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Percival 3000 (Month Two)
Carter had initiated bringing Sylvia and Magnus out of their hibernation stage a few days ahead of schedule. Despite the alien’s stern warning twelve days earlier not to awaken them too early, he didn’t think a few days would affect them or cause any damage. The premature wakeup call was due to his loneliness and fatigue, as well as his fear that the alien would return to harass and threaten him.
He had decided to remain awake and ignore the alien’s request that he place himself into one of the hibernation chamber. Perhaps his direct disobedience had been the reason she had visited him less often. In some ways he was relieved, but in other ways, he missed her mind-melding seductive touch. She often induced a pleasurable eroticism that rushed through him each time she entered his mind with the exception of her last visit. He had angered her and she was displeased. He worried about the repercussions when she returned.
While remaining conscious and during her absence, he had decided not to carry out her mission. His increasing determination was making him bolder. He awaited the opportunity to explain to her why he refused to kill Grayson. The main reason was because he was a medical doctor—a man that was trained to heal people, not maim or kill them.
He still believed that Grayson was guilty of all kinds of atrocities against humanity, and he should be punished. To some degree he believed death was probably the best solution to end the experimental nature Grayson possessed, but he wasn’t going to be the one to deliver that deathblow.
Carter wondered if they had travelled far enough away from Deimos that she was incapable to reach his mind anymore. He hoped that was the case.
Carter brought Magnus and Sylvia some silver juice-filled pouches with attached straws to puncture the bags so they could drink. No sooner had he handed them the bags, he felt a tingling sensation at the base of his skull.
Within seconds the touch flowed down his spine like jagged ice, making his brain ached. Waves of frigid tendrils whipped and crept inside his mind, numbing him.
“I’m sorry,” he said to Sylvia. He winced and placed his hands on his temples.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, trying to stand. Her footing faltered, and Magnus caught her arm, easing her down into the seat.
Carter rushed down the aisle and ran for the restroom.
“Easy, Sylvia. Our legs are weak. We need to gradually work ourselves into walking. Eventually, we’ll have to make our way to the exercise machines and train.”
She nodded but turned toward him with a worried look. “What do you think is wrong with him?”
Magnus sipped his juice, thought for a moment, and shrugged. “I honestly don’t have any idea. But, judging by the dark bags under his eyes, I don’t think he went into hibernation with us.”
“Why wouldn’t he?”
“You’ll have to ask him.”
Sylvia took a long sip from her juice pouch. “I plan to. Wonder what he’s been doing?”
“Another question you’ll have to ask him.”
She looked into his eyes, grinned nervously, and lowered her head. “I know. Sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
“How’d you sleep?” she asked.
“I feel well rested.”
“Me, too. Did you dream?”
“Some.”
Sylvia glanced at him. “A lot of my dreams were odd. They were frightening and didn’t make sense.”
“Mine, too. But I figure it’s because our subconsciouses were probably trying to figure out a way to jar us from our sleep.”
“Maybe. What if Carter didn’t hibernate like we did? How will that affect him?”
“I’m not a psychologist, but my guess is that it can mess with his psyche. He might suffer stir craziness.”
“I hope not. He’s gone through enough as it is.”
Magnus nodded. “I know, but bad stuff happens to everyone at one time or another.”
A tear edged in her eye. “It does.”
“Again, this is merely speculation on my part, but we might be more irrational and emotional since our long-term sleep episode. So, be prepared, okay?”
Sylvia nodded. “Okay.”
***
Carter leaned against the restroom sink. He turned on the cold water and splashed his face, but the coolness didn’t lessen the searing pain inside his skull. The pressure continued building.
“I know,” the female alien whispered. “You’ve changed your mind.”
“Go away!” he seethed through clenched teeth.
“I cannot.”
“Please . . .”
“I told you that I am a part of you. You cannot escape me.”
Carter’s body convulsed with heavy sobs. “Please, don’t make me kill Grayson.”
“You promised.”
He wiped tears from his eyes. “I know, but my rage is gone.”
“You can forget her so easily?”
“Who? Wanda?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve not forgotten her.”
“But you’re refusing to avenge her death.”
Carter shook his head. The slight movement made him wince. “The loss has eased, but I’ve not stopped loving her.”
“And if I died, will your want for me perish, too?”
Carter stared into the mirror. The alien’s image materialized in the glass. He refused to make eye contact with her, more out of spite than fear.
“You wish to forget me after of all your begging and urges to have me close again?” she asked.
Pain throbbed in his head. His ears burned. His cheeks and neck were hot. His heart thudded hard against his ribs. “I’m in so much pain . . .”
“Would you like for me to take away your pain?”
“Please?”
“Always wanting but never compensating.”
His jaw tightened. He stared into the mirror and gnashed his teeth like a rabid dog. “Everything seems to have a price. These headaches never occur unless you torture me with them. Forget it, okay? Kill me instead. At least I won’t have to endure this any longer.”
“I could never kill you,” she said softly.
“And yet you torture me.”
“It has never been my intent.”
“Lately, it’s all you have done.”
She was silent for a few moments. Finally, she said, “Close your eyes and relax. I will rid you of the headache.”
Carter obeyed.
“Relax.”
“I’m trying,” Carter replied. The pain pounded, striking at the base of his skull over and over, forcing him to shut his eyes tighter. His stomach sickened from the intensity of his nerve-grinding headache. He fell forward but caught himself quickly against the sink. His knees buckled, but he refused to fall. He knew hitting the floor resulted in losing consciousness.
“I will release you from this pain, but this is twice I’ve rescued you. You’ve done nothing for me in return.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Reconsider my first proposal.”
The pain increased, forcing him to double over the sink in pain. “If you’re going to torture me, just kill me.”
“I’ve done nothing, yet.”
Carter opened his eyes, but the building agony caused whirling darkness to cloud his vision. He knew that he was seconds from passing out. He held no doubt that he would fall comatose if the pain persisted. He wondered if she was being honest with him about having not done anything to add any further pain.
“End it!” Carter snapped.
“Reconsider?”
A sharp humming rang in his ears, more annoying than a hungry mosquito on a hot summer night. Misery sought to swallow him inside its cloud of darkness. Between the harsh spike-like pains throbbing through his skull and the increased droning, he feared and welcomed death at the same time. But he thought of Sylvia and Magnus. Would this alien harm them after she finished with him? He feared she might, but he wasn’t certain.
“Okay,” Carter surrendered in a near whisper. “Stop the pain, and I’ll do it. I’ll kill Grayson.”
He opened his eyes when he felt a hand touch the top of his head. The mirror showed nothing. No hand, nor the alien. Warmth spread from her touch and seeped through his brain. The pain stopped. Breathing became lighter, easier, and the heat in his cheeks and neck dissipated. The sickness in his stomach lessened.
Carter wanted to tell her thanks, but she no longer appeared in the mirror. There wasn’t the slightest pulse of her energy near him. Relieved, he thought of Sylvia again. He washed his face and dabbed a paper towel until it was dry. After taking several deep breaths, he hurried out the door. He felt that he had more comfort and security by being with them and not alone. Each time he found solitude, the alien took advantage and gradually worked to gain more control over him, which was why he wanted Magnus and Sylvia awake.
Momentarily, he entertained the thought of telling them about the alien, but he worried she’d unleash her wrath upon them. It was best to keep his silence about her for the time being. However, if her threats continued escalating, he believed he’d need to tell them about her.
***
Carter walked back to where Magnus and Sylvia sat.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have run off like that.”
“What was wrong?” Sylvia asked.
“You looked to be in a lot of pain,” Magnus said.
Carter nodded. “I’ve had a horrible headache off and on during the last few weeks.”
“I didn’t think you set up your chamber when you did ours,” Magnus said. “Why didn’t you hibernate with us?”
Carter glanced nervously at him. “Fear, I guess.”
“What is there to be afraid of? You’re a doctor. You’ve been in one of these chambers before.”
“I know, but things are a lot different than they had been on my way to Deimos.”
“Why’s that?” Magnus asked.
Carter shrugged. “To be asleep for an entire month, especially when we’re wanted, is a frightening thing.”
Magnus frowned. “What’s to fear, Carter? We’re not on Mars. Earth is still months away. We’re the only ones on this ship. It’s not like Jonas will send another shuttle to pull us over.”
Carter sighed and sat down. “While all that is true, you forget one thing.”
“What?” Sylvia asked.
“The ship is controlled by computers. We go to sleep and Grayson could take over the controls.”
“That’s doubtful.”
Carter shook his head. “No, it’s not.”
“What makes you think that?” Magnus asked.
“When you’re able to stand, I will show you.”
Magnus used the armrests on both sides of his seat and pushed himself to his feet. He stepped forward with his right foot, placed weight upon it, waited for a few seconds, pressed more of his weight, and then he attempted to raise his left foot. He stumbled but not enough to fall. He balanced on both feet for a minute until he was certain his leg muscles could sustain him. He wasn’t as weak as he feared he might be when they awakened.
After taking a few gingerly steps, he was confident that he could walk, so he turned and offered his hand to Sylvia. She clasped her hand into his, and he pulled her up. Unlike him, her legs were weaker, but after a few steps and with Carter’s assistance, she walked down the aisle toward the pilot’s cabin.
When they reached the computer control panels, Carter pointed.
“Should we be traveling this fast?” he asked.
Sylvia frowned. “That’s not the speed I programmed for the shuttle.”
“No, it isn’t.”
Magnus faced Carter and said, “Did you do this?”
“No,” Carter replied nervously. “Why would I?”
“You tell me,” Magnus said, towering over the doctor.
“You can trust me.”
“Can we?” Magnus asked.
“Magnus,” Sylvia said. She put her hand on his arm. “Calm down.”
“Sorry,” Magnus said, rubbing his eyes. “Still a bit of a hangover feeling, which is making me more irritable than normal, but I still have a difficult time knowing you put us to sleep and stayed awake.”
“I explained why,” Carter said softly.
Sylvia typed numbers into a distance calculator. After a digital readout, she said, “Someone definitely tampered with the propulsion engines. We’re going to get to Earth a couple of months earlier than we expected.”
“In a way, that’s good,” Magnus said. “But the problem with it, is Grayson knows more precisely when we’ll get there. So, Carter, I apologize. Grayson is probably the one that initiated the change in our velocity.”
Carter waved his hands. “I know about medicine, viruses, and bacteria. A little bit about computers, but engineering is not my specialty.”
Magnus’ eyes narrowed as he stared into Carter’s eyes. Carter appeared nervous but never broke their gaze. Magnus smiled. “I believe you. But, the next time we go into hibernation, you will be the first one to go to sleep.”
The suggestion made Carter visibly uneasy. Magnus watched him for several moments. “You really fear being put under, don’t you?”
Carter nodded.