glass-encased foods.
“
Where’s Juliet?” he asked.
“
Well, you saw how motivated she was during the sword class,” she replied, “She probably went back to the bedroom.”
He glanced around the cafeteria, wondering if these slave masters ever took into consideration the emotional health of their subjects. Declan had already noticed Quebec and Golf having a similarly rough time losing whatever families they had. Even now, Golf was sitting at one of the tables staring blankly at the food in front of him.
“
You think she will be okay?” Declan asked.
She shook her head sadly, selecting a burrito-shaped item. Declan selected three of the same item she picked, then chose two waters. He took his food selections and headed out of the cafeteria, locking eyes with Ensign Rowe just before the door closed. He could almost see the beginnings of a reprimand perched on her lips.
He moved briskly through the corridors hoping that Rowe wasn’t going to tear out of the cafeteria and hunt him down. It didn’t take him long to locate the bedroom marked JLS. He cautiously opened the door, peering into the silent room. He then crossed the threshold and allowed the door to close behind him. The room was an exact replica of his own, with the exception of a figure clearly lying in one of the beds.
As he moved closer, he could see that Juliet was lying covered up in a fetal position, her eyes opened and her gaze falling on nothing in particular. If she saw him standing there, she gave no evidence of it. He knelt down on the floor next to her, resting his arm on the bed near her chin.
“
Hi, I never got a chance to introduce myself. I guess none of us got that chance really. I’m Declan.”
She didn’t respond. A long strand of hair fell across her face, but she didn’t even respond to that. He watched her, looking for any sign whatsoever that she was even behind those eyes, but she granted him nothing.
“
I know they told you your name was Juliet, but that’s not really you. Who are they to tell us who we are? I’m not ‘Foxtrot’. Heck, I don’t even know what a Foxtrot is,” he said, reaching over with a finger and drawing the strand of hair out of her field of view and tucking it behind her ear, “What’s your name? Your real name?”
He looked down at both of her fists that were gripping the blanket to her chest. Her knuckles were turning white because of how tightly she grasped it.
“
You don’t need to talk. I know what it feels like when people try to reach out to you and you just want them all to go away. I lost my three-year old son. He was shot in my own driveway and I held him while he bled to death. No one should ever have to lose a child. No one,” he started, then resigned that thought with a sigh, “I wish we had access to the internet though. I’d like to have a picture of him at least and maybe it’s out there somewhere on the web.”
He opened up the package that contained the burrito-like sandwich and took a cautious bite. As he chewed, he smiled and nodded to her, noticing in that moment that some tears were welling up in her eyes.
“
Your family never lost you, you know,” he said, setting the burrito down on the bed, “I think our minds somehow want to think that since we have no memories after the MRI, then that means we physically left at that point and showed up here in this hell. But that’s not what happened at all. You went home after that MRI. You went to PTA meetings for your kids. You watched them walk down the aisle to get their diplomas. You were there for-”
“
Stop, please,” she croaked, the tears streaming onto the pillow, “I get it. Really, I do.”
He watched her, wishing there was something he could do. That vacant stare of hers finally shifted, catching his eyes. After a moment, she looked down at the bitten burrito on the bed between them.
“
I actually brought you one,” he said, reaching behind him and grabbing the remaining food, “See, hell comes with bedside service! First class all the way.”
She cracked a partial smile, strictly for his benefit, but he accepted it. He set all the food and drinks on the bed between them.
“
My guess on the burrito-thingy is that it’s turkey, chicken, or cockatiel with either provolone or mozzarella cheese, and a tangy sauce similar to ranch dressing, but a little spicier,” he said, making a point of opening the wrapper of hers, “And we’ve got water to drink.”
She finally sat up and wiped her eyes, offering no more conciliatory smiles for Declan. He turned away from her, leaning back against her bed and taking another bite of his burrito.
“
You know, it could be worse. They could have given us 21
st
century bodies. I mean, I don’t know about you, but I was getting the starting of a pot belly thanks to a little pizza shop that opened right next door to my workplace,” he said, taking another bite and chewing it slowly.
He could hear her take the burrito he left on her bed near the pillow. They sat in silence for minute, her taking nibbles and Declan starting on his second burrito.
“
Why are you here?” she muttered.
“
Same as you,” he shrugged, “Just an innocent bystander abducted by these clowns.”
“
No, I mean why did you come into my room? Why did you bring me the food?” she asked.
He took another bite, then rose from the floor. He turned to her and then seated himself at the foot of her bed.
“
I heard about your loss and I couldn’t even imagine being in your shoes,” he said, pleased to see that she was still eating, “And it just seemed unfair to me that my load is so light while you’re being forced to carry an enormous one.”
The door opened, drawing their attention to Ensign Rowe who was standing in the doorway. By the ensign’s expression, Declan suddenly worried that he should be feeling guilty for some unknown transgression.
“
There’s no fraternizing allowed while aboard the ship,” Ensign Rowe stated.
“
Fraternizing?”
Declan chuckled, gesturing toward the food wrappers near the bed, “Did you even realize one of your Indentured wasn’t with us in the cafeteria? Do you even care about the emotional health of your Indentured?”
“
We know where everyone is at all times,” she replied, signaling for him to leave the room, “Nothing goes unnoticed aboard this ship.”
“
So that’s why you located us so
‘quickly’
after you watched me leave the cafeteria,” he said, rising from the bed and shoving the rest of his burrito into his mouth, “I mean, if Juliet and I were lovers, we’d of had enough time to ‘fraternize’ twice before you showed up.”
Ensign Rowe gasped, then pointed firmly toward the corridor behind her.
“
It was a pleasure fraternizing with you, Juliet,” Declan said, reaching down to shake her hand.
Juliet managed a smile, shook his hand, and handed him his drink.
“
Ellie,” Juliet said, stopping him just before he reached the door, “My real name is Ellie.”
“
It’s truly nice to meet you, Ellie,” he turned to her and smiled.
He stepped past Ensign Rowe and shuffled quickly down the hall toward his room. She beckoned him before he even made it halfway.
“
I know your intentions were good, Foxtrot,” she said just as Declan stopped, “The point is, we don’t want any boundaries to become confused before we begin our mission. There will be plenty of time for all that later.”
Declan turned to the ensign, examining her from a distance.
“
If someone doesn’t take care of the true needs of these Indentured, then there
won’t
be ‘plenty of time later’,” he said, “Perhaps Ellie is stronger than I gave her credit for, but if I was in her shoes, I’d probably have taken one of those swords to myself by now. Do you get what I’m saying?”
She observed him for a moment, then gave a subtle nod. He turned away from her and continued on toward his room.
. . .
They trained offensively with both types of swords for an hour after dinner, as opposed to all the defensive training they received before. After the training, the Indentured were permitted to return to their rooms, remain in the hangar and practice, or they could check out the recreation room on the lower level.
Declan felt very comfortable with the sword, which wasn’t all that different from any of his other martial arts training. He was one of the last Indentured to leave the hangar. Without realizing what he was doing, he stuffed his hands in his pockets while he walked down the corridor. His left hand immediately enveloped a folded sheet of paper in his pocket. He drew it out of his pocket, discovering a printed yellow receipt or something similar.
He unfolded the sheet of paper. A bunch of crazy computer jargon was printed down the page, meaning nothing at all to him. On the other side however was what seemed to be a frantically scribbled message:
They can’t read cursive handwriting – must have been lost on them over the centuries, so we’ve no need for code. I believe they can hear everything though, so that’s why we need to write. Your bedroom is the last in Corridor 18, which puts your bathroom up against Storage B. I made it so the back panel in the cabinet under your sink comes off and gets you into Storage B. This gives you access to the command portion of the ship – something completely cut off for the Indentured. It gets you beyond the wall that divides us. I need you to meet me in Storage B tonight, your first night here. Don’t let anyone including your roommates know about this. I have something to show you.
He read the message again, wondering who would have known he’d get this particular room. Who would have been able to slip the note into his pocket? Who was watching him?
Paranoia stopped him where he stood and forced the paper back into his pocket. He checked the passageway for anyone that might have witnessed his reading, but he was comfortably alone.
. . .
The recreation room was located down the stairs and just a few meters away from where the cafeteria was above. Declan decided that after seeing the anonymous note, it would probably be beneficial to take a deeper interest in those around him. He needed to find out why the mystery writer chose him out of the many identical clones.